Headlines: August 2007 - The Morning News

Headlines for Friday, August 31, 2007

Afternoon Edition

Tony Snow says he’s got to go; is Sen. Craig up next?

Audio: Everyone’s favorite straight senator minutes after his arrest for not being gay.

Karl Rove’s last day on the job is celebrated with plastic wrap and Obama ‘08 stickers.

“Serbia will have no choice but to respond to acts that would jeopardize its sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Serbia reminds Kosovo it’s still there.

Photographer Nina Berman photographs American soldiers after life-altering injuries. (Photo gallery.)

Fraud investigation bans one U.S. company from contracting further military work; more investigations are to follow.

Brazil’s fears over “biopiracy”—unauthorized biological material leaving the country—lands Dutch primatologist in jail for 16 years.

WWE is finally set on cleaning up the sport of professional wrestling and suspends 10 wrestlers for steroid use.

Annual World Beard and Mustache Championship starts tomorrow in Brighton. (Music to get you in the mood.)

Slow afternoon? Catch up on Archie Club news.

The putative Burning Man arsonist speaks.

In today’s Non-Expert, Lauren Frey shows the terrible consequences of taking modern life offline.

Multimedia: Celebrating the 30th anniversary of punk, aka “making mayhem seem really, really cool.”

If Edward Gorey had illustrated “The Trouble with Tribbles.”

Headlines for Friday, August 31, 2007

Morning Edition

Congressional report says Iraq’s police force has been irrevocably ruined by undesirables, and should be disbanded.

South Korea denies Afghan allegations that it paid the Taliban for the release of its hostages.

“His friends thought he was doing an art piece.” Suicide goes unnoticed by Burning Man participants.

Texas governor commutes getaway driver’s death sentence; judge grants asylum to Iraqi who smuggled himself into Texas.

Like Dr. Ruth with a kung-fu grip, Dr. Susan Blank is trying to get a hold on New York’s syphilis surge.

New cancer ads to focus on insurance rather than eating lima-bean polyps; formula makers balk at government’s breast-feeding ads.

As part of its investigation into whether Gonzales lied under oath, Justice Dept. sends questionnaires to former job applicants.

Britain’s Trade Unions Congress says employers should get used to Facebook; California senate bars requiring employees to receive ID implants.

BPWMI—boss playing with my iPhone. Online acronyms for the rest of us.

Hi! Does this seem friendly to you! It’s working!

Creation head Alan McGee on Echo & the Bunnymen, “the bridesmaids of rock.”

Twenty-five years after his death, Glenn Gould’s secret lover is revealed.

Photos: serious band has photo ruined by passerby; happy wombat has photo ruined by no one.

Video: The trailer for the Sigur Rós movie is all you need.

Headlines for Thursday, August 30, 2007

Afternoon Edition

Study finds Democrats are getting more morning airtime than Republicans, possibly because they’re just more interesting.

Citizen uprisings bring measured hope for democratic reform in Myanmar.

Italian police in Mafia crackdown following a rash of murders; but does a “wedding ring exchange” mean more trouble is to come?

Richard Jewell, hero and cleared suspect of 1996 Olympic bombing case, dies of natural causes.

It’s no longer “up to the person who’s wearing the pants”: saggy pants are on Louisiana’s blacklist.

“At first, it was so white it looked like fairyland,” said park Superintendent Donna Garde. “Now it’s filled with so many mosquitoes that it’s turned a little brown.

Waiting with bated breath for the world’s largest/fakest diamond to be confirmed as large/fake.

U.S. Open ball boys and girls finally chosen after two months of grueling try-outs.

In the 1985 edition of Andrew Womack’s Top 10 Album series, we go back to back to the future, before all the sequels.

What makes Europe’s new coolest cities? A classy creative class.

Graphic: Manhattanites receiving farm subsidies.

NASA says—hic—no drinking on their watch.

That’s so like the white flag dolphin—all “trying to make you think it’s extinct” and then not.

Elephant runs away from circus for love.

Headlines for Thursday, August 30, 2007

Morning Edition

Leaked report criticizes Virginia Tech for insufficient communication prior, during, and after the shooting.

Man arrested for burning Burning Man four days early.

TMN’s Nicole Pasulka on all of the month’s fire-related news.

Today’s big read: The fiery business of insuring—and gambling giant stakes on—catastrophe.

