Transliterators have been struggling for years with how to spell the name of Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi for English speakers. This spelling seems close to standard now. But when I was a kid a version beginning with a Q was the most common. And I think I’ve seen at least four or five spellings that are considered proper by this or that publication.

But just now I was stopping by Gaddafi’s personal website. And he has a totally outside the box spelling I don’t think I’ve ever seen before: al Gathafi.

Fresh off the ‘blood libels’ and ‘pogroms’ of last week, Pat Buchanan declares there’s a ‘lynch mob’ after conservatives in this country.

Enjoying that iPhone game app? Find out all the ways smartphone Apps collect your personal information to sell to marketeers.

The end of the Israeli Labor Party has been a slow motion story going back more than thirty years and in a particularly acute form over the last decade. But this might really be the beginning of the end. After the last election Labor, which arguably founded the country and led its governments for the first thirty years, fell to an historic low of thirteen seats (out of 120) in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.

Likud, the historic party of the right, had fallen to a similar low not long ago only to storm back to be the current governing party. The difference is that Likud’s raison d’etre had not been similarly damaged by political and coalition developments within the Israeli political system.

Which brings us to today when Ehud Barak, former Prime Minister and current head of Labor, split the already diminished party and left it to form a new party. Normally it’s the dissidents who break off and form a new party, not the head of the party (though arguably Ariel Sharon did something very similar in 2006, albeit from a position of vastly greater strength). Read More

Steve Jobs, who has been treated for cancer in the past, is taking a leave of absence from Apple for medical reasons.

A conspiracy movie that was reportedly a big influence on Jared Loughner has spawned what is called “The Zeitgeist Movement.”

Tucson Tea Partier leader Trent Humphries was threatened at a townhall event yesterday by J. Eric Fuller, one of the victims of last Saturday’s shooting. That in term led to Fuller’s arrest for making a threat and for disorderly conduct. He has now been ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation. Humphries tells TPM he hopes Fuller “gets the help he needs.”

One of the victims of last Saturday’s shooting in Tucson has been arrested for threatening Tucson Tea Party spokesman Trent Humphries.

Toward the end of the town hall meeting Saturday morning, one of the shooting victims, J. Eric Fuller, took exception to comments by two of the speakers: Ariz. state Rep. Terri Proud, a Dist. 26 Republican, and Tucson Tea Party spokesman Trent Humphries.

According to sheriff’s deputies at the scene, Fuller took a photo of Humphries and said, “You’re Dead.”

Deputies immediately escorted Fuller from the room.

Pima County Sheriff’s spokesman Jason Ogan said later Saturday that Fuller has been charged with threats and intimidation and he also will be charged with disorderly conduct.

Michael Steele just withdrew from the race for RNC chair after the 4th round of balloting and threw his support to Maria Cino. More soon …