News – Fading Federalism
North America
The Supreme Court says the federal government can ban the use of medical marijuana, which is another set back for federalism. Soon, I’m sure, to be joined by Oregon and their populace supported allowance of doctor assisted suicide.
Bolton is likely to be passed by a slim margin, say senators.
Verizon is eager for Bush to put some republicans into the FCC, hoping for favor in it’s merger with MCI.
Sami al-Arian, who was arrested in 2003 on charges of raising money and providing support for the Palestinian group Islamic Jihad, is portrayed as a leader of one of the world’s deadliest terrorist groups.
Things are coming to a conclusion in the Michael Jackson case, with only the jury verdict pending. They’re taking a while at it, so it could still go either way.
Is airline security worth the trouble it causes us? Some think it isn’t.
The FBI’s worldwide reach.
Middle East
A new raid by Israel ends with, according to medics, an Islamic Jihad commander and an unarmed Palestinian policeman dead. Witnesses say that Israeli soldiers entered the village of Qabatiya and encircled a house, exchanging fire with militants holed up inside. Israel continues to maintain that raids it has been doing recently have been to stave off bombings. It would be more believable if Israel started trying to work with Palestinian police in cooperative maneuvers, but they continue to act unilaterally.
It has emerged that Saddam’s trial will start off with a little-known massacre at a village</A. where residents tried to assassinate Saddam Hussein in 1982. Largely because of documents and witnesses available for it. Interesting how they're starting with this little known thing, when there are so many greater, more atrocious crimes to lead in with. Perhaps they don't have the documents and evidence for the big stuff? If so, the case could be in trouble. If not.. perhaps they have some sort of strategy to unfold.
Asia
China scoffs at Rummy’s comments on their military, opining that such comments threaten world peace. I don’t know about world peace, but I believe it’s a hypocritical thing for the US defense secretary to say.
General
It’s official, Apple will be using Intel made chips. The shift will take about two years, with the first Intel chip Macs selling in mid-2006, with higher end machines appearing a year later. The main reason such a shift has been put down before is because of the disruption it would cause for Mac software makers. But now they have a universal, on-the-fly emulator called Rosetta, which is purported to allow Mac software to run on Intel chips with no need to rewrite the application and little or no performance hit. If so, this could be a good thing, if Intel can provide speedy, quality chips for Apple machines. Time shall tell how it works out. I wonder what impact it will have on gaming.. if it will be easier to provide crossplatform games.
The madness of movie advertising. The movie folk just don’t get it, just as the MPAA and RIAA don’t, when it comes to shifting with the times and new technology.
Today’s Papers has Citigroup losing a box of computer tapes with the SSNs of 3.9 million customers, a report coming out on the Pentagon’s Boeing indiscretions, the now private 9/11 Commission popping up again to poke the FBI for not pushing through many of their recommendations. Amusing how some think they should stop doing what they’re doing. I say, so long as they’re doing this on private money, then they can say what they want. If they want to remain a cohesive group, more power to them.
The worst ad song ever.
Amusements
Governor appoints man executive director of Illinois Finance Authority despite having property foreclosed upon for failure to pay mortgage. Still had enough money to contribute $60,000 to governor’s campaign, however
In “Top Gun,” the pilots had cool call signs like Maverick, Ice Man and Viper. In reality, pilots are usually given much worse names, like Shrek, Yoda, Shamu or Buick
Smalltown police confiscate so much marijuana they can’t simply burn it out back in a barrel like they normally do
Woman strips naked, parades into first class to celebrate after winning a million dollars in the lottery. Evades stewardesses trying to cover her to the applause of amused passengers
In the late 80s and early 90s, Garfield-creator Jim Davis got rich off of more than a comic strip — like say, these 50,000 different kinds of Garfield-related junk food
Fark Photoshop Challenge: The guys at Penny Arcade
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Alternate uses for sporting equipment
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this ocular cavity