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.
Oscar Winner Wyman Dead at 93
Los Angeles Times
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Sep 10, 2007 5:39 PM CDT
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Academy Award-winning actress Jane Wyman, who was Ronald Reagan's first wife, died today at her home in Rancho Mirage. She was 93—or, according to some sources, 90. Wyman was named best actress for her portrayal of a deaf-mute rape victim in the 1948 film Johnny Belinda. She was married to Reagan from 1940 to 1948.
Jury Convicts 5 in 'Family' Affair
Chicago Tribune
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Sep 10, 2007 5:20 PM CDT
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Chicago’s top mob boss was one of five men convicted today in a trial federal authorities dubbed “Operation Family Secrets” after one defendant's relatives offered unprecedented cooperation. Testimony from the son and brother of alleged hit man Frank Calabrese was key in convicting him, along with three Outfit cohorts and an ex-cop,...
Thompson Plays Himself as Everyman
Salon
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Sep 10, 2007 4:57 PM CDT
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Since officially entering the presidential race last week, Fred Thompson has pitched Iowans with a stump speech that portrays him as a regular guy who wants to send a message to “those folks in Washington.” Never mind that he’s a rich former senator, lobbyist and actor from McLean, Va., jibes Salon columnist Michael Scherer—people...
After Wild Day, Stocks Stand Still
TheStreet
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Sep 10, 2007 4:35 PM CDT
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Wall Street was volatile today, with the Dow swinging in a 160-point range as investors combed speeches from Federal Reserve members for rate-cut clues. But the index ended up rising only 14.47 points, to 13,127.85, while the S&P and Nasdaq fell 1.85 and 6.59 respectively, indicating overall uncertainty from traders, The Street.com reports.
Olympic Seats Too Small for UK Behinds
Sun (UK)
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Sep 10, 2007 4:25 PM CDT
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Seats at one of London's new Olympic venues are being widened to accommodate spectators' bulky backsides. Stadium designers warned that the 20,000 seats at the Aquatic Centre wouldn't be able to handle expanding British buttocks, so organizers widened the chairs by 4cm (1.5 inches), the Sun reports. The new specs call for seats 50cm (almost 20 inches)...
LA Eyes Ban on New Fast Food Outlets
Los Angeles Times
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Sep 10, 2007 4:13 PM CDT
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There is so much fast food in South Los Angeles, and so much obesity, that city officials are considering banning any new outlets. A two-year moratorium on new fast-food eateries has been proposed for an area where 30% of adults and 29% of kids are obese (compared with just over 20% and 23%, respectively, for the county overall). “To be...
Petraeus Sees Withdrawal to 'Pre-Surge Levels'
Washington Post
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Sep 10, 2007 3:53 PM CDT
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David Petraeus told Congress today that the objectives of the troop surge “are in large measure being met” and said US forces could drop “to pre-surge levels” by mid-July. The top American commander in Iraq said he has recommended that force reductions begin later this month, with redeployments continuing through next year,...
Billionaire Takes Huge Stake in Bear Stearns
Reuters
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Sep 10, 2007 3:30 PM CDT
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Billionaire Joseph C. Lewis has bought enough stock to become the largest single shareholder in embattled investment bank Bear Stearns, Reuters reports. The reclusive British-born currency trader bought up $860.4 million in shares over the last month, nabbing a 7% stake. Putnam Investing, the second largest shareholder, owns a 6% stake.
Bin Laden Will Roll Out 9/11 Vid
Associated Press
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Sep 10, 2007 3:08 PM CDT
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A video of Osama bin Laden presenting the last testament of one of the Sept. 11th hijackers is set to be released tomorrow, the sixth anniversary of the attacks. Al-Sahab, the media production division of al-Qaeda, announced the video today on an Islamist website, the AP reports.
Prisoners Sue Over Religious Book Limits
New York Times
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Sep 10, 2007 2:49 PM CDT
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The removal of hundreds of thousands of religious books from federal prison libraries is drawing fire—not just from inmates, but from chaplains and other religious leaders. In the wake of 9/11, the Bureau of Prisons issued an approved list of religious books for institutions it controls, the Times reports, to eliminate those...
