DeMarco: With or without Pujols, Cards in good shape

St. Louis is well-prepared to remain a contender next season

Charlie Riedel / AP

Tony La Russa, left, will be returning to St. Louis next?season, will Albert Pujols return as well? Even if he doesn't, Cardinals well-prepared to be contenders.

OPINION

By Tony DeMarco

NBCSports.com contributor

updated 7:09 p.m. ET Oct. 30, 2011

Tony DeMarco

There really is only one burning question as the St. Louis Cardinals turn their attention to a World Series title defense: Albert Pujols, who officially became a free agent on Sunday.

And manager Tony La Russa, who is expected to exercise his side of a mutual option to return for another season, can offer a pretty good indication of how things are going to unfold.

"This is a great organization; he's a great player,'' La Russa said. "And part of their greatness is their conscious, their intelligence. They're going to try like heck to make it work. The organization is going to try to keep him here, and Albert wants to stay here.''

So the growing feeling is that it will get done ? most likely crossing the $200-million barrier that the Cardinals approached with their January offer. The Cardinals want to keep their payroll near this year's $110 million figure, so there aren't likely to bump up their offer too far. But unless Pujols is just overwhelmed by something else, the parameters of an entire-career-in-St. Louis deal are in place.

Still, until that happens, it's front burner on the MLB Hot Stove. In fact, it's a big enough issue, complete with ramifications that run throughout the game's salary structure, that commissioner Bud Selig has an opinion on it.

"Albert has to go and do what he does,'' Selig said. "As a traditionalist, I hope it can be worked out. I hope Albert stays in St. Louis. I really do.''

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak puts it this way: "I think it's refreshing when you can have a player be identified with one organization. To have something where a player ends up like a Cal Ripken, and plays for one organization as long as he did, it's an anomaly at this point. Hopefully, we can accomplish another one.''

Pujols didn't avoid the question when asked while he was on the post-Game 7 podium. He met it head-on, but with an admonishment for the questioner.

"I don't think that's a question right now that you should ask,'' he said. "Right now, it's just enjoying the moment, man. Sitting at first base with three outs left (in the top of the ninth inning in Game 7), and just thinking about all the things we went through this year as a group, just how special this group of guys that we have are.''

Special enough that the Cardinals already have gotten through much of the process of re-signing them. You see, as Mozeliak admitted during the World Series: "It's funny, because getting into the postseason this year was somewhat of a surprise. So we were starting to begin a lot of preparatory work as far as looking at 2012.''

Chris Carpenter signed to a two-year, $21-million extension for 2012-13 on Sept. 11.

Lance Berkman signed a one-year, $12-million extension for 2012 on Sept. 22.

Club options on Adam Wainwright totaling $21 million for 2012 and 2013 were picked up during the World Series.

Also locked up for 2012: Matt Holliday ($17 million), Kyle Lohse ($11.875 million), Jake Westbrook ($8.5 million), Yadier Molina ($7 million option).

"I think we're pretty fortunate as we look to 2012 that we already have a lot of the key components we can just put into play,'' Mozeliak said.

The anticipated return of Wainwright, who missed all of this season after undergoing surgery, will be like signing a free-agent ace. He's expected to return to the top of the rotation, in front of Carpenter, Jaime Garcia, Lohse and Westbrook.

That makes Edwin Jackson an expendable free agent. Two more potential rotation candidates from the bullpen are Lance Lynn and Marc Rzepczynksi, and the organization's top two prospects are right-handed pitchers on the verge ? Shelby Miller and Carlos Martinez.

David Freese's MVP-filled postseason has elevated his status, and at 28, only health is standing between him and some highly productive seasons. And in the good-problem-to-have department, the Cardinals might have to find more at-bats for Allen Craig behind the regular outfield trio of Holliday, Jon Jay and Berkman.

They also have decisions to make on veteran middle infielders Rafael Furcal, Ryan Theriot and Skip Schumaker, as well as relievers Octavio Dotel and Arthur Rhodes.

"One of the things we've tried to focus on over the last four-five years is making sure that our minor-league system is going to be able to produce some every-day players or middle to top-of-the-rotation starters,'' Mozeliak said.

"I'm happy to say we believe our pipeline is very strong, and so if there is an Albert-less club in the future, we still think we have a lot of positives coming.''

? 2011 NBC Sports.com? Reprints

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Cards fans celebrate title

A red sea of fans jammed downtown St. Louis on Sunday to honor the World Series champion Cardinals and send a clear message to Albert Pujols: Please stay.

Rams honor World Series champs

Chris Carpenter, Tony La Russa and the World Series champion Cardinals are drawing huge cheers at the NFL game between the St. Louis Rams and New Orleans Saints.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/45097483/ns/sports-baseball/

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Coventry Health full-year outlook lags Street (Reuters)

(Reuters) ? Coventry Health Care Inc (CVH.N), a health insurer, posted a lower quarterly profit that just beat analysts' estimates, but raised its full-year outlook for a third time -- although this is still below market consensus.

The insurer forecast a slight increase in the consolidated medical loss ratio (MLR) -- the amount of revenue from health insurance premiums that is spent on the medical services covered by a plan -- to 82-82.4 percent, up from its prior view of 81.8-82.3 percent.

It now expects full-year earnings, excluding items, of $2.95-$3.00 a share, up from the $2.80-$2.95 a share it forecast earlier. It also now sees annual consolidated revenue of $12.08-$12.17 billion, up from the $11.73-$12.19 billion it previously forecast.

However, analysts have predicted full-year earnings of $3.01 per share, on revenue of $12.18 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

July-September net income fell to $122.7 million, or 84 cents per share, from $189.9 million, or $1.29 cents per share, a year earlier, while total operating revenue rose 5 percent to $3 billion.

Excluding a 2 cents charge from the Medicare Advantage Private Fee-for-Service product, earnings were 82 cents a share, just above the 81 cents a share that analysts had expected.

Shares of Bethesda, Maryland-based Coventry closed at $32.94 on Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange, and touched a 6-week high during that session. (Reporting by Kavyanjali Kaushik in Bangalore; Editing by Joyjeet Das and Ian Geoghegan)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/earnings/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111028/bs_nm/us_coventryhealthcare

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Expert says Jackson likely addicted to pain med (AP)

LOS ANGELES ? An addiction expert testifying for the doctor charged in Michael Jackson's death told jurors Thursday he believes medical records showed the singer developed an addiction to a powerful pain medicine in the months before his death.

Dr. Robert Waldman told jurors that Jackson was receiving "above-average doses" of the painkiller Demerol in the months before his death.

"I believe there is evidence that he was dependent on Demerol, possibly," Waldman said. The witness said he also thinks Jackson had an addiction to opioids by May 2009, the month before his death.

Waldman said a symptom of Demerol withdrawal is insomnia. Jackson complained that he couldn't sleep as he prepared for a series of comeback concerts.

