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Morning headlines brought to you by Carolyn Kay MakeThemAccountable.com Top Story Dems challenge Bush's power to wage war
WASHINGTON - Democrats are challenging President Bush's power to wage war, contending they've found a way to block a troop increase in Iraq and prevent any pre-emptive invasion of Iran. The Radical Fringe
The WorldGIs sweep Baghdad; Al-Qaida leader hurt
BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi forces pushed deeper Thursday into Sunni militant strongholds in Baghdad — where cars rigged with explosives greeted their advance — while British-led teams in southern Iraq used shipping containers to block suspected weapon smuggling routes from Iran.
CNN is reporting at 7:00 AM ET that the Al Qaida leader has not been hurt. —Caro
Security Council condemns Iran bombing
UNITED NATIONS - At Iran's request, the U.N. Security Council on Thursday condemned the deadliest terrorist attack in the country in years and extended "sincere condolences" to the Iranian people — but not to their government, at U.S. insistence.
Gulf states plan weapons buying binge
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Deep fears about the war in Iraq and growing tension between the United States and Iran are driving the wealthy oil states of the Persian Gulf to go on shopping sprees for helicopters, ships and tanks, officials say.
This is what it’s all about, my friends. Eternal war keeps weapons makers’ profits going through the roof. —Caro
Hamas Cabinet resigns to bring Fatah in
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas faces the task of forming a new Palestinian government with the moderate Fatah, despite unresolved internal disputes and the warning of a U.S. boycott.
UN to finish disarming Nepal's Maoists this weekend
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AFP) - The United Nations said it expects to finish the first phase of registering thousands of Nepal's Maoist guerrillas this weekend under a peace deal that will see the former rebels join the government.
Putin promotes defense minister
President Vladimir Putin promoted hawkish Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov to first deputy prime minister Thursday in a move that strengthens his position as a top contender to replace the Kremlin leader in next year's election.
Chinese FM seeks friendly ties with Japan
TOKYO (AFP) - China's foreign minister has called for friendly ties with Japan during a feel-good visit to Tokyo aimed at further repairing the strained relationship between the Asian powers.
Japan sees giant jump in bullying cases
TOKYO - The number of Japanese youngsters officially punished for bullying last year jumped 41 percent over the previous year, a police report said Thursday, amid heightened concern over bullying in schools. Japan's National Police Agency said there were 233 cases of bullying last year involving 460 youths who were punished through the courts or juvenile authorities.
Australian Jews reject claims Muslim immigration is dangerous
SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia's Jewish community has moved quickly to distance itself from comments made by a visiting Israeli academic that larger Muslim populations led to increased violence.
U.N. extends Congo peacekeeping force
UNITED NATIONS - The Security Council voted unanimously Thursday to extend the nearly 18,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping force in Congo for two months to give the secretary-general time to recommend possible changes in its mandate following last year's successful elections.
Darfur rebel group says accepts ceasefire, talks
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - One of the biggest Darfur rebel factions said on Thursday it would respect a ceasefire and was ready to resume peace talks with the government to try to halt violence in the region that has killed some 200,000 people.
Anglican leaders discuss stance on gays
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania - Leaders of the world's 77 million Anglicans spent Thursday locked in discussion about the church's American wing, whose leader is under increasing pressure to reconsider her support for ordaining gays and blessing same-sex couples. The NationBush Boosts Troops In Afghanistan
President Bush said he would ask Congress for $11.8 billion dollars for Afghanistan and that he would increase U.S. forces there by extending the stay of 3,200 troops.
Bush tells NATO to reinforce Afghanistan
WASHINGTON - President Bush said Thursday that NATO allies need to supply more soldiers to Afghanistan and be willing to send them into the most violent battles with Taliban fighters, who are gearing up for a new spring offensive.
He’s begging again. Oh, and where’s Osama? —Caro
Murtha moves to forefront of Iraq debate
WASHINGTON - Rep. John Murtha is quickly emerging as one of President Bush's most formidable foes in the Iraq war debate.
Democratic Leader Gambles That Weekend Detention Could End Senate’s Squabbling on Iraq
When they convene Saturday afternoon, senators will be taking up a procedural vote required under Senate rules to move forward to the actual debate.
Biden Seeks To Repeal Bush Troop Authority
Sen. Joe Biden said he would move to repeal the authority Congress gave President Bush in 2002 to send U.S. troops into Iraq. He said the legislation was based on the idea that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.
Auditors: Billions squandered in Iraq
WASHINGTON - About $10 billion has been squandered by the U.S. government on Iraq reconstruction aid because of contractor overcharges and unsupported expenses, and federal investigators warned Thursday that significantly more taxpayer money is at risk.
Bush signs $464 billion spending bill
WASHINGTON - President Bush on Thursday signed a $464 billion spending bill that closes out last year's unfinished budget business but made clear he wasn't entirely happy about it.
