Berlusconi attacker found unfit for trial

The man who hurled a statuette at Premier Silvio Berlusconi, leaving the bloodied Italian leader with a broken nose and two broken teeth, is not fit to stand trial, a judge ruled Tuesday.

Judge Luisa Savoia, however, placed Massimo Tartaglia under observation for one year in a psychiatric hospital where he has been held since February.

The ruling technically finds Tartaglia not guilty of the attack based on a psychiatric evaluation that found the defendant was not capable of knowingly or intentionally committing a crime at the time the attack took place, said defense lawyer Gian Marco Rubino.

"It is clear that the absolution is satisfactory …

Member counts rewards of profession

Member News

When AIChExtra asked its readers, "What are you doing?"members responded enthusiastically from all over the country. The following is the first in an occasional series of member profiles to be featured in upcomimg issues of AIChExtra. The purpose of the series is to let chemical engineers know what their colleagues are doing, what they are thinking, and especially to foster an ongoing dialogue between the Institute and its membership. AIChExtra welcomes comments about the series and encourages more members to tell their stories by writing to communications@aiche.org.

Linda Thompson will never forget her first AIChE meeting. After graduating from Montana State …

French Soccer Standings

…

Team GP W D L GF GA Pts

Lyon 18 12 2 4 37 15 38

Nancy 18 9 7 2 24 10 34

Bordeaux 18 8 6 4 26 23 30

Le Mans 18 9 3 6 26 25 30

Valenciennes 18 8 5 5 23 16 29

Caen 18 8 4 6 21 19 28

Nice 18 6 8 4 18 14 26

Monaco 18 7 4 7 22 18 25

Millions of unseen species fill Earth

WASHINGTON — Our world is a much wilder place than it looks.

A new study estimates that Earth has almost 8.8 million species, but we've only discovered about a quarter of them. And some of yet-to-be-seen ones could be in our own backyards, scientists say.

So far, only 1.9 million species have been found. Recent discoveries have been small and weird: a psychedelic frogfish, a lizard the size of a dime and even a blind hairy mini-lobster at the bottom of the ocean.

"We are really fairly ignorant of the complexity and colorfulness of this amazing planet," said the study's co-author, Boris Worm, a biology professor at Canada's Dalhousie University. "We need to expose …

Psychiatric problems tied to vitamin B-12 deficiency

Psychiatric problems stemming from a deficiency of vitamin B-12appear to be more prevalent than commonly believed, researchers say.

"I think it's a lot more common than people had thought," saidDr. John Lindenbaum, a professor of medicine at theColumbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York.

Doctors had long known that a variety of mental problems rangingfrom minor memory lapses to severe psychotic behavior could be causedby a lack of the vitamin. Also known as cobalamin, the vitamin isnecessary for proper brain function, so a lack of the substancedisrupts normal brain activity.

The problem usually occurs in older people who develop digestiveproblems …

Bush Knows Many Blacks Distrust GOP

WASHINGTON - President Bush, addressing the NAACP after skipping its convention for five years, said Thursday he knows racism exists in America and that many black voters distrust his Republican Party.

Bush lamented the GOP's rocky relations with blacks. He pledged to improve that relationship and work with the NAACP's new leader to achieve common goals.

"I understand that racism still lingers in America," Bush told more than 2,200 people at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's annual gathering. "It's a lot easier to change a law than to change a human heart. And I understand that many African-Americans distrust my political party."

…

Replica of ancient Philippine boat to sail SE Asia

Adventurers who conquered Mount Everest successfully launched a replica of an ancient Philippine boat Saturday that they will use to sail around Southeast Asia and possibly to Africa to promote Filipino pride and unity.

The replica of the balangay _ a wooden-hulled boat used in the archipelago about 1,700 years ago _ was built in 44 days by native Badjao boat-builders from the southernmost Philippine province of Tawi Tawi using traditional skills handed down through the generations.

About 300 spectators counted down to the launch, cheering and applauding as the bow hit the water in Manila Bay.

Jubail Muyong, a teacher who belongs to the Badjao …

Phony Agent Postscript // At Least One Hotel Chain Is Starting to Do Something

Phony travel agents - thousands of Americans posing as agents inorder to secure whopping discounts - were the subject of a recent"Eye to Eye" segment with Connie Chung on CBS-TV, which Ico-produced.

In the wake of the telecast and my report on the subject in thepast two Sundays' newspaper columns, the extent of the abuse and howmuch it's costing you are still being debated.

The reaction was intriguing and, in at least one case, requiresa detailed response. Many airlines, hoteliers and cruise linescalled to thank us for exposing a problem they had been uncomfortableconfronting themselves. And we received numerous calls and lettersfrom angry travel agents who …

Daye earns starting spot for Pistons

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) — After making more 3-pointers than any of his Detroit teammates this preseason, Austin Daye will be in the starting lineup — at power forward.

The versatile second-year man from Gonzaga can give opposing teams fits with his ability to play on the perimeter, and the Pistons are hoping he'll hold his own defensively. At 6-foot-11, 200 pounds, Daye can play several positions, but power forward is where Detroit needs him right now after Jonas Jerebko went down with a torn Achilles' tendon. That injury left Daye and Charlie Villanueva as the likely candidates to start.

Coach John Kuester said Monday that Daye was his choice, at least for now.

"He's …

Gannett expects to meet 1Q earnings forecasts

Gannett Co. said Thursday that trends in advertising revenue are continuing in the right direction and the company should meet Wall Street expectations with first-quarter earnings.

Gannett, which owns USA Today along with more than 80 smaller dailies and 23 TV stations, said its publishing division should see a percentage drop in ad sales in the high single digits, or below 10 percent. That would compare with an 18 percent decline in the fourth quarter from the same period of 2008.

Gannett said it expects to report that ad sales in its broadcast division rose by a percentage in the mid-teens. First-quarter ad revenue at Gannett's NBC affiliates likely got a …

Hubby wants her fiction to spice their lovemaking; Wife makes up scenes of sex with other men -- should she worry?

Dear Ellie: My husband of 15 years has fantasies of other menhaving sex with me while he watches.

I've said that I'm uncomfortable discussing these fantasies. Yetfor six months I've relented and described scenarios while we makelove. We have sexual intercourse every evening, sometimes two orthree times through the night.

My husband is a kind, loving, attentive man. Life with him andour two preteen children is wonderful. He's 10 years younger thanme; I'm in great shape. We both have professional careers.

He says his fantasies are normal, that most men have them. Iwonder if something else is at the root of his fantasies. I have noreason to believe he's …

Big Z sends Cubs to 9-3 win over Mets

CHICAGO (AP) — Cold, wind, a stiff neck, a parade of opposing pitchers — nothing seemed to faze Carlos Zambrano on Thursday, on the mound or at the plate.

Zambrano pitched six strong innings, went 3 for 3 and drove in a run to help the Chicago Cubs beat the New York Mets 9-3 on another nasty day at Wrigley Field.

"Despite weather, it ended up being a lot of fun," Cubs manager Mike Quade said.

Zambrano (5-2) allowed two runs — one earned — on six hits and two walks while picking up his first win at Wrigley Field since Sept. 4. He doubled and scored a run at the plate, and now has four hits in his last four at-bats to raise his average to .375 on the season.

"The …

Villegas opens with a 63 in bid for odd hat trick

Camilo Villegas eagled early and made a string of birdies late for a 9-under 63 on the easier North Course, giving him a three-shot lead in the Buick Invitational on Thursday as he goes for a quirky hat trick.

A victory this week would be his third straight at a tournament where Tigers Woods was the absent titleholder.

Villegas won the BMW Championship and U.S. Tour Championship last autumn _ both won by Woods the previous year _ and he got off to a blazing start on a cloudy, chilly day along the Pacific bluffs.

