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.
Civil Rights Icons Return to Little Rock
Associated Press
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Sep 25, 2007 3:49 PM CDT
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The Little Rock Nine returned to Central High today to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the school's integration. Once escorted by soldiers from the 101st Airborne, they arrived by limousine to a school that's now 52% black, the AP reports. "They didn't ask to be a part of history, but they certainly are now," said US Rep. Mike Ross.
Dish Network Parent Buys Slingbox
Associated Press
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Sep 25, 2007 3:45 PM CDT
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EchoStar Communications, owner of the Dish Network, has agreed to acquire the maker of the Slingbox for $380 million. The satellite TV provider should close on the deal to buy Sling Media by year’s end, the AP reports. The Slingbox allows any Internet-connected computer to receive standard TV signals.
Stocks Edge Up in Balancing Act
MarketWatch
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Sep 25, 2007 3:44 PM CDT
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Stocks rose slightly today as retail woes were somewhat offset by August home sales that outperformed expectations, MarketWatch reports. Led by Microsoft, which rode the release of “Halo 3” to a 1.5% jump, the Dow climbed 19.59 to 13,778.65. The S&P dipped 0.52 to 1,517.21, and the Nasdaq closed at 2,683.45, up 15.50.
Google's Street View to Respect Privacy Laws
ComputerWorld
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Sep 25, 2007 3:29 PM CDT
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Google allayed some fears yesterday, announcing that its Street View application, which provides street-level images of certain cities, would respect each country’s privacy laws. “In the U.S., there's a long and noble tradition of 'public spaces,' where people don't have the same expectations of privacy as they do in their homes,”...
DVD Format War Has 18 Months to Go
Reuters
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Sep 25, 2007 3:11 PM CDT
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Blu-ray and HD DVD’s battle to be the lone next-generation DVD format will rage on another 18 months, says a Forrester Research analyst. Consumers, wary of buying another Betamax, are waiting for the dust to settle and prices to fall. Forrester sides with Blu-ray but says the companies backing it must roll out a $250 player by Christmas or risk...
Rudy Less Than Thrilled to Be $9.11 Candidate
Associated Press
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Sep 25, 2007 3:05 PM CDT
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A spokeswoman for presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani is calling an appeal from private fundraisers for $9.11 donations “an unfortunate choice.” During tomorrow’s national house party night, top GOP rainmaker Abraham Sofaer will host an event aiming to net that telltale amount from attendees, the AP reports.
Supreme Court Will Take Up Lethal Injection
Associated Press
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Sep 25, 2007 2:40 PM CDT
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The Supreme Court will take up the constitutionality of lethal injections in what a public defender called one of the most critical death penalty cases “in decades.” The challenge stems from a 2004 suit by two Kentucky inmates on death row who charged that the method constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, the AP reports.
Lebanon MPs Deadlock, But Deal Looms
Reuters
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Sep 25, 2007 2:19 PM CDT
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As expected, the Lebanese parliament deadlocked today as it tried to select a successor to outgoing president Émile Lahoud. But after last week's assassination of an anti-Syrian MP, this week brought promising signs of a compromise between the ruling party and more pro-Syrian opposition groups, including Hezbollah. Another vote is scheduled...
Consumer Confidence Plummets
Reuters
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Sep 25, 2007 1:57 PM CDT
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American consumers might need to be talked off some ledges, judging from consumer confidence numbers out today, which indicate continuing worry over employment and stock market unrest. The crucial figure—99.8, compared to 105.6 in August—is the lowest since 2005, the Conference Board says. Economists had expected it to fall, but only to...
Bush Unloads on Burmese Junta
New York Times
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Sep 25, 2007 1:40 PM CDT
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President Bush told the UN General Assembly today that the US will tighten economic sanctions on Burma and impose a travel ban on its military junta leaders. The US has long maintained an embargo against the country, which is now in its eighth day of anti-junta protests. “The people’s desire to freedom is unmistakable,” Bush said.
