[fatah & hamas] now they’re killing each other

Al Jazeerah reports that a Palestinian government compound has been stormed by supporters of Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank after at least four people died and at least 50 people were injured in similar clashes in gun battles between rival Fatah and Hamas security forces in the Gaza Strip. The police loyal to Abbas blocked Gaza's roads with burning tyres and demanded overdue salaries. In Gaza City, Hamas loyalists took to the roof of the agriculture ministry and fired rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns at the presidential guard, killing one. Islam Shawhan, a spokesman for Hamas's armed wing, explained: "We are going to beat with iron fists all those elements who are trying to sabotage the election process of our people, those who are trying to destroy our public properties and close the streets." I have absolutely no words to add to this report.

[manifesto] #### insert the name of your own nation

####’s ethnic diversity is one of the enduring strengths of our nation. Yet our celebration of diversity must not be at the expense of the common values that bind us together as one people – respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual, a commitment to the rule of law, the equality of men and women and a spirit of egalitarianism that embraces tolerance, fair play and compassion for those in need … a sense of shared values is our social cement. [Yet now] we are dealing with a group of fanatics who have no tolerance, who will not be happy unless they have brought down our way of life and imposed their own. That's the dimension of the struggle. And don't, you know, misunderstand what their goal is - the destruction of our kind of society. [John Howard but it could easily have been Stephen Harper or others]

[in brief] thought for the day

‘There’s an east wind coming, Watson.’

‘I think not, Holmes. It’s very warm.’

‘Good old Watson! You are the one fixed point in a changing age. There’s an east wind coming, all the same, such a wind as never blew on England yet. It will be cold and bitter, Watson and a good many of us will wither before its blast. But it’s G-d’s own wind, none the less and a cleaner, better, stronger land will lie in the sunshine when the storm has cleared.’

[To those who think they may ride roughshod over our traditions, our culture,our way of life and who presume on our good-nature, you just do not understand with whom it is you are dealing.]

[malkin & vox] good old fashioned stoush in the usa

I’ve neglected the US a bit today and nearly missed a great stoush. To quote Vox Day: Malkin [says]: "I think what drives a lot of the haters crazy is that despite their ceaseless sniping, they can't shut me up." Actually, I didn't find it difficult at all. In fact, her uncharacteristic silence on the subject [her comments] was downright damning when compared to her usual volubility on matters relating to herself. Notice how she links to nearly every site but the hate-filled one? She's rather a contemptible coward behind that faux bold front. But don't forget, this is a woman who couldn't think fast enough on her feet to handle Chris freaking Matthews. Michelle’s response is unrecorded.

[airlines] between a rock and a hard place

Nose-gear falls off NWA plane upon landing

The United States and the European Union failed to reach a new deal on sharing air passenger data by Saturday's deadline, putting airlines at risk of huge fines or the loss of landing rights if they do not hand over data to U.S. authorities. Such data - including passengers' names, addresses and credit card details - must be transferred to U.S. authorities within 15 minutes of a flight's departure for the United States. But the talks in Washington broke down before the deadline, triggering a risk of massive disruptions. Without the deal, airlines that do hand over passenger data to U.S. authorities could face legal action from national data protection authorities in EU states, the Commission said. So bureaucratic infighting wins the day again. Let the airline disasters begin.

[immigration] fencing them out

Sending a message: coffins with notes in Spanish line the San Diego border control fence

The Orange County Register: After 18 months of hearings and lobbying, citizens patrolling the borders and hundreds of thousands of people marching in the streets, the debate has produced a fence. Sometime in the next few days President Bush is likely to sign the bill authorizing 700 miles of it along the border with Mexico. What the president won't be signing is a bill that meets his goals of border enforcement combined with a guest-worker program and a plan for legalizing millions of undocumented people. In the past couple of days GOP leaders were intent on making sure the fence bill got to the president's desk before the Election Day recess so all amendments were dispensed with. A quite vexed issue currently in the southern USA but at least the porn industry will suffer.