Newser Story Index from June, 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.
Pilots Say DEA Bullies Them Into Afghan Tours
McClatchy Newspapers
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Jun 21, 2009 7:02 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Some special-agent pilots for the Drug Enforcement Administration say the agency is illegally coercing them to work in Afghanistan, McClatchy reports. In interviews, more than a dozen agents said superiors were punishing agents with 2-month Afghan tours, or threatening demotions if they refused to go. "What's going to happen is somebody at some...
Jon Has 'No Idea' Where Kate Has Gone
Us Weekly
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Jun 21, 2009 6:24 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Jon without Kate plus eight whipped up a small media storm at his $1.1 million Pennsylvania house today, Us reports. Taking a break from playing lacrosse and Slip 'N Slide with the kids, Jon Gosselin fielded reporters' questions, saying he had "no idea" where wife Kate was. He also said he saw little of mistress Deanna Hummel. "Not...
Fake Swine Flu Cures Flourish Online
Kansas City Star
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Jun 21, 2009 5:49 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Purported swine flu cures are cropping up online, including a nostril sanitizer, air purifier, and a shampoo that makers say will wash that virus right out of your hair, the Kansas City Star reports. The FDA has mailed out more than 50 warnings to online sellers not to make such claims. But it's Internet whack-a-mole for regulators. The Internet...
Barnes Leads After Soggy US Open Round
Associated Press
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Jun 21, 2009 5:12 PM CDT
(AP) -
The US Open moved one round closer to a conclusion today, even if very little was settled on soggy Bethpage Black and the champion would not be decided for at least one more day. Ricky Barnes struggled on the back nine and scratched out an even-par 70 and kept his one-shot lead over Lucas Glover. "I knew it was going to be wet and tough, and I...
Aussie PM Refuses to Quit in Car Dealer Scandal
Sydney Morning Herald
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Jun 21, 2009 4:45 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is refusing to resign in the first major crisis of his 19 months in office, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Dubbed "Utegate"—after a popular SUV—the scandal centers on whether Rudd gave special treatment to a friend's car dealership. Critics say Rudd prompted the Treasury to extend a loan...
Rikers Officials Fawned Over Foxy Brown
New York Post
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Jun 21, 2009 4:19 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Rapper Foxy Brown received star treatment on Rikers Island, wearing designer clothes and enjoying visits from prison officials during her 9-month stay on a parole violation, the New York Post reports. Angry Department of Corrections insiders say Brown was allowed private meals and cosmetics, unlimited TV and phone use, and an XXL magazine photo shoot...
Palin Strikes Back Over Costly Ethics Complaints
Associated Press
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Jun 21, 2009 3:50 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Sarah Palin says she's drowning in a rising tide of frivolous ethics complaints, the AP reports. Most of the 18 complaints have been dismissed, but Palin's office says she's $500,000 in legal debt and facing accusations that "have been politically or personally motivated." Rallying to her side, supporters have raised $109,000 in a week-long...
Proposal Scores at Box Office
USA Today
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Jun 21, 2009 3:28 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Audiences fell for The Proposal this weekend, sending Sandra Bullock's comedy down the aisle with $34.1 million, USA Today reports. Banking $12 million more than pundits predicted, the romcom claimed yet another box office win for summer comedies. The Hangover hung onto second with $26.9 million, Up finished third with $21.3 million, and Jack...
Dairy Farmers Switch Feed to Curb Burps
Associated Press
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Jun 21, 2009 3:01 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Vermont dairy farmers are changing their cows’ diets in an effort to fight climate change, the AP reports. Milk production accounts for 2% of the country’s greenhouse gases, the vast majority of which comes from the methane-rich burps of cattle. Now, 16 farms working with Stonyfield Farm Inc. are feeding their cows a gas-reducing mix of...
Death of Iranian 'Neda' Sweeps Internet
CNN
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Jun 21, 2009 2:45 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A graphic video that apparently captured the death of a young Iranian woman known only as “Neda” has become an online phenomenon, CNN reports. Neda was protesting in Tehran with her father against alleged electoral fraud when the pro-government militia Basiji shot her in the heart, a blogger writes. The video shows a young woman on the...
