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.
Led Zeppelin Set to Press 'Play'
BBC
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Sep 12, 2007 4:11 PM CDT
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The surviving members of Led Zeppelin will reunite in November for a concert to honor late Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun, who signed the group in 1968. The three band members haven't played together since 1988, although rumors of reconciliation have been swirling for several years, and a greatest-hits album is also set for release in November.
Tangerine Peel May Help Fight Cancer
Reuters
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Sep 12, 2007 3:54 PM CDT
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UK researchers may have found a natural way to combat certain cancers. In tests, a chemical compound in tangerine peel attacked and destroyed cancer cells. The findings could lead to treatments for cancers of the breast, lung, prostate, and ovaries, Reuters says. “It is very exciting to find a compound in food that can target cancers specifically,”...
Supply Worries Send Oil Near $80 a Barrel
Bloomberg
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Sep 12, 2007 3:38 PM CDT
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Crude oil hit nearly $80 a barrel today—its highest price ever—thanks to dwindling supply. US inventories fell by 7M barrels last week, much more than the 2.7M analysts predicted. OPEC announced a production increase of only 500K barrels, which Bloomberg reports will not meet seasonal demand increases. Storms in the Gulf of Mexico also...
Mugabe Critic Quits Over Sex Scandal
Los Angeles Times
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Sep 12, 2007 3:18 PM CDT
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An archbishop and prominent critic of Robert Mugabe's regime has resigned his Catholic Church leadership position after being accused of having an affair with a married woman. Pius Ncube remains a bishop, and his supporters say they see the authoritarian Zimbabwean regime behind the scandal, which Ncube calls "a state-driven, vicious attack,"...
Starbucks Iced by Anti-Chain Measure
San Francisco Chronicle
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Sep 12, 2007 2:57 PM CDT
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San Francisco deployed new anti-chain-store regulations to block Starbucks from opening its 81st outlet in city yesterday. Acting on an appeal by local merchants, supervisors found that the planning commission hadn't followed guidelines, voted in last fall, that make it tougher for chain stores to expand in the city, the Chronicle reports.
Yahoo Joins Forces With UK Social-Networker Bebo
Wall Street Journal
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Sep 12, 2007 2:38 PM CDT
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Internet giant Yahoo and networking site Bebo will collaborate on advertising in the UK and Ireland, the Wall Street Journal reports. Bebo—launched in 2005— hasn't taken off in the US, but it's the top social-networking website in Britain. Yahoo will sell the bulk of Bebo's banner and video ads, which analysts say will boost Yahoo's advertising...
Twin Tropical Depressions Form
Miami Herald
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Sep 12, 2007 2:09 PM CDT
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Twin tropical depressions sprouted today in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic, the Miami Herald reports, and both could become tropical storms by day’s end. Forecasters expect the Gulf system to spiral toward Texas and Louisiana, bringing 10 to 15 inches of rain to the already soggy states. But officials are more concerned about the Atlantic...
'Extinction Crisis' Threatens 40% of Species
Guardian (UK)
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Sep 12, 2007 1:46 PM CDT
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More than 16,000 species are in serious danger of extinction, including one in four mammals and one in three amphibians being monitored by a global conservation group. With 40% of 40,000 surveyed species facing the highest levels of threat, “We’re at code red,” a top conservationist says of the World Conservation Union's annual list,...
Foot and Mouth Disease Reappears in Britain
Reuters
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Sep 12, 2007 1:08 PM CDT
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A new case of foot and mouth disease has struck a cattle farm in England—a day after the EU had decided to lift its ban on British beef. The EU will keep the ban for now, Reuters reports, and the British government has sprung into action—quarantining the area, killing affected cattle, and banning movement of livestock throughout the UK.
No Signals Mean Fossett Likely Dead: Experts
Telegraph (UK)
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Sep 12, 2007 12:35 PM CDT
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As the search for Steve Fossett entered its 10th day, experts told the Telegraph the millionaire adventurer’s chances of survival were slim. Fossett hasn’t been seen or heard from since he left a Nevada airstrip Sept. 3, and authorities haven’t received signals from his plane or watch. Searchers would be “lucky to find him...