He hit a lob wedge over the bunker and into the hole for eagle on the par-4 second hole to quickly put his name atop the leaderboard, then built his lead with three birdies in a four-hole span on the back nine.

Davis Love III and Aaron Baddeley each shot 66 on the North while playing in the same group.

The best score on the South Course, site of the U.S. Open last summer, belonged to Scott Sterling and Matthew Goggin at 69. Given the disparity of these courses, the leaderboard doesn't sort itself out until everyone has played both sides.

Phil Mickelson, a three-time winner of the Buick Invitational, put together a solid round of 70 on the South Course with a few big par saves, including a 15-footer on his final hole.

British Open and U.S. PGA champion Padraig Harrington, making his U.S. season debut, started strong with three birdies on the opening four holes of the North Course, but a four-putt double bogey on the 17th sent him to a 71.

Woods was the four-time defending champion at the Buick Invitational, but still was recovering from season-ending surgery on his left knee _ a week after his U.S. Open playoff victory.

"I'm glad he's not here," Villegas said. "He plays pretty good around here, I can tell you that."

Villegas wasn't too shabby on the North Course, which was more than 3 1/2 strokes easier than the South, but still no bargain with blustery, cool conditions, along with greens that were firmer than usual with no water on them in anticipation of rain this weekend.

Coming off a missed cut last week in the FBR Open, Villegas opened with a simple birdie on the par-5 first, then made a mistake with his tee shot on the 326-yard second hole by hitting his drive to the right, 50 yards from the flag with a bunker in the way.

Using a new 63-degree sand wedge, he popped it up over the sand and never saw it go in the hole.

"I had a decent lie," Villegas said. "I just puffed it up in the air, and I knew it was good, but I didn't see the ball go in. My caddie said, 'It went in.' Early in the round, not much of a reaction."

He made some big putts on the back nine, including a 25-foot birdie on the 14th with a big break to the left. That followed a chip that bounced harder than he expected, part of the difficult of playing the firm greens.

It should get tougher on Friday.

The average score on the South Course was 75.37, which was why Pat Perez was smiling after a 73. "That's like 69," he said.

Villegas had the right attitude going into his second round.

"The rough is up. It's tough. It was very firm during the pro-am," he said. "If it rains a little, it's going to get softer, the rough is going to get a little more severe. Who knows, man? Just go out there and hit some shots."

Love was pleased with a 66, for no other reason than it kept him near the top of the leaderboard going to the South Course.

"You've got to get off to a good start no matter what," Love said. "Because three rounds on the South will bring you down."

Infiltrated Ku Klux Klan

MIAMI — Author and folklorist Stetson Kennedy, who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan six decades ago and exposed its secrets to authorities and the public but was also criticized for possibly exaggerating his exploits, died Saturday. He was 94.

In the 1940s, Mr. Kennedy used the "Superman" radio show to expose and ridicule the Klan's rituals. In the 1950s, he wrote I Rode with the Ku Klux Klan," which was later renamed The Klan Unmasked, and The Jim Crow Guide.

Mr. Kennedy began his crusades against "homegrown racial terrorists" during World War II after he was rejected for military service because of a back injury. He served as director of fact-finding for the southeastern office of the Anti-Defamation League and served as director of the Anti-Nazi League of New York.

Using evidence salvaged from the Grand Dragon's waste basket, he enabled the IRS to press for collection of a $685,000 tax lien from the Klan in 1944, and he helped draft the brief used by Georgia to revoke the Klan's corporate charter in 1947.

Kennedy infiltrated the Klan by using the name of a deceased uncle who had been a member and began giving its secrets to the outside world. He testified before a federal grand jury in Miami about the Klan chain of command in the 1951 bombing death of Florida NAACP leader Harry Moore and bombings aimed at black, Catholic and Jewish centers in Miami.

He presented evidence in federal court of Klan bombings and other violence aimed at preventing blacks from voting in the 1944 and 1946 elections.

Late in life, Mr. Kennedy was miffed at allegations that some of his writings were fabricated or exaggerated. Stephen J. Dubner and Steven D. Levitt, co-authors of Freakonomics, alleged that Mr. Kennedy misrepresented portions of I Rode With the Ku Klux Klan, as did critic Ben Green, who wrote about the civil rights era.

"He stood up against the Klan at a time when that was an unpopular position," Green once said. "The problem . . . is that what he actually did was apparently not enough for him. So Stetson has felt compelled to exaggerate and embellish what he actually did."

Mr. Kennedy acknowledged that some of the material came from another man who also infiltrated the Klan, but did not want his name used.

AP

StetsonKennedyDaron Dean

Lone Star faithful still love Cowboys over Texans

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Clad in a white Tony Romo jersey, Melissa Tellez was posing for a picture on the steps of the Texas Capitol when she was asked which NFL team is No. 1 in the Lone Star State.

She rolled her eyes and didn't answer. Instead, she illuminated her cell phone to display the screensaver with images of players for the Dallas Cowboys.

Deep in the heart of Texas, and pretty much everywhere else in the state, the Cowboys are king and the Houston Texans aren't much more than an afterthought outside the city where they play.

Never mind that the Texans are 2-0 and the Cowboys are 0-2 heading into Sunday's matchup in Houston. This nine-year-old expansion team can't compete with the popularity the Cowboys have gained in an illustrious 50-year history filled with larger-than-life figures who are ingrained in the fabric of the state.

Texans owner Bob McNair understands that and knows the best way to change things is by winning, something Houston didn't do much of during its first few seasons.

"We think it's an opportunity here in Texas to have a great rivalry that creates a lot of interest for football, and the NFL," McNair said. "Frankly, the more we beat the Cowboys, the more interest there will be. We're the new kid on the block, and we have to prove ourselves. The quicker we do that, the more fun everybody in Houston is going to have."

There were six years where Houston didn't have an NFL team after the Oilers left, leaving no other option than to pull for the Cowboys for fans wanting to be loyal to their state. And the Texans might not even rank second, since there is a fanatical following for the Texas Longhorns throughout much of Texas.

Loyalty to the Longhorns run so deep that many locals vowed never to support Houston after the team drafted defensive end Mario Williams instead of Vince Young with the first overall pick in the 2006 draft.

"They really messed up in passing up Vince Young," said Richard Raymond, a state lawmaker from Laredo. "It's still hard for me to forgive them for that. I would have certainly liked the Texans a lot more had they gone with Vince Young. They let that one get away."

Houston is also oddly still competing with a team that left the state 14 years ago. Bum Phillips, who coached the Oilers during their "Luv Ya Blue" heyday in the late '70s, thinks Houston's success this season could finally win over fans who soured on the NFL when Bud Adams moved the Oilers to Tennessee after the 1996 season. That team is now the Titans and they happen to be led by Young.

"The Oilers and the city tied together so great during a long period of time that when they left a lot of people just really lost interest in football," Phillips said. "It took a while, it took what the Texans are doing now, which is winning, to get them back excited and back to football again."

It was Bum who, at the height of the Oilers' success, famously said of the Cowboys: "They may be 'America's Team,' but we're Texas' team." He still believes it.

"They are the state's team," he said of the Texans. "As far as I'm concerned they've always been the state's team. The thing I thought that made the Oilers the state's team is the effort they put out ... that's what inspired Houston to get behind them and the Texans are doing that right now. They are laying it all on the line every game."

Gov. Rick Perry, not surprisingly, expressed support for both teams and their "competitive spirit."

"While these two teams have gotten off to very different starts, nobody participating in this game needs to be reminded how quickly things can turn around in the NFL," he said.

