Newser Story Index from December, 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.
Ex-Yankee Charged With Manslaughter in DUI Death
South Florida Sun Sentinel
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Dec 28, 2007 4:11 PM CST
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Former New York Yankees catcher Jim Leyritz was charged with DUI manslaughter after an accident early this morning in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., that claimed the life of another driver, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. Leyritz ran a red light around 3:30am and collided with another vehicle, police said, causing the 30-year-old woman to be ejected.
Stocks Mixed on Housing News
MarketWatch
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Dec 28, 2007 3:53 PM CST
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The markets were mixed in a volatile session today, with the Dow ending just slightly higher after more bad news from the housing sector erased an early-morning 100-point rally, Marketwatch reports. The Dow rose 6.26 to close at 13,365.87, and the S&P 500 climbed 2.12 to 1,478.49, but the Nasdaq fell 2.33 to 2,674.46.
Risqué Pics Won't Dethrone Miss France
AFP
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Dec 28, 2007 3:25 PM CST
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Miss France will keep her crown despite the publication of racy pictures featuring the 22-year-old student, AFP reports. Photographs of Valerie Begue licking yogurt off a wall and straddling a cross in a bikini had Genevieve de Fontenay, the pageant's sharp-tongued patron, threatening to strip Begue of her title; Begue won't be allowed to compete internationally...
Face of Jihad Ever More Youthful
Christian Science Monitor
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Dec 28, 2007 3:03 PM CST
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They’re young, impressionable, disillusioned, and they’re seeking out al-Qaeda: Muslims as young as 15 are connecting with Islamic extremists over the web and becoming radicalized through jihadist videos and literature, the Christian Science Monitor reports. In Morocco and elsewhere, teenagers reinforce an increasingly decentralized al-Qaeda....
Venture Capitalists Predict Rebound After 2008
San Jose Mercury News
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Dec 28, 2007 2:49 PM CST
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After gazing into its crystal ball this month, the National Venture Capital Association has come up with a picture of a bullish post-2008, post-election future. In the prediction, the new President Clinton manages a still-reeling economy as the number of VC firms wanes and the size of the funds they control waxes, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Hello Kitty to Purr for Young Men, Too
Associated Press
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Dec 28, 2007 2:46 PM CST
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Will boys really say “Hello Kitty”? The company behind the sugary-sweet product line thinks so. Japan’s Sanrio Co. says it will plaster the cuddly cat on T-shirts, bags, watches, and other products for males. “We think Hello Kitty is accepted by young men as a design statement in fashion,” a Sanrio spokesman said today.
Aussie Star Ranked No. 1... 31 Years Late
Sydney Morning Herald
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Dec 28, 2007 2:34 PM CST
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Evonne Goolagong Cawley was ranked No. 1 in women's tennis for a couple of weeks in 1976, but no one knew it until now. Goolagong Cawley is now (and, technically, has long been) the first Australian woman to hold the coveted laurel, and just the 16th woman overall to do so, reports the Sydney Morning Herald .
Phone Call Ties al-Qaeda to Bhutto Killing
Associated Press
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Dec 28, 2007 2:24 PM CST
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The Pakistani government offered the transcript of an intercepted phone call today as evidence that the Benazir Bhutto's murder was the work of Baitullah Mehsud, an extremist linked to al Qaeda and the Taliban, the AP reports. In the transcript, Mehsud congratulates an operative for a "spectacular job" in the suicide bombing, saying, "They...
Do As He Says, Not As He Does
Extra
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Dec 28, 2007 2:10 PM CST
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In a gesture of troubled-celebrity empathy, MIchael Lohan, Lindsay's ex-con father, has reached out to the Spears family, imploring the world not to judge pregnant 16-year-old Jamie Lynn or sister Britney, "Extra" reports. “Stand together," he told the Spears clan. "Stand by each other and don’t let anyone come between...
Strike Threatens Golden Globes Broadcast
New York Times
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Dec 28, 2007 1:50 PM CST
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A showdown of Hollywood-epic proportions is shaping up for the Golden Globes, the New York Times reports. Striking writers are vowing to deploy 3,000 pickets to keep celebs away and perhaps even jeopardize broadcast of the Jan. 13 awards ceremony. People close to the Globes say a webcast—even a private party—is under consideration...
