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Blair: Obama, Clinton Can Make Progress In MideastFormer British Prime Minister Tony Blair says one lesson to be learned from recent violence in the Gaza Strip is that Gaza must be a part of any plans for a lasting peace in the region. He thinks the new administration can make headway. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us Source: NPR Topics: News | 14 Jan 2009 | 6:12 pm U.S. retail sales slumped in DecemberSales at U.S. retailers fell at a steeper-than-expected rate in December, government data showed on Wednesday, as a deteriorating economy forced consumers to cut back.Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 14 Jan 2009 | 2:02 pm Bin Laden tape urges war on IsraelAl-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden urged Muslims to launch a jihad against Israel and condemned Arab governments.Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 14 Jan 2009 | 2:01 pm Retail sales plummet 2.7 percent in December (AP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 2:01 pm Jennifer Hudson to sing at the Super Bowl (AP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:59 pm Retail sales slump 2.7 percent in DecemberWASHINGTON (Reuters) -Sales at retailers fell at a steeper-than-expected rate in December, government data showed on Wednesday, as a deteriorating economic environment forced consumers to cut back on spending during the key holiday period.Source: Reuters: Top News | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:59 pm I'm An IdiotSource: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:55 pm Norwegian police detain 63 in drug raidsNorwegian police said Wednesday that 63 people have been detained and the equivalent of nearly U.S. $8.5 million in narcotics ...Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:55 pm Meet DtecNet - RIAA’s New Anti-Piracy PartnersDtecNet, the anti-piracy outfit replacing MediaSentry as the RIAA’s chief evidence collector, also operates in several other countries. The Danish company is working for the BPI in Britain in support of its drive to force a “3 strikes” regime, and helping in Australian investigations against alleged pirates. We take a closer look.Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:52 pm FRANCE AIRBUSAirbus Chief Operating Officer Fabrice Bregier, right, with Didier Evrard, head of the A350 program, delivers his speech in Toulouse, southwestern France, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. Bregier SAID that Airbus...Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:52 pm US retail sales plunged 2.7% in DecemberWASHINGTON (AFP) - US retail sales skidded for the sixth straight month in December, plunging 2.7 percent from November, more than twice market forecasts, government data showed Wednesday.Source: AFP - Wire stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:49 pm Kaka plays down link to Man CityBrazilian superstar Kaka reveals his desire to stay at AC Milan despite talk of a move to Manchester City.Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:48 pm Madoff to be in court as U.S. again seeks to jail himNEW YORK (Reuters) - Accused swindler Bernard Madoff will be back in court on Wednesday as U.S. prosecutors again try to persuade a judge to end his house arrest at his luxury apartment and toss him in jail.Source: Reuters: Top News | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:48 pm Madoff to be in court as U.S. again seeks to jail him (Reuters)
Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:48 pm Osama Bin Laden urges jihad against IsraelCAIRO, Egypt - Al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden urged Muslims to launch a jihad against Israel and condemned Arab governments as allies of the Jewish state in a new message...Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:48 pm Bin Laden urges jihad against IsraelCAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- Al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden urged Muslims to launch a jihad against Israel and condemned Arab governments as allies of the Jewish state in a new message aimed at harnessing anger in the Mideast over the Gaza offensive....Source: AP Top International News At 9:04 a... | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:47 pm Bin Laden urges jihad against Israel (AP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:47 pm Bin Laden urges jihad against IsraelAl-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden urged Muslims to launch a jihad against Israel and condemned Arab governments as allies of the Jewish state in a new message aimed at harnessing anger in the...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:47 pm Israel presses Gaza offensiveGAZA (Reuters) - International efforts to stop the Gaza war intensified on Wednesday and Israel pressed its demand that Hamas not be allowed to rearm under a ceasefire, sending warplanes to drop bunker-busting bombs on smuggling tunnels.Source: Reuters: Top News | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:46 pm Israel presses Gaza offensive (Reuters)
Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:46 pm Spate of shark attacks in Australia rattles nervesSYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- A recent string of shark attacks across Australia has rattled swimmers' nerves, but experts say fear not - it's (relatively) safe to go in the water....Source: AP Top International News At 9:04 a... | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:45 pm Carlos Sainz remains Dakar leader; biker Guerrero injuredCOPIAPO, Chile - Carlos Sainz of Spain won his fourth straight stage in Dakar Rally on Tuesday to keep his overall lead after a day of racing in the world's driest desert. Spain's...Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:45 pm Bin Laden urges Muslim jihad against Israelal-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden urged Muslims to launch a jihad against Israel and condemned Arab governments as allies of the ...Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:43 pm Retail sales drop for 6th straight month - CNNMoney.com
CNNMoney.com - Slump is the longest in at least four decades. December decline of 2.7% is far weaker than expected. By Parija B. Kavilanz, CNNMoney. Retail sales slump 2.7 percent in December Retail Sales Fell 2.7% In December, Ex-Auto Sales Fell 3.1% Source: Google News | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:42 pm Sri Lanka's military says it has taken total control of northern Jaffna peninsula from rebels.Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:41 pm Group claims Greek police attacksA left-wing militant group claims to have been behind two recent attacks on police in Greece, police say.Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:41 pm House to take up children's insurance - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - WASHINGTON (AP) - Pregnant immigrants and the children of legal immigrants would get health coverage under legislation the House is considering as part of an expansion of a children's health insurance program. As States Cut Health Coverage for Poor, Feds Look to Do More Struggling states cut healthcare for poor before Obama can bolster ... Source: Google News | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:40 pm Rockets from Lebanon threaten 2nd front for Israel - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Guerrillas in Lebanon rocketed northern Israel on Wednesday for the second time in a week, drawing Israeli artillery fire and threatening to drag the Jewish state into a second front as it battled Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Israel pursues its Gaza offensive Oil is weapon against Israel, US, says Iranian aide Source: Google News | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:40 pm Red Carpet Disasters... Oh Yes They Did [PICS]Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:40 pm Tampa, Fla., most caffeinated U.S. cityTampa, Fla., tops the charts as the most caffeinated city in the United States, followed by Seattle and Chicago, according to a new poll.Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:40 pm Retail sales slump 2.7 percent in December (Reuters)
Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:39 pm BRITAIN ART BACONA Christies auction house employee looks at a painting by British artist Francis Bacon entitled ' Man in Blue VI ' in London Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. The painting is expected to sell for some 4-6 million...Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:39 pm American Idol: Simon vs. The Women - BuddyTV
