четверг, 15 марта 2012 г.

Les, Hon. John (Chilliwack-Sumas) Minister of Small Business and Economic Development

LES, HON. JOHN (Chilliwack-Sumas) Minister of Small Business and Economic Development.

B. 1952 in Chilliwack, B.C. M. 1973 to Mattie. Six children. Political Career: Provincial: First elected to the B.C. Leg. g.e. 2001. Chair, Government Caucus Ctee, June 2002. Chair: Leg. Spec. Ctee on Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform and Gov't Operations and Select Standing Ctee on Crown Corps. Former Chair: Select Standing Ctee on Aboriginal Affairs. Municipal: Councillor, Chilliwack, 1984-87 and Mayor, 1987-99. Private Career: Chair and Mem. of the Bd., Fraser Valley Regional Library, 1990-98. Mem., Rotary Club. Awarded Paul Harris Fellowship, Rotary Club of Chilliwack, …

ARTS NEWS

BAM GETS A BUMP

Last year, BW spoke with Susan Coliton, senior director of the Seattle-based Paul G. Allen Foundation (Allen is the co-founder of Microsoft) about a $10,000 grant the foundation awarded to Boise Contemporary Theater for its upcoming production of Maria Dahvana Headley's Last of the Breed (BW, Arts News, Oct. 24, 2007). This year, they added some zeroes to their check to Boise, providing Boise Art Museum with a $150,000 grant to support a series of four exhibits titled "Threads of Perception" for the museum's sculpture court over three years.

According to a BAM press release, the artists involved in the series include Lead Pencil Studio, the Seattle team of …

Small fires force postponement of Groningen-Ajax match in Dutch league

The Dutch league match between FC Groningen and Ajax was postponed Sunday after small fires broke out in a stand before kickoff, causing fans to scramble over glass barriers onto the pitch to escape the flames and smoke.

"Club doctors decided it would be irresponsible to play," Groningen coach Ron Jans told fans over the stadium's public address system. "The chance is too great that they would suffer breathing problems."

Ajax coach Adrie Koster said playing would have been "medically irresponsible."

Rolls of toilet paper thrown onto the pitch caught fire in the southern stand of Groningen's …

Stroger's obstinance keeps forest preserves in squalid state Stroger has consistently been an impediment to reform.

It's a disgrace. The Cook County Forest Preserves have beenlooted and vandalized on John Stroger's watch as Cook County Boardpresident.

Gov. Blagojevich has just vetoed a bill that would have provided$100 million in bonding authority to the forest preserve becauseStroger is part of the problem.

Stroger, in his fourth decade as a member of the county board, hasconsistently been an impediment to reform and still won't admit thatthe forest preserves are in chaos.

County Commissioners Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) and LarrySuffredin (D-Evanston), both of whom ousted longtime board members inlast year's election, are attempting to clean up the mess at …

среда, 14 марта 2012 г.

Kentucky's hot rod attack

Add this one to this year's lists of unusual campaign attacks: Kentucky Democratic congressional candidate Ken Lucas has used a pair of state legislative votes to paint his opponent, Republican state Sen. Gex "Jay" Williams, as being "anti-NASCAR."

Williams cast the lone vote in the state Senate against a resolution honoring stock car driver Darrell Waltrip by authorizing NASCAR …

John MacLean starts first season as Devils coach

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Except for the new coach, a couple of defensemen and having $100-million superstar Ilya Kovalchuk around for a full season, the New Jersey Devils haven't changed much.

Martin Brodeur is in goal. The nucleus up front still features Zach Parise, Travis Zajac, Patrik Elias, Jamie Langenbrunner and the expectations, of course, are very, very high.

The Devils enter the 2010-11 season looking for their 14th straight postseason berth. They are also under a little more pressure after being eliminated in the opening round of the playoffs for a third consecutive year.

"Obviously, you don't forget something like that," veteran Brian Rolston said of the …

War crimes court rejects Karadzic appeal on lawyer

The U.N. Yugoslavia tribunal has rejected an appeal by war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic to rid himself of a court-appointed lawyer.

Karadzic goes on trial in March for atrocities he allegedly committed as Bosnia's leading Serb politician in the early 1990s, including killing civilians at Sarajevo and Srebrenica.

The 64-year-old Karadzic, who plans to …

Little sign of inflation in Nov.

WASHINGTON Consumer prices barely budged last month as moderationin food and energy costs kept inflation under wraps. In good newsfor holiday shoppers, the price of computers, video equipment andtoys all declined.

The Labor Department reported today that its Consumer PriceIndex edged up just 0.2 percent in November, matching the Octoberincrease.

So far this year, inflation is rising at an annual rate of just1.6 percent, even better than last year's 11-year low of 1.7 percent.American consumers have reaped benefits from the global economicturmoil, which has sent the prices of a number of commodities,including oil, skidding to their lowest levels in a decade. …

Egypt to recognize South Sudan

CAIRO (AP) — An Egyptian foreign ministry official says Egypt will recognize South Sudan after secession later this week.

