Dumbest story of the year

This one of the slowest weeks in the news business. Writers and editors usually have to scramble to find copy since few trials or government bodies meet during this time.

But this has got to be both the stupidest and most agenda driven "story" I have laid eyes on this year:

NEW YORK - The White House said Friday its Web tracking technology is consistent with federal rules because it only counts the number of visitors anonymously and doesn't record personal information.

The White House's site uses what's known as a Web bug — a tiny graphic image that's virtually invisible — to anonymously keep track of the number and time of visits. The bug is sent by a server maintained by an outside contractor, WebTrends Inc., and lets the traffic-analysis company know that another person has visited a specific page on the site.

Web bugs themselves are not prohibited. However, under a directive from the White House's Office of Management and Budget, they are largely banned at government sites when linked to cookies, which are data files that let a site track Web visitors.

Absolutely pathetic. Is the MSM so desperate for a scandal involving Bush that they discover the use of cookies?

Yeah, well most sites has a web counter and uses cookies....that goes for many ISP's, the NY Times, LA Times, Chicago Tribune.

Oh...and AP.org. They use them too.

"Unless we act quickly..."

Words from Sen. Bill Frist this morning:

IRAN'S RULING mullahs have waged a 26-year campaign to suppress dissent, support terror and pursue a nuclear weapons program. In recent weeks, it has become clear that international efforts to stop Iran's atomic program have failed to bear fruit. Unless we act quickly, the United States will have a nuclear crisis on its hands.

[ snip ]

If we let Tehran develop nuclear weapons covertly while IAEA negotiations slog forward, Iran's theocrats will have little reason to negotiate with anyone. The U.S. needs to act before a regime that has denied the real Holocaust unleashes another.

What the Senate, House and State Department actually does on this matter will be another thing.

One year later...

...and the UN reverts to form:

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Up to about a third of the $590 million U.N. fund spent for the Indian Ocean tsunami relief may have gone to pay for overhead.

The Financial Times says its two-month investigation showed the money appears to have been spent on administration, staff and related costs. The $590 million was part of the United Nation's $1.1 billion disaster flash appeal.

This shouldn't be too shocking. After all, luxury cars, 5-star hotels and catered lunches don't come cheap these days...and the Oil-for-Food money dried up long ago.

Also, Ben Cunningham points out over at BillHobbs.com that according to a Johns Hopkins Study, the US is the most giving country when it comes to cash donations as percent of GDP.

At least we know that some of the money is getting to where it's needed.

Meanwhile, in the 11th Century...

Here's a cheerful item to start your day:

MULTAN, Pakistan - A father, angry that his eldest daughter had married against his wishes, slit her throat as she slept and then killed three of his other daughters in a remote village in eastern Pakistan, police said Saturday.

Nazir Ahmad, a laborer in his 40s, feared the younger girls, aged 4, 8, and 12, would follow in their sister's footsteps, police officer Shahzad Gul said.

Wonderful, diverse culture they have there.

This isn't journalism

This is an advertisement. Currently in the AP Entertaiment section of Yahoo.

Clinton's Lighter Side Available on DVD

Photos AP Photo

Sun Dec 25, 2:21 PM ET

One of the most popular attractions at the Clinton Presidential Library is available to anyone who wants to see the former president poke fun at himself.

Excerpts from President Clinton's appearances at the White House Correspondents Association dinners and other lighter speeches are part of the 22-minute video "A Time to Laugh" that has played at the library since it opened last year. The video is now available on DVD.

"It causes what we call a traffic jam upstairs," library foundation chairman Skip Rutherford said. "We've had thousands of requests for copies."

Since when did AP stand for Advertise and Promote?