News – Russian Roulette – The Political Version

Russia

Vladimir Putin is in a quandary. A parole board has recommended that Yuri Budanov, who is serving ten years for strangling a Chechen schoolgirl(18-year-old Elza Kungayeva) to death because he suspected she was a rebel sniper, be paroled 14 months into his sentence. The decision is his as to if it happens and if he lets the guy out, his allies in Chechnya could turn against him. If he doesn’t, his military could. I’m sure western allies would be annoyed if he was let out as well. What to do?

Locals suspect that there has been a cover up on the true count of casualties after the Beslan school tragedy.

Iraq

Huda Alazawi, a wealthy Baghdad businesswoman, tells of her time as one of the few women held in Abu Ghraib prison. She was an innocent woman sent there due to blackmail by an Iraqi informant.

Alawi at least has some smarts to him. He recognizes that Iraq’s stagnant economy and lack of employment opportunities are feeding instability. If people have good work and can provide for their families, they’re happier. Period. There might be hope for him yet. Alawi has also said recently that Saddam is depressed and begging for mercy. I’m not inclined to trust him on that. I’m surprised we haven’t heard so much from Saddam since his first foray into the seat of accused.

The two Americans and Briton face the deadline of their captors demands today. They will be killed if all women aren’t released from Abu Ghraib and Umm Qasr jails by the deadline.

Some republican senators are criticizing Bush’s mistakes on Iraq. Good to see some folk with conviction break the veil of party loyalty to say when someone has done wrong. McCain thinks that there needs to be a ground offensive to take back spots held by insurgents. I dunno about that, that would mean taking back by force and having to hold it again, whereas a more diplomatic solution could make the holding easier.

The story of Iraq is more than stark good or stark bad. As much as I rail on about things, I recognize that there is hope. There always is, no matter the odds. The issue is that the proper choices be made to reap the best possible outcome. I just hope the people making the choices find those right methods before it’s too late.

Israel/Palestine

A missile, said to have been fired by an Israeli drone, killed the senior field commander of Hamas’s Izz el-Deen al-Qassam brigades, Khaled Abu Selniya, and wounded six passersby as he was driving through an area where Hamas’ sway is strong. The expected calls for revenge are already done and someone is sure to step up and take his place, continuing the cycle of violence. The Israeli army said in a statement that Selniya was targeted by the airforce because he played a central role in the manufacture and development of Qassam rockets which Hamas militants have fired at the nearby Israeli city of Sderot.

Madonna, who has taken the Hebrew name of Ha-Malkah Esther – Queen Esther, met with a poor reception as she visited the Holy Land for a gathering of about 2,000 followers of Kabbalah, a form of Jewish mysticism, and to celebrate the Jewish New Year

Sanctions won’t work?

Iran

The United States, the EU and Russia are urging Iran to comply with the IAEA’s demand to halt uranium enrichment. Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Hassan Rohani said the condition in a resolution sponsored by France, Britain and Germany was rejected as illegal. They’re even threatening to deny access to nuclear inspectors. In the right or not, Iran is going to bring trouble onto itself. Doesn’t matter if they’re making nukes or not. They’re playing the game all wrong.

Africa

Sudan’s government has agreed to protect civilians in Darfur, agreeing to a resolution they declare to be unfair and unjust, which threatened them with oil sanctions. Now lets see if they actually do it.

Europe

Sir Ivor Roberts, British envoy to Italy, said Bush was “the best recruiting sergeant” for al Qaeda, something an ambassador shouldn’t say. Even though it is true.

Tropical Storm Jeanne has been responsible for mud slides and 90 deaths in Haiti.

US

Looks like Bush finally agrred(noted as tentatively) to the three presidential debates laid out by the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates.

Louisiana voters approve an amendment to their state constitution to ban gay marriage

Britney Spears gets married again in California. The guy this time is dancer Kevin Federline. I’m sure pools have been activated to bet on just how long these two stick together.

Was Edwards a bad choice after all?

General

Strains of drug resistant Tuberculosis have made a comeback. They’re not being well contained and require a cocktail of drugs taken over months to get rid of.

Observations of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. Personally, I enjoyed the movie and I know just about everyone else in the theater with me did. There were quite a few moments of sterling humor, where I wasn’t the only one guffawing. The story was interesting, the ending properly bizarre and the whole look of the film a lovely showcase of that classic pulp feeling. My only regret is they couldn’t put a little more detail into the world’s back-story. There has to be plenty of room for a rich one.

The Business strategy of releasingbad news on a Friday doesn’t work.

Today’s Papers has the Bush camp denying agreement on debates(damn), CBS perhaps coming clean on the documents about Bush’s guard service, Kerry pulling advertising from some states and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Man and his dog decide to “ride out the storm” in home 100 feet from the ocean. Both are saved when runaway boat crashes through second story window

Instead of just locking up inmates in their cells, prison officials decide flat-screen TVs will cut down prison violence

Policeman, despondent over marriage problems, points gun at head, fires at point-blank range and misses

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop Farker ctenidae and his brother aftre 100 mile bike ride. Difficulty: major chaffing.

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this Farker’s co-worker

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop current movies and television shows as they would appear if they aired in the 60’s. Difficulty: sepia tones and false colorization effects

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Here’s the ‘before’ picture, what does ‘after’ look like?