And so white smoke billowed from a makeshift chimney high atop Buck House. A child, at long last, a child, a boy, the Baby Royale, was announced to the world. The House of Windsor has its heir. And there is much rejoicing amongst those who have given up their dignity and self-respect to care about all this monarchical nonsense. (But what, pray tell, will be the name of this glorious little creature? I propose Æthelstan, in honor of the very first king of England who ruled from 927 to 939.)

Frankly Curious: Edward Snowden and U.S. hypocrisy.

Lawyers, Guns & Money: Rand Paul and the racists.

P.M. Carpenter: Barack Obama and the coming offensive.

Connecting the Dots: Personal reflections on a life in black and white, by my friend Robert Stein.

By the way, the web version of The Guardian is offering readers a choice between "Royalist?" and "Republican?" In the latter, you see none of the offensive Royal Baby coverage. Such journalistic awesomeness. (This is good republicanism, of course, not bad Republicanism.)

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

Send requests and suggestions to mbru AT crooksandliars DOT com.