Beyond the Farm
For the week preceding this Saturday, March 18th, 1995, here's a review of what happened Beyond the Farm:
The Republican plan for budget cuts passed the House by a 227-200 margin Mar 16th. $17 billion will be cut from this year's budget, with $100 billion in additional cuts to come over five years. The plan includes 30% cuts to gradual phase-outs of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the National Endowment for the Arts, public housing, summer youth jobs, and other social programs. Late opposition from Democrats mounted after it was announced that some of the money may go to tax cuts rather than deficit reduction. Meanwhile, a Democratic filibuster in the Senate blocked a Republican bill to invalidate President Clinton's order for the government not to give contracts to companies using replacement workers.
The situation surrounding the Spanish fishing boat seized by Canada last week led to a major crisis between the European Union and Canada. By Mar 12th, Canadian Fisheries Minister Brian Tobin was claiming that "immature, underdeveloped fish" had been harvested on the trawler. On Mar 13th, with the crew of the vessel in Canadian custody, Spain broke diplomatic ties with Canada, and on Mar 14th ordered other boats in the area to resume fishing. The situation was diffused after Canada released the vessel and its crew Mar 15th, but both sides still claim the other acted illegally.
They're Talking About It...
In the O.J. Simpson case, prosecutor Marcia Clark accused defense attorney F. Lee Bailey of lying about a potential witness Mar 15th, enraging Bailey and leading Judge Lance Ito to issue a new code of conduct for the courtroom Mar 16th after both sides apologized for the "outburst." Mark Fuhrman ended testimony Mar 16th; fellow officer Philip Vannatter is now on the witness stand. A fifth juror was kicked out Mar 17th.
In shorts...
Croatian President Franjo Tudjman agreed Mar 12th to allow the UN to keep reduced forces in his country after this month...former Mexican president Carlos Salinas started self-imposed exile in the US Mar 12th...the Congress Party in India lost control of the Maharastra state in elections Mar 13th...another former Nigerian leader, General Basinger, was arrested in Lagos Mar 13th...the UN announced sanctions on Iraq would continue Mar 13th; two Americans who reportedly wandered into Iraq from Kuwait Mar 17th are still being held by the Iraqis...Gordon Hinckley became president of the Mormon church Mar 13th...American astronaut Norman Thagard blasted off in the Russian Soyuz spacecraft Mar 14th enroute to a few months on the Mir space station; until the space shuttle Endeavor landed Mar 18th there were a record 13 humans in space...the US state department acted to annul a deal between Conoco and the Iranian government Mar 14th...nine UN peacekeepers died in an accident in Bosnia Mar 14th as fighting started to become consistent near Sarajevo; an aid convoy was enroute to the starving Bihac enclave Mar 18th...the justice department called for an independent counsel in its investigation of HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros Mar 14th, while it ended its probe of transportation secretary Federico Pena Mar 15th...the National Labor Relations Board filed action against major league baseball Mar 14th...Montanan Doug Singley won the Iditarod sled-dog race in Alaska Mar 15th...the FDA approved the first Chicken Pox vaccine Mar 17th...the FAA grounded 6000 private planes Mar 17th...Gerry Adams, the leader of Sinn Fein, was at the White House for St. Patrick's Day Mar 17th...the I-5 bridge at Coalinga, CA was reopened Mar 18th; damage from flooding is now estimated at $2 billion with 15 lives lost...a coup in Azerbaijan was thwarted Mar 18th...the Fatah faction of the PLO announced it would try a new negotiating stance Mar 18th without giving details...the all-woman crew in the America's Cup no longer exists as a man was installed as captain Mar 18th...Spanish princess Infanta Elena married aristocrat Jaime de Marichalar Mar 18th in Seville...the Crimea was defying an Ukranian decree invalidating its constitution and asked for help from Russian Mar 18th...Michael Jordan announced Mar 18th that he will play his first game for the Chicago Bulls Mar 19!
Finally...
Looking for a supply of alcohol? Scientists have discovered enough alcohol to make 6 trillion bottles of beer in the star system G3.3, the first large deposit of beer found in outer space. However, according to Cambridge astronomer Jeff McDonald, "it will never be utilized because it is 10,000 light years away."
And that's what happened Beyond the Farm.
Sources this week included All Things Considered (NPR), the Associated Press Newswire, the BBC Newshour (BBC/PRI), the Christian Science Monitor, Evans & Novak (CNN), the MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour (PBS), Marketplace (PRI), Newsdesk (BBC/PRI), the Reuters newswire, and the World News Roundup (CBS radio).
Compiled by: Lance Gleich, Stanford CA
Beyond the Farm is designed to provide a reasonably short summary of a week's events for people who would otherwise have no chance to keep up with current events. It may be distributed/forwarded/ posted anywhere. Comments, criticisms, and requests for e-mail subscription additions or deletions should be e-mailed to "lance.gleich@leland.stanford.edu." Congratulations on keeping up with the world around you!
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