Jon Stewart take on Fox news

Crooks and Liars: "You knew it was only a matter of time before The Daily Show weighed in on FOX's Obama smear and boy, was it a doozy. Instead of summarizing, I'll just leave you with this instantly classic line…

'By the way, I actually believe the last time that Doocy used the phrase 'this is huge' is when he and Hannity were caught in the broom closet at the Christmas party giving each other a sloppy Cronkite. What? You never had a sloppy Cronkite?!'"

You really have to download it and watch to get the full, well, joy!
Download (16)

Vietnam vet lawmakers' positions on troop increase

USATODAY.com had an interesting list. This is a list of known Vietnam War combat veterans in the House and Senate, and their positions on Bush's plan to increase troop levels in Iraq.

House
Member Party, state Service branchPosition on troop increase
Leonard Boswell D-IowaArmyAgainst increase
Allen BoydD-Fla.ArmyAgainst increase
Rodney Frelinghuysen R-N.J. ArmyNo response
Wayne GilchrestR-Md. MarinesSupports increase
Duncan Hunter R-Calif.ArmySupports increase
Sam Johnson R-Texas Air ForceSupports increase
John Kline R-Minn. MarinesSupports increase
Jim Marshall D-Ga.ArmySupports increase
John Murtha D-Pa.MarinesAgainst increase
Charles NorwoodR-Ga.ArmySupports increase
Steve Pearce R-N.M. Air ForceSupports increase
Silvestre Reyes D-Texas ArmyAgainst increase
Mike Thompson D-Calif. ArmyAgainst increase
Senate
Tom CarperD-Del. NavyAgainst increase
Chuck Hagel R-Neb. ArmyAgainst increase
John Kerry D-Mass. NavyAgainst increase
John McCain R-Ariz. NavySupports increase
Jim Webb D-Va. MarinesAgainst increase

Sources: U.S. House of Representatives Office of History and Preservation, U.S. Senate Historical Office and USA TODAY research by Kathy Kiely and William Risser"

Shop at Costco

God's Politics: "Senate to Consider Minimum Wage Bill With Tax Breaks- 'The Senate is expected to clear the way on Tuesday for an increase in the minimum wage that Democrats and some Republicans agree is overdue. The Senate bill differs from the one that cleared the House, and includes $8.3 billion in tax breaks for small businesses.

Maverick Costco CEO Joins Push to Raise Minimum Wage - 'The chief executive of Costco Wholesale, the nation's largest wholesale club, yesterday became the most prominent member of a new organization of business owners and executives pressing Congress to approve an increase in the federal minimum wage.'"

Gates Predicts the End of TV As We Know It

IMDB has this from Bill Gates:

Television sets and personal computers will converge within the next five years, making obsolete conventional broadcast television, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates predicted at the World Economic Forum Saturday. 'I'm stunned how people aren't seeing that with TV, in five years from now, people will laugh at what we've had,' he said. Gates forecast that scheduled programming, along with integrated commercials, will become a thing of the past as TV is delivered over the Internet. "

What do you think?

T.R. Knight Is Staying on Grey's

E! - Kristin's Blog dispels all the rumors about this:

"T.R. Knight is not leaving Grey's Anatomy. I repeat, T.R. Knight is not leaving Grey's Anatomy.
And for what it's worth, I really did try to set this story straight as soon as I saw it pop up in our message boards Friday, when a poster who claims to know someone who knows someone who works for the Grey's catering department ('cause the guy scooping out grits always has the tastiest scoop, right?) claimed that T.R. was so upset by how ABC handled the Isaiah-gate scandal he was quitting the hit show.
As I posted in the boards on Friday, this rumor is not true. I have spoken with reliable sources connected to the show, as well as T.R.'s personal publicist and the show's ABC rep, and can tell you that T.R. is staying on the show. In fact, the ABC rep 'irrefutably denies' the rumor. (And trust me, this kind of strong language would not be used if there were even rumblings of T.R. leaving.)
You Grey's fans feel better now? Hope so.
For exclusive scoop on what's coming up on Grey's Anatomy and for T.R.'s character—who, did I mention, is staying put?—stand by for my latest live-ly chat, which posts tomorrow morning.

"

Speaking Out

Is OK to use your celebrity to speak out about your personal views? How about your position in a church? or as an author? Is there an end to free speech?

During the last election, in particular, I heard much about the so called "Hollywood Liberal Elite" speaking out-of-turn, mostly in favor of John Kerry and other left-leaning candidates. I heard about how they had no right to use there "position" and ability to reach the masses to have their voices heard.

Today, CNN Political Ticker has this from Curt Schilling, a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, who famously pitched through pain and blood to help the Red Sox win the World series a few years ago: "

Curt Schilling, the Boston Red Sox's ace pitcher who campaigned for President Bush in 2004 against hometown Democratic Sen. John Kerry, told a Boston radio station Monday he is supporting Arizona Sen. John McCain for the 2008 GOP presidential nomination.

'I'm actually kind of excited about the fact that I think Sen. McCain is going to do something official here, and he's going to be the man I'm going to back as we move forward here, for sure, in this next round,' Schilling told Boston's WEEI-AM.

Schilling also criticized Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York -- one of McCain's potential rivals for the presidency -- over her public comments against the war in Iraq.

'As far as Hillary Clinton goes, I just want her to keep talking,' Schilling said. 'I just cringe every time I hear someone with a voice in the political scene talking out against the war. I am not for it, no ones for it, I just feel like -- especially someone like Hillary has to know that those comments have serious implications overseas for the men and women of the United States armed forces -- it scares the hell out of me.'