Mohammed Mursi told the Al-Ahram daily on Tuesday that Egypt will name its new ambassador to Juba the same day South Sudan declares its independence from the north. South Sudan is to become the world's newest country …

Wimbledon attendance mark broken for final Sunday

Wimbledon attracted a record attendance for the final Sunday of the Grand Slam tournament.

The All England Club said Monday that 32,036 spectators came through the gates Sunday, which featured Rafael Nadal's straight-set victory over Tomas …

Burris: End negative campaigning

Democratic frontrunner gubernatorial hopeful Roland Burris Tuesday called on his opponents to cease negative campaigning, fearing it will create voter apathy. Burris made his appeal during a press conference at his Loop campaign office, 1130 S. Wabash Ave., where he pledged to remain above the political bickering which he says will keep voters at home on March 19th.

"It's time for a change," Burris told reporters, calling on his opponents, Rod Blagojevich and Paul Vallas, to "pull their negative ads off the air before our next debate on Thursday."

Burris pledged to keep airing ads that "stick to the area and issues that are important to Illinois.

"Our next debate …

WORLD at 1000GMT

NEW THIS DIGEST:

IRAQ. Shiite holiday marred by violence

PAKISTAN. Teen suspect arrested in Bhutto's assassination, officials say.

RUSSIAN MILITARY. Chief of staff says nuclear weapons could be used in preventive attacks.

SPAIN TERROR ARRESTS. 14 terror suspects arrested in Spain.

KENYA VIOLENCE. Kenya turns to economic boycott, strikes

US-ELECTIONS. U.S. candidates close in Saturday contests.

NETHERLANDS-PROSTITUTION. Fashion designers move into old red light district.

TURKEY SLAIN JOURNALIST. Turks honor slain Turkish-Armenian journalist.

E.T. finds new home // Alien to represent the '80s on stamp

E.T., write home.

The character from the movie "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" willbecome the first known space alien to appear on a United Statespostage stamp.

The friendly visitor from another galaxy was a hands-down winnerto represent the 1980s in the arts and entertainment category for theCelebrate the Century series.Postal patrons were asked to cast their ballots for people,events and things to represent the 1980s. Fifteen of 30 candidateswere selected by mail-in ballots and e-mail.The stamps will appear on a single sheet that will be availablein January 2000.The largest vote in all categories was 268,746, for video games."The Cosby Show" drew 194,517 votes. The postal service has apolicy of not putting living humans on stamps, so it was thetelevision show, and not its star, Bill Cosby, who was nominated.Other winners in the same category were the musical "Cats"(169,357 votes) and hip-hop culture, (158,509 votes).Losers in the category were country music (120,977) and thenovel The Bonfire of the Vanities (34,669).Representing significant people and events of the 1980s will bethe fall of the Berlin Wall, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and theAmerican hostages who were freed from Iran.Sports will be represented by two stamps: figure skating andthe San Francisco 94ers' Super Bowl wins.Science and technology will have four stamps: personalcomputers, compact discs, cable TV and the space shuttle program.The lifestyle category will include video games and CabbagePatch Kids.Other losers in the competition were: the arms reduction treaty,pianist Vladimir Horowitz, the Lakers vs. Celtics, NCAA Marchmadness, beach volleyball, the senior PGA tour, AIDS awareness, genemapping, mountain biking, talk shows, camcorders, aerobics andminivans.The top two vote-getters in each of the five categories areselected, along with the remaining five top topics overall.The 30 candidates for the stamps representing the 1990s will beannounced and voted on in May.Stamp sheets already have been issued for the 1900s, 1910s,1920s, 1930s and 1940s. The sheet for the 1950s will be releasedMay 27.Information on the Celebrate the Century program is availableon the Web site: www.usps.com.

MATTHEW BUCKINGHAM

Lize Mogel, Area of Detail (Common Room, New York) Mogel's diverse yet precise work as an artist, curator, and editor reminds us that we never escape geography, society, and politics. In Area of Detail, Mogel examines the United Nations emblem - a map that looks "down" on Earth's Northern Hemisphere, presciently depicting the North Pole without its ice cap. As global climate change is making natural resources and shipping routes in the Arctic Circle newly accessible, the UN has become a platform for debate among arctic nations seeking to use the formerly impassable Northwest Passage. Mogel, coeditor of An Atlas of Radical Cartography, presents a new view of this familiar terrain by skillfully remapping it against the grain.

вторник, 13 марта 2012 г.

Greek workers to hold Dec. 1 general strike

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek unions will kick off the month of December with a 24-hour general strike — the first major walkout since the appointment of an interim coalition government charged with saving Greece from bankruptcy.

The GSEE union, which represents mainly private sector workers, and the civil servants' union ADEDY announced the Dec. 1 strike to protest the 2012 austerity budget, which lawmakers are to begin debating a few days later. A general strike in October shut down services across the country for two days and led to riots in the capital and the northern city of Thessaloniki.

Greeks have held dozens of strikes and demonstrations over the past two years as their country struggles through a severe financial crisis. Greece has relied on international rescue loans since May 2010 just to pay bills, and has had to impose repeated rounds of salary cuts and tax hikes in return.

