The Decline and Fall of Western Civ. for 22 Aug Eve. Ed.

OPEN THREAD

• Paramount Pictures is ending its 14-year relationship with Tom Cruise's film production company because of the actor's offscreen behavior, the company's chairman said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal according to Reuters.

• Some headlines are just better than others, like this one from the ABC News: Psycho Killer Raccoons Terrorize Olympia

• In a breathless writing voice foretelling of the doom yet to come, Reuters reports, if you thought the sight of the great American jazz city New Orleans flooded to the eaves -- its people trapped in attics or cowering on rooftops -- was the nightmare hurricane scenario, think again the worst is yet to come.

• Man kidnapped for his grill allegedly held for a ransom to be paid in rims, reports the El Paso Times.

• Former President Bill Clinton turns 60 tomorrow.

• WFTV reports that a jumping fish injured two boaters Saturday when it leaped from the water, knocking one girl from the boat and breaking the arm of another passenger.

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