Russians are mourning a man named Boris

Boris Yeltsin, who engineered the final collapse of the Soviet Union and served as the first freely elected leader of Russia, died at age 76. Yeltsin was a contradictory figure who pushed the country to embrace democracy and a market economy but also ruled with an iron fist.

The 210 take: Yeltsin's obit points out that, in an act of extraordinary bravery, he stood atop a tank to rally opposition against a hard-line Communist coup. My obit will contain the word “nuggets.”

Top Democrat declares that Iraq war is ‘lost'

Harry Reid, the top Democrat in the Senate, declared that the war in Iraq is “lost.” Reid — pointing to a single-day death toll in Iraq of 230 — said he told President Bush he thinks the war can't be won through military force. Republicans pounced on the comment as evidence, they said, that Democrats don't support the troops.

The 210 take: Reid is obviously taking lessons in tact from that creepy “SpongeBob NoPants” dad from the Burger King commercials.

Local politicians working against hot air? Now I've seen everything.

On Earth Day, Phil Hardberger became the 465th mayor in the country to sign a document committing him to work to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in San Antonio. Earlier this month, the rest of the City Council took its own step by passing a resolution supporting strict environmental requirements for all new city buildings.

The 210 take: I celebrated Earth Day by running over spotted-owl nests in my Hummer. Is that wrong?

Gonzales has 71 ways to say ‘I don't recall'

President Bush gave embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales a strong vote of confidence despite scant support and scathing criticism from key Republicans. The S.A. native claimed dozens of times at a Senate hearing that he couldn't recall key details about the firing of federal prosecutors.

The 210 take: Despite numerous calls for his resignation, Gonzales' career has proven to be something that just won't die — like zombies or the construction on Loop 410.

Airlines seeing signs of turbulence ahead

Southwest and Continental airlines reported worrisome first-quarter earnings that raised questions whether a long, slow recovery that finally produced widespread profits for the airline industry last year might stall because of a weakening economy.

The 210 take: This is an industry whose safety hinges on me not being able to take 4 ounces of contact solution on board. What's there to worry about?

With staff and wire reports