"The government has changed but the unjust and ineffective policy hasn't changed at all," GSEE head Yiannis Panagopoulos said. "For as long as this policy, which leaves social corpses in its wake, continues, we will stand firm against it."

Workers at Athens' subway, tram and electric rail network held a four-hour work stoppage Tuesday to protest measures that include suspending 30,000 civil servants on partial pay. Separately, unionized electric workers demonstrated outside the company's bill-issuing building to protest a new property tax that has been added to consumers' power bills.

Greece's new technocratic government, appointed earlier this month after political turmoil led to the resignation of the Socialist prime minister, is negotiating the details of a second international bailout, worth euro130 billion ($175 billion). It includes provisions for banks and other private holders of Greek bonds to write off 50 percent of their Greek debt holdings — potentially cutting the country's debt by euro100 billion ($135 billion).

Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said Tuesday that Greece's 2012 budget reflects the demands being made by the country's international creditors. He admitted that structural reforms Greece has had to make have exacerbated a three-year recession and "undoubtedly created problems in the real economy, but this is not a voluntary choice, it is a forced choice."

"What is important is obviously not to create a credit event, not to go bankrupt, the avoidance of default, keeping the country in the euro," Venizelos stressed. "This has a cost."

Venizelos, who assumed the finance minister's post about five months ago, said there was "no doubt" the only way out of the current crisis was for Greece to implement its austerity program.

"The overwhelming majority of the Greek people understands how dangerous and catastrophic" it would be for Greece to leave the euro, he added.

Greece is also desperately in need of an euro8 billion ($11 billion) aid installment, without which the government will default before Christmas.

Prime Minister Lucas Papademos, a former central banker and deputy head of the European Central Bank, was in Frankfurt on Tuesday to meet with European Central Bank head Mario Draghi, after talks with eurozone head Jean-Claude Juncker in Luxembourg.

Juncker said the next installment of bailout money for Greece would be discussed at a eurozone finance ministers meeting Nov. 29.

Eurozone officials have demanded written assurances from Greece's main political leaders that they back the government in its deal with international creditors.

____

Sylvain Plazy in Luxembourg contributed.

World Cup: Australia beats New Zealand

NAGPUR, India (AP) — Shane Watson scored 62 as Australia beat New Zealand by seven wickets in their Group A match at the World Cup on Friday.

Scores:

Australia 207-3 in 34 overs (Shane Watson 62, Brad Haddin 55; Hamish Bennett 2-63)

New Zealand 206 all out in 45.1 overs (Nathan McCullum 52, Daniel Vettori 44; Mitchell Johnson 4-33, Shaun Tait 3-35)

British teens free after Ghanaian drug sentence

Two British teenage girls left prison Thursday after serving nine-month sentences for trying to smuggle cocaine out of Ghana in laptop computer bags, prison officers and the girls' lawyers said.

Lawyer Sabine Zanker said the two were in good spirits as they left the juvenile prison. She said she expected they "would have fond memories of friends they had made at the center."

Zanker declined to comment on whether they had returned to England.

Prison officer John Allotey confirmed that the girls had been released but declined to provide further details.

The two students from London were arrested in July 2007 at the Accra airport with about 13 pounds (6 kilograms) of cocaine in their computer cases. They were both 16 at the time.

Officials have said the two were recruited in London by drug traffickers who promised them an all-expenses-paid vacation in the West African country in return for serving as drug couriers. The teens left for Africa telling their parents they were going to France, Britain's customs service said.

The girls were convicted in November of possession and trafficking of narcotic drugs and later sentenced to nine months. However, some had expected them to get credit for time served before the conviction, which would have meant an earlier release.

They could have received up to three years in jail according to Ghanaian laws.

West Africa is increasingly becoming a transit point for drugs headed to Europe. Cocaine, mostly from Colombia, is brought on small planes and dropped on islands off the little-policed Atlantic Ocean coast, then distributed to couriers who carry it into Europe.

British and Ghanaian officials began collaborating last year after a surge in drug-related arrests at London airports linked to West African flights.

Hospice of Lancaster County, Culture of compassion eases stress

Caring and compassion are critical values at the Hospice of Lancaster County, not only to the more than 350 patients but also to the staff.

"Showing compassion and flexibility to employees trickles from the top down," said James Zook, human resources manager. "We cannot expect the staff to give the utmost care to our patients if we do not first show it to them."

The health care organization has 200 employees, but it seems like a smaller group, workers said.

"There are such caring people here; it would be next to impossible for someone to be challenged or hurting and for a colleague not to be aware of the situation," said Judy Phillips, staff development coordinator.

The staff is composed primarily of clinical staff - registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, social workers, counselors and chaplains - who provide hands-on care and support to patients and their families. Hospice of Lancaster County also provides bereavement support to 3,200 families each year.

Because of the intense nature of hospice work, Hospice of Lancaster County managers make every effort to support and encourage employees. Regular meetings allow staff to discuss issues and concerns with one another. Weekly inspirational messages are left on voice mail, and the hospice's meditation room is open to both patients and staff, offering a quiet place to sit and reflect.

