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| TUESDAY • DECEMBER 18, 2007 |
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IRAN RECEIVES NUCLEAR FUEL IN BLOW TO U.S.: The United States lost a long battle when Russia, as it announced on Monday, delivered nuclear fuel to an Iranian power plant that is at the center of an international dispute over its nuclear program. Iran, for its part, confirmed on Monday plans to build a second such plant.In announcing that it had delivered the first shipment of enriched-uranium fuel rods to the power plant, at Bushehr in southern Iran, on Sunday, Russian officials said that while the fuel was in Iran, it would be under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the nuclear monitoring agency for the United Nations. Russia also said the Iranian government had guaranteed that the fuel would be used only for the power plant.
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CASTRO IS AT LAST READY TO BID ADIOS: Despite months of rumors that he has a fatal illness, it was the first time Castro himself has spoken of his possible departure. The retirement of the 81-year-old leader, who hasn’t been seen in public for 16 months, could be OK’d by the Cuban parliament as soon as March.
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 THE GRATEFUL FLED; JAIL ESCAPEES LEFT THANK-YOU NOTE: Two New Jersey jail inmates used photos of bikini-clad women to hide holes they used to escape and left behind a thank-you note, signed with a smiley face, for a guard they claimed helped them, officials said yesterday. José Espinosa, 20, and Otis Blunt, 32, squeezed through the openings sometime before dawn Saturday in a high-security unit of the Union County Jail in Elizabeth, jumped onto a rooftop below, and made it over a 25-foot-high fence topped with razor wire, authorities said.
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THE OLDEST BACHELOR DIES AT 116: The world’s oldest man has died at the age of 116 - a century-plus of good living he chalked up to single-minded nonwedded bliss. Former Ukrainian farm hand Hryhoriy Nestor died in his sleep Friday. Family records put his birth date at March 15, 1891.
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FED SHRUGGED AS SUBPRIME CRISIS SPREAD: Until the boom in subprime mortgages turned into a national nightmare this summer, the few people who tried to warn federal banking officials might as well have been talking to themselves.Edward M. Gramlich, a Federal Reserve governor who died in September, warned nearly seven years ago that a fast-growing new breed of lenders was luring many people into risky mortgages they could not afford. But when Mr. Gramlich privately urged Fed examiners to investigate mortgage lenders affiliated with national banks, he was rebuffed by Alan Greenspan, the Fed chairman.
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ARUBA PROSECUTORS CLOSE HOLLOWAY CASE: Authorities have closed the investigation into the disappearance of Natalee Holloway and do not have evidence to charge anyone, the prosecutors’ office said Tuesday. The three young men who were last seen with the Alabama teenager have all been notified that they will not be charged, the Public Prosecutor’s Office said. “The public prosecutor’s office and the police have gone the extra mile and have exhausted all their powers and techniques in order to solve the mystery of the disappearance of the girl,” it said.
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 LBN-SEE IT…..Harvey Weinstein and his new bride, Georgina Chapman…..
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SECRETARY OF STATE ARRIVES, UNANNOUNCED, IN IRAQ: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Iraq on an unannounced visit on Tuesday, and a U.S. official said she planned to urge Iraqi leaders to speed up national reconciliation. It was her first trip to Iraq since September, when she accompanied U.S. President George W. Bush on his visit to the western province of Anbar, a former Sunni Arab insurgent stronghold now hailed by U.S. officials as a success story.
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PRIMATES APE HUMAN MATH SKILLS: Chimps performed about as well as college students at mental addition, researchers said yesterday in a finding that suggests nonverbal math skills are not unique to humans. The study from Duke University follows a finding by Japanese researchers earlier this month that young chimpanzees performed better than human adults at a memory game.
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 AS ETHANOL TAKES ITS FIRST STEPS, CONGRESS PROPOSES A GIANT LEAP: Congress is on the verge of writing into law one of the most ambitious dictates ever issued to American business: to create, from scratch, a huge new industry capable of converting agricultural wastes and other plant material into automotive fuel. The potential benefits include reducing the nation’s dependence on oil and the emissions of gases that contribute to global warming. But the goals Congress is considering are so sweeping, analysts say, that it is not clear they can be achieved.
