Newser Story Index from November, 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.
Isles Top Sens for First Time in 3 Seasons
Associated Press
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Nov 29, 2007 1:11 AM CST
(Newser) -
New York's Mike Sillinger scored two go-ahead goals, the second in a shootout, to give his team its first win over Ottawa since 2004. Rick DiPietro went six rounds against Ray Emery to seal the win against the Sens, who had gone an astounding 15-2 before their current 1-3-2 slump. In other hockey action:
Smooth Jazz Picks and Rolls Past Sixers
Philadelphia Inquirer
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Nov 29, 2007 12:43 AM CST
(Newser) -
The pick-and-roll, as executed by Utah's Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer, proved more than adequate against a porous Philadelphia defense in a 106-95 win. Williams had 15 assists and 15 points, and Boozer scored 26; the extra day of rest the Jazz had over the 76ers seemed to show. In other NBA action:
Helio's Dance Card Opens Up
Associated Press
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Nov 28, 2007 11:59 PM CST
(Newser) -
Helio Castroneves may have won big in "Dancing With the Stars" but he's lost his fiancee, AP reports. Aliette Vasquez announced she'd called off their engagement less than a day after the Brazilian Indy 500 champ won the mirrorball trophy in the show's grand finale. The Miami businesswoman's agent said there were no hard feelings.
Biron Saves 40 as Flyers Down 'Canes
Philadelphia Inquirer
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Nov 28, 2007 11:48 PM CST
(Newser) -
So far, this season has been a roller coaster ride for the Flyers: some nights they look like a top-tier team, other nights they appear hopeless. Unfortunately for Carolina, they caught Philadelphia on one of their good nights, and lost 3-1. Martin Biron stopped 40 shots and Mike Knuble had 3 points as Philadelphia improved to 14-8-2, reports the ...
LSU Will Let Michigan Speak With Miles About Job
ESPN
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Nov 28, 2007 10:18 PM CST
(Newser) -
LSU confirmed that Michigan officially requested to speak with Les Miles about becoming the school’s next football coach. The talks will not begin until next week, after LSU plays Tennessee for the SEC championship game. Miles is a Michigan alum and met his wife at the school. His contract has a $1.25 million buyout if he accepts Wolverines’...
Deal Ends Broadway Strike
Associated Press
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Nov 28, 2007 10:15 PM CST
(Newser) -
Stagehands and theater producers reached a deal tonight to end the strike that has shut down Broadway for nearly three weeks, the AP reports. Negotiators ended a marathon bargaining session with a deal on compensation and work rules for the stagehands, and union members took down their picket lines, the New York Times reports. “Performances...
Dems Cancel LA Debate Over Strike
New York Times
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Nov 28, 2007 10:02 PM CST
(Newser) -
Wary of crossing picket lines, the Democratic National Committee today backed out of a presidential debate scheduled to air next month on CBS stations, citing the ongoing strike by TV and film scriptwriters. While talks to end that walkout continue, a potential strike by CBS news writers also complicated matters, the New York Times reports.
No. 5 G'town Survives Early Scare From Old Dominion
Associated Press
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Nov 28, 2007 9:38 PM CST
(Newser) -
Early in the first half it looked like No. 5 Georgetown risked losing to Old Dominion for a second consecutive year, but the Hoyas pulled away fairly quickly to earn a 66-48 win. The Monarchs' Gerald Lee had 16 first half points and eight rebounds, but he couldn’t keep up with Hoya big man Roy Hibbert over the long haul, reports the AP. In other...
Feds Reverse 7 Wildlife Decisions
Los Angeles Times
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Nov 28, 2007 9:19 PM CST
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The Fish and Wildlife Service reversed seven decisions that watered down protections for endangered species, saying they were “improperly influenced” by a Bush appointee with no formal training in natural sciences, the Los Angeles Times reports. The appointee, Julie MacDonald, "should never have been allowed near the endangered species...
Short Sellers Betting Big on Palm's Failure
Fortune Magazine
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Nov 28, 2007 8:23 PM CST
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Tech stocks have had a good year, and one wouldn’t expect short sellers to take much interest in the area. Anticipating declines, however, is good business, and right now Palm is the horse the short-sell vultures are betting will fall first. Fortune reports that November short-sell bets against Palm have surged, along with those against Sirius...
