News – Risky Rebuilding

North America

The Natural Resources Defense Council wants the government to set up spore testing sites to gauge the danger of mold in the wake of the flooding in New Orleans. Not a bad idea, since there could be a considerable risk to the health of those rebuilding.

Democrats accuse oil company execs of lying to Congress about participation in Cheney’s energy taskforce and want them investigated. Considering the new evidence that they’ve lied, I’d say a closer look is due.

Cheney breaks out attacks on those attacking the administration over Iraq. He gets pretty hot on the topic, but all that hot air won’t change things much. It only stirs the pot and will raise the heat for everyone. The Bush administration acts high and mighty on the high ground, but they’re as low as every other politician. It all comes down to mud slinging.

Personally, I don’t think the administration outright lied, but I do think they placed questionable spin and emphasis on evidence to meet their aims. Their furor can be seen in how many times they’ve leapt on things that would help vindicate them, only to find out they didn’t look close enough to see that they wouldn’t help. Whether or not that’s indictable to you, or simply business as usual is the question, since spin is a fact of life in politics and one of the reasons it is so damn inefficient.

BMG calls it quits with Sony’s latest in CD copy protection, after getting mauled by customers. Let this be a lesson, don’t have your copy protection scheme involve automatic install of software that opens up backdoors in people’s machines.

A history on CIA interrogation techniques.

Explainer looks at Army field manuals.

Middle East

Iraq’s police force is being investigated now, with allegations that Shia militants have insinuated themselves into it and are targeting Sunnis. Testimony from the captives.

Philip Bloom, who ran three companies involved in Iraq reconstruction, has been charged with paying bribes and kickbacks to U.S. occupation authorities and their spouses.

All sides agree to holding early elections in Israel. The new date, February of next year.

One wonders if the administration has much of a plan beyond their general framework. The core in Iraq seems to be entirely unguided.

Asia

Of course, China brushes off Bush’s poke on freedom. Unless China thinks Bush will do something to them, they have no impetus to do anything we suggest. We’re not that tight with them.

Europe

The trouble in France has quieted for now. Hopefully the French government won’t simply turn away from the obvious unrest that festers below the surface. Don’t mistake, it isn’t gone. It never just goes away.

Half of the world’s Anglican Bishops demand action from Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams over “unrepented sexual immorality” in the church. Meaning, the ordination of gay American bishop Gene Robinson and the blessing of same-sex marriages in Canada.

General

A look at the new Harry Potter movie. I used to be skeptical of the whole thing, but after being convinced to read the books, after having watched the first three films, I have to admit the J.K. has crafted a very interesting, very engaging world and story about the main character of this boy. I’m not going to sleep outside the bookstore for a day to get the next book, but I do plan to finish the series in time.

Thanksgiving is coming, time to start looking for the perfect carving set for your turkey.

The Blogs consider Woodward’s latest disclosures, the UN’s hands off policy on regulating the Internet and Bush’s China trip.

Today’s Papers has government docs that show Justice Department lawyers objected to a Georgia voter-identification law even concluding it would result in discrimination against blacks, extreme turnover in Iraq reconstruction officials, 14 of 16 Patriot Act provisions to be made permanent(the other two extended for 7 years) and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Neurotically Yours: Bra Bashing

Mark Fiore: Hide and Go Secret

Man invents plan to rob neighborhood drug dealers. What could possibly go wrong?

Oprah says she owes her nationwide success to a date she had two decades ago with Roger Ebert

Police charge naked 18-year-old woman with assault and more. Just another night for Decatur

Man robs casino and makes clean getaway on a bicycle, only to be inadvertently struck minutes later by cop car responding to the crime

Netflix settlement pays lawyers $2.5 million while customers get a “free one-month trial” of more-expensive service

Secret government UFO files reveal nothing about UFOs

West Virginia bans sale of high-proof grain alcohol, because by gum that’ll stop people from getting plastered

Dinner guests honoring Mike Tyson turn his black-tie affair intoa black-eye affair

Milwaukee man arrested after phoning a bomb threat to a hotel because they had him arrested for not paying his bill 27 years ago

Mother makes deliquent daughter stand on street corner with “my parents are preparing me for my future. Will work for food.”

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Make something new from this electronics kit

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: If Fark photoshoppers worked for a tabloid…

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop what it would be like if Anne Rice and Condi Rice switched jobs