Newser Story Index from November, 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.
Iraqi War Zone Sees Big Spike in Birth Defects
Guardian (UK)
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Nov 14, 2009 1:24 PM CST
(Newser) -
Doctors in Fallujah are seeing an alarming rise in the number of birth defects and early life cancers. They have no definitive evidence, but suspicion has naturally fallen on toxic materials left behind after years of modern warfare, reports the Guardian . The rate of birth defects—including multiple tumors, nervous system disorders, and even...
Search for Nessie Yields ... Golf Balls
Planet Green
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Nov 14, 2009 12:56 PM CST
(Newser) -
Researchers in Scotland hoping to find the famous Loch Ness monster instead stumbled across hundreds of thousands of golf balls at the lake's bottom. Apparently tourists and locals alike enjoy using the lake as a driving range, but Planet Green doesn't think it's a laughing matter. It notes a recent Danish report warning that golf balls take up to...
Nation's First Marijuana Cafe Opens in Portland
Oregonian (Portland)
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Nov 14, 2009 12:19 PM CST
(Newser) -
A cafe in Portland, Oregon, made a little history yesterday when it became the first in the nation to legally open its doors to pot smokers. The Cannabis Cafe welcomes those who are licensed by the state to smoke marijuana for medical reasons. It doesn't sell pot to members—that's still a no-no—but patrons can bring their own or share with...
Obama's Ego Needs Its Own ZIP Code
Boston Globe
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Nov 14, 2009 12:01 PM CST
(Newser) -
The budget deficit hasn’t been the only thing ballooning since President Obama took office—the man’s ego is growing by leaps and bounds, moving Jeff Jacoby to wonder, “Was there ever a president as deeply enamored of himself as Barack Obama?” A video message for this week’s Berlin celebrations was only the latest...
A Look Back at Movies of the '00s
New York Times
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Nov 14, 2009 11:50 AM CST
(Newser) -
The shifting sands of entertainment technology make a look at the past decade's movies a tricky proposition simply because standing the test of time means something different almost daily. "The possibility of a digital, on-demand afterlife guarantees at least a theoretically universal long-tail immortality to blockbusters and curiosities alike,"...
This Year's Thanksgiving Dinner: $42.91
Bloomberg
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Nov 14, 2009 11:16 AM CST
(Newser) -
The cost of a traditional Thanksgiving meal—enough turkey and trimmings to feed 10—comes in at $42.91 this year. That's down nearly 4%, or about $1.70, from last year and the biggest drop in price since 2000, says the American Farm Bureau survey. The biggest factors are the costs of a gallon of milk, down 92 cents to $2.86, and a 16-pound...
Another Suicide Attack Kills 10 in Pakistan
Associated Press
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Nov 14, 2009 10:43 AM CST
(AP) -
A suicide car bomber killed 10 people, including four children, today at a police checkpoint on the outskirts of the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar. The city has been a main focus of recent attacks, which in the last week alone have killed more than 50 people, including 10 yesterday at the regional offices of Pakistan's top intelligence agency.
Obama Bows to Emperor
Associated Press
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Nov 14, 2009 10:03 AM CST
(Newser) -
Prepare for another bowing controversy. A photo of President Obama bowing to Japanese Emperor Akihito has surfaced, and it's likely to set off critics on the right—as happened when Obama maybe sorta bowed to the king of Saudi Arabia in April. This time, there's no question about it: It's a deep, deferential bow to the 76-year-old Akihito and...
GOP's Civil War Opens Front in Utah
Los Angeles Times
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Nov 14, 2009 9:18 AM CST
(Newser) -
Veteran Utah Sen. Robert Bennett is the latest target of the insurrection within the GOP against incumbents seen as insufficiently conservative. The choice is surprising, the Los Angeles Times notes, because there's "nary a whiff of personal or political scandal" about the three-termer. Bennett's crimes: his longevity, his professorial...
9/11 Families Split on New York Trial
New York Times
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Nov 14, 2009 8:34 AM CST
(Newser) -
Some see it as poetic justice—the plotters of the Sept. 11th attacks brought to justice a few blocks from the site of the Twin Towers they destroyed—and others are outraged that the terrorists will enjoy a jury trial in a court in this country, let alone this city. Families of the 9/11 victims reacted emotionally, but not with unanimity...
