Thursday, March 15, 2012

Alleged drug gang leader arrested in Acapulco

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican federal police say they have detained the leader of a drug gang locked in a bloody battle for control of the resort city of Acapulco.

The Public Safety Department says Christian Arturo Hernandez Tarin was detained Tuesday in the central state of Mexico. The department says in a statement that Tarin led a gang known as "the street sweeper."

Hernandez's …

Unbeaten Saints rally past Dolphins 46-34

Drew Brees emerged from the locker room with a fresh cut under his chin and another between his eyebrows.

He made the Miami Dolphins look worse.

Brees and the unbeaten New Orleans Saints fell behind for the first time all season, then overcame a 21-point deficit Sunday to beat Miami 46-34.

The NFL's highest-scoring team topped 40 points for the fourth time and outscored the Dolphins 22-0 in the fourth quarter.

"There was no doubt on our sideline we would come back and win," said Brees, who threw for 298 yards. "They had given us their best shot, and we had played about as bad as we could play. All we had to do was string …

Clinton fools with aide's job security

WASHINGTON President Clinton announced Tuesday that presssecretary Mike McCurry had torn a tendon in his leg and his job wasnow in danger.

Clinton made a surprise appearance in the White House briefingroom just before McCurry's daily appearance to joke with reporters.Still hobbled from his knee surgery, Clinton deadpanned that McCurryhad "made a fool of himself" by falling down and hurting his knee.

"So until we can bring him back to full health, Chris Engskov isgoing to do …

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Nigel de Jong dropped by Netherlands after tackle

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk dropped Nigel de Jong from his squad Monday after the Manchester City midfielder was involved in a tackle that left Newcastle winger Hatem Ben Arfa with a broken left leg.

Van Marwijk said he saw "no alternative" but to drop De Jong from his squad to play Moldova and Sweden in two European Championship qualifiers.

"I will shortly speak to Nigel again, but now I am concentrating with the players and staff on the two important qualifiers coming up," Van Marwijk said in a statement released by the Royal Dutch Football Association.

Van Marwijk told Dutch daily Algemeen Dagblad that the tackle was "unnecessary …

Calif. firefighters dig in to protect Big Sur

Firefighters bulked up their defenses Friday against a wildfire that threatened parts of this storied tourist town and prepared for more lightning strikes that could ignite new fires across Northern California.

More than 1,000 fires, mostly caused by lightning, burned across Northern California, including two gigantic blazes in the Los Padres National Forest.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger asked President Bush on Friday for a federal emergency declaration to free up more aid, saying the fires this season had burned 265,000 acres, or more than 400 square miles.

Firefighters rushed to protect about 575 threatened homes and historic structures in the Big …

Star acts to play village pump Festival

Just three weeks to go until Trowbridge Village Pump Festival andunlike a festival that took place last weekend tickets are sellingfast. The festival has grown from being a small folk festival inthe garden of The Lamb Inn, Trowbridge into one of the biggest inthe UK.

The headline acts this year include iconic American blues/country rock band Little Feat, top UK folk band Show Of Hands,charismatic rock veteran Andy Fairweather Low, superstar songwriterDon McLean, politically astute big band Alabama 3 and traditionalfolk rockers The Battlefield Band.

Also headlining is the legendary Richard Thompson one ofEngland's greatest singer- songwriter and guitarists - who …

Reading Nabokov Whole*

Vladimir Nabokov's startling brilliance as an author has frequently been captured in the image of a conjurer. In this constellation, Nabokov is a writer capable of pulling intricate thematic and verbal rabbits out of textual hats and of magically turning the limpid water of his prose into the headiest of poetic wines. As an object of critical inquiry, however, a perhaps more fitting metaphor for Nabokov is that of the escape artist. Throughout the course of twentieth-century letters in the two linguistic traditions he so decisively influenced, criticism was never able conclusively to fix and detain Nabokov within the conventions of any school or style other than of his own inimitable …

Taiwan leader calls China envoy's trip a success

As protesters battled police, Taiwan's leader shook hands and exchanged gifts Thursday with the most senior Communist Chinese official to visit the island, declaring the envoy's trip a success but saying that major disputes still exist.

The historic meeting came five hours earlier than planned to avoid chaotic demonstrations by Taiwan independence groups that threatened to besiege the capital. Hundreds of riot police shut down streets around the venue with barricades wrapped with barbed wire.

During the five-minute meeting, Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou praised a landmark agreement signed by the rivals Tuesday. The deal increases aviation and shipping …

Butchers gets a face lift

A Glastonbury butchers is sporting a fresh new look.

Stephen's Butchers, in the market place, launched their newlymade-over store on Friday last week, with a visit from Glastonburytown crier, Graham Coles.

Steven Henderson, who runs the shop, said: "I took over the shopa number of years back, and in all that time it had never had anywork done on it.

"The cabinets and chillers were starting to look a bit old andtired and since we were going to be ripping …

Cab 666 Stays on San Francisco Streets

SAN FRANCISCO - Some call it the number of Satan, but the city's taxi commission sees no reason to get rid of taxi medallion No. 666.

Cab driver Michael Byrne asked the agency to retire the number that was assigned to him last year, saying it has brought him nothing but bad luck.

Some other cabbies, however, brought a touch of levity to the debate Tuesday as they argued …

Iran reformists rally as election looms

Supporters of Iran's main pro-reform presidential candidate formed a human chain that stretched nearly the entire length of Tehran on Monday in their biggest display of political might _ sending a powerful challenge to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's backers as both sides poured into the streets in the final days of the race.

The showdown atmosphere reflects the increasingly bitter tone between Ahmadinejad and his main rival, Mir Hossein Mousavi, in the campaign blitz before Friday's vote. Both have traded recriminations and engaged in mudslinging as intense as any bare-knuckle American campaign and _ in the process _ have turned the election into a display of Iran's …

Nearly 50 Die in India Gunbattle

NEW DELHI, India - Maoist rebels using mortars and machine guns battled police in eastern India in an hours-long fight that killed 24 policemen and 25 rebels, a police official said Wednesday.

The rebel assault on Monday night was the latest in a series in a region where widespread poverty has fueled a long-running insurgency. The fighting took place in Elampatti-Regadgatta jungle of Dantewada district, nearly 350 miles south of Raipur, the capital of Chattisgarh state, the Press Trust of India news agency said.

The rebels ambushed more than 100 policemen who had gone in to attack suspected rebel hideouts and the gunbattle lasted more than five hours, said Rajendra Kumar Vij, inspector general of state police. He said at least 25 communist rebels were also killed, but their bodies had not yet been recovered.

More than 6,000 people - police, soldiers, and civilians suspected to be police informers - have been killed since the rebels launched their campaign from the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh more than two decades ago.

