News – Words, not Bullets?

Middle East

The US is willing to attend a regional conference on Iraq that will also host Iran and Syria. Might this be a forum by which we could start more helpful interaction with these two countries? Perhaps, but if you don’t mind I won’t hold my breath. Then again..

The base in which Cheney was staying during a trip to Afghanistan is suicide bombed. He’s not injured, but none others were killed. Cheney was the target, according to the Taliban. And to be honest, I feel nothing toward Cheney either way when it comes to that, save the generic lack of desire to see another human being killed. But if he was, I feel I wouldn’t lose any sleep.

Jordan introduces new laws that tighten up immigration to slow the tide of Iraqi refugees entering their country. I can understand why, considering how many Iraqis are fleeing. One negative aspect of this is that it requires refugees to get a new passport which is only available in Baghdad and seems ripe for the corrupt to solicit bribes in return for them.

Iraq’s cabinet seems to have worked out a potential law that will equitably share oil revenues among the country’s ethnic groups. That’s one obstacle to unity out of the way if it pans out.

Looks like Hamas has convinced Russia to work on lifting the sanctions imposed on them by western governments. Not that one can expect Putin to have all that much sway with all his rebelliousness.

An Israeli unit takes out two Islamic Jihad leaders. Expect said leaders to be replaced quickly and retaliation to be on the horizon.

More and more lives are disrupted and damaged to make way for Israel’s security fence. And one wonders why they’re so disliked. Need a clue?

Israeli troops are withdrawing from Nablus after entering on Sunday. Apparently they were searching for wanted militants and that said operation could continue for several days despite the pullout. Mind, as long as Israel continues to conduct these unilateral raids and other such acts, there will likely be an endless stream of militants for them to hunt, thereby ensuring that they’ll never see peace.

Egypt stops a private transmission of an Iraqi TV station that glorifies the Sunni insurgency. Though it seems they only did so at the request of the US. Were they the ally people think they are, might they have ended it quickly without being asked?

More weapons identified as made in Iran are found in Iraq. Though a US government spokesperson says there is no way to link the weapons to any government.

Asia/Pacific

A powerful wind topples a train in China. That would have to be a really strong wind. It would behoove them to make their trains a bit more aerodynamic from the sides, if this isn’t that uncommon.

A village near Pyeongtaek in South Korea is in the way of US base expansion. The government has offered compensation for those being evicted, which most have taken, but some say it is too little to compensate for the loss of their livelihoods. The above link notes the words of one of them.

On an interesting and amusing note, the South Korean government will be providing bodyguards for students targeted by violent school bullies. Bullying and the effects themselves are not amusing at all, but the means by which the government seeks to go about solving them are. I wonder what effect it will have.

Europe

Two of Picasso’s paintings, worth $50 million euros, are stolen from his granddaughter’s home in Paris. The paintings were of his daughter Maya and his second wife Jacqueline.

60 Jewish survivors of the Holocaust reunite with the Polish families that hid them during WW2. The kind of bond something like that can form is unique and it’s nice to see these folk getting back together every once in a while. Takes a special kind of person to take that much a risk for someone, especially a stranger.

Americas

Michael McConnell says that alQueda is the most serious threat to the US. North Korea and Iran are a concern as well, since they might have the bomb. Which is just as obvious as the fact that Iraq is getting worse, as he notes.

Canada doesn’t renew two controversial anti-terror measures that were enacted after 9/11. The measure allowed suspects to be detained without charge for three days and allowed witness to be compelled to testify.

Jail officers are of the opinion that Jose Padilla has no serious symptoms of mental problems. I’m not sure who to trust on this.. I feel the need for a third party.

Opponents of Al Gore accuse him of hypocrisy for using far too much energy, while preaching energy conservation. Mind, one would have to take a lot of factors into account to decide how valid these accusations are. I don’t have the info to say either way, but Gore’s spokesperson did note two things of interest. The Gore’s work from home, which would make one use more energy overall and they’re supposedly installing energy saving things into their home. Take all that as you will.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest says that chain restaurants in America are encouraging poor eating habits with their freaky combos and creations. Yup. But it seems that’s what the people want.

General

Research suggests that some vitamin supplements could shorten the lifespan rather than lengthening it. Of course, an expert for the supplement industry says this is all wrong. Personally, I’ll just try and eat well.

Detecting lung cancer with a breath test? Seems to be well in the works.

A tooth implant that automatically releases your meds? Neat. Available around 2010 if human trials go well.

Conservapedia, the wiki-based encyclopedia that offers history from the conservative viewpoint. I don’t think I need to say anything more.

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Explainer details why February has 28 days. Blame it on the Romans.

The Blogs look at the attempt in Cheney, James Cameron’s new Jesus documentary and Hillary’s unrecorded charitable contributions.

Today’s Papers has a study that says more than one-third of women are infected with human papillomavirus by the time they are 24 years old, a pre-dawn raid in the Shiite district of Sadr City and arrested 16 leaders of the Mahdi Army, the worldwide plunge in stock markets and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Step 1. Steal fuel from sawmill full of wood and sawdust. Step 2. Check to see how much you’ve gotten with a lighter. Step 3. Flee Inferno. Step 4. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, go directly to jail for arson

Deputy sheriffs rescue man from alligator. Degree of difficulty: man was naked, high on meth, and is now missing one of his buttocks

If you are too drunk to drive, you might want to think about ditching the assault rifle. And the cocaine. Ditto the marijuana. And you definitely don’t want to pretend you’re a police officer

Prankster dupes newspaper into publishing a fake Gucci ad showing him lying half-naked next to a bottle of perfume

20-year-old college student really sorry for sending those bomb threats to the school president. Turns out it was like 3 a.m. in the morning, he was really tired, and he was like totally “out of it” on cold medicine. No problem brah

Man sues ski resort because liability releases “say nothing about the risk posed by a snow-covered retaining wall constructed on a ski run.” Apparently, “don’t ski into walls” isn’t common knowledge

Congratulations Philadelphia McDonald’s employees: Your stores in that city scored the highest complaint ratio system-wide

Thief who’s obviously never read Fark answers the phone he just stole. That’s some jailarity right there

Beer-vangelism: Religion all farkers can embrace

Zoo stages fake animal escape to test readiness with a man dressed up as a cartooish looking ape, proceed to tranquilize him in front of children (with awesome pics)

“Hey Butch, you think this button next to the door unlocks it?” “I dunno, let’s try it. It sure would be easier than breaking in.”

The KOT tries to make The Poopsmith stop smelling like crap

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this frightened little girl

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this cyclist

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop some scientist and his so-scary-it’s-erotic ‘shroom