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.
Love Guru Is Beyond Help
Rotten Tomatoes
|
Jun 20, 2008 8:40 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Love isn't the right word to describe how most critics feel about The Love Guru , Mike Myers' first live-action comedy in 5 years. Myers stars as a self-help guru paid to revive the love life of a hockey player, but his mugging isn't enough to salvage "a collection of scattershot jokes clothes-pinned to such a slender plot," Colin Covert...
McCain Pander on Drilling Disappoints
New York Times
|
Jun 20, 2008 8:30 AM CDT
(Newser) -
It's nothing new for the Bush administration to blame environmentalists for energy shortages, writes Paul Krugman in the New York Times . As early as 2001, Dick Cheney blamed green laws rather than rapacious energy companies for the California electricity shortage. But it's disappointing that John McCain has joined the bandwagon—especially as...
Europe Votes to Lift Cuba Sanctions
AFP
|
Jun 20, 2008 8:20 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The European Union has agreed to lift sanctions against Cuba, much to the annoyance of the White House. "We see encouraging signs in Cuba and I think that we should show the population in Cuba that we are ready to work with them," an EU official tells the AFP. It's a largely symbolic victory for Cuba and Spain—which lobbied for the...
In Russert's Life, Lessons for All
Wall Street Journal
|
Jun 20, 2008 8:07 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Media coverage of Tim Russert's death was unprecedented in scope—and worth every second, writes Peggy Noonan in the Wall Street Journal . Russert lived a life worth emulating with his emphasis on family, intregrity, faith, self-discipline, and guts. As for the journalists talking about his open-mindedness and serious approach to the field, she...
Death Knell Tolls for Campaign Finance
New York Times
|
Jun 20, 2008 7:48 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Barack Obama's decision to forgo public financing for his presidential campaign represents the biggest challenge yet to the troubled, loophole-filled system. But while the Illinois senator is now poised to spend a record amount to win the presidency, the explosion of Internet donations that have propelled his campaign might actually be more successful...
Yahoo to Reorganize in Wake of Microsoft Bid
Wall Street Journal
|
Jun 20, 2008 7:26 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Regrouping in the aftermath of Microsoft’s takeover bid, Yahoo plans to consolidate its myriad branches, the Wall Street Journal reports. President Susan Decker aims to centralize the mail, search, and home-page teams to help boost earnings and justify its rejection of Microsoft’s $47.5 billion offer; some executives already have left...
Tsvangirai May Drop Out
BBC
|
Jun 20, 2008 6:49 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Morgan Tsvangirai is seriously considering dropping out of Zimbabwe’s presidential run-off vote, an official in his party tells the BBC, in view of the mounting campaign of violence against his supporters and the diminishing prospects for fair polling. “There is a huge avalanche of calls and pressure from supporters across the country…...
US: Israeli Exercise Was Dry Run for Iran Strike
New York Times
|
Jun 20, 2008 6:36 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A recent Israeli exercise looked to US officials very much like a rehearsal for a strike on Iran, the New York Times reports. The Pentagon also believes the massive exercise in the first week of June, involving over a hundred fighter jets, was a message to the world that Israel is ready to use force if Iran's nuclear program cannot be halted...
1,000 Thai Protesters Clash With Cops
Associated Press
|
Jun 20, 2008 6:21 AM CDT
(Newser) -
An anti-government protest in Bangkok turned violent today as more than 1,000 protesters broke through a police barrier outside government offices. The demonstrators demanded the resignation of Samak Sundaravej, the Thai prime minister whom opponents call a proxy for ousted predecessor Thaksin Shinawatra. Protesters have been in the streets of Bangkok...
United, Continental Partner, But Won't Merge
Wall Street Journal
|
Jun 20, 2008 5:45 AM CDT
(Newser) -
United and Continental Airlines have forged a marketing alliance that will let them book each other’s seats, share miles and join international flights—but won't merge, reports the Wall Street Journal . The deal provides welcome cost savings in the face of surging fuel prices, but avoids the labor tensions and service disruptions that...
