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.
Study Rewrites Birds' Family Tree
Chicago Sun-Times
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Jun 26, 2008 9:45 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A five-year study of bird DNA is turning the world of ornithology on its head. The study revealed such drastic new information about the evolution of birds that dozens will need new scientific names, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Notable finds: Falcons are not related to hawks or eagles; hummingbirds—colorful daytime creatures—evolved...
Reflective Gates Waxes Nostalgic
Fortune Magazine
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Jun 26, 2008 9:00 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Pictures of Bill Gates the child in a football uniform and alongside Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in their high school computer room are among 15 shots in an exclusive Fortune photo essay. Gates himself narrates the slideshow chronicling Microsoft’s roots, through its founding and 1986 IPO. Other shots show the first Microsoft business card...
Sharapova Conqueror: 'I Don't Like Her Outfit'
Times (UK)
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Jun 26, 2008 8:25 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Alla Kudryavtseva—not one of the glamor girls of women's tennis—fessed up to having a special motivation today after her shocking upset of Maria Sharapova, the Times of London reports. Wimbledon glory? Nah. Fame and fortune? Please. “It’s very pleasant to beat Maria,” said the 20-year-old Russian. “I don’t...
Caroline's Support of Obama Wise Move for the Kennedys
New Republic
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Jun 26, 2008 7:55 PM CDT
(Newser) -
No doubt the endorsements of Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg and her uncle were a major boon for Barack Obama, but Michelle Cottle writes in the New Republic that the union may have been “an even shrewder move” for Caroline. JFK's daughter, long the “anthologist of family memories,” has seen the Kennedy name fade over the years....
NYC Waterfalls Make a Splash
New York Daily News
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Jun 26, 2008 7:30 PM CDT
(Newser) -
New Yorkers can feast their eyes on an unusual site over the next four months—waterfalls. Four manmade falls, each about 100 feet high, came to life yesterday at different sites along the East River, the Daily News reports. City officials hope the structures—the work of artist Olafur Eliasson—will bring in loads of tourists before...
Madonna Seeks Counsel of Sir Paul's Divorce Lawyer
Times (UK)
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Jun 26, 2008 7:08 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Madonna is set to enlist the services of the lawyer who handled Paul McCartney’s divorce settlement, the Times of London reports. The pop star, 49, is reportedly exploring a split from director Guy Ritchie, 39. "Steel magnolia” Fiona Shackleton gained notoriety when she secured such a favorable result for McCartney that Heather Mills...
Gun Ruling Will Trigger Barrage of Lawsuits
New York Times
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Jun 26, 2008 6:45 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Today's Supreme Court ruling upholding an individual's right to bear arms is unlikely to lead to sweeping changes across the nation, the New York Times reports. Gun laws in most cites and states—putting restrictions on felons and the mentally ill, for example, or banning guns in certain settings—appear to be safe. The biggest...
Arnie Rips Would-Be Oil Drillers for 'Blowing Smoke'
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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Jun 26, 2008 6:23 PM CDT
(Newser) -
At a Florida climate summit today, Arnold Schwarzenegger broke from prepared remarks to lay into offshore oil drilling, criticizing its supporters—who include President Bush, John McCain, and his host, fellow Republican governor Charlie Crist—as "blowing smoke." "To look for new ways to feed our addiction is not the...
Candidates Exploit Muslim-Jewish Divide
Los Angeles Times
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Jun 26, 2008 6:05 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The presidential candidates are ignoring—even insulting—American Muslims in the hope of grabbing the Jewish vote, write Salam Al-Marayati and Steven B. Jacobs in the Los Angles Times . McCain and Obama have on several occasions snubbed Muslims, who seem to be the victims of modern McCarthyism—just substitute terrorism for communism....
Beasties' Yauch Finds a Groove With Hoops Doc
Radar
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Jun 26, 2008 5:45 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Though by his own admission, he's "just terrible at watching basketball on television," Beastie Boy Adam Yauch—aka MCA—has directed a documentary about the nation's top prep players. Gunnin' for That #1 Spot opens tomorrow, and Radar catches up with Yauch, whose fight for his right to party is trickier now that he's a gray-haired...
