British chip designer Imagination Technologies PLC said Friday that Apple Inc. has raised its stake in the company to 9.5 percent after buying stock on the market and through a share placement made by the company.
Imagination made no comment on the stake increase beyond the requirement that it report the crossing of the 8 percent threshold to the London Stock Exchange.
Apple uses Imagine …
Erna Gans last saw her mother in 1942 as they hid from the Nazisin the basement of an apartment building in a Jewish ghetto inLemberg, Poland.
When the soldiers grabbed her mother and younger brother, Gansstarted to come out of her hiding place. Her mother secretlymotioned for the teen to stay out of sight.
As far as Gans knows, her mother and brother were killed inBelzec concentration camp in Poland. Her father and another brotherdied later in camps. Gans spent time in a camp, but lived.
"I don't know why I survived, but I feel that I have to givesomething back," she said. "The only way I can do that is byfighting for remembrance."
Gans has …
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Taboos are falling fast in Serbia.
It has opened talks with Kosovo, the cherished breakaway province Serbs consider the cradle of their culture. It has stepped up efforts to capture Ratko Mladic, the war crimes suspect many here idolize as a hero. And it has apologized for atrocities committed during Yugoslavia's violent breakup.
Suddenly, the once fiercely nationalistic country is focused less on pride than on its deep economic problems — and that means turning away from traditional mentor Russia and building bridges with Europe and the United States.
The prize of EU membership is at the root of the transformation: Serbia has come under a growing …
The total compensation of Google Inc. CEO Eric Schmidt fell 52 percent last year as the Internet search leader cut back on its employee perquisites to help lift its profits during the recession.
Schmidt's 2009 package totaled $245,322, down from $508,764 in 2008, according to documents filed Monday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The sharp decrease reflected lower bills for protecting Schmidt and flying his personal guests on jets chartered by Google.
Schmidt's personal security cost Google $233,542 last year compared to $402,562 the previous year. Google spent $10,119 flying Schmidt's friends and family in 2009 after shelling out …
The agreement, negotiated by a local of the Office andProfessional Employees International Union, provides for a $500 lumpsum payment to each of about 200 covered workers.
It also calls for individual increases through ayet-to-be-completed job classification study. The raises, which willaverage 3.1 percent, will go only …
Magic Slim and the Teardrops bringing blues to UIC with Fernando Jones
As one of the attractions for Black History Month, the 11th Annual Blues Cabaret will be held Friday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. in the Illinois Room of the University of Illinois Chicago, featuring Magic Slim and the Teardrops, Fernando Jones and My Band.
Slim is one of the most important proponent of the Mississippi-to-Chicago blues style. His "Big-foot Country" whipping of the blues, augmented with the blasting, electronic projection of the Chicago styles is witnessed on Blind Pig Records with the Teardrops.
Magic Slim, Morris Holt, was born in Torrence, Miss. He became interested in music at an early …
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's ruling Shiite coalition withheld support Sunday for the proposed security pact that would keep U.S. troops here for three more years, dealing a setback to American hopes of a speedy approval of the agreement.
The statement by the United Iraqi Alliance called for unspecified changes to the draft agreement, which parliament must ratify by the end of the year when the U.N. mandate expires.
The group's move comes a day after tens of thousands of demonstrators, mostly Shiites, took to the streets of Baghdad to show their opposition to the agreement.
The Shiite alliance holds 85 of parliament's 275 seats and al-Maliki needs …
A First newsletter has been produced by parishioners who sawtheir church closed down indefinitely.
The last mass for the foreseeable future at St Wilfrid's CatholicChurch, Cotton, was held in October.
Dry rot has been discovered in the 19th century building -designed by Augustus Pugin - and part of the nave had already beencordoned off for safety reasons.
A …
BALTIMORE - The primary camera on the Hubble Space Telescope has shut down and is likely to be only marginally restored, NASA said Monday, a collapse one astronomer called "a great loss."
While other scientific work can still be done by the aging observatory, the unit that failed, the Advanced Camera for Surveys, is the one most scientists depend upon. NASA scientists say they expect to be able to restore just one-third of its observation ability, probably by mid-February.
"We're not optimistic at all" about returning it to full function, said Dave Leckrone, a senior scientist on the Hubble at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt.
However, all is not lost. …
Dionte Christmas scored 20 points and defending champion Temple held No. 19 Xavier to season lows in points and field-goal percentage in a 55-53 victory in the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament Friday night.
Lavoy Allen added 10 points and 11 rebounds as the fourth-seeded Owls (21-11) moved within game of becoming the first team to win consecutive conference tournament titles since they did it in 2000-01.
Xavier (25-7) will have to settle for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament Sunday.
Temple will play the winner of the Dayton-Duquesne game on Saturday night for an automatic berth to the tournament.
Derrick Brown had …
The Illinois Supreme Court on Wednesday knocked the proposed TaxAccountability Amendment off the Nov. 6 ballot. The justices saidthe state Constitution prohibits use of a citizens initiative toplace the tax question before voters.
The proposed amendment would have required a three-fifthsmajority vote of state lawmakers before a tax increase could becomelaw. Only a simple majority is needed now.
Should people …
GUANGZHOU, China (AP) — With a home crowd chanting his name, Yao Ming looked sharp as he tested his surgically repaired foot Saturday in helping the Houston Rockets beat the New Jersey Nets 95-85 in a preseason game.
Yao scored 10 points in this showcase for the 7-foot-5 center who has spurred the growth of basketball in China. Easing his way back after sitting out last season, Yao made several deft hook shots during his 18 minutes on the court. When he wasn't playing, he rode an exercise bike on the sideline.
Yao shot 5 of 8 from the field, had five rebounds and was selected the game's most valuable player. He left to chants from the fans with nine minutes to go in a game marking the debut of the Guangzhou International Sports Arena.
Kevin Martin scored 16 points for the Rockets, while Aaron Brooks had 12 and Brad Miller 11. Miller played his first preseason game since spraining his ankle in September. For New Jersey, Brook Lopez finished with 20 points and Anthony Morrow had 19.
The Rockets play San Antonio and Dallas in two more exhibitions in the U.S. next week and open the season Oct. 26 against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Nets wrap up their preseason against New York and Boston next week before opening Oct. 27 against Detroit.
Not everybody can afford the money or the time for a wintergetaway to Hawaii, the Caribbean or some other romantic tropicaldestination. An alternative, both cheaper and closer, is a weekendescape to one of the Midwest's cozy country inns, where a cracklingfireplace is likely to spark loving thoughts in even the chilliestsoul.
What follows is a sampler of romantic hideaways within weekendrange of the Chicago area, selected from the revised 1989 edition ofRecommended Country Inns: The Midwest, by Bob Puhala (Globe Pequot,$10.95). In the book itself, you'll find dozens more possibilities.
