Newser Story Index from September, 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.
IBM Challenges Microsoft Office With Free Software
Wall Street Journal
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Sep 18, 2007 6:47 AM CDT
(Newser) -
IBM is issuing a new challenge to the supremacy of Microsoft's Office software, releasing a suite of free programs, called Symphony, that can perform many of the functions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Microsoft just released Office 7.0, and one analyst speculates many users will switch to Symphony rather than spend the money to upgrade, the Wall...
Asian Markets in Sharp Slide
Bloomberg
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Sep 18, 2007 6:02 AM CDT
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Asian stocks fell yet again today as the subprime mortgage crisis continued to reverberate across global markets. The latest dip came when E*Trade Financial Corp and Bank of America announced the credit crisis was hurting earnings, Bloomberg reports. The biggest fear is that the rising cost of credit will halt consumer spending and trigger a global...
Dole Recalls Lettuce in E. Coli Scare
Associated Press
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Sep 18, 2007 5:36 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Dole recalled bags of salad yesterday after some of the lettuce tested positive for E. coli in Canada. The bags of Hearts Delight salad were sold throughout the US and Canada and had an expiration date of Sept. 19. There have been no reports of illness, and Dole officials said they're working with US and Canadian health agencies to track any potential...
Senator Sues God for Disasters
Fox News
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Sep 18, 2007 5:04 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A Nebraska state senator has filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction against God to "cease certain harmful activities and the making of terroristic threats." God is accused of causing "egregious earthquakes and horrendous hurricanes," among several other horrors. Politician Ernie Chambers says he's simply trying to make a point that...
NBA Reinstates Pugilistic Ref
ESPN
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Sep 18, 2007 4:57 AM CDT
(Newser) -
NBA commissioner David Stern reinstated referee Joey Crawford yesterday, telling ESPN that Crawford now "understands the standards of game management and professionalism the NBA expects." Stern had suspended the veteran official on April 17th after an on-court altercation with Spurs player Tim Duncan. Crawford ejected Duncan from the game,...
NY Times Makes All Online Content Free
Reuters
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Sep 18, 2007 4:10 AM CDT
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The New York Times is ending its two-year experiment with paid online subscriptions and making all of its content free to internet readers, Reuters reports. The move goes into effect tomorrow. Previously, those who wanted to read columnists such as Maureen Dowd and other premium content had to pay $7.95 a month for the TimesSelect service.
Mukasey Faces Senate Hurdle
New York Times
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Sep 18, 2007 4:10 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The confirmation of former federal judge Michael Mukasey as attorney general may not be the slam dunk the White House expects it to be. Senate Democrats have warned that the Judiciary Committee will delay confirmation unless the administration turns over documents the panel is seeking in several investigations, reports the New York Times. Mukasey...
Pats Coach Agrees to Turn Over Videos
Associated Press
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Sep 18, 2007 4:08 AM CDT
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New England head coach Bill Belichick said yesterday that he would "of course" hand over any video recordings or notes pertaining to opposing teams' sideline action. The Patriots and Belichick have been fined for violating the NFL's ban on using cameras on the sidelines, and would face additional penalties if they refused commissioner Roger...
Sarkozy Braces for Union Battle
Times (UK)
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Sep 18, 2007 4:02 AM CDT
(Newser) -
French President Nicolas Sarkozy could face the first major obstacle of his four-month reign this week when he tries to slash the pensions of 500,000 workers who enjoy more generous retirement packages than other civil servants. Polls show Sarkozy's plan is supported by 65% of the public, but striking unions brought down Jacques Chirac's government...
Redskins Upset Eagles, 20-12
Washington Post
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Sep 18, 2007 4:00 AM CDT
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The Washington Redskins held the favored Eagles to field goals to stay undefeated while Philadelphia fans booed their team's inauspicious 0-2 start. The Redskins struggled early but sputtered into gear at the end of the first half to take the lead with a little help from an Eagles time-out, reports the Washington Post.