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CAN YOU EAR ME NOW?: New phone device allows you to ’speak’ through your ear: A Japanese company Tuesday unveiled a new device that will allow people “speak” through their ear so they can use their mobile telephones in noisy places. The device — named “e-Mimi-kun” (good ear boy) — doubles as an earphone and a microphone by detecting air vibrations inside the ear, developer NS-ELEX Co. said. The earpiece and an accompanying device can be connected to a mobile phone, or wirelessly to a Bluetooth handset, so that users no longer have to cover their mouths when speaking in a loud environment, the company said.
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HOLIDAY SPIRIT GOES POSTAL: Just stamp yesterday the busiest mailing day of the year. The US Postal Service estimated that nearly 1 billion pieces of mail were sent, including 275 million cards and letters, and urged mailing by Thursday for delivery by Christmas and using Express Mail after Thursday.
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WORLD FOOD STOCKS DWINDLING RAPIDLY, UN WARNS: In an “unforeseen and unprecedented” shift, the world food supply is dwindling rapidly and food prices are soaring to historic levels, the top food and agriculture official of the United Nations warned Monday. The changes created “a very serious risk that fewer people will be able to get food,” particularly in the developing world, said Jacques Diouf, head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. The agency’s food price index rose by more than 40 percent this year, compared with 9 percent the year before - a rate that was already unacceptable, he said.
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LBN-MEDIA INSIDER: ***A small explosion rocked the News Corp. building in midtown Manhattan on Monday, leading to the evacuation of about 700 people. The explosion occurred on a top floor that houses heating and cooling systems. Fox News Channel and the New York Post are located on lower floors. ***The Writers Guild of America, West, will not allow its members to write for the Golden Globes on Jan. 13 nor the Academy Awards on Feb. 24, according to a source close to the guild. Jon Stewart, who is slated to host this year’s Academy Awards, is yet to comment. ***The NBC late-night talk shows hosted by Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien will return with all-new episodes on Jan. 2, according to NBC. The shows have been in reruns for two months because of the Hollywood writers strike. Both Jay and Conan “will continue to support” the striking writers. ***A second broadcast network is returning money to advertisers in the face of hefty ratings declines this season. Also: The CW is attracting about 860,000 viewers in its target 18-to-34-year-old demo — less than half the combined audiences of the former WB and UPN. ***CNN/U.S. president Jon Klein is signing a new four-year deal to remain at the helm of the TV-news operation. Under Klein’s stewardship, the network has seen an overhaul in various dayparts. CNN broke ratings records with last month’s Republican YouTube debate. ***Tina Brown, the former editor of Vanity Fair and New Yorker, is signing a first-look deal to bring projects and story ideas to Time Warner’s HBO. Also: Brown says the online world is “becoming so interesting,” while broadcast network news “has become almost irrelevant.” ***The Chicago Tribune will increase its Monday through Saturday newsstand price to 75 cents from 50 cents. The increase comes as billionaire Sam Zell completes an $8.2 billion buyout of the newspaper’s parent company. Zell structured the buyout built on nearly $8 billion in new debt.
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LBN-PRESIDENTIAL BACK ROOM: ***Mayor Bloomberg’s aides have been reaching out to consultants from his past campaigns about whether they are free for a possible 2008 White House bid - including one who helped make his slick mayoral TV spots. ***A large white “cross” hovers like a subliminal message behind Mike Huckabee in his latest TV ad, in which the Republican hopeful celebrates Christmas and mentions Jesus. The unmistakable cross, possibly intersecting shelf lines or a window pane, appears alongside Huckabee as he comes into focus in the 30-second commercial, which was unveiled yesterday.
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LBN-BOOK NEWS: ***The new Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health: Home Edition is a 1,345-page book likely to find readership in an animal-crazed nation.
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LBN-COMMENTARY By MICHAEL FUMENTO: The homeless-advocacy industry always puts the most sympathetic face on its “clientele.” It works desperately to divert attention from alcoholics, drug users, schizophrenics, and fat panhandlers holding signs reading: “Hungry.” And it doesn’t talk about unpleasant truths like those reported by ABC’s John Stossel (viewable on YouTube) - who, after exhaustive efforts, managed to find only one person with a sign reading “Will work for food” who would actually do so. Instead, advocates focus (with the media’s help) on unrepresentative but heart-tugging cases - like veterans. Eleven years ago, I debunked a “study” claiming a third of all men in homeless shelters were vets - noting it was based entirely on the men’s own claims, and that claiming to be a vet is a favorite panhandler ploy.
