News – Again and Again

We just can’t seem to keep our own under control. Here’s another argument for tighter screening and requirements for those who enter military service, rather than the backslide that’s been allowed to meet recruitment quotas.

Middle East

Steven Green has been charged with four counts of murder and one of rape. It’s said that he and some other US troops killed the family of a young Iraqi girl(age ranging from 15 to mid 20s), such that they could rape, then kill her. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is calling for an independent or joint investigation and is just now finding out why people dislike the immunity to local law that the US likes to get for its people. Forces the locals to rely on the military to police their own.

Israel plans to reoccupy parts of Gaza after a recent rocket attack. We’re moving right back to where we were before and it won’t change a thing. Gaza remains a place without a strong leader to control it and those who try neutered by the acts of Israel and the west. It seems false to expect a government starved of resources to truly take a leadership position, while fighting to survive day to day.

Asia

The White House warns North Korea against doing anything else ‘provocative’, like their recent missile test firing. Likely, because of all the attention, they’ll do it again. And what will the US do in retaliation? More sanctions? Military assault? Missile strike? None of those sound like they’ll improve the situation.

Oh look, I was right. Pretty much, the US won’t intimidate North Korea into doing anything. So I guess it’s time for Bush and friends to put up or shut up.

Europe

With uncertainty lingering over whether Russia will be welcomed into the WTO, Putin says that if it don’t go down, he’ll scrap the WTO trade rules adopted for Russia.

North America

As expected, Bush puts his stay the course rhetoric into his Independence Day speech. What better time to appeal to patriotism, after all? Of course, the anti-war protestors are in there too.

The space shuttle finally gets into space after several delays over the past week.

Barack Obama is the sort of Christian who doesn’t annoy me as much when he talks about faith, such as I’ve heard his words.

General

Researchers point out that breastfed children tend to wet the bed less, attributing it to a developmental edge.

Explainer looks into the planning of a fireworks show.

Part two of Arabic nomenclature. It’s complex stuff.

The pros and cons of an Anglican schism.

It appears that human papillomavirus is stopped by condoms, thus quashing one source of fear mongering for some pushing abstinence only.

Today’s Papers has an interesting plan for mostly insurgent controlled Ramadi, the lack of impact after Zarqawi’s death, suggestions that Bush might be interested in a so-called enforcement-first immigration bill and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Today’s addictive Flash time-waster: Stealth Hunter

4 year old stripped of beauty pageant crown for flipping off the crowd

Streaker runs onto center court at Wimbledon, does cartwheel in front of bemused crowd (not safe for work pic)

In observance of Independence day, church unveils 72 foot, $2.5M statue of liberty holding a cross and commandments; Jesus unavailable for comment

Thousands of people flock to Saskatchewan town to take part in spirited session of horse boning

Video games keep Colorado inmates occupied. When asked to comment for this story, prisoner screams “close the door and go back upstairs”

Ohio revellers decide sparklers are fun, so tying 200 of them together and lighting them in a brass cylinder would be the bomb. It was

SWAT team grenades go missing. One turns up at party, when an officer decides to set one off

The underappreciated art of firecracker labels (a few pics slightly NSFW)

Mediterranean volcano bombed by US warplane believing it to be a Libyan submarine

Fark Photoshop Challenge: ESPN resorts to crappy photoshopped images to convey just how bad the New York Knicks will be next year, now that Isaiah Thomas is their coach. See if you can come up with something better

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop some entries into Drew’s day planner

Fark Photoshop Challenge: The stigmata of stealing candy from babies. Difficulty: No cigars