News – Trust the Transcript?

Americas

According to a revised transcript from one of those secret trials, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed confessed to being the prime mastermind behind 9/11 and beheading Daniel Pearl. He might have, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to believe a transcript from a closed door tribunal run by this government. And even if he spoke those words with his own lips, who is to say how long it took them to force such words out of him? I don’t trust the lack of transparency or the methods of this government on this matter. Not one little bit.

Harry Potter’s final book is going to be going out in mass quantities. I’ll admit, I was skeptical at first, but the story is a good one, in both book and movie format.

In the Bush administration, the chief of staff seems to be the premiere fall guy.

Cuban officials continue to say Castro is fine. It would be nice to know one way or the other.

Middle East

Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich shot five unarmed Iraqi men because he thought them to be a threat. In an interview, he says he’d do the same thing again, though he regrets the deaths. What made them a threat? “However, he said firing at the men was justified because he had identified them as military-age males in a car close to where a roadside bomb had just exploded. He said they tried to run instead of obeying an order not to.” That’s all it takes, eh?

Palestine forms a new unity government and Israel boycotts it(predictable). But what is the US and EU decide that this new format is good enough this time? What will Israel’s government do if they find themselves isolated.

Africa

Sudan liable for the bombing of the USS Cole? Seems amusing that America can bring whatever cases it wants against other nations, whereas other nations can’t do the same against the US. What’s to force Sudan into paying this judgment by an American court? I guess: Mr Hall says it will be up to the lawyers to collect damages from Sudan’s assets that have been frozen in the US. But wouldn’t that be tantamount to stealing in a way?

Rwanda is threatening to pull it’s troops from the AU mission in Darfur if they don’t get more logistical support.

Asia/Pacific

China’s parliament passes the new property law they were mulling over. Another step away from universal socialism, which is hard for some people.

More signs of progress as South Korea’s Red Cross is resuming sending fertilizer to North Korea.

Europe

Police and far right protestors clash in Budapest. It started when nationalist leader Gyorgy Budahazy was arrested and was put down by teargas and water cannons. No reports of serious injuries, though, which is good.

Germany’s federal court rules that using crossed out swastikas for anti-Nazi protests is not illegal.

Seven people selling Tshirts online are charged with supporting terrorism. They were selling Tshirts with militant group initials on them and saying they’d donate some of the money spent to said terrorists orgs.

General

What do we think when Internet technology companies like Yahoo cooperate with repressive regimes like China?

A Japanese study shows that mouth-to-mouth is not required to resuscitate a victim. Only chest compressions.

Apple’s iPhone already has challengers. Personally, I don’t have any interest in the iPhone. Perhaps if I had more use for special features, but overall I just need your average sort of phone.

The Blogs look at Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s confession, Google’s privacy move and the Iranian denouncement of 300

Today’s Papers has the latest in the growing controversy surrounding the eight fired U.S. attorneys, the Senate voting 50-48 against a resolution that would have set a date for U.S. combat troops to begin withdrawing from Iraq, that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation to move the state’s presidential primary to Feb. 5 and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Neurotically Yours: Smokin’ Smokers

Mark Fiore: Gonzos

Today’s “teen puts pic of his pot plants on MySpace” story comes from Sheboygan, Wis. Bonus: Photo was labeled “My Mary Jane thats growin in my closet right now” saving valuable seconds of searching

Chairman of Atlanta’s mass-transit system caught performing oral sex on a man in the world’s busiest airport. Some stories were just made for Fark

Army’s new recruiting pitch: Wouldn’t you rather shoot a real gun?

Some group of uppity tight asses thinks banning alcohol ads during the NCAA tournament will curb binge drinking on college campuses

$124 billion Iraq War emergency funding bill includes money for peanut storage in Georgia, spinach growers in California, menhaden in the Atlantic Ocean and more office space for lawmakers. Mmmm, peanuts

It’s illegal to walk into a Wal-Mart, grab women’s clothing and other merchandise, masturbate on it all and then leave. Also dumb to return and get caught

If you’re going to commit a burglary by jimmying a lock with your state prison ID, make sure you take the damn thing with you when you leave. Don’t be like this guy

Drunken German arrested after sliding into emergency incubator meant for unwanted babies, lighting a smoke and passing out

Pentagon says “civil war” inadequate term for Iraq war and misses the finer nuances. A better term might be “clusterf*ck”<P>
Not news: Lady driving drunk. Interesting: With no front tires. Amusing: Tries to flee police. Taser? Oh yeah

British school changes name of school play from ‘Three Little Pigs’ to ‘Three Little Puppies” to avoid offending followers of the Religion of Peace™

I-Mockery reviews “Great White,” the most infamous “Jaws” rip-off that was yanked from theaters after only two weeks due to blatant similarities. Your shark wants dignity

Court stenographer jailed by own judge for…typing…way…too…slow

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop submitter moments before crashing

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop these Buddhist monks. Difficulty: No Britney Spears

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop these Wrestlemania III fans