Faulty Contract Work in Iraq Kills Troops

I just can't wrap my mind around this:

At least a dozen military personnel have been electrocuted in Iraq, many due to faulty wiring done by contractors like KBR, and many more have been injured.

Here's the full article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/world/middleeast/04electrocute.html?ex=1367553600&en=4b51a4db27685780&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

National Brownout

Things have gotten so bad I find myself learning from, nodding along with, and enjoying one of Thomas Friedman's columns, this one on using fiscal policy to influence energy policy:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/30/opinion/30friedman.html?ex=1367294400&en=0588e238277893d6&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Après moi, le déluge

I don't know whether to file this under the Bush Administration not giving a shit about black people, or not giving a shit about education, or both.

But there's a message of hope, and it should at least interest Lombard:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/30/us/nationalspecial/30orleans.html?ex=1367294400&en=9e0660c1c1b21a8e&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink