Oil Jumps $11/barrel in One Day:

While we rush toward July 4 and the summer vacation period in America, oil speculators push the price of oil to record highs. Yesterday oil reached $138.54 per barrel. On Wall Street, stocks fell sharply. The Dow dropped 3 percent. Standard and Poor's 500-stock also fell 3 percent.

49,000 Jobs Lost:

In May the unemployment rate climbed from 5 percent to 5.5 percent. (See The New York Times story.) In other words, 8,550,000 people were unemployed during the month of May. Economists are predicting "this will be the weakest summer job market for teenagers in at least 60 years." That means, since the end of WWII and The Great Depression.

The Dude's unique ability: "I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy … I was able to get a sense of his soul." — George W. Bush responding to questions about Russian President Vladimir Putin, June 2001.