Mac Rests Up on Weekends
Politico
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Jun 26, 2008 5:20 PM CDT
(Newser) -
John McCain has held only one public weekend event since becoming the presumptive nominee in February, Politico reports. The downtime—used to rest, meet privately with donors, and bone up on policy—is frustrating to those who think the Republican hasn't done enough to take advantage of his early victory. Advisers rebut that during most...
Group Backs Preflight Toke
CW2 News
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Jun 26, 2008 5:00 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Denver has a pretty lax marijuana policy (small amounts are legal) and pro-pot advocates are wondering whether, after a recent rash of "air rage" incidents, such permissiveness shouldn’t extend to the city airport’s smoking lounge, CW2 News reports. “This madness has got to stop,” said a proponent. “And we're...
'You Might Be Able to Grow Asparagus' on Mars
Reuters
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Jun 26, 2008 4:47 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Samples of Martian soil analyzed by instruments onboard the Phoenix lander have earth-bound scientists “flabbergasted.” Why? Readings indicate that the extraterrestrial loam could, perhaps has, and possibly will, support life, Reuters reports. Along with ice the lander discovered earlier, “We basically have found what appears to be...
'Wearable' Gadgets Respond to Body Movements
Associated Press
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Jun 26, 2008 4:37 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Someday, you may be able to tap your fingers to control your DVD player or roll your eyes to pump up your music player’s volume—if technology under development by Japan's top mobile carrier comes to fruition, the AP reports. A cell phone shaped like a large ring that wearers can hear by sticking their fingers in their ears is another of...
Spain Pummels Russia to Reach European Final
Associated Press
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Jun 26, 2008 4:25 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Spain scored three second-half goals today to beat Russia 3-0 and reach the European Championship final, giving the team a chance to shed its status as one of soccer's biggest underachievers. Xavi Hernandez, Dani Guiza and David Silva each scored to give the Spaniards a shot at their second European title when they play Germany in Vienna, Austria.
Candidates Duel Over Gun Ruling
Talking Points Memo
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Jun 26, 2008 4:17 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Barack Obama and John McCain were firing away even before the Supreme Court's Second Amendment salvo today, Talking Points Memo notes. The Democrat backed away from a year-old comment (by an aide) that he thought Washington’s handgun ban was constitutional; the Republican smacked his opponent for flip-flopping—even using a reference to...
Suit Circus Threatens to Drown Trials
San Francisco Chronicle
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Jun 26, 2008 4:05 PM CDT
(Newser) -
“The last honest Olympic sport” is about to kick the can, Scott Ostler writes in the San Francisco Chronicle , and the culprit is a familiar one: technology. The sport is swimming, and Olympic trials (beginning Sunday) coincide with a brutal competition among swimsuit makers for athletes’ affection. "Swimmers and coaches are...
Dubai High Rise Would Add Novel Twists
Associated Press
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Jun 26, 2008 3:51 PM CDT
(Newser) -
If heights make your head spin, a planned 80-story tower in Dubai might not be the place for you. Set to be the "world's first building in motion," David Fisher's design features doughnut-shape floors that rotate 360 degrees around a fixed cement core, the AP reports. It would be the first skyscraper for a relative unknown prepared to "revolutionize...
'Difficult' Dow Ends Down 358
Wall Street Journal
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Jun 26, 2008 3:37 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Stocks plunged today due to the convergence of bad news across all sectors of industry against the backdrop of oil’s first surge over $140 a barrel, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Dow plummeted to a 2-year-low, shedding 358.41 to 11,453.42. The Nasdaq fell 79.89, settling at 2,321.37, and the S&P 500 fell 38.82 to close at 1,283.15.
Justices Nix 'Millionaire's Amendment' for Campaigns
Associated Press
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Jun 26, 2008 3:20 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The Supreme Court today voided the “millionaire’s amendment,” ruling by 5-4 that the law—which raised donation limits for candidates who face wealthy, self-financed opponents—violates the First Amendment, the AP reports. The majority said it would have been a different story if all candidates saw their limits raised. Notably,...
