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-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An Aruban police dive team will search the site where an underwater photograph was taken that might show human remains , a spokeswoman for the Aruban prosecutor said Saturday . The picture has renewed interest in the nearly 5-year-old Natalee Holloway case . Officials first heard of the picture , taken in October by a vacationing American couple , on Thursday , Ann Angela , a spokeswoman for Aruban prosecutor Peter Blanken , said . `` We have received the picture , and the diving team of the Aruban police will start doing preliminary work at the spot where we believe it was taken , '' Angela told CNN . She declined to identify the location , saying authorities want to avoid attracting onlookers during the search . The picture has raised the notion that , if it shows human remains , they could be those of Holloway , an 18-year-old Alabama high school student whose 2005 disappearance while on a graduation trip to Aruba was widely publicized . Holloway was last reported seen leaving a bar in the capital of Oranjestad on May 30 . CNN could not independently verify the authenticity of the photo nor confirm whether it shows human remains . Holloway 's mother , Beth Twitty , declined to comment on the photo . The photo was taken by a Pennsylvania woman using a disposable film camera during the first stop on her Royal Caribbean cruise . Three months after snapping what she said she thought were pictures of colorful fish , Patti Muldowney and her husband said they realized that one picture contained what they believe appear to be human remains . `` When I looked at that photo , I said , ` By darn , that certainly does look like a skeleton , ' '' John Muldowney told HLN 's `` Nancy Grace '' on Friday . `` You can see the skull . You can see where the eye sockets were . You can see where the chin was . `` It 's lying flat on its back . And its arms are cradled around . You can almost see fingers . And then on the one sleeve it looks like some kind of maybe clothing that 's deteriorating . '' The couple , who took the photo to police and the FBI , said it was taken near a shipwreck . The FBI said Friday that it is investigating . `` The photo has been made available to all elements of the FBI that are involved in this foreign police cooperation case , '' Mike Kortan , assistant director of the FBI 's office of public affairs , said in a statement . `` Investigative leads are being pursued and the effort is ongoing . '' The main suspect in the Holloway case , Joran van der Sloot , remains free . Van der Sloot has made alleged confession-like statements in TV interviews , one of which involves dumping Holloway 's body in the ocean after she suffered a seizure on the beach . Aruban judges have ruled there is n't enough evidence to arrest him . Whether the object in the photo is human remains is still up for debate . In underwater burials , it is typical for arms , legs and other extremities to be dispersed and for lighter bones to be carried away from heavier bones by fish , wildlife and water , according to Heather Walsh-Haney , a forensic anthropologist . `` It looks as if there 's something that may be on top of the skeleton , '' Walsh-Haney said of the image in the photograph . `` That would certainly bode well for preserving the center of the mass of the body and keeping most of it there . '' Dr. Marty Makary , a physician who serves on the faculty at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and School of Medicine in Baltimore , Maryland , said he sees mixed signs , some indicating the image may not be a skeleton . `` What I do n't like about the photo is there 's no spinal cord or vertebral column , '' he said . `` In fact , below this roundish skull-type profile you see a curvature which does n't really represent a normal spinal column . '' CNN 's Tracy Sabo and Philip Rosenbaum contributed to this report . | Picture has renewed interest in case of missing Alabama teen Natalee Holloway . Couple took underwater photo near shipwreck during cruise stop in Aruba . Whether the object in the photo is human remains is up for debate . Holloway disappeared during senior trip to Aruba in 2005 ; no arrests have been made . | [[196, 277], [0, 15], [36, 137], [2035, 2088], [2091, 2127], [743, 843], [1494, 1581], [2833, 2855], [2859, 2871], [3537, 3586]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has included three uncapped players in his final 23-man squad for the World Cup in South Africa . Winger Pedro Rodriguez , 22 , was named along with his Barcelona teammate Victor Valdes , who edged out 19-year-old David De Gea and Villarreal 's Diego Lopez for the third goalkeeping place . De Gea 's 21-year-old clubmate Javi Martinez was handed a midfield berth , having impressed as Atletico Madrid won the UEFA Europa League this season and reached the final of the Spanish Cup . `` They have had a good season , they are coming to strengthen the squad as substitutes for other players , '' Del Bosque told reporters . Martinez 's fellow under-21 international , Osasuna defender Cesar Azpilicueta , missed out along with midfielders Santi Cazorla and Marcos Senna , who both featured when Spain won Euro 2008 . Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo was also chopped , as was another member of the triumphant 2008 squad , Dani Guiza . Del Bosque is giving England-based stars Fernando Torres and Cesc Fabregas every chance to be fit , retaining the duo as they recover from injuries . Midfielder Andres Iniesta is also expected to be ready , having returned from a calf problem in the last game of the Spanish league season as Barcelona claimed the title . Barcelona 's 19-year-old Bojan Krkic , who missed Spain 's Euro 2008 success at his own request due to fatigue , did not even make the initial 30-man squad named earlier this month . England coach Fabio Capello was forced to go back on his previously iron-clad rules in selecting his preliminary squad for the World Cup . The Italian has always said he would not pick players who are injured or out of form , but brought Liverpool 's Jamie Carragher out of international retirement to bolster his defensive options as cover with injury-prone captain Rio Ferdinand and Ledley King also in the 30-man line-up . Neither Carragher nor versatile Tottenham star King have yet played for Capello , who retained his midfield mainstay Gareth Barry despite the Manchester City player being in doubt for the June 12 opener against the United States due to injury . Carragher made himself unavailable in 2007 after not being often used by previous managers Sven-Goran Eriksson and Steve McClaren despite being regularly named in squads . Blog : Will `` the Force '' be with Capello at World Cup ? Capello also asked Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes to become available again following his own international retirement in 2004 , but the 35-year-old turned down the opportunity . `` He said no , he preferred to stay with the family . But I tried , '' Capello told the UK Press Association . Liverpool fullback Glen Johnson was named despite being sidelined with injury , while striker Emile Heskey retained his place although he has not been a first-choice selection for his club Aston Villa . Key forward Wayne Rooney was named despite his niggling groin problem , with Tottenham 's Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch taking the other striking spots along with Sunderland 's 25-goal Darren Bent . Winger Aaron Lennon was included after only recently returning with Tottenham after a long-term absence , as was fellow right-sided player Shaun Wright-Phillips despite his failure to win a regular place at Manchester City , who also have 22-year-old Adam Johnson in the squad . Midfielder Joe Cole also got the nod , having last played for England in 2008 , after a strong end to a season that saw him on the fringe of league champions Chelsea 's first team . Germany captain Michael Ballack was ruled out of the World Cup after suffering an ankle injury in the English FA Cup final . The Chelsea midfielder was caught by a bad tackle from Portsmouth 's Berlin-born Kevin-Prince Boateng , who has decided to switch nationalities to play for Group D opponents Ghana and whose half-brother Jerome was earlier named in the preliminary 27-man German squad . With No. 1 goalkeeper Rene Adler also sidelined by injury , the 35-year-old Hans-Jorg Butt received his first call-up since 20003 to vie for a starting place with Schalke 's Manuel Neuer and Werder Bremen 's Tim Wiese . Butt 's young Bayern Munich clubmates Holger Badstuber , 21 , and Thomas Muller , 20 , gave the Bundesliga champions seven players in coach Joachim Low 's squad . Italy 's 2006 World Cup-winning coach Marcelo Lippi has stuck with the players who qualified for South Africa in his 30-man squad , resisting suggestions that he should bring in-form Roma striker Francesco Totti out of international retirement . Totti 's on-loan teammate Luca Toni also missed out along with veteran Juventus forward Alessandro Del Piero , with Villarreal 's Giuseppe Rossi one of seven strikers named . Inter Milan 's controversial Italy under-21 forward Mario Balotelli missed out as Fabio Quagliarella -LRB- Napoli -RRB- , Vincenzo Iaquinta -LRB- Juventus -RRB- , Antonio Di Natale -LRB- Udinese -RRB- , Marco Borriello -LRB- Milan -RRB- , Alberto Gilardino -LRB- Fiorentina -RRB- and Giampaolo Pazzini -LRB- Sampdoria -RRB- were picked . Lippi omitted his former Juventus player Nicola Legrottaglie despite the defender being included in a recent 29-man training squad . France coach Raymond Domenech has trimmed his initial 30-man selection down to 24 , with Marseille striker Hatem Ben Arfa and Lille goalkeeper Mickael Landreau dropped along with defenders Adil Rami and Rod Fanni , midfielder Yann Mvila and forward Jimmy Briand . Defender Williams Gallas has been warned by Domenech that he must prove his fitness , having been sidelined since March with a leg injury . His Arsenal clubmate Samir Nasri missed out on the initial squad , but Gael Clichy , Abou Diaby and Bacary Sagna were included . Young Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema also failed to pass the first selection obstacle , while the omission of veteran midfielder Patrick Vieira meant Thierry Henry was the only survivor from the 1998 World Cup-winning squad . Veteran Netherlands striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy has missed out on a place in coach Bert van Marwijk 's 30-man , potentially signaling the end of the 33-year-old 's international career . Van Nistelrooy left Real Madrid to join German club Hamburg to revive his hopes following a serious knee injury , but Van Marwijk said the player had not returned to a high enough level to be selected . `` I told him that we have followed him closely and admire his commitment and dedication to get to the World Cup , '' Van Marwijk told AD Sportwereld . `` I believe that Ruud is fit , but after his lengthy knee injury he does not have time to get back to his old level . '' Dutch champions Twente have only two players in the squad , which features 14 overseas-based names . Feyenoord defender Giovanni van Bronckhorst , 35 , has announced he will retire after the month-long tournament . Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz named a 24-man squad due to doubts over a couple of players including Real Madrid defender Pepe , who has only just returned to training after being sidelined since December . Goalkeepers Beto and Daniel Fernandes were named as deputies to Braga 's Eduardo despite not playing in any of the qualifiers , but there were no other surprises for the 2006 semifinalists , who will be led by Real superstar Cristiano Ronaldo . Slovakia defender Martin Skrtel , Filip Holosko and fellow striker Robert Vittek were named in a 29-man squad by coach Vladimir Weiss despite their recent injury problems . Liverpool 's Skrtel has not played for three months since breaking a bone in his foot , while Holosko is struggling to get over a broken leg suffered last year and Vittek -- who is also based in Turkey -- has had a knee problem . Weiss also selected his 20-year-old son and namesake Vladimir of English club Manchester City , who as loaned to Bolton this season . Serbia coach Radomir Antic named just five home-based players in his 30-man squad , with six from English Premier League clubs including key defender Nemanja Vidic of Manchester United . Slovenia boss Matjaz Kek kept faith with the players who helped the small East European nation qualify for the second time when he named his 30-man squad . Denmark coach Morten Olsen picked Thomas Sorensen in his 26-man squad despite the goalkeeper suffered a dislocated elbow on duty with English club Stoke last month . Olsen , who won more than 100 caps as a player and took Denmark to the 2002 World Cup , gave defender Patrick Mtiliga his first call-up since his debut in November 2008 . Greece coach Otto Rehhagel has picked Christos Patsatzoglou and Giorgos Seitaridis despite the duo 's struggles with injuries this season . The German selected nine overseas-based players including qualifying campaign top scorer Theofanis Gekas of Hertha Berlin , Celtic striker Georgios Samaras and Liverpool defender Sotiris Kyrgiakos . Switzerland defender Christoph Spycher has pulled out of coach Ottmar Hitzfeld 's experienced 23-man squad for the finals after failing to overcome a knee injury . The 32-year-old , who had already decided to retire from internationals after the tournament , has been replaced by Ludovic Magnin -- one of seven reserve players named by the German . Hitzfeld has stuck with the likes of Blaise Nkufo of Dutch champions Twente , fellow striker Alexander Frei and midfielder Hakin Yakin , who are all 30 and above . Defender Philippe Senderos was included despite his lack of action with English club Arsenal , while Sampdoria midfielder Marco Padalino and Kosovo-born Swiss under-21 international Xherdan Shaqiri were also included . | Barcelona 's Pedro and Victor Valdes among three uncapped players in Spain 's 23-man squad . England coach Fabio Capello brings Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher out of retirement . Italian names 30-man provisional World Cup squad featuring several injured players . Italy coach Marcelo Lippi omits veterans Francesco Totti , Luca Toni and Alessandro Del Piero . | [[0, 15], [19, 147], [148, 170], [173, 175], [178, 235], [1626, 1637], [1717, 1818], [8104, 8195], [4332, 4351], [4464, 4577], [4578, 4613], [4619, 4686]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- What the hell do we Republicans do now ? In the very short run , our course is obvious enough : There will be more votes on health care in the Senate , and we will vote nay again . But this is anti-climax territory . The decisive vote occurred Sunday night . The `` what next ? '' question pertains to the days further ahead , after President Obama signs the merged House-Senate legislation and `` Obamacare '' becomes the law of the land . Some Republicans talk of repealing the whole bill . That 's not very realistic . Even supposing that Republicans miraculously capture both houses of Congress in November , repeal will require a presidential signature . More relevantly : Do Republicans write a one-sentence bill declaring that the whole thing is repealed ? Will they vote to reopen the `` doughnut '' hole for prescription drugs for seniors ? To allow health insurers to deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions ? To kick millions of people off Medicaid ? It 's unimaginable , impossible . But there are things that can be done , and here are some early priorities : . 1 -RRB- One of the worst things about the Democrats ' plan is the method of financing : an increase in tax on high-income earners . At first that tax bites only a very small number , but the new taxes will surely be applied to larger and larger portions of the American population over time . Republicans champion lower taxes and faster economic growth . We need to start thinking now about how to get rid of these new taxes on work , saving and investment -- if necessary by finding other sources of revenue , including carbon taxes . 2 -RRB- We should quit defending employment-based health care . The leading Republican spokesman in the House on these issues , Rep. Paul Ryan , repeatedly complained during floor debate that the Obama plan would `` dump '' people out of employer-provided care into the exchanges . He said that as if it were a bad thing . Yet free-market economists from Milton Friedman onward have identified employer-provided care as the original sin of American health care . Employers choose different policies for employees than those employees would choose for themselves . The cost is concealed . Wages are depressed without employees understanding why . The day when every employee in America gets his or her insurance through an exchange will be a good day for market economics . It 's true that the exchanges are subsidized . So is employer-provided care , to the tune of almost $ 200 billion a year . 3 -RRB- We should call for reducing regulation of the policies sold inside the health care exchanges . The Democrats ' plans require every policy sold within the exchanges to meet certain strict conditions . American workers will lose the option of buying more basic but cheaper plans . It will be as if the only cable packages available were those that include all the premium channels . No bargains in that case . Republicans should press for more scope for insurers to cut prices if they think they can offer an attractive product that way . 4 -RRB- The Democratic plan requires businesses with payrolls more than $ 500,000 to buy health insurance for their workers or face fines of $ 2,000 per worker . Could there be a worse time to heap this new mandate on smaller employers ? Health insurance comes out of employee wages , plain and simple . Employers who do not offer health insurance must compete for labor against those who do -- and presumably pay equivalent wages for equivalent work . Uninsured employees have now through the exchanges been provided an easy and even subsidized way to buy their own coverage . There is no justification for the small-business fine : Republicans should press for repeal . That platform is ambitious enough -- but also workable , enactable and likely to appeal to voters . After 18 months of overheated rhetoric , it 's time at last for Republicans to get real . I 've been on a soapbox for months now about the harm that our overheated talk is doing to us . Yes , it mobilizes supporters -- but by mobilizing them with hysterical accusations and pseudo-information , overheated talk has made it impossible for representatives to represent and elected leaders to lead . Now the overheated talk is about to get worse . Over the past 48 hours , I 've heard conservatives compare the House bill to the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 -- a decisive step on the path to the Civil War . Conservatives have whipped themselves into spasms of outrage and despair that block all strategic thinking . Or almost all . The vitriolic talking heads on conservative talk radio and shock TV have very different imperatives from people in government . Talk radio thrives on confrontation and recrimination . When Rush Limbaugh said that he wanted Obama to fail , he was intelligently explaining his own interests . What he omitted to say -- but what is equally true -- is that he also wants Republicans to fail . If Republicans succeed -- if they govern successfully in office and negotiate attractive compromises out of office -- Rush 's listeners get less angry . And if they are less angry , they listen to the radio less and hear fewer ads for Sleep Number beds . So today 's defeat for free-market economics and Republican values is a huge win for the conservative entertainment industry . Their listeners and viewers will be even more enraged , even more frustrated , even more disappointed in everybody except the responsibility-free talkers on television and radio . For them , it 's mission accomplished . For the cause they purport to represent , however , the `` Waterloo '' threatened by GOP Sen. Jim DeMint last year regarding Obama and health care has finally arrived all right : Only it turns out to be our own . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of David Frum . | David Frum says Republicans suffered a big defeat with passage of health care . Frum says it 's not realistic to think the bill 's benefits , which will be popular , can be repealed . He says GOP can pledge to stave off higher taxes and more regulation of small businesses . Frum : Strategy served interests of talk radio by whipping up anger but led GOP astray . | [[523, 551]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A new report , due Thursday , raises questions about the Transportation Security Administration 's ability to keep airports safe from terrorists . The report by the Government Accountability Office casts doubts on TSA 's ability to adequately perform its security mission , said U.S. Rep. John Mica of Florida . Mica specifically wanted the GAO to determine how effective the TSA 's behavior detection program , or SPOT -LRB- Screening Passengers by Observation Techniques -RRB- , has been in deterring potential acts of terrorism . Mica will unveil the results of the report at a press conference , he said . As chairman of the subcommittee on aviation after the September 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks , Mica was instrumental in establishing the TSA . Now , he says he is a critic of its ballooning bureaucracy . | GAO report examines Transportation Security Administration 's work . Report specifically targets TSA 's behavior detection program . Report requested by congressman who helped create agency . | [[177, 258], [342, 439], [736, 783]] |
Jerusalem -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Israel 's government rejected a Qatari offer to re-establish trade relations that would have allowed the Gulf state to provide aid to Gaza , two senior Israeli government officials said Thursday . One official , who did not want to be named citing the sensitivity of the matter , said there had been `` tentative discussions '' within the Israeli government on the informal Qatari proposal , which would have linked the re-establishment of economic ties with Israel with Israel 's granting permission for the Gulf state to send reconstruction supplies and other goods into Gaza . The official said that the idea was rejected because it was seen `` as a way of bolstering Hamas '' and said American and Egyptian officials had expressed similar concerns . The same official said the proposal did not come as a `` formal request or offer '' from the Qatari government but could offer no details on who initially presented the idea . News of Israel 's rejection of the Qatari offer was first reported by Israeli newspaper Haaretz on Tuesday . An official from the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem could not immediately comment . Qatari officials could not immediately be reached for comment . Another senior Israeli government official said `` we were favorable '' to the idea of renewed relations , but that the Qatari `` precondition '' of allowing `` large amounts '' of goods into the Gaza was a deal breaker . The official said it was not clear who would have overseen the process . The proposal did not address Israel 's concerns `` about the unrestricted flow of material that can be used for defensive fortifications '' by Hamas and `` we had to say no , '' the official said . The Palestinian territory of Gaza has been subjected to an Israeli and Egyptian blockade since 2007 , when the Islamist group Hamas staged a violent coup ousting the Palestinian Authority government lead by Fatah , a rival political faction . Qatar and Israel maintained trade relations from 1996 until last year . Relations fell apart after the start of Israel 's military operation against Hamas in Gaza at the end of 2008 . The three-week campaign , dubbed Operation Cast Lead , ended with approximately 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis killed . In protest , the Qatari government in Doha ordered the Israeli trade office closed . Qatar was the only Gulf country to maintain official relations with the Jewish state . In a statement released earlier this month after a meeting of Arab leaders , the Qatari Prime Minister Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabor Al-Thani criticized Israel 's Gaza policy , saying it contravened international legitimacy . `` We have to concentrate on confronting the Israeli siege imposed on Gaza which is oppressive and it is our duty to save the Palestinians who are part of us and we are part of them , '' he said . Qatar has long sought to bolster its role in regional diplomacy . Bringing about a deal to send in construction supplies to Gaza would be regarded by many in the Arab world as a diplomatic coup , though it is unlikely that Egypt would be receptive to such an arrangement . The Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz reported Thursday that Egypt had expressed its opposition to Israel over the Qatari proposal , and that it was ultimately rejected so as not to upset the government of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak . Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki told CNN that `` the Israeli newspaper report is a fairy tale and quite illogical . '' `` Since when do the Israelis need to consult with Egypt when they want to establish relations with any other party ? '' Zaki asked . `` It is clear that the Israelis do not want to offend the Qataris and therefore they -LRB- the Israelis -RRB- resorted to their usual game in striking a nerve in order to start trouble between Egypt and Qatar , just to make Israel look innocent , '' the spokesman added . | Israeli officials say Qatar offered to re-establish trade relations . Qatar wanted to provide economic aid to Gaza . Israel fears any aid would bolster Hamas , officials say . | [[59, 144], [627, 749]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A BP official says a gusher of oil pouring from its damaged Gulf of Mexico well could be shut off as early as next week . BP Managing Director Bo Dudley said Thursday night the company will pump fluids into the well this weekend in the beginning of a process that -- if successful -- could lead to the leak finally being closed off in a matter of days . `` If that option does n't work , we 've got a second and a third option we 'll do after that , '' Dudley said on CNN 's Larry King on Thursday . `` We 're hopeful that next week we 'll be able to shut it off . '' Earlier in the day , BP acknowledged that the underwater gusher is bigger than estimated to date , as new video showed a cloud of crude billowing around its undersea siphon . Company spokesman Mark Proegler said Thursday that the siphon is now drawing about 5,000 barrels -LRB- 210,000 gallons -RRB- per day up to a ship on the surface of the Gulf -- as much as government and company officials had estimated the spill was pouring into the Gulf every day for a month . Proegler declined to estimate how much more oil was escaping . BP America Chairman Lamar McKay said Wednesday that the figure used by the oil spill response team had a degree of `` uncertainty '' built into it . But figures by independent researchers have run up to many times higher : Steve Wereley , a professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue University , told CNN 's `` American Morning '' that the spill could be as big as 20,000 to 100,000 barrels a day . And members of Congress released video from the company that showed much more oil pouring out of the damaged well than the siphon was capturing . Rep. Ed Markey , who leads a House subcommittee investigating the disaster , told reporters , `` I think now we are beginning to understand that we can not trust BP . '' `` People do not trust the experts any longer , '' said Markey , D-Massachusetts . `` BP has lost all credibility . Now the decisions will have to be made by others , because it is clear that they have been hiding the actual consequences of this spill . '' Meanwhile , the Coast Guard announced the creation of a federal Flow Rate Technical Group to assess the actual flow rate from the well . Coast Guard Capt. Ron LaBrec said that Adm. Thad Allen would oversee the team , which will include members from the Coast Guard , the Minerals Management Service , the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , the Department of Energy , the U.S. Geological Society and others from the science community and academia . The peer-reviewed team , which has already begun its work , is to determine the flow rate from the beginning of the incident to the present , LaBrec said . The Obama administration announced Thursday that it has ordered BP to release all data related to the massive spill , including environmental sampling analyses , internal investigation reports and details of the cleanup effort . In a letter to BP Group CEO Tony Hayward , Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson told BP to post that information on a website and update it daily . `` The public and the United States government are entitled to nothing less than complete transparency in this matter , '' they concluded . The spill began with an April 20 explosion and fire that sank the drill rig Deepwater Horizon two days later . Eleven workers were lost with the rig , which was owned by drilling contractor Transocean and hired by BP . The resulting slick now threatens the coastal marshes of southeastern Louisiana , where brown , syrupy oil made it past protective booms and into the wetlands near the mouth of the Mississippi River on Wednesday . Over the weekend , BP inserted a piece of pipe into the larger of the two leak points and began drawing oil from the undersea gusher , located about a mile underwater , up to a ship on the surface . It also has been laying booms out along barrier islands and spraying hundreds of thousands of gallons of chemical dispersants on the surface and near the sources of the leak . But that element of the response came under new fire as well on Thursday , as the EPA ordered BP to find a less toxic chemical to use to break up the oil . The EPA gave the company a day to pick a new substance and three days to start using it instead of the current dispersant , known as Corexit 9500 . The chemical has been rated more toxic and less effective than many others on the list of 18 EPA-approved dispersants , according to testimony at a congressional hearing Wednesday . `` Because of its use in unprecedented volumes and because much is unknown about the underwater use of dispersants , EPA wants to ensure BP is using the least toxic product authorized for use , '' the agency said in a statement announcing the order . `` We reserve the right to discontinue the use of this dispersant method if any negative impacts on the environment outweigh the benefits . '' Corexit 9500 includes petroleum distillates , propylene glycol and a proprietary organic sulfonic salt , and prolonged contact with it can cause eye or skin irritation , according to the manufacturer 's material data safety sheet . The document warns that `` repeated or prolonged exposure may irritate the respiratory tract . '' But BP says Corexit is biodegradable , has been approved by the EPA and the Coast Guard and is `` readily available in the quantities required '' by a response plan approved by the government before the spill . iReport : Track the spill ; Share stories . `` It has been very effective in causing the oil to form into small , isolated droplets that remain suspended until they 're either eaten by naturally occurring microbes , evaporate , are picked up or dissolve , '' the company said . But it added , `` At the same time , we are conducting ongoing assessment of alternative or supplemental dispersant products . '' Meanwhile , BP is readying a new attempt to plug the leak for Sunday by injecting a large amount of heavy `` mud '' -- a fluid used as a lubricant and counterweight in drilling operations -- into the well bore . If that succeeds , the well will be cemented shut , officials have said . `` Everything is being done to make sure that happens , '' Interior Secretary Ken Salazar , whose department oversees offshore oil drilling , told CNN 's `` American Morning '' Thursday . `` We have the best scientists in the world who are overseeing what is going on . So , we are hopeful that it will happen soon . '' Salazar said BP , which leased the rig from Transocean , has tried many techniques to stop the leaking and the government will do all in its power to hold them accountable . `` They 're putting a lot of hope on that Sunday , '' he said . `` We 'll see if it happens . '' Salazar announced Wednesday that he was dividing the Interior Department 's Minerals Management Service , which regulates oil exploration , into three divisions . The agency has come under fire since long before the spill , and Salzar said it would be reorganized to separate what he called the conflicting duties of regulating oil companies and collecting royalties from them . `` We inherited here what was a legacy of an agency that essentially was rubber-stamping whatever it was that the oil and gas industry wanted , '' Salazar said . `` We have been on a reform agenda from Day One . '' CNN 's Ed Lavandera , Marylynn Ryan and Aaron Cooper contributed to this report . | NEW : Well could be shut off next week , BP official says . NEW : Coast Guard announces flow rate assessment group . EPA orders BP to find less toxic chemical to use to break up oil . Oil seeping into Louisiana wetlands . | [[0, 26], [98, 151], [553, 594], [2106, 2115], [2118, 2235], [4199, 4247], [4215, 4276], [4724, 4779], [3589, 3611], [3628, 3745]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A worldwide network of fraudsters conned thousands of people into buying fake golf clubs on eBay , a London court has heard . Ebay was hit by a massive worldwide fraud in counterfeit golf clubs . In allegedly the largest fraud uncovered by the online auction site , the counterfeit clubs , as well as clothing and other golf accessories , were sold `` on a scale , it is believed , has never been seen before , '' prosecutors told Snaresbrook Crown Court . The mastermind behind the million dollar operation , Greg Bellchambers , from east London , has already admitted fraud and conspiracy . His six co-defendants , who deny playing a `` crucial role '' in the plot , are said to have assisted Bellchambers in managing accounts and acting as distributors in the scam . Bellchambers sourced the `` below-par '' clubs in China and then marketed them on eBay as the original top of the line brands . The fraud only came to light when a disgruntled customer complained to a local trading standards office in London about sub-standard Acushnet clubs and an investigation was launched . When Bellchambers ' home was raided , `` a large quantity '' of clubs were seized , with all of them fake apart from those which belonged to the 45-year-old . Adam Davis , for the prosecution , said : `` Nearly every major golf brand has been affected by the sale of counterfeit goods through the eBay accounts . `` It is the belief of the fraud investigation unit at eBay that this case represents the single largest counterfeiting conspiracy yet uncovered on their Web site . '' Prosecutors claimed that many other people were involved , but proceedings have not been brought against them as they live abroad or there is insufficient information to identify them . The trial of Bellchambers ' six co-defendants is expected to last three months . All deny conspiracy . | Fake eBay golf clubs scam left thousand out of pocket , court is told . Nearly every major golf brand affected by worldwide fraud on online auction site . Ringleader Greg Bellchambers has admitted fraud and conspiracy . Six other co-defendants on trial for conspiracy at Snaresbrook Crown Court . | [[118, 144], [145, 214], [145, 214], [1260, 1270], [1295, 1299], [1303, 1413], [1302, 1413], [476, 526], [529, 546], [568, 611], [1768, 1848], [1768, 1813], [1826, 1848]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- `` Banchao ! Banchao ! '' Save me ! Save me ! A rescue worker could hear the screams of a passenger on Air India Flight IX-812 , but the plane was consumed with flames . Fire was leaping in every part of the Boeing jet that crashed early Saturday in southern India . The rescue worker heard things bursting in the extreme heat , he told CNN 's sister network , CNN-IBN . Then it was quiet , and he understood that no one else was alive . The Air India plane had flown in from Dubai , United Arab Emirates , carrying 160 passengers and six crew members . Among them were 19 children and four infants . Some people were returning home . An anxious young bride-to-be and a man on his way to perform last rites for his father were also on the flight . Others were migrant workers . Millions of Indians work as laborers in Persian Gulf states . Most perished , charred beyond recognition in the fiery wreckage . Only the aircraft 's tail was left intact , officials said . Rescuers scrambled to find survivors all day Saturday . Mostly they pulled bodies . The eight who survived recounted their harrowing tales for CNN-IBN . Ummerfarook Mohammed said the cabin quickly filled with smoke after the jet skidded off the runway and hit a boundary wall . The impact created a hole in the plane 's body , he said . He crawled out and ran for his life . Nearby villagers carted him to the hospital in a rickshaw . And then there were those who counted their blessings on Saturday for not having boarded their ill-fated flight in Dubai . Vasant Shetty 's friend had booked him on the Mangalore-bound plane , but he was too busy at work and decided not to take the flight . `` It 's all God 's grace . I missed the flight and survived , '' Shetty told the Press Trust of India news agency . `` I do n't know what to say about the ill-fated passengers who were killed , '' he said . `` I pray for them . '' | Rescue worker heard a passenger 's screams . 19 children , 4 infants were onboard . Survivor crawls out of a hole in plane , taken to hospital by villagers . `` It 's all God 's grace . I missed the flight and survived , '' man says . | [[65, 145], [573, 619], [1442, 1447], [1452, 1544], [1681, 1707], [1708, 1740]] |
New York -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- As the story goes , God spent six days creating the world and then rested on the seventh day . He told the Jewish people to always rest on the seventh day of each week , which was to become known as the Sabbath for them for eternity . This was before Facebook , Twitter , BlackBerries and iPhones , of course . Adam and Eve did n't have friends who would get upset if texts were n't returned promptly , parents who wanted to know where their children were all the time or bosses who had complete access to their employees via work-issued devices . There is no excuse good enough to ignore the boss , even on a weekend . But one group is trying to take back the Sabbath : Reboot -- a nonprofit organization aimed at reinventing the traditions and rituals of Judaism for today 's secular Jews . Composed of Internet entrepreneurs , creators of award-winning television shows , community organizers and nonprofit leaders , these `` Rebooters '' are people who typically have their cell phones glued to their palms . Several of them go so far as to say they have an addiction to their devices . They pledged to observe 24 hours of freedom from their devices this past weekend : a National Day of Unplugging , lasting from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday , the Jewish Sabbath . The day was to launch Reboot 's ongoing project , the Sabbath Manifesto . Dan Rollman , a Rebooter and founder of the Universal World Record Database Web site , created the Sabbath Manifesto because he felt that technology was taking over too much of his life . `` There 's clearly a social problem when we 're interacting more with digital interfaces than our fellow human beings , '' Rollman said in an e-mail to CNN . `` Rich , engaging conversations are harder to come by than they were a few years ago . Our attention spans are silently evaporating . '' The Sabbath Manifesto consists of 10 principles . However , people are encouraged to discuss online which principles work and which should be tweaked . As they stand now , the guiding principles are : . 1 . Avoid technology . 2 . Connect with loved ones . 3 . Nurture your health . 4 . Get outside . 5 . Avoid commerce . 6 . Light candles . 7 . Drink wine . 8 . Eat bread . 9 . Find silence . 10 . Give back . The National Day of Unplugging specifically promotes the first principle . Even though Reboot is technically focused on reaching out to hyper-connected Jews , the values behind the Sabbath Manifesto are meant for all denominations , Rollman said . `` We believe that everyone can benefit from a respite from the relentless technology . Unplugging on a weekly basis wo n't provide a magical solution to these issues , but it 's a start ... a chance to catch our breaths , replenish our souls and reconnect with the living , breathing people we love . '' It may sound like a nice idea , but how realistic is the concept ? Can people live without their beloved technology for 24 hours ? `` No , '' said Chris Maroudis , 22 , without missing a beat . `` The problem is , I live in Jersey and work here -LSB- Manhattan -RSB- . I have to contact my friends in Jersey to make plans . I 'm not just going to go all the way there and then they 're not home . '' Some people are able to remember a simpler time before cell phones . `` This is new for me , '' said 26-year-old Amanda Norman , laughing and waving her BlackBerry . `` I remember even before cell phones , when you had to make plans with someone beforehand and meet them there . If you were late , you were late . '' Walking around Manhattan , though , it is hard to find people without a phone of any kind in their grasp . As Nano Paulino , 27 , pointed out , everyone in the city is working . The bosses need to stay in touch with you . Asked if he would answer a call from his boss at 10 at night , he said no . Why not ? `` I 'm sleeping ! '' His friend , Arnold Diaz , 30 , would also have a hard time without his phone , but for a slightly different reason . `` Definitely not on a Friday night . We have to make plans . Maybe on a Monday or Tuesday , '' he paused . `` Not Monday , because if you meet a girl over the weekend , you want to call her on Monday . So maybe Tuesday or Wednesday . '' There is one piece of irony to the whole thing . Lisa Keller , 42 , said she can easily go a day without using her phone . Asked if her friends and family would get frustrated by not being able to call or e-mail her , she laughed . `` I would first put up a Facebook status to say I 'll be off my phone and computer for 24 hours . '' Reboot also recognizes the irony that it has been promoting the National Day of Unplugging largely using social-networking sites . However , the group was asking people not to log on to their sites in the 24-hour window starting Friday evening at sundown . | Reboot aims to reinvent traditions of Judaism for today 's secular Jews . Group says cell phones , computers should be put away for weekly day of rest . Sabbath Manifesto founder says he felt technology was taking over too much of his life . | [[709, 792], [709, 733], [743, 820], [2070, 2088], [1378, 1389], [1465, 1565]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The United States , Russia , China and other key nations have reached agreement on a `` strong '' Iran sanctions resolution , Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Tuesday . Speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , Clinton said the United States has been `` working closely '' with its international partners -- the so-called P5 plus 1 -- on a resolution to present to the United Nations Security Council . She said they forged `` a strong draft with the cooperation of Russia and China , '' the two countries that have been reluctant to impose strong sanctions on Iran for its nuclear program . `` We plan to circulate the draft resolution to the entire Security Council today , '' said Clinton , who made the remarks before she began testifying about START , the U.S.-Russian treaty on nuclear arms . The P5 plus 1 comprises the five permanent member of the Security Council -- the United States , China , Russia , France , and Britain -- as well as Germany . The group has been concerned that Iran intends to develop nuclear weapons . Iran has denied that claim , saying it wants to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes . Clinton noted an Iranian offer to send low-enriched uranium to Turkey in exchange for highly enriched uranium but said it would not stop U.S. efforts to impose sanctions . `` We acknowledge the sincere efforts of both Turkey and Brazil to find a solution regarding Iran 's standoff with the international community over its nuclear program , '' Clinton told Sen. John Kerry , D-Massachusetts , the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee , citing the two countries that brokered the deal . But , she said , the P5 plus 1 `` are proceeding to rally the international community on behalf of a strong sanctions resolution that will , in our view , send an unmistakable message about what is expected from Iran . '' | U.S. , France , Britain , Germany also in group hammering out sanctions plan . Draft resolution likely to be shown to U.N. Security Council today , secretary of state says . Nations are concerned that Iran intends to develop nuclear weapons , which Iran denies . | [[851, 1009], [156, 205], [390, 454], [647, 725], [1010, 1085], [1086, 1112]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Changes to social studies curricula introduced by conservative members of the Texas State Board of Education were approved Friday after months of ideologically driven debate . Three separate votes on amended guidelines for elementary - , middle - and high-school curricula each resulted in 9-5 splits along party lines in favor of the new standards , known as Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills . New standards for the high school economics course passed 14-0 . Debate over the guidelines has drawn scrutiny since conservative members of the board introduced the changes in 2009 in what they considered an effort to bring `` balance '' to the curriculum . `` What we have is the history profession , the experts , seem to have a left-wing tilt , so what we were doing is trying to restore some balance to the standards , '' board member Don McLeroy said in March . Among the approved amendments , according to the Texas Education Agency : discussions of the `` solvency of long term entitlements , such as Social Security and Medicare '' ; and an examination of why `` the Founding Fathers protected religious freedom in America and guaranteed its free exercise by saying that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof , and compare and contrast this to the phrase ` separation of church and state . ' '' The board also voted `` to add a direct reference to the election of President Barack H. Obama '' and to require students to become familiar with the political philosophies of Thomas Jefferson . What is taught in Texas often is taught in other states because publishers typically tailor textbooks for Texas , one of the largest buyers of textbooks in the country . However , digital publishing has diminished the state 's influence on textbooks nationally and that curriculum is always going to be decided at the local level , Education Secretary Arne Duncan said . `` Whatever Texas decides , I do not think there will be large ripple effects around the country , '' he said before Friday 's votes . `` Textbook companies today have a real ability to customize textbooks and whatever the Texas board decides , I do n't think that 's going to impact education in other parts of the country . '' | Conservatives on Texas board vote on changes to `` balance '' curriculum . Texas textbook requirements often make it into those of other states . U.S. education secretary says there wo n't be large `` ripple effect '' | [[1919, 1957], [1986, 2054], [2203, 2283]] |
AUGUSTA , Georgia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Walking into the Colur Tyme Tattoo Parlor is a lot like walking into a head shop . One wall is lined with gang monikers and symbols , the other with bongs for smoking marijuana and other drugs -- one even shaped like a skull . The Colur Tyme Tattoo Parlor was set up by authorities to get at the heart of gang members . Only this head shop was a setup . It was a police front in a sting operation to bust gangs in this Georgia river city that most people associate with the Masters Tournament -- not violent thugs with high-powered weapons . Authorities said some guns sold to the shop were used in crimes just hours earlier . The tattoo parlor was the brainchild of Richmond County Sheriff Ron Strength , who wanted to snuff out gangs carrying out violent crimes in his east Georgia community . The idea was to create a place where the gang members would feel right at home , said sheriff 's Lt. Scott Peebles . And that they did . `` We put the idea in their heads that there 's no way these guys are in law enforcement , '' he said . On Wednesday , more than 100 sheriff 's officers , state investigators and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives carried out a major bust after an 18-month joint investigation into the gang activity . Watch cops set up tattoo parlor '' Sixty-eight suspects were arrested on charges ranging from trafficking of illegal weapons to serious drug offenses . Authorities seized more than 300 weapons , including high-powered assault rifles . Rich Marianos , a special agent with the ATF , said such gang activity is spreading across the nation , with small-town gangs increasing their ties with gangs in major cities . For instance , New York gangs have begun moving as far south as the Carolinas , where they set up operations to buy and sell guns and drugs , he said . Chicago gang activity extends more than 60 miles into the Illinois city 's suburbs for narcotics and weapons trading . In fact , Marianos said the ATF has begun seeing some Chicago gangs establishing a `` pipeline '' for illegal arms more than 500 miles away in Mississippi . `` It 's not just an urban problem , '' Marianos said . `` We 're seeing it all over the country . '' The ATF , he said , has seen one of the most dramatic increases in gang activity in the last three years and is cracking down . `` We want to look at a way to go after these offenders and prevent it before it happens , '' he said . '' -LSB- We 're -RSB- making the community safer by disarming the bad guys -- not taking guns away from the American citizen , but going after the people who should n't have them in the first place . '' That 's why setting up a tattoo parlor in Augusta was key . Strength , the Richmond County sheriff , said he remembers when the worst crimes in these parts were lawn mower thefts and vandals pushing over birdbaths . But those days are long gone , with gangs such as the Georgia Deadly Boys and Fairington Gangster Thugs causing mayhem on a regular basis . `` In the past 2 1/2 years , we 've noticed some major changes , '' he said , `` with the type of criminal offenses they were involved in . '' So he devised the undercover business . The Colur Tyme Tattoo Parlor on Tobacco Road was set up on the outskirts of Augusta . It 's a location not heavily patrolled by police , but staffed 100 percent by undercover agents . Business was slow at first , but then things took off . Gang members soon began dropping in to sell guns , drugs and even stolen cars , authorities said . Every transaction was recorded by surveillance cameras around the store . Soon the shop had so much business the Richmond County Sheriff 's Office had to call in reinforcements from the ATF . Four federal agents helped the sheriff 's deputies man the counters ; others worked behind the scenes . Vanessa McLemore , ATF special agent in charge , said the teams had to coordinate their behaviors so it seemed like they fit in the store . `` They spent a lot of time together learning each other 's mannerisms , learning each other 's body language . It had to be a brotherhood , '' she said . On the store counter was a jar of colored markers to invite clients to write their favorite gang affiliation on the wall . Peebles said agents used the wall for intelligence . `` At the very least we got names , '' he said . The shop even put up its ' own MySpace page . `` You think it , we ink it '' was the MySpace slogan . It featured the back of a tattooed man , and below in large red letters agents told visitors to the site , `` We buy what others wo n't . '' Authorities said the guns came rolling in , and then came this week 's bust . `` Today marks the end of one era and the beginning of another , '' McLemore said . `` The era that is ending is one that has brought destruction and decay to the streets of Augusta . '' E-mail to a friend . | Tattoo parlor run by cops leads to major bust of Georgia gangs . Authorities even set up a MySpace page as part of the ring . ATF says big-time gangs are gaining ground outside major cities . ATF agent : `` We 're seeing it all over the country '' | [[1074, 1086], [1089, 1110], [1125, 1306], [2206, 2245]] |