Schilling added that he will seek to pitch beyond the upcoming season, effectively ending speculation he is considering a Senate bid against Kerry in 2008."

Is it OK for him to say these thing because he isn't a liberal? It seems like such a false argument to take away someone's freedom of speech simply because they may have a larger platform than you do or, more likely, because they have something to say that you do not agree with. I don't agree with pretty much anything that Mr. Schilling had to say but I don't begrudge him the right to think and say what he beleives. And, I sure enjoyed watching him help the Red Sox win the World Series!

The Real McCain

Awhile ago I blogged about my skepticism about John McCain and who he really was. Straight shooter one day, left-leaning clear thinker another and right-wing Christian Conservative another. Now Crooks and Liars posts about a new blog dedicated to the questions: Who is the real John McCain?

Do you or someone you know suffer from ACS?

Crooks and Liars has this from NBC's Crossing Jordan last night, (where) a new term was introduced into the American vernacular: ACS or Ann Coulter Syndrome.
Download (52) Play (34) Download (14) Play (28)
"So how long have you suffered from ACS? Ann Coulter Syndrome; wherein the afflicted gain strength through the hatred of others."

too funny!

God in politics

God's Politics blogger Jim Wallis discusses this topic in today's entry. He talks about how we can talk about morality without discounting everyone who doesn't beleive exactly like we do.

I also insist that political appeals, even if rooted in religious convictions, be argued on moral grounds, rather than as sectarian religious demands – so that the people (citizens), whether religious or not, have the capacity to hear and respond. Religion must be disciplined by democracy and contribute to a better and more moral public discourse. Religious convictions must therefore be translated into moral arguments, which must win the political debate if they are to be implemented. Religious people don't get to win just because they are religious (in a nation that is often claimed to be Judeo-Christian). They, like any other citizens, have to convince their fellow citizens that what they propose is best for the common good – for all of us and not just the religious.
Or, as Sen. Barack Obama put it at our 2006 Pentecost conference: "Democracy demands that the religiously motivated translate their concerns into universal, rather than religion-specific, values. It requires that their proposals be subject to argument, and amenable to reason."

He goes on to say

I criticize the president's theology as a Christian, in part because that is how he seeks to justify his policies. But then I argue my political points in the public square on the basis of a morally-based public policy. The two are complementary, not contradictory.

I wish it were over, too

CNN Political Ticker: "A new NEWSWEEK poll finds '[t]he president's approval ratings are at their lowest point in the poll's history - 30 percent - and more than half the country (58 percent) say they wish the Bush presidency were simply over.'"

I find myself just counting down the days and thinking that no one can be as bad as this president. Worst. President. Ever.

RIP

Angelina Jolie's Mom Dies She raised an amazing daughter who is using the craziness that surrounds her life for the good of the world. What more could a mother have asked?

All walks of life protest war

Forbes.com has a very interesting article about the many different people and their varied reasons for coming out yesterday to protest the war. Besides celebrities like Jane Fonda there were also mothers, students, Iraq vets, ex-FBI and the like. Worth a read.

Revenge?

Smith outplays Leak in Senior Bowl showcase. Yay for Troy. He was also selected MVP of this game in which Seniors are invited to play for a chance to impress NFL scouts and coaches. Looks like Smith made good use of the opportunity.

FOXNews not even pretending they don't make up the news anymore

Fox News to Air Controversial '9/11' Footage that ABC cut from their made-up film about 9/11.

Before "Path" aired in September, Democrats and former aides to President Clinton demanded changes to the miniseries, which revolves around the events leading up to the Sept. 11 attacks, saying that it contained fictionalized scenes and unfairly blamed the Clinton administration for failing to capture or kill Osama bin Laden.
Ahead of "Path's" broadcast, ABC was said to have made minor edits, including altering a scene in which an actor playing Sandy Berger, national security adviser to Clinton from 1997-2001, declines to give the CIA the authority to attack bin Laden.
Fox News recorded video of the unedited scene during a Jan. 19 speech given by "Path" writer-producer Cyrus Nowrasteh at California State University, Channel Islands, in Camarillo, where he explained his side of the story and screened the footage. Because it was a public event, Fox News said, it was able to record the video and the speech.
"Hannity's America" senior producer John Finley said Fox News captured about 2-1/2 minutes of unedited footage and plans to show the scene, said to be of good quality, in its entirety as part of a roughly 15-minute segment centered around the scene itself. During the segment, Sean Hannity will interview Nowrasteh as well as Michael Scheuer, the former CIA agent who created and advised a secret CIA unit for tracking and eliminating bin Laden.

Well, as long as its all Clinton's fault...good story-telling, I mean reporting, Sean!

Edwards Home County's Largest

Carolina Journal Exclusive: Edwards Home County's Largest

OK, great. Drudge links to this article saying something like "Two Americas." I believe the whole point of this John Edwards saying is to point out that there is too much wealth disparity in this country. It is not to say that no one (including himself) that works hard and earns a lot of money shouldn't enjoy it, but to make that amount of wealth or at least comfort available to many more poeple than it is right now.

Just as an aside, Elizabeth Edwards blogged today challenging all Americans to be more energy-efficient. This new house is "Energy-Star rated. Energy Star is an EPA regulated designation for homes that are at least 30 percent more efficient than the national Model Energy Code." She also writes that is was somewhat expensive to do this but they wanted to be resonsible. So I say, kudos to them!

Faith in Politics

The Politico has a story about Harold Ford Jr, the new head of the leading group of centrist Democrats, He spoke of a few things but of most interest to me was his comments about faith (and misuse of faith) in politics.