Toymakers Play Games With Regulations
Slate
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Sep 12, 2007 12:01 PM CDT
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The toy industry’s new safety-testing push may succeed in rebuilding trust, but it’s likely to leave dangerous ways unchecked—and the big guys know it, argues Slate’s E. Marla Felcher. The current scandals are matters of enforcement, not of the regulations themselves, but the new call for third-party testing looks, superficially,...
Demand for Mortgages Rises as Rates Fall
Reuters
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Sep 12, 2007 11:23 AM CDT
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Applications for home loans increased for the second week in a row as interest rates on both fixed and adjustable-rate mortgages fell, according to a survey by the Mortgage Banker's Association. Indices tracking applications for both purchases and refinancing showed a 5.5% increase over last week and a 12.5% jump from year-ago level, Reuters reports.
Kanye Prevails in Battle of the Hip-Hop Stars
Los Angeles Times
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Sep 12, 2007 10:52 AM CDT
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In the much-hyped battled between two music titans, early sales indicate hip-hop fans are going West. Kanye West’s latest album, Graduation, has been outselling rival 50 Cent’s Curtis —by 2 to 1 at one Hollywood store, the LA Times reports — since the two went on sale yesterday. Fitty, 32, famously threatened to retire...
You Have to Walk Before You Can Run
CNN
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Sep 12, 2007 10:27 AM CDT
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Babies don't come with manuals, so it's hard to get everything right. CNN asked pediatricians to spill: What are the most common mistakes new parents make? Their responses: Letting your newborn sleep through the night.
Call on Pats: Caught Stealing
ESPN
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Sep 12, 2007 9:48 AM CDT
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Confiscated video evidence has confirmed suspicions that the Patriots taped the Jets' defense during Sunday's 38-14 win, ESPN reports. Roger Goodell has reviewed the footage taken from the Pats' sideline and determined that the team violated league rules by recording signals. The commissioner is considering sanctions, which could be as severe as stripping...
Russia Tests ‘Father of All Bombs’
Reuters
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Sep 12, 2007 9:45 AM CDT
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Russia has tested a vacuum bomb as powerful as a nuclear weapon, christening it after an American nuke while insisting it's “not unleashing a new arms race.” Trumpeting the “father of all bombs” in a report on State TV, an army higher-up said that, unlike a nuclear device, this weapon “does not contaminate the environment."
US Forces Talking With Sadr's Army
Los Angeles Times
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Sep 12, 2007 9:14 AM CDT
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US officials are holding their noses and negotiating with the Mahdi Army, the Shiite militia loyal to Moqtada al-Sadr, the LA Times reports. The US has held a hard line against the radical cleric, but analysts say that the military has grudgingly accepted that the Mahdi Army is currently holding most of the cards in Baghdad's power struggle.
Tsunami Warning as Quake Rocks Indonesia
Associated Press
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Sep 12, 2007 7:55 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Indonesia has been hit by a magnitude 7.9 earthquake—triggering widespread tsunami warnings. Buildings swayed in Jakarta, and an official warning has been issued for much of the region surrounding the Indian ocean.
Putin Dissolves Russian Government
BBC
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Sep 12, 2007 7:39 AM CDT
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Russian president Vladimir Putin today accepted the resignation of his prime minister, Mikhail Fradkov, and the whole cabinet. The shakeup gives Putin a chance to name a new PM and position a successor to himself as president. The new PM is likely to be current first deputy PM Sergei Ivanov, who is seen as being groomed by Putin to be the next...
Nikkei Falls After Abe Steps Down
Bloomberg
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Sep 12, 2007 7:21 AM CDT
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A jump in the price of copper boosted mining and energy stocks in Asia, but Japan's Nikkei index fell nonetheless after news hit of PM Shinzo Abe's resignation. Some investors say the change will be good for Japanese markets in the longer term, however. "Abe was an ineffective prime minister who didn't do anything of value for investors,"...