Vatican City -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Pope Benedict XVI championed the environment in the Vatican 's annual World Day of Peace message . In his address , called `` If You Want to Cultivate Peace , Protect Creation , '' the pope said peace with the natural environment is the beginning of peace with all of God 's creation , including people . `` Respect for creation is of immense consequence , not least because creation is the beginning and the foundation of all God 's works , and its preservation has now become essential for the pacific coexistence of mankind , '' the pope said . The papal message of peace comes a week after the traditional Christmas address known as `` Urbi et Orbi '' -- Latin for `` To the City and the World '' -- a message of hope for the world 's afflicted . During the Christmas Eve Mass the night before , Benedict was dragged to the ground after a woman jumped a barrier and grabbed his robes . The pope appeared uninjured . In his homily , the 82-year-old pontiff asked parishioners to consider the possible effect of an ecological crisis on the stability and peace of the world -- a world in which there is increasing competition for the `` fruitfulness of the Earth . '' `` Can we remain impassive in the face of actual and potential conflicts involving access to natural resources ? '' the pope asked Friday . `` All these are issues with a profound impact on the exercise of human rights , such as the right to life , food , health and development . '' `` Technologically advanced societies must be prepared to encourage more sober lifestyles , while reducing their energy consumption and improving its efficiency , '' while preparing `` sustainable strategies to satisfy the energy needs of the present and future generations , '' he said . Pope Benedict XVI challenged the faithful to be good stewards of what `` God has given us , '' suggesting that peace with the Earth will lead to peace on Earth . `` For this reason , it is imperative that mankind renew and strengthen that covenant between human beings and the environment , which should mirror the creative love of God , from whom we come and toward whom we are journeying , '' he said . | Pope Benedict XVI urges `` respect for creation '' Message warns of conflict over dwindling natural resources . Developed nations should adopt `` more sober lifestyles , '' he says . | [[161, 164], [170, 188], [191, 207], [131, 145], [210, 261], [1485, 1522], [1540, 1574]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Facing near-record floodwaters , Red River communities in Minnesota and North Dakota raced Tuesday to shore up levees and dikes , officials said . `` We 're in the full flood fight mode here , '' Fargo , North Dakota , City Administrator Pat Zavoral said . Last week , warm weather and rain melted snow south of Fargo and Moorhead , Minnesota , causing the Red River to swell as it flows north . Upstream , snow and ice have yet to melt , pushing water back toward the two cities . Forecasters predict the river will crest Saturday about 20 feet above flood stage . Last year , the river rose to a record 40.8 feet at Fargo . `` We have every contractor we have in the area on a 24-hour shift , preparing dikes , hauling dirt , delivering sandbags , '' Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker said . `` We have never lost a flood fight here in Fargo , '' he said . `` We 're going to be optimistic about this for the rest of the week , that we 're going to be able to save our community one more time . '' Volunteers have answered the call to fill 1 million sandbags this week , Zavoral said . `` We 're putting up temporary clay levees , and we 've produced sandbags , and we 're delivering them to the low-lying neighborhoods , '' he said . Early Tuesday , the river level stood at 27.6 feet , according to the National Weather Service . Flood stage is 18 feet , according to the service . `` We thought we had a couple more weeks , and with the weather and the quick thaw and the rains we 've had recently , it 's really made it more difficult and it 's really sped up the crest , '' Fargo police Sgt. Carlos Nestler said . Residents in Fargo and Moorhead are busy building sandbag dikes along the river 's edge . Fargo 's Kurt Kaye is doing what he did last year , helping friends protect their home from the rising Red River , which runs through their backyard . Like most residents , he said he 's resolved to keep the water at bay . `` I think everyone is a little tired of it , but they 'll get behind it and go , '' he said . `` They need to get it done to save their houses . '' Zavoral , the city administrator , said Fargo is better prepared this year to deal with a major flood . `` We 've spent about $ 10 million putting in permanent flood protection in some of the neighborhoods and bought out about 26 homes in the low-lying areas , '' he said . City officials have said they believe they 'll need about 1 million fewer sandbags than were used last year . Is severe weather happening near you ? Share your stories , photos and video . Meanwhile , along the Eastern Seaboard , flooding fears eased as a powerful nor'easter pushed into the Atlantic Ocean , though scattered flood warnings were in place from the mid-Atlantic states to Maine . Thousands of customers remained without power in the Northeast after rain and hurricane-force winds whipped the region over the weekend . At least seven deaths were attributed to the storm , five caused by falling trees , authorities said . See a tree on a house in New Jersey . Two people died in New Jersey . Authorities from Connecticut , New Hampshire , New York , Rhode Island and West Virginia said they each had one storm-related death . See photos of storm damage in Connecticut . The outages were caused mostly by power lines downed by Saturday 's winds , which knocked over trees and utility poles . Winds reached 75 mph at New York 's John F. Kennedy International Airport -- as strong as a Category 1 hurricane . CNN 's Steve Kastenbaum contributed to this report . | Fargo , North Dakota , prepares as Red River rises quickly . Forecasters predict river will crest Saturday about 20 feet above flood stage . At least seven deaths attributed to powerful nor'easter along Eastern Seaboard . Thousands still without power after storm in Northeast . | [[501, 584], [521, 584], [2558, 2567], [2570, 2596], [2599, 2644], [2902, 2952], [2902, 2923], [2986, 3004], [2764, 2803]] |
YANGON , Myanmar -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Courts in Myanmar have sentenced a blogger , a poet and several dissidents to several years in jail for anti-regime activities , a court official told CNN Tuesday . Young people at an Internet cafe in Myanmar . The verdicts were announced Monday and Tuesday , the court official said . Blogger Nay Phone Latt was sentenced to more than 20 years in jail for his illegal Internet activities , the court official said . The blogger was a `` major source of information for the outside world '' when the military junta used force last year to suppress anti-government demonstrations , said The Irrawaddy , an online newspaper published by exiles from Myanmar , which is also known as Burma . The government exercises strict controls over media outlets in the southeast Asian country . Dissidents often turn to the Internet to disseminate information . In the second case , poet Saw Wai received a two-year jail sentence for a poem he wrote for Valentine 's Day that contained a veiled jab at the junta 's leading figure , Senior Gen. Than Shwe . The first words of each line in the eight-line poem , `` February the Fourteenth '' spelled out the message : `` Senior General Than Shwe is crazy with power . '' On Tuesday , the government handed down prison sentences to about a dozen members of a pro-democracy group known as the '88 Generation Students . Irrawaddy said the members were each sentenced to 65 years in jail , but CNN could not independently confirm the figure . Members of the group took part in the anti-government demonstrations that ended with the death of as many as 100 people last year after security forces clashed with thousands of protesters . The dead included 40 Buddhist monks . Witnesses said the violent crackdown in September 2007 came as hundreds of monks defied a military ban on public assembly . Until then , demonstrations led by the monks -- who are highly respected in the predominantly Buddhist country -- had gone largely unchallenged by the military , which has ruled the country since the 1960s . The protests were sparked by a huge fuel price increase imposed by the military government , and quickly escalated . The action was informally dubbed the `` Saffron Revolution '' because of the maroon robes with saffron sashes that the monks wore . | Myanmar court jails blogger , poet and dissidents for anti-regime activities . | [[0, 6], [9, 32], [46, 78], [1241, 1251], [1254, 1347]] |
-LRB- The Frisky -RRB- -- Sunday is the series finale of `` Lost . '' For the past six seasons of `` Lost , '' every single episode has brought us at least one new oddity to ponder . And yet , as frequently as questions are posed , it 's not that often a question is actually answered . This is why the love the show , but also what makes it such an ever-evolving mind bender . Now we are down to the final episode . It 's a long one -- two and a half hours to be exact -- but it has all us fans wondering , how the heck are they going to tie up all the loose ends ? Sadly , they wo n't . Today , producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse announced that because they felt they did n't have enough time to finish all the story lines , the season six DVD will contain 20 extra minutes . But , um , we do n't want to wait until August or have to drop $ 50 to know everything ! So , guys , here are 10 questions we need the answers to on Sunday . Mmm-k ? The Frisky : 11 most romantic -LRB- and hawt -RRB- `` Lost '' clips . 1 . What the heck is the island ? So many different theories have been presented by different characters this season . Is the island a cork on a wine bottle of evil that keeps the darkness from spilling out into the regular world , as suggested by Jacob ? Is the island hell and everyone on it is dead , as Isabella told Ricardo ? Or is it a hiding place for the world 's life source , as Jacob and the Man in Black 's mother proposed ? Or is it something else entirely ? 2 . What 's up with that white light ? Jacob has been tasked with guarding the white light for forever , and in this week 's episode , Jack volunteered to take over the job -- which makes sense , as Jacob tells him that the light is near the bamboo field where he awoke in the show 's first seconds . But , uh , what is the light exactly ? And whom does it need to be protected from ? The Frisky : The 5 most kick-butt scenes in `` Lost '' 3 . Why are the characters ' lives in the `` sideways '' universe different from what they were before the crash ? All season , we 've been getting flashes to an alternate reality where flight 815 never crashes and lands safely in Los Angeles . Some of the characters ' lives match up with what we 've seen in flashbacks to their lives before the crash . But most are way different -- for example , Jack has a son , Locke has a loving fiancé , and Desmond appears to be a bad guy -LRB- maybe ? -RRB- pulling strings and making puppets dance . Why ? 4 . Speaking of , what is Desmond 's function in all this ? Last episode , we found out that Desmond is a `` fail safe . '' And we 've known for a while now that , somehow , he survived the electromagnetic explosion of the hatch . Is Desmond super-powered ? Because of the explosion , or has the island always been his destiny too ? How will he play into whatever is coming ? The Frisky : 8 things I will NOT miss about `` Lost '' going away . 5 . What about the polar bears ? In the series pilot , Sawyer shoots and kills a polar bear . We know that the Dharma Initiative kept them in the cages -- but did they bring them ? Or were they already there ? 6 . Why ca n't women have babies on the island ? Another question that goes seasons back with no explanation . Why was Claire able to give birth to Aaron and Jacob and the Man in Black 's mother able to give birth to them -- but all other women on the island are unable to have babies ? 7 . How will Jack try to kill the Man in Black ? When Jack took over for Jacob , Jacob said Jack must `` do what he could n't -- kill him . '' So how exactly does one go about killing a lethal cloud of black smok ? Guess we 'll have to find out . The Frisky : They were `` Lost '' on a remote island , but still stylish ? 8 . How is Jacob still conversing with the candidates when he is dead ? In last year 's season finale , the Man in Black convinced Ben to kill Jacob . So , uh , how is Jacob sitting around a campfire explaining to the candidates how he picked each of them because they had no ties , led miserable existences , and were alone in the world ? 9 . What 's up with Jack 's neck wound ? In the sideways universe , Jack has a wound on his neck that keeps reopening for no apparent reason . This has me a little nervous . I 'm worried that in the final showdown between Jack and the Man in Black , Jack might not come out alive . If his throat gets slashed , it would explain that detail in the sideways reality . 10 . Why was the island underwater ? Remember back in the season premiere when the island was shown totally submerged underwater ? Why ? How ? When ? Is that the end result of whatever battle is coming ? TM & © 2010 TMV , Inc. | All Rights Reserved . | The `` Lost '' season six DVD will contain 20 extra minutes . Why was Claire able to give birth , but the other women are not ? Jack has a wound on his neck that keeps reopening for no apparent reason . | [[589, 594], [597, 774], [654, 784], [3247, 3330], [3365, 3422], [4089, 4125], [4126, 4150], [4153, 4181], [4173, 4181], [4187, 4227]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Dennis Blair , the president 's top intelligence adviser , announced his resignation after 16 months of power struggles , politics and personality clashes . Blair was the third person to serve as director of national intelligence since the position was created five years ago . His resignation is effective May 28 . Although President Obama praised Blair for his `` remarkable record of service , '' there has been tension between the two . Blair found himself at odds with the White House over the scope of his role , and there was indirect conflict with others in the intelligence community . `` From the beginning the White House did not have the same view of what the DNI should be , '' according to a source familiar with the situation . '' -LSB- Blair -RSB- is a manager and a leader . He is not a politico . He does n't run around doing political stuff , '' the source said , acknowledging the Blair 's candor got him in trouble . Blair , a retired four-star Navy admiral , has served in the post since January 2009 . His office oversees 17 federal intelligence agencies , including the CIA , FBI and Department of Homeland Security . Word of his resignation came two days after the Senate Intelligence Committee released a report that sharply criticized the National Counterterrorism Center , overseen by Blair 's office , for failing to coordinate properly intelligence activities to detect the attempted Christmas Day airline bombing . The report highlighted 14 points of failure and said that the center was not organized to fulfill its mission . Blair , who also caught some of the blame for the more recent failed Times Square bombing attempt , responded to the report by noting changes made in response to the Christmas incident , including creation of a National Counterterrorism Center analytical unit dedicated to following up on terrorist threat information . However , Blair 's statement noted that `` institutional and technological barriers remain that prevent seamless sharing of information . '' Although Blair 's resignation was not a complete surprise for those in the intelligence community , he was not expected to step down for another month , senior intelligence officials said . He decided to leave sooner than expected when Obama asked CIA Director Leon Panetta and national security adviser James Jones to go to Pakistan and Blair was not asked to participate , the sources said . `` When the president looked to Leon Panetta and Jim Jones to go to Pakistan on this very serious threat , it was a slap at him . It was an indication of a lack of confidence in Adm. Blair , '' said Fran Townsend , CNN national security contributor who was President George W. Bush 's chief anti-terrorism and homeland security adviser . One Senate source said Blair has been unhappy and frustrated . `` He was losing every turf battle to Panetta , '' the source said . Blair and Obama also did n't have a good connection , Townsend said . `` You 've got a very bright , engaged president and with a lot of charisma , and there was n't a real chemistry between them , '' she said . The DNI was intended to be the CEO of the intelligence community , looking at the 17 agencies ' budgets , capabilities , training and cross-department communication . When the position was created , the DNI was given a lot of responsibility but not enough authority , Townsend said . `` It 's clear in this case between Adm. Blair and President Obama there was a mismatch and misunderstanding of expectations and responsibilities . And it will be very important that whoever the new DNI is , understands and accepts what the president 's view of that position is , '' she said . Even before Blair officially turned in his resignation , the White House already had spoken to potential replacements , the senior intelligence officials said . John Hamre , a defense official in the Clinton administration ; retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Jim Clapper , defense undersecretary for intelligence ; and former Sen. Chuck Hagel , R-Nebraska , are considered top contenders . CNN 's Kristi Keck , Gloria Borger and Jeanne Meserve contributed to this report . | Dennis Blair 's resignation as director of national intelligence effective May 28 . Blair was n't expected to resign for another month , senior intelligence officials say . President asked CIA chief and national security adviser to go on Pakistan trip , not Blair . CNN national security contributor : No `` real chemistry '' between Blair , President Obama . | [[297, 334], [2138, 2188], [2191, 2227], [3813, 3853], [2228, 2333], [2228, 2230], [2260, 2353], [2274, 2381], [2440, 2536], [2902, 2917], [2923, 2953], [3054, 3097]] |
BAGHDAD , Iraq -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Iraqi officials Monday condemned the weekend killings of eight civilians during a Baghdad street battle involving American security contractors and said they would shut down Blackwater , the company involved . A Blackwater helicopter hovers over Baghdad in July 2005 . Blackwater said its employees acted in self-defense . The U.S. State Department said it plans to investigate what it calls a `` terrible incident . '' Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to express regret for the weekend killings , both governments said . In addition to the fatalities , 14 people were wounded , most of them civilians , an Iraqi official said . Sunday 's firefight took place near Nusoor Square , an area that straddles the predominantly Sunni Arab neighborhoods of Mansour and Yarmouk . The ministry said the incident began around midday , when a convoy of sport utility vehicles came under fire from unidentified gunmen in the square . The men in the SUVs , described by witnesses as Westerners , returned fire , the ministry said . Blackwater 's employees were protecting a U.S. official when they were hit by `` a large explosive device , then repeated small-arms fire -- and to the point where it disabled one of the vehicles , and the vehicle had to be towed out of the firefight , '' said Marty Strong , vice president of Blackwater USA . A senior industry source said Blackwater guards had escorted a State Department group to a meeting with U.S. Agency for International Development officials in Mansour before the shootings . A car bomb went off about 80 feet -LRB- 25 meters -RRB- from the meeting site and the contractors started evacuating the State Department officials , he said . A State Department report on the attack said the convoy came under fire from an estimated eight to 10 people , some in Iraqi police uniforms . The guards called for backup , at one point finding their escape route blocked by an Iraqi quick-reaction force that pointed heavy machine guns at one vehicle in the convoy . A U.S. Army force , backed by air cover , arrived about half an hour later to escort the convoy back to the Green Zone , the report states . A team from another security company passed through the area shortly after the street battle . `` Our people saw a couple of cars destroyed , '' Carter Andress , CEO of American-Iraqi Solutions Groups , told CNN on Monday . `` Dead bodies , wounded people being evacuated . The U.S. military had moved in and secured the area . It was not a good scene . '' An Interior Ministry spokesman , Brig. Gen. Abdul Kareem Khalaf , said , `` We have revoked Blackwater 's license to operate in Iraq . As of now they are not allowed to operate anywhere in the Republic of Iraq . The investigation is ongoing , and all those responsible for Sunday 's killing will be referred to Iraqi justice . '' Watch why the Interior Ministry revoked Blackwater 's license '' Company and State Department officials said they had not been notified of any order to that effect . Rice and al-Maliki agreed to conduct `` a fair and transparent investigation into this incident '' and punish those responsible , the prime minister 's office said . The Diplomatic Security Service has launched an official investigation , a review that will be supported by the Multi-National Forces-Iraq , State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said . `` The secretary wants to make sure we do everything we possibly can to avoid innocent loss of life , '' he said . McCormack said that while the United States tries to avoid innocent casualties , `` we are fighting people who do n't play by any rules '' and have no problem killing innocent civilians . The weekend 's incident raised concerns in the U.S. Congress about the use of private security guards . Rep. Henry Waxman , whose House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held hearings on contractor operations in February , said he will hold new hearings into the issue in light of Sunday 's shootings . `` The controversy over Blackwater is an unfortunate demonstration of the perils of excessive reliance on private security contractors , '' said Waxman , D-California . Blackwater , founded in 1997 and based in Moyock , North Carolina , is one of many security firms contracted by the U.S. government during the Iraq war . An estimated 25,000 employees of private security firms are working in Iraq , guarding diplomats , reconstruction workers and government officials . As many as 200 are believed to have been killed on the job , according to U.S. congressional reports . Some Blackwater personnel died in a grisly attack in Iraq more than three years ago that sparked shock and outrage in the United States . Four Americans working as private security personnel for Blackwater , all of whom were military veterans , were ambushed , killed and mutilated in March 2004 in Falluja , west of Baghdad . People close to the company estimate it has lost about 30 employees during the war . Iraqi authorities have issued previous complaints about shootings by private military contractors , the Congressional Research Service reported in July . `` Most recently , a news article discussing an incident in which a Blackwater guard shot dead an Iraqi driver in May 2007 quoted an Iraqi official 's statement that the Iraqi Interior Ministry had received four previous complaints of shootings involving Blackwater employees , '' the congressional service report said . The Congressional Research Service report cited other concerns , such as `` the apparent lack of a practical means to hold contractors accountable under U.S. law for abuses and other transgressions and the possibility that they could be prosecuted by foreign courts . '' The reported added , `` Iraqi courts do not have jurisdiction to prosecute contractors without the permission of the relevant member country of the Multi-National Forces in Iraq . '' Contractors fall under Justice Department and FBI jurisdiction for alleged crimes , said a Pentagon official , who confirmed the accuracy of the congressional report . Other developments . CNN 's Jomana Karadsheh , Elise Labott , Cal Perry , Suzanne Simons , Barbara Starr and Mohammed Tawfeeq contributed to this report . | NEW : Blackwater says its employees acted in self-defense . Iraq blames the U.S. security firm for Sunday gunfight that killed eight civilians . Condoleezza Rice calls Iraqi prime minister to discuss gunbattle . Incident began when Western-style convoy came under fire in Baghdad . | [[303, 356], [319, 356], [50, 137], [454, 575], [910, 1001], [1013, 1021], [1024, 1060], [1805, 1868]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President Obama pledged Monday to make good on his promise to transform the Department of Veterans Affairs and said he would `` dramatically improve '' mental health aid . President Obama and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki , seen here last month , vow to increase aid . Flanked by Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki , the president said his budget calls for a $ 25 billion increase in funding for the VA over the next five years -- a commitment that will be tested by the needs of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan . `` With this budget , we do n't just fully fund our Veterans Affairs health care program , we expand it to serve an additional 500,000 veterans by 2013 , '' he said . He promised that the VA would `` dramatically improve services '' related to mental health , post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury , and he said homeless veterans would be targeted for support . `` Those heroes have a home , '' Obama said . `` It 's the country they served , the United States of America , and until we reach a day when not a single veteran sleeps on our nation 's streets , our work remains unfinished . '' | Obama says budget calls for $ 25 billion increase in VA funding over next five years . Homeless veterans will be targeted for support , Obama says . Dramatically improved services planned for mental health , PTSD , brain injury . | [[364, 474], [202, 262], [288, 309], [898, 955], [0, 26], [141, 201], [741, 891]] |
Editor 's note : Dr. Vance Harris is a primary care physician in Redding , California . An earlier version of this commentary was posted on SERMO.com , a private , physicians-only online community . Dr. Vance Harris says primary care doctors get minuscule payment for saving the system huge sums of money . -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Health policy experts agree that any reform in our health care system must include a well-educated , caring primary care doctor who is able to manage the health of his or her patients with an eye to using resources optimally to keep costs down . That 's a tall order and it seems that few policy makers realize the value of primary care physicians . People are making a huge assumption in this reform effort that as we extend coverage to millions who do n't have health insurance , there will be doctors there to actually provide the health care . Fewer and fewer medical students are choosing primary care and many primary care doctors are leaving the field . Let me share with you why we are losing so many primary care doctors . What follows are a few examples I experience each week . How many dozens of chest pain patients have I seen in the last month for whom I did n't order an EKG , get a consult , set up nuclear imaging or send for a catheterization ? Only I have the advantage of knowing how anxious some are and that they have had similar symptoms over the last 20 years . After a history and exam , I am willing to make the call that this is not heart disease . In doing so , I save the system tens of thousands of dollars . Most of these patients are worked into a busy day , pushing me even deeper into that mire of tardiness for which I will be chastised by at least six patients before the end of the day . My reward for working these people in and making the call is at most $ 75 . How many times has an anxious patient come in demanding an endoscopy who I examined and then decided to treat less invasively for three to four weeks first ? Few of these patients are happy no matter how many times I explain that it is reasonable to treat their reflux symptoms for several weeks before endoscopy . This delay in referral has led to many tense moments in the last 20 years . The cost savings to the system is thousands of dollars each and every time I am willing to make the call and go with the treatment . My reward is about $ 55 from Medicare and private health insurers . How many low back pain patients have come to the office in agony knowing that there has to be something serious to cause this kind of pain ? A good history and exam allows me to reassure the patient that there is nothing we need to operate on and that the risk of missing anything is low . This takes a lot of time to explain as I teach them why they do n't need an MRI . If someone else ordered the MRI , guess who gets to explain the significance of bulging disks to an alarmed patient ? Setting realistic expectations on recovery and avoiding needless imaging helps saves the system thousands of dollars . My reward is another $ 55 . How many diabetics do I struggle with , trying to get them to take better care of themselves ? How many hours have I spent with teenage diabetics who will not check their blood sugar and forget half of their insulin doses ? Hundreds of hours seem wasted until one day they open their eyes and want to take care of themselves . My reward for years of struggle is a few hundred dollars at best . The savings to society for my hard work and never-give-up attitude is in the tens of thousands of dollars . I am in my 22nd year in practice , now caring for 3,600 patients . Having me in the system has resulted in savings in the hundreds of thousands of dollars each and every year . My financial incentive to hang in there and work harder is that I now make less than half what I did 20 years ago . This year I will make even less . These are the reasons so many physicians have left medicine entirely and most of us who are left wonder how long can we continue to work like this ? I have always served my fellow man out of a sense of love and compassion . That 's why I went into medicine . I have been richly rewarded by my patients over the decades as they have appreciated my judgment and skills . Is n't it a shame that after all this time and with skills honed by decades of experience , many of us can no longer afford to work as a physician ? No one is talking about this on the national level . If they do n't address these issues , then good luck having physician assistants provide the safety net with two years of training . Good luck getting newly trained physicians once they see our salaries . Good luck finding internists in your community with only 1 percent of medical students going into internal medicine . Good luck recruiting primary care specialists when we are projected to be short 39,000 by 2020 , according to the American Academy of Family Physicians . And nearly half of all doctors surveyed by the Physicians ' Foundation have said that over the next three years they plan to reduce the number of patients they see or stop practicing entirely . I know this is true because I am struggling to find a primary care doctor to take care of my wife and myself . Now that is ironic . Anyone know who is taking new patients in California ? The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Vance Harris . | Dr. Vance Harris : Health care reform assumes doctors will be available . He says primary care doctors are dropping out of the business . He says he saves the system big bucks but gets only small payments . Harris : My financial incentive is less than half what it was 20 years ago . | [[739, 772], [806, 873], [937, 986], [987, 1047], [1013, 1057], [199, 306], [221, 306], [1502, 1513], [1516, 1564], [3450, 3557], [3625, 3734], [3735, 3850], [3799, 3850]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- She 's been called Italy 's answer to Michael Moore , and she does n't pull any punches -- even when the subject she 's taking to task is Italian leader Silvio Berlusconi . Filmmaker Sabina Guzzanti puts the prime minister 's handling of the L'Aquila earthquake , which killed nearly 300 people and devastated the city when it struck last year , under deep scrutiny in her latest documentary `` Draquila -- Italy Trembles . '' Recently screened at Cannes Film Festival , the documentary is creating a stir among critics and the Italian government alike . Even though he has been dogged by allegations of corruption and fraud -- which he strongly denies -- as well as criticism of his personal lifestyle , many Italians still support Berlusconi . There are so many scandals in Italy , the picture can get quite complicated , Guzzanti told CNN . At home , she is a well-known political satirist and critic of the government . She decided to focus on one disaster , L'Aquila , to show how abuse of power , corruption and misinformation have contributed to what she presents as the precarious state of democracy in Italy today . `` The idea was this : Explain Italy through L'Aquila , '' she told CNN . The Italian government has responded angrily to the film , whose title is a combination of the words `` Dracula '' and `` L'Aquila . '' Culture Minister Sandro Bondi refused to attend Cannes , where the film was shown as part of the festival 's special screening program . Bondi issued a statement , dismissing the documentary as `` propaganda '' and saying it `` offends the truth and all of the Italian people . '' Guzzanti is used to incurring the government 's displeasure . `` Raiot , '' a political satire TV show she wrote , directed and acted in , was cancelled after just one episode on a state-owned television network following a defamation suit filed by Silvio Berlusconi 's Mediaset TV network . In a retort , she made `` Viva Zapatero , '' a 2005 film that examines censorship . So , what is it about `` Draquila , '' Guzzanti 's fourth feature , that has created an uproar among Berlusconi supporters ? Guzzanti argues that Berlusconi , whose ratings were suffering when the earthquake hit in April last year , took advantage of the tragic event to improve his image and boost the public 's opinion of him . The documentary uses straightforward language to paint a stark picture of what the filmmaker sees as Berlusconi 's exploitation of the tragic event . `` Opinion polls showed his popularity was plummeting . So , when , at 0332 on April 6 , 2009 , an earthquake awoke even those in the Big Brother house , and when it emerged an entire town was destroyed , for Berlusconi it was like God reaching out to him again , '' a voiceover says in the film . Watch a clip of the film . In the wake of the quake , Berlusconi made a last-minute decision to move the G8 Summit to L'Aquila from Sardinia -- a gesture that attracted world attention -- and took advantage of photo opportunities in several trips to the leveled city . Even more damning , though , is the documentary 's examination of the reconstruction efforts in L'Aquila . In particular , the film takes issue with the role played by the Civil Protection Authority . The film argues that the government agency has amassed such immense power under Berlusconi that it can dodge the law -- when granting reconstruction contracts , for instance -- all in the name of emergency and safety . For Guzzanti , investigating the aftermath of the earthquake and the power of the Civil Protection Authority is a way of examining Italy 's drift into authoritarianism . `` They became like a private army of the prime minister with licence of spending money and making laws , '' she said of the agency . `` And I was shocked and started to investigate . '' Her film has won praise , not only for its high degree of scrutiny , but for its even-handedness as well . The Hollywood Reporter described `` Draquila '' as a `` straightforward and surprisingly balanced documentary . '' While her probing style and knack for ruffling feathers make it easy to draw comparisons with Michael Moore , Guzzanti distinguishes herself with an ability to control her outrage . As Variety pointed out in its review : `` While she 's omnipresent , this is not the Sabina Guzzanti show ; the helmer knows she does n't need to constantly register her outrage for it to come across . '' Grace Wong and CNN 's Neil Curry contributed to this report . | Documentary screened at Cannes takes aim at Italian leader Silvio Berlusconi . The film , `` Draquila , '' takes issue with the way the prime minister handled the L'Aquila earthquake . Italian Culture Minister boycotted Cannes because of the film , which he called `` propaganda '' Filmmaker Sabina Guzzanti : `` The idea was this : Explain Italy through L'Aquila '' | [[77, 106], [110, 171], [120, 191], [446, 487], [192, 280], [1354, 1408], [1491, 1496], [1518, 1631], [1167, 1197]] |
Bangkok , Thailand -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Thailand 's prime minister acknowledged on Sunday he did not expect protesters would use weapons and apply violence toward authority . Speaking on national television , Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva made the admission a day after he rejected a call from anti-government protesters to dissolve the country 's parliament in 30 days . Abhisit said other groups ' political opinions must be taken into consideration before any such action is taken . More than two dozen civilians and military personnel have died since protesters began occupying key tourism and shopping areas in Thailand 's capital . The demand from the anti-government protesters , known as the `` Red Shirts , '' was the latest in a long list issued since the group stormed parliament in early April and Abhisit declared a state of emergency . Red Shirt leaders offered Friday to return to the negotiating table -- but only if the government meets certain demands , including lifting a state of emergency and accepting responsibility for the deaths of protesters earlier this month , said Weng Tojirakarn , a co-leader of the group . iReport : Are you there ? Share your story , images . On the government 's side , spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn told CNN Saturday that there was no counter-proposal to get the negotiations back on track . `` We need to make sure negotiations take place under a conducive environment , '' Panitan said , explaining that previous attempts to talk to opposition leaders had been derailed due to threats against government officials . Other conditions that must be met before any negotiations could take place include having protest leaders make sure there will be no further expansion of demonstrations into other districts and no threats to government officers , the government spokesman said . `` These conditions are very critical for peaceful negotiations , '' Panitan explained . `` Negotiation is the only way out in the end , but ... we need to stabilize the situation first . '' He cited the fact that several demonstrations were taking place `` by different ` shirts ' and colors , '' and said that all demonstrators must observe the rule of law and `` peace and civility will be restored first . '' His remarks came as tension remained high on the streets of Bangkok , where a political standoff has gripped the country for several weeks . The Red Shirts have been clashing with the Thai military in a Bangkok area that serves as a financial hub . Another co-leader of the Red Shirts , Veera Muskapong , met with foreign diplomats Friday and told them he might meet with the government if it meets certain conditions . Abhisit , meanwhile , huddled with the chiefs of the country 's armed forces early Friday after a string of grenade attacks killed at least one person and wounded dozens of others . Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said in a televised address that the grenades were launched from the area where the Red Shirts have been encamped for weeks , but the protesters denied any responsibility for the attacks . Watch red shirt protests . Suthep told Thai television earlier that three people died in the attacks , but Bangkok 's Erawan Emergency and Rescue Center later revised the number to one . At least 87 people were wounded , the center said . Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd , spokesman for the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation -LRB- CRES -RRB- , said at his daily news conference Saturday that the protests remain manageable at this time and therefore , authorities would not try to disperse the demonstrations . He did charge , however , that `` terrorists '' were interspersed among `` innocent demonstrators . '' The official said authorities would suppress the terrorists at the appropriate time , but did not want to complicate the situation by trying to take action against them now . Sansern also dismissed rumors of discord between the government , police and military forces , saying that representatives of all those entities were meeting daily to discuss the situation . Explainer : What are the protests in Thailand about ? The Thai Department of Special Investigation warned Friday that those responsible for the grenade attacks could face the death penalty , the MCOT news agency reported . The attacks prompted the U.S. State Department to issue a travel alert advising American citizens of the escalating violence in Bangkok . Suthep said riot police and helicopters were deployed to join Thai troops in the affected area , which was still littered with glass amid the standoff . Across the barricades , the Red Shirts were playing music and trying to encourage a festive atmosphere . Demonstrators told CNN late Thursday they wanted to drive home the point that their rallies are supposed to be peaceful . Thrown into the volatile mix are a group of protesters who called themselves the Multicolored Shirts , made up of mainly middle-class city dwellers , who took to the streets in large numbers Friday . They are not pro- or anti-government , but simply want the government to shut down the Reds to end the violence and interruptions to daily life . Some fear that the emergence of such groups could spark a civil war . `` I am so afraid that people will do the wrong thing and think they are brave and fight and they all have arms and that is what I am afraid -LRB- of -RRB- , '' said resident Josh Orajan . He said the Thai are all one people and this should n't be happening . The Red Shirts support former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra , who was ousted in a bloodless military coup in 2006 . They want Abhisit to dissolve the government , hold new elections and leave the country . CNN 's Arwa Damon and Kocha Olarn contributed to this report . | Thai PM : Did not expect protesters would use weapons . PM rejects call from anti-government protesters to dissolve parliament . Government urged to lift state of emergency , acknowledge deaths of protesters . Country gripped by tension after weeks-long political standoff . | [[88, 172], [207, 321], [271, 372], [934, 948], [1016, 1088], [2249, 2297], [2269, 2316], [2309, 2316], [2319, 2389]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- At least 1 million people marked the passing of another year at the iconic ball drop in New York 's Times Square , despite an early morning dusting of snow and late-night freezing rain . With the help of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and students from 12 city high schools , the dazzling crystal ball began its descent Thursday at 11:59 p.m. ET . Revelers counted down the final seconds of the decade . The New Year got under way with blasting horns and fireworks shot from the Sky Tower as revelers partied Friday morning in Auckland , New Zealand . Similar celebrations were moving like a wave from east to west as midnight struck across the globe , starting at the International Date Line in the mid-Pacific Ocean . Throngs danced to pounding rock 'n' roll music and cheered a spectacular 12-minute fireworks display over the picturesque Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia . A giant bell rang before a huge crowd in Seoul , South Korea . Crowds across Europe braved near-freezing temperatures to ring in 2010 . In London , England , people gathered along the banks of the River Thames to hear Big Ben strike midnight and watch a fireworks display at the London Eye . A multicolored light show at The Eiffel Tower dazzled crowds in Paris , France . In New York , security was tight for Thursday night 's iconic ball drop . After the Christmas Day attempt to blow up a Northwest Airlines plane over Detroit , Michigan , security forces are on high alert . `` We want people to have a happy experience . But we are also concerned about a terrorist event . We have to do that after 9/11 , '' New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said . Celebrating ? Share your photos and videos . New York police estimated a million people had already filled the square by early Thursday evening . Weighing 11,875 pounds , the sparkling sphere features 2,668 crystals woven into a triangular pattern and is powered by 32,256 LED lights . It is capable of producing a kaleidoscopic array of 16 million vibrant colors and billions of patterns , according to the event 's official Web site . This New Year 's ball is also be greener , consuming 10 to 20 percent less energy than last year 's ball and 78 percent less energy than the 2007 ball . It uses the equivalent amount of energy per hour as two traditional home ovens . The 2010 numerals are also more energy efficient , as Duracell Batteries set up a lab in which visitors ride stationary bikes to provide the power to light the numbers on the ball . Key stories in 2009 : You rank them . Times Square has served as one of the most popular sites of New Year 's festivities since 1904 , though the New Year 's Eve ball made its inaugural drop down the flagpole at One Times Square in 1907 . That first ball , built with iron and wood , featured a hundred 25-watt light bulbs and was designed by Jacob Starr , a young immigrant metalworker . The New Year 's Eve ball has beamed every year since with the exceptions of 1942 and 1943 , when America was embroiled in World War II and New York City observed a city-wide `` dimout '' to cut energy costs . As in previous years , security is tight . Police are searching garages and subway tunnels for bombs , trash cans are being removed , and mailboxes and manhole covers are being sealed . Detectives were asking hotel and restaurant personnel if they had noticed any suspicious people or activity . See images from Times Square . Law enforcement officials have a number of tools at their disposal to help combat potential crime and terrorism , including sniper teams , bomb-sniffing dogs , infrared radar-equipped helicopters , and radiation detectors on New York 's waterways , Kelly said . In the years before terrorism was a concern inside the United States , the Times Square celebration was a rowdy affair , fueled by copious amounts of alcohol , often transported via backpack . Today , alcohol and backpacks are banned from the area on New Year 's Eve , and revelers are herded into 2,500-person pens , but the mood is festive nonetheless . New Yorker Julio Ortiz-Teissonniere , a CNN iReporter , said he 's too jaded to take part in the spectacle , but that was n't always the case . `` When the ball drops , it 's like an earthquake , '' he said . `` The amount of people screaming and stomping -- it 's amazing . '' According to NYPD Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne , revelers can expect Times Square to be `` the most heavily guarded piece of real estate in the world '' Thursday night . Both uniformed and plain-clothes police officers were patrolling the crowds , keeping an eye out for pick pockets and revelers who might have had too much to drink . Plain-clothes officers would pinpoint any troublemakers , allowing uniformed officers to arrest and remove them from the crowd , Browne said . Snipers were perched on rooftops , bomb sniffing canine units patrolled the crowds and counter-terrorist intelligence forces were on hand , equipped with radiation detectors . Cars were restricted from driving through the area , and several barriers along with police officers blocked cars in-place throughout the area . The FAA has put an air restriction in place over New York City for the celebration ; however police helicopters as well as helicopters from the news media will be allowed to fly overhead and monitor the crowds . A security scare at Times Square Wednesday involving a suspicious white van halted traffic and forced the evacuation of several nearby buildings , including the Nasdaq Stock Exchange 's MarketSite . Though a false alarm , the scare highlighted the sense of alert in the area at this time of year . `` We know any time in our post-9 / 11 world when large numbers of people get together , we 've got to do certain things -- we have to do extra things that were n't done in the past , '' Kelly said . People began securing standing space as early at 6 a.m. Thursday morning in Times Square and snow began to blanket the city shortly after 8 a.m. Weather forecasters expect New York CIty to receive a steady mix of snow and rain throughout Thursday evening and Friday morning . `` Tourists come in and see it as part of the New York experience and indeed it is . It is sort of the total package , '' he said . `` When the ball drops , you get a feeling of relief that you made it through another year . '' CNN 's Allan Chernoff , Jim Kavanagh , Jesse Solomon , Jamie Guzzardo and Katie Hawkins-Gaar contributed to this report . | In Times Square , huge crowds welcomes 2010 with famous ball drop . Crowds in London gather to hear Big Ben strike midnight , watch the London Eye fireworks . Horns blare in Auckland , New Zealand . | [[0, 15], [45, 131], [1041, 1050], [1063, 1196], [430, 490], [462, 561]] |
London , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Britain said Thursday it expects Iceland to live up to its obligations , two days after Iceland 's president refused to sign a bill that would pay back billions of dollars Iceland owes the country . Britain spent 2.3 billion pounds -LRB- $ 3.69 billion -RRB- last year to cover the losses that British savers incurred when Icelandic banks collapsed . Under a European Union directive , Iceland owes compensation to Britain . Iceland 's parliament passed a bill last week authorizing a state guarantee for repayment of the funds , but President Olafur Ragnar Grimmson refused to sign it Tuesday . It means there will now be a public referendum on whether to approve the bill . It also puts into question whether Britain can get repaid . `` We expect Iceland to live up to its obligations , '' said a British Treasury spokesman , who was not authorized to give his name . `` We support them in finding a way to do that . '' Similar comments came from Dutch Finance Minister Wouter Bos , whose government spent 1.3 billion euros -LRB- $ 1.87 billion -RRB- to cover bank losses in the country . Despite his refusal to sign the bill , Grimmson told CNN Wednesday that Iceland will not shirk its duty to repay the money . `` Iceland recognizes its obligations under this agreement , '' he said . Resolving the issue , he added , `` is a key to our recovery and our harmonious relations with these countries . '' Grimmson acknowledged that the referendum puts repayment in doubt , though he said at the very least , Icelandic opinion polls show the vote will be `` very close . '' He did not explain how Iceland would repay the money if voters reject the bill . Britain and the Netherlands said it was too early to speculate on what might happen if voters in Iceland vote no , but both Bos and the British Treasury spokesman said it would have negative consequences internationally for the small Atlantic nation . `` If the referendum goes against us , then I think Iceland will have a big problem because they will have shown themselves to be very unreliable partners in the international financial scene , '' Bos told CNN . Bos said non-repayment of the funds would affect `` the long-term interest of the Iceland economy and the Iceland people . '' In a statement Tuesday , Grimmson said the reason he refused to sign the bill was so it would go to a referendum , which is required by law in such a case . He said he received a petition over the weekend , signed by a quarter of the electorate , urging the decision be put to a public vote . `` It is the cornerstone of the constitutional structure of the Republic of Iceland that the people are the supreme judge of the validity of the law , '' Grimmson said in the statement . The law passed by Iceland 's parliament would compensate Britain and the Netherlands by 2024 . The International Monetary Fund approved a loan of $ 2.1 billion to Iceland in November , making repayment of the British and Dutch funds a requirement . It is unclear how the IMF loan would be affected if Icelandic voters were to reject the repayment bill . | UK spent $ 3.69 billion last year to cover British savers ' losses when Icelandic banks collapsed . Dutch authorities spent $ 1.87 billion for the same reason . Iceland 's parliament passed a bill authorizing a state guarantee for repayment of the loan . President Olafur Ragnar Grimmson instead chose to put decision to repay loans to a public referendum . | [[235, 324], [235, 242], [305, 353], [330, 386], [461, 563], [2761, 2800], [2761, 2855], [632, 711], [632, 634], [647, 655], [659, 711], [632, 634], [652, 711], [2438, 2440], [2528, 2573]] |
