| In Memoriam: Those We Lost in 2006
Gerald R. Ford,, 93 -- Thirty-eighth president of the United States, who ascended to the presidency in the wake of Richard Nixon's resignation. He was the only president never to be elected to national office. His pardon of Nixon helped heal the nation after the divisiveness of Watergate. "My fellow Americans: our long national nightmare is over." Saddam Hussein, 69 -- Former Iraqi dictator; deposed by the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, Hussein was put on trial for his crimes, convicted and executed. James Brown, 73 -- Musician and entertainer whose legendary talent and innovative hits earned him the nickname, "Godfather of Soul." Dec. 24, 2006 Joseph Barbera, 95 -- Cartoonist who collaborated with William Hanna to produce some of TV's most memorable animated characters.
NEWS IN BRIEF
PASSPORTS: No final word yet on when U.S. citizens will need a passport or an as-yet-to-be-created alternative for land and sea border crossings involving Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. But the State Department is preparing now.
As early as next month, department officials will begin accepting applications for a "passport card" that is cheaper and smaller than a passport and good only in the circumstances noted above. The limited-use card, which lasts 10 years, will cost $45 for adults ($25 of that will be waived if you already have a passport, including one up for renewal). Children 16 and younger pay $35 for a five-year card.
And, a reminder: As of Jan. 31, to cross the U.S. border by land or sea into Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Caribbean (except for Puerto Rico and the U.S.
Oh That George Bush! He Was For The Troops Before He Was Against Them
They include Libya, Iran and Iraq under Saddam. The administration was unable to explain why it had not acted earlier to object to the provision. Perhaps it's because Harriet Miers is no longer the president's legal counsel. A deeply embarrassed White House promised that it will work quickly with Congress to restore the dozens of military and veterans provisions in the bill, which got overwhelming bipartisan support, once Congress returns to work in January. The new bill would not, of course, include the terrorist-act provision. The provision was put into the bill by Senator Frank Lautenberg, the New Jersey Democrat, without public debate, a not unusual occurrance on Capitol Hill. It would help U.S. plaintiffs in lawsuits against Iran and Libya, including relatives of Americans killed in the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983 and in the bombing of a Berlin disco in 1986.
News Minute: Hillary wins Nevada...McCain takes S.C....NFL ...
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - John McCain flies to Florida today hoping to follow-up on his big win yesterday in the South Carolina primary. McCain beat out Mike Huckabee. The Arizona senator is stopping short of calling himself the GOP front-runner, saying he likes to "run from behind." THE VILLAGES, Fla. (AP) - Republican Rudy Giuliani has been on the ground in Florida for weeks pressing for votes, now he'll have some company. The GOP contenders are converging on the state in anticipation of the crucial January 29th GOP primary. Giuliani says he's been "waiting" to take on the competition. LOS ANGELES (AP) - TV sitcom star Suzanne Pleshette has died. She was 70. Pleshette played Bob Newhart's wife on "The Bob Newhart Show" in the 1970s. The husky-voiced actress also starred on Broadway and in the movies.
US Consumers Oblivious to GM Food Fears
This whole arrangement reminds me of the nightmare of Axis Chemical in the movie Batman. Unfortunately in our sad tale, there is not one homocidal "Joker", but rather 500 of them on wall street. The poor guy at the frankenfood market is now screwed. His choice is GM chromsomal damage from mountains of processed poison in plastic bags or GM chromosomal damage from GM gene spliced frankenproduce. Megacorps like Monsanto have only been playing God with your food for a few years now. Nobody knows the mortality rates or Cancer incidence that will crop up ten years from now. We all are now lab rats. .
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