September 2009

Obama's Olympic pitch draws GOP complaint

Posted Tue, 09/29/2009 - 13:57 by admin

NEW YORK – President Obama's decision to travel to Copenhagen to boost Chicago's chances of winning the 2016 Olympics has drawn criticism from some Republicans, who call it a boondoggle for Obama's hometown allies and evidence the president has blurred his priorities.
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele denounced the visit on a conference call with reporters Tuesday. Calling it "noble for the president to pitch his home city, Chi-town," before the International Olympic Committee Friday, Steele said it nonetheless was a distraction from more pressing issues such as health care, job creation and other urgent demands on Obama's time.
However, Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and 2008 Republican presidential contender, said Obama was right to make an appearance.
"In the current environment, the presence of a head of state is important to get the Games," Romney, who headed the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, said, noting that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair had set a new standard by personally lobbying for his country's succesful 2012 Olympic bid.
Steele said it raised questions about Obama's priorities.
"Where is the focus?" Steele asked. "At a time of war, at a time of recession ... I think this trip is nice but not necessary for the president. The goal should be creating job opportunities not seven years from now, but job opportunities today."
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs laughed when told of Steele's criticism of Obama's trip.
"Who's he rooting for?" Robert Gibbs said. "Is he hoping to hop a plane to Brazil and catch the Olympics in Rio? I don't know. Maybe it's Madrid."
Steele's comments echoed those of Rep. Peter Hoekstra of Michigan, the ranking GOP member of the House Intelligence Committee, who told reporters Obama should focus on the escalating conflict in Afghanistan.
Just last week Obama said he wouldn't make the trip to Copenhagen, citing his need to press for health care reform legislation instead. White House officials mentioned the economic benefits the U.S. would receive from a winning Olympics bid in explaining the president's sudden change of heart.
First Lady Michelle Obama was originally slated to represent Chicago before the IOC but will now share the duties with her husband.
The city's bid is competing with bids from Rio de Janeiro, Madrid, Spain and Tokyo, and the heads of state from Brazil, Spain and Japan are appearing in person to make their countries' pitch.
Indeed, Curt Hamakawa, director of the Center for International Sport Business at Western New England College in Massachusetts, said Chicago would likely lose the bid if Obama had chosen not to go.
"For the president not to attend would send a signal, and it would not be helpful to Chicago's bid. Almost certainly it would result in Chicago not having a chance," Hamakawa said, adding that if Obama had stayed home and Chicago wasn't selected, "Republicans would have been crabbing that he didn't do enough."
GOP strategist John Feehery said it was important for Republicans to pick their battles in deciding how and when to criticize Obama.
But Feehery, a Chicago native who said he is rooting for the city to win the Games, said GOP complaints about Obama's trip were well-founded.
"He's taking a bunch of Chicago cronies on an all expense paid trip to Copenhagen for just one reason, to get the Olympics," Feehery said. "For me it makes him seem unserious and look slightly desperate."
Grumbling about Obama's trip began to bubble up on conservative blogs and Web sites soon after the White House announced Obama's trip Monday.

"It's not like the president doesn't have anything to do, nothing important on his plate at the moment, right?" the blog Rightwing Nuthouse.com asked, while the conservative Drudge Report posted a television news story about a Chicago teen beaten and murdered in gang warfare there last week.

"Olympic Spirit," the Drudge Report declared in a headline.

UN ratchets up criticism of Sri Lankan camps

Posted Tue, 09/29/2009 - 13:39 by admin

COLOMBO (AFP) –
The United Nations on Tuesday issued its strongest criticism yet of Sri Lanka over its continued internment of 250,000 people who fled fighting in the final stages of the island's separatist war.

Walter Kaelin, a representative of the United Nations secretary-general, said civilians held in tightly-guarded camps should be granted freedom to ensure that the island complied with its international obligations.

"Immediate and substantial progress in restoring freedom of movement for the displaced is an imperative if Sri Lanka is to respect the rights of its citizens and comply with its commitments and obligations under international law," he said in a statement received here.

He criticised the slow screening of people in the camps for suspected Tamil Tiger rebels and called for unhindered humanitarian access to the camps by international and local aid workers.

Restoring freedom to the displaced "is becoming a matter of urgency, and I remain very concerned about the very slow pace of releases", Kaelin said, two days after wrapping up a visit to camps in the island's north.