Parcells Ready to Take Reins
Miami Herald
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Dec 28, 2007 1:42 PM CST
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Bill Parcells was officially introduced yesterday as the Dolphins' VP of football operations and is ready to get down to work, the Miami Herald reports. "We've got things to do," the new head honcho said of his 1-14 team. One of those things may be to find a new coach and GM.
In France, 2008 Means Défense de Fumer
Bloomberg
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Dec 28, 2007 1:20 PM CST
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Say goodbye to the tradition of puffing on Gauloises at Paris cafes: Beginning Tuesday, France becomes the latest nation to introduce a complete smoking ban in restaurants, hotels, and nightclubs. The ban has widespread support, although diehard smokers are threatening to fight it. "I cannot stand the idea of a hygienic, clean, and, sorry to say,...
Sean, Robin Wright Penn Split
People
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Dec 28, 2007 1:00 PM CST
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Sean Penn and Robin Wright Penn are cutting the knot, People reports. After 11 years of marriage, two kids, and several movies, the Penns’ representative told the magazine the couple is breaking up but wouldn’t say why. “Marriage ain’t easy,” Penn once said, years ago, “but it’s great most of the time.”
Bhuttos Mourn; Son Eyed as Successor
Globe and Mail
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Dec 28, 2007 12:44 PM CST
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Benazir Bhutto was the Pakistan People's Party's "chairperson for life," and her assassination leaves a vacuum in the leadership of the country's largest party. One possible successor, reports the Globe and Mail , is her 19-year-old son Bilawal, who, with his family, attended his mother's burial today. Bhutto's widower, Asif Ali Zardari,...
Late-Night Hosts at a Loss for Words
Wall Street Journal
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Dec 28, 2007 12:38 PM CST
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The late-night talk shows will be back next week, but they’ll be virtually unrecognizable, the Wall Street Journal reports. Broad, vague Writers Guild rules prohibit the hosts, many of whom belong to the striking union, from providing their shows with “writing services.” That means no scripted monologues, sketches, or fictional...
College Suicide Prevention Trumps Privacy
Wall Street Journal
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Dec 28, 2007 12:15 PM CST
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After the Virginia Tech massacre highlighted the issue of student safety, more colleges began risking legal action by telling parents when their kids suffer from mental health problems, the Wall Street Journal reports. Cornell University, battling a reputation for stressed-out students, is now training staff to seek out and report signs of anxiety....
New Tech Identifies Rare DNA Disorders
New York Times
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Dec 28, 2007 11:50 AM CST
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New procedures that scan all 46 human chromosomes are helping doctors classify disorders once lumped together as "developmentally delayed" or "autistic"—and helping parents connect to families whose children also have uncommon conditions. The New York Times looks at the lives of parents isolated by their experience with...
Al-Qaeda Killed Bhutto, Pakistan Says
CNN
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Dec 28, 2007 11:27 AM CST
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The suicide bomber who killed Benazir Bhutto belonged to a militant group with links to Al-Qaeda, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry told GEO-TV today, fingering Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, an outlawed Sunni group blamed for hundreds of killings.The US State Department considers the group a terrorist organization with links to the Taliban. The Pakistani government...
New Home Sales Hit 12-Year Low
Bloomberg
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Dec 28, 2007 11:00 AM CST
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New home sales fell much farther than expected in November, hitting their lowest point since 1995, Bloomberg reports, and the slide only likely to get worse. Sales fell to an annual pace of 647,000, a 9% drop from October’s revised-down 711,000 rate. Prices are falling, but buyers either aren’t interested or can’t get loans because...
Pyramid Unearthed in Mexico City
Reuters
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Dec 28, 2007 10:58 AM CST
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Archaeologists have unearthed the ruins of an 800-year-old Aztec pyramid in the heart of modern Mexico City. The ruins, which are approximately 36 feet high, stand on the former site of Tlatelolco, a center of political and religious power and the twin city of Tenochtitlan. The discovery indicates that the ancient city might be more than a century...