Attorneys for Dr. Conrad Murray have suggested Jackson was undergoing withdrawal from Demerol before his death. None of the drug was found in the singer's system when he died.

Defense attorneys contend Jackson gave himself a fatal dose of the anesthetic propofol, which they say he was taking as a sleep aid.

Authorities found propofol throughout Jackson's body during an autopsy, and they contend Murray gave the singer a fatal dose of the drug while using it to help him sleep.

Jackson received the Demerol shots from his longtime dermatologist, Dr. Arnold Klein, who has not been accused of wrongdoing and will not be called as a witness during the trial.

Waldman said he had not treated a case of Demerol addiction in recent memory.

Murray has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's June 2009 death.

The Houston-based cardiologist's attorneys plan to call a propofol expert later Thursday.

Murray's attorneys have yet to show evidence of how their self-administration theory would have been possible. Several prosecution experts have said the self-administration defense was improbable, and a key expert said he ruled it out completely, arguing the more likely scenario was that Murray gave Jackson a much higher dose than he has acknowledged.

The scientific testimony of Waldman and Dr. Paul White comes a day after jurors heard from five of Murray's one-time patients, who described the cardiologist as a caring physician who performed procedures for free and spent hours getting to know them. When Ruby Mosley described Murray's work at a clinic he founded in a poor neighborhood in Houston in memory of his father, tears welled up in the eyes of the normally stoic doctor-turned-defendant.

White and Waldman do not necessarily have to convince jurors that Jackson gave himself the fatal dose, but merely provide them with enough reasonable doubt about the prosecution's case against Murray.

Prosecutors have portrayed Murray, 58, as a reckless physician who repeatedly broke the rules by giving Jackson propofol as a sleep aid. But jurors heard a different description of the doctor Wednesday.

Several of the character witnesses called described Murray as the best doctor they had ever seen and highlighted his skills at repairing their hearts with stents and other procedures.

"I'm alive today because of that man," said Andrew Guest of Las Vegas, who looked at Murray. "That man sitting there is the best doctor I've ever seen."

Another former patient, Gerry Causey, stopped to shake Murray's hand in the courtroom and said the physician was his best friend.

A prosecutor noted none of them were treated for sleep issues, although Causey and others said they didn't believe the allegations against Murray.

Defense attorneys have told Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor they expect their case to conclude Thursday. Pastor has said if that happens, closing arguments would occur next week.

___

AP Special Correspondent Linda Deutsch contributed to this report.

___

McCartney can be reached at http://twitter.com/mccartneyAP

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111027/ap_en_ot/us_michael_jackson_doctor

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Girl to get $10M for amputations after ER delay

SACRAMENTO, California (AP) ? The family of a California toddler whose feet, left hand and part of her right hand were amputated because of a lengthy emergency room delay has agreed to a $10 million malpractice settlement.

Malyia Jeffers was 2 years old when her parents took her to Sacramento's Methodist Hospital last November with a fever, skin discoloration and weakness. According to court documents, the family was told to wait.

"While in the waiting room, Malyia grew sicker and weaker," according to the complaint filed in Superior Court in Sacramento on Feb. 14. "The parents of Malyia repeatedly asked and begged (hospital workers) to treat their daughter."

The hospital instead told them to continue waiting, and it was five hours before Malyia was first seen by a doctor, the document said.

"Ryan Jeffers and Leah Yang saw their daughter get weaker and sicker hour after hour as (hospital workers) chose to delay treatment," the complaint said. "They saw the bruising on her body increase, affecting her legs, arms and face. They were afraid she would die in the waiting room."

Malyia was flown to Stanford University's Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. Doctors there found that Streptococcus A bacteria had invaded her blood and organs, and they performed the amputations.

Court documents show that most of the money will be placed in a trust for Malyia's current needs and an annuity that will provide her with $16,932 a month when she turns 18. The monthly payment grows over time, so that by the time Malyia is 30, the monthly payout will be nearly double.

The settlement with the Sacramento hospital and its parent company, Catholic Healthcare West, ranks among the largest in California history, according to medical malpractice attorneys.

The family signed a non-disclosure agreement and could not discuss the case, their attorney Moseley Collins said Friday.

"What we can say is that Malyia has a new set of artificial legs and she's walking on those," Collins said. "We are pleased we were able to settle the case."

Malyia spent more than three months at Stanford before being admitted to another hospital in Sacramento. She is still undergoing therapy and will need expensive medications, custom prosthetics, special garments and wheelchairs for the rest of her life.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/bbd825583c8542898e6fa7d440b9febc/Article_2011-10-28-Girl's%20Amputations/id-57a44844643f490db7dbf0e3eb4d09af

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Women Share Their Breast Cancer Experiences | Hello Beautiful

1 in 8 U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. She?s your mother, sister, daughter, aunt, neighbor and co-worker. More than that, she?s friends with you on your social network.

Raising awareness to this issue and all of the research done to prevent and treat it is just one small step in the fight against breast cancer. BlackPlanet members share their personal experiences in their battle with breast cancer.

Carolyn King-Kirkendoll

I am a three-time survivor. I have two more rounds of chemo to go. I?ve got cancer, cancer doesn?t have me.

Yolanda Green-Hill

I am 39 years old. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in April of 2004. I had 2 aunts & a mother who died from it. I had a double mastectomy followed later with implants. Having cancer makes life so real. I was always worried about my looks, clothes & how people saw me to the point of not wanting the surgery. I had a close male friend who told me I shouldn?t be that shallow. He said if people couldn?t accept my situation they need not be in my life, & that I needed to be here for my kids!! For now I am cancer free, & I thank God everyday for my life. I am a fighter & I am blessed. Anyone going through this never give up, love yourself, find a support system, & hold on to God!!

Brooklyn Honey

I was diagnosed in May 2009. I a double mastectomy then implants. I am so happy they caught it early. I?ve been cancer free since August 2009 and now I?m better than ever.

Sylvia Halepota

I?m a survivor for one year now, diagnosed with stage 1. I feel great and I know God is good.

A few breast cancer facts:

• Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women. Just under 30% of cancers in women are breast cancers.
• In 2011, there were more than 2.6 million breast cancer survivors in the US.
• In men, about 1 in 10 breast cancers are believed to be due to BRCA2 mutations, and even fewer cases to BRCA1 mutations.
• About 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer. These occur due to genetic mutations that happen as a result of the aging process and life in general, rather than inherited mutations.
• In 2011, an estimated 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 57,650 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.

Awareness is key. Do you have a breast cancer story to share?