The rebels, who claim to be inspired by Chinese revolutionary Mao Zedong, have been fighting in several Indian states to demand land and jobs for agricultural laborers and the poor.

The rebels, known as Naxalites from the Naxalbari region where the movement was born, are mainly active in six of India's 28 states - Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Karnataka, Orissa and Chattisgarh.

Nation & world

Two teens crash plane,

get only minor injuries

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. - Two 14-year-old boys escaped with minorinjuries after crash-landing a small plane that authorities say theystole from an airport hangar.

The single-engine Mooney M20C belonged to one of the boys'parents, and the pair was trying to run away from their homes, saidCindy Beavers, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff'sDepartment.

"There was a disagreement between the boys and their parents, and(the boys) decided to run away," she said. The boys took the planefrom Big Bear Airport Sunday afternoon, authorities said. Two pilotssaw the boys taxiing and called the plane's owner and the Sheriff'sDepartment.

The plane ditched in Joshua Tree National Park between 5:30 and 6p.m. The boys suffered minor injuries and were treated at the sceneby rangers, according to park officials.

The boys were arrested for investigation of airplane theft andburglary, Beavers said. They were booked into San Bernardino CountyJuvenile Hall on Monday.

Braille commemorative

coin gets House OK

WASHINGTON - Louis Braille, the inventor of the most widely usedreading and writing method for the blind, would be featured on acommemorative U.S. silver dollar under a bill approved by the House.

Under the bill, the U.S. Mint would issue 400,000 silver dollarscommemorating Braille in 2009, the bicentennial of his birth.

"Blind people today would be far less likely to achieve the goalsof independence and productive living without the positivecontribution of Louis Braille," said Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, a co-sponsor of the bill, which passed by voice vote on Tuesday.

The front of the coin would depict Braille, and the reverse wouldinclude the word "Braille" written in Braille code.

Airman in training dies

of virus linked to rodents

EL PASO, Texas - An airman who was training at Fort Bliss fordeployment to Iraq died of a deadly virus linked to rodents, an AirForce official said.

Senior Airman Leonard Hankerson Jr., 24, a security forcespatrolman, died Feb. 11 at William Beaumont Army Hospital in El Paso.

Autopsy results confirmed last week that Hankerson had hantavirus,said Lt. Col. John Paradis, a Luke Air Force Base spokesman. Thedisease is transmitted to humans when they inhale particles of driedurine, feces or saliva from an infected rodent. He said Tuesday it isunclear how Hankerson contracted hantavirus.

Second-grader brings

cocaine to class, shares

PHILADELPHIA - A 7-year-old girl brought cocaine to her second-grade classroom and passed it around, police said.

Detectives were trying to determine where the girl got the drugs,which she brought into the John M. Patterson School in her backpackMonday, said police Capt. Benjamin Naish. The teacher calledauthorities after she discovered the drugs among her students.

One child told her mother that she had eaten some of the powder,but was found to be OK when examined at a hospital, authorities said.

The School District of Philadelphia is waiting for the results ofthe investigation before deciding how to punish the child, saidspokesman Vincent Thompson.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Moderate quakes shake Southern Calif.; no damage

A series of moderate earthquakes south of the California border on Saturday shook buildings in downtown San Diego but there were no reports of damage or injuries.

The U.S. Geological Survey says a magnitude-4.9 earthquake struck at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, centered in Baja California about 16 miles southwest of Calexico. A magnitude-4.8 earthquake struck about three minutes later, followed by a 3.6 quake at 10:59 a.m.

San Diego County Sheriff's Lt. Hank Turner says shaking was felt in downtown San Diego. Dispatchers received no calls reporting damage or injuries.

Saturday's earthquakes struck in the same area as the magnitude-7.2 quake that killed two people in Mexicali, Mexico, on April 4. The region has seen a surge in seismic activity since then.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

SAN DIEGO (AP) _ A series of moderate earthquakes south of the border shook buildings in downtown San Diego but there are no reports of damage or injuries.

The U.S. Geological Survey says a magnitude-5.3 earthquake struck at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, centered in Baja California about 16 miles southwest of Calexico. A magnitude-4.9 earthquake struck about three minutes later, followed by a 3.6 quake at 10:59 a.m.

San Diego County Sheriff's Lt. Hank Turner says shaking was felt in downtown San Diego. Dispatchers received no calls reporting damage or injuries.

Saturday's earthquakes struck in the same area as the magnitude-7.2 quake that killed two people in Mexicali, Mexico, on April 4. The region has seen a surge in seismic activity since then.

U.S. embassy invites strong-currency Poles to shop until they drop across the Atlantic

Time to shop until you drop across the Atlantic, the U.S. embassy says.

In an unusual appeal, the United States is enticing Poles to visit and spend money this summer in hopes of propping up its faltering economy. The campaign comes as the Polish currency hit a historic high _ reaching 2.1194 zloty to the dollar on Monday.

"When you visit the States, bring an extra suitcase so you can return to Poland with a suitcase full of new items," U.S. Ambassador to Poland, Victor Ashe, is quoted as saying on the embassy's Web site.

The invitation is a sea change in bilateral relations. For most of the 20th century, impoverished Poles traveled to the United States in search of any possible job. Now they are being seen as a source of increased revenue.

The idea was a Warsaw initiative, said embassy spokesman Chris Snipes. He was not sure whether similar promotions had been undertaken by other U.S. embassies around the world.

While inviting Polish tourists, the embassy makes no mention of easing U.S. visa requirements for Poles. Warsaw, a staunch U.S. ally, has been demanding for years that the visa requirement be ended, along with the US$100 fee for the lengthy procedure.

The embassy did note that the average waiting time for a visa was down to two days.

"The zloty is particularly strong and it's a good time to travel to the States," Snipes said.

Upper House Rejects BOJ Chief Nomination

The upper house of parliament voted down the government's nominee to head the Bank of Japan on Wednesday, setting up a political showdown with a week left before the current central bank chief's term ends.

The stalemate in legislature is a major embarrassment to the Japanese government, as escalating fears of a global slowdown prompted central banks around the world to synch efforts this week to calm jittery markets.

The opposition, which controls the upper house, made good on threats to block the appointment of Toshiro Muto, the Bank of Japan's deputy governor, claiming his long history as a former bureaucrat at the Ministry of Finance would undermine the central bank's independence.

The opposition is also rejecting Muto because of outrage toward the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which has used its edge in the more powerful lower house to ram through some bills that require approval from only that chamber.

Bank of Japan Gov. Toshihiko Fukui steps down March 19. The appointment of his successor and two deputy governors at the central bank needs approval from both houses of parliament.

Muto was rejected by a vote of 129-106.

