Newser Story Index from June, 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.
Heeeeeeeeeeeeere's a Lawsuit!
Associated Press
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Jun 20, 2008 10:45 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Citibank has filed suit against former Johnny Carson sidekick Ed McMahon to recover $200,000 it loaned to the struggling actor, the AP reports. McMahon, 85, who has not worked since falling 18 months ago, also faces foreclosure on his Beverly Hills home. “If you spend more money than you make,” McMahon recently told Larry King, “you...
Obama Grabs 15-Point Lead Over McCain: Poll
Newsweek
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Jun 20, 2008 8:21 PM CDT
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Breaking out of a tight race, Barack Obama registered a 51% to 36% lead over John McCain in the newest Newsweek nationwide poll, released today. Obama's bounce, expected after Hillary Clinton conceded him the Democratic nomination, comes courtesy of younger voters, who prefer him by 66% to 27%. Among registered voters age 40 and up, the two hopefuls...
Goodbye, RV: Hello, Real Travel
Chicago Tribune
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Jun 20, 2008 7:59 PM CDT
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With gas prices up and on the rise, your Winnebago may soon be stuck in park—but the fall of car culture's ugliest offender will force us to reconnect with better pastimes, writes Garrison Keillor in the Chicago Tribune . “Banjo sales will pick up,” Keillor writes. “The screened porch will come back in style. And the art of...
Turkey's PM Could Fall Over Headscarves
American
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Jun 20, 2008 7:16 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Turkey's secular judges want to oust the ruling party for its moderate, and popular, stance on religion freedoms, Mustafa Akyol writes in the American . On paper, the judiciary seeks to punish the incumbent AKP party for crimes such as nepotism and corruption. In reality, Akyol writes, the AKP's support for headscarves in Turkish universities is what...
McCain Misfires by Targeting Prosecutions
New Republic
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Jun 20, 2008 6:35 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Terrorism may be the one issue on which John McCain out-polls his presidential rival, Jonathan Chait writes in the New Republic , yet he has faltered by slamming Obama's call to prosecute terrorists. None other than 9/11 hawk Rudy Giuliani wanted prosecutions too—and other options, like guns and bombs, don't always work. Would anyone want an...
NFL Network, After Ratings Flop, in Talks With ESPN
Wall Street Journal
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Jun 20, 2008 5:58 PM CDT
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Having lost a game of chicken with the nation’s cable operators, the National Football League is in talks with ESPN to carry prime-time games that were unavailable to most American households last season, the Wall Street Journal reports. The NFL’s channel, charging lucrative fees, is available in only 40 million homes; major cable companies...
Documentaries: Box Office Wimps
Los Angeles Times
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Jun 20, 2008 5:38 PM CDT
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Although big-name documentaries such as An Inconvenient Truth and Sicko have raised the genre's profile, recent ones just aren't pulling in audiences, the Los Angeles Times reports. The critically acclaimed steroid film Bigger, Stronger, Faster has grossed only $164,000 since its release three weeks ago, and the Oscar-winning Taxi to the Dark...
Lithuania's Negative Energy Bad for Europe
Economist
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Jun 20, 2008 5:25 PM CDT
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Lithuanians "should be furious" with politicians who have backed the Baltic nation into a "potentially appalling" crisis of energy and policy, the Economist notes. As condition for its admission to the European Union, Lithuania promised to shutter its Ignalina nuclear power plant by 2009—and pols have made no move to replace...
Oz Tops US As World's Fattest
Age (Aust.)
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Jun 20, 2008 5:02 PM CDT
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Australia is the fattest nation in the world, the Age reports. A new study says body-mass index measurements pegs 4 million people—26% of the nation's population—as obese, narrowly beating the US, where 25% are obese. An additional 5 million Aussies are classified as overweight—with the usual suspects of more fast food and less...
Amazon Kept Laughing After Dot-Com Bust
Economist
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Jun 20, 2008 4:45 PM CDT
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Yahoo, eBay, and Amazon emerged from the dot-com bust as a mighty triumvirate, but only Amazon has kept its mojo in the decade's latter stages, the Economist reports. Yahoo, the oldest of the lot at 14, shooed away Microsoft, surrendered part of its business to Google, and failed to stay current. It survives, “but on the web’s equivalent...
