The plan calls for $53 billion in funding for new and existing rail projects over the next six years with $8 billion marked specifically for high-speed rail. But don't go selling your car just yet, 2012 is the earliest that work would begin in California... on a line connecting Fresno and Merced. more ›

We hope you have been watching the Presidential and Vice Presidential debates. If you've been watching, have you been using Twitter to throw your opinion into the micro-blogosphere as the debate happens? Current TV has teamed up with Twitter to produce "Hack the Debate", which melds "tweets" and live television during the debates. You can watch the broadcast on either your local distributed access to Current (here's the schedule and listings) or watch Current TV online. more ›

At 9:50 p.m. I looked at my phone and saw a text message waiting to unveil itself. It was a Friday night and speculation had been swirling like Fay for a week about Obama's partner in crime. Back on Aug. 11, Obama had assured us -- his supporters that turned over emails and phone numbers -- that we would be the first ones to know "the moment Barack makes his decision."* more ›

It's official(ish). Delaware Senator Joe Biden is Senator Barack Obama's vice presidential pick, according to a CNN text message alert. more ›

The big headline at the Drudge Report all day today (before he just changed it to the Boston hey-it's-not-a-bomb it's-an-ad fiasco) has been "OBAMA 'CLEAN' BLACK", referring to a mischaracterization of a Joe Biden quote, which Biden later clarified in the clip after the jump. But Drudge doesn't just take the clarification with a grain of salt, he adds the statement to his front page list, and adds the link to the video, and... more ›

A Word or 12: Dirt - I forgot to mention Dirt yesterday, someone just kill me please. Tonight - Wednesday - January 31st, 2007 The Spiral Staircase (TCM, 5:00 p.m.) This nifty thriller from the '40s features a strangler that follows a mute maid through a dark New England mansion during a storm. Lakers @ Celtics (KCAL, 5:30 p.m.) Monster (IFC, 6:00 p.m.) Charlize Theron transorms herself in an Oscar winning performance. Worth watching just... more ›