Newser Story Index from August, 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.
Blue Chips Hop Slightly on Fed Confidence
Bloomberg
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Aug 20, 2007 5:05 PM CDT
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The Dow was up 42.27 to close at 13,121.35, as winners outnumbered losers about 7 to 6—the third straight positive day on Wall Street. But short-term treasury yields plummeted as speculation increased that the Fed will cut the benchmark rate at its next meeting. Volume on the market was low—about 1.5 billion—as retail and mining led...
Afghan Refugees Flooding Home, Some Forced From Camps
BBC
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Aug 20, 2007 4:34 PM CDT
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Afghan refugees are returning to their post-Taliban nation by the hundreds of thousands, and there are few resources to support them. Much of the repatriation is voluntary, the BBC reports, with newfound stability attracting Afghanis who fled as long as 25 years ago; others have been forced out of Pakistani camps that are shutting down.
Scientists Work on Life From Scratch
Associated Press
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Aug 20, 2007 4:30 PM CDT
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A synthetic life form constructed in a lab from basic components could make its debut in the next 3 to 10 years, scientists say. Researchers are hard at work on creating a cell, which hopefully would be able to reproduce on its own. "It's going to be a big deal and everybody's going to know about it," says one expert.
Iraq's Upper Class Flees
Der Spiegel
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Aug 20, 2007 4:08 PM CDT
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More than 2 million Iraqis have left home, mostly crossing the borders into neighboring Jordan and Syria. And the upper class has been the first to go—robbing the country of the doctors, engineers and government officials necessary to rebuild it. With one of ten Iraqis living abroad, the war has become one of the largest refugee crises since...
In This Corner, a Boxer Jabbing at a Dream
Washington Post
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Aug 20, 2007 3:52 PM CDT
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As a Dominican native, Fernando Guerrero had to fight for US citizenship. This week, the middleweight boxer is saving his jabs for the ring, where he hopes to earn a spot on the US Olympic squad headed for Beijing. The 20-year-old champ, whose career detoured because he wasn’t a naturalized citizen, is within striking distance of his dream.
5 Signs That Augur the Fall of the Bull
CNN
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Aug 20, 2007 3:35 PM CDT
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After reaching a high in mid-July, the Dow has taken a sharp downturn. But how do you know when the bloom is off the rose? Here are Money magazine's five signs that usually precede a fall: Sudden surge in oil prices Treasury yields run up
HSBC Shops for Controlling Stake in KEB
Financial Times (UK)
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Aug 20, 2007 3:29 PM CDT
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HSBC is in talks to buy a controlling stake in Korea Exchange Bank from the U.S. private equity group Lone Star. A local newspaper has reported that the deal would be worth $4.5 billion. HSBC wants to strengthen its presence in the Korean economy, and Lone Star has been looking to unload its share for years.
Trib Deal Could Come Undone
New York Times
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Aug 20, 2007 3:21 PM CDT
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The Tribune Company’s shareholders are meeting tomorrow to approve Sam Zell’s $8.2 billion takeover, but whispers persist on Wall Street that the deal will crumble. A disappointing stock price, concerns about the fading newspaper business, and a sagging credit market have convinced some analysts that Zell’s offer of $34 a share will...
Immigrant Activist Deported
Associated Press
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Aug 20, 2007 2:57 PM CDT
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An illegal immigrant who held a vigil of sorts in a Chicago church for almost a year to publicize the plight of of divided families has been deported back to Mexico. Elvira Arellano, who left the sanctuary of the church last week to push for immigration reform, had just spoken at a Los Angeles rally yesterday when authorities seized her.
11 Injured in Cruise Film Car Crash
BBC
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Aug 20, 2007 2:52 PM CDT
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Eleven extras were injured on the Berlin set of Tom Cruise's latest film, "Valkyrie," when the side of a truck—decked out to look like a Nazi military transport—blew open as it took a corner. One man was seriously injured in the crash. Local authorities reported "no findings to suggest anyone famous was involved," the...