5 Goals for Sarah Palin's Book Tour
Politico
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Nov 14, 2009 8:01 AM CST
(Newser) -
Sarah Palin's book is already a sensation, and she hasn't even appeared on Oprah's couch yet. No question it will sell, but what other purposes might it serve for the self-styled rogue Republican, Andy Barr wonders in Politico . Herewith, his benchmarks to measure the book tour and media frenzy: Build her base: Shunning the big cities, and even...
Hutchison Won't Resign Senate Seat
Associated Press
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Nov 14, 2009 7:11 AM CST
(AP) -
Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison, who is challenging Texas Gov. Rick Perry for his job, is planning to keep her US Senate seat until after the state's March gubernatorial primary. Hutchison, a Republican, plans to tell Republican women in a speech in Galveston today that she is stepping down in 2010 because she is needed in Washington to fight against...
Tiger Loses Lead— and Club— Down Under
Associated Press
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Nov 14, 2009 6:45 AM CST
(AP) -
In the 268 official tournaments that Tiger Woods has played around the world as a pro, he has never gone three consecutive tournaments without winning when he held at least a share of the 36-hole lead. That streak is in jeopardy at the Australian Masters, where Woods held a three-shot lead today until stumbling to an even-par 72 in the third round...
Help! We're Being Killed by Cuteness
Vanity Fair
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Nov 14, 2009 6:17 AM CST
(Newser) -
There is an epidemic of cuteness in the country, Jim Windolf writes, symptomatic of our national desire to be loved and taken care of after 8 years of George W. Bush and a much-diminished standing in the world. The signs are everywhere: giggling babies, LOLcats, cupcakes, “cutegasms,” the Mini-Cooper. It started in post-war Japan—still...
Google Offers Revised Digital Book Deal
Associated Press
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Nov 14, 2009 6:04 AM CST
(AP) -
Google offered a compromise deal with authors and publishers late yesterday, in an effort to overcome Justice Department objections to an earlier agreement and clear the way for distribution of millions of digital books online. Two months ago Justice had blocked a settlement in a lawsuit brought by authors and publishers, warning the arrangement was...
Speed Shrinking Offers Quicker Fixes
Independent (UK)
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Nov 14, 2009 5:35 AM CST
(Newser) -
Freud must be shuddering in his grave, but that doesn't bother Susan Shapiro, the author of Speed Shrinking and the cheerful organizer of speed-dating-style therapy sessions for New Yorkers. On a recent evening, 200 talk-therapy-seekers stood in line at a lecture hall for their turn to spill their problems and get some quickie advice from each of...
6 Myths About Trying Mohammed in NYC
Washington Post
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Nov 14, 2009 5:31 AM CST
(Newser) -
While the news that Sept. 11 terror suspect Khalid Sheik Mohammed will be tried in New York has created quite a furor, there are also a number of misconceptions floating around about the trial. Andrew Cohen clears up six: Mohammed’s lawyers won’t be able to get the case dismissed because he was waterboarded. It’ll play some...
Complaints Curb Vegas Stripper-Mobile
Associated Press
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Nov 13, 2009 8:35 PM CST
(AP) -
A Las Vegas strip club has agreed to stop an advertising promotion that involved hauling bikini-clad exotic dancers around in a truck. Larry Beard, marketing director of Déjà Vu Showgirls, said today he's taking his lawyer's advice and parking the truck. "We're going to respect the opinion of the folks that are against it,"...
Obama: China No Threat to US
New York Times
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Nov 13, 2009 8:00 PM CST
(Newser) -
President Obama wrapped up his visit to Japan today with a speech in which he said the US would maintain its relationships with longtime allies in the region—like the host country—while pursuing stronger bonds with China. Indeed, Obama said, an ever-stronger China is not a threat to the US: “In an inter-connected world, power does...
Aussie Snail Named for Croc Hunter
Queensland Museum
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Nov 13, 2009 7:19 PM CST
(Newser) -
In a tribute to the late Steve Irwin, a scientist who discovered a new species of snail in northeastern Australia has named it after the famed “Crocodile Hunter.” Says John Stanisic of the Queensland Museum , “ Crikey steveirwini is a colorful snail, with swirling bands of creamy yellow, orange-brown and chocolate giving the shell...
