On August 23 1963, Martin Luther King stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and made an iconic statement.

He had a dream.

That same day, Barack Obama was born. Tuesday, June 3, 2008, Barack Obama became the Democratic Party nominee for president of the United States.

MLK’s dream has been furthered.

As Barack Obama addressed a standing room only crowd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he told the 18,000 in attendance that history had been made and that his supporters lay at the root of this historic night.

Obama called for unity. Whether Clinton gave it is hardly a question.

Obama is the first African American of any major U.S. political party in its history to secure their party’s nomination. The same year that Obama was born, there were race segregation and blatant violations of civil rights. Now he has the opportunity to lead that same country.

The world has been watching the United States throughout this campaign and when they arise Wednesday morning, they will look to America in a little different way. Here is Barack Obama, a son of a man born in Africa, who has grown up to earn the right to be one of the two candidates to compete to lead the free world.

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The California Supreme Court threw the gay marriage debate into the middle of the presidential campaign. With their Thursday ruling overturning two state laws, crowds gathered all over the state to hear the news, which resulted in jubilation.

The overturning of a lower court’s blocking of gay marriage was a victory for tens of thousands across the state seeking the same rights as heterosexual couples.

In 2004, with another Presidential campaign in full swing, it was the Massachusetts Supreme Court that put candidate John Kerry on the hot seat to respond to how he would act on the issue as America’s leader. The same thing is surely to happen to either Democrat that emerges from the primaries with the nomination.

The 4 to 3 ruling becomes the law in 30 days. Expect the courthouses across the Golden State to be flooded with marriage requests from couples who were previously prevented from participating in a ceremony that above all, celebrates love.

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A U.K. study released today has found that American children are prescribed anti-psychotic medicines at six-times the rate of kids in Britain.

At a time where psychiatrists and parents are both wondering about the over-medicated situation of our children, this report should certainly further the debate.

Many experts believe that this study is pointless because of the fact that prescription rates for these drugs are up on both sides of the Atlantic. If any study needs to be undertaken, these experts argue, it is one to focus on the long term affects of the anti-psychotic drugs for ADD and other ailments.

On the list of the most used drugs are those utilized to treat autism and hyperactivity. The study covered over 500 children and began in 1992 through the University of London’s pharmacy school.

In a stark disparity, a U.S. study released last year had found that the numbers for American children taking these medications actually has increased at a much lower rate that the ones reported in the U.K. study. The U.S. study concluded when comparing years 1996 and 2001 that yes, the numbers have doubled, but not at the six times-rate that U.K. doctors are claiming.

In 2001, it was determined that 45 U.S. kids out of every 10,000 were prescribed anti-psychotic medications compared to in 1996 where that ratio was 23 per 10,000.

The entire study can be found in the May edition of the journal Pediatrics.

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When all else fails in Indiana, play basketball.

The basketball-crazy state got a taste of what it would be like to have a pretty good player in the White House. 

Barack Obama on the campaign trail strapped on his Air Jordans and with his Marines T-Shirt ready to go, embarked on an quickly organized three-on-three in Kokomo, Indiana, with local school kids and WNBA star Alison Bales.

The Illinois senator sunk a left-handed three pointer that sent the crowd into a whirl. With a WNBA star along side him, the man who said he likes to unwind by shooting hoops brought that side of him out for the public to see.

Obama had previously shot some baskets on the “Ellen Degeneres Show” where he also showed off a few dance moves.

While his former pastor, Rev. Wright, continues his cross country publicity tour further damaging Obama’s White House bid, it’s nice to see the candidate still finding the time to connect with the voters on a level both he and they are passionate about - the great game of basketball. 

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Country crooner Mindy McCready is embroiled in a sex scandal that is astoundingly connected to pitcher Roger Clemens and his recent appearance before Congress.

Allegations of the decade-long affair first arose as a part of a  current Clemens’ defamation lawsuit.

During the Boston Red Sox days as pitcher, Clemens was 28 when he met the 15 year-old McCready. Although the report says their relationship did not turn inappropriate at that point, the allegations imply that eventually it did and continued for almost 10 years.

When asked about the story late Monday, McGrady simply said, “I cannot refute anything in the story.”

Looks like Clemens’ hot water troubles are continuing. The likelihood that McCready will be called as a witness in the above mentioned suit is extremely likely.

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It was a surreal scene. A beach normally packed with swimmers and surfers was desolate. Friday morning, a local favorite, David Martin, 66, was training with the San Diego Triathlete Club in the waters off of Solana Beach. He died after being attacked by a Great White Shark.

