News – Beam Travel? Perhaps.

General

A team of Washington scientists are looking at Mag-beams or magnetized-beam plasma propulsion for space flight. With the concept a space-based outpost station would generate a high-energy plasma beam aimed at a spaceship equipped with a sail, resulting in it being thrust out into space. With no need to carry major propulsion, it would allow the beam to accelerate the craft to great speeds, well in excess of current rocket technology. Of course, I can see many flaws and caveats. For example, the return trip. And it would require little to happen that wuld interrupt the trip, since there would be minimal propulsion(largely used for minor course correction and guidance).

Today’s Papers has the NYT fielding the first of three on US stumbles in Iraq, scaremongering from Kerry, Schwarzenegger providing $3 billion for stem cell research and more in the one page news.

Iraq

Another day, another round of bombs dropped in Falluja, supposedly on houses and arms dumps used by militants. US forces have also released the police chief of Falluja, Sabar al-Janabi, and two of his colleagues. No explanation has been given for his detention, nor an acknowledgement that he, the two other police and the city’s chief negotiator, Khaled al-Jumaili, had even been held. IT is said they were taken while moving their families away from Falluja for safety. A prudent decision for them, considering the bombs.

Four Iraqi national guard were killed and up to 80 were wounded in a mortar attack on their HQ north of Baghdad.

Iraqis don’t care who gets elected in the US. They don’t see the election as changing their situation much at all. Which I would tend to agree with. Whoever gets elected, it’ll take time to calm things down in Iraq.

Comparing the reservists in Iraq to draftees in WW2. In some ways, the comparison is actually apt. Reservists weren’t trained for frontline combat the way active military has been. They’re given the sort of minimal training, meant for use behind friendly lines that draftees tossed into mass conflict were given. It provides for poor morale in comparison to active military and incidents like the refusal of a reservist quartermaster company to act in a mission far too dangerous for them. The Iraq war isn’t a war for reservists to be in.

Israel/Palestine

Israeli forces killed two Palestinian men who were crawling toward the Gaza border fence, presumably with the intent of planting a bomb. Mind you, there’s no note of what Israeli forces found on them after they were shot.

Afghanistan

Of the two million votes counted thus far, a quarter of the total, Hamid Karzai currently has about 60% of the vote, with only 51% required to win.

Korea

The US says it is no threat to North Korea and has no plans to invade. Am I the only one who had to chuckle at that? The only reason we won’t invade is that a war against North Korea, while likely to turn in our favor, would result in masses of casualties. If not amongst our own forces, then amongst the nearby South Koreans. But if such weren’t true, I doubt there would be much hesitation. After all, ole Kim Jong has WMD aspirations and treats his people horribly. So he meets the Saddam Hussein invasion test, even if he hasn’t any nukes.

Africa

The International Committee of the Red Cross says that Darfur villages face an unprecedented food crisis. The warning is based off a survey of food supplies in 20 villages across the region

UK

Radical British Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri, wanted by US authorities, has been charged of 16 counts including inciting murder and stirring up racial hatred. He was to be extradited before, but this new British case takes precedence.

US

Early voting has begun in Florida, with some activists encouraging people to vote early to help avoid a repeat of the 2000 election debacle. Though even this early voting has not gone perfectly. In other Floridian news, the provisional ballot law in Florida has been upheld.

Seems few in the US are happy about the Guardian’s letter writing campaign. I’m amused to find Reuters call it pro-Kerry when they don’t mention writing to any one candidate. Even democrats are against it, which is somewhat amusing.

New screening tech could be coming to an airport near you soon. They’re in testing and hopefully they’ll be both more accurate and speed up the process of passing through security.

Amusements

The creatures of Dr. Frankenbush – An amusing little bit of spoof fiction. He should do one for Kerry.

Man tries to hijack plane in order to obtain more alcohol

Texas fire chief canned after he supervises hosing down a marching band, injuring 13

Goths and gangbangers replaced by food-court druids and unitards?

Japanes authorities use radiation in an attempt to tame Bobby Fischer’s enormous penis

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this young Dubya fan

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop the cover for Bill O’Reilly’s new book

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop Neve and Gliz, the disturbing 2006 Winter Olympic mascots