News – Peace Possible?

Middle East

Could it be? Is it possible? Hamas is backing from the wall to give some acceptance of Israel’s right to exist? It seems it might be.. it comes slow, of course. There will be much arguing and the like, but if the ultimate goal is reached.. perhaps all is not lost for that little corner of the world. Let’s hope these people can come to a neutral position where all can find a path to the peace that has been waiting so long.

The Red Cross welcomes Israeli and Palestinian humanitarian relief societies.

Gunmen attack a US-Iraqi patrol in Baghdad and the government puts up a curfew. Insurgents also capture 85 factory workers near Baghdad.

Army Gen. George Casey sees a troop reduction coming this year.

Olmert apologizes to Abbas about the deaths of 14 Palestinian civilians in recent Israeli air strikes. All well and good and nice, but you know what would be better? If Israel didn’t kill all of those people. If they stopped shooting missiles at every possible, potential or suspected target, until they were damn sure that there were militants in there, not civilians. They’re calling investigations and other crap now, but I don’t see anything changing when it comes to how Israel does its business.

When it comes to Afghanistan, the poppies are linked with the less than optimal security situation in the country. Until we’ve made it profitable for a farmer to stop growing poppies, poppies are what will be grown.

Car bomb in Basra.

US troops kill 14 Taliban fighters.

Asia

Japan’s agriculture minister finds it nonsense for the US legislature to seek a bill putting sanctions on Japan for their US beef ban, when the two governments have already agreed to resolve the issue. Of course, the ones promoting the bill are from ranch states.

North America

The White House is doing everything it can to keep republicans on its side when it comes to Iraq. The need of so much effort is telling, in my opinion. Shouldn’t be that hard since Republicans are, in general, one of the most lock step groups in politics, where dissent is frowned upon.

The House has approved a line item veto for Bush. Will it pass through the Senate?

Another secret program haled as vital in getting info on the terrorists. This one giving counterterrorism officials access to records from SWIFT(Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication), the “nerve center of the global banking industry.”

General

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour takes aim at the US war on terror and its potential abuses of human rights.

Explainer looks into how to rent Tokyo and reveals the World Cup’s magical injury spray.

The dynamics between babies and pets explored. And information that suggests pets are good for baby’s health.

The blogs explore a purported WMD discovery in Iraq, the blogging in-crowd and note the US is out of the World Cup.

Today’s Papers has a look at the alarmingly violent Mexican narcotics industry, news that the House voted to drastically cut the estate tax, that seven muslim men were arrested in Miami for plotting to destroy the Sears Tower and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Neurotically Yours: Words and Phrases

Mark Fiore: Cap’n Killmore’s Whale Shack

Bad: You’re fleeing from the cops. Worse: You hang a U-turn and decide to ram the cops. Fark.com: You’re driving a Kia

Iowa congressman apologizes for saying that if Al-Zarqawi got his 72 virgins, they probably looked like Helen Thomas. Too bad he apologized, I was hoping the same thing

Fifteen-year-old realizes the train he is on will not be making his stop. Since this is Fark, you can guess how he solved this dilemma

All right, all right… which of you dumbass third world countries scheduled a presidential election in the middle of the World Cup?

Man sentenced to 10 years in prison for digging up 25 graves in historic cemetery looking for jewelry to swap for crack

New study says it’s better to eat junk food, have sex on the first date and to call in sick, even if you’re feeling fine, rather then eating salads, leading a celibate life and soldiering through the flu at work

Today’s “home arson started over an argument about food stamps” story brought to you by Scranton, PA

To avoid another round of Katrina-style payoffs, insurance companies cancel thousands of policies. In New York

<A HREF="http://www.wnep.com/Global/story.asp?S=5064921″>Not news: Two guys go out for dinner. News: They leave without paying bill. Fark.com: They fall off a cliff while running away

Bad: have an underage alcohol party. Worse: post pictures of party on Myspace. FARK: They’re GOP congressman Brian Bilbray’s Kids

Cops catch a pair of robbers when they show up at the hospital to be treated for a gunshot to the ass

The first NASCAR-themed Harlequin romance is titled “In the Groove.” Next up: “He took the air off my spoiler” and “Better put in more wedge, she’s feeling pretty loose”

Man offended that “The Joy of Gay Sex” is available at his local library, checks book out in protest and “says he has no plans to return it.”

14 staffers at Britain’s driver and vehicle licensing agency are sacked after they swapped so many pornographic emails that it clogged up the organisation’s mainframe computer

10-year-old detained at mall because her flowers, smiley faces, and peace signs were likely to cause a conflict

TV pop-up ads on the way, because competition with DVDs and the internet doesn’t give people enough reason to turn the damn thing off

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Where have all the pirates gone?

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop theme: Geek landscaping. (LGT Apple campus)

Fark Photoshop Challenge: If scientologists ruled the world.