Newser Story Index from November, 2008
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.
Medicaid Spends Millions on Drugs FDA Never Approved
Associated Press
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Nov 23, 2008 8:02 PM CST
(Newser) -
Taxpayer dollars still pay for unapproved prescription drugs that have sold for decades and are linked to dozens of deaths, the AP reports. In the past 5 years, at least $200 million has been paid for drugs like cold and pain medications that were never approved by the FDA, yet are covered by Medicaid. The problem dates back to 1962, when a bill...
Art Classes Coming to Gitmo
Miami Herald
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Nov 23, 2008 7:49 PM CST
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Art class at Guantanamo Bay? Yes, it's in the works—along with geology class, Game Boys, access to newspapers, and more movie nights. The prison staff wants to keep prisoners "stimulated," Guantanamo's cultural adviser told the Miami Herald . "Once they are engaged and busy, they leave the guards alone." English...
Trannies Party 'Till Dawn in Mexican Town
Reuters
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Nov 23, 2008 7:06 PM CST
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Indigenous gays and transvestites partied into the wee hours last night in a southern Mexican town, Reuters reports. The annual bash for so-called "muxes" ended today with a parade that crowned a trannie queen and celebrated the harvest, as it has done for decades. But only recently has gay pride inspired them to publicly cross-dress...
In China, These Detectives Aren't for Hire
Los Angeles Times
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Nov 23, 2008 6:28 PM CST
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If you do a bad thing in China, just hope it doesn't go online. The nation's so-called "human flesh engine"—millions of web-surfers who like hunting for facts—have already gotten a Communist Party secretary fired and identified a woman who stomped a cat to death. Despite an army of cybercops and pricey filtering software, the...
Feds, Citigroup Close In on Rescue Deal
New York Times
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Nov 23, 2008 5:54 PM CST
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Citigroup is closer to getting a new round of financial help from the feds, the New York Times reports. Regulators are discussing a plan today for the US to take on losses at the bank if they exceed certain levels. In effect, the plan would create a "bad bank" where Citigroup could rid its balance sheet of billions in toxic assets...
Unhappiest Watch Boob Tube the Most
Washington Post
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Nov 23, 2008 5:34 PM CST
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Unhappy Americans watch more TV, or TV-watching makes Americans unhappier—a new study isn't sure which. But the survey of nearly 40,000 people shows that those who watch 30% more television are less happy than those who pass their time in other ways. Sex, sports, and playing or reading with kids topped the happy list. Still, some TV-watchers...
Jets Punch Hole in Titans' Perfect Season
Associated Press
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Nov 23, 2008 5:09 PM CST
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In NFL action, it was an exciting day for the AFC East’s No. 1 and 2, the New York Jets and the New England Patriots, the AP reports: Brett Favre threw two TDs and the Jets took down the Tennessee Titans 34-13, breaking their 13-game winning streak. The Jets have won five straight for the first time in more than 4 years. The New...
Van Sant Spills About Milk
Los Angeles Times
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Nov 23, 2008 4:58 PM CST
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What do President-elect Barack Obama and a 1970s gay activist have in common? Grassroots backing and a yes-we-can ethos, Rachel Abramowitz writes in the Los Angeles Times. “I know that you cannot live on hope alone, but without it, life is not worth living,” said Harvey Milk, a San Francisco supervisor and gay-rights activist played by...
Kids Attack Redheads on 'Kick a Ginger' Day
Canada.com
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Nov 23, 2008 4:31 PM CST
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Inspired by a Facebook page, kids in Vancouver spent a day kicking and punching redheads for fun, the Vancouver Sun reports. Trouble is, being hit hurts. "I was amazed by the amount of people that kicked me," said 13-year-old Aaron Mishkin, who figures he was assaulted about 80 times. An online group promoting "Kick a Ginger"...
Twilight Draws Box Office Blood
Entertainment Weekly
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Nov 23, 2008 4:04 PM CST
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Twilight sucked the box office dry this weekend by banking nearly $71 million and claiming top spot, Entertainment Weekly reports. That makes it the best-grossing film by a female director and among the top 30 premieres of all time. Filling out the weekend's top five: Quantum of Solace , $27.4 million; Bolt , $27 million; Madagascar: Escape...
