In today’s news, Al Sharpton will broadcast his radio show from today’s Occupy Wall Street debate; Rick Perry has made an attack ad against Mitt Romney’s healthcare plan; and Netflix is ditching Qwikster. In other news, Paul McCartney has wed his third wife, and Weezer bassist Mikey Welsh has died.
Coral + Caitlin
CRUCIAL
Recession Officially Over, U.S. Incomes Kept Falling, http://nyti.ms/nrNXHu
According to a study done by two former Census Bureau officials, household incomes have dropped more in the two years after the recession than they did during it. Between June 2009, when the recession officially ended, and June 2011, inflation-adjusted median household incomes fell 6.7 percent to $49,909. However during the recession, household incomes only fell 3.2 percent.
Cairo riots claim 19 lives, http://bit.ly/qCiH3u
19 people have been killed in riots in Cairo. A group of Christians protesting against a recent attack on a church were attacked by an armed mob that killed 19 people. Four protesters and two soldiers died, and 40 people were injured outside of the state television building on Sunday night, according to Egyptian security and hospital officials. Thugs with sticks chased the Christian protesters from the site, banging metal street signs to scare them off.
Sharpton to broadcast from Occupy Wall Street protests, http://bit.ly/oDovqK
Reverend Al Sharpton will broadcast his national radio show from Zuccotti Park where the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations are based today. However, politicians are trying to cast a different light on the protesters. On Sunday, two GOP Presidential hopefuls called the demonstrations “class warfare,” while Democrats praised the protestors. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has a petition on its website, asking people to support the demonstrations and to send a message to the “reckless Republican leadership in Congress.”
(via the Guardian) US man faces 15 years in jail for insulting Thai monarchy, http://bit.ly/rpSrRK: An American citizen has pleaded guilty to insulting Thailand’s monarchy, an offense that carries up to 15 years in prison. Lerpong Wichaikhammat, who also calls himself Joe W Gordon, has asked Washington to seek his release on grounds of freedom of expression. Lerpong translated an article that insults the monarchy and posted it on his blog. He is also accused of linking to a controversial biography of the king that has been banned in Thailand.
Americans Sargent, Sims share economics Nobel, http://apne.ws/pDH3OG
On Monday, Americans Thomas Sargent and Christopher Sims won the Nobel economics prize for research that demonstrates the cause-and-effect relationship between the economy and policy instruments, such as interest rates and government spending. “Today, the methods developed by Sargent and Sims are essential tools in macroeconomic analysis,” the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said in its citation.
Scientists’ Analysis Disputes F.B.I. Closing of Anthrax Case, http://nyti.ms/p1xYfU
Ten years after an anthrax attack that killed 5 people and made 17 sick, scientists believe the F.B.I. arrested the wrong suspect. Three scientists argue that tin found in the anthrax spores shows it was made by someone with skills in manufacturing. The current report says the engineering of the attack was unsophisticated. The F.B.I. did found tin in the anthrax 8 years ago. However, it was ignored and the discovery was never released to the public.
(via Mercury News) California allows online voter registration, http://bit.ly/nCibrZ: Californians will be able to register to vote online for the 2012 elections. Governor Jerry Brown announced Friday that he signed legislation that supporters say will modernize California’s election system. Democratic Sen. Leland Yee of San Francisco says his bill will allow more people to register and “participate in our democracy.”
Rick Perry’s Scary Movie-Style Attack Ad Slams The Horror Of Romneycare (VIDEO), http://bit.ly/qMF1PX
Tim Pawlenty’s attempt to turn Mitt Romney and Barack Obama into the same person when it comes to healthcare has been picked up by Rick Perry and turned into a new video that features Obama’s head morphing into Romney’s.“Even the richest man can’t buy back his past,” the ad states. Perry plans to spend 20 million dollars on anti-Romney ads.
Netflix Qwikster Saga: Company Abandons Plans for Qwikster, http://bit.ly/nQf8Io
Netflix announced that, contrary to its announcement last month, DVD rentals and streaming will stay on the same site. The company noticed a significant growth halt after the announcement. “We underestimated the appeal of the single web site and a single service,” Steve Swasey, a Netflix spokesman, said, “We greatly underestimated it.” The CEO also announced that Netflix is done with price hikes. “While the July price change was necessary, we are now done with price changes,” CEO Reed Hastings said.
Secret Orders Target Email, http://on.wsj.com/pxBt8z
The United States government has obtained the right to force Google Inc. and small internet provider Sonic.net Inc. to turn over their information from the email accounts of WikiLeaks volunteer Jacob Appelbaum. Wikileaks is a site that allows people to submit documents anonymously and is under investigation for criminal activity after secret government documents were posted last year. The court order brings up the controversial issue of electronic privacy. Several court decisions have questioned whether the law, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, violates the U.S. Constitution’s Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.
CULTURAL
Judith Browne Dianis tells us, “Five myths about voter fraud” http://wapo.st/pgGQLa
Kathleen Parker explains “When God spoke to Palin” http://trib.in/n37o8s
Fan throws hot dog at Tiger Woods, http://es.pn/nEsvHK
Meet Paul McCartney’s Third Wife: Nancy Shevell, http://abcn.ws/qP3ihO
Mikey Welsh, Former Weezer Bassist, Dead At 40, http://on.mtv.com/pBXQw7
Drake Pushes Back Album Release, http://p4k.in/qG3bZK
Michael Jackson Doctor Claimed He ‘Took All Precautions’, http://on.mtv.com/q0jWte