Dad Was Not Only a General, But a Patton
NPR
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Jun 21, 2009 2:33 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Living up to the legacy of one’s father can be hard, but it’s particularly trying for Benjamin Patton, the son of decorated Korean and Vietnam vet Maj. Gen. George Patton—himself the offspring of World War II titan Gen. George S. Patton. Immortalized by George C. Scott in Patton , the eldest Patton wasn’t all grit, NPR reports....
Iran Releases 4 Family Members of Former Prez
Los Angeles Times
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Jun 21, 2009 2:07 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Iran is calm but tense today as police freed four family members of a former president and important Iranian cleric, the Los Angeles Times reports. But the oldest daughter of Hashemi Rafsanjani, a key backer of challenger Mir-Hossein Mousavi, was not released by authorities in Tehran. Five members of Rafsanjani's family were arrested yesterday, illustrating...
A-Rod More Active in Clubs Than Clubhouse
New York Post
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Jun 21, 2009 1:30 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The Yankees have kept Alex Rodriguez benched due to "fatigue" for most of the past two games, but that hasn't stopped the slumping slugger from hitting the clubs in South Beach with current flame Kate Hudson. And whether or not he partied until 2:30am the night before, A-Rod still collects his $203,704.40 per game, writes the New York Post....
Iraqis Applaud US Exit, but Fears Linger
Reuters
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Jun 21, 2009 1:01 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Many Iraqis are looking forward to the departure of US troops from the country’s cities June 30—but what that means for security remains to be seen, Reuters reports. “Anyone who wants to fight them can go there and attack their bases without harming civilians,” says one taxi driver who's glad troops are headed to outside camps....
Obama May Soon Face Decisions on Death Penalty
Politico
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Jun 21, 2009 12:50 PM CDT
(Newser) -
As if reviving the economy, reforming health care, taming North Korea, and forging relations with Iran weren’t challenges enough, President Obama may soon have to deal with the death penalty. Within months, the cases of six federal death-row inmates, all black and all convicted of capital murder, could land on his desk. He’s on record pressing...
You Want a Revolution? There's a Cost
New York Times
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Jun 21, 2009 12:18 PM CDT
(Newser) -
When revolution came to Iran in 1979, it took thousands of people taking to the streets to finally break down the shah's authority. Now the revolutionary government has all that power and oil money, and the only way to elect a leader it doesn't approve of is with bodies, not ballots, writes Thomas Friedman in the New York Times.
Crowds Throng Cloudy Solstice at Stonehenge
Times (UK)
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Jun 21, 2009 12:15 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Normally fences keep the public from brushing up against Stonehenge's mossy monoliths, the Times of London reports, but for today's summer solstice, a record crowd was allowed to pack the British monument site. Druids, drinkers, and curious early risers filled the area to capacity well before sunrise, and the only blot on the festivities was a pervasive...
Lovesick Baker Becomes Celebrated Somali Poet
NPR
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Jun 21, 2009 12:00 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Of all the bread joints in all the world, she had to walk into his, writes Gwen Thompkins for NPR, and that began Somalia’s greatest tale of love and heartbreak. In the 1930s, Elmi Bodheri was just a poor baker—until he glimpsed a girl named Hodhan. Never mind that he was 30 and she was 9, or that she was from a wealthy and powerful clan,...
N. Korea Ship Sails Toward Sanctions Showdown
New York Times
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Jun 21, 2009 11:38 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A North Korean ship the US Navy has been tailing is heading to Myanmar, and is about to become the first test of new UN sanctions against the Pyongyang regime, the New York Times reports. The US Navy suspects the Kang Nam is smuggling arms, and will search it if given "reasonable grounds." North Korea says it will consider an...
VA Doc Botched 92 of 116 Cancer Operations
New York Times
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Jun 21, 2009 11:32 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The VA Hospital in Philadelphia performed 116 operations to treat prostate cancer before an investigation found that 92 of the them had been seriously botched, the New York Times reports. The VA considered Dr. Gary Kao an expert who didn't need oversight, and allowed him to cover up his mistakes without consequences.
