mountains

Wretched excess, 3: On Mustard Seeds, Mountains, and Antigua

Even the mountains are not immune from Obamania:

ST JOHN'S, Antigua – Antigua plans to give the new U.S. president its "top" honor on his birthday: renaming its tallest peak Mount Obama.

Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer says the Caribbean nation will rename Boggy Peak, as it is currently known, on Aug. 4 to mark President Barack Obama's 48th birthday.

He first announced the plan in November in a congratulatory letter to Obama but didn't say when it would happen. He revealed the date on Tuesday.

Spencer said he joined "people of color all over the world, and indeed all people" in celebrating Obama's inauguration.

Boggy Peak rises 1,300 feet

Who Does These Senators' Trip Planning Anyway, Tom Clancy?

UPDATE: Apparently somebody showed some sense (probably the military not the media, but still) and did not let this story get out until the matter was already resolved. The incident, per the current CNN story happened at 8:30 EST this morning. They were picked up, motored into Kabul, and winging off to Turkey before the story hit the wires. Everything else I said still applies though.

This is shaping up to be a fucking movie plot. I hope. That would be the best outcome anyway. Headline banner at CNN:

Snowstorm forces helicopter carrying U.S. Sens. Joe Biden, Chuck Hagel and John Kerry to make an emergency landing in Afghanistan.

Offices (Kerry's anyway) say that this "forced landing" was indeed due to weather, all aboard are safe and cozy, no gunfire involved, etc.

Guys, guys, guys.