News – Deadly Rumors
Middle East
A rumor of a suicide bombing in Iraq causes a stampede that kills over 600. It was on a bridge over the Tigris river, with some of the people falling into the river when the bridge railing collapsed. Images on the incident.
Benjamin Netanyahu launches a campaign to encourage more West Bank settlements. I think Netanyahu might be looking to wrest control of the government from Sharon, which would be a bad thing for peace. He seems to be a worse version of Sharon by all accounts.
A Reuters cameraman has been ordered by secret tribunal to be held without charge in Abu Ghraib. He’s to remain there for six months until his case is reviewed. Ali Omar Abrahem al-Mashhadani was arrested with his brother after his home was searched on August 8th.
North America
With Katrina’s passing, the Gulf Coast can gauge the damage, which is extensive. Major flooding, loss of power and potentially hundreds dead numbering amongst them.
The U.S. military base-closing commission has been getting a pile of lawsuits as it decides which military bases to close and which to keep open. If the bases are federal or federally funded, I don’t see where the states have much say in the matter legally, though.
The US poverty rate rises for the fourth year in a row. That would fit, with the dipping unemployment to suggest that while Americans are getting jobs, they’re low paying. Such as WalMart work and the like.
General
Coffee, good for you? Seems a study notes it as the primary source of antioxidants for Americans. Though this isn’t a call to go out and chug the black stuff, since one or two cups a day will be enough to be beneficial, decaf or regular.
A new polymer coating is made that changes opaque water droplets into transparent sheets could be big in keeping windshields and mirrors from fogging up.
The Open Source Development Labs is unlikely to accept Microsoft’s offer to jointly finance research into the Windows vs. Linux debate.
Explainer notes how you move a cemetary and what happens when graves get flooded.
A good detailing of the pros and cons of a recent report on fetal pain. Takes a pretty even line between what is wrong with the study and what is wrong with the detractors.
Today’s Papers has a draft of federal regs that woul let power plants pollute more, details of relif efforts in the wake of Katrina, tales of looters and other such trials and tribulations in the one page news.
Amusements
Neurotically Yours: Hurricane Report
Aaron Sandowski, 30, being returned to Canada after he severely trashed a US hotel room and then did a “kung-fu dance” in a parking lot while wielding a chainsaw
Dad takes teen daughter and friends out for birthday party, stops at ATM, sends in one girl inside to teller with holdup note ‘as a prank’. Hilarity ensues
Australian pilot chatting with tower accidentally uses the super-secret aviation codeword for “hijack.” Hilarity ensues
Jogger learns the hard way why drinking beer found on the side of the road is not healthy
Girl meets Saudi prince at college. Saudi prince falls for girl. Girl uses Saudi prince’s Boeing 727 to smuggle cocaine from Columbia to Paris. It’s a classic love story
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this group of Valentine’s Day sweethearts
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop these ballet dancers
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this Swedish building