Debbie Harry, Patti Smith, and others on the death of CBGB’s Hilly Kristal.

Reincarnated outside Parliament, new Nelson Mandela statue in London “looks like he’s just dropped a tray.”

Musharraf agrees to share power in Pakistan; signaling injuries to come, senior generals skip Turkey’s president’s swearing-in.

Notes on the neuroscience trend of using the brain’s plasticity, and not pharmaceuticals, to influence healing.

Hirst sells his skull for $100 million.

Op: The best argument for why research on string theory is a waste of time, by a physician who disagrees.

Why David Lynch’s latest effort looks better on your TV than the big screen.

Good summary of our latest efforts to turn cooking and food into ellipticals for lunatics.

Tips on setting up a trust for your dog, even if you’re not so insane as to leave him $12 million.

And other memes: Miss Teen South Carolina explains herself, as does Jimmy Kimmel.

Proof that Miss Teen South Carolina may have resurrected geography’s corpse.

Pictures of shops that refuse to die.

Headlines for Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Afternoon Edition

In Iraq, Sadr orders his Mahdi Army to stand down for six months for “restructuring.”

Though the U.S. says Iraqis are free to apply for refuge on American shores, few have taken the offer, as they’re not allowed to apply within Iraq.

Young Chinese workers refuse to work dirt-cheap, resulting in higher wages—which could mean higher prices on U.S. shelves.

Chinese miners survive cave-in by drinking urine, eating coal.

Swimmers north of Sydney play in swaths of foam caused by chemicals, decomposing fish, and “seaweed excretions.”

“Oxeye daisies are the bane of my existence.” Delaware horticulturists go to war with those who think medians should resemble lawns from elsewhere.

Thieves swipe biker’s prosthetic hand after he leaves it on his motorcycle grip.

In animal prostheses, there are no hands, but lots of feet, fins, and carbon-fiber kangaroo legs.

Botox is faster than a mole check.

Johnny Marr suggested practicing in the dark… and in doing so demonstrated that it is feeling as much as accuracy that makes music come alive. Web site lets the stars teach you how to play.

Mourners are divided over Giuliani’s planned speech at this year’s Sept. 11 ceremony—will he be there as the former mayor or the GOP candidate?

Obsessed with hunting pirated films, the MPAA calls in DVD-sniffing canine unit.

Kidnapped drug dog shows up in Mexico City park—authorities wonder if he’s become a double agent.

Headlines for Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Morning Edition

We are approaching a level of ridiculousness. Exasperated GOP strategists try and contain their newest scandal.

Idaho Statesman posts audio chronicling Sen. Craig’s sex scandals; Craig blames Statesman for his current spot of trouble.

Two years after Katrina, is New Orleans’s glass half-empty or half-full?

Let’s have one more look at Brownie’s emails, shall we?

Leona Helmsley’s will leaves $12 million to her tiny white Maltese.

John Gardner, author of more James Bond books than Ian Fleming, dies, age 80.

Winners of last week’s newsletter quiz (which wasn’t a Headlines Pop Quiz) identified what this map represents. If that’s your kind of thing, you should sign up for our Friday newsletter.

Audio: Bloopers that made the album.

In South Africa, where 12 percent of the population has HIV, health dept. gets word of a bribe, recalls 20 million potentially defective condoms.

Brooklyn man sues cemetery—he caught a worker urinating on his mother’s grave, then the worker beat him and his dog with a rake.

They are draped awkwardly across a huge platter, with a crocodile carved out of a carrot as the centrepiece. Dining at Beijing’s all-penis restaurant.

California rolls wrapped in antimicrobial film may zap germs, taste like garbage bags.

TMN’s David Leite goes road-tripping for the clams he loved as a youth—in a T-bird like the one he discovered them in.

Headlines for Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Afternoon Edition

Taliban will release South Korean hostages if Korea halts missionary work, military involvement.

Black-and-white photograph of a protester chasing off a soldier is tearing Bangladesh apart.

People who say crack is back are wrong—it never went away.

Expensive homes out West are protected from wildfires by “magical goop”; wine serves a similar purpose in Greece.

Wind turbines are not only environmentally friendly, they’re terrifying and responsible for thousands of mishaps.

Pew Study finds Americans not interested in tabloid gossip; Britney Spears’s dog’s leg finally set in a cast.

