(noon. – promoted by ek hornbeck)

Crossposted at Daily Kos

12

PLEASE READ THIS: For those of you who can’t get enough of editorial cartoons, there are another 45-50 cartoons and videos (including interviews with two editorial cartoonists) in this diary that I posted over at the GOS.

Take a look at it.  Thanks.

:: ::

Signe Wilkinson, Comics.com (Philadelphia Daily News)

Oil Addiction by Nate Beeler, Washington Examiner, Buy this cartoon

A Tradition of Sacrifice by Tim Eagan, Deep Cover, Buy this cartoon

Transparency by Monte Wolverton, Cagle Cartoons, Buy this cartoon

Climate Bill by Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune, Buy this cartoon

Oily Independence by J.D. Crowe, Mobile Register, Buy this cartoon

:: ::

INTRODUCTION

:: ::

The sheer enormity of this environmental disaster was brought into sharp focus in a personal way by this beautifully-written diary last week by blueocean.  While I first saw it in ‘Diary Rescue’ — by which time it was too late to tip or recommend — I was really impressed by her honest and frank style of writing.  If you can, please take a look at the diary.

It is interesting how people along the ideological spectrum react differently to the oil spill.  While many liberals have increased calls for the Obama Administration to invest more in alternative sources of energy, wingnuts like Rush Limbaugh have tried to pin the blame on the administration and its allies in the environmental movement.  

J.D. Crowe of the Mobile Register in Alabama takes Limbaugh to task for spreading lies and demagoguing this issue

The Sacrifice

Who’s to blame for the oil spill disaster in the Gulf? The quick and easy answer is BP. The ugly, uneasy answer is us.  You and me…

The GOP’s de facto fire-breather Rush Limbaugh, always a patriot, was quick to blame an environmentalist whack-job for blowing up the Deepwater Horizon oil rig.  He now says that “Obama needs photos of oily pelicans” to further his green agenda.  Like this environmental and economical disaster is in any shape or form a positive for the president or this country.  How absurd.  If anything, it is an unlikely albatross around this progressive president’s neck.

Maybe the likes of Rush and co. should do live broadcasts from the Gulf and help raise funds for real families suffering from the oil spill disaster instead of standing on the sidelines and blowing kisses to the oil companies.  Just a thought.

Truth is, we’re all to blame.  The beautiful Gulf of Mexico is being sacrificed to quench our thirst for oil.  The dying baby dolphin carried to shore by a tourist last week in Pensacola serves as a gripping real-life reminder of this sacrifice.

The Gulf is our gift to thee, almighty S-U-V.

David Horsey of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer wrote on his blog that Republicans are beholden to corporate interests and that there is plenty of available evidence

Republicans, the Corporate Cult

There is more than a century of proof that big corporations do not always have the best interests of American citizens in mind.  There is a long litany of rivers that have been polluted, forests that have been ravaged, air that has been fouled, wildlife that has been killed and human beings who have been sickened by corporate disregard for the common welfare.  And, just in the last ten years, thanks to businesses like Enron, Worldcom, Washington Mutual, Goldman Sachs and a host of others, we have been shown that unmonitored capitalism inevitably devolves into a kind of piracy that can devastate the national economy.

And yet, despite these undeniable examples, Republicans continue to defend corporate interests over the public interest and undermine reasonable regulation with fevered rhetoric about big, bad government.

:: ::

John Sherffius, Comics.com (Boulder Daily Camera)

Over the past couple of weeks since I last wrote this diary, Republicans have taken a beating at the hands of the editorial cartoonists.  From being portrayed as callous to the plight of the unemployed and underemployed by refusing to extend unemployment benefits for millions of people as Meteor Blades detailed it in a front page post earlier today; acting indifferently to regulating Wall Street; defending British Petroleum at any costs when its actions are indefensible; and in a ongoing soap opera, its Chairman of the Republican National Committee yet again making a fool of himself by implying that contrary to evidence, George W. Bush really didn’t start the War in Afghanistan.

Despite its blatant lies and wall-to-wall opposition to the Obama Agenda, there is only one dominant issue in my opinion that will determine the outcome of this November’s Elections as it overshadows everything else: the level of unemployment.  While it is fair to constructively criticize the Obama Administration for additional steps it still could take to further reduce the level of despair around the country, it is a problem he inherited from the Bush Administration.  In any economic recovery — strong or feeble — sadly increased employment is a lagging indicator.  

Are the Republicans doing anything to reduce the level of unemployment?  Not only are they not suggesting productive policies which might suggest solutions to the problem at hand, they are actively blocking the extension of unemployment benefits.  Over the past year and a half, has the GOP proposed any sane policies to make progress on a host of issues including Climate Change, the ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, or stimulating the economy?  Not one that I can think of.  

Not one!

As consumer spending constitutes about 70% of U.S. GDP (higher than other developed countries), a sensible economic policy would dictate that putting money in the pockets of average, cash-strapped workers ought to stimulate the economy.  Is the GOP proposing better, alternative policies?  No.  In fact, ask yourself this question: what exactly has the Republican Party done lately for this country?  

Not one damn thing in recent years that I can think about.

:: ::

Matt Bors, Comics.com (Idiot Box)

:: ::

Unemployment Solved by Jen Sorensen, Slowpoke, Buy this cartoon

:: ::

Jen Sorensen writes that wingnuts could use a few lessons in basic economics

Sharron Angle is far from the only fruit loop when it comes to unemployment benefits.  Most of the Republicans and Democrat Ben Nelson have been sucked into the cruelty cult.  Paul Krugman’s Monday column was, coincidentally, a perfect companion piece to the strip.  Is it really too much to ask that people running for office understand basic economics?  Like, at the very least, that there are way fewer jobs right now than there are people looking?  If you can’t grasp that, you should be in remedial math, not in the halls of Congress.

:: ::

John Sherffius, Comics.com (Boulder Daily Camera)

Unlike during the tense decades of the Soviet-American Cold War, spying has lost its cache with the public.  It’s an open secret that most countries spy on each other, with most espionage today being of an economic nature.  With spying considered to be one of the world’s oldest professions, editorial cartoonists had a great deal of fun portraying the recently-apprehended Russian agents as ‘spies’ although all of them were charged only as unregistered “foreign agents” and sent back home in a spy swap.  

Many of the cartoonists drew these agents as comic book characters Natasha and Boris from the 1960’s cartoon show Rocky and Bullwinkle

:: ::

World Cup Final by Stephane Peray, The Nationa (Bangkok, Thailand), Buy this cartoon

Not only did German prognosticator extraordinaire ‘Paul the Octopus’ predict Spain’s victory in the FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa, so did Meena the Parakeet in Malaysia.  Spain (at 4:1 odds, favored to win it all) beat the Netherlands (5th favorite at 10:1) 1-0 in overtime to win its first ever World Cup.  Only seven other countries (Brazil, Italy, Germany, Uruguay, Argentina, France, and England) have been cup winners in the 80-year history of the competition since 1930.  

:: ::

In other news, editorial cartoonists spent a fair bit of time on graphically commenting on Elena Kagan’s nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States; the Federal lawsuit against the State of Arizona over a draconian immigration law set to go into effect by the end of this month; bizarre statements by a variety of wingnuts; Beatle Ringo Starr turning 70 years old; LeBron James’ recent decision to sign with the the NBA’s Miami Heat; Larry King’s departure from CNN after 25 years; and paying their tributes to the late U.S. Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV).