Still, as a Texas A&M graduate living and working in Austin, Perry has to understand how it feels to root for the other guy. His Aggies, of course, trail the Longhorns in popularity.

Raheel Ramzanali grew up in Houston and hosts a local radio show. He said he's never seen Texans fans more excited.

"The Houston Texans always have the little brother syndrome because they are the newer team," he said. "There's not many Texans fans outside of Houston. It's a Dallas state where everybody roots for the Cowboys. No matter what they do, big brother's going to get more attention ... they're proud of the Texans, but yet they always feel like they're disrespected no matter what happens."

In some cases, the reach of the Cowboys might be a product of geography, with the cities closer to Dallas latching on to the team in their vicinity. However, some of the most ardent supporters of the Cowboys live in the Rio Grande Valley, which is much closer to Houston. Of course, the Cowboys training in San Antonio, as they did this year, allows fans easier access to their favorite team.

Raymond, the South Texas lawmaker, thinks his region's love for the Cowboys can be traced to Tom Landry, who coached the team from its 1960 inception through the 1988 season, winning two Super Bowls along the way.

"I think it's safe to say that the Cowboys will have more folks cheering for them in Laredo than the Texans will," Raymond said. "Tom Landry, who was their first coach, is from down in the valley, from Mission. So I guess historically there's always been a strong connection to the Dallas Cowboys in part because of that."

But it isn't just South Texas and Austin where the Cowboys rule. In Amarillo, College Station, El Paso and almost every city in between — including the Houston suburb of Katy — there is an official Cowboys shop with team gear. There are six of those stores scattered throughout the sprawling Dallas-Fort Worth airport alone.

Fans looking for a similar Texans store outside of Reliant Stadium are out of luck. One opened in The Woodlands suburb in 2008, but has already closed. And while many Cowboys games are broadcast nationally, Texans games aren't always shown in some parts of Texas; during Houston's franchise-worst 2-14 season in 2005, a game was being shown in the Panhandle but the network switched to another game after the Texans' fell far behind early in the third quarter.

Erin Hogan, the program director for an ESPN radio affiliate in Austin that broadcasts Cowboys games, happens to be a fan of the Texans. He tries to drum up talk about Houston on his show, but says about 80 percent of his listeners only want to talk about the Cowboys.

"I don't think there needs to be a debate of why they're popular," he said. "They're America's team, so it goes without question that they're Texas's team. I don't even argue it."

Some think it will take the Texans winning a Super Bowl to win over people in the state. Others say it will never change.

Bum, the ol' coach, pauses for a second when posed with the question and then drawls out his guarantee.

"Let me tell you one thing, just keep going the way they're going and they will overtake them real quickly," he said.

The 87-year-old Phillips finds himself in a quandary this week. Does he root for Dallas, where his son, Wade, is the coach and grandson Wes is an assistant? Or does he go with his beloved Houston?

"Obviously I've got a family connection with the Cowboys, but I've got an even longer family connection with Houston no matter who it is, whether it's the Oilers or the Texans," he said. "So I'm kind of torn between two things. In fact, I'm so torn I'm not even going to go to the game."

He will remain on his South Texas ranch in Goliad, where he retired a few years ago.

"I'll watch it, but I don't want the wrong people to see me crying or laughing," he said, only half-joking. "You win both ways. Either your favorite city wins or your favorite son wins."

If only it were that easy for the rest of Texas.

_____

AP Sports Writer Chris Duncan and AP Writer April Castro contributed to this report.

Selig won't reverse ump's mistake on perfect game

The imperfect game stands.

An umpire's tears and admission he blew a call failed to move baseball commissioner Bud Selig to award Armando Galarraga the perfect game he pitched. The play and its aftermath quickly became the talk of the sports world and beyond, even reaching the White House.

Selig said Thursday that Major League Baseball will look at expanded replay and umpiring, but didn't specifically address umpire Jim Joyce's botched call Wednesday night that cost Galarraga the perfect game _ 27 batters up, 27 batters down. No hits, no walks, no errors.

A baseball official familiar with the decision confirmed to The Associated Press that the call was not being reversed. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because that element was not included in Selig's statement.

Joyce said he erred on what would've been the final out in Detroit, when he called Cleveland's Jason Donald safe at first base. The umpire personally apologized to Galarraga and hugged him after the Tigers' 3-0 win, then took the field at Comerica Park on Thursday in tears.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland picked Galarraga to present Detroit's lineup at home plate before Thursday's game to set up the emotional meeting with Joyce. They shook hands, and the umpire gave the pitcher a pat on the shoulder.

"I didn't want this to be my 15 minutes of fame. I would have liked my 15 minutes to be a great call in the World Series. Hopefully, my 15 minutes are over now," Joyce said.

Bad calls are part of the mix in sports, witness the many mistakes last October in baseball's postseason. But something about this one _ the chance to right a wrong, the heartfelt emotions of everyone involved _ reached way past the lines.

"I've got to say we'll never see it again in our lifetime," New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

Galarraga, who was barely known outside Detroit before this week, and Joyce, whose career had flourished in relative obscurity, became hot topics on Twitter. At least one anti-Joyce Facebook page popped up and firejimjoyce.com was launched. Wikipedia blocked editing to the umpire's page.

Joyce, a longtime ump with a solid reputation, declined comment on MLB's statement after Thursday's game, saying he hadn't read it.

What Selig said was: "There is no dispute that last night's game should have ended differently."

"There's no doubt he feels bad and terrible," Galarraga said after Detroit beat Cleveland 12-6 on Thursday. "I have a lot of respect for the man. It takes a lot to say you're sorry and to say in interviews he made a mistake."

"I'm sad, but I know that I pitched a perfect game. The first 28-out perfect game," he said.

Denied the 21st perfect game in history, the record third this season and the first for a Detroit pitcher, Galarraga still got a prize. The Tigers and Chevrolet presented him with a new Corvette.

Opinions poured in from all over, on both sides.

"I was thinking if the umpire says he made a mistake on replay, I'd call it a no-hitter, perfect game. Just scratch it," St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said Wednesday night. "If I was Mr. Selig, in the best interest of the game, the guy got it and I'd give him his perfect game."

To others, rewriting sports history would open a Pandora's Box _ what happens in an instant must live forever.

"It's in the books and, unfortunately, that's the way it goes," fan Jim Qualter said at Fenway Park.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said: "I hope that baseball awards a perfect game to that pitcher." Told that MLB was not going to reverse it, he joked, "We're going to work on an executive order."

Gibbs praised the way Galarraga and Joyce reacted to a play that will define their careers.

"I think it's tremendously heartening to see somebody understand that they made a mistake and somebody accept the apology from somebody who made that mistake," he said. "I think that's a good lesson in baseball. It's probably a good lesson in Washington."

Tweeted actress Alyssa Milano: "Personally, I agree with Selig on this one. Part of the game (as it is played now) is human error."

Selig regularly consults some of baseball's greatest players, such as Hall of Famers Hank Aaron and Frank Robinson, before making big decisions. Other senior officials and advisers also have input.

The umpire who made perhaps the most infamous call of all thought Selig got it right.

Don Denkinger's missed call in Game 6 of the 1985 World Series _ like Wednesday night's play, it involved a pitcher covering first base _ helped cost the Cardinals a chance to clinch it. St. Louis later lost to the Kansas City Royals.

"No, you can't change it," Denkinger told the AP in a telephone interview. "It was Jim's call, and it's got to go down that way."

"You can't run from it, it's a part of life," he said.

In 1991, a panel headed by then-commissioner Fay Vincent took a look at the record book and decided to throw out 50 no-hitters for various reasons. None of them, however, involved changing calls made on the field.

The NFL, NBA, NHL and the NCAA all employed some form of replay before baseball started trying it late in the 2008 season, limiting its use to questionable home run calls.