BuddyTV - Editor's Note: This is a weekly guest post from the TV staff at Film.com. Check back here on Wednesdays for more Film.com stories about your favorite shows: Big Brother, The Amazing Race, Dancing with the Stars , Survivor, American Idol and America's ... American Idol 8, January 13 Recap: Kara-oke "American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi. MICHAEL BECKER/Fox Source: Google News | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:36 pm EU premiers plead with Ukraine and Russia for gasMOSCOW/KIEV (Reuters) - Russia and Ukraine wrangled over gas supplies again on Wednesday and two European Union states, cut off by the row for a freezing week, launched missions to plead for Russian gas flow to be restored.Source: Reuters: Top News | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:36 pm More Rockets From Lebanon Land in IsraelIsraeli aircraft pound Gaza as rockets strike Israel from Lebanon.Source: ABC News: International | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:35 pm Nortel files for bankruptcy protectionFacing $107-million interest on debts, former telecom giant will likely be broken up and sold to foreign rivalsSource: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:35 pm Bitter cold front targets the Northeast
Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:34 pm Tax problems may plague Obama's treasury pick (AP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:34 pm CanWest warns on debt covenantsMedia company posts loss, predicts poor advertising climate will persistSource: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:33 pm Rockets from Lebanon threaten 2nd front for IsraelGAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) -- Guerrillas in Lebanon rocketed northern Israel on Wednesday for the second time in a week, drawing Israeli artillery fire and threatening to drag the Jewish state into a second front as it battled Hamas in the Gaza Strip....Source: AP Top International News At 9:04 a... | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:31 pm Rockets from Lebanon threaten 2nd front for Israel (AP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:30 pm Rockets from Lebanon threaten 2nd front for IsraelGuerrillas in Lebanon rocketed northern Israel on Wednesday for the second time in a week, drawing Israeli artillery fire and threatening to drag the Jewish state into a second front as it...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:30 pm Bernard Hopkins makes debut on ESPN2's Friday Night Fights'PHILADELPHIA - Any media type who has ever interviewed Bernard Hopkins knows the longtime former middleweight champion loves to talk. And talk . . . And talk some more. Ask...Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:30 pm Bernard Hopkins makes debut on ESPN2's Friday Night Fights'PHILADELPHIA - Any media type who has ever interviewed Bernard Hopkins knows the longtime former middleweight champion loves to talk. And talk . . . And talk some more. Ask...Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:30 pm KENYA HOTEL FIREA tourist runs to rescue her belongings from her hotel room after fire gutted down the the Tiwi Beach Resort in Kwale district, Mombasa, Kenya, Tuesday, Jan 14, 2009. The fire started after heavy winds...Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:30 pm Barclays planning thousands more job cutsBarclays PLC says it plans to cut up to 2,100 jobs in its retail and commercial banking units, adding to redundancies of the same size in its investment banking arms.Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:29 pm Pentagon official says 9/11 suspect was torturedA Pentagon official acknowledged in an interview published Wednesday that the United States tortured Mohammed al-Qahtani, a Saudi ...Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:29 pm Stars Set for Obama InaugurationPerformances and speeches by U2, Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow, Garth Brooks, Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah, Denzel Washington...and I'm just getting startedSource: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:28 pm German economy 'collapsed in late 2008, worse on the way'FRANKFURT (AFP) - Snared by the global economic slump, the German economy contracted sharply late last year, suggesting a disastrous 2009 for Europe's industrial powerhouse.Source: AFP - Wire stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:28 pm Pakistan dismisses Indian dossier on Mumbai attacks - guardian.co.ukguardian.co.uk - Tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi have been reignited after the Pakistani prime minister dismissed India's dossier on the Mumbai terrorist attacks as "not evidence". Pakistan: India provides no evidence Indian army chief confirms Pakistan troop movements Source: Google News | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:27 pm Israel stops Iranian aid ship heading to GazaTEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- The Israeli navy intercepted an Iranian ship loaded with medicine, food and clothing destined for Gaza and forced the vessel to Egypt instead, Iran's state television reported Wednesday....Source: AP Top International News At 9:04 a... | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:27 pm Israel stops Iranian aid ship heading to GazaThe Israeli navy intercepted an Iranian ship loaded with medicine, food and clothing destined for Gaza and forced the vessel to Egypt instead, Iran's state television reported...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:27 pm Report: Myanmar activist gets 104 years in jailMilitary-ruled Myanmar has freed six people who recently called for the release of detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, but sentenced another activist to 104 years in prison, relatives and an activist group said Wednesday.Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:26 pm Jennifer Hudson to sing at the Super BowlNEW YORK - Jennifer Hudson is using sports' grandest stage to make her return to the spotlight. The NFL confirmed Wednesday that Hudson will sing the national anthem...Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:26 pm Israel Hit By Rockets From Lebanon AgainThe rockets have prompted concern that militants in Lebanon could try to open a second front, in solidarity with Gaza's Islamic militants. Last Thursday, a similar salvo hit northern Israel. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us Source: NPR Topics: News | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:26 pm Agent: Investor mutters "die" as run from law ends (AP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:25 pm Uruguay Colombia Pyramid SchemeColombia's Joanne Ivette Leon Bermudez, center, is escorted to court in hand cuffs by police in Montevideo, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. Bermudez was arrested Tuesday while in hiding in a Montevideo neighborhood...Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:25 pm Ahead of the Bell: Yahoo's new CEO - Forbes
Forbes - AP , 01.14.09, 08:11 AM EST An "outsider with attitude" is what one analyst called Carol Bartz, Yahoo Inc.'s new chief executive, adding that she already seems to have a clear view of the Internet icon in the current marketplace. Carol Bartz confirmed as Yahoo chief as president Susan Decker quits New Yahoo CEO lacks Web and deal-making chops Source: Google News | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:23 pm Breakingviews.com: Can Pandit save Citigroup? - International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune - By Constantine Courcoulas breakingviews.com Can Vikram Pandit pull off the banking equivalent of the retreat from Gallipoli in World War I? After a failed campaign to overthrow the Ottoman Empire, the British, French and Australasian expeditionary ... Stock futures point lower after Citi-Morgan deal  Comment by Christopher Whalen Managing Director, Institutional Risk AnalyticsSource: Google News | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:23 pm Obama Lobbies Senate On TARP Funding - U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report - President-elect Obama attended a caucus meeting of Senate Democrats on Tuesday, where he sought to build support for the outgoing Bush Administration's request for the second $350 billion of Troubled Asset Relief Program. Video: Bush Says He Leaves With `Good, Solid Record' First family reflects on eight years in office Source: Google News | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:21 pm LEAD: LDP defector Watanabe rules out immediate creation of new party+(Kyodo) _ (EDS: UPDATING WITH MORE QUOTES) Former state minister Yoshimi Watanabe, who left the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Tuesday in protest against Prime Minister Taro Aso's...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:21 pm Corzine Warns on New Jersey Budget - New York Times
