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.
US Cargo Jet Crashes in Belgium
AFP
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May 26, 2008 3:10 AM CDT
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A US jumbo jet carrying diplomatic cargo from the American embassy in Belgium crashed on take-off from a Brussels airport and broke into three pieces, reports Agence France Presse. The aircraft came to rest just a quarter mile from a residential area. The crew of five, all Americans, were not injured.
'Family Circus' Mommy Dies at 82
Arizona Republic (Phoenix)
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May 26, 2008 2:42 AM CDT
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The inspiration for the mom in the popular Family Circus cartoon has died at the age of 82 of Alzheimer's disease. Thelma Keane was the wife of cartoonist Bil Keane, who based the long-running strip of domestic hilarity on the couple's experience raising five children, reports the Arizona Republic . "I give all the credit to my wife," Keane...
Come On, Her RFK Gaffe's Not So Bad
Politico
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May 25, 2008 7:53 PM CDT
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Why have reporters turned Hillary Clinton's RFK flub into a huge story? To generate online hits with more political gossip, John Harris writes in Politico. Sure, it's hot news to hear about, but if you watch the remark on video, it's "deflating," Harris writes—it's just a calm, analytical statement made deep into a 20-minute conversation.
Sperm Donors May Lose Anonymity
Newsweek
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May 25, 2008 7:36 PM CDT
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The halcyon days of anonymous sperm donation may draw to a close, Newsweek reports, as children's rights and health issues prompt the country’s top three sperm banks to consider a national registry for sperm and egg donors. The list may allow recipients to learn about inherited health risks, and give the progeny of manufactured unions a link...
Phoenix Touches Down on Mars
Space.com
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May 25, 2008 7:14 PM CDT
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The Phoenix probe has landed safely on Mars' icy surface and begun its search for life, Space.com reports. Exultant NASA scientists are now awaiting a second radio signal to see how much power it has left—a critical element of the mission. And they await the probe's first snapshots. "I can't wait for even that first look at the surface,"...
GOP in Shock Over McCain's Campaign
New York Times
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May 25, 2008 6:46 PM CDT
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GOP leaders fear that John McCain's campaign has hit the skids, the New York Times reports. A flurry of staff resignations, a hobbled national crew, and doubts about McCain's ability to capitalize on Democrats' troubles all add to the mix. Not to mention that McCain's drive is nowhere near the efficiency of President Bush's 2004 re-election bid.
Colombian Rebels Confirm Leader's Death
Associated Press
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May 25, 2008 6:23 PM CDT
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A top Colombian rebel confirmed the death of FARC chief Manuel Marulanda in a TV interview today. Marulanda died of a heart attack 2 months ago, at age 78, "in the arms of his companion," he said. With "Sureshot" gone, new rebel leader Alfonso Cano may struggle to keep the Marxist group going, the AP reports.
Kennedy Clan Blasts Clinton for RFK Flub
New York Post
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May 25, 2008 6:08 PM CDT
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has defended Hillary Clinton’s RFK gaffe, but other Kennedy clan members are fuming, the New York Post reports. As the anniversary of RFK’s murder nears, one relative cited Clinton’s “perceived insensitivity,” especially after Ted Kennedy’s brain cancer diagnosis. Another said the comment...
Jones Knocks Out Box Office
Variety
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May 25, 2008 5:43 PM CDT
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Indiana Jones whipped his box office rivals this weekend with the second-best Memorial Day debut ever, Variety reports, grossing $126 million. Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian finished second with $23 million; Iron Man showed no signs of rust in third, earning $20.1 million; and What Happens in Vegas and Speed Racer wrapped up the top...
Lebanon Picks Prez, Ends 6-Month Crisis
Washington Post
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May 25, 2008 5:26 PM CDT
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Lebanon elected its first leader in 6 months today by naming Gen. Michel Suleiman as president, the Washington Post reports. Fireworks filled the sky to a chorus of car honks after Suleiman secured the post with a near-unanimous 118 of 127 parliamentary votes. But the nation remains torn between US-Saudi backing and the forces of Hezbollah.