US Wrestles With Defining Iraq Deaths
Washington Post
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Sep 25, 2007 1:17 PM CDT
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For military analysts, a shooting victim in Iraq hasn’t necessarily fallen prey to sectarian violence. Instead, teams analyze each killing for signs it was ethnically motivated, compiling statistics the Bush administration has relied on to show progress in Iraq. Victims who were tortured, shot once in the head, or taken to body dumps are included;...
Home Sales Sink to 5-Year Low
Bloomberg
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Sep 25, 2007 12:52 PM CDT
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Sales of previously owned US homes fell 4.3% in August, marking a 5-year low point and continuing the housing swoon growing out of the credit crisis. Although the drop was slightly less than expected, borrowing costs have risen and mortgage qualification has gotten harder, so demand is down and likely to continue falling, Bloomberg reports.
US, EU Will Back Kosovo Secession
New York Times
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Sep 25, 2007 12:42 PM CDT
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The Bush administration and the EU will support an independent Kosovo with or without a UN-backed plan. Serbs and Kosovo Albanians will conduct a last round of negotiations on the breakaway country's status before a Dec. 10 deadline. If that deadline passes, Kosovo will declare independence and the US and EU will immediately recognize it, the Times...
Romney Contest Winner is a Dem in Drag
Slate
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Sep 25, 2007 12:25 PM CDT
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Candidates might want to think twice about wooing netizens by inviting them to make YouTube-style campaign ads and vote on their favorites. When Mitt Romney's people did it, the popular favorite was made by the president of the DLC. Bruce Reed's ad, a cheeky send-up of Mitt's struggle with his son's Democratic leanings, led in online viewings this...
GeoCities' Fate Offers Lesson for Facebook
Wall Street Journal
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Sep 25, 2007 11:56 AM CDT
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As Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg contemplates a big Microsoft deal, the Wall Street Journal ’s Dennis K. Berman has a cautionary tale for him: GeoCities. The web community, once the third-most-visited site on the internet, fell into obscurity after Yahoo's huge buyout stymied its innovation. That’s relevant for Zuckerberg, who has already...
6 Ways to Avoid Yellow Teeth
Newsweek
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Sep 25, 2007 11:31 AM CDT
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Nothing ruins a smile more then a set of filmy yellow teeth. Newsweek says you can keep your set sparkling by avoiding these habits: Constant coffee or tea sipping—stains teeth. Frequent snacking on sweets—increases the decay-causing bacteria in your mouth. Not drinking water after a meal—water washes away bacteria....
Largest US Homebuilder Posts Biggest Losses Ever
Bloomberg
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Sep 25, 2007 10:56 AM CDT
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The atrophied housing market has sent America’s largest homebuilder into even more of tailspin than expected. Lennar announced today it lost $513.9 million last quarter, or $3.25 per share—the worst losses in its 53-year history. Lennar says home discounting and the dismal mortgage situation will force it to cut more jobs to return to profitability,...
24's Sutherland Tagged With DUI
Los Angeles Times
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Sep 25, 2007 10:26 AM CDT
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Kiefer Sutherland might be torturing himself after LA police charged the 24 star with driving under the influence early this morning. The actor was pulled over around 1:30am after making an illegal U-turn, the LA Times reports, and failed field sobriety and Breathalyzer tests.
Don't Cry for Prez Hopeful 'Queen Cristina'
New York Times
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Sep 25, 2007 10:08 AM CDT
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As Hillary Clinton makes a run for the White House, another first lady seeks to take the reins directly from her husband's hands. Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, a senator widely dubbed "Queen Cristina," enjoys a 25-point lead over her closest rival in next month's election. The Kirchners have been crisscrossing the globe to advertise,...
Space Supersizes Salmonella
Associated Press
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Sep 25, 2007 9:43 AM CDT
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Salmonella germs that went into space on a 2006 mission returned three times more deadly, reports the AP. Space travel altered 167 genes in the germ, which is the leading cause of food poisoning, and it killed mice at much higher rates than identical samples left on Earth. The Earth-bound germs killed 60% of mice within 25 days; their space-traveling...
