News – After Annapolis

Middle East

Looks like Bush is, for the time being, continuing to push on the Israel/Palestine issue. There is a lot to do and frayed support for it on both sides.

In Gaza tens of thousands protest against the Annapolis talks. Smaller demonstrations in the West Bank were broken up by the police. It would behoove the powers that be to find out precisely why these people protest, simply because that information is integral to garnering the support of those who now protest, by assuaging them of their concerns where possible. But I anticipate that no one will ask and thus many will remain against this process when they could be swayed to support it.

Iraqi leaders oppose a long term US-Iraqi pact dealing with enduring political, military and economic ties between the two countries. This seems to mean that no matter who gets elected, we’re committed to Iraq for the long term militarily. Unless, of course, we want to go back on the agreement.

Musharraf takes off his uniform, but one wonders how much influence he keeps over the Pakistani military despite this formality.

Africa

The battle continues in Somalia. Ethiopian troops are bogged down in the country.

Asia/Pacific

Japan’s opposition controlled upper house of parliament votes to end their air mission in Iraq. Just as was previously done with the naval support in Afghanistan.

Europe

Sarkozy looks like he’s set to face head on the recent flare up of violence in France, sparked by the deaths of two teenagers when their motorcycle crashed with a police car.

The final round of talks on Kosovo’s future end up with no results. Dec 10 is the deadline set by the UN for an agreement and the ethnic Albanian leaders are considering a unilateral declaration of independence on that day. That, of course, is likely to end up poorly.

Americas

Oil tycoon Oscar Wyatt gets a year and a day in the clink for conspiracy in the UN oil-for-food program scandal.

General

Politics stand in the way of the $100 laptop. Hence why politics suck. In one case, Nigeria’s education minister questions the use of said laptops in the education of the country’s children. He talks about lack of facilities, but these machines were made for use in an area with a lack of facilities. Thus perfect for extending the educational prospects for kids who don’t have the breadth of resources we do.

The Blogs look at Oprah hitting the campaign trail for Obama, an English teacher in the Sudan might get 40 lashes for naming a teddy bear Mohammed and the death of Sean Taylor.

Today’s Papers has how Sen. John McCain is trying to gain more support for his presidential run by emphasizing his unwavering support for the “surge”, a note without explanation that Iraq didn’t attend the Annapolis conference, and other tidbits about the Annapolis conference itself with a few more bits in the one page news.

Amusements

When attempting to rob restaurant employees of their nightly money drop, it’s really critical to rob them on their way TO the bank’s drop-off slot. As opposed to afterwards

Nanny State forces homebuilder to construct £140,000 home for two newts found on property he wanted to build on — a more expensive house than the one he planned on building for humans

Lawmakers in Sarasota decide to make strip clubs more fun by imposing a no alcohol rule and increasing the dancing distance to 6 feet. They’re doing it wrong

Bad: Having to perform highway roadside cleanup for public service. Good: Finding two trash bags full of marijuana. With pic of Highway Patrol’s new “party in a bag” concept

Top 25 great drinking quotes. Bonus, Homer gets two on list

Hottest stuffed toy for Christmas this year? Plush roadkill (pic)

It’s still real to me: Strongbad, wrestling and Tuesday Night

Habitual drunk driver drives into school bus, tries to back out to get away and ends up wedging himself between the bus and a truck. Some days it ain’t easy earning the Dumbass tag, but this guy pulled out all the stops

Boy they sure know how to have fun in Waco, TX: “We were laughing about it because we got their broccoli and cheese casserole and they got our yams.”

Man decides to drives car without brakes, simply put his car into reverse whenever he wanted to stop. This new technique could catch on, but it costs about 1 gearbox per 10 miles

“I figured it’d be a lot easier to identify the truck with some bullet holes in it.” The tag comes through for us again. Bonus: Use of the word “dadgum”

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this vintage ad showing how television benefits children

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this model on her magic leg machine

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop something more interesting for this vending machine to dispense