Maliki, Allawi and the slimey Zelikow

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In depth report from Glenn Greenwald (incl. updates)
Over the past several weeks, there has arisen a palpable and coordinated shift among the Washington establishment to blame Iraq's problems on Prime Minister Maliki and to suggest that salvation lies in his replacement. The only real alternative ever identified is former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi.

Fred Hiatt turned his Op-Ed page over to Allawi two weeks ago to argue -- in the most establishment-pleasing tones -- that "Responsibility for the current mess in Iraq rests primarily with the Iraqi government" and that "Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has failed to take advantage of the Iraqi people's desire for peaceful and productive lives and of the enormous commitment and sacrifices made by the United States and other nations." In other words, our wise Washington Leaders have done the Right and Good thing in Iraq, but that scoundrel Maliki is the key impediment preventing Success.

In a solid piece of reporting, CNN yesterday disclosed that the most powerful GOP lobbying firm, founded by former GOP Party Chair and current Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and staffed by key former Bush national security officials, is being paid by Allawi to coordinate these anti-Maliki, pro-Allawi efforts...

Via Village Voice


Keep on puffin' old gal!

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100-year-old celebrates her birthday by smoking 170,000th cigarette
An iron-lunged pensioner has celebrated her 100th birthday by lighting up her 170,000th cigerette from a candle on her birthday cake. Winnie Langley started smoking only days after the First World War broke out in June 1914 when she was just seven-years-old - and has got through five a day ever since. She has no intention of quitting, even after the nationwide ban forced tobacco-lovers outside. Speaking at her 100th birthday party Winnie said: "I have smoked ever since infant school and I have never thought about quitting.
The photo of her lighting her fag from the candle is a cracker.


Science...yawn. No really: Science - Yawn

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Why Do We Yawn?
No one knows why we yawn. There are lots of theories, some talk about it signalling tiredness or getting oxygen to the brain, others mention clearing out stale air from the lungs and reducing blood carbon dioxide levels. Most are baloney. But, one thing that is certain, yawns can be infectious. Catch sight of someone yawning and nine times out of ten, you will yawn yourself within a few seconds. Is such an infectious yawn a message to others in the group that it’s time for bed? Probably not, otherwise why yawn first thing on getting out of bed? Either way researchers have found that people with autism spectrum disorder don’t tend to succumb to an infectious yawn.


Not in Yellow Pages

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Vision 20/20 POM Offender Locator
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Via TechCrunch


Wang Dang Sweet Poontang

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Rolling Stone : Ted Nugent Threatens to Kill Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton During Vicious Onstage Rant
Renegade right-winger Ted Nugent recently went on a vicious onstage rant in which he threatened the lives of Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Decked out in full-on camouflage hunting gear, Nugent wielded two machine guns while raging, “Obama, he’s a piece of shit. I told him to suck on my machine gun. Hey Hillary,” he continued. “You might want to ride one of these into the sunset, you worthless bitch.”

Nugent summed up his eloquent speech by screaming “freedom!”


A nice day for it

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Stuck in front of the computer reading blogs and online news all day you can be forgiven for believing that all is just shootings, stabbings and war out there.  Today was glorious up here in the north east of Scotland, with the temperature hitting 25 C this afternoon, so we decided to head up north on the coastal route and stop off at a few beaches and nature reserves.

It's only the humble North Sea but it looked wonderful today and the beaches were almost deserted. We had our packed lunch perched on a clifftop overlooking a bird sanctuary. Clear blue sky, a cooling breeze softening the effect of the hot sun, seagulls hovering on the air currents, why, you could almost forget all the nasty things going on in the world, for a short while, at least. It convinced me of one thing. While the good weather lasts we are going to take every opportunity to enjoy this wonderful, beautiful countryside.

Bugger Blogging!