Apocalypse Not Now: Saving the Earth Demands Positive Vision
New Republic
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Sep 18, 2007 3:48 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Apocalyptic thinking and small solutions aren’t capable of saving the world in the Inconvenient Truth age ; instead, we need optimism and innovation funding, say New Republic writers Ted Nordhaus and Michael Shellenberger. Reducing energy consumption, at the root of global warming, is not realistic, they argue.
Microsoft Ruling in Europe Major Blow to Tech Giants
New York Times
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Sep 18, 2007 3:32 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A European Union appeals court yesterday upheld an anti-trust decision against Microsoft, leaving intact a record $689 million fine and and a challenge to how it does business in Europe, the New York Times reports. The decision has huge repercussions for other tech giants as the European Union seeks to level the playing field.
Happy 25th Anniversary! :-)
International Herald Tribune
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Sep 18, 2007 3:18 AM CDT
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They didn't seem significant at the time, but three keystrokes typed exactly 25 years ago tomorrow marked a groundbreaking change in the way we communicate. The keystrokes— a colon, hyphen and a right parenthesis—formed the first smiley-face emoticon. The were created on a computer bulletin board by artificial intelligence pioneer Professor...
French Minister Backs Off Iran War Threat
New York Times
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Sep 18, 2007 3:18 AM CDT
(Newser) -
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner yesterday backpedaled on comments he'd made threatening war with Iran if it didn't drop development of its nuclear program. "The worst situation would be war, and to avoid the worst, the French position is very clear: negotiate, negotiate, negotiate," he said after criticism from his own government...
Thomas Slams Triple Runs to Hit No. 512
Associated Press
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Sep 18, 2007 3:16 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Toronto's Frank Thomas enjoyed the second triple-home-run game of his career yesterday, tying Ernie Banks and Eddie Matthews for the 18th spot on the all-time list. Two were against wily Boston knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, who also gave up three to Thomas 11 years ago. Thomas now has 40 dingers against Boston, tops among active players.
TV Was Burglary 101 for Robber
Associated Press
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Sep 17, 2007 8:08 PM CDT
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Everything he knew, he learned from TV. That's what a slick burglar told police in Richmond, Ky., when he was finally caught for a string of robberies, the AP reports. News of the man's sentencing and guilty plea last week might make Discovery Channel execs think twice before renewing It Takes a Thief, which reveals tricks of the break-in trade.
Aussie Navy Busted Over Free Boob Jobs
Australia's News Network
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Sep 17, 2007 7:38 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The Royal Australian Navy has footed the bill for $10,000 breast-enhancement surgeries for sailors, says a plastic surgeon who told Australia's News Network that he performed breast enlargements for two such women—although neither had any injury. Officials insist the Navy pays for cosmetic operations only when there are "compelling psychological/psychiatric...
Look Who's Given Up on the White Male
Salon
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Sep 17, 2007 6:38 PM CDT
(Newser) -
One constituency the Democrats have conspicuously not been courting this primary season is the blue-collar white male, and they shouldn't start any time soon, recommends Salon 's Thomas Schaller. Bubba went to the other side in the late '80s and never looked back. The Dems didn't give up easily, but this year's crop of candidates has finally thrown...
Ukraine to Cover Chernobyl in Steel
BBC
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Sep 17, 2007 6:21 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The crumbling concrete that has encased Chernobyl for over 20 years is about to be replaced. In a deal worth $1.4 billion, a French firm will cover the aging nuclear reactor with steel, the BBC reports. Ukraine president Viktor Yushchenko declared today the day "a solution to the problem that has long been called the Chernobyl problem was formally...
iPhone Flies 1st Class to Europe
Guardian (UK)
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Sep 17, 2007 6:07 PM CDT
(Newser) -
European technophiles are about to get their fingers on the iPhone’s touchpad, and thanks to some 11th-hour bargaining, O2, the UK’s largest mobile operator, will have the franchise there. But O2’s deal is “madly money-losing,” a competitor tells the Guardian , because Apple reaps as much as 40% of O2's revenues from...
