For Crack Offenders, Earlier Shot At Release

By Darryl FearsWashington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, December 12, 2007; Page A01
The U.S. Sentencing Commission voted unanimously yesterday to give federal inmates incarcerated for crack cocaine offenses a chance to reduce their sentences, paving the way for about 3,800 prisoners to petition for an early release in the next year.
Yesterday's vote was a controversial sequel to the panel's decision this spring to change the guidelines it issues to judges, reducing the sentences that are handed out to people convicted of crack cocaine offenses. That decision, which went into effect Nov. 1, applied to future cases. Yesterday's vote made that decision retroactive, covering people already imprisoned.

According to an analysis by the commission, 19,500 inmates will be eligible to petition the courts to reduce their sentences. The largest number of those -- more than 1,400 -- were convicted in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, covering Northern Virginia and the Richmond and Tidewater areas. About 280 inmates convicted in federal courts in Maryland will be eligible, as well as almost 270 prisoners convicted and sentenced in the District.
"Crack cocaine sentences have generally been excessive and unwarranted," said William K. Sessions III, a vice chair of the commission. He went on to quote Judge Reggie B. Walton, who appeared before the commission last month: "I just don't see how it's fair that someone sentenced on October 30th gets a certain sentence when someone sentenced on November 1st gets another."
The commission's vote came a day after the Supreme Court decided that federal district judges are not bound by commission guidelines that created a large disparity in punishments meted out to crack and powder cocaine offenders. The 7 to 2 decision cut across the court's typical ideological divide.
The commission's decisions are its attempts to narrow that gap. That disparity, first written into federal law by Congress in 1986, has long been criticized by some jurists and civil rights advocates because it meant crack cocaine offenders, who tend to be African American, often get longer prison sentences than those convicted of crimes involving powder cocaine, who more often are white.
The Bush administration strongly opposed the commission's vote to make its earlier decision retroactive, arguing that inmates would clog the courts with appeals for reductions.
"Making the revised guidelines for crack cocaine retroactive will make thousands of dangerous prisoners, many of them violent gang members, eligible for immediate release," Craig S. Morford, acting deputy attorney general, said in a statement released by the Justice Department. "These offenders are among the most serious and violent offenders in the federal system."
In March, crack cocaine offenders will be eligible to petition the courts that originally sentenced them to have their prison time reduced. Many could be denied by judges based on certain factors, such as whether they represent a public danger or were convicted for other crimes.
"The profound reason why we should get this retroactive application is it is the right thing to do," Vice Chair Ruben Castillo said minutes before the vote. "We should constantly strive to make sure that race plays no role in the day-to-day operation of the criminal justice system."
if Commissioner Beryl A. Howell called the vote "one of the most important decisions the commission has made" during her three years of service. She noted that the panel contributed to the disparity by establishing guidelines that were even more severe than what Congress allowed for in the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986.
As part of a tough sentencing equation, the bipartisan commission mandated that conviction for possessing or distributing five grams of crack cocaine would draw the same mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years as a conviction for possessing or selling 500 grams of powder cocaine, and 10 year for 50 grams of crack or 5,000 grams of powder. In 1995 the commission asked Congress to treat the drugs equally for sentencing purposes, but the request was rejected.

Howell said the vote, which could reduce sentences by an average of 27 months for inmates sentenced under the old guidelines, is small but important. "It is significant because it's the first correct movement in over . . . 20 years. Though modest, I think it shows the commission is trying to change the contribution it has made to the disparity."
But the change is not a "get out of jail free" card, said commissioner Michael E. Horowitz. "Not everybody is automatically entitled to this reduction," he said, explaining that federal judges, many of whom supported making the guidelines retroactive, will decide cases individually on merit.
Sessions said the commission decided to delay retroaction until March 3 so that courts can prepare for an onslaught of inmate motions. The Bureau of Prisons will be asked to notify its facilities, and administrators are to notify inmates of their eligibility.
Echoing a majority of commissioners, Castillo said the vote is a signal to Congress "to make a comprehensive change" in the drug laws.
In the audience, activists from groups such as Families Against Mandatory Minimums joined the family members of inmates in applauding the vote.
Karen Garrison, a D.C. mother whose twin sons, both Howard University graduates whose convictions were based on witness testimony, said: "This is the first time I have really been excited about anything." Lamont Garrison's 19-year sentence could be reduced by four years, and Lawrence's sentence could be reduced by three.
Secoya Jenkins, 16, of Orange, N.J., smiled broadly and said, "I'm excited because my mom is coming home." Nerika Jenkins, 35, also convicted because of witness testimony, is serving a 19-year sentence.
"It is a remarkable day," said Marc Mauer, executive director of the Sentencing Project. "While this is only the federal system and it's a small change, it's going to resonate around the world."

Alex Trebek Jeopardized by Heart Attack

by Sarah Hall

The category? Cardiac events. The clue? Alex Trebek.
The longtime Jeopardy! host suffered a minor heart attack at his home Monday night, a spokesperson for the quiz show confirmed to E! News.
He was said to be "resting comfortably" at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday and was expected to remain there for two days while undergoing tests.
Trebek, 67, has hosted the long-running game show since 1984 and has earned four Emmy Awards for Outstanding Game-Show Host, as well as a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in recognition of his know-it-all endeavors.
He is expected to recover in plenty of time to return to the studio in January for the next scheduled Jeopardy! tapings. It's not the first health scare Trebek has endured in recent years.
In January 2004, he escaped major injury after falling asleep behind the wheel of his pickup truck and careening over a 45-foot embankment.
He was not hospitalized following the crash, nor was he cited for the accident.
The Canadian-born Trebek became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1998. He lives in Studio City with his wife and two children.
When he's not presiding over Jeopardy!, Trebek can be found tending to the thoroughbred horse ranch he owns in Creston, California.

