It's HOT

At least 25 states are expected to hit 100 degrees today. That's hot. Plus there was a major storm in the DC area that knocked over trees and downed power lines. They said that 2 million people are without power. Without any a/c or even a fan, those folks are really going to suffer today.

Anthony Davis

As expected he was the first player selected in the NBA draft last night. What was unexpected was that he trademarked the phrases "Fear The Brow" and "Raise the Brow". "I don’t want anyone to try to grow a unibrow because of me and then try to make money off of it,” Davis said. “Me and my family decided to trademark it because it’s very unique.” Amazing!

Affordable Health Care

The signature legislation of President Obama was upheld today by the US Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision. Justice Roberts wrote the majority opinion. This was a huge victory for all Americans. Going back to the health care system that we had would have been ludicrous.

Nora Ephron

Nora Ephron died yesterday at 71 years old from Leukemia. She was an accomplished writer and director. Two of her films: "Sleepless in Seattle" and "Julie & Julia" are among my favorites. She will be missed.

Rain

We got a lot of rain on the Cape yesterday. Bands of heavy rain just kept rolling through all day and there was even some thunder and lightning at night. Of course Florida got even more with Debby barely moving. Some places have received over 2 feet already. That's more than some places out West get all year.

Girl Power

For the third time this year, following strong openings from "The Hunger Games" and "Snow White and the Huntsman," a movie with a tough female protagonist topped the box office in a major way. This weekend it was "Brave" with $66.7 million. Of note is that all thirteen Pixar films have opened number one, so that may have had a lot to do with it.

Bourne Friends Food Pantry

The Bourne Friends Food Pantry celebrated its 20th anniversary yesterday. There were light refreshments and lots of volunteers from years past as well as the current crew. Needless to say there were also lots of local politicians and certificates from both the US and Mass House were presented. It was a proud day for all involved.

NBA Champions

The Miami Heat won the NBA title last night. It was the first for LeBron James, who also was the MVP of the playoffs. It took him nine years. For Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, I don't think it will take that long.

Is the BCS Dead?

The BCS commissioners announced a consensus on a four team playoff to determine the national championship. We already have a two team playoff, so this isn't a big leap forward, but it is a step in the right direction. Plus there are lots of issues still to be resolved, especially "protecting" the bowl system. What a joke that is. There are too many bowl games already. Virtually any team with a winning record, even just 6-5, can go to one. Over 90% of them are meaningless, and many of the schools actually lose money going to them. So what's to protect? The money that the people who run them make!

The Heat is On

Scorching heat reaches the East coast today just in time for the start of Summer. Highs are expected in the mid 90's up and down the coast, and Thursday may be even hotter. Let's hope it stays cooler on the Cape.

Big News in Bourne

Hard to believe, but the biggest thing to happen in Bourne in a long time was the grand opening of a Market Basket grocery store today. People were lined up when it opened at 6 am. I got there around 8 am and the parking lot was full. All this excitement may seem strange, but the town of Bourne has been without any grocery stores since the Grand Union closed a few years ago. Plus it's a huge store with great selection and low prices.

US Open

Webb Simpson won the US Open golf tournament yesterday with a one over par 281. He was 6 shots back with 13 holes to play, but made 3 straight birdies and then parred in to win. He deserved to win and became the ninth straight first time winner of a major championship. The days of Tiger's dominance are obviously long gone.

Greek Elections

Huge election in Greece on Sunday will have a major impact on the world's economy. Will the new leaders drop out of the Euro zone or continue with the austerity plan? Will they be able to avoid default? Whatever they do, the world will be watching.

Allen Stanford

The former Texas tycoon was convicted of 13 counts of fraud and sentenced yesterday to 110 years in jail. He bilked his investors of $7 billion over 20 years running his ponzi scheme. Of course he claims that he didn't do anything wrong. I guess that he felt that he was entitled to their money for some reason. Well he penniless now and will spend the rest of his life in jail.

Allen Stanford

The former Texan tycoon was convicted on 13 counts of fraud yesterday and sentenced to 110 years in jail. He bilked $7 billion from his investors, but claims that he didn't do anything wrong. I guess that he just felt that he was entitled to their money and taking it wasn't a crime. Well he's penniless now and will live the rest of his life in jail.

Say It Ain't So, Lance

Lance Armstrong is facing doping allegations again. Although federal investigators in February closed a two-year investigation without bringing criminal charges, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency has filed new doping charges. Armstrong insists that he's innocent and that he has passed more than 500 drug tests. Of course we've heard doping denials before from many athletes that turned out to be false, but I really hope that in this case Lance really is clean. We'll see.

