News – Not so Great Debate

US

We had our first debate and I must say I’m disappointed at this opening round. If they’re going to keep boring us with more of the same, I dunno what watching the others would do for us. Maybe Edwards and Cheney will show a little more fire and have a little less flat rhetoric and rehashed old phrases. Honestly, they could have clipped together that debate from old press conferences and speeches and not needed either of the candidates there at all. Not a mention of Israel/Palestine at all either. Disgraceful, but to be expected when the campaigns quibble over the smallest details about the set up of the debate. Just shameful. Regardless, people ‘keeping score’ generally give Kerry ‘the win’. For whatever that is worth. Not that it will stop Karl Rove from spinning things.

Bush and company are under fire as it’s come to light that Bush’s reelection campaign may have helped Iyad Allawi draft his speech before congress. I’d hope not, cause that’s just the sort of stupidity that will make him look even more puppet-like.

The Republican National Committee has more or less admitted to sending out a mass mail pamphlet to Virginia and Arkansas that said liberals would ban the bible. Their spokesperson tried to spin the intent, but regardless of intent, it’s an ignorant thing to send out to people. Just the sort of scaremongering bull that sickens me on an almost daily basis now, coming form both sides of this little political brawl.

Merck and Co have pulled their arthritis drug, Vioxx, from the market. Seems the drug doubles the risk of heart attack and stroke. So if any of my readers or their parents use this stuff, make sure they know to consult a doctor immediately about switching to something new. Key facts.

The House ethics committee has admonished Tom DeLay for improperly offering to endorse a lawmaker’s son in return for a vote on a Medicare prescription drug bill. Bit they don’t recommend further action against him even though the conduct “could support a finding” that it violated the chamber’s rules.

Bush’s amendment to federally ban gay marriage falters in the House. We knew it would.

When the talk of war turns toward warfare in space, I just have to shake my head. But this is mildly interesting and disturbing. Buried in the Pentagon’s pile o docs are tidbits that say the US is duty bound to smack down other countries space efforts should the need arise and that the space based targets need not be enemy targets. Are such dusty relics still considered doctrine? Would such tactics be used should the strife of human vs. human be outsourced to the stars? Lets hope not. Everyday we seem to move closer to that distopian image painted by many forms of fiction.

Diebold loses a copyright case by improperly using the DMCA after students at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania posted copies and links to some 13,000 internal Diebold company memos that suggested that the company was aware of security flaws in its voting system when it sold the system to states.

Government layers, in defending against a lawsuit by privacy activist John Gilmore, have admited that the requirement to show ID at airports exists, but argue it can’t be challenged or seen in full because it is a law enforcement technique, not a law. Gilmore has been trying to get the government to state exactly what the rule, if it exists, says.

Is the process by which medals are awarded broken?

Democrats and for profit vote canvassing.

Iraq

US forces stormed Samarra today, estimating around 94 insurgents killed amid air strikes and street to street fighting. Doctors have said 4 bodies were brought to the town’s hospital, 11 of them women, five children and seven elderly men. They say ambulances can’t get to all of the wounded, the fighting having gone on through the night, continuing today. There was no note of any US casualties. The Guardian notes 80 dead and at least 100 wounded.

A series of carbombs on Thursday had dozens of children among the 44 killed in the attack. The attack was targeted at a crowd that had gathered to mark the opening of a sewage plant west of Baghdad, where US solders were handing out candy to kids.

There is a note that a Turkish hostage has been rescued amid the raid on Samarra.

Israel/Palestine

Israel has made a huge push into Northern Gaza in an effort to root out militants firing rockets into Israel. At least five militants are reported killed as well as the expected collateral damage as Israel makes significant use of airstrikes. 23 have been reported dead and 100 wounded. And, as always, Israeli and Palestinian children continue to be among the dead in this eternal cycle of violence.

Mordechai Vanunu still can’t leave Israel, his supporters staging a protest by chaining themselves to the Israeli embassy in London.

General

The Pope is at it again. Beatifying another round of folk, including Anne Catherine Emmerick, a sickly German mystic nun who lived from 1774 to 1824. She’s been regarded as Mel Gibson’s muse with regard to Passion of the Christ as her book, “The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ,”, describes some parts of the movie that the gospels don’t mention.

How much does terrorism have to do with our high oil prices?

Today’s Papers has the EPA inspector general noting thatthe administration has “exaggerated the nation’s air quality” and that suits against polluters have been “seriously hampered” by revised Bush rules, Porter Goss hiring four top staff form the House Intelligence Committee he led that is widely considered to have been ineffective and partisan, army requirements being loosened to meet recruiting goals and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Mark Fiore: The Question

Neurotically Yours: Foamy Fanmail 6

Court reporter discovered to be blitzed while taking notes during trial. Evidence includes nasty glass of vodka, transcript that reads “; That wazz my skull..I’m so wasted.”

“The customer is always right” mantra probably ceases to matter the moment customer puts cashier in a headlock

Man attempts to make his legal problems go away by slipping off handcuffs and stealing police car after being arrested. Still no substitute for qualified legal advice

If you’re a sheriff’s deputy, do not masturbate at the salon while getting your hair highlighted (w/photo of said dumbass)

When a waitress tries to wake you up after you fall asleep on the pub sofa, smashing a bottle over her head is probably not the best response

Wedding reception takes interesting turn when police arrive and taser bride, father of the bride

Scientists create electronic back-seat driver which will offer helpful tips like: “Dammit slow down, this isn’t the Indy 500” and “You idiot, you missed our exit — now we’ll have to turn around to get to Sarah Connor’s house”

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Chihuahua recruits cat army to combat rat hordes. Create some propaganda for either side

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Fark Photoshop queue dwindles to nothing. Drew must be discontinuing the PS contests. Photoshop what will replace them

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop Fark/TotalFark front pages for alien worlds

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this Russian heavy-metal party chick. Difficulty: No cowbell