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(CNN) -- Five years from now, there's an excellent chance you won't have the same health insurance you have (or don't have) right now. That's because members of Congress are gearing up to reform the U.S. health care system, and unlike in 1993 when then-first lady Hillary Clinton tried her hand at changing the medical system, this time the important players -- doctors, insurance companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers -- seem to be on board. You heard a lot about health care reform this week, and you'll be hearing even more in the months to come. It's an incredibly confusing, complex issue, so in this week's Empowered Patient, we break it down for you with 10 frequently asked questions about health care reform.
Overhauling health care is key to U.S. economic stability, President Obama tells doctors Monday.
1. Why is health care reform such a hot issue right now?
Fewer and fewer Americans have health insurance, and therefore cannot afford good medical care. Nearly 46 million Americans have no insurance, and 25 million more are underinsured. One major reason for this crisis is that many employers have stopped offering insurance to employees because of the high cost. In the United States, total health care spending was $2.4 trillion in 2007 -- or $7,900 per person -- according to an analysis published in the journal Health Affairs. The United States spends 52 percent more per person than the next most costly nation, Norway, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. There's little debate that health care reform is necessary -- President Obama, Republican and Democratic members of Congress, the American Medical Association and America's Health Insurance Plans, which represents the insurance industry, all have agreed the system needs to be changed, although they disagree on how to do it.
2. So let's start with Obama. What are his plans for revamping the system?
A central point of the president's plan is to create a government-sponsored health insurance program that would be an option for all Americans, similar to how Medicare is now an option for Americans over age 65. He has also said he'd "like to see" prohibitions against insurers discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions, and incentives for people to use preventive services and wellness plans. Obama outlined this plan last week at a town hall meeting in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and on his Web site.
3. How does the president plan to pay for this?
Obama said he's already identified "hundreds of billions of dollars" worth of savings in the federal budget that could help finance health care reform, such as rooting out waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid. He's also proposed reducing tax deductions for high-income Americans.
4. What do the Republicans think of Obama's plan?
In particular, they don't like the idea of having a government-sponsored health insurance program for all Americans. They fear employers would opt for the government-run insurance over private insurance because the government option would most likely be less expensive, but Republicans say it would also be lower quality. For information, see House Minority Leader John Boehner's Web site.
5. Since they don't like Obama's ideas, how would Republicans like to reform health care?
Republicans think Obama's plan is costly and will make health insurance more expensive, not less. In a plan outlined this week, House Republicans proposed individual tax breaks for buying health insurance and "pools" of states and small business to get lower-cost health care plans. They also proposed increasing incentives for people to build health savings accounts, allowing dependent children to stay on parents' policies until age 25 and encouraging employers to reward employees for improved health.
6. I'm happy with the insurance I receive from my employer. What would health care reform mean for me?
If you receive high-quality health insurance from your employer, Obama said, his plan won't change that, and you can still keep your insurance and your doctors. Republicans, however, said that if Obama gets
|
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question: who is opposed to obama's plan ?, answer: Republicans | question: What is a priority for President Obama?, answer: Overhauling health care | question: How much more does the U.S. spend per person?, answer: $7,900 | question: Which party thinks the plan is too expensive?, answer: Republicans | question: What is the main priority of the president?, answer: Overhauling health care | question: What type of program does Obama want?, answer: government-sponsored health insurance | question: what did obama say is a priority?, answer: create a government-sponsored health insurance program | question: What does obama want?, answer: Overhauling health care
|
(CNN) -- Five young men died Saturday when the car they were in drove off the end of a private airstrip near Ocala, Florida, became airborne for 200 feet and slammed into an oak tree, authorities said.
The 2008 BMW was split in two in the violent wreck. All of the victims died at the scene.
"This had to be the worst vehicle crash that I have ever seen during my career," said Randy Robinson, a spokesman for the Emergency Medical Services Alliance with 27 years on the job.
The 2008 BMW was split in two in the wreck, which happened at 3:45 a.m., said Lt. Mike Burroughs, a spokesman for the Florida Highway Patrol Troop B.
He told CNN the victims -- 18 to 20 years old and all from the area -- were declared dead at the scene.
Burroughs said it was not clear how the car got onto the private Greystone community airstrip -- the same one actor John Travolta uses for his aircraft -- but the car was driving north on Runway 36, which is 1.5 miles long.
"It is evident that the driver of the vehicle saw he was approaching the end of the runway," Burroughs said. "He attempted a braking maneuver and the vehicle slid sideways off the end of the runway."
The car flew through the air for 200 feet, he said, and struck an oak tree 15 feet off the ground, splitting the vehicle in two.
Three of the occupants were ejected -- one landing 40 feet away, Burroughs said.
The engine block of the BMW was completely dislodged and wreckage from the car was found over a 200-square-foot area, the FHP spokesman said.
It was not known if the victims were wearing seat belts and the agency was awaiting the results of toxicology tests from the medical examiner's office to find out if alcohol or drugs played a role, Burroughs said.
The airstrip's private taxiways back up to homes in the Jumbolair and Greystone gated communities. E-mail to a friend
|
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"airborne for 200 feet",
"died at the scene.",
"oak tree,",
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"oak tree,",
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question: What length did the BMW fly?, answer: airborne for 200 feet | question: What was the status of the victims?, answer: died at the scene. | question: What did the BMW hit?, answer: oak tree, | question: Did any victims survive?, answer: died at the scene. | question: what was the car the flew through the air?, answer: 2008 BMW | question: What did the 2008 BMW hit?, answer: oak tree, | question: what happened to the passengers in car?, answer: died
|
(CNN) -- Five-time gold medal speed skater Eric Heiden was hanging out in a Team USA locker room Saturday, watching TV as a much younger phenom named Apolo Ohno broke his 30-year Olympic record.
That record, for the most decorated American man in Winter Olympics history, stood since 1980, when Heiden shot to fame at the Winter Games in Lake Placid, New York.
To hear Heiden tell it, watching the 27-year-old Ohno eclipse his record didn't matter much. "Apolo and I couldn't have cared less," said Heiden, now 51.
"All of us at this level don't really look at medal records as very important. We're very proud of what we are doing and what we've done as athletes -- and if you happen to win a medal all of us consider that to be a great thing."
The difference between Ohno's medals and Heiden's is that Heiden won his all during the same Winter Olympics, an unprecedented feat that astonished Olympic fans around the world.
Fast forward 30 years and Heiden's passion for athletic competition and camaraderie hasn't faded. Now an orthopedic surgeon, he treats and helps train the 2010 men's speed skating team, including Ohno.
"Apolo is very dedicated and focused in his pursuit of the sport," said Heiden.
"But he needs to understand that when an event is coming up he needs to really start backing off some of those outside interests so he can put in the time and effort to be a world-class skater."
With a smile in his voice, Heiden offers an example of Ohno's recent appearance on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars."
"He's more of a celebrity personality than most of the skaters," said Heiden.
Heiden's fairly familiar with celebrity. Those five medals in Lake Placid got his boyish Wisconsin face plastered on newspapers and TVs worldwide. Although Heiden said he isn't recognized much anymore, once in a while his name "will fire a synapse in many people's minds."
Living a quiet life in Park City, Utah, with his wife, who is also an orthopedic surgeon, and two children, Heiden advises some of the world's fastest men on skates, including Ohno's friend and fellow Olympian Shani Davis.
Helping Davis, who won speed skating gold Wednesday night in the 1000m long track, requires "making sure that all his needs are taken care of," said Heiden. "Sometimes that can be very demanding and very hard." Davis accepts little training guidance from others.
One of the younger skaters on the U.S. team, 19-year-old J.R. Celski won his first Olympic medal Saturday with a bronze in the men's 1500m short track. What's remarkable, according to Heiden, was that Celski had been badly injured in competition just five months earlier.
Celski, who crashed into the boards during trials in September slicing a deep gash into his left thigh, has made a near complete recovery, said Heiden. He said Celski's race on Saturday answered important questions about his mental recovery. "Physically, we were sure he was good, but we weren't sure about his confidence level before the race."
Celski said he'd met Heiden before his injury, but it was while the doctor was treating Celski that they got to know each other well. "He's very humble and very down to earth, and I strive to be like that as well. It was great to get to know him and talk to him for who he was -- and not for what he did," said Celski. "He was one of the hardest working guys in the sport, and that's why he did so well."
The cheese remedy: A second opinion
Would Dr. Heiden offer a second opinion about U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn's much talked-about home remedy for a bruised shin? She injured herself during practice just days before winning gold Wednesday in the alpine downhill. Vonn's remedy: wrapping her shin with a soft Austrian cheese.
"We like
|
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"Who is Eric Heiden?",
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"Five-time",
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"1980,"
] |
question: Who is Eric Heiden?, answer: Five-time | question: who won gold in 1980 skating, answer: Eric Heiden | question: what is very demanding, answer: Helping Davis, | question: When did Heiden win five gold medals for speed skating?, answer: 1980,
|
(CNN) -- Flamboyant and fearless, Roberto Cavalli is the peacock of the fashion world; with his body-hugging clothes, he woos women the world over.
Fashion designer Roberto Cavalli
But his clients are no dainty damsels: Cavalli's women are Amazonian warriors and Grecian goddesses, whose armor is fashion and whose weapon is sex. His colorful creations are unabashed celebrations of the female form: dresses slashed to the hip or barely skimming the buttocks, necklines that plunge where no other designer dares.
Cavalli's woman knows she looks fabulous, and isn't afraid to show it: to her, it's not just clothing, it's an announcement that she's arrived.
Born in Florence in 1940, Cavalli was immersed in an intensely creative environment from childhood. That influence came from his father, a tailor, and his artist grandfather, Giuseppe Rossi, whose work is shown in the famous Uffizi Galleries.
Following in his father's footsteps, Cavalli studied textile design at the local art institute. By the early 70s, he had developed an innovative technique for printing on lightweight leather, and his Florentine flair had led to commissions with Hermes and Pierre Cardin.
In 1970, he presented his first namesake collection at the Salon for Prêt-à-Porter in Paris. His trademark work with unconventional fabrics like embellished denim and leather, mixed with wild animal prints and exotic patterns, was embraced by the jet set and Cavalli opened his first boutique in Saint Tropez in 1972.
Cavalli married his wife, Eva Duringer, a former Miss Universe, in 1980; she is now his business partner and right-hand woman.
His fondness for bright color, exotics, fur and bold prints -- which he designs in his factory on the outskirts of Florence -- have won him a name as the king of fashion excess. Beloved by A-listers and pop princesses, these are not clothes for the shy: this is old-school glamour, infused with power, wielded by women who have flounced and shimmied their way to the top. See Cavalli's designs on the catwalk »
His main line is sold in over 50 countries worldwide, along with his diffusion lines RC Menswear and Just Cavalli, plus a children's line, knitwear, accessories, eyewear, watches, perfumes, underwear and beachwear. He's even ventured into Cavalli-branded vodka and wine.
His collaboration with high-street fashion store H&M in November 2007 caused stampedes as his fans flocked to get their hands on his creations, desperate to capture some of that Cavalli magic at tiny prices.
Some have asked whether his latest collections have taken a more gentle direction -- but the tiger's inner fire still burns bright. Spring/Summer 2008's bold flower prints and flirty feathered dresses were followed by Autumn/Winter 2008's flowered dresses that at first glance appear dewy and fresh -- but look closer, and the hip-hugging cut belies their innocence.
Cavalli is adored by his celebrity clientele, who flaunt his show-stopping creations on red carpets from Los Angeles to Sydney. Fans of his work include Halle Berry, Sharon Stone, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Gwyneth Paltrow, Beyoncè Knowles, Charlize Theron and Victoria Beckham.
If anyone sums up the glamour and glitz of show business, it's Cavalli: fashion as theatre, shameless decadence where the whole world is a stage. That's underlined by his eponymous 133'9" long yacht, built 2004, and color-coordinated, naturally, with his helicopter and fleet of cars.
|
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] |
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"Halle Berry, Sharon Stone, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Gwyneth Paltrow, Beyoncè Knowles, Charlize Theron",
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"Florence",
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"colorful creations",
"artist"
] |
question: Which celebrities are thought to adore Cavalii's clothes, answer: Halle Berry, Sharon Stone, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Gwyneth Paltrow, Beyoncè Knowles, Charlize Theron | question: What kind of colors is Robert Cavalli knownfor using in his designs?, answer: bright | question: Who adores Cavali's clothes?, answer: Halle Berry, Sharon Stone, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Gwyneth Paltrow, Beyoncè Knowles, Charlize Theron | question: Where was Roberto Cavalli born?, answer: Florence | question: Where was Robert Cavalli born?, answer: Florence | question: What is fashion director Roberti Cavalli known primarily for, answer: colorful creations | question: What was Giuseppe Rossi's profession?, answer: artist
|
(CNN) -- Flash floods and landslides triggered by a weekend tropical storm have killed at least 100 people in Vietnam, the country's news agency said Monday.
Vietnamese villagers look at the rubble where 19 houses stood before a flash-flood ripped away the hamlet of Tung Chin in Lao Cai province.
Forecasters fear additional casualties as more rain was expected Monday.
The floods in the the country's northern mountain provinces damaged tens of thousands of homes, swept away thousands of cattle and submerged crops, the Vietnam News Agency said. More than two dozen people remained missing.
Officials mobilized thousands of rescue workers to look for survivors and to carry relief to the areas hardest hit by the storm.
Tropical Storm Kammuri struck the northern provinces on Friday.
The southeast Asian country is prone to heavy rainfall during the May through September monsoon season. The resulting landslides and floods have killed hundreds in past years.
|
[
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"What triggered the disasters?",
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"what triggered disasters?",
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question: What caused the floods?, answer: Tropical Storm Kammuri | question: How many people were killed by flash floods in Vietnam?, answer: at least 100 | question: What do the forecasters fear?, answer: additional casualties | question: How many did the floods kill?, answer: at least 100 | question: How many people died?, answer: at least 100 | question: What triggered the disaster?, answer: tropical storm | question: How many people did the floods and landslides kill?, answer: at least 100 | question: What triggered the disasters?, answer: weekend tropical storm | question: What triggered the disasters?, answer: a weekend tropical storm | question: what triggered disasters?, answer: a weekend tropical storm | question: What killed the people?, answer: floods and landslides | question: At least how many people were killed?, answer: 100 | question: what is the fear of forecasters?, answer: additional casualties | question: Where were they?, answer: Vietnam, | question: what killed 100 people in vietnam?, answer: floods and landslides triggered by a weekend tropical storm | question: What do forecasters fear?, answer: additional casualties as more rain was expected Monday.
|
(CNN) -- Flooding and resulting landslides killed 137 people Thursday and Friday in this nation's northern provinces, including Baguio City, Benguet Province and Mountain Province, the Office of Civil Defense in Cordillera said Friday.
A boatman transports three empty wooden coffins on the edge of Laguna Lake east of Manila on Thursday.
Another 43 people were missing and 45 were injured, it said.
Landslides blocked traffic along the Marchos Highway, Naguilian Road, Kennon Road and Ambuklao Road, cutting access to Baguio City, Benguet Province and Mountain Province, it said.
The floods were unleased by tropical depression Parma, which had been downgraded from a typhoon.
Earlier reports from Rocky Baraan, provincial administrator of Pangasinan, said flooding had inundated 32 towns and two cities, Dagupan and Urdaneta. Some 35,000 people had fled to evacuation centers, the official Philippines News Agency reported, citing the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council.
The worst-hit areas included Bayambang, Alcala and Basista, the news agency reported.
People clambered onto rooftops as floodwaters rose, calling and texting for help. Rescue trucks were hampered by floodwaters that reach the roofs of single-story houses, Baraan said. About 16 rubber rescue boats had been deployed.
Since the rains started in central Luzon, three dams in the Pangasinan area have been releasing vast amounts of water -- up to 10 million cubic meters per hour at one dam, dam officials said.
Water passing through the three dams -- the Ambuklao, the Binga and the San Roque -- is rushing into the Agno River, which has been swollen since Thursday and affects seven towns in eastern Pangasinan, dam officials said.
Water released from the San Roque dam has contributed to the flooding in eastern Pangasinan, acknowledged Alex Palada, division manager for flood forecasting and warning of the National Power Corporation. Dam officials had no choice but to maintain safe water levels, he added, noting that he alerted Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino. The governor started to evacuate residents Thursday when the Agno River started to rise, Palada said.
In the last several days, water has become the Philippines' biggest enemy, as Parma, locally known as "Pepeng," dumped as much as 36 inches (91.4 centimeters) of rain in some parts of the nation of islands, compounding misery in areas already flooded by earlier storm Ketsana.
Parma was forecast to have winds of no greater than 39 mph (63 kph) by Friday.
The U.S. Navy was expected to join rescue operations in Pangasinan, according to the agency.
Journalist Lilibeth Frondoso and CNN's Judy Kwon contributed to this report.
|
[
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"What were unleased by tropical depression parma?"
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question: How many people dead in provinces?, answer: 137 | question: What report worst-hit?, answer: areas included Bayambang, Alcala and Basista, | question: What provinces were included?, answer: Baguio City, Benguet | question: How many people died?, answer: 137 | question: How many people are dead in the provinces including Baguio City, Benguet and Mountain?, answer: 137 | question: What was unleased by tropical depression Parma?, answer: The floods | question: What were unleased by tropical depression parma?, answer: The floods
|
(CNN) -- Flooding caused by monsoon rains and swollen rivers has ravaged Thailand, affecting more than 9.5 million people nationwide.
More than 380 people have died, and the overall damage is an estimated $6 billion dollars, the Thai Finance Ministry says. It is the worst flooding to hit the country in half a century, according to the Thai government.
As the murky waters rise, so do health concerns. Charities working in the country predict water- and insect-borne illnesses like dengue fever and malaria will spike in the coming weeks.
Relief organizations are on the ground providing shelter, supplies and medical aid to flood victims, and there are ways you can help.
World Vision is passing out emergency relief kits and hygiene supplies to people living in highly affected areas.
Mosquito nets are being distributed to help minimize the spread of insect-borne diseases as the waters crest.
The orgnization is constructing safe places for children to play away from dangerous floodwater. At these "Child-Friendly Spaces," kids can also participate in activities to help them cope with the trauma of this experience.
Visit World Vision's website to make a donation to the organization's Disaster Response Fund.
ShelterBox Response Teams have distributed 250 tents, 1000 mosquito nets and numerous water purifiers to flood victims in Ayutthaya and Lopburi.
ShelterBox also delivered several "Classrooms in a Box" to damaged schools, and teams are working with the Thai army to build an evacuation shelter site.
"The army expects the site to be in use for around two months, so it is essential that it is well set up with secure, weather-proof shelter and good water, sanitation and hygiene facilities," says ShelterBox member Stephen Crabtree.
To make a one-time $10 donation to ShelterBox from the United States, text "SHELTER" to 20222 on your mobile phone. Go online to donate from other countries.
Volunteers and staff with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are working to distribute aid to communities cut off by the floods for over a week.
The Thai Red Cross, an IFRC member, has helped victims in 36 provinces since the flooding began in June. It says it has given out more than 175,000 aid kits and 2 million bottles of water.
Go online to donate to IFRC's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund.
Catholic Relief Services and its partners have provided thousands of flood victims with weeks' worth of food aid, emergency medicine, and personal hygiene kits in some of the hardest hit areas around Bangkok.
"As we traveled, the water levels gradually rose to the point where shops were flooded -- some still open for business in knee-high water," said CRS response team member Ross Tomlinson. "As night fell, we saw more and more people living in temporary shelters surrounded by their household goods."
As the water subsides, CRS says it will continue to help families rebuild and reestablish their businesses.
Vist the CRS website to donate online or call 1-800-736-3467 from the United States to donate by phone.
Smiles on Wings has launched a flood relief mission to help victims in Thailand. Their Chiangmai-based team is preparing survival packs for 80 to 100 families living in Ayudhaya, an area north of Bangkok where severe flooding has left many families homeless.
Survival packs include necessities like water, toilet paper and mosquito lotion. Each survival pack costs 540 baht or 18 dollars for one family. Go online to make a general donation from the United States or other countries.
|
[
"What are mobilizing to provide food, shelter and medical aid?",
"What has caused billions of dollars of damage?",
"Who said it was the worst flooding to hit the country in half a century?",
"What has the Thai Government said?",
"How much will damage leave economically?"
] |
[
"Relief organizations",
"Flooding",
"the Thai government.",
"worst flooding to hit the country in half a century,",
"$6 billion dollars,"
] |
question: What are mobilizing to provide food, shelter and medical aid?, answer: Relief organizations | question: What has caused billions of dollars of damage?, answer: Flooding | question: Who said it was the worst flooding to hit the country in half a century?, answer: the Thai government. | question: What has the Thai Government said?, answer: worst flooding to hit the country in half a century, | question: How much will damage leave economically?, answer: $6 billion dollars,
|
(CNN) -- Florida Gov. Rick Scott met late Thursday with a group of several hundred Florida A&M students upset over his recommendation that trustees suspend the school's president in the wake of alleged hazing and "financial irregularities."
Chanting "We've got questions. You've got answers," the students marched to the governor's mansion, promising to stay until Scott changed his mind.
"We are not going to leave," said Breyon Love, the FAMU student body president. "Mr. Governor, with all due respect, we will be here all night, all day tomorrow until you apologize or rescind that recommendation."
Appearing in a gray sweatshirt, Scott addressed the crowd through a megaphone outside the mansion, thanking them for caring and coming out.
"I want the best thing for FAMU. I want the best thing for the FAMU family. I want the best thing for the great state of Florida," the governor told students, although not conceding to their wishes.
Earlier, Scott had told the chairman of FAMU's board of trustees, Solomon L. Badger III, that he felt the board should take further action against university President James Ammons when it meets Monday, the statement said. The governor also "placed a call" to Ammons to notify him of these conversations.
"I think it's in his best interests (to) make sure that there is no question that this university is doing the right thing and cooperating," Scott said Thursday.
The discussions came after Scott returned Thursday from a trade mission to Israel and was briefed by staffers on recent developments out of the Tallahassee university, according to the governor's office.
Ammons responded Thursday that he was "sure that this investigation will determine that, under my leadership, the administration acted appropriately."
At the same time, he said he was prepared to accept his fate.
"I serve at the pleasure of the FAMU board of trustees, and I will abide by whatever decision the board reaches," he said.
Badger also released a statement in which he acknowledged "a communication with the governor." He said he hadn't talked with other trustees, promising that "we will make a decision about how we move forward Monday."
"This is a very difficult decision that we are facing," Badger said.
The band's director, Julian White, has been placed on administrative leave. One trustee, Rufus Montgomery, advocated a week ago that the university president should likewise be suspended -- but, instead, the board voted then to reprimand him.
"If you can place ... Julian White on administrative leave pending an investigation outcome, then we as a board can place James Ammons on administrative leave, procedure-wise," Montgomery said December 8.
The school president had pledged Wednesday to "root out this culture of hazing," though he declined to offer details about what specifically might change.
Band drum major Robert Champion Jr., 26, died after a November 19 football game following a suspected hazing incident.
He "reportedly threw up in the parking lot and started complaining of not being able to breathe," authorities said in a statement. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. No cause of death has been released.
Some band members said he may have died after a rite of passage called "crossing Bus C." One member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that members "walk from the front of the bus to the back of the bus back backward while the bus is full of other band members, and you get beaten until you get to the back."
About three weeks before Champion's death, freshman band member Bria Hunter suffered a cracked femur, deep bone bruising and blood clots after being beaten repeatedly on the thighs, according to arrest affidavits from Tallahassee police.
Three men -- Sean Hobson, 23, Aaron Golson, 19, and James Harris, 22 -- were charged with hazing, a crime under Florida law, this week in her case. Hobson and Golson additionally are charged with
|
[
"what does scott want",
"When will the decision be made?",
"Who does Rick Scott want to step down?"
] |
[
"the best thing for FAMU.",
"Monday.\"",
"James Ammons"
] |
question: what does scott want, answer: the best thing for FAMU. | question: When will the decision be made?, answer: Monday." | question: Who does Rick Scott want to step down?, answer: James Ammons
|
(CNN) -- Florida authorities were searching Sunday for a 33-year-old man after his wife and five children were found dead in their Naples home.
Mesac Damas pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor battery against Guerline Damas in June.
The bodies of Guerline Damas, 32; Michzach, 9; Marven, 6; Maven, 5; Megan, 3; and Morgan, 11 months, were discovered Saturday, Rambosk said.
Authorities have been unable to locate Mesac Damas, who possibly left the country Friday morning and may be in Haiti, Capt. Chris Roberts of the Collier County sheriff's department said Sunday at a news conference.
"We don't see at this point any indication of an individual out in the neighborhoods committing additional crimes or homicides, but certainly we will look at every opportunity," Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said at an earlier news conference.
There had been a "handful" of domestic disturbance calls to police since 2000 involving the Damas couple, with the latest resulting in the arrest of Mesac Damas in January, Roberts said. Mesac Damas pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor battery against Guerline Damas in June, and Roberts said he does not think Mesac Damas served any jail time for the crime.
"We are still talking to people that knew the family and obviously the ultimate information we need is not so much what happened in the past but what happened when these people died," Roberts said.
The six bodies were found Saturday at about 6:30 p.m., a day after police had visited the home to check on the family, Roberts said. Watch why authorities are looking for Damas »
When a family member had not heard from a resident at the home, the family member asked authorities on Friday to do a welfare check on the house, Roberts said. Responding police knocked on the door but got no answer, he said, but officers saw no indications to arouse their suspicions.
The following morning, the family member became more concerned and filed a missing persons report, which authorities took, Rambosk said.
Later, authorities requested from property management a key to the house and an authorization to enter.
"When we did, we found the bodies of the individuals," he said.
"I can tell you that in no uncertain terms this is the most horrific and violent event this community has ever experienced. This is the worst of the worst."
He would not release the manner of death.
Rambosk said authorities had recovered Mesac Damas' vehicle at Miami International Airport, and they believe that he left on a flight to Haiti on Friday.
Roberts said collecting and processing evidence can take "several days, if not weeks."
|
[
"Who believe Damas boarded a flight?",
"What day were the bodies found?",
"What did the sheriff say there was?",
"What is Mesac Damas' age?",
"On what day were the bodies found?",
"Where were the bodies found?",
"Who do police believe boarded a flight to Haiti on Friday morning?",
"Where did Mesac Damas board a flight to?"
] |
[
"authorities",
"Sunday",
"any indication of an individual out in the neighborhoods committing additional crimes or homicides,",
"33-year-old",
"Saturday,",
"Naples home.",
"Mesac Damas,",
"Haiti"
] |
question: Who believe Damas boarded a flight?, answer: authorities | question: What day were the bodies found?, answer: Sunday | question: What did the sheriff say there was?, answer: any indication of an individual out in the neighborhoods committing additional crimes or homicides, | question: What is Mesac Damas' age?, answer: 33-year-old | question: On what day were the bodies found?, answer: Saturday, | question: Where were the bodies found?, answer: Naples home. | question: Who do police believe boarded a flight to Haiti on Friday morning?, answer: Mesac Damas, | question: Where did Mesac Damas board a flight to?, answer: Haiti
|
(CNN) -- Florida prosecutors on Thursday revealed a list of reasons they're seeking the death penalty against Casey Anthony, who is charged with killing her daughter, Caylee.
Under Florida, law, prosecutors need to raise only one of 15 possible aggravating factors to support their decision to seek the death penalty. Assistant State Attorney Jeffrey Ashton cited five circumstances, according to a document obtained by CNN affiliate WESH and other Orlando, Florida, media outlets.
In death penalty cases, jurors are asked to weigh aggravating circumstances that make a crime especially heinous against mitigating factors that favor mercy, such as a lack of prior offenses.
Among the legal reasons cited: Caylee's death occurred during aggravated child abuse, was especially "heinous, atrocious, or cruel," and was committed in a "cold, calculated and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification," according to the document.
Caylee was also under 12 years old, and Anthony "stood in a position of familial or custodial authority over her," the document states.
Karen Levey, the court public information officer, could not confirm that Judge Belvin Perry Jr. received a copy of the notice. As of Thursday evening, defense attorney Jose Baez said he had not been served with the notice.
In a hearing this week, Perry ordered the State Attorney's Office to disclose the aggravating factors they intend to cite in a penalty phase if Anthony is convicted of premeditated murder.
Anthony, 24, is accused of killing 2-year-old Caylee, who disappeared in June 2008. Her body was found that December in a vacant lot near her grandparents' home in Orlando.
Defense lawyers have said that prosecutors are seeking the death penalty to bankrupt the defense and prevent Anthony from having the attorney of her choice.
The defense said that prosecutors had originally said they would not seek death in the case but reversed that position in March 2009 when they learned that Anthony had $205,000 for her defense.
The bulk of the money came from ABC News for the licensing of photos and videos, Baez testified during a previous hearing.
Anthony's trial is scheduled to begin May 9, 2011.
|
[
"What happens if Anthony is convicted?",
"What did the document say?",
"Who held position of custodial authority over Caylee?",
"How many legal circumstances are cited?",
"Which circumstances do prosecutors cite?",
"Who was Caylee?",
"Where did Caylee die?",
"What number of legal circumstances supported the decision for death penalty?",
"What did the document say about the death?"
] |
[
"the death penalty",
"old, and Anthony \"stood in a position of familial or custodial authority over her,\"",
"Casey Anthony,",
"five",
"Caylee's death occurred during aggravated child abuse, was especially \"heinous, atrocious, or cruel,\" and was committed in a \"cold, calculated and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification,\"",
"daughter,",
"vacant lot near her grandparents' home in Orlando.",
"only one of 15 possible aggravating factors",
"was especially \"heinous, atrocious, or cruel,\" and was committed in a \"cold, calculated and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification,\""
] |
question: What happens if Anthony is convicted?, answer: the death penalty | question: What did the document say?, answer: old, and Anthony "stood in a position of familial or custodial authority over her," | question: Who held position of custodial authority over Caylee?, answer: Casey Anthony, | question: How many legal circumstances are cited?, answer: five | question: Which circumstances do prosecutors cite?, answer: Caylee's death occurred during aggravated child abuse, was especially "heinous, atrocious, or cruel," and was committed in a "cold, calculated and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification," | question: Who was Caylee?, answer: daughter, | question: Where did Caylee die?, answer: vacant lot near her grandparents' home in Orlando. | question: What number of legal circumstances supported the decision for death penalty?, answer: only one of 15 possible aggravating factors | question: What did the document say about the death?, answer: was especially "heinous, atrocious, or cruel," and was committed in a "cold, calculated and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification,"
|
(CNN) -- Floyd Mayweather Jr will have to pay Juan Manuel Marquez a reported $600,000 after weighing in two pounds too heavy ahead of Saturday night's welterweight showdown in Las Vegas.
Floyd Mayweather Jr, left, faces off with Juan Manuel Marquez ahead of Saturday night's fight.
Fight promoters Golden Boy confirmed after Friday's weigh-in that there had been a contractually agreed weight of 144 pounds for Mayweather's comeback bout, and that the American would pay a stipulated -- but undisclosed -- amount for every pound over that amount.
As it was, Mayweather tipped the scales at 146 pounds and Mexican Marquez, whose usual weight is around 135 pounds, was weighed at 142 as he stepped up from lightweight for the fight. The maximum for a welterweight is 147 pounds.
"The fight was contracted as a welterweight fight with an agreed upon weight of 144 pounds. However, there were pre-negotiated weight penalties built in," Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com.
The website also reported sources who stated that each extra pound would cost Mayweather $300,000, thus giving Marquez an additional $600,000 on top of his $3.2 million guarantee for the fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The 32-year-old Mayweather, who returns to the boxing ring for the first time since December 2007 when he beat Ricky Hatton to retain his WBC world welterweight championship, has a reported minimum guarantee of $10 million before pay-per-view TV revenues are added.
Mayweather is undefeated with a career record of 39-0, while the 36-year-old Marquez, who holds the WBA and WBO world lightweight belts, has 50 victories from 55 fights, 37 by knockout.
Meanwhile, Nikolai Valuev will defend his WBA heavyweight title against British boxer David Haye in Germany on November 7.
The fight, originally announced in July, had been in doubt as American John Ruiz lodged a legal challenge claiming that he was the giant Russian's mandatory challenger.
However, the 36-year-old's promoters have clinched a deal with Ruiz, meaning the bout can go ahead as planned at Nuremberg's Arena Nurnberger Versicherung, where Valuev beat Sergei Liakhovich in February 2008.
The 7' 1" Valuev, the tallest and heaviest boxing champion of all time who has a record of 50 wins from 52 fights, will dwarf the 6' 3" Haye, the former undisputed cruiserweight champion.
|
[
"Which fighter has the bigger guarantee?",
"What is the main fighter's weight?",
"who has $3.2 million for fight?",
"Mayweather has how much money guaranteed?",
"What is the name of the main fighter?",
"How much does Mayweather weigh?",
"what do reports say?",
"who weighs in at 146 pounds?",
"How much does Juan Manuel Marquez weigh?"
] |
[
"Floyd",
"146 pounds",
"Marquez",
"$10 million",
"Floyd Mayweather Jr,",
"146 pounds",
"Mayweather Jr will have to pay Juan Manuel Marquez a reported $600,000",
"Mayweather Jr",
"142"
] |
question: Which fighter has the bigger guarantee?, answer: Floyd | question: What is the main fighter's weight?, answer: 146 pounds | question: who has $3.2 million for fight?, answer: Marquez | question: Mayweather has how much money guaranteed?, answer: $10 million | question: What is the name of the main fighter?, answer: Floyd Mayweather Jr, | question: How much does Mayweather weigh?, answer: 146 pounds | question: what do reports say?, answer: Mayweather Jr will have to pay Juan Manuel Marquez a reported $600,000 | question: who weighs in at 146 pounds?, answer: Mayweather Jr | question: How much does Juan Manuel Marquez weigh?, answer: 142
|
(CNN) -- Floyd Mayweather Jr. has said he is ready to make the big-money fight with newly crowned WBO welterweight world champion Manny Pacquiao happen.
After victory in Las Vegas over Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto on Saturday, Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach said the "whole world" now wanted to see a fight with Mayweather.
Reacting to the proposition the undefeated 32-year-old, who formerly held the WBC title at welterweight, told British broadcaster Sky Sports: "If he wants to fight Floyd Mayweather all he has to do is step up to the plate."
The twice-voted Ring magazine fighter of the year added that he felt Pacquiao's approach was one-dimensional but the Filipino would be a favorite with the crowd.
"The thing is with Pacquaio I don't see any versatility as a fighter; he's a good puncher but just one-dimensional. Is Pacquiao the greatest?
"The world's going to go 'wow' if Floyd Mayweather gets beaten. That's what everyone is looking to see.
"If I beat Manny Pacquaio do you know what they are going to say? 'You are supposed to beat him, you are Floyd Mayweather, you are the bigger man'. If I knock him out they'll say 'you're supposed to knock him out he's been knocked out before'.
"I'm in a no-win situation and when I beat him no one is going to be surprised because he's been beaten before; whatever I do to Pacquaio has been done before - he's been beaten on three occasions. And if I knock him out I don't want the world shouting because he's been knocked out twice before."
If the fight goes ahead it is expected to challenge the mark set by Oscar De La Hoya's bout with Floyd Mayweather for the most profitable in history.
Money generated from pay-per-view subscriptions earned the two fighters an estimated combined total of $77 million in 2007.
Mayweather, whose nickname is "Money," said: "If I go out and make $60-75 million in one night; come on - I'm not losing."
|
[
"What fight had a $77 million payday?",
"Who is is the new WBO welterweight world champion?",
"Who is undefeated in 40 fights?",
"What is the name of the new champion?"
] |
[
"welterweight world champion",
"Manny Pacquiao",
"Mayweather Jr.",
"Manny Pacquiao"
] |
question: What fight had a $77 million payday?, answer: welterweight world champion | question: Who is is the new WBO welterweight world champion?, answer: Manny Pacquiao | question: Who is undefeated in 40 fights?, answer: Mayweather Jr. | question: What is the name of the new champion?, answer: Manny Pacquiao
|
(CNN) -- Floyd Mayweather Junior has confirmed that he will fight WBA welterweight super champion Shane Mosley in Las Vegas on May 1 following the controversial collapse of his much-hyped showdown with Manny Pacquiao.
The 38-year-old Mosley, a three-weight world title winner, had already signed up for the bout at the MGM Grand, which will take place under the Olympic-style random blood testing drug protocols that Pacquiao refused to accept.
The undefeated Mayweather, a six-time world champion at five different weights and Pacquiao's chief rival for the pound-for-pound bragging stakes, said in a statement that he was looking forward to taking on his fellow American.
"This one is definitely for the fans as I wasn't going to waste anyone's time with a meaningless tune-up bout and asked to fight Shane immediately," the 32-year-old said.
"I have said ever since I came back to the sport that I only wanted to fight the best. I think Shane is one of the best, but come May 1, he still won't be great enough to beat me.
Mosley had been due for a unification bout on January 30 with Andre Berto, who claimed the WBC title that Mayweather vacated when he retired in 2008, but the fight was scrapped when his opponent lost family members in the Haiti earthquake.
"I have always wanted to fight Floyd, and now it is finally coming true," Mosley said. "I am already in great shape and ready to show everyone on May 1 that I am stronger, faster and better than he is. I will have no problem beating him."
Mosley's promoter Golden Boy took the chance to have a dig at Filipino star Pacquiao over his refusal to undergo blood testing in the lead-up to the planned fight with Mayweather.
"Shane Mosley is one of the greatest fighters of this era and I commend him for not only agreeing to the fight against Mayweather, but also agreeing to participate in a testing process that can only help the integrity of the sport," Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer said.
Leonard Ellerbe, his counterpart at Mayweather Promotions, also weighed in on the matter.
"Floyd has been trying to make this fight for the last 10 years, so he is extremely excited about the opportunity to face Shane. He can't wait to extend his undefeated record and perform at the highest level," Ellerbe said.
"More importantly, he is also happy to set the precedent for random blood testing in order to ensure fair and safe contests for all fighters."
Pacquiao will defend his WBO welterweight title against Ghana's Joshua Clottey in Dallas on March 13 before returning to politics as he seeks election in his local constituency.
|
[
"What did Pacquiao refuse to accept?",
"Who will Floyd Mayweather fight in Las Vegas on May 1?",
"Who will Floyd Mayweather be fighting on May 1?",
"Who will Floyd Mayweather fight on May ?",
"Who will Shane Mosley be fighting in Vegas?",
"After what event did Mosley agreed to fight ?",
"On what condition did Mosley agree to fight?",
"Under what procedures will the fight take place ?"
] |
[
"random blood testing drug protocols",
"Shane",
"Shane",
"Shane",
"Floyd",
"the controversial collapse of his much-hyped showdown with Manny Pacquiao.",
"under the Olympic-style random blood testing drug protocols",
"the Olympic-style random blood testing drug protocols"
] |
question: What did Pacquiao refuse to accept?, answer: random blood testing drug protocols | question: Who will Floyd Mayweather fight in Las Vegas on May 1?, answer: Shane | question: Who will Floyd Mayweather be fighting on May 1?, answer: Shane | question: Who will Floyd Mayweather fight on May ?, answer: Shane | question: Who will Shane Mosley be fighting in Vegas?, answer: Floyd | question: After what event did Mosley agreed to fight ?, answer: the controversial collapse of his much-hyped showdown with Manny Pacquiao. | question: On what condition did Mosley agree to fight?, answer: under the Olympic-style random blood testing drug protocols | question: Under what procedures will the fight take place ?, answer: the Olympic-style random blood testing drug protocols
|
(CNN) -- Floyd Mayweather will cement his position as the most bankable boxer in the world in Saturday night's non-title welterweight fight against fellow American Shane Mosley in Las Vegas.
The 33-year-old, whose nicknames include "Money," has already generated $292 million in revenue in six pay-per-view fights for broadcaster HBO, from 5.5 million buys.
He is expected to take home $58.5 million for himself if the battle with veteran Mosley achieves two million subscribers.
Mayweather is already fourth on the broadcaster's all-time list behind Oscar De La Hoya ($610.6 million on 12.6 million buys from 18 events), Mike Tyson ($545 million on 12.4 million buys, 12 bouts) and Evander Holyfield ($543 million on 12.6 million buys, 14 fights).
De La Hoya and Tyson have both retired, while the 47-year-old Holyfield last month kept alive his unlikely dream of winning the world heavyweight title for a record fifth time by claiming the little-regarded WBF crown in front of just 3,000 people in Vegas.
Mayweather's 2007 victory over De La Hoya earned a record $120 million for a single pay-per-view event from 2.15 million buys, and HBO told CNN that his fight with the 38-year-old Mosley is set to qualify as a true "megafight."
"In boxing, megafights are those that reach one million buys," HBO Pay-Per-View senior vice-president Mark Taffet said.
"By every indicator -- ticket sales, closed circuit television sales, views of video on the Internet, and the number of viewers of HBO's 24/7 series -- Mayweather-Mosley is on track to becoming a true PPV megafight.
"Whether on television, radio, newspapers, magazines, Internet, Facebook, MySpace, iTunes, Youtube, HBO, or at retail stores across the country, fans everywhere are surrounded by this great event. The Mayweather-Mosley buzz is everywhere."
Mayweather is undefeated in 40 fights, and has won six world titles at five different weights.
However, he has lost his No. 1 ranking as the highly-regarded Ring Magazine's world's top pound-for-pound boxer to rival Manny Pacquiao. The two were due to clash earlier this year but the Filipino pulled out due to Mayweather's demands for Olympic-style blood-testing.
"Floyd Mayweather is a bonafide PPV superstar," Taffet said. "He is one of most prolific performers in PPV history.
