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Fans in France are left to ponder what might have been after a penalty-kick loss to Italy in the World Cup's championship game. The turning point may have been the ejection of the team's top player in overtime.

Cretin is a word derived from an 18th century Swiss-French word meaning "Christian." The connection is basically pious, asserting that a mentally innocent person so-labeled is possessed of a Christian soul by way of baptism and is worthy of our mercy and pity.

With the arrivals of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, the Supreme Court shifted to the right, as expected, in its just-completed term. But the shift was less dramatic because Justice Anthony Kennedy assumed a swing role.

President Bush this week is expected to sign a $70 billion tax-cut package into law. It will lower rates for investors and save billions of dollars for families with above-average incomes. Now Republicans in Congress are turning their attention toward the estate tax. They want it repealed permanently.

When the World Cup begins in Germany next month, fans from England will be faced with the task of not being too rude to the host country. Part of the problem: a lingering bitterness about World War II. Comic actor and writer John Cleese has a song to help: "Don't Mention the War."

Germany, the World Cup host country, lost 2-0 to Italy in a semi-final match Tuesday. The Italians scored twice in the match's waning moments after 118 minutes of scoreless play. The defeat left some German fans in a philosophical mood, looking forward to the next World Cup.

Nashville-based musician Moe Denham has spent a career getting the best from a Hammond B3 organ. After decades as a sideman and opening act, he's out with a new CD: The Soul Jazz Sessions.

Commentator James Reston Jr. describes his frustration with federal limits on stem-cell research. His daughter has a transplanted kidney, and he fears she will need another transplant in a few years. Reston thinks stem-cell technology could help speed up research about growing new kidneys artificially.

Director Richard Linklater's adaptation of the Philip K. Dick novel A Scanner Darkly stars Keanu Reeves. It was produced by filming live actors, and rendering the images in a painting-like animation process. Bob Mondello reviews.

Mexico's election officials have began the official count of ballots cast in Sunday's close presidential election. In unofficial results, the conservative candidate Felipe Calderon is ahead by a slim margin. But Mexico requires a simple majority to win the presidency.