archwebbrowsers

Federal commodities regulators settle hedge-fund supervision case with MF Global

2012-03-15T05:40:00.000-07:00

Futures and options broker MF Global Ltd. agreed Wednesday to pay more than $77 million (euro53.5 million) to settle federal charges that it failed to watch over a hedge fund charged with fraud more than two years ago.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission settled the charges with MF Global, formerly known as Man Financial.

The government said the company did not adequately supervise accounts used by Philadelphia Alternative Asset Management Co., a hedge fund that regulators charged with fraud in summer 2005.

The CFTC, which pursued the case with the receiver in charge of the hedge fund's assets, said it settled the charges with both MF Global …

Pena figures out Cubsâ

2012-03-15T03:14:00.000-07:00

ST. LOUIS — A few days ago, Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano said he wanted changes made to his struggling team, refusing to specify. A day later, teammate Aramis Ramirez said he expected personnel changes.

And Sunday — after he survived the non-waiver trade deadline still in a Cubs uniform — Carlos Pena said the bigger changes needed were ''intangibles,'' including improved ''chemistry.''

''I'm talking about our culture, our way of being, our way of thinking, our energy,'' Pena said before the Cubs snapped a five-game losing streak with a 6-3 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals. ''It takes a little bit of time, but with . . . the talent we have, there's no doubt about it. …

Commonwealth success comes in many packages

2012-03-15T00:51:00.000-07:00

At Commonwealth Packaging Co. in Harrisburg, packaging is not just the family business: it's an intergenerational affair.

Jay Maisel started the company 38 years ago in his basement. At that time, the housewares salesman decided it was time to venture out on his own.

In the company's humble early years, Maisel made ends meet by selling brown paper bags to "mom and pop" businesses. Later, the current chairman of the board managed to hire employees and moved up to more expensive matching packaging.

"The business didn't really start to take off until the mid 1970s," he explains. And take off it did. He moved the company to its current home at 5490 Linglestown Road in …

Signs good for Celtics' Allen to play in Game 6

2012-03-14T22:30:00.000-07:00

The Celtics expect Ray Allen to play when they try for a second time to win the NBA championship. Kendrick Perkins? Now that's a different story.

Allen rushed from Staples Center after the Los Angeles Lakers' 103-98 win Sunday night that forced a sixth game Tuesday night in Boston. The reason: "health issues" involving one of his three children.

Perkins watched Game 5 from the bench with a shoulder injury. His availability for Game 6 will be a game-time decision.

As the Celtics waited at LA International Airport on Monday afternoon for their delayed flight to leave, team spokesman Jeff Twiss said he expected Allen to take a later airplane …

Garrido victim in prior case: 'Don't let him out'

2012-03-14T20:10:00.000-07:00

A Nevada woman who was abducted and raped in 1976 by California kidnapping suspect Phillip Garrido says he deserves the death penalty.

Katherine Callaway Hall said in a telephone interview Thursday from New York City that federal and state prison terms Garrido served for attacking her in Reno only made him a smarter criminal.

She says, "Don't let …

Colleges Learn a Lesson in Economics // Competition Forces Many to Limit Tuition Hikes

2012-03-14T17:49:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON For parents of high school seniors waiting for thickenvelopes with college postmarks, first the bad news: A year at youroffspring's top choice still could set you back more than $25,000.

The good news, though, is that college tuition - which surged asmuch as 17 percent a year in the 1980s - isn't accelerating quite somuch these days. In fact, the rate of increase has been slowingsteadily since the early 1990s, to 6 percent in the last two years.

That's still more than twice the pace of consumer inflation,which averaged 2.5 percent last year. Even so, the decline in thepace of price increases hints at the efforts colleges are taking tosurvive in a …

Savannah River seals up 2 nuclear weapons reactors

2012-03-14T15:29:00.000-07:00

AIKEN, S.C. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Energy has sealed off access to two reactors at a former nuclear weapons plant near the South Carolina-Georgia border.

Energy officials say the P and R reactors at the Savannah River Site were sealed off Wednesday with about 260,000 cubic yards of concrete grout.

The reactors have been shut down for more than …

2 convicted in Serbia for Croatia war crimes

2012-03-14T13:08:00.000-07:00

Two ex-soldiers in Serbia have been found guilty of gunning down five elderly women and a man in a Croatian village during the 1991-95 Croatian war.

The war crimes court in Belgrade sentenced Pane Bulat and Rade Vranesevic on Monday to serve prison terms of 15 years and 12 years, respectively, for the 1992 crime.

Bulat and …

Give Todd the nod Only by giving Hundley a chance to play can the Cubs determine what he can do

2012-03-14T10:48:00.000-07:00

DENVER There are some Cubs players who would like to hold a teammeeting with manager Don Baylor and make a simple suggestion.

Play Todd Hundley. Play Todd Hundley. Play Todd Hundley.

Maybe they could sing it to the tune of "99 Bottles of Beer on theWall." Because good ol' 99 in your program, who signed a four-year,$23 million contract with the Cubs in December, is wilting on thevine.

