You know, there's a lot that sucks in the world. A lot that truly, utterly, miserably sucks. But there's reason for optimism, I suppose, when even Republicans, including some rather high-profile ones, are embracing Enlightenment and advocating for same-sex marriage. Agreed?

Now here are some good reads for your Saturday:

The Rude Pundit: The Hillary Industrial Complex gets back to work.

Echidne of the Snakes: The rules for Sunni Muslim women under ISIS.

The Duck of Minerva: The poaching crisis threatening wildlife with extinction.

The Democratic Daily: The epidemic of police murders in the U.S.

Fruits and Votes: The Israeli election and coalition possibilities.

Round-up by Michael J.W. Stickings of The Reaction. (Twitter: @mjwstickings.) I'll be here through the weekend.

Send requests and suggestions to mbru AT crooksandliars DOT com (with "For MBRU" in the subject line).