Uncle Snoop: The federal government for the last six years has secretly collected information from nine major Internet services in the hunt for national security threats, the government admitted. This comes in addition to the revelation that the government swept up telephone records, as many as 3 billion a day, for the past seven years. The NY Times editorial page says today, “Mr. Obama is proving the truism that the executive branch will use any power it is given and very likely abuse it.”

National: Unemployment went up a tick in May to 7.6% but the economy added 175,000 jobs and the stock market is up this morning.

➢Gov. Chris Christie appointed New Jersey’s conservative Republican attorney general to be the interim US Senator until a special election on October 16. While pleasing Republicans this also helps Christie by keeping popular Newark Mayor Cory Booker off the November ballot. Booker is the Democratic favorite for Senator and would have been expected to help carry the Democratic vote in the governor’s race as well.

Adjusted Gross: The IRS Executive who played “Mr. Spock” in a video parody made for a $4.1 million employee conference told a Congressional committee he is embarrassed about it. The “Star Trek” spoof was played at the convention along with a video of IRS employees learning how to “line dance”, which is what taxpayers do when filling out their returns.

The Ring: A nearly overwhelming majority of Americans believe same-sex marriage is inevitable in America, even if they don’t agree with it, according to a study released by the Pew Research Center. The study says even 59% of people who oppose gay marriage believe it will happen. The Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on two major cases on the issue.

The Obit Page: The beautiful Esther Williams, a competitive swimmer who became the star of 1940s Hollywood synchronized swimming “aquamusicals”, has died at age 91. Williams not only filled a swimsuit handsomely, she designed them. In her later years she had a collection of sensible suits for women dealing with the effects of gravity. She said, “I put you in a suit that contains you and you will swim in. I don’t want you to be in two Dixie cups and a fish line.”

Splitsville: Russian President Vladimir Putin and his wife of 29 years announced they are divorcing. Putin has spent time the last 5 years with a gold medal Olympic gymnast who appears to be more flexible than Lyudmila.

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