While tonight's broadcast will feature our interview with John Glenn concerning the end of the Shuttle program, we are saving for another night an exchange on another topic: A while back, someone wrote a story about Senator Glenn at Chicago O'Hare being forced to put his shoes through the x-ray machine—not once, but twice. Since we can probably assume John Glenn is among the least likely Americans to want to blow up an aircraft, I've always wanted to know how he views our attempts at airport security. So we're saving that for a future date, and we certainly hope you can join us tonight.
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What we're following:
- Oil leak not sealed as quickly as Exxon claimed
- Dust storm sweeps across Phoenix
- UK tabloid may have hacked phones of grieving relatives after suicide attacks
And did you see...
- President Obama holds a Twitter forum today
- California lawmakers pass bill to teach gay history
Before there was a verdict in the Casey Anthony trial, before 6th Avenue in New York filled up with workday traffic, before Tuesday dawned across this country: it was the 4th of July. While it’s often an excuse for bedding sales, it’s also a genuine holiday—celebrated the way (more or less) John Adams wanted us to celebrate it. Even the most reserved people find a way to wear something patriotic, and even the most cautious allow themselves to wave a sparkler around.
July 4th is a great day—a house at the lake, a backyard, the beach, a public park, a State Park (except for Wisconsin), men in baggy shorts, kids with dirty faces, cheeseburgers that are a sketchy red/blue at the center, waiting until dark to light off the first shell, driving home after fireworks to put sleepy, sweaty kids to bed. I've been assured we'll have another one next year, which is a good thing—because sitting here at work, I can't come up with anything particularly great about July 5th. Except for the fact that we're preparing a great broadcast for you tonight, and we'd love for you to join us.
Scott Audette/Reuters
The space shuttle Atlantis STS-135, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., seen in May, will be launched on Friday.
First, there was the article in the Business section telling us the cellphone is "the device more people are using as the Swiss Army knife of electronics." While apps are no doubt currently under development to turn our phones into knives, files, forks and corkscrews: the article was about the growing number of people who are using their cellphones to unlock doors. The article went on to advise, "...a homeowner may want to stash a physical house key outside in case the home internet connection goes down." Yep. Good idea. Keep a key handy.
An article about the approaching end of the space shuttle program warns of "Fears of decline" at NASA. Probably because the Russians are our new ride into space.
A great thing about the July 4th New York Times: As they do every year, they published the Declaration of Independence on the back page of the first section. Every year at this time, I remind myself that John Adams urged our republic to celebrate this event loudly. While the back page makes no noise, its message is loud and clear.
We're back at work after a boisterous 4th, and we hope you can join us tonight.
What we're following:
- Missing Americans in boat sinking likely dead
- Prosecutor to reportedly drop charges against Strauss-Kahn
- Health care cuts proposed in deficit negotiations
And did you see...
- Environmental factors may be just as important as genes in autism
- Wife tries to break her husband out of prison in a suitcase
- Monkey steals camera to take pictures of himself
What we're following:
- Exxon oil spill fouls Montana river
- Prosecution to wrap up Anthony case today
- Tourist boat sinks off Mexican coast
And did you see...
- NYPD blows up 5000 pounds of confiscated fireworks
- Obama seeks steep change in auto mileage rules
- Two Republicans open door for possible tax increases
Kate Snow writes:
My husband is golfing. My kids are swimming. And I’m trying desperately not to spill any crumbs on Brian Williams’ new computer keyboard as I eat a sandwich at his new desk. Brian is of course (need you even ask?) somewhere on the Jersey Shore by now, which is why I’m here in the office with his team.
It’s always a bit strange to work when it seems like the rest of the world is not. This morning I passed a parking lot in midtown Manhattan that would normally be jam packed. There were about six cars lost in a sea of empty pavement. The sidewalks aren’t crowded. Outside the window here at 30 Rock, I see people strolling. Yes strolling. Surely they must be tourists.
But on this eve-of-the-holiday-weekend there is actually quite a bit of news to cover. We are doing our best to understand the legal developments in the Strauss-Kahn case, the latest threats from Libya’s Gaddafi and a government shutdown in Minnesota. If you’ve been too busy with sunscreen to pay attention to the day’s events we promise to bring you up to speed this evening.
And don’t worry Brian—I use hand sanitizer.
What we're following:
- Los Alamos fire set to become state's biggest ever
- Sex case against Strauss-Kahn is reportedly near collapse
- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is fighting cancer
And did you see...
- Minnesota government shuts down as budget talks fail
- What will the world look like in 2050?
- Text messages can help smokers quit
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