I don’t know why, but Brits write the best obits. From the recent Economist, a tribute to Bill Mullin, the D-Day piper. An excerpt:

He was ordering now, as they waded up Sword Beach, in that drawly voice of his: “Give us a tune, piper.” Mr Millin thought him a mad bastard. The man beside him, on the point of jumping off, had taken a bullet in the face and gone under. But there was Lovat, strolling through fire quite calmly in his aristocratic way, allegedly wearing a monogrammed white pullover under his jacket and carrying an ancient Winchester rifle, so if he was mad Mr Millin thought he might as well be ridiculous too, and struck up “Hielan’ Laddie”. Lovat approved it with a thumbs-up, and asked for “The Road to the Isles”. Mr Millin inquired, half-joking, whether he should walk up and down in the traditional way of pipers. “Oh, yes. That would be lovely.”

This past weekend, Vanity Fair released the 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair poll that finds that a third of adults polled nationwide believe in ghosts, 46% think taxing tanning at a salon is a bad idea, and 76% are just as likely to see Mel Gibson’s movies now as they were before he became known for his racist rants. All in all, the poll asks pretty worthless questions. But one question’s results are garnering a bit of attention throughout the blogosphere. The question:

Do you think SARAH PALIN would have the ability to be an EFFECTIVE PRESIDENT?

As many of you know—especially those of you who plan your social life around the Mayan calendar—the end of the world is coming in 2012. Recently, a hit film simply called 2012 showed the planet cracking up and threatening not only the earth’s nearly 7-billion people, but even worse, John Cusack and his family.

The Mayans—like the Aztecs—were a fairly well-advanced civilization in southern North America. They built great monuments, had advanced mathematical and scientific systems, and, all in all, despite minor issues with things like human sacrifice and slavery, were pretty well ahead of their time.

As if global politics weren’t turbulent enough, the Obama administration better start thinking about impending dynastic successions in two different but very dangerous places. Read this Economist article for a brief rundown on Egypt, where dictator Hosni Mubarak is mortally ill and laying the groundwork for a transfer of power to his sun Gamal. Egypt is widely regarded as the most important country in the Middle East, and while Mubarak is no democrat, he has kept the peace with Israel and fought jihadist terror. It’s not only his son jockeying for position, however. The Muslim Brotherhood is an important force in Egyptian politics, and it may make a play to rule if it sees an opportunity. Meanwhile, Egyptian democrats like Ayman Noor and Mohamed El-Baradei are also in the mix.

Then there’s North Korea. Kim Jong-Il’s slave state is on the cusp of meltdown. (Read Barbara Demick’s excellent New Yorker article on Kim’s disastrous November 2009 currency “reform.”) Kim has traveled twice to China in recent months, perhaps introducing his Chinese patrons to his son, Kim Jong-Un. Noko watchers say the elder Kim will designate his son heir at an upcoming party conference. But will the North Korean military, political, and intelligence establishments accept a third Kim as god-king?

Via Dave Weigel, who remarks, rightly: “Interesting.” Here’s Huckabee’s video. Why the thanks? “In taking on the federal government’s new health care law,” Huckabee tells Cuccinelli, “you are doing what’s right. I appreciate your efforts on behalf of Virginians and all Americans who are frustrated with this unprecedented expansion of the federal government’s powers.”

Is it a simple stunt? Maybe it’s a stunt and a nice idea, too. That’s the fun thing about politics. One thing is certain: Huck ’12 speculation? Fueled.

I can’t make heads or tails of this story about today’s foiled terrorist attack:

Airport security screeners in Birmingham, Alabama first stopped al Soofi and referred him to additional screening because of what officials said was his “bulky clothing.”

About ten weeks until the midterm elections, the Republicans have taken a 10 point lead in the generic ballot. The latest Gallup poll is here.

But, honestly, I prefer to get my news from our friends at Next Media in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Their hilariously Chinese animated explanation of the coming midterms is here, and it’s really worth a click.

Up today, my Uncommon Knowledge interview with the governor of Mississippi, Ricochet’s own Haley Barbour. Just go to the right hand side of the Ricochet homepage, scroll down until you see a picture of the governor and me, and then click. You’ll be transported to National Review Online, where Uncommon Knowledge first appears.

Beginning with tomorrow’s segment, the governor starts throwing punches. Today, though, he and I engage in a kind of warmup round, discussing his political origins. Which are pretty amazing. Haley Barbour chose to become a Republican activist at a time when Republicans accounted for only six percent of Mississippi voters.