That is the great mystery being discussed in private talks amongCubs players. Why hasn't Hundley started in the last three gamesafter hitting home runs in his last two at-bats Saturday against thePittsburgh Pirates to lift the Cubs to a 4-3 victory?

Baylor has said it's …

Tenn. to free woman whose death term was commuted

2012-03-14T08:28:00.000-07:00

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee is freeing a woman who once sat on the state's death row for hiring a man to kill her husband.

The state Board of Probation and Parole voted Wednesday to release 58-year-old Gaile Owens, whose death sentence was commuted last year by then Gov. Phil Bredesen.

Owens was convicted in 1986 of hiring a man to kill her husband, Ron. He was beaten to …

Hamelin wins 1,000 at World Cup short track

2012-03-14T06:07:00.000-07:00

NAGOYA, Japan (AP) — Canada's Charles Hamelin won the men's 1,000 meters Sunday in a World Cup short-track speedskating event.

Hamelin won in 1 minute, 28.270, .095 seconds ahead of South Korea's Kwak Yoon-gy who was second followed by Canadian Michael Gilday.

In the women's competition, Li Jianrou led a Chinese sweep …

Letters sent to stop dog mess

2012-03-14T03:44:00.000-07:00

Residents are sending out the message they are unhappy withmessy dog owners.

Two members of Hammersley Hayes Action Group in Cheadle, IanWhitehouse and Fred Statham, started yesterday to deliver 250letters and postcards to houses in their neighbourhood in a bid tocombat dog fouling.

The letters and postcards, which have been printed byStaffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC), are aimed atramming home the health dangers posed by dog mess, citing the tragiccase of two-year-old Aimee Langdon, in Manchester, who lost most ofthe sight in her left eye after coming into contact with caninefaeces in a gated play area near her home.

The literature also warns SMDC is to step up patrols ofenforcement officers on the estate

They have also unveiled an anti-dog fouling banner.

Pictured unveiling the banner on the Hammersley Hayes estateare, from left, local partnership officer Ruth Reeves, CouncillorGill Burton, district council portfolio holder for communities, MrStatham and Mr Whitehouse.

Picture by Shaun Smith

Cursed is the ground

2012-03-14T00:51:00.000-07:00

Do we discourse of West Nile Virus Mad Cow Disease AIDS, the Ebola Virus Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Cancer As our predecessors talked of Bubonic Plague Smallpox, Malaria Tuberculosis and Polio As the Egyptians whispered of the seven plagues the death of firstborns and unnatural drownings As Noah's descendants of the flood and Adam's race of weeds and childbirth As Saint John of the great tribulation plagues of fire, smoke and sulphur the seven angels with the seven last plagues As God in his heaven of keeping us challenged lest we think ourselves as gods?

Trial resumes for evangelist accused of sex crimes

2012-03-13T21:58:00.000-07:00

Attorneys for an Arkansas evangelist accused of taking five young girls across state lines for sex are expected to begin presenting their defense this week.

The trial in federal court for 74-year-old Tony Alamo (uh-LAH'-moh) resumes Monday morning. It's not clear how many more witnesses prosecutors plan to present, but all the women Alamo is accused of raping or sexually assaulting have testified.

The evangelist has pleaded not guilty. His lawyers claim the government has targeted him because of his religious beliefs. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

A series of women have testified that Alamo "married" them while they were underage.

Northwestern pushing for more Black journalism students

2012-03-13T19:08:00.000-07:00

Northwestern pushing for more Black journalism students

The dean of Northwestern University's journalism school just got back to Evanston from his fourth professional convention since he was appointed to the job in June.

"I think I'm the only dean in the country to attend every minority journalism convention this summer," said Loren Ghiglione, 60, a former newspaper editor and publisher, who said he is on a quest to increase minority enrollment at the Medill School of Journalism, one of the nation's top two or three training schools for aspiring reporters and editors.

"At the National Association of Black Journalists meeting in Orlando, I talked with people about possible openings here as potential faculty members and potential students," he said.

Ghiglione said it's his goal to increase minority enrollment on Northwestern's picture postcard lakeside campus, where nearly every graduate journalism student receives financial aid.

"High school students should know that we are trying to encourage more students of color to come to Northwestern," said the former head of the diversity center of the American Society of Newspaper Editors.

Northwestern's undergraduates are admitted on the basis of traditional standards and criteria, such as test scores and high school grade point averages, but in his effort to recruit African American students, Ghiglione said he wants to start emphasizing writing ability and reporting skills to evaluate candidates.

This fall, 24 percent of Medill's 163 undergrads are minority students, 11 of whom are Black. Last year, 23 percent were minority, including eight Blacks. In 1999, 29 percent were minority, with 14 Black students, and in 1998, it was 25 percent minority, 12 Black.

Journalism educators want to see more Blacks reporting on life and issues in minority communities, but the experience of newspapers and broadcast stations shows it's been a serious problem keeping them on the job.

"Many Black journalists are hired, but at some point in their careers, they opt for public relations jobs where they can earn more income because as you get older in journalism not everyone can be a boss," Ghiglione said.

That's not such big news, but there is an ominous factor behind many departures by Blacks from journalism.

