News – What about the Kurds?

Middle East

So, if we leave Iraq, what happens to Kurdistan? For the most part, Kurdistan is what the whole of Iraq should look like. It’s much more stable, self sufficient and peaceful than the rest of the country, as far as I’ve seen.

In Ma’asara, Palestinians and allied Israeli activists protest the wall peacefully.

So, we have a new ceasfire agreement offered up by the Palestinians. Supposedly Hamas agrees to it as well and it extends to all Palestinian territories, including the West Bank. That alone makes it unlikely that Israel will accept.

The Six Days War happened about 40 years ago. Looking back, it wasn’t too different from today since all sides screwed the pooch on having the situation turn out better than it did.

Africa

Nigeria sues Pfizer, alleging they carried out improper trials for an anti-meningitis drug. Pfizer says that the tests were conducted within the bounds of Nigerian and international law.

Ethiopian PM, Meles Zenawi, makes a surprise visit to Somalia for a little diplomacy and promises he’ll withdraw his troops once things have calmed down.

Asia/Pacific

China tightens up their food safety after the recent string of health scares. Personally, I don’t think it will be a problem for them in the long run. They sell cut rate products and, no matter the dangers, business will tend to gravitate toward those low price products to try and undercut the competition.

So what is it with the coups as of late? One that was planned for Laos was just recently foiled in the US.

Speaking of which, Thailand has just had the ban on political party activities lifted by the interim military government. So far so good for them. It would be nice to see the coup there herald a steady return to a freer government. But it isn’t done yet.

Europe

In a few short years Bush and company have flubbed the opportunity to foster a pro-American alliance in Europe.

Some guy tries to jump into the Popemobile as it drives by. No doubt he’ll be feeling the beat down he got for a while.

A incident between Spain and the US could develop over some old coins found in the Atlantic by Odyssey Marine Exploration. Spain’s government plans to sieze the ships should they enter Spanish waters. However the coins have already been flown back to the US.

Spanish separatist group Eta abandons a casefire with Spain, citing that the “minimum conditions for continuing a process of negotiations do not exist”. Considering the bomb attack last year and the ending of peace talks, I can’t say I’m surprised.

Americas

Military judges throw out charges against Canadian Omar Khadr and Yemeni Salim Ahmed Hamdan because military authorities failed to designate the two men as ‘unlawful enemy combatants’. They apparently forgot the unlawful part long ago. Cue the Benny Hill music, it seems right for this level of folly.

The republican candidates face off on immigration. They also touched on the topic of Iran, with the most damning(in my opinion) comment coming from California congressman Duncan Hunter who made mention of being prepared to authorize a nuclear strike on Iran. Honestly, if anyone lets the situation come to that, they’ve already failed.

Grading the 6/3 democratic debate. I find these vids to be very interesting. Sometimes it’s hard to tell just how the people feel with how the lines move.

Libby gets 30 months in the slam. But he won’t be going in just yet, as he has appeal hearings to see to.

A new Bush Speech. No doubt how you look at it depends on how much you like or don’t like Bush.

General

Exercising after you eat can help promote weight loss. Not just because of the exercise itself, but because it can help boost hormones that suppress appetite.

Using lasers to create green energy? I’m on board for that, though nuclear fusion has been talked about a lot, with little to show for it.

Why Some criminals leave their guns at the scene of the crime.

The Blogs look at Rep. William Jefferson’s indictment, Libby’s jail time and columnist Eric Alterman’s bizarre arrest.

Today’s Papers has an article that points out the weaknesses of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a first person column from Megan Stack, previously the LA Times’ Cairo bureau chief, who made many trips to Saudi Arabia and has much to say on the separation between men and women there, more infringements on freedom from our ally Pakistan and more in the one page news.

Amusements

School district wants to ban book about growing up in Cuba as “offensive”….merely because it doesn’t criticize Castro or the government. Guess which state this is in

Man caught by Google maps pissing on the side of the road

When making videos for nationwide distribution to elementary schools, remember to remove the hard-core porn at the end of the tape

MSNBC’s Scarborough stirs pot by asking if Senator Fred Thompson’s wife “works the pole”

Fred Phelps’ daughter arrested during protest outside of soldier’s funeral for giving a 10-year-old an American flag to defile

If you need to get your car towed, you should probably remove the photos of naked wrestling 12 year olds from the inside first

Armored truck driver fakes SECOND heist in two months. Foiled by random passerby. Jailarity? Oh, yes

11-year old boy arrested for playing with rubber band gun

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this cradled pooch

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this stripey horsey

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop theme: Lesser of two evils