Newser Story Index from October, 2007
Welcome to the Newser Story Index. Here you find stories written by Newser writers and editors, assembled with supporting photos and videos from the files of the news story.
Random Theft Nabs Info on 159K Employees
ComputerWorld
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Oct 18, 2007 6:57 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A laptop stolen from the offices of Administaff contained at minimum the names, addresses and Social Security Numbers of 159,000 current and former employees. The Houston-based temp firm began notifying the compromised employees this week, Computerworld reports. The data was apparently not the target of the theft, described as "random"...
FCC May Ease Rules on Media Owners
New York Times
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Oct 18, 2007 6:22 AM CDT
(Newser) -
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin wants to relax limits on media consolidation, starting with repealing the rule that a company cannot own a newspaper and television or radio station in the same city, the New York Times reports. The commission is split, with two Democrats opposed and three Republicans supporting, a majority that may be too fragile to change...
Penguins Lose Wild One, Crowd Furious
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
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Oct 18, 2007 5:45 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The Devils took advantage of the Penguins' poor goalie play last night, scoring 5 times against Marc-Andre Fleury on the way to a 5-4 win. But that wasn't the story of the game.
eBay Posts Big Growth but Net Loss Thanks to Skype
Wall Street Journal
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Oct 18, 2007 5:45 AM CDT
(Newser) -
EBay reported strong growth in some sectors despite posting a $936 million net loss for the third quarter, reports the Wall Street Journal . Most of the loss is due to the company writing down internet calling company Skype by $1.39 billion after eBay found it difficult to make money off the operation since its acquisition two years ago. Excluding...
Study: HPV Test Better Than Pap Smear
USA Today
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Oct 18, 2007 5:11 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Women over 30 might be better off getting an HPV test than a pap smear to fight the battle against cervical cancer, a new study concludes. Researchers found that the HPV test caught 94% of cervical pre-cancers, versus the pap smear's 55% success rate. Worries that the more sensitive HPV test would return a high rate of false positives proved largely...
Blackhawks Sing the Blues on Home Ice
Chicago Tribune
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Oct 18, 2007 4:36 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The Blackhawks' yearly home ice struggles continued last night as they came out flat against the Blues and failed to catch up, falling 3-1. St. Louis took an early 2-0 lead in the first on goals by Paul Kariya on the power play and a wrist shot by Bryce Salvador.
Bhutto Arrives in Pakistan
Reuters
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Oct 18, 2007 4:33 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto landed in Karachi today after 8 years in self-imposed exile. "I am thankful to God, I am very happy that I'm back in my country and I was dreaming of this day," a sobbing Bhutto told Reuters as she stepped off the flight from Dubai onto the heavily guarded tarmac.
Escaped Con Busted After 35 Years
Associated Press
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Oct 18, 2007 4:23 AM CDT
(Newser) -
An escaped Indiana inmate convicted of murdering her husband has been arrested after living 35 years in Tennessee, where she remarried and raised a family. The 64-year-old woman escaped while serving a life sentence in 1972. She was living with her third husband and two of her seven children when she was arrested last week.
Defeat in Russia Leaves England on the Brink
Times (UK)
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Oct 18, 2007 4:22 AM CDT
(Newser) -
England allowed Russia no shots on goal in last night's Euro 2008 qualifying match, but "five minutes of madness" gave Russia a 2-1win that could keep England from advancing to next summer's finals. Wayne Rooney's penalty on Roman Pavlyuchenko turned the tide of a game that England was supposed to take handily, reports the London Times.
Senate Brokers Truce With Bush on Domestic Spying
Washington Post
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Oct 18, 2007 4:07 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Senate Democrats and Republicans have brokered a deal on legislation regarding the White House domestic spying and wiretapping program—including a highly controversial grant of immunity to telecommunication companies that co-operated with warrantless wiretaps. The deal marks a victory for the White House because Democrats had to kill a House...