GOP retracts its criticism of Pelosi
WASHINGTON - Republicans quickly retracted a news release Thursday that accused House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of violating copyrights of C-SPAN, the cable channel that televises House and Senate proceedings.
Govt.: Air passengers have no recourse
WASHINGTON - After being stuck for 11 hours on a parked airplane during a snow and ice storm, JetBlue passengers found out there's nothing they can do about it. There are no government regulations limiting the time an airline can keep passengers on grounded aircraft.
National Primary Day? It's Getting Closer
A rush of states moving to reschedule their 2008 presidential primaries may make Feb. 5, 2008, a de facto national primary day. That which would dampen the prospects of second-tier hopefuls, even if they score early wins.
I’m all for it. I’m sick and tired of having our presidential candidates chosen by a couple of small states. —Caro Economy & BusinessDow ends up 23, Nasdaq finishes up 9
NEW YORK - Wall Street extended its February rally Thursday, growing confident that interest rates will hold steady even as Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke tempered his forecast of slowly cooling growth and inflation with a reminder that price pressures remain a concern.
Industry stumbles, jobless ranks rise
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Industrial output fell in January while the number of Americans filing for jobless benefits jumped sharply last week, according to a flurry of reports that raised doubts about the economy's health.
Existing home sales off in 40 states, slide nationwide
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Weakness in the U.S. housing market showed no signs of abating through the end of 2006 as sales slid in 40 states and prices dropped in metro regions with major price gains in recent years, a real estate trade association said on Thursday. MediaTell the House to Stop the FCC!
Following an action that generated "80,000 letters to the Senate Commerce Committee telling them to Stop the FCC" ruling on video franchising, media activists now ask you to write a House Subcommittee ahead of their annual review of the not-so-regulatory body. That FCC ruling went far deeper than the failed Congressional legislation of last year in attacking Public, Educational and Governmental Access channels and facilities. It also threatens local municipalities ability to exercise control over their "rights of way."
‘24′ cuts down on torture scenes.
The Fox TV series ‘24′ will include fewer torture scenes in its final episodes this season. Executive Producer Howard Gordon claimed that the change was not due pressure from the military, but rather because it had become cliché. “What was once an extraordinary or exceptional moment is starting to feel a little trite. The idea of physical coercion or torture is no longer a novelty or surprise,” Gordon said.
That last sentence highlights the very problem with “novelty” or shock programming—that its shelf life is limited. Just as addictive substances require ever larger doses to feel the high, shock programming requires ever escalating shock value. Bear that in mind the next time you wonder why so much television programming shows the most debased human activity. —Caro
Report urges FCC to limit TV violence
WASHINGTON - Television networks are free to sprinkle their programs with shootings, slashings, torture and other gore because the government has no regulatory authority over violent programming. But a draft report being circulated at the Federal Communications Commission says Congress can change that, without violating the First Amendment.
I don’t know if regulation is the way to go, but I do have to wonder why there are so few alternatives to all the violence and debasement. Has anyone studied a possible correlation between television violence and the number of children taking drugs because they can’t sit still? Is anyone other than me worried about the disempowerment involved in all the programs showing that only people with supernatural powers can right the wrongs of the world? Where are the alternatives? Why isn’t “liberal” Hollywood creating movies and television programs that show ordinary people trying their best to do the right things in a difficult world? Only at Christmas time are we treated to a few feel-good movies, and then we’re right back to slash-‘em-up, burn-‘em-up. —Caro
Ownership Of Media Devalues Democracy
The media conglomerates have enhanced the existence of a corrupt electoral system in which candidate access to the public can only be secured by the expenditure of millions of dollars spent on expensive, 30-second spot ads, and where only those candidates who are backed by wealthy corporations need apply.
'Wash Times' Fails to Correct Fabricated Abraham Lincoln Quote -- Now a Congressman is Using It
NEW YORK More than two days after an inflammatory quote used by a regular Washington Times columnist was shown to be fabricated -- it was attributed to Abraham Lincoln, no less -- the newspaper still has not removed it from the article, nor carried a correction. That's one reason Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) cited the quote on the floor of the House today in the debate over the Iraq war "surge." He took it to be true, apparently.
Dems risk image woes over Iraq war moves
WASHINGTON - Democrats face a host of risks as they move toward more substantive steps to tie President Bush's hands with funding restrictions on the Iraq war.
It’s interesting that the AP was able to find a Democrat who disagrees with the leadership on pressing the Bush administration to stop escalating our current wars and stop starting new ones. Democrats will certainly not be risking their “image” by siding with 60% to 70% of the American people. —Caro
Where to Draw Line on Story Balance?
A letter to the editor makes an important analogy when questioning an article about "Gay teens coming out earlier to peers and family" that quoted opponents of high school Gay-Straight alliances. While opposition to such alliances is worth noting, I have to wonder whether it was necessary to quote from the Family Research Council's Peter Sprigg, who insists that "homosexuality is harmful to society." If a black high school student had organized an African-American studies group, would it have been necessary to give voice to a local representative of the Ku Klux Klan in an effort to appear "fair and balanced?"
