News – PR Begins at Home

North America

Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski says the state needs a PR program after the ANWR and ‘bridges to nowhere’ issues before the senate. I’d say that Alaska needs new leaders who won’t ask for things that bring ridicule upon their state. Two bridges, one to serve 50 people and another to a little used port are hardly worth the amount of federal money appropriated to them and the dirty tricks used to try and drill in ANWR are worthy of mild scorn. Let the people decide if they’re tired of the bumbling of their representatives.

In his speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Bush makes vague accusation that some war critics are irresponsible. I’d say making general comments without qualification is quite irresponsible in and of itself. He goes on to comment, “So I ask all Americans to hold their elected leaders to account and demand a debate that brings credit to our democracy, not comfort to our adversaries.” How about demanding conduct that credits our democracy, rather than secret spying programs because the law as it stands is inconvenient. He has no legs to stand on making such requests.

Among Alito’s quotes from his conformation hearings are picked an admission, when pressed on presidential power, that no president is above the law. An obvious but important statement. He also says he’ll approach any abortion case with an ‘open mind’. He’s also said that when you become a judge, you have to put aside the things you did as a lawyer. One wonders, really, if he can do that in this position.

Etiquette rules for lobbying are likely to tighten up after Abramoff.

If you can’t charm them, beat them with tedium?

Middle East

The US makes itself useful, finally, pressuring Israel into letting Jerusalem Palestinians vote in the coming election in Palestine. Though they won’t let Hamas appear in ballots used within the city. That is likely to cause trouble as well.

The US warns Iran about sanctions. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, former president of Iran, says the country isn’t afraid of sanctions.

Current polls suggest that Sharon’s new party can win Israel’s march election without him. That must sting for the current political parties.

The WHO gives Turkey a thumbs up for how it handles its bird flu issues.

Asia

Japan wants to fingerprint foreign travelers to prevent terrorism. As with most issues of this nature, it sparks opposition amongst the people.

General

At Macworld, Steven Jobs says the new Intel based Macs got the speed. One the order of two the four times faster. Sounds good, we’ll see how it pans out when clear of his Reality Distortion Field(RDF). If nothing else, it looks like the advertising for the new products is slick as expected.

The blogs look at Alito’s confirmation, two literary scandals and sex-selection in India.

Today’s Papers has Marion Berry on the blow again, The IRS’ internal watchdog noting that the agency improperly froze refunds for hundreds of thousands of mostly low-income workers, evidence of the tedium of Alito’s confirmation hearings and more in the one page news.

Amusements

There are things that will always get you into trouble with your girlfriend. Forgetting her birthday, for instance, or checking out another woman. Or maybe taking naked pictures of her mom

Lawyer defends $115,000 payment from Jack Abramoff to Tom DeLay’s wife as completely reasonable for whatever the hell it is she did for him

Dear Ms. Davis, allow me to apologize for all of our officers who arrested you at your workplace, handcuffed you, strip-searched you then detained you before finding out they had the wrong person. Believe me, it will never happen again

Thanks to a technicality, it’s still legal to use a Taser on children in Florida

Having solved all of New Orleans’ problems, the City Council passes a resolution naming its choice for head coach of the Saints

School principal’s fake resume exposed after failing boardmember’s secret fraternity handshake test. Double-secret resignation ensues

Today’s “Government department phone line turns out to be sex line instead” brought to you by Tennessee

If you disguise yourself as a Smurf and rob the hotel you’re staying at, remember to wash all the blue paint off before walking past the police

Authorities fear hot girl-girl kissing action could distract from riveting 2-day cricket match

VFW in USA’s “most patriotic city” wants children’s American flag painting removed from cul-de-sac because the flag doesn’t belong on the ground

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop what a He-Man movie would be like

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this shiny self-portrait

Fark Photoshop Challenge: A box of biscuits, a batch of mixed biscuits. Photoshop tongue twisters