Camel Kills Owner in Apparent Mating Attempt
Telegraph (UK)
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Aug 20, 2007 2:34 PM CDT
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A pet camel killed its Australian owner—purportedly after trying to mate with her. The camel, 10 months old but already weighing in at about 330 pounds, knocked the 60-year-old woman to the ground and lay on top of her. “I’d say it’s probably been playing, or it may be even a sexual sort of thing,” a policeman spokesman...
Vick Will Plead Guilty in Deal
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Aug 20, 2007 2:13 PM CDT
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Michael Vick will plead guilty to federal charges related to a dogfighting ring, his lawyer said this afternoon, as part of a deal for leniency; the judge in the case is expected to announce the plea agreement today in Richmond. "Michael wishes to apologize to everyone who has been hurt by this matter," Vick's attorney said.
Rodent Attacks Demolish Spanish Crops
Christian Science Monitor
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Aug 20, 2007 2:07 PM CDT
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As many as 750 million voles have descended on farmland in central Spain, and with government response slow, farmers are taking matters into their own hands. The reason the number of rodents has exploded over the past few months is unclear, the Christian Science Monitor reports, but a likely explanation is a mild winter—potentially the product...
Hotelier Helmsley Dead at 87
New York Daily News
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Aug 20, 2007 1:21 PM CDT
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Leona Helsmley, the notoriously tyrannical real-estate baroness dubbed New York’s “Queen of Mean,” died of heart failure today at 87. The Brooklyn native took the reins of her husband Harry's real-estate empire in the 70s, and soon her name was synonymous with both luxe hotels and the churlish, hard-nosed style of public figuredom...
Skype Blames Crash on Windows
PC World
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Aug 20, 2007 12:49 PM CDT
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Skype's mysterious failure last week was caused by a routine Windows update, the company says. Millions of users downloaded the new software, rebooted their computers, and tried to log into Skype at the same time, crashing the net phone service, PC World reports. It's still unclear why previous Windows updates didn't do the same thing, however.
8 Traffic-Ticket Myths
Bankrate.com
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Aug 20, 2007 12:27 PM CDT
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Everyone has a story about ducking a ticket. Bankrate.com investigates what's true and what's unfounded optimism: Mistakes on the ticket will only win the case if they involve the where and how of the ticket or the car description. If the officer doesn't show, you don't automatically win. Red cars haven't been proven to get...
Straw Goes Green
Washington Post
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Aug 20, 2007 11:59 AM CDT
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The newest surprise climate-saving tool is straw walls, and the Big Bad Wolf may have underestimated the First Little Pig’s shelter, the Washington Post reports. Instead of drywall or insulation, contractors stack the farm waste around buildings’ skeletons and then coat it with plaster. The eco-friendly result looks like stucco and keeps...
Iowa-Minded Candidates Learn to Love Ethanol
Politico
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Aug 20, 2007 11:18 AM CDT
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To a presidential candidate who has an eye on Iowa—and who among them can afford not to?—ethanol is a political home run. The Hawkeye State hosts 28 refineries, and every one of the ’08 hopefuls has duly supported some form of ethanol subsidies. This despite the fact that, as Politico notes, reservations about ethanol as an...
NASA Learned Its Lesson With Endeavour
New York Times
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Aug 20, 2007 10:53 AM CDT
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Endeavour faced the same problem that the ill-fated Columbia did, but NASA officials handled the two missions in dramatically different ways, marking a radical cultural shift at the space agency. Columbia’s shuttle suffered more damage from a flying piece of foam, but NASA still spent days using elaborate equipment to study the impact of Endeavour’s...
Fire Probe Focuses on Pipe Failure
New York Times
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Aug 20, 2007 10:24 AM CDT
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A broken standpipe may have crippled the battle against Saturday's Deutsche Bank tower blaze near Ground Zero. Water filled the basement as flames on higher floors raged, the Times reports, and water from the hose connected to the suspect standpipe apparently didn't reach past the fifth floor. Firefighters spent precious minutes pulling hoses up...
