News Briefs: 08/01/2008

Fidel Castro relinquishes power

I know all the news agencies are jumping all over Fidel Castro's health: he went in for surgery for gastro-intestinal bleeding. However, I found the biggest and most interesting nugget is that for the first time since the dictator took power over Cuba, Fidel Castro relinquished his power to his brother Raul, the Cuban Minister of Defense for the first time in 47 years. Castro is two weeks from his 80th birthday.

STILL no peace in the Middle East

Daily excursions continue on the three main fronts against terrorism: Iraq, Afghanistan, and Lebanon. I find it interesting that the US is giving Israel the wink and nod and letting them go through with the war against Hezbollah. Those terrorists are cut from the same cloth as the ones who attacked the US in 2001, so I say let Israel continue.

Baked Apple

NYC is in the middle of a heat wave. It's been days of 90+ degree weather already, and no relief in sight until the end of the week. They are expecting temperatures to even come close to 120. I am not amused by this.

Con Edison continues to fail NYC

After the debacle that left large portions of northwest Queens without power for 10 days, Staten Island suffered scattered outages last week. Some parts of northwest Queens are without power again. I guess the big band-aid that Con Ed slapped over this gaping would isn't doing the job.

N Train rated worst in city

The #6 line was rated the best line in NYC since it has frequent service and infrequent breakdowns. The N line was rated the worst in the system due to faulty cars, lateness, dirty, and broken service. I take both of these lines everyday, and it's night and day difference going from one to the next. The 6 trains and new and pleasant. The N line is ramshackled. During the summer you can find cars with the HEAT on. Probably the #7 should be down on the list too. There's so many switching problems and failures, and faulty cars running that it's kinda iffy whether you'll get home or not.

For the WHO CARES file

Pam Anderson and Kid Rock wed in St. Tropez over the weekend. They are planning a world tour of weddings. Can someone remove them from my newspapers, PLEASE?