Drive what you want

I think it's a bit presumptuous, if not blasphemous, to assume that Jesus has somehow endorsed certain vehicle segments and condemned others.

Heaven help us.

I almost fell out of my chair when I first heard about the Evangelical Environmental Network's (EEN) campaign: "What Would Jesus Drive?" If you haven't already read the details you can catch up at http://whatwouldjesusdrive.org, but if you'd rather not have that on your browser history I can give you the Cliff Notes.

The thrust of the campaign suggests that what we drive is a moral issue and that Jesus, if he were holding a valid drivers license, would probably choose an ecologically friendly vehicle that got …

Republic Services rejects Waste Management offer

Garbage disposal company Republic Services Inc. rejected on Friday an unsolicited $6.19 billion takeover offer from rival Waste Management Inc., saying it prefers an earlier deal with another suitor.

Republic's shares fell 2 percent in premarket trading.

The company said it wants to stick with an agreement announced June 23 to combine with Allied Waste Industries Inc., a deal worth $6.07 billion when it was unveiled.

"Republic is not for sale," James O'Connor, chairman and chief executive at Republic Services, wrote in a letter to David Steiner, chief executive of Waste Management. "Although we are always cognizant of our fiduciary …

Venus advances, awaits sister

NEW YORK - Venus Williams is older, taller and one step ahead ofsister Serena.

Richard Williams, their father and coach, is predicting the U.S.Open women's singles title match will be a sister act. With a 6-4,6- 3 victory over Anne-Gaelle Sidot on Wednesday, the third-seededVenus grabbed a spot in the third round of the year's final GrandSlam tournament.

Seventh-seeded Serena Williams was to play her second-round matchtoday against Jelena Kostanic of Croatia.

Both Venus and Serena have won two Grand Slam tournament titleseach - all in mixed doubles last year. Venus teamed with JustinGimelstob to win the Australian and French Open championships.Serena and Max …

"Textbook example of using recycled content building materials"

The Central Market in Poulsbo accepted the challenge of the county's recycling coordinator and built its 68,000 square foot grocery store and an adjacent parking lot out of recycled content materials. The building, which opened in August, 1995, is constructed with over a dozen materials that were diverted from landfills, including recycled content parking stops, drainage pipes, fiberglass insulation, latex paint, gypsum wallboard, structural steel and hot mix asphalt. Last month, at the Washington State Recycling Association Conference, Central Market received the state Department of Ecology "Special Recognition for Outstanding Achievement in Waste Reduction and Recycling" award. …

Group sues over US college's drug testing

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A federal judge has blocked a mandatory drug testing program for students at a Missouri technical college after the American Civil Liberties Union went to court challenging the tests' constitutionality.

The ACLU of Eastern Missouri filed a lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of six students at Linn State Technical College seeking an injunction to end what it called the "suspicionless" screenings of all first-year students and some returning students for drugs including cocaine, methamphetamines and oxycodone.

Linn State implemented the program this fall, saying it was necessary to ensure student safety at a school where the coursework includes aircraft maintenance, …

On to grass for French champ Nadal

Rafael Nadal's celebration of his fifth French Open title was exuberant but brief as he turns his attention to the grass courts of Wimbledon.

Twice Nadal sprawled onto the clay court Sunday, joined the crowd in applauding and shed tears of joy.

"Difficult to have a big celebration if you have to practice tomorrow," Nadal said.

Wimbledon awaits. The year's third and most prestigious Grand Slam tournament is only two weeks away, and Nadal wanted to begin his grass-court preparations Monday.

The switch in surfaces comes after he completed an undefeated clay-court season Sunday by beating Sweden's Robin Soderling in the final at …

Beware of the Internet's cozy familiarity: Marketing is the goal of efforts to personalize

AS a twin, I think I have an unusual appreciation for the desireto be unique. When I was 10, this drive even involved breakfast: Ichallenged my mom's homemade-everything policy and begged for brand-name, boxed cereal.

Even if I couldn't convince her that Trix really were for kids -Grape-Nuts and Cheerios were as close as I got - in my mind theyfortified me as an individual, at least in the General Mills sense ofthings.

I ate one kind of cereal and my sister ate another, and I was waytoo young to see the irony of using a brand name to make myselfspecial.

I got past that clueless phase. But these days it seems most ofAmerican society is sinking into my preteen …

Singapore and China to jointly develop environment-friendly city

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Singapore's prime minister agreed Sunday to jointly develop an environmentally friendly city in northeastern China.

The city will be a model for sustainable development, a Singapore government statement said.

China is one of the world's biggest polluters and Chinese leaders have recently touted a shift in planning away from hyper-fast industrial expansion toward a more sustainable form of development.

The "Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city" will be developed by a joint venture formed by Singapore and Chinese companies.

"This eco-city, to be built in Tianjin, will become another highlight in …

New congregation doubting Thomas?

Some members of Christian Hills Church in Orland Hills are angry that their elder board recently hired the Rev. George Thomas, who was booted from a Homewood church last year amid allegations that he misappropriated hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Thomas, former senior pastor of All Nations Community Church, was appointed this summer as Christian Hills school principal and associate pastor without consulting members.

"The congregation should have input," said longtime Christian Hills member Dave Oberg, who points to the church's constitution, which says that members should vote on hiring a new pastor. "I'm not against change, I just want it done right."

Because …

Keeping your woman alive

NOT DIAMONDS OR CLOTHES, BUT ATTENDING SERVICES CUTS A WOMAN'S DEATH RISK

Here's a news flash for the health conscious: Regular attendance at religious services reduces the risk of death for women by 20 percent, according to a new study.

The study by researchers at Yeshiva University and its Albert Einstein College of Medicine was published Nov. 17 in the journal Psychology and Health.

The researchers evaluated the religious practices of 92,395 women aged 50 to 79 participating in the Women's Health Initiative, a national, long-term study aimed at addressing women's health issues.

Those who said they attended religious services at least once a week showed a 20 …

Greg Maddux fails in 4th bid for No. 350

When Greg Maddux's workday ended in the sixth inning, he walked off the mound and headed directly for the tunnel to the clubhouse, bypassing the San Diego Padres' dugout.

There were no slaps on the back from teammates, and no milestones for Maddux, either. He failed in his fourth bid to reach 350 victories Sunday, when he was outpitched by young Andrew Miller and lost to the Florida Marlins, 10-3.

Maddux (2-3) twice failed to hold a lead, and he allowed 11 hits and five runs, four earned, in 5 2-3 innings.

The four-time Cy Young award winner is 0-3 in four starts since April 13. He leads all active pitchers in …

Egyptian official, Israeli leaders discuss peace

JERUSALEM (AP) — Egypt's powerful intelligence chief says his government is seeking a breakthrough in stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

Omar Suleiman's comments in Israel Thursday come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to travel to the U.S. for talks with top administration officials.

Netanyahu's office gave no details about his talks …

New Zealand Says Farewell to Hillary

Sherpas laid prayer scarves on the coffin of Edmund Hillary Tuesday as thousands across New Zealand bid farewell to the Mount Everest conqueror.

About 500 New Zealand and international dignitaries joined the Hillary family at a state funeral in St. Mary's Anglican Church in this northern city, while thousands gathered at big screen venues in cities nationwide to pay respects to Hillary.

The enormously popular adventurer died of a heart attack on Jan. 11 at the age of 88.

"In reality he was a colossus, he was our hero, he brought fame to our country ... but above all we loved Sir Ed for what he represented _ a determination to succeed against the odds," Prime Minister Helen Clark told mourners.

As the service began, five Sherpas, including one woman, laid traditional prayer scarves on the coffin for Hillary, who had spent more than 40 years working to aid Nepal's development.

The ice ax used by Hillary on his May 29, 1953, conquest of Mt. Everest with mountain guide Tenzing Norgay also lay atop the flag-draped coffin.

One of the 20th century's greatest adventurers, Hillary later made the first motorized overland trip to the South Pole, led a jet boat expedition from "sea to sky" up India's Ganges River and joined an expedition to the North Pole.

The former beekeeper became a humanitarian, building schools, hospitals, health clinics and other facilities in Nepal to aid the Sherpa people of Nepal's mountain region near Everest.

His son, mountaineer Peter Hillary, who has twice climbed Everest, said his father "was a real people's hero" and that helping the Nepali people "really was the great calling of my father's life."

BADWATER RISING

Local man readies to run "world's toughest foot race"

It starts at the lowest point in North America and ends at the base of the highest peak in the lower 48 states. Only 100 people are be invited to participate. Of those 100, only about 90 will show up at the starting line. Not all of them will finish, and only some will complete the event in the 48 hours allotted. During those 48 hours, temperatures may be near 130 degrees at the start and closer to freezing at the finish line - 135 miles away.

The Badwater Ultramarathon, now in its 34th year as a race, begins on July 11, at Badwater Basin in Death Valley, Calif., 282 feet below sea level, and ends on July 13 at the Whitney Portal on Mt. Whitney, which has an elevation of 8,360 feet. During the course of the ultramarathon, runners will ascend and descend two mountain ranges for a cumulative vertical coverage of 13,000 feet. It is referred to as "the world's toughest foot race," and for 27-year-old Meridian man Benjamin Blessing, who recently received his acceptance letter, it's the culmination of only a few years of intense training.

"You actually have to submit a resume, and they won't even look at it unless you've done at least three 100-mile runs. I was well within the limit," Blessing said. "I've done 10."

For Blessing, a music major at Northwest Nazarene University, his introduction to the sport of ultramarathons - any marathon longer than the standard 26 miles - came by way of a tragedy. He was in the Marines and he and a buddy were training for a Marine Corps marathon. They were in Pennsylvania when his friend slipped from a waterfall and died.

"That was a big bummer," Blessing said, his clipped speech wavering slightly. "After that, my conductor got me a book about a guy who runs [ultramarathons]. I thought, ? want to run one of these for my buddy.'"

So he did. Blessing ran his first ultramarathon - 40 miles - in late 2007. It didn't go so well.

"I was trained, and I was ready to go ... but I'd only run a half marathon before that, so I was really scared," Blessing said. His parents, who were acting as his de facto pit crew, forgor ro put salt in his water bottles - an important element in keeping a runner hydrated.

"I got terrible cramps and almost had to go to the hospital," Blessing said. But he finished. "I was so proud and thought, ? have to do a longer one.'"

In the nearly three and a half years since that first race, Blessing has run more than three dozen ultramarathons including his second 150-mile run in December 2010- all in order to build his resume for the Badwater Ultramarathon.

Chris Koster is the founder and "Chief Adventure Officer" of AdventureCORPS Inc., an organization that produces extreme sports events including the Badwater Ultramarathon. Since founding AdventureCORPS in 1984, Koster, a runner himself, has seen hundreds just like Blessing take on the Badwater, which his company began producing in 2000. And just this year, the race became even more challenging. Runners used to have 60 hours to finish the race. This is the first year they have only 48. The change, Koster said, has been made because everybody wants to win the prize. And, no, it's not cash. It's a belt buckle.

"It used to be 60 [hours], but you had to finish in 48 to get the belt buckle. And everybody wants the belt buckle," Koster said, laughing. "So the last three or four years, only a few people were requiring more than 48 hour�. The field just kept getting faster, not necessarily just the front couple of people but the whole field. And it's an invitational ... people know they may not get a chance again so they put their best effort forward."

The 201 1 Badwater - which in past years has seen a 19-year-old, a 75-year-old and two blind finishers - will include participants from more than 19 countries including the 2010 men's champion and a 16-time finisher. The invitees include 70 men and 30 women, and the record time held by a man is just less than 23 hours, for a woman is a little more than 26 hours. The average finish time is around 40 hours - that's nearly two days of brutal exposure to the elements.

Blessing joined a support crew (a group allowed to follow the runner) in the 2010 Badwater to prepare for this year. From that and, of course, running several ultramarathons prior to this one, he has learned a couple of things that will aid in his success.

"Experience is making the right decisions after making the wrong ones," Blessing said. "In 2008 I experimented using running gel and energy chews. What I didn't realize was that overloading your body with sugar causes you to have terrible diarrhea. I had that for the last 20 miles of a run."

In that same race, Blessing missed a few spots with sunscreen and ended up with second-degree burns. A 60-mile-plus race in 2009 also taught him to always wear his glasses or protective goggles. Some dirt up under his contacts scratched his corneas so badly one of his eyes was actually gouged.

But Blessing has discovered that overcoming the physical aspects of the race is only part of the battle.

"Mental fortitude is the name of the game," Blessing said. "If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."

[Sidebar]

For more information on the race, visit badwater.com.

For more information on AdventureCORPS visit adventurecorps.com.

[Sidebar]

Benjamin Blessing looks like a perfectly normal man. Little would you know that a crazy ultramarathoner lurks under the surface.

Official: Fighting kills 14 in Somalia's capital

Fierce overnight fighting between Islamic insurgents and pro-government forces in Somalia's capital killed at least 14 people including women and children, health officials said Tuesday.

Ambulance staff collected the bodies in Mogadishu Tuesday, said service chief Rufai Mohamed, and officials of two Mogadishu hospitals say they admitted at least 45 wounded people.

The fighting marks a continuation of weekend violence when the two sides pounded the capital with mortars and gunfire, killing at least 35 people.

The independent Elman Human Rights Organization said that by Monday afternoon 17,200 people had fled their homes for safer places inside and outside Mogadishu.

The intensity of the fighting had reduced by early Tuesday but sporadic gunfire could be heard in parts of the city.

Abdifitah Hassan, a resident at Sinai village in northern Mogadishu, told The Associated Press that he saw insurgents firing mortar rounds in the direction of the presidential palace and pro-government fighters returned fire.

President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed and his staff were safe, said defense department official Col. Yasin Haile. Insurgents have previously targeted the presidential palace without causing much damage.

Islamic insurgents, including the al-Shabab group which is seeking to overthrow Somalia's Western-backed government and establish an Islamic state, have been trying to topple the weak government since late 2006.

Al-Shabab controls much of southern Somalia. Ahmed's government directly controls only a few blocks of Mogadishu and one border town. But the president has allies among the militias that control much of central Somalia and pockets of the south.

Ahmed, elected by parliament in January, used to be one of the leaders of the Islamic insurgency. Since his election he has been trying to broker peace with warring groups and gain legitimacy.

Ahmed told journalists Monday that the people behind the weekend fighting are against peace, but he is willing to talk with his opponents.

The U.S. worries that Somalia could be a terrorist breeding ground, particularly since Osama bin Laden declared his support for al-Shabab.

The U.S. also accuses al-Shabab of harboring the al-Qaida-linked terrorists who allegedly blew up the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998.

Somalia has not had an effective government since 1991, when warlords overthrew longtime dictator Mohamed Siad Barre. The warlords then turned on each other, plunging the nation into anarchy and chaos.

Somalia's transitional government was formed in 2004, but has failed to assert any control over the country. The lawlessness also has allowed piracy to explode off Somalia's coast.

German Football Summaries

Summaries of Sunday's games in the Bundesliga (home team listed first):

Schalke 1, Nuremberg 0

Schalke: Kevin Kuranyi (48).

Attendance: 61,515.

Cologne 2, Borussia Dortmund 3

Cologne: Kevin McKenna (82), Youssef Mohamad (88).

Dortmund: Mats Hummels (28, 45), Kevin Grosskreutz (90).

Attendance: 50,000.

AP Weekly News Calendar

Friday, Feb. 12:

SHANGHAI, China _ Return of dissident Feng Zhenghua. 0430 GMT.

PYONGYANG, North Korea _ U.N. envoy Lynn Pascoe visits North Korea. Through Feb. 12.

SANTIAGO, Chile _ President-elect Sebastian Pinera meets with Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim.

RIO DE JANEIRO _ Carnival begins.

VANCOUVER, Canada _ Winter Olympics opening ceremony, 9 p.m. (0200 GMT).

ROME _ Haiti's agriculture minister addresses a high-level U.N. meeting on medium and long-term food needs in Haiti.

NEW YORK _ U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to hold a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, by video-conference, at 7:30 a.m. EST (1230 GMT).

Saturday, Feb. 13:

HARARE, Zimbabwe _ South African President Jacob Zuma is expected to travel to Zimbabwe to continue further mediations with all factions of the Zimbabwean unity government.

QENA, Egypt _ Three suspects charged in the Coptic Christmas Eve drive-by shooting Jan. 6 in southern Egyptian town of Nag Hamadi that killed seven go on trial in an emergency state security court.

Sunday, Feb. 14:

CAIRO _ 25 men, including 2 Palestinians, part of an alleged Qaida cell will go on trial in State Security court on charges of platting to attack govt and foreign targets. Targets allegedly include oil tankers on Suez canal and tourist sites.

BEIRUT _ Thousands of people expected to take part in rally in downtown Beirut marking 5th anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's assassination.

Monday, Feb. 15:

PRISTINA, Kosovo _ Youth leader Albin Kurti to appear in front of EU judges for inciting violent protests.

MANILA, Philippines _ U.S. military provides weeklong medical and reconstruction services in typhoon-stricken areas of the northern Philippines.

GENEVA _ The U.N. Human Rights Council examines Iran's record.

THE VALLEY, Anguilla _ British overseas territory holds election for 11 seats in House of Assembly, with ruling Anguilla United Front facing challenge from two opposition parties.

HARARE, Zimbabwe _ The one-year anniversary of the formation of the Zimbabwean unity government. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was sworn in on Feb. 13, 2009, and took office on Feb. 15, 2009.

JERUSALEM _ Conference at Israeli parliament on compensation for Jews from Arab countries. 1300 GMT.

DHAKA, Bangladesh _ Group of bilateral and multilateral donors, Bangladesh Development Forum, will hold meeting to discuss future course of development aid.Thru.Feb. 16.

NEW YORK _ Westminster Dog Show. Through Feb. 16.

HOLLYWOOD, California _ Broadcast Film Critics Association's 15th annual Critics' Choice Awards.

Tuesday, Feb. 16:

JERUSALEM _ News conference for beginning of convention of Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. 1200 GMT. Convention thru Saturday.

BEIRUT _ Hezbollah rally marking the anniversary of Imad Mughniyeh's assassination.

NEW ORLEANS _ Mardi Gras, celebrated primarily in Louisiana and along the Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coasts.

Wednesday, Feb. 17:

CAIRO, Egypt _ Supreme Council for Antiquities to announce DNA results meant to reveal the parentage of King Tut.

QENA, Egypt _ hearing for a Coptic man who was charged with raping a 12-year old Muslim girl in the south of Egypt.

PRISTINA, Kosovo _ Kosovo marks second anniversary of independence from Serbia.

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba _ Pre-trial hearing in war crimes case of Ibrahim Ahmed Mahmoud al Qosi, Sudanese accused of being bodyguard for Osama bin Laden.

WASHINGTON _ Federal Reserve releases minutes from January interest-rate meeting with updated economic forecast.

Thursday, Feb. 18:

BAGHDAD _ The trial of British security contractor, Danny Fitzsimons who is accused of shooting two colleagues to death.

WHITE PLAINS, New York _ Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik is scheduled to be sentenced for corruption and tax crimes.

Unexploded Weapons Clearance Plan Progresses

The Department of State opened a bidding process April 29 to solicit plans for a new quick-reaction force that would be able to handle threats to civilians from unexploded cluster bombs and other explosive remnants of war (ERW). U.S. officials hope that the privately run force could begin operating later this year with the capability to deploy anywhere in the world within 48 hours.

The rationale for the force is wrapped up in the ongoing debate about addressing the effects of cluster munitions, which are bombs, rockets, and artillery shells that disperse smaller submunitions over broad areas and sometime fail to explode and later maim or kill civilians if disturbed. (See ACT, March 2008.) On May 21, Stephen Mull, acting assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, reiterated the administration's position that a narrow focus on such munitions is ill advised. Instead, he said, "the humanitarian issues brought on by cluster munitions are really a small part of a much larger problem that we think the whole world needs to work on together." Toward that end, the quick-reaction force is tasked with responding to humanitarian and destruction needs associated with a wide range of so-called remnants of war.

Katherine Baker, a U.S. delegation member to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), first discussed the force at a CCW meeting on Jan. 16, saying it would "deal holisticalIy with explosive remnants of war, small arms and light weapons, cluster munitions, landmines, man-portable air defense systems, and other types of conventional weapons found in countries suffering from the legacy of war." Washington prefers to address cluster munitions and other ERW within the CCW process. The United States has abstained from participating in a separate international effort known as the Oslo process, which May 30 in Dublin concluded treaty text limiting cluster munitions (see sidebar).

On April 29, the State Department's Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement released a solicitation asking for private companies to bid on the quick-reaction force. Force requirements include the ability to have an advance reconnaissance team onsite anywhere in the world within 48 hours and an operational force in place within 14 days.

The size and cost of the force is not specified in the solicitation. In some ways, it may be an evolution of a quick-reaction demining program that ended last year. That force, operated by private contractor RONCO Consulting Corporation, consisted of approximately 40 demining personnel and support infrastructure. Between 2001 and 2007, it deployed to Iraq, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, and Sudan, but dealt most specifically with mines, rather than the broader range of conventional weapons and unexploded ordnance envisioned for the new force.

The solicitation closes June 13. As of May 27, more than a dozen companies had added their names to an interested vendor list, suggesting that they may submit proposals to operate the force.

On May 21, Richard Kidd, director of the weapons removal and abatement office, told Arms Control Today that he is hopeful this asset could be operational as early as this fall. He also indicated that he has already been in conversation with UN officials about how to make it available to global efforts. The goal, he said, is to be able to "respond to any conventional weapons emergency" anywhere in the world. He added that "most of the weapons out there are not U.S. origin, not U.S. deployed, and not U.S. made." -JEFF ABRAMSON

[Sidebar]

A UN peacekeeper holds the remnants of an Israeli cluster bomblet May 14, 2007 in the Lebanese village of Khirbet Silem.

National Basketball Association

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
W L Pct GB
Boston 23 8 .742 _
Toronto 16 17 .485 8
New York 13 20 .394 11
Philadelphia 9 23 .281 14 1/2
New Jersey 3 29 .094 20 1/2
Southeast Division
W L Pct GB
Orlando 24 8 .750 _
Atlanta 21 11 .656 3
Miami 16 14 .533 7
Charlotte 12 18 .400 11
Washington 10 20 .333 13
Central Division
W L Pct GB
Cleveland 26 8 .765 _
Chicago 13 17 .433 11
Milwaukee 12 18 .400 12
Detroit 11 21 .344 14
Indiana 9 22 .290 15 1/2
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Southwest Division
W L Pct GB
Dallas 22 10 .688 _
San Antonio 19 11 .633 2
Houston 20 13 .606 2 1/2
Memphis 15 16 .484 6 1/2
New Orleans 14 16 .467 7
Northwest Division
W L Pct GB
Denver 20 12 .625 _
Portland 21 13 .618 _
Oklahoma City 18 14 .563 2
Utah 18 14 .563 2
Minnesota 7 27 .206 14
Pacific Division
W L Pct GB
L.A. Lakers 26 6 .813 _
Phoenix 21 12 .636 5 1/2
L.A. Clippers 14 18 .438 12
Sacramento 14 18 .438 12
Golden State 9 22 .290 16 1/2
___
Friday's Games
New York 112, Atlanta 108, OT
Orlando 106, Minnesota 94
L.A. Lakers 109, Sacramento 108
Saturday's Games
Cleveland at New Jersey
Charlotte at Miami
San Antonio at Washington
Minnesota at Indiana
Toronto at Boston
Houston at New Orleans
Orlando at Chicago
Oklahoma City at Milwaukee
Memphis at Phoenix
Denver at Utah
Golden State at Portland
Dallas at Sacramento

Community schools should be priority

Recently, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan jointly announced an expansion of "community schools" and other coordinated after-school activities as a way of creating safe havens for Chicago's children. (See story on page 22.) Though community schools do provide safe environments for students beyond the regular school day, they provide so much more for students and their families, enabling kids to succeed at school and beyond, and strengthening communities.

Community schools happen when a school decides to reach out beyond its school walls and engage the local community in assessing student and family needs, then working together to meet these needs and achieve common goals. One common program strategy of community schools is an extended day, before and after school, one that is enriched with robust academic, arts, athletic, health and other engaging activities. This is not day care at the school. Rather, it is structured, supportive, engaging and enriching time that develops the whole child-academic, mental, physical and social.

Chicago's community schools have had impressive results in their first few years. They have closed the achievement gap among students, raised standardized test scores, improved overall student behavior and increased student participation in the classroom. Grades have increased and children are healthier. Parents also have received invaluable training and resources at their children's schools, through adult-centered programming.

When we combine the strengths of a community, its residents, its families and schools, great things happen! Safe havens are created, and while they are there, children are enriched so they can succeed at school and life. The time is now for the community school initiative to become not only a Chicago priority, but a statewide one as well. All Illinois children deserve this chance.

