Nation o’ Drinkers: Scotland Takes on Alcohol Abuse

There’s little affection in a “Glasgow kiss.” Typically preceded by some variation of the growled question “Whit ya [expletive] lookin’ at?” the term refers to a vicious headbutt, as delivered all too often in the bars and on the streets of Scotland’s largest city. Alcohol-fueled violence and binge-drinking are endemic across Britain, but the phenomenon is especially acute north of the border — and it’s getting worse

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Ex-ICC chief: Future bleak for Pakistan cricket

It will be years before international cricket can be played again in Pakistan following the brazen attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore, the former chief of cricket’s world governing body said Wednesday. Ehsan Mani, who was president of the International Cricket Council (ICC) from 2003 to 2006, also said the attack puts plans for the the 2011 World Cup — scheduled to be played in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and two other countries in the South Asia region — in doubt. Pakistani Mani, who served for seven years on his country’s national cricket board before taking over at the ICC, said Tuesday’s attack poses a “huge threat” to the subcontinent’s most favored sport

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As Car Sales Collapse, GM and Chrysler Grow Desperate

Under pressure to demonstrate their viability in order to qualify for more government loans, General Motors and Chrysler couldn’t produce any additional evidence on Tuesday. If they were taking physical exams, they both would have flunked. As February sales were reported, GM owned up to selling 53% fewer cars and trucks than a year ago, while Chrysler admitted that its total fell 44%

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Prince and Target: Match Made in Discount Heaven?

When you think of Prince, do you expect to get more and pay less? Probably not, but that hasn’t prevented Target, the 1,677 store discount chain, from striking a deal with his royal funkiness to be the exclusive retail outlet for Prince’s new three-disc set

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Review: Why some films go straight to DVD

It seemed like a good idea at the time: Skip the "Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience" — the only major wide release this weekend and more or less review-proof — and check out the new releases down at the local DVD store instead. I was up for this assignment. We all know how close “Slumdog Millionaire” came to bypassing theatres

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Pig liver dish in China sickens 14

A dish of stir-fried pig’s liver served at a dinner party in Guangzhou, China, poisoned 14 people with what authorities think was an animal feed additive, a Chinese state-run news agency reported. Investigators made 52 arrests in overnight raids in California, Minnesota and Maryland, increasing to more than 750 the number of suspects detained in the coast-to-coast operation to disrupt the Sinaloa cartel, Holder said.

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At Oscars, some celebrity freebies to be a bit less blingy

Award shows often mean free loot for celebrities. But with the economy tanking, this Academy Awards season could see some subtle changes in the giveaway culture, industry insiders say. “The country has shifted, and I think that bling is out,” said Jane Ubell-Meyer from Madison and Mulholland, which bills itself as a VIP gift bag and product placement company.

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Being Green May Help Business in Bad Times

It hardly bears pointing out that during these days of 7.6% unemployment, when the business pages of the local newspaper look more like the obituaries, no industry is doing well — and that includes green business. Wind and solar manufacturers, starved for credit, are cutting back on projects and laying off workers

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