Staff are invited to weekly meditation moments with a hospice chaplain, and every employee receives personal days each quarter to help maintain a balance between home and work. The bereavement staff assists and supports staff members after the death of a patient or a personal loss.

Phillips and Zook agreed that it takes a special kind of person to be a hospice employee.

"In our work, we are involved in an intimate and sacred time of someone's life," Phillips said. "We have a sense of value on a larger scale, both in individuals' lives and in the community at large."

Hospice of Lancaster offers a 403(b) retirement plan to all employees. The organization also offers a 401(k) plan to eligible employees and matches the first 4 percent of salary deferrals. Other benefits include long-term disability and life insurance, full health benefits, fitness discounts at a local facility and a cafeteria spending account to which the agency contributes $200 for all full-time employees.

Special events include a holiday breakfast, an annual dinner and a summer picnic, as well as spontaneous events throughout the year. Financial bonuses and gift certificates help employees feel appreciated.

"The unexpected things show us that the administration is thinking about us," Phillips says. "More important than monetary impact is their expression of appreciation."

England WCup bid learns from Obama's Olympic flop

England's 2018 World Cup bid is learning a lesson from Chicago's first-round exit in last week's 2016 Olympic vote.

Football Association chairman David Triesman said Wednesday that the English won't be pinning their hopes on a persuasive figure like President Barack Obama in trying to sway FIFA voters in December 2010.

Chicago had hoped Obama's whirlwind trip to Copenhagen for last Friday's IOC vote would prove decisive, spending just a couple a hours lobbying members before Rio de Janeiro's eventual triumph.

Triesman said: "It may be wrong to rely on one stellar figure."

Bum gun rap turns law upside down

My column today is about the unpleasant business of having to goto court to plead not guilty to the possession of an unregisteredhandgun, which was used when my property was violated on June 14.

For readers who wonder what is going on, I offer statements thatI issued at the courthouse: "Ladies and gentlemen, I hope that one ofyou will nominate me for the Guinness Book of Records, because Isurely am the subject - or victim - of the longest, most incrediblecoverage of a nonexistent `misdemeanor' in the history of Americanjurisprudence.

"After six weeks of `water drop' torture by District of Columbiaofficials, I finally have been charged with the possession of a gunthat I never owned and thus had no responsibility to register - a gunthat still belongs to my son, Carl T. Rowan Jr., a former FBI agentwho was told at least twice by District of Columbia policeauthorities that the law did not require him to register the handgunat issue and, further, that they would not allow him to register itvoluntarily.

"District police officials confirmed to my lawyer and to theWashington Post on Friday that the police department's policy is thatall law enforcement people are always told routinely that they arenot required to register firearms, and that no paperwork is generatedin such cases.

"Still, I stand here today not only as the victim of a 2 a.m.violation of my property and my privacy, but as the `villain' in aterrible incident that has turned fairness and the law upside downand made my family and me the sufferers anew.

"I ask you to remember that often in 1987, and in the wee hoursof June 14, 1988, several people scaled my 8-foot fence, bringingdrugs, beer and the filthiest signs of sexual activity to myproperty. At least four of the June 14 intruders escaped and arefree of criminal charges, although Second District policemen haveascertained their names. The two intruders who were arrested on myproperty have been told that charges against them will be dropped ifthey give 40 hours of unspecified `community service.'

"A man who repeatedly made harassing telephone calls to my home,fraudulently used my name and the U.S. mails to order numerousmagazines and book subscriptions and applied for burial plots for myfamily at the Fort Lincoln Cemetery, is so far charged with nothing.. . .

"Yet, I, the victim of all this, am to be prosecuted on a legaltechnicality.

"All I did in the dark morning hours of June 14 was to use whatwas lawfully available to me to protect my home and my wife. Some ofyou in media are repeating over and over the sensational lie that Irushed out Rambo style to my Jacuzzi, or swimming pool, to shoot a`dripping-wet teenage skinny dipper.' I implore you to get the factsfrom the U.S. attorney's office and report them. You will learn thatI never confronted anyone in my pool/Jacuzzi area. I was confrontedby intruder Ben Smith in deep darkness, some 150 feet away from theJacuzzi, out of sight of the pool area. I shot the intruder in thewrist at a spot immediately outside of my patio door as he tried toforce his way into my family room. Investigators from the U.S.attorney's office and crime scene investigators foundincontrovertible evidence that what I say is true. . . .

"I am aware that I am the pawn in a brutal game between thosewho favor and those who oppose handgun control. I want to make itclear that I still favor a strict national law to control theavailability of handguns to those who are not law enforcementofficers. But we do not have such a national law and therefore wemust live within the boundaries that exist. . . .

"There is no hypocrisy in advocating a national policy which noone can get through the Congress and then living according topolicies that exist."

Carl T. Rowan is a nationally syndicated columnist of theChicago Sun-Times.

Dole-Engler Ticket Picks Up Support

In Republican Party circles and in Sen. Robert J. Dole's campaignoperation, the new front-runner to become Dole's running mate isMichigan Gov. John Engler.

