News – Will a passed bill pass the buck?

US

Bush is signing the Medicare bill today. One who is not so savvy in matters of the business of medicine, such as myself, is left to muse the words of proponents and opponents of this bill and wonder if this will truly be good for seniors as has been touted by some or if it will leave them cold in the long run as others have said. I don’t find the bipartisan criticism of the bill to be heartening.

Some jobs are returning. Bush touts it as signs that more improvements are on the way, though some economists are lukewarm in their own views on the moderate gain. Some see it as merely a temporary measure that leaves the foundation to rot further.

Polls, polls, polls! For what they’re worth, anyway.

Rummy says classification of divisions as not ready for combat is a matter of definitions. He thinks the army’s readiness ratings don’t work during a time of war.

Bush’s administration is going to try and ban human cloning in gull at the UN once more. Personally, I’m annoyed this president is trying to closing off a path of research to the entire world because of what he believes about the nature of life.

Iraq

Another roadside bomb meets military Humvee. One more US soldier killed, two wounded.

Iraqis are getting back into Soccer. Let the dark memories of Uday’s effects on the Iraqi soccer team fade into dim memory.

There has been a warning of increase attacks in Iraq in the months leading up to the purported handing over of sovereignty in June. I don’t see much point in defining any one period of time as hotter, things are already plenty hot in Central Iraq.

Iraq’s borders are open for trade, but they’re also open for smugglers. Will Iraq become the rosy, tariff free trading spot that the US envisions? Should it?

An Iraqi solder named Lieutenant Colonel Al-Dabbagh has come forward, saying he told the UKs M16 that chemical weapons could be deployed against invading forces in 45 mins. He claims the only reason they weren’t used is that most of the army didn’t’ want to fight for Saddam.

Israel/Palestine

Colon Powell met with the Geneva Accord authors. He’s said their plan could compliment, but not replace the roadmap. I think that comment might well give Sharon the fits, since it wasn’t dismissed entirely as I’m sure he hoped it would be.

A Palestinian backed resolution is currently being evaluated, which asks the International Criminal Court to make a ruling on whether Israel is legally obligated to tear down it’s big wall.

The Cairo talks have reached a dead end, but the pursuit of a ceasefire plan isn’t stopped. It is making some question of the new Palestinian PM can ge the job done.

Afghanistan

Nine children are killed along with the intended target in a bombing raid against a Taliban leader. A statement noted the military acted only “after developing extensive intelligence over an extended period of time.”

Looks like the on the spot intelligence for that day was shoddy.

Iran

Five men were arrested for attacking a reformist MP. Things will only grow more eventful as elections near.

Today 1,000 pro-reform students protest the hardline establishment. Though students have drawn their support from the reformist in office because of his non-confrontational approach to reform.

Three tourists have been kidnapped in Iran. There is little information on the incident, but it is believed they might be Germans.

China

The wives and mothers of four Chinese cyber-dissidents have asked the Laura Bush to speak on their behalf. They hope she can help secure their release.

General

Where do war criminals do time? Explainer takes a look at international justice.

Today’s Papers has musings of Russia sliding toward a police state, flue vaccine shortages and more in the one page news.

Tests of popular ADHD drugs has shown they have some long term effects on rats, like sighs of clinical depression. This doesn’t say the same will happen with children who take the drugs, but it suggests a need to watch for the signs of long term effects.

Amusements

Bush in 30 seconds.

Badger Version 1 – How long can you stand it? 😉

Porter Core Final Project

Rxush – I can only nod my head.

Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this farkette’s boyfriend and his boss in their server room for the front page of their company newsletter