THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN AND THE INTERNET: Rand Simberg has some thoughts in response to Mickey Kaus.

THIS SOUNDS POSITIVE:

The Iraqi cabinet approved a draft of a law today that would set guidelines for countrywide distribution of oil revenues and foreign investment in the immense oil industry. The endorsement marked a major agreement among the country’s ethnic and sectarian political blocs on one of Iraq’s most divisive issues.

The draft law approved by the cabinet allows the central government to distribute oil revenues to the provinces or regions by population, which could lessen the economic concerns of the rebellious Sunni Arabs, who fear being cut out of Iraq’s vast potential oil wealth by the dominant Shiites and Kurds.

The law also grants regional oil companies the power to sign contracts with foreign companies for exploration and development of fields, opening the door for investment by foreign oil companies in a country whose oil reserves rank among the world’s top three in size.

It’s not the oil trust idea, but it will give a lot of people a stake in a more peaceful and prosperous Iraq.

AN INCONVENIENT UTILITY BILL: “Gore’s mansion, located in the posh Belle Meade area of Nashville, consumes more electricity every month than the average American household uses in an entire year, according to the Nashville Electric Service (NES). . . . The average household in America consumes 10,656 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, according to the Department of Energy. In 2006, Gore devoured nearly 221,000 kWh—more than 20 times the national average. Last August alone, Gore burned through 22,619 kWh—guzzling more than twice the electricity in one month than an average American family uses in an entire year. As a result of his energy consumption, Gore’s average monthly electric bill topped $1,359.”

UPDATE: But look who’s green in Nashville.

A CHEAPER BLU-RAY PLAYER: Of course, dropping the price from $999 to $599 makes it cheaper, but not actually cheap.

JAMES PETHOKOUKIS: What’s worse — the alternative minimum tax, or a recession?

JULIAN KU looks at the ICJ on Bosnian genocide.

THIS WEEK’S BLAWG REVIEW is up!

TWO THINGS WORTH READING, at Power Line.

MICHAEL TOTTEN IS HEADING BACK TO IRAQ: He’s reader-supported, so if you want to support him, you know what to do.

APPARENTLY, we’ve now entered the age of virtuous lobbyists! I tip my hat to the new revolution.

TOM BEVAN interviews Mitt Romney.

MUQTADA AL-SADR doesn’t like the surge.

That he’s saying so from a secret location may explain why. . . .

MORE BAD NEWS for New York Times shareholders.

THROUGH THE MAGIC OF AMAZON RECOMMENDATIONS, I found Stephen Flynn’s new book, The Edge of Disaster: Rebuilding a Resilient Nation. Judging from the blurbs it looks very interesting, and it’s certainly a topic that I’ve blogged about a lot. I’ve ordered a copy, so maybe I’ll have more to say on this later.

UPDATE: A reader notes that NPR interviewed Flynn last week. You can listen here.

TRADING GAS TAXES FOR INCOME TAXES? I’d make that trade.

RE-REPEATING HISTORY: Greg Stein looks at disaster preparedness, disaster responses, and changes in building codes, and observes a cycle of response and relaxation that seems to fit a lot of human affairs. He notes a connection between the Triangle Shirtwaist fire and the World Trade Center collapse, and also has some thoughts on what to do about this phenomenon. Plus, the quick-thinking lifesaving heroics of a law professor and his students. No, really.

MICKEY KAUS: “Has the Clinton campaign ever heard of the Internet?”

OPENCONGRESS.ORG is a new site that lets you research all things legislative.

Here, for example, is the page on H.R. 861, a bill allowing for nationwide firearms carry, and here is the page for H.R. 73, the “Citizens’ Self-Defense Act.”

BLOGGERS OUTDRAW SPORTS COVERAGE at the Knoxville News-Sentinel. This is a big deal.

MORE KIDNEY-BLOGGING, from Virginia Postrel.

HERE’S A REVIEW of the movie version of Bridge to Terabithia.

LT SMASH returns to Walter Reed, and reports.

A VERY CONVENIENT Oscar ceremony.

PORKBUSTERS UPDATE: And we have a winner!

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today announced the final results of its online poll for the 2006 Porker of the Year. Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.) received 48 percent of the vote, with co-nominees Sens. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Trent Lott (R-Miss.) receiving 25.5 percent, and Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) receiving 22.9. The finalists were chosen by CAGW staff from among the 12 Porker of the Month winners for 2006.

Rep. Mollohan was named Porker of the Month in April 2006 for abusing his position on the House Appropriations Committee by securing millions of dollars in earmarks that may have benefited him personally. The New York Times (4/08/06) detailed how Rep. Mollohan directed $250 million to five nonprofit organizations that he set up. Rep. Mollohan surrendered his seat as ranking Democrat on the House Ethics Committee in April.

The competition is stiff.

HEH: “When Tim starts appearing with children and puppies, we’ll know he has run out of hostages.”