Men line up for testing

Mack Blanchard never smoked. He doesn't drink. He mostly reads health magazines. And when he gets an unexplained ache or pain, he'll head to the doctor.

The 67-year-old retired postal worker has good reason to pay attention to his health. Six of his eight siblings have died from various forms of cancer.

The Hazel Crest man doesn't want to be next. That's why he was at Lincoln Mall in Matteson Monday, taking part in a free prostate cancer screening sponsored by the Chicago Sun-Times and the National Prostate Cancer Coalition.

"It's just been a traumatic experience," Blanchard said of having lost so many family members to cancer. "That's why I try to stay up on …

END SCENE

An annual film festival wraps up for good

News of yet another restaurant closing in downtown Boise (read this week's Food News) leaves a sour taste in our mouths and sadly, another Boise institution has recently gone dark. This fifth year of the annual True West Cinema Festival was its last.

Though funding played a small part in closing the curtains for good, a larger reason was because its organizers are at pivotal points in their careers, and they, like Jerry Seinfeld when he ended his sitcom, wanted to go out on a high note.

Co-founder and managing director, Josie Pusl explained that it takes so much work and time to put on an event of this kind.

"We're an …

Stock poised to rally after payroll report, Fed action

Wall Street was poised for a sharply higher open Friday after the government reported that the nation's payrolls shrank less than expected and the Federal Reserve injected more liquidity into the financial system.

The Labor Department said employers cut 20,000 jobs in April, while the unemployment rate dipped to 5 percent. This marked the fourth straight month of job losses, but the data signaled that perhaps the economy might be resisting falling into recession.

Meanwhile, the Fed said it will work with European central banks to expand a series of efforts to deal with the global credit crisis. The central bank will boost the amount of emergency reserves it …

Bush talks on rocky economy

President George W Bush focused on the troubled US economy andsuccesses in Iraq in his final State of the Union speech.

He urged Congress to approve a pounds76 billion rescue plan forthe economy and said al …

Gender differences in patterns of relationship violence in Alberta

Abstract

Gender differences in patterns of relationship violence were investigated in a representative sample of adult men (N = 356) and women (N = 351) from the province of Alberta. Respondents reported on their receipt and perpetration of violent acts in the year prior to the survey. Men and women, respectively, reported similar one-year prevalence rates of husband-to-wife violence (12.9% and 9.6%) and wife- to-husband violence (12.3% and 12.5%). However, differential gender patterns of reporting were identified. On average, men reported that they and their female partners were equally likely to engage in violent acts and to initiate violent conflicts. In contrast, women reported …

FDA: Some chicken may have small amount of arsenic

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration says some chicken meat may contain small amounts of arsenic, though the agency is stressing that the amount is too tiny to be dangerous to people who eat it.

The FDA said Wednesday that a new study developed by the agency shows that an ingredient in chicken feed that contains arsenic, called Roxarsone, may make its way into parts of the bird that are eaten. Previous studies have indicated that the arsenic was eliminated with chicken waste.

Pfizer Inc., which makes the feed ingredient, said Wednesday that it will pull it off the market in the United States. Had the company not stopped sales, the FDA could have eventually …

Biographical information on Rep. Sander Levin

NAME _ Sander 'Sandy' Martin Levin.

AGE-BIRTH DATE-LOCATION _ 78; Sept. 6, 1931; Detroit.

EXPERIENCE _ U.S. House of Representatives, 1983-present; acting chairman, House Ways and Means Committee, as of March 4, 2010; assistant administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development, 1977-81; fellow at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, 1975; practiced corporate and commercial law and taught at Wayne State University, 1971-74; Michigan Senate, 1965-70; Michigan Democratic Party chairman, 1968-69; Oakland County Board of Supervisors, 1961-64; practiced law, 1957-64; ran unsuccessfully for Michigan …

`The Eccentricities of a Nightingale'

`The Eccentricities of a Nightingale' Through Sept. 5 ChopinTheatre Studio, 1543 W. Division Tickets: $12; (773) 862-7415.Recommended

Those uncertain about whether Tennessee Williams was the greatestpoet of the 20th century American theater might want to hurry out tosee the Eclipse Theatre Company production of "The Eccentricities ofa Nightingale," now at the Chopin Theatre. All lingering doubts willvanish.

Only Williams could have a character talk about a winter in thedeep South when "the whole town was sheathed in ice." And only hecould have this same character - endlessly thwarted in her romanticyearnings - remind a listener that "before you love you must learn …

Kathryn Erbe returns to 'Law & Order: CI'

LOS ANGELES (AP) — USA Network says Kathryn Erbe is coming back to "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" for the drama's 10th and final season.

Erbe will be reunited with Vincent D'Onofrio, who's also returning to the crime drama for its last year.

Series creator Dick Wolf said Friday …

Vatican paper: new Caravaggio may have been found

The Vatican newspaper reported Saturday that a new Caravaggio painting may have been found in Rome, but cautioned that further analyses are required before it can be attributed for certain to the Italian master.

The front-page story in L'Osservatore Romano came out as Italy celebrates the 400th anniversary of Caravaggio's death. This weekend, churches and a gallery in Rome housing works by the painter will stay open overnight to mark the anniversary.

The painting in question depicts "The Martyrdom of St. Lawrence" and belongs to the Jesuits in Rome, the paper said. It did not say where the painting was being studied or who was examining it.

…

SOCIALLY JUST CAREER COUNSELING: Lessons from a Disenfranchised Client

This is a story of one counselor wanting to do good, but failing to do so under the weight of systemic forces. This is also the story of career counseling in the trenches, with all of its joys, challenges, and limitations. It is easy for academics and writers (myself included) to ask career counselors in the trenches to do more in their work. For instance, Blustein, McWhirter, and Perry's (2005) outstanding article makes an impassioned call to career counselors: "we propose that counseling psychologists, vocational counselors, school counselors, and other vocational practitioners add to their perspective and their work roles by seeking to change systems while helping clients overcome …

Bomb explodes near Pakistan air force truck after 13 troops found dead

A bomb exploded near a military truck on a main highway in Pakistan, a day after security forces found the bodies of 13 troops killed in recent fighting with suspected Islamic militants in a nearby area.

No one was hurt in the remote-controlled bombing in Akora Khattak, a town about 120 kilometers (75 miles) northwest of the capital, Islamabad, a local police official said. Three air force personnel in the truck escaped harm, he said.

An air force official confirmed the bombing and "slight" damage to the truck. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were unauthorized to speak to the media.

Pro-Taliban militants have …

Tibet isn't China's only problem, resentment still simmers among Muslims in Xinjiang

The chirpy Chinese coffee shop waitress smiled as she rattled off sites travelers should see in this jade-trading Silk Road town in Xinjiang _ a vast western region of China that like Tibet has a long history of unrest.

But the woman frowned and her brow furrowed with worry Saturday when she mentioned Hotan's main tourist draw: a sprawling bazaar popular among the Muslim minority Uighurs (pronounced WEE-GURS).

"Oh, don't go to the bazaar on the weekend. It gets too crowded and things can get chaotic. A couple weeks ago, there was a protest. Some Muslim separatists caused some trouble. It's terrible," said the waitress, who would only give her surname, Zheng, because she was afraid she would run afoul of officials for discussing the sensitive subject.

The fear and distrust she felt about the Uighurs is common among many Chinese, even though the situation seemed calm in Hotan since the brief March 23 protest. Animosity against the Chinese runs deep among the Uighurs as well, and the recent trouble was a new reminder that Tibet isn't China's only problem. Resentment still simmers in its traditionally Muslim Central Asian frontier.

Chinese authorities blamed the demonstration on Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami, a radical group that wants to create a worldwide Islamic state, the China News Agency reported late Friday. The group, which has claimed to disavow violence, has been banned in Russia and Central Asia, where it reportedly has a large following among the predominantly Muslim former Soviet republics.

Xinjiang leaders have accused the group of handing out "reactionary" leaflets and calling for people to demonstrate in Hotan as well as Xinjiang's capital of Urumqi, the state-run China News Agency reported on its Web site.

