Voters in Ecuador Approve Constitution and Rights of Nature

Ecuador is now the first country in the world to codify a new system of environmental protection based on rights...

In a country rich with ecological treasures, including the Galapagos Islands and part of the Amazon rain forest, the constitution also calls on government to avoid measures that would destroy ecosystems or drive species to extinction -- the first such measure of its kind, according to Ecuadoran officials. The constitution would allow civil unions for gay couples.

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Daily Show Compares Bush Speeches on Bailout and Iraq War

Perhaps we're being played again?

Amazon and stupid retail tricks

Amazon hides the price of the Canon G10 camera. Click through...it's actually 4 cents cheaper. Why don't we show the price? Because we think you're stupid.

Must watch videos: Palin Witch-hunt, Letterman on McCain, Palin Sexism, Jasiri on Bailout

It's been an incredible day and here are a few must watch videos to forward to your friends and colleagues:

* Countdown MSNBC shows video of Kenya Witch-hunting pastor laying hands on Sarah Palin to ask Jesus to promote her political career and keep witchcraft away from her.

* CNN's Campbell Brown tells the McCain camp to stop the sexist treatment of Sarah Palin, keeping her under wraps as if she was a delicate flower.

* David Letterman rants for nine minutes over McCain's last minute cancellation. McCain said he had to go to Washington to save the economy...but found time to do an interview with Katie Couric.

* Jasiri X reports via hip hop on the financial crisis. He's doing weekly hip hop news summaries.

* And finally, don't miss the spammer's take on the Paulson bailout plan, Bush's early Halloween economic fright speech and Alternet's Five Dangerous, Disastrous Things About the Proposed Bailout and What You Can Do to Help Stop It

Free Sarah? Campbell Brown rips McCain campaign for sexism

Nice monologue by Campbell Brown about the McCain camp's sexist treatment of Sarah Palin, keeping her away from the press because she's a delicate flower. Nice Free Sarah graphic in the background as well.

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Marketplace Wrapup: Kai Ryssal on Henry Paulson Email Scam

Just to show you that somebody's got a sense of humor about the crisis on Wall Street. . . . There's an e-mail making the rounds. Maybe you've seen it. Starts like this: "Dear American, I need to ask you to support an urgent secret business relationship with a transfer of funds of great magnitude." If you're thinking it's one of those Nigerian scams, read on. "I am Ministry of the Treasury of the Republic of America. My country has a crisis that has caused the need for large tranfer of funds. . ." and so on. Signed, of course, Henry Paulson. If you're interested, just go ahead and send your account information. There's an e-mail address we can get you.

Read story at NewsCloud.

Old Media Advertising Home Delivery on New Media

Arianna should be very satisfied with this (click to enlarge the image). The New York Times is advertising it's home print delivery on the front page of Huffington Post online.

David Cay Johnston Tells Journalists to Question Financial Bailout

Is the financial bailout a fraud about to be perpetuated on the American people by a corrupt administration and a frightened Democratic Congress? Reading Johnston's piece makes me think so.

In covering the proposed $700 billion bailout of Wall Street don't repeat the failed lapdog practices that so damaged our reputations in the rush to war in Iraq and the adoption of the Patriot Act. Don't assume that Congress must act instantly, as so many news stories state as if it was an immutable fact. The Administration has scared the markets and some key legislative leaders, but it has not laid out a coherent, specific and compelling need for this enormous proposal, which is the equivalent of a one-time 55 percent income tax surcharge. (Instead the money will be borrowed, so ask from whom and how this much can be raised so quickly if the credit markets are nearly seized up with fear.) Ask this question -- are the credit markets really about to seize up?

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Reduce your Comcast bill now that they're "local"

I made my semiannual call to Comcast (see here, here, here) to request they cut my rate since Qwest and DirecTV keep sending me these incredibly low offers to switch.

The operator was more difficult this time and wasted more of my time making the change. They reduced my bill from $101 to $75 per month for six months, a bit less than I'd remembered in the past.

Interestingly, she kept saying that one of the reasons I should stick with Comcast is because "we're local". She said it several times. It turns out they are headquartered in Pennsylvania (I live in Seattle). Local as in we like to lie to the customers in our service areas?

Anyway Comcast, anytime you want to offer me the best rate on an integrated net/tv package without making me call you twice a year, let me know. Until then, I'll be looking to see what Verizon offers in our area shortly.

GamaGo Obama Tees!

I think this is the funnest tee I've seen in a long time. Unfortunately, they are having trouble keeping them in stock. GamaGo Yeti-bama tee.

I think that warm spot in my heart for Yeti's started with Tintin in Tibet.