Corzine's fortune could invite more lawsuits

WASHINGTON (AP) — The millions that Jon Corzine amassed as head of Goldman Sachs have become an alluring target for investors who were crushed by the collapse of MF Global, the brokerage firm he led until earlier this month.

And Corzine isn't the only one who may be financially vulnerable after the eighth-largest bankruptcy in U.S. history. Others include MF Global's other top executives; its auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers; and some big Wall Street banks.

Even MF Global itself, which can't be sued while in bankruptcy protection, could sue its former executives.

Corzine and other senior executives likely share a liability insurance policy to cover potential lawsuits …

Panetta visiting Egypt amid spy suspense

CAIRO (AP) — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said he urged Egyptian leaders to release a U.S.-born man being held for allegedly being an Israeli spy, but the former U.S. spymaster did not win the man's release during a two-day stay in Egypt.

Egypt has accused Ilan Grapel, 27, of being a Mossad agent — a claim Israel denies. And his detention since June has escalated criticism of Egypt's military, which took over rule of the country after the ouster of Hosni Mubarak in February.

Panetta said the U.S. has expressed concern about his treatment, and continued detention. Panetta said he is confident that the interim military leadership in Egypt will "deal with that fairly," but he …

Vermicomposting fits needs of a developing country

BIOCYCLE INTERNATIONAL

CONTENTS

Vermicomposting Fits Needs Of A Developing Country ............... 64

New Earth For Ancient Places ............ 66

Sustainable Example For Waste Management ................. 67

Mexico

The authors review operational worm farms in Mexico as well as their impact on crops and soils.

IMPOVERISHED agriculture and increasing population in Mexico have caused intense land conflicts and mass migration to cities. While the problem can be traced back for decades, more and more people - in and out of government - understand how critical the situation has become.

As far back as the early 1970s, the Mexican …

After FA Cup exit, Chelsea turns focus back to Premier League

Chelsea is turning its focus back to the Premier League after another cup disappointment.

Chelsea manager Avram Grant is under pressure after the Blues were beaten by lower-league Barnsley 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup on Saturday _ two weeks after a 2-1 loss to Tottenham in the League Cup final.

Now the Blues have two competitions left to aim for _ the Premier League, where they are in third place, eight points behind leader Arsenal, and the Champions League, where they will find out their quarterfinal opponent on Friday.

"I want to win a trophy this season," Grant said. "I wanted it before. The pressure to win trophies …

North Korea watched intently for rocket launch

Spy satellites trained high-resolution cameras on a coastal North Korean launch pad. U.S., Japan and South Korea deployed warships with radar and other surveillance equipment in the waters near the communist nation _ all for one of the most closely watched rocket launches ever.

North Korea plans to launch what it says is an experimental communications satellite _ perhaps as early as Saturday _ from its Musudan-ri facility in the northeastern part of the country.

Washington, Seoul and Tokyo suspect North Korea's real motive is to test its long-range missile technology. The planned launch has sparked alarm because North Korea has acknowledged it has nuclear …

State needs budget leadership

Gov. Edgar's warning of a potential $520 million revenueshortfall is a pre-Christmas shocker of ominous dimension.

It means that come January he and legislative leaders are goingto have to swing heavy axes at state spending for the last half offiscal 1992. It's not going to be pretty.

The need for drastic cuts in spending is constitutionallyimperative, while the likelihood of the cuts hurting needy segmentsof society is virtually inevitable.

That's because 92 percent of all general fund revenue is dividedamong education, public aid and health-human services, and only inthose areas is there enough money to make significant cuts.

The amount of the …

Dollar rises against euro, slumps against yen

NEW YORK (AP) — The dollar bounced back Thursday from a five-month low against the euro but continued to drop against the yen and Swiss franc.

Weak European economic news hurt the euro while worries about U.S. growth weighed on the dollar.

In late afternoon trading in New York, the 16-nation euro fell to $1.3335 from $1.3390 late Wednesday. It peaked at a five-month high of $1.3440 Wednesday after the Federal Reserve hinted that it was ready to provide more aid to the U.S. economy. If the Fed acts, U.S. interest rates will likely drop further, hurting the dollar's appeal for investors.

A monthly measure of business activity in Europe fell more than expected in September, …

Beiersdorfer appointed sports director at Red Bull

Former Hamburg sporting director Dietmar Beiersdorfer has been appointed sporting director of the football division at Red Bull, the Austria-based energy drink company said Monday.

The 45-year-old German will become responsible for Red Bull clubs in Salzburg, New York and Leipzig as well as the company's football academies in …

Smith injury further depletes linebacking corps

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. Bears coach Dave Wannstedt thought he haddepth at the linebacking position. Now he has depth on the injuryreport.

Starter Vinson Smith sprained the medial collateral ligament inhis right knee during practice Tuesday and didn't practice Wednesday.

"We've all of a sudden gotten real low at linebacker,"Wannstedt said.

Smith joins second-stringer Sean Harris (hamstring) on theinjured list. Undrafted free agent Michael Lowery practiced with thefirst team Wednesday and will start Saturday at New Orleans if Smithis unable to play.

"It was a freak accident," Smith said. "Someone wentunderneath, and it just rolled.

"It's a …

Dog found in La. ditch had live cockroaches in fur

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Its hair was so matted and overgrown, the poodle had to be sedated just to be groomed. Veterinarians found live and dead cockroaches snared in the 2½ pounds of fur they cut from the dog.

The dog's condition was so unbelievable that Tracy Lapeyrouse named him Ripley.

The 2-year-old poodle was found Oct. 19 in a ditch in LaPlace, La., with no identification. He was taken to Lapeyrouse, who runs My Heart's Desire animal shelter in Houma, La., about 60 miles from New Orleans.

"He didn't know he had ears. When his ears would touch his skin, he would shake his head," Lapeyrouse said in a telephone interview from Louisiana.

"It took a week before he …

French federation boss to quit after WCup fiasco

French football federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes says he will quit later this week following France's World Cup fiasco.

Escalettes says he will submit his resignation on Friday at a meeting of the federation's federal council.

France was eliminated at the group stage in South …

Winds ease after 45mph gusts

Battering gales expected across the North-east came to no morethan blustery breezes.

And winds were expected to continue to ease throughout today.

The Met Office said gusts would not be as strong as the 45mphgusts yesterday.

A Met Office spokesman said: "The worst of the wind is over nowand it will continually ease throughout today.

"Wind speeds will peak at around 35mph today - and that will bethe maximum. It's likely they may not even reach that level, wethink some places will record speeds of just 20mph.

"Towns further north in Aberdeenshire, like Huntly and Keith, mayexperience slightly higher winds."

Yesterday saw winds begin to die down after gusts of 45mph wererecorded in the afternoon at Aberdeen Airport.