The protest came at a bad time for China. The Communist government was already grappling with Tibetan unrest that has spread to neighboring provinces. Pictures of police and troops cracking down on the Tibetan protests have turned into a public relations nightmare for the government, which is trying to paint a peaceful and prosperous image of the country ahead of the Beijing Olympics.

But in Hotan on Saturday, the situation seemed to have cooled off. Only a small number of uniformed police were patrolling the massive bazaar, where the air was thick with smoke from charcoal ovens and grills cooking sizzling lamb kebabs and wheels of flat bread that looked like large pizza crusts.

Hawkers selling mangos yelled over the din of honking taxis and the clip-clopping of donkey carts hauling mountains of vegetables and eggs from the countryside. Women wearing spectacularly colorful head scarves watched over stands piled high with walnuts, almonds, dates and raisins for mostly Uighur customers. Men wove through the crowds on motorcycles with the bloody carcasses of freshly butchered sheep draped over the passenger's seat.

Although things seemed calm, animosity between Muslims and Chinese was almost palpable. People on both sides were quick to criticize each other.

"The Chinese are too bad, really bad," said a Uighur fabric merchant who would only provide his given name, Hama.

"The protesters two weeks ago wanted the Chinese to get out of here. There were a couple hundred. Then the Communists came in and broke it all up. I can't say more or I'll get arrested," he said, putting his wrists together as if they were handcuffed.

"We aren't free to talk," he said, pinching his lips together with his fingers.

China has often used harsh repression to control the Uighurs, who speak a Turkic language and whose customs and religion are distinct from the ethnic majority Han Chinese. The government has also flooded Xinjiang, which means "New Frontier," with military personnel and migrants who control much of the economy.

The Chinese are also quick to voice their fears, disdain or distrust of the Uighurs. They often say the Uighurs are ungrateful for all the government investment that has modernized the region _ bigger than Alaska and one-sixth of China's territory.

"They have no culture and they don't try to study and improve themselves," said a Chinese delivery driver who would only give his surname, Wang, because he said the government didn't want him to speak ill of the Uighurs. "Most businesses don't want to hire them. That's why they hire Han Chinese. Their religion, Islam, it's no good. It fills their heads with nonsense."

Often, it seems the two groups are content to live in their own worlds and make little effort to bridge differences. During the two-hour China Southern Airlines flight from Urumqi to Hotan, none of the young Chinese flight attendants spoke Uighur to the passengers. Even basic phrases like "Please sit down" or "Fasten your seat belts" were spoken in Mandarin to the Uighurs, who often asked the attendants to repeat themselves.

A Uighur university student who would only give his English name, Steve, said he didn't have to go to class last Friday because it was a national holiday _ Ching Ming, a day when Chinese clean their ancestors' graves.

"I don't know what the holiday is called or what it's about," the 20-year-old student said. "It's a Chinese holiday. It has nothing to do with me."

IAAF finds 10 positive results among more than 3,000 doping tests in 2007

The International Association of Athletics Federations found 10 positive results in more than 3,000 doping tests in 2007.

The IAAF said Thursday it performed 3,277 doping tests last year, with 1,426 of those coming during competitions. Another 92 tests were from pre-competition tests and the remaining 1,759 were out-of-competition controls.

Eight of the 10 positive results came from out-of-competition tests. The IAAF said there are other cases still pending.

"I am proud that the IAAF continues to conduct one of the world's largest out-of-competition testing programs and the crucial importance of this is shown in the fact that the majority of our positive results are found in this form of testing," IAAF president Lamine Diack said in a statement.

Distance runner Susan Chepkemei of Kenya and Lyubov Denisova of Russia were the two biggest names busted in 2007.

Chepkemei was given a one-year ban after testing positive for salbutamol in an out-of-competition test. She won the 2001 Rotterdam Marathon and was also a world half marathon silver medalist.

Denisova, a two-time Los Angeles Marathon champion and former runner-up in Boston and New York, tested positive for an elevated testerone-to-epitestosterone ratio on March 20 at her home in Gainesville, Florida, and was given a two-year ban.

Diack said the IAAF has already turned its focus toward the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"The IAAF will use every method available to it in the next five months to chase down the minority of athletes who may be thinking of cheating and committing fraud against their fellow competitors in Beijing," Diack said.

Hike in user fees urged by County Board panel

In an effort to cut a record $96 million 1988 property taxincrease, a Cook County Board committee Thursday recommended askingthe Legislature for permission to increase user fees. TheLegislative and Intergovernmental Relations Committee alsorecommended that the board seek authority to set its own user fees,instead of having to seek permission from the Legislature. Under theproposed resolutions, people protesting property tax assessmentswould have to pay a fee. A fee also would be charged to peoplemaking successful bids at the county's annual tax sale and scavengersale. In other action, the committee voted to ban smoking, except indesignated areas, in all facilities operated by the county PublicHealth Department. The full board is expected to approve therecommendations Monday. Emergency services acting chief named

David L. Smith, a veteran official with the state EmergencyServices and Disaster Agency, was named its acting director by Gov.Thompson. The 37-year-old Smith, a Springfield resident, replacesCharles Jones, who leaves today to join a marketing and managementconsulting firm he started. Thompson said Smith, chief of thedisaster agency's field services division for the last seven years,will serve until a permanent director is appointed. Smith has askedthat he not be a candidate for the $40,396-a-year job.

Hartigan hits state statute publisher

The company that publishes the state's statute books has ignoreda law requiring it to register as an out-of-state firm doing businessin Illinois, state Attorney General Neil F. Hartigan charged in asuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court. Hartigan said WestPublishing Co., a St. Paul, Minn., based firm, has extensive businessdealings in Illinois and should have paid an undetermined fee.Hartigan said he is investigating more than a score of otherout-of-state companies that have failed to register depsite doingbusiness here. Neil F. Flynn, an attorney for West, said the companywill file "an appropriate response" after reviewing the complaint. U.S. suit charges bias at Walgreens store

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Thursday suedWalgreen Co. for alleged racial discrimination in hiring, transfersand promotions at a Franklin Park store. The class-action suit filedin U.S. District Court says Walgreens failed to hire and recruitblacks for cashier and stock positions. The suit contends thedrugstore chain refused to transfer or promote black pharmacist LydiaWiggins from another store to Franklin Park. It also chargesWalgreens retaliated against Wiggins by failing to process herinternal grievance after she filed a complaint. The commission wantsan injunction to stop the discriminatory action and to start anaffirmative action hiring program at the store. Walgreens officialshad no comment. Bond revoked for suspect in murder

A $150,000 bond was revoked Thursday for Mark Ferns, 21, after acharge of criminal sexual assault was added to a first-degree murdercharge against him. Ferns, of 2701 S. Homan, is charged with beatingand running over Rosie Casallas, 37, whose body was found Sunday inthe 3300 block of South Kedzie. Bond set for man accused of raping girl, 9

Bond was set at $30,000 Thursday for a man charged with rapinghis 9-year-old cousin. James Chisholm, 26, of 315 S. Albany,allegedly assaulted the girl March 26 when she went to his houselooking for her mother. City worker critically hurt in accident

A city equipment operator was critically injured Thursday when afront-end loader ran over him as he was jump-starting it at thecity's incincerator near Kilbourn and Chicago. Richard Galluzzi, 57,of 728 S. Oakley, a 25-year city employee, was listed in criticalcondition at Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood. Streets andSanitation Commissioner John Halpin said the front-end loaderapparently jumped into reverse gear and ran over Galluzzi, who wasbeing assisted by another workman in starting it. Patient charged in drowning of man, 70

A 27-year-old man at a Rogers Park health care center has beencharged with the drowning of a fellow patient. Police said MartinVinales, 70, died early Thursday shortly after he was reportedmissing from the Lake Front Health Care Center, 7618 N. Sheridan.Police said another patient, Robert Spiller Jr., admitted takingVinales to the lakefront nearby and holding his head under waterbecause the older man laughed at him. An employee reported seeingSpiller and Vinales walk away from the facility at 3 a.m., policesaid. Police found Spiller in the center laundry, washing hisclothes, according to police Sgt. Paul Carroll, of the Area 6 violentcrimes unit. A search of the area produced Vinales' body in the lakeoff 7523 N. East Lake Ter. Spiller is scheduled to appear today inHoliday Court.

