Newser Story Index from December, 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.
World's Oddest New Year Rituals
Travel Leisure
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Dec 29, 2008 1:50 AM CST
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While much of the world indulges in the traditional New Year's Eve fare of glittery balls and fireworks, other countries have more unusual ways of shepherding in the next year, reports Travel and Leisure . For example: Spain: Gobbling a grape for each clock stroke is considered a fruity down payment on a month of good luck in the New...
Rap's Roots Found in, Uh, Scotland?
Telegraph (UK)
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Dec 28, 2008 8:02 PM CST
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While most don't associate rap with a bunch of white guys in skirts, a University of New Mexico professor traces the music’s roots back to the barrooms of medieval Scotland, the London Telegraph reports. “The Scots have a lengthy tradition of flyting—intense verbal jousting, often laced with vulgarity, that is similar to the dozens...
Tables Turn: Madoff Gets Ripped Off
New York Post
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Dec 28, 2008 7:19 PM CST
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In a bit of poetic justice, a thief stole an expensive statue from the Palm Beach estate of Bernard Madoff last week, the New York Post reports. Burglars took a $10,000 copper statue depicting two lifeguards from the fraudster accused of losing $50 billion of investors’ money in a giant Ponzi scheme. The Post also notes Madoff's Montauk Point...
As Presidential 'Bubble' Closes, Obama Pokes Back
Politico
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Dec 28, 2008 6:29 PM CST
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There's a growing gaggle of press and Secret Service standing between Barack Obama and the outside world—not to mention the corner hotdog stand—and the president-elect is showing signs that the presidential "bubble" is wearing on him, Politico reports. Obama ditched the pool of reporters assigned to follow him on Friday, taking...
Detroit Ends Season Winless
Associated Press
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Dec 28, 2008 6:00 PM CST
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The Detroit Lions today achieved the perfect record that last season eluded the New England Patriots—only perfectly losing at 0-16, reports the AP. In other NFL games: The Minnesota Vikings secured their place in the playoffs as a walk-off field goal from Ryan Longwell put them 20-19 over the Giants. A year after finishing 1-15,...
A Tipple a Day Keeps Dementia at Bay: Study
Telegraph (UK)
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Dec 28, 2008 5:25 PM CST
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A little wine with dinner can make women smarter and even help them stave off dementia, the Daily Telegraph reports. Scottish scientists served up vino for thousands of subjects aged 70 to 84, and found women who drank up to a glass a day performed better on mental tests. Men fared about the same. The study concluded that a daily drink can delay...
Marley Fetches Weekend Win
Variety
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Dec 28, 2008 4:40 PM CST
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After breaking the box office record for best Christmas Day opener, Marley & Me stayed top dog with $51.7 million this weekend, Variety reports. Brad Pitt vehicle The Curious Case of Benjamin Button finished behind ex-wife Jennifer Aniston’s puppy flick, but still earned a surprising $39 million. Bedtime Stories was a close third...
Castro Calls for More Work, Less Welfare
Reuters
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Dec 28, 2008 4:30 PM CST
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Saying Cuba’s finances “don’t square up,” President Raul Castro called for belt-tightening measures in the wake of three hurricanes and a global recession that have hobbled the communist nation. The state plans to dole out fewer worker subsidies, halve the number of overseas trips, and halt costly programs that reward workers...
Madoff May Plead Insanity
New York Daily News
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Dec 28, 2008 3:56 PM CST
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You'd have to be a little bit crazy to cook up a $50 billion Ponzi scheme, but Bernard Madoff’s lawyers are exploring taking things a bit further with an insanity defense. “They may even say he has a multiple personality disorder,” a source tells the New York Daily News . Madoff is reportedly taking anti-anxiety meds and barely speaks....
No Revival in Sight for Battered Broadway
Los Angeles Times
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Dec 28, 2008 3:29 PM CST
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The economic crisis has produced plenty of drama, but it means a bust for Broadway, the Los Angeles Times reports. Investors are jittery about backing just about anything, theaters are cutting costs, and some shows are shutting down early or canceling their openings. "What we had was a small musical with no boffo star names associated with it,"...
