Newser Story Index from May, 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.
Everglades Wildfire Claims 33,000 Acres
CNN
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May 19, 2008 2:43 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Nearly 33,000 acres of Florida's Everglades National Park were burning yesterday with only 20% of the blaze contained, CNN reports. A dense smoke warning was in effect in parts of southern Florida as flames threatened an endangered sparrow species and private property. The fire is the latest in a series of wildfires sweeping Florida, including one...
Was White Sox Exec Extorting Bonus Money from Dominican Teens?
Chicago Tribune
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May 19, 2008 12:32 AM CDT
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A source with knowledge of the investigation tells the Chicago Tribune that questions about signing bonuses and how they were distributed to teenage Latin American prospects were behind the firing of David Wilder, the Chicago White Sox senior personnel director, and two of his scouts. Authorities are seeking to determine if Wilder and the scouts...
Pens Blast Philly 6-0, Advance to Cup Finals
Associated Press
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May 18, 2008 9:55 PM CDT
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Ryan Malone, the one Penguins player with firsthand memories of the team's two previous Stanley Cup appearances, scored twice and set up a third goal as Pittsburgh routed rival Philadelphia 6-0 Sunday to win the Eastern Conference championship and a trip to the NHL finals. Pittsburgh will play the winner of the Detroit-Dallas series for the Stanley...
Fritzl's Crimes Rooted in Literary History
Times (UK)
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May 18, 2008 8:03 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Josef Fritzl's crimes stunned the world, but such demented patriarchs have long haunted Austrian literature. The dark 1852 story "Turmalin" depicts a deranged husband locking up his daughter; the 1917 novel The Grave of the Living tells of a troubled family and an imprisoned child. "This is the cultural matrix from which Josef Fritzl...
Your Pal in Second Life May Be a Robot
Associated Press
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May 18, 2008 7:25 PM CDT
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Scientists are creating virtual robots in a virtual world with the hope of simulating real people. Got it? Second Life is prime testing ground for artificial intelligence because it allows experts to exert more control over their creations. “It’s a very inexpensive way to test out our technologies right now,” one says.
Indy's Still Kicking Butt in Crystal Skull
Los Angeles Times
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May 18, 2008 6:52 PM CDT
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Who you calling old? It may be 19 years since Indiana Jones last donned a fedora, but Harrison Ford amply kicks Russian butt in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Kenneth Turan writes in the Los Angeles Times . The flick, opening in the US on Thursday, premiered today at Cannes to audiences cheering at its opening credits.
Illegal Immigration Spurs Identity Theft
City Journal
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May 18, 2008 6:15 PM CDT
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Identity theft and illegal immigration are not only keeping cops busy, they're often linked, Steven Malanga writes in City Journal . Illegals are known to swipe US workers' data to obtain jobs or commit crimes, and the top five states for identity theft have large immigrant populations. But efforts to stop the ID crime wave are drying up.
Feds Have 104 Positive MLB Drug Tests
New York Times
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May 18, 2008 5:42 PM CDT
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US Attorneys have a list of 104 baseball players who failed a 2003 drug test, even though the players' union vowed to keep those names secret. The union has contested the Feds' search, but the list could become public in a matter of weeks, reports the New York Times .
How to Fit Everything in One Bag
NPR
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May 18, 2008 5:14 PM CDT
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With airlines charging more for extra bags, the trick is to fly light. A packing guru offers these tips for stuffing it all in one bag, NPR reports: Make a no-frills list, and stick to it (see onebag.com for ideas). Don't let any space go unused (stuff things into shoes, for example).
More Tipsters Are Ratting Out Crooks—for a Price
New York Times
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May 18, 2008 4:41 PM CDT
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Tipsters are flooding cops with calls these days, but not to fight crime: They just want to bank a few extra bucks. Crime Stoppers hotlines are getting up to 44% more calls, many from tipsters who want their money quick. Gone are the days when people called because they "were just sick of the crime," one officer told the New York Times .
