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.
Poor Nations Stiffed on Climate Pledges
BBC
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Nov 25, 2009 4:28 AM CST
(Newser) -
Huge sums of money promised by EU countries to help poor nations cope with climate change have melted away faster than Arctic ice. The EU and five other industrialized nations promised developing countries $410 million a year in the 2001 Bonn declaration, but the UN funds set up to deal with the funds have received only $260 million in the 8 years...
Afghan War May Sock Us With Surtax
Los Angeles Times
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Nov 25, 2009 4:03 AM CST
(Newser) -
Any change in Afghan strategy that involves spending more money needs to come with a strategy to pay for it, warn House Democrats. Influential committee chairs are calling for a 1% surtax on incomes under $150,000 beginning in 2011 to pay for the war. Their proposed bill would impose a bigger surtax on higher incomes and exempt veterans who served...
White House Counsel's Fall Should Worry Obama's Loyal
New York Times
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Nov 25, 2009 3:50 AM CST
(Newser) -
White House counsel Greg Craig's "death by a thousand leaks" should alarm anybody who's tied their political fortune to the president's and hopes for loyalty in return, writes Maureen Dowd. Craig cut his ties to close friend Hillary Clinton to help Obama get elected just a year ago and now finds himself cut loose over the administration's...
Lovers Make Time in Sydney Clock Tower
Telegraph (UK)
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Nov 25, 2009 3:40 AM CST
(Newser) -
Naked lovers didn't miss a beat having midday sex in full view atop a prominent Sydney clock tower. Now Australian newspapers are pleading with the dynamic duo to reveal their identities. Crowds gathered to watch and snap photos when the lovers got down to business last week. "So many could see it," said a witness . "It was cool."...
Man Awarded $50K Over Bird-Flipping Ticket
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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Nov 25, 2009 3:15 AM CST
(Newser) -
Giving the finger to a cop has won a Pittsburgh man a $50,000 payoff. The city council decided to pay him to settle a civil rights lawsuit he brought after being ticketed for flipping the bird at a police officer and a fellow motorist, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Federal courts have consistently ruled that giving somebody the finger falls...
Asperger's Boy Lived in NY Subway 11 Days
New York Times
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Nov 25, 2009 3:00 AM CST
(Newser) -
A young boy with Asperger's syndrome lived on newsstand potato chips, jelly rolls, and bottled water for 11 days riding the trains of the New York City subway system. Francisco Hernandez Jr, 13, rode trains to the end of the line, then climbed back on another no matter where they went. He spent much of the time sleeping, his head resting on his book...
Wikileaks Publishing 9/11 Text Messages
Wikileaks
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Nov 25, 2009 2:52 AM CST
(Newser) -
Wikileaks will publish over half a million text pager messages sent on 9/11 over a 24-hour period beginning today. "Please don't leave the building," reads one of the texts . "One of the towers just collapsed! Please, please be careful!" Another remarks on the "unbelievable" destruction. "This is the end of the...
Coma Man's Words May Not Be His
Wired
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Nov 25, 2009 2:28 AM CST
(Newser) -
Ron Houben's poignant words after being locked for 23 years inside his paralyzed body may not be his own, according to some skeptical experts. They believe the Belgian, misdiagnosed as being in a vegetative state, is definitely sentient. But they note that an "interview" with him relied on "facilitated communication" in which an...
Vast Ocean Once Covered Half of Mars
Telegraph (UK)
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Nov 25, 2009 2:05 AM CST
(Newser) -
A single huge ocean fed by rivers once covered much of the northern half of Mars, according to a new analysis of the planet's network of valleys. The researchers say their computer analysis—which replaces maps hand-drawn from satellite images in the '90s—shows that Mars was once much rainier and more humid than initially believed, making...
Airlines Fined for Stranding Flyers on Tarmac
Los Angeles Times
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Nov 25, 2009 1:43 AM CST
(Newser) -
Three airlines have landed $175,000 in federal fines for stranding 47 passengers in a locked plane on a Minnesota tarmac overnight. The passengers were stuck on a Continental Airlines plane—without a working toilet—after crewmembers were told that passengers couldn't disembark because security staff had left for the night. The fine is the...
If Sushi's Your Turkey Cure, Steer Clear of 'Ex-Lax Fish'
Mother Jones
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Nov 24, 2009 10:42 PM CST
(Newser) -
There’s likely to come a point in the next few days when you’re sick of turkey, but if sushi is your proposed cure, be sure to steer clear of a fish that comes with a side of anal seepage: escolar. Sometimes seen on menus as “white tuna,” and known to detractors as the “Ex-Lax fish,” the buttery species often ends...
What to Drink on Thanksgiving
Salon
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Nov 24, 2009 9:28 PM CST
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Thanksgiving is all about eating the same old thing, but do we have to drink the same old thing, too? Salon asked a variety of chefs, sommeliers, and foodies for alternatives to that boring old bottle of wine. Some suggestions: A rose champagne cocktail with cranberry juice, sloe gin, and grapefruit will “please everyone, while providing...
After Nabbing Terrorist, Navy SEALs Face Assault Rap
Fox News
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Nov 24, 2009 8:33 PM CST
(Newser) -
After capturing one of the most wanted terrorists in Iraq, three of the Navy SEALs involved in the operation now face assault charges for giving Ahmed Hashim Abed a bloody lip, military sources tell Fox News . Abed is said to have masterminded the 2004 murder and public mutilation of four Blackwater private security guards in Fallujah.
Football Players Key Bloody Dorm Melee at Michigan St.
State News (Michigan State)
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Nov 24, 2009 7:48 PM CST
(Newser) -
Two Michigan State football players are off the team tonight after an incident Sunday in which they and as many as 20 fellow Spartans, many wearing ski masks, stormed a dorm and beat fellow students, including women. “I walked up and said, ‘It isn’t worth it,’” one student tells the campus paper. “A guy with dreadlocks...
Arnold: 'No One Is Perfect'
TMZ
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Nov 24, 2009 7:20 PM CST
(Newser) -
Arnold Schwarzenegger admitted he's not above the occasional traffic violation today after being caught parking in a red zone. The slip-up just proves that "no one is perfect—not even me," the governor said today. California forbids parking or stopping in red zones, but that didn't stop Schwarzenegger or his wife, Maria Shriver, who...
Abe Pollin, Owner of DC Sports Teams, Dies at 85
Washington Post
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Nov 24, 2009 6:23 PM CST
(Newser) -
Abe Pollin, the son of Russian immigrants who parlayed success in housing development into the ownership of Washington’s NBA and NHL franchises, died today of a rare neurological disease; he was 85. Pollin’s philanthropic efforts boosted many of the capital’s poorer areas, and he put $220 million of his own money into building the...
Decade's Happiest Endings
Newsweek
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Nov 24, 2009 5:59 PM CST
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This decade has had its fair share of tragedy, but Newsweek collects some of its best happy endings: The Red Sox in 2004. Many New Englanders lived their entire lives without seeing a Sox championship, making it that much sweeter in '04. Sully and the Hudson: The calm-under-fire performance of Capt. Chesley Sullenberger and his US Airways...
This Thanksgiving, Say No to Green Beans
Slate
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Nov 24, 2009 5:13 PM CST
(Newser) -
Green beans don’t deserve their place on the Thanksgiving menu, writes Juliet Lapidos. Holiday hosts likely include them as a concession to health in a three-pie feast, but "no matter your talents, they wind up limp or waxy-tough.” Worse, they fly in the face of what Thanksgiving cuisine should be: seasonal. Green beans are a warm-weather...
Hoffman Concedes, Again
Politico
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Nov 24, 2009 4:44 PM CST
(Newser) -
Doug Hoffman conceded the New York congressional election to Democrat Bill Owens yet again today. The Conservative Party candidate said he won't challenge the results, despite the urging of supporters. With the absentee ballots counted, "the results re-affirm the fact that Bill Owens won,” Hoffman said. The muted wording is a contrast to...
Unemployment to Stay High for Years
Washington Post
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Nov 24, 2009 4:13 PM CST
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Unemployment will remain higher than normal for years to come, Fed officials predicted today. Even at the end of 2012, the rate is forecast to be between 6.8% and 7.5%—a decent turnaround from the current 10.2% but still about 2 points higher than the figure in healthy times. Even though the economy is technically in recovery, it will take "about...