Best, Worst Celeb Do-Gooders
Reuters
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Dec 28, 2007 10:45 AM CST
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From Angelina Jolie (nominated as a UN Goodwill Ambassador) to Madonna (the Malawian adoption controversy), these stars topped a Reuters poll that asked: Who gave the best—and worst—name to “celebrity humanitarianism” in 2007? The best: Angelina Jolie Bono Desmond Tutu Bill Gates Bill Clinton...
Time Warner Focus Turns to Possible Breakup
Bloomberg
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Dec 28, 2007 10:19 AM CST
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What do you do when you take over the world’s biggest media company? If you’re new Time Warner CEO Jeffrey Bewkes, you probably sharpen some knives. Bewkes may soon spin off AOL as well as the conglomerate’s cable and magazine divisions, Bloomberg reports. “There’s nothing special necessarily about being the biggest,”...
Memories of 'Pinky's' Smile
Time
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Dec 28, 2007 10:06 AM CST
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What former Time editor Walter Isaacson remembers best about fellow Harvard student Benazir Bhutto is her warm smile—and how it contrasted with the intensity of her eyes. Her nickname, "Pinky," often seemed at odds with her serious personality and driving passion for politics at Harvard and later at Oxford, where she headed the debate...
Kenya's Prez Appears Defeated
New York Times
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Dec 28, 2007 9:57 AM CST
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A populist challenger appears to be winning Kenya's presidential election, the New York Times reports. Raila Odinga, a businessman who promises to spread Kenya's growing wealth more equitably, has a 57%-40% lead over incumbent Mwai Kibaki in early results, while many in Kibaki's inner circle, including the vice president and 14 ministers, are losing...
Buffett Moves Into Insuring Muni Bonds
Wall Street Journal
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Dec 28, 2007 9:13 AM CST
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Billionaire Warren Buffett is riding to the rescue of the municipal bond market—and taking advantage of an opportunity afforded by the credit crunch—by launching a municipal bond insurer, reports the Wall Street Journal . Berkshire Hathaway Assurance, which opens today in New York state, should make it cheaper for local governments to...
Obama Ties Clinton in NH
Los Angeles Times
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Dec 28, 2007 8:50 AM CST
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Barack Obama has erased Hillary Clinton’s lead in New Hampshire, pulling into a tie by persuading voters he is more honest and change-minded, according to a Los Angeles Times /Bloomberg poll. In Iowa, both hopefuls are neck-and-neck with John Edwards—but Clinton could rise if the Bhutto assassination focuses voter concern on national defense,...
Inside the Siemens Bribery Scandal
Wall Street Journal
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Dec 28, 2007 8:40 AM CST
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In one of the world's largest corporate bribery scandals in recent years, German industrial giant Siemens allegedly channeled millions of euros in bribes to customers in Nigeria, Russia, Libya, and other countries to win infrastructure contracts. The Wall Street Journal traces the unearthing of the Siemens case across four years of investigations...
Brits Want Wills, Not Charles
Reuters
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Dec 28, 2007 8:31 AM CST
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The British want the monarchy to skip a generation, passing over Charles to Prince William, Reuters reports. More than half of those polled preferred a King William to having his pop ascend the throne. Younger people were especially keen to see Wills crowned. A clear majority were in favor of keeping the monarchy.
Wal-Mart Scraps Online Movie Service
Reuters
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Dec 28, 2007 8:14 AM CST
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Wal-Mart shuttered its 10-month-old video download service without fanfare last week, ending a disappointing experiment for the bargain retailer, Reuters reports. The site was scrapped after Hewlett Packard canceled the software that supported it, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman said. HP said it made the move after the market failed to perform "as expected."
Bhutto Is Laid to Rest
Times (UK)
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Dec 28, 2007 8:01 AM CST
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Benazir Bhutto has been buried alongside her father in her family mausoleum outside the southern city of Naudero. The Times of London reports that hundreds of thousands of mourners lined the streets as the funeral cortege made its way through the town. Her widower, Asif Ali Zardari, and their three teenage children accompanied the coffin, and Zardari...