6 Degrees Of Separation: Everyone Knows Someone Who Has Suffered From Breast Cancer

A Black Woman?s Guide To Breast Cancer Awareness

Source: http://hellobeautiful.com/fitness-health/breast-cancer-awareness-month-fitness-health/nhardesty/women-share-their-breast-cancer-experiences/

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ThinkGeek IRIS 9000 promises to make 2012 a desk-bound odyssey

The comparisons between Siri and HAL 9000 were pretty tough to avoid, and the folks at ThinkGeek have now come through to do what they do best: take things to a ridiculous extreme. In this case, that comes in the form of the IRIS 9000, a familiar-looking fellow that doubles as a dock for your iPhone 4S. It has a remote that lets you activate Siri from afar, a built-in mic and speaker that lets you interact with Siri (or make phone calls) and, of course, a glowing red LED eye that makes Siri suitably menacing. Now, ThinkGeek has been known to produce some faux products in the past, but last we checked it wasn't April Fools' day, and the company has assured us that this is indeed real and set to be available in the spring of next year for $60. Video of your new favorite desk mate is after the break.

Continue reading ThinkGeek IRIS 9000 promises to make 2012 a desk-bound odyssey

ThinkGeek IRIS 9000 promises to make 2012 a desk-bound odyssey originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 08:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Rick Perry's Economic Plan

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Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/45028128#45028128

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Know Your Rights if a Store Detains You for Shoplifting [Evil Week]

Being detained by a store or mall security office under suspicion of shoplifting is an experience no one wants to have. Often mall security will try to pressure you into signing a statement admitting your guilt (often threatening to call the police if you don't) or force you to pay restitution for your offense, but in some cases things can escalate. If you're detained for shoplifting?regardless of whether you're innocent or guilty?you have rights. Here's what you need to know.

What Has to Happen for a Store to Detain You

The first thing you need to know is what a store has to have or has to see in order to exercise their right to detain you. First, a witness or employee needs to establish probable cause. They need to actually see you take store merchandise and put it in your hand (as in, they can't just see you holding something that could have come from home or outside the store,) and they have to see you conceal or carry that merchandise away from its location and either depart the store or walk towards the exit (and away from the cashiers) with the merchandise in hand or concealed on your person. Photo by Dan Previte.

Depending on your jurisdiction, you cannot even be approached until you've left the store premises. This isn't universally true, and often the act of concealment of store property is enough evidence to have you arrested and charged. Sometimes, store security staff (or the contract security firms that work in malls) will bend the rules a bit and rely on your ignorance of your rights in order to detain you if they're certain they have probable cause. In some cases, they'll threaten to call the police if you don't cooperate.

It's also important to note that while the above is largely true in most cases, jurisdictions differ?sometimes significantly?when it comes to the least amount of evidence required for a store or mall to detain you. In all cases, security needs probable cause, but how strong that case needs to be can vary.

What You Need To Know

When store security approaches you, they're acting within a very limited and specific jurisdiction and base of authority. They do not have the right to keep you in a small space or confined to a single room without allowing you to leave that space (although they are allowed to keep you from leaving the premises or keep you under surveillance for the duration of your time there if they have established probable cause or until the police arrive.) At any time, you have the right to request a police presence and legal representation. Keep in mind most retailers have very specific guidelines about how a customer is to be approached and detained.

If you do have stolen merchandise on your person and it's discovered by store security or the police if they're called, the store has the right to have you arrested and charged with theft. You, then, have the right to not incriminate yourself and to obtain legal representation. If the store claims that they have witnesses who observed you shoplifting, you also have the right to question that witness' suitability for probable cause, either to police when they arrive or to your legal representation if you're charged. Photo by Jake Setlak.

Unfortunately, you don't have a lot of rights that allow you to explicitly talk your way out of being detained. You can always try to talk around security by simply refusing to be detained and walking away, but they have the right to call the police or physically block you from leaving. Your best bet is to appeal to the management of the store or mall and make your case to an employee instead of a security officer. Requesting police presence when security isn't sure of their own case against you is also a good way to call their bluff, but contacting the police can be a good or bad thing depending on your situation. As always, you have the right not to answer questions until police or a lawyer are present, and you have the right to request them.

What You Should Do

The best thing to do is cooperate. If the police are called and the store has appropriately established probable cause, the police can search you. If they recover concealed items or observe security footage of your theft, you can be arrested and charged. Many stores never bother with the police, and simply request that any stolen goods be returned, issue a stern warning to the shoplifter, and let them go. Others require that the shoplifter pay the value of the item or some kind of fee and sign a confession before letting them go and dropping the matter. Most will at least demand that you never return to the store. Photo by Hailgumby.

If you've been wrongly detained, cooperation is still likely your best route. This way, you can get out of the situation quickly and address the offense on your own terms. Explaining to security or the store manager that they're mistaken is a good start, but if they're not convinced, you can and should request representation, that you be shown the evidence against you, charged with a crime, or released. In most cases, security officials who don't have a case against you know it, and most are unwilling to risk a false arrest or imprisonment claim.

Even so, being belligerent and hot-headed won't help you in a situation like this. Cooler heads will prevail, and the last thing you should do is go off half-cocked and start complaining that the store needs a warrant to hold you or that your Fourth Amendment rights have been violated (Note: The Fourth Amendment doesn't come into play until an agent of the government?like the police?are involved) or that your right to privacy has been violated (which it may be, depending on your jurisdiction, but saying that isn't going to get you released any sooner.)

---

Cooperate and be honest and you'll likely get out of the situation with no trouble at all. If you feel your rights have been violated, your best bet is to get out of the situation, seek professional legal counsel, and then file your complaint with the store management, the ACLU (if you feel your civil rights have been violated,) and the police. You may be able to sue for false arrest or false imprisonment.

Finally, a disclaimer: The above isn't meant to be professional legal counsel in any way, and if you're concerned about a specific case or want more information about the laws in your jurisdiction, you should contact an lawyer.

Have you been wrongly detained under suspicion of shoplifting? Are you a lawyer and have better advice to offer? Share your tips in the comments below.

Lifehacker's Evil Week is all about topics such as password cracking, social hacking and other questionable tricks to make sure you're in the know. Knowledge is power, and whether you use that power for good or evil is in your hands.

---

You can reach Alan Henry, the author of this post, at alan@lifehacker.com, or better yet, follow him on Twitter or Google+.

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/TJONf0Cqwwc/know-your-rights-if-a-store-detains-you-for-shoplifting

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N.Korea's Kim calls for nuclear talks, doubts on uranium (Reuters)

BEIJING (Reuters) ? North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il told Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang that a moribund 2005 deal should be the basis for fresh talks about Pyongyang's nuclear program, Chinese state media reported, leaving unanswered a key question on uranium enrichment.

The United States and South Korea insist that the North must immediately halt its uranium enrichment program, which it unveiled last year, as a precursor to restart regional talks that offer economic aid in return for denuclearization.

Kim's latest offer of fresh nuclear negotiations came as Washington said it had narrowed differences with North Korea on issues standing in the way of a new round of multilateral nuclear talks.

In his meeting with Li, Kim repeated that North Korea is willing to return to six-party talks -- also involving Russia and Japan -- that it walked out of more than two years ago.

But his published comments did not address Pyongyang's uranium enrichment activities, a key obstacle to talks.