The Huckabee Factor

By ZEV CHAFETS
Published: December 12, 2007
This article will appear in the upcoming issue of the Sunday Magazine.


Mark Peterson for The New York Times
Meeting supporters at a community college near Des Moines.
Mike Huckabee walked into the lobby of the Des Moines Marriott at 5:30 a.m. on Dec. 3, deposited an armful of dirty laundry at the desk and checked to make sure he was being credited with Marriott Rewards points toward his next stay. Then, accompanied by his wife, Janet, his daughter, Sarah, and his press secretary, Alice Stewart — who doubles as his Boston Marathon trainer — he walked into the dark, freezing morning, climbed into a waiting S.U.V. and headed for Central College in Pella, Iowa.
Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, was in a buoyant mood on three hours of sleep. The night before, his commercial flight suffered a long Chicago holdover on the way from Boston, but he had reason to hope that his days at the mercy of the airlines might be numbered. A Des Moines Register opinion poll had just shown Huckabee passing Mitt Romney to take the lead in the run-up to the Jan. 3 caucus. His picture, he already knew, was on the front page of that morning’s USA Today. Now he was headed to Central College, to appear, surrounded by enthusiastic students, on ‘‘The Early Show’’ on CBS . This kind of momentum, he hoped, would finally produce enough cash to allow him to charter his own plane.
The governor was especially happy that morning about an impending endorsement he expected (and received the following day) from Tim LaHaye, the author of the apocalyptic ‘‘Left Behind’’ series of novels. ‘‘Left Behind’’ is wildly popular among evangelicals, who have bought more than 65 million copies, making LaHaye a very rich man and one of the few writers who is also a major philanthropist. Recently he donated a hockey rink to Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University, although some members of the faculty there deride ‘‘Left Behind’’ as science fiction. Huckabee, an ordained Southern Baptist minister, has no such reservations. He considers the ‘‘Left Behind’’ books, in which the world comes to a violent end as Jesus triumphs over Satan, a ‘‘compelling story written for nontheologians.’’
Huckabee’s affability and populist economic and social views have sometimes been misinterpreted as a moderate brand of evangelical Christianity. In fact, as he wrote in his book ‘‘Character Makes a Difference,’’ he considers liberalism to be a cancer on Christianity. Huckabee is an admirer of the late Jerry Falwell (whose son, Jerry Jr., recently endorsed his candidacy) and subscribes wholeheartedly to the principles of the Moral Majority. He also affirms the Baptist Faith and Message statement: ‘‘The Holy Bible . . . has truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy.’’
On the road to Pella, Huckabee talked about the enthusiasm he now encounters everywhere he goes. For example, he said, his driver in California not only declined payment but also wrote the governor a $50 personal check right on the spot. It was, I thought, a dangerous anecdote to tell within earshot of a professional driver traveling along an icy highway at high speed, but Huckabee was feeling invulnerable, and the driver, I later realized, was already on the governor’s team. Huckabee normally starts his mornings by running 6 to 10 miles and reading a chapter from the Book of Proverbs. Today he was too pressed to do either, but he planned to catch up later. Anyway, he knew much of the day’s assignment, Chapter 3, by heart. ‘‘Trust in the Lord,’’ he quoted, ‘‘and lean not upon thine own understanding.’’ Not a bad motto for a campaign that is still too broke to do any independent polling.
Chapter 3 also contains the admonition to ‘‘keep sound wisdom and discretion.’’ Huckabee is, indeed, a discreet fellow, but he has no trouble making his feelings known. He mentioned how much he respected his fellow candidates John McCain and Rudolph W. Giuliani. The name of his principal rival in Iowa, Mitt Romney, went unmentioned. Romney, a Mormon, had promised that he would be addressing the subject of his religion a few days later. I asked Huckabee, who describes himself as the only Republican candidate with a degree in theology, if he considered Mormonism a cult or a religion. ‘‘I think it’s a religion,’’ he said. ‘‘I really don’t know much about it.’’

Fed Skeptical of Recession, Cut Disappoints Investors (Update1)

