News – A New Foot for Israel?

Middle East

Amir Peretz, leader of the left leaning Labor Party in Israel and new defense minister, says that Israel would make every effort for a peace deal with the Palestinians before undertaking any unilateral steps to set its border in the West Bank. I’ll believe it when I see it. Thus far, we’ve seen Israel do the absolute minimum required of it(and sometimes not even that) when it comes to peace moves. Perhaps the new leadership will make a solid change, but I doubt it. Remember, this man still defends Israel’s actions in Palestine. Actions speak louder than words.

Taliban insurgents raid police posts and a district government office, killing two and wounding six. It’s been five years and they’re still active.

Rediscovering Saddam.

Asia

Though the clouds of gas emited by the Mount Merapi volcano have subsided some, lava does flow down the side of it. Vulcanologists state the volcano is in the final stages of erupting and local officials are being urged by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to keep evacuating people.

South America

Washington says no more US arms sales to Venezuela, action taken against Hugo Chavez for his ties with Cuba and Iran and the belief that he does nothing guerrillas from neighboring Colombia.

North America

Bush had his immigration speech last night. He admitted a broken border and will be sending 6,000 National Guard troops to take on duties like surveillance, analyzing intelligence and building patrol roads. Not patrolling, even though they will be armed. He’s also not backed off from his plans to give millions of illegal immigrants a chance to become citizens.

The reaction amongst border states to the prospect of National Guard on the border varies. For example, support in Arizona, skepticism in California and New Mexico and predictable anger among Hispanics. Some look at it as a short term band-aid on the issue. And that it is.

The US releases a list of 759 people being detained in Gitmo. One wonders how many are being held outside of Gitmo who we don’t know about.

Bush puts a US travel ban for Belarus officials, charging them with electoral fraud, human rights abuses and corruption.

Rove says that the Iraq war feels the public’s ‘sour mood’. No shit, really? Another startlingly poignant observation by the Rovemeister, eh? Though he forgot to mention the secrecy and general lack of trust promoted by the Bush Administration as well. That breeds a lot of sour feelings as well. Of course, he continues to be confident that Republicans will pull through ok. I suppose we’ll see, won’t we?

General

Explainer notes how “Social Network Analysis” is a lot like the game “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon”. Question is, will this provide a solid basis for finding terrorists, which justifies the reduction of personal privacy?

The Blogs look at news that controversial Dutch politician Ayaan Hirsi Ali is moving to the United States, the Bush administration’s decision to renew diplomatic ties with Libya and a New York Times list of the best works of modern American fiction.

Today’s Papers has the death of Stanley Kunitz who was twice the nation’s poet laureate, concerns about Bush’s immigration plans, cuts in diabetes research as the condition is on the rise and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Good: Receiving a text message professing undying love. Bad: You’re in the middle of celebrating your wedding night with your new husband

“Sex with complete strangers can be fun sometimes. I’m sorry, maybe I’m too honest, but yeah. You know, the money aspect? I mean, why not?”

Students toilet paper their high school as a prank, local police respond with SWAT team and police helicopter

If you’re about to go on trial for running over and killing a pedestrian, try to wait until after your trial before posting jokes about it on the Internet

Having solved their other problems, several states begin planning spaceports. For spaceships, if that was unclear

Female bank vice president fired after posing for swimsuit photo in local newspaper. Lawsuitarity ensues

Asking your students who they would kill and how is probably not a very bright idea for a creative writing assignment

The hot new trend for Christian teens is to hold “purity balls.” It’s absolutely nothing like what you’re hoping

Charles Barkley attempts to top David Blaine, hold breath under water for whopping 25 seconds. In other news, that’s the first time Barkley has gone 25 seconds without saying something stupid

Giant smurf arrested after “unsmurf-like” behaviour. Headline writes itself

Drunk builder smacks butt of plainclothes policewoman, winds up with a month in the can and 7 years on sex offender list. With lowbrow pic

Real-life Doogie Howser goes to court seeking order that will allow him to attend medical school

Me Chinese, me play joke, me tattoo you funny Chinese symbol that doesn’t mean what you think it does because you a dope

Student says Myspace characterization of high school teacher having “gay old time” refers to his wrestling with alligators and midgets, not to his love of Michael Jackson. The court will now decide

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop these two kids with crab glasses

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Today’s Iron Photoshop ingredient: Skulls

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Phoptoshop this littlest gunner