Kristine W, 'Straight Up with a Twist'

Also Out

Kristine W, 'Straight Up with a Twist'

Dance divas shifting outside the box sounds so Cyndi Lauper, but another big voice is going for beyond-herroots glory. Kristine W's doing it over two discs: a laid-back, Latin-seasoned mix of covers and dance-songs-tumed-ballads paired with a livelier, Sade-sounding second disc. Ms. W sounds divine, her silky pipes rising high above some pedestrian production, but scene queens will be looking for less chill, more kill.

Moroccan king to address nation on TV

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Morocco's state news agency says King Mohammed VI will make a rare speech to the nation on radio and TV amid the political upheaval that has rocked the Arab world.

The kingdom has avoided the persistent unrest that brought down regimes in fellow north African countries like Tunisia and Egypt. However, five people died in violence linked to protests across Morocco on Feb. 20.

The main target of those protests was parliament, where many Moroccans fear their voices have not been heard — even though the king retains absolute power.

The MAP news agency said the king will address "his faithful people" Wednesday night. An ally of Europe and the United States, he is widely seen as a reformer compared to his iron-fisted father Hassan II.

Jazz Runs Past Nets

Howard Eisley and Karl Malone combined on a four-point play tospark a game-breaking 16-3 spurt that ended the third quarter, andthe Utah Jazz went on to defeat the New Jersey Nets 110-103 Mondaynight in East Rutherford, N.J.

Malone had 24 points and 15 rebounds as Utah beat the Nets forthe 14th time in the last 16 meetings.

Kings 92, Grizzlies 85: Brian Grant had 22 points and MitchRichmond 20 as host Sacramento held off Vancouver. Rookie BryantReeves had 23 for the Grizzlies, who lost for the 21st time in theirlast 22 games.

Tiredness may have caused 22-year-old's death

Horse rider Matthew Puckett died in a car crash last June aftersuffering from the fatigue of setting up his own business, aninquest has heard.

Mr Puckett, 22, of Round Barrow Close, Colerne, had beentravelling home along the A420 from Chippenham on June 30 when hisVolvo S40 crashed just before Biddestone crossroads.

Speaking after the inquest, held in Trowbridge Town Hall onMonday, Mr Puckett's father John thanked his son's friends for theirsupport "through this awful time."

He said: "The outcome of the inquest does not really help us cometo terms with what happened, nothing ever will, but it is just atick in the box in helping us know what happened.

"His friends and all our family have pulled together and I wouldlike to thank each individually."

His mother Nicky Williams added: "No words can express ourheartfelt gratitude to the special kindness of strangers who werefirst to stop that night, who stayed with Matthew until theemergency services arrived.

"It gives us great comfort to know that Matthew was not alone.

"Our lives will never be the same without Matthew; he was anexceptional young man with an infectious laugh and a wicked sense ofhumour."

"A son, brother, grandson, nephew, friend and, not forgetting, afine horseman, he has left a gaping hole in all our lives."

Assistant coroner David Ridley recorded a verdict of accidentaldeath after he heard how much effort Mr Puckett had been ploughinginto his new livery and horse riding business.

He said: "It is quite clear he was passionate for horses and wellknown in the equestrian world for his commitment to the sport.

"He was throwing everything into getting his business up andrunning including working long and physical hours and travellingwidely.

"I believe that this demanding lifestyle contributedsignificantly to the collision."

Post-mortem tests proved that alcohol and drugs were not a factorin the collision.

The only defect found on his car was that all the tyres wereunder-inflated by up to 20 per cent, but this was deemed not to havebeen a factor.

The inquest was told that one of the first people on the scene,Dr Richard Harper, tried in vain to get into the car to try and saveMr Puckett. But the roof had collapsed, stopping him from gettingin.

The cause of death was established as a traumatic brain injurycaused by a road traffic collision.

UN's Ban says `onus' on Iran to dispel suspicions

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says the "onus" is on Iran to clear up suspicions that its nuclear program is aimed at building atomic weapons.

Ban has called on Iran to comply fully with U.N. Security Council resolutions demanding that it halt its uranium enrichment program. He was speaking Monday at the start of a monthlong conference reviewing the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

Ban has spoken at the 189-nation conference before Iranian President Mahmound Ahmadinejad is to take the podium. Ahmadinejad is the only head of state participating in the conference.

Police in Azerbaijan break up opposition protest

Police in Azerbaijan have detained several dozen opposition activists trying to hold a protest to demand freedom of assembly and transparent parliamentary elections this fall.

Police on Saturday moved quickly to disperse demonstrators chanting "Freedom!" and "Free elections!" About 30 participants of the unsanctioned rally in downtown Baku were detained.

The rally was organized by the Popular Front, a leading opposition group. The authorities had offered organizers to hold the demonstration on the outskirts of the capital, but they refused.

President Ilham Aliyev's government has faced criticism by international rights groups over the heavy-handed treatment of independent media and opposition parties in the Caspian Sea nation. International observers have said past elections were flawed.

Rennes beats Montpellier to top French league

PARIS (AP) — Razak Boukari fired Rennes to the top of the French league by scoring in Saturday's 1-0 win at Montpellier.

The Rennes winger volleyed home from the edge of the box in the 27th minute against the run of play.

"We didn't have a very good game but in the end we take three points," Rennes striker Victor Hugo Montano told Europe 1 radio. "We were facing a team that doesn't give up.

"We don't create many chances but we convert them. Right now, luck is on our side. But we will have to do more because luck won't always be on our side."

Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain lost ground in the title race with a 1-0 defeat at Auxerre.

Rennes earned its fifth straight victory to top the standings, three points clear of Lille which visits Marseille on Sunday.

Rennes coach Frederic Antonetti was, however, reluctant to admit his team was targeting the title, in an apparent effort to protect his young squad from the media frenzy.

"I think Marseille and Lyon are the two best teams, those which are the most seasoned," Antonetti said. "Lille has a good team. Paris has a good team, too. We're a bit like the odd team."

Montpellier remained in sixth place, 11 points behind Rennes.

"The football gods were not on our side," Montpellier coach Rene Girard said. "We can be bitter. It's really unfair when I see the game we've had."

Montpellier nearly leveled in the 35th when John Utaka's long-range strike hit the post.

Rennes defender Kevin Theophile Catherine saved his team in the 72nd by clearing off the goal line a shot from Geoffrey Dernis.

In the third minute of injury time, Montpellier forward Souleymane Camara even rattled the bar from eight yards (meters).

In Auxerre, midfielder Kamel Chafni scored with a half-volley in the 85th that looped over PSG goalkeeper Apoula Edel and into he top corner.

PSG remained in fourth place, five points behind Rennes, but Marseille and Lyon could leapfrog the Parisian club on Sunday.

"There's a lot of disappointment and frustration tonight," PSG coach Antoine Kombouare said. "I still have some trouble to find explanations and understand how we managed to lose this match. We made some big efforts and played some quality football but in the end we lost."

PSG's best chance came from a downward header by Peguy Luyindula that bounced off the post in the 53rd.

Auxerre snapped a 16-game winless streak in all competitions to get some breathing room and stand three points above the relegation zone.

PSG was playing without its two strikers, Guillaume Hoarau and Mevlut Erding. Hoarau had the flu while Erding was nursing a calf injury.

Also on Saturday, it was: Caen 1, Saint-Etienne 0; Lorient 0, Nancy 0; Toulouse 0, Sochaux 1; Valenciennes 0, Monaco 0; Nice 0, Lens 0.

Caen forward Youssef El-Arabi raised his tally to 13 goals by finding the net in the second minute of stoppage time off a pass from Yohan Mollo.

"Those three points will do us some good for the remainder of the season," Caen midfielder Benjamin Nivet said. "I hope this victory will be like a springboard for us. We still need to get some points to be safe."

Caen was in 14th place, six points above the relegation zone, while Saint-Etienne lost its fourth straight game to drop to 10th place.

Sochaux forward Modibo Maiga notched his 11th goal this season, tucking home a low cross from David Sauget in the 64th.

