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Morning headlines brought to you by Carolyn Kay MakeThemAccountable.com Top Stories Iran leader softens his tone on Iraq
TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's hard-line president, who has berated the United States and refused to compromise on his nuclear program, is now softening his tone, saying Monday he wants dialogue rather than confrontation in Iraq. Tehran also denied it gave sophisticated weapons to militants to attack U.S. forces.
Bush softens rhetoric on Iran relations
WASHINGTON - President Bush on Monday sought to dampen speculation about a U.S. military strike on Iran as the Islamic republic's president softened his tone, too, and said he wanted dialogue rather than confrontation.
He did the same thing on Iraq, if you remember. Kept us guessing until the last minute before the invasion. —Caro Humor Ink
The WorldSuicide bombing kills 15 in Baghdad
BAGHDAD, Iraq - A suicide bomber blew up the truck he was driving near a college in a mainly Shiite area on Tuesday, killing at least 15 people and wounding 27, police and hospital officials said.
Bus explosions kills 12 in Lebanon
BEIRUT, Lebanon - Explosions tore through two buses traveling on a highway Tuesday near a mountain town northeast of Beirut, and at least 12 people were killed and 10 wounded, the country's state-run news agency said.
Maoists rally in Nepal to press government for speedy change
KATHMANDU (AFP) - Thousands of Maoist supporters rallied in Nepal's capital on the 11th anniversary of the launch of their "people's war" to press the government to speed up implementation of a landmark peace accord.
N. Korea agrees to nuclear disarmament
BEIJING - North Korea agreed Tuesday to shut down its main nuclear reactor within 60 days at talks with the U.S. and four regional powers and eventually dismantle its atomic weapons program.
Chinese captivated by U.S. nuclear envoy
BEIJING - Little known in his home country, the boyish-looking U.S. nuclear envoy has become something of a celebrity in China's capital for his role in talks on North Korea's atomic weapons program.
Japan probes blast near US base
TOKYO (AFP) - Japanese police were investigating a small explosion near a US army base outside Tokyo, saying they were looking into possible "guerrilla" involvement.
E. Timor PM wants peacekeeping extended
UNITED NATIONS - East Timor's prime minister urged the Security Council Monday to extend the U.N. peacekeeping mission in his volatile country for one year, saying the next months will be critical as the Pacific nation prepares for its first national elections.
Mexican lawmakers to propose drug bill
MEXICO CITY - Mexican lawmakers said Monday they will revive a watered-down version of a 2006 drug bill criticized by the United States because it would have effectively decriminalized possession of marijuana and other drugs.
State of emergency declared in Guinea
CONAKRY, Guinea - The president declared a state of emergency, announcing in a broadcast on state radio and television that he has ordered the army to "take all necessary measures" to restore order after three days of violent protests.
South Africa to build second nuclear reactor
CAPE TOWN (AFP) - South Africa is to build a second nuclear power plant generating more than 1,000 megawatts of electricity, the government announced. The NationHouse debate to focus on Bush Iraq plan
WASHINGTON - More than four years after Congress gave President Bush wide latitude to wage war in Iraq, House Democrats are trying to take it back.
Poll: Most Doubt Iraq Peace, Iran Threat
Two of three Americans in the latest CBS News poll say the fighting in Iraq may be beyond the U.S. military's control. While the White House says Iran is giving arms to Iraqi insurgents, there's little support for military action against Iran.
63% want all troops home by end of '08
Americans overwhelmingly support congressional action to cap the number of U.S. troops in Iraq and set a timetable to bring them home by the end of next year, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds tougher action than the non-binding resolution the House of Representatives is to begin debating Tuesday.
Victory Is Not an Option
The new National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq starkly delineates the gulf that separates President Bush's illusions from the realities of the war. Victory, as the president sees it, requires a stable liberal democracy in Iraq that is pro-American. The NIE describes a war that has no chance of producing that result. In this critical respect, the NIE, the consensus judgment of all the U.S. intelligence agencies, is a declaration of defeat.
House panel approves $1.3B in tax breaks
WASHINGTON - It's not like a business group to oppose the largest possible tax breaks for its members. But when it comes to sweetening a minimum wage bill with small business tax relief, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is backing a House proposal that is a fraction of the size of a tax package passed by the Senate.
White House slams HOV lanes, favors road fees
Carpooling won't do much to reduce U.S. highway congestion in urban areas, and a better solution would be to build new highways and charge drivers fees to use them, the White House said on Monday. Critics of such fees argue that road tolls would make new highways reserved mostly for wealthy drivers, who are more likely to travel in expensive, gas-guzzling vehicles.
Helping the already wealthy. What a surprise. —Caro
Oberstar finally passes solar panel bill
WASHINGTON - Thirty years ago, Rep. Jim Oberstar testified in favor of his legislation to install solar panels at federal buildings. Now, as chairman of the House Transportation Committee, he's got the juice to make it happen — at least on a small scale.
