Newser Story Index from February, 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.
Bulls Win Shootout With Nuggets
Associated Press
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Feb 23, 2008 12:04 AM CST
(Newser) -
The Chicago Bulls got 37 points from Ben Gordon, scored at least 30 points in each quarter, and still had to hold on for a 135-121 win over the Denver Nuggets tonight, reports the Associated Press. Chicago led by 23 midway into the third quarter, but Denver went on a run and cut the lead to 108-102 four minutes into the fourth quarter.
McGrady, Yao Help Rockets Squash Hornets
Associated Press
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Feb 22, 2008 11:45 PM CST
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Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming put on a show tonight in leading the Houston Rockets to their 11th straight win with a 100-80 whipping of the New Orleans Hornets, reports the Associated Press. McGrady had 34 points, while Yao had 28 points and 14 rebounds in an easy win over the Hornets, who had won five in a row.
Bobcats Lose Game, Leading Scorer Wallace
Associated Press
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Feb 22, 2008 11:37 PM CST
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Brad Miller's late turnover nearly made his Sacramento teammates forget about his solid 22-point, 14-rebound outing. But they did, thanks to a missed Charlotte jumper at the buzzer, which handed the Kings a 116-115 overtime victory, reports the AP. The game was delayed after Bobcats leading scorer Gerald Wallace was knocked unconscious after being...
Howard, Magic's Defense Slam Door on Sixers
Orlando Sentinel
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Feb 22, 2008 10:33 PM CST
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Dwight Howard had 24 points, 18 rebounds and three blocks tonight, but it was the Orlando Magic defense that was really super in a 115-99 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, reports the Orlando Sentinel . Orlando held Philly to 38 percent shooting and only 66 points heading into the fourth period. Orlando is 24-4 when holding teams to less than 100 points.
Crawford Drills Raptors for 43 in Knicks Win
Associated Press
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Feb 22, 2008 10:30 PM CST
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Jamal Crawford wouldn't let the New York Knicks drop out of sight again tonight. Crawford scored a career-high 43 points, including 21 in the second period, and the Knicks held off the Toronto Raptors 103-99, reports the Associated Press. New York lost by 40 points in Philadelphia Wednesday and fell behind by 14 early tonight before Crawford took over.
Huizenga Sells 50% of Dolphins
Miami Herald
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Feb 22, 2008 10:28 PM CST
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Wayne Huizenga found a nice way to transition into his golden years, announcing he sold a 50% stake in the Miami Dolphins, their stadium, and surrounding land for $550 million. Buyer Stephen Ross, a billionaire real estate developer and South Florida native, will eventually assume majority ownership, reports the Miami Herald . He called it "a...
Dunleavy, Pacers Knock Off New Jersey
Associated Press
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Feb 22, 2008 10:25 PM CST
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In a battle of shorthanded teams, Indiana used a 12-1 third-quarter run to pull away from the Jason Kidd-less Nets in a 113-103 win. Mike Dunleavy led the Pacers, who were missing starters Jermaine O'Neal and Jamaal Tinsley, with 34 points, while Jeff Foster was a force inside with 10 points and 14 rebounds. Indy broke a three-game losing streak.
Hollywood Shouldn't Fear the Internet
Economist
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Feb 22, 2008 9:42 PM CST
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Hollywood is ignoring the public's desire to download films at its own peril, the Economist reports. It's no surprise that studios are sticking to their business model, especially with huge DVD profits, but the industry could reap fine earnings from downloads. Meanwhile, pirate sites like the surprisingly spiffy ZML.com are reaping the benefits.
Sampson Takes $750,000 to Leave Indiana
Indianapolis Star
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Feb 22, 2008 9:24 PM CST
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The Indiana Hoosiers will continue their run to the Big Ten and NCAA titles without their coach. Kelvin Sampson, who has been under fire since Feb. 13 when the NCAA said Indiana was facing major recruiting violations, took a $750,000 buyout and resigned as coach today, reports the Indianapolis Star . Dan Dakich was named interim coach starting with...
