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Lackluster showing without Brady should give Patriots more cause for pause
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Randy Moss couldn't help himself. The New England Patriots wide receiver kept peering at the door to his team's locker room Sunday in the second quarter of the Patriots' 17-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
He kept hoping to see quarterback Tom Brady reappear on the sidelines. He kept praying that Brady's knee injury wasn't nearly as severe as it appeared.
"I was like a kid standing in front of the candy store," Moss said after the game. "I kept looking back to see if he was coming out."
You can't blame Moss for his anxiety. Things are looking pretty ugly for the Patriots right now. FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Randy Moss couldn't help himself. The New England Patriots wide receiver kept peering at the door to his tea... more -
Why McCain Is Running Against the News Media
One of the clichés of American elections holds that getting into a fight with the folks who buy ink by the barrel or beam television pictures into voters’ living rooms may be emotionally satisfying but politically risky.
But among the more significant things that we learned at the Republican convention last week is that John McCain and Sarah Palin have decided that running against the news media will help them beat Democrats Barack Obama and Joe Biden. And, they are betting that although their frontal assault on the press might not go down so well in the Hamptons and in Hollywood, which are Democratic strongholds anyway, it will play in Peoria.
The harshest commentary about Alaska Gov. Palin came from East Coast columnists and commentators, including some Republicans, who saw her as insufficiently qualified by D.C. standards. The GOP is hoping to capitalize on resentment of those news media elites, particularly in the heartland.
Moreover there is a belief in the McCain campaign – one that seems to reflect the public’s perception — that the news media has been giving Sen. Obama much more coverage and more favorable coverage. A Rasmussen Poll this summer found 60% of voters said Sen. Obama was getting better treatment from the news media than Sen. McCain. Nearly half of voters — 49% — said reporters would help Sen. Obama while only 14% felt they would help Sen. McCain. One of the clichés of American elections holds that getting into a fight with the folks who buy ink by the barrel or beam television p... more -
Mammoth skull raised from ground
Palaeontologists working in southern France have used a crane to lift a "rare" mammoth skull out of the ground.
The 600kg fossil has lain in the earth near Saint Paulien, in the volcanic Auvergne region, for some 400,000 years, scientists estimate.
Researchers had to protect the fossil with a plaster jacket before lifting it with the crane and putting it on the back of a truck.
The species is described as a "missing link" in mammoth evolution.
The skull has now been moved to Crozatier Museum in nearby Le Puy-en-Velay. Palaeontologists working in southern France have used a crane to lift a "rare" mammoth skull out of the ground. ... more -
China sets dates for space launch
China will launch its third manned space mission in late September, state-run news agency Xinhua reports.
The Shenzhou VII flight will feature China's first ever space walk, which will be broadcast live with cameras inside and outside the spacecraft.
Three "yuhangyuan" (astronauts) will blast off on a Long-March II-F rocket sometime between 25 and 30 September.
Previous reports in state media had put the launch in October, possibly during the National Day holiday. China will launch its third manned space mission in late September, state-run news agency Xinhua reports. ... more -
One in four 'facing fuel poverty'
Tell us why this is interestingAlmost a quarter of the population will be pushed into fuel poverty by the end of next year, a report has suggested.
By the end of 2009, 5.7 million UK households will be spending at least 10% of their income on energy bills, the National Housing Federation said.
Average household electricity bills are expected to increase to more than £500 per year by 2010, and gas bills to around £900.
The government said it was doing a great deal to help reduce fuel bills. Tell us why this is interestingAlmost a quarter of the population will be pushed into fuel poverty by the end of next year, a report h... more -
Eyewitness: Haiti's storm ordeals
Haiti has been battered by a series of tropical storms.
Hurricane Hanna caused widespread flooding overnight on Monday in northern parts of Haiti, with a number of deaths in the town of Gonaives.
Harold Paul, Christian Aid's representative in the Caribbean nation, has been sending reports on his charity's relief effort. Haiti has been battered by a series of tropical storms. ... more -
Beatles' tunes aid memory recall
The 3,000 memories, from 69 nations, could help scientists better understand how music can help humans tap into the long forgotten events of their lives.
A link between positive feelings and music could explain why tunes trigger memories, suggests the UK-based team.
The study is ongoing, and people can add their Beatles-related memory by visiting www.magicalmemorytour.com.
