News – So Different, Yet Still Similar

Middle East

Israel kills five Palestinians in a post pullout raid. I suppose this answers on of my latest questions. No, Israel won’t leave Gaza to the Palestinians, even after this pullout. So it seems little as changed on that front, except for the number of nearby Israeli targets. Israel should be seeking to coordinate with Palestine’s government now, rather than simply raiding into their territory with impunity. If only to enhance the feel of Palestinians having their own territory, rather than fueling feelings of occupation and persecution.

If the US hopes Israel will get back on the roadmap, I think they’re going to be disappointed.

Moqtada al-Sadr’s Mehdi Army and rival Shi’ite groups are making a problem of themselves again, it seems, using violence to show their opposition to the US backed Iraqi constitution.

Bush states the obvious, terrorists are converged on Iraq. This coming with the news that 1,500 more troops will be in Iraq for a short time to add security.

A senior US military official opines that once things get too hot for the terrorists in Iraq, they’ll retreat to Africa. That leads one to question when things might get too hot for them. US offensive after offensive ends with them still entrenched and still deadly effective.

South/Central America

Four Mexican politicians slum it to raise awareness of poverty. That’s a damn good idea. We should pack every senator and house rep into a big, dirty tenement for a week and see what they think about poverty. Best idea I’ve heard in years.

Hugo Chavez hits back after Robinson’s remark with a taunt of cheap oil for we poor Americans.

North America

Bolton sends a letter to the UN urging an acceleration of debate on proposals on development, security and human rights. That would be 500 amendments that the US has made to a draft document diplomats have been negotiating for six months. They’re to be voted on in less than a month. Obviously the panic some are showing, that there might not be an agreement on it now, are not unfounded. It’s never a good idea to drop a massive number of changes on people close to the deadline of an agreement. Among the amendments are deadlines to reduce extreme poverty, AIDS and raise education levels around the world as well as opposition to further action on climate change, new pledges for foreign aid, and call for nuclear powers to accelerate the reduction of their arsenals.

Interest groups line up for and against Roberts. I say ignore them all, interest groups are never out for anything but there own interests.

Pat Roberts apologizes for his avocation of assassinating a world leader. “Is it right to call for assassination? No, and I apologize for that statement. I spoke in frustration that we should accommodate the man who thinks the U.S. is out to kill him.” He speaks a little too much from frustration then, publicly mind you, not speaking much of his personal character. He should be the last one advocating terrorism.

What happens to life after the bench for some retired judges? Explainer notes one who got a private job.

Ugly perimeter security won’t keep us safe. In fact, it could do the opposite. There are a few buildings I live near that I didn’t k now were targets until those concrete barriers sprouted up. Now I know they’re targets.

General

A movement portrays shoplifting as a statement against consumer culture. It would be a destructive and counterproductive one at best.

Aspirin might prevent cancer? Interesting.

Today’s Papers has sexual assaults against children fallen by 40% in the last decade, Israel looking to annex more of the West Bank despite US warnings against such a course, the US planning to draw down forces in Iraq and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Neurotically Yours: Drugs in Your Head

Mark Fiore: Victory Is

Mark Fiore: Supernatural Selection

Hawaii caps price of gas at $2.86 per gallon. Hilarity to ensue next when gas suppliers inexplicably refuse to sell gas to Hawaii for less than it costs them to buy it from refineries

Man narrowly avoids winning Darwin Award after successfully dislodging a round stuck in his gun using a screwdriver. Naturally, man did this while the gun was pointing at him

Hard to say who is dumber: The helicopter pilot who got out of the helicopter while it was still running, or the passenger who managed to flip it while getting out

Man charged with bulldozing under the influence

Thailand’s prime minister searching for which of his cabinet members had penis-enlargement surgery. Suspicion is on one who keeps smiling like Bob

Ninja Invades Williamstown home. “The ninja got away with the victim’s wallet and a change jar”

Dutch producer to make reality TV show where women try to find a sperm donor. Even more shocking is the absence of the phrase “Fox Television” in the article

<A HREF="http://www.theindychannel.com/news/4889390/detail.html”>Indiana church tests out new meth-flavored communion wafers

New Zealand school dispenses books to parents on how to propertly smack their kids

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Hoax a Big Foot sighting

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop a card for the game “Magic: The Farkening”

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Unlikely daycare centers