Stars Slip Past Blue Jackets in Shootout 2-1
Dallas Morning News
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Oct 18, 2007 3:37 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Mike Smith protected the Dallas Stars' record last night, making 33 saves in the 2-1 overtime win against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Smith needed to be on form because his team hasn't been covering the net, according to coach Dave Tippett. "We're playing not to lose instead of playing desperate," captain Brenden Morrow told the Dallas Morning...
Mom 'Baby Jessica' Nears $1M Payday for Well Accident
Associated Press
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Oct 18, 2007 3:24 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Baby Jessica—the one who fell down a well 20 years ago and captured the world's attention—is now 21, married and the mother of a year-old son in a small Texas town. This week's anniversary of the accident passed with little fanfare, but in a little over three years, the donations she received as a baby will mature into a payout worth at...
Ducklings Contribute to Anaheim Win
Associated Press
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Oct 18, 2007 2:43 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Rookies Petteri Wirtanen and Drew Miller each scored in the third quarter of the Anaheim Ducks' win over the Nashville Predators, putting their team ahead while chalking up their first NHL goals, reports the AP. Wirtanen was playing in his first game since being sent down to the AHL as the last player cut after training camp. It was Miller's third...
Eager Mobs Await Bhutto Return
BBC
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Oct 18, 2007 1:55 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Mobs of excited supporters were gathering in Karachi today, eagerly awaiting the return of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto under heavy guard after 8 years in self-imposed exile. Some 20,000 soldiers and police were patrolling the city in the wake of threats by Islamist militants to assassinate Bhutto as well as President President...
Earliest Humans Put a Shrimp on the Barbie
Reuters
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Oct 18, 2007 1:45 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Remnants of one of the earliest known human settlements, possibly the community from which all modern people are descended, have been discovered on the South African coast. The band of humans survived 164,000 years ago on cooked shellfish and the occasional whale, and wore red body paint, according to new research published in the journal Nature...
Rockies Restrict WS Ticket Sales to Internet
Rocky Mountain News
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Oct 18, 2007 1:15 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The Rockies will be selling World Series tickets online only, reports the Rocky Mountain News . The decision contradicts earlier talk of a "line lottery," in which fans would get in lines at the stadium and Rockies Dugout stores, then wait for hours to see if their line was chosen for ticket sales.
Everett Walks, Maintains Hope
Associated Press
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Oct 18, 2007 12:45 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The arduous recovery from spinal cord catastrophe continues for Buffalo tight end Kevin Everett, who released his first statement after taking a few steps with the aid of a walker. While acknowledging the severity of his plight, it demonstrated a hope and determination in keeping with the five weeks of progress he made since the accident.
Facebook Founder's No to IPO
CNET
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Oct 18, 2007 12:21 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Facebook's founder Mark Zuckerberg has quashed speculation over a possible initial public offering. Speaking to an overspill audience at the Web 2.0 conference, held in a ballroom of the ornate Palace Hotel in San Francisco, Zuckerberg said Facebook, the popular internet social network, would not be selling shares on Wall Street anytime soon.
Another Day and Still No Word on Torre's Future
Newsday
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Oct 18, 2007 12:15 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The Yankees brass continued their meetings today in Tampa but still have not made a decision on the fate of manager Joe Torre. GM Brian Cashman said that the club is taking their time with the decision on whether to bring Torre back out of respect for the man who brought New York four world championships, according to Newsday .
US Soccer Beats Switzerland,1-0
Reuters
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Oct 17, 2007 11:43 PM CDT
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The United States soccer team had never defeated Switzerland in their previous six meetings, but the seventh proved lucky as they emerged victorious In Basel 1-0. The visiting Americans scored in the 86th minute when a confused Swiss defense left midfielder Michael Bradley unmarked, allowing him to find the net, according to Reuters.