Hillary Threats Killed Negative Story
Politico
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Sep 25, 2007 9:07 AM CDT
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GQ magazine spiked a negative story about White House hopeful Hillary Clinton after her campaign offered editors a stark choice: kill the piece or lose access to Bill Clinton for a cover story. The offending article explored tensions and infighting at the heart of the Clinton campaign. Despite protests from staffers, editor Jim Nelson killed the story,...
Sarkozy Heroics Made-for-TV
Times (UK)
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Sep 25, 2007 8:39 AM CDT
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In the hagiography of Nicolas Sarkozy, no story looms larger than the then-mayor's 1993 negotiation with a psychotic who took children hostage at a daycare center. Now, writes the Times of London, French state television is releasing Human Bomb , a docu-fiction of the 46-hour standoff between Sarkozy and the hostage taker.
Bush Jockeys for Mideast Peace Conference
Reuters
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Sep 25, 2007 8:10 AM CDT
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President Bush yesterday met with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Britain's Mideast envoy Tony Blair to build support for an Israeli-Palestinian peace conference in November, reports Reuters. Bush reiterated his support for a Palestinian state, and Abbas expressed a "sense of hope" concerning possible progress at the planned conference.
Apple Issues Warning on Hacked iPhones
InformationWeek
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Sep 25, 2007 7:28 AM CDT
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IPhones that have been unlocked to work on cellular networks other than AT&T may be damaged "irreparably" by an iPhone software update being released this week, Apple warned yesterday. What's worse, the company says the unlocking also voids the warranty, so users would have to pay for replacements out of pocket. One of the features included...
Halo 3: Believe in Big Sales for Microsoft
Wired
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Sep 25, 2007 7:03 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Wired predicts a surge in sick-days today as gamers who picked up some of the 4 million preordered copies of Halo 3: Believe when it went on sale at midnight skip work after all-night sessions. Crowds at the Manhattan release party—one of 10,000 nationwide—held up traffic for blocks; real versions of the game's virtual vehicles were...
Burma's Monks Defy Crackdown
Associated Press
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Sep 25, 2007 6:30 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Pro-democracy protests in Myanmar continued for an eighth day today, with tens of thousands of Buddhist monks, joined by students, taking to the streets in Yangon in defiance of government orders. The ruling junta threatened Monday night to crack down on the demonstrations, instructing the monks to return to their monasteries, the AP reports.
GM Strike Goes Into Day 2; Talks Continue
Bloomberg
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Sep 25, 2007 6:03 AM CDT
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Bargaining resumed just hours after United Auto Workers walked off the job at GM plants yesterday morning, suggesting that both sides in the stalled negotiations know they can't afford a prolonged work stoppage, Bloomberg reports. GM is losing output of 12,200 cars a day, a figure that will spike as foreign factories stop receiving American-made...
Fukuda Steps In as Japan's PM
BBC
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Sep 25, 2007 5:11 AM CDT
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Lawmaker Yasuo Fukuda, the 71-year-old son of a former Japanese prime minister, has now taken the top job himself after winning a parliamentary election. The new leader of the dominant Liberal Democratic Party bagged 338 votes in the lower house, 100 votes more than the majority he needed, the BBC reports.
Social Security Fund Faces $13.6 Trillion Shortfall
MarketWatch
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Sep 25, 2007 4:27 AM CDT
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Slashing benefits or hiking taxes—or both—is the only way to make the Social Security system solvent, reports a Treasury Department briefing paper. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson warned that faster economic growth alone won't solve the money problems of Social Security, which faces a $13.6 trillion shortfall in the "indefinite...
Yanks Slip in Playoff Chase
New York Times
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Sep 25, 2007 4:26 AM CDT
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The Yankees' remarkable playoff push was temporarily derailed by the Blue Jays, whose September call-up Jesse Litsch threw almost eight frames of one-run ball. The Yankees still need just one win or one Detroit loss in the next six games to secure the wild-card berth, but their hopes of beating Boston for the division lead grew fainter.
Nats Savor Spoiler Role, Mets Fall 13-4
New York Times
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Sep 25, 2007 4:04 AM CDT
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The New York Mets saw another game slip beyond their reach as the Nationals hammered young starter Mike Pelfrey and rocked the bullpen for 13 runs last night. It looked like Washington was the team in the heat of a division race and the Mets the ones long since eliminated, said the New York Times.
Titans March Past Saints 31-14
Associated Press
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Sep 25, 2007 3:59 AM CDT
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The Tennessee Titans capitalized on a shaky performance by New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees to blow by the Saints 31-14 last night. In a rematch of Vince Young and Reggie Bush's meeting at the 2006 Rose Bowl, Young triumphed again, reports the AP. Bush is now 0-2 against Young, and his Saints are 0-3 this season.
NY Targets Facebook Predators
ComputerWorld
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Sep 25, 2007 3:49 AM CDT
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The online social networking site Facebook is becoming a hangout for sexual predators hunting young victims, according to an undercover investigation by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Investigators pretending to be teenagers on Facebook were repeatedly solicited by adult sexual predators, reports Computerworld . But when complaints were filed...
Everett Makes Significant Progress
Houston Chronicle
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Sep 25, 2007 3:48 AM CDT
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Doctors for Buffalo Bills' tight end Kevin Everett said yesterday that he continues to progress, and that they are "optimistic that walking will definitely be a possibility," reports the Houston Chronicle. Everett was able to sit up for more than twice as long as he could last week, and to raise his arm against gravity, another significant...
McCann Prosecutor: No Body, No Case
Times (UK)
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Sep 25, 2007 3:36 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A Portuguese prosecutor has announced that unless the body of Madeleine McCann is found, it would be nearly impossible to convict her parents of her murder. Suspects Kate and Gerry McCann vowed to continue to search for their daughter, who disappeared on vacation from her bedroom while her parents were dining out, and try to clear their names.
Outfielder Tears ACL in Tussle With Manager
ESPN
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Sep 25, 2007 3:26 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Volatile outfielder Milton Bradley provided a second-half spark to surging San Diego but now is out for the season because of a tussle with his manager and a torn ACL. He suffered the injury as manager Bud Black wrestled him to the ground to prevent an altercation with an umpire, reports ESPN. The team claims the umpire directed a series of profanities...
Even Fake Acupuncture Best for Back Pain
Associated Press
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Sep 25, 2007 3:24 AM CDT
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Acupuncture has a far better success rate than other treatments for patients with chronic lower back pain, and fake acupuncture is nearly as effective as the real thing, a new study has found. Normal medical treatment produced significant improvement in 24% of people, while 47% of acupuncture patients felt better, as did 44% of those who got...
Pope's Robe Shredded For Relics
Times (UK)
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Sep 25, 2007 3:24 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A white robe worn by Pope John Paul II has been cut into 100,000 tiny fragments which are being distributed for donations as religious relics to aid prayer and achieve miracles, reports the London Times. The operation is run by the Diocese of Rome and is causing concern in the Vatican, which has sought to discourage the centuries-old practice of...
Prosecutor to Sen. Craig: No Take-Backs
Washington Post
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Sep 24, 2007 7:42 PM CDT
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Sen. Larry Craig's insistence that he "panicked" in admitting to a crime he didn't commit doesn't jibe with the fact that he spoke to a Minnesota prosecutor three times in the six weeks between his arrest and plea, reports the Washington Post . Craig's motion "was sought only as a political reaction," writes the prosecutor in a...
Crime Rises for Second Time in 2 Years
Washington Post
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Sep 24, 2007 7:05 PM CDT
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Violent crimes continued to increase last year, according to FBI statistics released today. Robberies rose by 7.2% and murders by 1.8% from 2005 to 2006. Violent crime climbed overall by 1.9%, exceeding the FBI’s prediction of 1.3%. The increase, the second in two years, marks the first steady rise in violent crime since 1993, the Washington...
