News – Mercenaries Fill the Gaps

Iraq

The Pentagon is hiring mercenaries from Chile to do guard duty. Former military, being paid 4k a month for this duty. Is it a good thing? I suppose that depends on who you ask. Personally, so long as they’re professional and skilled I don’t think it’s that bad. I mean, hiring brutish killers would be bad, but professional soldiers isn’t in my opinion.

Today’s signing of the Iraq constitution has another delay it seems. Five of the Shia members of the Iraqi Governing Council didn’t show up to sign it.

Afghanistan

An Afghan local has said he has credible reports that Osama escaped a recent operation to capture him. Take this report, like all others, with the requisite grain of salt.

Israel/Palestine

Israel details a second suspect in an investigation into an alleged three year bombing campaign by an ‘ultra-nationalist’ Jew against Arabs.

With a big celebration this weekend, Israel is locking up Gaza and the West Bank. No Palestinians will be allowed in until Tuesday.

Human Rights groups welcome the first conviction of an Israel soldier in the death of a Palestinian.

Libya

They’ve declared their chemical weapons now. Which included Mustard Gas and compounds used to make sarin among other toxins.

US

How to beat Bush? Use his own message against him. He promises more of the same for the next four years, so we bring up what has happened over the last four years and see if people want more of it. Bush is a man who wants what he wants, no matter what anyone says or what stands in his way. Not even the Constitution.

Two republican staffers improperly accessed thousands of computer files of democratic colleagues. The two have since resigned, but the probe that came to this conclusion could do many things still, including criminal prosecution.

The Bush Administration is worried about gas prices. But there is no note of what they plan to do about them.

I’d think it would be obvious the heat on gay marriage was building over the last decade. I think the most important question would be.. is it the right time? But that’s not easy to answer.

Remember the US soldier who attacked his own in the early days of the war with a grenade? His murder trial is just starting up.

The Las Vegas Hilton will be popping out a new simulated motion thrill ride without the shaking. Primo for Star Trek fans, as the borg take a staring role in it.

A proposed bill that has some cross party support would gauge the tends of domestic and international employment a company maintains. If they’re giving more US works the axe, then federal monies could dry up for that company. This is the sort of angle I’ve been thinking the right way to go. After all, why should our government support companies that aren’t hiring US workers? They can outsource to save money if they want, but they have to take the penalty.

Treat your CFOs right or they might just turn on you. I’m sure that some CEOs are wishing they would have been nicer to their CFO. Too late when you get ratted out, unfortunately.

General

HIV infected folk with a second virus, called GB virus C, have been nearly three times less likely to die then those who didn’t have the secondary virus in their systems. Could this other virus be an inhibitor of HIV?

Some pioneers are looking to measure the neurology of the religious experience. A controversial experiment to be sure. I’m surprised he got the nuns to participate in it.

Scientists are just as human as we are. They’re bad little eggheads from time to time as are we all.

A review of Starsky and Hutch. I think I’ll be seeing that this weekend despite the lackluster review. Since I, young man that I am, never saw the series I won’t let comparing that upset me. 😉

Amusements

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Farker Ferretcushion’s dog, Butch, is being put to sleep on Friday. Photoshop him in humorous situations to cheer up the family

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this guy at the Tacoma Art Museum

Mark Fiore: Administration Awards

EbloaWorld/NewGrounds: The George Bush Show #5

Fracas breaks out at a salad bar in an upscale retirement home.

Beyonce’s Band foils a carjacking.