Hunt Oil Signs Kurdish Deal, Slights Baghdad
Wall Street Journal
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Sep 10, 2007 2:20 PM CDT
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Dallas-based Hunt Oil has signed a deal to prospect for oil in in the northern Iraqi region of Kurdistan. Hunt is the latest of several small oil companies bypassing Baghdad to deal directly with regional authorities, underscoring Kurdistan's increasing independence from the Iraqi central government, which has been unable to pass a petroleum...
iPhone Flap Overshadows New iPods
Chicago Tribune
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Sep 10, 2007 1:56 PM CDT
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The iPhone price cut controversy overshadowed the new iPods introduced last week, and the Chicago Tribune 's Eric Benderoff shines some light on the new gadgets. The iPod Touch borrows the iPhone's navigation but has just 16G of memory. For those who need more, there's the 160G iPod Classic, and the revamped Nano has a good look—on its video...
10 Best Places to Pig Out
Discovery News
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Sep 10, 2007 1:26 PM CDT
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Tired of picking at salads and counting out almonds? Fill up your plate with the 10 "best-tasting, most gut-stretching" meals the Discovery Channel could find. Lambert's Cafe, Sikeston, MO Eagle's Deli, Brighton, MA Seiad Valley Cafe, Seiad Valley, CA
Kid Rock, Tommy Lee Tussle
People
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Sep 10, 2007 1:03 PM CDT
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The audience at the MTV Video Movie Awards experienced some unscheduled excitement last night, in the form of a brawl between Kid Rock and Tommy Lee—both rockers who've been wed to Pamela Anderson. The cause of the scuffle was unclear, but witnesses say Kid walked over to Tommy's table and threw a punch.
Brown Leans Right In Major Speech
Times (UK)
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Sep 10, 2007 12:36 PM CDT
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Gordon Brown received a cool reception in his first address as prime minister to Britain's Trade Union Conference, traditionally Labour's largest constituency. After 10 years of tense relations with Tony Blair, the unions had hoped that Brown would offer a more left-wing policy. But Brown insisted that he would oppose their demands for pay rises, the...
Freed Scholar Recounts Iran Prison Ordeal
CNN
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Sep 10, 2007 12:15 PM CDT
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It took a daily routine for Haleh Esfandiari to stay level-headed during her 105-day stint in Iran's notorious Evin prison. The Iranian-American scholar paced her room for 3 to 4 hours a day, read, and wrote a book in her head to ward off depression. She was treated respectfully, but "a prison is a prison," she said upon returning to the...
The Filthy Rich Take Over the Small Screen
Salon
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Sep 10, 2007 11:40 AM CDT
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Sitcoms, once a window into middle-class America, have been invaded by the uberrich. But the bourgeoisie hasn't disappeared from the small screen entirely: They're fighting each other on reality shows for big bucks or their 15 minutes of fame. And, Salon 's Heather Havrilesky notes, it's not a healthy trend.
Solar Plane Beats World Record
BBC
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Sep 10, 2007 11:23 AM CDT
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A lightweight, solar-powered plane has broken the world record for the longest unmanned flight by a whole day. The Zephyr, built by a British security firm, flew for 54 hours during a test flight, beating the US Air Force's record for a similar vehicle by 24 hours. But it's not official: The air sports federation wasn't notified in time.
Tightening Credit Markets Squeeze Banks
Bloomberg
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Sep 10, 2007 10:58 AM CDT
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Almost $140 billion in commercial paper has matured and is up for renewal by next week, and banks need to attract buyers to pay it off. The yield on the short-term loans, which are entangled in the subprime mortgage crisis, is skyrocketing. "This could be a pivotal seven to 10 days,'' one credit strategist tells Bloomberg.
Painkiller Is Denied to Poor
New York Times
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Sep 10, 2007 10:08 AM CDT
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Though morphine is cheap, effective, and widely available, most people sufferering extreme pain don't get it, the New York Times reports. The poorest 80% of the world’s population consumes only 6% of the pain-killer . Why? Because health care workers in poor countries are afraid to prescribe morphine, or not allowed to. "Opiod phobia"...