Nicollette Rings In Birthday With David Spade Hookup
Us Weekly
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Nov 23, 2008 3:51 PM CST
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Nicollette Sheridan went out to celebrate her birthday with colleagues and ended up smooching in a booth with David Spade, Us reports. Sheridan arrived at a Beverly Hills restaurant Friday with Desperate Housewives co-stars Felicity Huffman, Neal McDonough, and Kyle MacLachlan to celebrate her 45th. Then Spade winked at her from his booth. The...
45 Years Later, JFK Theories Live On
Vanity Fair
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Nov 23, 2008 3:20 PM CST
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In the canon of great conspiracy theories, the JFK assassination remains unquestionably king. The enduring national mystery has given rise to some of the most complicated explanations, and the theory offered by a new book is one of the more pleasingly convoluted, reports Vanity Fair in a look at Legacy of Secrecy: The Long Shadow of the JFK Assassination...
Man's New Best Friend: Rats Ferret Out Land Mines, TB
Boston Globe
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Nov 23, 2008 3:00 PM CST
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Move over, Rover: Man has a new best friend that is helping to combat two scourges plaguing the developing world. Rats, normally reviled as filthy vermin, are sniffing out land mines and detecting tuberculosis bacteria. "Rats are usually considered pests or enemies of humanity,” said one Mozambican handler, but they’re “helping...
Richardson Picked for Commerce
Politico
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Nov 23, 2008 2:20 PM CST
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Bill Richardson's consolation prize will be commerce secretary, Politico reports, after Hillary Clinton nabbed his desired post at State. The addition of the New Mexico governor brings yet another Clinton veteran to Barack Obama's administration. But Richardson's resume is among the strongest in the party, including stints as energy secretary and ambassador...
Detroit Should Look at the History of Steel
New York Times
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Nov 23, 2008 2:09 PM CST
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When the steel industry was floundering, many people thought the worst possible outcome would be to allow the big, old companies to go bankrupt. But it took that failure to pare down the industry to a workable size and inject new life into it, David Streitfeld writes in the New York Times. Could the same be true of the auto industry?
After Disney, Eisner Thrives Online
New York Times
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Nov 23, 2008 1:48 PM CST
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Michael Eisner was once at the top of the heap as CEO of Disney, where he flourished. But after he was squeezed out by what some thought was poor company performance, he got creative in new media—and “I’m much happier now,” he tells the New York Times . And although his income isn’t what it used to be, his audience is...
Sarah Palin, Come Back! SNL Needs You
Gawker
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Nov 23, 2008 1:07 PM CST
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Without Sarah Palin and with a dull Barack Obama impression on its hands, Saturday Night Live is in election withdrawal, Alex Carnevale writes for Gawker. The show’s opening skit about congressional hearings on automaker bailouts was “less than hilarious,” and it “tried to squeeze jokes out of country singer and host Tim McGraw...
Learn to Live With Less
Washington Post
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Nov 23, 2008 12:44 PM CST
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Light wallets may seem particularly woeful around the holidays, when cheer often comes with a retail pricetag. But shopping binges, while they may be satisfying, ultimately just add to overconsumption problems worldwide, Judith Levine writes in the Washington Post . So she and her partner tried something new: They went a year without shopping for...
'Public Sick of Partisanship': Lieberman
Politico
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Nov 23, 2008 12:00 PM CST
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Joe Lieberman told Meet the Press today that he regrets "some things I said in the heat of the campaign that I wish I'd said more clearly," and hopes Barack Obama will put, er, "country first" by leading in a bipartisan fashion. Lieberman said he called Obama during the campaign, but, oddly, never heard back from him,...
Obama Signals From Sidelines
Los Angeles Times
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Nov 23, 2008 11:42 AM CST
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Barack Obama is swiftly filling his Cabinet and outlining the direction of his economic plans, the Los Angeles Times reports, a decisive push unusual for a president-elect. “There's no question that Bush is still president, but people are looking for signs to see what's going to happen going forward,” says an Obama aide of the incoming...