By Scott Lanman and Craig Torres

Dec. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Federal Reserve officials still expect the economy to grow and are reluctant to deliver the deeper interest-rate reductions demanded by some economists and investors.
The Federal Open Market Committee lowered the benchmark rate by a quarter-point yesterday to 4.25 percent, and said cumulative cuts of 1 percentage point this year should promote ``moderate growth.'' Policy makers also dropped their assessment that growth and inflation risks were ``roughly'' equal and cited ``uncertainty'' about the outlook.
The move put the central bank, which has struggled to contain the subprime credit collapse, further at odds with investors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell the most after a Fed decision since Ben S. Bernanke, 53, became chairman in February 2006 as traders speculated he will fail to avert a recession. Officials haven't ruled out further steps to ease the credit squeeze in financial markets before they meet Jan. 29-30.
``This is a reluctant committee, they didn't want to ease,'' said Vincent Reinhart, former director of the Fed's Division of Monetary Affairs and now a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington. ``The data are coming about as expected, and they are being asked to respond. They view that as double-counting.''
Officials are actively considering ways to stem a surge in borrowing costs among banks and increase liquidity in markets. Some economists were disappointed the Fed didn't announce a greater cut to the discount rate than the quarter-point that officials delivered yesterday.
Yields Tumble
Stocks fell in Europe and Asia after the Fed's decision. Treasuries also fell, with two-year yields rising 12 basis points, or 0.12 percentage point, to 3.04 percent by 9:37 a.m. in London, according to bond broker Cantor Fitzgerald LP.
Futures prices showed traders anticipate the Fed will cut its main rate to 3.75 percent or lower by the end of March. A basis point is 0.01 percentage point.
``I can't remember a time when the Fed's credibility with the markets has been lower than it is today,'' said Stephen Stanley, chief economist at RBS Greenwich Capital in Greenwich, Connecticut, and a former Fed researcher. ``Practically everyone has something to be disappointed with'' in the Fed's statement.
The Fed lowered the charge on direct loans to banks, the discount rate, to 4.75 percent, surprising economists who expected a half-point reduction to encourage more borrowing.
Direct Loans
Fed Vice Chairman Donald Kohn and other officials have expressed frustration banks haven't made more use of direct loans. While lending jumped as high as $7.2 billion on Sept. 12, it has since retreated.
Concern about mounting losses on securities linked to mortgages diminished banks' willingness to lend to each other, sending funding costs higher. The three-month dollar London Interbank Offered Rate rose to 5.11 percent yesterday from 4.87 percent a month before.
``Strains in financial markets have increased in recent weeks,'' policy makers recognized yesterday. That contributed to the ``uncertainty surrounding the outlook for economic growth and inflation,'' the Fed said.
The risk of companies defaulting on their debt rose the most in a month yesterday. The Markit CDX North America Investment Grade Index, a U.S. benchmark, climbed 6 basis points to 79 basis points, according to Deutsche Bank AG in New York.
Economists said the central bank may consider steps such as extending discount-rate loan terms to 90 days, from 30. In 1999, the Fed addressed potential money shortages during the 2000 computer-system changeover by selling options on almost $500 billion of repurchase agreements.
Dissenting Vote
Policy makers weren't united on yesterday's decision. Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren, 50, a former bank- supervision chief with a research background in New England and Japanese financial crises, favored a half-point reduction.
Only seven of the 12 Fed district banks requested the quarter-point discount-rate cut, suggesting some asked for a bigger move, analysts said.
The Fed has avoided stating that growth was a bigger concern than inflation in its statements since August. On Aug. 7, the FOMC said inflation was a greater risk, only to cut rates the next month. Officials said after their Oct. 30-31 meeting that the risks were ``roughly'' equal.
Each time, futures trading showed traders shrugged off the comments, continuing to bet on further rate cuts.
`Self-Fulfilling'
``The Fed's tendency to be more reactionary, combined with a market braced for a greater, more pronounced slowdown, amounts to a self-fulfilling prophecy,'' said Taylor Burroughs, an Atlanta-based derivatives analyst at Regions Financial Corp., with $138 billion in assets. ``The Fed is looking at forecasts and the market is more focused on the here and now.''
Officials noted that ``elevated energy and commodity prices'' may cause faster inflation. A Labor Department report Dec. 14 may show consumer prices climbed 4.1 percent last month from a year before, according to the median forecast in a Bloomberg survey. Excluding food and energy, prices probably rose 2.3 percent, from 2.2 percent in October.
Policy makers may feel as if they're ``walking in a dark room,'' said Bruce Kasman, chief economist at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in New York. ``They're not feeling as certain as they would like to about where the economy is heading.''
To contact the reporters on this story: Scott Lanman in Washington at slanman@bloomberg.net ; Craig Torres in Washington at ctorres3@bloomberg.net Last Updated: December 12, 2007 05:47 EST

FCC Pressed to Stop Internet Blocking

Nov 30, 2007,
Earlier this month, responding to Comcast's blocking of Internet traffic, members of the SavetheInternet.com Coalition and Internet scholars at the nation's top law schools filed a petition and complaint with the Federal Communications Commission. The filings call for urgent action to stop violations of consumers' right to access the software and content of their choice. In the "most drastic example yet of data discrimination," the Associated Press recently exposed that Comcast, the nation's largest cable company and second-largest Internet service provider, is actively interfering with its users' ability to access legal content. The company is cutting off legal peer-to-peer file-sharing networks such as BitTorrent and Gnutella, as well as business applications such as Lotus Notes. Comcast has claimed its actions were "reasonable network management." "Comcast's defense is bogus," said Ben Scott, policy director of Free Press. "The FCC needs to take immediate action to put an end to this harmful practice. Comcast's blatant and deceptive BitTorrent blocking is exactly the type of problem advocates warned would occur without Net Neutrality laws. Our message to both the FCC and Congress is simple: We told you so, now do something about it." The "Petition for Declaratory Ruling" presses the FCC to establish that blocking peer-to-peer communications like BitTorrent violates the agency's "Internet Policy Statement" -- four principles issued in 2005 that are supposed to guarantee consumers competition among providers and access to all content, applications and services. "Last year, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and opponents of Net Neutrality told Congress that the FCC has all the authority it needs to prevent exactly this sort of customer abuse by a major provider," said Harold Feld, senior vice president of Media Access Project. "Now we come to the acid test. Will the FCC, which vowed to protect our freedom to run the applications of our choice, stand up for citizens in the face of Comcast?" The FCC issued its policy after dismantling longstanding "open access" requirements that had protected Net Neutrality since the birth of the Internet. Millions of concerned citizens and hundreds of organizations from across the political spectrum have urged Congress and the FCC to reinstate and enforce Net Neutrality laws to prevent discrimination by cable and phone companies, which dominate nearly 95 percent of the broadband market. "The Commission has a choice," said Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge. "It can either protect consumers from the abuses of telephone and cable companies, or it can walk away and let the telephone and cable companies chip away at the free and open Internet little by little until they can control consumer use of the network as they please. We will see how serious the Commission is about preserving the neutral, non-discriminatory Internet that encourages innovation without permission." The petition was filed by Free Press, Public Knowledge, Media Access Project, Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, the Information Society Project at Yale Law School, Charles Nesson of Harvard Law School and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society, and Barbara van Schewick of Stanford Law School and the Stanford Center for Internet & Society. Free Press and Public Knowledge also filed a complaint against Comcast, asking the FCC to stop Comcast from interfering with Internet traffic and rule that the cable giant's actions directly violate the agency's Internet Policy Statement. The groups proposed fines to deter future violations by Comcast and other Internet service providers. "Nobody gave Comcast the right to be an Internet gatekeeper," says Marvin Ammori, general counsel of Free Press and co-author of the complaint. "And there is nothing reasonable about telling users which Internet services they can and can't use." Petition for Declaratory Ruling:http://www.freepress.net/docs/fp_et_al_nn_declaratory_ruling.pdf Comcast Complaint:http://www.freepress.net/docs/fp_pk_comcast_complaint.pdf For more information, visit www.SavetheInternet.com

