Newser Story Index from August, 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.
Biden Headed to Georgia
Talking Points Memo
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Aug 17, 2008 1:19 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Top Obama surrogate Sen. Joe Biden announced today that he’s heading to Georgia, joining McCain surrogatges Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham. The move bodes well for both Biden, who’s been much-discussed as a possible vice president, and Obama, who needs to seem active as McCain dispatches men and talks with key leaders of the conflict...
Candidates Score in Pastor Rick-a-thon
National Review
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Aug 17, 2008 12:43 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Pastor Rick stressed that last night's Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency wasn't a debate, but that won't stop the pundits from deciding who came out ahead: Byron York, of the National Review , sees the night as a big win for McCain, who's had a "much bigger life."
Obama is the New Prada
Boston Globe
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Aug 17, 2008 12:12 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Sidewalk vendors have been quick to capitalize on the newest fashion trend: anything Obama. Putting the candidate's face or logo on merchandise—no matter if the product is related to the campaign—boosts sales tremendously, sellers tell the Boston Globe. Obama's face on an item "just says it's cool," one explains.
How Eli Manning Won Over NYC
Men's Vogue
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Aug 17, 2008 12:00 PM CDT
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It took a while for New Yorkers to warm to Eli Manning and his quiet intensity, Kevin Conley writes in a profile of the Giants quarterback in Men’s Vogue , but he turned the town around with one miraculous drive—and a Super Bowl win. Manning, who lives in Hoboken, is press shy, but among his team, he’s known as a prankster.
Drug Smugglers' Subs Could Open US to Terrorists
Boston Globe
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Aug 17, 2008 11:21 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Semi-submersible boats used to smuggle drugs into the US could provide a path into the country for terrorists or their weapons, the Boston Globe reports. “If drug cartels can ship up to 10 tons of cocaine in a semi-submersible, they can clearly ship or rent space to a terrorist organization,” wrote a Navy official in a military journal....
Ellen and Portia Tie the Knot
People
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Aug 17, 2008 10:38 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi married in an intimate ceremony at their Los Angeles home last night. Nineteen guests watched the couple exchange handwritten vows, including DeGeneres’s mom Betty and de Rossi’s mother Margaret Rogers. The couple wore Zac Posen—DeGeneres in a white chiffon shirt, white waistcoat, and trousers,...
Is Germany Ready for Mein Kampf ?
Time
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Aug 17, 2008 10:30 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Adolf Hitler's banned hate-filled manifesto Mein Kampf should be returned to the nation's bookstores, some Germans argue. A critical edition—annotated to put the tome "into context"—would demystify it and shed light on the author's mad ramblings, they say. The push comes as the book's copyright nears expiration, raising worries...
SUV Apocalypse Nears
Daily Green
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Aug 17, 2008 10:04 AM CDT
(Newser) -
America’s obsession with super-size cars seems to be running out of gas. The Daily Green reports on the seven signs of the SUV apocalypse: The numbers: Sales of small cars were up 11% in the first half of the year, while SUV and truck sales were down by 14% and 23%, respectively. The demand: The unofficial waiting list for GM’s...
Korean 'Mata Hari' Was More Likely a Patsy
Associated Press
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Aug 17, 2008 9:46 AM CDT
(Newser) -
In the thick of Cold War suspicion in 1950, South Korean socialite Kim Soo-im was executed as a wily seductress who passed secrets from her US army lover to another in North Korea. But the hasty trial and execution of the 'Korean Mata Hari' was based on charges trumped up in an anticommunist frenzy, reports the AP in a new look through six-decade-old...
Another Global Crisis, Another Vacation
New York Times
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Aug 17, 2008 9:19 AM CDT
(Newser) -
“America’s back in the cold war and W.’s back on vacation,” writes Maureen Dowd in the New York Times , observing that as another global crisis begins, the president is again failing to take it seriously. After condemning Russia’s push into Georgia, Bush skipped off to his ranch—where he’s spent 469 days of...
