News – Where War Can be Enjoyed: The Movies

General

Troy is the new movie out there and reviews are up. I plan to see it. Brad Pitt seems to fit well into the roll of Achilles and it seems the entire story hits good with the critics. One article muses how you select someone to play a character as sublime as Helen. How does one measure a face that could launch a thousand ships?

Today’s Papers has the impeachment of Roh Moo Hyun overturned, a marine civil affairs team walking through a village near Fallujah with cash to make amends, more details on the continuing inquiry into prisoner abuses and more in the one page news.

Iraq

For the time being, fighting continues in Najaf. One of the skirmish grounds is a cemetery. I’m sure that will go over well with the locals.

The CIA says there’s a high probability that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is the masked man that bebeaded Nick Berg. Here’s an added profile of the man.

The argument for considering a more immediate withdrawal from Iraq.

An assessment of U.N. Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi. Can he save Iraq?

Israel/Palestine

Seems now the IDF has a plan to destroy loads of Palestinian homes in Rafah, to widen the flashpoint corridor Israel controls on the Egypt-Gaza border. And I’m sure they offer no compensation to the families uprooted, families of people not necessarily against Israel, perhaps even sympathetic. Though that would be before their homes were arbitrarily destroyed without the slightest warning or hint of restitution for the loss. As much as I would like to show sympathy for Israel, when they do things like this it just shows how they, like the US, make their own messes. It’s hard to feel sorry when someone repeatedly shoots themselves in the foot. Someone said it perfectly. Treat people like animals and you shouldn’t be surprised when they act like them.

Israeli forces also left quite a trail as they searched for the remains of the six solders blown up earlier this week. At least twelve were killed and scores injured during their search yesterday and closed checkpoints that left thousands of Palestinians stranded and locked out aid workers and journalists.

Pakistan

Six Shiite Muslims, all part of one family, were killed in a suspected sectarian attack. Considering “Shi’ites are infidels” was spray painted on the walls, that’s a pretty safe assumption.

Members of Tony Blair’s Labour Party are urging him to distance himself some from Bush.

Bush invokes Ronald Regan and Barry Goldwater to calm the conservative faithful.

The plan for a $25 million reserve fund for Iraq is to be revised after it’s noted to be a blank check without congressional oversight. I listened to part of the Senate Armed Services hearing and it sounded like a blank check to me, despite that they tried to dress it up as anything but.

A study shows the military’s policies on sexual assault are inconsistent and female troops fear they’ll be disbelieved if they accuse a male comrade.

The Catholic Church expresses ‘deep sadness’ that gay marriage will be allowed in Massachusetts. Take your sadness elsewhere, we don’t need gray clouds where people are happy.

US gamers say no to TV and movies to spend more game time? I suppose so. But would that be a good or bad thing? Also, Nintendo is coming out with it’s new portable, currently named the Nintendo DS. It has two screens and sounds interesting. If it’s worth it, I might pick it up.

Congress is mulling changes to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act

The army to teach prisoner treatment with a video game? Well, they tried that venue with American Army, I don’t suppose it would hurt. They could call it SimDetainee. And since politics gets into games, why not the military?

Explainer reviews US torture laws.

Amusements

President of an organization that helps students get college loans has degrees from two unaccredited schools that were shut down for issuing phony diplomas

If you see a shady character roaming Oklahoma with almost 5,000 pounds of grease, please contact the authorities

Robber wearing pillowcase on his head holds up store armed with a chainsaw. Jailarity ensues

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Using IKEA-like instructions, draw plans for saving the world

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Food pyramids and guides customized for trendy diet plans

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop theme: Seconds from disaster.