Dr. Obama and Mr. Hyde
New York Times
|
Jun 20, 2008 5:20 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Barack Obama has two faces: there’s the "high-minded" liberal “Dr. Barack” and the politically calculating, win at-all-costs “Fast Eddie Obama,” writes David Brooks in the New York Times . The split personality clearly emerged in Obama’s announcement that he won’t accept public financing—a...
Scientists Hail Ice Find on Mars
Wired
|
Jun 20, 2008 4:49 AM CDT
(Newser) -
White material on Mars that was puzzling NASA scientists has turned out to be ice, Wired reports. "Are you ready to celebrate? We have ICE! Best day ever!" gushed a team scientist. The discovery of evidence of water—essential for terrestrial life—is exactly what scientists were hoping to find on Mars.
US Weather Hell: You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet
Washington Post
|
Jun 20, 2008 4:18 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The US will suffer a wide range of increasingly extreme weather events in the coming decades as a result of global warming—from drought and excessive heat to wildly destructive hurricanes and record floods triggered by intense rains, reports the Washington Post. The grim prognosis was revealed in the latest report by the US Climate Change Science...
Fuel Costs Bump Up Budget Airfares
New York Times
|
Jun 20, 2008 3:43 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Rock-bottom airfares are going the way of the zeppelin as fuel prices continue their climb into the stratosphere, the New York Times reports. Some budget carriers have gone bust. Others have hiked fares and begun to woo more business travelers, blurring the line between big carriers and discount operations. Southwest and JetBlue have ditched their...
17 High School Teens Pregnant After Secret Pact
Time
|
Jun 20, 2008 3:21 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A pact among teenage girls to get pregnant has resulted in 17 pregnancies at a single Massachusetts high school—and sparked a debate in the conservative Catholic fishing town about birth control and available career options, reports Time magazine. Officials began to get wise to the secret pact when girls flooded the high school clinic for pregnancy...
Brian Williams to Step Into Russert's Shoes
E! Online
|
Jun 20, 2008 2:55 AM CDT
(Newser) -
NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams will be filling in for Tim Russert on this Sunday's Meet the Press , E! Online reports. NBC is still seeking a permanent replacement for the mighty newsman who died a week ago. Reporters David Gregory and Andrea Mitchell have been mentioned as possible candidates, as have Hardball host Chris Matthews—and...
World Pop. to Hit 7B by 2012
Associated Press
|
Jun 20, 2008 2:37 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The world's soaring population is expected to hit 7 billion by 2012, further straining thinly stretched natural resources, AP reports. The current population is 6.7 billion, and growing at 1.2% a year, spurred by increasing medical and nutritional advances in developing countries. But as more women in developing nations join the work force, the growth...
China's Quest for Glory Pushing Athletes Past Limits
New York Times
|
Jun 20, 2008 2:18 AM CDT
(Newser) -
China is going all-out in a sometimes destructive push to top the medal table at the Beijing Olympics, the New York Times reports. Athletes are risking their health by training while injured, and potential medal-winners are being pressed out of retirement. Olympic hopefuls are well aware that victory will bring fame and fortune—and failure...
UK Won't Let Martha Visit
Telegraph (UK)
|
Jun 19, 2008 10:21 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Domestic diva Martha Stewart has been refused entry into the United Kingdom because of her felony conviction, the Daily Telegraph reports. She planned a business trip this month to meet with leading figures in the fashion and design worlds and to speak at the Royal Academy, but Britain refused to grant her a visa. Stewart served five months in prison...
House OKs War Funding, Aid for Flood Relief
Associated Press
|
Jun 19, 2008 9:10 PM CDT
(AP) -
A much-delayed Iraq war funding bill sailed through the House tonight, along with a doubling of college aid for returning troops and help for the unemployed and Midwestern flood victims. Republican allies of President Bush provided the winning margin in a 268-155 vote to provide $162 billion to fund US operations in Iraq and Afghanistan well into next...