FDA Demands Safety Data on Energy Drinks With Alcohol
Reuters
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Nov 13, 2009 6:20 PM CST
(Newser) -
The FDA has taken action against companies that make alcoholic energy drinks, giving the firms 30 days to provide evidence to support their claim that caffeine and booze are a safe combination. A group of concerned scientists have said there is no evidence to support the claim that the drinks are safe. "Being wide awake and drunk at the same time...
Morale Down in Afghanistan: Army
Stars and Stripes
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Nov 13, 2009 6:00 PM CST
(Newser) -
Morale is down and psychological problems rampant among troops in Afghanistan, who face a shortage of mental health professionals to help them deal with the stress of war. Only 5.7% of soldiers described their unit's moral as high or very high, down from 10.2% in 2007 and 10.5% in 2005, according to an assessment released today.
Limbaugh Loves Palin Memoir
Media Matters
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Nov 13, 2009 5:40 PM CST
(Newser) -
Introducing into the public discourse the possibility that he has never read a book about policy, Rush Limbaugh today described Sarah Palin's forthcoming memoir, Going Rogue, as "truly one of the most substantive policy books I've read." He continued, "This woman, Gov. Palin, clearly is jazzed by policy, particularly environmental...
Ex-Rep. Jefferson Sentenced to 13 Years
Times-Picayune (New Orleans)
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Nov 13, 2009 5:19 PM CST
(Newser) -
A federal judge sentenced former Congressman William Jefferson to 13 years in prison today, less than the 27-plus years prosecutors called for but more than the 10-year term the Louisiana Democrat's lawyer wanted. Jefferson, who was convicted in August of 11 of the 16 counts relating to the public corruption case against him, has already said he will...
Prosecutors Hope Plea Deals Will Close Gitmo Cases
ProPublica
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Nov 13, 2009 4:45 PM CST
(Newser) -
Federal and military prosecutors looking to convict Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other high-profile Guantanamo Bay detainees are competing with each other to offer plea bargains to lower-profile inmates in exchange for testimony. Some detainees have remained at Gitmo because they are considered too difficult to prosecute, and the evidence against some...
Prejean's Résumé Includes 7 More Sex Tapes
Radar
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Nov 13, 2009 4:25 PM CST
(Newser) -
When Carrie Prejean called a sex tape she made for an ex "the biggest mistake of my life," she apparently forgot about the existence of seven other nudie videos. To go along with the anti-gay-marriage lightning rod's video stash are 30 photos of the former Miss California USA in various states of undress, most of them taken by Prejean herself...
Truth-Twisting Palin Just Gets More Dangerous
Nation
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Nov 13, 2009 4:07 PM CST
(Newser) -
Sarah Palin remains a major player on the national stage because "neither the left nor the right can get enough of her," write Richard Kim and Betsy Reed, the editors of Going Rouge , the parody that comes out the same day as the former Alaska governor's memoir, Going Rogue. They’re frankly afraid of their target, her fast-and-loose...
This Is a $1M Car—in a Lagoon
Houston Chronicle
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Nov 13, 2009 3:45 PM CST
(Newser) -
A Texas driver distracted by a low-flying pelican took an unexpected detour—into 3 feet of water. Andy House, 34, drove a Bugatti Veyron EB, worth about $1 million, into a saltwater lagoon near Galveston. "He was calm,” the driver of the wrecker that took away the waterlogged French sports car told the Houston Chronicle . “If...
FAA Admits Flubs on Wandering Northwest Flight
USA Today
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Nov 13, 2009 3:29 PM CST
(Newser) -
The FAA should have taken more decisive action on the Northwest Airlines flight that fell out of communication with ground control for 77 minutes last month, officials acknowledged today. While the plane was out of contact, air-traffic controllers changed shifts and failed to warn their replacements about the runaway plane. “We could have done...
Earnings Drive Dow Up 73
Wall Street Journal
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Nov 13, 2009 3:15 PM CST
(Newser) -
Stocks finished off their intraday highs but with solid gains on strong earnings reports from Disney, Abercrombie & Fitch, and JCPenney, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Dow gained 73.00 points to close at 10,270.47. The Nasdaq added 18.86, settling at 2,167.88. The S&P 500 rose 6.24, closing at 1,093.48.