"But it takes two to make a true megafight and, like Floyd Mayweather, Shane Mosley is a future Hall-of-Famer and one of the most recognizable boxing stars of this era. Shane is a critical ingredient in the megafight status of Mayweather-Mosley.
"While Shane and Floyd definitely have very passionate fan bases in their hometowns [Lynwood, California and Grand Rapids, Michigan respectively], both Mayweather and Mosley are national figures with broad and diverse fan bases throughout the entire U.S.
"As the 'Who R U Picking?' polls indicate, fans everywhere are talking about this matchup and it is virtually a 50-50 split as to who the fans think will win."
While many pundits expect Mayweather and Pacquiao to agree to fight by the end of this year, the American has taunted the Filipino by saying he is not enough of a box office draw.
Pacquiao's fights with De La Hoya and Juan Marquez brought in significantly fewer buys than Mayweather's clashes with the duo.
"He needs to learn how to do numbers like I'm doing," Mayweather, who shunned the chance of winning the WBA belt against Mosley as he did not want to pay the sanctioning fees, told Boxingscene.com.
"He needs to step his game up. I'm not worried about this [Mosley fight]. I know I'm going to do crazy numbers. I should walk away with about $40 million. With or without Pacquiao I'm going to be able to go out and make $20 million or $30 million a night."
|
[
"What was the most lucrative event in boxing history?",
"When is the fight with Shane Mosley?",
"Who will Floyd Mayweather fight on Saturday?",
"what age is Mayweather?",
"What year did Mayweather win over Oscar De La Hoya?",
"Who is Mayweather going to fight on Saturday?",
"when did Mayweather beat Oscar De La Hoya ?",
"who is Mayweather fighting on Saturday?",
"What rank is Floya Mayweather?"
] |
[
"Mayweather's 2007 victory over De La Hoya",
"Saturday",
"Shane Mosley",
"33-year-old,",
"2007",
"Shane Mosley",
"2007",
"Shane Mosley",
"welterweight"
] |
question: What was the most lucrative event in boxing history?, answer: Mayweather's 2007 victory over De La Hoya | question: When is the fight with Shane Mosley?, answer: Saturday | question: Who will Floyd Mayweather fight on Saturday?, answer: Shane Mosley | question: what age is Mayweather?, answer: 33-year-old, | question: What year did Mayweather win over Oscar De La Hoya?, answer: 2007 | question: Who is Mayweather going to fight on Saturday?, answer: Shane Mosley | question: when did Mayweather beat Oscar De La Hoya ?, answer: 2007 | question: who is Mayweather fighting on Saturday?, answer: Shane Mosley | question: What rank is Floya Mayweather?, answer: welterweight
|
(CNN) -- Floyd Mayweather will not be fighting Shane Mosley for a world title on May 1 after the "Money Man" refused to pay the World Boxing Association's sanctioning fee.
The five-time world champion takes on Mosley in Las Vegas on May 1 but insists his legacy is more important to him than fighting for "Sugar Shane's" welterweight title.
"I did not want to fight for the WBA title," Mayweather told Sky Sports. "At this point, it's all about enhancing my legacy.
"I've done a lot of things in this sport, things that a lot of fighters weren't able to do in the sport and didn't do in the sport. This fight with Shane Mosley will enhance my legacy."
Mayweather, 33, has won all 40 of his professional bouts and is a six-time world champion at five different weights.
His proposed "super fight" with WBO welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao broke down after a disagreement over drug testing procedures, and he opted to fight Mosely instead.
Mayweather referred to his opponent as "a solid welterweight with great accomplishments," but dismissed his chances of a victory at the MGM Grand.
"We are totally different," he added. "He's a fighter that always worries about landing one big shot, he worries about who is extremely strong.
"And I worry about being smart and winning. We approach fights in two totally different ways. When I shoot my shots, I am looking at my opponent. When Shane punches, a lot of times he closes his eyes.
"I am pretty sure Shane is going to be in good condition. We are going to put on one hell of a show on May 1 come the fight. Like I have always said before - there is no remedy on how to beat Floyd Mayweather. Everyone is trying to solve the problem.
"It's like a difficult maths problem that no one can solve. No one can solve it. The ultimate goal is try to solve the problem. How to beat Floyd Mayweather? I know what I have to go out there and do."
|
[
"Who refused to pay the WBA's sanctioning fee?",
"Floyd Mayweather's fight with Shane Mosley will not be for what?",
"Who is the current WBA welterweight champion?",
"Floyd Mayweather is to fight who?",
"What does he say is more important?",
"what did Mayweather refuse to pay prior to the bout"
] |
[
"Floyd",
"a world title",
"Shane Mosley",
"Shane Mosley",
"his legacy",
"the World Boxing Association's sanctioning fee."
] |
question: Who refused to pay the WBA's sanctioning fee?, answer: Floyd | question: Floyd Mayweather's fight with Shane Mosley will not be for what?, answer: a world title | question: Who is the current WBA welterweight champion?, answer: Shane Mosley | question: Floyd Mayweather is to fight who?, answer: Shane Mosley | question: What does he say is more important?, answer: his legacy | question: what did Mayweather refuse to pay prior to the bout, answer: the World Boxing Association's sanctioning fee.
|
(CNN) -- Flying penguins are unusual. Especially when they fly on a C-130 Hercules military plane.
Almost 400 lost Magellanic penguins march back to the sea after being rescued by animal-welfare groups.
In Brazil, 373 young Magellanic penguins were rescued, rehabilitated and released last weekend after their search for food left them stranded, hundreds of miles from their usual feeding grounds.
Animal-welfare activists loaded the birds onto a Brazilian air force cargo plane and flew them 1,550 miles to the country's southern coast, where a crowd of onlookers celebrated as the penguins marched back into the sea.
"We are overjoyed to see these penguins waddle back to the ocean and have a second chance at life," said veterinarian Dr. Valeria Ruoppolo of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the group that oversaw the rescue. See photo gallery of rescued penguins »
Magellanic penguins are warm-weather birds that breed in large colonies in southern Argentina and Chile. The young animals then migrate north between March and September, following their favorite fish, the anchovy. The birds are named after Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who first saw them in 1519.
But changes in currents and water temperature apparently confused the juvenile birds, who strayed too far north to the warm beaches of Salvador, Brazil, 870 miles north of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Watch the penguins march into the sea »
Starting in mid-July, in the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahía, "It was just about raining penguins," Ruoppolo said. "There was not much of a food supply. The birds were stranded and emaciated. They had lost all their muscles and body condition."
While occasionally a few birds show up so far north, the unusual sight of hundreds of wayward penguins posed a challenge for animal conservation groups.
"We had to learn how to work with them," said Carlos Garcia, a spokesman for IBAMA, the Brazilian Institute for Environment and Renewable Resources. "Fewer than 20 penguins usually wash ashore, but with such a large number, we had to really understand their biology and learn how to treat them."
The Instituto Mamíferos Aquáticos (Institute for Aquatic Mammals) also fed and cared for the hungry and disoriented birds.
Ruoppolo, who is also the emergency relief officer for IFAW, has a lot of experience saving penguins and other animals injured in oil spills. Last week she worked with conservation groups and volunteers to save as many of the birds as possible.
"We showed them how to stabilize the animals, to feed them and give them proper care," she said. Healthy Magellanic penguins grow to about 27 inches tall and weigh about 9 pounds.
Ruoppolo said IBAMA -- the government's environmental authority -- and the Brazilian military were supportive throughout the unusual relocation mission.
On Friday, the penguins were loaded into special crates and put onto the plane for the journey to Pelotas, in southern Brazil. After their first-ever flight, the birds went on a truck ride to the Center for Recovery of Marine Animals, where they rested for 24 hours.
The birds released at Cassino Beach the next day had to meet very specific health criteria, said Ruoppolo.
"Their feathers had to be waterproof, their overall body condition had to be good, their lungs healthy, and they had to be able to catch food," she said.
The youngsters had some adult supervision for their return to the wild. They were released with a small group of adult penguins that had been nursed back to health after surviving an oil spill. Scientists expect the older birds will help guide the little ones to nearby feeding grounds.
Some penguins are still being cared for, both in the north and south of Brazil. The newly released birds have bands on their flippers so scientists can follow their progress and learn more about their migratory habits.
Of more than 1,600 penguins that washed ashore in northern Brazil, about half are still alive. That is a fairly good outcome, given the fragile status of young birds on their first migration, said Ruoppolo.
"For all species you have animals
|
[
"What may have led the birds off course?",
"What are some of the causes for the change of course for the animals?",
"What did the activists rescue?",
"What type of penguins were saved?",
"What animals did the activists rescue?",
"What could have led the penguins astray?",
"What type of helicopter were the animals loaded on?",
"What did the activisits rescue?",
"What were the penguins loaded onto?"
] |
[
"changes in currents and water temperature",
"in currents and water temperature",
"Magellanic penguins",
"Magellanic",
"Magellanic penguins",
"changes in currents and water temperature",
"C-130 Hercules military plane.",
"Magellanic penguins",
"Brazilian air force cargo plane"
] |
question: What may have led the birds off course?, answer: changes in currents and water temperature | question: What are some of the causes for the change of course for the animals?, answer: in currents and water temperature | question: What did the activists rescue?, answer: Magellanic penguins | question: What type of penguins were saved?, answer: Magellanic | question: What animals did the activists rescue?, answer: Magellanic penguins | question: What could have led the penguins astray?, answer: changes in currents and water temperature | question: What type of helicopter were the animals loaded on?, answer: C-130 Hercules military plane. | question: What did the activisits rescue?, answer: Magellanic penguins | question: What were the penguins loaded onto?, answer: Brazilian air force cargo plane
|
(CNN) -- Following this week's tough talks on the global financial crisis, President Obama on Friday shifted his tone to reflect upon his regrets, his frustrations and his hopes for the younger generation.
"There's nothing more noble than public service," President Obama says.
Obama's remarks came after a woman from Heidelberg, Germany, asked if he ever regretted having run for president. The question yielded a lengthy response from Obama, who is participating in his first overseas trip in office.
"That's a good question," Obama said at a packed town hall meeting in Strasbourg, France. "Michelle definitely asked that question.
"You know, there have been times, certainly during the campaign, and there have been times over the last several months where you feel a lot of weight on your shoulders. There's no doubt about it," the president said.
With his wife, Michelle, looking on, Obama continued, "During the campaign, the biggest sacrifice -- the thing that was most difficult was that I was away from my family all the time." Watch Obama weigh in on his regrets and sacrifices »
The president joked that he was jealous of not only Europe's high-speed rail but also the fact that campaigns there only last a few months.
Obama announced that he was running for president on February 10, 2007, and was inaugurated nearly two years later.
"So I was away from home all the time, and that was very difficult, because not only do I have a wonderful wife, but I have two perfect daughters, and so, you know, I missed them a lot," he said.
The president expressed disappointment about the lack of privacy and anonymity he's experienced since assuming office.
"You know, it's very frustrating now," he said. "It used to be when I came to Europe that I could just wander down to a cafe and sit and have some wine and watch people go by and go into a little shop and watch the sun go down.
"Now I'm in hotel rooms all the time. And I have security around me all the time. So just losing that ability to just take a walk, you know? That is something that is frustrating." Take a look at Obama's European itinerary »
After a couple of minutes of going over his regrets, Obama paused.
"But -- having said all that, I truly believe that there's nothing more noble than public service," he said, adding that service doesn't mean one has to run for president.
Obama pointed to Doctors Without Borders, the United Nations and community work as examples of other ways to serve.
"But the point is that what I found at a very young age was that if you can only think about yourself -- 'How much money can I make? What can I buy? How nice is my house? What kind of fancy car do I have?' -- that over the long term, I think you get bored," he told the audience of mostly students.
"I think if you're only thinking about yourself, your life becomes diminished, and the way to live a full life is to think about what can I do for others, how can I be a part of this larger project of making a better world," he said.
Obama said with all the challenges facing the world now, the younger generation has an abundance of opportunities to make a difference.
"It would be a tragedy if all of you who are so talented and energetic -- if you let that go to waste, if you just stood back and watched the world pass you by," he said.
"Better to jump in, get involved -- and it does mean that sometimes you'll get criticized and sometimes you'll fail and sometimes you'll be disappointed -- but you'll have a great adventure. And at the end of your life, hopefully you'll be able to look back and say, 'I made
|
[
"What was Obama's biggest sacrifice?",
"what does obama say?",
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"what was the question about",
"What is frustrating for Obama?"
] |
[
"away from my family all the time.\"",
"\"There's nothing more noble than public service,\"",
"Strasbourg, France.",
"\"That's a good question,\"",
"if he ever regretted having run for president.",
"lack of privacy and anonymity"
] |
question: What was Obama's biggest sacrifice?, answer: away from my family all the time." | question: what does obama say?, answer: "There's nothing more noble than public service," | question: Where was Obama speaking?, answer: Strasbourg, France. | question: what did obama say, answer: "That's a good question," | question: what was the question about, answer: if he ever regretted having run for president. | question: What is frustrating for Obama?, answer: lack of privacy and anonymity
|
(CNN) -- Food fanatics may recognize John Besh from his stints on TV shows like "The Next Iron Chef" and "Top Chef Masters," but New Orleans residents know the Louisiana-raised chef and ex-Marine as an evangelist for local food culture.
After Hurricane Katrina devastated his city in 2005, Besh rallied the teams at his flagship restaurant August to feed the Police Department, National Guard troops, evacuees, refugees and medical personnel. He also set up field kitchens for rural parish residents after hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008.
Besh's 2009 love letter to his city's distinctive cuisine, a nearly 400-page volume of recipes, photographs, stories and field guides to local ingredients entitled "My New Orleans" was recently named best cookbook of the year by the International Association of Culinary Professionals.
With his region's foodways again in peril, Besh spoke with CNN about what's at risk from the Gulf Coast oil spill and what U.S. eaters can do to help.
CNN: From a food perspective, what's at stake?
John Besh: We have a rig that's about 45 miles off the southern tip of Louisiana -- that little bit of land that just happens to be some of the most incredibly rich marshland, which feeds an enormous ecosystem. So, some of the most fragile land on the face of the earth -- at least in North America.
Two-thirds of the production of seafood from the lower 48 states comes from this ecosystem. It all begins with the micro-organisms in the marsh grasses at the mouth of the Mississippi River.
There are other rivers there, too, but it's the mighty Mississippi that feeds it all. We have to act swiftly, as if we were going to war. We have to protect this coastline. There are not just jobs; there are communities and cultures.
Family-owned restaurant fears 'devastating glob'
CNN: How will this affect the local economy -- especially the shrimpers?
Besh: One thing in particular that's been a real slap in the face to the American shrimper is the rapid importation, unchecked, of foreign shrimp flooding our market. We don't know what waters they come from, we don't know what they were fed.
We really know very little about their origin. Yet we accept them with open arms in our country -- a lot of time using slave labor to process these things that we're feeding our children and eating in our massive chain restaurants.
These shrimpers, these communities have been through hurricane after hurricane. They really got back on their feet themselves -- very resilient people.
And now we're dragging our feet -- this slow, very delayed response to the waters. We're talking about this ecosystem that's a source, that's a $2.9 billion a year industry just in our region for shrimp and oysters and crab -- along with some fin fish production. This whole industry [is] on the verge of collapse if we do not act swiftly.
CNN: What can Americans outside the Gulf Coast do to help?
Besh: We need people to really be unified about this. It's more than just about a job. Because it's really about a culture. We need to preserve our environment.
[President] Obama was put in office for the very things he claims to have espoused, yet now we're seeing that administration really dragging their feet with this one -- and that's a huge shock to all of us.
And that's why we're asking everybody out there -- call your representatives, call your senator, call whoever. Make noise.
One thing you can do right now is eat American shrimp.
CNN: How can diners make sure it's domestic?
Besh: Each state has its own laws, but in many, grocery stores have to label the origin of the shrimp. Demand domestic shrimp. Demand great domestic oysters.
Demand, demand, demand, and they will have to supply it in order to pay their bills.
CNN: What can chefs do?
Besh:
|
[
"Is the Gulf coast a rich marshland?",
"What do we need to demand at grocery stores and restaurants?",
"He says not just jobs are at stake, but also what?",
"who is urging the campaign?",
"What are we saving the Gulf Coast from?",
"what feeds ecosystem?",
"What is Besh's first name?"
] |
[
"happens to be some of the most incredibly",
"domestic shrimp.",
"cultures.",
"John Besh",
"oil spill",
"the most incredibly rich marshland,",
"John"
] |
question: Is the Gulf coast a rich marshland?, answer: happens to be some of the most incredibly | question: What do we need to demand at grocery stores and restaurants?, answer: domestic shrimp. | question: He says not just jobs are at stake, but also what?, answer: cultures. | question: who is urging the campaign?, answer: John Besh | question: What are we saving the Gulf Coast from?, answer: oil spill | question: what feeds ecosystem?, answer: the most incredibly rich marshland, | question: What is Besh's first name?, answer: John
|
(CNN) -- Football legend Diego Maradona had his earrings seized by Italian authorities Friday to help pay off his back taxes, according to media reports.
Diego Maradona sports expensive-looking earrings during a recent football match.
The current coach of Argentina's national team was staying at a clinic in northern Italy in a bid to lose weight when finance police swooped, Reuters.com reported.
The jewelry was said to be worth €4,000 ($5,888).
Italian tax authorities say he owes the country €31 million ($45 million) in back taxes from when he played for top league club Napoli between 1984 and 1991.
But Maradona says the Serie A club should have paid the taxes.
Three years ago, tax police took two Rolex watches from him when he was back in Italy for a benefit match.
The 48-year old is under intense pressure in his native Argentina after a dismal World Cup qualifying campaign left his star-studded team in danger of missing their first tournament since 1970.
After a recent defeat against Paraguay he was quoted by FIFA.com as saying, "I am not afraid of criticism. I am afraid of nobody. I am doing my job, I have my team and I am going to go forward. "I have been battling critics since I was 15 years old. Now I am 48 and I am going to continue to battle with them [the press]."
|
[
"what did Maradona say?",
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"what do the reports say?",
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] |
[
"the Serie A club should have paid the taxes.",
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"Diego Maradona",
"legend Diego Maradona had his earrings seized by Italian authorities",
"€31 million",
"the Serie A club",
"at a clinic in northern Italy"
] |
question: what did Maradona say?, answer: the Serie A club should have paid the taxes. | question: Who does Maradona say should have paid the taxes?, answer: the Serie A club | question: Who owes Italy taxes?, answer: Diego Maradona | question: what do the reports say?, answer: legend Diego Maradona had his earrings seized by Italian authorities | question: How much does the Argentina coach owe?, answer: €31 million | question: Who does Maradona say should pay the taxes?, answer: the Serie A club | question: Where is Maradona staying?, answer: at a clinic in northern Italy
|
(CNN) -- Football players are pushing for the sport's world governing body FIFA to bring in technology to decide whether the ball has crossed the goalline.
In a poll by international players' union FIFpro, 90 percent of respondents said they wanted to see goalline technology introduced.
FIFpro has submitted the findings to the International Football Association Board, FIFA's lawmaking body, which is meeting on Saturday, March 6, to discuss possible changes to the laws of the game.
Tijs Tummers, secretary of FIFpro's technical committee, said players have had enough of games being blighted by incorrect decisions over goals.
"The ultimate aim of football is scoring goals, and there's no greater injustice than when you have scored and it's not allowed because they say it did not cross the line," Tummers told CNN.
"Every weekend you see a situation like this in one of the top European leagues.
"There are no buts. It's very simple. The only argument against is that you say we want to keep a human feel but in the opinion of FIFpro and the players that is nonsense."
German sportswear giant Adidas has been working on a form of technology involving a microchip in the ball, while other options include a version of the Hawk-Eye system of computerized cameras currently used in tennis.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter has called for a system which is accurate but doesn't disrupt the flow of the game.
FIFA has tested goalline technology in junior tournaments but has recently moved away from further trials in favor of a simpler system involving two extra assistant referees stationed at each end.
The scheme, favored by UEFA President Michel Platini, has been tested in the Europa League this season but has proved unpopular with coaches and players.
FIFpro polled the 48 captains who have played in the Europa League this season, with 70 percent of the 31 who responded saying they saw no improvement in decision-making.
The row between extra referees and technology is on the agenda for the IFAB meeting, with any changes to be implemented next season, after the World Cup.
Other issues under review include whether players who concede penalties through professional fouls should also be sent off, and whether players should continue to be allowed to feint their run-ups when taking penalties.
|
[
"When did FIFA meet?",
"When are FIFA meeting?",
"when does FIFA meet?",
"what do the players lobby to introduce?",
"What were players unimpressed with?",
"What is FIFA to introduce?"
] |
[
"Saturday, March 6,",
"Saturday, March 6,",
"Saturday, March 6,",
"goalline technology",
"games being blighted by incorrect decisions over goals.",
"technology"
] |
question: When did FIFA meet?, answer: Saturday, March 6, | question: When are FIFA meeting?, answer: Saturday, March 6, | question: when does FIFA meet?, answer: Saturday, March 6, | question: what do the players lobby to introduce?, answer: goalline technology | question: What were players unimpressed with?, answer: games being blighted by incorrect decisions over goals. | question: What is FIFA to introduce?, answer: technology
|
(CNN) -- Football should be used to teach young people moral lessons, Pope Benedict XVI said during an audience with representatives from the Italian football league and lower division clubs.
Pope Benedict XVI is presented with a football by Ancona club officials.
Italian football has been tarnished in recent seasons by corruption, match-fixing scandals and crowd trouble, but the pope insisted the sport celebrated positive virtues as well.
"The sport of football can be a vehicle of education for the values of honesty, solidarity and fraternity, especially for the younger generation," the pope said, according to Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper.
The comments are not the first foray by the Bavarian-born pope -- reputedly a Bayern Munich supporter -- into Italian football.
In October, he was presented with a No. 16 shirt by officials of the lower league club Ancona after the Vatican endorsed its campaign to turn itself into a "beacon of morality" by adopting an "innovative, ethical model of practising football," Reuters reported.
The code committed Ancona to promoting fair play in a family atmosphere. The club is currently second in Serie C1/B, Italian football's third tier league.
"Football should increasingly become a tool for the teaching of life's ethical and spiritual values," the pope said.
Pope Benedict XVI's predecessor, Pope John Paul II, was also a keen football fan, reportedly playing in goal during his youth in Poland. All Italian football matches were cancelled on the weekend following his death in 2005. E-mail to a friend
|
[
"Who does the Pope support?",
"What can football teach?",
"What fan is the German-born pope?",
"What does the pope say?",
"What team is he a fan of?",
"As what kind of vehicle should sport be used?",
"What values can football teach?",
"What values does the Pope say Football can teach?",
"Which team is the Pope reported to support?",
"Which lower league club's actions were endorsed by the Vatican?"
] |
[
"to teach young people moral lessons,",
"the values of honesty, solidarity and fraternity,",
"Bayern Munich supporter",
"\"The sport of football can be a vehicle of education for the values of honesty, solidarity and fraternity, especially for the younger generation,\"",
"Bayern Munich",
"of education for the values of honesty, solidarity and fraternity,",
"honesty, solidarity",
"honesty, solidarity",
"Bayern Munich",
"Ancona"
] |
question: Who does the Pope support?, answer: to teach young people moral lessons, | question: What can football teach?, answer: the values of honesty, solidarity and fraternity, | question: What fan is the German-born pope?, answer: Bayern Munich supporter | question: What does the pope say?, answer: "The sport of football can be a vehicle of education for the values of honesty, solidarity and fraternity, especially for the younger generation," | question: What team is he a fan of?, answer: Bayern Munich | question: As what kind of vehicle should sport be used?, answer: of education for the values of honesty, solidarity and fraternity, | question: What values can football teach?, answer: honesty, solidarity | question: What values does the Pope say Football can teach?, answer: honesty, solidarity | question: Which team is the Pope reported to support?, answer: Bayern Munich | question: Which lower league club's actions were endorsed by the Vatican?, answer: Ancona
|
(CNN) -- Football superstar, celebrity, fashion icon, multimillion-dollar heartthrob. Now, David Beckham is headed for the Hollywood Hills as he takes his game to U.S. Major League Soccer.
CNN looks at how Bekham fulfilled his dream of playing for Manchester United, and his time playing for England.
The world's famous footballer has begun a five-year contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy team, and on Friday Beckham will meet the press and reveal his new shirt number.
This week, we take an in depth look at the life and times of Beckham, as CNN's very own "Becks," Becky Anderson, sets out to examine what makes the man tick -- as footballer, fashion icon and global phenomenon.
It's a long way from the streets of east London to the Hollywood Hills and Becky charts Beckham's incredible rise to football stardom, a journey that has seen his skills grace the greatest stages in world soccer.
She goes in pursuit of the current hottest property on the sports/celebrity circuit in the U.S. and along the way explores exactly what's behind the man with the golden boot.
CNN will look back at the life of Beckham, the wonderfully talented youngster who fulfilled his dream of playing for Manchester United, his marriage to pop star Victoria, and the trials and tribulations of playing for England.
We'll look at the highs (scoring against Greece), the lows (being sent off during the World Cup), the Man. U departure for the Galacticos of Madrid -- and now the Home Depot stadium in L.A.
We'll ask how Beckham and his family will adapt to life in Los Angeles -- the people, the places to see and be seen and the celebrity endorsement.
Beckham is no stranger to exposure. He has teamed with Reggie Bush in an Adidas commercial, is the face of Motorola, is the face on a PlayStation game and doesn't need fashion tips as he has his own international clothing line. But what does the star couple need to do to become an accepted part of Tinseltown's glitterati?
The road to major league football in the U.S.A. is a well-worn route for some of the world's greatest players. We talk to some of the former greats who came before him and examine what impact these overseas stars had on U.S. soccer and look at what is different now.
We also get a rare glimpse inside the David Beckham academy in L.A, find out what drives the kids and who are their heroes. The perception that in the U.S.A. soccer is a "game for girls" after the teenage years is changing. More and more young kids are choosing the European game over the traditional U.S. sports. E-mail to a friend
|
[
"What did Former English captain unveiled?",
"Who is Beckham's contract with?",
"Who is the contract with?",
"What did Beckham agreed with Los Angeles Galaxy?",
"In which way is Beckham seen, besides being a footballer?",
"What was the length of Beckham's contract with Los Angeles Galaxy?",
"What is being unveiled on Friday?",
"When is Beckham scheduled to meet the press",
"When does it begin",
"When will he unveil his shirt number?",
"Who agreed to a five-year contract with Los Angeles Galaxy?"
] |
[
"reveal his new shirt number.",
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"five-year",
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"Friday",
"on Friday",
"Friday",
"David Beckham"
] |
question: What did Former English captain unveiled?, answer: reveal his new shirt number. | question: Who is Beckham's contract with?, answer: Los Angeles Galaxy team, | question: Who is the contract with?, answer: Los Angeles Galaxy team, | question: What did Beckham agreed with Los Angeles Galaxy?, answer: five-year contract | question: In which way is Beckham seen, besides being a footballer?, answer: celebrity, fashion icon, multimillion-dollar heartthrob. | question: What was the length of Beckham's contract with Los Angeles Galaxy?, answer: five-year | question: What is being unveiled on Friday?, answer: his new shirt number. | question: When is Beckham scheduled to meet the press, answer: Friday | question: When does it begin, answer: on Friday | question: When will he unveil his shirt number?, answer: Friday | question: Who agreed to a five-year contract with Los Angeles Galaxy?, answer: David Beckham
|
(CNN) -- Football's world governing body FIFA has called for greater security to be provided after three players from Algeria's national football team were injured when Egyptian fans threw stones at the team bus as it arrived in Cairo on Thursday.
The north African arch-rivals meet on Saturday in a crucial World Cup qualifying game in the Egyptian capital, as the group-leading Desert Foxes aim to qualify for the tournament for the first time since since 1986 at the expense of the reigning African champions.
FIFA delegate, Walter Gagg, witnessed the incident and told reporters: "We saw that three players had been injured -- Khaled Lemmouchia on the head, Rafik Halliche above the eye and Rafik Saifi on the arm.
"These weren't superficial injuries. With the stitches needed, we will have to see if these players can play. The team doctor has still to make a decision on that."
Gagg confirmed Algeria's goalkeeping coach had been concussed after the windows of the coach were smashed by stones thrown by fans.
FIFA announced their concerns following the incident in a statement on their official Web site which read: "FIFA's Organizing Committee for the FIFA World Cup have asked the Egyptian Football Association and the highest national authorities ... to confirm the implementation of the necessary additional safety and security measures at any time for the Algerian delegation.
"Last week, FIFA had officially written to the Football Associations of Algeria and Egypt to express its firm wish that the preliminary competition for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa ends as it began, in the spirit of fair play with the necessary cooperation of all the parties."
The two north African neighbors have a history of intense competition -- the two sides locked horns in 1989 in a final qualifier for the World Cup hosted by Italy, a match that was followed by riots.
Egypt, despite winning the last two Africa Cup of Nations, are on the brink of failing to qualify for the World Cup that will be held on African soil for the first time in 2010.
The Pharaohs need to win by three-goals to book their place in South Africa, a two-nil win will leave the teams equal on goal difference forcing another play-off to take place on neutral ground.
|
[
"How much does Egypt need to win by?",
"Which body called for strengthened security?",
"Fifa has strengthened security to what Qualifier?",
"Three of which teams players are injured as Egyptian fans throw stones at the team bus?",
"What followed the game last time?",
"What did FIFA call for?",
"How many players are injured?"
] |
[
"three-goals",
"FIFA",
"Algeria's national football team",
"Algeria's national football",
"riots.",
"greater security",
"three"
] |
question: How much does Egypt need to win by?, answer: three-goals | question: Which body called for strengthened security?, answer: FIFA | question: Fifa has strengthened security to what Qualifier?, answer: Algeria's national football team | question: Three of which teams players are injured as Egyptian fans throw stones at the team bus?, answer: Algeria's national football | question: What followed the game last time?, answer: riots. | question: What did FIFA call for?, answer: greater security | question: How many players are injured?, answer: three
|
(CNN) -- For 13-year-old Brandon Marti, the intranasal vaccine felt "good," "cold" and "watery" at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore in the Bronx, New York, on Tuesday.
Brandon Marti, 13, receives a dose of the intranasal vaccine for the novel H1N1 flu Tuesday.
Marti, among the first to get vaccinated against the novel H1N1 influenza virus this week, said he would tell his friends and classmates that "the swine flu vaccine is good, and protects me from getting the swine flu."
New York has received a shipment of 68,000 doses of the FluMist variety vaccine. This form was made available before the injectable kind because it was ready first, said Thomas Skinner, spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As states across the country receive and distribute the vaccine, questions still linger about who should get it and why. Here are some guidelines:
Where is the vaccine?
The campaign to inoculate millions of Americans against H1N1 flu began Monday. Every state is developing a vaccine delivery plan, according to the CDC. How much do you know about H1N1? Take our quiz. »
All states in the United States have ordered vaccine, said Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the CDC, at a briefing Tuesday. Each Friday, the CDC will provide information about how much vaccine is available to states and how much has been ordered. So far, about 2.2 million doses out of the available 2.4 million have been ordered, he said. Learn more from your state.
The vaccine is being made available as soon as it comes off the production line, Frieden said. This week the intranasal mist variety, called FluMist, became available, and next week the injectable form will made available, he said. iReport.com: Are you getting the H1N1 vaccine?
Frieden acknowledged that these first few weeks will be "bumpy" in terms of distributing the vaccine, and that demand is currently greater than supply. However, he expects that supply will soon outstrip demand.
"It will take some time to get the whole system, from the manufacturer through the distributor to the providers and to people who want to get vaccinated, up and running," he said.
Who should get it?
The CDC recommends that specific groups of people get vaccinated first, but there are no rankings within the priority groups, Frieden said.
The nasal spray version of the vaccine should be used only in people 2 to 49 and who do not have an underlying health problem, Frieden said. The priority groups for it include health care workers, children and people who care for infants, he said. Pregnant women should not have the FluMist version because it contains the live virus. Kathleen Sebelius and CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta discuss H1N1 vaccine »
Ashley Marti, 9, sister of Brandon, also got her H1N1 vaccination Tuesday.
Health care and emergency medical services personnel should be in the priority group because vulnerable patients could potentially contract the flu from them, the CDC said. Already, infections among health care workers have been reported, and the health care system capacity could become significantly lowered if large numbers of these workers are absent, the CDC said.
Once the injectable shot becomes available, all priority groups should be vaccinated, the CDC said. These include pregnant women, because they are at higher risk of complications and may be able to provide protection to unvaccinated infants. People from 6 months to 24 years old should also receive the vaccine, and people from 25 to 64 should get it they have a chronic health disorder or a compromised immune system, the CDC said.
According to a CNN/Opinion Corp. poll in late August, two-thirds of Americans said they plan to be vaccinated against H1N1 flu.
Does anyone have to get it?
There are no formal penalties for those who do not get the vaccine, but people in the military are required to receive it, according to the American Forces Press Service. The state government of New York has said that health care workers must get the vaccine, although no
|
[
"What should be given to people 2 to 49?",
"Who should not recieve the vaccine?",
"What is iReport asking?",
"How many doses of the vaccine have been ordered?",
"Who should not get FluMist version?",
"Which version of the vaccine should be given to people age 2-49?"
] |
[
"The nasal spray version of the vaccine",
"Pregnant women",
"Are you getting the H1N1 vaccine?",
"2.2 million",
"Pregnant women",
"nasal spray"
] |
question: What should be given to people 2 to 49?, answer: The nasal spray version of the vaccine | question: Who should not recieve the vaccine?, answer: Pregnant women | question: What is iReport asking?, answer: Are you getting the H1N1 vaccine? | question: How many doses of the vaccine have been ordered?, answer: 2.2 million | question: Who should not get FluMist version?, answer: Pregnant women | question: Which version of the vaccine should be given to people age 2-49?, answer: nasal spray
|
(CNN) -- For 20 years, it has circled quietly above us, capturing a dark, secret world billions of light years away.
From black holes to primordial galaxies, the Hubble Space Telescope has provided out-of-this-world images of space where no human has ever gone.
NASA, the European Space Agency and the Space Telescopic Science Institute celebrated Hubble's 20th year in orbit on Saturday by releasing another stunning photo caught by the iconic telescope.
The striking color shot shows a small portion of the Carina Nebula, "one of the largest seen star-birth regions in the galaxy," according to NASA.
Former NASA astronaut John Grunsfeld, who flew on three service missions to Hubble, said that inside those newborn stars "are the chemical elements ... that make up people."
Time.com: Greatest hits from Hubble
"The carbon and oxygen in our bodies was all built inside of stars," he said, "Hubble is answering fundamental scientific questions that in the end tell us about our earth, our solar system and ultimately how we were formed."
The photo, captured February 1 and 2, is one of more than 500,000 images that Hubble has taken -- captivating scientists and astronomy enthusiasts alike -- since it was launched into orbit by the space shuttle Discovery on April 24, 1990.
"I never would have believed in 1990 that the Hubble would have turned out this great," said Ed Weiler, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate. "I knew it was going to be great, but it has just exceeded all of our expectations."
Among its most famous findings, Hubble has:
-- Helped astronomers discover dark energy, which exerts a repulsive force that works against gravity;
-- Helped determine the age of the universe (about 13.75 billion years old);
-- Acted as a virtual time machine, providing glimpses into how the universe might have looked millions of years ago and helping shed light on how the giant galaxies we see today were formed;
-- Helped identify the atmospheric makeup of planets beyond our solar system.
Weiler cites supermassive black holes, the largest type of black hole, as another of Hubble's most prominent discoveries.
"When Hubble was launched in 1990, supermassive black holes were a fantasy, a theory -- something you saw on 'Star Trek,'" Weiler said. "One of our goals was to ... find at least one and prove it exists.
"As it turns out, Hubble surprised us," he said, "Not only did it find one but it basically showed us that supermassive black holes are pervasive throughout the universe ... and they clearly play a role in the evolution of a universe."
Despite its age, Hubble is 100 times more powerful today than at the time of its launch, NASA says, thanks to its most recent visit by astronauts, including Grunsfeld, on a service mission last May.
"We had hoped to get 10 to 15 years out of it with frequent shuttle visits every two and a half to three years," Weiler said. "As it turns out, we're now 20 years into this program, and thanks to the work of John and the crew in the last mission, we're looking forward to at least another five years and maybe even another seven, eight or nine or 10 years more."
|
[
"How many photos has Hubble captured?",
"What is the Carina Nebula?",
"how many images",
"what did it determine",
"What did Hubble help to determine?",
"how many years has the hubble telescope been in place"
] |
[
"more than 500,000 images",
"\"one of the largest seen star-birth regions in the galaxy,\"",
"500,000",
"the age of the universe",
"the age of the universe",
"20"
] |
question: How many photos has Hubble captured?, answer: more than 500,000 images | question: What is the Carina Nebula?, answer: "one of the largest seen star-birth regions in the galaxy," | question: how many images, answer: 500,000 | question: what did it determine, answer: the age of the universe | question: What did Hubble help to determine?, answer: the age of the universe | question: how many years has the hubble telescope been in place, answer: 20
|
(CNN) -- For Anthony Williams, being black in America means being a suspect.
Anthony Williams says he feels like he's always a suspect to police.
The 39-year-old former Marine said he's never had any trouble with the law, other than a few traffic violations, and leads a middle-class life in the Atlanta, Georgia, area.
But the AT&T customer care representative said he still gets nervous when he hears that police are looking for a 6-foot-tall black man, "because I know I fit that description."
"I worry I will get pulled over and some police officer decides to shoot first and ask questions later," Williams wrote.
Police recently questioned him in his own driveway after getting complaints that a man was walking in neighbors' yards, Williams said. iReport.com: Tell us what you thought of "Black in America."
"You never know what to expect when you get pulled over by police, and that's how it is when you're black," he said.
Vince Priester of Lithonia, Georgia, said the documentary was "intriguing and moving" and showed that "with all the change we've made as a society, things really haven't changed" for black people.
"You have to tone yourself down when you're around white people," he said. "There's nervousness from white women when I share an elevator with them; they put their hand on their pocketbook."
"You have to almost change yourself, dilute yourself, to live in a white society," he said. iReport.com: Vince Priester describes being black in America
We asked iReport.com writers and readers to share their reaction to part one of the four-hour documentary "Black in America." Dozens of people have responded in the hours since the show ended.
Ayana Gooden, a 34-year-old artist, musician and Web designer in New York, said that she enjoyed the show but that it missed one question: Why?
"To look at how things are in the present, you really have to look at the past," she said.
Slavery and segregation have left deep scars that take generations to heal. She said her own parents couldn't vote without harassment for a third of their lives.
Sonya Freeman of Brooklyn, New York, said the black community is still struggling under white oppression.
"The whole single mom thing and people not being married ... back in the day, especially during slavery time, black people weren't allowed to be married," she said.
She said her grandfather wasn't allowed to go to school past the sixth grade.
"It's not just bad decision-making. It was a whole set of values that were not learned, so they can't be passed down," she said.
Nicole Adams of the Bronx, New York, said that she enjoyed the show but that there were too many issues to cover in just four hours.
"How do you speak about black women and not talk about depression, which is a battle that many women, including myself, face every day?" she asked.
Adams also questioned the emphasis on two-parent families, saying that "the character of the people in the household and not the number was the real determining factor."
The 37-year-old grew up with a mom and a dad but said their relationship was dysfunctional.
"I didn't have a model of a healthy relationship, so I didn't know how to participate productively in a relationship," she said. "I fought so hard not to be like my mom .. that I sabotaged my own relationship."
|
[
"What is the special about?",
"Who says he knows he \"fits the description\"?"
] |
[
"\"Black in America.\"",
"Anthony Williams"
] |
question: What is the special about?, answer: "Black in America." | question: Who says he knows he "fits the description"?, answer: Anthony Williams
|
(CNN) -- For Brad Cohen, the barking and squealing noises he could not control began in the fifth grade.
Fifty kids came to Camp Twitch and Shout's first session. Director Brad Cohen says he hopes to double that figure.
"I remember eating lunch at school all by myself and the mean kids would parade around me and mock my noises. My teacher made me get up in front of the class and apologize to everybody for the noises I was making," Cohen recalls.
More than 20 years later, Cohen is a camp director, celebrating the first year of Camp Twitch and Shout, a place for youngsters, who like Cohen, have Tourette syndrome.
"Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder which causes people to make noises and tics that they can't control," Cohen says.
Fifty campers, between the ages of 7 and 18, came from all over the country to spend a week in Winder, Georgia, about 45 miles east of Atlanta. They have plenty to do, from swimming and fishing to music and arts and crafts. Most have been teased or harassed in school, and the camp is a place just to have fun.
"It's very nice to be able to let it all out and just not have to worry and not have people stare at you and think that you're weird and think -- what's wrong with that person?" says 16-year-old camper and black belt Tinsley Birchfield of Atlanta. Watch more from Camp Twist and Shout »
For other campers, such as Jacob McGee of Savannah, Georgia, just being outdoors is magical. "My favorite part was when we climbed the tree. That was pretty awesome. I went as high as I could go. It was really fun," says the 11-year-old.
According to experts, Twitch and Shout is one of only five weeklong camps in the country for children with Tourette syndrome. Atlanta-based child neurologist Howard Schub says such camps help children better cope with their condition. Some campers have never met another kid with Tourette syndrome.
"A child goes to camp, they see that they're not the worst. ... There are others that are functioning pretty well with worse tics than they," Schub says.
Cohen adds, "They see that wow, 'There are other kids that are like me.' They laugh, they tell the same jokes, they have the same interests. And what we hope is that their self-esteem goes up."
