The Rip Post                             DAILY NEWSLINKS

3/21
 HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING
(not that we had any winter in L.A.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernal_equinox

MCDONALD’S ATTACKS THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,472971,00.html
The word has only been in the English language for two decades, but the hamburger chain McDonald's would like to see the word "McJob" McEliminated from the dictionary -- the fast food firm is not lovin' the OED's definition.

BAY CITY ROLLERS SEEK BACK ROYALTIES
This is one case where we have little sympathy---gasp, that music
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6473877.stm

VIRGIN GALACTIC, NASA TEAM FOR SPACE PLANE TRAVEL
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/03/070320-virgin-space.html

WATCH: STEVE JOBS INTRODUCES THE ‘IRAK’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcjLEwZqcQI

MORFORD: HOLY KFC, BATMAN!
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2007/03/21/notes032107.DTL
In search of the elusive semi-practicing Catholic/obese junk-food addict demographic, Kentucky Fried Chicken apparently sent an official, personal letter to the Vatican, asking Pope Benedict XVI to bless the company's upcoming, happily toxic Fish Snacker sandwich so Catholics could eat it in good grace on Fridays during Lent.

 And on to news and comment. . .

 Iraq and Roll
 WATCH: THE CHILDREN OF BAGHDAD
http://www.guardian.co.uk/video/page/0,,2038665,00.html
IRAQ: WORST REFUGEE CRISIS ON EARTH

Little girl brought to U.S. for plastic surgery. Face was burned in blast that killed her mother.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/031907C.shtml
‘INSURGENTS’ USE CHILDREN AS SHIELDS
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/03/20/iraq.main/index.html
MADMAN BUSH SAYS IRAQ WAR CAN STILL BE ‘WON’
Never quite explains what “winning” means, does he. . .
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=ecbe47d2-fae6-4556-bbb8-46a3db5d9b56&k=32249

What is the law?
NYT SLAMS BUSH’S ‘NASTY, BUMBLING COMMENTS’ ON U.S. ATTY FIRINGS,
CALLS ON CONGRESS TO SUBPOENA PIGBOY ROVE
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/New_York_Times_slams_Bushs_nasty_0321.html
BUSH DEFENDS GONZALES,
THREATENS TO BLOCK SUBPOENAS
Will not allow Rove or Miers to testify under oath!
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Bush_backs_Gonzales_defends_offer_to_0320.html
BUSH’S ALLIES DESERTING HIM
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070320/second-term-blues
BUSH LOOKING FOR GONZALES REPLACEMENT---SOURCE
http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/newsbyid.asp?id=59212&cat=Today's+Most+Popular+Stories&more=/news/newspopular.asp
FEINSTEIN: WHY WAS L.A. U.S. ATTY DEBRA YANG FIRED?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070320/fired-prosecutors-yang

THOMPSON:
BUSH AND THE SHADOW OF RICHARD NIXON
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/cm/content/view/310/162/
By refusing to let political guru Karl Rove and former White House counsel Harriet Miers testify under oath before Congress, Bush is forcing a showdown that will cripple his already-weakened Presidency. Yet Bush, like Nixon, remains arrogant until the end, determined to ignore the law, political necessity or common sense.

 IGLESIAS: WHY I WAS FIRED
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/21/opinion/21iglesias.html
I received a call from Senator Domenici at my home. The senator wanted to know whether I was going to file corruption charges — the cases Ms. Wilson had been asking about — before November. When I told him that I didn’t think so, he said, “I am very sorry to hear that,” and the line went dead. A few weeks after those phone calls, my name was added to a list of United States attorneys who would be asked to resign.

 LINDORFF: WHY HASN’T BUSH BEEN IMPEACHED?
http://thiscantbehappening.net
After a year of running around flogging my book The Case for Impeachment (St. Martin’s Press, 2006), I’ve had to give a lot of thought to a question I have gotten over and over from radio hosts to ordinary people concerned about the fate of the country and our Constitution. The question: Why haven’t the Democrats already impeached the president for all these crimes, abuses of power and assaults of the Constitution? I used to chalk it up to cowardice, but I’m no longer happy with that answer.

 Enviro Wacko
WORLD’S MIGHTIEST RIVERS ARE DYING
http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-03-20-voa26.cfm
They were once mighty freshwater bodies on whose banks human civilizations were born. But now, many of the world's great rivers are threatened by over-extraction of water, climate change, construction of large dams, and pollution. The World Wide Fund for Nature says rivers at risk are found on almost every continent - the Yangtze, Mekong, Salween, Ganges and Indus in Asia, the Danube in Europe, the Plata in South America, the Rio Grande in North America, the Nile in Africa, and the Murray-Darling in Australia.
TYSON FOODS POLLUTES AS MUCH AS A MAJOR CAR MANUFACTURER
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Agrifood_Giant_Nearly_Rivals_Carmakers_On_Emissions_999.html
ZONING WILL NOT ALLOW AL GORE
TO PUT SOLAR PANELS ON HIS ROOF
 Good ol, progressive Tennessee
http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=12428

Israelity
 U.S., ISRAEL HOLD JOINT MISSILE TESTS
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Israel_and_US_hold_simulated_missil_03202007.html

Electile Dysfunction
MITT HAS HIS CUBANO COMMIE MOTTOS MIXED UP---
http://news.bostonherald.com/politics/view.bg?articleid=189589
---AND MITT OFFICIAL UNDER FIRE FOR SUPPORTING HITLER AD
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070320/romney-ad
The co-chair of presidential candidate Mitt Romney's finance committee contributed to a group that used the money for a newspaper ad comparing Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm to Adolf Hitler.
BARACK, BILLARY DUE TO SCRAP AGAIN
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Clinton_Obama_tensions_simmer_over__03202007.html

Jesus H. Christ!
BIOLOGY TEACHER HOLY ROLLS, IS FIRED
http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/03/20/teacherfired.ap.ap/index.html
During his eight days as a part-time high school biology teacher, Kris Helphinstine included Biblical references in material he provided to students and gave a PowerPoint presentation that made links between evolution, Nazi Germany and Planned Parenthood.

(Lack of) Health
CHINESE RESTAURANTS WILL KILL YOU
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070321/ap_on_he_me/diet_chinese_food
SMOKERS’ ARTERIES TAKE TEN YEARS TO HEAL
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=31&art_id=nw20070320092406395C299644
‘LUNCH LADY’ CAMPAIGNS TO GET KIDS HEALTHY
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0321/p13s02-legn.html

Animals in the news!
KNUT THE BEAR IS NOT IN DANGER---ZOO
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,472937,00.html

World gone mad
 WITCH HUNTING IS A HORROR IN INDIA
http://www.guardian.co.uk/india/story/0,,2038916,00.html
Sona's mother was murdered and dismembered; Kalo was attacked with a saw and scarred for life. Hundreds of other Indian women are killed or disfigured every year after being branded witches by their neighbours. Raekha Prasad reports
 INDONESIANS JAILED FOR BEHEADING CHRISTIAN SCHOOLGIRLS
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6473897.stm
CHINA CHILD SELLERS JAILED
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6473961.stm

Science
SCIENTISTS FIND BEGINNINGS OF MORALITY IN PRIMATE BEHAVIOR
So how to explain Bush?
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/20/science/20moral.html?em&ex=1174622400&en=340b1c2f848ea62f&ei=5087%0A
ANCESTORS NEEDED SHORT LEGS TO FIGHT FOR MATES
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/03/070319-fighting-legs.html

Oh, by the way. . .
THAILAND STRAINING UNDER WEIGHT OF FOREIGN RETIREES
People can’t make ends meet in own countries, head to far east
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/20/news/thai.php
FRENCH ‘SPIDERMAN’ ABANDONS CLIMB IN KUALA LUMPUR
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6471423.stm
PRIVATE ROCKET LAUNCHED INTO SPACE
Privateer Elon Musk has launched his budget rocket, Falcon-1, from the Kwajalein Atoll in the South Pacific.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6474021.stm
PEOPLE MUGGED FOR IPODS IN SF
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/03/21/MNGRUOOVAA1.DTL
WOMAN UNFAZED BY SHARK ATTACK
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6474175.stm
ALL-FEMALE UNIT KEEPS PEACE IN LIBERIA
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0321/p06s01-woaf.html

Gone
R.I.P. SINGER LUTHER INGRAM
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2007/03/20/entertainment/e165301D45.DTL&type=entertainment
JIM CRONIN, FOE OF ILLEGAL TRADE IN PRIMATES, DIES AT 55
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/21/world/europe/21cronin.html?_r=1&ref=obituaries&oref=slogin


And in more important matters. . .

WAR OF ‘ACROSS THE UNIVERSE’
Taymor’s movie with Beatles soundtrack is cut by a half-hour by producer
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/20/movies/20roth.html?ex=1174968000&en=989419a3854d4f7e&ei=5070&emc=eta1
After Ms. Taymor delivered the movie to Joe Roth, the film executive whose production company, Revolution Studios, based at Sony, is making the Beatles musical, he created his own version without her agreement. And last week Mr. Roth tested his cut of the film, which is about a half-hour shorter than Ms. Taymor’s 2-hour-8-minute version. Mr. Roth’s moves have left Ms. Taymor feeling helpless and considering taking her name off the movie, according to an individual close to the movie who would not be named because of the sensitivity of the situation.

FINAL ‘POTTER’ BOOK WILL BE VERY, VERY GREEN
http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1601223,00.html
Scholastic Inc. announced Tuesday that it had agreed with the Rainforest Alliance, a conservation organization that works with the business community, on tightened environmental standards for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," coming out July 21 with a first printing of 12 million.

 For Art’s Sake
 SEE WORK OF GERMAN BORSE PHOTOG PRIZE FINALISTS
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/gallery/2007/mar/19/deutscheborse?picture=329750920
PICASSO BELIEVED ALL ART WAS CONTEMPORARY
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/03/26/070326fa_fact_schama?printable=true
Rembrandt had the life force in his hands, right to the end. That’s why Picasso adamantly refused to think of him—or his other mentor-masters—as belonging to “the past.” “To me there is no past or future in art,” he said in the early nineteen-twenties. “The art of the great painters who lived in other times is not an art of the past; perhaps it is more alive today than it ever was.” Timelessness is not always an empty cliché; sometimes, as the ninety-year-old Picasso knew when he reached toward Rembrandt as a tonic against extinction, it is full of sustaining truth.
BOOK REVIEW:NEW CHAGALL BIO
http://www.calendarlive.com/books/bookreview/cl-bk-kirsch18mar18,0,6310020.htmlstory?coll=cl-bookreview
The best moments in Wilson's book are those in which he deconstructs the artist's work and decodes its iconography. He suggests, for example, that there is nothing magical, or even whimsical, about Chagall's rooftop violinists. "It was not at all uncommon for shtetl and town residents alike to take to their rooftops, sometimes out of fear and sometimes for fun," he argues. "Chagall's grandfather, for example, liked to climb up on high to chew a few carrots and watch the world go by."

 JON CARROLL: MUSING AT A MEMORIAL SERVICE
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2007/03/21/DDGRJN7JL51.DTL 
It's no good trying to figure these things out. The older I get, the more mysterious the world becomes. The more mysterious the bonds between other people become. I remember as an adolescent having all-night conversations picking apart human interactions. I don't have those conversations much anymore. I've become convinced that there is a mystery at the center of every relationship, good or bad, and the mystery remains a mystery, as all really superior mysteries do.

 And in the end. . .
SURREAL PLAYING CARDS
http://www.dxpo-playingcards.com/xpo/art/surrealism01.htm


3/20
PHIL SPECTOR’S LATEST MAKEOVER

Looks a little like Barbara Billingsley. . .Ellen DeGeneres?

Conspiracy to keep Dave Clark Five out of R&R Hall of Fame?
Jann Wenner fixed vote for Grandmaster Flash?
http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur32123.cfm

“LADY” McCARTNEY DANCES WITH THE STARS---
She belongs on such dullard, dimwit fare
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6469879.stm
---AND THE GOOD PR STARTS!
http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news?id=29485
WATCH: THE HEATHER MCCARTNEY SONG
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhRw56V5xxA
WATCH: THE HEATHER MILLS JOB INTERVIEW
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RCymArjKFU
BRITPRESS: HEATHER MAKES A PIG OF HERSELF
http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/tm_headline=heather-makes-a-pig-of-herself--&method=full&objectid=18772117&siteid=62484-name_page.html
"People either love me or hate me," she said recently. Well she's half-right, and if the person out there who loves her is reading this I'd like them to identify themselves as I'm interested to see what a Heather fan looks like. The fact is that without the protection of the McCartney camp, Mills is now looking like a woman unhinged. Even the police in Brighton are sick of her histrionics.

ANNA NICOLE JUDGE BUSTED FOR POT
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Judge_in_late_Playboy_model_s_case__03192007.html

STAMPS ARE GOING TO COST MORE---AGAIN
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-postal-rates,0,5336154.story?coll=chi-bizfront-hed

DO ‘SECRET’ FBI FILES SHOW MONROE DEATH PLOT?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/03/19/wmonroe19.xml

And on to news and comment. . .

RUSSIA THREATENS TO WITHHOLD NUKE FUEL FROM IRAN
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/20/world/europe/20iran.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
“We’re not sure what mix of commercial and political motives are at play here,” one senior Bush administration official said in Washington. “But clearly the Russians and the Iranians are getting on each other’s nerves — and that’s not all bad.”

 Happy Anniversary, Iraq
FORMER IRAQI VP HANGED
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6468495.stm
77 PERCENT OF U.S. JEWS ARE AGAINST IRAQ WAR
http://www.commondreams.org/news2007/0319-02.htm
U.S. TROOPS IN IRAQ: BUSH CAN COME HERE AND FIGHT
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/US_troops_in_Iraq_want_out_03192007.html
REMEMBER THAT BILLION-DOLLAR U.S. EMBASSY?
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.embassy20mar20,0,1405287.story?coll=bal-oped-headlines
Congress has appropriated nearly $1 billion to build the largest embassy in the world. A significant portion of that money is for security infrastructure. This future "fortress" is housed in Saddam Hussein's former palace - providing more bad symbolism to the Iraqis.
BUSH’S TOP TEN IRAQ MISTAKES
http://www.juancole.com/2007/03/bushs-top-ten-mistakes-in-iraq-during.html
WORLD IGNORES IRAQI REFUGEES
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6470425.stm

What is the law?
BUSH PHONES GONZALES TO OFFER SUPPORT
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Bush_calls_Gonzales_to_express_support_0320.html
FITZGERALD WAS TARGETED BY JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/19/AR2007031902036.html

War in error
10,000 FALSE PASSPORTS A YEAR IN BRITAIN
http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,,2038442,00.html

Electile Dysfunction
WHO POSTED ANTI-BILLARY, PRO-OBAMA AD?
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/03/20/MNG0UOOA1Q1.DTL
IF YOU DIDN'T SEE IT HERE YESTERDAY. . .
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h3G-lMZxjo 

Plame-out
 DAVID SWANSON BLOGS LIVE FROM LEAK HEARINGS
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/19729

WATCH: CINDY SHEEHAN---STOP THIS BULLSHIT
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article17358.htm

LANDO: TIME TO DITCH THOSE HIGH-MINDED IRAQIS?
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article17357.htm
It’s time for the Iraqis to cease their bloody sectarian rivalries, disband their ruthless militias and death squads and take responsibility for their country’s fate. Why should American boys continue dying to save Iraqis from their own perverse selves? It’s a view expressed by all sides in the U.S. four years after the 2003 invasion. The problem is it shows no understanding of Iraq’s nightmarish past and calamitous psychological present.

HEUVEL: END THE WAR (ON TERROR)
http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0319-23.htm
Fighting terror requires genuine cooperation with other nations in policing and lawful and targeted intelligence work; smart diplomacy; withdrawal of support for oppressive regimes that generate hatred of the US; and real pressure to bring about negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians with the goal of achieving peace and security for Israel and justice and a secure state for the Palestinians. (There are other effective means of combating terrorism; what is important is that they are harnessed and coordinated so as to provide a true alternative to hyper-military ventures.)

BUSH’S SHADOW ARMY OF HIRED MERCENARIES
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/49307/
The often overlooked subplot of the wars of the post-9/11 period is their unprecedented scale of outsourcing and privatization. From the moment the US troop buildup began in advance of the invasion of Iraq, the Pentagon made private contractors an integral part of the operations. Even as the government gave the public appearance of attempting diplomacy, Halliburton was prepping for a massive operation.

 KRUGMAN: DON’T CRY FOR REAGAN
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/031907O.shtml
But Republicans shouldn't cry for Ronald Reagan; the truth is, he never left them. There's no need to reclaim the Reagan legacy: Mr. Bush is what Mr. Reagan would have been given the opportunity.

 Impeachy-Keen
DO YOU THINK IT’S TIME FOR IMPEACHMENT?
http://kucinich.us/node/3696
http://www.commondreams.org/news2007/0319-03.htm
WATCH: KUCINICH SINGS '16 TONS'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGmYhTYLbno

 Enviro Wacko
BUSH APPOINTEES WATERED DOWN GREENHOUSE INFO
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2038120,00.html

Jesus H. Christ!
CRAZY PAT IS PRO ‘BONG HITS’
He really should have a couple
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/20/MNGJMOO6UD1.DTL

(Lack of) Health
GM MOSQUITO COULD FIGHT MALARIA
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6468381.stm

World gone mad
‘BLACK JESUS’ FACES 30 CHARGES OF RAPE, MURDER IN NEW GUINEA
Er, he also ate them
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6469281.stm
THE LIFE OF A FORMER CHILD PROSTITUTE
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/this_world/6422729.stm

Animals in the news!
GM FLOURESCENT FISH SMUGGLED INTO GERMANY
I'll haff zee glowing green trout, bitte
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,472688,00.html
GORILLAS GAVE PUBIC LICE TO HUMANS
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/03/070316-gorilla-lice.html

Oh, by the way
THE ONLY WAY TO FLY---COMMERCIAL PILOT DRUNK AS A SKUNK
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23389549-details/Transatlantic+pilot+'more+than+six+times+over+alcohol+flying+limit'/article.do
SF WOMEN THWART DATE-RAPE DRUGGING
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/03/20/MNG0UOOA1Q1.DTL

And in more important matters. . .

THE DOCTOR IS IN---BUT IS HE LISTENING TO YOU?
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=8946558&sc=emaf

CHERRY BLOSSOMS FINALLY BLOOM IN JAPAN
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6469787.stm

SHOCKING NEWS! AN UNTROUBLED AFRICAN NATION!
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1600757,00.html

For Art’s Sake
THE ‘NET TURNS AMATEUR SELF-PORTRAITS INTO ART
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/19/features/photo.php

MEOWCHAT: NOT JUST FOR CRAZY CAT LADIES
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2007/03/20/petscol.DTL

INTERVIEW: JOHN HURT
http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/interviewpages/0,,2038230,00.html
As deeply grooved as a toast-rack, Hurt's face is all character, experience and fast living: you can see his four marriages on it, and the years spent on the booze (he gave it up for good three years ago, although he says, "I was never an Ollie Reed, I was more a Peter O'Toole"), but today he seems full of beans, a small miracle considering he got in at 7am from a night shoot for The Oxford Murders, co-starring Elijah Wood, and is running on just three hours' sleep.

 And in the end. . .
GEORGE BUSH RESPONDS TO CRITICS
http://www.grapheine.com/bombaytv/index.php?module=see&l=uk&code=6314fd1a7e1b255779661649590f2fae

3/16
Er. . .RATHER GOOD ANTI-BILLARY AD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h3G-lMZxjo

WOMAN ASKED FOR THUMBPRINT TO BUY BMW---CANCELS PURCHASE
What the hell do they need a thumbprint for? (And why does she need a BMW?)
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2007/03/ask_for_fingerprint_lose_1.php

MAN FLIES TO LONDON---NEXT TO A CORPSE
Beats sitting next to Oprah. . .
http://rawstory.com/news/dpa/British_Airways_passenger_seated_ne_03192007.html

ARE YOU A TWITTER?
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/19/BUG31OM9RN18.DTL
A simple little technology has the digerati all atwitter. Make that the twitterati. Twitter, a way to broadcast short text messages to large groups of people, is growing about 20 percent a week and in only seven months is already up to 60,000 users.

And on to news and comment. . .

 Happy Anniversary, Iraq!
ONE MILLION IRAQIS DEAD---SCIENTIST
http://uruknet.info/?p=m31468&s1=h1
KITTY KELLEY: WHY AREN’T THE BUSH DAUGHTERS IN IRAQ?
 http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-kelley19mar19,0,737381.story?track=mostviewed-storylevel
My suggestion comes after the White House announcement earlier this month that Jenna Bush, one of the president's twin daughters, is writing a book on her all-expenses-paid trip to Panama, where she worked for a few weeks as an intern for UNICEF. Jenna Bush is quoted as saying she will donate her earnings from her book to UNICEF, a commendable gesture, considering her father's net worth of $20 million. But while the 25-year-old makes the rounds of TV talk shows this fall in a White House limousine, dozens of her contemporaries will be arriving home from Iraq in wooden boxes. In Britain, Prince Harry is insisting on going off to Iraq — even as his country is reducing its troop commitment.
 GOODMAN: SON KILLED IN IRAQ,
FATHER FIGHTS FOR HIS MEMORY
http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0316-26.htm
Carlos suffered burns on more than one-quarter of his body. The physical healing was the easy part. It is the emotional healing that he pursues in his tireless and remarkable odyssey to end the war. To honor Alex's memory, he has been crisscrossing the country, from Capitol Hill to Crawford, Texas, pulling a flag-draped coffin. He calls it his public mourning: "I want the caskets coming home to be very public. The government doesn't want you to see them."
BLAIR, BUSH COULD BE BROUGHT UP ON WAR CRIMES
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article17347.htm
655,000 KILLED IN IRAQ---STUDY
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article15266.htm
COST OF WAR---A BREAKDOWN
http://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182
We could have paid for 54,249,514 children to attend a year of Head Start.
We could have built 3,687,918 additional housing units.
We could have hired 7,098,141 additional public school teachers for one year.

 What is the law?
U.S. ATTY CAROL LAM WAS FIRED
FOR INVESTIGATING REPUGNICANS
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-usattys19mar19,0,2790807.story?track=ntothtml
GONZALES FIRING ‘A MATTER OF TIME’
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/White_House_ponders_strategy_on_pro_03172007.html

Bush League
ROUGH WATERS AHEAD FOR PREZBOY
It’s about time
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Scandals_mean_rough_waters_ahead_fo_03182007.html
CARTOON: BUSH SHOWS WHAT ‘SERVE AT HIS PLEASURE’ MEANS
http://www.internetweekly.org/2007/03/cartoon_perverted_man_magazine.html

Freedom of what?
222 ARRESTED FOR PRAYING AT THE WHITE HOUSE
http://www.nbc4.com/news/11280644/detail.html
THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIANS PROTEST THE WAR
 http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20070317-0647-warprotest-christians.html

WHITEHEAD: THE LATE, GREAT USA
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article17348.htm
Prior to the elections that transformed the makeup of Congress, the Bush Administration pushed for the inclusion of two stealth provisions into a mammoth defense budget bill. The additions made it easier for the government to declare martial law and establish a dictatorship.

 NEOCONS IN CHENEY’S OFFICE STILL FUND AL-QAEDA-LINKED GROUPS---
AND NO ONE APPARENTLY CARES
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/49275/
Seymour Hersh's recent report that Iran-Contra veterans working out of Dick Cheney's office are using stolen funds from Iraq to arm al Qaeda-tied groups and foment a larger Sunni-Shia war is a very big deal.

Iraq and Roll
IRAQIS GIVE U.S. THUMBS-DOWN
Gee, wonder why. . .
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6464277.stm
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Iraqis_give_US_thumbs_down_four_yea_03192007.html
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER BOMB, ANOTHER 14 DEATHS
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6466273.stm
BOMB HITS U.S. EMBASSY CONVOY IN KABUL
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1104AP_Afghan_Violence.html?source=mypi

Queen Condi

RICE: WE ERRED ON NUMBER OF TROOPS IN IRAQ
Right. Should have sent zero.
 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070319/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_iraq_14
PALAST:
SECRET CONDI MEETING ABOUT OIL BEFORE INVASION
http://www.gregpalast.com/its-still-the-oilsecret-condi-meeting-on-oil-before-invasion/

Israelity
 KRISTOF:
U.S. SHOULD STOP BITING ITS TONGUE ON ISRAEL
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Kristof_US_should_stop_biting_tongue_0317.html
"Within Israel, you hear vitriolic debates in politics and the news media about the use of force and the occupation of Palestinian territories," Kristof notes. "Yet no major American candidate is willing today to be half as critical of hard-line Israeli government policies as, say, Haaretz, the Israeli newspaper."
 George Soros: On Israel, America and AIPAC
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/20030
The Bush administration is once again in the process of committing a major policy blunder in the Middle East, one that is liable to have disastrous consequences and is not receiving the attention it should.

 Electile Dysfunction
 MCCAIN WOULD CLOSE GITMO
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/McCain_I_would_immediate_close_Gitmo_0318.html

Enviro Wacko
EX-CIA CHIEF: U.S. MUST ACT ON CLIMATE
Would be nice, for starters, to have winter and spring again in Southern California
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/19/AR2007031900515.html
BRITS GIVE TAX BREAKS TO ‘GREEN’ HOMES
http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2037404,00.html

Mashed Media
 DOUG THOMPSON: RUSSERT SHOULD BE ASHAMED FOR BOOKING TOM DELAY
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/cm/content/view/287/162/
FATHER ASKS PALESTINIANS TO RETURN KIDNAPPED BBC REPORTER
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6465605.stm
TONY SNOWJOB TELLS CNN REPORTER TO ‘ZIP IT’
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/19/snow-henry-zip-it/

Lost Angeles
THE RACE WAR OF L.A.
http://www.alternet.org/rights/49372/
Bowers and most African-Americans and Latinos living in Harbor Gateway and other poor neighborhoods that are home to LA's 700 gangs and 40,000 gang members -- the largest concentration of gangs in the world -- increasingly find themselves trapped as unwilling gladiators in a zero-sum, black-versus-brown game, one broadcast as if it were a sporting event.

 World gone mad
SEX SLAVES TRADED IN BRIT AIRPORT COFFEE SHOPS
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/6459369.stm
JON CARROLL ON PAIN VICTIM DENIED POT
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/19/DDGRJN7GIF1.DTL
So on one side: seriously ill woman in excruciating pain. On the other side: comfortable judges expressing tasteful reluctance. I know, if we ignore the laws we rip the fabric of society, and we can't break a law just because we don't agree with it, and we certainly can't interpret laws in order to get a desirable outcome. Oh yes, and that never happens. Except, say, for Bush vs. Gore, where the Supreme Court, citing nothing at all that made any sense, made George Bush president because it wanted him to be president. And then it said: This ruling is not a precedent, it's just a thing we felt like doing.
 HITLER STILL HAS GERMAN CITIZENSHIP
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,471168,00.html

Animals in the news
CRAZY ANIMAL RIGHTS PEOPLE WANT POLAR BEAR CUB KILLED---
BECAUSE THE POOR THING WAS BOTTLE-RAISED
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,472480,00.html

Spaced out
LUNAR DUST MAY HARM ASTRONAUTS
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6460089.stm

Oh, by the way. . .
 CLASSIC VW BUSES MAKING BIG COMEBACK
http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,471467,00.html
The hippie-era icon is back with a vengeance. Never before have as many VW vans been seen in movies. Apart from "Cars," there is the comedy "Little Miss Sunshine," in which a family of six travel through the United States in a yellow van, and the political thriller "Blood Diamond," in which Leonardo DiCaprio bombs down the roads of Sierra Leone in a blue-and-white model. Even Nelson Mandela (played by Dennis Haysbert) is taking a seat in the Volkswagen van -- in the prison drama "Goodbye Bafana."
248-DIMENSION MATH PUZZLE SOLVED
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6466129.stm
JURY AWARDS MAN $122, 400 FOR CAT BITE
Here, kitty kitty. . .
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/03/19/national/a072328D63.DTL

Real gone
R.I.P. DIRECTOR STUART ROSENBERG
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/19/arts/19rosenberg.html?_r=1&ref=obituaries&oref=slogin

And in more important matters. . .

 Musique
JONI MITCHELL: ‘I CAME TO HATE MUSIC’
Five years after she told the 'pornographic pigs' of the music industry she was through, Joni Mitchell is back: feisty, funny and doing a mean Dylan impression.
http://music.guardian.co.uk/folk/story/0,,2037337,00.html
PHIL SPECTOR GUILTY---OF LOOKING LIKE PHYLLIS DILLER
No, she actually looks much better. . .
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6465663.stm

For Art’s Sake
 CRUMB’S WIFE HAS HER OWN STORIES TO SKETCH
http://www.canada.com/components/print.aspx?id=0cfe8d95-ab41-454e-a91f-e4e56cd47abb

Film
WILL EMMA WATSON FINISH ‘POTTER’ FILMS?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6465875.stm
WOODY ALLEN HEADS FOR SPAIN
http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0,,2037355,00.html
Allen was slow to come to terms with his age. Until recently, a succession of young female leads were cast opposite him until the audience no longer hoped for a happy ending, but instead wanted to scream: "Leave her alone, grandad!" The old shtick had seen him through the earlier, funnier films and the more reflective films of his middle period, but it just wouldn't work as he reached his later years.

 And in the end. . .
GEORGE HARRISON AND PAUL SIMON
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3LJ28o2jj0&mode=related&search=


3/16
L.A.me TIMES, EVER IN TOUCH WITH THE COMMON PEOPLE,
RECOMMENDS $11,000 COFFEE MAKER!
http://todd.journalspace.com/

DAILY SHOW ON ‘PLEASURE OF THE PRESIDENT’
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Daily_Show_Gonzales_gives_pleasure_to_0315.html

Lost Angeles
KRISPY KREMES AT DIABETES FUNDRAISER
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2007/03/donuts_at_a_diabetes_roas.php

‘WINTER’ WAS HOTTEST IN RECORDED HISTORY
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6456897.stm

THE MIDGET GANG OF MALAYSIA!
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/03/15/international/i140342D09.DTL&type=bondage

VIRGIN MARY OF BAVARIA IS CRYING
Who can blame her?
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,472110,00.html

MORFORD: CAN BUSH BE PURGED?
(This should be a Pulitzer winner. . .)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2007/03/16/notes031607.DTL
The Great Bleakness is nearing its end and you can veritably feel the swarm of uptight BushCo demons and malicious energies swirling around the country like happy karmic leeches, like a giant intellectual rash, like black raindrops of dank sweat from Karl Rove's evil mealy thighs. To make matters worse, these dark energies, these base spirits were actually invited here by the Powers That Be, by those quivering, shivering, terrified armies of evangelical right-wing neocon bonk jobs and attorneys general and sour Supreme Court justices and scowling defense secretaries lo these past half-dozen years, and this means they shall not leave easily, despite how it is quickly coming time for them to be shoved back down into the bowels of fear and shrill egomania whence they came.

And on to today's news and comment. . .

 What is the law?
‘KEEP LOYAL BUSHIES’---JUSTICE DEPT.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/16/MNGMPOME111.DTL
STEPHANOPOLOUS: GONZALES WILL RESIGN
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/16/stephanopoulos-gonales-resign/
MORE REPUGS TURN AGAINST CROOK GONZALES
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/cm/content/view/270/159/
GONZALES LOOKING MORE AND MORE CROOKED BY THE SECOND
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Conyers_demands_answers_from_Attorney_General_0315.html
"It would be an extraordinary abuse of authority if you advised the President on this matter after learning that your own conduct
 was to be investigated," Conyers wrote.
KARL THE PIG WANTED TO FIRE ALL 93 U.S. ATTORNEYS
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Kucinich_Impeachment_may_well_be_only_0315.html
GONZALES AIDE CALLED U.S. ATTY A ‘REAL PROBLEM’
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines07/0315-05.htm


9/11, 7/11, what’s the diff?
MOHAMMAD EXAGGERATED 9/11 CLAIMS
http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2007/03/16/news/national/doc45fa976695eeb145479900.txt
BIT OF A PROBLEM WITH THAT 9/11 CONFESSION. . .
http://www.atlargely.com/
CONFESSION COULD AID OTHER 9/11 DEFENDANTS
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/16/america/web-0316legal.php
DANIEL PEARL’S PARENTS ON CONFESSION:
IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW WHETHER TRUE OR FALSE
 http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2007/03/pearls_respond.php


Israelity
ISRAEL LOBBY SUMMIT:
A SURREAL FEST OF ‘ADORATION FOR CHENEY,’ EVANGELICALS
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Israel_lobbys_summit_included_adoration_for_0316.html
THE ISRAEL LOBBY GIVES USA’S LEADING
‘CHRISTIAN’ RIGHT WARMONGER A WARM WELCOME
http://www.alternet.org/story/49230/

HUGE FIRE BURNS TRAIN TRESTLE IN SACTO
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/03/16/MNG99OMI6V1.DTL

War for Oil
BIG OIL HEIST UNDER WAY---
BILL WILL GIVE IRAQI GREASE TO CORPSE-ORATIONS
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/031507P.shtml
A new oil law set to go before the Iraqi Parliament this month would, if passed, go a long way toward helping the oil companies achieve their goal. The Iraq hydrocarbon law would take the majority of Iraq's oil out of the exclusive hands of the Iraqi government and open it to international oil companies for a generation or more.
 CALIF. MAN REFUSES TO SURRENDER HOME FOR CONOCO-PHILLIPS
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/16/BAGIHOMGNJ1.DTL

Plame-Out
 PLAME TESTIFIES TO CONGRESS TODAY
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/15/AR2007031502448_pf.html

Impeachy Keen
 KUCINICH BRINGS UP IMPEACHMENT ON HOUSE FLOOR
Better late than never
 http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Kucinich_Impeachment_may_well_be_only_0315.html

Iraq and Roll
SUICIDE WAS THE ONLY WAY OUT FOR COL WESTHUSING
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/49233/
Writing in his suicide note, "I am sullied -- no more," U.S. Colonel Ted Westhusing, father of three, chose death over a life of lies and corruption in Iraq.
MARINE WHO MURDERED 18 WOULD DO IT AGAIN
War is hell
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2007-03-15T211026Z_01_N15471298_RTRUKOC_0_US-USA-IRAQ-MARINE.xml&src=rss&rpc=22
SENATE REJECTS IRAQ PULLOUT PLAN
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/US_Senate_rejects_Democrat_Iraq_wit_03152007.html
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, IRAQ WAR!
http://www.time.com/time/2007/iraq/index.html
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER FOUR SOLDIERS DEAD
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSIBO53734020070315
Related story:
THE ‘DISAPPEARED’ OF PAKISTAN
People are grabbed off the streets by gov’t. and are never seen again
http://www.guardian.co.uk/pakistan/Story/0,,2035478,00.html

Electile Dysfunction
OBAMA: THE MALE OPRAH?
http://www.amconmag.com/2007/2007_03_12/feature.html
Beneath this bland Good Obama lies a more interesting character, one that I like far better—the Bad Obama, a close student of other people’s weaknesses, a literary artist of considerable power in plumbing his deep reservoirs of self-pity and resentment, an unfunny Evelyn Waugh consumed by indignation toward his own mother’s people. He has been hiding out on the bestseller lists for the last two years in his enormously revealing, but little understood, 1995 “autobiography”—a more accurate term might be “autobiographical novel”—Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance.
HUGO CHAVEZ: I COULD BE ELECTED U.S. PREZ
http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=2953838&page=1 
BILLARY BACKPEDALS ON GAYS, IRAQ
 http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/03/16/hillary-clinton-backpedals-on-gays-iraq/
SIGN THE ‘DRAFT AL GORE’ PETITION (IF YOU WANT)
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/algore2008/

(Adam’s) Apple Annie
9TH PAPER DROPS THE COULTER WITCH!
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003558260
COULTERGEIST TRIES TO CASH IN ON ‘FAGGOT’ REMARK
Rides press to announce new book
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=4274

Mashed Media
L.A.me TIMES TO HIRE CELEB GUEST EDITORS!
Paper in hands of out-of-town rube crackpots now
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2007/03/geffen_wasnt_available.php#more 
INTERN STEALS CIVIL WAR DOCS, SELLS THEM ON EBAY
http://www.physorg.com/news93244744.html
JON CARROLL: INTERNET BEEN VERY VERY GOOD TO ME
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2007/03/16/DDGRJN7N7M1.DTL
Newspapers have been worried about the Internet forever, fearing that the Internet might usurp their role in the information galaxy, whatever that role is. (Newspapers are also worried about their role.) Many people have said that newspapers should try to figure out a way to make money off the Internet. Well, hell, everybody is trying to figure out a way to make money off the Internet. It's a national pastime.

Warp speed
 GERMANY JAILS HOLOCAUST DENIER FOR 30 MONTHS
http://rawstory.com/news/dpa/German_Holocaust_denier_Rudolf_jail_03152007.html
JAPAN---AGAIN---CLAIMS NO WOMEN
WERE FORCED TO BECOME SEX SLAVES
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6457675.stm

Enviro Wacko
 ICELESS ARCTIC SUMMERS BY 2100!
Great! That will make it easy for our big corpse-orations to drill for all that oil and natural gas!
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-arctic16mar16,0,3551658.story?coll=la-home-headlines
MARS POLE HOLDS ENOUGH ICE TO FLOOD PLANET
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/03/070315-mars-water.html

Technically speaking
GERMAN HYBRID CARS ARE FULL OF BUGS
http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,472189,00.html

(Lack of) HEALTH
 ANTIBACTERIAL SOAPS ALSO ANTI-HUMAN?
Combined with chlorinated water, they produce toxins
http://www.newstarget.com/021703.html

Animals in the news!
 AMAZING NEW LEOPARD SPECIES FOUND!
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/03/070315-leopard-picture.html
THE AMAZING POISON-PROOF SUPER-RATS OF GERMANY!
http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,471237,00.html

Oh, by the way. . .
THE FABULOUS SWEET-SMELLING COPS OF INDIA!
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/03/15/international/i142707D14.DTL&type=bondage
SINGAPORE CAN’T GET ALONG WITH ITS NEIGHBORS
 http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/15/news/singapore.php
CHINA TENNIS STAR CONTINUES HER RISE
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/15/sports/TENNIS.php

R.I.P BOWIE KUHN
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/16/JENKINS.TMP
R.I.P. BARBARA GITTINGS, GAY RIGHTS ACTIVIST SINCE ‘50’S
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/15/obituaries/15gittings.html?_r=1&ref=obituaries&oref=slogin

And in more important matters. . .

 Books
 ‘ALICE’ IS A GREAT HERO IN RUSSIA WONDERLAND
http://context.themoscowtimes.com/story/174970/
"There's one important point about Carroll's books," she said. "Traditional fairy tales of that era -- be they British, German or Russian -- were rather fearsome, and the children in them were often afraid. 'Alice' is different; there's no fear in it. I think that's very important." So perhaps the lack of fear was one reason behind Carroll's popularity in the Soviet Union: For people stuck in a gray reality, Alice's rabbit hole and looking-glass offered a way out.

YOKO’S CHAUFFER CAN VOLUNTARILY LEAVE THE U.S.
http://www.postchronicle.com/news/entertainment/tittletattle/article_21269418.shtml

CREEPY COWELL: I’M BIGGER THAN SPRINGSTEEN
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6457281.stm

McCARTNEY STARBUCKS MOVE TO PROTECT FUTURE EARNINGS FROM EX-SHREW
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/article-23388851-details/Macca+switches+record+labels+to+ensure+Heather+has+no+claim/article.do

Film
 RAINER ON ‘PREMONITION’
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0316/p11s02-almo.html
RAINER ON ‘BEYOND THE GATES’
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0316/p14s02-almo.html
RAINER ON ‘ULTIMATE’
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0316/p14s01-almo.html#ultimate

And in the end. . .
MAKE YOUR OWN INDIAN MOVIE!
http://www.grapheine.com/bombaytv/index.php?module=see&l=uk&code=1ff9a407013a244a33dc2cb42fb09188


3/14
 NAKED PEOPLE TO PROTEST FOR BERKELEY OAKS
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/13/BAGC4OKKQ914.DTL

M.S. VICTIM SERVING 25 YEARS FOR PAIN KILLERS
http://www.alternet.org/rights/49191/
Richard Paey -- who suffers both multiple sclerosis and from the aftermath of a disastrous and barbaric back surgery that resulted in multiple major malpractice judgments -- now receives virtually twice as much morphine in prison than the equivalent in opioid medications for which he was convicted of forging prescriptions.

2.5 BILLION MORE NASTY HUMANS BY 2050
http://rawstory.com/news/dpa/World_population_is_ageing_expected_03132007.html

VIACOM SUES GOOGLE, YOUTUBE FOR A BILLION BUCKS
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6446193.stm

And on to news and comment. . .

‘LOYALTY’ TO BUSH WAS FACTOR IN U.S. ATTY FIRINGS
Shades of Nixon. . .
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/14/washington/14justice.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
WHITE HOUSE STAGGERED BY LATEST SCANDAL
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/cm/content/view/243/159/
GONZALES: MY FUTURE IS UP TO BUSH
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070314/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/gonzales_prosecutors
EDWARDS, CLINTON CALL ON GONZALES TO RESIGN
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/edc_0313.html
THOMPSON: WHAT A PLEASURE!
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/cm/content/view/249/162/
The Bush administration, trying to extricate itself from yet another scandal, tries to dismiss the firing of eight U.S. attorneys who failed the White House loyalty test as a legal move because the attorneys "serve at the pleasure of the President." OK. Fair enough. But let's remember that under our system of government, George W. Bush serves as President at the pleasure of the American people. And we've got a newsflash for you Mr. Bush. We, the American people no longer believe you should be serving at our pleasure.

NEW SECRET RENDITONS IN AFRICA---CLAIM
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/world/16897041.htm

RIOTS GREET EVER-POPULAR BOOOSH IN MEXICO CITY
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6444351.stm

PAKISTAN ISLAMIC MILITANTS BOMBING THEIR OWN PEOPLE
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/14/asia/web-0314pakistan.php
Diplomats and concerned residents see the bombings as proof of a spreading "Talibanization," as Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, calls it, which has seeped into more settled districts of Pakistan from the tribal areas along the border, where the Taliban and Al Qaeda have made a home.
U.S. PLANNING TO OUST MUSHARRAF?
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21378237-2703,00.html

Iraq and Roll
 INJURED TROOPS ARE ORDERED TO IRAQ
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines07/0312-03.htm

IRAN CONDEMNS ‘300’ AS U.S. PROPAGANDA
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6446183.stm

Electile Dysfunction
BILLARY: ‘VAST RIGHT-WING CONSPIRACY’ IS BACK
Why there is any controversy over this statement is beyond us. . .
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6478197,00.html
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday described past Republican political malfeasance in New Hampshire as evidence of a ``vast, right-wing conspiracy.''

 The Torture Never Stops
 CONFESSIONS OF A TORTURER
http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/torture/
The story of U.S. Army interrogator Tony Lagouranis

 Your Corporatocracy at Work!
HALLIBURTON: A NATIONAL DISGRACE
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article2355966.ece
It is a symbol of American cronyism, the beneficiary of lucrative Iraq contracts thanks to its relationship with Dick Cheney. Now Halliburton is relocating to Dubai - and US politicians are outraged.

HOUSE REPUGS CONDEMN MUSLIM GROUP’S MEETING IN CAPITOL
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/house-gop-condemns-muslim-groups-meeting-in-the-capitol-2007-03-12.html
“Despite numerous opportunities, CAIR has repeatedly refused to condemn terrorist action by groups like Hamas and Hezbollah,” said Hensarling. “It is hard enough for members of Congress to reserve meeting rooms in the Capitol, and I am sure that there are many other places for groups to meet in private offices throughout Washington.”


WAS I A GOOD AMERICAN IN THE TIME OF PRESIDENT BUSH?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2033238,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=27
Too many of us have done too little to stop the crimes of this White House. We are waking up but what took us so long?

 RAIMUNDO: PELOSI’S BETRAY---THE DEMOCRAPS CAVE ON IRAN
http://antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=10674
One has to wonder how those who claim that recognizing the Israel Lobby's decisive impact on U.S. foreign policy is a hate crime are going to explain away this one.

 SOLOMON: THE PRAGMATISM OF A PROLONGED WAR
http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0313-23.htm
A historic tragedy is that the most hefty progressive organization, MoveOn, seems to have wrapped itself around the political sensibilities of Reid, Pelosi and others at the top of Capitol Hill leadership. Deference to that leadership is a big mistake. We already have a Democratic Party. Over time, a vibrant progressive group loses vibrance by forfeiting independence and becoming a virtual appendage of party leaders.

TIME FOR CHRISTIANS TO TEACH PEACE
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.christians14mar14,0,3666944.story?coll=bal-oped-headlines
We believe Jesus' moral vision is utterly inconsistent with the war in Iraq. Jesus understood that violence exercised by human beings seldom achieves the "just ends" that legitimize its use. In particular, he rejected the Roman Empire's claim that peace and security were primarily a function of military might. More than four years ago, the president laid out a cause for preventive war that swayed the nation. Today, whatever moral authority he had to wage war in Iraq has vanished. Indeed, we believe we have a moral imperative to stand up and demand an end to an unjustifiable war.

KAMIYA: THE COULTERIZATION OF THE AMERICAN RIGHT
http://www.salon.com/opinion/kamiya/2007/03/13/coulter/index_np.html
The "faggot" episode isn't about Ann Coulter. It's about the deal conservatism made with the devil -- a deal that has cost it its soul.


 Big Dick
 WATCH: DAILY SHOW ON CHENEY’S LOSS OF CLOUT
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/03/14/daily-show-is-cheney-losing-his-clout/

Animals in the news!
YOU CALL YOURSELF PROGRESSIVE, BUT YOU STILL EAT MEAT?
http://www.alternet.org/envirohealth/49188/
As for having strength and energy on a vegetarian diet, some of the world's top athletes are vegetarian. A few examples: Carl Lewis (perhaps the greatest Olympian of all time), Robert Parish (one of the "50 Greatest Players in NBA History"), Desmond Howard (Heisman Trophy winner and Super Bowl MVP), Bill Pearl (professional bodybuilder and four-time Mr. Universe), Jack La Lanne (Mr. Fitness himself) and Chris Evert (tennis champion). Vegetarian athletes have the advantage of getting all the plant protein, complex carbohydrates and fiber they need without all the artery-clogging cholesterol and saturated animal fats found in meat that would slow them down. In fact, Carl Lewis says that "my best year of track competition was the first year I ate a vegan diet."
MONKEYS HUNTED TO EXTINCTION IN S. AMERICA
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,471471,00.html
Smoked and salted primate meat is increasingly being sold at local markets to feed a rising human population in the Amazon basin. Tourist shops in the region are now increasingly selling hats from monkey-skins and necklaces from monkey teeth. In addition a growing number of primates are being killed for so-called 'medicinal' purposes as well as bait for large cats or fish.
CHINA REMOVES BEAR, SHARK FROM OLYMPIC MENUS
http://rawstory.com/news/dpa/Beijing_lawmaker_urges_removal_of_u_03142007.html

Mardis Grave
ARMY INSTALLED FAULTY PUMPS IN NEW ORLEANS
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,,-6478854,00.html

Mashed Media
AL GORE TV---IT’S YOUTUBE FOR THE TUBE
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6442567.stm

(Lack of) Health
FDA APPROVES BREAST CANCER DRUG
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1598883,00.html

Oh, by the way. . .
ABC ANCHOR GIVES KIDNEY TO FRIEND
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2007/03/abc_7s_phillip_palmer_to.php
JAWBONE LEAVES HUMANS FEELING DATED
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,2032480,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=12
THE GREAT JAPAN CHERRY BLOSSOM FORECAST SCANDAL!
http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20070314p2a00m0na018000c.html
A glitch in a Meteorological Agency program used to predict when cherry blossoms will bloom resulted in the agency announcing dates earlier than the actual blooming times for at least four places including central Tokyo, it has been learned.

And in more important matters. . .

 MORFORD ON THE 100 WORST-REVIEWED MOVIES EVER
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2007/03/14/notes031407.DTL 

THE AMAZING 30-YEAR FEUD BETWEEN LITERARY GREATS
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article1505968.ece
It is possibly the most famous literary feud of modern times: Gabriel García Márquez, the Nobel prize-winning author, and Mario Vargas Llosa, his fellow giant of Latin American literature, have refused to talk to each other for three decades.

 STEPHEN HAWKING PACKS ‘EM IN
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/14/NEVIUS.TMP 

DIEHARD BEATLES FAN CONDUCTS ‘MYSTERY TOURS’ OF LIVERPOOL
http://travel.guardian.co.uk/article/2007/mar/14/liverpool.uk.culturaltrips
“They’re just ordinary places,” a Liverpudlian colleague reminds me when I tell him about the trip. Well, yes: but the very ordinariness of the Beatles' origins - the Englishness, even - is one of the things that make the band remarkable.

McCARTNEY WILL LEAVE CAPITOL FOR STARBUCKS LABEL
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,258341,00.html

‘LADY’ McCARTNEY WILL BRING SPARE LEG TO ‘DANCING WITH THE STARS’
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070314/ap_en_ce/people_heather_mills;_ylt=Ak3JAVtg9HN3n5rDNIw9tufMWM0F

SLIDE SHOW: ASTOUNDINGLY WEIRD JAPANESE FASHION
http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/photospecials/graph/photojournal/1.html

And in the end. . .
DYLAN HEARS A WHO
http://dylanhearsawho.com/home.htm

3/13
PAIGE RENSE, ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST EDITOR, PLANS
ENORMOUS TOMB---FOR HERSELF AND ARTIST HUBBY
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770307068 

HERE IT IS---‘THE ZONE OF TRUTH’
All your conspiracy madness needs on one convenient page!
http://www.geocities.com/northstarzone/index.html

NO BEATLES MUSIC DOWNLOAD
The Rip Post is glad that Apple is sticking to “old-fashioned” CDs
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6441979.stm

THE GRINGO-IN-CHIEF’S SPRING BREAK!
http://www.internetweekly.org/2007/03/cartoon_gringo_in_chief.html

And on to the zone of news and comment. . .

MASSIVE PROTEST GREETS PREZBOY IN GUATEMALA
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21378306-2703,00.html

Iran from the truth
DEMOCRAPS CAVE IN TO ISRAEL PRESSURE ON IRAN
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1153AP_US_Iraq.html?source=mypi
Democratic leaders are stripping from a military spending bill for the war in Iraq a requirement that President Bush gain approval from Congress before moving against Iran. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other leaders agreed to remove the requirement concerning Iran after conservative Democrats as well as other lawmakers worried about its possible impact on Israel, officials said Monday.
RUSSIA REFUSES TO DELIVER NUKE MATERIAL TO IRAN
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,471398,00.html
IRAN HOLDS GERMAN TOURIST PRISONER FOR 16 MONTHS
His fishing boat strayed into Iran waters
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,471392,00.html
EXACTLY WHO IS THE BIG MEDDLER IN IRAQ?
HINT: IT ISN’T IRAN
http://civillibertarian.blogspot.com/2007/03/case-of-meddling-iranians.html
Meddling, if not infinite meddling, is the invasion and perpetual occupation of distant Iraq, a country that had no common borders with United States of America and had shown no hostile intent or action towards her.

 What is the law?
U.S. ATTY FIRING STOPPED ABRAMOFF INVESTIGATION
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/03/13/us-attorney-removal-halted-abramoff-investigation/
CRAZY BUSH WANTED TO FIRE ALL 93 U.S. ATTORNEYS!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2032783,00.html
CONGRESS DEMANDS ROVE TESTIMONY IN U.S. ATTY FIRINGS
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/031307J.shtml
ARMY SURGEON GENERAL OUSTED OVER WALTER REED---
http://cbs11tv.com/politics/local_story_072090802.html
---AND HIS REPLACEMENT REPEATS INANE ‘YELLOW JOURNALISM’ CHARGE
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/13/kiley-replacement/
Army Surgeon General Kevin Kiley, who described the Washington Post’s investigation of Walter Reed as “yellow journalism at its worst,” was replaced yesterday by his deputy Maj. Gen. Gale S. Pollock. As the Post reports today, Pollack seems to be cut from the same cloth:

 Queen Condi

WAXMAN DEMANDS RICE RESPOND TO IRAQ QUESTIONS
Condi has blithely ignored 11 letters
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Waxman_to_Rice_Answer_11_letters_0312.html
OF COURSE, CONDI HAS BEEN BUSY BOOGIEING LATELY
Yes, we posted this yesterday, but it’s too damn good---like an old SNL parody
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Bush_Laura_and_Condi_get_jiggy_0310.html
BELAFONTE: SOMEBODY NEEDS TO TEACH CONDI ABOUT BLACKNESS
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/BBC_Belafonte_explains_Condi_house_slave_0312.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6420733.stm

Jesus H. Christ!
POPE SAYS CELIBACY “MANDATORY” FOR PRIESTS
Oh, that help cut down on child molestation. . .
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Pope_confirms_celibacy_obligatory_f_03132007.html
EVANGELICALS SHOW SIGNS OF SANITY---DENOUNCE U.S. TORTURE PRACTICES
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2032616,00.html

Enviro Wacko
MASSIVE DROUGHT ON THE WAY
In 20 years, there will not be enough water for humanity
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070311/D8NPKSRG2.html
Tropical diseases like malaria will spread. By 2050, polar bears will mostly be found in zoos, their habitats gone. Pests like fire ants will thrive. For a time, food will be plentiful because of the longer growing season in northern regions. But by 2080, hundreds of millions of people could face starvation, according to the report, which is still being revised.

 Iraq and Roll
WHY SHOULD ANY IRAQI BE GRATEFUL TO THE USA?
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/03/13/will-they-ever-trust-us-again/
Scott Pelley reports for 60 Minutes on the plight of Iraqis who risked everything to help the United States, only to see us all but turn our backs on them when they needed us most. How can anyone defend this war and all the havoc it has wreaked on the Iraqi population? Upwards of 600,000 killed; 1.8 million displaced; an emboldened Iran; and no end in sight. Will they ever trust us again? Have we given them any reason to?

 Israelity
UN COMMITTEE: ISRAEL SHOULD LET PALESTINIANS RETURN TO THEIR LAND
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/835430.html

Electile Dysfunction
INTERVIEW: BARACK OBAMA’S PASTOR
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,471221,00.html

Mashed Media
 PALESTINIAN GUNMEN KIDNAP BBC TV REPORTER
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003556968
JAY LEVIN STARTS NEW L.A. MAG
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2007/01/jay_levins_magazine.php
JUDGE ALLOWS UNION ELECTION AT SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS
Maybe this will stop the lunatic owner from destroying the paper
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003557247
BOSTON GLOBE UNION RUNS ANTI-OUTSOURCING ADS
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003557247
WATCH: THE TWO-AND-HALF MINUTE FOX NEWS, STARRING ANN COULTER!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARY9ka2o2J4

CARROLL: 60 YEARS OF FAULTY LOGIC
http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0312-21.htm
Last week, the Bush administration announced plans for the first new nuclear weapon in more than 20 years, a program of ultimately replacing all American warheads. So much for the nuclear elimination toward which the United States is legally bound to work by the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. Washington simultaneously assured Russia and China that this renewal of the nuclear arsenal was no cause for them to feel threatened. Hello? Russia and China have no choice but to follow the US lead, inevitably gearing up another arms race. It is 1947 all over again. A precious opportunity to turn the world away from nuclear weapons, and away from war, is once more being squandered -- by America. And what candidate running for president makes anything of this?

 EHRENREICH: THE FASCIST AMERICAN WORKPLACE
http://www.alternet.org/workplace/49008/
George Orwell's "1984" is already here and it's called the American workplace, but finally there's a law in the works that might make jobs livable.

Technically speaking
THE AMAZING DEEP-SEA OBSERVATORY OF MONTERY BAY!
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/13/BAG6AOK89O1.DTL

Enviro Wacko
 LET’S CALL THE COAL THING OFF
http://www.grist.org/news/muck/2007/03/09/nocoal/index.html
Industry boosters tout the prospect of so-called "clean coal," but right now there is simply no such thing. Zero-carbon coal plants -- ones that will gasify coal, filter carbon dioxide from the vapor, then stow the CO2 underground -- are a long way off from commercial application.

 Animals in the news!
MACY’S SELLS DOG, RACCOON FUR CLOTHING
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1598526,00.html
Jim Sluzewski, a spokesman for Macy's parent, Federated Department Stores Inc., said his company opposes selling dog fur but takes its vendors on faith that they comply with company policy. "It is our vendors that label product, and we expect them to do so accurately," he said in an e-mail. "We take immediate action whenever we find a violation of policy."Late last year, Macy's immediately pulled from its shelves coats with raccoon dog fur but labeled as raccoon and advertised as rabbit after the Humane Society raised the issue with the chain. "Macy's hasn't done enough as far as we're concerned," Markarian said Monday, claiming that it is still selling other products with raccoon dog fur.
THE FABULOUS SALAMANDER TONGUE!
It's the World's Most Explosive Muscle
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/03/070309-salamander.html
WHALE/GIANT SQUID SMACKDOWN!
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/03/070312-giant-squid.html

Oh, by the way. . .
THE LIGHTHOUSE LADY OF BOSTON
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0313/p20s01-lign.html
THE MONIED RICH OF ‘COMMUNIST’ VIETNAM
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0313/p06s01-woap.html

And in more important matters. . .

TEN FINE QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE FUTURE OF THE HUMANITIES IN THE USA
http://www.theamericanscholar.org/sp07/humanitiesquestion-mallon.html

JAPANESE ROYALS ARE PRISONERS OF THEIR STAFF
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6441325.stm 

STARBUCKS TO LAUNCH MUSIC LABEL
McCartney to be first artist signed?
http://music.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2032739,00.html

R.I.P. BETTY HUTTON
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/03/12/entertainment/e191738D59.DTL

WHAT IF DINOSAURS HAD EVOLVED?
What if? Looked around Washington. D.C. lately?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6444811.stm

DOGS WILL SNIFF OUT COUNTERFEIT MOVIES
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Dogs_to_sniff_out_counterfeit_movie_03132007.html

Musique
 HONORING THE TOM PAINE OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?pid=174154
PATTI SMITH RUMINATES ON BEING IN THE R&R HALL OF FAME
http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0312-31.htm

And in the end. . .
KEEP YOUR JESUS OFF MY PENIS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exDo2SMdB-0

3/12
 WATCH AND GASP: BUSH, LAURA, CONDI BOOGIE IN BRAZIL!
Do Americans get uglier than this?
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Bush_Laura_and_Condi_get_jiggy_0310.html

ISRAEL AMBASSADOR TO EL SALVADOR FOUND WANDERING NAKED---
EXCEPT FOR “SEX ACCESSORIES”
Funny old world!
http://rawstory.com/news/dpa/Israeli_ambassador_recalled_for_bar_03122007.html

3/14 IS PI DAY!
http://cbs5.com/watercooler/watercooler_story_070210806.html

NON-VIOLENT MALAYSIAN MONKS FACE ANT PROBLEM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6441631.stm

MEET THE HAPPIEST MAN ON EARTH
Hint: He is not known as “The Donald”
http://www.amazon.com/Joy-Living-Unlocking-Science-Happiness/dp/product-description/0307346250
http://www.mingyur.org/book/joy-of-living.html

And on to the happiest news and comment on earth. . .

Impeachy Keen
HAGEL: BUSH COULD BE IMPEACHED
(at least for his percussion technique---see above)
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/cm/content/view/221/159/
THOMPSON: TO IMPEACH HIS OWN
 http://www.capitolhillblue.com/cm/content/view/226/162/
Hagel told friends recently that whenever Republicans get together behind closed doors of the Senate cloakroom the conversation always turns to "what are we going to do about Bush?"

BUY A RED T-SHIRT TO FIGHT AIDS---BUT DOES IT REALLY HELP (OPRAH?)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0312/p01s02-wmgn.html
When John Cortez went shopping for a T-shirt with a (RED) logo at a local Gap clothing store this weekend, he knew part of the proceeds would be sent to HIV-positive women and children in Africa. "I like the product, and it's a good cause, so I might as well buy it," says Mr. Cortez, explaining how he had "two good reasons" to spend his money at the Gap. What he didn't know – and what Gap customers can't find out – is exactly how much money per item goes to Africa.

SADDAM JUDGE FLEES TO U.K.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/81474FE2-2412-489E-83D8-27DB185DD29B.htm

Plame-out
 RICH: A BUSH PARDON FOR LIBBY IS A SLAM-DUNK
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/031107B.shtml
A president who tries to void laws he doesn't like by encumbering them with "signing statements" and who regards the Geneva Conventions as a nonbinding technicality isn't going to start playing by the rules now. His assertion last week that he is "pretty much going to stay out of" the Libby case is as credible as his pre-election vote of confidence in Donald Rumsfeld. The only real question about the pardon is whether Mr. Bush cares enough about his fellow Republicans' political fortunes to delay it until after Election Day 2008. Either way, the pardon is a must for Mr. Bush. He needs Mr. Libby to keep his mouth shut.
CHENEY’S OFFICE OUT OF CONTROL
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17552881/site/newsweek/

Mission Accomplished!
 ONE-QUARTER OF IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN VETS HAVE MENTAL ILLNESS
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/A_quarter_of_US_war_vets_diagnosed__03122007.html
MILITARY DOCS GIVE UP TOO QUICKLY ON BRAIN-DAMAGED VETS
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/cm/content/view/224/159/

We are not making this stuff up!
HALLIBURTON LEAVING TEXAS FOR. . .DUBAI!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6440365.stm
Halliburton, the oil services company formerly headed by US Vice-President Dick Cheney, is moving its headquarters from Texas to Dubai.
 LINDORFF: WHAT'S GOOD FOR HALLIBURTON
AND CHENEY IS GOOD FOR DUBAI
http://www.thiscantbehappening.net/2007.03.01_arch.html#1173717539840
Before, there was always the old argument that "what's good for Halliburton is good for America." That line may have been hokey when it was first uttered with regard to General Motors by then GM chairman Charles Wilson, and it is surely hokey today, but it can lead to some confusion among Americans still in thrall to the corporate creed. But with Halliburton now a Dubai corporation, with its tax obligations now owed to the Dubai Revenue Department instead of the IRS, that deception is gone.
THE FAILED ATTORNEY GENERAL
http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0311-27.htm
During the hearing on his nomination as attorney general, Alberto Gonzales said he understood the difference between the job he held — President Bush’s in-house lawyer — and the job he wanted, which was to represent all Americans as their chief law enforcement officer and a key defender of the Constitution. Two years later, it is obvious Mr. Gonzales does not have a clue about the difference. He has never stopped being consigliere to Mr. Bush’s imperial presidency.
BRING US THE HEAD OF ALBERTO GONZALES
 http://www.capitolhillblue.com/cm/content/view/218/159/




Electile Dysfunction
 MILBANK: BILLARY---THE ULTIMATE CLICHÉ CANDIDATE
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/08/AR2007030801786.html
Are you in it to win? Would you regard civil rights as the gift that keeps on giving? Do you believe in the American Dream, stupid? If you answered yes to any of the above, you might consider supporting Hillary Clinton, the person to send to the White House when you care enough to send the very best. More than any other candidate, Clinton has brought the sensibility of Hallmark greeting cards to the 2008 presidential race.
FRED THOMPSON TO RUN IN ’08?
He’s an actor! He’s a senator! No, he’s an actor. . .No, he’s a. . .
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1598111,00.html
RAIMUNDO: HAGEL VS. THE WAR PARTY
http://antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=10658
While the Republican senator from Nebraska voted to authorize the war, he did so even while criticizing the move, and because he thought he could trust the president to make the right decision. That he and a surprising number of potential Republican primary voters have been sorely disappointed in that hope may prove the War Party's ultimate undoing. For regardless of whether Hagel makes it all the way to the Republican convention, never mind the White House, his candidacy will break an important taboo – and, in the process, open up the debate over the war in a way that could be fatal to the neoconservatives who authored the invasion and still defend it.

Karl the pig
ROVE WAS ASKED TO FIRE ATTORNEY
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines07/0311-01.htm
Presidential advisor Karl Rove and at least one other member of the White House political team were urged by the New Mexico Republican party chairman to fire the state's U.S. attorney because of dissatisfaction in part with his failure to indict Democrats in a voter fraud investigation in the battleground election state. In an interview Saturday with McClatchy Newspapers, Allen Weh, the party chairman, said he complained in 2005 about then-U.S. Attorney David Iglesias to a White House liaison who worked for Rove and asked that he be removed. Weh said he followed up with Rove personally in late 2006 during a visit to the White House

 Russian Roulette
 GEE, PUTIN CRITICS SURE DON’T LAST LONG. . .
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/03/12/putin-critics-dying-mysteriously/

Mashed Media
THINK EVERYTHING’S ON THE WEB? HARDLY
 http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/10/business/yourmoney/11archive.html?ex=1174280400&en=788bae9209f7b17b&ei=5070&emc=eta1
"There's an illusion being created that all the world's knowledge is on the Web, but we haven't begun to glimpse what is out there in local archives and libraries," said Edward L. Ayers, a historian and dean of the college and graduate school of arts and sciences at the University of Virginia. "Material that is not digitized risks being neglected as it would not have been in the past, virtually lost to the great majority of potential users."
WHO WILL STOP KATIE COURIC?
http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=45&aid=119663

Enviro Wacko
 DER SPIEGEL INTERVIEWS DER SCHWARZENEGGER
http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,471152,00.html
“The message I am trying to get across is exactly this: Protecting the environment does not require us to be against large SUVs or trucks. Instead we should develop technology to cut down greenhouse gas emissions because that is where the action is -- it's not about what the size of the car is. We just have to redo the vehicles.”
FORESTS ARE REPLACING TUNDRA
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/03/070309-warming-tundra.html
ELECTRICITY FROM THE SEA IS CLOSER TO REALITY
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-wave11mar11%2C0%2C2922563.story?coll=la-home-headlines

(Lack of) Health
CHEMICALS IN PLASTICS LINKED TO OBESITY
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/11/AR2007031100918.html
The chemicals under scrutiny are used in products from marine paints and pesticides to food and beverage containers.

 Spaced out
 GERMANY PLANS UNMANNED EXPLORATION OF MOON
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,471159,00.html

Animals in the news!
POOR RUBY THE L.A. ZOO ELEPHANT WILL BE RETIRED
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2007/03/ruby_the_elephant_to_be_r.php
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-elephants14dec14,1,4677312.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

Oh, by the way. . .
CHIRAC WON’T SEEK REELECTION
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/03/11/france.chirac.reut/index.html
U.S. TOURISM DOWN 17 PERCENT SINCE 2001
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/business/business-usa-security-visitors.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
HOUSING BOOM GONE, BUT CALIF PRICES ARE STILL INSANE
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0312/p01s03-usec.html

Great reading:
BAGEANT: IN THE REIGN OF THE ONE-NUTTED KING
http://www.joebageant.com/joe/2007/03/in_the_reign_of.html
Pity the poor American left, (who would be considered right wing moderates in most of the world, but in America being against any war makes you a far leftist. Any time American leftists start pointing at the root causes of our national disease, they are neatly handed a fresh bloody war to oppose. Each new generation of the left gets its energies sapped, gets locked into the position of continually opposing one war, then another and another.

And in more important matters. . .

 Musique
 GLENN GOULD’S GHOST CONCERTIZES---VIA THE DISKLAVIER
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/12/arts/music/12conn.html?pagewanted=all
THE BROTHERS LENNON BECOME FRIENDS
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=441369&in_page_id=1766&ito=1490
A.J. GOLDMAN: ON WAGNER AND ANTI-SEMITISM
http://www.forward.com/articles/is-he-or-isn-t-he/
In the opera, Wagner dramatized his personal struggle with the musical establishment for recognition. By universal consent, the buffoonish character of Sixtus Beckmesser represents the strict traditionalism against which Wagner saw his musically daring aesthetic working. What is less evident is the extent to which Beckmesser is a stand-in for the stereotypical Jew. Indeed, while some have gone back to the libretto in search of clues about Wagner’s antisemitism, others say that the link between the two has been blown out of proportion.
JUST WHO OWNS THE LIVE MUSIC AT WOLFGANG’S VAULT---
AND ALL LIVE RECORDINGS?
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/12/technology/12video.html?ex=1174363200&en=6f83acf70d07212d&ei=5070&emc=eta1
Mr. Graham’s collection of recordings is remarkable, with performances by those acts and dozens of others in their prime. After Mr. Graham died in 1991, his production company was sold to Clear Channel Communications, which in 2003 sold a warehouse of Mr. Graham’s music memorabilia to William E. Sagan, a businessman in Minnesota, for more than $5 million. Mr. Sagan started the Web site WolfgangsVault.com to sell items from the museum-worthy collection, which includes original posters, tickets and photographs (Mr. Graham’s given name was Wolfgang Grajonca.) Last year, to draw potential customers, Wolfgang’s Vault began streaming over the Internet some of the concerts Mr. Graham had recorded. The streaming audio, according to Ashlie Beringer, a lawyer with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher who is representing the bands suing Wolfgang’s Vault, “was the straw that broke the camel’s back.”
WOLFGANG’S VAULT
http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/

ANDY RICHTER IS BACK IN NEW SITCOM
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/12/DDGLAOI6HB1.DTL

STALLONE TO BE CHARGED IN AUSTRALIA
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Stallone_to_be_charged_Tuesday_in_A_03122007.html

And in the end. . .
MY WHOLE FAMILY (THINKS I’M GAY)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZoO8LyizLA&NR


3/9
 WATCH: SARAH SILVERMAN SLEEPS WITH GOD
http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_sarah_silverman_program/index.jhtml

DUMBASS POPE SAYS DYLAN IS 'FALSE PROPHET'
Rip Post says Pope is 'false prophet'
http://news.aol.com/entertainment/music/articles/_a/dylan-a-false-prophet-says-pope-benedict/20070308093709990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

Animal terrorism!
DID AL-QAEDA RECRUIT RACCOON, OPOSSUM?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=YXIUKAFNF0TGDQFIQMFSFFOAVCBQ0IV0?xml=/news/2007/03/07/wmoose107.xml
A raccoon and an opossum were responsible for pushing up petrol prices on the US west coast this week after the creatures disrupted power supplies at Los Angeles area substations, shutting off electricity to two oil refineries.
 Related story:
RACCOONS INVADE GERMANY!
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,470850,00.html
Related story:
NEWT HAD AFFAIR WHILE PURSUING CLINTON IN LEWINSKY AFFAIR
http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/gingrich-admits-affair-during-clinton/20070308224409990002?ncid=NWS00010000000001
"There are times that I have fallen short of my own standards. There's certainly times when I've fallen short of God's standards." (Wonder if his girlie found him falling short.)

And on to news and comment. . .

 War in error
CAN THE U.S. BE MADE SAFE FROM NUCLEAR TERROR?
(Not while the Bush boys are spending a trillion bucks to “liberate” Iraq, it can’t)
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/03/12/070312fa_fact_coll?printable=true
In October, 2005, a radiation sensor at the Port of Colombo, in Sri Lanka, signalled that the contents of an outbound shipping container included radioactive material. The port’s surveillance system, installed with funds from the National Nuclear Security Administration, an agency within the Department of Energy, wasn’t yet in place, so the container was loaded and sent to sea before it could be identified. After American and Sri Lankan inspectors hurriedly checked camera images at the port, they concluded that the suspect crate might be on any one of five ships—two of which were steaming toward New York.
BUSH/CHENEY’S GROTESQUE NUCLEAR HYPOCRISY
http://www.alternet.org/audits/48890/
The contradictions between what the administration is demanding of Tehran and other powers, and the nuclear capabilities it is pursuing for its own arsenal, are provocative and dangerous.
WHAT DID ISRAEL KNOW IN ADVANCE OF 9/11?
http://www.counterpunch.org/ketcham03072007.html
Meanwhile, two days after the men were picked up, the owner of Urban Moving Systems, Dominik Suter, a 31- year-old Israeli national, abandoned his business and fled the United States for Israel. Suter's departure was abrupt, leaving behind coffee cups, sandwiches, cell phones and computers strewn on office tables and thousands of dollars of goods in storage. Suter was later placed on the same FBI suspect list as 9/11 lead hijacker Mohammed Atta and other hijackers and suspected al-Qaeda sympathizers, suggesting that U.S. authorities felt Suter may have known something about the attacks.

FIREFIGHTERS: GIULIANI IGNORED US AFTER 9/11
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=a8o5p2XiTQhk&refer=politics

INSANE RUNAWAY PREZ WILL VETO
DEM BILL CALLING FOR IRAQ WITHDRAWAL
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/03/8F6F67FC-DB70-42E2-8594-52B83CE436CD.html

El diablo

30,000 PROTEST INSANE RUNAWAY PREZ IN BRAZIL
While U.S. citizens sit on their hands
http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?idCategory=33&idsub=135&id=8333&t=Brazilians+turn+out+against+Bush
MAYAN PRIESTS PURIFY SITE AFTER BUSH VISIT---GOOD IDEA!
http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=456&sid=1083092

Impeachy-Keen
LINDORFF: DEM LEADERS THWARTING STATES' IMPEACHMENT EFFORTS?
 http://www.thiscantbehappening.net/2007.03.01_arch.html#1173459176403
There is reason to suspect, however, that there was some arm-twisting from national Democratic leaders, who appear dead set on avoiding impeachment hearings, whatever the public sentiment on impeachment (Newsweek reported last fall that 51 percent of Americans favor impeachment) and whatever Bush’s crimes, Constitutional violations and abuses of power.

Plame-out
PLAME TO TESTIFY TO CONGRESS ON LEAK
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN0833270020070309
KINSLEY: PARDON LIBBY?
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1597658,00.html
As for Democrats and liberals, I feel as vindictive as any other. But ask yourself: if, a couple of years from now, Dick Cheney is going around giving $75,000 speeches and George W Bush is accepting honorary degrees and planning his presidential library, will you feel better or worse that some guy named Scooter Libby is languishing behind bars?

REPUGS GANG UP ON GONZALES
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/030807S.shtml
Senior Senate Republicans today delivered scathing criticism of Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales for his handling of the firing of eight U.S. attorneys, joining Democrats in chagrin that the prosecutors were dismissed without adequate explanation.

 Iraq and Roll
60,000 U.S. DIVORCES---FALLOUT FROM IRAQ WAR
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/03/09/more-casualties-from-iraq-nearly-60000-us-divorces/
GRAFT MUCH WORSE THAN UNDER SADDAM
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Iraqi_anticorruption_head_says_graft_worse_0308.html

Electile Dysfunction
CRAZY JOHN: GIVE WAR A CHANCE
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/story/503801p-424875c.html
EVERYONE CALLS OBAMA ‘ARTICULATE’---WELL, SO WHAT!
 http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/national/stories/030907dnwashrove.2ab2395.html

The Other War
 RAIMUNDO: AFGHANISTAN IS WORSE THAN IRAQ
http://antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=10646
the Afghans have been badly underestimated by the US-NATO coalition, and they are even now in the process of repeating history and driving out the invaders, just as they drove out the Soviets, the Brits, and the legions of Alexander the Great. The Taliban and their allies are returning to Afghanistan, having received additional training and an influx of aid from around the Muslim world.

 ROBERTSON:
OF CHENEY, MARK TWAIN, AND A LICENSE TO KILL
http://civillibertarian.blogspot.com/2007/03/licensed-to-kill.html
Twain the cynic is an optimist for us. It is no history of man Twain writes. He wrote for the future, as do I.

 KRUGMAN: THE DISAPPEARING MIDDLE CLASS
http://www.alternet.org/workplace/48988/
Economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman explains in simple terms how the American economy went from having the world's most dynamic middle class to being on the verge of a rich-poor state in only 30 years.

 Mardis Grave
DESOLATION ROW: THE BETRAYAL OF NEW ORLEANS
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article2342309.ece

The Torture Never Stops
GITMO ‘DETAINEE’ PHONES HOME---FOUR YEARS LATER
Will be tried for conspiracy in death of U.S. soldier
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/03/08/gitmo.phone.call.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Mashed Media
 WHAT’S THIS? GAY PORN STAR WAS HONORED
AT EVENT WHERE COULTER CALLED EDWARDS ‘FAGGOT?’
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/08/malkin-downplays-coulter/
WIKIPEDIA’S STICKY WICKET
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0309/p08s02-comv.html

Technically speaking
ASTOUNDING: SEE JEFF HAN’S MULTI-TOUCH DISPLAY SYSTEM
http://laughingsquid.com/jeff-hans-amazing-multi-touch-display-system/
ROBOTS HAVE RIGHTS?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6432307.stm

Enviro Wacko
 EDITOR SWITCHES TO CORN OIL CAR
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2007/03/editor_goes_biodiesel.php
WOULD YOU LIKE A LITTLE FISH WITH YOUR MERCURY?
http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/wildlife/article2338375.ece 

Animals in the news!
 WEBSITE HELPS TO SAVE THE CONGO GORILLAS
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0309/p01s04-woaf.html
HERE IT IS
http://wildlifedirect.org/
NEW BONOBOS FOUND
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/03/070307-bonobos-video.html
MEDITERRANEAN SHARKS HUNTED TO EXTINCTION
http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/wildlife/article2341373.ece
MEKONG DOLPHIN MAKING COMEBACK
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa003&articleID=6CD3F3CFEF62C9DBF52EA6645D16FB6B
Aquarium Fish Threatened With Extinction Just Months After Discovery
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/03/070307-new-fish.html

Oh, by the way. . .
 INDIANS INSTALL GRAND CANYON GLASS-BOTTOM WALKWAY
Want to bet it collapses?
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/03/08/canyon.skywalk.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
LANDMARK LAX BUILDING CLOSED FOR RUSTING
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2007/03/theme_building_ordered_sh.php
SCENT OF ROSES IS GOOD FOR THE MEMORY
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/09/MNG9MOI6J91.DTL&type=science
NOSTALGIC FOR THE SMELL OF EAST GERMANY? MANY ARE!
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,469590,00.html

And in more important matters. . .

 MORFORD WRITES ENTERTAINING, IF BARELY INTELLIGIBLE COLUMN ABOUT SHAVING HIS HEAD
Contains shocking revelation that he has, or had, a girlfriend
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2007/03/09/notes030907.DTL

JON CARROLL HAS THE COLD THAT EVERYONE IN THE COUNTRY IS GETTING
(Wonder who designed this bacteria. . .)
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/09/DDGRJN7NCO1.DTL

Books
 JEANETTE WINTERSON NOVEL ‘LEFT AT STATION’
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6430775.stm
A WAGNER PATRIARCH AND HER DEVOTION TO HITLER
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/09/features/IDSIDE10.php

BELAFONTE TURNS 80!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6420733.stm

Film
 RAINER ON ‘NAMESAKE’
 http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0309/p11s03-almo.html
NEXT DISNEY CARTOON TO STAR BLACK PRINCESS
Yeah, that will solve all racial problems in the country
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6434485.stm

And in the end. . .
TOO HORRIBLE TO NOT WATCH:
TELLY SAVALAS SINGS ‘IF’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgmgm-1UfBI

3/8
MORE ON THE LENNON MOVIE THAT ONO IS TRYING TO STOP
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/03/06/the-awesome-john-lennon-footage-you-might-never-see/
THE FILM'S OFFICIAL WEBSITE
http://3daysinthelife.com/index.html

HAHAHA---HEATHER MILLS TO PLAY MARY POPPINS?
http://www.smh.com.au/news/arts/mills-may-play-poppins/2007/03/07/1173166748547.html

AMERICAN WOMEN TOO TIRED FOR SEX
http://dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1083526

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SUSPENDED FOR SAYING ‘VAGINA’
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/03/06/entertainment/e134236S28.DTL&type=bondage

And on to news and comment. . .

SUPERBUG KILLS SCORES IN ISRAEL---KEPT SECRET BY GOV’T.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3373478,00.html

CONGO TOP ENERGY OFFICIAL HELD FOR URANIUM SMUGGLING
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6430031.stm

IRAN GENERAL DEFECTS TO THE WEST
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0308/p99s01-duts.html

TOP HOUSE OFFICIALS KNEW OF WALTER REED SQUALOR
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/08/young-knew-walter-reed/

BUSH ON GOODWILL TOUR OF SOUTH AMERICA---HAHAHAHAHAHA
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070308/bush-latin-america
The president's message: "Regardless of what Hugo Chavez says about us, we're not the bogeyman," said Russell Crandall, a former Western Hemisphere director at the National Security Council who is now at the Center for American Progress.

 Big Dick
TIME: DICK CHENEY IN TWILIGHT
Looks like Gotterdamerdick for the “vice-president”
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1597226,00.html
‘TODAY’ SHOW ASKS IF CHENEY HAS LOST POWER
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/NBC_Cheney_Under_Fire_0308.html
MCGOVERN: CHENEY MUST GO
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/index.php?ntid=121907

Iraq and Roll
MURTHA WANTS TO CUT FUNDS FOR PRIVATE CONTRACTORS
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/08/murtha-contractors/
LINDORFF: THROUGH THE IRAQ LOOKING GLASS
http://www.thiscantbehappening.net/2007.03.01_arch.html#1173372286661
No doubt Vice thinks that the upsurge in violence in Baghdad and in western Iraq (what the US Marines refer to now as “Marineland”), is evidence that the U.S.; is winning, too. It must be heartening to the U.S. troops who see their buddies being cut down, and to the families of the dead, to know that we are winning over there. If we win any more, though, the president may have to reinstate the draft to keep enough targets, er I mean boots, on the ground.
 HEY, LADIES---JOIN THE ARMY AND GET RAPED BY YOUR FELLOW SOLDIERS!
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/03/07/women_in_military/index_np.html
LISTEN: FEMALE VET TALKS ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT IN MILITARY
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/03/08/1443232
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER 30 DEAD
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/030707S.shtml

The Other War
THE ‘RAMBO’ OF AFGHANISTAN
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0308/p01s02-wosc.html

Electile Dysfunction
HAGEL TO RUN FOR PREZ?
http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/2007/03/hagel-could-announce-presidential-bid.html
DO KATIE COURIC’S BAD RATINGS MEAN TROUBLE FOR BILLARY?
http://www.slate.com/id/2160380/pagenum/all/#page_start
‘CHRISTIAN’ RIGHT DOES NOT LIKE PLAYBOY RUDY
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1597348,00.html

Mashed Media
SMALL PAPERS DOING WELL
Why? They cover their community!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/07/AR2007030702408.html
WHO’S WRITING HEADLINES AT CNN?
TAIWAN VP DEMANDS APOLOGY FOR BEING LABELLED ‘SCUM’
http://rawstory.com/news/dpa/Taiwan_s_vice_president_insists_on__03072007.html
The CNN broadcast used "Taiwan's scum to run for president" in its headline although that was not the AP story's headline, but CNN later
changed it to "Lu seeks to be first Taiwan woman president" after Lu's office protested.
FOURTH PAPER DROPS THE WITCH COULTER!
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003555963
EDITOR’S STATEMENT ON DROPPING COULTER
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003555954
CARTOON: ANN COULTER’S GREATEST FITS!
http://www.internetweekly.org/2007/03/cartoon_ann_coulters_greatest_fits.html

Mardis Grave
GINGRICH BLAMES ‘UNEDUCATED’ KATRINA VICTIMS FOR NEW ORLEANS DISASTER
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/03/08/video-gingrich-blames-uneducated-katrina-victims/

Animals in the news!
OH, NO! IS THE DACHSUND GOING EXTINCT?
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,470481,00.html

Oh, by the way. . .
THE AMAZING MUSLIM LIFEGUARDS OF AUSTRALIA!
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/08/news/beach.php
CHILDREN BRED FOR HITLER’S ‘MASTER RACE’ ARE SUING NORWAY
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,470616,00.html
For decades, they were society's pariahs -- discriminated against, in some cases locked up in mental institutions or even denied a proper education. But now dozens of victims of the Nazis so-called "Lebensborn" program to create an Aryan super race have come forward to battle against a tragic destiny they did not create. They are suing the Norwegian government at the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights for decades of discrimination.
 MORE PEOPLE ALIVE TODAY THAN HAVE EVER LIVED? NOT QUITE
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa004&articleID=09E07C6F-E7F2-99DF-3AD087F0DA77D94F
LUNATIC WILL CLIMB EVEREST WEARING A PAIR OF SHORTS
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Dutch_Iceman_to_climb_Everest_in_sh_03082007.html

And in more important matters. . .

R.I.P. JOHN INMAN OF ‘ARE YOU BEING SERVED?’
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/theatre/obituary/0,,2029033,00.html
INMAN TRIBUTES POUR IN
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6431787.stm

THE EVOLVING IMAGE OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN
OR---HOTTENTOT VENUS
http://www.ourweekly.com/

Film
BROSNAN TO STAR IN ‘MAMMA MIA’
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6428471.stm
 
 And in the end. . .
JERRY LAWSON, TALK OF THE TOWN, ROD STEWART
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1N7lbR-x-8

3/7
ONO STOPS LENNON FILM
Gee, do you suppose she doesn’t come off well in it?
http://www.wmtw.com/entertainment/11185096/detail.html?rss=port&psp=news
Remarkable film chronicled three days
in JL’s life just before The Beatles broke up
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/york/070304beatles.html

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME WILL COST YOU $500 MILLION
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0307/p02s01-stct.html

WHAT A METAPHOR: CAPTAIN AMERICA IS SHOT AND KILLED
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/03/07/entertainment/e055217S16.DTL&type=entertainment

PHOTO OF THE DAY: TWO DICKS


And on to news and comment. . .

AMERICAN MOTHER, DAUGHTER POISONED
WITH RADIOACTIVE THALLIUM IN RUSSIA
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/03/07/international/i021241S15.DTL

Plame-out
FORMER BUSH PRESS SEC’Y MCCLELLAN:
WHITE HOUSE MUST START ANSWERING QUESTIONS
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003554418
LIBBY JUROR---SCOOTER WAS THE FALL-GUY
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Juror_says_Libby_seemed_like_fall_0306.html
ANALYSIS: FOCUS IS NOW ON CHENEY
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070307/D8NN2MG00.html
FITZ: NO FURTHER INVESTIGATION
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Fitzgerald_No_further_investigation_planned_0306.html
CORN: FOR ONCE, IT WORKED
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/capitalgames?bid=3&pid=172250
He is the first White House official convicted of a crime since the Iran-contra scandal that tarred the administrations of President Ronald Reagan and the first President Bush. He is also a symbol of an administration that has lost credibility. How Bush and Cheney misrepresented the case for war and their disingenuous and dishonest post-invasion assertions about the war are more serious matters than the lies of the leak case. But the leak affair represents how this White House has done business and how it has mugged the truth.
 ASSHOLE O’REILLY DOWNPLAYS TRIAL
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,257326,00.html
PLAME BOOK MAY BE BLOCKED BY CIA
Gee, you don’t suppose that’s politically motivated, do you?
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003554409
BUCHANAN: LIBBY IS ‘MATYR OF WAR PARTY’
http://townhall.com/columnists/PatrickJBuchanan/2007/03/07/martyr_of_the_war_party

Iraq and Roll
WHY I FLED GEORGE BUSH’S WAR
by Joshua Key
http://www.macleans.ca/world/global/article.jsp?content=20070205_140356_140356
Joshua Key, 28, was a poor, uneducated Oklahoma country boy who saw the U.S. army and its promised benefits -- from free health care to career training -- as the ticket to a better life. In 2002, not yet 24 but already married and the father of two , Key enlisted. He says his recruiting officer promised he'd never be deployed abroad, but a year later he was in Iraq. Only 24 hours after arriving, as Key recounts in The Deserter's Tale (Anansi), he experienced his first doubts about what he and his fellow soldiers were doing there.
 ‘DESERTER’ AGUAYO GOES TO THE BRIG
L.A. latino’s claim of conscientious objection is rejected
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,470284,00.html
Is it possible to become a conscientious objector once you have signed up to fight a war? According to United States military regulations, the answer is yes. But as confirmed by a US Army court martial in the case of former Army Specialist Agustin Aguayo near the western German city of Würzburg on Tuesday, the Army also reserves the right to answer no. Aguayo, a 35-year-old Mexican-American from Los Angeles, served a tour of duty in Iraq as a combat medic from 2004 to 2005.
IRAQ VETERANS LEFT IN LURCH BY OVERBURDENED V.A.
http://www.alternet.org/rights/48894/
Chronic under-funding, communication breakdowns and nightmarish paperwork have left the VA system woefully unprepared for future veterans: the tens of thousands currently deployed in the war on terror.

30-PLUS VERMONT TOWNS WANT BUSH IMPEACHED
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070307/pl_nm/bush_vermont_impeach_dc

U.S. QUITS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL OF U.N.
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/US_refuses_to_join_UN_rights_counci_03062007.html

ACLU SUES OVER DETAINED IMMIGRANT KIDS
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-family-detention-center,0,4086691.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

SURREAL, ASININE COMMENTARY OF THE WEEK!
RICE AND GATES BRING ‘ENGAGING STYLE’ TO THEIR WORK!
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0307/p09s02-cojh.html
Meanwhile Rice, with the benefit of Bush's great trust in her, has been able to skillfully modify major aspects of the administration's foreign policy. While supporting the president's goals of thwarting the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran and fostering freedom in the Arab world, she has been able to shift the US from a confrontational and sometimes threatening unilateral style to the diplomacy of engagement, often in a multilateral framework.

Mashed Media
TALIBAN CLAIMS KIDNAP OF ITALIAN REPORTER
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003554543
1,000 JOURNALISTS KILLED IN LAST TEN YEARS
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/nation/16850798.htm
 HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN PUTS SQUEEZE ON COULTER WITCH’S SYNDICATE
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003554458
WHEN NEWSPAPERS GO MAD!
PULITZER JOURNALIST SUSPENDED OVER FREE PARKING!
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003554545
MUHAMMAD CARTOON PROTESTOR
GUILTY OF ENCOURAGING MURDER
http://www.guardian.co.uk/cartoonprotests/story/0,,2028520,00.html
YOUTUBE BANNED IN TURKEY
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1596870,00.html
L.Ame TIMES REINSTATES ‘LA CUCARACHA’
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2007/03/times_relents_on_la_cucar_1.php

Electile Dysfunction
 SCHEER: COULTER BOOSTS EDWARDS CAMPAIGN
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/07/EDG3NOFUIH1.DTL

Israelity
UNHOLY CONFLICT IN THE HOLY LAND
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,469996,00.html
The majority of Israelis are secular Jews, but the religious Jews in the country wield enormous influence. David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first prime minister, designed it that way, inadvertently blueprinting a conflict that has yet to be resolved.

 Oh, by the way. . .
AMERICAN INDIANS USE OLD-FASHIONED SKILLS TO TRACK SMUGGLERS
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/07/news/border.php
"These guys are not far ahead; we'll get them," said Thompson, 50, a strapping Navajo who follows the trail like a bloodhound.
GRANDMA GUILTY OF GROWING POT
http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,,2028431,00.html
However Patricia Tabram - whose brushes with the law over her use of the drug have become a cause celebre for pro-cannabis campaigners - was defiant about the prospect of going to jail.

And in more important matters. . .

 ‘JUGHEAD’ THE GRIZZLY DIES IGNOBLE DEATH AT NYC ZOO
Should have gone down while trolling for salmon
http://news.bostonherald.com/national/northeast/view.bg?articleid=186920

Books
BRZEZINSKI BOOK CHRONICLES DECLINE OF USA
When a leader missteps, a world can go astray
by Michiko Kakutani
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article17245.htm
What this book does most strikingly is remind the reader just how drastically things have changed since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the subsequent collapse of the Soviet Union. At that point, Mr. Brzezinski writes, America was “globally admired” and “faced no peer, no rival, no threat, neither on the Western front nor the Eastern front, nor on the Southern fronts of the great cold war that had been waged for several decades on the massive Eurasian chessboard.” A mere decade and a half later, he argues, the United States is “widely viewed around the world with intense hostility,” its “credibility in tatters,” its military bogged down in the Middle East, “its formerly devoted allies distancing themselves.”

 LISTEN: RY COODER’S STEINBECKIAN NEW ALBUM, ‘BUDDY THE CAT’
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7719791

LISTEN: THE GREAT RICKY JAY ON POKER
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7702392&sc=emaf

CALTECH BASKETBALL TEAM’S PHILOSOPHY OF WINNING IS HARD-WON
Team has not won a game since 1985
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0307/p20s01-alsp.html

Film
 ‘BABEL’ CAST LIKE FAMILY---KIKUCHI
But why no subtitles for the deaf in Japan?
http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20070307p2a00m0et011000c.html

And in the end. . .
THE PERSUASIONS SING ZAPPA’S ‘HARDER THAN YOUR HUSBAND’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-hw195-ohg
 

3/6
 Jesus H. Christ!
‘CHRISTIAN’ FUNDAMENTALISTS LAUNCH ‘LORD’S WIKIPEDIA’
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,469969,00.html
"Kangaroos, like all modern animals, originated in the Middle East and are the descendants of the two founding members of the modern kangaroo baramin that were taken aboard Noah's Ark prior to the Great Flood." This sentence is taken from an online encyclopedia. And it is meant seriously.

 AMPUTEE BARRED FROM WALTER REED HEARING
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/06/amputee-barred-from-walter-reed-hearing/

Bush Leagues
BUSH 41---READ MY LIPS: I DIDN’T TOUCH TERI HATCHER’S ASS
http://www.tmz.com/2007/03/05/read-my-lips-i-didnt-touch-teris-ass/
WATCH: DID HE OR DIDN’T HE?
http://www.tmz.com/2007/02/07/bush-plays-grabass/

And on to the day’s other insanity. . .
LINDORFF: SO THEY GOT LIBBY---
NOW TO THE REAL STORY
http://www.thiscantbehappening.net/
LIBBY GUILTY, GUILTY, GUILTY
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/ExWhite_House_adviser_guilty_of_4_0306.html
WILL BUSH PARDON SCOOTER?
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Democratic_lawmakers_repond_to_verdict_Dont_0306.html

‘YOUNG PEOPLE’ ARE NASTY,
NARCISSISTIC, HYPER-AGGRESSIVE
Empathy, let alone compassion, do not seem to exist under age 30
http://www.alternet.org/story/48834/

HOUSING BUBBLE BURSTING?
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/030607J.shtml
Tens of millions of people will be hurt as they see much of the equity in their homes - money that most had counted on to support their retirement - disappear. Millions more will be forced out of their homes as they find that they are unable to meet the payments on adjustable rate mortgages that reset at higher rates. People who had worked hard and saved in order to become homeowners will see their dream disappear.

 Mashed Media
COULTER: IT WAS JUST A ‘SCHOOLYARD TAUNT’
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/03/05/coulter-edwards-slur-was-a-schoolyard-taunt/
THREE COMPANIES PULL ADS FROM WITCH COULTER’S SITE
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/03/06/ads-pulled-from-coulter-site/
ONE PAPER DROPS COULTER COLUMN---DO WE HEAR A HUNDRED MORE?
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003554127
CNN’S SWIPE AT THE COULTER BEAST
http://wonkette.com/politics/cnn/next-on-cnn-coulters-withered-tits-241581.php
THE WASHPOST’S CRUSH ON RIGHT-WING BLOGGERS
http://mediamatters.org/columns/200702270003

Iraq and Roll
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER NINE U.S. SOLDIERS DEAD
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070306/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq
SUICIDE BLAST KILLS 118 SHIA PILGRIMS
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/118_Shiite_pilgrims_killed_in_Iraq__03062007.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6423633.stm
GALLUP: 58 PERCENT WANT U.S. OUT OF IRAQ IN ONE YEAR
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003554095
BBC POLL: ISRAEL, IRAN ARE MOSTLY NEGATIVE INFLUENCES IN THE WORLD
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6421597.stm

The Other War
AFGHAN KIDS DYING UNDER U.S. ONE-TON BOMBS
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/article2331981.ece
Nine civilians, including four children, were killed in Afghanistan when US planes dropped two 2,000lb bombs on their mud home. Their deaths came after at least eight civilians were killed by US Marines a day earlier.

 World gone mad
OUR ‘ALLY’ PAKISTAN’S MURDEROUS WAR ON WOMEN
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0306/p06s01-wosc.html
Working for the public was a gift from God for Zille Huma Usman, Punjab's provincial minister for social welfare. But two weeks ago, Muhammed Sarwar violently disagreed, killing her before a crowd because, he said, God does not allow women to work. He later told police that he felt no remorse for his crime.
DEAD RUSSIAN JOURNALIST WAS WORKING ON WEAPONS STORY
Had info that Putin plans to provide weapons to Syria, Iran
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003554128
RUSSIA---WE HAVE NO PROBLEM BREAKING UP U.S. MISSILE SHIELD
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Russia_capable_of_hitting_US_missil_03052007.html

Disorientation
TAIWAN CONDUCTS MISSILE TESTS
http://rawstory.com/news/dpa/Taiwan_test_fires_missile_capable_o_03062007.html
BUSH---CHAMPION OF ‘FREEDOM’---STANDS BY TAIWAN LIKE SAND CASTLE AT HIGH TIDE
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/US_assails_Taiwan_president_s_indep_03052007.html
CHINA TELLS JAPAN: ACCEPT SEX SLAVE HISTORY
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6422091.stm

Big Dick
CHENEY’S POTENTIALLY FATAL BLOOD CLOT FROM 25-HOUR FLIGHT?
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/05/washington/06cheneycnd.html?_r=2&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1173192761-ByAiZImTFLoINSjTJzOOCA

Electile Dysfunction
EDWARDS: JESUS WOULD BE APPALLED AT U.S.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/03/05/politics/p135336S12.DTL
RUDY THE CREEP: DON’T WRITE ABOUT MY NUTBALL PRIVATE LIFE---
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1596566,00.html
---AND ESPECIALLY THE TIME I MARRIED MY COUSIN
 http://www.nndb.com/people/587/000024515/
Giuliani's first marriage was to his second cousin, Regina Peruggi. They were married for 14 years, before Giuliani had their marriage annulled by the Catholic church. His second marriage was to Donna Hanover, a reporter and sometimes soap-opera actress. Havover was the city's First Lady while Giuliani was mayor, but she stayed farther and farther out of the public spotlight as Giuliani was widely whispered to be swiving his press secretary, Cristyne Lategano. After Lategano left City Hall, Giuliani took up with a divorced nurse, Judith Nathan. Never one for subtlety, Giuliani and Nathan marched side-by-side in the St. Patrick's Day parade, where the city's mayor traditionally walks with his wife.

 Enviro Wacko
NASTY PACIFIC STORMS CAUSED BY CHINA POLLUTION
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/06/BAGCQOG69O1.DTL
WHAT ABOUT CHEMTRAILS?
Why is the sky constantly streaked with white “contrails?”
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=21473
SPLITTING WATER MOLECULES THE NEXT BIG ‘GREEN’ POWER SOURCE?
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/03/070305-split-water.html

FLOYD: TALE OF TWO HOUSES: HOW THE CLINTONS
AND BUSHES TOOK US TO HELL
http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/2007/030507Floyd.shtml
The House of Clinton and the House of Bush are deeply intwined, in their policies, their philosophies, their politics, even their personal lives: witness the extraordinary "adoption" of Bill Clinton as a surrogate son by the elder George Bush and his wife. This rapprochement is usually attributed to the respect and friendliness that Clinton showed Bush during their goodwill trip to aid the tsunami victims, and perhaps this did spark a more personal affection between the men. But their relationship began much earlier, in a mysterious circumstance that still cries out for further explication: the fact that during their contest for the presidency in 1992, both Clinton and Bush shared the same major: Arkansas financier Jackson Stephens.

 JON CARROLL: MUSING ON THE INCOMPETENCE OF GOVERNMENT, CITIZENS
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2007/03/06/DDGRJN7I7L1.DTL
So I can't say it's getting worse. I'm sure Florence under the Medicis was no picnic, sanctioned-theft-wise. But the other day I read the news, printed on paper because I'm into nostalgia, and there was just story after story about dopey goings-on. Outside, the sun was shining and our magnolia was in full bloom.

Mardis Grave
DRUG DEALERS HAVING MARDIS GRAS IN NEW ORLEANS
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/03/06/new_orleans/
New Orleans has long been plagued by drugs and violence, but many who returned after Katrina hoped for a new start for the city -- for about six months after the disaster, crime had declined dramatically. In the past year, however, with the rebuilding process still sluggish in many ways, a sharp upturn in violent crime has shaken confidence in many neighborhoods and emerged as a major obstacle to the city's recovery.

 Animals in the news!
SPAIN CRITICIZED FOR ‘QUAIL CATAPULTING’
Humans launch the poor birds, then gun them down
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,470152,00.html

Oh, by the way
WORLD’S LONGEST UNDERGROUND RIVER FOUND IN MEXICO
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/03/070305-cave-river.html
FIRST ‘DWELLING MOUND’ FOUND IN GERMANY
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,470120,00.html
JAPAN STOCKS IN BIG DIVE
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=atOHgqVo_e9g&refer=japan
EAT LESS, LIVE TO BE 100
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=PA31WTNJ20LZXQFIQMFSFFOAVCBQ0IV0?xml=/news/2007/03/06/neat06.xml
Studies in a wide range of species, from worms to mice and monkeys, have come to the same conclusion: eat all the nutrients necessary for a healthy life and cut calories to the bare minimum - half the normal daily amount - and you could extend life span by up to half, pushing well over a century, while cutting the risk of cancer, heart disease, and strokes.
JUST FOR FUN: SF CHINESE NEW YEAR PARADE PICS
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/04/BAGPHOF7B81.DTL

R.I.P. WILLIAM ANDERSON
Piloted Nautilus on cruise under the North Pole
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/06/obituaries/06anderson.html?ref=obituaries

And in more important matters. . .

 GABRIEL GARCIA MARQUEZ TURNS 80
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6422579.stm

For Art’s Sake
THE UNKNOWN MONET
New exhibit focuses on sketches, pastels
http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2025100,00.html
What Monet wanted to do, he told two Norwegian interviewers in 1895, was to "paint the air in which the bridge, the house and the boat are to be found - the beauty of the air around them - and that is nothing less than the impossible".
BIO ART? BIO ART?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17387568/
Bio-artists use live tissues, bacteria, living organisms and life processes to create works of art that blur the traditional distinctions between science and art. Most of these works tend toward social reflection, conveying political and societal criticism through the combination of artistic and scientific processes.
KOOLHAAS DISCUSSES NEW PROJECTS
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/06/DDGFOOEIVL1.DTL

Film
IWO JIMA AND JAPANESE MEMORY
Why Eastwood’s film is so important
http://www.opendemocracy.net/arts-Film/iwo_jima_4381.jsp
Letters from Iwo Jima is an important film for two reasons. For one thing, it is the first filmic attempt to undo the demonisation of Japanese soldiers that was propagated by the American mass media during and after the Pacific war of 1941-45. For another, in vividly depicting the brutality and the meaninglessness of war, it is a war movie with an anti-war message. Eastwood's film chooses to portray the immense human cost of war in general by choosing the Japanese troops on Iwo Jima as an example. In a six-week battle from 16 February to 26 March 1945, these troops fought a desperate rearguard action from which 20,129 of the total of 20,933 were killed.
 PEARCE PLAYS WARHOL IN SEDGWICK BIOPIC
http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/interviewpages/0,,2025921,00.html

And in the end. . .
THE PERSUASIONS SING GRATEFUL DEAD’S ‘BROKEDOWN PALACE’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrKD078kM3I

3/5
 Special onanism edition!
MEXICO TERRORIZED BY FLYING HUMANOID!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ00YlccLP4&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNbe0YWXUuc

MARK TWAIN ON ONANISM!
http://www.totse.com/en/ego/no_laughing_matter/onanism.html

'LADY' MCCARTNEY SCREAMS WITH RAGE ACROSS COURTROOM
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21323156-5001021,00.html
And in a related story. . .
CAPT. HOOK TO APPEAR WITH HEATHER ‘MCCARTNEY’ ON ‘DANCING WITH THE STARS’
http://www.thespoof.com/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s4i15720

Lost Angeles
CRAZY L.A. TIMES THROWS $$$ TASTE-TEST PARTY FOR CLONED BEEF
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2007/03/steaks_are_lean_but_not_t.php
INCREDIBLE---L.A. TIMES DROPS "LA CUCARACHA" COMIC STRIP
It was almost always funny, and the Times wants to "reach out" (cough) to latinos, so. . .
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2007/03/this_is_a_latino_strategy.php

And on to the news and comment. . .

MASSIVE LIBRARY SHUTDOWN LOOMS
AS FED FUNDS ARE CUT
“And keepin’ peoples dumb is where you’re comin’ from. . .”---Frank Zappa
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/03/04/MNGC7N6Q3M1.DTL
Jackson County in southern Oregon shuts down its entire public library system. The 15 libraries serving this rural forest community lost $7 million in federal funding this year -- nearly 80 percent of the system's budget.

 Support the Troops
HALLIBURTON LINK TO WALTER REED MESS
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Bush_Administration_push_for_privatization_may_0303.html
‘IT’S NOT JUST WALTER REED’
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/04/AR2007030401394.html
"It is just not Walter Reed," Oliva slowly tapped out on his keyboard at 4:23 in the afternoon on Friday. "The VA hospitals are not good either except for the staff who work so hard. It brings tears to my eyes when I see my brothers and sisters having to deal with these conditions. I am 70 years old, some say older than dirt but when I am with my brothers and sisters we become one and are made whole again."
 WHAT DOES ‘SUPPORT THE TROOPS’ MEAN TO YOU?
http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/editorials/126
LISTEN: COUNTRY JOE SINGS ‘SUPPORT THE TROOPS’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEBQcqgcVE0

TAIWAN’S CHEN GOES ALL OUT IN PRO-INDEPENDENCE SPEECH
China is furious
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6418561.stm
Mr Chen said Taiwan should pursue independence, write a new constitution and change its official name from "Republic of China" to Taiwan.

 Iraq and Roll
4.5 MILLION IRAQI CHILDREN ARE HUNGRY
Mission Accomplished!
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/c2c6624a8c979b7cdc79a4728f3176eb.htm
LISTEN: Robert Fisk on Osama bin Laden at 50, Iraqi Death Squads and Why the Middle East is More Dangerous Now Than in Past 30 Years of War Reporting
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/03/05/1515214
THE PRIVATE CONTRACTING MAZE OF IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070301/OPINION02/703010312/-1/OPINION
All in all, the private contracting maze that suffuses America's current foreign conflicts should keep auditors busy for years. The public deserves to know who's unduly profiting from these wars.

 The Other War
PROTESTS ERUPT AFTER PANICKED SHOOTING
BY U.S. LEAVES 16 DEAD IN AFGHANISTAN
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/article2328819.ece

Iran from the truth
 PRECIOUS WORLD HISTORY THREATENED BY IRAN STRIKE
Invaluable Iran architecture could fall to U.S. bombs
http://www.guardian.co.uk/iran/story/0,,2026705,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=12
BUCHANAN: WHO WILL STOP WAR ON IRAN?
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article17229.htm
If Americans sickened by the carnage of Iraq wish to stop an even more disastrous war on Iran, they had best get cracking.
US asks us to pick up litter while city is in ruins, says mayor of Baghdad

 Electile Dysfunction
 EDWARDS FIRES BACK---WEAKLY---AT BEASTLY COULTER
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/05/BAGUHOFHC01.DTL
COULTER: EDWARDS' CAMPAIGN MANAGER 'FRONTING FOR ARAB TERRORISTS'
Won't it be nice some day when this woman experiences illness, loss?
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003553697
RITTER: HILLARY LIED BEFORE TO JUSTIFY IRAQ BOMBING
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/48729/
R.I.P. THOMAS EAGLETON, FIRST MCGOVERN RUNNING MATE
Dropped out after revelations of mental illness
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/05/washington/05eagleton.html?_r=1&ref=obituaries&oref=slogin
REPORTER WHO BROKE EAGLETON STORY REFLECTS ON HIS DEATH
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003553695


War in error
PAKISTAN: DON'T CHASE AL-QAEDA ACROSS OUR BORDER
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Pakistan_rejects_US_authorization_to_pursue_0304.html
AL-QAEDA HAS REGROUPED IN PAKISTAN---‘EXPERTS’
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0305/p01s01-wogi.html

Hugo get ‘em
CHAVEZ’S OIL LARGESSE IS WINNING FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0305/p01s04-woeu.html
The London bus has come to symbolize many things over the years. It's a national icon, a picture postcard paragon of public transport, a byword for frustration and irregularity. But a harbinger of international socialism? Far-fetched perhaps, but less so after the latest move by Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez to offer cut-rate fuel so that 250,000 Londoners on welfare can travel half-price throughout one of the world's most expensive cities.
CHAVEZ: CIA OUT TO KILL ME
But of course, Hugo
http://www.myfoxla.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=2569904&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.4.1

Israelity
 RAIMUNDO: ON OBAMA AND PALESTINIANS
http://antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=10626
Of course he can't – if he wants to be president of the United States, that is. Israeli lives are more important, more valuable than Palestinian lives: that is what the occupant of the Oval Office must believe, or, if he doesn't quite believe it, then he must keep quiet about it and act as if he does. Otherwise, he'll never make it to the White House. Obama knows this, and therefore "forgot" to put the events in Kiryat Shmona into their proper context:

 Rootin’ Tootin’ Putin
ANOTHER RUSSIAN JOURNALIST DIES “ACCIDENTALLY”
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/03/russian_journal.html
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT. . .ANTI-PUTIN U.S. RUSS SCHOLAR GUNNED DOWN IN D.C.
http://www.kommersant.com/p747440/Joyal_/

Mashed Media
 WATCH: FOX DEVOTED 12 TIMES MORE COVERAGE
TO ANNA NICOLE THAN WALTER REED HOSPITAL
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/05/fox-news-anna-nicole-walter-reed/

Enviro Wacko
 CHINA PREMIER CALLS FOR GREENER ECONOMY
(He’d better get busy)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/china/story/0,,2026904,00.html
The Big Green Fuel Lie
http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/climate_change/article2328821.ece
George Bush says that ethanol will save the world. But there is evidence that biofuels may bring new problems for the planet
Ethanol: Feed a Person for a Year or Fill Up an SUV?
http://www.alternet.org/envirohealth/48790/
While politicians and Big Agriculture insist on casting the need for ethanol in terms of national security, the larger issue is a moral one: are we going to use our precious farmland to grow food, or use it to make motor fuel?

 A LAWYER’S LIFE: IN DEFENSE OF ONANISM
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4159/is_20031123/ai_n12747473

Animals in the news!
THE ONANISM-CRAZY IGUANAS OF THE GALAPAGOS!
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1511/is_n11_v17/ai_18762274

Jesus H. Christ!
WHAT EXACTLY WAS ONAN’S SIN?
http://www.gracecathedral.org/enrichment/brush_excerpts/brush_20031105.shtml

(Lack of) Health
 IS ONANISM THE NEW ADD?
http://www.foucault.info/Foucault-L/archive/msg04834.shtml

Oh, by the way. . .
SUPERSTAR SURFER IS AN ABORIGINE
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6419473.stm
A RECENT HUMAN/CHIMP SPLIT?
Not much of a split, either
http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2007/227/2?etoc

And in more important matters. . .

 Books
 LIBRARY PROCLAIMS ‘YEAR OF VONNEGUT’
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070303/OPINION/703030385/-1/ZONES04
This year, 2007, has been proclaimed the Year of Kurt Vonnegut by Mayor Bart Peterson, the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library and the Indianapolis Cultural Development Commission. It seems an appropriate time to acknowledge the contributions to the city of both Kurt Vonnegut and his family.
VONNEGUT IS STILL IMPORTANT
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/entertainment/16767357.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

KNUT THE BABY POLAR BEAR EXPLORES HIS HOME
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,469860,00.html

For Art’s Sake
ON THE TRAIL OF DALI
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/art/visualart/story/0,,2026642,00.html
It was the art movement that shocked the world. It was sexy, weird and dangerous - and it's still hugely influential today. Jonathan Jones travels to the coast of Spain to explore the landscape that inspired Salvador Dalí, the greatest surrealist of them all.

 Film
 HOW TO MAKE A SURREALIST FILM
http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0,,2026690,00.html
Grab a giant seashell, send for a rotting donkey, and don't forget to press your dinner jacket ... Peter Bradshaw and Andrew Gilchrist offer 10 tips for any budding Buñuels

DARWIN’S GOD
Does god exist, and if so, is he hungry? This is the god of all god articles.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/04/magazine/04evolution.t.html?em&ex=1173157200&en=e61ea0e78831aa66&ei=5087%0A
and, in a related story. . .
 IT’S THE SUPER ONANISM MACHINE FROM JAPAN!
http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/waiwai/archive/news/2003/03/20030326p2g00m0dm999000c.html

Musique
 ONANISM SONGS!
http://www.nadamucho.com/columns/letter_from_the_editor/odes_to_onanism_-_best_masturbation_songs.html
BOB DYLAN PLAYS RECORDER ON CHABAD TELETHON
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_STDNz5-Cmw

Website of the day: Axis of Evel Knievel
http://axisofevelknievel.blogspot.com/
Another day, another pointless atrocity

 And in the end. . .
THE PERSUASIONS SING ZAPPA’S ‘THE MEEK SHALL INHERIT NOTHING’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ifbgd3tkZ2M&mode=related&search=


3/2
‘HUMAN RICE’ OKAYED!
No, not Condi---she’s neither human nor okay
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/01/AR2007030101495_pf.html
The plan, confirmed yesterday by the California biotechnology company leading the effort, calls for large-scale cultivation in Kansas of rice that produces human immune system proteins in its seeds.

INCREDIBLE: JAPAN PM SAYS ‘NO EVIDENCE’
WOMEN FORCED TO BE SEX SLAVES IN WWII
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6411471.stm

S. AFRICA PLANS TO MURDER ELEPHANTS
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-elephant1mar01%2C0%2C5372065.story
Small farmers and villagers here see them as cunning, destructive and dangerous beasts whose very name conjures up death. In the West, elephants are perhaps the most beloved of the big game species and tourists fly thousands of miles just to see one. So South Africa's proposal, unveiled Wednesday, to thin elephant herds by methods that include shooting them was bound to spark controversy.

 ISRAEL ANTI-NUKE BAND MAY BE BANNED
Eurovision song contest says anti-nuke message is inappropriate!
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/832315.html

JAPANESE HUMANOIDS TRAINED TO LEARN FROM MISTAKES
That will set them apart from people!
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Learning_from_mistakes_next_challen_03012007.html

MAN TRIES TO CASH $50K CHECK FROM GOD
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/02/28/national/a141645S31.DTL&type=bondage

CHEEKY PIC OF YOUNG, HAIRY TONY BLAIR
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23387466-details/Young+Blair's+obscene+gesture/article.do

And on to the frights and shrieks of the day:

 Israelity
DOES ISRAELI TAIL WAG THE AMERICAN DOG?
Does an Israeli cat have a tail?
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article17217.htm
This convergence of manipulated “interests” has a profound effect on US policy choices in the Middle East. If the United States is unable to distinguish the world’s or its own real needs from those of another state and that state’s lobby, then it simply cannot say that it always acts in its own best interests.
 U.S./ISRAEL DISCUSS NEXT TEN YEARS’ WORTH OF SUBSIDIES
Gee, wouldn’t it be nice if we subsidized our own country, too. . .
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/US_Israel_begin_talks_on_new_10_yea_03012007.html
Under that plan, military aid to Israel rose from 1.8 billion dollars to 2.4 billion dollars per year, while civilian aid, which totaled 1.2 billion dollars in 1998, was phased out. The US also provided a billion dollars in special military aid and nine billion dollars in loan guarantees in 2003.

War in error
LEADING CAUSE OF TERROR?
WHY, IT’S THE WAR ON TERROR
What a surprise
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/48620/
An authoritative U.S. study of terrorist attacks after the invasion in 2003 contradicts the repeated denials of George Bush and Tony Blair that the war is not to blame for an upsurge in fundamentalist violence worldwide. The research is said to be the first to attempt to measure the "Iraq effect" on global terrorism.
 AUSSIE TERROR SUSPECT CHARGED AFTER 5 YEARS IN GITMO
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/02/news/hicks.php

World gone mad
BRUTAL END TO BRAZIL WOMAN WHO DEVOTED LIFE TO HELPING SLUM-TRAPPED KIDS
http://www.guardian.co.uk/brazil/story/0,,2023826,00.html
Appalled by reports of death squads exterminating street children in the beachside city, she set her sights on the favelas of Rio. Yet this week, after nearly a decade dedicated to the children of South America, she met the most ghoulish end imaginable - hacked to death with kitchen knives at her Copacabana home alongside her husband and another colleague, apparently by one of the street children she had tried to save.
BRAZIL DRUG GANGS RECRUIT KIDS TO DO THEIR KILLING
http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,469510,00.html
Ricardo M. was 11 years old when he killed a person for the first time. It was night, and about 20 boys had gathered at the highest point in the favela. With hunting rifles and assault weapons slung over their shoulders and handguns stuck into the waistbands of their Bermuda shorts, it looked as if a war were about to break out in this poverty-stricken neighborhood on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. After an evening spent snorting cocaine, the boys were high and completely uninhibited.

 Al the Pal
PRESS CORPS THAT ONCE HATED GORE. . .NOW ADORES HIM
http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2007/03/02/al_gore/?source=whitelist
Although Gore himself certainly deserves a measure of blame for the catastrophic conclusion of the 2000 presidential election and the events that led up to it, his hateful treatment by the press slanted the campaign against him from the beginning. (Perhaps only Ralph Nader is more culpable for the irreparable harms of the Bush era, but that is an arguable proposition.)
BIG DICK CHENEY MAKES LAME GORE JOKE
http://thinkprogress.org/

Electile Dysfunction
LISTEN: WESLEY CLARK TO RUN FOR PREZ AGAIN?
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/03/02/1440234
FRANKENMITT SLAMS GIULIANI
Maybe they'll wipe each other out, like Rodan and Godzilla
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Romney_smears_Giuliani_He_prochoice_he_0301.html
EWWWW. . .GIULIANI, CLINTON ‘MOST ELECTABLE’. . .EWWWWWW
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0302/p02s02-uspo.html
IT’S BILLARY VS. OBAMA THIS WEEKEND
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Video_BillHillary_vs._Obama_this_weekend_0302.html

Mashed Media
BBC, YOUTUBE JOIN FORCES
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,469586,00.html

GENERAL FIRED OVER CONDITIONS AT WALTER REED HOSPITAL
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/02/washington/02general.html?em&ex=1172984400&en=a720c49e93144c90&ei=5087%0A

Iraq and Roll
IRAQ VETS COME HOME TO FIND THEIR JOBS GONE
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/wp/2007/03/02/2248
THE IRAQ MESS, BROKEN DOWN FOR BEGINNERS
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/03/02/insurgency/
KUCINICH BILL WILL END IRAQ OCCUPATION
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/48622/

THOMAS: BUSH DOESN’T THINK FATHER KNOWS BEST
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/305748_helen02.html 

HERBERT: SLAVERY IS STILL WITH US
Oh, good, let’s wallow in the past some more, Bob. . .
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/030107H.shtml

Enviro Wacko
HAHAHAHA--- Pope is warned of a 'green' Antichrist!
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article1459003.ece
An arch-conservative cardinal chosen by the Pope to deliver this year’s Lenten meditations to the Vatican hierarchy has caused consternation by giving warning of an Antichrist who is “a pacifist, ecologist and ecumenist”.
 ‘REFRIGERATION SYSTEM’ FOR EARTH’S OCEANS IS BREAKING DOWN
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,469495,00.html
BUILD INLAND, U.N. WARNS
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,2024779,00.html
An international panel of scientists has proposed that all countries cease building on coastal land that is less than a metre above high tide so as to avoid some of the worst impacts of climate change.
 Inuits take climate case to human rights tribunal
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2007/03/02/2003350661

Spaced Out
 DAZZLING NEW SATURN PICS!
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/main/index.html

Animals in the news!
 Mystery of where bald ibis goes in winter is solved
http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/wildlife/article2318732.ece

Lost Angeles
JUST ANOTHER CROOK FROM L.A.
How Councilman Alarcon spent half a million on campaign---against no opponent
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2007/03/alarcons_women.php

Oh, by the way. . .
EUROPEANS KIDNAPPED IN ETHIOPIA
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6412073.stm
FAYED GETS JURY FOR DIANA DEATH INQUEST
http://www.guardian.co.uk/monarchy/story/0,,2025184,00.html
MEET NEW HAMPSHIRE TEACHER OF THE YEAR
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0301/p13s03-legn.html
Kelley says she takes "the new three-Rs approach" to education – "rigor, relevance, and relationship." It's not just a slogan, which is why people here at the Seacoast School of Technology (SST) say no one was surprised she was named New Hampshire Teacher of the Year. Described by colleagues as modest and by herself as "a lab geek," the best reward for Kelley seems to be that her students learn to love science.
PRE-INCA OBSERVATORY IS THE OLDEST IN WESTERN WORLD
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/03/070301-peru-sun.html
JUDGING A TOWN BY ITS AIRPORT
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/02/features/tyler3.php

And in more important matters. . .

R.I.P. HERMAN BRIX (AKA BRUCE BENNET), A CULTURED ‘TARZAN’
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/02/obituaries/02brix.html?_r=1&ref=obituaries&oref=slogin

AN SF CRANE OPERATOR’S VIEW
If you’re afraid of heights, don’t look. . .
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/03/02/MNGHNOE84N1.DTL

THE GREAT GEORGE CARLIN NEARS 70
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=@@2007703013201

Musique
O’JAYS OFF THE LOVE TRAIN
Suing each other over royalties
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6411061.stm
INTERVIEW: THE GREAT GORECKI
http://www.scena.org/columns/lebrecht/070228-NL-gorecki.html
The third symphony by Henryk Mikolaj Gorecki, a Polish composer unknown abroad, went on to sell a million discs and achieve more performances than any work by a living composer since the Second World War. It shattered two cardinal rules of contemporary music - that the symphony was dead and melody forbidden - by showing there was life in the old forms yet and that new serious music could appeal, incredibly, to a modern clubbing audience. At his peak, Gorecki teetered at number six in the UK pop charts, just behind Paul McCartney.

 Film
 RAINER ON ‘HOG HEAVEN’---IT’S HELL
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0302/p11s02-almo.html
RAINER ON ‘ZODIAC’---KILLER MOVIE
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0302/p14s01-almo.html

For Art’s Sake
GREAT TURNER PAINTING WILL STAY IN ENGLAND
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/art/news/story/0,,2024857,00.html
DAVID LYNCH PHOTO EXHIBIT OPENS IN PARIS
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6411989.stm

CONFESSIONS OF A COMIC BOOK GEEK
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/02/DDG94OD1OT1.DTL

JON CARROLL:
IF THE GOV’T. SAYS YOU’RE ALIVE, ARE YOU REALLY DEAD?
It's also a little bit like the tree falling in the forest. If you die, but the government says you're still alive, are you really dead?
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2007/03/02/DDGRJN7NIA1.DTL

And in the end
CRUMB
The Offical Crumb Site
http://www.crumbproducts.com/

3/1
ICE CAPS MELTING---ON MARS
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070228-mars-warming.html

‘YOUNG KIRK AND SPOCK’ DUE IN ‘08
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6407135.stm

WWII GRENADE FOUND IN SACK OF POTATOES
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6407963.stm

NEW YORK BANS WORD, ‘NIGGER’
Guess that means no more rap ‘music,’ too. . .
Like to see them enforce this in Bed-Sty
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6406625.stm

TOKYO HAS FIRST WINTER WITHOUT SNOW IN 131 YEARS
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6407771.stm

WATCH: WHAT A METAPHOR!
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Video_Bushs_basketball_attempt_falls_flat_0228.html

And on to the day’s astonishments and comment:

BLUMENTHAL:
WAS CHENEY BOMBED BY TALIBAN---OR PAKISTAN?
http://www.salon.com/opinion/blumenthal/2007/03/01/cheney/index_np.html
The day before, Cheney had delivered a stinging message to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf — U.S. aid would be withheld unless Pakistan supported strikes against Taliban and al-Qaida forces that have nestled in Pakistan as a sanctuary, where they have gathered strength in anticipation of a spring offensive against the Afghan government. Musharraf’s official response via a spokesman was immediate: “Pakistan does not accept dictation from any side or any source.” Then came the bombing. Was it another form of reply? The Taliban claimed credit. But was only the Taliban involved?

 Iran from the truth
NO DIRECT TALKS WITH IRAN---U.S.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/43730600-c767-11db-8078-000b5df10621.html
TALKS WITH IRAN, SYRIA DO NOT MEAN U.S. IS ‘REACHING OUT’ TO IRAN---SNOW JOB
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/003200703011021.htm
ANALYSIS: WHY THE PUZZLING TALKS WITH SYRIA, IRAN
(Rip Post: nothing will come of it.)
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/01/news/diplo.php

Iraq and roll
 U.S. COMMANDERS: WE FACE VIETNAM-STYLE COLLAPSE
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2023865,00.html
BUSH IRAQ ENVOY: U.S. POLICY ‘FOOLISH, INCOMPETENT’
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/US_post_Iraq_invasion_policies_inco_02282007.html
CRONKITE: IRAQ A ‘DISASTER’
http://cbs5.com/local/local_story_054223026.html
SCHWARZENEGGER CALLS FOR IRAQ PULLOUT
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/03/01/the-governator-calls-for-troop-pullout-timeline/
ARCHITECTS OF THE IRAQ WAR: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
http://thinkprogress.org/the-architects-where-are-they-now/

The other war
TALIBAN GEARING UP FOR BIG SPRING SUICIDE SPECTACULAR!
Regis Philbin to host
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,469172,00.html

War in error
 BIN-LADEN STILL ALIVE---TALIBAN
Probably smoking cigars sent by Bush and Cheney
http://rawstory.com/news/dpa/Osama_bin_Laden_still_alive_Taliban_03012007.html
MCGOVERN: KEY TO NUKE-FREE MIDDLE EAST IS ISRAEL
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article17215.htm
The ultimate aim, in my view, should be a Middle East free of nuclear weapons. That, I am confident, would stop whatever plans the Iranians have to develop nuclear weapons. And please do not tell me that, because Israel would not agree, we cannot move in this direction. The U.S. and others can provide the necessary guarantees of the security of Israel. And Israeli intransigence on this issue is not a viable middle- or long-term strategy that serves Israel’s interest or the interest of justice and peace.

 Kim Nook Yoo
N. KOREA PLEDGES TO DE-NUKE
And Dear Leader pledges to stop perming his hair
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7615124

Electile Dysfunction
NEWT: HILLARY A “NASTY WOMAN”
That’s the best recommendation we’ve heard for her. . .
http://www.nypost.com/seven/03012007/news/nationalnews/newt_rips_nasty_hill_nationalnews_maggie_haberman.htm
HILLARY’S LEAD SHRINKS AS OBAMA PICKS UP BLACK VOTERS
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0301/p02s01-uspo.html
ANOTHER AL GORE MAKEOVER?
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/wp/2007/03/01/2230
The true parallel with former Vice President Gore is another vice president who got another chance — Richard M. Nixon. Like Gore, Nixon lost a controversially close presidential race in 1960, waited out the next one, and then won the White House in 1968.
MONTEBANK GIULIANI’S LEAD WIDENS OVER (NOW DECLARED) MCCAIN
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1594847,00.html

Mashed Media
 ‘WRITER’ WHO WROTE ‘WHY I HATE BLACKS’ IS FIRED
How do so many punks get forums in print? (This means you, Joel Stein.)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/01/BAGO7ODAA91.DTL
THE NEW ORLEANS LEVEE---SKEWERING NAGIN, LOCAL GOV’T
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003552183
Mayor Ray Nagin announces a plan to rebuild the city with Legos. And the Army Corps of Engineers is thinking of a new slogan: ``YOU try building things with government screwdrivers.'' Those are some of the parody news stories in the New Orleans Levee, a wickedly satirical newspaper about this woeful city.

 (Lack of) Health
 TAMIFLU CAUSING JAPANESE TEENS TO LEAP TO THEIR DEATHS?
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/flu-remedy-linked-to-spate-of-teen-deaths/2007/02/28/1172338709262.html

Animals in the news!
 TIGER, ORANG ARE PLAYMATES
Can we all just get along?
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2007/02/28/international/i035143S45.DTL

Oh, by the way. . .
 WITNESSES SCARED, MURDER SUSPECTS WALK
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/01/nyregion/01witness.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
TAIWAN ISSUES FIRST STAMP WITHOUT ‘CHINA’
http://rawstory.com/news/dpa/Taiwan_issues_first_stamp_without_R_02282007.html
FLA. CITY FIRES MANAGER FOR PLANNING SEX CHANGE
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/02/28/national/a112415S38.DTL
SAY IT AINT’ SO: ISRAEL’S KIBBUTZEN ARE PRIVATIZING
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0301/p01s04-wome.html

R.I.P. ARTHUR SCHLESINGER
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/01/washington/01schlesinger.html?ref=obituaries
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/02/28/national/a221316S30.DTL
Schlesinger emerged as a historian with "The Age of Jackson." Published in 1945, when he was just 27, the book offered a new, class-based interpretation of the Jackson administration, destroying the old myth that the country was once an egalitarian paradise. The book remained influential despite eventual criticism — even by Schlesinger — for overlooking Jackson's appeasement of slavery and his harsh treatment of Indians.

And in more important matters. . .

 STEPHEN HAWKING TO MAKE ZERO GRAVITY FLIGHT
http://www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070301/APA/703011234&cachetime=5

NEED YOUR EARS CLEANED? JAPANESE PAY SCANTILY CLAD WOMEN TO DO IT
http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/waiwai/news/20070301p2g00m0dm046000c.html

MUSIC DOTH HAVE CHARMS---FOR INMATES
http://music.guardian.co.uk/classical/story/0,,2023828,00.html
Eileen, one former prisoner, undertook the Music in Prisons course during her time at Askham Grange prison. After five and a half years inside, she now works with Music in Prisons, facilitating projects with women in Holloway. "The project changed my life. I left prison without the stigma of being there. People inside need support; to know that their lives aren't finished."

WHERE HAS ALL THE ACID GONE?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/drugs/Story/0,,2023039,00.html

HAPPY 75TH, LIZ TAYLOR
 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6403713.stm

GOLDBLUM GETS RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST FEMALE STALKER
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6406993.stm

And in the end. . .
TEASPOON SLIDE GUITAR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xPGqWt3L7A

2/28

 PRINCE CHARLES: BAN MCDONALD’S!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6446143,00.html
http://www.time.com/time/quotes

12-YEAR-OLD BOY LACKS INSURANCE, DIES FROM TOOTHACHE
Great country we’ve got here. . .
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/27/AR2007022702116_pf.html 

MUST WATCH: KUCINICH FOR PREZ AD
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Letterman_Dem_ad_spoof_hits_Obama_0228.html

Jesus H. Christ!
THAT TOMB CONTAINS THE ENTIRE JESUS FAMILY!
Ozzie Jesus, his lovely wife Harriet Jesus, David and Ricky Jesus
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3368731,00.html
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/27/news/jesus.php

‘DEEP PURPLE’ ALBUM WAS ACTUALLY JOYCE HATTO!
http://www.thespoof.com/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s4i15549

DID YOU DINE WITH WOLFGANG? YOU'RE PUCKED
 http://www.canada.com/topics/entertainment/story.html?id=3fcef89c-929b-4e1f-bab2-2eb90d82582d&k=99231

And on to the day’s atrocities and comment:

U.S. COLLEGE STUDENTS GETTING AN ‘A’ IN NARCISSISM
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070227/NEWS07/70227056/1003/NEWS01
The researchers traced the phenomenon back to what they called the “self-esteem movement” that emerged in the 1980s, asserting that the effort to build self-confidence had gone too far. Twenge, the author of “Generation Me: Why Today’s Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled — and More Miserable Than Ever Before,” said narcissists tend to lack empathy, react aggressively to criticism and favor self-promotion over helping others.

THE LOST MYSTERY OF ‘IRAQ-GATE’
http://www.consortiumnews.com/2007/022707b.html
Such a discussion inevitably would have led to how Saddam Hussein’s development of dangerous weapons was enabled by Western powers, including the United States. Between 1985 and 1990, the Reagan and Bush I administrations facilitated Saddam Hussein’s massive and ambitious military industrialization effort.

 Iraq and Roll
BOMB KILLS 18 KIDS; U.S. INTELL CHIEF ADMITS ‘CIVIL WAR’
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Iraq_bomb_kill_18_kids_US_spy_chief_02272007.html

War for oil
 BUSH’S LATEST GRAB FOR IRAQI OIL
http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/4020
While debate rages in the United States about the military in Iraq, an equally important decision is being made inside of Iraq--the future of Iraq’s oil. A new Iraqi law proposes to open the country’s currently nationalized oil system to foreign corporate control. But emblematic of the flawed promotion of “democracy” by the Bush administration, this new law is news to most Iraqi politicians.

 The Torture Never Stops
 ‘GHOST PRISONERS’ ARE DISAPPEARING
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Report_Many_of_CIAs_ghost_prisoners_0227.html

Iran from the truth
 ESTRIN: IGNORE RITTER AT OUR OWN NUCLEAR PERIL
http://www.laobserved.com/intell/2007/02/ritter_to_la_stop_the_madness.php
Answering questions from the crowd, he said the administration knows sustaining another long-term military conflict would be impossible, which is why he predicted our use of tactical nuclear weapons should the American people and Congress fail to stop the aggression before it starts.
 PARRY:
PENTAGON’S WAR WITH BUSH OVER IRAN ATTACK PLANS
http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/2007/022807Parry.shtml

Electile Dysfunction
'WAR ON TERROR' TO BE ENDED
JUST BEFORE '08 ELECTION---PENTAGON DOC
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Pentagons_number_two_suggests_terror_war_0228.html
PHONEYBALONEY EDWARDS APOLOGIZES---AGAIN!---FOR HIS WAR VOTE
This guy is making a career out of saying “I was wrong and I take full responsibility. . .”
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/02/27/politics/p142833S82.DTL&type=politics
 CREEPY MITT ROMNEY: HE’S WORRIED ABOUT HIS HAIR!
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Paper_obtains_leaked_weakness_memo_for_0227.html

Al the pal
 WATCH: OLBERMANN REFUTES RIGHT-WING ATTACK ON GORE HOME ENERGY USE
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/02/28/olbermann-on-gores-energy-use-setting-the-record-straight/
GORE A SHOO-IN?
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=2907998&page=1&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312
REMEMBER: GORE WARNED AGAINST IRAQ INVASION
http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/2007/022607Parry.shtml

Big Dick
THANKS FOR PUTTING SOLDIERS AT RISK, DICK
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/wp/2007/02/28/2216
A lot of soldiers were talking about being concerned that whenever a dignitary or someone comes here, they feel like they’re a target. Because the Taliban always wants to show off so to speak or show force to kind of say this isn’t secure. You’re never secure. We can still get to you. So there was some concern from soldiers that they are put in harm’s way whenever someone comes here. “Man, why is he coming here?”
TALIBAN ‘KNEW OF CHENEY VISIT’
http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,9294,2-10-1462_2075713,00.html
CHENEY ATTACK IS SIGN THAT WAR IS FAILING
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-te.war28feb28,0,1409758.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

Mashed Media
ROVE HECKLED DURING SPEECH---ATTACKS YOUTUBE
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/02/28/28rove.html
DUMBASS EDITOR ‘REGRETS’ ‘HATE BLACKS’ COLUMN
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/28/BAGFUOCKIQ1.DTL
JON CARROLL: JAW AGAPE OVER ‘HATE BLACKS’
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2007/02/28/DDGRJN7J9F1.DTL
So Samson Wong apparently says to himself, "Sure, why not, it's a free country," and he prints the column. Did he not perhaps think that a newspaper has many missions, and fostering community understanding is one of them? This wasn't a reasoned screed against affirmative action; this was a goddamn "Why I Hate Black People." One has been in the newspaper business many years; one's jaw is agape.
ARE GOOGLE’S DAYS NUMBERED?
Little-known competitors are cropping up
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0228/p13s02-stct.html
WALTER REED PATIENTS TOLD TO ‘KEEP QUIET’ AND AVOID MEDIA
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/02/TNSreedinspect070227/
ON THE WALTER REED HOSPITAL COVERAGE. . .
http://thenewshole.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/02/27/70665.aspx
CRAZY GLENN BECK SAYS OLBERMAN IS “KILLING DEMOCRACY”
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/27/beck-attacks-olbermann/

Bush Leagues
DAILY SHOW ON LAURA BUSH DEFENSE OF IRAQ
“One bombing a day discourages everybody.”
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/02/28/the-daily-show-on-laura-bushs-media-excuse/
PELOSI: BUSH THINKING ON IRAQ IS ‘IMPAIRED’
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/02/27/pelosi.king/index.html?eref=yahoo

(Lack of) Health
25 PERCENT OF ALL U.S. WOMEN HAVE HPV
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-02-27-hpv-prevalence_x.htm

Enviro Wacko
 BYE-BYE, LIGHT BULBS?
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0228/p01s03-ussc.html

Animals in the news!
 JAPAN CALLS OFF WHALE HUNT
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Japan_cuts_short_whale_hunt_02282007.html

Oh, by the way. . .
JAPANESE NAVY IS SIXTH LARGEST IN THE WORLD
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1594264,00.html
NIGERIA LOVES THE USA!
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0228/p01s04-woaf.html
The polls don't delve into the reasons, but Nigerians interviewed said that overwhelming might is respected, Muslim-Christian conflict is a major issue here, and America's great riches and powerful global role resonate with many Nigerians.
TELEGRAPH HILL LANDSLIDE WRECKS EXCLUSIVE CONDOS
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/28/MNGG7OCLJH1.DTL

And in more important matters. . .

R.I.P. WALKER EDMISTON
And Ravenswood the Buzzard, Kingsley the Lion. . .
http://www.calendarlive.com/tv/cl-me-edmiston27feb27,0,6411916.story?coll=cl-tv-features

Farewell to a noodle genius
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/incomingFeeds/article1449507.ece
Thousands of people bade farewell to the Japanese inventor of instant noodles in a sci-fi funeral befitting a man whose creation has gone round the planet and even into space.

Q&A: D.A. PENNEBAKER ON TRAILING BOB DYLAN
http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1593766,00.html

For Art’s Sake
 CARTOONS MEET GREAT WORKS OF ART
http://www.worth1000.com/cache/contest/contestcache.asp?contest_id=14079&display=photoshop
PICASSOS STOLEN FROM HOME OF GRANDDAUGHTER
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070228/D8NINI000.html

Tee Vee
Ray Richmond’s amusing blow-by-blow of Oscar Night
http://www.pastdeadline.com/2007/02/and_so_it_begin.html

And in the end. . .
PROF. LONGHAIR, DR. JOHN, EARL KING, ART NEVILLE---BIG CHIEF!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IOyBwrvOKA


2/27
 LASORDA IN L.A. MADAM’S ‘TRICK BOOK’
Was Tommy sliding into home?
 http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-babydol27feb27,0,6682346.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Lost Angeles
$730 MILLION FOR 405 CARPOOL LANE
Almost no one will use the thing, and the money could be spent on light rail, but so what?
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-roads27feb27,0,7694136.story?coll=la-home-headlines

YOU KNOW ALL THOSE MOVIES WHERE
SOMEBODY LIGHTS A POOL OF GAS WITH A CIGARETTE?
It doesn’t work.
http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2022344,00.html

REMAKE OF EDWIN STARR’S “WAR” HITS THE BRIT CHARTS
What is it good for? Bush, Cheney, Halliburton, Israel. . .
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6401299.stm

ASIAN PAPER RUNS “I HATE BLACKS” COLUMN
Yeah, that’ll help
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/27/HATE.TMP

HEY, CHRISTIANS---THEY FOUND JESUS’S BODY (AND HIS WIFE AND UH, SON)
Kind of puts a kink in that resurrection stuff, doesn’t it?
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070226-jesus-tomb.html

And on the the day’s horror and comment:

LINDORFF: BUSH IS AN ‘UNLAWFUL COMBATANT’
What else can you call someone who is funding Al-Qaeda, as Bush is?
http://www.thiscantbehappening.net/2007.02.01_arch.html#1172528495699
Now we learn from ace investigative reporter Sy Hersh, speaking on CNN, that Bush and his criminal crew have been using this illicit, stolen cash to fund covert attacks on Iranian targets, and that much of the money has been going--get this--to Sunni jihadists linked to Al-Qaeda--the very people we're fighting in Iraq!

 Must reading
RAIMUNDO: USA IS NOW ALLIED WITH AL-QAEDA!
We're playing the Sunni card in the Middle East – and that means playing footsie with al-Qaeda
http://antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=10580
So let's get this straight: U.S. taxpayer dollars are subsidizing al-Qaeda's emerging Lebanese affiliate. Remember that as you fill out your income tax forms this year. The "war on terrorism" sparked by al-Qaeda's 9/11 attack has ended with the U.S. in alliance with bin Laden's boys against a supposedly emerging Shi'ite threat. Now how bitter is that ironic twist?

SUICIDE BOMBER MISSES CHENEY IN AFGHANISTAN
23 killed in blast at U.S. military base where Cheney was visiting
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070227/ap_on_re_as/afghan_explosion 

Iran from the truth
BLIX: U.S. IS ‘HUMILIATING’ IRAN
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/26/america/NA-GEN-US-Iran-Nuclear.php
ROVE PERSONALLY IGNORED IRAN PEACE OFFER IN ‘03
Karl The Pig strikes again!
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/022707J.shtml
SNEAK PREVIEW! BUSH’S ATTACK IRAN SPEECH!
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article17183.htm
Further diplomacy, he will insist, appears futile and yet Iran must be stopped. Hence, he will say, "I have made the unavoidable decision to eliminate this vital threat through direct military action," and will announce -- in language eerily reminiscent of his address to the nation on March 19, 2003 -- that a massive air offensive against Iran has already been underway for several hours.
IRAN LEADERS MUST HAVE A DEATH WISH. . .
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0227/p01s01-wogi.html
KUCINICH: COLLISION COURSE WITH IRAN
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070312/Kucinich
The intelligence backing up these assertions is questionable. The sources were anonymous. Since the briefing, the Administration has backed away from the assertion made by Pentagon briefers the day before that Tehran was behind these weapons transfers. No new evidence has been presented. But the President, the Defense Secretary and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff all repeat the questionable assertions.
AND JUST IN CASE YOU DIDN’T SEE THIS YESTERDAY. . .
http://www.lucasgray.com/video/peacetrain.html 

BY THE WAY, BUSH IS THREATENING SYRIA, TOO
http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/2007/022707AVNERY.shtml
There is not the slightest possibility that Syria would attack Israel. The military capabilities of Syria, even with all the Russian arms they may get, are vastly inferior to those of the Israeli army. That is the considered view of the entire Israeli intelligence community. If Syria rearms, it is for defensive purposes. They are, quite justly, afraid of Israel and the United States.

 War in error
MAD COMMENTARY OF THE WEEK:
NUKE RETALIATION AGAINST AL-QAEDA
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/wp/2007/02/27/2203

Rice Cooker
OLBERMANN GIVES PINHEAD CONDI RICE A HISTORY LESSON
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Olbermann_commentary_takes_Condi_to_history_0227.html
Olbermann added, "The secretary's résumé reads that she has a master’s degree and a Ph.D in political science. The interviewer should have demanded to see them, on the spot. Dr. Rice spoke 42 words. She may have made more mistakes in them than did the president in his State of the Union Address in 2003."
HEY, KIDS! LET’S GO TO CONDILAND!
http://www.internetweekly.org/2007/02/cartoon_condi_land.html
And, in a related story of foolish, arrogant, powerful women. . .
 WATCH: LAURA BUSH’S ASTONISHING ARROGANCE, STUPIDITY
She married the right guy!
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/02/27/what-was-that-laura-better-ask-cheney/

Iraq and Roll
BUSH’S RUSH TO SURGE SHORTCHANGES TROOPS OF TRAINING
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070227/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/rushing_to_iraq;_ylt=Ah2xIfSag23vWi_La0hLr9Ss0NUE
MORE TROOPS SEEKING A WAY OUT---
THROUGH DESERTION, CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,468740,00.html

Your corporatocracy at work!
NUMBER OF EXTREME POOR UP 26 PERCENT UNDER PREZBOY
 http://www.commondreams.org/headlines07/0227-02.htm

Electile Dysfunction
 THOMPSON: YES, BILL AND HILLARY LIE
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/wp/2007/02/23/2190
Truth be told, lying is a required trait for political life. Show me a politician who doesn’t lie and I’ll show you a politician who loses elections. The faithful who defend Hillary and Bill’s lies claim that, unlike Bush, their lies did not result in a war where more than 3,100 Americans and thousands upon thousands of Iraqis died. The theory of relativity always works as a convenient political excuse.

 Mashed Media
 SF CHRON’S BRONSTEIN COMES TO AID OF EX-COLLEAGUE ROBERTS
Madwoman owner of Santa Barbara News-Press is suing Roberts for millions
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003550467
Journalistic ethics have brought the two former competitors together for a unified cause. Bronstein plans to be one of several speakers at a fundraising roast for Roberts, who is raising money to fight an arbitration case filed against him by owners of the Santa Barbara News-Press, his former employer.
 SINGLE-COPY NEWSPAPER SALES DOWN, TOO
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003550169
WEBSITES LURING MOST TALENTED YOUTUBERS AWAY
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/26/business/ecom.php
He has that right. The most popular YouTubers, who have generated millions of visits and tens of thousands of subscribers, say they have received overtures from multiple sites. And YouTube, meanwhile, appears ready to respond to the challenge.

 Enviro Wacko
BANNING NEW COAL PLANTS WILL SLOW GLOBAL WARMING
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Banning_New_Coal_Power_Plants_Will_Slow_Warming_999.html

(Lack of) Health
 USA---HOME OF “EXTREME EATING”
http://www.14wfie.com/Global/story.asp?S=6143954&nav=3w6o
A 2,000-calorie appetizer, a 2,000-calorie main course, another 1,700 calories for dessert - those aren't typos. It's more like par for the course at Ruby Tuesday, On the Border, the Cheesecake Factory and countless other top table-service chain restaurants.
THE AMAZING MEDICINE-RELEASING TOOTH IMPLANT!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6400021.stm

Oh, by the way. . .
 HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR MEETS POLISH WOMAN WHO RESCUED HER
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/27/europe/EU-GEN-Poland-Holocaust-Rescuers.php
THE FEMALE VOICE OF THE U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL
Meet Michele Montas
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0227/p20s01-wogi.html
THE BLOODY FEUD THAT BEGAN OVER LAUNDRY!
And you wonder why there is war. . .
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/02/27/stabbing_followed_feud_over_laundry/

And in more important matters. . .

JOYCE HATTO’S HUSBAND/PRODUCER ADMITS THE FRAUD
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6400307.stm
BIS said he told them he did it because his wife had cancer and could be heard groaning in pain during recordings, according to Gramophone magazine.
MORE ON HATTO:
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2007/02/27/cherished_music_wasnt_hers/

Film
AN ALTMANESQUE TRIBUTE TO ALTMAN
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/21/movies/21altman.html?_r=1&ref=obituaries&oref=slogin

Books
SCROTUM PROBLEMS
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-patron27feb27,0,4190913.story?coll=la-opinion-rightrail
MEMOIR OF A FORMER DRUGGED CHILD SOLDIER
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/27/DDGPDOA9911.DTL
Beah, 26, tells this story in his amazing memoir, "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $22). Raw and graphic, the book illustrates how a boy as gentle as Beah could be reshaped as a vicious killer. More important, it demonstrates how, after an extended, soul-crushing hell, that same boy could reclaim his humanity and become a catalyst for healing.

For Art’s Sake
ERNST HAECKELS WANDERBILDER
These are quite beautiful. . .
http://www.zum.de/stueber/haeckel/wanderbilder/index.html
REMEMBERING ANDY WARHOL---WITH COINS AND CANS
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/26/news/warhol.php
CLARA DRISCOLL, THE GIRL BEHIND TIFFANY’S
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/26/news/tiff.php
 
HONUS WAGNER BASEBALL CARD GOES FOR $2.5 MILLION
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?id=2781049&sport=mlb&ft=ss

And in the end. . .
COMPUTER CAN TELL IF BOOK IS WRITTEN BY MAN OR WOMAN
http://www.bookblog.net/gender/genie.html


2/26
MORE FUEL FOR TERRORISTS:
THE GAY PORN AWARDS, AND---
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/26/DDGBCO9LUE1.DTL
---JACKSON 5 MIGHT REUNITE
http://music.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2021741,00.html

MADONNA TO ADOPT ANNA NICOLE’S BABY
http://www.thespoof.com/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s2i15488

ASININE COMMENTARY OF THE WEEK!
Humorless “Feminist” attacks Olbermann for his nasty remarks about po’ widdle Paris Hilton,
Britney Spears, and other noble female personages
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2007/02/23/everyone_loves_keith_olbermannexcept_me.php

And on to the horror and comment:

We’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when. . .
NO JOKE, FOLKS---BUSH FUNDING JIHADISTS
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/#48501
In short, the Pentagon is attempting to battle Iran's extremists and Hezbollah (both Shiite) by funding the violent Sunni factions that oppose them. Hersh speculates that the money is coming from the pallet-loads of cash floating around Iraq and has already reached "three Sunni jihadist groups." He says, flatly, that the president is "supporting groups indirectly that are involved with the same people that did 9/11."
HERSH: BUSH BUDDIES UP TO THE SUNNIS
Er, gee, I seem to remember uh. . .weren’t they uh. . .Saddam’s people?
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/070305fa_fact_hersh
To undermine Iran, which is predominantly Shiite, the Bush Administration has decided, in effect, to reconfigure its priorities in the Middle East. In Lebanon, the Administration has coöperated with Saudi Arabia’s government, which is Sunni, in clandestine operations that are intended to weaken Hezbollah, the Shiite organization that is backed by Iran. The U.S. has also taken part in clandestine operations aimed at Iran and its ally Syria. A by-product of these activities has been the bolstering of Sunni extremist groups that espouse a militant vision of Islam and are hostile to America and sympathetic to Al Qaeda.
HERSH: PENTAGON HAS PLAN TO ATTACK IRAN
WITHIN 24 HOURS OF BUSH ORDER
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Hersh_Pentagon_panel_created_to_plan_0225.html
POWERS: WILL TERRORIST ATTACK ENSURE REPUG WIN IN ’08?
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_dean_pow_070225_bush_administration_.htm
To President Bush the 9/11 attacks are nothing less than a gift. He said as much when he referenced the event along with several other factors giddily as "trifecta." His glee contrasts sharply with the feelings of 300 million Americans who witnessed the face of horror on that day, but it may help explain why he ignored the infamous August 6, 2001 presidential daily briefing headlined: "Bin Laden determined to strike in U.S."
RICH: WHERE WERE YOU THAT SUMMER OF 2001?
 http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0225-23.htm
Five years after 9/11, the terrorists would seem to have us just where they want us — asleep — even as the system is blinking red once again.

U.S. GENERALS WILL QUIT IF BUSH ATTACKS IRAN
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article1434540.ece

Iraq and Roll
WOMAN SOLDIER’S DEATH ANOTHER TILLMANN-STYLE COVER-UP?
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/48365/
There once was a young woman from a St. Louis suburb. She was an honor roll student, she played the violin, she donated blood and volunteered for American Heart Association walks. She elected to put off college for a while and joined the Army once out of school. At Fort Campbell, KY, she was assigned as a weapons supply manager to the 129th Corps Support Battalion.
IRAQ VEEP WOUNDED IN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSL26647971._CH_.2400
IRAQ PREZ GOES TO JORDAN FOR A REST
 http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Iraqi_leader_in_hospital_for_fatigu_02262007.html
IRAQ A MESS? WHY, IT’S THE IRAQIS FAULT!
http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/2007/022207Eland.shtml
As President Bush continues his Nixonesque policy of “exiting” Iraq by escalation and intimidation, both Republican and Democratic politicians are also imitating the Vietnam-era rhetoric of blaming the citizens of the chaotic country and their neighbors for the mess.

MAJORITY OF U.S. SUPPORTS MURTHA PLAN FOR IRAQ EXIT---POLL
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/26/murtha-iraq-poll/

Big Dick
CHENEY SHAKES HIS FINGER AT PAKISTAN
Yeah, that’ll help
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/26/america/web.0226pakistanCND.php
CARTER TEARS INTO CHENEY ON IRAQ
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/02/26/carter-rips-cheneys-abymsal-record-on-iraq/
CHENEY WINS ACADEMY AWARD!
http://www.internetweekly.org/2007/02/cartoon_cheney_wins_academy_award.html

Electile Dysfunction
 WATCH: DOWD ON HILLARY
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Video_Dowd_jabs_at_Queen_Hillary_0225.html
HILLARY: BILL IS ‘THE MOST POPULAR PERSON IN THE WORLD’
Gee, even more than Osama?
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/24/MNGMPOAK5E1.DTL

Enviro Wacko
 MORFORD: Who are the 13 percent of us who've never heard of global warming? And how can they be stopped?
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2007/02/23/notes022307.DTL
According to this ACNielsen poll, there are, right now, upwards of 40 million bipedal adult Internet-using Americans living in this nation who have never, not even once, seen a program about the most dire issue facing the planet today. They have not read about it in a newspaper or seen photos in a magazine or heard about it via an award-winning documentary or seen monkey-like Republican presidents deny its existence and spit on science and mock the simply insurmountable pile of evidence in the name of oil profits and flagrant cronyism.
EXOTIC ANIMALS INVADING ANTARCTIC
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/26/exotic-animals-are-invading-former-ice-shelves/
CONGRATS TO AL GORE
He has done more constructive work with that movie than he probably could have as prez
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/25/al-gore-oscars-video/

World gone mad
CRAZED GERMANS BURN ANN FRANK DIARY
http://rawstory.com/news/dpa/Right_wingers_in_Germany_on_trial_f_02262007.html
‘NEW DIMENSION OF ANTI-SEMITISM IN BERLIN’
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,468733,00.html

Spaced Out
 SUNRISE ON MARS
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/25/news/space.php

(Lack of) Health
FATAL TB STRAIN IN 28 COUNTRIES
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/26/MNGQ3OB6VV1.DTL
Researchers reported on Sunday they have found an estimated 600 cases of XDR-TB in South Africa, most of them among patients already infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS -- and 85 percent of those patients have died.
BREATH TEST CAN SPOT LUNG CANCER
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/breath-test-able-to-spot-lung-cancer/2007/02/26/1172338547090.html 
HEART DOCTORS GOING BACK TO THE BYPASS
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/25/news/surgery.php

Animals in the news!
PHOTO GALLERY: PREHISTORIC SHARK REDISCOVERED
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/01/070124-sharks-photo.html
SCIENTISTS APPROVE HUMAN-ANIMAL MERGER (NO KIDDING)
http://www.raidersnewsnetwork.com/full.php?news=3178

Jesus H. Christ!
 VIR-HEEN APPEARS ON PIZZA PAN---
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article1437672.ece
AND THEN IN A BOWL OF COCOA PEBBLES!
Mary’s a busy lady!
http://www.wnbc.com/news/11082608/detail.html

Oh, by the way. . .
ASIANS WERE NOT FIRST AMERICANS
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070223-first-americans.html
PEEP SHOW AT THE AIRPORT!
New anti-terror X-ray shows screeners the terrible truth
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0226/p02s02-ussc.html

And in more important matters. . .

THE ASTONISHING FORGERY OF JOYCE HATTO---OR---SHOOT THE PIANO PLAYER
(At least this exposed a lot of critics as frauds, too.)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/26/opinion/26dutton.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin
The greatest lesson for us all ought to be, however, that there are more fine young pianists out there than most of us realize. If it wasn’t Joyce Hatto, then who did perform those dazzlingly powerful Prokofiev sonatas? Having been so moved by hearing “her” Schubert on the radio, I’ve vowed to honor the real pianist by ordering the proper CD, as soon as I find out who it is. Backhanded credit to Joyce Hatto for having introduced us to some fine new talent.

 JON CARROLL WATCHES TV
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/26/DDGRJN7GB71.DTL
My premium cable television package offers me about 400 channels of programming. Most of them are 24-hour channels, so that's 9,600 hours of programming per day, or 288,000 hours per month.

 Musique
400 YEARS AFTER ‘L’ ORFEO,’ OPERA LOOKS TO THE NEXT ACT
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/25/news/opera.php
The true cradle of opera was Florence, where in the 1580s and 1590s a group of poets, artists and musicians known as the "camerata" sought to recreate "authentic" Greek theater. Convinced that this theater had included singing, they borrowed from Greek mythology and began composing vocal roles designed to imitate speech. The result was "a work in music," an "opera in musica."

 For Art’s Sake
 SWEDISH DESIGN: MINIMALIST NO MORE
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/25/news/rstock.php

And in the end. . .
THIS IS THE COUNTRY BUSH AND CHENEY WANT TO BOMB NEXT
http://www.lucasgray.com/video/peacetrain.html


2/23 
SHEEN, ESTEVEZ, REVEALED TO BE PUNY, ARROGANT, NASTY
It’s the American way!
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2007/02/sheen_boys_vs_critic.php

HAHAHAHA---BEVERLY HILLS ELECTION MATERIAL IN FARSI
Hundreds of locals complain
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17169576/

HIGH MAINTENANCE BITCH
http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/02/23/ap/strange/d8nf4o000.txt

THIS’LL WAKE YOU UP:
WAITS SINGS BUSH THEME SONG: “LIE TO ME”
Turn it up
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkJUIVfHq2s

And on to news and comment. . .

 Big Dick
CHENEY BAITS CHINA
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6388557.stm
He said China's destruction of an inactive weather satellite last month, as well as its "continued fast-paced military build-up are less constructive, and are not consistent with China's stated goal of a peaceful rise". (Peaceful, you know, like the USA.)
DICK TO AUSSIES: YOU CAN’T “INDULGE” THOUGHTS OF IRAQ EXIT
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/US_allies_cannot_contemplate_early__02222007.html

CHINA SENDS TROOPS TO MUSLIM XINJIANG PROVINCE
http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,467931,00.html

The Other War
 TALIBAN VOWS ‘BLOODIEST YEAR’ AS UK BOOSTS TROOPS
http://www.guardian.co.uk/afghanistan/story/0,,2020034,00.html

Iran from the truth
 THOMAS: BUSH IS FULL OF ‘RED HOT BALONEY’ ON IRAN
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/304795_thomas23.html

Impeachy-keen!
CROWD HEARS CALL FOR IMPEACHMENT
http://www.theolympian.com/112/story/66590.html
Betsy Holt of Olympia said the attendance is just one sign that the number of people disenchanted with President Bush is growing. Holt said she knows people who initially supported the war in Iraq who now are starting to voice displeasure. “It’s just lately that people are less afraid to speak up because they realize they’re in the majority,” Holt said.
THE PEOPLE V. RICHARD CHENEY
 http://men.style.com/gq/features/landing?id=content_5402
Resolved, that Richard B. Cheney, vice president of the United States, should be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors and that these articles of impeachment be submitted to the American people
 Impeach07 Campaign Launched
http://www.impeach07.org/
A growing network of organizations and individuals has launched a new campaign to pursue the immediate impeachment of George Bush and Dick Cheney through widespread public protest, creative dissent, media activism, education, and coordinated lobbying.

Iraq and Roll
LONG TOURS ARE WRECKING MARRIAGES
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/23/us/23military.html?_r=2&hp=&oref=login&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin
SOLDIER ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE IN TEN YEARS FOR RAPE, MURDER
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070222/iraq-rape-slaying
IRAQI TROOPS COMMIT RAPE---
TRAINED AND FUNDED BY THE U.S.
http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0222-25.htm

Your Corporatocracy at work!
 TABIBI: WE DESERVE TO BE RIPPED OFF
BY BUSH’S BILLIONAIRES
http://www.alternet.org/story/48278/
While America obsessed about Brittany's shaved head, Bush offered a budget that offers $32.7 billion in tax cuts to the Wal-Mart family alone, while cutting $28 billion from Medicaid.
 INSIDE THE IMPERIAL BUDGET
http://www.counterpunch.org/sharon02212007.html
Coupled with whopping military expenditures and permanent tax cuts for the extraordinarily wealthy, Bush's budget shreds what little remains of the tattered social safety net for the most downtrodden members of the world's richest society.
OBAMA: OVERTURN BUSH TAX CUTS
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070222/NEWS09/702220396/-1/ENT06

Mashed Media
 THE GREAT OLBERMANN:
THE MOST HONEST MAN IN NEWS
Hahahahaha---calls Anderson Cooper a “marketing experiment”
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/13559914/the_most_honest_man_in_news/print
Keith Olbermann is mad as hell -- and unlike Rush Limbaugh, he's not faking it
RIP POST COLUMN PICKED UP BY L.A. OBSERVED
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2007/02/rip_rense_channels_the_kt_1.php

Jesus H. Christ!
MURDER IN THE NAME OF ISLAM---AND CHRISTIANITY, JUDAISM, ETC.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,467489,00.html
Murder and terror do not figure in the teachings of the monotheist world religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Yet time and again, their fanatical followers embark on bloody rampages, their rage fired up by zealous priests and religious scholars.

 Oh, by the way. . .
JAPAN PRINCESS ‘GETTING BETTER’
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6388751.stm
JAILER BUSTED FOR PUTTING POT IN MASHED POTATOES
http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/02/23/ap/strange/d8nf4hlg0.txt
CHIMPS MAKE, USE SPEARS---
(CAN ALSO PRONOUNCE ‘NUCLEAR’ CORRECTLY)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6387611.stm
PACIFIC ISLANDERS: WORLD’S FATTEST PEOPLE
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/02/22/wfat22.xml

R.I.P. THE GREAT DENNIS JOHNSON
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/23/sports/basketball/23johnson.html?ref=obituaries

And in more important matters. . .

 LATEST BASEBALL PITCH---THE AMAZING GYROBALL FROM JAPAN
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/22/sports/gyroball.php

WRITER/POET GARY SNYDER ON HIS LIFE IN THE WOODS
http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200703/fire.asp
We'd like to see the forests be a mix of trees of all ages, with the understory cleared out or burned enough to be able to take the flames when they do come, and big and diverse enough to quickly recover from all but the very worst fires. This is doable--but it sickens one to see whatever clueless administration is passing through use fear of fire to warp public policy in favor of more exploitation, more industry, and more restrictive laws. It is an exact parallel of the use of "terrorism" to warp American values and circumvent our Constitution to justify aggressive foreign policy and promote again the sick fantasy of a global American empire.

MICHAEL JACKSON TO CONVERT TO ISLAM
That’ll help his image!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/02/22/njackson122.xml

COPS CLEAR OUT BERKELEY OAK PROTECTORS
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/23/BABADIGEST3.DTL

AMAZING, RARE UPSIDE-DOWN RAINBOW CAUGHT ON FILM
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/02/23/MNGD7O9UNL1.DTL

For Art’s Sake
THE ADVANCED GEOMETRY OF ISLAMIC ART
Patterns predated principles established centuries later
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6389157.stm

IRANIAN HOLIDAY ISLAND---FOR WOMEN ONLY
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,468243,00.html

ARE YOU AN UNWITTING PORN STAR?
http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,467422,00.html

REMEMBERING DISCO (BUT WHY?)
http://music.guardian.co.uk/pop/story/0,,2018890,00.html

Film
 RAINER ON ‘23’: WHO CARES?
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0223/p14s01-almo.html

And in the end. . .
TIME FOR YOUR WORKOUT!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYFuQXkXErg


2/22  (we're back)
KITTY PLAYS PIANO---SOUNDS BETTER THAN PHILIP GLASS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ860P4iTaM

 CHUPACABRA FOUND IN TEXAS PAWN SHOP!
 http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/chupa-curio/

EXCLUSIVE! SPEARS HAD HEAD LICE!
This could also explain her bald vagina!
http://www.thespoof.com/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s4i15143

World gone mad
HERE IT IS----THE NEW P.C. LEXICON!
http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3027/a_politically_correct_lexicon
To help me parse what’s PC and what’s not, I had help from people attuned to the nuances of words, particularly those that describe race, ethnicity and sexual identity. Rinku Sen is a 40-year-old South Asian woman. She is the publisher of Colorlines, a national magazine of race and politics, for which she has developed a PC style manual. Tracy Baim is a 44-year-old white lesbian. She grapples with the ever-evolving nomenclature of sexual identity and politics as the executive editor of Windy City Times, a Chicago-based gay weekly. Lott Hill is a 36-year-old white gay male who works at Center for Teaching Excellence at Columbia College in Chicago. He interacts with lots of young people—the font from which much new language usage flows.

BIODIESEL IS ALMOST MAINSTREAM IN BAY AREA
Those crazy “SF values” at work again. . .
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/02/22/MNGC2O92C71.DTL

MORFORD EXTOLLS THE “KILLER TRICYCLE”
http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/morford/
But oh my freaking God, what the hell is this sexyugly machoweird three-wheeled motorcycle/car thing called the Spyder Roadster that costs 15 grand and goes about 110 mph and looks like a BMW motorcycle got it on with a nasty go-cart during a lost weekend at a mutant underground design studio in Testosteroneland? I mean, please.

And on to the less interesting stuff. . .

FITZGERALD: ‘THERE IS A CLOUD OVER THE WHITE HOUSE’
http://www.rawstory.com//news/2007/There_cloud_over_White_House_Not_0221.html

SUPERBUG DEATH TOLL RISING
These “colds” are getting brutal, lethal
 http://society.guardian.co.uk/health/story/0,,2019008,00.html

Big Dick
GQ WRITER DRAFTS ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST CHENEY
http://www.rawstory.com//news/2007/GQ__The_people_v._Richard_0221.html
VIOLENT PROTESTS GREET MONSTER CHENEY IN AUSTRALIA
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/cheney-flies-in-to-a-war-of-words/2007/02/22/1171733955282.html
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Clashes_ahead_of_Cheney_s_arrival_i_02222007.html
PELOSI FIRES BACK AT CHENEY
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070222/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_iraq;_ylt=Aiuj_LhtvPfsh4edSzcJmZas0NUE

Iraq and Roll
GEN. ODOM EMBARRASSES IDIOT HUGH HEWITT IN INTERVIEW
 http://hughhewitt.townhall.com/Transcript_Page.aspx?ContentGuid=d7f52e21-cf46-4115-b397-ed1dc70fcdab
WO: And following…let me ask you. Are you enthusiastic enough to put on a uniform and go?
HH: No. I’m a civilian.
WO: Okay, but we can recruit you.
HH: I’m 51, General.
WO: And I don’t see all these war hawks that want to…none of them have been in a war, and they don’t want to go.
HH: Well, General, are you advocating that only uniformed military should have opinions on this?
WO: No, you can have an opinion, but if you…you can’t start telling me that you’re going to just pay no attention to what people like myself say

 War in Error
MUSLIM COUNTRIES HATE U.S. MORE THAN EVER---POLL
Mission accomplished, Mr. Prez!
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0222/p99s01-duts.html
PARRY: U.S. IS LOSING ‘WAR ON TERROR’
http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/2007/022007Parry.shtml
Indeed, it is hard to envision how the United States can win the crucial battles for the hearts and minds of key populations if Bush remains President. Arguably, Bush has become a “clear and present danger” to the interests of the American people – yet he still has almost two years left in his term.
 Related Story:
U.S. TO EXEMPT CHILDREN FROM PASSPORTS
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/02/22/us_relaxing_new_passport_rules_for_children/

Electile Dysfunction
 SCHEER: HILLARY IS A HAWK
 http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0221-28.htm
She is an unrepentant hawk, à la Joe Lieberman. She believed invading Iraq was a good idea, all available evidence to the contrary, and she has, once again, made it clear that she still does.
 HILLARY GETS UGLY(ER)---ATTACKS OBAMA
Demands he denounce donor Geffen for calling the Clintons liars, which of course they are
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/02/22/clinton_obama_slug_it_out_early/
CLINTON VS. OBAMA STEALS SPOTLIGHT
FROM ALL OTHER CANDIDATES
http://www.startribune.com/587/story/1017203.html
MUST WATCH: HOW FOX ATTACKS OBAMA
http://foxattacks.com/
Idiotic Issue of the Week: Why Obama Should Keep Smoking
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oew-newman21feb21,0,7971333.story?coll=la-opinion-center
EX-REPUG CHARLES BARKLEY FOR PREZ:
HE WANTS OUT OF IRAQ, CALLS REPUGS TOTAL LIARS
http://www.rawstory.com//news/2007/Barkley_Its_easy_call._We_got_0221.html

Iraq and Roll (again)
RAPE IS PAR FOR THE COURSE IN IRAQ
Mission accomplished, Mr. Prez!
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2007/02/22/violating_iraqi_women.php
As Iraqi women’s organizations have documented, sexualized torture is a routine horror in Iraqi jails. While this woman may be the first Iraqi rape survivor to appear on television, she is hardly the first to accuse the Iraqi National Police of sexual assault.
DIRTY WAR: KIDS USED ROUTINELY AS SHIELDS
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2018528,00.html
NYT SAYS IRAQIS USING CHEM WEAPONS, THEN BACKS OFF
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003548322
PRINCE HARRY GOES TO IRAQ
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/02/22/international/i035047S09.DTL
RALL: THE BUSH WHO CRIED WOLF
http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0221-26.htm
Bush is again fighting the lies that started the last war, resorting to an improbable blend of waffling and smug certitude that brought us such classics as Donald Rumsfeld's "We know where they [Iraq's WMDs] are. They're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat.".

 Jesus H. Christ!
 ‘MEGACHURCH’ STOLE FUNDS MEANT FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Very Christian of them!
http://www.seattleweekly.com/2007-02-21/news/cash-and-carry.php

Mashed Media
EGYPTIAN BLOGGER JAILED FOR INSULTING HIS PREZ
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003548322
BLOGGER SUED OVER TOPLESS ANISTON PHOTOS
And after he performed such a public service, too. . .
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6385677.stm

Animals in the news!
NEW ZEALAND FISHERMEN PROUDLY KILL MAGNIFICENT GIANT SQUID
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6385071.stm

Enviro Wacko
GOV’T ADVISES: THROW AWAY PRESCIP DRUGS WITH KITTY LITTER
http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=12271

And in more important matters. . .

ANDY WARHOL DIED 20 YEARS AGO TODAY
http://time-blog.com/looking_around/

R.I.P. JANET BLAIR
 http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/22/obituaries/22blair1.html?_r=1&ref=obituaries&oref=slogin
R.I.P. CELIA FRANCA---FOUNDED NAT’L BALLET OF CANADA
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/22/obituaries/22franca.html?ref=obituaries

TOLKIEN ESTATE GOES AFTER SITES THAT POSTED ‘RINGS’
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6386713.stm

‘DREAMGIRLS’ APOLOGIZES TO MOTOWN
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6385215.stm

ZAPPA FAMILY SPAGHETTI SAUCE RECIPE
No, not those Zappas
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/21/dining/211srex.html?em&ex=1172293200&en=a2fa3d455e80949a&ei=5087%0A

WHY THE BEST ACTORS ARE BRITS
http://film.guardian.co.uk/oscars2007/story/0,,2018544,00.html

And in the end. . .
ARMAGEDDON IS NIGH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDfggrz5uF4

2/21 we're sick---newslinks by The Bernie Bugle
Bartlett and Steele: Washington's $8 Billion Shadow
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/03/spyagency200703?printable=true&currentPage=all
Mega-contractors such as Halliburton and Bechtel supply the government with brawn. But the biggest, most powerful of the "body shops"—SAIC, which employs 44,000 people and took in $8 billion last year—sells brainpower, including a lot of the "expertise" behind the Iraq war.

The Iraq Effect: War Has Increased Terrorism Sevenfold Worldwide
http://www.motherjones.com/news/featurex/2007/03/iraq_effect_1.html?welcome=true

Justice Dept. Statistics On Terrorism Faulted
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/20/AR2007022001566.html
Most of the Justice Department's major statistics on terrorism cases are highly inaccurate, and federal prosecutors routinely count cases involving drug trafficking, marriage fraud and other unrelated crimes as part of anti-terrorism efforts, according to an audit released yesterday.

Mass exodus as forgotten tragedy explodes in Central African Republic
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/africa/article2290039.ece
The Central African Republic has become enveloped in a humanitarian crisis so serious that one-quarter of the population of four million has been affected.

Australia to ban old-style lightbulbs
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=CFXIJLOJ2OYK1QFIQMGSFFWAVCBQWIV0?xml=/news/2007/02/21/wbulbs21.xml

An Orwellian solution to kids skipping school
http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/stories/2007/02/19/0220truants.html
Let's say your teenager is a habitual truant and there is nothing you can do about it. A Washington area politician thinks he might have the solution: Fit the child with a Global Positioning System chip, then have police track him down.

Britain Developing Tiny Camera to Spy on Each Passenger
http://www.airportbusiness.com/online/article.jsp?siteSection=5&id=10315

Swarms of giant hornets hit France, menace Britain
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=CFXIJLOJ2OYK1QFIQMGSFFWAVCBQWIV0?xml=/news/2007/02/21/whornets21.xml

Sea squirts: The blob that's invading Puget Sound
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003580083_tunicate20m.html

Brain cells clue to genius of Einstein
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,2017711,00.html
Researchers at Lausanne University identified an unknown role for a type of brain cell which Einstein is thought to have had in more copious supply than the average male.

The Mysterious Case Of Columbus's Silver Ore
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/02/070220020756.htm

Brothers are last to speak 'Cromarty fisher dialect'
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=CFXIJLOJ2OYK1QFIQMGSFFWAVCBQWIV0?xml=/news/2007/02/21/ndialect21.xml

Britons simply can't resist the lure of pleasure in Blackpool
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article2290036.ece
Jet-setting Brits may consider themselves an increasingly sophisticated lot but it seems the nation still cannot resist the lure of a stick of rock, a Kiss Me Quick hat and a roller-coaster ride.

Literary Web Site of the Day: Luis J. Rodriguez
http://www.luisjrodriguez.com/
Luis J. Rodriguez has emerged as one of the leading Chicano writers in the country with ten nationally published books in memoir, fiction, nonfiction, children’s literature, and poetry.
Luis J. Rodriguez's Web Log:
http://www.luisjrodriguez.com/blog/

2/20 we're sick---newslinks by The Bernie Bugle
COUNTRY JOE SINGS FOR THE BERKELEY OAKS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI97m7pKZIo
http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/index.cfm?issue=12-19-06
http://www.saveoaks.com/SaveOaks/Main.html

PRIMITIVES STEAL ‘STOP BUSH’ SIGN
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2007/02/bush_sign_swiped_in_venic.php

Stranger than truth
HEPBURN’S DRESS WILL TEACH POOR INDIA CHILDREN
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2007/02/bush_sign_swiped_in_venic.php

737 U.S. Military Bases = Global Empire
http://www.alternet.org/story/47998/
With more than 2,500,000 U.S. personnel serving across the planet and military bases spread across each continent, it's time to face up to the fact that our American democracy has spawned a global empire.

Watching television 'is serious threat to the health of children'
http://news.independent.co.uk/media/article2283956.ece

The generation of 'damaged' girls
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/02/20/ngirls20.xml
A generation of very young girls is being psychologically damaged by inappropriate "sexy" clothing, toys and images in the media that are corrupting childhood, leading psychologists warn today.

Stop subsidies for plundering of the deep seas, say scientists
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_technology/article2287037.ece

Tasmanian devils, at risk of extinction, to get new island home
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=JMQ1WCK45UMUZQFIQMGCFGGAVCBQUIV0?xml=/news/2007/02/20/wdevil20.xml

Macquarie's feral cats: a delicate ecological balance
http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/wildlife/article2287010.ece
The extermination of Macquarie's feral felines was meant to safeguard the island's indigenous birds. But their demise has had an unexpected effect: rats and rabbits are flourishing - and pose a new threat to the native species.

Genetic Tests Unveil 15 New Species of North American Birds
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa003&articleID=DBC2B40A-E7F2-99DF-3AE7319FBBF49C02

Cactus-eating moth threatens favorite Mexican food
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa003&articleID=06458D2EEB45E7E8E668A489BF29B676

Descendant of Franz Ferdinand demands return of ancestral castle
http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article2287032.ece

Romanian priest and nuns jailed for crucifying novice
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=JMQ1WCK45UMUZQFIQMGCFGGAVCBQUIV0?xml=/news/2007/02/20/wnuns20.xml

---out sick, and changing servers. . .
 2/9
CAN BUY ME LOVE
Ahem. Beatles.com is selling love icons for Valentine’s Day
http://beatles.fanfire.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/fanfire.woa/wo/0.3.3.0.1.3.0

A PLEA TO SAVE DUTTON’S BOOKS IN BRENTWOOD
It isn’t Dutton’s without the building
by Diane Caughey
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-caughey9feb09,0,3006698.story?coll=la-opinion-rightrail

Lost Angeles
PARAPLEGIC IN HOSPITAL GOWN DUMPED ON SKID ROW
Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital leaves man in gutter with colostomy bag
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-dumping9feb09,0,7452706.story?track=mostviewed-storylevel

Jesus H. Christ!
PAT ROBERTSON ALLEGEDLY THREATENS BODYBUILDER
That protein shake must be working for Pat
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/religion/stories/020907dnnatrobertson.166251b.html
AND PAT TAKES A SWIPE AT AUSTRALIA, TOO
http://www.thespoof.com/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s3i14569

WHY WE CARED ABOUT ANNA NICOLE SMITH
Uh, well, actually we didn’t. Never mind.

And on to news and comment. . .

BLOGGER STILL IN JAIL AFTER 171 DAYS
Refused to turn over footage of “anarchists” at SF protest
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines07/0208-09.htm


GOOD SAMARITAN CLINGS TO LIFE AFTER RESCUING DOG FROM FIRE
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/02/09/MNGEKO1R511.DTL

MIKE GRAVEL FOR PRESIDENT
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion?pid=163855
He talked too long, but what an inspiring speech it was. Afterwards, I learned his name--Mike Gravel, the former two-term senator from Alaska. As a gutsy politician, Gravel was always out there. He championed the Alaska state fund that distributes the state's vast oil revenues directly to all its citizens. During the Vietnam war, he filibustered against renewal of the military draft. He unilaterally declassified the Pentagon papers by staging a one-man hearing where he read the documents into the Congressional Record. This year, Mike Gravel is running for president and promoting a national initiative by which citizens could legislate laws directly.
Mike Gravel's Web site
http://www.gravel2008.us/

The Little Dictator
IS BUSH WORST PREZ EVER? CAST YOUR VOTE
Is the Pope old? Is Oprah hungry?
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070226/howl
GOMER BUSH, U.S.M.C.
http://www.internetweekly.org/2007/02/cartoon_gomer_bush_usmc.html

Iraq and Roll
U.S. AIRSTRIKE KILLS KURDISH TROOPS
Mission accomplished!
http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=6062605
http://www.businessportal24.com/en/Report_U_S_Airstrike_Kills_115485.html
MILITARY: U.S. KILLED INSURGENTS
IRAQ: U.S. KILLED CHILDREN
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003543868

We are not making this stuff up
U.S. HIRES ARABS AS ‘IRAQI EXTRAS’ FOR WAR GAMES
Gotta make them towelhead actors look authentic
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,465402,00.html

Queen Condi
GEE, UH. . .CONDI DOESN’T QUITE REMEMBER---
THAT IRAN OFFERED TO RECOGNIZE ISRAEL
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002512.php
I just got off the phone with Flynt Leverett, a former CIA Mideast analyst and National Security Council staffer during President Bush's first term. Leverett says he finds it "really quite curious" that Secretary Rice is pleading a memory lapse on an Iranian offer shortly after the Iraq war to, among other things, recognize Israel. Leverett himself says he "saw the actual document" detailing the offer, which arrived at the State Department's Near Eastern Affairs bureau via fax around late April or early May of 2003, when he had left the White House to return to his regular post as an analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency.
IS CONDI UP FOR LESBIAN PLATOONS?
http://freedomtoserve.blogspot.com/2007/02/condi-ready-for-her-lesbian-platoon.html

U.S. WANTS TO ARM AIRLINE PILOTS
http://www.guardian.co.uk/airlines/story/0,,2009073,00.html

LINDORFF: TAKE AWAY THE TOYS
http://www.thiscantbehappening.net/2007.02.01_arch.html#1170962342986
Still want a bigger military? For what? Fighting terrorism? The world’s mightiest military is doing a pretty poor job of that as it is, and the billions of dollars of good money they want to throw after bad isn’t going to help a bit. In fact, America’s enemies don’t need to attack the U.S. Bush and the DemPublican War Party in Congress is doing such a good job hollowing the country out and bankrupting us, they can just sit back and watch us shrivel up like a dried husk.

 Enviro Wacko
ETHANOL PRODUCTION COULD BE A DISASTER FOR BRAZIL
Wave goodbye to the nice rainforest, kids!
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070208-ethanol.html
ANTI-WHALING PROTESTERS RESCUED FROM ANTARCTIC
Had violent clashes with Japanese whale murderers
http://www.guardian.co.uk/japan/story/0,,2009607,00.html

Mashed Media
 LEFTIES COVER JONAH GOLDBERG’S WELSHED BET
http://nitpicker.blogspot.com/2007/02/post-where-lefties-cover-jonahs-wager.html
COHEN: ON THE WAR BACKER’S DEBT
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2007/02/08/war_backers_gambling_debt.php
WATCH: OLBERMANN CALLS OUT GOLDBERG
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/02/08/olbermann-calls-out-jonah-goldberg/

Electile Dysfunction
HILLARY’S CAMPAIGN PATTERNED AFTER. . .BUSH!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17056087/

Bush Leagues
SEC PROBES UNCLE BUCKY BUSH---MADE $6 MILLION IN SHADY DEAL
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2007-02-07T222949Z_01_N07471273_RTRUKOC_0_US-OPTIONS-SEC-BUSH.xml

Black history month
ANTI-IMMIGRANT MOOD FUELS COMEBACK OF KKK
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0209/p02s02-ussc.html
TEN UNSUNG GREAT BLACK AMERICANS
http://www.time.com/time/2007/blackhistmth/bios/01.html

 (Lack of) Health
EVER HEAR OF GLYCONUTRIENTS? WATCH THESE REPORTS
http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=5552522668865158410&hl=en
http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-6505688800287912918&q=glyconutrients&hl=en

Oh, by the way
KITTEN KILLER GETS YEAR IN PRISON
Too bad they didn’t give him a heavy sentence
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17053439/
VIAGRA ‘EXPLOSION’ IN SPAIN
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/08/news/viagra.php
"Some people are taking it for physiological reasons, but Viagra is also becoming a social phenomenon, a recreational drug that men of all ages are using because they want to be supermen."
JAPANESE COMPANY RECALLS 5 MILLION CANS OF TUNA
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1587576,00.html
AN END TO SMELLY SHOES
http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/2007/1841246.htm

And in more important matters. . .

R.I.P. IAN RICHARDSON
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/02/09/nrichardson109.xml

JAMES BROWN’S BODY DOES NOT LIE A-MOULDERIN’ IN THE GRAVE
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17056087/

CRAZY TERI HATCHER SCOURS ‘NET FOR NASTY PLASTIC SURGERY RUMORS
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/indexd?blogid=7

For Art’s Sake
BACON ‘STUDY FOR PORTRAIT II’ OF A POPE GOES FOR $27 MILLION
Pretty interesting painting
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/09/news/web.0210baconb.php

Film
RAINER ON ‘THE LIVES OF OTHERS’
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0209/p14s02-almo.html

And in the end. . .
FREBERG'S 'PIZZA ROLL' COMMERCIAL
WITH THE LONE RANGER AND TONTO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE-NdrzfFOo


2/7
 SIR PAULIE OFFERS ‘LADY’ M. $49 MILLION---
SHOULD GIVE HER A LEG TO STAND ON
Paul, will you marry The Rip Post?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070208/wl_uk_afp/afpentertainmentbritainmusicpeoplebeatlesmccartney
http://www.pr-inside.com/sir-paul-mccartney-has-offered-heather-r49664.htm
HEATHER’S NUDIE PHOTOS
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006250730,00.html

PAINTING IN GARAGE SOLD FOR DAUGHTER’S TUITION---
GOES FOR $600,000
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/02/08/MNG4CO11PG1.DTL

And on to news and comment. . .

HARVARD PROPOSES MORE ‘REAL WORLD’ STUDIES
Bad idea. . .universities afford much better learning experiences than the “real world”
http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2007/02/08/real_world_studies_proposed_at_harvard/

MISTRIAL COULD END LT. WATADA CASE
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/020807J.shtml

ONE MILLION WOMEN MAY SUE WAL-MART
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article2248792.ece

REPUGS MAKING BIG DEAL OUT OF PELOSI PLANE
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/08/MNGN5O11UT1.DTL
Pelosi and her staff scoff at the criticism, saying she has just asked the Pentagon for guidance because of the travel distance to California and even President Bush believes security concerns warrant military aircraft for her.
CNN REPEATS WASHTIMES SMEAR OF PELOSI
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/02/08/cnn-repeats-moonie-times-fact-challenged-smears-of-pelosi/

Mayor Meltdown
NEWSOM WILL PAY FORMER AIDE $15K OUT OF OWN POCKET
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/08/MNGN5O12RP1.DTL

WHEN WILL MEDIA GET AROUND
TO PROBING IRAQ CORRUPTION?
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003543201
This week, we were treated to the spectacle of the former U.S. civilian overlord of Iraq, Ambassador L. Paul Bremer, squirming in the hot seat as he attempted with little success to explain what he did with 363 TONS of newly printed, shrink-wrapped $100 bills he had flown to Baghdad.

U.S. SECRET AIR WAR IN IRAQ
http://www.ichblog.eu/content/view/417/2/
Until now, U.S. air power in Iraq has been a non-story -- if you weren't an Iraqi. In the coming months, however, it may force its way onto the front pages of our papers and onto the nightly TV news -- but not if the Pentagon has anything to say about it

BLACKWATER SCANDAL GROWING
Freako Company admits helping “operative” escape Iraq after he shot Iraqi---eleven times
http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/540721.html
Families Denounce Company for Failing Workers
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003562015_iraqdig08.html

Plame-out
LIBBY CALLED RUSSERT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT NBC COVERAGE
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/08/thinkfast-february-8-2007/

The Little Dictator
HEIL! HEIL! HEIL!
CRAZY BUSH DEFENDS GLOBAL WARMING RECORD---
WHAT RECORD?
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/White_House_issues_rare_letter_defending_0208.html
BUSH’S STU CALLED FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY---
THEN HE CUTS RENEWABLE FUNDING
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/10941792/detail.html
SNOWMEN: IMPEACH BUSH!
http://www.internetweekly.org/2007/02/cartoon_bush_snowmen.html
TOP NIXON PROSECUTOR CALLS FOR BUSH PROBE
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Chief_Counsel_to_Committee_that_probed_0207.html
BUSH CUTS AMERICORPS BY $25 MILLION
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/02/08/americorps

Iraq and Roll
IRAQ GOV’T MINISTER BUSTED FOR HELPING AL-SADR
What a joke this is. . .Saddam’s executioners were chanting Al-Sadr’s name, fer crissakes
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2008580,00.html
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER FOUR DEAD MARINES
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070208/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER 33 KILLED BY CAR BOMB
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/At_least_33_Iraqis_killed_58_wounde_02082007.html
MORE TROOPS KILLED IN PAST FOUR MONTHS THAN ANY TIME SINCE WAR BEGAN
http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=172177060&p=y7zy7764x
IRAQI INSURGENTS FOCUSING ON ATTACKING AIRCRAFT
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/08/africa/web.0208helicopter.php

Iran from the truth
IRAN---YOU ATTACK US, WE WILL ATTACK U.S.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/16652211.htm
IRAN CLAIMS TO EXPOSE U.S./ISRAEL SPY RING
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/823638.html
From the Wonderful Folks Who Brought You Iraq. . .Here comes Iran!
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/03/whitehouse200703?printable=true&currentPage=all
The same neocon ideologues behind the Iraq war have been using the same tactics—alliances with shady exiles, dubious intelligence on W.M.D.—to push for the bombing of Iran.

CHINA DEBUTS JET FIGHTER THAT RIVALS WORLD’S BEST
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/08/news/fighter.php

Electile Dysfunction
 WATCH: STEWART INTRODUCES DEMOCRAP THEME SONGS
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Stewart_introduces_Dem_candidate_theme_songs_0207.html
HILLARY, OBAMA VYING FOR BLACK ‘POWER BROKER’ ENDORSEMENTS
http://www.observer.com/20070212/20070212_Jason_Horowitz_pageone_newsstory1.asp

CONDI IS NO LONGER DANDY
Not to worry if she loses job---she still has enough money for Ferragamo shoes
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aeQ6n8nf7ML4&refer=us

HERE THEY ARE! THE 25 MOST CORRUPT MEMBERS OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION
 http://blog.citizensforethics.org/node/582

Mashed Media
NYT PUBLISHER SAYS PRINT EDITION COULD DIE OUT
"Will we print the NY Times in five years? I don't care," says the NY Times publisher
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArtVty.jhtml?sw=sulzberger&itemNo=822558
CNN, WAKE UP---LIEBERMAN IS NOT A DEMOCRAP
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/02/08/cnn-please-wake-up-lieberman-is-not-a-d/

Lost Angeles
LITTLE ANTHONY’S BIG ANTI-GANG PLAN IS ALL PR
“Gang Czar?” What the city needs is the National Guard to occupy all gang neighborhoods
http://www.dailynews.com/ci_5181014
The LAPD would get a gang czar and the city its own Most Wanted list under a highly anticipated plan being released today by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for quelling a surge in gang violence.
 WAXMAN GREASES WAY FOR WILSHIRE SUBWAY
Chant with me now, Henry, “light rail, light rail, light rail. . .”
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-subway8feb08,1,4863484.story?coll=la-headlines-california&ctrack=1&cset=true

Animals in the news!
ORANG HABITAT WILL BE GONE IN 15 YEARS
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070207-orangutan.html

(Lack of) Health
WOMEN HAVING TOO MANY C-SECTIONS?
http://www.alternet.org/story/47387/
U.S. APPROVES TEST TO PREDICT RECURRENCE OF BREAST CANCER
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/07/news/cancer.php

Oh, by the way. . .
LOCAL CURRENCIES SPRINGING UP IN THE LAND OF THE EU
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/07/business/currency.php
While more than 300 million people in Europe use the euro to buy life's essentials, a small but growing number — concentrated in the German-speaking world — use a proliferating species of currencies with names like chiemgauer, urstromtaler, landmark, kirschblüte and kann was.
 BRIDEGROOM AND WEDDING GUESTS DRIVE OVER CLIFF
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6342121.stm
CASTRO STILL FIT AS A FIDEL
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,465102,00.html
Panama hats: made in Ecuador, undercut by China
http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=2007-02-05T050458Z_01_N23240824_RTRIDST_0_LIFESTYLE-HANDICRAFTS-ECUADOR-HATS-COL.XML&archived=False

And in more important matters. . .

 Musique
MEET HENRY KAPONO---‘THE WILD HAWAIIAN’---UP FOR A GRAMMY
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/08/features/kapono.php
R.I.P. ORIGINAL ‘FUNK BROTHER’ HUNTER
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/08/obituaries/08hunter.html?_r=1&ref=obituaries&oref=slogin
POLICE TO REVEAL WORLD TOUR
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6342255.stm
DOCUMENTARY ON THE LIFE OF THE GREAT FRANKIE LAINE
 http://www.frankielaine.com/

Books
BOOKSTORES ARE BITING THE DUST
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-bookstores7feb07,0,1601891,full.story?coll=la-home-business
A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books, open since 1982 near City Hall, sought a buyer, couldn't find one, and closed last summer. Cody's Books shut its flagship Berkeley store after a half-century run. Black Oak Books closed one of its stores and is considering shutting the other two if a buyer can't be found. Numerous small new and secondhand stores have fallen with little fanfare. The casualties are nationwide.
 HISTORY OF ZOMBIES IN FILM
http://www.reason.com/news/show/118315.html
In addition to political and eschatological appeals, there is another characteristic of the zombie genre: the strong desire of fans not merely to observe the zombie apocalypse but to participate in it. Shinji Mikami’s phenomenally popular Resident Evil video game is only the most prominent of more than 70 zombie game titles.

IOC MIGHT ALLOW OLYMPIC ATHLETES TO BLOG IN ‘08
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003543173

OSCAR PREVIEW SPECIAL
Will Scorcese get it for his silly cartoon, “The Departed?” Will the featherweight “Babel” win? Is Peter O’ Toole redundant?
http://film.guardian.co.uk/oscars2007/0,,1986215,00.html

For Art’s Sake
TAIWAN’S NATIONAL PALACE MUSEUM---GREATEST CHINESE ART/HISTORY
MUSEUM IN THE WORLD---REOPENS AFTER THREE-YEAR RENOVATION
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6335469.stm
WALLPAPER IS BACK!
Download yours free!
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/art/design/story/0,,2008228,00.html
JAPONISME
http://www.japonismeblog.com/

O’NEAL BLAMES HIS SON
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6341909.stm

And in the end. . .
ANN MILLER IN. . .THE GREAT AMERICAN SOUP!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYEUwCoidIc

2/7
 Country Gone Mad!
MAN JOKED ABOUT TOM CRUISE, ARRESTED
Suggested aiming “Tom Cruise missile" at Scientologists, was convicted of “terrorist threats against a religion”
http://news.com.com/Tom+Cruise+missile+jokester+arrested/2100-1030_3-6156516.html

FORMER SF NAT'L GUARD HQ BOUGHT---BY BONDAGE PORN OUTFIT
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/02/02/national/a105718S92.DTL&hw=armory&sn=003&sc=101
Kink.com, which distributes its videos on X-rated Web sites with names such as Hogtied and Men in Pain, bought the old State Armory in the Mission District for $14.5 million, saying the vacant building's dark Moorish architecture would make a perfect backdrop for fetish films.

HAGGART’S EX-BOYFRIEND ON GAY CURE---
“QUICKEST THERAPY I’VE HEARD OF”
http://pageoneq.com/news/2006/haggard020706.html

Space Case
 ASTRONAUT GOES HOME TO HOUSTON
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?storyid=2007-02-07T161229Z_01_N07374703_RTRUKOC_0_UK-USA-ASTRONAUTS.xml&type=worldNews&WTmodLoc=World-C3-More-4
Meanwhile, Sunita Williams sets woman’s space walk record
http://www.onelocalnews.com/prescottherald/ViewArticle.aspx?id=57086&source=2

Air Marshals: Innocent People Placed On 'Watch List' To Meet Quota
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/9559707/detail.html


And in other spaced-out reality. . .

 Your corporatocracy at work!
WAXMAN ASKS BREMER: WHERE DID 363 TONS OF CASH GO?
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Waxman_grills_exUS_leader_in_Iraq_0206.html
PREZ RACE MAY COST A BILLION BUCKS
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/06/AR2007020601598_pf.html
WHY DOES GATES INVEST IN MAJOR CORPORATE PLUNDERERS?
http://www.alternet.org/story/47713/

THIRD LETTER BOMB IN ENGLAND
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/One_injured_in_third_letter_bomb_at_02072007.html
POLICE: SEVEN SENT IN THREE WEEKS
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2007604,00.html

Plame-out
BUSH INVOLVEMENT IN LIBBY LEAK SURFACING
 http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Startling_moment_at_Libby_trial_as_0206.html
CHENEY ‘UPSET’ BY CRITICS---LIBBY
This is like saying Bush is less than articulate
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/05/AR2007020500831.html
LIBBY HEARD ABOUT PLAME FROM CHENEY, THEN ‘FORGOT’
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/07/thinkfast-february-7-2007/
CORN: NO STRAIGHT SCOOTERS AT LIBBY TRIAL
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2007/02/07/no_straight_scooters_at_libby_trial.php
Was Fleischer—in addition to Karl Rove, Richard Armitage and Libby—an administration leaker in the Valerie Wilson case? The trial is not likely to resolve the matter (much to Dickerson’s frustration). This all goes to show that criminal trials are no substitutes for, say, congressional investigations. Fitzgerald was not assigned the mission of uncovering the truth and presenting it to the public. His job was to determine if any crimes were broken and, if so, prosecute accordingly. When the trial is done, a host of questions about the scandal—questions concerning Cheney, Rove, George W. Bush and others—will remain.
 And, in a related story:
 Cheney’s Son-In-Law Blamed for
Delaying Investigations of Homeland Security Department
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/06/perry-homeland-security/

Iraq and Roll
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER CHOPPER DOWNED
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/02/07/international/i044549S50.DTL
U.S. SOLDIER TO STAND TRIAL FOR KILLING ITALIAN INTELL AGENT
Agent was shot after securing release of Italian journalist
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003542760
TROOPS DOUBT THAT THE ‘SURGE’ WILL HELP
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0206/p99s01-duts.html
U.S. MILITARY ASKS FOR HELP FROM U.S. CITIZENS
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/07/america/web.0207military.php
Senior military officers, including members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have told President George W. Bush and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates that the new Iraq strategy could fail unless more civilian agencies step forward quickly to carry out plans for reconstruction and political development.

 THOMPSON: OUT OF CONTROL AND BEYOND REALITY
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/wp/2007/02/07/2021
Let’s face the sad truth. The United States of America is a nation out of control, spiraling downward at an alarming rate, controlled by a cabal of manipulative political hacks who put their own greed and lust for power above the best interests of a beleaguered country.

 SOLOMON: MAKING AN EXAMPLE OF LT. WATADA
http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0206-32.htm
Ehren Watada faces four years in prison. Half of that potential sentence has to do with the fact that he made public statements against the war. The war-makers want such honest courage to stop. But it is growing every day.

LEVY: MOLLY IVINS' GIFT TO ALL OF US
http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/2007/020507LEVY.shtml

 LINDORFF: A FEW QUESTIONS FOR BUSH
http://thiscantbehappening.net
President Bush makes a big deal out of his alleged "faith." Certainly a part of that faith ought to be speaking and behaving honestly. Just recently, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof wrote a piece saying Vice President Dick Cheney should come clean with the American people by either answering a few questions or resigning. But if coming clean with the American people is required of the vice president, surely it is also required of the president, and Bush too, has a few questions to answer. If failure to answer honestly means Cheney should resign, Bush should be held to at least as high a standard.

Electile Dysfunction
 GADZOOKS---GIULIANI IS REPUGNICAN FRONT-RUNNER?
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/02/06/what-america-needs-to-know-about-rudy-giuliani/

Enviro Wacko
CHENEY’S INVESTMENT MANAGER SENDS E-MAIL ASSAILING BUSH ENVIRO ‘POLICY’
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Cheneys_own_investment_manager_sends_assault_0205.html
WHY DID EU WATER DOWN CAR POLLUTION CUTS?
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,464912,00.html

Israelity
 CLUSTER BOMBS---A WAR’S AFTERMATH
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0207/p01s01-wome.html

Mashed Media
FOR ONCE, O’REILLY IS RIGHT---
WHITE AMERICANS AFRAID TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT BLACKS
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/06/oreilly-beck-articulate/
CRAZY BITCH---YES, BITCH---
IN CHARGE OF SB NEWS-PRESS FIRES SIX MORE
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003542400
NEWSPAPER ON-LINE READERSHIP JUMPS
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003542794

CHILD PORN RING BUSTED IN AUSTRIA
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/02/07/international/i021852S81.DTL

JAPANESE GANG WAR LOOMS IN TOKYO
Check out the tattoos on these maniacs
http://www.guardian.co.uk/japan/story/0,,2007692,00.html

Mayor Meltdown
 NEWSOM SOUGHT HELP AFTER ADVICE FROM ‘MENTOR’
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/02/07/MNGR1O07N71.DTL

(Lack of) Health
HOORAY---SENIORS LEAD EFFORT TO BAN SMOKING IN APARTMENTS, CONDOS
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0207/p01s02-ussc.html
RECORD NUMBER OF NEW AIDS CASES IN JAPAN
http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20070207p2a00m0na037000c.html

Oh, by the way
 UKRAINE TO BAN MASS HYPNOSIS
We should do that in the U.S.
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Ukraine_parliament_considers_ban_on_02072007.html
300 MILLION IN CHINA ARE RELIGIOUS (AT LEAST)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6337627.stm
AFRICA ‘CHRISTIANITY’---
JESUS IN THE MORNING, VOODOO AT NIGHT
http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,463787,00.html
Dalai Lama Joins Emory University
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7006369601
R.I.P. BASEBALL GREAT LEW BURDETTE
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/07/sports/baseball/07burdette.html?_r=1&ref=obituaries&oref=slogin

And in more important matters. . .

R.I.P. THE GREAT, GREAT FRANKIE LAINE---DEAD AT 93
Sang till he was 90
http://music.guardian.co.uk/obituaries/story/0,,2007577,00.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2280659.stm
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/07/arts/music/07laine.html?ref=obituaries
“On the Sunny Side of the Street”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJxwiBPKjlo
“Mule Train,” “That’s My Desire”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mv-uBGR435A
“Cry of the Wild Goose”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y5WXROJNXg

Musique
CHICAGO SYMPHONY PERCUSSIONIST QUITS, TURNS TO ROCK
 http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/07/features/drum.php
JOBS: RECORD INDUSTRY SHOULD DROP COPYRIGHT PROTECTION
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/07/BUGV8NVQNJ1.DTL
BEATLES FINALLY GOING ON-LINE?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6336257.stm
JONI MITCHELL’S NEW ALBUM, BALLET
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/06/news/joni.php

Books
NEW END-RUN AROUND TYRANT PUBLISHING HOUSES
http://books.guardian.co.uk/departments/generalfiction/story/0,,2007744,00.html
Leading the charge is Heidi James, the 33-year-old owner and sole employee of Social Disease, a new kind of publishing company. It does most of its marketing and talent scouting on the internet and relies on new print on demand technology to keep its costs sufficiently low to ensure that, even if it can't compete with the publishing behemoths, it won't be crushed by them anytime soon either.

 More Musique
JERRY GARCIA’S ESTATE TANGLED IN LAWSUITS
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070207/ap_en_mu/people_garcia
GET THIS: ‘MALCOM IN MIDDLE’ STAR TO PLAY GARCIA IN BIOPIC
http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2007/01/25/malcolm_in_the_middle_star_seeks_actor_t
JERRY GARCIA: RENAISSANCE MUSICIAN
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=24423
GARCIA TRIBUTE SET FOR AUGUST
http://www.jambase.com/headsup.asp?storyID=9788
WATCH: PEGGY-O
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX9Vhv4akxc
WATCH: AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM JERRY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBlXEGLXlV0

HEY, HEY, WE’RE THE MONKS---FORGOTTEN ROCK GROUP OF EX-G.I.’S
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,460752,00.html
Yet for all the dissonance, the Monks -- made up of five American ex-GI's in Germany -- built quite a following after the record's 1966 release. And these days, the band is experiencing something of a second coming. A star-studded tribute album came out last fall, complete with a release party in Berlin -- the group's first show in Germany in 40 years. The re-united Monks went on to play in London and Zurich and are currently in discussions about possible shows in Europe later this year.

 REMEMBERING THE QUEEN OF BOHEMIA---
KIKI MONTPARNASSE
Inspired Hemingway, Man Ray. . .
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/art/visualart/story/0,,2007547,00.html

CHINESE NEW YEAR STARTS THIS WEEKEND
http://www.sfgate.com/cny/
http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/167809
8 WAYS TO GET LUCKY AT CHINESE NEW YEAR
http://e.sinchew-i.com/content.phtml?sec=29&artid=200702070009

And in the end. . .
IT’S REAL ANGORA. . .WOULDJA’ALL LIKE SOME MORE-UH?
http://english.pravda.ru/photo/report/angora_rabbit-1384/0/

2/6
CLEAN TOILETS OR CORRECT ENGLISH? YOU CHOOSE
http://www.newspress.com/Top/Article/article.jsp?Section=BUSINESS&ID=564958525210820609

EVANGELIST HAGGARD CURED OF HOMOSEXUALITY!
Guess he can preach the gospel now!
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070206/haggard_070206/20070206?hub=World
And in a related story:
 WATCH: MOM SPANKED THE GAY OUT OF ME
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYRhVcJsypg&mode=related&search=
And in a related story:
 MRS. GIULIANI: RUDY HAS BIG ‘TESTOSTERONE’
http://www.nypost.com/seven/02062007/news/nationalnews/runnin_mates_judi_n_rudy_aim_for_08_nationalnews_stephanie_gaskell_and_kate_sheehy.htm

BUSTED LADY ASTRONAUT WORE DIAPER IN PLOT
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/02/06/astronaut.arrested/index.html
Nowak wore a diaper during the 14-hour drive so that she wouldn't have to stop for bathroom breaks, the report said. Astronauts wear what NASA calls maximum-absorbency garments to collect their waste during space travel.

NEW POLL: BUSH IS WORSE THAN SATAN!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdqgSBqGTno


And in even greater absurdities. . .

PBS TO REPORT:
U.S. IS ARMING ITS ENEMIES IN IRAQ
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Documentary_filmmaker_says_Iraq_troops_training_0206.html
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/02/06/smith/index_np.html

U.S. JAILS IMMIGRANT FAMILIES WAITING FOR GREEN CARDS
http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3015/families_behind_bars/
Today, the federal government pays CCA, the nation’s largest private prison company, $95 per person per day to house the detainees, who wear jail-type uniforms and live in cells. But they have not been charged with any crimes. In fact, nearly half of its 400 or so residents are children, including infants and toddlers.

LITTLE CREEP LIEBERMAN: SEN. WARNER DOES NOT SUPPORT THE TROOPS
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/06/warner-lieberman/

LISTEN: COST OF TAKING CARE OF IRAQ,
AFGHANISTAN VETS---$600 BILLION!
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/02/06/1531201

Iraq and Roll
GUNMEN IN IRAQI UNIFORMS SEIZE IRAN DIPLOMAT
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070206/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq
IRAQ ‘PARLIAMENT’ MEMBER BOMBED U.S. EMBASSY IN KUWAIT
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Video_CNN_reveals_convicted_terrorist_serves_0206.html
1000 KILLED IN IRAQ IN ONE WEEK
“Parliament” calls for expelling all Arabs, Iranians
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/02/05/18357604.php
‘FRIENDLY FIRE’ ACCIDENT: ‘WE’RE IN JAIL, DUDE’
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2006879,00.html
GATES: IF ‘SURGE’ FAILS,
WE’VE GOT MORE TRICKS UP OUR SLEEVES
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070206/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq

ANOTHER LONDON LETTER-BOMB INJURES TWO
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Two_injured_in_suspected_letter_bom_02062007.html

The Little Dictator

HEIL! HEIL! HEIL!
BUSH SLASHES AID TO POOR, SICK TO FUND MAD WAR
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/05/bush-budget-cuts/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2006617,00.html
SEN. REID: PREZ STANDS IN WRONG PLACE---ALONE
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/wp/2007/02/06/2007

LINDORFF: BORAT GOES TO WASHINGTON
http://www.thiscantbehappening.net/
http://www.thiscantbehappening.net/2007.02.01_arch.html#1170706564008
Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman, in a press conference following release of the UN Intergovernment Panel on Climate Change report earlier this month, made an interesting comment. Asked why the Bush administration has been opposed to experimenting with carbon caps for American industry, he said, “The U.S. economy is not something to be experimented with, in my judgment.” Hold on! Isn’t what the Bush administration, and indeed the whole US, has been and is doing, in refusing to deal with global warming, really experimenting not with just an economy, but with the entire biosphere of the earth—that extraordinarily narrow band of climate that sustains life? Aren’t they experimenting right now with the fate of humanity and the millions of life forms that share the planet with us?

FEINGOLD: HOW TO END THE WAR
Hint: It might have something to do with that uh, what was it called? Oh, right, the “Constitution.”
http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/2007/020507Feingold.shtml
The Constitution gives Congress the explicit power “[to] declare War,” “[t]o raise and support Armies,” “[t]o provide and maintain a Navy” and “[t]o make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces.” In addition, under Article I, “No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.” These are direct quotes from the Constitution of the United States. Yet to hear some in the Administration talk, it is as if these powers were written in invisible ink. They were not. These powers are a clear and direct statement from the founders of our republic that Congress has authority to declare, to define and, ultimately, to end a war.

 ROBERTS: FAILED STATES---THE U.S., AND ISRAEL
 http://www.ichblog.eu/content/view/359/2/
The past six years have seen the rise of dictatorial power in the executive and the collapse of the separation of powers mandated by the US Constitution. The president has declared himself to be “The Decider.” The power to decide includes the meaning and intent of laws passed by Congress and whether the laws apply to the executive. President Bush has openly acknowledged that he disobeyed the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and unlawfully spied on Americans without warrants. Bush and his Attorney General could not make it more clear that their position is that Bush is above the law.It is also Bush’s position that he is above the Constitution. Bush and his Attorney General maintain that as commander-in-chief in “the war on terror,” the executive has the power to decide the applicability of civil liberties guaranteed in the Constitution. The US Department of Justice (sic) has taken the position that this decision is an executive decision alone beyond the authority of the judiciary and the legislature.

 KRISTOF:
CHENEY, ANSWER QUESTIONS ON LIBBY CASE---OR RESIGN http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003542117

Fun with Big Dick!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVF3q1go_8Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d3A-hEjRZM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0O0wl_UaU8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th4su1NDu0g
 
 Mashed Media
THE L.A. TIMES DISCOVERS---MURDERS HAPPEN IN LOS ANGELES!
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2007/02/la_gets_a_homicide_blog.php

Lost Angeles
FIRE DESTROYS HISTORIC DOWNTOWN BUILDING
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fire6feb06,1,2072906.story?coll=la-headlines-california&ctrack=1&cset=true
PLANT A TREE FOR LOS ANGELES
http://www.milliontreesla.org/ 

Spaced out
 Endless Universe Made Possible By New Model
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Endless_Universe_Made_Possible_By_New_Model_999.html
"This cycle happens an infinite number of times, thus eliminating any start or end of time," Frampton said. "There is no Big Bang."

 Oh, by the way. . .
 MIRROR BRINGS SUN TO ALPINE VILLAGE PERPETUALLY IN SHADOW
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/05/news/sun.php
LONDON 20012 OLYMPIC PLANS ARE MOST COMPLEX EVER
http://www.guardian.co.uk/olympics2012/story/0,,2007102,00.html
CORONER KEPT MAN’S HEART AFTER AUTOPSY---MOM FIGHTS TO GET IT BACK
Poor woman keeps it in a beautiful box
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/02/06/MNG5DNVH7N1.DTL
CALLS FOR NEWSOM TO RESIGN AS SF MAYOR
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/02/06/MNG5DNVH7J1.DTL
BUSH SR’S. PET KOMODO DRAGON DIES
Figures these people would have dragons for pets
 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/02/06/international/i074709S15.DTL

And in more important matters. . .

 Musique
THE GREAT BOOKER T. GETS HIS DUE
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/06/DDGF7NTT971.DTL

WHINING ABOUT WINE-TASTING---WHAT ARE ALL THESE ABSURD FLAVORS ABOUT?
http://www.newenglishreview.org/custpage.cfm?frm=5509&sec_id=5509
Wine is always described as being like something else. This is appealingly post modern. If a chardonnay tastes a bit like a peach, what then does the peach taste like? A chardonnay? And if so, what does either taste like? If you must describe the Van Loveren 2001 limited edition Merlot as being “chocolately”, does it mean that chocolate tastes like the Van Loveren Merlot? And if we like the Merlot on account if its tasting like chocolate, why don’t we eat chocolate instead of drinking wine?

 Books
 A VIETNAMESE GIRL’S STRUGGLE WITH SPAGHETTIOS
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0206/p15s01-bogn.html

Happy Valentine’s Day!
 LADIES---HERE’S THE ‘MAN-BOT’
http://www.thespoof.com/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s5i14609
PHOTO GALLERY: 1,000 YEARS OF SEX!
http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/0,5538,19072,00.html

NO-TALENT KIRSTIE ALLEY TO STAR IN BRITCOM REMAKE
Will wonders never cease?
http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,,2006927,00.html

And in the end. . .
LIFE EXPLAINED SUCCINCTLY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWWKBY7gx_0

2/5
I HATE MACS
By Charlie Brooker
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2006031,00.html
I hate Macs. I have always hated Macs. I hate people who use Macs. I even hate people who don't use Macs but sometimes wish they did. Macs are glorified Fisher-Price activity centres for adults; computers for scaredy cats too nervous to learn how proper computers work; computers for people who earnestly believe in feng shui.

 RICHARD THOMPSON WRITES ANTI-IRAQ SONG
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Legendary_folk_guitarist_Richard_Thompson_records_0204.html
LISTEN: “DAD’S GONNA KILL ME”
http://www.richardthompson-music.com/catch_of_the_day.asp?id=663

20 FOREIGNERS FACE LASH, PRISON FOR DANCING IN SAUDI ARABIA
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16978938
The prosecutor general charged the 20 with "drinking, arranging for impudent party, mixed dancing and shooting a video for the party," Okaz said.

 QUOTATIOUS:
“It’s a red alert about the situation the world is in now. We’re wasting our time on this fairy tale war, when the real war is with God’s creation. Nobody’s fighting for God’s creation.”---Joni Mitchell.

 And on to today’s frolics. . .

SYRIAN PREZ SAYS HE CAN BROKER MID-EAST PEACE
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=2849435&page=1

IRAQ BLAMES U.S. FOR LATEST SUICIDE BOMBING
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/05/news/iraq.php

RETIRED U.S. GENERALS PLEAD: NO IRAN ATTACK
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16964430/

Big Dick
 KURTZ: THE IMPERIAL PRESIDEN---ER, VICE-PRESIDENCY
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/012263.php
Still, I can't help but be fascinated by the more pedestrian issue of how Cheney continues to assert himself so vigorously without running up against the ego of a cocksure President. How is it that Bush, who is so caught up in macho public demonstrations of his own personal strength and courage, can tolerate a shadow presidency within his own White House? What kind of spell has Cheney cast that allows Bush to continue to believe he is the decider?

 Billary
CATCALLS DROWN OUT HILLARY AT DNC MEETING
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/02/04/catcalls-drowned-out-hill_n_40410.html
W. AND HILLARY: TWO SIDES OF A COIN (MAKE THAT 'CON')
http://www.ichblog.eu/content/view/339/2/
By Soraya Sepahpour-Ulrich
This clever and yet unimaginative woman has failed to come up with her own rhetoric. Borrowing from W. she shamelessly echoes him: "In dealing with this threat ... no option can be taken off the table." And so she intends to restore the basic promise of America by engaging the country in a far more violent conflict. The road to the White House is no longer through Iraq, but through the ruins of Iran.

 LETTER BOMB IN LONDON OFFICE---ONE INJURED
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2007-02-05T125352Z_01_L05124671_RTRUKOC_0_UK-BRITAIN-BOMB-1.xml

Electile Dysfunction
 OH, NO---NOT NADER AGAIN
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/_Nader_leaves_door_open_to_0205.html
MCCAIN: U.S. ‘RIGHT OF CENTER’
Crazy John’s a little off-center, too
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/McCain_This_nation_still_rightofcenter_nation_0204.html
RALPH REED RIDES AGAIN
http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0107/Is_Ralph_Going_With_Mitt.html
http://www.slate.com/id/2158683/

Collie Fawn Ya
MORE TAPES OF SCHWARZENEGGER KNOCKING COLLEAGUES
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/05/BAGVBNUTG11.DTL

Israelity
 PROMINENT BRIT JEWS CALL FOR OPEN DEBATE ON ISRAEL
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines07/0205-04.htm
KLUG: WHO SPEAKS FOR THE JEWS OF BRITAIN?
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/brian_klug/2007/02/hold_jewish_voices.html
No one has the authority to speak for the Jewish people. Yet during Israel's war with Lebanon last summer, Ehud Olmert, the prime minister, told an American audience: "I believe that this is a war that is fought by all the Jews." His belief is not based on evidence: it is an article of faith, a corollary of the doctrine that Israel represents Jewry as a whole - in Britain included. This is a fallacy; and, moreover, a dangerous one, since it tars all Jews with the same brush.
 RABBI LERNER: THERE IS NO NEW ANTI-SEMITISM
http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/2007/020207LERNER.shtml
Meanwhile, the media has been abuzz with stories of Jews denouncing former President Jimmy Carter for his book Palestine: Peace or Apartheid. The same charges of anti-Semitism that have consistently been launched against anyone who criticizes Israeli policy is now being launched against the one American leader who managed to create a lasting (albeit cold) peace between Israel and a major Arab state (Egypt).

 RAIMUNDO: NEOCONS TO IRAQ---SCREW YOU
 http://antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=10469
Having destroyed the Iraqi state, and murdered some 600,000 Iraqis in the process, the War Party is now denying all responsibility for the subsequent civil war threatening to plunge the nation into a maelstrom of sectarian violence. Hard to believe, I know, but here's Charles Krauthammer – always in the avant-garde of neocon-dom – blaming it all on … the Iraqis!

 MIA FARROW: HOW TO KEEP YOUR MONEY OUT OF DARFUR
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-farrow5feb05,0,7343540.story?coll=la-opinion-rightrail

Enviro Wacko
WHO IS FUNDING GLOBAL WARMING?
http://www.alternet.org/envirohealth/47615/
Find out which banks are part of the problem, and which are part of the solution, in the fight against global climate change.
ENVIRO GURU LOVELOCK: NUKE ENERGY IS THE ONLY SOLUTION
http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,463367,00.html
Lovelock is a chemist, inventor, author and visionary environmental guru. Using a detector he invented himself, he was the first to provide evidence of ozone-consuming fluorochlorohydrocarbons (FCHC) in the atmosphere. More importantly, Lovelock is the inventor of the famous "Gaia hypothosis," which holds that the planet (which he named after the Greek goddess of the Earth, Gaia), constantly controls all of its systems on land, in the water and in the air in such a way as to preserve life -- almost as if the earth itself were a living organism.
GLOBAL WARMING THREATENS PUNXATAWNEY PHIL---
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070202-groundhog.html
---AND NEW OAKLAND A’S STADIUM
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/05/BAGVBNUTG71.DTL
WORLD DEFIES MARK TWAIN---TRIES TO FIX THE WEATHER
http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=12159
"Everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it," according to a complaint widely attributed to Mark Twain. But now the quip faces its strongest test after dire scientific and economic warnings about the risks of failing to address ever more extreme weather blamed on global warming.

Mashed Media
FUNERAL FOR MOLLY
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003541646
WORLD’S OLDEST NEWSPAPER GOES STRICTLY ON-LINE
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/05/business/media/05oldest.html
MURDOCH ADMITS: FOX PROPAGANDIZED FOR IRAQ INVASION
http://www.newscorpse.com/ncWP/index.php?p=341
LOWE’S FURNITURE BOYCOTTS O’REILLY
http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2007/02/lowes-lets-boycott-oreilly-together.php
KILLING, JAILING OF JOURNALISTS UP WORLDWIDE
http://rawstory.com/news/2006/Journalist_killings_jailing_of_inte_02052007.html
BLOGGERS CAN MAKE MONEY, BUT MOST KEEP DAY JOBS
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0205/p01s03-ussc.html

Jesus H. Christ!
POPE TO BECOME MORMON AFTER HE DIES?
http://www.reuters.com/article/inDepthNews/idUSL0218416820070204

Spaced out
MARS LIFE MAY BE TOO DEEP TO FIND
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070202-mars-life.html

Oh, by the way
CHINA STEAMROLLS ITS HISTORY
TO BUILD OLYMPICS COMPLEX
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/05/news/beijing.php
OSAKA TEARS DOWN HOMELESS TENTS FOR ATHLETIC MEET
http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20070205p2a00m0na017000c.html
NORTH AMERICA WAS SETTLED JUST 15,000 YEARS AGO
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070202-human-migration.html
LOVE-SEEKING INDIA CITIZENS GO ON-LINE
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6279287.stm
U.C. GRAD STUDENT DEVOTES HERSELF TO THE WOMEN OF TIBET
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/05/BAGVBNUTG31.DTL
OH, BURY ME. . .ORGANICALLY. . .
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2007/02/05/findrelig.DTL
WEIRD AUSSIE UNIVERSITY ANATOMY DEPT. SCANDAL
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/uni-whistleblower-risks-job/2007/02/05/1170524027077.html

R.I.P. NUT EXPERT ELIZABETH TASHJIAN
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/04/dining/04tashjian.html?_r=1&ref=obituaries&oref=slogin
R.I.P. SPINNER HENDERSON
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6330865.stm

And in more important matters. . .

RYAN O’ NEAL, SON IN KNOCK-DOWN, DRAGOUT
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/02/05/1170523986757.html?from=top5

APPLE COMPUTERS SETTLES WITH BEATLES’ APPLE
Could pave the way for Beatles on iTunes
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6332319.stm
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/4526577.html
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2007/02/05apple.html

HITLER IS ON THE COVER OF ‘SGT. PEPPER’---YOU JUST CAN’T SEE HIM
http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/music/news/article2214864.ece

'LADY' MCCARTNEY DUMPED BY PETA---REPLACED BY PAUL’S DAUGHTER
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/02/04/nmacca04.xml

‘VOLVER’ WINS BEST PICTURE IN SPAIN
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/01/29/arts/EU-A-E-MOV-Spain-Goya-Awards.php

INTERVIEW: THE WOMAN WHO IS WRITING THE ‘PETER PAN’ SEQUEL
Meet Geraldine McCaughrean
http://books.guardian.co.uk/departments/childrenandteens/story/0,,2004657,00.html

PROFILE: MIA FARROW
http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0,,2005990,00.html
She says now that the mess of those days is behind her - "It's nowhere." Both Allen and his wife Soon-Yi are behind her, too, "to the extent that anyone ever can be who you have loved". She illustrates the point by talking about Allen in the impersonal form, blaming "someone" for portraying her as an eccentric at the time of the split, when "the person who was saying it knew otherwise or he certainly would not have spent 13 years together with me".

 MAPPING ENGLAND’S ROCK ‘N’ ROLL HISTORY
http://music.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2006102,00.html

For Art’s Sake
 BOHDISATTVA PAINTINGS
http://artist.artron.net/artistfront/exhibition.php?page=1&aid=A0005591

And in the end. . .
PATTI SMITH ON ‘KIDS ARE PEOPLE TOO’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Agl4IvNnQPo&eurl=

2/2
 MORFORD: WHAT IF IT’S TRUE, AND TOM CRUISE IS THE MESSIAH?
http://sfgate.com/columnists/morford/
What if the astonishing proclamation made by top gooberhead Scientologist (and official Friend of Tom) David Miscavige is urgent and accurate and Tom Cruise really is that happy cult's personal Jesus, a true deity who may not be recognized in this lifetime for his divine contributions but who, in the future, will be "worshipped like Jesus" for what he has done for humankind and therefore we have all been looking at "Jerry McGuire" and "Days of Thunder" and "MI:III" exactly wrong? Can you imagine? No? Me neither. Here, try this bottle of Ambien and this forced ingestion of 3,000 powdered copies of Us Weekly and this enthusiastic partial lobotomy. There. Can you imagine now? Excellent.

WET L.A. WINTER? WHERE?
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2007/02/about_that_wet_winter_nev.php
Punxsutawney Phil Predicts Early Spring
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070202/D8N1KLVO2.html

GIANT GERMAN RABBITS!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6320821.stm

DON’T EAT THE SMELLY ORANGE SNOW
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6323611.stm

HOGWASH!
http://www.internetweekly.org/2007/02/cartoon_dick_cheneys_hogwash_primer.html

And on to the less believable horror. . .

 We are not making this stuff up!
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE---WHICH WRITES BUSH’S SPEECHES---
OFFERS CASH TO SCIENTISTS WHO DISPUTE GLOBAL WARMING
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/020207K.shtml
Scientists and economists have been offered $10,000 each by a lobby group funded by one of the world's largest oil companies to undermine a major climate change report due to be published today.Letters sent by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), an ExxonMobil-funded thinktank with close links to the Bush administration, offered the payments for articles that emphasise the shortcomings of a report from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

 CENTURIES OF MAN-MADE WARMING AHEAD---
KEEP DRIVING, DIGGING THAT COAL, GAS, AND OIL
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070202-global-warming.html

CHINA IS POISONING THE PLANET
http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,461828,00.html
The cloud of dirt was hard to make out from the ground, but at an altitude of 10,000 meters (32,808 feet), the scientists could see the gigantic mass of ozone, dust and soot with the naked eye. In a specially outfitted aircraft taking off from Munich airport, they surveyed a brownish mixture stretching from Germany all the way to the Mediterranean Sea.

 EU WATERS DOWN GAS-CUTTING PROPOSAL---GOOD TIMING!
Enviro commissioner strikes back by replacing limos with hybrids
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,463635,00.html

WHAT SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO?
http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,403035,00.html

The Torture Never Stops
 GITMO INMATES SHOWN PICS OF DEAD SADDAM FOR ‘STIMULATION’
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/pictures-of-dead-saddam-used-to-stimulate-hicks/2007/02/02/1169919530968.html
THE photos and articles depicting Saddam Hussein's execution shown to inmates at Guantanamo Bay, including David Hicks, were provided for their "intellectual stimulation", the US military said.

 The Little Dictator
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, AND THE CHIEF EXECUTIONER
http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/2007/012607Floyd.shtml
The real story here is the story behind the story. After all, George W. Bush has already authorized his agents to kill American citizens -- without arrest, charge, trial, or even any warning -- if the victim has been designated -- arbitrarily, at the whim of the "Leader," outside any judicial process or oversight -- as an "enemy combatant." This "authority," claimed by Bush in October 2001 (I first wrote about it in print in November 2001) extends to every person on earth, not just Americans, so Iranian "agents" or "Revolutionary Guards" or anyone else Bush or his minions decide to kill has always been fair game. The only new wrinkle here is the specific authority given to the U.S. military to carry out these "extrajudicial" assassinations -- a license to kill that had hitherto been reserved for the security organs.
 PREZBOY: ‘WE ARE A NATION OF PRAYER”---
Praying that this jackass is removed from office. . .
http://www.eyewitnessnewstv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6022669&nav=F2DO
---THAT MUST BE WHY HE WANTS
$716 BILLION FOR MILITARY SPENDING
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=agUtu4R2l_as&refer=politics

Big Dick
 CHENEY TO BECOME TASMANIAN DEVIL
Heads to Australia, Japan for fly-fishing---er, talks about “security”
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/01/tasmania-cheney/
The Vice President and Mrs. Cheney will visit Japan as part of an Asian tour which will take them to Tasmania for fly fishing, sources confirm. Cheney’s fishing trip will show him the impact of climate change first-hand. The warming of Tasmania’s waters has led to “exceptionally rare” development of coral reefs and “the invasion of about 30 species of fish from warmer areas.” In December, arid lands fueled the worst wildfires in years, 15 of which raged across state forests and burned more than 280,000 hectares. And extreme weather patterns have turned the country into a “freak show“:

SO HAGEL’S ‘BIPARTISAN,’ EH?
NO SENATOR VOTED MORE IN LINE WITH BUSH IN ‘06
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/01/31/who-is-chuck-hagel/

Electile Dysfunction
HILLARY JUMPS ON THE IRAN BANDWAGON, SOUNDS LIKE BUSH
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2007/02/02/national/w072708S59.DTL
Calling Iran a danger to the U.S. and one of Israel's greatest threats, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said "no option can be taken off the table" when dealing with that nation.
 FLA. REPLACES TOUCH SCREEN VOTING MACHINES
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Florida_to_give_paper_receipt_in_0201.html
SNAKE GIULIANI COZYING UP TO TEXAS MONEY
http://www.observer.com/20070205/20070205_Anna_Schneider-Mayerson_pageone_newsstory3.asp
OBAMA’S IMAGE MAKER
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070219/hayes

Iraq and Roll
‘SURGE’ COULD RESULT IN 50,000 TROOPS
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/020207J.shtml
Spratt, the budget committee chairman and the second-ranking Democrat on the armed services committee, notes that about $379 billion already has been spent on the war in Iraq and a request for an additional $100 billion is expected next week.

 Iran from the truth
GATES: U.S. NOT PLANNING IRAQ WAR
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/politics/4521228.html
U.S. HAS NO ALLIES IN COMING IRAN STRIKE
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2004223,00.html
ISRAEL WEIGHING IRAN STRIKE?
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Paper_hints_at_possible_Israeli_strike_0202.html

PAKISTAN COMING UNGLUED?
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0202/p01s02-wosc.html
In this Punjabi city of shrines, Shiites and Sunnis prayed side by side during Ashura this week, the holiest holiday for the world's 150 million Shiite Muslims. But a province away, suicide bombers attempted to strike Shiite processions throughout Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province, leaving as many as 21 dead and more than 40 injured in three separate incidents, including two suicide attacks.

 Mashed Media
KRUGMAN:
IVINS WAS RIGHT AGAIN AND AGAIN ABOUT IRAQ
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003541107

THOMPSON: LIES, LIES, LIES
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/wp/2007/02/02/1976
Mark Twain once wrote that there are three kinds of lies: Lies, damn lies and statistics.In these troubled times, we should amend Twain’s writing to read: Lies, damn lies and any statements by the President of the United States.

REAGAN MONUMENT:
HOW ABOUT SALVADOREAN BABY SKULLS?
http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/2007/013007Parry.shtml
Ronald Reagan’s many admirers may find this idea offensive, but – given a new report by the Washington Post – it might be fitting to have a display at Reagan National Airport to show how Salvadoran baby skulls were used as candle holders and good luck charms. Perhaps the presentation could contain skeletal remains of Guatemalans and Nicaraguans, too.

 Animals in the news!
 FLAMINGOS DYING FROM TOXIC WASTE
http://www.enn.com/iotd2.html?id=748
ON THE TRAIL OF THE ENDANGERED RHINO
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070202/asp/northeast/story_7336416.asp
RUSSIA, CHINA, TRACK THE FEW REMAINING LEOPARDS
http://www.france24.com/france24Public/en/administration/afp-news.html?id=070201123934.2dkwayx8
TIBETAN ANTELOPE SLOWLY COMING BACK
http://www.huliq.com/9085/tibetan-antelope-slowly-recovering

Jesus H. Christ!
VATICAN: JESUS ‘FANCY DRESS KIT’ IS A CRIME
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=SRB1JNYNNZAO3QFIQMFCFGGAVCBQYIV0?xml=/news/2007/02/02/wjesus02.xml
‘INTELLIGENT DESIGN’ IS FOR IDIOTS
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/connected/main.jhtml;jsessionid=V3GRWFRRPMUBHQFIQMFCFF4AVCBQYIV0?xml=/connected/2007/01/30/ecdesign30.xml
So that is why biologists get so mad at the propagation of ID. It wastes time. It suppresses research rather than encouraging it. It's not really a theory, it's a story. It deflects the young from asking the important questions. It serves to kill curiosity rather than encourage it. Sometimes it is right to get angry in the face of unreason. Darwinists are readily labelled. There should be an equivalent term for the proponents of Intelligent Design. May I suggest IDiots?