"'God works in mysterious ways,' Ford said. 'Some of the nomenclature and jargon that's used by those who invoke faith regularly - compared with some of their actions and behavior and conduct - I think has raised concerns on the part of many that maybe those who preach it the most aren't practicing the most. I pray for all of them, and would hope that they'd be able to find some healing and wholeness in their lives, but that they would also see that maybe they should reflect a little before they go lashing out and attacking others. I think voters get it, too. The hypocrisy on the part of some was so interesting in this last election.'"

Being a left-leaning evangelical Christian hasn't been easy for me. Until recently, I often felt like an island of sanity in an ocean of chaos. If I saw Jesus the way that most conservative Christians do (and portray Him to the world) I never would have become a Christian. I pray that these hypocrites will take another look at the words and actions of Jesus and follow Him, not the latest "Christian" on the radio or tv.

What is quality of life?

QCTimes.com printed an excellent essay that my hubby wrote about why we live on the East Coast and not in Iowa (where he is from originally).

I lived in a small town growing up and hated everything about it. I don't ever want to live in a small town again. Before we married, we had a discussion about my feelings. Craig couldn't quite understand my point of view at the time but he has since formed his own idea of why he wouldn't want to go back to that way of life.

Have a read and let me know what you think of the ideas presented.

Is he 4 years old?

Bush: 'I'm the decision-maker' in Iraq troops

He is the decider, in case you wondered. Yeah, that's the trouble, Mr. President!

Ulman Pushes Metro Extension to Ft. Meade

In an article in the Howard section of the washingtonpost today was the idea of bring the metro from DC to my county in MD. I think it would be a dream to be able to hop on the metro to go into the District and also to get to BWI and Reagan airports. I love that our Couty Exec (for whom I voted) is pushing it in the context of the BRAC. Over 5000 jobs will be coming to Ft Meade which is just down the road from us and will flood Howard county's schools, roads, etc with new families.

There really is rehab for bigotry?

‘Grey's Anatomy’ star seeking counseling

This is unbelievable!

'It's called acting'

That's what Dakota Fanning, a 12-year-old actress said about the contraversy surrounding her latest film. In the film, Fanning is playing a 9-year-old who is raped. She says that she never had her clothes off and was not uncomfotable during the shooting in any way. Read more here.

I think the whole thing is crazy. She and her mother knew all about it and agreed to the scene. Dakota isn't exactly the normal 12 -year-old anyway. I see nothing wrong with the whole thing.

Millions could see taxes up in Bush health plan - Yahoo! News

Millions could see taxes up in Bush health plan - Yahoo! News

This makes no sense to me. I guess I don't understand but how is this going to help me or people who don't have insurance? If you don't have the money then getting a "tax break" sure won't help you. Gotta have the money first, no?

Bush is proposing to make health insurance premiums taxable income, with people who get employer-provided plans that cost more than $15,000 a year facing a tax hike if they do not get cheaper insurance, the White House said. Average family coverage offered by employers costs about $11,500 annually.
The president is proposing tax deductions -- $15,000 for a family and $7,500 for an individual whether or not they purchase their own health coverage or get it from their job -- to help buy insurance.
The plan also envisions funneling federal money to states that seek to arrange for uninsured residents to get coverage. But a White House statement said this would involve no new federal spending or entitlements, instead "allocating current federal health care funding more effectively."

"The President's so-called health care proposal won't help the uninsured, most of whom have limited incomes and are already in low tax brackets," said California Democratic Rep. Pete Stark, Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee.
"But it will hurt middle-income Americans, whose employers will shift even more cost and risk to their employees," he added.

Nominations for 2007 Academy Awards

E! News - Nominations for 2007 Academy Awards
Here's the complete list of nominations for the 2007 Academy Awards. The ceremony takes place Feb. 25 in Los Angeles.

Motion Picture of the Year
Babel
The Departed
Letters from Iwo Jima
Little Miss Sunshine
The Queen

Actor in a Leading Role
Leonardo DiCaprio, Blood Diamond
Ryan Gosling, Half Nelson
Peter O'Toole, Venus
Will Smith, The Pursuit of Happyness
Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland

Actress in a Leading Role
Penélope Cruz, Volver
Judi Dench, Notes on a Scandal
Helen Mirren, The Queen
Meryl Streep, The Devil Wears Prada
Kate Winslet, Little Children

Actor in a Supporting Role
Alan Arkin, Little Miss Sunshine
Jackie Earle Haley, Little Children
Djimon Hounsou, Blood Diamond
Eddie Murphy, Dreamgirls
Mark Wahlberg, The Departed

Actress in a Supporting Role
Adriana Barraza, Babel
Cate Blanchett, Notes on a Scandal
Abigail Breslin, Little Miss Sunshine
Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
Rinko Kikuchi, Babel

Director
Alejandro González Iñárritu, Babel
Martin Scorsese, The Departed
Clint Eastwood, Letters from Iwo Jima
Stephen Frears, The Queen
Paul Greengrass, United 93

Best Animated Feature
Cars
Happy Feet
Monster House

Adapted Screenplay
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Peter Baynham and Dan Mazer; story by Sacha Baron Cohen, Peter Baynham, Anthony Hines and Todd Phillips
Children of Men, Alfonso Cuarón, Timothy J. Sexton, David Arata, Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby
The Departed, William Monahan
Little Children, Todd Field and Tom Perrotta
Notes on a Scandal, Patrick Marber

Original Screenplay
Babel, Guillermo Arriaga
Letters from Iwo Jima, Iris Yamashita and Paul Haggis
Little Miss Sunshine, Michael Arndt
Pan's Labyrinth, Guillermo del Toro
The Queen, Peter Morgan

