Bush is Back...so's JibJab...for a Second Term

Officially, this week's focus on inauguration day for President George W. Bush, an event that again propels him to the top spot among BlogPulse's key people. Opinion about whether he will be considered a united or divider during his second term, like his election results, is pretty evenly split. But wait! Who's that nipping at his heels?

First, it's the JibJab.com brothers, Gregg and Evan Spiridellis, whose newly released animated cartoon "Second Term" is already a hot property on the Internet. And not-so-supportive fans of the Prez staged an economic protest of their own: Not One Damn Dime Day.

And before Mr. Bush has even had a chance to utter the words "Social Security reform," movements are afoot to stop him in his tracks. Among them is today's No. 3 top link, a blog political action committee (PAC) called Social Security: There is No Crisis What is a blog PAC? Find out what it is and who's involved. In a similar vein, Republican Bill Thomas, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, has already gone on record calling Social Security reform, in the face of partisan politics, a "dead horse."

In the Blogosphere, blog software providers are trying to turn comment spam -- the nefarious practice by which traditional spammers post comments on blogs that contain links to spam web sites -- into a dead horse of its own. Major blog providers have joined forces by agreeing on common programming code that can be embedded in blogs to identify comment link as spam so that they're ignored by search engines (that's the reason spammers want in on blogs...for better search results). Cooperating are: Google/Blogger, MSN Search, Six Apart (TypePad, MovableType, LiveJournal), and WordPress. Here's Moveable Type's explanation.

Anyone concerned about the rights of defenseless cartoon characters should know that SpongeBob Squarepants is now the latest target of outrage by the Christian right. (As if outing the purple Teletubby Tinky Winky wasn't enough!). The brou-ha-ha is over a video featuring several cartoon characters to teach children about cooperation and tolerance; right-wingers claim it has a pro-gay agenda. (Is that all they worry about?).

Thoughts on different stuff....

Is this what they mean by a "jury of one's peers?" In which case, I want different peers if I'm ever arrested.

And is it the end of the documentary as we know it?

Breaking from Vatican teachings is the Catholic Church in Spain, which now supports condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS.

And whether you're a David Hasselhoff fan or not, do as the blogger says and prepare to lose your mind.