Bits and Pieces for the Week of January 6 - 12

Having been around and paying attention during the Carter Administration, I can safely say that this Onion piece is the funniest political humor that I've read in a long time. (Mike)

Bush calls for end of 'occupation' of Arab lands Don't get excited, he didn't mean Iraq! (7 of 6)

Interested in the details of Schwarzenegger's proposed budget for California? You can see all the details here. (Mike)

Great Q & A session with Sibel Edmonds at Democratic Underground. (7 of 6)

Nearly 800 US soldiers died trying to implement this. (Mike)

We're Number 1! Woo Hoo! US ranks first in inability to prevent deaths from treatable conditions. (Mike)

Boy Scout thwarts assassination attempt. I hope this earns him some kind of badge. (Mike)

Something you won't find in the big media: Edwards (and only Edwards) is surging nationally (Mike)

Microsoft charges customers for free services (Mike)

Looks like the High Definition DVD battle is taking a significant turn. Sony's Blu-ray is taking a commanding lead over Toshiba's HD DVD after Warner Bros. signed on exclusively with Sony. "Many analysts believe that Sony's insistence on putting Blu-ray on its PlayStation 3 players gave it just enough extra consumers to help tilt next-generation DVD sales toward Blu-ray." (7 of 6)

Big media continues its grossly unbalanced political coverage. Same old same old. (Mike)

"MANCHESTER, NH -- The family of Nataline Sarkisyan -- the 17-year-old California girl who needed a transplant but was unable to get one despite being insured -- urged voters here to back Edwards, who has made taking on big drug companies one of the main thrusts of his campaign." (7 of 6)