News Round-Up

[kelincihutan.livejournal.com]

United States
Federal Judge Orders Nixon's Watergate Grand Jury Testimony Released - 07/30
Nixon's testimony on this was secret. The official release will not happen, however, until the government has had a chance to appeal.
House Passes Debt Bill, Senate Tables It - 07/30
So that makes...what, at least three separate debt plans the GOP has passed that the Democrats have rejected out of hand? Yeah, the Republicans are all completely at fault for the current situation.
FBI Investigation on US News Corp Agencies Officially Opened - 07/30
At the moment, they claim to be only double-checking things. There is a company named Floorgraphics, Inc. (whoever they are) that is claiming a News Corp agency did hack their website. If that bears out, then the US investigation will probably become more serious.
Senate Kills Harry Reid's Debt Bill - 07/31
In a fight with all the drama and swashbuckling action of an epic battle (but without any intelligent characters, cool weapons, snappy dialogue, or soaring cinematic music), the Senate has now killed yet another plan on raising the debt ceiling. But this time it's okay, because they're totally close to a compromise! Supposedly. Again.
Justice Department Files Suit Over Alabama's Immigration Law - 08/02
As with Arizona, they're claiming that the states are horning in on what is supposed to be an exclusively Federal issue. Tenth Amendment? What's that?
Debt Deal Through House and Now in Senate - 08/02
Despite the criticisms many have made of it, most media and political outlets are hailing it as a complete victory on every issue the Tea Party stressed. Whether the hobbits believe that they have indeed won a battle against Mordor is still being determined. (Yeah, I don't think I'm ever gonna let that hobbit thing go. :)
FAA Deal Now Done - 08/04
A temporary measure has been put in place that will keep the FAA running until mid-September, at which time Congress will have to fight everything out again. Or, as our left-pond friends put it, this is "setting the stage for a fresh political row when lawmakers return from their summer break." Why can't the news say awesome things like "political row" in the US?
Mob Beatings at Wisconsin Fair - 08/05
At least four people were hurt in a series of as-yet-to-be-explained attacks outside the Wisconsin State Fair. So far, no deaths have been reported. It appears, at this point, that a racial element was involved in some as-yet-to-be-explained way as several witnesses report a group of predominantly African-American members was attacking, in the main, white fairgoers.


World
Scotland Yard Now Investigating Claims of Computer Hacking - 07/30
In a not-very-surprising turn of events, the Met is putting together a task force to look at allegations against News of the World outside of phone hacking.
Syrian Army Kills Civilian Protesters - 07/31
At least 100 anti-government protesters are dead in Hama alone after the Syrian army began "cracking down" on the protests, which have been ongoing since March. This is, reportedly, one of the bloodiest days of protests.
New Phone Hacking Arrest - 08/02
There's been another arrest in the phone hacking scandal in Britain, though the name of the person arrested is not yet confirmed. It ain't over yet, folks.
Mubarak Pleads Not Guilty at Trial - 08/03
On trial for corruption and various other political evilness, Hosni Mubarak has plead not guilty. Did I mention he is in a hospital bed behind massive prison bars, all of which have been installed in the courtroom for the duration of this trial? Talk about drama.
Major Global Child Porn Ring Busted - 08/03
Apparently it was called "Dreamboard" and would grant "Super VIP" status to people who uploaded the most depraved content (honestly, even the very clinical and non-specific article is enough to turn your stomach). It was broken by US law enforcement (Woot!), but--being an interwebby thing--had members all over the world. Two of the five board admins have now been arrested.
At Least 1,750 Dead in Syria - 08/04
The UN is now considering sanctions against the Syrian government, although they have yet to withdraw financial aid and are actually sending more. Then again, the UN was never very sensical or useful anyway, so I suppose this is par for the course.
Mexico and Fifteen Other Nations File Brief Against Alabama Immigration Law - 08/05
Because apparently it's only okay to enforce your border if you are a country other than the United States. You know what, Governor Bentley? Don't you dare back down.


Life Issues in the News
Judge Blocks Kansas Law Defunding Planned Parenthood - 08/02
Kansas will be appealing the ruling, thank goodness.
San Francisco Gearing Up for Campaign Against Crisis Pregnancy Centers - 08/03
For those of you who don't know, a Crisis Pregnancy Center is a non-profit organization designed to help poor pregnant women and to try and get abortion-minded women to choose life. Nearly all of them offer free pregnancy resources to anyone who needs them, whether they are in an unplanned pregnancy or poor or whatever, often help unemployed mothers find work, have connections to adoption services for those who are looking, and just generally exist to try and make things easier for pregnant women. In Austin, Baltimore, and New York, abortion apologists have enacted laws targeting CPCs and requiring them to post signs that they do not perform or refer for abortions. In Baltimore and New York (I don't know about Austin), the laws have been struck down as unconstitutional. It is beginning to look like SF wants to be the next place to have this fight.


Solar System
Possible Evidence of Water on Mars - 08/04
It's all very vague maybes and possiblys and in-theorys, but recent images indicate a possible mobile something that behaves like salty, muddy water. I am, of course, hoping that it is water because that would just be really cool.
NASA Sending Probe to Jupiter - 08/05
It's expensive, but assuming they've done the math right on this one and it doesn't crash into the Great Spot, the probe will park itself in orbit around the planet by 2016 and send us all pretty, pretty pictures.


Wait...What?
Computer to Serve as Celebrant for Texas Couple's Wedding - 07/30
After a friend was unable to officiate at their wedding, a Houston couple have written a computer program to stand in that stead. Unfortunately, a justice of the peace will have to sign their paperwork since the computer was not able to obtain an ordination and the ceremony will therefore not be legally binding.
Barack Obama Loses Over 40,000 Followers on Twitter - 07/30
In an amusing sideline to the debt debate, Barack Obama and staff took to Twitter, urging followers to tweet Republican lawmakers and ask for compromise. The resultant tweet-spam cluttered up so many feeds to the point that over 40K people unfollowed him.
Thieves Steal 22 Bathroom Stall Doors - 07/30
Expensive bathroom stall doors, too, since each one costs almost $3,000!
Media Matters Tax-Exemption Being Re-examined - 08/03
Media Matters' CEO David Brock recently claimed that the non-profit was out to "sabotage" FOX news. While that didn't get them investigated by the IRS, there are apparently some "IRS documents and activities" that have put the tax-exempt status in jeopardy. These activities include, but are not limited to, actively pushing for advertisers to drop FOX and attempting to get major stock holders to sell their stock in News Corp. Because these actions are flirting with the line between free speech and action, Media Matters status as a non-profit (and tax supported) organization is now under review.