The opposition approved one of the government appointments for deputy, former BOJ Executive Director Masaaki Shirakawa. If there is a delay in agreeing on the appointments, Shirakawa is likely to step in to serve as interim bank chief.

The ruling coalition set the lower house vote on approving Muto and others' nominations for Thursday, a parliamentary official said. But even if Muto wins approval there, as he is sure to, that won't overrule the upper house rejection and so the standoff will continue.

The popularity ratings of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda have been dropping lately, particularly over the scandal-plagued defense ministry's mishandling of a collision between a military ship and a fishing boat. Many Japanese are eager to see new political leadership.

But opinion is mixed about the opposition's handling of the Bank of Japan appointment.

Major Japanese newspapers were critical of the Democrats in Wednesday's editions.

"The Democrats are irresponsible," the editorial in the Nikkei, the nation's biggest business daily, said. "The Democrats were opposed from the start. Is that the proper response for a responsible political party?"

In confirmation hearings Tuesday, Muto pledged to do his utmost and carry out extensive analysis to promote growth and ensure stable prices amid burgeoning risks, including a possible U.S. slowdown and surging oil prices.

He also promised to uphold the independence of the Bank of Japan.

While few expect the political scuffling to have any immediate damage to Japan's economy, the prospect of a vacuum from such a high-profile position has raised concerns about future monetary policy.

The Bank of Japan has kept its key interest rate at a low 0.5 percent in an effort to sustain the country's modest economic growth. Some analysts say the economy is already showing signs of slowing.

Earlier Wednesday, the government revised down the fourth quarter economic growth figure to a still strong 3.5 percent annual pace. The preliminary estimate had been 3.7 percent.

Chief government spokesman Nobutaka Machimura urged the Democrats to approve Muto.

"What parliament should do is hold discussions at various levels to avoid a vacuum," he told reporters.

"India is set for strong growth in 2010" ; John Hourican, 39, Chief Executive of Global Banking and Markets (GBM), Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), recently delivered his division's first profits since the 2008 global financial crisis left the bank reeling under losses.

John Hourican, 39, Chief Executive of Global Banking and Markets(GBM), Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), recently delivered hisdivision's first profits since the 2008 global financial crisis leftthe bank reeling under losses. Excerpts from his interactions withBT's Anand Adhikari during his recent visit to India.

"The GBM performance-in the fixed income and equity businesses-was good in 2009. We have restructured all the aspects of ourbusiness to have a more focussed customer approach, and implementeda more stringent risk management framework in the business thanperhaps we had in the past. We have tightened our balance sheet, andalso have set a strategy around customer, product and geography.

I think the global environment will remain challenging in future.But when we look at Asia and India, in particular, there is asignificant promise. India is set for a strong growth in 2010. Wehave kicked off a rebranding exercise with the transition of ABNAMRO in India to the RBS brand. We have a diverse product basket tooffer with capital market solutions, hedging products and otheradvisory services that our customers need in these uncertain times.

We at RBS have chosen not to be in the commercial and retail sideof business outside UK, Ireland and US. This decision was a clinicaland appropriate one as we need to deploy our resources where we canbe meaningful to our customers."

Opener No Sellout By Any Measure

The National League has adopted the American League's policy ofannouncing total attendance in tickets sold rather than people in thepark.

Either way, the Cubs opener was not a sellout.

The attendance Monday was 38,218. Wrigley Field capacity is38,756.

N.C. Residents to Return After Fire

APEX, N.C. - Thousands of residents ordered to evacuate their homes because of a fire at a hazardous material plant will be allowed to return Saturday, officials said.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze at EQ Industrial Services at 12:22 a.m., more than a day after Apex officials urged more than 17,000 people to leave their homes, Apex Fire Chief Mark Haraway said.

"We've been given every assurance that it's safe for our citizens to go back home," Mayor Keith Weatherly said.

AGAINST-THE-GRAIN ATHLETES

GO GLUTEN FREE: FOOD

There's a surprising new trend in the sports world: An increasing number of athletes are going gluten free to give themselves a winning edge.

After years of not knowing they have a health issue, some athletes discover they have celiac disease or gluten intolerance when they get diarrhea or become bloated after carbo-loading with pasta - or when they experience long-term complications of celiac disease, such as anemia, itchy skin rashes, or repeated stress fractures. Mountain climber Dave Hahn, who has reached the Mount Everest summit 1 1 times, realized he was unusually weak on his second trip to the mountain, which led to his diagnosis of celiac disease. And a growing number of other athletes are trying a gluten-free diet just to see if it helps their performance. Earlier this year, members of the Ga rm i n -Transitions pro cycling team told Men's Jouma/they were surprised when they adopted a gluten-free diet and experienced better digestion, improved sleep, speedier recovery, and improved athletic performance. If you're a gluten-free athlete, keep these points in mind:

Eliminate gluten the right way. Avoid gluten-free foods made out of nutrient-poor white rice flour, potato or corn starch, and stick primarily with whole foods - fruits, veggies, meats, fish, beans, nuts, eggs, potatoes, and gluten-free whole grains. "More nutrients equal more fuel to muscles and brains, which equals higher performance," glutenfreefitness.com blogger Erin Elberson explains.

Experiment with new carbohydrate sources. Carbohydrates before, during, and after intense exercise are essential to maintaining energy levels and speeding recovery after training or events. But just as with a high-performance car, elite athletes perform better with higher-quality fuel. Higher-nutrient, higher-carbohydrate foods include sweet potatoes, yams, winter squash (such as acorn), quinoa, whole-grain rice and wild rice blends, and muffins and other baked goods made out of nutrientpacked gluten-free grains or grain substitutes (look for amaranth, buckwheat, mesquite, sorghum, or teff flours). If you opt for pasta, choose brown rice pasta over white rice pasta, and for extra nutrition, select brown rice pasta with flaxseed.

Try eating gluten free and low glycemic. Some have attributed the athletic advantage many cyclists and runners have gotten from the gluten-free diet to their eating fewer high-glycemic (blood- su gar-spiking) foods such as bagels and pretzels, and more low-glycemic (blood-sugar-balancing) carbohydrates such as fruits, nonstarchy vegetables, and beans. Eating a gluten-free diet that's higher in protein and lower on the glyc�mie scale enables the body to learn gradually to use energy more efficiently from fat stores and to be less dependent on the food in the gut, explains Danna Korn in Living Gluten Free for Dummies. So don't assume that carboloading with pizza and pasta is always the answer. See if a balanced approach with more low-glycemic carbohydrates works better. Or consult a gluten-savvy nutritionist to customize the right food plan for you.

[Sidebar]

word: quinoa (keen-uuah)

Though often mistaken for a grain, quinoa is actually the seed of a leafy plant related to spinach and tumbleweed. A complete protein, it's tasty and high in fiber.

make it!