Twitch and Shout campers display motor tics common to most kids with Tourette syndrome such as eye blinking, facial grimacing, shoulder shrugging, head jerking, and -- in a few rare cases -- cursing. Camp activities are filled with the sounds of typical vocal tics: sniffing, throat clearing, hooting, barking, hissing and squealing.
But campers such as teenager Kevin Kardon of Athens, Georgia, say they've just gotten used to it.
"It's just kind of like you're listening to music, and you hear something in the background and you don't really hear it," Kevin says.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three out of every 1,000 school-age children are believed to have Tourette syndrome. The cause is unknown, but genetics appear to play a role. Most children develop the condition between 7 and 10, and if their tics are mild to moderate, they usually require no medicine to control them. Symptoms usually peak during the late teens or early 20s.
"Many children, as they get older, the tics become either much less prominent or certainly reduced to a single or just a few tics that are not as disabling," Schub says.
That was certainly the case with Cohen. Barking is still his dominant tic, but when he was the age of his campers, he wrestled to control several others, including eye blinking, teeth chomping and arm twitching. In middle school, when his tics were at the height of their intensity, the principal approached him and asked if he'd like to educate the student
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question: Where is the camp located?, answer: Winder, Georgia, | question: What is Camp Twitch and Shout?, answer: have Tourette syndrome. | question: How many campers are there?, answer: Fifty | question: how many campers, answer: Fifty | question: How many school-age children have Tourette syndrom?, answer: three out of every 1,000 school-age children are believed to have Tourette syndrome. | question: How many people attended the camp?, answer: Fifty | question: what did the camper say, answer: "It's very nice to be able to let it all out and just not have to worry and not have people stare at you and think that you're weird and think
|
(CNN) -- For CNN, Tiananmen Square was a watershed story -- a seminal moment in the network's history.
Beijing bureau chief Mike Chinoy, producer Nancy Lane and Moscow bureau chief Steve Hurst
Only nine years old in 1989, CNN was the only 24-hour news station on the air at the time. But staffers say the network suffered an inferiority complex when comparing itself to the major players in American television, who had dismissed the new upstart for years as "Chicken Noodle News."
Enter Tiananmen Square. Change the face of television news. Take your place in the big leagues. "It put CNN on the map," said Mike Chinoy, CNN's Beijing bureau chief during the crisis.
"It was the first time an upheaval in a previously isolated, distant, inaccessible location suddenly was available on television sets in living rooms and foreign ministries around the world. It was a pivotal moment for television."
And it was an accident too. Foreign reporters had flooded Beijing to cover the historic visit of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Suddenly, they found themselves covering a very different story.
For CNN, it all started in early April when Alec Miran, CNN's special events producer for the Gorbachev visit, went to Beijing to propose an "outlandish idea" to the Chinese authorities -- bringing in the network's own transmission equipment to beam live television pictures from China.
"It was unprecedented," said Miran. Before that, networks would feed their material from CCTV (Chinese Central Television), who would monitor -- and censor -- everything that was sent out.
"Our own transmission was a scary idea to them," said Miran. But he says he thinks the Chinese eventually agreed -- after much back and forth -- because, above all, they wanted international coverage of Gorbachev's visit.
The Chinese gave CNN permission to bring in their own "flyaway" satellite dish and additional microwave gear to be able to transmit live -- a permission unheard of at the time in closed, Communist China. CNN was granted exactly one week's permission, timed to coincide with the Soviet leader's visit. See photos of the CNN team in Tiananmen Square in 1989 »
CBS was also granted permission to transmit live, but because CNN was on the air 24 hours a day, the permission it was granted turned out to be much more significant.
"On the first day of the Gorbachev visit, we not only had our own satellite transmission, we also had a live camera overlooking the square," said Miran. "We were really well set up."
But the situation was deteriorating rapidly for the Chinese leadership.
Huge groups of students demanding reform had occupied Tiananmen Square and had launched a hunger strike just days before the Soviet leader's visit was about to begin.
CNN's live camera, at the Gate of Heavenly Peace overlooking the square, showed the hundreds of thousands of demonstrators who had gathered in Tiananmen Square where Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping was due to greet Gorbachev at the Great Hall of the People.
"On the day of the big meeting, we waited, and waited, and waited, watching the signal from CCTV," said Miran. "No picture. We called our contact at CCTV to see if there were technical problems. Nope."
"They couldn't take Gorbachev in the front door of the Great Hall of the People because there were more than a million people in the square asking for reform," said Cynde Strand, CNN's cameraperson in Beijing at the time. "The students upstaged Deng in one of his biggest moments, his big rapprochement with the Soviet Union."
And the massive crowd -- as well as the non-appearance of Deng welcoming Gorbachev at the Great Hall of the People -- was all captured live on CNN.
Soon afterwards, the Chinese informed CNN they could no longer maintain their live position overlooking the square, a position that had become vital for the network's coverage. Entire shows anchored by Bernard Shaw had been taped there.
Miran and Chinoy huddled and decided that although the Chinese
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question: What did the network do for the first time, answer: an upheaval in a previously isolated, distant, inaccessible location suddenly was available on television sets in living rooms and foreign ministries around the world. It was a pivotal moment | question: What did a TV network do for the first time?, answer: an upheaval in a previously isolated, distant, inaccessible location suddenly was available on television sets in living rooms and foreign ministries around the world. It was a pivotal moment | question: Who said the story "put CNN on the map"?, answer: Mike Chinoy, | question: For the first time, a TV network beamed its own live pictures to which country?, answer: China. | question: Former Beijing bureau chief Mike Chinoy said which network was put on the map by the story?, answer: CNN | question: What story put CNN on the map, answer: Tiananmen Square | question: What did Mike Chinoy say about the CNN story?, answer: watershed
|
(CNN) -- For Capt. Kamaljit Singh Kalsi, a doctor, and 2nd Lt. Tejdeep Singh Rattan, a dentist, this is a hill worth fighting for.
Tejdeep Singh Rattan, left, and Kamaljit Singh Kalsi are set to report for duty in the U.S. Army in July.
These two U.S. military recruits of the Sikh faith are challenging an Army order that they remove their turbans and cut their unshorn hair and beards when they report for active duty in July.
In Sikhism, which originated in northwestern India, the turban and unshorn hair are articles of faith and can't be removed.
But the U.S. military says there are times when the military cannot accommodate certain religious practices, "such as when those religious observations would interfere with the wear of proper military headgear or protective clothing or equipment."
"It doesn't make sense to me, especially in these hard times," Kalsi told CNN. "The military is hurting for professionals. They need doctors, they need nurses."
Aided by the Sikh Coalition, a national civil rights group, and a law firm, the men have filed requests that their religious needs be accommodated. They have filed appeals with their immediate superiors and complaints with the inspectors general of the Army and the Pentagon.
The Sikh Coalition said Kalsi and Rattan had been assured that when they were recruited to join the Army's Health Professions Scholarship that their unshorn hair and turbans "would not be a problem."
"Both men were both recruited and commissioned -- with their Sikh articles of faith -- during their respective first years of medical and dental school (2001 and 2006) through the Army's Health Professions Scholarship Program.
"Both are concluding their training and are slated to begin active duty in July 2009. However, the U.S. Army is now disputing their ability to serve with their Sikh identity intact," the Sikh Coalition said in an April 14 letter addressed to Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
Amardeep Singh, the head of the Sikh Coalition, told CNN that the issue at hand involves observant Sikhs, not those Sikh-Americans who entered the military after removing their turbans and shaving their beards and hair.
The issue is all-important for the roughly 500,000-strong American Sikh community, which faced hostility after the September 11, 2001, attacks, when people associated them with al Qaeda terrorists because their turbans and beards resembled the militants' appearance.
"The perception is still there," said Singh. "We're sort of still feeling it."
He said surveys -- including one done recently in Queens, New York, where children reported being on the receiving end of verbal and physical abuse -- chronicle the problems Sikhs face.
"These kids are being harassed in New York. It's Queens, the most diverse county in the United States. If this is happening in Queens, it's happening in other parts of the country."
So, he said, the opportunity to serve in the U.S. Army sends the opposite message -- "that we are part and parcel of the fabric of this country."
Kalsi, Singh and the Sikh community stress the Sikhs' military heritage. Kalsi, for example, is the fourth generation in his family to serve in the military, and his ancestors served in India's military. The Sikh served in allied forces in the two world wars and they serve in the militaries of Great Britain, Canada, Sweden, Pakistan, as well as India.
The coalition notes in its letter to Gates that a Sikh doctor and dentist were serving in the Army, "grandfathered in under the old policy" that ended in the 1980s when observant Sikhs were barred from admission to the armed forces.
Lt. Col. Christopher C. Garver, an Army spokesman, told CNN in an e-mail that "the Army places high value on the rights of Soldiers to freely observe the tenets of their respective religions."
"Accommodation of a Soldier's religious practices must be examined against military necessity and cannot be guaranteed at all times," he wrote. "There are times when the Army
|
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question: When does a problem arise, according to the Army?, answer: the military cannot accommodate certain religious practices, | question: What does the Army say?, answer: there are times when the military cannot accommodate certain religious practices, | question: What does the problem arise from?, answer: the September 11, 2001, attacks, | question: Who set to report for duty in U.S. Army in July?, answer: Tejdeep Singh Rattan, | question: What does the Army say Sikhs must do?, answer: remove their turbans and cut their unshorn hair and beards when they report for active duty | question: What does the Army say about turbans?, answer: "would not be a problem." | question: What does the Sikh group say?, answer: "Both are concluding their training and are slated to begin active duty in July 2009. However, the U.S. Army is now disputing their ability to serve with their | question: Who must remove their turbans, cut their hair and beards?, answer: Kamaljit Singh Kalsi
|
(CNN) -- For Clem Pellett, tracking down his grandfather's killer was not his original mission.
"I was just putting together an old family story ... and these serendipitous events happened, and we accidentally caught him," Pellett, of Bellevue, Washington, told CNN in a phone interview Wednesday.
That "old family story" focuses on two men: Clarence Pellet -- a grandfather that Clem Pellett never knew -- and a drifter named Frank Dryman.
According to the Montana Department of Corrections, on April 4, 1951, Clarence Pellett picked up a hitchhiker near Shelby, Montana. The hitchhiker was Dryman, then a 19-year-old drifter who was carrying a loaded gun that, according to the state, he used to shoot and kill Clarence Pellett on the side of windswept Montana road.
Dryman took the car and drove to Canada, where he was later arrested for the murder, according to the Montana Department of Corrections.
After several trials and appeals, Dryman was convicted in Montana and sentenced to life in prison, then paroled in 1969, according to state records. Less than two years after his parole, Dryman was listed by the Montana Department of Corrections as "absconded." He had disappeared.
And that is where the "old family story" stopped for nearly 40 years, until last year when Clem Pellett came across some old newspapers clippings of the murder, which had occurred two years before he was born.
"So what I knew of it (was) 'never pick up a hitchhiker,' and 'your grandfather died begging for his life,'" he said.
"It's hard -- this is someone I never knew, but as I read, I thought, 'You know, this poor man who happens to be my grandfather -- his death just got kicked to the curb,' and that became the issue."
Over the course of a year, Clem Pellett worked closely with the Montana Parole Board and with Department of Corrections officials, who supplied him with an old post office box number in Glendale, Arizona, and details about Dryman's unique knuckle tattoos.
That old address was just enough to give private investigators hired by Clem Pellett the lead they needed, and the search for Dryman was on in earnest.
Pellett never imagined it would turn out the way it did, though. "We thought he was going to be dead," he said.
But 78-year old Frank Dryman proved them wrong.
With the help of several private investigators, the search ended when Dryman was found living as a notary public and operating a wedding chapel in Arizona City, Arizona. In the sparsely populated land between Phoenix and Tucson, Dryman had "flown under the radar for years, but he didn't fool me" says private investigator Patrick Cote.
"What I really wanted to do (was) check his hands -- for the tattoos. I knew that this fellow was probably the one, because I was looking for the letters L-O-V-E tattooed on his knuckles. And I could see he had old stars tattooed on his fingers to cover 'love.' I called up to the other investigator and said 'I think I got your guy,'" said Cote.
Pellett informed Montana Parole Board officials and they worked quickly, contacting local law enforcement in Arizona. Dryman was arrested on Tuesday and is now awaiting extradition proceedings to Montana.
"Whatever the justice system does I'm happy with it," said Clem Pellett. "Whatever happens, happens."
|
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question: When was he arrested?, answer: Tuesday | question: What was he convicted of?, answer: murder, | question: What happened after Dryman was paroled?, answer: listed by the Montana Department of Corrections as "absconded." | question: When was Frank Dryman convicted?, answer: 1969, | question: who worked Montana authorities and found him in Arizona?, answer: Clem Pellett, | question: who was convicted of killing Clarence Pellett?, answer: Frank Dryman. | question: Where did he work?, answer: notary public
|
(CNN) -- For Dr. Lisa Newman, a 16-hour trip over two days from Michigan to Ghana in Africa is just part of the journey in uncovering clues about a rare form of breast cancer.
Dr. Lisa Newman hopes to uncover clues in Ghana about an aggressive and rare form of breast cancer.
Newman, a surgical oncologist specializing in breast cancer at the University of Michigan, collaborates with doctors in Kumasi, Ghana, in hopes of discovering the origins of an aggressive and difficult to treat form of breast cancer that disproportionately affects black women. It is called triple negative breast cancer or TNBC.
"The women that are most likely to be afflicted with the triple negative breast cancers are younger aged women, women in the pre-menopausal age range, and women with African ancestry," says Newman.
According to the American Cancer Society, 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the United States in 2009. Triple negative breast cancer represents approximately 15 percent of breast cancer cases in the United States.
As an African-American female surgeon, Lisa Newman is a rarity in the United States. African-Americans make up less than 5 percent of physicians in this country, according to the American Medical Association. Newman, who is also the director of the Breast Care Center for the University of Michigan, recalls her early days during the '90's as a general surgeon in Brooklyn, New York.
"It was just heartbreaking every day in the clinic to continuously be seeing African-American women that seemed to be disproportionately afflicted with breast cancers at younger ages, and more advanced stages of disease."
Little is known about what causes TNBC. But statistics show that black women are twice as likely as white women to get it.
When diagnosing breast cancer, doctors look for three markers: estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and the HER2/neu receptor. These markers show where the cancer is most vulnerable and help determine how best to treat it. The most successful treatments for breast cancer are drugs that specifically target these markers. Doctor travels to Ghana for cancer clues »
However, triple negative breast cancer is negative for all three markers, hence the name, making it very difficult to treat and more likely to recur. With the devastating statistics and grim reality of this disease, Newman began her journey about five years ago to learn more about it. Triple negative breast cancer survivor finds life's purpose
"We are very interested in looking at whether or not African ancestry in and of itself might actually predispose women to a biologically more aggressive form of breast cancer, such as the triple negative breast cancer."
Sixty percent of Ghanaian women who have breast cancer have triple negative breast cancer, according to Newman.
"Western sub-Saharan Africa is an important geographic location to focus on because that's where many of the slave colonies were located several hundred years ago," says Newman.
To test her theory, Newman sets off for Ghana. Three flights and two days later, she arrives at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in the city of Kumasi. Newman is convinced there's a profound link between Ghanaian women and African-American women afflicted with TNBC. She hopes her trips each year to the African country could lead to clues about the origins of TNBC or perhaps pave the way to finding a cure.
On each trip Newman gathers genetic evidence and tissue samples for her study. But she also believes there's a cultural and educational benefit for herself and her colleagues through this exchange.
"We bring medical students and trainees with us to Ghana and they get to see what the health care system is like in a medically underserved part of the world," she says. "And our colleagues from Ghana have opportunities to visit with us at the University of Michigan, and to learn more about westernized practices in terms of multidisciplinary care of breast cancer patients. So, it allows trainees and cancer specialists on both sides of the ocean to learn more about each other and about what's available in different parts of the world."
Working with her Ghanaian colleagues, Newman sees a
|
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question: Which women are most affected by TNBC?, answer: black | question: How long was trip from Michigan to Ghana?, answer: 16-hour | question: Who is the doctor in this summary?, answer: Dr. Lisa Newman | question: How many hours did it take the dr to get from Michigan to Ghana?, answer: 16-hour | question: How many hours is travel from Michigan to Ghana?, answer: 16-hour | question: She collaborates with doctors to find what?, answer: uncover clues in Ghana about an aggressive and rare form of breast cancer. | question: Who are mostly affected with triple negative breast cancer?, answer: women, women in the pre-menopausal age range, and women | question: Which women are most affected?, answer: "The women that are most likely to be afflicted with the triple negative breast cancers are younger aged women,
|
(CNN) -- For Liz McCartney, selection as one of the Top 10 CNN Heroes of 2008 could not have come at a better time.
Anderson Cooper will host "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute," to air on Thanksgiving at 9 p.m. ET.
"With the recent storms in Texas and southwest Louisiana, we have experienced a sudden drop in volunteers," said McCartney, whose St. Bernard Project helps Hurricane Katrina survivors rebuild their homes just outside New Orleans, Louisiana.
"While other areas need help, this recognition is letting the American people know that the New Orleans area still matters," McCartney said.
The diverse group of honorees includes a Cambodian activist who offers free schooling to children who work in Phnom Penh's trash dump; a Georgia prosthetist-orthotist who provides limbs and braces to hundreds of people in Mexico; and a Virginia woman who tapes video messages from incarcerated parents for their children.
CNN's Anderson Cooper announced the 10 honorees Thursday on "American Morning."
"Our Top 10 CNN Heroes are proof that you don't need superpowers -- or millions of dollars -- to change the world and even save lives," Cooper said. Watch Anderson Cooper name the Top 10 CNN Heroes of 2008 »
CNN launched its second annual global search for ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary deeds in February. The network has aired weekly CNN Hero profiles of those people, chosen from more than 3,700 nominations submitted by viewers in 75 countries.
A panel made up of world leaders and luminaries recognized for their own dedication to public service selected the Top 10. The Blue Ribbon Panel includes humanitarians such as Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Jane Goodall, Kristi Yamaguchi and Deepak Chopra.
"What an incredible group of people and how difficult it was to select only 10," said Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, a panel member.
Archbishop Tutu added, "They all deserve to win. Thanks for saluting these remarkable human beings."
Each of this year's Top 10 CNN Heroes will receive $25,000 and will be honored at "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute," airing from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on November 27.
Hosted by Cooper, the Thanksgiving night broadcast will culminate with the announcement of the CNN Hero of the Year, selected by the public in an online poll that began Thursday morning. iReport.com: Tell us about your hero
Continuing through November 19, viewers can log on to CNN.com/Heroes to participate in the poll. The person receiving the most votes will receive an additional $100,000.
In alphabetical order, the Top 10 CNN Heroes of 2008 are:
Tad Agoglia, Houston, Texas -- Agoglia's First Response Team provides immediate help to areas hit by natural disasters. In a little over a year, he and his crew have aided thousands of victims at more than 15 sites across the United States, free of charge.
Yohannes Gebregeorgis, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia -- Moved by the lack of children's books and low literacy rates in his native Ethiopia, Gebregeorgis established Ethiopia Reads, bringing free public libraries and literacy programs to thousands of Ethiopian children.
Carolyn LeCroy, Norfolk, Virginia -- After serving time in prison, LeCroy started The Messages Project to help children stay connected with their incarcerated parents. She and volunteer camera crews have taped roughly 3,000 messages from inmates to their children.
Anne Mahlum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- On her daily morning jogs, Mahlum used to run past homeless men. Today, she's helping to transform lives by running with them, and others as part of her "Back On My Feet" program.
Liz McCartney, St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana -- McCartney moved to New Orleans to dedicate herself to helping Hurricane Katrina survivors move back into their homes. Her nonprofit St. Bernard Project has rebuilt the homes of more than 120 families for free.
Phymean Noun, Toronto, Ontario -- Growing up in Cambodia, Noun struggled to complete high school. Today, she offers hundreds of Cambodian children who work in Phnom Penh's trash dump a way out -- through free schooling and job training.
David Puckett, Savannah
|
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question: When will the event air?, answer: Thanksgiving at 9 p.m. ET. | question: Who will host the event?, answer: Anderson Cooper | question: What is the name of the host?, answer: Anderson Cooper | question: WHat is the name of the poll?, answer: CNN Hero of the Year, | question: who will host "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute"?, answer: Anderson Cooper | question: Vote for Hero of the year at what website?, answer: CNN.com/Heroes | question: who will select "Hero of the Year"?, answer: Blue Ribbon Panel
|
(CNN) -- For Morris Murenzi, a visit to his native Rwanda always includes attending a gacaca court -- a local tribunal of villagers set up to try suspects in a 1994 genocide that killed 800,000.
The gacaca courts, as seen here in 2003, are inspired by old village tribunals used to settle disputes.
At the proceedings, he sits with his countrymen. Some tearfully confront their attackers and testify against them, their scars from the genocide still visible. Others -- like him -- quietly listen, their emotional scars invisible. They wait and hope for answers about how their relatives died as a nine-member panel questions suspects.
"Some of the witnesses who ask questions are disfigured, others are disabled," said the Dallas, Texas, resident whose last gacaca trial was in Kigali two years ago. "The attackers have no place to hide. They are forced to address what they have done to the victims."
Murenzi is one of thousands of people who attend gacaca courts all across Rwanda on any given day. Hearings are held in open fields in neighborhoods where the attacks occurred. There are no lawyers and no judges in robes. A panel of local villagers with no legal experience conducts the proceedings.
"For me, gacacas help me find closure and healing," Murenzi said. "I am able to see up close how remorseful the attackers are. ... You never see that in real court."
Gacaca courts were introduced in the central African nation after the April 1994 genocide, which raged for 100 days. The victims were mostly from the Tutsi ethnic minority, who were targeted by Hutus over a rivalry that dates to colonial days. Some moderates from the Hutu majority who support Tutsis were also killed.
Murenzi, a Tutsi from the capital, Kigali, lost most of his extended family in the genocide. During the attacks, he was in neighboring Uganda with his parents, where he attended school at the time, the 37-year-old said.
"My mom's sisters, brothers, my uncles, they were all killed and buried in mass graves," he said.
The gacacas were originally formed to resolve minor disputes among villagers but were reinvented to hand out justice to the perpetrators of the genocide and help fast-track reconciliation efforts in the broken nation.
"You had about 130,000 people in jail. And there were many more outside," Rwandan President Paul Kagame said recently on CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS."
The nation's justice system and the International Criminal Tribunal set up to try genocide suspects were overwhelmed, and handling all the cases in those courts would have taken hundreds of years, according to the president. Watch Kagame justify gacacas »
"If you went technically to try each one of them, as the law may suggest, then you would lose out on rebuilding a nation, on bringing people back together," he said. "That's why we had to say, let's categorize responsibilities."
The leaders and masterminds of the genocide are tried in ordinary courts, and civilians who contributed to attacks or loss of life directly or indirectly go to gacacas, Kagame said.
The tribunals are lacking and fraught with problems, critics say.
"We've had serious concerns about the gacaca process and whether it meets international fair trial standards," said Georgette Gagnon, Africa director for Human Rights Watch, which has offices in Rwanda.
Some witnesses have been targeted for revenge after testifying, and due process falls short, Gagnon said, adding that the organization has suggested changes to the system to ensure basic human rights are met, but they have not been enforced.
"It is time for the process to end. And there needs to be a frank announcement on whether it has led to reconciliation," she said.
Paul Rusesabagina, whose effort to save hundreds of Tutsis was featured in the 2004 movie "Hotel Rwanda," calls gacacas "the worst idea ever."
"Gacaca traditionally means justice on the grass. Elders sitting on the grass, handing justice to someone who stole a neighbor's goat,
|
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question: when was the genocide, answer: 1994 | question: what attacks happened?, answer: genocide that killed 800,000. | question: what Gacacas originally formed to resolve minor disputes?, answer: old village tribunals | question: Where were most of the victims from?, answer: the Tutsi ethnic minority, | question: What occured in open fields?, answer: Hearings | question: When did the genocide take place?, answer: 1994 | question: Where were some of the hearings held?, answer: Rwanda
|
(CNN) -- For Nadya Suleman, being in the spotlight is a double-edged sword. The media have invaded her privacy and turned her into a carnival attraction, she told Oprah Winfrey on Tuesday. But Suleman also acknowledges that the media has also become a source of income for her, a single mother of 14 children.
"That [Star magazine] photo shoot was $100,000," Suleman said on Winfrey's show via satellite from California, referring to the January cover that depicted her "bikini body."
"I was ashamed of that -- that's not my character -- but I felt as though I needed to do something," she said. "I did it because there were 14 hungry mouths. I own full responsibility for providing for my children. We have some of that money left until I figure out another way to make ends meet."
At this point, with eight 14-month old babies and six other children between the ages of 3 and 8, one of whom has autism, Suleman doesn't appear to have the time to take up a full-time job.
She does have three nannies who help her during the day in shifts. But even so, Suleman says she is constantly counting heads, making bottles or keeping a child from hurting another, as was revealed when Winfrey's camera crew spent 24 hours in her home.
"You're so busy trying to keep up, you don't have time to think, reflect or feel anything," she told Winfrey. "You can't regret children, but [my] choices were childish, immature and selfish. I wasn't thinking at that time."
At the start of the interview, Winfrey made it clear that Harpo Productions, her multimedia company, didn't pay Suleman "a dime" and, in fact, Suleman approached Winfrey to tell her side of the story.
"Everything that [the media] have said so far about me, and about me wanting to do this on purpose -- I never wanted to use children for fame," Suleman said, adding that her rationale for implanting eight embryos at one time stemmed from a variety of factors. There was what she calls "a childish desire to have a large family," and "perhaps selfishness, trying to compensate for being an only child, trying to fill some missing piece inside," she said.
"I believe I've always coveted that connection, that attachment to another human being, and it felt safer with children than a significant other," Suleman added.
Suleman emphasized repeatedly to Winfrey that she's determined to take care of her brood on her own, without government assistance and without turning to adoption or foster care. "I will do everything as a mother to avoid that at all costs," she told Winfrey, although she said she would never consider a reality TV show, which she considers exploitative and borderline abusive, or doing porn, despite having received three offers since the birth of her octuplets.
Yet Suleman did appear in a two-hour Fox special that documented the first six months of her octuplets' lives and aired on the network in August 2009. Around that time, there were reports that Suleman had signed on to do a reality show with U.K. production company Eyeworks. However, Suleman said that she "would never do a reality show, that's been a lie from the beginning."
She told Winfrey that she has "been ashamed of myself to go through certain media outlets to provide for my children," before adding, "this was my choice and my responsibility, and I didn't want to depend on anyone."
As a result, Suleman said she lives "every single day, every hour of the day, with a tremendous amount of guilt. I feel guilty when I look at the older ones, they all have different unique needs," she told Winfrey. "I feel guilty when I'm holding one or two and I can't be there for the others when they're crying."
Regardless of the way she markets her "
|
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question: Nadya Suleman revealed what her life is like on which TV show?, answer: Oprah Winfrey | question: who is determined, answer: Nadya Suleman, | question: who revealed her life, answer: Nadya Suleman, | question: what day was this revealed, answer: August 2009.
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(CNN) -- For Thomas Tugend, there was no doubt which side he was fighting for as a young infantryman in Europe in World War II. Actually, the choice was made for him in 1933, when he was just a child.
Born in Germany, Tugend lived a comfortable, upper-middle class life in Berlin. His father, Gustav, was a loyal and patriotic German who had fought in World War I and was a decorated officer in the German army.
He was also a successful doctor, leaving Thomas with few worries during his childhood in Berlin. Like many of his schoolmates, Thomas was an avid soccer player who gave little thought to the political storm brewing around him.
Everything changed in 1933 when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party came to power. That the Tugend family was successful, educated and loyal Germans no longer meant anything. To the new German government, the Tugends were Jews -- and that was all that mattered.
Still, the family remained in a state on denial about the danger they faced because, as Thomas Tugend later said, "for us, the oppression came gradually, not all at once."
The Tugend's longtime nanny, a mother figure to young Thomas, was forced to leave because of a government edict prohibiting non-Jewish Germans from working in Jewish homes.
Then, Thomas' father was told he could no longer treat non-Jewish patients. Shortly thereafter, the elder Tugend was summarily fired from his job in the pediatrics department of a prominent Berlin hospital.
As a result, the Tugend family was forced to move from their comfortable home to a poorer part of the city.
"It was little things at first, and people would say, 'Well, we can live with that,' and then another more stringent law would pass and people would say, 'This isn't ideal, but things will get better,'" Tugend said.
By 1937, Tugend's father had no illusions about what was happening. He left Germany for the United States via England with the help of old friends from an American Quaker group. The elder Tugend had worked with them on health issues related to childhood poverty in Germany after World War I. As soon as he was able, Thomas' father sent for his family.
"He told my mother to forget the furniture and pack up what she could and get out," Tugend said.
In May 1939, Tugend, his sister and their mother entered the United States as refugees. Four months later, the Germans invaded Poland.
"The reason so many German Jews didn't leave when they had the chance was because they couldn't believe what was happening," Tugend said. "They thought Hitler would get what he wanted and there would be no war and things would get back to normal. The Holocaust was unimaginable at the time."
Despite their escape, Tugend said his father was never the same. The whole experience "broke him, spiritually and physically," he said.
By 1944, the war was raging in Europe and 18-year-old Thomas was attending high school in the United States. He was raring to join the fight. And he admits his family's tragic experience was only part of the motivation.
"I couldn't wait to get away from home," he said.
An adventurous spirit mixed with a touch of wanderlust led him to enlist in the U.S. Army.
"Even then I knew the historical significance of the war and I wanted to be a part of it," he said. "I had a personal reason to fight the Nazis that most Americans didn't."
Tugend was assigned to the Army's 63rd Infantry Division. He was worried he might be shipped off to the Pacific, but fate was on his side -- Pvt. Thomas Tugend was sent to France, where he faced his former countrymen in battle.
Tugend said he tried not to dwell on the fact that he was fighting his former friends.
"As long as I was just an infantryman, they were shooting at us
|
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question: When did he flee Germany?, answer: In May 1939, | question: What made him enlist in the U.S. Army?, answer: An adventurous spirit mixed with a touch of wanderlust | question: What age was Tugend when he enlisted?, answer: 18-year-old
|
(CNN) -- For a few days there, it looked as if the typographical error was finally going to get its moment in the sun.
The lowly typo -- a hastily pecked keystroke with a bad result -- has long been regarded as an irritation, a sloppy glitch, a skimmed-over eyesore. It's really much more than that, which we will delve into in a few paragraphs.
But first, the typo's blown opportunity to gain worldwide stature:
When the financial markets were on the verge of a nervous breakdown this month, on the day the Dow Jones industrial average plummeted almost 1,000 points in 15 minutes, analysts and regulators immediately, frantically, started looking for a reason. Nothing on this scale had ever happened before. Who or what was responsible?
Initially, suspicions centered on the "fat-finger theory." What this meant was that a trader with a symbolically fat finger (meaning a careless one) had purportedly entered a computer-ordered sale of billions of shares of stocks; the theory was that when he had meant to type in "million," he instead typed in "billion."
If this was so, it would have been the typographical error of all time: the Babe Ruth/Muhammad Ali/Frank Sinatra of typos. If one keystroke could put the world's economy on the brink of collapse, this would mean that a typo could be as powerful as an atomic bomb.
By the end of last week, it was looking as if the fat-finger typo might not be the culprit. Mary Schapiro, the chairwoman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, told Congress that while no cause for the financial plunge could be definitively ruled out, the typo-as-Armageddon was increasingly appearing to be an unlikely explanation.
Drat.
If a typo had been shown to have that kind of muscle, maybe the societal trend to regard typos as no big deal might have been reversed. In our computer-screen age, typos -- and their cousins, misspellings and grammatical errors -- have been given a reprieve. What once prompted people to shake their heads in stern disapproval when it appeared on newspaper or magazine pages -- a flat-out mistake, caused by lazy typing and indifferent proofreading -- produces not as much of a stir when seen on a glowing screen.
The theory seems to be that, in e-mails and instant messages and various other forms of digital discourse, speed counts for more than accuracy, and those whose blood pressures rise when they see such typos are stodgy, ancient, out of touch. The contemporary attitude is: Who cares if a few words are mistyped?
But it's a matter of discipline. It's a matter of diligence. You may have heard the wonderful story in recent days about what happened when CNN senior producer David Daniel was walking to work at the network's Los Angeles bureau. Daniel was striding along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, as he does each morning en route to the office, when he glanced down at a newly installed pink stone star on the sidewalk.
It was a star that was going to be introduced to the public that very day. It was intended to honor the actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Except the name on the star was:
Julia Luis Dreyfus.
No "o" in Louis. No hyphen.
Daniel, who told me he takes pride in being a longtime copy editor, could not simply walk on by. Dismayed, he stared at the star.
"I'm one of those annoying people who notices typos on restaurant menus," he told me.
"Annoying?" Hardly. When it comes to words, he's a stickler, which is a fine thing to be. What he did next has elevated him into contention for patron saint of sticklers:
He phoned in a correction. He couldn't let this pass. He called the people who run the Hollywood Walk of Fame, told them about their typo that was set in stone and made certain the star got fixed.
"I can't help it,
|
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question: Who noticed the Hollywood Walk of Fame typo?, answer: Daniel, | question: Who spotted the Mets' typo?, answer: David Daniel | question: What is said to be given a reprieve?, answer: typos
|
(CNN) -- For a good part of her career, Martina McBride's success has largely been due to relying on Nashville songwriters and approaching arrangements in a pop-country fashion.
While hits like "Wild Angels," "A Broken Wing" and "Wrong Again" solidified her position as country radio royalty, McBride's shaking things up these days. She's ditched both of those early crutches and now is exploring writing on her own and injecting a more roots-oriented sound into her instrumentation.
Such is the case with "Eleven," McBride's 11th studio album, which drops today. These days, she's working with new management, has a new label in Republic Nashville and wrote six of the 11 songs that appear on her latest project
As the 45-year-old singer soldiers on, what about this moment inspired change, and how's her own songwriting coming along? CNN spoke with McBride recently as she was prepping for a concert in Minot, North Dakota.
CNN: "Eleven" comes with a lot of professional changes. Why is this?
Martina McBride: You know, sometimes it's just time to shake things up a little bit. When you've been at a certain place and management for 18 years, I just felt like I really need someone around me with some fresh ideas, some new passion and energy.
CNN: As female country musicians age these days, are there pressures to stay youthful? How does one age gracefully in Nashville?
McBride: Oh, I think the same way you age gracefully anywhere else. Females have always had more of a focus on the way they look. No matter what business your in, if you're in the public eye -- whether you're an actor or a rock musician or even head of a corporation, it's always been that way. You just try ... I don't know, I try not to focus on it. I'm still the same voice I had before, and I still have a lot to say.
CNN: "Eleven" was largely written by you -- something you've taken on recently. What's your writing process like?
McBride: It's different every time. Sometimes I'll have an idea or a title. ... I'm still growing as a writer.
One thing I think I bring to the table is having a certain type of lyric, in that I want the song to feel honest and real. I don't do it 365 days a year, so I'm fresh. I also don't know a lot of the rules, which is probably a good thing. For me, it's still about discovery. I'm still in the stage of writing that I'm discovering, getting confidence as a writer and that I do have some talent for it. It's a good discovery at this stage of the game.
CNN: And sometimes songwriters who start out at 20, by 30 they feel like they're all tapped out.
McBride: I grew up admiring Linda Ronstadt, Pat Benatar, Reba (McEntire). I didn't really grow up enamored only with singer-songwriters.
When I moved to Nashville, it wasn't a big deal for me just to find songs by great writers and make them my own. But what I really found with this record was that it's so nice to not have to wait for someone to write something. Obviously, I love every record I've made, but I feel like this record is more authentic to me. I don't know. It's different than just singing a song after it's already been written. I'm excited about that.
CNN: On "Eleven" the first single's called "Teenage Daughters," which is about the trouble they can cause. Did you give your parents any heart attacks growing up?
McBride: Oh, oh, yeah. So far, my daughter is much better than me. I grew up on a farm in really rural Kansas, where there was nothing to do. Out of boredom, the activities we found to
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question: What does she say about her latest project?, answer: wrote six of the 11 songs that appear on | question: How many albums does McBride have?, answer: 11th | question: who drops her 11th album today?, answer: Martina McBride's | question: How many albums does Martina McBride have?, answer: 11th | question: who is taking the reins?, answer: Martina McBride: | question: what is less pop than past albums?, answer: "Eleven," | question: What is the singer doing more of?, answer: exploring writing on her own | question: What did she say about her latest project?, answer: You know, sometimes it's just time to shake things up a little bit. When you've been at a certain place and management for 18 years, I just felt like I really need someone around me with some fresh ideas, some new passion and energy.
|
(CNN) -- For a little while, it looks like "Up," Pixar's 10th feature-length film, is going to be a downer.
In "Up," a curmudgeonly senior citizen, Carl, tries to cope with the enthusiasm of Russell, a young boy.
Not that there's anything wrong with an animated film tugging at our tear ducts. But you can sense unease rippling through the younger halves of the family audience when, about five minutes into a spunky prologue, intrepid pre-pubescents Carl and Ellie abruptly morph into newlyweds, and then not-so-newlyweds.
They gray and stoop before our eyes, youthful dreams of exploration traded in for the comforts of home and domestic bliss. Ellie wants a baby but can't have one. Their savings for the holiday of a lifetime are eaten up by this rainy day, that domestic disaster, until there's no more lifetime left -- not for Ellie, anyway.
That leaves us with Carl, a grumpy homebody voiced by Ed Asner, who makes WALL-E look like a chatterbox. And he's one of the main characters.
No, I didn't hear anyone demanding when the dancing penguins were going to show up, but I'll wager someone was thinking it. Watch a preview of "Up" »
Such misgivings are ill-founded. As far as razzmatazz goes, "Up" delivers the goods. Not penguins, precisely, but more than the airborne house promised by the commercials.
There's a mythical multicolored bird, which may or may not be a snipe, but which answers to the name of Kevin and exhibits a sweet taste for candy bars. There are zeppelins and old-time explorers and talking dogs -- a whole pack of dogs, in fact. Dogs that serve wine and play cards and fly biplanes.
And there's Russell, a chubby Boy Scout -- or "Wilderness Explorer" -- who turns up on Carl's doorstep when he least expects it. After all, Carl wants to be free, and to get there, he launches his house into the sky thanks to thousands of balloons. How was he to know Russell was around?
"Up" doesn't always fly high. The dogs' canine high jinks are closer to "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" than we'd expect from Pixar, which tends not to play so fast and loose with the laws of nature for the sake of a few cheap laughs.
But if the muttering mutts keep the kids happy, well and good. The movie is on surer ground teasing out the relationship between Carl and Russell, floating well above the Earth.
Russell is all wide-eyed innocence and boundless enthusiasm, haplessly helpful. He's the mirror image of the child Carl used to be, if only the old man were capable of recognizing it.
But instead of looking around him, Carl is focused on landing that prize home of his in the prime location he mistakes for his ultimate destination (the lost world of Paradise Falls). The image of Carl valiantly dragging his house through jungle and over mountains will strike a chord with anyone holding down a mortgage. iReport.com: Share your review of "Up"
Written by Bob Petersen and directed by Petersen and Pete Docter -- both Pixar veterans -- "Up" mixes allegory with adventure and dumb imaginative exuberance. The balance isn't quite as tight as in Pixar's best movies, but the lightness is appealing, and Russell (voiced by Jordan Nagai) is an irresistible character. He's already carrying his own emotional baggage at 8 years old, but he's all heart, the kind to give kids a good name.
Screening in 3-D where possible, "Up" doesn't go overboard on stereoscopic gimmickry, but does exploit depth of field in a string of exhilarating cliffhangers and dogfights.
Funny and poignant and full of life, "Up" easily qualifies as one of the best movies of the year so far. Go with someone you care about.
"Up" is rated PG and runs 96 minutes. For Entertainment Weekly's review, click
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question: What is the adventure about?, answer: a curmudgeonly senior citizen, Carl, tries to cope with the enthusiasm of Russell, a young boy. | question: Which company created the movie "Up"?, answer: Pixar's | question: What is unusual about the dog in the story?, answer: talking | question: Who won from Pixar?, answer: "Up,"
|
(CNN) -- For a world-class shopping experience you should head to glitzy Ginza. As well as flagship fashion outlets, the area boasts one of the city's best department stores, Mitsukoshi (4-6-16 Chuo Dori). The real treat here, as at many Tokyo department stores, is the fantastic basement-level food hall ("depachika"). For the complete Mitsukoshi experience, there's an ever bigger store in Nihombashi.
The "Electric Town" of Akihabara is tech-head's heaven.
Next door is Matsuya, another big department store, and while you're in the area don't miss the Sony Building (5-3-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku). Your inner games geek won't be able to resist the entire floor devoted to the PlayStation.
If you've ever wondered where Tokyo teenagers buy their wacky cyber-goth manga-inspired attire, the answer is Takeshita-Dori, a narrow street in Harajuku. On Sundays the street fills with fashion-conscious teens, dressed to impress.
For the less adventurous, but more discerning shopper, Harajuku's main thoroughfare, Omotesando is lined with elegant boutiques, including Louis Vuitton, Prada and Loveless (3-17-11 Minami-Aoyama). Looking unlike any shop you've seen before, Loveless has three floors of hip Japanese clothing and a basement decked out like the dungeon of some deranged medieval aristocrat. Harajuku is also home to six-floor Kiddy Land (6-1-9 Jingu-mae), one of the city's best toy stores, with a huge selection of Hello Kitty products.
