News – Is it One or the Other?

North America

Bush’s stand on the death penalty and stem cell research just don’t mesh up. Bush says you can’t end a life to save one in terms of stem cells, yet uses that as his justification of his support of the death penalty.

The CIA engages in a three day exercise to simulate a cyberterror attack. It stokes worries as it simulates the sort of damage that could be done to the government and economy, even though it’s been publicly said that such an attack wouldn’t have that big an effect. Considering how reliant we are on computers now, it would be foolish to think a cyberattack wouldn’t cause serious damage.

Heard enough of Koran abuse? Too bad, here’s another tidbit. A 2002 document from an FBI agent that a detainee held at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, had accused American jailers there of flushing the Koran down a toilet. The Pentagon says the allegation isn’t credible, but I think we’ve heard enough allegations to warrant a serious investigation, if for no reason than to dismiss them if untrue. I mean, if they’ve done nothing wrong over there, why should they fear a little look in? Nothing to hide, right? That’s how it is with probes and the like. Nothing to fear in one unless you’re guilty of something.

The House steps back from raising chivalry to unneeded heights on women in the military. Hold them to the same standards as men, but don’t deny those who are tough enough. Everyone who enters the military should know they stand a chance of perishing horribly. War sucks, no matter when it comes.

Sen. George Voinovich has turned out to be quite anti-Bolton. I heard some of his speech on it and he was getting pretty emotional over it.

The Senate Energy Committee wants to require we be producing at least 8 billion gallons of Ethanol a year by 2012. That’s double our current rate. A good start, but more needs to be done to shift us from foreign oil.

An apology to the American Indians for the centuries of shit we’ve dealt them? That’s a start too. But how do you really make amends for the general savaging of a culture?

Members of AAA will have a new tool to use in looking for cheap gas online.

Scientists confirm that Voyager 1 has passed from out solar system into the turbulent place where electrically charged particles from the Sun crash into thin gas from interstellar space.

Middle East

The WTO agrees to talks with Iran on its entry to the organization after the US drops its long standing veto. Is this a little carrot after Iran agreed to continue its suspension of nuclear activities? Of course, this is just the latest temporary pause, hinging on success with negotiations.

Rumors are Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has an owie. Kind of pointless to worry about it unless the wound is fatal. If it isn’t, I’m sure he’ll be up and running again soon.

Iraq’s government will be fielding 40,000 troops in Baghdad to hunt for insurgents and their weapons.

Most settlers will accept relocation to Israel, should their bid to stop the pullout from Gaza fail. Good news for many Israelis, I’m sure. Peaceful transition is good for everyone.

What they said about Abbas and Sharon in the US.

Asia

After nearly a year, might something real be starting up with diplomacy focused on North Korea? We can only hope and only hope it will work.

Europe

The EU’s president warns that a no vote by France on the referendum on the European constitution could be a disaster for the world.

China’s getting in tight with Uzbekistan, which isn’t that surprising. They have similar interest, if charges prove true, in suppressing dissent.

General

Ever hand off your joystick to a non-gamer and watch with amusement as they attempt to control the on-screen action by twisting and tilting the entire controller every which way? – I have. Now, Nintendo takes advantage of that in the latest of their more creative offerings for the GBA, Wariorware Twisted. A sensor in the game cart makes use of that twisting to make for some new, thus far much praised, gameplay. Nintendo might never be the supreme darling of the graphics and power world in gaming, but you can always count on them for interesting games, which is why I’ve stuck with them. You can only play so many beautiful, but simple shooters before you grow weary of it all. I’ll likely be getting that game soon, though for now I’m devoting my time to the Fire Emblem sequel.

Explainer details the stenotype machine that court reporters use. It’s a strange, confusing machine.

Today’s Papers has Egyptian authorities allowing pro-government thugs to beat pro-democracy demonstrators, the centralization of power in the US government, good and bad news out of Iraq and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Mark Fiore: It’s Newsweek’s Fault

<A HREF="http://www.macon.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/high_school/miami_dade/11735138.htm”>Baseball coach resigns after pulling out his bat and balls, asking players “if they had a set of these or were they equipped with a vagina”

$500K lawsuit looms over 5-foot strip of land next to cottage where Ian Fleming wrote first James Bond novel

Thank you for calling suicide hotline. Our hours are 9-5. Please call again

Fed up with fourth graders, teacher distributes essay to class describing how he hates his job and the children’s “animal” behavior

Apparently dissatisfied with today’s lack of quality, nostalgic thieves steal historic sex toys from brothel

Women standing at bus stop pretty damn surprised when man in full Darth Vader costume jumps out of car, struts around menacingly, then opens robe and flashes his willy

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this lunchtime delivery

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this lovely summer day

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this frozen cowboy