News – Lackluster Deadline Met

Middle East

Iraq’s parliament opens for the first time since it was elected, meeting the deadline for its opening. Though it was only open for 20 minutes of protocol. Another lackluster milestone on a road leading to.. well, who knows? Our leaders certainly don’t.

al-Jaafari, current PM of Iraq, is willing to step down if that’s what the people want. Good, any leader should be so receptive to the concerns of the people.

Saddam rabble rouses from the stand. He also succeeds in getting Judge Raouf Abdel Rahman to cut off his mic and clear the court of journalists. Every time he does that, it makes him look worse. Censoring the trial, letting Saddam’s plays get the better of him, prompting him to lash out. It’s sad how easy some people are.

A new spike of violence between Israeli military and gunmen. Meanwhile, Olmert gets a little political boost from his most recent incursion into Palestinian territory.

An admission from Israel that it warned the US and UK that it would raid the prison if the agreement forged there ever faltered, new calls of collusion rise up. This, of course, reduces our means of influencing the people of the region.

The World Bank looks at the possible repercussions of the US pulling aid out of Palestine.

North America

Unable to get what they want the right way, some Republicans in the government are stuffing their ANWR drilling legislation into a pending budget bill, which can’t be stopped. Just goes to show they cant’ accept a defeat gracefully.

Bush rejects calls to extend the deadline for seniors to get in on the prescription drug program, despite its confusing nature. He says the families of the elderly should help them figure this stuff out. What about those who don’t have family left or aren’t in contact with their family? I guess they get the royal screw job, eh?

The Senate and House start in on tax cutting legislation. Funniest thing ever, cutting taxes during a supposed time of war.

Jessica Simpson says no to showing up at a major Republican fundraiser, apparently to keep from politicizing her favorite charity. I’m kind of amused that republicans want her as a star show up. She doesn’t strike me as their style. Or perhaps preference for her is purely a matter of aesthetics.

A parallel between Claude Allen’s crime and Bush’s policies? An interesting idea, but I dunno.

General

The Blogs look at Moussaoui’s bungled sentencing trial, a law that would prohibit disclosures about possibly unconstitutional antiterror measures and Isaac Hayes reasons for quitting South Park.

Today’s Papers has US airstrikes reported as killing a dozen members of a family in Iraq, California’s legislature turning its back to Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposal for a massive public works bond, the Senate bucking President Bush and voting to extend the sign-up period for the drug benefit and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Mark Fiore: Thank You, Noeconmen

Weird: British pub ordered to pay £2 fine for murder that happened on its premises. Weirder: The murder happened in 1664

Carjacker gets surprise menage-a-trois asskicking by his intended female victim and a nearby woman. Bonus: Submission holds

Guards dismayed to discover that their security van is so secure that they find themselves trapped inside

“Teenagers and young men today are secret traditionalists who believe in hard work and family values, new research has revealed”

Wrestling coach tapes student to bench and leaves him there for inappropriately behaving on a bus

Of all the things you could wear on your head during convenience store robbery, milk crates probably shouldn’t be near top of list (with picture goodness)

Wildest statements made by video-game industry veterans: “The single-player game is a strange mutant monster which has only existed for 21 years and is about to go away because it is unnatural and abnormal”

Man sues himself after backing into his own car with a dump truck

Ordinary: Devoted worshippers put up a billboard glorifying their god. Fark: It’s of FSM, and it’s in Baltimore (with pastariffic picture goodness)

Elderly men dust off flirting skills to score at dance center where ladies outnumber them two-to-one. “I came for the lemonade until I saw you”

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Photoshop what the #$%@ happened to Eddie Van Halen

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Today’s Iron Photoshop ingredient: Kings

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: If another country were the world’s superpower