Beginning Jan 31, New Travel Document Requirements

Beginning Jan. 31, New Travel Document Requirements in Effect for Anyone Entering the U.S.
Dec 4, 2007, News Report
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of State (DOS) today reminded the traveling public that as of Jan. 31, 2008, all adult travelers will be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, and proof of identity, such as a driver's license, when entering the United States through land and sea ports of entry. DHS will be issuing a notice in the Federal Register formally announcing the change.This change is a necessary step to prepare travelers and ease the transition to the future requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), said the DHS in a release. WHTI proposes to establish documentation requirements for travelers entering the United States who were previously exempt, including citizens of the U.S., Canada and Bermuda. As recommended by the 9/11 Commission, Congress enacted WHTI in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. WHTI will result in both enhanced security and increased facilitation across the border once implemented. During this transition, DHS and the Department of State are working diligently to minimize the impact on legitimate trade and travel.Currently, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers may accept oral declarations of citizenship from U.S. and Canadian citizens seeking entry into the United States through a land or sea border. However, as of January 31, 2008:
· Oral declarations of citizenship alone will no longer be accepted.
· U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 19 and older will need to present a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate.
· Children ages 18 and under will only be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.
· Passports and trusted traveler program cards -- NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST -- will continue to be accepted for cross-border travel.
· All existing nonimmigrant visa and passport requirements will remain in effect and will not be altered by this change.
DOS reminded the public that the current turnaround time for a passport is four to six weeks, so Americans planning international travel may wish to apply now. For information on obtaining a U.S. Passport visit DOS online, or call 1-877-487-2778. Specific documentation requirements for land, sea and air travel may be found online. To learn more about NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST, click here.

Senator questions hiring of H-1B workers by two federal entities

Patrick Thibodeau
November 28, 2007 (Computerworld) -- The National Institutes of Health employed more than 300 H-1B workers during the federal government's 2006 fiscal year, prompting Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) to ask in a letter to NIH officials why a federal agency is hiring foreign workers with temporary visas.
Grassley, a member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary and a leading critic of the H-1B visa program, today also fired off a letter with a similar set of questions to the Federal National Mortgage Association, also known as Fannie Mae. The Washington-based lender began as a government agency before becoming a private business that operates under a congressional charter.
During fiscal 2006, which ended in September of last year, the NIH "hired or otherwise employed" 322 people through the H-1B visa program, according to Grassley. Fannie Mae had 141 H-1B workers during the same period, he wrote. Grassley said in a statement that the NIH and Fannie Mae were the only federal or government-chartered entities among the top 200 users of H-1B visas in fiscal 2006, with the NIH making the top 100.
"I'm asking questions today to find out how many taxpayer dollars are being used to recruit foreign workers and how invested our government-backed entities are in this visa program," Grassley said in a statement.
In the letters, he asked the NIH and Fannie Mae to provide an accounting of how many full- and part-time H-1B workers they have employed each year dating back to January 2002, along with the job titles of the H-1B holders.
The senator is also seeking detailed descriptions of the steps that the NIH and Fannie Mae take to hire American workers before filling jobs with H-1B holders, plus information on the number of layoffs made by the two organizations since 2002, including the job titles of affected employees.
Grassley acknowledged in the letters that the H-1B program "provides an avenue for U।S. employers to temporarily employ skilled foreign workers when the domestic workforce is unable to meet employer demands." But, he added, "this system is open to abuse and has raised concerns about whether American workers are being protected and whether H-1B employers are skirting the law in order to hire cheaper foreign labor."
The senator addressed the letters to Elias Zerhouni, the NIH's director, and Daniel Mudd, president and CEO of Fannie Mae. Grassley wrote that as a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, he has a "duty to conduct oversight" of federal entities and their immigration practices.
Grassley said he became interested in the NIH and Fannie Mae because they were among the top 200 users of H-1B visas in fiscal 2006. The NIH was No. 55, and Fannie Mae was No. 199, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. That made them the only federal or government-chartered entities on that list, Grassley said.
Officials at the NIH and Fannie Mae weren't immediately available for comment on Grassley's letters, which asked that responses to his questions be submitted by Dec. 12.
Last spring, Grassley and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) released data showing that the largest user of H-1B visas during fiscal 2006 was Bangalore, India-based offshore services provider Infosys Technologies Ltd., which received 4,908 visas. It was followed by Wipro Ltd., another Bangalore-based outsourcing firm that used 4,002 visas.
Microsoft Corp. was the third-largest H-1B user that year, with 3,117 visas, and Bill Gates, the software vendor's chairman, has been among the most vocal advocates of raising the annual cap on the number of visas that can be issued. The cap currently is 85,000, including 65,000 regular visas and 20,000 that are set aside for foreign nationals who have advanced degrees from U.S. universities.
The NIH wasn't the only public-sector agency that was a major user of H-1B visas during fiscal 2006. New York City's public school system was issued 642 visas that year, putting it in 22nd place on the list of visa users.
Grassley sent his letters to the NIH and Fannie Mae on the same day that Compete America, a lobbying group with heavy backing from IT vendors, said that it had sent a letter to Congress urging legislators to take action on a proposal to increase the H-1B cap before they adjourn for the year.
Citing an effort by the European Union to attract skilled workers with its Blue Card temporary visa program, Compete America contended that the visa system in the U.S. "should better reflect the realities" of the global economy. "At a time when other nations are aggressively taking steps to improve their own competitive position, the United States is failing to do so by sustaining a visa system that turns away future innovators," the organization said in its letter.