Puhala, who also writes Weekend Grand Tour each Sunday for theChicago Sun-Times Travel section, lists each of these propertiesunder "Romantic Inns" in his guidebook's index. Most have a limitednumber of rooms, so advance reservations are a good idea even in thedepth of winter. Some have age restrictions on children. Thedescriptive comments are taken from the guide: Aldrich Guest House, 900 Third St., Galena, Ill. 61036(815-777-3323). (Closed during January.) Rooms: Five, three withprivate bath. Weekend rates: $65 to $80 with full breakfast. "Iespecially like the parlor's tall, wide windows that wash the room insunny daylight. There's a baby grand piano in the corner." French Country Inn, Wisconsin 50, Route 4, Box 690, Lake Geneva,Wis. 53147 (414-245-5220). Rooms: 21, all with private bath.Weekend rates: $105 to $125 with full breakfast. "Located in annexesjust steps from the main building, the guest rooms are gracefullydone in country French styles, with brass beds, high-back chairs andballoon drapes. All have their own gas fireplaces and privatebalconies overlooking Como Lake." Mansion Hill Inn, 424 N. Pinckney St., Madison, Wis. 53703(608-255-3999). Rooms: 11, all with private bath. Rates: $100 to$250 with continental breakfast. "All the rooms are exquisitelyfurnished in beautiful antiques. Afternoon tea is `veddy English,'served by tuxedo-clad butlers." Tall Oaks Inn, Box 6, Stanton and Crescent roads, Grand Beach, NewBuffalo, Mich. 49094 (616-469-0097). Rooms: 11, all with privatebath. Weekend rates: $95 to $140 with full breakfast. "Guest commonrooms are uncommonly elegant." Victorian Villa Guest House, 601 N. Broadway St., Union City, Mich.49094 (517-741-7383). Rooms: Eight, some with shared bath. Rates:$75 to $85 with full breakfast and afternoon tea. "Two tower suitesare decorated in country Victorian and separated by a small sittingroom. I like the rough-hewn country feel, with iron-rail beds,exposed brick walls, and round tower windows." White Lace Inn, 16 N. Fifth Ave., Sturgeon Bay, Wis. 54235(414-743-1105). Rooms: 15, all with private bath. Rates: $60 to$130 with continental breakfast. "The White Lace Inn resembles a . .. Victorian-era park, with three handsome buildings connected by a .. . pathway that winds through landscaped grounds." Wickwood Inn, 510 Butler St., Saugatuck, Mich. 49453 (616-857-1097).Rooms: 11, all with private bath. Rates: $85 to $120 through Jan. 1,then $70 to $115 through April, with continental breakfast andafternoon hors d'oeuvres. "Staying at the Wickwood Inn is almost liketaking a mini-European vacation. That's because it was inspired by avisit to the grand Duke's Hotel in London."
Activist demand resignations in death of youth
It wasn't the ideal situation when Arlene Goodall called the Dolton Police Department to assist with her son, but she never imagined the outcome would lead to his death.
Myron Goodall, 27, was a recovering drug addict who battled with minor depression. On Monday, he threatened to take his life by slitting his wrist with a steak knife. With good reason and pleading, Arlene Goodall was able to deter a potential tragedy.
But the tragedy unfolded when she called police.
Goodall insisted Myron go to the hospital for further treatment for his depression. Out of fear he would be transferred back to Tinley Park Mental Health Center, Myron adamantly refused treatment.
That's when Goodall called the police.
"She called the police looking for their help," said Catina Withers, the family's spokesperson.
"They killed him."
Withers said her cousin was stressed for money. He was currently unemployed and needed to provide for his child.
"He was just stressed out about his bills and life," she said.
"He was going to end his life that day but his mother talked him out of it."
Now the Goodall family is demanding answers.
During a press conference Wednesday in front of the Dolton Police Department, the Goodall family, accompanied by Minister Bamani Obadele, said his death was unjust.
"I'm demanding full disclosure and I am demanding that the officers be taken off of the streets pending the investigation," said Obadele.
Dolton Police Chief Joe Westbrook was unavailable for comment but according to the family, when police arrived at the Goodall's home on the 15100 block of South Oak St., police promised Goodall that everything would be resolved.
"They shot him twice, twice in his back and once in the back of his head," said Withers.
A Cook County Medical Examiner's Office spokesperson confirmed Goodall died of multiple gunshot wounds at the scene. The office was unable to say whether the bullets exited his body but the family contends they never exited his body.
A puzzling factor to the Goodall family because there were three gunshot holes in the home. They were not there prior to the shooting.
"If you go to the house right now, there are two bullets in the kitchen floor and one bullet on the bookshelf going into the family room," said Withers.
"They shot more than three times and I believe they did that to cover up their crime."
Obadele said Dolton Mayor Bill Shaw could not run and hide on this issue and should address the matter appropriately.
"I'm challenging the mayor to do the right thing and clean up his police department and fire these police officers," Obadele said.
"Myron was murdered in cold blood."
But what was even more insulting, according to Obadele was that the 27-year-old Dolton resident was a student at Columbia College, majoring in broadcasting. He came from a solid family and as small as the southwest suburban town is, Mayor Shaw did not deliver his condolences to the family.
Article Copyright Sengstacke Enterprises, Inc.
The winner-take-all game between LSU and Texas for the national championship on Wednesday night excites Augie Garrido the college baseball fan as much as it excites Augie Garrido the coach.
"It's being played out by the No. 1 team in the polls and the No. 1 team by the committee, and two of the most storied programs in college baseball history," the Longhorns' coach said Tuesday after his team's 5-1 win in Game 2 of the best-of-three finals.
"It couldn't be better than this for all the people involved _ the College World Series, ESPN, the two schools. It's pretty cool."
Texas freshman All-American Taylor Jungmann limited LSU to five hits in his first complete game, putting the Longhorns (50-15-1) in position to play for their seventh national title and third since 2002. LSU (55-17) will be going for its sixth title and first since Skip Bertman won the last of his five in 2000.
The Longhorns will start Cole Green (5-3) against LSU's Anthony Ranaudo (11-3). Green will be making his third start of the CWS. He didn't get a decision in the other two. He's given up five runs in his 13 innings in Omaha. Ranaudo also is starting his third game, having allowed two runs over 9 1-3 innings while winning once.
One night after his shortest outing of the season, Jungmann turned in his longest _ and his best.
Jungmann (11-3), who entered Game 1 as a reliever and threw six pitches all for balls before getting pulled, came back to win his third game in Omaha. The other two wins were in relief. This one marked the first complete game in the CWS since 2006.
LSU, which had averaged 9.5 runs in its first four CWS games, had its 14-game win streak end.
"Tonight wasn't our night," Tigers coach Paul Mainieri said. "We could have played better, but give credit to Texas. We've got one more shot at them. I think there are a lot of teams that would love to trade positions with us."
A thunderstorm pushed back the start of Game 2 an hour and 34 minutes. Garrido said the delay helped Jungmann, because the temperature dropped from 97 degrees to 82 and the humidity was knocked down to 42 percent.
"When we first got to the ballpark, it was steaming," Garrido said. "It helped him finish the game. He was brilliant. His teammates got him an early lead. The best thing for a pitcher's curveball is a four-run lead."
LSU starter Aaron Ross (6-8) lasted only two innings in his first CWS start. Mainieri said he knew trouble was looming when Ross walked Michael Torres on four pitches to start the game.
"I expected more," Mainieri said. "He wasn't on his game tonight. Too much pitches were elevated. We were fortunate they only scored one run each of the first two innings."
Preston Clark homered for a 2-0 lead in the second and finished with three hits and two RBIs.
Russell Moldenhauer's surprising show of power continued. He came to Omaha with no home runs this season and became the 10th player to hit four in a CWS when he sent a high fly over the right-center field fence off left-hander Ryan Byrd in the third.
Moldenhauer said he guessed right when Byrd served up an inside fastball on a 3-1 count.
"Luckily he left it up enough for me to elevate it," he said. "I just put the bat on the ball."
Jungmann had never pitched more than 7 2-3 innings. He gave up a triple to DJ LeMahieu leading off the third in addition to four singles.
LSU scored on shortstop Brandon Loy's fielding error in the second. The Tigers got the leadoff man on base to start four innings after that, but couldn't score.
The Longhorns scored all five runs in the first three innings and mustered only four singles the rest of the way.
If the Tigers lose on Wednesday, it would mark only the second time this season that they have lost back-to-back games.
"You can't have a hangover tomorrow," LSU's Jared Mitchell said. "We've done a good job bouncing back from losses. We just have to go home and flush it out and come back tomorrow."
Marvin Lewis has been named as the new head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Lewis becomes the third Black head coach in the league, joining Tony Dungy with the Indianapolis Colts and Herman Edwards with the New York Jets.
Lewis replaces Dick LeBeau who was fired by the Bengals after a 2-14 season, the worst in team history.
"Before you win, you have to learn how to win," Lewis said. "Or more importantly, you have to learn not to lose." The Bengals are experts at losing, going 55-137 since owner Mike Brown took control 12 years ago. They hit bottom last season, drawing the three smallest crowds in the history of Paul Brown Stadium.
