Apple Tablet Rumors Amuse

Apple's Steve Jobs once reportedly said while canceling a planned Apple device, "What's a tablet (computer) good for other than surfing the Web on the toilet?" Now, we're apparently going to find out. 

Chesnutt's Death Highlights Need for Healthcare Reform

The Christmas day suicide of Vic Chesnutt, reportedly despondent over healthcare bills he couldn't pay and operations he could not afford, came one day after the Senate vote to create universal healthcare, highlighting the failings of America's for-profit healthcare system. 

Preview: Good-bye to Tenth Dr. Who

With an upcoming Christmas special, we bid adieu to the tenth incarnation of Dr. Who, the BBC Sci-Fi series that started in 1963. Here's an extended preview of the end of actor David Tennant's reign.

Franken Bitch-Slaps Lieberman, Roberts Rules Style

Great moment in Karma. Sen. Al Franken shows Sen. Joe Lieberman what the Democratic party and liberals that have hoped for health reform think of the senior hypocrite from Connecticut.

R.I.P. Passepartout

Our beloved cat Passepartout died today of cancer at 7 years and 10 months. 

On Republican Death Panels

Great article by Newsweek's Jacob Weisberg, "Do As We Say, Not As we Do". 

Short version: The Medicare prescription plan, aka Part D, pushed through by the Bush43 administration is even worse than I knew. Yes, it provides hundreds of billions in subsidies to Big Pharma but wait there is more ...

Serena Williams' Rage Continues

Serena Williams is outraged at being fined for repeatedly threatening a lineswoman during the U.S. Open tennis tournament. Writing on the Global Grind, a celebrity blog, Williams rambles in several directions, claiming that punishing her for threatening the lineswoman is an infringement of her free speech and sexist:

Fox Polls 120% on Climate Change. Honest

Have to share this one from Jon Stewart via TPM. Fox News published a poll critical of climate scientists doctoring numbers. But the Fox poll totals 120%. 

Back-room Deals Kill Public Health Option

Although Senate leaders are refusing to release details pending a CBO analysis of the costs, it appears that the so-called public option has died a long painful death, replaced by convoluted exchanges that won't go into effect until 2014 -- if the insurance companies opt in. 

Swallowing a Zettabyte or Two

Voracious American households consumed 3.6 zettabytes of information in 2008, according to a study by UC San Diego (click for PDF). A zettabyte (ZB) = 1021 bytes = 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 bytes.