Russia Pledges to Start Georgia Pullout Tomorrow
BBC
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Aug 17, 2008 8:51 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Dimitry Medvedev said today he'll start pulling troops out of Georgia tomorrow, but has no plans to withdraw from the separatist stronghold of South Ossetia, the BBC reports. The Russian president made the pledge after a phone conversation with Nicolas Sarkozy, who had brokered a ceasefire Friday. Despite signing the agreement, Russia has continued...
Nadal Captures Gold, No. 1 Rank
Associated Press
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Aug 17, 2008 8:19 AM CDT
(AP) -
Rafael Nadal won the Olympic men's singles gold medal today, overcoming two set points in the second set and holding every service game to beat Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-3. The gold medal was the first for Spain in Olympic tennis, and Nadal became the first top-five ranked player to medal in the traditionally upset-filled sport. He...
Bolt: 'A Sprinting Prodigy From Another Planet'
Kansas City Star
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Aug 17, 2008 7:28 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Usain Bolt became the fastest man in the world, ever, yesterday—without even appearing to try. “His run was mind-boggling. Freakish. Revolutionary,” writes Joe Posnanski in the Kansas City Star . “He coasted his last seven strides, and all day he’d only eaten chicken nuggets, and his left shoe was untied.” Still,...
Bluefin Tuna Tricked Into Spawning
Time
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Aug 17, 2008 7:22 AM CDT
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A seafood entrepreneur thinks he can solve the world's bluefin tuna shortage by making the fish feel frisky, Time reports. German ex-pat Hagen Stehr, the baron of a $230-million Australian seafood empire, is simulating the tuna's breeding grounds in a hatchery—a "fishy virtual reality" with 14 hours of daylight and water at 73°F—and...
Deaths Soar as Methadone Use Rises
New York Times
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Aug 17, 2008 7:01 AM CDT
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Methadone, formerly used primarily to treat heroin addicts, is now increasingly being prescribed for patients suffering from debilitating pain. Powerful and long-lasting, it's proved effective for millions, but it's also risky, causing more than 4,000 deaths between 1999 and 2005. The New York Times investigates the medical community’s struggle...
Fay May Hit Fla. as Hurricane
Miami Herald
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Aug 17, 2008 6:45 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Tourists were ordered to evacuate the Florida Keys this morning, as Tropical Storm Fay, which has already killed six in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, is expected to hit the Keys as soon as midnight tonight, the Miami Herald reports. With winds at 50mph and rising, Fay could be a Category 1 hurricane by the time it hits the Keys and heads for...
Blackwater Guards May Be Charged in Iraq Shooting
Washington Post
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Aug 17, 2008 6:18 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Federal prosecutors are close to seeing indictments against some of the Blackwater security guards linked to the shooting in Baghdad last September that left 17 civilians dead, the Washington Post reports. Target letters have gone out to six Blackwater contractors, sources tell the Post , indicating a high likelihood that the Justice Department...
Former DirecTV Exec Is New Publisher of LA Times
Los Angeles Times
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Aug 16, 2008 10:57 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Eddy Hartenstein, former head of DirecTV, will become publisher of the Los Angeles Times on Monday, the paper reports. Hartenstein will be coming aboard the paper during a downturn for the industry—and for the LA Times in particular—with readership of the paper down to 774,000 from 1.2 million in the early '90s.
8 Golds: Phelps Makes History
NBC
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Aug 16, 2008 10:51 PM CDT
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Michael Phelps swam into history today by picking up his 8th gold medal at the Beijing Olympics, NBC reports. Phelps swam the third leg of the men's 4x100 medley—yes, another world record—to trump Mark Spitz's record of 7 medals set more than three decades ago. "I'm more at a loss for words now than I was last night," said Phelps...
