The reason I mention this word is because the United States has named a bomb test, planned for next June, ‘Divine Strake’.

Divine Strake will test a gigantic 700-ton bomb that has been developed to destroy deeply buried military targets (like bomb shelters) and will be the biggest open-air chemical blast ever at the USA’s Nevada Test Site. Link

Interestingly, in a society where 70% of the population refer to themselves Christian, God can now find a bomb test named after Him. This God-bomb or maybe I got the meaning wrong and it’s a party-pink bomb with divine’ polka-dot tassels that wave in the breeze, humming ‘God Bless America’ as they float to the ground — anyway, whatever its meaning, you can be sure of one thing — it won’t be divine if you’re on the receiving end.

Strake (noun)

1. continuous line of planking or plates from the stem to the stern of a ship or boat.
2. protruding ridge fitted to an aircraft or other structure to improve aerodynamic stability.

Huffington Post | Link

George Bush is reported to have said in a TV address from the Oval Office:

I know that some of my decisions have led to terrible loss, and not one of those decisions has been taken lightly,” he said. “I know this war is controversial, yet being your president requires doing what I believe is right and accepting the consequences.”

“It is true that much of the intelligence turned out to be wrong,” Bush said. “As president, I’m responsible for the decision to go into Iraq.”

I suppose that means Mr Bush, Mr Blair and Mr Howard that you and your cronies are also responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of people for no good reason. Clearly, it’s time for you all to go.

Human Rights Watch has cited flight records of aircraft allegedly linked to the CIA to suggest that premises in Poland and Romania are being used. Poland, which is an EU member, and Romania, a candidate for admission, have denied the charges.

When is torture acceptable? When it’s not being done to you or your people.

What I will do is wish them well and hope the universe dumps a BIG packet of smelly stuff on the mixed-up head of their mother.

Singers Lamb and Lynx Gaede may look like Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, but their songs send a message of White Nationalism that some call dangerous says ABC News.

These thirteen-year-old twins have one album out, another on the way, a music video, and lots of fans. But even though they may remind you of the Olsen Twins — Lamb and Lynx (with the help of their mother) use their talents to preach a message of hate.

I don’t really need to tell you this is a manufactured photo, do I? Well it is, and I guess like the newspaper cartoonist of my youth, it is a parody of what people, like me, think of Bush and his handling of the crisis in New Orleans.

My mate Jack emailed me the pic — he gets a tad miffed if I don’t mention him. Well Jack, here it is, another 15 seconds of fame on my blog.

Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco warned rioters and looters late on Thursday that National Guard troops were under her orders to “shoot and kill” if needed to restore order.

“These troops are battle-tested. They have M-16s and are locked and loaded,” she said. “These troops know how to shoot and kill and I expect they will.”

SMH | Link

I read the article and wondered if any of the governments from Tsunami effected countries had ordered the troops to ‘shot to kill’ their own citizens — maybe they couldn’t afford to have M-16s locked and loaded.

Then again, I do remember a lot of vitriol thrown at ol’ Saddam Hussein for using the Iraqi army to keep Iraqi citizens in line. No doubt he thought it was justified, just like Governor Blanco.

The above image from NASA TV is a view from Deep Impact’s flyby showing the impactor colliding with comet Tempel 1. I watched it live on the Net and you can see it and read all about the comet and the spacecraft here.