CATIEBUG RACE RAISES $20,000.(CAPITAL REGION)

Byline: KATHLEEN DOOLEY Staff writer -

Almost 500 participants joined Sunday's fourth annual Clifton Park Catiebug for a Cure 5K Race, Walk and Kids Fun Run.

The race raised $20,000 for the Catie Hoch Foundation to help kids take a break from cancer and for use in pediatric research.

Gina Peca formed the foundation with her daughter, Catie Hoch, before the 9-year-old girl died from neuroblastoma in May 2000.

``It was successful and both families and individuals turned out to support us,'' she said.

Peca continues the fight against pediatric cancer. In September, she was among 300 people touched by childhood cancer who traveled to …

FOWL STUFF DUCK STAMPS A HELPFUL INVESTMENT IN SAVING OUR WATERFOWL POPUL ATIONS.(Sports)

Byline: Dick Nelson Outdoors correspondent

The plight of America's waterfowl is older then most waterfowl hunters. The once-enormous populations of ducks and geese had fallen on hard times back in 1934.

Actually, the decline began decades earlier then that, as millions of acres of prime waterfowl habitat were drained for agriculture. The huge flocks steadily dwindled, and their numbers were further reduced by indiscriminate shooting and market hunting. Even nature joined the onslaught when the mid-continent was ravaged by a drought of historic proportions.

But 1934 also marked the dawn of a new era for the nation's waterfowl. In July of that year, Congress created a revenue-raising device that was popularly known as the Federal "Duck Stamp."

Every waterfowl hunter 16 years of age or older was required to purchase a stamp annually. Recognizing the stamp's value for wildlife and as a collector's item, a growing number of non-hunting conservationists and stamp collectors also began to buy them. To date, more than 300 million "Duck Stamp" dollars had gone to preserve some 3.5 million acres of precious wetland habitat - habitat that formed the backbone of the world's greatest system of waterfowl refuges.

Before the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (aided by Duck Stamp revenues) stemmed the alarming …

Rangers 8, Mariners 1

Texas @ Seattle @

ab r h bi @ ab r h bi

Borbon cf 4 1 2 0 Suzuki rf 3 0 1 1

Gentry cf 1 0 1 0 Figgins 2b 3 0 1 0

Young 3b 2 0 0 1 Bradley lf 2 0 0 0

Brown 3b 2 0 0 0 Langerhans lf 2 0 0 0

Hamilton lf 3 1 1 2 Griffey Jr. dh 4 0 0 0

Murphy …

Lawyer: Spears Files Visitation Motion

LOS ANGELES - Britney Spears filed an emergency court motion seeking to expand visitation rights with her children, the lawyer for ex-husband Kevin Federline said Wednesday.

Federline lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan told The Associated Press that he received the motion Wednesday and will be in court Thursday.

Kaplan did not elaborate on what Spears was seeking, but criticized the motion, pointing out that the judge's decision was barely a week old.

"I don't see any emergency or any new facts" in the case, Kaplan said in a telephone interview. "We are going to oppose this."

Kaplan said Federline would not be in court.

"When there is something of …

Globus Project Expands Partnership With Microsoft; Corporation Supports Development of Open-Source Grid Software Hailed as Next Step in Evolution of Internet.

Byline: Argonne National Laboratory

ARGONNE, Ill., Feb. 20 (AScribe Newswire) -- The Globus ProjectTM today announced a significant expansion of its partnership with Microsoft to extend the capabilities of Globus ToolkitTM software, the emerging foundation for Grid computing. Microsoft will provide both funding and in-kind support totaling $1 million for developing a version of the toolkit for Windows XP, as well as for Globus Toolkit support of the company's .NET initiative.

Hailed by many in both the research and business communities as the next step in the evolution of the Internet, Grid computing lets users share and harness resources within and across organizations. The Globus Toolkit has already transformed the way science is conducted, …

Characterization of three new serous epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines.(Research article)

Authors: V�ronique Ouellet (equal contributor) [1]; Magdalena Zietarska (equal contributor) [1]; Lise Portelance [1]; Julie Lafontaine [1]; Jason Madore [1]; Marie-Line Puiffe [1]; Suzanna L Arcand [2]; Zhen Shen [2]; Jos�e H�bert [3,4]; Patricia N Tonin [2,5,6]; Diane M Provencher [1,4,7]; Anne-Marie Mes-Masson (corresponding author) [1,4]

Background

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is often described as the silent killer or the disease that whispers mainly due to absence of symptoms. This combined with the lack of specific/sensitive markers and/or techniques of screening leads to the diagnosis at late stages of the disease in more than 70% of patients. Unfortunately, the five year survival rate at this point of the disease is less than 30% [1]. Although EOC is not the most prevalent of cancers, it accounts for the highest number of deaths from a gynecologic malignancy.

EOC is a complex disease stratified according to histopathological and morphological criteria. The majority of EOCs are thought to arise from the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) that is derived from the coelomic epithelium. OSE is composed of multipotent cells that can differentiate and give rise to tumors of different histopathology types [1, 2]. The latter are defined by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) [3] and represent serous, endometrioid, mucinous, clear cell, de Brenner, mixed and undifferentiated subtypes. Serous type tumors are the most common subtype of EOC identified in more than 50% of cases. EOC tumors are graded according to the degree of differentiation of tumor cells which can vary from well (grade 1), moderately (grade 2) or poorly (grade 3) differentiated cells. Finally, EOC tumors are also classified according to the spread of the disease varying from stage I when tumors are confined to the ovaries to stage IV when distant metastases are observed.

Over the past years several laboratories, including ours [4], have established and characterized cell lines derived from EOC tumors. However, the majority of these EOC cell lines were established from patients ascites [4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29] and only few were derived from solid tumors [4, 12, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37]. Moreover, EOC cell lines have rarely been derived from chemotherapy-naive patients while others were established following viral transformation (SV40 Large T antigen) (such as NMSO cell line) [38, 39] or xenograft passage in immunocompromised mice (such as the HEY, HO-8910PM, and AMOC-2 cell lines) [10, 40, 41]. In addition, few cell lines derived from serous EOC tumors are available even though this subtype represents the most frequently occurring histopathology subtype (such as the TOV-81D, FU-OV-1, and HOC1-7 cell lines) [4, 10, 11, 33, 35].

In this study, we describe three new serous EOC cell lines that were derived in our laboratory from either solid tumors or ascites of two chemotherapy-na�ve patients. This is the first report characterizing cell lines derived from both solid tumor and ascites of the same patient. Moreover, the molecular and growth characteristics of the three cell lines present some unique features thereby providing the research community with new tools in the study of different aspects of serous EOC.

Methods

Sample and Patient data

Tumor samples were collected and banked following surgeries performed within the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at the Centre hospitalier de l'Universit� de Montr�al (H�pital Notre-Dame). The study was approved by the CHUM institutional ethics committee and written consent was obtained from patients prior to sample collection. Stage was determined at the time of surgery. Histopathology and tumor grade were assigned by a pathologist according to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) criteria [3].

Establishment of the cell lines and culture conditions

All primary cultures and cell lines were cultured in OSE medium (Wisent, Qc, Canada) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 2.5 [mu]g/ml amphotericin B and 50 [mu]g/ml gentamicin. Cells were incubated in 5% CO

2 and 5% O2 .

The TOV-1946 cell line was established using the previously described scrape method on tumor tissue from patient 1946 [42, 43]. Briefly, tumor tissue was gently scraped into a 100 mm petri dish containing supplemented OSE medium. TOV-1946 cells were maintained in the same petri dish for the first 40 days and medium was replaced weekly. After 40 days, 80% confluence was attained and TOV-1946 cells were divided into two petri dishes. They were then divided in a proportion of 2:3 once a week for the first 15 passages and 1:2 twice a week thereafter until passage 70. Subsequently, cells were maintained and divided in a proportion of 1:5 twice a week.

