Image: BarackObama.com

-A Pew Research Center poll finds that while Americans think rich people are hardworking, they also think the rich are greedier and more dishonest than the average American. And, 58 percent think the rich don’t pay enough taxes. More than half (52 percent) of those who said they were upper middle class even said they don’t pay enough taxes. Finally, 63 percent said the GOP favors the rich, which might be a problem for Mitt Romney.

-Banks are firing low-ranking workers left and right because of federal rules passed last year that seek to weed out fraud. Banks will incur a $1 million per day fine for not adhering to the guidelines. But the guidelines are punishing workers who committed petty crimes, in some cases, decades prior. “Critics point out that big banks have insulated top executives from criminal accountability by signing multimillion-dollar federal settlements in which they admit no wrongdoing,” writes USA Today. An Iowa lawyer, Leonard Bates, also argues that the rules are coming down hard on minorities who “engaged in youthful crimes to meet their basic needs.”

“These guidelines are really meant for executives and people who can perpetuate widespread fraud,” he says.

-A PayScale study says that millennials prefer startups. Are you noticing this trend?

-Never letting a fundraising opportunity slip by, President Obama’s campaign is selling the button above for $5. They’re a response to Mitt Romney’s “joke” on Friday, in which he told a Michigan crowd that there’s no question where he’s from. (He and Ann Romney are from Michigan. President Obama was born in Hawaii. End of story.)

-Tropical storm Isaac is headed towards the Gulf Coast and gaining strength. It had been predicted that the storm would reach category one hurricane strength, but it could become even more severe. Residents of New Orleans and other threatened areas have begun evacuating, flights are being cancelled and states of emergency have been declared. Since Hurricane Katrina made landfall (also around this time in 2005) the Army Corps of Engineers has spent $15 billion to strengthen New Orleans’ barriers. Isaac interrupted the GOP Convention yesterday, but the event will resume today.

-Also resuming today, play at the U.S. Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens where the U.S. Open is taking place. I was there last night, so naturally, this had to be part of the Rundown. Yesterday’s action included a match between 16-year-old newcomer Victoria Duval, who lost her first-round match against three-time champ Kim Clijsters and Donald Young, who went down to number one Roger Federer. Duval is definitely one to watch. The Williams sisters will both be playing today. And ICYMI, here’s a rather strange story about the sisters and their rise to stardom from the New York Times Magazine on Sunday. Makes you want to go to the gym.

Was anybody else extremely shocked by the fact that Serena Williams didn’t win the U.S. Open finals match against Samantha Stosur on Sunday? I had been following William’s matches during the tournament and became more and more enthralled with her play after watching her wax the floor with most of her opponents during the tourney. But on Sunday, she lost 6-3 and 6-2 to Stosur, and I don’t want to call her a sore loser, but she sure wasn’t a pleasant one.

Granted, Serena didn’t flip out on Stosur during the match or after, rather, she kind of had an out-of-body experience with the match umpire, Eva Asderaki. Williams is known for screaming “c’mon” from time to time when she’s succeeded in getting a great shot during the match or when she successfully gets a point after a tough back and forth with her opponent. After saying it and sending forth a fiery shot that Stosur wasn’t able to hit back, umpire Asderaki ruled that Williams shouted with the intent to disrupt her opponent. It was a call many didn’t agree with, but none more than Williams. Confusing Asderaki with the umpire she infamously threatened at the U.S. Open two years earlier, Williams said, “Aren’t you the one that screwed me over last time? Yeah, you are. Seriously, you have it out for me. I promise you, that’s not cool, that’s totally not cool. I truly despise you.” Williams later went on to call Asderaki a “hater” during a break from play and during commercials, and the rant got worse:

“If you ever see me walking down the hallway, look the other way, cause your out of control. You’re out of control. You’re a hater, you’re just unattractive inside. Who would do such a thing? And I never complain. Wow, what a loser. I get a code violation because I express myself, we’re in America last time I checked. Can I get a water? Or am I going to get violated for a water? Really, don’t even look at me. I promise you, don’t look at me because I am not the one. Don’t look my way.”

And unfortunately for Asderaki, she was not the umpire who allegedly “screwed” Serena over before. The two women look nothing alike by the way. When Williams was confronted about that and her remarks, she said she couldn’t even remember what she said, it was just that intense out on the court. However, she offered up no apology to the umpire, or for her anger. I love Serena, but man oh man, she’s got to work on that mouth! To check out video of the whole incident, click HERE.

But what do you think? Did she go too far with her rant?

Tennis queen Venus Williams has been playing the game for years now. She started playing pro at 14, and currently at the age of 31, she has amassed many accolades, including Wimbledon championships and formerly being ranked as the number one female player in the world. But Williams had to pull out of the U.S. Open yesterday, pulling out of her second round match after revealing that she was diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome.

The disease is said to have some non-serious setbacks and symptoms, such as extreme dry mouth and eyes. It also is said to attack your energy level and joints. But in it’s most extreme form, it can cause joint swelling, kidney and lung disease. Dr. Eric Matteson, chairman of the rheumatology department at the Mayo Clinic said the following about the disease to the Los Angeles Times:

“An athlete might see a very dramatic drop in his or her level of performance, even once the disease is under control. I’d love to see her back at the top of her game,” Matteson said. “But I don’t think it’s a guarantee.”

We’re rooting for Venus over here and hope that she has a mild form of the disease and can get back to the game with no trouble. But it’s clear she needs to take it easy for now.

Trey Songz is all smiles as he poses with Monica’s son Romelo Montez Hill, 2. Monica and Trey are currently on tour together.

Here are some of the best celebrity shots we’ve seen this week!

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