Did Armani Give Becks a Package Deal?
MSNBC
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Jun 20, 2008 4:30 PM CDT
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Some skivvies sleuthing has a British tabloid wondering if San Franciscans are seeing a larger-than-life David Beckham in 100-foot-tall Armani underwear ads dominating downtown Union Square, MSNBC reports. The Daily Mail compares Armani's images to some 2006 pics of Becks beachside which show his Speedo decidedly less … full. “There...
Proposed Philly Mega-Skyscraper Rivals US' Best
Philadelphia Daily News
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Jun 20, 2008 4:15 PM CDT
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Philadelphia took a step toward entering America's mega-skyscraper club today, the Daily News reports, with a city councilman introducing zoning legislation for a building that, at 1,500 feet, would eclipse Chicago's Sears Tower. Plenty of bureaucratic hurdles remain for the proposed American Commerce Center, including retooling the city's planning...
Kit Kittredge is Sweet, Simple
Rotten Tomatoes
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Jun 20, 2008 4:00 PM CDT
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The young girls who love the “American Girl” series are pretty much guaranteed to love Kit Kittredge: An American Girl , critics agree. Rex Reed of the New York Observer calls it “a brisk, beautifully conceived period piece that spells entertainment with a capital E,” though he admits it’s “so sweet and sanitized...
House Passes Compromise FISA Bill
Washington Post
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Jun 20, 2008 3:45 PM CDT
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The House today approved a bill updating FISA law and granting qualified immunity to telecom companies that aided the Bush administration in warrantless wiretapping. A majority of Democrats opposed the bill, which passed 293-129. Nancy Pelosi supported the measure despite serious reservations because it refutes the administration's argument about "inherent...
Dow Plummets to Below 12,000
MarketWatch
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Jun 20, 2008 3:34 PM CDT
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The markets tumbled today to lows not seen since the Bear Stearns fiasco in March, MarketWatch reports. Oil surged back over $135 a barrel, erasing yesterday’s meager gains, and bad news continued to depress financials. The Dow fell 220.40 to 11,842.69, the Nasdaq 55.87 to 2,406.09, and the S&P 500 24.90 to 1,317.93.
MoveOn Axes Big-Money Fundraising Arm
Talking Points Memo
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Jun 20, 2008 3:17 PM CDT
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One day after Barack Obama became the first candidate since Watergate to reject general election public financing, a prominent liberal grassroots group has disbanded its 527 operation. "We, like Senator Obama, believe that this election can be won by ordinary Americans giving small donations,” MoveOn said in a statement. This cuts MoveOn...
Ventriloquists Speak Up for Themselves
Wall Street Journal
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Jun 20, 2008 3:03 PM CDT
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Ventriloquism has been on the outs since the '70s, but its fortunes are starting to turn, the Wall Street Journal reports. Symbolizing the resurgence of the vaudeville favorite is Terry Fator, a winner of NBC’s America’s Got Talent competition, who recently picked up a yearlong headlining gig at the Las Vegas Hilton.
Calif. County Shuffles Clerks Who Oppose Gay Marriage
Los Angeles Times
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Jun 20, 2008 2:49 PM CDT
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Some employees of the San Diego County clerk's office are being shuffled to other duties because they object to same-sex marriage, the Los Angeles Times reports. Fourteen workers initially posed "sincerely held religious objections," but sources said many had since changed their minds. Marriage-license business has approximately doubled...
Floods Ruin Midwest Economy
MSNBC
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Jun 20, 2008 2:30 PM CDT
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The floods ravaging the Midwest are taking a catastrophic toll on the region's farmers, and consumers across the country will feel the pinch in higher food prices, MSNBC reports. Even if waters recede quickly, farmers will lose a sizable chunk of the season—they need about 120 growing days—and it may take some farms years to recover. Summed...