French Class Tops Cannes Honors
Hollywood Reporter
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May 25, 2008 5:11 PM CDT
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Laurent Cantet's The Class walked away with Cannes' prestigious Palm D'Or today, the final day of competition, reports the Hollywood Reporter. It was the first time a French film had claimed the prize since 1987. Cannes Jury President Sean Penn followed the announcement with a list of largely sleeper candidates. Among them:
Obama Takes Message of Hope to Wesleyan
Politico
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May 25, 2008 4:56 PM CDT
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Barack Obama stepped in for Ted Kennedy to deliver Wesleyan University’s commencement address today, and urged graduates to look beyond "our money culture" to a higher cause. “There is nothing naïve about your impulse to change this world,” Obama told the 800 graduates and guests gathered at the small, Connecticut liberal...
Dixon Nails Indy 500 Win
Associated Press
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May 25, 2008 4:27 PM CDT
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Quick crew work boosted Scott Dixon to victory at the Indianapolis 500 today, ahead of Vitor Meira and Marco Andretti, the AP reports. Danica Patrick, vying to be Indy's first female winner, got clipped with 29 laps left, snapped her suspension, and finished 22nd. Several other crashes and failures haunted drivers today. "There were so many yellows,"...
'Miracle Marine' Dead After 3-Year Struggle
Associated Press
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May 25, 2008 4:00 PM CDT
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A Marine who endured burns on 97% of his body with good humor and hope has died during routine surgery, USA Today reports. Hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq, Sgt. Merlin German walked, talked, and even danced during his 3-year recovery. Undergoing more than 100 surgeries, he became a symbol of resilience and started a charity for burned kids called...
Newest MLB Division: AL Pacific?
ESPN
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May 25, 2008 3:33 PM CDT
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With the help of modern air travel, Major League Baseball should seriously consider expanding across the Pacific, writes Jim Caple for ESPN. Such a move could be both profitable and intriguing, and keep Japan from hemorrhaging its best talent. Though, as Red Sox manager Terry Francona points out, "Saying it would be fun and making it work are...
WiFi Startup Wants to Share the Love
New York Times
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May 25, 2008 3:16 PM CDT
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WiFi hot spots should be anywhere and everywhere, says Martin Varsavsky. The 48-year-old Internet guru founded FON, a company that's built a WiFi network on members' shared wireless connections. Analysts say such global WiFi is only years away, but FON could still lose out; despite $55.2 million from giants like Google and BT, FON may fall to better-funded...
Would Kerouac Be a Nuppie?
Reason Magazine
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May 25, 2008 2:53 PM CDT
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The evolving lifestyle of nuppies—nomadic urban professionals—and upscale designers' efforts to outfit them catch the attention of Greg Beato, writing in Reason . Casulo, a trunk "crammed with enough stylish furniture to outfit a studio apartment," is one such easily transported option; a pair of mobile homes intends to take...
Kate, Lance Light It Up at Cannes
People
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May 25, 2008 2:30 PM CDT
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Among the glitterati packing it in at Cannes was "so cute" couple Kate Hudson and Lance Armstrong—liplocked at Dolce & Gabbana's annual bash, People reports. "They were beaming at each other," a source said. The pair hit up the dance floor, rocking to '80s classics, and rubbed elbows with the likes of Lindsay Lohan,...
McCain's 'Real Age' Is 63
Newsweek
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May 25, 2008 2:22 PM CDT
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McCain may be 71.8 years old on paper, but his biological age is a youthful 63.7, according to the physician who wrote You: The Owner's Manual. Dr. Michael Roizen made the estimate based on McCain's recently-released medical records (though some details on the candidate's dietary and exercise habits were missing). Only kink? One year in the Oval...
Christian Star Bids Goodbye to Slain Daughter
People
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May 25, 2008 1:51 PM CDT
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Christian pop star Steven Curtis Chapman and his family yesterday bid goodbye to his 5-year-old daughter in a memorial service that honored a little girl who loved to draw flowers and do dishes "buck naked," People reports. Maria Sue Chapman, one of three daughters Chapman and his wife adopted from China, was killed after her 17-year-old...
