Is Bush Lying about Social Security?

Or, as the folks at FactCheck.org more diplomatically put it, "Does Social Security Really Face an $11 Trillion Deficit?" Bush would have you believe that SS is in serious jeopardy, "but actuaries say the figure is 'likely to mislead' the public on the system's true financial state."
http://www.factcheck.org/article302m.html

Bush's top 34 scandals, 2001-2004

Even by the mind-boggling standards of the Bush Administration, it's stunning to read this list. As Peter Dizikes writes, "Here are 34 scandals from the first four years of George W. Bush's presidency -- every one of them worse than Whitewater."
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/01/18/scandal/index.html

How Real is Al-Qaeda?

A new BBC documentary "directly challenges the conventional wisdom by making a powerful case that the Bush administration, led by a tight-knit cabal of Machiavellian neoconservatives, has seized upon the false image of a unified international terrorist threat to replace the expired Soviet empire in order to push a political agenda." Read Robert Scheer's article here: http://www.alternet.org/story/20954/

Read about the three parts of the documentary on BBC's website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/3755686.stm

Or, actually watch the three parts online. This blog has more info and and links on how to do it: http://dialogic.blogspot.com/2004/12/bbc-documentary-power-of-nightmares.html

Are we doomed?

Not if we change our ways substantially, according to Jared Diamond, author of Guns, Germs, and Steel. Diamond writes in his latest book, Collapse, "if America doesn't change its ways it'll go the way of the dodo -- no matter what Bill Gates, George Bush or Michael Crichton says." Read the Salon.com article here:
http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2005/01/08/jared_diamond/index.html
Or, listen to Diamond being interviewed about Collapse on WBUR's excellent discussion program, On Point:
http://www.onpointradio.org/shows/2005/01/20050104_b_main.asp

Write a slogan, win a hybrid!

From New American Dream, the folks lobbying car manufacturers to make more hybrids:
"All you have to do is write a ten word (or less) slogan that tells automakers to bring more efficient hybrid vehicles to market. They're looking for a slogan that will capture the automakers' attention and inspire action! This campaign will make an immediate positive impact on carbon emissions and be a great step toward stopping global warming.
If your slogan is selected as the best core message for the campaign, you'll be gliding past gas pumps in a 2005 Toyota Prius hybrid that gets 55 mpg.
Go to: http://www.newdream.org/prius/index.php?contest_source=8 to enter your slogan.
Oh, and if you win, you have to let me borrow it now and then! ;)"

Bush = Person of the Year

Repulsion doesn't begin to describe the feeling I had upon learning that Time magazine had dubbed George W. Bush "Person of the Year, " but it's pretty close. If you have an iron stomach, read the beginning of this gushing portrait here: http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,1009927,00.html

For those with a masochistic streak, plop down your two bucks and read all four thousand nine hundred and twenty-six words of this abomination.

As you might have guessed, I'm not recommending that you go down that dark path. Rather, I'd suggest basking in Matt Taibbi's righteous fury, as he obliterates Time's quixotic bid to be the only magazine Bush actually reads. Taibbi writes, "One even senses that this avalanche of overwrought power worship is inspired by the very fact of George Bush's being such an obviously unworthy receptacle for such attentions." http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/20881/

Please sign the Declaration Against Torture

From WorkingForChange.com: "We call on Alberto Gonzales, nominee for chief law enforcement officer of the United States, members of the U.S. Senate, and other responsible government officials, to sign the Declaration Against Torture, unequivocally renouncing all forms of torture and abuse as instruments of American policy."
Please sign the online petition at http://www.workingforchange.com/activism/petition.cfm?ItemId=18313

Help for Asia

The latest death toll numbers for the Asian earthquake/tsunami disaster are up to 140,000, and yet problems for the survivors are only just beginning. Humanitarian organizations are able to get people food, medical supplies, and shelter, but they need money to pay for these efforts. Here are some ways to give, if you’re able:

CARE is mounting a comprehensive, multi-country emergency response that includes food, water purification tablets, shelter materials and basic medical supplies. Your generous contribution will help rush this lifesaving aid to India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
http://www.careusa.org/

Oxfam and its partners responded immediately by distributing food, temporary shelter, and clean water in Sri Lanka. In Indonesia, they will soon be providing much-needed water and sanitation. Oxfam teams are busy assessing needs in India and other affected countries. http://www.oxfamamerica.org/

With a presence in the affected areas, UNICEF is working around the clock to assess the situation in hard-to-reach areas. With water supplies contaminated or damaged, safe drinking water is the top priority, along with medicine and shelter.
http://www.unicef.org/

Expanded list of participating relief organizations from USAID.
http://www.usaid.gov/locations/asia_near_east/tsunami/ngolist.html

Know when to walk away, know when to run

Is it time to leave the Homeland? Or should we stay and fight for a Burger King on every block and unaffordable private health insurance? Decide for yourself at http://mandeep.org/Symlinx/fleeamerica