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 …

Justice Dept. Database Stirs Privacy Fears  —  Size and Scope of the Interagency Investigative Tool Worry Civil Libertarians  —  The Justice Department is building a massive database that allows state and local police officers around the country to search millions of case files from the FBI …

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.

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 …

Hidey-Ho  —  I was trying to find a good YouTube of my favorite Christmas carol, "O Holy Night," and unfortunately this was what I came up with.  —  Also for your Christmas day entertainment — clips from the Mr. Hankey episode in Japanese.  —  Enjoy.

Nonprofit Connects Murtha, Lobbyists  —  For a quarter of a century, Carmen Scialabba labored for Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), helping parcel out the billions of dollars that came through the House Appropriations Committee, so when the disabled aide needed a favor, Murtha was there.

Analysis: U.S. may feed conflict in Somalia, experts say  —  America is seen as backing Ethiopian intervention, leading to calls for 'jihad.'  —  Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A17  —  NAIROBI, Kenya — As fighting has intensified between Somali Islamists and an Ethiopian intervention force …

Interior, Pentagon Faulted In Audits  —  Effort to Speed Defense Contracts Wasted Millions  —  The Defense Department paid two procurement operations at the Department of the Interior to arrange for Pentagon purchases totaling $1.7 billion that resulted in excessive fees and tens of millions of dollars in waste, documents show.

Christmas Movie Redux  —  Dork Alert: I know everyone has had their say on their favorite Christmas movie, but mine is Home Alone.  I unapologetically love the story, the filmmaking and McCauley Culkin, and I cry every time.  My nephew and I usually watch it at Christmas time but he's 14 …

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.

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.

'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.

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.

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.

Christmas in the Middle East  —  Al-Zaman reports that "The Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad appeared almost deserted on Christmas Eve.  Christian celebrations of Christmas were limited to private homes.  Iraqi Christians had announced last week that they would suspend official celebration …