Petraeus on Iraq: No Exit
McClatchy Newspapers
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Sep 12, 2007 7:05 AM CDT
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When David Petraeus led the 101st Airborne into Iraq in 2003, he made a rhetorical request: "Tell me how this ends." That question hung in the air during 2 days of testimony before Congress. McClatchy's Newspapers' Warren Strobel summarizes press sentiment when he concludes that the general failed to answer it.
Browns Ditch Frye, Quinn Now No. 2
Associated Press
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Sep 12, 2007 6:48 AM CDT
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The Cleveland Browns simplified the question of which of their three quarterbacks to start—by trading starter Charlie Frye to Seattle. Frye, who won out over backup QB Derek Anderson during the preseason, threw for 34 yards with one interception and five sacks last weekend against Pittsburgh. Cleveland parted with Frye for a sixth-round draft...
Banks Pouring Money Into Russian Loans
Bloomberg
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Sep 12, 2007 6:37 AM CDT
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Banks around the world are clamoring to loan money to Russia, just nine years after the country paralyzed the economic world by defaulting on $40 billion in debt. These days, Russia looks like a haven from the US mortgage meltdown. Russian corporations borrowed $29 billion over the last three months, Bloomberg reports, up 40% from last year.
Sox Slugfest Surmounts Sorry Start
Boston Globe
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Sep 12, 2007 6:20 AM CDT
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The Red Sox trailed 8-1 last night after Tim Wakefield and his immediate relief were pounded by the Devil Rays, but Boston's bats kicked into gear to score four runs in the fourth, three in the fifth, and six in the sixth, and finally a season high of 16 to Tampa Bay's 10, the Globe reports.
Diana Ross Wins Supreme Honor
Washington Post
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Sep 12, 2007 6:15 AM CDT
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There'll be good vibrations at the Kennedy Center: the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson and Motown legend Diana Ross have been chosen as this year's honorees. Comic actor and writer Steve Martin, film director Martin Scorsese and pianist Leon Fleisher will also be honored, reports the Washington Post .
White Sox Extend a Hand to Guillen
Associated Press
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Sep 12, 2007 6:06 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The Chicago White Sox have extended Ozzie Guillen's contract through the 2012 season, despite a layer of controversy surrounding the skipper. The man who led the White Sox to a World Series victory in 2005 has seen his team fall to the bottom of the MLB barrel this season, but Chicago GM Kevin Williams remains steadfastly supportive of his manager.
'Wardrobe Malfunction' Busts Into Court
Reuters
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Sep 12, 2007 6:06 AM CDT
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Almost 4 years after Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" during the Super Bowl halftime show, a federal appeals court is being asked to decide whether the incident was indecent or a fluke. The FCC fined CBS $550,000; the network argues the penalty is out of line. It's also having a "deeply censorious effect" on American broadcasting,...
Couric in Iraq: Lousy Ratings, Good Journalism
Associated Press
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Sep 12, 2007 6:04 AM CDT
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Katie Couric's trip to Iraq and Syria was a failure as a ratings gimmick but pretty good journalism, say critics. The "CBS Evening News" tied a record low of 5.5 million viewers last week, which the network blames on US Open coverage. And Harvard journalism prof Marvin Kalb says the broadcasts were well-done and informative, the AP reports.
The Pill Reduces Cancer Risk
Times (UK)
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Sep 12, 2007 5:57 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The pill has a possible new side effect: preventing cancer. Women who took oral contraceptives for less than eight years have up to a 12% lower risk of developing the disease, according to a new British study, one of the largest ever conducted. The risk of developing bowel and rectal, uterine and ovarian cancers was most reduced.
Philippine Ex-President Gets Life
Reuters
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Sep 12, 2007 5:51 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Disgraced Philippine ex-president and former movie star Joseph Estrada was sentenced to life in prison today for plundering $85 million from the nation's treasury. Estrada, 70— still popular despite his 2001 ouster amid corruption charges—returned under house arrest to his villa near Manila until his appeals are heard.
