News – Grim Milestone
Middle East
The toll in US lives has reaced 4,000 in Iraq. Sure, not so much as past wars, but given the scale of this one in comparison to others along with advances in tactics and medical tech, comparing it to past wars is a strawman. That’s a lot of dead people, even if it isn’t the tens of thousands of past wars.
Cheney pipes up again, whining that Hamas, Iran and Syria are conspiring to scuttle peace in the Middle East. And his boy Bush isn’t doing crap all to resist any such attempts, which makes it pretty easy, don’t you think? As lightly as they ‘try’ to push for peace, doesn’t take much to derail it. He also states the blindingly obvious in noting peace will take, like, hard concessions for both sides. Really? Gee, I never thought that might be the case.
Is the US military using Sunni militias like disposable fodder? If so, that could spell a bad end if said militias decide they don’t want to deal with it anymore.
More updates for the musings of “liberal hawks” who once supported the Iraq war, but no longer do.
Africa
Somalia’s transitional government decides to negotiate with elders who may have influence over the Islamists they struggle with.
Sudan’s army criticizes a UN report that paints its members as guilty of raping women and girls, and looting towns during attacks in western Darfur. Sadly, I find it too easy to believe the accusations. I don’t trust Sudan or its military.
Asia/Pacific
Seems Chinese authorities are rounding up protestors who took part in demonstrations in Hezuo in China’s Gansu Province.
Little surprise things are getting worse in North Korea when it comes to food.
Europe
Pro-Tibet protestors briefly interrupt the flame lighting ceremony in Greece, but the flame gets lit nonetheless for its trip to the Olympics in China.
Americas
Canada has a row over critics of Islam and the Muslims they anger. Gotta love it when speech and offense cross swords.
General
A new update for Vista, said to improve stability, security and performance. As with all updates, take it carefully.
Not following doctors orders when it comes to pills. Some are trying to find ways to regulate this by various means of monitoring or controlling prescription drug distribution and use.
The longevity of the telephone book.
The Blogs look at Barack Obama winning Bill Richardson’s endorsement and Belmont’s near upset of No. 2 seed Duke.
Today’s Papers has word that JP Morgan may end up paying five times more than originally planned for Bear Stearns, how the Bush administration has failed in its efforts to cut off financing to al-Qaida and other terrorist groups, a look at two events in Sen. John McCain’s past that he rarely talks about in public and more in the one page news.
Amusements
Neurotically Yours: Squirrel Songs 5
New mothers in America demanding “push presents” including diamonds and expensive trips after giving birth
Hey, sorry about letting you out of jail a year early. You don’t mind coming back and serving the last year do you? Great… we are terribly sorry about the confusion
Man’s home ransacked as a result of Craigslist prank. “They honestly thought that because it appeared on the Internet it was true”
Instead of focusing on social studies, substitute teacher fields sixth-graders’ questions questions about masturbation, condoms and different shades of pubic hair
“Ladies and gentlemen, please remain calm, the gunfire you just heard was the pilot trying to figure out how his new gun works while hurtling through the air at 400 miles per hour and 37,000 feet. Thank you.”
Woman refuses to repay ex $1.5M in divorce settlement, becomes fugitive. Then, even for Florida, things get weird
A 14-year-old boy admitted to harassing a neighbor, pilfering cigarette butts from her porch and leaving her poorly written notes like, “… don’t cope an atitod with me.”
Ahhh Easter. A perfectly beautiful day to riot at the flea market
The War On Twinkies is a failure…junkfood dealers are the new scourge on campus; Its created a little underground economy
83% of noise complaints to Tampa International Airport last year came from one man, who spends his days logging the aircraft flying over his house. “Look, I know I sound like a lunatic. But I’m not”
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this classic Pokemon
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this oblivious old man
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this doorman