■"Europe Is Closer to Talks With Turkey," by International Herald Tribune staff, New York Times, 21 September 2005, p. A8.

One of my headlines for "Blogging the Future" is about Turkey's surprisingly rapid entry into the EU, generating a serious civilization rapprochment between that body and Islam.

I know, I know, it seems crazy from the perspective of right now, with Europe seemingly so spooked on terrorism and ghettoized radicals in its midst, but that just means the solution set draws near. Remember, it always gets nasty just before the political will is reached for serious reform.

So bring on the nasty, I say.