News – Common Sense on Belonging

Europe

A report by the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Islamophobia warns that the sense of belonging Muslims have in European countries is eroded when discrimination isn’t dealt with. Obviously, since if people don’t treat you as one of their own, it’s much harder to feel a part of them and their home. If you want someone to adopt your home as theirs, they must feel welcome.

Middle East

Palestinian PM Mahmoud Abbas wants there to be an early election in Palestine. Hamas has labeled the it a coup. They’re probably worried that the people will turn from them now. Which, in a way, wouldn’t be fair since I think the lion share of issues with the country now have occurred because of the current cut off of aid, which has left the government unable to pay workers. Reasons for said cut off aside, had things continued as they had before, I don’t think things would be this dire at the moment.

I suppose we’ll see how things turn out if an election is held, but I don’t see it helping a great deal. Stability, not a new change of government, is what the country needs.

The Red Crescent stops work in Baghdad after nearly 30 people were taken from their offices in the city. Thirteen of those held have already been released. The offices outside of Baghdad are still open and working, thankfully.

Africa

A group of 15 former foreign ministers call for sanctions on Sudan. They want Sudan to accept a joint UN-AU force in the country.

Clooney’s talking about it, after a personal trip to Darfur. He also visited China and Egypt, two countries he thinks can do more to encourage Sudan to allow more peacekeepers.

Abdullahi Yusuf, president of the weak transitional government in Somalia, rules out peace talks with the Union of Islamic Courts and continues to accuse them of close links to alQueda. Personally, I think he’s trying to get the US or some other western power to lend aid to him by yelling alQueda.

Asia/Pacific

North Korea demands that sanctions set against it be lifted before it will halt its nuclear program. These would be the sanctions set after the supposed nuclear test in October. Personally, I say agree to it. After all, if North Korea reneges, the sanctions can be put back up. Try a little good faith on the off chance it might make a difference.

A documentary about the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge regime will soon open in Cambodia. One highlight of the film is that the young don’t believe such things happened before. In a way, this is a very good thing, since it means they’re pretty much removed from that past horror. So long as, when they grow up, they remember so that it won’t happen again.

Shoichi Nakagawa, the policy chief of the Japan’s governing party, states that the 1945 bombing of Nagasaki(atomic bombing to be precise) was a crime, impermissible from a humanitarian point of view.

Americas

Colin Powell opines on Iraq. One key point is he doesn’t think more troops won’t solve the problem. I’m inclined to agree, since we still can’t be everywhere at once and we won’t use those troops in the ruthless way that would make full use of them to put down the violence. Thankfully, that’s not how we work.

Cuban officials say Castro isn’t dying. There’s been a bit of speculation on that, though when one considers his age(and the age of his brother) there is little doubt that their time is coming.

Thousands march in protest of the Nov 25th shooting of Sean Bell. This shooting involved him and three friends(unarmed), five undercover officers, hitting an unmarked police vehicle twice and fifty bullets.

The US Truro Church and the Falls Church have voted to break from the Episcopal Church because of it consecrating a gay bishop.

James Worley, who looks a bit like Santa, goes to Disney World. Kids come up to him and ask him if he’s Santa. Not wanting to upset the kids, he plays along some. Disney officials take him aside and tell him to cut it out or get out of the park. He complies to a point, but kids still come up to him. He says the officials said that “Santa was considered a Disney character”. Disney says that they have their own Santa at Epcot and that Worley was confusing the kids and that they got some complaints. I think Disney is full of it.

Dipping back into the Holiday ‘Wars’.

General

Research shows more people tend to count calories rather than exercise, even though half of people surveyed know that exercise will do more to get them in shape.

Two African trials show that male circumcision can cut the HIV infection rate in hetero men by 50%. So off with their heads?

The Blogs look at Condi’s response to one key recommendation of the Iraq Study Group Report, the ‘broken army’ and the world’s tallest man’s healing arm.

Today’s Papers has word that U.S. officials are increasingly worried Somalia will become a new haven for terrorists, talk on Sen. Evan Bayh’s surprise decision not to run for president, word from military and CIA officials that they are increasing the oversight of spying operations carried out by U.S. Special Forces teams and more in the one page news.

Amusements

If your life isn’t complete without a cover of “you don’t bring me flowers” by Tupac Shakur, and Ice-T- well today is your lucky day

Old and busted: Yule log. New hotness: High-definition Yule log

Thieves dig tunnel under Gamestop store, steal XBox 360s

Young woman shares story of her time in vampire cult

Man blames child porn viewing on 2nd personality who happens to be a teenage boy who likes looking at girls his own age

Woman tries to avoid being pulled over for DUI by throwing beer bottle at squad car out of her window. Strategy fails

Columnist writes hard-hitting piece about his failure to get Wii for his kids. It’s not news, it’s CNN.com

If you’re sick of being robbed, do you? a) Call the police b) Buy a gun c) Print your own fake $100 for the theives to take and get caught with

From the Bill Bennett School of Do-As-I-Say-Not-As-I-Do, Republican congressman criticizes gambling but won $15,000.00 from playing the slots

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this railroad loop from India

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this doorway

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this French bird enchanter. Bird surrenders