Woods Survives 20-Hole Battle with Baddeley
Associated Press
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Feb 22, 2008 8:49 PM CST
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Aaron Baddeley made Tiger Woods beat him, and as usual the world's No. 1 player was up to the challenge. Woods had 12 birdies on 20 holes as he outlasted Baddeley today to reach the quarterfinals of the World Golf Championship's Match Play Championship, reports the Associated Press. "It was quality shot after quality shot," Woods said. "Matches...
Siemens Brings Trams to America
Der Spiegel
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Feb 22, 2008 8:34 PM CST
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Siemens is importing eco-friendly trams and light-rail transport to gas-guzzling America, Der Spiegel reports. The conglomerate has been making them in Sacramento for 2 years, and is seeing a brisk increase in demand from the almost 30 tram-loving US cities. The California plant has 200 orders already and expects more when another 50 US cities finish...
DOJ Probes Itself Over Torture Memos
New York Times
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Feb 22, 2008 8:15 PM CST
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The Department of Justice is probing its own legal approval of waterboarding for the CIA, the New York Times reports. DOJ ethics chief H. Marshall Jarrett confirmed today that his office is conducting the first public inquiry of the 5-year-old advice and may issue a non-classified report when it is ready.
Lobbyists Pack Ethics Crusader McCain's Staff
Washington Post
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Feb 22, 2008 8:00 PM CST
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Vicki Iseman is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to John McCain’s associations with lobbyists, the Washington Post reports. McCain targets special interests, but his campaign manager and top advisers are or have been lobbyists representing some of the country’s biggest corporations. Top adviser Charles Black currently numbers...
Pumas Prowl Midwest
Chicago Tribune
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Feb 22, 2008 7:42 PM CST
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Pumas, normally prowlers of the Rocky Mountains, are slowly pushing east, ecologists say, which has led to a rash of sightings throughout the Midwest. Wisconsin just had its first confirmed puma sighting in over a century, and since 1990 the big cats have cropped up in Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri and Illinois, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Dreamliner Delays May Drive JAL Away
Reuters
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Feb 22, 2008 7:23 PM CST
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Japan Airlines may abandon its plan to stock up on Boeing Dreamliners because of tie-ups in production of the new 787, Reuters reports. The carrier, a loyal Boeing customer, planned to buy 55 Dreamliners, but the delivery date has slipped again, to early 2009. Now JAL is checking out the Airbus A350 XWB, which would allow it to offset fuel costs by...
Storm Snarls NE Flights
Associated Press
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Feb 22, 2008 7:03 PM CST
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A nasty winter storm swept across the country today, forcing major flight delays at New York City airports, closing schools from Ohio to Connecticut, and causing road accidents in Missouri that left 5 dead, the AP reports. Heavy snowfall in the New York metro area grounded 900 flights and led to delays of up to 5 hours.
LG Pulls Laptop Model After Battery Melts
Associated Press
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Feb 22, 2008 6:54 PM CST
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LG pulled a laptop model from stores following a report that the battery melted while in use, the AP reports. A company spokesman said it had opened an investigation into the meltdown, adding that the model is no longer in production and is sold only in South Korea.
Former Gitmo Prosecutor to Testify for Bin Laden Driver
AFP
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Feb 22, 2008 6:41 PM CST
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The former chief prosecutor at Guantanamo will be a defense witness for Osama bin Laden's driver at his upcoming military tribunal, the AFP reports. Morris Davis, who has become an outspoken critic of the administration’s legal approach to the war on terror since his resignation in October, will testify on behalf of Salim Hamdan, who is accused...
Photo Looks Like Trouble for Clemens
New York Daily News
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Feb 22, 2008 6:26 PM CST
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An 11-year-old fan's photo of Roger Clemens could mean trouble for the scandal-battered pitcher, especially if the congressional committee pursuing the steroids investigation refers the case to the Justice Department, the New York Daily News reports. The image is allegedly of Clemens at a 1988 party given by Jose Canseco, which he and Canseco have...
