Sam:

Left unmentioned by the article on the Wii Fit, was the detail that it will not support users over 300 lbs. So this is helpful for the merely overweight; but 3.8 million americans will have to lose weight the normal way. And good luck finding a Wii. They are still perpetually sold out at Target.

Nicholas:

You know, it’s funny – it’s easier to sit back and criticise something that it is to do it.

James:

Defens- IMO the war – The initial prosecution of the war went great. Once we ‘won’ things went downhill. I attribute this to a lack of competence, both by white house and the pentagon. Currently I believe that general Petraeus has good plan, though he needs some more troops. That said, I believe in the ‘trust but verify’ credo. I tend to put more faith in the independent reporters on the ground then spokesmen.

Nicholas:

Apparently this General blamed the lame stream media and the Democrats before he blamed the White House.. funny how most media outlets failed to mention that eh?

Dfens:

Remember, we are only outsourcing the low skilled, low tech jobs that Americans don’t want to do. This should free us to get high tech, high skill jobs, like working in fast food at McDonald’s:

A rising number of U.S. lawmakers are expressing concern about a business deal that would give communist China access to vital U.S. defense technology. Eight members of Congress have now called upon the Bush administration to block a proposed buyout of 3Com because a Chinese company is participating in that deal. 3Com provides the Pentagon and other government agencies with secure network wireless technology. Lawmakers say the founder of the Chinese company is a former PLA army officer who may still have links with the Chinese government and the Chinese military. Our nation’s airlines may be trading security for profits. Some U.S. airlines are now, unbelievably, contracting with foreign companies to provide passenger security checks. A congressional investigation didn’t identify the airline’s testimony today before a House committee, but that information is ready to be released. Lisa Sylvester has our report. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The airlines that you fly have found a way to cut costs: outsource. From the plane’s maintenance to screening against terror watch lists, that work is increasingly being done by foreign companies. Congressional critics worry it’s compromising safety and security. SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL (D), MISSOURI: What I can’t figure out why there is no sense of agency about foreign repair stations, especially in light of the fact that we have now non-certified foreign repair stations that are doing significant work. SYLVESTER: A Transportation Department inspector general report found that nine major air carriers it reviewed outsourced 34 percent of heavy maintenance in 2003. By 2006, 67 percent of significant maintenance for those airlines was contracted out. The report says a full third of that workload went to foreign providers who are not required to use FAA certified mechanics or meet other basic standards. LARRY WILLIS, AFL-CIO: You have drug and alcohol testing standards mandated when aircraft are repaired in this country, but overseas those standards do not need to be applied, even when those individuals are working on U.S.-registered aircraft. SYLVESTER: The Transportation Security Administration said it’s working on closing the gaps, but insists it has other security measures are in place. KIP HAWLEY, DIRECTOR, TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION: As you know, there are layers that are in place, so it is not completely uncovered. It’s part of the layer and risk management that we look at. SYLVESTER: But that’s not the only thing some airlines are contracting out. The Transportation Security Administration requires air carriers match the names of passengers against terror watch lists. Some airlines have opted to rely on outside foreign companies to screen passengers. CATHLEEN BERRICK, GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE: Some carriers contract out with foreign countries and the foreign countries are actually doing the name matching. So, obviously, there’s concerns there. SYLVESTER: The Transportation Security Administration says the contractors are held to the same standards as the airlines that do the work in-house, including following confidentiality rules. (END VIDEOTAPE) SYLVESTER: Still, the Transportation Security Administration favors taking over the job of matching passenger lists from the airlines. It’s also working on new guidelines and standards for airlines that use foreign repair stations. But TSA has been a little slow getting around to that. Congress mandated that the TSA have those new rules in place by August 2004. The TSA still has not issued those guidelines — Lou. DOBBS: Well, the TSA is not doing its job. It is at the same time attempting to provide some, perhaps, improvement in terms of outsourcing terror watch lists. But the idea — Senator Claire McCaskill put it — the idea of outsourcing 67 percent of heavy maintenance for American airlines, U.S. airlines, and half of that maintenance going to foreign repair stations that are unregulated, do not have to make, as you reported, federal — meet federal standards, is Congress going to do anything about this absurdity? SYLVESTER: It is extremely frustrating. And the more that members of Congress realize just the scope of this, of how much it has increased, Congress is looking at trying to close that loophole. And one of the things they’re doing is requiring the TSA come up with those new standards and fulfill that requirement for that rule that they were supposed to do back in 2004 — Lou. DOBBS: It is becoming extremely clear that one of the greatest travesties in this country in terms of regulation was deregulating the U.S. airline industry nearly 30 years ago. They have made a mess of it. They continue to make a mess of it, and, really, frankly, appear not to know how to run an airline, the number that are in bankruptcy, outsourcing critical jobs. It’s disgusting.