It was originally thought gusts of up to 70mph would batter the city but forecasters predict winds will ease more as today goeson.

Accused Nazi guard no-show at hearing; judge orders him deported

A federal immigration judge on Tuesday ordered the deportation of an 85-year-old German citizen who authorities said served as a Nazi concentration camp guard.

The order came after Paul Henss, who lives in Georgia, failed to show up for a deportation hearing. Authorities maintain that Henss trained and handled attack dogs at the Dachau and Buchenwald concentration camps and that he aided in the Nazi persecution of Jews _ a crime punishable by deportation under U.S. immigration law.

Federal immigration authorities said they were told by Henss' daughter, who lives in the Atlanta area, that her father fled the U.S. for Germany. Authorities said the Department of Homeland Security confirmed he left on Friday.

The Department of Justice announced the action against Henss on Oct. 1.

U.S. Immigration Judge J. Dan Pelletier ordered Henss removed from the country after a 30-minute hearing conducted without Henss or an attorney on his behalf present, as is allowed by law. Henss had been served with a notice to appear for Tuesday afternoon's proceeding.

Henss has no right to appeal the decision.

Telephone records list only one number in Henss' daughter's name in Gwinnett County. A man who answered at the number Tuesday said, "I don't know where he is," when asked about Henss whereabouts, and then hung up.

Henss entered the Waffen SS in 1941 and volunteered the following year to become an SS dog handler, serving from 1942 to 1944 at the Dachau and Buchenwald concentration camps, according to immigration court documents.

There, Henss instructed other guards in the use of trained attack dogs to guard prisoners and prevent their escape, and personally guarded prisoners and forced-labor details to prevent escapes, authorities allege.

SS regulations during Henss' time of service said dogs were to be trained "to 'bite without mercy' and to literally tear prisoners to pieces if they attempted to escape," the document states.

Henss admitted in a sworn statement March 13 that he served as an SS guard at Dachau and Buchenwald for two to three months each as a dog handler, according to the charging document.

When questioned by reporters at his home last month, Henss acknowledged training dogs, but said he fought in Russia and never set foot inside Dachau or Buchenwald.

"The training of dogs was no crime," Henss said with his wife sobbing next to him outside their well-kept one-story brick house. "I was not training them to hurt people."

Henss said that when he came to the U.S. 33 years ago, he did not tell immigration officials about his military service in Germany and was not asked. He said he had lived in Georgia for 10 years.

The deportation case was filed after a review of German records, prosecutors said. Jaclyn Lesch, a Justice Department spokeswoman, said the government does not plan to file criminal charges against Henss.

The Office of Special Investigations, which handles cases against people accused of being former Nazis, began operations in 1979. Authorities said it has won cases against 106 participants in Nazi crimes.

Wal-Mart de Mexico 4Q profit rise 17 percent

Wal-Mart de Mexico SA says its fourth-quarter profit rose 17 percent as the company continued to open new stores and cut prices to draw customers in a tough economy.

The Mexican unit of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. says net income totaled 5.7 billion pesos ($440 million) in the fourth quarter, up from 4.9 billion pesos in the same period of 2008.

Mexico's largest retailer says total revenue rose 11 percent to 80.3 billion pesos ($6.2 billion) from 72.7 billion pesos.

Walmex CEO Scott Rank said in a conference call with investors Thursday that the company opened a record 275 stores and restaurants in 2009 and attracted 13.8 percent more customers than in 2008.

Consumer Prices Up Sharply in September

WASHINGTON - Consumer inflation rose at the fastest pace in four months in September, reflecting higher energy and food costs.

The Labor Department reported Wednesday that its closely watched Consumer Price Index increased by 0.3 percent last month as energy costs, which had been falling for three months, posted an increase and food prices jumped by the largest amount since June.

The 0.3 percent CPI increase was slightly above the 0.2 percent advance that economists had been expecting. Core inflation, which excludes energy and food, was up a more moderate 0.2 percent, in line with expectations.

Thieves steal model boats from garage ; Brian 'gutted' as seven ships go in daylight raid

A7KJ5823 nw 01 A PENSIONER was left devastated after thievesransacked his garage and stole seven of his prized model ships.

Brian Morley, 72, spoke to the Gazette after the audaciousdaylight raid, which took place between 11.30am and 3.30pm onThursday.

"I feel totally gutted," Brian said.

"There is 16 years of model boat building that has disappearedfrom that garage." Brian, a retired lighting engineer, had beenvisiting a friend in Grays when thieves broke into the garage at hishome at Dounsell Court, on Ongar Road in Pilgrims Hatch.

Crooks cut two padlocks from the door before entering thebuilding and helping themselves to seven of the ten model shipsinside.

Vessel Among the models stolen was a replica of "Calypso", avessel made famous by the celebrated French oceanographer JacquesYves Cousteau.

"You spend hours building these things and then somebody justcomes along and takes them," Brian said.

"They are mostly of sentimental value to me but there is also alot of cash involved."

Brian, a father of four, a grandfather of five and a great-grandfather of five, estimates that the stolen ships are worth atotal of Pounds 1,500.

He also believes he was targeted deliberately. "None of the othergarages here have been interfered with," he said.

"I think they were keeping a watch to see when I went out."

However, Brian admitted he was puzzled to find that the thieveshad left the boxes belonging to the ships behind. "I don't think amodeller would have done that because you have to have boxes to keepthe models in and also for transporting them," he said.

Brian, who has lived at Dounsell Court since 1974, spokepassionately about his interest in model making.

"I have been a model maker since I was ten years old," he said.

"For many years I built model aircraft, but then I changed andwent onto making boats instead.

"I just love it. It is in my blood and I have been doing it forso long I can't even imagine me not building something."

Brian has put up a reward of Pounds 100 for any information whichleads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for stealinghis ships. "I have got to be realistic and accept that I might notget my models back," he said.

"However, if I could get them back I would be over the moon."

Brian added: "It would be Pounds 100 well spent to help catchthese people."

If you have any information which could help Essex Police withtheir enquiries call 0300 333 4444.

The stolen model ships include: Calypso: This vessel started lifeas a minesweeper in the Royal Navy.

In 1950, she was modified into an oceanographic vessel.TheCalypso was damaged in 1996 when a barge accidentally rammed intoher in Singapore.

Tirpitz: This mighty battleship, weighing 42,900 tonnes, was akey part of the German naval forces during World War Two.

Launched in April 1939, the Tirpitz was a sister ship of thelegendary Bismarck.

She was sank in 1944 after a series of attacks.

Yamato: Commissioned in December 1941, the Yamato served as theflagship of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto - the mastermind of theJapanese attack on Pearl Harbor - during World War Two.

The Yamato eventually met her end in April 1945.

Grad-student congressman earns degree

EDWARDSVILLE John Shimkus was chosen to address his fellowstudents at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville's 55th commencement eventhough he was frequently late for class.