Engler is the rising choice of Republicans who believe that, ifDole clinches the presidential nomination early next spring, heshould reassure his party's base by nominating a conservative. Thatwould eliminate potential vice presidents to the left of Dole such asGen. Colin Powell, New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman andCalifornia Gov. Pete Wilson.

Dole insiders say Engler would not necessarily rule himself outby failing to endorse the senator. But, they add, he might wellconsider losing weight. "I would hope the governor puts in some timeon the Stairmaster," said a Dole adviser. Is Nunn next?

The decision by Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey not to seekre-election has increased the probability, in the opinion ofDemocratic political operatives, that Sen. Sam Nunn of Georgia willbe the party's next stalwart to bow out.

A lawyer by profession, Nunn has told friends that, at age 56,he would like to get into the private sector to make some money andis uncertain whether next year he will seek a fifth term in theSenate. He has made clear he enjoyed his previous role as chairmanof the Senate Armed Services Committee much more than his currentposition as its ranking minority member. Neutral in N.H.

Contrary to reports coming out of Massachusetts Gov. WilliamWeld's political entourage, New Hampshire Gov. Stephen Merrill has nointention of endorsing Wilson in his state's critical primaryelection.

Wilson backer Peter Berlandi, a Weld fund-raiser and friend ofMerrill's, has been quoted by New Hampshire Republicans as sayingthat Merrill is about to support the Californian (though Berlandidenied it to me). Weld is Wilson's most vigorous and effectivebacker outside his own camp.

But Merrill told me that he has not decided to endorse Wilson oranybody else and that he plans no such endorsement anytime soon. Anti-abortion Democrat

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Robert Casey, feeling fit and stillvery much a Democrat, is contemplating a 1998 Senate run againstRepublican Sen. Arlen Specter based on the abortion issue.

Casey, a strong foe of abortion, was prevented from speaking atthe 1992 Democratic National Convention and at one time laid plans tochallenge President Clinton in the 1996 party primaries. He decidedthat, following his recovery from a life-threatening illness, he wasnot up to an effort of that magnitude.

But he says he is well now and is looking toward a race againstSpecter, who is seeking the presidential nomination as a vigorouslypro-choice Republican. Finance chairman Roth?

Sen. William Roth of Delaware is eager to move up to thechairmanship of the Senate Finance Committee if beleaguered ChairmanBob Packwood is purged.

Senate Republicans had heard that Roth was loath to quit aschairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee. That is "absolutely"incorrect, a close Roth adviser told me. He would head Finance if,as seems increasingly probable, the Senate Ethics Committee causesPackwood to be removed as chairman because of sexual misconduct.

Senate Republican leaders have been concerned whether Roth, atage 74, has the energy or skills to lead the committee through itsdifficult agenda of tax cuts, welfare reform and Medicare revision.But they prefer Roth to who is next in line for succession: liberalSen. John Chafee of Rhode Island.

Robert Novak is a nationally syndicated columnist of the ChicagoSun-Times.

понедельник, 12 марта 2012 г.

CORRECTIONS/CLARIFICATIONS

The Business Journal misstated statistics related to gays and lesbians in Central Pennsylvania on page 20 of Inclusion, a magazine published Aug. 31. Here are the numbers that should have appeared: In Cumberland County, 0.5 percent of households are same-sex, unmarried-partner households. There are 1.01 percent of such households in Dauphin County, 0.73 percent in Lancaster County, 0.93 percent in Lebanon County and 0.74 percent in York County. For all of Central Pennsylvania, the figure is 0.76 percent.

The Central Penn Business Journal will correct or clarify mistakes made in the publication. If you have a question, please call the editorial department at (717) 236-4300.

Man who tried to run down cops with a bulldozer was drunk

THOMPSON, Ohio -- A man was drunk when he tried to run down twolaw enforcement officers while driving a 10-ton bulldozer,authorities said.

William Armstrong, 52, refused to stop as his Caterpillarexcavator rumbled toward a Geauga County sheriff's deputy andThompson Township police chief who had parked in his path Mondaynight. He missed the retreating officers, but damaged a parkedsheriff's car.

Officers eventually persuaded the Thompson Township man to stopthe vehicle. Armstrong's blood-alcohol level was .244 percent, morethan three times the legal limit of 0.08, according to sheriff'stests.

"I'm glad talking worked, because I don't know how else we wouldhave stopped him," said Sheriff Dan McClelland.

Armstrong was jailed after pleading innocent Tuesday to two felonycounts of assault on a law enforcement officer. His bulldozer wasconfiscated by the sheriff's office.

Lebanon border records checked for 2 Americans

Authorities searching for two American journalists who went missing during a vacation in Lebanon said Thursday they were checking records to determine whether the pair left the country through a border crossing.

The two _ Holli Chmela, 27, and Taylor Luck, 23 _ have not been heard from since Oct. 1, when they left Beirut, according to the U.S. Embassy. They had been working for the Jordan Times and were expected back in Amman on Saturday.

The embassy formally lodged a request with Lebanese judicial authorities Thursday to investigate the incident.

