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11 Aug 2009 22:52

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U.S.: A deadly domestic dispute ruins commutes for thousands

  • 2 people, including a toll-worker, were killed at a bridge around rush hour source

11 Aug 2009 21:18

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U.S.: Arlen Specter nearly maimed by an old man with sharp teeth

  • “ONE DAY GOD’S GONNA STAND BEFORE YOU AND JUDGE YOU AND THE REST OF YOUR CRONIES UP ON THE HILL.” We think Arlen Specter should keep his seat in the next election simply because he managed to stand up to that guy.source

11 Aug 2009 10:42

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U.S.: Most of New Jersey doesn’t want their state to be like “The Sopranos”

  • 93% of Jersey thinks corruption’s a problem; the rest is in on it source

11 Aug 2009 10:16

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U.S.: Eunice Kennedy Shriver, a tireless campaigner for the mentally disabled

Smithsonian portrait of Eunice Kennedy Shriver
  • She died early Tuesday at 88. Beyond being known as a member of the Kennedy family, Shriver founded the Special Olympics in 1968 just weeks after her brother Robert’s assassination. It was a profound idea – during an era where physical activity was unheard of for the mentally disabled, she started an event to encourage it. She learned about it from her sister Rosemary, who grew up in Kennedy household during an era where many with mental disabilities were institutionalized. Her victories may not have been as loud as those of her famous brothers, but in their own way they were just as profound. source

11 Aug 2009 08:43

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U.S.: Being stuck on a roller coaster is a roller coaster of emotions

  • 24 people were stuck on Invertigo for three hours; yikes source

10 Aug 2009 21:22

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U.S., World: Barack Obama puts immigration on the backburner for later

  • Now, am I going to be able to snap my fingers and get this done? No. But ultimately, I think the American people want fairness. And we can create a system in which you have strong border security and an orderly process for people to come in.
  • President Barack Obama • Discussing immigration reform in Mexico during a summit with Mexican President Felipe Calderón and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He can’t really focus too much on it now – “I’ve got a lot on my plate,” he admitted – but hopes to improve the process for everyone overall. For some conservatives who have made a game out of criticizing illegal immigration, it can’t come soon enough. (On the plus side, they’re busy complaining about health care reform.) • source

10 Aug 2009 21:09

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U.S., World: Hillary in Congo: BILL ISN’T SECRETARY! I AM! HULK SMASH!

  • Wow. Did you see the way Hillary Clinton turned green and her muscles got really big when she was asked that question? She’s a regular Bruce Banner. But that said, we can understand her anger. Clinton went to Congo to bring a stop to rape in the country. In other words, she was fighting a women’s rights issue and had sexism thrown right in her face. Good job, random student!source
 

10 Aug 2009 10:46

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U.S.: Excessive police force on YouTube, example No. 2,307,539

  • Police brutality is easier to track thanks to YouTube. In this video, a police officer at a Wal-Mart slammed an elderly woman to the ground. Which seems a wee bet excessive, due to the fact that, well, it’s an old woman. She was carrying a knife, yes, but this doesn’t seem to be the best way to handle something like this.source

10 Aug 2009 10:31

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Biz, U.S.: When do private economists see the recession ending?

  • Q3 but the recovery is gonna take a little while, they say source

10 Aug 2009 09:35

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U.S.: The Manson Family’s crimes still linger 40 years later

  • The murders were probably the most bizarre and far-out in the recorded annals of American time. People are fascinated by the strange and the bizarre.
  • Vincent Bugliosi • The prosecutor of Charles Manson and members of his “family,” on why the murders continue to hold such a prominent place in popular culture. 40 years ago, Manson attempted to fire the opening shot in what he saw as an apocalyptic race war, convincing his family to go to the home of director Roman Polanski, where they killed actress Sharon Tate (who was pregnant) and six others. Despite the problems that California’s legal system is facing, they’re still in jail – the crimes were that insane. • source