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.
Saudi Rulers: Rape Victim Caused Crime
CNN
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Nov 25, 2007 7:23 AM CST
(Newser) -
Under international fire for sentencing a gang-rape victim to 200 lashes, the Saudi government yesterday said the woman violated Islamic law and caused the crime to take place by having an "illegitimate relationship" with a man not her husband. The rapists allegedly found the woman "in a compromising situation" with a man on a beach,...
Creation Geologists Rock World
New York Times
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Nov 25, 2007 7:10 AM CST
(Newser) -
Today's creationist geologists are not who the secular may think. Numerous and thriving, many hold advanced degrees from top universities, and are making evangelicals more open to scientific evidence. And they are experts for the nearly half of Americans who believe God created the Earth in the last 10,000 years, the New York Times reports.
Supporters Detained as Sharif Flies to Pakistan
Reuters
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Nov 25, 2007 6:50 AM CST
(Newser) -
Troops today rounded up hundreds of supporters of exiled prime minister Nawaz Sharif as he was about to land back in Pakistan. Tens of thousands of activists were expected to greet Sharif as he returned, but soldiers were to keep them at bay. "Let's see what happens," Sharif said before boarding his plane in Saudi Arabia. A government...
Wal-Mart Shops for Green Cred
Washington Post
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Nov 25, 2007 6:16 AM CST
(Newser) -
Hoping to soften its image, Wal-Mart is going green, the Washington Post reports. The retail giant is now donating to environmental groups, improving its energy efficiency, and creating the first hybrid shipping truck. Yet some critics say it's a mere cover. "Wal-Mart is willing to spread its money wherever it thinks it can buy protection for...
Arch-Rivalry Goes to Missouri
Associated Press
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Nov 25, 2007 5:55 AM CST
(Newser) -
The Missouri Tigers ended Kansas' perfect season last night and added a potentially groundbreaking chapter to theirs with a 36-37 victory over the second-ranked Jayhawks, AP reports. The new Big 12 North champions will play Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game next week, where a win will likely mean a trip to the BCS championship.
Dems and the Rich: Not Such Strange Bedfellows
Washington Times
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Nov 25, 2007 5:53 AM CST
(Newser) -
Apparently it's not such an anomaly when Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer comes to the defense of private equity partners fighting to keep their tax breaks. Contrary to their reputation as the champions of the poor and middle class, Democrats now represent a majority of the nation's richest congressional districts, according to a study by the Heritage...
Allen Beats Buzzer, Celtics Beat Bobcats
Boston Globe
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Nov 25, 2007 5:21 AM CST
(Newser) -
The soaring Celtics won again last night, though the Charlotte Bobcats brought it down to the wire, reports the Boston Globe . With a two-point lead and five seconds on the clock, Charlotte fans were already celebrating a victory when Ray Allen drained a three-pointer to bring the final score to 96-95. Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference:
W Virginia Steamrolls UConn
New York Times
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Nov 25, 2007 5:12 AM CST
(Newser) -
Fourth-ranked West Virginia snagged the Big East title and climbed in the polls last night with a decisive 66-21 win over No. 20 Connecticut. The Mountaineers amassed 624 yards, 186 of them on rushing by quarterback Pat White, reports the New York Times. "The only way they lose is if they turn the ball over," lamented UConn's coach.
Remaining Holocaust Claims Stalled
Washington Post
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Nov 25, 2007 5:09 AM CST
(Newser) -
Six decades and $100 billion in reparations later, tens of thousands of Jews say Germany still owes them for Holocaust crimes, the Washington Post reports. A 2002 law promised pensions for ghetto dwellers forced to work for little pay, but officials denied benefits to 60,000 for lack of documentation, leading many to decry bureaucratic stinginess.
Take a Bite Out of the Big Apple
TimeOut
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Nov 25, 2007 5:00 AM CST
(Newser) -
New York doesn't slow down just because the weather gets nippy. If anything, there's even more to do in the city that never sleeps. TimeOut recommends catching the Washington Square Tree Lighting Dec. 4. Those seeking a little more flexibility in their plans can check out the origami Christmas tree at the Museum of Natural History, already on display,...
