Technology:

Desperately seeking to upgrade, repair, or disassemble your mobile phone? Check out Digg.com. The New York Times' David Pogue has an article on the site that's devoted to all things techy, that's sure to spark your giggle box.


Corruption in High Places:

When the Republicans were out of office, one of their biggest complaints was about the corruption within the party that controlled government. Now that Republicans have been in power for many years, guess what? EDMUND L. ANDREWS has an important article in today's New York Times: "Interior Official Assails Agency for Ethics Slide." Apparently it doesn't matter what party you belong to. Stay in power long enough, and greed takes over. This story focuses on the Department of the Interior:

“I have observed one instance after another when the good work of my office has been disregarded by the department,” [stated Earl E. Devaney, the Interior Department’s inspector general]. “Ethics failures on the part of senior department officials — taking the form of appearances of impropriety, favoritism and bias — have been routinely dismissed with a promise ‘not to do it again.’ ”

The blistering attack was part of Mr. Devaney’s report on what he called the Interior Department’s “bureaucratic bungling” of oil and gas leases signed in the late 1990’s, mistakes that are now expected to cost the government billions of dollars but were covered up for six years.