Evil is real and walks the world today.

How ANYONE can believe otherwise is beyond me, except that they have a powerful delusion.

The story out of Oklahoma of those two girls, shot dead, hurts me every time I read about it. The community sounds much like mine-- where it would be perfectly normal for kids to go for a walk out in the country and expect to be safe. I can remember many times when my brother, our friend, and I went for walks, with the dog in tow. We'd wave at the few vehicles we'd see as we held the dog out of the road, wave at the helicopter pilots overhead.

I hope they find the &(#^@)$)ing @)$*@)$^)s who did this.

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Egyptian Writer Ahmad Al-Aswani: It's "Open Season" On Egypt's Copts
"What Is Happening to Our Coptic Brothers... Is No Longer a Matter of Sporadic Incidents"

"I hope that I have not exaggerated in using the word '[open] season' for what is happening in Egypt to our Coptic brothers, but it is the closest description to what is happening. It is no longer a matter of sporadic incidents, but an uninterrupted series of events.

"Today, you read of the incident in Zeitoun, and tomorrow of the one in Alexandria, [2] and after that of the one in Deir Abu-Fana in Minya, [3] and thus of the diverse incidents, ranging from killing without reason to armed robbery, kidnapping of monks, torching of houses and cars, and waylaying and kidnapping of girls.

"As usual, all then repudiate and condemn, accompanied by official and media denial of any sectarian or terrorist motive. And if that isn't appropriate, the standard excuse [is trotted out]: the criminal was mentally disturbed and did not mean to do what he did.

"This is what has happened in individual incidents... such as the Zeitoun incident a few days ago, or the Alexandria incident two years ago. [4] If we observe closely, we find that these criminals then disappear, and are not brought [to trial in] any court, and no one hears about them afterward."

Albinos in Tanzania face deadly threat

Discrimination against albinos is a serious problem throughout sub-Saharan Africa, but recently in Tanzania it has taken a wicked twist: At least 19 albinos, including children, have been killed and mutilated in the past year, victims of what Tanzanian officials say is a growing criminal trade in albino body parts.

Many people in Tanzania - and across Africa, for that matter - believe albinos have magical powers. They stand out, often the lone white face in a black crowd, a result of a genetic condition that impairs normal skin pigmentation and affects about 1 in 3,000 people here. Tanzanian officials say witch doctors are now marketing albino skin, bones and hair as ingredients in potions that are promised to make people rich.

Human Rights Report Says Ethiopia Committing War Crimes in Ogaden

In the first detailed study of what the group calls Ethiopia's year-long scorched-earth policy in the Ogaden, Human Rights Watch says it conducted interviews with more than 100 victims, eyewitnesses, business leaders and regional government officials in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somaliland.

Researcher Georgette Gagnon told reporters the rights group concluded that Ethiopia's army has committed widespread atrocities, using tactics aimed at not only to defeat the rebel group, but to collectively punish communities suspected of helping the rebels.

Lawmakers fear nuke deal to help Iran

Members of Congress criticized the Bush administration's nuclear pending
cooperation deal with Russia on Thursday, in part out of concern that it could hurt efforts to prevent Iran from getting nuclear arms.

Representatives on both sides of the aisle assailed Russia for not doing more to isolate Teheran and worried that the new pact might strengthen Iran's nuclear program.

Although announcement of the US-Russian agreement on civilian nuclear power last month provoked swift criticism from lawmakers, it remains unclear whether opponents have sufficient votes to block it. It would give the United States access to state-of-the-art Russian nuclear technology and would help Russia establish an international nuclear fuel storage facility.

Ahmadinejad Says Bush Will Not Be Able to Attack Iran

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has issued a defiant message to U.S. President George Bush, warning that the United States will not be able to attack
Iran.

Mr. Ahmadinejad said Wednesday that Mr. Bush's era has "come to an end." The Iranian president also mocked what he called Mr. Bush's desire to attack Iran, saying the U.S. leader will not be able to harm "even one centimeter" of the country.