Supreme Court Bans Gun Bans: Top 10 Reactions
The Supreme Court's ruling striking down a city of Chicago handgun ban has sparked immediate, thoughtful online commentary about one of the country's greatest and oldest debates: that over gun rights -- or more specifically, the relationship among governments, gun access and public safety. Surge Desk has compiled a selection of some of the responses and dialogues coming from the blogosphere as a result of today's historic judgment. Hans von Spakovsky, on the Heritage Foundation's blog, writes that this should have been an easy decision. "It is hard to believe that anyone could rationally ...
Supreme Court Extends Right to Bear Arms Nationwide
The Supreme Court struck down a Chicago handgun ban today, confirming the Second Amendment right to bear arms for everyone across the country. The justices voted 5-4 against a 1982 ordinance outlawing the ownership of handguns for personal use in Chicago. The vote extends a decision made two years ago in District of Columbia v. Heller, which struck down a D.C. law banning residents from owning guns. But Heller only applied to "federal enclaves," like Washington, D.C. Today's opinion extends that ruling to cities and states. "Self-defense is a basic right, recognized by many legal systems ...
Tropical Storm Alex: 5 Questions Answered
UPDATE: The National Hurricance Center updated its forecast for Tropical Storm Alex at 11:00 a.m. EDT. The storm has moved off the Yucatan Peninsula and into the warm water of the Gulf of Mexico, raising questions and fears about its increasing strength and the oil containment operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Below, Surge Desk answers five questions about the storm. 1. Where is Tropical Storm Alex now? In the Gulf of Mexico about 75 miles west of Campeche, Mexico. 2. How strong is Alex now? Maximum sustained wind speeds are about 60 mph right now. 3. Where is Tropical Storm Alex ...
5 Questions and Answers About Sen. Robert Byrd
Sen. Robert Byrd, a Democrat from West Virginia, died at 3 a.m. Eastern time today at the age of 92. He had been in the hospital since last week. Below, the Surge Desk answers five important questions about Byrd. 1. Who takes Byrd's seat in Senate? West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin will appoint someone to take Byrd's seat until a special election is held in November. 2. When was Byrd last present in the Senate? Byrd last voted on June 10. 3. How long did Byrd serve in the Senate? For 51 years. 4. Who served longer in the Senate, Byrd or Strom Thurmond? Byrd served in the Senate longer than ...
Where Is Tropical Storm Darby?
Darby, a once powerful hurricane, has weakened to a tropical storm. Where Is Tropical Storm Darby? The storm had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph as of 2 a.m. today. Darby is far offshore in the Pacific Ocean about 310 miles south-southwest of Zihuatanejo, Mexico. There are no coastal watches or warnings and it is not expected to reach land. Where did Tropical Storm Darby come from? Darby began as a tropical depression Tuesday in the Pacific Ocean. It was initially southeast of its current location, off the coast of Guatemala. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Celia continued to weaken after ...
Unemployment Benefits Expire: Your 5 Biggest Questions Answered
A bill to continue an unemployment benefits extension, which was put in place earlier this year in response to the recession, was defeated in Senate last night. Millions of unemployed Americans will feel the result of the vote as soon as the end of the week. The current unemployment rate is 9.7 percent, far above the normal rate. Surge Desk answers five questions about the effects of the vote. 1. How does this change unemployment? Unemployment benefits are offered to the unemployed for as long as 26 weeks. But earlier this year, Congress extended the maximum duration of benefits to up to 99 ...
Singapore Flooded Again One Week After Last Storm
Just one week after heavy downpours in Singapore caused millions of dollars in flood damages, the rains returned this morning. Widespread flooding was reported, gusting winds snapped branches, and traffic was snarled, according to AsiaOne, though floodwaters started to recede after 30 minutes. The storm on June 16 caused the worst flooding in the Orchard Road shopping area in 26 years. Approximately 70 people had to be rescued from the waters, though no injuries were reported. Photos of the floods posted on Singapore news website Today show overflowing canals and cars inundated with water. ...
.XXX Approved for Porn Sites
Stuart Lawley doesn't look like a porn king. Pictures of the Briton show a well-dressed, middle-aged man, with a down-to-business affect. But Lawley may have hit the porn jackpot today when the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the Internet oversight organization, ruled that Lawley could set up a new .xxx address for Internet pornography after rejecting the plan three times in the past. Lawley, 47, founded domain name registry ICM Registry LLC and will sell .xxx domain names for $60 each. He expects to make $30 million a year off the business. Already he has 110,000 ...
Lunar Eclipse 2010: Where and When to Watch
A partial lunar eclipse will occur early Saturday morning as the Earth's shadow blankets the moon in darkness. The eclipse will visible in the Americas, the Pacific and Eastern Asia, according to NASA. Saturday will also be a full moon, exciting "Twilight" fans worldwide. Most people in the United States, except those on the East Coast, will be able to see the eclipse. It will not be visible in Europe, Africa and western Asia. The lunar event will begin around 6:17 a.m. EDT, peaking about 80 minutes later, and ending around 9 a.m. EDT, according to StarDate magazine. Below is viewing ...
Palin Photographer Releases Private Photos
Shealah Craighead, Sarah Palin's personal photographer, has always known how to be a fly on the wall. The skill has paid off in hundreds of thousands of shots of the onetime governor of Alaska. The photographer has been traveling with Palin since the early days of her vice presidential bid and has followed her from there to the McCain concession speech to her book tour to the Daytona 500, documenting the political superstar's life along the way. Craighead has given AOL News an exclusive look at some of those photographs: Palin hugging fans, carrying a birthday cake to a staffer, reviewing ...
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