Midwest Jobs Take a Beating
Wall Street Journal
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Sep 10, 2007 9:35 AM CDT
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Jobs in the Midwest have taken a one-two punch from the national housing slump and the flagging Detroit auto industry, the Wall Street Journal reports. Factories that make the materials used to build new homes in high-flying markets from California to Florida are starting to downsize, following huge layoffs by auto makers. Building material manufacturer...
Iraqis Say Surge Has Failed
BBC
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Sep 10, 2007 9:10 AM CDT
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Seventy percent of Iraqis say that the troop surge has made things worse, and 60% say attacks against US troops are justified, according to a new poll. The mood may be the most negative since the 2003 invasion. "I think that's a damning critique and an indication of the pessimism and the violence on the ground," says one of the pollsters.
UC Berkeley Gets $113M to Corral Profs
Los Angeles Times
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Sep 10, 2007 8:35 AM CDT
(Newser) -
UC Berkeley will announce a $113 million gift today, which the school will use to create 100 new endowed chairs—hopefully slowing the emigration of professors to the juicier paychecks offered by private universities. The gift is unusual in that it will go straight to ordinary activities rather than building a new building or program.
Pope Blasts Wasted Weekends
RTE (Ireland)
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Sep 10, 2007 8:25 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Pope Benedict has urged Catholics to keep Sunday special amid the "mad rush" of the modern world. He encouraged people to set the day aside for reflection on faith and the dangers humans pose to the world, including destruction of "God's creation," an apparent reference to environmental harm.
Dems' Miami Debate Makes Foray Into Spanish
Miami Herald
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Sep 10, 2007 7:51 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Democratic hopefuls took part in a Spanish-language debate in Miami yesterday, having questions translated UN-style from Spanish to English, and answers back again into Spanish. Though he'd agreed to the ground rules, bilingual contender Bill Richardson couldn't resist asking in Spanish if he could continue in Spanish, and Sen. Chris Dodd also...
Israel Delays Prisoner Release
Ynetnews
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Sep 10, 2007 7:37 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Israel is unlikely to release up to 100 prisoners scheduled for release, Yediot Aharonot reports. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are in meetings today in advance of a summit in Washington. Israel normally releases some non-violent prisoners as a goodwill gesture at Ramadan, but officials say the release is tenuous...
Marketer Says He's Nailed a Nasty Habit
Associated Press
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Sep 10, 2007 7:24 AM CDT
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A Dutch marketer says he can cure the pernicious problem of nail biting in under a month with the “preventer,” a tooth guard that’s molded to fit either the upper or lower teeth and makes it impossible to bite. “The impulse disturbance is so frustrated that it is controlled,” the nervous-nibbling naysayer told the AP....
Oops!...She Flubbed It Again
Stuff (NZ)
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Sep 10, 2007 7:13 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Britney Spears' attempt to return to pop at last night's MTV VMAs may have fizzled, drawing boos from critics, bloggers and even fellow performers. Her fractional lip-synching to “Give Me More” left audiences unconvinced, while lethargic dancing and her added weight got bad reviews—except from gossip columnist Perez Hilton, who reveled...
Romo Vaults Cowboys Over Giants
New York Times
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Sep 10, 2007 6:37 AM CDT
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Four touchdowns and 312 yards from Eli Manning wasn't enough for the New York Giants last night, as Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo burned up the field with four TD passes, one TD run, and an average of 23 yards per completion . Terrell Owens kicked into gear in the second half after a quiet start, finishing with two touchdowns.
Bush Zeros In on Next AG
Politico
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Sep 10, 2007 6:21 AM CDT
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President Bush is down to five candidates to replace Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez. Of his current choices, Michael Mukasey, a former chief judge for the US Southern District of New York, has the most bi-partisan appeal, while Ted Olson, winning lawyer in the Supreme Court Bush v. Gore election case, would rankle Democrats.