I hope you enjoy the 90 or so editorial cartoons in the diary.  I’ll post another 30 (or more) cartoons in the comments section on issues I could not include in the diary text due to length limitations.  Thanks.

:: ::

:: ::

1. Cartoons of the Week

Mike Luckovich, Comics.com (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Lebron James TV Special by RJ Matson, St. Louis Post Dispatch, Buy this cartoon

LeBron Sweepstakes by Bruce Plante, see reader comments in Tulsa World, Buy this cartoon

The Supremos by Adam Zyglis, Buffalo News, Buy this cartoon

Jeff Stahler, Comics.com (Columbus Dispatch)

Obama Anger by Rob Rogers, Comics.com (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

I can’t believe how the anti-Obama faction out there is blaming him for everything.  The war in Afghanistan, the oil spill, the recession … what’s next, the heartbreak of psoriasis?

— Rogers writing on his blog about the absurdity of Republican criticism of President Obama

Steve Benson, Comics.com (Arizona Republic)

Bill Day, Comics.com (Memphis Commercial-Appeal)

Lloyd Dangle, Troubletown, Buy this cartoon

Bill Day, Comics.com (Memphis Commercial-Appeal)

Suspicious by Nick Anderson, Comics.com, see reader comments in the Houston Chronicle

Scott Stantis, Comics.com (Chicago Tribune)

Mark Streeter, Savannah Morning News, Buy this cartoon

SOS from Gulf by Petar Pismestrovic, Kleine Zeitung (Austria), Buy this cartoon

Finally by Clay Bennett, Comics.com, see reader comments in the Chattanooga Times Free Press

:: ::

2. Awash in Oil Along the Gulf Coast

Deepwater Drilling by Clay Bennett, Comics.com, see reader comments in the Chattanooga Times Free Press

Matt Wuerker, Politico

(click link to enlarge cartoon in Wuerker’s archives)

Tony Auth, Philadelphia Inquirer

(click link to enlarge cartoon)

Jack Ohman, Comics.com (Portland Oregonian)

Protecting Slick by Jeff Parker, Florida Today, Buy this cartoon

The Oil Spill and Our independence by Mike Thompson, Comics.com, see reader comments in the Detroit Free Press

For all the one-world government conspiracy theories and worry that the United Nations will lead to the loss of America’s sovereignty, it turns out that the real threat to our independence is economic, not political, and comes not in the form of government, but in the form of a giant multinational corporation.

— Thompson writing on his blog to illustrate how we, as a nation, are beholden to large corporations who feed our huge appetite for fossil fuels

Worst Movies by Rob Rogers, Comics.com (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette), see Rogers’ entry on his blog which explains this cartoon

BP Cleanup Crew by Dave Granlund, Politicalcartoons.com, Buy this cartoon

Matt Wuerker, Politico

(click link to enlarge cartoon in Wuerker’s archives)

:: ::

3. Will the GOP Cave re: Extension of Unemployment Benefits?

Thompson offers scathing words to describe the GOP’s bankrupt ideology that promotes (more) tax cuts and deregulation of industry — one that drove this country into a ditch in the first place

Exactly what planet have Republicans been living on for the past few years?  In May, unemployment benefits began to expire for more than one million Americans.  The response of Senate Republicans has been to repeatedly stymie attempts to pass a benefits extension, hanging unemployed Americans out to dry… Senate Republicans claim to have found religion on deficit reduction — never mind all that spending like drunken sailors stuff during the years they ran Congress and the White House…

This is not to let Democrats off the hook.  A number of Democrats, scared senseless about the November election, have joined ranks with the Republicans.

America has done almost everything Republicans have wanted.  Tax cuts?  According to USA Today, Americans are paying the lowest taxes since the 1950s.  Deregulation? We’ve deregulated everything from Wall St. to offshore oil drilling.  And now that Republicans’ principles lay in a giant smoldering heap, they punish the unemployed for the failure of their party’s ideology, and have the audacity to complain how much others are spending to clean up their party’s mess.

Congressional Fireworks by Clay Bennett, Comics.com, see reader comments in the Chattanooga Times Free Press

USS GOP by Bill Sanders, Freelance Cartoonist

(click link to enlarge cartoon)

Unemployment Benefits by John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Buy this cartoon

Stuart Carlson, Universal Press Syndicate

(click link to enlarge cartoon)

John Sherffius, Comics.com (Boulder Daily Camera)

U.S. Jobless Living the Highlife by Bruce Plante, see the large number of reader comments in Tulsa World, Buy this cartoon

:: ::

4. Immigration Reform: Move Over, Arizona

Stein has a few ideas that he considers to be far better than those offered by the State of Arizona in resolving the thorny issue of Immigration Reform

What ties us in knots nationally is a disconnect between rhetoric and reality.  When we reduce the issues to jingoistic sound bites, we get nowhere.  I love “What part of illegal don’t you understand?”  To which I reply, “What part of illegal is illegal immigration? Illegal like mass murder, or illegal like a parking ticket?  We do tend to treat those two differently.  Then there’s the “amnesty” word, the one that brings the whole debate to a halt.  Look, we are simply not going to deport 11 million, or 15 or 17, or whatever the number is, folks who at one time entered the country illegally.  Not possible, so eliminate that as an option.  Letting those who have been here for a long time, worked, kept out of trouble, paid taxes, have a path to citizenship seems appropriate to me, but the opponents can’t get the amnesty word out of their heads.  A proposal is now being floated to allow a sort of limbo instead — a permanent green card allowing them to live here, but never become citizens.  What a terrible idea!  Remember the riots in Paris a few years ago? Permanent workers from other countries unable to fully participate in French life because they could never become citizens.  Is that what we want?

Then again, even that appalling idea is better than what Arizona came up with.

Busted by Clay Bennett, Comics.com, see reader comments in the Chattanooga Times Free Press

AZ Immigration Law Challenged by Dave Granlund, Politicalcartoons.com, Buy this cartoon

Bill Day, Memphis Commercial-Appeal, Buy this cartoon

Feds vs Arizona by Mike Keefe, Denver Post, Buy this cartoons

:: ::

5. The Adventures of Chairman Mike Steele… and Other Republican Wingnut Ideas

Dan Wasserman, Comics.com, see reader comments in the Boston Globe

Ben Sargent, Universal Press Syndicate

(click link to enlarge cartoon)

Run RNC by John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Buy this cartoon

Steve Sack, Comics.com (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

David Cohen, Asheville Citizen Times

(click link to enlarge cartoon)

Michael Steele Hangs on as RNC Chairman by Jimmy Margulies, New Jersey Record, Buy this cartoon

Bill Day, Comics.com (Memphis Commercial-Appeal)

Don Wright, Comics.com (Tribune Media Services)

Tancredo at Large by Mike Keefe, Denver Post, Buy this cartoon, read this article to see what Tom Tancredo said about President Barack Obama

Don Wright, Comics.com (Tribune Media Services)

Mark Kirk: Experienced Educator by Chris Britt, Comics.com, see reader comments in the State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL), read this story in which Kirk lied about once being a teacher

:: ::

6. Are Certain Members of the U.S. Supreme Court in Love With Guns?

Stein is furious about the Supreme Court’s rather selective interpretation of the United States Constitution

The New York Times noted that in the four months the Supreme Court has debated overturning the Chicago gun ban, 10,000 Americans have died as a result of gun violence.  In another bold foray into judicial activism, the Roberts Five has imposed its preferences on the Constitution, blithely ignoring half of the Second Amendment. The full amendment reads, “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”  How does an unaffiliated bunch of armed citizens, packing whatever weaponry they can get their hands on, constitute a well-regulated militia?  Well, never mind, the originalists on the Court have decided to ignore the original text in this case and apply only the second half of the amendment, concocting an individual right where none clearly and plainly exists.