Art Direction
Dreamgirls
The Good Shepherd
Pan's Labyrinth
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
The Prestige

Cinematography
The Black Dahlia
Children of Men
The Illusionist
Pan's Labyrinth
The Prestige

Costume Design
Curse of the Golden Flower
The Devil Wears Prada
Dreamgirls
Marie Antoinette
The Queen

Documentary Feature
Deliver Us from Evil
An Inconvenient Truth
Iraq in Fragments
Jesus Camp
My Country, My Country

Documentary Short Subject
The Blood of Yingzhou District
Recycled Life
Rehearsing a Dream
Two Hands

Film Editing
Babel
Blood Diamond
Children of Men
The Departed
United 93

Foreign-Language Film
After the Wedding (Denmark)
Days of Glory (Indigènes) (Algeria)
The Lives of Others (Germany)
Pan's Labyrinth (Mexico)
Water (Canada)

Makeup
Apocalypto
Click
Pan's Labyrinth

Original Score
Gustavo Santaolalla, Babel
Thomas Newman, The Good German
Philip Glass, Notes on a Scandal
Javier Navarrete, Pan's Labyrinth
Alexandre Desplat, The Queen

Original Song
"I Need to Wake Up" (An Inconvenient Truth), music and lyrics by Melissa Etheridge
"Listen" (Dreamgirls), music by Henry Krieger and Scott Cutler, lyrics by Anne Preven
"Love You I Do" (Dreamgirls), music by Henry Krieger, lyrics by Siedah Garrett
"Our Town" (Cars), music and lyrics by Randy Newman
"Patience" (Dreamgirls), music by Henry Krieger; lyrics by Willie Reale

Animated Short
The Danish Poet
Lifted
The Little Matchgirl
Maestro
No Time for Nuts

Live-Action Short
Binta and the Great Idea (Binta Y La Gran Idea)
Éramos Pocos (One Too Many)
Helmer and Son
The Saviour
West Bank Story

Sound Editing
Apocalypto
Blood Diamond
Flags of Our Fathers
Letters from Iwo Jima
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Sound Mixing
Apocalypto
Blood Diamond
Dreamgirls
Flags of Our Fathers
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Visual Effects
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Poseidon
Superman Returns

Lovely

r blog: "Scout writes:
Hey Rosie,
It is my belief that a patriot supports their country…not necessarily their government. I support the troops, but not the mission they were sent to fight. Peace to all"

Cool - Martin is invited!

I know, I know...the things I think are interesting! LOL

CNN Political Ticker: "WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The last two Democrats to wield the speaker's gavel head a list of 21 guests House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, has invited to attend President Bush's Tuesday State of the Union address. Former Speakers Tom Foley and Jim Wright will sit alongside Pelosi's husband and daughter, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and several other dignitaries, according to a list provided by her office.

Following is a complete list of Pelosi's guests:

Paul Pelosi [Pelosi's husband]
Christine Pelosi [daughter]
John Sweeney, AFL-CIO
Tim Roemer, former 9/11 Commissioner and former Member of Congress
Sally Roemer
Barbara Kennelly, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
Bob Klein, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
Anna Berger, Change to Win
Mary Fetchet, Voices of September 11
Carie Lemack, Families of September 11
Former Speaker Foley
Former Speaker Wright
Bruce Gordon, NAACP
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Former Secretary William Perry
Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley
Mrs. Katie O'Malley
District of Columbia Mayor Adrian Fenty
Steve Robertson, Legislative Director, American Legion
Mrs. Lynn A. Pace
Mrs. Cynthia A. Giambastiani"

Evangelical - what does it mean?

In the article Evangelical: Can the 'E-word' be saved? there is a discussion about what the name means today.

Recent examples:
•Conservative Christians claimed President Bush's re-election as a sign of evangelical power and tried, largely unsuccessfully, to leverage their views in public policy, says John Green, professor of political science at Bowling Green University in Ohio. "They overreached and it backfired for them."
•Ongoing battles over embryonic stem-cell research and end-of-life choices gave an impression that evangelicals wanted to impose sectarian values on society.
•The term has become so diluted and covers such a wide spectrum of believers that it no longer clearly identifies specific leaders, programs or ideas.

Evangelicals have no pope, no one person with ultimate authority on belief, says Beckwith. The National Association of Evangelicals is "a loose association of churches and para-churches that held each other accountable and exchanged ideas," he says, comparing it to Star Trek's United Federation of Planets.
If the term evangelical stands for a list of values, "the question is who gets the privilege of creating the list?" asks Bailey. "What happens when people agree theologically," but differ on priorities?

Rev. Jim Wallis of Sojourners/Call to Renewal has long advocated an evangelical agenda focused on issues such as peace, anti-poverty, the environment, and religious liberty. Some new groups speaking to and for "evangelicals" on these points include:
•An alliance of 40 progressive and liberal Baptist leaders, including former presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, who plan to issue a "new Baptist Covenant," that goes beyond "sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ" to social justice action.
•The Institute for Progressive Christianity, a group that describes itself as "firmly rooted in Scripture" and focused on ethics and social justice based in "tolerance, diversity and reason."
•Faithful Democrats, an online community formed by clergy, scholars and commentators. It defended the Rev. Rick Warren after he was blasted by conservatives for inviting abortion-rights advocate Sen. Barack Obama to speak to an AIDS conference at Warren's California church.
•Red-Letter Christians, formed in September, focus on poverty, peace and environment. They emphasize Jesus' words, which some Bibles highlight in red.

