US – Tuesday, February 9
Plant blast under investigation
Federal investigators headed to Connecticut yesterday to determine the cause of an explosion at an unfinished power plant that killed at least five workers and hospitalized dozens of others.
 
Pressure grows for sanctions
International pressure for new sanctions against Iran grew yesterday after Tehran announced plans to make higher-enriched uranium and add 10 nuclear sites in a year, raising Western fears it wants to develop atom bombs.
 
Stern: I’d do ‘Idol’ for $100M
Howard Stern took to his radio show yesterday to address the rumors that he’s a possible replacement for Simon Cowell for the next season of “American Idol.” To sum it up? He’s not going for it.
 
Dancing while the skinny lady sings
You’ve heard of the jukebox musical? David Parsons and singers AnnMarie Milazzo and Tyley Ross of the East Village Opera Co. offer a jukebox opera, playing nightly at the Joyce. Eleven Parsons dancers share the stage with Milazzo and Ross, who clutch microphones cranked to 11 and stroll through the action. On the recorded soundtrack, three drummers create a wall of sound so loud you — well, I — want to hide under the seat. Digital video of abstract patterns, natural landscapes and stunning architecture change for each song.
 
‘Free’ ad leads to fraud suit
NEW YORK. A Wisconsin college student is suing credit firm Experian — the brains behind the ubiquitous FreeCreditReport.com jingles — for fraudulent advertising after she inadvertently signed up for a monthly $14.95 monitoring service.
 
Let me count the ways ...
‘Tis the season for writing love letters. But that can be a daunting endeavor, especially when you’re not sure where to start. Should you put it in verse, use flowery language, get erotic? As with almost anything in life, the simpler you keep it, the easier (and often better) it will be. It doesn’t sound that romantic, but think of your love letter as a laundry list of the reasons why you adore your sweetheart. It’s kinda like Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet 43: “How do you love your partner? Count the ways!” Here’s how to do it without rhyming or pulling out a thesaurus:
 
Updated 22:56, October the 2nd, 2008
 

Foreman: The scariest images of Washington

Look out your window.  You can almost see them.  Millions of terrified Americans, running like denizens of Tokyo in some old black-and-white movie, while the twin monsters of Washington, Demzilla and the Republikong, roar across the land wreaking havoc.

It is fitting that the month of Halloween should fall right before the election, because Washington’s House of Horrors is more frightening than it has been in quite some time.

In just the past few weeks we have been breathlessly warned that we are teetering on the brink of economic catastrophe, that loans (for anything from a boat to a building) will soon be as scarce as the Yeti, that Afghanistan is ripping apart at the seams, and that if we fail to elect the right person president, the country will sink into the ocean leaving behind only a swirl of worthless stock certificates and some old Ron Paul posters.

“What about our leaders?” you ask.  “Surely they can save us!”  (And yes, I snickered when I wrote the word “leaders.”)  They, unfortunately, are the very folks who, if they did not entirely create these messes, at least stood by and watched them grow into full-fledged fiascos.

Consider that first vote on the first plan for the bailout.  Despite urgent pleas for approval from the president, the treasury secretary, the chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, and the top players in both parties, the House vote went south faster than a New Jersey retiree at the first snowfall.

 Both of the presidential candidates wanted the measure approved.  But Senator McCain could not stop the Republican revolt, and every single member of his home state’s congressional team voted against the plan.

Senator Obama, while accusing McCain of failing in his duties, calmly ignored the fact that 40 percent of his own party’s representatives also voted the measure down.

Both men say they want to lead the nation, and yet in the most important test to date on the most important issue of this election, neither was able to lead even his own party.

Some experienced political pundits say the Capitol right now is witnessing the worst overall failure of leadership in modern times. Others say don’t retire that trophy yet.

D.C. these days is a lot like the island of Dr. Moreau.  Scary folks are running everywhere and they’re saying very scary things.  And with elections in the air, just across the Potomac, voters are gathering with pitchforks and torches.

CNNPolitics.com | Catch Tom Foreman on CNN every Saturday at 6 p.m. on This Week in Politics for a look back at the presidential campaign trail.