PATRICK BELTON NOTES that we’ve entered a new era of peace: “Research from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and the Canadian NGO Project Ploughshares indicates that the world has actually become a substantially safer place lately – at least measured in terms of major conflict. The number of people killed in battle has fallen to 20,000 per year, the lowest number in the post-Second World War period.”

That’s nice to hear.

UPDATED: More thoughts here.

SOXBLOG: “Since I love the rumor and fervently wish for its accuracy, it is my pleasure, nay my responsibility, to continue its irresponsible dissemination. Reading the tea-leaves, Kristol has concluded that McCain might be poised to replace Cheney on the ticket.”

I’d prefer Condi Rice, or Colin Powell, but this would be OK with me. And I admire Soxblog’s forthrightness!

IT PROBLEMS, HOTEL PROBLEMS, and Dan Rather’s keen nose for news: Ed Morrissey has started his convention-blogging.

UPDATE: Roger Simon has reports and photos, too.

ANOTHER UPDATE: More photoblogging at RedState.

STEPHEN GREEN points to this William Raspberry column, and wonders if the punditry is starting to distance itself from Kerry.

IF CONVENTION-POLITICS IS BORING YOU, check out this week’s Carnival of the Capitalists, where it’s all about business- and econo-blogging.

And there’s also the Carnival of the Dogs, though in some ways that’s more reminiscent of the political season. . . .

MY COUSIN-IN-LAW, Brad Rubinstein, has posted more photos from the RNC protests. He’s got commentary here, too.

I’ll try to do a big roundup of photoblogging later today, so if you’ve got some good photo links, send them along.

UPDATE: Meanwhile, David Adesnik writes that the big-media coverage of the protests is missing the story. “The big papers also fail to convey how the protest resembled a carnival of the absurd, with every obscure leftist faction in attendance. For example, there were hundreds of big red signs provided by a coven of conspiracy theorists who insist that Bush had advance warning of 9-11. If I had bigger pockets, I could’ve collected at least half-a-dozen different socialist and communist newspapers and newsletters. . . . If you read the NYT or the WaPo, you get the impression that the protest was filled with reasonable people who just don’t like George Bush. . . . So there you have it. The big papers managed to be unfair to both sides while failing to provide critical information. Let’s hope things get better from here.” Scroll down for more.

ARTHUR CHRENKOFF has posted his regular roundup of under-reported good news from Iraq, and once again it’s long, it’s link-filled, and it’s hosted by the Wall Street Journal folks.

IT’S BEEN A LIGHT-BLOGGING BIRTHDAY WEEKEND, and the email reading has been even lighter. That means I neglected to note that the Los Angeles Times has corrected its error in claiming that no one who served with Kerry appeared in the Swift Boat Vets ad. Congratulations to Patterico, who was on the ball as usual.

And speaking of birthdays, thanks to all the people who donated. If your donation involved an email address (you have to click a button on Amazon for that to happen) I’ve sent a thank-you. But thanks to everyone — it’s much appreciated.