Hardest-Working Film Actors
Forbes
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Dec 28, 2008 3:01 PM CST
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Who's the hardest-working actor in show biz? Many would lay claim to the title, but Forbes actually tallied which troupers took on the most meaty roles in big-budget films over the past 3 years: Morgan Freeman: Hollywood's top worker, he's played in nine films since 2005, including The Bucket List , Evan Almighty , Batman, ...
Gaza Strikes Push Clinton, Obama to Mend Fences
Times (UK)
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Dec 28, 2008 2:29 PM CST
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Hillary Clinton criticized Barack Obama’s world affairs know-how in the primaries, but now the two are poised to join forces on their first foreign policy test, Tony Allen-Mills writes in the Times of London. Israel’s air offensive in Gaza undid months of negotiations to kick-start a peace process, forcing Obama to start from square one—and...
Hollywood, Lay Off the 'Burbs
Wall Street Journal
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Dec 28, 2008 2:00 PM CST
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Revolutionary Road , starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, “is the latest entry in a long stream of art that portrays the American suburbs as the physical correlative to spiritual and mental death,” Lee Siegel writes in the Washington Post . Everyone from Allen Ginsberg to Sylvia Plath has given the ‘burbs a bad rap, painting...
For Fido, Fetch Can Be Fatal
Times (UK)
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Dec 28, 2008 1:39 PM CST
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Chasing sticks leads to as many doggy injuries as running around on roads, a leading British vet tells the Times of London. With their pointy ends, erratic trajectories, and tendency to break apart, nature's fetch toys can cause all sorts of canine injuries, from stab wounds to paralysis to slow deaths from infected splinters.
Gazans Choked in Israeli Noose
Guardian (UK)
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Dec 28, 2008 1:17 PM CST
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If the latest Israeli attacks against Gaza prove anything, it’s that the Israeli occupation isn’t over, Peter Beaumont writes in the Guardian . “To be in Gaza is to be trapped. Without future or hope, limited to a few square miles,” the columnist says. “Its borders, land and sea, are defined largely by Israel.”
Navy, Greenies Settle Sonar Dispute
Los Angeles Times
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Dec 28, 2008 12:54 PM CST
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The Navy and environmental groups both declared victory today after the two sides settled a lawsuit over sonar and its effect on whales and other marine mammals, the Los Angeles Times reports. The settlement, reached Friday, calls for Navy ships to avoid sensitive areas and reduce or halt sonar when marine mammals are nearby.
Thanks for the Memories, Bob, 'Cuz 2008 TV Stunk
Salon
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Dec 28, 2008 12:32 PM CST
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Today's golden age of TV lost a little shine this year, Heather Havrilesky writes on Salon. Twelve quick months gobbled up all of the momentum and promise from years past, leaving “a haze of crappy, unoriginal new programming, lackluster sophomore shows, flaccid sitcoms and pointless cable comedies.” Old standbys like Heroes and Weeds...
Drug Arrest Knocks Crown Off Beauty Queen
New York Daily News
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Dec 28, 2008 12:00 PM CST
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A Mexican beauty pageant winner lost her title yesterday after being arrested with a top drug trafficker, the New York Daily News reports. Authorities said Miss Sinaloa, Laura Zúñiga Huizar, was collared along with leaders of the Juarez drug cartel, an arsenal of weapons, and $55,000 in cash. Authorities are seeking to probe more links...
Israel Bombs Gaza Supply Tunnels
BBC
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Dec 28, 2008 11:40 AM CST
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As Gaza air strikes raged on for a second day, Israel said it bombed more than 40 Palestinian supply tunnels used to transport weapons, BBC reports. Palestine said one tunnel intended to carry fuel from Egypt to Gaza had been destroyed. Fleeing the southern strip into Egypt, hundreds of Palestinians were forced back by Egyptian security forces who...
Axelrod to Warren Haters: Get Over It
Politico
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Dec 28, 2008 11:20 AM CST
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To those who object to Rick Warren delivering the invocation at Barack Obama's inauguration, chief adviser David Axelrod has a message: chill out. On today's Meet the Press , he heralded the choice as political bridge-building: A conservative pastor praying for a progressive president "is a healthy thing and a good thing for our country," he...