Prof Grapples With Fate: Teaching Dolts
The Atlantic
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May 25, 2008 1:32 PM CDT
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An English professor at a small US college admits that half his job is killing students' dreams—dreams that they can write, think, or even form a sentence, he writes anonymously in the Atlantic . Yet more American jobs require college credits, and his role is to force Joyce and Faulkner on these aspiring professionals—even if "their...
As Gas Spikes, Profit Scarce for Station Owners
Washington Post
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May 25, 2008 1:13 PM CDT
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Feeling sorry for gas station owners might be more than the average consumer can muster these days, but, reports the Washington Post, the emotion might not be misguided. Oil giants like Exxon cut owners' profit margins and raise rents, while micromanaging details down to which shelf franchisees place soda on. If the owner raises the price per gallon...
'Campaign of People' Buoys Obama
Chicago Tribune
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May 25, 2008 12:55 PM CDT
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Barack Obama’s grassroots campaigning is what brought the underdog to the top of the heap, the Chicago Tribune says. His camp’s goal from the start was to dodge the Democratic party’s political machine and address voters directly. “You could see in the first few hours that something was happening,” said the candidate’s...
Severed Feet Stump Cops in Canada
Globe and Mail
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May 25, 2008 12:19 PM CDT
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A fourth foot in a sneaker has washed up on a Canadian shore, leaving investigators more puzzled than ever. Each of the three previous right feet have been in sneakers and have washed up on different islands near Vancouver over the last 10 months, reports the Globe and Mail. The feet don't appear to have been "forcibly removed," said an...
50 Top Pop Brainiacs
Blender
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May 25, 2008 11:43 AM CDT
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"Towering natural abilities" and "exceptional creative powers" infuse the most memorable music of generations, forged by Blender's top 50 pop-music geniuses. The top 10: Bob Dylan: Each of his brave self-reinventions is "an authentic American original." John Lennon: "His drive pushed the Beatles from...
Laugh-In Creator Dick Martin Dead at 86
Associated Press
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May 25, 2008 11:17 AM CDT
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The final judge has come for Dick Martin, co-founder of the groundbreaking comedy show Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In and later a prolific director, the AP reports. Martin, the wacky counterpoint to partner Dan Rowan's straight man, died last night at age 86 of respiratory problems. Laugh-In , which began in 1968, launched the careers of Goldie Hawn...
Teens Struggle in Tight Job Market
New York Times
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May 25, 2008 10:32 AM CDT
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The economic downturn has taken a toll on teenagers searching for a summer job, the New York Times reports. With the teen job market at its smallest in decades, less than a third of teens are expected to be employed this summer, says a Northeastern University study—a far cry from the 45% working in 2000.
Poorly Built Schools Stood No Chance in Earthquake
New York Times
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May 25, 2008 9:56 AM CDT
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As a massive earthquake shook Sichuan province, subpar construction turned many Chinese schoolrooms into the mass graves of as many as 10,000 children, the New York Times reports, and grieving parents are pointing fingers at Beijing. The government, aware of the problem, had issued warnings on school safety in the years before the quake—but...
Cruise Threatens Baby Shop Over Leaks
ABC News
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May 25, 2008 9:15 AM CDT
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Always-bristling actor Tom Cruise had his attorney read the riot act to a luxury Los Angeles baby boutique for allegedly leaking word that he and wife Katie Holmes went on a $400,000 buying binge after their daughter, Suri, was born. The owner of the Petit Tresor, who received a nasty cease-and-desist note from Cruise's lawyer, insisted her shop is...
Microsoft Dumps Book-Scanning
Associated Press
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May 25, 2008 8:57 AM CDT
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Microsoft is ending its searchable book-scanning process, leaving the task of digitizing libraries’ worth of text to Google, AP reports. The move follows Yahoo’s rejection of Microsoft’s takeover bid and suggests a new direction for the struggling online component of the world’s software king. Microsoft joined the book-scanning...
