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"The Rocky Horror Glee Show"

2010-10-26T22:44:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I miss the Will Schuester of the Glee pilot.

Do you remember that guy? That was a guy you built a TV show around. He was a man chasing his memories of the good times back in high school. He was a man who was trying to inspire kids to create great art because he never had. He was a man who had to give up a job that maybe wasn’t his dream job but was certainly a job he loved because his wife was pregnant. He wanted to be a dad, but he also wanted to be a kid again, and the divide between those two halves of himself was downright poignant. Especially in the original cut of the show’s pilot, the one that I don’t believe ever aired, he was an essentially tragic figure, holding on way too hard to something he should have let go of long ago. The show realized this was kind of creepy, but it also realized that he could be a sad little man and still create an environment where his kids felt free to be themselves.

By and large, that Will Schuester is completely gone from the show. You’ll catch glimpses of him here and there, particularly in last season’s finale, but the show seems uninterested in him as anything other than a mouthpiece for whatever any writer on the show is trying to say that week. The recent, rampant ads on Fox about how “Will Schuester is trying to make the world a better place!” increasingly strike me as outright lies, not just vague advertising platitudes. Will hasn’t been even a ghost of a good person for something like 25 episodes now, and the few times the show does anything interesting with him – like when he found out Terri’s pregnancy was fake – have been drowned out by everything else the show does with the character.

I suspect the big beef against “The Rocky Horror Glee Show,” a singularly flat and affectless episode of television and the worst hour this show has ever produced, is going to be that everything in it is deeply implausible. Somehow, Will is almost able to pull off a production of The Rocky Horror Show in a small-town Ohio school, while only cutting a few items for content, and he does it all in just a week. At the same time, Sue becomes obsessed with shutting him down because episode writer Ryan Murphy sees the character less as a person and more as a bludgeon and because, for whatever reason, she immediately becomes obsessed with the idea of winning a local Emmy. All of this didn’t bother me. So long as the characters on this show are consistent (which, admittedly, is sometimes a tall order for this show), inconsistency in plotting doesn’t bother me (as it wouldn’t on other TV comedies). Part of the fun of Glee is that it will do anything for an audience reaction.

My big beef against “The Rocky Horror Glee Show” is that it tries to have things all ways, for all people. It tries to be a tribute to the original Rocky Horror Show for the musical’s fans. It tries to be a standard, Ryan Murphy episode of Glee for those who have a casual relationship with the show but really like Glee. It tries to be a primer on the musical itself for those who’ve never seen the stage show, though it mostly just gives up on this after the first 20 minutes or so. The way it tries to have things all ways is the most egregious thing wrong with the episode: It grounds everything in the character of Will and in his pursuit of Emma, and it pretends we care about this as much or more than whatever it is the kids are up to. Furthermore, it takes Will’s pursuit of her and finds it deeply romantic, when it’s really just kinda creepy.

The basic idea is this: Emma’s favorite movie is The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Why? Dunno. The episode half-asses an explanation, but I wish they’d just left it out. Will, abruptly realizing yet again how little he knows about the woman he ostensibly loves, decides to put on the show for the population of Lima, somehow mustering the wherewithal and resources to mount a full musical without anybody much caring at all. There’s some argument over who should play Frank N. Furter, but the role ends up going to Mercedes. (Kurt refuses it; Mike Chang’s parents refuse it for him.) Sue gets wind of all of this and tries to shut the show down, finally succeeding at “protecting the children” or whatever (and actually making some good points about how art that has as its sole aim pushing the envelope often ends up pretty bad). Finn, appearing as Brad, doesn’t want to strip down to his underwear. Sam … er … CHORD OVERSTREET! is an asshole for no apparent reason. A bunch of stuff happens in a mostly formless middle, then Will makes a series lowpoint speech about how everybody is an outcast, including the original Rocky Horror fans AND the glee kids. It’s a muddled, terrible message, particularly in an episode that seems to have an uneasy relationship with ACTUAL outcasts, transsexuals. (About which more in stray observations.)

I bag on Ryan Murphy a lot in these reviews, but I do think the guy is capable of coming up with great moments on this show. I think “Wheels” is a good episode (though much of that could be credited to journeyman TV director Paris Barclay), and “Mattress” has the aforementioned confrontation between Will and Terri, a moment as raw as anything the show has ever done. Murphy’s also the best writer on the show’s small staff at coming up with completely bizarre one-liners or stock characters that then become amusingly awesome, like Sue or Brittany. But the simple fact of the matter is that Ryan Murphy is one of the most powerful men in television right now. He could be making any kind of show he wants, and what he’s choosing to make is a half-assed, attention deficit disorder-ridden show about whatever the hell pops into his brain at that moment. Consistency isn’t important to me. If Murphy wants to make a show that’s a grand series of giant, musical climaxes, I think he should go for it. But there’s nothing in his career that suggests he has anything like the tenacity or the vision (to crib a word from Matt Zoller Seitz) to just up and go for it.

I try to only hand out F’s to episodes I genuinely believe to be the worst of a show’s run. An F, I think, should go to that episode that represents a nadir the show will never visit again. And I certainly hope “The Rocky Horror Glee Show,” which has always seemed like an idea Murphy just kinda tossed off at Comic-Con (seriously, check the original quote) and then felt obliged to make, is the series’ lowpoint. As an episode of Glee, it fails because it doesn’t bother to ground any of the action in anything other than a funhouse version of these characters. (OK, Finn’s worries come close, and I’m tempted to bump this up to a D- for that storyline alone, but we must press on!) The Will and Emma storyline is a complete mess, misplacing what made either of the characters enjoyable in the first place. It fails as a Rocky Horror tribute because it misplaces a lot of the show’s charm and messages, in favor of flat recreations of some of the musical numbers. And it fails as a bridge between those two audiences because it mostly just gives up trying to satisfy either. I still think Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan are making a fantastic television show. I still think Ryan Murphy is capable of doing so. But the show Murphy makes is increasingly holding the other shows hostage, and it’s time for all involved to cut bait with these ridiculous theme episodes and get back to what made the show lovable in the first place.

Stray observations:

    * My wife has never seen Rocky Horror, and she was utterly lost throughout this episode. The episode uses the stage show as an end unto itself, something we’re supposed to care about because the characters do, but it largely misrepresents the stage show at the same time, creating a weird disconnect that must have been jarring for those unfamiliar with the original property.
    * I would have bumped this up to a D if “Time Warp” hadn’t sucked so much. I’ve seriously never seen a more lifeless version of that song, and I’VE SEEN THE DREW CAREY SHOW VERSION.
    * About transsexuals: Obviously, one of the most subversive things about the original show is that it features as its – arguably romantic – lead a transsexual. But Glee would have trouble addressing this issue without it taking over the show and making it no longer “family fun” or whatever, so it mostly just decides to toss in some jokes about transsexuals and call it a day. It’s more offensive than if the show had simply ignored the whole thing to begin with.
    * This episode even fails as a Halloween episode. Normally, the sight of people in crazy costumes would be enough to melt my heart just a bit, but not here. Not now. (I also have a soft spot for high school musicals, but this failed to work on that level as well.)
    * I’m working on researching just how much each of the show’s three writers brought to the show at its initial stages, especially by reading my way through the original pilot script (sans Kurt and Sue) and the original MOVIE script. I’ll hopefully have some thoughts on this in the next review I do.
    * Despite it all, I think Rachel and Finn as Janet and Brad is pretty good casting. So is Kurt as Riff Raff. Oh, and Santana as the lips was pretty cool. Honestly, this could have worked if it had just gone all out and done a straight-up Rocky Horror tribute. It probably wouldn't have been GOOD, but it wouldn't have been BORING.
    * You can all thank Myles McNutt for the horrifying screencap.
    * "I have no idea what's going on in this script, and it's not in a cool Inception way."
    * "None of this is plausible!"

http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-rocky-horror-glee-show,46736/

Hubble sees Pluto changing color, ice sheet cover

2010-02-04T21:42:00.000-08:00

Spurned Pluto is changing its looks, donning more rouge in its complexion and altering its iceball surface here and there.
Color astronomers surprised.

Newly released Hubble Space Telescope photos show the distant one-time planet — demoted to "dwarf planet" status in 2006 — is changing color and its ice sheets are shifting.
The photos, released by NASA Thursday, paint a Pluto that is significantly redder than it had been for the past several decades. To the layman, it has a yellow-orange hue, but astronomers say it has about 20 percent more red than it used to have.
The pictures show icy frozen nitrogen on Pluto's surface growing and shrinking, brightening in the north and darkening in the south. Astronomers say Pluto's surface is changing more than the surfaces of other bodies in the solar system. That's unexpected because a season lasts 120 years in some regions of Pluto.
"It's a little bit of a surprise to see these changes happening so big and so fast," said astronomer Marc Buie of the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colo. "This is unprecedented."
From 1954 to 2000, Pluto didn't change in color when it was photographed from Earth. But after that, it did. The red levels increased by 20 percent, maybe up to 30 percent, and stabilized from about 2000 to 2002, Buie said. It's not as red as Mars, however, Buie said.
Buie said he can explain the redness, but not why it changed so dramatically and so recently. The planet has a lot of methane, which contains carbon and hydrogen atoms. The hydrogen gets stripped off by solar winds and other factors, leaving carbon-rich areas on the surface, which tend to be red and dark.
The Hubble photos were taken in 2002 and the analysis took a few years. But why Pluto changed so quickly was such a mystery that Buie held off for years on announcing what he had found, worried that he might be wrong. However, since Pluto's moon Charon hadn't changed color in the same telescope images, he decided the Pluto findings weren't an instrument mistake.
His analysis also found that nitrogen ice was shifting in size and density in surprising ways. It's horribly cold on Pluto with, paradoxically, the bright spots being the coldest at about -382 degrees Fahrenheit. Astronomers are still arguing about the temperatures of the warm dark spots, which Buie believes may be 30 degrees warmer than the darker areas.
Part of the difficulty in figuring out what is going on with Pluto is that it takes the dwarf planet 248 years to circle the sun, so astronomers don't know what conditions are like when it's is farthest from the sun. The last time Pluto was at its farthest point was in 1870, which was decades before Pluto was discovered. Unlike Earth, Pluto's four seasons aren't equal lengths of time.
Buie's explanation makes sense, said retired NASA astronomer Stephen Maran, co-author of a book on Pluto. "Pluto is interesting and poorly understood, whether it qualifies as a planet or not," he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100204/ap_on_sc/us_sci_pluto

Natural Pain Relief for Back Pain: China medicine

2010-02-01T23:40:00.000-08:00

back pain brought on by the wear and tear of living. It seems simple to pop a pill for the pain, but why not avoid the side effects by trying natural possibilities first? You can turn to natural healing practices and herbs to alleviate back pain.

The Chinese medical perspective
According to Chinese medicine, the skeletal structure, bones, and lower back are part of the kidney network. Kidney energy tends to diminish as we age, more rapidly with unhealthy diet, excessive strain, and youthful indiscretions such as drug and alcohol use. Weakness in the kidney network results in symptoms of lower back pain, as well as general weakness, fatigue, and other signs of premature aging. Replenishing kidney energy is a slow and difficult process; that is why it is essential to preserve kidney energy. Fortunately, through qigong exercises, herbs, proper diet and lifestyle, you can slow down its depletion and even regenerate certain aspects of kidney energy, and in the process, ease some of your back pain. Try these tips!

1. Eucommia for your aching back
Eucommia is a traditional ingredient in herbal formulas for back and joint pain and helps to strengthen your bones, tendons, and ligaments. Western studies with rats have discovered that both the leaves and the bark of eucommia contain a compound that encourages the development of collagen, an important part of connective tissues like skin, tendons, and ligaments. A typical dosage is 350 mg twice a day. You can also try the traditional Chinese Arthritis/Joint formula, which includes eucommia and other herbs that support a strong back.

2. Press here for relief
Lower back pain is one of the most common problems that we treat at the Tao of Wellness. We use acupuncture and bodywork to reduce pain, which has proven quite effective. Like acupuncture, acupressure is the art of acupuncture without needles, where you use your own fingers to stimulate a specific acupoint. The combination of the following two acupoints is good for strengthening the kidneys and alleviating back pain:
• Find the acupoint: Forceful Torrent (Ki-3), which is in the depression between the inner anklebone and the Achilles tendon of the right foot. Apply steady pressure with your right thumb until you feel soreness. Hold for 3 minutes. Repeat on the left foot.

• Find the acupoint: Supporting the Core. It's in the middle of the popliteal crease behind the knee of the right leg. Apply pressure with your right middle finger until you feel soreness. Hold for 3 minutes. Repeat on your left leg.

You can also massage the parts or your back that are in pain. Tonic oil, which consists of oils of camphor, peppermint, eucalyptus, fennel, and wintergreen, can be massaged into your back for relief from minor aches and pains. For a traditional blend of tonic oil in a pure sesame oil base,

3. Tasty treats for back pain
Make a delicious anti-inflammatory cocktail by mixing equal parts of unsweetened black cherry juice with dark grape juice and drink 3 to 6 glasses a day until the pain has eased. Also, feature more pineapple in your diet. Pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain, which is a natural anti-inflammatory that helps with back pain, as well as muscle and joint pain.

4. Exercise can ease your back
Most back pain is caused by the wear and tear of living, which over time weakens our skeletal structure, in the form of bone loss or a displaced disk. Research conclusively shows that exercise early in life builds bone mass and strengthens the skeletal structure, helping to prevent injury down the road. The good news is that if you are advancing in age, regular exercise can slow the progress of degenerative bone disorders. Generally for a healthy back, I recommend a combination of exercises: a 30-minute daily walk, moderate weight training to strengthen muscles and bones, and tai chi or qigong to build endurance and flexibility. A good form to choose is Dao-In qigong, which is gentle on the body and great for loosening up the back. . During acute back pain, exercise may be difficult or too painful. Until you are mobile, bed rest is the best.
I hope you have found some natural ways to alleviate your back pain! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.
May you live long, live strong, and live happy!
-Dr. Mao

http://health.yahoo.com/experts/drmao/23499/natural-pain-relief-for-back-pain/

Eight Craziest health rumors

2010-02-01T20:14:00.000-08:00

True story: A good friend, someone I consider pretty savvy about health, diet, and wellness, recently e-mailed me and asked if eating celery will help you lose weight (something about it being a negative-calorie food). As far as rumors go, this one was pretty tame, but in some cases misinformation can be downright dangerous. Plus, whatever their origin, health “hearsays” like these can cause unnecessary anxiety and distract you from habits that truly deserve your time and energy. Here, eight common watercooler myths, and what’s true, what’s misunderstood, and what’s just downright wrong.

1.) Baby carrots are preserved with bleach

Not exactly... and there's no reason to stop eating them, says Randy Worobo, PhD, an associate professor of food microbiology at Cornell University. Baby carrots are rinsed (not preserved) in a chlorine wash, recommended by the FDA, to kill bacteria like salmonella and E. coli, which cause foodborne illness. Most precut produce, including frozen veggies and fruit salad, is washed with this or a similar sanitizer.

2.) Working out on an empty stomach burns more fat

It does, but don't expect any fat-melting miracles. When you exercise, your body burns calories from both fat and carbohydrates. Recent studies show that working out on an empty stomach might burn a few more fat calories since you don’t have as many carb calories to spare, but overall calorie burn is about the same. And, based on research so far, that's what really counts when it comes to fitting into a smaller size.
Don’t let these workout mistakes slow you down

3.) Eating too much sugar causes diabetes

Not in the same smoking-gun way that cigarettes cause cancer, but research shows that sugar may play a part—and it's smart to limit your intake. First and foremost, being overweight does increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and consuming too much sugar can contribute to weight gain. Still, some emerging research suggests that excess sugar intake can increase diabetes risk regardless of weight. A landmark JAMA study found that women nearly doubled their diabetes risk when they increased the number of sugar-added drinks they consumed from one or fewer a week to one or more per day over a 4-year period.
12 ways to never get diabetes

4.) Does Listerine mouthwash help keep mosquitoes away?

No. Although Internet postings swear it's true, scientists beg to differ. Our research has found that people who sprayed Listerine on their arms were just as likely to be bitten as those who didn't use any repellent, says Grayson Brown, PhD, a University of Kentucky public health entomologist. The myth persists thanks to a strong placebo effect and because Listerine has eucalyptol, an ingredient found in some botanical bug sprays. But the concentration in mouthwash (less than 1%) is too low to have an impact.

6 natural cures experts swear by

5.) Spicy foods boost metabolism

I wish! Your metabolic rate is determined by your gender, height, present weight/body composition, and age. These factors determine the amount of calories the body will burn to maintain the basic functions of life that occur even when we sleep—the energy used by the heart, brain, lungs, intestines, etc. Eating spicy foods cannot significantly increase metabolic rate and help you burn more calories at rest. Although your body temperature may temporarily rise and your heart may beat a bit faster after eating "hot" foods, over the long term spices will not make any changes in the rate of metabolism.
21 tips to help you boost your metabolism

6.) Liquid eyeliner causes sinus infections

This rumor presumes that eyeliner is able to drain into the sinuses, get trapped, and cause an infection, but that's not possible, says Richard Rosenfeld, MD, chairman of otolaryngology at Long Island College Hospital. Your natural tearing process can funnel bits of makeup into the tear ducts, but they drain into the nose and out the nostrils. If you develop eye irritation and sinus symptoms after wearing eyeliner, you probably had an allergic reaction.
100 easy anti-aging beauty tricks

7.) It’s safe to follow the 5-second rule for dropped food

It's probably not even safe to follow a 1-second rule: The transfer of bacteria from a contaminated surface to food is almost instantaneous—or, at the very least, quicker than your reflexes. In one study, Clemson University food scientist Paul Dawson, PhD, and students contaminated several surfaces (ceramic tile, wood flooring, and carpet) with salmonella. They then dropped pieces of bologna and slices of bread on the surfaces for as little as 5 seconds and as long as 60 seconds. After just 5 seconds, both food types had already picked up as many as 1,800 bacteria (more bad bugs adhered to the moisture-rich bologna than the bread); after a full minute, it was up to 10 times that amount.
See the 10 worst germ hot spots in your home

8.) Can cracking your knuckles cause arthritis?

Nope. If you're suffering from osteoarthritis in your hands, it certainly has nothing to do with this nervous tic. One study at the former Mount Carmel Mercy Hospital in Detroit compared 74 people (ages 45 and older) who had been chronic knuckle crackers for decades with 226 who always left their hands alone; researchers found no difference in the incidence of osteoarthritis between the two groups. But there are reasons to stop this annoying habit: The same study found knuckle crackers to be far more likely to have weaker grip strength and greater hand swelling, both of which can limit dexterity. As for osteoarthritis, that's more likely due to genetics and increasing age

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/8-craziest-health-rumors-573171/

7 Food procrastinators Aging

2010-01-26T01:28:00.001-08:00

Healthy life is one key to longevity. To live healthy, we of course need good nutrition and healthy too. Here are some types of foods that are claimed merit making young and stay healthy.

1. Olive Oil
Four decades ago, researchers from Seven Coutries Study concluded that the unsaturated fat with a single chain (of monounsaturated) in olive oil are widely useful to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer in the Islands of Crete in Greece. Now the society also have a lot of Jews that olive oil contains folifenol, powerful antioxidants that can prevent age-related diseases.

2. Yogurt
In the 1970s, Soviet Georgia was rumored to have a population of an average age of over 100 years more than other countries. Reports at the time claimed that the secret of longevity is yogurt.

Despite the strength in extending the age of yogurt never been proved directly, yogurt is a calcium-rich foods that can prevent osteoporosis. In addition, yogurt contains good bacteria that help maintain gut health and reduce the risk of intestinal illness associated with age

3. Fish
Thirty years ago, researchers began to study why the native Alaska (Inuit) can be free of heart disease. The reason, according to estimates by experts, is the level of fish consumption is incredible. Fish is an abundant omega-3 fats, which can help lower cholesterol buildup in blood vessels and prevent abnormal heart rhythms.

4. Chocolate cocoa
Kuna communities in the San Blas Islands, Panama, noted a risk of heart disease lower nine times in the appeal of other residents living in Panama. The reason? The Kuna are drinking cocoa rich in flavanols, an antioxidant that can help facilitate the circulation of blood. Maintaining healthy blood vessels means suppressing the risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, renal disease and dementia.

5. Nuts
Studies of Seventh-Day Adventists (a religious denomination that emphasizes healthy living and a vegetarian diet) show that people who eat nuts have an average longevity of two and a half years. Nuts are rich in unsaturated fats, so they offer benefits similar to olive oil. Nuts also contain a variety of vitamins, minerals and other phytochemicals, including antioxidants.

6. Wine
Drinking alcohol in moderation protects against heart disease, diabetes and dementia. Many kinds of alcoholic beverages that can bring benefits, but many studies the focus on red wine. Red wine contains resveratrol, a substance that is estimated to bring these benefits.

7. Blueberry
In a study published in 1999, researchers from the Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center provides a blueberry extract in mice. Provision of these extracts are given for a period equivalent to the life of mice with 10 years of human life.

Rats fed this extract shows its superiority than normal mice when testing balance and coordination when they reached old age. Gynecology in blueberries (and other berries) can allegedly reduce inflammation (inflammation) and is oxidative damage, which is associated with memory loss and motor ability during aging.

http://kesehatan.kompas.com/read/2009/11/18/13393364/7.Makanan.Penunda.Penuaan

In epic upset, GOP's Brown wins Mass. Senate race

2010-01-19T19:39:00.001-08:00

In an epic upset in liberal Massachusetts, Republican Scott Brown rode a wave of voter anger to win the U.S. Senate seat held by the late Edward M. Kennedy for nearly half a century, leaving President Barack Obama's health care overhaul in doubt and marring the end of his first year in office.

The loss by the once-favored Democrat Martha Coakley in the Democratic stronghold was a stunning embarrassment for the White House after Obama rushed to Boston on Sunday to try to save the foundering candidate. Her defeat on Tuesday signaled big political problems for the president's party this fall when House, Senate and gubernatorial candidates are on the ballot nationwide.

