News – Boycotts Work

Europe

Since the publishing of a cartoon in a Danish paper depicting the Prophet Muhammad in a satirical way last year, a Muslim boycott of Danish goods has led to a 15.5% drop in exports between Feb and June. It’s pretty serious for some companies. Proof positive that a big enough boycott can get your message across peacefully. If painfully.

Middle East

Tony Blair arrives in Lebanon greeted with protests. Many in the country think him complicit in the deaths of 1,100 Lebanese civilians from Israel’s prior invasion. No doubt any US politician would be met with the same cool welcome, for supporting Israel in it’s attack on Lebanon.

What? You say Israel was after Hezbollah? I suppose, but in the end Hezbollah came away largely intact, where as Lebanon itself received a terrible blow in the deaths of its people, the destruction of its infrastructure and the wounding of its pride at a time when it was just recovering from Syria’s occupation. Whether or not Israel was primarily after Hezbollah, their invasion was an attack on Lebanon.

Iran offers to freeze uranium enrichment for eight weeks, likely a move to prevent sanctions.

Thousands of Shia pilgrims gather in Karbala, the event untouched by major incident. Good, good. Thousands of police and soldiers were present. Since there is no note of directly thwarted violence, I’ll assume the militant elements didn’t even try to do anything.

Amid accusations of Iraqi police being involved in kidnappings, torture and murder, the US is patrolling for militants posing as Iraqi police. About damn time, too. The posers have been allowed to do as they will for far too long. Mind you, I don’t think all of those noted accusations are wrong, but if we weed out the posers, we can get a better picture of how the real police force is doing.

More bombs in Baghdad. So much for the latest ‘fatal blow’ to the insurgency.

Asia/Pacific

The US warms North Korea that nuclear tests would be a provocative act.

…

Is it just me or is that like telling a rebellions kid not to touch the stove because it’s hot? Stating the obvious to someone who is more likely to do it now that it’s been made taboo. The provocative nature of an action has never been a concern for North Korea, their past missile tests should be proof of that.

For those interested, a public service for Steve Irwin will be held next week. “Because the family really appreciate the outpouring of love and kindness from everyone… we are planning to have a public memorial next Tuesday or Wednesday at somewhere like (Brisbane’s) Suncorp Stadium,” Mr Irwin’s best friend, Wes Mannion, said.

John Howard calls on moderate Muslims to be more critical of terrorism. He says that “No decent genuine Muslim would support terrorism” and says they must fully accept Israel’s right to exist. Islamic leaders in Australia respond that Howard shouldn’t single out Muslims for criticism. “Instead of constantly singling out Muslim people, he should be trying to promote cohesion,” the president of the Islamic Friendship Association, Keysar Trad, told Reuters news agency. That is what I agree with. But all western leaders can do is bitch, then get upset when they get bitched back at cause they screwed up.

North America

IT be 9/11 again, folks. Of course, the rememberances didn’t wait for Monday. But I’m sure there are plenty going on today too. I remember it. And I show that by not letting it bother me, in so much as changing how I live my life. The best revenge is to live well. Some would do to remember that adage.

Changes since 9/11.

9/11 Experiences.

A graphic depiction of the 9/11 report. You can read it online for free and, by the look, buy a copy of it.

Your chance of being killed by terrorist attack, compared to normal threats you face every day. You’re more likely to die on the way to work than due to terrorist strike. So look both ways before crossing the street.

Bush’s new bill on detainees seeks to keep them out of federal court. The latest attempt to limit their legal options and keep them locked up, whether they deserve it or not.

Since they’re intent on making the ‘Freedom Tower’ let’s have a look at the new safety and security features the building will have. They are being smart about that aspect, at the very least.

A 2005 report released recently by Congress notes the obvious. Saddam had no alQueda link. So Bush’s insistence on one is either a mark of deception or incompetence. Take your pick. And yes, his incompetence. The buck stops with the man in charge, who decides who he delegates jobs to and hence is responsible for these people.

General

Scientists discover why the H5N1 strain of bird flu is so much more deadly to people than standard human flus. This, of course, leads to means to fight the virus in a patient with greater success.

Papyrus, a charity set up to tackle young suicide, says the risk of pro-suicide websites isn’t being taken seriously enough. Current law against inciting suicide requires you have knowledge of and participate in the suicide. Just having a pro-suicide website isn’t enough to meet those requirements. Question of the day: Should the 1961 Suicide Act be amended to make it illegal to publish a web site that tells people how to commit suicide?

Ren’s question: Do you think that, if there were no suicide websites, that the instances of suicide would drop in number? Has the Internet cause a noticeable increase in suicides outside any societal norms? I don’t see that publishing such info on the web is tasteful, but if they don’t find out how to do it that way, I’m pretty sure they can find their own ways, people have been offing themselves since time began. I’d be cautious to start censoring the net, even on this issue, unless it’s clear that removing this stuff would cause a noticeable effect.

Scientists discover how the body fights against diseases like Alzheimer’s. More progress toward mastering those debilitating conditions that seek to ravage us as we age.

<A HREF="http://www.slate.com/id/2149283/”>The Blogs look at Richard Armitage’s apology for outing Valerie Plame, a poll that bolsters 9/11 conspiracy theorists and Facebook’s privacy-invading feature.

Today’s Papers has an increasing number of CIA officers are getting private legal insurance because they’re worried their work might land them in court, that Sunni lawmakers in Iraq boycotted parliament Sunday to protest a push by their Kurdish and Shiite colleagues to carve up the country into three autonomous regions, loads of 9/11 stuffs and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Suspect apprehended after tripping over his baggy pants

Married vicar claims he downloaded child porn by mistake. Bigger mistake: He did it 119 times

American Physical Therapy Association makes “Blackberry Thumb” an official work injury. IT unable to get paid leave for “Stupid Customer Concussion”

Boeing comes up with a plane even uglier then the Airbus Beluga. We shall hereafter refer to it as The Twinkie (w/pics)

Couple caught having sex in the rear lavatory of an airplane charged with endangering an aircraft

$tar War$: An Open Letter to George Lucas. Think you’re angry about the new trilogy? You’ve got nothing on this guy

Man being chased by police stops at every red light

Media can’t understand why Steve Irwin’s family wants to have a private funeral

Not news: city holds a chili cook off. News: The local soup kitchen enters. Fark.com: The win for Best-Tasting and Hottest chili

Paramedics treating injured teen have their ambulance covered in obscene graffiti by friends of the girl while they’re doing it

Man has a breakfast sandwich, a pizza and a dessert named after him in three different countries

Good news: You’re getting trial by jury. Bad news: It’s happening on 9/11. Not looking good: The courthouse is near Ground Zero. Say goodbye: Your nickname is “Taliban”

Police pass off Macadamia nuts as crack cocaine in sting efforts

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this jogger going past an Intel campus sign on her way to being fired

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this guy spraypainting what used to be a nice-looking motorcycle

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Come up with a suitable memorial for Steve Irwin