Cabrera Wins PGA Grand Slam Champs Event
Associated Press
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Oct 17, 2007 11:07 PM CDT
(Newser) -
U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera defeated British Open champion Padraig Harrington on the third playoff hole to capture the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. The final day of the two-day event began poorly for Cabrera when he triple bogeyed the first and then bogeyed the second, but the Argentinean ended strong, finishing birdie-eagle to force a playoff, reports...
Oral Roberts U President Takes Leave of Absence
Associated Press
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Oct 17, 2007 10:44 PM CDT
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Richard Roberts, the Oral Roberts University president who is accused of misuse of university funds and illegal involvement in a political campaign, requested and received an indefinite leave of absence from the university's Board of Regents today. The board said a senior pastor will temporarily take over the president's duties, with help from 89-year-old...
Bush: Iran Risks 'World War III'
New York Times
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Oct 17, 2007 10:41 PM CDT
(Newser) -
In a cantankerous press conference today, President Bush warned that Iran risks starting World War III if it develops nuclear weapons. His remarks came as reporters sought his reaction to Vladimir Putin's comments, after meeting with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yesterday, that the West should not only rule out military action against Iran, but stop talking...
SEC Looks Into Countrywide Stock Sales
Wall Street Journal
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Oct 17, 2007 10:06 PM CDT
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The CEO of troubled mortgage lender Countrywide is under investigation over stock sales, the Wall Street Journal reports. Angelo Mozilo sold at least $130 million this year of stock in a company deeply affected by the subprime mortgage mess; the Securities and Exchange Commission is looking into several aspects of Countrywide's operation, including...
What to Eat to Avoid Cancer
MSNBC
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Oct 17, 2007 9:24 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Genes may be a bigger factor than diet, but what you eat can still affect your chances of developing cancer. MSNBC tells you what to pile on your plate, and what to avoid. Eat up: Cruciferous veggies like broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower and kale High-fiber anything Foods rich in vitamin D and calcium...
Orbiting Telescope Will Retire
Discovery News
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Oct 17, 2007 7:18 PM CDT
(Newser) -
An orbiting telescope whose findings were the basis of over 1,200 research papers will be shut down tomorrow, after an unexpectedly productive eight-year run, The Discovery Channel reports. The Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) detected a bubble of gas surrounding the Milky Way, located remains of exploded stars, and measured elements of...
Startup Rips Labels Out of iTunes
CNN
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Oct 17, 2007 6:39 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Your band doesn't need a record label to find fame on iTunes, says the founder of the new digital music company TuneCore. All you need are your songs, and its helping hand to get a 10-track album into Apple's online store for the price of a "six-pack and a pizza." TuneCore lets individual artists market themselves, then pocket all the...
0-6 Thrashers Can Coach Hartley
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Oct 17, 2007 6:33 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Goodwill from the franchise's first playoff appearance last spring couldn't save Atlanta Thrashers coach Bob Hartley, fired today after the team began the NHL season 0-6. "We just couldn't let it go any further," general manager Don Waddell said of an ugly start which saw the Thrashers outscored 27-9 and left them as the only league team...
Piracy Lawsuit Against YouTube Continues
Media Daily News
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Oct 17, 2007 5:59 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Google's new anti-piracy software on YouTube may do great things from now on, says Viacom, but it still plans to go ahead with a lawsuit over the its products showing up on the Google-owned site without permission. "The new technology obviously has no bearing on the past," a Viacom spokesman tells Online Media Daily, "And we don't even...
Real Estate Is What Divides America Into Red and Blue
The Atlantic
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Oct 17, 2007 5:58 PM CDT
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Real estate—as much as religion or politics—is what really divides America into red and blue regions, argues Atlantic Monthly ’s Virginia Postrel. Comparing the housing markets in Dallas and Los Angeles, she notes that it's no coincidence that there's cheap, plentiful housing in the former, and expensive, scarce housing in the latter....
