Newser Story Index from March, 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.
West Virginia Eliminates Arizona
Associated Press
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Mar 21, 2008 12:13 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The NCAA Tournament selection committee gave Arizona its nation's-best 24th straight trip to the Big Dance. Last night, West Virginia made sure the Wildcats lost in the first round for the 10th time during that streak with a 75-65 win, reports the Associated Press. The seventh-seeded Mountaineers did much of their damage from the outside, hitting 11...
The Slipper Doesn't Fit George Mason This Year
Associated Press
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Mar 21, 2008 12:11 AM CDT
(Newser) -
There will be no Cinderella story for George Mason this year in the NCAA tournament, as Notre Dame beat out the Patriots, 68-50, reports the Associated Press. Despite a great performance by Will Thomas, who scored 25 points, George Mason just didn’t have the same fire that lit them through to the Final Four two years ago, as the Fighting...
Red Wings Pounce on Predators, 6-3
Associated Press
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Mar 20, 2008 11:59 PM CDT
(Newser) -
They’ve already clinched the division title, but that hasn’t stopped Detroit from continuing their domination. The Red Wings rolled over the Nashville Predators tonight, 6-3, giving Dominik Hasek his 385th career win in goal. He’s now tied with Mike Vernon for 10th place all-time, reports the AP. Nashville continues their...
Parker Helps Spurs Take Bite Out of Bulls
Associated Press
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Mar 20, 2008 11:50 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The San Antonio Spurs put an end to a rare losing streak with a 102-80 win over the Chicago Bulls tonight, reports the Associated Press. Tony Parker led the way with 23 points and Tim Duncan had 22 points and 10 rebounds as the Spurs ended a four-game skid. The Spurs have not lost five in row with Duncan on the team.
Kovalev Lifts Canadiens Past Bruins
Associated Press
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Mar 20, 2008 11:46 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The Montreal Canadiens beat the Boston Bruins for the 10th straight time and took over the top spot in East tonight with a 4-2 win, reports the Associated Press. Alex Kovalev had two goals and an assist and Carey Price made 34 saves. The win moved the Canadiens one point ahead of the idle New Jersey Devils. In other NHL action:
Mayo Exiting Early as Kansas State Stuns USC
Los Angeles Times
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Mar 20, 2008 11:38 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Kansas State's young team knocked NBA-bound freshman star O.J. Mayo out of the NCAA tournament—keeping their own freshman phenom, Michael Beasley, for at least one more game. The Wildcats received major contributions from four other freshmen in the 80-67 win over Mayo's Trojans, but Beasley led his squad with 23 points and 11 boards.
Washington State Wallops Winthrop
Associated Press
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Mar 20, 2008 11:29 PM CDT
(Newser) -
It was all-square at halftime between Washington State and Winthrop in the NCAA first round. The Cougars then ran away with the game, walloping the No. 13 seed Eagles, a popular upset choice in office pools, 71-40. A 25-1 run by Washington State put to rest any hopes of an upset for Winthrop, as they finish their season 22-12. Taj McCullough...
Close But No Cigar for Belmont
News & Observer (Raleigh)
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Mar 20, 2008 10:13 PM CDT
(Newser) -
In the most compelling game of a so-far uneventful day in the NCAA tournament, Belmont made every effort to change that, as No. 2 Duke prevailed but barely in over the 15th-seeded Bruins 71-70, reports the Associated Press. A coast-to-coast drive and layup by Blue Devil swingman Gerald Henderson with 11 seconds left made the difference, as Belmont...
BYU Can't Finish Rally in A&M Upset
Associated Press
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Mar 20, 2008 10:06 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Ninth-seeded Texas A&M jumped out to an 11-0 lead, frittered it away by halftime, then pulled ahead in a tightly fought second half to beat eight-seeded Brigham Young, 67-62 in an NCAA tournament first round matchup. Josh Carter scored 26 points to lead the Aggies, including three three-pointers before the Cougars got on the board.
