Here are some other things that have happened in the world despite the recent deaths of Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and Michael Jackson:

• The House of Representatives narrowly passed (219-212) the Waxman-Markey bill, also known as the “Climate Change bill” or “Global Warming bill,” which will establish a cap-and-trade system to limit greenhouse-gas emissions. This will raise the cost of carbon-based fuels, which means annual energy costs for Americans will rise. Everyone agrees that costs will rise; they just disagree over how much. Estimates range from $98 extra per year to over $4,300 extra per year for an average household. Nevertheless, President Obama claims it will be good for the country’s economy — even going so far as to claim that it will change the business cycle:
  

  I have often talked about the need to build a new foundation for economic growth so that we do not return to the endless cycle of bubble and bust that led us to this recession. Clean energy and the jobs it creates will be absolutely critical to this new foundation.

• There has been a coup in Honduras. President Manuel Zelaya was forced out of the country by the military:
  

  Mr Zelaya campaigned for office on a law and order ticket but, Reuters news agency reports, it remains a major drug-trafficking transit point, overrun by street gangs and violent crime. Limited to a single four-year term in office under the current constitution, he was accused of seeking to change the law to allow him to stand for a second term.

• Eight British Embassy employees were arrested in Iran “for their alleged involvement in post-election protests.” The British foreign secretary denies any involvement: “The idea that the British embassy is somehow behind the demonstrations and protests that have been taking place in Tehran in recent weeks is wholly without foundation.” Click here for a video report from the BBC.

Kudos to Billy Dennis for continuing to cover the Iranian crisis.