“Georgette and I believe strongly that there should be no awards for Amy.” Winehouse’s father-in-law attempts to start a boycott: no records, awards, or eyeliner.

While Fisk University ponders selling donated art, Philadelphia ponders testing its tour guides.

The company that brought you Crocs moves into clothing, a nation gags.

Jetsons-style automated service debuts at Nuremberg restaurant.

Filling the holes in Florida’s sand with recycled glass.

Dorkiest payload ever.

Wikipedia’s surprisingly comprehensive investigation into the best films ever.

Video: Yoshi has online graffiti wall staying power.

Headlines for Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Morning Edition

Analysis of Bush’s reasons to reward loyalty over competence (particularly for “Fredos” who don’t turn on their bosses).

Conservative picks for who should replace Gonzales.

News bubbles up of an Idaho senator pleading guilty to solicitation, giving license to toilet reporting.

Walter Mosley: Two years later, waters are still rising, and the storm is still coming.

Notes on the drying out of southwestern North America, akin to permanent drought conditions.

Even with foreign cultural details, poems from Guantanamo are intimately familiar, whether or not the authors are jihadists.

I read a lot. That’s how I learned to write. And I listened a lot, too. Old Salon interview with Grace Paley.

Chris Tucker to focus attention on smaller, more personal Rush Hour projects; Woody Allen thinks someone should make a movie about his life.

Rich wine collectors say chi-chi bottles still taste great even if they weren’t originally owned by Thomas Jefferson.

Sedaris quits smoking and still can’t taste anything; Adichie wishes she ate the same food as the people she loves.

How Madison Avenue is wasting millions of marketing dollars on (a largely deserted) Second Life.

Interview with Canada’s top drain explorer, with pictures.

Pictures of economists fishing.

Video of a typographically elaborate engagement.

Headlines for Monday, August 27, 2007

Afternoon Edition

After three weeks of work and two additional deaths, Utah rescue team plans to lower robotic camera into mine.

More than 63 people are dead in Greek forest fires—is it arson?

Russia arrests 10 members of Chechen underworld, linking them to the death of a controversial and crusading journalist.

Karl Rove may be leaving the White House, but his ghost will keep whispering, “Spin! Spin!”

If there was going to be a next Watergate, Hartford would be our guess, too.

There are older parents, younger candidates, and an unparalleled number of under-10s on the presidential campaign trail.

Israel’s kibbutzim drops the socialism and watches the wait-lists grow.

Today’s long read: Pollution in China reaches breathtaking—and cancer-causing—levels.

College Board paying a little less than $1 per missing point for mis-scored Oct. 2005 SATs.

MTV’s college campus network chooses its first poet laureate: 80-year-old John Ashbery.

In today’s Gallery, Thomas Allen gives paperbacks a life of their own.

Picky eating habits are in the genes, but you still have to finish your broccoli.

More on last week’s pink/blue boy/girl debate.

Are you ready for tonight’s lunar eclipse?

Headlines for Monday, August 27, 2007

Morning Edition

Thanks for the ride, Bert: Gonzales resigns.

Army lures new recruits with $20,000 to enter basic by the end of September—aka, the end of the fiscal year.

With fewer foreign fighters able to enter Iraq, insurgents are enlisting children, and U.S. detention facilities are filling with pre-teens.

After a California judge forbade him from staking out places where children gather, pedophile says he’ll leave the state and its “Orwellian protocol.”

Fairfax County knew the Va. Tech shooter had an anxiety disorder that needed treatment, though never informed the university of it.

Pre-orders for O.J. Simpson’s If I Did It launch the book into Barnes & Noble.com’s top 50, even though they say they won’t stock it in stores.

Nielsen releases Spanish-language television from niche-market status.

Since 1992, there have been 17 women authors featured in The New Yorker’s “Shouts & Murmurs”—and none since 2004.

Video: Miss Teen South Carolina has trouble answering.

Dog rescued from Katrina is now at the center of a custody battle

In the 19th century, a world power got a reputation for exporting substandard items, some even tainted: the United States.

Deutsche cleanup worker says she was berated for wearing an asbestos mask, others were eating donuts without washing hands.

Debuting at this weekend’s Texas State Fair: the Deep Fried Latte.

Not having a male companion will also reduce the chance of pregnancy. Ellie Kemper’s hassle-free recipes for the gal on the go.