"I have no interest in sugarcoating what happened in Massachusetts," said Sen. Robert Menendez, the head of the Senate Democrats' campaign committee. "There is a lot of anxiety in the country right now. Americans are understandably impatient."

Brown will become the 41st Republican in the 100-member Senate, which could allow the GOP to block the president's health care legislation. Democrats needed Coakley to win for a 60th vote to thwart Republican filibusters. The trouble may go deeper: Democratic lawmakers could read the results as a vote against Obama's broader agenda, weakening their support for the president. And the results could scare some Democrats from seeking office this fall.

The Republican will finish Kennedy's unexpired term, facing re-election in 2012.

Brown led by 52 per cent to 47 percent with all but 3 percent of precincts counted. Turnout was exceptional for a special election in January, with light snow reported in parts of the state. More voters showed up at the polls Tuesday than in any non-presidential general election in Massachusetts since 1990.

One day shy of the first anniversary of Obama's swearing-in, the election played out amid a backdrop of animosity and resentment from voters over persistently high unemployment, Wall Street bailouts, exploding federal budget deficits and partisan wrangling over health care.

"I voted for Obama because I wanted change. ... I thought he'd bring it to us, but I just don't like the direction that he's heading," said John Triolo, 38, a registered independent who voted in Fitchburg.

He said his frustrations, including what he considered the too-quick pace of health care legislation, led him to vote for Brown.

For weeks considered a long shot, Brown seized on voter discontent to overtake Coakley in the campaign's final stretch. His candidacy energized Republicans, including backers of the "tea party" protest movement, while attracting disappointed Democrats and independents uneasy with where they felt the nation was heading.

A cornerstone of Brown's campaign was his promise to vote against the health care plan.

Though the president wasn't on the ballot, he was on many voters' minds.

Coakley called Brown conceding the race, and Obama talked to both Brown and Coakley, congratulating them on the race.

The Democrat said the president told her: "We can't win them all."

Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin said he would notify the U.S. Senate on Wednesday that Brown had been elected. Originally, he had said he might take over two weeks to certify the results of the special election, giving Democrats a window in which to try to rush through final passage of Obama's health care plan.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., promised to seat Brown "as soon as the proper paperwork has been received."

Brown will be the first Republican senator from Massachusetts in 30 years.

Even before the first results were announced, administration officials were privately accusing Coakley of a poorly run campaign and playing down the notion that Obama or a toxic political landscape had much to do with the outcome.

Coakley's supporters, in turn, blamed that very environment, saying her lead dropped significantly after the Senate passed health care reform shortly before Christmas and after the Christmas Day attempted airliner bombing that Obama himself said showed a failure of his administration.

Days before the polls closed, Democrats were fingerpointing and laying blame.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, head of the House Democrats' campaign effort, said Coakley's loss won't deter his colleagues from continuing to blame the previous administration.

"President George W. Bush and House Republicans drove our economy into a ditch and tried to run away from the accident," he said. "President Obama and congressional Democrats have been focused repairing the damage to our economy."

At Boston's Park Plaza Hotel, giddy Republicans cheered, chanted "USA" and waved the "tea party" version of the American flag.

Even before Brown won, the grass-roots network fueled by antiestablishment frustrations, sought credit for the victory, much like the liberal MoveOn.org did in the 2006 midterm elections when Democrats rose to power.

GOP chairman Michael Steele said Brown's "message of lower taxes, smaller government and fiscal responsibility clearly resonated with independent-minded voters in Massachusetts who were looking for a solution to decades of failed Democrat leadership."

Wall Street watched the election closely. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 116 points, and analysts attributed the increase to hopes the election would make it harder for Obama to make his changes to health care. That eased investor concerns that profits at companies such as insurers and drug makers would suffer.

Across Massachusetts, voters who had been bombarded with phone calls and dizzied with nonstop campaign commercials for Coakley and Brown gave a fitting turnout despite intermittent snow and rain statewide.

Galvin, who discounted sporadic reports of voter irregularities throughout the day, predicted turnout ranging from 1.6 million to 2.2 million, 40 percent to 55 percent of registered voters. The Dec. 8 primary had a scant turnout of about 20 percent.

Voters considered national issues including health care and the federal budget deficits.

Fears about spending drove Karla Bunch, 49, to vote for Brown. "It's time for the country, for the taxpayers, to take back their money," she said. And Elizabeth Reddin, 65, voted for Brown because she said she was turned off by the Democrat's negative advertisements, saying: "The Coakley stuff was disgusting."

___

Liz Sidoti reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Beth Fouhy, Bob Salsberg, Steve LeBlanc, Karen Testa, Kevin Vineys and Stephanie Reitz also contributed to this report.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_massachusetts_senate

Cameron's `Avatar' wins best drama honor at Globes

2010-01-17T23:01:00.000-08:00

The Golden Globes gave top honors to James Cameron's "Avatar" and took its cue from the film's celebration of humanity, with winners ranging from the gritty child-abuse drama "Precious" to freewheeling comedy "The Hangover."

Sunday's awards ceremony also opened wide to embrace the long-admired Jeff Bridges, who took best dramatic-acting honors for the country-music film "Crazy Heart," and a sitcom actress, Mo'Nique, who emerged as a fierce screen presence in "Precious."

Fox's spunky new TV musical comedy series "Glee" was honored, while the best TV drama award went to AMC's 1960s Madison Avenue saga "Mad Men" for the third year in a row.

Cameron was the big winner on the movie side, claiming best drama and best director for his science-fiction blockbuster and setting him for a possible awards sequel to 1997's "Titanic." Cameron's epic about the doomed oceanliner won the same prizes and went on to dominate the Academy Awards.

This time, though, instead of being "king of the world," as Cameron declared at the Oscar ceremony, he has become king of a computer-generated distant moon that made critics gush and sent box-office receipts soaring. The film has grossed $1.6 billion worldwide, second only to "Titanic" with $1.8 billion.

"'Avatar' asks us to see that everything is connected, all human beings to each other, and us to the Earth. And if you have to go four and a half light years to another, made-up planet to appreciate this miracle of the world that we have right here, well, you know what, that's the wonder of cinema right there, that's the magic," Cameron said.

Other film acting prizes went to Sandra Bullock for the football tale "The Blind Side," Meryl Streep for the Julia Child story "Julie & Julia," Robert Downey Jr. for the crime romp "Sherlock Holmes" and Austrian actor Christoph Waltz as a gleefully bloodthirsty Nazi in "Inglourious Basterds."

Sunday's winners could get a last-minute boost for the Oscars, whose nominations balloting closes Saturday. Last year's big Globe winner, "Slumdog Millionaire," went on to garner Oscar glory.

Michael C. Hall won for best actor in a TV drama for Showtime's "Dexter," in which he plays a serial killer with a code of ethics, targeting only other murderers. Hall said last week 's publicists said last week that Hall is being treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma and that the cancer is in remission.

"Dexter" also won the supporting-actor TV honor for John Lithgow. Other TV winners included Juliana Margulies as best actress in a drama for CBS' "The Good Wife" and Toni Collette as best comedy actress for Showtime's "The United States of Tara."

Bridges, a beloved veteran generally overlooked for key Hollywood honors, got a standing ovation at the ceremony hosted by Ricky Gervais.

"You're really screwing up my underappreciated status here," Bridges said.

The son of late actor Lloyd Bridges, Bridges thanked his father for encouraging him to go into show business.

"So glad I listened to you, dad," he said.

Bullock cited Michael Oher, the Baltimore Ravens rookie lineman whose life is the subject of "The Blind Side." She plays a wealthy Memphis woman whose family took the teenage Oher and gave him shelter after discovering he was homeless.

"If I may steal from Michael Oher, I may not be the most talented, but I've been given opportunity," Bullock said.

The Vegas bachelor bash "The Hangover" won for best musical or comedy, bringing uncharacteristic awards attention for broad comedy, a genre that often gets overlooked at Hollywood honors.

The Globes marked a dramatic turning point for Mo'Nique, who was mainly known for lowbrow comedy but startled audiences with her brutal performance in "Precious: Based on the Novel `Push' By Sapphire," directed by Lee Daniels and starring newcomer Gabourey Sidibe, who was a Globe nominee.

Streep's competition for best actress in a musical or comedy included herself. She also was nominated for the romance "It's Complicated."

"I just want to say that in my long career, I've played so many extraordinary woman that I'm getting mistaken for one," Streep said. "I'm very clear that I'm the vessel for other people's stories and other people's lives."

The blockbuster "Up" came away with the award for animated film. Pixar Animation, the Disney outfit that made "Up," has won all four prizes for animated movies since the Globes introduced the category in 2006. Past Pixar winners are "WALL-E," "Ratatouille" and "Cars."

"Up" features the voice of Ed Asner in a tale of a lonely, bitter widower who renews his zest for adventure by flying his house off under helium balloons to South America, where he encounters his childhood hero and a hilarious gang of talking canines.

Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner won the screenplay honor for "Up in the Air," which Reitman also directed. The foreign-language honor went to "The White Ribbon," a stark drama of guilt and suspicion set in a German town on the eve of World War I.

The rain-drenched red carpet was a rare sight for an awards show in sunny southern California, stars in their finery getting damp under umbrellas as storms swept the region.

Although the Globes are one of Hollywood's biggest parties, the ceremony included somber reminders of tragedy in the real world, many stars wearing ribbons in support of earthquake victims in Haiti.

The Globes, which aired on NBC, are presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, a group of about 90 reporters covering show business for overseas outlets.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100118/ap_on_en_mo/us_golden_globes

Cheap car from India could cost $8,000 in US

2010-01-15T21:08:00.000-08:00

DETROIT (AP) -- The world's cheapest car is being readied for sale in the U.S., but by the time India's Tata Nano is retrofitted to meet emissions and safety standards, it won't be that cheap.

Tata Technologies Ltd., the global engineering arm of the Tata group conglomerate, brought the tiny car to Detroit as a publicity stunt for the engineering group.

Tata officials, while maintaining that they couldn't speak for Tata Motors, maker of the $2,500 Nano, said they were involved with the Nano from concept until it launched last July in Mumbai.

They wouldn't say when the Nano might arrive in the U.S. or how much it might cost here, although Ratan Tata, chairman of the group of Tata companies, has said it should be ready for U.S. distribution in about three years.

Tata Motors already has made a European version of the four-seat car that will cost about $8,000 when it debuts in 2011, and a Tata Technologies official said privately that the U.S. version is expected to have a comparable price. The official did not want to be identified because the price has not been made public.

Warren Harris, Tata Technologies president, would only say that the price would be more than the roughly $2,500 charged in India.

"The structural changes that would need to be made, the changes that would be required as far as emissions are concerned, and some of the features that would be appropriate to add to the vehicle for the North American market, obviously that would drive up the price point," he said.

Tata Technologies could be involved in bringing the car up to U.S. standards, said Tony Jones, associate vice president of the global automotive practice.

Before it can be sold here, the car's two-cylinder, 623cc engine would have to be engineered to meet stronger U.S. pollution standards, he said. Airbags would have to be added, the roof strengthened and the front bumper lengthened to meet U.S. requirements to limit damage in a 5-mph crash.

The Spartan interior, with flat bucket seats, three knobs, a horizontal switch and a steering wheel, also would have to be changed to comply with U.S. safety standards that limit movement of passengers not wearing seat belts.

Jones said the Nano Europa has airbags and has passed European safety tests with flying colors.

The Nano, with 12-inch diameter tires, electric windows in the front and crank windows in the back, gets 50 mpg on the highway and has a top speed of 65 mph.

If the $8,000 price tag holds true, it would cost far less than the $9,970 Hyundai Accent, currently the car with the lowest base sticker price in the U.S., according to the Edmunds.com automotive Web site. The price excludes shipping.

http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/1273/cheap-car-from-india-could-cost-8000-in-us/

Haiti quake: thousands feared dead, many trapped

2010-01-13T21:01:00.000-08:00

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Dazed survivors wandered past dead bodies in rubble-strewn streets Wednesday, crying for loved ones, and rescuers desperately searched collapsed buildings as fear rose that the death toll from Haiti's devastating earthquake could reach into the tens of thousands.

The first cargo planes with food, water, medical supplies, shelter and sniffer dogs headed to the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation a day after the magnitude-7 quake flattened much of the capital of 2 million people.

Tuesday's earthquake brought down buildings great and small — from shacks in shantytowns to President Rene Preval's gleaming white National Palace, where a dome tilted ominously above the manicured grounds.

Hospitals, schools and the main prison collapsed. The capital's Roman Catholic archbishop was killed when his office and the main cathedral fell. The head of the U.N. peacekeeping mission was missing in the ruins of the organization's multistory headquarters.

Police officers turned their pickup trucks into ambulances to carry the injured. Wisnel Occilus, a 24-year-old student, was wedged between two other survivors in a truck bed headed to a police station. He was in an English class when the earth shook at 4:53 p.m. and the building collapsed.

"The professor is dead. Some of the students are dead, too," said Occilus, who suspected he had several broken bones. "Everything hurts."

Other survivors carried injured to hospitals in wheelbarrows and on stretchers fashioned from doors.

In Petionville, next to the capital, people used sledgehammers and their bare hands to dig through a collapsed shopping center, tossing aside mattresses and office supplies. More than a dozen cars were entombed, including a U.N. truck.

Nearby, about 200 survivors, including many children, huddled in a theater parking lot using sheets to rig makeshift tents and shield themselves from the sun in 90-degree heat.

At a triage center improvised in a hotel parking lot, people with cuts, broken bones and crushed ribs moaned under tent-like covers fashioned from bloody sheets.

"I can't take it anymore. My back hurts too much," said Alex Georges, 28, who was still waiting for treatment a day after his school collapsed and killed 11 classmates. A body lay a few feet away.

"This is much worse than a hurricane," said doctors' assistant Jimitre Coquillon. "There's no water. There's nothing. Thirsty people are going to die."

If there were any organized efforts to distribute food or water, they were not visible.

The aid group Doctors Without Borders treated wounded at two hospitals that withstood the quake and set up tent clinics elsewhere to replace its damaged facilities. Cuba, which already had hundreds of doctors in Haiti, treated injured in field hospitals.

Bodies were everywhere in Port-au-Prince: those of tiny children adjacent to schools; women in the rubble-strewn streets with stunned expressions frozen on their faces; men hidden beneath plastic tarps and cotton sheets.

Haiti's leaders struggled to comprehend the extent of the catastrophe — the worst earthquake to hit the country in 200 years — even as aftershocks reverberated.

"It's incredible," Preval told CNN. "A lot of houses destroyed, hospitals, schools, personal homes. A lot of people in the street dead. ... I'm still looking to understand the magnitude of the event and how to manage."

Preval said thousands of people were probably killed. Leading Sen. Youri Latortue told The Associated Press that 500,000 could be dead, but conceded that nobody really knows.

"Let's say that it's too early to give a number," Preval said.

As dusk fell, thousands of people gathered on blankets outside the crumpled presidential palace, including hundreds of women who waved their hands and sang hymns in a joyful, even defiant tone.

Ricardo Dervil, 29, said he decided to join the crowd because he was worried about aftershocks and was tired of seeing dead bodies.

"I was listening to the radio and they were saying to stay away from buildings," he said. "All I was doing was walking the street and seeing dead people."

Balancing suitcases and belongings on their heads, people streamed on foot into the Haitian countryside, where wooden and cinderblock shacks showed little sign of damage. Ambulances and U.N. trucks raced in the opposite direction, toward Port-au-Prince.

About 3,000 police and international peacekeepers cleared debris, directed traffic and maintained security in the capital. But law enforcement was stretched thin even before the quake and would be ill-equipped to deal with major unrest. The U.N.'s 9,000-member peacekeeping force sent patrols across the capital's streets while securing the airport, port and main buildings.

Looting began immediately after the quake, with people seen carrying food from collapsed buildings. Many lugged what they could salvage and stacked it around them as they slept in streets and parks.

President Barack Obama promised an all-out rescue and humanitarian effort including the military and civilian emergency teams from across the U.S. Late Wednesday, the Navy said the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan had been ordered to sail as soon as possible with a 2,000-member Marine unit to join other warships headed to the Caribbean nation.

"We have to be there for them in their hour of need," Obama said.

The first C-130 plane carrying part of a U.S. military assessment team arrived in Haiti, the U.S. Southern Command said. The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson was expected to arrive off the coast Thursday and more U.S. Navy ships were under way.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter evacuated four critically injured U.S. Embassy staff to the hospital at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where the military has been detaining suspected terrorists.

A small contingent of U.S. ground troops could be on their way soon, although it was unclear whether they would be used for security operations or humanitarian efforts.

Port-au-Prince's ruined buildings fell on both the poor and the prominent: The body of Archbishop Joseph Serge Miot, 63, was found in the ruins of his office, according to the Rev. Pierre Le Beller at Miot's order, the Saint Jacques Missionary Center in Landivisiau, France.

The United Nations said 16 U.N. personnel were confirmed dead and between 100 and 150 U.N. workers were still missing, including U.N. mission head Hedi Annabi of Tunisia and his chief deputy, Luis Carlos da Costa.

Senate President Kelly Bastien was rescued from the collapsed Parliament building and taken to a hospital in the neighboring Dominican Republic. The president of Haiti's Citibank was also among the survivors being treated there, said Rafael Sanchez Espanol, director of the Homs Hospital in Santiago.

An American aid worker was trapped for about 10 hours under the rubble of her mission house before she was rescued by her husband, who told CBS's "Early Show" that he drove 100 miles (160 kilometers) to Port-au-Prince to find her. Frank Thorp said he dug for more than an hour to free his wife, Jillian, and a co-worker, from under about a foot of concrete.

Even the main prison in the capital fell down, "and there are reports of escaped inmates," U.N. humanitarian spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs said in Geneva.

Haiti seems especially prone to catastrophe — from natural disasters like hurricanes, storms, floods and mudslides to crushing poverty, unstable governments, poor building standards and low literacy rates.

The survivors likely will face an increased risk of dengue fever, malaria and measles — problems that plagued the impoverished country before, said Kimberley Shoaf, associate director of the UCLA Center for Public Health and Disasters.

Some of the biggest immediate health threats include respiratory disease from inhaling dust from collapsed buildings and diarrhea from drinking contaminated water.

The international Red Cross said a third of the country's 9 million people may need emergency aid, a burden that would test any nation and a crushing catastrophe for impoverished Haiti.

The U.S. Embassy had no confirmed reports of deaths among the estimated 40,000 to 45,000 Americans who live in Haiti, but many were struggling to find a way out of the country.

The quake damaged the airport, stranding dozens there. Kency Germain of Eatontown, N.J., kept his family — five adults and three children — at the airport until nearly 3 a.m. They made their way to the U.S. Embassy, where they were allowed to sleep briefly near the entrance.

"It was safer in there (the airport) than it was out there in Port-au-Prince," Germain said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/cb_haiti_earthquake

EXCLUSIVE: 'SPIDER-MAN 4' SCRAPPED; SAM RAIMI & TOBEY MAGUIRE & CAST OUT; FRANCHISE REBOOT FOR 2012

2010-01-11T22:16:00.000-08:00

Tobey Maguire just released this statement to me: “I am so proud of what we accomplished with the Spider-Man franchise over the last decade. Beyond the films themselves I have formed some deep and lasting friendships. I am excited to see the next chapter unfold in this incredible story.”

2ND UPDATE: Mike Fleming and Nikki Finke have just confirmed that Sony Pictures decided today to reboot the Spider-Man franchise after franchise director Sam Raimi pulled out of Spider-Man 4 because he felt he couldn't make its summer release date and keep the film's creative integrity. This means that Raimi and the cast including star Tobey Maguire are out. There will be no Spider-Man 4. Instead, Mike Fleming is told, the studio will focus on a Summer 2012 reboot from a script by Jamie Vanderbilt with a new director and a new cast. All this took place today at meeting on the lot today. An official Sony Pictures news release about it is expected out now (see below).

Immediately, the news brought celebration and consternation equally to webslinger fanboys who say the reboot plot puts Peter Parker back in high school. There's also much unconfirmed speculation that this new franchise will be in 3D. And the fans also recall that, in 1991, James Cameron wrote a treatment for Spider-Man and now they're wondering if he might helm the reboot. (Sony ended up acquiring his treatment in a legal settlement.)

Here's what went down: My sources tell me that Raimi told Sony Pictures: "I can't make your date. I can't go forward creatively." And, so, once he said "That's it", Sony Pictures co-chairman Amy Pascal and Columbia Pictures' Matt Tolmach decided they didn't want to replace him and instead chose to reboot the franchise. Insiders also tell me that Tobey Maguire heard the news in a phone call with Amy today. I'm told Tobey wasn't upset. "He's made 3 great Spider-Man movies. He's done really well. But he's the kind of guy who, if Sam wanted to go forward, would have been there for Sam and the studio. Absolutely."

Mike Fleming has heard that, from Spidey, Raimi could move to World Of Warcraft, or to The Given Day, that terrific novel by Dennis Lehane, author of Shutter Island and Mystic River. Both are worthy projects, but World Of Warcraft is a huge franchise.

Fortunately for the studio, Sony was not yet "pay or play" on some of the talent negotiations which were still only at the tail end. Raimi was insisting that John Malkovich play the villain, and the studio was looking to cast Anne Hathaway. "I'm not so sure we're going in that direction," an insider told me on January 5th. Sony had been hot for her until bigwigs realized she'd cost too much and they probably don't need "such a big star" for the pic, I was told. (See my previous, Anne Hathaway Wanted For 'Spider-Man 4'.)

As for those repeated rumors that Spider-Man 4 might shoot in 3D, I've learned it would have added at least 6 months to the production schedule and "no one on the pic has any idea how to do that," a source confided. You've got to figure 3D now is uppermost on Sony minds given the post-Avatar climate, and Summer 2012 is more than enough time to make the reboot with new technology. Back in April, Amy Pascal and Michael Lynton told Forbes magazine: "People are paying a premium to see movies in 3-D and that's a very big deal. It's never been done before that someone says you have to pay more to see Spider-Man than a romantic comedy."

