News – Iraq Money Now or Later?

US

The next big political argument is over the impending request for Iraq money. The Bush administration will wait until next year to actually ask for the cash, paying for things now by borrowing from other military projects and asking for the sum used in that timeframe in January. Opponents see this as a political move to avoid laying down a request for another fat sum of billions in a supplemental now, postponing it until after the election.

The latest in the furor over Bush’s military record? Dental records! They might say the democrats are shameful for bringing it up, but they’re giving credence to claims by scurrying to defend against such allegations. Chatterbox weighs in, giving Bush’s service a D rather than an F. A new context brought into play is the state of the guard back in the 1970s, which doesn’t compare to the guard of 2000+. Includes timeline.

Finally, after about three quarters of a year, the government has decided letting Joseph Padilla see a lawyer won’t compromise national security. Now how about the rest of them?

Average life expectancy has risen slightly in the US. But so has the infant mortality rate. As deaths from SIDS seem to be dropping, some statisticians think the rise could be just a blip.

The government wants to extend its wiretapping privileges to VoIP and other net means of vocal communication. Considering the 1994 Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act is hardly set for the Internet age, one wonders if such communications are included in its dictates.

Comcast wants Disney. But so far it’s no go.

Iraq

UN diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi has visited with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani and says that the UN backs the cleric’s calls for elections. The caveat is finding the right place and setting them up securely.

A British soldier faces manslaughter charges after it is alleged an Iraqi POW was beaten to death. A second and third were alleged to have serious injuries fromthe same and six more complained of their treatment.

Israel/Palestine

The pope visits the Palestinian PM Ahmed Qurie . Condemns Israel’s barrier. “No one must yield to the temptation of discouragement, let alone to hatred or retaliation. It is reconciliation that the Holy Land needs: forgiveness not revenge, bridges not walls,” I don’t often agree with the Pope, but sometimes he gets it right. Can’t be wrong all the time.

Hamas vows revenge in the wake of the latest killings. The eternal circle continues to turn for now.

Dan Edge recalls how filmmaker James Miller died while filming for Death in Gaza.

France investigates an Israeli claim that EU money went toward funding suicide bombers.

Legal advisors to Sharon’s government have suggested Israel boycott proceedings on the legality of their wall.

Iran

Unidentified western diplomats suspect Iran isn’t being fully open about its nuke program. What I gather from the article is that it is thought Iran and Libya have similar weapons programs so whatever Libya gives up and Iran dosen’t is suspect or something like that.

UK

British Airways has canceled two flights over security concerns. One to Saudi Arabia, one to the US.

General

Brian Alexander, author of Rapture: How Biotech Became the New Religion, gives a phone interview on the latest breakthrough in cloning research.

Today’s Papers has a blurb of Valentines day in Iran, the DOJ looking for abortion records, more general details on the Bush military record dealie and other tidbits of the days news.

Amusements

Mark Fiore: Breast Friends – This one’s a bit more silly than usual.

Neurotically Yours: Dating Advice

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop a Google logo for a fictitious holiday

The government slates 200 shows inappropriate for close captioning. Examples?

Law and Order and Power Rangers won’t be. Too intense. Sanford and Son, Judge Wapner’s Animal Court and The Loretta Young Showare off the list. No Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for deaf kids, no NASCAR races, Major League Baseball games, National Basketball Association games, the National Football League or Professional Golf Association tournaments will be close captioned for the deaf. No Simpsons, no Malcolm in the Middle and no Scooby-Doo either.

Is your brain smoking with the insanity of it all yet? This sounds like a hoax.. I might have to look it up to make sure something this stupid isn’t just a cruel joke.

Lastly, to wash away the insanity of that one, Shirtless, skirt-wearing man arrested for standing beside road w/sign that said, “Honk if you can see my [testicles].”