CNN on the Obama gay controversy

From CNN. Read the rest of this post...

Myanmar blames US for protests

Right. Myanmar is really high on the list of priorities for the Bush administration. Most in Washington probably couldn't even find the country on a map so while I agree Bush is a "loudmouth bully", this protest only shows how delusional the junta really is, not that it seems to matter.

Myanmar's military government stepped up its propaganda campaign against the United States on Sunday, accusing Washington of inciting last month's pro-democracy demonstrations in hopes of installing a puppet government.

Demonstrations that began Aug. 19 over high prices for fuel and consumer goods grew into a broad-based movement for democratic reform that attracted tens of thousands of people in Yangon, the country's biggest city.

Yep, sounds like outside forces at work. Read the rest of this post...

If you liked Bush, you'll love Giuliani

From AP.

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Shorter Clarence Thomas: Why don't you like my book? WAAAAAAAAHHH!!!!!

Would you like some cheese with that wine? How about a pubic hair? Read the rest of this post...

"Memo to the Democratic presidential candidates: You can still beat Hillary Rodham Clinton, but you better act fast."

Interesting article from AP.

Memo to the Democratic presidential candidates: You can still beat Hillary Rodham Clinton, but you better act fast....

"If Hillary wins Iowa, she can practically start shopping for a running mate," said California-based Democratic strategist Dan Newman.

But that's a big if. Clinton has called Iowa her "hardest state," and it's the best — some say only — chance her opponents have to get past her.

"At this point the trailing candidates need to not only catch a huge wave, they also need one to crash on top of Hillary," Newman said. "They need to upend the conventional wisdom that is gelling among donors and others that she can't be stopped, and they need to prove it in Iowa."

The most recent polls in the state show a close race among Clinton and fellow Sens. John Edwards and Barack Obama.

Read the rest of this post...

Sunday Talk Shows Open Thread

NOTE FROM JOHN: Joe is running the Marine Corps Marathon this morning. I'd say "break a leg," but not sure if that's appropriate marathon-speak....
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In the wake of the fires, the California delegation is getting some face time (including Congressman/Presidential candidate Duncan Hunter, the biggest buffoon in the House.) As usual, the ratio of GOP presidential candidates to Democratic candidates is 3 to 1 -- McCain, Hunter and Huckabee v. Dodd.

Here's the line up:

ABC's "This Week" — Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.; Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif.

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CBS' "Face the Nation" — Sens. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

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NBC's "Meet the Press" — Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn.

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CNN's "Late Edition" — Nabi Sensoy, Turkish ambassador; Mohamed ElBaradei, International Atomic Energy Agency chief; Sens. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Trent Lott, R-Miss.; former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark.

"Fox News Sunday" _ First lady Laura Bush and Gov.-elect and Rep. Bobby Jindal, R-La.

I'll be marathoning this morning so if you're watching, provide the commentary. Read the rest of this post...

Mother nature to the rescue?

I never travel without a clay powder product called Smecta which helps settle an upset stomach and is not harsh like many modern medicines. For centuries people have enjoyed the therapeutic qualities of mud from the Dead Sea and now researchers will present the results of their study of clay from the Massif Central in France.

Scientists have discovered a new and highly effective weapon against deadly superbugs like the MRSA sweeping through Britain's dirty hospital wards – green French muck.

The dramatic antibiotic success of agricur, a clay made from ancient volcanic ash found near the Massif Central, marks it out as a potential rival to penicillin, the wonder drug of the 20th century. In experiments, the clay killed up to 99 per cent of superbug colonies within 24 hours. Control samples of MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) grew 45-fold in the same period.

The clay has a similar effect on other deadly bacteria tested, including salmonella, E. coli, and a flesh-eating disease called buruli, a relative of leprosy which disfigures children across central and western Africa. It has been classed as "an emerging public health threat" by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Besides the effectiveness of natural treatments and the gentleness on the body compared to so many pharmaceuticals, products like this cost very little. Health care systems and insurance companies need to pay much more attention to simple solutions that solve problems though the Big Pharma lobby will probably not stand for such cheap alternatives. Doctors should also be taking a look but of course we also know that too many of them are also in the pocket of Big Pharma. Read the rest of this post...

Daylight savings in Europe

This can only mean one thing: another cafe! Now there's really no rush to the Sunday market. Read the rest of this post...