News – A Trial of a Trial

Middle East

Muhammad al-Ureibi is set as the new head of Saddam’s genocide trial(the turnover rate for Saddam trial judges has been considerable) and starts things off by ejecting Saddam from the court for not sitting down to protest the new judge’s appointment. The Defense walked out as well, leaving the rest to continue the trial. Gotta tell you, things never get dull when you look in on Saddam’s trials. The prior judge was removed by the government after the prosecution complained over one of his remarks, saying Saddam was not a dictator. Some consider this new appointment to be improper interference by the Iraqi government, which gets in the way of giving Saddam a fair trial. Personally, I don’t think he’s gotten a clean trial from day one, thus all of this farce is irrelevant. And not only did they start one messy trial, they decided to start up a second one in parallel, despite the weak nature of the first.

Israeli forces rob a Palestinian bank. They raided a bank and the offices of moneychangers, seizing $1.5 million they say was intended for terrorist groups. They have clear proof of this they can show is all, right? Proof that makes this anything more than robbing people? They had damn well better. Even then, robbing these places is hardly the right way to deal with the situation. Did they somehow magically only take the bills meant for terrorists and leave the rest that was for the average citizens, or did they just take all the money and damn the innocents, as usual? Oh, looks like they destroyed the buildings too. So that’s 8 currency exchange offices and a bank blown up. And they arrested two guys cause they had pistols and a hunting rifle in their homes. And you know what all this will net Israel? Nothing but more hate, since it won’t stop the terrorists. This sort of bullshit is why I don’t speak much in support of Israel. The government is out of control and the people won’t rein it in.

The protests of unpaid workers in Gaza cancel a speech by Palestinian PM Ismail Haniya. He needs to get them paid. Unfortunately, means to do so have been largely cut off by the west.

The UN presses Israel to reveal exactly where it fired off Cluster bombs during it’s bombardment of Lebanon. You know, so they can clean up the mess Israel made. So far, no dice.

Looks like Israel will withdraw it’s last troops this Friday, by sundown. Of course, don’t expect them to stop raiding into Lebanon whenever they feel the need.

Asia/Pacific

Japan and Australia announce new financial sanctions on North Korea. They freeze the transfer of money to North Korea by groups suspected of having links to its nuclear programs.

Americas

Bush says to the UN his policies in the Middle East have promoted democracy. I wonder if he means the part where he’s punished a nation for holding a free and fair election. In other words, he spoke, but said nothing.

The fat cost of oil pushes up the US deficit. Our economy is cooling down. What does it mean? No idea, but I doubt it’s all roses and sunshine.

General

Popular acne treatment Roaccutane has been linked by tests to depression. This has been noted on a warning label on the treatment already, but now we know what chemical mechanism does it.

Microsoft launches a rival to Youtube, google and Yahoo in the user-made video ‘market’. Given that such sites are free, one wonders what benefit they might get out of crushing more rivals. I’ll stick with Youtube.

The Toppark browser is made by a hacking group, which allows you to surf the web anonymously. It looks kinda interesting.

Explainer looks into the good of washing your veggies before you eat them.

The Blogs look at Sen. George Allen’s response to questions about his Jewish heritage, Jacques Chirac’s stance on Iran and the new Tickle Me Elmo.

Today’s Papers has the coup in Thailand, Gen. Abizaid’s answer to if we’re winning in Iraq, a review of airport luggage screening and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Cliffhangers Resolved

President Bush uses Little Richard as a translator

High school girls surprised to learn that the graphic pictures they posted on the Internet were posted on the Internet

Before the police show up to question you about an incident, make sure that the alias you’re using isn’t wanted by authorities for armed robbery

If you want to get even by taking golf clubs to somebody’s Honda Civic, make sure you’ve got the right one BEFORE you smash the first two

Not news: Falling asleep in your car. News: Takes police 10 minutes to wake you at a red light. Fark: Proceed to crash car into light pole, four times

U.S. government takes its ineffective War on Drugs to a new even more ineffective battleground: YouTube

Meathead teens decide it would be a good idea to ride their bikes along electrified rail lines in the middle of the night. “In 16 years of living here it is the most stupid act I’ve seen,” says witness (w/ pic, link to video)

Police department caught with its shorts down as cops raid home, drag out owner in nothing but handcuffs and underwear… before they realized they had the wrong house

How to get even with competitors for selling cheaper fuel: Put glue in credit card readers, spread deer repellent on pumps and throw beer bottles through windows. Then display license plates for surveillance cameras before wiping hands on pants

Florida Supreme court gives slap on the wrist to state judge who sent probationers to attend church and told one woman she “needed to close her legs and stop having babies”

Five college students videotape themselves exploring underground network of tunnels on campus, then post video on YouTube. It’s a damn good thing for them YouTube is rarely visited, or they might get in trouble

If you’re on trial for stealing computers, it might not be a good idea to steal the courthouse computers

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop Tony Snow

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this green gecko

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this vampire repellent kit