News – Prosecuting the Young

North America

Police charge an 8-year old boy in the shooting of a 7-year old girl. His father, a felon with a ‘lengthy record’, was arrested for leaving the gun within reach of an unsupervised minor. The account of the incident has the boy threatening the girl with the gun, trying to rob her before he shot her in the upper arm. My question is, what good is being served by putting an 8-year old boy on trial? They’re sure as heck not going to put him in jail and, in my opinion, sticking him into the Juvenile system will just end up with another human life going in the wrong direction in life. The kid needs to be put into a family where he can be set back on the right track. And a trial won’t help in that one little bit.

Alberto Gonzales defends Bush’s secret spying program in a speech at Georgetown University Law Center. After all, the US Justice Department looked the program over. And they’ve never sought to give the thumbs up to something regardless of the legality for Bush.. right? Hardly.

Harry Reid tells Bush to swagger less and show more honesty and humility in the upcoming State of the Union speech. Unlikely.

Lieberman accuses Bush and company of foot dragging when it comes to helping the Senate panel investigating the government’s botched response to Hurricane Katrina. Of course, he wants to investigation to slip back into obscurity, where it can’t add to his myriad troubles. The same coward’s way out that many politicians take when time comes to own up to their failures, hoping no one will remember.

Middle East

Palestinians do the voting thing. Though thus far it’s been a calm vote, authorities are taking few chances with armed guards out in force. Hopefully, they’ll have a boring old time. It will be interesting to see if Israel breaks of peace talks if Hamas wins big and what Bush will do about such a situation.

Two German engineers are the latest hostages taken in Iraq.

Asia

A Chinese woman dies of Bird Flu, the country’s tenth incident of death.

The US urges other Asian countries to do something to stop North Korea from doing other various illegal things, such as counterfeiting US currency. There is a time and place for everything, but harassing North Korea on ‘lesser evils’ while still trying to remove the bomb from them is hardly one of them. The more we prod, the harder it will be to disarm them.

General

Explainer looks at people being allowed to keep excised portions of themselves.

The blogs look at the results of Canada’s election, the administration’s PR blitz over Bush’s secret spying program and Antonin Scalia’s decision to play tennis instead of attending John Roberts’ Supreme Court swearing-in.

Today’s Papers has musings of Blackberry addicts, the continued delay of Saddam’s trial(are they sure they’re ready to do this?), an online survey that has 62% of college women saying they’ve experienced some form of sexual harassment and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Student asks Bush if he’s seen “Brokeback Mountain” since he’s a rancher too. Secret Service intervenes

Former Ohio Congressman Jim Traficant, now serving time in federal prison for corruption, has taken up painting and selling his works on Ebay through friends. Authorities not amused. (Contains numerous samples)

Bad: You get pulled over for speeding. Worse: You’re drunk. Worst: It’s your 4th DUI. Fark.com: The cop asks you to do a field sobriety test and you say “I’d just fall down”

White House comes up with a brilliant answer to media questions about photos of Bush and Abramoff: “They exist and we’re not releasing them.” Alrighty then, controversy over

“My misery is your pleasure” says Kanye West from a top a pile of naked women and hundred-dollar bills

ACLU stands up for another cherished freedom — boys wearing skirts to school

Scientists in Korea teach monkey to skate in two weeks, already taking calls from Toronto Maple Leafs’ defence coach (with pics)

Tennessee “Crack Tax” brings in $2million its first year. Crack tax?

Best Western guest burglarizes hotel office, leaves note berating manager for poor service to room 427

Why go to all the trouble of having a vasectomy when you can just get pulled over by the Miami police?

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Official photoshop contest for “24”-watching farkers to put in profile — reward is at least six months of sponsorship (LGT GIS “24 farkers”)

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop Middle Earth after its industrial revolution