News – Nowhere to Go

Middle East

Four Iraqis speak on the current passport issues in the country. With the passports given out under Saddam’s regime invalidated and the whole of Iraq told to get new passports, one could expect nothing less than a massive backlog and many citizens stuck without a valid passport because of the long wait.

Israel is to release about 90 Palestinian prisoners in yet another move that is aimed at bolstering Abbas. I wonder how long they’ve been in an Israeli jail and if they are to be released now, why they weren’t released earlier? As well, 90 is hardly a drop in the bucket with regard to the estimated 10k+ that Israel holds currently. It’s hard to get excited about this so called good faith gesture with regard to that.

Many comments on the nuclear issues that plague the Middle East.

With Blackwater in the spotlight, other allegations are sure to crop up. Such as illegal weapons smuggling. But they have resumed limited activities even though their license to operate in Iraq has been revoked. This won’t be water under the bridge, however, as Iraq’s government seems set to strip away the imunity to prosecution these contractor outfits have. Maliki in particular is being quite stubborn over the issue. I wonder if the trouble caused by this will be enough to dislodge these third party security firms from being paid by the military to do the work that it should be doing.

Africa

Oxfam, an international aid agency, says they may have to with draw from Darfur should the situation there get any more dangerous. One of their workers has been killed this year and many held hostage, along with many vehicles being hijacked. Nor is Oxfam the only agency to have such tales to tell. It’s sad that they might feel the need to withdraw, their aid depended on by many. But it is quite understandable, given the situation.

Things in Somalia remain unsteady as continued Islamist attacks and internal instability within the transitional government linger. And what, I wonder, would be the US response if the Islamist opposition manages to thrust out the current government? What indeed. We haven’t the military presence to send with our current engagements even if we desired to get personally involved. And airpower can only take you so far without the ground forces to back it up.

Asia/Pacific

Tens of thousands of monks and civilians march through Rangoon in demonstration against Burma’s military government. The government left with a quandary as the monks are well regarded, thus any action against them would be ill-advised at best. Still, governments are famous for doing the ill-advised. Especially military run governments.

Tasmania is in a quandary. The government believes that European Red Foxes exist on the island state and fear that growing numbers of them could decimate native rodents and ground nesting birds. Some believe the government has been hoaxed by people bringing fox carcasses from the mainland. The worry is a valid one as the mainland has an estimated fox population of 30 million and they’re said to have played a role in the extinction of 23 native species.

This is why many countries won’t allow foreign animals. Nature has a distinct balance and a new predator or prey species, even new plants can throw that balance off.

Europe

RIP: Marcel Marceau. A wonderful performer.

An early morning bomb blast in Pristina, Kosovo kills two and injures eleven. Even after a decision is made on independence from Serbia, I can see things like this continuing to happen as either way one side will end up unhappy.

Americas

It’s a sad state of affairs that the Pentagon is given impunity with the massive military budget that it has. $500 billion. Can you even picture how much that is? I surely can’t. And that doesn’t include the billions funding the various conflicts we’re embroiled in currently. We’re still pumping out Cold War arms long after things have heated up. If this is a different war then shouldn’t we take a deep look at how our military spends its riches?

Could repeated blows to the head be why OJ is such a nut? Entirely possible according to tests on similar athletes. I suppose that means OJ should be committed.

The Iraq Position Locator. Know at a glance the current positions held by various sources.

Muji comes to the US, with two stores of plain merchandise opening up in New York.

General

A specialist claims that belief in a cure for AIDS is fueling a rise in infection rates. This belief being among the young, which leads them to take fewer or no precautions. Which, of course, leaves them open to infection. It would be prudent, I would say, to make sure all know that there is no current cure for the virus. Only drugs to suppress when you’re already infected.

A team at Yale says that the brain activity of a pedophile differs from the brains of other people. There is also note that things such as brain tumors have seemed to foster such attractions, only to have them fade when the tumor is removed. If this is the case, it seems possible to correct such attractions if the true source of the imbalance can be narrowed down. Finally a true means of rehabilitation, rather than what currently exists. It would be nice.

The effects of parental nudity on kids, according to explainer.

The Blogs look at the “Jena 6” protest, and an Uzbek-Russian oligarch’s success in shutting down a handful of prominent British blogs.

Today’s Papers has word that at least some U.S. snipers in Iraq have been encouraged to set out “bait” to lure and kill suspected insurgents, the case of Army Maj. John Cockerham, who is accused of carrying out the largest bribery case involving U.S. contracts in Iraq with the help of his wife and sister, a look at how more federal judges left the bench in the last few years than at any other time in history and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Howdo the cops prove prostitution without the sex act? “He ended up having sex four times in the name of justice”

Prize offered for the first mobile phone call from the Moon – can you hear me in space?

Woman comes home to find naked stranger asleep in her bed. He tries to make the best of an awkward situation by then offering her $14 and some pot for sex

How Clearwater went from a sleepy little Florida town into Mecca for weird-ass UFO worshippers(Also, XenuTV)

High school student suspended after continually crawling into school rafters during lunch hour to watch drama class

Man handcuffs girlfriend to be for some kinky sex, then loses the key and has to be freed by 20 firemen and three cops. The Sun? There (pic)

Police banned from riding bicycles in Britain as Nanny State decides it makes their jobs “too dangerous”

Drunk driver tries to outrun police … in a tractor

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop some more appropriate safety signs for Fark

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this young girl ready to launch a ship

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop what this man is really holding

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