Although Brown detests change, he knew he had to do something to keep selling tickets. Brown broke with his pattern of promoting from within, and he hired the team's first black head coach.
"I think we've turned over a new leaf for the Bengals," Brown said. "We are starting fresh. He has the respect of people throughout the National Football League. He sold us, and I think he will sell the people in Cincinnati."
It will be a hard sell to jaded fans. When Lewis' hiring was announced during the second half of Xavier's basketball victory over LaSalle, the crowd of 10,250 had a lukewarm response that seemed to say: It's nice, but it won't make much difference.
Lewis' hiring will please the league, which has been under pressure from a group led by Johnnie Cochran Jr. and Cyrus Mehri to hire more minorities. All 32 teams agreed last month to interview minorities when they have openings.
Lewis currently is the third black head coach in the NFL, joining Tony Dungy of Indianapolis and Herman Edwards of the New York Jets.
"The Bengals' organization deserves a great deal of credit, especially Mike Brown," Cochran and Mehri said in a statement.
Lewis will be embraced in his new city, which is still trying to heal from race riots in April 2001. Tony Perez was the last minority to run a major league team in Cincinnati, managing the Reds for 44 games in 1993. "I think this is a very positive thing for us as an organization and as a community, with the racial tension that's been going on," quarterback Jon Kitna said.
Offensive tackle Willie Anderson had urged the front office to consider a minority for a top position.
Nonprofit health-care organizations in Central Pennsylvania proudly proclaim their status as charitable entities. Nonprofit hospitals market themselves as refuges for the poor and uninsured. Nonprofit insurers tout their efforts to improve people's access to medical services.
Yet many of these organizations are similar to their for-profit competitors. Several nonprofit hospitals, health systems and insurers in the midstate operate forprofit subsidiaries. These entities include pharmacies, dental insurers, real estate companies and printing operations.
Nonprofit health-care organizations operate for-profit subsidiaries for a number of reasons, observers said. The subsidiaries can help an organization protect its tax-exempt status, generate new sources of revenue and broaden its range of services.
Operating for-profit subsidiaries allows tax-exempt health-care organizations to get into new businesses without putting their tax status in jeopardy, said Jack Owen, a Pittsburgh attorney who works with nonprofit groups. A nonprofit group that strays too much from its charitable mission can attract scrutiny from the government entities that give it tax breaks, he said.
"The idea is that when (nonprofit organizations) are getting revenues from these unrelated operations, they don't need government support," Owen said. The group can avoid this scrutiny if it funnels any business not directly related to its mission into for-profit organizations that are subject to taxes.
For-profit subsidiaries are especially attractive to hospitals and health systems because they provide a way for these organizations to raise capital needed for building-improvement projects and new equipment, said Don Kramer, a Philadelphia attorney. Unlike their for-profit counterparts, nonprofit hospitals cannot sell stock to raise money. However, a for-profit subsidiary that makes money can pay dividends to its nonprofit parent, once the subsidiary pays taxes.
Highmark Inc.'s for-profit subsidiaries allow the nonprofit insurer to offer a wide range of products to its customers, said Robert Gray, chief financial officer of the Pittsburgh-based health insurer. Highmark, which operates as Highmark Blue Shield in this area, has several forprofit businesses, including a dental insurer, vision benefits companies and an eyeglass manufacturer. Most profits from these companies are reinvested into the individual companies or used to boost Highmark's reserves, Gray said.
"The successful health insurers will be those that provide a one-stop shop," Gray said.
Capital BlueCross in Susquehanna Township also operates for-profit subsidiaries, according to information from the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. These subsidiaries include Keystone Health Plan Central and Capital Advantage Insurance Co. Officials with the Dauphin County-based carrier could not be reached for comment.
Good Samaritan Health System operates a surgery center and a magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, center as joint ventures with local doctors. Partnering with doctors meant that the centers had to be operated on a for-profit basis, said Bob Richards, vice president of finance and chief financial officer of Good Samaritan Hospital. The hospital is part of the Lebanon-based nonprofit health system. The system also owns a real estate company that owns the land on which the centers sit, Richards said.
Although it is common for nonprofit health-care organizations to run for-profit subsidiaries, the arrangement does not work for all charities. Many groups consider getting into for-profit businesses but end up rejecting the idea, Owen said.
There are potential pitfalls for nonprofit groups that have for-profit operations, said Christopher P. Markley, senior vice president of community relations for PinnacleHealth System. The Harrisburgbased nonprofit system got rid of its forprofit operations several years ago.
Nonprofit groups are limited in how they can subsidize for-profit operations that start to lose money, Markley said. Charities that start spending too much money to buoy a struggling subsidiary can incur the wrath of donors, he said.
"People give money to a nonprofit thinking they're giving to a charity, not a business," Markley said.
Nonprofit groups also must be careful to report for-profit activities appropriately to government entities such as the Internal Revenue Service, said Gary Dubas, a partner with McKonly & Asbury. The accounting firm is based in Hampden Township, Cumberland County. Having good reporting practices in place becomes critical if the IRS or a state questions for-profit activities, he said.
In addition, many nonprofit organizations are small and lack the expertise and the resources to run businesses, Kramer said.
"It's hard to run a nonprofit, and it takes a lot of effort to also run a business," he said.
The Iraqi president has denounced a draft law that would pave the way for U.S.-backed provincial elections.
President Jalal Talabani says he's "confident that the presidential council won't approve it."
Talabani, who is a Kurd, said in a statement Wednesday that he cannot agree to a law that was approved by only 127 lawmakers and wants the measure to be reconsidered.
Iraq's parliament approved the plan on Tuesday despite a Kurdish walkout.
The chief executive of Deutsche Post AG tendered his resignation Friday in the wake of allegations that he evaded some 1 million (US$1.45 million) in taxes through investments in Liechtenstein as part of a probe of hundreds of Germans, officials said.
Finance Ministry spokesman Torsten Albig said that Klaus Zumwinkel had presented his resignation offer to a committee of the supervisory board of Deutsche Post, in which the government is the largest shareholder.
The committee was expected to accept the resignation and advise the board of the decision on Monday, he said.
"The federal government welcomes the offer of resignation," Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm told reporters.
Earlier, Kurt Beck, the leader of the center-left Social Democrats, whose party makes up half of Merkel's governing coalition, indicated Zumwinkel had confessed to the accusations against him.
"After _ according to my knowledge _ he admitted to the allegations, one can only say he either step down immediately or is immediately let go," Beck told reporters.
Neither Zumwinkel nor his attorney have made any public statements, and Bochum prosecutors _ who are leading the investigation _ would not confirm that a confession was made.
"We have nothing to say about that," said spokesman Bernd Bieniossek.
Prosecutors on Thursday announced that Zumwinkel's home and offices had been searched as part of an investigation of the executive.
The Zumwinkel investigation was being done as part of a probe into hundreds of cases of tax evasion related to the foundation in Liechtenstein, Bieniossek said.
The prosecutors' offices in Duesseldorf and Cologne were also part of the investigation examining financial documents, he said
"These documents concern the funds of several hundred people that were apparently established for the purpose of tax evasion, particularly through foundations based in Liechtenstein," he said.
An official close to the investigation, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment to the media on the matter, told The Associated Press there were some 600 to 700 other suspects.
The 64-year-old Zumwinkel "is suspected of evading about 1 million (US$1.45 million) in taxes via investments in Liechtenstein," Bieniossek said Thursday.
Zumwinkel was taken in for questioning to the Bochum prosecutors' office and after providing information and paying an undisclosed amount of surety, was released to go home, Bieniossek said.
Beck urged against showing Zumwinkel any leniency.
"I await justice," he said, adding that any deals "would, in my view, deeply contradict the people's sense of justice."
Beck's party last year supported establishing a minimum wage for postal workers, a measure widely perceived as benefiting Germany's former mail monopoly.
Zumwinkel supported the measure, ahead of the Jan. 1, 2008 opening of the German letter delivery market to all competitors of Deutsche Post.