"Kim said the DPRK hopes the six-party talks should be restarted as soon as possible," said the Xinhua news agency report on Tuesday of the meeting between Kim and Li in North Korea on Monday night.

The DPRK is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea -- the North's official name.

"All the six parties should fully implement the September 19 joint statement, signed by them in 2005 in Beijing, on the principle of simultaneous action," Kim said, according to the report.

The North's uranium enrichment program, which opens a second route to make an atomic bomb along with its plutonium program, is not specifically referred to in the 2005 agreement.

However, Seoul and Washington argue uranium enrichment falls under the broader term "existing nuclear programs," which the 2005 deal says must be stopped.

Pyongyang states it is willing to discuss the issue once six-party talks resume, but Seoul and Washington say there will be no talks until uranium enrichment is stopped. They say any halt must be verified by international nuclear inspectors.

The United States, South Korea and their allies have been skeptical of North Korea's recent assertions that it stands ready to return to the six-party talks, saying Pyongyang has reneged on past disarmament pledges.

The talks and the embryonic agreement were a diplomatic trophy for Beijing. But North Korea walked out of the negotiations more than two years ago after the United Nations imposed fresh sanctions for a long-range missile test. The following month Pyongyang conducted a second nuclear test.

The North says its uranium enrichment program is designed to produce power, and argues that the 2005 agreement respects its right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

In Geneva, Stephen Bosworth, the U.S. special representative for North Korea, said the two sides "narrowed some differences but we still have differences that we have to resolve."

Throughout the regional turbulence, Beijing has stood by its ally, North Korea, which it sees as a buffer against the influence of the United States and its allies. But China has also tried to preserve ties with South Korea, and to revive the stalled talks on North Korean nuclear disarmament.

Li, 56, is the favorite to become premier from early 2013, when Wen Jiabao will step down. He will visit South Korea after his trip to the North.

(Reporting by Chris Buckley in BEIJING and Jeremy Laurence in SEOUL; Editing by Paul Tait)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111025/wl_nm/us_china_korea_north

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Report: Turkish prison escape in quake-hit prison

People rescue a woman trapped under debris after a powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Turkey, collapsing about 45 buildings in Van province, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011 according to the deputy Turkish prime minister. Only one death was immediately confirmed, but scientists estimated that up to 1,000 people could have been killed. The worst damage was caused to the town of Ercis, in the mountainous eastern province of Van, close to the Iranian border. ( AP Photo/ Ali Ihsan Ozturk, Aatolia) TURKEY OUT

People rescue a woman trapped under debris after a powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Turkey, collapsing about 45 buildings in Van province, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011 according to the deputy Turkish prime minister. Only one death was immediately confirmed, but scientists estimated that up to 1,000 people could have been killed. The worst damage was caused to the town of Ercis, in the mountainous eastern province of Van, close to the Iranian border. ( AP Photo/ Ali Ihsan Ozturk, Aatolia) TURKEY OUT

People try to save people trapped under debris in Tabanli village near the city of Van after a powerful earthquake struck eastern Turkey Sunday Oct. 23, 2011, collapsing some buildings and causing a number of deaths, an official said. ( AP Photo/ Abdurrahman Antakyali, Aatolia) TURKEY OUT

People try to save people trapped under debris in Tabanli village near the city of Van after a powerful earthquake struck eastern Turkey Sunday Oct. 23, 2011, collapsing some buildings and causing a number of deaths, an official said. ( AP Photo/ Abdurrahman Antakyali, Aatolia) TURKEY OUT

Shocked people seen in the city center of Van after a powerful earthquake struck eastern Turkey Sunday Oct. 23, 2011 , collapsing some buildings and causing a number of deaths, an official said. ( AP Photo/ Abdurrahman Antakyali, Anatolia) TURKEY OUT

Residents take to the streets after a earthquake in Van eastern Turkey in this image taken from Sunday Oct. 23, 2011. _ A powerful earthquake struck eastern Turkey Sunday, collapsing at least two buildings in the center of eastern city of Van, the mayor said. (AP Photo/Anatolian TV. via APTN) TURKEY OUT TV OUT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) ? Turkey's state-run television says a group of inmates have escaped from a prison in Turkey's quake-hit region.

State-run TRT television said the inmates fled after a powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Turkey on Sunday, killing at least 85 people and sparking widespread panic as it collapsed dozens of buildings into piles of twisted steel and chunks of concrete.

The report gave no other detail including the number of inmates who fled.

The quake hit Turkey's mountainous eastern region with an epicenter in the village of Tabanli, 10 miles (17 kilometers) from Van, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) ? A powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Turkey on Sunday, killing at least 85 people and sparking widespread panic as it collapsed dozens of buildings into piles of twisted steel and chunks of concrete.

Tens of thousands of residents fled into the streets running, screaming and trying to reach relatives on cell phones. As the full extent of the damage became clear, desperate survivors dug into the rubble with their bare hands, trying to rescue the trapped and the injured.

"My wife and child are inside! My 4-month-old baby is inside!" CNN-Turk television showed one young man sobbing outside a collapsed building in Van, the provincial capital.

The quake hit Turkey's mountainous eastern region at 1:41 p.m. with an epicenter in the village of Tabanli, 10 miles (17 kilometers) from Van, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

State-run TRT television reported that 59 people were killed and 150 injured in the eastern town of Ercis, 25 others died in Van and a child died in the nearby province of Bitlis.

Turkish scientists estimated that up to 1,000 people could already be dead, due to low local housing standards and the size of the quake.

The hardest hit was Ercis, a city of 75,000 close to the Iranian border, which lies on the Ercis Fault in one of Turkey's most earthquake-prone zones. Van, some 55 miles (90 kilometers) to the south, also suffered substantial damage.

As many as 80 buildings collapsed in Ercis, including a dormitory, and 10 buildings collapsed in Van, the Turkish Red Crescent said. Some highways also caved in, CNN-Turk television reported.

NTV television said hundreds of injured people were treated at the state hospital in Ercis. Survivors in Ercis complained of lack of heavy machinery to remove chunks of cement floors that pancaked onto each other, NTV television reported.

"There are so many dead. Several buildings have collapsed. There is too much destruction," Ercis mayor Zulfikar Arapoglu told NTV television. "We need urgent aid. We need medics."

In Van, terrified residents spilled into the streets screaming. Rescue workers and residents scrambled, using only their hands and basic shovels, to save those who were trapped.

Residents sobbed outside the ruins of one flattened eight-story building, hoping that missing relatives would be rescued.

Witnesses said eight people were pulled from the rubble, but frequent aftershocks were hampering search efforts, CNN-Turk reported.

U.S. scientists recorded eight aftershocks within three hours of the quake, including two with a magnitude of 5.6.

Serious damage and casualties were also reported in the district of Celebibag, near Ercis.

"There are many people under the rubble," Veysel Keser, mayor of Celebibag, told NTV. "People are in agony, we can hear their screams for help. We need urgent help."

