Vinny's Website Blog

Beijing begins massive Olympic shutdown (AP)

AP - Beijing's Olympic shutdown begins Sunday, a drastic plan to lift the Chinese capital's gray shroud of pollution just three weeks ahead of the games.

Obama visits Afghanistan to tour war zone (AP)

AP - Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama arrived in Afghanistan on Saturday, the first stop on a campaign-season tour of war zones, a spokesman said.

Oil prices tumble in biggest weekly drop ever (AP)

AP - The price of oil recorded its biggest weekly drop ever, and a gallon of gas finally pulled back from its record high. So is it time to declare the energy bubble popped?

House prices could fall for two years: Citigroup (Reuters)

Midnight stampede to 'The Dark Knight' sets record (AP)

AP - Nothing dark about Batman's first night at the box office.

Crane collapses at Houston refinery, killing 4 (AP)

AP - Hitting the ground with enough force to lift a worker off the ground, one of the nation's largest mobile cranes collapsed at a Houston oil refinery, killing four workers and injuring seven others.

Pope apologizes for clergy sex abuse in Australia (AP)

AP - Pope Benedict XVI used some of the strongest language yet in his apology Saturday for the sexual abuse of children by Australia's Roman Catholic clergy, but his words were just more of the same for the victims.

Angelina Jolie leaves hospital (AP)

When There's a Deficit of Decency (Dear Margo)

Choi leads Norman by a stroke at the British Open (AP)

AP - Tiger Woods on crutches was supposed to be a chance for someone else to seize the spotlight at the British Open. Greg Norman wasn't the guy anyone had in mind. Neither was David Duval. Indeed, Royal Birkdale proved to be fertile ground for fairy tales on Friday.

AP - Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama arrived in Afghanistan on Saturday, the first stop on a campaign-season tour of war zones, a spokesman said.

For better or worse, McCain wedded to town halls (AP)

AP - John McCain was in his favorite campaign setting, a town hall meeting, when he spotted a promising target. "I'd love to recognize you first, sir," the Republican presidential candidate said to a man in a Vietnam War veteran's hat.

McCain adviser Gramm quits after 'whiners' remarks (AP)

AP - Former Texas Sen. Phil Gramm resigned Friday from his role as GOP presidential candidate John McCain's campaign co-chairman, hoping to quiet the uproar that followed his comments that the United States had become a "nation of whiners" whose constant complaints about the U.S. economy show they are in a "mental recession."

Foes no more, McCain, Romney warm to each other (AP)

AP - Just as Republican John McCain was unloading on his Democratic presidential rival Friday, he was offering warm, effusive words for once bitter foe Mitt Romney. And Romney, the mega-millionaire former Republican governor of Massachusetts, was pledging to help McCain's presidential campaign financially — and in any other way.

McCain is winning – in Israel (Politico)

McCain raises more than $21 million in June (AP)

AP - Republican presidential candidate John McCain raised more than $21 million in June and spent nearly $26 million, the campaign reported Friday night.

Obama to meet with leaders in Mideast, Europe (AP)

Obama 'more left' than a socialist: McCain (AFP)

AFP - Republican White House hopeful John McCain said Friday that his Democratic rival Barack Obama is further to the left than the only Socialist US senator.

Guests for the Sunday TV news shows (AP)

No rush to retire black robes on Supreme Court (AP)

AP - John Paul Stevens still plays tennis at 88. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 75, works out regularly in the Supreme Court gym.