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.
Bratz Dolls Must Pay Barbie $100M in Copyright Suit
Associated Press
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Aug 26, 2008 6:39 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Barbie will get $100 million from her saucier cousins, the Bratz dolls, for copyright infringement, the AP reports. A federal jury ordered Bratz maker MGA to pay Mattel the sum, but it did not award punitive damages and gave Mattel only a fraction of what it sought. Last month, the jury sided with Mattel in deciding that the Bratz designer concocted...
Dude: Why Lebowski Is Still Big
Rolling Stone
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Aug 26, 2008 6:13 PM CDT
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A decade after its disappointing box-office release, The Big Lebowski endures as a cult classic, inspiring academic papers, annual festivals, and hot new comics like Seth Rogen. To find out why, Rolling Stone tracked down the cast and a few hardcore fans who say Lebowski is more a movement than a film—Jeff Bridges' "Dude" represents...
Police Rescue 1,000 Dogs From Kennel in W. Va.
Associated Press
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Aug 26, 2008 5:51 PM CDT
(AP) -
The longtime owner of a West Virginia kennel has surrendered her approximately 1,000 dogs to humane officials amid allegations that the animals were never let out of their cages and were rarely, if ever, touched by a human being. Authorities raided the facility over the weekend. To avoid arrest, the owner has agreed never to operate a kennel again.
Obama's 2004 Speech: A Star Was Born
New Republic
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Aug 26, 2008 5:45 PM CDT
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Four years after Barack Obama’s keynote speech won him nationwide acclaim, the New Republic looks at how he landed the fateful speaking slot at the party convention. The pick was unprecedented because Obama was largely unknown—he wasn't even in the Senate—and he had never given a speech of such magnitude. But he was generating...
Facebook's Vision Nets 100 Million Users
Mashable
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Aug 26, 2008 5:28 PM CDT
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Facebook has just crossed the 100-million-user plateau, and it’s more notable than when MySpace achieved the feat 2 years ago, Stan Schroeder writes on Mashable. First of all, Facebook says it counts only active users, unlike its rival. But more importantly, Facebook has a vision of how to cater to and expand its user base—and how to make...
Hari Puttar? Warner Bros. Sues Over Bollywood Flick
Times (UK)
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Aug 26, 2008 5:03 PM CDT
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The newest Harry Potter adventure doesn’t see the young hero once again battle Voldemort—instead, the Times of London reports, it’s Hollywood vs. Bollywood. Warner Bros. is suing the Indian producer of Hari Puttar: A Comedy of Terrors , alleging it too closely resembles JK Rowling’s wizard tales. The Indian version features...
Democrats Take Aim at Romney
Politico
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Aug 26, 2008 4:49 PM CDT
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From the way Democrats are acting, they might believe Mitt Romney is the front-runner to become John McCain’s running mate, Alexander Burns writes in Politico. Denver is abuzz with attacks on the former Massachusetts governor: Barack Obama’s campaign manager called Romney a “job-killing machine,” and Deval Patrick, who has Romney’s...
Mom Wanted to Give Caylee Up
Associated Press
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Aug 26, 2008 4:36 PM CDT
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Casey Anthony has repeatedly lied to Florida officials investigating the case of her missing 3-year-old daugther, Caylee, the AP reports. Documents released this week also indicate that the 22-year-old mother is universally distrusted by those who know her, and that Anthony attempted to give up her daughter for adoption, but was forbidden by her mother.
Son of Rap Pioneer Dr. Dre Dead at 20
Los Angeles Times
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Aug 26, 2008 4:25 PM CDT
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The son of rap icon Dr. Dre died this weekend in his home northwest of Los Angeles, the Times reports. Andre R. Young Jr., 20, was found dead in his bed Saturday morning after being out with friends the previous evening, an official said; tests to determine cause of death have not yet been completed.
LPGA to Test Players' English
Golfweek
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Aug 26, 2008 4:12 PM CDT
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The LPGA will begin mandatory oral English tests for its players next year, and those who fail face suspension and required tutoring, Golfweek reports. The tour is stressing the importance of English as players from Asia have come to play a prominent role in the sport. Of the 121 international players on the tour this year, 45 are from South Korea....