The area around Shibuya Station is a buzzing epicenter of shopping activity. Among its highlights are Tokyu Hands (Takashimaya Times Square, 5-24-2 Sendagaya), a department store that sells everything you could ever need, and plenty of stuff you had no idea even existed (electrically heated pilllows anyone?). A Bathing Ape (1 - Rise Bld. 13-17 Udagawa-Cho) offers funky T-shirts and trainers in an art gallery-style space, and Mandarake (Shibuya Beam B2 31-2 Udagawacho) is the place to satisfy your manga cravings, should you have any.
For more manga, and a glimpse into the future, you'll want to go to Akihabara. Also known as Electric Town, Akihabara is a district of electronics stores clad in illuminated signs. Visit after dark for the full "Blade Runner" experience. Yodobashi Camera sells everything from next generation cell phones to cameras that aren't yet available outside Japan.
For something more sedate, Daikanyama is a refined area popular with in-the-know fashionistas, while Jimbocho is the city's used-book quarter.
Marunouchi was once a drab business district but is fast becoming the city's hottest shopping area. Shin-Marunouchi (just opposite the Marunouchi exit of Tokyo Stations) is a huge building, with the lowest seven floors devoted to chic shopping. The basement "depachika" is a feast for foodies.
Tokyo International Forum (5-1 Marunouchi 3-chome, Chiyoda-ku) is a vast space used for art exhibitions and as a concert hall. It also boasts excellent shopping and hosts a flea market every other Sunday.
Where to stay | What to see | Where to be seen | Where to eat | Where to shop
......................
Do you agree with our Tokyo picks? Send us your comments and suggestions in the "Sound Off" box below and we'll print the best.
|
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question: Where do teenagers buy cosplay costumes?, answer: Takeshita-Dori, | question: What are two boutiques that line Omotesando?, answer: Louis Vuitton, Prada and Loveless | question: Is there a food hall in Mitsukoshi, answer: fantastic basement-level | question: What is lined with Boutiques like Louis Vuitton and Prada, answer: Omotesando | question: Where is Ginza located?, answer: Chuo-ku). | question: What area is lined with boutiques?, answer: Omotesando | question: Where can you buy electronics and manga?, answer: Akihabara. | question: Where do teenagers pick up their cosplay costumes?, answer: Takeshita-Dori,
|
(CNN) -- For actress Kyra Sedgwick, it's the public's approval that makes it worth being away from her family for six months to tape her critically acclaimed series "The Closer."
Kyra Sedgwick and her husband, Kevin Bacon, at the 66th annual Golden Globe Awards this month.
But she may be getting more approval from her peers, too.
Sedgwick will walk the red carpet again Sunday night at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, where she is nominated for a fourth consecutive year for outstanding performance by a female actor in a drama series for her role as Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson. She's also won a Golden Globe for her performance, in 2007.
The TNT series resumes Monday night where it left off in September with what Sedgwick called "a fantastic five episodes." (TNT is a unit of Time Warner, as is CNN.)
"I said to the writers, 'I really want a lot of personal stuff for Brenda,' " Sedgwick said. "I feel like there's some of those personal quiet moments with her alone, is something that I've been missing as an actor, and I feel like the audience has been missing, too.
"She is such a complicated, fascinating character, and watching her growth and lack of growth is something that is really interesting," she said.
When CNN asked whether the new episodes might include a wedding for her character, Sedgwick laughed.
"That might very well happen," she said. "That's pretty insightful of you. I'm just going to just say that."
A marriage for Brenda Johnson would be "a complicated, difficult situation," she said, because "she's basically married to her work."
Sedgwick's job also complicates her real-life marriage to Bacon, since the show is produced in Los Angeles and the couple lives in Connecticut with their two children.
That's where the approval -- whether on the street from fans or at award shows -- has "been a wonderful phenomenon for me," she said.
"On a personal level, that's really good for me, because I really miss my family when I'm working on the show six months in L.A.," she said. "As much as I try to get my kids to move to L.A. and my husband, they just wouldn't have it.
"It's challenging, and I'm glad that people are watching, because otherwise it would be kind of hard to go to work," Sedgwick said.
Sedgwick has moved into an executive producer's role on the show, which she said she expects to continue for at least two more years.
"I love being with a group where there's not a power struggle," she said. "I have a lot of say, and I always have. And that feels really good."
CNN Radio's Jackie Howard contributed to this report
|
[
"what resumes TNT?",
"what is a sag award",
"When does TNT resume the series?"
] |
[
"\"The Closer.\"",
"Screen Actors Guild",
"Monday night"
] |
question: what resumes TNT?, answer: "The Closer." | question: what is a sag award, answer: Screen Actors Guild | question: When does TNT resume the series?, answer: Monday night
|
(CNN) -- For actress Kyra Sedgwick, it's the public's approval that makes it worth being away from her family for six months to tape her critically acclaimed series "The Closer."
Kyra Sedgwick and her husband, Kevin Bacon, at the 66th annual Golden Globe Awards this month.
But she may be getting more approval from her peers, too.
Sedgwick will walk the red carpet again Sunday night at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, where she is nominated for a fourth consecutive year for outstanding performance by a female actor in a drama series for her role as Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson. She's also won a Golden Globe for her performance, in 2007.
The TNT series resumes Monday night where it left off in September with what Sedgwick called "a fantastic five episodes." (TNT is a unit of Time Warner, as is CNN.)
"I said to the writers, 'I really want a lot of personal stuff for Brenda,' " Sedgwick said. "I feel like there's some of those personal quiet moments with her alone, is something that I've been missing as an actor, and I feel like the audience has been missing, too.
"She is such a complicated, fascinating character, and watching her growth and lack of growth is something that is really interesting," she said.
When CNN asked whether the new episodes might include a wedding for her character, Sedgwick laughed.
"That might very well happen," she said. "That's pretty insightful of you. I'm just going to just say that."
A marriage for Brenda Johnson would be "a complicated, difficult situation," she said, because "she's basically married to her work."
Sedgwick's job also complicates her real-life marriage to Bacon, since the show is produced in Los Angeles and the couple lives in Connecticut with their two children.
That's where the approval -- whether on the street from fans or at award shows -- has "been a wonderful phenomenon for me," she said.
"On a personal level, that's really good for me, because I really miss my family when I'm working on the show six months in L.A.," she said. "As much as I try to get my kids to move to L.A. and my husband, they just wouldn't have it.
"It's challenging, and I'm glad that people are watching, because otherwise it would be kind of hard to go to work," Sedgwick said.
Sedgwick has moved into an executive producer's role on the show, which she said she expects to continue for at least two more years.
"I love being with a group where there's not a power struggle," she said. "I have a lot of say, and I always have. And that feels really good."
CNN Radio's Jackie Howard contributed to this report
|
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question: When will the series continue?, answer: resumes Monday night where it left off in September | question: What is the name of the TV-series resumed by TNT?, answer: "The Closer." | question: Who is expected to be the executive producer?, answer: Kyra Sedgwick | question: Which channel resumed "Closer"?, answer: TNT | question: What did TNT resume?, answer: "The Closer." | question: What is Sedgwick up for on Sunday?, answer: Screen Actors Guild Awards,
|
(CNN) -- For anyone yearning to forget about the recession by escaping to a tropical paradise or relaxing on a cruise, finding great travel deals right now isn't hard. Deciding whether to take advantage of them is another matter.
Katie Parker and her husband, Damon Fodge, are going to India soon, but she had second thoughts about the trip.
For many Americans, spending money on a getaway may not be a priority, a possibility -- or even the right thing to do -- amid thousands of layoffs, plunging home prices and shrinking portfolios.
The general misery is even causing some who can afford a big trip to stay put.
Take "NBC Nightly News" anchor Brian Williams, who told the blog TVNewser this month that he and his family would skip a vacation in 2009 because it wouldn't seem appropriate during a time of hardship for so many people.
"We were going to try to get away, but it didn't feel right this year," Williams told the blog.
Other Americans are jetting off, but they're having lots of second thoughts and are watching their wallets closely.
Katie Parker, a Web designer who lives in Washington, is going to India next month to meet her husband on the last leg of his international business trip.
Parker, 33, said she's excited about the vacation but apprehensive about spending $1,600 for her plane ticket in addition to lodging costs and other expenses during the two-week stay.
"Although I think my job is probably safe, you never really know," Parker said. "Part of me thinks maybe we should have waited on this trip."
She added, "But I also feel like it's a once in a lifetime thing. I don't know when I'm going to get another chance to go to India so we're just going to do it."
Parker and her husband, Damon Fodge, are usually frugal while traveling, staying in hostels and other inexpensive lodgings, she said, but they will be especially careful about spending money during this journey.
Parker recalled feeling devastated after a layoff several years ago and said the possibility that it might happen again would be on her mind.
Fear factor
The fear over what could happen is causing many people to put their lives on hold and hunker down because they don't feel in control, said Nancy Molitor, a clinical psychologist who practices in suburban Chicago, Illinois.
"There's a huge psychological component to any recession and this one, I think, in particular ... because it's gone on for so long," Molitor said. "Anxiety is contagious."
She also has heard from patients and friends who are affluent but who feel embarrassed about spending a lot of money on travel right now. Some have "survivor's guilt" and are downplaying their vacations instead of feeling excited about them, Molitor said.
Brian Morton, a manager at a movie studio in Los Angeles, California, said talking about his travel plans with friends who are already unemployed -- and for whom travel is out of the question -- can be uncomfortable.
"You don't want to seem like you're bragging," he said.
Morton, 37, is planning to spend at least $3,500 on a weeklong trip to Aruba this summer, even though there have been layoffs in his industry and he's not entirely sure his job is safe.
"I don't think I'm going to stop vacationing just because of the recession," he said. "[But] I scrutinize my budget a little bit more. ... I want to get the most bang for my buck when it comes to hotels and that kind of thing."
Where the deals are
Americans such as Morton who are willing to travel right now may find globe-trotting much more affordable than before. Watch tips for finding the best airfares »
"It's the best time in years to book a vacation; the deals are outstanding," said Genevieve Shaw Brown, senior editor at Travelocity.
Hotels are
|
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question: Some rich Americans feel what?, answer: embarrassed about spending a lot of money on travel right now. | question: What did the editor say?, answer: "Anxiety is contagious." | question: What is contagious?, answer: "Anxiety | question: What is contagious according to psychologist?, answer: "Anxiety | question: What are affluent Americans embarrassed about doing?, answer: spending a lot of money on travel right now. | question: What are some people reluctant to spend money on during the crisis?, answer: a getaway | question: What makes people reluctant to spend money?, answer: layoffs, plunging home prices and shrinking portfolios. | question: Travelocity says it's the best time of year to What?, answer: book a vacation;
|
(CNN) -- For astronaut Jose Hernandez, his first space flight, scheduled to be aboard the space shuttle Discovery, marks a remarkable journey from the farm fields of California to the skies.
Astronaut Jose Hernandez is an American-born son of immigrants from Michoacan, Mexico.
Hernandez, an American-born son of immigrants from Michoacan, Mexico, is getting plenty of attention at home and abroad for his journey from working the fields to operating some of the most advanced mechanics on the space shuttle.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon called the 47-year-old astronaut over the weekend to congratulate him. A transcript of the entire conversation was promptly posted online by the Mexican government. Hernandez is also reaching out to fans through Twitter, where he posts updates under the name "@Astro--Jose."
"I come from a very humble family and what I would call a typical migrant farm working family," Hernandez said in a NASA interview.
As a child, Hernandez's family split their time between Mexico and California, where they worked as migrant farm workers.
During the school year his parents emphasized his education, but on the weekends Hernandez would help the family, he said in the interview, posted on the NASA Web site.
Growing up in Stockton, California, it was Hernandez's job as the youngest child to hold up the rabbit ear antennas on the family's television set in order to get the best reception while everyone watched the Apollo missions.
"Now I kid around with my family saying that, you know, it was through osmosis that I became an astronaut because I was closest to the whole situation," Hernandez told NASA.
The real catalyst for his dream to become an astronaut, however, came when Franklin Chang-Diaz, became the first Latin American astronaut in 1981.
"There was a lot of parallels and that's when I challenged myself. I said, "Hey, if Franklin can do it, why can't I do it?" Hernandez said in the interview.
Hernandez earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in electrical engineering, and before joining NASA worked on a number of high-tech projects, including an X-ray laser to be deployed in space, a digital mammography system and the disposal of excess nuclear material in Russia, his official biography states.
According to NASA, there are nine Hispanics currently in the astronaut program, and 13 total in the program's history. Astronaut Danny Olivas, also of Mexican descent, will also fly on Discovery's upcoming 13-day mission.
The scheduled launch of Discovery on Tuesday was scrubbed twice, once because of weather and then hours later because of of mechanical issues involving a drain valve. NASA did not announce a new launch schedule.
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question: What kind of family did Hernandez come from?, answer: immigrants | question: Which Space Shuttle will Hernandez by aboard?, answer: Discovery, | question: What is Astronaut Jose Hernandez?, answer: American-born son of immigrants from Michoacan, Mexico. | question: What president congratulated him?, answer: Mexican | question: Is Astronaut Jose Hernandez an American?, answer: is an American-born son of immigrants from Michoacan, Mexico. | question: who called the astronaut, answer: Mexican President Felipe Calderon | question: What space shuttle is Hernandez scheduled to be aboard?, answer: Discovery, | question: where will he be aboard, answer: Discovery, | question: What country are Hernandez' parents from?, answer: Mexico. | question: What space shuttle was Hernandez scheduled to be board?, answer: Discovery, | question: What did Hernandez say?, answer: "I come from a very humble family and | question: What is the Astronaut's name?, answer: Jose Hernandez, | question: Where was Hernandez born?, answer: American-born | question: What age is Hernandez?, answer: 47-year-old | question: What did the Mexican President do?, answer: called the 47-year-old astronaut over the weekend to congratulate him. | question: What space shuttle will Hernandez be aboard?, answer: Discovery,
|
(CNN) -- For fans of The Beatles, 09/09/09 will mark a new invasion.
The Fab Four will be made even more so when the remastered Beatles catalogue is released in September.
Apple Corps Ltd. and EMI Music have announced that as the date for the release of the entire original Beatles catalogue, digitally remastered.
That includes all 12 Beatles albums in stereo, with track listings and artwork as originally released in the UK. The package will also contain the LP version of "Magical Mystery Tour" (initially released as a double-EP in Britain, though available on CD since 1987) and the collections "Past Masters Vol. I and II" combined as one title.
The release marks the first time that the first four Beatles albums are being made available in their entirety on compact disc, and it also coincides with the release of "The Beatles: Rock Band" video game.
Robert Levine, executive editor for Billboard, said the timing is genius in terms of marketing.
"Most bands, when they do a big project like this they pay for publicity," Levine said. "The Beatles got paid for 'Rock Band' and then they are using that for publicity to rerelease a catalogue. It's pretty amazing." Blog: A Beatles fan reflects on the news
Levine pointed out that media have evolved tremendously since 1964, when the band first burst onto the American scene with an appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show."
Back then, there were only three major television networks, and engineering of albums was much less sophisticated, Levine noted. Previous rereleases have sold well in the past -- indeed, Beatles albums have sold steadily for decades -- and Levine said he expects this one to do even better.
"I think if you were to look at pure catalogue, old bands selling old albums, the Beatles are the kings -- commercially as well as artistically," Levine said. "A lot of [music] has been remastered better in the past 22 years, and remastering technology has come a long way."
Piers Hemmingsen, the author of two books on Beatles music and head of the Web site Capitol6000.com, said there has long been a clamor among fans for good, high-quality versions of Beatles songs.
"The technology that was available back then was very limited, and with the newer technology they are able to do far more with what they have than they have ever been able to do before," he said. "For people who are plugged into iPods and the whole digital music scene, it's going to be a lot better for them."
In acknowledgment of the more technologically advanced listeners, each CD will contain, for a limited time, an embedded brief documentary film about the album.
The documentaries contain archival footage, rare photographs and never-before-released studio chat from the Beatles.
The remastering project was four years in the making. Engineers used de-noising technology and cleaned up glitches like electrical clicks and microphone vocal pops, so long as it didn't affect the original integrity of the songs.
They also slightly boosted the volume levels. Andrew Croft, publisher of Beatlology Magazine, said the announcement of the release of the remastered recordings "is long overdue in the Beatles community and for music fans alike."
He also said the quest to improve the original recordings is not new.
Croft said bootleg releases over the years used rare and obscure vinyl pressings from countries like Japan and Germany to compile the best of the best recordings of The Beatles songs, presenting to the public a better sound that Apple could not offer prior to the remastering.
"While the new remasterings will replace a library full of bootlegs of their commercial releases, there remains a massive market for their more obscure tracks, outtakes and live performances," Croft said.
The 14 remastered albums, along with a DVD collection of the documentaries, will also be available for purchase together in a stereo boxed set.
A second boxed set, "The Beatles in Mono," includes all of the Beatles recordings that
|
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"09/09/09",
"\"The Beatles: Rock Band\" video game."
] |
question: when will the beatles remastered be released?, answer: 09/09/09 | question: What does the release include?, answer: all 12 Beatles albums in stereo, with track listings and artwork | question: When will the remastered catalogue be released?, answer: 09/09/09 | question: What is significant about the release date?, answer: "The Beatles: Rock Band" video game.
|
(CNN) -- For five generations, the Meserve/Kunhardt family has been the collector and custodian of some of the most valuable photographs and memorabilia of Abraham Lincoln.
Peter W. Kunhardt, left, Philip B. Kunhardt III and Peter W. Kunhardt Jr. co-authored "Looking for Lincoln."
In fact, eminent Lincoln historian Harold Holzer said there's only one other family that's contributed more "to our understanding of America's most enduring leader," and that's the Lincolns themselves.
"The Kunhardts -- and before them, their ancestor Frederick Hill Meserve -- have been active, and crucial for generations, in preserving Lincoln's image for posterity," Holzer said.
"Mr. Meserve literally saved photos from destruction, then cataloged and analyzed them. Later members of the family wrote seminal books incorporating the family-owned archive into the stories of Lincoln's life and death."
The family collection was the basis for the new book, "Looking for Lincoln" (Knopf), and for a PBS documentary. One of the book's co-authors, 26-year-old Peter W. Kunhardt Jr., has now joined the family business as assistant director of the Meserve-Kunhardt Foundation.
Kunhardt, who recently earned a master's degree in art business and photography, also works on the Gordon Parks Foundation, a division of the Meserve-Kunhardt Foundation, which includes the life's work of the pioneering African-American photographer.
Kunhardt spoke with CNN in an interview and follow-up conversations about the extraordinary family history.
CNN: Tell us about your family.
Peter W. Kunhardt Jr: I'm the fifth generation to be working on Lincoln. My great-great-grandfather was a man by the name of Frederick Hill Meserve. His father, William Neal Meserve, was a soldier in the Civil War who was wounded at the battle of Antietam, and he kept a diary of the entire time he was in war.
That diary was illustrated by his son, Frederick Hill Meserve, years after the war through collecting photography. He became one of the leading collectors of 19th-century American photography. ... At that time photography was still quite new.
In the late 19th century, the war-weary nation lost its interest in the images of that era. Many glass negatives were thought to be worthless. The emulsion was washed off, and many were used to build greenhouses.
Meserve wrote a book in 1911 called "Photographs of Abraham Lincoln." He became obsessed with Lincoln. Lincoln was the first president to be photographed while in office. Meserve's goal in life was to find and catalog all the existing images of Lincoln, of which we now know there were about 120.
Each photograph in Meserve's book, which he updated for the next half century, was given an "M" number. Part of our work was to update his numbering system and establish a new national standard.
Then his daughter Dorothy Meserve Kunhardt, she became heavily involved with Lincoln scholarship and the collection as well. She was the author of the children's book, "Pat the Bunny," which ... as everyone knows today, it's one of the most popular children's books. She worked with her father on Lincoln publications and continued to collect Lincoln.
The collection was passed to Philip Kunhardt Jr., my grandfather, who eventually passed this collection of photographs on to my father and uncle, who were my co-authors in this book, "Looking for Lincoln."
My grandfather, father and uncle wrote a book on Lincoln in 1992 called "Lincoln: An Illustrated Biography," using the contents of the collection.
Each generation has continued the fascination with the collection but with a special interest in Abraham Lincoln.
CNN: What's your involvement now in the collection?
Kunhardt: My role is the assistant director of the Meserve-Kunhardt Foundation. The foundation was established in 2002 by my father and uncle in order to preserve our family's collection and make it available to the public.
During the past century, the collection had grown so large that
|
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question: What family has been collecting Lincoln items for generations?, answer: Meserve/Kunhardt | question: How many generations of Meserve-Kunhardt individuals have had an interest in the US presidents?, answer: five | question: Number of generations that the Meserve-Kunhardt family has been collecting Lincoln items?, answer: five | question: Who began collecting endangered Lincoln photographs?, answer: the Meserve/Kunhardt family | question: What president did Frederick Hill Meserve study?, answer: Abraham Lincoln. | question: How many generations has the family collected Lincoln item?, answer: five
|
(CNN) -- For four days, an American sea captain and four Somali pirates rode the waves of the Indian Ocean in an enclosed lifeboat, far out of sight of most of the world.
Capt. Richard Phillips, right, stands with U.S. Navy Cmdr. Frank Castellano after Phillips' rescue Sunday.
But for those four days, they were on the minds of people around the globe, from the captain's hometown in Vermont, to the White House, to port cities and anywhere that families send their loved ones off to sea.
"I actually was more concerned for his family," said Adm. Rick Gurnon, head of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, where Capt. Richard Phillips had trained.
"I was pretty sure he would be OK," Gurnon said of Phillips, adding, "as a captain at sea, in a lifeboat, he was in an environment he was comfortable with even if he was sharing it with four armed Somali pirates.
"I was more worried for his family. They've been going through hell since Wednesday. This is truly a joyous day for them." Watch Gurnon praise Phillips' courage, professionalism »
The waiting ended Sunday with news that U.S. Navy snipers had shot and killed three of Phillips' captors, with the fourth pirate in custody onboard the nearby USS Bainbridge, and that Phillips had been rescued uninjured. The expressions of relief and praise flowed. Watch how SEALs took down pirates »
"I share the country's admiration for the bravery of Capt. Phillips and his selfless concern for his crew," President Obama said. "His courage is a model for all Americans."
Phillips offered himself as a hostage after the pirates stormed the U.S.-flagged cargo ship Maersk Alabama on Wednesday morning, according to Maersk Line Limited, which owns the ship. The pirates eventually left the Alabama with Phillips that day aboard the lifeboat, where they would stay for four days.
In Phillips' hometown of Underhill, Vermont, Maersk spokeswoman Alison McColl said Phillips' wife, Andrea, had spoken to her husband by phone after his rescue.
"She was laughing while she was on the phone with him," McColl told reporters. "She was saying his trademark sense of humor was still very much intact, and he's in great spirits. If you guys could have seen her light up when she talked to him, it was really remarkable."
McColl said Andrea Phillips and her family "have felt a tremendous amount of support from the entire nation." Watch statement from Andrea Phillips »
"The thoughts, the prayers, the sentiments, the support you've shown has really helped them endure this very difficult situation," McColl said.
Still speaking for the captain's wife, McColl added: "She believes she can feel it, and she believes that her husband felt it out there in the middle of the ocean. So thanks to the entire nation, the local community, the state of Vermont, for all your help there."
Phillips was being praised for his apparent willingness to put his own life in jeopardy to secure the release of his crew and his ship.
But Gurnon, who described the captain as "the good shepherd who willingly exchanged his life for the lives of his flock," cautioned that the end of one hostage situation should not be taken as the end of the growing problem of piracy, especially with scores of other lives in peril from pirates who are holding ships and crews off the expansive Somali coast.
"While this is a great day for Massachusetts Maritime Academy and for all of our alumni and all mariners around the world, we still have more than 200 men and women held hostage in Somalia," Gurnon said.
"We should not let the spotlights, the TV cameras, the focus of the world be removed from that problem," he said.
|
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] |
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question: What did the academy leader say?, answer: "I actually was more concerned for his family," | question: What was the name of the Captain?, answer: Richard Phillips, | question: What has the Captain family been going through?, answer: hell | question: what day was Richards rescued?, answer: Sunday. | question: Who was he rescued from?, answer: U.S. Navy snipers | question: what did the head of the maritime academy say?, answer: "I actually was more concerned for his family," | question: Whose family had been "going through hell"?, answer: Capt. Richard Phillips
|
(CNN) -- For many graduate students seeking an advanced education degree, obstacles abound. Issues of finance, time management and family logistics often get in the way of students furthering their education and their dreams.
Palestinian Sawsan Salameh is attending an Israeli university after years of negotiations and court proceedings.
For Sawsan Salameh, the obstacles also involved politics.
Several years ago, Salameh, a 31-year-old Palestinian from the West Bank village of Anata, was granted a scholarship to study at Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Although her town is only a few miles from the university, access to the school was out of reach because of an Israeli military ban that limited Palestinian students' access to Israeli universities, on security grounds.
But she was far from giving up on her goal of pursuing her education.
"When I was in high school, it was a dream that I should finish my Ph.D.," Salameh said.
After obtaining a master's degree at Al Quds University, a Palestinian school in the West Bank, Salameh was granted full scholarships at several international schools, including Hebrew University.
With the military ban in place, Salameh considered studying at a university abroad.
"I started to think I should get up and take this offer to leave, but it's not easy to go abroad, and the only chance is for me to study in Israel, because it's important for me to stay close to my family," Salameh said.
Salameh sought the support of the Israeli human rights organization Gisha, which submitted a petition to Israel's Supreme Court on her behalf in 2006.
The Supreme Court responded by asking the military to lift the ban and allow Salameh to study at Hebrew University, where she is pursuing a Ph.D. in pharmacology.
"We argued Sawsan's case for 2½ years, and at the end of the day, the military agreed to let Sawsan study," said Sari Bashi, director of Gisha.
"It was impossible to deny her incredible talents and the example she set for women and girls throughout the West Bank," Bashi says.
The Israeli military agreed to review all future requests for Palestinians in the West Bank wishing to pursue a degree at an Israeli university on a case-by-case basis, based on specific criteria.
The criteria include that the potential student clear all necessary internal security checks, that the student pursue a degree in a discipline that would encourage regional cooperation and develop area coexistence, and that the area of study not have the potential to cause damage to Israel, says Maj. Guy Inbar, spokesman for the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories.
The area of study must be supported by an international organization (such as the U.N. or the Red Cross) and approved by the Ministry of Education and must also be a degree unique to an Israeli university (not offered at a Palestinian university). The request must come with a recommendation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to Inbar.
After Salameh's victory, Gisha, with the support of a number of Israeli academics, further appealed to the court to push the military to ease these limitations.
The Israeli military's heightened security concerns reflect heightened tensions in the region due to the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
In July 2002, a bomb exploded in the student cafeteria of Hebrew University, killing seven people. The Islamic fundamentalist group Hamas claimed responsibility for the explosion, according to Palestinian sources.
Still, some academics at Hebrew University believe qualified students like Salameh pose no security risk, and their acceptance to Israeli universities could even foster better relations in the region.
Professor Alon Harel, a law professor at Hebrew University, pushed for the appeal to lift the military's criteria on Palestinian students.
He believes that the admission of Palestinian students from the West Bank would enrich the academic environment at the university, particularly in the study of law.
"It's particularly important for classes to be diverse, for people to have familiarity with Arabic studies and Islamic law," he said.
Other academics agree that qualified students such as Salameh can only
|
[
"Who faced many obstacles before attending Israeli School?",
"What does she do as a role model?",
"Who has she become a role model for?",
"What attending Israeli school?",
"What nationality is Sawsan Salameh?",
"Where is Sawsan from?",
"Who has she become a role model for?",
"Where will she be studying?"
] |
[
"Sawsan Salameh",
"study at Hebrew University,",
"women and girls throughout the West Bank,\"",
"Palestinian Sawsan Salameh",
"Palestinian",
"West Bank village of Anata,",
"women and girls throughout the West Bank,\"",
"Hebrew University,"
] |
question: Who faced many obstacles before attending Israeli School?, answer: Sawsan Salameh | question: What does she do as a role model?, answer: study at Hebrew University, | question: Who has she become a role model for?, answer: women and girls throughout the West Bank," | question: What attending Israeli school?, answer: Palestinian Sawsan Salameh | question: What nationality is Sawsan Salameh?, answer: Palestinian | question: Where is Sawsan from?, answer: West Bank village of Anata, | question: Who has she become a role model for?, answer: women and girls throughout the West Bank," | question: Where will she be studying?, answer: Hebrew University,
|
(CNN) -- For most Americans, mosquitoes are pests whose bites leave behind itchy bumps. But in other parts of the world, mosquitoes carry a disease called malaria that kills more than a million people each year.
Mosquitoes, especially those in Sub-Saharan Africa, may transmit malaria to humans.
A new malaria vaccine that's about to begin human clinical trials is dependent on mosquitoes -- a whole lot of them. Bioengineers have been growing millions of mosquitoes in a sterile environment, letting them feed on malaria-infected blood, irradiating the bugs, extracting the disease-causing parasites and storing them for use in vaccines.
The announcement of the Food and Drug Administration's approval for clinical trials comes just days before World Malaria Day, which is Saturday. Check out the World Health Organization's site about malaria goals worldwide
The vaccine is unique among other candidates in that it uses the entire parasite and not just parts of it, said Dr. Stephen Hoffman, chief executive and scientific officer at Sanaria Inc., the Maryland-based biotechnology firm developing the vaccine.
This technique was first shown to be effective in the 1970s, but the technology didn't exist to mass-produce it for the millions of people who need it, said Dr. Kirsten Lyke, principal investigator in the clinical trial site at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. At that time, people were immunized by being bitten by the irradiated mosquitoes.
"That is the only effective vaccine that anyone has ever really developed that works and does complete protection," said John Dame, chair of Infectious Diseases and Pathology at the University of Florida, who is not involved with the Sanaria trials.
The vaccine takes the same basic approach as standard vaccines in use for diseases such as measles and polio. In those vaccines against viruses, weakened bacteria is injected, creating an immune response without causing illness.
In the Sanaria vaccine, the body recognizes the malaria parasite as a foreign material, Lyke said. It goes to the liver, where a lot of the immune response is generated, but does not develop into a disease because the mosquito was irradiated, she said.
Clinical trials will begin in May, Hoffman said, and will include 80 immunized individuals and 24 controls. About 3,000 mosquitoes were used to produce the vaccines for the first clinical trials, he said. If these trials are successful, researchers will initiate trials on adults in Africa, and then children.
Among other vaccines in clinical trials currently, the one that is furthest along is RTS,S, developed by GlaxoSmithKline PLC. The company announced in December that this vaccine, based on a recombinant protein that uses part of the malaria parasite, was safely administered to African infants, with an efficacy of 65 percent in a three-month follow-up.
Both the Sanaria and the GlaxoSmithKline projects receive support from the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative, a program at the nonprofit PATH established through an initial grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Dame, who used to be involved with the GlaxoSmithKline vaccine, said he would guess the Sanaria vaccine will be more effective, but clinical trials will provide more information. He also noted that mass distribution to developing countries would require appropriate infrastructure, and may be more difficult depending on how long the immunization lasts.
Each year, 350 million to 500 million cases of malaria occur worldwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most people who die from the disease are young children in Africa south of the Sahara.
Symptoms of malaria include fever, chills and flu-like illness, the CDC said.
Although preventive measures exist, such as insecticide-treated nets and medications, there is no licensed vaccine on the market.
Moreover, effective treatments are largely too expensive for the people who need them in poor countries. The parasite has become resistant to cheaper treatments, Lyke said.
"Individuals living on $1 or $2 a day can't even afford $8 medication," Lyke said.
The U.S. military also has a keen interest in a malaria vaccine. The antimalaria drugs available have side effects such as
|
[
"What decade was the method first tried?",
"Where was vaccine tested?",
"What is the name of the company developing the vaccine?",
"Where has the vaccine already been tested?"
] |
[
"1970s,",
"University of Maryland School of Medicine.",
"Sanaria Inc.,",
"University of Maryland School of Medicine."
] |
question: What decade was the method first tried?, answer: 1970s, | question: Where was vaccine tested?, answer: University of Maryland School of Medicine. | question: What is the name of the company developing the vaccine?, answer: Sanaria Inc., | question: Where has the vaccine already been tested?, answer: University of Maryland School of Medicine.
|
(CNN) -- For most Americans, mosquitoes are pests whose bites leave behind itchy bumps. But in other parts of the world, mosquitoes carry a disease called malaria that kills more than a million people each year.
Mosquitoes, especially those in Sub-Saharan Africa, may transmit malaria to humans.
A new malaria vaccine that's about to begin human clinical trials is dependent on mosquitoes -- a whole lot of them. Bioengineers have been growing millions of mosquitoes in a sterile environment, letting them feed on malaria-infected blood, irradiating the bugs, extracting the disease-causing parasites and storing them for use in vaccines.
The announcement of the Food and Drug Administration's approval for clinical trials comes just days before World Malaria Day, which is Saturday. Check out the World Health Organization's site about malaria goals worldwide
The vaccine is unique among other candidates in that it uses the entire parasite and not just parts of it, said Dr. Stephen Hoffman, chief executive and scientific officer at Sanaria Inc., the Maryland-based biotechnology firm developing the vaccine.
This technique was first shown to be effective in the 1970s, but the technology didn't exist to mass-produce it for the millions of people who need it, said Dr. Kirsten Lyke, principal investigator in the clinical trial site at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. At that time, people were immunized by being bitten by the irradiated mosquitoes.
"That is the only effective vaccine that anyone has ever really developed that works and does complete protection," said John Dame, chair of Infectious Diseases and Pathology at the University of Florida, who is not involved with the Sanaria trials.
The vaccine takes the same basic approach as standard vaccines in use for diseases such as measles and polio. In those vaccines against viruses, weakened bacteria is injected, creating an immune response without causing illness.
In the Sanaria vaccine, the body recognizes the malaria parasite as a foreign material, Lyke said. It goes to the liver, where a lot of the immune response is generated, but does not develop into a disease because the mosquito was irradiated, she said.
Clinical trials will begin in May, Hoffman said, and will include 80 immunized individuals and 24 controls. About 3,000 mosquitoes were used to produce the vaccines for the first clinical trials, he said. If these trials are successful, researchers will initiate trials on adults in Africa, and then children.
Among other vaccines in clinical trials currently, the one that is furthest along is RTS,S, developed by GlaxoSmithKline PLC. The company announced in December that this vaccine, based on a recombinant protein that uses part of the malaria parasite, was safely administered to African infants, with an efficacy of 65 percent in a three-month follow-up.
Both the Sanaria and the GlaxoSmithKline projects receive support from the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative, a program at the nonprofit PATH established through an initial grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Dame, who used to be involved with the GlaxoSmithKline vaccine, said he would guess the Sanaria vaccine will be more effective, but clinical trials will provide more information. He also noted that mass distribution to developing countries would require appropriate infrastructure, and may be more difficult depending on how long the immunization lasts.
Each year, 350 million to 500 million cases of malaria occur worldwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most people who die from the disease are young children in Africa south of the Sahara.
Symptoms of malaria include fever, chills and flu-like illness, the CDC said.
Although preventive measures exist, such as insecticide-treated nets and medications, there is no licensed vaccine on the market.
Moreover, effective treatments are largely too expensive for the people who need them in poor countries. The parasite has become resistant to cheaper treatments, Lyke said.
"Individuals living on $1 or $2 a day can't even afford $8 medication," Lyke said.
The U.S. military also has a keen interest in a malaria vaccine. The antimalaria drugs available have side effects such as
|
[
"on what year the method had been tried?",
"What wasn't feasible in 1970s",
"Who developed a vaccine",
"What company is developed a malaria vaccine that uses the whole parasite?",
"When was the whole parasite vaccine method first tried?",
"what is Sanaria Inc. developing?"
] |
[
"1970s,",
"malaria vaccine",
"Sanaria Inc.,",
"Sanaria Inc.,",
"1970s,",
"vaccine,"
] |
question: on what year the method had been tried?, answer: 1970s, | question: What wasn't feasible in 1970s, answer: malaria vaccine | question: Who developed a vaccine, answer: Sanaria Inc., | question: What company is developed a malaria vaccine that uses the whole parasite?, answer: Sanaria Inc., | question: When was the whole parasite vaccine method first tried?, answer: 1970s, | question: what is Sanaria Inc. developing?, answer: vaccine,
|
(CNN) -- For most of American history, a Supreme Court with no Protestant Christian judges would have been unthinkable. Nearly three quarters of all justices who've ever served on the nation's high court have been Protestant. And roughly half of all Americans identify themselves as Protestant today.
But since John Paul Stevens announced his retirement last month, legal and religious scholars have begun entertaining the unprecedented prospect of a Supreme Court without a single Protestant justice.
Besides Stevens, who is Protestant, the current Supreme Court counts six Catholics and two Jews.
"It's an amazing irony given how central Protestantism has been to American culture," said Stephen Prothero, a religion scholar at Boston University. "For most of the 19th century, Protestants were trying to turn America into their own heaven on Earth, which included keeping Jews and Catholics from virtually all positions of power."
Many religion scholars attribute the decline of Protestants on the high court to the breakdown of a mainline Protestant identity and to the absence of a strong tradition of lawyering among evangelical Protestants.
"Mainline Protestantism isn't a pressure group," said Prothero, "It's not like the National Council of Churches is lobbying Obama to get a Lutheran appointed to the Supreme Court."
And while Judaism and Catholicism have their own sets of religious laws that date back millennia, many branches of Protestant Christianity do not. For much of the last 150 years, evangelical Christianity has stressed an emotional theology of "heart" over "head" -- not a recipe for producing legal scholars with eyes fixed on the Supreme Court.
"Evangelicals have put more effort into getting elected than in getting onto the bench," said Michael Lindsay, a Rice University professor who has studied evangelical elites. "Electoral politics is more similar to the style of rallying of around revival campaign than it is to the arduous journey of producing intellectual giants that could be eligible for the Supreme Court."
President Obama is expected to nominate Stevens' replacement early this month. Of the three candidates who are reported to lead Obama's short list, two -- Solicitor General Elena Kagan and federal appeals judge Merrick Garland -- are Jewish, while one, federal appeals judge Diane Wood, is a Protestant.
Obama's first Supreme Court appointee, Sonia Sotomayor, is Catholic.
One explanation of Catholics' and Jews' high court hegemony is that members of both traditions have long pursued legal degrees as a way to assimilate into a majority Protestant country.
"Most American Catholic law schools were not formed to be elite institutions of lofty legal scholarship, but as way to respond to the fact that other law schools were excluding Catholics," said Richard Garnett, a professor at the University of Notre Dame Law School. "It was a vehicle to get Catholics into the middle class."
"Early on, those schools admitted a lot of Jewish students who were being discriminated against," Garnett said.
Today, Catholic law schools at Georgetown University, Fordham University, and Notre Dame are considered among the best in the country.
Evangelical Protestant colleges, meanwhile -- including Regent University and Liberty University, founded by Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, respectively -- have opened law schools only since the 1980s.
And law schools with Protestant roots -- like Harvard and Yale -- shed their religious identities a long time ago, part of the broader fading of a distinct mainline Protestant identity in the U.S..
Some legal and religious scholars say the dearth of qualified evangelical candidates for the Supreme Court came into sharp relief in 2005, when President George W. Bush nominated White House counsel Harriet Miers to the high court.
An evangelical Christian who the White House promoted strenuously among evangelicals, Miers' nomination was brought down largely by conservatives -- nonevangelicals, mostly -- who said she was not qualified for the position.
In the last couple of decades, however, more evangelicals have begun pursuing legal degrees, including at elite colleges. "There are now vibrant Christian fellowships at Harvard and Yale," said Lindsay. "Ten years from now, it will be entirely possible to see an evangelical Protestant on the Supreme Court
|
[
"What is the number of candidates on Obama's list?",
"Which religion is most represented?",
"What religions are those who make up the current Supreme Court?",
"What is absent among evangelical Protestants?",
"Who makes up the Supreme Court?",
"What have more evangelicals begun persuing in the past few decades?",
"What is absent on the court?",
"Who is on Obama's shortlist?"
] |
[
"three",
"Protestant.",
"counts six Catholics and two Jews.",
"strong tradition",
"six Catholics and two Jews.",
"legal degrees",
"no Protestant Christian judges",
"Solicitor General Elena Kagan"
] |
question: What is the number of candidates on Obama's list?, answer: three | question: Which religion is most represented?, answer: Protestant. | question: What religions are those who make up the current Supreme Court?, answer: counts six Catholics and two Jews. | question: What is absent among evangelical Protestants?, answer: strong tradition | question: Who makes up the Supreme Court?, answer: six Catholics and two Jews. | question: What have more evangelicals begun persuing in the past few decades?, answer: legal degrees | question: What is absent on the court?, answer: no Protestant Christian judges | question: Who is on Obama's shortlist?, answer: Solicitor General Elena Kagan
|
(CNN) -- For most of the year London's O2 Arena, located on the south bank of the famous River Thames, plays host to the world's biggest music acts.
But since 2009, the venue has also spent one week in November staging tennis' season-ending showpiece -- the ATP World Tour Finals.
The event pits the world's top eight male tennis players and doubles pairings against each other in a round-robin contest, with an unbeaten winner pocketing a check for $1.63 million.
But before the elite of the game can do battle on the court, the O2 must be transformed from a concert venue to a world-class tennis facility. That's where World Tour Finals tournament director Chris Kermode and his team come in.
Can Federer make World Tour Finals history?
"The build time that we have is very short," Kermode told CNN. "Rihanna was here on Tuesday night until midnight and we moved in at 1am in the morning on Wednesday.
"We had two days to turn the O2 Arena from probably the greatest music venue in the world into the greatest sporting venue in the world."
