This post began yesterday and is vaguely chronological. According to Haaretz, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has suffered a significant stroke, perhaps a cerebral hemorrhage, and is undergoing surgery. Jerusalem Post: The prime minister was reportedly in serious condition and was suffering from a cerebral hemorrhage. He is currently undergoing emergency neurosurgery in an effort to stop internal bleeding in his brain. According to a medical expert, the procedure is life threatening. Asked what...

Boing-boing points to a parody of the Digital Rights Management agreements that come with some music CDs: What if pizzas came with licenses like the ones in DRM CDs?

How many people seriously believe that Pat Robertson has a hotline in to God? The Rev. Pat Robertson said Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is being punished by God for dividing the Land of Israel. Robertson, speaking on the “700 Club� on Thursday, suggested Sharon, who is currently in an induced coma, and former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, assassinated by an Israeli extremist in 1995, were being treated with enmity by God for dividing Israel. “He was dividing God’s...

No joke. It’s the standard version, and I’m selling it unopened for $500. I’ll also throw in a wireless controller and an extra battery pack for that controller so it won’t run out of juice. Just email me (justinpgardner at yahoo dot com) and we’ll talk.

So Ryan Seacrest, he of American Idol fame/infamy, is the new Dick Clark. He’s just signed what is reported to be a three-year, $21-million dollar deal to host and produce for the E! network. Yup, you guessed it, this is yet another Sign of the Apocalypse.

Are we on the brink of an even GREATER scandal in the domestic spying controversy? Could be… Sometimes news stories need to incubate a bit before they’re published or broadcast: despite what some think, editors like to make sure they get everything just right, particularly these days where a mistake could mean a wave of public condemnation. That would seem to be the most logical explanation of a potential scandal that, if true, could be a ticking time bomb — one that would change...

According to the Globe and Mail / CTV tracking poll, the Conservatives are now just two points behind the governing Liberals. The Liberals are at 33%, while the Conservatives are at 31%. The New Democrats are third at 17%, the separatist Bloc Quebecois fourth at 13% (all in Quebec, of course). The Greens come in fifth at 5%. Regardless, these poll results indicate that no matter the outcome of the election, likely either a Liberal or Conservative minority government, Canada remains a largely liberal...

It seems like, well, forever since I last posted here at TMV. I was away on vacation in Prince Edward Island over the holidays, and I didn’t even go near a computer — which, I must say, was rather refreshing. Trust me. Try it. I started up The Reaction again on Monday, and it’s good finally to be back posting here at Joe’s great blog. But, before I get going again, let me wish you all a belated Happy New Year. I hope you all have a wonderful 2006.

From The Guardian: The Iranian government has been successfully scouring Europe for the sophisticated equipment needed to develop a nuclear bomb, according to the latest western intelligence assessment of the country’s weapons programmes. Scientists in Tehran are also shopping for parts for a ballistic missile capable of reaching Europe, with “import requests and acquisitions… registered almost daily”, the report seen by the Guardian concludes. For more on Iran’s...

Not to be too glib, but who else? Bush.

…here is a lesson in Data Mining 101: This is what’s possible with publicly available information, but imagine if one had access to Amazon’s entire database – which still contains every sale dating back to 1999 by the way. Under Section 251 of the Patriot Act, the FBI can require Amazon to turn over its records, without probable cause, for an “authorized investigation . . . to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities.” Amazon...

If you saw and loved “Walk The Line” you’ll especially love THIS STORY.

Bull Moose asks whether you can accurately judge opinions by reading or monitoring blogs: Politicians should only pay attention to the bloggers with the understanding that they usually represent the most fevered and extreme elements of their base. Particularly Democratic politicians sould largely ignore them. Democrats need less preaching to the choir and more persuasion and conversion of those who have left the flock or belong to another congregation. To take a random example, the last thing in...

Watch the video here.

They’re taking nominations for the Bloggies.

TMV himself will be traveling extensively the next two days. He WILL post, but not at regular times. His posting could be lighter than usual. BUT our always independent co-bloggers will probably have some things to share with you. So stay tuned and check back!

New World War II wartime cabinet documents have revealed that British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was even tougher than many thought. He had PLANS for Adolph Hitler and some German villages, the Guardian reports: Winston Churchill wanted the RAF to wipe out German villages in retaliation for the massacre of Czech civilians in the village of Lidice, wartime cabinet documents have revealed. The same declassified papers show that Churchill also wanted Adolf Hitler executed “like a gangster”...

Lest we forget about the enemy out there and his capacity for human life and compassion read — and save — this: KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Taliban militants beheaded a teacher in a central Afghan town while his wife and eight children watched, officials said Wednesday, describing the latest in a string of attacks targeting educators at schools where girls study. Four men stabbed Malim Abdul Habib eight times late Tuesday before decapitating him in the courtyard of his home in Qalat,...

In lieu of real blogging, I just did one of those cheap-roundup things. Bon appetit. And while I really do dislike both teams, I’ve come to my decision for the Rose Bowl. HOOK ‘EM ‘HORNS!

Newsweek’s Howard Fineman gives his take on the winners and losers in the Abramoff mess. Read the entire piece but here are some of the standouts he mentions. Firstly, according to Fineman, the amount of alleged bribe money contributions at play here is NOT “business as usual.” It’s a stunning amount, even for Washington. It is, Fineman contends, “the biggest influence-peddling scandal to hit Washington in recent times…” A few highlights: LOSERS –Members...

When it comes to the torture ban, is the President now basically saying “Never mind”?

Just as Will Smith donated his found money to the neighborhood kid on Fresh Prince to go to basketball camp, instead of giving it to charity, so too do promising individuals need the occasional financial boost, amid the huddled masses of poor at home and abroad that need our sympathy and open wallets. In that spirit, consider donating to aspiring screenwriter and novelist Jeremiah Lewis’s hard drive fund, to replace his laptop’s recently departed unit. I only met Jeremiah because our...

The Los Angeles Times looks at the news that lobbyist Jack Abramoff will be cooperating with prosecutors in an influence-for-sale probe and concludes it’s bad news for the well-oiled GOP Congressional machine. The two most striking points of its piece are: (1) The fact that gathering up and tight holding on to as many interests as possible was taken to new level by Republicans in Congress, and (2) With the exception of most talk show hosts or Republican politicos saying “the Democrats...

This post began early on Tuesday and is in vaguely chronological order… CNN Breaking News — Lobbyist Jack Abramoff, a close associate of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, to plead guilty to corruption, other charges, source tells CNN. According to the New York Times, Abramoff will plead guilty to 3 felony counts: “fraud, public corruption and tax evasion, setting the stage for prosecutors to begin using him as a cooperating witness against his former business and political...

CNN: 11 of 12 missing miners found dead; survivor critical Wednesday, January 4, 2006; Posted: 3:19 a.m. EST TALLMANSVILLE, W.Va. (CNN) — Eleven miners initially reported to be alive after spending nearly 40 hours trapped underground following a mine explosion were found dead, and the only survivor was the man reported to be hospitalized in critical condition, officials said early Wednesday.