I’ll be the first to admit that localized gun control laws don’t work particularly well, mainly because it’s far to easy, say in Chicago, to leave the city and purchase an arsenal elsewhere.  The NRA, along with its allies in Congress and in local governments, has been spectacularly effective in preventing a rational system of gun control to take root in this country, and the result is a nation awash in gun violence.  Worse, as the available weaponry becomes more and more sophisticated and lethal, police are losing the arms race to criminals, who find it far too easy to acquire whatever they want.

None of this seems to matter to this court, which has an agenda and will find a way to bend the meaning of the Constitution to suit its liking.  Let’s see, it’s taken me about four hours to draw this cartoon and write this blog.  That means about fourteen people died from gunshot wounds while I was sitting at my desk.  What a country!

7. Elena Kagan: Sailing Towards Confirmation

Justice Thurgood Marshall to GOP by David Cohen, Asheville Citizen Times

(click link to enlarge cartoon)

David Horsey, see reader comments in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer

(click link to enlarge cartoon)

:: ::

8. Financial Reform: Does it Have Any Teeth?

Thompson expresses his disgust with the level of influence corporate lobbyists have over lawmakers of both parties and isn’t impressed with the outcome

Financial Reform Bill

If this is how Congress and President Obama punish Wall Street, I’d hate to see how they’d reward the financial thugs who tanked our economy…

Wall Street nearly sent America off the financial cliff and only an emergency of infusion of taxpayer cash staved off another Great Depression.  The life of every American was touched by the ravenous greed of Wall Street; people lost their jobs, lost their homes, and lost their life savings.  People have committed suicide over the effects of this greed.  Yet nearly two years after the crash, this is the best Congress and Obama can come up with?

This pathetic excuse for a reform bill should settle any questions about who’s running our country.

Jack Ohman, Comics.com (Portland Oregonian)

Boehner, Dr. Quack! by Bill Sanders, Freelance Cartoonist

(click link to enlarge cartoon)

Ed Stein, Comics.com (formerly of the Rocky Mountain News), see reader comments on Stein’s blog

:: ::

Stein is quite sure as who is really calling the shots behind the scenes in Washington, D.C…. lawmakers supposedly working on behalf of average Americans or lobbyists trying to protect the interests of corporations, many of whom benefited from large subsidies and bailouts after the 2008 financial meltdown.  It isn’t the lawmakers!

The one most important thing that almost everyone agreed that financial reform HAD to do was to break up the “too big to fail” banks, so that we taxpayers wouldn’t be forced to bail them out again if Wall Street continued its reckless ways.  So, of course, that was the one thing the financial reform bill nearing the vote in Congress fails to do.  I keep thinking that the members of Congress cannot possibly care even less about the people they supposedly serve (us, not the banks), but they keep surprising me with how much sway the lobbyists have over them.  One would have thought that the current recession, now in its 30th month with no sign of ending, would have emboldened our representatives in Washington sufficiently to actually break with their corporate masters on this one issue, but it wasn’t to be.

:: ::

9. Spies Amongst Us

Given the myriad of policy problems confronting the country, Thompson wonders as to why any country would want to steal America’s secrets

Russian Spy Ring

An F.B.I investigation has led to the arrest of 10 people who are charged with spying for Russia. As the New York Times reported, the objective of the agents was a “patient scheme to penetrate what one coded message called American “policy making circles.”  Presumably, the intent was to steal information about U.S. policies.

Which policies would those be?  How to get hopelessly mired in two wars, one of which was launched for illegitimate reasons? How to be robbed blind by financial titans and then respond with a laughably inept reform bill?  How to stomp on the unemployed ala Republicans by repeatedly killing an unemployment benefit extension?  How to “drill, baby drill” and create a colossal ecological disaster? How to destroy your manufacturing base and ship millions of jobs overseas?

During the Cold War, Russian spies would routinely steal intelligence about our policies and incorporate that information into their own plans. However, Russia is now a marginal friend of America and I wouldn’t wish America’s policies on our worst enemy.

Russian Spy Swap by Jimmy Margulies, New Jersey Record, Buy this cartoon

Russian Spies Return Home by Dave Granlund, Politicalcartoons.com, Buy this cartoon

Mike Peters, Dayton Daily News

(click link to enlarge cartoon)

Mike Keefe, Denver Post, Buy this cartoon

David Horsey, See reader comments in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer

(click link to enlarge cartoon)

Walt Handelsman, Comics.com (Newsday)

Spy vs Spy by Cam Cardow, Ottawa Citizen, Buy this cartoon

:: ::

10. Afghanistan: General David Petraeus Takes Over

Lowe asks the following questions: Can General Petraeus bring stability and order to Afghanistan?  Or, is he setting the stage for an “honorable” withdrawal of American forces from that country?

Chef Petraeus’ Busy Kitchen

David Petraeus may be a bigger hero than most of us realize.  Here’s a guy who doesn’t just salute and say, “Yessir!” when called upon by his commander-in-chief, but he does so knowing there’s a good chance that in the end, he may be associated with the failure of the longest war in our history…

While reason would indicate that we might as well abandon our effort now as a year from now, politics does not.  Obama cannot afford to be known as the man who “lost Afghanistan,” which is the way he would be cynically portrayed by those who secretly agree the situation is hopeless, but would hasten to profit in the short run from that very hopelessness.

It will be up to General Petraeus, the most respected man in uniform, to tell us that we did our best, and that we’re leaving the place better than we found it.

And for that, he’ll deserve yet another ribbon on that chestful of fruit salad

Gen. Petraeus’ Strategy by Paresh Nath, Khaleej Times (UAE), Buy this cartoon

:: ::

11. Final Thoughts

:: ::

A Note About the Diary Poll

Stein is under no illusions if the GOP has the country’s best interests at heart

Obama Wouldn’t Have Done This for You

I’ve been accused of blindly blaming the Republican Party for too many things.  But this is one even my most conservative friends agree on.  Both parties have always agreed to extend unemployment benefits during recessions.  It makes economic sense, and it’s the most humane thing government can do when its citizens are economically stressed.  First of all, the money goes immediately into circulation — it gets spent, both alleviating the pain of the unemployed, and acting as an economic stimulus to the broader economy.  This Republican Party, though, either can’t understand the benefits, or more likely, is quite willing to inflict untold pain on the people of this country if it sees an electoral benefit. The economy will get worse, Obama will be blamed, and the Republicans will reap the gains in November.  Never mind the suffering.  The cynicism is staggering, and shameful.

Some of the rhetoric is beyond belief.  The new talking point is that extending unemployment benefits will only discourage people from looking for jobs.  Oh, we lazy Americans.  Fifteen million of us thrown out of work since the recession began, and we just don’t want to go back on the job because of those cushy benefits.  Unemployment is our fault.  And there are all those high-paying jobs out there just going begging because Obama is too generous with our tax money.  Give me a break!