70,000 Homes Collapse in New China Aftershock
Reuters
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May 25, 2008 8:12 AM CDT
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Quake-devastated China suffered yet another major setback today when it was rocked by the strongest aftershock since the May 12 earthquake, Bloomberg reports. At least one person was killed and 400 injured when a 5.8 magnitude quake toppled some 70,000 homes in Sichuan province, according to Reuters. The quake hit as troops laden with explosives were...
More Sonics Emails Reveal Owner Duplicity
Seattle Times
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May 25, 2008 8:00 AM CDT
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Some of Aubrey McClendon's emails to his fellow SuperSonics owners have been revealed in a transcript of his April deposition, and they don't appear to help his case. The inquiry into whether the Oklahoma City-based investment group made good-faith efforts to keep the team in Seattle turned up two relatively damaging messages, reports the Seattle...
Busy Military Cemeteries Keep Customers Satisfied
Associated Press
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May 25, 2008 7:39 AM CDT
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With veterans of World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam dying at a record clip, US National Cemeteries are performing more than 100 burials a day—and often use assembly-line tactics to meet demand, AP reports. Despite the use of heavy machinery and the volume—1,800 veterans die each day—the National Cemetery Administration has the...
Thousands Protest South African Violence
Reuters
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May 25, 2008 6:55 AM CDT
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Thousands of South Africans marched through Johannesburg yesterday to protest anti-immigrant rampages that have claimed at least 50 lives. Carrying placards comparing the violence to apartheid, marchers brought traffic to a standstill, Reuters reports. The action was organized by labor unions and churches. The nation's largest newspaper today called...
Odds of Cataclysmic Space-Rock Crash: 1 in 10
The Atlantic
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May 25, 2008 6:19 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Chicken Little may have been smarter than we thought. A growing body of evidence reveals that the sky is falling, or at least gigantic space rocks are—and the Earth is at far greater risk of a catastrophic strike than previously thought, reports Atlantic . Despite the danger—an impact could make a nuclear bomb look like a firecracker—NASA...
Young Knievel Sails Over 24 Trucks
Cincinnati Enquirer
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May 25, 2008 5:44 AM CDT
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The daredevil son of the legendary Evel Knievel successfully jumped 24 semi-trucks on his motorcycle yesterday, dwarfing his father’s 1975 14-bus stunt, the Enquirer reports. A crowd of more than 40,000 gathered in Ohio to watch the flight, which intimidated young Robbie "Kaptain" Knievel “more than he let on,” said a...
Archaeologist: I've Found Cleopatra's Tomb
Times (UK)
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May 25, 2008 5:18 AM CDT
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A leading archaeologist in Egypt has announced he’s found the tomb of Cleopatra and Mark Antony, the Times of London reports. Zahi Hawass believes the ancient lovers are buried beneath a temple near Alexandria, where he found a 400-foot tunnel. “We’ve found tunnels with statues of Cleopatra and many coins bearing her face—things...
Red Wings Ice Penguins in 4-0 Rout
Detroit Free Press
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May 25, 2008 1:00 AM CDT
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For a while it looked like the kickoff of the Stanley Cup finals would be a goalie's battle, but then Detroit's Mikael Samuelsson kicked into gear with goals in the second and third periods. Two more Red Wings goals on Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury, by Dan Cleary and Henrik Zetterberg, sealed the Penguins' 4-0 fate, reports the Detroit Free Press....
Obama Says Clinton Meant No Offense in RFK Comment
Chicago Tribune
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May 24, 2008 9:48 PM CDT
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Barack Obama said today that he believes Hillary Clinton meant no harm when she made her much-maligned comment about Robert Kennedy's assassination, the Chicago Tribune reports. "Sen. Clinton says that she did not intend any offense by it, and I will take her at her word on that," he told a Puerto Rico radio station. Clinton has apologized...
Harry Potter Actor Killed in Vicious London Knife Fight
Daily Mail (UK)
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May 24, 2008 9:18 PM CDT
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Robert Knox, a young British actor set to appear in an upcoming Harry Potter movie, was stabbed to death outside a London bar early today, the Daily Mail reports. The teen, who had finished filming his part as Ravenclaw student Marcus Belby, was killed defending his younger brother following an apparent dispute over a stolen cellphone. He is the...
