So far so good. Everyone is excited over the arrival of our Messiah :) Bush has just commuted the sentences of the 2 ex-border agents convicted of shooting an illegal . Are more pardons coming?

Someone mentioned the cool scenario of Bush pardoning everything that moves in his administration, then resigning with one hour left in the presidency. Cheney becoming the 44th President and pardoning Bush thus completing the circle. Heh.

Y'all excited?

The days are winding down for President George Walker Bush.  Perhaps this weekend we can take the time to remember his presidency for better or for worse.  I know each of us can find at least one positive and one negative thing about his 8 years as our Head of State.

Of course, since this is an open thread, you may talk about whatever you like. :-)

Wednesday: No time for stories, Dr. Jones!  Time to head off to work for your friendly OT poster.

Thursday: Who isn't enjoying this weather?  I woke up to -19C temps this morning (-2.2 for you archaic Fahrenheiters) and Franklin county is in a level-1 snow emergency.

However I still have to go to work.  And since yesterday it took me an hour to get home, I need to leave extra early today.

It is a new year and it is yet again that we should start thinking of where we want SC to go, if anywhere. I've been absent for quite a while but I as an admin I'd like to open up the discussion and see if we as a group have some ideas as to our direction.

Citigroup is reportedly in talks with Morgan Stanley to partially merge their two businesses .  Morgan Stanley may buy a 51% stake in Smith Barney.  This deal would essentially merge their brokerage firms.

In continuing Israeli-Palestinian news, the IDF has called up some reservists and is sending them into Gaza to cripple Hamas.  Since Dec. 27, approximately 890 Palestinians have died and 3,600 have been injured.  Israel reports that 10 Israeli soldiers and 3 Israeli civilians have been killed as well.

Y2hbjP Fantastic article.Really thank you! Really Cool.

Its the first Monday of the new year!  Time to really get to work on those resolutions!

Gov. Bill Richardson, President-elect Obama's pick to be Secretary of Energy, has withdrawn his name from consideration due to a federal investigation into one of his campaign donors.  Richardson maintains that his dealings were above board with the donor and that he is withdrawing his name in order to make sure President-elect Obama's agenda goes forward without a hitch.

This is a list of the diaries or stories posted at SC in 2008 that generated the most discussion. Revisit the flame wars, the thoughtful extended conversations, and the trivial chatter below...

2008 was definitely a memorable year politically.  What were your favorite moments personally and on a larger scale?

Are there any resolutions you care to share?

Happy New Year! 

Israel is making good progress on taking Hamas out. Hopefully they can finally finish the job.

Obama is taking a well deserved vacation after nominating a decent slate to his Cabinet. We'll see how he does.

I am excited about the New Years and hope for an Economic Recovery and positive changes in my own life as well as yours.

Hope you guys are having a wonderful holiday season. I am still at work, but getting out in a couple of hours and heading to a Christmas party at my friend's place.

Have a great time!

It looks like the FPers are slacking around here. 

In the news, the weather is creating problems around the nation. Biden and Cheney spar over the role of the VP.

Automotive woes are now spreading to Japan, where Toyota expects its first loss since 1950.

Bush showed nice reflexes dodging a shoe thrown by an irate Iraqi. The WH is working on an auto bailout. What else is going on as we start counting down towards the holidays?

Ecuador has decided to default on its foreign debt .  President and economist Rafael Correa charges that the debt is "illegitimate".  Ecuador is hurting due to the precipitous drop in oil prices this year.

The Mugabe government is up to its usual ways again, this time by charging that the recent outbreak of cholera was planned by the West (using biological weapons) to enable them to recolonize the region.

hXWfCP Awesome article post.Much thanks again. Awesome.

I'm running a bit late so I won't be able to create my as-of-late detailed overview of the news.

The big story today is the collapse of the auto industry bailout.  It seems the GOP and the UAW are refusing to come to acceptable terms with each other.  Though the latest news suggests Bush and Co. might dig into the $700 billion to give to the big three instead.  Looks like someone is bucking his own party.

Around the world, fissures keep appearing in the Iraq stability.  The latest bombing killed 55 at a restaurant.  Britain gives a timeline for an Iraq withdrawal .

I've always been reasonably healthy, don't need to visit the doctor much, and have never had major surgery. Consequently, my evaluation of our health care system mostly comes from second-hand reports: conversations with family and friends, articles in newspapers or magazines or blogs, statistics found online. The upside of this situation is that I have some detachment and perhaps a little more objectivity than I would otherwise, but the downside is that I am not personally confronted with the frustrating trade-offs that often characterize health care in the US and so I'm not required to think too deeply about them. That's changed now that I have a young child. We recently visited the ER (he's fine) and in the aftermath I found myself wondering about the competing incentives that drive decisions related to medical care, particularly in an urgent or emergency situation.

In world news, Greek riots stemming from the shooting of a teenager by police have shifted to economic concerns.

Zimbabwe faces a cholera epidemic and the inept government cannot do anything to stop it.