Veterans face consecutive budget cuts
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration's budget assumes cuts to funding for veterans' health care two years from now — even as badly wounded troops returning from Iraq could overwhelm the system.
Obama rejects PM's Iraq 'rhetoric'
United States presidential hopeful Barack Obama has blasted Prime Minister John Howard's complaint about his plan to bring US troops home from Iraq as "empty rhetoric".
If anyone has heard anything other than empty rhetoric from Senator Obama, I’d like very much to hear about it. Pots and kettles, Senator, pots and kettles. —Caro
Groups Call for E-Voting Paper Trail Legislation
A coalition of voting rights groups on Monday called on the U.S. Congress to pass legislation that would require electronic voting machines to have printers attached as a way to audit the touch-screen results. Economy & BusinessIndexes fall on oil's slide, housing weakness
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks declined on Monday, pressured by a sell-off in energy shares after oil prices dropped and worries that further evidence of weakness in the housing market could hurt consumer spending.
Rates climb on short-term Treasury bills
WASHINGTON - Interest rates on short-term Treasury bills rose in Monday's auction with three-month bills rising to the highest level in more than six years.
Bush pitches free-trade policies
WASHINGTON - Free-trade policies that make it easier for U.S. companies to sell their products are important to the economy's vitality, President Bush said Monday as he projected a year of good — though somewhat slower — economic growth.
Good idea, George, free trade policies haven’t displaced enough workers. —Caro
Dialing up the sun
With tax breaks and rebates proliferating, how long does it take to recoup solar-power costs? MediaAnna and the Astronaut Trigger a Week of Tabloid News: Feb. 4 - 9, 2007
Presidential politics and Iraq managed to attract their fair share of coverage last week. But an allegedly homicidal astronaut and a troubled pinup girl really commandeered the media’s attention. The coverage of the death of Anna Nicole Smith was cast as sociology but it had the intensity of voyeurism.
Iran and Iraq, anonymously
In an August 2004 retrospective on journalism in the run-up to the Iraq war, Washington Post editor Leonard Downie Jr. was asked to explain how two stories that called into question the case for war wound up buried deep inside his newspaper. His answer, at least in part: The stories relied on anonymous sources. So what's on the front page of the Washington Post today? A 2,600-word story linking Iran to weapons that are killing U.S. soldiers in Iraq -- a 2,600-word story that is based almost entirely on unnamed sources.
More at FAIR. —Caro
Patrick Healy's Over-The-Top Coverage Of Hillary Continues
When Hillary repeats a standard stump formulation, she's sticking "to a set of talking points." When Obama does the same thing, he's "reminded voters" of his positions. Let's be clear: The point here isn't that Hillary doesn't use talking points or that Obama does use them. Rather, the point, as Bob Somerby has noted, is that all politicians are scripted and use talking points to some extent, and reporters make an editorial decision to describe some candidates and not others in such terms.
FOX News Smear-Fest Against Obama Includes Blaming Him For Terrorism Escalation
Predictably, Hannity & Colmes covered Barack Obama’s formal announcement of his run for the presidency in a smear-fest disguised as a “just asking” discussion. Sean Hannity, guest Star Parker and the FOX News producer in charge of chyrons seemed to be vying for who could smear Obama the most in the five minute discussion. My vote goes to Parker for alleging that Obama is responsible for the escalation of terrorism in Iraq.
Politico falsehood: Obama never sponsored "any legislation that would affect the way Americans live their daily lives"
In fact, Obama was the primary sponsor of bills to create a federal standard for renewable diesel fuel, to improve benefits and services for members of the armed forces and veterans and to direct the NRC to establish guidelines for tracking spent fuel rods.
Libby didn't spill name, reporters say
In the month before a CIA officer's identity was made public, vice presidential aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby was interviewed by at least five journalists and never revealed the operative's name, the reporters testified Monday.
Libby’s lawyers are doing a great job of obscuring the issue, at least in the media. Libby isn’t charged with revealing that Valerie Plame was a covert operative. He’s charged with lying to a grand jury about his role in the Plame scandal. But that’s not what’s making the headlines or even the first few paragraphs of media reports on the trial. —Caro
Targeted blogger quits Edwards campaign
RALEIGH, N.C. - One of the chief campaign bloggers for Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards quit Monday after conservative critics raised questions about her history of provocative online messages. Amanda Marcotte posted on her personal blog, Pandagon, that the criticism "was creating a situation where I felt that every time I coughed, I was risking the Edwards campaign." Marcotte said she resigned from her position Monday, and that her resignation was accepted by the campaign.
Kurtz suggested no Republican candidate has hired "outrageous" blogger -- what about McCain?
