In The World

Doctors: No definitive answers on flu deaths among young

noreply@blogger.com (Felipe Mendes) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:49:00 +0000

he majority of flu deaths strike the elderly and people with pre-existing health problems. But flu also affects kids with no known medical problems and can send them into critical condition, or even death.

This flu season started slowly, and doctors anticipate the peak will occur this month or April. Dr. Len Horovitz, a pulmonary specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, has been giving booster shots to patients who were vaccinated early in the season, September or October.

"There's a decline in antibody levels, so we try to give a booster," Horovitz said. "I've been talking to immunologists [about] getting a booster-- there's no downside to it."

Although doctors advise that nearly everyone should get a flu shot, skepticism about the severity of the illness and questions about shot's effectiveness persist.

The Journal of the American Medical Association released three studies about the flu Monday. One reports that some flu viruses circulating during the 2007-2008 season were resistant to Tamiflu, an antiviral flu medicine. But those who had the strains resistant to Tamiflu did not get sicker than other patients. Read more on the rise in Tamiflu-resistant flu

During the 2007-08 flu season, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 86 pedatric deaths from flu-related complications.

The virus causes inflammation throughout the body and disturbs the functions of the body, including breathing.

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Deaths from the flu are "most likely respiratory-related," said Doug Hardy, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. "Flu can cause heart inflammation, lung inflammation." Co-infections also play a role.

Four years ago, Martin McGowan, 15, came home after trying out for his high school baseball team and slumped in front of the television. His mother, Diane McGowan thought it was unusual for her athletic teenage son.

"He just wasn't his active self," she said. "He usually reminded us of Tigger, bouncing all over the place."

He went to bed that night complaining of flu-like symptoms.

"He had a temperature," said McGowan of Nazareth, Pennsylvania. "It was 102. I knew the drill, give them ibuprofen or Motrin, give them something for the pain, and call the doctor the next day and see how it goes. That's the normal case."

That night, Martin vomited a couple of times, complained of pains in his legs and his lips were turning white. They rushed to the emergency room.

The doctors said he had the flu.

"Even at that point, I didn't understand how sick my child was in the emergency room," McGowan said. "Influenza doesn't come across like that."

The day before, Martin had gone running, which had irritated his leg muscles. The condition in his leg had developed into compartment syndrome, which limits blood circulation and causes leg pains. Doctors said he needed surgery as soon as possible.

While he was wheeled into the operating room, Martin turned to say: "Mom, don't cry. It's going to be OK."

Martin died in the operating room.

"To hear that, it's heart-wrenching," his mother said. "The autopsy confirms it's influenza, it rips your heart out."

"He was a very healthy, active 15-year-old. He hadn't been feeling well for one day. It hit him hard. It hit him like a lightning bolt. Within 15 hours, he was gone," she said.

Cases like Martin's have baffled scientists, who usually see between 50 and 150 pediatric flu deaths a year in the United States.

Typically half of the flu deaths occur in children who have degenerative heart or lung disease or immune risk factors, but the other half are seemingly healthy.

"There isn't a good understanding of why that happens," said Dr. John Treanor, professor of medicine and of microbiology and immunology at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. "There's speculation that these children, for genetic reasons, had unusual immune response to the flu, resulting in deaths."

A person infected with the flu has weakened lungs and immune system, and could contract bacterial pneumonia or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA.

Of the nine pediatric deaths reported this season, bacterial co-infections were confirmed in six. Four of them also had staphylococcus infections.

"That seems to be where a lot of people end up dying," Hardy said. "It's a combined killer with flu and bacterial pneumonia. More of the people who do die have co-infections. You don't have to be a weakened person without medical problems to die from the flu."

Diane McGowan joined a group, Families Fighting Flu and started campaigning for the CDC to extend its flu vaccine guidelines, which had previously recommended annual shots for children between the 6 month and 5 years. Beginning with this flu season, the agency extended recommendations to 18-year-olds.

"It's very sad to know that just a simple flu vaccination could've helped him (Martin)," McGowan said.

The CDC estimates that more than 200,000 people are hospitalized and about 36,000 people die every year from flu complications.

Study: 7.3 million in U.S. prison system in '07

noreply@blogger.com (Felipe Mendes) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:49:00 +0000

he U.S. correctional population -- those in jail, prison, on probation or on parole -- totaled 7.3 million, or 1 in every 31 adults.

The Pew Center on the States compiled the information from Justice Department and Census Bureau statistics.

America's prison population has skyrocketed over the past quarter century. In 1982, 1 in 77 adults were in the correctional system in one form or another, totaling 2.2 million people.