Microsoft, Yahoo in Talks for Partial Buyout
Wall Street Journal
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May 18, 2008 4:05 PM CDT
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Microsoft is back at Yahoo's bargaining table, this time seeking a partial acquisition of the Internet portal, the Wall Street Journal reports. Buyout talks fizzled earlier this month, but billionaire Carl Icahn's push for a proxy war has left Yahoo honchos feeling shareholder pressure to cut a deal, though today they warned one may not happen.
McCain Loses 5th Adviser Over Lobbying Ties
Politico
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May 18, 2008 3:41 PM CDT
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A high-ranking John McCain adviser has dropped out over his lobbying ties, Politico reports. Former Rep. Thomas Loeffler, McCain's national co-chair, is the fifth lobbying-connected resignation from the camp this week—and proof that McCain is serious about his lobbying shakeout. But not all in the GOP are thrilled. “No one in real America...
Asteroids Could Reseed a Devastated Earth
Astrobiology Magazine
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May 18, 2008 3:13 PM CDT
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If a comet ever obliterates life on Earth, don't worry—space rocks could later fall in and reseed a few basic life forms. A new study shows that organisms can survive being hit by a meteor, ejected into space, and hurtled back to Earth on the face of a rock—which is good news should we ever go the way of the dinosaurs, Astrobiology reports.
Roller Derby Makes a KC Comeback
Steady Burn
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May 18, 2008 2:57 PM CDT
(Newser) -
When Brooke Leavitt lost her right arm in a school bus accident when she was 3, little did she know her handicap would help re-launch roller derby in the Midwest, reports the Steady Burn blog. Leavitt skates for the Knockouts in the four-team Kansas City Roller Warriors women's roller derby league, which will be featured today on ESPN's Sportscenter...
Junta Leader Visits Nargis Victims as UN Envoy Arrives
CNN
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May 18, 2008 2:48 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The head of Burma's junta emerged today for the first time since cyclone Nargis struck two weeks ago to meet with survivors, CNN reports. Gen. Than Shwe visited a refugee camp 200 miles south of Yangon, touching the faces of infant survivors. The visit came as the UN's humanitarian secretary began a three-day tour meant to pressure Burma to accept...
Retailers Also Have Stock in Playoffs
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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May 18, 2008 2:39 PM CDT
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Fans aren't the only ones rooting for particular teams in the NHL and NBA playoffs: Retailers are hedging their bets as well, getting ready to print different shirts and hats depending on games' outcomes. If Pittsburgh clinches the NHL Eastern Conference today, thousands of commemorative garments will hit the stores within hours; otherwise, sellers...
Dale Jr.'s Struggle to Grow Up
ESPN
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May 18, 2008 2:32 PM CDT
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. doesn’t talk much about his father’s death. “I don't want people to know about that,” he says. "It's not their business to hear it.” But he opened up to Marty Smith for an in-depth profile in ESPN the Magazine . Junior spent his childhood fighting for his dad’s approval, and won it only by...
MI5 Implicated in F1 Chief's Nazi Orgy
Times (UK)
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May 18, 2008 2:16 PM CDT
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A British spy is out of a job following his admission that his wife was one of the five prostitutes who participated in Max Mosley's Nazi-themed orgy, reports the Times of London. Worse yet, the wife was purportedly behind the camera, though MI5 yesterday denied Mosley's accusation that it set up the orgy as a sting. But the spy's link is a messy...
Dem Bankrollers Readying United Wallet
Washington Post
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May 18, 2008 1:54 PM CDT
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Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will fight each other for the nomination into June, but top fundraisers are already ensuring a McCain defeat, no matter who the nominee is. One DNC fundraiser was held in honor of a Clinton backer at the residence of an Obama supporter, the Washington Post reports. But some aren't so quick to make peace.
