Monday, August 17th

National:Inmates Set Fires in Riot in Kentucky
Hundreds of prisoners had to be relocated after inmates set their prison on fire. Northport Training Center was engulfed by flames for almost a straight 24 hours. The reason for the fire would not be released but 8 staff members and 8 prisoners were injured. Prisoners first set fire to a trashcan and its contents. All the inmates were subdued within 2 hours and a perimeter was formed by police so the prisoners could not escape. Many wondered how they even got hold of anything that could start a fire but because some prisoners are allowed to smoke in designated parts of the prison, there were matches available. Of course this is an unfortunate event but I think it shows that the prisoners should be under tighter watch and especially not allowed to smoke.

The Associated Press. "Inmates Set Fires in Riot in Kentucky." New York Times: U.S. The New York Times, 23 Aug. 2009. Web. 23 Aug. 2009. .

International: EU to Draft New Immigration Policy by October
Carl Bildt, the foreign minister of Sweden, announced that the European Union will instill new immigration policies by October. The EU will have meeting to figure out the flaws of distribution flow among the 27 members of the EU. The Italian Prime Minister says that "the problem should not be left to the countries on the blocs edges". Europe is taking a united stance in being responsible for these immigrants and how to handle them. Italy has already tried to take over sea rescues in Malta, but the Maltesean government declined. Italy seems to be the country that most immigrants are showing up in, probably because of the water around it. There have been over 36,900 illegal immigrants arriving in Italy in the past year by boat. I think its interesting that Europe is trying to solve the same problem that we are with Mexico. Our situation is more difficult because it is not as far as a journey plus it is on land. It is definately a plus that Europe is acting as a whole and not just leaving Italy to fend for itself.

Reuters. "EU to Draft New Immigration Policy by October." New York Times: World. The New York Times, 23 Aug. 2009. Web. 23 Aug. 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/08/23/world/international-us-eu-immigration-italy.html?scp=4&sq=&st=nyt.

Economy: Gas Prices Nationwide Unchanged from 2 Weeks Ago
According to the national Lundberg Survey of fuel prices, gas in the U.S. has not gone up or down. The average has remained at $2.64 for two weeks straight. This lack of fluxuation is declared unusual but neither good nor bad. The average price now is $1.06 less than it was a year ago. Charleston, SC had the lowest price at $2.39 while Honolulu had the highest at $3.17. Although this article was short it still contained interesting and useful information. THe fact that gas hasn't decreased in price over the last two weeks is definately not a good thing but its a plus that it hasn't increased either.

The Associated Press. "Gas Prices Nationwide Unchanged From 2 Weeks Ago." New York Times:. The New York Times, 23 Aug. 2009. Web. 23 Aug. 2009. .

Monday, August 10th

National: Woman Who Tried to Kill Ford in '75 is Paroled
Lynette Fromme is now 60 and has spent the last 3 decades of her life in the Federal Medical Center Carswell. A follower of Charles Manson, Ms. Fromme attempted to kill Gerald Ford in September of 1975. Ms. Fromme, or "Squeaky", was released on parole. The details of where and who she will reside with will not be relased but officials assure the press that she will be closely supervised. Ms. Fromme was 26 when she shot at President Ford in Sacramento. The gun had no bullets in the chamber but 4 in the magazine. Lynette became obsessed with Charles Manson when he rescued her off the streets as an 18 year old troubled college student. She was sentenced to life in prison after causing a commotion at her trial. In 1987, she escaped from a women's prison in West Virginia to "be closer to Mr. Manson" who is serving life at a prison in California. She refused parole in 1985 and was released in 2009 for good conduct. This article was interesting to me because I had never heard about the attempted assasiantion or Charles Manson. I don't have a problem with Ms. Fromme being released on parole because she served her time. However, I am suprised she was not kept to fufill her life sentence.

McKinley, James C. "Woman Who Tried to Kill Ford in ’75 Is Paroled." New York Times: U.S. The New York Times, 15 Aug. 2009. Web. 23 Aug. 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/15/us/15release.html?scp=25&sq=&st=nyt.