New Shanghai Art Fair Wows Critics, Dealers
Telegraph (UK)
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Sep 12, 2007 5:45 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Western art dealers are jittery about the coming month's fairs in London and Paris, but at Shanghai's first international contemporary art fair the mood was buy, buy, buy. The Telegraph traveled to ShContemporary, a fair that assembled galleries from Asia, Europe and the US. Censorship might reign in the People's Republic, but inside the fair the...
Testosterone in Womb Linked to Autistic Traits
BBC
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Sep 12, 2007 3:18 AM CDT
(Newser) -
An eight-year study has found a link between high levels of fetal testosterone and autistic traits in children, reports the BBC. Scientists don't know whether the testosterone causes the autistic tendencies or if the hormone is a by-product of autism, but the findings appear to support the head researcher's theory that autism is essentially "extreme...
Stewart Gets 2nd Shot at Oscars
New York Times
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Sep 12, 2007 3:09 AM CDT
(Newser) -
"Daily Show" star Jon Stewart is expected to be announced today as the host of Hollywood's next Oscar awards ceremony, his second time at the famous podium, reports the New York Times . Stewart hosted in 2006, swapping political satire for movie parodies, but didn't draw as many viewers as Ellen DeGeneres or Chris Rock did in recent years.
Educated People Less Likely to Die of Cancer
Reuters
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Sep 12, 2007 2:49 AM CDT
(Newser) -
People who attend college have a better chance of surviving cancer, according to a new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute . Mortality rates—especially for lung, colorectal, breast and prostate cancer—were markedly lower among people with more than 12 years of education.
Thompson Closing in on Giuliani
CNN
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Sep 12, 2007 2:47 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Just five days into his official run for the presidency, former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson has moved within a percentage point of former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani in a CNN popularity poll. Thompson won the support of 27% of registered Republicans, while Giuliani garnered 28%. With a 5-point margin of error factored in, neither candidate...
Here's to You, Mrs. Robinson, 40 Years Later
San Francisco Chronicle
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Sep 12, 2007 2:46 AM CDT
(Newser) -
It seemed destined to be an art house anachronism. The director was inexperienced, the lead actor unknown and apparently miscast, the score cobbled together. The result, however, was one of the seminal works in the history of American cinema, "The Graduate. " As the 40th anniverary DVD is released, the San Francisco Chronicle looks back...
Top Rookie in Record $31M Deal
San Jose Mercury News
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Sep 12, 2007 2:41 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The NFL's top draft choice, quarterback JaMarcus Russell, has agreed to a $31 million, 6-year deal with the Oakland Raiders. Russell is set to practice with the team this week for the first time in three months, ending the season's longest holdout. It is the richest rookie contract in league history, eclipsing Detroit's $26.5 million deal with fellow...
Injured Bills Player May Walk Again: Doc
ESPN
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Sep 12, 2007 2:29 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Severely injured Buffalo Bills player Kevin Everett can now move all his limbs, giving hope to his relieved surgeon that he may walk again. The good news comes a day after his doctor said he would likely remain paralyzed and could even lose his life in the wake of a "catastrophic" spinal injury Everett suffered during a tackle.
Braves' Loss Marks End of an Era
ESPN
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Sep 12, 2007 2:06 AM CDT
(Newser) -
After a 14-year reign at the top of the National League East, the Atlanta Braves have all but ceded the division to the Mets for the second straight season. ESPN cites poor performances from the back end of the rotation, but even stalwart No. 2 pitcher Tim Hudson was out-dueled by New York's Oliver Perez Monday in the 3-2 loss.
Japanese Prime Minister Resigns
Associated Press
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Sep 12, 2007 1:48 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has announced he'll resign today in the wake of several cabinet-level scandals and the suicide of a top official that has destroyed public confidence in his administration. After taking power just last year, Abe's nationalist Liberal Democratic Party lost the upper house of parliament to the opposition party...
