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MSNBC
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Dec 31, 08 6:12 PM CST
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The men who should have been warning us about the impending financial crisis were a wee bit off the mark at times. MSNBC rounds up some of the dumbest things said: "Subprime market problems seem likely to be contained."—Ben Bernanke, March 28, 2007 "The fundamentals of our economy are strong."—John McCain, Sept. 15
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Los Angeles Times
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Dec 31, 08 1:10 PM CST
(Newser) -
Sure, we like seeing pictures of chic, perfectly styled celebrities. But the worst-dressed fashion misses are way more fun. The Los Angeles Times ' Elizabeth Snead snarks on her least favorite looks of the year: Sarah Jessica Parker's "fashion nut case" acorn hat at the SATC premiere Janet Jackson's "blow-up robot doll" outfit, worn during her "Rock Witchu" tour Katy Perry's red carpet Betty Boop look: satin tap pants
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Metromix
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Dec 30, 08 9:00 PM CST
(Newser) -
Some stars combust and others fizzle, but a few are reborn. Metromix honors the second wave: The Wrestler was made for Mickey Rourke, the "one-time '80s sex symbol" turned professional boxer. Drug habits wrote off Robert Downey Jr. until the Iron Man returned with back-to-back hits. Dennis Hopper suffered Downey's blues for 15 years before re-emerging as pure evil in Blue Velvet.
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LiveScience
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Dec 30, 08 5:29 AM CST
(Newser) -
New York may be America's cultural capital, but Seattle and Minneapolis top the list as the nation's most literate cities, reports LiveScience. The rankings are based on newspaper, magazine, and online news readership, library usage, book purchases, and educational levels. The two cities also topped the list last year.
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Time
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Dec 29, 08 7:14 PM CST
(Newser) -
Marley & Me 's victory at the box office last weekend shows that man's best friend still fetches gold in Tinseltown. Time picks their top canine classics: Lassie Come Home (1943): In the film before the series, Lassie escapes to reunite with her original owner, braving bad weather, evil people, and British cuisine. Lady and the Tramp (1955): The story of working-class Tramp giving up his streetwise style for love set the table for modern rom-coms.
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Washington Post
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Dec 29, 08 6:50 PM CST
(Newser) -
In the vast, fragmented online universe, videos tend to entice some and disgust others. But every year offers a list of viral vids enjoyed by all. The Washington Post runs down 2008's best: Tom Cruise on Scientology: A rambling, fervent Cruise extols his religion, saying he's the "only one who can really help" at the scene of an accident. "Yes We Can": Slick and star-studded, Will.I.Am's pro-Obama video was strong enough to galvanize a movement and garner 15 million views.
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San Jose Mercury News
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Dec 29, 08 5:37 PM CST
(Newser) -
2008 wasn’t a great year for tech or the economy, but some gadget-makers did invest in innovation, the San Jose Mercury News reports. Areas where tech made more than token gains: Digital cameras grow up: Not only are consumer cameras getting sharper, but some professional models can now record video. Gaming shows a feminine side: More than half of Wii users are women.
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Los Angeles Times
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Dec 29, 08 11:50 AM CST
(Newser) -
It’s been a big year for celebrity activism—so big that it deserves its own year-end top 10 list, Tina Daunt writes in the Los Angeles Times . Some famous faces that made a difference in 2008: Oprah Winfrey fought hard for Barack Obama, including hosting a traffic-stopping garden party. Norman Lear targeted young people in an online, nonpartisan get-out-the-vote effort. Paris Hilton became a YouTube phenomenon—for politics.
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Travel Leisure
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Dec 29, 08 1:50 AM CST
(Newser) -
While much of the world indulges in the traditional New Year's Eve fare of glittery balls and fireworks, other countries have more unusual ways of shepherding in the next year, reports Travel and Leisure . For example: Spain: Gobbling a grape for each clock stroke is considered a fruity down payment on a month of good luck in the New Year.
