Iraq War Turns Ten. It’s the tenth anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq War and Reuters is reporting a series of car bombs have killed at least 50 people.

Chem Warfare Finger-Pointing. Syrian rebels and President Bashar al-Assad are each blaming the other side for launching a chemical weapon near Aleppo.

Blast Kills Seven. Earlier this morning, an explosion at a Nevada military site killed seven marines. The cause of the explosion is being investigated.

Obama Hopes to Win Israeli Hearts. Obama leaves for Israel tonight. His goal is to win the heart of the country.

Papal Opacity? Pope Francis has officially begun his papacy. The new pope hopes to be a kinder, gentler pontiff. But will his rein be more transparent than his predecessors?

Assault Weapons Not Banned. Yesterday, California Sen. Dianne Feinstein announced that an assault weapons ban will not be included in Senate Democrats' gun bill. The bill is expected to reach the Senate floor sometime next month.

Enforcing Healthcare. The Feds are expected to get tough (sort of) on Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming for refusing to get behind the new insurance provisions in the Affordable Care Act.

In other health news…

Dropping Drug Costs. Last year, US prescription drug costs dropped. Experts say the good times won’t last.

E-Wasted. The New York Times is reporting obsolete electronics are becoming harder and harder to recycle profitably. The result is they’re piling up in massive toxic piles.

Closer to home…

GMO labels. Eight bills in the Oregon legislature could make Oregon the first state in the union to require labeling for genetically modified foods. Other bills would ban genetically modified fish.

And Slacking White Grads. Lastly, the Oregonian is reporting a new study blames unmotivated, college-educated white males for dragging down Portland’s economy.

As a college-educated white male slacker I’d like to think I’m doing my part. I’d like to think it looks something like this.