Anglicans Move Closer to Split
New York Times
|
Jun 19, 2008 8:45 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Scores of Anglican bishops are boycotting the church's once-a-decade conference next month in favor of a conservative counter-meeting, the New York Times reports. The rival gathering, beginning Sunday in Jerusalem, results from a serious division in the denomination over homosexuality—and could be another step toward an irreparable break in...
Forget Batteries —Get Ready for Fuel Cells
Economist
|
Jun 19, 2008 8:20 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Think fuel cells are just for cars? Think again. Their real value may be to power portable electronics such as laptops and cell phones. Fuel cells that use methanol, rather than gasoline, could replace batteries in electronics. They last much longer and take just a moment to refuel—and they're greener and possibly safer than batteries, reports...
Joy Division Rocks, But Enough Already
Anthem
|
Jun 19, 2008 8:01 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Joy Division, writes Nik Mercer for Anthem , “is one of those bands that gains significance exponentially as the years pass.” As testament to their place in pop music consciousness, recent years have seen three films on the band: 24 Hour Party People , focusing on their label and scene; Control , a Cobain-izing biopic of Ian Curtis;...
'Dudes Next Door' Spread Cool Via Email
Boston Globe
|
Jun 19, 2008 7:35 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Binoculars that can be discreetly filled with alcohol and a giant burger that requires the use of five napkins exemplify the "dude next door" cool that Thrillist.com promises with its daily emails, Meredith Goldstein writes in the Boston Globe . The 3-year-old site has 300,000 subscribers, say its founders, who hope to rival female-centric...
What's Your Salary? In Sweden, It's No Secret
USA Today
|
Jun 19, 2008 7:15 PM CDT
(Newser) -
In America, tax information is kept private by law. In Sweden, "you can see what your brother-in-law made, your neighbor made," says one Justice Ministry official. Like its Scandinavian counterparts Norway and Finland, Sweden makes all tax returns public every year—and no one seems to care, reports USA Today .
Half of Amazon Could Be Gone in 20 Years
Yale Environment 360
|
Jun 19, 2008 6:58 PM CDT
(Newser) -
An "unprecedented" combination of ills is threatening the Amazon, and if nothing is done to ease the pressure on the world’s largest rainforest, more than half of it could be gone or withered in 20 years, Rhett Butler writes for Yale Environment 360 . After a three-year decline, forest clearing doubled in the latter part of 2007 to...
New Firefox Browser Enjoys Massive Downloads
Associated Press
|
Jun 19, 2008 6:39 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The new Mozilla browser Firefox 3 was downloaded more than 8 million times in its first day of availability, a figure that may spark a Guinness title if the record keepers certify that new category. At its peak, the Firefox site was giving away 17,000 copies of the free software per minute, the AP reports.
Janet Plans Her Own Talent Show for TV
Variety
|
Jun 19, 2008 6:36 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Move over "American Idol:" Janet Jackson is headed for reality TV, reports Variety . The pop icon plans to mentor aspiring singers and dancers as she prepares for her world tour—participation in which could be the grand prize. Drawing contestants from YMCAs and church groups, the show’s producer hopes a non-traditional casting...
Parking Space Spat Leads to Elder Abuse Charges
CBS13
|
Jun 19, 2008 6:23 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A woman in Stockton, Calif., is facing elder-abuse charges after she allegedly attacked a 71-year-old woman who caught her parking in a handicap spot without a permit, CBS reports. The victim says her 26-year-old assailant “put her baby down and came at me with both hands” when she saw the older woman taking a photo of her license plate....
Girlfriend of Fugitive Fund Chief Charged
Associated Press
|
Jun 19, 2008 6:21 PM CDT
(AP) -
The girlfriend of a hedge fund swindler whose car was found abandoned in New York has been charged with helping him elude his sentence. Police arrested Debra Ryan today and accused her of aiding and abetting the escape of Samuel Israel III, who bilked investors out of $450 million. He failed to report to prison, and police say he left his car by a...
