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Newser Story Index from January, 2009

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.

Rawwk! Polly Want a Red Card?
Daily Mail (UK) | Jan 21, 2009 2:25 PM CST
(Newser) - A rare parrot had to be thrown out of a British football match when he began imitating the referee’s whistle, the Daily Mail reports. The parrot’s call was so realistic it actually stopped play dead 10 minutes into the second half, and continued disrupting the game thereafter. The cheeky bird also shouted “pretty boy” at some...
Geithner Confirmation Expected
Roll Call | Jan 21, 2009 2:14 PM CST
(Newser) - Members of the Senate Finance Committee reprimanded Timothy Geithner today for not paying $40,000 in taxes, but appeared ready to recommend the full Senate confirm him as Treasury Secretary despite his financial infractions, Roll Call reports. “I apologize for putting you in the position where you had to look into this, especially now,”...
Heart Sticker Adorned Duct Tape Covering Caylee's Mouth
Orlando Sentinel | Jan 21, 2009 2:08 PM CST
(Newser) - A heart-shaped sticker was placed on the duct tape covering 2-year-old Caylee Anthony's mouth, revealed Florida prosecutors in hundreds of legal pages released today. A Winnie the Pooh blanket accompanied the child's clothing inside the cloth laundry bag that held  the toddler's remains, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Cornyn Yields; Clinton Vote Near
The Hill | Jan 21, 2009 2:00 PM CST
(Newser) - Republican Sen. John Cornyn removed his call for a roll-call vote in the confirmation of Hillary Clinton as secretary of State today, paving the way for a quick vote within two hours, the Hill reports. “I intend to vote for her confirmation,” Cornyn said, “but I also believe it’s very important to flesh out some of the concerns”...
Supreme Court Strikes Down Web Porn Law
New York Times | Jan 21, 2009 1:45 PM CST
(Newser) - The US Supreme Court closed the door today on legislation designed to protect children from Internet pornography, the New York Times reports. The legislation, which was signed into law in 1998 but never took effect, was repeatedly struck down on First Amendment grounds. It set strict fines and jail time for providers who made explicit material available...
Prof Does Math, Finds Banking System 'Insolvent'
Bloomberg | Jan 21, 2009 1:37 PM CST
(Newser) - A New York University professor who predicted the current economic crisis warns that losses at US banks could climb to $3.6 trillion, leaving the whole system essentially bankrupt, Bloomberg reports. Economist Nouriel Roubini argues that since the system has a base capitalization of just $1.4 trillion, if losses get that high the “US banking...
Jonas Brothers Babysat the Obama Girls
ABC News | Jan 21, 2009 1:24 PM CST
(Newser) - Malia and Sasha Obama stayed in, presidential style, while their parents hit the dance floors last night, ABC reports. White House staff surprised the girls—who had requested a showing of High School Musical 3 and Bolt in their new theater—with a scavenger hunt. It introduced the mansion’s secret passageways and culminated with...
Inauguration Boosts Newspapers, for a Day
Associated Press | Jan 21, 2009 1:17 PM CST
(Newser) - The newspaper industry might be in its death throes, but it briefly jolted to life this morning as long lines of people waited at newsstands for souvenir copies of front pages that hailed the inauguration of America’s first black president, the AP reports. In Washington, some editions of the Post and Times , ideological rivals, ran identical...
Sen. Murkowski Asked Bush for Stevens Pardon
Anchorage Daily News | Jan 21, 2009 1:14 PM CST
(Newser) - Sen. Lisa Murkowski asked President Bush to pardon former Alaska Republican colleague Ted Stevens, the Anchorage Daily News reports. But Stevens would rather fight his corruption conviction in court, friends say, because he felt a pardon would taint his legacy. Murkowski wrote that she did not want to see Stevens, 85, spend the rest of his life involved...
Obama Vows Transparency, Freezes Top Salaries
Associated Press | Jan 21, 2009 1:07 PM CST
(Newser) - President Obama announced today that he was freezing the salaries of top White House staff who take in more than $100,000 a year, the AP reports. “Families are tightening their belts, and so should Washington,” he said. Obama is also requiring federal agencies to respond more actively to Freedom of Information requests, including the White...