The events that led to today's shocking decision to scrap Spider-Man 4 can be traced to mid-December when I saw a December 11th email alerting the pic's special effects crew that the fourquel would not be starting as planned "but Sam Raimi has story issues [that] need to be resolved before we are ready to shoot". At that point, it wasn't well known that the Spider-Man franchise director helming the 4th installment had huge problems with the script that has run through screenwriters Jamie Vanderbilt, David Lindsay-Abaire, and Gary Ross. I was told Sam Raimi had been very vocal inside Sony that he "hated" it. I broke this story on January 5th, and reported that Raimi and Sony were anxiously waiting for still another version from screenwriter Alvin Sargent, who wrote Spidey 2 & 3 and is married to Spidey franchise producer Laura Ziskin. "It is unlikely that May 11, 2011, date will be made," a Sony insider told me that day. "It depends on how quickly the script can get in." However, agents told clients in the movie to already expect the film to be pushed back.

My sources said Sony still intends to release that summer, even if the new date is July 2011. But Spider-Man has always owned that coveted early May date. Even as far back as September 2008 when I reported my exclusive that Sony Locks Sam Raimi/Tobey Maguire For 'Spider-Man 4'.

What a giant opportunity for other studios planning their 2011 schedules to grab this big opening. And they did. Paramount and Marvel Entertainment pushed up the release of Thor by two weeks to May 6, 2011. Thor was set to have opened May 20, 2011, a slot which Disney grabbed for Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides.

Spider-Man 4 was supposed to start filming in February, which Tobey Maguire echoed repeatedly in publicity appearances for Brothers. Then it pushed to March. Then late March/early April. And by January 5th there was no date at all, according to my Sony insiders who emailed me: "Some decisions have been made over the holiday about Spider-Man 4. We will be extending the production hiatus on the film. The studio is firmly committed to this franchise but, for us, the script must come first. We intend to notify members of the crew immediately. As you know, Alvin Sargent is currently working on the screenplay. When we have more news, we will keep you posted."

Pascal and Tolmach, who have shepherded the Spider-Man franchise from Day One, have been wrestling with this script problem for months. "I'm going to do everything I can to make May," she has repeatedly told Hollywood types involved with the movie. "But I'm not going to start a movie where the script isn't right yet. Not unless I want my career to be over."

Here is the Sony press release:

Culver City, CA (January 11, 2010) -- Peter Parker is going back to high school when the next Spider-Man hits theaters in the summer of 2012. Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios announced today they are moving forward with a film based on a script by James Vanderbilt that focuses on a teenager grappling with both contemporary human problems and amazing super-human crises.

The new chapter in the Spider-Man franchise produced by Columbia, Marvel Studios and Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin, will have a new cast and filmmaking team. Spider-Man 4 was to have been released in 2011, but had not yet gone into production.

“A decade ago we set out on this journey with Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire and together we made three Spider-Man films that set a new bar for the genre. When we began, no one ever imagined that we would make history at the box-office and now we have a rare opportunity to make history once again with this franchise. Peter Parker as an ordinary young adult grappling with extraordinary powers has always been the foundation that has made this character so timeless and compelling for generations of fans. We’re very excited about the creative possibilities that come from returning to Peter's roots and we look forward to working once again with Marvel Studios, Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin on this new beginning,” said Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment.

“Working on the Spider-Man movies was the experience of a lifetime for me. While we were looking forward to doing a fourth one together, the studio and Marvel have a unique opportunity to take the franchise in a new direction, and I know they will do a terrific job,” said Sam Raimi.

“We have had a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration and friendship with Sam and Tobey and they have given us their best for the better part of the last decade.This is a bittersweet moment for us because while it is hard to imagine Spider-Man in anyone else’s hands, I know that this was a day that was inevitable,” said Matt Tolmach, president of Columbia Pictures, who has served as the studio’s chief production executive since the beginning of the franchise. “Now everything begins anew, and that’s got us all tremendously excited about what comes next. Under the continuing supervision of Avi and Laura, we have a clear vision for the future of Spider-Man and can’t wait to share this exciting new direction with audiences in 2012.”

"Spider-Man will always be an important franchise for Sony Pictures and a fresh start like this is a responsibility that we all take very seriously," said Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures. "We have always believed that story comes first and story guides the direction of these films and as we move onto the next chapter, we will stay true to that principle and will do so with the highest respect for the source material and the fans and moviegoers who deserve nothing but the best when it comes to bringing these stories and characters to life on the big screen."

The studio will have more news about Spider-Man in 2012 in the coming weeks as it prepares for production of the film.

http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/urgent-spider-man-4-scrapped-as-is-raimi-and-cast-out-franchise-reboot-planned/

Alcoa Earnings: Alcoa posts smaller loss thanks to better prices, lower costs

2010-01-11T22:12:00.000-08:00

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Alcoa Inc., aided by improving aluminum prices and lower corporate costs, reported a smaller fourth-quarter loss Monday afternoon.

Net loss was $277 million, or 28 cents a share. In the year-earlier quarter, Alcoa lost $1.2 billion or $1.49 a share, when aluminum prices and demand collapsed.
News Hub: Mixed Results From Alcoa

Aluminum producer Alcoa kicks off the fourth-quarter 2009 earnings season with a $277 million loss. WSJ's Paul Glader and Grainne McCarthy join Simon Constable on the News Hub to discuss.

Sales fell 4% to $5.4 billion. Excluding charges, Alcoa said it earned 1 cent a share.

Analysts had forecast Alcoa /quotes/comstock/13*!aa/quotes/nls/aa (AA 16.51, -0.94, -5.39%) to earn 5 cents a share on sales of $4.9 billion, according to FactSet Research.

Alcoa shares fell 4% in late trades.

Alcoa, which has lost more than $2 billion over the past year, said it generated positive, free cash flow for the first time since June 2008. Free cash flow, or money left over after all the expenses are paid, was up $947 million from the third quarter.

When the global economy collapsed, the Pittsburgh-based company closed plants, slashed its dividend and curbed its output. Since 2008, the company has cut 21,500 jobs and cut capital spending by 52% to $1.6 billion.

"They are still trying to rein in costs," said Brian Hicks, portfolio manager at U.S. Global Investors' Resources Fund, which owns Alcoa shares.

Alcoa has been working through a glut of excess metal it sells to automotive, construction and aerospace industries. In a conference call to discuss the earnings, Alcoa Chief Executive Klaus Kleinfeld said the aluminum market "is in a modest surplus."

Sales have now ticked higher in each of the past three quarters. But they haven't topped 2008's fourth quarter of $5.7 billion. Rising aluminum prices are helping Alcoa. Prices rose 9.5% from the third quarter to the fourth quarter, according to Citigroup research.

"Markets continue to be very weak relative to last year," Alcoa Chief Financial Officer Chuck McLane said in the conference call. Compared with the year-ago quarter, sales to aerospace makers fell 21%, while sales to auto makers dropped 43%. Primary metal sales tumbled 35%.

For 2010, Alcoa pegged global aluminum consumption to grow 10%, compared with a 6% decline in 2009.

Investors have been anticipating a rebound at Alcoa, a Dow component. The shares have surged 32% in the past month, outpacing the 3% gain for the blue-chip index. The stock closed Monday up 2.5% to $17.45.

The consensus stock-price target of analysts is $16.49, who on average rate Alcoa shares a "hold," according to the latest FactSet survey.

Steel and materials-related stocks have rallied early in 2010.

U.S. Steel Corp. /quotes/comstock/13*!x/quotes/nls/x (X 62.50, -0.43, -0.68%) and Titanium Metals Corp. /quotes/comstock/13*!tie/quotes/nls/tie (TIE 14.28, -0.38, -2.59%) are both up 15%. Allegheny Technologies is 12% higher.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/alcoa-posts-smaller-loss-2010-01-11

American Idol: Cowell says he's leaving 'Idol' for 'X Factor'

2010-01-11T22:07:00.000-08:00

Simon Cowell, the acerbic Brit who has helped give "American Idol" some of its sharpest — and nastiest — moments, will leave the hit TV singing contest after this season.

The cantankerous judge said Monday that "The X Factor," a talent show he created and which is popular in Britain, will join Fox's schedule next year. Cowell will be a judge on "The X Factor" and its executive producer.

Cowell's decision is the biggest threat yet to what has consistently been the country's top-rated TV program and a true cultural force. This season, original host Paula Abdul has been replaced by Ellen DeGeneres.

But Cowell, with his caustic commentary, has long been seen as the big star of "Idol."

He said it would have been difficult for him to do both shows. While he makes a reported $36 million a year to be on "American Idol," he owns "The X Factor" and could make much more if the show takes off.

Cowell and top Fox executives made the announcement to reporters in Pasadena at a meeting of the Television Critics Association; they said they had reached an agreement only a few hours before.

"I was offered a lot of money to stay on," Cowell said. "But that wasn't the reason behind it. I wanted to do something different. I wanted a new challenge."

But an even greater challenge is posed for Idol producers. Without the show's biggest attraction and most critical judge, will "American Idol" lose steam and plunge even more in ratings? At least one analyst, Shari Anne Brill of Carat USA, said the "Idol" audience probably will decline next season.

"I think it's that brand of sarcasm combined with professional know-how that makes Simon the audience magnet that he is," she said. "I really believe the show revolves around him. He's the linchpin of the show's success. He has tremendous influence on how the audience votes. He's interesting to listen to. He's brutally honest."

That said, even without Simon, she predicts the show "will still be a formidable player on Fox's schedule."

Kevin Reilly, Fox entertainment president, said Cowell's departure from "Idol" isn't necessarily a win for the network's competitors.

"I think it would be premature to be popping corks. Maybe they can say this gives us a little bit of wiggle room, but that's a big maybe. On the other hand, we're not losing Simon Cowell, we're potentially gaining another big headache for them in the fall," Reilly said.

Peter Rice, chairman of entertainment for Fox, added a dramatic touch to the news conference by asking Cowell to sign his new contract. Cowell's deal with "American Idol," which returns for its ninth year Tuesday, will end with the season.

Cowell said launching a show that doesn't put an age limit on contestants — and allows groups along with individual singers — makes it very different from "American Idol." The top age for "Idol" singers is 28.

Susan Boyle, 48, who was discovered on "Britain's Got Talent," is an example of why age should be irrelevant, said Cowell, a judge on the British show he created and executive producer of "America's Got Talent" on NBC. Boyle became an unlikely sensation and released one of the year's top-selling CDs.

Rice wouldn't speculate on possible replacements for Cowell on "Idol."

"We have to take our time on that," he said. "We have to make sure the chemistry of the judges is as good as it can be."

Cowell said there are many who want the job. But while everybody is talking about the judges, he added, "Fundamentally, the most important reason we do this is to find talent."

Asked about bringing in Abdul as a judge on "X Factor," Cowell replied: "I adore Paula. Whatever happens, I will be working with her in some capacity, because I miss her." But Victoria Beckham, a guest judge this season on "Idol," won't be joining his new show, Cowell said without explanation.

Cowell apparently carefully chose his time to resign, saying he didn't want to leave "American Idol" at a time when it was fading in the ratings.

"You want to leave on a high," he said. "I'm very proud of what the show has achieved."

"American Idol," which is entering its ninth season this week, has been the country's most popular television program for the past five years and has launched such stars as Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry.

Yet viewership for "American Idol" has been shrinking since its 2005 peak when it averaged more than 30 million weekly viewers, according to research chief Brad Adgate of Horizon Media; last year's weekly audience averaged just under 25 million. The median age of viewers has shot up, from nearly 32 years old in the first season to about 44 last year.

Rice and Cowell said "Idol" and "The X Factor" would complement each other, not detract.

Airing the network's talent shows throughout the season — "The X Factor" in the fall, "American Idol" from January through May and "So You Think You Can Dance" in the summer — will be a "source of strength" for Fox's schedule, Rice said.

http://tv.yahoo.com/american-idol/show/34934/news/tv-news.en.ap.org/tv-news.en.ap.org-20100111-us_tv_fox_cowell

Top 6 Skinny Foods for 2010

2010-01-11T00:25:00.000-08:00

If you're looking for creative (and delicious!) ways to enhance your weight loss efforts, here's a fresh collection of six slimming foods you should add to your repertoire. I'm a firm believer that dieting and losing weight doesn't mean you have to subsist on bland, boring cardboard. With that in mind, I've put together a list of strategic skinny eats, each of which has its own unique way of satisfying your taste buds while blunting your appetite. I encourage you to peruse my list and use these tasty bites to your advantage!

Pumpkin Pudding: Decadent, creamy pudding for less than 150 calories--and it helps you lose weight! Just combine a 6-ounce container of nonfat vanilla yogurt with ½ cup canned 100% pure pumpkin puree and a dash of cinnamon. The pumpkin bulks up the yogurt--already a protein-rich, nutrient-packed food--and adds a hefty dose of fiber. This winning combo of protein and fiber expands in your stomach, keeping you full long after you finish, so you're not looking for more munchies an hour later.
Vegetable Soup: Studies have shown that just by starting a meal with a fiber-rich bowl of broth-based veggie soup, you can reduce your total calorie intake by 20 percent. That's because this "veggie first course" helps to fill you up, so you wind up eating less at the main meal.
Cucumber Tomato Salad: Thanks to their high percentage of water (95%!), cucumbers are low-calorie, high volume, and top-notch for weight loss! Slice up one whole cucumber plus a medium tomato, then toss with light vinaigrette or unlimited vinegar (balsamic or red wine is delish) plus 1 teaspoon olive oil. The entire salad has only 125 calories!
Ginger Green Tea: Nursing a warm mug of tea is a calorie-free way to de-stress after a long day without falling prey to emotional eating. As an added bonus, research suggests that regularly drinking green tea may give you a slight calorie-burning advantage. Steep your tea with a thin slice of ginger root for an extra punch of flavor.
Fiery Chicken Salad: Adding a few dashes of fiery hot sauce to your food slows down your eating big time so you're less likely to eat past the point of fullness. For a simple lunch, whip up a chicken salad with diced chicken breast, 1 tablespoon reduced-fat mayo, hot sauce to taste, and any diced veggies on hand. Serve over a bed of lettuce (and have a glass of water handy!).
Shrimp Cocktail: At around 8 calories a piece, shrimp are a fabulous source of lean protein, which helps rev your metabolism and keeps you feeling full for hours. Next time you dine out, start your meal with a shrimp cocktail appetizer. When you're eating at home, dunk your shrimp in this could-not-be-easier cocktail sauce recipe: simply combine 1 tablespoon ketchup with 1 teaspoon bottled horseradish.

http://health.yahoo.com/experts/joybauernutrition/28650/top-6-skinny-foods-for-2010/

PETA’s use of First Lady in advertisement angers White House

2010-01-06T23:57:00.000-08:00

No strangers to controversy, the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is up to its old tricks again. This time they've raised eyebrows by using an image of Michelle Obama in an anti-fur advertisement without her permission. The White House is not pleased, to say the least.

The ad in question features the image of the first lady alongside the images of Oprah Winfrey, Tyra Banks, and Carrie Underwood underneath the slogan, "Fur-free and fabulous!" The ads, which PETA says features "a bevy of the smartest, most stylish, and most influential women in America," are being plastered all over the Washington D.C. Metro mass transit system, in addition to appearing in various magazines and websites.

While Winfrey, Banks and Underwood are all on record as publicly endorsing PETA's anti-fur efforts, first lady Michelle Obama cannot endorse special interest groups such as PETA. Thus, the White House is mildly perturbed by the use of the first lady's image in the campaign.

"We did not consent to this," a spokeswoman for Michelle Obama said yesterday.

For their part, PETA says that they will not take down the ads and maintains that Michelle Obama's past anti-fur declarations essentially give them license to use her image in a campaign.

"We haven't asked the White House to fund or promote the campaign, as they can't do such things, but the fact is that Michelle Obama has issued a statement indicating that she doesn't wear fur, and the world should know that in PETA's eyes, that makes her pretty fabulous," said PETA president Ingrid Newkirk in a statement.

The current flap with PETA isn't the first time that Obama family members have been used without consent to promote political causes. Last August, a Washington nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting healthy school lunches came under fire for incorporating Sasha and Malia Obama into a campaign to reform the Child Nutrition Act. The ads, which featured the image of a young African American girl, read, "President Obama's daughters get healthy school lunches. Why don't I?" Just like PETA, the group, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Action, refused to remove the ads after the White House voiced their objections.

Not surprisingly, the images and likenesses of the first family have also been used without White House consent in the interest of free enterprise, perhaps most notably on Sasha and Malia and Michelle Obama dolls. Don't be surprised at all when future controversies involving the unauthorized use of first family images arises, because it almost certainly will.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_ts1047

Hubble telescope shows earliest photo of universe

2010-01-05T18:00:00.000-08:00

The Hubble Space Telescope has captured the earliest image yet of the universe — just 600 million years after the Big Bang, when the universe was just a toddler.

Scientists released the photo Tuesday at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society. It's the most complete picture of the early universe so far, showing galaxies with stars that are already hundreds of millions of years old, along with the unmistakable primordial signs of the first cluster of stars.

These young galaxies haven't yet formed their familiar spiral or elliptical shapes and are much smaller and quite blue in color. That's mostly because at this stage, they don't contain many heavy metals, said Garth Illingworth, a University of California, Santa Cruz, astronomy professor who was among those releasing the photo.

"We're seeing very small galaxies that are seeds of the great galaxies today," Illingworth said in a news conference.

Until NASA's Hubble telescope was repaired and upgraded last year, the farthest back in time that astronomers could see was about 900 million years after the Big Bang, Illingworth said. Hubble has been key in helping determine the age of the universe at about 13.7 billion years, ending a long scientific debate about a decade ago.

As far back as Hubble can see, it still doesn't see the first galaxies. For that, NASA will have to rely on a new observatory, the $4.5 billion James Webb telescope, which is set to launch in about four years.

"We are on the way to the beginning," said astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson of the American Museum of Natural History. "Every step closer to the beginning tells you something you did not know before."

The new Hubble picture captures those distant simpler galaxies juxtaposed amid closer, newer and more evolved ones. The result is a cosmic family photo that portrays galaxies at different ages and stages of development over the course of more than 13 billion years.

Tyson, who was not involved in the Hubble image research, said most people only like their own baby pictures, but Hubble's photo is different: "These are the baby pictures for us all, hence the widespread interest."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100106/ap_on_sc/us_sci_hubble_photo_11

EA 'Moves Forward' with Online Tiger Woods Game

2010-01-05T17:56:00.000-08:00

Game publishing giant EA says it'll stick with celebrity licensee Tiger Woods despite recent public scandals. That's the word from EA Sports prez Peter Moore, who blogs that the company was moving forward with its online version of the eponymous video game franchise for PC and Mac set to launch later this month.

Question is, why wouldn't they?

Ask yourself this. Have past EA-based Tiger Woods games involved the golf force-of-nature's personal life? And does the current tabloid orgy about whatever went down between him and his wife have anything--read: anything whatsoever--to do with his professional abilities?

If you answered yes to either, do us all a favor: Find the nearest mental health facility and check yourself in--indefinitely.

In the meantime, let's applaud EA's decision to do what fair-weather sponsors like Accenture, Tag Heuer, Gilette, and AT&T wouldn't: Separate the incidentals from the essentials.

"For the past month, we have watched the Tiger Woods story play itself out while several of his sponsors have stepped away from the golfer," writes EA's Moore. "At EA SPORTS, we’ve been particularly attentive because for the past year, we have been in full development of a new and highly innovative, online golf game. The game has been in closed beta for eight months, with more than 75,000 people playing and participating."

Moore acknowledges the decision may turn heads and create "further speculation about [Woods'] relationship with sponsors," and offers the following straightforward rationale for EA's decision to hold steady:

Our relationship with Tiger has always been rooted in golf. We didn’t form a relationship with him so that he could act as an arm’s length endorser. Far from it. We chose to partner with Tiger in 1997 because we saw him as the world’s best, most talented and exciting golfer. We struck that partnership with the assumption that he would remain near or at the top of his sport for years to come.

By his own admission, he’s made some mistakes off the course. But regardless of what’s happening in his personal life, and regardless of his decision to take a personal leave from the sport, Tiger Woods is still one of the greatest athletes in history. At EA SPORTS, we make authentic sports simulations

Hats off to Moore for disclosing as much, leveling with fans and potential subscribers, but most of all, for staying out of a childish kerfuffle that's frankly no one's business but Woods'.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20100105/tc_pcworld/eamovesforwardwithonlinetigerwoodsgame_1

China fights growing problem of tuberculosis

2010-01-05T17:51:00.000-08:00

China, saddled with the world's second largest tuberculosis burden after India, is fighting an uphill battle against drug-resistant forms of the disease which will only drain the country's health budget.

Drug-resistant TB, far more expensive to treat, emerges when patients fail to follow treatment regimens and take substandard drugs or stop treatment too early.

Liu Zhongwu, a stonecutter working in southern China, for example, stopped taking his TB medication midway through a standard six-month course in 2007 because it was too costly.

"Even though one or two drugs were free, I had to pay 500 yuan ($73) a month for other drugs (to reduce side effects) and the side effects were bad, I suffered terrible gastric pain and had to stop work, I didn't even have energy to walk," said Liu.

It is precisely this sort of behavior that health experts are trying to stop because if the TB bacteria is not fully eliminated, it can mutate, resurge later and become resistant to the small arsenal of drugs that can fight the disease.

China has 4.5 million TB cases currently; and each year 1.4 million people fall ill with the disease. TB killed 160,000 people in China in 2008, according to the World Health Organization.

TB killed 1.8 million people across the world in 2008, or a person every 20 seconds. It is not only a scourge in poor countries but also in the West, where it has flared anew in the last 20 years because of AIDS, which weakens the immune system.

DRUG-RESISTANT STRAIN

TB is also a big drain on China's health budget because of a high incidence of people with a drug-resistant strain of the disease, which is a lot harder and more expensive to treat.

In such cases, patients need to take drugs for up to two years and the worst type of TB, for which there is no cure, kills one out of every two patients.

