Earlier this morning the Beeb had a headline, North Korea ‘fires seven missiles’ (as if the statement could not be verified by the Beeb itself? or because it is scary news?). They now replaced it with Outcry over N Korea missile test. While the UN is pondering their usual strongly-worded letter, the Chinese want their trains back. Chuck “where’s the camera?” Schumer finds comfort in believing that North Korea is still years away from doing harm to the United States, while North Korea’s neighbors are jumpy, for good reason:

I hope the Chinese sold the North Korea a good guidance system for those rockets or the Chinese will end up regretting it.
Having said that, Two chip scandals set back China’s IT industry; maybe North Korea’s relying on the technology Clinton sold them.
Update Bullwinkle has a question.
Update: Venezuela apoya lanzamiento de misiles de Corea. Venezuela cheers N. Korea.
At the blogs
Why Is The Grass-Roots So Green?
A critical mistake some Liberal Blogger benefactors may have made is picking bloggers too far out of the norm. As stated, neither Armstrong nor Moulitsas have any experience or accomplishment in the real world. Both claim to have been expats for a significant period of time, were perpetual graduate students well into their thirties and forties, apparently either on the government or Daddy’s dime. One is so cliche he still admires Che as a hero and the other can’t seem to get his head out of the stars.
Today’s articles from Maria
While Hugo parties with his little buddy, the Venezuelan oil shortfall continues: BP blames Venezuela’s Chavez for shortfall in production. I’ve been posting about the shortfall since April.
Maybe Corzine wishes the US team had made it to the semi-finals: Merkel hits taxpayers while they’re not looking
WITH the country distracted by the prospect of today’s World Cup semi-final against Italy, Angela Merkel’s Government quietly announced its most painful reform yet of Germany’s national health system.
An online data base would monitor spending by Congress. Instapundit has more.
From the land of Benny Hill and Little Brittain: Britons see US as vulgar.
In health news, Man speaks as brain ‘rewires itself’ after 20 years
American is world’s oldest mother of twins at 59. Just the thought of driving teen twins to all their activities at age 70 is enough to give me a migraine.
Allergy drug could fight malaria – study
Lifestyle trumps drugs for a healthy heart
People with high concentrations of steroids or cholesterol on their skin surface attract mosquitoes, and so do people who emit large quantities of carbon dioxide. I’m sure AlGore will find that this all relates to global warming.
Do you have what it takes to become a citizen?
In much lighter news
Hoff Watch: Hasselhoff tennis ejection denied, and he won’t be playing Captain Hook next Christmas, but at least he’s recovering from the chandelier injury.