New York Times - Gov. Jon S. Corzine of New Jersey after his State of the State address, where he said the economy was his top priority. By DAVID W. CHEN TRENTON - With his popularity shaky and his state facing daunting fiscal challenges, Gov. Corzine Calls For Municipal Spending Cap Corzine puts best spin on economy Source: Google News | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:20 pm 6 acquitted in French trial over hormone deathsPARIS (AP) -- A French court acquitted six people Wednesday over the deaths of at least 114 people who contracted a brain-destroying disease after being treated with tainted human growth hormones....Source: AP Top International News At 9:04 a... | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:18 pm 6 acquitted in French trial over hormone deathsA French court acquitted six people Wednesday over the deaths of at least 114 people who contracted a brain-destroying disease after being treated with tainted human growth hormones. ...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:18 pm Israel pursues its Gaza offensiveFighting intensifies near Gaza City between Israel and Palestinian militants, as diplomatic attempts continue to end the crisis.Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:18 pm 6 acquitted in French trial over hormone deathsA French court acquitted six people Wednesday over the deaths of at least 114 people who contracted a brain-destroying disease after being treated with tainted human growth hormones.Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:17 pm Rockets from Lebanon hit Israel as UN urges ceasefireSecretary-General Ban Ki-moon renews call for 'immediate and durable' end to hostilities in Gaza.Source: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:17 pm LEAD: Japanese man who left N. Korea after 5 years returns to Japan+(Kyodo) _ (EDS: UPDATING WITH ARRIVAL, CHANGING DATELINE, PREVIOUS BEIJING) A Japanese man who had been held in North Korea since 2003 for alleged drug smuggling returned to Japan on...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:15 pm CANADA STOCKS-TSX could get lift from oil prices, Nortel eyed - Reuters
Reuters - TORONTO, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Toronto's key stock index could open higher on Wednesday as a rally in oil prices support the resource-heavy index, but telecommunications equipment maker Nortel Networks will be in the spotlight as reports suggest it could ... Nortel may be poised to file for bankruptcy protection Nortel Contemplating Bankruptcy Protection - Reports Source: Google News | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:14 pm Jennifer Hudson to sing at the Super BowlJennifer Hudson is using sports' grandest stage to make her return to the spotlight. The NFL confirmed Wednesday that Hudson will sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl in Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 1. E! News first reported that Hudson would perform.Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:14 pm Israel pounds Gaza as rockets strike from LebanonGuerrillas in Lebanon rocketed northern Israel on Wednesday for the second time in a week, drawing Israeli artillery fire and threatening to drag the Jewish state into a second front as it...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:13 pm LEAD: Journalist reveals news source in coverage of Nara arson case+(Kyodo) _ (EDS: ADDING INFO) A freelance journalist on Wednesday disclosed her news source in her coverage of a 2006 arson case in Nara Prefecture in which three family members of a...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:11 pm Apocalyptic Machine ScultpuresApocalyptic Machine Scultpures are Wonderful in a Morbid, Sinister Sort of WaySource: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:10 pm PS3 Price Drop to follow Sony's $1.1 Billion loss!The report believes the company will now "further accelerate its restructuring", cutting more jobs and closing more plants. There's no word on how the PS3 and PSP divisions of the company will be affected. The silver lining in this for consumers is that PS3 is rumored to receive another price drop in the next few months.Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:10 pm Bin Laden urges jihad against Israel over GazaAl-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden urged Muslims to launch a jihad against Israel and condemned Arab governments as allies of the Jewish state in a new message aimed at harnessing anger in the...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:09 pm Gas-starved EU nations seek end to energy crisisMOSCOW (AP) -- The leaders of several gas-starved European nations traveled to Ukraine and Russia on Wednesday, pressing them to restore supplies as the EU threatened both with legal action for halting energy deliveries in the midst of winter....Source: AP Top International News At 9:04 a... | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:08 pm Gas-starved EU nations seek end to energy crisis (AP)
Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:08 pm Israel Responds To Lebanon Rocket FireIsraeli forces have fired artillery north into Lebanon in response to a rocket attack, and Lebanese troops dismantled more rockets that were set to be fired, Lebanese security officials say.Source: World News: CBSNews.com | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:07 pm Roger Federer advances at Kooyong exhibitionMELBOURNE, Australia - Roger Federer needed only 57 minutes for a 6-2, 6-3 win over Carlos Moya on Wednesday to begin his final tuneup tournament for the Australian Open. Federer,...Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:07 pm Russia EU GasRussian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting with counterparts from Slovakia, Bulgaria and Moldova, unseen, at Novo Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. Putin...Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:06 pm No Gas: Ukraine Freezes Out EuropeUkraine says it will not resume supply of Russian gas to Europe, blames Gazprom.Source: ABC News: International | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:06 pm Work on Dubai's latest tallest tower haltedThe developer of a skyscraper slated to soar nearly two-thirds of a mile above Dubai says work on the project has been halted for a year because of market conditions.Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:05 pm Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams advance at Sydney InternationalSYDNEY, Australia - Top-seeded Novak Djokovic wasn't involved in a first-match upset this time, easily beating Paul-Henri Mathieu of France 6-1, 6-2 Wednesday at the...Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:02 pm BRITAIN WeatherThe Palace of Westminster is seen in the background as fog shrouds the River Thames in London, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. (AP Photo / Alastair Grant)Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:01 pm FRANCE ISRAEL PALESTINIANSBoys from the Jewish community of Strasbourg demonstrate to support Israel Wednesday Jan 14, 2009 in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg eastern France. The sticker on the cap reads "To oppose...Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 14 Jan 2009 | 1:00 pm Niger Delta anger at 'execution'Militants in Nigeria's Niger Delta threaten to break a ceasefire after claiming a gang leader was executed by the army.Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:58 pm Indian army chief confirms Pakistan troop movementsNEW DELHI (AFP) - The head of India's army on Wednesday confirmed that Pakistan has redeployed troops along the two countries' tense border but said he regarded war as a "last resort."Source: AFP - Wire stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:58 pm APTOPIX Bulgaria ProtestProtesters clash with riot police during an anti government protest in front of the Bulgarian parliament building in the capital Sofia, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. Thousand of protesters rallied in front...Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:57 pm Czech hero Havel 'seriously ill'The former Czech President Vaclav Havel is in a serious but stable condition after undergoing surgery on his throat.Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:57 pm Sen. John Kerry predicts positive committee vote for ClintonWASHINGTON - Sen. John Kerry says Secretary of State designee Hillary Rodham Clinton has done a "terrific" job fielding questions from senators. Kerry told NBC's...Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:54 pm Gaza battles rage as death toll nears 1,000GAZA CITY (AFP) - Israel bombed smuggling tunnels and battled fighters in Gaza streets on Wednesday as UN chief Ban Ki-moon arrived in the region seeking to end the war on Hamas that has killed nearly 1,000 people.Source: AFP - Wire stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:54 pm APTopix Russia EU GasFrom left: Slovakia's Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek, Bulgarian Economy Minister Petar Dimitrov, Bulgarian Premier Sergei Stanishev, Moldova's Premier Zinaida Greceani, Slovakia's Premier Robert Fico...Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:53 pm Ex-cop charged in beating mom not competentPEABODY - Doctors say a former Peabody police officer charged with beating his elderly mother unconscious is still not mentally competent to stand trial, but no longer needs...Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:52 pm Gas-starved EU nations seek end to energy crisisThe leaders of several gas-starved European nations traveled to Ukraine and Russia on Wednesday, pressing them to restore supplies ...Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:52 pm Chrysler in unit sale talks with MagnaCanadian parts maker said to be considering buying Chrysler's Belvidere plantSource: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:51 pm VATICAN POPEPope Benedict XVI delivers hi blessing during his weekly general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Jan. 14 , 2009. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:50 pm 'Porno' star Elizabeth Banks praises humbe Pittsfield rootsPittsfield homegal Elizabeth Banks might never have tried to seduce "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" if it weren't for the drama program at her alma mater. "I...Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:49 pm Bankruptcy system takes on the mortgage messAiming to keep overextended borrowers in their homes, judges and trustees in the federal bankruptcy court system have helped a small Kentucky firm set up a nationwide service intended to speed the modification of troubled mortgages.Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:49 pm Bankruptcy system takes on the mortgage mess
Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:49 pm EU keeps up pressure after Russia-Ukraine gas deal faltersMOSCOW (AFP) - EU leaders kept up pressure Wednesday on Russia and Ukraine to resolve their gas dispute after an attempt to resume transit supply failed to deliver gas to European consumers.Source: AFP - Wire stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:49 pm 2ND LD: Gifu woman served with fresh warrant in death of another daughter+KYOTO, Jan. 14 (Kyodo) _ (EDS: ADDING INFO, QUOTES) A 35-year-old woman was served with a fresh arrest warrant Wednesday on suspicion of killing her fourth daughter in 2006 by adding...Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:47 pm Shark Attacks Rattles Nerves in AustraliaShark attacks in Australia rattle nerves; experts say it's safe to swim again.Source: ABC News: International | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:43 pm Kerry predicts positive committee vote for ClintonSen. John Kerry says Secretary of State designee Hillary Rodham Clinton has done a "terrific" job fielding questions from senators.Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:42 pm China raises '07 economic growth, passing GermanyBEIJING (AP) -- China surpassed Germany to become the world's third-largest economy behind the United States and Japan after Beijing on Wednesday raised its estimate of economic growth in 2007....Source: AP Top International News At 9:04 a... | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:41 pm Portuguese cardinal warns about Muslim marriagesThe head of the Catholic Church in Portugal is advising Portuguese women to think twice before marrying a Muslim.Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:40 pm Chrysler in asset sale talks, but Renault deniesDETROIT/PARIS (Reuters) - Struggling U.S. automaker Chrysler is in talks to sell assets to Renault-Nissan and parts supplier Magna, sources with knowledge of the discussions have told Reuters, though the French automaker Wednesday denied such talks were under way.Source: Reuters: Top News | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:38 pm WATCH: No Bird, No Plane, but a Flying Car?Source: ABC News: International | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:36 pm Guantanamo agents 'used torture'The official in charge of trials at Guantanamo Bay is quoted as saying US agents tortured a Saudi man at the camp.Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:36 pm Bin Laden calls for holy war to stop Israeli offensive in GazaWASHINGTON (AFP) - Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has issued a 22-minute audio statement calling for jihad, or holy war, to stop Israeli "aggression" in Gaza, the US-based IntelCenter monitoring service reported Wednesday.Source: AFP - Wire stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:33 pm Bin Laden: U.S. Decline Fueled Gaza AttackAl Qaeda boss Osama bin Laden says the "swift decline in America's influence" was behind Israel's decision to wage a military campaign in the Gaza Strip and has called for Jihad in the Palestinian territory as the only way to defeat the Jewish state.Source: World News: CBSNews.com | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:30 pm Cheese Is Grosser Than ThoughtCheese makes some foodies jump up and down like little kids, but behind that heavenly taste and texture lies bacteria, mammal stomach lining, pesticides and pure fat. To ripen cheese and add flavor, bacterial strains are freely injected and smeared into the substance. But not all have been accounted for, a new study finds.Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:30 pm Obama, Biden, to visit Supreme CourtPresident-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden plan to make a preinaugural visit to the Supreme Court.Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:29 pm Detainee tortured, U.S. official saysThe top Bush administration official in charge of deciding whether to bring Guantanamo Bay detainees to trial has concluded that the U.S. military tortured a Saudi national who allegedly planned to participate in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:21 pm Russian navy thwarts pirate attack on Dutch shipKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- A Russian warship helped foil a pirate attack on a Dutch container ship in the dangerous Gulf of Aden, a maritime watchdog and the Russian navy said Wednesday....Source: AP Top International News At 9:04 a... | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:17 pm Israel pounds Gaza as rockets strike from LebanonIsraeli aircraft struck a Gaza City cemetery on Wednesday, unearthing dozens of bodies, and pounded militants' weapons positions ...Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:10 pm EU warns of legal action over gasThe European Commission president says Russian and Ukrainian energy firms may be sued over gas dispute.Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:02 pm Comcast Installs Cable In Your Gutter, Across Your DrivewayFor more than a year, says the Baltimore Sun, there were Comcast cables laying in the gutters, and across the driveways of a neighborhood in Hanover, MD. Why were they laying there? Because that's where Comcast installed them.Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:00 pm Israel stops Iranian aid ship heading to GazaThe Israeli navy has intercepted an Iranian ship loaded with medicine, food and clothing destined for Gaza and forced the vessel ...Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:56 am Tax slip-up threatens Treasury nominationWill Republicans exploit the fact that Geithner failed to pay his taxes?Source: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:52 am U.S. arrests wealth manager accused of faking deathMIAMI (Reuters) - U.S. marshals have arrested a pilot accused of parachuting out of his plane and letting it crash in an apparent attempt to avoid financial fraud prosecution by faking his death, an investigator said late on Tuesday.Source: Reuters: Top News | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:49 am Treasury nominee failed to pay taxes
Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:48 am WATCH: Israel Advances Into Gaza CitySource: ABC News: International | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:46 am Fighters found in Vietnam graveDevelopers unearth the remains of at least 50 anti-French resistance fighters and war victims at a site in central Hanoi.Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:44 am StatoilHydro announces cost cuts for 2009State-controlled Norwegian oil company StatoilHydro ASA announced plans Wednesday to cut its 2009 costs by 1.5 billion kroner ($215 million) to adjust to weaker market conditions amid the world economic downturn and lower crude prices.Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:42 am Washington diaryMatt Frei sees inaugural fever take hold in DCSource: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:41 am Lebanon rockets fuel Israel's fears of new front
Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:35 am EU nations seek end to gas crisisBut Naftogaz says it won't pass Russian gas along to Europe, citing tough Russian conditionsSource: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:34 am Police crack China baby sale gangChinese police break up a gang abducting migrant workers' children to sell in distant provinces, state media says.Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:33 am Mass. governor unveils big push for wind powerWind turbines would increasingly dot the Massachusetts landscape under a plan unveiled by Gov. Deval Patrick to ramp up the state's reliance on wind power over the next dozen years.Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:30 am Pentagon official says 9/11 suspect was torturedA Pentagon official acknowledged in an interview published Wednesday that the United States tortured Mohammed al-Qahtani, a Saudi man who allegedly had hoped to become the "20th hijacker" in the Sept. 11 attacks.Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:29 am Bin Laden urges jihad against Israel over GazaAl-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden urged Muslims to launch a jihad against Israel and condemned Arab governments as allies of the Jewish state in a new message aimed at harnessing anger in the Mideast over the Gaza offensive.Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:28 am WATCH: Peacekeeper Tony BlairSource: ABC News: International | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:25 am Cops hold ex-transit officer in train shooting
Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:24 am Possible mammoth tusk found on Calif. island
Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:22 am Is Quantum Mechanics Controlling Your Thoughts?The rules of quantum mechanics are turning up everywhere these days, and may be behind the efficiency of photosynthesis, the accuracy of our sense of smell, and even the source of our conscious mind.Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:20 am Citi breakup in sight after Morgan Stanley dealNEW YORK (Reuters) - Citigroup Inc agreed to merge its Smith Barney brokerage with Morgan Stanley's wealth management unit on Tuesday, and is expected to make further asset sales to raise capital and to isolate toxic assets from the rest of the bank.Source: Reuters: Top News | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:08 am Iraq: suicide car bomber kills 2 in MosulBAGHDAD (AP) -- Iraqi police say two people have been killed and two wounded in a suicide car bombing in the northern city of Mosul....Source: AP Top International News At 9:04 a... | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:03 am Citigroup, Morgan Stanley Merge Brokerage UnitsCitigroup and Morgan Stanley are combining their brokerage units, in a deal that has Morgan Stanley paying Citigroup $2.7 billion for a 51 percent stake in the joint venture. Citigroup's retail brokerage, Smith Barney, was once the crown jewel in its wealth management business. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us Source: NPR Topics: News | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:00 am HUD's Priority: Stemming ForeclosuresPresident-elect Barack Obama's choice for secretary of Housing and Urban Development got a friendly welcome at his Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday. Shaun Donovan said his top priority at HUD will be to address the foreclosure crisis, which he said has led to some 2 million families losing their homes last year. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us Source: NPR Topics: News | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:00 am Conditions Deteriorate In Gaza, Still No Cease-FireIsreali troops move closer to the center of Gaza City as the Palestinian death toll approaches one thousand. The Isreali death toll remains at 13. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has arrived in Egypt for talks aimed at ending the 19 days of bloodshed. Conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate as diplomatic efforts remain stalled. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us Source: NPR Topics: News | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:00 am Congress To Attach Strings To Bailout MoneyCongress is debating whether to authorize President-elect Barack Obama to spend the second half of the $700 billion financial bailout approved last fall. Many lawmakers are unhappy with the way the first half of the money was spent, and they want some guarantees before approving any additional funds. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us Source: NPR Topics: News | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:00 am Panel Questions Clinton On Foundation DonationsSecretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Tuesday for her confirmation hearing. The New York senator, and former first lady, got a generally warm reception from her colleagues. Some were a bit cooler, though, about foreign donations to her famous husband's foundation. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us Source: NPR Topics: News | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:00 am Geithner Failed To Pay Self-Employment TaxesTax issues are delaying Senate confirmation hearings for Tim Geithner, President-elect Barack Obama's choice for Treasury secretary. Geithner initially failed to pay a portion of his taxes between 2001 and 2004. He says it was an honest mistake, but a key Republican wants to hear more. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us Source: NPR Topics: News | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:00 am Six Candidates Lobby To Be RNC ChairmanThe Republican National Committee will choose a chairman later this month. The party was badly defeated in November's election so the new leader will have his work cut out for him. The six candidates are men. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us Source: NPR Topics: News | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:00 am Dr. Orszag Prepares To Be OMB's Dr. NoBarack Obama's choice to head the Office of Management and Budget had a confirmation hearing Tuesday. Peter Orszag, who holds a Ph.D. in economics, told the Senate Budget Committee that his top priority would be balancing short-term and long-term fiscal goals. He said he already was preparing himself to be Obama's "no" man. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us Source: NPR Topics: News | 14 Jan 2009 | 11:00 am Suicide car bomber kills 2 in MosulIraqi police say two people have been killed and two wounded in a suicide car bombing in the northern city of Mosul.Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 10:45 am Afghan girl, 14, in critical condition after razor-blade abortionCase has outraged doctors and human-rights workersSource: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 14 Jan 2009 | 10:23 am Nightmare in ZimbabweA survivor describes how state agents are torturing activistsSource: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 14 Jan 2009 | 10:22 am Who Can Win the Peace?Hosni Mubarak, Tony Blair, and Dennis Ross: The supposed fixers are on the march trying to broker a cease-fire. Who has the best shot? By Benjamin SarlinSource: The Daily Beast - Big Fat Story List | 14 Jan 2009 | 10:08 am Gaza Crisis: When? Where? Why? Who?ABC News examines the Gaza conflict in detail, before and after.Source: ABC News: International | 14 Jan 2009 | 10:04 am 'What are we going to do about the bears?'For the first time, governments, environmentalists, researchers and Inuit are meeting to discuss the fate of the endangered carnivoreSource: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 14 Jan 2009 | 10:04 am Harper plays down threat to Arctic sovereigntyPM's response to U.S. policy in Far North disappoints NWT Premier, who says Canada must actively protect resource-rich areaSource: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 14 Jan 2009 | 10:03 am "Decisive" Talks Planned Amid Gaza TurmoilAs heavy fighting continued in the Gaza Strip Tuesday, Egyptian mediators pushed Hamas to accept a truce proposal and, in a hopeful sign, Israel sent its lead negotiator to Cairo for talks on a cease-fire.Source: World News: CBSNews.com | 14 Jan 2009 | 8:30 am Global rush for 'best job in world' crashes Australian websiteSYDNEY (AFP) - Huge global interest in "the best job in the world" -- earning good money for lazing on a paradise island -- has crashed the Australian website where it is advertised, according to officials.Source: AFP - Wire stories | 14 Jan 2009 | 7:03 am U.S. official says Guantanamo detainee tortured: reportWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon official overseeing the tribunals for Guantanamo Bay detainees has concluded that the U.S. military tortured a Saudi national who allegedly planned to participate in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.Source: Reuters: Top News | 14 Jan 2009 | 7:01 am We Can't Quit W. Countdown - 50 Reasons We're Sorry to See President Bush Go#39: Because...Darth Vader (that's his nickname for the man, not ours). Source: 23/6 - Some of the News, Most of the Time | 14 Jan 2009 | 6:10 am Fresh floods batter FijiSuva, Fiji - Heavy rain and strong winds lashed Fiji's flood-devastated western region Wednesday, where the death toll from the worst storms in a generation rose to nine and thousands of residents huddled in emergency shelters. International...Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 14 Jan 2009 | 5:20 am WATCH: Red Panda RaritySource: ABC News: International | 14 Jan 2009 | 5:12 am Detroit rebound stuck in low gear?DETROIT (Reuters) - Automakers received more bad news at the world's largest auto show on Tuesday as forecasts for a 27-year low in sales this year and auto bailout politics threw cold water on hopes for a speedy industry recovery.Source: Reuters: Top News | 14 Jan 2009 | 3:03 am Israeli Targets Gaza's Hidden TunnelsIsrael has Gaza surrounded on three sides, with Egypt effectively sealing-off the fourth. Yet weapons are still being smuggled in through an elaborate system of underground supply tunnels, Richard Roth reports.Source: World News: CBSNews.com | 14 Jan 2009 | 3:00 am Peanut butter being recalled in Salmonella outbreak(PCA) on Tuesday voluntarily recalled peanut butter produced in its Blakely, Georgia processing facility because it could be contaminated with Salmonella food poisoning.Source: Reuters: Top News | 14 Jan 2009 | 2:37 am Israel To Gazans: Brace For MoreAs Week Three of the Gaza conflict begins, neither Israel nor Hamas has what it wants yet and, despite the misery, neither side is ready to quit.Source: World News: CBSNews.com | 14 Jan 2009 | 12:00 am Austrian theatre to stage 'Fritzl's B&B' showVIENNA, Austria - An Austrian theatre says it will stage a satiric soap opera centred around Josef Fritzl, a man who allegedly held his daughter captive for 24 years and fathered her seven children. The 3raum-anatomietheater in...Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 13 Jan 2009 | 11:55 pm Prince Charles calls Asian friend 'Sooty'LONDON - Prince Charles uses the nickname "Sooty" for a south Asian friend, a British newspaper is reporting. Kolin Dhillon said the nickname used for him by Charles and other players at the Cirencester Polo club in west...Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 13 Jan 2009 | 10:01 pm Foul Escape for Italian Mafia BossBarefoot fugitive, Giuseppe Setola ducked into a sewer to escape police.Source: ABC News: International | 13 Jan 2009 | 9:46 pm US girl, 14, sold for cash, beer and meatSAN FRANCISCO - A California man has been arrested for arranging a deal to sell his 14-year-old daughter for $16,000 (NZ$28,000), 100 crates of beer and cases of meeat. AFP reports that the 36-year-old man, from Greenfield near...Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 13 Jan 2009 | 9:11 pm Man charged with threatening President BushNEW ORLEANS - Federal authorities have charged a man with threatening to kill President George W. Bush. A social worker told Secret Service agents that 44-year-old Gregory Broussard was being treated at a Hammond hospital...Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 13 Jan 2009 | 9:09 pm Species Eradication Backfires Big TimeIt seemed like a good idea: Remove all the feral cats from Macquarie Island to save the native seabirds. But eradicating felines allowed the rabbit population to explode and, in turn, destroy the vegetation that birds needed for cover.Source: World News: CBSNews.com | 13 Jan 2009 | 9:00 pm Bodies of Air NZ crash victims coming homeThe bodies of the New Zealanders killed when an Air New Zealand passenger jet plunged into the sea off the French coast last year are coming home. French authorities have now identified the six bodies that have been recovered from...Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 13 Jan 2009 | 8:25 pm Clinton sails through Senate foreign policy quizWASHINGTON - Hillary Rodham Clinton said that she intends to revitalise the mission of diplomacy in American foreign policy, calling for a "smart power" strategy in the Middle East and implicitly criticising the Bush administration...Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 13 Jan 2009 | 8:23 pm Old graves dug up to bury new dead in GazaGAZA CITY - After three infants from the Samouni family were killed in shelling, relatives bundled up the boys' tiny bodies and hastily buried them in the grave of a long-dead aunt. There was no space in the crammed Gaza...Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 13 Jan 2009 | 8:03 pm 23/6 Comment of the DayHow much for full-on 236 masked exploratory-orgy at my office? Looks like ~$1,200 will just about run the gambit here. "Masks" to protect your secret identities, of course. - rusrus, on the piece "23/6 staff auction - We're ready to sell ourselves to you!" Source: 23/6 - Some of the News, Most of the Time | 13 Jan 2009 | 7:29 pm Seeing the world through Bush-colored glassesPresident Bush's attempts to re-write history yesterday made us wonder, what's it like to see the world events through Bush-colored glasses? We asked a Republican in the Bush Adminstration to comment on photographs of the wreckage of Bush's past. He summed up our pansy view of the world and then told us how they see it at Team Bush. Source: 23/6 - Some of the News, Most of the Time | 13 Jan 2009 | 7:25 pm If life gives you lemons: make Obama Stimulus JuiceHow does an incoming president who promises change and bold break from the usual style of Washington pandering sell his new policies? By Finally, an administration that instead of telling us the truth, will tell us what we want to hear. Thanks Mr. President Elect. What other terms can we look forward to? We don't have access to the Obama teams Source: 23/6 - Some of the News, Most of the Time | 13 Jan 2009 | 7:11 pm Blond on Blond: Why won't Megan McCain talk about Sarah Palin?Remember the annoying blond halfwit who had 15 minutes of fame during the McCain campaign? Well she's back. And it's not Sarah Palin, it's the other one: McCain's "blogette," Megan McCain. Though just as Sarah hasn't stopped giving interviews, Megan hasn't stopped blogging. In an interview with Monday Morning Clacker, she says the election was "the most liberating experience of my life and I am such a different person now than I was when I started the blog." Well, that's the power of blogging for you. But apparently she's not fully liberated, because there was also this: "Sarah Palin is the only part of the campaign that I won't comment on publicly." Hmm, very strange. What could Megan be hiding? What is Megan hiding that's keeping her from talking about Sarah Palin? Tell us what you think it is... Source: 23/6 - Some of the News, Most of the Time | 13 Jan 2009 | 7:08 pm Vainikolo UK assault case adjournedFormer New Zealand rugby league player Lesley Vainikolo, who is facing an assault charge in England, has had his court case adjourned to allow him to fly home to deal with family matters. Vainikolo, 29, was charged with causing...Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 13 Jan 2009 | 7:00 pm Ten ways to spice up these cabinet confirmation hearingsWe're not holding our breath for much drama to come out of these cabinet hearings. Since a lot of the cabinet picks are veteran senators or former senators, they're basically being vetted by their longtime friends and colleagues. Politico says it's going to be nothing more than a "love fest." There's nothing more boring than a bunch of senators making long speeches about how awesome another senator is, as evidenced by Chuck Schumer's introductory love letter preceding this morning's Clinton hearing. So no blustery accusations? No one asking a senator if they have any sense of decency? Not even a simple "you're out of order!?" If this has to be on our TV, they should do something to help out in the "watchability" department. We came up with a handful of ideas to spice things up, after the jump. Source: 23/6 - Some of the News, Most of the Time | 13 Jan 2009 | 6:45 pm Man Lights Self on Fire in Protest of Gaza ConflictA man doused himself with gasoline and set himself alight to protest the violence in the Gaza strip, a state-run news agency reported.Source: FOXNews.com | 13 Jan 2009 | 5:40 pm Sushi Restaurant Workers Stab, Kill Would-Be RobberAn armed robber was killed by a waiter in a 'Kill Bill' style stabbing during an attempted raid on a Paris sushi restaurant.Source: FOXNews.com | 13 Jan 2009 | 5:08 pm This Recession SucksFirst of all, after being in it for more than a year, I still don't know what to call it. Is it a recession, a depression, a correction, a downturn? It's the P. Diddy of financial disasters. Second, it has no pizzazz. In the Great Depression they lived in Hoovervilles. Today everyone's on Facebook. Back then, they had Ledbelly and Woody Guthrie. We have the Jonas Brothers. They had nothing to fear but fear itself. We have terrorism, global warming...and the Jonas Brothers. Businesses are failing, jobs are being decimated, homes are being repossessed, and the culture is exactly the same. We are still gearing up for the new season of American Idol. We really cared who won a Golden Globe. This is like if the Titanic had hit the iceberg and everyone decided to stay on board and party to the bottom of the ocean. Thankfully, we finally have someone in authority who is willing to tell us the hard truths, to inspire us and give us a plan: Suze Orman. On a financial seminar called Oprah, she stresses the importance of getting out of debt, maintaining an eight-month emergency fund and not buying anything unless you can afford it. She also estimates the recession will not be over until 2015. That's six American Idols from now. As for the much-touted bailout, on CNN I heard someone say that not only had the first half of the $700 billion been spent, but that "no one knows where it went." I guess Congress is now discussing how best to lose the other half. I can't wait for Obama to be sworn in, so he can stop talking like a president-elect and start talking like a president. Presidents-elect are essentially still running for the office they just won, using the same phrases and concepts that got them elected. Obama's cabinet looks like the Clinton administration part two, but I'd like to see Obama model himself as a cross between FDR and yes, Suze Orman. If he can't solve our financial mess, at the very least he can inspire a better culture. New York City's 1970's economic woes led directly to punk rock and hip hop. It would be a real shame if the Worst Economic Disaster Since the Great Depression gave us nothing more lasting than Superstars of Dance. Source: 23/6 - Some of the News, Most of the Time | 13 Jan 2009 | 4:38 pm Biden Pushing for Inaugural Moon BounceWashington, D.C. -- For several days now, Vice President-elect Joe Biden has been lobbying members of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies to include as part of the official swearing-in ceremony a moon bounce, an inflatable structure that people can enter and bounce up and down in. So far, there has been no ruling by the committee regarding Biden's request. "We have not come to a decision on the, the moon bounce as yet," said Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, chair of the committee. "We have explained to Vice President-elect Biden, however, that at this late date, it may not be logistically possible to include such a-a, uh, item in the festivities. Everything's in place already, and has been for some time now." "Well, I just think it would be fantastic to have one of those," Biden said. "Have you seen them? They're amazing. You go inside-No, first you take off your shoes. Then you go inside. And you know what you do then? You bounce around like a crazy person! Isn't that fantastic? You just let it all go and jump up and down like you're on some kind of powerful combination of drugs. It's fantastic." Biden suggests having the moon bounce somewhere near the steps of the Capitol, where the swearing in of both he and Mr. Obama will take place. "I don't know, like up behind the swearing in somewhere," Biden said. "It doesn't have to detract from the actual ceremony. It could be tasteful. But I mean, wouldn't that be great, though, to have senators and congressmen and people from the crowd bouncing up and down while Barack's taking the oath of office? I think it'd be wild. I'll tell you right now, if they agree and put one of those things there, right after I get sworn in, my shoes are coming off and I am so in that thing, it's not even funny." Asked whether he was aware that inflatable structures like the moon bounce are typically meant for children, Biden said, "Children? Oh, no, I don't think so. I don't know where you got that information from, but, I mean, for instance, we've had one in the Senate chamber for years now, and there's no kids in there. There's just a bunch of fun-loving senators who love taking off their shoes and jumping up and down like maniacs. By the way, do you know there's also a little hole you can jump through to get out, and you go down a slide?! Can you believe that?!" For more stuff like this, visit TheNationalProtrusion.com. Source: 23/6 - Some of the News, Most of the Time | 13 Jan 2009 | 4:32 pm Blagojevich 2.0Believe it or not, I think there's more to be said about the shenanigans of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. First of all, let's talk about the reaction of other political officials to Blagojevich's alleged desire to "sell" the Senate seat. They reminded me of Claude Raines in "Casablanca." As his Captain Renault was shutting down Rick's café, he cried out, "I'm shocked, shocked to find out that gambling is going on here." And then a croupier handed Renault the winnings that he made from gambling earlier. Of course, he wasn't really shocked. And I wonder just how shocked all of those Democrats and Republicans really were about Blagojevich when they expressed their outrage. We regular citizens should have been shocked just as we are every time corruption rears its ugly head. But I think politicians are so used to being surrounded by it that they take it all in stride. Oh sure, maybe they were shocked by the boldness of Blagojevich. They are used to things being more subtle. People don't usually just come out and say they want a bribe. And I think it was this lack of subtlety rather than the idea of trading a Senate seat for favors that threw them for a loop. But is the way Senate seats are usually given to people by governors really any more moral? When a governor chooses someone to replace a Senator, nobody really expects him or her to pick the most qualified person for the job. If governors always did this, then very often Democrats would choose Republicans and vice versa. And how often does that happen? So, this system of governors choosing someone has always been flawed. "Not as flawed as actually selling it for money," you say? Hold on a second. From the moment that Caroline Kennedy's name was mentioned as a possible replacement for Hillary