Barack Rocks Stevie, Dylan on iPod
Rolling Stone
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Jun 26, 2008 3:06 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Ever wonder what Barack's bumpin' when he's not stumpin'? In a sit-down with Rolling Stone's Jann Wenner, Obama reveals the artists on his iPod, including supporters like Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Jay-Z. Dylan's "Maggie's Farm" drowns out the rhetoric on the campaign trail, but Stevie Wonder gets props as the candidate's "one...
Finding Meaning in the Death of Len Bias
ESPN
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Jun 26, 2008 2:45 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Twenty-two years ago, Celtics legend Larry Bird called the sudden death of new Boston draftee Len Bias "one of the the cruelest things I've ever heard." The legacy of the Maryland basketball great, whose NBA career ended with cocaine use just two days after it began, retains its nuance and potency even now, writes Michael Weinreb for ESPN.
Gun Ruling a Sea Change for 2nd Amendment
Washington Post
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Jun 26, 2008 2:28 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The Supreme Court’s decision today striking down Washington's handgun ban represented a change in interpreting the Second Amendment. The court’s 5-4 vote split down partisan lines, the Post reports, with Justices Scalia, Roberts, Kennedy, Thomas, and Alito in opposition to Stevens, Souter, Ginsburg, and Breyer. "The enshrinement...
Photos Tell Who, What; New Card Can Tell Where
New York Times
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Jun 26, 2008 2:11 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Add geotagging to the list of must-have features for digital photo buffs. Yep, David Pogue writes in the New York Times —no more need to note where you took pictures. The newest Eye-Fi memory card—a WiFi-enabled sliver that uploads pictures automatically—also tags photos with a location. The downside: Coverage is limited to big urban...
Jindal Signs Castration Bill for Sex Offenders
2theadvocate.com
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Jun 26, 2008 2:03 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Louisiana governor and GOP VP wannabe Bobby Jindal signed a bill yesterday that will allow sex offenders to be punished with chemical castration. Said Jindal, “I am glad we have taken such strong measures...to put a stop to these monsters’ brutal acts,” said Jindal, taking the opportunity to slam as "atrocious" the Supreme...
Fla.'s Crist Works Across the Eco-Lines
Wall Street Journal
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Jun 26, 2008 1:50 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is walking an environmental tightrope between encouraging conservation and alternative energy, and promoting oil exploration off the state’s coast, the Wall Street Journal reports. Recent moves include the purchase of 300 square miles in the Everglades—a deal that shuts down the nation’s largest...
McCain Camp 'Winces,' Waits for Powell Defection
Washington Post
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Jun 26, 2008 1:31 PM CDT
(Newser) -
John McCain’s team is holding its breath for the “expected” endorsement of Barack Obama by the ever-popular Colin Powell, Robert Novak writes in a Washington Post tour of the “Obamacon” movement. Such Republicans-turned-blue are less energized by Obama's candidacy than they are in agreement with one of their number who...
Internet Group Eases Rules for New Domain Names
Associated Press
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Jun 26, 2008 1:17 PM CDT
(AP) -
The Internet's key oversight agency relaxed rules today to permit the introduction of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of new Internet domain names to join ".com," making the first sweeping changes in the network's 25-year-old addressing system. The panel, meeting in Paris, unanimously approved new guidelines to streamline review of proposed...
Spain Passes Ape Rights Bill
Guardian (UK)
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Jun 26, 2008 1:14 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Spanish Parliament passed a resolution promising fundamental “human” rights to the great apes, the Guardian reports. The bill enjoys wide support and would ban scientific experimentation involving higher-level primates. Zoo exhibition will still be legal, but supporters say living conditions will improve significantly. The legislative...
Obama Meets With Top Automakers Amid Tension
Wall Street Journal
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Jun 26, 2008 1:07 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Barack Obama is meeting with two of the Big Three in encounters the Wall Street Journal says “could thaw festering tension” between the Dem and America’s automakers. A year after Obama criticized the companies for fighting fuel-economy standards and rewarding “failure with lucrative bonuses for CEOs,” he met with Ford’s...
Election Is On: Mugabe
New York Times
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Jun 26, 2008 12:58 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe’s party maintains that tomorrow’s runoff election will go ahead as planned, despite international condemnation and the withdrawal of the opposition candidate, the New York Times reports. Former challenger Morgan Tsvangirai insists he wants negotiations between the two parties instead of polling. The president...
Stocks Drop to 2008 Low as Bad News Piles Up
Associated Press
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Jun 26, 2008 12:45 PM CDT
(AP) -
Stocks tumbled today as Wall Street contended with a barrage of bad news: another surge in oil prices and warnings of trouble in the key financial, automotive, and high-tech industries. The major indexes showed losses of more than 2%, including the Dow Jones industrial average, which shed more than 250 points and dropped to its lowest level in more...
Sharapova Out at Wimbledon
Associated Press
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Jun 26, 2008 12:38 PM CDT
(AP) -
Former champion Maria Sharapova was ousted today in the second round at Wimbledon by 154th-ranked Alla Kudryavtseva. Kudryavtseva recovered an early break in the second set to beat the 2004 champion 6-2, 6-4; it was Sharapova's earliest exit from a Grand Slam event since her first full season on the circuit in 2003.
Ben Affleck Does Congo Essay for 'Nightline'
Associated Press
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Jun 26, 2008 12:33 PM CDT
(AP) -
"Nightline" will focus on the humanitarian crisis in the Congo with the help of an unusual correspondent—Ben Affleck. The actor took a TV crew on his recent African mission to spread the word on a story little noticed in the United States, AP reports. His motive was to learn about the war and hunger that have killed thousands of people...
Solo Saga Quieted, Women's Soccer Eyes Beijing
Sports Illustrated
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Jun 26, 2008 12:22 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Hope Solo's infamous criticism of her coach got her booted from practice and competition at the end of last year's World Cup, and depression almost kept the 26-year-old from returning to soccer at all. But now the US team has a new coach, a rejuvenated Solo, and a fresh plan for winning in Beijing, Sports Illustrated reports.
Gun Ruling Sends Chicago Mayor Into Rage
Chicago Tribune
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Jun 26, 2008 12:08 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Today’s Supreme Court ruling striking down a handgun ban in Washington, DC, is “a very frightening decision,” says Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, vowing to fight for Chicago’s own strict gun law, which will likely now be challenged. Mayors across the country must protect their cities, Daley said, predicting that most will be outraged...
Murray's Divorce Settled in a Flash
TMZ
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Jun 26, 2008 11:56 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Gossip hounds hoping for acrimonious divorce proceedings for Bill Murray aren't getting their wish, TMZ reports. The actor's divorce has already been settled, with papers signed June 13. Wife Jennifer Butler Murray, 42, gets custody of the four kids; Bill, 57, will have to pay child support. Jennifer, who also gets homes in California and South Carolina,...
CBS' Logan Stars in Iraq Love Triangle
New York Post
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Jun 26, 2008 11:46 AM CDT
(Newser) -
“60 Minutes” reporter Lara Logan apparently found Baghdad to be a little more heated than most. The New York Post reports that the former swimsuit model has been called a homewrecker for seducing a married civilian contractor in Iraq, while at the same time carrying on a tryst with CNN reporter Michael Ware. Eventually, Logan’s...
Ten Steps to Greener Sex
Green Daily
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Jun 26, 2008 11:32 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Eco-conscious sex certainly doesn't have too enticing a ring to it, but don't discount the enjoyable ways to spice things up while doing your part to save the Earth, says Greendaily.com. From the reasonable to the wacky, they've got you, er, covered: Grab French Letter condoms, the world's only fair trade rubber Clean your place—add...
Intel Snubs Microsoft, Won't Adopt Vista in Offices
New York Times
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Jun 26, 2008 11:21 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Intel has decided not to upgrade the 80,000 or so computers its employees use to Windows Vista, seemingly betraying its longtime bosom buddy Microsoft, the New York Times reports. The latest Windows iteration has drawn jeers for being bloated and buggy. “This isn’t a matter of dissing Microsoft,” said an Intel source. “Intel...