Gulfport , Mississippi -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Gulf Coast states have seen drops in tourism linked to the BP oil spill in the Gulf , though it has not caused any beaches to close , tourism officials told CNN Wednesday . More worrisome than the people who call to cancel are those who do n't call to book their trip in the first place , said Kathy Torian , a spokeswoman for Visit Florida , the state 's tourism bureau . Hoteliers have a shot at dissuading worried would-be vacationers who call to cancel , she said . But they are unable to have any effect on those who opt not to book travel to the state in the first place , she said . The stakes are high . Tourism in Florida is a $ 65 billion industry that employs more than a million people , Rep. Corinne Brown , D-Florida , told the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on Wednesday . Complete coverage of Gulf Coast oil spill . `` And so we are devastated , '' she said . `` People are canceling . They 're not coming to the hotels . They 're canceling , not coming to Florida . So we 're in lock-down devastation . '' Florida has $ 2.5 million in its coffers for use in advertising and is making plans to use the $ 25 million promised this week by BP , Torian said . Louisiana 's coastal area , known more for sport fishing than for beachgoing , is also suffering . Gov. Bobby Jindal toured part of Louisiana 's vast coastal marsh Wednesday and found thick , oily sludge encroaching on the fragile ecosystem . `` We saw some heavy oil stranded in the wetlands . The oil is no longer just a projection or miles from our shore . The oil is here . It is on our shores and in our marsh , '' Jindal said at a news conference after the airboat tour in Plaquemines Parish . According to NOAA , about 35 miles of Louisiana shoreline has been affected by oil . The annual Seafood Festival in the town of Jean Lafitte the last weekend in July has been canceled so resources can be concentrated on the oil , CNN affiliate WWLTV reported . On Grand Isle , the annual Tarpon Rodeo is still on for July , but could be called off , local officials told WWLTV . Several other fishing rodeos have been canceled . The good news is that the state on Wednesday reopened three oyster beds and parts of two others that have not been affected by the oil , the station reported . The Louisiana Office of Tourism website assures visitors and potential visitors that there is no need to change travel plans , as the spill risk lies mostly east of the mouth of the Mississippi River and 75 percent of coastal fishing waters are west of there . BP promised $ 15 million apiece to Louisiana , Mississippi and Alabama to help the states attract visitors . Alabama tourism spokeswoman Edith Parten said her state has seen a small number of cancellations , but it has launched a $ 1.5 million ad campaign that it plans to supplement with BP 's money . `` I think we are getting word out with the tourism campaign , '' she said . In Mississippi , about half of the people who had made vacation plans along the state 's coast before the April 20 spill have canceled them , said Ken Montana , president of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Tourism Commission . And it gets worse , he said . `` What 's happening is we are not getting the phone calls to book , '' he said . `` It 's almost come to an 80 percent reduction in calls for future bookings . '' The tourism commission has spent $ 600,000 of its own money for an advertising campaign set to begin Monday `` to let people know we are open , '' he said . He predicted the state would begin using money from BP -- which he credited for moving quickly -- starting next week . But he bemoaned the image that the disaster has conjured among many . `` The perception is that everybody has oil on the beach and we are all closed up , '' he said . `` No beaches are closed , period . '' All the state waters are open and open to all activities , he stressed . For some , the ripple effects of the spill have yet to hit shore . Bob Mahoney , owner of Mary Mahoney 's Old French House in Biloxi , Mississippi , said business at his seafood restaurant located 150 yards from the high-tide mark is pretty good . `` The truth of the matter is it has n't affected me yet , '' he said . `` I do n't think it has . '' But he has already seen the price for shrimp shoot up from $ 4.75 per pound last year to $ 6.75 . At about 500 pounds per week , that adds up , he said . And , the 63-year-old restaurateur said , `` If the stuff starts starts hitting our beaches , I 'm sure we 'll be affected . '' Whatever happens , though , he vowed to stay put . `` I ai n't leaving Biloxi , '' said Mahoney , whose mother in 1964 founded the restaurant , which has survived other challenges . After Hurricane Katrina filled it with eight feet of water in 2005 , he and other relatives rebuilt it in 55 days , he said . Asked Wednesday in the congressional hearing how he planned to address the long-term issue of the psychological impact on the area -- the fact that people might not visit the Gulf Coast or eat its seafood because they fear contamination -- Lamar McKay , president and chairman of BP America , was stumped . In testimony to the House committee , he told Rep. Anh `` Joseph '' Cao , R-Louisiana , `` I do n't have a specific answer for that , but I do want to let you know that our intent is to stand behind what we 're saying , and it does n't end when the cleanup ends . '' CNN 's Aaron Cooper , Tom Watkins and Jim Kavanagh contributed to this story . | Some Louisiana seafood festivals canceled to concentrate on cleanup . Florida , Alabama , Mississippi officials report cancellations , drop in bookings . BP has offered money to the states to help them promote tourism . Biloxi restaurateur who bounced back from Katrina vows he 'll survive oil spill effects , too . | [[1821, 1963], [11, 86], [1002, 1022], [1034, 1046], [2695, 2791], [3303, 3378], [2586, 2675]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- While most Americans continue to get fatter , Coloradans stand out as being among the fittest in the country , the Trust for America 's Health says . Exercise and good nutrition are part of the Colorado public consciouness , says one former official . The state ranked 51st in obesity , with 17.6 percent of its 4.3 million residents squeezing into that category . -LRB- The rankings included the District of Columbia . -RRB- . And fewer than one in five state residents leads an inactive lifestyle , the trust found . That appeared to pay off in health benefits , with Colorado ranking 50th in diabetes and high blood pressure . These figures did not surprise Spenser Havlick , former deputy mayor of Boulder , where exercise and good nutrition rank high in the public consciousness and attract like-minded people from other parts of the country , he said . `` They are leaving behind a more sedentary life in the larger cities , '' he said . `` Every weekend , there 's a 5K race , a 10K race ; there are ultramarathons . '' A number of organic health food stores dot the city , and organic produce `` is pushed throughout the schools , '' he said . Boulder 's 100,000 residents have 360 miles of bike paths and 64 underpasses , so cyclists need not stop when they reach an intersection . `` We think that 's much safer , and it 's much faster and it 's more fun , '' said Havlick , 72 , who returned last week from hiking on glaciers in Alaska . Exercise is also part of the political culture of Boulder , where seven of the nine City Council members are bicyclists , said Havlick , professor emeritus of architecture and planning at the University of Colorado . `` There 's a strong inclination for more money to be spent on reducing car dependency . '' Weather , too , plays a role , with 330 days of sunshine , he said . And social pressure may have an impact . `` I think there is a stigma attached to people who have a BMI that 's high , '' he said , referring to body mass index , a measure of body fat based on height and weight . Still , he noted , the percentage of obese Coloradans has gone up slightly in the past two years . `` Some of the folks who come to Colorado to work may not have picked up on these healthy lifestyles yet , '' he said . E-mail to a friend . | Coloradans are among country 's fittest residents , a new report says . Fewer than one in five state residents leads an inactive lifestyle . State also ranks 50th in diabetes and high blood pressure . | [[65, 127], [447, 517], [589, 648]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The end is closer than the beginning . Ron -LRB- Rupert Grint , left -RRB- , Harry -LRB- Daniel Radcliffe , second from right -RRB- and Hermione -LRB- Emma Watson -RRB- in the new film . Harry Potter and his friends at Hogwarts are now in their sixth year of seven at the school . They 've seen a lot of changes , particularly as the influence of the reawakened Voldemort -LRB- that is , He Who Must Not Be Named -RRB- has made itself known . And the movie series itself is now nearing its conclusion . `` Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince , '' which comes out Wednesday , is likewise the sixth movie in the series based on J.K. Rowling 's seven Harry Potter books . There is one benefit to having such history , director David Yates says : Pretty much everybody going to see `` Half-Blood Prince '' is familiar with the characters , whether through the books or the movies . `` We made a decision -- we kind of crossed a line , actually , I think , on this movie , where we said , ` You know , this is the sixth one in the series ; it 's the most popular franchise probably in history ; do we stop and explain things to the audience who may have not seen any of the others ? ' And we said ` no , ' '' Yates said . `` And you know why ? It 's because they can always go back to DVDs . They can go back to the books . '' Indeed , many fans know the books -- and the movies -- backward and forward . Interactive : Harry Potter 101 '' The new film reflects the growth of the characters : Harry , the orphaned boy wizard who has been forced to take on responsibilities beyond his youthful years ; Ron Weasley -LRB- Rupert Grint -RRB- , his red-haired best friend , who is finding depths of courage in himself he was n't aware of ; Hermione Granger -LRB- Emma Watson -RRB- , the bookish and indispensible member of their clan , who has demonstrated key leadership qualities ; and all the rest , preparing for the showdown with the archvillain Voldemort . Watch the Potter cast answer your questions '' Among the returning performers : Michael Gambon as Dumbledore , Alan Rickman as Snape , Maggie Smith as McGonagall , Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid and Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort . One addition is Jim Broadbent , who plays Horace Slughorn , a former professor brought back to Hogwarts . Watch the stars at the rainy premiere '' Despite the growing darkness , there 's also a lightness to the new film , says Daniel Radcliffe , who plays Harry . Unlike the previous two movies in the series , which were rated PG-13 , this one is rated a more family-friendly PG . `` I think this film 's funnier , '' Radcliffe said . `` There are a couple of moments which I laughed out loud at . '' Not that it 's going to be a barrel of laughs , Yates cautions . -LRB- How could it , with the snake-faced Voldemort growing ever stronger ? -RRB- . `` It is a bit bipolar , '' Yates said . `` On the one hand , there 's all this ... romance , and on the other hand , people are getting killed , and bridges are being blown up . '' Oh , yes , there 's romance . After all , the main Potter characters are all teenagers now , with all the teenage longings . Potter fans have had their own longings . `` Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince '' was scheduled to be released in November but was pushed back to its Wednesday opening after Warner Bros. , Potter 's studio , expressed concerns about putting it out over the holiday season . -LRB- Warner Bros. , like CNN , is a unit of Time Warner . -RRB- . Warner Bros. said at the time that the film `` perfectly fills the gap for a major tent-pole release for mid-summer '' and added that the delay was also due to `` repercussions '' from the 2007-08 writers strike . But fans were n't so easily placated , filling message boards with angry comments and starting petitions that garnered tens of thousands of signatures . Warner Bros. . President Alan Horn was even moved to put out a statement assuring fans that the scheduling change `` was not taken lightly . '' Now that the moment is finally at hand , the fans seem to have forgiven the studio . According to Fandango.com , a movie ticket-selling site , `` Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince '' is outselling `` Transformers : Revenge of the Fallen '' at the same point in the sales cycle . It 's also in MovieTickets.com 's top 25 advance sellers of all time . Given that `` Transformers '' is , by far , the year 's top-grossing film , those tidbits ca n't help but make the studio happy . iReport.com : Seeing the latest `` Potter ? '' Share your review . The last of Rowling 's Potter books , `` Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows , '' is in production now as two films . That 's given the cast a bit of temporal whiplash when talking about `` Half-Blood Prince , '' since they completed it more than a year ago , but they 've been game to talk . After all , they 've come a long way since `` Harry Potter and the Sorcerer 's Stone , '' way back in 2001 . And they 're aware as anyone of the passage of time -- that they 're closer to the end than the beginning . It 's the kind of situation that leads to sentimental reflections . But Watson , for one , could n't wait to let go of one thing : her school uniform . `` I was like , ` Burn it ! ' '' she told Entertainment Weekly . `` Oh , my God , to be done with those shoes and that uniform -- that was an exciting day . '' | `` Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince '' comes out Wednesday . Film is sixth in the series , has moments of humor amid growing darkness . Less back story for this one , director says : Fans can `` go back to DVDs '' and books . | [[566, 568], [575, 594], [566, 568], [597, 638], [1019, 1054], [1261, 1308], [1275, 1308], [1309, 1340]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President Obama told West Point graduates that the United States faces `` difficult days ahead '' in its fight against insurgents in Afghanistan and said that the threat posed by al Qaeda operatives across the globe `` will not go away soon . '' Speaking at the U.S. Military Academy commencement in New York , Obama praised the graduates for their achievements and laid out a scenario of military and societal challenges in what is the ninth West Point commencement during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the fight against international terrorism . `` This time of war began in Afghanistan , a place that may seem as far from this peaceful bend in the Hudson River as anywhere on Earth , '' Obama said , referring to a conflict that started after the al Qaeda terror network attacked the United States on September 11 , 2001 . `` The war began only because our own cities and civilians were attacked by violent extremists who plotted from that distant place , and it continues only because that plotting persists to this day . '' While the United States and its allies battled in Afghanistan , the U.S. military launched an invasion of Iraq in 2003 , toppling the Saddam Hussein regime and battling insurgents for years until that war began to wind down in the last couple of years . But the Afghan conflict persists as the United States and its allies battle tenacious militants from the Taliban militant movement . Obama said as the Iraq war ends , America is `` pressing forward in Afghanistan '' and faces a `` tough fight '' against a nimble insurgency . `` From Marja to Kandahar , that is what the Taliban has done through assassination , indiscriminate killing and intimidation , '' Obama said , referring to the main militant and two southern Afghan battlegrounds . `` And any country that has known decades of war will be tested in finding political solutions to its problems , and providing governance that can sustain progress and serve the needs of its people . '' Obama said that even though the nature of the war has changed in the past nine years , it remains just as important as it was after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon . He said the United States has helped bring hope and sovereign government to Afghanistan , but `` there will be difficult days ahead . '' `` We toppled the Taliban regime ; now we must break the momentum of a Taliban insurgency and train Afghan security forces , '' he said . `` We will adapt , we will persist , and I have no doubt that together with our Afghan and international partners , we will succeed in Afghanistan . '' As for al Qaeda 's activities , Obama defended the `` campaign to disrupt , dismantle and to defeat al Qaeda , '' saying it 's an `` international effort that is necessary and just . '' While he said there has been `` more success in eliminating al Qaeda leaders in recent months than in recent years , '' the group will continue its recruitment efforts . `` We see that in bombs that go off in Kabul and Karachi . We see it in attempts to blow up an airliner over Detroit or an SUV in Times Square , even as these failed attacks show that pressure on networks like al Qaeda is forcing them to rely on terrorists with less time and space to train , '' he said . `` We see it in al Qaeda 's gross distortion of Islam , their disrespect for human life , and their attempts to prey upon fear and hatred and prejudice . '' Obama dismissed al Qaeda and its affiliates as `` small men on the wrong side of history , '' but acknowledged that the threat they pose `` will not go away soon . '' `` This is a different kind of war , '' he said . `` There will be no simple moment of surrender to mark the journey 's end . No armistice or banner headline . '' The president said America 's `` strength and resilience '' will counter people attempting to sow fear . `` Terrorists want to scare us , '' he said , but `` New Yorkers go about their lives unafraid . Extremists want a war between America and Islam , but Muslims are a part of our national life , including those who serve in our Army . Adversaries want to divide us , but we are united by our support for you -- soldiers who send a clear message that this country is both the land of the free and the home of the brave . '' Obama made reference to West Point 's diversity , pointing out that women in uniform are playing `` indispensable role in our national defense . '' They include West Point 's No. 1 overall cadet and valedictorian , Liz Betterbed and Alex Rosenberg . Obama noted it was the first time the academy 's two top awards were earned by female cadets . `` America 's Army represents the full breadth of the American experience , '' with cadets hailing from all walks of life , Obama said . The president noted that one thing that sets the cadets apart is that they `` have come together to prepare for the most difficult tests of our time '' and know they are being sent into `` harm 's way . '' `` And through a period when too many of our institutions have acted irresponsibly , the American military has set a standard of service and sacrifice that is as great as any in this nation 's history , '' he said . Obama also stressed that economic and technological innovation `` must be a foundation of American power '' and that the efforts of America 's armed forces must be complemented by effective diplomacy , world development and security . `` We need intelligence agencies that work seamlessly with their counterparts to unravel plots that run from the mountains of Pakistan to the streets of our cities ; law enforcement that can strengthen judicial systems abroad and protect us at home ; and first responders who can act swiftly in the event of earthquakes , storms and disease . '' Obama said the world 's burdens can not just be America 's , and alliances that has served the United States well must be maintained , strengthened and widened . `` The international order we seek is one that can resolve the challenges of our times -- countering violent extremism and insurgency ; stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and securing nuclear materials ; combating a changing climate and sustaining global growth ; helping countries feed themselves and care for their sick ; preventing conflict and healing its wounds . '' | President Obama speaks at West Point 's ninth wartime commencement . Obama : Despite challenges , `` we will succeed in Afghanistan '' World fight against al Qaeda `` necessary and just '' Obama hails West Point milestone ; two top cadets both female . | [[330, 335], [385, 573], [2582, 2616], [2652, 2728], [2731, 2773], [2741, 2802], [4557, 4639]] |
New York -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The wife of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was charged with drunken driving after a police officer saw her run over a curb outside a school , authorities said Tuesday night . Mary Richardson Kennedy was arrested Saturday night in Bedford , New York , a sergeant with the town 's police department said . Kennedy 's blood alcohol level was 0.11 , said Sgt. Matthew Dunn . The legal limit is 0.08 . He confirmed published reports that an officer saw Kennedy drive over a curb outside a school in her station wagon . A message left for Robert Kennedy 's spokesperson was not returned . Bedford , in Westchester County , is about an hour north of New York City . | Mary Richardson Kennedy charged after police officer saw her run over a curb . Arrest was Saturday night in Bedford , New York . Police : Kennedy 's blood alcohol level was 0.11 . | [[0, 24], [50, 158], [416, 532], [452, 487], [452, 462], [467, 532], [194, 256], [323, 362]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- BP plans to continue using a controversial subsea dispersant to break up a plume of oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico , saying that the leading alternative could pose a risk over the long term , the EPA indicated Saturday . The EPA issued a directive on Thursday , ordering BP to find , within 24 hours , a less toxic but equally effective chemical than its current product , Corexit 9500 -- and one that is available in sufficient quantities . The directive also gave the company 72 hours to stop applying it to the undersea gusher . Corexit has been rated more toxic and less effective than many others on the list of 18 EPA-approved dispersants , according to testimony at a congressional hearing Wednesday . The EPA released BP 's response to the mandate on Saturday . The response , which BP submitted late Thursday night , said that the oil company identified the only other effective , less toxic alternative available in mass quantities as Sea Brat 4 . However , BP said the Sea Brat product `` contains a small amount of a chemical that may degrade to a nonylphenol . '' Nonylphenol is an organic chemical that is toxic to aquatic life and may persist in the environment for years . Corexit , however , `` does not contain chemicals that degrade into NP -LSB- and -RSB- the manufacturer indicates that Corexit reaches its maximum biodegradeablility within 28 days of application '' and does not persist in the environment , BP 's response said . `` Based on the information that is available today , BP continues to believe that Corexit was the best and most appropriate choice at the time when the incident occurred , and that Corexit remains the best option for subsea application , '' BP said . Despite the continuing use of Corexit , BP is not in violation of the EPA directive , which said that should the company not be able to identify alternative products , `` BP shall provide ... a detailed description of the products investigated -LSB- and -RSB- the reason the products did not meet the standards '' required by the agency . `` We will continue to review and discuss the science through the end of the 72-hour window on Sunday , and then we will reach a decision , '' an EPA spokesman said Saturday . John Sheffield , president of Alabaster Corp. , which manufactures Sea Brat , took issue with BP 's response , saying Saturday that the company is `` nitpicking my product because they want to use what they 've always used . '' Sheffield told CNN that he discussed the nonylphenol issue with EPA officials earlier this week , saying the chemical makes up less than 1 percent of the Sea Brat dispersant . `` I 've already diffused this issue with the EPA , '' he said , adding the agency `` accepted that response days ago . '' The EPA has not yet publicly issued a formal response to BP 's letter . EPA officials met with BP executives on Friday to discuss the issue and to explore alternatives . The EPA said Saturday that it `` will continue to work over the next 48 hours to ensure BP is complying with the directive , '' but did not respond to requests for additional comment . Meanwhile , the Department of Homeland Security announced Saturday that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will lead a bipartisan Senate delegation to inspect the Louisiana coastline after globs of thick , heavy oil began washing into some of the state 's marshlands this week . The delegation will meet with federal officials and BP representatives to discuss the ongoing response efforts . CNN 's Ed Lavandera contributed to this report . | EPA says it `` will continue to work over the next 48 hours to ensure BP is complying '' EPA issued directive to find less toxic chemical than Corexit , the current dispersant in use . BP says only other less toxic alternative is Sea Brat 4 , which may `` degrade to a nonylphenol '' BP maintains `` Corexit was the best and most appropriate choice '' | [[2940, 3017], [2967, 3030], [245, 283], [794, 847], [850, 981], [1048, 1061], [1067, 1097], [1530, 1619], [1658, 1712]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Tens of thousands of people turned out on Washington 's National Mall on Sunday to support the Obama administration in its next big battle , a renewed effort to overhaul U.S. immigration laws . Speaking by video to the crowd , President Obama said he would do `` everything in my power '' to get a bipartisan deal within the year . `` You know as well as I do that this wo n't be easy , and it wo n't happen overnight , '' Obama said . `` But if we work together across ethnic , state and party lines , we can build a future worthy of our history as a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws . '' Obama 's appearance was followed by comments from Gustavo Torres , executive director of the Baltimore-based immigrant advocacy group CASA de Maryland . Torres told the crowd , `` Mr. President , we are going to hold you accountable . '' Though overshadowed by the historic debate on health care taking place in the nearby halls of Congress , Sunday 's rally set the stage for a revival of efforts to reshape U.S. immigration law . The issue has been largely sidelined since a similar push by the Bush administration failed in 2007 . `` You are a spectacular sight , '' Ali Noorani , chairman of the coalition that organized the demonstration , told the crowd . Noorani said the rally had drawn more than 150,000 people `` from across the country , and we are demanding comprehensive immigration reform now . '' Noorani 's figure could not be verified immediately . The crowd packed more than two blocks of the Mall between the Capitol and the Washington Monument . Then-President George W. Bush supported a bipartisan effort to overhaul U.S. immigration laws four years ago , proposing to set up a path to legal status for the estimated 11 million people in the United States without authorization . But those measures were criticized as establishing amnesty for illegal immigrants , and legislation Bush supported died with a Senate filibuster -- one led by members of his own party but joined by more than a dozen Democrats . Sunday 's event followed last week 's publication of a new plan backed by Sen. Charles Schumer , D-New York , and Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-South Carolina . The plan would create a `` tough but fair '' path to legalization , as well as a temporary worker program and tighter border controls , the sponsors wrote in a Washington Post opinion piece Friday . Obama called the senators ' plans promising and said it should be the basis for moving forward . He called on Congress to act on that plan at the earliest possible opportunity . Obama 's push on immigration also helped secure a key vote for his health care bill . Rep. Luis Gutierrez , D-Illinois , announced his support for the bill after receiving a commitment to move forward on immigration `` as soon as possible . '' `` The wait is over . The time is now , '' Gutierrez told Sunday 's rally . `` We 're ready to turn our hope into victory . '' CNN 's Sandra Endo contributed to this report . | Demonstrators call for overhaul of U.S. immigration laws . Push comes four years after failed effort at reform . Two senators recently proposed new plan , calling for `` tough but fair '' path to legalization . President has called on Congress to act on plan `` at earliest possible opportunity '' | [[171, 223], [972, 1060], [1382, 1437], [2058, 2121], [2111, 2212], [2213, 2346], [2509, 2589], [2509, 2511], [2531, 2575]] |
New York -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An Austrian daredevil is planning to become the first person to break the sound barrier in a free fall , without riding in a vehicle . This summer in New Mexico , Felix Baumgartner hopes to make the highest , longest and fastest fall ever . His attempt will take him to an altitude where the atmosphere ends and space begins -- where blood boils at body temperature , and the air temperature could be as low as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit . The first step in the attempt will be riding a helium balloon to an altitude of 120,000 feet above sea level -- almost 23 miles -- higher than anyone has ascended in a balloon before . Then , wearing a pressurized suit and oxygen tanks , he plans to jump out of his capsule for a five-minute fall back to Earth . Within the first 30 seconds , he expects to be falling faster than the speed of sound , which at that altitude is around 690 miles per hour . Crossing that barrier would mark a new test of the limits of the human body . `` This is what we want to find out : What happens to the human body when it breaks the speed of sound , '' Baumgartner said . `` That 's a big question mark . '' To increase his chances of survival , his parachute is set to open automatically , even if he 's unconscious or spinning so fast his hands are pinned by the G-force . He said his engineers are taking every precaution , testing out the suit in a wind tunnel and providing him with a backup chute , sealed gloves and boots , and an advanced helmet . `` This helmet also has face-shield heating to make sure your visor 's not getting fogged up on the way down , because that would be fatal , '' he said . `` If you do n't see anything , you ca n't move anymore . You ca n't make decisions . '' Still , the risk of the unknown remains . `` If something happens , it happens fast , '' he said . `` You can never say you 're not going to get killed under any circumstances , '' but `` we have a lot of solutions for emergency situations like this . '' A chain reaction of events would have to occur before the jump could turn fatal , he said . A potential benefit from the mission , he said , would be demonstrating that it is possible to return from space without a spacecraft . `` In the future , a lot more tourists will go and travel to space . And if something goes wrong with their spacecraft , they have to return to Earth somehow , '' he said . `` We will show to the world that egress from high altitude is survivable . '' The main difference is that Baumgartner will start from a standstill , whereas astronauts in a craft like the space shuttle are traveling at orbital speeds close to 18,000 mph when their re-entry begins . The previous record for the highest jump has stood for half a century , since it was set in 1960 by Joe Kittinger with the Air Force . He reached an altitude of 102,800 feet , and says it felt like a very distant and hostile place to be . `` You know that right outside of you is a vacuum of space , '' he said , `` and without the protection of that pressure suit , you can not live . And that 's an interesting thought . '' Baumgartner , whose attempt is being financed by energy drink maker Red Bull , has enlisted Kittinger as a consultant . `` We have learned a lot from people in the past who tried to break that record , and they all failed , '' Baumgartner said . `` Some of these people got killed . '' But he adds , `` I think it 's human nature , you know . Records are meant to be broken . And I 'm a very competitive person . I like the challenge . '' | Within 30 seconds of jump , Felix Baumgartner expects to break sound barrier . Pressurized suit and oxygen tanks are among special equipment he will use . Man who holds current record -- 102,800 feet -- is serving as consultant . | [[28, 49], [62, 130], [654, 658], [661, 704], [2831, 2869], [3122, 3133], [3194, 3241]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Eight people were arrested Tuesday , one on a charge of murder , in connection with the fatal shooting of a woman at a remote Louisiana campsite during what police say was an initiation ceremony for the Ku Klux Klan . Chuck Foster is charged with second-degree murder in the woman 's death . The woman , whose identity has not been confirmed , was recruited over the Internet to join the Klan by the suspects , said Capt. George Bonnett of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff 's Office . The woman traveled from Oklahoma to Louisiana for the ceremony and was taken to a campsite near Sun , Louisiana , about 60 miles north of New Orleans . On Sunday , the woman asked to be taken from the camp to a nearby town . An argument ensued , and the woman was fatally shot by the group 's leader , Bonnett said . Some of the suspects then tried to conceal the killing by burning the woman 's personal items , he said . Police received a tip about the killing and found the woman 's body hidden under loose brush alongside a road , Bonnett said . The suspects , most of whom were still in the woods near the campsite several miles from where the body was found , were taken into custody without incident , he said . The group 's leader , identified as Chuck Foster , 44 , was charged with second-degree murder . The others were charged with lesser crimes related to trying to conceal the killing , Bonnett said . Authorities found weapons , several flags and six Klan uniforms in the area , he said . Bonnett said he has not seen any Klan activity in the area in three years he has worked there . According to the Southern Poverty Law Center , there were seven active Klan organizations in Louisiana in 2007 , the last time the civil rights law firm tracked hate groups . None of these organizations was in the Sun area . CNN 's Marylynn Ryan contributed to this report . | Suspects recruited Oklahoma woman to join Klan , Louisiana police say . She was shot after demanding to be taken to nearby town , authorities say . Eight suspects are accused of trying to cover up killing . One man is charged with second-degree murder . | [[311, 427], [654, 663], [666, 726], [237, 310], [1221, 1240], [1272, 1316]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Let 's just say it . The whole thing sounds insane . Despite blisters and 130-degree heat , Canadian Sandy McCallum pulls ahead on a grueling day in the desert . For six days , people from across the world -- accountants , school teachers , farmers , CEOs -- will run 150 miles , the equivalent of five consecutive marathons , across one of southern Africa 's most remote landscapes . Without showers , toilets or beds , the racers must fend for themselves by carrying in their backpacks all the food they will need for the week . Water is rationed , despite 120-degree heat . And the racers will wear whistles to summon help should they encounter a wild animal that seems inclined to make them into dinner . Oh , and to have this ... adventure ... each person pays $ 3,100 , not including travel costs . Listen to racers say why they do it '' `` Nothing has ever made more sense to me , '' said Jim Molaschi , a 46-year-old South Florida engineer , who escapes from his cubicle as often as possible to do adventure races that make `` Survivor '' contestants look like pageant queens . Molaschi is among the 214 racers who will , beginning May 17 , traverse Namibia . It 's the latest footrace staged by Racing the Planet Limited , which has hosted 18 similarly styled races , known as the `` 4 Deserts , '' since the mid 1990s . The first three courses -- each about 150 miles -- run across Chile 's Atacama Desert , where it has n't rained in 200 years ; China 's Gobi Desert , where the first dinosaur eggs were discovered ; and North Africa 's Sahara Desert , where camels have been known to eat Racing the Planet 's pink flag race markers . Sahara racers were asked : What happens if you 're racing and stop seeing pink flags along the way ? Wear a GPS , they say , and hope you find the next pink flag . Watch racers lance blisters , eat mush and run across the Sahara '' Only those who complete the first three are allowed to participate in a walk across Antarctica known as the Last Desert . Racing the Planet is the first group to stage an endurance event across Namibia . Mary Gadams , Racing the Planet 's director , was stunned this year as more people registered than ever before . `` It 's the worst economy in years , and the world seems like it 's falling apart , yet there is this real thirst out there to do this , '' she said . `` Maybe when everything that you defined yourself by in the ` normal ' world is n't so stable , some people want to rediscover who they are outside of ` normal . ' They want an incredible experience . '' Racing the Planet competitors include a Mount Kilimanjaro summiteer from Germany , a British insurance broker , a Spanish government official , a Canadian physician and an American architect . There are Ironman competitors in the mix with a few people who have never run more than 13 miles . The oldest woman in the race is a 68-year-old grandmother from Australia , Jennifer Murray , who set a record in 1997 by becoming the first woman to circumnavigate the earth in a helicopter . Most racers compete for charity , and over the years they have collectively raised about $ 500,000 , said Gadams . In 2008 Racing the Planet teamed with Operation Smile to provide 97 villagers in Egypt with free reconstructive surgery , she said . Physicians and trained volunteers ride in all-terrain vehicles along the route , distributing water and medical aid . No one has been seriously hurt during past races . Helicopters -- including one provided by the Namibian government -- are at the ready . Competitors , as in any endurance event , sign off on the risks . Letting go of their vanity is something most racers learn after a couple of hours on the course . `` When you 've got a CEO of a major company copping a squat in the desert , you are seeing them in a way their board members would never dream of , '' said Sandy McCallum , a 47-year-old former reporter turned record-setting fulltime runner who won Sahara among women in 2007 . `` Out there , you stink like everyone else , you sweat like everyone else , you hurt like everyone else . It 's a grounding force , '' she said . Watch McCallum and Molaschi hit Miami Beach for a training run '' Pain also begets camaraderie . At the end of each stage , racers are given hot water for the dehydated food they have carried in their packs and sleep six to a tent . `` You can imagine how that makes people let go of their vanity and their personal space real quick , '' said McCallum . Friendships form quickly ; romances are not uncommon . McCallum met Molaschi during the Gobi race and the two are reuniting with other Gobi competitors in Namibia . Rory O'Connor , an Irish Army vet and father of five , is also meeting Racing the Planet friends in South Africa . Namibia is the fourth desert ultra for O'Connor , a South Carolina personal trainer who was inspired to do his first race , Gobi , in 2006 , after catching a National Geographic special on the event . `` I was watching that and I immediately said out loud , ' I could do that , ' '' he said . O'Connor sent a reporter a photo from the Atacama race of his ankle so blistered and bloody that CNN is n't showing it . The 41-year-old underwent surgery for a hernia two months ago , but that has n't deterred him from wanting to run Namibia . He put his backpack soon after the operation and started training again . `` People have said , ` Oh you should n't do that , you 'll hurt yourself . ' But I do n't want to live my life like that , afraid of something that could happen , that might go wrong . I could hurt myself anywhere . '' `` After -LSB- these races -RSB- , everything else in my life seemed like such a smaller hassle , '' O'Connor said . `` They humble me . When you come back to your real life , nothing is going to seem like too much for you to handle . '' | Footrace , which begins May 17 , is the equivalent of five consecutive marathons . Racers must carry in backpacks all the food they need for the six-day competition . After previous desert event , racer says all else in his life seemed relatively easy . 68-year-old helicopter flying record setter is the oldest female Namibia racer . | [[1123, 1137], [1149, 1186], [465, 519], [507, 519], [525, 549], [5650, 5710]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Police in California say that with the arrests of 23 people this week , they are getting closer to those responsible for a string of brazen attacks against officers in a gang task force . The booby trap-style attacks believed to be targeting the Hemet Police Department began in December when , police say , a natural gas line was rerouted into the task force 's headquarters , risking an explosion . The most recent incident occurred in March , when four city code enforcement trucks were set ablaze in the Hemet City Hall parking lot . None of the 23 suspects arrested Tuesday face charges directly related to the four attacks , but police are hopeful that they will lead them to the people responsible , Hemet Police Capt. Dave Brown told CNN . `` Tuesday 's operation produced an enormous amount of property and evidence . The 23 people arrested were detained and interviewed , producing leads , and those leads are being followed up , '' Brown said . The suspects were arrested throughout Riverside County on a variety of felony and misdemeanor charges -- from possession of weapons and stolen property to outstanding warrants and narcotics . Local and state law enforcement agencies participated in the raids , in which 35 locations were searched and evidence , including 16 weapons , was seized . Read the names of the suspects . Some of those arrested have gang affiliations , Brown said , but it 's still unclear whether the attacks are gang-related . A motive is still not known . `` Motive has been a missing piece , but once the suspects are identified , we believe a motive will follow , '' he said . `` Sometimes , in gang cases , the motive is clear from the beginning . But in this case , we 're not even sure it 's a gang case , and if so , we 're not sure if one gang is operating independent of others or if there 's some sort of cooperation between the gangs . '' Hemet is one of eight local , state and federal agencies that make up the Riverside County Gang Task Force , which was formed in 2006 to address the growth of criminal street gangs and outlaw motorcycle gangs . As the county expanded and its population grew , so did the presence and reach of organized crime . Since 1997 , the number of gangs in Riverside County has grown from 266 to 391 , according to the task force 's website , and total gang membership has grown to 10,620 people countywide . Authorities believe the attacks could be related because of their close timing and identical targets , John Hall , a spokesman for the district attorney 's office , said last month . On New Years Eve , the unmarked headquarters of the Hemet Gang Task Force was filled with deadly natural gas . Two task force members detected the gas , backed away and reported it . On February 23 , a task force member at the Hemet headquarters opened a security gate outside the building , which launched a homemade zip gun attached to the gate . The weapon fired , missing the officer 's head by inches . The headquarters has since been moved to an undisclosed location , where extra security precautions are being taken , Hall said . On March 5 , criminals targeted a task force member who had parked an unmarked police car in front of a convenience store in Hemet . The officer found what appeared to be a homemade pipe bomb hidden underneath the vehicle . The attacks have drawn the attention of state and federal law enforcement , which have contributed manpower and money to a $ 200,000 reward offered in the case . The Hemet Police Department has set up a confidential tip line for anyone with information : 951-765-3897 . People can also e-mail tip to : [email protected] . | Authorities arrest 23 , search 35 locations in Riverside County in probe of attacks targeting police . Police hope sweep will lead to information about those responsible for the attacks . Four booby trap-style attacks against Hemet Gang Task Force have occurred since December . Attacks could be gang-related , but motive unclear , Hemet police captain says . | [[0, 15], [40, 206], [1224, 1233], [1245, 1284], [1245, 1257], [1287, 1307], [1245, 1257], [1310, 1322], [654, 723], [0, 15], [40, 206], [1421, 1432], [1441, 1479], [1480, 1509]] |
-LRB- Mashable -RRB- -- `` What would people most like to see in 3-D ? Probably a naked lady . '' Those are the words of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner , whose magazine will soon include a centerfold playmate photographed naked and in 3-D . The 3-D centerfold will appear in the June issue , which hits newsstands this Friday . The subject of the photos is 51st Playmate of the Year Hope Dworaczyk . Consider this a grab for attention more than anything ; Playboy editorial director Jimmy Jellinek was quoted byMSNBC saying , `` In today 's print environment you have to create newsstand events . '' The environment he 's talking about is one in which Playboy circulation has dropped almost 60 percent in just four years . Though the magazine 's gimmick is obviously inspired by the increasing popularity of 3-D films like `` Avatar , '' Hefner said that the appeal of 3-D movies is lost on him personally . That might not be true of his readers , though . Hefner actually commissioned a Chicago photographer to take 3-D photos of naked women back in the 50s , but he decided against running the images when he realized how expensive it would be to include 3-D glasses with each copy of the magazine , MSNBC claims . This time , HBO is promoting its sexy Southern vampire TV show `` True Blood '' by sponsoring the glasses . © 2010 MASHABLE.com . All rights reserved . | The 3-D centerfold will appear in the June issue , which hits newsstands Friday . HBO is promoting `` True Blood '' by sponsoring the 3-D glasses included in each issue . The subject of the photos is 51st Playmate of the Year Hope Dworaczyk . | [[121, 148], [166, 175], [184, 237], [121, 148], [171, 237], [238, 286], [272, 286], [295, 324], [1280, 1321], [325, 396]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Coming back this weekend after a stay in Europe , I had that distinct sensation -- last felt when Lehman Brothers capsized , setting off the Great Recession -- that we once again find ourselves at the mercy of events and people just beyond our control . Here at home , one hears that by Wednesday dawn , we will know whether BP 's latest big try to stop the oil spill will work . If it does , we can begin to feel that we are moving in the right direction , but if it does n't -- well , no one is quite sure what Plan D looks like . Is this really where we have come : that the fate of our precious coastlines and the waters off our coasts are in the hands of a single foreign-based company ? A month ago , it looked like the White House was on top of this problem , as Cabinet officers scurried here and there , the Coast Guard and others swung into action , there were talks with BP , and the president paid a personal visit . But increasingly , it has become apparent that the federal government may be present but is not in charge . It keeps saying that BP bears ultimate responsibility . It is keeping the press away . No wonder James Carville , Chris Matthews and Donna Brazile exploded late last week . They are right on a basic point : Ultimately it is not the responsibility of BP or any other company to protect American interests but the responsibility of the federal government . Some Obama supporters have argued that the 1990 Oil Pollution Act limits the president 's capacity to take action . Others disagree . Either way , in an emergency , laws can be changed . Although this disaster is not an existential threat , it could be argued that if the U.S. government had fought World War II in the same way it has fought the oil spill , we might well be speaking German now . Faced with a growing danger to our well-being , a WWII-type government would at minimum have : . • Brought in the CEOs of all the major oil companies and charged them with the duty of an all-hands collaborative effort to stop the spill and help ward off the damage . • Brought in the best minds in the country , from universities and technology , for emergency efforts to find solutions . • Moved quickly to mobilize the National Guard and other military forces , if necessary , ensuring that they received the resources needed to protect our beaches . • Made a clear call to citizen volunteers to help where necessary . • Given Cabinet officers an ultimatum : Get this under control in the next 30 days , or else . There will be ample time after this disaster for finger-pointing and blame-laying . The key now is to get this spill under control before it does far more damage . Meanwhile , the Washington Post had it exactly right Monday morning when it argued that with the European crisis spreading now beyond Greece , `` the knife-edge psychology currently governing global markets has put the future of the U.S. economic recovery in the hands of politicians in an assortment of European capitals . '' Across Europe , one finds people stunned at the rapidity with which this crisis has grown , threatening not only their weak economies but also their dreams of a European utopia with people living a honeyed existence . All that could go smash now . Indeed , it is ironic that Europe may now be forced to give up its strong welfare state even as the U.S. is moving toward it . But the immediate point is that the U.S. finds itself too much at the mercy of whether European politicians and publics now make the right moves . It may take a while , but Americans are going to start feeling a lot happier about our country when we once again believe we have strong control of own destiny . Leadership , anyone ? The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of David Gergen . | David Gergen : Growing concern that government is not responding adequately to oil spill . He says it does n't make sense that fate of U.S. coast is in hands of one company . Determined government response would have mobilized more resources , he says . | [[552, 711], [573, 585], [588, 711]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- BP is doing all it can to respond to the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico , a top BP official said Monday , even as criticism of the company 's handling of the crisis was growing . `` We are going to clear every drop of oil off the shore , '' Tony Hayward told reporters at Fourchon Beach , Louisiana , where cleanup efforts were under way . `` We will remediate any environmental damage and we will put the Gulf Coast right and back to normality as fast as we can . '' The company 's next effort to plug the leak is to come at dawn Wednesday . BP plans to pump thick , viscous fluid twice the density of water into the site of the leak to stop the flow so the well can then be sealed with cement -- the `` top kill '' procedure . Hayward , noting that the attempt will be carried out on the seafloor a mile below the sea surface , estimated the odds of success for the method at 60 percent to 70 percent . Asked about the company 's continued use of an oil dispersant in the face of an EPA request that it use a less toxic alternative , Hayward said , `` Everything that we do with dispersants is with the explicit approval of the EPA . '' But EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said she was not pleased with BP 's response to the government 's request . `` The answer we got back from BP , to me , seemed more like a defense of their current choice -- reminded me a little bit of that old commercial ` I 'd rather fight than switch , ' '' she told reporters in Venice , Louisiana . `` We need to ask ourselves whether there 's not a better product out there . '' Federal officials told BP that `` we expect to see a substantial reduction in the overall amount of dispersant used , '' from 50,000 gallons or more per day to less than 15,000 gallons per day , she said . That can be accomplished by releasing the dispersant below the surface of the water , she said . She said tests showed that the dispersant , Corexit 9500 , was more toxic to baby shrimp and baby silverfish than were any of five other dispersants . Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen , the Obama administration 's point person in the Gulf , called the decision to use dispersants a tradeoff . `` It means we 're willing to accept the effect of the oil in the ocean rather than on land , '' he said . Hayward acknowledged that BP 's reputation has taken a beating , but said the company is being straightforward about its efforts . `` We 're trying to communicate openly and transparently about everything that we 've done , '' he said . As the environmental impact of the disaster was just beginning to unfold , he noted that BP will set aside a half billion dollars to open a research program to study the effects of the spill . Hayward 's comments came a day after Interior Secretary Ken Salazar expressed frustration with the delay in stopping the spill , asserting that BP has `` from day one , frankly , not fulfilled the mission it was supposed to fulfill . '' He said the company has missed `` deadline after deadline '' and that he was not confident that BP knew what it was doing . `` If we find that they 're -LSB- BP -RSB- not doing what they 're supposed to be doing , we 'll push them out of the way , '' Salazar said . BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles acknowledged Monday that the federal government could take over the effort , but said the results would be no better . `` I do n't think anyone else could do better than we are , '' he said . If the `` top kill '' procedure does not work , he said , BP will try to fit a second , smaller containment dome over the ruptured pipe , Suttles said . A first containment dome failed to stop the leak . If the second dome does not work , he said , the company would `` still have plenty of other options . '' The company could try a `` junk shot , '' which would involve plugging the well with rubber and other substances , BP Managing Director Robert Dudley said Sunday . However , a permanent solution could take until August -- the estimated completion date for a relief well , said Allen . By the time the runaway well is capped , the amount of oil discharged could be comparable to the total released in the Exxon Valdez environmental disaster 20 years ago , Allen said . But he expressed no appetite for suggestions that the federal government should take over the project . `` You need to do very technical work at 5,000 feet , '' he said , referring to the depth of the leak . `` You need equipment and expertise that 's not generally within the government -- federal government -- in terms of competency , capability or capacity . '' The administration vowed to persevere . `` We are going to be tireless in working to do everything we can to support the community and everybody whose livelihoods have been imperiled down in the region , '' President Obama said at a reception celebrating Asian-American and Pacific-Islander Heritage Month . U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on Monday declared a fishery disaster in the Gulf of Mexico because of the economic impact of the oil spill on fisheries in the region . The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has closed nearly 20 percent of the commercial and recreational fisheries in the area because of the spill , and Locke 's declaration will allow the federal government to put additional resources into the Gulf states to soften the blow . Meanwhile , Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Salazar -- each on a fourth visit to the region since the April 20 spill began -- toured the spill area Monday accompanied by a phalanx of politicians . `` We are going to do everything we can to protect these lands , to protect these parishes , to make sure that claims are paid , '' Napolitano told reporters in Galliano , Louisiana . Read about Louisiana 's closed oyster harvesting areas . With an armada of more than 1,000 vessels and the efforts of more than 22,000 people who have put into place hundreds of thousands of feet of boom , the response to the oil spill is the largest in U.S. history , said Napolitano . That did not satisfy Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal , who called Monday for more resources to be mobilized against the oil and reiterated his call for the Army Corps of Engineers to move quickly to approve a plan to protect threatened marshland by building sand booms . `` We 've got to take matters into our own hands if we are going to win this battle to protect our coast , '' he said . `` Every day we are not dredging sand gives one more day for oil to enter the ecosystem . '' He bemoaned the fact that nearly 70 miles of Louisiana coast has been hit by oil . Read about a lawsuit filed by oil rig victims , families . `` BP is the responsible party and we need the federal government to make sure they are held accountable , '' he said . `` Our way of life depends on it . '' Coast Guard Rear Adm. Mary Landry , the federal on-scene coordinator for the response effort , told reporters the barrier island project was under review . Environmental and wildlife officials `` are weighing in on the impact to endangered and threatened species , and other impacts this large-scale project could have , '' she said . Since the explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon in late April about 40 miles off Louisiana , oil has been gushing into the Gulf at an estimated rate of at least 5,000 barrels a day -LRB- 210,000 gallons -RRB- . Some estimates are far higher . Eleven workers are missing and presumed dead after the sinking . The cause of the explosion has not been determined . | NEW : U.S. declares fisheries disaster in oily Gulf . Homeland security chief pledges help , Louisiana governor seeks resources . BP to set aside $ 500 million to study spill 's effects . `` Top kill , '' latest effort to plug the leak , set to start Wednesday morning , company says . | [[4904, 5075], [6086, 6113], [6120, 6152], [2599, 2680], [2631, 2716], [487, 530], [487, 513], [531, 561]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Queen Elizabeth and the royal family cost British taxpayers an average of 66 pence -LRB- $ 1.32 -RRB- per person last year , Buckingham Palace announced Friday in its annual report of royal finances . The Queen and the royal family cost Britons a little bit more in the latest financial year . The total cost of the queen and royal family was 40 million pounds -LRB- $ 80 million -RRB- in the past fiscal year , an increase of 2 percent from the year before , according to the Royal Public Finances report . The man in charge of managing the queen 's financial affairs said she has tried to keep costs down , pointing out that the queen 's expenses are more than 3 percent lower in real terms than they were in 2001 . `` The reduction in the amount of head of state expenditure in real terms reflects the continuous attention the royal household pays to obtaining the best value for money in all areas of expenditure , '' said Alan Reid , whose official title is `` keeper of the privy purse . '' Funding for property maintenance at the royal palaces increased by almost 1 million pounds -LRB- $ 2 million -RRB- from the year before to 15.3 million pounds -LRB- $ 30.6 million -RRB- , but it will stay at that level for the next three years , the palace said . Reid warned that the money is not enough to deal with a backlog of maintenance work . `` This backlog relates to essential maintenance and does not include any allowance for projects such as the redecoration of the state rooms at Buckingham Palace , most of which were last redecorated before the queen 's reign , '' he said . Available funds are also unlikely for replacing the lead and slate roofs at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle -LRB- which would cost an estimated 16 million pounds , or $ 32 million -RRB- ; replacing heating and electrical wiring and removing asbestos at the palace -LRB- 2.4 million pounds , or $ 4.8 million -RRB- ; and replacing Victorian cast iron and lead water mains at the castle -LRB- 3 million pounds , or $ 6 million -RRB- . Travel was a major expense for the queen and her family over the past year , the reports showed . The most expensive trip was the queen 's six-day state visit to the United States , which cost a total of 414,042 pounds -LRB- about $ 828,000 -RRB- . It cost 316,061 pounds -LRB- about $ 632,000 -RRB- for Prince Charles and his wife , Camilla , to take an eight-day trip to Uganda and Turkey in November for Britain 's Foreign Office . Prince Andrew , the Duke of York , also had a series of expensive trips as part of his role as the United Kingdom 's special representative for international trade and investment . He visited more than 20 countries in that capacity last year , trying to attract investors to Britain and helping British companies improve their prospects overseas . `` This report is provided every year to show transparency in the royal accounts , '' said CNN royal watcher Richard Quest . `` It is often used as an example to show profligacy , for instance with the cost of the royal train , which runs around 20,000 pounds -LRB- $ 40,000 -RRB- a day . '' | Queen and royal family cost British taxpayers 66p -LRB- $ 1.31 -RRB- per person last year . Figure is a 4p -LRB- 8c -RRB- increase on the previous year , according to Palace . Accounts reveal need for more spending to maintain palaces . | [[39, 78], [220, 312], [2045, 2119]] |
Los Angeles , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Art Linkletter , the easygoing , smooth-voiced emcee famed for his long-running hosting gigs of the radio and television shows `` House Party '' and `` People Are Funny , '' and author of `` Kids Say the Darndest Things , '' has died , according to his spokeswoman . Linkletter `` died peacefully at home with his family on Wednesday , '' a statement from the family said . He was 97 . `` Just one month earlier , while being honored at an event , he was asked what he considered his greatest life accomplishment , '' the statement said . `` He responded ` Family . ' '' Linkletter rose to fame as a radio announcer in San Diego , later becoming a program director . In 1944 , he launched `` Art Linkletter 's House Party , '' a daytime CBS radio show that moved to television in 1952 and ran until 1969 . `` Kids say the darndest things , '' was Linkletter 's often-repeated phrase because of his humorous interviews with children . It became the title of his best-selling book , a country music hit and was reprised by Bill Cosby as a 1998 TV show . The phrase began as a segment on `` House Party . '' Linkletter would ask several children their thoughts on various topics ; their responses were often hilariously absurd . `` I was Oprah before there was Oprah , '' he once told The Wall Street Journal . Flowers were placed on Linkletter 's star on Hollywood 's Walk of Fame Wednesday afternoon . His nighttime show , `` People Are Funny , '' started on radio in 1942 and ran on NBC television from 1954 to 1961 . According to Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh 's `` The Complete Directory to Primetime Network and Cable Shows , 1946-Present , '' the show featured everyday guests who would be interviewed by Linkletter and then asked to do a stunt . The result for those who failed at the stunt was often a pie in the face or being splashed by water . Linkletter also hosted a short-lived quiz show , `` The Art Linkletter Show , '' in 1963 . At its height , Linkletter 's fame was notable enough to make him part of Milton Bradley 's `` Game of Life , '' which featured Linkletter 's endorsement and his photo on the game 's $ 100,000 bill . His 1960 biography was called `` Confessions of a Happy Man . '' But the host 's own life was touched by a famous tragedy . In 1969 , his daughter Diane -- just 20 at the time -- jumped to her death from a sixth-floor apartment in Hollywood . Linkletter blamed the death on LSD , though the drug use was never confirmed . Linkletter became an ardent anti-drug crusader , releasing a hit record , `` We Love You , Call Collect , '' which won a Grammy Award . Of his five children , two others also predeceased Linkletter : son Robert died in a 1980 auto accident , and another son , Jack , died of lymphoma in 2007 . Linkletter is survived by his wife of 75 years , Lois , and two daughters , Dawn Griffin and Sharon Linkletter . Linkletter was born Gordon Arthur Kelly in Moose Jaw , Saskatchewan , on July 17 , 1912 . Orphaned as an infant , he was adopted by traveling evangelist John Linkletter and his wife , Mary . After a short stint on Wall Street -- he was a typist at an investment bank at the time of the 1929 Crash , he told the WSJ -- he eventually moved to San Diego and attended college at San Diego State University . While in college , he took a job as a staff announcer at CBS affiliate KGB-AM . Linkletter was an astute businessman . The owner of Linkletter Enterprises , he owned millions of acres in Australia and was a sheep and cattle rancher . He also owned oil wells and was a spokesman for several products . CNN 's Todd Leopold and Jack Hannah contributed to this report . | Art Linkletter hosted `` House Party '' and `` People Are Funny '' `` Kids say the darndest things '' was his catchphrase . `` I was Oprah before there was Oprah , '' he once said . His 1960 biography was called `` Confessions of a Happy Man '' | [[711, 718], [721, 765], [233, 263], [853, 881], [2185, 2246]] |
LA GLORIA , Mexico -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Tucked away in this small mountain village in Mexico , off a dusty road flanked by pig farms , is where the earliest case of swine flu -- a virus spreading globally -- was confirmed . Five-year-old Edgar Hernandez , known as `` patient zero , '' survived the earliest documented case of swine flu . Meet the child known as `` patient zero '' by his doctors -- 5-year-old Edgar Hernandez , who survived the earliest documented case of swine flu in an outbreak that , officials say , has now spread across four continents . His family lives in the 3,000-population village of La Gloria in the state of Veracruz , where a flu outbreak was reported on April 2 . State officials arrived and tested dozens of people . Lab tests confirmed that Edgar was the only patient in Veracruz to test positive for the swine flu virus ; the others had contracted a common flu . Health officials had returned to Edgar 's sample only after cases of the new flu strain were spotted around the country . Watch Dr. Gupta meet little Edgar '' `` In this case , there 's a patient who turned out to be positive for the swine-flu virus , with the exception that at that time in no region of the world it had been established as an etiological , epidemic cause , '' said Mexico Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova . Edgar has managed to bounce back from his symptoms and playfully credits ice cream for helping him feel better . His mother blamed a huge pig farm in the neighborhood for the virus . Officials have conducted tests at the farm owned by U.S. company Smithfield Foods , and those tests came back negative . Swine influenza , or flu , is a contagious respiratory disease that affects pigs . When the flu spreads person to person , instead of from animals to humans , it can continue to mutate , making it harder to treat or fight , because people have no natural immunity . Symptoms include fever , runny nose , sore throat , nausea , vomiting and diarrhea . Learn more about swine flu and how to treat it '' Common seasonal flu kills 250,000 to 500,000 people every year worldwide , far more than the current outbreak of swine flu . But there is no vaccine for this new disease , and little natural immunity , an expert said . `` I think the reason to be concerned is ... we had a vaccine for regular flu , '' said Dr. Carlos del Rio of the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta , Georgia . `` This is a totally new virus . ... You have a virus to which there 's no pre-vaccination , there 's no prior immunity . And , therefore , the mortality rate may be higher than other influenza viruses . '' Watch why swine flu is a `` sloppy virus '' '' Researchers do not know how the virus is jumping relatively easily from person to person , or why it 's affecting what should be society 's healthiest demographic . Meanwhile , in hard-hit Mexico City , the government closed universities , postponed sporting events , asked restaurants to serve only take-out food , and canceled church services in an effort to try to stem the spread of the virus . Worried residents continue to flood in night and day at hospitals , only to be turned away by armed guards . Watch Dr. Sanjay Gupta inside a Mexico City hospital '' Two of the most common antiviral drugs , Tamiflu and Relenza -- which are effective against swine flu -- are in short supply in Mexico 's capital . It also has become impossible to find protective surgical masks , which the government had handed out to one out of every five residents . `` I was looking for a mask at my local pharmacy , but they sold out , '' supermarket worker Rafael Martinez said as he rode the subway . `` I know it 's a risk , but I ca n't find one . '' CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta in La Gloria , Mexico , contributed to this report . | Boy , 5 , with first documented case and only in village , is recovering . Mother blames a nearby pig farm for virus , but tests there came back negative . Thousands flood Mexican hospitals , scramble for masks . | [[0, 34], [133, 221], [281, 336], [398, 424], [431, 496], [1440, 1509], [1598, 1630], [3077, 3142]] |
San Diego , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Sometimes , a film is so powerful that it haunts you long after you 've left the theater . Usually , it 's because of the weight of the message . The film haunting me is `` The Blind Side . '' And the message ? I 'll leave that to Leigh Anne Tuohy to explain . Tuohy and her husband , Sean , are the subjects of the new movie , `` The Blind Side . '' The film is an adaptation of the 2006 book , `` The Blind Side : Evolution of a Game '' by Michael Lewis . It tells the incredible story of Michael Oher , who went from being a homeless inner-city high school student whose father was dead and whose mother was a crack addict to a star lineman at the University of Mississippi -- eventually being selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2009 NFL draft . The Ravens recently signed the 6-5 , 309-pound Oher to a 5-year , $ 13.8 million contract . This American Dream is brought to us not just by Oher 's talent , perseverance , and hard work but also by the fact that he was adopted by the Tuohys . The white , wealthy Memphis family not only fed and clothed Michael but also loved him as one of their own along with daughter Collins and son Sean Jr. . The `` Blind Side '' is the No. 2 film in America , and the role of Leigh Anne Tuohy is played to perfection by Sandra Bullock . Still , some critics dismissed the film as hokey and condescending , with one calling it the latest chapter in Hollywood 's `` long , troubled history of well-meaning white paternalism , with poor black athletes finding success through white charity . '' They missed the point . Simply put , there 's a lot that any one of us can do to improve the life of our fellow man . And the fact that we do it is its own reward . `` He had a much greater impact on our lives than we did on his life , '' Leigh Anne said in a recent interview . `` You have this child , and you bring him in , and you realize how fortunate you are , how you 're blessed to have family , you 're blessed to have your health . So much in life you take for granted . '' There 's the message : So much in life you take for granted . We 've forgotten how lucky we are , because we 're busy cursing fate . We 've stopped being grateful for what we have , because we somehow find it more satisfying to complain about what we do n't . Until we meet someone who has much less than we do . So much in life you take for granted . As Americans , we 've become victims of our own success . We 've strayed so far from the example of our immigrant parents and grandparents that we bear no resemblance to that model . Weighed down by own bloated sense of entitlement and self-importance , we 've lost our appetite for competition and we prefer to talk instead about what we think we `` deserve . '' At the first sign of adversity , we play the victim , give up , or fall apart . With all the blessings that come with living in the world 's most remarkable country , still we complain . We retreat . We whine . Here in the Golden State , thousands of students at the University of California turned out to protest a 32 percent fee increase . I wrote a column , expressing disappointment that these `` brats '' consider a publicized subsidized college education an entitlement and telling them to go get jobs if their education is that important to them . I heard back from many of their parents who , angrily rising to their children 's defense , informed me -- in incompatible narratives -- that either there were no jobs or their kids already had two of them . How about that ? Bratty parents . Apparently , in California , the apple does n't fall far from the tree . After a few days of that noise , I was ready for a movie where , in one of the more poignant scenes , a young man is given his own bedroom and remarks that he 's `` never had one before . '' Not a room but a bed . In another scene , Michael is so grateful to be at Thanksgiving dinner that he respectfully sits at the dining room table while the rest of the family plops down in front of the television . In another scene , he requests a driver 's license just so he can have something with his name on it . So much in life we take for granted . I saw the movie in a well-to-do suburb north of San Diego . The crowd cheered , laughed , and cried . When it was over , there were smiles all around . I wondered : For all we 've acquired , what have we lost -- and look to movies like this to replenish ? The scene about the bed made me want to run home and gather up every one of my kids ' toys and give them to Goodwill . And , I tell you , the next time they ask for something they do n't need , they 're getting a paper route . Or at least they would if they were n't a preschooler and a toddler . In one scene , Leigh Anne interrupts football practice to give Michael a helpful tip for a lineman -- treat the team like your family and protect the family . She tells the startled football coach : `` You can thank me later . '' Treat yourself to a nice present this holiday season . See this movie . You can thank me later . The opinions expressed by this commentary are solely those of Ruben Navarrette Jr. . | A new film , `` The Blind Side , '' tells inspirational story of hope and caring , says Ruben Navarrette Jr. . He says film points up how fortunate most Americans are . Rather than appreciate their luck , many wallow in complaints about obstacles , he says . Navarrette : There 's so much in life that we take for granted . | [[2234, 2241], [2244, 2321], [2945, 2964], [2978, 2988], [2036, 2058], [2096, 2123], [2386, 2413], [4167, 4193]] |
London , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The United Kingdom votes on a new government May 6 through a political system that dates back centuries . When does an election happen ? The UK has no written constitution . Instead the country 's electoral system is based on a series of parliamentary acts dating back to the 17th century , when men wore the sort of tights and wigs still donned on ceremonial occasions by some officials of the Houses of Parliament . A general election is when voters nationwide choose lawmakers who will sit in the House of Commons , the lower chamber which initiates and approves legislation . An election must take place , by law , at least every five years . That said , governments can call an election at any time during their term . They could also be forced into an election if they lose a majority of lawmakers in the Commons . Who calls an election ? The starting gun in a general election is traditionally fired when the prime minister travels to Buckingham Palace to ask the queen , the UK 's head of state , to dissolve parliament by royal proclamation . An election must then take place within weeks . Since 1979 , elections have been held between April and June . It is customary for an election to be held on a Thursday . The vote is conducted through the `` first past the post '' system whereby the candidate in each constituency with the most votes wins the seat . If the queen is the head of state , then how come the UK a democracy ? Although the UK is a monarchy , the powers of the reigning head of state have gradually dwindled since King Charles I was beheaded in 1649 following the English Civil War between Royalists and Parliamentarians . Today , the monarch 's role is largely ceremonial and mostly restricted to state functions and appearing on stamps and banknotes . But the monarch still retains formal powers and opens parliament each year . How does parliament function ? The job of parliament is to make laws , scrutinize the actions of the government and debate issues of the day . The Commons -- which has green benches -- currently consists of 650 directly elected lawmakers known as Members of Parliament or MPs who each represent a geographical constituency . The upper house , the Lords -- which has red benches -- is mostly appointed by the government with members serving for life . Its main duty is to vote on legislation passed by the Commons and , when necessary , to send it back for further debate . In certain circumstances the government can force through legislation passed by the Commons but rejected by the Lords . How is an election decided ? Voters do not elect the prime minister , or head of government , directly . Rather , they vote to elect a candidate representing a particular party to serve as their local MP . The leader of the party which wins the most seats is then asked by the Queen to form a government . The leader of the second largest party in the Commons becomes the `` Leader of Her Majesty 's Opposition . '' MPs are elected by a plurality , rather than a majority , of votes . This means that a party can win a majority of seats in the Commons without achieving an overall majority in the overall popular vote . In fact , because there are three main parties in the UK it is extremely rare for a party to win an outright majority . The last prime minister elected by an outright majority was Stanley Baldwin , the Conservative Party leader , in 1931 . In 2005 , Tony Blair 's Labour Party won just 35 percent of the vote but still controlled a 66-seat majority in the House of Commons . So who can I vote for ? For most of the past century , British politics has been dominated by two parties , the left-wing Labour Party and the right-wing Conservative Party . That said , the boundaries between left and right have been blurred as each has strived to occupy the strategically important center ground . A third party , the centrist Liberal Democrats , usually picks up around 20 percent of votes but wins far fewer seats because it is squeezed between the two main parties . Parties from Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland also send small numbers of lawmakers to Westminster . Full guide to UK political parties What happens if a party does n't win a majority of seats ? If no party wins an overall majority -- a `` hung parliament '' -- then the leader of the party which takes the most seats will usually be invited by the monarch to form a government . But its powers will be limited because it can not control a majority of votes in the Commons . The party will usually call another election within months in a fresh attempt to secure a majority . What would a hung parliament mean in 2010 ? The last time this happened was in 1974 , when an election in February resulted in a hung parliament . A second election followed in October of the same year . Many opinion pollsters and observers believe that the 2010 general election will result in a hung parliament . | A general election must take place in the UK at least every five years . The power of the monarchy has gradually dwindled since the 17th century . Power in the UK parliament rests with the lower house , known as the Commons . The last parliament where no party had a majority was in 1974 -- analysts predict it will happen in 2010 . | [[616, 643], [646, 652], [655, 682], [1507, 1590], [4696, 4735], [4869, 4966]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Hundreds of people gathered Tuesday night for a candlelight vigil outside a San Diego , California , church in honor of a teenage girl missing since Thursday . The vigil was held just hours after authorities said they found human remains in an area where they had been searching for 17-year-old Chelsea King . `` There is strong likelihood that we have found Chelsea , '' San Diego County Sheriff William Gore said at a news conference . The remains were found in a shallow grave along the shoreline of a tributary south of a lake in Rancho Bernardo Community Park , authorities said . Searchers have been combing the edge of Lake Hodges for any clue into the disappearance of King , a cross-country runner who often ran along the park 's trails . The last reported sighting of the high school senior was at school Thursday , according to sheriff 's department spokeswoman Susan Plese . Her car , with her cell phone inside , was found at the park , Plese said . Police arrested 30-year-old John Albert Gardner III on Sunday in connection with the disappearance . Gardner is being held in the San Diego Central Jail on rape and first-degree murder charges , according to jail records available online Tuesday night . Gardner is due to appear in court later Wednesday . Follow local coverage on KGTV . Gore said the body was found in a heavily wooded area not visible from nearby homes . A shoe had been found earlier in the same area . He said King 's parents have been informed of the discovery . `` They were holding out hope as we all were that we would find Chelsea alive , '' he said . `` This is our worst fears that we would find her as we did today . '' At Tuesday night 's vigil , friends and family were expected to speak about King and play some of her favorite songs . Gore said he expected to have positive identification of the body by Wednesday . Gardner , a registered sex offender , is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday , according to San Diego County district attorney 's spokesman Steve Walker . | Hundreds gather for a candlelight vigil to honor teen girl missing since Thursday . Human remains found in shallow grave in park where Chelsea King was known to run . King , 17 , was last seen at school ; her car , with cell phone inside , was found at park . John Albert Gardner III , 30 , is being held on rape and first-degree murder charges . | [[0, 15], [19, 104], [139, 178], [179, 267], [457, 583], [767, 842], [906, 942], [945, 966], [982, 1082], [1083, 1174]] |
Miami , Florida -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A 15-year-old boy who was set on fire , allegedly by a group of youths he knew , told police he remembered `` cold stuff all over my clothes and ... burning . '' `` Somebody poured something on me and lit me on fire , '' Michael Brewer tells police from his hospital bed in the audiotaped interview conducted November 23 , six weeks after the October 12 incident . `` I started running . '' Broward County , Florida , prosecutors released the interview , along with other audio , video and documents , to media outlets including CNN on Monday and Tuesday . Three teenagers have been charged as adults with attempted murder in connection with Brewer 's burning . Detectives said eyewitnesses have told them that 16-year-old Jesus Mendez used a lighter to set fire to Brewer after Denver Jarvis , 15 , allegedly poured alcohol over him , and that Matthew Bent , also 15 , allegedly encouraged the attack . Detectives said Mendez admitted that he set Brewer on fire , and that he made a `` bad decision , '' according to an arrest transcript . Interviews with the suspects were not part of the evidence released this week . Detectives believe that Brewer owed Bent $ 40 for a video game . When Brewer did not pay , police said , Bent stole Brewer 's father 's bicycle , then was arrested when Brewer reported him to the police . The next day , police believe , the group sought out Brewer . In the interview , Brewer speaks in a soft , labored voice and sounds breathless . He can be heard inhaling and exhaling on the recording . He told police that Bent `` came to my house and he tried to take my dad 's bike . He threatened me . He threatened my sister . '' He said Bent wanted him to buy something that he did n't want to buy , but he could n't remember what . `` I think it was stolen , '' Brewer said . He said he saw Jarvis pour the flammable liquid on him , and told police he was walking away from the others when it occurred . When the teens approached him , he said , one told him , `` Nobody 's going to hit you . '' Instead , he recalled `` cold stuff all over my clothes and ... burning . '' Bent , Mendez and Jarvis face a maximum sentence of up to 30 years in prison if convicted . Two other boys who were allegedly involved , a 13-year-old and 15-year-old , have not been charged in the attack . After he was set on fire , `` I 'm like , run . Run , '' Brewer said . `` I ... jumped the fence and jumped into the pool . '' `` This guy comes running out and tries to pull me out of the water , and I said , ` Leave me , leave me , ' 'cause my skin was , like , hanging , '' he said . `` I got out of the pool , and ... in a chair . And then they put me on a stretcher , and they strapped me , and then they put me on the helicopter . '' A videotaped interview with an eyewitness to the incident is also among the pieces of evidence released . In it , the teenager recalls hearing Bent , who is known as Zeke , tell Jarvis to pour the flammable liquid on Brewer . `` Zeke 's like , ` Yeah , yeah , pour it on him , ' '' the witness says , estimating the pouring lasted three to five seconds . Asked if a lot of fluid was poured on Brewer , the boy said it soaked his entire back . Brewer was released from Jackson Memorial Hospital 's burn unit on December 22 after more than two months . During that stay , he had three skin-graft surgeries and was on a ventilator for a month . He was readmitted to the hospital earlier this month after experiencing trouble breathing , but was re-released after three days . Doctors have said he faces a long recovery and rehabilitation process . Brewer is recovering at an undisclosed location . His mother , Valerie Brewer , has said he will be home-schooled once he has recovered enough to resume his school work . CNN 's Rich Phillips contributed to this report . | Police release interview with teen set on fire , allegedly by youths he knew . Michael Brewer recalls threats , flames , running , jumping in pool to douse fire . Three teens are charged as adults with attempted murder in the incident . Brewer , 15 , faces long recovery and rehabilitation process . | [[32, 52], [57, 72], [99, 113], [200, 208], [236, 250], [2420, 2423], [2447, 2469], [592, 696], [3559, 3630], [3577, 3630]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Supreme Court has decided that the family of a slain professional wrestling personality can continue its lawsuit against Hustler magazine , a case that tested privacy concerns and the competing right to publish `` newsworthy '' material . The justices without comment Monday turned aside an appeal from the publishers of the men 's magazine , which featured old nude photos of Nancy Benoit , who was killed nearly three years ago by her husband and fellow wrestling superstar Chris Benoit . The couple 's young son also was slain in the family 's Georgia home . The order is a victory for the estate of Nancy Benoit , which is seeking damages from Hustler . At issue was whether the constitutional right of privacy indirectly referenced in the 14th Amendment trumps the First Amendment protections of the media and publishers in this `` right-of-publicity '' dispute . The original lawsuit was brought by Maureen Toffoloni , whose daughter , Nancy Benoit , had posed nude for a photographer more than two decades ago . Toffoloni claims that her daughter , who was also known by the wrestling moniker Woman , had asked immediately after the shoot to have the photos and video destroyed and believed that photographer Mark Samansky had done so . He later sold stills from the video to Hustler , a men 's magazine founded by Larry Flynt that publishes racy material . The photos were published in the March 2008 issue . The murders had occurred the previous summer . At the center of the crimes was Chris Benoit , a Canadian-born athlete who worked for several professional wrestling circuits , including the popular World Wrestling Entertainment . In 2000 , he married Nancy Sullivan , a Florida native who had become a well-known wrestling manager after her time in the ring . Their son , Daniel , was born earlier that year . Police say the crimes occurred over a three-day period in June 2007 at the Atlanta-area home of the Benoits . Investigators concluded that Chris Benoit first bound his 43-year-old wife and strangled her . The 7-year-old boy was then drugged and strangled . The man then committed suicide by hanging himself with a weight machine . No formal motive was ever established . CNN reported at the time that doctors found testosterone , painkillers and anti-anxiety drugs in the body of 40-year-old Chris Benoit , according to Georgia 's chief medical examiner . Performance-enhancing anabolic steroids were later found in the home . Weeks after the killings , a study of Chris Benoit 's brain showed damage from `` prior repetitive injury . '' His father , Michael Benoit , said on CNN 's `` Larry King Live '' that a series of concussions from his high-flying moves in the ring were in part to blame . Georgia has a law similar to many states ' recognizing the right to privacy against `` the appropriation of another 's name and likeness ... without consent and for the financial gain of the appropriator . '' That would include `` a private citizen , entertainer , or a public figure who is not a public official '' like a legislator . The state 's high court ruled against Hustler magazine in June , finding that a `` brief biography '' of Nancy Benoit and her murder accompanying the nude photos did not represent a `` newsworthy article . '' `` The photographs published by -LSB- Flynt -RSB- neither relate to the incident of public concern conceptually -LSB- the murders -RSB- nor correspond with the time period during which Benoit was rendered , against her will , the subject of public scrutiny , '' the state court wrote . `` Were we to hold otherwise , -LSB- Flynt -RSB- would be free to publish any nude photograph of almost anyone without their permission , simply because the fact they were caught nude on camera strikes someone as ` newsworthy . ' Surely that debases the very concept of a right to privacy . '' The state justices said `` crude though the concept may seem , '' Nancy Benoit 's mother is now entitled to control such images `` in order to maximize the economic benefit to be derived from her daughter 's posthumous fame . '' Such power is known legally as the `` right of publicity . '' Flynt and the photographer , Samansky , later filed the appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court and had the support of several media organizations . In a brief filed in support of Hustler , the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press said the Georgia ruling `` makes no sense , as it goes well beyond the photographs that appear in magazines such as petitioner 's to affect all news-gathering . '' The group noted that other courts have long recognized a broadly read `` newsworthiness '' standard for commercial media like CNN and that such specific `` dissection '' of content-based stories and pictorials by judges would cripple editorial decision-making by all news outlets . The case is LFP Publishing Group -LRB- dba Hustler Magazine -RRB- v. Maureen Toffoloni , as administrator and personal representative of the estate of Nancy E. Benoit -LRB- 09-625 -RRB- . | Supreme Court turns aside appeal over Nancy Benoit nude photos . Hustler published pictures months after Benoit 's husband killed her , son , himself . Nancy Benoit 's mother sued , saying daughter thought materials destroyed . Case centers on rights of media , privacy . | [[273, 374], [3093, 3150], [3166, 3254], [408, 425], [430, 509], [525, 548], [554, 595], [1053, 1249], [174, 180], [186, 233]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- As if the heavy snow , ice and high winds from a major winter storm were n't enough , temperatures plummeted in the upper Midwest and elsewhere Wednesday , the National Weather Service said . The storm brought blizzard conditions to some areas as gusty winds and blowing snow created whiteout conditions across much of the upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions . Winds of at least 35 mph and rain to the east caused hundreds of flights to be delayed or canceled , leaving travelers stranded . Parts of the Southeast received more than 6 inches of rain , causing flash flooding . A 28-year-old woman was killed in Omaha , Nebraska , Tuesday night when a truck plowing snow in a parking lot backed into her , police spokesman Jacob Bettin said . She was pronounced dead at the scene . In Nashville , Tennessee , early morning winds -- possibly up to 50 mph -- toppled the Christmas tree at the Tennessee State Capital , said CNN affiliate WKRN-TV . A facilities supervisor said the tree had been secured with hooks in concrete . An Arctic high pressure system or air mass began moving southward from Canada on Wednesday , bringing with it frigid temperatures . The temperature in Portland , Oregon , was 12 degrees , breaking the previous record of 15 degrees , set in 1972 , said Jonathan Wolfe , meteorologist with the weather service 's Portland bureau . By Wednesday afternoon the temperature in Minneapolis , Minnesota , was 9 degrees . It was minus 2 degrees in Denver , Colorado ; and 11 in Kansas City , Missouri . Forecasters warned that places such as North Dakota and Minnesota could get dangerous wind chill readings of 25 to 35 degrees below zero . Madison , Wisconsin , received more than 17 inches of snow , prompting the University of Wisconsin to cancel classes for the first time since 1990 . The campus police department estimated 3,000 students descended onto the school 's Bascom Hill Wednesday afternoon for a snowball fight , with a few minor injuries reported , according to the university 's Web site . Watch snow blow outside a hotel in Wisconsin . Early Wednesday morning , students began forming a giant snowball about six blocks from the campus and rolled it to an intersection near the university , former student Chad Krueger told CNN 's iReport . How is the weather where you are ? Send an iReport . The storm prodded Nicole Stec of Janesville , Wisconsin , to finally buy those new tires her car had been needing . `` I 'm a procrastinator , so I put it off for a while . But now it 's time because there 's snow on the ground , '' Stec told WISC-TV at a Janesville tire shop . `` It 's my Christmas present from Santa , apparently . '' Elsewhere , Des Moines , Iowa , received more than a foot of snow , with more to come , and Freeport , Illinois , had 11 inches . Schools were also closed across Iowa and parts of Minnesota . Passengers heading to cities in snow-bound states were left waiting . High winds in the Northeast were creating flight delays of more than an hour Wednesday night . New England also was expected to get dangerously low temperatures as snowfall was tapering off by Wednesday evening . Areas in Maine were expected to get an additional 4-8 inches of snow overnight after as much as 10 inches fell earlier in the day , the weather service said . Connecticut 's Department of Transportation deployed all of its 632 trucks to clear roads of snow that prompted numerous school closings Wednesday morning , CNN affiliate WFSB-TV reported . Watch iReporters ' shots of the storm . Flash floods struck north-central Alabama where rescuers ended up in a tree early Wednesday when their boat overturned as they tried to help a motorist whose car was swept into a rain-swollen creek , said the administrative assistant for Morgan County 's Emergency Management Agency . `` The people were all right , '' said Rita Weeks . `` They waited in the tree until people could come get them . '' Earlier Wednesday , in the same county , a man hung on to a bridge over a creek after his vehicle was swept away by floodwaters , Weeks said . Forecasters said the area got more than 3 inches of rain before it stopped Wednesday morning , but flood advisories were still in effect Wednesday night for much of the South . The storm left its mark on the West on Monday and Tuesday . Alpine Meadows , California , near Lake Tahoe received 42 inches of snow before the storm moved out of the region Tuesday afternoon . Pagosa Springs , Colorado , received 33 inches , and Flagstaff , Arizona , got 30 , with similar amounts throughout the Rockies . CNN 's Larry Frum and Jim Kavanagh contributed to this report . | NEW : Gusty winds and snow created whiteout conditions across upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions . NEW : About 3,000 University of Wisconsin students descend on field for snowball fight , campus police say . Schools were also closed across Iowa and parts of Minnesota . | [[0, 15], [25, 102], [211, 262], [266, 381], [1828, 1991], [2817, 2878], [3414, 3418], [3424, 3475]] |
MOSCOW , Russia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- They headed to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow after news broke that Michael Jackson had died . And they 're still coming . Alexandra Belayeva , left , and Zhenya Iordanskaya visit the Michael Jackson memorial in Moscow . Young Russian fans , some of whom do n't even speak English , bring homemade signs , pictures and drawings of Jackson , Russian religious icons , candles , teddy bears -- all signs of how much they loved the singer . `` At first I could n't believe it had happened , '' 23-year-old Zhenya Iordanskaya said . `` I thought it was another rumor . My friend told me about it , and then I saw it on TV , on every channel . I was really in shock . And I still ca n't believe it . '' Iordanskaya was standing in the rain Sunday with her friend Alexandra Belayeva , 20 , looking at the shrine Jackson 's fans have erected along the fence in front of the Embassy . Iordanskaya says she was 8 when she first heard `` Black or White . '' `` I did n't understand English , but the faces of all the different people really inspired me . And the fact that he dealt with all these issues , you really have to give him credit for that , '' Iordanskaya said . Belayeva says she became a fan about three years ago . `` The way he lived his creative live really inspired me , '' she said . `` I really got into him as a person . Because you can really see the soul of a person in their creativity , ca n't you ? It was such a shame that people put him down so much . '' Belayeva says she 's still in shock over Jackson 's death at his California home on June 25 . `` When I heard he had died , I really could n't believe it . He was so close to us . Not one of us , but so close . He was unbelievably kind . `` It 's so sad to lose a person like him . It 's also so sad that he was so alone at the end of his life . People did n't understand him . But at least they recognized his genius during his life . Sometimes that does n't happen . '' Iordanskaya and Belayeva love to dance , and when they saw `` Dangerous , '' they knew they had to try it out . `` We studied his moves in that for days ! We practiced . We really loved it ! '' I ask the women to name their favorite Jackson songs . They roll their eyes . Where do you start ? Iordanskaya starts with `` Liberian Girl . '' `` Also ` Earth Song . ' '' `` It 's really powerful , '' she said , `` the energy and the lyrics ! '' On a rainy , cold day in Moscow , Iordanskaya and Belayeva say they still cry thinking that Jackson is no longer on Earth . In the garden of flowers and mementos that sprouted almost overnight in front of the U.S. Embassy , next to eight flickering votive candles that make you feel as if you are in a Russian church , one fan has written a poem : `` You 're an angel flying into the distance , you 're an angel , a carefree angel , flying into the distance . '' | Young Russian fans erect memorial to pop star outside U.S. Embassy in Moscow . Zhenya Iordanskaya , 23 , says she is still in shock over the death of the pop star . Makeshift shrine includes homemade drawings , Russian religious icons , candles . | [[519, 559], [670, 693], [1503, 1596], [252, 270], [314, 468]] |
Atlanta , Georgia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- For all the ballyhoo about Black Friday , the crown jewel in the holiday shopping calendar has been something of a bust for retailers . That 's led to a shift in how the day is being handled this season . Historically , nobody outside the retail world was really familiar with the idea behind Black Friday . But sometime in the '90s , it suddenly became the thing to do to camp out overnight the day after Thanksgiving and wait for stores to open with their door-buster deals at 4 a.m. or 5 a.m. . But talk about inefficiency . The crowds that waited so long would thin out by 9 a.m. , and stores were more like ghost towns the rest of the day . And retailers probably did n't make any money on the stuff they were selling anyway ! Then there have been the actual physical dangers of having large crowds of people mill around and then dash like mad to snatch up deals . During Black Friday 2008 , a Wal-Mart employee was actually trampled to death by a mob of shoppers in New York . All of these factors have prompted retailers to rethink Black Friday . And in a new development , the deals will be available from right now throughout the remainder of the holiday season . No need to freeze your butt off in a long line overnight ! For example , I picked up a laptop at Best Buy for $ 249 on November 11 . It was part of a one-day sale that the electronics retailer held to kick off the holiday shopping season . You can monitor the best deals out there on any number of Web sites dedicated to Black Friday deals . Some of the ones I 've checked in the past have included blackfriday.info , gottadeal.com and bfads.net . While we 're on the topic of holiday shopping , you 'll no doubt be asked to buy extended warranties on some of your purchases . I want to reiterate my annual refrain that they are n't necessary and are really just a waste of your money . Modern electronics seldom fail . In fact , flat-panel LCD and plasma TVs fail at only a 3 percent rate during the first three years of ownership , according to Consumer Reports . Why would anyone buy a warranty when you have a 97 percent chance that your TV will work perfectly for that long ? Yet most people have a strange psychology about what they 'll throw their money at . The Journal of Consumer Research found that people are more likely to buy a warranty on something they enjoy than on something they do n't . So a business owner may not buy a warranty on operational equipment , but he or she will do so on a big-screen TV ! The reality is that extended warranties have massive costs and just are n't a good investment . For example , The New York Times found one popular Nikon camera where the warranty was 27 percent of the purchase price . For laptops , a warranty can be up to a third of the sale price . Yet there is a free way to extend a manufacturer 's warranty . Many credit card issuers will double the warranty up to one additional year if you use their card to make the purchase . Now that 's the Clark Smart approach to spreading some holiday cheer to your gift recipients and your own wallet ! | There 's a shift in how Black Friday is being handled this season . Retailers rethink the day since they do n't make as much money . Deals will be available throughout the remainder of the holiday season . Monitor the best deals out there on any number of Web sites . | [[173, 241], [203, 241], [173, 241], [1020, 1090], [1055, 1090], [1118, 1209], [1450, 1517]] |
