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McCain denies he misstated timing of Iraq surge
AP - Republican John McCain pushed back on Wednesday against Democratic criticism that he misstated when the troop buildup ordered by President Bush began, saying elements were put in place before Bush announced the strategy in early 2007.

Hurricane Dolly slams South Texas, but levees hold
AP - Hurricane Dolly barreled into South Texas on Wednesday, lashing the coast with winds up to 100 mph and dumping heavy rain that threatened to flood low-lying areas but spared levees along the heavily populated Rio Grande Valley.

House OKs rescue for homeowners, Freddie, Fannie
AP - Rescue legislation sailed through the House on Wednesday aimed at helping 400,000 strapped homeowners avoid foreclosure and preventing the collapse of troubled mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Al-Qaida leaving Iraq for Afghanistan, says Iraqi ambassador
AP - Al-Qaida's foreign fighters who have for years bedeviled Iraq are increasingly going to Afghanistan to fight instead, the Iraqi ambassador to the United States said Wednesday.

Minimum wage increase is little help as costs soar
AP - About 2 million Americans get a raise Thursday as the federal minimum wage rises 70 cents. The bad news: Higher gas and food prices are swallowing it up, and some small businesses will pass the cost of the wage hike to consumers.

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Child molester hasn't served single day of 43-year prison term
For nearly two years, the South Florida middle school art teacher forced the boy to have sex in a classroom supply closet.

Hurricane Dolly downgraded to Category 1
A downgraded Hurricane Dolly caused damage as it made landfall in Texas on Wednesday afternoon and brought the possibility of flooding over the next two days.

Massive fuel spill closes part of Mississippi River
Nearly 30 miles of the Mississippi River from New Orleans southward could be closed for days after a fuel barge and a tanker collided, spilling more than 400,000 gallons of fuel oil, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

Behind the Scenes: Black and shopping in America
For Atlanta native Leah Wells, it's the humiliation she remembers most.

DNA provides clues to family's African heritage
With a flick of the wrist, James Johnson uses an elongated cotton swab along the inside of his 102-year old mother's cheek.

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Improbably Divine: 10 Unlikely Religious Artifacts
A cut of meat found in Nigeria seems to depict the name of the Prophet Muhammad and has diners flocking to see it from miles around. The so-called 'Allah Meat' has inspired scholarly debate and returned an unlikely phenomenon to the spotlight.

Dolly Downgraded to Category 1 Storm, Makes Landfall in Tex.
Hurricane Dolly slammed into the South Texas coast Wednesday with punishing rain and winds of 100 mph, blowing down signs, damaging an apartment complex and knocking out power to thousands before weakening over land.

House Passes Housing Rescue Bill
The House passes legislation that aims to help homeowners facing foreclosure and prevent troubled mortgage giants from collapsing; the bill heads next to the Senate.

Man Pleads Guilty to Rape, Murder of Kelsey Smith
A Kansas man pleaded guilty Tuesday to the kidnapping, rape and murder of Kelsey Smith, an 18-year-old he snatched from a Target parking lot.

6.8-Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Northern Japan
A 6.8-magnitude earthquake rocked northern Japan early Thursday, local TV reported.

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House passes housing relief bill
The House has passed legislation that aims to help 400,000 strapped homeowners who are facing foreclosure and prevent troubled mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from collapsing.

Dolly hits land, falls to Category 1
Hurricane Dolly slammed into the South Texas coast Wednesday with punishing rain and winds of 100 mph, knocking out power to thousands before weakening over land.

Collision forces closure of Mississippi
The Coast Guard closed 29 miles of the Mississippi River at New Orleans after a 600-foot tanker and a barge loaded with fuel oil collided, breaking the barge in half.

McCain credits Bush for oil price drop
The Republican presidential hopeful is crediting the recent drop in the price of oil to the president's lifting of a presidential ban on offshore drilling, which he has been advocating in his presidential campaign.

Columnist Novak hits pedestrian
Syndicated columnist Robert Novak says he has been issued a $50 citation after hitting a pedestrian while driving in downtown Washington.

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Karadzic 'aims to defend himself'
War crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic plans to conduct his own defence in his trial at The Hague, his lawyer says.

EU suspends funding for Bulgaria
The European Commission suspends aid to Bulgaria worth hundreds of millions of euros amid concern about organised crime.