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKENQUINOA SALAD

SERVES 2

Reprinted from the Going Against the Grain Group, 2010, by Melissa Diane Smith

1 cup chicken broth

� cup quinoa

2 cups diced cooked chicken breast

� cup garbanzo beans

3 Tbs. chopped red onion

� cup diced cucumber

10 cherry tomatoes, halved

� cup chopped canned artichoke hearts

4 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley

2 Tbs. fresh lemon juice

2 tsp. red wine vinegar

2 Tbs. organic extra virgin olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

Unrefined sea salt and black pepper to taste

� tsp. dried oregano leaves

1. Bring chicken broth and quinoa to a boil in saucepan. Cover and reduce to a simmer. Cook for about 1 5 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed. Set aside to cool.

2. Combine chicken, beans, and vegetables in large bowl, and stir in cooked quinoa and parsley.

3. Combine lemon juice, vinegar, olive oil, garlic, and seasonings in a small container to make dressing.

4. Pour dressing into salad; stir until distributed. Serve at room temperature or chilled, per serving: 620 cal; 55 g prot; 23 g total fat (4 g sat fat); 47 g carb; 1 1 9 mg chol; 534 mg sod; 7 g fiber; 6 g sugars

[Author Affiliation]

Melissa Diane Smith is a nutritionist and author of Gluten Free Throughout the Year. To learn about her online Going Against the Grain Group or free newsletter, visit againstthegrainnutrition.com.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Falling for Alaska // The 49th state offers unusual foliage feast

ANCHORAGE, Alaska It's a new rush for Alaska gold.

The prize is a paystreak of autumn golds stretching from therain forests of southeastern Alaska to the edge of the Arctic.

The colors have been there all along, but tour operators justrecently decided to stake claims to the north country's bonanza offall foliage.

"It's a discovery," said John S. Hall, president ofMinnesota-based Anderson House Tours.

"Alaska, it turns out, has the longest fall-foliage season inthe United States."

Several of Hall's colleagues thought he had been too long inthe midnight sun when first he suggested autumn-colors tours ofAlaska.

"They said the idea was ridiculous, that fall-foliage tours ofAlaska would never sell. Boy, were they wrong," Hall said.

"We scheduled one trip the first year (1990), and ended updoing four. This year we are doing eight.

"Now Alaska outsells New England for our company."

(In fairness, however, it should be noted that Alaska's goldenscenes rarely include the brilliant reds of a New England fall).

Sections of Alaska and neighboring Yukon Territory, Canada,turn solid gold for about seven weeks - from late August tomid-October. That's the time between the last wave of summertourists and winter's northern lights. Alaska's vast size and its range of climate zones are the reasonsfor the long foliage season. It's like a moving paint brush as, region by region, birches,aspens, poplars and willows are gilded by the first nips of frost. It happens first in the deep interior of Alaska, then spills southto the Anchorage area, the Kenai Peninsula, Prince William Sound andfinally the fjordlands of Southeastern Alaska. And best of all, there is no buzz of summertime mosquitoes to annoyvisitors. "We're not selling just fall foliage," Hall said. "We're alsofeaturing totem poles, wildlife and sled dogs. Alaska is like noother place on earth." Anderson House offers two kinds of foliage tours through the northcountry: 17-day air-sea-motorcoach trips that combine coach travel withvoyages aboard Alaska's state ferries. Passengers fly to Anchorage,Alaska's largest city, to begin the tours. Two departures still are available this year - leaving Anchorage onWednesday and Sept. 17. Packages that combine luxury cruising aboard Holland America Lineships and Anderson House motorcoach touring through the northland.Cruises begin in Vancouver, B.C. Four of the Anderson House/Holland America trips are planned in1997. Fall travel in Alaska has advantages. Ferries are uncrowded. Staterooms - always sold out in the summerseason - are available for most passengers. There were only 193 travelers on the 746-passenger ferry Matanuskalast fall as Hall led a group of Midwest travelers north to Alaska. The ferry coasted through the tall-totem country of SoutheasternAlaska's Inside Passage . . . pausing at Ketchikan, Wrangell,Petersburg, Juneau, Sitka, Haines and Skagway. Whales rolled. Bald eagles soared. Glaciers glittered. Sunsetsblazed. "Nature screams out the presence of the Lord here," said SisterAncilla Russell, of Aberdeen, S.D. Sister Ancilla, a hospital chaplain, and her childhood friend, BettyBeck, a retired telephone employee from Aberdeen, had talked abouttraveling to Alaska 45 years before. Then their lives took separate paths. Alaska had to wait. "But here we are," Sister Ancilla said. "It was worth the wait." Marie Jacobs, a widow, also from Aberdeen, wanted to see the ruggedland where her late husband helped build the Alaska Highway duringWorld War II. "He planned to bring me back so we could see it together, but thatwas not to be," she said. "It's as beautiful as he said it was." Most of the passengers were farm folk in the plus-65 age bracket. "But they have more get-up-and-go than a lot of people half theirage," said 53-year-old John Hall. "I huff and puff to keep up withthem." In Juneau, the travelers checked into a hotel at 6 a.m. (impossiblein peak season) - then went sightseeing. "We can nap later - no use wasting time," said Ruth Thompson, ofGroton, S.D. The main attraction: Mendenhall Glacier, a 12-mile-long river of icethat meanders almost to Alaska's capital city. "I have a sudden craving for a snow cone," joked Mike Heim, a tourguide, as the glacier came into view. It was farther north, along a stretch of the Alaska Highway in YukonTerritory, that the first nuggets of Alaska's autumn gold appeared. The scene was all the more dramatic as golden trees framed mountainscrowned with fresh snow. Ruth Thompson sighed. "I didn't expect anything like this," she said. "I'm glad I came." Sanford and Lois Hrabe, of Chamberlain, S.D., were seeing Alaska'sfall extravaganza for the second time. "The colors were so wonderful that we wanted to come again," SanfordHrabe said. "There's so much to see in Alaska that you can't do itall in one trip." More blazes of gold pointed the way north. Wildlife was on the move. Fall was racing toward winter. A brown bear browsed by a pond, searching for the last of theseason's sweet blueberries. Glossy-brown moose tramped through aspruce forest. There was a bone-jarring stretch of highway as the coach neared theYukon-Alaska border. Blame it on a northern condition called permafrost, Hall explained. The ground just under the road is permanently frozen. Alternateseasons of freezing and thawing sometimes buckle the pavement. Next day, as the group traveled toward Valdez, a mountain-rimmedport on Alaska's Prince William Sound, there was a surprise: aChristmas card in mid-September. An earlier-than-usual snowfall overnight had cloaked evergreensalong the highway. Leaves of birches and aspens flashed like goldensequins against a deep-blue sky. Intermission. Even gold-seekers need a change of pace. From Valdez, the visitors went glacier-viewing with one of Alaska'sfavorite skippers, Stan Stephens. He was one of the first on the scene after the Exxon Valdez hit areef near Valdez in 1989 and spilled its cargo of crude oil. NowStephens is a leader in campaigns for improved tanker safety. "No more tragedies," he vows. It was an average day in Prince William Sound - sea otters cruisingon their backs, bald eagles watching from tree tops, sea lionsbasking on navigation buoys, glaciers hanging like diamonds frommountain notches. Later, on the Glenn Highway, near Anchorage, there was more goldengrandeur. Bands of autumn gold swept across a valley where massive MatanuskaGlacier merges with a silvery river. The pageantry continued all the way into Anchorage. "And," said John Hall, "some people wonder if there really are fallcolors in Alaska." Stanton H. Patty, born and reared in Alaska, is the retiredassistant travel editor of The Seattle Times.