Cruise in an Eye Patch May Prove Hard Sell in Valkyrie
Advertising Age
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Nov 23, 2008 11:14 AM CST
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A fear that audiences won't take to Tom Cruise in an eye-patch has kept Valkyrie , about a failed plot by German officers to assassinate Hitler, in United Artists' vaults. Advertising Age reports that studio execs postponed the film’s release multiple times over worries it wouldn’t stand up in this year’s Oscar competition.
Whole Foods' Labels Tell Half the Story
Chicago Tribune
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Nov 23, 2008 10:45 AM CST
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Eat, drink, and be wary, chocolate lovers: Whole Foods may not be telling you the whole story about its premium chocolate bars, reports the Chicago Tribune. In an investigation into product labels that promised “good manufacturing practices.” the Trib found that the supermarket chain’s chocolate bars contained traces of allergens—the...
Fear Not, Righties: Fairness Doctrine Isn't Coming Back
New Republic
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Nov 23, 2008 10:21 AM CST
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Conservatives are beating their war drums with warnings that the Obama administration will torpedo them by reinstituting the so-called fairness doctrine. If he does—the policy calls for broadcasters to air opposing viewpoints—it could be big trouble for Rush Limbaugh and another denizens of the right-wing talk circuit. But Marin Cogan...
Twilight's Big Bucks Greenlight Sequel
MTV
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Nov 23, 2008 10:00 AM CST
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Even as the cash registers were still clanging on Twilight's monstrous opening weekend, the teen vampire flick's producers confirmed that a sequel is on, says MTV News. New Moon, the second book in Stephanie Meyer's series, is now officially set to be adapted for the big screen. Twilight is on track to hit $60 million this weekend, and looks...
On Movie Set, Jolie Filmed Naked With Married Pitt
Us Weekly
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Nov 23, 2008 9:06 AM CST
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Angelie Jolie so aggressively flirted with married co-star Brad Pitt that she climbed into bed with him naked for a scene in Mr and Mrs Smith , Us reports. "In a main love scene, Brad and Angelina would both wear flesh-colored underwear," said a source on the 2004 set "But in the end, she shunned the suit and climbed in bed...
Islamic Militants Vow to Take on Tanker Pirates
CNN
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Nov 23, 2008 8:38 AM CST
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Islamic militants have vowed to liberate a Saudi oil tanker seized a week ago by pirates off the Somali coast, reports CNN. Five armored vehicles arrived in the nearby Somali town of Harardhere filled with al-Shebab fighters, who told residents they would battle the pirates because the tanker, carrying $100 million in crude oil, is owned by a Muslim...
Ark. Man Sues Mickey D's Over Wife's Nudie Pix
New York Daily News
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Nov 23, 2008 8:03 AM CST
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An Arkansas man has sued McDonald's because nude photos of his wife on a cell phone he lost in one of the restaurants ended up on the Internet. When the man called the outlet, employees promised to keep the phone safe until he could collect it, reports the New York Daily News . He and his wife are suing for $3 million for suffering, embarrassment,...
Pakistanis Fear US May Be Out to Carve Up Nation
New York Times
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Nov 23, 2008 7:35 AM CST
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Pakistanis are fearful that the US is part of an India-Afghanistan plot to carve up the nation, writes Jane Perlez in the New York Times . Those worries have been fueled by a theoretical map drawn by US neoconservatives featuring a shrunken Pakistan and larger neighbors. “One of the biggest fears is the collaboration between India and Afghanistan...
Even Santa's Getting the Old Heave-Ho-Ho-Ho
New York Post
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Nov 23, 2008 7:00 AM CST
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St. Nick is already doing some serious belt-tightening in New York City as cash-strapped stores and malls head into the not-so-jolly season, thanks to the economy. Far fewer jobs and slashed pay rates are leaving wanna-be Santas with little clause to celebrate.
We Need New Leadership, Now
New York Times
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Nov 23, 2008 6:32 AM CST
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Washington is carrying out “business as usual in the most unusual economic moment of our lifetimes,” writes Thomas Friedman in the New York Times . It’s time for our leaders to wake up to the enormity of the financial crisis, the real "weapon of mass destruction," a problem that only serious capital and confidence...
