News – Brewing One’s Own Trouble

Europe

Putin kicks it up a notch by threatening vague retaliatory measures if the US continues with its plans to seed Europe with it’s missile defense system. Judging Putin has been one of Bush’s biggest flubs ever. Gorbachev blames the US for how things have turned out. Criticism of the US is warranted, but Gorby has to take a look at Putin as well. He’s done quite enough to bring trouble to his doorstep as well. And he’s not helping the situation by immediately fixating on the sort of mentality that could prompt a new Cold War type situation.

I still think the missile defense system is crap. That it’s the new foci of this international disorder only makes matters worse.

The Basque separatist group Eta is looking for funds from businesses in the region. With published letters, no less. Pretty brazen if you ask me. Not too smart either.

Middle East

Amnesty International wants a body created to address the human rights abuses committed by Israelis and Palestinians. A pipedream for them to hope on that, especially if they want one that can actually do something about it. At the very least, the US would quash any body that had any pull over Israel. If the body had no influence, what use would it be? We get enough reporting on both sides behaving badly as it is.

Seems like local Sunni fighters are getting a bit tired of alQueda, as some are fighting against them. This is both good and bad in my view. Good in that the larger the sway of popular opinion against alQueda, the sooner Iraqis themselves can prompt the group to leave(hopefully). Bad in that it adds to the bloodshed that has become commonplace in the country.

Africa

South Africa’s government has warned striking nurses that they’ll face firing of they don’t return to work today. Looks like most won’t be on a full indefinite strike and it does look like the unions and the government are working on a compromise. Hopefully one will be met that satisfies all in the short run at least.

The militant Islamists in Somalia are striking directly at the interim government. To make matters worse, after a grenade attack on a government convoy, the troops with it opened fire on nearby civilians, which was the direction the attack came from. Not going to help improve the image of the government one little bit. They should have fired in the air first, to disperse the civilians. You’re not going to have much luck hitting militants who are mingled with noncombatants by firing wildly.

Asia/Pacific

China puts out a 62 page report on how they plan to reduce energy use by a fifth before 2010 and increase their production of renewable energy.

The US and India fail to resolve issues on a deal for nuclear cooperation. Personally, I hope the deal falls through because I think it sends the wrong signal to other powers who have their fingers in the nuclear cookie jar. India should have to deal under the NPT like everyone else.

Americas

Condi Rice goes for some feel good points by participating in the opening of an Iranian art show in the US. Cultural exchanges are nice, but until we get some solid diplomatic exchanges that bear fruit, I for one will not be swayed by fluff. Condi needs to get back to work.

Michael Jackson has netted $1.5 to $2 million during a two day auction of his stuff. I wish people would pay through the nose for my old junk. At least it’s all going to charity, rather than his extravagances.

Scuba terrorists and under water threats? No problem, the Navy is working on next-gen underwater weaponry. Like a gun that shoots water bullets.

The upheld ‘partial birth’ abortion ban is too vague. It needs to be more precise and I think it should still have an exception for the health of the mother.

General

Health researchers say that the lazy can be motivated to move by health professionals, but that personal advice does better than ‘one size fits all’ advice.

Motion sensitive devices are becoming more and more common. That’s pretty nice, since reliable motion sensitive devices open up a whole new world of portable electronics.

The Blogs look at Sen. Sam Brownback’s thoughts on evolution, Jack Kevorkian’s parole and the departure of Bush staffer Dan Bartlett.

Today’s Papers has the latest democratic presidential debate, a woman that drove through a crowd of people in DC, a Times story that says the troop surge has failed(info drawn from an internal Army report and interviews with military officers) and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Tractor-trailer driver enters Lincoln Tunnel with trailer six inches higher than tunnel clearance, drives entire 1.5 miles despite police yelling at him to stop (amusing photo)

If you’re going to burglarize a place, picking a daycare center–where every room has a video camera–is not the best idea

City tries to figure out what to do with lawn-digging worker who moonlights by having fire ants eat his crotch on Bubba the Love Sponge’s satellite radio show

Your advances are rejected by a family friend. Do you a) Get over it, b) Move on, or c) Frame her son for a planning a bomb attack at his high school. Bonus: He was a former reserve sheriff’s deputy

Tattoo parlors are officially too mainstream, after one opens with scented candles and plasma-screen televisions set to the Disney Channel

They’re just like us: Bears waving and begging for food

Naked chicks and meth heads, dead pigs in the dryer, inmates playing in puddles…just another day in Goleta

Yes, my client attempted to lure women into a home-made torture chamber and stockpiled enough explosives to level a large hotel, but he never actually DID anything, so what’s all the fuss about?

<A HREF="http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=270898″> Butthead Australian councillor says that people who are victims of graffiti should be fined if they leave the graffiti on their places for more than 24 hours

“Dear sir, I regret to inform you that your application into my anus has been rejected”

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this superhero and his awesome hat

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this juggler

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this cat toy