Sandy Springs , Georgia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- During the week before Halloween each year , Lt. Steve Rose of the Sandy Springs Police Department in Georgia knocks on the doors of every registered sex offender in his jurisdiction . Rose set out in his unmarked Dodge Charger Wednesday with a printout of 20 names to verify that the people on the list live where they say they live . His mission brings him and members of his force to subdivisions , houses , hotels and and apartment buildings in this Atlanta bedroom community of about 85,000 people . `` We do this to give people a level of comfort so they know we 're keeping tabs on them , '' said Rose , a former sex crimes detective with 34 years of police experience . Sandy Springs is one of many local law enforcement agencies across the country taking extra steps this Halloween to assure the community that the agencies are keeping track of the sex offenders living among them . There are 686,515 registered sex offenders in the United States , according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children . The Houston , Texas , Police Department says members of its Juvenile Sex Offender Registration Unit performed checks on the residences of registered sex offenders to ensure they are in compliance with the provisions of their parole or probation . They were also told not to decorate their homes , distribute candy , turn on their porch lights or answer the door . Similar restrictions are in place in Nashville , Tennessee . `` This is a proactive effort on our part to ensure community safety , '' said Melissa McDonald , spokeswoman for the Board of Parole and Probation . Some registered sex offenders in parts of Arkansas , Texas and Illinois must report to mandatory meetings , which critics have mockingly nicknamed `` sex offender Halloween parties , '' for a few hours on Saturday evening . In Rose 's experience , however , most sex offenders keep to themselves on Halloween . In some areas , they can not attend Halloween parties or events such as haunted houses or corn mazes . `` They just want to stay out of trouble , '' he said . `` But it 's still incumbent on us to provide the community with the most up-to-date information about these people who are living in here . '' Technically , Sandy Springs police are not responsible for verifying the addresses for the state 's sex offender registry . As soon as all the addresses are verified , Rose says he includes the information in his weekly newsletter to the local homeowners ' associations . He 'll also notify the Fulton County Sheriff 's Office , whose jurisdiction includes Sandy Springs , of any incorrect listings . After maneuvering through traffic for nearly three hours in the sprawling suburb , Rose had visited five residences . He spoke with one man , who calls a room at the Intown Suites home . Weekly rates start at $ 199 . `` They do n't have to worry about background checks in places like these , '' Rose said as he made his way down the fluorescent-lit hallway , the faint scent of fast food wafting through the vents . He knocked twice , announcing himself as Sandy Springs police , and a tall , thin man opened the door , revealing a sliver of the pitch black room as he rubbed sleep from his eyes . `` Just checking in to verify your address . Has anyone else been by lately ? Sheriff or probation ? '' Rose asked . `` Yes . Sheriff . I 'm off probation , '' answered the man , who was convicted of receiving child pornography in 2001 . `` Everything OK here ? '' `` Yes sir . '' `` OK then . Have a good day . '' `` Thank you sir , '' the man said , closing the door . In two other stops , Rose confirmed with the leasing offices that the offenders were no longer living at the listed addresses . He failed to gain entry to another , and spoke with the roommate of another . `` We 'll go back until we find them , '' he said . Such measures , which have been part of the season for years now , are widely perceived to provide the community with a sense of comfort , said Ernie Allen , president of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children . `` We applaud and understand the vigilance that these jurisdictions want to take , and I do n't think it hurts anything , but I think it 's important not to feel a false sense of security just because registered sex offenders in the community are required to stay home with their lights off or at a counseling session . It 's not a panacea , it 's not a guarantee , '' he said . Allen said there is no evidence of higher incidence of sex offenses against children on Halloween . On its Web site , www.missingkids.com , the center provides parents with tips on how to keep their kids safe on Halloween , from supervising them on rounds to teaching children to be cautious and alert . `` The most important thing for parents is to use this time to talk about safety with their children and share common sense lessons , like only go to homes of people you know , be aware of your surroundings . '' | Police in Georgia take it upon themselves to check sex offenders ' addresses . Sex offenders in parts of Arkansas , Texas , IIllinois must attend meetings Halloween night . Keeping tabs on sex offenders provides community with sense of comfort , police say . Measures can create false sense of security , president of child safety group says . | [[43, 85], [88, 227], [1153, 1233], [1646, 1751], [551, 595], [819, 914], [3889, 3904], [3956, 4025], [4251, 4253], [4271, 4436], [3889, 3904], [3956, 4025], [4243, 4309], [4251, 4253], [4271, 4436]] |
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- If mention of The Pirate Bay conjures up images of parrots , peg legs and planks , or geeky jargon like BitTorrent and jailbreak leaves you all at sea , this handy A-Z will help you navigate the choppy waters of the online piracy debate . `` X-Men Origins : Wolverine , '' starring Hugh Jackman , was downloaded over a million times after being leaked in early April . The Screening Room 's indispensable lexicon of online piracy will teach you cracking from key generators : You 'll never again be caught out wondering how `` X-Men Origins : Wolverine '' fits into warez . A is for anti-piracy Efforts to prevent the illegal transfer and use of copyrighted material -- often spearheaded by corporate associations like the Motion Picture Association of America -LRB- MPAA -RRB- -- using a variety of digital rights management -LRB- DRM -RRB- tools like encryption , product keys and serial numbers . Technologically often a step or two behind the pirates , the entertainment industry will sue for breach of copyright . B is for Bill Gates As early as 1976 , Gates wrote an open letter saying that software piracy could be a problem . Ironically , he has since said that Microsoft actually benefited from piracy in China , where over 90 percent of computers use Windows , most copies of which are pirated . The widespread use of Microsoft 's operating system has enabled the software giant to gain pole position in the fast-growing market . C is for cracking Modifying software to remove copy protection -- one of the technologies companies use to prevent unauthorized reproduction of media -- to enable the illegal duplication and proliferation of pirated material on disks and online . Mostly done by hackers , not usually for money but to gain respect within the hacker community . D is for digital rights management -LRB- DRM -RRB- Access-control technologies used by manufacturers . Most pirating technology is created to circumvent various types of DRM in order to share copyrighted material online . Apple rid its iTunes library of DRM in early April , but is charging users 30 cents per song to upgrade to DRM-free tracks . E is for encryption Originally used by militaries to protect secret message transmissions , encryption allows a user to transform and `` lock '' information that , upon transfer , can only be opened by a person who has the right `` key . '' Encryption software is one of many anti-piracy measures designed to prevent the spread of copying and transferring copyrighted material . F is for Free Culture movement Led by Harvard law professor Lawrence Lessig , the movement believes restrictive copyright laws are strangling humanity 's creativity . Under Lessig 's `` Creative Commons '' organization , the movement is advocating for the free copying and modification of creative works -- and rejecting what they perceive to be the culturally oppressive `` permission culture '' of copyright and intellectual property . G is for Global Software Piracy This report by the Business Software Alliance suggested that 35 percent of software installed on PCs worldwide in 2006 was pirated . H is for hackers Hackers `` wiped , '' or erased , all the data from the Recording Industry Association of America 's -LRB- RIAA -RRB- Web site in 2008 . The incident , which exposed serious flaws in the RIAA 's web security , was an embarrassment for the group , which represents the recording industry of the United States . I is for International Federation of the Phonographic Industry -LRB- IFPI -RRB- According to the IFPI 's 2008 Digital Music Report , up to 80 percent of data traffic via Internet service providers -LRB- ISPs -RRB- is involved in the illegal transfer of pirated material . J is for jailbreak Mostly commonly associated with the iPhone , it is the practice of downloading illicit software designed to bypass digital rights management , allowing people to upload pirated versions of official iPhone applications for free and use them on their phones . K is for key generators Small programs found on pirate sites that allow users to crack open key-locked software like Microsoft Office or Adobe Photoshop by generating valid serial numbers for pirated copies of software that would otherwise only be included with legitimately purchased copies . L is for Limewire One of the oldest and most popular peer-to-peer -LRB- P2P -RRB- file sharing clients , Limewire is a free program used to search for and download pirated content . The program has been accused of having massive security gaps and an abundance of `` malware '' files , which contain computer viruses that infect users ' computers upon completion of a download . M is for Metallica The first major band to sue for online music piracy in 2000 , Metallica sued file-sharing service , Napster and three U.S. universities for enabling illegal downloading of copyrighted content . The case , which saw the rock group harshly criticized by many of its fans , was eventually settled out of court when Napster agreed to block illegal downloads of the band 's songs . N is for Napster Online music-sharing service created by a college student in Boston in 1999 , which spearheaded the widespread illegal copying and transferring of MP3 music files . A judge shut down the service in 2001 . Napster has since relaunched as a legitimate monthly subscription music site . O is for organized crime International recording industry organization , IFPI and Interpol say there are links between online piracy and organized crime and terrorism , citing examples from South America to South Africa and Eastern Europe to East Asia . P is for P2P More than 20 times as much music is exchanged on peer-to-peer networks as is legally purchased , the Economist magazine wrote in 2008 . BitTorrent is a growing P2P technology that allows the rapid downloading of large , multi-gigabyte files . Q is for quality According to a survey by the auditor Ernst and Young in India , 66 percent of people believe pirated content is of an inferior quality to the original , but 89 percent say they 've used pirated music or films anyway . R is for R4 card A $ 30 Nintendo DS cartridge that can be loaded with hundreds of free , pirated Nintendo games , the R4 card is cheaper than the store price of many single authentic games . S is for Sweden Prosecutors in the country filed suit against The Pirate Bay Web site earlier this year for `` promoting other people 's infringement of copyright laws . '' Dubbed the `` Internet piracy trial of the decade '' by UK newspaper The Times , the verdict against the site will have massive implications for the future of online file-sharing , but The Pirate Bay 's founders plan to appeal and have previously said that the site will stay up and running . T is for The Pirate Bay A very popular file-sharing Web site primarily used as a linking site to find and download pirated movies , music , video games , applications and more . It tracks BitTorrents -- file sharing protocols that enable big , fast file transfers . The Pirate Bay 's founders have constantly argued that the Web site does not violate copyright law because the site does not host any copyrighted material , but simply provides a service by indexing the BitTorrents . U is for Usenet.com Regarded as a source of much pirated material , this bulletin board site is being sued by the RIAA . Unlike The Pirate Bay , Usenet allows paying customers to download files in a way that is nearly impossible to track . But , like the Swedish site , Usenet has had to defend itself from charges that it encourages its users to violate copyright law . V is for video games The Entertainment Software Association says the industry loses $ 3 billion annually to online piracy . W is for `` Warez '' Slang for any movies , music , applications or any other materials being traded in violation of copyright law . X is for `` X-Men Origins : Wolverine '' A version of the upcoming blockbuster leaked online in March this year , the film has already been downloaded over a million times . The FBI says it is investigating the source of the leak , and the film 's star Hugh Jackman has spoken out , calling the leak `` a serious crime , '' and `` heartbreaking . '' Y is for YouTube The ubiquitous video site has been sued by major companies like Viacom for publishing and proliferating unauthorized video content online . YouTube has responded by removing copyrighted content , but popular clips of television programs are often reposted by users as soon as they are taken down . Z is for Zune Microsoft 's answer to the iPod plans to make its entire catalogue of music DRM-free , which will make it even easier to copy and share copyrighted music . | A run-down of the biggest online piracy moments since Napster in 1999 . F is for Free Culture , a group that rejects the idea of modern copyright law . D is for DRM , technologies companies use to try to restrict online piracy . S is for Sweden , where the `` Internet trial of the century '' has just concluded . | [[5102, 5185], [1549, 1628], [1820, 1898]] |
ATLANTA , Georgia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- As mental health advocates , policy makers , practitioners , educators and researchers gathered at the Carter Center to discuss the progress in addressing American children 's mental health needs , a drama of sorts was reaching its conclusion halfway across the country . The former first lady kicked off the 24th annual Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy . The governor of Nebraska signed a bill Friday to change a controversial safe-haven law by restricting the age at which a child could be dropped off at a hospital without parents being prosecuted . Since the law took effect in September , 35 children -- all but six of them older than 10 -- have been dropped off at Nebraska hospitals . The revised law adds a 30-day age limit ; it was approved by the legislature at a special session Friday and goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday . These two events appear to have little in common , but they are `` intimately related , '' according to Jane Knitzer , one of the pivotal speakers at the 24th annual Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy in Atlanta , Georgia . `` Many of these families are families that have come to the attention of the service systems already , have been struggling since their children were young . They have n't gotten the help they need ; they are feeling totally desperate . We have a system that does n't respond early enough and with appropriate intensity . '' Knitzer , director of the National Center for Children in Poverty and a clinical professor of population and family health at Columbia University 's Mailman School of Public Health , should know . Twenty-five years ago , she wrote a report that summarized , state by state , the programs available to children with mental health needs and their families , and the policies that govern them . The portrait was a bleak one , with many states not even able to identify the dollar amount budgeted for children 's mental health . Twenty-five years later , the situation is improved but is n't much better , according to the report 's sequel , `` Unclaimed Children Revisited : The status of children 's mental health policy in the United States , '' which was unveiled at the symposium . The landscape is still one of patchwork policy and hodgepodge programs both among states and within individual states , with very few states having a cohesive strategy for addressing the needs , much less the infrastructure and funding to carry that strategy out . `` I am really distressed about how we treat children ; this is something I have worked on and been concerned about for years , '' former first lady Rosalynn Carter told CNN . `` We know what to do for them , and we do n't do it . When we finally do something with them is when they get in trouble . We neglect children . '' Carter has been a mental health advocate since 1970 , when her husband , former President Carter , was running for governor of Georgia . `` We have learned so much about children , about the developing brain and treatments that work , and we just do n't use them ; that is one reason this symposium is so important , '' Carter said . `` We have children 's advocates from across the nation , and if we can just band together and try to do something about it . This is a really , really great time , because we have a new administration in Washington , and hopefully we can form a strong enough advocacy group and get some things changed , if not everything we 'd like . '' The endeavor is a giant undertaking , and the number of affected children and families is huge . Research shows that approximately one in five children has a diagnosable mental disorder ranging from `` mild , '' such as attention-deficit -LRB- hyperactivity -RRB- disorder , to the more severe . More than three-quarters of these children do n't get the services they need , and what they do get is based purely on chance : which state they happen to live in . `` For the last 25 years , most of the leadership has come from states as opposed to having a federal system , '' explains Janis Cooper , co-author of `` Unclaimed Children Revisited . '' `` That is kind of our make-up in the United States ; on the other hand , there are certain things that are very hard to move without having a federal vision . '' Cooper is the director of child health and mental health at the National Center for Children in Poverty and an assistant clinical professor of health policy and management at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health . `` There are all kinds of consequences of untreated mental illness , '' Cooper said , from unneeded suffering to suicide to situations like the Columbine High School shootings . `` On the other end of the spectrum , untreated mental illness can cost us a lot of money in our system . If you want to talk in terms of cost effectiveness : We have a lot of kids in juvenile justice facilities , in child welfare facilities , because we are not intervening early enough with them . '' That is not even counting the cost of lost productivity to society . `` We know in the mental health community that if you give children good health care before and after birth , good nurturing , good mind stimulation , they have a much better chance to grow up to be contributors to the community , well-adjusted young people , '' Carter said . `` And we just do n't do it . It is very , very distressing . '' There are many barriers to better mental health care for children : a lack of awareness of the issue , a lack of a unified vision from the federal government , no political will to change the situation , a lack of adequate funding and the de-stigmatization of mental illness . Progress is plodding forward . Carter , Cooper and Knitzer all pointed to the recent passage of the `` mental health parity '' provision , tacked on to the $ 700 billion economic bailout bill , which would require health insurance companies to cover mental illness on an equal basis with physical illness . Another hopeful sign , they say , is the incoming Obama administration and its possible appointment of former Sen. Tom Daschle to be secretary of health and human services . `` My hope for the new administration is that we will be able to enact , to build , a supportive health care framework and a mental health framework that makes sense given our knowledge and given it 's the 21st century , '' Knitzer said . `` And to really move forward . I am hoping that there will be support for this as we talk about health care reform . '' The situation in Nebraska `` is no surprise , '' Knitzer said . `` We need to see this as an opportunity to say ` this is why we need a stronger mental health system , ' not that we should only let people drop off the babies . This is a clarion call to say why it is so important that we build a mental health system that supports children and families . Because these are families that are crying out for help , and we are saying there is nobody there . '' | Experts from across the country gather to discuss mental health needs of children . One in five U.S. children has a diagnosable mental disorder . 75 to 80 percent of affected children do not get the needed mental health services . Hope is high that new administration will tackle issue in health care reform . | [[10, 232], [1295, 1334], [6199, 6347]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Carrie McGonigle does n't want to believe that her missing daughter could be connected to a registered sex offender accused of killing a California teen . `` That would mean that she 's dead , and I do n't want to think that , '' said McGonigle , whose 14-year-old daughter , Amber DuBois , was last seen walking alone to school on February 13 , 2009 . But authorities say they are looking into whether John Albert Gardner III , who pleaded not guilty Wednesday to raping and murdering Chelsea King , was involved in Amber 's disappearance . `` We have been working closely with San Diego Sheriff 's Office , and our investigators are working with theirs in case there is a connection , '' Lt. Robert Benton with the Escondido , California , Police Department said . `` We are involved in the daily briefings on the King investigation . '' Amber 's father , Moe DuBois , attended Gardner 's arraignment Wednesday . `` Just the similarities in our case , you know , if there is any connection to Mr. Gardner and our case , I want to be there for his prosecution and soon to be execution I would hope , '' DuBois told HLN 's Nancy Grace . Amber 's family lives in the San Diego , California , suburb of Escondido , less than 10 miles from Poway High School , where King was last seen alive . The shy , bookish teen was walking to Escondido High when she disappeared . She had a check in her backpack to buy a lamb for a Future Farmers of America project , according to her mother . But she never made it , and since then , investigators have been stymied by a lack of viable leads . McGonigle says Gardner came up on her radar shortly after Amber disappeared , when she began looking up registered sex offenders in the area . `` One of the first things we did when we could n't find her was look at the sex offenders in the area because we know that they have a history of repeated offenses , '' McGonigle said . `` I did n't personally visit his home but one of our volunteers did , and we did n't find anything that raised suspicions . '' Gardner is on California 's sex offender registry for a conviction of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 , according to online records . He was also charged Wednesday with assault with intent to commit rape in connection with an attack on a jogger in December 2009 . A call to Gardner 's public defender , Michael Popkins , was not immediately returned . In addition to keeping the search going for her daughter , McGonigle has also become involved in educating parents and children on how to prevent abductions . She also spends time reaching out to parents of other missing children . As soon as she learned of Chelsea 's disappearance , McGonigle says she contacted Chelsea 's parents and assisted in search efforts . Chelsea 's car , with her cell phone inside , was found at the Rancho Bernardo Community Park , where she was known to go for runs . `` Ever since Amber went missing I 've reached out to all the parents I possibly can because once it happens to you , it 's going to be with you the rest of your life , '' she said . `` It becomes your life . Supporting families , that 's what it 's all about . Even when we find Amber , I 'll continue because I would n't want any other family to go through this . '' Searchers found a body Tuesday that they believe to be King 's , San Diego County Sheriff William Gore said at a news conference Tuesday . He said he expected a positive identification of the body to come this week . To some in Amber 's family , Chelsea 's disappearance has other stinging implications . `` It 's heartbreaking in another way because now we know of everything that was available to search for Amber but was n't used , '' Sheila Welch said . `` There were n't helicopters used with heat sensitivities , there were n't any dogs brought out for Amber , and now to know that 's available , it 's heartbreaking to think it was n't used . '' But Benton said investigators used all the resources available to them . `` We asked for and received the resources we needed at the time , '' he said . `` As far as law enforcement is concerned , we had outstanding cooperation from local agencies , the FBI , the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children , and we had a significant amount of resources at our disposal . '' Amber 's mother has her doubts as to whether Gardner could actually be involved . `` I think the guy is too sloppy and that we would 've found some evidence if he had taken Amber , '' she said . `` But he never should have been out in public . If he were incarcerated , like he should have been , maybe Chelsea would be alive right now . '' | Authorities probe whether John Albert Gardner III was involved in Amber DuBois ' disappearance . Gardner , a registered sex offender , has pleaded not guilty to killing Chelsea King , 17 . Amber was last seen walking to school on February 13 , 2009 , a few miles from Chelsea 's school . Chelsea also last seen at school ; her car was found in park last week . | [[376, 445], [422, 445], [520, 560], [19, 173], [254, 263], [310, 318], [324, 371], [319, 371], [1319, 1384], [2790, 2833], [2836, 2883]] |
Kabul , Afghanistan -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Zablon Simintov is always guaranteed the best seat in his local synagogue here , but the privilege comes with a downside : he 's the last Jew in Afghanistan . The country 's 800-year-old Jewish community -- an estimated 40,000 strong at its peak -- is now a party of one . But Simintov , for his part , is n't going anywhere soon . For more than a decade , he has refused to join his wife and two teenage daughters in Israel . `` My family call me all the time and say , ` Come here , you 're the last Jew in Afghanistan , what are you doing there ? ' '' he says . Simintov , a former carpet dealer , refuses to answer that question . `` I do n't know why I 'm still living here , '' he says . `` It 's God 's will . '' He has n't seen his daughters -- now ages 14 and 16 -- since his one trip to Israel 12 years ago . But the bald and bespectacled Simintov says he is content guarding a cupboard full of dusty prayer books -- one is 400 years old , he says -- spending holidays with visitors from Europe and the U.S. and surviving off donations from Jews around the world . Historical evidence suggests a sizable Jewish community in Afghanistan since the Middle Ages , according to the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise , a nonprofit group . Afghanistan 's Jewish population reached 40,000 in the mid-19th century , the group says , and began declining around 1870 with the passage of anti-Jewish measures . Israel 's creation in 1948 drew most of Afghanistan 's remaining Jews . Simintov 's synagogue -- the last in Afghanistan 's capital -- sits inconspicuously in a courtyard behind busy city streets , though a close inspection reveals Stars of David in second-story metal railings . The interior is adorned only by broken light fixtures and ceiling fans . But Simintov says he is hardly in hiding . `` They 're all like my brothers here , '' he said of his fellow Afghans . `` It does n't make a difference whether I 'm here or in Israel . '' That was n't the case under Taliban rule , which ended with the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 , though Taliban forces have been resurgent in parts of the country . Simintov says he was arrested four times under Taliban rule and that he was beaten while in custody . `` The Taliban was a problem , '' he says . `` They interfered in everyone 's business , but now they 're gone , they 're finished . '' Which means that Simintov is more inclined than ever to stay put . | Afghan Jews peaked at 40,000 in mid-19th century ; now there 's only one left . Zablon Simintov wo n't join his wife and teen daughters in Israel . Simintov spends holidays with visitors and survives off donations from Jews . He was arrested four times and beaten while in custody under Taliban rule . | [[162, 197], [246, 284], [198, 242], [288, 311], [1288, 1359], [371, 465], [989, 996], [1000, 1113], [2165, 2266], [2179, 2224], [2229, 2266]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A Russian heavy missile cruiser stopped three pirate ships off the coast of Somalia , and detained 10 pirates , according to a statement released Friday by Russian Navy headquarters in Moscow . Russian missile cruiser `` Peter the Great '' moored in Cape Town , South Africa , last month . The cruiser , Peter the Great , halted two small high-speed motor boats and a mid-size , support vessel on Thursday , the Russians said . `` Ten pirates have been detained . All of them are citizens of Somalia , '' the press release obtained by CNN stated . `` Officials from the Northern Fleet 's military prosecutor 's office are currently questioning the detainees aboard the Peter the Great . Their future will be decided in coordination with the Russian Foreign and Justice ministries . '' The Russians said a Russian helicopter Ka-27 , which took off from the cruiser , had located two small boats , which were moving toward an Iranian fishing vessel at high speed last Thursday . When those in the boats spotted the helicopter overhead , the boats began slowing down , then veered off toward their support vessel , which was adrift nearby . The helicopter crew could see pirates in the two motor boats throwing weapons into the sea , and kept chasing the boats until the Russian cruiser arrived in the area . `` The three boats were -LRB- captured and -RRB- delivered to the Peter the Great , and ten Somalian pirates were taken aboard . `` The detainees possessed weapons , including a G-3 rifle , an Ak-47 , two AKMS machine-guns , two grenade-launchers and two anti-infantry grenades , and also had a GPS receiver , a ladder , 500 grams of drugs , a large amount of money , a bag of sugar and a bag of rice . The detained pirates were high on drugs , '' the press release said . Meanwhile , Somali pirates have released a Panamanian-flagged , Japanese-owned vessel that was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden in November , according to a non-governmental group that monitors piracy . The ship , named the MT Chemstar Venus , was released late Thursday , according to Ecoterra International . See an interactive map of 2009 pirate attacks off the Horn of Africa '' The 18 Filipino and five South Korean crew members were reportedly unharmed . The International Maritime Board , a group that also monitors piracy , told CNN that the company had not confirmed the release of the ship , but said shipping companies sometimes wait a few days before going public to ensure the safety of the crew . The ship was hijacked on November 15 . It was unclear whether the pirates were paid a ransom to release the ship . This incident comes a week after Somali pirates released a Ukrainian ship carrying tanks , ammunition and crew after receiving a ransom of $ 3.2 million . -- CNN 's David McKenzie contributed to this report . | Russian cruiser halted two small high-speed motor boats and a support vessel . Russia : 10 pirates have been detained -- all of them are citizens of Somalia . MT Chemstar Venus released late Thursday , Ecoterra International says . Follows release of Ukrainian ship carrying tanks after a $ 3.2 M ransom was paid . | [[309, 320], [341, 424], [822, 848], [875, 995], [0, 15], [109, 128], [447, 482], [483, 518], [1409, 1453], [1997, 2064], [1997, 2035], [2067, 2104], [2620, 2730], [2677, 2774]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Jaycee Dugard , who police say was kidnapped at 11 and held captive for 18 years , said she is `` doing well '' as she speaks out in a new home video . `` Hi , I 'm Jaycee . I want to thank you for your support , and I 'm doing well , '' Dugard says in the video released exclusively to ABC News , which posted excerpts of the video on its Web site Friday . `` It 's been a long haul , '' said Dugard , `` but I 'm getting there . '' The full statement and video , which show Dugard baking cookies with her mother and playing with her dogs , were scheduled to air on ABC News ' `` 20/20 '' at 9 p.m. Friday . It 's the first public statement from Dugard since the arrests of her suspected captors -- Phillip Garrido , 58 , and his wife , Nancy , 54 . The Garridos are charged with 29 felony counts in the kidnapping of Dugard , who was 11 when she was snatched from the street in front of her house in South Lake Tahoe , California . She was 29 when found in August at the Garridos ' home in Antioch , California , about 120 miles from her home . Garrido , a registered sex offender on parole at the time of his arrest , is accused of fathering two daughters with Dugard during her captivity . Authorities say he and his wife held Dugard in a hidden compound behind their home for 18 years . The Garridos have pleaded not guilty . Dugard now lives in seclusion with her mother , Terry Probyn , and Dugard 's two daughters . `` We released this video so that you can see that we are happy and well -- when we have more to share , we will , '' Probyn says in the home video . `` As a mother I am pleading for our privacy in this very public story . '' Authorities maintain Dugard does not want to speak to Garrido or his attorneys and have tried to keep her location a secret . | Video shows Dugard baking cookies with her mother and playing with her dogs . `` It 's been a long haul , but I 'm getting there , '' Dugard says . Authorities : Dugard does not want to speak to her alleged abductor or his attorneys . | [[476, 481], [490, 532], [453, 481], [537, 558], [380, 382], [386, 402], [405, 433], [429, 449], [1690, 1747]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Sandra Herold , the owner of a chimpanzee that was involved in a vicious attack on her friend last year , has died , her attorney said Tuesday . She was 72 . Herold suffered a ruptured aortic aneurysm Monday night , Roger Golger said . Herold `` had suffered a series of heartbreaking losses over the last several years , beginning with the death of her only child , then her husband , then her beloved chimp Travis , as well as the tragic maiming of friend and employee Charla Nash , '' Golger said . Nash lost her nose , upper and lower lips , eyelids and both her hands in the attack in February 2009 , as well as the `` bony structures in her mid-face , '' according to doctors . More than a year later , numerous surgeries and therapy sessions have helped Nash regain some mobility . Her family filed a lawsuit against Herold shortly after the attack , seeking $ 50 million in damages . Criminal charges were not filed , however , because authorities ruled Herold was not aware of the risk her pet posed . `` This past year was particularly difficult for Sandy , '' Golger said . `` She hated living alone in a house where she faced constant reminders of the vibrant and happy life she once led with her family and friends . The stress of defending a multimillion-dollar lawsuit and all that it entailed also weighed heavy on Sandy . In the end , her heart , which had been broken so many times before , could take no more . '' The attack occurred February 16 , 2009 , when Herold called Nash for help in getting Travis back inside her house after he used a key to escape . When Nash arrived at the Stamford , Connecticut , home , the chimp , who had been featured in TV commercials for Coca-Cola and Old Navy , jumped on her and began biting and mauling her . Police shot Travis to halt the attack and he later died of gunshot wounds . The mauling has raised questions about whether exotic animals should be kept as pets . Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has said that primates and crocodiles should be added to a state list of animals that citizens are not allowed to own . Nash was discharged from the famed Cleveland Clinic , where doctors performed the nation 's first face transplant , earlier this month . She is continuing her recovery at Brigham and Women 's Hospital in Boston , Massachusetts , where doctors have said she is a candidate for a face transplant . CNN 's Stephanie Gallman contributed to this report . | Sandra Herold died Monday of a ruptured aortic aneurysm . Her chimpanzee , Travis , mauled friend Charla Nash in February 2009 . Herold 's heart `` could take no more '' after a `` difficult '' year , attorney says . Nash is still recovering in Boston ; doctors say she is a candidate for a face transplant . | [[177, 232], [45, 60], [66, 122], [521, 622], [1598, 1631], [1634, 1645], [1655, 1664], [1754, 1784], [136, 163], [1358, 1368], [1371, 1380], [1419, 1448], [677, 702], [2345, 2411]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Venus Williams ' latest tennis outfit -- a revealing black-lace corset dress with bright red straps -- has caused controversy since she wore it for her first round match at the French Open . But this is not the first time the wardrobe choices of Venus and her younger sister Serena have come under the spotlight . Ever since the pair appeared on the WTA Tour in the 1990 's -- complete with multi-colored braided hair -- they have been setting , and sometimes destroying , trends with their extroverted dress sense . From Serena 's denim skirt and boot combo to Venus 's designer dresses , there is n't much that the sisters have not tried to wear on the court . However , not all their outfits have been popular with the critics , least of all Venus 's lace number and the skin-colored shorts that she wears underneath , which has caused quite a stir in Paris . Whatever you think of their fashion there is no doubt the Williams sisters eye-catching ensembles bring some much needed glamor to the women 's game . CNN takes a look back at the best and worst of the sisters ' fashions over the years . | CNN looks at the fashion highs and lows of the Williams sisters . Venus Williams ' latest tennis outfit has caused controversy since she wore it for her first round match at the French Open . Venus wears a revealing black-lace corset dress with bright red straps and skin-colored shorts underneath . Not the first time the wardrobe choices of Venus and Serena have come under the spotlight . | [[226, 332], [1033, 1119], [0, 15], [112, 209], [62, 118], [789, 797], [798, 838], [214, 293], [226, 332]] |
Lima , Peru -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Lori Berenson , a U.S. citizen jailed in Peru since 1995 for helping leftist rebels , has been granted conditional release , a judge announced . Berenson has served nearly 15 years of a 20-year sentence for aiding Peruvian rebels in a 1995 plot to overthrow Peru 's Congress . Judge Jessica Leon Yarango made the announcement Tuesday in a televised court hearing after Berenson 's lawyer , Anibal Apari Sanchez , made the request . Apari , a Lima lawyer and candidate for mayor of a Lima suburb called Villa El Salvador , is also Berenson 's husband from whom she is separated , according to her parents . Berenson , 40 , who last year gave birth in prison to their son , Salvador , has long maintained her innocence . Her original sentence of life in prison was reduced to 20 years on appeal . The news of her release was welcomed by her parents in New York . `` My wife Rhoda and I were ecstatic , '' Mark Berenson told CNNI . `` We were waiting for this day for 14-1/2 years . '' `` We are thrilled that it 's been determined that she 's earned her conditional liberty and that she and her baby , Salvador , will be able to take their first steps in freedom soon . '' He said his daughter applied for the conditional liberty , which he referred to as parole , in September . `` The process took many months because they had to check on her work records and conduct records in all the prisons that she 's been in since 1995 . '' He said she had been working seven days a week co-managing a prison bakery for more than five years in order to shave time from her sentence . On the Web site freelori.org , the Berensons said their daughter and her son will be leaving prison `` in a few days '' and plan to move to an apartment in Lima , because parole requires they remain in the city in which they were incarcerated . `` We do not know if there are exceptions for foreigners or whether Lori will be permitted to travel to the U.S. while on parole , '' they wrote . `` Lori will be a single mom -- Anibal and Lori are legally separated but remain friends and both share concerns for Salvador 's proper upbringing , '' they wrote . `` Salvador , now an active 1-year-old boy , will certainly enjoy the opportunity to run around outside the confines of the prison . He is learning both English and Spanish but babbles continuously in ` unknown tongue . ' He is a very happy child and loves to be with people . '' Journalist Maria Elena Belaunde contributed to this story . | NEW : Berenson shares one-year-old boy with her lawyer . Berenson has served nearly 15 years of 20-year sentence . She was convicted of aiding rebels in 1995 plot to overthrow Peru 's Congress . She applied for conditional liberty in September , father says . | [[176, 275], [47, 114], [176, 275], [264, 307], [1202, 1258]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Several thousand barrels of North Slope crude oil spilled into a containment area along the Alaska pipeline Tuesday when an open valve at a pump station allowed oil to overflow a tank , the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company said . Alyeska said the incident took place about 10:30 a.m. -LRB- 2:30 p.m. ET -RRB- during a planned pipeline shutdown while the company was conducting fire command and valve leak testing at the pump station . The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation said a battery failed to control the valve when power was switched from the main grid during Alyeska 's tests . The valve has been closed , shutting off the flow , the department said , but the pipeline remains shut down . The department said the next steps would be to clean up the oil in the containment area , determine the cause of the problem and restart oil flowing in the pipeline . No oil has been reported outside the containment area . Mark MacIntyre , a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Agency in Seattle , Washington , said two EPA coordinators would arrive on the scene from Anchorage on Wednesday and have a report in the afternoon . The pump station is near Delta Junction , about 100 miles south of Fairbanks . Ayleska said the lined containment area that took the spill has a capacity of about 104,500 barrels . Ayleska also said there were no injuries and the pump station was evacuated . An incident management team and other responders were dispatched . CNN 's Nick Valencia contributed to this report . | Several thousand barrels of oil overflow Alaska pipeline tank . Source flow has been stopped but pipeline still shut down . Spill remained in designated containment area . | [[0, 15], [59, 134], [696, 728], [0, 15], [59, 134]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President Barack Obama used the growing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico to renew his pitch for alternative energy Wednesday , arguing that the unfolding environmental disaster `` gives you a sense of where we 're going '' without comprehensive reform . The federal government is `` going to bring every resource necessary to put a stop '' to the spill , the president said during a visit to a solar panel manufacturing facility in Fremont , California . `` We will not rest until this well is shut , the environment is repaired , and the cleanup is complete . '' But , he added , `` a lot of damage has been done already . The spill in the Gulf , which is just heartbreaking , only underscores the necessity '' of seeking alternative fuel sources . A failure to enact comprehensive energy reform , he argued , would pose a threat to national security and the economy , as well as the environment . Obama 's remarks came two weeks after Sens. John Kerry , D-Massachusetts , and Joe Lieberman , an independent from Connecticut , introduced a sweeping energy and climate change bill intended to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions while reshaping the energy sector . The House passed its own energy bill last year , and Obama has said he backs the efforts by Kerry and Lieberman to move the issue forward in the Senate . The president asked for Senate GOP cooperation on the issue during a closed-door meeting Tuesday with Republicans on Capitol Hill . However , Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , D-Nevada , has indicated he wants immigration reform to take priority , and the politics of midterm congressional elections in November raises questions about the the possibility of gaining final approval this year of such major legislation as energy reform . Reid 's position caused a potential Republican co-sponsor , Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina , to drop out of the talks with Lieberman and Kerry on drafting the proposal . The proposal addresses a range of energy issues , including expanded nuclear power production , incentives for the coal industry to seek cleaner methods , money to develop alternative energy sources and programs to help U.S. industry in the transition to a low-carbon system . On climate change , the measure seeks escalating reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in coming decades that match the levels set as goals by the Obama administration and contained in the House bill . Among other things , the proposal calls for emissions reductions from 2005 levels of 17 percent by 2020 , 42 percent by 2030 and 83 percent by 2050 . The Senate proposal includes expanded offshore oil drilling as part of a strategy to increase domestic production . However , provisions strengthening the ability of states to prevent more drilling off their coasts were added in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill . CNN 's Tom Cohen and Alan Silverleib contributed to this report . | Obama cites Gulf oil spill while promoting alternative energy in California . Obama 's remarks came two weeks after key senators introduced energy reform bill . Sem . Harry Reid 's emphasis on immigration reform raises doubts about bill 's future . Bill includes expanded offshore drilling but gives states more leeway . | [[0, 15], [19, 142], [917, 1009], [1477, 1510], [1515, 1582], [2580, 2661], [2706, 2851]] |
-LRB- Wired -RRB- -- Joe Wilkins knew there was only one way to give his supercharged , alcohol-injected Hemi-engined hot rod more power : Put a jet engine in the trunk . `` It started as a hobby and turned into a monster , '' said Joe Wilkins , the motor madman behind what might be the wildest 1939 Ford ever built . He 's an inventor and defense department contractor , and the idea of goosing the Ford 's ability to turn heads and shred tires came when he bought a used gas turbine engine . `` I got hooked on the simplicity and power that this thing produced , and I decided one day I want to put it in a car . '' Luckily for us , he did . The Hemi Jet -- Wilkins has copyrighted the name -- fires up this weekend at the Houston AutoRama , and Wilkins plans to attempt a land speed record in the near future . In the meantime , he 's tooling around Navasota , Texas , in what he says is the ultimate sleeper when the jet engine 's tucked away in the trunk . Most people say `` Nice car '' and assume he 's got the obligatory small-block Chevrolet engine under the hood . Little do they know . `` I can drive it up to the store and get a gallon of milk if I want to , '' he told Autopia . The car is an amalgamation of the Big Three , with a Chrysler engine , Chevrolet drivetrain and Ford body . Wilkins says the jet engine was probably used as an APU and weighs 110 pounds . He claims the car is street legal so long as the jet stays stowed . He fires it up from time to time to show off , and he plans to run it flat-out at the Bonneville Salt Flats . `` We want to be the fastest street legal car in the world , '' he said . He 's got some intense competition . The Bugatti Veyron tops out at 253 mph and the Shelby Supercars Ultimate Aero TT does 255 . And then there 's Red Vector One , that crazy Vauxhall that does zero to 60 in under a second . Record , schmecord -- we just want to see the video . `` I 'm more than certain the car will go over 300 , '' Wilkins said . `` We 've still got a ways to go -LSB- before Bonneville -RSB- , but not a long way . We 'll have to experiment in some wind tunnels and end up with a spoiler on the back to keep the front end on the ground . '' Sadly , Wilkins wo n't be behind the wheel during the car 's test run . `` I turned 61 last Sunday . I just do n't think I 'm going to be able to handle it -LSB- without -RSB- the reflexes I had 20 or 30 years ago , '' he said . `` I know several people who would be more than interested . '' So do we , and we even suggested Wilkins give the job to fellow jet-junkie Bob Maddox . After jumping from a plane with a pulse jet strapped to his chest , we suspect Maddox would welcome the opportunity to stay on the ground . Subscribe to WIRED magazine for less than $ 1 an issue and get a FREE GIFT ! Click here ! Copyright 2010 Wired.com . | A Texas man has outfitted a 1939 Ford with a jet engine he hopes will make it go more than 300 mph . Nicknamed the `` Hemi Jet , '' it fires up this weekend at the Houston AutoRama . The car has a Chrysler engine , a Chevrolet drivetrain and a Ford body . Owner Joe Wilkins plans to run it flat-out someday at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah . | [[1193, 1300], [749, 814], [1500, 1558]] |
London , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Union members representing British Airways cabin crew announced Friday they will hold two separate strikes this month in a dispute over working conditions . The first strike will last three days from March 20 , and the next will last four days from March 27 , said Len McCluskey , the assistant general secretary of the Unite union . There will be no strikes over the Easter period , he said . Further strikes could be called if needed , he said . Will a British Airways strike impact you ? `` Regrettably , management turned down a remarkable offer , '' McCluskey said . British Airways , which lost hundreds of million dollars last year , responded by saying it is `` extremely disappointed '' with the union 's decision . `` We are very sorry for the stress and disruption Unite 's decision will cause , '' the airline said in a statement . `` We are currently considering our response to this strike threat and what action we will need to take to minimize disruption . '' The industrial action is over planned changes to cabin crew conditions , which BA says will save the carrier more than 60 million pounds -LRB- $ 91 million -RRB- a year . Unite has said the plans call for working hours to be extended and crew levels to be cut , changes that it has said will damage customer service and the BA brand . The two sides have been holding talks to avoid strikes . BA management submitted a formal offer to the union Thursday , Unite said , but added that the offer fails to address union concerns about crew numbers and service delivery . That prompted Unite officials to announce the strike dates . There is still a chance the strikes could be averted . Unite said union members will be able to vote on BA 's offer on the first day of the planned strikes , and if they vote to approve it , the strikes will be canceled . British Airways declined to share details of its offer with CNN . `` Unite 's action has no shred of justification , '' the airline said . `` British Airways ' crew are rightly renowned for their professionalism and skills . Our entire package for crew recognizes that and is reasonable and fair . '' BA said all union proposals so far would save the airline `` significantly '' less money than BA 's own planned changes . `` In addition , Unite 's plans would cut crew pay and allowances , '' BA said . `` The reductions required to generate sufficient savings would leave each crew member between 1,000 and 2,700 pounds -LRB- $ 1,516 and $ 4,095 -RRB- a year worse off . These proposals lack credibility , and Unite did not inform crew of them when it asked them to vote for a strike . '' In December , a judge blocked a planned 12-day strike by Unite over the same issues that would have started just before Christmas . | First strike will last three days from March 20 , and the next four days from March 27 . There will be no strikes over Easter ; planned strikes could still be avoided . Unite says BA plans will damage customer service and brand . BA said union proposals would save the airline less money than its own changes . | [[0, 6], [9, 192], [193, 244], [247, 293], [370, 417], [1640, 1694], [1655, 1694], [1274, 1346], [2163, 2284], [2257, 2284]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An Arizona couple who wanted to adopt a woman 's baby know more than they 're saying about the 8-month-old boy 's disappearance , police say . Gabriel Johnson has n't been seen since December 26 , police said , and his mother was arrested last week in Miami Beach , Florida , after not reporting for a December 28 child custody hearing in Arizona . `` We have some good indications at this point with our investigation that Tammi and Jack Smith do know more information than they have provided to us that could possibly lead us to Gabriel , '' Sgt. Steve Carbajal , spokesman for the Tempe -LRB- Arizona -RRB- Police Department , told HLN 's Nancy Grace on Thursday . For their part , the Smiths told HLN 's Jean Casarez on `` Nancy Grace '' that they voluntarily took polygraph tests Friday at the Tempe Police Department . `` The polygraph test is not like what you see on TV , '' Jack Smith said . `` It 's almost like being strapped into the electric chair , so it 's very intensive . And we were very happy to do it . '' The Smiths have said they met Elizabeth Johnson , 23 , seven months ago during a long layover at an airport , and later the three discussed a plan to adopt Johnson 's child , Gabriel . But the boy 's father , Logan McQueary , has legal custody and has said Elizabeth Johnson urged him to sign papers giving the Smiths custody of the boy , but he refused . `` She did n't want Logan to have the baby , and we could n't adopt the baby because Logan would n't sign the papers , '' Tammi Smith said on `` Nancy Grace . '' `` So her idea was to just keep running forever . And we told her , ` You ca n't run forever . They 're going to find you . ' '' Elizabeth Johnson has refused to say where the boy is , according to police , and remains in a Florida jail on suspicion of custodial interference . Carbajal 's department has indications that Gabriel is alive , he said , adding that the Smiths have spoken with investigators . But he declined to say why police believe that the couple has more information . The Smiths say they do not know where Gabriel is . Watch what they say about the polygraphs . Detectives have not been able to confirm that Johnson gave the child to an unidentified couple in San Antonio , Texas , as she has claimed . `` On one hand , we hear that that went down and the child was given away to an unknown couple at a park , '' Carbajal said . `` We balance that with statements made by Elizabeth that she killed Gabriel . Which story is true ? Our investigators are trying to get to the bottom of that right now . '' New leads and developments in the case were coming in by the minute , he said . The FBI found Johnson 's car in San Antonio and have examined it for any clues that could lead them to the boy , but his whereabouts remain unknown . Anyone with more information is asked to call the Tempe Police Department at 480-350-8311 or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST . | NEW : Would-be parents tell HLN they volunteered for polygraph tests . Gabriel Johnson , 8 months old , has n't been seen since December 26 . Child 's mother was arrested in Miami and is in police custody but wo n't say where he is . Police believe they Arizona couple know more than they 're saying . | [[687, 690], [704, 797], [766, 843], [162, 213], [230, 282], [1692, 1840], [2051, 2101], [2066, 2101], [2783, 2815], [0, 15], [73, 146], [443, 518], [1974, 2050]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The brother of skater Nancy Kerrigan , charged with assault and battery in an incident involving his father , was released on bond , authorities said Wednesday . Mark Kerrigan posted the previously set $ 10,000 bail and was released from custody , according to the Woburn District Court Clerk 's office in Massachusetts . Kerrigan , 45 , was fitted with a tracking device and under conditions of his release is not allowed to leave his home other than to visit his attorney , the clerk 's office said . He also is forbidden to use any drugs or alcohol other than prescription medication , can have no access to weapons and must have mental health counseling . `` The Kerrigan family is delighted to have Mark back with them , '' family spokeswoman Nancy Sterling said in a statement . `` They ask that you respect their privacy as they welcome Mark home . '' He was arraigned in January and pleaded not guilty to charges he assaulted his father , Daniel Kerrigan , 70 . The elder Kerrigan died January 24 after an alleged altercation with his 45-year-old son at the family 's home in Stoneham , Massachusetts . Mark Kerrigan , through his attorney , has denied any responsibility in his father 's death . Daniel Kerrigan 's death was ruled a homicide by the medical examiner , but Middlesex County prosecutors have not said whether other charges might be filed against the younger Kerrigan in light of the finding . The Kerrigan family has said , in a statement released through their attorney , that they believe the medical examiner 's finding to be `` premature and inaccurate . '' `` The Kerrigan family does not blame anyone for the unfortunate death of Dan Kerrigan , who had a pre-existing heart condition , '' said the family statement , released by attorney Tracy Miner . According to Middlesex County Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Keeley , police responded to a 911 call at approximately 1:30 a.m. January 24 from Brenda Kerrigan , wife of Daniel and mother to Mark and Nancy Kerrigan . Keeley told District Court Judge Mark Sullivan during the arraignment for Mark Kerrigan that there was a violent argument and struggle between the father and his son , resulting in the elder Kerrigan falling or collapsing on the kitchen floor . Keeley said that Mark Kerrigan told authorities `` that he did in fact have an argument with his father , the argument became physical , he grabbed his father around the neck , and at some point the father collapsed to the floor . '' According to Keeley , police found Mark Kerrigan in the basement of the house , `` clearly intoxicated '' and `` extremely combative . '' He refused to comply with police officers , said Keeley , and they had to subdue him with pepper spray before forcibly removing him from the home . Mark Kerrigan 's attorney , Denise Moore , said in court that Kerrigan was unemployed , was recently released from a correctional facility and was living at home with his parents . He is taking medications and seeking psychological help for post-traumatic stress , apparently from his time in the Army , she added . Nancy Kerrigan first gained prominence by winning a bronze medal at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville , France . In 1994 she earned an Olympic silver medal in Lillehammer , Norway . She is perhaps best remembered for surviving an attack before the 1994 Winter Games by skating rival Tonya Harding 's ex-husband and an accomplice . CNN 's Bob Crowley , Evan Buxbaum and Vanessa Juarez contributed to this report . | NEW : Mark Kerrigan free after posting $ 10,000 bail . He is on an ankle monitor and must refrain from using drugs and alcohol . Death of figure skater 's father on January 24 ruled a homicide . Daniel Kerrigan , 70 , died after a `` violent argument and struggle '' with his son . | [[181, 234], [181, 194], [230, 264], [341, 349], [352, 354], [357, 426], [522, 524], [530, 605], [1224, 1293], [989, 1111], [2024, 2189]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- It 's interesting how many people have swallowed the BP public relations ' bait to call the explosion from Deepwater Horizon oil rig the Gulf oil spill . We need to call it what it is : the BP oil spill . The federal government needs to take control and take punitive action against BP and any negligent government regulators immediately . As a concerned citizen , preparedness speaker and author , and former commander of federal troops in disaster response , I watched with interest as BP brought out its big PR guns to protect its brand and its platoon of expert engineers , paid by BP to talk about how it happened and how they intended to fix it . BP 's reaction was much like Toyota 's when it was confronted with safety issues . It , too , focused on PR to protect its brand , versus telling the truth , and sent out its engineers to talk about the problem and the fix . The U.S. Coast Guard was the first responder . The Coast Guard 's priority always is to save lives . They spent days looking for the 11 missing men . Meanwhile , BP took advantage of this time to make itself the authoritative voice in the news about the spill and blame other companies . The U.S. government response was based on laws and rules that were created after the Exxon Valdez oil spill . After Valdez , the law changed to make the offending company responsible for the cleanup . A fund was created that all oil companies contributed to . If there was an emergency oil spill , a company could draw up to $ 75 million from this fund to fix the problem . But the fund was meant to help small wildcat operations , not huge conglomerates like BP . Sticking to that regulation was part of the problem . The No. 1 rule when dealing with disaster is to figure out which rules you need to break . Rules are designed for when everything is working . A democracy is based on trust . BP has proved it ca n't be trusted . iReporters share views on oil spill response . The government needs to change the game and make this a punitive effort . The government has been too friendly to oil companies . The government should immediately freeze BP 's assets and start to charge the corporation -- say $ 100 million -- each day the oil flows . The money could be held in a fund that U.S. government draws on to take care of the people along the Gulf Coast and pay the states for doing the cleanup . Next , BP and the government bureaucrats who broke a law and put the public at risk need to go to jail . I remember when we were evacuating New Orleans on Saturday following Katrina . We pushed the survivors to the airport and a major called and said the pilots refused to fly the plane without a manifest and there was trouble with weapons scanners . I told him to direct everyone to put the people on the planes as fast as possible , and we would to do the manifest en route or on landing . As a result , we flew 16,000 people out of NOLA airport in less than seven hours . The priorities of the response to the spill must be to stop the flow of oil , prevent the oil from getting into the shoreline as much as possible , mitigate the effects of the oil in the ocean , and take care of the people who have lost their source of employment , such as fishermen and those in the tourist industry . BP 's job is to focus on stopping the flow of oil . The government needs to provide more military `` command and control '' of the situation . As BP works to stop the gusher , the government must address the problem of the oil coming ashore and take care of the people affected , possibly retraining them in other jobs . The government could do this by using the Stafford Act to fund the states so they can protect their shoreline and clean up the oil . Then , the long-term effects of the spill must be mitigated . The people of the Gulf Coast , particularly South Louisiana , are still recovering from Katrina . They 've been through hurricanes Rita , Gustav and Ike . They know hurricane season is right around the corner and this BP oil spill has the potential to get much worse . And they do n't trust BP . In fact , the latest curse going around in southern Louisiana today is , `` BP you . '' Punitive action must start immediately , with BP supplying the money , from fines , to help the Gulf Coast get over this catastrophe . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Russel Honoré . | Gen. Russel Honoré : This disaster is the BP oil spill , not the Gulf oil spill . BP should be fined , he says , even $ 100 million , each day the oil is gushing . Money from fines should be used to help Gulf Coast and its people recover , Honoré says . General believes BP and negligent government regulators should face jail time . | [[173, 223], [197, 202], [205, 223], [2093, 2107], [2167, 2182], [2186, 2215], [2207, 2231], [4267, 4317], [224, 358], [224, 246], [273, 344], [2387, 2427], [2448, 2478]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A Toyota Prius was not the cause of a March 9 crash in Harrison , New York , said authorities citing `` black and white '' results in their investigation . Harrison , New York , Police Capt. Anthony Marraccini revealed at a news conference Monday that evidence extracted from the wrecked 2005 Prius ' data recorder showed no indication of brake compression as the car headed toward a stone wall . Rather , the accelerator was pressed 100 percent , authorities said . Marraccini said the data , which he described as `` black and white , '' was collected in a cooperative effort between Harrison police , the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration -LRB- NHTSA -RRB- and Toyota . `` Toyota has been very cooperative , '' said Marraccini . `` There 's no possibility of any distortion of this data , '' he continued . `` These are the facts that surround this . '' A housekeeper was driving the car at the time of the accident . She told police the vehicle accelerated on its own as she eased forward down her employer 's driveway , causing her to crash into a stone wall on the other side of the road . The incident , which did not involve other vehicles nor injuries to anyone , drew attention because the 2005 Prius was part of Toyota 's November recall to address the risk of pedal entrapment in the floor mat . But police said early on that floor mats were not a factor in this accident . A recall to address a sticky accelerator problem did not include the Prius . Monday 's announcement corroborates a NHTSA statement from early in the investigation , explaining that `` information retrieved from the vehicle 's onboard computer systems indicated there was no application of the brakes and the throttle was fully open . '' The statement suggested at the time that the driver may have been stepping on the accelerator , instead of the brake as she told police . `` We do see these accidents on occasion , '' Marraccini said Monday . `` I think with all this hype about Toyota , people are just looking to point fingers , '' he said . Marraccini said that he spoke with the housekeeper about the findings of the investigation , but she remains `` very passionate about her statement . '' `` When a driver believes they are on the brake pedal , they believe it . But there is no indication of that , '' Marraccini said . Toyota spokesman Wade Hoyt called the investigation `` thorough '' and `` conscientious , '' and praised authorities for their `` really outstanding piece of detective work . '' CNN 's Dana Garrett contributed to this report . | The wrecked 2005 Prius ' data recorder showed no indication of brake compression . Police say there was no indication the driver engaged the brake . Police say the data was collected in a cooperative effort with NHTSA and Toyota . | [[210, 386], [1495, 1530], [1583, 1751], [210, 386], [2296, 2326]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Vaccines that can be quickly produced to fight evolving diseases such as AIDS , flu and the common cold . Algae that can be engineered to turn carbon dioxide into gasoline and diesel fuel . These are among the innovations that could result from the research of J. Craig Venter 's team , which announced last week that it had created `` the first cell that is totally controlled by a synthetic chromosome . '' Venter , a leader in the sequencing of the human genome , also hinted at another , more basic and less immediately practical , reason for creating synthetic life . He explained that scientists had embedded in the genetic code of the new cell three quotations , including this one from physicist Richard Feynman : `` What I can not build , I can not understand . '' To understand life really , the quotation suggests , it 's necessary to know how to create it . In a video announcing the breakthrough that was posted at TED.com , Venter describes a 15-year-long quest that ended with creation of `` the first self-replicating species that we 've had on the planet whose parent is a computer . '' Scientists did it by designing a digital code on a computer , building a chromosome `` from four bottles of chemicals , '' assembling the chromosome in yeast cells and transplanting it into the cell of a bacterium , creating a new species . For more about Venter , click here . Venter said before the work was done , a team of experts conducted a two-year study of the ethics of creating life in a laboratory . He said the White House and other government officials have been briefed about the work -- and that White House officials favored open publication of the research , rather than deciding to classify it . The work of Venter 's team has been widely hailed . The Economist said it creates the possibility of demonstrating `` mankind 's mastery over nature in a way more profound than even the detonation of the first atomic bomb . '' Yet it warned , `` No one now knows how easy it would be to turbo-charge an existing human pathogen , or take one that infects another type of animal and assist its passage over the species barrier . We will soon find out , though . '' Venter pointed to the `` extensive work that we 've done , asking for ethical review , pushing the envelope on that side as well as the technical side , this has been broadly discussed in the scientific community , in the policy community and at the highest levels of the federal government . '' `` Even with this announcement , as we did in 2003 -- that work was funded by the Department of Energy -- so the work was reviewed at the level of the White House , trying to decide whether to classify the work or publish it . And they came down on the side of open publication , which is the right approach . We 've briefed the White House . We 've briefed members of Congress . We 've tried to take and push the policy issues in parallel with the scientific advances . '' For another talk by Venter , click here . He said the three quotations were embedded in the genetic code to help make sure that the new synthetic form of life could n't be mistaken for regular life . Scientists inserted the names of more than 40 authors of the research but wanted to add something `` more profound than just signing the work . '' In addition to the Feynman quote , the code contains this quote from James Joyce : `` To live , to err , to fall , to triumph , and to recreate life out of life . '' And this one , from `` American Prometheus , '' a biography of scientist Robert Oppenheimer : `` See things , not as they are , but as they might be . '' | Scientist 's team announces creation of a cell controlled by a synthetic chromosome . J. Craig Venter said it 's the first self-replicating species whose parent is a computer . Venter : Work holds promise for new vaccines and ways to use carbon dioxide productively . He says creating life is key to understanding life . | [[355, 369], [375, 424], [889, 927], [957, 1060], [219, 240], [246, 303]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The federal government has instructed BP to scale back its use of oil dispersants in the Gulf of Mexico , Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson said Monday . Jackson said she believes BP 's total use of dispersants can be reduced by as much as 80 percent . While the dispersants are successfully breaking up much of the oil being spilled into the Gulf , she said , `` we are making environmental tradeoffs '' and are `` deeply concerned '' about potential side effects . Jackson and Coast Guard Rear Adm. Mary Landry , the federal on-scene coordinator for the oil spill response effort , told reporters that subsea use of dispersants at the source of the leak will continue . But the federal government strongly prefers to eliminate oil on the surface through a combination of burning and mechanical skimming , they said . The `` use of dispersant in the subsea means that you do n't need to spray as much -LRB- on the surface -RRB- , '' Jackson later explained . `` The idea from the very beginning was that if you could use it in the subsea ... you would n't need to spray as much on top . '' Jackson 's announcement came less than a week after EPA ordered BP to find another chemical dispersant to use on the oil spill after concerns arose about the long-term effects of the substance now being used . Federal officials have been seeking an alternative to the hundreds of thousands of gallons of Corexit 9500 that have been sprayed on the oil slick since April . The product has been rated less effective and more toxic than many others on the list of 18 EPA-approved dispersants , according to testimony at a congressional hearing Wednesday . Corexit 9500 includes petroleum distillates , propylene glycol and a proprietary organic sulfonic salt , and prolonged contact with it can cause eye or skin irritation , according to the manufacturer 's material data safety sheet . The document warns that `` repeated or prolonged exposure may irritate the respiratory tract . '' `` I was n't satisfied with the answer that we got '' from BP regarding possible alternatives , Jackson said . While the data compiled so far does `` not show a problem with toxicity '' as a result of the use of Corexit , it `` seems to me that a month into this and with no end in sight ... we need to ask ourselves whether there 's a better product out there . And BP seemed to spend a lot of time saying why everything else did n't work . '' The EPA is in the process of setting up a series of toxicity tests , Jackson said , `` to look at what 's going on out there now and to look at whether there 's a better choice . '' Asked earlier about the company 's continued use of an oil dispersant in the face of an EPA request that it use a less toxic alternative , BP official Tony Hayward said , `` Everything that we do with dispersants is with the explicit approval of the EPA . '' On Monday , Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen -- the Obama administration 's point man for the spill -- warned reporters at the White House that the `` decision to use dispersants does n't do away with the problem . '' It simply means `` we are willing to accept the effect of the oil in the ocean rather than on land . It is a trade-off of where the impact of the oil is going to be made . '' | Government instructs BP to scale back use of oil dispersants in Gulf . EPA administrator says BP 's use of dispersants can be reduced by 80 percent . Official unhappy with BP 's response to request it consider alternatives to current dispersant . | [[0, 15], [19, 122], [224, 296], [0, 15], [19, 122], [125, 197], [198, 296], [224, 296], [1187, 1261], [1345, 1451], [2061, 2110]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Seven members of the environmental group Greenpeace were arrested Monday after protesting at a private ship that the group says is scheduled to depart for Alaska this summer as part of a drilling mission . The group said it was sending a message to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to ban new drilling in the Arctic or any U.S. waters . The ship was docked at Port Fourchon , Louisiana , near the site of the massive BP oil spill that for more than a month has been gushing thousands of barrels of oil daily into the Gulf of Mexico . Photos from the scene show two protesters repelling off the side of Harvey Explorer , a 240-foot supply vessel , with one holding a sign reading `` Salazar : Ban Arctic drilling . '' The activists also smeared messages -- `` Arctic next ? '' -- on the boat in raw crude from the BP spill in the Gulf . The seven arrested , between ages 24 and 32 , face unauthorized entry charges of a critical infrastructure and an inhabited dwelling , according to the Lafourche Parish County Sheriff 's Department . They could face additional charges pending an investigation into the incident , authorities said . The protest comes as the Obama administration has decided to establish a presidential commission to investigate the disaster and look into federal oversight of offshore oil drilling , safety aboard rigs and environmental protection . Permits to drill offshore were suspended last month pending an Interior Department safety review after the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drill rig . Still , the government is under pressure to issue new permits for offshore drilling as early as next week . The safety review is due this Friday , and the Obama administration will use it to help decide when and how drilling should resume . The Harvey Explorer is a vessel contracted by Shell for offshore operations off the Alaskan coast that had been scheduled for July . `` The safety and security of this contracted vessel and its crew are a top priority , '' Shell said in a statement Monday . `` While we welcome discussions regarding Shell operations , we are disappointed in the approach taken by Greenpeace today . '' Greenpeace and other environmental groups argue there should be no new drilling until the investigation into the disaster is complete , which will take months . `` As long as we continue to rely on dirty and dangerous fossil fuels and offshore drilling , we ca n't prevent future disasters from destroying our oceans and the industries and wildlife that depend upon them , '' said John Hocevar , oceans campaign director for Greenpeace . `` Pulling the plug on plans to drill in the Arctic would be a first step towards a comprehensive ban on all new drilling in the United States , '' he said . | Greenpeace activists want interior secretary to ban new drilling . Protesters used crude from BP spill to write messages on boat . Activists boarded private vessel contracted by Shell for Alaska operations . | [[240, 353], [2167, 2288], [0, 15], [54, 126], [1781, 1878]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The coming summer and fall could be an `` active to extremely active '' hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean , U.S. forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted . There is a 70 percent chance that three to seven major hurricanes will swirl in the Atlantic in the six months following the start of the hurricane season on June 1 , according to NOAA 's Climate Prediction Center . `` If this outlook holds true , this season could be one of the more active on record , '' said Jane Lubchenco , the under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere , and NOAA 's administrator . The forecast predicts between 14 and 23 storms with top winds of 39 mph or higher , the threshold for tropical storm status . It predicts eight to 14 of those will become named hurricanes , with winds topping 74 mph or higher , and three to seven of those will become major ones , meaning Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale . Category 3 storms have sustained winds of at least 111 mph . Forecasters have said that El Nino conditions will dissipate by summer and that unusually warm tropical Atlantic surface temperatures will persist , leading to favorable conditions for hurricanes to develop and intensify . A report released in April by Colorado State University 's forecasters William Gray and Phil Klotzbach also said that this year 's hurricane season could be difficult , but they predicted only 15 named storms , eight hurricanes and four major hurricanes . Gray and Klotzbach will issue a revised forecast next Wednesday . A typical season has 11 named storms , six hurricanes and two major hurricanes , according to NOAA . The hurricane season ends November 30 , although later storms have been known to happen . Last year 's hurricane season was below average , with only nine named tropical storms , three of which were hurricanes . The National Hurricane Center said it was the lowest number of tropical storms for the Atlantic basin since 1997 . | NOAA predicts three to seven `` major '' hurricanes in the Atlantic . Hurricane season starts Tuesday . Unusually warm tropical Atlantic surface temperatures are expected to boost storms . | [[132, 217], [218, 380], [247, 382], [252, 283], [385, 433], [867, 913], [867, 890], [916, 974], [1620, 1659], [1662, 1681], [1861, 1893], [218, 380], [247, 382], [1036, 1231]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President Barack Obama will deploy up to 1,200 more National Guard troops to the U.S. border with Mexico , an administration official told CNN on Tuesday . In addition , Obama will request $ 500 million to supplement current spending for enhanced border protection and law enforcement activities , the official said . The National Guard troops will help with drug enforcement efforts and intelligence efforts until Customs and Border Protection can recruit and train additional officers and agents to serve on the border , the official said . The news followed Obama 's lunch meeting with Senate Republicans , where Sen. John McCain of Arizona raised the issue of increased border security . McCain and fellow Arizona Republican Sen. Jon Kyl , as well as Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona , have called for Obama to send more troops to the border region . `` It 's simply not enough , '' McCain said Tuesday on the Senate floor . He called for 3,000 more National Guard troops just for the Arizona-Mexico border . Giffords , who had called for the National Guard 's deployment immediately after the March 27 murder of Cochise County rancher Rob Krentz , said Obama 's step was `` the right thing . '' `` Arizonans know that more boots on the ground means a safer and more secure border , '' Giffords said in a written statement . `` Washington heard our message . '' A previous troop deployment to the border region , called Operation Jump Start , ended in 2008 . The operation sent more than 6,000 troops to California , Arizona , New Mexico and Texas to repair secondary border fence , construct nearly 1,000 metal barriers and fly Border Patrol agents by helicopter to intercept illegal immigrants . The Mexican Embassy issued a statement later Tuesday saying the additional National Guard troops should help prevent the illegal flow of weapons and cash into Mexico . It also said Mexico `` expects that National Guard personnel will strengthen U.S. operations in the fight against transnational organized crime that operates on both sides of our common border and that it will not , in accordance to its legal obligations , conduct activities directly linked to the enforcement of immigration laws . '' | NEW : Mexico says additional U.S. troops at border should battle organized crime , not illegal immigration . Obama to send 1,200 more National Guard troops to help with anti-drug and intelligence efforts . `` It 's simply not enough , '' Sen. John McCain says . Previous border operation that sent more than 6,000 troops to the region ended in 2008 . | [[30, 134], [348, 438], [849, 897], [901, 924], [927, 929], [1409, 1457], [1460, 1487], [1409, 1457], [1490, 1505], [1506, 1594]] |
-LRB- CNET -RRB- -- Are you confused by the myriad changes Facebook keeps making to its privacy settings ? Are you angry about your data being exposed without your express consent ? Are you just fed up and not going to take it anymore ? You 're not alone . A recent poll from Sophos found that an estimated 60 percent of users are considering quitting Facebook over privacy issues . More than 11,000 people have committed to ditching the social-networking site on May 31 , according to QuitFacebookDay.com . And more people are searching Google for ways to delete their Facebook accounts than ever , according to the Search Engine Land blog . But leaving Facebook can be almost as confusing as navigating the privacy backwaters on the site . Here are some tips on deleting your account and answers to questions about what that means for your data , and more . What 's the difference between deleting and deactivating a Facebook account ? Deactivation means the profile information and content are hidden from view of others but are saved on Facebook servers in case you want to reactivate the profile . Messages you 've sent and Wall posts remain , but your name appears in black text that is not clickable since your profile is now hidden . Deleting an account removes it from the site permanently and you have to start from scratch if you decide later that you want to be on Facebook again . There is a 14-day delay before the data is completely deleted to give users time to change their mind . If you change your mind you can merely log into the account and the deletion request will be canceled . How do I deactivate my account ? Click the Account tab in the upper right-hand corner of your main page . The Settings tab should be highlighted and there is a Deactivate link at the very bottom of the list . When you click it , you will be asked if you are sure you want to deactivate your account and why you are doing so . You will also be shown photos of you with friends with accompanying messages that say '' -LRB- Your friend here -RRB- will miss you . '' There is also a box to check at the bottom to opt out of receiving e-mails from Facebook if friends tag you in photos or invite you to join the site . How do I delete my Facebook account ? It 's not as easy to find out how to delete your account . I clicked on the Account tab and then Help Center and typed in `` delete account '' in the search window . Under the question prompt `` How do I permanently delete my account '' there is a link to this page where you can click the Submit button or the Cancel button . What happens to my data after I delete my account ? According to this Facebook Help Center page all personally identifiable information associated with your account will be purged from Facebook 's database if you choose to permanently delete the account . `` This includes information like your name , e-mail address , mailing address , and IM screen name , '' the site says . `` Copies of some material -LRB- photos , notes , etc. -RRB- may remain in our servers for technical reasons , but this material is disassociated from any personal identifiers and completely inaccessible to other users . Facebook also does not use content associated with accounts that have been deactivated or deleted . '' I asked a Facebook spokesman why copies would need to be kept at all and for how long , exactly when all traces of the data are gone entirely , and whether any data remain on any servers of partners , and if so for how long ? Here is his reply : . `` When a photo or video is deleted , or when a person deletes his or her account , we quickly delete all of the metadata for the photo as well as any and all tagging and linking information . For all practical purposes , the photo no longer exists , and we would n't be able find it if we were asked or even compelled to do so . This is similar to what happens when you delete information from the hard drive of your computer . Technically , the bits that make up the photo persist somewhere , but , again , the photo is impossible to find . It 's possible that someone who previously had access to a photo and saved the direct URL from our content delivery network partner -LRB- this is different from the Facebook URL -RRB- could still access the photo . However , again , the person would have to know the URL , and the photo only exists in the CDN 's -LRB- content delivery network 's -RRB- cache for a limited amount of time . '' If I 'm not ready to leave Facebook what can I do ? You can shore up your privacy settings and hope that Facebook does n't make any new modifications that will undo what you 've specified . There are several tools that can automatically check your Facebook settings and set them to the most private option , including browser bookmark tool SaveFace and a Facebook privacy scanner available at ReclaimPrivacy.org . Or you can do it yourself in a number of steps . First , make sure the default setting for different types of information you have on your page -- particularly Posts by Me -- is not set to the default of `` everyone , '' which means everyone on the Internet . Click the Account tab at the top right of your profile page and click Privacy Settings . From there you can set the information in Personal Information and Posts , as well as Contact Information , and Friends , Tags , and Connections to a range of options from `` everyone '' to `` only me . '' You also need to set privacy for each of your photo albums , under the Personal Information and Posts section . Under the Search option you can specify who can see your search result on Facebook and allow or disallow search engines to display a preview of your Facebook profile . The Applications and Websites section lets you control how much of your information friends and applications can see and share . There you can opt out of the Instant Personalization setting , which allows partner sites like Yelp and Pandora to provide a customized experience when you visit their sites based on your Facebook activities . To block ads from sharing your information you can click Account Settings from the top-right Account tab on your main page and click the Facebook Ads tab and switch it to the default `` only my friends '' to `` no one . '' The Huffington Post has a helpful video that walks through all of these steps . And if you want to just make a statement but not leave the site , you can join the Facebook Protest movement and avoid logging on June 6 . What other social-networking sites are there ? Wikipedia has a long list of potential alternatives , but none of them are as popular as Facebook , which boasts 400 million active users . A social network is only as useful as the number of friends or relevant contacts it has and it would be tough to get your friends to move en masse to another site . One upcoming promising option is Diaspora , which calls itself `` the privacy aware , personally controlled , do-it-all distributed open-source social network '' and was started in response to the Facebook 's problems . The creators are raising money to finish the site and had reached the $ 100,000 mark on May 13 , but it 's unclear when it will be up and running . What does Facebook say about all of this ? Company executives realize there is a backlash and that they 've got a public relations problem on their hands . They held a companywide meeting last week to assuage the concerns of the rank and file . A Facebook spokesman said he could not provide an executive to discuss the privacy issues with CNET this week . However , Elliot Schrage , Facebook 's vice president of public policy , answered reader questions on The New York Times site last week . `` Clearly , we need to rethink the tempo of change and how we communicate it , '' he said . `` Trust me . We 'll do better . '' Asked why the company does n't put the control in the hands of its users with an opt-in policy , Schrage said : `` Everything is opt-in on Facebook . Participating in the service is a choice ... Please do n't share if you 're not comfortable . That said , we certainly will continue to work to improve the ease and access of controls to make more people more comfortable . '' What does the government say ? So far , there have been no Congressional hearings or battle cries from Washington , D.C. , but there have been some complaints lodged . More than a dozen privacy and consumer groups complained to then Federal Trade Commission about Facebook late last year . And more recently , Sen. Charles Schumer of New York has asked the agency to question Facebook about its privacy practices . What 's all the fuss , anyway ? This interactive site entitled `` The Evolution of Privacy on Facebook '' shows visually exactly how site changes to the privacy settings over time have encroached on users ' privacy , revealing more of their data to more and more people . Facebook is obviously making a business decision to expose more member content that can be monetized . Web surfers are used to dealing with the privacy versus profit trade-off , but what really irks them is that with each modification , users have to go back in and redo their settings or risk having photos , contact information , and other data exposed to the public that they want only friends to see . Ted Weinstein , a San Francisco-based literary agent , said he is annoyed that Facebook keeps changing the rules on privacy and he has removed almost everything from his profile bit by bit . But he 's reluctant to entirely cut ties with all of his contacts on the site . `` I do n't want to throw those -LRB- Facebook contact -RRB- linkages away lightly . So I have removed material I 'm not comfortable having everybody I 've ever connected with having access to , '' he said in an interview . `` I do n't have confidence that Facebook wo n't make changes that make my prior settings irrelevant . '' © 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. . All rights reserved . CNET , CNET.com and the CNET logo are registered trademarks of CBS Interactive Inc. . Used by permission . | Poll says 60 percent of users are considering quitting Facebook over privacy issues . Deactivation means profile info and content are hidden from view but are saved on servers . Facebook execs recognize the backlash and that they 've got a PR problem . | [[257, 382], [294, 382], [938, 992], [957, 1023], [938, 950], [1028, 1065], [7259, 7371], [7259, 7309], [7315, 7371]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The United States hopes cool , careful language will keep the North Korean crisis from boiling over . The United States has been vocal in condemning North Korea for what it calls an act of aggression and provocation in the March 26 sinking of a South Korean warship that killed 46 sailors . But you wo n't hear American officials call this `` an act of war . '' In fact , from President Obama on down the chain of command in this latest Korean crisis , the word `` war '' is missing in action . Obama set the tone , offering support and condolences to the South Koreans in March . Once an international investigation concluded last week that the patrol ship Cheonan was sunk by a North Korean torpedo , a White House statement called the ship sinking `` an act of aggression ... one more instance of North Korea 's unacceptable behavior and defiance of international law . '' Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hit the same notes during her trip to China . `` We are working hard to avoid an escalation , belligerence and provocation , '' Clinton said Monday . `` This is a highly precarious situation that the North Koreans have caused in the region and it is one that every country that neighbors or is in proximity to North Korea understands must be contained . '' Washington is standing with South Korea 's decision to halt trade agreements with North Korea . The United States also is emphasizing -- in both words and deeds -- its military ties to South Korea , including an announcement Monday at the Pentagon that the U.S. and South Korean militaries would conduct joint anti-submarine exercises . And the administration is holding its South Korean ally close . Clinton will be in Seoul on Wednesday , and Defense Secretary Robert Gates will meet his counterpart in coming weeks , while Obama will see South Korean President Lee Myung-bak at the Group of 20 conference of developed countries in Canada in June . But while White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Monday that U.S. support for the defense of South Korea is `` unequivocal , '' he did n't mention war . `` Specifically , we endorse President Lee 's demand that North Korea immediately apologize and punish those responsible for the attack , and , most importantly , stop its belligerent and threatening behavior , '' Gibbs said in a prepared statement . North Korea has denied it was responsible for the March 26 sinking and has threatened to back out of a nonaggression pact between the two Koreas . Despite that pact and the 1953 armistice that ended the Korean War , the North and South technically remain at war . And North Korea has a huge standing army ; it bristles with missiles and has tested nuclear weapons twice , in 2006 and 2009 . State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said last week the sinking of the ship was a violation of the armistice , but he chose the phrase `` act of aggression . '' `` As we 've made clear , this was a clear and compelling violation of the existing armistice . It was without doubt a hostile act . It was provocative . It was unwarranted . I think our characterizations are broadly consistent , '' Crowley said . Over at the Pentagon , Gates and Adm. Michael Mullen , chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , both sidestepped questions about whether what North Korea did constitutes an act of war . `` Well , first of all , we certainly support the findings of the Korean -- the South Korean investigation , '' Gates said last week . `` We obviously are in close consultation with the Koreans . The attack was against one of their ships . And we will -- naturally they would have the lead in determining the path forward . They 've laid out some paths forward , and we will be consulting very closely with them as we move ahead . '' Mullen was equally evasive . `` Certainly we 're concerned about it . We 've supported them . We 've helped them in the investigation , and we agree with the conclusion . They 're a great friend and great ally , and we 'll continue to do that , '' Mullen said . Nicholas Szechenyi , a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies , told CNN , `` If you respond to bombastic rhetoric with equally hot rhetoric , chances are this could escalate . '' `` This is a very sensitive period , '' Szechenyi said in a telephone interview . `` You have to be very careful in forming a response because North Korea is so unpredictable . You do n't want this crisis to develop into all-out war . '' And Bruce Klingner , a northeast Asia analyst at conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation , said avoidance of the phrase `` act of war '' is both a question of how legal experts may evaluate what happened according to international rules -- and one of caution about fanning the flames . `` It may be both definitional as well as concerns about inflammatory language , '' Klingner said . He said the U.S. was taking an appropriate tack in supporting South Korea . But he pointed out that the South Koreans themselves , outraged by the ship 's sinking and loss of life , are treading carefully . `` The Korean people are angry , but not angry enough to bring about an all-out war on the Korean Peninsula , '' Klingner said . | Term `` act of war '' is missing in U.S. response to sinking of South Korean warship . Hillary Clinton : U.S. `` working hard to avoid an escalation , belligerence and provocation '' North Korea has denied responsibility for the March 26 sinking of ship . `` This is a very sensitive period . You have to be very careful , '' analyst says of situation . | [[325, 388], [402, 480], [483, 524], [987, 1063], [2360, 2506], [4246, 4280], [4329, 4380]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Gulf Coast chefs and fishing advocates claim , `` Come on in ; the water 's fine ! '' but find themselves facing a public awash in apprehension over potentially oil-tainted seafood . When New Orleans , Louisiana , chef John Besh recently urged people to choose U.S. shrimp over imports during an interview about the state of seafood in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico spill , commenters responded negatively , writing , `` What 's a little tar or mercury in your system anyways ?! '' and `` I hope you enjoy the petrol in your fish . '' Another commented , `` You eat the fish from down there , do n't complain to anyone when you get cancer in 10-15 years . I ca n't even believe a responsible human being would advocate for eating seafood slathered in oil first . '' A tweet in their response to CNN 's query about diners ' feelings on New Orleans seafood declared all post-spill offerings `` a no-geaux . '' Similar sentiments abound online , despite authorities ' assurances as to the safety of seafood currently on the market . Maps and apps track spill . The supply of Gulf Coast food -- and the cost of it -- fluctuates on a daily basis , with the NOAA Fisheries Services map of safe and affected fishing waters constantly being redrawn . ABC reports that in light of the reduced amount of seafood on the market , `` Fish that normally sold for $ 2.50 a pound were going for $ 3.25 . '' On Tuesday , Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal declared a commercial fisheries failure to trigger aid for commercial fishermen from the Economic Development Administration . In a letter to Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke , the governor wrote , `` The waters offshore Louisiana 's coast supply nearly one-third of all commercial seafood harvested in the lower 48 states , with values in excess of $ 2.85 billion annually . As the largest provider of domestic seafood in the continental United States , protection of Louisiana 's fisheries , habitats and catch are critical to our nation 's economy and food supply . In addition to the potential biologic and ecologic impacts in these coastal communities , we must not overlook the crippling effect that this event will have on the commercial and sport fisheries in Louisiana . The seafood industry is not only a large economic driver , but a defining element of the unique culture , and a crucial tourist draw to the state . '' While the impact of the Gulf Coast oil spill on the future of shellfish harvesting is unknown , the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is closely monitoring conditions and sampling water at oyster beds and fishing docks to determine whether the haul is suitable for public consumption . It has the authority to order closures of areas that are deemed unsafe . The department 's daily assessments and harvesting closures are distributed to restaurants and seafood purveyors , and agency Secretary Alan Levine has released a statement declaring , `` Oysters exposed to the spill will not be permitted to be harvested , and thus are not available for consumer purchase . DHH stands by the quality of Louisiana seafood as a healthy and delicious choice for consumers . '' On the other side of the Gulf , groups like the Florida Sea Grant , which operates as a partnership between the Florida Board of Education and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association , echo that sentiment . Steve Otwell , a seafood specialist with the Florida Sea Grant College Program , writes in an Oil Spills and Seafood Safety FAQ on the group 's website , `` All seafood sold in Florida retail stores , supermarkets and restaurants will remain safe to consume prior to and during any potential exposure to contamination from the pending oil spill . '' Michael Herdon of the Food and Drug Administration backed that claim in a statement , writing , `` The FDA is closely monitoring the developing situation in the Gulf Coast region to help ensure that seafood potentially impacted by the oil spill is not making its way into commerce . Fish and shellfish harvested from areas unaffected by the closures are considered safe to eat . There is no reason to believe that any contaminated product has made its way to the market . '' For the proprietor of several New Orleans restaurants and author of the award-winning cookbook `` My New Orleans , '' Besh 's livelihood hinges on their assessments being correct . He said , `` We have the best and the brightest working for us on the state level , out there testing the waters every day to make sure they know exactly where this oil is and what effect it 's having . As the oil shifts and moves with currents and we get a list from Health and Hospitals telling us what fisheries have opened or closed , and we buy accordingly . '' He and some other well-known chefs are putting their time and money where diners ' mouths are . Besh and TV star and celebrity chef Paula Deen will participate in a seafood cooking demo at the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience on May 29 and then join Food Network star Aaron Sanchez and James Beard Award-winning chef John Currence for a fundraising dinner at Besh 's flagship restaurant August that evening . All the proceeds will go to aid the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation . The help is surely needed , as the situation in the Gulf worsens and the financial future of multigenerational oyster and shrimp families hangs in the balance . `` Right now , it 's a really sad sight , '' Besh said . `` We had Catholic Charities of the New Orleans area started putting together food baskets and goods and a little bit of cash for the shrimping and oyster families of southeast Louisiana , because now they 've been out of work for a long time . Many of our local fishermen , their only hope of getting work right now is helping out with oil mitigation . '' Dennis O'Hern of the Fishing Rights Alliance echoes Besh 's fears that a way of life hanging by a thread is even more deeply imperiled by the spread of misinformation . `` The further you get away from the coast , the greater the perception that the fish is tainted . People will shy away from the line-caught grouper sandwich and opt for tilapia . '' He continued , `` That will absolutely ruin fishing for my generation as well as my daughter 's generation . I put my roots down here ; my daughter may not be able to dive again . I recommend anybody that comes down here to fish , to do it while they can . '' Even avid eaters without a stake in the business have stepped forward to offer their support . CNN contributor Donna Brazile took to Twitter to declare , `` The Louisiana Seafood Festival will be held in June . Paula Deen from the Food Network will come down for the contest . Buy Louisiana seafood . '' She told CNN , '' It 's still the best seafood in the world . And I know Ewell -LSB- Smith , executive director of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board -RSB- is working nonstop to ensure the best quality hits our marketplace . '' | Chefs and fishermen fear customers will refuse safe Gulf seafood . Experts sampling water at oyster beds , fishing docks to see if haul is OK to eat . Celebrity chefs head to Louisiana in show of support and to attend fundraisers . | [[2479, 2527], [2565, 2612], [2599, 2679]] |
-LRB- Mashable -RRB- -- According to Apple 's latest commercial , `` iPad goes anywhere '' -- anywhere , that is , except for Yankee Stadium . Yahoo Sports confirmed with the stadium that the iPad falls under its `` no laptops '' security policy and patrons wo n't be able to enter the ballpark with one in their possession . Say what ? The TSA says that you do n't have to take an iPad out of its case to go through security , but Yankee Stadium says the device is a no-go ? The discussion surrounding the ban was spurred by a message from Spacekatgal on the IGN Boards . Spacekatgal tried to bring her iPad in to the Yankee/Red Sox game , only to be turned away at the gate . Undeterred , she did re-enter the stadium with her iPad in her jacket , but the ban exists all the same . While you can reasonably ask why someone would want to bring an iPad -- or any electronic device aside from a cellphone , for that matter -- into a ballgame , the outright ban of such a device strikes us as odd , especially given that Wi-Fi is available throughout the complex . In any event , if you want to bring an iPad to Yankee Stadium this summer -LRB- assuming you 're sitting in the shade -RRB- , you might want to make sure you 've got a bag or windbreaker that can mask said device from the security guards . Or you could just leave the gadgets at home and watch the game . © 2010 MASHABLE.com . All rights reserved . | The iPad falls under the stadium 's `` no laptops '' security policy . Patrons wo n't be able to enter the ballpark with an iPad in their possession . Wi-Fi is available throughout Yankee Stadium . | [[143, 325], [188, 325], [143, 325], [188, 325], [432, 475], [943, 984], [997, 1062]] |