Suzanne Armato, executive director

Federation for Community Schools

Medic: Info from Jackson doctor didn't add up

LOS ANGELES (AP) — After just a few moments in Michael Jackson's bedroom, the paramedic dispatched to save the singer's life knew things weren't adding up.

There was the skinny man on the floor, eyes open with a surgical cap on his head. His skin was turning blue. Paramedic Richard Senneff asked the sweating, frantic-looking doctor in the room what condition the stricken man had.

"He said, 'Nothing. He has nothing,'" Senneff told jurors at the involuntary manslaughter trial of Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray.

"Simply, that did not add up to me," Senneff said.

Over the course of the 42 minutes that Los Angeles paramedics tried to revive Jackson, several other things about the room and Murray's responses seemed inconsistent to Senneff.

After repeated prodding, Murray revealed a few details about his actions, saying he had only given Jackson a dose of the sedative lorazepam to help him sleep, Senneff testified.

In addition, there were bottles of medicine on Jackson's nightstand, and Murray finally offered that he was treating the singer for dehydration and exhaustion.

Senneff said Murray never mentioned that he had also been giving Jackson doses of the anesthetic propofol and other sedatives, a key omission that prosecutors say shows he repeatedly tried to conceal his actions during the struggle to save the pop superstar.

Murray, 58, has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he could face up to four years in prison and lose his medical license.

Prosecutors contend the Houston-based cardiologist repeatedly lied to medics and emergency room doctors about medications he had been giving Jackson in the singer's bedroom. They claim Murray administered a fatal dose of propofol and other sedatives.

Defense lawyers claim Jackson gave himself the fatal dose after his doctor left the room.

Defense attorney Nareg Gourjian asked Senneff whether Jackson's appearance was consistent with someone who was a drug addict.

Senneff said that was a difficult determination to make, but he did think the singer "looked like he had a chronic health problem."

Senneff was the first paramedic to reach Jackson's bedroom and said within moments, he and three other paramedics were working to revive Jackson. After trying multiple heart-starting medications and other efforts, Jackson was still lifeless.

"Did you ever see any sign of life in Mr. Jackson during the entire time you were attempting to save him," prosecutor Deborah Brazil asked.

"No I did not," Senneff said.

Another paramedic dispatched to the room, Martin Blount, agreed. He told jurors that they thought Jackson was dead soon after they arrived in the room.

Blount also said he saw three open bottles of lidocaine on the floor of the room but noted that Murray never mentioned giving Jackson the painkiller. He told jurors he saw the doctor scoop up the vials and drop them in a black bag.

Between the paramedics' testimony, Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor threatened Murray's lawyers with a contempt charge over an interview the law partner of lead defense counsel Ed Chernoff conducted Friday with "The Today Show." In the interview, attorney Matt Alford criticized a key prosecution witness, Jackson's bodyguard Alberto Alvarez.

Alvarez testified Thursday that Murray ordered him to place vials of medication in a bag before calling 911. Defense attorneys have repeatedly challenged his account.

Prosecutors complained and Pastor watched the interview during a break. He told attorneys he was shocked and had watched the interview "with my mouth open." The interview was conducted hours after the judge warned attorneys not to comment about the case outside court.

He ordered Alford to appear for a contempt hearing on Nov. 15 and said classified him as a witness after Chernoff told Pastor to hold him in contempt instead of his partner.

All the discussions about the interview were held outside the presence of jurors, who are under strict orders to avoid media coverage about the case.

The seven-man, five-woman panel instead heard testimony about efforts to revive Jackson, who the paramedics and emergency room doctor thought was dead at his rented mansion. Still, the singer was transported to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center because Murray wanted life-saving efforts to continue.

After loading Jackson into an ambulance, Senneff said he saw Murray collecting items from Jackson's bedside. The doctor was alone in the bedroom for several moments before joining paramedics in the ambulance for the drive to the hospital, Senneff said.

Gourjian suggested Murray had been collecting his wallet and glasses, but Senneff said he could not see the items.

In the ambulance, Blount said, he heard Murray make a phone call. "'It's about Michael, and it doesn't look good,'" Blount recalled hearing Murray saying.

Jurors also heard from a former Murray patient who lauded the doctor's treatment of him, but said the cardiologist became increasingly distant and hard to reach while working with Jackson.

"I felt like I was getting the best care in the world," said Robert Russell of Las Vegas, before Murray became the singer's personal physician. "The advice he gave me saved my life."

Russell said he couldn't get answers about his own treatment, and the man who once spent so much time offering care and advice was unreachable.

He called Murray's office on June 25, 2009 — the day Jackson died — and demanded to speak to the doctor.

The doctor returned the call and left him a voicemail at 11:49 a.m. Prosecutors are using records to show that Murray was on the phone in the moments before he realized Jackson was unconscious.

Thirty-seven minutes later, Senneff ran into Jackson's bedroom.

___

Associated Press Writer Greg Risling contributed to this report

___

Anthony McCartney can be reached at http://twitter.com/mccartneyAP

Dorothy Gordon Zucker, fund-raiser

Dorothy Gordon Zucker, 83, a former Skokie resident who raisedmoney to combat cancer, died Thursday in Highland Park Hospital.

Mrs. Zucker, of Lake Worth, Fla., was a homemaker involved incharitable causes. In the 1940s, she founded the Chicago IvreyothSociety to aid cancer research.

As president, she and her members asked for donations on streetcorners, held dances and auctions, and conducted other fund-raisingactivities. Over the years, the society raised "millions ofdollars," her family said. In 1995, the society disbanded.Mrs. Zucker grew up in Wicker Park, near Division and Damen.Her father, Jacob Pollack, founded Pollack Electric in 1895.Along with her first husband, Philip Gordon, she was a foundingmember of Congregation B'nai Emunah in Skokie. She later was marriedto the late Sam Zucker.Surviving are three sons, Judge Robert, Barry and GilbertGordon, and a grandson.Services will be at 10 a.m. today at Weinstein Family ServicesChapel, 111 Skokie Blvd., Wilmette. Burial will be in WaldheimCemetery, 1800 S. Harlem, Forest Park.

KUP'S COLUMN

You haven't heard much of late about Eddie Vrdolyak, thecelebrated Republican convert. But that doesn't mean he's been idle.Vrdolyak has been rounding up candidates for Republican wardcommitteemen to reform the local party in his own image. Even DonTotten, longtime head of the GOP Cook County organization, realizeshis own job may be in jeopardy as a result of Vrdolyak's blitz toelect committeemen loyal to him. . . . Mayor Sawyer must have beenmindful of Harold Washington's fate by undergoing a physicalexamination yesterday before embarking on a whirlwind tour of fourchildren's hospitals.

THE CITY COUNCIL vote tomorrow on the budget will be a key tofuture relations between Mayor Sawyer and his aldermanic coalition.The up or down vote will be watched closely to reveal "who's withwhom" and if the coalition is still holding. . . . Meanwhile, Ald.Larry Bloom, chairman of the Budget Committee, is winning applausefor reducing Washington's proposed $84 million property tax increaseby $36 million. That can only increase his popularity.

MAYOR SAWYER will be hard pressed by news interrogators for someexplanation of the $20,000 fee he accepted 10 years ago from anattorney, Fred Sudak, now a judge. He could take the position thathe can't comment while the Illinois Attorneys Registration andDisciplinary Commission investigates Sudak's conduct. But that wouldbe viewed as a copout. . . . Before the story broke, Sudak had sentout invitations to his fund-raiser next Monday at the MetropolitanClub. Now Sudak has received numerous cancellations ("So sorry, butI just discovered a conflict") and may call off the gathering.

A NUMBER of the city's movers and shakers are rallying to Dr.Cannutte Russell's side as a result of the report that there's aneffort to replace him as president of the Chicago Library Board withJames Compton. Russell, friends point out, is a strong-willedleader and played a major role in getting a new state-of-the-artlibrary, instead of the Goldblatt store. . . . The Joint Committeeof Italian Americans honored Realtor Carl DeMoon with a second termas president. Committee activities include sponsoring the ColumbusDay parade and Dante awards.

"THE FATHER CLEMENTS Story" dominated its time slot Sundaynight, according to the local ratings. And our phone has beenjingle-jangling with calls because of our appearance in the movie.(It wasn't easy for me to carry Lou Gossett Jr., Carroll O'Connor andMalcolm-Jamal Warner in the film.) . . . The Illinois State'sAttorneys Association will salute Rich Daley with a specialtestimonial Thursday in the Chicago Marriott Hotel.