Hurricane Dolly lashes Gulf Coast
Hurricane Dolly has reached the Mexico-Texas coast, bringing with it heavy rain and winds up to 100mph (161km/h).

US lawmakers pass housing rescue
The House of Representatives passes a housing rescue bill after President Bush says he will not veto it.

Bloomberg and Gates fight smoking
Two of the world's richest men launch a campaign aiming to tackle smoking in the developing world.

Top aide quits Argentine cabinet
A key aide to the Argentine president resigns days after the government suffered a blow to its tax plans.

Obama firm on Iran nuclear plans
US White House hopeful Barack Obama says the world must prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

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Planned Obama/Berlin counterprogram with visit to Gulf Coast oil rig...

*Credits Bush for drop in price... **Oil Falls Below $125... ***$3.50 Gallon 'By Labor Day'... German motorist crashes gate where Obama to speak... Hurricane Dolly Hits Texas... Captain riding out storm on fishing boat...

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23/6

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"Fox &Friends" Discuss Sexism: "Hey, Honey! Get Me A Sandwich!"
Wednesday morning on "Fox &Friends," the co-hosts discussed the prevalence of sexism in American society (prompted by Katie Couric's comments on the matter to an Israeli newspaper earlier this week).While co-hosts Gretchen Carlson and Steve Doocy argued that the playing field has not yet been leveled, Brian Kilmeade...

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Human-Powered Floating Gym
Have you ever pedaled on a stationary bike at the gym and thought to yourself: 'What if this energy I am exerting could be used for something better than just making me sweat?" Well now a new proposal from architect Mitchell Joachim promises to take all that energy expended at the gym to the next level, by capturing all...

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How To Throw A Green Party
Planning a big bash soon, but want to keep it green? Check out these party tips from author and eco-lifestyle expert Danny Seo:Skip the themeThemes are cute, but those specialized paper plates, streamers, banners and decorations end up in the local landfill.Buy recyclable materialsBuy beverages in aluminum cans...

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Congress Approves Housing Rescue Bill
WASHINGTON — Rescue legislation sailed through the House Wednesday aimed at helping 400,000 strapped homeowners avoid foreclosure and to prevent troubled mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from collapsing.The 272-152 vote reflected a congressional push to send election-year help to struggling borrowers and...

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Wax Amy Winehouse Unveiled
LONDON — Madame Tussauds unveiled a waxwork of Amy Winehouse on Wednesday complete with her signature beehive, black eyeliner and a bright yellow minidress.Winehouse's hair and 5-inch black heels make the model nearly 6 feet tall. The wax Winehouse's dress resembles one that the singer wore to the BRIT music...

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Study: Online banking possibly dicier than assumed
AP - Many banks are unwittingly training their online customers to take risks with their passwords and other sensitive account information, leaving them more vulnerable to fraud, new research shows.

When Are You Most Likely to Have a Heart Attack?
Time.com - Our circadian rhythm plays a crucial but little-known role in heart attack risk. The most dangerous time of day for your heart may surprise you

Columnist issued citation after hitting pedestrian
AP - Syndicated columnist Robert Novak says he has been issued a $50 citation after hitting a pedestrian while driving in downtown Washington.

Ship collision shuts Mississippi River, spills fuel
Reuters - A collision between a chemical tanker and a fuel barge on the Mississippi River spilled over 400,000 gallons (1,560,000 liters) of fuel oil and prompted the U.S. Coast Guard to close a 29-mile (47-km) stretch of the waterway around New Orleans, a Coast Guard spokesman said.

A street sign for Padre Boulevard stands in flood waters, Wednesday, ...
(AP) - A street sign for Padre Boulevard stands in flood waters, Wednesday, July 23, 2008, as Hurricane Dolly makes it way on shore at South Padre Island, Texas. (AP Photo/San Antonio Express-News, Jerry Lara)

A man holds on to a sign as the eyewall of Hurricane Dolly bears ...
(AP) - A man holds on to a sign as the eyewall of Hurricane Dolly bears down on South Padre Island, Texas on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (AP Photo/San Antonio Express-News, Jerry Lara)

