In today’s news, more unions are joining the Occupy Wall Street protesters; ESPN pulls Hank Williams Jr.’s Monday night football intro after his controversial comments; Chris Christie has officially announced that he is not running for president; and Apple is set to release the iPhone 5 today. In entertainment news, Zach Baron retraces Hunter S. Thompson’s footsteps 40 years after Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and Florence and the Machine release their new music video.
Coral + Caitlin
CRUCIAL
Protesters Drawing Labor Support, http://on.wsj.com/qrUW1b
The Occupy Wall Street protesters are receiving support from local labor unions. On Monday, health-care workers union 1199SEIU agreed to help the protesters, saying it would help feed those camped out in the park, send nurses to train those providing first aid and set up a task force to figure out more plans of action. The union represents 200,000 health-care workers in New York and Long Island and 100,000 more employees located on the East Coast.
Truck Bomb Kills Dozens in Somalia’s Capital, http://nyti.ms/oP7rKA
Tuesday morning, a truck bomb exploded on a busy street in central Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, killing more than 70 people. The event may signal the comeback of the Shabab militant group, who had lost territory in recent months. The bomb also killed students who were registering for scholarships to study in Turkey, which has become a major aid donor to Somalia. Local health officials said 70 were killed and many more were injured. Witnesses reported that the bomber was driving a large truck piled high with scrap metal, apparently to conceal the explosives. The target was a building used by Somalia’s transitional government.
ESPN pulls intro after Williams’ Obama comments, http://onforb.es/qg3om4
In an interview Monday morning on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends,” Hank Williams Jr., unprompted, said of Obama joining a golf outing with House Speaker John Boehner: “It’d be like Hitler playing golf with (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu.” When asked to clarify he said, “They’re the enemy,” meaning President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. These comments prompted ESPN to pull Williams’ intro song for Monday night football and the line “Are you ready for some football?”
Contraceptive Used in Africa May Double Risk of H.I.V., http://nyti.ms/p2r3II
According to a study published on Monday, a hormone shot given every three months mostly in Africa may double the risk of contracting HIV. In many countries where the rate of pregnancy is highest, the percentage of those infected with HIV is also high. For this reason, doctors find it troubling that the injectable contraceptive has biological properties that may make women and men more vulnerable to HIV infection.
2 Severed Heads Found in Mexico City With Message, http://fxn.ws/nUCjby
On Monday, police in Mexico City found two severed heads outside of a major military base. This is a popular tactic used by warring drug gangs. Mexico City Attorney General Miguel Mancera was quoted by local news media as saying that the heads were accompanied by a note referring to the “Mano con Ojos” or “Hand with Eyes” drug gang. The organization has been active in the State of Mexico, which borders Mexico City, and in some southern districts of the capital.
Foreign Aid Set to Take a Hit in U.S. Budget Crisis, http://nyti.ms/ngTpZW
The American budget crisis may cause foreign aid to take a hit which some say is a sign of America’s diminishing world influence. Lawmakers are scrambling to lower the national debt, and the House and Senate have both proposed cutting finances in the State Department and its related agencies. The proposals would make deep cuts in food and medicine for Africa, in relief for disaster-affected places like Pakistan and Japan, in political and economic assistance for the new democracies of the Middle East, and even for the Peace Corps.
Rick Perry slips, Herman Cain rises in bid for GOP nomination, poll finds, http://wapo.st/pdljCy
After a few uneven performances during the GOP debates, Rick Perry has lost half of his support over the past month. Perry’s slide has allowed Mitt Romney to claim the top spot in the race for the GOP presidential nomination. However, the biggest change in popularity goes to Herman Cain who is now tied with Perry for second place.
More aides leave Bachmann presidential campaign, http://onforb.es/rdC5L8
Pollster Ed Goeas and senior adviser Andy Parrish have left the Bachmann campaign which raises questions about her chances of getting into the White House. Parrish is returning to the Minnesota congresswoman’s office where he was chief of staff. He moved to Iowa this summer to build support before the state’s leadoff caucuses.
(via National Journal) Christie Is Not Running for President, http://bit.ly/qWazDz: At 1pm New Jersey governor Chris Christie is set to make a public announcement of his decision to run for the presidency. However, according to the National Review Online, Christie has already made his decision, and he is not entering the race.
Apple May Unveil Voice Technology With IPhone, http://bloom.bg/p10YyV
Apple Inc. is set to unveil its new phone today, and the new rumor is voice recognition. New voice commands will let users make appointments in their calendars, send text messages or e-mails, and surf the Web on Apple’s new phone. The current iPhone has basic voice command abilities. The trick will be to get people to use the new product, and venture capitalist Larry Marcus said Apple can, “make it exciting and make people think about it in different ways. Voice controls are a very fundamental way to interact with your device.”
Studies of Universe’s Expansion Win Physics Nobel, http://nyti.ms/oEfFwi
On Tuesday, three American physicists won the Nobel prize for discovering that the universe is apparently being blown apart by a mysterious force that cosmologists now call dark energy. Saul Perlmutter, Brian Schmidt, and Adam Riess discovered in the 1990s that the light from 50 supernovas was weaker than expected which showed signs of the universe expanding at an accelerated rate.
CULTURAL
Mike McCurry wants to “Improve civics education” http://politi.co/psKM5h
The New Yorks Times shows us, “Alabama’s Shame” http://nyti.ms/qnOlmA
Fear and Loathing 40 Years Later, http://bit.ly/pWdxOl
Beyoncé & Jay-Z Raise $1 Million for Charity, http://bit.ly/qK51CY
Sherri Shepherd Blasts Barbara Walters over N-Word Use on The View, http://bit.ly/ozlYpk
Florence and the Machine: “Shake It Out”, http://p4k.in/mSX1YX
