CNN/Opinion Research Poll - January 14-16 - Arizona Shootings  —  Interesting to see that 30% didn't think mental illness didn't play a role in this.  These people are either ignorant of the facts or as delusional as the gunman.  It is scary that that many people could think this insane delusional person had no mental illness.

The War on Logic  —  My wife and I were thinking of going out for an inexpensive dinner tonight.  But John Boehner, the speaker of the House, says that no matter how cheap the meal may seem, it will cost thousands of dollars once you take our monthly mortgage payments into account.

Scenes From a Marriage  —  In every twisted, wretched, ruinous relationship, there are moments so grim, flare-ups so appalling, that they offer both parties a chance to step back, take inventory, and realize that it's time — far past time, in fact — to go their separate ways.

Utah's “Quiet Title Law” Bypasses MERS, Awards Homes Free and Clear; One Homeowner Had $417,000 Debt Erased  —  The Salt Lake Tribune has an interesting article on Utah's “Quiet Title Laws”, MERS, clouded titles, and record keeping.  Several people won titles free and clear to their houses …

Ehud Barak splits from Labor Party  —  Defense minister filed urgent request with Knesset's House Committee to discuss his plan to quit party, set up new faction along with four other Labor MKs  —  Latest Update:  —  Ehud Barak and four other Labor faction members asked the Knesset's House Committee …

Let Freedom Ring  —  Almost a half-century ago, Martin Luther King, delivering a speech at a rally that President John Kennedy implored civil-rights activists not to hold, told his countrymen that African-Americans wanted “in” on the American Dream.  —  “When the architects of our republic wrote …

Seahawks fall to climate of hate in Chicago  —  You should have known something like this was going to happen.  The vitriol and anger in our nation's sports talk has never been harsher - and we may as well face it: most of it is coming from Chicago Bears Fans.

A Former Dictator Reappears in Haiti  —  MEXICO CITY — Haiti's exiled former dictator, Jean-Claude Duvalier, returned unexpectedly to his homeland Sunday for the first time since he was deposed in a coup in 1986.  —  Although the reason was not immediately clear, his return …

New Call Not to Raise Debt Cap  —  WASHINGTON—Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a likely GOP White House hopeful, called on congressional Republicans to block an increase in the limit on federal borrowing, and he proposed legislation that he said would prevent a U.S. default on its loans.

Ex-Swiss Banker Gives Data to WikiLeaks  —  LONDON — A former Swiss bank executive said on Monday that he had given the WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, details of more than 2,000 prominent individuals and companies that he contends engaged in tax evasion and other possible criminal activity.

ABC News Exclusive: Capt. Mark Kelly Talks to Diane Sawyer About Wife Gabrielle Giffords' Recovery; Says She Is Still Looking Out for Others  —  Rep. Gabrielle Giffords smiles at her husband and has even given him back rubs, her doctors said today.  —  The tracheotomy tube in the throat …

NYT: Say, maybe we should have waited for the facts before blaming the Right  —  Don't worry, though, because the New York Times' public editor (their term for ombudsman) “shares the view to an extent” (emphasis mine) that the Times and the media rushed to put the Tucson shootings in a political context.

Correcting our record  —  We've removed an explosive 2005 report by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about autism and vaccines.  Here's why  —  In 2005, Salon published online an exclusive story by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that offered an explosive premise: that the mercury-based thimerosal compound present …

No. 2 bank overcharged troops on mortgages  —  NBC News exclusive: JPMorgan Chase also improperly foreclosed on homes  —  Below:  —  on TODAYshow.com -  — More from: - TODAY - Nightly News - Meet the Press - Dateline - Morning Joe - Hardball - Countdown - Rachel Maddow - msnbc tv

Giffords's condition upgraded  —  TUCSON - Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was upgraded from critical to serious condition Sunday after doctors determined that there were no complications from having her ventilator removed a day earlier.  —  In a statement released Sunday afternoon …

the blindspot (updated)  —  I'm sorry, but I feel compelled.  —  The last week has seen an endless discussion, within the political blogosphere, about the meaning of rhetoric, extremism, and what is acceptable discourse.  I'm on break now, so I've been more attentive than usual.

Apple Says Steve Jobs Will Take a New Medical Leave  —  Steven P. Jobs, the co-founder and chief executive of Apple, is taking a medical leave of absence, a year and a half after his return from a liver transplant, the company said on Monday.  —  Mr. Jobs announced his leave in a letter …