Sixth Foot to Wash Ashore Is a Hoax
Globe and Mail
|
Jun 19, 2008 6:04 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The latest severed foot to wash ashore in Canada is a hoax, the Toronto Globe and Mail reports. The sneaker found this week near Vancouver actually contained an animal paw stuffed into a sock, authorities say. An official described the prank as “reprehensible and very disrespectful to the families of missing persons.” That leaves at five...
Zell's Tribune Co. Heads Toward Default on Loans
Bloomberg
|
Jun 19, 2008 5:43 PM CDT
(Newser) -
As the newspaper industry continues its accelerating skid into the red, even billionaire Sam Zell's Tribune Company is on track to default on its massive loans as soon as the end of the year, an analyst predicts. The parent of the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times is far from alone. Bloomberg takes a look at the industry as it struggles to...
Make Lawsuits, Not War, Over OPEC Oil
New York Times
|
Jun 19, 2008 5:23 PM CDT
(Newser) -
There’s no question OPEC’s price-fixing is illegal under American law, a former Reagan and Bush I adviser writes in the New York Times —so why not sue the oil cartel? US states are permitted to seek relief against aliens, and a joint suit by several attorneys general would point the way. “Isn’t starting a lawsuit better...
Grand Theft Auto IV Marks the End for Next-Gen Gaming
GigaOm
|
Jun 19, 2008 5:00 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Low sales of Grand Theft Auto IV herald the end of next-gen gaming’s heyday, writes Wagner James Au on GigaOm. The game is selling poorly compared to the previous version, and it hasn’t improved sales of the next-gen Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles. “The days when so-called “next-gen” gaming reigned supreme are coming...
Nixonland Gets 'Excellent' Prez Utterly Wrong
New York Sun
|
Jun 19, 2008 4:46 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The biography Nixonland is a hatchet job on an “excellent president,” media mogul Conrad Black (from behind bars) writes in the New York Sun , picking apart author Rick Perlstein’s slights—and reminding of the profound accomplishments of the 37th president. Beyond crediting Nixon with coarsening the political discourse permanently,...
Supreme Court Sides With Workers on Age Discrimination
New York Times
|
Jun 19, 2008 4:33 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The Supreme Court ruled today that it is up to employers in age-discrimination lawsuits to prove that their actions resulted from “reasonable factors other than age,” the New York Times reports. With the opinion making it easier for employees to sue, the court explained to opponents that Congress’ wording of the law “set the...
Salty Senate Candidates Heating Up Alaska
Wall Street Journal
|
Jun 19, 2008 4:18 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A sweltering Senate contest looks likely to warm up Alaska come November, Katherine Rizzo writes in the Wall Street Journal , as “cantankerous bully” and 40-year incumbent Ted Stevens faces the mayor of Anchorage in what’s already a mudfest. Democrat Mark Begich has reminded voters of Stevens’ convict friends and of the federal...
Ruling Doesn't Chop Tree-Hugging Stalemate
San Francisco Chronicle
|
Jun 19, 2008 4:05 PM CDT
(Newser) -
UC Berkeley can't yet proceed with a $140 million athletic center, a judge ruled yesterday, even as the university continued to dismantle structures belonging to protesters trying to save a grove of trees that would be cut down during construction, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Earthquake safety is the major issue; though the project is nearly...
Surveillance Law Gives Sweden Broad Powers
BBC
|
Jun 19, 2008 3:52 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Sweden's intelligence service will have broad new powers to intercept cross-border calls and emails, without a warrant, under a law passed yesterday, the BBC reports. Critics, meanwhile, say it is impossible to fully distinguish domestic from international traffic without compromising the transmissions. Protesters handed out copies of George Orwell's...
Citi's Blahs Make Little Dent
MarketWatch
|
Jun 19, 2008 3:38 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Stocks posted moderate gains today as oil futures dropped below $135 per barrel on news of China's move to raise prices by trimming subsidies, MarketWatch reports. With traders little moved by warnings of further writedowns ahead for Citigroup, the Dow closed up 34.03, at 12,063.09. The Nasdaq gained 32.36, closing at 2,462.07, and the S&P 500...
