News – Nuking Evidence

Americas

The CIA admits to destroying two tapes of terror suspect interrogation, raising the suspicion that they had some display of torture. The CIA passes it off as simply destroying them to protect agent identity after the tapes were no longer useful. As might be expected, I don’t have much benefit of the doubt for the CIA.

The Supreme Court begins to consider whether Gitmo detainees should be able to contest their detentions in US courts. Personally, I’d rather the government charge or release these people before they’ve been sitting there for X number of years. I can understand detention for a few months, but years? I’d want to off myself too sitting there for so long with no end in sight. Enough is enough, closure is long since overdue. A video overview of the sides in the case.

Bush comes out with a plan to help those stuck with sub-prime mortgages. With the collapse of that part of the economy, rates are rising and more people could lose the homes they bought. Hopefully this will help the majority to keep their homes.

Republican candidates and their religiosity. Personally, I don’t think religion should have anything to do with who runs this country and I don’t care what their faith is or isn’t. I want a good manager in charge, not a preacher. While we’re at it, lets pick apart Romney’s speech. Twice.

The recent NIE.

Middle East

Another report of shoddy accounting from Iraq. The gang continues to do it wrong.

Asia/Pacific

Human Rights Watch comes out with a detailed accounting of the violence during anti-government protests in Burma earlier this year.

Europe

NATO will be staying in Kosovo to try and prevent violence.

Italy’s senate passes legislation that allows the expulsion of EU citizens from the country if they’re deemed a danger to society.

The Pope totally knows how you can reduce your time in purgatory. For reals!

General

Wikipedia’s founder fires back at teachers who won’t allow students to use his site as a resource. While Wikipedia isn’t the best source, it is a good starter source from which to branch out to other sources.

Explainer looks at ‘suicide safety smocks’. To make it hard to kill yourself. Explainer takes a look at castration as well.

The Blogs look at Romney’s faith speech, Huckabee’s recent set back and Repeal Day.

Today’s Papers has note of the nearing of inflight internet, Bush and Kim Jong Il as pen pals, more on the destroyed CIA tapes and other such tidbits in the one page news.

Amusements

Neurotically Yours: Mini Marts

VG Cats: Still Alive – If you haven’t played Portal yet, shame on you.

Teen birth rate rises for the first time since the early 90s. Nice to know the $176 million you spent on abstinence programs was a good idea

Crazy blogger insists public access television cut his pickup truck out of local parade coverage at the behest of the mayor. Just another day on the Eastern Shore of Maryland

Top 10 craziest Star Wars tattoos. If you thought Christmas Yoda wouldn’t make the list, you were incorrect (NSFWish tattoo image)

Louisiana family sets up cutouts of Santa shooting Rudolph the Reindeer in their yard. For some reason, their neighbors have a problem with this

Cops who come up with the sneakiest way to ticket motorists win a new police cruiser, fark headline. Bonus: This nationwide program funded by your gas tax money

Actors in children’s play banned from throwing sweets into the audience because children might get hit on the head. And they wonder why we call it a “Nanny State”…

High school kids sleep outside to raise awareness for homeless. Play Twister, watch DVDs, go inside for free pizza when they get cold, just like real homeless people

Finally, a robber with a little class

Kindergartner suspended from school for telling playmate he’d put bomb in his backpack before recess. Good thing he didn’t ask anyone to play doctor, or he’d be on sex-offender registry for life

Woman jailed for practicing sorcery using a pair of underpants and raw eggs to break a “lethal curse”

Substitute teacher brings cell phone porn to Show & Tell

You’ve just robbed a bank. Do you A) try to run far, far away, B) hide until things have settled down, or C) stop for hair extensions and a manicure?

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop the front cover for a cookbook that just shouldn’t exist.

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this snowy scene

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop theme: Life before and after Fark