"If there are more drug-resistant cases, the cost of TB treatment will rise by a lot, that's for sure. With drug resistance, we can't use first-line drugs and other drugs cost a lot more," said Lin Yan, director of the China office of the non-profit International Union Against TB and Lung Disease.

"When these patients infect others, the others will get drug-resistant TB. That increases the cost of treating that person and increases the chances of him not recovering."

Regular TB costs 1,000 yuan to treat in China but drug-resistant TB ranges from 100,000 to 300,000 yuan per person, said Zhong Qiu of China's TB Expert Consultative Committee.

China ranks second in the world with 112,000 drug-resistant TB cases in 2007, after India with 131,000. Russia has 43,000 cases, while South Africa has 16,000 and Bangladesh 15,000.

China spent $225 million on tackling TB in 2008, up from $98 million in 2002, according to WHO. These figures do not take into account what patients pay out of their pockets, typically between 47 and 62 percent of their hospital bills.

Drug-resistant TB made up 27.8 percent of all TB cases in China in 2000 versus five percent in advanced countries.

"There are many reasons for China's drug-resistant TB problem. Patients stop taking drugs when they feel better, maybe after a month. Some have no money for drugs if the treatment is not free and they don't even know this is a serious disease," said Lin.

"Some are so afraid of stigma they don't see a doctor, they just buy drugs over the counter."

IGNORANCE, POVERTY, STIGMA

TB affects mostly poor people, who typically live in places where healthcare is not easily accessible. Many patients pay not only for treatment but also transportation, and any chronic, long-term disease can bankrupt entire families.

Li Jiachuen, 45, quickly ran out of money and had to borrow from relatives and friends after he was diagnosed with TB.

"I don't take drugs now. I don't even have money to pay off my 20,000 yuan debt. I spent thousands of yuan on diagnosis and treatment and even more on transportation," Li said.

WHO recommends all TB treatment be free because the disease is a public health threat.

But in China, diagnosis and treatment is only free in specialist TB outpatient clinics. General hospitals, which have been self-financing since the 1990s, impose charges.

"TB is a political problem because it is infectious. It has societal impact, it is a threat to public health ... free treatment is very important," said Zhong, who also heads the Anti-TB Research Institute in China's southern Guangdong province.

The world's only TB vaccine is 100 years old and there has been no new TB drug for more than 40 years. But the resurgence of TB due to AIDS has forced the West back into TB research in the last 20 years and a string of experimental drugs and vaccines are now in the pipeline.

Chinese scientists are working on a new class of TB drugs based on an old drug called clofazimine, used in the past to treat leprosy, said Ann Ginsberg, chief medical officer of the TB Alliance, a US-based non-profit scientific group that pulls together partners to develop new TB drugs.

"They (scientists) found a very promising lead compound and we hope within the next six months ... it will come into formal pre-clinical development and get the formal animal and non human studies that are required to convince the regulators it can go onto people," said Ginsberg.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100106/wl_nm/us_tuberculosis_china_1

NASA: Planet-hunting telescope unearths hot mysteries

2010-01-05T00:52:00.000-08:00

NASA's new planet-hunting telescope has found two mystery objects that are too hot to be planets and too small to be stars.

The Kepler Telescope, launched in March, discovered the two new heavenly bodies, each circling its own star. Telescope chief scientist Bill Borucki of NASA said the objects are thousands of degrees hotter than the stars they circle. That means they probably aren't planets. They are bigger and hotter than planets in our solar system, including dwarf planets.

"The universe keeps making strange things stranger than we can think of in our imagination," said Jon Morse, head of astrophysics for NASA.

The new discoveries don't quite fit into any definition of known astronomical objects, and so far don't have a classification of their own. Details about the mystery objects were presented Monday at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Washington.

For now, NASA researcher Jason Rowe, who found the objects, said he calls them "hot companions."

How hot? Try 26,000 degrees Fahrenheit. That's hot enough to melt lead or iron.

There are two leading theories for what the objects might be and those theories cover both ends of the cosmic life cycle:

_Rowe suggests they are newly born planets. New planets have extremely high temperatures, and in this case Rowe speculates they might be only about 200 million years old.

_Ronald Gilliland of the Space Telescope Science Institute says they could be white dwarf stars that are dying and stripping off their outer shells and shrinking.

The primary focus of the Kepler telescope's three-year mission is to find out how common other planets — especially Earth-like planets — are in the universe. To do that, it is scanning a small chunk of the sky, about one four-hundredth of the night sky with more than 150,000 stars to look for planets.

The telescope in just six weeks found its first five confirmed planets, slightly more than astronomers expected from such a quick search. There are hundreds of other candidates that need confirmation.

The five planets are all much larger than Earth, much closer to their stars than Earth is to the sun, and way too hot for life, Borucki said. A couple of these planets are close to 3,000 degrees.

"Looking at them is like looking at a blast furnace," Borucki said. "Certainly, no place to look for life."

One of the newly discovered planets is so airy that "it has the density of Styrofoam," Borucki said.

"There's going to be all kinds of weird stuff out there," said Alan Boss of the Carnegie Institute of Washington, who wasn't part of the research. "This is an unparalleled data set. The universe really is a weird place. It's fantastic."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ap_on_sc/us_sci_space_mystery

What causes kidney failure?

2010-01-04T00:18:00.000-08:00

Kidney failure can occur from an acute situation or from chronic problems.
In acute renal failure, kidney function is lost rapidly and can occur from a variety of insults to the body. The list of causes is often categorized based on where the injury has occurred.
Prerenal causes (pre=before + renal=kidney) causes are due to decreased blood supply to the kidney. Examples of prerenal causes are:

Hypovolemia (low blood volume) due to blood loss
Dehydration from loss of body fluid (vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, fever )
Poor intake of fluids
Medication, for example, diuretics ("water pills") may cause excessive water loss.
Loss of blood supply to the kidney due to obstruction of the renal artery or vein.

Renal causes (damage directly to the kidney itself) include:

Sepsis: The body's immune system is overwhelmed from infection and causes inflammation and shutdown of the kidneys. This usually does not occur with urinary tract infections.
Medications: Some medications are toxic to the kidney, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen. Others are antibiotics like aminoglycosides [gentamicin (Garamycin), tobramycin], lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid), iodine-containing medications such as those injected for radiology dye studies.
Rhabdomyolysis: This is a situation in which there is significant muscle breakdown in the body, and the degeneration products of muscle fibers clog the filtering system of the kidneys. Often occurring because of trauma and crush injuries, it can also be caused by some medications used to treat high cholesterol.
Multiple Myeloma
Acute glomerulonephritis or inflammation of the glomeruli, the filtering system of the kidneys. Many diseases can cause this inflammation including systemic lupus erythematosus, Wegener's granulomatosis, and Goodpasture syndrome.

Post renal causes (post=after + renal= kidney) are due to factors that affect outflow of the urine:

Obstruction of the bladder or the ureters can cause back pressure when there is no place for the urine to go as the kidneys continue to work. When the pressure increases enough, the kidneys shut down.
Prostatic hypertrophy or prostate cancer may block the urethra and prevents the bladder from emptying.
Tumors in the abdomen that surround and obstruct the ureters.
Kidney stones

Chronic renal failure develops over months and years. The most common causes of chronic renal failure are related to:

Poorly controlled diabetes
Poorly controlled high blood pressure
Chronic glomerulonephritis

Less common causes:

Polycystic Kidney Disease
Reflux nephropathy
Kidney stones
Prostate disease

http://www.medicinenet.com/kidney_failure/article.htm#tocc

Pryor leads Buckeyes past Ducks 26-17 in Rose Bowl

2010-01-01T21:55:00.001-08:00

Terrelle Pryor jumped on a golf cart and rode up the Rose Bowl tunnel in his grass-stained uniform, heading out to pick up a trophy. A clutch of departing Ohio State fans caught sight of his No. 2 jersey and let loose the sort of wild cheer Pryor always imagined would be the soundtrack to his career.
Ohio State's bowl woes were over, thanks to a quarterback who finally played up to his enormous potential — and a sturdy defense that grounded Oregon's high-flying offense.
Pryor passed for a career-high 266 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 72 more and threw a 17-yard scoring pass to DeVier Posey with 7:02 to play, ending the No. 8 Buckeyes' three-game BCS skid with a 26-17 victory over No. 7 Oregon on Friday.
"I just wanted to come out and show I can be a complete quarterback," Pryor said.
From the opening days of bowl preparation, Pryor's teammates sensed a new focus in their sophomore leader, whose much-publicized recruitment had led to two solid seasons, but not the transcendence many expected from the mobile passer. With a Rose Bowl effort that evoked memories of Vince Young's breakout performance in the same stadium four years ago, Pryor shook off his early mistakes and led the Buckeyes (11-2) confidently through a tense fourth quarter.
Turns out nothing was wrong with the Buckeyes' sophomore quarterback that winning the Rose Bowl couldn't cure.
"I think he wanted to have a game that puts him out there in the national ranks, puts him on the map," said receiver Dane Sanzenbacher, who had nine catches for 64 yards. "You could see it with Terrelle in the huddle. He kept his poise and kept us moving. It's something we see in practice all the time, but everybody else can see it now, too."
Even with two Big Ten titles and two wins over Michigan, Pryor hadn't matched his hype until this steady, sometimes spectacular performance on the biggest stage of his career. His frustrations with the sometimes-staid Ohio State offense evaporated with a surprisingly wide-open game plan against Oregon (10-3), taking advantage of his legs and arm.
"As a quarterback, you don't like running the ball," Pryor said. "It's kind of like being selfish. We have great running backs, and they need to get the ball, too. ... Whatever we need, I'll do it. That's what it's about on offense."
With Ohio State nursing a two-point lead in the fourth quarter, he took charge during a 13-play, 81-yard drive eating up more than six minutes — part of the Buckeyes' Rose Bowl-record 41:37 time-of-possession advantage.
After arriving in Los Angeles, Pryor disclosed he'd been playing with a partially torn knee ligament, and he came up limping early in the game. But Pryor said the knee didn't bother him, and you sure couldn't tell by the way he played.
Pryor converted a third-and-13 play near midfield with about nine minutes to play on a 26-yard catch by tight end Jake Ballard, who leaped high to snatch it. After another third-down conversion, Posey made an impressive TD catch, turning both directions and snagging Pryor's pass away from his body before tumbling over the goal line.
"I guess everybody knows he can throw now," Ballard said with a grin.
Posey had eight catches for 101 yards, and Brandon Saine caught an early TD pass for the Buckeyes, making their first Rose Bowl appearance since 1997.
Yet Ohio State's defense did much of the work, limiting the Ducks' no-huddle offense to its worst passing game of the season. Jeremiah Masoli threw for just 81 yards and LaMichael James rushed for 70. A series of big plays and kick returns by Kenjon Barner kept the 96th Rose Bowl close until Pryor sealed it.
"When I saw him in high school, he was a man amongst boys, and at times tonight, he looked like a man amongst boys," said Oregon rookie coach Chip Kelly, who recruited Pryor in Jeannette, Pa. "He certainly beat us on how he threw the ball."
Oregon made a remarkable comeback from its season-opening loss to Boise State to win its first Pac-10 title since 2001, but the Ducks haven't won the Rose Bowl since the game's third edition in 1917, back when the Granddaddy of Them All was a toddler.
Masoli's 1-yard TD run put Oregon up 17-16 early in the third quarter, but the Ducks' powerful offense never scored again. Oregon ran for 179 yards, the second-most allowed by Ohio State this season, but the Ducks were one-dimensional. Oregon, in its first Rose Bowl since 1995, had scored at least 37 points in its previous six games.
"Definitely the whole night we were just a little bit off," said Masoli, who was 9 for 20. "We didn't really open up the playbook regarding the air attack. I don't know why. I wasn't calling the plays."
After Oregon's Morgan Flint missed a 44-yard field goal — his first miss since Oct. 3 — Pryor drove the Buckeyes one more time, finishing with emphasis by gaining a first down with a 12-yard run right after Oregon called its final timeout.
"T.P. took this game seriously, at a whole different level," Ohio State defensive lineman Doug Worthington said. "He was amazing with his arm and his legs. On the defense, we were just trying to get the ball back to him to make plays."
LeGarrette Blount scored an early touchdown for the Ducks, but the once-suspended tailback also fumbled out of the end zone in the third quarter, ending a potential scoring drive.
The cheers Blount received on the way on and off the field highlighted a tumultuous season for the bruising tailback, who was suspended for eight games after punching a Boise State player in frustration after the Ducks' season-opening loss.
Ohio State marched 19 plays for a short field goal 1:05 before halftime, and Ross Homan's 20-yard interception return moments later put the Buckeyes in position for Aaron Pettrey's 45-yard field goal at the gun to make it 16-10.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100102/ap_on_sp_co_ga_su/fbc_t25_rose_bowl_8

Alternative Treatments for Sleep Disorders (2): Relaxation and Meditation for Sleep Disorders

2009-12-31T22:48:00.000-08:00

Increased muscle tension and intrusive thoughts interfere with sleep. Therefore, it is not surprising that techniques aimed at relaxing muscles (progressive muscle relaxation and biofeedback) and quieting the mind (meditation) have been effective treatments for insomnia. Most people can learn these techniques but it usually takes several weeks before they can master them well enough to help ease insomnia. There is a growing body of evidence that supports the value of meditation in treating insomnia. Several studies show that regular meditation, either alone or as a part of a yoga session, results in higher blood levels of melatonin, an important regulator of sleep.

Exercise for Sleep Disorders

Regular exercise deepens sleep in young adults whether or not they have trouble sleeping. In addition, several studies show that exercise can improve sleep in older people. Recent studies show that even low-to-moderate tai chi can improve the quality of sleep for older people while Tibetan yoga exercises can help cancer patients with sleep problems. Although consistent exercise has been shown to improve sleep quality, most experts advise completing exercise at least three to four hours before bedtime to avoid interference with sleep.

Warnings About Alternative Therapies

Alternative therapies are not always benign and some herbal therapies can interact with other medications you may be taking. Consider the following points before starting alternative therapy:

always talk to your doctor before trying an alternative approach and tell your doctor what alternative treatments you are using.
if you experience side effects such as nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, diarrhea, or skin rashes, stop taking the herbal product and notify your doctor immediately.
avoid preparations made with more than one herb.
beware of commercial claims made for herbal products. Look for scientific-based sources of information.
select brands carefully. Only buy brands that list the common and scientific name of the herb, the name and address of the manufacturer, a batch and lot number, expiration date, dosage guidelines, and potential side effects.

http://www.webmd.com/balance/alternative-therapy?page=2

Alternative Treatments for Sleep Disorders (1)

2009-12-31T22:46:00.000-08:00

A health treatment that is not classified as conventional western medical practice is referred to as an "alternative" or "complementary" therapy, although a strict definition of complementary medicine implies that it is alternative medicine taken along with conventional treatments. Alternative medicine, also called alternative therapy, encompasses a variety of disciplines that include everything from diet and exercise to mental conditioning and lifestyle changes. Examples of alternative therapies include acupuncture, guided imagery, yoga, hypnosis, biofeedback, aromatherapy, relaxation, herbal remedies, massage, and many others.

Some complementary and alternative therapies used to treat insomnia include supplements, relaxation and meditation, acupuncture, and exercise.

Supplements for Sleep Disorders

Herbal Treatments
The effects of the root of valerian (Valeriana officinalis) on sleep have been examined in people with sleep disorders. Some studies have suggested that valerian helps with the onset of sleep and with sleep maintenance. However, more research is needed before a final conclusion can be made about the safety and effectiveness of valerian for insomnia.
Chamomile and passionflower are other herbs commonly used in the treatment of insomnia but there has been no clinical investigation to support their use and long term safety.
Other herbs promoted as effective sleep remedies include hops, ginseng, lemon balm, and skullcap. The German government has approved certain herbs (valerian, hops, and lemon balm) for the relief of sleep problems. However, clinical studies to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of herbs are scarce. More information is needed before these herbs can be recommended as a first line of treatment for insomnia.
Since herbal supplements can interact with certain medications, always tell your doctor if you are using any herbal supplements.
Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone that is synthesized by the pineal gland in humans and produced in animals as well as plants. Although the effects of melatonin are complex and poorly understood, it plays a critical role in the regulation of your sleeping and waking cycle and other circadian rhythms. Melatonin has been studied as a possible treatment of circadian rhythm disorders and may be helpful in reducing sleep disturbances caused by jet lag.
Adverse effects of melatonin are minimal but long-term studies examining the effectiveness and toxicity of melatonin supplements are needed.

Acupuncture for Sleep Disorders

Acupuncture is often used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of insomnia and other sleep disorders. This procedure involves the insertion of very fine needles (sometimes in combination with a small electrical stimulus or with heat produced by burning specific herbs) into the skin at specific acupuncture points in order to influence the functioning of the body. The results of recent preliminary clinical trials of acupuncture have indicated improvements in sleep quality in people with insomnia. However, additional research is required before the effectiveness of acupuncture is proven conclusively for the relief of insomnia.

http://www.webmd.com/balance/alternative-therapy?ecd=wnl_slw_123109

Report: Woods met with cops Dec. 1

2009-12-31T01:42:00.000-08:00

Tiger Woods and the Florida Highway Patrol met at an undisclosed location in Orlando on Dec. 1, the same day that authorities closed their investigation into the golfer's one-car crash outside his mansion, WESH-TV reported Wednesday.

Woods, who was cited for careless driving but not charged criminally, was issued a $164 citation when he met with the highway patrol, Sgt. Kim Montes told the Orlando TV station.
The FHP also wanted to see if Woods suffered any injuries that would not have been consistent with his accident, Montes told WESH. Two captains, a trooper, Woods and Woods' attorney Mark NeJame were present for the meeting, Montes said.
Woods had a "fat lip," but no other visible injuries and officers had no reason to believe the golfer was a victim of domestic violence, Montes told WESH-TV.
Woods was "polite," said "yes sir," made "no other small talk and signed the ticket," Montes said, according to WESH.
At the time the FHP closed its investigation, Montes said the patrol "is not pursuing criminal charges in this matter nor is there any testimony or other evidence to support any additional charges of any kind other than the charge of careless driving."
According to an accident report, Woods crashed his SUV into a fire hydrant and a tree at 2:25 a.m. on Nov. 27. The airbags did not deploy and Woods' wife, Elin Nordegren, told Windermere police she used a golf club to smash the back windows to help him out.
Authorities sought to interview Woods and his wife on several occasions in the days following the accident but were rebuffed each time.
Woods' crash came two days after The National Enquirer published a story alleging that Woods had been seeing a New York nightclub hostess. Tabloids and gossip Web sites fueled speculation about the events leading up to the accident, including that there may have been a domestic dispute between Woods and his wife.
In the days that followed, reports of Woods' multiple alleged infidelities surfaced. One woman who said she had a 31-month affair with Woods shared a voice mail that she said Woods left her two nights before his accident.
On Dec. 11, Woods announced he was taking an indefinite leave from the sport to work on his marriage, saying he was aware of the "hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children."
The following week, multiple media outlets reported that Woods' wife would seek a divorce.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=4783227&campaign=rss&source=GOLFHeadlines

Taliban claim blast that killed 8 Americans

2009-12-31T01:39:00.000-08:00

KABUL – The Taliban claimed responsibility Thursday for a suicide bombing at a base in eastern Afghanistan that killed eight American civilians and one Afghan, the worst loss of life for the U.S. in the country since October. A U.S. congressional official said CIA employees are believed to be among the victims.
Separately, four Canadian soldiers and a journalist imbedded in their unit were killed Wednesday by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan's south, the bloodiest single incident suffered by that country's military in 2009.
Michelle Lang, a 34-year-old health reporter with the Calgary Herald, was the first Canadian journalist to die in Afghanistan. She arrived in the country just two weeks ago.
It was not immediately clear how the suicide bomber at the base at the edge of Khost city was able to circumvent security.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement that an Afghan National Army officer wearing a suicide vest entered the base Wednesday and blew himself up inside the gym. A U.S. official who was briefed on the blast also said it took place in the gym.
Khost is the capital of Khost province, which borders Pakistan and is a Taliban stronghold.
The U.S. official said eight American civilians and one Afghan were killed; it was not clear if the Afghan victim was military or civilian. Six Americans were wounded, the official said.
The CIA has not yet commented on or confirmed the deaths.
There was no independent confirmation that the bomber was a member of the Afghan military. Gen. Mohammad Zahir Azimi, spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Defense, said no Afghan National Army soldiers are at the base, named FOB Chapman.
But an Afghan official in Khost said about 200 Afghans have been contracted by the U.S. to take care of security at the base. They are usually deployed on the outer ring of its walls, although some work inside, the official said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
"It's not the first time that Afghan forces have conducted such an attack to kill Americans or foreigners," the Taliban statement said, citing the killing of an American soldier and the wounding of two Italians this week in Badghis province. NATO has provided no details of that incident, but Afghan Gen. Jalander Shah Bahnam said an Afghan soldier opened fire on a base in the province's Bala Murghab district.
The congressional official in Washington said it was not clear how many of the victims in Khost were assigned to the CIA.
A senior State Department official said all of the victims were civilians. A former senior CIA officer who was stationed at the base said a combination of agency officers and contractors operated out of the remote outpost with the military and other agencies. He said contractors also might be among those who died.
All the U.S. officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with the media.
NATO said only that the base is used by provincial reconstruction teams, which consist of both soldiers and civilians, and other personnel.
A spokesman in Kabul for the international coalition force said no U.S. or NATO troops were killed in the afternoon explosion. The attack was the bloodiest for Americans since eight soldiers were killed in an insurgent attack on a base in eastern Afghanistan on Oct. 3.
In the south, NATO said the four Canadian troops and the reporter died when their armored vehicle hit a bomb while on an afternoon patrol south of Kandahar city. It was the third-deadliest day for Canadians in Afghanistan since the war began.
Michelle Lang "was one of those journalists who always wanted to get to the bottom of every story so this was an important trip for her," said a Calgary Herald colleague, Colette Derworiz.
The military has not disclosed the names of the Canadian troops because relatives have not all been notified.
"We are all very saddened to hear this tragic news," Alberta Health and Wellness Minister Ron Liepert said in a statement. "Michelle covered health issues with professionalism, accuracy and thoroughness. She was tenacious in her quest to inform Albertans, and for her diligence she was very well respected."
Brig. Gen. Daniel Menard, commander of coalition forces in Kandahar, said the soldiers were conducting a community security patrol in order to gather information about daily life in the area and how to maintain security.
Wednesday's attack was the second lethal strike against Canadian forces in a week. One Canadian soldier and an Afghan soldier were killed Dec. 23 during a foot patrol in Panjwayi district of Kandahar province. According to figures compiled by The Associated Press, the latest casualties bring to 32 the number of Canadian forces killed in Afghanistan this year; in all, 138 have died in the war.
Separately Wednesday, NATO questioned Afghan reports that international troops killed 10 civilians, including children, in a weekend attack that prompted hundreds of angry Afghan protesters to burn an effigy of President Barack Obama and chant "death" to America.
The head of an investigative team appointed by President Hamid Karzai told The Associated Press that eight students between the ages of 12 and 14 were among the dead discovered in a village house in a remote section of Kunar province in eastern Afghanistan. NATO said late Wednesday that while there was no direct evidence to substantiate the claims, the international force had requested and welcomed a joint investigation to reach an "impartial and accurate determination" of what happened in the attack.
Conflicting accounts of what occurred during the fighting in Kunar's Narang district prompted an emotional outcry over civilian deaths, one of the most sensitive issues for international troops fighting the more than eight-year-old war. Although insurgents are responsible for the deaths of far more civilians, those blamed on coalition forces spark the most resentment and undermine the fight against militants. With 37,000 more U.S. and NATO troops being deployed to the battle zone, concern over civilian casualties is unlikely to ease anytime soon.
Several hundred Afghans demonstrated in Kabul and in the eastern city of Jalalabad, where the likeness of Obama, adorned with a small American flag, was burned on a pole held above demonstrators.
___
Associated Press writers Deb Riechmann and Jim Heintz in Kabul; Matthew Lee, Pam Hess and Pauline Jelinek in Washington, and Adam Goldman in New York City contributed to this report.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091231/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan;_ylt=AtWPCiPDb5lwsy_D9AbOd5as0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNldnQ4OTl0BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkxMjMxL2FzX2FmZ2hhbmlzdGFuBGNjb2RlA21vc3Rwb3B1bGFyBGNwb3MDMQRwb3MDMgRwdANob21lX2Nva2UEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yeQRzbGsDdGFsaWJhbmNsYWlt

Russia may send spacecraft to knock away asteroid

2009-12-31T01:35:00.000-08:00

Russia's space agency chief said Wednesday a spacecraft may be dispatched to knock a large asteroid off course and reduce the chances of earth impact, even though U.S. scientists say such a scenario is unlikely.
Anatoly Perminov told Golos Rossii radio the space agency would hold a meeting soon to assess a mission to Apophis. He said his agency might eventually invite NASA, the European Space Agency, the Chinese space agency and others to join the project.