Headlines for Friday, August 24, 2007

Afternoon Edition

Amnesty publishes proof Sudan is breaking the Darfur arms embargo—most likely with the help of Russia.

Much of the U.S. is currently snorkeling, if not Jet-Skiing, home from work.

Gov. George Wallace’s would-be assassin released from prison after serving 35 years of 53-year term.

Basque separatist group ETA sets off car bomb without the usual advance notice.

Hebrew-English charter school in Florida faces criticism over plan to teach language minus religion; Brooklyn’s Arabic-English school isn’t faring much better.

Unlike in 2000, federal government refuses to curtail immigration raids in months prior to the census.

Could pigeon dung have been behind the Minneapolis bridge’s collapse?

Local raccoons feel the brunt of infighting amongst Salem witches.

Japanese PM meets with son of Indian judge who pardoned his grandfather for war crimes; cousin of former Estonian PM is convicted of genocide.

“Tenpo ni la toki pona li kama suli.” Conlangs expand beyond Star Trek, Tolkien.

Out-of-body experiences as easy as a virtual reality goggles, a rod for poking, and cooperative scientists.

Discount airline Ryanair now charging four-dollar fee for airport check-in.

Do funny signs from around the world ever get old? Probably.

Headlines for Friday, August 24, 2007

Morning Edition

Flinty intelligence assessment of Iraq’s government, Bush’s government, and Democrats who would withdraw.

Will an op-ed by seven soldiers have more impact than stories penned by generals? (See here for the op-ed.)

Chapter five in Josh Neufeld’s wonderful “A.D.”, the true story in web-comic form of six people who survived Katrina.

William Grimes on Michael Erard’s book on slips of the tongue; see here for all of Erard’s slip-work on TMN, or, um, click here.

For all the buzz in France: Pool of press clippings about playwright Yasmina Reza’s book about Sarkozy.

Journalist Nir Rosen explains fighting in northern Lebanon with plain words.

Rivals circle, wonks worry as Pakistan’s autumn elections approach and Musharraf’s seat looks shaky.

Despite the worst inflation in the world, Zimbabwe also has the best-performing stock market.

Why do classes perform better when girls are present? Simply because they’re there.

Neuroscientist Gary Lynch’s series of articles on showing how memories form.

Pdf: Proposal to create “fantasy journals”—fantasy football, you could say, but with science papers.

Egregious science offenses committed by Hollywood.

The beauty of specimens found on old microscope slides; photographs of what 120 calories look like.

What happens when 826 people listen to the same mp3 at the same time in lower Manhattan.

Become number 827! Today’s Headlines Quiz will be a new sort of bag. Sign up quick!

Headlines for Thursday, August 23, 2007

Afternoon Edition

As is common practice on risky projects, demolition work at ground zero is being carried out by a shell corporation.

Pakistani Supreme Court allows former PM, exiled in 2000, to return to the homeland.

White House takes Office of Administration off list of bodies covered by Freedom of Information Act, but forgets to update the web site.

Albanian blood feuds have a 21st-century resurgence, making the Hatfields and McCoys look positively weak.

Denmark pays ransom for release of hostages on Somali pirate ship.

Helsinki’s Hotel Katajanokka offers a Best Western feel in a former prison.

Faced with declining circulation, National Geographic predicts redheads will be extinct by 2060.

America is so very, very alone when it comes to measurement.

Unsatisfied with “Tomcruise,” “Charlie,” or “God,” Thai Minister of Culture longs for “the simple and often more pastoral nicknames of yore.”

YouTube to introduce ads, citing survey claiming viewers love them—though the test ad was The Simpsons trailer.

Because toy recalls aren’t always front-page news, yard sales and eBay are still selling dangerous fun.

If there was a MySpace for spooks, you certainly wouldn’t know about it.

Angry op-ed leads to a comprehensive list of “blogging done well.”

American Idol for the literate.

Headlines for Thursday, August 23, 2007

Morning Edition

In veterans speech, Bush connects Iraq to Vietnam—this time we can win it, see?

More and more of the electricity grid in Iraq is being seized by armed militias.

Pre-treating posttraumatic stress.

Texas executes its 400th inmate since reinstating capital punishment in 1982.

Wives and their wrongfully convicted husbands, after 30 years of weekly visits.

Thousands of heart-attack deaths blamed on long-term exposure to noise.