But Shimkus had a good excuse for his tardiness. In addition tobeing a graduate student at SIU-E, he was also a freshmancongressman, and it's a long way from Washington to Edwardsville.

"I would arrive late to class on Friday because Congress was insession," said Shimkus, a Collinsville Republican. "I'd get off thefloor of the House, jump on a plane, land at Lambert, run home andget my books and get there late."But after six years of juggling schedules and having hissecretary proofread his term papers, Shimkus graduated Saturday witha master's degree in business administration.Shimkus began the master's program after he was elected MadisonCounty treasurer. His classes at SIU-E ended last month, during hisfirst term in Congress.

Mines a Known Hazard Where Girls Fell

CHLORIDE, Ariz. - The hilly desert around this small community is a risky playground, laced with trails that attract all-terrain vehicle riders but dotted with unmarked derelict mine shafts like the one that swallowed two young sisters out for an evening ride.

One of the girls died in the Labor Day weekend fall into the gaping hole and the other was seriously injured.

"I don't go anywhere off a trail here," said Bill Keller, who has lived in Chloride for 10 years and goes ATV riding in the hills regularly. "I am totally amazed that it hasn't happened before."

The terrain and clumps of brush concealed the mine near a dirt road in the hills, visible from the home of 13-year-old Rikki Howard and her 10-year-old sister, Casie Hicks.

The girls were riding an ATV early Saturday evening when they plunged into the 125-foot-deep mine shaft. Their father was riding ahead of them and didn't see the fall. He alerted authorities after they vanished, but the darkness hindered the search.

Early Sunday, Rikki was found dead in the shaft and her younger sister was taken to University Medical Center in Las Vegas. Casie was in serious condition there Tuesday, university spokeswoman Cheryl Persinger said. She had no further information.

"They're just about as distraught as humans can be," said Seth Johnson, a neighbor.

Several relatives placed a cross that read "In loving memory: Rikki." They placed yellow daisies on the cross and laid purple and orange tulips and a pink teddy bear at its base. They declined to talk about the tragedy.

Riding in the countryside was a frequent pastime for the family.

"These mountains are everyone's backyard," said Russell Agee, who goes up to the hills where the accident happened at least once a week. "The trails are a lot of fun if you're careful."

Residents estimate there are dozens of abandoned mines in the hills surrounding this old mining community about 200 miles northwest of Phoenix and 80 miles southeast of Las Vegas.

"A lot of them you can't tell they're there until you're right on them," Agee said, riding through town on a mud-spattered four-wheeler.

The mine where the girls were found had no signs or barriers and is believed to be inactive.

"It's like a serpent's mouth waiting to swallow you up," Johnson said at the site.

Ownership of the shaft had yet to be determined, according to the Arizona State Mine Inspector's office.

Officials say there are an estimated 100,000 abandoned mines in Arizona, which has a long history of prospecting and mining for gold, silver, copper and other metals. Many mines date back to the 1800s, making it impossible in some cases to trace ownership. Chloride was founded as a silver mining town in the 1860s, according to the Chamber of Commerce.

Many were in remote areas, but sprawling development has brought people closer to them. State Mine Inspector Joe Hart said ATVs and dirt bikes have also added traffic to areas that were once largely unreachable.

"You can go anywhere and everybody's curiosity is raging when they're on those things," Hart said.

Residents have begun collecting money for the family.

"What a shame for children so young," said Bonnie McNeely, the owner of Chloride's only restaurant, Yesterdays. "How quickly tragedy can happen."

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Associated Press writer Paul Davenport in Phoenix contributed to this report.

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On the Net:

Chloride: http://www.ChlorideArizona.com

12 al-Qaida linked militants killed southern Yemen

SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Fierce clashes between Yemeni government forces and al-Qaida linked militants in southern Yemen overnight killed 14, including 12 militants, officials said Wednesday.

Late Wednesday, loud explosions and exchanges of fire were heard in the capital Sanaa in the neighborhood where the chief of the main tribe opposing Yemen's president lives. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

A military official said Wednesday negotiations in the south with the fighters to end the bloodshed there were deadlocked.

Islamic militants linked with al-Qaida have taken advantage of the turmoil gripping Yemen over anti-government protests, seizing control of a number of towns and the provincial capital of the southern province of Abyan.

The militants have controlled the towns for months, terrorizing the locals. In recent weeks, the military has gone on the offensive, but fierce fighting has not shaken the militants hold on the area and has left thousands of civilians displaced.

The fighting and the internal turmoil are closely related.

Ali Abdullah Saleh, Yemen's leader of nearly 33 years, has held onto power in the face of massive protests demanding his ouster since February. He insists that if he leaves, al-Qaida will take over the country.

The West views al-Qaida branch in Yemen as the most active and dangerous, and has been linked to several nearly successful attacks on U.S. targets, including the plot to bomb a Detroit-bound airliner in December 2009. The group also put sophisticated bombs into U.S.-addressed parcels that made it onto cargo flights last year.

Some opposition figures have suggested Saleh's forces have allowed the militants to make gains to underline his warning of the consequences if Saleh departs.

Saleh, who is still recuperating in Saudi Arabia after a June attack on his compound in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, said the United States and Saudi Arabia have supported his efforts to retake the towns.

In Abyan, two competing military units, one under Saleh's command and the other under the leadership of a defecting general, are fighting the militants in Abyan. This has led to internal conflicts.

The unit led by the defecting leadership has made headway in reclaiming control over the provincial capital Zinjibar this week, seizing parts of it. The government. meanwhile. said the whole capital has been liberated, but a few days later, the military came under attack from the militants, who were clearly still in the area.

In the latest fighting, witnesses said they heard a fierce exchange of gunfire and shelling in Zinjibar and in a town to the west. The fighting lasted into the early hours of Wednesday.

A Yemeni undertaker said that he buried 12 militants and two civilians killed in clashes. The undertaker spoke on condition of anonymity because of security concerns.

Later Wednesday, a medical official said an official military videographer was killed and two of his assistants were wounded when a projectile landed inside a military camp east of Zanjibar.

Military and security officials said talks between military officials and members of the Defense Ministry, tribal leaders and militants have failed to persuade the militants to leave the area in exchange for a promise they won't be pursued.

Col. Hussein Beleidi told The Associated Press he attended some of the talks aimed at ending the bloodshed. "They refused and said they preferred fighting and martyrdom to surrendering," he said.

Tribal leaders said the militants demanded that the military first pulls out of the capital and neighboring areas before they too retreat. The military officials and tribal leaders spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of the talks with the media.

In separate fighting, witnesses said 13 people were killed when government forces shelled Arhab mountain villages north of Sanaa, where anti-government tribes are concentrated.