Toulouse goalkeeper Matthieu Valverde was sent off in the 89th for bringing down Cedric Bakambu, who was clean through on goal.

Sochaux climbed to eighth place while Toulouse suffered its fourth straight defeat to slip to 12th.

All matches were officiated by referees from the third division as the French Football Federation decided to replace referees in charge of first-division matches this weekend after the refereeing union vowed to delay kickoff times by 15 minutes in protest against recent criticism.

On Sunday, Lyon hosts Arles-Avignon and Bordeaux faces Brest.

Who pays hacker's long-distance tab?

A computer hacker figured out how to make long-distance phonecalls that were billed to Frederick Fleming's California law office.The hacker called Fleming's 800 number at night when calls wereautomatically switched to an answering service through a second line.Hijacking the dial tone on the outgoing line, the hacker made $35,000in long-distance phone calls.

AT&T demanded that Fleming pay for the fraudulent calls. WhenFleming refused, the phone company filed a lawsuit in federal court.

A federal law would have protected Fleming if a thief had stolenhis credit cards and made $35,000 in unauthorized purchases, he said.With unauthorized phone calls, though, a federal law made Flemingliable for the hacker's fraud.Applying a rule called the "filed-tariff doctrine," a federaljudge in central California ruled for the phone company. Refusing togive up, Fleming took his fight with AT&T to the U.S. 9th CircuitCourt of Appeals.AT&T insisted that Fleming was liable for all long-distancecalls that "originated" at his office phone numbers. The phonecompany relied on the "tariff" it filed with the FederalCommunications Commission.The terms of the agreement between phone companies and theircustomers are listed in documents (called tariffs) that are filedwith the FCC. Tariffs aren't just ordinary contracts. Thefiled-tariff doctrine says tariffs have the same force and effect asa statute enacted by Congress. This means customers can't claimignorance of the contents of a tariff (since everyone is presumed toknow all the law). And state laws that might have provided a defensefor customers are displaced (or pre-empted) by the tariff.AT&T's tariff said customers would be liable for alllong-distance phone calls that "originated at the Customer'snumber(s)." Fleming argued that the hacker placed calls fromsomewhere miles away from his office. So, according to Fleming, thelong-distance phone calls didn't "originate" from his office line.But in a 1991 case, the FCC ruled that when a hacker calls intoa customer's phone system and hijacks another line for long-distancephone calls, the long-distance calls are considered as having"originated" at the customer's phone number. Since that decision,judges throughout the country have ruled against phone customers insimilar cases. New York City, for example, was stuck with a bill for$529,000 in unauthorized phone calls in a 1993 case.This isn't just AT&T. Other long-distance phone companies havealso been suing to make customers pay for fraudulent phone calls.Ironically, the filed-tariff doctrine was originally designed toprotect customers from big corporations. In the 1800s, railroadsearned the hatred of farmers and merchants by engaging in flagrantprice discrimination. To outlaw this kind of favoritism, railroads(and later utilities such as gas, electric and telephone companies)were required to list their prices - and the terms and conditions ofservice - in publicly filed tariffs.By giving these filed tariffs the force and effect of a statute,it became illegal for railroads and utilities to engage in pricediscrimination.Fleming argued that the filed-tariff doctrine shouldn't applybecause innocent customers could be forced into bankruptcy if theyare ordered to pay for phone fraud by computer hackers. And heargued AT&T is better equipped to bear the burden of phone fraud,because it can spread the losses among its millions of customers.Sympathizing with Fleming, the appellate judges said their handswere tied. Only Congress can change the law to give phone customersthe same kind of protection people have against unauthorizedpurchases on stolen credit cards. So the judgment ordering Flemingto pay $35,000 for fraudulent phone calls was affirmed.Steven P. Garmisa, a partner in the Chicago law firm of Torshen,Spreyer, Garmisa & Slobig Ltd., specializes in civil litigation.

Only Simon impressed by Matt's funky 'Valentine'

On Rat Pack night, Simon Cowell refused to desert the sinking ship that was Matt Giraud's performance of "My Funny Valentine." Jamie Foxx -- a questionable choice as guest mentor -- unwisely suggested that Matt lower the key.

The result? Pitchy, said Randy Jackson. No emotional connection, said Kara DioGuardi. "Absolutely brilliant," said Simon.

His anti-Allison Iraheta bias was showing, even after her exquisite "Someone to Watch Over Me." On the whole, the contestants were a good match for the theme, with Kris Allen crooning "The Way You Look Tonight," Danny Gokey letting loose on "Come Rain or Come Shine" and Adam Lambert delivering an over-the-top "Feeling Good." "Complaining that you're theatrical is like complaining that a cow moos," noted Simon.

On "Dancing With the Stars": The injured Melissa Rycroft was spared, and Chuck Wicks and Julianne Hough cha-cha'd off the show. "More important, the relationship is intact," offered the glass-half-full Tom Bergeron.

Color Photo: Matt Giraud ; Color Photo: Jamie Foxx ;

Roy attacks and loses, again

LOURDES, France (AP) — For Jeremy Roy, seizing the best climber's polka dot jersey was not enough to ease the pain of once again being denied a first stage win at the Tour de France.

The French rider from the FDJ team looked poised for a maiden triumph at cycling's biggest race when he reached the summit of the Col d'Aubisque two minutes ahead of Thor Hushovd on Friday.

But the Norwegian world champion made a tremendous descent and, with the help of Frenchman David Moncoutie, finally caught Roy about two kilometers from the finish.

Roy had to settle for third, and being named the most combative rider of the Pyrenean stage between Pau and Lourdes was little consolation.

"The disappointment is too big, it will be hard to take in," he said.

The 28-year-old Roy has been on the attack since the start of the three-week race. He missed a good opportunity in the first stage when he spent the day in a long breakaway before being reined in just kilometers from the line.

He also tried his luck in Stages 4 and 5 before livening up the first Pyrenean stage on Thursday in another breakaway with British rider Geraint Thomas.

"It's too hard for me. Only victory counts," Roy said, his eyes glistened with tears.

Having already spent 560 kilometers in breakaways over the previous 12 stages, Roy attacked again over the first climb of the day. He was joined by nine other riders, but broke out alone with another attack during the ascent up the Col du Soulor, earning enough points to take the King of Mountains jersey from Spaniard Samuel Sanchez's shoulders.

But Roy saw his lead shrinking in the descent and was caught by Hushovd with 2.2 kilometers to go before Moncoutie also overtook him.

"I just missed out on the stage win," Roy said. "Of course I would not have thought about taking the polka dot jersey, not even in my dreams. But I was so close to winning the stage. ... Maybe later, when I'll be looking back at it, I will tell myself I did a great stage, but for the moment I'm so disappointed."

Roy, who started his professional career in 2003 with the FDJ team, was considered the most talented French rider of his generation during his amateur years. But he failed to deliver after turning pro, mostly because he decided to continue studying while riding his bike part-time. He earned a degree as a mechanical engineer three years ago.

"Before he graduated, he was only racing at weekends and during his holidays," FDJ manager Marc Madiot said. "He is exceptional. He has got an impressive mental strength and hopefully we'll get a win in the coming days."

Whittier dispute to be heard in court

When Executive Director Frederica Williams instituted a policy banning Whittier Street Health Center employees from speaking Spanish in front of non Spanish-speaking clients earlier this year, Latino activists denounced the change as a discriminatory English-only policy.

The phrase "English-only" alone was enough to spur members of the city's Latino community to protest what many saw as a blatant case of nativism.

Williams' directive then changed into what she termed an "English first" policy, mandating that customers be greeted in English, then spoken to in whatever language they understood. Under the policy, employees were barred from speaking Spanish to each other within earshot of clients.

Spanish-speaking Whittier employees say that at least seven people were fired for protesting the policy, a charge Williams denies. Two former employees filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, both of which are investigating the claims.

Now, with a hearing before an administrative judge at the NLRB scheduled for June 28, Williams' policy maintains that English is the "common language of the center," the policy has largely removed language from the equation.

"Employees and staff members should not engage in extended personal conversations in the presence of patients," the new guidelines read.