"For a long time people have noticed that music can help people remember events from their lives, [but] this is the first real data that shows this," said Dr Catriona Morrison, a cognitive psychologist from the University of Leeds.
Preliminary results from the study, devised by Dr Morrison and her colleague Professor Martin Conway, are being presented to the British Association Science Festival. The 3,000 memories, from 69 nations, could help scientists better understand how music can help humans tap into the long forgotten eve... more -
Biden Argues McCain/Palin Are No Change Agents
ABC News' Matt Jaffe reports: Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., today accused Republican running mates Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin of being far from the real ticket of change.
"John McCain and Sarah Palin are talking about being the agents of change," Biden told reporters aboard a flight to Kalispell, Mont. "There may be something I’m unaware of, but what one major item do they disagree with the last eight years on? On taxes? On jobs? On exporting jobs? On education? On college tuition? On alternative energy? On not one! Not one that I know of! The only change I know of that they’re talking about in those areas is they’re gonna tax your healthcare."
"They may change the style of the administration," he continued. "They may change, you know, the feel. But on things that matter to people's lives, I haven’t heard a single solitary thing that would affect the life of somebody struggling to keep their job, or somebody who is going to go out there and try to send their kid to school, or somebody who is worried about losing their health care. I haven’t heard a thing."
It is these issues, said the Delaware lawmaker, once on the ground in Montana, that will ultimately decide the election, not gender or war heroics. ABC News' Matt Jaffe reports: Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., today accused Republican running mates... more -
'Stand Up to Cancer' Raises $100M Plus
A campaign to raise money for cancer research that culminated in a telethon airing simultaneously on all three major U.S. networks brought in more than $100 million for the cause, telethon organizers announced today. A campaign to raise money for cancer research that culminated in a telethon airing simultaneously on all three major U.S. networks bro... more
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US candidates clash over Palin's politics and experience
The two main candidates for the US presidency locked horns yesterday over the credentials and qualities of Sarah Palin, the little-known governor of Alaska who has been propelled into the centre of the electoral battle with her appointment as John McCain's Republican running mate.
As the race now fans out across America at the end of the two parties' national conventions, attention continues to focus on Palin, who has delighted the Christian right base of the Republican party but provoked criticism of her lack of experience, particularly in foreign affairs.
Interviewed on politics programmes of the US networks yesterday, McCain and his Democratic opponent Barack Obama presented conflicting perspectives on Palin's politics and role in the election.
Obama, appearing on George Stephanopoulos's show on ABC, praised her as a skilled politician but rolled out his camp's new weapon - to depict her as a sort of John McCain-Bush with brass knobs on. Obama said that Palin was "even more aligned with George Bush or Dick Cheney and the politics we've seen over the last eight years than John McCain himself".
Obama derided claims over the weekend by McCain that the governor for Alaska had more foreign affairs experience than he had by dint of the fact that her state lies next to Russia. "I actually knew Alaska is next to Russia - I saw it on the map," Obama quipped. The two main candidates for the US presidency locked horns yesterday over the credentials and qualities of Sarah Palin, the little-kno... more -
Palin power helps McCain draw level in race for the White House
The introduction of Sarah Palin as a running mate and a week of sustained attacks on Barack Obama from the Republican National Convention have helped John McCain draw level in the latest opinion polls.
National surveys published over the weekend show the pair in a statistical dead heat, setting up a frenzied final 60 days of campaigning and pinning more importance than ever to the series of candidates' debates.
Against a backdrop of the largest government bail-out of the US housing market since the Great Depression, Senators McCain and Obama were on the stump talking about the economy yesterday, but political attention remained focused on the extraordinary turnaround in Republican fortunes since the nomination of Mrs Palin to the vice-presidency. The introduction of Sarah Palin as a running mate and a week of sustained attacks on Barack Obama from the Republican National Convent... more -
Despite crackdown, Houston cantina sex trade persists
For years, Gerardo Salazar played the Romeo in dusty Mexican villages, trolling town squares and schoolyards for women and girls he could seduce with declarations of love and, ultimately, sell in seedy Houston cantinas.
Salazar, who called himself El Gallo — the Rooster — could have been arrested three years ago after a federal indictment named him leader of an international human trafficking ring. Instead, he escaped to Mexico, where his hometown is a notorious center for kidnapping.
But the cantina sex trade Salazar helped build in Houston continues to flourish. For years, Gerardo Salazar played the Romeo in dusty Mexican villages, trolling town squares and schoolyards for women and girls he co... more -
Barack Obama switches off personality politics but Sarah Palin continues to electr...