Facebook Edges Closer to Going Public
Wall Street Journal
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Nov 24, 2009 3:54 PM CST
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Facebook revamped its stock structure today in a move sure to heat up speculation that it's going public. The company will have two classes of shares, A and B, reports the Wall Street Journal . Everyone currently on board will hold B shares, with 10 times the voting power of A shares. That way if Facebook goes public, current shareholders—especially...
If Seinfeld Were on Today ...
AOL Music
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Nov 24, 2009 3:32 PM CST
(Newser) -
Seinfeld is probably gone for good, but if it did come back, PopEater runs down the status quo of the characters, based on the Curb Your Enthusiasm faux-reunion: Elaine: Used Jerry’s donated sperm to impregnate herself, and now wants him to be a father figure for her daughter. After a doll-haircut fiasco, she lets the truth slip. Also,...
Dow Drops 17 Points
Wall Street Journal
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Nov 24, 2009 3:17 PM CST
(Newser) -
Stocks almost managed to recover from steep losses suffered early in the day but ended in the red. Among the factors: China signaled it's ready to tighten credit, and September home prices rose but less than expected, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Dow closed down 17 points at 10,434. The Nasdaq fell 7 points to close at 2,169. The...
Obama: I'll 'Finish the Job' in Afghanistan
New York Times
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Nov 24, 2009 2:55 PM CST
(Newser) -
He didn't tip his hand on many troops it would take, but President Obama said today that he intends to "finish the job" in Afghanistan. He promised to unveil a strategy after Thanksgiving that will "dismantle and degrade” the enemy while making sure that "al Qaeda and its extremist allies cannot operate," reports the...
ABC Cancels Lambert Gig; CBS Grabs It
New York Post
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Nov 24, 2009 2:33 PM CST
(Newser) -
ABC canceled an appearance by Adam Lambert on Good Morning America planned for tomorrow in the wake of his steamy performance at the AMAs. After receiving 1,500 complaints over Lambert's sexy moves, the network said it was concerned about "airing a similar concert so early in the morning.” Lambert doesn't have to worry, though: CBS was...
Cancer May Have Killed FDR
Slate
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Nov 24, 2009 2:11 PM CST
(Newser) -
Speculating about Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s real cause of death has been a popular sport for years, and now two authors have a provocative theory: brain cancer. The shifting opinions are well documented: FDR’s own doctor, who at first likened the deadly brain hemorrhage to a “bolt of lightning,” admitted in 1970 that the...
Forget Demi's Hip— That's Not Her Body
The Frisky
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Nov 24, 2009 1:59 PM CST
(Newser) -
The alleged Photoshopping of Demi Moore on the cover of W appears to go quite a bit further than just a missing chunk of hip. The Frisky brings our attention to the clever detective work of Pop Culture Madness , which has unearthed a photo of runway model Anja Rubik wearing the same dress as Moore on the cover. Superimpose the images, and it sure...
New Erectile Dysfunction Cure: Shockwaves
LiveScience
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Nov 24, 2009 1:45 PM CST
(Newser) -
Sure, Viagra works, but you’ve got to keep taking it. In the quest for a more permanent solution, Israeli scientists have hit upon an unusual idea: shockwaves. The application of low-energy waves to the penis helped men for at least 3 months. The treatment is intended for those whose issues stem from cardiovascular problems, which accounts...
Police Rule Census Worker Hanging a Suicide
Associated Press
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Nov 24, 2009 1:34 PM CST
(AP) -
Authorities are saying a Kentucky census worker found hanging from a tree with "fed" scrawled on his chest committed suicide and staged his death to look like a homicide. According to Kentucky police, 51-year-old Bill Sparkman died where he was found, bound, gagged and with an ID badge taped to his neck in the woods of southeastern Kentucky.
Carla Bruni to Star in Woody Allen Flick
AFP
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Nov 24, 2009 1:30 PM CST
(Newser) -
French first lady Carla Bruni doesn’t have any delusions about her acting ability—“Perhaps I’ll be completely hopeless”—but when Woody Allen comes a-knocking, you don’t say no. The director has asked the former model to appear in an upcoming movie after meeting her earlier this year. “I don't know what...