Zell Might Sell Newsday
New York Times
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Mar 20, 2008 9:44 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Falling ad revenues could push Sam Zell's Tribune Company to sell Newsday , the Long Island newspaper with the 10th-highest circulation in the nation, the New York Times reports. Among those interested are Rupert Murdoch, who already owns the New York Post . Also in the running are the owner of the Daily News and the family that runs Cablevision....
Putting Leaves Tiger Vulnerable at Doral
ESPN
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Mar 20, 2008 9:22 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Tiger Woods is human after all. He three-putt the 18th at the CA Championship at Doral today, ending the day with a bogey and a two-shot deficit heading into tomorrow’s second round, reports the Associated Press. "I've got to trust what I see," he said, blaming himself for his poor putting performance. "I didn't do that enough...
Stanford Closes Book on Cornell
Associated Press
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Mar 20, 2008 9:16 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Cornell entered today’s game against Stanford with a 16-game winning streak, and watching the first 10 minutes or so of the game would have led some to believe they could pull off No. 17, and a huge upset in the process. Then the Stanford Cardinal came alive, going on to rout the Big Red 77-53, and enjoying a first-round tourney win for the first...
Kite Ship's Maiden Voyage a Success
Earth2Tech.com
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Mar 20, 2008 8:58 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Environmental concerns might get shipping companies to go back to the future, Earth2Tech.com reports, after a cargo vessel recently used 20% less fuel than normal on a 12,000-mile journey by a kite-like sail. The EU contributed $1.9 million to help rig the Beluga SkySails with the 1,700-square-foot contraption, used on a trek from Germany to Venezuela,...
China Blacklists Video Sites
Reuters
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Mar 20, 2008 8:25 PM CDT
(Newser) -
China shuttered 25 video-sharing websites today and warned numerous others, as authorities moved to enforce stricter controls on online content announced late last year, Reuters reports. Chinese video heavyweight Tudou.com was among those that received a warning to eliminate pornographic and political material. "We're working hard to upgrade our...
State Dept. Fires 2 Over Breach of Obama Files
NBC
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Mar 20, 2008 7:57 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The State Department has fired two employees and disciplined a third for taking unauthorized looks at Barack Obama's passport records, NBC News reports. It's not clear what they were trying to do, but their explanations for looking at the files didn't satisfy their bosses. The Obama camp said it smacked of political shenanigans and demanded an investigation.
Free Throws Help Marquette Beat Kentucky
Associated Press
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Mar 20, 2008 7:51 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Jerel McNeal did most of the work and Wesley Matthews sealed the deal as Marquette defeated Kentucky 74-66 today in the first round the NCAA Tournament, reports the AP. McNeal had 20 points and Matthews hit eight free throws in the final 31 seconds to put the Wildcats away.
Primary Do-Over Chances Collapse in Michigan
Detroit Free Press
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Mar 20, 2008 7:20 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Chances of a new primary being held in Michigan all but disappeared today as the state Senate adjourned without taking action, the Detroit Free Press reports. Senate leaders said it was pointless to take up the plan because the Clinton and Obama camps disagreed on how to go about it. Most observers considered today the last chance to act because...
Pitt Muscles Its Way Past Oral Roberts
Associated Press
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Mar 20, 2008 7:05 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Fourth-seeded Pittsburgh is playing its best basketball in March instead of January or February this season, and it paid off again today with an 82-63 win over Oral Roberts in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, reports the Associated Press. Levance Fields led the Panthers with 23 points as they won their sixth straight game.
Murdoch Shuts Down PageSix.com
Gawker
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Mar 20, 2008 6:59 PM CDT
(Newser) -
PageSix.com, the online version of the New York Post 's celebrity gossip column, is shutting down after just three months, Gawker reports. The Rupert Murdoch project attracted 1 million pageviews last week when it published photos of Eliot Spitzer's escort, but, "given the difficulty in the economy, it was not the right time for this launch,"...
UNLV Dominates Ice Cold Kent State
Associated Press
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Mar 20, 2008 6:29 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Kent State played even with UNLV in the second half of their NCAA Tournament first round game today, but it was the first half that sent the Flashes down in flames 71-58, reports the Associated Press. The 8th-seeded Rebels held the 9th-seeded Flashes to a tournament- record tying 10 points in the first half in building a 31-10 halftime lead.