When the 270-meter (885-foot) asteroid was first discovered in 2004, astronomers estimated its chances of smashing into Earth in its first flyby, in 2029, at 1-in-37.
Further studies have ruled out the possibility of an impact in 2029, when the asteroid is expected to come no closer than 18,300 miles (29,450 kilometers) from Earth's surface, but they indicated a small possibility of a hit on subsequent encounters.
NASA had put the chances that Apophis could hit Earth in 2036 as 1-in-45,000. In October, after researchers recalculated the asteroid's path, the agency changed its estimate to 1-in-250,000.
NASA said another close encounter in 2068 will involve a 1-in-330,000 chance of impact.
Don Yeomans, who heads NASA's Near-Earth Object Program, said better calculations of Apophis' path in several years "will almost certainly remove any possibility of an Earth collision" in 2036.
"While Apophis is almost certainly not a problem, I am encouraged that the Russian science community is willing to study the various deflection options that would be available in the event of a future Earth threatening encounter by an asteroid," Yeomans said in an e-mail Wednesday.
Without mentioning NASA's conclusions, Perminov said that he heard from a scientist that Apophis is getting closer and may hit the planet. "I don't remember exactly, but it seems to me it could hit the Earth by 2032," Perminov said.
"People's lives are at stake. We should pay several hundred million dollars and build a system that would allow us to prevent a collision, rather than sit and wait for it to happen and kill hundreds of thousands of people," Perminov said.
Scientists have long theorized about asteroid deflection strategies. Some have proposed sending a probe to circle around a dangerous asteroid to gradually change its trajectory. Others suggested sending a spacecraft to collide with the asteroid and alter its momentum, or hitting it with nuclear weapons.
Perminov wouldn't disclose any details of the project, saying they still need to be worked out. But he said the mission wouldn't require any nuclear explosions.
Hollywood action films "Deep Impact" and "Armageddon," have featured space missions scrambling to avoid catastrophic collisions. In both movies, space crews use nuclear bombs in an attempt to prevent collisions.
"Calculations show that it's possible to create a special purpose spacecraft within the time we have, which would help avoid the collision," Perminov said. "The threat of collision can be averted."
Boris Shustov, the director of the Institute of Astronomy under the Russian Academy of Sciences, hailed Perminov's statement as a signal that officials had come to recognize the danger posed by asteroids.
"Apophis is just a symbolic example, there are many other dangerous objects we know little about," he said, according to RIA Novosti news agency.
___
AP Science Writer Alicia Chang contributed to this story from Los Angeles.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_russia_asteroid_encounter

8 Winter Tips for Healthy Living A better diet, a little more exercise - healthy living is easy if you take it one tip at a time.

2009-12-25T17:06:00.001-08:00

You do! Resolve to follow these eight diet, exercise, and lifestyle tips, and you can be good to yourself this winter - and all year long.

1. Enjoy the Benefits of Yogurt

It's creamy smooth, packed with flavor -- and just may be the wonder food you've been craving. Research suggests that that humble carton of yogurt may:

Help prevent osteoporosis
Reduce your risk of high blood pressure
Aid gastrointestinal conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and constipation

Ready to take home a few cartons of yummy yogurt? When buying think low-fat, make sure the yogurt contains active cultures and vitamin D, and keep tabs on sugar content.

2. Help Holiday Heartburn

Getting hit with heartburn over the holidays? Help is at hand! Try these hints and you can stop the burn before it starts:
Nibble: Enjoy your favorite foods -- but in moderation. No need to heap on the goodies (or go back for seconds and thirds!). Packing your stomach with food makes heartburn much more likely.
Know Your Triggers: Certain foods feed heartburn's flame. Typical triggers include foods full of sugar and fat -- think pumpkin pie slathered with whipped cream. Instead reach for complex carbs like veggies and whole-wheat breads -- or at least share that dessert!
Get Up: Stretching out for a nap post-meal is a great way to guarantee you'll get reflux. Instead, keep your head higher than your stomach -- or keep right on walking, away from the dinner table and out the door. Light exercise is a great way to prevent heartburn.

3. Kiss Holiday Cold Sores Good-bye

Holidays: That busy time for toasting the coming year, savoring seasonal sweets, staying up late -- and cold sores?
If you find you're more prone to cold sores (also called fever blisters) during the hectic holiday season, you may be your own worst enemy. That's because lack of sleep, too much alcohol or sugar, stress, and close physical contact (think auntie's smooches) can all contribute to outbreaks.
So, to help keep your kisser cold-sore-free this year -- or to keep from passing your cold sores to others -- try these tips:

Don't overdo the holiday goodies -- maintain a healthy diet.
Get plenty of rest.
Wash your hands.
Don't share food or drink containers.
Discard used tissues.
Don't kiss on or near anyone's cold sore -- and don't let them near yours!

4. De-Stress With Meditation

The bad weather, the seasonal pace, work: If this time of year has your stress meter spiking, it may be time to close your eyes, breathe ... and get a little repetitive.
Repetition is at the heart of meditation's soothing power. The act of banishing thoughts, focusing on your breathing, and repeating a single word or phrase, fires up your body's natural relaxation response.
And meditation can do more than soothe away stress. Research shows it may help lower blood pressure, boost immunity, reduce PMS symptoms, even aid in fertility and the delivery of a new mom's milk.

http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/8-winter-tips-healthy-living?ecd=wnl_slw_122409

Boeing Looks Beyond Dreamliner's First Flight Difficult Process Begins of Moving Cutting-Edge Prototype Toward Mass Production

2009-12-16T00:40:00.000-08:00

Boeing Co.'s 787 Dreamliner on Tuesday made its first flight, marking a success for the company after two years of delays but setting up an equally challenging drive to churn out large numbers of the cutting-edge aircraft.
Thousands of spectators gathered under cloudy skies at Paine Field here, cheering as the blue-and-white-striped jet lifted off the runway for its maiden flight. "It's great to finally get the plane in the air," said Boeing Chairman and Chief Executive Jim McNerney.
But the repeated setbacks have pushed the company into a tight spot: Now it must quickly turn a cutting-edge prototype into a mass-produced money maker.

"Ramping up production certainly will be a challenge," said Mr. McNerney. Boeing hopes to produce seven Dreamliners a month by 2011, increasing to 10 a month by 2013.
The company's ability to achieve that goal will have a huge impact on the commercial-aviation industry world-wide.
The Dreamliner's more than 300 global suppliers won't begin to fully recoup their money until the planes are delivered to customers.
Many suppliers have already been squeezed by past delays. And airlines and leasing firms, which have ordered 865 of the aircraft, are counting on Boeing to make its new production target so they can plan routes and service.
The delays have already caused Boeing—the single largest exporter from the U.S. and long a symbol of American engineering prowess—to bleed cash. The Chicago-based aerospace giant swung to a $1.6 billion third-quarter loss after posting a $3.5 billion write-down attributed to problems with the Dreamliner and another jetliner program. The missed delivery dates have set off payments of millions in penalties and dented the company's credibility with customers and investors.

Boeing has staked much of its future on the pioneering aircraft. It is the first-ever commercial jet to be built half out of strong-but-lightweight carbon-fiber composite material, which the company promises will make the Dreamliner more fuel-efficient and durable than current models. That prospect played well with customers.
The plane, with a list price of more than $160 million, has received more orders ahead of its first flight than for any jetliner in history.
By any measure, even Boeing's seven-planes-a-month production target is ambitious. After 14 years of producing the larger, aluminum-shelled 777 model, Boeing only this year got on track to deliver more than seven of that aircraft a month.
On top of that, the 787 marks the first time that Boeing is trying to manufacture an aircraft made largely out of composite material, the novelty of which has already led to glitches. Boeing in June abruptly postponed what was supposed to be the first flight, disclosing that composites around where the wings meet the main fuselage were damaged. It took nearly six months to fix the problem.
The Dreamliner also must run through an elaborate test-flight program before the Federal Aviation Administration will clear the aircraft to carry passengers. In a sign of the challenges involved,
Boeing shortened the planned four-hour flight by an hour because of bad weather.

Boeing's European rival, Airbus, ran into manufacturing problems when it was attempting to push out its A380 superjumbo.
"Flying was the simplest part," Airbus Chief Executive Tom Enders said of the A380. "The hard part was the complexity of industrialization."
Airbus, a unit of European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co., has faced more than four years of delays on the superjumbo because its manufacturing systems weren't robust enough to meet the two-deck plane's heavy industrial demands. Two years after A380 deliveries started, Airbus officials say the plane's production costs still outstrip its selling price.
From the Dreamliner's conception early this decade, Boeing planned to keep customization to a minimum "to make sure it wasn't a boutique plane," said James Albaugh, the head of the company's commercial-aircraft unit. The company now is intensely focused on "what it's going to take to ramp our production up."
When Boeing set out to build the Dreamliner, it chose to outsource much of the production to firms based as far away as Italy and Japan.
But Boeing had a hard time keeping on top of such a vast network of suppliers. In addition, the many delays strained its relations with some key suppliers.
"The critical issue is not that Boeing isn't going to have a successful flight test," Marshall Larsen, CEO of supplier Goodrich Corp., said earlier this year. "It's that the Goodriches of the world successfully support Boeing in getting the aircraft into service." Goodrich, based in Charlotte, N.C., produces major elements of the Dreamliner and the A380, including the 787's brakes and thrust reversers.
"We really have to focus on making sure we have a supply chain that delivers on what we promised," Mr. Albaugh said. "We know there are going to be changes along the way, and we just have to make sure we minimize disruptions on the factory floor."
One of Boeing's key 787 suppliers, Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc. of Wichita, Kan., said it is eager finally to increase production after years of fits and starts.
"We're really excited to get past first flight and get to the next phase and really get into production," said Spirit spokeswoman Deborah Gann. "We're looking forward to getting more regularity with the 787 and think there are lots of improvements on that process that we can continue to make."
Write to Peter Sanders at peter.sanders@wsj.com and Daniel Michaels at daniel.michaels@wsj.com

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704398304574598132677618314.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories

Biz Break: Craig trusted Meg, but didn't get eBay promises in writing

2009-12-13T17:58:00.000-08:00

Craigslist founder Craig Newmark testifies in the legal dispute between his company and eBay. Apple files a countersuit against Nokia. Target opens a temporary store in the heart of San Francisco. Plus: Silicon Valley tech stocks.

Craig: Meg's promises weren't in writing

Craigslist founder Craig Newmark said eBay broke promises former CEO Meg Whitman made before the San Jose online auction powerhouse bought a minority stake in the San Francisco classified-ad site. But he acknowledged in court today that eBay never put those promises into writing.

"If it ain't in the document, you don't get to rely on it, right?" eBay attorney Michael Rhodes asked, according to our friends at The Associated Press.
"That's what these documents say," Newmark replied, according to AP.
Newmark also testified that he didn't complain because that would have been the responsibility of Craigslist's lawyer or CEO Jim Buckmaster.
The dispute between eBay and Craigslist is being heard in a Georgetown, Del., courtroom. EBay contends its minority stake in Craigslist was unfairly diluted. In a countersuit, Craigslist charges that eBay used secret information gained from the deal to start a rival classified-ad site.
Former eBay CEO Whitman is now a Republican candidate for governor of California.

Speaking of legal disputes, Apple, the Cupertino maker of iPhones, iPods and "I'm a Mac" computers, has filed a countersuit against Finnish cell phone maker Nokia.

According to AP, Apple's suit, filed in federal court Delaware, claims Nokia violated 13 Apple patents and contends Nokia tried to "copy the iPhone."
In October, Nokia sued Apple, contending the iPhone maker violated 10 Nokia patents.

Temporary Target in S.F.

Discount retailer Target — which usually operates out of big-box stores surrounded by acres of free parking — is opening three "Target To-Go" stores this weekend in the hearts of three urban areas: in San Francisco, New York and Washington, D.C.

According to a Bloomberg News report, the stores let Target test the market before committing to opening a permanent location in a more expensive urban location.
The San Francisco Target To-Go — at Mint Plaza on Fifth Street between Market and Mission Streets — will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today, Saturday and Sunday only.
Target will offer a limited selection of 50 holiday items, according to Bloomberg, ranging from 99-cent ornaments to Sony's PSP go video game player.

Silicon Valley tech stocks

Up: Oracle, Gilead Sciences, eBay, Yahoo.

Kaufman Brothers raised its rating on shares of Sunnyvale Internet content powerhouse Yahoo to "buy" from "hold," according to Bloomberg. Yahoo closed at $15.74, up 25 cents, or 1.6 percent.
Down: Google, Apple, Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Adobe Systems.
The blue chip Dow Jones industrial average: Up 65.67, or 0.6 percent, to 10,471.50.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index: Down 0.55 to 2,190.31.
And the widely watched Standard & Poor's 500 index: Up 4.06, or 0.4 percent, to 2,190.31.

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_13978627

Poor Nations Fear Shaft at Copenhagen

2009-12-11T22:38:00.000-08:00

Getting the world's richest and poorest nations to cut a deal on climate control that both sides can live with has never been easy. This was evident again when Sudanese ambassador Lumumba Stanislaus Dia Ping who represents 130 countries in a bloc called the Group of 77 and China flatly called a preliminary draft of a policy document on climate control at the Copenhagen climate conference racist and imperialist.

Ping's strident name call is overblown and hyperbole. But his troubling point that industrial production and expansion has driven Western economic plenty isn't. And that to change the game and impose restrictions on industrial growth at the expense of poor nations seems unfair, especially if rich nations aren't willing to dole out the billions that they promised to aid the poor nations combat grinding poverty and boost economic growth.
Ping's blast at the rich nations for dragging their feet on aid to the poor nations is hardly new. Third World leaders have long charged that clamping tight caps on carbon emissions will make it almost impossible for the poorest nations to catch up with the West. By every measure of economic well-being, employment, technology, industry, and national GDP, the imbalance between the haves and have not nations is staggering. When the poor nations demand monies from the rich nations as the price for cutting a deal on climate control they are assailed as obstructionist, selfish, and fatalist on combating global warming and pollution. Third World leaders agree that global warming is a danger. It threatens their water supplies, forests, crops, rivers, and the seas that border their nations. The decades of colonial rule, economic exploitation, the systematic gut of their resources, and crushing debt, have stripped these nations of the resources to combat the threat.
The conflict over how best to balance climate control measures with Third World economic uplift exploded in bitter exchanges at a preliminary conference in Bangkok, Thailand in October. Third World delegates accused the rich nations of trying to wiggle out of their commitment to provide nearly $100 billion to a global donor's fund to aid poor nations promote economic development and growth. The European Union initially pledged to pump $15 billion into the fund by 2020. The Copenhagen conference has an added sense of urgency since the Kyoto Protocol Accords on climate control run out in 2012. Kyoto established the basis for a global warming control agreement.

The US and China are the world's two biggest carbon emitters. Yet they have not contributed a dime to the global fund so far. The Bush administration opposed Kyoto. Bush claimed that the treaty was unfair as its legally-binding provisions for curbing carbon emissions apply only to rich economies, not developing countries. But Bush was deeply influenced by the drumbeat conservative attacks on global warming as a hoax and part of the liberal agenda to retard US industrial growth. The Obama administration is under heavy pressure to reverse Bush policy on Kyoto and drastically cut greenhouse emissions as well as to contribute billions to the global fund for the poor nations.

While China does not slough off the global warming threat, it's still a developing nation, and has a huge vested interest in watering down any effort to place restrictions on emissions from its expanding plants and factories. China so far has opposed the effort to place a "peak" year on capping carbon emissions.

The charge of imperialism and racism aside poor nations will push the US Europe, and Japan hard at the Copenhagen conference not only to come up with ways to clean up the air that they pollute and heated up the planet with but also to strike an accord that does not do further damage to the tottering economies of the poorest of poor nations. They rich industrial nations did the damage to the earth and the economies of poor nations. The burden is on them to undue it. They must fulfill their pledge to shell out the money that they promised to boost poor nations. That's literally the price to make Copenhagen a true success for the planet.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/earl-ofari-hutchinson/poor-nations-fear-shaft-a_b_389581.html

Copenhagen climate conference: Money talks

2009-12-11T22:32:00.001-08:00

Cash is the key to unlocking the grand climate bargain between the rich and poor world, as was apparent even before the brokering had got under way in Copenhagen. At the end of the first week of talking, this reality has become even starker, for a whole host of reasons.
For one thing, the first world is resisting moving things forward through the power of its own example. The European Council yesterday failed to make any immediate advance on its original offer of a 20% emissions reduction. This despite Gordon Brown's hope that Europe might soon firm up its more tentative talk of a 30% cut. In the absence of action, money will have to do even more of the talking. The indicative offers from developing countries are rather more encouraging – the environmental consultancy Ecofys suggests they are broadly in line with what the scientists demand – but these offers come with financial strings attached, making assistance still more important. Developing countries reject the rich world's tendency to brand such funds as aid, regarding them as reparations incurred by the globe's north for creating a problem which will do most damage in the south. The strength of the feelings showed, when a top negotiator on behalf of the poor countries dubbed Mr Brown worse than a climate-change denier for having squandered all the money on the banks.
It was thus a significant moment when the European Union put some real money on the table yesterday, even if it was not nearly enough in order to seal the deal. The first hurdle is to prove that the €7.2bn pledged over three years is genuine new money, and not – as so often happens when the west trumpets its virtue – the relabelling of existing funds. The second hurdle is persuading Japan and America to match the cash. Even after both obstacles are cleared, however, the bigger challenge will remain. Namely, establishing a funding stream that can be credibly banked on to increase its flow when the climate crisis tightens its grip.
Mr Brown, together with the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, yesterday signalled this was understood by proposing a so-called Tobin tax on financial transactions to provide reliable transnational revenues for climate assistance. Paying the planet while throwing sand in the wheels of freewheeling finance is precisely the sort of imaginative leap that the moment demands. But asking the IMF to review the idea is a very long way from making anything practical happen. While the US treasury continues to oppose it, a new global tax is not going to happen. Either America must soften its stance, or it must devise its own means to raise the money. As so often before, an anxious world is warily casting eyes in the direction of Washington.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/dec/12/copenhagen-climate-conference-money-talks

Copenhagen Climate Talks (UNFCCC)

2009-12-11T22:27:00.000-08:00

We didn’t expect much from the first week of the global warming conference in Copenhagen. Countries need to do a little posturing before getting down to the hard work, which is supposed to start on Monday. But the belligerent talk from China seemed to go well beyond the usual positioning.

The best hope is that the talks will produce an interim understanding under which industrialized countries would commit to fairly precise targets for reduced emissions, and others, like China, to broader but measurable goals. The industrial countries would be expected to help poorer countries shift to less-polluting forms of energy.
That would set the stage for a legally binding deal in 2010. But there is no chance of even an interim agreement without the enthusiastic participation of China, the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases. China’s absence would give other developing countries — and the United States Senate — an excuse to do less than needed.
Beijing’s recent pledge to slow the growth in emissions seemed like a positive shift in attitude. Then on Tuesday, in a surprising show of defensiveness, China’s top negotiator, Su Wei, said the greatest burden rested with the industrialized countries and jumped on the United States, Japan and the European Union for not being aggressive enough. Another Chinese official urged Washington to do “some deep soul-searching” and improve its proposal.
Todd Stern, the chief American negotiator, responded correctly: With emissions in many industrialized countries peaking or declining, just about all of the growth in greenhouse gases is expected to come from the developing world between now and 2030, half from China. Rich nations must still reduce emissions sharply, Mr. Stern said, but “there is no way to solve this problem by giving the major developing countries a pass.”
China has also been demanding that rich nations contribute hundreds of millions of dollars a year to help poor countries address the threat of climate change. Again Mr. Stern was blunt. Washington is prepared to help those who need it, but given China’s huge reserves and revved-up economy, he said he could not envision “public funds, certainly not from the United States, going to China.”
The most positive development has been a pledge by the European Union to contribute $10.5 billion over the next three years to help poorer countries deal with climate change. The United States has said that it will make a contribution but has not said how big it will be.
Transparency is another difficult issue that must be resolved, at least in principle, this week. There is no point in setting targets, or threatening penalties for noncompliance, unless countries are required to report emissions accurately. Transparency has never been one of Beijing’s virtues, and emerging countries generally need aid to create sophisticated monitoring systems.
Copenhagen’s broadest challenge is finding an equitable way to distribute the burden of confronting climate change. Despite some differences, the industrialized nations have pretty much agreed to trim their emissions by 15 percent to 20 percent from 2005 levels in the next 10 years, and by 80 percent by midcentury. And all seem to be willing to make expensive investments to get there. President Obama will need help from Congress, no sure thing.
A host of developing countries — including India, Brazil, Indonesia — have put broad goals on the table, though in some cases they seem more aspirational than real. But the bottom line is that the hope for a meaningful deal is vanishingly small if China doesn’t sign on.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/12/opinion/12sat1.html

Bad to worse for Tiger Woods

2009-12-10T22:12:00.000-08:00

Tiger Woods’s problems seem to be multiplying with the American media reporting the existence of a love child and sex tapes of the golfer.

According to the 'National Enquirer', Woods had fathered at least one child outside his marriage.
Friends of Elin Nordegren, however, have said, however, that the golfer’s wife planned to stay with him for the sake of their children. The American edition of People magazine has quoted Nordegren’s “friends” saying she is devastated by Woods’s alleged infidelities but plans to stay married. The couple, who married in 2004, have a daughter Sam, 2, and son Charlie, 10 months.
“She is a child of divorce and that’s not something she’s likely to want to do to Sam and Charlie,” an unnamed friend told People.
The friends say Woods has come clean and told Nordegren, a former nanny, the full extent of his alleged womanising. Woods has now been linked to at least 11 women.

‘Toothless’ Tiger
Texts were also published on Wednesday that appear to show Woods flirting with 24-year-old cocktail waitress Jaimie Grubbs. And it was claimed Woods has avoided the public gaze because his wife broke one of his teeth in their row before the crash. Star magazine reported that Nordegren threw a mobile phone at Woods after she caught him texting club promoter Rachel Uchitel.
Meanwhile, two of the women at the centre of the allegations spoke out. Uchitel told OK! magazine in an interview that she had been demonised. “In every story you need a villain and a hero,” she said. “I’ve been characterised as a villain. People have called me homewrecker, gold digger, tramp... I made mistakes, but I’m not those things. I have good qualities.”

other article
Subspecies of Tiger

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/bad-to-worse-for-tiger-woods/552718/

Invictus (2009), Final Score: Future 1, Past 0

2009-12-10T19:38:00.000-08:00

Keith Bernstein/Warner Brothers Pictures Morgan Freeman plays Nelson Mandela in “Invictus,” Clint Eastwood’s new film.

December 11, 2009

It may not seem obvious at first, but Clint Eastwood’s “Invictus,” a rousing true story of athletic triumph, is also that director’s latest exploration of revenge, the defining theme of his career. It is hard to think of an actor or a filmmaker who so cleanly embodies a single human impulse in the way that Mr. Eastwood — from “Pale Rider” to “Mystic River,” from Dirty Harry to “Gran Torino” — personifies the urge to get even.

From left, Leleti Khumalo, Adjoa Andoh, Morgan Freeman and Danny Keogh in “Invictus.”

He has also, of course, taken a critical view of the drive for vengeance, investigating its tragic roots and terrible consequences. A movie like “Unforgiven,” most famously, suggests that violent revenge is regrettable. But rarely, in the world of Mr. Eastwood’s films, is it avoidable.
“Invictus” is to some degree an exception, a movie about reconciliation and forgiveness — about the opposite of revenge — that gains moral authority precisely because the possibility of bloodshed casts its shadow everywhere. The film, based on John Carlin’s book “Playing the Enemy,” takes place in South Africa in the mid-1990s, just after Nelson Mandela’s election as the country’s first black president. Many of the whites in the film — most of them Afrikaner nationalists still attached to a system that kept their black compatriots poor, disenfranchised and oppressed — brace themselves for payback as Mandela assumes power. Quite a few of the president’s black supporters expect it, too, as their due after decades of brutality and humiliation under apartheid.
But Mandela, played with gravity, grace and a crucial spark of mischief by Morgan Freeman, knows that score-settling would be a disastrous course for a new and fragile democracy. Passing by a newsstand on the morning after his victory, he spots a headline in Afrikaans. He has shown that he can win an election, it says, but will he show that he can govern? His bodyguards bristle at a pre-emptive low blow from a hostile press, but Mandela shrugs. “It’s a fair question,” he says.
And a perennially urgent one in any democracy. Mr. Eastwood and the screenwriter, Anthony Peckham, are too absorbed in the details of the story at hand to suggest historical analogies, but “Invictus” has implications beyond its immediate time and place that are hard to miss. It’s an exciting sports movie, an inspiring tale of prejudice overcome and, above all, a fascinating study of political leadership.
But much of the ingenuity in Mr. Freeman’s performance lies in the way he conveys that idealism and the shrewd manipulation of symbols and emotions are not incompatible, but complementary. Taking power a few years after being released from 27 years of incarceration, Mandela is already a larger-than-life figure, an idol in South Africa and around the world. His celebrity is something of a burden, and also an asset he must learn to use; his moral prestige is a political weapon.
But he is preoccupied, to the dismay of loyalists in his movement, with finding some kind of concord — not friendship, necessarily, but at least a state of non-enmity — with the people who hate and fear him: the whites who see him as a terrorist, a usurper and a threat to their traditions and values. Mandela’s overtures to the Afrikaners — starting with his refusal to dismiss white members of the presidential staff and security detail — arise partly out of Gandhian principle, and partly out of political calculation. They are a powerful force in the army, the police and the South African economy.
Mandela’s aides — in particular Brenda Mazibuko (Adjoa Andoh) — are baffled when he takes up the cause of the South African rugby team, a symbol of stiff-necked Afrikaner pride despised by most blacks. The team’s Springbok mascot, named for a kind of gazelle, and its green-and-gold uniforms are nearly as loathsome as the apartheid flag, and when Mandela insists that the colors be retained, it seems almost like a betrayal of his life’s cause. South Africa, a pariah in the world of international sports for a long time (“the skunk of the world,” as Mandela puts it), is preparing to host the Rugby World Cup, and Mandela decides that if the nation is to find unity and self-respect the underachieving Springboks must win the championship.
And so an alliance develops between the president and François Pienaar, the Springbok captain, played with crisp, disciplined understatement (and utter mastery of a devilishly tricky accent) by Matt Damon. Pienaar’s struggle to keep control of his team, and also to persuade them to accept some perplexing new social realities, is a microcosm of Mandela’s larger project. And he quietly accepts Mandela, who shares with Pienaar the Victorian poem that gives the movie its title, as a mentor.
Beyond the politician, Mr. Freeman and Mr. Eastwood allow us glimpses of a complicated and somewhat melancholy man, carrying the loneliness of his long imprisonment with him and estranged from much of his family. He is gracious and charming in small groups, a stiff but compelling public speaker and a boss whose authority is buttressed by a phalanx of devoted, sometimes skeptical aides.
But if “Invictus” is predominantly an absorbing character study of one of the most extraordinary characters of our time, it is also fleshed out with well-sketched minor players and subplots that illuminate the progress of racial rapprochement in its comic human dimension. The black bodyguards and their white colleagues proceed from hostility to wary tolerance to guarded warmth in a way that is pointed without being overstated. And that, for the most part, characterizes Mr. Eastwood’s direction, which is always unassuming, unhurried and efficient. In this film he tells a big story through a series of small, well-observed moments, and tells it in his usual blunt, matter-of-fact way, letting the nuances take care of themselves.

And once again, as in “Letters From Iwo Jima” — a tragic rather than heroic inquiry into the nature of leadership — they do. “Invictus” is more sprawling than that film, and more willing to risk hokiness. That is a chance Mr. Eastwood is often happy to take, and no genre is more susceptible to it (or earns it more honestly) than the victorious-underdog team-sports movie. That the sport is as alien to most Americans as it is to black South Africans presents its challenges, but by the end you might care about rugby more than you thought you would, even if it remains harder to understand than politics.
The convergence of the two provides an occasion for some potent, intelligent filmmaking — a movie that hits you squarely with its visceral impact and stays in your mind for a long time after.
“Invictus” is rated PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned). It has some swearing, the threat of violence and brutal sports action.

http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/12/11/movies/11invictus.html

Swedish company controls Nobel ceremony footage

2009-12-10T19:31:00.000-08:00

When President Barack Obama accepted his Nobel Peace Prize on Thursday, a single Swedish company controlled the dissemination of his words.

Obama's speech was recorded exclusively by Norwegian national television and distributed by Nobel Media AB, a company formed by the Sweden-based Nobel Foundation in 2004 to strengthen control over its intellectual property.

In previous years, independent media could record the first five minutes of the ceremony. Nobel Media did not allow that this year because, the company said, it would conflict with Obama's security requirements.
The limitations did not impede the distribution of Obama's speech: Media around the world could broadcast as much as they wanted live. But any outlet that wanted to play a recorded snippet was limited to a maximum of three minutes that had run consecutively and uninterrupted.
All footage was emblazoned with the Nobel Media logo.

Nobel Media also barred Web sites from live streaming of the ceremony, limiting live online coverage to the Nobel Foundation's Web site, nobelprize.org.
Nobel Media charges a relatively small fee to media outlets, several thousand euros in many cases. CEO Camilla Hylten-Cavallius told The Associated Press that the primary goal of its restrictions on the footage was not making money but making sure coverage of the Nobel ceremony was not manipulated or abused.
The company doesn't "primarily do this in the interest of profiting off of it, but in order to know where the material is spread," Hylten-Cavallius said.
However, Hylten-Cavallius also acknowledged that the three-minute restriction helped the company retain "exclusivity" on the Nobel Foundation's Web site. The site contains full-length, on-demand videos of Nobel lectures.
She said streaming the ceremony only on the Web site was an experiment to see if it would drive more traffic there.
"The goal has been to gain control over these rights that have previously been free for everyone for so many years," she said. "We have to evaluate it and see how it works and perhaps we'll do it differently next year."
Entertainment events like the Oscars generally have far more broadcast restrictions, as do virtually all top-tier sports like the Olympics and soccer's World Cup. None can be aired live, unlike the Nobels, unless costly TV rights are purchased.

In both Norway, where the peace prize is awarded, and Sweden, where the other five awards are given out, the national broadcaster films on the company's behalf.
Sweden's TV4 had the rights to film Nobel events in Sweden on behalf of Nobel Media but the company canceled the contract in 2008 after China Central Television and Shanghai Media Group cut out parts of a speech by Nobel Foundation Chairman Marcus Storch. The excised section mentioned an exhibition in Norway about the importance of freedom of expression in democracies.

TV4 blamed it on Chinese media and said Nobel Media was violating the spirit of the award.
Associated Press Writer Louise Nordstrom contributed to this report from Stockholm.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hLqPm387JA7KnJoOY2ljeDZ3yqPgD9CGOQ680

NBC Showcases Statue of Barry Obama at 10 with Nobel Medal and Butterfly

2009-12-10T19:29:00.001-08:00

NBC's Brian Williams took time Thursday night to show video a statue of President Barack Obama at age 10, then known as Barry, being unveiled in Jakarta, near where he attended school at that age. “The statue was put there to remind children in Indonesia to follow their dreams and remind them their future is without limits,” Williams helpfully explained.

The life-size bronze replica of Obama in a T-shirt and shorts is adorned with what Politico suggested “appears to be a Nobel medal around his neck” and what the AP described as “the young Obama smiling at a butterfly that has landed on his upheld left thumb.” The AP dispatch also reported: “The statue's pedestal carries an paraphrased quote from former U.S. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt reading, 'The future belongs to those who believe in the power of their dreams.'”

This wasn't the first time the NBC Nightly News found inspiration in Obama's time in Indonesia. Back during the campaign in March of 2008, the newscast ran a celebratory piece about how excited Obama's childhood friends in Indonesia were about his candidacy in a story which began and ended with a picture of Obama's classmates in front of huge “Good Luck Barry!” lettering.

Williams announced on the Thursday, December 10 NBC Nightly News over video showing kids in a band and views of the statue:

This was the scene today at a school courtyard in Jakarta, Indonesia. Young conductor, student orchestra and the unveiling of a statue of 10-year-old Barack Obama, Barry as he was known back then. This is, after all, where the future 44th President went to school as a little boy. The statue was put there to remind children in Indonesia to follow their dreams and remind them their future is without limits.

My March 15, 2008 NB item, “Instead of Wright, NBC Touts Childhood Pals: 'Good Luck Barry!'” recounted:

Friday's [March 14] NBC Nightly News allocated a mere 22 seconds to Barack Obama's condemnation of what fill-in anchor Ann Curry vaguely described as "inflammatory remarks that his long time pastor made about Hillary Clinton and the nation," but instead of informing viewers of any of those remarks, such as Reverend Jeremiah Wright's suggestion that the U.S. deserved 9/11, the newscast then devoted three minutes to a celebratory piece about how excited Obama's childhood friends in Indonesia are about his candidacy.

In a story which began and ended with a picture of Obama's classmates in front of huge "Good Luck Barry!" lettering, reporter Ian Williams trumpeted the wonders Obama is doing abroad: "The fact that Obama lived in Jakarta and studied at this school has really captured the popular imagination. It's already working wonders for America's battered image here." A local commentator oozed over how "Obama's candidacy confirms the romantic ideals people like me have held since childhood that America's the land of opportunity."

Williams concluded with how "friends remember Barry playing barefoot in the paddy fields with a real spirit of adventure," and so now "hope there'll be no turning back on his journey to the White House. And Barry might attend their next reunion as President of the United States."...

—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brent-baker/2009/12/10/nbc-showcases-statute-barry-obama-10-nobel-medal-butterfly

Obama accepts Nobel Peace Prize days after announcing troop surge

2009-12-10T19:26:00.000-08:00

President Obama accepted the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo today, acknowledging in his speech the hotly debated irony of receiving it as a wartime president.
According to a Times article today, Obama’s speech to the Nobel Committee defended his war stance, saying the pursuit of a “just peace” sometimes means more than simply refraining from violence.
The selection of Obama for the award has been controversial, coming less than a year into his first term and just days after he announced he would commit 30,000 additional U.S. troops to the war in Afghanistan.
Nobel Committee Chairman Thorbjorn Jagland suggested the award will encourage the president to achieve his goals.
And while he didn’t mention if he supported Obama’s military buildup, a video on the Nobelprize.org website with Geir Lundestad, secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, explained how the President’s prize follows the statutes of Alfred Nobel’s will.
Twitter users and readers have mostly been critical of the president's Peace Prize, but some at least admired Obama's address to the committee:

MEDixon215 (advisor to to Alabama Gov. Bob Riley) tweeted: Didnt agree with the President being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, but I applaud his speech today. Sometimes war is req'd to achieve peace
lancole expresses enthusiastic patriotism: I am SO proud of our President! Beautiful speech. He won based on the calm that came over the world on Nov. 4. HOPE 4 peace!
JonPowles also applauded the speech: Am I the only person in the world who found Obama's nobel speech eloquent and persuasive? I am opposed to the wars, btw.

On the other end of the spectrum:

MorgaineChya tweeted: Obama Congratulations to Nobel for destroying the meaning of the Peace prize; it is now a joke.
andy w commented on the D.C. Now blog: This is crazy. Why does he deserve a Peace Prize. He has done nothing to change the horrible state of the nation. The same old crap Bush pulled. Obama extended the Patriot Act. Oh yeah he hasn't done crap to get us out to this global war on terror. Ask yourself these two question: is he really that different? where's the change we were promised? Upon some reflective thought, you might find he is just a puppet of an much larger olgarical system. A system that is doing everything it can to take away human liberties, destroy our economy, and install a one world government.

zfree complained: Pres Obama accepts Nobel Peace prize with a speech promoting war, humanity is broken can we have a new one?

Did the Nobel Committee make the right decision in awarding President Obama the Peace Prize in a time of war? Or does it contradict the mission of the Nobel Peace Prize, which has in the past been awarded to the likes of Nelson Mandela, Elie Wiesel and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.? Tell us what you think below.
-- Kelsey Ramos
Photo: President Obama looks over his Nobel Peace Prize during ceremonies in Oslo today. Credit: Susan Walsh / Associated Press

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/comments_blog/2009/12/president-obama-2009-nobel-peace-prize-oslo-troop-surge.html

The 7 foods experts won't eat

2009-12-10T00:42:00.000-08:00

How healthy (or not) certain foods are—for us, for the environment—is a hotly debated topic among experts and consumers alike, and there are no easy answers. But when Prevention talked to the people at the forefront of food safety and asked them one simple question—“What foods do you avoid?”—we got some pretty interesting answers. Although these foods don’t necessarily make up a "banned” list, as you head into the holidays—and all the grocery shopping that comes with it—their answers are, well, food for thought:
20 ways to feed your family for $100 a week.
1. Canned Tomatoes
The expert: Fredrick vom Saal, PhD, an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A
The problem: The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most people's body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or causes chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals. "You can get 50 mcg of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that's a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young," says vom Saal. "I won't go near canned tomatoes."
The solution: Choose tomatoes in glass bottles (which do not need resin linings), such as the brands Bionaturae and Coluccio. You can also get several types in Tetra Pak boxes, like Trader Joe's and Pomi.
14 worst health mistakes even smart women make.

2. Corn-Fed Beef
The expert: Joel Salatin, co-owner of Polyface Farms and author of half a dozen books on sustainable farming
The problem: Cattle evolved to eat grass, not grains. But farmers today feed their animals corn and soybeans, which fatten up the animals faster for slaughter. More money for cattle farmers (and lower prices at the grocery store) means a lot less nutrition for us. A recent comprehensive study conducted by the USDA and researchers from Clemson University found that compared with corn-fed beef, grass-fed beef is higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E, omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium, magnesium, and potassium; lower in inflammatory omega-6s; and lower in saturated fats that have been linked to heart disease. "We need to respect the fact that cows are herbivores, and that does not mean feeding them corn and chicken manure," says Salatin.
The solution: Buy grass-fed beef, which can be found at specialty grocers, farmers' markets, and nationally at Whole Foods. It's usually labeled because it demands a premium, but if you don't see it, ask your butcher.
25 ridiculously healthy foods you should be eating now.

3. Microwave Popcorn
The expert: Olga Naidenko, PhD, a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group,
The problem: Chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in the lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans, according to a recent study from UCLA. In animal testing, the chemicals cause liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancer. Studies show that microwaving causes the chemicals to vaporize—and migrate into your popcorn. "They stay in your body for years and accumulate there," says Naidenko, which is why researchers worry that levels in humans could approach the amounts causing cancers in laboratory animals. DuPont and other manufacturers have promised to phase out PFOA by 2015 under a voluntary EPA plan, but millions of bags of popcorn will be sold between now and then.
The solution: Pop natural kernels the old-fashioned way: in a skillet. For flavorings, you can add real butter or dried seasonings, such as dillweed, vegetable flakes, or soup mix.
Your nutritional guide to grocery shopping.

4. Nonorganic Potatoes
The expert: Jeffrey Moyer, chair of the National Organic Standards Board
The problem: Root vegetables absorb herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides that wind up in soil. In the case of potatoes—the nation's most popular vegetable—they're treated with fungicides during the growing season, then sprayed with herbicides to kill off the fibrous vines before harvesting. After they're dug up, the potatoes are treated yet again to prevent them from sprouting. "Try this experiment: Buy a conventional potato in a store, and try to get it to sprout. It won't," says Moyer, who is also farm director of the Rodale Institute (also owned by Rodale Inc., the publisher of Prevention). "I've talked with potato growers who say point-blank they would never eat the potatoes they sell. They have separate plots where they grow potatoes for themselves without all the chemicals."
The solution: Buy organic potatoes. Washing isn't good enough if you're trying to remove chemicals that have been absorbed into the flesh.
14 ways to make veggies less boring.

5. Farmed Salmon
The expert: David Carpenter, MD, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany and publisher of a major study in the journal Science on contamination in fish.
The problem: Nature didn't intend for salmon to be crammed into pens and fed soy, poultry litter, and hydrolyzed chicken feathers. As a result, farmed salmon is lower in vitamin D and higher in contaminants, including carcinogens, PCBs, brominated flame retardants, and pesticides such as dioxin and DDT. According to Carpenter, the most contaminated fish come from Northern Europe, which can be found on American menus. "You can only safely eat one of these salmon dinners every 5 months without increasing your risk of cancer," says Carpenter, whose 2004 fish contamination study got broad media attention. "It's that bad." Preliminary science has also linked DDT to diabetes and obesity, but some nutritionists believe the benefits of omega-3s outweigh the risks. There is also concern about the high level of antibiotics and pesticides used to treat these fish. When you eat farmed salmon, you get dosed with the same drugs and chemicals.
The solution: Switch to wild-caught Alaska salmon. If the package says fresh Atlantic, it's farmed. There are no commercial fisheries left for wild Atlantic salmon.
Delicious and easy fish recipes

6. Milk Produced with Artificial Hormones
The expert: Rick North, project director of the Campaign for Safe Food at the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility and former CEO of the Oregon division of the American Cancer Society
The problem: Milk producers treat their dairy cattle with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST, as it is also known) to boost milk production. But rBGH also increases udder infections and even pus in the milk. It also leads to higher levels of a hormone called insulin-like growth factor in milk. In people, high levels of IGF-1 may contribute to breast, prostate, and colon cancers. "When the government approved rBGH, it was thought that IGF-1 from milk would be broken down in the human digestive tract," says North. As it turns out, the casein in milk protects most of it, according to several independent studies. "There's not 100% proof that this is increasing cancer in humans," admits North. "However, it's banned in most industrialized countries."
The solution: Check labels for rBGH-free, rBST-free, produced without artificial hormones, or organic milk. These phrases indicate rBGH-free products.
Don’t be fooled by these 11 health food imposters.

