Posters in Israel offer 1 million shekels to anyone who kills a member of Israel’s “Peace Now.” A pipe bomb injured Zeev Sternhell–an opponent of Israeli settlements.

During Ramadan, observant Muslims fast from sun-up to sundown. In Dubai, it is against the law to break the fast in public–even for non-Muslims. This demonstrates the danger of legally imposing religion on others.

Chinese astronauts achieve another milestone in their nascent space program: the dangerous spacewalk. Meanwhile in the US, McCain criticizes spending even $3 million for science.

Of the 15 largest economies, only China has a low effective tax rate. Many others, including Japan and Germany, have high tax rates and strong economies.

John McCain claimed during the debates that lower tax rates lead to stronger economies. This is not true. A report from the GAO includes a short list of high tax rate and low tax rate countries–p. 21. Comparing tax rates to the fifteen largest economies shows that tax rates are not correlated to strong economies: … Read more

According to two lawsuits, the US army is a tool for Christian proselytizers, including handing out a “‘spiritual handbook’ for soldiers endorsed by Gen. David Petraeus.”

A former prosecutor, who is still in the Army, testified in Guantanamo today that the trials are so flawed that justice may not be possible and that Mohammed Jawad might be innocent.

The International Criminal Court is prosecuting two warlords for attacking civilians, slavery, rape, and using child soldiers. The US refuses to support the ICC.

Some cities have massive gasoline shortages. Gas inventories are extremely low, refineries are not operating, and crude oil inventories are low: more gasoline shortages to come?