Being Hated Is All But an Art for Uwe Boll
New York Times
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May 18, 2008 1:25 PM CDT
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Uwe Boll is either the world’s worst filmmaker or its most-targeted whipping boy. Either way, the 42-year-old German, who bases his over-the-top gore films on video games, is unlikely to stop anytime soon. “The art form is, almost, in being hated,” one actor told the New York Times . “It’s his relationship with the audience...
Bush Issues Arab To-Do List
New York Times
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May 18, 2008 1:06 PM CDT
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President Bush addressed Arab leaders at the World Economic Forum today, urging them to make the changes necessary to achieve peace in the region. Citing improving women's rights, strengthening their economies, and bolstering democracy as the major goals, Bush reprised some of the same language from his speech last week in Israel, the New York Times...
China Orders 3 Days of Mourning, Will Halt Torch
Reuters
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May 18, 2008 1:02 PM CDT
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As the death toll in Monday's 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit 32,500, China declared 3 days of national mourning beginning tomorrow, reports Reuters. The Olympic torch relay will pause for the duration. Rescue efforts are still under way in devastated Sichuan province, but hopes are waning of recovering any of the estimated 9,500 still missing.
Doggy Wants a Bone...Transplant
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
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May 18, 2008 12:50 PM CDT
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Doggy wants a bone, and he deserves it too. Canines will soon be lining up at Washington State University for bone marrow transplants, enjoying a little payback after pooches made the procedure possible in people, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports. But the cancer treatment won't come cheap: WSU will treat man’s best friend for about $15,000...
Can Basketball Keep Agents Out of High School?
New York Times
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May 18, 2008 12:28 PM CDT
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The NBA can't stop agents from scurrying around high school and college basketball these days, offering illegal gifts to sign young players. Although the players are getting younger—more go pro right out of high school—punishments for players and agents alike remain slight, the New York Times reports.
Study: Drug Ads Misleading. No, Really.
Time
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May 18, 2008 12:18 PM CDT
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Drug ads are multiplying on TV, and manufacturers are starting to advertise medical equipment used in invasive procedures, so now might be a good time to wonder what the spots are telling us. Not as much as they should, Time reports. An independent researcher has found drug companies are using distractions, fast-talking, and tricks gleaned from neuroscience...
Calif. Judge: Gay Marriage Decision My Toughest
Los Angeles Times
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May 18, 2008 12:05 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Long characterized as cautious, California’s Chief Justice Ronald George shocked his peers when he joined the majority to overturn the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. “I think there are times when doing the right thing means not playing it safe,” the moderate Republican said, calling the case the most difficult one of his...
Salty Ramsay Marinates in Hypocrisy
Spiked
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May 18, 2008 11:58 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Borrowing some of Gordon Ramsay's favorite vulgarities, Rob Lyons lashes out at the famous chef's push for British restaurants to use seasonal, local foodstuffs. "There have been plenty of people lining up to point out the hypocrisy of Ramsay’s position," Lyons writes in spiked, pointing to observations that his restaurants hardly fall...
Early Retirement Raises Questions
Chicago Tribune
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May 18, 2008 11:50 AM CDT
(Newser) -
When a 25-year-old tennis star quits at the top of her sport, at least one columnist thinks it's tough not to wonder if drugs were somehow involved. That's Rick Morrissey's reaction to Justine Henin's abrupt retirement this week. Henin has no link to drugs, but in the current sports world of Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds, anything out of the ordinary...
Shakira Shakes Cash Loose for Charity
Los Angeles Times
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May 18, 2008 11:30 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Shakira, Ricky Martin, and dozens of other Spanish-speaking pop stars performed at simultaneous fundraising concerts in Mexico City and Buenos Aires yesterday, reports the LA Times . “It is doable, we can really eradicate poverty,” said the Colombian singer, whose shows benefited Alas, a charity that helps Latin America's neediest children....
What Makes a Prez 'Good for Israel'?
New York Times
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May 18, 2008 11:20 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The next US president must build an America strong enough to sway the Middle East, but needn't be doggedly pro-Israel, writes Thomas Friedman in the New York Times . And while Barack Obama is dogged by questions of whether he's “good for Israel,” Friedman notes, none other than "Israel-friendly" George W. Bush has spoken out...