The OV-1946 cell line was established from a mass of cells from the ascites of patient 1946. The mass was macro-dissected into small pieces, which were kept in a 100 mm petri dish for 27 days at which point adherent cells reached 80% confluence. Pieces of tissue were then discarded. Cells were divided in a proportion of 2:3 every week for the first 15 passages and then 1:2 twice a week until passage 70. Cells were then maintained and divided in a proportion of 1:5 twice a week.

The TOV-2223 cell line was established from patient 2223 tumor tissue using the collagenase method. Briefly, tumor tissue was macro-dissected onto a 100 mm petri dish containing serum free OSE medium supplemented with 1000 U of collagenase (Sigma-Aldrich, ON, Canada). After 3-4 hours at 37[degrees]C, cells were resuspended into 8 ml of medium and the remaining tumor tissue pieces were discarded. The medium containing cells was then divided into four 60 mm petri dishes and 10% FBS was added. Cells were divided 1:2 once a week until passage 19 and then twice a week until passage 70. Subsequently, cells were maintained and divided in a proportion of 1:3 twice a week.

Antibodies

For immunohistochemistry and western blot analyses, the following antibodies were used: beta actin AC-15 (ab6276 from Abcam inc. MA, USA), p53 (D0-1) (sc-126 from Santa Cruz Biotechnology, CA, USA), anti-c-ErbB2/c-Neu (OP15, Calbiochem, ON, Canada), Keratin 19 Ab-1 (Ms198-P0, Lab Vision Corp., CA, USA), Keratin 7 Ab-2 (MS-1352-P0) and Keratin 8 Ab-4 (MS-997-P0, both from NeoMarker, Medicorp, Qc, Canada).

Immunohistochemistry

Formalin fixed paraffin embedded tumors were sectioned at 4 [mu]m and the slides were stained using the immunoperoxidase method. Briefly, tissue sections were heated at 60[degrees]C for 30 minutes, deparaffinized in toluene and rehydrated in an ethanol gradient. Slides were submerged in boiling citrate buffer (0.01 M citric acid adjusted to pH 6.0) and microwaved for 10 min to unmask antigens. A 3% H

2 O2 treatment was used to eliminate endogenous peroxidase activity. The sections were blocked with a protein blocking serum-free reagent (DakoCytomation Inc., ON, Canada) and incubated with different antibodies for 60 min at room temperature.

The optimal concentration for each primary antibody was determined by serial dilutions. Tissues were incubated with either a secondary biotinylated antibody (DakoCytomation Inc., ON, Canada) or a rabbit anti-goat biotin-conjugated antibody (1:300) (sc-2774, Santa Cruz Biotechnology, CA, USA) for 20 min followed by incubation with a streptavidin-peroxidase complex (DakoCytomation Inc., On, Canada) for 20 min at room temperature. Reaction products were developed using diaminobenzidine containing 0.3% H

2 O2 as a peroxidase substrate. Nuclei were counterstained with hematoxylin and all sections were observed by light microscopy at 400x magnification. Substitution of the primary antibody with phosphate buffered saline served as a negative control.

Growth rate

Growth rates were assessed as previously described [4]. On day 0, 1 x 10

5 cells were seeded onto 60 mm petri dishes. On day 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 the cells were trypsinized, resuspended in medium and counted using a hemacytometer. Each experiment was performed in triplicate for each harvest and repeated once. Saturation density was defined as the mean maximum number of cells at confluence counted from two independent experiments performed with triplicates and the doubling time was calculated according to the slope of the linear portion of the growth curve.

Anchorage independent growth in soft agarose and three-dimensional culture

Cell lines were assayed for their ability to grow in anchorage independent conditions by culturing 1 x 10

4 cells in agarose (0.33 g/100 ml OSE complete medium for the upper layer and 0.66 g/100 ml OSE complete medium for the base layer) [43]. Cells were cultured in soft agar for three weeks, colonies were photographed and these were used for counting. Two independent experiments performed in duplicate.

Cell lines were tested for their ability to form three-dimensional aggregates or spheroids as previously described [44, 45]. Briefly, 4000 cells were suspended in 15 [mu]l of OSE complete medium. The droplets of medium containing cells are then placed on the cover of non-coated plastic tissue culture plate. The cover is placed on a dish containing 10 ml of PBS to prevent dehydration of the droplets. The ability to form spheroids was assessed after four days.

Low serum growth

Tumor cell growth in low serum conditions was assessed by plating cells in six well plates in OSE medium supplemented of 1% FBS, 2.5 [mu]g/ml amphotericin B and 50 [mu]g/ml gentamicin and cultured for 21 days. The medium was changed every seven days. The experiments were performed in duplicate.

Wound-healing assay

Migration potential was …

JOHN A. MACHNICK.(CAPITAL REGION)

CLIFTON PARK -- John A. Machnick, 60, of Dunsbach Road, died Wednesday, July 3, 1996 in Ellis Hospital in Schenectady. Born in Green Island, he was the son of the late John and Dorothy Stebbins Machnick. He resided in the Halfmoon area for the past 39 years, and spent summers in his home in Newcomb. He was employed as a general shift supervisor at the Bendix Corp. in Green Island for 40 years. Mr. Machnick was an avid sportsman and had served as past President of the Snakehill Rod and Gun Club in Crescent, and was a member of the Newcomb Sportsman's Club, and the Kemshall Mountain Club in Long Lake. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie Ludwig Machnick of Green Island; four …

Germany scraps military conscription

BERLIN (AP) — Lawmakers in Germany's lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, have voted to formally end military conscription in a step that marks a historic change for the nation's post-World War II forces.

The reform is the most significant since the German military was founded in 1955. The country was completely disarmed following the Nazis' World War II defeat.

Lawmakers from …

Remy Shand

[Graph Not Transcribed]

Provide us with a gear list please - what's in your keyboard rig?

Hohner Clavinet

B3 with Leslies 122 & 145

Fender Rhodes models 73 and 88

Wurlitzer electric piano

Roland SH-1000 synthesizer

Roland string synthesizer

Realistic MG1 (as heard on "Take A Message")

Upright piano

Do you have a favourite keyboard instrument? One that you've wanted to own, have owned, or favour above others for writing, recording or live performance? Why this specific piece?

I use a Fender Rhodes model 88 for recording and a model 73 for live performances.

What prompted you to decide to play keys as …

Bilfinger Berger gets new orders in Germany.

(ADPnews) - Aug 19, 2010 - German construction company Bilfinger Berger (ETR:GBF) said today it had received two new orders in the German cities of Halle and Erfurt.

In Halle the company will renovate and expand two schools and an after-school care centre, Bilfinger Berger said. Once it is completed, the company will be …

ICELAND SPA OFFERS RELIEF AND RELAXATION.(TRAVEL)

Byline: LISA MARIE PANE Associated Press

GRINDAVIK, Iceland -- Mounds of lava rocks line a narrow passageway, leading from the parking lot to the front door, beckoning me to the misty, soothing waters of the Blue Lagoon spa.

I'd last visited this geothermal oasis in 1998, and three years later, I barely recognized the place.

After a $5 million renovation, it was cleaner, more modern and the entrance was open and spacious -- less of a dank cavern and offering more of the feel of an embracing solarium.

The Blue Lagoon came to be in the mid-1970s, when some communities on Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula -- in the southwestern part of the island -- sought to harness heat generated by the geothermal area.

So as a power plant hums away in the distance, travelers these days flock to …

NASA to astronauts: Rain delays likely for return

NASA warned space shuttle Discovery's astronauts Sunday to expect rain delays as they wrapped up their two-week mission and got ready to come home.

Discovery and its crew of seven were scheduled to land Monday morning at NASA's Florida spaceport.

Shuttle commander Alan Poindexter said Sunday that he enjoys spending extra time in orbit and doesn't mind if Discovery can't make it back to Earth until Tuesday.

Mission Control promised to keep monitoring the weather in case the forecast improved. In the worst case, Discovery could always aim for the backup landing site in Southern California on Tuesday.