With the introduction of the hourly minimum of between 8 (US$11.70) and 9.80 (US$14.30) for letter carriers, competitor PIN Group said it would have to lay off up to 1,000 workers.
Zumwinkel attracted criticism late last year for selling some of his own shares in Deutsche Post just as the government approved introducing the minimum wage for letter carriers.
The CEO later conceded that the timing "was wrong in the middle of an intense political discussion" that was going on at the same time over ways of curbing perceived excesses in top managers' pay.
Zumwinkel has led Deutsche Post since 1990.
He is also the chairman of Deutsche Telekom AG's supervisory board, which is the equivalent of a board of directors, and of the supervisory board of Postbank AG, Deutsche Post's banking subsidiary.
In addition, he sits on the airline Deutsche Lufthansa AG's supervisory board, and is on U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley's board of directors.
Deutsche Post shares were up 1.26 percent in afternoon Frankfurt trading to 22.53 (US$32.95).
Cindy Sheehan's son Casey died in Sadr City last year, and thatfact is supposed to put her beyond reproach. For as the New YorkTimes' Maureen Dowd informed us: "The moral authority of parents whobury children killed in Iraq is absolute."
Really? Well, what about those other parents who've buriedchildren killed in Iraq? There are, sadly, hundreds of them: Theyhonor their loved ones' service to the nation, and so they don't makethe news. There's one Cindy Sheehan, and she's on TV 'round theclock. Because, if you're as heavily invested as Dowd in the notionthat those "killed in Iraq" are "children," then Sheehan's status asgrieving matriarch is a bonanza.
They're not children in Iraq; they're grown-ups who made their owndecision to join the military. That seems to be difficult for theleft to grasp. Ever since America's all-adult, all-volunteer armywent into Iraq, the anti-war crowd have made a sustained effort tocharacterize them as "children." If a 13-year-old wants to have anabortion, that's her decision and her parents shouldn't get a look-in. If a 21-year-old wants to drop to the broadloom in Bill Clinton'sOval Office, she's a grown woman and free to do what she wants. But,if a 22- or 25- or 37-year-old is serving his country overseas, he'sa wee "child" who isn't really old enough to know what he's doing.
I get many e-mails from soldiers in Iraq, and they sound a lotmore grown-up than most Ivy League professors and certainly thanMaureen Dowd, who writes like she's auditioning for a minorsupporting role in "Sex And The City."
The infantilization of the military promoted by the left is deeplyinsulting to America's warriors but it suits the anti-war crowd'spurposes. It enables them to drone ceaselessly that "of course" they"support our troops," because they want to stop these poor confusedmoppets from being exploited by the Bush war machine.
I resisted writing about "Mother Sheehan" (as one leftie hasproposed designating her), as it seemed obvious that she was at besta little unhinged by grief and at worst mentally ill. It's one thingto mourn a son's death and even to question the cause for which hedied, but quite another to roar that he was "murdered by the Bushcrime family."
Also: "You tell me the truth. You tell me that my son died foroil. You tell me that my son died to make your friends rich. You tellme my son died to spread the cancer of Pax Americana . . . You getAmerica out of Iraq, you get Israel out of Palestine."
And how about this? "America has been killing people on thiscontinent since it was started. This country is not worth dying for."That was part of her warm-up act for a speech by Lynne Stewart, the"activist" lawyer convicted of conspiracy for aiding the terroristsconvicted of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
You can see why Lynne's grateful to Sheehan. But why is ElizabethEdwards sending out imploring letters headlined "Support CindySheehan's Right To Be Heard"? The politics of this isn't difficult:The more Cindy Sheehan is heard the more obvious it is she's thrownher lot in with kooks most Americans would give a wide berth to.
Don't take my word for it, ask her family. Casey Sheehan'sgrandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins put out the followingstatement:
"The Sheehan Family lost our beloved Casey in the Iraq War and wehave been silently, respectfully grieving. We do not agree with thepolitical motivations and publicity tactics of Cindy Sheehan. She nowappears to be promoting her own personal agenda and notoriety at theexpense of her son's good name and reputation. The rest of theSheehan Family supports the troops, our country, and our President,silently, with prayer and respect."
Ah, well, they're not immediate family, so they lack Cindy's"moral authority." But how about Casey's father, Pat Sheehan? LastFriday, in Solano County Court, Casey's father Pat Sheehan filed fordivorce. As the New York Times explained Cindy's "separation,""Although she and her estranged husband are both Democrats, she saidshe is more liberal than he is, and now, more radicalized."
Toppling Saddam and the Taliban (Mrs. Sheehan opposes U.S.intervention in Afghanistan, too), destroying al-Qaida's trainingcamps and helping 50 million Muslims on the first steps to freesocieties aren't worth the death of a single soldier. But CindySheehan's hatred of Bush is worth the death of her marriage. Watchingher and her advanced case of Bush Derangement Syndrome on TV, I feelthe way I felt about that mentally impaired Aussie concert pianistthey got to play at the Oscars a few years.
Yet in the wreckage of Pat and Cindy Sheehan's marriage there issurely a lesson for the Democratic Party. As Cindy says, they're bothDemocrats, but she's "more liberal" and "more radicalized." There area lot of less liberal and less radicalized Dems out there: They'resoft-left-ish on health care and the environment and education and soforth; many have doubts about the war, but they love their country,they have family in the military, and they don't believe indishonoring American soldiers to make a political point. The problemfor the Democratic Party is that the Cindys are now the loudestvoice: Michael Moore, Howard Dean, Moveon.org, and Air America, theflailing liberal radio network distracting attention from its ownfinancial scandals by flying down its afternoon host Randi Rhodes todo her show live from Camp Casey. The last time I heard Miss Rhodesshe was urging soldiers called up for Iraq to refuse to go -- i.e.,to desert.
On unwatched Sunday talk shows, you can still stumble across theoccasional sane, responsible Dem. But, in the absence of any seriousintellectual attempt to confront their long-term decline, all theenergy on the left is with the fringe. The Democratic Party is acoalition of Pat Sheehans and Cindy Sheehans, and the noisier theCindys get the more estranged the Pats are likely to feel.
Sorry about that, but, if Mrs. Sheehan can insist her son's corpsebe the determining factor in American policy on Iraq, I don't see whyher marriage can't be a metaphor for the state of the DemocraticParty.
Casey Sheehan was a 21-year old man when he enlisted in 2000. Here-enlisted for a second tour, and he died after volunteering for arescue mission in Sadr City. Mrs. Sheehan says she wishes she'ddriven him to Canada, though that's not what he would have wished,and it was his decision.
His mother has now left Crawford, officially because her motherhas had a stroke, but promising to return. I doubt she will. Perhapsdeep down she understands she's a woman whose grief curdled into anarcissistic rage, and most Americans will not follow where she'sgone -- to the wilder shores of anti-Bush, anti-war, anti-Iraq, anti-Afghanistan, anti-Israel, anti-American paranoia. Casey Sheehan'sservice was not the act of a child. A shame you can't say the sameabout his mom's new friends.
KAPOLEI, Hawaii (AP) — Obama disputes GOP presidential candidates; Says waterboarding is torture
A private Swiss bank says it has 56 million Swiss francs ($47.5 million) of client assets invested under the management of U.S. financier Bernard L. Madoff, who has been accused of securities fraud.
Banque Benedict Hentsch Fairfield Partners SA said in a statement on its Web site Saturday that it is taking "all necessary measures to protect the interests of its clientele and its own interests."
Madoff, a former Nasdaq stock market chairman, was arrested Thursday in New York hours after the collapse of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC. He has been accused by U.S. authorities of running a phony investment business that lost at least $50 billion.
The Geneva bank said the amount of its exposure is less than 5 percent of the wealth it is managing.
The bank merged in September with a New York-based Fairfield Greenwich Group, one of the major investment funds that announced they had placed money with Madoff. Fairfield Greenwich describes itself as a leading alternative asset investment specialist offering "best of breed" hedge funds and related products.