Chavez Fumes Over Caption Goof on CNN
BBC
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Nov 28, 2007 8:06 PM CST
(Newser) -
An honest flub? No way, says Venezuela's Hugo Chavez. After CNN showed a picture of Chavez with the words, “Who killed him?”—a caption meant for a story on murdered NFL star Sean Taylor, Chavez accused the channel of trying to incite assassins, BBC reports. CNN—which Chavez previously accused of helping US efforts to undermine...
1B Trees Take Root to Help Save Planet
AFP
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Nov 28, 2007 7:39 PM CST
(Newser) -
A UN-sponsored initiative exceeded its goal of having one billion trees planted in 2007, AFP reports. Developing nations are leading the charge: Ethiopia tops the list with 700 million plantings, and Mexico, Kenya, Rwanda, and Myanmar all made substantial contributions. The UN Environment Program said it had confirmation of 1.56 billion trees planted,...
GOP Debate Turns Testy
Associated Press
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Nov 28, 2007 7:37 PM CST
(Newser) -
Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney wasted little time getting into attack mode tonight as the eight Republican candidates squared off in a feisty debate. Romney said Giuliani encouraged illegal aliens to settle in NYC when he was mayor, and Giuliani accused Romney of employing illegal aliens at his home, which he labeled a "sanctuary mansion."...
Banks Seeking Cash Spur New Merger Round
Wall Street Journal
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Nov 28, 2007 7:09 PM CST
(Newser) -
An informal merger overture from Bank of America to cash-starved Citigroup was recently rejected, the Wall Street Journal reports, in favor of a smaller, $7.5 billion infusion from the Abu Dhabi government, approved by the bank today. But the offer, quickly disavowed by BoA, underscores the fact that a new round of opportunistic deals may be in the...
Lab-Created Mice Resist Cancer
Science Daily
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Nov 28, 2007 6:39 PM CST
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A mouse seemingly invulnerable to cancerous tumors has been engineered, Science Daily reports. Researchers at the University of Kentucky introduced a more active version of the Par-4 gene—which appears able to differentiate cancer cells from healthy ones, then kills them—into mouse embryos. They found that the enhanced mice never developed...
Exploding Cell Phone Blamed in Man's Death
BBC
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Nov 28, 2007 6:13 PM CST
(Newser) -
In what could be the second instance of an exploding cell phone killing its owner, a South Korean man was found dead with a melted battery in his pocket today. His heart and lungs were punctured, a doctor said, due to “high pressure from an explosion.” Phone maker LG insisted the device in question, sold only in Korea, had been thoroughly...
Bush Vows Active Peace Role
Reuters
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Nov 28, 2007 5:56 PM CST
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President Bush promised today that the US would remain an active player in the Middle East peace process. Having coordinated yesterday's pledge by the leaders for a treaty by the end of 2008, Bush joined Israeli PM Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in a ceremony marking resumption of peace talks for the first time in seven years,...
Mayor Rudy Hid Bills for Visits to Judy
Politico
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Nov 28, 2007 5:42 PM CST
(Newser) -
Mayor Rudy Giuliani racked up huge bills for security details while visiting his mistress in the Hamptons, Politico reports, and then spread the bills—tens of thousands at a pop—around to obscure city agencies. When auditors questioned the allocations, the Giuliani camp did not respond, citing "security" reasons. Auditors "were...
Lightning Flashes on Venus
Associated Press
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Nov 28, 2007 5:21 PM CST
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Earth-like lightning occurs on Venus, scientists said today in reporting on findings of a European space probe. Cloud-to-cloud lightning takes place about 35 miles above the surface—a phenomenon long suspected but unclear to earthbound observers due to signal interference. Lightning affects atmospheric chemistry, so the findings will allow scientists...
Tech Stocks Lead Nasdaq surge
Wall Street Journal
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Nov 28, 2007 5:07 PM CST
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Amazon, Research in Motion and Google led a blue chip advance in the tech sector today, helping to pull the Nasdaq Composite up 3.2%, after a Fed officials reiterated the need for a “nimble” monetary policy, raising hopes the group will lower interest rates next month, the Wall Street Journal reports. Nasdaq added 82.11 points to close...
