First couple's dynasty on line in Argentina vote

Argentina's first couple fought for its survival Sunday in congressional elections that could undermine the president's power and seal the fate of one of the country's biggest political dynasties.

Allies of President Cristina Fernandez and her husband and predecessor Nestor Kirchner have controlled the Congress for six years, but analysts expected them to lose two dozen seats in both chambers, eroding their absolute majorities and damaging their brand as their Peronist party seeks direction ahead of 2011's presidential race.

Kirchner, who has led the party since his wife succeeded him as president in 2007, is seeking a congressional seat in Buenos Aires …

Schreyer Rebounds With Challenge Win

Cindy Schreyer captured her first victory in five years on theLadies PGA tour Monday, holding off 28-time titlist Betsy King in theSun-Times Challenge at White Eagle Club.

King, needing two victories for a berth in the LPGA Hall ofFame, missed a three-foot par putt at the 16th hole, and that was thedifference in their day-long duel.

Schreyer, who won $71,250, shot 71 to finish at 16-under-par 272for the tournament. She and King needed 67s in the rain-delayedfinal round to match Nancy Lopez' eight-year LPGA scoring record - 20under par at the Henredon Classic in High Point, N.C.

Schreyer's previous best showing this year was a 24th-placefinish at the …

Questions and answers about Netflix's flip-flops

Puzzled by Netflix Inc.'s recent changes? You're not alone. Here are basic questions and answers about the company's reversal of its decision to split off its DVD-by-mail service and rename it "Qwikster."

Q: Will I have to go to two websites to manage my DVD queue and watch streaming videos?

A: No. Netflix on Monday backed off its plan to create two separate sites —one at Netflix.com for streaming videos, and another at Qwikster.com, for DVDs.

Q: Will I still have to pay for the services separately?

A: You'll have one account for both services. But the price changes Netflix instituted in July, under which it charges separately for streaming and for DVDs, are still …

Rome Masters Results

Results Sunday from the Rome Masters, a (EURO)2.75 million ($3.66 million) ATP event on clay at the Foro Italico (seedings in parentheses):

Singles

First Round

Victor …

[ STELLA'S COLUMN ]

CONGRATS TO William Z. Novick, who will be honored at a black-tiedinner sponsored by the American Committee for the Weizmann Instituteof Science Sept. 12 at the Hyatt Regency. Novick, director for over40 years of Chicago's Weizmann Institute, is being recognized for hisleadership and dedication to fund-raising in the Jewish community.You just can't say no to Bill!

THE MAG SCENE: SEAN "P. Diddy" COMBS, according to Details mag'sAugust issue, lost a child support lawsuit filed by New York hotshotattorney Brett Kimmel on behalf of his client Misa Hylton-Brim,mother of Combs' 10-year-old son Justin. He has to pay her anincredible $35,000 a month, plus a lump-sum payment of …

KITCHEN STORIES; A watched Norwegian never boils his egg water

Oh, to live near the Arctic Circle.

Norwegian writer and director Bent Hamer's comedy Kitchen Stories is the sort of movie critics love to use words like "dry" and "stiff" to describe. Dry like a batch of lutefisk left out in a month's worth of midnight sun. Stiff like a Saab encased in a glaciated fjord. For once, the critics are right. Kitchen Stories is a fastidious slice of unthawed Scandinavian humor that exudes a unique vibe I like to call "Garrison Keillor after a batch of Quaalude-laced herring." In other words, you might want to bring your headphones.

Folke (Tomas Norstrom) is an expert from the all-important Swedish Home Research Institute. He and a select group of …

Futsal: Spain downs Libya for needed win

Defending champion Spain beat Libya 3-0 Friday in the Futsal World Cup for its first win of the tournament.

The Spaniards badly needed a victory after opening with a 3-3 draw against Iran earlier this week.

But Spain looked sluggish against the much weaker Libyan team, even though Javi Rodrigues made it 1-0 after just three minutes and Alvaro doubled the lead in the 15th. Daniel put the result beyond doubt 10 …