Poindexter and his crew are returning …

Eriez Announces New Manufacturing Affiliate in India.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

Eriez Magnetics recently announced a new joint venture with McNally Bangalore Industry Ltd. (MBI), under which the manufacturing affiliate Eriez India MBI Ltd. will be established. Eriez will own 60% of the new venture, with the …

Cabot steps up presence at drug chains. (Cabot Laboratories Inc.)

NEW YORK - Cabot Laboratories Inc., long recognized as an authority on topical vitamin-based skin care products, has been reinvented and is stepping up its presence in chain drug stores and other mass market outlets.

Using its heritage of vitamin E formulation as a springboard, the supplier is poised to drive sales with an array of dermatologist tested, hypo-allergenic, safe, natural and effective skin treatments, makeup, bath packets and fragrances.

Major developments at Cabot are:

* Dramatic sell-through plans for its restaged Vitamin E line.

* The rollout of Vitamines, multivitamin facial moisture lotions formulated for five skin types. …

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AWARDS FLORIDA AND HAWAII LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICES FOR WORK COMBATING CHILD EXPLOITATION

MIAMI, May 19 -- The U.

S. Department of Justice's U.

S. Attorney's office for Southern District of Florida issued the following press release:

Attorney General Eric Holder today honored several Florida and Hawaii law enforcement offices for their leadership protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. The awards were presented at the 2011 National Strategy Conference on Combating Child Exploitation in San Jose, Calif.

Broward, Fla., Sheriff's Office; Miami-Dade Police Department; Miami Beach Police Department; the Honolulu Division of the FBI; the Miami Division of the FBI; the U.

S. Secret Service Miami office; and the U.

S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida were honored for their "Outstanding Overall Partnership Coalition" work in combating domestic sex trafficking of minors in South Florida.

Attorney General Eric Holder has made one of the Department of Justice's four key priorities the protection of those most vulnerable - children, the elderly, and victims of hate crimes, human trafficking and exploitation.

"Through their work in urban, rural and tribal communities - and through cutting-edge online efforts - these individuals are advancing bold, innovative and collaborative solutions to keep our children safe from all forms of exploitation and abuse," said Attorney General Holder. "By focusing on prevention and intervention, as well as proven enforcement and prosecution strategies, these award recipients are strengthening our ability to protect children in need and at risk, and to bring offenders to justice."

Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.

S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, commended the efforts of the prosecutors and law enforcement officers, stating "Investigating and prosecuting child exploitation cases is a difficult and resource-intensive endeavor. The team of prosecutors, agents, and officers honored today worked seamlessly together, sharing information and resources, across jurisdictional limits, to rescue minor victims and bring the sex traffickers to justice."

Through close partnerships, shared resources and tireless work, this group's efforts have resulted in the indictment of more than 16 cases, charging more than 25 defendants for domestic sex trafficking of minors. In 2010, the U.

S. Attorney's Office in Southern Florida had approximately five cases proceed to trial involving the sex trafficking of minors. Despite the many significant challenges faced by the prosecution teams, all defendants were found guilty.

Focused on protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation, the conference in San Jose is bringing together more than 1,000 investigators, agents and prosecutors from all levels of government to receive state-of-the-art instruction in investigative techniques, court room advocacy, digital forensics, behavioral profiling, victim advocacy and community outreach.

The conference is sponsored by the Department's Project Safe Childhood Initiative and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

Cream

Cream , the original "power trio," and perhaps the second most influential British group of the 1960s. MEMBERSHIP: Eric Clapton (real name, Eric Clapp), lead gtr., voc. (b. Rippley, Surrey, England, March 30, 1945); Jack Bruce, bs., kybd., har., voc. (b. Glasgow, Scotland, May 14, 1943); Peter "Ginger" Baker, drm., voc. (b. Lewisham, London, Aug. 19, 1939).

Cream was formed in June 1966 by lead guitarist Eric Clapton, bassist Jack Bruce, and drummer Peter "Ginger" Baker. Clapton had previously played with the Yardbirds and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, whereas Baker had played with Alexis Korner and Graham Bond, and Bruce with Bond, Mayall, and Manfred Mann. Signed almost immediately by Atlantic Records, Cream's first album, Fresh Cream, was issued in early 1967. Although the album contained little of the improvisation that characterized the group in performance, it included the British hit "I Feel Free," written by Bruce and lyricist Peter Brown, and Baker's "Toad," as well as Muddy Waters's "Rollin' and Tumblin'" and Skip James "I'm So Glad."

Undeniably more exciting in concert than on records, Cream soon completed enormously successful tours of Great Britain and the United States. Produced by Felix Pappalardi, Disraeli Gears established Cream's improvisational format. Rather that playing a song straight through, Clapton, Bruce, and Baker would set up the 748 basic "riff" to a song, then take off into individual improvisatory jams. The album consisted of standard blues fare plus original songs composed by Bruce and Clapton, often with Peter Brown, with Bruce handling most of the lead vocals. "Sunshine of Your Love," written by Clapton, Bruce, and Brown, was a moderate hit from the album, later to become a major hit when rereleased in the summer of 1968. Other outstanding cuts included "Strange Brew" (written by Clapton, Pappalardi, and his wife-to-be, Gail Collins), "Tales of Brave Ulysses," "Take It Back," and "S.W.L.A.B.R.," again by Bruce and Brown.

Wheels of Fire, produced by Felix Pappalardi, was a double-record set, one from the studio and one recorded live at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco. Among the extended live pieces were Robert Johnson's "Crossroads" (a major hit), Willie Dixon's "Spoonful," and "Toad," on which Baker soloed for more than ten minutes. Pappalardi played on the studio record, which contained Booker T. Jones's "Born Under a Bad Sign" as well as "Politician" and "White Room" (a near-smash hit), both written by Bruce and Brown. By mid-1968, strains within the group became increasingly evident and, coupled with the limited amount of mutually acceptable material, Cream announced their intention to disband. After a farewell tour of America in October and November and a final album, Goodbye (which included "Badge," written by Clapton and George Harrison), Cream made their final appearance at London's Royal Albert Hall on Nov. 26, 1968.

Although all three members of Cream demonstrated exceptional talent on their respective instruments, Jack Bruce was the real musical pioneer—he established the use of the repeated musical figure or ostinato (the so-called "heavy riff") on bass, around which he played lead lines, thus liberating the instrument from its strictly rhythmic role. Additional credit for Cream's success must be given to lyricist Peter Brown, who wrote many of the group's best remembered songs, often with Bruce. Ginger Baker instituted the long drum solo into rock and Eric Clapton unwittingly created the cult of the superstar lead guitarist. In openly acknowledging their debt to many obscure black American bluesmen (Robert Johnson, in particular), Cream helped inspire the blues revival of the late 1960s. As the first major rock group to utilize the power trio format, Cream established the viability of the three-man instrumental lineup. Cream was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

Almost immediately after Cream ended, Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker formed the "supergroup" Blind Faith with Traffic's Stevie Winwood (kybd.) and Family's Rick Grech (bs.). Completing one British and one American tour, the group recorded an interesting, if flawed, album. It included Winwood's "Sea of Joy" and "Can't Find My Way Home" and Clapton's "In the Presence of the Lord." Clashes between Winwood and Baker tore the group apart, and Blind Faith disbanded at the end of 1969. Clapton subsequently performed sessions work, formed Derek and the Dominoes, and pursued a spectacular solo career.

Jack Bruce, the odd-man-out in the formation of Blind Faith, briefly toured with keyboardist Mike Mandel, guitarist Larry Coryell, and drummer Mitch Mitchell before pursuing a solo career in conjunction with lyricist Peter Brown, recording two albums for Atco, including Songs for a Tailor, and two albums for RSO. (Material from these albums and 1978's unreleased Jet Set Jewel were issued on 1989's Willpower album.) Bruce also joined Tony Williams Lifetime with former Miles Davis drummer Tony Williams, organist Larry Young, and guitarist extraordinaire John McLaughlin for touring and the album Turn It Over. Peter Brown later formed Battered Ornaments (with Chris Spedding) and Piblokto!, and worked with British blues pioneer Graham Bond in Bond and Brown. He reunited with Bruce for 1989's A Question of Time.

