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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says “talk to the hand.”

In a tense appearance at Columbia University, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad questioned al-Qaida's connection to the Sept. 11 attacks and defended the right to cast doubt on the Holocaust. Asked about executions of homosexuals in Iran, he said: “In Iran we don't have homosexuals like in your country. I don't know who's told you that we have this.”

The 210 take: Ahmadinejad has obviously never been clubbing at the Bonham Tehran. 
 

Mattel apology is ‘Made in China'

In a meeting with Chinese safety officials, Mattel took the blame for the recent recalls of millions of Chinese-made toys. Chinese food, drugs and other products are also under intense scrutiny because they have been found to contain potentially deadly substances.

The 210 take: Mattel had to swallow its pride and apologize to China. LEGAL NOTE: Swallowing pride may cause choking hazard, kidney failure and lead poisoning.

I wouldn't pay $4 for that ugly bill

The government unveiled a redesigned $5 bill with splashes of purple and gray in an effort to stay ahead of counterfeiters. One scam had counterfeiters bleaching $5 notes and printing fake $100 bills with the bleached paper to take advantage of security features in the same locations on both notes.

The 210 take: You know what might also help thwart counterfeiters? Picking a color scheme that doesn't look like a 3-year-old marked on the bill.

Gasp! Social Security is in big trouble

A report issued by the Treasury Department said that some combination of benefit cuts and tax increases will be needed to permanently fix Social Security's funding shortfall. The report put the cost of the shortfall at $13.6 trillion.

The 210 take: Hmmm, reduce benefits for people 65 and up (68 percent of whom vote) or increase taxes on younger workers (32 percent of whom vote). I wonder what the politicians will do.
 

Mimes everywhere are crying silent tears

Marcel Marceau, 84, the world's greatest mime who revived the ancient art with his wordless interpretations of complex emotions, died in Paris on Sept. 22. His signature style — the white face with clownish eyes, the striped pullover, baggy pants, and flower-trimmed top hat — was often imitated.

The 210 take: Sadly, Marceau was killed when no one realized he needed help escaping from the glass box he was trapped in.

With staff and wire reports