International: Moussavi Forms ‘Grass-Roots’ Movement in Iran
Mir Moussavi, the oppositional leader to Iran, has started a new movement according to his website. His moment is supposed to defy a government campagin of intimidation against him and his followers. He is not claiming his movement as a poltical party but rather as a "movement to promote democracy and adherence to the law". He is calling his movement the Green Way of Hope. Moussavi feels his movement is necessary after being accused of a conspiracy against the Iranian government. Moussavi's statement did not include much detail or an agenda for the movement probably to prevent officials from cracking down any further. I think that Mr. Moussavi should have the right to start his own grass roots movement just like ones in our own country have been started but because he seems dangerous I would question his agenda and the legitimacy of "promoting democracy and adhereing to the law".

Worth, Robert F. "Moussavi Forms 'Grass-Roots' Movement in Iran." New York Times: Middle East. The New York Times, 16 Aug. 2009. Web. 23 Aug. 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/16/world/middleeast/16iran.html?scp=2&sq=&st=nyt.

Economic:Hints of a Rebound in Global Trade
According to economy reporter for the New York Times Floyd Norris, world trade is starting to recover. Although the bounce back is small so far, it shows that world trade is rising again at a steady pace. The U.S. reported that its exports were up in June 2.2%. Most countries are experiencing a positive influence on their trade but it is nowhere near the numbers of last year. In the credit crisis, world trade fell much more rapidly than final sales to consumers. Exports directed at the U.S. are expected to pick up soon because industries are finally restocking their inventories. China also went up 3.7% and the American share of Chinese exports rose to its highest since before the recession. Even though the increase is small, it is good to hear some positive news about our economy since most of the news is negative these days.

Norris, Floyd. "Hits of Rebound in Global Trade." New York Times: Economy. The New York Times, 14 Aug. 2009. Web. 23 Aug. 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/15/business/economy/15charts.html?scp=20&sq=&st=nyt.

Monday, August 3rd

National: Drug Industry to Run Ads Favoring White House Plan
$150 million dollars is being given to lobbyists of the drug industry by the drug industry for TV commericials supporting Obama's health care overhaul. This announcement has helped to clear some confusion about the deal between the White House and the drug industry that it would contribute $80 billion dollars over 10 years, the terms of the deal were not released. The officials of the drug industries' trade group, PhRMA, are meeting sometime in August to finalize the plans for the fall...the budget could end up being more or less than previously announced. It is interesting that the industry is spending so much supporting Obama because he spent $236 million on TV ads during his campagin while McCain only spent $126 million. The supporters of the overhaul plan are expected to gain much more support than the opposers, hopefully putting the money to good use. The commericals echo Democartic reform ideals about healthcare such as medical care for all and consumer protection. I think that it is hard to say right now whether spending this much money is a waste and that no one will really be able to decide how useful it was until the commericals start airing and the industry gets feedback.

Kirkpatrick, David D. "Drug Industry to Run Ads Favoring White House Plan." New York Times: Money & Policy. The New York Times, 09 Aug. 2009. Web. 23 Aug. 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/09/health/policy/09lobby.html?scp=1&sq=&st=nyt.


International: Clinton and South African Discuss Somalia and Sudan
Hilary Clinton. on her tour around South Africa, met with the president of the country, Jacob Zuma, to discuss regional issues such as the war in Somalia and the violence in Sudan. Clinton and Zuma both agree in taking the relationship between the U.S. and South Africa to a "higher level". Because South Africa is a powerhouse in Africa, Clinton wants the area to ahve a larger affect not just in Africa but in the world. The relations between the two countries had previously been strained by former president Thabo Mbeki's take on AIDS and his refusal to shut down autocratic leader Robert Mugabe. During her visit through the continent, Hilary Clinton not only bonded with the natives but also gave them a sense of hope, tying them in closely with the U.S. by President Obama's relation to Kenya. Hilary's trip around Africa definately had a positive affect on us and them and hopefully we can restore relations with not only South Africa, but with other nations in the continent.

Gettleman, Jeffrey. "Clinton and South African Discuss Somalia and Sudan." New York Times:World. The New York Times, 09 Aug. 2009. Web. 23 Aug. 2009. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE4D81E30F93AA3575BC0A96F9C8B63&scp=7&sq=&st=nyt.

