Dubya is expected to announce this evening that he will send 20,000 more troops to Iraq. There was another conflict in which the U.S. was embroiled, and that president at that time thought another push could get the job done. Now which conflict was that?

The European Commission is urging its members to sign onto a common energy policy and to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2020.

In the United States, major regional newspapers have slashed their Washington coverage.

The Politico, a new media entity drawing staffers from mainly from the print world, will cover national politics exclusively. And unlike newspapers, it's hiring.

Momofuku Ando, inventor of the ramen instant noodle, died last week at age 96. Lawrence Downes praises the packaged noodles as the ideal if imperfect fast food, possibly even better than (dare I say it?) ... KD. (thanks, Guynick!)

The Salon blurb for Garrison Keillor's commentary: Newspapers are portable, disposable and convey a certain savoir faire. Follow these easy steps, and you'll be leaving your laptop behind.