FAA Glitch Causes Widespread Flight Delays
Wall Street Journal
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Aug 26, 2008 4:00 PM CDT
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A computer glitch in an FAA computer system caused flight delays around the country today, the Wall Street Journal reports. The situation appeared to be easing this evening as airports—Atlanta, Chicago, and Boston were hardest hit—got back on track. The snag hit one of two FAA facilities that processes flight-approval plans. Air-traffic...
Protests Threaten World's Cheapest Car
Der Spiegel
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Aug 26, 2008 3:51 PM CDT
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The promised October launch of a $2,500 car by India’s Tata Motors is in jeopardy after massive protests at its West Bengal factory, Der Spiegel reports. Led by the state's opposition leader, 30,000 demonstrators promised a "fight to the finish" for land they say the government acquired illegally. Tata insists its Nano will be delivered...
12 Deaths From Tainted Meat Cause Canadian Furor
Globe and Mail
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Aug 26, 2008 3:38 PM CDT
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Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper says an unprecedented meat recall is proof that the government’s proposed inspection reforms are necessary, despite opposition accusations that the changes will actually undermine food safety, the Globe and Mail reports. Maple Leaf foods has issued a 220-product recall, following a listeriosis infection...
Stocks Flat on Mixed News
Wall Street Journal
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Aug 26, 2008 3:26 PM CDT
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Stocks were mixed amid mostly poor economic data today, the Wall Street Journal reports. With trading light and much attention focused on the Democrats’ economic plans, the Dow gained 26.62 to close at 11,412.87. The Nasdaq fell 3.62, closing at 2,361.97, while the S&P 500 gained 4.67 points to settle at 1,271.51.
Hijacked Sudan Airliner on the Ground in Libya
AFP
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Aug 26, 2008 3:14 PM CDT
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A Sudanese flight hijacked today after lifting off from a Darfur airport has landed in Libya, the AFP reports. Authorities are still negotiating with hijackers; three former members of a rebel group are said to be among 102 on board. Yesterday, the UN reported 33 dead after a clash between the Sudanese military and refugees in the region. “I’m...
Replay Starts Thursday: Source
Associated Press
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Aug 26, 2008 3:00 PM CDT
(AP) -
Major League Baseball umpires will be allowed to watch instant replays in home run calls starting this week, anonymous sources tell the AP. The decision represents an about-face on traditional MLB policy, and comes months after general managers voted heavily in favor of using the technology. An official announcement is expected later today.
Should Dems Attack More in Denver?
CNN
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Aug 26, 2008 2:50 PM CDT
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James Carville started tongues wagging in Denver when he criticized Democrats for not attacking enough. “You haven't heard about Iraq or John McCain or George W. Bush,” Carville complained on CNN. “We’re playing hide the message.” Is Carville right? Matt Bunk of the Arizona Capital Times thinks that, sadly, he...
Sydney Olympics Also Featured Fake Performances
Sydney Morning Herald
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Aug 26, 2008 2:38 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The world was shocked to learn that Chinese singer Lin Miaoke was really just a pretty lip-syncher, but fakery seems to be par for the Olympic course: the Sydney Symphony has disclosed that its performers mimed to a backing tape during the 2000 opening ceremony. "It's correct that we were basically miming to a pre-recording," an ensemble...
Tearful Biden Thanks His Del. Constituents
New York Times
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Aug 26, 2008 2:26 PM CDT
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An emotional Joe Biden gave thanks to delegates from his home state of Delaware at the Democratic National Convention today, the New York Times reports. At a private breakfast, Biden said his vice-presidential nod “pales in comparison to the honor I’ve had representing you.” He also apologized for his loose tongue over the years,...
States Consider Leasing Roads as Upkeep Takes Toll
Wall Street Journal
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Aug 26, 2008 2:15 PM CDT
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With Pennsylvania legislators set to vote next month on a $12.8 billion deal that would put the 537-mile Pennsylvania Turnpike under private operation, such public-private partnerships are accelerating across the US, the Wall Street Journal reports. Often bankrolled by infrastructure funds—which have $160 billion under management—the...
