Japan Ups the Ante

Japan now leads the race to be Most Giving Country of 2004-2005 -- it has pledged $500 million to aid tsunami victims (death toll now reaching 150,000), up from $30 million.

As CNB noted previously, Europe needs to put up or shut up now that the US is giving $350 million (with private corporations helping further). This is even more true now that Japan has become the philanthropic leader of the world (now this is an international competition that really means something).

As for the rest of us, go here to find where to donate.

Happy New Year.

Link for Helping Tsunami Victims

CNB wishes everyone a happy and healthy New Year, even those CNB mocks/criticizes on a regular basis (not that it is not deserved -- also here).

For those thinking of the victims of the recent tsunami (US is now kicking in $350M -- wish it didn't take international prodding to make it happen, but it is much better -- now Europe needs to put up or shut up), you can go here for information on how to help, finding information, etc.

CNB NewsBlurbs

Iraqis can cast ballots in Chicago
Well, the dead have voted in Chicago for years -- why not the Iraqis?

Tsunami relief hits $500 million
Spain has pledged nearly $70 million, the US (saying more is on the way) has pledged $35 million. Finland has plegdged $5 million in private funds, and there are only 4 million people in the whole country. As a comparison tool, note that Republicans have pledged $40 million in private funds for the presidential inauguration.

Democrat Declared Winner in Wash. State Gov. Race
The final tally showed Democrat Christine Gregoire received 1,373,361 votes, Republican Dino Rossi with 1,373,232, and Libertarian Ruth Bennett with 63,465 votes -- and Libertarians weren't sure if their votes counted.

American Zombies Blamed for Bulk of Spam

No commentary -- CNB just liked the title of the article. Not often that you see "zombies" in the title of a something other than the review of a horror movie.

Electile Dysfunction

According to the New York Times (hey - Jayson Blair is long gone, so this is probably true), the US is lobbying Iraq to secure the broad Sunni participation, regardless of the outcome of the January 30 election. The Times said US officials have raised with an aide to Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, (Iraq's top Shiite cleric), the possibility of adding some top Sunnis to the 275-member legislature, even if they lose to non-Sunni candidates.

Other US politicians (like Sen. Richard Lugar) have suggested that some accommodation be made, though most do not want quotas. Essentially, the concern is that the election will create a Shiite theocracy, which is not an unrealistic scenario, in that Shiites make up 60% of the Iraqi population.

CNB just finds it odd that an administration that disfavors affirmative action in its own country would find it appropriate in another, and, more importantly, that this issue has just now become a concern, rather than being predicted by experts prior to the decision to invade.