Speedo's new swimsuit made a splash at the Olympics. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Noted
The right swimsuit, “Beer Pong,” Mao’s portrait
Most Olympic swimmers now wear a high-tech Speedo full-body suit that can boost performance by 2 percent.
Iraq improvement, Electric cars, Hiltons' donation to McCain
Five American troops died in Iraq in July, by far the lowest monthly U.S. death toll of the five-year war.
Aging Olympic athletes, China's wired millions, Plane crash versus car wreck
The average age of America’s Olympic athletes is now about 27, up from 24 a generation ago.
Largest campaign in history, Abstinence sex-ed, 390-foot yacht
Barack Obama's campaign has already hired 1,400 part- and full-time workers, triple the number of John McCain’s, and is hiring more.
Fingerprint matches, Hours online, Housing euphoria and panic
Hundreds of suspected militants and criminals detained by officials in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and North Africa in recent years have turned out to have arrest records in the U.S.
Blank banknotes, $100 gas cards, Southpaw presidents
Robert Mugabe will have a hard time printing new currency to keep up with the Zimbabwe's 1 million percent yearly inflation when Germany stops sending blank banknotes.
Fewer miles, New Orleans tally, Nixed quarter
Due to soaring gas prices, Americans drove 1.4 billion fewer highway miles this April than they did in April 2007.
Criminal offenders, Out-of wedlock birthrate, Olympic academies
The number of Americans in custody or under supervision in the criminal justice system rose to 7.2 million in 2006, the most ever.
Millions on TV ads, Out-of-wedlock births, Reuniting Burmese children
Smashing all previous records, the presidential contenders collectively spent nearly $201 million on TV commercials during the just-completed primary season, industry researchers reported. In 2000 . . .
Roadside assistance, Vinyl records, Vacant jobs
With gas prices in the U.S. passing $4 a gallon, many motorists are purchasing less at each fill-up. As a result . . .
Veteran deaths, Solo commuters
An average of 1,800 U.S. veterans die each day, a pace that is expected to make 2008 a peak year for veteran deaths. Although many World War II veterans are dying, so are an increased number of Korean War and Vietnam War veterans. Some 686,000 veterans died in 2007.
Rec. vehicle sales go down, Fewer aliens 
Due to rising gas prices, sales of recreational vehicles are expected to plummet to 305,000 vehicles this year, down 30 percent from 2006.
More veterans, Harry Potter off best-seller list
The number of disabled veterans has jumped by 25 percent since 2001, to 2.9 million. With tens of thousands of Iraq war veterans coming home with such injuries as multiple amputations, brain damage, and burns, the federal government expects to be spending $59 billion a year to compensate injured vets in 25 years, up from $29 billion this year.
Less money flow, Mobile phones spread shooting rumor
Reflecting hard economic times, fewer of the 18.9 million Latinos in the U.S. are sending money home to their families. Only half now do so, compared with 73 percent just two years ago.
