President-elect Barack Obama has made somewhere in the neighborhood of 25 major promises to move America ahead and out of its deepening slump. He has assembled an A-list Economic Advisory Team, several new/old Economic Cabinet members, floated an assertive new stimulus package of huge highway-road construction and a broad slew of infrastructure jobs, and he has aggressively pushed for help for the Big Three American automakers, all before he has been sworn in (and before the December 15th date of the certification of the electoral college votes).

Los Angeles, CA - Dock Ellis, former major league pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, died Friday Dec. 19 of liver disease at County-USC Medical Center. He was 63. The Apple Valley, Calif. resident was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver the day after Thanksgiving. Ellis reportedly suffered heart damage within the last few weeks that made a liver transplant impossible, leaving him on life support. Ellis was a pitcher in the major leagues from 1968 to 1979 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, compiling a record of 138-119.