White Powder Sent to Wall Street Journal
Wall Street Journal | Jan 21, 2009 12:48 PM CST
(Newser) - The Wall Street Journal received more than a dozen envelopes filled with an unidentified white powder today, addressed to various New York-based executives at the newspaper. Police and hazardous-materials crews are investigating, according to a spokesman, and the floor used by paper execs and editorial-page employees has been evacuated. All envelopes...
Second Engine Found in Hudson
New York Post | Jan 21, 2009 12:41 PM CST
(Newser) - The missing left engine from US Airways Flight 1549 was found intact today, the New York Post reports. Sonar scans detected an object of matching dimensions at the bottom of the Hudson yesterday, but choppy currents prevented investigators from confirming their find until today. The engine is being subjected to further scans underwater and will be...
After 77 Years, GM Cedes Sales Crown to Toyota
Detroit Free Press | Jan 21, 2009 12:35 PM CST
(Newser) - General Motors’ 77-year reign as the world’s top-selling automaker ended in 2008, the Detroit Free Press reports, overtaken at last by Toyota. The troubled US giant announced today its sales dropped 11% for the year, to 8.35 million vehicles; Toyota, despite a 4% dip, sold 8.97 million vehicles. “Share doesn’t always pay the...
Sports World Full of Obama Fans
San Francisco Chronicle | Jan 21, 2009 12:28 PM CST
(Newser) - Barack Obama's powers of inspiration and unification reach beyond the political world: "All around the country, athletes responded to the new president," Gwen Knapp writes for the San Francisc o Chronicle. The inauguration sparked tears from big men who take physical punishment for a living, and Obama's rise has drawn out a group that...
Top Kitchen Gadget ... the Cell Phone?
New York Times | Jan 21, 2009 12:18 PM CST
(Newser) - Forget about trying to buy newlyweds the ultimate kitchen appliance: They almost certainly already have two. For both everyday cooks and professional chefs, the cell phone has become the go-to gadget, the New York Times reports. What other tool could combine the functions of timer, measurement converter, recipe generator, shopping-list creator, expert-advice...
Kennedy Leaves Hospital
Boston Globe | Jan 21, 2009 12:06 PM CST
(Newser) - Ted Kennedy was released today from the Washington hospital where he was sent yesterday after suffering a seizure during Congress’ inaugural lunch with President Obama. The 76-year-old Massachusetts senator was back “in good spirits” this morning, the Boston Globe reports, but doctors urged him to reduce his workload. Such seizures,...
'Long Island Lolita' Does Another Porno
New York Daily News | Jan 21, 2009 12:03 PM CST
(Newser) - A porn movie featuring “Long Island Lolita” Amy Fisher is making the rounds again—but this time it’s her idea, the New York Daily News reports. Fisher, 34, fought the release of a sex tape leaked by her husband before relenting last year. Fisher, whose real claim to fame is the 1992 shooting of her lover’s wife, says...
Travolta Target of Extortion Plot
National Enquirer | Jan 21, 2009 11:52 AM CST
(Newser) - Bahamanian police are investigating two alleged extortionists accused of trying to wrangle millions from John Travolta after the Jan. 2 death of his son, Jett. One of the co-conspirators is “believed to be a politician,” the National Enquirer reports, citing a newspaper in the Bahamas, where Jett suffered a fatal seizure at the family’s...
Cuomo's in the Running for Clinton Seat, Paterson Says
Buffalo News | Jan 21, 2009 11:47 AM CST
(Newser) - Continuing his elusive dance around Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat, New York Gov. David Paterson said yesterday that state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo “is someone I’m considering,” the Buffalo News reports. Paterson also seemed unafraid of a possible Cuomo challenge in 2010 if he isn’t seated in the Senate. “He...
Carrey Gambles on Gay Jailbird Role
Reuters | Jan 21, 2009 11:35 AM CST
(Newser) - Jim Carrey is getting rave reviews for his new film, I Love You Phillip Morris , but the story of a cop-turned-con man who repeatedly breaks out of jail to be with his former cellmate is a gamble for the actor, Reuters reports. “I don’t think it’s a gay movie,” said Carrey. “It really is about the lengths we go to for...