The embassy said Chmela and Luck were reportedly headed for the northern Lebanese port city of Tripoli, a predominantly Sunni Muslim city where militants and Islamic fundamentalists are known to be active.

Lebanese security officials said Thursday they were checking border departure records to ascertain whether they had left Lebanon. Officials at the Beirut airport, the only one in the country, said they had not taken a flight out.

The leading An-Nahar daily claimed there was no record they had crossed any of Lebanon's borders, but security officials said that could not be confirmed. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to release any information of the search.

Chmela and Luck arrived in Lebanon on Sept. 29 from the Jordanian capital of Amman on vacation. They told a friend on Oct. 1 that they were traveling from Beirut to Tripoli through the coastal town of Byblos that day, the U.S. embassy said. From Tripoli they planned to cross by land into Syria, it added.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said it was concerned for the safety of the two journalists. CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney urged the Lebanese "to do all in their power to locate them."

Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar told the local Voice of Lebanon radio that it was "too early" to speculate on the disappearance and added that such incidents "hurt Lebanon's security reputation." Tourism Minister Elie Marouni asked media not to "jump to any conclusions" until more facts emerge.

Luck has been a reporter at the Jordan Times for the past 18 months. Chmela worked as an intern at the English-language daily for three months before leaving the job several weeks ago, the paper's chief editor, Samir Barhoumeh, said.

Califf leads Union to 1-0 win over Dynamo

HOUSTON (AP) — Danny Califf scored in the fifth minute, and the Philadelphia Union held on for a 1-0 win over the Houston Dynamo on Saturday night.

Califf put Philadelphia (1-0-0) on the board after converting a rebound off a shot by Sebastien Le Toux shot and slamming it in. Le Toux's shot off the throw-in hit the right crossbar, but Califf was there to knock it in from inside the 6-yard box on the right side.

Houston (0-1-0) had several chances to tie the score, including a point-blank shot on a wide open net by Dominic Oduro in the 68th minute, but his shot from 8 yards out in the middle went over the net.

The Union had a chance to extend their lead in 56th minute, but Justin Mapp's shot from the right box was stopped by goalkeeper Tally Hall. Four minutes later, Danny Mwanga's shot from the right box went wide right.

A positive Vibe It's a car, wagon and SUV and best of all, it's useful

Buying a vehicle was fairly simple when there were clearly definedbody styles, such as coupes and sedans. But now, seemingly anythinggoes with the many new types of vehicles.

For instance, the 2003 Pontiac Vibe four-door hatchback combinesattributes of a small car, station wagon and sport-utility vehicle.

One of the new "crossover" vehicles, the Vibe is essentially atall station wagon that offers such things as slightly higher seatingfound in sport-utes. Rear seatbacks flip forward and sit flat toprovide gobs of cargo space, as does the front passenger seat.

Made in California, the Vibe was jointly developed by GeneralMotors and Toyota, which sells a Canadian-built version called theMatrix. While the vehicles are mechanically identical, the Matrixlooks rather conservative and the Vibe has Pontiac'scharacteristically aggressive styling.

The base Vibe comes with front-drive for $16,340 and also as abase model with all-wheel drive for $19,540. The hot rod GT versioncosts $19,340 and only has front-drive.

All are enjoyable to drive, with quick steering, good handling,sure braking and a supple ride.

Even the base front-drive model has items including airconditioning, AM/FM/CD player, tilt wheel and rear wiper for thetailgate's convenient pop-up rear window.

The all-wheel-drive model adds anti-lock brakes, while the GT hasfour-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, leather-wrapped steering wheel andalloy wheels.

Power windows and door locks come in a $600 (after a manufacturerdiscount) option package that also contains cruise control and remotekeyless entry. A moonroof and premium sound system package is $500after such a discount.

Despite its extra power, the GT doesn't get bigger (17-inch)wheels and wider (50-series) tires unless a buyer pays an extra $400.However, fairly large 16-inch wheels and 55-series tires are standardfor all Vibes.

Power is supplied by a 1.8-liter, 123-horsepower four-cylinderwith the all-wheel drive version, which is available only with a four-speed automatic transmission and isn't designed for off-road driving.

The front-drive base model has a 130-horsepower version of thatengine and can be had with either the automatic or a five-speedmanual transmission.

The most fun is provided by the GT with a race-style Yamaha-built1.8-liter four-cylinder, which generates 180 horsepower and also isused in the Toyota Celica GT-S. The GT comes only with a six-speedmanual gearbox, which is notchy but has a conveniently high-mountedshifter.

Consumers never have had such a wide range of engines,transmissions and drive systems for a single vehicle--especially withfairly low-priced models such as the Vibe.

No matter what power rating, a Vibe engine is noisy during hardacceleration and must rev high to develop good power and torque.

Performance is lively in town, but the Yamaha engine shines athigher speeds. Still, a downshift to fourth gear in my test Vibe GTwas needed for a good 65-75 mph passing time. The heavier all-wheeldrive model is slower than front-drive versions, but a front-driveVibe has torque steer when accelerating fast from a standing start onslippery roads--a condition all-wheel drive would cure.

