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Monday, May 30

Shook up: In wake of Japan’s nuclear disaster, Germany decides not to build any more nuke plants and phase out existing ones by 2022 … Set back: Regime of Libya’s Muammar Qaddafi takes a hit as eight top generals defect and flee to Italy … When produce goes wrong: Outbreak of E. coli linked to tainted Spanish cucumbers kills at least 14 in Germany; other European countries close their borders to the deadly vegetables … This is gross: US Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) accused of sending photo of his crotch to woman via Twitter, but DailyKos says analysis shows it was PhotoShopped … This is the grossest ever: “Hangover II” becomes top-grossing comedy movie of all time, grossing more than $138 million over Memorial Day weekend. Did we mention it was really gross?

Tuesday, May 31

Big win for the right to bear rats: National Labor Relations Board rules unions have right to erect 16-foot inflatable rats outside business as protest symbol. Wow, that’s a relief … Meeting of the minds(?): Possible presidential candidate Sarah Palin and ex-presidential candidate Donald Trump get together over pizza in NYC. No word on who picked up the check … ‘Bye pyramid, hello pie: Obama administration ditches decades-old “food pyramid” in favor of “food pie” as guide to healthy eating. No, not chocolate cream pie … Too funny to be true: Former fundamentalist pastor Ted Haggard, ousted after gay sex scandal, to have cameo role in “Christian sex comedy.” We always thought that was a tautology … Just too funny: Rep. Anthony Weiner lawyers up with view toward possible suit against whoever sent that crotch photo.

Wednesday, June 1

The war is over, the drugs won: Global Commission on Drug Policy declares war on drugs a failure, recommends treatment instead of prison for drug users … A nasty breed of bug: World Health Organization reports E. coli that’s sickened at least 1,500 in Germany is new and unusually deadly strain … Meanwhile, Spain demands payment from Germany for falsely blaming Spanish cucumbers … Diplomat-speak: Talks between President Obama and House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan on debt ceiling described as “very frank.” Translation: They threw chairs at each other … The Shaq won’t be back: Basketball great Shaquille O’Neal announces on Twitter he’s retiring after 19 years in the NBA … But the Italian Stallion will: Broadway musical based on hit 1976 movie “Rocky” in the works. No word on whether Sylvester Stallone will reprise his role.

Thursday, June 2

Could we maybe get a payday loan? Moody’s investment rating service threatens to downgrade United States’ debt rating if deal on debt ceiling isn’t reached “in coming weeks” … Got some ‘splaining to do: Goldman Sachs receives subpoena from Manhattan District Attorney’s Office regarding probe of the debt crisis and its sales of mortgage-backed securities, aka “dog poop” … Mitt’s in: Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney announces presidential bid, blasts President Obama for handling of economy, accuses him of taking ideas from Europe. Which would be a bad thing … why? … Octodoc busted: California Medical Board revokes license of Dr. Michael Kamrava, who helped Nadya Suleman, already mother of six, conceive octuplets in 2009; says he “did not exercise sound judgment.”

Friday, June 3

Telling it like it is: Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, at town hall meeting in New Hampshire, says “I believe the world is getting warmer, and I believe that humans have contributed to that” … Elsewhere on the campaign trail, a person unknown puts a sign saying “I, the Media Whore” on Sarah Palin’s bus in NYC … No pot for you: Oregon district attorneys and US Attorney Dwight Holton serve notice on marijuana dispensaries that they’ll get busted if they sell weed. (They’re only allowed to give it away) … Final Exit: Dr. Jack Kevorkian, who helped dozens of terminally ill patients end their lives with his “suicide machine” in the 1990s, dies at 83 … Good thing it wasn’t a heart transplant: Frustrated by dispute over $25 medical bill, Jason West, 38, of Vernal, UT tries to pay it with 2,500 pennies, gets charged with “disorderly conduct.”

Saturday, June 4

Blame not the cucumber: Deadly E. coli outbreak in Germany worsens; over 1,700 stricken and at least 18 dead. Meanwhile, Spain launches ad campaign to rehabilitate image of its cucumbers, falsely blamed for the epidemic … Changing the guard: Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, injured in attack on his compound Friday, reportedly leaves country, turns over reins to Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi … Curses, hacked again: Sony Pictures confirms it was hacked a second time by LulzSec, group that claims it stole over a million emails and passwords … Not quite a Rembrandt in the attic, but not bad: PBS’s “Antiques Roadshow,” visiting Eugene, turns up 1919 oil painting by Norman Rockwell valued at $500,000, owned by Springfield family for 90 years.

Sunday, June 5

Beware the sprouts: Officials now blaming Germany’s deadly E. coli outbreak on bean sprouts; government now telling people not to eat them. Seems like a good idea … The most unkindest cut: Support growing in Santa Monica, CA for measure to ban circumcision. Jewish groups fear assault on religious liberty … Drive-thru flashing: Robert E. Porter, 69, of Redmond arrested for allegedly exposing himself to employees at four Bend coffee stands in the past month.

This article appears in Jun 9-15, 2011.