-LRB- InStyle.com -RRB- -- Think of a swimsuit as your strategic dare-to-bare ally : Find one in a flattering color and cut , and it can give you the confidence you 'll want when it 's time to drop the towel . There 's no getting around the fact that swimsuit shopping can be a major drag , but if you put your mind to it , you will find a suit that downplays what you do n't love and highlights what you do . Maximize a small bust . Underwires , boning and padding add shape and fullness to your chest , says stylist Julie Weiss , who has worked with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Gabrielle Union . Just be sure that any padding is subtle and , once wet , does n't show through . InStyle.com : Lose muffin top in 3 weeks . Ruffles , like shirring , can also be a plus , since they can make any area look bigger . Also consider the art of distraction . Jeanne Yang , who has styled Katie Holmes and Brooke Shields , says a top with a funky pattern , polka dots or embellishments will camouflage a petite chest . Minimize a large bust . In a top , do n't be tempted to go too small : Spillage along the sides will just make the chest look bigger . And keep in mind that suits run about two sizes smaller than your clothing size . InStyle.com : 12 ways to look thinner by tonight . An underwire or built-in bra gives structure and support , says Weiss . Seek out bra sizing in bathing suit tops for a more accurate fit . And when you 're trying on either one or two-pieces , make sure the straps are sturdy . Keyhole or string-bikini triangle tops and demi bras are n't ideal for big busts , says Yang , since they do n't provide enough coverage or support . Banish belly bulge . A plunging halter top draws the eye up and away from any pooch below . Details or a bold pattern on the midsection can also be positively distracting -- a busy print keeps the eye moving so it does n't settle on a less-than-flat tummy . InStyle.com : How stars get bikini-ready . In one-piece styles , look for extras like built-in tummy control panel or a suit that has significantly more spandex ; the Miraclesuit , for instance , has up to three times more than the usual swimsuit . In terms of two-pieces , a tankini is probably a better choice than a bikini . In either style , make sure that any elastic in the waistband does not cause belly spillover . Lower body help . A high cut in the leg -LRB- but nothing higher than the hip bone -RRB- helps heavy thighs look slimmer . Leave boy shorts at the store - - they make the derrière and thighs look bigger . Also pass on any prints and ruffles on the lower half that draw attention to the rear . Emphasize your top with color blocks , light colors or embellishment at the chest -- they 'll draw the eye away from a heavier bottom . And consider mix and matching bikini pieces : Wear a print on top and a dark solid on the lower half , or white on top and black on the bottom . See more fashion coverage at InStyle.com . Get a FREE TRIAL issue of InStyle - CLICK HERE ! Copyright © 2010 Time Inc. . All rights reserved . | Find a swimsuit that downplays what you do n't love and highlights what you do . Small bust : Underwires , boning and padding add shape and fullness to your chest . A plunging halter top draws the eye up and away from any belly bulge . Leave boy shorts at the store - - they make the derrière and thighs look bigger . | [[322, 400], [447, 502], [434, 465], [505, 529], [1274, 1330], [1672, 1707], [2710, 2760], [2489, 2522], [2499, 2536]] |
New York -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik arrived at the federal prison in Cumberland , Maryland , Monday to begin a 48-month prison sentence , prison authorities said . Kerik reported to the medium-security facility , which houses some 500 inmates , at approximately 1 p.m. ET , authorities said . Kerik -- nominated by President George Bush in 2004 to be homeland security adviser , only to later withdraw from consideration -- was sentenced to four years in prison last February . He pleaded guilty to charges including lying to Bush administration officials during his 2004 nomination . Ed Ross , a spokesman for the Federal Bureau of Prisons , said Kerik will be expected to perform a number of manual jobs including plumbing , landscaping and food service at the prison , which also has a minimum security camp . On the eve of his imprisonment , Kerik maintained his prosecution was unjust , and said he had to prepare his two daughters , ages 7 and 10 , for his departure . `` Words can not express my disappointment in the prosecutors and the judge 's behavior , and his sentence that followed , '' Kerik wrote on his blog Sunday . `` I have repeatedly expressed remorse for what I may have done , however , unlike many , I ca n't remain silent in the face of what I believe has been a gross injustice , which I pray will be remedied by an appellate court . '' He said he made his two daughters watch the movie `` Rocky Balboa '' for the scene in which Sylvester Stallone 's character tells his son that the world can be an unfair place but one has to persevere . `` As I prepare to serve my sentence , I have had to likewise prepare Angelina and Celine , my 7 - and 10-year-old daughters for what is next to come , and had to teach them that there are times when we are put in situations which are beyond our control and that no matter how undeserved , unsought , or unwanted , we must find the strength , courage , and perseverance to carry on and move forward . '' Kerik , 54 , pleaded guilty in November to tax fraud and six other felonies . He has been under house arrest in Franklin Lakes , New Jersey , since then . In court papers , prosecutors said Kerik denied to a White House official that there was `` any possible concern '' about his relationships with contractors involved in renovating his apartment or that he had any financial dealings with prospective city contractors . Kerik had been scheduled to go to trial on various corruption charges , including allegations that he received and concealed benefits of about $ 255,000 in renovations to his Riverdale , New York , apartment from a company seeking to do business with the city of New York . He pleaded guilty to that charge and several tax-related counts in November . Kerik was New York police commissioner from 1998 to 2002 , a tenure that included the September 11 , 2001 , attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center and killed more than 2,700 people . He spent a brief stint in Iraq training the country 's police force after the U.S. invasion in 2003 , and President Bush nominated him to be homeland security secretary in 2004 . However , Kerik withdrew from consideration after allegations surfaced that he had employed a nanny with a murky immigration status . In 2006 , he pleaded guilty to accepting tens of thousands of dollars in gifts while working as city corrections commissioner . Under his plea agreement , he paid $ 221,000 in fines and avoided jail time . His admission dogged the 2008 presidential campaign of his longtime patron , former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani , who said his endorsement of Kerik had been `` a mistake . '' Kerik made an unsuccessful appeal for clemency to Bush in 2008 , according to court papers released in October . Kerik 's sentence exceeded the 27 - to 33-month prison term recommended by federal prosecutors . `` With great power comes great responsibility and comes great consequences , '' said U.S. District Judge Stephen Robinson during the sentencing on February 18 . Kerik ended his blog post Sunday , saying : `` Finally , I can only hope that history will judge me based on my 30 years of public service to our great nation , and not by tabloid headlines , my imperfections , or the mistakes that I may have made . '' | NEW : Ex-New York police commissioner turns himself in to begin 4-year sentence . He pleaded guilty to lying to Bush officials , tax fraud . Kerik was nominated to be homeland security secretary in 2004 , withdrew . Calls conviction ` gross injustice , which I pray will be remedied ' on appeal ' | [[525, 631], [525, 527], [546, 631], [2017, 2022], [2030, 2094], [2714, 2791], [2751, 2762], [2763, 2791], [340, 345], [349, 391], [340, 345], [434, 467], [3088, 3160], [860, 890], [893, 936], [1271, 1350], [1309, 1406]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Love was present everywhere at the University of Virginia 's Klockner Stadium on Sunday -- in the stands , over the loudspeaker and on the field . `` One Team ; One Heart ; One Love , '' read the warm-up T-shirts that members of the school 's women 's lacrosse team wore . Spectators waved a sign reading `` No. 1 Yeardley in our hearts . '' At the end of the game , as the team celebrated its 14-12 victory over Towson University , the song `` Believe '' by Cher played over the stadium sound system . Its lyrics : `` Do you believe in life after love ? '' The tribute was in honor of slain teammate Yeardley Love , the 22-year-old senior found dead in her off-campus apartment on May 3 . A former boyfriend and member of the school 's men 's lacrosse team , George Huguely , has been charged with first-degree murder in her death . Sunday 's game in the first round of the NCAA championship tournament was the first the team had played since Love 's death , and the day was marked with remembrance . The Virginia team wore black patches on the front of their jerseys with one word : Love . The Towson team wore orange armbands stitched with her initials Y.L. Love 's mother and sister , Sharon and Lexie Love , were present in the stands to honor the game she loved . `` I think we 're exhausted , we 're drained and I think it 's never felt so good to win a game , '' head coach Julie Myers told ESPNU after defeating Towson . `` Not only is it an NCAA game , but just to get this hurdle cleared over -- the kids did a great job . '' After celebrating the win at midfield , the team surprised those in the stands by emerging from their huddle holding signs emblazoned with the number 1 . It was one last tribute to Love , who wore that number for her team . | Team wears shirts that say , `` One Team ; One Heart ; One Love , '' for Yeardley Love . Team wins 14-12 over Towson in first game since Love found dead in apartment May 3 . Towson team wore orange armbands stitched with her initials , Y.L. Love 's former boyfriend , George Huguely , charged with first-degree murder in her death . | [[577, 633], [389, 449], [636, 708], [853, 976], [1111, 1174], [1132, 1205], [709, 776], [786, 852]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A woman who pleaded guilty to kidnapping Utah teenager Elizabeth Smart in 2002 -- and attempting to kidnap Smart 's cousin a month later -- will be sentenced for both offenses in state and federal court Friday . Wanda Eileen Barzee , 64 , pleaded guilty in November to federal charges of kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor in Smart 's kidnapping . As part of that plea agreement , she agreed to cooperate with the state and federal cases against her husband , Brian David Mitchell , federal prosecutors have said . Barzee and Mitchell were accused of abducting Smart , then 14 , at knifepoint from her bedroom in her family 's Salt Lake City , Utah , home in June 2002 . Smart was found nine months later , walking down a street in the Salt Lake City suburb of Sandy in the company of Barzee and Mitchell , a drifter and self-described prophet who calls himself Emmanuel and had done some handyman work at the Smarts ' home . Federal prosecutors have recommended Barzee be sentenced to 15 years in prison in exchange for cooperation against Mitchell . In state court in February , Barzee pleaded guilty but mentally ill to one count of conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping in the attempted kidnapping of Smart 's cousin . In exchange for her plea , prosecutors dropped state charges against her in Smart 's abduction , said Nancy Volmer , spokeswoman for Utah state courts . The month after Smart was kidnapped , prosecutors alleged , Barzee and Mitchell attempted to break into the home of her cousin , but were unsuccessful . The girl was 15 years old at the time , according to CNN affiliate KSL-TV . She is not named in court documents . `` Mr. Mitchell 's attempt was thwarted when the minor child awakened , which caused Mr. Mitchell to flee , '' the court documents say . After her arrest in 2003 , Barzee told authorities that she and Mitchell went to the home to abduct the girl , and planned to hold her , along with Smart , in the couple 's camp in the mountains , according to court documents . Barzee faces between one and 15 years in state prison . But prosecutors have agreed to allow that sentence to run concurrently with her federal sentence if she cooperates with the case against Mitchell , said Mark Biljanic , spokesman for the Salt Lake County district attorney 's office . The federal sentencing will be held first Friday , at 10:30 a.m. , followed by the state court sentencing at 1 p.m. . When she entered pleaded guilty to Smart 's kidnapping in federal court , Barzee apologized to Smart , according to a transcript . `` I 'm greatly humbled as I realize how much Elizabeth Smart has been victimized and the role I played in it , '' she said . `` I 'm so sorry , Elizabeth , for all the pain and suffering I have caused you and your family . It is my hope that you will be able to find it in your heart to forgive me one day . '' Barzee had been housed at the Utah State Hospital while courts determined her competency as well as Mitchell 's . After years of being declared incompetent , she recently was declared competent to stand trial , according to the Salt Lake Tribune newspaper . A state court had ruled she could be forcibly medicated , and that ruling led federal prosecutors to proceed with bringing a case against the couple , the Tribune said . At a competency hearing for Mitchell in October , Smart , now 21 , testified that she had been held captive in Utah and California . Just after her abduction , Mitchell took her to a wooded area behind her home and performed a mock marriage ceremony with her , she said . During the nine months of her captivity , Smart testified , no 24-hour period passed without her being raped by Mitchell . In March , U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball ruled Mitchell competent to stand trial . His federal trial is set to begin November 1 . State court proceedings against him are on hold pending the outcome of the federal case . | Wanda Barzee to be sentenced Friday on federal kidnapping , state attempted kidnapping charges . Faces 1 to 15 years in prison for incident involving Elizabeth Smart 's cousin . Barzee pleaded guilty in 2002 Elizabeth Smart kidnapping . Prosecutors recommend state sentence to run concurrent with federal . | [[0, 15], [150, 230], [960, 1085], [997, 1041], [2047, 2102], [231, 250], [258, 381], [2455, 2526], [2529, 2555], [2455, 2526], [2529, 2535], [2558, 2585], [2103, 2199]] |
Grand Isle , Louisiana -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President Obama returned from a tour of the oil-stricken Gulf Coast on Friday and vowed to do all he could to help area residents and businesses clean up the mess and recover financially . `` We want to stop the leak , we want to contain and clean up the oil , and we want to help the people in this region return to their lives and livelihoods as soon as possible , '' the president told reporters . Flanked by more than a dozen Gulf-area politicians and officials , the president -- the sleeves of his shirt rolled up -- called the oil spill that began April 20 and continues today `` an assault on our shores , on our people , on the regional economy and on communities like this one . `` This is n't just a mess that we have got to mop up . People are watching their livelihoods wash up on the beach . '' Obama said he had heard `` heartbreaking stories '' from Grand Isle Mayor David Camardelle of fishermen who are trying to figure out where their next paycheck will come from . `` This is something that has to be dealt with immediately , '' he said . `` This is our highest priority , and it deserves a response that is equal to the task . That is why this has already been the largest cleanup effort in U.S. history . '' More than 20,000 people are working in the region to clean up the spill , including 1,400 National Guard troops activated in four states , he said . So far , more than 3 million feet of boom have been deployed , he said , adding that he will ensure that the lead federal official responding to the spill , Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen , gets `` whatever he needs to deal with this crisis . '' Obama said it would be `` welcome news '' if BP 's `` top kill '' effort succeeds in stopping the runaway flow from the well a mile below the surface of the water , but he said that that other efforts are under way , too . `` A team of some of the world 's top scientists , engineers and experts -- led by our energy secretary and Nobel Prize-winning physicist Steven Chu -- has for some time been exploring any and all reasonable contingency plans , '' he said . Obama said he has directed Allen and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to triple the manpower in places where oil has hit shore or appears within a day of doing so . Information about resources available to area residents and businesses will be posted at whitehouse.gov , he said . In addition , doctors and scientists will be stationed in the affected states to monitor the potential impact of the spill on the health of residents , an expense that BP will pay , he said . `` BP is the responsible party for this disaster , '' he said . `` But as I said yesterday and as I repeated in the meeting we just left , I ultimately take responsibility for solving this crisis . I 'm the president , and the buck stops with me . '' He added that federal authorities are prepared `` to do whatever it takes for as long as it takes to stop this catastrophe , to defend our natural resources , to repair the damage and to keep this region on its feet . '' In a response to some local officials , who have been calling for a berm to be created to keep the water from getting into fragile marshlands , Obama said Allen is prepared to authorize moving forward with `` a portion of the idea . '' And he called on Americans to help , too , by visiting the region . Except for three beaches in Louisiana , all of the Gulf beaches are open , safe and clean , he said . But it was to the long-term residents that he targeted his message : `` I 'm here to tell you that you are not alone , '' he said . `` You will not be abandoned , and you will not be left behind . '' Though about 25 percent of the Gulf of Mexico exclusive economic zone has been shut , most federal waters in the Gulf are open to commercial and recreational fishing , according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . | Obama vows to put federal muscle behind cleanup , says there are alternatives to `` top kill '' Obama : `` I ultimately take responsibility '' Feds to triple manpower on beaches that have been hit by oil . Obama : Americans can help by visiting region ; most Gulf beaches are open , safe , clean . | [[2755, 2813], [2839, 2863], [2142, 2245], [3324, 3391], [3328, 3330], [3367, 3391], [3432, 3481]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Actor Gary Coleman , who had suffered from intracranial brain bleeding and was on life support in the intensive care unit of a Utah hospital , has died , a hospital spokeswoman said Friday . Family members and close friends were at his side when life support was terminated , Janet Frank said . Coleman , 42 , fell ill at his Santaquin , Utah , home Wednesday evening and was rushed by ambulance to a hospital , the spokesman said in a statement released Friday . He was then taken to another hospital -- Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo -- later Wednesday night , the spokesman said . Coleman one of TV 's brightest stars in '70s and '80s . The former child actor was `` conscious and lucid '' Thursday morning , but he `` was slipping in and out of consciousness and his condition worsened , '' the spokesman said . Coleman became unconscious and was placed on life support Thursday afternoon , the statement , which was released by the hospital , said . Coleman is best known as the wisecracking youngster Arnold Drummond on TV 's `` Diff ` rent Strokes '' from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s . `` In recent years Gary Coleman has had difficulties , not only with health issues , but also with his personal and public life , '' his spokesman 's statement said . `` At times , it may not have been apparent , but he always has had fond memories of being an entertainer and appreciates his fans for all their support over the years . At this critical moment , we can only ask for your thoughts and prayers for Gary to make a speedy and full recovery . '' CNN 's Brittany Kaplan and Jack Hannah contributed to this report . | Coleman suffered a brain hemorrhage Wednesday . Actor was awake and talking Thursday morning . Coleman became unconscious Thursday afternoon . He was placed on life support in the ICU . | [[19, 39], [44, 89], [673, 742], [849, 875], [849, 856], [864, 925], [0, 15], [94, 159], [849, 856], [864, 925]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A predicted busy hurricane season this summer is on a collision course with an unprecedented oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico , and the results are anyone 's guess , weather experts say . `` The problem is that this is a man-made experiment we wish we had n't made , '' said Jenni Evans , a professor of meteorology at Penn State University . Scientists on Thursday said as much as 19,000 barrels of oil have been spewing every day from the BP well in the Gulf , making it the largest oil spill in U.S. history . Most of the oily water lies off the coast of Louisiana , where marshes and wildlife have been coated and the state 's fishing and tourism industries have taken direct hits . Not only is it hard to track how contaminants would be redistributed by a hurricane , but it 's also hard to predict how the slick would affect the storm , NOAA Public Affairs Officer Dennis Feltgen and Evans agreed . Evans said the storm could either move the oil along the water 's surface or it could mix the oil with the water and cause it to sink . If the oil moved horizontally , the shoreline would be polluted , she said . If it moved vertically , the marine life under the surface would suffer . The oil could slow the storm 's growth , Feltgen said . Evaporated ocean water fuels hurricanes , and the oil forming a film across the Gulf could buffer the water from the air , preventing the ocean water from feeding the hurricane , he said . But other scientists say the storms could be stronger than usual because the black oil would heat the water faster and accelerate formation of hurricanes , which rely on warm waters for their development , Evans said . CNN meteorologist Chad Meyers said there was another threat from the volatile mix of hurricanes and oil : storm surge . `` All the winds would be coming here , '' he said , indicating the coast on a map , `` and there would be storm surge here . All the winds would be going this way , and there would be scouring and cleaning of the beaches on this side . But the storm surge that could make its way up and bring the oil miles inland could be completely contaminating the oil inland . '' Oil in the Gulf coast is n't the only worry for hurricane forecasters this year : In earthquake-devastated Haiti , roughly 1.5 million displaced people are at risk . They are living under tarps and in tents in makeshift camps . In Haiti , aid agencies relocated about 20,000 people who were vulnerable to flooding and mudslides when the rainy season began . But it is impossible to hurricane-proof the congested tent cities that many are calling home right now , said Heather Paul , CEO of the aid program SOS Children 's Villages . Paul 's program is working to provide permanent , stable homes to orphans in the form of polypropylene shelters . While her program 's anchored shelters have the greatest potential to withstand strong winds , the outlook appears grim for many Port-Au-Prince residents . `` It 's only short of a miracle to prepare these people for hurricane season , '' she said . | Hurricanes would pile on to problems of oil spill , Haiti quake survivors . Storm surge could force oil from shore miles inland , forecaster says . It 's hard to predict how oil slick would affect a hurricane , experts say . Oil could slow the storm 's growth , or make it stronger . | [[1674, 1777], [2035, 2159], [705, 788], [795, 858], [1210, 1248]] |
Clarksburg , West Virginia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- North Central West Virginia Airport boasts quick check-ins , free , accessible parking and a convenient baggage claim . That 's not surprising , considering that fewer than 20 people fly out of the facility on any given day . And all three scheduled daily departures to Washington have a stop in Morgantown , West Virginia , only 35 miles away . But the airport offers a special treat as the end of the year approaches -- free sightseeing flights . Thanks to a Federal Aviation Administration program that gives small regional airports millions of dollars if they can reach a certain level of passenger traffic , the Clarksburg , West Virginia , facility tries its best to get 10,000 passengers off the ground by the end of the year . For Suzanne Pierson , that meant she and her grandson Donavan got an `` awesome '' bird 's - eye view of Clarksburg and neighboring Bridgeport , West Virginia , from a chartered Boeing 757 last December . `` They were trying to meet the quota , and they were 300 passengers short , '' said Pierson , who saw an ad placed by the airport advertising the free flights . Since the difference between 10,000 and 9,999 is the difference between $ 1 million and $ 150,000 in federal funds , airport managers in Clarksburg and other small towns do whatever they can to get over that number . In Kearney , Nebraska , residents get to take aerial tours of the city 's Christmas lights for $ 15 . In Altoona , Pennsylvania , residents got free 10-minute flights to reach the local airfield 's goal of 10,000 passengers . Sen. Tom Coburn , an Oklahoma Republican who is a frequent critic of federal spending , said `` about 40 '' airports are believed to offer similar flight programs to reach the threshold , which was set by Congress . Coburn is asking the FAA and the Government Accountability Office , the investigative arm of Congress , to come up with a definitive figure . `` The whole purpose for that is n't to say what you 're doing is illegal -- it 's probably not -- but to have a more cogent policy that truly represents the needs based on enplanements for every airport , '' Coburn said . He said federal support for small airports like Clarksburg 's `` should be earned in terms of grant process , '' not by gaming the system . `` We created the incentive to kind of weasel on it so you can get more money , and it 's exacerbated now because of the economic downturn , '' Coburn said . Clarksburg is about 200 miles west of Washington and about 110 miles south of Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , where most area residents catch flights when they travel by air . But airport director Rick Rock said an economic benefit analysis said the facility contributes about $ 395 million into the local economy , `` So I definitely think there 's no question that we need this airport . '' In addition to the $ 1 million based on passenger traffic , the Clarksburg airport got $ 30 million to lengthen its runway in 1999 and another $ 1.6 million from the Obama administration 's economic stimulus bill in 2009 . Local students get free flights to Washington for school trips as well , Rock said . And the airport just got another $ 150,000 grant from the FAA to promote itself . Rock said the money is needed to meet FAA mandates for security , runway paving and safety , and he 's proud of what the facility has achieved -- particularly for students . `` We 're trying to introduce aviation to them at a young age , so they can look at it as a career , '' he said . `` A lot of these kids have never had the chance to fly . We 've been able to share that opportunity , and the kids love it . It 's special . '' But Coburn said at least five airports have used `` creative ways '' to keep the money flowing in and has managed to get support for a congressional investigation to find out how airports like North Central West Virginia can get so much money for so few passengers . | North Central West Virginia airport offers free sightseeing flights to boost numbers . Other small airports offer free flights , Christmas light tours to increase passenger traffic . Republican senator wants FAA and Government Accountability Office to investigate . | [[1365, 1375], [1389, 1466], [1467, 1477], [1495, 1590], [1807, 1872]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he will urge President Obama to veto a coming $ 726 billion defense authorization bill if it contains funding for unwanted projects Gates has been trying to cut for years . Gates has been vocal about financial reform at the Pentagon , trying to rein in some big-ticket contracts and telling Congress to stop spending money on C-17 transport planes that are not needed and a $ 485 million alternate engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter -LRB- JSF -RRB- . The JSF engine program -- already delayed and over budget -- could end up costing taxpayers billions of dollars , according to Gates . But with jobs at stake , Congress has ignored those requests for years and continued to appropriate funds for the C-17 and a second F-35 engine . `` The detailed conditions they -LSB- Congress -RSB- have imposed on the overall JSF program would make it essentially un-executable and impose unacceptable schedule and budget costs , '' Gates said Thursday at a Pentagon briefing . `` As I have stated repeatedly , should the Congress insist on adding funding for a costly and unnecessary JSF extra engine or direct changes that seriously disrupt the JSF program , or impose additional C-17 aircraft , I will strongly recommend that the president veto such legislation , '' he said . The Pentagon believes the proposal for the new engine , made by General Electric , would end up costing about $ 2.9 billion which includes re-working the engine already being tested because there is concern it does not meet the performance needs for the F-35 . Those costs would be picked up by taxpayer dollars , according to Pentagon estimates . Additionally the contract for the new proposal by Congress would require cutting the purchase of the current engine by half to let the General Electric engine purchase catch up , according to Gates . `` Only in Washington does a proposal where everybody wins get considered a competition , where everybody is guaranteed a piece of the action at the end , '' Gates said . `` Yes , we 're in favor of competition , but my idea of competition is winner takes all , and we do n't have that kind of a situation here , '' he continued . The House Armed Services Committee passed the bill Wednesday . The bill must be approved by the entire House then matched by a Senate version and signed by Obama before becoming law . | Gates wants veto of defense spending bill if projects he deems unnecessary remain . $ 726 billion measure needs House , Senate approval before it goes to Obama . Gates cites items funded by Congress , after he has labeled them unneeded . Extra C-17 transport planes , alternate fighter jet engine are on his list . | [[0, 20], [30, 152], [1257, 1338], [2310, 2359], [1223, 1254]] |
Los Angeles , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Lee DeWyze , a paint salesman from Chicago , Illinois , was announced the winner of Fox 's `` American Idol '' on Wednesday night , edging out fellow 24-year-old Crystal Bowersox , a mother from Elliston , Ohio , affectionately known as `` MamaSox '' to her fans.a . After host Ryan Seacrest revealed him as the winner , an emotional DeWyze performed his rendition of U2 's `` Beautiful Day '' while sparklers and confetti rained down from the rafters at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles . The finale also marked the end of Simon Cowell 's nine-season run on the show as the often-critical and sometimes foul-tempered head judge many contestants both feared and respected . Former `` Idol '' judge Paula Abdul returned to the show to participate in the tribute to Cowell , along with many former winners , including Kelly Clarkson , Carrie Underwood , Ruben Studdard and Fantasia Barrino . The night also featured performances from Janet Jackson , Alanis Morrisette , Joe Cocker and Christina Aguilera . Cowell will be bringing his popular U.K. talent show , `` The X Factor , '' to the United States in fall 2011 , according to Fox . | DeWyze beats Crystal Bowersox in season finale . The show also is the last for judge Simon Cowell . Former `` Idol '' judge Paula Abdul joins tribute to Cowell . Janet Jackson , Alanis Morrisette among performers on finale . | [[176, 222], [534, 544], [550, 672], [934, 943], [949, 1047]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Survivors of the oil rig explosion April 20 that triggered an underwater oil gusher in the Gulf of Mexico , along with the father of a man who died in the blast , urged members of a House committee Thursday to hold Transocean and BP accountable for the incident . `` Please believe me , no amount of money will ever compensate us for Gordon 's loss , '' said Keith Jones , a Baton Rouge , Louisiana , attorney whose son , 28-year-old engineer Gordon Jones , died in the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon off the coast of Louisiana . `` We know that . But payment of damages by wrongdoers is the only means we have in this country to make things right . '' Two employees of rig owner Transocean , meanwhile , accused the company of putting profits above lives and cutting back on safety and employees leading up to the explosion . When workers complained of needing more help , `` They just kept telling us they 'd see what they could do , '' said engineer Doug Brown , 50 , of Vancouver , Washington . Brown suffered head and leg injuries in the explosion and said he now struggles with short-term memory loss and post-traumatic stress disorder . Employee Stephen Stone told committee members that the explosion `` was hardly the first thing to go wrong '' on the rig . Both men described a horrific scene on board the Deepwater Horizon the night of April 20 , with people crying and screaming for help as others scrambled for safety . `` I was pretty certain I was going to die , '' Stone said . After making it onto a lifeboat , being rescued by the Coast Guard and reaching land , some 28 hours after the explosion , survivors `` were lined up and made to take a drug test '' before being allowed to leave or call their families , Stone said . Transocean asked him to a sign a document -- without his attorney present -- saying he was not injured in the blast in exchange for $ 5,000 for the loss of his personal possessions , he said . He refused to sign the portion saying he was uninjured , he said , because even though he did not require medical treatment at the time , he must see a doctor for effects of smoke inhalation and is also dealing with mental and emotional aftereffects . Legal representatives for both BP and Transocean said the companies are making payment of claims a priority . `` We are going to pay all legitimate claims , '' said Darryl Willis , vice president for resources for BP America , who is handling claims against the company . `` We realize that we 're going to be judged by our response to this spill , and we 're going to pay for all damage to people , to governments , to the community . '' BP has already paid out some $ 37 million in claims , he said , and has opened claim centers in Gulf Coast states . But Jones argued that the federal Death on the High Seas Act unreasonably limits the damages surviving family members can receive . He said the situation makes even less sense considering it was modified after the crash of TWA Flight 800 in 1996 to help the families of air crash victims recover damages . In one of the last pictures taken of Gordon Jones , he was giving his 2-year-old son , Stafford , his first golf lesson . His second son , Maxwell , was born two weeks ago , with his father represented in the delivery room by a family photo . `` There 's nothing in the High Seas Act that can compensate the loss of a golf teacher , '' his father told CNN after the hearing . `` His sons are not going to have someone to teach them to give a man a firm handshake and look them in the eye . '' He said his son 's wife , Michelle , `` can not recover for the loss of the love of her life . '' `` The loss of Gordon 's income is the last thing Michelle grieves for , '' he told Congress . `` When Michelle tells her boys about their dad , she is not going to show them a pay stub . '' But under the current law , he said , that is all she and the older son are entitled to , and the baby may be entitled to nothing , because he was born after his father died . Jones said allowing punitive damages against companies like BP and Transocean is `` the only way they may learn . '' Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood told committee members that Transocean has already filed a limitation action in preparation for lawsuits , and BP has filed to consolidate such suits . States are concerned they will be pulled into a class-action suit where they will be treated like any other plaintiff . Mississippi wants its legal issue debated in state court , not in courts somewhere else , he said . Transocean attorney Rachel Clingman said the majority of about 120 suits filed against the company thus far are class-action suits . Multiple lawsuits are confusing and can lead to disparate treatment for plaintiffs , she said . The company filed its limitation action for several reasons , she said . `` We believe that it is important to have a central venue for these actions and to maintain a degree of continuity and consistency in awards to plaintiffs that would not be possible if lawsuits go forward in courts throughout five states in various state and federal courts . '' Asked by Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee , D-Texas , about Stone 's claims he was asked to sign a document , Clingman said a man `` who is not a lawyer '' met with Transocean employees in the days after the explosion and gave them a $ 5,000 check for their possessions . `` No release was signed , '' she said . `` No one has been asked to , or has , signed a release of liability , '' she said . CNN 's Jessica Ravitz contributed to this report . | Transocean attorney denies company had employees sign releases . Survivors of the Deepwater Horizon explosion testify to a House committee on Thursday . Also testifying was a father of one of the 11 workers killed in the April 20 blast . Survivors say the company compromised safety with employment cutbacks . | [[687, 724], [739, 830]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Get four successful women together on a movie set and you 'd think it 's all claws , all the time . Some rumors would insinuate that `` Sex and the City 's '' Kim Cattrall does n't get along with her co-star Kristin Davis , while another would allege there were catfights on the set of the sequel , as the stars revealed in the June issue of Marie Claire magazine . Last week there was a similar tiff making headlines , although the spat seemed to be a bit one-sided . In an interview with Out magazine , pop star Christina Aguilera referred to fellow superstar Lady Gaga as a `` newcomer '' who was `` fun to look at , '' but Aguilera posted a statement on her website claiming that there was n't any malice behind those words . `` It is very easy for comments to be taken out of context and create unnecessary drama -- especially between us women , '' Aguilera said in the statement . `` So I would like to tell you all directly so my words can not be misconstrued to sell someone else 's story . ... I have absolutely nothing against Lady Gaga or any other female artist in this business . '' As Aguilera noted in her statement , this is n't the first time she 's `` been unfairly pitted against another female artist . '' If Aguilera or the `` Sex and the City '' stars really are estranged from other famous women , so be it -- but why no mention of their relationship with co-stars Chris Noth or John Corbett ? For that matter , where are the stories about how the male actors got along on the set ? `` There are hardly ever any stories about male celebrities fighting , '' said celebrity blogger Vera Sweeney , who runs IAmNotObsessed.com . `` Even when Shia LaBeouf got into that car accident while on a date with Isabel Lucas -- even though she was dating Adrian Grenier at the time -- nothing happened . Adrian said they were n't serious , and the story was dropped . '' Obviously , this does n't mean that male celebrities are never pitted against one another in the media -- take a look at earlier beefs between Kid Rock and Tommy Lee , Eminem and Moby or Nas and Jay-Z . The difference , said Robert Thompson , director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University , is that those battles are often steeped with violent overtones , and they 're treated with more severity than the disputes female celebrities are rumored to have . Or , Sweeney said , the `` celebrity men in conflict '' angle will be given a different spin . `` Instead of there being a power struggle or an emotional issue , different work ethics will most likely be cited , '' she said . `` For example , when Christian Bale and Johnny Depp filmed ` Public Enemy ' it was said that both men wanted to stay in character even when they were n't shooting . So it was understood why they were n't friendly with one another in between takes -- because they were ` in character . ' If two women did that , it would be pitched as a cover-up for a more deep -LSB- ly -RSB- rooted reason . '' The actresses themselves seem to accept it as just another part of an oft-dirty business . `` The chemistry among the four of us is very strong , -LSB- but -RSB- ... the press has to put women in these boxes , rather than show them as the movie portrays them : working together and being powerful , '' Cattrall said in the Marie Claire interview . `` Things just have to be explosive for no other reason than for people 's imaginations . '' A likely reason for the media coverage , explained pop culture expert and `` The Cult of Celebrity '' author Cooper Lawrence , is because `` it 's much easier to believe that women do n't like each other . It 's one of the few bastions of sexism that 's left in our culture , and we ca n't imagine that powerful , successful women could ever get along . '' It all boils down to the gender norms many of us are raised with , Thompson said . `` One theory we can reject is that the women are fighting with each other more than the men are . ... Anyone who 's been in a workplace knows that it 's not an inherently gender-specific sort of thing , '' Thompson said . But `` with the gender norms that we 've all grown up with , men manifest their ` cattiness ' differently than women ; we 're OK with the idea that women are emotional , and we expect them to be . '' But said Ian Drew , senior editor of celebrity magazine Us Weekly , you ca n't discount the reality of the entertainment industry -- and that 's to sell albums and rack up box-office numbers . `` Obviously , this is a competition , '' Drew said . `` People need to be responsible for their own actions -- -LSB- Aguilera -RSB- did say those words , and she said those things for a reason . Lady Gaga , for example , never says anything negative about anybody . '' If these stars would n't send the media smoke signals with their words or actions , Drew said , the media would n't start yelling fire . `` No one is a victim in the celebrity world , '' he added . `` Very few of those rumors end up not being true . '' Regardless of whether they 're true or not , Sweeney said she 's willing to bet the stories of this starlet being angry at that one are n't likely to let up anytime soon . `` The question is n't why are these stories about women catfights being created , '' she said . `` Unfortunately , the question is why not ? People enjoy the drama , and drama and divalike behavior sells . '' | There were rumors of rivalries on `` Sex and the City 2 '' set ; stars say they 're untrue . Generally , such gossip is about women ; male stars do n't raise same issues , observers say . Author : Fair or not , `` it 's much easier to believe that women do n't like each other '' Us Weekly editor says , `` No one is a victim in the celebrity world '' | [[243, 315], [3460, 3498], [3587, 3618], [3601, 3665], [4923, 4967]] |
Islamabad , Pakistan -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The death toll from Friday 's attacks on a religious minority in Lahore has risen to 98 , officials said Saturday . The strikes with bombs and firearms took place at two mosques in Lahore belonging to the Ahmadi religious group , police and rescue officials said . At the Baitul Noor place of worship in the Model Town region , two attackers on motorbikes fired at the entrance of the building and tossed hand grenades , a rescue official told CNN . Police said one of the attackers was critically injured . The other , clad in a suicide jacket , was detained . At a mosque in the Garhi Shahu neighborhood , one witness told CNN he saw two attackers armed with AK-47s , and another witness said he saw at least four gunmen . Sajjad Bhutta , the senior official , said the heads of three suicide bombers were discovered there . Bhutta said more than 70 people were injured in the violence . Ahmadis regard themselves as Muslim . But the government says they are n't , and many Muslim extremists have targeted them . Sunni and Shiite Muslims do not regard followers of the religion as Muslims because they do not regard Mohammed as the last prophet sent by God . The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan , a non-governmental organization , deplored the attacks and said it has warned the Punjab provincial government about threats to the Ahmadi community center in Model Town for more than a year . Lahore is the capital of Punjab province . . `` An HRCP delegation had held meetings with Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif to apprise him of the situation and had demanded enhanced security measures to protect the vulnerable minority and its worship places . HRCP is of the view that though the Punjab government apparently took some steps to bolster the security ... they were not enough to face the well-coordinated and well-planned terrorist attack as witnessed on Friday , '' it said . It urged the government `` to provide foolproof security and protection to the Ahmadi community . '' The movement was founded in 1889 . Its followers believe that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad -LRB- 1835-1908 -RRB- was sent by God as a prophet `` to end religious wars , condemn bloodshed and reinstitute morality , justice and peace , '' the worldwide Ahmadi group says . The group , which is thought to number between 3 million and 4 million people in the country , endures `` the most severe legal restrictions and officially sanctioned discrimination '' among Pakistan 's religious minorities , according to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom . The religious freedom commission , an independent , bipartisan U.S. government body , said in its latest annual report that `` Ahmadis may not call their places of worship ` mosques , ' worship in non-Ahmadi mosques or public prayer rooms which are otherwise open to all Muslims , perform the Muslim call to prayer , use the traditional Islamic greeting in public , publicly quote from the Koran , or display the basic affirmation of the Muslim faith . '' The agency says it 's illegal for the group to preach publicly , pursue converts or pass out religious material , and adherents are restricted from holding public conferences and traveling to Saudi Arabia for the hajj pilgrimage . While the greatest number of its followers are in Pakistan and India , it has a presence in many European countries , such as Britain , where the religion 's fifth and current spiritual head , Mirza Masroor Ahmad , resides . | Human rights group says it warned of a possible attack . NEW : Death toll rises to 98 , government official says . Strikes targeted two mosques in Lahore belonging to Ahmadi religious group . Ahmadis are a persecuted religious minority . | [[1201, 1240], [1302, 1435], [12, 36], [105, 127], [156, 227], [221, 267]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- It was n't a long walk to Lisa Cochran 's car in the Costco parking lot , but by the time she got there her infant son was near death . Cochran and her grandmother had just enjoyed a hot dog at the Salem , Oregon , wholesale outlet . She had 7-day-old Derrik out of his baby carrier as she ate and people at nearby tables asked about the infant 's age and expressed amazement that Cochran was already out and about after the pregnancy . She put Derrik back in his Infantino `` SlingRider '' and headed out to the parking lot , but something was amiss when she reached the car , she said . `` He was not the right color . He was yellow . He had purple spots from where the sling rubbed marks on his face , '' said Cochran , 27 . Cochran called 911 . Her fiancé , Jerrid Fowler , administered CPR . An ambulance arrived and paramedics also tried to revive the infant . `` By the time I got to the hospital , they told me they were n't able to save him , '' she said . Cochran filed a lawsuit in January , asking for millions of dollars in damages and alleging that Infantino was negligent and liable for her son 's May 7 , 2009 , death . The death certificate cited compression asphyxia/suffocation as Derrik 's cause of death , Cochran said . Infantino issued a recall Wednesday of two baby slings , the `` SlingRider '' and the `` Wendy Bellissimo , '' offering customers replacement slings . The San Diego , California-based company said consumers should stop using the recalled slings immediately but did not take responsibility for any deaths . `` Our company is comprised of moms , dads , sisters , aunts , uncles and grandparents and we care deeply about the quality and safety of our products , '' President Jack Vresics said in a statement . `` All of our products go through rigorous testing and we work closely with governmental agencies as well as other third-party testing organizations continually to ensure the safety of our products . '' Earlier this month , the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a warning about the use of certain baby slings , saying it had identified 14 deaths with sling-style carriers , most of them in children younger than 4 months . On Tuesday , Health Canada issued a joint statement with the agency , saying three of the deaths appeared to occur in one of Infantino 's slings . About 1 million of the slings were recalled in the United States , and about 15,000 were affected in Canada , according to the joint release . Around 14,000 of the slings have been recalled in Europe . `` In the first few months of life , babies can not control their heads because of weak neck muscles . The sling 's fabric can press against an infant 's nose and mouth , blocking the baby 's breathing and rapidly suffocating a baby within a minute or two , '' the joint statement said . `` Additionally , where a sling keeps the infant in a curled position bending the chin toward the chest , the airways can be restricted , limiting the oxygen supply . The baby will not be able to cry for help and can slowly suffocate . '' Attorneys for Infantino referred requests for comment to a public relations firm that answered questions and sent CNN the statement from the company 's president . The company is working with CPSC in its investigation , has alerted retailers and written letters to individual customers , spokeswoman Amy Colton said in an e-mail . The company has not filed any pleadings in the case except for a notice to remove the case from the Marion County Circuit Court in Oregon to the state 's U.S. District Court . Cochran is n't the only mother blaming Infantino 's `` SlingRider '' for an infant 's death . Anthoinette Medley is planning to sue Infantino for the February 20 , 2009 , death of 3-month-old Nelsir , said her lawyer , Alan Feldman . Watch Medley discuss losing Nelsir . His twin , Timir , was in an identical sling over Medley 's other shoulder as she walked through the Gallery at Market East in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . She saw an old friend who had n't seen her children yet , Feldman said , and Medley was eager to show them off . `` That 's when she discovered a tiny bit of blood on the baby 's bib and ran to the bathroom , '' Feldman said . Nelsir was taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and pronounced dead later , Feldman said . `` I will never get to hear him call me Mommy . I will never get to see him take a first step , '' Anthoinette Medley told CNN affiliate WPVI . Feldman said he is not satisfied with Infantino 's recall . `` If you recognize that your product is not safe , and you realize that babies have died , you should stop babies and moms from using the product , '' he said . Infantino 's president said the company 's announcement of a free replacement program reflects its commitment to safety as its highest priority . `` As a company , Infantino conducts extensive safety testing internally as well as with third-party experts , regardless of whether official safety standards have been established . We will continue to play a leadership role in the industry and to cooperate closely with CPSC as it continues its investigation of all baby slings , '' Vresics said . Cochran said the sling came highly recommended , especially for breast-feeding mothers . A neighbor had one , she said , as did a friend 's cousin . She even carried Derrik to his first doctor 's visit in the sling . `` There were a lot of people who had this sling , and it seemed like a great thing , '' she said . Cochran said she broke down after Derrik 's death . Simple chores became extremely taxing . She neglected going to the grocery store and bank . She had trouble getting out of bed , showering , even talking on the phone . `` I was kind of hysterical . I was kind of not quite with it for several months , actually . I neglected going to the grocery stores or anywhere I would commonly frequent , '' she said . `` It was just hard to even be in a situation like this because the first thing everyone asks is , ` How 's the baby ? ' '' Cochran , a manager for a housecleaning service in Keizer , lost Derrik 's twin in the first trimester of her pregnancy , she said . She is pregnant again with a girl who is due in June . `` I 'm doing a lot better , especially now that I have another one on the way , '' she said . `` Hopefully , there wo n't be any more babies that die and any more families that have to go through what me and my family have gone through . '' CNN 's Emanuella Grinberg contributed to this report . | Two mothers blame Infantino `` SlingRider '' for their infants ' deaths in 2009 . Infantino issued a recall Wednesday of two baby slings , offering replacement slings . Recall includes more than 1 million slings sold in U.S. , Canada , Europe . U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says it identified 14 deaths with sling-style carriers . | [[3587, 3680], [1261, 1315], [1369, 1411], [2351, 2415], [2494, 2552], [1971, 1989], [1992, 2035], [2092, 2194]] |