US Schools Need Finance 101
New York Times
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Dec 28, 2008 10:55 AM CST
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There are complex reasons behind the financial crisis, but one is key: When it comes to money, we’re idiots, Peter Applebome writes in the New York Times . “Insofar as there is a lesson in history,” says an analyst, “it’s that human beings are not very good with large sums of money, anything over $136.” How to solve...
'Terrified' Tom Cruise Reports Death Threats
Daily Mail (UK)
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Dec 28, 2008 10:31 AM CST
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Tom Cruise has notified the FBI of death threats he’s received from anti-Scientology groups, the Daily Mail reports. The Valkyrie star, 46, has increased security for his family and now lives separately from wife Katie Holmes, 30, and 2-year-old daughter Suri—who all travel in bomb-proof vehicles. Cruise has also spent $7 million building...
Obama, Please Impose a Gas Tax: Friedman
New York Times
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Dec 28, 2008 10:07 AM CST
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It may be hard to sell, but a gas tax would be a “win, win, win, win” move—for the environment, the economy, the war on terror, and America’s standing in the world, Thomas Friedman writes in the New York Times . Barack Obama still has the popularity to impose such a tax—and offset it by lowering payroll taxes—but...
Publisher Cancels 'Fake' Holocaust Memoir
Publishers Weekly
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Dec 28, 2008 9:41 AM CST
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A publisher has canceled a Holocaust memoir attacked by experts as a fake, reports Publishers Weekly . Angel at the Fence , which was promoted by Oprah Winfrey, purported to tell the story of Holocaust survivor Henry Rosenblat, who claimed he was saved by food tossed over a concentration camp fence by a young girl who later became his wife. Historians...
Flight 93 Families Want 'Sacred Ground' Seized
Washington Post
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Dec 28, 2008 9:15 AM CST
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Families seeking a permanent memorial for Flight 93 victims are asking President Bush to seize the land where the hijacked plane went down on Sept. 11, the Washington Post reports. An advocacy group initially tried to buy the land, but ran into conflict with the owner. "What was left was our loved ones; it's a cemetery for us," said...
Benjamin Button Writer Sues Over Madoff Losses
New York Post
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Dec 28, 2008 8:53 AM CST
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The screenwriter who penned The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is suing his investment manager for losing his life savings in the Bernard Madoff fiasco, reports the New York Post . "I'm the biggest sucker that ever walked the face of the earth," said Eric Roth, 65, who also wrote the screenplay for Forrest Gump, among other popular...
Are Video Games Art?
London Review of Books
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Dec 28, 2008 8:14 AM CST
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Video games are going gangbusters financially, but they're still generally relegated to "lowbrow" entertainment by the culturati. Some critics, however, are finally giving video games their due and deeming them art. "The best games are already beautiful, and I can see no reason why the look of video games won’t match or surpass...
Children Killed in Afghan Suicide Bombing
CNN
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Dec 28, 2008 7:43 AM CST
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Five young children and three other people were killed early today when a suicide bomber attacked a voter registration site in southeastern Afghanistan, reports CNN. Some 15 of the 50 people wounded were children walking to school when the bomber's car exploded. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.
Rather's Suit Likely to Embarrass Bush
Guardian (UK)
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Dec 28, 2008 7:15 AM CST
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Regardless of the outcome of former anchor Dan Rather's lawsuit against CBS for his firing over a George Bush National Guard story, one man is not going to be pleased: the president. The case is bound to revisit embarrassing charges that Bush received favorable treatment and dodged requirements serving in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam...
From Now 'Til New Year's: Baby-Making on the Rise
McClatchy Newspapers
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Dec 28, 2008 6:42 AM CST
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The gifts have been opened, but a special package may be arriving 9 months from now. The days between Christmas and the start of the New Year see more sex than usual, reports McClatchy Newspapers , which cite Trojan condom's pre-New Year's sales as proof. The hanky panky results in a September peak in US births, according to the University of...