7. Conventional Apples
The expert: Mark Kastel, former executive for agribusiness and codirector of the Cornucopia Institute, a farm-policy research group that supports organic foods
The problem: If fall fruits held a "most doused in pesticides contest," apples would win. Why? They are individually grafted (descended from a single tree) so that each variety maintains its distinctive flavor. As such, apples don't develop resistance to pests and are sprayed frequently. The industry maintains that these residues are not harmful. But Kastel counters that it's just common sense to minimize exposure by avoiding the most doused produce, like apples. "Farm workers have higher rates of many cancers," he says. And increasing numbers of studies are starting to link a higher body burden of pesticides (from all sources) with Parkinson's disease.
The solution: Buy organic apples. If you can't afford organic, be sure to wash and peel them first.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/the-7-foods-experts-wont-eat-547963/

Rich Harden Appears to Have Signed with Texas

2009-12-09T19:17:00.000-08:00

Take everything I said below about John Lackey and reverse it and you will come close to assembling the Rich Harden package. As mentioned, Harden made the exact same amount of starts (51) the past two seasons as Lackey did. Harden did throw noticeably fewer innings in that span, 290 to Lackey's 340, mainly as a result of a difference in approach. Lackey averaged 3.64 pitches per plate appearance the last two seasons, Harden was at 4.11. Strikeouts generally take more pitches to complete so it should come as little surprise to see the difference there. The important thing is note is that Lackey threw a total of 228 more pitches than Harden over 2008-9, the equivalent of one extra start per season.
Unlike Lackey, Harden's swinging strike rate is less trendy, partially due to the lack of data points in 2006-7. However, Harden had established a 11% rate in 2003-5 and was at 15% both of the prior two seasons. He would probably demolish Texas' hitters. Harden is also going to walk a good number of fellows. Interestingly enough, Harden's tendency to throw strikes is no worse than Lackey's, both hitting the zone about half the time. Harden is much more often to throw that first pitch for a ball though, but again, that's part of the deal with high strikeout pitchers.

Harden is also more of a fly ball pitcher than Lackey. Again, Harden is about the strikeouts so pitching up in the zone is part of that most of the time. All of this combines to give us the overall picture of Harden to Lackey, way more strikeouts, a few more walks and a few more fly balls. While Lackey's tRA* floated around 4.4, Harden's is around 4.1 though that came in a less offensive league. The difference between the two in terms of those figures is negligible. CHONE is slightly more bearish, also projecting Harden to be equal to Lackey in performance level, but Lackey's clear inferior in durability.

Even accounting for Harden's higher catastrophic injury risk, he grades out as being worth $12 million or so per year. To compare them directly, Harden's fair value over a four year deal would likely be around 4/44 compared to Lackey's 4/52. That Harden's health knocked that 4/44 down to 1/7.5 with an $11.5 million option is what made him a great target. An opportunity potentially (we don't know what went on, there may have been nothing reasonable Jack Z could have done) missed here and that the Rangers signed him makes it all the more painful.

http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2009/12/9/1193648/rich-harden-appears-to-have-signed

Tigers signing a shortstop likely doomed Seattle's chances of landing Curtis Granderson

2009-12-09T19:12:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Day 3 of the winter meetings here in Indianapolis, where I can tell you the Mariners did indeed meet last night with Scott Boras, agent for Adrian Beltre (and Hank Blalock and Jarrod Washburn -- start your rumor engines). The Mariners are hoping to start clarifying the picture somewhat as to who is going to drive in runs for them next season now that the top of the order is solidified.
I'll be going on KJR AM 950 at 8:30 a.m. for a special Talkin' Baseball segment on the Mitch in the Morning show and I'm sure we'll get into that discussion.
One thing I've been hearing since the Mariners lost out on their chance to land outfielder Curtis Granderson, who was dealt (tentatively, anyway) yesterday as part of that Tigers-Yankees-Diamondbnacks swap: the Tigers' signing of shortstop Adam Everett on Monday was likely the sign that any hope Seattle had of securing Granderson was done.
Detroit had been looking to land a young shortstop or third baseman, along with relief pitching, in a Granderson deal and Seattle was one of the best matches.
Remember, the M's have Matt Tuiasosopo and Carlos Triunfel (whose stock, I keep hearing in corridors here, is starting to tumble. All those reports about his weight aren't doing much for his rep.). They also have a ton of bullpen arms in the majors and minors and the Tigers were looking to land most of them.
The plan was to secure the shortstop help if possible and then focus on landing a center fielder later on. But then the Tigers shifted gears when they saw they could land young Austin Jackson from the Yankees in the three-way deal. Detroit then went out and signed Everett on Monday as a stop-gap at that position and will focus on a long-term solution later on.
But once Everett was signed, it became clear Seattle was fading from the picture. Detroit could have waited until after the meetings to sign Everett, and doing so now smells of a team making one move in anticipation of a bigger one, which, in this case, did follow soon after.
As for Triunfel, he's still a year away from the big leagues at best. Had he not broken his leg early this past season, the M's might have had the trade juice to get a Granderson deal done.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/marinersblog/2010462180_tigers_signing_a_shortstop_lik.html

Mariners aced out by division rival Rangers on Rich Harden

2009-12-09T19:10:00.001-08:00

Throughout the week here, the Mariners made it clear that a prime focus was on pitching and that Rich Harden was a target. But as we've discussed at length on this blog, simply having a target -- even one that makes sense and seems the perfect fit -- is no guarantee a team will come away with the prize. Even though the Mariners had extensive talks with Harden's side and went in-depth on the parameters of a potential deal.
In the end, we're told there were certain clauses the Harden camp wanted included in any deal that the Mariners side was not entirely comfortable with.
Did the Texas Rangers meet those demands? We don't know for certain yet. But the Rangers did indeed get their man, agreeing to a one-year, $7.5 million deal with Harden, followed by what's been reported as a club option worth $11.5 million. Now, if it's purely a club option, then that latter figure isn't such a big deal.
But we've yet to hear what the buyout would be on that. Or whether there are any additional incentives in the 2010 part of the deal that could take the $7.5 million well beyond that amount. On the surface, this contract does not seem all that unreasonable if it's just the guaranteed money and a club option with a nominal buyout.
If there is indeed more to this than has been reported, it might go a long way in explaining how the M's did not get this deal done after investing so much time and effort in it.
These things happen, which is why there always has to be a Plan B, C, D and so on.
The Mariners could now turn to free agent Ben Sheets, a pitcher Jack Zduriencik knows well from his days in Milwaukee. Or, the M's can try to aim higher for a John Lackey type. There is also the trade route. But unless something happens quickly tonight, the M's could be done at these winter meetings.
Not quite the splash that had been expected of them here so far. Then again, the season doesn't start until April. There really is no deadline in December for them to make any moves.
There have been ongoing developments that could impact Seattle's ability to land free agents down the road. Adrian Beltre has about a half-dozen suitors after him, including the deep-pocketed Red Sox, who appear ready to go out and get that replacement for Mike Lowell. That could spell serious competition for the M's if it comes to a throwdown of dollars.
On the positive front for Seattle, as discussed in the video on the opposite page by Larry Stone and myself, the market for Jason Bay is not exactly erupting with big-time spenders. Angels manager Mike Scioscia said today that his team is not making Bay a priority and that the slugger might not be a fit in Anaheim.
From what I've been told, the Red Sox are not budging from their four-year, $60 million offer to Bay. If the Red Sox should pull out and go after Matt Holliday, or Bay decide he really doesn't want to return to Boston, then the market for him could collapse. That means his pricetag for the M's could be far more palatable.
Waiting Bay out and seeing how badly he truly does want to play for Seattle could be part of the M's strategy. Doubt they'd go anywhere near four years, $60 million on him.
Even if the M's decide to go a different route than Bay, they could simply be biding time on hitters to see just how far some of their value plummets as the non-tender date comes and goes Saturday.
Big-time pitchers are a different story. Harden wasn't considered a front-line guy anymore because of his injuries. But on the high-upside, medium-risk scale, he was about as good as it gets.
The M's have some work to do.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/marinersblog/2010467413_mariners_aced_out_by_division.html

Massive storm buries central US in snow

2009-12-09T18:54:00.000-08:00

A massive storm buried much of the central United States in dangerous ice and snow Wednesday, stranding scores of motorists with massive drifts that shut down major roads and defeated plows.
Strong winds created drifts as high as 15 feet (4.6 meters) as the storm dropped as much as four feet of snow (1.2 meters) in some areas, said Pat Slattery, a spokesman for the National Weather Service.
"This has been a really big season opening storm," Slattery said.
Hundreds of flights were cancelled, schools were closed and the freezing rain that preceded the snow in many places created hazardous road conditions.
Blizzard warnings were issued across the midwest as the storm moved eastward across the country after pounding Utah, Nevada, Colorado and Arizona.
The storm was expected to move across the Great Lakes into Canada, sparing much of the East Coast.
But flash flood warnings were issued for the Mississippi and Tennessee River valleys and midatlantic and southeast states due to heavy rains from the southern part of the system.
Officials told people to stay home if they can, pack an emergency kit of blankets, food and water if they have to drive somewhere, and to avoid rural side roads.
"It may be a while for somebody to find you if you get hung up," Slattery cautioned.
Stranded motorists were waiting a couple hours to be rescued in Iowa, where the National Guard was called in to help after the state was blanketed with nine to 16 inches (22 to 41 centimeters) of snow.
"We are snowed in. It's not good," said Courtney Green, a spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Public Safety.
"It's bitterly, bitterly cold. It's just been gusting all day. When you have the volume of snow and the high winds, there are just huge drifts."
Snow plows were pulled off the roads for part of Wednesday because visibility was so poor and the storm was so bad that they weren't making much of a difference, she said.
Even the military Humvees were having trouble, and large truck drivers were also getting stuck in the snow.
A man who was found behind the post office in Yale, Iowa died en route to hospital. He had been there for at least a couple hours, Green said.
Wisconsin declared a state of emergency, shut down government offices and also activated the National Guard after the storm dumped up to 17 inches of snow across the state.
With classes cancelled, meanwhile, students at the University of Madison planned to make the best of the deluge with a massive snowball fight, in their second attempt to beat the world record.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091210/ts_alt_afp/usweatherstorm

Creation of Telangana only peaceful solution

2009-12-08T22:38:00.000-08:00

ANDHRA PRADESH was the first linguistic state formed by uniting Telugu speaking people of the then Madras state and the Nizam's Hyderabad comprising of Telugu speaking - Telangana people.

While the state was formed more than five decades ago, yet the disconnect between the people of Telangana region and Andhra region grew and language as a uniting factor failed here miserably.

Telangana people never had emotional integration with the people of Andhra region and several agitations for a separate state tormented the state from time to time. The recent agitation with the fast of K. Chandrasekhar Rao has again brought things to a boil with wide spread destruction of public and private property.

While the people from Andhra region always felt that Hyderabad is their state capital and moved to the city for jobs and started and thrived by starting businesses, industries, hospitals, colleges, hotels among others, the feeling among the Telangana people is that it is the capital of Telangana and that one day they will achieve state hood. The people from the Andhra region were branded as foreign elements in terms of government jobs under compromises.

There are also allegations that people from the Andhra region are looting their water, resources and jobs.

When such strong sentiment is prevalent the only sensible solution is the division of the state and giving into the separate state hood demand for Telangana.
But the rest of the state has regions like the backward Rayalaseema region and the backward North coastal districts and there are demands for separate state hood from these regions too.

The best solution is to have a separate Telangana state and convert the rest of the state into a separate union territory to ensure the just rights of the people of the Andhra region like water rights, sharing of assets and ensuring that fast development of the region leads to a better administered state sans narrow regional feelings.
Such a solution must be acceptable to the people of North coastal districts, coastal districts and the Rayalaseema regions.

http://www.merinews.com/article/creation-of-telangana-only-peaceful-solution/15790297.shtml

Abortion

2009-12-08T22:30:00.001-08:00

Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo, resulting in or caused by its death. An abortion can occur spontaneously due to complications during pregnancy or can be induced, in humans and other species. In the context of human pregnancies, an abortion induced to preserve the health of the gravida (pregnant female) is termed a therapeutic abortion, while an abortion induced for any other reason is termed an elective abortion. The term abortion most commonly refers to the induced abortion of a human pregnancy, while spontaneous abortions are usually termed miscarriages.
Abortion has a long history and has been induced by various methods including herbal abortifacients, the use of sharpened tools, physical trauma and other traditional methods. Contemporary medicine utilizes medications and surgical procedures to induce abortion. The legality, prevalence, and cultural views on abortion vary substantially around the world. In many parts of the world there is prominent and divisive public controversy over the ethical and legal issues of abortion. Abortion and abortion-related issues feature prominently in the national politics in many nations often involving the opposing pro-life and pro-choice worldwide social movements. Incidence of abortion has declined worldwide, as access to family planning education and contraceptive services has increased. Abortion incidence in the United States declined 8% from 1996 to 2003.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion

Burress seeks furlough, NY prosecutors to oppose

2009-12-08T18:58:00.000-08:00

Former Super Bowl star Plaxico Burress(notes) wants to get a break from prison, but prosecutors said Tuesday they will likely try to block his bid for work release because he hasn’t served enough time.
The former New York Giant applied for a work furlough—which would let him spend some portion of his time at home—on Nov. 25, about two months into his two-year sentence for carrying an unlicensed gun that went off and wounded him at a Manhattan nightclub. State prison system officials are expected to decide on his request next month.
Prosecutors said the bullet narrowly missed a security guard, and they insisted on at least a two-year prison term. A quick furlough would send “a very bad message,” Manhattan Chief Assistant District Attorney Mark Dwyer said Tuesday.

“It’s too early,” he said.

Burress’ lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, declined to comment.
Statistically, Burress’ effort is a long shot. Less than 5 percent of the more than 31,500 work release applications statewide were granted last year, according to the state Department of Correctional Services.
Under state law, inmates convicted of nonviolent offenses can apply for work furloughs within two years of their release dates. Burress pleaded guilty in August to a form of attempted criminal possession of a weapon that allows him to be eligible for work release, state corrections spokeswoman Linda Foglia said.
Officials deciding on furloughs weigh factors including the inmate’s crime, his prison behavior and any opposition to the release, she said.
Burress, then a Giants receiver, was at the Latin Quarter nightclub in November 2008 with a .40-caliber gun tucked into his waistband. He later said he was concerned for his safety because a teammate had been held up at gunpoint elsewhere days before. The weapon slipped down Burress’ leg and fired, injuring his right thigh.

The gun wasn’t licensed in New York or New Jersey, where Burress lived; his Florida concealed-weapons permit had expired.

Sentenced in September, Burress is now being held in protective custody at an upstate prison because of his notoriety.
Inmates on work release generally get to spend several days and nights each week out of prison working and reconnecting with their families; the exact arrangements vary for each inmate. Some are allowed out full-time for the last few months of their sentence, Foglia said.
It’s unclear what work Burress, 32, might do if given a furlough. The Giants released him in April, and the NFL has suspended him for the duration of his sentence.
Burress, who caught the Giants’ winning touchdown over the New England Patriots in the final minute of the 2008 Super Bowl, has said he hopes to play again.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-burress-weaponscharges&prov=ap&type=lgns

Others Post
1. Tiger
2. Baseball reporter Peter Gammons to leave ESPN
3. Copenhagen climate summit

Bauman: Granderson a proven commodity Outfielder ideally suited for homer-friendly Yankee Stadium

2009-12-08T17:51:00.000-08:00

NDIANAPOLIS -- There weren't many places on the roster in which the New York Yankees, winners of the 2009 World Series, could make a sizable upgrade. But they found one place and they made the upgrade.
The place is center field, where the incumbent, Melky Cabrera, will give way to Curtis Granderson, obtained from the Detroit Tigers in a three-team deal that included the Arizona Diamondbacks. The teams agreed in principle to the trade on Tuesday.

Granderson is fast, he is an excellent defensive outfielder, and he has considerable power. If the triple is one of the most exciting plays in baseball, the man had 23 of those in 2007, so he personifies excitement.

On the flip side, Granderson has not been a big on-base-percentage guy, and as a left-handed hitter, he has tended to struggle against superior lefties.
But Granderson's intangibles are terrific. He is an extraordinarily positive clubhouse presence. Tigers manager Jim Leyland once said that Granderson had "everything going for him." Granderson, Leyland said, was intelligent, articulate, good-looking, a gentleman, a legitimate baseball player and, in the face of all that, still humble.
A player of this caliber is not obtained for free. The Yankees gave up three young players. Ian Kennedy, who was once one of their top rotation prospects before struggling mightily when given a shot at making the rotation in 2008, goes to Arizona. He missed most of the '09 season after surgery to repair an aneurysm under his right armpit. Austin Jackson is a solid outfield prospect who before this trade could have had a shot at becoming the Yankees' center fielder, and lefty Phil Coke had emerged as a capable reliever in 2009. Both are now Tigers.
Rounding out the seven-player deal, the D-backs will send pitchers Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth to Detroit and get right-hander Edwin Jackson in return.
It's effectively a three-for-one trade, but the Yankees are getting a proven commodity in Granderson. And he is only 28. As a left-handed hitter with some pop, he would seem to be ideally suited for the homer-friendly right-center-field area at Yankee Stadium.
There is nothing particularly wrong with Cabrera. But he is not as fast or as powerful as Granderson, or as good defensively in center. But Cabrera is still a useful player. Depending on how Johnny Damon's free agency works out, Cabrera could very well be the Yankees' regular left fielder. New York could feel comfortable with that outcome.
The point is, the Yankees have upgraded in center, all the way from "all right" to "exciting in a very good way." Their game plan for defending their championship, obviously, includes more than the pursuit of extremely expensive free agents or the most expensive pitcher on the trading block -- Roy Halladay.
After trading young talent here, the Yankees will have less of that commodity available to make a deal with the Blue Jays for Halladay. But the Granderson trade stands on its own merits.
This is a deal made by an operation that will not stand still after winning a championship. And this is not a question of being able to simply spend more than anybody else.
If you looked objectively at the 2009 Yankees, they were a terrific offensive club, they had a true No. 1 starter in CC Sabathia, they had found some depth in the bullpen and they still had the closer, Mariano Rivera, who over time has been the best in the game.
The least impressive grouping on this club was the outfield. It wasn't a bad outfield; Damon is still an admirable player and Nick Swisher is capable enough. But as a group, it wasn't as impressive as the rest of the team.
Now it's better. The Yankees didn't have to give away the store, and yet, they were able to upgrade to Granderson in center field. This is an astute move.
People who want a bigger splash from the Yankees might say: "But this isn't like signing Matt Holliday or Jason Bay." No, it isn't, because Granderson catches the ball better than either one of those guys, particularly Holliday.
Center field is like hallowed ground for the Yankees. No, this isn't Mickey or the Yankee Clipper they're putting out there. But Curtis Granderson still will work as a Yankee, because he is a winner on several different levels.

Mike Bauman is a national columnist for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091208&content_id=7776166&vkey=perspectives&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Baseball reporter Peter Gammons to leave ESPN

2009-12-08T17:48:00.001-08:00

Peter Gammons, who's reported on baseball for ESPN since 1989, is leaving the network.

Gammons, 64, is expected to write a farewell espn.com column Friday. His future work plans have not been announced.

Gammons, who wrote for the Boston Globe and Sports Illustrated before joining ESPN, was in the first wave of print reporters who got TV jobs. Says ESPN executive editor John Walsh: "Peter was the best and brightest in making the transition from print to video."

Gammons, who in a statement says he is "conflicted" about leaving, adds that "ESPN gave me a great deal more than I gave it."

Gammons survived a potentially life-threatening aneurysm in 2006. He appeared across ESPN's media outlets and, occasionally, was involved in game coverage. ESPN executive vice president Norby Williamson says ESPN is "sad to see Peter go" but understands "his desire for new challenges and a less demanding schedule."