Producer-bassist Felix Pappalardi, who produced the Youngblood's first two albums, was assigned by Atlantic Records to produce the N.Y group the Vagrants in 1968. Although recordings proved unsuccessful, Pappalardi was sufficiently impressed by the group's lead guitarist Leslie West to produce his debut solo album. In 1969, Pappalardi and West formed Mountain with keyboardist Steve Knight and drummer Corky Laing. They scored a major hit in 1970 with "Mississippi Queen," but disbanded in 1972. West and Laing then joined former Cream bassist Jack Bruce for West, Bruce, and Laing. That group broke up in 1973, and West and Pappalardi briefly reformed Mountain in 1974. Pappalardi later organized and produced the Japanese heavy-metal group Creation around 1975. On April 17, 1983, Felix Pappalardi was shot and killed by his wife Gail in their N.Y. apartment.

At the beginning of 1970, drummer Ginger Baker formed Ginger Baker's Air Force with Stevie Winwood, Rick Grech, Chris Wood, and a host of others. Recordings by the group were reissued in 1989. Baker later pursued an interest in African music, building a recording studio in Nigeria, which opened in January 1973, and recording with Fela Kuti. From late 1974 until 1976, he manned the Baker-Gurvitz Army with Gurvitz brothers Adrian and Paul. Baker was out of the limelight during the first half of the 1980s, having settled in Italy. He eventually relocated to Calif, and reemerged with Horses and Trees, later recording Middle Passage with former George Clinton/Talking Heads keyboardist Bernie Worrell and forming the hard-rock group Masters of Reality.

In addition to his solo albums, Jack Bruce recorded with a number of jazz artists during the 1970s, including Carla Bley and Mike Mantler, while playing sessions for Lou Reed, John McLaughlin, and Frank Zappa. In the early 1980s, he recorded B.L.T. and Truce with erstwhile Procol Harum lead guitarist Robin Trower. No Stopping Anytime, from 1989, compiled these recordings. Jack Bruce recorded A Question of Time for Epic in 1989 and Somethinels for Creative Music in 1993. In 1994, Ginger Baker recorded with Bill Frisell and Charlie Haden as the Ginger Baker Trio and formed BBM with Jack Bruce and Gary Moore for Around the Next Dream.

Discography

Fresh Cream (1967); Disraeli Gears (1967); Wheels of Fire (1968); Goodbye (1969); Live Cream, Vol. 1 (1970); Live Cream,Vol. 2 (1972); Heavy Cream (1973); Off the Top (1973). Blind Faith: Blind Faith (1969). Ginger Baker: Ginger Baker's Air Force (1970); Ginger Baker's Air Force-2 (1970); Strata-various (1972); Fela Ransome-Kuti and Africa 70 with Ginger Baker—Live! (1972); At His Best (1972); 11 Sides of Baker (1977); Horses and Trees (1986); Middle Passage (1989). Baker-Gurvitz Army: Baker-Gurvitz Army (1975); Elysian Encounters (1975); Hearts on Fire (1976). Masters of Reality: Masters of Reality (1990); Sunrise on the Sufferbus (1993). The Ginger Baker Trio: Going Back Home (1994). Jack Bruce: Songs for a Tailor (1969); Harmony Row (1971); At His Best (1972); Out of the Storm (1974); How's Tricks (1977); I've Always Wanted to Do This (1980); Things We Like (1988); A Question of Time (1989); Somethinels (1993); Monkjack (1996). Tony Williams's Lifetime (with Jack Bruce): Turn It Over (1970); Once in a Lifetime (1983). Mountain (Felix Pappalardi, Leslie West, Corky Laing): Mountain (1969); Mountain Climbing (1970); Nantucket Sleighride (1971); Flowers of Evil (1971); The Road Goes Ever On (1972); Turin Peaks (1974); Avalanche (1974); Why Dontcha (1972); Whatever Turns You On (1973); Live 'N' Kickin (1974). Carla Bley (with Jack Bruce): Escalator Over the Hill (1973). Jack Bruce, Bill Lordan and Robin Trower: B.L.T. (1981). Jack Bruce and Robin Trower: Truce (1982); No Stopping Anytime (1989).

—Brock Helander

CHALLENGING BILL

First column of the year, and it's about Microsoft Corp.Anything to keep those checks from Bill Gates rolling in.

Didn't you know that I'm on the payroll of the Great Satan ofsoftware? Lots of faithful readers figured it out long ago. Firstthere was my frequent disparagement of Apple Computer Inc. Thencame my recent column mocking the Justice Department campaign tostop Microsoft from melding its Internet browser with its Windowsoperating system. What did I have to go and say that for? Thee-mails are still coming in, from as far away as Moscow.

Yes, that Moscow. And most readers think I'm corrupt or crazy.Plainly some clarifications are in order.But not just from me. Some of your messages were patentlygoofy. Here's one of my favorites, from a Boston-area employee ofthe telecommunications firm GTE Internetworking: "Microsoft shouldbe forced to charge for IE or to stop development of the product."IE is Internet Explorer, Microsoft's browser.This is where unrestrained Microsoft hatred gets you. Thisperson would force us to pay for an excellent product that nowcosts nothing. Yes, that would give rival Netscape CommunicationsCorp. a better chance of surviving the browser wars, but considerthe cost.Say Microsoft charges $20 for a browser, preinstalled on PCs.The manufacturers would pay, because customers want the product.Firms would just pass the extra fee on to buyers. And Microsoft'sbillionaires would end up with an extra billion bucks. It wouldamount to a government-sanctioned protection racket -- pay off BigBill, and he'll let Netscape live. I'm from Chicago, but this isridiculous.Then again, we could just ban Internet Explorer, a product with40 percent of the market. But shouldn't we outlaw Microsoftproducts that really dominate their markets? Why not ban itsbest-selling word processor, or Encarta, the world's most popularencyclopedia? Why not MS-DOS or Windows 95?Not too likely. But modify this idea a bit, and you've got asuggestion that must be taken seriously. Instead of banningMicrosoft's most popular products, some of you want to see themplaced under new management. You think the Justice Departmentshould break up Microsoft, just as it did with Rockefeller'sStandard Oil trust or the old Bell System.Here's the theory: Microsoft's operating systems -- Windows andMS-DOS -- are in effect the lingua franca of personal computersworldwide. Microsoft is using this dominance to take over themarket for application programs, like browsers, word processors,and so on. Even if Microsoft has earned its position honestly, thefirm still exerts too much control over the computer business, andthreatens the survival of competing firms. So for the public good,Microsoft should be divided into at least two separate firms -- onethat makes operating systems, another to make applications.It's an interesting theory, backed by people ranging from RalphNader to Bob Dole. But I don't buy it. It's based on the assumptionthat Microsoft's current power in the computer industry is beyondthe reach of shrewd, tough competitors. Exactly 10 years ago,people were making the same argument about IBM Corp.The Reagan Justice Department had given up on an antitrust caseagainst that company, and the industry's punditti moaned that IBM'sdominance of computing was thus ensured.Gates knew better. With shrewdness and guile, he demolished theIBM empire. And in due course, new software products will comealong to challenge the power of Windows. I plan to write about somepotential challengers in the year to come, so stay tuned.I will grant my critics one point. Microsoft is fighting thebrowser wars too hard for its own good. It would be well advised tocut a deal with Justice and move on. As my mailbag proves,Microsoft's nasty attitude is creating a reservoir of ill willamong computer users.These folks usually look askance at government intervention.But they're just about ready to make an exception for Mr. Gates andurge the government to tear his firm to pieces.I don't want Justice to humble Microsoft. I want one of youguys to do it, by making the next great breakthrough in softwaredesign. Do this, and I'll gladly sing your praises, even if itmeans no more payoffs from Seattle.