On Wednesday night, hockey twice turned to replay to review possible goals in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals.

"Baseball being traditionalists, I guess they don't want to go that way, and that's fine by me. For us, it works out great," Chicago Blackhawks center John Madden said.

Added Philadelphia goaltender Michael Leighton: "Obviously, baseball's wishing they had it and the guy in Detroit wishes they had it."

Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia was among those who opposed additional replay in the majors.

"I think there's too many plays that are close that could possibly be up for review, and I think it would become dysfunctional," he said.

Soccer remains the biggest sport that wants no part of replay, which could become a focal point when the World Cup starts in South Africa later this month _ a tournament that will feature France and not Ireland because of a missed call.

French superstar Thierry Henry touched the ball with his left hand and arm before passing for to score the decisive goal in a playoff last November against the Irish.

FIFA said it could not review referees' decisions and declined to use replay in the wake of the hand ball.

Replay is a popular part of Grand Slam tennis, and the man who designed the Hawk-Eye system said it could work in baseball, too.

"All decisions in baseball could be resolved definitively and accurately without causing delay to the game," Paul Hawkins wrote from Britain in an e-mail to the AP.

"In my view, the main benefit of using technology in sport is that you want the story after the match to be about the contest and the players, not about the officials," he said. "If you want to make artificial stories out of 'creating controversy,' then you don't have much faith in the sport."

To Hawkins, there are several challenges to a sport deciding to rely more on electronic _ and not human _ eyes.

"Most governing bodies are made up of former players and do not have anyone with a technical knowledge to have an understanding of what is technically possible," he said.

___

AP Sports Writers Larry Lage, Mike Fitzpatrick, Howard Ulman, John Marshall, Ira Podell and Dan Gelston, and AP freelance writer Dave Hogg contributed to this report.

SOUND OFF: WHAT YOU SAID

Last week's question:

Should Hershey invest in automation and cut jobs to compete with behemoths such as Mars Inc. and Kraft-Cadbury? Why or why not?

YES: "If Hershey feels the need for automation to stay ahead in the candy business and not lose money, then this is something (it) should do. Unfortunately, this is progress. Hershey is a well-known company with a good history. A reputable history. Milton Hershey would want the business to succeed. However, he would never want to put the Hershey School or the town of Hershey at risk. Whatever decisions Hershey makes, (it has) to have the town of Hershey and the school's best interests come first along with (its) decision.

Also, Hershey is not looked on fondly right now because of moving jobs to Mexico and taking jobs away from Americans. (It needs) to keep this in mind for the future. (It) also always, always (needs) to have a plant in Hershey or it will not be Hershey candy anymore. (It) will lose the best asset (it has). As for the old plant, (the company) should not destroy it but keep it as a museum in memory of Milton Hershey and the first Hershey company. (It) should give jobs to the workers who are going to lose theirs because of the move. It would be much more authentic than the ride through Chocolate World. Tourists would love it along with everyone else."

-Sandra Wesch, Lancaster County

YES: "Hershey should invest to be more efficient.

1. Companies cannot pass price increases to the customer year after year.

a. Commodity prices have increased for Hershey.

b. Unless the industry (Mars and Nestl�) increase prices, Hershey could lose market share and profits by having a higher-cost product.

c. Concerns over "Obama Care" could cause health insurance prices/administrative costs to increase.

2. Companies that fail to be proactive and stay lean, may go the way of the dinosaur!

a. Look at the demise of the steel industry. Souring manufacturing and labor costs made it impossible to compete.

b. Look at the demise of Amp. Failure to take advantage of efficiencies, technology, and operating lean was its demise. Amp had a good and reputable product but was badly managed with too many layers of management.

c. I am convinced the competition (Nestl� and M&M's Mars) would love The Hershey Co. to continue to operate the higher-cost outdated plant.

3. The Hershey Trust

a. The Hershey Trust (Milton Hershey School) owns approximately 75 percent of the voting shares.

b. I would imagine the Hershey Trust forecasts the profitability of The Hershey Co. in order to keep Milton Hershey's school and legacy operating for disadvantaged youths.

c. Most stockholders look for profitable companies (in which) to invest.

d. I would imagine that if The Hershey Co. was not profitable, the Hershey Trust would need to make some tough decisions regarding The Hershey Co.

Hershey Foods needs to take advantage of efficiencies and technology to keep manufacturing jobs here in the United States. Technology and training keep manufacturing jobs in the USA and keep these jobs from moving to low wage countries."

-Tom Zinn, Dauphin County

HIT REFRESH! The Business Journal Web site is updated continuously. Visit throughout the day for midstate news.

www.centralpennbuslness.com

Santas Brave Heat to Parade at Convention

COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Singing Christmas carols and bellowing ho-ho-hos despite the 90-degree heat, dozens of jolly old elves ended the World Santa Claus Convention on a merry note Wednesday, voting to make Christmas presents bigger.

Many of the Santas sweated profusely while parading through an amusement park north of the Danish capital in their red-and-white suits.

"It is hot. One would even believe it was summer," one Danish Santa sighed under his fake beard before disappearing into a sea of St. Nicks.

The event has grown from a local summer festival begun 43 years ago into an event that attracts Santas - as well as Mrs. Clauses and elves - from around the world. This year, a record 171 people from Scandinavia, Germany, Russia, the United States and Japan attended the convention.

The Kris Kringles competed in belly shaking chuckles and Christmas tree decorating. They cooled off with dips in the ocean between debates on topics such as whether Yuletide celebrations that emphasize Christmas Eve over Dec. 25 are acceptable.

"There is always something to learn from other traditions, habits and culture," said Scott Serafin, a Santa for the past 37 years in Buffalo, N.Y. "It's interesting to hear what others say when they talk with children."

Surprisingly, the vote to increase the size of Christmas presents was not unanimous - but no Scrooge was lurking among the Santas. Paradise Yamamoto, a Santa from Tokyo, simply missed the translation and raised his hand too late.

Weight change, nutritional risk and its determinants among cognitively intact and demented elderly Canadians

ABSTRACT

Nutritional risk and its predictors were assessed by evaluating longitudinal changes in body weight using data collected from elderly community-dwelling and institutionalized Canadians who participated in both phases of the Canadian Study of Health and Aging, CSHA (n=10,263). Change in body weight (% initial weight) was examined over a 5-year interval in 584 community and 237 institutionalized participants, and its predictors tested in multiple and logistic regression analyses. Average weight at CSHA-2 was 97% of initial weight at CSHA-1. Values were lower in those over 90 years and the demented. Increasing frailty on a 7-point scale (beta=-1.23, p=0.04) predicted weight loss in institutional participants, as did difficulty in eating unaided (beta=4.24, p<0.001) and reported loss of interest in life (beta=2.22, p<0.001) among community subjects. Some 16% in institutions and 9% in the community were at moderate/severe nutritional risk, disproportionately represented by the oldest subjects and the demented. These analyses support the importance of assessing dietary intakes, anthropometrics, well-being and environmental predictors of aging in the elderly.