FDA Clears Avastin for Breast Cancer
Associated Press
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Feb 22, 2008 6:06 PM CST
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The FDA has approved a drug currently prescribed to treat lung and colon cancer for use on breast cancer patients, the AP reports. The decision defies the advice of the FDA's own advisory panel, which recommended that Avastin not be used to treat breast cancer on the grounds that it slowed tumor growth without increasing life expectancy. Patient advocates...
'Retail Renting' or Stealing? Stores Crack Down
Boston Globe
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Feb 22, 2008 5:42 PM CST
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It’s called “wardrobing” or “retail renting,” when a consumer buys, uses, and then returns merchandise, and the National Retail Federation says it’s growing more popular with shoppers, the Boston Globe reports. It's also becoming a bigger headache for merchants as the economy tightens and businesses work harder...
Rove Sought Pics to Soil Ala. Gov: Report
Associated Press
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Feb 22, 2008 5:30 PM CST
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Karl Rove wanted photos taken of the Democratic governor of Alabama having an affair, but the campaign worker appointed to snap the pics found no evidence he was cheating, she tells CBS. Jill Simpson has testified that Rove was involved in the Justice Department's successful corruption case against Don Siegelman, but the allegation scheduled to air...
Royal Butler Recalled to Diana Inquest
BBC
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Feb 22, 2008 5:15 PM CST
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After a video showed the former royal butler saying he’d been untruthful during an appearance at the Princess Diana inquest, Paul Burrell is being asked to return and explain himself, reports the BBC. In the tape, Burrell allegedly claims to have dropped “red herrings” and kept secrets in his testimony; his lawyers say the statements...
China: Sorry for This Fake Photo
Wall Street Journal
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Feb 22, 2008 5:12 PM CST
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China’s state-run news service has apologized for running—and honoring—a doctored photo that aided the government’s argument about a new train line's environmental impact. The 2006 image showed antelopes frolicking under Tibetan tracks, purportedly demonstrating that the beloved beasts weren’t affected by them. It worked,...
LAPD Chief Wants Britney to 'Stay Home'
Huffington Post
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Feb 22, 2008 5:01 PM CST
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The LA police chief says proposed legislation regulating paparazzi would be unnecessary if celebrities stayed away from photographers rather than the other way around, the Huffington Post reports. “What we need is Britney Spears to stay home instead of traipsing all over town,” William Bratton said on KPCC radio. “That would solve...
Nader Will Reveal Election Plans
Associated Press
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Feb 22, 2008 4:42 PM CST
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Ralph Nader will announce this weekend whether he intends to run for president again. He's been talking to “lots of people on all sorts of levels” about a potential bid, said Nader's spokesman from the 2004 race. The announcement comes Sunday on "Meet the Press." “Obviously, I don’t think Tim Russert would have him...
Will Smith Wins Libel Suit Over Hitler Slur
E! Online
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Feb 22, 2008 4:25 PM CST
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A London news agency must pay undisclosed damages and apologize to Will Smith for publishing a story that erroneously quoted the actor as saying Adolf Hitler was a “good person.” E! Online reports that the World Entertainment News Network picked up and greatly distorted quotes from Smith’s interview with Scotland’s Daily Record...
Surge: Success or Standstill?
Washington Post
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Feb 22, 2008 4:11 PM CST
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The year-old troop surge in Iraq has Washington Post op-ed columnists at odds, with Charles Krauthammer saying it’s unreasonable to call it a failure and Michael Kinsley arguing it can’t be deemed a success. The former points to changed hearts and minds, anecdotes of emotional reconciliation, legislation that furthers a federal state...
Want to Vote, O'Connor? Think Again
Associated Press
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Feb 22, 2008 4:00 PM CST
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The Information Age has been bad news for O'Connors, D'Angelos, Al-Husseins, and Van Kemps everywhere. Apostrophes in Irish, French, Italian, and African last names; hyphens in Arab names; and spaces in Dutch ones cause their owners endless headaches when computer systems reject or mis-record them, reports the AP, blocking them from voting, booking...
Stocks Surge in Late Comeback
MarketWatch
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Feb 22, 2008 3:47 PM CST
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Traders faced heavy losses across the board today until a late rally on news of a possible bailout for a major bond insurer sent prices soaring to gains, MarketWatch reports. The Dow rose 96.72 points to close at 12,381.02, the Nasdaq gained 3.57 points to 2,303.35, and the S&P 500 rose 10.58 points to 1,353.11.
