I was only 7 years old, but I can distinctly remember being glued to the television set at my grandmother’s after learning Ronald Reagan was shot, watching the scenes and realizing even at such a young age that I was witnessing something historic. It’s hard to believe that was 30 years ago, but indeed we’ll mark that anniversary on March 30.
Of course in the end it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Reagan survived, served two terms as president, the free world was fine, and the Jodie Foster-obsessed shooter was locked up.
What you may not know is just how close Reagan came to dying that day, and how the quick thinking of a secret service agent who threw the president into his limo ultimately saved his life. No one knew Reagan had been shot (seemingly not even he knew exactly) until once inside the car where he complained of trouble breathing and theagent saw blood on his lips.
It's been almost 30 years to the day since Ronald Reagan was shot outside the Hilton in Washington, D.C. And while if you are old enough to remember that day you likely can recall exactly what you were doing when you heard the news, you may not know how close Reagan came to dying. In fact the bullet lodged just an inch from his heart and though he was badly injured, Reagan kept his dignity and sense of humor thanks to some quick-thinking aides... and more. It's all part of a riveting chronicle of the day "Rawhide" -- Reagan's secret service code name -- was shot.
What an awful perfect storm in Japan, wrapping one of the saddest weeks I can remember, watching parents looking for children, in some cases their adult children probably my age -- children old enough to have their own children -- in the ruins.
And finally, what's shaping up to be a worst-case scenario when it comes to nuclear power, a relatively popular form of alternative energy worldwide.
As we think about everyone in Japan, especially the skeleton crew working at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi plant to contain the radiation (these people are serious heroes and by far the ones at most risk), and as the U.S. considers its own nuclear future, here are some facts about the state of nuclear energy to zip up and take with you.
- 30% of Japan’s power comes from nuclear energy; in the U.S. it's 20%, and France ranks the highest with 76%
- Nuclear power costs are more stable than say coal and oil though it's expensive to build the facilities
- Recently there has been a push in the U.S. to use more nuclear energy, sometimes called a "nuclear renaissance," with support from some (including Obama) on both the left and the right
- Supporters point out that nuclear power plants don't emit greenhouse gases, produce electricity more inexpensively than other methods, and that nuclear energy is in some sense inevitable as fossil fuels become scarce
- Opponents point out that the plants become possible terrorist targets and wreak havoc if anything goes wrong with them
The debate over nuclear energy is complex, multi-faceted, and likely to intensify. There are strong arguments in its favor, but the potential consequences if something goes wrong are all too apparent in the harrowing images coming out of Japan.
What do you think? More nuclear in the United States? Or less? TAKE OUR POLL
Of course we’re talking about the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, which defines marriage as being between a man and a woman only and bars many, many federal benefits to people in same-sex marriages even though the state they live in may recognize the marriage as legal.
So what’s going on? Well, in February the attorney general sent a letter to Congress saying the Obama administration found Section 3 of DOMA, which prevents people in same-sex marriages from getting federal benefits like survivor benefits and tax benfits, as discriminatory against a group and thus unconstitutional (in the same way it’s unconstitutional to discriminate against race and gender).
Tens of thousands of refugees are fleeing Libya, rebels have won control of key portions of the country and are closing in on the capital of Tripoli, and the international community is weighing its options to thwart more bloodshed and facilitate a regime change for a dictator who just won’t go.
Here’s a look at Libya--where it stands and where it’s headed:
Colonel Muammar Qaddafi (or Gaddafi, Ghadafi, Kadafi, depending on what news outlet you’re reading), Libya’s leader for 41 years, refuses to step down and has said he’ll fight “until his last drop of blood.”
Qaddafi gained control in a bloodless coup in 1969 and officially holds no title though he holds tight control over the country. He purposely weakened the military to strengthen his hand and one report we read says they are sometimes unarmed and wear regular clothes to preserve their uniforms. He has four loyal sons who also do not hold official titles but who also hold much power.
Hi there, I'm Stacey Delo. I keep up with the news so busy women and Moms don't have to. I'm also blogging a lot about working Moms and flexible career options. When I'm not doing this, I work for The Wall Street Journal Digital Network and chase after a toddler. (photo credit: Erin Beach)