ABREGE

Nous avons evalue le risque nutritionnel et ses predicteurs en examinant les changements longitudinaux du poids a partir de donnees recueillies aupres de Canadiens ages vivant dans la communaute ou en etablissement et ayant participe aux deux phases de I'Etude sur la sante et le vieillissement au Canada, ou ESVC (n=10 263). Les changements de poids (en pourcentage du poids initial) ont ete evalues sur un intervalle de cinq ans chez 584 participants vivant dans la communaute et 237 asilaires. Nous avons teste les predicteurs de changement par des analyses de regression multiple et logistique. Le poids moyen lots de l'ESVC-2 correspondait a 97 % du poids initial mesure lors de l'EESVC-1, avec des valeurs plus faibles chez les plus de 90 ans et les personnel atteintes de demence. Les predicteurs de perte de poids chez les participants en etablissement etaient la fi*ite accrue, mesuree sur une &chelle de sept points (b=-1,23, p=0,04), et la difficulte a s'alimenter seul (b=4,24, p<0,001); chez les sujets vivant dans la communaute, les predicteurs de perte de poids etaient l'affirmation d'avoir perdu le gout de vivre (b=2,22, p<0,001). Environ 16 % des participants asilaires et 9 % de ceux vivant dans la communaute presentaient un risque nutritionnel modere ou grave, ce risque etant plus eleve chez les plus ages et les personnes atteintes de demence. Ces analyses soulignent l'importance d'une evaluation des apports alimentaires, des mesures anthropometriques, du bien-etre et des predicteurs environnementaux du vieillissement chez les personnel agees.

Poor nutritional status in elderly individuals is considered a key determinant of morbidity and mortality.1-9 Ideally, a nutrition marker should be specific and sensitive to nutritional status changes, reproducible, easy and inexpensive to apply, and widely available." While such a global index does not exist, longitudinal anthropometric data can furnish indicators of the relationship between body composition and health.11-13

Risk of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) increases with loss of appetite, decrease in % usual weight, and increased % weight change in the previous year.14-18 Estimates of nutritional risk in the older person vary considerably depending on the setting and the parameter assayed, ranging from 15% in the community to 30 to 60% in nursing homes or institutions.19-22

Weight changes after age 50 are generally associated with deterioration in health, increased mortality risk after age 70(23-25) and mobility problems.25 Unintentional weight loss has been linked to greater age, poorer health, and smoking, and in men, widowhood. Education and a low usual BMI appear to be protective.26 Attempts to alter weight may be related to an increase in mortality risk.27 Finally, weight loss may also be associated with the onset and/or progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD).15

Weight change, assessed as % initial weight, is a potential predictor of proteinenergy malnutrition and subsequent mortality.15-18,28-30 A 4 to 5% annual weight loss is considered clinically significant, increasing mortality especially in `involuntary weight losers'.8 In hospitalized patients, risk of undernutrition has classically been judged as low when current weight is 85-- 95% of usual weight, moderate if current weight is 75-84% of usual weight, and severe if it falls below 75%.31

Study context

The Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA) was conducted in two phases, with a nation-wide prevalence study of dementia in 1991-92 (CSHA-1) in the aging Canadian population, and a longitudinal follow-up phase in 1996 (CSHA-2), designed to assess the incidence of dementia.32 People aged 65 years and over were randomly selected at CSHA-1 (from provincial health databases, except in Ontario where electoral lists were used), using recruitment procedures which differed for those living in the community (n=9,008; response rate 72% of those contacted) and in institutions (n=1,255; response rate 82%). At CSHA-2, surviving cohort subjects were re-contacted and rerecruited into the study, and questionnaires and procedures were re-administered. Community subjects were screened by interviewers for cognitive impairment using the "3 MS",33 a modified MiniMental State Examination (MMSE).34 The untestable, those testing positive, and a random sample of control subjects (having a reference person willing to complete certain study instruments) underwent a clinical examination. All institution participants who met inclusion criteria (spoke English or French, lived in study area) took part in the clinical examination. The final cognitive diagnosis was reached by consensus of the clinician, another physician, and a neuropsychologist, aided by the nurse who had administered the Clinical questionnaire, using DSM-III-R criteria.35 Participants not consistent with dementia criteria but who manifested cognitive impairment were termed "cognitively-- impaired, not demented" (CIND), by exclusion.

The present study sought to 1) assess nutritional risk, defined as % initial weight (baseline weight at CSHA-1), by evaluating longitudinal changes in body weight over the 5-year interval between the two study phases, and 2) elucidate predictors of nutritional risk, defined as extent of weight loss from CSHA-1 to CSHA-2.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Data sources and subjects

Data were extracted from the CSHA-2 Screening and Clinical questionnaires. The subject's ability to feed him/herself, and indices relating to depression (factors with impact on dietary intake in the elderly) were taken from the CAMDEX (Cambridge Mental Disorders of the Elderly Examination) questionnaire36 administered at CSHA-2. Selected activities of daily living (ADLs), or Instrumental ADLs (IADLs) were derived from the Older Americans Resources and Services (OARS) Multidimensional Functional Assessment Questionnaire37 (ability to eat unaided, shopping, meal preparation). Data were self-reported by able participants, or by proxy when subjects were unable to respond for themselves. Weight was measured by a nurse during the clinical examination, following procedures established at training, and values were taken from CSHA-1 and CSHA-2 datasets. In CSHA-1, weight was measured in 1,529 (17%) communitybased subjects and 1,174 (93.5%) institutional subjects. In CSHA-2, 752 community subjects and 333 institutional subjects were reassessed, and weight was remeasured in 603 (80.2%) and 249 (74.8%) respectively. Participants were lost to follow-up in Phase 2 mainly due to death (39.2%-community, 68.7%-- institutions) or refusal/non-contacts (11.6%-community, 3%-institutions) (Figure 1).

Analyses

Analyses were conducted separately for institution and community subjects and subcategories of dementia were tested for internal differences. A systematic review verified participants' weight data for clinical and logical plausibility. Consequently, 31 subjects with unacceptable values (substantial and implausible divergence in weight from CSHA-1 to CSHA-2, or unlikely weight for gender or height) were excluded from analysis.

After examining longitudinal changes in weight, height, and BMI,38 weight change over the 5-year interval was re-assessed as initial weight. Predictors of weight change (or loss) were tested in multiple regression analyses in each sub-sample after assessing relationships between the dependent and independent variables in bivariate analyses. Independent variables were age, sex, 3MS score, cognitive diagnosis at CSHA-2, study region, presence of a spouse and/or recent bereavement, selfreported weight gain or loss, functional vulnerability, ability to eat unaided, appetite, depression (including self-reported interest in life), frailty (assessed via a 7-- category ascending scale derived from clinical observation, and ranging from "very fit" to "completely dependent" - see Appendix), income, and for community participants, institutionalization since CSHA-1. Region of residence (five geographic regions in Canada, potentially reflecting cultural, environmental or other regional diversity) were examined as additional possible explanatory variables.

Risk of undernutrition was categorized as none (current weight >95% of usual weight), low (current weight 85-95% of usual weight), or moderate/severe (<85% of usual weight), modified from the more severe definitions published by Blackburn et al.31 This less stringent approach allows for differences between hospitalized patients and home-dwellers, making few assumptions about baseline (CSHA-1) body weight. However, it does assume that negative weight change in the elderly is a health risk factor.23-25 To examine the relationship between weight loss and AD, it was stratified by age, sex and cognitive diagnosis.

Finally, risk of undernutrition was dichotomized into absence (% initial weight >95%) or presence of risk (% initial weight <=95%), and logistic regression analyses were carried out for each sub-sample, with % of initial weight as the dependent variable. Potential predictors of weight change leading to undernutrition included age, cognitive diagnosis at CSHA-2, study region, ability to eat independently, loss of appetite, weight loss, depression, self-reported interest in life, frailty, and for community subjects, ability to shop and bereavement. Analyses were conducted using SAS V6.12 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC) and SPSS (SPSS V8 Inc., Chicago, IL).

RESULTS

Subjects retained the recruitment status (institution or community) established at CSHA-1, whatever their situation during CSHA-2. Weight data were available for 249 institution and 603 community subjects. Review of these values resulted in retention of 237 (95.2%) in institutions, and 584 (96.8%) community subjects (Figure 1).

