Week of August 1, 2005

14 Marines are killed in a roadside bomb blast near Baghdad.

The crew of a Russian mini-submarine trapped for days beneath the Bering Sea

is rescued after a remote-controlled British “Scorpio” underwater craft helped

disentangled the vessel from cables and fishing ropes.

Prime Minister Tony Blair announces tough anti-

terrorism measures that include shutting down

radical mosques and deporting Islamic clerics

who preach violence.

The Chinese oil company which wanted to buy

Unocal Corp abandons its effort because of

“regrettable and unjustified” U.S. political

opposition.

President Bush uses his power to bypass the

confirmation process and names John Bolton as

ambassador to the United Nations. The

nomination of Bolton was blocked for five months

by Democrats.

An Air France jetliner carrying 309 passengers and crew skids of a runway and

plunges into a ravine during a heavy thunderstorm. Everyone got out before the

plane was consumed by flames.

Although its missing some paragraphs an gets a couple of facts wrong, an

unauthorized Chinese version of “Harry Potter and the half-Blood Prince” goes

on sale in Bejing, just two weeks after the book appeared in English and almost

three months head of the planned launch of the official Chinese-language edition.

Technology -

Yahoo says it plans to launch a program that automatically places relevant

advertising on blogs and other Web pages. Google is doing the same thing, so

Yahoo is sort of catching up here.

Ask Jeeves Inc. is launching an updated ad network powered by its own search

engine.

Business -

Adidas proposes a $3.8 billion purchase of Reebok.

Week of August 1, 2005

Oil futures prices hit a record high of $61.57 a barrel.

Sports -

Albert Juols becomes the first player in major league history to hit 30 home runs

in each of his first five seasons, Helping the St. Louis Cardinals and John Smoltz’

eight-game winning streak with an 11-3 victory over the Braves.

Pitcher Ryan Franklin of the Seattle Mariners is suspended 10 days for violating

baseball’s steroid policy - the eight major league player caught under tougher

drug rules enacted this year.

Music news -

Passing - Little Milton - (70).

A behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming Eminem-50 Cent “Anger

Management” tour debuts on MTV - actually MTV Overdrive, part of MTV.com.

Radio news -

Comedian Adam Corolla says he will replace

Howard Stern on his Los Angeles affiliate - KLSX-

FM. Actually, Corolla will also air in San Diego, San

Francisco and one other West Coast city.

Entertainment news -

Actress Holly Hunter (47) is pregnant for the first

time - with twins!

Up and coming - Actor Ben McKenzie of the hit TV

series - The OC is starring in his first movie -

“Junebug.’

Martha Stewart will spend three extra weeks under

house arrest after reports that she violated terms of

her home confinement by going to a yoga class and

motoring around her estate in an off-road vehicle.

Top DVD sales -

Constantine

Man of the House

Million Dollar Baby

Ice Princess

Hitch

Week of August 1, 2005

The Pacifier

Hostage

Hide and Seek

Laguna Beach: first season

Television news -

CNN suspends Robert Novak after he cursed and

stormed off a live studio telecast of “Inside Politics.”

Novak has also been under fire for his role in the

scandal surrounding the disclosure of the identity of

CIA operative Valerie Plame.

Howard Stern will be testing a new technology - In

Demand which provides video-on-demand content

to cable TV. The In Demand show will contain

edited highlights of his radio show - and it will be

uncensored.

Perky Katie Couric says she is deciding to stay with

“Today” as her contract expires next May.

Top TV -

CSI - 13.40 million viewers

Without a Trace

CSI: Miami

Two and a half Men

Law & Order: Criminal Intent

NCIS

Brat Camp

Everybody Love Raymond

Cold Case

Law & Order

Big Brother

Primetime

Crossing Jordan

So You Think You Can Dance

Law & Order (9pm)

At the movies -

Wedding Crashers

Charlie and the Chocolate factory

Sky High

Week of August 1, 2005

Hot Hits this week in 2005

Pon De Replay - Rihanna

D on’t Cha - Pussycat Dolls Feat.

Busta Rhymes

Hollaback Girl - Gwen Stefani

Behind These Hazel Eyes - Kelly

Clarkson

You & Me - Lifehouse

Beverly Hills - Weezer

Don't Phunk With My Heart - Black

Eyed Peas

Sugar, We're Goin' Down - Fall Out

Boy

Switch - Will Smith

Best Of You - Foo Fighters