Michigan AIDS Coalition celebrates funding

FERNDALEThe Michigan AIDS Coalition is excited to receive more than $244,000 in funding from grants. The donors include Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foudnation, The Hope Fund and others.

MAC Chief Executive Officer Helen Hicks is thrilled with the strong support the Coalition is receiving from the foundation community. "The agency has been very reliant upon the state of Michigan to sustain its mission and has begun to seek new support while the state grapples with shortages. The foundations have always been there for the two previous non-profits that birthed MAC, and now they are here for us. We are deeply grateful and will use the gifts to sustain this much needed mission."

Baptist orgs unite for Haiti rebirth

Defender Staff Report

An alliance of African American Baptist organizations representing 40,000 church congregations nationwide recently announced plans for a $50 million project to rebuild Haiti and aid survivors of the Jan. 12 earthquake.

The coalition - African-American Baptist Mission Collaboration - will provide assistance for five health care clinics to provide restorative health services and wellness; 50 schools with enhanced learning environments; 500 reconstructed churches to serve as center points for community empowerment; and 5,000 homes to house homeless earthquake victims.

"Providing immediate response to immediate needs has been critical. Having existed working relationships with established churches in the country enabled us to move swiftly to provide food, water, temporary shelter and pastoral care. This is reminiscent of the immediate support that churches gave to people in our own country in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005," said the Rev. Dr. Stephen J. Thurston, president of the National Baptist Convention of America and senior pastor of New Covenant Baptist Church.

The group has already begun providing weekly deployment of medical professionals to provide critical medical services and care; daily feeding of 3(K) meals each day at First Baptist Church in Petionville. located near Port-au-Prince; and daily feeding of 150 meals each day for earthquake survivor patients at Saint-Marc hospitals.

France coach Raymond Domenech unlikely to shed cautious approach at Euro 2008

France coach Raymond Domenech hit back Wednesday against claims that his team is too defensive by arguing that switching overnight to all-out attack is too risky at the European Championship.

"To declare we're going into attack, sword in hand, is easy to say," Domenech said. "But you have to be able to organize it."

France drew heavy criticism after drawing 0-0 against Romania on Monday and needs a vast improvement heading into Friday's Group C match against the Netherlands, which crushed Italy 3-0 to take control of the group.

And the dull draw against Romania also raised concerns inside the French camp.

Defender William Gallas has said Les Bleus need to be more daring and stop playing with "the hand brake on." The Arsenal captain added that senior players were eager to discuss a more positive approach with Domenech.

Asked to react to Gallas' comments, Domenech appeared irritated that his decision-making be called into question.

"The meeting? Oh yes, I forgot (Gallas) called us to a meeting," Domenech said. "If we have to wait for William to have a meeting after a match then he would need to wake up first. I'm joking, but we could only do it early in the afternoon."

Although Domenech tried to maintain a jovial tone, the message to Gallas and others is clear: the coach is in charge.

"William has the gift of making me laugh," Domenech said. "To say things that are true, but that we have already said before. It proves that he can listen."

Getting Domenech to change his mind on tactics before Friday is probably a pointless exercise, anyway. It would be the equivalent of asking the coach who led a team to the World Cup final two years ago to accept that he is wrong.

Since Domenech took over nearly four years ago, his defense-minded teams have allowed only 23 goals in 52 matches.

In the last 19 games, France has conceded six goals and has 15 clean sheets, or shutouts, and heads into Friday's match on the back of five consecutive games without allowing a goal.

The French may not be the thrilling force of old, but scoring against them is increasingly difficult.

"Stability is the force of a team by the strength of its defense," Domenech said. "And I rarely shake things up in defense. Change everything to justify what? I can't change five or six players each time to please everyone."

Gallas had also said that, in Domenech's team, defenders have no license to attack.

Domenech hit back by saying everyone should play concentrate on their own position.

"A striker does not play like a central defender and a central defender does not play like a striker," Domenech said. "For the central defenders to move forward (against Romania) would have been criminal, as that was what the Romanians wanted, to hit us on the break."

Domenech has the French fans on his back _ again _ and, just like at the World Cup two years ago, except that it is not South Korea and Togo up next. It's the free-scoring Dutch and four-time World Cup winner Italy.

"To say we are heading into matches against the Netherlands and Italy with a smile on our faces and saying 'everything is fine, life is beautiful,' that would be going a bit far," Domenech said. "But on the other hand, they must be saying it's not easy to face France and Romania either."

Domenech, usually conservative in praise of his own players let alone opponents, paid a glowing tribute to Netherlands coach Marco Van Basten's team.

"I have known what the Dutch can do for a long time," Domenech said. "I know what they are capable of. When they get going, it's impressive. When they play quick one-touch football, they are an impressive team."

France could be boosted by the return of captain Patrick Vieira in midfield and Thierry Henry in attack. Both played without problems Tuesday against a local regional side of youth players, with Henry scoring one goal in a 7-0 win.

"Patrick and Titi (Henry), they are progressing normally," Domenech said. "They did what they had to do. Things are moving forward."

France could do with Henry, France's record scorer with 44 goals, back in attack.

In the last six matches, France has scored only twice from open play. Against Romania, Nicolas Anelka and Karim Benzema made little impact.

"We can score at any moment," Domenech said. "We just haven't found the moment yet."

McCain may be zeroing in on a running mate

Yet another town-hall meeting isn't doing the trick. Neither is dropping in on a former Republican president. So just what can John McCain do to draw attention away from his showy Democratic rival? Pick a running mate, perhaps.

Speculation swirled Tuesday that McCain might name his vice presidential partner within the next few days _ right in the middle of Barack Obama's overseas tour.

McCain aides were not helping tamp down the speculation with their comments, often made late in the afternoon, of "no announcement today."

But what about tomorrow? Or where? On Tuesday, McCain campaigned in New Hampshire, not all that far from a lakeside summer home of vanquished GOP rival Mitt Romney, a former Massachusetts governor. Romney was nowhere to be seen. Well, it wasn't really that close to his lakeside home.

One member of the audience told McCain he seemed like a very "forgiving" man. "Have you forgiven Mitt Romney?" he asked the senator.

Amid laughter, McCain said, "Mitt has been of tremendous help to my campaign. ... He does a better job for me than he did for himself."

Later, when reporters asked if this was a good week to announce his own running mate with Obama overseas, McCain chuckled and said, "We have the same answer we always have. ... We'll let you know when we have an announcement."

Last Sunday, McCain was in the Bronx at a Yankees game with another former rival, one-time New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. "You hear all kinds of stuff," Giuliani later said, "but I'm not thinking about anything but helping to get him elected."

The campaign is also not very open about where McCain is going next, keeping scheduling matters close to the vest. And that adds to the frenzy.

All questions about the process of selecting a running mate are quickly shot down.

