News – Midterm Changeover

Americas

Well, Democrats now have control of the House. Of course, the talking heads are speculating as to just what led to this shift of power. Who can say? Was it discontent? Did the conservatives stay home? Personally, I dunno. Looks like Nancy Pelosi may be the Speaker of the House, which would make her the first female Speaker.

Of course, with the many glitches popping up with the electronic voting machines, legal challenges could pop up.

South Dakotans reject a near total ban on abortion in their state. The people have spoken.

It had to happen. Britney Spears files for divorce from Kevin Federline.

A listing of Slate’s past articles on the midterms.

Middle East

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki says he expects Saddam to be executed by the end of the year. It could be a very troublesome Christmas depending on the aftermath. Perhaps sparing him death would be better.

Supreme National Council for De-Baathification head Ali al-Lamy says that he’s drawing up plans to remove the ban against Baath party members, that could result in many returning to government jobs. This could be a good step toward reconciliation, though it should be approached with caution. The only ones excluded will be senior party members who were close to Saddam.

For some Israelis, it’s a time of pessimism. As long as they’ve been in this situation, it’s an understandable feeling, especially with the recent conflict in Lebanon, where little was achieved.

Human Rights Watch brings to the attention of all that Palestinian women have fee protections. It’s easy to forget such things in the face of the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Of course, it’s hard to effect change in domestic issues at a time when there is such regional turmoil.

Rockets are fired at Israel hours after Israeli troops end their 6 day operation in Beit Hanoun. Obviously rocket firing = bad(which is why I rarely directly condemn them, it’s a given for any logical person), but it shows the futility of the current direction of Israel’s attempts at self-defense, which ultimately reap negatives rather than positives.

Norman Kember, a British peace campaigner who was held hostage in Iraq and had his life threatened, is reluctant to testify against his kidnappers. He said: “I have yet to be convinced that it would be a sensible thing to do. If by testifying we could get further clemency for them, then perhaps I might. If I knew they were either going to be executed or they were going to have very long prison sentences, I wouldn’t be happy.”

Interesting.

Muwaffaq al-Rubaie, Iraq’s National Security Minister, tours Belfast as he seeks to learn about how Northern Ireland dealt with conflict resolution.

Europe

A report on Turkey’s entry to the EU condemns it as slow to make progress on reforms. Some say Turks are tiring of the constant pressure and confidence that they’ll be allowed into the EU is waning.

Italy will be the next to try and ban face covering headscarves. However.. Italy has something of a good excuse. One of their anti-terrorism laws prevents the wearing of masks in public. The niqab and the burka pretty much equal that.

Asia/Pacific

Authorities in Beijing are instituting a ‘one dog’ law to combat rabies, which will limit owners to one dog in most areas of the city.

General

Margaret Chan, a Chinese expert on Bird Flu, is set to become the next head of the WHO.

Reporters Without Borders names those countries that suppress online freedoms.

Explainer explores the macabre subject of hangings.

The Blogs look at the death sentence against Saddam Hussein, repeated “robo-calls” from GOP backers that give the impression that the calls are from Democrats and the yuck factor of scientists fusing human DNA with cow eggs.

Today’s Papers has Saddam Hussein striking a more cordial tone as he returned to the courtroom and frickloads of junk on the midterms. Thank goodness that’s all done with.

Amusements

Judge of high-profile murder trial holds student observing trial in contempt for wearing shorts, has him locked up with accused killer

Fire department tells Urdu-speaking residents to never jump out of a window to escape a fire, get on the nearest donkey instead. Bafflement ensues

Man’s $7M in-home marijuana growing operation busted after the heat lamps shorted out power for the entire neighborhood

People in Britain not sure what should offend them more: That Santa has replaced Baby Jesus on this year’s Royal Mail Christmas stamps, or that St. Nick appears to be taking a dump down a chimney (with pic)

“Scott does not sit out on defense — ever . . . . This entire league exists so he can play defense . . . . He is my son, I own the league, and he plays every snap on defense.”

Kentucky police officer learns the hard way why you shouldn’t try to unload your gun while driving down the freeway

Smoker falls asleep, catches bed on fire, tries to drag mattress outside thereby spreading fire to living room, escapes, returns to get his stuff, forced to jump through closed window. Somehow still barely alive

Muslim cop removed from Tony Blair’s protection detail after being told his presence there would upset members of the U.S. Secret Service

<A HREF=”http://www.blowmeuptom.com/archive.tl?h=57″>Woman confesses to murder on national radio program, thinks she’s in the clear because it’s her friend’s phone

What kind of tool robs a gas station two days in a row and expects to not get caught? Apparently this guy, and his hot girlfriend

Dorks meet online, decide it would be a good idea to play ‘War Games’ in the middle of night next to a school (with video)

Two armed robbers wear masks to hide their identities but leave behind the wrappers. Police use the bar codes to trace them to the Wal-Mart where they were bought, and the two guys’ faces show up just fine on those tapes

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this polar bear under an umbrella

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop these math teachers

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop theme: Inapproriate or funny closed captioning.