:: ::

Former Vermont Governor, presidential candidate, and DNC Chairman Howard Dean said last week on MSNBC that President Obama’s new, more aggressive criticism of the Republican Party is on target. While Dean expressed a few reservations about the effectiveness of the HCR law enacted earlier this year, the prompt closing of Guantanamo Prison, and the impact of Financial Services Reform, he put the blame squarely on the GOP for obstructing progress and endorsed it as a “brilliant new campaign” by the Democratic Party.  He also reiterated that healthcare benefits would eventually be felt by the public at large.  Whatever the level of discontent or dissatisfaction might be amongst progressives of all stripes, the upcoming election is — as most elections are — under our political system, one of choosing between the two parties.  

Why would anyone think of rewarding the Republicans for doing nothing?  

I urge you to keep that in mind as you approach the upcoming elections.

And, remember to vote in the diary poll.  

:: ::

Rob Rogers, Comics.com, see reader comments in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

:: ::

Rogers writes on his blog that Republicans are doing what they do best: obstruct!

Republican Logic

The Republicans are at it again.  They’re using their twisted logic to defend their anti-Obama actions.  This time it is about extending jobless benefits.  Most economists say the benefits will aid in the recovery. Not if the GOP has anything to say about it.  In their eyes the recovery only helps Obama.  Some GOP members have even said that jobless benefits encourage the jobless not to look for work.  Hmmm.  Yeah … kinda like the way the November elections encourage the GOP not to do any real work!

:: ::

:: ::

Also crossposted at Docudharma

 Loading ...

9 pm, Total Drama World Tour premier- “Anything Yukon Do, I Can Do Better”.

• AMC– Mad Men
• ESPN– Home Run Derby
• FX– Man on Fire
• History– Pawn Stars, American Pickers
• SciFi– Another repeat of the season premier of Warehouse 13.
• TBS– Family Guy and Neighbors from Hell
• Turner Classic– Roman Holiday
• TLC– Cake Boss

Later-

Letterman- Nicolas Cage, Steel Train.  Jon (6/30) and Stephen (7/7) in repeats.  Good Eats has Tacos.  Turner Classics– Spellbound.

Evening Edition is an Open Thread

1 BP deploys new cap to finally seal rogue well

by Mira Oberman, AFP

35 mins ago

2 Somalia’s Shebab militants claim deadly Uganda attacks

by Ben Simon, AFP

34 mins ago

3 ICC adds genocide to charges against Sudan’s president

by Mariette le Roux, AFP

1 hr 6 mins ago

4 EU finance ministers vow to help stressed banks

by Laurent Thomet, AFP

58 mins ago

5 Sarkozy rejects cash claim, says France not corrupt

AFP

32 mins ago

6 World Cup winners Spain return home to rapturous welcome

by Daniel Silva, AFP

30 mins ago

7 Extra-time Iniesta secures World Cup for Spain

by Angus MacKinnon, AFP

Sun Jul 11, 7:51 pm ET

8 Spain erupts in nationwide fiesta as ‘dream comes true’

by Denholm Barnetson, AFP

Sun Jul 11, 7:18 pm ET

9 Casillas true hero as Iniesta steals headlines

by Barnaby Chesterman, AFP

Sun Jul 11, 6:50 pm ET

10 Stargazers in awe as total eclipse arcs across Pacific

by Martin Bernetti, AFP

Sun Jul 11, 6:01 pm ET

11 Japan business leaders fear political stalemate

by Kyoko Hasegawa, AFP

Mon Jul 12, 11:35 am ET

12 Wall Street bill could face further delay in Senate

By Andy Sullivan, Reuters

Mon Jul 12, 1:00 pm ET

13 Uganda bombs kill 74, Islamists claim attack

By Elias Biryabarema. AFP

2 hrs 32 mins ago

14 Bernanke says spurring credit key to rebound

By Mark Felsenthal, Reuters

1 hr 41 mins ago

15 Omar Khadr says rejected Guantanamo plea deal

By Jane Sutton, Reuters

Mon Jul 12, 12:39 pm ET

16 Spain basks in World Cup glory

By Andrew Cawthorne, Reuters

Mon Jul 12, 9:32 am ET

17 BP works to put a tighter-fitting cap on the well

By TOM BREEN and HARRY R. WEBER, Associated Press Writers

17 mins ago

18 Baby animals in oil spill face uncertain future

By JANET McCONNAUGHEY, Associated Press Writer

49 mins ago

19 Gingrich says he’s considering presidential run

By MIKE GLOVER, Associated Press Writer

45 mins ago

20 New al-Qaida threat: Somali group claims blasts

By MAX DELANY and JASON STRAZIUSO, Associated Press Writers

50 mins ago

21 Small companies denied credit as big firms thrive

By JEANNINE AVERSA, AP Economics Writer

6 mins ago

22 Int’l Court charges Sudan president with genocide

By MIKE CORDER, Associated Press Writer

1 hr 4 mins ago

23 Spain World Cup fiesta goes wild, boosts unity

By ALAN CLENDENNING and FRANK GRIFFITHS, Associated Press Writers

9 mins ago

24 Spain celebrates first World Cup

By BARRY WILNER, AP Sports Writer

Mon Jul 12, 7:05 am ET

25 Critics: US too low-key on Islamic radicalism talk

By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writer

Mon Jul 12, 11:10 am ET

26 Alzheimer’s advances show need for better drugs

By MARILYNN MARCHIONE, AP Medical Writer

Mon Jul 12, 6:35 am ET

27 FDA to review first of 3 new weight loss drugs

By MATTHEW PERRONE, AP Business Writer

20 mins ago

28 Japan braces for gridlock after ruling party loss

By JAY ALABASTER, Associated Press Writer

Mon Jul 12, 8:48 am ET

This is “Take Two” which is only available on the web. Rachel Maddow discusses her recent trip to Afghanistan and the Republican women and what they have to offer American women. (Sorry, no transcript is available.)

The Round Table with David Brooks (New York Times), Former Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. (D-TN), Former RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie  and Rachel Maddow (MSNBC).

Say what you like about Lance, he’s been more right and honest about his Tour than many.  His first ‘crash’ didn’t amount to much, more an off course.  Losing a wheel at the bottom of the Col de la Ramaz is the kind of thing that sets you back 11:45, 13:26 from the lead.

Within 2 minutes of each other are Evans and Schleck and Contador and they’d all have to get hit by a bus which hardly ever happens.

So now’s the time to think about your loyalty to the Islanders and this sport we call Hockey with it’s cups of Stanley.  I contend Le Tour is at least as compelling as curling or golf with the additional benefit of lasting 3 weeks covering the All-Star break.

It has it’s hypnotoad charms, because it’s practically on auto-loop and only the last half hour or so matters (you get plently of repeats of the NASCAR crashes) and you can really loose track of which day you are watching if you don’t pay close attention.

Plus there is that Deadhead vibe from the crowd.

In an ideal world you’d now root for the team of you fallen hero, but because the sponsorship changes are harder to follow than those in Formula 1 it’s hard to develop the kind of UPC driven Ferrari red loyalty that even so hardly makes a dent on the collective conciousness of the US.

Hear about that “football” game?  The score was 1 to nothing.

Relative to the sport, this is a Jordan moment, a sacrifice to the volcano.  I suppose we’ll get used to entropy, we always do.

Now with uptempo singing and dancing-

235 Stories served.  33 per day despite difficulties.

Including being frozen out of the site last night for no particular reason.  Fortunately I was caught up for the most part, but stacked up for today are my ruminations on the world of business and speculations about Le Tour.

All of which I will get to when I do.

This is actually the hardest diary to execute, and yet perhaps the most valuable because it lets you track story trends over time.  It should be a Sunday morning feature.