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LBN-BUSINESS INSIDER: ***Virgin America, the startup airline partly owned by UK billionaire Richard Branson, lost $34.8 million in its first quarter of operation. The results cover the period ending Sept. 30, accord ing to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ Web site. Burlingame, Calif.-based Virgin America began operating Aug. 8th. *** US stocks posted their biggest two-day drop in more than a month, led by energy companies and miners, on growing concern that the US economy will slow. ***Hollywood funnyman Will Ferrell, who never seems to tire of starring in sports comedies, appears to be headed for the biggest event of all - the Super Bowl. The comedian is talking to beer brewer and perennial Super Bowl advertiser Anheuser-Busch about appearing in a spot during the Feb. 6 game on Fox, sources said.
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LBN-HEALTH WATCH: ***More than winter blahs, seasonal depression is recognized and treatable. ***The Frenchwoman who received the world’s first partial face transplant regained nearly full use of her facial muscles within 18 months.
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LBN-COMMENTARY BY CHERIE BLAIR: Widows and their children in many societies are shunned, abused and exploited.
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 LBN-NOTICED: ***Jack Nicholson and co-star Taylor Ann Thompson at the premier of their new movie, ‘The Bucket List,’ in Los Angeles on Sunday. Oscar winner Morgan Freeman also stars in the feel-good pic. ***Shannna Moakler, the former Miss USA and host of the CW 11 reality show “Crowned,” donning a tiara for a photo shoot at Scores West in NYC for Maxim.com. ***Dan Marino celebrating the launch of his new vodka, Americana, at Maria Pia on West 51st in NYC. ***Harper Collins publicist Chase Bodine having lunch yesterday at McCormick & Schmick’s. Be an LBN Correspondent - send your celeb sightings to LBNElert@TimeWire.Net.
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 SONGS OF LOVE AND MURDER, SILENCED BY KILLINGS: Mexico’s country music stars are being killed at an alarming rate — 13 in the past year and a half, three already in December — in a trend that has gone hand in hand with the surge in violence between drug gangs here. None of the cases have been solved. All have borne the signs of Mexican underworld executions, sending a chill through the ranks of other grupero musicians, who sing to a country beat about love, violence and drugs in modern Mexico.One of the most shocking attacks was the kidnapping of Sergio Gómez, the founder and lead singer of K-Paz de la Sierra, who was seized as he left a concert in his home state of Michoacán early on the morning of Dec. 2.
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LBN-HOLLYWOOD INSIDER: Chris Rock will tour the U.S. early February through mid-May, adding dates to his already scheduled January tour of England.
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LBN-SPORTS INSIDER: *** A defiant Roger Clemens yesterday brushed aside questions about his role in the baseball doping scandal that threatens his Hall of Fame legacy. “I’m not talking to y’all about it,” Clemens nonchalantly told The Post outside his child’s elementary school. “We’ll handle this our way.”
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LBN-OVERHEARD: ***A woman who accused dancer Michael Flatley of sexual assault has been ordered to pay him more than $11 million for making false allegations to extort money from him, according to documents obtained yesterday. Superior Court Judge Michael L. Stern found that real estate agent Tyna Marie Robertson had defamed and intentionally inflicted emotional distress upon Flatley, 49, who appeared in “Riverdance,” “Lord of the Dance,” “Feet of Flames” and “Celtic Tiger.” Robertson had alleged Flatley raped her in a Las Vegas hotel in 2002 and threatened to sue unless he agreed to pay a “seven figures” settlement, according to court papers. ***Rachael Ray has new Food Network series called “Rachael’s Vacation.” It premieres Jan. 12, on the Food Network. Viewers will follow Ray as she discovers cities, countries, foods and lifestyles around the world. ***Pam Anderson’s quickie marriage to Paris Hilton’s sleazy sex-tape nut-job partner, Rick Salomon, was briefly on the rocks. Just two months after the oddball lovebirds raced up the aisle, the aging “Baywatch” bombshell filed for divorce Friday in LA, citing “irreconcilable differences.” But yesterday, she hinted all was well again, writing on her Web site, “We’re working things out.” Her rep said there would be no other comment. Both have horrible track records. Anderson was previously wed to Kid Rock and Tommy Lee, and Salomon was hitched to Shannen Doherty.
