Odds and Ends

The big scoop of the day goes to Eric Lipton at the New York Times, who reveals that attorney generals in at least a dozen states have formed secret alliances with energy companies.

Uruguay's President Jose Mujica has agreed to accept six detainees from Guantanamo. That leaves 172 still there, over half of whom have been cleared for release but have nowhere to go.

I'm not sure what to make of this story: the U.S. military in Afghanistan has handed over three Pakistani prisoners to Islamabad. The AP reporters, Rebecca Santana and Ishtiaq Mahsud, say its a sign of improving relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. In any case, I'm sure we'll hear soon from Sen. McCain about this latest outrage.

Redditt Hudson tells us what its like to be an officer with the St. Louis Police Department. And yes, its as bad as we thought.

Do you remember this one: "How many psychologists does it take to change a lightbulb? One. But they've got to really want to change." That's what I thought about when I read this article on research suggesting that meditation can short-circuit reflexive racial bias.

As a southpaw, I wasn't happy to see this headline: Left Handed? Prepare to Earn Less. But I'll console myself with the fact that my mother was left-handed too...which seems to make a difference.

Finally, if events over the last few weeks have you looking down, take a listen to B.B. King.