Boo fucking hoo, Gulf of Mexico: "The Niger Delta, where the wealth underground is out of all proportion with the poverty on the surface, has endured the equivalent of the Exxon Valdez spill every year for 50 years by some estimates. The oil pours out nearly every week, and some swamps are long since lifeless. Perhaps no place on earth has been as battered by oil, experts say, leaving residents here astonished at the nonstop attention paid to the gusher half a world away in the Gulf of Mexico. It was only a few weeks ago, they say, that a burst pipe belonging to Royal Dutch Shell in the mangroves was finally shut after flowing for two months: now nothing living moves in a black-and-brown world once teeming with shrimp and crab."

Fremont fire caused by foam mattress: "Seattle's deadliest fire in decades was sparked by light bulb left too close to a foam mattress, Fire Chief Gregory Dean said during a Wednesday news conference. Announcing the results of the investigation into the Saturday morning blaze at a Fremont neighborhood apartment, Dean said the department continues to review problems with a reserve fire engine that prevented the first fire crew on the scene from attacking the fire. Dean said, in his view, problems with the reserve fire engine did not contribute to the deaths of those inside the home."

The barefoot burglar—a scapegoat for flummoxed cops across the Northwest: "Police in the northwest Oregon town are investigating a boat theft, an attempted plane theft and a car theft that happened within hours of each other on June 1. The Herald of Everett reports the crimes may be the work of 19-year-old Colton Harris-Moore."

Seattle superintendent gets thumbs-down from "shadow board," thumbs up from flesh-and-blood board: "Critics have attacked Goodloe-Johnson on a variety of fronts, from her decision to close five schools, to the district's new high-school math curriculum, to her association with a foundation they say advocates the privatization of public schools. Before Wednesday's meeting, roughly two dozen people protested outside district headquarters saying it's time for her to go."

Fixing the Kyrgyzstan crisis: "There are no good options here. Neither Russia nor the United States would welcome the unilateral entry of the other. Nor would either welcome a regional domino reaction to tens of thousands of refugees flooding across the “stans” of the former Soviet Union. So, why not some sort of joint venture?"

Israel eases Gaza blockade: "All supplies entering Gaza still must come by land through Israel, not by sea, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Thursday. 'The intention is to allow more products to enter, but always after an Israeli check that will determine that no weapons or materials that can aid combat will get through,' he said."

Broad/Bloomberg/Gates/Buffet philanthropy pledge: "Eli Broad and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg backed an initiative started by fellow billionaires Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates for rich Americans to give at least half of their wealth to charity. The pledge 'is a fantastic idea,' Bloomberg said in a statement yesterday. 'I am a big believer in giving it all away and have always said that the best financial planning ends with bouncing the check to the undertaker.'"