While the new guidelines may be legally defensible, activists say the firing of the Latino employees who were involved in protesting the language policy constituted a violation of the workers' civil rights and deprived clients of access to Spanish-speaking health care workers.

"We feel that the English policy that was adopted was illegal and discriminatory," said ACLU attorney Sarah Wunch, who is representing two former employees. "By issuing final warnings against employees who resisted the policy and firing some of them, the clinic retaliated against people who were engaged in protected activity."

While activists claim that seven out of fourteen employees who signed a letter in protest of the language policy were fired, Williams maintains that no employees were fired in retaliation for the opposition to the English-first policy. Williams said she will argue her case before the NLRB administrative judge.

"What [the NLRB] said was that there were complaints," she told the Banner. "They felt we should go before a judge. I welcome the opportunity to do that."

"They did not make a judgement of wrongdoing," David Kerma, an attorney with Jackson Lewis, a Chicago-based law firm that specializes in labor disputes.

Juan Carlos Gorlier, who says he was fired in retaliation for opposition to Williams' language policy, said he sees the NLRB decision to hear the case as a win, however.

"To learn that the NLRB has found enough evidence is a very important victory," he said. "We knew this all along. We experienced this coercion, this retaliation all along. But it's very important that a federal agency took a long, hard look at the facts and validated what we experienced."

The difference between Gorlier's take on the NLRB hearing and Williams' underscores the vast differences in perception between the Latino workers and the executive director.

Williams says Gorlier was not fired and was not an employee of Whittier Street, but rather a contractor. When budget constraints forced the health center to make layoffs, Gorlier was cut along with others, according to Williams.

At the June 28 hearing, Gorlier will argue that he was fired for his participation in a campaign to reverse what the Latino activists say was an illegal English-only policy. Gorlier says he was told he was fired, told to collect his belongings and escorted from the building, without the opportunity to explain his departure to his clients.

Williams' attorney Kerma said Gorlier's hasty departure is a normal business practice.

"There's always a concern about safety," he said. "When a decision is made, often times an employee is required to leave the same day."

But Gorlier says his termination reeked of retaliation from start to finish.

"Early in January an article about the controversy appeared in El Mundo," Gorlier said, referring to the popular Boston-based Spanish language weekly. "[Williams] called me to her office and threatened to fire me. I was fired the 28th."

While Gorlier will try his case in June, activists say the beef has already created fractures in Whittier Street's staff and patient base. Williams issued an apology April 2 for the rift.

"It was never my intention to disrespect the Latino community, nor to jeopardize the many years of good work of Latinos and African Americans who have strived to work together for a common cause," she wrote.

But Regla Gonzalez, state director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, says Williams' apology is simply not enough. Latino clients of the health center have suffered because Spanish-speaking staff members have been laid off or quit in the wake of the controversy.

"An apology does not provide better services to the Latino clients of the health center," Gonzalez said. "An apology does not make sure that not a single client has fallen through the cracks."

Article copyright The Bay State Banner.

Photograph (Regla Gonzalez speaks during press conference)

UConn's still No. 1 in women's basketball poll

After its worst week in seven years, North Carolina made an unprecedented slide down the Top 25. Connecticut remained the unanimous top choice in The Associated Press poll for the ninth straight week Monday after routing the Tar Heels 88-58. UConn gets its first test in the Big East on Monday night when it hosts No. 6 Louisville.

North Carolina plummeted to 10th after also losing at Georgia Tech on Thursday and Maryland on Sunday. The drop is the biggest one-week fall from No. 2 _ surpassing that of Long Beach State, which went from second to ninth in 1988. It was the first time the Tar Heels had lost three straight games since 2002.

"We've had a tough week," North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell said. "I just told the girls, 'No other team in the country has accepted the challenge of playing a schedule like this.' Yeah, we haven't been as successful as we want to be, but I guess what doesn't kill you makes you better."

Oklahoma moved up to No. 2 for the second time this season. The Sooners have a Big 12 showdown Wednesday against No. 4 Baylor. Sandwiched between the two Big 12 schools is No. 3 Duke, which visits surprising Atlantic Coast Conference leader Florida State on Thursday.

Auburn (20-0) moved up one spot to No. 5 after beating then-No. 10 Tennessee on Sunday. The Tigers are the only other undefeated team besides Connecticut.

California, Maryland, Stanford and North Carolina round out the first 10. The Terrapins climbed four spots after their win over the Tar Heels, who fell to their lowest ranking since Jan. 24, 2005, when they were 12th.

Texas A&M, Florida, Tennessee, Kansas State, and Ohio State were the next five. The Gators matched their highest ranking since Jan. 28, 2002.

Texas dropped two spots to No. 16 after losing to Oklahoma on Sunday. The Longhorns were followed by Notre Dame, Florida State, Virginia, Vanderbilt and Pittsburgh.

At the bottom of the poll, four teams dropped out _ Marist, Rutgers, New Mexico and Oklahoma State. Rutgers exited for the first time in two years while Oklahoma State had been in the Top 25 since Dec. 3, 2007.

Iowa State, Xavier, South Dakota State and DePaul joined the poll. The Cyclones, Musketeers and Jackrabbits had all been in the Top 25 this season while the Blue Demons are making their first appearance since last season.

Virus writers enjoy beating the system

To most people it must seem preposterous that a tiny piece ofcomputer code attached to a single e-mail a week ago Friday could bythe middle of last week have wreaked havoc on millions of computersaround the world.

But to international law enforcers and computer experts, whohave been long aware of the threat posed by viruses, the questionwas: Who wrote the Melissa virus and why?

The "who" may have been answered Thursday night with the arrestin Eatontown, N.J., of David L. Smith, 30, a programmer for a companythat subcontracted for AT&T Corp.But the "why" has not been explained. Authorities said Smith,who faces a maximum of 40 years in prison and a $480,000 fine, namedthe virus after a topless dancer, but they could not explain why hecreated it. "No one can get in the mind of the individual," saidstate Attorney General Peter Verniero.On Saturday, Smith's lawyer said his client never intended to doanything wrong. Steven Altman said his client had been wrongfullyportrayed as a dangerous computer hacker and had been victimized bythe government's crackdown on high-tech crimes."The computer world is a world where people do things,experimental things, just about every day," Altman said. "Nothing hedid, or intended to do, had a premeditated or wrongful intent."With their potential for causing considerable economic damagewith almost total anonymity, virus writers have always occupied amystical position in the collective imagination.Hollywood likes to portray the virus writer as an evil,technopathic genius trapped in the body of a pale, pimply teenager,hunched at a computer in his suburban bedroom. But the truth couldnot be further from the image.Sociological studies of computer virus writers have found thatmost are highly educated, middle- to upper-middle-class males, with arespect for authority coupled to a contempt of hypocrisy, and healthyrelationships with parents, friends and girlfriends or wives.They enjoy problem-solving, are curious and invariably male. Ina decade's study into the subculture, Sara Gordon, a virus researcherfor IBM, found no females active in the field.Eastern Europe, in particular Bulgaria, is widely regarded asthe birthplace of virus writing, thanks to a huge army of young andhighly qualified but unemployed computer wizards, who because ofeconomic conditions had become adept at cracking thepiracy-protection codes on commercial software.After Bulgaria, the scene moved to Canada and the UnitedStates. Now, Australia, Sweden and Norway seem to dominate the virusscene.In 1995, Christopher Pile, a reclusive unemployed 26-year-oldBriton who called himself Black Baron, became the first person to bejailed for writing and distributing a virus.Pile, who was sentenced to 18 months, said he wanted toraise his self-esteem by creating a British virus to rival foreignones.He wrote two "polymorphic" viruses, able to change theircharacteristics each time they reproduced so that they could not bedetected by virus detection software.They wiped the computers they infected clean of data, afterdisabling the keyboard and taunting the user with a message: "Smokeme a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast . . . unfortunately some ofyour data won't."Most viruses do not destroy the computers they attack. Themotivation is often an intellectual challenge to beat virus detectorsand to highlight deficiencies in computer security.According to Gordon, "Justifications vary from `We do thisbecause we can' to `We do this because someone said we were notcapable of doing it.' " Mostly, she said, it is something they justdo without ever considering why."The impact of their actions is often seen, at least by them,as impacting machines, not other human beings," she said.Melissa did not destroy computer files, but it did clog upsystems. It appeared March 26 and spread rapidly around the world onMonday like a malicious chain letter. Disguised as an "importantmessage" from a friend or colleague, it caused computers to fire off50 infected messages, slowing e-mail systems to a crawl.With the proliferation of the Internet, virus writing hasbecome easier and the number of virus writers has grown dramatically.Anyone who has passed a basic computer class can adapt a virus andadd his name to it, and many people do so by using simple pieces ofcode available on the Internet.Melissa is one such virus, created by adapting one of manyviruses in circulation on the Internet, which exploit a simpleprogramming language used by many Microsoft programs.Such simplistic virus techniques are scorned by the hard coreof the community, particularly as very few copycat viruses reproduceefficiently, so although 17,000 viruses have been identified, only300 circulate in the wild.Most serious virusmakers do not release their creations intothe wild. Instead, they trade with virus groups and largely scorndestructive viruses in favor of viruses that display irritatinggraphics or snippets of text to declare their infiltration of acomputer. In doing so, they avoid prosecution.It is not a criminal offense to write a virus; the crime is todamage someone else's computer or the data stored on it by using avirus, or to incite others to spread viruses.Contributing: Associated Press