San Diego , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Obama administration needs an air traffic controller to manage its domestic policy agenda . The items are starting to pile up on the runway . Move over , health care . Next up : immigration . It was n't exactly a graceful transition . In fact , at first , it looked like bad timing that tens of thousands of protesters descended on Washington to demand comprehensive immigration reform on the same day that Congress was voting on a bill that overhauled the health care system . You had to wonder : What if more than 100,000 people marched on Washington , and no one noticed ? Actually , even with everything else going on that day , plenty of people noticed the return on the national agenda of one of the most emotional and contentious issues in America . Immigration reform advocates have their eye on the calendar . In October , Rep. Luis Gutierrez , D-Illinois , a major proponent of comprehensive immigration reform , said during an interview on National Public Radio that the immigration debate would have to be reopened by March in order to get a bill passed before the November midterm elections . Ironically , the fact that the debates over health care and immigration overlapped actually worked out well for the proponents of immigration reform . It gave members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus additional leverage to pressure President Obama into declaring his support for a comprehensive immigration reform bill that is about to be introduced by Sens. Chuck Schumer , D-New York , and Lindsey Graham , R-South Carolina . The president needed a push . Liberals are loath to admit it , but Obama has been asleep at the switch when it comes to keeping his campaign promise to pursue immigration reform . And it is n't just -- as his defenders say -- because he was preoccupied with the economy and health care . The truth is , Obama never connected with the immigration issue with the same degree of passion with which he connected with other issues like health care reform , education reform , even climate change . If the protesters had n't gone to Washington and forced his hand , Obama would have simply gone on to education or the economy and put immigration reform on the back burner . Now , thanks to the march , and other rallies planned around the country in April , Obama has gotten the message that immigration reform wo n't wait any longer . It certainly wo n't wait until after the November election , as Sen. Robert Menendez , D-New Jersey , has suggested . Menendez is obviously trying to be a good Democrat , trying to spare his colleagues and his party any more legislative drama . But he 's not looking out for the best interests of the immigration reform movement . He must suspect Republicans are likely to make huge gains in November , especially after the health care vote . The time to act is now . The legislative puzzle will only get more complicated when a new Congress is seated . Some liberals want the immigration reform movement to be patient . There is nothing new there . Some on the left said the same thing during the civil rights movement . In this case , those who want to reform the immigration system have been waiting patiently since September 2001 , when President George W. Bush first suggested comprehensive immigration reform . And the longer they wait , the more complicated things get . The inaction remains the same . The only thing that changes is the narrative . First they 're told that Congress ca n't fix a system that both sides acknowledge is broken in good economic times because there are too many immigrants here and those kinds of population swings only exacerbate the anxiety that many Americans feel about changing demographics . Then the economy goes sour , and they 're told Congress ca n't act now because unemployment is too high and Americans have developed a new anxiety -- over their own economic instability . Reformers figured out in a hurry that they were being played and that Congress never intended to deal with this issue . It 's just too hard . Just like health care reform was too hard ? Personally , I believe Democrats made a colossal mistake by approving a radical upheaval of the nation 's health care system and then compounded that error with all the shenanigans involved . Nonetheless , I have to admit that it was impressive to see a group of lawmakers in either party work up the passion and courage to disregard the polls and actually do what they thought was right in the face of taunts , slurs , voter contempt and thousands of e-mails and phone calls from angry constituents . Sadly , that kind of leadership is something you do n't see much in an institution like Congress , which is usually too risk-averse for its own good . Whether the issue is gay marriage on the left or fixing Social Security on the right , moral courage is scarce on the Potomac . Recently , there was a rare sighting . There needs to be another . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Ruben Navarrette Jr. . | As Congress voted on health care , tens of thousands marched for immigration reform . Ruben Navarrette says Democrats showed moral courage in health care bill push . He says immigration is a cause that ca n't wait . He says system is broken and Congress should act now , not wait for better economy . | [[333, 447], [2334, 2413], [2857, 2881]] |
Editor 's note : Jim Rogers is chief executive officer of Charlotte , North Carolina-based Duke Energy , which generates much of its power from coal-burning plants and is making investments in clean energy technology in China . Jonathan Lash is the president of the World Resources Institute . Ming Sung is Asia Pacific representative of the Clean Air Task Force . Jim Rogers , CEO of coal-burning Duke Energy , wants the U.S. to join with China against greenhouse gases . -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- There is a lot of rhetoric on Main Street and in our nation 's Capitol these days portraying China as a job-stealing polluter whose economy is growing at the expense of the United States . But business leaders and policy advocates who work in China see a different picture : a China that is investing heavily in innovation and determined to win the global race to supply its citizens and the world with clean energy technologies . China is the largest producer of solar water heaters , with 50 percent of the world 's production and 65 percent of all installations . It produces 30 percent of the world 's photovoltaic sets and is installing wind turbines faster than any other nation . China 's expanding middle class is increasingly mobile , with more than 50 million electric bicycles , and China is developing the first mass-produced plug-in hybrid electric car . The country has 14 nuclear power plants under construction and plans to start 10 more next year . Although there has been much talk about creating `` green jobs '' in the United States , China leads the world with its massive investment in energy efficiency and renewable power . China 's growth has come with a heavy price : pollution . China produces 80 percent of its electricity from coal and now leads the world in greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants . Dirty air and contaminated water affect many millions of Chinese and are two of the nation 's most serious problems . Although the United States has made great strides in reducing pollution in recent decades , we are still the world 's second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions , with emissions per capita four times higher than China 's . Our nation is also heavily dependent on coal and imported oil . We are moving ahead in solar energy , wind and efficiency , but we are doing so in a fragmented , state-by-state approach that reflects our democracy and regulatory structures . By forging relationships with leading Chinese state-owned and private energy and technology companies , U.S. companies -- at times working with the federal government -- can create a `` ladder of cooperation '' with the Chinese to lead the world forward on climate change . We will not climb this ladder overnight but one rung at a time . With the United Nations ' climate change conference in Copenhagen , Denmark , just two months away , it is imperative that our two nations establish a more trusting , give-and-take relationship upon which good business partnerships are built . The World Resources Institute , the Clean Air Task Force and Duke Energy have started this work , with great prospects for results . WRI , an independent , non-partisan environmental research organization , is working with China to calculate its greenhouse emissions as a key part of its next national Five-Year Plan to advance its economy . The intent is to develop reportable and verifiable measures in the plan that could facilitate China 's participation in an international climate agreement . Duke Energy recently announced a memorandum of understanding with the China Huaneng Group , China 's largest power generator , and the ENN Group , one of the nation 's largest private energy companies . The focus of these efforts is to cooperatively develop and commercialize an array of clean energy technologies . The Clean Air Task Force -- an environmental organization advancing clean technology in the United States and China -- is pivotal to Duke Energy efforts . It has created a network of a dozen Chinese and U.S. companies to develop joint business ventures to build advanced , low-carbon coal technology in China and around the world . This network is expanding to include an array of other renewable and clean energy technologies . Historically , Americans have known little about China and , at times , are justifiably concerned about its growing power and influence . This is changing as our trading and financial interdependencies grow . Today , China is the largest exporter to the United States and the largest holder of U.S. debt . It is clearly not beneficial to either country to turn back the clock . There always will be healthy competition between China and the United States in developing and marketing technologies , but we must work closely together to scale up and commercialize the best ideas , regardless of whether it comes from our two nations or other countries in Europe or Asia or North America . China and the United States bring extraordinary and complementary skills to the table . China 's 1.3 billion people and unmatched economies of scale can bring new technologies to market fast -- in `` China time '' -- at a speed that is virtually impossible anywhere else in the world . The United States is the world 's largest economy , with an educational and technological infrastructure that is unmatched in the world , and stable energy regulation and investment policies . The sooner we get to work on achieving proposed congressional targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050 , the less expensive addressing climate change will ultimately be . We need to build on the emerging cooperation that exists between our two nations on energy and climate . We need to take responsibility for the fact that we are the world 's two largest emitters of greenhouse gases . If the United States and China can come together to lead on addressing climate change , the rest of world will follow . To make this relationship work , each country should leave fear and timidity at the door , put economic self-interest to work and forge the strategic partnerships necessary to get the job done . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Jim Rogers , Jonathan Lash and Ming Sung . | Authors urge 80 percent less greenhouse gas by 2050 . They want big polluters U.S. , China to cooperate . Goal : Create path for Chinese participation in climate agreement , authors say . They say Clean Air Task Force to build low-carbon coal technology in China . | [[5411, 5424], [5450, 5537], [365, 375], [378, 381], [412, 472], [3403, 3414], [3420, 3499]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Minerals Management Service , a division within the Interior Department , was a troubled agency long before the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the recent revelations of employee misconduct . The agency -- which oversees U.S. offshore drilling , including the Gulf of Mexico -- has come under fire for mismanagement , questionable conduct and cozy relationships with industry officials . The MMS issued permits for the Deepwater Horizon drill rig -- contracted by BP -- which exploded on April 20 . The explosion killed 11 people and resulted in an oil spill that is threatening parts of the Gulf . Interior Department Secretary Ken Salazar , during an appearance Wednesday before the House Committee on Natural Resources , said he was trying to change the agency 's culture and its structure , which some critics say leads to mismanagement . `` My belief is that most of the employees of the MMS are good public servants , '' Salazar said . He , however , acknowledged some of the past conduct was `` scandalous '' and `` reprehensible . '' Salazar said some people have been fired and others referred for prosecution . Two sources told CNN on Thursday that MMS Director Elizabeth Birnbaum has been fired . At a House subcommittee hearing Thursday , Salazar insisted Birnbaum had resigned `` on her own terms and own volition . '' President Obama later said he did n't know whether Birnbaum was fired or resigned on her own . The Obama administration has said in recent weeks that many of the problems within the MMS were inherited from the Bush administration . Salazar , during his testimony and in his answers to members of Congress on Wednesday , also made that point . During the hearing , Rep. Doug Lamborn , R-Colorado , asked Salazar why he and other officials were `` harping on what MMS did or did n't do in the previous administration . '' `` Why are n't we talking about the here and now ? '' Lamborn asked . Salazar was blunt in his response . `` We 've done a lot to clean the house at MMS , unlike the previous administration , '' he said . `` This is not the candy store of the oil and gas kingdom which you and others were a part of . '' Conflict of interest ? The MMS , which has about 1,700 employees , has two responsibilities when it comes to industries such as oil or natural gas . It must act as a regulator while also collecting royalties from the companies . Some critics say those are opposite pulls and make the agency ripe for mismanagement . The U.S. government technically owns resources such as the oil in the Gulf . Companies pay the federal government for the rights to drill in certain areas . The MMS collects and distributes about $ 13 billion a year , Salazar said . William Galston of the Brookings Institution said there is a built-in conflict of interest , resulting in lax regulation of involved companies . `` The MMS has a lot of incentive to collect as much , in the way of royalty income , as it can . That means pressure to authorize a lot of drilling and then to do everything possible -LSB- to make sure -RSB- that the flow of production is robust and unimpeded , '' said Galston , who recently wrote a piece critical of the MMS for The New Republic magazine . `` MMS , as it is currently structured , has to simultaneously put one foot down hard on the gas pedal and the other on the brake , '' he said . `` And the imperatives to go fast are a lot stronger than to slow down . '' Salazar said organizational change within the MMS and a restructuring of the agency was necessary to deal with such conflicts . Salazar advocated plans to `` remove revenue collectors away from the leasing and policing functions of the MMS . '' He then wants to create two bureaus within the MMS . One would be responsible for creating energy resources -- including oil and gas -- in the outer continental shelf . It would issue leases and collect royalties . The other would act as the policing arm of the agency , carrying out inspections and enforcing regulations . ` Misconduct , management and spills ' `` MMS used to stand for Minerals Management Service . It now stands for misconduct , management and spills , '' said Rep. Edward Markey , D-Massachusetts , during the House hearing Wednesday . A report released this week from the inspector general 's office at the Interior Department revealed federal inspectors overseeing oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico accepted meals and tickets to sporting events from companies they monitored . The report said all the events detailed in it occurred before 2007 . In one case , an inspector in the MMS office in Lake Charles , Louisiana , conducted inspections of four offshore platforms while negotiating a job with the company , the report said . Others let oil and gas company workers fill out their inspection forms in pencil , with the inspectors writing over those entries in ink before turning them in . The report also alleged employees at the same office received tickets to 2005 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl football game from an offshore production company . The report also includes a confidential source informing investigators that a MMS inspector abused drugs , including crystal meth . In 2008 , during the waning months of the Bush administration , Earl Devaney , then the Interior Department 's inspector general , issued a report condemning the behavior of some of the agency 's employees . `` The single-most serious problem our investigations revealed is a pervasive culture of exclusivity , exempt from the rules that govern all other employees of the federal government , '' the report said . The report said , between 2002 and 2006 , some of the staff received gifts from oil and gas companies with whom they were conducting business . Some of the more salacious charges in the report included substance abuse and sexual relationships with industry contacts . ` The revolving door ' Meanwhile , Sen. Bill Nelson , D-Florida , focused on the `` revolving door '' between industry and government . The `` revolving door '' refers to people who work in areas such as the oil industry , move to a government agency such as the MMS and then return to the private sector . Nelson proposed legislation that would have federal oil industry regulators wait at least two years after leaving government service before going to work for companies they helped regulate . Among other things , the bill would bar regulators from accepting gifts from oil companies . It also would require regulators to divest themselves of any stock they may currently hold in oil companies , and prohibit them from part-time employment in the industry . It is time , Nelson said Wednesday on the Senate floor , to `` stop this cozy , incestuous relationship between the oil industry and the regulators . '' CNN 's Drew Griffin , Alan Silverleib , Manav Tanneeru and CNNMoney.com 's Annalyn Censky contributed to this report . | Minerals Management Service has a troubled history , government reports say . Report : Inspectors got meals , tickets to sports events from companies they monitored . Interior Department chief Ken Salazar says he 's trying to change MMS culture , structure . MMS Director Elizabeth Birnbaum has been fired , sources say . | [[4407, 4486], [4477, 4503], [4920, 4930], [4957, 5072], [5637, 5658], [5661, 5720], [626, 667], [670, 738], [751, 819], [3458, 3541], [1148, 1234], [1186, 1234]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- 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 -LRB- was -RRB- ` 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 did n't fool me '' says private investigator Patrick Cote . `` What I really wanted to do -LRB- was -RRB- 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 . '' | Frank Dryman was convicted of killing Clarence Pellett on a roadside in 1951 . Dryman was entenced to life in prison , then paroled in 1969 , and disappeared . Pellett 's grandson worked Montana authorities and found him in Arizona . Dryman was arrested Tuesday and awaits extradition to Montana . | [[724, 806], [947, 979], [982, 988], [1018, 1045], [982, 988], [1048, 1068], [1100, 1136], [1139, 1215], [3232, 3262], [3232, 3238], [3267, 3319]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The word compromise is never music to the ears of passionate advocates for a cause . This is especially true for advocates of overturning the military 's `` do n't ask , do n't tell '' law , a law that was supposed to be a suitable compromise itself in 1993 . But when idealism collides with political reality , risk avoidance and workable solutions become the goal . The deal that was reached on DADT this week between the White House , the Pentagon , gay rights groups -LRB- including my own -RRB- , and pro-repeal champions on Capitol Hill is that workable solution and will get us where we need to go . More than 14,000 proudly serving men and women have been abruptly fired from the military pursuant to the DADT law , and many more have voluntarily left the military because of the burden of serving under this unnecessary restriction . The DADT law prevents our armed forces from being able to recruit and retain troops from the largest possible pool of talent , and it is a stain on the integrity of our nation . We can not afford to wait until next year to lock in full legislative repeal . Our country needs this now . The risks of waiting until after the midterm elections to address DADT legislatively were simply too great . It is possible that the pro-repeal majority could lose seats in November , and could even lose control of one chamber of Congress . If it passes , this deal will get the looming legislative battle over with . It will also free up the Pentagon to implement the recommendations of its Comprehensive Review Working Group on DADT when it finally releases its road map for a smooth transition in December . The Pentagon and the president will not have to return to Congress for permission on implementing repeal -- the legislation hammered out in this week 's agreement will already have authorized the change . This deal is not perfect , but unlike the 1993 DADT law , which codified a de facto gay ban in the military , this new legislation would firmly establish the mechanisms for ending the gay ban once and for all . More importantly , it would do so in a way that has achieved coveted Pentagon support -- a critical requirement for any DADT repeal legislation . But there were three concessions that repeal supporters reluctantly agreed to in order to pick up White House and Pentagon support . These concessions , however , do not compromise the goal of full legislative repeal of DADT . The first is an option that the progressive community had already resigned itself to : delayed implementation . While my organization has long argued that including a delay provision would be the only politically viable way to secure legislative repeal soon , this model for language only recently caught on in the rest of the pro-repeal community . This part of the deal was a given . The second concession was allowing the president , the Secretary of Defense , and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to decide together the date on which the new law , once passed , would actually take effect . The three are already public supporters of repeal and can be trusted to act in good faith . They may not certify the implementation plan as quickly as some repeal advocates would like -LRB- some have unrealistically suggested a matter of days or weeks after the working group issues its report -RRB- , but I believe that they will within a reasonable amount of time . After all , even the commandant of the Marine Corps , Gen. James Conway -- the staunchest opponent of this policy change -- testified before the House Armed Services Committee earlier this year that if this change became inevitable , even he would recommend making the change as swiftly as possible just to get it over with . The third and final concession -- and the most controversial -- was the removal of the affirmative non-discrimination provision from the legislative language . This provision would have legally prevented the Department of Defense from ever engaging in discriminatory practices towards gay and lesbian troops again . Although I am not convinced this was necessary to pick up any additional support for repeal , in light of concessions that were already in the works , it is important to keep in mind that statutory non-discrimination language would have been above and beyond what other minority groups have been given through military personnel policy legislation . An administrative or regulatory non-discrimination policy , such as that accorded women and African-Americans , will be more than sufficient to ensure that lesbian , gay and bisexual service members are protected from discriminatory practices or policies . Even if this deal makes it over its biggest hurdles this week -- a Senate Armed Services Committee vote and a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives -- there will still be much work ahead . The president and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates must be pressed to ensure that the Pentagon 's working group does not get off track , as shamefully did happen with the Military Working Group on DADT in 1993 . And the president should strongly consider creating a civilian oversight and advisory group to help make a smooth transition to a post-DADT military , as was done for ensuring smooth policy changes on women through the creation of the Defense Advisory Commission on Women in the Services . President Obama recently revived this commission for women , and it would behoove the administration to create a similar commission for this policy change . If this legislation clears these two major hurdles this week , it will undoubtedly be the final nail in the coffin of the outdated and onerous DADT law . This policy change is the best thing for our country and for our military , and it should be supported . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Alex Nicholson . | More than 14,000 troops fired because of `` do n't ask , do n't tell , '' says Alexander Nicholson . Deal on DADT between White House , Pentagon , gay rights groups , is good , says Nicholson . New legislation would firmly establish the mechanisms for ending gay ban , he says . Nicholson : Most importantly , it would do so with coveted Pentagon support . | [[398, 614], [1906, 1926], [1985, 2085], [2120, 2128], [2134, 2171]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Shots fired at a congressman 's campaign headquarters . Windows smashed at Democratic offices across the country . A coffin placed on a lawmaker 's lawn . Hate-filled voice mail messages left on members of Congress ' phone lines . Those are just some of the incidents reported since the House passed historic health care reform legislation Sunday -- a bill that became the law of the land . The issue has unleashed a deep-seated anger from those worried about a government takeover of health care , and what they deem as the process being `` rammed through '' Congress . James Leach , with the National Endowment for the Humanities , said that while many of the acts may be protected under First Amendment rights , `` that does n't mean that they 're morally justified . '' `` And we have to think of ourselves as , ` what kind of people are we ? ' '' Leach said . `` Are we one people working together with rival thoughts , or are we enemies within ? And I think there 's something that 's been let loose in American politics that has to be thought about . '' That anger was visible in unruly protests by health care activists at the Capitol over the weekend . Republican House members encouraged protesters outside and inside the House gallery , some of whom carried messages like `` Vote no or else '' or `` If Brown wo n't stop it , a Browning will '' -- a reference to newly elected Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown accompanied by a silhouette of a pistol . But the anger has boiled over into physical and verbal threats . Windows have been smashed at Democratic offices in at least three states , and federal agents are investigating whether a cut gas line at the home of a Virginia congressman 's brother was related to the lawmaker 's yes vote . Republicans have the right to be angry over the Democrat 's health care bill , but `` resorting to violent measures is exactly the wrong way to send a message , '' Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele said Thursday night . Rep. Anthony Weiner , D-New York , confirmed Thursday that his district office in Queens received an envelope containing white powder and a threatening letter . Later Thursday , Weiner told CNN that initial tests indicated the powder was not a biological agent , but that he still was awaiting final word from the New York Police Department . Workers at the office turned over their clothes for testing and were given protective suits before being allowed to go home a few hours later , Weiner said . The FBI and other law enforcement agencies are now looking into the threats , and at least 10 House Democrats have been given extra security . The voice mail has been vicious toward Michigan 's Bart Stupak , who switched his vote to seal the deal for the bill . He has released one of the voice mails . Listen to the voice mail . `` Stupak , you are a lowlife , baby-murdering scumbag , pile of steaming crap . You 're a cowardly punk , Stupak , that 's what you are . You and your family are scum , '' an unidentified caller said . `` That 's what you are , Stupak . You are a piece of crap . '' `` Go to hell , you piece of -LSB- expletive deleted -RSB- '' another caller said . Read more about Stupak 's political future . On Sunday , Democratic Rep. Russ Carnahan of Missouri had a coffin placed on his lawn , said his spokeswoman , Sarah Howard . She said Tea Party protesters at his office in St. Louis had a coffin with them and later brought it to his house . The coffin was later removed , she said . Democratic congressional leaders have demanded Republicans join them in condemning a spate of threats and vandalism that has followed Sunday 's vote on the health care system overhaul . The top Republican in the House , Minority Leader John Boehner , condemned the threats and vandalism , telling reporters Thursday that it `` should not be part of a political debate . '' `` There are ways for people to channel their anger , and they should do it in a constructive way , '' he said . Liz Mair , a Republican consultant , said protesters `` are unfortunately crossing a line . '' `` When we 're talking about violence , vandalism , threats , that crosses a legal line , in addition to being in plain old bad taste , '' Mair said . `` And I think that there 's a lot that is in plain old bad taste that is going on . '' Democrats are n't the only ones being targeted . Rep. Eric Cantor , the No. 2 Republican in the House of Representatives , said Thursday that a bullet had been fired through a window at his campaign office in Richmond , Virginia . Watch Cantor warn against Democrats `` fanning flames '' A Richmond police spokeswoman confirmed to CNN that a bullet was fired at the congressman 's office . `` We are investigating the circumstance surrounding it , '' spokeswoman Karla Peters said . Cantor also said that he had received threatening messages but that he would not publicly release the messages out of concern that doing so would only incite further violence . He also accused Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine and Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland -- a member of the Democratic House leadership -- of `` fanning the flames '' of violence by using threats that have been made against Democratic members `` as political weapons . '' iReport : ` Violent Threats after the Healthcare Signing ' `` Enough is enough , '' Cantor said . `` It has to stop . '' Democratic National Committee spokesman Brad Woodhouse hit back against Cantor 's claims . `` We disagree with the charge made by Rep. Cantor today that Democrats are using acts of violence for political gain , '' he said . `` Let 's be clear : Calling on Republican leaders who have contributed in part to this anger by wildly mischaracterizing the substance and motives of health reform to condemn these acts is entirely appropriate . '' Another Republican -- Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite of Florida -- said in a news release Thursday that she received what appeared to be a death threat on her district office 's voice mail . `` Just wan na let you know I have 27 people that are going to make sure that this b **** does not live to see her next term . Goodbye , '' the voice mail said , according to the release . Brown-Waite said she contacted both the Capitol Police and the Hernando County sheriff , and they are `` looking into the matter and subpoenaing telephone records . '' At least one of the threats aimed at lawmakers appears to be racially based . House Democratic Majority Whip James Clyburn , who is African-American , said he has received a fax in his office with a picture of a noose drawn on it and had threatening telephone calls at his home . `` We 're giving aid and comfort to these people , and this stuff gets ratcheted up , '' Clyburn told CNN . `` We in this Congress have got to come together in a bipartisan way and tamp this foolishness down . It does n't make sense . That 's not what a democracy is all about . '' Democratic officials and liberal Web sites are also upset that Sarah Palin used an image of crosshairs in a Facebook post this week listing 20 vulnerable Democrats who voted for the legislation . She plans to target them this election year with money from her political action committee . Read more about Palin 's targeting effort . Palin 's team is fighting claims that she is encouraging threats of violence . One House member mentioned her Facebook posting during a Wednesday meeting on safety concerns , a Democratic source told CNN 's Dana Bash . Mention of the map brought audible groans to the room , the source said . An adviser to Palin responded by pointing to several instances in which the former Alaska governor has urged supporters to focus their energies on civil debate and action at the ballot box , not extremist activities . CNN 's Deirdre Walsh , Dana Bash , Peter Hamby , Ed Hornick , Lesa Jansen and Tom Cohen contributed to this report . | GOP Rep. Cantor says Dems have inflamed violence by using threats against them . DNC spokesman denies that `` Democrats are using acts of violence for political gain '' House Democrats have reported threats , other incidents . `` Violence and threats are unacceptable , '' House Minority Leader John Boehner says . | [[1495, 1555], [4610, 4640], [4954, 4961], [4967, 5012], [5169, 5222], [5206, 5271], [5531, 5561], [5420, 5510], [5568, 5628], [3533, 3648], [5206, 5271], [3719, 3750], [3784, 3819]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Minerals Management Service Director Elizabeth Birnbaum resigned Thursday as head of the Interior Department 's scandal-plagued Minerals Management Service , the department 's chief said . Two sources told CNN that Birnbaum had been fired . The Minerals Management Service -LRB- MMS -RRB- is involved in federal oversight of offshore oil drilling . Birnbaum 's resignation letter cast her decision to leave as a consequence of a decision to reorganize the agency following April 's explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico . The explosion resulted in a massive oil spill that well owner BP and federal authorities are still trying to cap . `` As you move forward with the reorganization of Minerals Management Service , you will be requiring ... new leaders , '' Birnbaum wrote in a letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar . President Barack Obama said Thursday that he did n't know whether Birnbaum had been fired or chose to resign on her own . Speaking before a House subcommittee , Salazar insisted Birnbaum had resigned `` on her own terms and own volition . '' She `` is a strong and very effective person who ... helped us break through the very difficult things which we have a lot more work to do , '' Salazar said . `` She helped us with addressing a very broken system . And all I can really -LSB- say -RSB- is that she is a good public servant . '' Birnbaum , a former high level staffer on Capitol Hill , became head of the MMS in July 2009 . A recently released federal report highlighted what many observers have characterized as widespread corruption at the agency . Among other things , the report , issued by the Interior Department 's inspector general , revealed that federal inspectors overseeing oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico accepted meals and tickets to sporting events from companies they monitored . In one case , an inspector in the MMS office in Lake Charles , Louisiana , conducted inspections of four offshore platforms while negotiating a job with the company , the report stated . The Lake Charles investigation was launched shortly after another scandal emerged from within the MMS . A September 2008 inspector general 's report found regulators in the agency 's Colorado office received improper gifts from energy industry representatives and engaged in illegal drug use and inappropriate sexual relations with them . Salazar recently called the allegations of MMS corruption `` evidence of the cozy relationship between some elements of -LSB- the agency -RSB- and the oil and gas industry . '' He pledged to follow through with the Interior Department inspector general 's recommendations , `` including taking any and all appropriate personnel actions including termination , discipline and referrals of any wrongdoing for criminal prosecution . '' MMS collected nearly $ 10 billion in royalties from the energy and mining industries in 2009 . Salazar recently announced that he was splitting up the agency to separate its energy development , enforcement and revenue collection divisions , saying they have `` conflicting missions '' that needed to be separated . The associate director for the agency 's Offshore Minerals Management Program also is leaving at the end of May , a month earlier than planned , in the wake of the Gulf spill . That official , Chris Oynes , launched the investigation that resulted in former New Orleans , Louisiana , supervisor Donald Howard 's firing in 2007 . Howard later pleaded guilty after being accused of failing to report gifts valued at more than $ 6,600 from an offshore drilling contractor . As part of the growing push to crack down on the MMS , Sen. Bill Nelson , D-Florida , introduced legislation Wednesday requiring federal oil industry regulators to wait at least two years after leaving government service before going to work for companies they helped regulate . The bill also would bar regulators from accepting gifts from oil companies , would require regulators to divest themselves of any stock they may currently hold in oil companies , and would prohibit regulators from part-time employment in the industry . | Obama says he does n't know if Elizabeth Birnbaum was fired or resigned on her own . Interior secretary says the MMS Service director resigned ; sources say she was fired . Interior Department report cited inappropriate relationship between inspectors , oil industry . Legislation has been introduced in part to help crack down on the MMS . | [[880, 1001], [922, 1001], [0, 26], [86, 185], [219, 270], [240, 270], [1511, 1545]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- In a scene from NBC 's `` Parenthood , '' two parents are attempting to get their 8-year-old son ready for school . The child insists on wearing a pirate costume to class , again . His father asks him to take it off so he wo n't get teased . His mother says it 's OK , mainly so she can get him out the door on time . It could be a scene from any prime-time comedy . But its context in `` Parenthood '' is unusual . The 8-year-old boy , the son of main characters Adam and Kristina Braverman , has been diagnosed with Asperger 's syndrome , an autism spectrum disorder . What is Asperger 's syndrome ? Perhaps because tackling a sensitive issue such as living with a child with special needs can take a deft touch from the writers , producers and actors , a storyline dealing with autism spectrum disorders is n't something that 's been portrayed often in Hollywood . The most recent regular prime-time character with Asperger 's was Jerry Espenson on ABC 's `` Boston Legal . '' The character 's run lasted from 2005 until the show ended in 2008 . Another ABC show , `` Grey 's Anatomy , '' introduced a short term character during the 2008-2009 seasons . Dr. Virginia Dixon appeared in a three-episode arc . `` Parenthood '' is one of the few shows that have included a regular character with Asperger 's from the beginning . The show has gotten good reviews in general and favorable comments from people affected by the disorder . One CNN.com reader named Dani , who has an 8-year-old with Asperger 's , wrote , `` Overall I think it 's been really true to the behavior our Aspie kids display -- which is often confused for being naughty or a lack of discipline . Thanks for doing your homework NBC ! '' Because the show has received good reviews and positive feedback from families affected by the disorder , it may seem apparent that including a character with Asperger 's was a good move . Executive Producer Jason Katims says it was n't so clear at the beginning . `` I think there were moments everybody had of whether to do it , including myself , '' he said . `` I felt like it was a big thing to take on . It 's a very personal thing to me . '' He 's not exaggerating . He has a son with the disorder , and though he had an intimate knowledge of dealing with Asperger 's , he sought out experts to help shape the characters and the stories . `` When I decided to take this on , I felt an enormous responsibility to make this as real as possible , '' he says . The show consults with psychologists , teachers and other parents `` to make the depiction of both this character and his parents as accurate as possible . '' A behavioral therapist consultant works with Max Burkholder , the actor who plays Max Braverman , and with Monica Potter and Peter Krause , the actors who play Max 's parents , Kristina and Adam Braverman . The consultant also works with other cast members whose characters interact with Max and with the show 's directors . NBC has been very supportive , Katims adds . He said there was a conversation with the network , not about whether to introduce the storyline , but how quickly . Peter Bell , the executive vice president of Autism Speaks , the country 's largest autism science and advocacy organization , said his group had n't worked with `` Parenthood '' on scripts , but Bell was on set recently to be a part of the May 18th episode . He had a chance to talk with the actors and production staff . Bell called the cast and crew `` thirsty '' for information about Asperger 's and autism . `` I was really struck by how wonderful they all were and how interested in the topic they are . '' The work the cast and crew has put into the show seems to have drawn the audience 's interest . The day after the episode in which Max was diagnosed , Asperger 's was one of the most searched subjects on Google . That pleased Katims . He says a character like Max can help take the mystery out of Asperger 's , which is important for people who are dealing with the disorder . Not everyone has been pleased with `` Parenthood 's '' treatment of autism . CherieT commented on CNN 's Marquee blog that the show `` misses the mark sometimes on Asperger 's traits . '' She says while she 's glad to see a show trying , `` Parenthood '' gets more things wrong than right . Blogher.com writer Angela Timpone , the owner of a business that supports families with autism and the mother of a boy who was diagnosed with autism five years ago , has taken issue with how the writers are handling Max 's education . In an early episode , Adam and Kristina meet with a teacher at Max 's public school , who says Max does n't fit there . Max is almost immediately moved to a private school . In her post , Timpone notes laws require public schools to provide an education to all students , even if the schools must make accommodations for special needs students . She said the writers could have drawn some good stories from showing Kristina and Adam advocating for Max in the public school . `` I know the drama of it all was captivating . There 's also drama in the fact -LSB- parents of autistic kids -RSB- have trouble with the public school system , '' she said . She also thinks the show has n't delved deeply enough into the financial and emotional strains an autism diagnosis can put on a family . She understands the show can only do so much , but `` I wish maybe they had dialogue about how this costs so much money , '' and how making changes in a child 's care and education can change the family dynamic . Katims expected criticism . `` I would be critical because I know what it 's like , '' he says . `` You want to be truthful to the situation , but you 're also storytellers . '' Timpone says she enjoys the show , and through her Facebook page , she 's heard from other moms of autistic children who liked the depiction of what Kristina Braverman goes through . She says it 's great more people are hearing about autism , `` but it 's not the regular autism family story . '' | NBC 's `` Parenthood '' portrays a family in which the son has Asperger 's syndrome . Autism in its various types is n't often depicted in prime-time television . Producers use consultants to keep the storyline as accurate as possible . The show has faced some criticism over lack of realism . | [[1478, 1482], [1489, 1523], [1830, 1896], [775, 886]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Actor Gary Coleman is in critical condition in a Provo , Utah , hospital , a hospital spokeswoman said Thursday . Janet Frank , the spokeswoman for Utah Valley Regional Medical Center , confirmed that Coleman , 42 , was being treated there after being admitted on Wednesday . Frank would not release any other information . Calls to Coleman 's publicist were not immediately returned . Coleman is best known as the wisecracking youngster Arnold Drummond on TV 's `` Diff ` rent Strokes '' from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s . The former child actor was hospitalized briefly three months ago after suffering a seizure while being interviewed on a TV show in Los Angeles , California . CNN 's Brittany Kaplan contributed to this report . | Gary Coleman 's condition is critical , hospital says . Hospital wo n't give details on his illness . Child actor is best known for `` Diff ` rent Strokes '' | [[0, 15], [19, 91]] |
-LRB- CNET -RRB- -- Investigators for the Department of Justice began asking questions about Apple 's business practices involving digital music at least three weeks ago , multiple music industry sources told CNET . DOJ investigators have interviewed numerous executives at record companies and digital music stores and according to those with knowledge of the discussions , it is clear that investigators are interested in learning whether Apple has employed anticompetitive tactics . The sources said that the department 's inquiry is just in a fact-finding stage and that there is nothing to indicate investigators have found any wrongdoing or would file a complaint against Apple . Representatives from Apple and the Justice Department did not respond to interview requests . This is what we know about the investigation so far . • DOJ investigators have interviewed executives from the four major music labels and several digital music retailers about how Apple wields its iTunes influence . • Part of what investigators are interested in is whether Apple used its market dominance to discourage two of the top record companies from participating in a special Amazon music promotion called the `` MP3 Daily Deal . '' • Apple has a history of throwing its weight around the music sector . Apple 's iTunes accounts for 70 percent of all digital song sales and wields huge power . Apple has often used that clout to dictate terms to suppliers -- that is , the major labels . Here are just a few examples : The major labels wanted variable pricing on songs and albums and for years Apple resisted . In 2005 , Apple CEO Steve Jobs said the top recording companies were `` getting greedy `` after music execs considered a music price hike . Last year , Apple finally gave the labels some additional control over song pricing . The big record companies wanted the ability to sell albums that were unbundled , meaning they wanted Apple to sell hot LPs as a full package and refrain from selling individual songs from these works . Again , on this issue Apple has n't given much ground . To iTunes ' fans , Apple was a freedom fighter . The perception was that Apple was standing up for consumers . Apple 's refusal to force customers to buy full albums saved them from having to shell out money for songs they did n't want . To them , Apple 's reluctance to raise the 99 cent song price was another way the company kept music costs down . And the government never made a peep about these practices . Deal or no deal ? But what may not seem as consumer-friendly is the accusation that Apple tried to squash a competitor 's effort to offer discounted music . Amazon 's `` MP3 Daily Deal , '' is a promotion that involves slashing prices on specific music titles and pushing them heavily on the day of their release . Amazon sometimes negotiated to get exclusive access to the music for a period of time , and the labels and their artists would often support the Daily Deal by promoting it on their Web sites . Apple managers informed the labels that any music included in Amazon 's promotion would receive no promotion at iTunes , music industry sources told CNET in April . In one case , Apple complained to Sony Music Entertainment after seeing material from Alicia Keys touted as part of the Daily Deal . In March , Ed Christman , from Billboard magazine , broke the news about Apple 's attempts to make the labels `` rethink '' their support for the Daily Deal . He wrote that Apple contacted EMI executives with similar gripes about such albums as Corinne Bailey Rae 's `` The Sea , '' Lady Antebellum 's `` Need You Now , '' and Ke $ ha 's `` Animal . '' When it comes to tracing iTunes ' potential DOJ troubles , one has to start with Apple 's success . During the last decade , with its iPod digital music players and iTunes music store , the company completely remade the way people across the globe listen to , store , and buy music . Apple 's iTunes store accounted for 28 percent of all music purchased by U.S. consumers in the first quarter of this year , research firm NPD Group said Wednesday . Two years ago during the same period , iTunes ' market share was 19 percent . Companies that dominate a market as much as Apple rules digital music often are accused of anti-trust violations . When companies are up against similar-sized competitors , then aggressive tactics are seen as just good business . But the same practices from players holding hefty market share can raise eyebrows in a hurry . One other thing . During the same period that Apple saw double-digit growth , Amazon also was grabbing greater market share in digital music . Amazon 's share grew from 6.8 percent in the first half of 2008 to 11.8 percent in the first quarter of 2010 . What DOJ investigators must be asking now is how much did the `` Daily Deal '' help propel that growth and did any of Apple 's actions slow it down ? © 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. . All rights reserved . CNET , CNET.com and the CNET logo are registered trademarks of CBS Interactive Inc. . Used by permission . | Department . of Justice is asking questions about Apple 's business practices . Investigators want to know whether Apple has employed anticompetitive tactics . Apple 's iTunes accounts for 70 percent of all digital song sales . | [[0, 16], [64, 120], [392, 405], [421, 485], [997, 1187], [1293, 1382]] |
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