The electric blue court, neon digital displays and dazzling lights give the 17,500 fans packed into the O2 an experience which is poles apart from the regal aura which surrounds the grass courts of Wimbledon -- located just 10 miles away.
"The O2 is pretty much a music venue," explains Kermode. "Laying the court might sound quite basic but it's actually quite time consuming.
"We stage it in a very different way. So there's big screens, there's light shows, lots of digital boarding around the court.
"We build a 7,000 square meter fanzone, we also build a sponsors village with a practice court in the middle. So there's a lot to do in a very short space of time."
The work done transforming the O2 is certainly appreciated by the fans who flock to the week-long tournament. The 2010 event saw over 250,000 spectators come to see the action across the seven days of competition.
Tennis fan Thav Phouthavong was taking in the action on Thursday and was struck by the transformation the venue had undergone.
"It's my first time here at the O2 (watching tennis) but I've been to music gigs here," he said. "It's completely transformed with the tennis memorabilia, practice courts and fan zones. Normally it's an empty space."
Spanish spectator Luis Rodriguez was also impressed with the arena, saying it surpassed previous tennis experiences in his homeland.
"It's my first time here," he said. "I've been to the Barcelona tournament before, I prefer this. The size of the O2 is a lot bigger and better. They've got restaurants, it's really spacious and there's a lot more to do."
Prior to the event moving to London in 2009, Shanghai served as the location for what was then called the Tennis Masters Cup. Kermode explained how the timing was perfect for the O2 to take on the mantle from the Chinese city.
"The chairman of the ATP was looking where to take it from Shanghai and decided bringing it to the UK, and London, was a good move. The O2 was just about to be opened; it was a perfect synergy to match the two together."
In addition to giving tennis a futuristic face-lift, Kermode also believes hosting the World Tour Finals at a venue such as the O2 opens the sport up to a wider audience.
"Where the O2 has been so successful is the acts that they've had over the years has made this venue a destination venue in it's own right," he said of the arena which has been converted from the Millennium Dome attraction.
"So what we've managed to create here is almost attracting a new audience to tennis that historically maybe couldn't get tickets to Queens and Wimbledon. People who had maybe never seen live tennis before. So we've got the core tennis fans and we've
|
[
"What year did London host the ATP world finals",
"What kind of venue is the O2?",
"What is the O2",
"What is the arena usually used for?",
"Since what year has London hosted the ATP World Tour Finals?",
"What arena hosts the event?"
] |
[
"2009,",
"plays host to the world's biggest music acts.",
"Arena,",
"plays host to the world's biggest music acts.",
"2009,",
"London's O2"
] |
question: What year did London host the ATP world finals, answer: 2009, | question: What kind of venue is the O2?, answer: plays host to the world's biggest music acts. | question: What is the O2, answer: Arena, | question: What is the arena usually used for?, answer: plays host to the world's biggest music acts. | question: Since what year has London hosted the ATP World Tour Finals?, answer: 2009, | question: What arena hosts the event?, answer: London's O2
|
(CNN) -- For most people in the world, freedom of religion is of such paramount importance and warrants all the legal and constitutional respect and protection. It is fair to say that this concept has been imbedded in numerous people's mind such that any accusation of its violation almost automatically triggers waves of condemnation.
A woman reads a state media newspaper Saturday in Beijing with coverage of Tibet.
That may explain why so many people, especially in the West, are so agitated if they conclude that the Tibetan question boils down to freedom of religion, or, even worse, to its violation.
However, their agitation will be significantly muted if they are reminded that, while freedom of religion is of paramount importance, it is equally important to keep church and state separate, lest disasters and tragedies ensue.
In this light, it is important to be reminded that what those Tibetan diaspora outside of China want to restore is a unique and anachronistic system which mixed church and state into such a lethal institution: clergy and nobles accounting for barely 5 percent of the population ruled over millions of serfs who were dealt with as chattels and animals, with no single iota of human rights. That was not ancient history, that was Tibet barely 50 years ago. Watch a recent history of Tibet »
Anyone in a major Western country advocating freedom of religion to the disregard of separation of church and state will be either marginalized or held with ultra suspicion. If a clergy does so in the United States, his church will lose tax exemption and all the other privileges of a religious institution. Mankind knows too well that mixing church and state together can be a recipe for disasters, especially in a diverse and heterogeneous society. Watch Victor Gao discuss Tibet with CNN »
Therefore, what looks as a matter of freedom of religion to many people in the West is viewed by China more importantly as a matter of separation of church and state. But why such sharp contrasts?
Many people in the West eagerly embrace the Dalai Lama as a spiritual leader. China would wish His Holiness were indeed nothing but a spiritual leader, otherwise many problems would have been much simpler to resolve. What looks like a spiritual leader to many in the West is viewed by China as less a spiritual leader than a political activist with dangerous political motivations. Watch an online address by the Dalai Lama »
But why such sharp contrasts?
It goes without saying that religious differences need to be handled with extra care and sensitivity. Human history has been plagued with wars and conflicts either in the name of religion or in the excuse of religion with ulterior motives. Therefore, whenever religion is touched upon, normally "your religion for you and my religion for me" is a good guidance for avoiding calamities. If anyone in the West wants to convert to Tibetan Buddhism and revere the Dalai Lama, or the 14th Dalai Lama to be more accurate, as not only a spiritual leader, but as the reincarnation of all the previous 13 Dalai Lamas and, more amazingly, as the reincarnation of the great God Avalokite Svara, China, rather than having any grudges against him, probably would treat him with all the due respect as a true believer. But China views many Western sympathizers of the Dalai Lama, especially those Western politicians, as having ulterior political motives aimed at infringing upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. But why such sharp contrasts?
The Tibetan issue has become a major divider and sensationalizer in the world today. But if reason prevails over passion, the following simple truths may be shocking to learn for those much agitated people:
Therefore, let's avoid mixing apples with oranges, or oranges with apples. Let's avoid any double talk. If one is using "Free Tibet" as an expedient alternative for "Independent Tibet," then don't complain about China's wrath at his real motivation. If one is advocating freedom of religion to the disregard of the separation of church and state, then don't complain about being accused by China as a hypocrite. If one is mesmerized by the Dalai Lama as a spiritual leader or even the reincarnation of
|
[
"Who accuses Dalai Lama of causing conflict, seeking independent Tibet ?"
] |
[
"China"
] |
question: Who accuses Dalai Lama of causing conflict, seeking independent Tibet ?, answer: China
|
(CNN) -- For most people, Post-it Notes are disposable, ordinary office papers used for note-taking and reminders. But for 19-year-old David Alvarez of Leavenworth, Washington, they were the perfect medium for a 10-foot-tall mosaic depicting Ray Charles.
David Alvarez, right, made this 10-foot-tall mosaic of Ray Charles using Post-it Notes.
Using more than 2,000 of those ubiquitous brightly-colored sticky scraps, Alvarez composed a three-dimensional representation of the famous musician. The piece has just gone on display at Wenatchee Valley College in Wenatchee, Washington, where Alvarez is in his second year of studies. "It's something so simple. You can still see the flaps sticking out on some of them," he said. "Naturally the Post-it Note just sort of flaps out." While learning new techniques in Adobe Photoshop in a class, he experimented with taking a photograph of Ray Charles and making it look like a mosaic on the computer screen. He then translated this idea into the Post-it work. He spent three months constructing the mosaic, sometimes sacrificing schoolwork for his art. At least one of his papers for his summer English courses suffered, but he persevered so that he could participate in an art show July 28 at the Stanley Civic Center in Wenatchee. Originally, the Post-it Notes stayed in this unique format only by virtue of their manufactured stickiness, which does not hold up as well as glue, Alvarez found. When he displayed his work at the show, he monitored the project for 14 hours, continuously replacing notes that were falling off. The aspiring art teacher now uses glue to hold the notes in place.
For his next project, he is considering a mosaic using 4-inch x 4-inch notes, up from the 3-inch x 3-inch size used in the Ray Charles piece. "Part of me wants to, part of me doesn't," he said. "It was so hard to align. It took a lot of time and patience." E-mail to a friend
|
[
"Where is the mosaic displayed?",
"Who made the mosaic?",
"What was the mosaic made of?",
"Where is the mosaic on display?",
"What college is exhibiting the mosaic?",
"Who makes the mosaic out of Post-it Notes?",
"What material does David Alvarez use in his mosaics?",
"How many Post-It Notes are used?"
] |
[
"Wenatchee Valley College in Wenatchee, Washington,",
"David Alvarez,",
"Post-it Notes.",
"Leavenworth, Washington,",
"Wenatchee Valley",
"David Alvarez,",
"Post-it Notes",
"more than 2,000"
] |
question: Where is the mosaic displayed?, answer: Wenatchee Valley College in Wenatchee, Washington, | question: Who made the mosaic?, answer: David Alvarez, | question: What was the mosaic made of?, answer: Post-it Notes. | question: Where is the mosaic on display?, answer: Leavenworth, Washington, | question: What college is exhibiting the mosaic?, answer: Wenatchee Valley | question: Who makes the mosaic out of Post-it Notes?, answer: David Alvarez, | question: What material does David Alvarez use in his mosaics?, answer: Post-it Notes | question: How many Post-It Notes are used?, answer: more than 2,000
|
(CNN) -- For nearly 20 years Jennifer Schuett has held onto every memory of the night she was abducted from her bedroom, raped and left for dead.
Jennifer Schuett remembers small details of the night she was abducted, raped and her throat slashed at age 8.
It was August 10, 1990. Schuett was 8 years old and lived alone with her mother in the first floor of an apartment complex in Dickinson, Texas. The bedroom windows faced the parking lot.
Investigators were never able to identify a suspect, but new DNA testing may change that.
CNN normally does not identify victims of sexual assaults. But Schuett wants to go public with her story-- and her name-- to increase the chances of finding and prosecuting her attacker.
"It's not about me anymore," she explained. "It's about all the little girls that go to sleep at night. I know there are so many girls out there who have been raped and hurt. You have to fight back."
For that, Schuett, 27, is relying on her voice, her memory and advances in DNA testing.
"I remember everything; I've always wanted to remember everything, so I can find the person that did this," Schuett told CNN during a phone interview. "If I had blocked this out of my memory, the investigation wouldn't have come this far. I'm a fighter."
Schuett says she was alone in her bed when a man came creeping in through the window. She remembers waking up in a stranger's arms as he carried her across a dark parking lot.
"When I opened my eyes, his face was the first thing I saw and he covered my face and mouth," she said. "He ran with me to his car. He told me he was an undercover cop and that he knew my family. He seemed calm -- not nervous, not aggressive."
After they left the parking lot, he drove her through the streets of Dickinson, Texas, pulling into a mechanic shop next to her elementary school.
"Watch the moon. The moon will change colors and that is when your mom will come to get you," she recalled him saying. "Oh, it looks like she is not coming."
Schuett said he drove her to an overgrown field next to the school and raped her.
"He had a knife to my throat and touched my face and offered me Reese's pieces," she said. "I was scared but I knew I couldn't be fast enough to get away. Cars would drive by but I couldn't get away to get help."
She believes she passed out. "I woke up to him dragging me by my ankles," she said. "I felt thorns ripping the skin off my back. I would see him turn to look at me and I would play dead."
She passed out again, and awoke at daybreak. "I remember feeling dew around me and I couldn't figure out why when I screamed I couldn't hear myself," said Schuett.
She lay naked on top of an ant hill with her throat slashed from ear to ear, and her voice box torn.
Much later, she said, "I heard children playing hide and seek. That is when one of the kids tripped over my foot," said Schuett.
She was found at 6 p.m. on a hot August day. She had been lying in the field for nearly 12 hours. She was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
"Three days after the attack, I started giving a description. The doctors told me I would never be able to talk again, but I proved them all wrong," said Schuett. She believes she got her voice back so she could tell her story.
"I never wanted to play the victim role. I wanted to be a strong survivor," she said.
But the attack left its mark. "For the first two years, I had nightmares and was scared,
|
[
"From where are grabbed Jennifer Schuett?",
"Where was Jennifer Schuett grabbed from?",
"what happend to she?",
"What happened to her?",
"Who was grabbed from her bedroom?",
"What age was Jennifer at the time of her attack?"
] |
[
"her bedroom,",
"her bedroom,",
"from her bedroom, raped and left for dead.",
"she was abducted",
"Jennifer Schuett",
"8."
] |
question: From where are grabbed Jennifer Schuett?, answer: her bedroom, | question: Where was Jennifer Schuett grabbed from?, answer: her bedroom, | question: what happend to she?, answer: from her bedroom, raped and left for dead. | question: What happened to her?, answer: she was abducted | question: Who was grabbed from her bedroom?, answer: Jennifer Schuett | question: What age was Jennifer at the time of her attack?, answer: 8.
|
(CNN) -- For nearly 30 years, one man has dominated Egypt.
Hosni Mubarak, 82, has survived would-be assassins and ill health, crushed a rising Islamist radical movement and maintained the peace with neighboring Israel that got his predecessor killed. His government's continued observance of the Camp David accords with Israel is the cornerstone of what peace has been achieved in the decades-long Arab-Israeli conflict.
Following the revolt that toppled Tunisia's longtime strongman, demonstrators in the streets of Cairo are standing up to riot police and chanting, "Mubarak, Saudi Arabia is waiting for you." Experienced observers say it's the most most significant challenge to his rule yet.
It's far from clear, however, that the demonstrators have the support or the coordination to bring down the man critics have called Egypt's last pharaoh.
"He's been in power a very long time, and he is very wily," said Juan Cole, a Middle East historian at the University of Michigan. "He's developed all kinds of techiniques for dealing with opponents that have proven relatively successful."
But longtime observers of the region say the stability Mubarak has purchased has come at the cost of entrenched poverty and repression in the Arab world's most populous nation.
"Egypt is a broken country," Fawaz Gerges, a professor of Middle Eastern relations at the London School of Economics, told CNN. "It used to be the jewel of the Middle East. It's the capital of its cultural production." But now, Gerges said, "Egyptians have no outlets. They don't feel that they have a sense of hope for the future."
Mubarak was a Soviet-trained pilot who was chief of staff of Egypt's air force during the 1973 Mideast war. The early success of Egyptian pilots against Israel made him a national hero, and then-President Anwar Sadat made him vice president in 1975.
Six years later, Sadat died in a hail of gunfire at a military parade, killed by Islamic militants from within the army's own ranks after he took the dramatic step of making peace with Israel. Upon assuming office, one of Mubarak's first acts was to declare a state of emergency that allowed barred unauthorized assembly, restricted freedom of speech and allowed police to jail people indefinitely.
He has made extensive use of those powers in the ensuing decades. The Egyptian army put down riots by disgruntled police officers in 1986, and he threw an estimated 30,000 people in jail when jihadists carried out a string of attacks on tourists.
"He pretty much wiped them out," Cole said. "It's not an accident that they were in Afghanistan instead of Egypt." And the government has also penetrated opposition movements so thoroughly that "If five people sit down to plot something, the fifth person writes a report to Hosni Mubarak about it," he said.
The result is "a regime that has very little legitimacy, but presents itself as something there's no point in trying to change," said Nathan Brown, a professor of Middle Eastern politics at George Washington University in Washington. But Brown said the January 14 overthrow of Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who fled to Saudi Arabia after 23 years in power, has changed the thinking of many in the region.
"I think what the events in Tunisia did was take that sense that nothing could ever change and lead a few people to question it," he said.
Mubarak has headed off a similar movement before, in 2005, when Egyptians mounted large-scale protests to demand fundamental and widespread reform. He intimidated the leaders of the officially banned but tolerated Muslim Brotherhood, harassed middle-class demonstrators and managed to pick off the leadership of those protests, Brown said.
But the current movement "has no real leadership, so it can't be decapitated the same way," he said. "If Mubarak decided tomorrow, 'I'll sit down and engage with you,' it's not clear who that 'you' is."
Mubarak won four terms as president in
|
[
"How long has Mubarak been in power for?"
] |
[
"30 years,"
] |
question: How long has Mubarak been in power for?, answer: 30 years,
|
(CNN) -- For pro-surfers like nine-time world champion Kelly Slater, flying from continent to continent looking for the perfect wave seems like a freewheeling lifestyle, but for amateurs, it requires careful planning.
Surfing champ Kelly Slater gains altitude at Hossegor, France, in 2002.
Surfers checking out unique vibes at sites in Australia, Fiji, Tahiti, Hawaii and France are driven by the buzz that comes from exhilarating swells, breaking waves and amazing barrel tubes created by truly awesome forces of nature.
Unlike other travelers, surfers are interested in surfer-friendly places to crash, snagging the best airline rates for surfboards and where to hang out.
Here's Slater's list of five great surfing meccas along with some hints about how to fully enjoy your search for the proverbial endless summer. See photos of Slater surfing his five great sites »
BANZAI PIPELINE, Oahu, Hawaii
Event: Billabong Pipeline Masters, December 8 to December 20, 2009
"I grew up mesmerized by it, and it never lets you down," Slater said. "It's just an amazing place to be and a wave that always challenges you."
The vibe: Surfers compare this event to professional golf's Master's tournament. Since the 1950s and '60s, mobs of fans have traveled to view one of the sport's great venues to watch competing surfers.
How to get there: To find this quarter-mile long treasure trove of breaking waves, drive southwest of Ehukai Beach Park along the Kamehameha Highway, about seven miles northeast of Haleiwa.
During competition season -- in November and December -- visitors can soak up a lot of action on the beach, said Scott Bass, editor at Surfer Magazine.
"It's a unique spot because a large, crazy death-defying surf breaks only 100 yards from shore. It's very accessible as a viewer," said Bass. See map and more photos of Slater's surfing spots »
Where to stay: Keiki Beach Bungalows offers tourists the best of both worlds: proximity to the Pipeline and a break from the crowds. Located on the beach about a mile away from Pipeline, the quiet bungalows also provide convenient access to a shopping complex with food and coffee shops about a quarter mile away. One and two-bedroom cottages range from $145 to $220 per night, depending on length of stay.
Searching for more elegant digs? Turtle Bay Resort offers hundreds of luxurious guest rooms, suites and cottages not far from Pipeline.
On a budget? Less than an hour's drive away, campers can pitch near the Pacific at Barbers Point Beach Park.
Where to hang out: Got something sweeter in mind? Matsumoto Shave Ice has become a Hawaiian institution during its 60 years, serving the namesake snow cones, candy and crack seed, an island snack of dried fruits.
Where to get lunch: Locals will tell you that hanging out on the North Shore must include a stop at some of the island's tried and true mom and pop shops. Macky's Sweet Shrimp Truck is literally just that -- a brightly painted RV parked in a private lot. Macky's specializes in serving succulent shrimp, rice, fruit and veggies.
CLOUDBREAK, Tavarua, Fiji
Best waves: April to October
"One of the great surf discoveries ever," said Slater about Cloudbreak, the name given to a surfing reef about two miles off Fiji's island of Tavarua. The South Pacific waters off Fiji offer the perfect temperature and a "really good swell window" for timing waves, Slater said. "The wave has so many different faces to it. It's challenging and perfect."
The vibe: Exclusive. The Tavarua Resort on the island controls access to the reef.
How to get there: Surfing Cloudbreak can cost you, both physically and monetarily because of its distance off the island and the expense of traveling to the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Surfers get to the reef on local boats or jet-skis -- or by paddling on their boards, which will take a lot out of you.
|
[
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"Who is the pro-surfing champ?"
] |
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"Cloudbreak,",
"surfing reef",
"Surfing champ",
"Australia, Fiji, Tahiti, Hawaii and France",
"Kelly Slater,"
] |
question: What is one of the great surf discoveries ever?, answer: Cloudbreak, | question: What was Fiji's Cloudbreak wave described as?, answer: surfing reef | question: What is Kelly Slater?, answer: Surfing champ | question: What countries does Slater like?, answer: Australia, Fiji, Tahiti, Hawaii and France | question: Who is the pro-surfing champ?, answer: Kelly Slater,
|
(CNN) -- For someone who seems to go to great lengths to keep his private life away from prying eyes, late-night talk show host David Letterman has seen a great deal of his personal life become public.
David Letterman has mined private events in his life for very public jokes on his show.
Heart problems, a troubled stalker and a plot to kidnap his son have all landed Letterman in the news and provided fodder for jokes, including some of his own.
The latest, an alleged extortion attempt involving his sexual dalliances (it's been dubbed "sextortion" by pundits), was handled very much the way Letterman fans might expect: with humor and a bit of storytelling.
"He told it as a story that you felt like you were living along with him, and so I think he immediately won your sympathy by telling it that way," said Hal Boedeker, TV critic for the Orlando Sentinel. "He also took the seedy factor out of it with restraint by not saying too much and trying to protect the people he was involved with." Watch Letterman tell what happened »
Letterman revealed on his show Thursday night that he'd had sexual relations with members of his staff and that he had testified about those liaisons before a New York grand jury for a case involving the alleged attempted extortion.
A CBS producer, Robert "Joe" Halderman, has been charged with first-degree attempted grand larceny; officials said he threatened to go public with the 62-year-old funnyman's dalliances unless Letterman paid $2 million.
Halderman pleaded not guilty Friday.
The revelation, which Letterman shared with the audience of the "Late Show," seemed especially shocking given his reputation as the self-deprecating everyman.
"Letterman picked up on [that shock] and played on that," said Robert Thompson, a professor and founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University. "It was the weirdest 10 minutes of television I've seen in a long time, and yet I think I've concluded that it was brilliant." Watch "Larry King Live" guest host Jim Moret talk to panel about Letterman case »
Letterman has had plenty of experience dealing with awkward, and sometimes painful, episodes on television.
Beginning in the 1980s, he was stalked by Margaret Ray, a woman with schizophrenia who often broke into his New Canaan, Connecticut, home, wrote him letters and once stole his Porsche.
Letterman would sometimes joke about her -- without using her name -- on his show and told The New York Times that was because he joked about every public aspect of his life.
Ray would refer to herself as "Mrs. David Letterman" and once watched the talk show host and his now-wife Regina Lasko from a hallway in their home as they lay in bed.
Ray committed suicide in 1998; Letterman offered his condolences on-air to her family.
Though Letterman was quoted as saying Ray's actions were usually more odd than frightening, a plot in 2005 to kidnap his then-toddler son proved to be more alarming.
Kelly A. Frank, an ex-con who had done some work at Letterman's Deep Creek Ranch in Montana, was charged with planning to kidnap Letterman's son, Harry, and his nanny.
Frank pleaded guilty to lesser charges and was sentenced to 10 years in jail. In 2007, he escaped and was later captured.
Thompson said Letterman has shown that he is able to rise above his troubles, including emergency bypass surgery in 2000, with a healthy dose of comedy. This latest incident was no different, Thompson observed.
"The interesting thing is that he never went out of comic mode," Thompson said. "His magnum opus was when he was the first late-night comedian to come back after September 11th ... and he did it brilliantly. All of the other comics who came on in the following weeks followed him exactly."
He kept Thursday's tale so light, Thompson said, that many who may not have been aware of the
|
[
"What word was used by a media expert to describe how Letterman handled the alleged extortion",
"Whose private woes were made public",
"Who was the alleged plot against?"
] |
[
"\"sextortion\"",
"David Letterman",
"David Letterman"
] |
question: What word was used by a media expert to describe how Letterman handled the alleged extortion, answer: "sextortion" | question: Whose private woes were made public, answer: David Letterman | question: Who was the alleged plot against?, answer: David Letterman
|
(CNN) -- For the first time in a few years, talk about airline bankruptcies has ramped up once again, with concerns expressed this week about a certain carrier based in Texas.
Whether the reports about American Airlines are true or not doesn't really matter -- it's enough to make people anxious.
I've received a fair bit of e-mail this last week asking what happens if bankruptcy becomes a reality. In short, there's nothing to worry about with an airline like American, but I thought it would be a good idea to devote this week's column to the issue since it's at the top of mind for many travelers.
Will American go bankrupt? I'm certainly not qualified to answer that question. Only the airline itself knows its plans, but the balance sheet certainly doesn't point to bankruptcy being necessary in the short to medium term.
Yes, American has been losing money recently while others have profited, but at the end of June, it had more than $5 billion in the bank and it has been able to arrange financing since then. That doesn't sound like a company that would be filing for bankruptcy protection, which should be a last resort. Even if it does for some strategic reason, flights wouldn't be affected.
Still, it's worth talking about what to do when an airline goes bankrupt, because airlines around the world shut down every year. It's always good to know what you can do. Here is some advice.
Always pay with a credit card
When you buy a ticket, you might be paying for something (a flight, presumably) that you won't use for another year. That's a long time for an airline to hold on to your money, and that's why you should pay with a credit card.
If you buy a ticket with a credit card, then you won't be on the hook if your airline goes under. In fact, when airlines start to find themselves in financial trouble, credit card processors hold back a larger and larger percentage of the money until the flight occurs. That way, if the airline doesn't perform, the credit card company still has your money and can give it right back to you.
Periodically check in on your airline
It sounds silly when you're talking about an airline like American, because you would know instantly if it filed for bankruptcy protection. But what if you bought a ticket on Kuwait-based Wataniya Airways? Would you even know that it shut down in March of this year? Probably not.
So if you do find yourself booked on an airline that might not be very well known here in the U.S., it can't hurt to check in every so often to make sure it's still flying. Most airlines with websites are very good at letting you know when they go out of business.
Even better, you can set up an alert via Google that will send you a note anytime an airline's name pops up in the news. This is hardly necessary for the better-known airlines around the world, of course, but it's a good idea for smaller airlines that you want to keep an eye on.
Have a backup plan
If you're worried about an airline going out of business for one reason or another, have a mental backup plan waiting in case you need to spring into action. Find out what other airlines fly where you need to go, and be ready to try to pounce if something happens. If you're prepared, you'll be able to get that last seat on your alternate before someone else who was unprepared even knows what's happening. But you'll still have to pay for it.
Don't expect help from other airlines
There used to be a rule in the U.S. that other airlines had to honor tickets on failed airlines for a nominal fee. That doesn't exist anymore, so don't go looking for charity from other airlines if yours goes under. Elsewhere in the world, there can be varying levels of assistance, but it's best to just assume that
|
[
"what fears swirl around American Airlines?",
"what is american airlines"
] |
[
"bankruptcies",
"carrier based in Texas."
] |
question: what fears swirl around American Airlines?, answer: bankruptcies | question: what is american airlines, answer: carrier based in Texas.
|
(CNN) -- For the first time in decades, the hunting of the gray wolf is legal again in the United States. And that's a good thing for ranchers like Cindy Siddoway of Terreton, Idaho, whose sheep are threatened every day by wolves.
Gray wolves were taken off the endangered species list after their population rebounded.
"We have worked very hard to protect what we have, and it's not very successful," she said. "It is devastating for us to put all of the money and the time and the genetics and work to produce a great product and then just have it half-eaten and left to die."
But wolf hunting isn't popular with everybody. It has become a controversy in Idaho, where the hunt began Tuesday, and in Montana, where it is scheduled to start September 15.
Environmental and animal rights groups are upset by a federal decision this year to remove gray wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains from the endangered species list, a move that opened the door to permitting the hunts.
They are seeking an injunction in U.S. District Court in Montana to stop the hunts. Judge Donald Molloy is reviewing the case, and it's unclear when he will rule.
After their population dwindled in the Rockies last century, in part because of practices like trapping, gray wolves were put on the endangered species list.
But the population has rebounded, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service delisted the animals and determined that the populations would be healthy enough for hunts to be permitted in Idaho and Montana, which manage the wolf populations.
There are also gray wolves in Wyoming, but hunts are not permitted there because of the state's weak wildlife management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said.
Opponents of the hunt say the population is not large and healthy enough to allow hunting.
Melanie Stein, a Sierra Club spokeswoman, said that the wolf populations "are just on the cusp of recovery and that we are almost there." But she says the hunts represent "a step backward and away from recovery" of the wolf populations.
Defenders of Wildlife, one of several groups urging the court to stop the hunt, detailed the ecological role of the wolves on its Web site.
"In what is known as the cascade effect, wolves are exerting influence over a multitude of species within the park's ecosystem. Elk, wary of the reintroduced top predator, have altered their grazing behavior.
"With less grazing pressure from elk, streambed vegetation such as willow and aspen is regenerating after decades of overbrowsing. As the trees are restored, they create better habitat for native birds and fish, beaver and other species."
Siddoway doesn't think the hunt will make much of a difference right now because it is hard to kill the animals. But the wolf attacks take their toll.
For example, the wolves will kill Great Pyrenees guard dogs used to protect the herds. When that happens, "then we're open to prey from bears and everything else," Siddoway said.
"We know that it's a problem, and we want to make sure ranchers can continue on with their livelihood," Stein said. "But there has to be some co-existence between wolves and other species."
Currently, ranchers and farmers can legally shoot a wolf they see attacking their livestock, said Ed Bangs, wolf recovery coordinator with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
There are also tools used to counter wolf attacks without hunting, he said. They include scare tactics, like shooting firecrackers out of a shotgun, or proper fencing.
"All that stuff works for a little while in some instances for a short period of time and in some situations can be helpful. But it isn't the silver bullet for wolf depredation," he said.
He said these techniques work "in conjunction with killing wolves."
There are state and private programs compensating ranchers who lose livestock because of attacks, but the money represents only part of what the livestock and the time dealing with the problem is worth.
"
|
[
"What say ranchers?"
] |
[
"\"It is devastating for us to put all of the money and the time and the genetics and work to produce a great product and then just have it half-eaten and left to die.\""
] |
question: What say ranchers?, answer: "It is devastating for us to put all of the money and the time and the genetics and work to produce a great product and then just have it half-eaten and left to die."
|
(CNN) -- For the first time in history, slavery can be brought to an end. What's more, we already know how to do it. Even if the cost of ending slavery were astronomical, we should do it -- but in fact the cost is surprisingly low.
A number of forces have come together to create a unique moment. On one side there has been a recent rapid growth in the number of slaves worldwide. The population explosion, coupled with natural disasters, epidemic disease, civil war, grinding poverty, and especially government corruption, made millions of people vulnerable to slavery. The result is some 27 million people in slavery today.
These are real slaves, controlled by violence, paid nothing, unable to walk away, and making fat profits for criminal slaveholders.
Slaves are concentrated in South and Southeast Asia, across North and West Africa, and in South America, but virtually every country has slavery, and the U.S. is estimated to have 40,000 hidden slaves. Around the world, slaves do dirty, dangerous work, everything from agriculture to prostitution, and their lives are brutal and short.
The lives of slaves have changed little over the centuries, but the price of slaves has collapsed to an all-time low. For all of history, slaves have been expensive capital investments, costing an average $45,000 in today's dollars. Today the average price of a slave is $90. This means slaves are disposable, so cheap it is not worth giving them medical care when they are sick or injured, and it's easy to just dump them when they are used up.
It is an ugly problem, but at the same time, everything has clicked into place to make the end of slavery possible. The current number of slaves, 27 million, is the smallest percentage of the global population ever. The $40 billion they produce each year is the smallest fraction of the global economy ever represented by slave labor.
Read more about Kevin Bales at TED.com
Slavery is illegal in every country and denounced in United Nations conventions. There is no support for slavery from moral authorities, religious or political groups. And no industry or economy is dependent on slavery. In fact, if slavery ended tomorrow, consumers wouldn't see any price increases. Slavery has been pushed to the criminal edges of our global society and to the very edge of its own extinction.
There is no silver bullet that kills slavery, but over the past ten years an arsenal of effective responses has shown that you can end slavery and make communities slave-proof. One powerful vaccination against slavery is to make sure freed slaves build lives of economic stability.
This means education, skill training, micro-finance, and citizenship -- all the things denied American ex-slaves in 1865. Americans are still paying the price for their botched emancipation. Meanwhile, freed slaves given opportunities today generate economic growth through a "freedom dividend."
The modern anti-slavery movement is growing rapidly, and freedom is coming to an ever-increasing number of slaves. The end of slavery is possible, but three things have to happen.
First, governments have to keep the promises they made when they passed laws against slavery. The laws are on the books, but police are untrained and budgets are woefully inadequate.
Second, the public needs to be aware that slavery is all around us, and that it can be brought to an end.
Third, resources have to flow to those areas of the world where slavery is rife -- resources from international aid, charities, World Bank and IMF, and businesses. More funding is needed to provide for more anti-slavery workers.
When it is done right, the results are spectacular. Take the village of Azad Nagar in northern India. All the families there were hereditary slaves in a stone quarry. All children worked, there was no school, and all women risked regular sexual assault by the slaveholders. A Free the Slaves partner organization sent in a community organizer who helped the families to stand up to their masters and renounce slavery.
It was a
|
[
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] |
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question: For the first time it's possible to end what?, answer: slavery | question: what has been reduced?, answer: price of slaves | question: what is posible for first time in history?, answer: slavery can be brought to an end. | question: what is crucial for freed slaves?, answer: education, skill training, micro-finance, and citizenship | question: What can happen to slavery?, answer: end. | question: What is crucual for freed slaves?, answer: economic stability.
|
(CNN) -- For the past decade, Microsoft researcher Gordon Bell has been moving the data from his brain onto computers -- where he knows it will be safe.
Gordon Bell wearing a SenseCam, which automatically records photos throughout the day.
Sure, you could say all of us do this to some extent. We save digital pictures from family events and keep tons of e-mail.
But Bell, who is 75 years old, takes the idea of digital memory to a sci-fi-esque extreme. He carries around video equipment, cameras and audio recorders to capture his conversations, commutes, trips and experiences. Microsoft is working on a SenseCam that would hang around a person's neck and automatically capture every detail of life in photo form. Bell has given that a whirl. He also saves everything -- from restaurant receipts (he takes pictures of them) to correspondence, bills and medical records. He makes PDF files out of every Web page he views.
In sum, this mountain of data -- more than 350 gigabytes worth, not including the streaming audio and video -- is a replica of Bell's biological memory. It's actually better, he says, because, if you back up your data in enough places, this digitized "e-memory" never forgets. It's like having a multimedia transcript of your life.
By about 2020, he says, our entire life histories will be online and searchable. Location-aware smartphones and inexpensive digital memory storage in the "cloud" of the Internet make the transition possible and inevitable. No one will have to fret about storing the details of their lives in their heads anymore. We'll have computers for that. And this revolution will "change what it means to be human," he writes.
Bell, who, along with fellow researcher Jim Gemmell, is the author of a new book called "Total Recall," talked with CNN about the advantages and drawbacks of recording one's life in painstaking digital detail. The following is an edited transcript.
CNN: What have you learned about yourself through this process?
That's been a really hard question to answer. ... The main driver of the recall turns out to be a [computer] screensaver or something where I go looking for [a digital memory] and I find something else. I guess it's the rich set of connections and people that I've been involved with.
CNN: What do you use to record your memories?
In a way, most of what happens during the day is sort of routine -- what you've done before. So I carry the SenseCam only when I think there's an episode or a sequence or a certain set of events that I want to capture and have automatically photographed. But I tend to always carry a camera with me. I live next to a fire station and I've got lots of photos of the hook and ladder coming out of the house. And I like food so I tend to photograph wonderfully presented food all the time. To me those are very pleasant memories.
CNN: If we rely on computers instead of our brains, will humans become mentally sluggish?
That's certainly one of the concerns. I tend to counter that theory. To me, I feel a lot freer. In a way I feel like I still remember all that stuff, but I generally remember that [the computer is] remembering something for me so I can find it.
People have no memory of phone numbers now because of the cell phone -- their address book is in a cell phone. So I don't think they're getting any worse or any less facile about that. What an e-memory does, to me, is gives me a really wonderful free feeling.
CNN: If we all record audio of our lives, do you think conversations will become stilted and fake?
I think there will be a lot of court cases and lawyering around all of that. I'm personally less hung up about that. Certainly, people my age and Baby Boomers are. But the current X
|
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question: What has Bell done for a decade?, answer: onto computers | question: who is Microsoft researcher?, answer: Gordon Bell | question: What is the title of Bell's book?, answer: "Total Recall," | question: how long has bell been recording his life, answer: the past decade, | question: who is the author?, answer: Jim Gemmell, | question: Who is Gordon Bell?, answer: Microsoft researcher | question: what did gordon bell say we will soon have, answer: our entire life histories | question: what book is bell the co-author of, answer: "Total Recall," | question: what is the book name?, answer: "Total Recall,"
|
(CNN) -- For those of us who remember a time when many families didn't have color TV, a remote control or even video games, hearing the theme song from "The Patty Duke Show" -- "They're cousins / Identical cousins, all the way" -- takes us back to black-and-white television sets and split-screen special effects.
Patty Duke says she has many fond memories of working on "The Patty Duke Show."
"Back then it was very crude, how we did split-screen," star Patty Duke said of playing the dual roles of Patty and Cathy Lane in the show, which was developed specifically for her. "Now with all-digital applications, it looks antique. But the show's values are still what we want to impart on our children."
The first complete season of "The Patty Duke Show," from 1963 to 1964, is now out on DVD. Duke told CNN that she's excited her five granddaughters will finally be able to see what "Nana did when she was a teenager."
"I am tickled, just tickled," she said.
In the sitcom, which ran for three seasons on ABC, Patty was a rambunctious teenager who always managed to find herself in some kind of trouble; cousin Cathy was a demure, worldly Scottish teenager who came to New York to live with the Lane family to finish her schooling.
Duke, who was not quite 17 when the series began, says it took a lot of energy to play two different characters. She preferred the quieter Cathy, "because I thought she was dignified and gentle and rational. When it was time to be Patty, I would have to deal with my embarrassment of her stupidity."
Duke was already a successful actor by the time the sitcom debuted, winning an Oscar for 1962's "The Miracle Worker" just months before the show premiered. But she describes herself as sheltered.
"I was a very isolated teenager. When it came time to do some of the school dances [on the show], they had to bring in real teenagers to teach me how," she says. "I didn't know the dances, didn't know the music."
She says, however, the show was a relief during what were troubled times for her. She wrote about her tormented childhood in her autobiography, "Call Me Anna," discussing her struggles with mental abuse at the hands of her managers, which she says led to alcohol and drug addiction. She was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and she now helps others who have the disease.
"I believe that show [gave me] the tools that helped me survive through my youth until I got my diagnosis," Duke said. "I think 'tormenting' is one of the most perfect words for what you feel [with bipolar disorder], because you have no control over it. I did occasionally, very occasionally, hear voices, but mostly my instincts were messed up: If it was dangerous, then I should do it."
The show, she said, "was where I went for safety."
"It was a troubled time on the personal level, but the show was never troubled," she said.
She speaks fondly of her co-stars, especially William Schallert, who played her father, Martin Lane.
"He has always been able to make me laugh until I had to spit up," she said of the now 87-year-old actor. "He was also a solid, solid figure to me and still is. To this day, the relationship has grown, and he is always there for me."
She remains close to the other surviving members of the cast, including Paul O'Keefe, who played her brother. Jean Byron, who played mother Natalie Lane, died three years ago.
Duke was able to transition from child star to adult actor of stage and screen, and she even had a hit single, 1965's "Don't Just Stand There
|
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question: What kind of show it it?, answer: sitcom, | question: What was the actress diagnosed as?, answer: bipolar | question: How long did the show run for?, answer: from 1963 to 1964, | question: Duke played identical cousins Patty and, answer: Cathy Lane | question: Who played the identical cousins?, answer: Patty Duke | question: The first season of what is out on DVD?, answer: "The Patty Duke Show,"
|
(CNN) -- For three years, the thieves crept into some of the poshest homes in the most exclusive enclaves in the nation.
The gated community of Bel Air was one of several enclaves targeted by the so-called "Hillside Burglars."
Police said they finally have a break in the case, and wealthy residents of Los Angeles, California, are breathing a sigh of relief.
"These guys were real good," said L.A. City Councilman Jack Weiss, who oversees Bel Air where some of the burglaries were committed. "They were professionals."
The thieves hauled away more than $10 million worth of valuables and cash from 150 homes in upscale neighborhoods such as Bel Air, Pacific Palisades and Beverly Hills, police said.
Homes of Hollywood celebrities, professional athletes and multimillionaires were hit. According to CNN affiliate KABC, country music stars Faith Hill and Tim McGraw and former Paramount Pictures CEO Sherry Lansing were among the victims.
DNA evidence led the LAPD to suspected ringleader Troy Corsby Thomas, 45, of Los Angeles. He was arrested near L.A. International Airport last weekend.
Police say Thomas led a gang dubbed the "Hillside Burglars" that targeted the neighborhoods overlooking Sunset Boulevard.
"It's a very euphoric, satisfying feeling that we got this person," said the police Lt. David McGill. "It's a very frustrating feeling to tell the victims, 'I'm sorry I don't have any news for you.' Finally when we got some good detective work and breaks, things started lining up."
Police are looking for more suspects linked to the three-year spree but are not naming them.
Thomas is being held on $2 million bail, according to the L.A. County District Attorney's Office. He is likely to stay in custody because he must reveal the origin of any funds used to pay the bail, authorities said.
At a court appearance Tuesday, Thomas pleaded not guilty to two charges of residential burglary, one in January 2006 and another in March 2008. The preliminary court date for Thomas will be set on January 29 and additional charges are expected to be filed, according to CNN affiliates KABC and KTLA.
Police will not comment on Thomas' background. The Los Angeles Times reported that Thomas told police he had been working as an auto broker.
The Hillside Burglars have not struck since Thomas' arrest, police said.
"Hallelujah!" said L.A. Councilman Bill Rosendahl, whose district includes Brentwood and Pacific Palisades. "Even a crafty crook does make his mistake and that's what happened to this one."
Some residents are cautiously optimistic.
"We're delighted," said Robert René, president of Brentwood Homeowners Association, which represents about 800 homes. "We are very fortunate to have the due diligence of the Westside LAPD."
Harvey I. Saferstein, president of the Bel Air Association, agreed, "We are all obviously thankful and relieved."
