War

While I'm definitely a peace-loving gal, I can't deny the influence that war and weaponry have had on home decor as of late. From gun vases to bullet planters, it seems as if product designers have a different definition of homeland security than our national leaders. While this may be a commentary on our society's obsession with weapons, I'm still not necessarily willing to stock my home with guns — be they real or made of ceramic.

Still, some of the designs are too provocative to ignore. Take the Diamantini & Domeniconi Cuckoo Bunker Wall Clock ($720). Instead of a woodland scene, this cuckoo (actually, it looks more like a dove to me, which only adds to the appeal) is hunkered down in a bunker. Assembled from 111 small green bricks, the cuckoo/dove sits in the middle of this bunker, and wears a helmet to protect itself from the battle at hand.

For additional items that will boost your homeland security, read more

• War: An Iraqi Freedom vet makes the case for lifting embargo on flag-draped coffins coming back from war. — Huffington Post
• Taxes: Kansas is the latest state to suspend tax refunds. — Donklephant
• Obama's Elf: Check out a fun 19-second animated pun featuring the president's reluctant elf. — Boing Boing
• Cheney: Dick Cheney (unsuccessfully) lobbied President Bush to pardon Scooter Libby in the waning days of the presidency. — Wonkette
• Cell Phones: Cell phone companies pushing for smart phones in the classroom. — Good

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Theoretically enough water exists for everyone on the planet, yet all too often it is in the wrong place at the wrong time and in the wrong amounts. And there is no shortage of humanitarian crises when this happens.

Half the world's population lives in countries where water is scarce. Lack of it and ineffective sanitation are largely blamed for the death of 11 million children under age five; the hunger of one billion people; the inadequate food and nutrition of two billion; and 60 million girls kept out of school each year.

Water scarcity causes tension and is increasingly seen as a threat to peace, making it the new, new oil. It's blamed for causing disease, hunger, and mass migration. Many believe conflict is inevitable, and the secretary of the United Nations has even predicted "water wars."

While it makes sense that people would fight for their most precious resource, so far there has been only one war, between Sudan and Egypt, over it. Marq de Villiers, author of The Water Wars, believes this is because countries are more likely to help each when it comes to water, a necessity of life. "You cannot do without water," he said, "when shortages pinch, states do cooperate and compromise."

Will goodwill run out when the water does? Is war for water inevitable?

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Almost 250 thefts of nuclear or radioactive material were reported last year. The chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency explained this week: “The possibility of terrorists obtaining nuclear or other radioactive material remains a grave threat. Equally troubling is the fact that much of this material is not subsequently recovered.”

Experts say health consequences of a dirty bomb are minimal compared to the panic that it would cause. But, there's no need to panic quite yet —all the material stolen last year combined would not be enough to build a device.

Last week, a new commission created by Australia and Japan to bring together officials from nuclear powers and other interested parties, met to discuss the spread of nuclear weapons since the Cold War. In 2009, the commission will meet again in Washington, DC to push for the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, a treaty that still awaits US ratification.

Hopefully, other crises like the financial or climate crises don't cause world leaders to take their eyes off this dangerous issue.

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