Iran Nukes Raise 'Serious Concern' for UN
Reuters
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Feb 22, 2008 3:35 PM CST
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The UN’s nuclear overseers warned today that Iran hadn’t explained various intelligence reports suggesting it was making atomic weapons and called the matter a “serious concern.” Tehran dismissed the intelligence data as "fabricated" and provided unacceptable answers, the UN report says. The developments could lead...
Court Scraps Agent Orange Suit
Reuters
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Feb 22, 2008 3:17 PM CST
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Vietnamese plaintiffs who say Agent Orange caused them serious health problems ran into a judicial dead end today. A federal appeals court upheld the dismissal of a civil lawsuit over use of the defoliant in the Vietnam War. The suit claimed that Dow Chemical and other companies violated a ban on poisonous weapons and were responsible for millions...
Seabed Rights Add Up to Long Division
Wall Street Journal
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Feb 22, 2008 3:01 PM CST
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The UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf has a big job. As some 60 countries rush to claim the ocean seabed—and the oil reserves beneath—the 21-person team of part-time scientists must settle disputes, relying on geology and the sometimes arcane Law of the Sea. “Are we up to the task? Not really, to be honest,”...
Microsoft's Math Genius Talks Shop, Opens New Lab
MIT Technology Review
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Feb 22, 2008 2:50 PM CST
(Newser) -
When Microsoft hired math professor Jennifer Chayes 11 years ago, the company couldn’t have realized how prescient they were, to the degree that her high-level research would impact applications as diverse as search, keyword advertising, and social networks. “Who would have thought?” Chayes tells Technology Review in a Q&A as...
Fidel Looking Forward to 'Vacation'
Associated Press
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Feb 22, 2008 2:48 PM CST
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Fidel can't wait to retire. The soon-to-be-former dictator published a new newspaper column today, telling Cuba he was relieved to be rid of his exhausting presidential duties. “The night before, I slept better than ever,” Castro wrote. But he couldn’t give up his newspaper gig because, “I didn't have the right to keep silent...
UK Troops Accused of Executing Iraqis
BBC
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Feb 22, 2008 2:35 PM CST
(Newser) -
British soldiers killed up to 20 Iraqi captives after a 2004 firefight, say lawyers representing five men taken prisoner that day, the BBC reports. The men—described by their lawyers as laborers, not insurgents—say they heard UK soldiers killing and torturing captives at a British base after the gun battle. The lawyers say soldiers also...
Action Makes a Good Point
Metacritic
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Feb 22, 2008 2:20 PM CST
(Newser) -
It may lack depth, but critics admit that Vantage Point packs a lot of excitement. The thriller, which begins by showing the same assassination from eight different perspectives, "fails the 'reality test' but maintains a certain intensity for its entire running length," writes James Berardinelli of ReelViews.com. "It's entertaining...
McCain Support Comes From All Corners
Politico
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Feb 22, 2008 2:03 PM CST
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One day after the New York Times reported on John McCain's "close bond" with Vicki Iseman, reaction is still developing, and not necessarily along ideological lines. Observers of the observers offer their impressions. Popular liberal bloggers, "breaking with partisan patterns, are expressing discomfort," Ben Smith of Politico...
J. Lo and Marc Welcome Twins
People
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Feb 22, 2008 1:49 PM CST
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Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony brought two new faces into the world early this morning: a girl (5 pounds, 7 ounces) and a boy (6 pounds), People reports. The twins, born just after midnight, are J. Lo’s first children, and Marc’s fourth and fifth. “Jennifer and Marc are delighted, thrilled, and over the moon,” said Lopez’s...
Data Encryption Isn't So Secure, After All
New York Times
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Feb 22, 2008 1:29 PM CST
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Accessing encrypted data can be as simple as chilling a computer memory chip, according to a Princeton research group. The researchers were able to break through encryption in Windows, Macintosh, and Linux operating systems, reports the New York Times , calling into question the security methods that companies, government agencies, and individuals...
