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All the news unfit to print for Friday, December 28, 2007

Quick check on some other random rakings from around the world

Topless woman lures men into traps for police..

The irony! Priests brawl in the little town of Bethlehem..

Smoking ban hits cafes in France.. The smoke in Paris will clear.. but will the culture, too?

Netscape Navigator will be dead as of February 1.. AOL pulling the plug on one of the pioneers of the online world.. 13 years young.

Blitzer sent email by Bhutto for broadcast--only if she was killed..

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TEXAS A&M STUDENT SAYS JOE PATERNO NEEDS A "CASKET"..
Screamed during pep rally, "someone needs to find him a casket!" ..
Age statement leads to public apology..

There's an apology for everything anymore..

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BHUTTO ATTACK VIDEO EMERGES

Attack video emerges..

Pakistani government releases the tape..

Pakistan "red alert"

Pakistan says it's Al Qaida..

Pakistani government now says that Bhutto was not hit with bullets from gunshots..Says that she died from a fractured skull after hitting her head on a piece of the vehicle..

The conflicting reports further causing confusion and violence..

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All the news unfit to print for Thursday, December 27, 2007

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...but back to Bhutto

The best wrap up I can present.. The world was rocked today. The repercussions will be here for a long time to come.. 70 days after Bhutto returns to Pakistan, she gets shot in the neck, chest, and then the assassin blows himself up.. Bush condemned "murderous extremists" today.. Al Qaida leads list of suspects in murder.. Candidates react to her assassination.. Bhutto rose through sunroof for all to see today.. moments later shots rang out.. Bhutto's body flown home.. Fears of chaos grow: Bhutto wrote in October that she would hold Musharraf responsible if she was killed.. Tonight, her supporters are blaming Musharraf.. Bush spoke to Musharraf for about 10 minutes today.. History of Benazir Bhutto.. Civil war feared as mobs demands Musharraf.. AFP PHOTO

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Some other quick random rakings

The Bhutto assassination has altered my year in review story a bit..

But in the meantime, some other news of the day:

Higher number of younger diabetics being hospitalized..

Game change on Iowa campaign front: The Bhutto killing changes the field in election .. candidates quickly realize they're running to be Commander in Chief.... Hillary and McCain may be beneficiaries..

Tiger fallout: Wall was too low..

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MAJOR ERROR AT NEW YORK TIMES..

Seriously.. the biggest newspaper (of yesteryear) gets a lot wrong about Ron Paul, and issues a major correction.

"The original post should not have been published with these unverified assertions and without any response from Paul"

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THE FINAL IMAGES




The final images before her death..

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HOW BIG IS THIS NEWS?

Very big. After the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan at a brink of disaster. That's probably not understated. The political stability of Pakistan is in question.. United States policy towards the nation will surely have to alter.. General Musharraf will not have some choices. Bhutto had children, and a husband. He was in prison on charges on corruption when she was prime minister of Pakistan. She was also accused of corruption. But the people loved her. She came back from exile this year.. She was made up with makeup often. She was famous. She was intelligent. She was outspoken.. She said she wanted one simple thing: Democracy for Pakistan. She believed that she was the only hope that Pakistan had to bring democracy to the nation. She was well educated. She chose to continue to try to stay in Pakistan despite the attempts on her life and chances she could suffer the fate she suffered today. Her death now will make her a martyr. She died a heroine. The world is watching.. And nervous waiting for the next move. Pakistan has nuclear weapons. And a lot of terrorists. And a lot of anger tonight... As the world turns...

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WHO KILLED HER?

According to the UK TIMES ONLINE: "The main suspects in Benazir Bhutto's assassination are the Pakistani and foreign Islamist militants who saw her as a heretic and an American stooge and had repeatedly threatened to kill her"


XX Benazir Bhutto killed in attack XX

Major news rocking the world today ..

Pakistani opposition leader and former Prime Minster Benazir Bhutto has been killed in a bomb attack...
At least 14 of her supporters were killed in the attack..
Reports this morning that Bhutto was shot in the aftermath of the bomb attack...
Major news with major repercussions.. Shot heard around the world.

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All the news unfit to print for Wednesday, December 26, 2007

The post-holiday doldrums random rakings

Cheer up. Life is good, and way too short to worry.. Had a few moments last night of some lameting.. Sarah McLachlan's WINTERSONG helped. Christmas always seems to get here too quick and end like the flicker of a match..

But the news goes on. The prayers for peace haven't kicked in yet.

An interesting poll released on Christmas day: Obama and Huckabee slipping among men in Iowa.. The other interesting thing in the poll--one that seems to have surprised the MSM, Ron Paul has gained 6 points and is now in double digits..