In both groups, CSHA-2 weight was, on average, 97.1 +/- 12.6% of initial (CSHA-1) weight. Persons aged 90+ years, and those diagnosed as demented had the lowest values in each series, especially in institutions (93.6 +/- 12.4% and 95.6 +/- 12.6%, respectively). As the median values were virtually identical to the means in both sub-samples, 50% of subjects were within 97% or more of their initial weight at CSHA-1 when reweighed at CSHA-2 (93% for those aged 90+ in institutions). However, a non-- negligable proportion of participants were at some risk of undernutrition (Table I).

Models emerging from multiple regression analyses on predictors of weight change are given in Table II. Among institution participants, increasing frailty was a predictor of greater weight loss in comparison to initial weight (beta-1.23, p=0.04). Residence in a region other than Quebec was inversely related to % initial body weight. This was statistically significant for participants in Ontario and in British Columbia (beta=-5.62, p=0.03). In community subjects, ability to eat independently (beta=4.24, p<0.001) and reported sustained interest in life (beta=2.22, p<0.01) predicted a higher % initial weight at CSHA-2.

Among institution subjects overall, 57% were assessed to be at no risk, 27% at low risk, and 16% at moderate/severe risk of undernutrition. A significantly greater proportion of those aged 90+ were in the moderate/severe risk category compared to other age groups. There was a significant, progressive inverse trend of increased nutritional risk among demented subjects, compared to CIND, compared to those diagnosed as cognitively normal (Table III). In community subjects, smaller proportions were at risk, and progressive departure from normal cognitive diagnosis to CIND to demented was related to highly significant greater proportions of subjects at moderate/severe nutritional risk. Although not significant, proportionately more women appeared to be at moderate/severe risk of undernutrition compared to men (Table IV). In institutions (where 71% of those aged 90+ were demented), a significantly higher proportion at risk were demented, compared to those diagnosed as CIND or normal. In community participants (33% were aged 90+), higher (not significant) proportions of 90+ CIND and demented were at nutritional risk (data not shown).

Finally, increasing frailty predicted a significantly greater risk of undernutrition expressed as present (<95% of initial weight) or absent (>= 95% of initial weight). In all subjects, reporting a sustained interest in life heralded a diminished risk of undernutrition, and in the community group, reporting a consistent appetite was also a positive factor in diminishing risk of undernutrition (Table V).

DISCUSSION

The present analyses examined weight change in a subset of elderly Canadians who had participated in both phases of the CSHA. An average weight loss of 3% of initial weight occurred over the 5-year interval between CSHA-1 and CSHA-2, with greater losses of baseline body weight observed in participants over 90 years of age at CSHA-2, and in the demented. These findings concur with the literature.39-43 While the mean weight loss values would appear to augur favourably for health outcome, there was a greater risk of undernutrition due to weight loss in the very elderly (90+ years) living in institutions, in the demented compared to CIND, and in CIND compared to cognitively normal participants in both recruitment groups. In the community, a diagnosis of dementia was most strongly related to risk of undernutrition due to weight loss. These findings support those of Wallace et al.,8 who observed that mortality increased in elderly weight-losing subjects (regardless of intention to lose weight), a phenomenon expected to increase with advancing age. Acute and chronic disease and psychosocial factors are believed to be the main causes of unintentional weight loss,24-27 especially among those in long-term care.28 Since "intention" could be viewed as a potential marker for weight-related illness,26 weight history is germane to understanding the origin of weight loss and its potential consequences which foster health risks in those over the age of 70 years.23,24,44,45 Still, healthy elderly do not always lose weight over time: among male participants in the New Mexico Aging Process Study weight did not change, but women lost an average of 0.14 kg annually over the 9-year study period.46

In institutionalized participants, multiple regression analyses showed that increasing frailty predicted greater weight loss, as did residence in Ontario or British Columbia compared to Quebec. We are unable to explain this latter finding, which may be an artifact of the way the dummy variable representing "region" was constructed, or may reflect cultural or environmental disparities among elderly Canadians living in a country with regional distinctions. However, as Quebecers were smaller and had lower body weights at CSHA-1 than Canadians in other regions,47 perhaps they simply had less weight to lose. In subjects living in the community during CSHA-1, ability to eat unaided and a self-reported sustained interest in life emerged as positive predictors of initial weight. In some (data not shown), reported ability to eat unaided was a negative predictor of % initial weight, suggesting more weight loss. Perhaps those who reported being able to eat unaided could do so, but they were unable to procure an adequate diet.

This study is limited in that the present analyses did not consider CSHA-1 decedents. These data thus reflect body weight in the surviving members of the cohort. Also, as very elderly subjects were oversampled in the community, the sample may not represent home-dwelling elderly. Since health status at the time of these analyses was not considered, we could not distinguish between age-related decreases in body weight (e.g., loss of lean body mass) and those caused by illness (such as cancerrelated weight loss or being confined to wheelchair or bed), or even deliberate and desirable weight loss. It must also be remembered that the models emerging from the multiple regression analyses were only weakly predictive of weight change, with variance accounted for by the models of 9.3% (institution) and 4.7% (community). However, the main predictors of risk of weight loss (and consequently, risk of undernutrition) emerging from logistic regression analyses were frailty and a reported diminished interest in life (all subjects), and loss of appetite (community participants), factors with logical coherence. It may therefore be postulated that a lack of interest in life (a marker of depression) together with a loss of appetite (associated with depression or other illness) are indicators of weight loss, concurrent undernutrition and increasing frailty, which lead to morbidity and poor quality of life. Clearly, information on food habits, dietary intakes and the dietary environment of participants could have shed more light on the anthropometric outcome measures.

In order to foster quality of life and maintenance of health and help them remain in their homes and avoid institutionalization, community-dwelling elderly should be screened regularly for indicators of nutritional status, including dietary adequacy, meal preparation ability, other functional capacities and food security.11 Hospitalized patients and residents in long-term care must also be assessed regularly with the goal of maintaining body weight.28 Finally, epidemiologic studies in elderly populations should collect longitudinal data on diet and anthropometric measurements.39

These analyses of weight change and nutritional risk over time in this cohort evoke predictors of nutritional status in aging Canadians that could be amenable to intervention, and point to the importance of including information on dietary and nutritional intakes, anthropometric indices, well-being and environmental predictors of aging in the elderly.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The data in this article were collected as part of the Canadian Study of Health and Aging. The core study was funded by the Seniors' Independence Research Program through the National Health Research and Development Program (NHRDP) of Health Canada (project no. 6606-3954-- MC(S)). Additional funding was provided by Pfizer Canada Incorporated through the Medical Research Council/Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Canada Health Activity Program, NHRDP (project no. 6603-1417-302(R)), Bayer Incorporated, and the British Columbia Health Research Foundation (projects no. 38(93-2) and no. 34(96-1)). The study was coordinated through the University of Ottawa and the Division of Aging and Seniors, Health Canada.

