Week of August 23, 2007

Atty. Gen. Alberto R. Gonzalas resigns. Bush defended him, but Democrats say

he had tarnished the office with his actions.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki lashes out at U.S. and French politicians who

have called on him to step down and accused U.s. forces of committing “big

mistakes” in killing and detaining civilians in the hunt for insurgents. Earlier - he

warned the Bush administration after talks with longtime US. Adversaries in Syria

that Iraq “can find friends elsewwhere” if Washington doesn’t like how he runs his

country.

Iraq - A U.S. Black Hawk helicopter crashes - killing all 14 troops on board.

Texas Gov. Rick Parry spares the life of death row inmate Ken Foster Jr. - just

hours before he was scheduled to be executed.

President Bush spends a day in New Orleans - a year after it was devastated by

Hurricane Katrina. “This Town Is Coming Back” he said at a charter school in one

of the city’s most flood ravaged neighborhood.

Sen. Larry E. Craig of Idaho denies

making a sexual advance to an undercover

officer in a men’s room. “I am not gay and

never have been,” said the Republican

lawmaker.

Chilean police using tear gas and water

cannons arrested more than 400 people

among thousands of protesters marching in

the capital to demand better salaries and

working conditions at a time when the

economy is booming.

Barnes & Noble says it would carry O.J.

Simpson’s “If I Did It” in its stores -

reversing an earlier decision.

Home sale prices are down 3.2% in the U.S.

from last year.

Bank of America invests some $2 billion n Countrywide - and may help it

stabalize.

Week of August 23, 2007

Sports -

Soccer’s David Bekham suffers a sprained right knee and will be sidelined for

“approximately six weeks.” He’ll be out for the rest of the season.

Technical News -

Sony Corp is shuttering its Connect digital music store and opening its portable

media players to other formats. Sony’s NWZ-A810 and NWZ-S610 can play

videos and display photographs - much like iPods.

EarthLink says it would cut 900 jobs - nearly half its workforce. The company

was founded some 13 years ago.

Yahoo introduces features for its Web-based e-mail program, including software

that allows computer users to type text messages on a keyboard and send them

directly to someone cellphone.

A 17-year-oldhacker has broken the lock that ties Apple’s iPhone to AT&T’s

wireless network, freeing the most hyped cellphone ever for use on the networks

of other carriers. George Hotz of NJ says he is now using his iPhone on T-

Mobile’s network.

Monster.com says that 1.3 million users had personal information stolen by

criminals who hacked into a job placement website.

Entertainment news -

Actor Owen Wilson is now receiving

medical treatment at Hollywood’s Cedars-

Sinai Medical Center.

Lindsay Lohan reaches a deal with

prosecutors - and she has agreed to serve

a one-day jail sentence after pleading no

contest to drunk driving charges while

admitting to using cocaine in two separate

incidents.

A $10-million defamation suit against Paris

Hilton by a woman who claimed the hotel

heiress lied to the press about a run-in the

two had over a man at a London nightclub

has been settled out of court.

Music news -

Week of August 23, 2007

Blake Lewis , who finished second to Jordin

Sparks on the final “Idol” in May - signs with

Arista Records.

Passing - Hilly Kristal - whose CBGB served

as the birthplace of the punk rock movement

and a launching pad for bands such as

Blondie. He was 75.

Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones demands

an apology from Swedish newspapers for their

scathing reviews of the group’s performance in

the country this month. The review said in part,

that Richards’ appeared “a bit confused.” And

gave the band a two on a scale from one-to-

five.

A British newspaper splashed photos of Amy

Winehouse bloody and bruised after she

allegedly had a fight with her husband.

Television news -

The two-hour finale of NBC’s “America’s Got

talent” was the most-watched program on

broadcast TV last week - with 13.9 million

viewers. CSI was in second place with 10.37

followed by:

Without a Trace - 9.30

Two and a Half Men - 9.25

NFL Pre-season Football - 9.20

60 Minutes - 9.05

Labor Day Weekend - The season finale of entourage on HBO.

Perky Katie Couric is heading to Iraq and Syria - the first network evening news

anchor to visit the war zone in six months.

Passing - Character actor Robert Symonds (80).

At the movies -

Superbad

The Bourne Ultimatum