He said many buildings had collapsed, including student dormitories, hotels and gas stations.

Nazmi Gur, a legislator from Van, was at his nephew's funeral when the quake struck. The funeral ceremony was cut short and he rushed back to help with rescues.

"At least six buildings had collapsed. We managed to rescue a few people, but I saw at least five bodies," Gur told The Associated Press by telephone. "There is no coordinated rescue at the moment, everyone is doing what they can."

"It was such a powerful temblor. It lasted for such a long time," Gur said. "(Now) there is no electricity, there is no heating, everyone is outside in the cold."

Many residents fled Van to seek shelter with relatives in nearby villages.

"I am taking my family to our village, our house was fine but there were cracks in our office building," Sahabettin Ozer, 47, said by telephone as he drove to the village of Muradiye.

NTV said Van's airport was damaged and planes were being diverted to neighboring cities.

Authorities had no information yet on remote villages but the governor was touring the region by helicopter and the government sent in tents, field kitchens and blankets. Some in Ercis reported shortages of bread, Turkey's staple food, due to damages to bakeries.

Houses also collapsed in the province of Bitlis, where an 8-year-old girl was killed, authorities said, and the quake toppled the minarets of two mosques in the nearby province of Mus.

There was no immediate information about a recently restored 10th century Armenian church, Akdamar Church, which is perched on a rocky island in the nearby Lake Van.

Turkey lies in one of the world's most active seismic zones and is crossed by numerous fault lines. Lake Van, where Sunday's earthquake hit, is the country's most earthquake-prone region.

The Kandilli observatory, Turkey's main seismography center, said Sunday's quake was capable of killing many people.

"We are estimating a death toll between 500 and 1,000," Mustafa Erdik, head of the Kandilli observatory, told a televised news conference.

The earthquake also shook buildings in neighboring Armenia and Iran.

In the Armenian capital of Yerevan, 100 miles (160 kilometers) from Ercis, people rushed into the streets fearing buildings would collapse but no damage or injuries were immediately reported. Armenia was the site of a devastating earthquake in 1988 that killed 25,000 people.

Sunday's quake caused panic among residents in several Iranian towns close to the Turkish border, and cut phone links and caused cracks in buildings in the city of Chaldoran, Iranian state TV reported. The quake was also felt in the northeastern Iranian towns of Salmas, Maku, Khoi but no damage was immediately reported.

Israel on Sunday offered humanitarian assistance despite a rift in relations following an 2010 Israeli navy raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that left nine Turks dead. In September, Turkey expelled the Israeli ambassador and suspended military ties because Israel has not apologized. Israel has sent rescue teams to Turkey for past earthquakes in times of closer ties.

Turkey sees frequent earthquakes. In 1999, two earthquakes with a magnitude of more than 7 struck northwestern Turkey, killing about 18,000 people.

More recently, a 6.0-magnitude quake in March 2010 killed 51 people in eastern Turkey, while in 2003, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake killed 177 people in the southeastern city of Bingol.

Turkey's worst earthquake in the last century came in 1939 in the eastern city of Erzincan, causing an estimated 160,000 deaths.

Istanbul, Turkey's largest city with more than 12 million people, lies in northwestern Turkey near a major fault line. Authorities say Istanbul is ill-prepared for a major earthquake and experts have warned that overcrowding and faulty construction could lead to the deaths of over 40,000 people if a major earthquake struck the city.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2011-10-23-EU-Turkey-Quake/id-0b61e3d104e845a7ad6972d630fbf989

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Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility return to Gaza

By Gerri Haynes

(Gerri Haynes, a former president of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, will be sending back reports from inside blockaded Gaza. As she did three times before, Gerri organized a team of doctors and other health care providers to work in hospitals and clinics in Gaza in an effort to directly help the people there and to bring attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis that the Israeli blockade has created.)

Five members of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility and one intrepid member of Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility arrived in Gaza yesterday ? hoping to provide medical care and consultation to this besieged population. This is the fourth WPSR delegation to travel to Gaza in the last two years.

The 1.6 (or more) million people of this small strip of land are captives of a situation that offers them no free access to the rest of the world. Once, they were able to move relatively freely through Palestinian and Israeli lands. Many Gazans worked daily in Israel. Many visited their families in the West Bank. For nearly five years, the only ?free? movement has been through the dangerous tunnels that connect southern Gaza with Egypt. More on that below!

We made our way to Gaza through Israel, Jerusalem and Bethlehem, meeting interesting people along the way.

Amos Givertz, an Israeli working to help the Bedouin population of the Negev Desert (Photo by Bob Haynes).

Amos Givertz of Shefayim Kibbutz is a strong advocate for peace. We met Amos for dinner and breakfast in the kibbutz hotel. Israeli authorities are moving the Bedouin population of the Negev Desert from their homes ? clearing the land for development by Israel. Amos, with other Israelis, works with Bedouins to protest and prevent these ?relocations? of entire villages. His work is voluntary and compelling ? and heroic. He says a two-state solution would define land borders and stop the process of Israel pushing the Palestinians from their land ? that an initial one-state solution would make the future for Palestinians more problematic.

Laura Wharton is a member of the left-wing Meretz Party in Israel and was elected to serve (without pay) on the Jerusalem City Council. She met with our group at the Notre Dame Hotel to talk about actions to increase services to Palestinians living in East Jerusalem. She says Arabs are rapidly immigrating to East Jerusalem and the cost of housing is sky-rocketing. Issues of water and infrastructure such as schools in East Jerusalem remain challenging for the City Council. One complicating factor for management of City finances is the presence of a large number of ultra-orthodox Jews in West Jerusalem. The ultra-orthodox do not have to work, serve in the military or pay taxes, yet receive social services and stipends for studying in the Yeshiva.

We were to cross (by permit) into Gaza on Thursday but the border was closed for a holiday. Friday morning, we crossed through to the Gaza side with no difficulties and were joyfully greeted by our hosts from the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme. Gaza has experienced many attacks by the Israeli military since our last visit here and we witnessed some of the building destruction as we traveled.

Our group is comprised of three physicians and three nurses and following a brief tour, Rich Grady and Laura Hart began their work by screening more than 30 urology patients.

During our tour, we witnessed several community celebrations ? people gathering in the streets ? welcoming home prisoners who were released this week by Israel in the prisoner exchange for the Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit.

The young creator of this artwork was recently slain in an Israeli raid.

We stopped to meet with one prisoner who was held for 26 years in various Israeli jails for having participated in protests against the Occupation. He said he had not killed anyone. Sitting near this prisoner was his son, an attorney, who was eight months old when his father was imprisoned and the prisoner?s brother whose own son was killed recently in Gaza in a targeted assassination by Israeli forces. The released prisoner requested that Human Rights activists seek a review of conditions in Israeli jails. He learned two days prior to his release that he was to be set free. He had had no contact with his family since 1995.