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2009-12-08-gammons-leaving-espn_N.htm

Climategate: follow the money and you will know

2009-12-07T23:41:00.000-08:00

Last year, ExxonMobil donated $7 million to a grab-bag of public policy institutes, including the Aspen Institute, the Asia Society and Transparency International. It also gave a combined $125,000 to the Heritage Institute and the National Center for Policy Analysis, two conservative think tanks that have offered dissenting views on what until recently was called—without irony—the climate change “consensus”.
To read some of the press accounts of these gifts—amounting to about 0.0027% of Exxon’s 2008 profits of $45 billion—you might think you’d hit upon the scandal of the age. But thanks to what now goes by the name of climategate, it turns out the real scandal lies elsewhere.
Climategate concerns some of the world’s leading climate scientists working in tandem to block freedom of information requests, blackball dissenting scientists, manipulate the peer-review process and obscure, destroy or massage inconvenient temperature data—facts that were laid bare by last week’s disclosure of thousands of emails from the University of East Anglia’s Climatic Research Unit, or CRU.
But the deeper question is why the scientists behaved this way to begin with, especially since the science behind man-made global warming is said to be firmly settled. To answer the question, it helps to turn the alarmists’ follow-the-money methods right back at them.
Consider the case of Phil Jones, the director of CRU and the man at the heart of climategate. According to one of the documents leaked from his centre, between 2000 and 2006, Jones was the recipient (or co-recipient) of some $19 million worth of research grants, a sixfold increase over what he’d been awarded in the 1990s.
Why did the money pour in so quickly? Because the climate alarm kept ringing so loudly: The louder the alarm, the greater the sums. And who better to ring it than people like Jones, one of its likeliest beneficiaries?
Thus, the European Commission’s most recent appropriation for climate research comes to nearly $3 billion, and that’s not counting funds from the European Union’s (EU) member governments. In the US, the House intends to spend $1.3 billion on National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s climate efforts, $400 million on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and another $300 million for the National Science Foundation. American states also have a piece of the action, with California— apparently not feeling bankrupt enough—devoting $600 million to their own climate initiative. In Australia, alarmists have their own department of climate change at their funding disposal.
And all this is only a fraction of the $94 billion that HSBC estimates has been spent globally this year on what it calls “green stimulus”—largely ethanol and other alternative energy schemes—of the kind from which Al Gore and his partners at Kleiner Perkins hope to profit handsomely.
Supply, as we know, creates its own demand. So for every additional billion in government-funded grants (or the tens of millions supplied by foundations such as the Pew Charitable Trusts), universities, research institutes, advocacy groups and their various spin-offs and dependants have emerged from the woodwork to receive them.
Today these groups form a kind of ecosystem of their own. They include not just old standbys like the Sierra Club or Greenpeace, but also Ozone Action, Clean Air Cool Planet, Americans for Equitable Climate Change Solutions, the Alternative Energy Resources Association, the California Climate Action Registry and so on and on. All of them have been on the receiving end of climate change-related funding, so they must believe in the reality (and catastrophic imminence) of global warming just as a priest must believe in the existence of God.
None of these outfits are per se corrupt, in the sense that the monies they get are spent on something other than their intended purposes. But they depend on an inherently corrupting premise, namely that the hypothesis on which their livelihood depends has in fact been proved. Absent that proof, everything they represent—including the thousands of jobs they provide— vanishes. This is what’s known as a vested interest, and vested interests are an enemy of sound science.
Which brings us back to the climategate scientists, the keepers of the keys to the global warming cathedral. In one of the more telling disclosures from last week, a computer programmer writes of CRU’s temperature database: “I am very sorry to report that the rest of the databases seems to be in nearly as poor a state as Australia was... Aarrggghhh! There truly is no end in sight... We can have a proper result, but only by including a load of garbage!”
This is not the sound of settled science, but of a cracking empirical foundation. And however many billion-dollar edifices may be built on it, sooner or later it is bound to crumble.
©2009/THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

http://www.livemint.com/2009/12/07224446/Climategate-follow-the-money.html

CFB Bowl Game Odds

2009-12-07T23:36:00.001-08:00

The bowl season is upon us for the 2009 College Football Season and all of the odds are out for this year’s postseason.

Bet College Football Bowl Games
The bowl season is obviously highlighted by the BCS National Championship between Alabama and Texas. The Crimson Tide is a 5-point favorite heading into the title game according to oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL. Alabama is coming off its dominant 32-13 win over Florida while the Longhorns narrowly escaped in a 13-12 win over Nebraska last weekend.

One of the featured BCS bowl games is the Fiesta Bowl meeting between Boise State and TCU. The Horned Frogs are 7-point favorites heading into the game, but the Broncos have a BCS win to their credit, while the Horned Frogs have never appeared in the BCS bowl. Both teams are undefeated this year and both have tremendous offensive potential.
The other unbeaten, Cincinnati will face Florida in the Sugar Bowl. The Gators are 10-point favorites for the bowl. Tim Tebow will be playing his final game with the Gators and face a Cincinnati team whose head coach, Brian Kelly, is entertaining talks with Notre Dame about their vacant head coaching position.
The Orange Bowl features a matchup of Iowa and Georgia Tech. The Yellowjackets are 3.5-point favorites over Iowa. Tech won the ACC Championship by beating Clemson while the Hawkeyes earned an at-large big into the BCS bowl.
The final BCS bow is the Rose Bowl which features Oregon and Ohio State. The Ducks are 3.5-point favorites for the game as they are the Pac-10 champions while the Buckeyes earned the bowl bid by winning the Big Ten.
For complete odds on all of College Football’s bowl games, see below.
2009 College Football Bowls Odds & Over/Under Totals
NEW MEXICO BOWL @ University Stadium - Albuquerque, NM - 12/19/09
201 Wyoming +10.5 Over 55.5
202 Fresno State -10.5 Under 55.5
ST. PETERSBURG BOWL @ Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL - 12/19/09
203 Central Florida +2.5 Over 44.5
204 Rutgers -2.5 Under 44.5
NEW ORLEANS BOWL @ Superdome - New Orleans, LA - 12/20/09
205 Mid Tenn St +3.5 Over 59
206 Southern Miss -3.5 Under 59
MAACO LAS VEGAS BOWL @ Sam Boyd Stadium - Las Vegas, NV - 12/22/09
207 BYU +2 Over 60.5
208 Oregon State -2 Under 60.5
POINSETIA BOWL @ Qualcomm Stadium - San Diego, CA - 12/23/09
209 Utah +3 Over 53.5
210 California -3 Under 53.5
HAWAII BOWL @ Aloha Stadium - Honolulu, HI - 12/24/09
211 SMU +14 Over 73
212 Nevada Reno -14 Under 73
LITTLE CAESARS PIZZA BOWL @ Ford Field - Detroit, MI - 12/26/09
213 Ohio -2 Over 50
214 Marshall +2 Under 50
MEINKE CAR CARE BOWL @ Bank of America Stadium - Charlotte, NC - 12/26/09
215 North Carolina +3 Over 44.5
216 Pittsburgh -3 Under 44.5
EMERALD BOWL @ AT&T Park - San Francisco, CA - 12/26/09
217 Boston College +9 Over 45
218 Southern Cal -9 Under 45
MUSIC CITY BOWL @ LP Field - Nashville, TN - 12/27/09
219 Kentucky +7 Over 52.5
220 Clemson -7 Under 52.5
INDEPENDENCE BOWL @ Independence Stadium - Shreveport, LA - 12/28/09
221 Texas A&M +7 Over 64
222

Georgia

-7 Under 64
CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL @ Citrus Bowl Stadium - Orlando, FL - 12/29/09
225 Wisconsin +3 Over 56
226 Miami, Florida -3 Under 56
HUMANITARIAN BOWL @ Bronco Stadium - Boise, ID - 12/30/09
227 Bowling Green +1 Over 68.5
228 Idaho -1 Under 68.5
HOLIDAY BOWL @ Qualcomm Stadium - San Diego, CA - 12/30/09
231 Nebraska +1 Over 41
232 Arizona -1 Under 41
TEXAS BOWL @ Reliant Stadium - Houston, TX - 12/31/09
229 Navy N/A
230 Missouri N/A
ARMED FORCES BOWL @ Amon Carter Stadium - Fort Worth, TX - 12/31/09
233 Air Force +5 Over 61
234 Houston -5 Under 61
SUN BOWL @ Sun Bowl Stadium - El Paso, TX - 12/31/09
235 Stanford +10 Over 56
236 Oklahoma -10 Under 56
INSIGHT BOWL @ Sun Devil Stadium - Tempe, AZ - 12/31/09
237 Iowa State +3 Over 48
238 Minnesota -3 Under 48
CHICK FIL-A BOWL @ Georgia Dome - Atlanta, GA - 12/31/09
239 Tennessee +4.5 Over 50
240 Virginia Tech -4.5 Under 50
OUTBACK BOWL @ Raymond James Stadium - Tampa, FL - 1/1/10
241 Northwestern +7.5 Over 54.5
242 Auburn -7.5 Under 54.5
GATOR BOWL @ Municipal Stadium - Jacksonville, FL - 1/1/10
243 Florida State +3 Over 60.5
244 West Virginia -3 Under 60.5
CAPITAL ONE BOWL @ Citrus Bowl Stadium - Orlando, FL - 1/1/10
245 Louisiana State +3 Over 44
246 Penn State -3 Under 44
ROSE BOWL @ Rose Bowl - Pasadena, CA - 1/1/10
247 Ohio State +3.5 Over 51.5
248 Oregon -3.5 Under 51.5
SUGAR BOWL @ Superdome - New Orleans, LA - 1/1/10
249 Cincinnati +10 Over 55.5
250 Florida -10 Under 55.5
INTERNATIONAL BOWL @ Rogers Centre - Toronto, Canada - 1/2/10
251 No Illinois +6 Over 50
252 South Florida -6 Under 50
PAPA JOHNS BOWL @ Legion Field - Birmingham, AL - 1/2/10
253 Connecticut +5 Over 53
254 South Carolina -5 Under 53
COTTON BOWL @ Cowboys Stadium - Arlington, TX - 1/2/10
255 Mississippi -3 Over 50.5
256 Oklahoma State +3 Under 50.5
LIBERTY BOWL @ Liberty Bowl - Memphis, TN - 1/2/10
257 Arkansas -7.5 Over 63.5
258 East Carolina +7.5 Under 63.5
ALAMO BOWL @ Alamodome - San Antonio, TX - 1/2/10
259 Michigan State +7 Over 60.5
260 Texas Tech -7 Under 60.5
FIESTA BOWL @ University of Phoenix Stadium - Glendale, AZ - 1/4/10
261 Boise State +7 Over 54.5
262 Texas Christian -7 Under 54.5
ORANGE BOWL @ Land Shark Stadium - Miami, FL - 1/5/10
263 Iowa +3.5 Over 51
264

Georgia

Tech -3.5 Under 51
GMAC BOWL @ Ladd Peebles Stadium - Mobile, AL - 1/6/10
265 Troy State +4 Over 64
266 C Michigan -4 Under 64
BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME @ Rose Bowl - Pasadena, CA - 1/7/10
267 Texas +5 Over 45
268 Alabama -5 Under 45
Bet College Football Bowl Games

http://www.thespread.com/ncaa-football-top-stories-300/2009-college-football-bowl-odds-point-spreads-over-under-totals.html

Copenhagen climate summit

2009-12-07T22:54:00.000-08:00

Warning.....

World leaders and VIPs began pouring into Copenhagen Monday morning for the city's long-awaited climate summit, arriving in style in a fleet of gas-guzzling limos and luxury cars.

Most delegates to the climate change conference haven't exactly been hoofing their way to Denmark's capital, swarming the city's airport with 140 private jets, 1,200 hired limousines and a carbon footprint the size of a small country.
Video shot on the scene Monday shows squads of new arrivals at the green gathering pulling up in BMWs, Mercedes Benzes, sleek Volvos and plush Jaguars. A bus reserved for the delegates rode along empty outside the conference center.

The head of Copenhagen's biggest limo company says her business usually has a dozen cars on the road. But during the conference — which has been billed as the last best chance to save the environment — she'll have 200 vehicles churning out fumes, the Daily Telegraph reported.

"We thought they were not going to have many cars, due to it being a climate convention," Majken Friss Jorgensen told the newspaper. "But it seems that somebody last week looked at the weather report."
France alone has ordered 42 vehicles, she said, and the auto supply in Denmark is very quickly drying up. To make up for shortages, Jorgensen and her competitors are bringing in lines of limos from as far away as Germany and Sweden.
"We haven't got enough limos in the country to fulfill the demand," she said, adding that just five cars in her fleet will be environmentally friendly hybrid vehicles, which are almost impossible to procure in tax-heavy Denmark.
Once the estimated 30,000 delegates, activists, protesters and members of the press arrive this week and next, they'll find a sumptuous and steeply priced spread awaiting them.
Expensive hotels are sold out, and the conference organizers have been busy laying 560 miles of computer cable and 50,000 square miles of carpet, according to the Times of London
.
The conference center hosting the meetings has set up four "climate kitchens" to cook healthy, organic meals for attendees, but they aren't coming cheap.
Visitors ordering the regular meal will get finger sandwiches, a quiche, some cheese and dessert, but those going "deluxe" get a mini croissant, canape with smoked salmon, mini pizzas, fancy cheese and some pineapple in chocolate — all for an estimated $40 a person.

The whole conference rings up at just under $215 million, according to a report from the U.K.-based Taxpayers' Alliance, which argued that even though delegates to the climate conference don't expect to emerge with any signed commitments, they're still doing potential damage by making their two-week visit.
Conference organizers have gone the whole nine yards seeking to offset the Copenhagen carbon crunch (the U.N. estimates an output of 41,000 tons of gas), using energy-efficient lights, powering the proceedings with a giant wind turbine, and offering visitors recycled materials instead of wasteful plastic water bottles. They've also purchased carbon offsets to help manage the output from their 12-day affair.
But Matthew Sinclair, the research director for the Taxpayers' Alliance, said their presence means that "a huge amount of money is going to be spent on the summit, and thousands of tons of carbon dioxide emitted to get there, just to give the delegates a good photo opportunity."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,579666,00.html

Related articles:
1. Climategate: follow the money and you will know
2. All About of Tiger

Subspecies of Tigers: Bengal, Malayan, Sumatran, Siberian, South China, Indochinese Tiger

2009-12-07T22:38:00.000-08:00

There are nine recent subspecies of tiger, two of which are extinct. Their historical range (severely diminished today) ran through Bangladesh, Siberia, Iran, Afghanistan, India, China, and southeast Asia, including some Indonesian islands. The surviving subspecies, in descending order of wild population, are:

The Bengal tiger or the Royal Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is the most common subspecies of tiger and is found primarily in India and Bangladesh. It lives in varied habitats: grasslands, subtropical and tropical rainforests, scrub forests, wet and dry deciduous forests, and mangroves. Males in the wild usually weigh 205 to 227 kg (450 to 500 lb), while the average female will weigh about 141 kg. However, the northern Indian and the Nepalese Bengal tigers are somewhat bulkier than those found in the south of the Indian Subcontinent, with males averaging around 235 kilograms (520 lb). While conservationists already believed the population to be below 2,000, the most recent audit by the Indian Government's National Tiger Conservation Authority has estimated the number at just 1,411 wild tigers (1165–1657 allowing for statistical error), a drop of 60% in the past decade. Since 1972, there has been a massive wildlife conservation project, known as Project Tiger, to protect the Bengal tiger. Despite increased efforts by Indian officials, poaching remains rampant and at least one Tiger Reserve (Sariska Tiger Reserve) has lost its entire tiger population to poaching.

Indochinese tiger

The Indochinese Tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti), also called Corbett's tiger, is found in Cambodia, China, Laos, Burma, Thailand, and Vietnam. These tigers are smaller and darker than Bengal tigers: Males weigh from 150–190 kg (330–420 lb) while females are smaller at 110–140 kg (240–310 lb). Their preferred habitat is forests in mountainous or hilly regions. Estimates of the Indochinese tiger population vary between 1,200 to 1,800, with only several hundred left in the wild. All existing populations are at extreme risk from poaching, prey depletion as a result of poaching of primary prey species such as deer and wild pigs, habitat fragmentation and inbreeding. In Vietnam, almost three-quarters of the tigers killed provide stock for Chinese pharmacies.

Malayan tiger

The Malayan Tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni), exclusively found in the southern part of the Malay Peninsula, was not considered a subspecies in its own right until 2004. The new classification came about after a study by Luo et al. from the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity Study, part of the National Cancer Institute of the United States. Recent counts showed there are 600–800 tigers in the wild, making it the third largest tiger population, behind the Bengal tiger and the Indochinese tiger. The Malayan tiger is the smallest of the mainland tiger subspecies, and the second smallest living subspecies, with males averaging about 120 kg and females about 100 kg in weight. The Malayan tiger is a national icon in Malaysia, appearing on its coat of arms and in logos of Malaysian institutions, such as Maybank.

Sumatran tiger

The Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, and is critically endangered. It is the smallest of all living tiger subspecies, with adult males weighing between 100–140 kg (220–310 lb) and females 75–110 kg (170–240 lb). Their small size is an adaptation to the thick, dense forests of the island of Sumatra where they reside, as well as the smaller-sized prey. The wild population is estimated at between 400 and 500, seen chiefly in the island's national parks. Recent genetic testing has revealed the presence of unique genetic markers, indicating that it may develop into a separate species,^[specify] if it does not go extinct. This has led to suggestions that Sumatran tigers should have greater priority for conservation than any other subspecies. While habitat destruction is the main threat to existing tiger population (logging continues even in the supposedly protected national parks), 66 tigers were recorded as being shot and killed between 1998 and 2000, or nearly 20% of the total population.

Siberian tiger

The Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica), also known as the Amur, Manchurian, Altaic, Korean or North China tiger, is confined to the Amur-Ussuri region of Primorsky Krai and Khabarovsk Krai in far eastern Siberia, where it is now protected. Considered the largest subspecies, with a head and body length of 190–230 cm (the tail of a tiger is 60–110 cm long) and an average weight of around 227 kilograms (500 lb) for males, the Amur tiger is also noted for its thick coat, distinguished by a paler golden hue and fewer stripes. The heaviest wild Siberian tiger on record weighed in at 384 kg but according to Mazak these giants are not confirmed via reliable references. Even so, a six-month old Siberian tiger can be as big as a fully grown leopard. The last two censuses (1996 and 2005) found 450–500 Amur tigers within their single, and more or less continuous, range making it one of the largest undivided tiger populations in the world. Genetic research in 2009 demonstrated that the Siberian tiger, and the western "Caspian tiger" (once thought to have been a separate subspecies that became extinct in the wild in the late 1950s^[29][30]) are actually the same subspecies, since the separation of the two populations may have occurred as recently as the past century due to human intervention.

South China tiger

The South China Tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis), also known as the Amoy or Xiamen tiger, is the most critically endangered subspecies of tiger and is listed as one of the 10 most endangered animals in the world.^{[clarification needed]} One of the smaller tiger subspecies, the length of the South China tiger ranges from 2.2–2.6 m (87–100 in) for both males and females. Males weigh between 127 and 177 kg (280 and 390 lb) while females weigh between 100 and 118 kg (220 and 260 lb). From 1983 to 2007, no South China tigers were sighted. In 2007 a farmer spotted a tiger and handed in photographs to the authorities as proof. The photographs in question, however, were later exposed as fake, copied from a Chinese calendar and photoshopped, and the “sighting” turned into a massive scandal.

In 1977, the Chinese government passed a law banning the killing of wild tigers, but this may have been too late to save the subspecies, since it is possibly already extinct in the wild. There are currently 59 known captive South China tigers, all within China, but these are known to be descended from only six animals. Thus, the genetic diversity required to maintain the subspecies may no longer exist. Currently, there are breeding efforts to reintroduce these tigers to the wild.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger

Physical characteristics of tiger

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Siberian tiger
Tigers are perhaps the most recognisable of all the cats (with the possible exception of the lion). They typically have rusty-reddish to brown-rusty coats, a whitish medial and ventral area, a white "fringe" that surrounds the face, and stripes that vary from brown or gray to pure black. The form and density of stripes differs between subspecies (as well as the ground coloration of the fur; for instance, Siberian tigers are usually paler than other tiger subspecies), but most tigers have over 100 stripes. The pattern of stripes is unique to each animal, and thus could potentially be used to identify individuals, much in the same way that fingerprints are used to identify people. This is not, however, a preferred method of identification, due to the difficulty of recording the stripe pattern of a wild tiger. It seems likely that the function of stripes is camouflage, serving to help tigers conceal themselves amongst the dappled shadows and long grass of their environment as they stalk their prey. The stripe pattern is found on a tiger's skin and if shaved, its distinctive camouflage pattern would be preserved. Like other big cats, tigers have a white spot on the backs of their ears.

Skeleton
Tigers have the additional distinction of being the heaviest cats found in the wild.[14] They also have powerfully built legs and shoulders, with the result that they, like lions, have the ability to pull down prey substantially heavier than themselves. However, the subspecies differ markedly in size, tending to increase proportionally with latitude, as predicted by Bergmann's Rule. Thus, large male Siberian Tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) can reach a total length of 3.5 m "over curves" (3.3 m. "between pegs") and a weight of 306 kilograms,[15] which is considerably larger than the sizes reached by island-dwelling tigers such as the Sumatran, the smallest living subspecies with a body weight of only 75–140 kg.[15] Tigresses are smaller than the males in each subspecies, although the size difference between male and female tigers tends to be more pronounced in the larger subspecies of tiger, with males weighing up to 1.7 times as much as the females.[16] In addition, male tigers have wider forepaw pads than females. This difference is often used by biologists in determining the gender of tigers when observing their tracks.[17] The skull of the tiger is very similar to that of the lion, though the frontal region is usually not as depressed or flattened, with a slightly longer postorbital region. The lion's skull has broader nasal openings. However, due to the amount of skull variation in the two species, usually, only the structure of the lower jaw can be used as a reliable indicator of species.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger

Tiger

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The tiger (Panthera tigris) is a member of the Felidae family; the largest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera.[4] Native to much of eastern and southern Asia, the tiger is an apex predator and an obligate carnivore. Reaching up to 3.3 metres (11 ft) in total length and weighing up to 300 kilograms (660 pounds), the larger tiger subspecies are comparable in size to the biggest extinct felids.[5][6] Aside from their great bulk and power, their most recognizable feature is the pattern of dark vertical stripes that overlays near-white to reddish-orange fur, with lighter underparts. The most numerous tiger subspecies is the Bengal tiger while the largest subspecies is the Siberian tiger.

Highly adaptable, tigers range from the Siberian taiga, to open grasslands, to tropical mangrove swamps. They are territorial and generally solitary animals, often requiring large contiguous areas of habitat that support their prey demands. This, coupled with the fact that they are endemic to some of the more densely populated places on earth, has caused significant conflicts with humans. Of the nine subspecies of modern tiger, three are extinct and the remaining six are classified as endangered, some critically so. The primary direct causes are habitat destruction and fragmentation, and hunting. Their historical range, which once reached from Mesopotamia and the Caucasus through most of South and East Asia, has been radically reduced. While all surviving species are under formal protection, poaching, habitat destruction and inbreeding depression continue to be threats.
Nonetheless, tigers are among the most recognizable and popular of the world's charismatic megafauna. They have featured prominently in ancient mythology and folklore, and continue to be depicted in modern films and literature. Tigers appear on many flags and coats of arms, as mascots for sporting teams, and as the national animal of several Asian nations.

reference: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger

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1. Physical characteristics of tiger

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