News – Safer? I’d Say No

North America

9-11 Commission folk say we’re still at risk. Of course we are, because Bush really cares little about organizing a good home defense. He talks a good line, but in the end he brings nothing to the table. Were he serious about homeland security, the department of the same name would be administering terror preparation funds, evaluating the security of nuclear plants, chemical plants, water treatment plants and various other soft targets as well as educating the public. You know, rather than stepping on the toes of the FBI and CIA where they don’t belong.

One report notes the Navy wanting to increase the fleet by 10% to be better prepared.. you know, for whatever might happen. Another notes that the Pentagon is looking to cut personnel from the Air Force to pay for more weapons. Like we don’t have enough things that go boom already?

Bush seeks a compromise with Republican Sen. John McCain over his proposal for a ban on “cruel, inhumane and degrading” treatment of detainees. If degrading treatment were banned, a lot of the ways interrogators seek to exploit the preferences of Muslim men would have to stop. I wonder if these are the best decisions that could be made. Especially considering our strongest suit is our airpower.

Here’s some non-news: Bush might postpone pushing for tax reform. I think he has a few too many things to deal with right now, to even hope he might get that through.

An anti-war zombie movie? Oookay.. Sounds amusing at the very least.

Middle East

Saddam’s layers challenge the legitimacy of the Iraqi court trying him and demand more security for their team. One wonders just how much security they’re provided. Considering two of them have been killed already, I’d say it’s justified.

Another attack in Israel, capped with Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz telling the army to track down and kill those responsible. Which Israel will do without coordinating with Palestine’s government, further diminishing any legitimacy they have with the people of Palestine, further promoting the terrorists they fight against, further exasperating the situation. I find it mind boggling that no one in Israel’s government seems to realize or care about this. All they care about is death and revenge. To dispel what some seem to think of arguments like this, I do think Israel should defend itself and I do think terrorists should be taken care of, but there are more diplomatic ways to approach it. The best way to hurt the terrorists would be to coordinate with Palestine and go after them with their support. But Israel’s leaders just can’t get out of the occupation mode they’ve been in for years, where you do whatever the hell you want whenever you want.

Peres defends his shift to Sharon’s new party.

Some experts believe that US policy on Iran is ineffective. I’d say that is pretty much true. Of course, we’re dealing with an administration that is poor at this sort of international policy. Which is to say, not being in a position of strength relative to who they’re interacting with.

Looking at Ramsey Clark, who is part of Saddam’s defense.

General

Sony tries to advertise with graffiti. Some from the very set it targets don’t like it. Personally, I could do without corporately funded counter culture advertising. It’s just too ironic for me. Not to mention I loathe the spread of advertising into every freaking media that exists.

The high resolution of the Xbox 360 allows for some crisp, detailed graphics, but it now presents a danger to game designers who take advantage of it. “Uncanny Valley” where avatars of humanity look less human because of the detail given to them. The key being the skin, for at such levels of detail our minds star to home in on the imperfections. So unless they can master the art of making perfect virtual humans, game designers will have to start staying away from realistic forms.

Now crooks have found a means to hijack a podcast’s RSS feed, discovering a new means to exploit beneficial technology.

Aeon Flux doesn’t suck. That’s good to know.

The blogs discuss the selling of Department of Defense news stories in Iraq, the case of Crips founder-cum-anti-gang crusader Tookie Williams and Oprah on the Letterman show.

Today’s Papers has a show that money can’t save you from your personal demons, a deep look at China’s health care system, reports of mortgage fraud tripling over the past two years and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Mark Fiore: While You are Sleeping

Buried pyramid possibly discovered under a hill in…Bosnia? Tinfoil hat sales skyrocket

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the practice of injecting humans with tracking devices for medical purposes

Medicare phone number turns out to be phone sex line. Your grandpa wants an intimate encounter

All was going well when Texans caught two theives and held them at gunpoint. That is, until the the thieves convinced them to put down the gun and fight with their fists

Most work policies on hygiene stem from existing problems in the workplace. Note to self: Avoid Australian banks

<A HREF="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/H/HOT_AIR_BALLOON_THIEF?SITE=MTHEL&SECTION=STRANGE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT”>Man commits weirdest crime spree of the day by stealing hot-air balloon and forcing local family to fix him dinner

Embarrassed San Diego removes motto “America’s Finest City” after admitting it’s not

High school students with perfect attendance have a chance to win a pickup in Wyoming. Those with imperfect attendance given a chance to fill the gas tank to give them some job skills

Women: Tired of the declining guy/girl ratio in engineering schools? Try Dungeons & Dragons class

Man discovers sword of Aragorn only wields great power in Middle Earth, not his local drugstore

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Farker Blrfl’s dad just got a bovine heart valve. Photoshop a new slogan and logo for him

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this firetruck

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Tf’er mathmatix’s best friend is in Iraq now. Photoshop him in his full military uniform

PS: No, I didn’t read said article, Boxer. Have a link?