Stocks turn mixed after Thursday's big rally

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks edged between small gains and losses Friday afternoon as traders scrutinized a plan to contain Europe's debt crisis that sent the market soaring a day earlier.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 11 points, or 0.1 percent, to 12,198 shortly after noon. The Dow surged 339 points the day before, its biggest gain since Aug. 11. The Dow is headed for its biggest monthly gain since 1987.

"It's a kind of sobering-up after a day of partying," said Jerry Webman, chief economist with Oppenheimer Funds in New York.

European leaders unveiled a plan early Thursday to expand their regional bailout fund and force banks to keep bigger cash buffers. Banks agreed to forgive half of Greece's debt. The Dow and the Standard & Poor's 500 index both gained more than 3 percent.

Optimism ebbed on Friday as analysts raised questions about the plan, which lacks many key details. It is not yet clear how the rescue fund will work, for example. European markets mostly fell, and the euro declined against the dollar.

"We got back to what's more of a square position, closer to where we want to be, and now we're going to take a couple of deep breaths and reassess what this really means," Webman said. He said there are still plenty of obstacles to overcome before the crisis is resolved.

One troubling sign: Borrowing costs for Italy and Spain increased, signaling that traders remain worried about their finances.

The S&P 500 index lost 4 points, or 0.3 percent, to 1,281. Of the S&P's 10 industry groups, only three rose: materials, telecommunications and health care.

The Nasdaq composite index slipped 11 points, or 0.4 percent, to 2,728.

The Dow is up 11.8 percent this month, the S&P 13.2 percent. Both indexes are on pace to have their best month since January 1987.

In less than four weeks, the Dow has risen 14.5 percent from its 2011 low, reached on Oct. 3. The S&P has gained 16.6 percent in that time. However, the Dow remains 4.8 percent below this year's high, reached on April 29. The S&P is 6.1 percent below its high.

On Friday, Whirlpool Corp. slumped 12 percent, the most in the S&P index, after the appliance maker said it would cut 5,000 jobs, citing weak demand and higher costs for materials. Another household name, Newell Rubbermaid Inc., soared 12 percent after its adjusted earnings beat Wall Street's expectations. The maker of tubs and markers maintained its outlook for the year.

Thursday's stock rally led to a sell-off in Treasurys, which traders hold to protect their money when other investments are falling. Demand for Treasurys increased sharply Friday, pushing the yield on the 10-year Treasury down to 2.30 percent from 2.39 percent late Thursday.

Major city store starts New Year sales on Boxing Day

MAJOR department store Debenhams, in Broadmead, plans to open onBoxing Day.

And now 20 other shops in Bristol city centre will follow suit.

Debenhams stores across the country will start their sales onDecember 26. Opening times have yet to be announced.

After the announcement from Debenhams the Broadmead Board askedall its stores whether they too wanted to open on Boxing Day.

The majority said no, but 20 other stores have now decided toopen. Last year only a handful did so, including Virgin and Dixons.

Debenhams head of communication, Joanna George, said: "We've beenspeaking to customers investigating how they shop over Christmas.

"Due to customer feedback, Debenhams stores will open on BoxingDay as a trial. If it doesn't work, we won't do it again.

"Staff will be given the option of working on Boxing Day, we'requite flexible, and will be talking to staff about what would bestsuit their needs."

Broadmead manager John Hirst said: "Debenhams wants it, customerswant it and I'm sure staff will be well-rewarded.

"Debenhams has taken the decision nationally and I'm going to workwith them to facilitate it in Broadmead. That means making sure thereis enough car parking, for example.

"I'm sure it's going to be busy and I think other stores will seethis. On Boxing Day 2004 half of Broadmead will be opening.

"There used to be a lot of opposition to Sunday trading but that'snow considered perfectly normal. I think Boxing Day opening will gothe same way.

"Nobody should be forced to work on Boxing Day but I'm sure plentyof students and young people will think it's a great idea if theyget treble pay."

The decision by Debenhams to open on Boxing Day has beencriticised by some union leaders.

Allan Gray, senior regional industrial organiser with theTransport & General Workers Union, said: "I think this is managementtaking a liberty.

"Staff want quality time off, not to be asking their relatives andfriends to set the alarm clock during their short stay because theyhave to get up on Boxing Day morning to go to work.

"We are already the hardestworking country in relation to timeoff. This is like a turkey voting for Christmas with this type ofmanagement action the festive period is being stuffed."

A spokesman for the Union of Shop and Distributive Workers said:"In the run up to Christmas retail workers work exceptionally hardand we accept this is the retail trade's busiest period.

"But once Christmas Day arrives we believe these hard workersshould have as long a break to celebrate with their families andfriends as possible."

The Mall will be opening from 9am to 5pm on Saturday December 27for the first day of the sales.

European Union adopts code of conduct on arms sales

ON MAY 25, European Union (EU) foreign ministers at a General Affairs Council meeting approved an arms sales code of conduct that lists eight criteria (see text box) to guide EU members in arms exports and requires consultations between members when one pursues a weapons deal that another had previously denied. While aiming to promote "high common standards" for arms exports, the code is not legally binding and the final export decision remains one of national discretion.

According to the latest World Military Expenditures and Arms Transfers (1996) report by the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, Western European states conducted 30 percent of world arm sales in 1995, of which Britain (54 percent), France (23 percent) and Germany (12 percent) accounted for 89 percent. Scandinavian countries and other EU members with relatively few arms exports pressed for code provisions stronger than some countries, particularly France, were willing to accept. Because the EU operates by consensus, the 15 countries adopted a weaker code than most members wanted as many of the issues considered were reportedly contested 14-1. Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs David Andrews on May 26 said he was "disappointed" in the human rights criterion, but viewed the adopted code as "preferable to no step at all."

