News – A Proper Constitutional Process?

Middle East

Bush describes the constitution drafted for Iraq one that promises minority rights, women’s rights and freedom to worship. Though the Kurds have complained that US diplomats have conceded ground to the Islamists in order to have the draft constitution ready to submit to parliament. Personally, I thought we were going to let the Iraqis work this out amongst themselves. If it turns out that a majority don’t want those things, who are we to say no? After all, Iraqi freedom of choice is what we were over there fighting about, right?

Word is the constitution is vague. It leaves many questions, as to whether this constitution will be a good one. I suppose, when in doubt, we might ask Sistani.

A muse on spotting real democratic change in the Middle East.

Now that the Gaza withdrawal is effected, Sharon will have to face up to the consequences of the direction he took. He has until late next year to sew up the damage to his political backing in the country. The one saving grace for him in that regard is that little of the potential violence manifested. One angle he’ll likely push a lot is expanding Israel’s grip on the West Bank. Which will surely be used as a rallying point for terror groups in the future. Time will tell how effective it will be, hopefully blunted by the development of a Palestinian state.

The US remains concerned about Iran despite an IAEA report that concludes that bomb-grade uranium traces found in Iran came from contaminated Pakistani equipment.

Asia

A top ASEAN(Association of Southeast Asian Nations) official says that US concerns will be recognized, but that President George W. Bush should be invited as an observer to their summit.

North America

Pat Robertson shoots off his mouth again, saying of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, “We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability.” Just another instance, like with him and Falwell after 9/11 of religious leaders making statements as if they know just how the country should do this or that. Fortunately not all religious leader types are so loose with their opinions, nor so misguided in their opinions.

The Pentagon’s inspector general is looking into the death of Pat Tillman, after the army’s faulty investigation and conclusions that Tillman was killed by inadvertent friendly fire.

New York’s got cameras and sensors on the subway now, to enhance security.

A new study, sure to add fire to the abortion debate, says it’s unlikely a fetus feels pain before the third trimester.

General

X-Rays can reveal long faded inscriptions.

Beware guys, ladies might be looking after you on the Internet. The truthful path remains the best to take.

Explainer details supernotes.

Today’s Papers has biologists sure that scores of species in the oceans are on the brink of extinction, thousands of detainees in Iraq’s Camp Bucca nearly escaping through a long dug tunnel, the administration unveiling a plan to raise fuel economy standards slightly on light trucks and SUVs(where some of the largest will be allowed lower standards than the current average and others allowed exemptions) and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Car thief stays focused despite the distraction of a naked woman on the hood

Billboards to start using Bluetooth to beam video advertisements directly to passing cell phones

Man arrested for having one too many trouser snakes

Ali G thrown into the ocean by Pamela Anderson’s bodyguards after he rugby tackled her at the wedding of her two dogs

Doctor tells overweight patient to lose weight. Patient files complaint against doctor. Your hippo wants to be lied to

Pittsburgh Steelers players and fans outraged by Ben Roethlisberger 80 awareness and 88 overall rating in NFL Madden 2006

Little Johnny gets cut from high school soccer team, so parents sue. Lawyer awaits kid’s college graduation to sue companies that won’t hire him

Man asks police to help get his grain alcohol back, then later runs into a cornfield and disappears

Maid blames Robert DeNiro’s wife for making her steal. “If she treated me better, with more respect, I probably wouldn’t have done this..I didn’t steal from Isabella Rossellini because she treated me well”

Apple dismayed to discover that whoever was setting the price for its Japanese iTunes client seemed to think that 50 yen sounded like a lot of money for an album

Schoolkids write out a half-mile-long letter to President Bush

Fark Photoshop Challenge: <A HREF="http://forums.fark.com/cgi/fark/comments.pl?IDLink=1629359″>California Dems are looking for a celebrity gubernatorial candidate. Photoshop some possible campaign ads

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this happy curler

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Zen photoshop challenge: Do something with this circle