3rd Ld: China hits back with report on U.S. human rights record

3rd Ld: China hits back with report on U.S. human rights record

BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- China retorted the U.S. criticismon its human rights situation by publishing a report of the U.S.human rights record on Sunday.

The Human Rights Record of the United States in 2010 was releasedby the Information Office of China's State Council, or cabinet, inresponse to the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2010issued by the U.S. Department of State on April 8.

The U.S. reports are "full of distortions and accusations of thehuman rights situation in more than 190 countries and regionsincluding China. However, the United States turned a blind eye toits own terrible human rights situation and seldom mentioned it,"China's report said.

The United States has taken human rights as "a politicalinstrument to defame other nations' image and seek its own strategicinterests," the report said.

While illustrating a dismal record of the United States on itsown human rights, China's report said the United States could not bejustified to pose as the world's "human rights justice."

"However, it released the Country Reports on Human RightsPractices year after year to accuse and blame other countries fortheir human rights practices," the report said.

These moves fully expose the United States' hypocrisy byexercising double standards on human rights and its malicious designto pursue hegemony under the pretext of human rights, it said.

The report advised the U.S. government to "take concrete actionsto improve its own human rights conditions, check and rectify itsacts in the human rights field, and stop the hegemonistic deeds ofusing human rights issues to interfere in other countries' internalaffairs."

VIOLATION OF CITIZENS' RIGHTS

In the United States, the violation of citizens' civil andpolitical rights by the government is severe, said the report.

Citizen's privacy has been undermined. More than 6,600 travelershad been subject to electronic device searches between October 1,2008 and June 2, 2010, nearly half of them American citizens, saidthe report, citing figures released by the American Civil LibertiesUnion (ACLU) in September 2010.

The report said abuse of violence and torturing suspects to getconfession is serious in the U.S. law enforcement, and "wrongfulconviction occurred quite often."

While advocating Internet freedom, the U.S. in fact imposesfairly strict restriction on cyberspace, said the report.

The United States applies double standards on Internet freedom byrequesting unrestricted "Internet freedom" in other countries, whichbecomes an important diplomatic tool for the U.S. to impose pressureand seek hegemony, and imposing strict restriction within its ownterritory, the report said.

The U.S. regards itself as "the beacon of democracy." However,its democracy is largely based on money, the report said.

According to media report in 2010, U.S. House and Senatecandidates shattered fundraising records for a midterm election,taking in more than 1.5 billion U.S. dollars as of October 24. Themidterm election, held in November 2010, finally cost 3.98 billionU.S. dollars, the most expensive in the U.S. history.

HIGHEST INCIDENCE OF VIOLENT CRIMES

One out of every five people is a victim of a crime in the UnitedStates every year, said the report.

The United States reports the world' s highest incidence ofviolent crimes, and its people's lives, properties and personalsecurity are not duly protected, the report said.

In 2009, an estimated 4.3 million violent crimes, 15.6 millionproperty crimes and 133,000 personal thefts were committed againstU.S. residents aged 12 or older, and the violent crime rate was 17.1victimizations per 1,000 persons, said the report, quoting figuresfrom the U.S. Department of Justice.

The United States also ranks first in the world in terms of thenumber of privately-owned guns and had high incidence of gun-related crimes, said the report, noting that the United Statesexercised lax control on the already rampant gun ownership.

Some 90 million people own an estimated 200 million guns in theUnited States, which has a population of about 300 million, thereport said citing figures from the public media.

Statistics showed there were 12,000 gun murders a year in theUnited States, the report said.

The report also said that the frequent campus shootings incolleges in the United States came to the spotlight in recent years.

RACIAL DISCRIMINATION DEEP-SEATED

"Racial discrimination, deep-seated in the United States, haspermeated every aspect of social life," said the report.

Minority groups confront discrimination in their employment andoccupation. The black people are treated unfairly or excluded inpromotion, welfare and employment, the report quoted U.S mediareports as saying.

It is reported that one-third of black people confronteddiscrimination at work, against which only one-sixteenth of theblack people would lodge a complaint.

The New York Times reported on September 23, 2010 that by the endof September 30, 2009, Muslim workers had filed a record 803 claimsof complaints over employment discrimination, up 20 percent from theprevious year.

The report said U.S. minority groups have high unemployment rate,and do not enjoy the same political status as white people.

Poverty proportion for U.S. minorities is high in the UnitedStates. The poverty proportion of the black was 25.8 percent in2009, and those of Hispanic origin and Asian were 25.3 percent and12.5 percent respectively, much higher than that of the non-Hispanic white at 9.4 percent, said the report, citing U.S. mediafigures.

The report also said that U.S. minority groups face obviousinequality in education, and the health care for African-Americanpeople is worrisome.

Racial discrimination is evident in the law enforcement andjudicial systems, racial hate crimes are frequent, and immigrants'rights and interests are not guaranteed, said the report.

RIGHTS OF WOMEN, CHILDREN IS BOTHERING

Gender discrimination against women widely exists in the UnitedStates, and women in the country often experience sexual assault andviolence.

Statistics showed that some 20 million women are rape victims inthe country, some one fifth female students on campus are victims ofsexual assault, and nearly 3,000 female soldiers were sexuallyassaulted in fiscal year 2008, up nine percent from the year before.

Women are also victims of domestic violence in the United States,said the report, as some 1.3 million people fall victim to domesticviolence every year, with women accounting for 92 percent.

Many children in the U.S. live in poverty and their physical andmental health is not ensured as nearly one in four childrenstruggles with hunger, according to the report.

The report also pointed out that violence against children isvery severe in the country, citing figures from the official websiteof Love Our Children USA that every year, over three millionchildren are victims of violence reportedly and the actual number isthree times greater.

More than 93,000 children are currently incarcerated in theUnited States, and between 75 and 93 percent of children haveexperienced at least one traumatic experience, including sexualabuse and neglect, the report said.

According to the report, pornographic content is rampant on theInternet and severely harms American children as seven in 10children have accidentally accessed pornography on the Internet andone in three has done so intentionally.

Kane pushes leadership class Taylor Guitars Road Show slated Worker's comp seminar on tap Chamber updated about seminars Dine- outs slated for library, AIDS

Lori Kane, Schuylkill Chamber Foundation executive director, saidpeople looking to advance themselves professionally should considerbecoming a member of the Executive Leadership Class of 2009.

Kane's remarks were in the Schuylkill Chamber of CommerceMembership Memo from Vanessa M. Mihoda, communications director.

Classes start on April 16, she said.

For more information, contact Kane at the foundation via e-mailat lori.kane@schuylkillchamber.com or by phoning the chamber officeat 622-1942.

Mihoda can be reached via e-mail at vanessa@schuylkillchamber.com. The chamber's Web site is at:www.schuylkillchamber.com.

PAXINOS -- K&S Music Inc. will host the Taylor Guitars Road Showat 7 p.m. Friday at Masser's banquet hall, routes 61 and 487.

Admission is free, according to a K&S press release from KarenLeonovich.

According to Taylor Guitars Web site -- www.taylorguitars.com --the road show is held "at select locations throughout the country tobring together Taylor clinicians and enthusiasts to share theexcitement of guitars, acoustic and electric."

At each show, the Taylor team, from the company's factory in ElCajon, Calif., shares insights on the company's guitar-makingprocess with a demonstration on how body shape and wood affect tone.

After the demonstration, players are invited to take part in theshow's "Petting Zoo," an opportunity to pick up and play a varietyof models, including new products and rare models.

Each attendee, according to the release, will receive acomplimentary copy of Premier Guitar magazine and, while supplieslast, TaylorWare gear and Elixir strings. They will also be able topurchase any of the Taylor models.

Drew Kanaskie, Paxinos K&S manager, said in the release that theshow is a "great opportunity for guitar players to learn about theinstrument," whether they play electric or acoustic, are beginnersor advanced.

For more information, contact K&S Music by phoning 648-8676.