Economy 26

Sunday 7/4/10 4

• 1 Spotlight on bank tests as ECB readies rate meeting
• 16 Falling unemployment fails to quell US recovery fears
• 47 Finding gold in them thar foreclosures
• 48 Old technology foils Schwarzenegger’s wage order

Monday 7/5/10 3

• 6 Greece on target to tackle deficit
• 9 Lower German deficit an example for Europe: Berlin
• 10 India rocked by strike over fuel prices

Tuesday 7/6/10 2

• 11 Service sector grows more slowly, employment weak
• 12 Special Report: U.S. data dogs on quest for sexier statistics

Wednesday 7/7/10 2

• 6 Europe imposes caps on banker bonuses
• 7 White House touts US export success

Thursday 7/8/10 7

• 3 IMF presses US to cut debt
• 10 ECB key rate remains same amid bank concerns
• 11 Thousands demonstrate as new strike cripples Greece
• 12 Joblessness, housing add risks to U.S. recovery: IMF
• 13 June discounts help retail sales, may hit July
• 15 Chrysler launches money-back guarantee
• 20 Jobless claims keep fluctuating as recovery slows

Friday 7/9/10 6

• 2 Google says China has renewed its operating licence
• 12 Google gets nod from China to keep search page
• 20 China renews Google license despite censorship row
• 9 China’s AgBank on track for record IPO
• 16 Joblessness and housing add risks to U.S. recovery: IMF
• 25 Wholesale inventories rise in May, sales fall

Saturday 7/10/10 2

• 6 China’s exports soar despite Euro-US malaise
• 19 New rules, big changes coming for financial world

Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan 32

Sunday 7/4/10 11

• 2 New Afghan war commander formally takes reins
• 3 New Afghan war commander appeals for unity
• 24 Afghan war at critical stage, says Petraeus
• 33 Petraeus takes over Afghan fight, vows to win it
• 40 GOP lawmakers wary of Obama’s Afghan deadline
• 5 Biden urges Iraqi leaders to break political deadlock
• 6 Biden ‘extremely optimistic’ about Iraq’s democracy
• 25 Biden nudges Iraqi leaders to end deadlock
• 34 Blasts mar Biden’s call for new gov’t, unity
• 27 Suicide bomber in government HQ in west Iraq kills 3
• 14 Protests in Pakistan after suicide attacks kill 43

Monday 7/5/10 3

• 33 McCain: Kandahar is key to victory in Afghan war
• 18 Restive Iraq provinces defy U.S. withdrawal timeline
• 16 Pakistan renews call for dialogue with some Taliban

Tuesday 7/6/10 1

• 22 CIA and Pakistan locked in aggressive spy battles

Wednesday 7/7/10 4

• 3 Britain to hand over violent Afghan area to US troops
• 25 NATO airstrike accidentally kills 5 Afghan troops
• 2 Baghdad suicide attack and bombs kill 33 Shiite pilgrims
• 22 More than 50 killed in attacks across Baghdad

Thursday 7/8/10 3

• 1 US to deliver billions in equipment to tackle Afghan bombs
• 8 Iraq’s rowers step out of shadow of death
• 9 Baghdad attacks on Shiite pilgrims kill 70 in three days

Friday 7/9/10 4

• 13 Amid gunfire, U.S. troops try to bring governance to Kandahar
• 6 Mattis named overall US commander of Iraq, Afghan wars
• 1 Suicide attack kills 65 in Pakistan tribal belt
• 18 Twin suicide bombs kill 62 in Pakistan tribal area

Saturday 7/10/10 6

• 11 Civilian deaths rise as Afghan fight intensifies
• 12 Slow, deadly road to peace for U.S. troops in Kandahar
• 17 Surge of attacks kills 6 US troops, 12 Afghans
• 4 Pakistan bomb attacks claim 102 lives
• 10 Death toll from Pakistan bomb attack reaches 102
• 18 Pakistan bomb death toll hits 102, worst this year

International 44

Sunday 7/4/10 9

• 4 Kaczynski concedes defeat in Polish presidential bid
• 19 Liberal defeats bereaved twin in Polish vote: exit polls
• 26 Komorowski wins Polish presidential election
• 12 230 dead after DR Congo tanker truck explosion
• 29 Fuel tanker explosion kills over 230 in Congo
• 41 Congo: Burn survivors recover from tanker blast
• 28 U.S. asks Japan to pay more for moving Marines
• 30 Clinton sees "steel vice" squeezing civil liberties
• 31 Otunbayeva sworn in as Kyrgyz interim president

Monday 7/5/10 12

• 1 Polish liberals hold the reins after presidential victory
• 13 Komorowski wins Polish election with reforms in focus
• 22 Komorowski win strengthens Polish government
• 2 China deploys troops for Xinjiang riot anniversary
• 17 China convicts U.S. geologist of stealing state secrets
• 24 Chinese court sentences US geologist to 8 years
• 3 Turkey threatens ‘to cut ties’ with Israel
• 4 Clinton vows support for Georgia, slams Russian ‘occupation’
• 15 Clinton concerned over Russian bases in Georgia region
• 23 Clinton criticizes Russia for occupying Georgia
• 21 Dutch agency admits mistake in UN climate report
• 25 Cost of the queen: less than $1 per person a year

Tuesday 7/6/10 8

• 3 Sarkozy caught up in L’Oreal heiress cash scandal
• 4 Britain outlines secret service torture probe
• 5 Celebrations and sadness as Dalai Lama turns 75
• 8 Thailand extends emergency rule
• 14 Sri Lanka hardliners protest U.N. war crimes probe
• 19 Spain shrugs off bad economy, launches bull runs
• 20 French parliament debates ban on burqa-style veils
• 23 Australia: East Timor could process asylum seekers

Wednesday 7/7/10 7

• 4 US, Russia plan spy prisoner swap: lawyer
• 13 U.S.-Russia may seek spy swap to free agents
• 17 Russian spy claims swap in works for spies in US
• 11 French court orders more jail time for Noriega
• 14 French PM rules out early reshuffle over scandal
• 23 Ole! Running of the bulls begins in Spain, 2 hurt
• 24 Iran offers modest new haircut guidelines for men

Thursday 7/8/10 2

• 23 Spain bulls gore 2 in scary run, 5 more injured
• 25 Spy swap: Cold War rerun, but with a difference

Friday 7/9/10 4

• 11 Russia, U.S. swap 14 in Cold War-style spy exchange
• 23 Into the cold: Swapped spies face uncertain lives
• 33 Kids might not follow deported Russian spy parents
• 27 Pope names official to run Legionaries

Saturday 7/10/10 2

• 20 Iran to review woman’s stoning verdict
• 25 Democrats face test on eve of Japanese election

National 59

Sunday 7/4/10 10

• 17 We have a ‘wiener’: American eats the most hot dogs
• 39 Hotdoggin’ it: Ex-champ crashes NYC eating contest
• 32 Fireworks to follow sun-scorched July 4 festivals
• 36 Horses take off, injure 24 people at Iowa parade
• 37 Wyoming threatens to sell prime Grand Teton land
• 38 Cleveland might feel economic pinch without LeBron
• 45 Towns grapple with tidying forsaken cemeteries
• 46 ‘Holy men’ blaze curious trail across country
• 50 Sororities’ antics spur school alcohol efforts
• 51 Forget grade levels, KC schools try something new