Little Teen Angst for Rising NASCAR Star
Dallas Morning News
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Jun 20, 2008 2:15 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Joey Logano has an extra reason not to drink and drive: The winner of last week's NASCAR Nationwide Series race is just 18. Called the future of racing before he had a license, Logano has the attitude of champion—and a teenager, notes Richard Durrett in the Dallas Morning News . Asked about his favorite part of the race, Logano said, "The...
Japan Unveils Robot Girlfriend
Reuters
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Jun 20, 2008 1:53 PM CDT
(Newser) -
If you’re looking for love and the electronic variety is good enough, a Japanese company may have just the thing for you. Sega unveiled “EMA” today (that’s Eternal Maiden Actualization), a 15-inch robotic girlfriend that can find and kiss human faces on command, Reuters reports. The company hopes to sell 10,000—mainly...
'Swift Boating' Fears for Obama May Be Premature
Politico
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Jun 20, 2008 1:35 PM CDT
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Democrats fretting over a reprise of the swift boating that marked the 2004 campaign may be hearing false alarms, Politico reports. Third-party organizations, aka 527 groups, have thus far been unable to drum up enough opposition to Barack Obama to fund an offensive. It's early yet, but antagonists like T. Boone Pickens and Freedom's Watch are on the...
Stealing Home: Five Signs It's Time to Lowball
Newsweek
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Jun 20, 2008 1:18 PM CDT
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It's not always the economy, stupid. Even in a weak market, buyers should consider a homeowner's situation before hurling a lowball bid, writes Daniel McGinn in Newsweek . One real estate broker offers five sure signs that a seller is ready to deal: Nobody's home. Sellers who have moved on, or will soon, probably want to unload the property...
How to Fake Fanaticism
ESPN
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Jun 20, 2008 1:14 PM CDT
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With some sports teams soaring and others tanking, there's no time like the present to jump on a bandwagon, writes D.J. Gallo for ESPN.com. In 10 easy steps, you too can latch onto a winning organization: Pick a team. Hint: avoid the losers. Get some gear, but skip the tattoo. Involve your family. They make pink jerseys for a reason....
Oscars Tweak Nominations
Hollywood Reporter
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Jun 20, 2008 1:09 PM CDT
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After perceived snubs in the foreign language film nominations and complaints about the way Enchanted dominated this year's original song race, both categories will undergo "formidable" overhauls, an Academy honcho tells the Hollywood Reporter . "It will ensure that that the oversight that we had this past year would not have happened,"...
Plame Cover-Up Continues, McClellan Says on Hill
Talking Points Memo
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Jun 20, 2008 12:48 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Scott McClellan took to Capitol Hill today, and in what one Republican dismissed as “book-of-the-month club” meeting, took on the CIA leak case and the Iraq war, among other topics. The former White House press secretary said he didn’t know if a crime had been committed in the CIA outing, but “suspicion still remains”...
The Best Athlete on the Planet
Wall Street Journal
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Jun 20, 2008 12:40 PM CDT
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If Earth could only send one guy to a galactic Olympics, who would it be? The Wall Street Journal had a panel of sports experts hash it out, and its top 10 might surprise: Roman Sebrle: Czech decathlon champion wins on versatility. LeBron James: What can’t the NBA star do? Floyd Mayweather Jr.: Boxing's demands make its...
It's Official: Bikinis Make Men Stupid
MSNBC
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Jun 20, 2008 12:26 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Men make dumb decisions when ogling bikini-clad beauties—conventional wisdom, sure, but now there's some science behind it. Belgian researchers found that men bombarded with sexy images have a definite drop-off in cognitive skills when compared with those who gaze at landscapes, reports MSNBC. The experiment supports earlier findings that arousal...
Get Smart Not So Clever
Rotten Tomatoes
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Jun 20, 2008 12:15 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The film version of the 1960s TV spy parody Get Smart can’t decide if it's an action flick or a comedy, and it shows. It’s “an action comedy that represents the worst of both worlds,” Mick LaSalle writes in the San Francisco Chronicle —“as funny as a gently smiling mime” while “bloated, confused and...