Viagra May Give Athletes an Advantage
New York Times
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Nov 23, 2008 5:58 AM CST
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Researchers are investigating whether Viagra provides athletes with an unfair advantage at high altitudes, the New York Times reports. By dilating blood vessels, Viagra may increase an individual's oxygen-carrying capacity. The test subjects in the Marywood University study are lacrosse players, who laugh off classmates' teasing that comes...
Fangs for the Memories: Best Bloodsucker Stars
Entertainment Weekly
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Nov 23, 2008 5:25 AM CST
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As Twilight fans storm the box office, Entertainment Weekly offers up its picks of a dozen of the best toothsome vampires: David ( The Lost Boys, 1987): Before he drew blood as Jack Bauer, Kiefer Sutherland drank blood with the two Coreys. Santanico Pandemonium ( From Dusk Till Dawn , 1996 ): Salma Hayek...
SAG to Hold Strike Vote as Talks Collapse
Variety
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Nov 23, 2008 5:01 AM CST
(Newser) -
The Screen Actors Guild will seek a strike authorization vote from members following a breakdown in two days of contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, reports Variety. If approved, the SAG action would be the second major Hollywood strike of the year, following a writers strike that paralyzed the...
Summers Gets Key Financial Post
Wall Street Journal
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Nov 22, 2008 10:52 PM CST
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He didn't get the Treasury position, but Larry Summers will still play a major role in guiding Barack Obama's economic policy. Obama has picked the former Treasury chief to lead the National Economic Council, a post that will make him the president's closest fiscal adviser, the Wall Street Journal reports. The president-elect plans to unveil his...
Penn St. Heads to Rose Bowl; Paterno Not Retiring
Associated Press
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Nov 22, 2008 10:23 PM CST
(AP) -
After securing a trip to the Rose Bowl with a decisive 49-18 win today over No. 17 Michigan State, Penn State coach Joe Paterno gave his fans another reason to smile. "I'm planning on coming back, yeah," said the 81-year-old Paterno. "I never planned otherwise." Rumors had swirled for weeks as to whether today's game might be JoePa's...
Spacewalk Wraps Up, but Urine Gizmo Breaks Down
Associated Press
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Nov 22, 2008 8:25 PM CST
(AP) -
Spacewalking astronauts completed almost all of the greasy repairs on a gummed-up joint at the International Space Station today, leaving a few chores behind for a final walk on Monday. As spacewalk No. 3 was getting under way 225 miles up, a new recycling system for converting urine into drinking water broke down again. It was the third day in a row...
Gals Need Great Coming-of-Age Flick, Too
Jezebel
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Nov 22, 2008 7:58 PM CST
(Newser) -
Women have no equivalent to Stand By Me to help them relive their lost tweener years, Hortense writes on Jezebel. The blogger admits to "a jealousy that creeps in whenever I watch Stand By Me . The relationships shared between the boys seem so real, so true.” The next-best thing for women, Now and Then , "is a sweet little...
Fatwa Bans Yoga for Muslims in Malaysia
BBC
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Nov 22, 2008 7:15 PM CST
(Newser) -
Islamic authorities in Malaysia issued a fatwa today against Muslims practicing yoga, BBC reports. The chair of Malaysia's National Fatwa Council said Hindu elements are essential to yoga and could destroy a Muslim's faith. "We are of the view that yoga combines physical exercise, religious elements, chanting and worshipping for the purpose of...
UK May Nix 'Happy Hour' to Curb Drink Deaths
Telegraph (UK)
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Nov 22, 2008 6:55 PM CST
(Newser) -
Britain may make "happy hour" specials illegal and force companies to put cigarette-style health warnings on booze bottles, the Telegraph reports. With alcohol taking more lives and costing the nation up to $37 billion a year in health bills, the government is also planning a public awareness campaign. Officials will decide on the happy...
Ledger's Ex Says Grief Like 'Moving River'
Newsweek
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Nov 22, 2008 6:24 PM CST
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Michelle Williams, who stars in a new film about the loss of a best friend, says time hasn’t made mourning ex-boyfriend Heath Ledger any easier. “I’m at heart an optimistic person, but in some ways it just gets worse," the Dawson’s Creek alum says through tears. "It's just that the more time that passes, the...