Americans Double Use of Pain Meds
Associated Press
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Aug 20, 2007 9:40 AM CDT
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Retail sales of five major painkillers rose a whopping 90% from 1997 to 2005, a new AP analysis of DEA statistics shows. The increase is driven by Oxycodone, the chemical used in OxyContin, which has seen sales increase nearly 600%. Causes include an aging population, huge new drug marketing campaigns, and an increased willingness by doctors to prescribe...
Bomb Kills 2nd Iraqi Governor
Associated Press
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Aug 20, 2007 9:12 AM CDT
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The governor of Muthanna province was killed by a roadside bomb today—a little more than a week after another Iraqi governor was assassinated. Mohammed Ali al-Hassani's SUV was struck en route to his office in the morning. Police are blaming Moqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army, which has clashed with the the rival Shiite party to which both governors...
25 Essential Websites
Time
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Aug 20, 2007 9:01 AM CDT
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You find a restaurant on Citysearch, buy movie tickets on Fandango, and then go home and Google the guy you shared a cab with. Was there a time before the Internet? Here are the first 10 of Time' s 25 can't-live-without websites: Amazon.com BBC.co.uk Citysearch.com
Psychologists Won't Impose Gitmo Ban
San Francisco Chronicle
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Aug 20, 2007 8:38 AM CDT
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The American Psychological Association has voted not to ban members from assisting with interrogations at Guantanamo and other military prisons, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Instead, the group approved a measure listing specific procedures members won't help with, including sleep deprivation and water-boarding. "If we remove psychologists...
Dems' New Deal Can't Be Same as Old Deal
American Prospect
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Aug 20, 2007 8:00 AM CDT
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If current market turbulence becomes a full-blown recession, a Democratic president would need revolutionary changes to solve America’s financial troubles, writes American Prospect editor Robert Kuttner. "In the short run, a faltering economy is a political windfall for Democrats," he contends, but pointing fingers at the GOP won't...
Jet Catches Fire in Japan; Passengers, Crew Escape
Associated Press
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Aug 20, 2007 7:25 AM CDT
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A jet burst into flames after landing in Okinawa today, moments after all 165 people onboard escaped. The China Airlines plane skidded while landing on arrival from Taipei, and its left engine exploded shortly afterward. The cause of the fire is unknown, the AP reports. Firefighters took an hour to put out the blaze, leaving a blackened hulk.
Feds to Porn Stars: What's Your Sign?
New York Post
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Aug 20, 2007 7:25 AM CDT
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The Justice Department wants to catalog America's porn collection, but not for the reason you might think—the feds say they're making sure minors aren't finding their way onto adult-film sets. The anti-exploitation move would require producers to turn over actors' real names, stage names, and birthdates, the New York Post reports.
Skybus Soars With No-Frills Flights
Los Angeles Times
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Aug 20, 2007 6:36 AM CDT
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Budget-conscious flyers have snapped up seats on Skybus Airlines from Columbus, Ohio, to 11 cities, with $10 tickets selling out on each new route hours after they go on sale. The Los Angeles Times tests the Skybus experience, where everything costs extra, from pillows to pretzels. The plane, a new Airbus A319, gets high marks, but cost-cutting applies...
Credit Crunch Hits Bond Market
Washington Post
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Aug 20, 2007 3:36 AM CDT
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Ripples from the credit crisis have reached the corporate bond market—threatening to slow down the economy by seriously limiting the ability of major corporations to borrow money for new projects, the Washington Post reports. Credit problems have already begun to bite into the future plans of Hertz, Deere & Co. and Home Depot...
Army Can't Sustain Troop Demand in Iraq
Associated Press
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Aug 20, 2007 3:28 AM CDT
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With nearly all its forces exhausted, the US Army will have to break some promises to sustain the current troop buildup through spring, according to new documents acquired by AP. The Army would have to extend tours, reduce rest, or accelerate use of National Guard members to maintain current levels—all options a war-weary Congress would like...