Cruise Line Unveils Kid-Tracking Bracelets
USA Today
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Nov 24, 2009 1:25 PM CST
(Newser) -
Don’t trust your kids to roam wild on a cruise ship? Neither does Royal Caribbean, which has unveiled an electronic bracelet that allows parents to track their movements onboard. The bracelets will work in conjunction with the cruise line’s new iPhone rental service, USA Today explains. All children will have to wear the bracelets,...
Obama: US, India Natural Allies
Associated Press
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Nov 24, 2009 1:25 PM CST
(AP) -
President Obama declared that US ties with India will be "one of the defining relationships" of the 21st century as he welcomed India's prime minister for the first state visit of the Obama administration. At the conclusion of about two hours of talks, Obama said he and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had agreed to "work even closer"...
SNL a Right-Wing Mouthpiece
True/Slant
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Nov 24, 2009 1:14 PM CST
(Newser) -
Saturday’s SNL cold opener—which poked fun at Obama’s deficit spending—conclusively marked the show as an “occasionally humorous right-wing propaganda organ,” writes Ethan Porter of True/Slant . SNL’s been obviously anti-Obama since the primaries, pausing only to mock Sarah Palin, who's far less popular...
Lady Gaga's Fame Monster Eccentric, Fun
Associated Press
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Nov 24, 2009 12:53 PM CST
(Newser) -
Lady Gaga isn’t your typical pop star, and The Fame Monster isn’t your typical reissue. Critics agree that the deluxe version of 2008's The Fame may not be highly original, but it is a lot of fun: “She’s bringing eccentric couture to the masses and is certainly fun to have around— The Fame Monster is also available...
NBC Turns Down PETA Ad
Mother Nature Network
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Nov 24, 2009 12:37 PM CST
(Newser) -
This is the ad PETA wanted to run during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but NBC shot them down, saying it “does not meet NBC Universal Standards.” As you can see in the video, there’s nary an offensive image, just a little girl describing the horrors of factory farming ("Dear God, special thanks for all the chemicals,...
Google Issues Disclaimer Over Racist Michelle Image
CNET
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Nov 24, 2009 12:28 PM CST
(Newser) -
Hackers have doctored a photo of Michelle Obama to look like an ape and rigged Google search results so it comes up first under an image search of her name. The move prompted Google to take out an ad on the results page, reading in part, “Sometimes our search results can be offensive. We agree.” But the company says it will not pull the...
Signs the Mean Girl Era Is Over
Gawker
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Nov 24, 2009 12:22 PM CST
(Newser) -
Gone are the good old days when tabloids were filled with stories of Paris Hilton getting arrested and Britney Spears shaving her head—the world of celebrities is now ruled by do-gooders like Taylor Swift. You may rejoice momentarily, but “you’ll miss Paris Hilton now that she’s gone,” promises Richard Rushfield. He offers...
Go Ahead, Scream at Your Boss
Independent (UK)
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Nov 24, 2009 12:14 PM CST
(Newser) -
The next time your boss makes you want to scream, go ahead and do it—sort of. A Swedish study shows that people who suffer in silence at work have twice the risk of a heart attack or heart disease compared to those who vent their anger. So-called "covert copers" are, quite literally, making themselves sick.
Why a 'Botax' Is a Wrinkly Idea
Slate
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Nov 24, 2009 12:08 PM CST
(Newser) -
Taxing Americans' breast implants isn't as hot an idea as it may seem. That's because our assumption that richie-richie New Jersey housewives are the ones getting it isn't quite right, writes Christopher Beam for Slate . This is an industry that services people who can't afford it—credit card is the payment of choice for 85% of procedures. And...
Fed Prods Banks for TARP Repayment Plans
Bloomberg
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Nov 24, 2009 11:47 AM CST
(Newser) -
The government is stepping up plans to wind down the TARP program. The Fed has asked nine banks stress-tested earlier this year, including Bank of America and Citigroup, to come up with plans to repay a total of $142 billion in TARP funds. The move represents an evolution in the central bank’s attitude toward the bailout funds it was loathe to...
