News – Inconsistent News

As you might have noticed, I’ve been slacking as of late on the news. Missing my usual days and such. I’ve not decided to can the thing yet, but I have been feeling a bit less desire as of late to deal with it than usual. I’ve never been all that huge on blogging and were it not for the News, I’d likely have canned this OD quite some time ago.

What happens, we’ll see. But for now I’ll continue on and see if my waning interest is a phase or a trend. Inquiring minds want to know, I’m sure. So do I.

Middle East

Petraeus says we should stop withdrawals to keep what holdings we have in Iraq. No doubt, considering how poor Iraq’s own forces are, overall. A report on his questioning.

Five years since the capture of Baghdad. Not a bad time for reflection on how far we’ve come and how far we’ve yet to go.

Not far enough as ten percent of police in the recent Basra action are facing punishment for various spots of poor conduct.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is still crazy. But then we all knew that, didn’t we?

Africa

There is fear that rising food prices in African could lead to a deeper humanitarian crisis. No doubt on that, just a matter of how bad it will get.

The vote count in Zimbabwe continues to be held back.

Asia/Pacific

Despite international pressure, China intends to take the Olympic torch through Tibet. Trouble is expected. Wouldn’t it be an embarrassment for the torch to be waylaid on its journey?

Australia is doing the good thing, taking in those Iraqis that worked with their forces in Iraq that want to take advantage of such an offer.

Could the days of cheap Chinese products be over? This would be a boon to the US economy as it would make for easier competition from US manufactures.

Europe

Germany’s Roman Catholic Church admits to the extent of its involvement in the use of forced labor during WW2. It’s good to acknowledge a wrong, but this late we need not belabor it. Germany has, in my opinion, long since paid its dues and the current generation need not continue to pay.

Chip off an ear from one of the Easter Island statues, pay $17k and get banned for three years. That’s pretty lenient in my opinion.

Americas

Hundreds of pro-Tibet protestors marched in San Fran ahead of the city’s leg of the Olympic torch relay. One wonders if the hosting of the Olympics will ultimately help or hinder the image of the current government. It has given much air time to their detractors that was quite a bit more silent previously.

Venezuela declares The Simpsons to be unsuitable for kids on morning TV, so they replace it with Baytwatch. So.. why not replace it with something more kid focused/educational?

Insight into Cho Seung Hui, the shooter in the worst mass shooting in US history.

An advance peek at Bush the movie. Personally, I find the fact that a movie like this is being made hilarious.

General

A five day old baby recovers after having a pacemaker installed due to serious heart problems. Considering the dire nature of the situation and the unusual patient, this is a solid show of just how awesome the medical field can be. Quick thinking, fast reacting, highly skilled. This is what we need to aim for 100% of the time.

A breakthrough at Stonehenge? Could be.

The eco-friendly way to make up with your girl.

The Blogs look at Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker testifying before the Senate’s armed services and foreign-relations committees.

Today’s Papers has a piece on a Chinese human rights activist who is “treated like a threat to national security”, that an interesting fact about the current economic downturn is that “the now-finished boom was, for most Americans, nothing of the sort,” a look at how the Justice Department no longer seems to be that interested in prosecuting companies that are accused of wrongdoing and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Neurotically Yours: New Used

Drinking on the job can get you fired. Especially if you’re a cop and you fall asleep at a stop light, in uniform, in your cop car (w/ smugshot)

The FBI leaves you alone in the interrogation room. Do you: A) Keep quiet? B) Ask for a lawyer? Or C) Scream at your accomplice for messing up the plan? (With video goodness)

Not news: One of Japan’s top bloggers makes regular “meet the fans” tours. News: His website logs 50,000 hits a day. Fark: He’s a cat

Magazine apologises to food giant after claiming they made swastika-shaped spaghetti for Germans during the war

Man gets high on meth, puts on a lacy negligee, fishnet stockings, a woman’s miniskirt, a sheer white blouse and a long brown wig and heads over to girlfriend’s house for some sex. Whoops — wrong apartment

Not news: Hookers use sleep-inducing drugs to rob men. News: Using knockout eye drops. Fark: Man “unwittingly ingested the drug after the sex worker secretly applied it to her nipples”

If you’re lost on your way to your first day of work at the nuclear power plant, it’s probably best not to mutter that you hope you don’t blow the place up. Someone might misunderstand you

Bad: cops knock on your motel room door after smelling marijuana. Worse: you’re a principal caught drinking, smoking, and watching pr0n with a 16-year old girl… and her younger sister

<A HREF="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/justice/article1017731.ece”>Best headline of the day: “Seedy Gonzales jailed in lesbo sperm swindle.” The Sun? There

Former Japanese PM pops up at “World Ramen Summit” to tout ramen as universal treat. Forever and ever, ramen

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this foreign subway map

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Today’s Iron Photoshop ingredients: a turtle, a potato and the color white

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop challenge: Design a new seal for the United States Air Force