News – What is to be Done with this Iran?

Iran

Bush asserts his administration thinks Iran should cease nuclear activities altogether. Of course, they aren’t going to do that. Sort of makes worrying about the veracity of the suspension pointless unless the US can somehow convince Iran to end their activities altogether. Which they should be trying to do now. simply telling Iran to do this or do that won’t work and if no solution is reached, blame for that can be evenly passed out to all who didn’t make an effort.

Iraq

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani seems to have pulled together a strong coalition of Shia parties. Good to see him forging ahead.

Hundreds of US and UK troops raid the homes of insurgent suspects today, in an area known to have been a favored country retreat of Saddam Hussein’s Baath party elite.

Israel/Palestine

Hamas has reaffirmed it’s boycott of the coming Palestinian elections. Their choice, if they want to let this boat pass them by. It’s a good time for them to make a break from their military resistance to become part of the new political solution. They’ll reap the results.

An investigation concludes that the Palestinian violinist was not forced to play his violin by checkpoint guards. The violinist, Wissam Tayem, denies he played of his own accord, as do a group of Israeli peace activists who captured the incident on video. I feel disinclined to believe the results of the investigation at this point, largely because of my distrust for the IDF(in terms of the brass and administration behind it, rather than the grunts in general).

Western Europe

The Ukraine parliament has voted to dissolve the government of Viktor Yanukovich, though outgoing President Leonid Kuchma has made it clear that he’s not easy by denying the oppositions calls for a new election. Their supreme court is still deliberating on the validity of the election. Personally, I think a do over election is in the cards.

Explainer details how Buddhism got to Russia, despite the efforts of others to the contrary.

US

Tom Ridge resigns from the DHS. He’ll be around until February or when his successor is found, whichever comes first.

Colin Powell hopes to promote political transition in Haiti. That’s a place we’ve not heard much about in a good long while, despite violence that has left many dead.

Anti-immigration forces are growing in strength in the US, some say, which leaves me wondering how Bush’s ‘mandate’ will fare against them when he tries to do his thing on the subject.

I’m sure Floridians are happy to see this hurricane season end.

The suggestions of torturous actions at Guantanimo are rejected, of course. One can hardly take such denial seriously since no guilty party would ever admit it in a situation like this. What I want to know is what is really going on over there. The New York Times, who is reporting on the ICRC’s confidential report, say Red Cross investigators found a system devised to break the will of prisoners through “humiliating acts, solitary confinement, temperature extremes, use of forced positions.” The ICRC wouldn’t comment on the report itself, but has said in statemtn that “significant problems regarding conditions and treatment at Guantanamo Bay have not yet been adequately addressed,” and it was pursuing talks with U.S. authorities.

David Dickinson admits to sending poisoned formula, baby food laced with glass shards, an infant drink containing hydraulic fluid and a jar of horseradish with boric acid to the corporate offices of Ralphs grocery chain in February, in a bid to extort $180k from the grocery chain. He threatened to put these items on store shelves if not given the money. Under a plea agreement, he’ll face 33 to 41 months rather than 25 years.

At an Army tech conference, companies show off machines that do the work of flesh and blood soldiers, from combat to support functions. I’d be careful with the hunter/killer robot idea, though.

Note: If you’ve had recent radiation therapy, be prepared for extra scrutiny if you set off TSA alarms while going through security. Or try to have your therapy three months before your trip.

Using unconventional chest scans evidence has been uncovered of severe damage done to the lungs of 9/11 rescuers, worse than years of smoking. The most likely culprit of this damage is pulverized alkaline cement left hanging in the air after the collapse.

Musing Bush and his political capital.

General

Therapeutic cloning isn’t the path by which we’ll have successful stem-cell therapies? If there are better ways, then we need to focus on them.

Ditch that retro lava lamp and pick up the new Laserpod.

Shape shifting robotic tools? They’re being worked on. Future tech, taking shape today.

What’s up with Bruckheimer’s move from macho movies to more kiddy fare? Not that I’m complaining, personally. I enjoyed National Treasure and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Today’s Papers has a piece on the press corps’ attempts to knock Bush off his talking points, a n administration proposal to scale back protection of salmon and steelhead trout, leaked army reports of an elite commando unit abusing prisoners in Iraq and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Cell phone company offers new service that will prevent drunken blabbering calls to the ex at 3 A.M

Cereal-only restaurant features waiters in pajamas, booth permanently reserved for Jerry Seinfeld

<A HREF="http://www.9news.com/acm_news.aspx?OSGKUSA&IKOBJECTID=87cdde38-0abe-421a-0017-d9ba2e3289eb&TEMPLATEID=0c76dce6-ac1f-02d8-0047-c589c01ca7bf”>After telling Denver residents not to leave their car unattended to warm up their cars for fear of them being stolen, guess what happens to an unmarked police cruiser?

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this vertical view

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop other fun things you think these kids can do

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this schoolbus driver in his SpongeBob Squarepants costume, though it’s really more of a “SpongeBob Square” costume, since it doesn’t include any pants. SFW, but still creepy as hell