As World's Belly Rumbles, Gluttonous US Tosses Food
New York Times
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May 18, 2008 11:06 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Americans throw out roughly a quarter of all food available for consumption, even as grocery prices skyrocket and global riots break out over food shortages, the New York Times reports. That works out to about a pound of food every day for every American—from grocery stories tossing spoiled produce to restaurants scrapping uneaten dishes to...
Afghan Appeals Death Sentence Over Women's Rights Charge
Associated Press
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May 18, 2008 11:00 AM CDT
(Newser) -
An Afghan journalism student who has been sentenced to death claims he was tortured into falsely confessing that he had written an article championing women's rights. "I would never let myself write such an article," said the student, 24, in court today in a desperate bid to overturn his sentence for insulting Islam. The proceedings offer...
Yanks' Giambi Puts Hope in Thong
Portfolio
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May 18, 2008 10:34 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Slumping Yankees slugger Jason Giambi has a secret weapon: a gold thong. He wears it when he’s struggling for hits—as is the case now, with his average well below .200—and has passed it to teammates Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, and Johnny Damon when they needed it, Portfolio notes. “All of them wore it and got hits,"...
Pirates Hijack Relief Ship Off of Somalia
BBC
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May 18, 2008 10:02 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Pirates hijacked a Jordanian relief ship off the Somalia coast early yesterday, reports the BBC, and its 12-member international crew are now traveling north with its cargo of 4,000 tons of sugar. Jordan is reportedly working with the Danish embassy in Mogadishu, near where the boat was seized, to try to get the ship and crew released.
Another Major Aftershock Rocks China
Reuters
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May 18, 2008 9:39 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Another major aftershock rattled China this morning, Reuters reports. Thousands fled swaying buildings in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, after the 6.1 shaker, but no casualties were immediately reported. Hundreds of lesser aftershocks have rocked the area since last Monday's 7.9 quake that has now claimed at least 32,500 lives, with some 220,000...
McCain Pitches Old Geezer Jokes on SNL
New York Times
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May 18, 2008 9:10 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Although renowned for his fiery temper, John McCain turned up on Saturday Night Live last night to poke a little fun at his age. "What should we be looking for in our next president?" he asked. "Certainly, someone who is very, very, very old.” If elected McCain, 71, would be the oldest American president in history.
Finding the Next Hillary
New York Times
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May 18, 2008 8:41 AM CDT
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With Hillary Clinton looking fated to remain a senator, the New York Times explores who could succeed her as a likely contender to become the first woman president. The candidate would have to be from the South or the West, a Democrat with red-state appeal or a Republican from the private sector, and a “fighter” with executive experience...
US Commander Apologizes for Koran Target Practice
CNN
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May 18, 2008 8:10 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A US commander has apologized to Iraqi tribal leaders after an American soldier used a Koran for target practice in Iraq, CNN reports. “The actions of one soldier were nothing more than criminal behavior,” said Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Hammond, head of US troops in Baghdad. "Please forgive me and my soldiers." The soldier, who has been...
Oreos Dip into UK Market
Christian Science Monitor
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May 18, 2008 7:35 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Oreo cookies have finally invaded Britain after decades of popularity in America—but they face a battle for the taste buds of “biscuit-mad” Britons, the Christian Science Monitor reports. Dipping biscuits (read: bland cookies) in tea is a sacred British ritual dating back centuries. Despite Kraft’s saturation of the UK advertising...
Jones Misses Hanging Out in Clubhouse
Sporting News
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May 18, 2008 7:24 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Major League clubhouses are not what they used to be, reports Detroit Tigers reliever Todd Jones on his blog for the Sporting News. Years ago, players used to arrive late and leave even later after games, sometimes hanging out together til 3 in the morning. Now players arrive way earlier than needed and leave right after the game. Issues with...