Fairfield said it had $7.5 billion in investments linked to Madoff, about half its total $14.1 billion under management.
The Geneva daily Le Temps reported Saturday that financial institutions based in the Swiss city had invested at least 5 billion francs ($4.2 billion) in Madoff funds.
The Swiss Federal Banking Commission, the country's banking regulator, doesn't yet know the full impact of the Madoff case on Switzerland, said spokesman Alain Bichsel.
SEOUL, South Korea - Military officers from the two Koreas were still meeting Friday after failing to iron out differences in marathon negotiations overnight aimed at making security arrangements for a historic test-run of trains on cross-border railways.
The talks were running for nearly 24 hours since Thursday, but there were few signs of headway.
Officials have said the two sides were in agreement on making security arrangements for next week's rail test, but it was not clear from pool reports what is holding up the sides from adopting a formal agreement.
The Chosun Ilbo newspaper said it was because North Korea was demanding that the South commit to talks on redrawing their disputed sea border off the divided peninsula's west coast.
In an apparent attempt to put pressure on the South negotiators, the North's navy command issued a warning Thursday that a skirmish near the maritime border - the scene of deadly clashes in 1999 and 2002 - could occur at any time unless Seoul stops entering what the North called its territorial waters.
North Korea doesn't recognize the current sea border demarcated by the United Nations at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, and has long claimed it should be further south.
The planned rail test would be the first time trains have crossed the tightly sealed border in more than half a century. Inter-Korean rail links were severed in the middle of the 1950-53 Korean War, but two tracks have been reconnected as part of a series of reconciliation projects launched since the two sides held the first-ever summit of their leaders in 2000.
Economic officials from both sides agreed last month to conduct the train run May 17, but North Korea's military has the final say on whether it goes forward because such a border crossing requires security arrangements.
The test would be a single run of trains along two restored tracks on each side of the peninsula.
South Korea hopes the inter-Korean railways could ultimately be linked to Russia's Trans-Siberian railroad and allow an overland route connecting the peninsula to Europe - significantly cutting delivery times for freight that now requires sea transport.
This week's talks, which had been scheduled to end Thursday, are the first high-level military contacts between the two sides in a year. The two Koreas remain technically at war because the Korean War ended in a cease-fire that has never been replaced with a peace treaty.
Ties between the two sides have warmed significantly since the 2000 summit, although they suffered during the international standoff over North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
Pyongyang conducted its first-ever nuclear test in October, chilling relations with the South. But the South began embracing the North again after Pyongyang agreed in February to shut down its nuclear reactor under an agreement with the United States and four other neighbors.
Still, the communist regime missed an April deadline to close the reactor because of a separate financial dispute with the United States and it is unclear when it will do so.
Zimbabwe's prime minister said Monday he did not suspect foul play in the car crash that killed his wife and injured him, telling mourners "it is painful for us but we have to look forward."
Morgan Tsvangirai, wearing dark glasses over a swollen eye, addressed a crowd outside his home in Zimbabwe's capital after receiving medical treatment in neighboring Botswana.
Zimbabwe's long history of political violence blamed on President Robert Mugabe's forces _ including several assassination attempts on Tsvangirai _ fueled speculation that the Friday crash was not accidental.
But Tsvangirai told supporters: "In this case I want to say there is no foul play. It was an accident."
The couple's Toyota Land Cruiser collided with a truck carrying U.S. aid on the outskirts of the capital on a notoriously dangerous road.
State television said the truck swerved on an uneven stretch of the road, which, like many in Zimbabwe, is poorly maintained. Tsvangirai's spokesman said the car sideswiped the truck and rolled at least three times. The driver of the truck was expected to appear in court later Monday.
A rally in honor of Susan Tsvangirai will be held Tuesday on the prime minister's 57th birthday. The funeral will take place on Wednesday. The couple had been married for more than three decades and had six children together.
"We know that we shall all die, but let's celebrate the life of Susan because we have gone through trials and tribulations together," he said.
Tsvangirai said he had returned to Harare to resume his duties in Zimbabwe's unity government because that is what his wife would have wanted.
The death triggered an outpouring of grief across the country in a show of the couple's popularity. Thousands of mourners were keeping vigil outside the house where Susan Tsvangirai's body is lying in state.
"It is painful for us but we have to look forward ... because she would have wanted us to continue moving on," Morgan Tsvangirai said.
Tsvangirai traveled to Botswana on Saturday after spending one night in a Zimbabwean hospital following the crash.
Last year he spent months in Botswana, fearing for his life at the height of a standoff with Mugabe _ the man with whom he formed a joint government in February.
Tsvangirai's party has called for an investigation into Friday's crash and has questioned the security measures for the prime minister.
The coalition was formed after a dispute over the presidential election nearly a year ago and months of state-sponsored violence against members of Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change and independent political activists.
Zimbabwe has the world's highest official inflation rate, a hunger crisis that has left most of its people dependent on foreign handouts and a cholera epidemic blamed on the collapse of a once-enviable health and sanitation system.
Consolidation is diminishing the ranks of banks across the country, but there is still plenty of room for regional banks to survive and thrive, according to Joseph Stieven, director of financial institutions research at Stifel, Nicolaus & Co., a brokerage and investment banking firm based in St. Louis.
Stieven, who mainly covers regional banks in the $20 billion and below asset class, addressed the ability of regional banks to compete against larger superregional and national banks-in part by sticking to their niche.
Bank Director: How do you think regional banks can compete with larger regional or even superregional banks?
Joseph stieven: The truth of the matter is that a lot of our companies are taking dramatic market share from these superregionals and mega-- regionals, and from the national firms. While the Bank of Americas might acquire market share, they end up losing a good percentage of it once they try to consolidate operations. And that business ends up, typically, flowing to local and regional banks.
Is that, in part, because they are focusing more sharply on niches?
No. I think it is due, in part, because they employ a slash-and-burn mentality that ends up causing customer dislocation many times.
Who is using this slash-and-burn mentality?
Most major acquirers have used it to some extent. They try to rationalize these deals by expense cuts, and expense cuts always cause people to be moved out the door. Banking is still a relationship business, and when people walk out the door, when employees leave, a lot of times those relationships leave.
Can you name some banks that this has helped?
There is a good example here in St. Louis. The two largest banks in St. Louis now are Bank of America and U.S. Bancorp. Both did not operate here five years ago. Basically, NationsBank acquired Boatman's [Bancshares] then merged with BankAmerica to gain their presence. Then Mercantile [Bank] was acquired by Firstar, which then merged with U.S. Bancorp.
If you look at the market share of these companies from the time that the acquisition was announced to today's, it is down materially. Some people believe that that is business they wanted run off-and I'm sure some of it is-but I am sure a bigger percentage is not.
They are still breaking out enough of the market share numbers?
You can get some of the data, some of the call reports, from the regulators, but it's not perfect. You can't get everything you want.
We have a bank here in St. Louis, the holding company is Mississippi Valley Bancshares, its subsidiary is the Southwest Bank of St. Louis. That's the bank that is always first to drop the prime rate in the United States. The company, since 1995, has reported some of the strongest earnings per share growth rates in the industry. Their loan growth has been averaging close to 20% a year. And I guarantee you that St. Louis isn't growing 20% a year. So where are they getting the business from? They are getting it from people leaving the mega-bank because they get fed up with having their loan officer changed every other year and things like that.
So the business gets picked up at the regional level?
Sure. We look for banks that can grow their business internally. The one thing I would like to remind directors of is this: Acquired market share growth does not translate into shareholder value; while a very high percentage of internal market-share growth translates into true shareholder value.
Why is that?
If you acquire somebody, you have to pay for all your market share. But if you grow internally, have you paid three times book or four times book for it? Of course not. The thing about acquisition market-share growth is that it's easy. It's fun. It's sexy. You get big. And CEOs can justify higher pay when they get bigger. But shareholders only care about growth that enhances earnings per share.
There have been studies that have found that the majority of mergers, not just bank mergers, are not beneficial in the long run.
