But maybe we should.

Last night a USC student was stabbed and killed after leaving a party on campus. Police are reporting that he got into a screaming fight with another student on the street that quickly escalated. The student, 23 year old Bryan Richard Frost, was stabbed in the chest before the suspect ran off. Frost was rushed to the hospital where he could not be saved.

It goes without saying that just because you are on a college campus, it doesn’t mean you are safe. Please think about this when you head out tonight and this weekend. Do not go home alone, remain aware of your surroundings when you are walking home with others, and do not do anything that might provoke someone to harm you.

Be safe, ladies.

Drum roll please…

It’s the news with Kandy Korrespondent! (wild applause) anyways:

The California Supreme Court has overturned the state’s same-sex marriage ban by a vote of 3-4 stating that gay unions must be given the “respect and dignity of marriage” and that same-sex couples should be permitted to wed. Governor Schwartzenagger said on Thursday that he will respect the court’s ruling. Meanwhile, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa told reporters that he will gladly officiate at same-sex weddings.

This ruling is the first to apply arguments typically used with regards to the protection of gender and racial rights to the issue of same-sex marriage.

In Other News:

On Thursday, the House of Representatives voted 149-141 against giving the Pentagon an additional $162.5 billion to keep fighting the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq through mid-2009. Most significantly, 132 Republicans voted “present”– neither yes nor no. Such numbers are revelatory of the widening gap between the Bush administration and the rest of the GOP.

Earlier this week, Congress voted in favor of ordering the Bush administration to stop depositing oil in the national reserve for the remainder of this year. The Senate voted 97 to 1 while the House voted 385 to 25. No one denies the fact that this move is anything other than a quick fix to placate constituents. The US Energy Information Administration predicts that this move will only take at most 5 cents off the per gallon price.

In related news, according to a MasterCard Advisors report, American consumers have decreased their demand for gasoline by 1% so far this year.

As you may remember from Econ 101, gas is considered an inflexible good—meaning that demand will not fluctuate with rising prices. So for total American consumer demand to drop by 1% is totally in violation of this principle.

The death toll following the May 3rd cyclone in Myanmar is now 78,000 with 56,000 still missing. During the past week, several aid planes have been allowed to land in the country but for most members of the population, help remains far off. The military junta government insists on retaining control over distribution—a task for which they are ill prepared—the country only has five working helicopters. The government has also refused international offers to send in search-and-rescue teams and disaster responders.

And Now for Something Completely Different…

Robots take over yet another part of the music industry! A 4 ft 3in tall robot named Asimo conducted the Detroit Symphony this past week in their performance of “The Impossible Dream”. Asimo was built by Honda and designed to mimic the motions of the orchestra’s education director. According to the musicians what the robot lacked in communicability it made up in its fluidity and human-like conducting motions.

That’s the News!

Hezbollah has taken over the western portion of Beirut the capital of Lebanon. This recent violence stems from the Western-backed (read: US-funded) government’s attempt on Monday to shut down Hezbollah’s telecoms network calling it a threat to state security.

According to eyewitnesses, the takeover occurred on Thursday at 8am with widespread Hezbollah roadblocks. Witnesses report street fighting involving machine guns, RPGs and tanks throughout the city. Civilians, apparently, have been forbidden from exiting their homes or even standing out on their balconies. Foreign nationals are desperately seeking a way out of the city.

It is feared that such violence will spiral the country back into civil war. The first Lebanese civil war occurred from 1975-90.

Meanwhile, the situation in Myanmar (Burma) continues to deteriorate. As many as 100,000 dead or missing and thousands facing homelessness and disease, yet the government remains incredibly reluctant to allow foreign aid into the country.

On Friday, the UN World Food Program suspended operations when its’ first plane was impounded by the government. Aid flights will hopefully be resumed on Saturday.

According to the US government, Myanmar will allow one aid plane to land on Monday.

Therefore, despite significant aid pledges on the part of the international community, (UK $10m, UN $10m, Japan $10m, US $3m, France $3m, Australia $2.8m), it is doubtful how much will actually be allowed into Myanmar by the military Junta.

On the US political front, it seems to be simply a matter of time before Hilary Clinton admits defeat. By securing North Carolina and nearly taken Indiana, Obama is increasingly being viewed as the apparent democratic nominee. The Washington Post’s blog The Trail’s headline today even reads “The Real Race Begins”—arguing that the news coverage should be focusing on the Obama vs. McCain contest rather than the floundering Clinton campaign.

Further evidence of the erosion of Clinton’s position as a viable contender came today as superdelegate Rep. Donald M. Payne left the Clinton camp this morning for Obama. Three other undecided superdelgates also joined Payne in declaring their solidarity with the Obama campaign.

And Now For Something Completely Different… Taser Parties!

Move aside Tupperware and Avon- Taser parties are the latest and greatest home parties. According to the BBC, such “parties” are becoming more and more common in the US. Companies are especially targeting women, marketing the taser as the perfect tool for personal protection. They even come in cute colors—leopard print, light pink, red, etc.

On a personal note, my mom has actually tried on several occasions to give me something like a taser but I’m quite uncomfortable with the idea. Check out the BBC’s story, which is pretty hard on our American desire for such protection, and then tell me what you think.

That’s the news. Have a great weekend and I’ll see you on Monday!