News – Insecurity in Australia

Asia/Pacific

Members of a TV comedy show breach the tight security that has been raised for the Apec summit in Australia. It was only revealed, right next to the hotel Bush would be staying at, when one of their members exited the car they were driving dressed as Ossama Bin Laden. That’s pretty damn embarrassing. Some coverage and more coverage. They could get into serious trouble, but all things considered I support their stunt, if only to show how ineffective throwing massive funds and manpower at security can be if not properly managed.

South Korea remains mum on just how it secured the release of 19 Koreans being held by the Taliban. They don’t deny that a ransom might have been paid, nor do they confirm. Instead, they say it’s improper to ask about it.

Three months after lifting it, Fiji’s military leaders reimpose a state of emergency for the period of a month. Commodore Frank Bainimarama says such is needed because ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase is trying to destabilize the country. It seems that the PM has returned to the country and that the state of emergency only applies to him and his entourage, which would allow the government to detain any of them at any time without charge. An interesting situation, that.

Middle East

Why all the funds thrown at Iraq seem to do little to improve the infrastructure there. Corruption, incompetence and insurgent meddling all add up.

Stop the presses, Israel’s military is making a plan to curb missile attacks. Just like every other plan to do the same that resulted in.. nothing. I foresee history repeating itself because Israel doesn’t know how to actually stop these people. At least Olmert didn’t listen to his idiot ministers. Because expanded military operations and cutting off supplies to the entire region have worked in the past. No, both just make the people there angrier and angrier and more likely to start attacking Israel, smoothing over any actual headway that is made with a glut of new recruits. Few of those in Gaza are the ones perpetrating these attacks. And the majority holds little power to effect change, even if they wanted to. Thus attacking the innocent by cutting off supplies ultimately does nothing or worse.

Why are positions of power rarely occupied by those who have some manner of savvy and insight when it comes to matters such as these? Government and military leaders often seem to be some of the least inspired, most pig headed people in existence.

Africa

Kenyan PMs vote themselves fat bonuses. The people get angry, for obvious reasons.

As a part of their efforts to stabilize their economy, Zimbabwe drastically devalues their currency. They’re also waiving taxes for some low earners and increasing stamp and excise duties. Being no economist, I have no idea if any or all of these ideas are good ones. But it seems like a lot of changes.

Europe

Starbucks makes its first viral incursion into Russia. Expect there to be a dozen more within the year.

So what can one make of a formation of Russian bombers flying patrols? Probably just a simple ‘show off’ of sorts I’d guess. Perhaps testing the waters to see what their limits are.

Luciano Pavarotti, one of the three tenors, is lying in state in his hometown of Modena, Italy.

Americas

More Saudis are freed from Gitmo. As one watches these supposedly innocent(?) people being released, one wonders why they were there in the first place. It stands to reason if they were terrorists, they would have been put to trial and given punishment, yes?

A US judge declares a law allowing federal anti-terror agents to access info on the American public without a warrant unconstitutional. Which it is in my opinion. Personally, I think Bush and company might get more support if they manned up and just admitted they wanted to put up terror laws to do things considered unconstitutional. Given the choice to make a sacrifice, some are of a mind to do so.

Fred Thompson’s first day as an actual candidate for prez.

General

Today’s Papers has note that a virus might be to blame for the large number of honey bee deaths as of late, that the head of Iraq’s Public Integrity Commission has resigned, that Gen. Petraeus might tell Congress next week that he’s willing to consider withdrawing more troops in the months after January but only if certain conditions are met and more in the one page news.

The Blogs look at red Thompson’s big announcement, Norman Hsu’s disappearance and Luciano Pavarotti’s death.

Amusements

Neurotically Yours: Foamy Fan Mail 11

Criminal genius unsuccessfully tries to cash a stolen cheque… in his own name. At a post office where he was already well known

Senator Larry Craigs (R-notgay) daughter appears on TV to tell everyone hes definitely not gay — ignoring the fact that oops, she has a warrant out for her arrest

Not news: Thieves steal garden gnome. Fark: Gnome weighs 120 pounds and was cemented in place

Verizon smokes out another family, which you might say is bad PR, especially when the homeowner is a reporter for Associated Press

Despite getting busted for doing donuts in the grass, having three times the legal amount of alcohol in her system, and trying to grab an officer’s crotch, this woman still managed to smile for her mugshot

Man avoids 14 months behind bars for driving a motor vehicle with a suspended license because he was driving a moped, which doesn’t qualify as a motor vehicle under state statutes

Here’s a good idea…let’s steal video equipment from that video surveillance manufacturer. Surely they won’t be recording us

<A HREF="http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070906/OSH/309060040/1987″>”Officers inspected the pizza and determined that it indeed was burned.”

Here’s a tip for all you bank robbers out there: If you walk past a uniformed police officer three times, maybe you should hold off on the robbery

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this king and queen

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this ruminant

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this master of bathroom karate