Giuliani Denies Obscuring Mayoral Expenses

By JAKE TAPPER and WONBO WOONov. 29, 2007
From World News with Charles Gibson

Giuliani Denies Obscuring Mayoral Expense
Former Mayor Asserts 'Hit Job' on Personal Life
Former Republican Mayor Rudy Giuliani of New York says a story accusing him of obscuring mayoral expenses to hide an extramarital tryst is a "hit job" on his personal life. (ABCNEWS)

More questions emerged Thursday about a report that Rudy Giuliani misused public funds when he was mayor of New York to pay for secret trips to the Hamptons with his then-girlfriend and now wife, Judith Nathan.
New York City Comptroller Bill Thompson told ABC News that Giuliani's administration billed obscure city agencies for his security detail's travel expenses during his visits to the Hamptons

It's like 'Joystick to the World'

Marc Saltzman, USA TODAY
Santa's elves know it's a busy year for video games - they're scrambling to deliver a sleigh-full of them to kids of all ages. There's an unprecedented number of gaming platforms today, including next-generation consoles such as the Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3; portables include the Nintendo DS and Sony PlayStation Portable; and PCs, phones and Apple iPods. We look at some of the year's finest.
For kids
"Super Mario Galaxy," Nintendo, for the Wii, $49.99, rated E
Gaming's favorite plumber is back, this time in outer space. Players use the Wii's motion-sensing controllers to zap to various planets, collect items, solve puzzles and fight baddies. This single-player game is one of the best Mario games in recent memory, and colorful graphics and a terrific soundtrack add to the fun.
"Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga," LucasArts, for the Wii, PS3, Xbox 360, $49.99, E-10+
As with its predecessors, this fuses Lego blocks and the beloved sci-fi movie series to create a fun-filled romp throughout the galaxy. For the first time, players can experience all six films in one game. The PS3 and Xbox 360 versions offer high-definition graphics and online cooperative play, while the Wii game uses the intuitive motion-sensing technology.
"Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08," EA Sports, all major platforms, $29.99 to $59.99, rated E
Adding features such as the ability to save (and watch) a highlights reel, "PGA Tour" is the best golf simulation to date. The Wii version lets you hold the controller like a club, but the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC versions offer high-definition graphics.
Also recommended for this age: THQ's "Drawn to Life" (DS, $29.99, rated E); Nintendo's "Mario Strikers Charged" (Wii, $49.99, rated E-10+); and Capcom's "Mega Man ZX Advent" (DS, $29.99, rated E-10+).
For tweens
Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass," Nintendo, for DS, $34.99, rated E
Two of Nintendo's greatest success stories - the coveted "Zelda" franchise and the portable DS - come together in a pocket-sized adventure that makes good use of the DS's touch-screen display. Use the stylus pen to sail the seas, slash your sword and aim your boomerang to bypass obstacles.
"Project Gotham Racing 4," Microsoft Studios, for Xbox 360, $59.99, rated E
Get your motor running with an intense, exhilarating racing experience with near-photorealistic graphics. The 120-plus authentically re-created cars and cycles feel great, plus the kudos earned by playing well can be used to buy upgradeable items for your ride. You can also race online against friends.
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction," Sony, for PS3, $59.99, rated E-10+
Action and humor join in a fun fantasy that resembles a Saturday a.m. cartoon. Fans can expect bigger (and wackier) alien enemies, smoother animation and flying vehicles.
"NBA 2K8," 2K Sports, for PS3 and Xbox 360, $59.99, rated E
The best pro basketball game of the year is packed with solo and multiplayer modes, graphics so real passers-by might do a double take, and improved offensive and defensive control. There's also a fun slam-dunk contest where you can master hundreds of moves.
Also check out: "Codemasters' DiRT" (Xbox 360, PS3, from $49.99, rated E); and Nintendo's "Super Paper Mario" (Wii, $49.99; rated E).
For teens
"Rock Band," MTV Games, for Xbox 360 and PS3, $59.99, or $169.99 with instrument bundle, rated T, ages 13 and up
From the same folks who created the insanely popular "Guitar Hero" games comes the Game of the Year. With the recommended "bundle" version, you not only get a guitar to jam to the finest rock songs but also a collapsible drum kit and microphone. Up to four friends can play together in front of the TV or over the Internet. An extra guitar can also play the bass lines, rounding out your four-piece band. The goal of the game is to hit the correct notes (or drum pad) at the right time so your rock band can evolve from an unknown indie act to stadium sellouts. Play well and the crowd cheers you on; hit a few sour notes and you might just get booed offstage. Also consider "Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock" (RedOctane, for Xbox 360, PS2 and PS3, Wii and PC, from $89.99 with wireless guitar, rated T).
