+ In Iraq: the coalition-administered Iraqi Ministry of Health has joined the Pentagon’s efforts to suppress publication of Iraqi civilian deaths. Hospital staff are forbidden from issuing any information to the international news media. –from a larger Arab News editorial on Bush government election year news manipulation and management.

+ Still have what must be the flu (8 pages, very informative, from E Medicine Health). Can’t pinpoint when I had the first symptoms, but it seems that it has come and gone three times since early fall. Going to a clinic tomorrow. Want to make sure a go hard New Year won’t do me in. –edit: naw. skip that. i’ll rest and go as hard as possible..