In Case You Missed It

The world does not revolve around Michael Jackson, though if you've been watching the news the past few days, it must seem that way. In the first couple of days since the Moonwalker's death, TV networks--broadcast and cable--devoted most of its newscasts to Jackson's life and showing clips of his videos. And it will continue for the foreseeable future. There's the funeral (should the Jackson family permit coverage), the official cause of death (we're waiting on the toxicology report), what's in the will (if there is one), and who gets the kids.

So, you might be asking, what else was going on in the world?

• The Twitter Rebellion in Iran is pretty much over, with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared the winner in a disputed election. Since no independent media has been allowed in the country in recent weeks, we'll just have to take their word for it.
• North Korea threatens to send a missile Hawaii's way that will make Pearl Harbor seem like a fireworks display.
• U.S. troops are exiting Iraqi cities, to be replaced by the soldiers they trained. Some are wondering if they're up to the job of keeping Baghdad safe.
• Bernie Madoff got 150 years in prison for making himself rich while bankrupting those who believed in him and his money-making scheme. If there's anyone out there who has any sympathy for Madoff, they must be in hiding right now.
• The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that white firefighters in New Haven, CT were discriminated against when the city hired minority applicants with lower test scores instead of them. This was a case Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor helped preside over as an Appeals Court judge, which might end up hurting her chances of getting confirmed by the Senate.
• Joining Jackson in the Great Beyond were: Farrah Fawcett, the "Charlie's Angel" who became better known for That Hair and That Poster than for her acting (which improved after she left "Angels") . . . Billy Mays, the pitchman responsible for half of the infomercials you saw (or slept through) on TV.
• There is a roof at Wimbledon's Centre Court, and they've started to use it whenever raindrops hit the tennis tournament. Does this mean that the Ladies and Gentleman's Singles Finals will eventually be played well past tea time?
• The Minnesota Timberwolves chose Ricky Rubio of Spain as its first choice in the NBA draft. But Rubio may not want to play for a losing team in a cold climate, so the Wolves will probably end up trading him to someplace warm. Why not? It worked for Kobe Bryant.
• The Minnesota Wild have often been accused of ignoring the talent that's right under their noses in the State of Hockey. To remedy that, they took three Minnesota players in the NHL draft, including top pick Nick Leddy of Class AA champion Eden Prairie High School. Leddy will be playing for the University of Minnesota this fall, a school that isn't shy about taking the cream of the state's hockey crop. What they do with them is another matter.

So you are now up to date. Sort of.