News – Fed Up
Middle East
Eli Moyal, mayor of the Israeli town of Sderot, resigns over the military’s inability to halt rocket attacks from Gaza. Israel’s government has been incompetent in dealing with the situation. Despite the years that have seen no halt in these attacks, they continue to think they can solve their problems through raids and destruction. They can kill as many militants as they want and destroy as many homes and lives as they desire, but it won’t quell the fire that drives those who fight. The only thing that will reduce that impetus to attack Israel is peace and prosperity in the region.
The Red Cross demands action on the worsening situation in the West Bank and Gaza. Israel, of course, insists they’re working with the Red Cross to make sure there is a flow of humanitarian aid. Of course, Israel’s government says a lot of things, not all true. Even so, it’ll take more than just humanitarian aid. Peace is needed. People need to get cracking, from the US, Israeli and Palestinian sides. All three are to blame for the languishing.
Sunday is when Iraqi forces will be getting control of Basra. Hopefully the situation there won’t degenerate as a result. It would be a positive step.
You know that office in Iraq that investigates fraud and waste on reconstruction efforts? They’re being investigated now. Nuff said.
The lingering plight of Iraqi women.
Africa
Some days, you find stories that really just boggle the mind. Here we have Sammy Gitau, once a slum dweller in Nairobi, Kenya. Now he has a degree from a British university. All sparked when he discovered a Manchester University prospectus in the garbage. It doesn’t happen every day and it isn’t easy, but it is nice to see those who wrest control of their lives and make such a massive leap from one extreme toward the other. If only it could happen for all who live in poverty and hopelessness.
Ethiopia denies that they had involvement in a mortar attack on the main market in Mogadishu. As well, the current national security ministry official for Somalia admits they don’t control the majority of the country. As it stands, it seems unlikely that they’ll wrangle such control soon and could even lose it to the Islamic forces that look to retake control.
Asia/Pacific
76 year old Le Hien Duc gets the annual Integrity Award from Transparency International for being a great corruption fighter in Vietnam.
Remembering the Nanjing massacre.
Americas
Apparently lots of baseball players are doping up. I’m not surprised. I’m sure most sports have plenty of steroids users. Sadly, too many people will risk their lives and health for their livelihoods.
Bush threatens to veto a House bill that would outlaw harsh interrogation techniques. If it passes the Senate, it will limit techniques to those laid out in the US Army Field Manual.
General
Greenpeace turns their sights on game companies, urging them to make their consoles greener. That’d be nice, but it would increase the cost of said systems. How much is the question.
The Blogs look at the Mitchell report, the Fed’s decision to lend billions of dollars to the banking industry and the passing of Ike Turner.
Today’s Papers has a recent survey that found many are willing to marry for money, reports that U.S. border patrol agents have been shooting canisters of pepper spray and tear gas into “densely populated Mexican border neighborhoods” to push back increasingly aggressive smugglers, word from “senior officials from three countries” that say investigators have found a link between al-Qaida in Iraq and the failed terrorist attacks in London and Glasgow earlier this year(Speciffics?) and more in the one page news.
Amusements
Only in France: Store provides “shoppingboys,” who are male models used to try on clothes women are buying for their men. w/ hilarious pic
“He accidentally dropped the gun while hiding it behind his back and shot himself in the rump”
Calling 911 to report fake burglary not the best move if you have a warrant out for your arrest
What do Alec Baldwin, Rudy Giuliani and Miss Teen South Carolina have in common? They all made it into Time Magazine’s top ten awkward moments of 2007 list
Not the best excuse to leave your kid in the car while running into Target: “She didn’t want him to know she was a stripper”
Ten men pay one woman to marry them. And no, she’s not that hot. But she is legal
Catholic school principal resigns after he’s discovered in an alley dressed as a woman, drinking cherry cola
“He sneaked into the locker room two previous times and took a pair of jeans, a shirt and a bra, drove around for an hour or so, and then returned the items”
Man discovers that using his phone to download stuff to his computer isn’t covered by his unlimited plan, and it only cost him $85,000 to learn this lesson
“Police officers driving the van noticed the prisoners had escaped when a passing motorist alerted them the back door was open.” Thats some fine police work, Lou
Step 1: Make fake official-looking tickets. Step 2: Place on cars and wait for the money. Step 3:…whoops
Tow truck driver gets ticket, so returns the favor by towing a police cruiser. Jailarity ensues
<A HREF="http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1050732″>Massachusetts Governor: “Everybody get out of Boston, it’s gonna snow.” Everybody: *rushes onto unplowed highway and gets stuck in storm for four hours*
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop these dancers
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this go-getter
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop theme: Bad holiday yard displays