Barack Obama vowed yesterday to focus his efforts on the gathering economic storm facing ordinary Americans as he struggled to navigate an election landscape transformed by Sarah Palin’s hurricane force over the past ten days.
The Democratic nominee, whose presidential campaign has often been dominated by his compelling life story, signalled his sudden distaste for personality politics. “You know, this whole résumé contest is not what the American people are looking for,” he said. “I have to make it clear what is at stake in this election.”
Polls suggest that Mr Obama’s bounce from the Democratic convention has largely disappeared, with the RealClearPolitics average showing his lead cut to 1.8 per cent – well within the statistical margin of error.
His campaign is struggling to seize back voters’ attention or work out how to tackle the resurgent Republican campaign of John McCain, who declared yesterday that “the electricity has been incredible” at rallies ever since he invited Alaska’s Governor to join his ticket. Barack Obama vowed yesterday to focus his efforts on the gathering economic storm facing ordinary Americans as he struggled to navigat... more -
College Football's Top 25 Teams Results from Saturday September 6th
Final Score: (2) Georgia 56, Central Michigan 17
Athens, GA (Sports Network) - Knowshon Moreno rushed for 168 yards and three scores on 18 carries, and Matthew Stafford passed for 213 yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 2 Georgia to a 56-17 win over Central Michigan. Stafford was 18-for-28 passing for the Bulldogs (2-0), who have outscored opponents 101-38 so far this season heading into a test next week at South Carolina. Mohamed Massaquoi caught five passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns, while Richard Samuel and Caleb King each ran for a score for Georgia, which has won nine straight games dating back to last season. Dan LeFevour threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns on 23-for-43 passing, and had an interception to lead the Chippewas (1-1). Joe Bockheim and Jean Pitts each had a touchdown reception in the loss for CMU.
Final Score: (3) Ohio State 26, Ohio University 14
Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - Ray Small came up big, racing 69 yards for a touchdown on a punt return late in the fourth quarter to put the pesky Bobcats away, as third-ranked Ohio State downed Ohio University, 26-14. Small shook out of a crowded pack -- sprung in part by what appeared to be an apparent clip on the inside -- and sprang to the outside. His speed negated the kicker's angle and he raced to the end zone to seal the game. Ohio State (2-0) struggled without Chris "Beanie" Wells, who missed the game with a right foot injury. He was replaced by a committee of backs, as Dan Herron ran for 50 yards and a touchdown and Maurice Wells added 48 yards on the ground. Terrelle Pryor, the freshman quarterback, rushed for 37 yards on five carries. Todd Boeckman completed 16-of-26 passes for 110 yards, but was sacked three times. Small had five catches for 27 yards and Dane Sanzenbacher finished with four catches for 32 yards for the Buckeyes, who travel out west to face top-ranked Southern California next weekend. Ohio (0-2) kept it close despite an early injury to starting quarterback Theo Scott, who had a solid debut in the team's first game against Wyoming. His replacement Boo Jackson was solid, however, rushing for 55 yards and throwing for 86 yards. However, Jackson's three interceptions were costly. Donte Harden ran for 63 yards and a touchdown in defeat. Final Score: (2) Georgia 56, Central Michigan 17 ... more -
Business Feed Article | Business | guardian.co.uk
(Reuters) - Washington's latest attempt to resuscitate the moribund U.S. mortgage business moves the housing market out of the emergency room and into intensive care but by no means cures the patient.
The U.S. government announced on Sunday it was seizing control of troubled mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac , which are vital to the U.S. housing industry and have posed risks to international investors.
The action should lend stability after a year of turmoil in financial markets, and is sure to be watched closely by other victims of deflated housing bubbles, such as the UK. But there is still a long way to go to right the U.S. economy.
"This is a slow process. This is a baby step in the right direction," William Larkin, fixed income portfolio manager at Cabot Money Management in Salem, Massachusetts, said about the plan's effect on housing and the economy.
Larkin added that "it is going to be a positive for our financial system."
Anything that puts U.S. growth on a firmer footing is likely to raise hopes for the struggling global economy, though it could raise risks of already elevated U.S. inflation if investors grow to view this as the government printing money to bail out the economy. (Reuters) - Washington's latest attempt to resuscitate the moribund U.S. mortgage business moves the housing market out of the em... more -
Long-term plan aids marketing of Michael Phelps
Olympian Michael Phelps' record-setting performance in Beijing has led to multimillion-dollar endorsement deals, but his road to marketing gold was paved years before he swam a lap in China.
