News – Power Changing Hands (2/2)

US

In the past six years of flight tests, here is what the Pentagon’s missile-defense agency has demonstrated: A missile can hit another missile in mid-air as long as a) the operators know exactly where the target missile has come from and where it’s going; b) the target missile is flying at a slower-than-normal speed; c) it’s transmitting a special beam that exaggerates its radar signature, thus making it easier to track; d) only one target missile has been launched; and e) the “attack” happens in daylight.

Congress wants to cut $9 billion from the military budget. Lets start with Bush’s missile defense system. That will match what is desired. I can’t believe there isn’t more outcry over this bull.

Some of Libya’s old nuke gear will be shown to the press today. I suppose that’s to show its all real, but anyone who wants to go conspiracy theory could easily snap off an accusation of doctored parts. It wouldn’t be hard to do, really. Note: Ren doesn’t actually think that.

A big car bomb was found near the US consulate in Pakistan. It was found today, just two days before Colon Powell was to visit. Good thing it was found.

A polygamist is charged with murder after the bodies of nine are found in his home. The bodies are suspected to be his wives and the children he fathered with them. Some seeming to have been fathered with prior children. I wonder.. why is it that all polygamists in the news are nasty, despicable people? I’m not one to think polygamy itself causes this, but that polygamy is attractive to disturbed individuals. I’m still waiting to see the good polygamous family grouping without the incest, the beatings, the enslaving of the killing. Where’s that? I know it has to be out there.

Kerry is challenged on his comments that some foreign leaders want him to beat Bush. That may well be true(I’m sure it is), but the question is just who is really on that list. Since he says he met them, then that offers a solid clue to cut down the list some.

The Arab-American Institute wants a Bush ad changed. The spot in question flashes an image of an Arab looking guy while making reference to terror and terrorists, they say. I wouldn’t be surprised. No comment yet from Bush and company.

Continued low interest rates leave the door open for the ‘carry’ trade to go on. Is that good or bad for us? Hard for me to say, it all confuses me, though it doesn’t seem all bad.

General

Don’t go near the ipod mini. It might pull you into its seductive spell.

The self-piloted vehicle race across the Mojave Desert ends in disaster. All of them broke down within miles of the starting line. The favorite for the race was a military Hummer converted by Carnegie Mellon University students, making 7.4 miles before crashing.

SCO’s amusing lawsuit hijinks go on.

A new ‘planet’ is discovered, even farther out than Pluto and perhaps a little larger. Only the big discussion among space folk is whether it can be classified a planet or not. Some even argue that Pluto isn’t really a planet.

Will having gay parents effect a kid? Its an argument that has, admitedly, biased data on both sides. The simple fact is that, with the current state of gay marriage and child rearing, you can’t get a good set of sample groups to do an open and honest look at how the kids of hetero parents do against the kids of homosexual parents. Unless we let gay marriage move forward, we’ll never know, likely.

Amusements

Suck My News(Liquid Generation): Dubya’s Cocane Habit

Suck My News(Liquid Generation): Leprichan News Minute

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this bizarre Indonesian political demonstrator

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop how you spell “relief”

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this woman and her sled dogs