YouTube Spoofer Hits A Chord
Wired
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Oct 17, 2007 5:35 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Why is Slash playing so poorly in this clip? Because a Finnish media artist over-dubbed the audio track just well enough to make the Guns N’ Roses axeman sound believably awful. The YouTube user known as StSanders was inspired to bring guitar heroes down to earth when he saw a Steve Vai solo—on mute. Now YouTubers are soaking up his skewering...
Amazon May Lose ‘1-Click’ Patent
Ars Technica
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Oct 17, 2007 5:16 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Amazon may be one patent poorer after the US Patent Office decimated its claim to the “1-Click” shopping cart emblem yesterday—throwing into question a 1999 infringement settlement with Barnes & Noble. The online orderer will have a chance to re-write its application, Ars Technica reports, but stands to lose the patent altogether...
Tequila Industry Gets Salty
USA Today
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Oct 17, 2007 4:57 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Tequila is more popular than ever, and the Mexican tequila industry is mobilizing to clamp down on knockoffs, USA Today reports. Imitations range from the good—quality tequila made outside of Mexico—to the ugly—cheap and possibly contaminated sugarcane liquors made in basements. "These phony products are a cancer that affect...
US Troops Get Look at Film on Insurgency
CNN
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Oct 17, 2007 4:41 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A new documentary features interviews with Iraqi insurgents, all of whom stress the humiliation of US occupation. “Meeting Resistance” will be released this week, but CNN sat in on a preview in Baghdad, where US troops heard tales of citizens turning to violence. "It tells us a lot about the culture and how they pretty much feel...
US Awards Medal to Dalai Lama
New York Times
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Oct 17, 2007 4:25 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Congress awarded the Dalai Lama its highest civilian honor today, New York Times reports. At the presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal, which went ahead despite vehement Chinese opposition, the Tibetan spiritual leader congratulated China on its economic growth and gently urged that the country embrace “transparency, the rule of law...
iPhone Software Creation Kit Coming in Feb.
Macworld
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Oct 17, 2007 4:09 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Apple will release a software development kit for the iPhone and iPod touch in February, CEO Steve Jobs wrote in a letter on Apple's website. The kit will allow third-party developers to create native applications for the devices. Jobs said the delay was needed to ensure that the platform would both satisfy developer's needs and provide security for...
A Mixed Day on Wall Street
MarketWatch
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Oct 17, 2007 3:52 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A grim financial sector and ever-rising oil prices cancelled an encouraging tech rally during a so-so day in the markets. Yahoo and Intel reported sunny profits, but news of oil clearing the $89 mark doused the rally. The Dow finished down 20.4 to 13,892.54, the S&P rose 2.71 to 1,541.24, and the Nasdaq was up 28.76 to 2,792.67.
Secret Evidence Isn't Just for Gitmo Anymore
Slate
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Oct 17, 2007 3:45 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The Department of Justice's stated reason for a major evidence no-show is that it can’t “be reasonably recompiled," Slate ’s Dahlia Lithwick writes, a potentially dangerous precedent. Justice is thinking about redoing some military tribunals rather than present “not readily available” evidence used to brand enemy...
Bush Approval Down to 24%; Congress at 11%
Reuters
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Oct 17, 2007 3:29 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Americans' mood continues to worsen, driven by unhappiness with President Bush and the Congress, according this month's Reuters/Zogby poll. Bush's job-approval rating hit a new low of 24%, down from last month's 29%, and Congress stayed at last month's dismal 11% approval. 66% of Americans think the country is on the wrong track, up 4% from September.
Credit Crisis Could Torpedo UK Housing Market, Too
Guardian (UK)
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Oct 17, 2007 3:14 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Britain risks its own housing price crash, according to an International Monetary Fund report. The UK is in a credit crunch similar to the ongoing US version, and its housing is more overpriced than the US market before the crisis. In fact, "a number of advanced economies' housing markets … could be vulnerable to a correction," the...