The financially strapped LAPD created a Hillside Burglars task force. People donated cameras and other equipment and police stepped up patrols. The outlay amounted to "millions of dollars," Rosendahl said.
Neighborhood watch groups formed. One in Bel Air donated $8,000 for infrared cameras that can spot burglars in the dark.
Robert Ringler, president of the Bel Air Beverly Crest Neighborhood Council, hosted a community meeting with the LAPD at the five-star Bel Air Hotel a year and a half ago. As swans swam in ponds in the background, about 150 Westside residents sipped Perrier and vented their fears.
"It had gotten to be such an epidemic," Ringler said.
The impressive mansions -- usually gated and hidden by walls and hedges -- dot the lush hillsides and canyons between the coast and the mountains. The qualities that make them so desirable also make them vulnerable.
The seclusion that appeals to upscale homeowners also appeals to thieves. Because many of the homes are tucked into the sides of mountains and canyons, behind gates, it's easy for a thief to escape unseen and hard for police to get there quickly.
"
|
[
"Who else is in custody?",
"Who feels relief?",
"Who led the gang",
"How many homes did they steal from",
"Who is in custody?"
] |
[
"Troy Corsby Thomas,",
"wealthy residents of Los Angeles, California,",
"Police say Thomas",
"150",
"Troy Corsby Thomas,"
] |
question: Who else is in custody?, answer: Troy Corsby Thomas, | question: Who feels relief?, answer: wealthy residents of Los Angeles, California, | question: Who led the gang, answer: Police say Thomas | question: How many homes did they steal from, answer: 150 | question: Who is in custody?, answer: Troy Corsby Thomas,
|
(CNN) -- For three years, the thieves crept into some of the poshest homes in the most exclusive enclaves in the nation.
The gated community of Bel Air was one of several enclaves targeted by the so-called "Hillside Burglars."
Police said they finally have a break in the case, and wealthy residents of Los Angeles, California, are breathing a sigh of relief.
"These guys were real good," said L.A. City Councilman Jack Weiss, who oversees Bel Air where some of the burglaries were committed. "They were professionals."
The thieves hauled away more than $10 million worth of valuables and cash from 150 homes in upscale neighborhoods such as Bel Air, Pacific Palisades and Beverly Hills, police said.
Homes of Hollywood celebrities, professional athletes and multimillionaires were hit. According to CNN affiliate KABC, country music stars Faith Hill and Tim McGraw and former Paramount Pictures CEO Sherry Lansing were among the victims.
DNA evidence led the LAPD to suspected ringleader Troy Corsby Thomas, 45, of Los Angeles. He was arrested near L.A. International Airport last weekend.
Police say Thomas led a gang dubbed the "Hillside Burglars" that targeted the neighborhoods overlooking Sunset Boulevard.
"It's a very euphoric, satisfying feeling that we got this person," said the police Lt. David McGill. "It's a very frustrating feeling to tell the victims, 'I'm sorry I don't have any news for you.' Finally when we got some good detective work and breaks, things started lining up."
Police are looking for more suspects linked to the three-year spree but are not naming them.
Thomas is being held on $2 million bail, according to the L.A. County District Attorney's Office. He is likely to stay in custody because he must reveal the origin of any funds used to pay the bail, authorities said.
At a court appearance Tuesday, Thomas pleaded not guilty to two charges of residential burglary, one in January 2006 and another in March 2008. The preliminary court date for Thomas will be set on January 29 and additional charges are expected to be filed, according to CNN affiliates KABC and KTLA.
Police will not comment on Thomas' background. The Los Angeles Times reported that Thomas told police he had been working as an auto broker.
The Hillside Burglars have not struck since Thomas' arrest, police said.
"Hallelujah!" said L.A. Councilman Bill Rosendahl, whose district includes Brentwood and Pacific Palisades. "Even a crafty crook does make his mistake and that's what happened to this one."
Some residents are cautiously optimistic.
"We're delighted," said Robert René, president of Brentwood Homeowners Association, which represents about 800 homes. "We are very fortunate to have the due diligence of the Westside LAPD."
Harvey I. Saferstein, president of the Bel Air Association, agreed, "We are all obviously thankful and relieved."
The financially strapped LAPD created a Hillside Burglars task force. People donated cameras and other equipment and police stepped up patrols. The outlay amounted to "millions of dollars," Rosendahl said.
Neighborhood watch groups formed. One in Bel Air donated $8,000 for infrared cameras that can spot burglars in the dark.
Robert Ringler, president of the Bel Air Beverly Crest Neighborhood Council, hosted a community meeting with the LAPD at the five-star Bel Air Hotel a year and a half ago. As swans swam in ponds in the background, about 150 Westside residents sipped Perrier and vented their fears.
"It had gotten to be such an epidemic," Ringler said.
The impressive mansions -- usually gated and hidden by walls and hedges -- dot the lush hillsides and canyons between the coast and the mountains. The qualities that make them so desirable also make them vulnerable.
The seclusion that appeals to upscale homeowners also appeals to thieves. Because many of the homes are tucked into the sides of mountains and canyons, behind gates, it's easy for a thief to escape unseen and hard for police to get there quickly.
"
|
[
"Where is he now?",
"What was Thomas's plea?",
"Who led the gang ?",
"What did the police say?",
"What did Thomas plead to felony burglary charges?"
] |
[
"likely to stay in custody",
"not guilty",
"Troy Corsby Thomas,",
"\"It's a very euphoric, satisfying feeling that we got this person,\"",
"not guilty"
] |
question: Where is he now?, answer: likely to stay in custody | question: What was Thomas's plea?, answer: not guilty | question: Who led the gang ?, answer: Troy Corsby Thomas, | question: What did the police say?, answer: "It's a very euphoric, satisfying feeling that we got this person," | question: What did Thomas plead to felony burglary charges?, answer: not guilty
|
(CNN) -- For two weeks in 1976, Nadia Comaneci was probably the most recognizable person on the planet.
Comaneci scored seven perfect 10s in Montreal in 1976.
Just 14-years-old and standing less than five feet tall, the elfin Romanian was the undisputed star of that year's Games in Montreal after becoming the first gymnast in history to score a perfect 10.
Comaneci finished up with three gold medals and -- just to prove that her initial effort had been no fluke -- seven perfect scores.
Her initial performance on the uneven parallel bars was greeted with uproar as the three-digit scoreboard, struggling to cope with what had been considered an unachievable feat, flashed up 1.00.
Comaneci finished with four perfect 10s and the gold medal on the bars, but it was on the balance beam, one of gymnastics' most dangerous disciplines, that Comaneci truly dazzled.
Seemingly fearless, Comaneci pirouetted and back-flipped her way to two more perfect 10s and her second gold.
Her final perfect score came in the floor routine as she also collected first place in the overall competition.
Comaneci's transformation into an international celebrity -- she appeared on the front covers of Time, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated in the same week -- had been as unexpected as it was sudden.
Yet Comaneci had been working towards the Olympics ever since she had been picked out as a gymnast of rare talents as a six-year-old growing up in the industrial town of Onesti.
The reality of life as an Olympic champion at home in Nicolae Ceausescu's Romania however, was not easy.
Constant surveillance Comaneci was honored as a Hero of Socialist Labor on her return home, yet the regime -- terrified that Comaneci would defect after enjoying her taste of western celebrity -- kept its greatest star under constant surveillance.
Four years later, a very different Comaneci returned to Olympic competition in Moscow. As an 18-year-old, she was four inches taller, 20 pounds heavier and suffering from sciatica -- a teenage starlet already starting to fade.
Still, Comaneci was able to retain her gold medal on the balance beam, and collected another one in the floor exercises.
But she was also involved in one of the bitterest incidents of the Games when she was controversially beaten in the all-round competition by the Soviet gymnast Yelena Davydova.
It took the judges 28 minutes to decide the result and, ultimately, it was a lower score from the Soviet judge -- perhaps reflecting the worsening relations between the Soviet Union and its formerly loyal satellite -- that denied Comaneci her second straight gold in the event.
Comaneci retired in 1984, traveling to Los Angeles that year as a team coach, yet she found it difficult to adjust to a life out of the spotlight.
In 1989, a few weeks before the collapse of the Ceausescu regime, she defected to the United States, finally settling in Norman, Oklahoma to run a gymnastics school after marrying U.S. gymnastics star Bart Conner in 1996.
In 2000 Comaneci was named as one of the athletes of the century by the Laureus World Sports Academy. E-mail to a friend
|
[
"What is the Olympic gymnast record?",
"Who was honored as a Hero?",
"The first gymnast in history to score a perfect 10",
"What was the medal count?",
"What did the gymnast score?",
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"Who scored the first perfect 10?"
] |
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"Nadia Comaneci",
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] |
question: What is the Olympic gymnast record?, answer: perfect 10. | question: Who was honored as a Hero?, answer: Nadia Comaneci | question: The first gymnast in history to score a perfect 10, answer: Nadia Comaneci | question: What was the medal count?, answer: with three gold | question: What did the gymnast score?, answer: seven perfect 10s | question: What is the total of gold medals?, answer: three | question: Who scored the first perfect 10?, answer: Nadia Comaneci
|
(CNN) -- For video game fans, many of the gadgets and accessories designed to support today's games are as unique and imaginative as the games themselves.
From inflatable Wii racing karts to iPad joysticks and plastic assault rifles tailor-made for living room juntas, there's no shortage of weird, wild and occasionally even useful peripherals for handheld and set-top systems alike.
Among the hundreds of available gaming gizmos and add-ons are a coffin-shaped guitar instrument case and blinged-out chrome plating for consoles. They're great to look at, but they won't enhance your gameplay much.
Here are five recent accessories designed to improve your gaming experience:
G155 ($299.99, http://www.projectgaems.com/) -- A portable game room to go, this carrying case unpacks to reveal a built-in 15.5-inch LED HD screen, stereo speakers and dual 3.5mm headphone jacks that let you annihilate friends or save the universe anywhere you travel.
Pop an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 Slim in, hook up the HDMI cable, and assuming you don't mind a little heavy lifting, voila. You can spend family vacations with your head happily buried in "WWE All Stars" or "Killzone 3."
Arcade FightStick Tournament Edition ($159.99, www.madcatz.com) -- Pricey, but infinitely cheaper than springing for an arcade machine, this PS3 and Xbox 360 joystick controller and eight-button pad delivers authentic coin-operated control and precision.
Designed for use with popular fighting games such as "Marvel vs. Capcom 3," it lets you plug in its 13-foot USB connector cable to enjoy customizable button mappings, turbo functionality and that classic quarter-munching feel.
Charge Base for 3DS ($29.99, www.nyko.com) -- Given the Nintendo 3DS handheld 3-D gaming system's anemic 3- to 4- hour battery life, this useful combo charging dock and capacity-boosting rechargeable battery comes in especially handy by offering double the juice.
It's not the most convenient accessory to carry around. But if you're planning on marathon play sessions, it can keep you happily splattering aliens or downing submarines twice as long as usual.
PlayStation Move SharpShooter ($39.99) -- This plastic attachment lets you turn your PlayStation Move motion controller into a full-fledged rifle, theoretically providing greater accuracy and atmosphere in shooter games like the suddenly timely "SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs."
Go ahead -- screw up your face and do your best "Terminator" impression. There's no denying the temptation to want to place your fingers on its pump-action grip.
Harley Davidson: Road Trip with Accessory Bar ($29.99, www.eagl3.com) -- Of all the goofy gewgaws (e.g. plastic sword, shield, fishing rod, machine gun and jet-ski inserts) offered for Wii and PlayStation 3, we're partial to these motorcycle handlebars from InterWorks Unlimited, Inc.
Crank up "Born to Be Wild," twist the Wii remote to rev up, and you too can join the ranks of balding middle managers who spend their Sundays hitting the road on their virtual hog -- while reclining in a well-worn La-Z-Boy.
|
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"What will extend the life of Nintendo's 3DS device?",
"What will extend life of Nintendo's 3DS device?",
"What will the cool accessories enhance?",
"What does the G155 portable game room pack?",
"What are the number of suggestions for cool accessories?",
"What is the name of the portable game room?",
"name of portable game room pack",
"what is nintendo"
] |
[
"A portable game room to go,",
"Charge Base for",
"charging dock and capacity-boosting rechargeable battery",
"your gaming experience:",
"a built-in 15.5-inch LED HD screen, stereo speakers and dual 3.5mm headphone jacks",
"five",
"G155",
"G155",
"handheld 3-D gaming system's"
] |
question: what g155 mean, answer: A portable game room to go, | question: What will extend the life of Nintendo's 3DS device?, answer: Charge Base for | question: What will extend life of Nintendo's 3DS device?, answer: charging dock and capacity-boosting rechargeable battery | question: What will the cool accessories enhance?, answer: your gaming experience: | question: What does the G155 portable game room pack?, answer: a built-in 15.5-inch LED HD screen, stereo speakers and dual 3.5mm headphone jacks | question: What are the number of suggestions for cool accessories?, answer: five | question: What is the name of the portable game room?, answer: G155 | question: name of portable game room pack, answer: G155 | question: what is nintendo, answer: handheld 3-D gaming system's
|
(CNN) -- For years after his NFL career ended, Ted Johnson could barely muster the energy to leave his house.
In healthy brain tissue, virtually no protein tangles, which show up as brown spots, are visible.
"I'd [leave to] go see my kids for maybe 15 minutes," said Johnson. "Then I would go back home and close the curtains, turn the lights off and I'd stay in bed. That was my routine for two years.
"Those were bad days."
These days, the former linebacker is less likely to recount the hundreds of tackles, scores of quarterback sacks or the three Super Bowl rings he earned as a linebacker for the New England Patriots. He is more likely to talk about suffering more than 100 concussions.
"I can definitely point to 2002 when I got back-to-back concussions. That's where the problems started," said Johnson, who retired after those two concussions. "The depression, the sleep disorders and the mental fatigue."
Until recently, the best medical definition for concussion was a jarring blow to the head that temporarily stunned the senses, occasionally leading to unconsciousness. It has been considered an invisible injury, impossible to test -- no MRI, no CT scan can detect it. Watch more on what goes on in athlete's brains »
But today, using tissue from retired NFL athletes culled posthumously, the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy (CSTE), at the Boston University School of Medicine, is shedding light on what concussions look like in the brain. The findings are stunning. Far from innocuous, invisible injuries, concussions confer tremendous brain damage. That damage has a name: chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
On Tuesday afternoon, researchers at the CSTE released a study about the sixth documented case of CTE in former NFL player Tom McHale, who died in 2008 at the age of 45, and the youngest case to date, an 18-year-old multi-sport athlete who suffered multiple concussions.
While CTE in an ex-NFL player's brain may have been expected, the beginnings of brain damage in an 18-year-old brain was a "shocking" finding, according to Dr. Ann McKee, a neuropathologist at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Bedford, Massachusetts, and co-director of the CSTE.
"We think this is how chronic traumatic encephalopathy starts," said McKee. "This is speculation, but I think we can assume that this would have continued to expand."
CTE has thus far been found in the brains of six out of six former NFL players.
"What's been surprising is that it's so extensive," said McKee. "It's throughout the brain, not just on the superficial aspects of the brain, but it's deep inside."
CSTE studies reveal brown tangles flecked throughout the brain tissue of former NFL players who died young -- some as early as their 30s or 40s.
McKee, who also studies Alzheimer's disease, says the tangles closely resemble what might be found in the brain of an 80-year-old with dementia.
"I knew what traumatic brain disease looked like in the very end stages, in the most severe cases," said McKee. "To see the kind of changes we're seeing in 45-year-olds is basically unheard of."
The damage affects the parts of the brain that control emotion, rage, hypersexuality, even breathing, and recent studies find that CTE is a progressive disease that eventually kills brain cells.
Chris Nowinski knows well the impact of concussions. He was a football star at Harvard before wrestling professionally with World Wrestling Entertainment.
In one moment, his dreams of a long career wrestling were dashed by a kick to his chin. That kick, which caused Nowinski to black out and effectively ended his career, capped a career riddled with concussions.
"My world changed," said Nowinski. "I had depression. I had memory problems. My head hurt for five years."
Nowinski began searching for studies, and what
|
[
"How many dead NFL players have now been found to have brain damage?",
"Who else had that kind of brain damage?",
"What did the researchers find in the athlete?",
"What is damage from repeated concussions called?",
"What did researchers find in the 18-year-old athlete?"
] |
[
"six",
"Tom McHale,",
"chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).",
"chronic traumatic encephalopathy",
"brain damage"
] |
question: How many dead NFL players have now been found to have brain damage?, answer: six | question: Who else had that kind of brain damage?, answer: Tom McHale, | question: What did the researchers find in the athlete?, answer: chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). | question: What is damage from repeated concussions called?, answer: chronic traumatic encephalopathy | question: What did researchers find in the 18-year-old athlete?, answer: brain damage
|
(CNN) -- For years, Alfonso Torress-Cook followed the rules in his quest to eliminate hospital-acquired infections. Patients at his hospital received large doses of antibiotics and were scrubbed down with alcohol-based soaps, as he and his colleagues aimed to kill every bacterium possible. Search and destroy was the mantra.
By upending conventional wisdom, Alfonso Torress-Cook was able to slash hospital-acquired infection rates.
Still, patients became sick with bacterial infections after checking in. Some died.
"I never saw anything change. I saw things getting worse," Torress-Cook said.
Torress-Cook eventually joined Pacific Hospital of Long Beach, in California, where as director of epidemiology and patient safety, he changed the rules and slashed the number of patients who become infected.
Torress-Cook is part of a growing movement in medicine that no longer accepts hospital-acquired infections as inevitable complications. Every year, such infections sicken 1.7 million and kill 99,000 people in the United States.
At Pacific Hospital, Torress-Cook doesn't go after all bacteria, just the dangerous ones.
The staff members at the 184-bed hospital use antibiotics sparingly, feed patients yogurt to replenish healthy bacteria in the gut and bathe patients daily, using a soap that maintains the natural pH of the patient's skin, killing only bacteria that don't belong there. Meet some of the people fighting hospital-acquired infections »
Torress-Cook is also obsessive about hygiene: Nurses clean under patients' fingernails and brush their teeth daily. He also enlisted the hospital's cleaning crew as part of the infection-fighting team. Rooms receive a thorough cleaning every day -- more than simply emptying the trash and mopping the floor, he says.
Under Torress-Cook, Pacific Hospital's infection rate for the so-called superbug MRSA is down to 0.01 per 1,000 discharges, 430 times better than the national average.
Approximately one out of every 22 patients who checks into a U.S. hospital acquires a bacterial infection, adding more than $28 billion to health care costs, according to a 2009 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But there are signs of improvement. Pennsylvania, which requires the most extensive reporting of hospital-acquired infections, saw the annual rate for all infections drop 8 percent, according to the most recent figures available from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council.
And there are other signs of progress. The development and use of a simple checklist for a common procedure that threads a so-called central line to supply medicine directly to the bloodstream has been extraordinarily effective.
The checklist made central line infections almost nonexistent at the 108 intensive care units in Michigan that adopted it. More than 1,700 lives -- and $246 million -- were saved in the first three years the checklist was adopted, according to the state hospital association.
The checklist is now being adopted in all 50 states and three countries: the United Kingdom, Spain and Peru, says checklist designer Dr. Peter Pronovost, from Johns Hopkins University and Hospitals.
At hospitals large and small, raising the head of the bed for patients on ventilators, brushing patients' teeth and taking other precautions have dramatically reduced ventilator-associated pneumonia, another common and costly infection.
Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, has used these techniques to cut its ventilator-associated pneumonia rate by more than half, to 2.7 cases per 1,000 ventilator days.
"Our goal is zero," says Michelle Farber, a registered nurse who is Mercy's senior infection preventionist.
Simply requiring hospitals to report their infections has forced them to be more accountable to their patients, says Lisa McGiffert, who heads Consumers Union's Stop Hospital Infections campaign, which among other things has pushed for more transparency.
Twenty-six states now have laws requiring hospitals to report rates for urinary tract and other infections.
Paul Levy, CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, is a big fan of publishing infection rates. He puts the hospital's rates on its Web site and on his blog. Simply putting the spotlight on hospital
|
[
"What amount of patients dies from hospital-acquired infections?",
"The infections add how much to annual costs?",
"what kills 99,000 in US annually",
"What amount do hospital-acquired infections add to health care annually?"
] |
[
"99,000",
"more than $28 billion",
"hospital-acquired infections",
"more than $28 billion"
] |
question: What amount of patients dies from hospital-acquired infections?, answer: 99,000 | question: The infections add how much to annual costs?, answer: more than $28 billion | question: what kills 99,000 in US annually, answer: hospital-acquired infections | question: What amount do hospital-acquired infections add to health care annually?, answer: more than $28 billion
|
(CNN) -- For years, all Hannah Pool knew was that her biological parents had died shortly after her birth.
An Eritrean-born girl adopted as an infant by a British academic, Pool found herself spending her first years in Norway before landing in the UK at the age of seven.
At times, she remembers, growing up in the northwest English city of Manchester as a Norwegian-speaking black girl with a white father was a source of confusion for people around her.
"When I was walking down the street holding my dad's hand, people would sometimes check that he wasn't sort of taking me, that he wasn't kidnapping me," says Pool, who today is a writer and journalist in the UK.
"There were lots of incidents like that which actually are just part of my upbringing, part of my DNA almost -- I'm used to having to explain myself, explain what I'm doing in the room, explain my relationship, whether it's with my dad or my brother or my sister," she adds.
But a few years later, Pool's already unconventional life took an even more astonishing twist.
Almost two decades after she left the Eritrean orphanage where she was adopted, Pool received a letter from the east African country informing her that her father was alive and well, living back home with her brothers and sister.
The news left the then 19-year-old Pool reeling.
"It was a complete shock," she recalls. "And it wasn't a creeping thing like 'maybe you have a cousin' or 'maybe you have an aunt' -- it was like BAM! 'you have a father,' BAM! 'here are your brothers and here's your sister,'" she says.
"My head went into a spin, I didn't know what to do or how I was supposed to respond to this -- was I supposed to get on a plane and go to Eritrea, was I supposed to go back to all the people who I told my story to and tell them 'actually that story is not right, this story is right' and the whole sense of the story of me was just pulled from beneath me like a rug."
Shocked by the revelation, Pool initially decided to ignore it and continue her university studies in Physiology.
But the thought she had a large family living in Eritrea was always with her "as a kind of an itch." So about 10 years later Pool felt that she had to get on a plane and travel to her birthplace.
Meeting her father and the rest of her family for the first time face-to-face was "incredibly emotional," says Pool. At the same time however, it was completely different to what she had expected.
"It was almost like an outer-body experience -- I watched myself go in the room, I was quite detached, I was surprised."
"The thing that hit me the most was the language and I hadn't prepared for that -- I had prepared for this beautiful reunion where everybody looked the same as me and we all kind of connect immediately.
"And it wasn't like that and the main barrier at the time was the language."
Pool quickly understood that her European upbringing was marking her as different in her birthplace, in a similar way that her Eritrean background was singling her out in the UK.
"I thought I'm going to feel at home with everyone and initially that's how I felt -- I stepped off the plane and thought 'wow, I'm at home, this is where I belong,' but I realized very quickly that actually I do stand out from everyone."
Since then, Pool has visited Eritrea three times. She describes her relationship with her family there as a "work in progress" and has started learning Tigrinya -- the local language -- in order to help her have a "normal family relationship."
A talented writer, Pool documented her journey to trace her family in a book entitled "
|
[
"Where grew Hanna Pool?",
"Where did Pool grow up?",
"Who was adopted in Eritrea?",
"where Hannah Pool was adopted as an infant from an orphanage in Eritrea and grew up in England",
"When did Pool find out her father was alive?",
"What he learned at age 19?"
] |
[
"English city of Manchester",
"northwest English city of Manchester",
"Hannah Pool",
"Norway",
"Almost two decades after she left the Eritrean orphanage",
"her father was alive and well, living back home with her brothers and sister."
] |
question: Where grew Hanna Pool?, answer: English city of Manchester | question: Where did Pool grow up?, answer: northwest English city of Manchester | question: Who was adopted in Eritrea?, answer: Hannah Pool | question: where Hannah Pool was adopted as an infant from an orphanage in Eritrea and grew up in England, answer: Norway | question: When did Pool find out her father was alive?, answer: Almost two decades after she left the Eritrean orphanage | question: What he learned at age 19?, answer: her father was alive and well, living back home with her brothers and sister.
|
(CNN) -- Forbes' list of the world's wealthy has named Warren Buffett the richest person on the planet, surpassing his friend and philanthropic partner Bill Gates who had held the title for 13 consecutive years.
American investor Warren Buffett has been named world's richest person.
The American investor and philanthropist is worth an estimated $62 billion, up $10 billion from a year ago thanks to surging prices of Berkshire Hathaway stock, according to Forbes magazine's annual ranking of the world's billionaires.
Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, is now ranked as the world's third richest person. At $58 billion, his net worth is up $2 billion from a year ago. Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos Slim Helu was named the world's second richest man, with a net worth of around $60 billion, up $11 billion since last March.
For the first time, Forbes' rich list named more than 1,000 billionaires from around the world, with 226 newcomers. The total net worth of the group is $4.4 trillion, up $900 billion from 2007. Watch who's up and who's down »
This year's survey finds an increasing number of the world's richest coming from emerging markets, including China, India and Russia.
Two years ago, 10 of the top 20 billionaires were from the United States. This year, there are only four. India is now home to four of the 10 richest people in the world, the highest number for a single country.
But the United States still holds the top spot as the country with the most billionaires -- Americans account for 42 percent of the world's billionaires and 37 percent of the total wealth, according to Forbes.
With 87 billionaires, Russia is now in second place, overtaking Germany, with 59 billionaires, which had held that position for six years.
It is also a record-breaking year for young billionaires, with Forbes listing 50 billionaires under the age of 40. Check out the youngest billionaires »
Over half of them are self-starters, including Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, and India's Sameer Gehlaut, who started online brokerage Indiabulls. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, age 23, was called "quite possibly the world's youngest self-made billionaire ever." E-mail to a friend
|
[
"What number of billionaires does Russia have?",
"Which country has 87 billionaires?",
"Forbes crowns who as the world's richest person?",
"Who is crowned world's richest person?",
"Who did Forbes crown as the world's richest person?",
"What country replaces Germany as No. 2 country with 87 billionaires?",
"What rank does Bill Gates have?",
"Who is the youngest self-made billionaire in history?",
"Who is the youngest self-made billionaire?"
] |
[
"87",
"Russia",
"Warren Buffett",
"Warren Buffett",
"Warren Buffett",
"Russia",
"world's third richest person.",
"Mark Zuckerberg,",
"Mark Zuckerberg,"
] |
question: What number of billionaires does Russia have?, answer: 87 | question: Which country has 87 billionaires?, answer: Russia | question: Forbes crowns who as the world's richest person?, answer: Warren Buffett | question: Who is crowned world's richest person?, answer: Warren Buffett | question: Who did Forbes crown as the world's richest person?, answer: Warren Buffett | question: What country replaces Germany as No. 2 country with 87 billionaires?, answer: Russia | question: What rank does Bill Gates have?, answer: world's third richest person. | question: Who is the youngest self-made billionaire in history?, answer: Mark Zuckerberg, | question: Who is the youngest self-made billionaire?, answer: Mark Zuckerberg,
|
(CNN) -- Ford is the only major U.S. carmaker that is getting by without U.S. taxpayer money.
Mark Fields of Ford says consumer confidence is key to getting the auto industry back on track.
GM and Chrysler, on the other hand, have been told the Obama administration they will receive operating funds for several weeks in return for undergoing significant restructuring.
Mark Fields, executive vice president of Ford, spoke to CNN's Kiran Chetry Tuesday on "American Morning" about the company's plans and whether it will be able to continue without financial aid from the government.
Kiran Chetry: So, Mark, your company is the one that's gotten by without federal money. Will you be able to continue that?
Mark Fields: Well, our position hasn't changed. We're in a different position than some of our competitors, and we're not seeking emergency taxpayer assistance.
Chetry: Right, but I'm saying in the future, how are you guys guaranteeing that you won't need to go to the federal government like your two competitors have and ask for some help?
Fields: Well, we're going to continue executing our plan, which really involves decisive actions around transforming the business, but also bringing great high-quality, fuel-efficient vehicles into the marketplace. And we've been working this plan over the last three years, and we've been making progress.
Clearly it's a tough time in the economy, but we are really focused on bringing these great cars and trucks to customers, getting our cost structure right. We've come to new agreements with our UAW partners. We're working through reducing our debt. So we're going to continue working through that, and we don't expect to take taxpayer assistance from the emergency funds. Watch Fields discuss Ford's future »
Chetry: You say it's been tough times, and certainly for you guys, it has -- 2008 the worst annual loss in Ford's 105-year history. You guys can restructure. You can work out new deals with the unions. But in the end, if people aren't buying cars or they can't get credit, how do you remain viable?
Fields: Well, consumer confidence is the biggest issue in the marketplace right now. The good news is, our new cars and trucks that are coming into the marketplace are being well-received. Our retail market share has been up three of the last four months. We expect the month of March our retail share to be up again.
But getting that consumer confidence is really important. And that's why today we're announcing our Ford advantage plan, and it's for any customer who buys a Ford, Lincoln or Mercury product, when they come into the showroom and buy their product, if that customer loses their position, we will pay their car payments up to 12 months while they're unemployed, to give them that peace of mind.
Post your comments on AMfix
Chetry: You're also offering some zero percent financing. I'm sure that you're trying to do that as well because of the frozen credit in a lot of instances. I want to get your take on this, though.
President Obama announced yesterday he's giving ... Chrysler a month, basically, to submit a reorganization plan that the administration finds acceptable. The Obama administration also of course forced General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner out. Was that the right move, in your opinion?
Fields: Well, what we are supportive of is that the president is committed to a vibrant U.S. auto industry. As we mentioned, Ford is in a different position. We're not asking for the emergency taxpayer assistance. But what we are focusing on is taking decisive action to streamline our business, but more importantly win new customers with the great set of products we're going -- we're coming out with over the next couple of months.
Chetry: You know, there is some unprecedented government intervention going on right now in the U.S. auto industry at your competitors. They're getting billions of dollars in taxpayer money. They're
|
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"Who says that the company has been restructuring over the last three years?",
"Who says the retail market share has increased?",
"Who says they are in a different position to their competitors?",
"How many years has Ford been restructuring ?",
"What is the biggest issue in the marketplace?",
"What does Field say is the biggest issue in the marketplace?W",
"What has retail market shares done in last few months?",
"Who says they're in a different position to competitors?",
"What is the biggest issue in marketplace?"
] |
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"Mark Fields,",
"Mark Fields:",
"Mark Fields:",
"three",
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question: Who says that the company has been restructuring over the last three years?, answer: Mark Fields, | question: Who says the retail market share has increased?, answer: Mark Fields: | question: Who says they are in a different position to their competitors?, answer: Mark Fields: | question: How many years has Ford been restructuring ?, answer: three | question: What is the biggest issue in the marketplace?, answer: consumer confidence | question: What does Field say is the biggest issue in the marketplace?W, answer: consumer confidence | question: What has retail market shares done in last few months?, answer: up | question: Who says they're in a different position to competitors?, answer: Mark Fields: | question: What is the biggest issue in marketplace?, answer: consumer confidence
|
(CNN) -- Foreign governments should urgently accept Haitian orphans on humanitarian grounds following this week's devastating earthquake, an orphanage director in Haiti and adoptive parents said Friday.
Emergency visas and passports could help push through adoptions that were stalled after the quake, and would open up beds for children who lost their parents in the disaster, said Dixie Bickel, director of God's Littlest Angels orphanage just outside Port-au-Prince.
Paperwork for adoptions that were under way when the earthquake hit Tuesday night may now be buried in the rubble of collapsed buildings and lost, said Bickel, whose orphanage cares for 152 children, including 84 babies.
The government officials who deal with adoption cases may be missing, hurt, or otherwise focused on the disaster, which means the adoptions won't go through, she said.
"I would like to see the international community come up with a plan for the children that have been adopted by European, Canadian, and American citizens of how these children can go to their adoptive parents' countries, either under refugee status or emergency status of some sort," Bickel told CNN.
God's Littlest Angels is considered one of Haiti's larger orphanages. Parents who have adopted children through the orphanage are also pressing their governments for emergency action.
"The orphans need to be granted refugee status and allowed to come home to their adoptive parents," said Allison Garwood of Los Angeles, California, who adopted a boy from GLA and brought him home last year. "The U.S. needs to not only allow but demand that children be sent to their adoptive families right away."
British citizen Chris Skelton, who arrived in Haiti hours before the earthquake hit to sign paperwork as part of the adoption process, wrote a public letter urging foreign help.
"I cannot express the sheer magnitude of the plight that the children of this country have faced, one which will now spiral downwards further with devastating results," Skelton wrote in the letter. "The situation is dire -- there will be many more children in need of help, and GLA and other orphanages cannot cope with the increased need."
The foreign ministries of Britain, Belgium, and France said they could not immediately respond, but Luxembourg's Foreign Ministry said it was aware of the issue.
"The Luxembourg authorities are informed of the situation of Miss Bickel and the children at the orphanage God's Littlest Angels, and our authorities are in touch with the Red Cross and the local authorities to solve the issue," spokesman Robert Steinmetz told CNN.
Bickel said her request is only for those children who have been adopted but who are still in Haiti as their cases go through a lengthy government approval process which can take anywhere from six months to two years.
The children's paperwork may have been in the pipeline but after the quake, the status is now unclear, Bickel said.
"Some of my papers were in the Palace of Justice -- that building is no longer there," she said. "Some of my paperwork was in the Ministry of the Interior -- I don't know if that building is there. I had passports being printed (for the children). I don't know if the paperwork is still there."
Bickel said her lawyer told her the country's top adoptions official, Judge Rock Cadet, was killed when the courthouse collapsed.
As long as the adopted children can make it out of the country, Bickel said, the orphanage can ensure the children's paperwork is completed in Haiti. If the children can't leave the country, it will mean orphanages like Bickel's must turn away any children newly orphaned by the earthquake, she said.
"It leaves me with children in my care who are going to sit here for an additional five, six months at least," she said.
"It's going to prevent me from taking in any children that were affected by this disaster. My beds are full. I can't take any children in, not unless I put them on the floor or I put two or three children to a bed
|
[
"What is in process for many adoptions?",
"who is being adopted",
"Orphanage head urges governments to do what?"
] |
[
"cases go through a lengthy government approval",
"Haitian orphans",
"should urgently accept Haitian orphans on humanitarian grounds"
] |
question: What is in process for many adoptions?, answer: cases go through a lengthy government approval | question: who is being adopted, answer: Haitian orphans | question: Orphanage head urges governments to do what?, answer: should urgently accept Haitian orphans on humanitarian grounds
|
(CNN) -- Foreign ministry officials in Mali said Saturday three people from other countries were kidnapped Friday, while a fellow foreigner who was killed was probably German.
The incidents in northern Mali are the latest in a series targeting Westerners in recent days, with France confirming Thursday that one person had been killed and five kidnapped elsewhere in the West African nation.
Friday's abductions and killing occurred in the northern Timbuktu province of Mali.
A spokesman at the German Foreign Office told CNN there was "a high probability" that the foreigner killed was a German citizen.
"No further German has been involved in the abductions," the spokesman said.
Ward Bezemer, a spokesman at the Dutch Foreign Ministry, confirmed that one Dutchman had been kidnapped.
And Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt confirmed via Twitter that a Swede was among those seized. "Entire region becoming even more dangerous," he posted.
Media reports suggest the third person kidnapped Friday is a South African who lives in the UK.
A British Foreign Office spokeswoman told CNN: "We are aware of the reports and we are urgently looking into them to establish the facts."
The British Foreign Office advices against all travel to northern Mali, which encompasses part of the Sahel region that lies south of the Sahara desert.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton condemned the kidnappings in a statement Saturday.
"I was appalled to learn of the death of one person yesterday," she said. "I offer my deep condolences to the family and friends of the victim and my solidarity with all the hostages currently being held in the Sahel.
"I call on the Malian authorities to do their utmost to ensure that the hostages are quickly and safely released. Malian commitment to fight the scourge of terrorism is key to security and prosperity in the Sahel region."
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe told French television Thursday that two French citizens were among those kidnapped in the town of Hombori in central Mali.
CNN's Saskya Vandoorne contributed to this report.
|
[
"Who has been killed?",
"Who were confirmed kidnapped?",
"From where people are kidnapped?",
"Where was the person killed?",
"Who were kidnapped?",
"How many French citizens are kidnapped?"
] |
[
"a German citizen.",
"three people from other countries",
"other countries",
"Mali",
"three people from other countries",
"two"
] |
question: Who has been killed?, answer: a German citizen. | question: Who were confirmed kidnapped?, answer: three people from other countries | question: From where people are kidnapped?, answer: other countries | question: Where was the person killed?, answer: Mali | question: Who were kidnapped?, answer: three people from other countries | question: How many French citizens are kidnapped?, answer: two
|
(CNN) -- Forests in the Pacific Northwest are dying twice as fast as they were 17 years ago, and scientists blame warming temperatures for the trend, according to a new study.
This photo of Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado shows dying pines and firs among healthy trees.
The study, to be released Friday in the journal Science, is the first large-scale analysis of environmental changes as contributing factors in the mortality of coniferous forests.
The data for this research was gathered by generations of scientists over a 50-year period at multiple sites in Oregon, Washington, California, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and southwestern British Columbia. Seventy-six forest plots, all more than 200 years old, were monitored by scientists doing some of the most rudimentary research -- counting trees.
"It's not a happy story, but, an important one," said Phillip van Mantgem, a research ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey and the lead author of the study. "These are beautiful places. They do change and respond to their environment, sometimes quickly."
"If in your hometown where you live, the death rates of your friends and neighbors doubled and there are no compensating birth rates, wouldn't you want to figure out what's going on?" said Nathan Stephenson, research ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey and one of the authors of the report.
The study primarily focused on three types of coniferous trees: pines, firs and hemlocks. Older-growth forests -- some up to 500 years old -- have trees of all ages, and researchers found that mortality rates have increased for all age groups. Since mortality rates went up across the board, scientists ruled out a number of other possible causes, including ozone-related air pollution, long-term effects of fire suppression and normal forest dynamics.
In the end, California had the highest tree death rate. Of the three types of coniferous trees studied, pines were found to be dying at the fastest rate. Ultimately, higher tree mortality may lead to significant shifts in forest structure and function, the report states.
"Much of the world's population in North America, Europe, most of China and large portions of Russia live near temperate forests, so what happens in these forests has global importance," said Jerry Franklin, a professor of forest resources at the University of Washington whose work was instrumental in maintaining the research plots.
"My guess is that forest loss has the potential to greatly exceed forest establishment," he added.
The new findings concern scientists who see the study as further confirmation of the harmful effects of climate change on ecosystems.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a scientific intergovernmental body, concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are now at their highest levels for at least 650,000 years. Scientists on the panel say the increase began with the birth of the Industrial Revolution 250 years ago.
The new research also suggests that as trees die, they actually emit more carbon than they absorb. Trees are key players in regulating climate because they convert carbon dioxide, which they store in their trunks and roots, to oxygen. Changes in climatic conditions or various diseases can cause the gradual dying of plant shoots.
"The concern here is that these might be early warning signs of dieback," said Stephenson.
Some scientists say that tree species unable to tolerate warmer conditions might just re-establish themselves in cooler areas. Given the speed at which warming appears to be occurring, it's not clear whether tree species will be able to migrate fast enough to survive, said van Mantgem of the U.S. Geological Survey.
"Warmer temperatures cause earlier summer droughts, less snow pack, and cause ideal breeding grounds for invasive species and pathogens," he added.
"One hypothesis is that warmer climates can make it easier for invasive species to reproduce and grow in these temperate forests. If the trees are already under a lot of environmental stress, they are more prone to serious insect attack," he said.
Scientists say forests in the Western U.S. have been increasingly damaged in recent years
|
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"What do scientists blame for the trend?",
"who is conducting study?",
"What do scientists blame?",
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"on which site data is gathered?"
] |
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"warming temperatures",
"journal Science,",
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"Pacific Northwest",
"multiple sites in Oregon, Washington, California, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and southwestern British Columbia.",
"50-year",
"in Oregon, Washington, California, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and southwestern British Columbia."
] |
question: What does the study confirm?, answer: harmful effects of climate change on ecosystems. | question: What do scientists blame for the trend?, answer: warming temperatures | question: who is conducting study?, answer: journal Science, | question: What do scientists blame?, answer: warming temperatures | question: Where are the forests?, answer: Pacific Northwest | question: Where was the data for the study gathered?, answer: multiple sites in Oregon, Washington, California, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and southwestern British Columbia. | question: Over what time period was the data gathered?, answer: 50-year | question: on which site data is gathered?, answer: in Oregon, Washington, California, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and southwestern British Columbia.
|
(CNN) -- Forget Hollywood special effects or Impressionist paintings -- some of the most stunning images are created by the mysterious and often violent forces in the universe.
The Butterfly Nebula is about 3,800 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius.
Witness the handful of new snapshots taken by the Hubble Space Telescope, which was equipped with a new imaging camera during a space shuttle servicing mission in May.
It's back in business and there's lots to ooh and aah over.
"Let there be no doubt, this is truly Hubble's new beginning," said Ed Weiler, NASA's associate administrator, during a news conference Wednesday.
Take the image on the left of planetary nebula NGC 6302, also known as the Bug Nebula or the Butterfly Nebula.
Its "wings" are made of gas heated to more than 36,000 degrees Fahrenheit and there is a dying star at its center.
"The gas is tearing across space at more than 600,000 miles an hour -- fast enough to travel from Earth to the moon in 24 minutes," NASA's Web site says.