Traveling south, we stopped at the Rafah border to witness the preparation of another tunnel from Gaza to Egypt. These tunnels carry goods into Gaza and provide a lifeline around the ongoing siege while the people of Gaza continue to hope for a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Palestine and Israel.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LookingForTrouble/~3/gSy4lYFg1Yg/

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Union Lutheran youth raise money for tornado relief

Saturday, October 22, 2011 12:00 AM | Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend |

Abby Deaton works on a project for Sonshine Kids. Submitted photo.

Beavis Norris looks over the items for sale by the Sonshine Kids. Submitted photo.

Sonshine kids work on projects to raise money. Submitted photo.

The Sonshine Kids sold things like these flower pots to raise money for tornado relief. Submitted photo.

The Sonshine Kids have raised more than $2,000 for tornado relief. Submitted photo.

A group of 15 children at Union Lutheran Church have learned that their efforts really can make a difference.

Through fundraising efforts, the group helped raised more than $2,200 that will go to tornado victims.

They raised the money through ?God?s Little Art Gallery,? held for the first time recently at Union Lutheran Church.

The event showcased the arts and crafts of a group of the Sonshine Kids, who meet Wednesdays from 4:30 to 5:30.

In April, Ann Brady says, the kids ?couldn?t stop talking about? the tornadoes that had hit.

?They were so concerned about the people affected by the tornadoes.?

So they began to talk about what they could do, and someone suggested selling their art.

So this summer, they spent every Wednesday afternoon making things to raise money for North Carolina tornado victims

They painted pictures with fingerprints paints, decorated clay pots of all sizes with paint and other items, made tithing boxes, bookmarks with watercolor art and hand painted coasters with stencils and Bible verses. Donated flowers and plants were added to some of the pots and others were filled with all kinds of small treats and gifts.

?The kids are so proud of themselves,? Brady says. ?They worked really hard. I was proud of them. They gave their time, energy and talents.?

In addition to their arts and crafts, with help from church members and the community, a silent auction of themed baskets was offered, along with a bake sale and spaghetti supper.

The ?Sonshine Kids? offered their voices in eight beautiful songs, including a song of thankfulness to those attending.

More than $2,200 has already been raised, with money still coming in.

Once there is a final tally, proceeds will go to the local American Red Cross to be given to tornado victims in North Carolina.

The Sonshine Kids are under the direction of Kay Morgan, Ann Brady and Tonya Brittain.

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Poor lil' fella: T-Mobile says it wants the iPhone 4S really bad (Digital Trends)

It hurts to be left out. This holiday season T-Mobile is the only major wireless carrier in the United States that doesn?t carry the iPhone 4S, and it?s Media Relations team sounds a bit sad. In a press release today vaguely entitled ?STATEMENT: T-Mobile USA 4G Smartphones,? T-Mobile?s Andrew Sherrard sounds a bit mopey. No new products or services were revealed in the statement, which doesn?t seem to have much of a purpose except to put the blame on Apple for T-Mobile not getting the iPhone. It?s like T-Mobile asked Apple to the school formal and was rejected.?

T-Mobile?s statement

T-Mobile thinks the iPhone is a good device and we?ve expressed our interest to Apple to offer it to our customers. Ultimately, it is Apple?s decision. The issue remains that Apple has not developed a version of the iPhone with technology that works on our fast 3G and 4G networks. We believe a capable version of the iPhone for our 3G and 4G networks would offer an additional compelling option for our customers on a fast 4G network. However, the iPhone is not the only option to experience the benefit that smartphones offer.

T-Mobile?s 4G smartphones stack up against competitive smartphones in terms of functionality, speed, features offered and overall experience ? including the iPhone 4S. Reports continue of iPhones not operating well on some carrier networks, while our latest 4G smartphones offer many advantages vs. the iPhone 4S:

• Capable of faster speeds
• Bigger screens
• Compelling service pricing
• More advanced camera on the HTC Amaze 4G
• More choice

We firmly believe that T-Mobile?s portfolio will give any iPhone a run for its money. We offer the increased processing power and faster 4G speeds achieved by our fastest smartphones, the most advanced camera of any smartphone on the HTC Amaze 4G, and our industry-leading 4.52? super AMOLED display offered on the Samsung Galaxy S II.

With our portfolio of Android, Windows, and BlackBerry smartphones, fast 4G network, and competitively priced worry-free unlimited talk, text, and data plans, we believe it?s a great time to be a T-Mobile customer.

It?s like a John Hughes movie

If you read the Statement like a script to a romantic comedy, it makes for some good entertainment. Here?s the plot: T-Mobile has been obsessed with Apple?s iPhone 4S all semester. Apple flirted back for a while and the two got to know each other. ?When it came time for the Fall formal, T-Mobile knew it wanted to take Apple, which is, as we all know, the prettiest girl at Valley High. Unfortunately, when T-Mobile asked Apple to the dance, Cuppertino turned it down. Full of hurt (and with millions of upset users), T-Mobile is now trying to make Apple jealous by bringing bigger, faster, and prettier Android smartphones to the dance instead. If this were a movie, Apple would soon get really jealous and jump into T-Mobile?s arms at the end of the night. Sadly, life doesn?t always work that way.?

T-Mobile is a fine carrier and, as we?ve said, it may have the best lineup of Android phones this holiday season, but it stings not having the iPhone, especially when the bar is so low. I mean, Sprint got it. If T-Mobile is still a carrier in a year, we assume Apple may consider it for the iPhone 6, but it may not if 4G LTE is the focus of the device. Either way, for those who value data and don?t use much voice, T-Mobile has a great $30 prepaid plan out in conjunction with Walmart.?

This article was originally posted on Digital Trends

More from Digital Trends

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/personaltech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/digitaltrends/20111021/tc_digitaltrends/poorlilfellatmobilesaysitwantstheiphone4sreallybad

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Old-time radio convention meets for last time

Writer and director Edgar Farr Russell III, left, directs Russell Horton, standing center, as Jughead Jones, and others during rehearsal of his "Radio Goes To War," episode, "Any Bonds Today" at the Friends of Old-Time Radio convention in Newark, N.J., Friday, Oct. 21, 2011. To devotees of old-time radio, Fibber McGee is still opening that closet and Fred Allen and Jack Benny are still enjoying their feud. But time has run out on this convention. This weekend's gathering of the Friends of Old-time Radio is the 36th and last, says the organizer. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

Writer and director Edgar Farr Russell III, left, directs Russell Horton, standing center, as Jughead Jones, and others during rehearsal of his "Radio Goes To War," episode, "Any Bonds Today" at the Friends of Old-Time Radio convention in Newark, N.J., Friday, Oct. 21, 2011. To devotees of old-time radio, Fibber McGee is still opening that closet and Fred Allen and Jack Benny are still enjoying their feud. But time has run out on this convention. This weekend's gathering of the Friends of Old-time Radio is the 36th and last, says the organizer. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