UNCA MILTIE BERLE kept us entertained over dinner at the ClubInternational with the witticisms and humor in his book, B.S. - ILove You. Reading the book may be dangerous to your health. It'sside-splitting. . . . Berle, still sprightly at 79, has been comingto Chicago to perform since 1929. He revealed that he appeared on TVhere long before the public knew what television was. That was backin '29 when Berle was playing the old Palace. He was invited to takepart in experimental TV that paved the way for introduction of themedium many years later.

BERLE NEVER is at a loss for ideas. His latest is a syndicatedTV show, in which he will use clips of stars who have appeared onhis programs down through the years. The names boggle the mind:Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Phil Silvers, Elvis Presley, Jack Benny, RedSkelton, Martha Raye, Edward G. Robinson and Ronald Reagan. . . .Our condolences to Mrs. Arnie (Zorine) Morton on the death of herfather, Edward Ryba. He also was the father of actress ArleneGolonka.

SECOND CITY alum Mike Hagerty is enjoying the best week of hiscareer. He has a role in Goldie Hawn's new movie, "Overboard," beingreleased this week. He also has a role in Jim Belushi's film, "RedHeat," and appeared Sunday in Fox Broadcasting's "Married WithChildren" . . . Hagerty will be among the Second City graduates whowill assemble here tomorrow to celebrate the theater's 28th birthday.

GOV. THOMPSON and wife Jayne will host their annual holidayreception tomorrow at the Drake Hotel. As usual, it'll bewall-to-wall people, just the kind of party you adore. . . . AlexDana, owner of Rosebud, the new "in" Italian restaurant in the U. ofI. at Chicago area, is seeking a Near North site. . . . Adding ayear: William (Fridge) Perry, Don Johnson, Barbara Lee Cohen andJudge Albert Porter.

THE DRAMA CRITICS took delight in "Born Yesterday," revivedsuperbly at Steppenwolf Theatre. The performances of John Mahoneyand Glenne Headly and direction of John Galati merit salutes. JohnMalkovich, one of Steppenwolf's brightest lights, joined his wifeGlenne and the cast in a party at Shaw's Crab House. . . . Andreader Mike Lag offers this closer: "Jim and Tammy Bakker justrecorded a new album titled, "Come all ye unfaithful."

China's bank loans double in January to $237 bln

Chinese banks extended a record 1.62 trillion yuan ($237 billion) in loans in January, more than double the year before, as lenders heeded government calls to loosen credit controls to help revive the economy.

Total bank loans rose by 814.1 billion yuan ($119 billion), nearly 104 percent over lending in January 2008, when the government was still imposing stringent curbs on credit as it battled inflation, the People's Bank of China reported Thursday.

Facing an abrupt slowdown due to plunging demand for China's exports, regulators have sought to boost liquidity after years of trying to rein in lending.

Banks made 771.8 billion yuan ($113 billion) in new loans in December, figures show, up nearly 15 fold over the same month a year before, when credit was at a virtual standstill due to the credit controls.

China's banks are in relatively good shape, with less exposure than most of their global rivals to the toxic mortgage-related securities that have wrought havoc in the global financial system.

The government has ordered them to make credit available to help battle the downturn which hit last fall. But with many industries facing overcapacity and demand slowing for many products, analyst warn the state-owned banks risk letting policy, rather than profitability, guide their lending decisions.

Analysts said the structure of lending in January, with short-term financing accounting for two-thirds of the total, does not bode well for a sustained expansion.

The trend suggests that demand for "attractive project finance is still insufficient to absorb excess bank liquidity, leaving banks to still pursue low risk, low return businesses in large scale," Citigroup Global Markets economist Ken Pang said in a report issued Thursday.

"If the short term credit expansion slows as we expect, broad credit growth would probably fall with it," he said.

On Wednesday, leaders announced fresh help for the shipbuilding industry, following similar moves to boost automakers, airlines, textile exporters and other key industries.

Customs data released Wednesday showed that trade plunged in January, with exports falling 17.5 percent from a year earlier and imports sinking 43 as factories bought less foreign raw materials and consumer demand weakened.

Like other major economies, it's evident that China is busy printing money: bank customers these days often get fresh bills when making withdrawals.

The central bank reported that China's M2, its broadest measure of money supply covering cash in circulation plus all deposits, rose nearly 19 percent in January from a year earlier to 49.61 trillion yuan ($7.2 trillion).

Teen Ishikawa hoping to make cut at British Open

Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa has acknowledged that being a title contender in the upcoming British Open, or any other major, is beyond him at this early stage of his career.

"I may have to face my worst score ever. I may easily go double-digit over par," the 17-year-old Ishikawa said at a press conference Wednesday before departing for the July 16-19 British Open at Turnberry.

Ishikawa missed the cut this year at the Masters, where he was given a special invitation. He also has received an invitation to the PGA Championship in August at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota.

"Majors are still out of my league, but I feel a little more relaxed than last time," Ishikawa said. "I'd like to be on the course as long as possible, so I hope to make the cut and play all four days of the tournament."

Ishikawa qualified for the British Open by winning the Japan tour's Mizuno Open last month for the third victory of his career.

He became the youngest winner of a sanctioned tour when he won the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup two years ago at age 15.

China, Russia condemn US missile defense plans

China and Russia sharply condemned U.S. missile defense plans Friday, taking a harder common line that reinforces an already strong strategic partnership during Dmitry Medvedev's first foreign trip as Russian president.

Pushing forward their robust energy cooperation, Russia also signed a $1 billion deal to build a uranium enrichment facility in China and supply low-enriched uranium for use in China's nuclear power industry over the next decade.

Rivals throughout much of the Cold War, Moscow and Beijing have forged close political and military ties since the Soviet collapse, seeking to counter the perceived U.S. global domination. They have spoken against the U.S. missile defense plans in the past, but Friday's declaration by Medvedev and Chinese President Hu Jintao sounded tougher than before.

Without naming the United States, the two leaders said that "the creation of global missile defense systems and their deployment in some regions of the world ... does not help to maintain strategic balance and stability and hampers international efforts in arms control and nuclear nonproliferation."

They also warned against the deployment of arms in space _ another clear reference to the United States. "The parties stand for the peaceful use of space and against the deployment of weapons in space and arms race in space," Medvedev and Hu said in the statement released after an afternoon of talks.

The joint position appears to raise the stakes for Washington, which has been trying to persuade Beijing and Moscow not to see the missile shields as threatening. At the same time, the cooperation on diplomatic issues masks deep Russian unease at China's growing power and differences over military and energy sales.

The White House said Friday that it is not disappointed that Medvedev has not changed the stance taken by his predecessor, Vladimir Putin.

"We're going to work with them to work through these concerns, and we think we can resolve any concerns that anyone has about this and the true nature of the program," said White House spokesman Tony Fratto.

Beijing has criticized U.S. plans for anti-missile defenses with Japan and Taiwan in the past, fearing that it would blunt China's large arsenal of missiles. But Beijing has mostly been content to let Russia take the lead publicly, knowing the planned deployment of missile defense sites in Poland and the Czech Republic touch a core Russian interest.

"I think that now Russia has convinced China that it needs to speak out more clearly and take a position," said Fyodor Lukyanov, editor of Russia in Global Affairs magazine. "And Russia has gotten what it wanted _ I think Medvedev can be satisfied."

The declaration also reflected strong opposition to NATO's expansion to incorporate ex-Soviet states Georgia and Ukraine. "Security of nations can't be ensured at the expense of other countries through the expansion of military-political alliances," the two leaders said.

After signing the declaration with Medvedev, Hu praised the countries' commitment to tackling security issues. "The two sides have always agreed to take the development of strategic cooperation and partnership as a priority," Hu told reporters.

He also thanked Medvedev and Putin, now Russia's prime minister, for the mobile hospital and rescue teams Moscow sent after the deadly May 12 earthquake in central China.

"Between friends, there can be no other kind of relations," Medvedev said, offering more assistance.

After a slow warming in the 1990s, Beijing and Moscow have in recent years joined in opposing Kosovo's independence and agreed on how to manage the crisis over Iran's nuclear program. The two have held joint military maneuvers on each other's territory and created a regional security grouping to keep the West out of energy-rich Central Asia.

Statements of cooperation and support aside, there is friction and uncertainty over energy and the nations' shifting economic and diplomatic fortunes.

"China still sees Russia as an equal partner, but that view may change as China keep gaining economic and political weight," Lukyanov said. "In five or seven years, Russia may struggle to maintain parity in political relations with China."