"I don't know whether they feel opportunities are as available to them as they are to white reporters, whether it's conscious discrimination or not," he said.

"Certainly, people feel more comfortable with folks who look like them. Everywhere in society, including in newsrooms, discrimination is not necessarily conscious," he said, although its existence can be found almost everywhere.

He described the possibility of unconscious discrimination as "a question of separation or social segregation," but, he said, journalists are less culpable than most people.

"I think journalism is better than many fields in this respect. It has to explain (segregation) as well as serve a larger community," he said.

"If you talk to the Chicago Defender as well as to the Chicago Tribune, African American reporters, they will tell you there are issues (of segregation) in every institution in our society, newsrooms not excluded," he said.

In no way suggesting that minority students should look elsewhere to remedy the discrimination problem, he said human beings are fallible and at best, they can try to be "reflective" about the issue.

"Journalists, as much as I love them, are not members of a priesthood. Priests have been known to have problems, too," he said.

Ghiglione headed a company that owned a chain of New England newspapers and said the problem of profitability of a news organizations is a complex issue. He cited high earnings of news executives such as the Tribune Co.'s chairman's $6 million paycheck last year as fair in a business where shareholder value is as important as share values in any business.

"I'm not prepared to editorialize about amounts paid" to news company executives such as Gannett Co.'s chairman's $9 million in pay last year, he said.

"There has always been a need for news organizations to make a profit. Those that don't don't survive," he said, adding that young people who aspire to become reporters can make a good living, although without spectacular earnings.

"I think reporters at metropolitan newspapers are able to lead good lives and send their children to college. These things are all relative," he said.

Charges that standards are declining as TV and newspaper journalism becomes more entertaining don't bother Ghiglione.

"There has always been a lot of the low culture element in journalism. I used to refuse to print an astrology column because it's like professional wrestling," he said.

"But I know it's in the Tribune and it's there to lure people to read entertaining things as well as the serious stuff," he said.

While the very nature of journalism is changing as a result of broadcast media and changes in retailing, people will always have a need "to connect" through news vehicles serving their communities, he said.

"The metropolitan dailies used to not report anything about people of color except crimes, entertainment and sports," he said, but that's changed.

"I always like to see more voices because that's valuable to ethnic and racial groups," he said.

Article Copyright Sengstacke Enterprises, Inc.

Strauss: England batsmen still bad vs. spinners

2012-03-13T16:14:00.000-07:00

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Captain Andrew Strauss admits England has yet to overcome its weakness of batting in subcontinent-like conditions after Pakistan spinners rolled his side for just 72 in the second test on Saturday.

The incredible 72-run victory inside four days won Pakistan the series with a test to spare. Pakistan won the first test by 10 wickets with two days to spare at Dubai last week.

Both teams travel back to Dubai for the last match, starting on Friday.

England has flopped on the spinner-friendly pitches in the Gulf, and hasn't won a test series in either India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka in a decade.

"I said at the start of this tour this is the final frontier in a lot of ways — the subcontinent," Strauss said.

"But, I think the fact we got rolled over twice in Dubai meant that there was some baggage there going into this final innings."

Pakistan spinners have exposed the top-ranked team's ability to bat on turning pitches: Kevin Pietersen, Eoin Morgan and Ian Bell have put up four below-par batting performances in the two tests.

"Test cricket is hard and it exposes vulnerabilities or weaknesses that you have," Strauss said. "The good thing is you can overcome those ... but we weren't able to do it in this game."

England bowlers gave hope to Strauss' batting unit when left-arm spinner Monty Panesar claimed six wickets and bowled out Pakistan for 214 after lunch.

That meant England required 145 to win with more than four sessions left.

But England's run-chase folded half an hour before stumps on the fourth day in only 36.1 overs with only Strauss (32) and Matt Prior (18) reaching double figures.

Instead of showing some aggression against spinners, England was caught by surprise when offspinner Mohammad Hafeez bowled with the new ball.

"I suppose it's easy to get caught between two schools, whether to be patient and wait for scoring opportunities to appear or to take the bull by the horns," Strauss said.

"We just didn't play well enough, individually and collectively. Individually we haven't been clear enough with our game plans against the spin.

"We've allowed pressure to build, and each time a wicket falls it makes it harder for the guy coming in.

"As a batting unit we have to hold our hands up and say 'we haven't been good enough.' It's been pretty apparent, it's clear, no excuses, we need to be better than that.

"There will be regrets because these are the games that hurt the most."

Strauss applauded Pakistan, which ranks 5th in test cricket, and has a chance to record its first clean sweep against England.

"Pakistan thoroughly deserved their victory ... we've been below where we want to be and we need to come back and bounce back strongly from this.

"I thought in both games they've played really well, they've been a good, close-knit unit and they've got some very good spin bowlers and ultimately they played better cricket than we did."

¿Tiene Razón Bush?

2012-03-13T13:20:00.000-07:00

Independientemente de lo que piensen los cr�ticos en el pa�s y en el extranjero, el "incremento" que el presidente Bush est� planeando para Iraq es m�s que un aumento de las tropas en una nueva estrategia regional de alto riesgo. Es cierto que el plan de Bush resultar� insuficiente y llegar� demasiado tarde para estabilizar Iraq. Pero le ofrece a Estados Unidos algunos beneficios de largo plazo en la batalla regional con Ir�n pof obtener influencia.

