The Algerian government has cut off access to the internet and social media as protesters, inspired by Egypt’s success, call for change.
(Hat tip: Arken)
news
228 posts
Officials investigating the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto have issued an arrest warrant for former President Pervez Musharraf. They claim that he was aware of the Taliban plot to kill Bhutto and did not advise law enforcement or provide adequate protection.
- A new “DNA spray” is being used in Amsterdam to catch thieves by covering them with a non-washable mist in the event of a hold-up, which is filled with chemical that correspond to a specific time and place. Invisible to the naked eye, it can be seen under a UV light, and can also be used on objects.
- A new study by the Congressional Budget Office shows federal taxes are for the third year in a row lower than under the Bush administration, and are actually at their lowest level since the Truman administration.
- Gas prices are at a record high for this time of year.
- Are you ready for this one, dog lovers? Inmates at a Missouri prison taught a deaf dachshund to respond to sign language, and then gave him to a school for deaf children.
Happy Saturday, crasstalkers.
I am cautiously optimistic regarding a new government in Egypt. I am extremely worried that the military will step in to fill the void. I’m not the only one:
“I hoped for a peaceful transition of power which followed the law, so I am worried about this move. This is what the people want, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good for them. This is a very worrying time and the people who are celebrating now should stop treating this like a soccer match. They just wanted to get the president to step down, but they weren’t thinking about the ramifications. The army must give an exact declaration of what they will do. The only legal authority now is from members of parliament. If the army says that they will dissolve our parliament then we will have no constitution, no government and no vice-president. I’ve just been out onto the streets and everyone is waving flags and sounding horns. Most of my friends are not happy about this, because we don’t like the idea of the army taking power. We don’t need another 60 years of military rule.”
– Maged Salib, Cairo
Top o’ the morning, Crasstalkers. Here’s some reading for you:
- The real force of change in Egypt has been trade unions, not Twitter or Facebook
- Samantha Power and others are clashing with Hillary Clinton over how to deal with Mubark and Egypt
- Conservatives are clashing with even more insane conservatives over how to deal with Mubarak and Egypt
- Here’s a cool interactive chart showing changes in the U.S.’s income inequality
- Montgomery County, Md. wants to require panhandlers to get licences to beg for change
- You should’ve been parking your car ass-backward all these years
Question of the morning:
What should Crasstalk’s first Photo Phriday theme be? Continue reading
“The company’s decision to cut off Wikileaks now is the right decision and should set the standard for other companies Wikileaks is using to distribute its illegally seized material…I call on any other company or organization that is hosting Wikileaks to immediately terminate its relationship with them.”
-Joe “Immensely Punchable Face” Lieberman
“The company’s decision to cut off Wikileaks now is the right decision and should set the standard for other companies Wikileaks is using to distribute its illegally seized material…I call on any other company or organization that is hosting Wikileaks to immediately terminate its relationship with them.”Luckily for those of us who like government transparency and the reminder that the government doesn’t care about citizens or the UN, you can’t kill anything once it’s on the internet. Right, Tom?
“The house just outside Escondido where massive amounts of explosive materials were found has been declared a public hazard and will be burned down, San Diego County officials told area residents Tuesday night…The house, dubbed the “bomb factory” house by officials, was found to contain amounts of materials of the kind used by terrorist bomb makers worldwide, as well as blasting caps, homemade grenades, and small-arms weapons. Bomb experts last week declared the one-story stucco house on Via Scott to be too dangerous to re-enter. On two occasions, they had entered the cluttered house and gathered evidence. Sheriff Bill Gore said at the meeting that burning the house is the only safe way to rid the neighborhood of the explosive materials.”Momma always said, “Is it so highly explosive that it’s dangerous to be around? KILL IT WITH FIRE.”