(Lack of) Health
ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION HITS 18 PERCENT OF U.S. MEN
No great loss!
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/conditions/02/01/erectile.dysfunction.reut/

Oh, by the way. . .
 SF MAYOR’S POLITICAL CAREER ON THE ROCKS?
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/02/02/MNGHNNTLHV1.DTL
RUSSIAN TOWN WANTS ITS CASTLE BACK
http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,463530,00.html
47 TOMBSTONES FOUND IN DEAD MAN’S LOCKER
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2007/02/02/national/a072149S70.DTL
ROMAN DESCENDANTS FOUND IN CHINA?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=SRB1JNYNNZAO3QFIQMFCFGGAVCBQYIV0?xml=/news/2007/02/02/wroman02.xml
MAN RIDING MOWER FROM ALASKA TO VIRGINIA
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20070201-012403-5856r
‘FISH MAN’ SWIMS DOWN AMAZON
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=SRB1JNYNNZAO3QFIQMFCFGGAVCBQYIV0?xml=/news/2007/02/02/wswim02.xml
SACRED CAVE OF ROME’S FOUNDERS DISCOVERED
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/01/070126-rome-palatine.html
FOSSILS OF ‘MOST PRIMITVE PRIMATE’ FOUND NEAR YELLOWSTONE
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070201-primates.html

And in more important matters. . .

 Musique
TREASURE TROVE OF JAZZ HISTORY FOUND IN ATTIC
Forgotten singer Maxine Sullivan’s life documented in milk crates
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/01/features/jazz.php
Then Morris led Poteat up to the attic. There, milk crate upon milk crate brimming with papers and photographs were stacked nearly to the ceiling. She explained that her mother had been a famous jazz singer, and that these were her things.
R.I.P. GIAN CARLO MENOTTI
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6323237.stm
TWO NEW BOOKS ANALYZE BACH’S SOURCE OF INSPIRATION
http://www.bookforum.com/Griffiths_Feb07.html

For Art’s Sake
 LOOKING FOR A LONG-LOST DA VINCI
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1584801,00.html

Books
POTTER FANS PLOT TO GET FIRST COPIES
http://books.guardian.co.uk/harrypotter/story/0,,2004465,00.html
POTTER PAST IT? NOT LIKELY
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/books/2007/02/potter_past_it_not_likely.html

DIDDY VS. DIDDY
This Combs guy is just doody
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6323233.stm

JB’S WIDOW SUES THE ESTATE
Gee, what a surprise
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6323457.stm

Film
RAINER ON DIANE KEATON’S NEW FLOP
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0202/p11s01-almo.html
RAINER’S CAPSULE REVIEWS
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0202/p16s01-almo.html
POLANSKI TO DIRECT ‘POMPEII’
http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2004603,00.html

And in the end. . .
BABY GRAMPS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAkEn9ie-Vk

2/1
N. KOREA’S SON OF KIM LIVING THE HIGH LIFE IN MACAU
Homeland starves, but Kim Jong-nam is getting plenty to eat
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/koreas-son-of-kim-lives-high-life/2007/02/01/1169919470390.html

SF MAYOR NEWSOM LIVING THE HIGH LIFE IN SF---
HAS AFFAIR WITH CAMPAIGN MANAGER’S WIFE
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/02/01/MNGM8NSSD91.DTL

And on to the low-life news and comment. . .

 The Little Dictator
HERSH ON BUSH: THE WORST IS YET TO COME
http://media.www.tuftsdaily.com/media/storage/paper856/news/2007/01/30/News/Journalist.Sy.Hersh.Has.Harsh.Words.For.Bush-2685555.shtml?sourcedomain=www.tuftsdaily.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com
"He's a total radical, probably the most radical president we've ever had in terms of his definition of the power of the presidency," he said. "There's nothing more dangerous than a radical who doesn't have information, doesn't learn from information and doesn't learn from the past." Hersh said that not even negative press coverage has slowed the administration. "They couldn't care less about what we write. They're immune, inured to what The New York Times can write, what The New Yorker can write," he said.
BUSH ADMITS LYING TO THE COUNTRY
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/01/bush-admits/
CONYERS TO PROBE BUSH ‘SIGNING STATEMENTS’
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Judiciary_Chairman_Conyers_to_probe_signing_0201.html
CARTOON: SMALL MINDS THINK ALIKE
http://www.internetweekly.org/2007/02/cartoon_small_minds_think_alike.html

Déjà vu
HAHAHAHA---BUSH HAS SECRET PLAN TO END WAR, SAYS. . .KISSINGER!
Who says there’s no similarity between Iraq and Vietnam?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/31/AR2007013102017_pf.html

GRIEVING FATHER TAKES FLAG-DRAPED COFFIN TO TIMES SQUARE
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines07/0201-04.htm
 
 We are not making this stuff up
U.S.---DON’T FIX CAUSES OF GLOBAL WARMING---
JUST BLOCK OUT THE SUN!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1775639/posts
SCIENTISTS: GLOBAL WARMING ‘LIKELY’ MAN-MADE
Duhhhhh. . .drool. . .
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6321351.stm

Electile Dysfunction
BLOWHARD BIDEN: I MEANT TO CALL OBAMA “FRESH,” NOT “CLEAN”
Yeah, that makes it all right, Joe
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Senator_says_he_meant_to_call_0201.html
BIDEN: OPEN MOUTH, INSERT FOOT
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/wp/2007/02/01/1964
GORE IS A CONTENDER---FOR THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Gore_seen_as_contender_for_2007_0201.html
HILLARY TRIES TO RALLY WOMEN
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0201/p01s04-uspo.html
FRANKEN RUNS FOR SENATE
Hi, I’m Pete Tagliani. . .
http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/

Your corporatocracy at work!
WAL-MART PAYS ITSELF RENT, GETS TAX BREAK
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/WalMart_pays_itself_rent_get_large_0201.html
EXXON POCKETS $39 BILLION
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070201/ap_on_bi_ge/earns_exxon_mobil
BLACK YOUTH: MORE HOPELESS THAN EVER
 http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070201/pl_afp/usracismpolitics_070201143813;_ylt=AgKkaAlV2zlTdqOuiLs4vP6sOrgF;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

ROBERTS: THE FAILURE OF THE USA AS A MORAL FORCE
http://vdare.com/roberts/070130_failure.htm
(Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan Administration.)

 RALL: MEMO TO REPUBLICANS: SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP!
http://www.uexpress.com/tedrall/
 
 LINDORFF:
THIS IS LIKE HITLER’S SUICIDE ORDER FROM THE BUNKER
http://www.thiscantbehappening.net/2007.01.01_arch.html#1170282678083

Iraq and Roll
CIVILIAN DEATHS HIT RECORD HIGH
Mission accomplished, Mr. Prez!
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/MAC176186.htm
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER ELEVEN DIE
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=19387

Lost Angeles
 L.A.’S SKID ROW DEBACLE. . .DEBACLIZES FURTHER
 http://www.laweekly.com/general/deadline-hollywood/goodbye-baquet-hello-oshea/15530/
Looks like the L.A. Times has found a creative way to help satisfy its profit-hungry bosses at the Tribune Co.: It’s apparently shifting the costs of some metro reporting to the LAPD payroll. At least, that’s the sensation I got from reading last Saturday’s cheery story from staff writer Richard Winton as he breathlessly listed the supposed successes of the now 5-month-old LAPD “Safer Cities” crackdown on Skid Row. If Chief Bratton doesn’t already have Winton on the pad, the Times ought to send him over an invoice.
 CHASED OUT OF SKID ROW, HOMELESS JUST SCATTER AROUND TOWN
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-homeless1feb01,0,166743.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Mashed Media
FALUN GONG’S ‘EPOCH TIMES’ CATCHING ON IN U.S.---IT’S A GOOD READ
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003540598
The Epoch Times has perhaps the greatest recognition and reach among other news organizations with Falun Gong ties. It has offices in 30 countries, publishes in 17 languages on the Web and 10 languages in print, and boasts total weekly circulation of 1.4 million.
THE CLUELESS OUT-OF-TOWNER RUNNING THE L.A. TIMES
Everything O’Shea says is cliché---“the city of the future where we have to deal with multicultural/multilingual issues. . .”
Note: he says “I personally. . .”
http://www.laweekly.com/general/deadline-hollywood/goodbye-baquet-hello-oshea/15530/
TIMES SUED OVER STUPID ‘MI III” PROMO CAMPAIGN
People thought newsrack devices were bombs; cops blew one up
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-newsracks1feb01,1,3499979.story?coll=la-headlines-california&ctrack=1&cset=true
THE MADNESS OF JUDITH REGAN
http://www.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=The+Judith+Regan+Story+--+New+York+Magazine&expire=&urlID=20985234&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnymag.com%2Fnews%2Fprofiles%2F26988%2Findex.html&partnerID=73272
The first week of November, Regan and a couple of the women in her office started a 21-day fast, so through all of the O.J. madness, the only nutrition she had every day was an infusion of berry drinks, enzyme shots, hot tea, live juice, and a once-a-day treat of soup—a mélange of carrots, sweet potatoes, and spinach puréed in the Cuisinart. She was not allowed to chew—anything. Every night at 10 p.m., she drank a foul-tasting shot of aloe and made a hot tea before she went to bed. She was famished.

 (Lack of) Health
AIR POLLUTION PARTICLES HURT FEMALE HEARTS
http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=12144
TEA TREE, LAVENDAR OILS CAUSE BREAST GROWTH IN BOYS
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070131204136.htm

Molly
R.I.P. THE GREAT MOLLY IVINS
http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-ivins1feb01,0,5397074.story?page=1&coll=la-home-obituaries
BILL MOYERS REMEMBERS IVINS
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003540601
RECENT IVINS INTERVIEW: KEEP INDEPENDENT VOICES ALIVE
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003540408
AMY GOODMAN’S TALK WITH IVINS
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/02/01/1529226
NICHOLS: REMEMBERING IVINS
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/020107J.shtml

Oh, by the way. . .
BUCHENWALD MOBILIZES AGAINST HOLOCAUST DENIERS
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,463265,00.html
‘BONDAGE PSYCHOLOGIST’ CLEARED OF ASSAULT
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/bondage-psychologist-cleared-of-sexual-assault/2007/02/01/1169919469035.html
GIANT BABY BORN IN CANCUN
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/what-a-whopper/2007/02/01/1169919464517.html
RUSSIAN HOSPITAL TIRES OF CRYING BABIES---GAGS THEM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6319439.stm
CHINA ANGRY AT TAIWAN---OVER HIGH SCHOOL TEXTBOOK!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6317937.stm

And in more important matters. . .

 Books
NEW HANDBOOK ON RECOVERING STOLEN NAZI ART
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,463423,00.html
THE ASTONISHING ARMADAS OF ANCIENT CHINA
http://tls.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,25340-2563759,00.html
LAST HARRY POTTER COMING IN JULY
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070201/ap_en_ot/people_rowling
THE LITERARY GUIDE TO MONTEREY
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20070130/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_literary_monterey

NEW ‘DRACULA’ COMING TO MASTERPIECE THEATER
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/dracula/index.html

Musique
PETE SEEGER: ‘BRUCE BLEW MY COVER’
http://music.guardian.co.uk/folk/story/0,,2003339,00.html
Seeger's banjo once sported the message: "This machine surrounds hate and forces it to surrender" (an echo of the message on Woody Guthrie's guitar: "This machine kills fascists").
 COUNTRY JOE SINGS WOODY GUTHRIE
http://www.countryjoe.com/guthrie.htm
http://www.thecenterforthearts.org/events/07/07-02-03-countryjoe.htm

THE ‘DIPSEA DEMON’ RUNNER FINISHES AT 100
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/01/BAGB8NSRSD1.DTL

CLAPTON UPSET OVER NAMESAKE WINE
http://rawstory.com/news/2006/Eric_Clapton_upset_by_special_wine__01312007.html

ANNISTON RUINS THE ONLY GOOD THING ABOUT HER LOOKS---HER NOSE
http://www.smh.com.au/news/people/jens-nose-job/2007/02/01/1169919445223.html

 And in the end. . .
FRANKIE LAINE MEETS FRANKIE LYMON
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q96ylFiQK_I

1/31
IDIOT BUSH NEARLY BULLDOZES STAFF, PRESS CORPS
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Bush_has_near_tractor_accident_in_0131.html

McCAIN NAMES CAMPAIGN BUS “ASS-KISS LOCAL”
http://www.thespoof.com/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s2i14357

QUESTION MARK---OF THE ‘AND THE MYSTERIANS’---LOSES POSSESSIONS IN BLAZE
Sheds 96 tears
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/01/30/cls-late-nite-music-club-with-question-mark-and-the-mysterians/

PENIS SPOTTED FROM SPACE
http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,2002927,00.html

GOOGLING EVERY BOOK EVER WRITTEN
http://www.newyorker.com/printables/fact/070205fa_fact_toobin
Google intends to scan every book ever published, and to make the full texts searchable, in the same way that Web sites can be searched on the company’s engine at google.com. At the books site, which is up and running in a beta (or testing) version, at books.google.com, you can enter a word or phrase—say, Ahab and whale—and the search returns a list of works in which the terms appear, in this case nearly eight hundred titles, including numerous editions of Herman Melville’s novel. Clicking on “Moby-Dick, or The Whale” calls up Chapter 28, in which Ahab is introduced. You can scroll through the chapter, search for other terms that appear in the book, and compare it with other editions. Google won’t say how many books are in its database, but the site’s value as a research tool is apparent; on it you can find a history of Urdu newspapers, an 1892 edition of Jane Austen’s letters, several guides to writing haiku, and a Harvard alumni directory from 1919.

And on to other astonishment. . .

 Mardis Grave
BRAVE PROTESTOR INTERRUPTS SENATE KATRINA HEARINGS
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/30/lieberman-katrina/
BUSH-CHENEY LIVING LEGACY:
THE WRECKAGE OF KATRINA
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_allen_l__070130_cheney_2fbush__living_.htm

NINE BRAVE ANTI-WAR PROTESTORS ARRESTED ON CAPITOL HILL
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20070129-1325-iraq-protests.html

BRIT TERROR PLOT ALLEGEDLY THWARTED
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070131/ap_on_re_eu/britain_terror_arrests;_ylt=Aiiw9CaO7Ik0AE7SlTRqu_Ss0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

Your corporatocracy at work!
DRUG GIANT NOVARTIS TRIES TO BLOCK CHEAP AIDS, CANCER DRUGS IN INDIA
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/29/business/novartis.php
SHELL DEFIES CHENEY, SIGNS GAS DEAL WITH IRAN
http://www.guardian.co.uk/iran/story/0%2C%2C2001515%2C00.html

Iran from the truth
PREZBOY ‘SPOILING FOR A FIGHT’ WITH IRAN
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2002577,00.html
THE DANGER OF BUSH’S ANTI-IRAN FATWA
http://www.ichblog.eu/content/view/207/52/
EUROPEANS FEAR U.S. ATTACK ON IRAN
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2002319,00.html
SENATORS WARN AGAINST WAR WITH IRAN
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6383169,00.html


The Little Dictator
 BUSH DOCTORED SCIENTISTS’ REPORTS ON GLOBAL WARMING
http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329701117-110878,00.html
Yesterday's hearings, overseen by the new Democratic chair of the House committee on oversight and government reform, Congressman Henry Waxman, follow years of complaints by scientists that the Bush administration was seeking to put its own spin on scientific research at government agencies. They also complain of a reduction in funding for climate research since the 1990s.
U.S. GOES GREEN, LEAVING BUSH ISOLATED
http://environment.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0%2C%2C1999930%2C00.html
THOMPSON: BUSH’S PLAN TO DESTROY THE COUNTRY
 http://www.capitolhillblue.com/wp/2007/01/31/1950
The absolute and unrelenting takeover of the government of the United States by a despot named George W. Bush continues - right under the noses of the new Democratic leadership of Congress and in outright defiance of the wishes of the American voters who sent a clear mandate for change in last year’s elections. Bush recently made more moves to consolidate power in the executive branch, signing an order that requires key government agencies to place his political appointees in positions to control policy on health, environmental issues, civil rights and privacy.


 Big Dick
WATCH: BOSTON HERALD COLUMNIST RIPS CHENEY AS “PARANOID,” “FRIGHTENED”
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Video_Reporter_describes_VP_Cheney_as_0130.html


Iraq and Roll
DEATH RATE OF U.S. TROOPS
60 PERCENT HIGHER FOR KIDS FROM THE STICKS
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion?pid=161392
WAS U.S. VICTORY OVER ‘CULT LEADER’ACTUALLY A MASSACRE?
 http://www.anarkismo.net/newswire.php?story_id=4785
HALF-MILLION HAVE DESERTED BAGHDAD
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=19267
MILLIONS OF IRAQ REFUGEES SCATTER THROUGHOUT MIDDLE EAST
http://www.payvand.com/news/07/jan/1317.html
http://www.kuna.net.kw/home/Story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=940904
The UN Refugee Agency said Tuesday that about 3.7 million Iraqis are refugees, noting that one out of every eight Iraqis is a refugee due to violence in Iraq.
The growing number of IDPs in Iraq has also led to an influx of refugees into neighboring states. The UNHCR estimates that the number of Iraqis who have fled to neighboring states includes 500,000 to 1 million in Syria, up to 700,000 in Jordan, 80,000 in Egypt, and 40,000 in Lebanon.
NO EQUIPMENT FOR ‘SURGE’ TROOPS
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/29/AR2007012901584.html
New Iraq Forces Must Make Do, Officials Say
 COUNTLESS MILLIONS (BILLIONS?) LOST THROUGH WASTE, FRAUD
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/wp/2007/01/31/1948


Electile Dysfunction
BLOWHARD BIDEN RUNS FOR PREZ, BLASTS HILLARY---
http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/Politics/story?id=2837456
AND OBAMA, EDWARDS. . .
http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/jan/31/biden_unloads_on_clinton_obama_edwards
BIDEN SAYS OBAMA HAS NO PLAN FOR IRAQ---BUT HERE IT IS
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Sen._Obama_offers_plan_to_stop_0130.html
REPUGNICANS: IRAQ WILL HELP DEMOCRAPS FOR YEARS
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/01/31/MNGQCNS3NE1.DTL

THE MOST FEARED WOMAN ON CAPITOL HILL
No, not Joe Biden
http://www.alternet.org/story/47415/

RAIMUNDO:
CHUCK HAGEL AND THE RETURN OF THE OLD RIGHT
http://antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=10434
Hagel's analysis of the "surge" – and, by implication, the entire Iraqi project – is sheer incredulity. He's asked if the 20,000 or so troops being sent will be enough to "secure Baghdad," and you can almost hear his bitter laugh: "It's not ours to secure. We have never understood that! We have framed this in a way that never made sense: 'Win or lose in Iraq.' Wait a minute! There is no win or loss for us. The Iraqis will determine how this turns out. We can help them with our blood and our treasure and our standing, but in the end they have to deal with the sectarian problems. That is what's consuming that country. It's not al-Qaeda. It's not the terrorists. That's not the main problem over there. It's a civil war!"

 CHALMERS JOHNSON: HOPE U.S. HUBRIS ENDS WITH FINANCIAL WHIMPER, NOT NUCLEAR BANG
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=19367
So my own hope is that -- if the American people do not find a way to choose democracy over empire -- at least our imperial venture will end not with a nuclear bang but a financial whimper. From the present vantage point, it certainly seems a daunting challenge for any President (or Congress) from either party even to begin the task of dismantling the military-industrial complex, ending the pall of "national security" secrecy and the "black budgets" that make public oversight of what our government does impossible, and bringing the president's secret army, the CIA, under democratic control. It's evident that Nemesis -- in Greek mythology the goddess of vengeance, the punisher of hubris and arrogance -- is already a visitor in our country, simply biding her time before she makes her presence known.

Israelity
ESSAY LINKING LIBERAL JEWS, ANTI-SEMITISM SPARKS FUROR
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/31/arts/web.0131jews.php

The other little dictators
CASTRO IS FIT AS A FIDEL
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/16584601.htm
CHAVEZ GRABS MORE POWER
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6315819.stm

Jesus H. Christ!
WATCH: DISGRACED HAGGARD BOASTED OF CHRISTIAN SEX LIFE
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003539458

Humans stop being
HONG KONG LIMITS PREGNANT CHINESE
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6314081.stm
BIRTH RATES MUST BE CURBED TO LIMIT POVERTY
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/article2201090.ece

Enviro Wacko
 GREAT BARRIER REEF WILL BE WASTELAND IN 25 YEARS
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=CUVGZGRL4FH2PQFIQMFCFGGAVCBQYIV0?xml=/news/2007/01/31/wreef31.xml
CLIMATE CHANGE COULD WRECK SYDNEY
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6315885.stm
CALIFORNIA MAY BAN CONVENTIONAL LIGHT BULBS
http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=12134


Oh, by the way. . .
ADULTERERS ARE STONED TO DEATH IN DONGA BONGA
Donga Bonga?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=CUVGZGRL4FH2PQFIQMFCFGGAVCBQYIV0?xml=/news/2007/01/31/wpak31.xml
PUTIN’S BID TO MAKE BLEAK EASTERN ISLAND A RESORT
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2002330,00.html
STONEHENGE EXPLAINED---SORT OF
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/01/070130-stonehenge.html
TWO CALIF. JET-SKIIERS BARELY ELUDE 100-FOOT WAVES
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/01/31/MNGQCNS3NM1.DTL
65-YEAR-OLD WOMAN FIGHTS OFF COUGAR
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/01/31/BAG6KNS3T61.DTL

And in more important matters. . .

 DREAMWORKS DROPS WALLACE & GROMIT OUTFIT
Figures. Aardman doesn't make crass, loud, stupid animated films 
http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2002604,00.html

R.I.P. ‘SCHOOLBOY’ FRIEDKIN
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/31/sports/othersports/31friedkin.html?_r=1&ref=obituaries&oref=slogin

Books
 ‘CANNERY ROW,’ HITCHIKING, AMERICA, AND POLITICS
Essay by Thom Hartmann
http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/hartmann/014

Musique
ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC,
DIRECTOR ZUBIN MEHTA TURN 70
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/31/features/phil.php
The current music director, Zubin Mehta, a Zoroastrian from India, is beloved for conducting a concert during the Gulf war of 1991, when Saddam Hussein was lobbing Scud missiles toward Israel. Audience members wore gas masks. Mehta — now 70, like the orchestra — remembers being jobless in Vienna in 1961, at 25, when he received a puzzling telegram inviting him to direct a concert with the "Pal. Phil. Orchestra."
 THE GREAT ENNIO MORRICONE TO MAKE U.S. CONDUCTING DEBUT
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/30/news/morri.php
THE EEL PIE HOTEL AND POP MUSIC HISTORY
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6310309.stm

Film
‘BABEL’S’ RINKO KIKUCHI MAKES THE HOLLYWOOD SCENE
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/23/features/kiku.php
Kikuchi, 26, has done plenty of interviews as a result of her breakthrough performance as a troubled deaf teen in the film "Babel." In one scene, she exposes herself — à la Sharon Stone in "Basic Instinct" — to some boys in a Tokyo restaurant. She also racked up a Gotham Award and a Golden Globe nomination. Next Sunday, she will vie for a Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by a female actor in a supporting role.

Happy Birthday to Thomas Merton
1/31/1915 -- 12/10/1968
"The biggest human temptation is to settle for too little."
The Thomas Merton Center andInternational Thomas Merton Society
http://www.mertoncenter.org/

And in the end. . .
ACKER BILK!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55mbCul8hwk

1/30 Special Dick Cheney Birthday newslinks!
Thanks to The Bernie Bugle for Cheney links

 RIGHT-WING ‘CRITIC’ BOOK BLAMES MOVIE STARS, ACTIVISTS, KENNEDY FOR 9/11
Why do publishing houses even print this crap? It does no good whatsoever. . .
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16840067/site/newsweek/print/1/displaymode/1098/

HAS ‘LITTLE ANTHONY’ VILLARAIGOSA LEFT HIS WIFE?
The Rip Post noted the alcalde’s rather luscious blonde “aide” some months ago
http://lukeford.net/blog/?p=81

THIRTEEN PERCENT OF FINE U.S. CITIZENS HAVE NEVER HEARD OF GLOBAL WARMING
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070129/us_nm/globalwarming_survey_dc

HERE IT IS, FOLKS: PROFESSIONAL PILLOW-FIGHTING
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/01/30/a_pillow_creed.html

And on to the day’s other inanities. . .

Today’s Dick Cheney portion of the newslinks brought to you by The Bernie Bugle:
UNHAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DICK CHENEY!
Born Jan. 30, 1941
http://www.whitehouse.gov/vicepresident/

E-mail Vice President Dick Cheney! Tell him what's on your mind.
vice_president@whitehouse.gov
Dick Cheney Birthday Bash & Retirement Party
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/6678
DOWD: DAFFY DOES DOOM
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article16266.htm
Delusional is far too mild a word to describe Dick Cheney. Delusional doesn’t begin to capture the profound, transcendental one-flew-over daftness of the man.
DICK CHENEY: OUR OWN 'BAGHDAD BOB'
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/columns/pressingissues_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003538598
CHENEY IN HIS ' LAST THROES '
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_allen_l__070127_cheney_in_his___last.htm
Cheney tackles 'Darth Vader' image in Newsweek interview
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Vice_President_Cheney_tackles_Darth_Vader_0128.html
"Don't Let Dick Cheney Get Me!"
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_david_sw_070126__22don_t_let_dick_chen.htm
Dick Cheney in la-la land
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003546780_robinson30.html
If you've been following the Lewis "Scooter" Libby perjury trial, I can understand how you might confuse Dick Cheney with Tony Soprano.
THE UNRAVELING OF DICK CHENEY
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2007/01/29/BL2007012900577.html
William Rivers Pitt: A Cornered Animal
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/012607A.shtml

The Little Dictator
NEW BUSH ORDER SEEKS TO UNDERCUT CONGRESS
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/30/washington/30rules.html?_r=1&hp&ex=1170133200&en=f7bdc9f4cbb28c31&ei=5094&partner=homepage&oref=slogin
SPECTOR: PREZBOY IS NOT THE ONLY DECISION-MAKER
 http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/16575416.htm
DADDY WHINES: NEWS MEDIA IS MEAN TO MY LITTLE BOY
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyid=2007-01-26T223441Z_01_N26396581_RTRUKOC_0_US-BUSH-FATHER.xml&src=rss&rpc=22
58 PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY WISHES BUSH WAS GONE
Is that all?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16840614/site/newsweek
BUSH DENOUNCES LEAKS---WHILE LEAKING
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/wp/2007/01/30/1935
The Bush White House sternly and piously denounced leaks of classified and sensitive information even as the president and his aides were assiduously and selectively leaking secrets that would help make their case.
BUSH AND KIM JONG ILL: SEPARATED AT BIRTH
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2007/01/29/george_and_jong.php
It’s tempting to argue that, physical appearances notwithstanding, the two future leaders were separated at birth. They both grew up in privileged families, though they have both taken pains to present themselves as men of the people. Not surprisingly, then, they have tried to obscure their origins. Kim Jong Il has sought a nationalist lineage by claiming his birthplace in revolutionary Mount Paekdu in North Korea rather than Soviet Russia. George W. Bush, meanwhile, prefers to be a good ol’ Texas boy rather than the Connecticut-born blueblood that he is.
BUSH QUOTE OF THE DAY
http://www.time.com/time/quotes/0,26174,1583354,00.html

Impeachy Keen
REP. ELLISON: IMPEACHMENT IS THE ONLY SOLUTION
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/wp/2007/01/30/1926
If campaign talk means anything, there’d be at least one sure vote on the House Judiciary Committee to impeach President Bush if the matter ever came up.

NOT SNAKE OIL: CHEAP DRUG KILLS MOST CANCERS
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn10971-cheap-safe-drug-kills-most-cancers.html

HUBBLE TELESCOPE BREAKS DOWN
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6312091.stm

Iraq and Roll
 ‘SURGE’ TROOPS WILL LACK OH, VEHICLES, ARMOR. . .
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/30/thinkfast-january-30-2007/
The Army and Marine Corps “are short thousands of vehicles, armor kits and other equipment needed to supply” the extra 21,500 troops President Bush plans to send to Iraq. “It’s inevitable that that has to happen, unless five brigades of up-armored Humvees fall out of the sky,” one senior Army official said.
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER BOMB, ANOTHER 30-PLUS DEAD
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6312489.stm
TWO CHARGES DROPPED AGAINST WATADA
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/013007J.shtml

Not that it will do any good
 PETITIONS TO STOP THE ‘SURGE’
http://ga4.org/campaign/stopthesurge
http://action.truemajority.org/campaign/no_escalation?gclid=CNyp48u1iIoCFRzLggodiW17Rw

Mess o’ Potamia (we were using this long before Stewart!)
IRAN, SAUDIS WORK TOGETHER TO AVERT WAR IN LEBANON
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/30/world/middleeast/30lebanon.html
A VISIT WITH A BEREAVED LEBANESE COUPLE
Lost daughter, son-in-law, granddaughter during Israeli strike
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0130/p06s02-wome.html
"Those people who send those smart bombs: They don't have kids," charges Mrs. Amro, taking a tissue from her handbag to wipe the marble grave that carries all three names. "Those smart bombs don't know if it is children or warriors," says grandfather Said Yatim, noting that 14 children were killed in this strike. "Why do they call them 'smart' "?

 Mashed Media
WHEN IS PLAGIARISM THEFT?
http://www.calendarlive.com/books/bookreview/cl-bk-kirsch28jan28,0,5130367.htmlstory?coll=cl-bookreview
To illustrate Eliot's point, Posner traces a memorable passage from "The Waste Land" ("The Chair she sat in, like a burnished throne ... ") to Shakespeare's "Antony and Cleopatra." He reminds us that Shakespeare borrowed and adapted this description from Sir Thomas North's translation of the work of Plutarch. "If this is plagiarism," cracks Posner, "we need more plagiarism."

 Enviro Wacko
APPLE COMPUTERS ARE ROTTEN FOR ENVIRONMENT
http://www.alternet.org/envirohealth/47228/
Apple refuses to make "green" part of their image. Just finding the environmental section on its website requires either a search of the site or knowing that "apple.com/environment" will get you there. Among all of the tabs in the navigation bar at the top of the pages, "Environment" is nowhere to be found. "As their website shows, green can be turned into greenwash," says Hind. "What we're talking about is measuring them based on toxics and recycling that is a serious physical problem."

 Animals in the news!
$25K REWARD FOR JAPANESE WHALE-MURDERERS
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6312095.stm
Migrating birds being shot by Maltese hunters
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=UBVYT3SUAV35RQFIQMFCFGGAVCBQYIV0?xml=/news/2007/01/30/wmalta30.xml

Oh, by the way. . .
WE ARE ALL DESCENDED FROM HOBBITS
Three-foot-tall human predecessor died 12,000 years ago
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=sci_tech&id=4983759
WOMAN RAPED, THEN ARRESTED
http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=2212387&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1
YOUR BRAIN CAN’T DRIVE AND YAP ON THE PHONE AT ONCE
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6309033.stm
HALF-MOON BAY FIGHTS TO KEEP ‘REAL’ COFFEE SHOP
Landlord wants corporate Peet’s instead
 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/01/29/BAGOSNQJG41.DTL

And in more important matters. . .

NEW JIM MORRISON LYRIC
SET TO MUSIC FOR ANTI-GLOBAL WARMING CAMPAIGN
 http://music.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2002130,00.html
A secret poem recorded by the legendary singer Jim Morrison shortly before he died is to be released as a song to raise awareness of climate change. Lyrics recorded by the former Doors frontman in Paris in 1971, have been put to music by rock stars for the Global Cool campaign and will be released as a single in April.

R.I.P. BARBARO
http://www.cecilwhig.com/articles/2007/01/30/news/01.txt
 GALLANT BATTLE IS OVER
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/01/30/SPG8NNRDK81.DTL
 WATCH: LIFE AND TIMES OF BARBARO
http://video.nbcsports.com/player/?id=58872
R.I.P. TAIWAN'S FIRST OLYMPIC MEDAL WINNER
C.K. Yang had dramatic showdown with Rafer Johnson
http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-yang30jan30,0,7643644.story?coll=la-home-obituaries
R.I.P. ‘LUCY’ WRITER BOB CARROLL
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2007/01/bob_carroll_87_wrote_for_1.php

Books
DOUGLASS AND LINCOLN: THE RADICAL AND THE REPUBLICAN
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0130/p14s02-bogn.html
"The Radical and the Republican" is ideological more often than anecdotal and is not a light read. But the book succeeds quite well at charting the ups and downs of a complex and seminal relationship between two great men, both dedicated to making America live up to its loftiest ideals.
Victor Hugo heir plans to make life miserable
for the 'moneymaking' author of sequel
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=UBVYT3SUAV35RQFIQMFCFGGAVCBQYIV0?xml=/news/2007/01/30/whugo30.xml

CAVE FOUND WHERE SHE-WOLF
SUCKLED ROMULUS AND REMUS (AND CHENEY)
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/01/070126-rome-palatine.html

WANT A HAPPY WORKPLACE?
HIRE GRUMPY PEOPLE
http://www.thestar.com/columnists/article/173194

Uproar as Polish lace-makers slip into G-strings
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=UBVYT3SUAV35RQFIQMFCFGGAVCBQYIV0?xml=/news/2007/01/30/wpants30.xml

Pomologists bite off more than they can chew with 200-year-old apple mystery
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=UBVYT3SUAV35RQFIQMFCFGGAVCBQYIV0?xml=/news/2007/01/30/napple30.xml

And in the end. . .
TINY TIM SINGS ‘DO YOU THINK I’M SEXY?’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N_jlF-sRqk






        . . .SPECIAL THANKS TO HOOKALAKAH MISHABOB FOR CONTRIBUTIONS. . .

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