Israeli Raid on Syria Had Iran in Sights
Newsweek
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Sep 17, 2007 5:50 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Arab governments aren’t talking too loudly about the reported Israeli bombing of Syrian territory two weeks ago. They’re waiting to see what the fallout is, Newsweek notes, for the real intended target—Syrian sponsor Iran. The raid appears to have been a signal that Israel will act against Tehran with or without Western support,...
Americans Hot for Hybrids
Associated Press
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Sep 17, 2007 5:42 PM CDT
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Hybrid sales skyrocketed 49% in the first half of 2007, thanks to boom in the Midwest. Oklahoma’s 143% increase was the most of any state, but every state except Hawaii saw growth, the AP reports, with 215,997 vehicles registered this year, compared to 144,721 over the same period last year.
Americans Neglect to Wash Their Hands
Reuters
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Sep 17, 2007 5:22 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Americans are forgetting to wash their hands. A new study shows that only 77% of people wash their hands after using public restrooms—that's down 6% from two years ago. And notably, 92% of Americans SAY they do. Unsurprisingly, men are the big offenders: their number was 66%. "Very clearly, guys need to step up to the sink," says a...
French Lefty Makes an Unlikely Hawk
CNN
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Sep 17, 2007 4:52 PM CDT
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The founder of Doctors Without Borders might seem a peculiar mouthpiece for the new law-and-order regime of Nicolas Sarkozy, but Bernard Kouchner actually fits right in with France’s more muscular foreign policy tone. The surprise choice for foreign minister, Kouchner is an anomaly, a Socialist who supports the Iraq war, CNN reports in...
Ill. Abortion Clinic Fights to Open
Time
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Sep 17, 2007 4:26 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A federal judge will hear a lawsuit today alleging a Planned Parenthood clinic lost its permit on the eve of its opening due to pressure from anti-abortion groups. Officials in Aurora, Ill., maintain the permit they approved last winter withheld the facility’s true nature, and many in town are steamed, Time reports. The clinic has more than...
Starlets Strut Their Stuff at Emmys
Access Hollywood
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Sep 17, 2007 3:55 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Dresses for last night's Emmy Awards tended toward retro, pastel, and strapless—a smart move in the steamy LA weather. Katherine Heigl, Kate Walsh, and Jennifer Morrison were in the retro crowd, and Heigl also hopped on another of the night's bandwagons: bright red lips. “Red is a really hot color for fall,” her makeup artist told...
Stocks Dive Before Fed Meeting
MarketWatch
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Sep 17, 2007 3:52 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Wall Street bit its collective nails today, with fear mounting that the Fed meeting tomorrow will result in a rate cut of only 25 basis points rather than the 50 traders crave. The Dow fell 39.10 to 13,403.42, the S&P 500 dipped 7.60 to 1,476.65, and underperforming tech hauled the Nasdaq down 20.52 to 2,581.66.
Hillary Unveils Second Shot at Health Reform
Reuters
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Sep 17, 2007 3:34 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Hillary Clinton unveiled her new plan for universal health care today—13 years after her failed first attempt to reform the American system. The proposal requires coverage for all uninsured Americans and offers tax credits for those who can't afford insurance while still keeping private companies in the picture. "These are new times and...
AOL Packs for Move to NY
Washington Post
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Sep 17, 2007 3:11 PM CDT
(Newser) -
AOL headquarters will move from Dulles, Va., to New York, improving access to the ad industry that's crucial to its evolving business strategy. Execs say AOL's 4,000 employees in the DC suburb won't lose their jobs, but locals are worried. "This is a loss and there is no way to sugarcoat it," one business leader told the Washington Post....
Data Thieves Smarten Up, Branch Out
PC World
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Sep 17, 2007 2:41 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Hackers are getting smarter, more international, and increasingly well funded, a new report on Internet security reveals. One scam involves gangs acting as middlemen for other would-be criminals; some rip-off artists use social networking sites to research a mark, then send a personalized email to trick the target into giving up personal data, PC...
