Necessary News

All you need to know to sound brilliant

It’s All Your Fault: Studies Link Heat Waves To Global Warming

• You may have suspected it, but now you have confirmation. These scorching heat waves we’re having? Chalk them up to global warming. [Washington Post]
• According to scientists and a handful of recent studies, human-generated emissions of nasty gases have led to both higher overall temperatures and greater weather variability. In English: longer, more intense heat waves.
• The numbers: since 1880, the duration of heat waves in Western Europe has doubled — and the number of “unusually hot days” has tripled.
• Another study, performed by Britain’s Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research, shows that the likelihood of lethal heat waves — like the one that hit France in 2003 — has doubled. By 2040, it’s predicted that heat waves of that nature will happen every other year.
• It’s just not safe: since mid July, more than 175 Americans have died due to heat related conditions. In 2003, 52,000 Europeans perished in the heat wave.

Heat: having the best year ever.

People Are Talking: Iraq

As violence erupts across the Middle East, Iraq continues to be plagued with sectarian blood shed. Here’s what the politicians and the pundits are saying about it.

• Secretary of State Rice, on This Week: “[General Abizaid] said that, yes, the sectarian violence is as bad as he’s ever seen it. But he made very clear that we have the forces and he believes the plan to prevent any slide to civil war.”
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• Senator Biden (D-DE), on Fox News Sunday : “Let’s just judge this by the President’s own standards. He talked about the axis of evil, he announced it three years ago implying we’re gonna do something about it. You have the Shia much stronger now in Iraq than they ever were. You have Iran much stronger and moving toward a nuclear weapon. You have North Korea with four hundred percent more fissile material.”
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• Senator Dodd (D-CT), on Face the Nation : “This is a civil war. I think the Generals the other day were cautious in their language. But I think they were telling us something loud and clear to anyone who wanted to listen. This is a civil war.”
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• Senator Hagel (D-NE), on Face the Nation: “We’re ruining our United States army. We are decimating our army. We can’t continue with the tempo and the commitment that we’re on right now.”
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• Senator Hagel (D-NE), on Face the Nation: “I think where we go from here, with all the problems and inconsistencies, is a cold, hard assessment that Iraq is not gonna turn out the way that we were promised it was. And that’s a fact, not because I say it, that’s where it’s going. just as the Generals said it very honestly I think this week before the Congress.”
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Supreme Court Justice Says We Must Do Better On Global Stage

• Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy spoke to the American Bar Association this weekend and wasn’t afraid to say what was on his mind. [ABC News]
• He said the U.S. has yet to convince the world about this whole “freedom and democracy” thing. “Make no mistake, there’s a jury that’s out. In half the world, the verdict is not yet in. The commitment to accept the Western idea of democracy has not yet been made, and they are waiting for you to make the case,”
• “Our best security, our only security, is in the world of ideas, and I sense a slight foreboding.”
• He also said the U.S. had to respect the dignity of all if we want the world to follow us: “Americans must understand that if the rules of law have meaning, such as hope and inspiration for the rest of the world, it must be coupled with the opportunity to improve human existence.”

Good News, Bad News

It’s straight out of the Babysitters Club. On Friday, a Kansas shopping mall stayed open all night to allow over a thousand Girl Scouts “shop till they dropped.” It was all part of a G-rated “girls night out” that was complete with karaoke, pizza, dancing, and shopping. Lots of shopping. Let’s look at the pros and cons. [Witchita Eagle]

GOOD NEWS

Like, shopping for 8 hours with ur BFF 4 Life, obvi!

BAD NEWS

Tears at Claire’s Accessories at 4am; 1,500 Girl Scouts in a mall.

Quote Of The Day

“It’s part of the Trojan horse domination of our culture. Now they’re coming after our language...It’s another steppingstone in a literal takeover of our country, eventually. . . . I’m supportive of a boycott of Ford, because now they’ll be complicit.”

— Minuteman founder Jim “I Need A New Hobby” Gilchrist, freaked out by the new Ford truck commercial in which woman thanks Guy In Truck by saying, “Gracias, Manuel.” [Washington Post]

Speed Round

MIDDLE EAST

New Hezbollah attack deadliest yet. [NY Times]

CIVIL LIBERTIES

Don’t get any ideas, Mr. President: new law allows China to spy on citizens, listening to wiretaps, reading emails. [NY Times]

VOTING RIGHTS

State of Ohio makes it harder to vote, especially if you’re poor. [NY Times]

CUBA

Get those investment portoflios ready: businesses start eyeing a post-Castro island. [LA Times]

DON’T ASK DON’T TELL

U.S. Army sacks Arab translator after he’s outted on the Internet. We’ve come a long way. [Pink News]

NATIONAL GUARD

Thanks. No really, thanks. Massachusetts National Guard stiffs soldiers on post 9/11 pay. [Washington Post]

CINDY SHEEHAN

Another August, another protest. Cindy Sheehan resumes protests near Bush’s ranch. [ABC News]

WHITE HOUSE AIDES

You know things are bad when you’re stealing from Lohman’s. Ex-White House aide pleads guilty to shoplifitng from discount department stores. [ABC News]