Monday 7/5/10 10

• 20 Health overhaul first provisions start to kick in
• 26 Study: Some voters may make end run around logic
• 27 Eating champ leaves NY jail after hot dog fracas
• 28 Crash halts horses’ rampage at Iowa July 4 parade
• 31 Derided no more, suburban life is turning serious
• 32 Fireworks follow sun-scorched July 4 festivals
• 34 Mont. delegation pushes EPA on asbestos cleanup
• 36 Census worker taken to court for trespassing
• 37 Tug company involved in Mississippi crash charged
• 38 Army drops ‘psy ops’ name for influence operations

Tuesday 7/6/10 10

• 10 Obama administration sues Arizona over immigration law
• 16 Gov’t files suit to throw out AZ immigration law
• 3 Viagra-popping seniors lead the pack for STDs
• 18 EPA: Clean-air rule would overturn Bush-era plan
• 21 Stamp prices going up again 46-cent rate asked
• 24 Feingold faces unexpectedly tough race
• 25 First health overhaul provisions start to kick in
• 26 Police: Conn. priest stole $1M for male escorts
• 27 Empty Nest 101: College orientation for parents
• 28 Alleged Army whistleblower felt angry and alone

Wednesday 7/7/10 3

• 18 Obama bypasses Senate for new Medicare chief
• 19 Records fall again in East as heat swelters on
• 20 Feds vs. state again in suit against Arizona law

Thursday 7/8/10 4

• 18 GOP chair Steele staying put despite latest gaffe
• 19 AP Exclusive: Priests who abuse impaired targeted
• 22 Hope fades for 2 Hungarians in Pa. duck boat crash
• 24 INSIDE WASHINGTON: First study, then crack down

Friday 7/9/10 10

• 5 New York lights fire under city’s smokers
• 7 Boeing joins rival in race for US military mega project
• 14 California transit cop verdict sparks looting
• 19 Feds opening investigation into transit killing
• 15 Judge rules U.S. gay marriage ban unconstitutional
• 26 White House silent on Mass. gay marriage ruling
• 28 GOP leaders let demagogues set tone, lawmaker says
• 29 Presbyterians continue to be divided over gays
• 30 APNewsBreak: BLM says survey confirms horse claims
• 31 Black political leaders to recapture ’08 momentum

Saturday 7/10/10 12

• 21 NY woman questioned again and again over ID mix-up
• 24 FDA review spotlights heart risk of diabetes pill
• 26 FAA tells airlines to fix cockpit window heaters
• 27 GOP candidate Angle to rally GOP against Reid
• 28 Angry protesters eye sentencing in transit killing
• 29 Psychology group backs CIA detainee abuse claim
• 30 Duncan: Congress needs to act now on school money
• 31 Struggling states seeking more aid from Washington
• 32 San Francisco hits nerve with pet sale ban idea
• 33 Historic church brings NM village together
• 34 An Indian finds himself on the Emerald Isle
• 35 Spy mystery: Was NY columnist a wife betrayed?

Gulf Oil Blowout Disaster 34

Sunday 7/4/10 8

• 13 Supertanker skims oil as spill now worst accident on record
• 21 US oil spill clean-up resumes after storm
• 22 Gulf beaches quiet as spill spreads
• 23 BP launches search for new investors: report
• 35 Rough weather curtails some Gulf cleanup work
• 43 On July 4 in spill country, pondering America
• 44 Sinking oil threatens historic Gulf shipwrecks
• 49 Churches, nonprofits fight for survival amid spill

Monday 7/5/10 6

• 5 BP oil spill costs soar above 3 billion dollars
• 12 BP eyes stake sale as oil spill costs top $3 billion
• 14 Tests on Gulf oil "superskimmer" inconclusive: ship owner
• 19 Tar balls from Gulf oil spill turn up in Texas
• 35 Wildlife agency predicted low risk from oil spills
• 39 BP oil spill: A subdued Fourth of July on Louisiana’s Grand Isle

Tuesday 7/6/10 3

• 1 Oil comes ashore in Texas as BP dismisses money worries
• 2 BP chi
• ef executive ‘on visits to important partners’
• 15 Oil seeps into New Orleans’ Lake Pontchartrain

Wednesday 7/7/10 4

• 12 BP boss in MidEast talks while more progress on relief well
• 15 Obama administration fights to keep deepwater drill ban
• 16 Under the sand, BP oil hidden from easy cleanup
• 26 AP IMPACT: Gulf awash in 27,000 abandoned wells

Thursday 7/8/10 2

• 14 New U.S. oil drill ban depends on court decision
• 17 Allen: Relief well timing depends on oil’s spread

Friday 7/9/10 3

• 10 U.S. will announce new drilling moratorium soon
• 17 New cap, ships could contain Gulf leak by Monday
• 32 Sea turtle egg evacuations begin along oiled Gulf

Saturday 7/10/10 8

• 1 Work begins to replace cap on ruptured Gulf oil well
• 2 Oil companies reeling from drilling moratorium uncertainty
• 3 Robots positioned to remove cap from ruptured Gulf oil well
• 9 BP starts work to install new seabed cap
• 13 BP: Cap on gushing well removed, oil flows freely
• 14 Value of oil skimming Gulf flotilla is uncertain
• 15 Spill spreads anxiety among Vietnamese fishermen
• 16 Sea turtle egg evacuations begin along oiled Gulf

World Cup 15

Sunday 7/4/10 5

• 7 Villa, Klose star as Europe tighten World Cup grip
• 8 Villa leads Spain into W.Cup semi-finals
• 9 Germany rout Argentina to reach W.Cup semi-finals
• 10 Uruguay end brave Ghana’s bid on penalties
• 18 Dunga takes rap as Brazil feels pain

Monday 7/5/10 1

• 8 Dutch eye World Cup final, Brazil, Argentina face change

Tuesday 7/6/10 2

• 7 Netherlands storm into World Cup final
• 17 Netherlands into WCup final, 3-2 over Uruguay

Wednesday 7/7/10 1

• 8 Germany, Spain seek final date with Dutch

Thursday 7/8/10 4

• 5 Favourites Spain keep feet on ground
• 6 Viva Espana! Spain euphoric at semi-final win
• 7 Puyol strikes as Spain down Germany to reach final
• 16 Joy in Spain, German misery after defeat

Friday 7/9/10 2

• 4 Spanish party pooper plots Sneijder downfall
• 22 Seer sucker: Octopus oracle picks Spain to win

Science 9

Sunday 7/4/10 2

• 15 Russian cargo ship fails to dock with ISS
• 20 Treasure trove of vintage Arab film posters hidden in Beirut

Wednesday 7/7/10 3

• 5 Solar plane cruises to turning point in historic flight
• 21 Early humans ventured further north than thought
• 27 Leaked climate e-mail inquiry to release report

Thursday 7/8/10 2

• 2 Swiss solar plane makes history with 26 hr flight
• 21 Solar plane lands after completing 24-hour flight

Saturday 7/10/10 2

• 5 Remote Easter Island braces for total solar eclipse
• 8 Greenpeace marks 1985 Rainbow Warrior bombing

Le Tour 8

Monday 7/5/10 2

• 7 Chavanel in yellow as Schlecks, Armstrong crash
• 30 Armstrong joins spills in Tour’s 2nd stage

Tuesday 7/6/10 1

• 6 Cancellara back in in Tour de France lead

Wednesday 7/7/10 1

• 9 Petacchi wins Tour de France fourth stage

Thursday 7/8/10 1

• 4 Cavendish strikes, then asks for understanding

Friday 7/9/10 2

• 3 Cavendish equals Tour sprint greats with 12th win
• 21 Cavendish takes 6th stage for 2nd straight TDF win