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Received: January 11, 2000

Accepted: July 24, 2000

[Author Affiliation]

Bryna Shatenstein, PhD, PDt,1,3

Marie-Jeanne Kergoat, MD, CCFP, FCFP, CSPQ,1,2 Sylvie Nadon, MSc, DtP1

[Author Affiliation]

1. Centre de recherche, Institut universitaire de geriatrie de Montreal

2. Geriatrician, Chief, Dept. of Specialised Medicine, Institut universitaire de geriatrie de Montreal

3. Departement de nutrition, University de Montreal

Correspondence: Dr. Bryna Shatenstein, Centre de recherche, Institut universitaire de geriatric de Montreal, 4565 Queen Mary, Montreal, QC, H3W 1W5, Tel: 514-340-3540, ext. 3247, Fax: 514-340-- 2801, E-mail: bryna.shatenstein@umontreal.ca

Horst Ademeit

Horst Ademeit

HAMBURGER BAHNHOF- MUSEUM F�R GEGENWART

Born in Cologne in 1937, Horst Ademeit was a trained craftsman who worked odd jobs and lived a significant part of his life in a low-income housing project, ill, paranoid, and immersed in legal proceedings concerning fees that he owed and complaints that he filed. Although he had attended Joseph Beuys's open-door class at the Kunstakademie D�sseldorf in 1970, Ademeit did not find support for the work that he was producing, and subsequently ceased fine-art training. In fact, the Polaroid photographs, journals, and handwritten notes that comprise Ademeit's first museum exhibition, curated by Udo Kittelmann and Claudia Dichter, were not conceived as artworks; they have been valued as such only since 2008, when they were brought to the attention of Galerie Susanne Zander in Cologne by the staff of the nursing home where Ademeit was then living, but from that point until his death from cancer in 2010, Ademeit embraced this categorization.

Ademeit's "Observationsbilder" (Observation Images), 1990-2004, depict details of the urban landscape of D�sseldorf: buildings, vehicles, and trees as well as construction sites, waste, and grime. These and other "annoyances" were the subject of Ademeit's investigation, an obsessive activity that simultaneously helped him to manage his frustrations. In copious photographs and written reflections, he attempted to reveal hidden systems and the effects of the "cold rays" that he believed permeated his environment. He documented his body, the behavior of spiders found around his apartment, and activity on the street. When he found that a building's window shades were suspiciously left closed, Ademeit returned to the location daily, over the course of months, and if they remained that way he would note it in the margins of the original Polaroid.

In his apartment, Ademeit created a separate record ultimately comprising 6,006 Polaroid photographs; each depicts the day's newspaper topped with devices intended to measure "cold" radiation, such as battery testers, analog clocks, and a light meter. Packed tightly in the photographs' margins are indications of the date, the weather, and the instruments' readings, as well as Ademeit's reflections concerning the news and daily life. There is a raw formal beauty resulting from the devoted regularity and systematic deviations of Ademeit's process; seen altogether along three walls, these "Tagesphotos" (Daily Photographs), 1990-2004, exhibit an exquisite color shift from blue to pink to black, the effect of Ademeit having switched to using a different pen for a time. Elsewhere in the exhibition, works consisting only of notes made on scrap paper are grouped together under the rubric Schriftbilder (Writing Pictures). The term aptly reflects that Ademeit's minuscule handwriting, given its practical illegibility, has exchanged the relation of meaning for pictorial value.

As evidenced by this exhibition, the recent penchant for authentic and original creators has resulted in the assimilation of a body of nonartistic work into an institutional context; in this case it is justified, in that Ademeit's photographs and writings function as art of the highest caliber. His project was intended to make sense of life and reveal what Bruce Nauman once referred to as "mystic truths," and it shares with some great art the power to sensitize viewers for a time to the realities found outside the confines of art. Ademeit's reflections amount to condensed, expressive content - undeniably present, fundamentally personal, and largely inaccessible, except for a precious word here and there, as if in a single detail one could glimpse the ways of the world.

- John Beeson

Britain, others likely to miss 2009 deadline for clearing land mines: report

Britain is one of 12 countries likely to miss a 2009 deadline to clear all land mines from its territory, a group that campaigns against the weapon said Monday.

The International Campaign to Ban Landmines said the British government has not begun to clear the estimated 16,000 mines left on the Falkland Islands since its 1982 war with Argentina.

Bosnia-Herzegovina, Chad, Croatia, Mozambique, Niger, Peru, Senegal, Thailand, Venezuela, Yemen and Zimbabwe are also off-target to complete the clearance process by the self-imposed deadline of March 1, 2009, the ICBL said in its annual report.

"We'd be happy to be proved wrong," said Ian Doucet, chief editor of the 1,124-page report.

The prediction _ based on official and non-governmental reports from countries that have signed the 1997 Ottawa Convention against land mines _ "is an estimate, but we think it's a fairly sound estimate," Doucet told journalists in Geneva, where the group spearheaded by American Jody Williams has its headquarters.

Britain blamed "complex bilateral negotiations" for the delay, according to an official cited in the report. The status of the Falklands remains hotly disputed by Argentina, which maintains its claim to sovereignty over the South Atlantic territory.

Britain will present a detailed report on the situation in the Falklands at a meeting of signatories to the anti-mine convention in Jordan next week.

Land mines became a prominent political issue in Britain following a campaign by the late Princess Diana, who called for an international ban on their use shortly before she died in 1997.

The report said France, which uses mines to protect a military installation in the east African nation of Djibouti, also hasn't begun clearing operations despite committing to the deadline.

In total 217,000 anti-personnel mines, 18,000 anti-vehicle mines and more than 2.15 million pieces of debris known as "explosive remnants of war" were destroyed in 2006, the year covered in the report.

Four countries _ Iraq, Indonesia, Kuwait and Montenegro _ joined the Ottawa treaty prohibiting the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of land mines during the period, taking the number of signatories to 155.

The United States has not signed the treaty and is not bound by its provisions. But Washington's allies, who have signed the convention, could find themselves in breach of it should the U.S. decide to deploy land mine-type weapons during a joint operation, said Stephen Goose of Human Rights Watch.

Weapons currently being developed by the U.S. military include two that have a "battlefield override option," he said. They can be switched from an explosive device triggered by a soldier with a computer to a more conventional land mine as defined by the treaty.

"States who are party to the treaty couldn't be involved in military operations with the U.S. if the U.S. were to use it," said Goose, who sits on the report's editorial board.

Overall, the report paints a positive picture of global efforts to neutralize the threat of land mines, he said.

Last year 5,751 people were injured or killed in land mine explosions, down 16 percent on 2005, according to the report.

Six countries _ Angola, Cape Verde, Cyprus, Latvia, Montenegro and Serbia _ destroyed their existing stockpiles of the weapon, while only Myanmar and Russia, which are both outside the treaty, deployed land mines in 2006.

Williams and ICBL received the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts.

___

On the Net:

International Campaign to Ban Landmines: http://www.icbl.org/

TURNTABLE SET-UP & Calibration

This column is intended to teach DJs about proper turntable set-up and calibration. It answers many of the fundamental questions that, if you understand, will make your lives a lot easier - whether you're a beginner or expert.

What is skating?

Skating is the centripetal force generated by a turning record, which causes the tonearm to be drawn towards the inside of the record. Anti-skating is an adjustment used to compensate ior that. For DJ'ing, you always want your anti-skating to be set to zero. This allows it to be drawn in the natural direction during back-cueing and scratching.

When you get into HiFi cartridges it becomes crucial because the diamond profiles are so sensitive to even the most minor adjustments. This is less of a concern for spherical stylus-type DJ cartridges which sit more central to the groove anyways.

What is the height or Vertical Tracking Angle (VTA)?

This is the angle required to make the stylus sit in the groove properly, from front-to-back. Most DJs don't even look at this setting, but taking the time to adjust it properly can yield better sound quality and groove holding performance. Your height should always be set to be parallel to the record surface during playback. This depends, o� course, on the height of the cartridge and the thickness of the record and slipmat. For DJ use, it's often overlooked and it generally makes less of a difference with a DJ cartridge. That explains why you can go to a club and find their tonearm heights set at completely arbitrary heights, yet DJs can perform the whole time and not notice a difference.

What is the difference between straight and curved tonearms?

For DJ use, the only straight tonearm type is called an underhung arm, meaning that the arm is intentionally kept shorter to provide better scratch performance. This has a tendency to cause uneven vinyl wear and, overall, is bad for your records. This is not to be confused with a HiFi-type straight arm, which is much longer. The S-shaped tonearm is still the best-shaped tonearm for the professional DJ.