Woman who moved from Queens to Arizona in a cab earlier this year dies at 75.

Study shows many couples stay sexually active into their 80s; photo shows senior crotch shot.

Since James Brown’s death last December, a dozen people have asked for DNA tests to find out if he’s their father—three have come back positive.

French magazine airbrushes Sarkozy’s love handles (his poignees d’amour).

No Headlines Pop Quiz this week: Tomorrow’s newsletter will have a different kind of quiz—subscribe here if you haven’t already.

Bullfighting, once a part of Spain’s national identity, is now banned from a popular TV network.

When all else fails, blame global warming on the moose population.

Headlines for Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Afternoon Edition

Blackhawk helicopter crash in Iraq kills 14 American soldiers.

Congress forces CIA to release document analyzing pre-Sept. 11 intelligence weaknesses; ACLU forces White House to release political protest action plans.

Everyone except Mother Earth wins when Brazil resettles urban homeless to virgin rain forest.

Russia can’t get enough of Dear Leader shirtless.

Nepal slashes “royalty fees” to encourage wintertime Everest attempts.

If the California State Fair “Dancing with the Bulls” event lives up to its name, what’s the problem?

“Women love me.” World’s oldest dad fathers son’s wife’s child.

Message to Harvard: Laurie Lindeen will be reading tonight at the Coop with special musical guest Dave Minehan.

The King(’s stolen handgun) is alive in a port-a-potty in Memphis.

High School Musical, high school musicals still not cool.

South Park creators animate the teaching of comparative religionist Alan Watts.

Arm wrestling machine recalled after breaking opponents’ arms, presumedly not on the chihuahua setting.

Maserati ownership usually not correlated with complete indifference as to car’s whereabouts.

The stylish way to enter your 80s is driving a Model A Ford.

Soon, “making cocoa” will be called “milk hacking.”

Headlines for Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Morning Edition

Bush finds fewer words of praise for Maliki and the Iraqi government as the surge evaluation approaches.

Over 100 foreign-policy experts surveyed for a look at the current state of terrorism.

Iran releases Wilson Center’s Dr. Haleh Esfandiari.

Pdf: Details on the roadblocks and corridors (with map) of where you can expect to pay bribes in Africa.

Interactive economics games produced by the IMF.

Magicians, scientists, philosophers, and Teller on the science of magic.

Today’s must-read: Fascinating account of the Post’s classical music critic learning he has Asperger’s syndrome.

The mood science behind knowing when to ask for a raise.

New York magazine’s new Shop-A-Matic knows what you want and does the window-shopping for you.

Indian retailer implements chaos in store design for better profits.

The benefits of television for women in rural India are substantive and empowering.

One in four American adults read no books each year.

In Dallas, theaters and churches combine to put on a non-preachy show post-prayer.

Video: Where ABC’s Lost was found, perhaps.

Headlines for Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Afternoon Edition

Michigan pushes presidential primary up to January 15, causing New Hampshire and Iowa to leapfrog theirs to next Tuesday.

Sex researchers draw battle lines around work of J. Michael Baily, advocate of an alternate transgender theory.

“The fact that those who do not serve in the military can become cultural heroes is worrying.”

Beef noodle soup that costs 33 cents proves that, despite appearances, China still has a planned economy.

Vatican arranges for Italian overnight postal flights to deliver pilgrims during the day.

“I am imagining like Romy Schneider or Catherine Deneuve wearing some turban looks in their movies.” Designer sets sights on future Turkish first lady’s head scarf.

Officially available to only three percent of the population, Pakistan produces its first 20-year single-malt Scotch whiskey.

El Paso discovering what life on the edge truly means.

Researchers studying pandemics really just sitting around talking about World of Warcraft.

Not feeling so smart now, are you, quant traders?

In part five of Pasha Malla’s Kashmir epic, relatives make an appearance and overcooked greens are enjoyed.

Sure, everyone loves blue, but girls still like pink.

“I was also worried it could have been a bit of fossilized poo.” Archeology students discover prehistoric chewing gum.

Univ. of Utah’s Marijuana Signature Project seeks stable isotopes, enlightenment, Cheetos.

Headlines for Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Morning Edition

Next year Congress will earmark $6.7 billion to combat global warming—some worry it may turn into “green pork.”

