| On Iraq, Bush shows a more restrained optimism
President George W. Bush left his comments on Iraq until nearly halfway through his final State of the Union address on Monday night, after his discussion of domestic issues like the economy, health care and education, even though the war is one of the two most important factors shaping the American agenda, along with the economy. Most of his assertions about the war were modest, in contrast to some of his more optimistic past remarks promising victory. He avoided any promise of a timetable for withdrawal and, if anything, appeared to be preparing the country for a long stay in Iraq. "General Petraeus has warned that too fast a drawdown could result in the 'disintegration of the Iraqi security forces, Al Qaeda-Iraq regaining lost ground,' and a marked increase in violence," he said, according to the notes for his written speech.
50 Reasons To Be Cheerful
And your Christmas credit card bill has just landed on the mat. Welcome to the most depressing day of the year. And that's official. According to scientists, tomorrow is statistically the worst day of the year for all of us living in the Northern Hemisphere Experts have worked out an equation that highlights the third Monday in January as the most depressing 24 hours of the year.. The calculation is based on seven variables: weather, debt, time since last pay day, time since Christmas, time since resolutions were broken, low motivational levels and the need to take action. So to brighten your day and scare away the winter blues, we have asked 10 celebrities to give us five reasons why we should be cheerful in 2008.
Instant Analysis: Martinsville
You've got to impressed with Hamlin, who's fifth. Martinsville is a very tough track to race on for the inexperienced and he's doing a great job. Lap 158: Order out is Johnson, Gordon, Stewart, Earnhardt, Hamlin, Raines, Schrader, Nemechek, Kurt Busch and Kyle Busch. Martin is 11th, Harvick, 13th, Kenseth 15th, Kahne 23rd and Burton 25th. Lap 157: Lead-lap cars pit. And with only 23 cars on lead lap, it makes pit road a lot less crowded. Caution 3 Lap 156: Caution No. 3. David Stremme spins in Turn 3, with an assist from Jamie McMurray. Kahne gets the Lucky Dog. Lap 153: Johnson moves into the lead again. Lap 150: Gordon leads Johnson by 0.256 seconds. Then it's Stewart, Earnhardt, Raines, Hamlin, Schrader, Kurt Busch, Nemechek and Kyle Busch.
Down With the Newseum!
New York Times reporter Marian Burros wrote herself onto Page One on Jan. 23 with a scaremongering story titled "High Mercury Levels Are Found in Tuna Sushi." Burros found that a regular, weekly diet of six pieces of the tuna sushi found in five Manhattan restaurants and stores "would exceed the levels considered acceptable by the Environmental Protection Agency" and quoted a professor of environmental and occupational medicine saying, "No one should eat a meal of tuna with mercury levels like those found in the restaurant samples more than about once every three weeks." As I write, the article is the fifth most popular e-mailed Times article. Before you jab yourself in the eyes with your chopsticks and swear off bluefin forever, consider the scientific findings on fish consumption.
The BIG Immigration Debate
Both will be putting questions to the three main parties. We want to start the discussion now and want to hear from you. What would you like to say to the three parties? Do you think we have benefited economically from migration? What effect, if any, have you seen on public services in your area? Should there be limits, and have we as a society gained culturally from immigration? Let us know what you think.. .
We have transfer money to spend - Gartside
The reality is that you negative posters are a [bold]VERY SMALL MINORITY[/bold] . The majority, (who are [bold]NOT[/bold] gutless sheep by the way) "as I have said before" are decent, hard working, family men and women and their kids who support their local team. .
Girl 'devastated' by mob beating
Well if that was a child of mine and the police took no action(the girl was kicked from pillar to post for gods sake)i would lower myself to the level of these scum and knock seven bells out of them and then id want a word with the parents or parent.If the law cant help then im afraid its the law of the jungle.I know people will chide on about im no better than the thugs who did this but im sorry i would not let them get away with it.A sixteen year old and two fourteen year olds on to an eleven year old GIRL,god they are so brave and the parents should be so proud of how theyve turned out.....god help us all. .
Mild winter could yield timely summer recess for students
This year, school closings and delays will be posted on the board's Web site, www.boe.allconet.org. "This just gives us one more tool," said Walbert. "We will continue to do the media alerts and post closings on schoolsout.com." Contact Jennifer Raley at jraley@times-news.com. .
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