Doused, Soused Crowd Taunts Tiger at US Open
Newsday
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Jun 21, 2009 11:00 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Tiger Woods still has a shot at victory at the US Open, but it would take a record-tying comeback. And to do that Woods would need incredible focus, because some soused spectators have been working on a distracting new hazard at Bethpage Black: extensive heckling. The rowdy crowd may be getting to Woods, writes Newsday .
Cow E. Coli in Cookie Dough Stumps Feds
Washington Post
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Jun 21, 2009 10:34 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Feds are scouring Nestle's Virginia plant for clues as to how E. coli 0157, which is found in cow intestines, ended up in cookie dough products the company recalled last week, the Washington Post reports. “It's a fascinating outbreak," said one of the bacterial mystery. "By just looking at package labeling, there is no reason...
Obama Should Get Tough with Iran: McCain
Politico
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Jun 21, 2009 10:13 AM CDT
(Newser) -
John McCain today called on President Obama to take a harder line against the Iranian regime, Politico reports. “This is a human rights issue—whether people can voice disagreement without being killed in the streets,” McCain told Face the Nation . “America’s position in the world is one of moral leadership. We have to...
Top 'Rickey Being Rickey' Moments
Pepper
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Jun 21, 2009 9:31 AM CDT
(Newser) -
With Rickey Henderson set to enter the Baseball Hall of Fame next month, the Pepper blog rehashes top Rickey-being-Rickey moments. Some highlights: “People are always saying, ‘Rickey says Rickey.’ But it’s been blown way out of proportion. People might catch me, when they know I’m ticked off, saying, ‘Rickey,...
We Love Dad, Too; We Just Don't Spend as Much
Washington Post
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Jun 21, 2009 9:00 AM CDT
(Newser) -
It’s a good thing that it’s the thought that counts, because research shows that while moms are lavished with gifts on Mother’s Day, fathers, by comparison, tend to be short-changed on Father’s Day, the Washington Post says. Americans spend about $130 on their moms, $90.89 on dad. But experts insist the disparity doesn’t...
In Choosing Sides, Ayatollah Loses Authority
New York Times
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Jun 21, 2009 7:54 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has lost some of the sacrosanct aura of his office by entering the political fray, writes Roger Cohen in the New York Times. Having warned on Friday of "bloodshed and chaos," Iran's supreme leader ended up with both. By aligning himself with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Khamenei has taken a huge risk, Cohen observes...
Iranian Leaders at Odds on Election Results
CNN
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Jun 21, 2009 7:16 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A rift is growing between Iran’s political leadership as two top-ranking officials issued opposing statements on the results of the recent presidential election, CNN reports. The country’s parliamentary speaker today suggested Iran’s election authority had sided “with a certain candidate,” while the foreign minister claimed...
2 US Troops Killed in Attack on Afghan Base
Los Angeles Times
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Jun 21, 2009 6:57 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Two US troops were killed and six more Americans were injured early this morning in a rocket strike on a US air base in Afghanistan, the Los Angeles Times reports. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the 2 a.m. strike on the heavily fortified compound, which brings the American death toll in Afghanistan this year to at least 81, according to a...
Fly Strike Shows Another Side to Prez
New York Times
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Jun 21, 2009 6:18 AM CDT
(Newser) -
President Obama’s precision fly-swatting has caught the nation’s attention—perhaps because it showed a surprisingly forceful approach, writes Maureen Dowd in the New York Times . “Some Americans fear that President Obama is too prone to negotiation, comity and splitting the difference,” Dowd notes. “This moment...
Naked Hikers Enjoy Solstice Au Naturel
Associated Press
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Jun 21, 2009 5:49 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The summer solstice is upon us, but for certain enthusiasts, today bears a different name: Naked Hiking Day. “No way to explain it until you experience it,” one fan told the AP. “Traditional” hikers might feel the same upon encountering backpackers in the buff. “It’s just rude,” one Appalachian Trail official...