The code, whose formal adoption is expected in early June, declares an export should not be made if it might be used for internal repression, but EU members are only to "exercise special caution and vigilance" where "serious violations" of human rights have been declared by the EU, the Council of Europe or the United Nations. Moreover, members only need to "take into account" an importing state's attitude toward terrorism or commitment to nonproliferation.

Unlike the proposed U.S. code of conduct, which has yet to be passed by Congress (see ACT, March 1998), the EU code does not call for an arms buyer to be a democracy or to have civilian control over the military. But the code does obligate members to consider a buyer's "relative levels of military and social expenditure."

If an EU state refuses to approve an arms sale, that member will circulate to all others a notification of denial and an explanation. Denials for dual-use goods only need to be circulated if the end-user is or is suspected of being the armed forces or internal security forces of a prospective buyer. Notifications are to be confidential to prevent non-EU states from using denials for commercial advantage.

Any member that seeks to conclude an "essentially identical transaction" within three years of a denial must consult with the state or states that issued the denial. If the member still opts to go forward with the sale then that member needs to notify the original state or states of the intent to undercut with a detailed reasoning.

France, an original code co-sponsor with Britain, opposed efforts to require undercuts to be notified to all members. A French official explained that for the notifications to be "meaningful and significant," they should be limited to the states involved.

Although limited, the consultation mechanism and prior notification of undercuts are significant steps considering that the 33-member Wassenaar Arrangement, which seeks to increase transparency in arms exports, requires participating states only to inform other members of an undercut within 60 days after an export license has already been issued. A U.S. government official noted that a prior consultation mechanism has yet to be "fully aired" within the United States.

The EU code lacks public transparency as annual reports on members' arms exports and implementation of the code will be kept confidential. An initiative to make a consolidated report available to national parliaments and the public failed. Members also did not agree to a common list of weapons to be controlled, so until development of such a list, the code will operate according to each member's own national control lists. -Wade Boese

HP has eye on IBM as it discusses EDS acquisition

Having seized the lead in personal computer sales worldwide, Hewlett-Packard Co. is stalking the technology services market for its next conquest.

In what could turn into its biggest deal in six years, HP hopes to buy Electronic Data Systems Corp., which pioneered the concept of running data centers and providing other high-tech help for large companies and government agencies.

Palo Alto-based HP and Plano, Texas-based EDS confirmed Monday that they are in "advanced discussions" about a possible combination without providing additional details.

Citing unnamed people familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that HP is willing to pay $12 billion to $13 billion _ a price that translates to $24 to $26 per share.

EDS shares soared $5.27, or nearly 28 percent, to finish Monday at $24.13. HP shares dropped $2.49, more than 5 percent, to close at $46.64 as investors fretted over the deal's logistics.

HP ended January with nearly $10 billion in cash. With a market value of about $115 billion, HP could easily use its own stock to finance the purchase.

If the deal is completed, it would be HP's biggest acquisition since it bought Compaq Computer Corp. for $19 billion in 2002. That acquisition paved the way for HP to supplant Dell Inc. as the world's largest PC maker.

Buying EDS would give HP more tools to challenge IBM Corp. in the lucrative technology services field. HP already has replaced IBM as the world's largest technology company, based on revenue.

The demand for data management and technology consulting services has steadily grown during the past two decades as the automation of corporate America and the rise of the Internet prompted more businesses to hire contractors to help run their computer software and hardware.

IBM's technology services division brought in $54 billion in revenue last year, accounting for half of the company's total sales. Combined, EDS and HP's technology services division had about $39 billion in revenue last year.

In one of its biggest previous attempts to expand its technology services, HP attempted to buy PricewaterhouseCoopers' consulting division in 2000. IBM wound up buying the unit instead.

HP has been on a roll since it hired Mark Hurd as chief executive three years ago. Propelled by earnings growth that has consistently exceeded analyst expectations, the company's stock price has more than doubled since Hurd's arrival.

Acquiring EDS could yield more government work for HP, which had about $500 million in prime federal contracts in fiscal 2007. EDS is far better connected, with deals worth about $2.5 billion _ putting it among the top 10 among government technology contractors.

Combined, HP and EDS still would lag significantly behind government contractors like Lockheed Martin Corp. and Boeing Co.

As in many corporate marriages, cultural clashes between HP and EDS could ruin the union, said AMR Research analyst Dana Stiffler. "Palo Alto versus Plano wrangling will destroy any short-medium term benefit unless there's a strong integration roadmap," she predicted.

HP earned $7.3 billion on $104 billion in revenue last year while EDS made $716 million on $22.1 billion in revenue.

EDS has been linked with possible deals previously, including a reported interest by Deutsche Telekom late last year and Dell before that. No suitors ever confirmed reports that they were talking.

Former IBM salesman H. Ross Perot started EDS in 1962 to help run other companies' computer systems _ a specialty generally known as information-technology or IT services.

Perot sold EDS to General Motors Corp. for $2.5 billion in 1984 and eventually became so disillusioned with how that deal worked out that he sold his remaining EDS shares to the automaker so he could start a new rival service bearing his name.

An outspoken billionaire, Perot became even more famous for running for U.S. president in 1992 and 1996. GM spun off EDS as an independent company in 1996 and remained its largest customer.

EDS was riding high at the start of the decade, despite the dot-com bubble's bursting. But in late 2002, earnings shortfalls led to investor lawsuits, a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation, the ouster of the chief executive, and a sharp drop in the stock price.

The company lost $1.7 billion in 2003 but gradually righted itself under CEO Michael Jordan, a retired CBS and Westinghouse CEO. He fixed some money-losing contracts, including a multibillion-dollar deal to build a communications network for the Navy and Marine Corps, and began cutting costs by sending thousands of jobs to low-cost countries such as India.

Although he hasn't seen any signs to suggest EDS has been looking for a buyer, Jefferies & Co. analyst Joseph Vafi said the company's board might have decided a sale would create a quicker payoff for shareholders than continuing to try to grow the company in the highly competitive technology services industry.

Under Hurd's leadership, HP bought business software maker Mercury Interactive Corp. for $4.9 billion in 2006 and last year paid $1.7 billion for data management service Opsware Inc., which had sold a large chunk of its operations to EDS in 2002.

___

AP Business Writers David Koenig in Dallas and Dibya Sarkar in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.

United Airlines CEO at a glance

UAL Corp. and United Airlines Chief Executive Glenn F. Tilton:

AGE _ 62.

CAREER _ Joined Texaco Inc. out of college as a sales trainee and held several marketing and management positions with the nation's second-largest oil company. Was named president of Texaco USA in 1994 and became Texaco's chairman and CEO in February 2001 when it was acquired by Chevron Corp.

Hired as Chairman and CEO of United on Sept. 2, 2002, as the airline was struggling to avoid a bankruptcy filing. United filed for Chapter 11 protection on Dec. 9, 2002, emerging more than three years later.

