What I've Learned  —  Nearly 50 years ago, when I arrived in Minnesota as a student fresh from Africa, I had much to learn — starting with the fact that there is nothing wimpish about wearing earmuffs when it is 15 degrees below zero.  All my life since has been a learning experience.

Iran students heckle Ahmadinejad  —  Iranian students have disrupted a speech by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at a prestigious Tehran university, setting fire to his picture and heckling him.  —  "Some students chanted radical slogans and inflamed the atmosphere of the meeting" …

Hamas confirms meeting with group of Democrats  —  Leader claims U.S. party willing to hold dialogue with terrorists  —  TEL AVIV - A key Hamas official has confirmed reports from last week the terror group held meetings with "important Democrats."  —  Ahmed Yousuf, chief political advisor …

Diana was bugged by secret service in U.S.  —  American intelligence agencies were bugging Princess Diana's telephone over her relationship with a US billionaire, the Mail's sister paper has learned.  —  Evening Standard reports that she was even forced to abandon a planned holiday with her sons …

Also, Omar.  —  It's testament to the overpowering awesomeness of The Wire that despite being a deeply opinionated commentary on social, urban, and economic policy, it's basically beloved by the whole political spectrum.  You already know the panoply of lefty bloggers who regularly recommend …

Pelosi piques public's interest  —  As incoming head of the House, with more eyes on her, she intends to paint her own picture.  —  WASHINGTON — When Nancy Pelosi appeared on national television on the morning after voters returned the House to Democratic hands, Leon Rebibo's phone started ringing in Los Angeles.

Poor Bush had a week that reeked  —  DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF  —  WASHINGTON - For a wounded President locked in a lethal downward spiral ever since his reelection, it was the cruelest week of all.  —  Not since Bill Clinton forlornly insisted that "the President is still relevant" …

Inquiry Sought Over Evangelical Video  —  Defense Department Asked to Examine Officers' Acts Supporting Christian Group  —  A military watchdog group is asking the Defense Department to investigate whether seven Army and Air Force officers violated regulations by appearing in uniform …

Former Rep. DeLay, indicted on state campaign finance charges, begins new 'career' as blogger  —  New to Raw Story?  Click here to visit our home page for the latest news.  —  Print page sponsored by Velvet Revolution.  —  Former Texas Congressman Tom DeLay, who resigned as Republican Majority Leader …

NY critics name "United 93" as best picture  —  NEW YORK (Reuters) - "United 93," a tense drama focusing on one of the hijacked planes used in the September 11 attacks, won the best picture prize on Monday in the New York Film Critics Circle Awards.  —  The awards, the third major film honors …

Ohio Rep. Kucinich to Run for President  —  Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich, who unsuccessfully ran for president in 2004, said Monday he is planning to run again because his party isn't pushing hard enough to end the war in Iraq.  —  In a statement, Kucinich said he plans to formally announce …

Olmert indicates Israel has nuclear capability  —  In a move unprecedented by any Israeli leader, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday included Israel in a list of nuclear nations.  —  In an interview with the German television network SAT 1, Olmert was asked about the statement …

Hey, Rosie: Read my lips  —  Ching, chong, smackdown's on:  —  Hoisted by her own petard for her Asian language mimickry, diva of political correctness Rosie O'Donnell is getting blasted by a Chinese-American NYC city councilman for offending minorities: … It's one of the rare times I am enjoying the P.C. circus at work.

Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, who incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped to head the Intelligence Committee when the Democrats take over in January, failed a quiz of basic questions about al Qaeda and Hezbollah …

A Diversity of Opinion  —  The Post needs more opinion writers and columnists who are of the female persuasion or are minorities.  Overwhelmingly, Post columnists are white guys.  Some are among the paper's best columnists, but more diversity would make The Post a richer paper.

Once Just a Sweet Birthday Treat, the Cupcake Becomes a Cause  —  Once a cupcake wasn't something to think about.  It was just what your mom brought to school for your birthday.  But this year, as schools across the country begin enforcing new federally mandated "wellness policies," many are banning the little treats.

Iran opens conference questioning the Holocaust  —  TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran opened a conference on Monday to examine the Holocaust and question whether Nazi Germany used gas chambers to kill Jews, drawing condemnation in the West and criticism from Iran's Jewish community.

THE REAL RAMADI HAS STOOD UP  —  In a Nov. 29 blog, "Will the real Ramadi please stand up?"  I observed that three articles on conditions in Ramadi and al Anbar Province had appeared within a week of each other giving entirely different points of view.  Mine and one in the Times of London …

Pastor resigns over homosexuality  —  In a tearful videotaped message Sunday to his congregation, the senior pastor of a thriving evangelical megachurch in south metro Denver confessed to sexual relations with other men and announced he had voluntarily resigned his pulpit.