News – Banning too Much

Europe

In Germany, a man is sent to jail for exercising free speech. I may find his views distasteful, but I still think Germany is wrong for being so extreme in squishing everything to do with Holocaust denial. Not because I think any of their views might be true, but because it’s dangerous to walk down this road of banning speech.

An italian judge orders 26 US citizens(mostly CIA) to stand trial for the 2003 kidnapping of Egyptian cleric Osama Mustafa Hassan. Five Italians were also brought under charges. Italy has not yet decided if it will pursue extradition of the 26 Americans. But one can easily guess how cooperative our government will be. Or should I say won’t be?

The most expensive pizza in the world. Probably tastes like crap.

Middle East

The US plans to offer asylum to 7,000 Iraqi refugees over the next year. That will help many, but there are still many thousands more living in unhealthy conditions. We need a lasting solution. The best would be peace in Iraq, allowing these people to return to what is left of their lives.

Iraq unveils a new security plan. It includes closing the border along Syria and Iran for three days and an extension of Baghdad curfews.

Palestinian PM Ismail Haniya resigns his post, asked by President Mahmoud Abbas to form a new national unity government. Good to see things are progressing there. Hopefully they will continue to move smoothly and something positive will result. Then again..

Turkey will be sending an inspection team to survey the work being carried out at Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Israel will also be feeding images of the work live on the internet. This is good. This is Israel being reasonable in relation to their Muslim neighbors and residents. This sort of thing more often would raise my opinion of them considerably.

Africa

The violence in Darfur seems to be spreading to neighboring Chad. It’s been said before, but it merits saying again. Something has to be done.

The people of Guinea are up in arms and the local government seems to be mucking things up in trying to quell the unrest by repression and violence.

Asia/Pacific

Kind of interesting how much Bush’s deal with North Korea resembles Clinton’s. Especially considering how much his cronies have dogged Clinton about it.

The US military releases details of its case against Australian David Hicks, currently held in Guantanimo.

Hong Kong looks to squish forced shopping in tours from China.

Americas

To show how out of touch our leaders were a few years ago, declassified Central Command documents show that the initial invasion planners imagined that only 5k troops would still be in Iraq by Dec 2006. I wanna know what they were smoking(Warning: Drug humor).

Democrats warn that Bush hasn’t the authority to go to war with Iran. Perhaps, but more importantly Bush doesn’t have the time nor the resources to go to war with Iran. All he can do is talk. His time is coming to a close and we’re still knee deep in Iraq and Afghanistan, with no need to add a third country to the list of those we’re propping up. The most Bush could do is bomb the hell out of them, but I hope even he would see how bad a move that would turn out to be.

Obama Messiah Watch Part 5 and Part 6.

Ready for a laugh? Al Franken plans to run for the Senate in Minnesota. How’s that for amusing?

General

Viagra saves a baby’s life. No foolin. Seems that it’s good for more than male issues.

Explainer wonders why Iranian bombs have English serial numbers.

The Blogs look at Bush’s plan to send more troops to Afghanistan, Fox News Channel’s foray into comedy(http://youtube.com/watch?v=YjIfaMwIFxU) and the U.S. Mint’s new dollar coin.

Today’s Papers has musings on the location of Muqtada Sadr, Bush’s latest speech, a round of up congressional dealings on Iraq and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Neurotically Yours: Celebrities

Mark Fiore: Victory Is..

SNL – Digital Short – A Special Christmas Box – Warning: Mild explicative use and crass humor(one of my favorite types)

Mallet-wielding robber terrifies sub shop. “Please give me your money or put your knuckles on the table”

Not news: College students arrested. Fark: For carrying out a harmless prank of stuffing snow in an arch on the college green. Stun guns, beer cans, snowballs involved

TV weather forecasters in Denver complain they’re being deluged with hate mail from viewers who think they are enjoying the blizzards too much. “Having eight weeks of storms has made a lot of people really crabby,” notes one

In the wake of the Philadelphia shooting, Rep. Carthy (D-umbassNY) wants to ban guns completely different than the gun used in the shooting. Bonus: She refers to a semiautomatic pistol as an “AK-47 assault rifle”

“Man charged for trying to MacGyver propane tank to car engine.” He was foiled before he got the two ballpoint pens, a waffle, and a piece of chewing gum that he needed to finish the job

Mayorial candidate boosts campaign by putting up poster of male genitals with the words “ëat me” on it

Guy who was fined $2,500 for illegally cutting down public trees without permission throws a hissy fit because other people who actually get permission to cut down trees don’t get in trouble for it

Christian pediatrician denies child service because parents are tattooed. You know, just like Jesus would have done

Remember the dino egg nest that sold for a record $420,000? Well it was just seized by customs agents because apparently they were illegally stolen from China. Oops

Not News: Guy takes nudie pic of himself with cell phone in mirror. News: Well lookie here, he just happens to be the friendly neighborhood policeman. Fark: Oops, the naked friendly neighborhood policeman is the hottest screen saver in town

“South of the Border” party sparks outrage in Santa Clara. Aunt Jemima unavailable for comment

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop theme: Drew’s birthday party

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this spiffy speaker cabinet

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Instashop contest for FarkTV: photoshop shopping carts left in unexpected or impossible places