Going to the Brink in Europe
After behaving like an unruly bunch of Third World nations, Europeans got their act together in the nick of time this weekend to come up with a financial rescue plan for that will prevent another financial meltdown—or worse—a second global recession. The 750 million euro ($1 trillion) plan to shore up finances and sent stock markets and the euro soaring. Let's hope our European cousins will stop blaming the United States for their financial woes.
Read it at the Financial Times.
Bonnie and Clyde 4.0: Jay-Z and Betty White Draw Huge Ratings
Jay-Z and Betty White teamed up for the highest rated SNL in 18 months. Golden girl Betty White was invited onto the show after a Facebook campaign. She promptly opened the show dissing the social network. Jay-Z gave a great performance with a medley of hits from The Blueprint 3, dedicating "Young Forever" to the 88-year-old actress/comedian. We want to see more of this Jay and B.
Read it at the Post Chronicle.
It's not just the LAPD that has a black-and-blue history with people of color. Authorities at the Los Angeles men's jail are alleged to have been brutalizing the inmates, with many suffering broken ribs, black eyes and wounds that require staples. The ACLU report covers a 12-month period from 2008 to 2009 and is based on weekly visits to the jail and scores of inmate complaints. Clearly these officers were trained at the "Chief Daryl Gates School of Police Brutality."
Read it at the Los Angeles Times.
High Noon: Condemned British woman will be executed
The details of the crime are bizarre, but Linda Carty, a black Brit from St. Kitts, is slated for execution in Texas, making her the first Brit to be scheduled for execution in the United States. The 51-year-old grandmother was convicted of murdering her 20-year-old neighbor, Joana Rodriguez, and abducting Rodriguez's 4-day old baby, supposedly to keep the interest of a straying lover. Carty claims that she had a terrible defense attorney and the prosecutor's motive is contrived. We don't know what to think. Like Oprah, one thing we know for sure is that the Lone Star State will fry you in a heartbeat.
Shut Eye is Strongly Recommended: Lack of sleep linked to early death
Dick Gregory said it 40 years ago. We're glad that the rest of the world is finally catching up. Folks that get less than six hours of sleep each night have a greater chance of dying prematurely. Apparently, if you don't get enough sleep, you can develop diabetes, obesity, hypertension and high cholesterol. Yet another reason to turn off the television and laptop and turn down the bed.