News – Insecurity in Air Flight

North America

The security at the airport has a gaping loophole. And if Slate has discovered it, you can be sure that the terrorists already know about it. Personally, I never thought of it until now, but now that the hole is indicated, it gapes wide and obvious.

Bush has put forward his budget, opening it up to analysis and deconstruction. The fighting, surely, will be fierce over it. As expected, Bush wants to give even more money to the military. Homeland security receives more money, accompanied by a raise in related fees such as hefty airline passenger security charges.

Michael Bloomberg, mayor of New York, is under fire from both sides on the topic of gay marriage. Despite his own professed support for gay unions, the city will appeal a court ruling overturning a ban on gay unions.

The White House says that they like the current bipartisan bill on lawsuit reform that’s on the floor and would dislike seeing changes made to it. Consumer advocates who oppose the bill, however, have noted increasing support for an amendment from Democratic Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico that eases the bill’s impact on consumer lawsuits.

The trial of Michael Jackson is delayed a week after a death in the family of one of his lawyers.

A renewed push for a cloning ban is likely. I wouldn’t call it a necessity, but not all have the same priorities.

Could monies directed toward missile defense finally be reprioritized to better use?

Middle East

Sharon and Abbas will be making a separate declaration to end violence, rather than signing a cease fire and Israel emphasized its agreement was only with Abbas’s Palestinian Authority, not the militants. A good step, but not ideal. One thing needed is for Israel to cease its raids and try again to hold militants to a mutual agreement to not act.

All the same, they’ve met. A good step regardless of the precise outcome. A good second step is noted here, for both sides to acknowledge their roles as both aggressor and victim.

US forces raid a house in Iraq, freeing Egyptian telecommunications engineers kidnapped since Sunday.

A bomb outside an Iraqi army recruitment center in Baghdad kills 21 and wounds 27.

Condi says that ‘minimal’ progress from Syria isn’t enough, citing a desire for them to withdraw their troops from Lebanon and urging the government to fight terrorism, saying that the terrorists in Iraq are receiving help from within Syria. Mind you, I’ve seen no actual evidence of this presented.

Benon Sevan, who headed the UN oil-for-food program, has been suspended over his misconduct. Joseph Stephanides, who heads the UN security council affairs division, was also informed of his own dismissal, both set to receive a formal accounting of their misconduct this week.

Farid Ghadry finds himself in a predicament. He’s an Syrian exile prospering in the US with neocon friends and a desire to toss out a Baathist dictator back home. How does he rally the US to his cause?

Europe

The EU and Iran are being realistic about the chance of breakthrough in renewed talks over Iran’s nuclear programs.

Asia

Margareta Wahlstrom, the U.N.’s special tsunami relief envoy, says that donor countries are failing to provide enough funds for temporary housing and job creation for survivors of the tsunami.

General

Journey to the center of a quake.

Research shows that right and left handed people view the world differently.

The creator of Dolly, the cloned sheep, has been given license to clone humans. I’m sure Bush has a lot to say on this.

Today’s Papers has refugees seeking political asylum treated like criminals, tidbits about the prospect of peace between Palestine and Israel, much on the budget and a little more in the one page news.

Amusements

Drunken dog goes on neighborhood rampage

British police sending Valentine’s cards to known thieves: “Roses are red. Squirrel nuts are blue. One more burglary and the slammer for you”

Dumb: Breaking into hospital cafeteria and finding nothing of value. Dumber: Leaving your false teeth at the scene. Dumbest: Having your social security number engraved into those false teeth

Four of the strangest dolls ever made, including a talking Steve Urkel and “Archie Bunker’s Grandson:” an anatomically correct male that urinates up to three feet

If you have a nightmare, don’t call an ambulance. Plus other stupid reasons people call 911

Fark Photoshop Challenge: What’s this statue missing?

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop these sword fighting girls

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop Pat Sajak and two very excited contestants</A