Gailey birthday bash no fun for Barrington

Fremd ace Matt Gailey celebrated his 18th birthday with a three-hit, eight-strikeout performance to lead the No. 5 Vikings to a 4-1victory over No. 12 Barrington on Monday in Palatine.

Gailey, who improved to 4-0, walked none and didn't allow aBarrington runner to advance past first base after the fourth inning

"I didn't think about [my birthday] during the game, but it'suplifting for me," Gailey said. "It's definitely a good day."

Fremd's offense mustered two hits against Barrington right-hander Clayton Rische (2-1), whose throwing error on a bunt led totwo runs in the third inning.

Fremd (8-1, 1-0 Mid-Suburban West) scored two runs in the fourthinning on another error by Barrington (8-3, 0-1). None of Fremd'sfour runs were earned.

Barrington's offense came alive with two outs in the fourthinning, when Dain Hall singled and scored on Teddy Schell's doubleto center field. But Gailey didn't allow a hit thereafter.

James Diegel singled and scored for Fremd in the fourth, andMickey Untiedt added two stolen bases.

SOFTBALL

Lincoln-Way Central rolls

Carly DeMarco and Alicia Abbott each scored two runs for No. 4Lincoln-Way Central (9-1, 2-0 Southwest Suburban Red) in 10-2 winover visiting Bolingbrook.

Carolyn Rupis belted a two-run home run for the Raiders (5-3).

- No. 1 Glenbard North opened DuPage Valley play with a 9-0drubbing of host Naperville North (5-3, 0-1).

Hannah Santora (8-0, 11 strikeouts) and Stephanie Tori combinedfor a three-hit shutout with no walks and 15 strikeouts.

Michelle Batts (home run, two RBI) and Laura Scott (three RBI)fueled the offense for the Panthers (11-0, 1-0). Sara McGowan andBri Digioia each had two hits.

Randy Whalen

GIRLS SOCCER

Waubonsie tips Neuqua

Waubonsie Valley's Kylee Rodriguez and Rachel Bostick each scoredfor Waubonsie Valley in a 2-0 win over No. 4 Neuqua Valley (9-2).Bostick's goal came on a diving header on a free kick by BriRodriguez for the No. 2 Warriors (8-0-1).

Matt Le Cren

-Maine South upset No. 10 Loyola 2-0. Lauren Pagone and ShannonO'Hern each scored for the Hawks (7-0) to hand the Ramblers (8-1-2)their first loss of the season. Cara Tazillo posted the shutout.

Joe Trost

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

L-W Central upsets East

Lincoln-Way Central upset No. 3 Lincoln-Way East behind JakeWelke (13 kills) and Brad Thorp (11 kills). Aaron Bernhard had eightblocks for Central (14-4).

- Bogan improved to 5-0 with a 25-5, 25-6 victory over Hirsch.Luis Cervera had 11 assists, and Ryan Wesley and Miguel Jaimez hadfive kills each.

Scurrilous: Chicago's No. 1 couch potato: Jack of All Trades: Yes, we know you've had enough of K-Fed, but here's more

Having mastered the music business, Kevin Federline is now goingto act. People mag says he's shooting an episode of "CSI." He plays -- duh! -- a young thug.

He got the call during rehearsals for the "Teen Choice Awards"and, he says with his usual class, "I pissed in my pants! I wasexcited right off the bat."

His episode will be on in October sometime.

The producers have also announced that singer-songwriter JohnMayer (Jessica Simpson's new beau, ya know) will appear, and sing, inthe two-part season premiere Sept. 21 and 28.

Strange. Celeb cameos are usually a sign of a show in trouble.

NOW IT CAN BE TOLD

Jessica Simpson has admitted to having had a pair of her bodyparts pumped up artificially, so they'd be plump and noticeable andappealing. I refer, of course, to her lips. She told Glamour magazineshe used "that

Restylane stuff" last fall. And she wasn't happy with the results."It looked fake to me. I didn't like that ... it went away in, like,four months. My lips are back to what they were. Thank God!"

THERE HE GOES AGAIN

The other night in Hollywood, Brad 'n' Angie pull up at a party inhonor of Scott Caan, one of the "Ocean's Thirteen" actors. Beforethey get out of their car, somebody comes over and warns them thatJon Voight is inside.

So Hollywood's biggest couple sat in their car for a while, drovearound for a while, came back. Brad went in. Angie sat in the caruntil Voight left; then she went in by the back door.

You'll recall that Voight is Angelina's father, and the two havebeen estranged ever since about four years ago, when he shot off hismouth about her mental state. She feared that would screw up heradoption of Maddox. Voight keeps hoping to reconcile; she's notinterested. After all, the guy can't even get the name of hisgranddaugther, Zahara, right.

BON JOVI ADMITS LIMITATIONS

Jon Bon Jovi says he's done with Hollywood and will stick withmusic.

He's had acting roles in "Ally McBeal," "The West Wing," and amovie or two, but says the movie life is "a pretty rotten existenceto be in ... It is a lot better for me being the director, producerand star when you make a record than it is to go and stand in thatlong line and wait for your audition."

Translation: "I can't act."

IT'S ALL BEEN SAID BEFORE

Sean Connery says he has scrapped plans for an autobiography, onthe grounds that he would not be able to correct all the falseanecdotes about himself. Or so he told Empire magazine, anyway. He'sreferring, I suppose, to his ex-wife Diane Cilento's claim that hebeat her one night, he has always denied it, and to his celebrated1965 quote in Playboy: "I don't think there is anything particularlywrong in hitting a woman, though I don't recommend you do it the sameway that you hit a man."

BABYLON WINS IN THE END

What would Bob think of the gold coins the Bank of Jamaica isissuing with his visage? "Babylon" is Rastafarian code for the wholeglobal economy, profit motive, etc., and Marley was no fan: "Babylonsystem is the vampire," he said in one song. Marley died of cancer in1981, age 36.

IT'S SO STRANGE, IT MIGHT BE TRUE

The New Yorker says Carly Simon asks people to spank her backstagebefore gigs: It's her way to get over stage fright. At Bill Clinton's 50th birthday party in 1996 "Simon, terrified of following SmokeyRobinson, invited the entire horn section to let her have it," sayswriter John Lahr. "They all took turns spanking me," she says."During the spank the curtain went up."

SIGN OF THE TIMES

Actor James Franco says "Spider-Man 3" director Sam Raimi iscalling for reshoots , rarely a good sign. If test audiences really,really hate your ending, or something, then you have to try again.The writers frantically change everyone's motivation, lines, andfate, and actors are called back to shoot new scenes.

Franco, who plays Peter Parker pal Harry Osborn, revealed to MTVthat reshoots are planned, likely this month because Raimi "wantsmore action."

And there's a lot riding on getting this "Spider-Man 3" right:Star Tobey Maguire says the story will be left open-ended, to allowfor the possibility of

"Spider-Man 4."

