The dangers of going GagaSource: inforum.com
As our society debates the merits of universal health care and the morality of gay clergy leading Lutheran congregations, I'm stuck in a much more important mental mudbath: wondering if Lady Gaga is the most dangerous person in the world.

TOPIC 1: The Powers To Raise and To Spend Taxes

Chester Letang aka Daddy Chess has been named the 2009 Soca Monarch, successfully defending his title, with his song "Ready Or Not".
Daddy Chess was judged the winner after Saturday night's Soca Monarch competition, featuring a total of 12 contestants.

Mexico City, January 11, 2009, With last year's addition of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve and the town of San Miguel de Allende and the nearby Sanctuary of Jesus Nazareno de Atotonilco, Mexico has now a list of 29 World Heritage Sites in the UNESCO sponsored list.

Whew....after a nauseating taxi ride down the Himalayan foothills into sweltering Delhi, then a 2-hour delay at the airport, I'm back in Nepal, and it's business as usual. Or perhaps, no business as usual.
Nepal Maoists say monarchy is overSource: Bloomberg.com
True, the current king and the incumbent are both really rotten eggs...but are they reason enough to do away with 265 years of tradition?

From PC Pro:
The Queen will make her televised Christmas message available as a podcast for the first time, Buckingham Palace said on Thursday.
BBC crew to film Royal householdSource: BBC News
The Queen has agreed to take part in a BBC documentary along with members of her staff which will detail all their duties within the Royal household.
Monarch Airlines orders six Boeing 787sSource: Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The low cost carrier has given a strong vote of confidence in the 787, an interesting point since they waited until they could find out more about the competing A350 XWB before commiting to one type.