Intel Makes Smaller, Cheaper Chip
Wall Street Journal
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Feb 22, 2008 1:10 PM CST
(Newser) -
Intel is working on a tiny, inexpensive microprocessor aimed at very low-end computers. Code-named Diamondville, the chip is for computers priced under $250, especially portable ones that Intel calls Netbooks. Manufacturers are creating such machines for emerging markets, as well as for industrialized countries, where they’re often bought as...
Meat Industry Pushes for Recall Cutback
Wall Street Journal
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Feb 22, 2008 1:08 PM CST
(Newser) -
The meat industry is trying to convince the USDA to ease up on the largest meat recall in the country's history, the Wall Street Journal reports. Government officials entertained the possibility of exempting products made up only partly of the recalled beef but apparently decided against relaxing the action. “The recall is as it was issued,”...
Wii Fit Among Highlights of Gamers' Conference
USA Today
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Feb 22, 2008 12:53 PM CST
(Newser) -
Fitness program Wii Fit for the Nintendo Wii system, video games that let players warp Disneyized fairy tales, a parents-oriented video game review site, and initiatives by major publishers to let independent designers and even players develop games—those were the highlights of the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco this week, reports...
Microsoft: Vista Update May Screw Up Your Programs
BBC
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Feb 22, 2008 12:48 PM CST
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Vista’s first major service pack may do more harm than good. Microsoft is warning that its upcoming update may disable various third party programs, particularly virus protection and security software, which accounted for half of the dozen programs Microsoft listed as victims. Microsoft said that list wasn’t comprehensive, and told users...
Hollywood's Variety Goes Up for Sale
Los Angeles Times
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Feb 22, 2008 12:39 PM CST
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Hollywood trade paper Variety is on the auction block, the Los Angeles Times reports. Anglo-Dutch owner Reed Elsevier is selling a publishing operation that produces the 103-year-old Variety and hundreds of other titles, including Publisher's Weekly . The sale is part of Reed Elsevier's strategy to ditch advertising-dependent publications to...
Stop Temper Tantrums Like a Caveman
LiveScience
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Feb 22, 2008 12:28 PM CST
(Newser) -
When your kid has a temper tantrum, they’re a lot like a Neanderthal, reports LiveScience. Two-year-olds are still driven by instinct and emotion, explains one pediatrician, not the higher reasoning of mature adults. So don’t try to logic away a tantrum (“But honey you already have that action figure”), engage them with simple...
Gay Couples Steer Clear of Altar
Salon
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Feb 22, 2008 12:19 PM CST
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As domestic partnerships, civil unions, and even same-sex marriage gain traction, reality has tempered the gay community's exuberant initial reaction, Salon reports. For numerous reasons, both practical and ideological, many couples would rather not get hitched. Those who haven't cite concerns from worry over inconsistent laws to resentment of what...
'Virtual Fence' Cleared For Arizona Border
Associated Press
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Feb 22, 2008 12:14 PM CST
(Newser) -
The government has just given the green light to a 28-mile “virtual fence” along the Arizona/Mexico border, the AP reports. The system, which uses cameras, radar, and other sensor devices to detect border jumpers, is already partially constructed, and working. Last week Border Patrol caught 38 would-be illegal immigrants thanks to a system...
Bueller, Er, Bartlett Is a Pill
Metacritic
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Feb 22, 2008 12:06 PM CST
(Newser) -
Charlie Bartlett , about a charming but troubled high school student who dispenses advice and prescription medication to his classmates, is being given mostly passing grades by critics. Sure, the teen film hits the expected themes of "angst, alienation, loneliness, disenchantment, and drug use," writes the Hollywood Reporter 's Kirk Honeycutt....
Feds Ponder Rescue Plans as Housing Slump Worsens
New York Times
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Feb 22, 2008 12:05 PM CST
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With one in 10 US homeowners owing more on their homes than they’re worth, the highest proportion of negative-equity loans since the Depression, the government is weighing plans that would apply the brakes to the rapidly accelerating housing market collapse, the New York Times reports. Possibilities include federal loan guarantees and spending...