THAT'S WHAT LOVE IS

Ashton Kutcher told Details magazine he has managed to turn DemiMoore into a football fan. When they dress up to go out, though,she's in charge: "If she's wearing black, you just wear black.Matching is not her job. It's yours. You're the purse."

SO WHAT'S SHE HOOKED ON ANYWAY?

Model/actress Amber Valletta has just spent a week in a rehabplace to help her cope with "work stress, image issues" and "a non-substance-related addiction," somebody close to her is telling anyonewho will listen. She was at the well-regarded The Meadows inWickenburg, Ariz.

"Non-substance-related addiction." What, like shopping? I think weshould be told!

WRITE IF YOU GET WORK

ALYSSA'S LIFE AND LOVES

"Charmed" starlet Alyssa Milano is launching a line of baseball-themed clothing for young women.

The Touch line will be in stores in time for opening day nextspring. Alyssa takes quite a personal interest in the nationalpastime: She dated former Expo pitcher Carl Pavano (now with theYankees but injured) then southpaw starter Barry Zito of Oakland, andnow she's with Dodger right-hander Brad Penny, also a starter.

AW HELL, WHY NOT?

Elton John wants to do a hip-hop album with the big producer Dr.Dre. "I want to work with Pharrell, Timbaland, Snoop, Kanye, Eminem,"he told Rolling Stone. "It may be a disaster, it could be fantastic,but you don't know until you try ... I love these beats, but I haveno idea how to get them."

STUPID CELEBRITY TRICKS

To raise money for charity, Eminem has designed, and Nike Inc.will produce, a limited edition Air Max sneaker. Give me a break. Theguy knows as much about sneakers as you know about Glagoliticdipthongs. Maybe less. But suckers will buy all 64 pairs of thesethings at auction anyway, and then bore their friends silly showingthem off. At least it's for a good cause. The money goes to theMarshall Mathers Foundation, for troubled Michigan kids, and toNinemillion.org, which gives sports equipment to kids in refugeecamps worldwide.

SPOTLIGHT COUPLES

MAN LAW FOR LADIES

About Tom Arnold's separation from third wife Shelby Roos: Neverdate a man with two first names. He's bound to be indecisive andunable to commit.

Tom's 47. Shelby's 43.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT

Would you believe George Clooney and Ellen Barkin? Neither wouldI. But that's the buzz. Yes, they are co-stars on "Ocean's Thirteen."Yes, she just got ditched by rich guy Ron Perleman. Yes, George is anempathetic guy.

But if they're having any more contact than her crying on hisshoulder, it's strictly consolatory and won't last long, is my guess.

IT'S CHEAPER TO SAY IT

The Daily Mail, in England, says Rod Stewart just bought an estatein the south of France for his fiancee Penny Lancaster. He paid $5.9million for the hillside home near Nice, and then paid another$150,000 for renovations.

Good old Nameless Insider told the paper that "Rod has a notoriousreputation, but with Penny he is convinced he has found The One. Thishouse was his gift to her, a way of saying, 'I love you.' "

Scurrilous: Chicago's No. 1 couch potato: Jack of All Trades: Yes, we know you've had enough of K-Fed, but here's more

Having mastered the music business, Kevin Federline is now goingto act. People mag says he's shooting an episode of "CSI." He plays -- duh! -- a young thug.

He got the call during rehearsals for the "Teen Choice Awards"and, he says with his usual class, "I pissed in my pants! I wasexcited right off the bat."

His episode will be on in October sometime.

The producers have also announced that singer-songwriter JohnMayer (Jessica Simpson's new beau, ya know) will appear, and sing, inthe two-part season premiere Sept. 21 and 28.

Strange. Celeb cameos are usually a sign of a show in trouble.

NOW IT CAN BE TOLD

Jessica Simpson has admitted to having had a pair of her bodyparts pumped up artificially, so they'd be plump and noticeable andappealing. I refer, of course, to her lips. She told Glamour magazineshe used "that

Restylane stuff" last fall. And she wasn't happy with the results."It looked fake to me. I didn't like that ... it went away in, like,four months. My lips are back to what they were. Thank God!"

THERE HE GOES AGAIN

The other night in Hollywood, Brad 'n' Angie pull up at a party inhonor of Scott Caan, one of the "Ocean's Thirteen" actors. Beforethey get out of their car, somebody comes over and warns them thatJon Voight is inside.

So Hollywood's biggest couple sat in their car for a while, drovearound for a while, came back. Brad went in. Angie sat in the caruntil Voight left; then she went in by the back door.

You'll recall that Voight is Angelina's father, and the two havebeen estranged ever since about four years ago, when he shot off hismouth about her mental state. She feared that would screw up heradoption of Maddox. Voight keeps hoping to reconcile; she's notinterested. After all, the guy can't even get the name of hisgranddaugther, Zahara, right.

BON JOVI ADMITS LIMITATIONS

Jon Bon Jovi says he's done with Hollywood and will stick withmusic.

He's had acting roles in "Ally McBeal," "The West Wing," and amovie or two, but says the movie life is "a pretty rotten existenceto be in ... It is a lot better for me being the director, producerand star when you make a record than it is to go and stand in thatlong line and wait for your audition."

Translation: "I can't act."

IT'S ALL BEEN SAID BEFORE

Sean Connery says he has scrapped plans for an autobiography, onthe grounds that he would not be able to correct all the falseanecdotes about himself. Or so he told Empire magazine, anyway. He'sreferring, I suppose, to his ex-wife Diane Cilento's claim that hebeat her one night, he has always denied it, and to his celebrated1965 quote in Playboy: "I don't think there is anything particularlywrong in hitting a woman, though I don't recommend you do it the sameway that you hit a man."

BABYLON WINS IN THE END

What would Bob think of the gold coins the Bank of Jamaica isissuing with his visage? "Babylon" is Rastafarian code for the wholeglobal economy, profit motive, etc., and Marley was no fan: "Babylonsystem is the vampire," he said in one song. Marley died of cancer in1981, age 36.

IT'S SO STRANGE, IT MIGHT BE TRUE

The New Yorker says Carly Simon asks people to spank her backstagebefore gigs: It's her way to get over stage fright. At Bill Clinton's 50th birthday party in 1996 "Simon, terrified of following SmokeyRobinson, invited the entire horn section to let her have it," sayswriter John Lahr. "They all took turns spanking me," she says."During the spank the curtain went up."

SIGN OF THE TIMES

Actor James Franco says "Spider-Man 3" director Sam Raimi iscalling for reshoots , rarely a good sign. If test audiences really,really hate your ending, or something, then you have to try again.The writers frantically change everyone's motivation, lines, andfate, and actors are called back to shoot new scenes.

Franco, who plays Peter Parker pal Harry Osborn, revealed to MTVthat reshoots are planned, likely this month because Raimi "wantsmore action."

And there's a lot riding on getting this "Spider-Man 3" right:Star Tobey Maguire says the story will be left open-ended, to allowfor the possibility of

"Spider-Man 4."

THAT'S WHAT LOVE IS

Ashton Kutcher told Details magazine he has managed to turn DemiMoore into a football fan. When they dress up to go out, though,she's in charge: "If she's wearing black, you just wear black.Matching is not her job. It's yours. You're the purse."

SO WHAT'S SHE HOOKED ON ANYWAY?

Model/actress Amber Valletta has just spent a week in a rehabplace to help her cope with "work stress, image issues" and "a non-substance-related addiction," somebody close to her is telling anyonewho will listen. She was at the well-regarded The Meadows inWickenburg, Ariz.

"Non-substance-related addiction." What, like shopping? I think weshould be told!

WRITE IF YOU GET WORK

ALYSSA'S LIFE AND LOVES

"Charmed" starlet Alyssa Milano is launching a line of baseball-themed clothing for young women.

The Touch line will be in stores in time for opening day nextspring. Alyssa takes quite a personal interest in the nationalpastime: She dated former Expo pitcher Carl Pavano (now with theYankees but injured) then southpaw starter Barry Zito of Oakland, andnow she's with Dodger right-hander Brad Penny, also a starter.

AW HELL, WHY NOT?