A car is driven through a flooded street as strong winds caused ...
(Reuters) - A car is driven through a flooded street as strong winds caused by Hurricane Dolly strike in Matamoros July 23, 2008. Hurricane Dolly strengthened on Wednesday as it neared southern Texas,and was expected to lash low-lying areas on the U.S.-Mexico border with winds of 100 mph (160 kph) and torrential rain when it comes ashore around mid-day. REUTERS/Tomas Bravo (MEXICO)

Strong winds caused by Hurricane Dolly strike palm trees and ...
(Reuters) - Strong winds caused by Hurricane Dolly strike palm trees and cars in Matamoros, Mexico, July 23, 2008. REUTERS/Tomas Bravo

Municipal workers remove a tree toppled by Hurricane Dolly in ...
(Reuters) - Municipal workers remove a tree toppled by Hurricane Dolly in Matamoros July 23, 2008. REUTERS/Tomas Bravo

'Pantyhose Bandit'causes sheer annoyance in Mass. (AP)
AP - Dozens of pairs of pantyhose have been left near a Milford school bus stop �causing sheer annoyance in the neighborhood. The pantyhose �sometimes new, sometimes used �has been left on Camp Street for more than two years. They're almost always black and queen sized.

Couple claim mysterious noise plagues their house (AP)
AP - Bob and Leona Ehrfurth say the noise that's been plaguing them for two years sounds something like a rumbling motor, with a subtle vibration that won't quit. Then it stops �especially when they try to show city officials or acoustic experts what they're hearing.

Teacher lasts 20 hours on carnival ride, wins $1K (AP)
AP - A Minnesota high school teacher has lasted 20 hours on a carnival ride to win the Ride the Tide Challenge at the Mall of America.

Stolen motorcycle found after 34 years in N.J. (AP)
AP - Prosecutors say a Harley-Davidson motorcycle that was stolen nearly 34 years ago in Rhode Island has surfaced in central New Jersey. The 1971 Sportster was purchased on eBay for $2,400 by Michael Meistrell of Cranford.

R.I. police say man had 0.491 blood alcohol level (AP)
AP - State police say they arrested a man early Tuesday whose blood alcohol level was 0.491 percent �the highest ever recorded in Rhode Island for someone who wasn't dead.

Man blows up apartment spraying for bugs? (Reuters)
Reuters - A New Jersey man trying to exterminate insects in his apartment blew it up instead, the New York Daily News reported on Monday.

Why Do Doctors Wear Green Or Blue Scrubs?
Green may be well-suited to help doctors see better in the operating room.

How Far Away is the Horizon?
How far away is the horizon? It depends on your height, the temperature, weather and topography.

Can Frogs Survive Being Frozen?
What happens to frogs in the winter?

Do Old Glass Windows Sag?
Some people window glass, which can behave like a liquid, sags under gravity.

What's the Difference Between Alligators and Crocodiles?
Coming face to face with a crocodile or an alligator, you'd likely see a mouth full of serrated teeth that would likely scare the bejeezus out of you.

House OKs rescue for homeowners, Freddie, Fannie
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rescue legislation sailed through the House on Wednesday aimed at helping 400,000 strapped homeowners avoid foreclosure and preventing the collapse of troubled mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac....

Sallie Mae's 2Q profit falls 72 percent
NEW YORK (AP) -- Student lender SLM Corp., more commonly known as Sallie Mae, said Wednesday its second-quarter profit plunged 72 percent as funding costs remained high amid further weakening in the credit markets and the company took charges related to its restructuring....

Minimum wage going up, little help as costs soar
WASHINGTON (AP) -- About 2 million Americans get a raise Thursday as the federal minimum wage rises 70 cents. The bad news: Higher gas and food prices are swallowing it up, and some small businesses will pass the cost of the wage hike to consumers....

OBAMA FAKING IT (Maggie Gallagher)
Maggie Gallagher - Obama has a problem: What do you do when you're a lightly accomplished one-term senator, a former state legislator from Illinois, a Harvard law graduate who has no substantive record of accomplishments, and you are running against a war hero whom polls show that Americans overwhelmingly view as far more fit to be commander in chief?

Surging For Obama
Re-arguing the surge is almost as counterproductive as re-arguing the war itself. Elections are about the future, writes National Review, writes National Review .

Frank Rich

It?s the Economic Stupidity, Stupid
Were voters forced to actually focus on John McCain?s response to our economic crisis, the prospect of his ascension to the Oval Office could set off panic.

P. Krugman

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