Wildfires

All these wildfires out west are getting out of control. The giant one in New Mexico is still burning and the latest one in Colorado is only 10% contained, and the smoke is blanketing Denver 60 miles away. Meanwhile it's not even Summer yet, so the worst may be yet to come.

The Dingo Did It

An Australian corner officially ruled yesterday that a dingo killed the woman's baby in a case from 1980. On Aug. 17, 1980, Lindy Chamberlain and her now ex-husband took their three children camping to Uluru, then known as Ayers Rock, in the Australian desert. After Chamberlain put the newborn to sleep in a bassinet in the couple's tent, she returned to a nearby barbecue area with friends. Soon after, witnesses heard a "menacing growl" and a baby crying. The mother of three ran back to the tent, she says, and saw a dingo dragging her daughter away. The initial coroner's inquiry found that the Chamberlain family had no responsibility in Azaria's death; but for many, their story was just too unbelievable. In October of 1982, amid rumors the Chamberlains sacrificed their daughter in a religious ceremony, the case was re-opened; and Lindy was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. It wasn't until four years later, when a child's jacket was found in a dingo den, that Chamberlain was re-tried and acquitted.

French Open

History was made this weekend at the French Open. Maria Sharapova won the women's title to complete her career grand slam, and Rafael Nadal won his seventh title. The first man ever to do that.

No Triple Crown

There will be no Triple Crown winner again this year. I'll Have Another was scratched from the Belmont Stakes yesterday because he had swelling in his left front leg. Actually he was retired. He won't race again. The injury doesn't sound that serious, and my guess is that he could return to racing, but the owners don't want to jeopardize his stud fees. It's always about the money.

Bear on the Cape

The black bear that has been the hot topic on the Cape made the national news this morning. It made "Good Morning America". Meanwhile nobody really know how it got here. Did it really swim across the canal? Anyway it has made it all the way from the bridge to Provincetown and officials hope to tranquillize it today and remove it.

Texting While Driving

An 18-year-old Massachusetts man will spend a year in prison for killing a father of three in a car accident that occurred because he was texting behind the wheel. He is the first driver in the state to get prison time for killing someone while texting and driving. His car drifted across the center line and plowed into an oncoming car killing its driver. The judge said the harsh sentence was meant to send a message about the dangers of texting while driving. Let's hope drivers everywhere get it.

Wisconsin Recall Vote

Governor Scott Walker survived a recall vote yesterday. He famously stripped public employee unions of the right to bargain, causing massive protests and a take over of the state capitol. Thus he went from a rookie governor to a star in the Tea Party, and he had money pouring into his campaign from all over the country. Now let's see what happens in November in the presidential election.

Diamond Jubilee

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee in now in it's fourth and final day. It's been quite a celebration with millions of people lining the river banks and streets to watch the activities. Since this is only the second time it's happened in a thousand years, it's a big deal. Even the US TV networks are broadcasting some of it live.

Best Golf Shot Ever?

Tiger Woods birdied the 16th hole at the Jack Nicklaus Memorial golf tournament with a shot that Jack himself rated as on of the all time best. The ball was in the rough and the green was hard and fast, sloping downhill with water just past the green. He was one shot behind at the time, and if he doesn't get it close, the odds are that he'll lose. It was a very difficult shot, and the commentators thought that it would take an incredible shot just to get within 6 feet. Well the Tiger of old showed up and made it. He also birdied the 18th hole to win by two. Now let's see how he does at the US Open in two weeks. Tiger's not back until he wins a major.

Volunteer Appreciation

The only way most of our social programs, which help the needy and the elderly, can function is with the help of volunteers. Yesterday I went to a volunteers appreciation event. There was a free continental breakfast and a lot of the local politicians. The highlight for me was when John Rando, a fellow volunteer at the food pantry, received his "Above and Beyond Award" for working there since its inception 20 years ago. He's 89 years old and still shows up every Thursday. He gets my hardiest congratulations.

John Edwards

John Edwards was found not guilty yesterday on one count of violating campaign finance laws and a mistrial was declared in the other five. Since the majority of the jury also voted not guilty in those, it seems unlikely that the prosecutor will retry the case. Thus he should be free. Quite frankly I thought that the whole thing was a waste of time and taxpayer money. The guy they should have gone after was Andrew Young. He's the guy who solicited the money and actually kept most of it for himself to build a house.