Want a Traffic Ticket? Buy a Hummer
Associated Press | Jan 21, 2009 11:29 AM CST
(Newser) - Hummers and Scion’s tC top a list of cars most likely to receive moving violations, the Los Angeles Times reports. A study links tickets to size and power—the Hummer is one of the biggest “cars” on the road—and driver age, which applies to the Scion, marketed to younger folk. Hummer drivers are almost 5 times more likely...
Brit to Write Memoir for $14M
Daily Mirror (UK) | Jan 21, 2009 11:21 AM CST
(Newser) - Presumably, this will be a little more revealing than Crossroads : Britney Spears has signed a nearly $14 million deal to write an autobiography, the Daily Mirror reports. The 27-year-old star may drop some bombshells unofficial biographers never uncovered, a source says: “Some of the stories she’s got are absolute dynamite. She’s...
It's Predictable, but Lie to Me Is a Charmer
Salon | Jan 21, 2009 11:15 AM CST
(Newser) - Lie to Me , Fox’s new crime procedural, really ought to be terrible, Heather Havrilesky writes in Salon. It checks every predictable box: a misanthropic, lie-detecting genius at the center, surrounded by sexy sidekicks and quirky underlings. But “fast-paced, clever” writing helps the series, premiering tonight, “avoid feeling...
No, We Can't: Meet the Pessimist in Chief
Times (UK) | Jan 21, 2009 11:07 AM CST
(Newser) - Barack Obama, elected on a tide of optimism, insisted yesterday that a new generation could meet the challenges of the age. Yet he described economic crisis and a collective failure of will, with no promise of rebirth or redemption, Times of London columnist Daniel Finkelstein observes. And that may be just what America needs: a president who campaigns...
Winehouse Rescues Tourist, Baywatch -Style
Sun (UK) | Jan 21, 2009 10:59 AM CST
(Newser) - Longtime heroin devotee Amy Winehouse became a heroine yesterday when she rescued a British woman, Baywatch -style, on a Caribbean beach, the Sun reports. During a sailing lesson, the 39-year-old tourist was thrown onto rocks near the sunbathing singer, who rushed to help the injured gal out of the water. Winehouse then cleaned gashes on the woman’s...
Geithner Sorry, Blames TurboTax
Wall Street Journal | Jan 21, 2009 10:50 AM CST
(Newser) - Timothy Geithner apologized for failing to pay $34,000 in taxes today in his Senate confirmation hearing. “I should have been more careful,” the would-be Treasury secretary said, calling them careless, avoidable mistakes. When asked how he prepared the taxes he replied, “I will answer that, but I want to say I take full responsibility......
Obama Speeches Teach English, Hope to Japanese
Reuters | Jan 21, 2009 10:46 AM CST
(Newser) - The Japanese version of Amazon.com features an unlikely bestseller: the collected speeches of Barack Obama, with Japanese translation and accompanying CD, Reuters reports. Obama’s inspiring but straightforward rhetoric is perfect for teaching English in a country that hankers to learn the language. He “uses words such as ‘yes, we...
Obama Attends Nat'l Prayer Service
Associated Press | Jan 21, 2009 10:35 AM CST
(Newser) - Barack and Michelle Obama attended the traditional prayer service at the National Cathedral this morning, the AP reports, a custom dating back to the nation's first president. The newly-minted president sat in the front pew along with Joe and Jill Biden and Bill and Hillary Clinton for a rousing service, which included prayers, hymns, and readings...
It's Straight to Work for No. 44
Christian Science Monitor | Jan 21, 2009 10:31 AM CST
(Newser) - Barack Obama kicked off day one as president by entering the Oval Office at 8:35am, later, notes the Christian Science Monitor , than his predecessor typically did—though perhaps not that late considering his night of parties stretched until 1am. Obama spent 10 minutes alone, reading a note in an envelope marked: "To: #44, From: #43."...
US Economy Isn't as Bad as 1982 ... Just Yet
New York Times | Jan 21, 2009 10:29 AM CST
(Newser) - We’ve heard a lot lately about how this recession is the worst since the 1980s, or even since the Great Depression, so David Leonhardt, in the New York Times , tries to get some perspective. Using jobs data as his main metric, Leonhardt finds things aren’t nearly as bad as they were in 1982—but they could get there in a hurry.
