What began as a troubling year for Bush, facing a new, energetic Democratic Congress, ended in triumph for the president as frustrated Democrats nursed their losses. Democrats failed in their No. 1 objective to stop the war in Iraq and bowed to Bush and his veto threats on tax policies, energy legislation, children's health insurance and general spending. After months of bitter fights, Bush said the year was ending on a high note.
One of three top suspects in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway wrote during an Internet chat session that the teenager was dead, Aruba's chief prosecutor said Thursday. Prosecutor Hans Mos refused to identify the person who wrote the message but said its discovery had contributed to the decision to re-arrest Joran van der Sloot and brothers Deepak and Satish Kalpoe last month. The men were subsequently released after they refused to speak to authorities about newly uncovered evidence.STY: Oh...well, if they refuse to speak then by all means, let them go.
ns a year by 2022. The bill also calls for improved energy efficiency of appliances such as refrigerators, freezers and dishwashers, and a 70 percent increase in the efficiency of light bulbs. It also calls for energy efficiency improvements in federal buildings and construction of commercial buildings. The new lighting standards alone are projected to lower consumers' annual electricity bills by $13 billion in 2020, remove the need for 60 mid-size power plants and reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse gas, by 100 million tons a year, said the advocacy group Alliance to Save Energy. Democrats said the fuel economy requirements will save motorists $700 to $1,000 a year in fuel costs and reduce oil demand by 1.1 million barrels a day when the fuel-stingy vehicles are widely on the road. 
Florida voters may have a chance next year to approve a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Voters may decide next year whether Florida will become the 28th state to place a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Sponsors of the proposed ban claim that they have gathered the required 611,009 signatures necessary for a referendum vote, but Florida's Division of Elections website shows the group is 253 signatures short of its goal, the Associated Press reported Friday. An election official has yet to formally verify the signatures. Florida currently prohibits same-sex marriage, but John Stemberger, an Orlando attorney heading the group opposed to marriage equality, said a constitutional ban would prevent judges from overturning the law. Who's talking about kids? I thought we were talking about marriage? Somebody get Jamie Lynn Spears on the phone -- STAT!
In a year in which most films dealing with conflicting world cultures have failed to excite moviegoers, the makers of "The Kite Runner" hope to win audiences by bridging the divide of race and ethnicity. 
Pamela continued, "I didn't want to be rash or anything. Some people get married right away like it totally means nothing. I wasn't like that with my first marriage. Or my second. And I'm not going to be like that with my third, fourth, or fifth. Besides, Rick and I haven't gotten OUR sex tape out on the Internet..."