Afghan Dogfighting Resurges
New York Times
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Dec 28, 2008 6:06 AM CST
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Dogfighting in Afghanistan is experiencing a major resurgence since the fall of the Taliban, with weekly fights in many communities and purses as high as $50,000, reports the New York Times. The Taliban banned the practice as un-Islamic, but the fights are now as popular as ever. Twice weekly matches in the capital of Kabul draw thousands of spectators,...
Gimmicky Green Authors Wouldn't Impress Thoreau
Mother Jones
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Dec 28, 2008 5:34 AM CST
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Modern-day Henry David Thoreaus don't need to move to the woods for life to land a book deal. The push for green living has given us, unfortunately, no small number of gimmicky books on the subject, laments Michael Agger in Mother Jones . Temporarily living without plastic, eating only locally grown foods, and eshewing shopping are just a few of the...
New Strikes Push Gaza Toll to 275
CNN
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Dec 28, 2008 4:51 AM CST
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A new wave of Israeli missile strikes on the Gaza Strip today has hiked the death toll from the latest Israeli offensive against Hamas militants to 275, with closer to 800 wounded, reports CNN. UN Security Council members expressed "serious concern" and called for "an immediate halt to all violence" in an emergency declaration released...
Israeli Assault Could Last Weeks; 230 Dead
Jerusalem Post (Israel)
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Dec 27, 2008 11:23 PM CST
(Newser) -
Israel's bombardment of Hamas posts in the Gaza Strip is the start of a military operation likely to last several weeks, the Jerusalem Post reports. The assault—one of the deadliest in the 60-year conflict—has killed 230 Palestinians, including at least three senior Hamas officers, notes Haaretz . Hamas vowed revenge, calling for a new...
Best Political Scoops of '08
Politico
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Dec 27, 2008 9:19 PM CST
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Traditional media outlets and on-the-spot amateurs alike captured the year's biggest US political moments. Here is Politico's look at some of the biggest scoops: Palin meets Couric: Interviewed by Katie Couric on CBS, Sarah Palin fumbled with softball questions such as which publications she reads. Democrats and Tina Fey pounced. Edwards...
Ferocity of Israeli Attacks Surprises West
Washington Post
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Dec 27, 2008 7:12 PM CST
(Newser) -
It's no surprise that Israel has struck back at Hamas, but the intensity of the attacks "appeared to stun Western governments and analysts," writes Michael Abramowitz of the Washington Post . Barack Obama's camp has remained largely mum so far on the air assaults that have killed more than 200, but it will likely come under pressure to rein...
US Phrases That Annoy Brits
Telegraph (UK)
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Dec 27, 2008 6:50 PM CST
(Newser) -
Toby Harnden must live among Yanks in his job as a correspondent for the UK's Telegraph , and sometimes American phrases drive him nuts. Here are his worst offenders: Happy holidays (just say Christmas, please) Have a nice day (make it stop) You're welcome (this one's just "Pavlovian" to him)
'Rated R' May Be Coming to a Website Near You
Telegraph (UK)
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Dec 27, 2008 6:09 PM CST
(Newser) -
Calling the Internet a “quite dangerous place,” Britain’s culture secretary says he’ll work with the Obama administration on establishing international guidelines to protect children. One idea under consideration: giving websites film-style ratings, the Telegraph reports. “There is definitely a case for clearer standards...
Caroline: My Celebrity Will Work for NY
New York Times
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Dec 27, 2008 5:40 PM CST
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Caroline Kennedy continued her media blitz today, asserting in a sit-down interview with the New York Times that she is the best candidate for the Senate and that she could use her celebrity to draw attention to state issues. She remained vague, however, on many specifics, including her personal finances. When asked to describe the moment she decided...
Obama Gets Knocked for Bad Science
Independent (UK)
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Dec 27, 2008 5:14 PM CST
(Newser) -
He’s about to lead the free world, but Barack Obama’s a little fuzzy on science, says a group that put the president-elect—along with John McCain, Tom Cruise, Oprah, and many others—on its celebrity list of shame. Obama’s offense? Suggesting that rising autism rates could be connected to vaccines despite a lack of evidence.