Phelps' marketing success this summer grows from a strategy his agent, Peter Carlisle of marketing powerhouse Octagon, has mapped out carefully over the six years of their partnership. Venturing online and into other new venues and targeting new geographies, Phelps and Carlisle are pursuing a lasting public presence and $100 million in endorsements — unheard of in swimming. If they succeed, Carlisle's handling of the 23-year-old swimmer could be a model for managing Olympians.
The downside, of course, is the risk of overexposure. Carlisle has to balance his goal of getting the most endorsements for Phelps without diluting his brand.
The pair are going beyond the traditional advertising campaigns used by many past Olympians, though his brand is fairly traditional: He's an all-American champion, and companies want to associate their brands with him in the hope some of the gloss will rub off on them. Olympian Michael Phelps' record-setting performance in Beijing has led to multimillion-dollar endorsement deals, but his road to ... more -
Obama, McCain duel as race heads into home stretch
WASHINGTON (AFP) — Barack Obama and John McCain feuded and laid claim to being the authentic candidate of change and reform on Sunday as their White House showdown roared into a frenetic eight-week final stretch.
The McCain campaign meanwhile denied that his vice presidential pick Sarah Palin was "scared" to answer questions, following her failure to give a major interview or hold a press conference since her shock selection.
Both presidential candidates are portraying themselves as drivers of change because most American votes are angry at the direction their country is headed and President George W. Bush is highly unpopular.
Republican Senator McCain, striking out from his tarnished party, warned that Democratic foe Obama did not have the "judgement" or record of reform or challenging his own party's dogma to be president.
"He never took on his party on a single major issue, I have taken them on a lot," McCain said on CBS "Face the Nation" as the candidates launched a flurry of interviews in the heated run-up to the November 4 election. WASHINGTON (AFP) — Barack Obama and John McCain feuded and laid claim to being the authentic candidate of change and reform on Sunday ... more -
Wolfmother Splits Up
Two-thirds of Wolfmother have quit the Australian trio, leaving singer/guitarist Andrew Stockdale behind to pick up the pieces. Bassist/keyboardist Chris Ross and drummer Myles Heskett made the decision to leave because of the usual blend of "irreconcilable personal and music differences."
"Please understand that in spite of their best efforts over a long period of time, they just could not find a harmonious way to work together," a statement from the band's camp said. Two-thirds of Wolfmother have quit the Australian trio, leaving singer/guitarist Andrew Stockdale behind to pick up the pieces. Bassis... more -
Celebrity healer to the stars sued after patient needed double leg amputation afte...
A celebrity healer whose clients include the Duchess of Cornwall and Kate Moss is facing a High Court law suit from a former patient who claims treatments led to him having both legs amputated.
Mosaraf Ali's has built up one of the country's most enviable client lists treating a range of conditions with alternative treatments including yoga, relaxation and massage.
He is credited with having helped Prince Charles's wife, Camilla, quit smoking, advising former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell on weight loss and socialite Tara Palmer-Tompkinson to kick her cocaine habit. A celebrity healer whose clients include the Duchess of Cornwall and Kate Moss is facing a High Court law suit from a former patient w... more -
Obama offers Palin a game of hoops
Tell us why this is interestingWASHINGTON (AFP) — Democrat White House nominee Barack Obama on Sunday offered to go one-on-one with Republican vice presidential pick Sarah Palin -- but only on the basketball court.
Obama, 47, who blows off steam on the campaign trail with games of pickup hoops, however joked that he wouldn't take on the Alaska governor -- and experienced hunter -- with a gun.
"She looks like she's got some game, she played in high school," Obama said of Palin's basketball talents on ABC "This Week."
"You know, I know she's a sharpshooter, and I know that -- I probably wouldn't do target practice with her.
"I think she'd be a better shot than me. But on the basketball court, I think I'd stand up pretty well."
Palin, 44, earned the nickname "Sarah Barracuda" for her fiery performances on her high school basketball team. She styles herself as a "hockey mom" and also says she enjoys moose hunting in her native state. Tell us why this is interestingWASHINGTON (AFP) — Democrat White House nominee Barack Obama on Sunday offered to go one-on-one with Re... more
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