Red Sox, A's Arrive in Japan for MLB Opener
Associated Press
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Mar 20, 2008 6:12 PM CDT
(Newser) -
After a short labor dispute and long flight, the Boston Red Sox arrived in Japan today and are ready to open the baseball season, reports the AP. The Oakland A's, their opponents in the upcoming 2-game series, arrived in Japan earlier today. "The players are tired but are looking forward to playing some baseball," Red Sox president Larry...
Bin Laden: 'Fire and Iron' Can Free Gaza
Reuters
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Mar 20, 2008 6:09 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Osama bin Laden calls followers to arms to stop the blockade on Gaza in a tape broadcast today on Al-Jazeera. Israel did not take the Palestinian territory "by negotiations and dialogue but with fire and iron. And this is the way to get it back," he said, adding that fighting US forces in Iraq was the main route to "liberating Palestine."
Stanford Dig Combines Sleuthing, Classwork
Bloomberg
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Mar 20, 2008 5:53 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Stanford University has found a way to give archeology students valuable excavation experience without leaving campus, Bloomberg reports, and hopes to find out why an enormous gymnasium couldn't withstand the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The gym was intended as a signature building for the young school. "They thought if they built that building,...
Sovereign Funds Agree on Conduct
Wall Street Journal
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Mar 20, 2008 5:35 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Investment funds bankrolled by the governments of Abu Dhabi and Singapore agreed today with US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson on guidelines aimed at allaying fears of political interference by the sovereign wealth funds, the Wall Street Journal reports. Decisions should be “based solely on commercial grounds," a statement reads, "rather...
Philly Steak Shop Can Keep 'Please Speak English' Signs
Philadelphia Inquirer
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Mar 20, 2008 5:10 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The owner of a Philadelphia institution can keep signs that ask customers to order their cheese steaks in English, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. A city agency ruled the signs at Geno's Steaks—"This is America. When ordering, please speak English"—do not violate discrimination rules; owner Joey Vento says he never turned...
Docs Not Toasting Ladies' Vodka
Reuters
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Mar 20, 2008 4:56 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A made-for-women vodka touted as the perfect salad accompaniment has sobered Russian doctors, who fear high-end spirits like "Ladies" will only worsen already-high rates of alcoholism, Reuters reports. Estimates peg 10 percent of Russia's 142 million citizens as alcoholics, and the chief of one rehab center says 60% of his clients are women.
Michigan State Powers Past Temple
Detroit News
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Mar 20, 2008 4:44 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Michigan State reminded Dionte Christmas he wasn't playing in the Atlantic 10 anymore. The Spartans held Temple's 20.2 a game scorer to three points and beat the Owls 72-61 today in the NCAA Tournament, the Detroit News reports. MSU star Drew Neitzel was shut down the other way, but Raymar Morgan scored 15 points to lead the fifth-seeded Spartans...
Industrial Spying Charges Deepen Russia-UK Flap
BBC
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Mar 20, 2008 4:43 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Two brothers, one with ties to a UK-Russia joint oil venture, have been arrested in Moscow and accused of industrial espionage, the BBC reports. Ilya and Alexander Zaslavsky were charged after yesterday's raid on oil giant TNK-BP, but analysts say Russia's interest in the matter goes beyond spying, as the country angles to re-assert control over its...
NYC Inspector Charged in Crane Collapse
New York Times
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Mar 20, 2008 4:29 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A New York City worker has been charged with lying to authorities about inspecting the crane that collapsed Saturday, killing seven, the Times reports. Edward Marquette is also accused of falsifying business records, after claiming to have inspected the crane March 4. The Department of Buildings chief again stressed that it’s “highly...
Wii Still Scarce; Price of PS3, 360 Likely to Fall: GameStop
Kotaku
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Mar 20, 2008 4:10 PM CDT
(Newser) -
GameStop execs say they expect to be short on Wii consoles for the next two quarters and that $50 price drops are likely for the Xbox 360 and PS3. PSP shortfalls are also anticipated, but the PS3 should be well-stocked. The company’s CFO said several hardware prices cut were likely, Kotaku reports.