E-Records Improve Care, But Cost Discourages Doctors
New York Times
|
Jun 19, 2008 3:37 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Doctors aren’t using electronic health records, though they lead to better care, a study reports. Why? The costs are prohibitive, especially for small private practices. E-records do bring savings—but for insurers and hospitals, not doctors who invest in them. The government is experimenting with financial incentives for doctors to switch...
How Government Can Buy You Happiness
Portfolio
|
Jun 19, 2008 3:30 PM CDT
(Newser) -
While the jury's still out on whether money can buy happiness, a higher gross domestic product certainly doesn't. In rich countries, well-being really does depend on non-material things like family stability, a friendly community, and job security—and economists should start incorporating quality-of-life issues into policy, John Cassidy writes...
Computer Woes Slow Mars Craft
Associated Press
|
Jun 19, 2008 3:16 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The Phoenix Mars Lander stopped digging yesterday to give its memory a rest after a computer glitch caused the loss of photographs and scientific data, the AP reports. Scientists were alerted to the problem after the lander transmitted a single piece of information 45,000 times. "It's unfortunate to lose any bit of science," one scientist...
How Obama Could Get Gored
Politico
|
Jun 19, 2008 3:04 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Observers are speculating about a split decision in November, with John McCain winning the presidency while Barack Obama takes the popular vote—and Harry Siegel, in Politico, says the chances might not be that slim. Obama looks likely to build massive margins in coastal states (already safely Democratic) while making inroads in Republican bastions—though...
Rock Rolls With Bluegrass
Rolling Stone
|
Jun 19, 2008 2:46 PM CDT
(Newser) -
He's a howling rock god; she's a fiddlin' bluegrass queen. It sounds like an odd pairing, but Robert Plant and Alison Krauss weave haunting harmonies on tour, reports Rolling Stone . The duo admits they struggled to find the right groove while performing Led Zep covers and R&B classics from their 2007 platinum collaboration, Raising Sand .
In-Flight WiFi Takes Off
Wall Street Journal
|
Jun 19, 2008 2:32 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Now you can manically check your inbox from 40,000 feet, reports Walter Mossberg in the Wall Street Journal . Certain American Airlines routes between New York and Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami will offer in-flight WiFi starting in July, and Virgin America will have it later in the year. The service will cost $12.95 for longer flights,...
Nuclear Parts Still Missing: Pentagon Report
Financial Times (UK)
|
Jun 19, 2008 2:24 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The investigation that resulted in the dismissal of top US Air Force brass two weeks ago also found that hundreds of nuclear-missile parts remain missing, the Financial Times reports. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the Pentagon needed "to re-establish positive control of these sensitive, classified components" in announcing the firings...
EU Will Ban Incandescent Bulbs
Der Spiegel
|
Jun 19, 2008 2:07 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The European Union is set to begin phasing out the incandescent light bulb in favor of compact fluorescent bulb, Der Spiegel reports. The highest-wattage bulbs will go next year; the transition to CFLs—using a fifth of the energy and lasting 10 times longer—should be complete in 2015.
Clyburn Is the Perfect Ally for Obama
Politico
|
Jun 19, 2008 1:56 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Jim Clyburn is exactly the kind of ally Obama needs. A pioneer in his own right, the first Southern-raised black majority whip has a strong record of building consensus among blacks, whites, Hispanics, and people of all faiths. He's the action to complement Obama's lofty words, reports Politico—and holds credibility among voters not impressed...
How to Transition Out of Iraq
Washington Post
|
Jun 19, 2008 1:37 PM CDT
(Newser) -
It's time for the US to carve out a practical strategy in Iraq, David Ignatius argues in the Washington Post . At a cost of $400 million a day, the war is draining America's economy—precisely what Osama bin Laden hoped for. The solution will not be quick, simple, or easy, but rather "ambiguous, messy, occasionally in the shadows."