Sharif Deported as He Lands in Roiling Pakistan
CNN
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Sep 10, 2007 5:34 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Within hours of landing back home in Pakistan late last night, exiled former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was deported to Saudi Arabia, as his supporters clashed with police near the airport and hundreds were arrested. Thousands more had been arrested in advance of his return. Police escorted Sharif onto a commercial jet shortly after he touched...
Petraeus: Give Me Six More Months
New York Times
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Sep 10, 2007 4:36 AM CDT
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The commander of US forces in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, wants to postpone a decision to significantly reduce troop levels there for another six months, reports the New York Times . The general, who is scheduled to begin testimony before Congress today, has told the president he is willing to withdraw one brigade—4,000 soldiers—as early...
'Yuma' Rustles Up Movie Fans
Variety
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Sep 10, 2007 4:35 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The ' "3:10 to Yuma" pulled into the station $14.1 richer at the end of its opening weekend, a typically soft post-Labor Day figure. The Western beat out Rob Zombie’s swiftly declining " Halloween" remake for the top spot. Slower on the draw was "Shoot 'Em Up," which debuted in sixth place, collecting...
52nd Homer for A-Rod as Yanks Sweep Kansas
New York Times
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Sep 10, 2007 4:29 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Alex Rodriguez' two-run homer in the first inning yesterday boosted the Yankees to a 6-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals, and helped Yank ace Chien-Ming Wang collect his 18th win of the season . A-Rod, now with 52 home runs this season and a .583 batting average in the four-game series against the Royals, could well become the American League's...
Brains Hard-Wired to Swing Left or Right
Los Angeles Times
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Sep 10, 2007 3:59 AM CDT
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The brains of conservatives and liberals function in fundamentally different ways—with liberals more capable of accepting ambiguity and conflict, and conservative better able to pursue a single-minded course. That's the conclusion of a new study on the neurobiology of politics, published in the journal Nature Neuroscience .
Cubs Drop Out of First Place
Associated Press
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Sep 10, 2007 3:43 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Freddy Sanchez' second-inning bases-loaded triple yesterday propelled a Pirates victory over the Cubs, 10-5. The loss allowed Milwaukee to take sole possession of first place in a congested, bumbling National League Central that Chicago had led since August 17. Call-up outfielder Nyjer Morgan continued to impress with three RBIs and a circus catch.
Noriega Dodges French Trial in Miami Stir
AFP
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Sep 10, 2007 3:42 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Eleventh-hour appeals of his extradition to France kept former Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega in his Miami prison cell yesterday, his scheduled release date. The dictator was set to face French money-laundering charges, but his lawyers argued that the Geneva Convention prevents his extradition because Paris doesn't recognize his prisoner-of-war...
Nudie Pic Threatens High School Musical
Times (UK)
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Sep 10, 2007 3:29 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Disney’s squeaky-clean billion-dollar High School Musical franchise has been staggered by an amateur nude photo of star Vanessa Hudgens making the rounds on the internet. So far The Mouse is backing Hudgens, but the shot has been ripped by parents. Hudgens is negotiating for the third Musical installment, but some blogs report Disney is now...
Climate Change Can Even Muck Up Deepest Sea Creatures
Independent (UK)
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Sep 10, 2007 3:27 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Scientists have discovered that even the bizarre creatures that live on chemical ooze in the blackest, deepest parts of the ocean aren't safe from environmental disasters. It turns out that larvae of tiny deep-sea shrimp live on microscopic plants that rely on sunlight and filter down from the surface.
Big Ben Sets TD Record in Blowout Opener
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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Sep 10, 2007 3:23 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Quarterback Big Ben Roethlisberger threw a personal record four touchdown passes in the Steelers' 34-7 dominant win in their season opener over the Cleveland Browns last night, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Pittsburgh put on a show for new coach Mike Tomlin, rushing for 206 yards and bagging two interceptions and six sacks.