On CNN, Howard Kurtz suggested that no Republican presidential candidate has hired "conservative bloggers who have said some outrageous things." In doing so, Kurtz overlooked Sen. John McCain's hiring of conservative blogger Patrick Hynes, who has made numerous inflammatory statements regarding religion and Democrats.
Ohio publisher sees rival papers eventually swapping content
Columbus Dispatch associate publisher Mike Curtin predicts metro dailies will cut back on content that's available for free on the Internet. "George Will and David Broder and all those guys are online everywhere," he notes. Curtin tells a Rotary Club: "You're going to see newspapers within the same state or region look at the possibility of having exchange agreements. There may come a day when we swap Ohio State sports coverage with The Plain Dealer for their coverage of Cleveland sports. Those types of arrangements are almost inevitable."
IB to Add Local Mobile Web Sites for 29 TV Stations
February 12, 2007 - Internet Broadcasting is adding 29 local mobile Web sites to its network of TV station Web sites, the company announced Monday. Through a partnership with Crisp Wireless, IB will be able to deliver mobile content to a wide range of mobile devices, with smart phones and PDAs offering the richest experience.
Time Inc. to launch studio to help mags produce online videos
Time Inc. plans to dramatically increase video offerings -- starting with Time.com and closely followed by sites for other titles including Fortune, Money, Sports Illustrated and Entertainment Weekly, reports David Lieberman. "We have at our disposal now a broad range of approaches for storytelling," says Time Inc. Interactive president Ned Desmond. "The biggest challenge for us is to understand how to use all of those different things well and to engage consumers that way."
CBS Corp. Launches RIOT, New Cross-Platform Sales Unit
February 12, 2007 - CBS Corp. has launched a new cross-platform sales unit that combines its radio, internet, outdoor and television properties. Called CBS RIOT, the unit will combine the assets of CBS Radio’s 147 stations, all of CBS Interactive’s local websites, CBS Outdoor’s billboards and display faces, and 39 owned and operated CBS Television stations. The new unit does not include CBS television network, but tying in network buys to RIOT packages would be simple to do.
What the Hell is a Wholphin?
McSweeney's DVD magazine is better than it sounds
The “News and Schmooze” Explosion
A new study finds a proliferation of “citizen media” web sites that fit somewhere on the media spectrum between the street-corner soapbox and the local daily newspaper. While concluding that these grassroots outlets are successful at creating community conversations, the report on this emerging landscape also reveals that many are tenuous, shoestring operations.
Santa Rosa TV station to rely on locals after firing news staff
Managers at Clear Channel's KFTY-TV in Santa Rosa will be asking people in the community -- independent filmmakers, college students and professors, civic leaders and others -- to provide programming for the station, reports Joe Garofoli.
What’s the difference between this and public access television? —Caro Technology & ScienceDeveloping nations to test new $150 laptops
BOSTON (Reuters) - From Brazil to Pakistan, some of the world's poorest children will peer across the digital divide this month -- reading electronic books, shooting digital video, creating music and chatting with classmates online.
Chip Makers Support Mobile TV for Smartphones
Smartphone users will be able to watch broadband television and snap high-resolution photos on their handsets in 2007, thanks to new processor and memory chips launched at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona on Monday.
Verizon Calls for New Broadband Incentives
The U.S. government should launch a new program that provides grants and loans for broadband providers to extend service to rural areas, a top executive at Verizon Communications Inc. said Monday.
Internet safety group broadens mission
WASHINGTON - The explosion of social networking sites such as MySpace.com and Second Life, along with free video sharing sites like YouTube.com, is making it increasingly difficult to protect children surfing the Internet, says Stephen Balkam, who founded a voluntary Web site rating system seven years ago.
Top 10 Amazing Facts About Your Heart
Sex and laughing are indeed good for it, and bad news really can break it.
Not only that, studies show anger is bad for the heart. That means the talk radio anger mongers are killing their audience. —Caro
New genes point to diabetes risk
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Researchers said on Sunday they had homed in on five areas of DNA that could account for 70 percent of the genetic risk for type-2 diabetes.
Chimps Learned Tool Use Long Ago Without Human Help
Chimpanzees learned to make and use stone tools on their own, rather than copying humans, new evidence suggests. And this means that chimps and humans likely inherited some of their sophisticated stone tool-use behaviors from a common ancestor, a report on the evidence claims.
Dark Matter's Link to Brilliant Galaxies Confirmed
A new cosmic map confirms a close relationship between galaxies with supermassive black holes at their centers and the distribution of the invisible dark matter in the early universe.
The Big Bang and the Bucks Set to Collide in Inner Space
A machine 20 miles long will recreate, at a cost of about $6.7 billion, conditions when the universe was only a trillionth of a second old. |
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