FAMILY _ Married, two children.

EDUCATION _Bachelor's degree in international relations, University of South Carolina, 1970.

Storms batter Chicago trees

Wednesday night's thunderstorms may have brought some relief fromthis week's heat and humidity, but they also did damage throughoutthe Chicago area in downed trees and power lines.

Crews from the city's Department of Streets and Sanitation had, asof 9 p.m., responded to 108 calls of tree emergencies, which includedamage to trees in the public way and downed limbs and branches.There were also 44 reports of traffic lights out throughout the city,16 reports of street lights damaged due to the storm and nine reportsof downed wires.

The National Weather Service warned that it was a dangerous stormwith damaging winds and "deadly cloud to ground lightning."

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Convicted Peeper Sues to Get Porn Back

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. - A man recently jailed for secretly videotaping a woman and a teenage girl has sued a police department for the return of his massive porn collection taken during the investigation.

Dennis Saunders, 59, filed suit against San Rafael police in Marin County Superior Court after the department refused to give back some 500 pornographic movies and 250 magazines his lawyer described as unrelated to the peeping case.

"There's absolutely no legal foundation for them withholding perfectly legal adult-oriented material," Tiburon attorney Jon Rankin said.

The video collection alone was likely worth at least $10,000, Rankin said.

Saunders was arrested in 2002 and charged with taping the 45-year-old woman and 16-year-old girl in their bedrooms and bathrooms at an apartment complex where he worked. He was convicted of 48 misdemeanors and sentenced to more than eight years in jail, but was released last month with credit for good behavior.

A lawyer representing the city said authorities wanted direction from a judge on whether it would be "lawful or appropriate" to return the material to Saunders, who has a history of peeping-related arrests dating back to 1979.

"If the court orders us to give it back to him, we will give it back to him," city lawyer Thomas Bertrand said.

Factories growing steadily: ; Report says December increase marks 17th straight month of growth for manufacturing sector

WASHINGTON - Manufacturers produced more goods and booked moreorders last month, leading to the fastest growth in factory activitysince May.

The Institute for Supply Management said Monday that its index ofmanufacturing activity rose to 57 in December from 56.6 in theprevious month. Any reading over 50 indicates growth. The latest iswell above the recession's low of 32.5, hit in December 2008. Butit's below the reading of 60.4 in April, the highest level sinceJune 2004.

The report shows that manufacturers carried considerable momentuminto the new year. Automakers, computer and electronics companies,and industrial machinery firms showed particular …

Rutgers' Eric LeGrand is paralyzed from neck down

Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand was paralyzed below the neck after making a tackle during a game against Army, and he will remain hospitalized for the near future.

Coach Greg Schiano said Sunday that LeGrand was resting in the intensive care unit at Hackensack University Medical Center. He had emergency surgery overnight to stabilize the spine after making the tackle during Saturday's game at the New Meadowlands Stadium.

"Eric's spirits were as good as you can expect," said Schiano, who visited with him before and after surgery. "He was cognizant of me being there, his mom, everybody.

"He's a fighter."

Schiano, who had tears in his eyes during his press …

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

STATUE OF LIBERTY GREENS UP ITS ELEVATOR ON SOY OIL

Liberty Island, New York

Until recently, announces the National Park Service, the elevator at the Statue of Liberty used mineral oil formulations made with petroleum. But now, the monument's elevator runs on biodegradable hydraulic fluid made from soy oil. The project goes back two years when Park Service building foreman Jeff Marrazzo contacted a researcher at the National Center for Agricultural Utilization in Illinois asking for such a product. It had to readily break down, come from a renewable resource, be economical as well as nonpolluting, and meet industry standards. Chemist Sevim Erhan of the Agricultural Research Service formulated a new elevator hydraulic fluid using soy oil chosen because of its low cost, chemical versatility, and availability as a renewable, home-grown resource.

Agri-Lube, Inc. of Defiance, Ohio worked with Erhan's lab, developed a product which tested well at Otis Elevator and at Liberty Island. In both tests, the biofluid worked as well as or better than the mineral oil-based formulations. Agri-Lube is negotiating licensing rights to commercialize the patent, and the Statue of Liberty is proudly using the product.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Merger update

Prices, volume and values all head south

With few exceptions, merger & acquisition activity in the financial service sectors was sluggish in 2001, with pricing, volume and deal values below levels of the previous year. Thrifts beat the downward trend in terms of deal value - with $8.4 billion but the total number of deals for thrifts hit a four-year low, according to data collected by SNL Securities, Inc.

A total 179 bank deals were announced last year at a value of $31.7 billion. One of those transactions - First Union Corp's $13.6 billion deal with Wachovia Corp. accounted for nearly 43% of the aggregate deal value.

M&As for thrifts, too, were largely …

On the torsion gear tooth stiffness at helical gears.(Report)

1. INTRODUCTION

The problem approached by the present paper is the determination of the gear tooth stiffness in helical gears using gear technique in a particular case of an overlap contact ratio equal to a natural number ([[epsilon].sub.[beta]] =1). The justifications of this task are: a) the decisive effect of the variation in time of the gear tooth stiffness on gear vibration and noise behavior; b) the possibility to use modern techniques of FEA in the complicated analysis of displacement specific for helical gears.

A short description of the state of the art in this problem is carried out below. Pioneering studies pertaining to the decisive effect of the variation in time of the gear tooth stiffness on gear vibration and noise behavior carried out, for example, Rettig (1957); Schlaf (1962), Bosch (1965). Previous research regarding the effect of contact ratio on the dynamic behavior of cylindrical gears achieved Rettig (1956), Baethge (1969), Ziegler (1971), Geiser (2002). The team of authors developed a careful and profound use of FEA techniques in the mentioned subject, some of their papers being Dobre, Mirica, Sorohan. (2006) and Dobre, Mirica, Gabroveanu (2008).

The present paper explores aspects of FEA studies (model, analysis, post-processing) of the static torsion gear tooth stiffness along the line of action for the geometrical case of [[epsilon].sub.[beta]] =1, for a model with a lower density on wheel length: 8 elements. This results in a new diagram of variation respecting the accuracy requirements related to the interference and a comparison with previous results (model with 25 elements/wheel length) given by Dobre, Mirica, Sorohan. (2006) and Dobre, …

Studies link TV-watching to low test scores in kids.(Main)

CHICAGO - Too much TV-watching can harm children's ability to learn and even reduce their chances of getting a college degree, three new studies suggest in the latest effort to examine the effects of television on kids.

Critics faulted the research for not adequately …

Product & Service.