Musharraf Will Step Down as Army Chief
Reuters
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Sep 17, 2007 2:13 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Pervez Musharraf will resign as Pakistan's army chief in order to pursue another term as president, a party official said today, likely clearing the way for a power-sharing agreement with exiled former PM Benazir Bhutto. Reuters reports that talks with Bhutto, who returns to Pakistan October 18 to seek power, had largely stalled because of Musharraf's...
Barack's Team Stacked With Bill's People
Chicago Tribune
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Sep 17, 2007 1:39 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Belying the rebel image that his campaign has sculpted out of his relative lack of political experience, the formidable team surrounding Barack Obama is full of Democratic policy veterans. Oddly enough, given the identity of his his main rival, many of them are pulled from the top ranks of the Clinton administration, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Yale Returns Artifacts to Peru
Yale Daily News
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Sep 17, 2007 1:08 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A group of artifacts taken from Machu Picchu almost a century ago for Yale's Peabody Museum will be returned, Yale and the Peruvian government announced on Friday. The collection to be returned consists of 380 museum-quality objects, as well as part of those in the research collection. Yale will grant Peru title on all excavated objects.
GM Talks Resume With Optimism
Wall Street Journal
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Sep 17, 2007 12:42 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Talks between GM and UAW reps resumed late this morning after a 16-hour session that ran to 3am and came close to an agreement on the key issue of shifting heath-care costs to a union-run trust. Both sides confirmed good progress, and employees are on the job today, despite the contract expiration Friday night, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Mom: Kevin Will Walk Again
Buffalo News
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Sep 17, 2007 12:14 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Injured Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett watched the Bills lose to the Steelers yesterday from his hospital bed, and his mom, Patricia Dugas, was by his side, in a red Bills sweatshirt. It was tough, she told the Buffalo News in an emotional interview. But the toughest thing was watching her son, on a TV screen, fail to get up from the field...
After Attack, Iraq Bans US Security Firm
Associated Press
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Sep 17, 2007 11:45 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The Iraqi government has revoked an American security contractor's license to do business in the country and is weighing criminal charges against employees who allegedly opened fire on civilians yesterday, the AP reports. Blackwater USA personnel were escorting a State Department convoy through Baghdad when they opened fire, killing eight civilians...
Chinese McDonald's Aim at KFC
Los Angeles Times
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Sep 17, 2007 11:26 AM CDT
(Newser) -
You can visit Ronald McDonald at 800 restaurants across China, but the Colonel will feed you at a whopping 1,940 KFC locations. So McDonald's is starting the engine on a new campaign to overcome the Chinese cultural bias for poultry over beef: Unable to compete in sheer number of outlets, the company is pioneering drive-throughs.
Mystery of Holocaust Book Unfolds
Associated Press
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Sep 17, 2007 11:04 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Meticulous pen-and-ink representations of the horrors of Dachau, drawn by a Polish Catholic artist who spent most of the war in concentration camps, form the backbone of a unique album that's drawing praise and curiosity from Holocaust scholars. The AP traces the history of the handmade book and the tortured souls who created and preserved it.
Crocker: Speed Up Iraqi Refugee Policy
Washington Post
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Sep 17, 2007 10:41 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Ambassador Ryan Crocker says the US needs to get moving on admitting Iraqi refugees. In a State Department memo titled "Iraqi Refugee Processing: Can We Speed It Up?", Crocker writes that thousands of desperate Iraqis are facing bottlenecks to their resettlement, and that at the present rate it would take two years to admit the 10,000 refugees...
Bush Names Mukasey for AG
New York Times
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Sep 17, 2007 10:24 AM CDT
(Newser) -
President Bush nominated retired federal judge Michael B. Mukasey today as attorney general. Seen as a compromise that would avoid abrasive confirmation struggles but still maintain DoJ’s law-and-order mindset, the choice comes after Democrats vowed to block the more controversial Ted Olson, reports the New York Times .