"NHL 08," EA Sports, for Xbox 360, PS2 and PS3 and PC, from $29.99; rated E-10+
Lace up your skates and hit the ice with this hard-hitting hockey game with improved control, smart artificial intelligence, attractive graphics and innovative new features, such as the ability to devise custom plays. Play a quick game or an entire season, or body-check your way through the meaty career mode, minigames or online matches.
"Uncharted: Drake's Fortune," Sony, for PS3, $59.99, rated T
Consider this a cross between "Indiana Jones" and "Lost," where a 400-year-old clue in the coffin of Sir Francis Drake leads a modern-day fortune hunter - his descendant Nathan Drake - to a mysterious island. Not only must Drake use brains and brawn to get off the island alive with the treasure, but he must also unravel the secrets of this forgotten island.
Other A-grade games, all rated T: Nintendo's "Metroid Prime 3: Corruption" (for Wii, $49.99), Sierra's "World in Conflict" (PC, $49.99), Sony's "Heavenly Sword" (PS3, $59.99) and Namco Bandai's "Ace Combat 6" (Xbox 360, $59.99).
For adults
"BioShock," 2K Games, for PC, Xbox 360, from $49.99, rated M
This creepy, atmospheric shooter strands players in a hidden underwater city torn by civil war. Mutated creatures, protective robots and little girls who steal life-giving fluid from the dead now dominate this once-idyllic society. Play with the lights dimmed.
"Halo 3," Microsoft Studios, for Xbox 360, $59.99; rated M
Believe the hype. This sci-fi shooter delivers a white-knuckle single-player experience and infinitely replayable team-based multiplayer matches. New to this sequel is the ability to save and share game highlights.
"Mass Effect," Microsoft Studios, for Xbox 360, $59.99, rated M
This ambitious role-playing game lets players set off and explore the galaxy in an attempt to stop an ominous force bent on destroying all advanced life forms. Tactical combat, puzzle-solving and thousands of lines of dialogue with memorable characters add up to a deep and addictive fantasy adventure.
"Assassin's Creed," Ubisoft, for Xbox 360, PS3, $59.99, rated M
One of the most engaging adventures of the year takes place in 1191, when the Third Crusade is tearing apart the Holy Land. You are skilled assassin Altair, who must remain undetected through the bustling cities of Damascus, Jerusalem and Acre, seek out your targets and figure out how to accomplish your daring missions without getting caught.
Other titles, all rated M: Activision's "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare" (Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, from $49.99), Valve's "The Orange Box" (PC, Xbox 360, PS3, from $49.99), EA Games' "Crysis" (PC, $49.99) and Midway's "Stranglehold" (Xbox 360, PS3, PC, from $49.99).
For the older/casual player
"Brain Age 2," Nintendo, for DS, $29.99; rated E
As with the best-selling predecessor, the goal is to lower your "brain age" with a handful of activities that range from reading and counting exercises to word games, drawing challenges and Sudoku puzzles. The dual-screen DS is held sideways, like a book, and you use the stylus pen and your voice to interact with the brain-sharpening minigames.
"Casual" games are easy to pick up but difficult to master. Most offer a "try before you buy" model, allowing you to play for free for an hour before you're asked to cough up $20 to keep playing. These PC games are a huge hit among non-typical players. Top casual games of 2007 include GoBit's "Burger Shop," Gamelab's "Miss Management," Big Fish Games' "Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate," RealArcade's "Mortimer Beckett and the Secrets of Spooky Manor," and PopCap Games' "Peggle."

Apple, AT&T Plan to Sell iPhone

By NICK WINGFIELD and DIONNE SEARCEYNovember 29, 2007 4:35 p.m.
Apple Inc. and AT&T Inc. plan to begin selling a version of the iPhone next year that operates on a wireless network for surfing the Internet at fast speeds.
AT&T Chief executive Randall Stephenson said Wednesday at an event at the Churchill Club in Santa Clara, Calif., that consumers could expect an iPhone that works on "3G" wireless networks sometime in 2008. Such a product would address one of the major shortcomings of the iPhone, the Apple-made cellular phone for which AT&T is the exclusive wireless distributor in the U.S.
An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment on Mr. Stephenson's statement, but Apple CEO Steve Jobs has previously suggested a 3G iPhone could be available next year as the underlying technologies that enable compatibility with the fast network become more practical. Mr. Jobs has said that the current generation of 3G chips drain battery power too quickly but that new ones will eventually overcome that problem.
The iPhone comes with a number of innovative features including a touch-sensitive screen and a more capable Web browser than is typically found on cellular phones. But the device currently works on AT&T's slow EDGE network in the U.S., which limits users to browsing the Web at speeds comparable to dial-up Internet connections.
Write to Nick Wingfield at nick.wingfield@wsj.com and Dionne Searcey at dionne.searcey@wsj.com

