OK, in one story we have this:

Bush signals softer line on Iran. US makes dramatic shift in its attitude towards Iran, previously branded as part of an "axis of evil". [Guardian Unlimited]

But then, in another story, we have next-to-armageddon:

Hawks tell Bush how to win war on terror. President George W Bush was sent a public manifesto yesterday by Washington's hawks, demanding regime change in Syria and Iran and a Cuba-style military blockade of North Korea backed by planning for a pre-emptive strike on its nuclear sites. [Telegraph News | Front Page News]

I'd like to be optimistic that we aren't headed towards Total War: Now More Than Ever®, but foreign policy moderates have had about as much success in the Bush administration as the Red Sox have had in October.

11:30:39 PM     leave/read comments []

Skies of Major U.S. Cities Off Limits for New Year's Eve. The skies of New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Las Vegas and Disney World will be patrolled by the military. By Kirk Semple. [New York Times: NYT HomePage]

So much for skydiving alongside the Times Square Light Ball......

Though the Federal Aviation Administration has not finalized the details of the temporary flight restrictions for New York and Las Vegas, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security said they would probably go into effect on Dec. 31 and extend through the morning of Jan. 1. Such bans are typically intended to restrict flights by small, private aircraft.

Oh well.

Though it is ironic that in the space of a year we went from Iraq having two No-Fly zones to the U.S. having several. This is progress?

8:38:17 PM     leave/read comments []

Spend it at the gift shop!

Oh! And be sure to check out The Bad Toad's Webshop! (You asked for it, you got it!)

8:30:53 PM     leave/read comments []

Beware of strangers carrying books, warns FBI. Maps too. [The Register]

Don't panic, but Almanacs are bad! Mostly.

The FBI has issued a terror warning to police to look out for individuals carrying almanacs or maps, reports AP.

The warning was sent to 18,000 officers before Christmas. Almanacs, warns the FBI, may be used "to assist with target selection and pre-operational planning." The Bureau acknowledges that there may be "legitimate recreational or commercial activities" that justify an individual carrying around a map or reference book.

Next week's terror alert:

FBI warns of "people with eyes"

The FBI announced today that it would be singling out those individuals "with eyes" for extra scrutiny, especially if such eyed individuals were seen at high-risk sites such as bridges, tall buildings and airports.

According to Attorney General John Ashcroft, "We have concluded that people with eyes present a substantial risk to Homeland See-curity®. These "people" can use these "eyes" for a variety of nefarious purposes, including, but not limited to:

• Examining government budgets, policies and records
• Looking at airplanes
• Reading magazines, books and maps (which are already on our "threat list")
• Throwing things
• Giving "attitude"

4:57:25 PM    

FedEx to Buy Kinko's for $2.4 Billion. The deal will allow FedEx, the world's largest air-express carrier, to integrate its services in all 1,200 Kinko's stores. By Reuters. [New York Times: NYT HomePage]

At last! You can photocopy your ass and have it on the other side of the world by tomorrow!

2:07:35 PM     leave/read comments []

Macworld events page goes live [The Macintosh News Network]

2:03:17 PM     leave/read comments []

I bet Steve Jobs is fuming at the leak of this info.

I'd take it with a grain of salt, as rumors are thicker than Prince Charles right before MacWorld.

1:53:55 PM     leave/read comments []

The Wizard of Whimsy presents Baby New Year 2004: More Greed in The New World.

11:42:27 AM     leave/read comments []