The "butterfly" is more than 2 light-years across.
NASA took advantage of the special filters on Hubble's camera to isolate the light of different elements, said Bob O'Connell, chair of the science oversight committee for Wide Field Camera 3.
The red in the image is nitrogen gas, for example, and the blue is oxygen. See some of the previous amazing images taken by Hubble
Colors are also prominent in the image of globular star cluster Omega Centauri, which contains almost 10 million stars, but the color contrast here is real. The gold dots are stars like our sun, but the blue ones are extremely hot, while the red ones are cool, O'Connell said.
"Just by looking at the color of the stars in the picture, you can sort them by temperature and evolutionary state because the temperature differences here are caused by differences in the internal structure of these stars and in the kinds of fuels they're burning deep inside of them," O'Connell said.
Another image shows Stephan's Quintet, a group of five galaxies -- some of which are 290 million light-years away in the constellation Pegasus. Over time, those galaxies will eventually merge into a single big galaxy, O'Connell said.
Finally, images of a stellar nursery as seen in visible and infrared light reveal the secrets inside the Carina Nebula, located 7,500 light-years away.
"This is a cloud of dense material which is being bombarded by intense radiation from surrounding stars," O'Connell said.
"But dissolve to infrared and the cloud disappears. ... An energetic infant star is being formed inside this cloud."
Hubble is expected to continue its mission for at least five more years.
|
[
"When did the hubble get a new imaging camera?",
"What the name s the star cluster with millions of colorful stars?",
"What is more than 2 ligth-years across?",
"What is the telescope equipped with",
"What does star cluster Omega Centauri contain?",
"what do snapshots show",
"What was equipped to the Hubble Space Telescope?",
"What is the size of Butterfly Nebula?"
] |
[
"May.",
"Omega Centauri,",
"The \"butterfly\"",
"a new imaging camera",
"almost 10 million",
"The Butterfly Nebula",
"a new imaging camera",
"more than 2 light-years across."
] |
question: When did the hubble get a new imaging camera?, answer: May. | question: What the name s the star cluster with millions of colorful stars?, answer: Omega Centauri, | question: What is more than 2 ligth-years across?, answer: The "butterfly" | question: What is the telescope equipped with, answer: a new imaging camera | question: What does star cluster Omega Centauri contain?, answer: almost 10 million | question: what do snapshots show, answer: The Butterfly Nebula | question: What was equipped to the Hubble Space Telescope?, answer: a new imaging camera | question: What is the size of Butterfly Nebula?, answer: more than 2 light-years across.
|
(CNN) -- Forget almost everything you ever thought you knew about the moon.
NASA's latest missions indicate the moon is much more than a dead, unchanging satellite orbiting Earth. It's a dynamic environment, with changes occurring by the day and week, not over millions of years.
The space agency says the missions are rewriting lunar science text books and revolutionizing what scientists know about Earth's closest neighbor.
An announcement in November probably rivaled Neil Armstrong's first steps on the surface more than 40 years earlier: There's water on the moon.
The Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or L-CROSS, and its companion spacecraft crashed into a crater at the moon's south pole in October and discovered water in a very dark and very cold place. L-CROSS researchers said about 25 gallons of water were detected in the crater, which measured about 60 feet wide by a few feet deep.
Michael Wargo, NASA'S chief lunar scientist on the L-CROSS mission, said the probes detected more than water in the crater, but researchers are still trying to understand what the other stuff is.
"We're opening new chapters. And in fact, because some of this information is so new and it's so different from the way we use to think about the moon, there are chapters that are blank right now," he said. You know that they're going to written, but we don't even know the questions yet that are going to be engendered from this new information."
Wargo describes the lunar data as a treasure trove. The moon "is like the dusty attic of the solar system, in that things get collected there and they give you insight, not just into the moon, but the evolution of the solar system."
Earthbound explorations, such as Lewis and Clark's historic journey to the Pacific Ocean in the early 19th century, carry critically necessary items, but they have no need to haul wood or water. That's not so for manned space flight. Those missions will have to carry all the supplies necessary for survival unless they can manufacture some of them either in flight or on a planet's surface.
The presence of water and other compounds on the moon means there are potential resources that could sustain future exploration of the moon and beyond.
NASA is also mapping the moon's surface in unprecedented detail, eventually creating the first moon atlas. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which launched last summer, is the robotic scout that is providing the data. LRO is on a mission that could last several years -- orbiting the moon and gathering crucial data that will help astronauts prepare for another visit.
Wargo said LRO is carrying high-resolution cameras, which have now mapped about 50 areas on the moon, including the Apollo mission landing sites.
"We have cameras on board that have been able to image where the Apollo spacecraft landed, and you can literally see where they put down their scientific packages, where the astronauts walked on the moon," according to Wargo.
The LRO discovered it's extremely cold in the permanently shadowed polar craters, where temperatures dip more than 400 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, or 249 degrees below zero Celsius. That's not far from absolute zero, defined by international agreement as 273.15 degrees below zero Celsius and a temperature that cannot be physically reached. These are the coldest temperatures ever recorded in the solar system.
The LRO is also measuring space radiation on the moon. Astronauts will need protection from this radiation during expeditions to the moon and other destinations.
All this information is critical if humans are to make it back to the moon by 2020, the the target date set by the Bush administration in 2004. But it's more than that. Wargo sum it up this way:
"We used to think of the moon as this really dead and unchanging place, that the moon was a dead planet. ... There are changes that occur there not over the course of thousands or millions or even billions of years, but are changing over the course of days and weeks and months. That's
|
[
"What could the discovery of water boost?",
"What is the lunar orbiter taking pictures of?",
"What does the space agency say?",
"What could the discovery of water in a lunar crater do?"
] |
[
"sustain future exploration of the moon and beyond.",
"the moon's surface",
"scientists know about Earth's closest neighbor.",
"sustain future exploration of the moon and beyond."
] |
question: What could the discovery of water boost?, answer: sustain future exploration of the moon and beyond. | question: What is the lunar orbiter taking pictures of?, answer: the moon's surface | question: What does the space agency say?, answer: scientists know about Earth's closest neighbor. | question: What could the discovery of water in a lunar crater do?, answer: sustain future exploration of the moon and beyond.
|
(CNN) -- Forget the 4G marketing hype. Which U.S. carriers really offer the fastest mobile-data networks? According to a new report from RootMetrics (a company which conducts its own field tests of wireless networks), Verizon Wireless currently offers the nation's fastest 4G -- by far.
RootMetrics recently compared 4G networks from the four major U.S. carriers in 27 cities. Across all cities, Verizon performed at 4G speeds in 66% of tests.
What qualifies as 4G speed? According to RootMetrics, that's a download speed of at least three megabits per second -- fast enough to download a 30-minute standard-definition TV episode in less than 10 minutes.
"In cities where we could test Verizon's LTE (network), their average download speeds were roughly equivalent with the other carriers' maximum download speeds. In several markets, Verizon's average download speeds actually exceeded the maximum speeds of the other carriers," the report said.
What about the other carriers? According to the report, "AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint offered similar performances to one another overall and jockeyed back and forth behind Verizon across the markets. AT&T and T-Mobile were especially close: AT&T offered 4G speed in 40.7% of our tests, while T-Mobile recorded 4G speed in 39.5% of our tests."
Of course, carriers do not deploy 4G networks evenly across a given metro area. They tend to focus deployment in more densely populated areas, and along major highways and office or shopping districts. Depending on the city and the carrier, they may also deploy more 4G resources in wealthier neighborhoods.
So the report noted: "In those cities where LTE was not available, Verizon performed markedly slower. Where LTE is present, Verizon is easily the fastest; where LTE is not, Verizon is among the slowest carriers for data delivery."
Most mobile users don't download huge files to their phones, so "upper 3G" download speeds (1.5-3 Mbps, according to RootMetrics) will still seem pretty impressive to a typical mobile user. And even "lower 3G" speeds (between 500 kilobytes/second and 1.5 Mbps) are adequate for most mobile activities. On this front, AT&T's HSPA+ network is pretty dependable, said RootMetrics:
"AT&T delivered 3G speeds more consistently than the other carriers: they recorded upper 3G speed in 28% of our tests and lower 3G speed in 20% of our tests. AT&T fell below 3G speeds in only 11% of our tests, the lowest percentage of any of the carriers."
T-Mobile's performance was mostly similar to AT&T's in terms of 4G, but "disparities emerge when comparing T-Mobile's non-4G tests to AT&T's. When T-Mobile didn't hit 4G, they ... were more prone to slipping to slower 3G speeds."
Sprint may offer more consumer-friendly 4G data plans than AT&T or Verizon -- but there's a performance tradeoff. RootMetrics found "a significant disparity between cities where Sprint had WiMAX available and those where WiMAX was either not present or access to it proved sporadic. For instance, Sprint delivered a market-best average download speed of 4.6 Mbps in WiMAX-enabled Kansas City, while recording a noticeably slow 0.5 Mbps in non-WiMAX Buffalo."
If you like to post or live-stream audio or video from your phone to the Internet, you probably care about upload speeds -- which means you might want to avoid Sprint, unless it offers a WiMAX network in your city.
"Sprint's average upload speeds were consistently slow. Sprint was the only carrier to never record an average upload speed above 1.0 Mbps in any of the markets we tested," said the report.
Sprint also markets cell phone service through several discount carriers that focus on no-contract mobile plans, such as Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile -- and some of these brands are starting to market 4G phones and service.
Julia Dey, vice president of marketing for RootMetrics
|
[
"what did root metrics do",
"WHo compared them",
"which means 4G speed?",
"What does $G speed mean",
"Who were Verizon better than"
] |
[
"compared 4G networks from the four major U.S. carriers in 27 cities.",
"RootMetrics",
"of at least three megabits per second",
"at least three megabits per second",
"\"AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint"
] |
question: what did root metrics do, answer: compared 4G networks from the four major U.S. carriers in 27 cities. | question: WHo compared them, answer: RootMetrics | question: which means 4G speed?, answer: of at least three megabits per second | question: What does $G speed mean, answer: at least three megabits per second | question: Who were Verizon better than, answer: "AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint
|
(CNN) -- Former "Frasier" star Kelsey Grammer and wife Kayte Walsh Grammer are expecting twins, the actor said Sunday.
He made the announcement backstage at the Golden Globes after winning the award for best actor in a TV drama series for his roll in "Boss."
"I'm really looking forward to meeting these new arrivals in our lives, I really am," he said.
Grammer, 56, married the 32-year-old former flight attendant in February in New York, just after Grammer's divorce became final from his third wife, Camille Donatacci, who appears on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."
He predicted Sunday that Kayte will be an "extraordinary" mother.
"She's one of the most loving, amazing, warm human beings I've ever met," he said.
Grammer currently portrays Chicago Mayor Tom Kane in the Starz series "Boss." He closed his Globes acceptance speech by thanking his wife "for the future and what a magnificent year it's been."
Grammer and Donatacci had two children -- Jude, now 7, and Mason, 10. Grammer also has daughters Spencer, 28, and Greer, 19, from previous relationships.
He told CNN's Piers Morgan in October that "I think (Donatacci) married me because I was Frasier."
Grammer also told the CNN host that his "parting gift" to his third wife was her role in the reality series "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."
"Whether or not it worked well for her doesn't matter," Grammer said. "It was my way of saying, 'Look, you always wanted to be famous. Here you go.' "
CNN's Jack Hannah contributed to this report.
|
[
"Who married in February?",
"Who is looking forward to?",
"Does he have children?",
"Who did he marry?",
"Who is looking forward to meeting these new arrivals?"
] |
[
"Kelsey Grammer and",
"Kelsey Grammer",
"two",
"Kayte Walsh",
"Kelsey Grammer"
] |
question: Who married in February?, answer: Kelsey Grammer and | question: Who is looking forward to?, answer: Kelsey Grammer | question: Does he have children?, answer: two | question: Who did he marry?, answer: Kayte Walsh | question: Who is looking forward to meeting these new arrivals?, answer: Kelsey Grammer
|
(CNN) -- Former "Manson Family" member Susan Atkins, who stabbed actress Sharon Tate to death more than 40 years ago and now is terminally ill, was denied parole Wednesday, prison officials said.
Susan Atkins, shown here after her indictment in the Manson murders, was denied parole again Wednesday.
The parole hearing was the 13th for Atkins, 61, who is battling terminal brain cancer. Held at the Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla, California, the hearing stretched to more than six hours.
The panel set another hearing for Atkins in three years, said Michele Kane, spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Atkins was 21 when she and other followers of Charles Manson participated in a two-night rampage that left seven people dead and terrorized the city of Los Angeles in August 1969. She and the others -- Manson, Leslie Van Houten, Patricia Krenwinkel and Charles "Tex" Watson -- were initially sentenced to death in the slayings of five people, including Tate, and two additional deaths the following night.
Their sentences were automatically commuted to life in prison when the Supreme Court struck down the nation's death penalty laws in 1972. Watch Atkins, victims' kin speak »
By her own admission, Atkins, known as Sadie Mae Glutz within the Manson family, held Tate down as she pleaded for mercy, and stabbed the actress 16 times. Tate was eight months pregnant. In a 1993 parole board hearing, Atkins said Tate "asked me to let her baby live. ... I told her I didn't have any mercy on her."
After killing Tate, according to historical accounts of the slayings, Atkins scrawled the word "pig" in blood on the door of the home Tate shared with her husband, director Roman Polanski. Polanski was not home, but three of Tate's house guests were also slain by the killers, as was a teenager who was visiting the home's caretaker in his nearby cottage.
In an interview scheduled to air Friday on CNN's "Larry King Live," Linda Kasabian, a former Manson follower who was the prosecution's star witness against Manson and Atkins, recounted the Tate slayings. Watch Kasabian recall killings »
"I started hearing like horrible screaming and I started running toward the house and Sadie came running out and I just looked at her and I said, 'Sadie, please make it stop,'" Kasabian said. "And she said, 'I can't. It's too late.' ... It was unreal. It was so real that it was unreal."
On whether she asked Atkins and the others why they were killing, Kasabian said, "It wasn't that kind of a scenario. All that I said was, 'Sadie, make it stop.'"
For her safety, Kasabian asked to wear a disguise during the interview, which was conducted last month.
As of earlier this year, Atkins was paralyzed over 85 percent of her body and could not sit up in bed or be moved into a wheelchair, according to a Web site maintained by her husband and attorney, James Whitehouse. She has been described as a model prisoner who has accepted responsibility for her role in the slayings and now shuns Manson.
But Tate's sister, Debra Tate, told CNN in an e-mail in March that she does not think any Manson family member convicted of murder should ever be set free, saying the slayings were "so vicious, so inhumane, so depraved, that there is no turning back."
"The 'Manson Family' murderers are sociopaths, and from that, they can never be rehabilitated," Tate said. "They should all stay right where they are -- in prison -- until they die. There will never be true justice for my sister Sharon and the other victims of the 'Manson Family.' Keeping the murderers in prison is the least we, as a society who values justice, can do."
In a manuscript posted on her Web site, Atkins wrote that "this is the past I have to
|
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question: How many years until another hearing for Atkins?, answer: three | question: Who held Sharon Tate down and stabbed her 16 times?, answer: Susan Atkins, | question: When did the panel set another hearing for?, answer: in three years, | question: What happened at Susan Atkins parole hearing?, answer: denied | question: Did Sharon Tate's murderer get parole?, answer: denied | question: How many times was Sharon Tate stabbed?, answer: 16 | question: What is Atkins battling?, answer: terminal brain cancer.
|
(CNN) -- Former 2004 Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards, who admitted last week that he fathered a child with a videographer who worked on his campaign, has legally separated from his wife, Elizabeth, a source close to her said Wednesday.
The source would not say when the separation occurred, only that it happened a while ago. The source said he or she spoke to Elizabeth Edwards in recent days, and would not speak on the record because of the sensitivity of the situation.
John Edwards issued a statement Wednesday, calling it "an extraordinarily sad moment, but I love my children more than anything and still care deeply about Elizabeth."
Elizabeth Edwards' publisher, Random House, released a statement saying, "Elizabeth is moving on with her life and wants to put this difficult chapter behind her. It was an excruciatingly painful period for her and she [has] no interest in rehashing the past."
News of the separation comes a week before a tell-all book by Andrew Young, a one-time close confidante of John Edwards, is set to hit bookstores.
"Based on the limited portions of the book that have been made available, it is clear it contains many falsehoods and exaggerations," the statement from Random House said. "[Elizabeth Edwards] will not engage in a dialogue on each of the false charges, but would like to set the record straight on two key points.
"First, the allegation that she sought to politicize her cancer is unconscionable, hurtful and patently false. Second, she believed Andrew Young to be the father of this child until her husband confessed his paternity to her this past summer. She will have nothing further to say."
Edwards, 56, had denied he was the father of his mistress Rielle Hunter's infant for more than a year, saying his self-admitted affair with her was over before she became pregnant.
People magazine, a CNN sister organization, first reported the story.
Elizabeth Edwards' sister, Nancy Anania, told People magazine in an article dated Wednesday that Elizabeth Edwards told her, "I've had it. I can't do this. I want my life back."
The sister told the magazine, "She's got cancer and has young children and totally believes in marriage ... but she can only do so much."
Read the People story
John Edwards, a former U.S. senator from North Carolina, sought his party's presidential nomination in 2004 and 2008.
On November 3, 2004, the day her husband and Sen. John Kerry, D-Massachusetts, conceded the presidential race, Elizabeth Edwards revealed she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She discovered a lump in her right breast the last week of the campaign, but said she withheld the diagnosis from her husband to spare him the distraction during the campaign.
She announced in 2007 that the cancer had recurred. Last year, she told CNN's Larry King that the medicine she was taking seemed to be working. However, she said the situation was "up and down."
Elizabeth Edwards, 60, and her husband have been married for 32 years. They had four children together. The oldest , Wade, died in a car accident in 1996.
Spokesmen for both of the Edwardses did not return CNN calls seeking comment.
CNN's Deb Krajnak contributed to this report.
|
[
"What dis Elizabeth Edward's sister say?",
"Which magazine?",
"What did John Edwards admit to?",
"Which Videographer?"
] |
[
"\"I've had it. I can't do this. I want my life back.\"",
"People",
"fathered a child with a videographer who worked on his campaign,",
"who worked on his campaign,"
] |
question: What dis Elizabeth Edward's sister say?, answer: "I've had it. I can't do this. I want my life back." | question: Which magazine?, answer: People | question: What did John Edwards admit to?, answer: fathered a child with a videographer who worked on his campaign, | question: Which Videographer?, answer: who worked on his campaign,
|
(CNN) -- Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee on Tuesday said he accepts "full responsibility" for granting clemency in 2000 to a man authorities say gunned down four Lakewood, Washington, police officers Sunday.
Maurice Clemmons, 37, was shot and killed early Tuesday by Seattle police. He was the subject of a two-day manhunt after the four officers were killed at a coffee shop as they met before their shifts began Sunday morning.
Clemmons had a criminal history in Arkansas and Washington. In May 2000, Huckabee commuted his 108-year prison sentence to make him immediately eligible for parole, which was granted by the parole board two months later. Clemmons had been sentenced to 95 years, to run after time he was already serving on previous convictions.
In a statement on the conservative news Web site Newsmax.com, Huckabee wrote that he commuted Clemmons' sentence from 108 years to 47 years. Reports that he had pardoned Clemmons or set him free were erroneous, he said.
"I take full responsibility for my actions of nine years ago," Huckabee said. "I acted on the facts presented to me in 2000. If I could have possibly known what Clemmons would do nine years later, I obviously would have made a different decision. But if the same file was presented to me today, I would have likely made the same decision."
But the Arkansas prosecutor who put Clemmons behind bars told CNN on Tuesday that Huckabee was issuing clemency at "an astounding rate" during his tenure as governor.
"He was exercising the clemency power at what I call a wholesale rate," Larry Jegley said. "He was letting murderers out, he was letting rapists out, and he was letting the likes of Mr. Clemmons out."
One survey, he said, showed Huckabee issued more clemencies from 1996 to 2004 than the governors of all six surrounding states, including Texas.
He said he didn't know why so many clemencies were granted. "That was part of the frustration that we felt with the entire process. ... We never felt as though he gave victims, their families, jurors, law enforcement and the community in general an adequate explanation as to why he felt compelled to let people of proven danger go in our community."
Huckabee was a Republican presidential candidate in the 2008 election and has not ruled out another White House bid in 2012. During his 2008 campaign, he was criticized for granting clemency to another inmate, convicted rapist Wayne DuMond, who was later convicted of raping and murdering a woman in Missouri.
"Between 1,000 and 2,000 requests for some form of clemency came to my desk each and every one of the 10½ years I was governor," Huckabee said Tuesday. "Ninety-two percent of the time, I denied the requests."
He noted that in Arkansas, a governor does not initiate a sentence change -- the Post Prison Transfer Board makes a recommendation to the governor after reviewing an inmate's file. The governor then can grant or deny it.
Clemmons was 16 when he was charged with robbery and burglary. "For the crimes he committed and the age at which he committed the crimes, [a 108-year sentence] was dramatically outside the norm for sentencing," Huckabee said. The board unanimously recommended that the sentence be commuted.
Jegley said that while in prison in Arkansas, Clemmons had a disciplinary record for violent incidents, and that something should have tipped off the board or the governor that "this man was not a good candidate to be put back in society, because he couldn't live in the cloistered environment of prison and stay out of trouble."
Watch what Jegley has to say
In the case of any form of clemency -- a commutation or a full pardon -- notice is given to the prosecutor, the judge, law enforcement officials, the attorney general and the secretary of state, as well as the media, for a public response period, Huckabee said. "The only record of public response to the notice to commute was from the trial judge, who recommended the commendation in concert with the board."
Jegley
|
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"What percentage of requests were denied?",
"on what date the event occurred"
] |
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"gunned down four Lakewood, Washington, police officers Sunday.",
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"\"Ninety-two percent",
"May 2000,"
] |
question: What was man accused of?, answer: gunned down four Lakewood, Washington, police officers Sunday. | question: When did Huckabee commute the sentence?, answer: In May 2000, | question: What percentage of requests were denied?, answer: "Ninety-two percent | question: on what date the event occurred, answer: May 2000,
|
(CNN) -- Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick arrived at his home in Hampton, Virginia, on Thursday morning.
Michael Vick, left, arrives at federal court with attorney Billy Martin in Richmond, Viriginia, in 2007.
"He is happy to be reunited with his family," said Chris Garrett, a spokesman for Vick.
Vick was released from a federal prison in Leavenworth, Kansas, on Wednesday.
He will serve the last two months of his 23-month sentence in home confinement in Virginia, his publicist Judy Smith said. Vick is a native of Newport News, Virginia. Watch a panel discuss his release »
Vick, 28, pleaded guilty in August 2007 to a federal charge of bankrolling a dogfighting operation at a home he owned in Virginia.
He could return to professional football as soon as September if reinstated by the NFL, according to the sports agent who negotiated Vick's 10-year, $140 million contract with the Falcons. Meanwhile, Vick's attorneys have said he will work at a Newport News construction firm after his release and he has also agreed to participate in a documentary for $600,000.
Last month, a federal bankruptcy judge denied a Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan presented by Vick and urged him to offer another plan. The original plan called for Vick to come up with $750,000 to $1 million in cash to be paid to creditors, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Frank Santoro said, but he said he saw no evidence Vick could come up with that much. Santoro suggested Vick's next plan not call for him to keep two houses and three cars, as did the rejected proposal.
In testimony, Vick acknowledged committing a "heinous" act and said he should have acted more maturely. He said he has been earning 12 cents an hour as an overnight janitor in prison. His Falcons salary, he said, was between $10 million and $12 million. He acknowledged failing to handle his money well.
After his release, Vick will work with the Humane Society of the United States on anti-dogfighting campaigns, Humane Society President Wayne Pacelle told CNN Tuesday.
Vick will work on programs aimed at preventing youths from getting involved in dogfighting, and on programs to assist young people who have already been involved in the blood sport. Watch more about Vick's dogs »
Pacelle said the Humane Society was approached by Vick's representatives. He said he has traveled to Kansas twice to meet with the former quarterback, and during the second visit, the two discussed how Vick could use his sway over youths to discourage them from involvement in dogfighting, as well as help those who were apprehended in connection with it.
Details have not yet been hammered out, Pacelle said, but will be in the next couple of days. iReport.com: Does Vick deserve a second chance?
More attention has been paid to dogfighting as a result of Vick's case, Pacelle said. The Humane Society, which offers rewards for tips involving dogfighting, has recently paid out $40,000 in five cases, he said.
CNN's Marylynn Ryan contributed to this report.
|
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question: What did he please guilty to?, answer: a federal charge of bankrolling a dogfighting operation | question: What did Vick plead guilty to in 2007?, answer: a federal charge of bankrolling a dogfighting operation at a home he owned in Virginia. | question: Which NFL team did Michael Vick play for?, answer: Atlanta Falcons | question: Who was released from prison on Wednesday?, answer: Michael Vick, | question: What did Vick plead guilty to?, answer: a federal charge of bankrolling a dogfighting operation | question: What team did Vick play for?, answer: Atlanta Falcons | question: When was Vick released from prision?, answer: Wednesday. | question: Where will he serve the last two months of his sentence?, answer: home confinement in Virginia, | question: What number of months will he serve in home confinement?, answer: two | question: Where will Vick work?, answer: with the Humane Society of the United States | question: Who played for Atlanta Falcons, answer: Michael Vick | question: Who was released from prison?, answer: Michael Vick, | question: How long will Vick serve in home confinement?, answer: two months | question: Who is released from prison, answer: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick | question: Who pleaded guilty to bankrolling a dogfighting operation in Virginia, answer: Michael Vick
|
(CNN) -- Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick left a federal prison in Leavenworth, Kansas, early Wednesday, according to his publicist and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Michael Vick, left, arrives at federal court with attorney Billy Martin in Richmond, Viriginia, in 2007.
He will serve the last two months of his 23-month sentence in home confinement in Virginia, his publicist Judy Smith said. He is a native of Newport News, Virginia.
Vick, 28, pleaded guilty in August 2007 to a federal charge of bankrolling a dogfighting operation at a home he owned in Virginia.
He will return to professional football as soon as September if reinstated by the NFL, according to the sports agent who negotiated Vick's 10-year, $140 million contract with the Falcons.
Meanwhile, Vick's attorneys have said he will work at a Newport News construction firm following his release, and he has also agreed to participate in a documentary for $600,000.
Last month, a federal bankruptcy judge denied a Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan presented by Vick, urging him to offer the court another plan to emerge from bankruptcy.
The plan called for Vick to come up with $750,000 to $1 million in cash to be paid to creditors, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Frank Santoro said, but added he saw no evidence Vick could come up with that much. Santoro suggested Vick's next plan not call for him to keep two houses and three cars, as did the rejected proposal.
In testimony, Vick acknowledged committing a "heinous" act and said he should have acted more maturely. He said he has been earning 12 cents an hour as an overnight janitor in prison. His Falcons salary, he said, was between $10 million and $12 million. He acknowledged failing to handle his money well. Watch a panel discuss his release »
Vick plans to work with the Humane Society of the United States on anti-dogfighting campaigns, Humane Society President Wayne Pacelle told CNN on Tuesday.
Vick will work on programs aimed at preventing youths from getting involved in dogfighting, and also on programs to assist young people who have already been involved in the blood sport.
Pacelle said the Humane Society was approached by Vick's representatives. He said he has traveled to Kansas twice to meet with the former quarterback, and during the second visit, the two discussed how Vick could use his sway over youths to discourage them from involvement in dogfighting, as well as help those who were apprehended in connection with it. Watch more about Vick's dogs »
Details have not yet been hammered out, Pacelle said, but will be in the next couple of days. iReport.com: Does Vick deserve a second chance?
More attention has been paid to dogfighting as a result of Vick's case, Pacelle said. The Humane Society, which offers rewards for tips involving dogfighting, has recently paid out $40,000 in five different cases, he said.
|
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] |
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"home confinement in Virginia,",
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question: Where did he serve his last two months of sentence?, answer: home confinement in Virginia, | question: What state did he serve his last months of his prison term?, answer: Virginia, | question: What is the age of Vick?, answer: 28, | question: In what year did Vick plead guilty?, answer: 2007. | question: What was Vick in prison for?, answer: to a federal charge of bankrolling a dogfighting operation | question: What team did Vick play for?, answer: Atlanta Falcons
|
(CNN) -- Former Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr will reunite on stage next month to raise money to teach transcendental meditation to children around the world to "help provide them a quiet haven in a not-so-quiet world," McCartney said.
Paul McCartney (above) and Ringo Starr are teaming up for a fund-raising concert.
The star-studded list of performers who will join them include two musicians who were with the Beatles when they journeyed to India's Himalayan foothills in 1968 to learn transcendental meditation from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
"In moments of madness, it has helped me find moments of serenity," McCartney said in the concert announcement.
Profits from the April 4 show at New York's Radio City Music Hall will fund the David Lynch Foundation's program, which has already taught 60,000 children around the world how to meditate, foundation spokesman Steve Yellin said.
The goal of the project -- which is called "Change Begins Within" -- is to teach the meditation technique to a million at-risk children so they have "life-long tools to overcome stress and violence and promote peace and success in their lives," Yellin said.
Schools across the United States have asked the group to bring the classes to their students, he said.
"I would like to think that it would help provide them a quiet haven in a not-so-quiet world," McCartney said.
Singer-songwriter Donovan and musician Paul Horn, who studied at the Maharishi's ashram with the four Beatles, will also perform in the show.
"How great to be playing with Paul, Ringo, and Paul Horn again -- as we did in India in 1968," Donovan said.
"It's a real reunion after 40 years of Donovan, Paul Horn, Ringo and Paul McCartney," Yellin said. "It's quite an interesting thing that they are still talking about transcendental meditation."
Ringo left the ashram after just 10 days -- explaining the food was too spicy for his taste -- and McCartney stayed for six weeks, according to journalist Lewis Lapham in his book "With the Beatles."
McCartney and John Lennon wrote many of the songs for the Beatles' White Album while there, but the group disbanded within two years.
The list of performers also includes Sheryl Crow, Eddie Vedder, Ben Harper, Moby, Bettye LaVette and Jim James.
Tickets go on sale Monday, March 9, through Ticketmaster.
|
[
"Who was all included on the bill?",
"What other artists will be performing at the concert?",
"Who participated in the fund-raising concert?",
"Who participated in a fund-raising concert?"
] |
[
"Sheryl Crow, Eddie Vedder, Ben Harper, Moby, Bettye LaVette",
"Sheryl Crow, Eddie Vedder, Ben Harper, Moby, Bettye LaVette and Jim James.",
"Ringo Starr",
"Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr"
] |
question: Who was all included on the bill?, answer: Sheryl Crow, Eddie Vedder, Ben Harper, Moby, Bettye LaVette | question: What other artists will be performing at the concert?, answer: Sheryl Crow, Eddie Vedder, Ben Harper, Moby, Bettye LaVette and Jim James. | question: Who participated in the fund-raising concert?, answer: Ringo Starr | question: Who participated in a fund-raising concert?, answer: Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr
|
(CNN) -- Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic intends to skip the start of his war crimes trial because he says he has had too little time to prepare, a spokeswoman for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia said Thursday.
Radovan Karadzic wrote to the court to say he would not attend the trial.
The trial is still expected to begin on Monday despite Karadzic's intended absence, which he announced in a letter to the court, the spokeswoman said.
"The tribunal judges control court proceedings. They are the only relevant body that can make a decision about the readiness of the case for trial," she said.
Karadzic, who is defending himself, faces genocide charges and nine other counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Bosnian Muslims, Bosnian Croats and other non-Serbian civilians during the brutal and bloody dissolution of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.
The conflict introduced the phrase "ethnic cleansing" into the lexicon describing war crimes, as different factions in multi-ethnic Yugoslavia sought to kill or drive out other groups.
Karadzic was arrested last year after more than a decade on the run and was found to have been living in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, and practicing alternative medicine in disguise.
In a letter dated Wednesday and made public Thursday, Karadzic complains that he has not been given the relevant case material on time -- and he says the volume of material would have been too much to go through even if he had received it promptly.
"I ask Your Excellencies -- why and how is it possible that the prosecution is allowed to literally bury me under a million of pages, only to start disclosing relevant material many months after my arrest?" he writes. "Why and how is it possible that the prosecution is allowed to file its final indictment against me on the eve of the planned trial date?"
Karadzic says he should not be penalized for representing himself.
"No lawyer in this world could prepare defense within this period of time," he writes. "I hereby inform you that my defense is not ready for my trial that is supposed to begin as scheduled, on the 26th of October, and that therefore I shall not appear before you on that date."
He promised to continue his preparations in "the most intensive way" and inform the court when he is ready.
The genocide charges against him stem partly from the most notorious massacre of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, once a part of Yugoslavia.
More than 7,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were killed at Srebrenica when ethnic Serb troops overran a U.N. "safe area" in July 1995. It was the worst European massacre since World War II.
Prosecutors at the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague accuse Karadzic of responsibility.
"On 8 March 1995, Karadzic instructed Bosnian Serb forces under his command to create an unbearable situation of total insecurity with no hope of further survival for the inhabitants of Srebrenica, amongst other places," the tribunal said in a statement this month.
The Hague indictment also says Karadzic committed genocide when forces under his command killed non-Serbs during and after attacks in more than a dozen Bosnian municipalities in the early stages of the war.
Karadzic, who faces life in prison if he is convicted, denies the charges. The court cannot impose the death penalty.
When he was arrested in July 2008, Karadzic had grown a large white beard and let his famous steel-gray hair grow long and turn white. He had spent more than 13 years in hiding, during which he practiced alternative medicine at a Belgrade clinic.
Karadzic's arrest leaves his former military commander, Ratko Mladic, as the highest-ranking fugitive still being sought by the war crimes tribunal.
Prosecutor Alan Tieger told the court in July that the case against Karadzic would take approximately 490 hours. That means prosecutors are likely to need more than a year to lay out their evidence, a court spokeswoman said.
The 1992-95 Bosnian war was the longest of the wars spawned by the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. Backed
|
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"More than 7,000",
"Radovan Karadzic",
"start of his war crimes trial",
"More than 7,000",
"genocide charges and nine other counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity",
"More than 7,000"
] |
question: How many died during the dissolution?, answer: More than 7,000 | question: who is skipping, answer: Radovan Karadzic | question: What did Karadzic say he was skipping?, answer: start of his war crimes trial | question: how many died?, answer: More than 7,000 | question: What was he accused of?, answer: genocide charges and nine other counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity | question: How many died during the bloody dissolution of Yugoslavia in 1990s?, answer: More than 7,000
|
(CNN) -- Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will begin chemotherapy in the coming days to treat a malignant tumor in his larynx, a hospital official said Saturday.
Lula, 66, will be treated at Sao Paulo's Syrian-Lebanese Hospital, said hospital spokeswoman Mirtes Bogea. It is not clear what day the treatment will begin.
He was diagnosed Saturday morning after undergoing medical examinations, Bogea said.
"This is a localized tumor," noted Bogea, meaning that it has not spread elsewhere in the body. She added that the tumor has not metastasized, a characteristic of most cancerous cells.
Finance Minister Guido Mantega told reporters that he attended Lula's birthday party last week and noticed that his voice sounded hoarse.
"But since he has been traveling a lot and delivering speeches, we all thought it was normal," he told CNN affiliate Rede Record TV.
On Saturday, Mantega predicted Lula would beat cancer. He noted that former first lady Marisa Leticia has been with Lula ever since he came to the hospital for a check-up on Friday.
"He is a fighter," Mantega told reporters, adding he expected Lula will leave the hospital later Saturday. "He has overcome lesser obstacles and will overcome this one as well."
Raul Cutait, one of the doctors treating the former president told Rede Record TV that Lula appears well. He said it is also likely that therapy will begin early next week.
Sao Paulo's Syrian-Lebanese hospital is considered one of the region's top cancer treatment centers.
Founded in 1921 by Syrian and Lebanese immigrants, the facility's staff has also treated Paraguay's President Fernando Lugo and former Brazilian Vice President Jose Alencar, who died in March after a long battle against abdominal cancer.
Its patients also include current Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff -- Lula's handpicked successor and is the first woman to hold the presidency -- who was treated in 2005 for lymphoma.
Rousseff said on her Twitter account that she'd spoken to Lula's wife, and in a press release issued Saturday wished her predecessor a "fast recovery."
"As you all know, I went through the same thing, with the competent team of the Syrian-Lebanese hospital, which allowed me to completely recover," she said. "I am sure the same thing will happen to President Lula."
Lula, who rose from a childhood of poverty to become a union leader, won elections in 2002 to become Brazil's first working-class president.
He is widely credited with helping steer the nation into becoming an economic powerhouse, leaving office last year with high approval ratings. Presidents, however, are barred from running for a third consecutive term.
When Lula turned 66 years-old last Thursday, he addressed the Brazilian public via the Internet, saying that he had dedicated more than half his half to improving Brazil's democracy.
"The cake is not one of the biggest cakes," he said, with a wink, during a speech. "But I hope to give to all of you a tiny bite."
|
[
"what did the hospital spokeswoman say about the president",
"Where is the ex-president being treated?",
"what did lula's doctor say about him",
"Who does the Brazil finance minister say is a fighter?",
"what did the Brazil's finance minister say about Lula",
"Who says Lula is doing well?",
"Where is Lula being treated?"
] |
[
"Lula, 66, will be treated at Sao Paulo's Syrian-Lebanese",
"Sao Paulo's Syrian-Lebanese Hospital,",
"appears well.",
"President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva",
"\"He is a fighter,\"",
"Raul Cutait,",
"Sao Paulo's Syrian-Lebanese Hospital,"
] |
question: what did the hospital spokeswoman say about the president, answer: Lula, 66, will be treated at Sao Paulo's Syrian-Lebanese | question: Where is the ex-president being treated?, answer: Sao Paulo's Syrian-Lebanese Hospital, | question: what did lula's doctor say about him, answer: appears well. | question: Who does the Brazil finance minister say is a fighter?, answer: President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva | question: what did the Brazil's finance minister say about Lula, answer: "He is a fighter," | question: Who says Lula is doing well?, answer: Raul Cutait, | question: Where is Lula being treated?, answer: Sao Paulo's Syrian-Lebanese Hospital,
|
(CNN) -- Former Democratic Rep. Charles Wilson of Texas, whose support for anti-Soviet forces in Afghanistan inspired the 2007 movie "Charlie Wilson's War," died Wednesday at age 76.
The 12-term congressman, who served the state's second congressional district, had been in a meeting Wednesday morning with a friend when he complained of difficulty breathing, said Yana Ogletree, a spokeswoman for Memorial Medical Center in Lufkin.
The two men were heading to the hospital when they passed an emergency medical services vehicle on the side of the road and stopped for help, she said. Paramedics took Wilson to the hospital emergency room, where he was pronounced dead, she said.
Wilson, who had undergone a heart transplant at Methodist Hospital in Houston in September 2007, moved back to Lufkin when he retired from Congress in 1997 after having served since 1973, she said.
"I had the unforgettable experience of knowing Congressman Wilson when I was at CIA and he was working tirelessly on behalf of the Afghan resistance fighting the Soviets," said Defense Secretary Robert Gates in a written statement.
"As the world now knows, his efforts and exploits helped repel an invader, liberate a people and bring the Cold War to a close. After the Soviets left, Charlie kept fighting for the Afghan people and warned against abandoning that traumatized country to its fate -- a warning we should have heeded then, and should remember today."
"Charlie Wilson led a life that was oversized even by Hollywood's standards," said Texas Gov. Rick Perry in a statement. "Congressman Wilson was fiercely devoted to serving his country and his fellow Texans."
"Charlie was a man of courage and conviction who worked hard, loved his country, and lived life to the fullest," said House Appropriations Committee Chairman David R. Obey, D-Wisconsin. "We will miss him."
Tom Hanks portrayed the flamboyant congressman in the 2007 movie "Charlie Wilson's War," based on the book by George Crile. The book and the film told the story of Wilson's efforts to get weapons to Mujahedeen fighters after Soviets invaded Afghanistan.
"Hanks did a great job," Wilson said in 2008. Wilson also praised the other actors. "They were too close to the truth," he said.
The U.S. Naval Academy grad and Navy veteran was elected to Congress in 1972 -- a Democrat bucking the national Nixon landslide -- and quickly became known for his high-living escapades, which earned him the nickname "Good Time Charlie," and shrewd accumulation of political chits.
His savvy came in handy in the early 1980s, when Wilson, a staunch anti-Communist, decided to help Afghan rebels in their war against the invading Soviet Union. Over several years, working behind the scenes, his efforts to raise funds through his defense subcommittee, to establish a bond with a CIA agent named Gust Avrakotos (played by Philip Seymour Hoffman in the film) and to negotiate support from Middle Eastern countries helped the Afghans take the upper hand and eventually forced the Soviets out of the country.
Asked what led to the Soviet departure, Pakistani leader Gen. Muhammad Zia ul-Haq was blunt: "Charlie did it," he told CBS News' "60 Minutes."
Some people criticized the film because it didn't do much to highlight what happened in Afghanistan after the Soviets left: the Taliban's takeover of the country and al Qaeda's use of the nation as a base. Wilson was asked in 2008 about the consequences of helping the Mujahedeen fighters.
"I don't think there was a serious blowback," Wilson said. "I think there was the point that [author] George Crile made in the [book's] epilogue, that the Muslims saw that they took down one superpower and then the radical ones thought they could take down another one. But they're wrong."
Wilson is survived by his wife, Barbara Alberstadt Wilson, a sister, a niece and a nephew.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
CNN's Todd Leopold contributed to this report.
|
[
"where does he serve?",
"what was wilson's complain?",
"What did Wilson complain of?",
"What movie in 2007 depicted his efforts?",
"What did Wilson serve as?"
