News – Too Much Death

Middle East

Amnesty International highlights Iraq’s extensive use of the death penalty as of late, with at least 270 people sentenced to death since 2004 and more than 100 people hanged. Iraq’s leaders dismiss the report, saying that capital punishment is an intrinsic element of implementing an Islamic criminal code. Perhaps, but it’s a shaky thing when the trials that lead up to executions are less than fair.

Apparently Iran is becoming involved in Afghanistan now. Which, again, leaves me to wonder if I should trust my own government, when my trust in it has been shaken a few too many times.

So, Iraqis will have full control of the country’s security by the end of the year according to Maliki. Personally, I don’t anticipate this will cause any real changes on the ground. We won’t be withdrawing troops in any significant number as far as I can see.

Another for the file of simple, but useless solutions to serious problems. The building of a three mile wall in Baghdad to separate Sunnis and Shia. Because walls solve the deeper problem of social conflict. Oh wait..

Iraq’s oil wealth is still being underused.

The National Union of Journalists becomes the latest group to propose a boycott of Israel.

Looking back at the timeline of various US efforts in Iraq.

Africa

Despite questions of whether the situation is improving or not in Somalia, heavy fighting continues in Mogadishu.

Sudan is accused of trying to fly weapons into Darfur in disguised planes, despite an arms embargo that’s been put in place. A Sudanese official calls this a lie and says military assets were merely being shifted.

Rawanda takes France to the ICC, wanting the arrest warrents against nine associates of President Paul Kagame lifted. The reasoning: They can’t do their jobs in the government properly while unable to travel abroad.

Nigeria is having it’s own problems with Islamic militants and unfair polls.

Asia/Pacific

Thailand’s first draft for a new constitution is agreed upon and will be presented to the public before being put toe referendum. They’re making good progress since the coup. I dare hope they’ll do all they promised.

China’s economy might be growing too fast. Hard to think of growth as bad, but they do say you can have too much of a good thing.

Europe

More angst between the US and Russia as Russia warns against unilateral efforts to recognize the independence of Kosovo. Which would be aimed squarely at comments from a US official suggesting they might do just that.

Interior ministers of the EU agree to make incitement to racism a crime. This not to Germany’s preference as they had a few desires to add into that, aimed directly at Nazi related materials and the holocaust.

Americas

Gonzalez finally has his day before the Senate. I’ll reserve comment on it until I get a few good sources to eyeball.

So how are colleges to deal properly with people like Cho Seung-Hui?

General

Customers actually force Dell to go back on ending preloading of XP on new machines. That’s not too good, is it, when enough people would rather have XP than the next gen OS.

Living fast is bad for your heart. So don’t forget to take it down a notch whenever you can.

A discovery that could help cure a rare kidney cancer largely present in children.

Could a substance in our own blood provide the next HIV drug?

Blackberry has an access failure due to a poorly tested software upgrade. They should know better, as long as they’ve been in business. But for those who can’t live without one, the system is back online.

The Blogs look at Cho Seung-Hui’s manifesto and Sanjaya’s American Idol ouster. For some of the aired content of his video rants, hit here on YouTube. No telling how long it might be there, so check it ASAP.

A newsreel for March.

Today’s Papers looks at the announcement by Virginia Tech that students will have flexibility in how they choose to end the few remaining weeks of the semester, criticism of NBC for airing some of the materials Cho Seung-Hui sent to them, a look at the many walk-in clinics run by the Department of Veterans Affairs that are lacking staff and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Neurotically Yours: Comedians

Mark Fiore: Outta Africa

Principal convicted of paying his students so he could kiss their feet

Old and busted: Showing hostility towards tourists for invading your quiet town. New hotness: Flashing your weener at tourists because… because why not?

Huge electrical explosion caught live on the news

Badge, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, orgy, orgy

When drinking and driving and needing to sleep it off, pick where you sleep it off carefully (with pic)

In 1993, AT&T made a slick video set in the Internet-filled future. Biggest future revelation: We will all be played by wooden actors

<A HREF="http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/117695492882220.xml&coll=1″&gt; Old Christian couple goes to high school musical production in order to boo it

Grammatically challenged bank robber sentenced (with note for grammar nazi goodness)

Police officers have heard every excuse in the book. Except for possibly, “Those drugs are for curing my sick, rare albino buffalo calf so I can sell it to an Indonesian sultan”

When you rob a bank and the dye pack explodes, trying to spend your pink-ink-stained money in a public place is probably not the best of ideas

Pooh scares the pooh out of postal workers

Glow in the dark bra allows you to find the goods easier. The Sun is there

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this Ars Technica Ren-Faire dude and his velvet pants

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this girl with superpowers

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Characters that didn’t quite make it on kids’ shows