En el centro de la nueva estrategia de Bush est� la decisi�n de conducir la lucha directamente hacia la milicia m�s poderosa de Iraq, el ej�rcito Mahdi. Bajo el control nominal del cl�rigo militante Moqtada al-Sadr, el grupo se ha convertido en la fuerza de combate m�s grande y mejor armada de Iraq y tiene su propia agenda pol�tica y de seguridad.

El ej�rcito Mahdi ya ha intercambiado fuego con las tropas estadounidenses, particularmente durante las duras batallas por el control de las ciudades meridionales de Iraq de Najaf y Karbala en 2004. Esas confrontaciones terminaron con una especie de tregua -aunque han continuado las escaramuzas-porque las fuerzas estadounidenses se muestran reacias a luchar contra los insurgentes sunitas y los milicianos chi�tas al mismo tiempo.

El Primer Ministro iraqu�, Nouri al-Maliki, tambi�n ha estado renuente a atacar al ej�rcito Mahdi, principalmente porque el apoyo de los parlamentarios leales a Sadr es crucial para su supervivencia pol�tica. Ahora, en lugar de esperar a que Maliki act�e, las fuerzas estadounidenses parecen estar listas a hacer el trabajo por s� mismas.

Si logran reducir significativamente la fuerza de la milicia, o al menos limitar su influencia a los barrios bajos de Bagdad, el gobierno iraqu� tendr� una oportunidad algo mejor de desarrollar una fuerza de seguridad cre�ble y Bush podr� proclamar cierto �xito. Como m�nimo, la nueva estrategia reconoce que el desaf�o m�s grave para la estabilidad a corto plazo proviene de las milicias en general y del ej�rcito Mahdi en particular.

Por otra parte, est� tambi�n el conflicto m�s amplio y creciente con Ir�n. La ret�rica oficial reciente de los Estados Unidos y sus acciones en el terreno incluyendo el arresto de cinco iran�es en Irbil a principios de enero y la autorizaci�n dada por Bush para utilizar fuerza letal contra los iran�es que amenacen la seguridad de Iraq o a las tropas estadounidenses-refleja un enfoque mucho m�s proyocador hacia la influencia de Ir�n al interior de Iraq. Pero tambi�n indica el reconocimiento de que los esfuerzos de Ir�n por ampliar su influeneia regional plantean el mayor desaf�o a la estabilidad de largo plazo del Medio Oriente.

Ciertamente, es muy poco probable que la nueva estrategia de Bush ayude a evitar, que los iraqu�es caigan en una guerra civil sectaria. Un incremento temporal de 16% de las tropas sencillamente no es suficiente para lograr ese objetivo. Bush insiste que pronto habr� suficientes tropas en el centro de Iraq para "conservar" las zonas arrebatadas a las milicias y los insurgentes. Pero, �por cu�nto tiempo? �Un meses? ^Cuatro meses? �Tres a�s? Las tropas estadounidenses saldr�n en alg�n momento, y todas las partes relevantes -el gobierno de Maliki, las milicias chi�tas, los insurgentes sunitas. Ir�n y los vecinos sunitas de Iraq-lo saben. S�dr sencillamente puede retroceder y esperar a que los estadounidenses se vayan.

Adem�s, cualquier soluci�n viable en Iraq requiere de un acuerdo pol�tico entre los iraqu�es, que a su vez depender� de la voluntad que tengan para negociar. Se deben redactar leyes que garanticen un reparto justo de los ingresos petroleros de Iraq, y todas las facciones deben confiar en que lo que se acuerde se aplicar�,. Es necesario convencer a los sunitas de que ni su condici�n minoritaria ni su antigua participaci�n en el partido Ba'ath de Saddam Hussein los excluir�n de la vida pol�tica y econ�mica.

Pero ahora los sunitas y los chi�tas se est�n matando entre s� en cantidades cada vez mayores y la nueva agresividad de las fuerzas estadounidenses har� que los acuerdos sean casi imposables. No es realista esperar que los pol�ticos iraqu�es hagan sacrificios sustanciales mientras sus electores luchan contra los estadounidenses y entre s�.

Por �ltimo, la estrategia de Bush ya encara retos en casa. Pocos estadounidenses -y por lo tanto pocos legisladores estadounidenses-tienen mueha confianza en el liderazgo de Bush en cuanto a Iraq. Si la nueva estrategia no produce resultados positivos y tangibles en unos cuantqs meses, el continuo redoblar de los tambores que piden el retiro de las tropas ser� ensordecedor. Un aumento brusco de las bajas estadounidenses reforzar�a la presi�n para salir.