The United States has 5 percent of the world's population, but 25 percent of the world's prison inmates, the center said.

The numbers vary widely by race and gender.

"Black adults are four times as likely as whites and nearly 2.5 times as likely as Hispanics to be under correctional control. One in 11 black adults -- 9.2 percent -- was under correctional supervision at year-end 2007," the report said. "And although the number of female offenders continues to grow, men of all races are under correctional control at a rate five times that of women."

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There are also wide differences depending on the state. Georgia tops the nation, with 1 in 13 adults in the state's corrections system, while in New Hampshire the figure is 1 in 88. Southern states tended to have higher rates, with Plains and rural Northeastern states coming in lower.

"State policy choices are responsible for creating this mess and state policy choices can get us out," said Adam Gelb, director of the Public Safety Performance Project for the Pew Center on the States. "There are two things, and two things only that determine the size and cost of the prison system."

Dealing out longer sentences and putting more people behind bars have been the hallmarks of Southern states, he said.

America's record prison population has had a huge budgetary effect, according to the report, with increased corrections spending outstripping everything at the state level except for Medicaid.

Gelb said prison costs 22 times more than community-based corrections.

"If you talk to judges and prosecutors practically anywhere in this country, they will tell you if they had stronger community corrections, they wouldn't have to send so many people [to prison] for so many low-level offenses," he said.

For California, it has meant overcrowded prisons. In February, federal judges tentatively ruled that California must reduce the number of inmates in its prison system by up to 40 percent to stop a constitutional violation of prisoners' rights.

Implementing the court's ruling would result in up to 58,000 prisoners being released, said Matthew Cate, California's corrections and rehabilitation secretary, describing it as a threat to public safety.

The Pew Center on the States, through its Public Safety Performance Project, says it promotes "fiscally sound, data-driven policies and practices in sentencing and corrections that protect public safety, hold offenders accountable, and control corrections costs."

The California Catastrophe from 1,000 Feet

noreply@blogger.com (Felipe Mendes) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:48:00 +0000

Tonight, Charlie Gibson anchors World News from California, which has been on the front lines of the recession. ABC's Stu Schutzman reports from Los Angeles:

From 1,000 feet above Southern California's so called Inland Empire, you can see the ravages of this recession first hand. Town after town, Pomona, Covina, West Covina, Ontario and on to San Bernardino, the evidence is stunning. Empty parking lots at the local Ikea or Target. People who flocked here believing it was the land of ultimate opportunity are now packing up the pick-up in the front yard heading somewhere -- anywhere there's a job they'll tell you.

But the most striking scenes from the air are the backyard swimming pools. In some neighborhoods, pool after pool on street after street are the same danky, dark green hue; a sure sign of foreclosure. State officials periodically fly over, as we did this morning, cataloging the areas of high concentration. Teams of exterminators and fumigators are then dispatched to prevent these once thriving neighborhoods from turning into public health hazards. It's a measure of where this place was and how far down it has gone.

People here blame incompetent government, greed and some even blame themselves for believing the bubble would never burst. We talked to a group of Californians today all facing hard times. What some of them have to say could be quite instructive for the rest of us. Tune in.

The World Newser

noreply@blogger.com (Felipe Mendes) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:48:00 +0000

Rush Limbaugh Versus His Own Party

March 02, 2009 6:07 PM

Who is the 'de facto' leader of the Republican Party? Is it the chairman of the party, the newly instated Michael Steele? Is it one of the party's leader in Congress, John Boehner or Eric Cantor? Is it John McCain? Or is it Rush?

There was some inner party friction today. ABC News' Steve Portnoy summed it up in The Note: "The nation’s most listened-to conservative talk radio host, Rush Limbaugh, practically declared war on the newly-elected leader of the Republican National Committee today, following a television interview in which the RNC chair called Limbaugh’s show “incendiary” and “ugly.” In the interview that aired Saturday, Michael Steele, who became the Republican chairman last month, took umbrage when CNN’s D.L. Hughley suggested that Limbaugh is the “de facto leader of the Republican party.” “No, he’s not,” Steele said. “I’m the de facto leader of the Republican party.” Referring to Limbaugh’s statements that the talk show host wants President Obama “to fail,” Steele said, “Let’s put it into context here. Rush Limbaugh is an entertainer. Yes, it’s incendiary. Yes, it’s ugly.” Limbaugh responded today with an on-air diatribe against the new party chairman that ran nearly 20 minutes, alleging that Steele is more interested in being a “talking head” on television than leading the party to electoral success. “I hope the RNC chairman realizes he’s not a talking head pundit,” Limbaugh said. “It’s time, Mr. Steele, for you to go behind the scenes and start doing the work that you were elected to do, instead of trying to be some talking head media star, which you’re having a tough time pulling off.”"

