The past few days in news and politics...

If things keep going the way that they are going, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest will break $300 million this year, and maybe even touch $400 million. Currently, it's now the highest grossing movie of 2006, breaking the numbers set by X-Men: The Last Stand this year.

The Jewish Sports Review named their All-America baseball team which included senior infielder Jason Newberger.

In baseball today, Chipper Jones tied a major league record for consecutive games with an extra-base hit set in 1927 by Paul Waner. It also extended his hitting streak to 16 games. In my mind, Chipper Jones is a Hall of Famer.

Bayh and Lugar both comment on the situation in North Korea.

"You try diplomacy, but it has to be backed up by tangible consequences if he doesn't do the right thing," said Sen. Evan Bayh. "Because, whether it's North Korea or Iran, with these radical regimes, you have to be tough in order to convince them it's in the world's best interest and their best interest, too."

Freedom Hall wasn't being very nice and for the first time since the 1980's or 70's, UK will play host to Indiana University at Rupp Arena. Chatanooga will play the Cats in Freedom Hall as a result.

ABC Family is starting to air more original programming rather than shows aired in syndication. The 8-10 slot, usually reserved for movies, is starting to get filled in with original shows. Mondays include Kyle XY and the Canadian series Falcon Beach. Fallen starting on July 23rd is a three-movie miniseries. They will air the first this year, and the next two in 2007. If they were smart, they would air them in consecutive weeks. Another series that might catch on is Three Moons Over Milford which debuts on August 6th for eight weeks at 8 PM.

My condolences to the family of Alan Senitt, a rising star in British politics whose life was tragicly robbed.

Apparently, Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska thinks the internet is a bunch of tubes.

"I just the other day got, an internet was sent by my staff at 10 o’clock in the morning on Friday and I just got it yesterday. Why? Because it got tangled up with all these things going on the internet commercially.[...]

"They want to deliver vast amounts of information over the internet. And again, the internet is not something you just dump something on. It’s not a truck. It’s a series of tubes."

Mike Weaver held a rally in response to the visit by VP Cheney in Owensboro.

In CT, Jewish leaders speak out in support of Joe Lieberman. Speaking of which, it appears that many are treating this race as a one-issue vote. It should never be about one issue. Single-issue parties have historically never survived. Frankly, I think it's a waste of money being spent by Moveon.org and others. Joe will survive the primary and cruise to an easy re-election in November.

Many Jewish groups are calling on the international community to condemn the attacks by Hezbollah.

"The American Jewish community is being mobilized to support Israel’s right to self-defense, including measures taken to end the more than 1,000 rockets fired from Gaza, the repeated missile and other attacks across the Lebanese border, and all other acts of terror," the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations said in a statement Wednesday.

The call came after Hezbollah, a Lebanese terrorist group, killed eight Israeli soldiers and kidnapped two others in a cross-border attack.

Other groups issuing statements included Hadassah; the Reform movement; the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the umbrella body for Jewish Community Relations Councils; and the Anti-Defamation League.

I stand with Israel and I will continue to stand with Israel.

BangItOut.com sent this to those on it's mailing list.

Top Ten Improvements to the Beirut Airport:
10. Sheik Hassan Nasrallah's 3rd attempt to make "Mile High club" with donkey put on permanent hold
9. Finally a night when Suha Arafat isn't the only one "gettin' bombed" in the first class lounge
8. Annoying metal detectors no longer detecting small things like nail clippers, belt buckles, missile launchers
7. Iran Air now offering upgrades to all Al Quaeda, Hezbollah and Hamas members
6. Runways named "holiest" site in all of the Middle East
5. The "Mesha'al puts the Dumb-Ass in Damascus" tshirt - Top giftshop seller!
4. As usual, all Shoe-Bomber shoe shines are free!
3. Lots more bomb/leg room for all first class terrorists
2. Thanks to Israel, Hezbollah Frequent Flyer Mileage will be valid for a very very limited time
1. With the airport in ruins, flying the Friendly Skies has really become a whole lot friendlier

Go here for the DVD extras.

That's all for this week. See you next week.