Loose Lips Sell Books
Associated Press
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Nov 25, 2007 4:30 AM CST
(Newser) -
Add speaking ill of current officeholders to the funeral pyre of political life. The latest former insider to cash in? Scott McClellan, who, in his forthcoming memoir as President Bush's chief spokesman, seems to blame his ex-boss for his own false statements about the CIA leak scandal. White House press secretaries dishing dirt isn't rare,...
Hillary Gets Comfy in Blue Collar
Boston Globe
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Nov 24, 2007 7:50 PM CST
(Newser) -
Women of all stripes like Hillary Clinton, but her most ardent supporters aren’t her high-powered peers, but working-class women. That oft-neglected voting block represents Hillary’s backbone, the Boston Globe reports, admiring the tough resolve she projects and her populist policies. To exploit the edge, Clinton is softening her career-woman...
Rich Nations Break Climate Vow to Poor
Guardian (UK)
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Nov 24, 2007 7:45 PM CST
(Newser) -
Several of the world's richest nations have forgotten about a $1.2 billion pledge to help developed countries cope with climate change, the Guardian reports. The group has doled out less than $185 million so far to help them plan for global warming, defend against floods, and boost conservation. "This represents a broken promise on a massive...
Malibu Blaze 25% Contained
Los Angeles Times
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Nov 24, 2007 6:08 PM CST
(Newser) -
Firefighters have contained 25% of the Malibu fire that scorched 4,700 acres yesterday, burned 49 homes, and forced thousands to evacuate, the Los Angeles Times reports. "The effort will be to try to pick it up, catch it and nail it before it continues to move westward," said Los Angeles County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman. Six firemen...
Iran Closer to Fueling Nuke Reactor, VP Claims
Associated Press
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Nov 24, 2007 5:55 PM CST
(Newser) -
Iran claims to have made nuclear fuel pellets of uranium oxide, a major step in its quest to fuel a heavy water reactor, the AP reports. It also claims to be making pellets for light water reactors, like the one Russia is helping it build on the Persian Gulf coast—a move the US and its allies oppose because it could lead to nuclear weapons.
Chavez, Meet the Students
Wall Street Journal
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Nov 24, 2007 5:35 PM CST
(Newser) -
Chavez rules Venezuela’s congress, courts and army, but students like Stalin are blocking his way. That would be Ivan Stalin González—an undergrad who helped corral thousands to march against Chavez in recent weeks. Chavez has labeled the kids “terrorists,” but Stalin, as he likes to be called, says he's just another...
Fat Chance of Slimming Down on Campaign Trail
New York Times
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Nov 24, 2007 5:10 PM CST
(Newser) -
Image-conscious politicians are having to balance their hunger for power with their hunger for food. Modern voters tend to mock or shun fat politicians—but with events like the Clyburn Fish Fry and the Harkin Steak Fry firm fixtures on the pre-primary calendar, candidates are struggling to stick to their diets, reports the New York Times . Voters...
Damage Found During Hookup
Houston Chronicle
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Nov 24, 2007 4:41 PM CST
(Newser) -
Astronauts found more damage on the International Space Station today as they prepared it to receive a new space laboratory, the Houston Chronicle reports. Astronauts Dan Tani and Peggy Whitson uncovered metal shavings on a joint designed to turn a solar wing: "I would say there is more debris than I saw before," Tani said. The wing has...
Reality Woes Add to Scribe Strike
Los Angeles Times
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Nov 24, 2007 4:15 PM CST
(Newser) -
With negotiations in the Hollywood writer's strike coming Monday, a new survey shows that writers for "unscripted" TV are denied overtime pay and meal breaks, the Los Angeles Times reports. Reality TV is a major sticking point in the strike, as studios insist that writers be classified as editors and story producers.
First Survivors Land in Chile
BBC
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Nov 24, 2007 3:52 PM CST
(Newser) -
An air force plane transported about half of the survivors from yesterday's Antarctic shipwreck to Chile today, BBC reports. The others—79 of the Explorer's 156 passengers—may spend a second night on a remote island due to bad weather. A Chilean air force spokesman said the survivors did "very well" on their first overnight. "Some...