Arnold to Veto Gay Marriage Bill
San Francisco Chronicle
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Sep 17, 2007 10:10 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Gov. Schwarzenegger is signaling he'll veto California's same-sex marriage bill, arguing the measure violates the "will of the people." Schwarzenegger employed the same logic when he vetoed a similar bill two years ago, but the tides of popular sentiment are changing: the Chronicle reports that gay-marriage opponents outnumber supporters...
Birthday Bashes That Won't Bust Your Wallet
MSNBC
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Sep 17, 2007 10:06 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Six Flags for 50 kids is out of reach for most parents, no matter how appreciative the 1-year-old. MSNBC tells how to give your kid a bash without unending bills: Set a budget and share it with your kid Keep the party small, especially for tots Work with your kid on party ideas
OJ Robbery Caught on Tape
TMZ
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Sep 17, 2007 9:30 AM CDT
(Newser) -
TMZ has obtained a tape apparently documenting OJ Simpson's attempt to rob a sports memorabilia dealer with several gun-toting confederates. in the six-minute recording OJ spews profanity and repeatedly impugns the rights of the owners to sell memorabilia with his autograph. "You think you can steal my s*** and sell it?" a voice like OJ's...
Bank Meltdown Wallops the British Market
Guardian (UK)
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Sep 17, 2007 8:34 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Shares of British mortgage lender Northern Rock crashed again today, causing heavy losses in other banks and deflating the FTSE 100 index by more than 100 points by midday. The bank's stock fell 36%, bringing the loss to 78% of its value in the past year. The spreading malaise is expected to bring an abrupt end to the British housing boom, and could...
49ers Squeak Past Rams, 17-16
Army Times
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Sep 17, 2007 8:07 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The St. Louis Rams could have clinched their first win a number of times yesterday, but their attempts in the fourth quarter fell short and finally fell through, Sportsline reports. Dante Hall dropped a punt return, which led to a 49ers field goal, and Jeff Wilkins' own 56-yard attempt went just 55 yards, letting the Niners hold onto their lead.
Senator's John Is New Tourist Hot Spot
Associated Press
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Sep 17, 2007 7:57 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Be careful about tapping your foot in Minneapolis’ latest tourist destination. Travelers passing through the airport are clamoring to see the bathroom made famous by Sen. Larry Craig’s arrest last month in a sex sting. “We had to stop and check out the bathroom,” said one jet-set wife. In fact, it was her husband's second visit.
Phoenix Nets First WNBA Title
Arizona Republic (Phoenix)
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Sep 17, 2007 7:15 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Champagne was flowing after the Phoenix Mercury defeated the Detroit Shock, 108-92, in the final game of a 5-game championship series last night, reports the Arizona Republic. Cappie Pondexter, the series MVP, had 20 points in the second half, and teammate Penny Taylor led the scoring with 30 points in an offensive showdown.
EU Court Upholds Record Microsoft Fine
Associated Press
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Sep 17, 2007 7:05 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A European Union court today rejected Microsoft's appeal of the $613-million anti-trust fine handed down in 2004--the largest fine ever imposed by EU regulators. Microsoft will also have to share communication code with rivals and start selling copies of Windows without its Media Player program. Microsoft is expected to appeal the decision to...
Out For Patriot Blood, Chargers Come Up Empty
Boston Herald
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Sep 17, 2007 6:52 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The Patriots answered criticism over their illegal cameras with a picture-perfect clobbering of the San Diego Chargers last night. Starting out no-huddle once again, the Pats' offense was electric: Tom Brady completed 25-of-31 for 279 yards, 105 of those from Randy Moss, who caught two of Brady's three touchdown passes.
'Sopranos' Bags Top Emmies
Hollywood Reporter
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Sep 17, 2007 6:47 AM CDT
(Newser) -
"The Sopranos" took top drama honors at the Emmies last night, and won for writing and directing as well, making the HBO series the first drama in 30 years to nail all three for its finale season. Other Emmies were spread among a broad field, with ratings-challenged "30 Rock" winning outstanding comedy series. Executive producer,...
