Good Week, Bad Week

Listen in as John Hockenberry and Celeste Headlee, co-hosts of "The Takeaway," bring you an audio version of The Week's "Good Week, Bad Week.” You can call in with Good Week, Bad Week nominations of your own at 877-8-MY TAKE, or e-mail them to mytake@thetakeaway.org. See more from "The Takeaway."

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Good week for:

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Betting on the obvious, after the Pennsylvania Lottery paid out a total of $7.77 million when the Big 4 drawing numbers came up 7-7-7-7. More than 3,100 people had the winning numbers.

Optical illusions, after French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who’s famously sensitive that he stands only 5-feet-5, had a custom-built podium flown to the U.S. to make him look taller while giving a speech at Columbia University.

Complete makeovers, after Sen. John McCain, long known for his independent streak and “maverick” views, told Newsweek, “I never considered myself a maverick.” He’s now facing a serious primary challenge from a more conservative candidate.

Bad week for:

Democrats with prostate problems, after Florida urologist Dr. Jack Cassell—dismayed by the passage of the health-care bill—posted a warning on his door declaring: “If you voted for Obama, seek urologic care elsewhere.”

Charitable impulses, after an elderly Australian man donated a suitcase to the Salvation Army, only to be told by his wife that their life savings were sewn into the lining of the bag. Police tracked down the suitcase, which had been sold, and charged two people with depositing the $93,000 in the bank.

Gullibility, after a newspaper in Jordan caused panic with an April Fools’ report that 10-foot-tall aliens had landed in the town of Jafr. “Students didn’t go to school, and I almost evacuated the town’s 13,000 residents,” said Mayor Mohammed Mleihan.