Kaelin, UN representative on the human rights of internally displaced persons, said a clash over the weekend between troops and people interred in a camp underscored the growing tensions and human rights abuses.

The incident "that resulted in injuries to two persons raises serious human rights issues", he said.

Sri Lanka has resisted repeated calls to free the civilians saying that the authorities need more time to screen the them and weed out suspected Tamil rebels.

The UN has said that up to 7,000 civilians may have perished in the first four months of the year while many more were wounded. Sri Lanka has denied targeting civilians and blamed Tigers for using civilians as a human shield.

Tiger rebels were defeated in May when the military wiped out their leadership. The offensive sparked international condemnation of the government's handling of the final stages of the war.

The UN announced earlier this month that Sri Lanka's government was not making sufficient progress in implementing a promise to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in May to resettle the refugees within six months.

9 in 10 high schoolers short on fruits, veggies

Posted Tue, 09/29/2009 - 08:42 by admin

ATLANTA – Less than 10 percent of U.S. high school students are eating the combined recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables, a finding that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called "poor" in a report Tuesday.
The report based on 2007 data found that only 13 percent of U.S. high school students get at least three servings of vegetables a day and just 32 percent get two servings of fruit. Less than 1 in 10 get enough of both combined.
Some states — including Arkansas and North Carolina — were significantly below those averages. But some New England states, particularly Vermont, were notably better.
The CDC said the report was the first to give such detailed information on adolescents' fruit and vegetable consumption. The information comes from a national survey of about 100,000 high school students in 2007.
CDC officials said the findings indicate a disheartening gap between how people should be eating and what they're actually doing in an era of rampant obesity.
Federal nutrition goals for 2010 call for at least 75 percent of Americans to eat two servings of fruit each day and at least 50 percent to eat three vegetable servings.
"This is a call for states, communities, schools and families to support increased fruit and vegetable consumption," said Heidi Blanck, a CDC senior scientist who worked on the report.
The CDC also released data on a survey of adults. It found fruit and vegetable consumption was basically unchanged from when a similar survey was done in 2005: About 27 percent got at least three servings of vegetables a day, and 33 percent got two servings of fruit.
People who participated in the survey were asked, essentially, how many times a day they had fruit or vegetables. Fruit juice counted but pieces of fruit are considered preferable, because they're more filling alternatives to fatty, processed snacks, Blanck said.
Vermont and other states that had higher rates of fruit and vegetable consumption also have more farmers markets per 100,000 people than the national average. And schools in those states were more likely to stock pieces of fruit in vending machines or at snack shops, Blanck said.
The report did not have numbers for every state. For twelve of them, high schooler survey samples were not considered large enough to provide a statistically reliable number.
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On the Net:
CDC report: http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/indicatorreport

Membership Management Software

Posted Tue, 09/29/2009 - 08:33 by admin

Membership Management Software

Computer software is often regarded as anything but hardware, meaning that the "hard" are the parts that are tangible while the "soft" part is the intangible objects inside the computer. Software encompasses an extremely wide array of products and technologies developed using different techniques like programming languages, scripting languages or even microcode or a FPGA state. The types of software include web pages developed by technologies like HTML, PHP, Perl, JSP, ASP.NET, XML, and desktop applications like OpenOffice, Microsoft Word developed by technologies like C, C++, Java, C#, etc. Software usually runs on an underlying software operating systems such as the Linux or Microsoft Windows. Software also includes video games and the logic systems of modern consumer devices such as automobiles, televisions, toasters, etc.

The term "software" was first used in this sense by John W. Tukey in 1958. In computer science and software engineering, computer software is all computer programs. The theory that is the basis for most modern software was first proposed by Alan Turing in his 1935 essay Computable numbers with an application to the Entscheidungsproblem.

Park Benches

Posted Tue, 09/29/2009 - 07:30 by admin

A bench is a piece of furniture, which mostly offers several persons seating. As a rule, benches are made of wood, but one can also find stone benches and benches made of synthetic materials. Many benches have arm rests. In public areas, benches are often donated by persons or associations, which may then be indicated on it, e.g. by a small copper plaque.