U.S. to control up to 36% of Citi

noreply@blogger.com (Felipe Mendes) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:22:00 +0000

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The U.S. government waded deeper into the bailout of one of the nation's largest banks Friday when it announced a deal that will give it control over as much as 36% of Citigroup's common stock.
Citigroup shares tumbled 46% in premarket trading.
The deal will convert preferred shares that Treasury already holds in Citigroup for common shares, a shift that is designed to improve the embattled bank's capital base, which in turn will hopefully allow it to increase its lending.
The U.S. government has already given Citigroup $45 billion, for which it received preferred shares and warrants in the company.
The new deal Friday did not give the bank any additional taxpayer dollars. But the government is taking on a greater risk by assuming more volatile common shares. The market price is well below the $3.25 per-share conversion price the government is paying.
Taxpayers will also lose roughly $2 billion in dividends, because the preferred shares they are giving up paid 8% dividends. Citi suspended its common share dividend as part of the agreement.
The Treasury is trying to prop-up one of the nation's largest banks as a key part of its efforts of fixing the battered banking system.
For Citigroup, the conversion is important because it increases the bank's tangible equity, making an improvement in the bank's troubled balance sheet.
Terms of the deal
In the deal, Treasury will convert up to $25 billion of preferred shares, matching dollars that Citigroup is able to bring in from other investors, such as sovereign wealth funds.
But the move will reduce the stake that existing shareholders hold in the bank to as little as 26%. New common share investors, including other current preferred shareholders who are also expected to convert their shares to common, will own the remaining stake which could be as much as 38%.
Shares of Citigroup, a component of the Dow Jones industrial average, have plunged about 90% in the past year. With the large dilution of existing share value, Citi plunged another 40% in pre-market trading after the announcement. Still the bank hopes that the move will eventually help rebuild its battered share price.
In a call with investors CEO Vikram Pandit said the decision was difficult because of what it would do to current investors, but that the bank had little choice.
"In the end, our business is about confidence," he said. "We wanted to take definitive steps to put all capital issues aside."
Pandit also insisted that Citi management would continue to be in charge, not the federal government or federal regulators, and that decisions would be made to maximize profits and shareholder return, rather than public policy agenda.
"For those people who have a concern about nationalization, this should put those concerns to rest," he said.
Under the deal, a majority of Citigroup's independent directors will be replaced. But CEO Vikram Pandit and Chairman Richard Parsons will retain their positions at one of the nation's three largest bank holding companies.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. considers a bank to be critically undercapitalized if the tangible equity-to-asset ratio is 2% or less. Citi's ratio hovers around 1.5% now.
Citi's statement said the agreement could increase the tangible common equity of the company from the fourth-quarter level of $29.7 billion to as much as $81 billion.
At the same time, Citigroup (C, Fortune 500) announced a pretax $9.6 billion charge in the recently completed fourth quarter, resulting in a roughly 50% increase in its 2008 loss.
The charge was to write down the value of the goodwill carried on its balance sheet for some key business units. It came to $8.7 billion on an after-tax basis. The company said that will result in a full-year loss of $27.7 billion, up from the previously reported $18.7 billion.
Corporate goodwill is the value of a company operation carried on balance sheet beyond what can be attributed to its strict financial operations, placing a value such intangible items as the company's name, reputation and its customer relations.
The charge will not result in any cash drain for the company or reduce its tangible common equity. It is an accounting procedure that wipes out the goodwill of Citigroup's consumer banking operations in North America, Latin America and other key overseas markets.
When Citi announced its fourth-quarter results last month, it said it was continuing to review its goodwill to determine whether an impairment had occurred.

Barack Obama, the mixture of cultural struggle for U.S. presidency

noreply@blogger.com (Felipe Mendes) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 03:32:00 +0000

It was a ritual on Wednesday night for Barack Obama: after one day debating on taxes, death penalty or any other controversial issue, he went to a meeting of the committee. "

Legislators and lobbyists, both Democrats as Republicans, left side of the policy to meet to ... his weekly game of poker. It was a chance for Obama, then a legislator from Illinois, to socialize in the midst of the letters and cigars (or, if it, cigarettes). It was also a way for this son of a pastor of goats Africa, that lawyer educated at Harvard, author and professor, to show that it could be just another of the boys. This was not new to him.