Con todo, la nueva estrategia tiene algunos beneficios. En primer lugar hace a un lado a Maliki, lo que significa que �ste saldr� menos da�ado pol�ticamente que si se le identificara directamente con los ataques estadounidenses contra los chi�tas iraqu�es. Las acciones estadounidenses provocar�n criticas en el sentido de que Maliki es impotente o un t�tere de los Estado Unidos, pero esas acusaciones ya se han hecho. Nada podr�a ser peor para Maliki que autorizar expl�citamente los ataques contra las milicias chi�tas, y la supervivencia a corto plazo de su gobierno es fundamental para que se logren avances en los desaf�os pol�ticos a que se enfrentan todas las facciones iraqu�es.

En segundo lugar, la nueva estrategia mantendr� en retirada al ej�rcito Mahdi.

La milicia de Sadr amenaza con convertirse r�pidamente en el equivalente de Jezbol� en Iraq: un ej�rcito privado bien armado, con v�nculos pol�ticos y una pol�tica exterior propia. Mientras m�s puedan desgastar las fuerzas estadounidenses la posici�n del ej�rcito Mahdi y obligar a Sadr a dar pasos pol�ticos para mantener su prestigio, m�s d�bil ser� la milicia en relaci�n con otras fuerzas en Iraq despu�s de que las tropas de los Estados Unidos regresen a casa.

Por �ltimo, dar la pelea directamente contra la milicia chi�ta m�s poderosa de Iraq y los iran�es que est�n en el pa�s alinear� mucho m�s a los Estados Unidos con sus aliados �rabes sunitas tradicionales -Arabia Saudita, Egipto, Jordania y los Estados del Golfo. Los gobiernos �rabes han estado particularmente irritados por el caos que impera en Iraq, temen que los Estados Unidos abandonen a la minor�a sunita a la merced no tan generosa de los chi�tas vengativos y expresan una preocupaci�n creciente de, que la guerra ha permitido que Ir�n extienda la influencia chi�ta por todo el Medio Oriente.

Cuando Iraq se venga abajo, como parece inevitable ahora, los Estados Unidos necesitar�n a todos los amigos que puedan conseguir en la regi�n, sobre todo a medida que se intensifiquen la batalla con Ir�n por la influencia regional y el conflicto por su programa nuclear. A falta de otra cosa, tener un enemigo com�n ayudar� a los Estados Unidos y sus aliados �rabes a restablecer los nexos da�ados.

[Author Affiliation]

Jan Bremmer es Presidente del Eurasia Group, una consultar�a de an�lisis de riesgos pol�ticos, y autor de The J Curve: A New Way to Understand Why Nations Rise and Fall.

Crede's Sac Fly Leads ChiSox Past Rays

2012-03-13T10:21:00.000-07:00

CHICAGO - Joe Crede's sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the ninth inning lifted Chicago to a 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Friday night, the White Sox fourth win in five games.

Tampa Bay's Chad Orvella (0-2) pitched a scoreless eighth but left after walking Tadahito Iguchi and Jim Thome to start the ninth. Brian Stokes came in and struck out Jermaine Dye, but A.J. Pierzynski singled to right to load the bases.

Crede then drove in Iguchi with a fly to left on the first pitch, giving the White Sox their eighth win in their final at-bat this season.

It also made a winner of Bobby Jenks (2-1), who pitched a perfect ninth, and sent Tampa Bay to its sixth loss in seven games.

Luis Terrero gave Chicago a 3-1 lead in the fourth with a long homer to left, and Tadahito Iguchi added an RBI single in the sixth. But it crumbled in the seventh, when Tampa Bay's Elijah Dukes hit a three-run homer off Mark Buehrle.

Jorge Cantu led off with a single and Buehrle hit Brendan Harris with two out. That drew a warning from plate umpire Jim Reynolds and a visit from manager Ozzie Guillen. It also set the stage for Dukes, who missed two games amid allegations by his estranged wife that he threatened to kill her and their two young children.

Dukes tied it at 4 when he sent a 1-0 pitch out to left for his ninth homer.

Buehrle retired the next batter, B.J. Upton, on a grounder, but got a no-decision in his fifth attempt at his 100th victory. He allowed four runs and eight hits while walking one and striking out four in his first start since he criticized Pierzynski for showing disrespect to backup catcher Toby Hall.

That stemmed from Pierzynski telling a radio host he was disappointed he wasn't in the lineup for the series opener last Friday against the crosstown rival Cubs, which spurred a profane on-air tirade by manager Ozzie Guillen.

Buehrle was in line for the win after Terrero sent a shot that fell just a few rows shy of the left-field concourse, an estimated 442 feet away, for his second homer.

Terrero scored from second after being hit by a pitch in the seventh, when Iguchi broke an 0-for-21 skid with a single to center off Devil Rays starter James Shields.

Shields allowed 10 hits, walked three and struck out two while hitting two batters and throwing two wild pitches.

The Devil Rays wasted an opportunity in the eighth, when Carl Crawford committed his second baserunning blunder of the game.

He led off with a single - his third hit - off pitcher Mike MacDougal's glove. But after MacDougal intentionally walked Delmon Young with one out, Matt Thornton came in and caught Crawford trying to steal third before striking out pinch hitter Greg Norton. Crawford was caught in an inning-ending rundown trying to score in the fourth.

Dukes made a mistake in the third, when he stayed in the box rather than run out a dribbler in front of the plate, but he made up for it later.