"It's the one subject we've been forbidden to talk about," said senior adviser Mark Salter. He promised to come to the press area of McCain's plane, "but I won't tell you anything." That is, unless it's "what's wrong with Barack Obama's judgment," Salter joked. Actually, he wasn't joking.

When reporters caught a glimpse of McCain and rushed forward on the plane, he grinned and waved them away. "What do you want, you little jerks?" he asked.

There are a lot of potential running mates that McCain could visit as he jets around the country _ Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist or Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, for instance, three governors mentioned frequently as possible running mates. McCain ends up in New Orleans on Wednesday evening.

McCain returned to New Hampshire, a state where he his fared well in two presidential primaries (2000 and 2008). Obama and McCain are neck-and-neck in this swing state, and only half of likely voters said they have definitely decided on their choice for president.

A University of New Hampshire poll showed Obama with 46 percent and McCain with 43 percent, a statistical tie given the poll's margin of error of 3 percentage points. "This will be one of those states who decides who the next president of the United States will be," McCain said.

Even former President George H.W. Bush was asked by reporters for his views on McCain's vice presidential search when the Arizona senator visited the elder Bush at his family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine. Bush said he wasn't in the politics business any more.

But what about Romney, once governor of neighboring Massachusetts? Bush didn't jump to the bait. But what do you think of him as a person? "I like him," said the former president.

And that was it.

McCain on Tuesday participated in a town-hall meeting in a theater and "opera house" this central New Hampshire village. Half a world away, reporters were trailing Obama as he visited Jordan in route to Israel.

McCain has told reporters he doesn't care if Obama's trip was stealing attention and thinks it "doesn't in the slightest" undercut his own message. But on Tuesday the campaign released two videos set to love songs and encouraged viewers to choose which one best conveyed this message: "The media is in love with Barack."

Meanwhile, McCain told his audience, "I know you know there's been a lot of back and forth" on the issue of Iraq. He said when he was campaigning in New Hampshire a year ago, "when everybody declared my candidacy dead ... I said we've go to do the 'surge' ... and we will win the war in Iraq. And we are winning that war."

"If he had his way, we would have been out last March," McCain said. "We would have never succeeded and we would have had defeat. ... He was wrong then, he is wrong now."

McCain renewed a proposal to have town-hall meetings with Obama in the coming days, a suggestion that has so far been turned down by Obama's team.

Romanian subway workers on strike for higher pay

Subway workers in Romania's capital staged a nine-hour strike on Tuesday to demand a 20 percent pay rise, causing traffic havoc in parts of the capital.

The strike is the second in a week and affected an estimated 300,000 of the 700,000 passengers who use the 49-station system daily. Streetcars and buses were packed, while car traffic slowed almost to a halt in parts of Bucharest.

Union leader Ion Radoi said Bucharest subway workers should have higher wages because the state company made a profit last year.

President Traian Basescu criticized the decision to strike five days before presidential elections, saying it was politically motivated to hurt Transportation Minister Radu Berceanu _ one of the president's allies.

"They are mocking the passengers who use the subway every day," said Basescu, who is running for a second five-year term in the Nov. 22 ballot.

The union said workers would strike again on Wednesday if their demands are not met.

Transportation Ministry officials failed in talks with union representatives Monday to resolve the impasse union's demands.

Romania is in a deep recession with the economy expected to contract more than 8 percent this year.

In Hong Kong, quiz show teaches investing know-how

And for 3,000 points, here's the next question: Do stock brokers have the right to close out margin contracts at a loss without notifying their clients?

It's Hong Kong's answer to quiz shows like "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" or "Jeopardy," but trade the history and world trivia for technical questions about complicated investment products and financial regulations.

Following an outcry over the global economic crisis burning tens of thousands of local investors, the city's securities watchdog has co-produced a TV game show that aims to beef up the public's financial know-how. The strategy is to mix this Asian finance capital's two obsessions: money and celebrities.

In Monday's debut of the star-laden "Outsmart," popular Hong Kong actors navigated questions about everything from margin contracts to transaction fees and structured products before a studio audience that weighed in with help.

The show reflects a greater need for sophistication around the world as the credit crisis roils financial markets from London to Tokyo and causes a painful destruction of wealth among investors big and small.

In Hong Kong, the turmoil has thrown into doubt the savings of thousands of pensioners, retirees and other investors who sank billions of dollars into securities backed by Lehman Brothers.

Since the New York's firm's collapse in September, Hong Kong has convulsed with street protests, government probes, lawsuits and call for tougher regulations. The fiasco also has exposed gaps in the public's understanding and raised questions about Hong Kong's vaunted regulatory regime and stature as a global financial center.

"Anything that you can do to educate people about investing is good," investment guru James Rogers, chairman of Singapore-based Rogers Holdings and author of "A Bull in China" and other investment books, said in an interview in Hong Kong. "In Hong Kong people are very financially oriented for many many reasons, so it doesn't surprise me that they have a show here."

It's still unclear how the program will fare; ratings from Monday's premiere weren't yet available.

Home to Asia's second-biggest stock market, Hong Kong has one of the world's most vibrant investment cultures. Financial stories routinely dominate newspaper front pages, and everyone from bankers to housewives buzz with stock tips. Local tycoons like property magnate Li Ka-shing rival Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee in popularity and fame.

"Outsmart" may be unique for its game-show format and technical subject matter.

Dodo Cheng, a veteran Hong Kong actress and TV personality who hosted the Hong Kong edition of the game show "The Weakest Link," kicked off the inaugural episode with highly technical questions of the sort rarely in mainstream media:

"Under normal circumstances, buying or selling CBBCs are exempt from which of the following fees? Stamp duties or transactional fees?" asked Cheng, referring to a local stock derivative product known as "callable bull or bear contracts."

Guest contestant Tse Tin-wah, a popular Hong Kong television actor, pondered his answer.

"You can't treat CBBCs as stocks. You only have to pay stamp duty on stocks." He then turned to his partner, former Miss Hong Kong beauty queen Kate Tsui, for reassurance. "Is that right?" he asked.

"I guess so," Tsui, now an actress, stammered, eventually saying, "Yes. My partner says yes. I believe in him."

A judge confirmed the answer was correct, the two actors high-fived and the audience erupted in applause.

The co-producer, Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission, says the show was planned before the Lehman Brothers fiasco.

The program was prompted by a survey showing retail investors weren't familiar with the products they invested in and "did not have realistic expectations on returns and risks," the commission said. The poll also showed the public preferred to get investor education through television.

Ten half-hour shows will air weekday nights at 10:30 p.m. over two weeks on leading Hong Kong broadcaster TVB.

Tse and Tsui won Monday's debut, beating fellow TV actors Raymond Tso and Nancy Sit. Instead of cash, they won vouchers for skin care products, clothes and luxury watches.