Forget the Small-Donor Myth: Big Money Still Rules
Washington Post
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Jun 20, 2008 12:05 PM CDT
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Barack Obama often talks about how much money he’s raised from small donors, even describing it as “a parallel public financing system.” But while Obama has indeed raised record sums from little guys, big donors have kept pace , writes Jay Mandle of the Washington Post, predicting that when the dust settles, their 2008 role will...
National Zoo's Panda Preggers?
Associated Press
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Jun 20, 2008 11:56 AM CDT
(AP) -
The National Zoo in DC says panda mother Mei Xiang is showing a spike in hormone levels, a sign that she might be pregnant again. Mei Xiang was artificially inseminated in March with semen from Tian Tian, the zoo's male giant panda. Hormone test results indicate Mei Xiang will either give birth or come to the end of a false pregnancy in late July.
Bloomberg Defends Obama Before Jewish Audience
Associated Press
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Jun 20, 2008 11:45 AM CDT
(Newser) -
NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg today urged Jewish voters in Florida to denounce and speak out against false rumors that paint Barack Obama as a secret Muslim, the AP reports. Bloomberg—mentioned as a potential VP for both White House contenders—spoke out against the campaign that plays off "fears and stereotypes." His speech could give...
Want to Skirt Smoking Laws in Germany? Join the Club
Associated Press
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Jun 20, 2008 11:44 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Smoking in a bar is verboten in much of Germany, so many watering holes have decided they’re not “bars” anymore—they’re private clubs where members are free to light up. The dodge appalls anti-smoking groups, but one club owner says cigarettes are essential to his business. “I wanted to offer three things: smoking,...
Cannibal Family Ate Boy's Flesh
Sun (UK)
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Jun 20, 2008 11:35 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A family of Czech cannibals is on trial for hacking off pieces of a 7-year-old boy who survived the ghoulish abuse, the Sun reports. The horror unraveled last year when a neighbor’s baby monitor picked up images of the chained-up boy meant to be seen by the boy's mother.
Man Charged in Wife's Honeymoon Dive Death
Associated Press
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Jun 20, 2008 11:25 AM CDT
(Newser) -
An Alabama man has been charged with murdering his wife on a diving trip to Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the AP reports. The bride, a novice diver, drowned minutes after diving to a shipwreck with her husband. He was a qualified dive rescuer but rose to the surface rather than save her, officials said. Australian police became suspicious when he...
Wear and Tear Could Mean Early Arthritis for Tiger
Associated Press
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Jun 20, 2008 11:24 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Doctors were impressed by Tiger Woods’ US Open win despite recent surgery and obvious pain—but they say the damage could lead to early arthritis that will eventually push him off the green, the AP reports. Next year, “he should be able to get back and compete at the same level," said one expert. "How well he holds up long-term...
Supermodel Campbell Owns Up to Air Rage
Associated Press
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Jun 20, 2008 11:10 AM CDT
(AP) -
Naomi Campbell pleaded guilty today to kicking and spitting at two police officers during an April "air rage" incident at Heathrow Airport. The short-tempered supermodel went ballistic when a bag was misplaced during the epic delays surrounding the opening of a new terminal. She faces 6 months in prison or a $10,000 fine for each of six assault...
Obama's a Pragmatist, Not a Reformer
Politico
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Jun 20, 2008 11:06 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Barack Obama’s decision to opt out of the public financing system shouldn’t come as a surprise, writes Politico’s Ben Smith. Obama has been inching away from the money for a long time now, proving once again that he’s not a traditional reformer—he’s a pragmatist. Obama comes from a community organizing tradition...
Felon Fans Fluster Cyrus
Hollyscoop
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Jun 20, 2008 10:50 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Miley Cyrus has a new crop of fans: prisoners. The tween queen’s topless pose in Vanity Fair has made its way through the penitentiary postal service, and now a disgusted Cyrus is being bombarded with letters from the clink, Hollyscoop reports. Prisoners are posting her risque photos on their cell walls, along with other provocative shots that...
Darfur Sinking Into Chaos of Warring Rebel Groups
Washington Post
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Jun 20, 2008 10:42 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The civil war in Darfur has degenerated into a tangled mess of militias and warlords battling each other, a development that threatens efforts to bring relief to the 2.5 million people affected by the fighting. Dozens of rebel groups are at war with each other, not just the government, and “the lines of who's who are much more blurred,”...