Various types of benches are specifically designed for and/or named after specific uses, such as a Bench (weight training) is used for fitness exercises, such as the bench press which is named after its use of a bench a Communion bench is not used as a seat Piano benches offer usually one person seating and are height adjustable. a spanking bench, such as a caning bench, is specifically designed for a spankee to lie upon, possibly strapped down, while submitting to paining of the posterior Swing seats are independently movable, suspended benches, used for play or as a relaxing porch swing. a courting bench (or kissing bench, or tête-à-tête): a two-seater with the seats pointing in opposite directions, thus almost facing each other. A friendship bench in a school playground is where a child can go when they want someone to talk to. The bench in a courtroom, behind which the judge is seated.

Park Benches

Urgent probe as girl dies after cervical cancer jab

Posted Tue, 09/29/2009 - 04:54 by admin

LONDON (AFP) –
An urgent investigation was under way on Tuesday after a 14-year-old school girl collapsed and died after being vaccinated against cervical cancer.

The girl, who was named as Natalie Morton, died on Monday shortly after being injected with the Cervarix vaccine at the Blue Coat CofE school in Coventry.

The vaccine, which is made by pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, is being administered to schoolgirls as part of a national vaccination programme to protect against the disease.

Health authorities immediately isolated the suspect batch of vaccine which protects against Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually-transmitted virus which is the primary cause of cervical cancer.

"The incident happened shortly after the girl had received her HPV vaccine in the school," said Dr. Caron Grainger, joint head of public health for the National Health Service (NHS) in Coventry and Coventry City Council.

"No link can be made between the death and the vaccine until all the facts are known and a post-mortem takes place."

She added: "We are conducting an urgent and full investigation into the events surrounding this tragedy."

In a statement GSK said it was working with health authorities "to better understand this case, as at this stage the exact cause of this tragic death is unknown.

"As a precautionary measure, the batch of vaccine involved has been quarantined until the situation is fully understood," it said, noting that over 1.4 million doses of Cervarix have already been administered across the country.

To date, the "vast majority" of adverse reactions were either down to the known side-effects of the drug, or "due to the injection process and not the vaccine itself," the company said.

Awareness of cervical cancer was raised earlier this year by the death of British reality television star, Jade Goody, who flagged the importance of women having regular cervical smear tests as she herself was dying of the disease.

Suspected U.S. drone attack kills five in Pakistan

Posted Tue, 09/29/2009 - 03:54 by admin

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) –
A suspected U.S. drone aircraft fired two missiles Tuesday at a Taliban commander's house in Pakistan's South Waziristan region, killing five militants, intelligence officials said.

The strike took place about 60 km (40 miles) northeast of Wana, the main town in South Waziristan, the Pakistani officials said. South Waziristan is on the Afghan border and a sanctuary for al Qaeda and Taliban militants.

"The house of the commander has been completely destroyed and five dead bodies, three Pakistanis and two Uzbeks, have been recovered," one of the intelligence officials, who declined to be identified, told Reuters.

He identified the commander as Irfan Mehsud.

Residents said six militants were wounded and that Pakistani Taliban fighters had cordoned off the area and were not letting people approach.

The United States stepped up its attacks by pilotless drones on militants in northwestern Pakistani border sanctuaries last year as the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan intensified.

There have been nearly 60 such strikes since the beginning of 2008, including one in early August that killed Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud.

About 500 people, most of them militants, have been killed in the strikes since early last year, according to a tally of reports from Pakistani security officials and residents.

Pakistan officially objects to the drone strikes, saying they violate its sovereignty and the civilian casualties they sometimes inflict inflame public anger.

U.S. officials say the strikes are carried out under an agreement with Islamabad that allows Pakistani leaders to decry the attacks in public.

Late Monday, a drone fired a missile at the house of a Taliban supporter in the North Waziristan region, which is also on the Afghan border, but it missed and caused no casualties, Pakistani security agents in the region said.

Teak Bench

Posted Tue, 09/29/2009 - 03:51 by admin

Teak Bench

Often benches are simply called after the place they are used, regardless whether this implies a specific design Garden benches are very similar to public park benches set outdoors, but the former offer usually only two or three -, the latter mostly up to five persons sitting places. Picnic tables, or catering buffet tables have long benches as well as a table. These tables may have table legs which are collapsible, in order to expedite transport and storage. Church pews inside places of worship are equipped with an additional kneeling bench.

