Cash Pours in For Student with $1 Million Dollar Web Idea

In 4 months this 21 year old sold 911,800 pixels.

"The idea: turn his home page into a billboard made up of a million dots, and sell them for a dollar a dot to anyone who wants to put up their logo. A 10 by 10 dot square, roughly the size of a letter of type, costs $100."

Kurds Preparing Takeover of Northern Iraq

"...with more than 10,000 Kurds in the Iraqi army prepared to seize control of northern Iraq for an independent state."

Ahmed Chalabi Fails to Win Seat on Iraqi National Assembly

"Unexpectedly low support from overseas voters has left Ahmed Chalabi -- the returned Iraqi exile once backed by the United States to lead Iraq -- facing a shutout from power in this month's vote for the country's first full-term parliament since the 2003 invasion."

National Autism Association Says Senate Gift to Drug Companies is Unconstitutional

"Some senators tagged it a "Merry Fristmas" for drug companies -- after the House passed it Monday."

"Washington, DC – After procedural maneuverings last week to lessen concerns over back-room deals that became unrelated additions to the Defense appropriations bill, the Senate allowed the bill to pass, leaving intact a provision granting immunity to drug companies from liability for injuries caused by their products. Children’s advocacy and consumer watchdog organizations are calling this provision an affront to democracy and civil rights. "

Media Matters Most Outrageous Statements of 2005

Radio host Neal Boortz on the execution of Stanley "Tookie" Williams: "[T]here will be riots in South Central Los Angeles and elsewhere. ... The rioting, of course, will lead to wide scale looting. There are a lot of aspiring rappers and NBA superstars who could really use a nice flat-screen television right now." [Boortz.com, 12/12/05]

Rush Limbaugh on the kidnapping of peace activists in Iraq: "I'm telling you, folks, there's a part of me that likes this." [The Rush Limbaugh Show, 11/29/05]

Former Reagan administration Secretary of Education Bill Bennett: "[Y]ou could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down." [Salem Radio Network's Bill Bennett's Morning in America, 9/28/05]

etc., etc., etc......

Merry Christmas to all!

In that spirit, here is a must see video of the now famous Amazing Christmas Lights display. An electrical engineer from Mason Ohio created this playful, fun extravaganza. Clearly, he has a second calling as a performance artist? Snopes.com has some information on the creation and a picture of the family within.


Also, here you will find a cute, entertaining and clever video/card of a 'cool' santa and reindeer group singing 'White Christmas.'

ANWR Saved Again from the Salivating Jaws of Corporate America
Many thanks to the millions of activists that encouraged our progressive representatives in Congress to stop this invasion of our national treasure.

The King's Red Herring by Kristen Breitweiser

Important and informative article written by a 911 widow and lawyer, who was a Republican and voted for Bush in 2000. She has too many points to summarize.

Abramoff Reportedly Negotiating a Deal in Which He Would Plead Guilty

"Abramoff would provide testimony about numerous members of Congress and their staffs if he and the Justice Department reach an agreement, the sources said."

Spy Court Federal Judge Resigns in Protest Over Bush's Domestic Spying Program

"Two associates familiar with his decision said yesterday that Robertson privately expressed deep concern that the warrantless surveillance program authorized by the president in 2001 was legally questionable and may have tainted the FISA court's work."

Tookie's Timeline

The title seems ironically trite, as this case seems rich in quagmire and unknowns. This ugly, evil-feeling dilemma is a big part of the reason that I believe there should be no death penalty. There are too many unknowns, not the least of which has to do with the afterlife.

Issues that bother me include the fact that this individual had no witnesses to his crimes. It is supposition/allegation from questionable witnesses. That, in itself, is enough to give him life in prison as it raises the possibility of reasonable doubt. If Tookie has to die, why don't all 3 of the white men who murderd Mr. James Byrd Jr. by dragging him to death? Is there a double standard for Blacks? Finally, for some reason, Tookie has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize 6 times. I'm not aware of his achievements while serving time in jail, but they must have caught some segment of world wide attention to even get to the nomination stage. Finally, might he do more good alive than dead. For the sake of public safety, why risk the possibilities of chaos/riots? Is the cost/benefit worth it?

So strange that he will be put to death in 18 minutes. A tragic life who made a great effort to redeem himself of his wrongs. As sad reflection of our misguided and lost and social system.

"He who thinks he knows, doesn't know.
He who thinks he doesn't know, knows."
Lao Tzu

Cunningham Scandal is the Tip of an Iceberg: Front Companies Funnel Millions Back to GOP

Have yet to see public outrage and serious MSM coverage, but perhaps the bloggers will keep the story alive and get the ball rolling.

This is a photo of an obelisk covered with a condom to commemorate World Aids Day, in Buenos Aires. The Brazilians are clearly more progressive than the United States (of remain ignorant and in denial). It is hard to imagine the Bush administration having the confidence and maturity to endorse such a creation. What a great teaching mechanism. If only it could travel.

Ehud Barrack Quote Supports Howard Dean's Comment that US Can't Win Iraq War'
'
From Seymore Hersh's 2004 book "Chain of Command,"
"Ehud Barak, the former Israeli prime minister, who supported the Bush Administration's invasion of Iraq, took it upon himself at about the same time to privately warn Vice President Dick Cheney that America had lost in Iraq; according to an American close to Barak, he said that Israel 'had learned that there's no way to win an occupation.' The only issue, Barak told Cheney, 'was choosing the size of your humiliation.' Cheney did not respond to Barak's assessment. (Cheney's office declined to comment.)"

RNCC Drops Half a Million into the CA-48 Race

This is a special election to replace Chris Cox who Bush made SEC commissioner. The Republican candidate(Campbell) has raised 10 times more than the Democrat(Young) and Bush took this district by an 18 point margin! So......., the seat must be in play? Just imagine if they have to pile this kind of money into every congressional seat on the chopping block?

If you want to know more about the candidate, Steve Young or contribute, here is a link. If a Democrat wins this election, it would do a lot to psychologically wound and demoralize the already ill, republican beast.

Al Jazeera Plans March 2006 English-language Version of International Television News

Of many Western reporters, the first to get on board are David Frost of the BBC, Riz Khan of CNN, David Marash, former Nightline correspondent, and Rebecca Lipkin, former Nightline producer. Ted Koppel was interviewed last year, but little came of the meeting. Neverthless, this is interesting and seems to signify our changing media, despite corporate attempts to influence and control its base.

Rep. Murtha Says Army Is 'Broken, Worn Out'

"Most U.S. troops will leave Iraq' within a year, and the Army is "broken, worn out" and may not be able to meet future military threats to the country's security, Rep. John Murtha (news, bio, voting record) said."

He then went on to say: "I predict he'll make it look like we're staying the course," Murtha said, referring to Bush. "Staying the course is not a policy."


Embedded Reporter Says Bush Lied in Speech Yesterday About Iraqi Security Forces

"Yesterday, President Bush claimed that Iraqi security forces “primarily led” the assault on the city of Tal Afar."

But the TIME reporter said "I was in that battle from the very beginning to the very end. I was with Iraqi units right there on the front line as they were battling with al Qaeda. They were not leading. They were being led by the U.S. green beret special forces with them."


True leaders willing to speak the truth regardless of personal consequences.