Rangel Wrangles DNC Speaking Gig
New York Post
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Aug 26, 2008 2:01 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Charles Rangel, the Harlem Democrat who chairs the House Ways and Means committee, will speak at the party’s convention after all, the New York Post reports. Rangel was originally denied a spot, angering his boosters, but his surrogates got organizers to shoehorn him in today. Rangel is scheduled to speak between 4-5pm (Mountain) today, before...
With Economy Uncertain, So Is Obama's Plan
Wall Street Journal
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Aug 26, 2008 1:55 PM CDT
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Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama promises change, but if he’s elected in the current uncertain economy, those changes may come later rather than sooner, the Wall Street Journal reports. Obama’s big economic priorities–government-sponsored health care for millions, greenhouse-gas reductions, and tax increases—leave...
iPhone 3G Has Already Outsold Original
TechCrunch
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Aug 26, 2008 1:49 PM CDT
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It took Apple one year to sell 6 million first-generation iPhones. By next week, the company will have sold the same number of 3G iPhones—just seven weeks after they went on the market, TechCrunch reports. Complaints about battery life and connection speed haven’t tempered the iPhone’s popularity, and Apple is predicted to sell 40...
Genre-Setting Travel Author Dies at 47
Los Angeles Times
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Aug 26, 2008 1:47 PM CDT
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Dave Freeman, co-author of 100 Things to Do Before You Die , died at age 47 after falling and hitting his head at his California home last week, the Los Angeles Times reports. Published in 1999, the free-spirited travel guide, among the first to offer a sight-seeing agenda based on adventure and mortality, spawned dozens of imitators in other genres.
Biden Attracts West Wing Love
Los Angeles Times
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Aug 26, 2008 1:31 PM CDT
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He probably wouldn’t merit a Washington appointment, but Joe Biden’s biggest Tinseltown fan has small-screen political experience, the Los Angeles Times reports. Richard Schiff, who won an Emmy for his role as White House communications director on West Wing , is stumping for his “real deal” candidate this week in Denver,...
DNC Keynoter Is Red-State Success Story
Christian Science Monitor
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Aug 26, 2008 1:17 PM CDT
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Keynoting tonight at the Democratic Convention is former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, who broke through partisan gridlock despite the state’s conservative tilt and his own northern roots, the Christian Science Monitor reports. Warner, a successful businessman before entering politics, was elected governor of Virginia in 2001. Though faced with...
Ranks of Uninsured Drop by 1M
Associated Press
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Aug 26, 2008 1:11 PM CDT
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There were a million fewer uninsured Americans last year, the first annual decrease under the Bush administration, according to Census Bureau data released today. Median household incomes also rose slightly for the third consecutive year, while the nation’s poverty rate held steady at just over 12%, AP reports. The encouraging figures don’t...
Facing Russia, Ex-Soviet States Need NATO
Guardian (UK)
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Aug 26, 2008 1:03 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Russia's military actions in Georgia sent shudders throughout the region, Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko writes in the Guardian . Not only did the war reveal the Kremlin's willingness to commit "massacres" for political gain; it also exposed the weakness of the UN and European security organizations. The West needs to send peacekeepers—and...
Queen's Guards Fired for Drugs
Times (UK)
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Aug 26, 2008 12:57 PM CDT
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Five soldiers from the Queen of England's ceremonial guard unit have been fired after testing positive for Class A drugs, reports the Times of London. A failed test is virtually a guaranteed career-ender in the British Army, and only a slim 0.8% of personnel have tested positive in the last 3 years. The three men and two women were in the Royal Horse...
McCain Borrows Clinton's '3am' Attack
USA Today
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Aug 26, 2008 12:54 PM CDT
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John McCain has resurrected Hillary Clinton’s “3am” attack ad, and will be running a modified version in several battleground states, USA Today reports. The Republican's ad reruns a portion of Clinton’s, along with clips of Clinton attacking Obama’s experience, and ends with the tag, “Hillary’s right.”...
Waiter Serves It Up in Tell-All
Bloomberg
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Aug 26, 2008 12:42 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A waiter known for grumbling about his work online has now recounted his misadventures in a book, Waiter Rant . Steve Dublanica tells Bloomberg about its highlights: runaway rodents, crazed customers, and his background in the mental health field. "Dealing with rabidly insane psychopaths is perfect training for dealing with some of the restaurant...
Clinton Never Was in Running for Veep Slot
Washington Post
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Aug 26, 2008 12:38 PM CDT
(Newser) -
In a meeting soon after Hillary Clinton conceded the nomination, Barack Obama told her he probably wouldn’t select her for the VP slot, sources close to the conversation told the Washington Post . She had requested that he not put her through a charade of vetting if she wasn't a serious candidate; he didn’t want to raise false hopes and...
Obama Plot Not a 'Credible Threat': Cops
Associated Press
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Aug 26, 2008 12:26 PM CDT
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Authorities say the armed man arrested near Denver on Sunday never posed a "credible threat" to Barack Obama despite reports he threatened the Democratic candidate, AP reports. "We're absolutely confident there is no credible threat to the candidate, the Democratic National Convention, or the people of Colorado," the city's US attorney...
Suu Kyi Rejects Food Deliveries, Sparks Rumors of Hunger Strike
Associated Press
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Aug 26, 2008 12:23 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Myanmar's detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has refused food deliveries to her house for two weeks, prompting speculation that she is on a hunger strike against the government, the AP reports. Supporters say she's grown increasingly frustrated with the UN's failure to intervene in the junta-ruled nation—the Nobel Prize laureate refused...
Hudson to Sing Anthem at DNC
People
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Aug 26, 2008 12:00 PM CDT
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Bruce Springsteen may be scheduled to close the Democratic convention, but Barack Obama has asked Jennifer Hudson to perform the national anthem, People reports. "His reps called and said we'd love for you to sing the anthem on Thursday," the Oscar winner’s rep told People. "She's thrilled and excited. It's a tremendous honor."...
Don't Be Fooled: Prostate Cancer Screening Is Key
Washington Post
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Aug 26, 2008 11:57 AM CDT
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A national task force’s recent warning against prostate cancer screenings in some men could put their lives at risk, cautions physician and researcher William J. Catalona in the Washington Post . “It's important to note that consideration was not given to the overwhelming body of emerging evidence that screening with PSA tests and digital...
Mugabe Heckled by Parliament
Times (UK)
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Aug 26, 2008 11:43 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Members of the Movement for Democratic Change heckled President Robert Mugabe today as he addressed the parliament, the Times of London reports. Having defied him by electing an MDC speaker instead of one from his own Zanu-PF, the MDC representatives chanted “Zanu is rotten” throughout Mugabe’s address. “Our position is that...
High Marks for Michelle's Passion, Kennedy's Emotion
Time
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Aug 26, 2008 11:37 AM CDT
(Newser) -
How did the speakers do on the first night of the Democrats’ big show? There’s no shortage of opinions: Mark Halperin, in Time , gives good grades to Caroline Kennedy and Michelle Obama, the latter of whom likely convinced the country she’s ready to be first lady “in a major way.” But he saves his highest praise...
Sheen Expecting Baby No. 4
Associated Press
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Aug 26, 2008 11:22 AM CDT
(AP) -
Charlie Sheen is expecting a child with new wife Brooke Mueller, the Two and a Half Men star announced yesterday. "Brooke and I are thrilled! She's the best stepmom Sam, Lola, and Cassandra could ever hope for…I know she'll be an amazing mom. Unless I bat 100%, perhaps a boy awaits us."
Hillary, Like Suffrage, Is a Symbol of Frustration
New York Times
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Aug 26, 2008 11:13 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Many have noted that Hillary Clinton’s speech tonight comes on the anniversary of women’s suffrage, but that’s not necessarily the uplifting coincidence it appears to be, writes feminist author Susan Faludi in the New York Times. Despite Clinton’s fantastic primary showing, her supporters remain disconsolate because feminist...
