News – Rationing Riots

Middle East

Iran looks to be preparing for sanctions over its nuclear issues. They’ve decide to start rationing fuel. Much to the general upset of the populace, which is in part because little notice was given of the move before it was implemented. Of course, people likely would have flooded fuel stations to stock up had they known too far in advance, which could have caused problems as well.

Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas issues a decree that bans the carrying of firearms or explosives without a permit. Of course, it’s meant to hamper militant groups. Whether or not it will remains to be seen, since many Palestinians own firearms.

Ismail Haniya says that Hamas is ready to talk to Fatah, this coming after a call from Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak for a dialogue between the two.

On the other side of the picture, alQueda wants Hamas to link up with them now. However, considering past history, such a combo is unlikely.

Africa

Looking toward their rising inflation, Zimbabwe orders factories and firms to cut the prices of basic goods and services by half. Outlook on the results of such a move are grim.

Muammar Gaddafi wants their to be a single government running the whole of Africa. Unlikely to say the least.

Asia/Pacific

Australian aborigines are threatening to ban tourists from Ayers Rock over measures peing put into place by the government in the name of curbing child sex abuse in Aboriginal communities.

Europe

Germany bans the makers of Tom Cruise’s latest movie from filming at military sites in the country because he’s a Scientologist. Germany is a country that hasn’t granted Scientology the status of religion.

Rome residents protest the rising level of drunkenness in their city, which is blamed on tourists and young Italians developing a drinking culture.

Americas

Read all about Cold War era tales of CIA spy plots, assassination attempts and drug experiments. Hiring the mob to take out Castro? Yup.

Professional wrestler Chris Benoit was found dead in his home, along with his wide and child in what appears to be a murder-suicide. Hearing this on the news first, most are focusing on the steroids found in his home and what role such abuse might have played in this.

The negatives in regard to the Senate’s new ethanol bill.

General

Mobile phones, classified as offensive weapons? Well, when it comes to ‘cyberbullying’ perhaps.

Want to get an iPhone, but you’re locked into a current contract? Here are some tips for getting out of your current contract. The release is immanent. Personally, I think the iPhone is a remarkable device. The commercials lay out what you can do with it very well. And, as much as I might like to get one, the price and that I am on a carrier other than the one that will service it prevents me. Perhaps in a few years when prices have lowered, they’ll expand to servicing my provider. Or I’ll switch providers.

The joys of the one-liner. How a few words can make movie bliss.

Live Free or Die Hard, taking it back to the old school of action movie goodness by the look. The previews have drawn my interest because it looks like a movie that is entirely focused on giving the goods and not trying in the slightest to be anything more or less than it is. I like movies like that.

A short history of movie theater concessions.

The Blogs look at a pair of rulings from the Supreme Court, one dealing a blow to the McCain-Feingold campaign-finance act and the other curtailing certain types of student speech in the “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” case. There are also spoilers for Harry Potter and Paris out of jail.

Today’s Papers has a look at how the Kurdistan regional government is trying to lure investors to the area, some details on a new bipartisan congressional investigation set to be released today on the state of the Iraqi security forces, a look at how an increasing number of “key Republican senators” have called for a change of strategy in Iraq and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Neurotically Yours: T.V.

Mark Fiore: Innovations in Energy

I haven’t been able to fit into my lucky pants for like 10 years

“Make no mistake, Satan is having a field day with MySpace.com”

Extreme ironing

Not news: Man jailed after not paying back child support. News: Support only due because of tax technicality. Fark: The ex-wife doesn’t want a penny

Today’s “God talks to man in shower and tells him to give away free wooden paddles for spanking kids” story courtesy of New Kensington, PA

9/11 hero facing charges for trip to Cuba documented in Michael Moore’s “Sicko”

Man arrested for pointing his finger at an off-duty sheriff. No, not that finger

Massachusetts inmates say the state violates the laws against cruel and unusual punishment for not allowing sex change operations at tax payer expense

Arizona parents get their panties in a bunch over their little sweet snow angels un-bunching their panties on the web

People who owe overdue fines to the Wethersfield Library can pay them off with pasta, canned foods or items such as toothpaste

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this coach arguing with an umpire

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this rainbow rabbit

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this office hallway vigil