The amount, the two contestants were informed, would be equivalent to the day's closing price of a company included in Hong Kong's Hang Seng stock index. The two spun an electronic roulette wheel that stopped on Chinese telecom company China Unicom, and their winnings totaled about $2,000.

New 'toon contunues Disney trend toward diversity

For most of the last century, the Disney cartoon heroine was as white as, well... Snow White, the studio's first feature-film superstar, who marked her debut in 1937's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."

It would take some 60 years for the Disney artists to begin painting their leading ladies with all the colors of the wind, including the American Indian Pocahontas (1995), the Chinese Mulan (1998) and the Hawaiian Lilo (2002).

Only now, with "The Princess and the Frog," have Disney animators put a black female front and center. Ironically, the inspiration for the new film came from two Caucasian men: current Pixar-Disney chief John Lasseter and the late Walt Disney himself.

"The story really came from an initial idea of doing an American fairy tale, which hadn't been done at Disney," said "Princess" co-director Ron Clements. "And setting it in New Orleans, which is John Lasseter's favorite city in the world. It was Walt Disney's favorite city in the world ... Out of that, it seemed natural that the heroine would be African-American."

Discussion of the character's race had some of the film's principals bristling. "We walk around being black every day, and nobody talks about it," noted Anika Noni Rose, who supplies the voice of lead Princess Tiana. So, I suggest you follow your instinct and let it be nothing to be talked about."

Yet the "Dreamgirls" actress continued to talk: "The big deal is that it will quietly affirm to young brown-skinned children that they are special in this world," Rose said. "And I think that it is a bigger deal to those of us who grew up without it and are now adults and have been waiting for it. It's exciting to us, because we know how important it is to our children to have, to be image-affirmed."

Production was started on "Princess" in March 2006, long before the election of a new American president. "We tried to arrange that," joked co-director John Musker. "We voted for Obama," Musker continued. "That was about as much influence as we had on things."

But the coincidence is not lost on some members of the "Princess" cast. "It is historical in the sense now that there is `Obama' and `Tiana,'" said veteran character actress Jenifer Lewis, widely known as "the black mother of Hollywood." "It is a new day," she continued. "There is hope. There is change. That is what this movie is going to bring."

Perhaps, but the directors remind us that making history was never their point.

"It is a universal story," Musker said. "It is a story of trying to follow your dreams and overcoming obstacles. And I don't think that necessarily knows a certain color."

Walt Disney's "The Princess and the Frog" is now playing in Los Angeles and New York and opens throughout the United States on Dec. 11.

Dear Members

Dear Members,

Welcome to the 2004 American Meteorological Society's Annual Report, a look at the events and activities that shaped the Society and our field over the past 12 months. Remember that this report provides only a glimpse of the programs that we coordinate, support, and initiate - from meetings to publications, education, and policy advocacy.

During the past year we charged ahead with our mid-term review, taking a critical look at our progress in meeting the objectives outlined in the 10-Year Vision Study. In the following pages you will find a summary of the recommendations from the Mid-Term Review Committee and a summary of the ways we have supported those goals.

The National Research Council recommendation for the Society to actively facilitate the partnership between the various weather and climate services also dominated much of the dialogue among our members this year. The result, the formation of a new Commission on the Weather and Climate Enterprise, is a major step in addressing the needs and concerns of all sectors of the weather and climate enterprise; promoting a sense of community among government entities, private sector organizations, and universities; fostering linkages between and among the sectors; educating user communities on the value of weather and climate information; and providing appropriate venues and opportunities for communications that foster frank, open, and balanced discussions of points of contention and concern. Read on for specific details on the new Commission.

But these are just two of the hundreds of activities that took place all year. Last year we also held one of our most successful Annual Meetings in history in Seattle, organized and executed more than 12 specialty meetings in seven cities; published more than 20,000 pages of journal articles; began to redesign and overhaul the AMS Web site; hosted the 3rd Summer Policy Colloquium, and much more. All in a day's work!I am truly amazed by the dedication of the more than 12,000 members of our Society and the AMS staff.

And last but not least, 2004 brought leadership changes to the AMS staff. Dr. Ronald McPherson retired after leading the Society since 1999 and Dr. Keith Seitter was selected as Executive Director. A simple thank you is not adequate enough to convey my and the entire Society's appreciation for the hard work and dedication that Ron brought to the job. He led the Society through many significant changes including the new certification programs, restructuring of the Annual Meeting, and new private sector initiatives. He also guided the staff and members through tough financial decisions and sacrifices. Thank you, Ron, for your service.

And thank you for allowing me the privilege to serve as your President in 2004.

Sincerely,

Susan Avery

President, 2004

[Author Affiliation]

Susan Avery

President, 2004

Rosso to talk on food, fame

Julee Rosso, co-owner of New York specialty food company SilverPalate and a Parade magazine columnist, will discuss her recipe forsuccess Sept. 13 at the Winnetka Community House, 620 Lincoln,Winnetka. She also will conduct a cooking demonstration. Areception is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.; the program will start at 6:30p.m. The Chicago Culinary Guild and Home Economists in Business willhost the event. Fee is $30. Reservations are requested by Sept. 1.Call Diane Sokolofski at 251-6060 or Cynthia Ring at 304-2478.

LAKE FOOD: The College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington,Grayslake, will expand its professional food training program thisfall with the debut of a new …

Gold advances on concerns about European debt

NEW YORK (AP) — Gold prices rose Monday after concerns resurfaced about Europe's efforts to control its debt crisis.

The European Central Bank cut back its purchases of bonds from vulnerable governments such as Greece, Ireland and Portugal. Also, Moody's said it might downgrade the debt of Spanish banks that could need help from the government.

Gold for February delivery gained $6.90 to settle at $1,386.10 an ounce.

In other trading, oil and most energy products rose as traders grew optimistic that demand will improve next year.

China's oil demand in November hit 9.3 million barrels a day, according to Platts. Earlier this month the International Energy Agency …

VIDEO : RETURN OF THE SILENT MOVIE IN `TWISTER'.(L.A. LIFE)

Byline: Robert Bianco Special to the Daily News

If you need a gift for a non-English speaker, go out and buy ``Twister.'' It's the first American hit since the silent era that doesn't need dubbing.

What would there be to translate? The script pretty much consists of ``There it is!'' ``Run!'' and ``Drive!'' Even people who have never heard of tornadoes are likely to catch on by the third one.

``Twister,'' which is being sent straight to the sell-through market by Warner for $22.96, is one of those rare movies that is entertaining and awful at the same time. (As screenwriter William Goldman said in New York magazine, it's ``the worst movie in the history of …

VIDEO : RETURN OF THE SILENT MOVIE IN `TWISTER'.(L.A. LIFE)

Byline: Robert Bianco Special to the Daily News

If you need a gift for a non-English speaker, go out and buy ``Twister.'' It's the first American hit since the silent era that doesn't need dubbing.