Saturday 7/10/10 1

• 7 Chavanel back in yellow after Tour de France 7th stage

Sports 5

Sunday 7/4/10 1

• 42 Harvick wins wild race at Daytona

Monday 7/5/10 1

• 29 NBA’s free agent fireworks could come next week

Friday 7/9/10 1

• 8 NBA giant James to join stars at Miami Heat

Saturday 7/10/10 2

• 22 LeBron’s mural coming down in Cleveland
• 23 Welcome to Miami, LeBron, as Heat begin the party

Arts/Fashion 3

Monday 7/5/10 1

• 11 Swiss show brings heirs to discuss Picasso, Klee

Wednesday 7/7/10 2

• 1 Gaultier celebrates strong, seductive women
• 10 Lion with pearl centerpiece at Chanel fashion show

Henry David Thoreau (born David Henry Thoreau; July 12, 1817 – May 6, 1862)  was an American author, poet, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, historian, philosopher, and leading transcendentalist. He is best known for his book Walden, a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, and his essay, Civil Disobedience, an argument for individual resistance to civil government in moral opposition to an unjust state.

Thoreau’s books, articles, essays, journals, and poetry total over 20 volumes. Among his lasting contributions were his writings on natural history and philosophy, where he anticipated the methods and findings of ecology and environmental history, two sources of modern day environmentalism. His literary style interweaves close natural observation, personal experience, pointed rhetoric, symbolic meanings, and historical lore; while displaying a poetic sensibility, philosophical austerity, and “Yankee” love of practical detail. He was also deeply interested in the idea of survival in the face of hostile elements, historical change, and natural decay; at the same time imploring one to abandon waste and illusion in order to discover life’s true essential needs.

He was a lifelong abolitionist, delivering lectures that attacked the Fugitive Slave Law while praising the writings of Wendell Phillips and defending abolitionist John Brown. Thoreau’s philosophy of civil disobedience influenced the political thoughts and actions of such later figures as Leo Tolstoy, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thoreau is sometimes cited as an individualist anarchist. Though Civil Disobedience calls for improving rather than abolishing government – “I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government” the direction of this improvement aims at anarchism: “‘That government is best which governs not at all;’ and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have.”

1096 – Crusaders under Peter the Hermit reach Sofia in Hungary.

1191 – Saladin’s garrison surrenders to Conrad of Montferrat, ending the two-year siege of Acre.

1543 – King Henry VIII of England marries his sixth and last wife, Catherine Parr at Hampton Court Palace.

1690 – Battle of the Boyne (Gregorian calendar) – The armies of William III defeat those of the former James II.

1691 – Battle of Aughrim (Julian calendar) – The decisive victory of William’s forces in Ireland.

1804 – Former United States Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton dies after being shot in a duel.

1806 – Sixteen German imperial states leave the Holy Roman Empire and form the Confederation of the Rhine.

1812 – War of 1812: The United States invades Canada at Windsor, Ontario.

1862 – The Medal of Honor is authorized by the United States Congress.

1918 – The Japanese Imperial Navy battle ship Kawachi blows up at Shunan, western Honshu, Japan, killing at least 621.

1920 – The Soviet-Lithuanian Peace Treaty is signed. Soviet Russia recognized independent Lithuania.

1924 – The Post Office has announced it will now accept air mail letters for countries where the domestic later rate applies.

1932 – Cricket: Hedley Verity establishes a first-class record by taking all ten wickets for only ten runs against Nottinghamshire on a pitch affected by a storm.

1941 – Moscow is bombed by the German Luftwaffe  for the first time.

1943 – World War II: Battle of Prokhorovka – German and Soviet forces engage in largest tank engagement of all time.

1954 – President Dwight D. Eisenhower proposes a highway modernization program, with costs to be shared by federal and state governments.

1957 – The U.S. surgeon general, Leroy E. Burney, reports that there is a direct link between smoking and lung cancer.

1962 – The Rolling Stones perform their first ever concert, at the Marquee Club in London.

1967 – The Newark riots began in Newark, New Jersey.

1974 – G. Gordon Liddy, John Ehrlichman and two others are convicted of conspiracy and perjury in connection with the Watergate scandal.

1979 – The island nation of Kiribati becomes independent from Great Britain.

1990 – After the election of Mikhail Gorbachev as head of the Soviet Communist Party, Boris Yeltsin, president of the Republic of Russia, announces his resignation from the Soviet Communist Party. This was a blow to Gorbachev who was hoping to keep all parts and factions of the Communist party working together.

1995 – A heat wave that effects Illinois and Wisconsin starts when a heat advisory is issued in Chicago, Illinois, warning of an impending record-breaking heat wave. By the time the heat wave ends one week later, nearly 2,000 people are dead in Illinois and Wisconsin with temperatures being recorded in Chicago up to 106 degrees Fahrenheit.  

(10 pm. – promoted by ek hornbeck)

Most of us have heard of zinc in passing comments.  Some TeeVee commercials tout the virtues of it in the diet.  Actually, it is an essential trace element, and part of some coenzyme systems, and so is essential for health.  Interestingly, it is more important for men than for women because the prostate gland needs lots of zinc to produce semen and to maintain health.

That does not mean that women do not need zinc, just that they do not lose lots of it in seminal fluid.  The requirements for zinc in the metabolism is the same betwixt the sexes, but, as females lose iron during menstruation, men lose it during ejaculation.  Please follow, and I promise not to be so graphic for a while.

Zinc is usually thought of as a heavy metal, but it is really not.  With an atomic number of only 30, it is much lighter than many metals commonly encountered.  Iron has an atomic number of 26, and hardly every is thought of as a heavy metal.  On the other hand, lead, silver, copper, gold, and may others are much heavier than zinc.

The uses of zinc, other than coenzymes (vitamins in our bodies) are multiple.  Most folks contact zinc every day and do not realize it.  It is EVERYWHERE!  It is difficult to say what product is the most rich in it, but for Americans the one cent piece may be the most common.  Please allow me to give a brief history of what is called a US “penny”.

Where to start?  First, the United States NEVER minted a coin called a “penny”.  That is exclusively British, but by common usage our “cent” came to be called a “penny”, since they both were small denomination coins made mostly of copper.  Until the late 1850s our cents were quite large (as big, almost as a half dollar), and minted from pure copper.

Pure copper has a disadvantage as a coin metal:  it is soft and has extremely poor wearing properties.  Around 1857, experiments were conducted to alloy copper with nickel to make cent coins, and they were used for some years.  Since nickel was expensive, zinc was substituted, with a little tin, and the bronze cent was borne.  This bronze allow was continued until 1943 (when war efforts required copper to be put into munitions, and the first clad US coin was struck, zinc plated steel).  In 1944 spent shell casings were used, 95% copper and 5% zinc, our cents contained no tin.

In 1947 we went back to the 95% copper, 3% tin, and 2% zinc coin metal for cents until the close of 1962.  The cost of tin became high then, so after 1962, all US cents were brass, not bronze.  (By definition, a binary alloy of copper and zinc is brass, a binary alloy of copper and tin is bronze, but a ternary alloy of the three is also bronze).  Until 1982, US coins were the 95/5 alloy, but the cost of copper became too high then.

