News – A New Chapter

Middle East

Well, the fighting in Gaza has died down. With Hamas in control once again. Though in a way not at all legitimate, unlike the last time. I fear Israel will take this as a blank check to begin pounding Gaza into the ground. Fatah still holds sway in the West Bank, but who can say what will happen now?

Recently retired UN envoy Alvaro de Soto says what I’ve been saying, all the hate on Hamas after their political win isn’t good for democracy. Like them or hate them, Hamas did win fair and square. With the world turning their back, it just showed all that democracy only works when you elect someone that is approved of. And now look where we are, after all those waste months, letting the situation fester and rot to where it is now. And if the hate continues, from the US or Israel, well.. things won’t get better will they? Of course, I don’t expect anything better. I expect Israel will do something foolish and I expect the US will let them and probably limit their involvement to pumping funds into Fatah.

It could be in our best interests to work with the Sunni insurgents. Of course, it would be yet another example of the administration retconing on their ‘no deals with terrorists’ stance.

In Lebanon, they’re still battling in a Palestinian refugee camp. Four more Lebanese soldiers have been killed and it seems unlikely to stop anytime soon.

Defense Sec Gates makes note of a considerable amount of Iranian hardware that is making its way into Afghanistan

British oil trader John Irving has been arrested and could be extradited to the US for taking part in a scheme to pay millions of dollars of illegal kickbacks to Saddam Hussein’s regime under the oil for food program.

Africa

Zimbabwe passes a law so it can monitor email and other communications. Cites laws like it in the US and UK as justification. Prediction proven. Once again, we influence the world.

Of course, Zimbabwe’s issues could be deeper than that, with a leaked internal report that says it may collapse within 6 months.

Some good news, it looks like Africa’s AIDS epidemic is slowing. It would be nice to get that under control. It’ll take a lot more time, but progress is always nice to see on something this big.

Asia/Pacific

The money that has been a key sticking point when it comes to North Korea ditching the nukes is finally moving. Hopefully that will get things moving again.

More than 200 people being used as slaves in brick kilns in the Henan province of China have been rescued. It’s good to see that happen.

Europe.

The Vatican is trying to get Catholics to stop giving money to Amnesty International, accusing the group of promoting abortion. Amnesty says it isn’t promoting abortion as a universal right, but that women do have a right to choose.

Americas

James Seale, a 71 year old former cop and KKK member, is found guilty for killing two black teens in 1964. Not that a life sentence will mean as much as it would have 40 years ago. Several cases like this are being reoped by the FBI, it seems.

The Senate has found some sort of agreement to revive the shelved Immigration bill. Much to the delight or upset of many on all sides, I’m sure.

There has been nothing so stupid as this Paris Hilton thing. So she’s back in a cell now. But she will likely only be there another 11 days because of the good behavior bull. Still, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca maintain she has some issues that make her stay in jail dangerous for her. Hinting at some vague psychological problems. Personally, I don’t care. Put her ass under suicide watch if you must, but she needs to do some time. The idiot also says people are treating her like a ‘criminal justice football’. Yeah, only because you were fool enough to overstep and let her out when you don’t have the pull for that kinda of crap, so her bouncing about is all his fault.

Lots of people have opinions on Paris. Most are less than sympathetic.

General

Google and Ebay quarrel.

The Blogs look at news that the Shiite mosque in Samarra was bombed a second time, Samuel Alito’s remark that free-speech restrictions are “dangerous” and Iran’s war on porn stars.

Today’s Papers has note that Judge Reggie Walton(Judge of the Libby case) revealed that he has received several “angry, harassing” letters, which he found “very troubling,”, the Justice Department announcing that an internal investigation into the firings of nine U.S. attorneys will also look into whether Attorney General Alberto Gonzales tried to influence the testimony of Monica Goodling, a look at how the Federal Emergency Management Agency is trying to get money back from victims of the Gulf Coast hurricanes that it improperly awarded and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Mint Spaghetti

Mark Fiore: Torture 101

Step 1. Steal reporter’s underwear, Step 2. ????, Step 3. Get PWNED on TV in front of your Dad

Seventy-year-old vandal caught spraypainting the slang term for “whorehouse” on random houses in Germany

Master thief steals $1.4M painting by walking into gallery in middle of day, taking painting off wall, walking out. Genius

Eighth grader takes microphone at school concert attended by 700 people, thanks choir teacher for teaching class “what to say in any situation,” and unleashes a slew of profanity. Hilarity ensues

This is your captain speaking, we’ll shortly be touching down at Gatwick Airport, London. If you look to your left you’ll spot a naked woman advertising a strip joint(w/pic)

Bad: Get pulled over by the fuzz. Worse: get caught trying to eat your weed so the cop doesn’t see it. Fark: nearly choke to death trying to swallow your stash

It’s not every day a 13-year old gets to chase a burglar with a Katana

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this 1957 WorldCon attendee

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this loop

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop theme: Children’s books are reflecting a more conservative viewpoint. Photoshop some possible covers