But while Moscow and Beijing have pooled efforts in keeping the West out of Central Asia, they are rivals for control of the region's energy riches.

Medvedev's stop in Kazakhstan on his way to China was apparently intended to send a message to both Beijing and the West that Moscow continues to see the former Soviet Central Asia as its home turf.

Moscow and Beijing also have bickered over the price of Russian energy exports. Disagreements over pricing have slowed construction of an oil pipeline from Siberia and blocked plans for a natural gas pipeline. A separate pipeline to Russia's Pacific coast will force China to compete for Siberian crude with Japan.

China was a major customer for Russian weapons industries, buying billions of dollars worth of jets, missiles, submarines and destroyers. But the arms trade has slumped recently as China wanted more advanced weapons, which Moscow was reluctant to sell.

Media reports said Russian officials were concerned about China copying the Russian Su-27 fighter after producing them under license.

___

Associated Press writer Steve Gutterman in Moscow contributed to this report.

Avalanche Surge Toward Playoff Spot

The Colorado Avalanche have some momentum as they close in on a Western Conference playoff spot.

Milan Hejduk scored 19 seconds into overtime and the Avalanche overcame a two-goal deficit to beat the San Jose Sharks 4-3 on Sunday night and improve to 8-0-1 in their last nine games.

"I went down and tried to fake the shot, and he went down, and I shot it over him," said Hejduk, who beat Evgeni Nabokov for his 45th career game-winning goal. "It's a huge two points for us. It was a big game for us, a big win, and we need to keep it going."

With three weeks left in the regular season, the Avs pulled four points behind eighth-place Calgary and have two games remaining with the struggling Flames - losers of three straight and 1-4-1 in their last six games.

"We are now in a good spot where we have control over our own destiny," said Colorado captain Joe Sakic, who assisted on all four goals. "We got Calgary twice, and that's four points. We just have to keep building off of this and take it into Edmonton. I thought we played pretty solid in the first two periods. We were down by a couple, but we still felt good about ourselves."

In other NHL games Sunday night, it was: Washington 7, Tampa Bay 1; Atlanta 4, Buffalo 3 in overtime; Pittsburgh 4, Ottawa 3 in a shootout; Los Angeles 5, Anaheim 3 and Dallas 5, Phoenix, 4 in overtime.

The Sharks did manage to cool off Paul Stastny, halting his rookie record scoring streak at 20 games.

San Jose was headed to a franchise-record 45th win when it took a 3-1 lead on goals by Joe Thornton, Milan Michalek and Bill Guerin. Instead, the Sharks lost for the first time in eight games.

With the Sharks ahead 3-2 early in the third period, Nabokov made a nifty glove save to turn away the Avalanche's 5-on-3 power play that lasted 67 seconds and produced just two shots.

"My theory is that if you don't score on a 5-on-3, you don't win," Colorado coach Joel Quenneville said. "I don't mind being wrong sometimes."

With 6:46 left, Andrew Brunette scored his career-best 25th goal and 71st point when Ken Klee hit a simple backhand shot from the deep slot and Brunette jammed it into the net, tying it at 3.

"I don't know what the Flames are feeling," Sakic said. "But we know we still have a lot of work to do. I think confidence is a big thing. You can't stress enough that when you put a good win streak together, you play with a lot of confidence, and right now we are believing in one another."

Thrashers 4, Sabres 3, OT

Keith Tkachuk's power-play goal with 38 seconds left in overtime helped Atlanta extend its home winning streak to seven.

Atlanta has 88 points and leads Tampa Bay by six points in the Southeast Division. Ilya Kovalchuk, Eric Belanger and Alexei Zhitnik scored for the Thrashers, who are 8-2 since acquiring Tkachuk and Zhitnik in late February.

Drew Stafford, Thomas Vanek and Derek Roy scored for Eastern Conference-leading Buffalo.

Penguins 4, Senators 3, SO

Jarkko Ruutu had the only goal in the shootout and host Pittsburgh tied Ottawa for fourth place in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The teams are tied with 92 points, with Ottawa having one more victory and the Penguins holding a game in hand.

Maxime Talbot, Sidney Crosby and Ryan Whitney scored in regulation for Pittsburgh. Antoine Vermette, Daniel Alfredsson and Wade Redden had Ottawa's goals.

Capitals 7, Lightning 1

Alexander Semin had a natural hat trick in the second period, and Tomas Fleischmann added two goals and two assists to help host Washington win consecutive games for the first time since Jan. 6-9.

Boyd Gordon also scored for Washington and Alexandre Giroux got his second NHL goal.

The Capitals are 2-0-1 since goalie Olie Kolzig returned after missing 13 games with a knee injury. Kolzig made 30 saves against the Lightning.

Filip Kuba scored for Tampa Bay.

Kings 5, Ducks 3

At Anaheim, Calif., Mike Cammalleri had two goals and rookie Patrick O'Sullivan had a goal and two assists to lead Los Angeles.

Blake and Sullivan scored in a 1:32 span late in the second period to erase a one-goal deficit and give the Kings a 4-3 lead. Rookie Noah Clarke added a short-handed goal in the third period to secure the win. Los Angeles goalie Mathieu Garon, who replaced starter Sean Burke early in the first period, made 23 saves - including one on a penalty shot by Teemu Selanne.

Travis Moen, Dustin Penner and Selanne scored for the Ducks, who were 6-0-1 in the first seven games of an eight-game homestand.

Stars 5, Coyotes 4, OT

Mike Ribeiro scored two goals, including the game-winner with 40 seconds left in overtime, to help host Dallas improve to 5-1 in its last six games.

Sergei Zubov gave the Stars a 4-3 lead with 4:24 remaining in regulation, scoring his 11th of the season from the right circle. However, Shane Doan tied it at 4 with 1:33 left in regulation while the Coyotes had a 5-on-3.

Niklas Hagman and Brenden Morrow also scored for the Stars. Fredrik Sjostrom, Derek Morris and Mathias Tjarnqvist had Phoenix's other goals.

Crews Dig Firelines for California Blaze

LOCKWOOD VALLEY, Calif. - Crews dug firelines and reinforced others on the northwestern edge of a wildfire that crept toward hundreds of forest homes in Southern California on Thursday.

The fire moved slowly, feeding on dense stands of pine and thickets of chaparral, sumac and manzanita in the Los Padres National Forest, where the blaze has burned 159,281 acres, or nearly 249 square miles, northwest of Los Angeles since Labor Day.

"We're pretty optimistic. We're getting some lines around the fire. It's starting to look pretty good," said Ventura County fire Battalion Chief Bryan Vanden Bossche. "This is one of the days we've had the least amount of (fire) activity."

…

Lyc-O-Mato, a photo-protective dietary supplement.

David Djerassi, president, Intrachem Technologies; representing LycoRed Corp., Orange, NJ.

IT HAS BEEN KNOWN for many years that solar radiation induces photodamage to skin. Most of the damaging effects, such as sunburn, pigmentation, photoaging, solar keratosis, skin cancer (carcinoma and melanoma) and immuno-suppression have been attributed to UV radiation (290-400 nm).

Topical application of sunscreen products containing UVB and UVA filters provides incomplete protection, because no sunscreen can prevent penetration of all UV light. A small, but significant amount of residual UV light penetrates deep into the skin, causing the formation of UV-induced free radicals. These Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) have been associated with aging, cancer and other age related problems. Addition of antioxidant vitamins C and E, to topical sun care and skin care products can enhance their activity somewhat, but the protection is still incomplete.

Added Photo-Protection

In recent years a number of leading cosmetic companies have added oral beauty supplements to their product lines. These are nutritional supplements, containing carotenoids, minerals and vitamins, are intended to provide "protection and beauty from within." Studies have shown that carotenoids, when given as dietary supplements, are very effective photoprotectants against UV light induced erythema. Such activity is due to their ability to quench ROS. In particular, the tomato lycopene complex, Lyc-O-Mato, an all natural extract of red, ripe tomatoes, is quite effective because it contains 6% lycopene and a unique combination of tocopherols, beta-carotene and the colorless carotenoids, phytoene and phytofluene.

UV Protection Study

In a study conducted by the Institute for Biochemistry at the Heinrich-Heine University of Dusseldorff, Germany, the protective effects of synthetic lycopene were compared with the tomato extract, Lvc-O-Mato. (1) The two volunteer groups par ticipating in the study, ingested similar amounts of lycopene. However, the Lyc-O-Mato group ingested in addition to lycopene, 1.0 mg/day of phytoene and 0.8 mg/day of phytofluene, which were present in the complex.

