News – The Pills, they Do Nothing?

General

The University of Hull concludes a study of the new generation of anti-depressants, saying they only help the most severely depressed. The makers disagree with this, of course, but they would. The study does need to be backed up, but I won’t listen to those with a vested monetary interest in the status quo.

A look at Firefox version 3. Firefox is the only browser I use the majority of the time, in part because of NoScript and how it improves my browsing experience overall.

A problem some men wouldn’t complain about.

How to get on American Gladiators.

Musing the environmental impact between reading the newspaper in hand and online.

The Blogs look at Hillary Clinton’s last push.

Today’s Papers has “the undertow of strangeness, fakery and fear” that infects North Korea, the latest Democratic debate, a malfunction in two nuclear reactors in Florida and more in the one page news.

Middle East

Little surprise there’s no progress on peace as Israel continues to push invasive aggression. The cycle seems to lose little momentum.

Looks like Gates is finally ready to prod Turkey on the issue of their invasion of Northern Iraq. The prospect of them spending months in Iraq seem to be what finally got the US nervous.

Africa

45 organizations unite in a new push to have Ahmed Haroun and Ali Kushayb arrested on war crimes charges in Darfur. One a former government member, the other a former leader in the Janjaweed.

Kofi Annan meets with Raila Odinga, leader of the opposition in Kenya, and seems to prompt planned mass protests on Thursday to be called off. Good to see he’s doing some positive work for keeping things stable.

Asia/Pacific

Whether the Olympics in China will be a help or hindrancea depends on your point of view on it.

Europe

The EU forces Microsoft to pay some pocket change for violating sanctions imposed over their anti-competitive actions. That’ll learn em.

A pair of British men who had their DNA legally put on file after being arrested are challenging the keeping of that data in the UKs national database after having had their criminal records cleared. Should the state be allowed to keep such data or are the people allowed to have this info thrown out once they’re clean?

Amnesty International says that Russian freedom of speech is dwindling. Pointing at the unsolved murders of outspoken journalists, the closing of independent media outlets and police clashes with opposition protestors, that’s not a view easily dismissed out of hand.

Americas

He had to grow up some time. If MJ doesn’t pay up on his Neverland Ranch, the massive property is going to have to be sold. Question is, what insane party would lay down cash for it and why?

For once the Vatican sets a good example, talking to Raul Castro. Doesn’t mean you turn belly up for him, but progress is slow to nonexistent in a vacuum.

The Screenwriters guild votes overwhelmingly to approve their new contract, which ended the three month writers strike.

Watching Walmart thrive while the rest of the economy flounders.

Art imitates life and predicts the current campaign.

Amusements

What’s more stupid than driving a car drunk? Driving a car with a missing wheel while drunk

If you drive the Pennsylvania Turnpike, be aware that the turnpike’s overlords, who answer to no man and no force of nature, are using $300,000 of your toll dollars to tell you how great they are

A list of lies tour guides in Philadelphia routinely tell. Some of them are pretty awesome, including a myth that trees were planted along streets so illiterate people would know the name of streets. So Pine Street was lined with pine trees, etc

Missouri man leads cops on slow-speed chase because he was afraid of getting tased. Don’t make me say it, bro

Teens steal beer; leave trail for cops to follow. Trail of beers

Stripper makes up story about being carjacked so her deputy dad doesn’t throw her out for missing curfew (with photos)

Man arrested for putting nude pics of himself on cars in grocery store parking lot (w/mugshot)

3rd grade class gets pat-down search over missing $5. Hilarity ensues

Florists in England recall thousands of Mother’s Day bouquets, and not fondly, after finding them infested with spiders and other bugs — so many, they even scared the crap out of the garbage-truck drivers hired to haul them to the dump

The Otis of Niceville starts to change his clothes in middle of Waffle House; explains to police “You know how I am when I’m drunk”

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this concerned model and her serious stylist

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this napper and his storage facilities

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Today’s Iron Photoshop ingredient: Mary Worth