''Dancing With the Stars'': Helio Gets the Checkered Flag

Behold the new winner of Dancing With the Stars: not Marie Osmond! (That's all most people cared about, right?) Race-car driver and champion of smiling Helio Castroneves edged out Scary Spice to win the coveted ''splendid'' mirror-ball trophy, which always looks smaller in person, even when that person is Helio. We can rest assured that he deserved to win because the owner of Penske Racing said so. Helio is the second partner of Julianne's to switch from racing around in circles (lame!) to twirling around a ballroom (spectacular!) and handily win it all. And Julianne has now joined Cheryl as the show's second repeat pro champion. Congrats to both winners, especially Helio for overcoming his initial phobia of sequins throughout the season. If your priorities for enjoying this show are anywhere near as warped as mine, it really made a difference.
Of course, I'm disappointed for Mel, but more than that, I was pleasantly surprised (and a bit shocked, considering her rabid fan base of ''thousands and thousands of doll collectors'') that Marie was declared the second runner-up early in the episode. Stowing Marie safely off camera allowed us to focus on the 7000 filler segments featuring mostly Helio and Mel that peppered the finale in between live dances.
Now, results-show filler is usually cringe-worthy, but I have to admit I truly enjoyed everything this time. All of my friends will disown me for what I'm about to type, but I honest-to-Maks teared up at Celine Dion's performance of ''My Heart Will Go On,'' just after Cheryl fluttered out and flung herself backwards onto Mark's knee. Her commitment to the moment reminded me of my blind devotion to the entire ridiculous series, and I just lost it! They're all so beautiful! You think I'm joking but I'm not! Sniff!
Of course, I was only being a total softie about the filler because it was the last show of the season and in a few hours I was about to get my life back. But tell me with a straight face that you weren't completely delighted during that 2001: A Space Odyssey smoke-machine fiasco. I was surprised they didn't place the trophy in the center of the stage to represent the monolith, which would aptly make the two couples the groveling gorillas. But no matter. This was another one of those blatantly over-the-top DWTS treats that as a loyal viewer, you're somewhat embarrassed by, until a few seconds later, when you boldly declare to no one in particular, ''F--- it, I love this s---!'' At least that's been my experience.
My favorite segment was the sort of ''blooper reel'' of the final three, which contained Helio chastising each of his misbehaving feet in a dramatic monologue, Julianne accidentally dancing into a glass wall, extended footage of Maks' belching regimen (who knew?), and possibly the greatest unscripted exchange ever between two partnered contestants: Mel: ''God!'' Maks: ''Just call me Maks.'' They could have played this entire segment three times and I would have sat there, feeding bowl in outstretched hands, begging for more. Anything

US Republican Presidential Contenders Clash Over Immigration

US Republican Presidential Contenders Clash Over Immigration
By Jim Malone Washington29 November 2007
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In their latest presidential debate, the Republican contenders clashed over illegal immigration and the war in Iraq. From Washington, VOA National Correspondent Jim Malone has the latest on the race for the Republican Party's presidential nomination.
Illegal immigration is an emotional issue for many Republican voters. With that in mind, some of the top Republican White House contenders exchanged pointed barbs over who would be tougher against the flow of illegal immigrants across the U.S. border with Mexico.
During the debate sponsored by YouTube and CNN, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney accused Republican frontrunner Rudy Giuliani of being too welcoming to illegal immigrants during his time as mayor of New York City.
"The mayor said, and I quote almost verbatim, which is if you happen to be in the country in an undocumented status, and that means you are here illegally, then we welcome you here," he said.
Giuliani is known for striking back at critics, and did just that with Romney.
Mitt Romney, left, and Rudy Giuliani speak simultaneously while discussing immigration during the CNN/You Tube debate in Florida, 28 Nov. 2007
GIUILIANI: "There is even a sanctuary mansion. At his [Romney's] own home, illegal immigrants were being employed. If you are going to take a holier-than-thou attitude that you are perfect on immigration..."ROMNEY: "I am not perfect."GIULIANI: "It just so happens that you have a special immigration problem that nobody else up here has. You were employing illegal immigrants."
Illegal immigration has become a key issue in the Republican presidential caucuses and primaries that begin in Iowa on January 3.
The Republican contenders also debated Iraq.
Fred Thompson stands during the introductions at start of the CNN/YouTube Republican party presidential debate, 28 Nov 2007Former Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee was asked by a YouTube questioner how long U.S. troops should remain in Iraq.
"We should not be there any longer than necessary, and we do not know how long that will be, but we should be there absolutely as long as it takes to complete our mission there," he said.
Texas Congressman Ron Paul remains the only Republican presidential contender who supports an immediate withdrawal from Iraq.
"The best commitment we can make to the Iraqi people is to give them their country back," he said. "That is the most important thing we can do."
Paul's answer drew a response from Senator John McCain of Arizona, who noted an improved security situation in Iraq as a result of the U.S. troop surge.
Senator John McCain speaks during the CNN/YouTube debate in St. Petersburg, Florida, 28 Nov 2007"I just finished having Thanksgiving with the troops, and their message to you is, 'Let us win, let us win,'" said Senator McCain.
Previous Republican debates featured attacks from several of the candidates on Senator Hillary Clinton, the frontrunner for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.
There were fewer jabs at Clinton in this debate, though former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee did manage to work in her name in an answer to a question about future space exploration.
"Whether we need to send somebody to Mars, I do not know. But I will you tell what. If we do, I have got a few suggestions, and maybe Hillary [Clinton] could be on the first rocket to Mars," he said.
Huckabee appears to be on the move in the latest poll in the early contest state of Iowa. A new survey by the Rasmussen Reports shows Huckabee vaulting into a narrow lead in Iowa over Romney, who retains the lead in the early voting state of New Hampshire, while Giuliani continues to lead the Republican field in national polls

Rodney King Shot!!

Rodney King, famous for a videotaped beating from Los Angeles police back in 1991, was shot and wounded on a San Bernardino street corner late Wednesday. King called Rialto police just before midnight to report the shooting. According to Sgt. Don Lewis, King was struck in the face and arm -- with what appeared to be pellets or birdshot. When police arrived at King's home, they reported that King and others inside appeared drunk. The man got shot in the face -- he deserves a drink!
King was taken to a local hospital, and his wounds were not believed to be life-threatening.

