Only in NYC: Fainting dieters cause subway delays.

Finally! Am I the only one who has been thinking in 2007 for weeks if not months?

In any case, happy new year, all, and happy new beer to all who enjoy that sort of thing!

The anti-Carter campaign is predictable but off the mark. Anyone who follows the Israeli-Palestinian debate knows that the the term "apartheid" is commonly used by opponents of the wall that divides Palestinian communities in the West Bank. (Or the "separation barrier" as the Israelis call it.)

It's a good idea to have a fence - but the fact that the Israelis have used it to unilaterally declare borders inside the Palestinian areas, and have extended the policy to roads inside Palestine, has meant that Israelis and foreigners in the West Bank are treated materially differently from Palestinians solely on the basis of their race and religion, and if that's not discrimination, I don't know what is.

Security is important, but if that is the case, Israel should get rid of the settlements and withdraw to internationally recognized borders. Then they can - and should - build as big a wall as they would like.

Is Governor Vilsack's campaign too clever by half in choosing the V for Vendetta (or maybe Nineteen Eighty-Four) style graphics and typeface for his campaign?

It's very memorable, but they'll be drinking Victory Gin at the election night party if this sends the wrong message to the proles.

Not the Supreme Court case, the football game.

I pick the Saints to win, but this might be a good one.

Bo Schembechler, 1929-2006. Rest in peace and GO BLUE!

Update: Nice remembrance by Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.

The always insightful Fareed Zakaria on what we should do in Iraq: secure Kurdistan, fight Al Qaeda, and contain rather than pretend to prevent sectarian violence while the Sunnis and Shiites fight it out. Korea is cited as an example - I would also include Bosnia which is peaceful now after the Dayton accords.

Waterboarding is a no-brainer, says Cheney to some right wiing talk show host.

US bans Vegemite. WTF?!

China holds the key.

What did the Hillary machine dig up on Mark Warner that caused him to quit the race?

The Flying Spaghetti Monster appears courtesy of the US Air Force!

A culinary giant passed away last week: Esther Snyder, co-founder of In-N-Out Burger. I enjoyed a Double-Double in her honor yesterday - Animal style, of course. Thanks Esther!

The Nationals did the right thing in keeping Alfonso Soriano rather than trading him. He's been a real asset to the team and - importantly - is getting butts into seats in creaky old RFK. And I get to see him tomorrow when he comes to SF!

Oldie but a goodie, thanks to boingboing. (Make sure to read the archive, and also the sign PPTs.)