Clinton, what one quality did all of the experts mention? Her experience at riding a pony? Her, uh, great oratory skill? No, it was her fund-raising ability. They all talked about how she would be able to raise millions and millions of dollars. That would include millions of dollars for the 2010 re-election campaign of Governor Paterson - the same man who has the ability to appoint her. Yet I didn't hear one of the news experts or fellow politicians say that there was anything wrong with that. Nobody said they were "shocked." It was shocking that Blagojevich wanted six-figure jobs for him and his wife in exchange for a Senate seat, but it would be okay with everyone if Paterson appointed someone who would, in effect, give him millions of dollars. Don't get me wrong. I've got nothing against Caroline Kennedy. I'm from the generation that, because of who she is and what she has gone through, would love to see her in the Senate. If she wants to be President, that would probably be okay with me, too. I just think it's weird that there is this double standard. What Blagojevich did is so shocking that Prosecutor Fitzgerald said it could make "Abraham Lincoln turn over in his grave." But the idea of Governor Paterson giving Caroline the Seat because of her zillion-dollar fund raising ability wouldn't even make Honest Abe blink? There's yet another wrinkle in the Blagojevich thing. Immediately after Governor Blagojevich picked Roland Burris to be the new Senator, the self-righteous Senate said they couldn't seat him because he was "tainted" by Blago. However, soon after he was picked, the media reported that a possible compromise was being discussed. The Senators would let Burris be Senator for the rest of this term if he promised he wouldn't run for re-election in 2010. So he wasn't tainted enough to keep him from being Senator if it suited their political purposes. Some of the most respected members of the Senate were willing to make a deal involving a Senate seat. And nobody seemed outraged. I'm shocked, shocked that such hypocrisy goes on in the Senate. So what can be done to stop this kind of thing? Every state should stop allowing governors to appoint Senators and use a special election instead. That way, we would never have to worry if a governor were choosing a Senator for the wrong reasons. The right to make bad decisions like that should be left to us voters. Lloyd Garver has written for many television shows, ranging from "Sesame Street" to "Family Ties" to "Home Improvement" to "Frasier." He has also read many books, some of them in hardcover. He can be reached at lloydgarver@gmail.com. Check out his website at lloydgarver.com and his podcasts on iTunes. Source: 23/6 - Some of the News, Most of the Time | 13 Jan 2009 | 4:26 pm Swedes say Israelis target ambulancesA Swedish Red Cross official says Israeli soldiers have deliberately attacked ambulances during the offensive in Gaza. Christer Zettergren, the secretary-general of the Swedish chapter of the Red Cross, says seven ambulances operated...Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 13 Jan 2009 | 4:15 pm Sponto/BushWent to the memorial of a great American the other day: Sponto. The "Mayor" of Venice Beach lived behind his storefront art gallery. Ran many things through that cramped space: Movie nights, poetry readings, poker nights, North Venice beach's polling place. He sold mind-altering shit to pay the rent and endow his many community enrichment programs. Smoked more shit than he sold. Probably what killed him. That or the rising rent. Several hundred aging hippies and youthful ragamuffins eulogized his legacy on a hill over-looking the reality of the homeless jugglers and unemployed runaways and, of course, the coastline with its ever-present oil tanker tapping the spigot. A myriad of old friends and lovers took turns at the solar powered microphone. Sponto came out to Venice during the Nixon years and managed to live almost through the end of the Bush years. He was a great houseguest. He made you feel good about yourself. Loved football. Never went for the mortgage. Didn't have health insurance. Always made you feel safe. We all said goodbye by raising our voices to the heavens and chanting, "SPONTO, GET ME HIGH!" Watching the memorial of a "great" American. Bush. The "President" in name only. Lived behind his store-bought cynicism. Ran many things through the cramped space between his ears. Oil Company record profits. Unjust wars. Katrina. Torture programs. The death of Capitalism. Disenfranchisement of the polling place. He was also a salesman of mind-altering shit while he tried to kill endowments to any community enrichment program. Smoke-screened while he sold us all shit. Probably what's killed our standing in the world. That, or the rising rent. Several aging hypocrites have tried to eulogize his legacy overlooking reality. Homeowners juggling their debt. Unemployment running away. And, of course, the ever-present oil tankers tapping the spigot. He has no friends. Only lovers of power. Bush came of age during the Nixon years and also seems to have lasted almost to the end of the Bush years. He was not a great House guest. In fact, he basically ignored or bullied the House. He acted like he didn't care how people felt. He did love football I guess. But, he never went out of his way to protect mortgages. Didn't regulate health insurance. Never made you feel safe. I think we all should say goodbye to him by raising our voices to the heavens and chanting, "BUSH, YOU MUST'VE BEEN HIGH!" Source: 23/6 - Some of the News, Most of the Time | 13 Jan 2009 | 4:11 pm Officials: Dozens Alive at Sea After Ferry CapsizesA rescue team guided by a survivor was dispatched into stormy Indonesian seas in search of dozens of people said to be still drifting alive after a ferry capsized with more than 250 on board, officials said.Source: FOXNews.com | 13 Jan 2009 | 4:00 pm Iran Charges 4 in Alleged U.S.-Backed Coup PlotIran says four Iranians have been tried on charges of seeking to topple the Islamic establishment, allegedly with the backing of the U.S. State Department and the CIA.Source: FOXNews.com | 13 Jan 2009 | 3:50 pm Russia, Ukraine Trade Blame, Not GasA top Ukrainian official says Russia is trying hard to discredit Ukraine by sending natural gas intended for Europe on a technically impossible transit route over Ukraine's vast pipeline system.Source: FOXNews.com | 13 Jan 2009 | 3:46 pm North Korea Says It Won't Give Up Nuclear WeaponsNorth Korea said Tuesday it will hold onto its nuclear arsenal until it is satisfied the U.S. is not hiding atomic weapons in South Korea and Washington establishes diplomatic relations with the regime.Source: FOXNews.com | 13 Jan 2009 | 3:39 pm Closing Guantanamo Won't Be EasyObama faces a daunting task in handling diverse group of prisoners at Gitmo.Source: ABC News: International | 13 Jan 2009 | 3:35 pm Pope Declares 'Holy War' on Phony Virgin Mary SightingsPope Bendict XVI is launching new guidelines for those who claim the Virgin Mary has appeared to them, in an attempt to end false sightings around the globe, the U.K.s Daily Mail newspaper reported.Source: FOXNews.com | 13 Jan 2009 | 3:27 pm Cat-Removal Plan Backfires as Rabbits Move InCats were eating rare birds on remote island, but getting rid of them just let the rabbits eat all the plants.Source: FOXNews.com | 13 Jan 2009 | 3:16 pm 7 Killed, More Than 20 Injured in Russian BlastAn explosion ripped though a southern Russian government building, killing at least seven people and injuring more than 20.Source: FOXNews.com | 13 Jan 2009 | 3:11 pm Israel Thrusts Deeper into Gaza City, Mediators Push TruceIsrael's chief negotiator will go to Egypt for 'decisive' talks on a cease-fire with Hamas, officials said Tuesday, as the sound of battles between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants rang out in the crowded streets of Gaza City.Source: FOXNews.com | 13 Jan 2009 | 3:06 pm Ukraine Blocking Gas To EU, Russia ClaimsRussia's state gas monopoly accused Ukraine of blocking transit of Russian gas to Europe hours after supplies were restarted, extending the bitter energy crisis that left large parts of Europe cold and dark.Source: World News: CBSNews.com | 13 Jan 2009 | 1:30 pm Israeli Troops Advance On Gaza CityIsraeli troops are on the move. Gaza residents say the soldiers are advancing into the city's bomb ravaged suburbs for the first time.Source: World News: CBSNews.com | 13 Jan 2009 | 1:00 pm
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