The dorsal skin of each volunteer was irradiated with 1.25 MEDs at weeks 0, 4, and 12, using a solar simulator. Erythema was evaluated before the irradiation and 24 hours after irradiation. A decrease in erythema formation was observed in both groups, indicating protection from UV induced damage. However, the group ingesting synthetic lycopene showed a 25% reduction in erythema, whereas the Lyc-O-Mato group showed a 38% reduction in erythema, indicating superior protection.

Summary

Topical application of sunscreen products containing UVB and UVA filters provides limited protection, because some of the light penetrates deep into the skin. Addition of antioxidant vitamins C and E enhances the photoprotection somewhat. Recent studies with antioxidant dietary supplements and in particular, the tomato lycopene complex, Lyc-O-Mato have shown that they can minimize free radical damage, reduce erythema (sunburn), enhance the body's immune system and thus, in conjunction with sunscreens, provide optimal protection against UV induced skin damage, which can lead to premature aging. More info: 917-776-5216; LycoRed Corp. 973-882-0322.

Reference

(1.) Olivier Aust., Wilhelm Stahl, Int. J. Vit. Nutr. Res., 03/24, Oct. 2003

Lyc-O-Mato, a photo-protective dietary supplement.

David Djerassi, president, Intrachem Technologies; representing LycoRed Corp., Orange, NJ.

IT HAS BEEN KNOWN for many years that solar radiation induces photodamage to skin. Most of the damaging effects, such as sunburn, pigmentation, photoaging, solar keratosis, skin cancer (carcinoma and melanoma) and immuno-suppression have been attributed to UV radiation (290-400 nm).

Topical application of sunscreen products containing UVB and UVA filters provides incomplete protection, because no sunscreen can prevent penetration of all UV light. A small, but significant amount of residual UV light penetrates deep into the skin, causing the formation of UV-induced free radicals. These Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) have been associated with aging, cancer and other age related problems. Addition of antioxidant vitamins C and E, to topical sun care and skin care products can enhance their activity somewhat, but the protection is still incomplete.

Added Photo-Protection

In recent years a number of leading cosmetic companies have added oral beauty supplements to their product lines. These are nutritional supplements, containing carotenoids, minerals and vitamins, are intended to provide "protection and beauty from within." Studies have shown that carotenoids, when given as dietary supplements, are very effective photoprotectants against UV light induced erythema. Such activity is due to their ability to quench ROS. In particular, the tomato lycopene complex, Lyc-O-Mato, an all natural extract of red, ripe tomatoes, is quite effective because it contains 6% lycopene and a unique combination of tocopherols, beta-carotene and the colorless carotenoids, phytoene and phytofluene.

UV Protection Study

In a study conducted by the Institute for Biochemistry at the Heinrich-Heine University of Dusseldorff, Germany, the protective effects of synthetic lycopene were compared with the tomato extract, Lvc-O-Mato. (1) The two volunteer groups par ticipating in the study, ingested similar amounts of lycopene. However, the Lyc-O-Mato group ingested in addition to lycopene, 1.0 mg/day of phytoene and 0.8 mg/day of phytofluene, which were present in the complex.

The dorsal skin of each volunteer was irradiated with 1.25 MEDs at weeks 0, 4, and 12, using a solar simulator. Erythema was evaluated before the irradiation and 24 hours after irradiation. A decrease in erythema formation was observed in both groups, indicating protection from UV induced damage. However, the group ingesting synthetic lycopene showed a 25% reduction in erythema, whereas the Lyc-O-Mato group showed a 38% reduction in erythema, indicating superior protection.

Summary

Topical application of sunscreen products containing UVB and UVA filters provides limited protection, because some of the light penetrates deep into the skin. Addition of antioxidant vitamins C and E enhances the photoprotection somewhat. Recent studies with antioxidant dietary supplements and in particular, the tomato lycopene complex, Lyc-O-Mato have shown that they can minimize free radical damage, reduce erythema (sunburn), enhance the body's immune system and thus, in conjunction with sunscreens, provide optimal protection against UV induced skin damage, which can lead to premature aging. More info: 917-776-5216; LycoRed Corp. 973-882-0322.

Reference

(1.) Olivier Aust., Wilhelm Stahl, Int. J. Vit. Nutr. Res., 03/24, Oct. 2003

Watney goes to the head of the class

It really shouldn't be surprising that Nick Watney goes into the final round of the PGA Championship today with a three-stroke lead. He has been solid in two of the three previous major championships this year, finishing seventh at the Masters and in a tie for seventh at the British Open.

Watney hasn't won a major yet, though, and doing that can be tough. Just ask Dustin Johnson, who will be his playing partner in the final round. Like Watney, Johnson had a three-stroke lead entering the final round of the U.S. Open in June and stumbled in with an 82, leaving him tied for eighth.

Earlier in the week, Johnson insisted the meltdown wasn't that big a …

Clear Channel buys Radio Equity Partners; $235 million purchase gives it 19 radio stations.

$235 million purchase gives it 19 radio stations

Clear Channel Communications Inc. last week became the nation's largest radio-station owner with its $235 million cash purchase of Radio Equity Partners LP's 19 radio stations.

deal increases Clear Channel's owned-or-operated radio holdings to 92 stations, Clear Channel says, making it the biggest radio-station owner in the country in sheer size. Second (formerly first) is SFX Broadcasting Inc., with 70 stations; Jacor Communications Inc. weighs in at third, with 54 stations.

With Radio Equity Partners' stations, Clear Channel grows its holdings in Oklahoma City, Memphis and New Orleans, giving it four FMs in …

MAN, 9 TEENS ARRESTED AT GUILDERLAND MOTEL.(CAPITAL REGION)

GUILDERLAND -- A 23-year-old man and nine teenagers were arrested early Saturday at a Western Avenue motel after police received a complaint of possible underage drinking, town police Sgt. Carol Lawlor said Sunday.

Police went to the Governor's Motor Inn at approximately 12:30 a.m., Lawlor said. The adult was charged with four …

Afghan: Marjah chief's crime record will be probed

Afghan government officials are not rushing to oust the man they chose to bring fresh and credible governance to a town just seized from the Taliban, but his newly disclosed violent criminal record in Germany will be investigated further, officials said Saturday.

Court records and news reports in Germany show that Abdul Zahir, who has been appointed as civilian chief in Marjah, served part of a more than four-year prison sentence for stabbing his son in 1998. An American official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic, also confirmed Zahir has a criminal record in Germany.

Zahir denies he committed any crime.

…

UNIV. OF MICHIGAN HONORS STUART CHURCHILL AND NAMES SHARON GLOTZER CHURCHILL PROFESSOR

Earlier this year, colleagues and former students of Stuart Churchill gathered at the Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, for a celebration of Churchill's 90th birthday. Churchill, the Carl V. S. Patterson Professor Emeritus of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the Univ. of Pennsylvania, had been a faculty member at the Univ. of Michigan, where he earned his PhD in chemical engineering in 1952. He chaired the chemical engineering department there from 1962 to 1967, before joining U. Penn.

Churchill has made many contributions to the fields of combustion, heat transfer, and fluid dynamics. He also served as AIChE President in 1966, and was elected to the National Academy of …

Dodgers moving to KCOP Los Angeles. (StationBreak).(Los Angeles Dodgers broadcast rights sold to KCOP-TV, Los Angeles, California)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

In a homecoming of sorts, News Corp. is moving the Los Angeles Dodgers over to its newly acquired Los Angeles TV station, KCOP-TV, next season. The former Chris-Craft station has signed a three-year-deal for local broadcast tights.

Tribune-owned KTLA-TV Los Angeles had been the Dodgers' home for the past nine seasons. For the first 35 years that the team was in Los Angeles, the team's games were carried on Fox-owned KTTV-TV Los Angeles. …

Fing'rs offers items for consumers' feet.

CAMARILLO, Calif. - Building on the strong success of its nail art products, Fing'rs is introducing products for consumers' feet.

"We're breaking with something really hot," says Len InDelicato, president of the company he founded in 1984. "It's called Ring Around the Toesies."

The program consists of toe rings, toe nail art, toe spacers and eight colors of polish. The suggested retail price for the kit is $5.95.

"With a silver toe ring, it's a great deal," InDelicato notes. "We showed the kit to a few buyers, and they went ballistic."