What would there be to translate? The script pretty much consists of ``There it is!'' ``Run!'' and ``Drive!'' Even people who have never heard of tornadoes are likely to catch on by the third one.

``Twister,'' which is being sent straight to the sell-through market by Warner for $22.96, is one of those rare movies that is entertaining and awful at the same time. (As screenwriter William Goldman said in New York magazine, it's ``the worst movie in the history of …

VIDEO : RETURN OF THE SILENT MOVIE IN `TWISTER'.(L.A. LIFE)

Byline: Robert Bianco Special to the Daily News

If you need a gift for a non-English speaker, go out and buy ``Twister.'' It's the first American hit since the silent era that doesn't need dubbing.

What would there be to translate? The script pretty much consists of ``There it is!'' ``Run!'' and ``Drive!'' Even people who have never heard of tornadoes are likely to catch on by the third one.

``Twister,'' which is being sent straight to the sell-through market by Warner for $22.96, is one of those rare movies that is entertaining and awful at the same time. (As screenwriter William Goldman said in New York magazine, it's ``the worst movie in the history of …

Born to engineer

In previous books, Henry Petroski has examined inanimate objects such as the pencil and the bookshelf. In his latest, he takes a look at himself.

PAPERBOY: CONFESSIONS OF A FUTURE ENGINEER By HENRY PETROSKI

ALFRED A. KNOPF, 364 Pp. $25

REVIEWED BY WRAY HERBERT

People are born to run and born to be wild. There are natural-born athletes and natural-born politicians. Even natural-born killers.

But natural-born civil engineers? Born to construct?

Henry Petroski indeed believes he had an early, natural inclination to engineer the world-at least his small comer of it-and there is no question that he views the world through a different lens than …

Baku hosts CAREC seminar on regional improvement of border services.

Baku, 10 June (AzerTAc) -- A seminar of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) on regional improvement of border services was held here. The event has brought together representatives and experts from CAREC member states. The seminar focused on improving border crossing points, single window system and easing trade relations etc. CAREC - a program supported by ADB, was established in …

Yanks again feast on Royals.(Sports)

Byline: JOHN ALTAVILLA Hartford Courant

Yankees 12

Royals 5

NEW YORK - After only six Royals had hit in the top of the first, the Yankees were trailing by three, an event that concerned starter Shawn Chacon more than his teammates.

That's because it's a long way from the first to the ninth when it comes to the potential pop of their millionaire lineup. And the Yankees had his back.

"You've got to apply pressure up and down the lineup, which we are capable of doing," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "And that's going to put a lot of pressure on the opposition."

Sure enough, before the final out on a blustery Wednesday at …

American Lung Association of California Grants Nearly $700,000 to Lung Disease Research; Studies Into Asthma, Lung Cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Offer Hope to Five Million Californians With Lung Disease.

Byline: American Lung Association

OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 25 (AScribe Newswire) -- Research offers hope to the more than five million Californians afflicted with lung diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Recently the American Lung Association of California granted nearly $700,000 to lung disease research, funding 12 scientists in California who are conducting basic research into the mechanisms of disease and 20 Asthma Clinical Research Centers across the country.

"All of the effective treatments we have today came from basic research," said Timothy Morris, MD, chair of the American Lung Association of California's Research Training Review Committee. "Treatments for lung diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis are now considered routine, but it wasn't that long ago these diseases were incurable. Basic research led us down the right track."

The association awarded $340,000 through its peer-reviewed scientific research program, including one Pulmonary Nurse Scholarship. Every year the American Lung Association of California reviews applications from researchers and nursing students across the state and grants up to $50,000 to research projects that meet its guidelines and up to $6,000 to master's level nursing …

Preseason NBA Standings

All Times EDT
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
	W	L	Pct	GB
Boston	6	1	.857	—
Toronto	3	3	.500	2½
New York	2	3	.400	3
New Jersey	2 …

Park watchdogs rip budget as wasteful

Two watchdog groups chipped away at the proposed 1988 ChicagoPark District budget Tuesday, saying the $283.6 million spending planincludes unneeded staff increases.

Speaking to the Park District Board, representatives of Friendsof the Parks and the Civic Federation complained also about costs andwhat they see as slow implementation of the district's reorganizationplans.

Erma Tranter, executive director of Friends of the Parks, saidrevenue in the form of team and special lesson fees in recreation andculture programs is projected to drop $310,000 - "evidence ofineffectiveness," she said - while at the same time the district isforecasting an increase of $5.3 …

New census data.(DOMINICAN REPUBLIC)(Brief article)

NEW CENSUS DATA. The Dominican Republic has 9,378,818 inhabitants (4,670,898 women and 4,707,921 men), according to the preliminary results of the IX National Census of Population & …

How to shake hands, sell your ideas and shop.(Beyond the Biz)

Pretty sure that relationship you have been cultivating for the last six months is going to pay off with a big sale? Are you confident that you're going to blow them away in your next job interview by rattling off statistics about the company, its competitors and the marketplace? Wrong on both accounts, at least according to the new e-learning Web site www.saleswebinarsondemand.com, which says your next sale, job or connection could be won or lost with a simple shake of the hand. Jerry Hocutt, sales trainer, and founder of SalesWebinarOnDemand.com, said in a release that in the business world you could be dead in the water if your handshake is a "dead fish,'' or limp and …

MAGAZINE SORTS OUT EXERCISE FACTS AND FICTION.(LIFE & LEISURE)

Byline: The Cincinnati Enquirer

An entire industry of magazines, television programs, Web sites, videos and books is out there telling you how to get fit. How do you judge from this mass of information what is fact and what is fiction?

Club Industry, a monthly magazine geared to fitness industry professionals, collaborated with the American Council on Exercise to develop this top-10 list to help sort truth and trash.

1. No pain, no gain. Exercise can occasionally be uncomfortable, but pain is generally a sign of injury or overuse. Studies confirm the benefits of moderate exercise. 2. To burn more fat, exercise at a lower intensity. Lower …

California-inspired Sabzi represents beauty in the abstract: Iranian-born abstractionist blends his passion for the spiritual and the beauty of women with Western and Eastern philosophies.

"When asked how I became a painter, I think about the warmth of family gatherings, where so many layers of art fused together to shape my life's desire and purpose. It is no wonder my brother and I have carved our paths in the arts," says Sabzi, the renowned Iranian-born figurative-abstract painter

"Sitting in my sun-filled studio in my home in Thousand Oaks, CA," he continues, "my memories return to my childhood and youth in Ahwaz in Southern Iran. The piercingly luminous sun forces me to recall daily the family gathering we regularly held on Friday, the Persian Sabbath, in our home. The days slid gently by with plenty of food and activities into the evening when my uncle would begin to play the violin as a prelude to an evening of poetry recitals and singing, in a space painted and designed by the many rugs and textiles woven by my mother."

