News – Diplomatic Soldiers?

Middle East

A survey of battlefield ethics shows less than desirable results. Which is to be expected, really. You can’t train a large mass of soldiers to both fight and be partial diplomats without a good number of them soiling the deal somehow. Our ground troops shouldn’t be relied upon for the war’s PR. Their experiences color them in ways that makes them unfit for such a delicate role. Especially with the longer deployments of this conflict.

Right wing and reformist students in Iran scuffle over the materials published in student publications. The reformist student editors say the articles in question, which are characterized as insulting to Islam, were forged to set them up for criticism ahead of student union elections.

Africa

Sudan and Chad agreeing to work with the AU in stabilizing Darfur and the border between it and Chad? Sounds promising, but will it work?

Asia/Pacific

China is having a problem with those who flout their one child law. The newly rich have funds enough to pay the fines levied by violation of this law. Many do. As well, rural folk are marrying earlier than the law allows. While I’m not too hot on the idea of legislating such things, when one has a population as massive as that of China, it becomes an inevitability that the population growth will generate all manner of other problems. There is only so much land, only so many resources and so forth. What does one do in such a case?

Next week north and south Korea will be talking about restarting a rail crossing between their nations, the crossing having not been used in over 50 years. It would be quite a milestone to be sure. Perhaps a start toward better relations.

Europe

Germany and Egypt quarrel over the bust of Nefertiti. Egypt wants Germany to loan the artifact to them, but Germany is reluctant to, saying it’s far too fragile for travel.

Conservative candidate Nicolas Sarkozy wins the runoff election in France. He calls for unity, though initially some protestors have reacted violently to his ascension.

Americas

Tornados have been cruel to the center of the US. Fortunately deaths have been few and only about a dozen injured.

General

The shape shifting chandelier.

The blogs have military bloggers responding over the possibility of being censored and comment on the republican presidential debate.

Today’s Papers have note of the massive opening weekend for Spiderman 3, a coalition of 36 companies that plan to lobby for medical insurance to be expanded to everyone, the US military fixing all the doors on their armored Humvees because they can leave soldiers trapped inside during an attack and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Neurotically Yours: Chamber of Human Horrors

Mark Fiore: Veto Accomplished

Armed with a butcher knife, robber asks victim, “Do you need a roommate?” Then things get weird

Soccer game for priests, imams canceled because the teams could not agree on whether women priests should take part

The local government of Treviso, in northern Italy, has ordered the city’s Chinese restaurants to remove red lanterns from their windows because they look too “oriental”

Police to public: We’ve covered the city with radar, no driver can escape. Prosecutors to police: Please stop, and don’t waste our time with speeding tickets unless the driver is going more than 20 miles over

EMTs gone wild. “You’ve got to be a dumb ass to do something like this”

Devout Mormon and evangelical Christian have been married for 26 years, despite husband running anti-Mormon ministry on the side

When choosing a vehicle to carjack, the conspicious lime-green Charger may be tempting, but is probably not a wise choice

Extremist politician arrives at meeting in underpants, reveals his extremities

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this Coachella Chicken

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this professor

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this streetlight