What's Wrong With a Little Liberal Guilt?
Slate
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May 24, 2008 8:13 PM CDT
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Conservatives snigger about “liberal guilt" and deride white supporters of Barack Obama as “guilty liberals"—but what’s wrong with having a conscience after America's 4 centuries of racial injustice? There’s no shame in acknowledging it, Ron Rosenbaum writes in Slate: Let's not "delegitimize sincere excitement”...
Tornadoes Leave 2 Dead in Midwest
Associated Press
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May 24, 2008 7:52 PM CDT
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Kansas authorities uncovered two bodies from a crumpled car today after nearly 20 tornadoes whipped through the state yesterday, the AP reports. Several more twisters landed in the countryside of northwestern Oklahoma, leveling a few barns, and Colorado residents are returning to the town of Windsor today after twisters damaged 596 homes there.
Cheer Up! Recession Has a Bright Side
Los Angeles Times
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May 24, 2008 7:28 PM CDT
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While the specter of recession may leave you cold, consider the bright side: These days contractors, starved for work, actually show up on time, and killer gas prices help you to drive around a city like Los Angeles without facing much traffic, Meghan Daum writes in the Los Angeles Times .
Best Hotels for Star Sightings
Travel Leisure
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May 24, 2008 7:14 PM CDT
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Ensure your vacation pics won't bore your friends by holing up in a lavish resort populated with A-list celebs. Travel+Leisure lists 10 hotels fit for the pages of US Weekly: George Clooney was spotted at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, where each 6,500-square-foot villa has a private courtyard with a fireplace and hot tub.
Germany Seizes 'eBay Baby'
BBC
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May 24, 2008 6:53 PM CDT
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Germany has taken a seven-month-old baby from his parents after they tried to sell him on eBay, the BBC reports. The yet-unnamed child was advertised as “nearly-new” and had a starting price of one euro. “It was only a joke,” the child’s mother said. “I just wanted to see if someone would make an offer.”
6 Die in 5.7-Mag Colombia Quake
Reuters
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May 24, 2008 6:29 PM CDT
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At least six people died and eight were injured during an earthquake in Colombia today, Reuters reports. The 5.7-magnitude temblor also razed 10 homes, damaged buildings, and sent people running into the streets of Bogota. Three of the quake's fatalities were trapped in landslides, and three others, including a baby, were in a car buried by an avalanche.
Let's Hang Up on the Female Booty Call
Australia's News Network
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May 24, 2008 6:29 PM CDT
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When her husband got steamy text message from a drunk female colleague, Janine di Giovanni had had enough: "Go back to the male booty call, I say." Marshaling evidence from a big French study and anecdotes from friends, Giovanni writes in Australia's News Network that too many women have become the initiators of bedroom conquests—regardless...
Quake May Have Saved Beijing Games
Associated Press
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May 24, 2008 6:10 PM CDT
(Newser) -
By pushing human rights and torch relay news off the front pages, China's massive earthquake may have revived an Olympics deemed "in crisis" only 2 weeks ago by the IOC chief, the AP reports. "I'm sorry to say it, but this has turned things around," said another IOC official.
Colombian Rebel Leader Rumored Dead
AFP
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May 24, 2008 5:48 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Columbian rebel leader Manuel Marulanda Velez is dead, according to an interview with an official in a weekly magazine, AFP reports. The elusive FARC leader, known as “Sure Shot,” helped start the Marxist rebel group in the 1960s to battle Colombia's conservative government. He was rumored to have terminal cancer earlier this year.
Cheap 'Bump Keys' Ease Break-Ins
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
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May 24, 2008 5:26 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A special key now widely available online can make it simple to break into homes, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. The $3 “bump key”—a longtime tool of locksmiths—can open most locks with the aid of a bump from a hammer. “A motivated individual with some time and very little skill can learn to 'bump' open...