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LBN-DID YOU KNOW?: DRUGS ***One gram of powder cocaine costs $110.00. ***72% of federal powder-cocaine offenders in 2006 were white or Hispanic. ***One gram of crack cocaine per gram is $150.00 (one Sweet’n Low packets worth.) ***5 years is the minimum federal sentence for simple possession of 5g of crack. ***1 year is the maximum federal sentence for simple possession of any quantity of powder cocaine.
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LBN-QUOTE: “I was never attracted to girls who always had everything. I didn’t like the girl who came in with the high heels and the makeup. The sex appeal is the girl who walks in in a T- shirt and has someplace else to be” - Ralph Lauren.
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LBN-HISTORY: On Dec. 18, 1957, the Shippingport Atomic Power Station in Pennsylvania, the first civilian nuclear facility to generate electricity in the United States, went online.
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EVERYTHING. ANYTHING. HERE. NOW. 1. “The EYEs are the mirror of the soul.” - Discover the LBN EYE: 10 of the most intriguing photographs anywhere. Only on http://www.lbnelert.com/.
2. Send your personal comment to us. 30 word maximum. Must be signed with city and state. E-mail FreeBulletinBoard@timewire.net. 3. LBN Reader Comment: “Looking forward to stuffing myself with turkey, stuffing, potatoes and then sleeping. Life is great, isn’t it. - Paul Gringord, San Diego, CA. 4. What to read after Harry Potter? Check out “The Call to Shakabaz”, a really fun, unusual, magical children’s fantasy adventure with black characters and a nonviolence theme. More at http://www.wozabooks.com/. 5. The Munchkins from the movie “The Wizard of Oz” received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. http://snipurl.com/1u0f9.
6. Website alert: http://www.esybron.org/ needs women to help improve content. 7. USA Book News Best Books 2007. Language guides winner: Ahora Hablo: Travel Edition, Seven simple steps to authentic Spanish by H.M. Graham, Megusta Publishing. http://www.ahorahablo.com/. 8. Nick Nelson was born with a syndrome that forced him to make a big decision to amputate his leg at age 9. http://snipurl.com/1u0fc. 9. Award-winning finalist in the Health: Exercise & Fitness category of the National Best Books 2007 awards. Dance, movement and nutrition - Fitness minutes for a healthier life by Helene Andreu. http://www.amazon.com/ and http://www.authorhouse.com/. 10. LBN Reader Comment: “If a man says something in the woods and no woman hears him, is he still wrong?” - Michael Adrioso, Orlando, FL.
11. Do you want more happiness, success, and peace? Watch every aspect of life blossom when you completely reprogram all of your hidden subconscious patters. Reimaging. http://www.reimaging.com/. 12. Puck’s perfect potatoes. Perk up your Thanksgiving menu with this cheesy variation on mashed potatoes. Wolfgang Puck’s tips http://snipurl.com/1u0fg. 13. Fiction writing lessons. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced writing workshops available. Instructor: Anita Diggs; Start date: February 2008; Location: Harlem; Send e-mail stating name, address, phone number and name of workshop to anitadiggs@aol.com. 14. Guys: Give thanks for women. Sure, they can be a pain in the butt sometimes. But guys, think for a moment about all the wonderful things ladies do. http://snipurl.com/1u0f6.
15. 10 worst cars of the year. These autos performed poorly based on reliability, recalls, resale values, and safety. Is your car included? http://snipurl.com/1u0fl.
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***
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*Contributing Editors: Kathleen Spennrath, Michael Perez, Courtney Gardner, Marykate Linehan, Christina Lee* LBN E-Lert Disclaimer: 1.) The LBN E-Lert is a not-for-profit news service with content drawn from a wide variety of news sources. 2.) The LBN E-Lert accepts no liability for the content of this email, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. The LBN E-Lert is not associated with any commercial or political organization and is transmitted via the web for the sole benefit of its subscribers. 3.) Unfortunately, computer viruses can be transmitted via email. The recipient should check this mail and any attachments for the presence of viruses.
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