News – How Will Israel Change?

Israel/Palestine

Fresh violence and fourteen more Palestinians dead come hours before the start of a two day debate in Parliament over Sharon’s plan to pull out of Gaza. Settlers and their supporters plan to lay siege to parliament to block a vote on the bill tomarrow, in what will obviously be a serious milestone in Israeli politics. Just what that milestone marks will be revealed in time.

A visit to Elei Sinai, one of the settlements that the pullout plan will uproot.

In a bid to ease Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, Egypt has an offer of 750 border guards, part of Cairo’s military elite, to take the place of Israeli troops along the Egypt-Gaza border to keep arms from being smuggled in.

Iraq

A mass execution of some fifty Iraqi solders has been claimed by a group linked with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Another moment of darkness for the real terrorists.

Twelve Iraqis are killed in clashes and encounters with carbombs. Add three Australians to the hurt list when a carbomb went off near their embassy.

John McCain and is concerned about the treatment of prisoners, troubled by a report that U.S. intelligence officials secretly transferred as many as a dozen detainees out of Iraq in the last six months, possibly violating international treaties. The Geneva Conventions prohibits forcible transfers of civilians during wartime.

Britain’s Black Watch regiment is ready to take on its new mission, to deploy into trouble spots, freeing up US soldiers for a likely attack on Falluja in the near future. Those who would fight back on Falluja, be they foreign terrorist or local rebel seem set to make their stand.

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has recently pledged his loyalty to Bin Laden. This brings up the question of if this was a mere formalization of what was already there or if he didn’t actually have an alliance with Bin Laden before recently. Also, an exploration of similarities between Baathism and Islamism.

Afghanistan

The count is about done in Afghanistan and Karzai is pretty much the winner as it currently stands. There is still the matter of the investigation into allegations of fraud, but none believe it will effect the outcome. Personally, I’m just a little worried about the obvious ethnic split in the country. It was clear in this election, which seemed to have clear show of overwhelming majority for candidates of a similar ethnicity. It hints that voters aren’t necessarily focusing on the issues. Not the best way to vote.

Africa

Peace talks over Darfur are in swing in Nigeria, four days late but better than never. But fighting goes on still, with each side accusing the other of breaking the ceasefire.

US

A clarification of the claims made in Bush’s latest ad, featuring a pack of wolves.

The H3 is coming out, 16 inches shorter and 1,700 pounds lighter than previous hummers, trying to fight it’s gas guzzler image. Doesn’t matter to me, that monstrosity still represents everything I hate about the automotive industry and the silly Americans who demand big and wasteful.

Musing the contents of a Bush or Kerry cabinet.

Gas gas has slid back up to just over two bucks a gallon. The constant, nudging seesaw appears destined to continue for now, likely until some of the trouble overseas gets resolved. But even then.. what lasting effects there are on Iraq even after the US leaves could effect matters. Though I couldn’t guess what it might be.

Despite the RIAA’s push to sue, sue, sue, peer-to-peer networks continue to do great business. Seems the RIAA’s lawsuits haven’t frightened users away.

Continuing to bash vaccine hogs, we look at the hale and hearty sports team that’s been offered the shots despite being low on under two, over 65 or pregnant members. Half showed their class by deciding to nto take it.

General

Naked news will be coming to cell phones now. Eyestrain from staring intently at tiny screens is all but assured.

American Society for Reproductive Medicine experts say that the use of multiple embryos in IVF don’t, with modern practices, increase the chance of a birth. So it would stand to reason that doctors should only insert single embryos, to reduce the chance of multiple births, which increase the likelihood of complications.

Explainer tells us about stun grenades and why they’re handy.

Today’s Papers has 377 tons of high yield explosives vanishing as the facility they were in was never secured, Iran rejecting a European offer to make a light-water reactor if they give up enrichment, troubles for military tribunals for Guantanimo detainees and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Divers swim 25 feet below the surface for pumpkin carving contest

Arena football team goes 1-15 gives away toilet paper to season ticket holders

Al Green walks out on stage with his fly open…Big Al was going comando…little Al was playing peekaboo

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Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this blue lagoon

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Fark Photoshop Challenge: <A HREF="http://forums.fark.com/cgi/fark/comments.pl?IDLink=1175472″>Terrorists use Google. PS other unlikely groups to use Google