News – Violence and Success

Middle East

Violence breaks out at Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque after Palestinian protestors and Israeli police clash. The protestors are against new construction at the compound holding the mosque, which involves adding a walkway up to the compound. Palestinians think that the construction will damage the site, while Israeli authorities say nothing of the sort will occur.

I pretty much assumed violence would happen when I saw a note of the construction earlier.

On a positive note, looks like Hamas and Fatah might have an agreement on a unity government. The US and Israel are restrained in their reactions. Understandable, but I can things go well so we can focus on actual peace works.

Israeli and Lebaneses troops clash on the UN-demarcated boundary, Lebanese troops opening fire on Israeli bulldozers that, they say, cross said boundary. Israeli forces were said to have been looking for explosives on their side of the boundary when the shooting started.

An Iraqi minister loyal to Moqtada al-Sadr is arrested. Nice and all, but a bit disconcerting that some of those being arrested are amongst Iraq’s government.

See your money scattered to the winds in Iraq.

Three US reserve army officers and two civilians are charged with using millions in Iraq reconstruction cash for personal gain.

Africa

Nigeria’s main opposition parties reject the government’s list of politicians accused of corruption. They call it a plot to sabotage their chances in the April elections and plan to field candidates on the list regardless.

Asia/Pacific

China is finally cracking down on those who have drug licenses in a bid to cut off the recent issues with fake drugs that have led to many deaths.

Australian Olympians are forbidden to blog during the games, over concerns that the Beijing Olympic village could come to resemble “a reality TV show”. Ok.. whatever.

Europe

Italy may see fit to give rights to unwed couples, despite opposition by the Vatican. The rights include greater health and social welfare benefits.

Americas

Al Gore and Richard Branson set up a contest with millions for whoever can figure out the best way to remove loads of carbon dioxide from the air.

The Pentagon is set to release a report on the use or misuse of intelligence in the run up to the Iraq war. I wouldn’t be surprised if the weekend news shows were jumping all over that.

New York wants to make it illegal to use your MP3 player or Blackberry while crossing the street. I suppose some people aren’t paying attention. Unfortunate that those who do may have to pay for the mistakes of those that didn’t.

General George Casey is approved as the Army’s next chief of staff.

The Obama Messiah Watch Part Three.

General

The Svalbard International Seed Vault is being constructed on a remote island near the North Pole. The aim of this vault is to store samples of the world’s agriculture, safeguarding it from disasters natural and man made. You can thank the Norwegian government for this. I think it’s a perfect idea. They even took the possibility of seas rising into account, to make sure it would be above water after such a possible event. Very well thought out.

The Blogs look at Nancy Pelosi requesting a larger plane than her predecessor’s, Alli the half-dose version of the weight-loss pill Xenical, and the Bausch and Lomb-commissioned study on the “beer-goggles” effect

Today’s Papers has the death of Anna Nicole Smith, that 40 out of 47 economists surveyed by the WSJ think the government should encourage the development of alternative fuels, the prosecution resting in the Scooter Libby trial and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Neurotically Yours: V-Day

Mark Fiore: Thanks for Toughin’

Thanks to no-tolerance fighting policies, getting beat up at school can now get the victim suspended as well

College administrators go all jihad on students after they post a video on YouTube, of course, of them speaking in crude Middle Eastern accents as they take a rubber duck hostage

Amazon’s list of bad Valentine’s Day gift ideas. Includes such gems as “All About Scabs,” “Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies,” “Cleavage Cupcakes Gel Bra Inserts” and Ben Franklin’s “Fart Proudly”

“It can’t actually hurt me, but the important thing is that I felt threatened, which means someone owes me a bunch of money.”

Man gets drunk, starts driving while naked, flees cops, drives over mailboxes, gives his pursuers the finger, crashes into median, spins, crashes into wall, and is tasered. Do we even need to tell you the state?

Ten-year-old charged with felony over fire alarm he didn’t pull

Breast Cancer Society refuses to take donation from members of breast-baring society

California officals reassure residents that pipe bombs found in the aqueduct that is their water supply were not planted by terrorists, but by fishermen

One way of not getting arrested for hit-and-run is setting yourself on fire

If you really must sell that anti-tank weapon, the internet is probably not the smartest way to do it

Gideons put in jail for being on a public sidewalk while handing out Bibles

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this apple-based rodent

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this science project

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Scientists say we’re to blame for global warming. Pass the buck and photoshop some other reasons why things are getting hotter