Creativity and enthusiasm have always been an important part of Fing'rs corporate identity. The company has made …

HOME & GARDEN CALENDAR.(House-Home)(Calendar)

WEDNESDAY CLASSES & WORKSHOPS Ginseng: A Primer for Beginners WHERE: Agroforestry Resource Center, Route 23, Acra, Greene County WHEN: 6-8 p.m. COST: $15 CONTACT: 622-9820 NOTES: Learn how to get started growing American ginseng on forested land.

SATURDAY CLASSES & WORKSHOPS Basic pruning workshop WHERE: Landis Arboretum, Lape Road, …

COLE FALLS PREY TO DEADLY 'SEDUCTION'.(TELEVISION)

Byline: JAY BOBBIN - Tribune Media Services

Airing Tuesday and Wednesday on CBS, "When Love Kills: The Seduction of John Hearn" features Gary Cole ("Midnight Caller") in the title role of a Vietnam veteran who hired himself out as a self-styled bodyguard and security expert. Unfortunately, his first major client turned out to be a scheming beauty (played by Emmy-winner Marg Helgenberger, of "China Beach" and last week's "The Tommyknockers") who lured him into murdering her brother-in-law, and then her husband ... so that she could collect on their insurance policies, though the totally smitten Hearn didn't realize that.

"He was married several times," …

Conti parts outearn tires.(Suppliers)(Continental Automotive Systems)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)

Byline: Edmund Chew

Continental is more of a diversified supplier than a pure tire maker because making parts is a bigger and more profitable business, says CEO Manfred Wennemer.

Hannover-based Continental Automotive Systems supplies automakers with braking, adaptive cruise control, air suspension and sensor systems.

It is Continental's largest division, accounting for just over 40 percent of sales last year. That's more than either car tires - 33.1 percent of sales - or commercial vehicle tires at 11.5 percent.

More importantly, parts accounted for [euro]312 million, or 45 percent, of the group's operating profits of [euro]694 million in …

Stocks dipped in June, but some think itÂ’s a blip

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are headed for a correction. No, stocks are rallying. Wait, stocks are down again. Or up. A lot.

For investors, June was one long seesaw ride that began with a deep plunge on the first day of the month. Six days of declines were followed a week of give and take and then four days of gains. The month ended with strong earnings from a consumer bellwether and signs that a European debt crisis could be averted. That led to a 4-day advance in the three major stock indexes.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 480 points, or 4 percent, the last four days of the month and the Standard & Poor's 500 index is on track for its best weekly return for since July …

Lovatt is too good for local heroes

Yeovil visitor Shane Lovatt, defeated the local aces in the BSSA'shour-long timed and observation event for the Alan Brown Trophy inHanham Woods.

He was the only one of the main award winners not to incur timepenalties and lost only five marks on observation,.

Chippenham's Craig Talbot was an easy winner of the Wilts BorderClub's Autumn Cup observation-only trial.

Wyvern MCC Somerset Star Grass Track meeting at Ilchester,Saturday - 250cc: L Pitman, Yamaha; 2, K Bull, Yamaha; 3, B Leach,Antig; 4, C Pattison, Antig; 5, R Cooper, Yamaha. 350cc: 1, VKinchin, Potter; 2, M Etherington, Jawa; 3, B Powell, Jawa; 4, TMassingham, Jawa; 5, M Peters, Jawa; 6, S Hooper, …

Skoda India launches new Superb.

Auto Business News-11 March 2009-Skoda India launches new Superb(C)2009 ENPublishing - http://www.enpublishing.co.uk

Auto Business News - 11 March 2009(c)2005 - Electronic News Publishing - http://www.enpublishing.co.uk

Skoda, a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG (Xetra: VW), has introduced its new Superb sedan in India.

The vehicle is priced at INR1,888,000 compared to …

STATIC ON THE AIRWAVES.(CAPITAL REGION)

You may not qualify for a ride in the official state plane, but you can have Gov. George Pataki in your car on the Thruway.

The highway's traffic advisory station -- 1610 AM -- has lately become Radio Free Pataki with a plug for the state and its governor.

``Governor Pataki's policies are working,'' begins the resonant voice of Jack Kinnicutt, Empire State Development's assistant deputy commissioner for public affairs. The ad boasts of the state's 1999 job growth; Pataki credits his ``business-friendly policies'' and declares, ``New York is meeting the challenges of the new economy with less taxes, less regulations, less red tape, and more faith in the …

Bangkok Post, Thailand, Insider Column.

May 2--FIRST DAY COULD BE FUN FOR THAI AIRLINE'S NEW PRESIDENT: The announcement from the PR department of Thai Airways International on Monday might have mystified anyone who was not in on the joke that the airline has become. It said in full:

"Following passengers' inquiries on the flight operations of Thai Airways International, the airline today confirmed to all passengers that THAI would operate a normal flight schedule on both domestic and international routes."

A correspondent was moved to ask: "Why is it news that TG flights are to operate as usual? Is that something that doesn't happen very often?"

Virabongsa Ramangkura is the latest …

Kosovo government toughens stance on polluters

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo is cracking down on companies it accuses of polluting the environment in one of Europe's poorest regions in a change of policy that seeks to reverse decades of neglect.

The country's economy is dependent on power from an aging plant that runs on coal and is regarded as the single biggest source of air and water pollution. After with an uncontrolled construction boom following the 1998-99 Kosovo war, authorities say the environmental situation has reached a critical stage.

"We are now at a phase that if we don't begin to take care of the environment it will be damaged to the extent that it will be irreparable," said Dardan Gashi, Kosovo's Minister …

DRUG DELIVERY - Design of peptide analogues for improved absorption

Results of these studies show that the required characteristics for a potent, specific and absorbable peptide drug can be obtained using a peptide of just 4-6 amino acid residues, provided that it has a total surface area of around 350 -2 and a polar surfaces area of less than 50 -2. Such a molecule is predicted to have a biological activity in the nanomolar range and to exhibit a respectable target specificity. A case is also presented, however, to show that the molecule will have only a very limited peptide character, with the overall conclusion that successful 'peptide' drugs will probably not qualify as peptides at all. Barlow D. and Satoh T., J. Controlled Release, 29, 3, …

BIG EVENT `CHICAGO'.(Arts-Events)

8 P.M.Tuesday, Dec. 6-Saturday, Dec. 10; also 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 10-11

Proctor's Theatre, 432 State St., Schenectady

PROCTOR'S THEATRE

Why it's big: Yes, "The Producers" was originally slated for the opening spot on Proctor's grand new stage, but we'll have to settle for another look at "Chicago," instead. Still, it will be exciting to …

Mexico returns as investment hot spot; Proximity to U.S. market lures suppliers reluctant to build plants in China.

Byline: Lindsay Chappell

Just when it seemed that carmakers had forgotten Mexico, the country's automaking industry is witnessing a spike of activity.

In 2003, investments in auto assembly plants rose by almost eight times the previous year's sleepy level, according to an annual survey by the University of Windsor.

Automakers spent $1.23 billion in Mexico on new or expanded assembly plants in 2003, the survey said. That's up from $160 million in 2002. Mexico's peak was 1996, when automakers invested $1.68 billion.

The auto industry's investment in Mexico is nowhere near last year's approximately $12.0 billion investment in Chinese assembly plants. But the upswing has some observers wondering whether automakers and suppliers are on the threshold of another wave of investment in Mexico.

Ford Motor Co., Volkswagen AG, Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. are expanding production there. Ford and Toyota in particular are establishing supplier campuses for vehicle lines that will serve the United States. In Ford's case, that will mean 35 suppliers locating at its newly expanded Hermosillo, Mexico, plant.

"All eyes have been on China, but we're seeing a resurgence in Mexico now,'' says A.J. Feria, a marketing professor at the University of Windsor who conducted the …

Insiders like Roskam's chances of grabbing seat

Look for a stampede of Republicans to succeed Rep. Henry Hyde --but when the dust clears, most political insiders expect state Sen.Peter Roskam to be in the lead. "I see Roskam walking into this," oneDuPage Republican said.

Others were a bit more measured, but all see Roskam as the one towatch now that Hyde has announced he will not seek a 16th term in thewest suburban 6th Congressional District.

"Now that state Sen. Dan Cronin has withdrawn his name as apossible successor to Congressman Hyde, state Sen. Peter Roskam wouldappear to be the front-runner," said DuPage County Chairman KirkDillard, a state senator from Hinsdale.

"He has name recognition. He's a …