2007 ID Theft: 79M Records Compromised

That's four times the amount of personal data compromised in 2006.

The Great Fall of China

Largely ignored by the media, the latest story to come out of Washington changes the world. The story's unlikely source was the staid World Bank, which published updated statistics on the economic output of 146 countries. China's economy, said the bank, is smaller than it thought. About 40% smaller.

Rudy Will 'Chase Muslims Back To Their Caves'

rudy's folks say the darndest things..

Congress Doesn't Exist Unless I Say It Does

Bush is now claiming a "pocket veto" on the Defense Authorization Bill even though Congress is still in session. The Constitution explicitly states that 'pocket veto" only exists when Congress is not in session.

Benazir Bhutto says... Bin Laden was Murdered?

In this interview Benazir says that Bin Laden was murdered.

Wal-Mart says resolved December 26 gift card issues (Reuters)

Reuters - Wal-Mart Stores Inc said it
faced glitches with its gift-card verification system on the
day after Christmas, when a large number of its customers came
to its stores for post-Christmas shopping, but resolved them on
the same day.

Wal-Mart cancels movie download service

Wal-Mart Stores Inc quietly canceled its online video download service less than a year after the site went live

Buffett starts up bond insurer to rival MBIA, Ambac (Reuters)

Reuters - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway
Inc (BRKa.N) (BRKb.N) is starting a bond insurer that would
help state and local governments lower their borrowing costs,
and is likely to lure business from established rivals
struggling with credit market turmoil.

Tribute to Jimmy Carter For Work With Habitat For Humanity

Regardless of political persuasion, we all have to admit that Carter's Work with Habitat For Humanity is worth recognition. If your tired of the negative news, here's something worth reading.

Fox News limiting next debate to 'so-called' Top Teir

According to this website, only Rudy, Huck, Mitt, McCain and dead Fred will be on the next Fox debate. Even though Ron Paul is polling higher than Thompson on all national polls. Gonna be a boring debate when everyone agrees.

Michelle Obama: A First Lady in Waiting

Who needs a warm-up campaign? Having scaled down her career to support her husband’s political goals, Michelle Obama says “it’s now or never” for the couple to take the White House. As Barack gathers momentum, Michelle speaks candidly about America’s need for change, and a different kind of political marriage.

Human greed is a threat to the planet, warns Williams

A stark warning that human greed is threatening to destroy the environment was issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury in his Christmas message

Sunni, Shia March Together in Baghdad for Peace

Approximately 1,000 Iraqi citizens, of both Shia and Sunni religions, joined together on the sectarian fault line in Rawaniyah, the Karkh District of Baghdad, to march with one another in what they called a “Peace March”, Dec. 19.

Political Reality Check: Presidential Candidate's Homes

A guide to presidential candidates’ humble abodes.

Home prices post record annual drop (Reuters)

Reuters - Prices of existing U.S. single-family
homes recorded their biggest annual drop in October, suggesting
the housing slump is far from over, a national home price gauge
released on Wednesday showed.

Super Rich and Super Cheap

Meet the world's wealthiest cheapskates.

When Cops Trick Innocent Kids into False Confessions

Convicted of killing his wealthy parents after confessing 19 years ago, Martin Tankleff moved closer to freedom Friday when an appeals court said there's enough new evidence to convince a jury he's innocent.

Credit jitters spread to student loan market

Credit-market tremors — like the ones linked to the housing crisis — are beginning to show up in the $85 billion student-loan market.

Cheney accused of blocking Californian bid to cut car fumes

The US vice-president, Dick Cheney, was behind a controversial decision to block California's attempt to impose tough emission limits on car manufacturers, according to insiders at the government Environmental Protection Agency.

Investors eye shoppers this week (AP)

AP - With Wall Street itching for an end-of-the-year surge but still somewhat nervous about consumer spending, Americans' shopping patterns in the last hours before Christmas could make or break a "Santa Claus rally."

Alternative minimum tax growth blocked

Congress acted in its final hours Wednesday to block growth of the alternative minimum tax, putting off an economic hardship affecting more than 20 million taxpayers.

A User's Guide to Mortgage Shopping

Elisabeth Leamy's tips, advice and warnings for those looking for a mortgage.

Santa Delivers 37,000+ Copies of Constitution to Bush

Kringle hopes the President can find time to read the document and abide by its laws.

Columnist jokes: What was Cheney trying to hide with fire?

Conspiratorial wheels started spinning in plenty of people's minds this week when a fire broke out in Dick Cheney's ceremonial offices.For one Washington Post columnist, Wednesday's fire sparked reminders of G. Gordon Liddy's abandoned plot to firebomb Brookings to get Daniel Ellsberg's Vietnam papers.The question is what did they burn this time?

Roofing Billionaire Dies in Fall Through Roof

Wisconsin mogul had net worth of $3.5 billion, according to Forbes.

The Terror Train Bears Down

Why Jane Harman's "Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007" is a profoundly bad idea, one likely to skew and misdirect the fight against genuine terrorism into an ideological witchhunt that poisons our constitutional rights.Unfortunately, this Orwellian bill is very much on the verge of becoming reality.

Sooner or later? When to take Social Security

While most people take their Social Security benefits before reaching retirement age, it may not be the best choice, especially in the face of increasing life spans.?

Tech sector leads Wall Street rally (FT.com)

FT.com - Wall Street stocks rose on Friday after strong results from Research (NASDAQ:RIMM) In Motion provided a boost to the technology sector and on reports that Merrill Lynch may get a multi-billion dollar capital infusion from Singapore.

