Plumbers, Jupiter, and Ancient Televisions

Hey, folks! First, the news.

Fox: Report: Iranian Militias Marry, Rape Virgin Prisoners Before Executions - The source on this one is allegedly a former Basij militia member who ran afoul of the Iranian regime after the recent protests. Iranian law apparently prohibits capital punishment for virgin women, so the Iranian solution is to force them to "marry" and then have militia prison guards rape them. If it's true, the Iranian regime and its hangers-on are even worse than I'd previously thought.

Jupiter Struck by Object, NASA Images Confirm (Reuters, Guardian, Times) - Very cool, particularly for anyone who remembers Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 in '94.

CNN: U.S. bombs poppy crop to cut Taliban drug ties

BBC: Why keep an ancient appliance? - Apparently someone found the oldest television set in the United Kingdom, so the BBC ran a couple of articles about it. Sort of entertaining.

BBC: UAE Blackberry update was spyware - Worth the read, particularly if you have a smart phone.

BBC: Mali ex-rebels to tackle al-Qaeda - Apparently the Algerians and the Malians have agreed to a deal whereby former Tuareg rebels will hunt for al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb as they wander the Sahara. Very, very interesting.

BBC: Power and fury of US Moon rocket - In a continuing series of stupid questions, the BBC asks: why did the US abandon the Saturn V rocket?

Guardian: Khamenei warns of 'collapse' in Iran

Guardian: Lunar radio - A couple of letters to the Guardian from people who remember the moon landing. Go check 'em out.

Times gallery: Apollo 11 pictures

Times: I've already been to Mars. Do join me.

Wired Danger Room: Danger Room in Afghanistan: City of Sighs - Just a really, really neat picture of an ancient "city" in Afghanistan, well worth the thirty seconds to look at it.

UPI: Yemen battles unrest on several fronts - People don't pay much attention to Yemen since it's a poor country with few resources, but it's worth paying attention to.

UPI: US, UK differ on how to confront foes

Michael Totten: The Gulag of Our Time - A very interesting blurb and book recommendation from Michael Totten regarding North Korea.

Michael Yon: One Giant Leap - Another interesting, brief, and slightly disjointed dispatch from Michael Yon, who's currently reporting from Afghanistan. Like Michael Totten's work, Yon's is always worth the read.

Long War Journal: US Predator strikes in Pakistan: Observations - Link knicked from Danger Room. Very interesting discussion and statistics about American drone strikes against al Qaeda and Taliban (primarily al Qaeda) targets in Pakistan.

Just for Fun: 6 Ways the Recession has Made the World Suck Less - A bit rosy, but it makes some interesting (and always entertaining) points. Go have a look if you need a laugh and a smile.

Yesterday was a good day. Here are a few of the highlights.

My phone wouldn't take a charge, but luckily it turned out to be the charger and not the phone that went bad - and the charger is under warranty. A bit of a waste of time, but it could be much, much worse.

I inherited a vacuum cleaner (the second vacuum cleaner I've inherited since leaving home in 2006, the first one having been abandoned at Zoo Station), and it's bagless! Sweet!

In cleaning up The Locust Wind for transporting the vacuum and a few other things I was helping to move, I found a key that I'd lost, and a headset to my mobile phone.

I had a fantastic late evening swim, and got to chat with Gus.

I think I did some other stuff, too. It was a good night.

So, that's it for today (or last night, if you want to be technical). Check back tomorrow for more.