Pitt Shoots Family for Mag Cover
Fashion Week Daily
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Aug 26, 2008 11:01 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Brad Pitt has photographed Angelina Jolie and their six children for the November cover of W magazine, sources tell Fashion Week Daily . The photography hobbyist, who once got a Littman 45 single camera from Jolie as a birthday gift, snapped the pics last week at their French chateau.
Home Sales Up in July; Market Glut Begins to Ease
Bloomberg
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Aug 26, 2008 10:53 AM CDT
(Newser) -
New home sales rebounded a bit in July, according to Commerce Department data released today, and the glut of properties on the market began to ease, Bloomberg reports. The 2.4% uptick in sales fell short of the pace economists were looking for—hitting a 515,000 annual pace rather than 525,000—but the inventory of unsold homes fell 5.2%,...
It's Health, Not Age, That Matters
Wall Street Journal
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Aug 26, 2008 10:36 AM CDT
(Newser) -
At 72, John McCain would be the oldest person elected president, but should that matter to voters? Probably not, according to geriatrics experts consulted by the Wall Street Journal. “Aging has such a small impact on how we function that it is of minimal importance,” says one specialist. Though brain functions deteriorate with age, that...
Ovarian Cancer Test 'Premature,' Critics Worry
New York Times
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Aug 26, 2008 10:32 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Though a new ovarian cancer test gives hope that the 21,000 new cancer cases expected this year may be detected at a treatable stage, the FDA is worried OvaSure may do more harm than good, the New York Times reports. If the unregulated test detects cancer where there isn't any—as expected in 0.6% of cases—some women may have unnecessary...
Crows Recognize Human Faces: Study
New York Times
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Aug 26, 2008 10:26 AM CDT
(Newser) -
If you ever offend a crow, don’t expect it to forgive and forget. University of Washington researchers found that the birds recognize human faces long after an encounter, the New York Times reports. Participants wore specific masks when they captured campus crows; after their release, the birds angrily scolded those in the “dangerous”...
Arab Investors Interested in GM's Hummer Brand
Reuters
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Aug 26, 2008 10:04 AM CDT
(Newser) -
There may soon be more Hummers heading to the Persian Gulf, this time as two Gulf Arab investors signal interest in buying GM's troubled brand of SUV—modeled on the military vehicle. Analysts have expected the gas-guzzler to be tough to unload, but low fuel prices, economic prosperity, and Hummer’s position as a status symbol in the Gulf...
Re-Kindling May Not Be Enough
BusinessWeek
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Aug 26, 2008 9:46 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Amazon plans to launch the next generation of its Kindle e-book player in the coming months, but an iPod-sized hit may still be out of the company's grasp, Peter Burrows writes in BusinessWeek . Much-needed improvements are on the way, but the real future for Kindle could be in using its player technology in other devices, Burrows suggests.
Judge DioGuardi Is Just What Idol Needs
MSNBC
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Aug 26, 2008 9:32 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The addition of hit songwriter-producer Kara DioGuardi as a fourth judge on American Idol is a much better fix for flagging ratings than simply sending irrelevant judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson packing, writes Andy Dehnart for MSNBC. While guest judges in the past haven't had much effect, DioGuardi will bring youth and relevancy to an aging...
Hillary Can Only Lose Tonight—but She Knows How to Lose
Washington Post
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Aug 26, 2008 9:18 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Hillary Clinton's mission in Denver tonight is both painful and fraught with peril, Marie Cocco writes in the Washington Post . As “cheerleader in chief" who may want to pursue another run herself, she can't really win—surely she'll be criticized for being either too methodical or too exuberant, and her supporters will misbehave—but...
Consumer Data Breaches Hit Record
Washington Post
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Aug 26, 2008 9:10 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Theft or loss of confidential consumer information from computer databases is at a record high, with more breaches already this year than all of 2007, the Washington Post reports. Records reveal that 449 US businesses, government agencies and universities have reported data breaches this year, compared with 446 breaches involving 127 million consumer...