Japan Sends Mixed Signals on Whale Hunt
Los Angeles Times
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Nov 24, 2007 3:25 PM CST
(Newser) -
Japan has a ready defense for its internationally maligned whale hunt: Whaling is integral to Japanese culture, embedded in the country's traditional diet, literature, and religion. Yet this argument looks questionable in light of the Japanese government's refusal to allow indigenous people to continue their traditional salmon fishing, writes Bruce...
Motor City Going for Green
Reuters
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Nov 24, 2007 3:02 PM CST
(Newser) -
Auto industry bigwigs at the Reuters Auto Summit in Detroit this week seem finally to have gotten the message on cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles; one after another they cited going green (or at least greener) as the path to more competitive cars and trucks. GM honcho Robert Lutz admitted that the Prius helped Toyota get a jump on GM while his...
College Gets Podcasted
Los Angeles Times
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Nov 24, 2007 2:30 PM CST
(Newser) -
Want to attend Yale for free? Thanks to Apple, you sort of can. Many colleges, including Yale, Stanford and MIT, now offer free lecture downloads through iTunes U. You won’t get a diploma, but thousands of non-traditional learners don’t mind, the LA Times reports. “They thirst for understanding and knowledge,” said one podcasted...
Subprime Nightmare to Get Worse
Wall Street Journal
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Nov 24, 2007 2:28 PM CST
(Newser) -
The subprime mortgage crisis is only just beginning, new data suggests. Hundreds of billions of dollars in subprime adjustable-rate mortgages are due to reset to higher rates in the year ahead, reports the Wall Street Journal . Analysts say this means the steep rise in defaults and foreclosures this year may be just the crest of a wave.
Laser-Humvee Will Hunt IEDs
CNET
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Nov 24, 2007 2:25 PM CST
(Newser) -
Boeing has developed a laser-equipped Humvee designed to disarm IEDs, CNET's military tech blog reports. The weapon system, known as the “Laser Avenger,” consists of a 1-kilowatt laser added to an anti-aircraft Humvee-mounted missile turret, and can neutralize a bomb by shooting the super-hot laser into it until it combusts internally,...
ET May Be Hiding In Plain Sight
Scientific American
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Nov 24, 2007 1:57 PM CST
(Newser) -
One popular theory on the origin of life holds that it is a “cosmic imperative”—inevitable on any Earth-like planet. That theory is being tested in a novel way, Scientific American reports: by searching for evidence of a “second genesis”—life on Earth that in some fundamental way differs from life as we know it.
Ski Resorts Need Blast of Snow
USA Today
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Nov 24, 2007 1:28 PM CST
(Newser) -
Ski resorts opening this weekend are relying on manufactured snow for the slopes, USA Today reports. An early Thanksgiving pushed back the start date for the season, with many resorts still missing the white stuff. In Utah, only one of the state’s 13 resorts opened before Thanksgiving. Three more were expected to open over the weekend.
Lebanon PM Tries to Ease Fears of Unrest
Reuters
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Nov 24, 2007 12:52 PM CST
(Newser) -
Lebanon's PM called for calm today and said his cabinet would run the nation while it remains without a president, Reuters reports. Fouad Siniora also pledged to push for quick elections. The developments come a day after President Emile Lahoud's term ended without a successor in place. Siniora rejected Lahoud's bid to transfer power to the military...
Too Late for Thompson?
Politico
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Nov 24, 2007 12:18 PM CST
(Newser) -
Is it too late for Fred Thompson? Politico reports that almost two months after he was hailed as a sure bet in the checkered Republican primary field, Thompson is down in the polls. So he's returned to what he loves—talking serious policy—and is even enduring “inside-the-Beltway political BS,” as he calls it, like Sunday morning...
Wildfire Destroys Malibu Homes
Associated Press
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Nov 24, 2007 11:40 AM CST
(Newser) -
A Mailbu wildfire destroyed at least 35 ritzy homes today and forced hundreds of people to evacuate, the AP reports. The fire scorched more than 2,000 acres after beginning near Malibu Lake about 3:30 am local time. "We're at the mercy of the winds right now," said one fire official.