Craig Moves to Retract Guilty Plea
Associated Press
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Sep 10, 2007 3:17 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Toe-tapping Senator Larry Craig will file a motion today to retract his guilty plea to charges linked to allegedly soliciting sex in a public men's room. Minnesota law allows convicts to recant pleas if they can prove they were not intelligently made, but such strategies rarely succeed. The legal proceedings could delay Craig's scheduled Sept. 30 retirement...
Bears Fumble Away Season Opener to San Diego 14-3
Chicago Tribune
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Sep 10, 2007 3:16 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Despite holding star LaDainian Tomlinson to 25 yards on 17 carries—an embarrassing 1.5 yards per carry—Chicago dropped its season opener in San Diego, 14-3. It was largely the product of an inept and fumble-prone offense. Quarterback and perennial goat Rex Grossman tallied 145 yards, three sacks and an interception.
Federer Four-Peats
Associated Press
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Sep 9, 2007 9:00 PM CDT
(Newser) -
If it's early fall, Roger Federer must be the US Open champion. As steady as a Swiss watch, he racked up his fourth straight crown this afternoon with a 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 thumping of third-seeded Novak Djokovic. The victory, Federer's 12th in a grand slam final, moves him within two of Pete Sampras' career record.
Osama Tape 'Sophomoric' and Bizarre
National Review
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Sep 9, 2007 5:27 PM CDT
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Osama’s latest tape is “a great disappointment,” as sophomoric as it is bizarre, says James Robbins in the National Review . The terrorist’s invitation for Americans to convert to Islam – which would force “warmongering corporations” to spend energy converting people back – is as odd as his critique...
Pats Live Up to Hype vs. Jets
Associated Press
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Sep 9, 2007 5:25 PM CDT
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The Pats showed why Vegas ranks them #1 by stomping the Jets 38-14 today, the AP reports. Randy Moss reclaimed his elite status by hauling in 9 passes for 183 yards, and Tom Brady shone, passing 22-of-28 and firing for 3 touchdowns on 297 yards. But the highlight of the day was Ellis Hobbs racing for a record-breaking 108-yard kickoff return.
High C is a Drink Best Served Bold
New York Times
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Sep 9, 2007 5:00 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Pavarotti’s obits called him “King of the High C’s,” a nickname he earned for hitting a note that many tenors have to fake in falsetto. “It’s the absolute summit of technique,” says a coach. “More than anywhere else in your voice, you have to know what you’re doing.” The alluring note has...
Music Vids Shrink as $$$ Fade
Associated Press
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Sep 9, 2007 4:47 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A music industry headed for financial crash-and-burn has radically downsized its once-extravagant videos, the AP reports. Viewers of today’s MTV Video Awards will see more single-camera videos and quirky YouTube-inspired concepts that save cash—all suited for play on small screens. "A comet hit the earth and the dinosaurs are dying,"...
Falcons In Dog House Sans Vick
Associated Press
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Sep 9, 2007 4:28 PM CDT
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With Vick in the doghouse, the Falcon’s new QB tossed 2 INT's and took 6 sacks in a 24-3 rout to Minnesota. Replacement Joey Harrington went 23-for-32 and notched 199 yards, but both errant throws were returned for TDs, the AP reports. And Warrick Dunn's spikes couldn't tear up the turf like Vick's, as he managed a mere 55 yards.
Israel Cracks Neo-Nazi Gang
Telegraph (UK)
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Sep 9, 2007 4:03 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Israelis are glued to the TV over news that police have busted a Neo-Nazi gang on Israeli soil, the Daily Telegraph reports. The Russian immigrant group allegedly filmed its attacks on gays and observant Jews and have vowed to "kill them all." A policeman said, "It is difficult to believe that Nazi ideology sympathizers can exist in...
Bad News Plagues Bears
Independent (UK)
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Sep 9, 2007 3:09 PM CDT
(Newser) -
It's bad enough when 40% of your habitat will disappear by mid-century, but add trophy hunters taking advantage of a loophole in US law, and it's not a good time to be a polar bear, the Independent on Sunday reports. The bears are not listed as endangered so 950 pelts have been imported from Canada since 1994.
