News – Whose Side?

Middle East

Iraqi PM Nuri al-Maliki condemns a US raid on Shia militia position, denying his government had anything to do with it. He’s also said it would not be repeated.

Looking at Olmert’s choice of adding Avigdor Lieberman to his government.

Bush admits he’s dissatisfied with the Iraq War. That’s good. Question is, can he improve things?

The US military says a soldier that went missing in Baghdad Monday night was kidnapped.

Europe

A Danish court rejects a libel case brought by several Muslim groups against the paper that published a cartoon featuring the Prophet Muhammad.

The EU has a plan to make the internet a less friendly place for terrorists. Home Secretary John Reid said they would seek to crack down on people using the web to share information on explosives or spread propaganda. That doesn’t sound so good to me. Too general.

Asia/Pacific

Australian Muslim cleric Sheikh Taj el-Din al-Hilali is suspended after comparing immodestly dressed women to ‘uncovered meat’. Part of his actual words: “If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside… and the cats come and eat it… whose fault is it, the cats’ or the uncovered meat?”

Chinese College students in the southern province of Jiangxi have clashed with police during protests over their academic status.

Americas

Mexico condemns US plans to build a seven hundred mile section of fence along the border between the two countries.

Actor Michael J Fox says he was neither acting nor off his medication in a recent US political campaign ad. Previously, Conservative radio commentator made such accusations before later apologizing. Personally, I think Rush is the last person anyone should respect, considering his own ‘issues’. But people still listen to him, sadly. Is, perhaps, Limbaugh’s show of stupidity all an act?

Has Obama turned politics upside down as it pertains to the pending 2008 presidential election?

Bush uses a campaign appearance to condemn the decision of a New Jersey court to give homosexual couples the same rights as heterosexual couples. He accused the court of raising doubts about the ‘sacred institution of marriage’.

Cheney endorses waterboarding, AKA simulated drowning. Apparently he also implied this particular technique was used on Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Apparently, he doesn’t consider that torture. Oh no, it’s a ‘tool’.

General

Research suggests that infertile couples are three times as likely to have autistic children. It is thought this might stem from whatever physical ailment makes it difficult to have children in the first place.

It is warned that crushing pills to make them easier to swallow could cause health problems. Many pills have special coatings that effect how they’re released into the body. Screwing that up could cause issues.

Explainer talks about Vegemite. He also looks at how Parkinson’s meds work.

The Blogs look at the New Jersey Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage, Tennessee television ad criticizing Rep. Harold Ford and Madonna’s appearance on Oprah.

Today’s Papers has a look at trips members of the House of Representatives take abroad, IRS commissioner Mark W. Everson telling his employees they should hold off on trying to collect back taxes from Hurricane Katrina victims until after the November elections and the holiday season, businesses quietly increasing their contributions to Democrats and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Feeling as though a daytime tv show, various Food Network shows, books, magazines, etc. aren’t enough to carry on her legacy, Rachael Ray plans to open a chain of burger joints. Get ready for too much evoo and onions with that burger

Rural neighbors of Lance Armstrong claim he built a giant dam, then peed in their pool

Elderly men to perform nude dance routines for charity. “We’re the Chippendales with wrinkles.” (w/o picture goodness)

Do you frequently find yourself waking up in the middle of a furious dry-hump session with your sleeping wife? Don’t worry, scientists are searching for a cure

State DHS worker punished for reporting illegal aliens that were applying for benefits to INS

Three 17-year-old girls booted from school for dressing as popular children’s character “Captain Underpants.” Captain Obvious unavailable for comment

Maxim to open a chain of steak houses across the US. Beef will be under-fed and served with fake melons

Starbucks executive explaining new coffeeshop locations: “Going to the other side of the street can be a barrier”

Barbra Streisand’s recent “STFU” onstage outburst remixed into dance track (uncensored version in link) – The Outburst

Star of “Scrotal Vengeance” claims she’s the Julia Roberts of horror flicks, mad at Stuff magazine for overlooking her in its horror-queens list

How much is a perfectly normal 2003 penny worth? $15,119.99 more than you would have guessed

Exxon’s quarterly revenue ($99 billion) greater than the GDP of The United Arab Emirates ($98 billion) and Kuwait ($53 billion)

When you’re wanted onmultiple warrants, it’s not the smartest thing to hide 100lbs of pot in your garage. Because, you know, people can smell it

Sportswriters get All-Star game put on hold because the press box is too small, not enough hot dogs served

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this playoff couple. Difficulty = No Karate Kid

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this strangely-carved stump chair

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop these dangling hamsters. No, not dancing. Dangling