HAMBURG -- Consultants from The Seltzer Group have scheduled aseminar on worker's compensation management on April 8 at Cabela's,100 Cabela Drive.

In a Seltzer release through the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce,Jen Tahaney and Sarah Stramara said the seminar will provideparticipants with tools to lower expenses, prevent injuries on thejob and effectively manage an employee's claim.

The presentation is free and will feature a guest speaker,attorney Alvin B. Marshall of Lipkin, Marshall, Bohorad andThornburg, P.C.

Registration will be from 8 to 9 a.m. and the seminar will gofrom 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. There will be a continental breakfast andlight lunch.

To register, contact Tahaney or Stramara 888-366-1000 or via e-mail at jtahaney@seltzergrp.com.

MAHANOY CITY -- Bob Carl Jr., executive director of theSchuylkill Chamber of Commerce, recently updated Mahanoy AreaChamber of Commerce members about upcoming seminars sponsored by theSchuylkill chamber that could help companies reduce the cost ofelectricity as price controls end in 2010.

Carl spoke about a variety of Schuylkill chamber services,including buying electricity as a business pool to reduce cost.

"We're doing an energy pooling project that all businesses andschool districts and boroughs are entitled to participate in," saidCarl. "We have seminars on April 1 at the chamber office at 8 and 11a.m. and 2 and 4 p.m. The idea here is that businesses who are PPLcustomers can come together to pool their energy needs where theconsultant, OnDemand Energy, will go out and buy energy in a group,with the goal being to buy it below the levels that PPL will be ableto offer once the regulations come off, which is effective Jan. 1,2010."

Carl said other chambers around the state and country will alsoapproach energy purchasing as consumer groups to maximize savingswhere possible.

"We're fairly confident that this will offer businesses anopportunity to drop their electricity costs somewhere in theneighborhood of 10 to 15 percent on average, effective next year,"Carl said.

For those who cannot attend the Wednesday seminars, Carl saidappointments can be scheduled for a business to learn about theprogram. There will also be "webinar" presentations available on theInternet.

"We believe that this is an example of a 'value-added service'for chamber members," Carl said. "I'm a firm believer that if you'rea chamber member, you want at the end of the year to be able to say'I know why I'm a chamber member. Here are the reasons.' "

Carl said there were more than 60 members scheduled to attend theseminars as of last Tuesday.

Carl also spoke on doing a review of health care programofferings to chamber members and about changes to accommodateexisting market conditions.

ORWIGSBURG -- Madeline's restaurant will host a dine-out for theOrwigsburg Area Free Public Library from 5 to 9 p.m. April 7 and adine-out for AIDS on April 28.

According to the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce Members Memo fromVanessa M. Mihoda, communications director, the eatery is acceptingreservations now for both events, which will also include Chineseauctions. Call 366-8930 for reservations or more information.

Madeline's has opened an outdoor patio and bar and willofficially kick off the opening on April 30 with Tommy Zito andgrill specials.

The restaurant also offers private dining areas for business orfamily gatherings, according to the memo.

Hoc: Olympic men's field hockey standings

AAP General News (Australia)
08-20-2004
Hoc: Olympic men's field hockey standings

ATHENS, Aug 19 AFP - Olympic field hockey



Standings for men's competition.



(played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):



Group A

Germany 3 2 1 0 9 3 7

Pakistan 3 2 0 1 11 2 6

Spain 3 1 2 0 7 3 5

South Korea 3 1 1 1 4 6 4

Britain 3 1 0 2 6 9 3

Egypt 3 0 0 3 2 16 0



Group B

The Netherlands 3 3 0 0 10 6 9

Australia 3 2 1 0 10 6 7

India 3 1 0 2 8 9 3

New Zealand 3 1 0 2 7 9 3

South Africa 3 1 0 2 6 8 3

Argentina 3 0 1 2 4 7 1



Top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals.



AFP rca

KEYWORD: OLYR HOC STANDINGS

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Treasury building evacuated after white powder found

AAP General News (Australia)
04-13-2004
Fed: Treasury building evacuated after white powder found

Budget preparations at the Treasury building in Canberra have been interrupted today,
with emergency workers called to investigate a suspicious white powder.

A Fire Brigade spokesman says the third floor of the building was evacuated after a
worker in the mail room was exposed to a white powder.

He says a sample of the powder has been sent to Canberra Hospital for analysis and
a result is expected later this afternoon.

AAP RTV so/wjf/rp

KEYWORD: POWDER (CANBERRA)

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Offensive painting should be removed: Opposition

AAP General News (Australia)
02-06-2004
Vic: Offensive painting should be removed: Opposition

The Victorian opposition has labelled as offensive a painting mocking the relationship
between Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD and American President GEORGE W BUSH.

The painting, which includes text, is by artist GORDON HOCKEY and it's on display at
the Ian Potter Gallery in Melbourne's Federation Square.

Opposition arts …

NSW: The main stories in today's Sydney newspapers = 4

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-2003
NSW: The main stories in today's Sydney newspapers = 4

The Australian Financial Review:

P 1: Review finds major flaws in tax system; Wild ride: how the currency float changed
Australia; Sugar demands sour free-trade talks.

P 2: Column.

P 3: Surplus to hit $6bn as tax receipts soar; Buoyant Latham hits campaign trail;
Plain talk as leader seeks right tone.

P 4: Senate stalls on the tough bills; Holiday is business as usual for pollies; Crisis
over leader hits Democrats.

World: Weak US jobs growth taints recovery; Sugar demands leave bitter taste in free-trade
talks; China wish list has sweet-and-sour flavour.

Companies: Branson warning on price war; Nervy Nats back Telstra on bush phones; DMG
and Austereo air differences.

Markets: Jitters as jobs resist stimulus; Timing charitable to Doyle Mallett's career.

AAP ceh/rs

KEYWORD: FRONTERS NSW 4 SYDNEY

2003 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

WA: Howard predicts Liberal comeback in next state election

00-00-0000
WA: Howard predicts Liberal comeback in next state election

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says he believes the Liberal Party is in a good positionto win the next state election in Western Australia.

Mr HOWARD says he's confident the party can turn around its performance in the stateafter being battered at the polls in February 2001.

He's told radio 6PR the next election, due in 2005, will be a different story.

Mr HOWARD's due in Perth for the state Liberals conference.

Liberal Premier RICHARD COURT was beaten by GEOFF GALLOP and Labor two years ago, whensupport for One Nation was blamed for taking votes away from the Liberals.

AAP RTV tc/sd/dl/rca A

KEYWORD: HOWARD (PERTH)

Overture to buy AltaVista for US$140 million

00-00-0000
Dateline: SAN FRANCISCOAdvertising-driven search engine Overture Services Inc. said it will buy fallen Internet star AltaVista for $140 million, upping the stakes in a quest for search engine supremacy.

Pasadena-based Overture said Tuesday that it will pay $60 million in cash and $80 million in stock for Palo Alto-based AltaVista, which introduced a pioneering search engine in 1995.

AltaVista fell out of favor, though, after it expanded to duplicate Yahoo's smorgasbord of online services, opening the door for search engine upstarts like Google to establish themselves.

By the time AltaVista reversed course and returned to its search roots, its business was sinking in financial quicksand.

AltaVista's sales price reflects the depths of the company's downfall. AltaVista was valued at nearly $3 billion in August 1999 when Andover, Massachusetts-based CMGI Inc. bought its 81.5 percent stake in the company.

By January 2000, AltaVista had amassed $765 million in losses, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing for an initial public offering of stock that never happened.

Overture is counting on AltaVista's technology to complement its main ad-driven search engine, which produces its results on how much businesses are willing to pay for a prominent ranking.

But the acquisition poses some risk for Overture.

Without providing specifics, Overture executives said the takeover will hurt the company's earnings this year before helping to increase profits next year.

This year's earnings downside appeared to spook investors Tuesday. Overture's shares rose 80 cents to close at $22.79 on the Nasdaq Stock Market before the AltaVista announcement, then dropped $1.89 in extended trading.