Could Nadal Dominate Wimbledon?
New York Sun
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Jun 20, 2008 10:41 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Rafael Nadal has long since proven his skill on clay, and now the four-time French Open winner appears to have a serious shot at the Wimbledon crown. Rafa was on his game last week at the Queen's Club, beating Andy Roddick and Novak Djokovic and proving that he doesn't have to rely on defense to win, the New York Sun reports.
'Lost' Monroe Reels Up for Auction
BBC
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Jun 20, 2008 10:19 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Never-before-seen footage of Marilyn Monroe behind the scenes of her last completed film will be auctioned in Las Vegas this weekend, the BBC reports. The silent 1961 reels show a relaxed-looking Monroe talking to the cast and crew and having her hair done as she works on The Misfits with Clark Gable. The late actor also appears in the footage, which...
Elian Case Returns to the Spotlight
Miami Herald
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Jun 20, 2008 10:10 AM CDT
(Newser) -
When the battle over whether to send young Elian Gonzalez back to Cuba raged in 2000, Barack Obama was an Illinois state senator nowhere near the fray. But two of the candidate's current advisers played a role, and that connection has some Cuban-Americans ready to protest the senator's speech this weekend in Miami. Elian's great-uncle is leading the...
Millions Skip Filing for Stimulus
CNN
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Jun 20, 2008 9:53 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Roughly 5 million people who qualify for a stimulus check could be out of luck because they haven't filed a tax return, CNN reports, and the IRS is scrambling to let them know. These un-stimulated masses consist mostly of seniors and veterans who don’t normally file returns. “I think there are some natural barriers to getting some folks...
Dolphin Kickers Sink Swimming Records
Washington Post
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Jun 20, 2008 9:40 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Dozens of world swimming records have fallen in the last 18 months and many credit the explosion in speed to a technique invented by a scientist who worked on the A-Bomb, reports the Washington Post . Swimmers say the underwater dolphin kick, which has been revived and polished in recent years, is a "weapon" that leaves rivals floundering....
California Steaming: Heat Wave Goes On
Los Angeles Times
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Jun 20, 2008 9:30 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Southern California is sweltering in a record-breaking heat wave that has killed at least one person, the Los Angeles Times reports. The 77-year-old woman died after wandering out of her car in 116-degree heat, and her husband is in critical condition. Forecasters warn the exceptionally high heat will continue through the weekend. As Californians...
How to Make Millions Off Misfortune
Los Angeles Times
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Jun 20, 2008 9:15 AM CDT
(Newser) -
From tech stocks to real estate, the succession of bubble markets leads Joel Stein to ask himself: How can I exploit other people's bad investment decisions? The Los Angeles Times columnist teams up with a Princeton economist "to figure out where people will idiotically dump their money next." Right now green technology, currency, wine,...
Clinton to Campaign With Obama Next Week
Associated Press
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Jun 20, 2008 9:05 AM CDT
(AP) -
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will campaign together for the first time next Friday, Obama's camp revealed today, in a step toward unifying a fractured Democratic Party after a bruising primary fight. A day earlier, Obama and Clinton also plan to meet in Washington with some of her top contributors to calm donors who remain frustrated with Obama's...
China Admits Burying US POW From Korean War
Associated Press
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Jun 20, 2008 8:53 AM CDT
(Newser) -
China has for the first time admitted holding an American prisoner from the Korean War on its soil, AP reports. The Vermont man, just 18 when he was captured, died in China and was buried there, officials said. China authorities, who said the prisoner was mentally ill, had previously insisted no American POWs were taken from North Korea.
Telecoms Gain Immunity From Wiretap Suits
New York Times
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Jun 20, 2008 8:42 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Yesterday's Congressional deal on warrantless wiretapping will wipe out some 40 pending lawsuits against phone companies that took part in the Bush administration's eavesdropping scheme, ending 5 months of Democratic resistance to giving the telcos immunity for their actions. In what the New York Times calls to the biggest change to surveillance...
