Monday's news and links

Not a lot going on on a Monday morning.

Heard the Good News? is the title of a column by Michael Barone.

Things are better than you think. Yes, I know, most Americans are in a sour mood these days, convinced that the struggle in Iraq is an endless cycle of bloodshed, certain that our economy is in dismal shape, lamenting that the nation and the world are off on the wrong track. That's what polls tell us. But if we look at some other numbers, we'll find that we are living not in the worst of times but in something much closer to the best. What do I mean?

Click the link to find out what he means.

How do the insurgents in Iraq stay in business? It isn't as if they have day jobs. Here is how they can afford to resupply themselves.

FRANCE, Italy and Germany sanctioned the payment of $45 million in deals to free nine hostages abducted in Iraq, according to documents seen by The Times.

All three governments have publicly denied paying ransom money. But according to the documents, held by security officials in Baghdad who have played a crucial role in hostage negotiations, sums from $2.5 million to $10 million per person have been paid over the past 21 months.

Paying these ransoms is a bad idea for a couple reasons. First, if you pay off kidnappers you send the message that kidnapping pays which encourages more kidnappings. Secondly, when you pay ransom to terrorists you are helping them purchase the means to kill. The political leadership in those countries have blood on their hands even if they don't realize it.

They say a broken clock is right twice a day. Well, along those lines, John Fund has a column titled "Jimmy Carter Is Right." In this very limited area, I have to agree. Requiring valid identification in order to vote is not asking too much.

Here is a pretty scary story.

A woman who arrived in London on a flight from Africa yesterday is reported to have died from the deadly and contagious ebola virus.

In local news, West Chester stores seek curfew You can argue both side of the idea of a curfew or disagree about appropriate hours for kids to be out. This one sentence jumped out as a little silly.

"It just becomes a great place for everyone and, of course, teens included," he said. "We want to make sure when the teens come out they behave like adults.

They aren't adults. If you spend your time waiting for 13 year olds to act like adults you're in for some serious disappointment.