I'm pretty proud of my homeland...

...on the $500 million pledge for the Tsunami relief efforts. Now, I realize that intentions aren't all pure - the Japanese government wants a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, and wants more flexible use of the Self Defense Forces. But I am glad to see Japan taking an initiative on such an important issue.

I just hope all this hasn't been forgotten come 12 months from now, because rebuilding the Tsunami-stricken areas will take much, much longer than the lifespan of an average news story.

Another story I hope people don't forget: Did Al Gonzales say the president can authorize torture? (Slate)

Early in the day, Gonzales professed the requisite faith that America was 'a nation of laws and not of men,' but his opinion of the president's ability—however limited—to authorize individuals to engage in criminal acts suggests the opposite. This is a government of good men, Gonzales implicitly assured the senators, so there's no need to worry about legal hypotheticals like whether torture is always verboten. Don't worry, because we don't do it. It's a strange argument from a conservative: We're the government. Trust us.