After The Wire took to the air in the photo at right, it is easy to see how calm the area of the attack is after the beach has been cleared. The ocean was off-limits to swimmers and surfers over the weekend, but it didn’t stop those dedicated San Diego surfers who still waded into the water all weekend.

This is the first recorded shark attack in San Diego county since 1994 when a college student’s body was found off of Sunset Cliffs where the cause of death was deemed to be shark attack. Prior to that, the only documented shark attack in San Diego waters was back in 1959.

Anyone who frequents these waters is a little stunned this Monday. The questions of when, not if, are surrounding people’s thoughts about when to return to the Pacific. We all know that shark attacks are rare, but it doesn’t remove the thought that just because it’s rare, doesn’t mean it won’t happen again.

Taking to the air and by boat, officials scanned an eight-mile stretch of beach for three days searching for the Great White. There was no sign of the enormous creature that experts, after examining the victim’s wounds, said was easily a 17-foot long Great White Shark.

The scene in Solana Beach, a seaside community of only 13,000, was one of shock over the weekend. Whether in coffee shops or along the shoreline, the sentiment was one that it was a terrible tragedy, but in typical So Cal fashion, we all are taking comfort in the fact that Martin died doing what he loved.

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In the end, it was a foregone conclusion. Hillary Clinton won Pennsylvania Tuesday by almost 10 points with both sides spinning the primary for their own campaign needs.

Barack Obama took the loss in stride, addressing supporters in Indiana - the site of the next primary. Obama said that after being down 20-plus points in Pennsylvania, to cut Hillary’s lead in half is a milestone. What is worrisome to some Democrats is that Obama failed to win the white working-class vote in rural Pennsylvania. Obama’s camp insists that for every one of those votes that may go to John McCain in a general election, they win over Republicans yearning for change. It is a good argument.

Clinton was elated yesterday and immediately her campaign got a massive influx of cash. Much needed, Obama has enough money to outspend Clinton for the rest of the campaign almost four to one.

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The Indy race-car circuit is nothing if it’s known for being a man’s world. The old boys racing cars around circular tracks dates back to running Moonshine.

Now a female driver has made history. After enduring sexist remarks and even slander over her first 49 starts, Danica Patrick finished first over the weekend.

Patrick won the Japan 300 over the weekend becoming the first female to win an Indy car event ever. The 26-year-old driver who was discovered by David Letterman has made waves since her debut on the circuit just years ago.

Filled with promise, she raced with the big boys on some of the world’s most famous tracks. By winning the Japan 300, she has now joined an elite group of racers who have reached the checkered flag first.

“Dreams really do come true,” she said to reporters after her win. “You just have to be persistent enough. This was a long time coming. I can only say that I’m just glad it’s over.”

It’s great to see her pull past the Anna Kournikova’s of the world who win in their sport while posing in bikinis for Sports Illustrated.

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Over the weekend, both Democratic candidates for president crossed Pennsylvania trying to convince voters they were the best choice to lead the country into the future.

With the Pennsylvania primary tomorrow, Obama and Clinton were frantic over the last 72 hours hitting every local bar and factory trying to win votes. The first primary contest in almost a month has been a heated one to say the least.

Jabs were tossed back and forth from both candidates as the Rebpulican nominee was completely out of the news cycle all weekend. After their tenuous debate last week, it appears the Clinton-Obama fracas shows no signs of slowing. Regardless of the results in tomorrow’s contest, the Clinton campaign has vowed to continue until every last primary voter has cast their ballot.

When is that you ask? Why, it’s in June.

Obama supporters, with their candidate in the lead with popular votes and electoral votes, have been quietly to loudly encouraging Clinton to leave the race. Only if the Pennsylvania results are a blowout for Obama could it even be considered that Clinton would drop out.

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Pope Benedict XVI closed out his first trip to America with an emotionally charged day in the Big Apple.

After visiting a Jewish synagogue on Friday for Sabbath services, then speaking to the United Nations on Saturday, the pontiff visited Ground Zero and prayed for the thousands who died on that sacred space Sunday morning.

It was especially touching for the hundreds of families whose loved ones’ remains were never found and where Ground Zero serves as their final resting place.

The pope then headed over to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx to lead a Mass for a crowd exceeding 60,000 people.

Overall, the pope had truly won over America’s hearts. After visiting with President Bush and world leaders, the pontiff took the time to meet with victims of the far-reaching abuse scandal in his church. No church official of his holiness’ nature had even acknowledged the church’s problems. By dealing with the issue head on and using the words “ashamed,” this pope managed to bring the Vatican back into the favor of the U.S. citizenry with out jam-packed visit.

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