News – Can a Movie Just be a Movie?
Americas
Oh look, here come the vocal religious folk to complain about The Golden Compass because they say it sells atheism to kids. Nevermind the prior release of The Chronicles of Narnia which can be argued to do the opposite. Or perhaps we could stop trying to evaluate these things and just enjoy the movie. I agree that kids will be too in love with golden armored polar bears to care about the religious significance of the movie. Parents could learn a lot from their kids, because armored polar bears are cool. You can’t deny it.
Thoughts on Romney speaking out about his religion.
Some recent political ads to chuckle at.
Can you spot the sponsor? The insanity of online advertising in web videos.
Animal attack movies.
Middle East
A US intelligence report released on Monday states that Iran ended its weapons program in 2003. On cue, Bush changes his language, now stating that Iran knowing anything about nuclear enrichment is dangerous since they could in the future pass it to a new secret weapons program.
Well yeah, any nation can do that. Point is that Iran doesn’t have one(if the NIE is correct) as many have accused. That makes it a good time to do the diplomacy thing and see that they don’t feel the need to do so in the future, rather than nudging them that way with the bellicose rhetoric our leaders tend to fling about.
US forces kill another ‘key’ alQueda guy. Might take them a whole week to replace him.
The UN promises aid to the returning Iraqi families, though one question to be answered is how the chips will fall on property concerns. They’ve been gone a while.. is there stuff still there?
Israel is dragging its feet on dismantling settlements in the West Bank and building in East Jerusalem. To be expected. But no one who has influence is jabbing them with the stick to pick it up. And so the latest ‘effort’ at Middle East peace begins to crumble under the weight of political entropy with no solid effort made by the US to start herding the cats.
Africa
Condi goes to Africa to talk about various conflicts. Question is, will her talks be useful or just more fluff that leaves nothing changed?
Violence is rising in Sudan. For both refugees and the aid workers in the country.
Asia/Pacific
Crime amongst the young is on the rise in China. Fingers are pointed at many social issues China has. It certainly has roots in those dealing with the family, childbirth and the like.
Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill visits the Yongbyon reactor in North Korea and has positive things to say about the work. Though he does note that there is much still to be done.
Europe
The PM of Poland, Donald Tusk, acts in opposition to French Prez Sarkozy by criticizing the conduct of Russia’s latest election. The EU has shown concern and called on Russia to investigate the allegations of irregularities.
General
The secret code of the Pedophile. Of course, one might note that some of these symbols can be mistaken with things normal people wear. Like any other information, this must be used with care so as not to falsely accuse.
Microsoft removes an anti-piray tool from Vista that disables parts of the OS when activated. Of course, it has sprung on people who don’t have illegal copies of Vista, leading to customer upset and this removal. This is why I hate to deal with Microsoft. Their tendency toward overkill.
Parents in Europe are concerned about the content in the video games their kids play. Good. Now they should do something about it besides trying to wipe what they don’t like out of the games.
Wii’s are hot for the holidays. Here are some tips in how you can score one if you waited this long.
The Blogs look at the NIE, news that a conservative blogger fabricated reporting from Lebanon and news that divorce rates hurt the environment.
Today’s Papers has an analysis of the situation in Iraq and notes that although violence has decreased recently, all the progress “can be reversed(I’ve known this for a while and have wondered if it might happen once the surge ends), a new poll that shows the Iraq war is still the top issue on voters’ minds, but it is quickly losing ground to domestic concerns, details on the recent NIE and more in the one page news.
Amusements
Police said a Somerset County man fled a traffic stop, went home, shaved his mustache and changed his clothes, and reported the truck he was driving as stolen
Alabama sex-toy ban continues. “Laws are made to protect the public.” In related news, vibrator violence down 69 percent
And today’s Unclear on the Concept award goes to the deli running a sale on boneless hams labeled “Perfect for Chanukah.” With picture goodness
Columnist suggests women keeping maiden name isn’t a statement of strength — rather, it shows you prefer daddy over your husband
Woman caught after breaking in to a jail for sex with her husband in his cell. Apparently she wasn’t interested in just rubbing her boobies on the glass
Offering to help out some nuns in their garden seems nice at first, until you realize they were just using the garden to grow 30 large cannabis plants
A motorist was advised that it is imprudent to pass a police cruiser in a no passing zone in a driving snow storm
“For the Facebook generation,love now comes with a drop-down menu.”
Having trouble finding a good Christmas gift? Reserve someone a spot in Heaven
Fark Photoshop Challenge: You know you want her, so here she is. Now give her a good home
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop Challenge: Colorize this girl and tripod scene
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Teddy Kennedy is going to write his memoirs. Give him a hand by designing the cover.