Thus came the copper plated zinc cent.  We have had them since 1982 (that was a transition year, so some of both compositions were struck).  Since then, all of our cents are zinc, with a very thin electroplated pure copper shell so that they would look like the old ones.  But they corrode easily when the copper plating is damaged.  They are also much lighter than a copper cent, the former having a mass of only 2.5 grams, and the latter having one of 3.11 grams.

Current US cents are toxic because of the zinc content, especially if the copper coating is flawed.  Small children and dogs are at particular risk.  In the old days, the brass or bronze cents would usually just pass through the system with little harm, but the zinc ones dissolve and cause problems.  It is a good idea to keep coins off of the floor if you have little children or dogs.

There are lots of industrial uses for zinc.  One of the most important is using it as an anticorrosion material for mild steel.  I guess that I should explain mild steel first.

Iron with little carbon in it, usually with quite a bit of silicon and phosphorous, called wrought iron, is pretty corrosion resistant.  However, it is extremely expensive to produce, because it takes lots of manual labor to pound out impurities from it.  During the 1800s to the early 1900s it was the best.  However, when the Bessemer process was developed to produce steel, wrought iron became a dinosaur.  I would challenge anyone reading this to say with certainty that he or she had ever touched wrought iron.  By the way, “wrought iron” fences are actually cast iron ones, so they do not count.  The only wrought iron in them was the cables to connect them.

After Bessemer steel was used, it was found that it rusted very quickly in comparison with wrought iron.  Even the better, modern furnace steels corrode faster than wrought iron.  This is because of the intimate play of chemistry and physics between iron and carbon.  The excess of carbon makes steel, well, steel, but it makes it subject to corrosion.  This is where zinc comes into play.

Wrought iron is sort of hard to find, since it is only produced in small amounts.  However, it has many proprieties that make it be best of materials.  Mild steel, on the other hand, is produced in huge amounts, and it is a useful material.  But is rusts really fast.  If anyone wants to know the mechanism, please ask in a comment.

This is where zinc coating come to importance.  Mild steel will rust at a glance, but when coated with zinc, becomes extremely stable, even in thin sheets.  Most sheet steel is zinc coated, and instead of lasting five years, can last 25 years.  That is because of the battery that zinc and iron produce.  Zinc is more reactive than iron, so when zinc plated steel is exposed to water, the zinc corrodes before the iron.  This makes zinc a sacrificial coating, and a good and cheap one.  Zinc also has the advantage of forming a compact, tough oxide that tends to protect both the zinc and the steel under it.  Finally, it actually alloys with the iron at the surface of the sheet, so a chemical bond forms and holds the zinc onto the steel, rather than just being painted onto the metal.  Over half of the zinc produced goes into protective coatings for steel.

The second largest use of zinc is for diecasting.  Zinc alloys have excellent casting properties, and are strong enough for many uses.  Such alloys are called pot metal, diecast metal, and some other names.  Whilst they preserve the outline of the mold extremely well, they are prone to pitting under damp conditions and so are almost always coated, either with paint or powder coat, or with metal plate.  Diecast materials are often chromium plated for automotive use, but plastics have replaced a lot of diecast in recent years because of weight.

Brassmaking comes in third for zinc use.  Brass, as mentioned above, is an alloy of copper and zinc (other metals may also be added for specific purposes) and has excellent corrosion resistive properties.  Many plumbing fixtures are made of brass, either plated or not.  Brass is in many respects better than copper for such uses, since it is harder, tougher, and machines better.  It is also cheaper since zinc is cheaper than copper for a long shot.  However, it is not as corrosion resistant, so it is not used for pipes, just fittings.  A large amount of brass is used in decorative work, since it takes a high polish.  It tarnishes readily, however, so has to have a protective lacquer to keep its sheen.

A significant role of zinc is still for electrical production in batteries.  (Actually, we are talking about zinc-carbon cells, a battery being two or more cells used together.  Thus, a AAA cell is not a battery, but a 9V one is indeed a battery.)  Volta built the first battery out of zinc and copper discs, separated by paper wetted with brine.  Old fashioned dry cells are zinc and carbon, as are the alkaline ones, the difference being the solution that conducts the current, acidic in the old fashioned ones, alkaline in the modern ones.  (By the way, if you keep your unused dry cells in the freezer they will last just about forever until you use them.  The same goes for conventional photographic film).

Zinc is an important trace mineral, being part of many enzyme systems.  The RDA (recommended daily allowance) is around 15 milligrams (less for females, more for males), but there is some evidence that this may be somewhat low.  In addition to my food intake, I personally take 65 mg of zinc supplements.  Until more data are available, I think that much more than that is not safe.  There are fairly good data that zinc boosts the immune system, but that too much suppresses it, so I am taking the safe route.

In excess, zinc interferes with both the iron and the copper metabolism.  Certain denture adhesive manufacturers are now being sued because of high zinc levels in some of their products being linked to copper deficiency.  Also of note is the anecdotal evidence of zinc being of value in prevention of the common cold.  My personal feeling is that it is not specific for the cold, but rather its general immune system boost is responsible.  I do not recommend any zinc product to be swabbed in the nose.  Whilst the cold prevention effect is iffy at best, it is definitely established that zinc preparations can have a direct toxic effect on the neurons responsible for the sense of smell.  FDA forced a recall of the Zycam swabs because of this very issue.

UPDATE:  In the rush to finish up tonight (I was busy today) I forgot to mention the link between zinc and the decrease in prostate cancer in men.  Whilst the data are far from clear, it seems that there is a link between adequate zinc intake and prostate health.  I am not sure what the mechanism is, but have a hypothesis.  There exists a highly toxic and known to be carcinogenic metallic element called cadmium which has properties very similar to zinc.  My postulate is that if a man is deficient in zinc, the prostate (which concentrates zinc) may concentrate cadmium instead.  This is pretty much conjecture on my part, but I seem to recall come studies in men who were given zinc supplements and the cadmium levels in their seminal fluid peaked, then dropped off dramatically.  This is thought to be due to zinc taking its proper place in the prostate, displacing the toxic cadmium.  I must say that this is far from proven.

Well, there was a little history and discussion of zinc, an extremely important material.  And you have done it again!  You just wasted many einsteins of photons reading this tinny piece.  And even though Ann Coulter becomes non sarcastic when she reads me say it, I always learn much more than I could possibly hope to teach by writing these posts, so keep those comments, questions, corrections, tips, and recs coming.  Remember, no science or technology issue is off topic here.

Warmest regards,

Doc

Crossposted at Docudharma.com and at Dailykos.com

I’d be remiss if I did not highlight a film of note- Harold Lloyd’s last silent, Speedy.  On Turner Classic of course.

(A) young man trying to save New York’s last horse-drawn streetcar line.

You can DVR and watch it later.

Less worthy things-

• ABC Family– Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (much easier not in 3D)
• ESPN– Cubs @ Dodgers
• AMC– Pearl Harbor (ouch)
• History– Pawn Stars, Ice Road Truckers, Top Shot
• Discovery– Mythbusters

Eye gougingly bad things (shame on you)-

• E!– Justin Bieber: My World
• FX– Alien vs. Predator, AVPR: Aliens vs Predator—Requiem

Toon is having Unnatural History if you’re trying to get into it and then at 10:30 Adult Swim will debut Children’s Hospital.  Disney has a repeat of Phineas and Ferb’s “Hawaiian Vacation” at 10.

Later-

New Boondocks @ 11:30.  Dino Stamatopoulos’ new project @ 12:30.