memeorandum: Iran Rebuffs U.N., Vows to Speed Up Uranium Enrichment (Nasser Karimi/Associated Press)

Legendary Singer James Brown Dies at 73 — James Brown, the dynamic, pompadoured "Godfather of Soul," whose rasping vocals and revolutionary rhythms made him a founder of rap, funk and disco as well, died early Monday, his agent said. He was 73. — Brown was hospitalized with pneumonia …

Discussion: All Spin Zone, Blue Crab Boulevard, The Heretik, Don Surber, The Huffington Post, THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS, Reason Magazine and The Moderate Voice

Harry R. Weber / Associated Press:

Legendary Singer James Brown Dies at 73 — ATLANTA — James Brown, the undeniable "Godfather of Soul," told friends from his hospital bed that he was looking forward to performing on New Year's Eve, even though he was ill with pneumonia. His heart gave out a few hours later, on Christmas morning.

Discussion: Firedoglake and The Democratic Daily

Associated Press:

'Disco is James Brown, hip-hop is James Brown, rap is James Brown' — He triumphed despite an often unhappy personal life. Brown, who lived in Beech Island near the Georgia line, spent more than two years in a South Carolina prison for aggravated assault and failing to stop for a police officer.

Discussion: protein wisdom

Jeffrey Gettleman / New York Times:

Ethiopia Hits Somali Targets, Declaring War — Ethiopia officially plunged into war with Somalia's Islamist forces on Sunday, bombing targets inside Somalia and pushing ground troops deep into Somali territory in a major escalation that could turn Somalia's internal crisis into a violent religious conflict …

Discussion: A Blog For All, The Moderate Voice, Donklephant and Daniel W. Drezner

Sacramento Bee:
Analysis: U.S. may feed conflict in Somalia, experts say

Discussion: Townhall.com Blog's … and Pajamas Media

Nazila Fathi / New York Times:

Iran Is Defiant, Vowing to U.N. It Will Continue Nuclear Efforts — Iran on Sunday reacted defiantly to the United Nations Security Council resolution imposing sanctions because of the country's nuclear program. Iranian officials vowed to continue efforts to enrich uranium and warned …

Nasser Karimi / Associated Press:
Iran Rebuffs U.N., Vows to Speed Up Uranium Enrichment

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Wake up America and THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS

Agence France Presse:
Iran to install 3,000 centrifuges from today after sanctions

Discussion: Larisa Alexandrovna's …

Thomas Cahill / New York Times:

The Peaceful Crusader — AMID all the useless bloodshed of the Crusades, there is one story that suggests an extended clash of civilizations between Islam and the West was not preordained. It concerns the early 13th-century friar Francis of Assisi, who joined the Fifth Crusade not as a warrior but as a peacemaker.

Discussion: The Heretik and The Democratic Daily

Barbara O'Brien / Crooks and Liars:

Happy Holy Day — Good morning! I am guest blogging here this week so that some of the regular crew can get a break. It's the least a Buddhist can do. — Today is the observance of the annual cease fire on the war on Christmas. In celebration, people wallow waist deep in shredded gift wrap and prepare the armistice feast.

Greg Miller / Los Angeles Times:

Alarming 9/11 claim is found baseless — A military analysts' chart did not identify hijackers beforehand, senators report. — WASHINGTON — The Senate Intelligence Committee has rejected as untrue one of the most disturbing claims about the Sept. 11 terrorist strikes …

Discussion: Political Animal and Mia Culpa

neo-neocon:

'Twas the Blogger's Night Before Christmas — 'TWAS THE BLOGGER'S NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS — 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the 'sphere — Bloggers were glad to see Christmas draw near. — Their PCs were turned off and all put away — The bloggers were swearing to take off the day.

Sheryl Gay Stolberg / New York Times:

Bush-Watchers Wonder How He Copes With Stress — President Bush marched into his year-end news conference last week with the usual zip in his step. As always, he professed little worry about his legacy or the polls. As always, he said the United States would win in Iraq.

Discussion: Brilliant at Breakfast

Reuters:

FACTBOX-Security developments in Iraq, Dec 25 — Source: Reuters — Dec 25 (Reuters) - Following are security developments in Iraq as of 1500 GMT on Monday: — * denotes new or updated item. — *BAGHDAD - A roadside bomb exploded near a U.S. patrol in southern Baghdad …

Sam Harris / Los Angeles Times:

10 myths — and 10 truths — about atheism — SEVERAL POLLS indicate that the term "atheism" has acquired such an extraordinary stigma in the United States that being an atheist is now a perfect impediment to a career in politics (in a way that being black, Muslim or homosexual is not).

Discussion: Booman Tribune, The World Wide Rant, Verum Serum, Liberal Values and digg

Hope Yen / Associated Press:

Katrina fraud likely to balloon past $1B — WASHINGTON - The tally for Hurricane Katrina waste could top $2 billion next year because half of the lucrative government contracts valued at $500,000 or greater for cleanup work are being awarded without little competition.

Discussion: First Draft

Jeff Jacoby / Boston Globe:

Climate of fear — BACK IN 1961, Rod Serling set an episode of "The Twilight Zone" in New York City at a time of uncontrolled global warming. Somehow the Earth's orbit had shifted, and the planet was moving inexorably toward the sun. "This is the eve of the end," Serling intoned in his introduction.

Discussion: Cafe Hayek and THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS