Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

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.

Katrina Tax Breaks Pay for Luxury Condos
Associated Press | Aug 13, 2007 9:56 PM CDT
(Newser) - Investors are using federal tax breaks designed to stimulate rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina to buy luxury condos being built near the University of Alabama’s football stadium, 200 miles from the coast, the AP reports. The Tuscaloosa developments, where units go for up to $1 million, are flourishing while much of the region devastated by the...
Hot for Those Chicago Dawgs
Travel Leisure | Aug 13, 2007 6:06 PM CDT
(Newser) - Hot dogs may be cheap, but they're rich in flavor—and history. Travel + Leisure visits the birthplace of the tubesteak and clues you in to the seven best spots for all breeds of dog: The classic: Murphy's Red Hots The classic with an accent: Hot Doug's The classic with car service: Superdawg Drive-in
Murdoch Sets Crosshairs on Times
Los Angeles Times | Aug 13, 2007 5:48 PM CDT
(Newser) - With the ink still drying on his takeover of The Wall Street Journal , Rupert Murdoch is already setting his sights on the New York Times —the current newspaper of choice for the Northeastern elite. The Australian tycoon is planning to challenge the Times by expanding the Journal 's "coverage of national, international and nonbusiness...
Sensors Could Stop the Next Bridge Collapse
BusinessWeek | Aug 13, 2007 5:43 PM CDT
(Newser) - New technology can diagnose bridge stress months before human investigators—currently armed with binoculars— could ever detect them. BusinessWeek compares the small wireless sensors to stethoscopes, as they’re capable of gauging vibration, temperature and corrosion beneath the paint. Testers ride trucks over the sensors and monitor...
Blog Leaks Facebook Source Code
Times (UK) | Aug 13, 2007 5:30 PM CDT
(Newser) - A blog called "Facebook Secrets" posted a restricted section of the site's source code on Saturday, revealing a major security flaw in the popular social networking site. While the leak didn't  reveal any sensitive information, it does raise concerns as to whether the site's 52M users' personal data is secure and protected.
K-Fed Hires Commando in Custody Battle
New York Daily News | Aug 13, 2007 5:22 PM CDT
(Newser) - For when the U.S. Postal Service just won't do: K-Fed hired a former Israeli commando to track down and deliver subpoenas to Britney's assistants in the ongoing custody battle over their two toddler sons. Security expert Aaron Cohen found assistant Alli Sims and producer Jonathan Rotem at a Hollywood Hills party. "If Alli were a terrorist, she...
Why Do New Yorkers Live Longer?
New York | Aug 13, 2007 5:13 PM CDT
(Newser) - New Yorkers are living longer, and New York magazine wants to know why. Department of Health figures show the average Gothamite lives longer than the average American. It could be thanks to more and faster walking, the magazine says, but ultimately has more to do with the fact that the city attracts people who are more likely to be healthy.
Romney's So Rich It Surprised Even Him
Bloomberg | Aug 13, 2007 5:11 PM CDT
(Newser) - Mitt Romney looks to be richer than the other presidential candidates combined, Bloomberg reports. In a filing today with the Federal Election Commission, the GOP contender today revealed that he and his wife jointly own assets worth between $190 and $270 million. Since their assets have been in a blind trust since 2003, the former VC says the numbers...
Robots Get Their Own Surge
Wired | Aug 13, 2007 4:59 PM CDT
(Newser) - The military wants more robots, and it wants them fast. The Pentagon is looking to enlist more small, maneuverable 'bots that can look out for insurgents and bombs—1,000 by the end of this year and 2,000 more over the next five years, Wired reports. The military is kicking off a competition for the 'bot-building contract, which will be awarded...
Market Sinks After Tech Rally Shuts Down
Bloomberg | Aug 13, 2007 4:58 PM CDT
(Newser) - The tech sector boomed early today, but couldn’t save the market from bank and energy woes at day’s end. Declines in MBIA, Exxon and Home Depot shares helped to erase early gains on the Nasdaq and S&P, and the bankruptcy of Aegis Mortgage Corp. renewed financing worries, Bloomberg reports.
Brooke Astor Dead at 105
New York Times | Aug 13, 2007 4:40 PM CDT
(Newser) - Brooke Astor—philanthropist and former queen of New York society -- has died at 105. The socialite had been in the news for being abused and exploited by her descendants, but her enduring legacy was her tireless charity work. "Money is like manure; it’s not worth a thing unless it’s spread around," she used to say.
Camo Bible Lets Faithful Hunt 'n' Pray
Reuters | Aug 13, 2007 4:36 PM CDT
(Newser) - Evangelical Christians are not used to hiding their faith—but pious hunters have to when gilded scripture covers catch the eye of their prey. An Arkansas-based online outdoors shop is solving the problem with Bibles covered in leaves and tree bark, as well as camo covers for personal copies of the Good Book. Starting at just under $20, the tricky...
NY Publisher to Issue OJ Book
Reuters | Aug 13, 2007 4:35 PM CDT
(Newser) - OJ Simpson’s book hypothetically describing the murders of his ex-wife Nicole and Ron Goldman will finally be published, Reuters reports. The Goldman family will “leave Simpson’s manuscript entirely intact, but they will also add key commentary,” a spokesman for their literary agent said. Under a court agreement reached last...
Rove Exit Inspires Pundit Ire
Nation | Aug 13, 2007 4:00 PM CDT
(Newser) - Not all Karl Rove haters celebrated his announced departure today. The Nation ’s David Corn, while pleased that taxpayers will no longer be paying the Bush political strategist's salary after August, feels that Rove deserves the punishment of being forced to stay “to the bitter end” of the unpopular presidency he masterminded. He...
MSFT Grabs AQNT for $6B
CNET | Aug 13, 2007 3:30 PM CDT
(Newser) - Microsoft completed the largest buyout in its history today, snatching up online advertising firm aQuantive for $6B. Microsoft closed the deal on Friday and will dole out $66.50 in cash for each share of the Seattle-based company, which will de-list from the Nasdaq after nearly doubling in value after its filing today, CNET reports.
Candidate or DA: Thompson Can't Be Both
New York Times | Aug 13, 2007 3:30 PM CDT
(Newser) - NBC will pull “Law & Order” reruns featuring DA Arthur Branch if the man who portrays him runs for president, the New York Times reported today. The self-imposed ban on those 115 episodes in which Fred Thompson appears would avoid the obligation to give other candidates comparable air time to comply with federal equal-time regulations.
Bone Hormone Could Help Treat Diabetes
Boston Globe | Aug 13, 2007 3:08 PM CDT
(Newser) - A substance produced by the skeleton may help to treat diabetes, a new study suggests. A hormone called osteocalcin regulates blood sugar; type 2 diabetics have a lower level of the hormone than other people. In the study, mice with lower levels of osteocalcin develop symptoms of diabetes, which go away when they are injected with the hormone.
Fans Flock to See Becks Sit on Bench
Times (UK) | Aug 13, 2007 2:44 PM CDT
(Newser) - David Beckham may be sidelined with an ankle injury but that hasn't kept American fans from turning out in droves to watch the British soccer phenom train, sit on the bench, or sub in for a measly 18 minutes for the LA Galaxy as he did in Washington DC last week. That away match was attended by 50,000 fans—a boost from the average 4,000 Beckham's...
9 Perfect Places to Live
Outside | Aug 13, 2007 1:51 PM CDT
(Newser) - Outside magazine selects 30 sweet spots—the best towns for mixing city life with the big outdoors—and, oh yeah, getting a job, too.  Here are the top nine: Santa Cruz, California Jackson, Wyoming Iowa City, Iowa Bend, Oregon Santa Fe, New Mexico
Museum Looks Picture-Perfect Online
Wired | Aug 13, 2007 1:28 PM CDT
(Newser) - Dresden’s Old Masters Picture gallery is the first museum to create an online clone, now appearing in all its glory—down to the trash cans and fountains—as a location in the virtual reality game Second Life . The building’s 750 paintings have been reproduced digitally, as have the 37,000 square feet of the grounds itself, ...
Spin Control: A Scandal Survival Guide
Portfolio | Aug 13, 2007 12:57 PM CDT
(Newser) - You thought you were safe by confining your philandering to professionals, but now the cat's out of the bag. Portfolio offers tips for controlling the damage: Tell your spouse If you know you'll be ratted out, fess up first Go directly to the press Act quickly, then move on
Obama Needs to Try On a Blue Collar
Newsweek | Aug 13, 2007 12:35 PM CDT
(Newser) - Barack Obama is having trouble appealing to the more downscale wing of the Democratic Party, a problem on display in a recent Iowa farm appearance in which the Chicagoan complained about the price of arugula at Whole Foods. More a “wine track” than a “beer track” candidate, Obama must find a way to bond with blue collar voters—or...
Boy Scouts Reach Out to Latinos
Boston Globe | Aug 13, 2007 12:03 PM CDT
(Newser) - With enrollment down almost 10% in the last 10 years, the Boy Scouts are reaching out to Latinos to fill their ranks. Handbooks, advertisements and bumper stickers are now available in Spanish, and the “be prepared” group has even had permission from ministers to recruit in Hispanic churches, the Boston Globe reports.
Goldman Hedge Fund Gets $3B Infusion
Bloomberg | Aug 13, 2007 11:38 AM CDT
(Newser) - A struggling Goldman Sachs hedge fund will get a $3 billion cash infusion, with a third of the bail-out coming from wealthy investors and the rest from the bank itself. Global Equity Opportunities Fund has seen assets drop by 28%, to $3.6 billion, over the last two weeks, as chaos in the financial markets undermined its computer-driven investment formulas,...
Rowling Goes Easy on Teen Translator
BBC | Aug 13, 2007 11:24 AM CDT
(Newser) - JK Rowling has agreed not to prosecute a 16-year-old who got the jump on France’s October “Deathly Hallows” release date by posting his own translation online. The young Frenchman said he never attempted to make money from his work, the BBC reported .
Mine Collapse Survivor Didn't Hear the Cave-In
Associated Press | Aug 13, 2007 10:53 AM CDT
(Newser) - One of the four miners who escaped the Crandall Canyon collapse that trapped six men told the AP he didn't hear or feel the cave-in as it was occurring. Tim Curtis, who was near the mine's entrance at the time, heard of the collapse via text message on an personal emergency device. "It's just like you are here and three miles away are you going...
China Seeks Oil in Africa
New York Times | Aug 13, 2007 10:34 AM CDT
(Newser) - China is exploring the sweltering wilderness of Chad in search of lucrative pockets of oil and other materials, the New York Times reports. Chinese officials tout the strategy as a "win-win" situation as the country develops relationships with African nations to achieve mutual prosperity by capitalizing on natural resources out of the shadow...
NFL Denies Vick Rumors
MSNBC | Aug 13, 2007 10:23 AM CDT
(Newser) - The NFL yesterday denied rumors that Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick would be suspended for the entire 2007 season after being indicted on several felony charges stemming from a dogfighting scandal, reports USA Today . "No decision has been made," said an NFL spokesman.
Why the 'Rove Presidency' Failed
The Atlantic | Aug 13, 2007 10:07 AM CDT
(Newser) - With Karl Rove about to ankle the White House, the Atlantic's cover story on Rove as the principal architect of the Bush presidency becomes prescient. Joshua Green explores why the mastermind of W.'s two election victories—one of the best political minds of a generation—was unable to fulfill any of his considerable ambitions for the occupant...
Microsoft Renews FCC Fight Over TV 'White Space'
Washington Post | Aug 13, 2007 9:28 AM CDT
(Newser) - Regulators won't OK Microsoft's plan to give consumers access to the Internet through unused TV airwaves, but the firm isn't taking no for an answer. The FCC has already nixed a protoype that caused static on existing broadcasts, but Microsoft says it now has a version that works, and a filing today will ask regulators to reconsider the initial ruling.
Painter Elizabeth Murray Dies
New York Times | Aug 13, 2007 8:59 AM CDT
(Newser) - Elizabeth Murray, a painter whose vivid, cartoon-based work was part of a contemporary movement away from minimalism, died yesterday of lung cancer. She was 66. A leading figure in the New York art scene, Murray won a MacArthur genius grant in 1999 and enjoyed a retrospective at MoMA last year.
Taliban Frees 2 South Korean Hostages
Telegraph (UK) | Aug 13, 2007 8:37 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Taliban freed two of the South Korean hostages abducted in Afghanistan today, releasing them to the Red Cross in Ghazni province, the Telegraph reports. A BBC reporter saw the two women, who were reported to be in "fair" health and were released after talks with South Korean negotiators. Two of the 23 prisoners have already been killed.
Chinese Toy Exec Commits Suicide After Recall
Washington Post | Aug 13, 2007 7:59 AM CDT
(Newser) - The head of a Chinese company that made a million of the lead-tainted toys recalled by Mattel last month hanged himself in his warehouse this weekend. Zhang Shuhong's  suicide followed the announcement Thursday that China banned exports from his company because of the defects. Colleagues reported that Zhang had been sold the tainted paint by his...
Top Telecom Exec Takes Over As Qwest CEO
Wall Street Journal | Aug 13, 2007 7:24 AM CDT
(Newser) - A top telecom veteran has been named CEO of struggling Qwest. Edward Mueller, 60-year-old former chief executive of Ameritech and Williams-Sonoma, takes the reins  from Dick Notebaert, who ran the company for five years, the Wall Street Journal   reports. The country's fourth-largest telephone company, Qwest faces increased pressure from...
Bush Loses Brain
Wall Street Journal | Aug 13, 2007 5:11 AM CDT
(Newser) - President Bush's most controversial political strategist, Karl Rove, will leave his White House deputy chief of staff position at the end of the month, the Wall Street Journal reports. "I just think it's time," said Rove, who has worked with Bush since 1993. "As much as I'd like to be here, I've got to do this for the sake of my family."
Fed Weighs Risky Biz of Rate Cut
Wall Street Journal | Aug 13, 2007 4:03 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Federal Reserve is facing a dilemma as it decides whether to ride to the rescue of  the market by slashing interest rates—and risk encouraging further recklessness and triggering an even worse crisis, reports the Wall Street Journal . The issue is what economists call moral hazard: protecting someone too well from consequences can encourage...
African Union Rejects Asian Troops for Darfur
BBC | Aug 13, 2007 3:47 AM CDT
(Newser) - Asian troops promised by the United Nations for a joint peacekeeping force in Darfur won't be needed, the leaders of the African Union said yesterday; African countries  will supply all 26,000 peacekeepers, the BBC reports. But critics doubt that enough trained African soldiers are available for an effective force, and that they will be sufficiently...
GOP YouTube Debate On Again Despite Holdout Mitt
Washington Post | Aug 13, 2007 3:38 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Republican YouTube debate—on hold after candidates witnessed how wacky the format could be in the Democratic debate—is on again, the Washington Post r eports. The lone holdout is Mitt Romney, fresh from his victory in the Iowa straw poll. Romney, ironically, has posted more videos on his YouTube site than any other candidate.
'Spin Doctor' Stewart Wins Watkins Glen
Sporting News | Aug 13, 2007 3:11 AM CDT
(Newser) - Tony Stewart took his third checkered flag of the Nextel Cup season yesterday at Watkins Glen, recovering from an early spinout to finish 2.46 seconds ahead of teammate Denny Hamlin. Stewart, who battled Jeff Gordon for the lead all afternoon, took the top spot on the penultimate lap, when Gordon lost control of his No. 24 Chevy and dropped eight slots.
Chinese Issue Big Brother ID Cards
New York Times | Aug 13, 2007 2:48 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Chinese government is beefing up already stringent surveillance measures, installing 20,000 police security cameras in one city and issuing computer chip identity cards to millions listing work and reproductive history, religion, police records and even landlord phone numbers. The cards will help track citizens for any number of reasons, including...
Millar Blast Leads Birds Past Red Sox
Baltimore Sun | Aug 13, 2007 2:15 AM CDT
(Newser) - Orioles infielder Kevin Millar handed his former squad a crushing loss last night, blasting a three-run homer in the 10th inning that lifted Baltimore over the Red Sox, 6-3. Millar's dinger gave the Birds their first series sweep of Boston in two seasons and dropped the Sox to four games ahead of the Yankees in the AL East.
Rower Launches Solo Pacific Trip
CNN | Aug 13, 2007 2:04 AM CDT
(Newser) - A British woman yesterday launched a historic solo journey across the Pacific rowing a 24-foot-long boat. Roz Savage, 39, has already rowed twice across the Atlantic. She left Crescent City, California, for the first of three legs of the 6,700-mile odyssey to Australia. She plans to keep a blog of her adventures and communicate via satellite phone,...
Eagles' McNabb Will Sit Out Preseason Opener
ESPN | Aug 13, 2007 1:10 AM CDT
(Newser) - Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb will not play in tonight's preseason opener against Baltimore. McNabb, sidelined since tearing a ligament in his right knee last November, has not yet recovered from surgery. A.J. Feeley will start and play the first quarter, Kelly Holcomb the second, and rookie Kevin Kolb the second half, coach Andy Reid said.
GOP Straw Poll Finishes Tommy Thompson
CNN | Aug 13, 2007 12:50 AM CDT
(Newser) - Longshot presidential candidate Tommy Thompson announced yesterday he's dropping out of the race after finishing sixth in Iowa's Republican straw poll. The former Wisconsin governor set a goal for himself of coming in first or second, but he couldn't even beat Libertarian loose cannon Ron Paul. "There's no sense in looking back," he said.
Injury Sidelines Jets' RB Jones
ESPN | Aug 13, 2007 12:24 AM CDT
(Newser) - New York Jets running back Thomas Jones suffered a leg injury during a preseason practice yesterday. Jones, recently nabbed from Chicago to solidify the Jets' backfield, planted his right foot awkwardly during a training routine and fell to the field, where a trainer attended to him. The Jets did not release details of the injury.
Japan Pumps Cash Into Market
Bloomberg | Aug 13, 2007 12:16 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Bank of Japan pumped $5.1 billion into the Japanese financial system today as the  global credit crunch continued to ripple through the Asian markets, Bloomberg reports. Adding to the jitters, Japan's growth is slowing more markedly than economists predicted; the world's second-largest economy expanded by only 0.5% in the last quarter, compared...
Italian Cops Bust Secret Iraqi Arms Deal
Guardian (UK) | Aug 12, 2007 11:51 PM CDT
(Newser) - A secret transaction providing the Iraqi government with over $40 million worth of weapons was uncovered by Italian police investigating local Mafiosi, the Guardian reports. Without the knowledge of American military commanders, the Iraqi interior ministry had ordered 105,000 rifles from arms traffickers, ostensibly to supply police. Italian police...
Djokovic Topples Federer
Gazette (Montreal ) | Aug 12, 2007 11:00 PM CDT
(Newser) - Serbia's Novak Djokovic pulled off an arresting upset of Roger Federer at the inappropriately named Rogers Cup yesterday in Montreal, dashing the Swiss phenom's hope of winning a 50th tournament. The 20-year-old will oust Andy Roddick from the world No. 3 spot after besting Roddick, No. 2 Rafael Nadal, and Federer.
Portuguese Press Turns on Maddy's Parents
Telegraph (UK) | Aug 12, 2007 10:03 PM CDT
(Newser) - The parents of missing Madeleine McCann are at the center of a bitter war with the Portuguese press and the residents of Praia del Luz, the town where their daughter disappeared over 100 days ago. Kate and Gerry McCann, both doctors, have stirred the ire of local reporters by refusing to answer questions about that night.
Rescuers Find More Remains at Bridge Site
USA Today | Aug 12, 2007 9:09 PM CDT
(Newser) - Divers recovered more human remains from the Mississippi River bridge site today after being kept out of the water in a thunderstorm last night, CNN reports. The divers fought dangerous river currents to bring up the remains, which were not identified on the scene. Five people are still missing in the collapse, which has injured 100 and taken 8 lives...
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne