US satisfaction rates are down to 11%, according to a new Gallup poll finds that continued high unemployment, soldiers still dying in wars and a totally crazy stock market, the national mood is dropping fast.

These Gallup stats point to Americans growing increasingly angry since 2004, when our national satisfaction level slipped below 50%. It went below 40% in 2005 and 30% in 2009. WTH?

NY Senator Jeff Klein released a new report showing foreclosed properties across New York City in a similar state of disrepair as the bank-owned property that claimed three lives in a fire last Spring.

He says that several of these properties also appear to be occupied while having serious building code violations levied against them – ratcheting up the potential for additional deadly consequences.

SLAUGHTER IN AFGHANISTAN. Bombs Kill Dozens.

EARTHQUAKE. More Tremors in Japan.

FINANCIAL PANIC. Wall Street Sell Off.

UNEMPLOYMENT. Where Are Jobs?

PATH TOLLS. Increases In, or Out of Order?

NO LAYOFFS. Break For NYC Parks.

The intense rivalry between US and PRC has moved to the courts - the basketball courts. This is one of the nastiest basketbrawls ever, made more surreal by the fact that the Georgetown Hoyas were playing in China on a good- will tour gone bad. Usually these things involve some shoving and jersey-grabbing, but not this time.

Pay attention at 24 seconds in as a Georgetown player falls to the floor and a Chinese player drops to his knees to punch him in the face — repeatedly. Meanwhile, some degenerate rushed the court to stomp on another fallen Georgetown player’s stomach.

President Obama has called for the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, to step down, and called for additional sanctions. It's the first time the United States has explicitly called for Mr. Assad’s departure from power.

The actions come in response to the deadly crackdown Syrian forces have been waging against pro-democracy protesters across the country.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hailed the sanctions, which are much sterner than previous measures.

A couple of Israeli vehicles have been reportedly attacked near the border with Egypt. Apparently gunmen opened fire on an Israeli bus at the Red Sea resort of Eilat on Thursday, wounding passengers. The military reported another attack on a vehicle in the same area with more casualties, suggesting a coordinated terrorism.

Most of that hot summer weather may be behind us, but the heat is being turned up for President Obama.

A Congressional Black Caucus member says Obama's bus tour ignored suffering African-American communities and visited mostly white areas.

Meanwhile, there's been a series of questions asked concerning the timing and his choice of locations to take a two week vacation. The President is headed for the beach - and he's getting an earful about taking a family vacation from his opponents.