A book about The Shadow radio series sits nearby as Lauri Bortz, dressed in a 1940's outfit, looks through bins of old radio programs at the Friends of Old-Time Radio convention in Newark, N.J., Friday, Oct. 21, 2011. To devotees of old-time radio, Fibber McGee is still opening that closet and Fred Allen and Jack Benny are still enjoying their feud. But time has run out on this convention. This weekend's gathering of the Friends of Old-time Radio is the 36th and last, says the organizer. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

Lauri Bortz is dressed in a 1940's outfit as she looks through bins of old radio programs and movies at the Friends of Old-Time Radio convention in Newark, N.J., Friday, Oct. 21, 2011. To devotees of old-time radio, Fibber McGee is still opening that closet and Fred Allen and Jack Benny are still enjoying their feud. But time has run out on this convention. This weekend's gathering of the Friends of Old-time Radio is the 36th and last, says the organizer. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

Writer and director Edgar Farr Russell III, left, directs Russell Horton, standing center, as Jughead Jones, and others during rehearsal of his "Radio Goes To War," episode, "Any Bonds Today" at the Friends of Old-Time Radio convention in Newark, N.J., Friday, Oct. 21, 2011. To devotees of old-time radio, Fibber McGee is still opening that closet and Fred Allen and Jack Benny are still enjoying their feud. But time has run out on this convention. This weekend's gathering of the Friends of Old-time Radio is the 36th and last, says the organizer. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) ? For one weekend a year, the ghosts and survivors of Jack Benny, Benny Goodman, Goodman Ace and hundreds of other legends of the old days of radio hold court at a hotel across the road from Newark Airport.

The annual Friends of Old-Time Radio Convention has been meeting for 36 years. But when it signs off Saturday night, it will be for the last time. The reason is simple, says Jay Hickerson, a musician who has been running the show from the beginning: the march of time.

"Lack of OTR (old-time radio) guests. And the committee is getting older," he said.

The gathering, humble as it is, used to be able to call on a constellation of stars from the early days of radio.

Now it's down to former child stars in their 80s and 90s. Arthur Anderson, 88, who acted as a teenager with Orson Welles, is an honored guest. Grandsons of 1930s song and dance star Eddie Cantor and Brace Beemer, the voice of the Lone Ranger for most of its run on radio, are on the program.

Collecting old-time radio shows and trivia has never been a young person's game. But most of the convention-goers are too young to have firsthand recollections of the shows they're buying, recreating and discussing on panels.

Gary Yoggy, 73, has been to all 36 of the conventions.

"It's my favorite weekend of the year. It tops Christmas," he said.

Yoggy, a retired history teacher from Corning, N.Y., is part of the committee that puts on the convention. He directed a re-creation of a Tom Mix episode for a Friday afternoon program.

"It's like reliving my youth," he said. "I was a kid when the golden age of radio was beginning to die."

Simon Jones is one of the celebrity guests for the weekend. Jones doesn't exactly qualify as a Golden Age of Radio star. He played Arthur Dent in the BBC's hugely popular radio and TV adaptations of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, starting in 1978. But he's been here before and is delighted to be asked.

"I've learned quite a lot about what went on before me," he said.

Listeners who started as children, he said, make the most loyal fans. "If you can catch them that young, maybe they'll become addicted later on."

But it's not just the radio programs that bring participants back year after year.

Stuart Weiss has been part of the steering committee from the beginning. He moderates a music panel with Brian Gari, the Cantor grandson. Weiss likens the gathering to a family reunion.

"These are old friendships. But you don't keep in touch during the year. We come here, it's as if we were together yesterday," he said.

Weiss, a party supply salesman from Staten Island, was inspired by the convention to start his own radio show on the Internet. It's eight hours long.

"I can't stop," he said. The party supply business isn't doing too well these days, but "when I do my show, I forget all my problems. And for eight hours, I'm in heaven."

Sometimes the family aspect is literal. Gary Yoggy met his wife at the convention. They've been married 29 years. Jeff Muller, 45, has been coming since he was a teenager. He brings his father.

"I guess it's his second childhood, in a way," he said.

And when the curtain comes down, after Jay Hickerson and his wife Karen play "I'll Be Seeing You" and a version of "Thanks for the Memories," with special lyrics written for the convention?

Weiss joked he'll come back to the Newark Airport Ramada anyway and wander around empty rooms. Yoggy said he wants to help revive radio drama, which withered away decades ago, in the United States at least.

Jones, the Hitchhiker's Guide star, said the form remains alive in Britain. Next year, the radio version goes on a live tour.

"Obviously, this art form hasn't quite died," he said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2011-10-21-Old-Time%20Radio-Signing%20Off/id-bf1d667060cc49dabbcd778efcdd88a8

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Suicidal Thoughts Highest in Utah, National Survey Finds (LiveScience.com)

While someone commits suicide in the United States every 15 minutes, many more think about it or even attempt to take their own lives, according to a new study showing that residents of Utah have the highest rates of such thoughts while suicide attempts are highest in Rhode Island.

A study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) looked at data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2008 through 2009. Results showed that serious thoughts of suicide range from about 1 in 50 adults in Georgia (2.1 percent) to 1 in 15 in Utah (6.8 percent). [See complete list of state suicide numbers]

"Suicide is a tragedy for individuals, families and communities. This report highlights that we have opportunities to intervene before someone dies by suicide. We can identify risks and take action before a suicide attempt takes place," said Thomas M. Frieden, CDC director. "Most people are uncomfortable talking about suicide, but this is not a problem to shroud in secrecy. We need to work together to raise awareness about suicide and learn more about interventions that work to prevent this public health problem."

Though suicidal thoughts reign supreme in Utah, Rhode Island had the most suicide attempts, with 1 in 67 (1.5 percent) of adults attempting suicide there. However, only about 1 in 1.000 adults in Delaware and Georgia (0.1 percent) attempted suicide during the study period. In all, more than 1 million adults (0.5 percent of the population) attempted suicide last year.

Traditionally, suicide rates are the highest in Western states, including the Rocky Mountain states. This study, which looked at suicide attempts that didn't end in deaths and thoughts about suicide, finds a different trend. Adults in the Midwest and West were more likely to have thoughts of suicide than those in the Northeast and South, and adults in the Midwest (but not the West) were more likely to have made suicide plans than those in the South.

The highest rates of suicidal thoughts, planning and attempts were in young adults ages 18 to 29 and in women.

"Multiple factors contribute to risk for suicidal behavior. The variations identified in this report might reflect differences in the frequency of risk factors and the social and economic makeup of the study populations," said Linda C. Degutis, director of CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. "These differences can influence the types of prevention strategies used in communities and the groups included."

The CDC released the findings today (Oct 20).