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Politico
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Dec 27, 08 9:19 PM CST
(Newser) -
Traditional media outlets and on-the-spot amateurs alike captured the year's biggest US political moments. Here is Politico's look at some of the biggest scoops: Palin meets Couric: Interviewed by Katie Couric on CBS, Sarah Palin fumbled with softball questions such as which publications she reads. Democrats and Tina Fey pounced. Edwards indulges: Major media outlets ignored a report of John Edwards' extramarital affair, but the National Enquirer caught him in the act.
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Daily Telegraph (UK)
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Dec 27, 08 6:50 PM CST
(Newser) -
Toby Harnden must live among Yanks in his job as a correspondent for the UK's Telegraph , and sometimes American phrases drive him nuts. Here are his worst offenders: Happy holidays (just say Christmas, please) Have a nice day (make it stop) You're welcome (this one's just "Pavlovian" to him)
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Wall Street Journal
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Dec 27, 08 1:14 PM CST
(Newser) -
Government investigators are turning their eye to the middlemen who led clients into Bernard Madoff's long-running Ponzi scheme. The Wall Street Journal profiles five of them: Robert Jaffe: A dashing Florida philanthropist, he funneled tony clients to ex-boss Madoff. Jaffe says he is a "victim of these tragic events." Stanley Chais: His exclusive fund, "The Arbitrage," was secretly a pipeline to Madoff. Chais' family foundation is "wiped out" by the scandal, its director said.
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New York Times
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Dec 27, 08 8:00 AM CST
(Newser) -
This year saw the passing of many notable people, from Paul Newman and Michael Crichton to William F. Buckley and designer Yves St. Laurent. Here are a few that made the lists of the NY Times and LA Times : Tim Russert (b. 1950)—TV journalist and 16-year host of Meet the Press. Charlton Heston (b. 1923)—star of Ben-Hur and The Ten Commandments, and later NRA activist. George Carlin (b. 1937)—legendary rabble-rousing comedian. Heath Ledger (b. 1979)—rising star's credits include Brokeback Mountain; Oscar rumblings for Dark Knight. Steve Fossett (b. 1945)—billionaire adventurer missing since September 2007. Albert Hoffman (b. 1906)—research chemist who discovered LSD.
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Spin
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Dec 26, 08 2:15 PM CST
(Newser) -
Catfish Haven's Devastator tops Spin 's year-end list of overlooked albums. George Hunter's "old-soul blues exposes other rock'n'roll kings as pretenders to the crown." The top 10: Catfish Haven , Devastator: Hunter's voice is "a husky amalgam of Joe Cocker's world-weary croon and Bill Medley's baritone bombast." El Perro Del Mar, From the Valley to the Stars : "A challenging and introspective set," but you can also "dance, dance, dance." Flowers Forever, Flowers Forever : Some songs "veer sharply into aggressive garage rock," while others are "part acid trip, part barroom blues." The Gaslight Anthem, The '59 Sound : Jersey boy Brian Fallon's "heartfelt, punk-tinged tunes" make him possibly this decade's next best thing to the Boss.
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Politico
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Dec 26, 08 12:29 PM CST
(Newser) -
The election is over, a political era is ending, and a number of this year's frequent headline-makers will step out of the spotlight in 2009. Politico gets misty-eyed about its favorites: Dick Cheney: Who else would tell a senior senator to “go f*** himself”? Who else, when asked about the public’s disapproval of his foreign policy, would respond, “So what?”
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Fox News
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Dec 26, 08 12:02 PM CST
(Newser) -
You didn't think Fox News would forget about the ladies, did you? Here's a sample of its choices for hottest bods of 2008: Karolina Kurkova: She has no bellybutton, "but that didn't stop magazines from Photoshopping one on her for their photo spreads." Angelina Jolie: "Perpetually one of the world's most gorgeous women." Jennifer Aniston: Her nearly-nude "GQ cover was 2008's most discussed."
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Fox News
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Dec 26, 08 11:44 AM CST
(Newser) -
Fox News has a holiday gift for everyone: The hottest men of 2008. Here's a sample: Barack Obama: "Slated to become the president with the meanest six-pack in history." David Beckham: "Wow. We want to say something but just ... wow." Brad Pitt: "Even that three-piece suit can't hide his great physique."
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