ninme

BBC – Fears over Haiti child ‘abuse’

Eh… ‘Why’ the quotation marks?

A BBC investigation commissioned as part of Generation Next – a week of programmes focusing on people under 18 – has uncovered fresh allegations of the sexual abuse of children by United Nations peacekeepers. Mike Williams reports from Port au Prince, Haiti. … [...]

Categories: Geography and Foreign Affairs

The story has nothing to do with the post, but I love pointing out when people are ignorant enough to do this:

FOXnews – Britney Spears Photographer Tells FOXNews.com: ‘I Didn’t See Her Try to Cover’

Merino seems nonplussed by the hubbub. “To be honest with you, it doesn’t really — it’s [...]

Categories: Entertainment

BBC – Second Test, Adelaide: Australia v England

England will bid to bounce back from a poor start to the Ashes when the second Test starts in Adelaide on Friday.

But can they do it?! Open thread devoted to the whole Test, unless England manages to make it a little more interesting this time.

Categories: Sports and Leisure

The Daily Telegraph – Protecting precious parody. By Philip Ruddock (the Aussie Attorney General)

Given the way the first Test went, the series may be over by then. Either way patriotic Australians will be free to mock the British team without the threat of lawsuits.

Now, why don’t we ever get Alberto Gonzales putting bills [...]

Categories: Politics

This makes me laugh. Which is good because I’ve been trying to bring it up but found it so crushingly depressing/infuriating I couldn’t really bring myself to. First, the item at issue:

The Times – ‘London’s bridge is falling down’

In a devastating verdict on Tony Blair’s decision to back war in Iraq [...]

Categories: Geography and Foreign Affairs

Jeez, first the parliament actually sort of recognizes that maybe it isn’t such a good thing to take the crime of rape all out on the victim, and now this:

Times Online – Molly’s father slammed by judge as custody battle continues

Her disappearance [from the Outer freaking Hebrides where her mother was hiding her [...]

Categories: Geography and Foreign Affairs

Terrorism is a nasty thing, people, and it’s important that the US recognizes it’s role in causing it.

FOXnews – Officials: 3 Homicide Car Bombs Kill 6 in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Three homicide car bombs exploded outside Somalia’s government base of Baidoa, killing at least six people, including the drivers, and wounding four [...]

Categories: War and Peace

FOXnews – Message of H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad President of the Islamic Republic of Iran To the American People (.pdf)

It begins:

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful, and the Victorious, O, Almighty God, bestow upon humanity the perfect human being promised to all by You, but let him [...]

Categories: Politics

Telegraph – Algeria was worse than Iraq – so far. By John Keegan

The end:

By the exertion of his popular appeal, speaking directly to the French conscripts in Algeria on the radio, de Gaulle managed to overcome the rebellion and so eventually to organise Algerian self-government and an Algerian peace. The cost was the [...]

Categories: History

<br/> NATO heads of state and government stand for the official portrait Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2006, at the 2006 NATO Summit in Riga, Latvia. White House photo by Paul Morse

Telegraph – Worldstage By Toby Helm<br/> Latvia may come to regret playing host to Nato’s summit

Riga The flags of 26 Nato nations fluttered [...]

Categories: Geography and Foreign Affairs

Times Online – What is a ‘moderate’ Muslim? by Irshad Manji<br/> As the Pope visits Turkey, Irshad Manji says this is a good moment to re-enter the debate raised by his comments on Islam and violence

The emails I received in response proved that Muslims know how to exercise freedom of expression as vigorously as [...]

Categories: People and Current Events

Imagine I have, like, the Queen come over for dinner, and it’s considered a successful evening if she survives the first course.

Wheat & Weeds – So Far, So Good

Way to go, Islamic World! Showin’ the rest of us what you can do!

Categories: Geography and Foreign Affairs

FOXnews – Judge Rules Paper Money Unfair to Blind People

Isn’t that kind of the point of being handicapped? That it sucks?

Categories: People and Current Events

First, (and after the wettest November in history, apparently) two days of snow in a row (unheard of, as far as I’ve been here), and now a high, high, of 28. Sure, the kids get the day off school, but I still have to climb the hill to paint, and with the sun this [...]

Categories: Science and Nature

The Scotsman – Grapes of wrath for French vineyards as millions of bottles are destroyed

MORE than eight million litres of this season’s production of Beaujolais wine is being turned into near-pure alcohol for use in disinfectants, cleaning products or fuel additives, as French vineyards face up to a massive overproduction crisis. [...]

Categories: Food