If you're happy and you know it ... spend

Those with rosy outlook more likely to make prudent financial decisions, but extreme optimists make riskier investments a study finds.

Time to Fix or Trash Your Appliances?

Elisabeth Leamy's tips about what to do with your aging appliances.

Why Old Rockers Sound Better Than Ever

They might be eligible for AARP, but the old folks' tours still make big cash.

New Roth 401(k) offers options

Refer to the Roth 401(k) and the likely response will either be a blank stare or a correction: “Oh, you mean a Roth IRA.” But the Roth 401k is real and may be the right plan for you.

Give Dodd Material For His Filibuster, Part 2

Write a letter to the last man in Washington to stand up for the rule of law. Let congress know what civil liberties mean to you!

FCC Approves New Media Ownership Rule

FCC Approves Controversial Media Ownership Rule

How Low Must Home Prices Go Before They Become "Affordable"?

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. (MarketWatch) -- Housing will revive when prices come down to the point where demand rises enough to reduce the huge supply of unsold homes now overhanging the market. That said, this point is a long way off..."Figure at least another 20% before families can afford to buy"

What does ‘core’ inflation mean anyway?

Last week's reports on a strong uptick in prices have readers wondering how worried they should be about inflation.? The Answer Desk by msnbc.com's John W. Schoen.

Who Will Stand with Chris Dodd for the Constitution?

Sometime today, Chris Dodd will take the floor in the US Senate and begin talking - a filibuster - and what he has to say touches on the most important issues facing this country. The topic, a bill to provide retroactive immunity to telecom companies who violated the law by helping the Bush Administration illegally spy on America. ..A CALL TO ARMS!

'12 Days of Christmas' Gets Costly

The price of gifts listed in 'Twelve Days of Christmas' Carol Hits $78,100.

It's not too late to nurture that nest egg

In a perfect world, every 40- or 50-something would have a tidy nest egg. But in real life, other financial priorities often come first. But now's the time to buckle down.

US 'serial killer' gets 438 years

A US court has sentenced a suspected serial killer to 438 years in jail for sexual assaults of two sisters in 2005.

Person-to-person lending online picks up

Colin Nash, 35, was struggling with $12,000 in credit card debt late last year. Meanwhile, Michael Fisher, 24, was looking for a new investment. So, Fisher loaned Nash $200.

RSS Feed: Send News to Your Computer

Get the latest business headlines from ABC News.

House Passes Ban On Waterboarding

The House of Representatives on Thursday approved an intelligence bill that bans the Central Intelligence Agency from using waterboarding, mock executions and other harsh interrogation methods.

Worried About Foreclosure?

Tell Your Story to ABC News

Kasparov Ends Bid for Russian Presidency

Garry Kasparov, the chess grandmaster and relentless critic of President Vladimir Putin, has ended his long-shot presidential bid, citing official harassment he said prevented him from holding a legally required nomination meeting.

Auto Insurance … for Your Pet?

One insurer is offering up to $500 if a dog or cat is hurt or dies in a car cras

Answer Desk front page

With Americans living longer, a growing number of people are embarking on entrepreneurial second careers ?well into their 80s. For many, running a company has become the new retirement.

Waterboarding torture - what it looks like

This video gives a clearer idea of what water boarding is all about as you see Kaj Larsen actually go through it. It looks like torture to me.

Is a reverse mortgage right for you?

The mortgage meltdown has been dominating headlines for months. The reverse mortgage market has been cruising along briskly. These loans aren’t for everyone, though.

Tips for Finding and Securing a Virtual Assistant

Finding the right business is important to achieving your goals. Having the money to finance it is one thing, but if you can't get passionate about it, you will never succeed. Other than finding the right area of business to get into, you need to find the right employees, and perhaps more important, finding the right assistant. You are going to be extremely busy and it may be tough to handle all your responsabilites. To alleviate some of your worries, read Tips For Finding and Securing a Virtual Assistant.


franchise information, franchise tips

An Iraqi refugee shares her story - a blogger in Syria

"The first weeks here were something of a cultural shock. It has taken me these last three months to work away certain habits I’d acquired in Iraq after the war. It took me at least three weeks to teach myself to walk properly again- with head lifted, not constantly looking behind me."

Lower your medical bills over the long haul

Regardless of your status – healthy or sick, insured or uninsured – these ounce-of-prevention-type tips may help you feel at least a little bit better for just pennies a day.

And Here Comes The Spin On Tasers

Today a report is out about how Tasers are used by police officers to prevent suicide. And guess who sponsored this report? The Taser manufacturer. Damage control at its best.

In Debt? I have The Perfect Christmas Gift For You!

It can be extremely hard, and extremely emotional to buy a present for your loved ones when you are in debt. You want to get them the finer things in life, but you can't afford it. This is a problem which is becoming more and more prevelant in our society. It's sad, but we can't seem to control ourselves, and it's not showing any signs of stopping. We should take a page out of Perfect Christmas Gift, where they explain how to satisfy the toughest critics, without putting yourself in the poor house. Pay attention to detail, maybe you will learn a thing or two. Who knows, you might even save some money!

Dems Hold Fire On Huckabee; See 'Easy Kill' In Gen. Election

Democrat party officials are avoiding any and all criticism of Republican presidential contender Mike Huckabee, insiders reveal. The DNC has told staffers to hold all fire, until he secures the party's nomination.Within the DNC, Huckabee is known as the "glass jaw -- and they're just waiting to break it."

Fed Rate Cut Fails to Calm Jittery Financial Markets

The Dow Jones industrial average lost more than 290 points today.