News – Unexpected Developments

North America

Looks like Frist is breaking with the President, throwing his support behind a bill to expand research on stem cells derived from human embryos.

Discovery’s astronauts will be inspecting the shuttle’s wing again to make certain it’s not damaged. I’d be just as paranoid about it. No harm in a double, then triple check.

Roberts assures democrats he won’t be an activist judge. I suppose we might get the chance to see if he gets confirmed.

The State Department reverses, admitting that John Bolton gave Congress inaccurate information about an investigation he was involved in. Previously they’d insisted nominee John Bolton’s “answer was truthful” when he said he had not been questioned or provided information to jury or government investigations in the past five years.

Results of the Roberts nickname contest and a round up of the latest information on him.

Middle East

Iraqi Kurds want at least partial control over Iraq’s northern oil fields. “We call for allowing the provinces to participate in managing the oil sector because the strict central system of managing it has proved its failure,” Salih, who is a leading Kurdish politician says.

How we can leave Iraq by 2007.

Africa

Rwanda’s government decides to free 36,000 inmates, the majority of whom have confessed to taking part in the country’s 1994 genocide. It was done in a bid to unclog the tiny central African country’s jails which are overflowing with more than 80,000 inmates. Many of the released were sick, elderly and people who were minors when first jailed and will likely face some manner of traditional justice in their home communities.

Europe

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair criticizes the arrest of a suspected suicide bomber made by UK detectives, using a stun gun. Because they could have set off a bomb on the man by using tasers. Good point.

General

The heat index explained as well as the deadliness of power lines.

Today’s Papers notes the administration’s intel czar has imposed regulations meant to ensure that top intel reports are, basically, not based on gossip(Good!), two new government reports suggesting reconstruction in Iraq is not going swimmingly, an amendment reversing the U.S.’s restrictions on exporting weapons-grade uranium stuffed into the the energy bill and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Neurotically Yours: Foamy Fan Mail 8

Mark Fiore: Homeland Stupidity

WWE in a bind because all of their top script writers have left. And it’s so difficult to find writers who can convey the many subtle emotions of a pro wrestler

Have you ever wondered what would happen if one of those anti-robbery dye packs exploded at some random time? Wonder no longer

Arsonist takes less than 12 hours to break her bail conditions by getting drunk and pouring paint stripper on cars

Halloween parade cancelled after reverend enters anti-abortion float, “Dr. Butcher’s Chop Shop of Choice Cuts”

Bad-writing trophy won by man who compared fondling woman’s breasts to repairing carburetors

Scarlett Johanssen nearly crashed her car after seeing her gigantic breasts on a billboard. “It’s very strange to see my cleavage the size of a brontosaurus”

British subway posts sign warning travellers not to run on concourses and platforms if you “look a bit foreign”

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop these capoeira enthusiasts

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Offbrand clichés

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Warfare in the animal kingdom