A couple of continuing stories of interest.

Could the Ukrainians have forgotten the communist slavery imposed by Moscow...

AP: Ukraine's Orange coalition falls apart

Ukraine's main opposition party joined together with two other groups in parliament Friday, and the new coalition proposed the pro-Russian party's leader Viktor Yanukovych as prime minister.

The realignment in Ukrainian politics means that Yanukovych could end up serving as prime minister to President Viktor Yushchenko, the man he lost out to in what has become known as the Orange Revolution.

The move underscored divisions in the country between the mainly Russian-speaking east and south and the Ukrainian-speaking west, and the country's strategic dilemma between close ties with Russia and integration with the West.

...or are they cowards who refuse the responsibilty freedom demands?

The merger creates a three-party coalition of the Party of Regions along with the Socialist and Communist parties. Coalition leaders said they hold a majority of 233 seats in the 450-member parliament.

After the signing, Yanukovych said the parties had created a "crisis coalition. We have a very difficult situation in the state. We need to create order," he said.

And we all know what Moscow-backed "order" means.


Were you just wondering whatever happened to Barbaro?

Sports Illustrated: Barbaro has cast on shattered leg replaced

Barbaro had the cast on his shattered right hind leg replaced for a third time, two days after the Kentucky Derby winner had two bent screws replaced in an injured joint.