Olson May Be Top Dog on AG Roster
Reuters
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Sep 12, 2007 1:40 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Conservative stalwart Theodore Olson is the likely top choice to replace Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Reuters reports. The former solicitor general may have a partisan reputation among Democrats—he represented President Bush in the Florida election battle and was accused of trying to dig up anti-Clinton scandals in the 1990s—but sources...
Printer Company Develops Drug-Injection Patch
San Francisco Chronicle
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Sep 12, 2007 1:30 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Printer manufacturer Hewlett-Packard is teaming up with an Irish company to develop a skin patch that delivers precisely controlled amounts of drugs with tiny needles. The drug delivery system uses some of the same technology as ink printers, and could inject different drugs at different times. "Squirting ink and squirting drugs— it's not...
Health Insurance Premiums Soar
Bloomberg
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Sep 12, 2007 1:19 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Health insurance premiums zoomed 6.1% this year, far outrunning inflation and worker earnings, a new study has found. Since 2001, premiums for family coverage have risen 78% percent, while wages have increased by only 19% and inflation by 17%, a Kaiser Family Foundation survey shows. Still, this year's hike is the smallest in eight years.
Silicon Valley Cars Get Their Own Condos
San Jose Mercury News
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Sep 12, 2007 12:52 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Silicon Valley millionaires (and billionaires) are gearing up for the latest status symbol in Status Symbol Land—condominiums devoted to storing luxury cars. Condos will start at $250,000, and the sites will also offer "club rooms" where guys can talk about cars. "There are more collectors here than anywhere because of money and...
OPEC Surprises Market With Boost in Oil
Bloomberg
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Sep 11, 2007 8:36 PM CDT
(Newser) -
OPEC surprised traders today by boosting oil production for the first time in a year, Bloomberg reports. Concerns over the U.S. market crisis dragging down the world economy inspired the spike of 500,000 barrels a day. The US reportedly prodded Saudi Arabia to overcome the opposition of other OPEC members and lead them to set a new target of 27.2 million...
Abuse Exposed at Guantanamo
Associated Press
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Sep 11, 2007 8:30 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Newly obtained reports of hostility and friction at Guantanamo Bay have been released today by the AP. These transcripts of hearings, held last year, tell of interrogators denying detainees medicine and angry inmates tossing feces at guards. One Yemeni prisoner warned that more captives would commit suicide if guards didn’t stop interrupting...
Europe Ends 40-Year Fight Against Pints, Miles
Times (UK)
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Sep 11, 2007 8:08 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Europe unlocked horns with the UK today, abandoning its fight to ban Brits who still sell by the pound, the Times reports. Calling the campaign a “pointless battle,” an EU official conceded that British use of imperial measurements did not interfere with trade; in fact old-fashioned inches and pounds may help ease business with the US.
Jazz Giant Zawinul Dead at 75
Associated Press
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Sep 11, 2007 7:28 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Joe Zawinul, the keyboardist who plugged America into "Electric Jazz" in the 1970s, has died at age 75. Best known for playing jazz-rock fusion with Miles Davis and starting up Weather Report with Wayne Shorter, Zawinul defended his electric sound against jazz purists. "There is no difference between a Stradivarius or a beautiful synthesizer...
A Buck on Lobbying Rakes in $28
BusinessWeek
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Sep 11, 2007 6:55 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Mystery solved: companies rake in about $28 for every dollar spent lobbying Capitol Hill, BusinessWeek reports. According to the numbers, it's military contractors that get the most spending "earmarks" slipped into bills by lawmakers. But recent scandals over the system have prompted Bush and Pelosi to call for cuts in the Hill’s...
One Man’s Garbage Is Another's Thanksgiving
Los Angeles Times
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Sep 11, 2007 6:11 PM CDT
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Folks looking for food in a back alley these days might be “Freegans” - that’s “free” plus “vegan” - who are “opting out of capitalism in any way that we can,” one says. Their New York trash tours have already trained 14,000 people, all trying to dig out the routine waste of cast-off food. “We’re...