Calm Down! 7 Reasons to Be Skeptical
Politico | Jan 21, 2009 10:21 AM CST
(Newser) - Yesterday’s inauguration was such a feel-good fest, and our problems are so dire, that everybody is on board with President Obama. Leave it to Politico’s Jim VandeHei and John F. Harris, then, to give us some reasons for skepticism: The genius fallacy : The best and brightest screw up, too. Everyone’s praising Larry Summers...
Israel Probes Phosphorus Use in Gaza
Guardian (UK) | Jan 21, 2009 10:17 AM CST
(Newser) - Under pressure from the international community, Israel has admitted its troops might have inappropriately used white phosphorus in attacks on Gaza, and has launched an investigation. International law only permits the caustic chemical for creating smokescreens in troop areas, which wouldn’t explain hits on United Nations facilities in Gaza,...
Noonan: A Solid, Sober Beginning
Wall Street Journal | Jan 21, 2009 10:06 AM CST
(Newser) - Barack Obama’s first speech as president was not “a joyous audacious document, not a call to arms,” writes Peggy Noonan in the Wall Street Journal , “but a reasoned statement by a Young Sobersides.” That’s not a criticism: Moderate and moderated, Obama’s address said exactly what it needed to. It was...
SEC Looking Into Apple's Health Disclosures on Jobs
Bloomberg | Jan 21, 2009 9:55 AM CST
(Newser) - The SEC is taking a long hard look at Apple’s disclosures about Steve Jobs’ health, a source tells Bloomberg. The inquiry isn’t supposed to be public knowledge, and doesn’t indicate that the SEC has seen evidence of wrongdoing. But the agency wants to be sure that Apple didn’t mislead investors about its CEO’s health,...
After Turbulent Year, Airlines See Smoother 2009
Wall Street Journal | Jan 21, 2009 9:53 AM CST
(Newser) - The nation’s airlines—which scrambled to retask fleets and ground fuel-guzzling aircraft last year as energy prices rose and passenger miles dropped—are likely to have a smoother flight in 2009, reports the Wall Street Journal. Reduced capacity has allowed them to better match supply and demand, and falling oil prices have helped...
Culkin Sister Was Drunk When Killed
E! Online | Jan 21, 2009 9:46 AM CST
(Newser) - Macaulay Culkin’s sister was drunk when she was struck and killed by a car in Los Angeles last month, E! Online reports. Dakota Culkin, 29, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.31%, more than triple California’s legal limit. “It might have influenced her decision to walk into traffic,” said the coroner, who ruled blunt-force trauma...
Lines, Arctic Temps... and a Miracle: Keillor
Salon | Jan 21, 2009 9:38 AM CST
(Newser) - The lines were "the longest I have ever stood in," and the day was arctic, but there were no complaints to be heard from the jubilant throng in Washington yesterday, Garrison Keillor writes in Salon. "All kinds of people, the slim and sleek, the XXXLs, the heavily insulated, the carefree" slowly trekked toward the Capitol for...
How Blago Celebrated Inauguration
Chicago Tribune | Jan 21, 2009 9:29 AM CST
(Newser) - Yesterday was special for a certain Illinois politician—and not just the one you’re thinking of. While Barack Obama was being sworn in, Gov. Rod Blagojevich was getting his fingerprints taken, reports the Chicago Tribune . Blagojevich also failed to enter a plea in his state Senate impeachment trial; he’s considering boycotting the...
Amid Clichés, Speech Showed True Insight
Washington Post | Jan 21, 2009 9:27 AM CST
(Newser) - A conservative might have expected President Obama’s inaugural address to feature soaring language masking hackneyed ideas. Funny thing, writes Michael Gerson in the Washington Post : It was just the opposite. "It is simply mysterious how such tired language could sound appropriate to the ear of Obama the writer,” but the speech’s...
Chrysler Needs $3B From Feds to Lock Deal With Fiat
Wall Street Journal | Jan 21, 2009 9:11 AM CST
(Newser) - Chrysler and Fiat have agreed to a deal that would give the Italian automaker a 35% stake in the US company, but there’s a hitch: it doesn't become final unless Chrysler bags another $3 billion from the federal government, reports the Wall Street Journal. The partnership will give Chrysler a technology boost, and Fiat more access to the US...