Ron Sider, founder of Evangelicals for Social Action, is a Faithful Democrat, a Red Letter Christian and a believer who says he's going to stick with the word evangelical. "If everyone from Jerry Falwell to Jim Wallis to Rick Warren wants to identify as evangelical, it tells you something about the attractiveness and good character of the term."
Although 38% of Americans call themselves evangelical, only 9% actually agree with key evangelical beliefs, says research firm the Barna Group. In a surveys of 4,014 adults nationwide, conducted over four months in 2006, "one out of every four self-identified evangelicals has not even accepted Christ as their savior," says George Barna.
How you see "evangelical" depends on where you stand, says the Rev. Mark Coppenger, founding pastor of the Evanston (Ill.) Baptist Church and former spokesman for the Southern Baptist Convention.

I identify with the end of the list. I am a "red letter Christian." Jesus taught love, tolerance and peace. I'm not sure how we got to the point of intolerance, hate and war which is my view of the "Christians" that are prominant in today's media and society.

I went through a period of thinking I must be so far off in my thinking about Jesus because I didn't see Him as a gay-hating, woman-hating God. I can't tell you how much peace was brought to my life when I found out that there were other Christians who saw God the way I did. I even found a church that believes Jesus was about social justice and not hate. Whew! Thanks God!

I might have to watch the Superbowl afterall

imdb is reporting that my Billy is singing the National Anthem. Cool!

Rocker Billy Joel will perform the American National Anthem at the Super Bowl next month. Thesinger will take to the field at Miami, Florida's Dolphin Stadium with the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts to sing before the two American football giants compete for the sport's championship on 4 February. The six-time Grammy Award winner becomes the first performer to sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl twice - he also performed at the big game in 1989. Joel will join Prince as part of the Super Bowl's star-studded line-up, as Prince will provide the entertainment at half-time. "

And now some fun news...

TV Guide Community: General Hospital's Explosive February Sweeps Disaster:

"General Hospital's Explosive February Sweeps DisasterWe're fast approaching February sweeps, which means it's time again for disaster to strike on ABC's General Hospital.

As previously reported here, Kin Shriner reprises his role as GH's Scotty Baldwin this Friday, Jan. 26. Remember when ABC cryptically told us that Scotty's return would coincide with 'a new storytelling technique, a first in daytime'? Well, here's the scenario:

On Friday, a big explosion occurs during a fancy schmancy charity fundraiser at Jax and Carly's hotel, the Metro Court. Just like other sweeps disasters — the train collision, the Port Charles Hotel fire, the encephalitis outbreak — this one puts the lives of several Port Charles residents at risk.

Right after the Metro Court blows up, the show fades to black and the clock turns back to 16 hours before the explosion. Over the course of 16 episodes, GH will play out the events leading up to the hotel blast (including a hostage crisis) hour by hour. Think of it like an afternoon soap take-off on Fox's prime-time hit, 24.

'This is a very exciting time for General Hospital,' executive producer Jill Farren Phelps said in a statement. 'We are continually looking for ways to raise the bar in how we produce a daily drama. This is an interesting and captivating way to tell a story that will expertly intertwine all of the show's characters together.'

Comment away! I know you're all itching to offer suggestions on who should and should not survive Port Chuck's latest tragedy. "

Again, where were they during the electiion????

CNN Political Ticker: "As he prepares to take the rostrum tonight, Americans are angrier at President Bush than ever before, a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll taken January 19-21 finds:

Has Bush Done Anything To make You Angry?

Yes 67%
No 32%

(Sampling error: +/-3% pts)

Angry at Bush

Now 67%
2006 61%
2004 51%

(Sampling error: +/-3% pts)

Bush as President

Success 39%
Failure 55%

(Sampling error: +/-4.5% pts)

Bush Policies Would Move Country In...

Right direction 32%
Wrong direction 61%

(Sampling error: +/-3% pts)

Bush is a...

Uniter 30%
Divider 64%

(Sampling error: +/-3% pts)

For more on the poll, see CNN.com: Bush faces angry, dissatisfied electorate in speech. "

Yeah, I Cheered!

mediabistro.com: TVNewser:

Cooper To Fox: "That's The Difference Between Talking About News & Reporting It"
CNN's Anderson Cooper rubbed it in Fox's face on Monday night."Barack Obama's Muslim education in Indonesia -- others are reporting the heat. We are sticking to the facts," he teased on 360 last night.Then, introing John Vause's segment, he said: "Other news organizations ran with Insight's story. They didn't check the facts. We did."And after the package, Cooper concluded: "Well, that's the difference between talking about news and reporting it. You send a reporter, check the facts and you decide at home."

Poll: 22 percent want Bush setting policy

Where were these people during the election????

Howard County Blog: Wait For Him to Do Someting At Least

Wait For Him to Do Someting At Least

Governor O'Malley was sworn in less than a week ago and already the Republicans are promoting this bumper sticker:

DON'T BLAME ME I VOTED FOR EHRLICH

It kind of destroys the meaning of it if they make this decision before they see how the governor governs. They could at least withhold judgement until they see something they don't like. Otherwise it just looks childish.

Inside Obama's 'madrassa'

CNN.com - Anderson Cooper 360° Blog

Oops, guess FNC got that one wrong!!

We went in and spoke with the deputy headmaster, other officials, even some of Obama's old schoolmates. There were boys and girls singing and dancing, Christian kids next to Muslim kids.This was nothing like the madrassas I had been to in Pakistan, where young boys learn the Koran by rote, memorizing every word, where no other religion is tolerated, where the teachers are men with long beards dressed in traditional garb.