'High School Musical 2' Sets TV Record
New York Times
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Aug 20, 2007 3:19 AM CDT
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An estimated 17.2 million viewers tuned into "High School Musical 2" Friday night, making the Disney Channel original the most watched basic cable program in history. Backed by an 18-month promotional blitz, the sequel nearly doubled the debut audience of last year's "High School Musical" and is expected to generate $650 million...
Iran Attacks Kurdish Villages in Northern Iraq
Guardian (UK)
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Aug 20, 2007 2:39 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Iran's Revolutionary Guard, which the Bush administration is about to declare a terrorist organization, have been shelling mountain villages in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq for several days. The fighting near the border involves thousands of Guards and guerrillas of the Kurdistan Free Life Party, which is stepping up its campaign for Kurdish...
Leahy to Act in Batman Flick
Associated Press
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Aug 20, 2007 2:25 AM CDT
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Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, a long-time Batman aficionado, will play a role in the upcoming Batman movie, "The Dark Knight." And while President Bush and some members of the GOP may think he has the title role, he plays only a small part as a "distinguished gentleman." The movie will be released in 2008.
Santana Strikes Out 17 to Down Texas
Minneapolis Star Tribune
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Aug 20, 2007 2:17 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Twins ace Johan Santana struck out a franchise-record 17 batters to lead Minnesota past the Rangers 1-0 yesterday. Santana, who was perfect for the first half of his eight-inning outing, got all the offense he needed with a solo shot from teammate Michael Cuddyer. The game was otherwise momentous for the Twins, who climbed to 8 back in the American...
Connie Francis Battles Family for Suicide Fan's Bequest
New York Daily News
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Aug 20, 2007 2:08 AM CDT
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An obsessed female fan of Connie Francis put $300,000 in assets in the Sixties singer's name—then shot herself days later. Now Francis, known for her old hits "Who's Sorry Now" and "Where the Boys Are," is suing the fan's family to collect the money. Relatives claim Francis, 68, exerted undue influence over the retired...
Military Battles for Drone Control
Financial Times (UK)
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Aug 20, 2007 1:45 AM CDT
(Newser) -
New enemies are hovering over America's unmanned drone aircraft—branches of the US armed forces battling each other for control of the high-tech flyers. The Air Force is lobbying Congress for exclusive control over purchasing and developing the spy planes, a move opposed by the Army, Navy and Marines.
Asian Markets Soar After Fed's Rate Cut
Bloomberg
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Aug 20, 2007 1:00 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The global equities sell-off ground to a halt today as Asian stocks had their biggest gains in five years. Responding to Friday’s cut in the US Federal Reserve’s discount rate, Japan’s Nikkei 225, Hong Kong's Hang Seng and South Korea's Kospi indexes all saw huge gains as panic over the US subprime mortgage crisis largely subsided.
Federer Chalks Up 50th Tourney Win
Associated Press
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Aug 20, 2007 12:49 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Top-ranked tennis ace Roger Federer yesterday won his 50th tournament, becoming the fifth-youngest player to do so and the ninth since 1968. He beat James Blake 6-1, 6-4 at the Western and Southern Financial Group Masters in Ohio yesterday. The match is a prelude to this summer's US Open, which Federer is poised to dominate for the fourth consecutive...
'Superbad' Scores Super Big
Variety
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Aug 20, 2007 12:34 AM CDT
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Ribald teen romp "Superbad" triumphed at the box office this weekend, raking in $31.2 million despite an R rating and a modest budget under $20 million, reports Variety . It marks the seventh biggest opening for an R-rated comedy, edging out Judd Apatow's other summer hit, "Knocked Up," which opened in June and has earned $147...
Carbon Monoxide Fells VA Tech Students
Associated Press
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Aug 20, 2007 12:23 AM CDT
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Five female roommates were seriously poisoned yesterday after a carbon monoxide leak in off-campus housing at Virginia Tech sickened 19 people. Two of the women remained in critical condition and three were listed as serious.The accident was yet another blow for the school which yesterday dedicated a memorial to 32 victims killed by a campus gunman...