IBM Gives Stock Market Hope
Wall Street Journal | Jan 21, 2009 8:47 AM CST
(Newser) - Stocks bounced back at the open this morning, as tech sector hope outpaced financial sector gloom. The Dow climbed 126 points, while the Nasdaq and S&P jumped 2% and 1.7% respectively. IBM was the star of the show, after posting a 12% surge in fourth-quarter profits and an upbeat 2009 outlook. Its shares jumped more than 8%. United Technologies...
Geithner's Nomination Is Unlikely to Fail
Wall Street Journal | Jan 21, 2009 8:44 AM CST
(Newser) - The herculean task awaiting Timothy Geithner is so critical to the nation that a niggling detail like unpaid taxes is unlikely to derail his bid to head up the Treasury Department, writes Deborah Solomon in the Wall Street Journal . While senators will likely press Geithner about his missteps during his hearing today, most seem reluctant to hold up...
What Slump? Big Blue Sees Growth
Wall Street Journal | Jan 21, 2009 8:37 AM CST
(Newser) - Strong software and business-services sales—including outsourcing services, a cash cow in the current economy—pushed IBM’s profits up 12% in the fourth quarter and prompted a recession-busting forecast of continued growth for 2009, reports the Wall Street Journal . Although Big Blue's revenue fell in the quarter, its margins continued...
Israelis Near Gaza See Slim— or No—Victory
New York Times | Jan 21, 2009 8:18 AM CST
(Newser) - When Israel began its raid of the Gaza Strip three weeks ago, the government said its goal was to end rocket attacks and sniper fire into the country's south. Polls show that most Israelis supported the war, despite the staggering civilian casualties. But in interviews with farmers and other residents near the Gaza border, the New York Times finds...
Belt-Tightening Spares Older Workers
BusinessWeek | Jan 21, 2009 8:06 AM CST
(Newser) - As companies nationwide cut tens of thousands of jobs, younger workers appear to be taking a hit as companies try to retain older, more experienced employees, reports BusinessWeek . Boomers increasingly have become corporate America’s gold standard: “When you’re in your 50s and 60s, you’re in your prime,” said a CVS Caremark...
Plane Crash Tweets Help Twitter Overtake Digg
Hitwise Intelligence | Jan 21, 2009 7:58 AM CST
(Newser) - Twitter traffic has overtaken Digg for the first time since the microblogging site's launch, Hitwise reports. The newcomer edged up to #84 last week—one spot above Digg—after the US Airways crash spawned a huge number of updates. A photo of the scene taken by a Twitter user on a ferry was widely viewed and got picked up by many traditional...
Israel Completes Gaza Withdrawal
Associated Press | Jan 21, 2009 7:48 AM CST
(AP) - The last Israeli troops left the Gaza Strip before dawn today, the military said, as Israel dispatched its foreign minister to Europe in a bid to rally international support to end arms smuggling into the Hamas-ruled territory. The timing of the pullout reflected Israeli hopes to defuse the Gaza crisis before Barack Obama took office. The military...
Republican Becomes Ariz. Governor
Arizona Daily Star | Jan 21, 2009 7:31 AM CST
(Newser) - Moments after the Senate confirmed her as homeland security secretary yesterday afternoon, Janet Napolitano resigned as governor of Arizona. But because Arizona is one of the few states without a lieutenant governor, the office passes to the secretary of state—Jan Brewer, a Republican. In a twist, reports the Daily Star, Brewer would never...
First Couple Hits All 10 Official Balls
CNN | Jan 21, 2009 7:25 AM CST
(Newser) - The new first couple danced their way through all 10 official balls last night, keeping with tradition and the desire to make yesterday’s inauguration the “most accessible” in history, CNN reports. Barack and Michelle Obama began the evening at the public Neighborhood Ball with Beyoncé’s rendition of “At Last.”...
Obama Was 10 Feet Tall and Bullet-Proof
Slate | Jan 21, 2009 7:17 AM CST
(Newser) - Barack Obama wasn't quite bullet-proof as he strode down Pennsylvania Avenue yesterday, but the new president was certainly "bullet-resistant," Slate explains. While the SWAT-team look might not be very presidential, several companies now manufacture lightweight protective clothing that can be worn under clothing or woven into shirts or coats....
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