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He had already navigated by shares of exotic Hawaii and Indonesia, for the privileged halls of Cambridge and the streets destroyed by poverty when the Chicago boy, a student and a young man. Along the way, Barack Obama, now a rookie as U.S. senator and Democratic challenger for the presidency, left determined to do things he says that will work in the White House: reduce distances, make connections, forge alliances. "Barack knows what he must do to fit and has the ability to do this," said Senator Terry Link of the state, his friend of long standing and occasionally host of poker. "He tries to win in places where no out."

His half-sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, sees things differently: "He moves between two worlds," she says. " 'That is what he has done a lifetime." From the beginning, Barack Obama mixed cultures. His father, also named Barack Obama, was a student with black bag of studies that traveled from their small village in Kenya to study at the University of Hawaii. His mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, was white and had only 18 years when they met in a class of Russian. Barack - "blessed" in Arabic-was born on August 4, 1961.

Meet the pre-candidates for U.S. presidency

The marriage lasted little of their parents. His father left the family to study at Harvard when his son was two years, returning only once. Obama wrote so poignant about the visit in his memoirs - recalling the ball of basketball that his father gave him, the discs they played for African dance and presentation of Dave Brubeck who saw together. Obama, then 10 years old, never saw his father. At the time, Obama's mother had married again, with Lolo Soetoro, another university student.

Life in Indonesia

They moved to his homeland, Indonesia, dragging Obama, in the season with six years for a land of delicacies such as meat, snake and grasshopper, where he had a pet monkey, named Tata and where there was the harsh reality of poverty and diseases of the third world. After four years, Obama returned to Hawaii, first living with his mother, then with his maternal grandparents, all coming from Kansas.

Today, Maya sees traces of three in their half brother. From her mother, she says, "he pulled the ability to make connections, to keep open mind ... His taste for adventure, his curiosity and his compassion. " From his grandmother, Mandelyn: "his pragmatism, his balance, his ability to stay focused even in the midst of chaos." From his grandmother, Stanley: "his love for the game. My grandfather ... envisaging their lives with great pleasure and enthusiasm and a great sense of possibility. "

In Hawaii, Obama was typical. And atypical. He was a student with scholarship for studies in prestigious Punahou School, a private academy where he was an "intelligent but not overly intellectual," says his half-sister. He was campy, laugh at ease and not imported to display. Obama-then known as Barry - had something to rebel. A friend remembers that both were suspended in the seventh series of play and make bets at school.

The boy gorducho that colecionava magazines in the comics Spider Man and Conan, Brittany, grew and became an adolescent who heard of the jazz saxophonist Grover Washington and Earth, Wind and Fire, who ran the old Ford Granada the grandfather, played golf, poker, sang in the choir and joined Ka Wai Hello, the school's literary journal.

Obama also loved playing basketball and this is why it was called "Barry O'Bomber." He liked to make a special move with the left hand. During his last year at the time the school won the state championship. Obama was a fierce competitor and a friend sensitive. His friend, Mike Ramos, says he lost several baskets during games of improvisation, "Obama was the guy who said: 'continue playing, do not worry. She vai come '. "

Racial Issue

"We also had a hand in introspective Obama, the face of dealing with its origins outside birraciais. Despite being in a racially mixed group of friends, he and two others among the few black students from Punahou were weekly in what became known as "ethnic corner." "He was more concerned to learn from each other than to be the only place where we felt safe," says Tony Peterson, one of the three. They discussed namoros inter-racial, education and "will see a black president in their lives."

Peterson and other colleagues say that Obama never spoke of turmoil that reveals in his memoir, "Dreams of My Father", in which he wrote about his difficulty in accepting their own racial identity and use of drugs - including marijuana and cocaine - to "take the question of who I was on my head. "

In a 1999 article by writing to the Punahou Bulletin, Obama said, one of the few blacks at school, "I probably questioned my identity more than most. As a child of a broken home and a family of relatively modest, I had much resentment of what my circumstances justified and not always canalizei these feelings of particularly constructive way. "

First job

Obama arrived in Chicago in 1985, with a university degree, a map of the city and a new job - organizer of the community. Initial Salary: $ 13 thousand per year (including money for spending on automobiles). Obama, who had worked in New York for a brief period after they form the University of Columbia, knew little about the policy, which was hard game in Chicago. But the fact of having lived abroad had given him experience as a foreigner and a natural empathy with people of power and money, says Gerald Kellman, the man that hired.