Dow Jumps 261, Ends Week Up
Wall Street Journal
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Mar 20, 2008 3:54 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Stocks enjoyed a steady rally today off of surprisingly good manufacturing data and renewed investor confidence in Fannie and Freddie Mae, achieving the first weekly gain in a month, since the market is closed tomorrow, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Dow rose 261.66 points, ending at 12,361.32; the Nasdaq gained 48.15 points to 2,258.11; and...
Nonprofit Builds Free Houses for Wounded Vets
Christian Science Monitor
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Mar 20, 2008 3:53 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A nonprofit group is putting up customized homes for badly injured vets returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, the Christian Science Monitor reports. Massachusetts-based Homes for Our Troops is building in 20 states, fueled by donated supplies, land, and labor. “When a vet is in need, people come out of everywhere to help,” the contractor-turned-founder...
Speech Sparks Candor on Race
New York Times
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Mar 20, 2008 3:44 PM CDT
(Newser) -
While a verdict on the political wisdom of Barack Obama’s race address might be months in the coming, the speech has sparked a national conversation on the topic, the New York Times reports—with universities, churches and TV commentators chiming in. The Tuesday speech is the top video on YouTube; one pastor called it a “Rorschach...
Xavier Battles Back to Beat Georgia
Cincinnati Enquirer
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Mar 20, 2008 3:39 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Third-seeded Xavier avoided the first major upset of the NCAA Tournament today when it came from behind to beat 14th-seeded Georgia 73-61, reports the Cincinnati Enquirer . The Musketeers (28-6) trailed by 11 points in the second half, but freshman Dante Jackson hit a 3-pointer with 7:23 left to put Xavier up for good.
Teens' Public Orgies Rattle Chilean Mores
Newsweek
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Mar 20, 2008 3:30 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Can 100 teenagers performing oral sex on one another in a public park not be a political statement? That's one of the questions the sight of horny, apolitical, bisexual Chilean teenagers are prompting among their appalled, mostly Catholic compatriots, Newsweek reports from a country still haunted by General Pinochet's repressive ghost, yet taking...
Radiohead to Fans: Get Animated
Wired
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Mar 20, 2008 3:18 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Radiohead is breaking new ground again—this time asking fans to make an animated video for any song on its pay-what-you-want In Rainbows album. The band itself will choose the grand-prize winner, who’ll get $10,000 to animate a full-length version. Would-be competitors have until April 27 to submit their concept videos or storyboards...
Kansas Makes It Look Easy Vs. Portland State
Associated Press
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Mar 20, 2008 3:11 PM CDT
(Newser) -
There was a reason Kansas was seeded No. 1 and Portland State No. 16. The Jayhawks dunked over the Vikings, shot over the Vikings and never let them in the game en route to an 85-61 win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament today, reports the AP. The Jayhawks led 13-3 five minutes into the game and extended the lead to 20 before halftime.
China Admits Police Shot Tibetan Protesters
BBC
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Mar 20, 2008 3:06 PM CDT
(Newser) -
China admitted today its police opened fire on Tibetan protesters, wounding four in “self-defense,” the BBC reports. The statement from state-run Xinhua news agency is China’s first admission to hurting anyone since protests began last week. Chinese officials say rioters have killed 13; Tibetan activists reported security forces firing...
Stingray Kills Boater off Fla. Keys
CNN
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Mar 20, 2008 2:54 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A stingray leapt out of the water and struck a 55-year-old Michigan woman who was sunbathing on the deck of a boat off the Florida Keys yesterday, CNN reports. The woman, who was with her husband and children, was knocked to the ground and pronounced dead at a local hospital. No word on the specific cause of death yet, but local reports say she was...
Renegade Geek to Head Cyber Security
Wall Street Journal
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Mar 20, 2008 2:45 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Outre tech entrepreneur Rod Beckström will top the White House’s new secretive cyber security initiative, the Wall Street Journal reports, to the surprise of many Washington insiders. Beckström is a Silicon Valley transplant without security experience, but he has developed a cult following in the security and intelligence communities...