Citing recent smoking ban, bad weather, analysts say U.K. cigarette sales fell by seven percent last month. See also: In Hindsight: Smoke Signals.

Putting the fun back into funnel cake, the ban on trans fats reaches an unlikely spot: state fairs.

Police investigate Bronx basement and find preserved skulls, sulfuric acid, and possibly a jarred human fetus.

Hurricane Dean reaches Category 5, makes landfall in a sparsely populated area on the Yucatan coast.

The pressure’s off NASA, as Dean’s southern route means there’s no rush to land shuttle today.

Astronomers find rare neutron star near Earth—rare because it has no supernova remnants.

Space tourist spends entire vacation inside space shuttle.

Video: Drunk flight attendant arrested, crawls around holding cell.

You can sue al Qaeda (or you can try), but you can’t sue Merck (or get paid).

Lawmakers consider new laws that would allow employees to sue cruel bosses; how to be an office tyrant.

How to date your globe.

Catching up with the children who were on album covers from the ’90s.

The coffin was carried in to the strains of Durutti Column’s “Sketch for Summer,” and out again to “Bob’s Yer Uncle.”

Headlines for Monday, August 20, 2007

Afternoon Edition

Over objections of human rights groups, Israel returns Sudanese refugees to Egypt.

Video: Ambassadors from failed states on statehood, failing, failed statehood.

Bush’s bid to spread democracy and end tyranny worldwide might not be implemented by end of fiscal year.

Also: Researchers conclude increase in disease diagnoses might not equal increase in disease.

Inside the Spider’s Web, Hezbollah’s Lebanese war museum.

A few injuries, a little fake blood, and 58 arrests later, climate change protesters outside Heathrow disperse.

Leona Helmsley pays out her estate tax.

Evita á la Hillary: Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Argentina’s first lady, wants to be its next president, too.

An interview with Helen Fisher, the anthropologist behind Chemistry.com.

Gangsta rap, once “capitalism with a beat,” is on the decline.

Art at San Quentin extends beyond Johnny Cash.

In today’s Gallery, Charlie White shows us where the Wild Things currently are.

Here’s hoping the First Little Pig gets design credit for houses made of straw.

A camel story to disturb you for the rest of your days.

Headlines for Monday, August 20, 2007

Morning Edition

Stability of the Kurdistan region threatened by Iranian forces.

Gaza’s main power plant shuts down after the EU halted financing of fuel deliveries.

Today’s big read: How border violence is overflowing and bringing havoc into Southwestern cities.

Illuminating details on Iowa’s non-illuminating straw poll.

A review of the various guide books—Wasps! Jews! Blacks!—we use to break one another down.

How exactly does one inject money into the economy?

Some suspect that Sarkozy’s secret strength in resolving the French economic “crisis” may be that there is no crisis. Gopnik on Sarkozy and his plans for le bomb humain.

Putin orders resumption of long-range bomber patrols, hopefully less Tom Clancy, more “The Russians Are Coming!”

Pilots and passengers fled hijacked Turkish plane.

Formerly separate institutions, museums and auction houses now regularly hijack employees from each other’s holdings, though it may mean tough business for museums down the road.

How photographer Martin Parr can improve your dinner conversation, even if you hate him (see Parr’s TMN gallery).

Index of law articles of interest to visual artists.

Chinese artist Ai Wei Wei, creator of the new Beijing National Stadium, denounces the Olympics and “shitty foreign directors” for moral cluelessness.

Tom Green’s resurrection, filmed live in his living room.

Young Frankenstein, the musical, quietly prepares to embark from Seattle for New York.

Where do most of the world’s tigers burn bright? Why, Texas of course.

Headlines for Friday, August 17, 2007

Afternoon Edition

After one day of deliberation, jury convicts Jose Padilla on terror charges.

Poll shows most Americans are already distrustful of the Army’s next Iraq assessment.

Led by a general with a history of failures, the State Department’s embassy construction unit is in hot water.

Former South African minister becomes first senior member of white regime to be convicted for apartheid-era crimes.

“There is no law against someone making you feel uncomfortable.” Quick release of arrested pedophile blogger has parents perplexed and lawyers eager to explain.

Besides trash receptacles, New York’s pay phones are one of the city’s best ad spots.

A boulder always has a friend in India’s Society to Save Rocks.

TSA hires 500 behavior detection officers, and the bald eagle sheds a tear.