John, You Are Forgiven—and You Could Sing
Reuters
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Nov 22, 2008 5:53 PM CST
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The Vatican forgave John Lennon today for saying the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, Reuters reports. Calling the 1966 remark "a boast,” the Vatican's newspaper said it was made "by a young working-class Englishman faced with unexpected success." The paper also praised the Beatles' music, saying "the songs...
US Child Gets Prosthetic Iris
Cincinnati Enquirer
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Nov 22, 2008 5:22 PM CST
(Newser) -
Surgeons in Cincinnati implanted a prosthetic iris this week in the eye of a 7-year-old boy, the first US child to get one. “It’s just like Mom’s,” said Nathaniel Brantley as he looked in a mirror. “Just like it’s supposed to be.” Born without irises, Nathaniel suffered a rare condition that prevented his pupils...
Gibbs Will Meet the Press
Washington Times
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Nov 22, 2008 4:56 PM CST
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Barack Obama today named Robert Gibbs as White House press secretary, the Washington Times reports. Gibbs, 37, worked for 2 years as an Obama spokesman on the campaign trail and was widely expected to take the job. Well-liked by reporters, Gibbs flared up at times on the campaign and is trying to control his temper under pressure, the New York Times...
Panda Bites Student Who Tries to Cuddle
BBC
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Nov 22, 2008 4:22 PM CST
(Newser) -
A student who tried to hug a panda in China yesterday got some tough love instead, BBC reports. Officials say the man, 20, climbed into the pen of Yang Yang at the Qixing Park zoo to cuddle. But the frightened bear bit him on the arms and legs. "Yang Yang was so cute," the student said later. He underwent surgery and is expected to recover...
Barker Blames Pilots, Tires for Plane Crash
People
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Nov 22, 2008 3:55 PM CST
(Newser) -
Former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker filed suit yesterday against companies linked to a plane crash he survived in September, People reports. The complaint, filed with the mother of a bodyguard who died in the crash, blames poor equipment and says "the pilots were either poorly trained and/or failed to follow their training.”
Rich Nations Snap Up Third World Farmland
Guardian (UK)
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Nov 22, 2008 3:24 PM CST
(Newser) -
Rich nations are buying up farmland in developing countries and drawing the ire of some critics, the Guardian reports. One UN official said the purchases, designed as a hedge against food shortages, could put poor nations at risk of starving to feed the wealthy. In "this scramble for soil I don't see any place for the small farmers," said...
Frazzled Investors Turn to Psychics for Help
New York Times
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Nov 22, 2008 2:51 PM CST
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Maybe they failed to predict today's economy, but psychics are certainly profiting from it, the New York Times reports. Frustrated with traditional financial advice, many investors are booking appointments with soothsayers, who say their business is on the upswing. “Your mortgage agents, your realtors, your bankers, you can’t go to these...
Colbert's Christmas Parody Tacky But Fun
Washington Post
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Nov 22, 2008 2:22 PM CST
(Newser) -
Stephen Colbert fans will find much to love in his parody of old-time Christmas specials, though critics carp that the gags are too long and chuckles too few. “Colbert is delightful,” writes Alessandra Stanley of the New York Times , but “the show is too long and more than a little strained, much like the holiday specials it mocks.”...
As Kids' Allergies Soar, So Do Sales of EpiPens
MSNBC
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Nov 22, 2008 1:55 PM CST
(Newser) -
Foods once thought of as wholesome—eggs, milk, wheat, peanut butter—now threaten the lives of some 3 million children with food allergies every year, MSNBC reports. As a result, US sales of EpiPens and their accessories are skyrocketing. These single-use shots of epinephrine can be self-administered and stop severe allergic reactions in...
Jimmy Connors Arrested at Arena
Associated Press
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Nov 22, 2008 1:24 PM CST
(AP) -
Tennis great Jimmy Connors got himself into a little scrape with the law last night. Details are sketchy, but police arrested the eight-time Grand Slam champ after some kind of confrontation outside the arena of his beloved UC Santa Barbara basketball team. Cops says Connors, 56, refused to leave the area when ordered to do so at the start of the team's...