ByDesign, Calif. League To Educate

LOS ANGELES-ByDesign Financial Solutions and the California league have entered into an agreement to work together to promote financial literacy to CCUL member credit unions in California and Nevada. The league has been using a ByDesign-designed curriculum for several years. The Personal Finance Management program, available in both English and Spanish, consists of a book and corresponding five-hour workshop covering budgeting, credit, debt, credit reports and saving and investing.

For info: www.bydesignsolutions.org.

Seroka Assoc. Offering Target TV

WAUKESHA, Wis.- Seroka & Associates is offering Target …

AP Exclusive: Report warns of Iran nuke disaster

VIENNA (AP) — The control systems of Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant have been penetrated by a computer worm unleashed last year, according to a foreign intelligence report that warns of a possible Chernobyl-like disaster once the site becomes fully operational.

Russia's envoy to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, also has raised the specter of the 1986 reactor explosion in Ukraine, but suggested last week that the danger had passed.

The report, drawn up by a nation closely monitoring Iran's nuclear program and obtained by The Associated Press, said such conclusions were premature and based on the "casual assessment" of Russian and Iranian scientists at Bushehr.

With control systems …

PRIZES: The Rotary Club of [...]

PRIZES: The Rotary Club of Carmarthen held their community awardsevening was held on June 13. Pictured (from left): president electMike …

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Science is focus.(News)(Brief article)

Health regulators plan to spend millions of dollars to step up their scientific abilities in an attempt to more quickly get new treatments to patients and to protect the public against health …

Dow Declares Force Majeure on MEG and DEG.

Dow Chemical says it has declared force majeure for monoethylene glycol (MEG) and diethylene glycol (DEG) due to an extended, unplanned outage at Seadrift, TX. The outage occurred while Dow's St. …

MARTHA R. WHELAND.(CAPITAL REGION)

WYNANTSKILL -- Martha R. Wheland, 92, of Dana Avenue, Wynantskill, at St. Mary's Hospital, Troy, died June 18, 1999 after a long illness. She was born and educated in Grafton, NY and was the daughter of the late George and Julia Bell Linnabary Stewart. She was a private duty licensed practical nurse and was a member of the Pawling Avenue United Methodist Church, Troy. She belonged to the St. Jude Association. She was the wife of the …

$50,000 bond set in killing of stepfather.

EL DORADO - A Union County man accused in the New Year's Day beating death of his 42-year-old stepfather made a first appearance Tuesday in Union County District Court. …

PCB serves show cause notice to Yousuf

The Pakistan Cricket Board is demanding Mohammad Yousuf return 10 million rupees ($124,000) it spent on the star batsman's legal case in India involving his seesawing contract negotiations with rival Twenty20 leagues.

"Today, we have served him a show cause notice and if he doesn't return the money, we will file a lawsuit in a civil court to recover money," PCB lawyer Shan Gul told The Associated Press.

Yousuf re-joined the non-sanctioned Indian Cricket League on Wednesday, forcing the PCB to suspend him from playing in or for Pakistan.

Yousuf signed for the ICL last year, but the PCB …

Travel Eliminating the Drag

Wrapped up in the story of today's US Airways, a result of the merger between the twice-bankrupt airline of that name and America West, is everything that has gone wrong with the airline industry in recent years - and some signs of hope.

The airline industry as a whole was already slumping before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. US Airways Inc. subsequently went in and out of bankruptcy twice before it merged with America West in September 2005. America West suffered through 10 quarters of losses, stretching back to 2000, before returning to profitability in 2003, but lost money again in 2004 and 2005. Overall, however, America West was closer than US Airways to the …

Tool builds custom portfolios.(Technology)

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Jackson National Life Insurance Co. launched its new Portfolio Construction Tool, an interactive online app to help advisers build individualized investment portfolios for their clients. The tool, for appointed …

Whole Grain Baking.(book)(Brief article)(Book review)

Whole Grain Baking

King Arthur Flour

Countryman Press

Box 748, Woodstock, VT 05091

0881507199 $35.00 www.countrymanpress.com

"Whole Grain Baking: Delicious Recipes Using Nutritious Whole Grains" defies the common idea of whole grain baked goods as being heavy, dense items. Instead here are light pastries, croissants, and more which offers up a blend of whole grain baking and the attraction of light, fluffy fare. From Milk and Honey Corn Muffins made with …

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Microsoft introduces Zune to compete with Apple's iPod.

Byline: Jason Kolnos

Dec. 27--The iPod is so iyesterday. At least that's what the folks at Microsoft want you to believe.

In its first foray into the digital audio player market, Microsoft is hoping the Zune will provide stiff competition to Apple's ubiquitous iPod. The Zune is a 30-gigabyte audio and video player that can store up to 7,500 songs, 25,000 pictures, or 100 hours of video. The Zune, which costs around $250, also has a larger screen than any of the iPods.

In the computer world, Microsoft and Apple have warred for decades. With the introduction of the Zune, the portable-music genre is the new battleground.

The best feature of …

My Chemical Romance singer to be a dad

My Chemical Romance singer Gerard Way's newest creation isn't a CD _ it's an upcoming baby.

A representative for the singer says Way, 31, and wife Lindsey, bass player for the band Mindless Self Indulgence, are expecting their …

SOX NOTES

DETROIT - The White Sox can breathe easier. They'll faceright-handed starters in the three-game Tigers series that beginstonight when Dan Petry (1-2) opposes Richard Dotson (0-2). Againstleft-handers, the Sox have struck out 52 times in 52 innings.Dotson has heard from close friend LaMarr Hoyt, who is back with thePadres after three weeks in a substance-abuse treatment center. "Hesounded like he has everything together," Dotson said. "I wouldn't besurprised if he had a great year." Pinch hitter Jerry Hairston,who hit …

Gannon, Mark M.(Capital Region)

MENANDS Mark M. Gannon, 52, died Friday, September 5, 2008 at his home. Born in Albany, he had attended Northwood School in Lake Placid and North Eastern University in Boston. Mark served his country in the U.S. Army. He was a computer analyst for New York State for many years. He was the son of Joan Sullivan Gannon and the late George J. Gannon; and brother of Colleen Gannon of Rockport, Mass. Also survived by several cousins. …

HOUSE GOP GETS A NEW QUARTERBACK.(MAIN)

Byline: George Will

WASHINGTON It is 7 a.m. and half the contingent of black Republicans in Congress is ready for breakfast in a Capitol Hill hotel swarming with freshmen legislators. He is Oklahoma's J.C. Watts (the other half is Connecticut's Gary Franks), who expects that after a few more elections the contingent of black conservatives will be bigger.

``It is,'' he says dryly, ``pretty radical to say you don't know black families that want to bring home more of their paychecks or go to schools where kids carry books rather than guns.'' His father's schooling ended in the seventh grade, but his father knows that when he buys cattle for $7,500 and sells them for $12,000 he has a stake in a capital gains tax cut.