Media Kept Quiet on Journalist's Kidnapping
Washington Post
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Jun 21, 2009 5:22 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Media outlets ranging from major newspapers to blogs agreed to stay quiet on the kidnapping of New York Times reporter David Rohde, who escaped Taliban captors Friday after seven months, out of fear for his safety, reports the Washington Post . Times executive editor Bill Keller decided sit on the story and asked others to do the same—even...
Iconic Einstein Pic Fetches $74K
WCVB Boston
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Jun 21, 2009 4:25 AM CDT
(Newser) -
An iconic image of a tongue-wagging Albert Einstein went for $74K at a New Hampshire auction, reports WCVB Boston. The photo is from a 1951 birthday celebration for the physicist at Princeton University. While Einstein may look playful in the picture, he intended the irreverent image as a statement against McCarthyism, said the auctioneer. The winning...
Poll Reveals Broad Support for Government Health Care
CBS
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Jun 21, 2009 3:55 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Seventy-two percent of Americans support a government-backed health care plan that would compete with private insurance providers, a New York Times /CBS poll reveals. A majority of Americans also believe the government would keep costs down more effectively than private insurers, and 64% think the government should guarantee its citizens health coverage—a...
At Least 13 Dead in Iran Crackdown
New York Times
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Jun 20, 2009 10:41 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A violent and chaotic day in Iran left dozens of protesters injured, with reports ranging from 13 to 19 deaths, reports the New York Times . The government's feared militia, the Basij, cracked down with water cannons, electric rounds, and live bullets against thousands of protesters in Tehran. The developments came on a day when challenger Mir Hossein...
Red Panda Has Rare Triplets in Fargo
Inforum (Fargo)
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Jun 20, 2009 8:05 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Red panda mom Shan Tou has surprised zoo keepers in Fargo, ND, by giving birth to triplets, InForum reports. “This is huge," a Red River Zoo executive said. Red pandas, an endangered species, often have one or two cubs, but triplets are rare. "It’s been 10 years since the last triplets have been born in the Western Hemisphere,”...
Rain Drowns Out US Open After Barnes Sets Record
Associated Press
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Jun 20, 2009 7:35 PM CDT
(AP) -
Rain prevented Ricky Barnes from teeing off in the third round at Bethpage State Park this afternoon. But the 2002 US Amateur champion set the US Open 36-hole scoring record earlier by finishing two trips around the course in 8-under 132. He completed his second round this morning, making three birdies in nine holes for a 65. Tiger Woods, meanwhile,...
Drake Is Next LL Cool J: Jamie Foxx
MTV
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Jun 20, 2009 7:21 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Drake is not only dating Rihanna and prepping to sign with a new label for his debut album in the next few days. The Canadian-born singer is also winning support from the likes of 50 Cent and Jamie Foxx, MTV and Sohh.com report. "He can go as gangster as he wants, but when he sings, that is the X-factor," said Foxx, who recently sang...
Obama Still Scaring Up Gun Sales
NPR
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Jun 20, 2009 6:52 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The surge in gun and ammunition sales that started with Barack Obama's presidency shows no sign of abating, NPR reports. In California, gun sales are up 32% from a year ago, and the FBI has reported a consistent rise in applications for background checks. Gun retailers and consumers continue to credit the surging sales to widely-held fears that the...
Ditch 'i Before e Except After c' Rule: Brits
BBC
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Jun 20, 2009 6:27 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Generations of frustrated schoolchildren have grumbled that “i before e except after c” isn’t worth learning because of numerous exceptions. Now the British government agrees, the BBC reports. In a document sent to 13,000 primary schools, officials say the ditty “is not worth teaching” because it’s easier to learn...
Sex Would Lift Flaccid Space Travel: Expert
Bloomberg
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Jun 20, 2009 6:03 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Why should flight attendants have all the fun? A respected NASA historian is proposing that astronauts too should join the mile-high club, Bloomberg reports. “Sex in space, now there’s an experiment scientists certainly want to conduct,” James Hansen declared in a lecture at the 100th Paris Air Show. “Great outer-space food...
