News – Indifferent Iran

Middle East

Weapons being smuggled between Iran and Iraq are interdicted. Many gripe at Iran about letting such things happen. Never mind that the US can’t keep it’s own borders from being breeched. Never mind that there isn’t much reason for Iran to do the US/UKs worked for them, since their forces and Iraqi forces should be patrolling said borders with their hundreds of thousands of troops. Never mind that the US has yet to try and work with Iran to coordinate such border operations, simply demanding they ‘do something’ about it. Never mind that no one currently knows just who is doing the smuggling either. It’s so unhelpful for the US to ever demand action, rather than seeking to work with others to fix a problem. Even if such overtures were turned down, they should be at least made. It’s all part of that moral high ground we love to claim so often. Then we could, with some validity, look down out nose at Iran for being truly unhelpful.

Israel’s president Moshe Katsav apologizes to settlers for governments decision to remove them from their homes, but says they shouldn’t resist.

Israelis on both sides of the Gaza pullout issue seek common ground.

Shiite leaders in Iraq are stressing their desire for an autonomous state across southern Iraq.

Europe

The UK is holding 10 foreigners thought to be a threat to national security.

North America

Bush says the fat, pork packed $286 billion dollar ‘transportation bill’ creates jobs. Doesn’t mean the federal government needs to be funding these jobs with national taxpayer money, providing he’s right on that. If all these little tidbits of add ons were so important, they could stand on their own as legislation.

Kansas is weakening the role of evolution in teaching how life began.

Air Force Lt. Col. Alexis Fecteau is suspected of vandalizing 12 cars bearing pro-President Bush bumper stickers at Denver International Airport over a six-month period.

FedEx is against their shipping boxes being used to make furniture, documented on Jose Avila’s website.

Some guy that plays GTA kills cops. Naturally the games are at fault for his criminal behavior. Yet another instance of the wrong issue being blamed and the point not being noted with regard to the millions who play such games without being seduced into a crime spree.

General

Civil libertarians say that an FCC decision that forces broadband and VOIP companies to enable government surveillance of their networks streches federal law to the breaking point.

Bloggers mull over the Rolling Stones’ new anti-neocon song, a judge deciding to uphold Michael Ovitz’s severance package from Disney and the arrest of parents who supervise parties for their teens.

Explainer details how to make a bird flu vaccine.

Slate’s Fray debates if the religeous right is getting the shaft and the anneversary of the boming of Hiroshima and Nagisaki.

Today’s Papers has the continuing scuffle over John Roberts papers, more on Able Danger, the Pentagon’s plan to downsize some Air National Guard units and close related bases and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Neurotically Yours: Sacred Space

Mark Fiore: The Great US Energy Vacation

Evading the police during a chase: Cool. Being arrested by the dogcatcher: Priceless

Nudists annoyed by other nudists having sex on their beaches, ask the government to set aside beaches for people who want to have sex in public

Sean Hannity is forced to change his phone number after an indie rock band puts his number in the title of their latest album

As Detroit prepares to lay off non-essential workers such as police and fire personnel, check out these neat deer they just bought for $1,000,000

Mayoral candidate finds he is ineligible because he assaulted the previous mayor. Also says he suffers from “post-traumatic slavery syndrome”

81-year-old man, awakened from a nap, starts shooting at helicopters that were trying to extinguish a forest fire

Drunk steals a snack truck and attempts to sell its entire load for $5.00 in order to buy more beer

EPA proposes one million years of radiation limits for Yucca Mountain to protect humans and, eventually, the evolved rat people of Nevada

Fark Photoshop Challenge: me: If Drew owned CNN…

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this cool drawbridge

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Extreme ironing is gaining popularity. Photoshop other mundane tasks… to the extreme!</A