Tamiflu Will Carry Stronger Warning Labels
Associated Press
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Nov 28, 2007 4:51 PM CST
(Newser) -
The maker of flu drug Tamiflu said today it will accept recommendations by a government panel that it revise printed warnings about the medication's side effects. Labels already warn of possible psychiatric reactions, but the panel recommended noting that some people have died, the AP reports. Drugmaker Roche says flu alone can trigger problems such...
Vick to Pay $1M for Dog Care
CNN
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Nov 28, 2007 4:47 PM CST
(Newser) -
Ex-Falcon Michael Vick, now in prison, will pay about $1 million dollars for the care and possible euthanasia of the 54 pit bulls found on his property that were used for dogfighting. Prosecutors wanted the money set aside from Vick's quickly dwindling fortune. Vick agreed in his plea agreement to pay "restitution for the full amount of the costs...
The Savages : Savagely Good
Metacritic
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Nov 28, 2007 4:30 PM CST
(Newser) -
The Savages —a tale of middle-aged siblings forced to put their lives on hold to take care of their elderly father—is earning nearly unanimous praise for its deft mix of dark humor and brutal honesty. "There isn’t a single moment of emotional guff or sentimentality in The Savages ," writes Manohla Dargis in the New York...
Tower Takes 2nd-Tallest NYC Honors
New York Observer
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Nov 28, 2007 4:10 PM CST
(Newser) -
The Big Apple skyline’s getting a new No. 2, the New York Observer reports: Bank of America's new headquarters is set to overtake the Chrysler Building this week as runner-up to the Empire State Building. Luckily for the newcomer, height is traditionally marked at the “structural top”: The definition excludes radio antennas but...
Dow Jumps 331 on Fed Hopes
Wall Street Journal
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Nov 28, 2007 3:40 PM CST
(Newser) -
Stocks were way up today—the Dow by over 300 points—buoyed by hopes for a Fed interest-rate cut, good news from beleaguered financials, and a stronger dollar. Remarks by Vice Chairman Donald Kohn led investors to believe the Fed is still considering a cut, the Wall Street Journal reports. By the bell, the Dow was up 331.01 to 13,,289.45,...
British Teacher Charged in Teddy Bear Flap
BBC
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Nov 28, 2007 3:35 PM CST
(Newser) -
The British teacher held in Sudan for committing blasphemy by naming a teddy bear “Muhammed” has been charged with insulting religion, inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs, the BBC reports. The UK Foreign Secretary said he would summon the Sudanese ambassador; Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was "surprised...
Tobacco Giant Drops Print Ads for 2008
Winston-Salem Journal
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Nov 28, 2007 3:27 PM CST
(Newser) -
RJ Reynolds won’t buy print ads next year, a break with the tobacco giant's tradition of using newspapers and magazines to reach customers, the Winston-Salem Journal reports. The announcement came the same day an anti-smoking group lambasted RJR and Rolling Stone for four pages of ads abutting a Nov. 15 pullout, designed with a cartoon motif,...
Kyl Set to Replace Lott as GOP No. 2
The Hill
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Nov 28, 2007 3:04 PM CST
(Newser) -
Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl is almost certain to become Republican minority whip, the Hill reports, filling an opening created by the retirement of Trent Lott. Kyl apparently won't be opposed, with other GOP senators instead contesting lower leadership roles. Tennessee's Lamar Alexander, who some thought would try for whip, will instead run for conference...
Breast Cancer Deadlier for Black Women
Washington Post
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Nov 28, 2007 2:48 PM CST
(Newser) -
In calculating a woman's risk of breast cancer, doctors have been using a formula that underestimates the risk the disease poses to black women, reports the Washington Post . A growing body of evidence shows that while black women are less likely to get breast cancer than their white counterparts, when they do it tends to be deadlier and more aggressive....
OJ Pleads Not Guilty; Trial Set
CNN
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Nov 28, 2007 2:37 PM CST
(Newser) -
OJ Simpson pleaded not guilty today to 12 felony charges that could land him in jail for life, CNN reports. The Juice and two co-defendants will go on trial April 7 on charges relating to a September incident in which they're alleged to have broken into a Las Vegas hotel room, brandishing at least one gun, to retrieve sports memorabilia.