Various types of benches are specifically designed for and/or named after specific uses, such as a Bench (weight training) is used for fitness exercises, such as the bench press which is named after its use of a bench a Communion bench is not used as a seat Piano benches offer usually one person seating and are height adjustable. a spanking bench, such as a caning bench, is specifically designed for a spankee to lie upon, possibly strapped down, while submitting to paining of the posterior Swing seats are independently movable, suspended benches, used for play or as a relaxing porch swing. a courting bench (or kissing bench, or tête-à-tête): a two-seater with the seats pointing in opposite directions, thus almost facing each other. A friendship bench in a school playground is where a child can go when they want someone to talk to. The bench in a courtroom, behind which the judge is seated.

Tokyo makes environment a priority in 2016 bid

Posted Tue, 09/29/2009 - 03:42 by admin

COPENHAGEN – Tokyo's bid for the 2016 Games could be an environmental model for future Olympics — and the entire world.
Tokyo organizers touted their bid Tuesday, saying the compact plan shows that even the world's largest cities can make environmental sustainability a reality. Tokyo will use several renovated venues from the 1964 Olympics, and its Olympic stadium would be the world's first to be powered by solar energy.
To emphasize the impact environmental problems have on the entire world, Tokyo's organizers brought along an interactive globe that shows the spread of pollutants and possible effects of global warming.
Tokyo is in a tight contest with Chicago, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro ahead of the IOC's vote Friday to select a host for the 2016 Olympics.

Japan PM proposes East Asian community to China (AFP)

Posted Tue, 09/22/2009 - 06:33 by admin

NEW YORK (AFP) –
Japan's new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama made his global debut Monday with a message of reconciliation to China, asking President Hu Jintao to work together for an EU-style East Asian community.

Less than a week in office, Japan's new center-left leader flew to New York for the UN General Assembly. He plans to meet world leaders here and at the Group of 20 summit in Pittsburgh.

Hatoyama, who advocates an easing of Japan's long prickly ties with its giant neighbor, told Hu that he intends to push a vision of an East Asian community to unify the region, possibly under a single currency.

"I told (Hu) that I would like to form an East Asian community by overcoming differences," including a dispute over exploitation rights for gas fields lying near islands the two countries claim in the East China Sea, Hatoyama told reporters.

Hu stopped short of agreeing to the proposal but said he wants to "make it a peaceful and friendly sea" by tackling sticking points, a Japanese government official said.

Hatoyama's Democratic Party of Japan ended more than half a century of almost unbroken conservative rule in a sweeping election victory last month.

While few expect East Asia to immediately overcome wartime memories and create an Asian Union, his tone marked an unmistakable sign from Japan's new leader that he wants to work with, rather than against, a rising China.

Hatoyama also said he would follow a landmark statement of apology for Japan's wartime aggression issued in 1995 by then-prime minister Tomiichi Murayama -- one of the few other left-leaning leaders in modern Japan.

"I highly praise your stance of sticking to the Murayama statement over the recognition of past history," Hu told Hatoyama, according to the Japanese official.

Hatoyama recently proposed building a new state memorial to serve as an alternative focus to the controversial Yasukuni shrine, which honors war dead but also 14 convicted war criminals and is often seen as a symbol of Japan's past militarism.

Hatoyama plans to meet South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak in New York on Wednesday ahead of a planned three-way summit of Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo next month.

At the meeting with Hu, the Chinese president welcomed Hatoyama's pledge to dramatically step up Japan's commitment to fighting climate change by pledging to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent from 1990 levels by 2020.

Hatoyama is expected at a special UN climate summit on Tuesday to also offer help to poor countries to combat climate change.

Chinese officials have indicated that they expect a strong statement from Hu to break a diplomatic logjam in climate negotiations.

The Japanese official said Hu told Hatoyama that China will "also make an effort to achieve success" at a December meeting in Copenhagen meant to seal a post-Kyoto treaty.

In Beijing, the foreign ministry said it welcomed Hatoyama's East Asian community proposal.

"Strengthening regional cooperation is the trend of the times," ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told reporters in response to a question on the issue.

Relations between Japan and China plunged to modern lows during the 2001-2006 premiership of Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi, who annually visited the Yasukuni shrine and sought a greater global role for Japan.

But some analysts predict that hiccups in relations will remain under Hatoyama, who has called for Japan to be more outspoken on human rights including Tibet, where China sent troops in 1950 and last year clamped down on protests.

The Japanese official said Hu told Hatoyama, "I would like you to understand the Tibet issue."

Hatoyama replied: "Basically, we regard it as a domestic issue, but I hope this will be resolved through dialogue."