World Must Fix Climate in Less than 10 Years

By Raymond Colitt 2 hours, 41 minutes ago
BRASILIA (Reuters) - Unless the international community agrees to cut carbon emissions by half over the next generation, climate change is likely to cause large-scale human and economic setbacks and irreversible ecological catastrophes, a U.N. report said on Tuesday.

The U.N. Human Development Report issued one of the strongest warnings yet of the lasting impact of climate change on living standards and a strong call for urgent collective action.
"We could be on the verge of seeing human development reverse for the first time in 30 years," Kevin Watkins, lead author of the report, told Reuters.
The report, presented in Brasilia on Tuesday, sets targets and a road map to reduce carbon emissions before a U.N. climate summit next month in Bali, Indonesia.
Emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere help trap heat and lead to global warming.
"The message for Bali is the world cannot afford to wait. It has less than a decade to change course," said Watkins, a senior research fellow at Britain's Oxford University.
Dangerous climate change will be unavoidable if in the next 15 years emissions follow the same trend as the past 15 years, the report said.
To avoid catastrophic impact, the rise in global temperature must be limited to 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius). But carbon emissions mostly from cars and power plants are twice the level needed to meet that target, the U.N. authors said.
Climate change threatens to condemn millions of people to poverty, the UNDP said. Climate disasters between 2000 and 2004 affected 262 million people, 98 percent of them in the developing world. The poor are often forced to sell productive assets or save on food, health, and education, creating "life-long cycles of disadvantage."
HOMES, FOOD, WATER IMPERILED
A temperature rise of between 5.4 and 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit (3 and 4 degrees Celsius) would displace 340 million people through flooding, droughts would diminish farm output, and retreating glaciers would cut off drinking water from as many as 1.8 billion people, the report said.
In Kenya, children 5 or younger are 50 percent more likely to be malnourished if they were born during a drought year, affecting their life-long health and productivity.
Countries have the technical ability and financial resources to tackle climate change, the report says.
"What is missing is a sense of urgency and human solidarity -- I hope that emerges in Bali," UNDP head Kemal Dervis said at a ceremony attended by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
The report singled out the United States and Australia as the only major Western economies not to sign the Kyoto Protocol, an agreement signed by 172 countries to reduce emissions. It expires in 2012.
Ethiopia emits 0.1 metric tons of carbon dioxide per capita, compared to 20 metric tons in Canada. U.S. per capita emissions are more than 15 times those of India.
The world needs to spend 1.6 percent of global economic output annually through 2030 to stabilize the carbon stock and meet the 3.6-degree Fahrenheit temperature target, the UNDP said. Rich countries, the biggest carbon emitters, should lead the way and cut emissions at least 30 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. Developing nations should cut emissions 20 percent by 2050, it said.
"When people in an American city turn on their air conditioning or people in Europe drive their cars, their actions have consequences ... linking them to rural communities in Bangladesh, farmers in Ethiopia and slum dwellers in Haiti," the report said.
The UNDP recommended measures including improved energy efficiency for appliances and cars, taxes or caps on emissions, and the ability to trade allowances to emit more. It said an experimental technology to store carbon emissions underground was promising for the coal industry and suggested technology transfer to coal-dependent developing countries like China.
Asked whether the report was alarmist, Watkins said it was based on science and evidence. "I defy anybody to speak to the victims of droughts and floods, like we did, and challenge our conclusions on the long-term impact of climate disasters," he said

No deal in theater strike, but talks to resume Wednesday

Breaking News
No deal in theater strike, but talks to resume Wednesday
By EDGAR SANDOVAL and STEPHANIE GASKELL DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Tuesday, November 27th 2007, 10:58 AM
F. Roberts for News
Stagehands picket outside the Ambassador Theater, where performances of 'Chicago' have been shuttered by the ongoing stagehands' strike. Talks stalled Tuesday morning.
Broadway will stay dark at least through tomorrow's matinees, theater producers said this morning.
"The League of American Theatres and Producers and Local One talked through the night and were unable to reach an agreement," said Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of the League of American Theatres and Producers.
"Talks will resume tomorrow at 10 a.m. Performances will be canceled through Wednesday's matinees."
A spokesman for the striking stagehands from Local 1 said contract negotiations ended about 7:30 a.m. today.
Negotiators from Local 1 and the League of American Theatres and Producers had been meeting at the law office of Proskauer Rose LLP on Broadway.
The stagehands and producers have not been able to agree about proposed changes to benefits and work rules.
Shortly before talks ended, Bruce Cohen, spokesman for Local One, had said, "Reaching common ground is not easy. We both have motivation to reach a deal. The producers are afraid of losing dollars. The stagehands are worried about losing work."
City officials estimate the strike - which began Nov. 10 - is costing about $2 million a day in lost revenue.

Cyber Shopping

Do you prefer the hustle and bustle of crowds or do you let your fingers do the walking and cybershop. What works best for you?

Sean Taylor (Redskin safety) passes away

Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor died early Tuesday from the gunshot wound he suffered a day earlier in his Miami home. "He did not make it through the night," said Taylor's attorney, Richard Sharpstein, who called the incident "a ridiculous, unnecessary tragedy.

What's really so sad about this, is this kid had his whole life ahead of him. He changed his life and started doing the right things in life. He was staying out of trouble and he had a future ahead of him.

It such a tragedy that people can just burst through your house and shoot you "just like that".