Sharing Stage, Obama and McCain Split on Abortion
Associated Press
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Aug 16, 2008 9:37 PM CDT
(AP) -
Presidential contenders Barack Obama and John McCain differed on abortion tonight, with McCain saying a baby's human rights begin "at conception," while Obama restated his support for legalized abortion. Their comments came during a two-hour forum on faith and moral issues hosted by the minister Rick Warren at his megachurch in Orange County,...
Beloved French Nun Reveals All
Guardian (UK)
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Aug 16, 2008 7:39 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Beloved French nun Soeur Emmanuelle is set to release a memoir revealing her wild adventures as a flapper in the 1920s. She loved dressing up and dancing the night away, she says, but gave it up to be a nun in 1929. When she later fell in love with an "intelligent and seductive" man, she kept it to herself. "I had chosen God," she...
How Thunder 's Joke Hurts the Disabled
Washington Post
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Aug 16, 2008 7:09 PM CDT
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Patricia E. Bauer suffers every time her Downs syndrome daughter hears the word "retard." When Bauer saw ads for Tropic Thunder, which jokes about retardation, they echoed every insult that her blond, blue-eyed daughter had endured for 24 years . After weeks of debate, Bauer remains stunned by ads that feature "the word ‘retard’...
Madge Makes 50 Look Good
Associated Press
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Aug 16, 2008 6:36 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The Material Girl may be adding a new role in her career: poster child for the 50-and-fabulous, the AP reports. She's athletic, ambitious, kicking off a world tour next month—what more does an aging fan need? "I just think she's awesome," a 55-year-old mom said. "Here's a woman that's successful, takes care of herself, looks amazing—and...
Boxing Champ Gunned Down in Bronx
New York Post
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Aug 16, 2008 6:05 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Golden Gloves champ Ronny Vargas was fatally shot this morning after a car chase in the Bronx, the New York Post reports. The 20-year-old middleweight, recently turned pro, was hanging out with friends when they exchanged words with a passing group, police said. Vargas’ party drove off, but the others followed and cut them off.
High-Tech Gear Floods Olympic Games
San Francisco Chronicle
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Aug 16, 2008 5:35 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The Michael Phelps-endorsed body suit is only one of the high-tech inventions at this year's Olympic Games, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. NASA-designed shoes, 3D motion-capture-designed bicycles, and a Nike PreCool vest have all garnered attention. But the most controversial is a spring-enhanced shoe that track and field athletes will wear...
Police May Take Bigger Role in Intelligence
Washington Post
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Aug 16, 2008 5:04 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The Justice Department has proposed expanding the ability of state and local police to gather intelligence on Americans, share it with federal officials, and hold onto it for a decade, the Washington Post reports. Supporters of the move say authorities would keep a close eye on the new practices to ensure civil liberties are upheld. But critics say...
Storm Kills 4 in Haiti; Fla. Preps for 'Disaster'
Associated Press
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Aug 16, 2008 4:39 PM CDT
(AP) -
Flooding from Tropical Storm Fay killed four people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and authorities warned Saturday that the storm could reach hurricane strength as it barreled toward Cuba. Florida's Gov. Charlie Crist declared a state of emergency and said Fay threatened the state with a "major disaster." Forecasters said Fay could...
Advocates for Pit Bulls Work to Dispel Image
Los Angeles Times
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Aug 16, 2008 4:08 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The pit bull has long been considered a breed prone to violence—a generalization the Michael Vick case did nothing to help. But a California couple is working to show people that the dogs have become victims of stereotype and, more importantly, widespread abuse. And they're using some of the dogs rescued from Vick's home to prove the point. The...
Georgia Tops Preseason AP Poll
Associated Press
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Aug 16, 2008 3:37 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Georgia is the top Bulldog in the AP’s preseason poll, beating out Ohio State for the leading spot. The Bulldogs wowed voters with their 41-10 thumping of Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl, after finishing the year with seven straight victories. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, disappointed in the championship game for the second straight year, but have 20 starters...
Royalty Rates May Kill Internet Radio Site
Washington Post
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Aug 16, 2008 3:06 PM CDT
(Newser) -
One of America's most popular online radio sites may pull the plug without a new deal on royalty rates, the Washington Post reports. Pandora attracts 1 million listeners a day to create personalized radio stations, but also pays 70% of its revenue in per-song royalties—a fee traditional radio has avoided. “We're approaching a pull-the-plug...
Obama Raises $51M in July
Washington Post
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Aug 16, 2008 2:35 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Barack Obama raked in $51 million last month, not quite a record for the Illinois senator but still formidable, the Washington Post reports. He ends the month with $65.8 million in the bank, a major advantage over John McCain, who has just $21 million, despite raising a personal-best $27 million in July.
Daily Show Evolves Into True Force
New York Times
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Aug 16, 2008 2:08 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Oh, what a difference eight years makes. The Daily Show struggled with limited access and no respect during the 2000 presidential race, but in this election the show has emerged as “a genuine cultural and political force,” writes Michiko Kakutani in the New York Times . Not only are presidential candidates clambering to make guest appearances,...
Tears Fall, Jokes Fly at Mac Memorial
Chicago Tribune
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Aug 16, 2008 1:40 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Thousands of fans showed up to honor Bernie Mac today in a memorial service on Chicago's South Side, the Chicago Tribune reports. “He’s still the hottest ticket in town,” said Cedric the Entertainer, who spoke with the rest of Mac’s “Original Kings of Comedy" team—each breaking into tears as they cracked jokes....
US Water Polo Bests Top-Ranked Croatia
New York Times
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Aug 16, 2008 1:00 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The ninth-ranked US water polo team took down top-ranked Croatia in a surprise 7-5 Olympic victory today, the New York Times reports. The victory was thanks in large part to the defensive work of goalie Merrill Moses, who had 11 saves. “What better place to take down the best team in the world than the Olympic stage?” Moses asked.
Dropped Calls Plague New 3G iPhone
ABC News
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Aug 16, 2008 1:00 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Owners of 3G iPhones complain that their new phones are suffering from glitches, especially dropped calls—and that Apple seems keen to drop their calls when they report issues, ABC News reports. A company spokeswoman refused to comment when contacted about the iPhone problems, which also include slow web access and a lack of access to AT&T's...
Defining Olympic Moment? Phelps By a Hair
Washington Post
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Aug 16, 2008 12:30 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Sure, if Michael Phelps wins his eighth Olympic gold, as he’s expected to do in the men’s relay, all eyes will be on him. And we’ll wonder (even more) if he’s all human or part-fish. But the Olympics' "defining fabulous moment" has already passed, writes Thomas Boswell in the Washington Post . It zipped by when Phelps...
Russia, Georgia Built Up to War for Months
Wall Street Journal
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Aug 16, 2008 12:01 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The explosion of violence in South Ossetia took the world by surprise, but Russia and Georgia had been gearing up for war for months, reports the Wall Street Journal . Both sides had been steadily boosting their military presence around South Ossetia, waiting for the trigger that came with Ossetian shelling of Georgian positions.
Why China's Rooting for Us
Washington Post
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Aug 16, 2008 11:31 AM CDT
(Newser) -
China hopes that its Olympic team will do the country proud—but many Chinese are openly rooting for US athletes. Why the love? Francesco Sisci, an Italian diplomat who lives there and whose wife is Chinese, writes in the Washington Post that the idea of "America," even with its flaws, is still held in high regard by everyday people....
Dems to Obama: What Kind of Change?
New York Times
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Aug 16, 2008 11:00 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Barack Obama has inspired hope but needs to nail down some details, Democratic leaders from battleground states tell the New York Times . Polls are stalled and voters anxious because Obama lacks clear positions, they say. “I particularly hope he strengthens his economic message," said Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, who wants Obama to "speak...
How to Spot Overpriced Wines
Wall Street Journal
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Aug 16, 2008 10:26 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Why does a bottle of wine cost $100 at one restaurant and three times that at the bistro down the block? The Wall Street Journal asked wine experts to decipher vino pricing and offer tips for finding the best deals. The results: Expensive wines often mean better value, as do less popular varietals. And never, ever buy by the glass.
Why Minority America Will Be a Stronger Nation
Newgeography.com
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Aug 16, 2008 9:56 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Minorities may be the majority in America as soon as 2042, and Joel Kotkin writes in New Geography that he couldn’t be happier. Leftists who fear racial conflict, and right-wingers who cry "American values" are missing the point, writes Kotkin: The nation's future depends on its ability to integrate outsiders. New Americans create markets,...
Jamaica's Bolt: World's Fastest Man
Associated Press
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Aug 16, 2008 9:26 AM CDT
(AP) -
Jamaica's Usain Bolt rewrote the record books again and easily captured his first Olympic medal by running the 100-meter dash in a stunning 9.69 seconds. Laying claim to the title of "world's fastest man," Bolt beat Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago by 0.2 seconds, while American Walter Dix was third. It marked the first time six runners...
Interrogation Debate Divides Psychologists
New York Times
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Aug 16, 2008 8:30 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The use of psychologists to aid government interrogations at places such as Guantanamo Bay has triggered an acrimonious ethical debate as the American Psychological Association considers banning the practice altogether, the New York Times reports. Some say psychologists are used to “break” detainees—in some cases illegally—while...
Russia Issues Nuke Threat to Poland
Times (UK)
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Aug 16, 2008 8:00 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A top Russian general warned yesterday that Poland would be "100% exposed" to nuclear attack if it follows through with plans to host a US missile defense system, reports the Times of London. The agreement "cannot go unpunished," the general warned in the first direct threat from the Kremlin since the fall of the Soviet Union....
Lobbying Law Won't Crimp Convention Parties
Wall Street Journal
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Aug 16, 2008 7:30 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Tough new rules aimed at weakening the influence of lobbyists won't keep Democrats and Republicans away from some of the most lavish convention parties ever seen, funded by those seeking to influence legislation, the Wall Street Journal reports. Dozens of loopholes allow lawmakers to skirt the legislation by accepting gifts from lobbyists and attending...
Bill Murray Drops In on Air Show
Chicago Sun-Times
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Aug 16, 2008 6:51 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Wisecracking comedian Bill Murray launched himself from 13,500 feet to start off the Chicago Air and Water Show yesterday, AP reports. "Is there some frequent flier program?" quipped the 57-year-old actor before leaping from a plane and executing several spins strapped to the belly of a sergeant from the Army's Golden Knights parachute team....
Netflix Deliveries Back On Track After Outage
Reuters
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Aug 16, 2008 6:32 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Netflix deliveries were returning to normal yesterday after a computer glitch caused a 3-day disruption, Reuters reports. The company plans to offer a 15% credit to the millions of movie lovers affected by the glitch, whose cause is still a mystery. The outage, the worst in Netflix history, is believed to have cost the company close to $2 million,...
Medvedev Signs Peace Pact
CNN
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Aug 16, 2008 6:20 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev today signed a ceasefire agreement ending hostilities with Georgia. Sources said he views the 6-point pact as "very positive," CNN reports. Russia, however, will not withdraw from Georgian territory until troops have finished removing "huge depots" of ammunition, weapons and boobytraps left by Georgian...
UK Weighs Taking Fat Kids From Parents
Independent (UK)
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Aug 16, 2008 5:47 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Local government leaders in Britain warn that they may need to take drastic action to protect the health of dangerously overweight children—including taking them away from their parents, the Independent reports. They predict that a million British children will be clinically obese within four years, and that the social service system may have...
Experts: Warp Drive Is Possible
Telegraph (UK)
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Aug 16, 2008 5:20 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Two physicists believe the fictional "warp drive" of Star Trek fame could someday become a reality, the Daily Telegraph reports. The scientists theorize that a mysterious cosmic force called dark energy could be harnessed to warp space around a vessel, allowing a spacecraft to travel faster than light—"like a surfer riding...