Best TV Series of the '00s
The Onion (A.V. Club)
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Nov 13, 2009 2:49 PM CST
(Newser) -
From the standard (No. 16, Friday Night Lights ) to the quirky (No. 29, Wonder Showzen ), the long-running (No. 8, Lost ) to the canceled-too-soon (No. 4, Freaks and Geeks ), The Onion runs down the 30 best shows of the '00s: No. 1, The Wire : This drama “unfolded like a great American novel.” No. 2, The Sopranos : A brilliant...
Call Lieberman's Bluff—Make Him Filibuster
Boston Globe
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Nov 13, 2009 2:29 PM CST
(Newser) -
The filibuster is supposed to be a last resort. It allows the Senate minority, when it's willing to engage in endless debate—at the cost of holding up the chamber’s other business—to challenge legislation. But today, senators need only signal their intention to filibuster to stall a bill, and fence-sitting Dems like Joe Lieberman...
Christian Group Boycotts Gap Over Holiday Ads
Brandweek
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Nov 13, 2009 2:15 PM CST
(Newser) -
A Christian group has launched a boycott of the Gap over its religion-neutral holiday ads. The American Family Association, already ticked off by last year’s campaign, which wished consumers a “Merry Gap-mas,” hit the roof over this year's “Go Christmas, Go Hanukkah, Go Kwanzaa, Go Solstice.” The tagline "looks like...
New White House Counsel Scares GOP, Other Lawyers
Washington Post
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Nov 13, 2009 1:56 PM CST
(Newser) -
Robert Bauer, the new White House counsel, is a longtime Democratic operative known for his hard-nosed style and work ethic. He is a veteran of the Clinton impeachment proceedings and represented House Democrats during the Bush years, where he was known for his aggressive strategy—he went as far as to sue Tom DeLay and his fundraisers for racketeering....
Balloon Parents Plead Guilty
Denver Post
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Nov 13, 2009 1:40 PM CST
(Newser) -
The parents of “balloon boy” Falcon Heene pleaded guilty today to charges related to the hoax that sent police and rescue personnel on a wild-goose chase. Richard Heene pleaded to a felony, Mayumi Heene—a Japanese citizen who risked deportation if she had a felony on her record—to a misdemeanor. They won't be sentenced until...
NASA Finds Lots of Water on Moon
Space.com
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Nov 13, 2009 1:28 PM CST
(Newser) -
A NASA probe has turned up water on the moon. Lots of water. “We practically tasted it with the impact,” said a geologist. The discovery—made last month after the space agency blasted the probe into the moon to study the debris—raises the chances of one day setting up a lunar outpost. What's more, the frozen water could hold...
Blogger Foe Confronts ACORN Protesters
BigGovernment.com
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Nov 13, 2009 1:10 PM CST
(Newser) -
Andrew Breitbart—whose conservative BigGovernment.com website aired the ACORN sting videos—decided to mosey down to an ACORN protest in Los Angeles this week, and he's not happy with the rough treatment he got. He blogs that he was harassed and threatened by the "dregs of society" so badly it left his cameraman shaking. Rest...
Chris Brown: I'm Paying for What I Did
BET
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Nov 13, 2009 12:54 PM CST
(Newser) -
Chris Brown apologized to Rihanna on BET’s 106 & Park yesterday, adding that he’s “embarrassed” by the assault. The singer says he doesn’t agree with his ex-girlfriend's decision to discuss the incident on 20/20 , but “I can only be a man and just accept the fact that I was wrong for what I did.” Watch...
9/11 Plotters Will Face Death: Holder
Washington Post
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Nov 13, 2009 12:38 PM CST
(Newser) -
Confessed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed and his four co-defendants will face the death penalty, Eric Holder confirmed today, and the AG leapt to defend the decision to try them in a civilian court in New York. They will “answer for their alleged crimes in a courthouse just blocks away from where the Twin Towers once stood,” Holder...
Look Out, Pixar: Mr. Fox Is Fantastic
New York
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Nov 13, 2009 12:27 PM CST
(Newser) -
Wes Anderson is winning raves for his stop-motion take on Roald Dahl's classic Fantastic Mr. Fox , with voices by a raft of stars including Meryl Streep and George Clooney: It's so good, David Edelstein forgot himself. When the flick ended, he writes in New York , he wished "the whole battery of gifted artists could come out and take a...