Small Is the New Big
Newsweek
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Mar 20, 2008 2:36 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Ever-increasing gas prices, environmental concerns and demand in developing countries are leading worldwide small-car sales past those of larger counterparts, Newsweek reports. With cars like India’s Tata Nano set to overhaul the auto industry by offering new mobility to millions, US automakers are scrambling to retool their businesses to sells...
Pro-Life Docs Need Not Perform Abortions: Board
NPR
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Mar 20, 2008 2:24 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Obstetrician/gynecologists who don’t want to deal with abortions don’t have to, the certifying board for their specialty said today, responding to Bush administration fears that the board was going to refuse to certify doctors who decline to perform them or refer patients to someone who does. The US health secretary became alarmed after...
First Lady Skeds Were Sanitized
Newsweek
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Mar 20, 2008 2:12 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Schedules from Hillary Clinton’s time as first lady don’t reveal much, Newsweek reports. The mound of documents consists only of her public engagements, rather than her private calendar, meaning many potentially revealing details are left out. The thousands of pages don’t, for example, mention her four-hour Whitewater testimony—but...
Bedbugs' Itch Breeding New Ways to Scratch
Wall Street Journal
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Mar 20, 2008 2:00 PM CDT
(Newser) -
No one’s sure why bedbugs are back, but US companies think they know how to kill them, the Wall Street Journal reports. Startups are using everything from dogs to cold blasts to hair-dryer-like devices to sniff out, freeze or bake the pests. “We don’t have an easy method of elimination,” said one entomologist. “We are...
Northern Rock: Post Mortem of a Spectacular Fall
Bloomberg
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Mar 20, 2008 1:49 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The collapse of Northern Rock, Britains third-largest lender, was "the messiest banking crisis in the Western world resulting from the global credit crunch,'' a UK lawmaker tells Bloomberg in a post mortem of the disaster. “They really screwed it up,” said one analyst of the bank’s hard-charging and ambitious management team....
Playgirl Proposes Spitzer Spread
Playgirl
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Mar 20, 2008 1:48 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Playgirl feels sorry for Eliot Spitzer, what with the public-opinion crucifixion and $1 million Hustler offer to call-girl “Kristen." He’s unemployed, and might face some stiff legal fees in the near future, so the girls are extending an offer on their blog: “How about making some loot back, by showing us what you saved for...
Dutch Pol Makes Waves With Unseen Film
Der Spiegel
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Mar 20, 2008 1:36 PM CDT
(Newser) -
An unruly Dutch politician for months has had civil and religious leaders in a tizzy over a movie no one has seen—and which might not even exist, Der Spiegel reports. But by the end of March, provocateur Geert Wilders says he intends to release a movie exposing “the intolerant and fascist nature of the Koran.” Wilders had previously...
Clinton Pulls Ahead in Polls
Politico
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Mar 20, 2008 1:32 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Hillary Clinton has scored her first statistically significant national lead over Barack Obama in several weeks—49% to 42%—in a Gallup poll taken early this week, Reuters reports. And her edge in Pennsylvania has doubled since February, two new polls show. They put her lead at 51%-35% and 53%-41%, up from 44%-37% and 49%-43%, respectively,...
Bernanke's Home Is Case in Slump's Point
Bloomberg
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Mar 20, 2008 12:51 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Federal Reserve boss Ben Bernanke’s own home illustrates the very crisis his organization must fight—in the midst of a national housing slump, it’s worth roughly the same as when he bought it in 2004, Bloomberg reports. Values peaked just after that; the fact that his Capitol Hill pad is still worth about $839,000 suggests the downturn...
Singing Marine Sounds Off at Dixie Chicks
Military Times
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Mar 20, 2008 12:39 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A Marine back from Iraq and Afghanistan has fired a musical rebuke at the Dixie Chicks for their anti-war hit, "Not Ready to Make Nice." Cpl. David Thibodeaux's "Not Ready to End the Fight" is hitting America's country dials—including some that shunned the Nashville trio's 2006 Grammy winner.
