News – Mildly Distracted News
My mind is elsewhere today, thus this news is a bit thin and took way too long to make. We’ll try for better on Wednesday. 😉
Middle East
Recent clashes in Lebanon between Fatah al-Islam and government troops leave many dead. Things are calming down again, but have yet to end entirely.
Gen David Petraeus says he knows who captured the three recently captured US soldiers. And that one of them might have died, but he doesn’t know.
After 12 days under cerfew by US and Iraqi forces, Samarra is flagging. The town was surrounded and cut off in the wame of a bomb attack that killed 12 police officers, including their chief, Abd al-Jalil al-Dulaimi. The side effects of the cutoff are severe, with aid not allowed through in required quantities. They need to lift it or at least make sure the people get the needed supplies to survive.
An Israeli minister says all Hamas leaders should be killed to end the rocket attacks from Gaza. Because thus far targeting the leadership of terrorist organizations has done much in making the world safer. Right?
Africa
Pirate attacks cause a halt in aid shipments to Somalia. They’ll have to give a stronger guard to these aid ships to make sure they get through safely.
John Yates, a career diplomat with experience in Aftica, is the new US envoy to Somalia. However, he’ll be in Kenya for the time being due to the insecurity in Somalia.
Asia/Pacific
Coca-Cola says they have no jail labor being used to make their products in China. I’d believe a third party investigation more than an internal one. But that’s a general preference when it comes to any big company.
Europe
The Russian Union of Journalists is being evicted from a building they paid for and helped build for their use to make more room for a state run satellite TV station that focuses on world PR.
Americas
Jimmy Carter criticizes Bush. The White House comes back with the view that Jimmy’s ‘increasingly irrelevant’. Which doesn’t necessarily make his remarks false. Especially since he’s not the only one with negative things to say about Bush and his administration.
Fred Thompson vs. Michael Moore. No matter how it turns out hilarity is sure to ensue.
The GOP effort to silence Ron Paul.
Reexamining Wolfy’s suitability for the World Bank.
General
Scientists say there is no evidence to suggest wi-fi is a danger to one’s health. It’s still something to keep an eye on.
Nicholas Negroponte, founder of the $100 laptop initiative charges Intel is selling cut price laptops below cost to drive him out of the market.
Using Disney’s own work to teach about Copyrights. Now that’s hot.
The Blogs look at the new proposed immigration bill and if Tony Blair might replace Wolfowitz at the World Bank.
Today’s Papers has the old getting richer and the young getting poorer, how gay men serving in the UK military has been without problem, various notes on Iraq and more in the one page news.
Amusements
Employers sending fake phishing emails to see how dumb their employees are. Number one clicked phishing email? Oh yeah, cat pictures
Objectophile: A person who has feelings for, and sexual relationships with buildings, trains, machines, etc. SRSLY
Cop pulls over porn actress, and offers her a way to pay off the fine early. Cue “boom-chick-a” music, as he “made little videos” of it, too
Extreme frugality: growing tomatoes on a bra and other interesting frugal ideas
Today’s made-up internet affliction: Cyberchondria
Hershey sues other candy maker for making candy with similar names. Did I mention it was pot candy?
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop these three modern knights in shining armor
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this Spanish performer
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: How the world of today will appear in the museums of tomorrow