Washington's Grey's Days May Be Numbered

E! online . I think that this is good. I don't feel the same about his character since the first incident when he got into a fight with Patrick Dempsey after calling then-closeted TR Knight a name. This isn't an acceptable thing to do, for one thing, but like I said, I just can't get past it on the screen and it is distracting for me. I love the show and really hate this but there are consequences to actions. What do you think?

Fame's Games

I love poetry. I love words as the are molded into images that fly from the page into my imagination. Rosie O'Donnell has a way of doing this and so does hollywood farm girl, another famous one, who in this entry writes of the price of fame for 2 of her friends. Striking. Intimate. Read.

Fox News at it again

TVNewser has the story of the "Appallingly Irresponsible" Fox News Channel repeatedly pushed a right-wing magazine accusation that a young Barack Obama "attended a madrassah" and was raised as a Muslim last week.

Obama's spokesman responds: "To publish this sort of trash without any documentation is surprising, but for Fox to repeat something so false, not once, but many times is appallingly irresponsible."Additionally, "Obama aides complained to Fox about what the campaign deemed inflammatory language" during the segments on Fox & Friends and The Big Story.Today at 6:10am, during Fox & Friends First, Steve Doocy said "we want to clarify something. On Friday of last week, we did the story from the Insight magazine where we talked about how they were quoting that Barack Obama, when he was a child growing up in Indonesia, had attended a madrassah. Mr. Obama's people called and they said that is absolutely false. They said the idea that Barack Obama went to a radical Muslim school is completely ridiculous." "We would love to have Barack Obama back on the show," Gretchen Carlson added...

OSU football recruiting class is not rated elite

Well Bummer!

ABC rebukes ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star for slur

MSNBC.com has a story about the troubles behind the scenes over at "Grey's Anatomy".

In his apology Thursday, Washington acknowledged “repeating the word Monday night.”
“I apologize to T.R., my colleagues, the fans of the show and especially the lesbian and gay community for using a word that is unacceptable in any context or circumstance. I marred what should have been a perfect night for everyone who works on ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’ I can neither defend nor explain my behavior. I can also no longer deny to myself that there are issues I obviously need to examine within my own soul, and I’ve asked for help.”

Rehab for prejudice? Now, that's a new one to me!

Get me a beer

People are up in arms over at rosie.com because Rosie mentioned on the View on Monday that she had Vivi (her 4 year-old) get her a beer over the weekend. Are they kidding? I can't even count how many beers I must have gotten my parents as a child, mostly because it wasn't a big deal. I wasn't scarred. I didn't become an alcoholic. I hardly even drink. But, come on, already. Really?

What's this?

Not another...plan. Can't be, Dodd is a democrat! CNN Political Ticker

American Idol Kicks off in Minnesota

BuddyTV has an article about the big first show of AI this season. I have always hated this part of the season. I think it is mean and cruel. My hubby thinks it is funny but last night was worse than usual. Some poor 16 year-old was sobbing after being told his life's dreams were never going to happen in a cruel and unusal way. On to the TALENT part, please...

Bush won't reauthorize eavesdropping program

Reuters.com is reporting. I'm confused. I thought they weren't doing anything wrong. I'm sure it isn't that the Congress is no longer in their control and might actually perform its duty of oversight, is it?

Cool

CNN.com - CNN Political Ticker reports that Pelosi to attend Maryland (my state) Gov. O'Malley's swearing-in today.

CNN-HD Coming This Fall

What's Happening at CNN is reporting that CNN will broadcast in HD next Fall. Since I spend most of my TV time on CNN and we now have 2 HD tvs, I think this is VERY cool!

Sounds like a plan to me

CNN Political Ticker is reporting Hillary's plan for Iraq. Uh, wait a minute, I thought no Dem had a plan!

Who is for real?

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) -- Sen. John McCain said Tuesday he hopes to patch things up with conservative Christian leader James Dobson, who recently said he wouldn't support the Republican's presidential bid under any circumstances.In a radio interview with KCBI, a Dallas Christian station, Dobson argued that McCain didn't support traditional marriage values and said he has prayed "we won't get stuck with him." Dobson is founder of Focus on the Family."I'm obviously disappointed and I'd like to continue and have a dialogue with Dr. Dobson and other members of the community," McCain said Tuesday during a stop in Columbia.McCain has said gay marriage should not be legal but has angered some conservatives with his opposition to a constitutional amendment banning same-sex unions. The Arizona senator said the issue should be left to the states."I'm happy to say that I've established a dialogue with a number of other leaders," including the Rev. Jerry Falwell, "Purpose Driven Life" author Rick Warren and Dr. Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention.

This story makes me wonder how Obama will do in the field for presidency. It seems to me that McCain is so busy being someone he isn't to get on the side of the right-wingers that he won't know what he believes before long. Is this how it has to be?

Obama is so exciting because he is who he is. Will he have to morph according to who he is with like McCain has suddenly started to do?