In Need of Cash, Banks Looking to Sell
Wall Street Journal
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Dec 28, 2007 7:48 AM CST
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Still in need of cash, as subprime writedowns continue to maul bottom lines, US and European banks are selling off or shuttering non-critical assets. They've already sold stakes to foreign investors and borrowed from central banks; now it's time for the yard sale, as the Wall Street Journal puts it. Citigroup and the UK’s HSBC, among others,...
'Jenny' Stamp Sells for $825K
Associated Press
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Dec 28, 2007 7:24 AM CST
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An inverted "Jenny stamp," one of philately's most sought-after collectibles, just sold to a private collector for $825,000, slightly less than a record price. The stamp is a 1918 misprint, which shows a Curtis JN-4 (Jenny) biplane flying upside-down. Only 100 were printed. The buyer is a Wall Street executive who wished to remain anonymous.
Mobs Throng Bhutto Procession
Associated Press
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Dec 28, 2007 6:12 AM CST
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Benazir Bhutto's funeral procession made its way today through the southern town of Naudero, where thousands of mourners thronged the streets as her coffin was taken to the family mausoleum. Draped in the flag of the Pakistan People's Party, the simple wooden casket was transported through the grieving crowds as the nation continued to erupt in violent...
Chad To Return Convicted Kidnappers To France
CNN
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Dec 28, 2007 5:56 AM CST
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The six French charity workers convicted in Chad of attempting to kidnap 103 children they claimed were Darfuri orphans will return to France. It's unclear whether the French justice system will reduce their 8-year sentences. The Zoe's Ark charity workers, scheduled to return on a special flight, claimed they were acting out of compassion and intended...
Bin Laden to Issue Message on 'Foiling Plots' in Iraq
Reuters
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Dec 28, 2007 5:44 AM CST
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A new message on "foiling plots" in Iraq from Osama bin Laden is about to be released on an Islamic web site, Reuters reports. The 56-minute recording will address the hardline jihadist group Islamic State of Iraq, according to the site announcing the message. It may also blast the "infidel" Arabic news channel Al Jazeera, which...
Did the US Do Enough for Bhutto?
Time
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Dec 28, 2007 4:58 AM CST
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Finger pointing has begun in the wake of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto—and several fingers are pointing at Washington, reports Time magazine. Critics say the White House is so committed to supporting President Pervez Musharraf, a key ally in the war against terror, that the US has been too trusting of his administration and failed to...
Bhutto: If I Die, Blame Musharraf
CNN
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Dec 28, 2007 4:42 AM CST
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Assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto sent an email to a US adviser and close friend two months ago saying that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf would share the blame if she was killed, CNN reports. Bhutto said his government had denied her request for extra security after the October attempt on her life and she mentioned threats against...
Tiger's Wall Lower Than National Standard
San Francisco Chronicle
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Dec 28, 2007 4:24 AM CST
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A San Francisco Zoo wall apparently scaled by a Siberian tiger who subsequently killed a teenage park patron is four feet lower than national standards, reports the San Francisco Chronicle . The big cat, Tatiana, also mauled two of the victim's friends after her escape Christmas Day. Zoo officials initially reported that the wall surrounding the moat...
Daughter & Lover Confess to Killing 6 in Family: Cops
Associated Press
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Dec 28, 2007 3:53 AM CST
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The daughter of a murdered couple and her boyfriend have confessed to killing the young woman's parents and four other relatives, according to police. Michele Anderson, 29, and her live-in lover gunned down Anderson's parents Christmas Eve at their home outside Seattle, police said. When Anderson's brother, his wife and two young children arrived,...
Mischa Barton Busted in LA
E! Online
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Dec 28, 2007 3:41 AM CST
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Former " OC" star Mischa Barton was booked early yesterday on suspicion of driving under the influence, possessing an illegal narcotic and driving with an invalid license, E! News is reporting. Barton, 21, was pulled over in West Hollywood before dawn after deputies spotted the actress driving her Range Rover straddling two lanes of traffic...