Cranky Ann, the street-walker: a story of Chicago in chunks. The University of Illinois’s Digitized Book of the Week.

In today’s Non-Expert, Eric Feezell straps on skates to dispense slapshot dating advice.

Stars, guns, two guns, animals with multiple heads: Terrorist logos deconstructed.

The seven wonders of the totalitarian world.

Don’t worry CD—we were obsolete at 25 too.

Headlines for Friday, August 17, 2007

Morning Edition

Earthquake death toll continues to climb in Peru, nearing 500; workers are on a frantic search for survivors.

Was Giuliani, as he asserts, at ground zero “as often, if not more” than recovery workers? Records show him there for 29 hours; responders logged 12 hours a day. (graph here)

Seismic shudders at Utah mine recovery site kill three rescuers, may end the search.

Parts supplier defrauds Pentagon for over $20 million in shipping costs—including $998,798 to send two 19-cent washers.

FBI director’s notes during Ashcroft’s hospital stay contradict testimony by Gonzales that the attorney general was “lucid.”

Citing that he’s never publicly been cleared over intimidation charges, Steven Seagal claims the FBI killed his career.

Practicing for Olympic traffic, Beijing bans a million cars from its streets for the next four days.

Chinese couple say they want to name their child “@”—when translated, it sort of means “love him.”

The last of the beboppers, legendary percussionist Max Roach, dies at 83.

Video: Roach takes a solo; more drum soloing than you can shake a stick at in last week’s Video Digest.

An interview with musician Edwyn Collins; two years ago he suffered a stroke that left him unable to talk, now he’s singing again

Between 1946 and 1972, psychiatrist Walter Freeman performed thousands of transorbital—or “ice pick”—lobotomies; here are recent interviews with some of his patients.

“Well, if we knew you were coming we would have baked you a cake.” Stephen King mistaken for a vandal at Australian bookstore.

Headlines Pop Quiz questions will be going out in just a few hours—sign up here to receive yours!

Anatomical tattoos are rad. See also: How to give a tattoo.

Headlines for Thursday, August 16, 2007

Afternoon Edition

Army suicides hit a 26-year high, with 99 deaths in the past 12 months.

Conspiracy theorists, take note: Rumsfeld resigned one day earlier than thought, and was wearing a tinfoil hat.

Memphis heat wave plagues Elvis fans gathered for 30th anniversary of his death.

With $190 million riding on a shady will, Brooke Astor won’t go gentle into that good night.

Travelocity fined $183,000 for booking trips to Cuba, tries the old “technical issues corrected years ago” defense.

Australian researchers prove you want to live on the right side of the bunny fence.

“When she started puking green, that’s when I knew something wasn’t right.” Description of swallowing magnets almost as painful as swallowing magnets.

Russian town offers half-day sex holiday to combat a declining birthrate.

Russia also sending thousands of sniper rifles to Venezuela, leaving observers worried and confused.

Arthur Miller had a secret son born with Downs syndrome and hidden for life.

Teenager’s initiative leads to T.G.I. Friday’s “Autism Family Night.”

In today’s feature, Andrew Womack proves that 1984’s Chuck Norris was Nick Cave.

Video: Investigative journalist finds Filipino prisoners weren’t thrilled to dance to “Thriller.”

Starbucks and the web: Wedded for life.

Headlines for Thursday, August 16, 2007

Morning Edition

Death toll in northern Iraq’s truck bombings rises to at least 500; at least 377 dead in Peru earthquake.

Waters have inundated houses, houses have collapsed, factories have been completely inundated. Comments from visitor to the North Korean floods.

China plants billions of trees to stop sandy tide of encroaching deserts.

The liberal argument for why Rove should encroach a little longer; the conservative take on Rove’s tarnished departure.

Why highlighting multiple candidates for president instead of anointing a few could lead to better voting.

How many soldiers’ lives is the life of one gay man worth? Seven.

How the Calabrian mafia spread from Italy, now with branches in Germany, Spain, the U.S., and elsewhere.

Details that go deep into the “Marie-Antoinette syndrome” of analyzing Cecilia Sarkozy’s behavior.

Preparing for Atonement, director who’s adapted novels points out that the forms, movie and book, are irreconcilable.

Hopper’s view of America, or at least of Cape Cod, to be blocked by mansion, complains wealthy neighbors.