Hands Off The High School Paper
Student journalists and school personnel have been known to clash on occasion over what news is fit to print. Now precedent-setting legislation wending its way through the Washington State House is intended to give students more control over and responsibility for the content of the school publication.
AFN Selects Colmes to Replace Franken
Bad news continues afflict the lib talk format. First we hear, this week, that two more lib talk stations will likely be flipping formats --KCTC in Sacramento (on Monday) and KPFT in Fresno (in about two months). Now we learn that the Armed Forces Network will be replacing Al Franken’s spot of their line-up with "Fox’s liberal punching bag", Alan Colmes. Yes, the AFN overlooked the top ten syndicated liberal hosts on the radio, and selected someone who is generally dispised by lib talk listeners.
Olbermann Renews With MSNBC
Keith Olbermann has renewed his contract with MSNBC for four additional years, signing a deal that will keep him at the helm of Countdown while raising his profile at 30 Rock. Per terms of the deal, Olbermann will make occasional appearances on NBC Nightly News as a commentator; in addition, NBC will play host to a pair of annual Countdown prime-time specials.
Google Turns Over User IDs
Google's YouTube and a company called Live Digital will offer no refuge to users who uploaded pirated copies of Fox Television's "24" and "The Simpsons" onto their video platforms.
Yahoo Tries to Protect Turf From TV Rivals
On Tuesday, Yahoo executives tried to persuade media buyers to give it more consideration when figuring out their ad spending. Advertising only on television means reaching audiences "who may or may not be interested in the product being advertised," said Wenda Harris Millard, Yahoo's chief sales officer. She also admonished buyers to remember that 17% of media consumption is online, but only 6% of media dollars are spent there. "Clearly, a disconnect," she added.
Networked Homes Ripe For PC-Based Entertainment
E-mail, Web surfing, and shopping also topped the list of computer chores for the vast majority of U.S. adults, according to Harris Interactive.
All the World’s a Stage (That Includes the Internet)
Performers are turning to video sites that share ad revenue or pay by number of viewers.
New plugged-in toys follow kids online
At the annual American International Toy Fair this week, toy makers showed playthings like Power Rangers helmets which store secret missions found online, plenty of online games and even devices that take kids to secure websites where they can play activities without wandering into the darker corners of the Internet. Technology & ScienceDrive-by Web Attack Could Hit Home Routers
If you haven't changed the default password on your home router, do so now.
Silicon Valley Meets ‘American Idol’ With Prizes to Inspire Inventors
Venture capital firms are considering contests with multimillion-dollar prizes for engineers and entrepreneurs who come up with innovative technologies.
New cell uses pitched at wireless show
BARCELONA, Spain - From a cell phone with just six buttons to one that lets users dictate text messages and another that delivers the results of a breathalyzer test, mobile handset makers put their most eye-catching gadgets on display at this week's wireless industry conference.
New phone opens mobile world to technophobe grandparents
BARCELONA, Spain (AFP) - It could be the answer to grandmaÂ’s prayers: a mobile phone designed specifically for the over-65s that aims to take the fear out of technology and get the elderly connected.
Law Professor Calls For End To Wireless Carrier Abuses
Columbia law professor Tim Wu says consumers are fed up with misguided, and in some cases, outrageous and perhaps illegal policies.
Reports: Open source gathers steam
San Francisco (InfoWorld) - Separate reports from The 451 Group and Evans Data this week confirm what seems obvious: open-source software is impacting commercial software companies and continues to gain adoption worldwide.
Travel Web sites clamp down on bogus reviews
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Travel Web sites, such as Priceline.com Inc. and Expedia Inc. , are clamping down on fake online consumer reviews of hotels, which could undermine a growth area.
'Amphibian Ark' planned to save frogs
ATLANTA - Ponds and swamps are becoming eerily silent. The familiar melody of ribbits, croaks and chirps is disappearing as a mysterious killer fungus wipes out frog populations around the globe, a phenomenon likened to the extinction of dinosaurs.
Photos Reveal Mars Had Water Underground
New, detailed photographs show evidence of subterranean streams of liquid that once flowed long enough that they could have sustained simple forms of life, researchers say. Climate ChangeChina envisions environmentally friendly 'eco-city'
If the world's first eco-city opens on schedule in China, it will become a carbon-neutral urban showcase at about the same moment scientists foresee the country surpassing the United States as the globe's leading emitter of greenhouse gases.
Space lasers detect big lakes under Antarctic ice
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lasers beamed from space have detected what researchers have long suspected: big sloshing lakes of water underneath Antarctic ice. Global warming did not create these big pockets of water -- they lie beneath some 2,300 feet of compressed snow and ice, too deep to be affected by temperature changes on the surface -- but knowing how they behave is important to understanding the impact of climate change on the Antarctic ice sheet. |
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