When Stars Fall, Broadway Sends 'Em Off in Style
Wall Street Journal
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Oct 17, 2007 3:01 PM CDT
(Newser) -
In contrast to Hollywood, Broadway lavishes star-studded spectaculars on its deceased, and a cadre of loyal Broadway-lovers (many elderly) scan the obits and flock to the free tributes, reports the Wall Street Journal. Recent winners include tributes to Jerry Orbach ("Everybody from 'Law & Order' came") and Kitty Carlisle Hart ("I...
Alternative to the Pill Has No Side Effects
Telegraph (UK)
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Oct 17, 2007 2:47 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Contraception without the nausea, headaches, mood swings, weight gain, or heart attacks? Scientists are developing a non-hormonal patch that would side-step the side effects associated with the Pill by simply blocking a protein that allows sperm to bond with egg, the Telegraph reports. But don’t get too excited—it could take a decade...
Fantasy Sports Leagues Win Suit Against MLB
Bloomberg
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Oct 17, 2007 2:33 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Companies operating fantasy sports leagues have the right to use players' names and statistics under the First Amendment, an appeals court has ruled in a suit against Major League Baseball, Bloomberg reports. A fantasy league company sued MLB after it claimed control over all use of player names linked to stats, under a marketing relationship with...
Facebook Getting Safer
CNN
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Oct 17, 2007 2:33 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Facebook will roll out new protections against online predators, CNN reports, after an investigation by New York's attorney general last month blasted the site for "significant defects." The improvements include a new disclosure for parents and an easier process for reporting unwanted advances. Facebook will also appoint (and pay) an independent...
Bush's Stalwart Donors Largely Sitting Out '08
Washington Post
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Oct 17, 2007 2:18 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The money machine that backed George Bush’s two presidential runs is sputtering for 2008’s Republican hopefuls. Disenchanted by Iraq and unimpressed with the current field, GOP donors are largely sitting out—or even padding Democrats' coffers, reports the Washington Post. “I’m not sure which primary I’ll vote in,"...
Film Rendition Gets it Right, Says Gitmo Lawyer
Reuters
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Oct 17, 2007 2:04 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Rendition , starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon, is a "surprisingly courageous" and accurate film, says a lawyer for Guantanamo Bay prisoners. The movie tells the story of an Egyptian man abducted and tortured by the CIA in Egypt. "Now, will we persuade the world in a moment? No," says Clive Stafford Smith, noting the...
Social Security's 2.3% Hike Most Stingy Since '04
Associated Press
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Oct 17, 2007 1:50 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Social Security benefits will rise 2.3% in 2008—or an average of $24 monthly—netting the 54 million recipients their smallest increase in four years. The cost of living adjustment, now $1,079 per month for the average retiree, is based on the third-quarter change in consumer prices, the AP reports; advocates for the elderly argue that gauge...
Beer War Brewing in Europe
Wall Street Journal
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Oct 17, 2007 1:35 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Trouble could be brewing as two European brewers draw a bead on one of the UK’s top suds makers, Scottish & Newcastle. Copenhagen-based Carlsberg and Amsterdam’s Heineken are negotiating to form a consortium to buy the brewer of Newcastle Brown Ale for as much as $14 billion, the Wall Street Journal reports, though the bid isn't welcome...
AT&T Eases Its Contract Regs, Fees
Wall Street Journal
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Oct 17, 2007 1:22 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Wireless giant AT&T is following Verizon Wireless in loosening restrictions on customers who leave or change their calling plans. Flat early termination fees will be pro-rated, and plan alterations won't result in contract renewals. The move will put pressure on beleaguered No. 3 provider Sprint, writes the Wall Street Journal.
Critics of Blunt, Scattered Sarkozy Pile On
New York Times
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Oct 17, 2007 1:08 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Railing against Nicolas Sarkozy's pension reform, France is bracing for a punishing transit strike tomorrow as hordes of foreigners descend for the Rugby World Cup finals. It's only the latest setback for the new president and his broad-sweeping modernizing campaign, leading the New York Times to ask if the Sarkozy honeymoon is over.
