Bill notes that the New York times editorial page is in hysteria that the US House has voted to keep in place the tax cuts that have spurred the economy by allowing us to keep a bit more of our money.  He fears, however, that what the US House accomplished by a 234 to 197 vote the Senate may not accomplish at all thereby giving the NY Times editorial page a happy New Year.

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The majority of Ranger fans are giving a thumbs down to the Chris Young for Adam Eaton trade.  Norm think it is fair to ask exactly where the Rangers are going with this.  He thinks he knows and he is pretty sure he likes it.  Hint:  Ameriquest Field is the hero of the story.

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It is 10 o'clock and you are at the movies.  Do you know where your children are?  In an emergency can they reach you?  Doug Bedell says that if move theaters have there way you will have no way to find out.  But you can watch  your movie in peace.

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Only one day left to shop before Christmas for Kinky Friedman for Governor memorabilia at the Kinky World Headquarters in Austin. But you can always give your honey an IOU for one of the items the Kinkster has for sale on his Web site – ranging from a talking action figure doll to a “No Teacher Left Behind T-shirt” to a Texas flag that features this Kinky slogan: “How Hard Can it Be.”

The bestseller is the 13-inch tall regular edition talking action figure for $29.95, which delivers 25 Kinkyisms. Dressed in black leather vest and cowboy hat, the cigar-waving action figure is being featured in TV ads that began running two weeks ago in the Dallas-Fort Worth and four other major media markets. Asked in a simulated press conference if he can get the Republicans and Democrats to work together, the doll responds: “I’m running for governor – not God.”

Other items include bumper stickers, mugs, posters and caps and 19 different T-shirts. A black “Biker” shirt carries another Kinky slogan: “Why the Hell Not.”

The one-time country and western singer now running for governor as a independent is trying to raise money on his Web site, www.kinkyfriedman.com, to air the action figure commercial in other Texas markets in preparation for his petition campaign to get on the ballot. The petition-signing begins the day after the Texas primary in March. According to the ad campaign, Friedman needs 45,000 signatures to get on the Texas ballot.

The American government and American businessmen will lie, cheat, steal, and kill "the good guys" in order to keep oil and gas flowing from the Middle East. This is the premise of the political thriller "Syriana," a visually beautiful film about ugly people. It confirms every anti-American story ever run on Al Jazeera, the government financed Middle East television network famous for bringing messages from Osama Bin Laden into your living room.

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Is Sherry Jacobson whining or what in her DMN column this morning about her 22-year-old son being busted at the downtown library for eating a banana in the stairwell? The rules, including no eating inside the library, are posted and are there for an obvious good reason. Why didn't young Jacobson simply go outside or to the basement bench to eat?  That said, Jacobson raises a good question about the city's lack of follow-through on putting a snack bar inside the library with places to sit and eat. That seems like a reasonable solution. And, we have to hope that the planned new shelter for the homeless will alleviate some of the problems created by the street residents around the downtown library.

Being unwilling to forgive is like drinking a cup of poison and waiting for the other person to die! Think about it .... Forgiveness is energizing!

The Dallas Federal Reserve has revised its estimate of job growth in Texas from 1.8% to 2.4% between September 2004 and September 2005.  That mean that 57,000 more jobs were created.  The estimate is considerably higher than the 1.5% estimated by the Texas Workforce Commission and the Bureau of Labor Statistics which usually make up or down revisions in March of next year.  The Fed has generally proven a good indicator of where the Workforce Commission numbers will wind up.  Currently the Workforce Commission puts Dallas area job growth at 1.2% versus the Fed's estimate of 1.8%.  The Workforce Commission put Fort Worth area job growth at 1.8% while the Fed places it at 2.5%.

The New York Times dropped a bombshell on the country last week. One of its correspondents, James Risen, reported that the Bush administration has enabled the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on American citizens, without a warrant, in certain situations.  Tara Ross wonders what we are to make of this charge? Is the NSA program justified by the extreme necessity of war, or is it an inexcusable breach of our civil liberties?

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What's wrong with the Cowboys?  Mike Fisher notes several popular theories:  1.  They are too old, 2. They are too young,  3. They are too tight,  4. They are too loose,  5. They are too slow,  6. They are too fast,  7. The coach is too indifferent,  8. The coach is too obsessed.  Or maybe the NFL is just a slot machine league where any team can beat any other team on any day and you just takes your chances.

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