Manager Joe Maddon said he lost sleep over the decision but put Dukes back into the lineup because "I felt it was time to move things along."

Dye and Darin Erstad had two hits apiece for Chicago and extended their streaks to 12 and 11 games, respectively. Pierzynski and Crede also had two hits.

Notes:@ Erstad started at first base for Paul Konerko, who had a death in the family. Guillen expects Konerko to play Saturday. ... Crede started after missing three games with a sore back. ... The Devil Rays hope to activate 3B Akinori Iwamura (right oblique strain) from the 15-day disabled list in time for Monday's game against Detroit.

Dutch Football Results

2012-03-13T06:51:00.000-07:00

Results from the 16th round of the Eredivisie, the Dutch first-division football league (home teams listed first):

Friday's Game

AZ Alkmaar 2, FC Utrecht 0

Saturday, Dec. 20

Roda JC 2, FC Groningen 5

NAC Breda 2, Vitesse Arnhem 0

Sparta Rotterdam 4, SC Heerenveen 1

Sunday, Dec. 22

NEC Nijmegen 0, ADO The Hague 0

De Graafschap 0, Ajax 6

PSV Eindhoven 1, Feyenoord 0

FC Volendam 3, Heracles Almelo 1

FC Twente 2, Willem II 0

Friday, Dec. 26

Feyenoord vs. NAC Breda

Saturday, Dec. 27

Vitesse Arnhem vs. FC Volendam

Willem II vs. Sparta Rotterdam

Heracles Almelo vs. De Graafschap

PSV Eindhoven vs. FC Twente

Sunday, Dec. 28

FC Utrecht vs. Roda JC

AZ Alkmaar vs. NEC Nijmegen

Ajax vs. ADO The Hague

FC Groningen vs. SC Heerenveen

Multifest schedule

2012-03-13T03:05:00.000-07:00

TODAY

* 6 p.m.

Opening Ceremony

Multi-denominational Prayer

130th Air Wing WV Air

National Color Guard

National Anthem performed

by Angie Richardson

* 6:30 p.m.

The Voodoo Cats

* 8 p.m.

SHOWCASE

Pendulum, Ty-G, Kawanna,

The Shizzles, Washington Fly

Girls, Charleston's Finest

Girls, Flava, Little Page Crew,

Little Page Posse, Jo'Nes

* 9:30 p.m.

The BEAT 98.7, Charter Communications, Black EntertainmentTelevision (BET) presents national

recording artists:

Prophet Jones, Coo Coo Cal, IMx, Cappadonna

SATURDAY

Verizon presents an afternoon of cultural entertainment:

* 1 p.m.

Percussion demonstration

by Mark Davis

* 1:30 p.m.

Montaneros-Venezuelan Ilanero

from Elkins, WV

* 2:30 p.m.

Central Standard Time - Latin jazz from Charleston, WV

* 3:30 p.m.

Orquesta Son - Latin salsa

from Bloomington, IN

* 5 p.m.

Baaqi - reggae from Detroit, MI

* 5:45 p.m.

Jeannie's Genies -

Cabaret-style belly dance

troupe from Charleston

The Sulukule Travelers -

Eastern Indian Dancers

Bear Tails Native American show

* 8 p.m.

Presentation of Multifest Board of Directors and the

Franca T. Martin Award

* 9 p.m.

Columbia Gas Transmission and American Electric Power presentsnational recording artist:

Midnight Star

* 10:30 p.m.

Multifest presents national recording artist:

Montell Jordan

DANIELSON: BEST OF GLOUCESTER COUNTY

2012-03-13T00:05:00.000-07:00

DANIELSON: BEST OF GLOUCESTER COUNTY

Daniel Smith, devout Christian and art school ist, has made records with a rotating lineup of his family and friends since 1995 under the monikers Danielson Famlle, Brother Danielson and Danielson, among others. Best of Gloucester County, Smith's first album In five years, is also the first that he has released on his own label, Sounds Familyre Records. His current lineup retains his wife, EIIn, his sisters Megan and Rachel, and longtime collaborator Sufjan Stevens, and ushers In a few newcomers as well. Danielson's lyrics speak of faith and devotion but these are woven in subtly and metaphorically, so that a listener may hear several songs without catching on to it.

The music bends conventions and obeys Smith's idiosyncratic whims, although the experimental departures feel more restrained here than on previous records. Likewise, you'll hear Daniel Smith's voice slide into childlike squeals but to a lesser extent than before. But as is the norm for Danielson, a joyful, celebratory tone strings the songs together.

"This Day is a Loaf" features punctuating chords, a glockenspiel underlying the chorus and a bread metaphor: "This day is a loaf / Of fresh baking bread / Start with the crust / You got big things/ Right, right on ahead."

"But I Don't Wanna Sing About Guitars" follows a loud-quietloud dynamic with emphatic bursts of cymbal crashes spaced out by a sharp rhythm over a background of meandering electric guitar effects.

"Hovering Above That Hill" is a meditative mess of jingling, rattling and incomprehensible wailing melted together.