Elton John wants to do a hip-hop album with the big producer Dr.Dre. "I want to work with Pharrell, Timbaland, Snoop, Kanye, Eminem,"he told Rolling Stone. "It may be a disaster, it could be fantastic,but you don't know until you try ... I love these beats, but I haveno idea how to get them."

STUPID CELEBRITY TRICKS

To raise money for charity, Eminem has designed, and Nike Inc.will produce, a limited edition Air Max sneaker. Give me a break. Theguy knows as much about sneakers as you know about Glagoliticdipthongs. Maybe less. But suckers will buy all 64 pairs of thesethings at auction anyway, and then bore their friends silly showingthem off. At least it's for a good cause. The money goes to theMarshall Mathers Foundation, for troubled Michigan kids, and toNinemillion.org, which gives sports equipment to kids in refugeecamps worldwide.

SPOTLIGHT COUPLES

MAN LAW FOR LADIES

About Tom Arnold's separation from third wife Shelby Roos: Neverdate a man with two first names. He's bound to be indecisive andunable to commit.

Tom's 47. Shelby's 43.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT

Would you believe George Clooney and Ellen Barkin? Neither wouldI. But that's the buzz. Yes, they are co-stars on "Ocean's Thirteen."Yes, she just got ditched by rich guy Ron Perleman. Yes, George is anempathetic guy.

But if they're having any more contact than her crying on hisshoulder, it's strictly consolatory and won't last long, is my guess.

IT'S CHEAPER TO SAY IT

The Daily Mail, in England, says Rod Stewart just bought an estatein the south of France for his fiancee Penny Lancaster. He paid $5.9million for the hillside home near Nice, and then paid another$150,000 for renovations.

Good old Nameless Insider told the paper that "Rod has a notoriousreputation, but with Penny he is convinced he has found The One. Thishouse was his gift to her, a way of saying, 'I love you.' "

Ferguson vows to field strong side on Far East tour

Sir Alex Ferguson has vowed to respect the J-League by fieldinghis strongest possible side in Manchester United's Far East touropener against Urawa Red Diamonds.

As champions, Urawa offer the Red Devils probably their toughesttest of their four-match trip.

Ferguson said: "It is possible Nani won't play and we have aslight doubt over Owen Hargreaves.

"Other than that I have my strongest squad available.

"We had a particularly hard game against Urawa two years ago and Iam expecting exactly the same this time.

"The quality of Japanese football has improved tremendously."

Ferguson's team selection is awaited eagerly, particularly inattack, where he must decide whether to hand Alan Smith a startingslot alongside Wayne Rooney.

Or he could opt to push tour captain Ryan Giggs into a moreoffensive position.

Only 43 games from equalling Sir Bobby Charlton's all-time clubappearance record, Giggs' future has been called into questionfollowing the summer purchases of Nani and Anderson.

Giggs said: "Whether the manager signed anyone or not, thechallenge is still there.

"You have to perform to your best, otherwise you won't play."

Sudanese officials must obtain Bashir's approval before travelling abroad.

February 9, 2012 (KHARTOUM) -- Sudanese ministers are not allowed to travel abroad on official business without obtaining prior approval from president Omer Hassan al-Bashir. The minister of state for finance Abdel-Rahman Dirar told the pro-government al-Rayaam newspaper that this measure was taken to preserve the country's reserves of hard currency and reduce government expenditures. Bashir will examine the necessity of the minister's travel and make a determination accordingly, Dirar said. "No constitutional [official] will travel without permission from the president of the republic and the president surely wont grant approval unless participation [in the event or conference] is …

Buyers upset as tax bill wallows in delays

Last week I wrote about how the new tax bill - recently signedby President Clinton - will help first-time home buyers get on thehousing ladder.

In essence, the tax bill allows buyers with IRAs to withdraw upto $10,000 from their accounts penalty- and tax-free.

The column drew a lot of interest from Homelife readers lookingto buy their first homes, and unfortunately, some frustration, too.The problem with government programs is that once a bill is signedinto law, that doesn't mean the new rules are immediately available.Or, that the final version will be as rosy as the government depictsat Rose Garden signing parties.The reality is that several government …

gun was held to witness's head Woman tells how she saw former VIP guard fire fatal shots.(News)

BYLINE: MICHELLE JONES

WASHING dishes in the kitchen, she was disturbed by a commotion in the dining room and turned to see a man arrive who would minutes later hold a gun to her head and threaten to kill her.

Faith Jozi testified in the Western Cape High Court yesterday she saw Sydney Mangena, a then VIP Unit bodyguard, arrive at the V&A Waterfront apartment on May 23, 2004, and later saw him kill his fianc�e, Thobeka Vuso.

The apartment was owned by mining magnate Brett Kebble and was occupied by ANC Youth League member Lunga Ncwana.

Before Mangena arrived, Vuso had shown her cellphone, with 30 missed calls from Mangena, to Jozi. …

GOVERNMENT ACTION.(CAPITAL REGION)

HALFMOON PLANNING

Monday, June 23

Action Items: Closed a public hearing and tabled action on subdivision approval of a Rolling Hills planned district development. Approved a subdivision at 98 Smith Road. Gave subdivision approval to Fairway Meadows, Johnson Road. Tabled a commercial site plan sought by Nexium at 7 Woodin Road. Approved a commercial site plan sought by Dunkin Donuts, 1530 Route 9. Called a July 28 public hearing on a Bold-Dudek subdivision at 155 Brookwood Road. Tabled, pending engineering review, an addition to a site plan for the County Waste planned development district at 1927 Route 9. Denied a change of tenant and use sought …

Bumrungrad eyes more deals overseas: Potential seen in Southeast Asia.

Byline: Charoen Kittikanya

Apr. 8--Bumrungrad Hospital expects to be involved in one or two more "significant deals" this year aimed at building up its international presence in addition to its recently signed agreement with a firm from the United Arab Emirates to build a hospital in Dubai.

Curtis Schroeder, the chief executive of the Bumrungrad Group, said the 125-bed Dubai hospital would begin construction this year and open in 2007.

The facility is a joint venture between BH subsidiary Bumrungrad International and Istithmar, a large investment holding firm. The hospital will be part of a major complex to include a hotel and wellness centre to …

UEFA yet to get tax break for 2013 Wembley final

LONDON (AP) — UEFA has yet to ask the British government for a tax break for overseas teams in the 2013 Champions League final at Wembley, risking a repeat of an issue that forced the 2010 game to be moved to Spain.

UEFA moved the 2010 final to Madrid instead of London after foreign teams balked at the prospect of paying British tax on earnings from bonuses and endorsements from the event.

To ensure that Wembley eventually gained the hosting rights for last month's final, Britain granted an exemption from its tax laws to relax the rules for foreign teams.

But that exemption was a one-off, and the government said that UEFA never asked for a similar break before deciding …

High-scoring Juergens rewrites book at McNamara: 5-9 senior piling up points, including 40 against Hillcrest

Jennifer Juergens is the most prolific scorer in Bishop McNamaragirls basketball history, but she didn't get her athletic start onthe hardwood.

She got it playing midget football.

"I played from second to fifth grade, and it was a time in my lifewhere I didn't want to sit on the sidelines," said Juergens, a 5-9senior. "My brother [John] always played, and we were close. It wasfun when I was younger because I got my aggressiveness out."

Jeff Bennett, McNamara's coach, is also the father of guard TaylorBennett, Juergens' teammate and best friend. Bennett said he hasknown Juergens for years, but got to know the Loyola recruit betterwhen she was in sixth …

SEB Enskilda cuts price target on Aker Solutions.

(ADPnews) - Jun 30, 2010 - SEB Enskilda has cut the price target on Norwegian oil service group Aker Solutions ASA (OSL:AKSO) to NOK 99 from NOK 110 and confirmed its "hold" recommendation, ahead of the release of the company's second-quarter report.

Aker Oilfield Services has performed quite weaker than it was expected in 2009, when Aker Solutions acquired the company from Norwegian industrial conglomerate Aker ASA (OSL:AKER), the broker wrote in a recent note.

As a consequence of the later-than-planned delivery of the fourth vessel and reduced chances for well-intervention contracts after a Brazilian player got the targeted contract by Brazilian oil and gas …