___

On The Net:

http://www.overture.com

http://www.altavista.com

http://www.google.com

http://www.yahoo.com

WA: Warning on broken or damaged cords follows electrocution

00-00-0000
WA: Warning on broken or damaged cords follows electrocution

A warning on broken or damaged power cords and appliances has been issued after twodeaths in the West Australian town of Karratha.

Earlier this month, a woman and her five-year-old daughter were electrocuted in thenorth-west town.

The 23-year-old woman had been using a high-pressure washing unit to clean paving whilethe child was playing in the spray.

ALBERT KOENIG, from the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection, says theplastic feet that helped guard the power cord from damage were missing.

As a result, the cord had become damaged due to chafing on the ground and the userswere electrocuted.

Mr KOENIG says the manufacturer of the water cleaner -- a Stihl RE104 mobile unit --will write to the purchasers of every unit warning them of a similar occurrence.

He's urged the products' users to regularly check all electrical appliances and powercords for damage.

AAP RTV kv/sd/smb/rp

KEYWORD: ELECTROCUTION (PERTH)

NSW: Drought could claim more than 5,000 city jobs: Farmers

00-00-0000
NSW: Drought could claim more than 5,000 city jobs: Farmers

SYDNEY, Aug 11 AAP - The drought gripping NSW could cost almost 7,000 rural jobs andat least 5,000 in the city, farmers said today.

NSW Farmers' Association president Mal Peters said the prediction, based on AustralianBureau of Agricultural Resource Economics (ABARE) June farm production figures, was anoptimistic one and based on an assumption of immediate rainfall.

"The impact on production is going to get a lot worse, the longer we go without rainand with an 80-90 per cent chance of El Nino affecting spring rains, normal conditionsmay not return to eastern Australia for another eight months," he said in a statement.

"What is at stake is $7.6 billion a year that agriculture earns for NSW, which employs122,000 people directly."

City-based industries affected the most will be food suppliers and processors, transportand storage operators and those servicing rural areas.

As the impact of the slump in farm production trickles down, Mr Peters said, a widerrange of industries including manufacturers, retailers, service and construction industries,exporters, finance and insurance providers would be among those who suffered.

"At this stage, figures suggest almost $1 billion could be wiped from the value offarm output in NSW this year," Mr Peters said.

A further $1.3 billion would be cut from businesses depending on agriculture, he said.

Last week, the state government announced it would offer regional businesses sufferinga downturn from drought-affected farmers help to retain specialist staff until the droughtbreaks.

Payroll tax relief would be offered to country businesses which rely on the prosperityof farmers - such as machinery suppliers.

The NSW government declared 82 per cent of the state drought affected on August 8 andoffered help in providing feed, water and transport for stock.

AAP ld/cdh/br

KEYWORD: DROUGHT NSW

NSW: Souris appointment Brogden's first mistake - Egan

00-00-0000
NSW: Souris appointment Brogden's first mistake - Egan

SYDNEY, April 2 AAP - New NSW Opposition leader John Brogden had made his first mistakeby giving National Party leader George Souris the Treasury portfolio, the state governmentsaid today.

The former finance minister had presided over some of the state's greatest financialbungles and Budget deficits, NSW Treasurer Michael Egan said today.

Mr Souris had left the state government with a $57 billion debt to pay off after the1995 state election, Mr Egan said.

Taxes on bank accounts also doubled between 1992-93 under his reign, he said.

Mr Souris had also been a senior member of the previous coalition government whichbungled the public-private partnership contracts of the Airport Rail Link and Port MacquarieHospital.

Mr Egan highlighted an auditor-general's report which said the taxpayer's would endup paying twice for the hospital before it was returned to public ownership.

Meanwhile, the airport rail link was meant to be funded entirely by the private sectorbut the botched contract meant an extra $700 million of taxpayer funds had to be injectedinto the deal, Mr Egan said.

Mr Souris was also directly responsible the loss of $50 million of taxpayer funds aftersigning off on an ill-fated investment into Luna Park.

"The appointment of Mr Souris is a great political asset for the government," Mr Egantold reporters.

"In just under 12 months we will have an election in NSW.

"And we will be able to go to the people of NSW with a very stark comparison betweenthe financial responsibility of the Carr government and the financial sloppiness of theprevious coalition when George Souris was minister for finance."

The state government had delivered six Budget surpluses, reduced debt and liabilitiesand also tax rates by more than $1 billion a year, Mr Egan said.

MORE ls/arb/mjm/bwl

KEYWORD: BROGDEN EGAN

Fed: No appointments yet made with Governor-General

00-00-0000
Fed: No appointments yet made with Governor-General

By Barbara Adam

BRISBANE, Jan 2 AAP - No-one has yet made an appointment to meet Governor-General PeterHollingworth privately to discuss allegations of child abuse at Anglican institutionswhile he was Archbishop of Brisbane.

About 25 calls have been made to a hotline set up at Government House in Canberra forvictims of child abuse at Anglican institutions in Queensland during the time Dr Hollingworthwas archbishop.

The hotline was set up on Christmas eve, following intense public criticism of Dr Hollingworthover claims he failed to act on allegations of child sex abuse at a Toowoomba …

Qld: Ill boy arrives in Brisbane

AAP General News (Australia)
08-21-2001
Qld: Ill boy arrives in Brisbane

An East Timorese boy in need of urgent surgery for a blocked bowel has arrived in Brisbane.

Four-year-old AUGUSTO OCTAVIO COSTA and his mother ANNA were flown from the highlands
of East Timor near Dili to Darwin in an RAAF Hercules transport plane yesterday.

Paediatrician DARRELL PRICE says AUGUSTO was born with a blocked bowel and treatment
for his condition wasn't available in East Timor.

Dr PRICE says doctors in East Timor had advised AUGUSTO was also suffering from malnutrition
and required urgent surgery to be able to survive.

AUGUSTO and his mother will be taken to the Allamanda Hospital on the Gold Coast tonight.

AAP RTV jfs/jas

KEYWORD: COSTA (BRISBANE)

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Parliament cites safety as reason for $6million tunnel

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2001
Vic: Parliament cites safety as reason for $6million tunnel

MELBOURNE, April 5 AAP - Late-night safety concerns have prompted a proposal for the
building of a tunnel connecting the Victorian Parliament House to new staff offices at
a cost of $6 million.

Legislative council president Bruce Chamberlain said today the underground walkway
from parliament to a newly acquired building across the road in Spring Street was likely
to proceed.

It would provide a covered and protected walkway for about 70 Hansard reporters and
other staff who would be housed in the new offices, and worked late nights during parliamentary
sittings.

It also would protect staff from bad weather and cut time waiting at traffic lights, he said.

The tunnel, which will cost about $6 million, will take 15 months to build and is expected
to be finished late next year, he said.

"We have now got a design which meets the requirements for staff," Mr Chamberlain said.

"It looks likely to go ahead."

He said Premier Steve Bracks had already given in-principle support for the proposal
and he would now apply for funding.

Mr Chamberlain said the new offices would free up space in a cramped parliament house,
where some MPs were forced to share offices with three others.

He said to renovate parliament would cost more than $40 million.

"So this is a very cost effective method for us," he said.

The tunnel will connect offices at 157 Spring Street to an entrance on the northern
side of Parliament House.

Opposition leader Denis Napthine said he had not seen the plans, so could not comment
on the idea.

AAP cmc/clr/mg/bwl

KEYWORD: TUNNEL (CARRIED EARLIER)

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Two dead and boy injured in head on accident

AAP General News (Australia)
01-14-2001
Qld: Two dead and boy injured in head on accident

BRISBANE, Jan 14 AAP - Two people were killed and a nine-year-old boy seriously injured
in a head-on collision on the Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane yesterday afternoon, police
said today.

A woman, 45, from North Shore, on the Sunshine Coast, and a man, 58, from Coolum, also
on the Sunshine Coast, died in the accident north of Perigian Beach at 3pm (AEST) yesterday.