Oil-Price Surge Fuels Global Investing Binge
New York Times
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Nov 28, 2007 2:18 PM CST
(Newser) -
Petrodollars have fueled an investing binge in companies ranging from chipmaker AMD to private-equity giant Carlyle Group to Citigroup. And, with nearly $5 billion in oil revenue gushing weekly into Persian Gulf nations, the spree won’t likely slow, the New York Times reports. “The oil-producing countries simply cannot absorb the amount...
50 Best Towns to Raise a Family
BusinessWeek
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Nov 28, 2007 2:04 PM CST
(Newser) -
Low crime rates and cost of living and highly regarded schools are just a few of the reasons these towns are such great places to raise a family. BusinessWeek picks the top 50 towns for tots: Groesbeck, Ohio Western Springs, Ill. Deerfield, Ill.
Black Sentence Could Be Just 5 Years
Times (UK)
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Nov 28, 2007 1:44 PM CST
(Newser) -
A confidential report prepared for the judge in the Conrad Black trial suggests that the disgraced media baron might receive a jail sentence far shorter than the 24-30 years prosecutors are seeking. The pre-sentencing report gives a much lower estimate for the scale of Black's fraud—$6.1 million, not the prosecution's $32.15 million—and...
Antarctica Gets High-Def Map
MSNBC
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Nov 28, 2007 1:21 PM CST
(Newser) -
A new high-definition, real-color interactive map of Antarctica unveiled yesterday will give a bird's-eye view of the frozen continent, MSNBC reports. But the virtual tour isn't just for pointy-headed scientists—it's also available free online to anyone. Satellite imagery was collected into a 100-billion-pixel database that is zoomable and searchable.
Geeks Bring Trouble for Rove Sleuth
Wall Street Journal
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Nov 28, 2007 12:57 PM CST
(Newser) -
Using Geeks on Call to scrub his computer could come back to haunt the man investigating Karl Rove for improper partisan activities, the Wall Street Journa l reports. Scott Bloch—head of a federal office charged with protecting whistleblowers and keeping employees from using government for partisan activities—ordered an extreme seven-level...
Home Sales Hit Record Low Despite Dropping Prices
CNN
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Nov 28, 2007 12:41 PM CST
(Newser) -
Existing-home sales fell for the eighth consecutive month in October, hitting record lows in a survey of realtors. Resales dropped to an annual rate of 4.97 million, down 1.2% from September, despite a huge 5.1% drop in median price. “Price declines are part of the healing process,” an economist told CNN, “but we have a lot of healing...
Relative Fears He Helped Peterson Dump Wife's Body
Chicago Tribune
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Nov 28, 2007 12:23 PM CST
(Newser) -
On the night of his wife's disappearance, a male relative of Drew Peterson says he helped the ex-police officer move a large, heavy, sealed container that felt warm to the touch, sources close to the case have told the Chicago Tribune . The man was so distraught afterwards, fearing he aided in disposing of Stacy Peterson's body, that he attempted...
'Guitar Hero' Amps Metal Sales
Boston Herald
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Nov 28, 2007 12:07 PM CST
(Newser) -
Red-hot video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is helping lift heavy metal sales, the Boston Herald reports. Massachusetts metallers Killswitch Engage have seen CD sales top half a million since being featured in the game—pretty good going in the age of illegal downloads. The guitar simulator game has been a big bonus for struggling...
Saudi Court to Review Rape Victim Sentence
Associated Press
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Nov 28, 2007 11:46 AM CST
(Newser) -
Courts will take another look at the sentence of a gang-rape victim, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said yesterday, following an international outcry when the 19-year-old was handed a six-month prison term and 200 lashes. “What is outraging about this case is that it is being used against the Saudi government and people,” said Prince Saud...
NAACP Blasts MLK Sculptor
San Francisco Chronicle
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Nov 28, 2007 11:29 AM CST
(Newser) -
California’s NAACP chapter has condemned the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial planned for the National Mall, saying the choice of a Chinese artist “is in direct opposition to Dr. King’s philosophy.” Lei Yixin not only hails from the country “with the worst record of human rights violations,” the group says, but moreover...
