It's not reporting; it's creative writing

This story from the AP has a provocative headline, sure to appeal to the traditionalists: "Study Links Child Care To Problem Behavior." The study is a longitudinal one, looking at over 1300 children, and one would guess that it would concern parents whose children regularly spend some time in someone else's care.

Except the study draws this conclusion (reported by the writer, Kevin Freking, in the 5th paragraph):

The researchers said the increase in vocabulary and problem behaviors was small, and that parenting quality was a much more important predictor of child development.

and in the 10th paragraph:

The authors emphasized that the children's behavior was within a normal range and that it would be impossible to go into a classroom, and with no additional information, pick out those who had been in child care.

Of course, that doesn't make a provocative story, so Kevin, or his editor, got creative.

Ethics, schmethics.

Yeah, that'll fix 'em.

U.S. Bans Sale of iPods to North Korea

Our Top Story Tonight...

There is lots of news my local news stations can cover in their 22 minutes minus sports minus weather. National news, world news, local news; war, the economy, even entertainment. So why is one of my local stations teasing this story: "How do you get to heaven?"

I give up. Really.

OJ may have thought it was about OJ...

...but it was always All About Judith.

All the proof anyone will need is the inevitable exclusive interview that someone will get with Judith, and -- I'm guessing -- Judith's book about the whole sorry affair (under the guise of what she says is her own abuse history).

The whole lot of 'em should go back to the putrid slime in the fetid puddle under the rock they crawled out from.

Louise Approves

This?

This is what Dave meant when he created The Department of Louise.

Good. We need to police ourselves.

Cheers to the TPMmuckraker folks who are already on the case of potential corruption in the Democratic Leadership ranks. I can't speak for anyone else, but I didn't vote Dem just so they could be the ones to dip into the till.

They all want in on the grooming.

Look who was front and just off center today at the Dem's announcement about open and honest government. If hard work and long service to the cause counted for anything, my boyfriend, Henry Waxman (whose shiny pate is just visible) would be up there, but instead it's Our Future Savior, Barak Obama.

Don't get me wrong, I'm still a big fan. It's just amusing to see how quickly he's become part of the "face" of the party. They know a good thing when they see it, and they want to stand next to it.

Also, note the more senior black congressman on the right. Don't you love the look he's giving The Youngster?

A little symbolism for your election day results...

Woman Fatally Bitten by Snake in Church.

It's all incestuous, but I guess it could be worse.

Ok, Rumsfeld out, Gates (circa PapaBush) in. Gotta be better, right? He's not going to sell arms to the insurgents, right? (No need -- we're givin' 'em away!)

Inspiring...and heartbreaking.

Wow. What a photograph. (No not the icon. The one at the link!)

Let's remember we demanded this change, in large part, for them.

Do it right.

The Democratic leadership puts representation from both parties in conference.
The Democratic leadership has a functioning, effective ethics investigation process.
The Democratic leadership does not hold votes open in violation of rules.
The Democratic leadership puts fiscal responsibility ahead of pork.

Every one of these statements had better turn out to be true. We must be different than our predecessors.

Sic 'em, Henry!

Give 'em hell!

Secretary Lieberman

I think Tim F. has this one exactly right: Bush will offer Lieberman the SecDef job, Lieberman will lap it up, and Jodi Rell will appoint a Republican. Presto: even with Tester and Webb wins, we're back to 50-50 with Cheney as the swing vote. I wouldn't be surprised to learn this has been in the works since Lieberman lost the primary.

And then we'll just see what Hillary and Chuck and Harry say about that.