Economic: Mansions Go Under the Gavel
With our economy in the place that it is today, many people who have indulged in the real estate market, such as Jack Warner, are now being punished for it. Warner explains how he finally acquired his dream house looking onto the Florida Gulf but is now being forced to sell it with no other options. Jim Gall, the president of Auction Company of America, says that homeowners who have mansions that were on the market for $4-$7 million dollars are now calling him and begging him to help. Mr. Warner is in the same boat as many Americans today, his first company was liquidated and his second one filed for bankruptcy, making his assets fall under court rule. Aspen, Palm Beach, the Hamptons, and California are the biggest auction areas in the U.S. currently. Although the homeowner will usually make some money by auctioning their stuff, it is usually never enough. Warner only made $2.5 million on a house that was appraised for $14 million one year ago. The article really brought into view how desperate some people are because they indulged when the economy was falling. However, some people get lucky and make enough money off the acutioning to not end up broke.

"Mansions Go Under the Gavel." New York Times:Economy. The New York Times, 08 Aug. 2009. Web. 23 Aug. 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/08/business/economy/08auction.html?scp=17&sq=&st=nyt.

Monday, July 27th

National: The Land- Living in Tents, and by the Rules, Under a Bridge
Welcome to Camp Runamuck; a tent "community" beside the Providence River in Rhode Island. Runamuck contains about 80 citizens, a cheif, and a code of conduct. Mr. John Freitas did prison time, worked ina factory, and went back and forth between motels and the streets throughout his early adult life. When he and his girlfrend came across the bypass bridge over the Providence River, they decided it would make a perfect place for them to reside. The community has rules about equal share of labor, booze and violence, and the most imporant rule that no one person should be held more important than the next. When someone disobeys part of the pact, the rest of the community can vote for them to be "kicked off the island". Officials are soon forcing the community to disperse to another place that is not public property. Its amazes me to see how people are dealing with the state of the economy. I knew people were living in tent communities but I didn't know that there were ones that weer organized and actually operated as a real town. Kudos to Mr. Freitas for starting the community and to the rest of the followers for keeping it in tact.

Barry, Dan. "This Land- Living in Tents, and by the Rules, Under a Bridge." CNN: U.S. CNN, 31 July 2009. Web. 22 Aug. 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/31/us/31land.html?_r=1&sq=&st=nyt&adxnnl=1&scp=39&adxnnlx=1250953567-JwifTC6cnFY8pr9++z+CFg.

International: Cuba Suspends Communist Party Congress and Lowers Projection for Economy
On Friday, July 24th, the Central Commitee of the Communist Party in Cuba held a meeting and decided to cancel the Communist Party for the first time since 1997. This change is supposed to help Cuba's leaders to positively influence their economy. The country's 2009 growth estimate dropped from 2.5% to 1.7% . The rough economics times started last summer and were caused by 3 hurricanes causing $10 billion dollars in damages and the international recession everyone is in these days. Raul Castro, Fidel's brother, explains that the state of the economy must be seriously bad if they are canceling the Communist Congress. The Congress will be postponed until this "crucial stage" is over with. I think this was very smart of Cuban leaders and definately needed to happen. Canceling one Congress will obviously not save the economy but it will definately help, and it seems that Cuba needs all the help it can get.

The Associated Press. "Cuba Suspends Communist Party Congress and Lowers Projection for Economy." CNN: World. CNN, 31 July 2009. Web. 22 Aug. 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/01/world/americas/01cuba.html?scp=32&sq=&st=nyt.

Economic: "Cash for Clunkers": A Car Buyer's Guide
The economic article I chose this week was in a different format than usual; it had a series of questions that readers hadasked about the program and answers that a CNN reporter gave. The Cash for Clunkers program was thrown into chaos after it spend $1 billion dollars in only a few days. The Q and A part of the article revealed a lot of basic but good info about the governement program such as : the program is not yet out of money and that it should last until the end of the week, you cannot reserve credit in advance unless you buy a vehicle which has to happen in person, about 40,000 people have bought cars under the program and about 200,000 applications are waiting to be screened, and if the program runs out of money and you haven't closed a deal than you are out of luck. I don't think that the government has the money to be spending on the program and that it is risky to take part in because if you decide to apply and go about the process and the program runs out of money you are stuck. I don't think the program will generate enough profit to have a solid positive effect on the economy.

Maynard, Michelle. ""Cash for Clunkers" : A Car Buyer's Guide." CNN: Business. CNN, 31 July 2009. Web. 22 Aug. 2009. .