Student Charged in Del. State Shooting
News Journal (Del.)
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Sep 24, 2007 6:39 PM CDT
(Newser) -
An 18-year-old Delaware State freshman was charged with attempted murder today in Friday's shooting of two other students. The alleged gunman had been in a fight with one of the victims earlier in the week and sought revenge after an unidentified person spit in his face, the Wilmington News Journal reports, quoting the arrest warrant.
Schools Report Declining Enrollment
Christian Science Monitor
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Sep 24, 2007 6:26 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Student enrollment is down at schools across Arizona, California and Texas—especially at those with high Hispanic populations. Why? Some cite the sudden dearth of construction jobs as the housing boom has petered out. But anecdotal evidence points to immigration crackdowns, and school districts are feeling the effects: Mesa, AZ, for instance,...
10 Hotels With a Wild Streak
MSNBC
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Sep 24, 2007 5:59 PM CDT
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For travelers bored with the conventional comforts of most hotels, MSNBC offers some more creative choices: Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa, Dubai—desert conservation preserve Anatolian Houses, Turkey—five adjoining volcanic caves Baron Island—nature reserve on volcanic island
Bush: Hillary Will Fall to GOP in 2008
Associated Press
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Sep 24, 2007 5:17 PM CDT
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President Bush predicts that Hillary Clinton will beat her Democratic rivals for the nomination but will fall to a Republican in a “tough” general election. Breaking a longstanding promise not to be the “prognosticator in chief,” he says her name and fundraising will hold sway in the primaries, the AP reports, quoting a new...
Real, Fake TV Moguls to Star at Solar Conference
CNET
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Sep 24, 2007 5:11 PM CDT
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The 2007 gathering of the solar industry this week in Long Beach, Calif., will feature plenty of new technology demonstrations, hot VC action, and speeches, CNET reports. Hotly anticipated talks include those by media mogul and environmental activist Ted Turner and actor Larry Hagman, famous for his roles in "I Dream of Jeannie" and "Dallas....
Microsoft May Pump up to $500M Into Facebook
Wall Street Journal
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Sep 24, 2007 5:09 PM CDT
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Facebook is in talks with Microsoft about a $300-500 million investment that could give the software company as much as a 5% ownership stake in the social networking site. The deal could boost Facebook's value over $10 billion, and help Microsoft challenge rival Google for Internet advertising cachet, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Lack of Sleep Doubles Risk of Heart Disease
Reuters
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Sep 24, 2007 4:57 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Getting 7 hours of sleep a night is best, and people who consistently sleep less are risking their lives, a new study says. Researchers followed 10,000 civil servants for 17 years and found that those who reduced their sleep from 7 hours a night to 5 or less doubled their risk of dying from heart disease, Reuters reports.
Revisiting Rudy's Record as Terror-Fighter
Washington Post
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Sep 24, 2007 4:25 PM CDT
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Candidate Giuliani is pitching himself as a terrorist-slayer, but until 9/11 he downplayed threats and offered traditional law enforcement as the solution, the Washington Post reports—an approach he now condemns. In an analysis of the former mayor's track record on terror before the attack s, the Post notes decisions that underplayed the...
Silicon Valley Goes Green
San Francisco Chronicle
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Sep 24, 2007 4:08 PM CDT
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Silicon Valley is becoming a center of green technology research, with more than 100 companies focusing on solar power development, according to a report released today by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. Green research companies are enjoying the favor of venture capitalists, who pumped $1.13 billion into the industry in 2005, with most of it going...
Stocks Down, Led by Financials
Bloomberg
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Sep 24, 2007 3:44 PM CDT
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The stock market took a dip today after an IMF report predicted that credit markets may not “normalize" soon and will slow global economic growth. Financial and energy companies helped pull the Dow down 61.13 points to 13,759.06. Citigroup, Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase all fell, Bloomberg reports; Exxon Mobil, the world's biggest oil...
