Week of February 1, 2007

Russian President Vladimir V. Putin who is due to step down next year at the end

of his second term, pledges that his successor would be chosen in a free and

democratic election.

Iraq is unraveling at an accelerating rate and even if U.S. and Iraqi forces can

slow the spreading violence - so says a U.S. intelligence assessment.

Sen. Joseph Biden Jr. (D-

Del.) announces his

candidacy for the

presidency, arguing that

when the media buzz fades

from Hillary Rodham Clinton

and Sen. Barack Obama -

voters will rally around

Biden’s foreign policy

expertise.

A suicide bomber driving a dump truck hauling a ton of explosives - explodes in

the center of a crowded Baghdad market - killing at least 130.

The Iraqi government accuses Syria of harboring insurgents fomenting violence

in Baghdad after a massive suicide bombing the previous day killed at least 130-

people in a Shiite neighborhood of the capital.

Tornadoes in Florida kill 19.

Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez is granted sweeping powers to rule by

decree for 18 months to accelerate his push toward socialism.

British police arrest nine suspects in a possible Iraq-style plot to kidnap and

behead a British Muslim soldier and broadcast his death on the Internet.

Toyota - becomes the world’s #1 automaker - reporting a 7.3% jump in fiscal

third-quarter profit.

NASA astronaut is arrested and

accused of attacking a woman she

considered her rival for the love of

another astronaut. She accosted Air

parking lot and sprayed her with

Week of February 1, 2007

pepper spray in an attempt to kidnap her, according to a police affidavit.

Battle of the morning coffee - Consumer Reports magazine says that its tasters

found McDonald’s coffee to be “decent and moderately strong” with no flaws and

that the Starbucks brew was strong, but burnt and bitter enough to make your

eyes water instead of open.

Exxon Mobile Corp reports a 2006 profit of 439.5 billion - the largest ever

recorded by a public company.

The U.S. economy surged 3.5% during the fourth quarter - up from 2% in the

previous quarter.

Passing - Singer/actress

Sports -

The Indianapolis Colts defeat the

Chicago Bears 29-17 in Super

Bowl XLI. QB Peyton manning

gets game MVP.

Technology -

Apple endorses a radical

proposal to do away with

restrictions over what people can

do with the music they buy

online. The plan cold allow music

fans to purchase songs from

apple and play them on rivals

music players.

Wal-mart Stores begins selling movies online - the first major retailer to offer

downloadable digital movies from all major Hollywood studios.

Actor Ryan O’Neal is arrested on suspicion of assault and a firearm offense after

a dispute at his Malibu beachfront home with his son Griffin.

Farrah Fawcett (60) gets good news from her doctor - that she is cancer free.

Music news -

Passing - Frankie Laine - Pop hit singer of the 1950’s. He was 93.

Week of February 1, 2007

Top TV -

Super Bowl XL - 93.18 million viewers

Super Bowl XL Postgame 1 - 81.84

Super Bowl XLI Postgame 2 - 57.34

American Idol (Tue.) - 33.65

American Idol Wed.) - 31.85

Criminal Minds (Sun.) - 26.31

Grey’s Anatomy (Thur.) - 24.18

CSI - 21.49

Deal or No Deal (Mon.) - 16.92

Shark - 14.08

24- 14.04

Ugly Betty - 14.00

Heroes - 13.63

CSI: Miami - 13.53

Television news-

Jeff Zucker - executive producer of

“today” is named chief executive of NBC Universal - succeeding chief Bob

Wright, who’s been at it for 21 years.