The safer, more controlled approach makes for less groundbreaking unpredictability than previous releases such as Tell Another Joke at the 01' Choppin' Block, but existing fans of Danielson will feel right at home, and newcomers may want to choose this album as a mild place to test the water.

- Eric Austin

VMI stuns Kentucky, 111-103

2012-03-12T21:08:00.000-07:00

It was Gardner-Webb all over again for Kentucky, only this one may even have been worse.

Virginia Military Institute handed the Wildcats an early-season stunner for the second straight year with a 111-103 victory Friday night at Rupp Arena.

The upset came just over a year after Gardner-Webb's 84-68 victory over the Wildcats in Billy Gillispie's second game as coach. The sequel came in Kentucky's season opener in year two.

The Kewdets hadn't beaten a program from a major conference since knocking off Virginia Tech 72-66 on Dec. 4, 2004.

It looked like a blowout early, as VMI led by as many as 26 points. But Kentucky used a furious comeback to take the lead with five minutes left before giving it back up.

Satellite radio beaming down soon to a car near you

2012-03-12T17:32:00.000-07:00

Five dedicated satellites are floating in space and ready foraction, as Sirius and XM, two rival satellite radio providers,prepare for their nationwide roll-outs.

Sirius, which began broadcasting in four test markets in February,plans to be broadcasting from coast to coast by August. XM expectsits national roll-out to be completed by November.

XM has been broadcasting in several Southwestern markets since thefall, offering 100 channels of music, talk, sports and news, many ofwhich are commercial-free. Stations that are not commercial free willbe limited to about 6 minutes of advertising per hour, as opposed to16 to 20 minutes on commercial FM stations.

All of Sirius' 100 channels are commercial-free, but the monthlysubscription cost is slightly higher: $12.95, as compared with $9.95for XM. Both services require a special receiver in the car plus atrunk-mounted antenna. Cost of the equipment ranges from about $200-$300 for a basic set-up to $2,000 for systems that also include DVDplayers. Installation costs are extra. XM and Sirius receivers arenot interchangeable, so audiophiles who are planning to retrofitshould do some homework ahead of time.

GM rolled out factory-installed Delphi-Delco XM radios in CadillacDeVille and Seville models last November and plans to expand to 21additional GM models this year. Saab, Honda, Isuzu and Acura alsohave signed deals with XM, while BMW, Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz, Jeep,Mazda, Dodge, Ford, Lincoln, Volvo, Jaguar and Porsche are offeringSirius option packages.

Most of the satellite radio receivers are confined to use withinautomobiles. However, Sony has developed a "plug and play" receiverfor XM that also can be used in the house. The receiver plugs intothe car's cigarette lighter and has a cassette adapter for divertingsound through the car's speakers. An AC adapter will allow listenersto plug the device into a wall outlet. A magnetic antenna is easy tomove and install. Jensen has announced plans to introduce a Sirius-enabled "boom box" radio later this year. The boom box (pricing notyet announced) will incorporate the Sirius chip set, an antenna, AM-FM tuner and CD section that will also play MP3 files, CD-Rs andconventional discs.

While both companies broadcast digital signals from remotesatellites, the satellites work differently. XM utilizes two Boeingsatellites, "Rock" and "Roll" in geostationary orbit over the Eastand West coasts, while Sirius has three satellites that orbit thenation in a figure eight pattern. Sirius claims the orbitalsatellites maintain better signal elevation angles for maximum lineof sight from the satellites to the receivers. Because satelliteradio operates off digital signals, there's no static, and listenerscan expect uninterrupted service with enhanced sound quality fromcoast to coast. Closely packed tall buildings in urban areas canblock the signal, so both companies have installed "repeaters"(antennas that can be used to rebroadcast the signal) to eliminatethe possibility of reception problems.

Is satellite radio worth the investment? That depends on how muchtime a person spends in his or her car, and, to some extent, wherethe person drives. People who travel a lot for business will enjoysatellite radio's uninterrupted broadcast clarity, especially inremote areas. In addition to offering commercial-free programming,satellite providers can also provide a depth of content not found innetwork radio.

"We have the advantage of economy of numbers," said Siriusspokesman Matthew Meyer. "The audience for certain types of music,say jazz fusion, is relatively narrow, even in a large urban area.Since satellite radio draws listeners from the entire country, we canattract enough listeners to offer this type of specializedprogramming."

Sirius has seven commercial-free jazz and standards stations,including classic jazz, swing, Latin, standards and contemporary.XM's offering includes NASCAR radio, XMU (college radio), Rhyme(classic hip hop), and X Country (alternative country).

For additional information on satellite radio, includingprogramming and availability, log onto www.xmradio.com orwww.siriusradio.com.

Nina Padgett-Russin is a certified mechanic and Phoenix-based autowriter. If you have a service question for Nina, write to her c/oChicago Sun-Times, Fourth Floor, 401 N. Wabash, Chicago 60611. Pleaseenclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

Groundhog doesn't see shadow, so spring may be early

2012-03-12T13:47:00.000-07:00

DAILY MAIL STAFF

West Virginia's own furry little weatherman, French Creek Freddie,did not see his shadow this morning, meaning an early spring.