List of Golden Globe Award Winners

BREITBART.COM - List of Golden Globe Award Winners

MOTION PICTURES
_Picture, Drama: _"Babel"
_Actress, Drama: Helen Mirren, "The Queen"
_Actor, Drama: Forest Whitaker, "The Last King of Scotland"
_Picture, Musical or Comedy: "Dreamgirls"
_Actress, Musical or Comedy: Meryl Streep, "The Devil Wears Prada"
_Actor, Musical or Comedy: Sacha Baron Cohen, "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan"
_Supporting Actress: Jennifer Hudson, "Dreamgirls"
_Supporting Actor: Eddie Murphy, "Dreamgirls"
_Director: Martin Scorsese, "The Departed"
_Movie Screenplay: Peter Morgan, "The Queen"
_Foreign Language: "Letters From Iwo Jima," USA/Japan
_Original Score: Alexandre Desplat, "The Painted Veil"
_Original Song: "The Song of the Heart" from "Happy Feet"
_Animated Film: "Cars"
TELEVISION
_Series, Drama: "Grey's Anatomy," ABC
_Actress, Drama: Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer"
_Actor, Drama: Hugh Laurie, "House"
_Series, Musical or Comedy: "Ugly Betty," ABC
_Actress, Musical or Comedy: America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty"
_Actor, Musical or Comedy: Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
_Miniseries or movie: "Elizabeth I," HBO
_Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Helen Mirren, "Elizabeth I"
_Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Bill Nighy, "Gideon's Daughter"
_Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Emily Blunt, "Gideon's Daughter"
_Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Jeremy Irons, "Elizabeth I"
_Cecil B. DeMille Award: Warren Beatty

Obama takes first presidential step

CNN Political Ticker is reporting that Barack Obama has taken the first step towards running for president.

House passes stem cell research bill

CNN.com - CNN Political Ticker. It's about time. I really don't understand how potentially saving lives is something to be against. I hope the Senate overwlemingly passes the bill, too, so even a veto won't stand up.

Escalation or Surge?

I've posted both definitions. Which one do you think is more appropriate for what the president is doing by sending 21,150 more troops to Iraq? Comments?

What is the Difference?

Why is it that Liberals are always "enemies of America" or "unpatriotic" for expressing an opinion but Conservatives can say wahtever they like.

"This morning on Fox News, anchor Gretchen Carlson called Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) a 'hostile enemy' of the United States because he has demanded that Congress vote on whether to approve funding for escalation in Iraq," Think Progress notes.In an interview with Dan Bartlett, she said: "You talk about the hostile enemy, obviously being Iraq, but hostile enemies right here on the home front. Yesterday Senator Ted Kennedy, proposing that any kind of a troop surge should mean there should be congressional approval of that."It prompted Bartlett to respond: "We don't view Ted Kennedy as hostile enemy..."

Escalation

es·ca·late /ˈɛskəˌleɪt/ [es-kuh-leyt]
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object), -lat·ed, -lat·ing.
1.
to increase in intensity, magnitude, etc.: to escalate a war; a time when prices escalate.
2.
to raise, lower, rise, or descend on or as if on an escalator.
[Origin: 1920–25; back formation from escalator] —Related forms
es·ca·la·tion, noun
es·ca·la·to·ry /ˈɛskələˌtɔri, -ˌtoʊri/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[es-kuh-luh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation, adjective
—Synonyms 1. advance, mount, swell.
—Antonyms 1. lower, decrease, fall.

Buckeyes Need Time to Get Over Loss

Me too

Rosie O'Donnell Leaving the View?

BuddyTV reports that Rosie O'Donnell is Leaving the View: "Fox News is citing mysterious unnamed sources as stating that Rosie O'Donnell will not seek to renew her contract in June. Her recent feuds with everyone from Kelly Ripa to Donald Trump have done miracles for The View's ratings, but on a personal level left Rosie looking a bit like a singularity without den-mother Barbara Walter's support.
Fox's reporter insinuates that ABC may make a surprise move and gracefully retire Walters, offering O'Donnell the coveted moderator spot instead. Imagine the antics that might ensue. "

Hmmm...who to believe...

An Inconvenient Truth

We watched the doc/movie with Al Gore over the weekend. It was really engaging and I learned a lot. If we could afford a new car, we would choose a Hybrid, if possible. We all can do better, and that's just a small way. We've also started recycling in the last couple of years (kinda related). I have a hard time with people making this into a political issue. I think it is a moral issue. And if you are a believer in a higher power that created the earth, how is it possible to want to do anything but take great and loving care of the same.

Here's some more info on the subject:

Global warming. The warmest year ever - "On the fever chart of rising temperatures, 2006 was the warmest year on record for the 48 contiguous states--in some places daffodils bloomed out of season and bears forgot to hibernate--government climate experts reported Tuesday." Climate Experts Worry as 2006 Is Hottest Year on Record in U.S. "People should be concerned about what we are doing to the climate," said Jay Lawrimore, chief of the climate monitoring branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Burning of fossil fuels is causing an increase in greenhouse gases, and there's a broad scientific consensus that is producing climate change."

Rosie vs. BW truth

Rosie posted on r blog's ASK RO:

we all want to know Rosie did you really have words with BW before the show and tell her you were mad she never called u in 10 days?

i did but i never cursed and it was 9 days


Due to the history of Babs, don’t let her play U. Keep in mind how she tryed to play Star but Star did what works for powerful people, show the world their true character!!! And she is a liar!!

no she is not a liar the dump truck is pathetic the star thing was a long time coming Is Barbara a phony or what?

I used to like her but I’m pretty good about seeing behind the facade, and she’s much more worried about what people think, than what they really feel and are. She’s fake.

she is a legend
a feminst hero
she is 2 b respected

he is a rich guys sonwith bad hair

I'll be watching.

I can't help it. I like Larry. CNN to Treat LK Like a King for Golden Anniversary. He will be roasted and toasted. Fun!

Still Proud

Forgiving fans greet returning Buckeyes - College football - MSNBC.com

I'd have been there, too! Thanks for the amazing season.

Who will have the courage to stop it?

Jim Wallis 's new blog: From Bad to Worse, details some of the many reasons why sending more troops to Iraq (a SURGE) is not the answer.