Thumbs of Fury at the National Texting Competition
Wired
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Nov 28, 2007 11:23 AM CST
(Newser) -
If you're over 20, you're already doomed, says intrepid Wired reporter Neil Janowitz of his attempt to compete in the National Texting Championship. Three hundred entrants competed for $25K in New York City, and the 21-year-old reigning West Coast champ was eventually defeated by newer blood—a 13-year-old.
Glass of Red a Day May Cut Heart Disease By 33%
Reuters
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Nov 28, 2007 11:07 AM CST
(Newser) -
Here's to new evidence that red wine is good for the heart. Women who drank two glasses of red wine a day had higher levels of "good" HDL cholesterol and lower levels of substances that cause blood vessel inflammation, according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition . A daily glass or two of red wine could reduce the risk...
Shake Your Phone Before It Shakes You
New Scientist
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Nov 28, 2007 11:05 AM CST
(Newser) -
A new technology could allow cellphone users to check their messages or battery level just by shaking the phone. The phones could be made to feel and sound like they are full of liquid or balls, for instance, reports New Scientist . The software takes advantage of increasingly common motion sensing tools in phones. Messages from different callers...
Sarkozy Vows to Punish Rioters
BBC
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Nov 28, 2007 10:26 AM CST
(Newser) -
Nicolas Sarkozy vowed to bring armed rioters to justice after visiting wounded policemen in the hospital today, saying, “Opening fire at officials has a name—attempted murder.” More police were deployed last night, bringing violence down, but buildings and cars were burned throughout Paris and Toulouse, the BBC reports. Sarkozy also...
Newspapers Look to Make Connections
Reuters
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Nov 28, 2007 10:26 AM CST
(Newser) -
Newspapers readers at an increasing pace are turning to Pluck, a media syndication company, to link their sites to social networks, like MySpace and Facebook, giving them access to 165 million users, Reuters reports. Pluck will use the Facebook programming interface and Google's OpenSocial system to share information between its customer's sites and...
Fukuda Govt Roiled by Scandal
Associated Press
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Nov 28, 2007 10:14 AM CST
(Newser) -
In a growing corruption scandal, a former vice defense minister and his wife were arrested today over charges that he awarded contracts to companies that wined and dined him, the AP reports. Takemasa Moriya admits he enjoyed free golf trips and expensive dinners on the tab of the recently arrested owner of two defense companies, but argues the gifts...
Sudan Making Peacekeeping 'Impossible'
BBC
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Nov 28, 2007 10:00 AM CST
(Newser) -
The UN's head of peacekeeping operations blasted the Sudanese government for intentionally restrictive demands that "would make it impossible for the mission to operate." Khartoum is refusing to admit non-African soldiers, withholding permission for night flights, and insisting on advance notice of all troop movements, the BBC reports. It...
Tenn. Dems Seek Alexander Foe
CQPolitics
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Nov 28, 2007 9:41 AM CST
(Newser) -
Tennessee Democrats are seeking a new challenger for Lamar Alexander's Senate seat after prospective candidate Mike McWherter dropped out. The race is important because Tennessee is one of the few Southern states where the Democrats are still strong, reports Congressional Quarterly . Former Democratic chairman Bob Tuke and Nashville attorney Kevin...
Kosovo Talks Collapse as Deadline Looms
BBC
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Nov 28, 2007 9:12 AM CST
(Newser) -
The last, desperate round of talks between Serbia and Kosovo ended in a stalemate in Austria today, reports the BBC. With no compromise likely before the UN-imposed deadline of Dec. 10, Kosovo looks set to declare its independence unilaterally. The US and EU have signaled that they will support the breakaway province, but today the Serbian president...
Late Mailer Wins 'Bad Sex' Prize
Bloomberg
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Nov 28, 2007 8:41 AM CST
(Newser) -
Norman Mailer was garlanded with prizes throughout his career, but one posthumous honor might have made him chuckle: a British magazine has bestowed on him its annual award for bad sex in fiction. Mailer's last novel, The Castle in the Forest , imagines the youth of Adolf Hitler, complete with long, incestuous sex scenes including phrases like "her...