Mont. City Wants Facebook Password From Job-Seekers
Montana's News Station
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Jun 20, 2009 5:47 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Job applicants for the city of Bozeman, Mont., had better be prepared to submit their passwords for social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. A miffed applicant emailed Montana's News Station about the practice, which City Attorney Greg Sullivan quickly defended. "We do those types of investigations to make sure the people that...
Baby Boomers Will Start Next Biz Craze
American
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Jun 20, 2009 5:05 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The baby boomers may be pushing 60, but they're primed to lead another "entrepreneurship boom" in America, Dane Stangler writes in the American . After all, according to one study, it's the close-to-retirement-age crowd—not 20-something whippersnappers—that has led US entrepreneurial activity since it last picked up...
Obama? Big Pharma. Here's an $80B Drug Discount
Washington Post
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Jun 20, 2009 4:41 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Big Pharma has offered the feds a discount of up to $80 billion on drugs for programs like Medicare, the Washington Post reports. The pledge, which comes at a crucial moment in the health-reform debate, may be a pre-emptive strike before President Obama pushes for a proposed $100 billion price cut. “There was a great deal of sticker shock" when...
Oklahoman Skinned Puppy for Belt: Cops
Oklahoman
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Jun 20, 2009 4:14 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Oklahoma authorities say a woman had her puppy murdered to make a belt from its hide, the Oklahoman reports. Krystal Lynn Lewis, 23, allegedly hired a friend to kill her Jack Russell terrier. Police say he shot the dog 10 times with a .22-caliber pistol. “We're talking about a 6- or 7-week-old defenseless puppy,” said one official. “That's...
Bruised Brown Talks of Fleeing Downing Street
Guardian (UK)
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Jun 20, 2009 3:48 PM CDT
(Newser) -
After surviving a coup by members of his own party earlier this month, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown admitted he was “hurt” by their personal attacks and said he could “walk away from all this tomorrow.” “I’m not interested in what accompanies being in power,” Brown told the Guardian , saying recent...
Need a Gun? On the Terrorist Watch List? No Problem
New York Times
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Jun 20, 2009 3:18 PM CDT
(Newser) -
People placed on Washington's terrorist watch list can be prevented from boarding an airplane or getting a visa, but they can still buy a gun, the New York Times reports. In the last 5 years, people on the list tried to buy guns nearly 1,000 times, and current laws forced federal authorities to approve requests 90% of the time. One buyer even picked...
Finland, Land of the $200K Speeding Ticket
Mental Floss
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Jun 20, 2009 2:59 PM CDT
(Newser) -
If you think that pricey speeding ticket is unfair, just look at Finland, where fines are based on income. Mental Floss takes a look at five doozies: In 2002, a Nokia exec on a Harley got hit with a whopping $103,600 fine for cruising at 47mph in a 31mph zone. A young dot-com entrepreneur, Jaako Rytsola, had to shell out $71,400 for driving...
Obama to Iran Leaders: Stop 'Unjust' Actions
Associated Press
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Jun 20, 2009 2:39 PM CDT
(AP) -
President Barack Obama today challenged Iran's government to halt a "violent and unjust" crackdown on dissenters, using his bluntest language yet to condemn Tehran's postelection response. Obama has sought a measured reaction to avoid being drawn in as a meddler in Iranian affairs. His comments have grown more pointed as the clashes intensified,...
Want a Dog Like Bo? Here's Your 11-Page Application
Wall Street Journal
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Jun 20, 2009 2:25 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Since Bo Obama became first pup, everyone seems to want a Portuguese water dog, the Wall Street Journal reports. Good luck with that. Though requests are soaring, the nation's approximately 200 breeders are a pretty picky bunch. About 1,400 puppies are born each year, and only 1 in 10 applicants make the cut. (It helps to be president.)
Mousavi: I'm 'Ready for Martyrdom'
New York Times
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Jun 20, 2009 2:10 PM CDT
(Newser) -
As thousands of Iranian dissidents defied the decree of the supreme leader to end their demonstrations, the symbolic face of the protests told supporters in Tehran today that he is "ready for martyrdom,” the New York Times reports. Mir Hossein Mousavi urged protesters to stage a general strike if he is arrested, and he sent a letter to...