] |
[
"second congressional district,",
"difficulty breathing,",
"difficulty breathing,",
"\"Charlie Wilson's War,\"",
"Congressman"
] |
question: where does he serve?, answer: second congressional district, | question: what was wilson's complain?, answer: difficulty breathing, | question: What did Wilson complain of?, answer: difficulty breathing, | question: What movie in 2007 depicted his efforts?, answer: "Charlie Wilson's War," | question: What did Wilson serve as?, answer: Congressman
|
(CNN) -- Former Dutch international Clarence Seedorf has revealed he is flattered to be linked with a move to Premier League Chelsea but insists he will still be an AC Milan player next season.
Clarence Seedorf wants to remain with AC Milan, despite Carlo Ancelotti's recent switch to Chelsea.
There has been speculation that the 33-year-old midfielder could move to Stamford Bridge to link up with his former Rossoneri coach Carlo Ancelotti, who was confirmed as Blues manager on June 1.
But the player is not interested in moving to the English Premier League and has told his own official Web site: "It's beautiful news, that Ancelotti wants me in London, but next year I will still be playing for Milan.
"I have a contract with Milan and I am a player of Milan. I hope to still play for at the San Siro for at least three or four more years. After that I have a whole lifetime ahead of me to do good."
Seedorf played for six-and-a half years under Ancelotti at Milan. Together they won two Champions League titles, the Club World Cup, two European Super Cups, the Coppa Italia and Italian Supercoppa.
His comments will come as a welcome boost to Milan following the sale of Seedorf's fellow-midfielder Kaka to Real Madrid.
|
[
"Where did the coach recently leave?",
"What is the name of his former coach?",
"Where does Carlo Ancelotti now coach?",
"player age ?",
"What is the name of the Dutch midfielder?",
"What does Seedorf have no plans to quit?"
] |
[
"Chelsea.",
"Carlo Ancelotti,",
"Stamford Bridge",
"33-year-old",
"Clarence Seedorf",
"AC Milan,"
] |
question: Where did the coach recently leave?, answer: Chelsea. | question: What is the name of his former coach?, answer: Carlo Ancelotti, | question: Where does Carlo Ancelotti now coach?, answer: Stamford Bridge | question: player age ?, answer: 33-year-old | question: What is the name of the Dutch midfielder?, answer: Clarence Seedorf | question: What does Seedorf have no plans to quit?, answer: AC Milan,
|
(CNN) -- Former England cricket star Chris Lewis was remanded in custody by a British court Tuesday, charged with attempting to smuggle drugs through an airport.
Chris Lewis joined Surrey to play in Twenty20 matches for the 2008 season.
The 40-year-old all-rounder, who played 32 Tests and 53 one-day internationals for England in the 1990s, was arrested Monday when border officials at London's Gatwick Airport found cocaine hidden in luggage that had arrived on a flight from the Caribbean island of St. Lucia.
Four kilograms of cocaine with a street value of around $350,000 was seized by the UK Border Agency, the UK's Press Association said. The drugs were in a liquid form hidden in fruit tins, officials said.
Lewis and basketball player Chad Kirnon, 26, both from London, were held and questioned by Customs officials and later charged.
British Revenue & Customs spokesman Bob Gaiger told PA: "This was an excellent detection by UK Border Agency officers.
"HMRC, together with UKBA, play a vital role in the fight to prevent illegal drugs from entering the UK and in protecting our communities from the violence and corruption that always accompany this hideous trade."
The two men made a brief appearance at Crawley Magistrates' Court in West Sussex on Tuesday afternoon, where Lewis had a bail application refused, PA reported.
They were remanded in custody to appear via video link in court next Wednesday.
|
[
"Lewis played what sport?",
"Where were the drugs concealed?",
"Who played cricket for England in the 1990's?",
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"What was Chris Lewis' involvement in the seizure?",
"What was seized at Gatwick airport?",
"How many kilos of cocaine were seized?",
"What was nabbed at Gatwick Airport?",
"Who played for England in cricket during the 1990s?",
"What form were the drugs in?",
"Where did officials say drugs were hidden?",
"Drugs were in what form?",
"Where was the cocaine seized?",
"Which country did Chris Lewis play for in the 1990's?",
"What was hidden in fruit tins?",
"What form were the drugs in?",
"What sport did Chris Lewis play?",
"How many kilos of cocaine were seized?",
"How much was the seized cocaine worth?",
"Where is Gatwick Airport?",
"WHen did Lewis play cricket?",
"Where were these drugs hidden?",
"How many kilos of cocaine were seized at Gatwick?"
] |
[
"cricket",
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"London's",
"the 2008 season.",
"in luggage",
"Four"
] |
question: Lewis played what sport?, answer: cricket | question: Where were the drugs concealed?, answer: The drugs were in a liquid form hidden in fruit tins, officials said. | question: Who played cricket for England in the 1990's?, answer: Chris Lewis | question: What is the worth of the four kilos of cocaine?, answer: a street value of around $350,000 | question: What was Chris Lewis' involvement in the seizure?, answer: charged with attempting to smuggle drugs through an airport. | question: What was seized at Gatwick airport?, answer: Four kilograms of cocaine | question: How many kilos of cocaine were seized?, answer: Four | question: What was nabbed at Gatwick Airport?, answer: Chris Lewis | question: Who played for England in cricket during the 1990s?, answer: Chris Lewis | question: What form were the drugs in?, answer: liquid | question: Where did officials say drugs were hidden?, answer: in fruit tins, | question: Drugs were in what form?, answer: liquid | question: Where was the cocaine seized?, answer: London's Gatwick Airport | question: Which country did Chris Lewis play for in the 1990's?, answer: England | question: What was hidden in fruit tins?, answer: drugs | question: What form were the drugs in?, answer: liquid | question: What sport did Chris Lewis play?, answer: cricket | question: How many kilos of cocaine were seized?, answer: Four | question: How much was the seized cocaine worth?, answer: street value of around $350,000 | question: Where is Gatwick Airport?, answer: London's | question: WHen did Lewis play cricket?, answer: the 2008 season. | question: Where were these drugs hidden?, answer: in luggage | question: How many kilos of cocaine were seized at Gatwick?, answer: Four
|
(CNN) -- Former England forward and Harlequins director of rugby Dean Richards has been banned from coaching for three years for his part in masterminding a fake blood injury to one of his players.
Tom Williams spitting fake blood from his mouth in a match between Harlequins and Leinster.
The 46-year-old was hit with disciplinary action after a hearing by an independent European Rugby Cup (ERC) panel found he had "organized the fabrication of a blood injury" on wing Tom Williams during a European Cup quarterfinal match against Leinster.
With his side trailing by one point Williams, under instructions from Richards, faked a cut in his mouth with a capsule of fake blood, thereby allowing goal-kicker Nick Evans to return to the field of play.
The plan may have worked if Williams had not winked to the oncoming player as he left the pitch, an action that infuriated their opponents Leinster.
The ERC confirmed in a statement on their official Web site that Richards had acknowledged his role as the orchestrator of the plan that has since been dubbed "bloodgate," and the subsequent cover up of the injury. Watch journalists discuss club's 'shame' »
Richards was initially cleared of improper conduct by a hearing in July in which Williams was given a 12-month ban, but the verdict was challenged by ERC disciplinary officer Roger O'Connor.
Further evidence came to light in an appeal made by Williams before an admission of guilt by Dean Richards, who recently resigned from his position with Harlequins, prompted the ban.
The ERC appeal committee chairman Rod McKenzie said details of four other incidents of Harlequins faking injuries had been passed to the relevant authorities.
Williams's ban was reduced to four months and the fine imposed on Harlequins has been increased from $340,000 to $425,000 -- the club still awaits to hear whether they will be expelled from this season's European Cup.
The physiotherapist for the London-based club, Steph Brennan, has also been banned for two-years.
Richards had not decided whether to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport but reacted to his ban by telling reporters: "I'm surprised. Three years is a long time but I'll reflect on it overnight.
"I took full responsibility for it. It was a farcical situation, it really was. It didn't pan out particularly well on the day. Everybody looked at it and thought, 'That's unreal', which is what I thought on the touchline as well.
"But I had to hold my hands up," Richards added.
|
[
"who else was banned",
"Who received a ban",
"How long is Richards coaching ban?",
"Williams had a 12 month ban reduced to how many months?",
"What did Richards admit?",
"What did Richards orchestrate?",
"What is Richards hit with?",
"What position does Tom Williams play?"
] |
[
"Dean Richards",
"England forward and Harlequins director of rugby Dean Richards",
"three years",
"four",
"his role as the orchestrator of the plan",
"a fake blood injury to one of his players.",
"disciplinary action after a hearing by an independent European Rugby Cup (ERC) panel found he had \"organized the fabrication",
"wing"
] |
question: who else was banned, answer: Dean Richards | question: Who received a ban, answer: England forward and Harlequins director of rugby Dean Richards | question: How long is Richards coaching ban?, answer: three years | question: Williams had a 12 month ban reduced to how many months?, answer: four | question: What did Richards admit?, answer: his role as the orchestrator of the plan | question: What did Richards orchestrate?, answer: a fake blood injury to one of his players. | question: What is Richards hit with?, answer: disciplinary action after a hearing by an independent European Rugby Cup (ERC) panel found he had "organized the fabrication | question: What position does Tom Williams play?, answer: wing
|
(CNN) -- Former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari has won the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced Friday.
Former Finland President Martii Ahtisaari twice worked to find a solution in Kosovo.
"Ahtisaari is an outstanding international mediator," said Ole Danbolt Mjoes, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
"Through his untiring efforts and good results, he has shown what role mediation of various kinds can play in the resolution of international conflicts."
The committee cited Ahtisaari's "significant" part in establishing Namibia's independence and his "central" role in solving the question of the Indonesian province of Aceh in 2005. Watch as Finland celebrates the announcement »
Ahtisaari twice worked to find a solution in Kosovo -- first in 1999 and again between 2005 and 2007. He also worked with others this year to find a peaceful solution to the problems in Iraq, the committee said.
Ahtisaari and his group, Crisis Management Initiative, also contributed to resolving other conflicts in Northern Ireland, Central Asia, and the Horn of Africa, the committee said.
"The Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes to express the hope that others may be inspired by his efforts and his achievements," Mjoes said.
The committee awards the peace prize annually according to guidelines laid down in the will of its founder, Alfred Nobel. He specified the prize should go to whoever "shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."
The prestigious prize includes a medal, a personal diploma, and 10 million Swedish crowns ($1.4 million) in prize money.
Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore shared last year's prize with the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change.
The committee plans to award the prize to Ahtisaari on December 10 at Oslo City Hall in Norway.
The peace prize is one of five Nobel prizes awarded annually. The others -- for physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, and literature -- were announced this week and will be awarded in Stockholm, Sweden later this year.
|
[
"what country did they find a peaceful solution",
"Where did they work to find a peaceful solution in?",
"Who cited Ahtisaari's part in Namibia's independence?",
"who did committee site"
] |
[
"Iraq,",
"Kosovo.",
"The committee",
"Ahtisaari's"
] |
question: what country did they find a peaceful solution, answer: Iraq, | question: Where did they work to find a peaceful solution in?, answer: Kosovo. | question: Who cited Ahtisaari's part in Namibia's independence?, answer: The committee | question: who did committee site, answer: Ahtisaari's
|
(CNN) -- Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina finally made it official Wednesday: She's running for Senate in California.
The first woman to lead a Fortune 500 company made the announcement at an event in conservative Orange County, pledging that her focus will be on "economic recovery and fiscal accountability"
"The decisions made in Washington impact every family and every business, of any size, in America. Throughout my career, I've brought people together and solved problems, and that is what I plan to do in government: Set aside ego and partisanship and work to develop solutions to our problems," she told supporters.
"I will not settle for a jobless recovery, and we must start the important work of getting our financial house back in order," Fiorina added. "Washington must show discipline to cut spending and create policies that encourage and empower businesses and put people back to work."
Fiorina, considered to be a moderate Republican with little history on social issues, will face off against conservative California Assemblyman Chuck DeVore for the GOP nomination.
In a friendly statement Wednesday, DeVore said he looks forward "to engaging [her] on the issues Californians care about."
A recent Field poll suggested that both Fiorina and DeVore polled at about 20 percent, with 60 percent of Republican voters undecided.
The ex-Fortune 500 CEO, who left Hewlett-Packard in 2005 with a severance package estimated to be worth between $21.5 million and $40 million, is expected to enjoy a significant financial advantage over DeVore, who entered October with just $144,000 in the bank.
The Fiorina-DeVore matchup has all the makings of another Republican battle between the conservative wing of the party and national leaders seeking the most electable candidate.
Fiorina has claimed that the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee is backing her bid, though an NRSC spokesman said no official endorsement has been made. Still, NRSC Chairman John Cornyn pointed to Fiorina in September as an example of a "strong female candidate" running as a Republican in 2010.
A string of conservative bloggers have lined up behind DeVore, and South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint said Tuesday that he was backing the assemblyman.
The winner of that race will face three-term Sen. Barbara Boxer in November. Boxer's favorable rating stood at 48 percent in a recent Field poll, a number that gives Republicans hope she is vulnerable against a well-funded opponent.
Boxer is known to be a formidable political opponent, but Fiorina said Wednesday that she's ready for the challenge.
"After chemothereapy, Barbara Boxer just really isn't that scary any more, especially when you know what to expect," said Fiorina, who battled breast cancer last spring. "She has always taken the low road to high office."
Though spending most of her life outside of politics, Fiorina is no stranger to the campaign trail, having served as one of then-Republican presidential candidate John McCain's chief surrogates in 2008.
Fiorina was eventually sidelined from that campaign after telling an interviewer that she didn't think either member of the GOP presidential ticket was qualified to run a major company.
In an election season in which the state's economic condition is set to dominate the debate, Fiorina is now the second high-profile former CEO running for statewide office in California. Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman announced last month she is running for governor.
National Democrats, meanwhile, appear eager to take on Fiorina, who left Hewlett-Packard five years ago amid controversy.
"The hallmark of Carly Fiorina's résumé is her tenure at Hewlett-Packard, where she laid off 28,000 Americans while shipping jobs overseas, just before taking a $21 million golden parachute," National Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesman Eric Schultz said. "Given that record, the United States Senate is the last place Carly Fiorina should go next."
|
[
"who was the first woman to lead fortune 500 company?",
"Who was first woman to lead Fortune 500 company?",
"where was she a ceo?",
"who will she face in november?",
"who is barbara boxer?",
"what percent of republican voters are undecided?",
"what percentage is undecided?"
] |
[
"Carly Fiorina",
"Carly Fiorina",
"Hewlett-Packard",
"California Assemblyman Chuck DeVore",
"three-term Sen.",
"60",
"60 percent"
] |
question: who was the first woman to lead fortune 500 company?, answer: Carly Fiorina | question: Who was first woman to lead Fortune 500 company?, answer: Carly Fiorina | question: where was she a ceo?, answer: Hewlett-Packard | question: who will she face in november?, answer: California Assemblyman Chuck DeVore | question: who is barbara boxer?, answer: three-term Sen. | question: what percent of republican voters are undecided?, answer: 60 | question: what percentage is undecided?, answer: 60 percent
|
(CNN) -- Former Italian international striker Christian Vieri has left Serie A side Atalanta by mutual consent, blaming constant jeering from the club's fans for his decision to leave.
Veteran striker Vieri scored twice in nine appearances for Atalanta this season
The 35-year-old, back at his third stint with the Bergamo-based side, has failed to make an impression this season, and has become the focus of fans' frustrations after scoring just two goals in nine appearances.
"I want to thank Atalanta for the way they have dealt with me throughout the season and throughout my previous experiences wearing the black and blue shirt," said Vieri in a statement on the club's official Web site.
Atalanta president Alessandro Ruggeri revealed the club had wanted the former Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan striker to stay but that his mind was made up.
"I'm disappointed as I'm sure everyone who loves football is. I don't know what he will do now, whether or not he will continue to play after this experience with Atalanta," said Ruggeri.
"I haven't spoken to him yet but my colleagues have and he was adamant, I don't think there was any way to make him stay."
Vieri has changed clubs 13 times since beconing a professional in 1991, playing for Italy's three biggest teams as well as Atletico Madrid in Spain and Monaco in France.
His best season was in 2002-03, when he scored 24 goals in 23 league appearances for Inter.
|
[
"What caused fans to jeer?",
"What role did Vieri have?",
"What will Christian Vieri leave?",
"How many times did Vieri change clubs?",
"What times did Vieri change clubs?",
"When was Vieri's professional debut?",
"What nationality is Christian Vieri?",
"What age is the striker?"
] |
[
"frustrations",
"Italian international striker",
"Serie A side Atalanta",
"13",
"13",
"1991,",
"Italian",
"35-year-old,"
] |
question: What caused fans to jeer?, answer: frustrations | question: What role did Vieri have?, answer: Italian international striker | question: What will Christian Vieri leave?, answer: Serie A side Atalanta | question: How many times did Vieri change clubs?, answer: 13 | question: What times did Vieri change clubs?, answer: 13 | question: When was Vieri's professional debut?, answer: 1991, | question: What nationality is Christian Vieri?, answer: Italian | question: What age is the striker?, answer: 35-year-old,
|
(CNN) -- Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney addressed the Republican National Convention on Wednesday. Here is the text of that speech:
Former Gov. Mitt Romney says Sen. John McCain will rein in government spending.
Romney: Thank you. Thank you so very much. Ann and I love you all. We have a deep feeling in our hearts for you.
We respect you for the values you have and the vision we have for America together. Thank you so much, our dear friends. We sure love you. Thank you.
You know, for decades now, the Washington sun has been rising in the east. You see, Washington has been looking to the eastern elites, to the editorial pages of the Times and the Post, and to the broadcasters from the -- from the coast. Yes. Watch Romney's entire speech »
If America really wants to change, it's time to look for the sun in the west, because it's about to rise and shine from Arizona and Alaska.
Last week, the Democratic convention talked about change. But what do you think? Is Washington now, liberal or conservative? Let me ask you some questions.
Is a Supreme Court decision liberal or conservative that awards Guantanamo terrorists with constitutional rights? It's liberal.
Is a government liberal or conservative that puts the interests of the teachers union ahead of the needs of our children? It's liberal.
Is a Congress liberal or conservative that stops nuclear power plants and off-shore drilling, making us more and more dependent on Middle Eastern tyrants? It's liberal.
Is government spending, putting aside inflation, liberal or conservative if it doubles since 1980? It's liberal.
We need change all right: change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington.
We have a prescription for every American who wants change in Washington: Throw out the big-government liberals and elect John McCain and Sarah Palin.
It's the same prescription for a stronger economy. I spent 25 years in the private sector. I've done business in many foreign countries. I know why jobs come and why they go away. And I know that liberals don't have a clue.
They think that we have the biggest and strongest economy in the world because of our government. They're wrong. America is strong because of the ingenuity, and entrepreneurship, and hard work of the American people.
The American people have always been the source of our nation's strength, and they always will be.
We strengthen our people and our economy when we preserve and promote opportunity. Opportunity is what lets hope become reality.
Opportunity expands when there's excellence and choice in education, when taxes are lowered, when every citizen has affordable, portable health insurance, and when constitutional freedoms are preserved.
Opportunity rises when children are raised in homes and schools that are free from pornography, and promiscuity, and drugs, where there are homes that are blessed with family values and the presence of a mom and a dad.
America -- America cannot long lead the family of nations if we fail the family here at home.
You see, liberals would replace opportunity with dependency on government largesse. They grow government and raise taxes to put more people on Medicaid, to take work requirements out of welfare, and to grow the ranks of those who pay no taxes at all.
Dependency is death to initiative, to risk-taking and opportunity. It's time to stop the spread of government dependency and fight it like the poison it is.
You know, it's time for the party of big ideas, not the party of Big Brother.
Our economy is under attack. China is acting like Adam Smith on steroids, buying oil from the world's worst and selling nuclear technology. Russia and the oil states are siphoning more than $500 billion a year from us in what could become the greatest transfer of economic wealth in the history of the world.
This is no time for timid, liberal, empty gestures.
Our economy has slowed down this
|
[
"What type of party does Romney support?",
"What did Romney say it's time for?"
] |
[
"Republican",
"to stop the spread of government dependency and fight"
] |
question: What type of party does Romney support?, answer: Republican | question: What did Romney say it's time for?, answer: to stop the spread of government dependency and fight
|
(CNN) -- Former Miss California USA Carrie Prejean wants to set the record straight.
Carrie Prejean says pageant officials wanted her to make appearances for Playboy and a gay movie premiere.
Prejean garnered widespread criticism when she declared her opposition to same-sex marriage in a response to a question posed to her during the Miss USA pageant.
Prejean was allowed to keep her Miss California USA crown in May, despite a controversy over topless photos and missed appearances. However, state pageant Executive Director Keith Lewis took her crown on Wednesday, saying it was a business decision based solely on "contract violations."
Prejean offered her side of the story when she spoke with CNN's Larry King on Friday. She also discussed whether she would sue to reclaim her title and her future plans. The following is an edited version of the interview.
Larry King: You've had a couple of days now, Carrie, to think it all over and it's sunk in. What are your feelings today?
Carrie Prejean: I'm definitely a little bit surprised just by the way that I found out about this. You know, I was called by the media to inform me that I was fired.
King: Are you saying the pageant didn't call you?
Prejean: No. I haven't received any phone calls. In fact, my lawyer found out from the media, as well, before we received any contact. I still have not, to this day, received any contact from Mr. Lewis.
King: Now, since they were so supportive of you at the time and after the Trump announcement, what do you make of the fact that they didn't call you?
Prejean: Well, I think Mr. Trump was definitely in the middle. And I think that, you know, he has only heard one side.
Ultimately, at the end of the day, you have to think about, Are you going to release Mr. Keith Lewis or are you going to release Carrie Prejean? I think that they had to release the beauty queen at the end of the day.
King: How do you respond to (charges from Lewis)?
Prejean: Well, Larry, all I can tell you was this basically comes down to the answer that I gave the night of the pageant. As you can see, Mr. Lewis does not agree with the stance that I took. I think he's very angry. I think he's hurt. He said in a previous statement that he's deeply saddened and hurt that -- what Carrie Prejean believes in -- a marriage is between a man and a woman. Politics and religion have no play in the Miss California family.
My question is, then why was the question asked at the pageant in the first place? If politics has no role in the pageant, why was I given this question?
It was a hidden personal agenda that judge No. 8 asked, and I think that they were not ready for my answer that I gave.
King: Let's say they were upset by your remarks. They didn't like your answer. Why didn't they just tell Donald Trump, we're unhappy and let's pick the runner-up or whatever?
Prejean: He absolutely did. I mean Keith Lewis held a press conference in Los Angeles and didn't invite me to the press conference and, you know, awarded the first runner up as the new ambassador of California. That is just undermining me and undermining his own titleholder from day one. Watch how e-mails between Prejean, Lewis may have contributed to firing »
As far as the other appearances, I've had some inappropriate appearances that Keith Lewis has asked me to do. And I'm sure you're aware of them already -- one of them being Playboy; another one being a reality show which is being filmed in Costa Rica. So had I said yes to these, I mean, I would have been out of the country.
Again, Playboy, I couldn't believe. I was completely shocked that he would even
|
[
"What inappropriate circumstances were part of Prejean's complaint",
"What is the reason Carrie Prejean was fired?",
"What did Carrie Prejean learn from the media",
"What was Carrie Prejean asked to do by the pageant director?",
"On what topic did Prejean's response cause controversy",
"Who informed Prejean of her loss?",
"What did Prejen lose?",
"What did Carrie Prejean loss?"
] |
[
"says pageant officials wanted her to make appearances for Playboy and a gay movie premiere.",
"she declared her opposition to same-sex marriage",
"that I was fired.",
"make appearances for Playboy and a gay movie premiere.",
"same-sex marriage",
"the media",
"her Miss California USA crown",
"her crown"
] |
question: What inappropriate circumstances were part of Prejean's complaint, answer: says pageant officials wanted her to make appearances for Playboy and a gay movie premiere. | question: What is the reason Carrie Prejean was fired?, answer: she declared her opposition to same-sex marriage | question: What did Carrie Prejean learn from the media, answer: that I was fired. | question: What was Carrie Prejean asked to do by the pageant director?, answer: make appearances for Playboy and a gay movie premiere. | question: On what topic did Prejean's response cause controversy, answer: same-sex marriage | question: Who informed Prejean of her loss?, answer: the media | question: What did Prejen lose?, answer: her Miss California USA crown | question: What did Carrie Prejean loss?, answer: her crown
|
(CNN) -- Former NBA star and TNT sports analyst Charles Barkley attended the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday and answered five questions for CNN.com at the CNN Grill.
Former NBA star Charles Barkley says the next president must deal with poverty and the war in Iraq.
CNN.com: Why are you here in Denver?
Barkley: I just wanted to be here. I'm just so excited. I never thought in my lifetime we'd have a black man with a legitimate shot of being president.
CNN.com: Are you a Barack Obama supporter?
Barkley: Barack has been a friend of mine for a long time. I met him when I was writing my last book, and he was running for Senate, and I got to know him, and we stayed in contact. I consider him a friend. I think he'd make a fantastic president. I want to make it clear that if I didn't think he could do the job, I wouldn't vote for him. I think he'd make a fantastic president. And I'm not voting for him because he's black. I think he's a great person.
CNN.com: What do you think the Democrats need to do here to win the White House?
Barkley: I think they've got to just make sure to get those troops home from Iraq, that's a big deal. But No. 1, we've got to give poor people a chance. America is divided by economics, and we as Americans, we've got to do a better job of supporting poor people.
CNN.com: How?
Barkley: We've got to improve the public school system. If you're born in this country poor, whether you're white or black, you're going to be born in a bad neighborhood; you're going to go to a bad school. It's going to be very difficult for poor people to be successful. iReport.com: Are you at the DNC? Share sights, sounds
CNN.com: What are you doing in Denver for fun?
Barkley: I'm going to the Hill Harper party tonight. Last night we just went out and had a real nice meal and just took it easy because I knew today was going to be a long day. I just want to be here. Plain and simple.
CNN.com: Are you running for governor in Alabama?
Barkley: I'm planning on running for governor. I can't screw up Alabama. Politics, it's just so important, and I just want to do good things with my name, and I'm just going to keep continuing to do that.
|
[
"What has been a priority?",
"What does the TNT sports analyst say?",
"What should be a priority?",
"What office is Charles Barkley running for?",
"What does Barkley say about schools?",
"Whoi is running for governor of Alabama?",
"Who does Charles Barkley favor?",
"What did Charles Barkley say?",
"Who does Barkley favor?",
"What channel that has sports is mentioned?",
"What did TNT say?"
] |
[
"get those troops home from Iraq,",
"the next president must deal with poverty and the war in Iraq.",
"poverty",
"governor.",
"We've got to improve the public",
"Charles Barkley",
"Barack",
"the next president must deal with poverty and the war in Iraq.",
"Barack Obama",
"TNT",
"the next president must deal with poverty and the war in Iraq."
] |
question: What has been a priority?, answer: get those troops home from Iraq, | question: What does the TNT sports analyst say?, answer: the next president must deal with poverty and the war in Iraq. | question: What should be a priority?, answer: poverty | question: What office is Charles Barkley running for?, answer: governor. | question: What does Barkley say about schools?, answer: We've got to improve the public | question: Whoi is running for governor of Alabama?, answer: Charles Barkley | question: Who does Charles Barkley favor?, answer: Barack | question: What did Charles Barkley say?, answer: the next president must deal with poverty and the war in Iraq. | question: Who does Barkley favor?, answer: Barack Obama | question: What channel that has sports is mentioned?, answer: TNT | question: What did TNT say?, answer: the next president must deal with poverty and the war in Iraq.
|
(CNN) -- Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky faces additional child sex charges involving two more alleged victims, bringing the total to 10, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly.
Sandusky was arrested Wednesday and charged with four counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and two counts of unlawful contact with a minor, allegedly involving two men who were boys at the time of the encounters.
"Today's criminal charges were recommended by a statewide investigating grand jury, based on evidence and testimony that was received following the initial arrest of Sandusky on November 5th," Kelly said in a news release.
Each count is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and $25,000 in fines.
The former coach also faces one new count of indecent assault and two counts of endangering a child's welfare, each punishable by up to seven years behind bars and $15,000 in fines. And Sandusky faces a single new count of indecent assault and two counts of corruption of minors.
"As in many of the other cases identified to date, the contact with Sandusky allegedly fit a pattern of 'grooming' victims," Kelly said in the news release. "Beginning with outings to football games and gifts; they later included physical contact that escalated to sexual assaults."
Sandusky, who maintains his innocence, will face a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
His attorney, Joe Amendola, blamed prosecutors for turning the case into "a media circus," adding that Sandusky would have willingly turned himself in.
Sandusky surrendered when he faced the initial charges.
Amendola, who learned of the new charges from a CNN producer in his office, said he was unhappy prosecutors did not make sure he was aware of the arrest before the media.
"I had a few words with the prosecutor," Amendola told CNN's Kathleen Johnston. "What I told them essentially is, if we are going to play hardball, both sides can play and I was a pretty good pitcher in my day."
"The question begs to be asked, why would the attorney general's office decide not to tell me ... and why did they go to his house and take him out in handcuffs?" Amendola said. "I think the answer is self-explanatory."
Amendola said he expected his client might not be able to post the $250,000 bail before Thursday because he didn't have time to make the arrangements.
The alleged victims -- identified by authorities as Victim 9 and Victim 10 -- are believed to have encountered Sandusky at The Second Mile charity, a nonprofit organization he founded for underprivileged children.
Victim 9 was between 11 and 12 years old when he first met the former coach back in 2004. Sandusky allegedly gave the boy gifts and money and took him to university football games, according to the grand jury presentment.
The alleged victim testified he would make overnight visits to Sandusky's home and stay in a basement bedroom. He described a pattern of sexual assaults over a period of years, the grand jury said.
"The victim testified that on at least one occasion he screamed for help, knowing that Sandusky's wife was upstairs, but no one ever came to help him," the report states.
Sandusky allegedly met Victim 10, then about age 10, in 1997 after a counselor recommended the boy attend the charity "because of difficulties in his home life." That witness said Sandusky performed oral sex on him and indecently touched him in an outdoor pool on campus, according to the grand jury.
A grand jury report made public last month detailed 40 charges of rape and molestation against the former coach in a child sex abuse scandal that, at the time, involved eight alleged victims.
Wednesday's announcement came on the heels of an attorney's statement on behalf of a 19-year-old man who stepped forward with claims that Sandusky gave him whiskey and sexually abused him, also in 2004.
The man pointed to a single incident at the university's football building, according to attorney Chuck Schmidt of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
He was 12 at the time and
|
[
"What Sandusky`s attorney said about his client?",
"What is announced against Sandusky?",
"what did Sandusky's attorney says ?",
"What does Sandusky's attorney say?"
] |
[
"\"What I told them essentially is, if we are going to play hardball, both sides can play and I was a pretty good pitcher in my day.\"",
"additional child sex charges",
"blamed prosecutors for turning the case into \"a media circus,\"",
"\"a media circus,\""
] |
question: What Sandusky`s attorney said about his client?, answer: "What I told them essentially is, if we are going to play hardball, both sides can play and I was a pretty good pitcher in my day." | question: What is announced against Sandusky?, answer: additional child sex charges | question: what did Sandusky's attorney says ?, answer: blamed prosecutors for turning the case into "a media circus," | question: What does Sandusky's attorney say?, answer: "a media circus,"
|
(CNN) -- Former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky's wife, Dottie, told CNN that she is angry about accusations of child sexual abuse occurring in her home, calling them "absolutely untrue."
"No child who ever visited our home was ever forced to stay in our basement and fed there," she said. "We would never do anything to hurt them."
Her husband faces more than 50 charges surrounding a child sex abuse scandal that allegedly spanned more than 15 years.
"We don't know why these young men have made these false accusations, but we want everyone to know they are untrue," she added.
An alleged victim testified that he made overnight visits to Sandusky's home as a boy and stayed in a basement bedroom. While there, he described a pattern of sexual assaults over a period of several years, according to the grand jury report.
"The victim testified that on at least one occasion he screamed for help, knowing that Sandusky's wife was upstairs, but no one ever came to help him," the report states.
Responding to the allegations, Dottie Sandusky said she was "shocked and dismayed" by the alleged victim's testimony, calling his accusations false.
"I continue to believe in Jerry's innocence and all the good things he has done," she added.
The former defensive coordinator posted $250,000 bail and left jail on Thursday, one day after he was arrested on 12 new counts of abuse involving two new alleged victims, raising the total number of victims to 10.
Sandusky was then driven in a three-vehicle motorcade from the jail to his State College, Pennsylvania, home.
Authorities say he is currently under house arrest and must wear an electronic monitoring device. He'll also be restricted from contacting the alleged victims, possible witnesses, and must be supervised during any interactions with minors.
"As in many of the other cases identified to date, the contact with Sandusky allegedly fit a pattern of 'grooming' victims," said Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly. "Beginning with outings to football games and gifts; they later included physical contact that escalated to sexual assaults."
A grand jury report made public last month detailed 40 charges of rape and molestation against the former coach in a child sex abuse scandal that, at the time, involved eight alleged victims.
The lawyer for a 29-year-old man who is suing the school, Sandusky and Second Mile criticized Dottie Sandusky's statement.
"It really is a sad, clear demonstration of how sick she is because of how sick he is," said Jeff Anderson, who represents an accuser identified as "John Doe A." The Sanduskys both "in their own way deny what we all know to be and what has been revealed daily."
Anderson's client was not cited in the initial grand jury report. The plaintiff, who Anderson said was 10 years old when he first met Sandusky, alleged the former coach sexually abused him dozens of times over several years during the 1990s, the lawyer said.
"The idea that 11 men (10 from grand jury reports plus 'John Doe A') who have nothing to do with each other have fabricated this many stories of abuse is beyond rational," said Anderson's co-counsel, Marci Hamilton. "Victims rarely make up being sexually assaulted and abused."
"John Doe A" is cooperating with authorities, his lawyers said.
Sandusky, who maintains his innocence, will face a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, where his alleged victims are set to testify. It is expected to be the first time the former coach will face them in court.
The new accusers -- identified by authorities as Victim 9 and Victim 10 -- are believed to have encountered Sandusky at The Second Mile charity, a nonprofit organization he founded for underprivileged children.
Victim 9 was between 11 and 12 years old when he first met the former coach in 2004. Sandusky allegedly gave the boy gifts and money, and took him to university football games,
|
[
"What does Jerry Sandusky's wife say about the accusations?",
"How many charges does he face?",
"Does wife of Jerry Sandusky believe the accusations?",
"What did the attorney for one alleged victim say about Dottie Sandusky's statement?",
"Who denied the accusations?",
"How many counts related to a child sex scandal does he face?"
] |
[
"that she is angry",
"50",
"\"absolutely untrue.\"",
"he is currently under house arrest and must wear an electronic monitoring device.",
"Jerry Sandusky's wife, Dottie,",
"more than 50"
] |
question: What does Jerry Sandusky's wife say about the accusations?, answer: that she is angry | question: How many charges does he face?, answer: 50 | question: Does wife of Jerry Sandusky believe the accusations?, answer: "absolutely untrue." | question: What did the attorney for one alleged victim say about Dottie Sandusky's statement?, answer: he is currently under house arrest and must wear an electronic monitoring device. | question: Who denied the accusations?, answer: Jerry Sandusky's wife, Dottie, | question: How many counts related to a child sex scandal does he face?, answer: more than 50
|
(CNN) -- Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino, whose "People Power" movement pushed out longtime strongman Ferdinand Marcos less than three years after her husband's assassination, has died at age 76, her family announced Saturday.
"She was the agent of change in Philippine democracy," said Ray Donato, the nation's consul-general in Atlanta.
Aquino, the first woman to lead the Philippines, had been battling colon cancer since March 2008 and died of cardio-respiratory arrest at 3:18 a.m. Saturday (3:18 p.m. Friday ET), said Mai Mislang, a spokeswoman for her son, Philippine Sen. Benigno Aquino III.
Funeral arrangements were being set up, Mislang said. Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has also announced a 10-day mourning period for the former president, said Ray Donato, the country's consul-general in Atlanta.
"She was the agent of change in Philippine democracy, and almost all the Filipinos I know revered her during her presidency," Donato said.
Aquino had been born into a wealthy family and was educated in the United States. She had not been involved in politics before her husband, opposition leader Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., was gunned down at Manila's airport in August 1983 as he returned from exile.
The political novice took over the leadership of her husband's movement after his death and challenged Marcos in a 1986 election, making a yellow dress her trademark and bolstered by the support of the country's Roman Catholic churches.
Marcos had been backed by the United States, the former colonial power in the Philippines, for two decades as a stalwart anti-communist. He and his wife Imelda were friends of then-President Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy. But widespread allegations of electoral fraud and a mutiny by the country's military led the Reagan administration to withdraw its support, and Marcos went into exile in Hawaii.
Aquino took office in a country with a $28 billion debt, widespread poverty and a persistent Marxist insurgency. She put in place a U.S.-style constitution that limited presidents to a single six-year term and survived seven coup attempts -- including one that was supressed with American help.
She also oversaw the closure of the major U.S. military bases in the country before leaving office in 1992. The bases had been a bulwark of American power in the Pacific since the early 1900s and employed nearly 80,000 Filipinos, but Aquino's opponents argued the country was too dependent on the United States. Aquino announced in 1990 that it was time to begin negotiating the "orderly withdrawal" of U.S. forces.
|
[
"How long is the mourning period?",
"What is the president's name?",
"What is being set up?",
"What does arroyo announce?",
"What is Aquino battling?",
"What had Aquino been battling?",
"what is being set up",
"Aquino had been battling what illness?",
"What was the name of the president?",
"What country is President Arroyo from?",
"How long is the morning period?",
"When did Aquino succomb to cancer?",
"what did the president annouce"
] |
[
"10-day",
"Gloria Macapagal Arroyo",
"Funeral arrangements",
"10-day mourning period",
"colon cancer",
"colon cancer",
"Funeral arrangements",
"colon cancer",
"Corazon Aquino,",
"Philippine",
"10-day",
"3:18 a.m. Saturday",
"10-day mourning period"
] |
question: How long is the mourning period?, answer: 10-day | question: What is the president's name?, answer: Gloria Macapagal Arroyo | question: What is being set up?, answer: Funeral arrangements | question: What does arroyo announce?, answer: 10-day mourning period | question: What is Aquino battling?, answer: colon cancer | question: What had Aquino been battling?, answer: colon cancer | question: what is being set up, answer: Funeral arrangements | question: Aquino had been battling what illness?, answer: colon cancer | question: What was the name of the president?, answer: Corazon Aquino, | question: What country is President Arroyo from?, answer: Philippine | question: How long is the morning period?, answer: 10-day | question: When did Aquino succomb to cancer?, answer: 3:18 a.m. Saturday | question: what did the president annouce, answer: 10-day mourning period
|
(CNN) -- Former Philippines President Gloria Arroyo was stopped from boarding a plane at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport Tuesday, hours after the country's Supreme Court overruled government-imposed restrictions on her travels.
The Philippines government fears that Arroyo, who is facing allegations of corruption and electoral fraud, will flee if allowed to leave the country.
But the Supreme Court ruled 8-5 in favor of a temporary restraining order on the travel ban, declaring it was unconstitutional as Arroyo has yet to be formally charged with a crime. A Supreme Court spokesman, Midas Marquez, told reporters the court's ruling was "consistent with the constitutional presumption of innocence."
Arroyo was reportedly boarding the flight to seek medical treatment abroad for her bone disease diagnosed earlier this year, following three unsuccessful spinal operations in the Philippines. She arrived at the airport in an ambulance and was transported to the departure gate in a wheelchair while wearing a neck brace.
Arroyo's lawyer, Raul Lambino, told CNN that the former first couple was "subjected to indignity and embarrassment at the airport", calling the government's defiance of the Supreme Court order "abhorrent and in violation of the rights of the individual guaranteed by the (Philippine's) constitution and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights."
But presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda described the situation as "all high drama," according to media reports. "They (the Arroyos) want the public to sympathize with them," he added.
He said that while the Arroyo couple would be treated with dignity, the government would be "firm in our decision not to allow them to leave the country." Arroyo's husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, is also accused of corruption.
The Supreme Court, which is mostly staffed by judges hired under Arroyo, defied current President Benigno Aquino's stated mandate of investigating allegations of corruption during Arroyo's 2001-2010 presidential term. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the government intends to appeal the court's decision.
Lambino told CNN that even though the government plans to file a motion for reconsideration, its defiance of the Supreme Court order yesterday was nevertheless "illegal."
|
[
"Who was stopped from boarding a plane at Manila airport?",
"What did the supreme court overrule?",
"Who was stopped from boarding the plane at Manila airport?",
"What did the supreme court do?",
"What do the Philippines government fear?"
] |
[
"Philippines President Gloria Arroyo",
"government-imposed restrictions on her travels.",
"Gloria Arroyo",
"ruled 8-5 in favor of a temporary restraining order on the travel ban,",
"will flee if allowed to leave the country."
] |
question: Who was stopped from boarding a plane at Manila airport?, answer: Philippines President Gloria Arroyo | question: What did the supreme court overrule?, answer: government-imposed restrictions on her travels. | question: Who was stopped from boarding the plane at Manila airport?, answer: Gloria Arroyo | question: What did the supreme court do?, answer: ruled 8-5 in favor of a temporary restraining order on the travel ban, | question: What do the Philippines government fear?, answer: will flee if allowed to leave the country.
|
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