News – Breakthrough? Dunno.

Middle East

Hamas accepts the existence of Israel, but refuses to officially recognize it until the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza. This from Khaled Meshal, the leader of Hamas in Damascus. Could this be a lead in to finally getting this mess resolved?

US forces raid what Iran says was a consulate of theirs in Iraq, detaining six who might be Iranians. For now, the US military says the building had no diplomatic status. However, Iraq’s foreign minister says those men were there on permission from the Iraqi government.

One big question in Iraq is, can we reign in Sadr’s militia without a Shia backlash.

Israel gets its first Arab cabinet member, giving the right-wingers something new to gnash their teeth about. Some accuse Amir Peretz, head of the Labor party, of appointing Raleb Majadele to ensure Arab members of the party support him in a forthcoming leadership election.

The reactions from Arabs in several parts of the world on Saddam’s execution. These sort of articles are one of the things I love about British new services. You rarely ever see this sort of thing on CNN or Reuters.

Is the back up plan for the US in Iraq to blame it all on Iran? This is another possibility that I wouldn’t be surprised to see crop up, regardless of Iran having a major hand or not in Iraq’s struggles.

Africa

The return of Warlord’s to Mogadishu sparked a brief firefight in the Somali capital, but peace has been restored for now, with an aim to disband local militias and have their members sign up for a national army.

Sudan committed to allowing a mixed UN/AU force in Darfur? Nice to hear, but it smells fishy to me.

Rwanda is seeking the arrest of Agathe Habyarimana, former first lady and wife of former President Juvenal Habyarimana, charging that she was one of the main plotters in the genocide. She says she and her relatives have been scapegoats for the genocide.

Asia/Pacific

China is running out of girls and their one child policy holds a good deal of the blame for that, coupled with a greater desire for boys than girls.

Europe

Experts say the escape plans for the nearby people, should Mount Vesuvius decide to blow its top, are insufficient and many are in danger. Research has shown that 4,000 years ago the volcano erupted with such force that huge areas of land around it were uninhabitable for decades. Of course, since it’s politically untenable to talk about a disaster of that proportion, the government is likely to do nothing about the possibility. Thus human nature leads us to a new potential folly. So many people live almost on top of the volcano, that it seems a certainty that, should it erupt, the death toll will be considerable.

The US embassy in Athens is hit with a rocket fired from the street. Of all the places you might expect such an attack, Athens wasn’t even on the list. The authorities believe it to be the work of a domestic group.

Americas

Congressional sorts from both sides of the line are speaking discouraging words on Bush’s plan for a new troop surge in Iraq. The public is also not so pleased with the thought of more US troops over there. As usual, I’m willing to give Bush a chance, but I want to see some results. Soon. Looking realistically at Bush’s plan, one can’t hold a great deal of hope.

Speaking on Bush’s new Iraq strategy, Condi says Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki is living “on borrowed time”. An interesting term to use, though one that holds no weight with me until I can see that some real penalties will be pursued should he not meet the goals set out by the US. The closest I’ve heard of this is that the US might have to ‘revise’ their plan in the event things don’t get moving.

State Farm Fire & Casualty loses a case and must pay a couple for the loss of their home in Hurricane Katrina. They argued that since their coverage only covers wind, that a combination of wind and rain voids the insured’s coverage. The court didn’t agree, obviously.

Real time polling on Bush’s speech. How believable is it?

General

Cisco sues Apple over use of the iPhone name. Personally, I think Apple should have used iCell since it’s more appropriate than iPhone.

A study suggests a cup of coffee following a workout might help reduce post workout pain. There is a caution, however, that regular coffee drinkers might not get the same effect.

Also, adding milk to your tea could actually retard it’s healthy effects. So, if you drink it for health, don’t taint your tea with milk.

The $100 dollar laptop could sell to the public as well. Likely it would be as barebones as you could get, but for families that want to give their kids a low cost laptop for school, that would be a marvelous option. Looking at it, I have to say it’s an impressive piece of work. Not from the normal standpoint of leet speed and graphics, but from the standpoint of making a single focus device that is perfect for it’s purpose with the slimmest power consumption and fragility possible. No moving parts(including no fan) and a max power consumption of 2 watts(estimated .3 to .8 in ebook mode), where 10-45 for normal laptops is damn impressive.

Explainer describes how protestors get to Gitmo to protest.

The Blogs look at Bush’s troop surge and Pelosi’s smoking ban.

Today’s Papers has David Beckham moving to LA, a note of no big fish in the US air strikes in Somalia, note that the prez will be on 60 Minutes this Sunday and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Neurotically Yours: Friendly Messages

Mark Fiore: <A HREF="http://www.markfiore.com/animation/warming.html”>Warming of Mass Destruction

After kicking the window out of the moving police car you’re in and escaping in handcuffs, you might want to rethink your clever plan of hiding out in the doorway of the sheriff’s department

Able-bodied people shocked, SHOCKED to find out that even if they have disabled family member, they can’t legally park in handicapped spaces

News: Kids get kicked off bus for speaking english. Fark: In America

Not everyone is happy the Saints are in the playoffs, including this bride who’s getting married on Saturday and keeps losing guests to the game. Football, wedding. Football, wedding. You make the call

“The dumbest invention you’ll see today” award goes to….the toilet that doubles as an aquarium

Asshatery ensues when two guys leave a birthday party covered in cake, break into the sheriff’s office and smear cake all over the place. Cops follow the cake trail that leads them to the perps

If airport security wasn’t bad enough, now the security trays will have ads on them. The terrorists have won

Two inmates and their biatch beat up *both* deputies working at the county jail, leave the place wide open. Other inmates stay in cells, call 911. And the story gets even Fark-ier from there

As a result of the least likely international incident ever, Nepal has apologized to Peru

Burgler picks wrong house to rob, ends up with painful looking mugshot

Lancashire’s clumsiest dog (photo gallery)

I-Mockery examines a vintage skateboarding safety film from 1975 (includes video)

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop Bill Cowher and friends at the Super Bowl Award ceremony

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop Paris Hilton’s fishy friend

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this hungry hedgehog