But every time there is an acquisition, the company gets bigger and the CEO says, "I deserve more pay because I've got a bigger company."
Looking also at the regional banks, do they have a problem battling these large institutions that offer just about anything you can think of? Citigroup, for example, offers insurance and credit cards, loans, almost everything. Is that a problem for regional banks?
No. I don't think so. They are going after different markets. Citi is interested in making loans to people at $50 million to $100 million a chunk. A lot of these regional banks are interested in making $1 million loans.
Is it best, if you are a regional, to look at a couple of niches, at what you do best?
There is no doubt. If you look at the highest performing regional banks, you will typically find they have certain niches that they are very good at.
Can you name a few and their niches?
Mississippi Valley Bancshares here in St. Louis is simply a commercial middle-market lender. They don't do anything on the retail side except take deposits. They might make a mortgage loan if they get lost.
Sterling Bancshares in Houston is a very strong, small business lender. Their average loan is well under a million dollars.
1st Source [Bank] in South Bend [Indiana] has several niche businesses that they actually take on a nationwide basis. One is used private aircraft lending. They also do financing of fleets for rental agencies and heavy equipment financing. Very specialized.
How did they get into that business?
The family, and the largest shareholder, was from The Associates in Dallas, which is an assetbased lender.
Are these banks also some of the ones that you are bullish on?
We love Fifth Third as a company. They are a fabulous company. But when the stock is valued at 30 times earnings ... you know, I love to drive a Rolls-Royce ... but you have to look at valuations too. If a stock is already highly valued, it might not necessarily be one we're pushing right now because you've got to look at the valuations.
It's a difficult market, but what are some of the banks you are bullish on right now?
Actually, the bank stocks have been acting pretty well. We actually think the smaller regionals look exceptionally attractive right now, and here are a couple reasons.
Number one: typically, the smaller regionals are growing much faster internally. Number two: typically, at the smaller regionals, management owns a lot more stock, therefore, they think like stockholders. They are not looking to get a 70 million dollar gift after they have had bad earnings, as some big banks have done.
We really think some of the mega-regionals are playing from a defensive position. As I've already said, stockholders get rewarded for internal growth, not acquired growth.
Suppose I said to you, "I'm going to compensate you on internal growth, and I'm going to give you market share. You choose what market you want to be in." Let's say you choose New York, and you are being compensated on market share growth, but it's got to be internal growth. Do you want to start with 35% market share or 3% market share? You're going to choose 3% because that's where you are going to grow much faster. From 35%, it's darn hard to grow. So we think the mega-regionals are working from a very defensive position.
In other words, it is difficult to grow from a cost-cutting basis?
We are not a believer in banking as a cost-cutting business. It is a revenue growth business. Revenue growth has got to be the key driver, and expense cuts are not the way to go. You have to live tight expense controls every day. But you have to grow your revenues.
What are some of the other regionals you are bullish on?
We have got a lot of super, little niche banks out there whose returns and asset quality have been exceptionally strong and stable, even as this market has been very volatile. Two that have done an excellent job in niches are Republic Bank (RBNC) in [Lansing,] Michigan and Irwin Financial (IRWN) in Indiana.
What are some of the central issues that bank directors should be aware of at this point in time? What should they have on their radar screen?
I think the biggest key is for directors to understand how shareholder value is derived. Value is derived by stockholders. As a board member you have to live in a per share world. Stockholders don't lay claim to net income; they lay claim to their proportionate interest. If a company grows its net income 50%, but if shares outstanding grow 50%, you are no better off. I would remind board members that they have to live in a per share world.
Well, in fact there might be something poetic about this. Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor, the dominant force of women's beach volleyball, are leading the party, but also playing a real sport. Real athletes. Real training.
Gold medal. They beat China's Jie Wang and Jia Tian 21-18, 21-18 today to win gold in the Olympics for the second straight time.
''I don't even know ... just so many things,'' Walsh said, trying to explain. ''I'm a blessed girl. Crazy conditions. We feel like warriors. Just eight years of awesomeness.''
That's it. She captured it. Eight years of awesomeness, and that's this mad rush of a blend of sport and party and sex appeal. But in the downpour, the party dampens some and the sport shines through.
The truth is, you cannot separate these things, and the beach volleyball people don't want you to, anyway.
But maybe we should take this thing seriously.
'ADD FUEL'
This has got to be a culture clash for the Chinese, watching women in bikinis play in the sand to blaring music and a whacked out p.a. announcer, on a world stage for the Olympics. Imagine a woman in the stands holding a Chinese flag, dancing in front of this.
Boom, boom, boom. You get lost in the beat. ''Add fuel,'' the p.a. guy yells.
''Add fuel,'' the crowd yells back.
Add fuel.
That's the translation, anyway.
''Everybody on your feet,'' p.a. guy yells. May-Treanor spikes the ball, and the guy yells, ''U-S-A.'' And the crowd goes along with it, even though we're in China and the opponent is Chinese.
The crowd chants ''Chi-na,'' and then ''USA.'' It goes back and forth, and you think this might be angry fans. But no, each side waits for the other to complete its chant. This is rhythmic clapping, rhythmic chanting. Everyone is here together.
Walsh and May-Treanor have won 108 consecutive matches. They have now won 82 of their last 83 international tournaments. Can you imagine? This is the greatest combination, the biggest domination in hybrid sports/party history.
Is this some sort of dynasty?
''I don't know about dynasty,'' May-Treanor said. ''Maybe legends.''
Walsh and May-Treanor are an amazing example of teamwork. They have been together so long that they always know exactly what the other one is going to do.
Walsh is 6-3, and it's nearly impossible to stop her spike. May-Treanor is great at everything else.
Walsh said she had a dream about rain a night earlier, and that she considers rain good luck. As for the sense they have for each other on court, May-Treanor said they feel ''tied together with a 10-foot rope.''
''I like to say it's a Jedi mind trick because we've been together for so long.''
Eight years of awesomeness. I love that.
YES, THERE'S HYPOCRISY
Everyone in the crowd wore a plastic baggie over their bodies. Pink, blue, green or yellow. Dark clouds hovered, but the place was packed with color.
May-Treanor spikes on into a Chinese player's stomach: ''HEAVY HEAT,'' p.a. guy yells.
Both are going to take a break from the game after this season to start a family. But Walsh said they might be back by the London Games in 2012. They haven't looked that far ahead yet.
May-Treanor spread some of her mom's ashes in the sand before the tournament, as she did before the Athens Games. Walsh's wedding ring slipped off her finger earlier in the week, and they had to use metal detectors hours later to find it.
It's the absurd mixed with the serious.
During breaks, they blare tunes new and old. Once the dancing girls rocked to bagpipe music. Once it was ''La Bamba'' and ''Sex Bomb.''
Yes, sex bomb. And if you are taking this sport seriously and denying that you noticed these women were wearing bikinis, then you are a liar.
Of course they sell sex. And you can be worked up about it as an outrage, or you can loosen up and join the party. Honestly, I've done both.
Hypocritical? I suppose. But it's just a great party mixed with great athletes.
''Awesome,'' Walsh said. ''It was awesome.''
Comment at suntimes.com.
Photo: Natacha Pisarenko, AP / Kerri Walsh (left) and Misty May-Treanor celebrate their 21-18, 21-18 beach volleyball gold-medal victory over a Chinese team earlier today in Beijing. ;
Japan's core machinery orders, a closely watched indicator of corporate spending, dropped 5.4 percent in April, the government said Wednesday, dimming prospects for a quick recovery in the world's second-largest economy.
The April result was far worse than the average forecast among market analysts of a 0.6 percent month-on-month rise in core machinery orders. The value of orders was the lowest in 22 years, suggesting companies are wary of investing while Japan's economy is mired in its steepest recession since World War II amid an unprecedented collapse in global demand.
"Companies are very reluctant to spend as they have yet to see signs showing the economy has bottomed," said Tetsuya Igarashi, an official in the Cabinet Office, which released the data.
Japan's economy shrank at an annual pace of 15.2 percent in the January-March period, the steepest drop since 1955, the government said in May.
