News – Half Distracted News

Middle East

Syria is still struggling with a growing population of displaced Iraqis. It’s a serious problem for both Iraq and Syria. Syria appears to be taking steps to lighten their load. It might not be a favorable thing to turn away people in need, but neither is it for a country to wreck its own infrastructure allowing anyone and everyone to flood past their borders.

A rocket from Gaza injures 69 new Israeli recruits. The circle continues, soon to be fostered by the impending overreaction by Israel’s government and the subsequent assaults by militants and so on and so on.

Looks like they uncovered a ring of neo-Nazis in Israel. Good. They should be held accountable for the crimes they’ve perpetrated.

The English transcript of Osama’s latest video.

Africa

Somali Islamists and opposition leaders are meeting in Eritrea for a meeting. On the agenda, joining forces to throw out the transitional government in Somalia.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is dealing with an outbreak of ebola. At least 166 people have died with nearly 400 further cases confirmed. Hopefully they can get it contained and squashed quickly.

Asia/Pacific

There are still places in Taiwan where no electrical power flows. In that area, the regional peoples are debating whether or not they should have power installed or continue to cook and light the night by flame alone.

Europe

Sergei Morozov, governor of the Ulyanovsk region of Russia, is offering prizes to those who have babies in exactly nine months. On Russia’s national day on 12 June. That’s just silly. And potentially problematic. People shouldn’t procreate for prizes. It could end up badly for those who do it for that reason alone.

The lasting influence of the secret police era in Russia. Remember, Putin used to be in the KGB.

Americas

Petraeus talks with the Senate. The article starts off with a very interesting note, which shows how Petraeus avoids indulging in the Bush rhetoric. That alone interests me highly. And while he and Crocker did their best to keep their game faces up(as is expected), they didn’t appear to fall to lying.

Six years since 9/11. People say never forget, but you can’t, really. In part because most seem inclined to never give you the chance to. And, of course, because of the impact it had on changing the posture of the US, the ramifications of which linger to this day and will likely do so for decades to come at this rate. Personally, I’ve let the event slip back into dim historical memory. It won’t be forgotten, but I don’t feel the need to dwell on it as fervently as some.

Bush will be announcing a cut in troop strength in Iraq. Some opine it could be 30k, which would be how many were added for the surge.

General

How to make your own ringtones for the iPhone, despite Apple waiting to force you to pay them $2 for one.

The Blogs look at the congressional testimony of Gen. David Petraeus and Iraq Ambassador Ryan Crocker, possible ties to an anti-Fred Thompson Web site for the Romney campaign and a supposed feud between 50 Cent and Kanye West.

Today’s Papers has a list of the 10 worst summer movies, according to the critics, the story of a 20-year-old black woman who was held prisoner in a mobile home in West Virginia for more than a week, that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced today that he will resign and more in the one page news.

Amusements

I’ll have to employ some Chinese acrobatics

Never one to miss a chance to get attention, Cindy Sheehan gets arrested outside Petraeus hearing

Ben & Jerry’s offers reward of five years’ free ice cream for arrest of man who stole employee tip jar. That’s Americone justice at work

Elementary school’s automated message system calls hundreds of parents, asking them why their kids are absent from school. Hilarity ensues

As a mugger, the last phrase you want to hear about the helpless-looking guy you’ve decided to rob is “world class blind Judo expert.”

Not news: Woman has purse snatched. News: Crowd of onlookers chase down and catch thief. Fark: Thief turns out to be a policeman. Awkward

One of these two is lying: a New Orleans hooker or a Republican Senator. Guess who passed the polygraph test

Today’s witless thief who tried to rob a bank using his own checkbook brought to you from Englewood, Colorado

If you’re going to renovate the entire second floor of your home to grow pot, make sure your electrical wiring is up to code

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this little wader

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Vandalize a famous piece of architecture or building.