News – What Hit the Pentagon?

General

The Blogs look at the released footage regarding the plane that struck the Pentagon(which some doubt the existence of) and Adam Nagourney’s strategy for the Democrats. On the video, which I perused(You only need to click in two or three times to get to the page that has it), you don’t really see much, since the cameras aren’t constant stream, but snapshot type cameras. Taking an image every second or so. Thus the fast moving projectile is only barely visible on both and only the front tip is. Which is a bit slender, more the shape of a missile rather than the thick, blunt nose of a plane. Of course, you can’t see very much so it is hard to tell. It’s a bit like a photo of Bigfoot or a UFO. Open to interpretation.

Today’s Papers has the Army giving GIs at checkpoints in Iraq small lasers that will briefly blind, an estimated $2 billion deal to use all sorts of whiz-bang technology to shore up the border currently up for bids, the White House is considering offering North Korea a grand bargain including a possible peace treaty and more in the one page news.

Middle East

Iraqi negotiators say they’re close to a deal on the unity government. Hopefully so, this has been far too long in coming.

Hamas puts thousands of armed men on the streets of Gaza, said to be a move to bring order amid growing chaos. It’s odd, because while the situation keeps changing there, it changes such that nothing ever evens out, keeping the region in a state of limbo. As in, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Europe

Chilly relations between the US and Russia are starting to effect dealings between the two.

Explainer details why Russian verdicts take so long to read.

North America

The weak kneed House Ethics Panel could finally show it has some brass left, planning to investigate several lawmakers in connection with a series of scandals. Hopefully there will be a House cleaning.

Supposedly the NSA is giving the Senate Select Intelligence Committee a closer look at their recent secret spying programs. However, given the relative ease by which the administration withholds information, one always wonders.

James Tobin is one of three republican campaign operatives convinced in a phone-jamming scheme meant to keep New Hampshire Democrats from voting in a 2002 election. He’ll be serving 10 months in prison, though I think such traitorous fraud is deserving of a little more time in the corner. After all, subversion of our democracy should be a high crime, shouldn’t it? Some say there is possible connection to the White House in this, but I will wait to see what develops on that front.

The rise in people traveling on this memorial day is predicted to be low. This attributed to gas prices.

Amusements

Industrial odors that cause mass vomiting and a bunch of evacuations are usually funny. This is one of those times

All Dexter McWhite wanted when he got out of jail was to take his grandkids to McDonald’s. But he lives in Florida and this story is on Fark, so here’s the rest of the story

Police officer wrecks car while trying to avoid speed camera

Elon University Baseball team outed by Badjocks.com for hazing. Coach claims wearing women’s lingerie increases batting average (with hilarious pics)

Drunken bar-room brawl errupts between two former lovers — guess which one of these guys is a county council member

Alabama teacher who wasn’t fired for showing students a video calling President Bush an asshole 20 times is fired after school officials find porn on his computer

Store selling naps at Mall of America put to sleep

Catholics gleefully compile quotes from reviewers on “The Da Vinci Code,” the “Ishtar” of pseudo-religious thrillers

Today’s frivolous lawsuit: Woman injured by a “flying torpedo” — otherwise known as a beach umbrella — awarded $200k

Company tries to trademark scent of fresh-baked pizza. Competitors claim it’s a scheme to make more dough

Bill Clinton to write new book about presidency. Suggested title of “Sex Between The Bushes” likely rejected

Doctor convicted of gunning down seagull that crapped in his wife’s salad

Woman cited for “hunting without a permit” because she shot a gator that was attacking her dog

Man denied entrance to the police force because his scarf was “a bit too gay”

“Boob tag” accusation triggers investigation. Boob tag?

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this average Joe and his boxers

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this one-of-a-kind underpass

Fark Photoshop Challenge: <A HREF="http://forums.fark.com/cgi/fark/comments.pl?IDLink=2057791″>Photoshop a better toy that you and your dog can play with