News – Pick Yer Candidate

Middle East

Ibrahim al-Jaafari, Adel Abdul Mahdi and Ahmad Chalabi were quick to emerge from their coalition, the one that garnered the most votes, and start vying for the job of Iraqi Prime Minister. So which do we root for?

We’ve been flying drones over Iran since last year, looking for them nukes. No wonder Iranian officials might be getting froggy. Spying would do that to most.

Israel soldiers shoot a knife wielding Palestinian and militants fire a mortar bomb at a military post on Gaza, with no casualties. Abbas fires nine security force commanders charged with keeping Gaza quiet in response.

Israel will return the remains of fifteen Palestinian militants killed last year as another goodwill gesture.

Mullah Mohammad Naeem, referred to as a commander of Taliban guerrillas, has been captured in the Afghan village of Sia Sang in Uruzgan’s Deh Rawud district.

A massive carbomb blows up part of the motorcade of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. Nine were killed, including some of his bodyguards and the former PM himself.

Europe

Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles are getting the hook up and she will be a princess consort, rather than a queen whenever Charls gets the crown. So what is that? Ask Explainer.

North America

Judd Gregg of New Hampshire believes the Medicare drug benefit is too spendy. “We’re in a little different quadrants on this, the president and I. I do feel there needs to be some changes in the Medicare drug benefit in order to make it affordable,” he’s said. Sen. Joe Biden thinks that we need to get in on Europe’s interplay with Iran. “We’re at odds with our European friends, and it doesn’t leave many options,” he said.

Rummy stresses our need for allies, saying one nation can’t defeat radical Islam. I find it amusing they’re finally taking up the ‘we need help’ mantra after so much chest beating and the like. What, you mean the US isn’t an unstoppable colossus? Wouldn’t know it with some of the rhetoric we’ve been exposed to. Nice to see politicians and military leaders coming back to reality.

Bush finally takes out his veto power.. and uses it to challenge any change to his current Medicare drug benefit that he thinks weakens it. Democrats and some Republicans are looking to address the cost of it by pushing to let U.S. health officials negotiate prices directly with pharmaceutical companies. The current legislation bans that practice.

The White House spells out 150 cuts in their new budget, some listed here.

A young man, who entered a crowded stop in upstate New York and opened fire with an automatic weapon, was captured by store employees when he ran out of ammunition.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has vowed to fight for making same-sex marriage legal.

General

Ever seeking to turn foes into friends, scientists wrap HIV in another virus and send it off to attack and kill cancer cells. It seems to work in mice thus far.

Stars are a fixture at some Apple Store and some sales associates break ranks to dish a little.

The UN has been deadlocked on a treaty to ban cloning. The alternative to a full ban might be to draft a treaty that lets countries make their own laws. Sounds good to me.

The Pacific’s tsunami warning system is known for it’s false alarms. Sounds like it needs an overhaul and rethink.

The Typo squatting game and how to beat it, in part.

Today’s Papers has MCI deciding last night to accept Verizon’s offer to buy it for about $6.8 billion in cash and stock, the Bush ‘tool kit’ to choke off North Korea’s funds, loads about the results of the Iraq election and some other tidbits in the one page news.

Amusements

Police chief leaves loaded gun in library. Apparently she didn’t read the book on gun safety

Hard to say which is worse: being a major metropolitan airport with a bunny problem, or having the world know that your efforts at animal control are comical

Woman who sued two teenagers over cookie delivery angry about negative treatment from neighbors. Apparently has never heard of The Golden Rule

Mugshots are windows to the soul (w/ funny pics). Henry Earl could teach these folks a thing or two

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop: What are these Vatican guards looking at?

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop: What did the bears ever do to you?

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop the path to Firle Church