You can follow LiveScience staff writer Jennifer Welsh on Twitter @microbelover. Follow LiveScience for the latest in science news and discoveries on Twitter @livescience and on Facebook.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/science/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20111020/sc_livescience/suicidalthoughtshighestinutahnationalsurveyfinds

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Sony Ericsson bringing Ice Cream Sandwich to Xperia handsets

HTC may be busy pondering its Android 4.0 future, but Sony Ericsson is apparently ready to take a bite out of Google's Ice Cream Sandwich. Yesterday, in a post on its Facebook page, Sony Ericsson's Dutch branch stated that it will indeed upgrade its Xperia lineup to the latest Android OS, though it didn't offer any details on release dates. We reached out to the manufacturer for confirmation, and received the following statement:

Sony Ericsson is currently rolling out the upgrade to Gingerbread 2.3.4 across its entire 2011 Xperia smartphone portfolio. This software upgrade will be available through a phased roll out in select markets. Beyond Gingerbread 2.3.4, we plan to upgrade our 2011 Xperia smartphone portfolio to the next Android platform made available to us.

The company went on to say that all official software announcements will be posted on its blog, so we'll let you know as soon as we have more details.

Sony Ericsson bringing Ice Cream Sandwich to Xperia handsets originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 05:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/sony-ericsson-bringing-ice-cream-sandwich-to-xperia-handsets/

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Pakistani poor hit by decision to spurn US aid

LAHORE, Pakistan?? U.S. aid could have transformed Pakistan's largest maternity hospital, where rats run through the halls, patients sleep three to a bed, women who require C-sections aren't getting them because only one operating room is functioning, and premature babies risk death because of a shortage of incubators.

But the government of Pakistan's most populous province, Punjab, turned down an American offer of $127 million for health care, education and municipal services following the U.S. raid that killed Osama bin Laden. Sixteen million dollars was earmarked for Lady Willingdon Hospital in the provincial capital of Lahore.

The government's decision was thought to be an attempt to win votes by capitalizing on pervasive anti-American sentiment in a province with a significantly larger population than France and a bigger land area than Greece. Pakistan's federal government and other provinces did not follow suit, but they may also find themselves with less U.S. assistance soon.

Pressure is growing in the U.S. Congress to reduce the billions of dollars in annual military and civilian aid because of the government's alleged ties to Islamist militants. The money has failed to persuade Pakistan to target militants using its territory to attack U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

The experience in Punjab shows that the impact of an aid cut in this poverty-stricken country would be felt most acutely by the poorest citizens, not the army generals allegedly gambling with militant proxies in Afghanistan or wealthy politicians hoping to win votes with their anti-American gestures.

Pakistan's elite does benefit from U.S. assistance, either through lucrative contracts for NGOs or by allegedly skimming off money funneled through the government. The loss of these funds may crimp their lifestyle, but it is unlikely to affect whether their families get adequate medical treatment or their children a decent education.

"The decision of the Punjab government to turn down U.S. money was not in the best interests of poor people in Punjab," said Mohammed Sharif, a senior administrator at Lady Willingdon Hospital. "It was a high-level decision, and we are suffering for it."

Hospital ceilings covered in black mold
Like many government-run hospitals in Pakistan, Lady Willingdon struggles to provide even basic care. The hospital, built by the British in the 1930s before Pakistan's independence, was meant to house 80 patients. The country's population has since boomed, forcing officials to cram 235 patients into a facility that is now run-down. Paint peels off the concrete walls and black mold covers the ceilings.

Patients are forced to share beds, and sometimes women who are close to giving birth have to sit on the floor for lack of space, nurse Kaneez Akhtar said.

The hospital also faces a shortage of critical medical equipment. There is only one functioning operating room, leaving women lined up to receive cesarean sections, a senior doctor said.

"We lose a lot of babies because of that," said the doctor, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

There are only three working infant incubators, which were donated by NGOs, said Mohammed Athar, the doctor who runs the nursery for premature babies. The hospital is forced to use overhead warmers for other infants, leaving them more exposed to disease, he said.

"Without incubators, it's useless," said Athar.

The $16 million offered by the U.S. would have been used to purchase 10 incubators, build a new 100-bed ward and expand the nursery and emergency facilities, said Sharif, the hospital administrator.

The U.S. has financed similar efforts to transform two hospitals in southern Sindh province that treat tens of thousands of patients every year.

The head of the Punjab government, Shahbaz Sharif, tried to justify his decision to spurn American aid following the May 2 raid that killed the al-Qaida chief not far from Pakistan's equivalent of West Point. He said at the time that Pakistan needed "to break the begging bowl" and "get rid of the foreign shackles."

The U.S. operation outraged Pakistani officials because they were not told about it beforehand.

Sharif is a leading member of the main opposition party in the country, and many viewed his decision as a way to siphon votes away from the Pakistan People's Party, which controls the federal government. The Punjab government spokesman declined to comment on this interpretation.

Sharif and other members of his government are unlikely to feel much personal impact from the move to turn down U.S. aid.

'Should have taken the money'
Free government-run hospitals like Lady Willingdon are mainly used by the poor, who are already suffering from Pakistan's weak economy and surging inflation. Wealthier citizens opt for more expensive private institutions in Pakistan or abroad.

A large chunk of the American assistance, $100 million, was to be used to rebuild schools in southern Punjab destroyed by last year's devastating floods. An additional $10 million was meant to improve municipal services like clean water and sanitation.

The money will now be redirected to other areas of the country, the U.S. Embassy said.

Washington has continued several programs in Punjab that don't run directly through the provincial government, such as rehabilitation of power plants and small grants to female entrepreneurs in flood-affected areas, said the embassy.

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The loss of aid for schools, water and sanitation also won't be felt acutely by the elite. Most send their children to private schools and live in leafy parts of Lahore dotted with Western restaurant chains, polo grounds and cosmetic surgery centers. The Sharifs own property in London worth millions of dollars.

The Pakistani military, which has received the bulk of U.S. assistance over the past decade, is also somewhat insulated from a reduction in aid. Its officers mostly live on well-manicured cantonments that have their own schools and hospitals that are much better than those available to the general public.

Life is very different for Pakistanis who live in Shamaspura, a dirt-poor part of Lahore filled with ramshackle brick houses separated by a narrow mud lane coursing with sewage. Most of the roughly 15,000 residents are fruit and vegetable vendors who make about $2 per day. They are forced to tie pieces of cloth across their faucets to filter out dirt and insects in the water.

"We have asked the government to pave our road and build us a sewer system, but they said they don't have any money," said Jumma Khan, a 55-year-old vegetable vendor.

Poor citizens could take out their anger at the ballot box, but Pakistani politicians often insulate themselves by bestowing favors on village elders and other influential people who direct ordinary citizens how to vote.

The U.S. may be unpopular in Pakistani neighborhoods like Shamaspura, but residents said it was crazy for the government to turn down aid that could have improved their lives.

"This is rich people denying aid meant for the poor," said Batool Akhtar, a feisty old lady wearing a dirty yellow shalwar kameez covered in white flowers. "The government should have taken the money."

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44964917/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/

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