Bush Shifts Focus to Small Picture
New York Times
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Nov 24, 2007 11:20 AM CST
(Newser) -
With his term winding down, President Bush is putting an increased emphasis on the small picture—domestic issues that have a tangible effect on people's lives, the New York Times reports. While still engaged with weighty foreign matters such as Iraq and the upcoming Mideast summit, Bush has shifted focus to topics such as the holiday travel...
The Mist Rolls In Slowly
Rotten Tomatoes
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Nov 24, 2007 10:46 AM CST
(Newser) -
Some horror movies just aren't fun enough, and that's the way Newsday's Jan Stuart feels about The Mist, a "mean-spirited horror melange" based on a Stephen King novella about a monster-filled fog that engulfs a grocery store and shakes up the customers trapped inside. “ The Mist is another Chicken Little admonition built upon...
36 Years Later, Hijacker's Fate Still Intrigues
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
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Nov 24, 2007 10:09 AM CST
(Newser) -
The legend was born in 1971. A hijacker who said he had a bomb traded 36 plane passengers for $200,000 and passage to Mexico. The Boeing 727 took off from Sea-Tac Airport, and the man known as DB Cooper parachuted out the back and into history. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer looks at 36 years of theories and false leads.
Russian Police Detain Kasparov
BBC
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Nov 24, 2007 9:39 AM CST
(Newser) -
Russian police seized opposition leader and former chess champion Garry Kasparov today at a rally in Moscow protesting the fairness of upcoming elections, the BBC reports. Authorities arrested Kasparov and other leaders of the Other Russia coaltion when they broke through police lines to march toward the election commission. "We should overcome...
SEC Web Push Faces Hurdles
Wall Street Journal
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Nov 24, 2007 9:16 AM CST
(Newser) -
SEC Chairman Christopher Cox's campaign to make corporate information available to investors electronically sounds like a no-brainer, but it's beset with resistance on multiple fronts. That's because such proposals as online shareholder forums and making corporate data interactive—which would allow investors to sort and compare information—could...
Bangladeshi Bridge Collapses
Associated Press
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Nov 24, 2007 8:47 AM CST
(Newser) -
At least three people were killed and scores injured in Bangladesh today when a bridge packed with thousands of cyclone survivors collapsed, the AP reports. Another 20 people were missing. The collapse occurred as Bangladeshis moved toward a relief center to receive much-needed food and supplies in a district hard hit by last week's cyclone.
Rudy Partners Served Some Sketchy Clients
Chicago Tribune
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Nov 24, 2007 8:32 AM CST
(Newser) -
Rudy Giuliani's presidential bid has focused on his record as mayor of New York, while his highly lucrative run at Giuliani Partners has received little scrutiny. The company declines to reveal all the clients in its far-flung portfolio, but the Chicago Tribune did some digging on one, a proposed $3.5-billion gambling casino in Singapore, and turned...
Six Organs Scores With Shelter
Dusted
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Nov 24, 2007 8:01 AM CST
(Newser) -
Six Organs of Admittance’s latest guitar-based record, Shelter From the Ash, is another masterpiece, applying “polish” to trademark “drones, more atomized sounds (and) acoustic finger-picking,” writes Matthew Wuethrich of Dusted. It’s a triumphant gamble to clean up the band's space-age sounds—which have...
Football Rivals Still Fighting the Civil War
Wall Street Journal
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Nov 24, 2007 7:21 AM CST
(Newser) -
Kansas and Missouri play a huge football game today, one that could decide the national champion, and fans on both sides will be fighting a battle that goes back to the Civil War. Look no further than Kansas' nickname, the Jayhawks, which comes from abolitionist guerrillas who killed and raped their way across Missouri in the 1850s. "We hate each...
Black Friday as Bargain Hunt
New York Times
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Nov 24, 2007 7:17 AM CST
(Newser) -
On the traditional first day of the Christmas season, shoppers swarmed stores, as always, but the mood was less festive than anxious, reports the New York Times , as consumers flocked to discount chains, and hunted down bargains. Beset by worries about gas prices, adjustable-rate mortgages, and a skittish stock market, many bypassed more expensive...