State Division of Natural Resources biologist Rob Silvester helpednudge Freddie out of his Upshur County burrow about 10 a.m. today.

No shadow was apparent, likely because of an overcast sky.

Silvester said groundhogs are usually in hibernation this time ofyear, but the groundhogs at the Wildlife Center at French Creekfailed to take their prolonged nap this winter.

Silvester attributed their lack of sleep to weather that was moremild than normal and the amount of food they are supplied with year-round.

Freddie, along with the rest of the groundhogs, would normally bewaking up sometime within the next few weeks.

The Wildlife Center officials have been carrying on this traditionwith Freddie since 1978.

Silvester said Freddie almost always agrees with the more famousPunxsutawney Phil from Pennsylvania, but officials at French Creekallow more time for the sun to come out if it is going to do so.

"Ours is more realistic," Silvester said, adding that Phil issometimes pulled from his burrow before the sun is even up.

One local weather forecaster with more formal experience disagreedwith Freddie's prediction for an early spring.

Eric Seymour, a meteorologist at Charleston's Weather Service,said the outlook for the eight to 14-day forecast is showing below-normal temperatures. Past mid-February, Seymour said, it would behard for meteorologists to give an accurate prediction.

Contact writer Samantha L. Thomas at samantha@dailymail. com or348-4819.

Summer Solstice Celebrated at Stonehenge

2012-03-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

STONEHENGE, England - Thousands of modern-day druids, pagans and partygoers converged on Stonehenge early Thursday to cheer the dawn of the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere - the summer solstice.

Clad in antlers, black cloaks and oak leaves, a group gathered at the Heel stone - a twisted, pockmarked pillar at the edge of the prehistoric monument - to welcome the rising sun as revelers danced and yelled.

Jeanette Montesano, a 23-year-old recently graduated religion student from New York and a self-described pagan, said she had been saving for a year to make it to Stonehenge, comparing the importance of the trip to the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca.

"It's not the hajj, but it is 19,000 people in a little circle. I wanted to experience something like that."

An estimated 20,000 people gathered at the stone circle in Wiltshire, in southwestern England. Dancers writhed to the sound of drums and whistles as floodlights colored the ancient pillars shades of pink and purple, and couples snuggled under plastic sheets.

Solstice celebrations were a highlight of the pre-Christian calendar. People in many countries still celebrate with bonfires, maypole dances and courtship rituals.

In more recent years, New Age groups and others have turned to Stonehenge to celebrate the solstice, and the World Heritage Site has become a magnet for those seeking a spiritual experience - or just wanting to have a good time.

But the celebrations also can attract their share of troublemakers. Police closed the site in 1984 after repeated clashes with revelers. English Heritage, the monument's caretaker, began allowing full access to the site again in 2000.

Police were deployed early Thursday to keep the hedonists from getting out of hand, and to prevent revelers from climbing the stones.

Solstice celebrations also take place in other countries, although most are deferred until the last weekend in June. Swedes will gather to sip spiced schnapps, Danes will light bonfires, and Balts and Finns will flock to the countryside to dance, sing and make merry under the midnight sun.

Stonehenge, on the Salisbury Plain 80 miles southwest of London, was built between 3,000 B.C. and 1,600 B.C., although its purpose remains a mystery. Some experts say its builders aligned the stones with the sun as part of their sun-worshipping culture.

It is one of 20 monuments competing to be named one of the new seven wonders of the world in a massive online poll.

---

Associated Press writers Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, Louise Nordstrom in Stockholm, Sweden, Gary Peach in Riga, Latvia, and Matti Huuhtanen in Helsinki, Finland contributed to this report.

---

On the Net:

Stonehenge: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.876

archwebbrowsers

Federal commodities regulators settle hedge-fund supervision case with MF Global

Pena figures out Cubsâ

ST. LOUIS — A few days ago, Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano said he wanted changes made to his struggling team, refusing to specify. A day later, teammate Aramis Ramirez said he expected personnel changes.

Commonwealth success comes in many packages

Signs good for Celtics' Allen to play in Game 6

Garrido victim in prior case: 'Don't let him out'

Colleges Learn a Lesson in Economics // Competition Forces Many to Limit Tuition Hikes

Savannah River seals up 2 nuclear weapons reactors

2 convicted in Serbia for Croatia war crimes

Give Todd the nod Only by giving Hundley a chance to play can the Cubs determine what he can do

Tenn. to free woman whose death term was commuted

Hamelin wins 1,000 at World Cup short track

Letters sent to stop dog mess

Cursed is the ground

Trial resumes for evangelist accused of sex crimes

Northwestern pushing for more Black journalism students

Strauss: England batsmen still bad vs. spinners

¿Tiene Razón Bush?

Crede's Sac Fly Leads ChiSox Past Rays

Dutch Football Results

Multifest schedule

DANIELSON: BEST OF GLOUCESTER COUNTY

VMI stuns Kentucky, 111-103

Satellite radio beaming down soon to a car near you

Groundhog doesn't see shadow, so spring may be early

Summer Solstice Celebrated at Stonehenge

Pena figures out Cubsâ