Republicans Decry Decision to Try 9/11 Planner in NYC
The Hill
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Nov 13, 2009 12:15 PM CST
(Newser) -
Republican leaders are sharply criticizing the Obama administration’s decision to prosecute Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in civilian court. John Boehner called the plan to try the confessed planner of the 9/11 attacks in New York "irresponsible” and accused AG Eric Holder of "reverting to a dangerous pre-9/11 mentality." Said the...
The Who Bound for Super Bowl: Source
Sports Illustrated
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Nov 13, 2009 12:02 PM CST
(Newser) -
The Who may be joining the ranks of recent Super Bowl performers Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, and Prince. A source tells Sports Illustrated the British rockers will play the Feb. 7 halftime show, but an NFL rep says only, “When we have something to announce, we’ll announce it.” The band’s rep tells MTV , “Am...
Army Medicine Failed Hasan, Shooting Victims
Salon
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Nov 13, 2009 11:52 AM CST
(Newser) -
Media coverage of the Fort Hood killings has been factually challenged and quick to jump to conclusions about terrorism and political correctness, but the underlying problem is much bigger, Mark Benjamin argues. The real question: Why was alleged shooter Nidal Malik Hasan an Army psychiatrist in the first place? Given his belief that Muslims shouldn't...
10 Juiciest Going Rogue Tidbits
Gawker
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Nov 13, 2009 11:37 AM CST
(Newser) -
The moment America has been waiting for is almost here—the release of Sarah Palin’s memoir Going Rogue is just days away! For those who can't wait, Azaria Jagger of Gawker details the 10 juiciest tidbits that have leaked so far: John McCain: Palin claims his campaign charged her $50,000 to vet her, which the RNC was supposed to...
Online TV, Movie Guide Impresses
PC World
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Nov 13, 2009 11:24 AM CST
(Newser) -
The Web is so rich with TV and movie options that organizing the content is a daunting task. “You could browse multiple sites, including crowd-pleasers like Hulu, but that's too slow and tedious,” Jeff Bertolucci writes. Enter Clicker , a new aggregating website its CEO calls “one part directory, one part search engine, one part...
'Women's Viagra' Targets Her ... Brain
Bloomberg
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Nov 13, 2009 11:11 AM CST
(Newser) -
Drug makers think sex is all in a woman's head—and they'll bet money on it. A German pharmaceutical company is putting the final touches on a pill designed to unleash a woman's desire by altering her brain chemistry. The pill, which the company says works by triggering the production of dopamine, has the potential to revolutionize sexual medicine...
Prejean Sex Tape Leaks...Sort Of
Funny or Die
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Nov 13, 2009 10:58 AM CST
(Newser) -
The world can see Carrie Prejean’s sex tape—or, at least, a re-creation from the warped minds of the Funny or Die crew. In the heat of the moment, “Carrie Prejean” breaks into song (“God Bless America”) and calls out a titillating name (Fox News)—but the best part comes at the end, when the mastermind behind...
TV's 'Loud and Proud' Gays Should Tone It Down
Newsweek
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Nov 13, 2009 10:49 AM CST
(Newser) -
There was a time when homosexuality on TV helped the public become more accepting of gays and lesbians, but that time may be over. As the small screen fills with characters like Glee ’s Kurt, “the sensitive gay boy who really wants to be a girl,” and a plethora of “gorgeous, curvy” lesbians, gay rights regarding marriage...
'Thatcher Has Died' —But Not That Thatcher
BBC
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Nov 13, 2009 10:39 AM CST
(Newser) -
When a Canadian official's beloved cat died, he texted a friend with the sad news: "Thatcher has died." See where this is going? That friend happened to be at a diplomatic dinner, and next thing you know, word had spread lickety-split that Margaret Thatcher had passed away. Canadian PM Stephen Harper was informed, and the government placed...
Garrido Apologizes, Says 'Sexual Problem' Cured
KCRA-TV
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Nov 13, 2009 10:30 AM CST
(Newser) -
Phillip Garrido, Jaycee Dugard’s accused kidnapper, says he “would like to apologize to every human being for what has taken place.” In a letter—his third sent to KCRA from prison—Garrido adds that, “through the spirit of Christ,” a “sexual problem believed to be impossible” was ended. Garrido’s...