Stern Extols the Pleasures of Satellite
Associated Press
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Nov 24, 2007 6:51 AM CST
(Newser) -
It's been almost two years since Howard Stern switched to satellite radio, and the never-modest shock jock is reveling in his success on Sirius—and the woes of his former network, CBS, and rival, Don Imus, back in terrestrial radio. In a sit-down with the AP, Stern crows that his show is funnier than ever, now that he can tell jokes without the...
Suicide Blasts Rock Rawalpindi
Washington Post
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Nov 24, 2007 5:45 AM CST
(Newser) -
Two suicide bombers struck within minutes of each other in the Pakistani garrison city of Rawalpindi today, killing up to 35 people and adding fuel to the political crisis that grips Pakistan. An explosives-laden van rammed a bus carrying Pakistani intelligence agents, leaving it a charred hulk. Another bomber hit a nearby army checkpoint almost simultaneously,...
Activists Howl as Wolves Leave Endangered List
Associated Press
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Nov 24, 2007 5:45 AM CST
(Newser) -
Federal officials plan to pull gray wolves from the endangered species list for the first time in more than 20 years, the AP reports. Hunters will be allowed to reduce the growing wolf population, which threatens livestock in the Northern Rockies—but activists vow lawsuits to block the plan, saying that 2,000 to 3,000 gray wolves are necessary...
Unbeaten Hawaii Nabs WAC Title
Honolulu Advertiser
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Nov 24, 2007 5:34 AM CST
(Newser) -
The 11-0 Hawaii Warriors followed Heisman-candidate Colt Brennan to a 39-27 victory last night, beating defending WAC champions Boise State to take the conference crown outright for the first time. Brennan broke records with his five touchdowns and 495 passing yards, as the Warriors proved that "giants do fall," reports the Honolulu Advertiser....
Spill Hits Diving Duck Hardest
Associated Press
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Nov 24, 2007 5:33 AM CST
(Newser) -
A migratory duck already under environmental pressure has taken the brunt of the damage from the San Francisco Bay fuel spill, the AP reports. Of at least 1,365 dead birds, more than one-quarter are surf scoters, as are 40% of the birds being cleaned. "The oil spill just adds insult to injury and creates greater stress on these birds," says...
Blazing Suns Win 8th Straight
Arizona Republic (Phoenix)
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Nov 24, 2007 5:31 AM CST
(Newser) -
The Phoenix Suns added an eighth game to their NBA-best win streak last night with a 113-94 win over the unfocused Clippers, reports the Arizona Republic . For the Suns the victory was a team effort that included three double-doubles; for the Clippers, the loss battered the team's already depleted ranks.
Labor Takes Australian Elections
Reuters
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Nov 24, 2007 5:30 AM CST
(Newser) -
Former Diplomat Kevin Rudd is poised to become Australia's new prime minister after his Labor Party claimed victory in yesterday's elections. Labor expects to take at least 83 of the 150 seats in Parliament, Reuters reports. Meanwhile, current PM John Howard faces the possibility of losing his own seat in Sydney.
65-51 Upset by FSU Snaps Florida's Streak
Associated Press
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Nov 24, 2007 5:24 AM CST
(Newser) -
The Florida State Seminoles easily subdued the young but powerful Florida Gators, breaking the No. 25 team's 15-game win streak with a 65-51 beating. The more experienced Seminoles raced to an early lead to score 36 points in the paint and 15 on fast breaks, the AP reports. Other upsets of Top-25 teams last night included:
Marion Jones Falls Further
Associated Press
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Nov 24, 2007 2:44 AM CST
(Newser) -
Disgraced sprinter Marion Jones will have her results in races dating back to September 2000 wiped from the record books, reports the AP, under orders from track and field's world governing body. She's also been ordered to give back $700,000 in prize money. The IAAF council decided to retroactively disqualify Jones from all competitions in the last...
White-Hot Celtics Beat L.A.
Boston Globe
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Nov 24, 2007 2:04 AM CST
(Newser) -
It was retro night in Boston as the Celtics' Big Three were taking on the rival Lakers and fans wore "Beat L.A." shirts circa 1985. But rather than Bird, McHale and Parish, it was Garnett, Allen and Pierce who combined for 59 points and put up a 107-94 win. Arnold Schwarzenegger in attendance to cheer on LA couldn't prevent Boston from improving...
