Odds and Ends

How's 2008 treating you so far? Mine's very groggy. Here's the news...

Late-night talk shows return tonight sans writers (with Stewart and Colbert to follow on Monday). But their return is being met by protesters concerned about the strike.

Thomas Kean and Lee Hamilton-- the co-chairs of the 9/11 Commission-- have a NY Times op-ed in which they detail how the CIA "stonewalled" and "obstructed" their investigation. Them's fighting words! So what now?

(UPDATE: The Justice Dept has launched a criminal investigation into the destroyed tapes.)

Oil rises to $100 a barrel. Enjoy the oil while it lasts! And don't plan for the future!

A city abandoned?... 'New Orleans set to be U.S. murder capital for second year'

Civil unions... now legal in New Hampshire.

North Korea missed its nuclear declaration deadline, but the U.S. says "they believe the overall disarmament process, though falling behind schedule, is still on track."

A dispute over last week's election in Kenya has sparked widespread violent clashes.

Juan Cole discusses the top 10 challenges we face in the Middle East.

The NY Times defends its hiring of the perpetually-wrong Iraq war architect, Bill Kristol, by insisting his critics don't appreciate what a "serious, respected conservative intellectual" he is. I've got your serious right here, sirs.

Glenn Greenwald looks at all the billion$ that we love throwing at the military.

Finally, Paul Krugman asks 'Did we dodge a bullet?' in regards to recession.