Using Enter Shikari as the entry point to tomorrow’s music business: no more labels, lots more touring.

Images of today’s São Paulo (where all the labels—all advertising forms, that is—are banned).

Number of cities’ citizens compared to the amount of public toilets.

The unbearable lightness of Ira Glass, Wes Anderson, Dave Eggers, and Arrested Development.

Luring top journalists to the Atlantic Monthly takes lots of money, charm, and a few ponies.

Seven of the greatest underhanded sports tacticians.

Headlines for Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Afternoon Edition

Hope fades for trapped Utah miners, though more dramatic rescues have been made.

Nation’s largest food aid donor questions the basic theories behind their work—turning down $45 million in the process.

Agricultural experts warn all the rice in China isn’t worth a barrel of potatoes.

Residents of near-Arctic Sakhalin Island watch an oil boom pass them by; time running out to claim the North Pole for your own.

“Cartographers don’t lie, but they take a position.” Custom globe-makers disappear, re-color countries as warranted.

YouTube seeks Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert deposition in case brought by Viacom.

Imus settles with CBS just as first Rutgers player files for character defamation.

NYT mourns the death of the original NYT building; can’t locate anyone to comment.

“This is no different from the Houston Rockets working with Yao Ming, or Jackie Chan in Hollywood movies.” Martin Luther King memorial to be “Made in China”—with mixed feelings.

“No appeal,” beg dry cleaners unsuccessfully sued by judge for $54 million—and no dice.

Clubs are despicable. Cramped, overpriced furnaces with sticky walls. Witness a lot of anger aimed at your weekend plans.

In today’s Mp3 Digest, Andrew Womack says goodbye to Tony Wilson in true, hyperlinked style.

Childhood obesity study says pregnancy is no excuse to chow down.

R. Kelly’s Trapped in the Closet is online and up to episode 15.

Headlines for Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Morning Edition

In northern Iraq, at least 200 are killed in coordinated truck bombings—the deadliest attack this year.

U.S. to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist group, will legally-ish peek into its business dealings.

North Korea flooding leaves 300,000 homeless, destroys 10 percent of farmland.

Promising safe, lead-free toys, American companies pounce on recall opportunity, watch profits jump.

America’s appetite for products has caused its foreign debt to balloon—so what happens if that debt is used as a weapon?

Rising number of Hispanic immigrants to the U.S. adopt their new culture by binge drinking, taking drugs.

Feds pledge $354 million for Bloomberg’s traffic plan, which covers everything except the controversial part of Bloomberg’s traffic plan.

White House downplays importance of Rove, say what they’ll miss most are ice-cream Fridays.

Author upsets Thai government over her profile of ousted PM as a poor man who must travel to Miami for golf school.

Australian plastic surgeons’ board says anyone who makes good on a lad mag’s grand-prize boob job loses their credentials.

The bra of the future is an implant screwed to the ribs, and its first recipients are pigs.

Monkey escapes from cage for second time in two weeks, unsure if he can crack locks or has a helper human.

Squirrels learn to fend away rattlesnakes by heating up their tails and vigorously shaking them.

Teach your cat to use the toilet; teach your dog to use the litter box.

Headlines for Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Afternoon Edition

“I’ve done a lot of fund-raising in my day, but I was astounded by the outpouring of generosity.�? Newark pulls together in the wake of brutal murders.

Bomb blast derails train traveling between Moscow and St. Petersburg, seriously injuring six.

Mattel recalls half-million more toys—company president takes the opportunity to remind us he’s a father, too.

Federal government approves transportation funds needed to make Manhattan “congestion pricing” a reality.

Nobody surprised when former Surgeon General bashes Bush administration, takes up smoking.

A mysterious article about the mysterious Thai leader deposed by an ultimately prosaic junta.

Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya: An empirical look at the correlation between adjectives and democracy.

I edit Wikipedia, you edit Wikipedia, Diebold-CIA-Walmart all edit Wikipedia.

Crocodile Dundee alive, well, and treed in the Outback.

In today’s feature, Jessica Francis Kane realizes growing tomatoes and hometown roots is a long process.

Simpson book If I Did It to be published. Or not. Or yes—but with commentary.

Play your diamond-encrusted cards right and you might be able to join Nasdaq’s new “private stock market for super-wealthy investors.”

The oft-ignored history of English-language Pakistani fiction.