Fuel economy is good. Depending on its engine and transmission,the Vibe provides an estimated 25-29 mpg in the city and 30-36 onthe highway.

The Vibe's fairly trim exterior dimensions make it easy to parkand maneuver, and it has impressive space for four tall adults. Tall,wide doors make it easy to get in and out, and outside door handlesare easily grasped. There are a decent amount of storage areas, andeven the glove compartment is large.

The interior looks sporty. Climate system controls are large, butradio controls are small.

Speedometer and tachometer markings are offset, as in a race car.That leaves, for instance, the 80-mph speedometer mark where 60 mphwould be on typical speedometers and the 5,000 rpm mark about wherethe 3,000 rpm mark would be on conventional tachometers. That's OKfor tracks, where fast-moving drivers usually only look at the topgauge markings. However, it's an odd setup for street driving.

But no vehicle is perfect, and the Vibe should be very reliablewhile providing driving fun and lots of utility.

2003 PONTIAC VIBE

Prices

$16,340-$19,340

Likes

Versatile. Spacious. Distinctive. Fun to drive.

Dislikes

Noisy engines. Oddly placed gauge markings. Notchy gear shifter.

CONCACAF: Mexico clubs to continue in Libertadores

CONCACAF gave Mexican football teams the green light on Wednesday to keep playing in the Copa Libertadores.

Following a policy review, the football federation for North and Central America and the Caribbean said current rules on Mexican participation will remain in place.

CONCACAF last year ended an arrangement under which teams competed in the Copa Sudamericana, South America's No. 2 tournament, in a move to boost participation in the nascent CONCACAF Champions League.

Also on Wednesday, the federation confirmed that Mexico will compete in the 2011 Copa America for the eighth consecutive time.

"We are very pleased to have developed a system which recognizes and maintains the priority of CONCACAF competitions while ensuring Mexico's continued participation in the premier South American events," CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer said in a statement.

Thontlin stars for St. Francis

Joliet-St. Francis' Julie Thontlin knows what a good pitch is.

In the first game of Saturday's doubleheader at Mundelein, shepitched a two-hitter and contributed the game-winning RBI in a 2-0victory.

In the second game, Thontlin was the designated hitter and hada two-out triple in the seventh, then scored on a throwing error fora 5-4 victory.

"I've been hitting the ball hard but they were all grounders,"Thontlin said. "I just said to myself: `We've got two out, it's thetop of the seventh and we've got to get something going. I'm goingto get a hit.'

"It was a fastball and I knew I hit it good. When I got tothird, I knew she (catcher Kim Burns) was going to drop it becausethe throw was way off. When I saw the ball coming in, I ran."

In the opener, Thontlin struck out five, walked one and didn'tallow a runner past second base.

"My fastball wasn't working that well so I relied on my curvesand some drops," Thontlin said. "The umpire was calling the low pitches and I was able to move the ball around because of that."

The sweep gave second-ranked Joliet-St. Francis a 3-0 recordand dropped Mundelein to 2-2. Mundelein star Ashley Struggles was0-for-3 against Thontlin and had an RBI triple and scored a run inthe second game.

In the opener, Joliet-St. Francis scored a run in the fourth asThontlin's grounder scored Maria Mikuska, who had singled and went tothird on Chris Maroni's single. The Angels scored in the seventh onMelanie Hiler's RBI single.

In the second game, junior Jana Meader threw a four-hitter andstruck out six while walking two in her first varsity appearance.

"I was real nervous before the game and during it," Meader said."I warmed up most of the first game so I was able to get my fastballworking. I used some rises and some drops and that worked for me,too."

Mundelein led 2-1 after three but Joliet-St. Francis scoredthree in the fifth inning. Shelly Birsa started the rally, scoringon an error by shortstop Michelle Strachn, one of nine Mundeleincommitted in the second game. Mikuska's RBI single and another errorled to the other runs.

In Mundelein's fifth, Struggles reached on a two-out error andscored on another error. Lynette Kowlake's single scored Strachn totie at 4 and set up Thontlin's game-winning hit.

"She (Thontlin) has a lot of strength and she really grooved theball," Joliet coach Terry Benter said. "`I'm not surprised she hit itthat far."

среда, 7 марта 2012 г.

IN THE CREASE

NO SURPRISE: Mike Keenan's conduct during his last team meetingindicates he knew he was not coming back to coach the Boston Bruins,insiders told the Boston Globe. The Bruins didn't exercise theiroption on Keenan's contract for next season.

"It sounded like a farewell speech," the Globe's source said. "Allhe did was shake guys' hands and say, `Thank you.' "

Even the Bruins' 7-2-1-1 run at the end of the season, which hadthe team flirting with a playoff berth up to the final weekend,wasn't enough to compensate for Keenan's contentious nature.

The Globe reported that Keenan clashed with the team's trainingstaff and continued to coach with his trademark tactics ofconfrontation and intimidation.

ROENICK RUMBLINGS: Jeremy Roenick, who is eligible to become anunrestricted free agent July 1, said he wants to sign a long-termextension to stay with the Phoenix Coyotes. But he told the ArizonaRepublic the lure of the open market is appealing.