The value of Japan's core private sector machinery orders, which exclude volatile orders from electric power companies and shipbuilders, tumbled from March to 688.8 billion yen ($7.1 billion), the lowest since April 1987's 674.6 billion yen, the government said.
"In the face of sluggish exports and weak domestic demand, companies are cautious over new investments," said Hiroshi Watanabe, an economist at Daiwa Institute of Research.
"Uncertainty over the direction of the global economy continues to weigh on corporate sentiment. It is likely that core machinery orders will be flat in the latter part of the year," he said.
April's 5.4 percent fall was the steepest decline since November last year, when machinery orders dropped a revised 12.2 percent, the government said. The orders also fell for the second consecutive month.
Machinery orders in the manufacturing sector dropped 9.4 percent month-on-month, while those among non-manufacturers fell 8.8 percent, it said.
Orders from the regular machinery sector, which includes products like boilers and construction machines, plunged 44.3 percent month-on-month, while those from the metals sector were down 23.5 percent.
But orders from the auto sector rose 10.5 percent and those from the electronics sector jumped 15.6 percent during the month, offering a glimmer of hope in those battered sectors.
The Cabinet Office said Japan's core machinery orders from April to June would fall by 5 percent from the January-March quarter.
This year, physicians will tell 9,000 West Virginians they havedeveloped cancer.
Next year, that number probably will increase as residents growolder.
"Age is a risk factor for cancer and West Virginia is No. 1 inthehighest median age," said Beverly Keener, director of the WestVirginia Cancer Registry.The registry's new report, covering the years 1993 to 1996, saidcancer is the second-leading cause of death in the state, surpassedonly by heart disease. The vast majority of cases were diagnosed inthose over 45.Each year of the report, about 4,700 West Virginians died ofcancer."Most alarming is the lung cancer rate," Keener said.Cancer of the lung and bronchus kills West Virginians more thanany other cancer, or one in every three cancer deaths. It kills mentwice as often as it kills women.While the cancer registry report is cumulative and does notseparate out specific counties, it does examine rates in eightdifferent public health management districts in West Virginia.The highest rates of cancer of the lung and bronchus occurred indistricts two and three, which represent Mingo, Logan, Wayne,Lincoln, Cabell, Mason, Boone, Putnam, Kanawha and Clay counties.In the country, state females rank third for lung cancer whilestate males rank sixth."If we take out lung cancer, our mortality rate is fairly close tothe national rate," Keener said.The irony is, many cases of lung cancer can easily be prevented,the report says. Smoking is responsible for almost 90 percent ofcases of cancer of the lung and bronchus.Other risk factors include exposure to arsenic, certain organicchemicals, asbestos, radon, radiation and environmental tobaccosmoke.For all cancers combined, West Virginia females have the eighth-highest rate in the U.S. and males rank 11th.On the other hand, the rate of female breast cancer incidence anddeath is lower than the country as a whole. State women rank 41st.For prostate cancer, state males are way down at No. 40.Overall, cancers of the prostate and female breast are two of themost frequently diagnosed in the U.S., Keener said.Many cancers can be prevented if detected and treated early.Ways to help prevent cancer include reducing tobacco use, reducingdietary fat and increasing consumption of fresh vegetables, fruitandfiber.Writer Therese S. Cox can be reached at 348-4874.
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan believes a winter break wouldimprove the standard of football in the closing stages of the season.
The Hoops face their sixth match in 18 days tonight when Falkirkvisit Parkhead for a rearranged SPL fixture.
Strachan is without a number of first-team players, includinggoalkeeper Artur Boruc, left-back Lee Naylor and midfielder ShunsukeNakamura, after his injury list grew in recent weeks.
And the Hoops manager believes their Champions League campaignmay have taken a mental toll on his players.
So Strachan feels they - and the supporters - would benefitfrom an opportunity to recharge their batteries after the …
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Will Barton had 25 points and 11 rebounds, Antonio Barton hit a big jumper in the second overtime, and No. 8 Memphis held off Tennessee 99-97 in the Maui Invitational on Tuesday.
A day after bogging down against No. 15 Michigan, Memphis (2-1) had its uptempo game going in full gear while building a 16-point lead in the first half. The Tigers let Tennessee claw its way back and had to survive last-second shots in both overtimes to pull out the victory.
Antonio Barton had 21 points and Adonis Thomas added 19 points for Memphis.
Jeronne Maymon almost single-handedly led the Vols (2-2) to victory, with 32 points, 20 rebounds and a tying shot in the closing seconds of regulation. Maymon also hit 16 of 17 free throws, but his turnaround jumper at the second overtime buzzer fell short.
Tennessee dug its way out of the deep first-half hole, tying it on Maymon's hard drive with 5 seconds left in regulation.
Neither team could hit last-second shots in the first overtime and Memphis went up 99-97 in the second on Antonio Barton's jumper with 75 seconds left. After the teams traded misses, Tennessee's Trae Golden had the ball stripped on a drive with 3 seconds left and Memphis stole the inbound pass, but lost the ball on a traveling call.
The Vols got the ball in to Maymon for a good look, but Memphis challenged and the ball fell harmlessly to the court.
Memphis didn't have much luck getting Michigan to play at its frenetic pace and struggled against the Wolverines' mix of defenses in a 73-61 loss in Monday's opener.
The Tigers couldn't keep Michigan guards Tim Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke out of the lane and were disjointed at times on offense. Memphis had just six assists on 19 field goals and shot 33 percent, including 4 of 20 from 3-point range.
Coach Josh Pastner's biggest concern was that the Tigers attack, playing instead from side to side against Michigan's zone.
Barton had no trouble attacking against Tennessee, scoring 11 points in the first nine minutes. The rest of his teammates weren't bad, either, hitting 3s and throwing down dunks during a 16-0 run that put the Tigers up 40-24.
Memphis started missing a few shots at the end of regulation to allow Tennessee to battle back and tie it on Maymon's drive. Will Barton missed on a floater at the end of regulation and a half-court heave at the first overtime buzzer was well off the mark, but the Tigers eked it out in the second OT.
Tennessee managed to keep up with Duke in its opener before fading in a 77-67 loss in its first big test under new coach Cuonzo Martin.
The Vols answered a couple of early runs by the Blue Devils despite missing numerous shots at the rim and were still within reach well into the second half. Tennessee just couldn't stop Duke's penetration, particularly freshman guard Austin Rivers, or knock down an outside shot, failing to hit a 3-pointer (0-for-8) for the first time in since 1997, a streak of 461 games.
The Vols shot better against Memphis, going 4 for 8 from long range in the first half, but missed five straight shots and had two turnovers during the Tigers' big run. Tennessee also struggled defensively at times, giving up good looks inside and out because of Memphis' ability to get into the lane against its defense.
The Vols chipped away at the lead in the second half and had a couple of chances to win it in both overtimes, but couldn't come through.
Byline: Alan Robinson Associated Press
PITTSBURGH -- The Philadelphia Phillies haven't been big winners for a long time. Thanks to Ryan Howard and Bobby Abreu, they're tough to beat in the Home Run Derby.
Howard made certain his first trip to the All-Star game would be a memorable one, beating out the Mets' David Wright to give the Phillies their second derby winner in as many summers.
"That'll give the fans in Philly something to cheer about," said Howard, whose 28 homers at the All-Star break tie him for second in the NL.
After homering into the Allegheny River earlier, the 2005 NL Rookie of the Year's fifth and decisive homer in the championship round banged off a "Hit It Here" sign above the right-field stands to give a lucky fan 500 free round-trip air tickets.
"I didn't know I'd hit the sign, but that's great," said Howard, who insists he hasn't tried to hit homers in batting practice since playing at Southwest Missouri State.
Wright, with Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca throwing to him, had a big edge after the first round with 16, or six more than any other competitor. But he had only six in the next two rounds, and Howard won the final with extra at-bats to spare.
"Once you get past that first round you want to win, so it's a little disappointing," Wright said.