The woman's nine-year-old son sustained head injuries and was in a critical condition
after …

QLD: Blood pressure monitors stolen

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-2000
QLD: Blood pressure monitors stolen

BRISBANE, Aug 24 AAP - Five blood pressure monitoring units stolen from a car in Brisbane
overnight would be of little use to anyone without medical training, police said today.

The SpaceLab monitors, each about the size of a mobile phone, were in a steel brief
case stolen from a car parked in Gladstone Street, Highgate Hill.

"The units are quite expensive in themselves but are of little use to anyone without
a medical background," a police spokeswoman said.

Police were concerned the items may be discarded when the person who had them found
they were of no use to them.

"They may just throw them into someone's front yard. We would like anyone with information
to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000," the spokeswoman said.

AAP geb/sc/apm

KEYWORD: MONITORS

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Top cop said he was disgusted at Marsden "cover up"

AAP General News (Australia)
04-10-2000
NSW: Top cop said he was disgusted at Marsden "cover up"

(EDS: PLEASE NOTE GRAPHIC CONTENT THROUGHOUT)





A former police superintendent has told the New South Wales Supreme Court he was disgusted
at the preferential police treatment given to solicitor JOHN MARSDEN who was known as
a pot-smoking poofter.

ROBIN BARRETT SMALL says Mr MARSDEN, then a member of the NSW police board, was given
three days to clean up his house before a 1994 drug search.

Mr SMALL, now a grazier, also says Mr MARSDEN gave a false name in 1967 when he was
arrested in a public toilet openly wanking in front of two people who were cops.

He says when the solicitor later was arrested for using unseemly words he gave his correct name.

Mr SMALL says his fingerprints matched those taken from the man involved in the toilet incident.

The former superintendent was giving evidence about information he gave Channel 7 reporter
GREG QUAIL in 1995.

Channel 7 is defending Mr MARSDEN's defamation action relating to programs broadcast
in 1995 and 1996 which claimed the solicitor was a paedophile.

Mr SMALL says two months after he gave ALP frontbencher DEIDRE GRUSOVIN documents,
including some relating to the drug search, he was visited by the Channel 7 reporter.

He confirmed the fingerprints incidents and told the reporter the drug search was a farce.

The hearing is continuing.

AAP RTV mss/sb/msk/jn

KEYWORD: MARSDEN (SYDNEY)

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Protest over live sheep exports to Saudi Arabia =2

AAP General News (Australia)
01-12-2000
Vic: Protest over live sheep exports to Saudi Arabia =2

The WA Farmers Federation (WAFF) was critical of the protest, claiming farmers could
not afford to lose the valuable Saudi Arabian market in a climate of decreasing livestock
prices.

WAFF meat section president Barry Bell said the protest was largely based on emotion
and misinformation.

"No farmer would place an …

VIC: Kew Cottages worker honoured as a hero for fire rescues

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-1999
VIC: Kew Cottages worker honoured as a hero for fire rescues

MELBOURNE, Aug 23 AAP - A survivor of the Cambodian killing fields relived the horror of
his childhood while saving the lives of disoriented residents in the Kew Cottages fire three
years ago.

His experiences that night when nine intellectually-disabled men died have left 31-year-old
Earpeng Chea, who had 24 residents in his care, too traumatised to work.

But today he was named a hero, winning the rare Star of Courage for his display of
conspicuous bravery when he rescued at least eight of his charges from a burning building in
suburban Melbourne on April 8, 1996.

Some of the residents had multiple disabilities and many were in a deep sleep when the fire
broke out.

Today Mr Chea played down his heroism, but welcomed the award.

"I'm very honoured to receive it; I don't see much of the bravery in myself," he said.

Mr Chea, of east suburban Forest Hill, will become the 100th recipient of the award at a
ceremony at Government House on October 1.

He will be entitled to add the initials SC to his name.

For the Cambodian refugee, who came to Australia in 1982, his role as rescuer in the fire
brought back painful memories.

"What I went through when I was young - a lot of loss ... I respect the value of life a
lot," a tearful Mr Chea said.

Recalling the night of the fire, he said: "It was very chaotic: at the time I tried to do
as much as I could."

Mr Chea sprang into action when he was alerted by the night coordinator telling him to
evacuate the building.

He began running through the flats banging on doors to alert the 24 male residents.

Seconds later the fire alarm went off and flames licked the ceiling near the men's
bedrooms.

Mr Chea to crawl under the smoke to the bedrooms but was forced to retreat.

He entered another corridor, went into a bedroom and grabbed two residents - one of them
visually impaired, then guided them to the front door and forced both from the building.

Battling the smoke, he rescued four more men before running outside and falling to the
ground.

As he gulped fresh air, he noticed a closed bedroom window - and returned to the building,
ensuring two more people were saved.

Overcome again by smoke, he was taken outside by another rescuer.

Once more he tried to return to the building, but the fire was out of control.

"In that situation, I'm sure that people would've done the same thing," he said.

Mr Chea will accept his award, given as one of the bi-annual Australian Bravery
Decorations, from Victorian Governor Sir James Gobbo.

AAP/sub

KEYWORD: BRAVERY CHEA

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Newcastle disease should be contained to one property

AAP General News (Australia)
04-04-1999
NSW: Newcastle disease should be contained to one property

A viral disease which has already caused veterinary officers to slaughter thousands of
infected chickens doesn't appear to have spread outside one New South Wales property.

The Department of Agriculture says 27 poultry farms north of Sydney will be tested for
Newcastle disease.

And veterinary officers have already begun to slaughter 27,000 birds on an infected
property at the Mangrove Mountain pullet-rearing farm of Frank Pirovic and Sons.

But Controller of the Local Disease Centre, KEVIN COOPER, says they're confident the
disease hasn't spread outside the property.



Symptoms of the disease in birds include respiratory problems, nervous tremors, spasms and
-- in severe cases -- death, but it poses no threat to humans.

AAP RTV rat/lm/lm/rt

KEYWORD: NEWCASTLE (SYDNEY)

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Main stories in todays Sydney newspapers = 3

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-1998
NSW: Main stories in todays Sydney newspapers = 3

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD:

Page 1: Australias largest no-gap medical insurance scheme is on the verge of collapse,
with doctors and the fund locked in a dispute over money; More than 200 people were rescued on
Sydneys beaches yesterday; Sydney will get "P-plate" taxi drivers next year.

Page 2: Bondi residents and shop owners demand millions of dollars in compensation for the
expected eight months of disruption to Bondi Beach ahead of the Olympic beach volleyball
tournament.

Page 3: The coalminers union starts a 48-hour national strike to protest against coal
companies accepting a big cut in export prices for the Japanese market.

WORLD - South-East Asian leaders are set to approve an action plan to help tackle the
regional economic crisis (Hanoi).

FINANCE - Reserve Bank governor Ian Macfarlanes testimony to federal parliament will put
pressure on local financial markets; The ACCC launches an investigation into the owner of
Sydneys Sega World/Darling Walk complex; AMP management may start preparing a dual
sharemarket listing in the UK if the insurance giant succeeds in its takeover of GIO; The
Coca-Cola Company sends a shudder through Wall Street with a warning that the Asian economic
crisis would send its fourth-quarter earnings tumbling about 30 per cent.

SPORT - The Internationals beat the American golf team in the Presidents Cup.

MORE rat/ao

KEYWORD: FRONTERS NSW 3 SYDNEY

1998 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED:Priority is for the living: police

AAP General News (Australia)
02-23-2011
FED:Priority is for the living: police

MELBOURNE, Feb 23 AAP - The are bodies in the rubble of Christchurch's flattened central
business district but the priority must be for the living, says a senior New Zealand policeman.

Superintendent David Cliff says police are systematically making their way through
the rubble looking for survivors.

"There are still people trapped in the rubble who are texting loved ones and keeping
us informed," Supt Cliff told the Nine Network.

He said the pancaked CTV building was of particular concern, with many people still
trapped in there.

"We …