Day 282

Sovereingnty Day for Iraq

Today marks the deadline for US Troops to pull out of Iraq.  Prime Minister Nouri Malaki has declared June 30 a public holiday dubed Sovereingnty Day. Iraqis take to the streets in celebration as US soldiers dismantle 86 bases and several foreign firms bid for Iraqi oil contracts, the first time in over 40 years- "I drink your milkshake, I drink it up!"

Day 281

Coup d'etat Manuel Zelaya

Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was ousted by military forces yesterday.  

The removal of Mr Zelaya came amid a power struggle over his plans for constitutional change.

Mr Zelaya, who had been in office since 2006, wanted to hold a referendum which could have led to an extension of his non-renewable four-year term in office.

Polls for the referendum had been due to open early on Sunday - but instead troops took him from the presidential palace and flew him out of the country.

To no surprise Hugo Chavez has publically announced his support for Zelaya's legitimacy. Interim President, Roberto Micheletti (former Speaker of the House) will serve until January 27.  A new election will take place in November to determine his successor.  

Day 280

2nd Amendment, Hallelujah!

Churchgoers at the New Bethel Church in Louisville, KY packed their guns in celebration of the 2nd Amendment.  I LOVE this story, especially the quote from one of the worshipers:

"nowhere in the Bible does it say you shouldn't own a gun."

Maybe someone should tell him guns weren't invented when the Bible was written.  WWJD, indeed.

Day 279

Climate Bill

House of Representatives passed the climate bill with a vote of 219-213.  The bill will fine companies for emissions of greenhouse gases and would mandate that 15% of the nations electricity come from renewable sources.  Now we will see how it fares in the Senate.  

Day 278

Day 277

Jobless Claims Rise

U.S. jobless claims rise by 15,000 to 627,000 according to figures from the Labor Department.  Total number of people collecting unemployment insurance is 6.74 million.  WOW!

Day 276

Ed McMahon

I'm taking a break from all the tragic news stories in favor of an obituary story on Ed Mcmahon (ironic, no).  Well, I remember him fondly.  I am just old enough to have caught the tail end of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and watched Star Search religiously.  Much to my parents' dismay, his friendly grandpa-esque face is what got me to nag them to apply for the million dollar Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes- if we won, he'd show up on our door step. 

Day 275

Neda Agha-Soltan

The protests in Iran has put social networking sites and "citizen journalism" to the forefront. Listening to NPR as I write this post, it seems like the broadcast mentions Facebook and Twitter at every program break- something I have not noticed in the past. 

The tragic shooting of Neda Agha-Soltan is a prime example of our increasing reliance on social networking sites and with Iran's restrictions on foreign media, updates on these sites are the only information we are getting.  I have a funny feeling this is going to play out in a very considerable manner- how, remains to be seen.