NASCAR's Ricky Rudd to Retire
ESPN
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Aug 20, 2007 12:19 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Veteran NASCAR driver Ricky Rudd will retire from his full-time Nextel Cup duties at the end of this season. Rudd, who has chalked up 23 wins in a 32-year career, may make occasional starts in future years, but said he wants to give his team plenty of time to find a replacement.
Battered Giants Beat Ravens 13-12
Associated Press
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Aug 20, 2007 12:13 AM CDT
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The Giants paid a heavy price for their 13-12 preseason victory over the Ravens yesterday as injuries sidelined four key players. The defense lost safety Will Demps to a dislocated elbow and cornerback Sam Madison to a pulled hamstring. Wideout Steve Smith left with a concussion and Michael Jennings was felled by a ruptured Achilles' tendon.
Families Lash Owners for Abandoning Trapped Miners
Associated Press
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Aug 19, 2007 11:10 PM CDT
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Angry relatives of six men missing for two weeks in a Utah mine collapse have accused owners and federal officials of quitting on the rescue effort and leaving the miners for dead. Officials conceded yesterday that the miners may never be found in the mountain, still quivering from seismic activity, AP reports.
Credit Crisis: Damaging or Deserved?
Economist
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Aug 19, 2007 9:17 PM CDT
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The Economist takes the long view on the turmoil that has engulfed the financial markets, noting that investors have long wondered whether the "the securitisation of just about every form of debt into a tradable asset" would, in the end, spread risk efficiently or lead to cataclysmic failure. The immediate threat, it argues, is to the banking...
Dean Plows Into Jamaica
Reuters
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Aug 19, 2007 8:48 PM CDT
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Hurricane Dean struck Jamaica today, swamping the streets of Kingston and leaving devastation in its wake as it swept west across the Caribbean. The center of the Category 4 storm missed the island by a few miles, Reuters reports, but passed close enough to bring down numerous trees and utility poles, cause mudslides, and tear the roofs off houses.
Multitaskers, It's All in the Bag
Wise Bread
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Aug 19, 2007 8:16 PM CDT
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Paper bags are good for more than just school lunches and book covers. Check out Wise Bread's 25 tips, and you'll never hesitate again when the cashier says, "Paper or plastic?" Here are 10 to get you started: Ripen fruit. Make your own wrapping paper. Give your cat hours of entertainment.
Police Raid Frees Kabul Hostage
CNN
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Aug 19, 2007 6:49 PM CDT
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Afghan police stormed a secret location in Kabul today and freed a German aid worker held by kidnappers this weekend, CNN reports. Her abductors had circulated a video of her asking for the release of unknown prisoners and pleading for her own freedom. The captors said only that they are “a special network” and “not bad people;"...
Serena Williams Explores Life Off the Court
New York Times
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Aug 19, 2007 6:27 PM CDT
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Serena Williams remains one of the biggest names in tennis, but a string of injuries and the irresistible attraction of off-court activities sent the 25-year-old phenom's ranking plummeting to 140th just a year ago. Now, as she preps for the US Open—and an awards show, a party, and a photo shoot—she invites the Times along for the ride.
New Procedure Gives Hope to Diabetics
Guardian (UK)
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Aug 19, 2007 5:55 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Car crashes, comas, sudden stabbings, divorces – all are being indirectly diminished as Britain spearheads a new procedure to help sufferers of type 1 diabetes. Victims of the growing disorder are often subject to fits and blackouts as they scramble for insulin, but a new operation is offering hope: already a dozen Britons are infused with cells...
Endeavour Heads Home, Dodging Dean
Associated Press
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Aug 19, 2007 5:50 PM CDT
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To a chorus of ringing bells, space shuttle Endeavour undocked today from the international space station, skipping out a day early because of fears Hurricane Dean could disrupt its landing operations. Even though revised predictions show the storm poses almost no threat to Houston and Mission Control, the AP reports, Endeavour will land at Cape Canaveral...