Ron Paul radio tonight proclaiming to stop shaking Doctor Paul's life to ensure he stays healthy through primaries!

700 CLUB studies Ron Paul Revolution

Christmas 2007 was violent in New York City..

..and in Seattle..

..and in the UK, with a wife being found dead under Christmas tree..

Christmas day tiger attack at San Francisco zoo!

Roundworms and tapeworms oh my: Worms infect the poor and higher than thought numbers..

Tis the season to be tasered: Cops zap wife and husband after anonymous 9-1-1 call!

Is anything real? Book argues that Bell stole phone idea!

British tourists Louise Norden and Roz Taylor wear Santa masks and hats as they celebrate Christmas at Sydney's Bondi Beach Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2007.(AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

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Just a couple of house keeping items..

Schmuckraker site will continue through holiday week with updates.. The holiday is pretty much over tonight anyway, both my wife and I are back to the commute and work tomorrow..

There are a few end of the year projects still coming.. Just got finished year in review story.. Had some wine, too, so working on spelling corrections. Working on a couple other year end review projects for the site..

And finally.. Came down to the wire this year. The schmuck of the year has been chosen.. I hope I can offer an interesting perspective as to how and why I came to a choice.

Those year end review articles should be up later this weekend..

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RELAX .. IT'S OVER.

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All the news unfit to print for Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Just as quick as it comes, Christmas quickly coming to an end. Another year almost over..


CHRISTMAS 2007

PEACE ON EARTH!

(maybe next year)


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All the news unfit to print for Monday, December 24, 2007

WHERE ARE YOU CHRISTMAS?







The Eve of Christmas, another year in war 2007. Turmoil around us. Peace within us.

And .. ..malls still jammed.

Amazing. Photos from left top to bottom right, Israel Reuters, Reuters in Sri Lanka, moon AP, boy in the Congo AP photo, US Soldier in Iraq, Greenland AP photo

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All the news unfit to print for Sunday, December 23, 2007


..SO IT IS CHRISTMAS..
Updates will trickle on here the next two days, I am not taking off from reading the news. But I am going to try to avoid the bad. It's time to be happy. Joy to the world! .. It's the season to be holly and jolly. And to those lonely, tired.. and just baffled by life's unkindness.. Raise a glass. I join you in solace. Enjoy it. Another year over. A new new about to begin. And if you're able.. get out and look at Mars. It's near the moon. And it's brighter than Rudolph. And stay away from the malls.. You have enough. Anything else would just be desperation. Christmas 2007.

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And finally..

The last in my series of favorite Christmas songs.. Two by Sarah Mclachlan..




It seemed like such a big deal in 2000: Billy Joel gives us Auld Lang Syne at the turn of the century.. So many years ago now.

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And now a few memorable commercials.. Since advertising fills our minds and sticks there--at least good ads.


A somewhat frightening ad from McDonalds back in the 80s..


Maybe the greatest ad, from Coke..

Or maybe THIS is the best Coke/Christmas ad:

Yes.. Buy the world a Coke. Great and sticks in the head..

Amazing how Christmas has become so advertised.. but how it shapes what you remember about the holiday..


The ad that sticks in your head.. never goes away..

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No versions of this song to embedd, but one of the truly most beautiful version of SILENT NIGHT ever made: "7 O'Clock News - Silent Night" by Simon and Garfunkel 1966 ..

The news in the background of the song with 1960s news.. But the news background could be that of any generation. Death, murder, war.. And Christmas..

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Opening to CHARLIE BROWN featuring one of the most memorable Christmas songs ever made..

but saddest..?

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Homemade God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen on piano..

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Famous song.. Great song.

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Cannot have a Christmas without this song.. but how many know there's a video?

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The only Christmas song Billy Joel ever wrote..



Better quality song and video with embedding disabled by Sony

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Of the versions of "O HOLY NIGHT" I most appreciate and love the version by the late great Pavarotti .. deceased this year..

Second best was the version from HOME ALONE..

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The Ramones' holiday classic.

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Let the songs continue.. Trying to find the Christmas and New Years songs I think shaped me.. Or something..?

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Some Christmas Eve eve Random rakings

Just in time for Christmas, Tony Blair's conversion to Catholicism is complete..

Deaths and road closures: Midwest hit by major snowstorm; rainy Christmas weekend on East Coast..

First Christmas tied to pagan shrine..

The Queen of England embraces technology!! Finally!! Message will be on You Tube for Christmas..

Not much of a Christmas for candidates..

Making America proud: World pays attention to 70-year-old that stayed for three days at Wal-Mart and set a record..

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