Also included is this unbelievable faux pas:

"The Army said Friday it would apologize to the families of about 275 officers killed or wounded in action who were mistakenly sent letters urging them to return to active duty.The letters were sent a few days after Christmas to more than 5,100 Army officers who had recently left the service. Included were letters to about 75 officers killed in action and about 200 wounded in action."

Really? How could they!?

Surge

surge /sɜrdʒ/–noun
1.
a strong, wavelike, forward movement, rush, or sweep: the onward surge of an angry mob.
2.
a strong, swelling, wavelike volume or body of something: a billowing surge of smoke.
3.
the rolling swell of the sea.
4.
the swelling and rolling sea: The surge crashed against the rocky coast.
5.
a swelling wave; billow.
6.
Meteorology.
a.
a widespread change in atmospheric pressure that is in addition to cyclonic and normal diurnal changes.
b.
storm surge.
7.
Electricity.
a.
a sudden rush or burst of current or voltage.
b.
a violent oscillatory disturbance.
8.
Nautical. a slackening or slipping back, as of a rope or cable.
9.
Machinery.
a.
an uneven flow and strong momentum given to a fluid, as water in a tank, resulting in a rapid, temporary rise in pressure.
b.
pulsating unevenness of motion in an engine or gas turbine. –verb (used without object)
10.
(of a ship) to rise and fall, toss about, or move along on the waves: to surge at anchor.
11.
to rise, roll, move, or swell forward in or like waves: The sea surged against the shore. The crowd surged back and forth.
12.
to rise as if by a heaving or swelling force: Blood surged to his face.
13.
Electricity.
a.
to increase suddenly, as current or voltage.
b.
to oscillate violently.
14.
Nautical.
a.
to slack off or loosen a rope or cable around a capstan or windlass.
b.
to slip back, as a rope.
15.
Machinery. to move with pulsating unevenness, as something driven by an engine or gas turbine. –verb (used with object)
16.
to cause to surge or roll in or as in waves.
17.
Nautical. to slacken (a rope).
[Origin: 1480–90; perh. < L surgere to spring up, arise, stand up]

iPhone

iPhone blows away expectations by ZDNet's Ed Burnette -- Once in a while, the truth can be wilder than the rumors. Such was the case today at MacWorld 2007, where Steve Jobs unveiled the long awaited iPhone.

I sooooooo want one!!

Sad...

My Buckeyes were just getting ready to play. My dog had been acting strangely all day. The two came together at the same time and we ended up taking her to the Emergency Vet right before kick-off. She'll be fine (a ruptured disc that will heal if we can manage to keep her still) but the Buckeyes are down by 14 with less than 14 minutes left. I just saw a little boy on the tv, dressed head-to-toe in OSU gear. He was crying on his dad's shoulder. Sad.

Saddam

Jim Wallis writes an article about this barbaric execution entitled "More Revenge Than Justice." Perfect.

The First 100 Hours

I'm watching history on CNN now. A Democratically-controlled Congress. A female 3 steps away from the presidency as she is sworn in as Speaker-of-the-House. Two Buddhists and a Muslim in Congress. 202 GOP in Congress. 233 Dem. Exciting.

Now, the agenda. It's jam-packed and exicitng for a die-hard Dem like me.

Are you having Gator at your BCS party?

Apparently, many Ohio State fans are!

UNDATED (AP) — Ohio State fans are hungry for the Gators. So, some Ohio stores are stocking up on gator meat. The top-ranked Buckeyes meet the second-ranked Florida Gators, in Monday's game for college football's national championship.
The West Point Market in Akron is selling alligator meat for 14-99 a pound. Meijer's supermarkets have frozen alligator fillets.
So, what does gator taste like? West Point meat manager Doug Fulton says it's not like chicken. But he may be a little biased in the Buckeye-Gator rivalry. While he lives in the Akron-area now, Fulton is a University of Florida grad.

Buckeye, AZ

I just read an article about a town called Buckeye, Arizona. The town is becoming a must-visit place for Ohio State fans headed to a BCS Bowl game in the state.

"The relationship dates to at least 1884.
That's when Malin Jackson, one of Buckeye's founders, named the town's canal "Buckeye" after his native state of Ohio, a name that eventually caught on and stuck.
Now even the Buckeye Fire Department calls its new state-of-the-art ladder truck "Brutus," the name of OSU's mascot.
Town Council meetings end with predictions about how many points OSU will score and suggestions for how to keep visitors from stealing Buckeye memorabilia, like town signs."

Cool!

Setting the Record Straight?

On The View today, BW told viewers that theDonald lied...she doesn't regret hiring Rosie and loves her. Hmmm.... Well, whatever, I'm looking forward the Rosie's return next week to see if she will deign to respond to him.

Here's another story about BW standing up for Rosie today.

Buckeyes

My beloved Buckeyes are playing for the national Title on Monday. I've often wondered how the tradition of putting Buckeyes on the players helmets for good deeds began. This year Ted Ginn, Jr. leads the team with the most this year.

"The familiar helmet stickers featuring a cluster of five buckeye leaves are awarded for accomplishments on the field, in a tradition that Ohio State pioneered in 1968. Ginn's headgear is plastered with 99 decals."

Read more about the traditions here.

Special Comment

Rosie posted last night's Special Comment from keith olbermann . He ends his shows on some nights with these editorials that usually say the things I scream at the tv or internet or newspaper or whatever other vehicle I've heard the latest from w and the gang about the Iraq war, et al. Have a read. You find yourself agreeing instead of sreaming. For once.