Can you explain Vertical Tracking Force (VTF) and what we need to know about it?

This is a critical adjustment for DJs, and it really pays to have an understanding of how to properly balance a tonearm before you even delve into VTF. This is adjusted via the counterweight on the rear of the tonearm. Too much weight, and you'll wear out your records prematurely (and sometimes the stylus as well). Too little weight, and you'll damage the grooves of your records.

What exactly is the signal output and why is it important?

It's the voltage generated by the cartridge during playback. My S-120, for example, is 10 mV, which means that my software (in the case of the SLl) doesn't have to apply as much software gain to the signal in order to get it loud enough to analyze the timecode. The less gain you have to apply, the higher the signal to noise ratio, and the better that the software can detect and analyze timecode.

What are the best settings for a noisy environment/jumpy needle?

With a traditional cartridge, your best bet is to increase the tracking force to the upper threshold as suggested by the manufacturer. The reality is that increasing tracking force does cause more profound record wear, so I still wouldn't overdo it unless it was with an old set of control vinyl or in emergency situations.

What are the best settings for preserving control signal quality?

I use Serato and I like to keep my control vinyl in the best shape possible, so I don't really track my cartridges any heavier than about 3, maybe 3.5 grams if I have to. Generally, your best bet is to follow the tracking force recommendations that are included with the cartridge, but if you are light-handed, you can opt for the minimum recommended value and still make out just fine.

[Sidebar]

Louis Dorio is a professional DJ of over 10 years. Outside of the office, you can find him hosting his weekly show. Electronic Warfare, on Bassdrive.com, the Internet's premier drum and bass network.

[Author Affiliation]

Yala Fox is an international DJ currently based out of New York City. You can find more information on his work and research at www.darwinv8themaolilne.com.

Reports: Crude bomb kills 1 in Bangladesh

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — A local news agency says a crude bomb has killed at least one person during clashes between police and opposition activists in Bangladesh's capital.

United News of Bangladesh reported that at least five vehicles were set on fire in central Dhaka during Sunday's violence.

The violence erupted after baton-wielding police dispersed thousands of opposition activists trying to rally to mark the country's 40th independence anniversary.

It was unclear why police prevented the rally. Officials were not immediately available for comments.

The agency said one man died after a homemade bomb — explosives in tin pot — exploded during the clashes in Motijheel commercial district.

Television footage showed police chasing dozens of stone-throwing protesters.

Spotlight's on West End stage sensations

YOUNG singers and dancers from a Bristol stage school stole theshow when they performed at the London Palladium.

More than 20 budding stars from Starlight Dance and TheatreCompany performed at the world famous London theatre as part of theLondon Palladium Children's Variety Show.

Starlight, which is based in Windmill Hill, is no stranger to thebright lights of London this was the school's sixth West End show,its third at the Palladium.

Their most famous former pupil is Fame Academy star Katie Lewis.

Aged from 11 to 18, the 21 Palladium performers all take regularlessons at Starlight in Windmill Hill.

Four Bristol performers sang solo on the Palladium stage.

Ashton's Natalie Williams, aged 12, sang Don't Rain On My Paradefrom Funny Girl, 18-year-old Louise Ennevor, of Clevedon, sang RealLove of My Life from Brigadoon and 16-year-old Jessie Rose, ofBedminster, sang All That Jazz from Chica go.

The fourth soloist, Rhiannon Hacker, aged 15, from Whitchurch,sang Immortality from Saturday Night Fever.

Rhiannon is Starlight's dance captain and she helped with thePalladium choreography, working with the other dancers individuallyto help them learn the steps.

The Children's Variety Show at the Palladium is a well-knownshowcase for young talent and involves stage schools from all overthe country.

Heather Aldred, Starlight's vocal dance choreographer, said: "Theshow was fantastic, the children worked really hard starting theirday at 7am on Sunday and arriving home at 1am on Monday morning.

"The organiser said they were fantastic and they can't wait to seethem back on the Palladium stage in December.

"The stage director, very well known actor Russell Richardson, wasfull of praise and he said they were very talented. The childrenreceived so much encouragement."

Compere of the show was former EastEnders and Hollyoaks star IanPuleston-Davies who was so impressed he repeatedly called forStarlight principal Moira Aldred to step onto the stage to take a bowbut she was backstage helping the performers get ready and missed thecalls.

In December, Starlight youngsters will return to the Palladium toperform Cell Block Tango from Chicago and Masquerade from Phantom ofthe Opera.

Auditions are taking place for the next three weekends. Singersneed to be aged between 15 and 19, and performers who will dance andsing must be aged between 11 and 19.

For more information call Moira Aldred on 0775 270 8049.

Bird Brain Dies After Years of Research

WALTHAM, Mass. - Alex, a parrot that could count to six, identify colors and even express frustration with repetitive scientific trials, has died after 30 years of helping researchers better understand the avian brain.

The cause of Alex's death was unknown. The African grey parrot's average life span is 50 years, Brandeis University scientist Irene Pepperberg said. Alex was discovered dead in his cage Friday, she said, but she waited to release the news until this week so grieving researchers could get over the shock and talk about it.

"It's devastating to lose an individual you've worked with pretty much every day for 30 years," Pepperberg told The Boston Globe. "Someone was working with him eight to 12 hours every day of his life."

Alex's advanced language and recognition skills revolutionized the understanding of the avian brain. After Pepperberg bought Alex from an animal shop in 1973, the parrot learned enough English to identify 50 objects, seven colors and five shapes. He could count up to six, including zero, was able to express desires, including his frustration with the repetitive research.

He also occasionally instructed two other parrots at the lab to "talk better" if they mumbled, though it wasn't clear whether he was simply mimicking researchers.

Alex hadn't reached his full cognitive potential and was demonstrating the ability to take distinct sounds from words he knew and combine them to form new words, Pepperberg said. Just last month, he pronounced the word "seven" for the first time.

The last time Pepperberg saw Alex was Thursday, she said. They went through their back-and-forth goodnight routine, which always varied slightly and in which she told him it was time to go in the cage.

She recalls the bird said: "You be good. I love you." She responded, "I love you, too." The bird said, "You'll be in tomorrow," and she responded, "Yes, I'll be in tomorrow."

Big stone is thrown through window

At 9.40pm on October 11, a large stone was thrown through a firstfloor double glazed window of a home in Hayes Mews, Glastonbury.

Between 11.15am and 1pm on October 12, part of a concrete blockwas thrown through the glass window of a shed in the garden of aproperty in Manor House Road, Glastonbury.

At 1.05pm and 1.14pm on October 15, two people were detained fortaking chocolate and secreting into their pockets at Cadbury'sFactory Shop in Clarks Village, Street.

On October 15 at 1pm a window was smashed on drivers side rear ofa vehicle at Jubilee Road, Street, no entry gained.

Between 2pm on October 15 and 9am on October 16, a chain securingtwo gas bottles outside a mobile home in a field in Hulk Moor Drove,Street, was cut, but nothing was taken.

Cerberus head: US can't let automakers fail

The head of the company that owns most of Chrysler LLC says the United States needs an economic stimulus package and must make sure the domestic auto industry doesn't fail.

Cerberus Capital Management LP Chairman John Snow said Wednesday that president-elect Barack Obama and his treasury secretary need a bipartisan plan to counter the worst economic downturn in about 50 years.

Snow says the U.S. auto industry is a vital part of the economy. He said on the CNBC cable channel that the industry's collapse would be devastating to a new president.

Cerberus is in talks with General Motors Corp. about GM acquiring Chrysler. GM is seeking federal aid for the deal.