Sabzi started painting at the age of 12, inspired by his uncle's music, shaping his future as a painter-musician. "My father, who was a chef, was a magnificent cook. He always prepared the food for our gatherings, but his heart was in poetry and he lived to read good poems."

Sabzi's love of the arts continued as he pressured his mother to buy him a …

Arkansas-Little Rock edges South Alabama 61-59

Shane Edwards scored a career-high 23 points and hit the game-winning basket with 14.5 seconds left to lift Arkansas-Little Rock to a 61-59 win over South Alabama on Thursday night.

The Trojans (14-5, 7-1 Sun Belt Conference) extended their winning streak to five games while the Jaguars (11-8, 4-4) lost their fourth straight conference game at home.

Arkansas-Little Rock led 34-25 at the break, but the second half …

Vowing not to have daughter's death be in vain, mother speaks out on acceptance

FLINT - It took her lesbian daughter's suicide, followed by a year of intense study and prayer, for Mary Lou Wallner to conclude that being gay is not a choice.

And that's not an easy conclusion to make for a then extreme fundamentalist.

"Quite honestly, had she (her daughter Anna Wakefield) lived, I don't think we ever would have come along to where we are today, because we were so close-minded," said Wallner, 63, from her North Little Rock, Ark., home. "It's embarrassing to admit that, but it's true."

Wallner will be bringing such honesty and frank talk with her when she comes to Flint on Oct. 13 to be the guest speaker for a 6:30-8:30 p.m. Out 'N About event …

The Art of Mentoring.(Brief article)(Book review)

The Art of Mentoring

Darlene Zschech

Bethany House

11400 Hampshire Ave. South, Bloomington MN 55438

9780764209345, $19.99, www.bakerpublishinggroup.com

The Art of Mentoring: Embracing the Great Generational Transition provides a fine survey packed with insights about how to empower and lead the next generation and comes from a …

IMA selects artists for Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park.(museum MATTERS)

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) has selected 10 artists to create works for the new IMA Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park. Located on 100 acres of untamed woodlands, wetlands, lake, and meadow adjacent to the museum, the Fairbanks Art & Nature Park will feature site-specific commissions in a range of media that explore and respond to the varied environments of the park. Mary Miss will create the first permanent project, an elevated bridge and walkway, which will descend through the canopy of trees and serve as a pedestrian gateway linking the museum's principal buildings to the park. Participating artists include: Haluk Akakce, Atelier Van Lieshout, …

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN 123 OF 128 RUNNERS AT CROSS-COUNTRY MEET RUN WRONG ROUTE.(SPORTS)

Byline: Associated Press

Only five of the 128 runners in the men's division of the NCAA DivisionII cross-country championships ran the correct course at the Victoria Country Club.

Those five took five of the last six places in Monday's 10,000-meter race.

A detour taken by 123 runners shaved approximately 1,000 meters off the course -- the steepest 1,000 meters.

In theory, the fastest runner, Mike Delcavo of Western State College of Colorado, could have staked a claim for the national championship since the other runners were technically disqualified for leaving the course.

But to the relief of meet officials, no one …

Paul Rudd's awkward side back in `I Love You, Man'

When Paul Rudd tells an embarrassing story, he leaves in details other celebrities might be too proud to reveal.

The 39-year-old actor cringes with amusement as he remembers the time, less than two weeks ago, when he got caught in an awkward situation while promoting his new comedy "I Love You, Man" in Toronto. Rudd, taking a bathroom break with co-star Jason Segel before a TV interview, thought it'd be funny to pull his drawers down to his ankles.

The joke scored laughs from his one-man audience, recalls Rudd, but backfired when Segel walked out the door and a stranger entered.

"I'm pulling my pants up in front of a urinal and my …

30 pct. of blacks in cities still live in segregation

MIAMI Nearly one-third of blacks living in big American citiesstill reside in neighborhoods that are at least 90 percent black,according to a study of figures from the Census Bureau.

In a study based on a comparison of 1990 and 1980 figures, theMiami Herald found that more than 9.1 million blacks, or about 30percent, still live in virtual racial isolation.

That was down slightly from 34 percent in 1980, it said.

"Any way you look at it, blacks are still very segregated," saidUniversity of Chicago sociologist Douglas Massey, co-author ofseveral segregation studies. "At this rate, blacks will staysegregated for a long time."

The study also found …

O'Driscoll goal: Rev Jaguar sales to Porsche level.(NEWS)(Interview)

In the long run, a repositioned Jaguar selling only premium cars could achieve the same sales levels as Porsche, says Mike O'Driscoll, managing director of Jaguar Cars Ltd.

That would mean annual global sales of between 100,000 and 120,000 vehicles, rather than the Mercedes-Benz level of more than 1 million units, says O'Driscoll. But that's a significant increase from the 70,000-unit sales Jaguar expects this year, up from about 60,000 units last year.

O'Driscoll would not predict U.S. sales for this year. Through October, Jaguar had sold 12,575 units in the United States.

The new Jaguar concentrating on high-line vehicles is looking at a starting sticker price of $50,000 for its cars, he says.

O'Driscoll, 52, and Gary Temple, 65, president of Jaguar Land Rover North America LLC, were interviewed at the Los Angeles Auto Show by Staff Reporter Diana T. Kurylko.

How far along are you in repositioning Jaguar as a premium luxury brand?

O'Driscoll: We've been remaking Jaguar for a couple of years now. The XK (grand …

ISRAELI FILMMAKERS FOCUS UPON EVERYDAY FAMILY LIFE.(SHOWTIME)

Byline: CHARLES W. HOLMES Cox News Service

JERUSALEM If art imitates life, then surely motion pictures reflect the mood of society.

And using the recent crop of Israeli films as a measure, the Jewish state is looking more and more at the ordinary problems of modern life than at the distinctive problems of Israel and the durable Middle East strife.

``Israeli cinema is maturing just as Israel is maturing as a result of the peace process,'' said Judith Lungen, assistant director of Jerusalem's 12th annual film festival, which concluded last Sunday.

The bulk of films that debuted at the festival did not dwell on typically Jewish and …

Rays take advantage of error to beat A's 3-2

Scott Kazmir scraped out another impressive win thanks to one clutch hit.

Left fielder Emil Brown tried to make a sliding catch on Dioner Navarro's sinking liner in the eighth inning and lost the ball in the lights and it got past him for a three-run double, sending the Tampa Bay Rays to a 3-2 victory against the Athletics on Tuesday night.

Kazmir struck out a season-high eight batters in his fourth outing, holding his own in a pitcher's duel between a pair of talented young left-handers.

Oakland lost for the ninth time in 11 games and in tough fashion for the second straight night after a 7-6 defeat in 13 innings Monday.

Kazmir (3-1), …