News – Treadmill of the Joneses

Americas

The economics behind why African Americas waste money on expensive sneakers and such. While I can, on some level, understand the social status game when it comes to buying certain types of things for status purposes, but to put yourself in financial danger to do so? That boggles me. Personally, I don’t really care about the status game. I consider that a personal strength that many need to ascribe to.

Had to happen. Race issues slip into the democratic campaign, between Obama and Clinton. Clinton camp makes comments, Obama camp makes related comments, the accusations of distortion and the like fly. Amusing.

Ever wonder what the Golden Globes would be like if it went low key? Thanks to the writers strike, now you know. Personally, I like this format better.

Middle East

Looks like Iraq finally has a law to deal with the issue of former Baath party members returning to the civil service and military. A long time coming, but good to finally see progress on that, correcting an initial folly conducted by the US after the invasion.

Bush talks about an end to the occupation of Palestinian lands by Israel. Talk is nice, but unless Bush has the commitment to see change done rather than hoping someone else will do it, his words mean nothing.

Africa

China gets Malawi on its side, convincing them to cut direct ties with the island in favor of direct ties with Beijing. Of course money was involved, though the amusing aspect is Malawi’s statement admits as much.

Independent monitors of Zimbabwe’s March elections say that intimidation is being used to push support for the ruling Zanu-PF party.

Europe

It’s intriguing how long the life of a famous person can be focused upon and prodded at after their death. Case in point, Princess Diana. There is such interest in her love life, even so many years after her death when, arguably, it has ceased to really matter beyond the realm of academia. Personally, I see that as one of the greatest trials of popularity. The need people have to know all about whatever famous face has occupied their thoughts. Personally I care little for the private lives of the famous and more often than not view information about it with idle curiosity before promptly letting it slip to the back of my mind. There are more important things to obsess over, unless history is your occupation.

Asia/Pacific

Lee Myung-bak, president of South Korea, says he’d meet with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il ‘any time’ if it involved easing regional tensions. He’s only recently been elected and will take office on Feb 25. But he’s not a soft type, advocating greater concessions from North Korea for aid from South Korea. Hopefully he knows how to moderate the toughness as too much is worse than none at all.

You don’t see Turkmenistan in the news too often. They claim that Iran’s failure to pay its bills on gas exports, which have complicated repair and maintenance work on a pipeline to the country, are why Iran’s been cut off for 12 days. Of course, the price of the natural gas is likely to be the real area of contention on both the non-paying and lack of service from either side.

General

Hearing about a gas cloud that could, in 20-40 million years, cause serious fireworks in our galaxy is an odd thing. They don’t’ explicitly say it could have dire repercussions for the Earth at that time, but assuming it would, it remains hard to feel a real sense of concern considering the extreme length of time between then and now. Will we still exist that far into the future? Or will we be here, perhaps with a vast space civilization of some sort, with the information brought to light now lost in history, right up until the impending galactic disaster becomes a more clear and present threat(thus mirroring the kneejerk disaster preparation of the present day)? Yes, I think of things like that from time to time.

A deep burrowing virus is making problems for those with online bank account info. It hints that it uses insecurities in Internet Explorer to attack. Personally I use Firefox with NoScript on all computers that I have control over. I hold no illusions that Firefox is impregnable, but I feel it is more secure than Explorer.

Explainer eyes the link between organized crime and hauling garbage.

The Blogs look at Fred Thompson’s good showing in the latest GOP debate and the debate in general.

Today’s Papers has Bush’s shift in using ‘justice’ rather than ‘freedom’ and ‘democracy’ in his Middle East speeches, a jump in FBI-investigated mortgage scams, a ‘Sunni’ Awakening’ pointed out as why violence has decreased in Iraq and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Neurotically Yours: Cereal Box Prize

True, it’s not easy to enjoy your breakfast at Waffle House with a grenade in your pocket, but setting it on the table tends to alarm people

Britney to marry her paparazzo boyfriend in Scientology ceremony; “Having a Scientology wedding is her way of giving her family a one-finger salute”

History professor at Genghis Khan University claims Mongolians discovered America. Also, there’s a Genghis Khan University

If you’re dumb enough to pass out around guys that will draw a penis on your face with a marker, don’t make it worse by threatening them with your tiny pocketknife blade. Because if the police get involved, you’ll make the news

Bank robber disguises himself with drywall compound. Must’ve been plastered to try this

If you’ve been selected Secret Santa for a Muslim colleague, it probably isn’t a great idea to give him bacon and wine. Especially if you’re both police officers

Bank staff foil armed robberywith the cunning ruse of getting up and walking to another room

Airport security finds 34 marijuana joints in man’s underwear when cop who “frisked him during a routine body check felt something on his buttocks”

Britain will have to build two million new homes, or 263 every day for almost 20 years, to cope with immigrants

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this guy in front of the 150-inch TV

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop these soccer players

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop these inline skaters