News – We’re Living on the Edge

Middle East

And as the mess continues, Israel continues to hit anything that moves(Or seems to), after their little ‘get out’ ultimatum. In their leaflet campaign, the Israelis have warned repeatedly they would consider minivans, trucks and motorcyles as targets. “The minivans are a target for Israel because they can take Katyusha rockets for Hizbullah, so they do not contemplate too long,” the UN official said. “They just shoot it.” How much of their ‘hitting of Hiz’ is actually them blowing up people trying to escape, I wonder. After all, if all you have to get yourself out of danger is a white minivan, what are you to do? Run the gauntlet I suppose. But that’s not all: Red Cross ambulances were no safer; a spokesman said an ambulance had narrowly escaped a missile near the village of el-Qlaile… Sure, Israel has a right to defend itself, but they don’t have a right to shoot indiscriminately like this. I have to agree with some opinions, this is almost criminal.

The latest ‘scandal’ is the sudden desire to rush munitions to Israel by the US. Regardless of the real intent behind the rush of munitions, it should be obvious to even the dullest mind that such an act would be seen by many as suspect. Another politically stupid move.

Seems some Lebanese are starting to loose patience with Hizbollah. This is good, but is it happening at a wide enough rate to be significant?

The Saudi’s think that Bush should seek a ceasefire in the Lebanon conflict. One wonders if that’s what they really want, considering the spike in gas prices. Though, considering Bush has ruled that out, it’s pretty safe to suggest it without it actually happening.

Will Condi’s little diplomacy trip do anything? As much as I like to hope, my confidence in the current administration is all but non-existent on this issue. It died a slow, slow death over the last few years of fiasco and impotence.

The Syrian people are showing a good side, opening their homes to refugees from Lebanon. There are medical teams at the border for first aid and volunteers handing out drinks to the passing cars.

Unlike some suggest, the conflict in Lebanon isn’t World War 3. Some people would have to screw up royally for it to blow up to that level.

A look into Beirut.

Thousands of clips from Iraq are on YouTube. I think I’ll take a look at them some time today, see what sort of snippets are out there.

Not sure who is friendly with who in the Middle East? Here’s an interactive buddy list to help you keep score.

Asia

One week after the tsunami that hit Indonesia, kids are headed back to school. Not bad as far as recovery times go. Sad that they have to teach their kids the ways to recognize a coming tsunami, but better prepared than sorry.

North America

Bolton has had his trial run under presidential appointment. Now Bush has to get him approved by the Senate.

General

Will Microsoft’s attempt to kill the iPod go flop? Sounds like it might to me.

The Blogs look at Bush’s address to the NAACP and the weather.

Explainer details how to aim a rocket and the difference between rockets and missiles.

Today’s Papers has the ABA commenting that Bush’s high use of signing statements is a “threat to the Constitution and to the rule of law”(Since through them he can ignore certain parts of the laws passed), changes in the way the Department of Homeland Security will conduct disaster relief, news from Somalia where Ethiopian troops have invaded to prop up a powerless secular government against the Islamists who took Mogadishu last month and more in the one page news.

Amusements

The United States’ insistence that students assume huge debts to pay for their college education is unusual enough that the Chinese government included it in its report of American human rights violations

Dumb: Having an office pet. Stupid: Bitten by pet while you drunkenly attempt to feed it. Fark.com: Office pet is an alligator

Man calls 911 to claim the bank is robbing him. Police show up and are not amused at what he did there

PETA proves they have their heart at the right place by criticizing the US government for animals being abandoned in Lebanon under Israeli stikes and petition to get them evacuated

This week’s “25 illegal immigrants arrested at work” story brought to you by the United States Air Force

Of course I have a PhD, your honor, I just don’t remember from where or in what, says accused child molester

Bad enough that you’re caught shoplifting from K-Mart, but if your day ends with deputies having to haul your sorry ass out of the swamp you got stuck in trying to run away, you may want to reflect on your life choices

Farkers looking for a supernatural roommate can now buy the Florida house haunted by a cranky woman who likes to make pennies vanish (with video)

Today’s ‘Good luck with that’ headline: “Utah Struggles to Combat Its Dull Image”

<A HREF="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=397228&in_page_id=1770″>Top Church of England bishop declares flying “a sin,” noting if God had meant us to take holidays in foreign countries, he would have squeezed all the countries together and made sure everyone spoke English

Man robs fudge shop wearing women’s underwear as a mask

The Sun hands out free newspapers to Brits fleeing Lebanon: “It has been a real morale boost to see The Sun”

Police rearrest a man after he stole an officer’s bicycle on his way out from the police station

ACLU sues on behalf of the Westboro Baptist Cult so they can continue to protest funerals. Free Speech trumps Good Taste

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop a farker’s co-worker onstage in a one-man play

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this red-costumed character

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Janet Jackson asking fans to design new album cover. Photoshop some alternatives. (Difficulty: No Super Bowl “malfunctions”)