Ideas for birthday boys

Today Sen. Barack Obama and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales celebrate their birthdays, although presumably not at the same party. Here are a few things they could do to mark the occasion:

Have a toast. If they do, though, they may want to avoid wine from a vineyard in the Yakima Valley where a drug task force confiscated 4,400 marijuana plants in a raid Saturday. The wine might be fine. But it might also cause guests with sudden cravings to try to make off with the whole birthday cake.

Go exploring in the Caribbean, where a scientist has discovered the world’s smallest known species of snake, which grows to less than 4 inches long. The biologist said the snake was found under a rock near a forest on Barbados. He didn’t mention whether or not he was relieved that it wasn’t found in his sleeping bag.

Visit the Comcast Arena at Everett, the building formerly known as the Comcast Arena at the Everett Events Center. The venue hasn’t changed, but now Olympic athletes won’t be able to get a competitive edge by saying its name to expand their lung capacity.