News – What Bush is Good For?

Bush doe something that I can consider good.

Will wonders never cease?

US

Bush signed the Do-Not-Call list into law Monday. This overrules the court that said the FTC doesn’t have the authority, but doesn’t yet overcome the question of if the list is constitutional. Considering it in that light, the Bush signature isn’t so bad. If he was overriding the free speech thing, I’d think it a bad precedent to set.

Bush and company aren’t allowing independent counsel to be appointed over the CIA leak issue. I don’t know about you, but I still don’t trust Ashcroft on this, yet it is his boys who will be investigating this. For a deep look into if this will ripen into a full on scandal and other information, follow this link.

Wesley Clark: Supporter of NASA and believer in faster than light travel? At the very least, he seems quite bullish on technology. Not a bad thing.

US military intelligence has concluded that almost all WMD claims by Iraqi defectors were either false or useless. Or so says a leaked DIA document.

Hugh Shelton brings up character issues with Wesley Clark. Does he have the characer to be president?

A growing rift between the military and the GOP is suggested. Just a little circumstantial evidence of cracks in the link between them. Might there be something in this?

Temp jobs have been a good indicator of recovery and a precursor to more full time employment. But this time around the numbers aren’t matching past recessions. We need more temp jobs.

If no airline volunteers date for a 180-day testing period of the Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System (CAPPS II) later this year, Transportation Security Administration Chief Administrator James Loy will issue a security directive mandating the airlines provide the information.

Iraq

Egypt will not send troops to Iraq.

No one really know how long it’ll take to get Iraq on its own feet. I think people are just throwing numbers at us try to quiet the dissenters.

Yet another resolution is slated to hit the UN in a few days. One in which the Bush Administration might actually show a plan. Will it be enough to silence critics? Time shall tell.

Israel/Palestine

Three Jewish settlers have been sentenced to 12-15 years in prison for a plot to blow up a Palestinian girls school. Good.

The Israeli Army has demolished another home, shared by Mahmoud Hamdan and his mother. Hamdan killed a father and his 7 month old child in a Jewish settlement on Rosh Hashanah. He was subsequently killed by settlement security forces.

Marwan Barghouti, the highest ranking Palestinian on trial in Israel for terrorism, had some pretty brash things to say during his trial. Some typical., some interesting.

Iran

Iran is talking about limited inspections again, while the IAEA chief says he needs full access. All of this flip flop is not looking good for Iran.

Afghanistan

A US soldier died of wounds in the continuing violence. Fourth this month.

UK

The decision to skip a vote on Iraq in a government conference in the UK has anti-war folk and unions up in arms.

Concerns about being sent to Iraq are also motivating UKs reservists to step back.

General

Super Slurper: A starch-based polymer with a powerful thirst. Useful in diapers and oil filters. Saver of waterlogged books. A teaspon of it can suck upa gallon of water? Damn.

Lara Tabac is a medical anthropologist for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. She talks about her current project and how it feels working amongst those used to numbers where as she is used to words.

Day to Day: The CIA Identity leak, Independent Counsel and the Tax Cuts are give spots today.

International Papers notes Frace’s problems in Africa.

Today’s Papers has New Bridge Strategies, a new company in Iraq, again with Administration ties. Also a note of Pentagon comptrollers trying to hide money in the books and the unlikely event of drafting an Iraqi constitution in 6 months. And more. Always more.

A first look at Return of The King! This is a link to a MOV file. I’m so ready for this movie. I want it now! 😉

Amusements

BlueBaby – A strange little flash animation. Well, it is long, not that small. 😉

Must be used to meeting a lot of them while driving.. recklessly

Looks more like an F student driver to me

Hopefully they were!