When I read that the U.S. government was offering tax credits for people buying SUVs, I was incensed but not surprised.

Imagine my contrasting pleasure, then, when I just read today that a congressman has proposed giving a tax break to those who cycle to work.

So a South Carolina House Presentative thinks the Dixie Chicks owe a free concert to military folks. No matter, of course, that Natalie Maines didn't utter a single word of disrespect towards any military person at all. We KNOW she secretly hates all of them, right?

Well, I have a matching idea for a free performance:

Thought you heard all of Natalie Maines' apology?
Guess again :D

Though unemployed, I have a good family, fine friends, decent health, admirable smarts, four degrees, and a roof over my head.

But I've been so depressed the last couple of days that I've barely gotten anything done. Instead of dancing and job searching, I've been sleeping, reading news and commentary online, and thinking about moving to Canada. Really.

In yet another mature and useful move, our charming CongressMorons have decided to rename various "French" foods in their mess hall to the delightfully-patriotic "Freedom Fries" and "Freedom Toast."

I'm just now imagining the ultimate irony: Ashcroft standing on a table and shouting, "Let them eat Freedom Cake!" Ugh.

The [AmeriCorps] volunteers are "doing a lot to work to mentor and clean parks and take care of the elderly," Bush said in a Dec. 10 talk to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington. "Listen, part of making sure America is a compassionate place means acts as simple as walking into a shut-in's home and saying 'I love you' on a regular basis."

[...]

Now, however, it appears that the promises were all for show. AmeriCorps, under attack by right-wing Republicans in the House, suffering from internal accounting problems, and left undefended by the White House, is facing a funding crisis and may not have enough money to put more than 28,000 volunteers to work.

- Salon.com article by David Lindorff

People wonder why middle-class black students still have these low grades and scores. There's no reason to wonder. Part of it is that there's an element in black culture that is a legacy of racism, and another part of it is that there's no reason for that to go away, because everywhere a black person turns, they're given a pass. That has to stop.

- John McWhorter quoted in an interview with Salon.com

Within the span of a few pages, McWhorter shuns prominent black leaders, shoots down affirmative action, calls Britney Spears black, and much, much more.

UN Iraq report complicates war plans

Jan. 6, 2003 | WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.N. inspectors have yet to turn up any sign of prohibited weapons in Iraq, complicating the Bush administration's task of justifying an armed invasion. Allies already are expressing misgivings, and the inspectors' first comprehensive report, due Jan. 27, could further cramp the timing of any attack.
[Read the full AP story]

Is it just me, or is this the tone of this a little wacky for AP-style? It seems to pretty clearly imply that we (as a nation) are jumping up and down in our seats excitedly gurgling "yay yay... let's go get 'em! I wanna get me a stuffed eeerackie!" followed by an "oh, danggomit! Those pesky UN guys are postponing our war!"

Or am I reading too much into this?

I had no idea that by British broadcasting regulations, it's not permitted to parody living celebrities, politicians, or other famous folk without their permission.

As one British TV producer wryly noted, this could make for some complications in parodying Mr. Bin Laden since "he's a bit tricky to track down at the moment."

Due to this restriction, a recent commercial that, in part, parodied President Bush by having a cartoon likeness stick a DVD into a toaster, was nixed by a British advertising watchdog agency.

Really, now, that's a bit much. We all know that Bush likely uses only VHS tapes, finding DVD's to be Nice and Shiny, but a bit confusing.

"He's not a moron at all. He's my friend."

- Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien's amusing "praise" of our President, as noted in this Salon.com article