Imagine That: Lennon's Back in TV Ad
Telegraph (UK)
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Dec 27, 2008 4:46 PM CST
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John Lennon is starring in a new television commercial for charity 28 years after his death, the Telegraph reports. Thanks to digital technology, the Beatles legend's voice can be heard urging Americans to purchase low-cost computers for the world’s poorest children in the ad for One Laptop per Child. "You change the world," he says....
RNC Chief 'Appalled' by Rival's Use of 'Magic Negro'
Politico
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Dec 27, 2008 3:58 PM CST
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The Republican National Committee’s chairman has scolded a potential successor for distributing a song entitled “Barack the Magic Negro,” Politico reports. “I am shocked and appalled that anyone would think this is appropriate," said Mike Duncan, who is vying for re-election to his post. He is in a tight race with Chip...
Struggling Ohio Gets in Line for Federal Help
Washington Post
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Dec 27, 2008 3:45 PM CST
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Ted Strickland recently put in a call to Rahm Emanuel, Barack Obama’s incoming chief of staff. “Rahm, it’s Ted,” the Ohio governor said. “You’ve never failed me, and I need $5 billion.” Such is the desperation in Ohio, one of many states seeking money from Obama’s proposed stimulus, the Washington Post...
Help Wanted: Must Make Coffee, Change World
New York Times
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Dec 27, 2008 3:25 PM CST
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Coffee is pretty serious stuff in Portland, Oregon, but a relatively new shop on the block is taking the preparation of caffeinated beverages to a rarified extreme, the New York Times reports. The Ladybug Organic Coffee Company requires applicants for barista positions to fill out a five-page application, complete with 10 essay questions such as...
Goldman Loses Top Spot in M&A Rankings
Wall Street Journal
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Dec 27, 2008 3:05 PM CST
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Ascendant JP Morgan Chase has knocked Goldman Sachs out of first place in the race for mergers and acquisitions, the Wall Street Journal reports. Dealogic, a merger data provider, says Goldman advised some 295 deals totaling $755.6 billion last year, as compared to JP Morgan’s 350 deals for $818.2 billion. A huge lender, JP Morgan can trump...
Shield Guns Down The Wire
Guardian (UK)
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Dec 27, 2008 2:47 PM CST
(Newser) -
When it comes to gritty portrayals of life on the unforgiving streets of an American city, no show is better than The Wire —except The Shield , Chris Petit declares in the Guardian . The crime dramas, with their shaky lens style and foul-mouth approach, shuck romance and expose the oft-forgotten American underclass. The Wire “was Dickens," Petit...
Yes, the Lions Will Lose Again Tomorrow
Detroit Free Press
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Dec 27, 2008 2:31 PM CST
(Newser) -
Will the Detroit Lions become the first team in history to go 0-16 on Sunday? Probably, Michael Rosenberg writes in the Detroit Free Press . The Lions are already 0 for their last 17 in Wisconsin, dating back to 1991, the year before Brett Favre joined Green Bay. Which means the hapless, winless 2008 Lions “ought to be choosing the menu for...
Try Plastic-Free Living —for a Week
Chicago Tribune
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Dec 27, 2008 2:02 PM CST
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Plastic is getting bad press lately, so one writer decided to try living plastic-free: Could her family of four go an entire week without the synthetic stuff? Short answer: No, Trine Tsouderos writes in the Chicago Tribune . The paper diapers leaked, and finding food not packaged in plastic was a constant challenge. A greenie blogger warned her against...
Winehouse On Again With Jailed Hubby
Daily Mirror (UK)
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Dec 27, 2008 1:37 PM CST
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Amy Winehouse is giving jailed husband Blake Fielder-Civil another chance, the Daily Mirror reports. His revelations about their relationship and drug use upset Winehouse last month, but she called him in his jail cell on Christmas to reconcile. “She says the best Christmas present will be to have her man home for good," an insider...
5 Men Who Fueled Madoff's Ponzi Scheme
Wall Street Journal
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Dec 27, 2008 1:14 PM CST
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Government investigators are turning their eye to the middlemen who led clients into Bernard Madoff's long-running Ponzi scheme. The Wall Street Journal profiles five of them: Robert Jaffe: A dashing Florida philanthropist, he funneled tony clients to ex-boss Madoff. Jaffe says he is a "victim of these tragic events." Stanley...