"If it goes to July 1, it doesn't mean that I've given up ontrying to re-sign (with the Coyotes)," Roenick said. "I'm going togive them every opportunity. July 1 is going to be a very interestingday, but I think we'll have a lot of talks in the next few months. Idon't think it is going to happen fast."

The Coyotes reportedly have offered Roenick a five-year, $30million extension, but he might be able to get more from a team inbetter financial shape. Roenick, though, said money is not themotivating factor for him.

"The only thing I play for right now is the Stanley Cup," Roenicksaid. "I've done a lot of things in this league. I've been here for13 years now. But the Cup is very important to me. I'm going to weigha lot of options."

NO COMMENT: St. Louis Blues goalie Roman Turek told the media hedidn't want to talk about his playoff flop last April, when the top-seeded Blues were upset by the eighth-seeded San Jose Sharks in thefirst round. Coincidentally, the teams are squaring off in theopening round this season, too.

"I talked about it right after the playoffs last year, so I don'tknow why I have to talk about it now," said Turek, who had a 1.95goals-against average in the 1999-2000 regular season before blowingup to 2.75 in the playoffs.

Split Decisions: Kraft moves closer to being spun off after tobacco ruling

A Florida court ruling favoring the tobacco industry eliminatedone of the last roadblocks to Kraft Foods Inc.'s parent spinning offthe food and drink behemoth. But analysts don't expect Altria GroupInc. to floor the pedal on the move.

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday tossed a July 2000 punitivedamage award of $145 billion against tobacco companies for injuringsmokers, saying it was excessive.

Altria owns Philip Morris USA, the biggest U.S. cigarette maker,and has an 87.6 percent stake in Kraft, the world's second-largestfood and beverage maker -- producing Kool-Aid, Nabisco, Post cerealand cheese products. Philip Morris' share of the verdict would havebeen $74 billion.

J.P. Morgan analyst Pablo E. Zuanic said in a report Thursday thatKraft's chief executive of one week needs to get better performancefrom the Northfield-based company before it is spun off.

"We believe Altria will not proceed with a spinoff until the Kraftshare price better reflects the potential operating improvements thatthe new CEO Irene Rosenfeld may implement," Zuanic said.

Rosenfeld, first must undo some damage predecessor Roger Deromedihas done on Wall Street, said Morningstar analyst Greg Warren.

Deromedi surprised investors and analysts in January in announcingan additional $2.5 billion in restructuring costs on top of the $1.2billion effort the company started in 2004.

"He lost a lot of credibility with the street. Irene has to regainthat credibility," Warren said. "It's probably going to be a good sixmonths, if not longer."

New York-based Altria would not comment Thursday on spin-offplans. But in the past, it's signaled a breakup of the company andhas charged Rosenfeld with getting Kraft in shape for such a move. Aprovision in Rosenfeld's contract allows her to cash in sharesawarded her if she isn't named chairman of Kraft by Jan. 1, 2008.Altria's chairman and CEO Louis Camilleri currently is chairman atKraft.

Altria, not wanting Kraft stock to be hurt by any connection topotential judgments and seeking to ensure that Kraft isn't liable tocover any payouts that Phillip Morris can't make has been waiting forcourt cases to be resolved.

"Right now, there's a tobacco taint on Kraft," Warren said. "Inorder to eliminate that, you want to make sure you have a lot ofthese major cases behind you."

In December, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled Philip Morrisdoesn't have to pay a $10 billion damage award to users of its lightcigarettes, and a Department of Justice racketeering case against thetobacco industry is expected to be settled.

Altria last week plucked Rosenfeld from her job as chair and CEOat PepsiCo's Frito-Lay to replace Deromedi. Kraft had underperformedas Deromedi implemented a restructuring plan that has the companydivesting brands, cutting thousands of jobs and closing dozens offacilities.

Rosenfeld had been with Kraft for more than 20 years beforeexiting in 2003 and heading to PepsiCo.

"You want to be comfortable with Irene being in charge, that she'sgot the company going in the right direction," Warren said. "If shewere to come in and say within three months 'I've figured out what todo,' I'd be leery. . . . You want to make sure the stock can supportitself."

Thursday's court ruling lifted tobacco stocks. Altria Group sharesrose $4.43, or 6 percent, to close at $77.76, after briefly rising toa new 52-week high of $79.10.

Shares of Reynolds American Inc., the second biggest domesticcigarette maker, rose $4.59, or 4 percent, to $118.95 after earlierhitting a new 52-week high of $120.99.

cjackson@suntimes.com

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ABOUT THE CASE

The Florida Supreme Court threw out the record $145 billionpunitive damage award against tobacco companies calling the awardexcessive.

The court also ruled that individual smokers could sue thecompanies -- and gave plaintiffs a potent legal weapon by upholdingthe trial jury's finding that the companies had negligently misledthe public about the dangers and addictive nature of cigarettes.

The class-action trial lasted two years, but the seven jurorsdeliberated less than five hours to reach the damage verdict.

The lawsuit was filed a decade ago in Miami by the husband-and-wife legal team of Stanley and Susan Rosenblatt.