What Not to Buy on Black Friday
Slate
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Nov 24, 2009 11:39 AM CST
(Newser) -
Step away from the gizmos. Even if you make it through the Black Friday crowds unharmed, you may do serious damage to your wallet, writes Farhad Manjoo in Slate , who runs down what to buy and bypass at the big box store: Don't Buy: E-book readers : The market is heating up, but don't get burned. At $259 for the Nook and Kindle, these babies...
Fan Punches Notre Dame QB
Chicago Tribune
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Nov 24, 2009 11:30 AM CST
(Newser) -
An angry fan sucker-punched Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen outside a South Bend bar after the team’s loss to UConn, reportedly giving him at least one black eye. Though police say they haven’t had any reports relating to Clausen, sources tell the Chicago Tribune that he got into an altercation at 2:30am Sunday. The fan reportedly...
New Moon Sexist, Say Critics
Ms. magazine
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Nov 24, 2009 11:13 AM CST
(Newser) -
New Moon is basking in the glow of its success, but the second Twilight film, and even the headlines about its box office records, are sexist, some say. Vampire love interest Edward is “overbearing,” and heroine Bella “quite literally lies down and takes it,” write Carmen D. Siering and Katherine Spillar in Ms . “This...
What Happened to Our Basketballer-in-Chief?
Wall Street Journal
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Nov 24, 2009 11:07 AM CST
(Newser) -
The old Obama played hoops—and he did it quite well. So why do we keep seeing him on golf courses? Since he took office, the one-time "Baller-in-Chief" has played basketball about seven times, compared to 25 rounds of golf. The White House has remained mum on what's behind the change, and won't say why the televised games on the court...
Mariah Carey's Diva Demands Get Weirder
Daily Mail (UK)
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Nov 24, 2009 10:53 AM CST
(Newser) -
Mariah Carey continues to out-diva herself all over London, as evidenced by the crazy demands that accompanied her most recent interview. Carey’s hilariously large entourage included two people to lower her onto the sofa, says GMTV’s Kate Garraway. Her harem “outnumbered the entire GMTV crew,” and also included “one person...
Students School Kirk Cameron on Darwin
YouTube
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Nov 24, 2009 10:52 AM CST
(Newser) -
Kirk Cameron embarked on his Darwin-is-like-Hitler tour, visiting UCLA last week to pass out copies of a "revised" edition of On the Origin of the Species that tries to compare the two historical figures—and video has surfaced of the former Growing Pains actor getting taken down by a group of students. Watch the YouTube video....
Cursed Celeb Name Changes
The Frisky
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Nov 24, 2009 10:48 AM CST
(Newser) -
Heidi Klum is officially Heidi Samuel, taking a last name that even husband Seal doesn’t use—and it may not be a good PR move. Olivia Allin recalls other not-so-smart celebrity name changes on The Frisky : Pamela Anderson: When she gained the “Lee” on the end of her name, she also gained Hepatitis C and a sex tape.
Fading Hope T-Shirt Blasts Obama
Mediaite
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Nov 24, 2009 10:45 AM CST
(Newser) -
It's getting to be change we can't believe in—a new “Hope is Fading Fast” T-shirt turns the president’s iconic poster into an indictment from the dissatisfied left. The shirt comes from FreshJive , a well-known LA streetwear purveyor with a decidedly liberal bent—founder Rick Katz once commented that, “Really what...
We Must Reduce Health Care Costs*
Washington Post
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Nov 24, 2009 10:37 AM CST
(Newser) -
The brouhaha over mammograms proves that we’ll never corral health care costs for one simple reason: no one wants to give up any care. Intellectually, women may understand that life-threatening breast cancer is pretty rare before age 50, but rare doesn’t mean non-existent. “Many women would rather be safe than sorry,” writes...
Brits Hunt Stolen Darwin Notes
BBC
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Nov 24, 2009 10:24 AM CST
(Newser) -
Amid a celebration, a mystery: A fresh appeal has been launched to find a missing notebook that Charles Darwin may have used to write On the Origin of Specie s, which was published 150 years ago today. The journal records Darwin's observations in the Galapagos Island and Peru. Authorities believe it was stolen from the naturalist's former home at...
