5/25/2006

I love Rent- and I admit I played it to piss Carmen off, but she didn't pay attention.

• The Pope is making a trip through Poland. Many people believe Poland is becoming less and less tolerant of religious views outside of Catholicism, and, as on 17-year-old put it, "He should tell the Government to stop ramming the Roman Catholic faith down our throats." (Note to self- never live in Poland. Or in the Vatican. )
• A Canadian newspaper issued an apology for a story they wrote alleging religious minorities would be required to wear fabric badges associating themselves with various groups in Iran. (I think we are all glad this story turned out to be bogus)
• Multiple story retraction requests today: In the US, Rep. Dennis Hastert (Speaker of the House) demanded that ABC News retract a story alleging Hastert was being investigated for corruption charges. (We cannot prove that he did anything. Yet. Nor can he prove that he is not under investigation.)
• Vincente Fox (Mr. Peck, that is the President of Mexico) took a trip to Seattle today to speak to business leaders about migration. Later today, he also plans to speak with Governor Schwartzenager. (They are discussing Mr. Schwartzenager's plan to "press" the Constitution so he can run for president in 2012)

5/24/2006

I am sick of school. Period.

• A large fire was started in the Istanbul, Turkey airport. The cause was unknown.
• The European "Big Three", along with the US, have offered numerous rewards to Iran should they choose to stop uranium enrichment. If they do not comply, the group hopes Russia and China will help enforce sanctions against Iran. Dick Cheney disagreed with Rice's decision to support the measure, saying it was "rewarding bad behavior". Let us think- Cheney gets a boost in popularity for shooting someone, since he was hunting, but attempting to solve an international security crisis using any means available is "rewarding bad behavior." Riiight.
• A Greek pilot (mentioned yesterday) was killed in the crash between a Turkish pilot and a Greek pilot. Officials say the Turks had not filed an appropriate flight plan. This does not mean I will be filing a flight plan with my crazy mother.
• Sir Edmund Hillary criticized a group of recent mountaineers for their decision to leave a dying member of their crew behind as the reached the summit of Everest. Hillary, the first of two men to summit Everest in 1953, said the men should not have continued if someone's life was in danger. David Sharp, the abandoned climber, died about 300 meters below the summit. May he rest in peace. I think Sir Edmund's comment fits in nicely with the code of chivalry.
• The Senate moved towards passing their immigration bill, which would allow many immigrants currently living within our borders the eventual chance at citizenship. They also recently voted in favor of higher penalties for those found employing illegal workers. Here is the message: we might let you stay here, but you shouldn't be working. Our economy needs you vitally, and your family needs food- but you can pay $2000 and wait for a few years. Then you can become part of our system, but we will still discriminate against you if you don't speak "proper" English, because your heritage isn't Western European and your family did not come here 200 years ago, so you aren't a "real" American.

5/23/2006

I have a bit of "hometown" news to start off with: I have only six days until graduation!!!

Now, on to what matters to my nonexistent readers.

• The chief judge banned one of Saddam Hussein's lawyers from the courtroom again- the same barrister as last time! In fact, the lawyer was removed for arguing about the validity of her previous removal. Note: the lawyer was the only female working on Saddam's case. I think she secretly wants him to lose and cannot stand putting effort into getting him off.
• Two planes collided over the Aegean Sea (one was a Turkish plane and the other was Greek). No one is entirely certain of the exact circumstances of the crash. Most surprised were the pilots, since the Greek is missing and the Turk refused to board a Greek helicopter.
• British Prime Minister Tony Blair learned today the Iraqi Prime Minister plans to have foreign presence pulled out much more quickly than either the US or Britain have mentioned. Mr. Bush was quoted saying, "Tony! Just nod your head, look concerned, and BE VAGUE IN YOUR RESPONSE!" Mr. Blair heeded the advice.
• On Monday, personal information regarding 26.5 million veterans was stolen, including Social Securtiy numbers and birth dates. Of course the US government has your privacy at heart! They didn't MEAN for this to happen!
• The Supreme Court unanimously ruled police have the right to enter a household without knocking if they see a violent altercation within the residence. I will remember that the next time I am beating my brother up- close the blinds...

5/22/2006

For a Monday, there is considerable news to be covered. So, here we go...

• Six miniscule countries now make up what was once Yugoslavia, since Montenegro decided to separate itself from Serbia in an election held last week. Somehow, I doubt the turmoil will stop along the newly defined borders.
• A Jordanian man (an employee of the embassy) was killed in the crossfire at Gaza when a conflict errupted between Palestinean police and Hamas' security forces. Yet another innocent life lost to an endless struggle.
• British Prime Minister Tony Blair flew to Baghdad to hold conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and to see the progress in the War on Terror. Unfortunately, the progress reports were stuck in the Black Hole known as Nonexistent.
• In Afghanistan today, the US reports up to 80 members of the Taliban were killed in an air raid. Dozens of civilians were injured and killed. The United States' war on terror does not discriminate based upon combat status of a citizen.
• The World Heath Organization, based out of Geneva, lost chief Lee Jong-wook to a blood clot in his brain. His efforts in the fight against AIDS and other infectious diseases will be sorely missed. Let us watch a pro-abstinence ed. replace him. Oh, wait, President Bush doesn't appoint this person... So Anders Nordstrom of Sweden will fill in until another cheif is appointed.