Week of February 15, 2005

Former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri is killed by massive car bombs as

his motorcade drove through a seaside Beirut neighborhood.

A German shorthaired pointer called Carlee becomes America’s top dog at an

exhibition in New York.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s initiative to uproot the Jewish settlements in

the Gaza Strip wins final parliamentary approval after two days of debate.

The U.S. ambassador to Syria is called back to Washington as anger swells

against Damascus after the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minster

Rafik Hariri.

Iraq’s Shiite Muslims mark their holiest day with violence as attackers kill 54.

President Bush asks Congress for an additional $81.9 billion that would go

mainly to fund the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, boosting the cost of U.S

military operations stemming from the 2001 terrorist attacks to about $280 billion.

Three bombs planted by Islamic militants explode in southern Philippines - killing

seven and wounding more than 100.

Defrocked priest Paul Shanley, one of the most notorious figures in the Boston

clerical abuse scandal, is sentenced to 12 to 15 years in prison for repeatedly

raping a young boy during the 1980’s.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

urges American allies to join the U.S. in

pressuring Syria to end its presence in

Lebanon and what she said was its support

of terrorism.

President Bush nominates the U.S.

ambassador to Iraq, John Negroponte, to

sere as the nation’s first director of national

intelligence.

U.S. and Japanese officials urge North

Korea to resume negotiations aimed at

eliminating its nuclear weapons program,

Week of February 15, 2005

while a top Chinese diplomat visited Pyongyang to push the same message.

Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan embraces President Bush’s vision of

an “ownership society”, saying private Social Security accounts could foster

feelings of wealth among poor Americans. Earlier, President Bush said he is

open to raising taxes on wealthy Americans to cover the costs of transforming

Social Security.

President Bush steps up U.S. pressure on Syria - declaring it “out of step” with

advances toward democracy in the Middle East.

The Kyoto Protocol to curtail greenhouse gases goes into effect without the

participation of the United States.

In a videotape broadcast, Al Qaeda’s deputy leader, Ayman Zawahiri -

denounced U.S. calls for political reform in the idle East and urged the West to

respect the Islamic World.

Gasoline dropped slightly the past week - to an average retail price of $1.93.

Passing - Sandra Dee (62) actress,

singer and teen idol of the late 1950’s

and early 1960’s. The actress had been

hospitalized for the last two weeks for

treatment of kidney disease and had

developed pneumonia.

Kills self of a gunshot wound - Hunter

Thompson - the counterculture literary

figure. He was 67.

A Food and Drug Administration advisory

panel votes to let doctors prescribe Cox-

2 painkillers including Celebrex and

Vioxx, but recommends stronger

warnings abut the risk of heart attacks.

Business - Stocks rose and the Dow

pushes to a new high of 10,838.32.

Passing - Dick Weber - bowling champ (75).

Week of February 15, 2005

Technology -

Microsoft Corp chairman Bill Gates outlines for the first time, plans to use recent

purchases to beef up security of its Windows operating system.

Nokia, the world’s largest mobile phone maker and Microsoft, strike a deal to

make it easier for consumers to buy digital music online and play it on their

handsets.

The world’s first mobile phone virus in the wild has spread to the U>S. from the

Philippines eight months ago. The virus, called Cabir, has spread into 12

countries and it mostly drains mobile phone batteries.

Website the Smoking Gun releases much of the transcript from the Michael

Jackson child-molestation case.

Sports -

It’s official- The NHL cancels its season due to a player’s strike.

Jeff Gordon wins the first Daytona 507 ½ as

a couple of late accidents forced him to work

overtime. Gordon was followed by Kurt

Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Scott Riggs,

Jimmie Johnson.

Music news -

Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam) wins substantial

damages from two British newspapers that

alleged he supported terrorism.

Bruce Springsten’s 19 th album, “Devils &

Dust” will be released April 26 and followed

by a tour.

Television news -

Jon Stewart signs a production deal with Comedy Central, which has agreed to

finance Stewart’s Busboy Productions and its development of television projects.

Stewart just celebrated his sixth anniversary with “The Daily Show.”

On “Saturday Night Live “ - Hilary Swank and musical guest

50 Cent.

Passing - Actor Brian Kelly (73) - who starred as Porter Ricks

in the 1960’s “Flipper” TV series.

Week of February

15,2005

Top TV this week -

American Idol (Tue.) - 28.77 million viewers

CSI - 27.85

American Idol (Wed.) - 26.08

Desperate Housewives - 22.30

Without a Trace - 19.63

Lost - 19.48

CSI: Miami - 18.82

Grammy Awards - 18.80

Everybody Loves Raymond - 17.49

ER - 17.07

Two and a Half Men - 16.75

CSI (9pm) - 16.67

Extreme Makeover - 16.55

Apprentice 3 - 15.13

House - 14.97

Law & Order: SVU - 14.18

Medium - 13.97

Law & Order: Criminal Intent

(Sunday) - 13.53

Law &: Order - 13.16

CSI: NY - 13.08

Boston Legal - 12.89

60 Minutes - 12.76

NCIS - 12.74

Amazing Racing: 6 - 12.61

Crossing Jordan - 12.20

Hot hits this week in

2005

Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson

Boulevard Of Broken Dreams - Green Day

1,2 Step - Ciara Featuring Missy Elliott

Candy Shop - 50 Cent Featuring Olivia

Get Right - Jennifer Lopez

Breakaway - Kelly Clarkson

Across The Universe (Live) - Alicia Keys, Alison Krauss,

Billie Joe Armstrong, Bono, Brian Wilson, Norah Jones,

Steven Tyler, Stevie Wonder, Tim McGraw & Velvet

Revolver

Wasted - Goldfinger

Over & Over - Nelly Feat. Tim McGraw