Pitched Power Battle Triggered by Bhutto Death
Wall Street Journal
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Dec 28, 2007 3:23 AM CST
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The assassination of Benazir Bhutto will exacerbate already fraught tensions between competing Pakistani political parties, the Wall Street Journal reports. Bhutto's secular, generally pro-Western Pakistan Peoples' Party was expected to do well in upcoming parliamentary elections, but the future of the PPP is now uncertain in the aftermath of Bhutto's...
Sharif Calls for Election Boycott
Time
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Dec 28, 2007 3:15 AM CST
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Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif called on his countrymen to boycott the coming elections and demanded President Pervez Musharraf resign following the shocking assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Sharif, 57, long a political adversary of Bhutto, rushed to the hospital in Rawalpindi and sat silently by her body after she was shot dead yesterday....
Longhorns Gore Sun Devils
Dallas Morning News
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Dec 28, 2007 3:10 AM CST
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Despite some truly bizarre play, No.19 Texas had little difficulty dispatching No.11 ASU in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl, 52-34, the Dallas Morning News reports. The play which will make all the highlight reels didn't even involve a player—Texas coach Mack Brown's stepson interfered with a ball off the sideline, ultimately leading to an Arizona...
Filppula's Double Take Leads Wings Past Avalanche
Associated Press
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Dec 28, 2007 12:47 AM CST
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For the second straight night, Valtteri Filppula netted two goals, leading Detroit to a 4-2 victory over Colorado, the AP reports. The game put an end to an Avalanche home hot streak, and earned the Red Wings their 13th victory in the past 15 contests. Jiri Hudler and Mikael Samuelsson had Detroit's two other goals. Elsewhere in the NHL:
Apple Wants Slice of Movie Rental Biz
Associated Press
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Dec 27, 2007 11:53 PM CST
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Apple is getting ready to formally announce the launch of its online movie rental business, the AP reports. Fox is already on board, as the FT reported yesterday, and other studios are expected to follow in making their movies available for rent through iTunes. Apple's also planning a widespread licensing deal for its FairPlay anti-piracy technology.
Cavs, King James Top Mavs
Associated Press
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Dec 27, 2007 11:50 PM CST
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LeBron James' 24 points and eight rebounds propelled the Cavaliers past the Mavericks 88-81 last night, the AP reports. James put the game away with a definitive dunk with little more than a minute to play, despite repeated physical punishment, salvaging a dismal offensive effort from the Cavaliers. Dallas, however, was even sloppier offensively, shooting...
Spezza Hits 300, Snaps Islanders' Win Streak
Associated Press
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Dec 27, 2007 11:02 PM CST
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Jason Spezza earned his 300th NHL point, netting his 13th goal of the season as Ottawa trounced the Islanders 5-2 last night, the AP reports. Teammates Dany Heatley reach the fifty point mark for the season, and Daniel Alfredsson connected for his 22nd goal. The loss put an end to New York's three game winning streak. In other NHL action:
Radiohead to Webcast Show on New Year's Eve
Guardian (UK)
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Dec 27, 2007 9:52 PM CST
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Radiohead will celebrate the CD release of its buzz-generating new album In Rainbows by streaming a pre-recorded concert on its website at midnight on New Year’s Eve. The band broke new ground by first releasing the album online under a pay-what-you-want formula. The New Year's Eve show will include "songs and other bits,” as described...
Jessica Alba to Get Hitched to Baby's Dad
Access Hollywood
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Dec 27, 2007 8:52 PM CST
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Jessica Alba, expecting her first baby in late spring, is now engaged to the child's father, Access Hollywood reports . The 26-year-old actress was spotted over the holidays wearing a rock on her left ring finger, leading Access Hollywood to speculate that husband-to-be Cash Warren popped the question during Christmas.
Bhutto's Body Flown Home
CNN
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Dec 27, 2007 7:54 PM CST
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The body of Benazir Bhutto was flown to her ancestral homeland in Pakistan Friday as riots in the wake of her assassination claimed the lives of at least nine people. Police reported widespread unrest in Karachi and across the country, CNN reports. TV footage showed Bhutto supporters torching cars and throwing rocks at police. She will be buried Friday...