Gunman in Custody Battle Opens Fire at Church Fair
Los Angeles Times
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May 18, 2008 7:10 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Three people were wounded yesterday when a gunman involved in a child custody battle opened fire on his ex-girlfriend at a church school festival in San Fernando Valley, reports the Los Angeles Times . Families ran screaming as the gunman nonchalantly lifted his rifle and began squeezing off rounds in front of his 9-year-old son. Two bystanders tackled...
Nationals Hope to Harness Dukes' Anger
ESPN
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May 18, 2008 6:43 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Elijah Dukes hit a home run against the New York Yankees in his first major league at-bat. A few weeks later, the then-Tampa Bay Devil Ray threatened to kill his estranged wife and their two young children. That about sums up how Dukes' career has gone, reports ESPN . “Why is he so angry? That's the million-dollar question. You answer that,...
Obama Plans 'Victory' Trip to Iowa
Reuters
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May 18, 2008 6:39 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Barack Obama plans a primary-day early victory trip to Iowa, where he won the Democrats’ first contest, Reuters reports. He anticipates grabbing a majority of pledged delegates after the Oregon and Kentucky vote that will help clinch the race —though neither candidate will have enough pledged delegates to lock the nomination until the convention....
Online Friending Grows Stranger
Newsweek
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May 18, 2008 6:00 AM CDT
(Newser) -
How many online friends is too many? Facebook insists users can only have 5,000—and that's not enough for some, discovers Stephen Levy in Newsweek. "Who am I to say no to friendship?" asks one user who spends 12 hours a day on Facebook and has a waiting list of 500 would-be pals. Levy even discovers a mere potato on MySpace with 2,695...
'Lion' Kennedy King of the Senate
Time
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May 18, 2008 5:36 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Ted Kennedy’s seizure yesterday forced Washington lawmakers to imagine a world without the legendary 76-year-old senator—and how difficult it would be to fill his shoes, Time notes. Willing to work across the aisle to push key legislation, the Democratic kingpin's name has been on nearly all the bipartisan bills of the past seven years....
'Virtual Iraq' Helps Vets Face Stress
New Yorker
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May 18, 2008 5:14 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Therapists are plunging US war veterans back into the horrors of battle—as therapy. A virtual reality treatment is helping them cope with post-traumatic stress disorder by returning them to scarring events until their shock value wanes. "When the ground starts vibrating and you smell smoke and hear the AK-47 firing, it becomes very real,"...
The 'Gayby' Boom
Details
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May 18, 2008 4:47 AM CDT
(Newser) -
What’s the latest in the gay lifestyle? Babies—lots of them. Smashing the old cliché of wild and fabulous freedom, more gay men are settling down with kids, in some cases partnering with surrogates to forge a genetic link. And it’s not just for couples. Singles are also opting for parenthood—without sacrificing their...
Fall In, Boy! Wentz Weds Young Simpson
OK!
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May 17, 2008 7:53 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Ashlee Simpson wed beau Pete Wentz in a sunset ceremony today before some 150 VIP guests, OK! reports. Nicole Ritchie, Joel Madden, and Scrubs star Donald Faison were among the onlookers in Encino, Calif. as Ashlee's sister Jessica handled maid of honor duties.
Gallup Asks What Muslims Really Think
Christian Science Monitor
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May 17, 2008 7:19 PM CDT
(Newser) -
What do the world’s Muslims really think? In an astonishing 6-year study, Gallup interviewed 1 billion of them to find out. The vast majority support democracy, political freedoms, and women’s rights, the Christian Science Monitor reports: Most said they admire the West for its technology, hard work, and respect for human rights....
Bird Lives! And He Does It in Fanatic Detail
New Yorker
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May 17, 2008 6:38 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A white guy from Queens may be our best link to a music rooted in black history. Phil Schapp grew up in a home full of jazz, and has hosted a radio show obsessed with the music's minutiae for decades, the New Yorker reports. He's liable to digress on Charlie Parker's pronunciation of "Okiedoke," but that's an improvement: "For the...