Wright's 16 homers were the third most of any round in the derby's 21-year history, though he hit eight fewer than Abreu's record-breaking 24 a year ago in Detroit. Abreu went on to win the 2005 competition with 41, or 14 more than any other winner. He wasn't eligible this year after not being chosen for the All-Star game.
PNC Park, with its distant fences in left and left-center and short, 320-foot porch in right field, favors left-handed batters, but the right-handed Wright repeatedly reached the seats with ease.
But while Abreu's 24 homers did not carry over to the second round, a rules change enacted this year meant Wright's did. That gave the Mets third baseman a six-homer advantage over Boston's David Ortiz before any second-round homers were hit, all but guaranteeing Wright a spot in the finals even though he hit only two in the second round.
Howard made a big push to get into the final round, hitting 10 homers in the second round for a two-round total of 18 to tie Wright and pass Ortiz and Florida's Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera had nine homers in the first round and six in the second.
The totals did not carry over into the final round, when Howard outhomered Wright 5-4.
Unlike last year, when the Pirates' Jason Bay failed to homer in Comerica Park, each of the eight competitors homered. Troy Glaus of Toronto finished with one, but the other seven hit at least three.
Eliminated after the first round were Jermaine Dye (7) Miguel Tejada (3), Lance Berkman (3) and Glaus.
Ortiz, Berkman and Howard all found the Allegheny River behind the right-field stands on the fly, a feat accomplished only once in regular-season play. Daryle Ward did it for the Astros in July 2002 with a drive estimated at 479 feet.
The fans at PNC Park don't see as many homers as they would like from the last-place Pirates, so they cheered every homer and reacted loudly to any ball that looked river-bound. And while Pittsburgh is an NL city, the biggest cheers and the brightest flashbulb bursts were for Ortiz.
Not only was PNC Park sold out -- the crowd of 38,702 has been topped only once for a Pirates game -- hundreds of fans lined the Roberto Clemente Bridge behind center field for a free but distant view.
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Photo Graphic: "Home Run Derby" - see microfilm
AL BELLO/Getty Images
Ryan Howard of the Phillies won the Home Run Derby, hitting five home runs in the final round to beat the Mets' David Wright, who hit four.
HOWARD EXTENDS PHILS' DERBY STREAK.(Sports)Byline: Alan Robinson Associated Press
PITTSBURGH -- The Philadelphia Phillies haven't been big winners for a long time. Thanks to Ryan Howard and Bobby Abreu, they're tough to beat in the Home Run Derby.
Howard made certain his first trip to the All-Star game would be a memorable one, beating out the Mets' David Wright to give the Phillies their second derby winner in as many summers.
"That'll give the fans in Philly something to cheer about," said Howard, whose 28 homers at the All-Star break tie him for second in the NL.
After homering into the Allegheny River earlier, the 2005 NL Rookie of the Year's fifth and decisive homer in the championship round banged off a "Hit It Here" sign above the right-field stands to give a lucky fan 500 free round-trip air tickets.
"I didn't know I'd hit the sign, but that's great," said Howard, who insists he hasn't tried to hit homers in batting practice since playing at Southwest Missouri State.
Wright, with Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca throwing to him, had a big edge after the first round with 16, or six more than any other competitor. But he had only six in the next two rounds, and Howard won the final with extra at-bats to spare.
"Once you get past that first round you want to win, so it's a little disappointing," Wright said.
Wright's 16 homers were the third most of any round in the derby's 21-year history, though he hit eight fewer than Abreu's record-breaking 24 a year ago in Detroit. Abreu went on to win the 2005 competition with 41, or 14 more than any other winner. He wasn't eligible this year after not being chosen for the All-Star game.
PNC Park, with its distant fences in left and left-center and short, 320-foot porch in right field, favors left-handed batters, but the right-handed Wright repeatedly reached the seats with ease.
But while Abreu's 24 homers did not carry over to the second round, a rules change enacted this year meant Wright's did. That gave the Mets third baseman a six-homer advantage over Boston's David Ortiz before any second-round homers were hit, all but guaranteeing Wright a spot in the finals even though he hit only two in the second round.
Howard made a big push to get into the final round, hitting 10 homers in the second round for a two-round total of 18 to tie Wright and pass Ortiz and Florida's Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera had nine homers in the first round and six in the second.
The totals did not carry over into the final round, when Howard outhomered Wright 5-4.
Unlike last year, when the Pirates' Jason Bay failed to homer in Comerica Park, each of the eight competitors homered. Troy Glaus of Toronto finished with one, but the other seven hit at least three.
Eliminated after the first round were Jermaine Dye (7) Miguel Tejada (3), Lance Berkman (3) and Glaus.
Ortiz, Berkman and Howard all found the Allegheny River behind the right-field stands on the fly, a feat accomplished only once in regular-season play. Daryle Ward did it for the Astros in July 2002 with a drive estimated at 479 feet.
The fans at PNC Park don't see as many homers as they would like from the last-place Pirates, so they cheered every homer and reacted loudly to any ball that looked river-bound. And while Pittsburgh is an NL city, the biggest cheers and the brightest flashbulb bursts were for Ortiz.
Not only was PNC Park sold out -- the crowd of 38,702 has been topped only once for a Pirates game -- hundreds of fans lined the Roberto Clemente Bridge behind center field for a free but distant view.
CAPTION(S):
Photo Graphic: "Home Run Derby" - see microfilm
AL BELLO/Getty Images
Ryan Howard of the Phillies won the Home Run Derby, hitting five home runs in the final round to beat the Mets' David Wright, who hit four.
NAGPUR, India (AP) — New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori said Friday his team's creditable performances against India in the first two drawn tests will count for nothing if it loses the deciding third match.
"Our team will be viewed on the basis of this test rather than the previous ones," Vettori said ahead of the final match starting at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium Saturday.
New Zealand came into the series on the back of a 4-0 one-day series defeat in Bangladesh, but now has a chance of beating the top-ranked test side on its own soil.
India had to salvage a draw in the first match at Ahmedabad and also failed to dominate the second match at Hyderabad.
"We've played well so far," Vettori said. "We hope we don't get ahead of ourselves as we are excited to be in this position."
New Zealand had lost 4-0 in a five-match limited-overs series to Bangladesh last month, but Vettori commended his team for its recovery.
"The team picked itself up pretty well, made good preparations for this series and the performances followed. There is a lot of confidence going around now," Vettori said after a team practice session in overcast conditions.
The Black Caps skipper said results from previous matches at this venue indicated there could be some help for seam bowlers after two matches on flat tracks.
"As for the pitch, we can only go by history. (Dale) Steyn bowled well here, so we can expect a little more pace, but that will unfold as the match goes on," said Vettori.
Steyn had finished with a 10-wicket haul in the last match at the venue, which India lost to South Africa by an innings and six runs earlier this year.
The only other match at this venue, between India and Australia in 2008, was won by the host by a margin of 172 runs in a game dominated by spinners.
"We are expecting India to be at its best. We have to see who they bring in for (the injured) Zaheer Khan. It is likely to be Ishant Sharma and he is likely to pose a challenge for us," Vettori added.
Vettori added that he hopes to contain Harbhajan Singh's batting, after the off-spinner became the first No. 8 batsman to score centuries in consecutive tests, but warned that he was a major threat with the ball.
"Harbhajan is one of the guys I really admire, he is a fantastic spinner. He probably has not got the results he wanted in this series but he has a wide repertoire and is a very good bowler. He has proved himself over the years and there is no way we are going to underestimate him."
India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, whose team missed a second straight day of practice due to rain, said Zaheer would be missed but others needed to take responsibility.
"Every bowler's role is crucial when you are playing with only four bowlers," said Dhoni. "As for Harbhajan, he has been bowling well but not getting the wickets and the onus is also on others take wickets."
The India skipper felt the pitch might not have much help for seamers.
"The pitch is dry and not the one on which we might like to play an extra seamer," he said.
Though there have been intermittent showers in the area over the past two days, the weather is expected to clear for the next few days.
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