FBI Drops in on GN'R Leaker
Rolling Stone
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Jun 26, 2008 11:04 AM CDT
(Newser) -
When Kevin Skwerl leaked nine new tracks from long-awaited Guns N’ Roses album Chinese Democracy last week, he expected some fallout. A visit from two “Mulder and Scully” types courtesy of the FBI was not quite what he had in mind, reports Rolling Stone . “It‘s a little creepy they know where I work, "says...
Mass. Court Gives Brit Life for Killing Wife and Baby
Associated Press
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Jun 26, 2008 10:55 AM CDT
(AP) -
Neil Entwistle showed no reaction today as he was sentenced to two life prison terms without the opportunity for parole for shooting his wife and infant daughter as they cuddled together in bed. The British-born Massachusetts resident was convicted yesterday of the 2006 killings. Entwistle claims his wife killed the baby and then committed suicide.
Rice: Diplomacy Key in Progress on North Korea
Wall Street Journal
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Jun 26, 2008 10:44 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Diplomacy is working with North Korea, and the US has made few concessions to bring the rogue state closer to eliminating its nuclear ambitions, Condoleezza Rice writes in today’s Wall Street Journal . "We and the other four parties will expect North Korea to cooperate with us in verifying the accuracy and completeness of its declaration,"...
HP's Touch Still a Bit Clumsy
Wall Street Journal
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Jun 26, 2008 10:32 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Hewlett-Packard’s revamped TouchSmart PC, a one-piece desktop computer with a touch-controlled user interface, improves on its previous, bulky iteration, with a sleek case, big 22-inch screen, and wireless keyboard and mouse, personal-tech guru Walter Mossberg writes in the Wall Street Journal. But the touch-screen software is still in its...
New Engine Could Rev Green Flight
Wired
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Jun 26, 2008 10:20 AM CDT
(Newser) -
In what is being hailed as the most exciting development in commercial aviation technology in years, Pratt & Whitney has developed a revolutionary jet engine that burns up to 15% less fuel and cuts carbon emissions by 1,500 tons per plane per year. The engine, which is also quieter and cheaper to maintain, could revolutionize the industry, reported...
One Year On, a Prime Minister Diminished
Guardian (UK)
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Jun 26, 2008 10:11 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Gordon Brown has seen his reputation collapse in his year as UK prime minister: once the colossus of the Labour Party who enjoyed buoyant poll ratings, he is now so diminished that many in his own party want him to resign. To mark the first anniversary of his elevation to prime minister, the Guardian provides an in-depth look at the event that changed...
Court Strikes Down DC Handgun Ban
Associated Press
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Jun 26, 2008 9:57 AM CDT
(AP) -
The Supreme Court says Americans have a right to own guns for self-defense and hunting, the justices' first major pronouncement on gun rights in US history. The court's 5-4 ruling strikes down the District of Columbia's 32-year-old ban on handguns as incompatible with the Second Amendment, the AP reports. But the decision probably leaves most firearms...
Congress Short on Gas, Long on Gasbags
Washington Post
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Jun 26, 2008 9:39 AM CDT
(Newser) -
There’s nothing much Congress can do about gas prices, writes Dana Milbank in the Washington Post, so in an effort to look busy it's doing what it always does—blaming the other party. Yesterday Capital Hill saw no less than 12 events on energy costs, and every last one came down to partisan jabs.
Miami Cops Bust 'Brothel on Wheels'
Miami Herald
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Jun 26, 2008 9:29 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The world's oldest profession has long since gone online, but Miami police have charged six people with putting it on wheels, the Miami Herald reports. A rolling brothel, a huge limo-bus with a tractor-trailer cab, picked up three undercover cops Sunday morning, offering an all-you-can-drink ride for $40. Once aboard, an extra $125 would earn a trip...
Al-Qaeda Stuck in Web 1.0
New York Times
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Jun 26, 2008 9:07 AM CDT
(Newser) -
At its height, al-Qaeda had mastered how to amplify the effect of real-world attacks with virtual representations—videos, audio recordings, and articles reproducing its mayhem online. But as the Web has transformed into a more social entity, the terrorist organization is " stuck in 1.0," writes analyst Daniel Kimmage in the New York...