Working for the Developing Communities Project, Obama organized black churches in the industrial district of South Side, an area damaged by the loss of steel plants and factories.

The task of Obama was mobilize the residents to promote change, is making a lobby for a centre of training for jobs, is demanding more parks or removing asbestos from homes. "He seemed to listen well and learned fast," says Kellman. He says he did not like Obama of confrontations with people. But when the subject was negotiating conflicts, it was very good. "Obama has become close to many of these organizations-aged women to be her mother." This boy was very bright-I should not say boy, this man was so brilliant, but he did not impose it on you, "recalls Loretta Augustine-Herron, one of the founders of the community project. "He was direct and smooth ... He explained things in a way that does not let anyone offended. "

Women liked it very much. They the reprimiam when he ate only salad of spinach for lunch, laughed when he showed his steps to dance ( "Do you not lacked confidence, I can tell," says Augustine-Herron) and playing on their punctuality and seriousness. "If we apressarmos, Obama face of a baby will fera," they cutucavam to each other while running for a meeting with him. Yvonne Lloyd says that the Obama prepared to deal with bureaucrats, saying, who they were approaching, guiding them in saying - and offering criticism: "He was there, trying and doing strength," says Lloyd, who has 11 children. "He in energizava. When you have been owner-to-house to life and everything we did was create children, you do not know much about the outside world. He taught us. " And if there is something he did not know, he discovered. " 'Let me find the respect' was his favorite words," says Lloyd, who still called Obama of "my little boy magrelo."

Family

Obama continued around his half-sister, Maya, who visited Chicago during the summers. When his father died and she was just a teenager, Obama, almost a decade older, took a parental role, leading it to visit campuses of schools. Obama was also improving their skills as a writer, writing short stories and vivid on pastors and communities that are desintegravam, inspired by his experiences in Chicago. He showed the companion to the organiser Mike Kruglik, who was impressed by how he captured the atmosphere of the streets.

"I could not understand how he had time and energy to do this," he says. In three years as organizer, Obama has become increasingly aware of the limits of what could win and it was becoming increasingly pragmatic, says Kellman. The experience of his father as a civil servant in Africa was a story that served as an example. "He had this notion that his father was too idealistic and not practical enough ... and had not achieved what we wanted, "he adds. (Obama later wrote that his father-who was killed in a car accident - had died "a bitter man").

Obama said in his memoirs that during those years in Chicago he "left the greater isolation" felt that when he arrived and discovered that share stories of life with people he gave "a sense of place and a purpose to which aspire." He was ready to go-ahead for the school of law from Harvard. But he promised would return.

Studies at Harvard

Obama came to Harvard older than many of his fellow class, diving into a kind of incubator of the elite North American-future judges of the Supreme Court, leaders of the Fortune 500, U.S. senators and presidents. Former colleagues of class and teachers remember him as an intellect capable of mature judgement, a conciliator who was able to see both sides of an issue. "He was not someone you just wanted to read the annotations him or her voice heard," said Charles Ogletree, professor of law at Harvard who was mentor to Obama and other black students. "You wanted to hear you thinking. There was something special in him. "

The school of law had many people try to overcome the focus of competition, but that was not the style of Obama, says Laurence Tribe, a professor it engages as a research assistant. "He was not only focused on claims or results," says Tribe. "He often gave credit to others for whom he had done the work." Tribe asserts that Obama was able to deal with very intelligent people "in ways other than those irritava, he learned to move in those circles. Causou little agitation and managed to do things. "

Obama had two crucial moments in Harvard. One was during the first summer where he worked in a large law firm in Chicago and met another student who had been trained in law at Harvard, Michelle Robinson, who would become his wife and mother of his two daughters, Malia and Sasha. Another was a personal triumph: Obama reached the headlines when he was elected the first black chairman of the Harvard Law Review, perhaps the most prestigious legal publication in the country. "For us it was really a big celebration, a real milestone," said Earl Martin Phalen, a colleague of class black. "But we did not have the same meaning for him ..."

Life policy

He assumed an attitude of not hitting the chest of pride, something like "look for me, I am the first." He was aware of the historical significance, but understood that there was responsibility. With the graduation, Obama became valuable to the market. Offers of senior positions appeared to him.

He chose another direction. Back in Chicago, Obama joined a small firm of civil rights, campaign and has created a class of constitutional law at the Faculty of Law at the University of Chicago. In 1996, he was elected to the office in Parliament representing state Hyde Park-South Side in the region that includes the university and some very poor neighbourhoods. Obama later write that he believes policy as a "sport of direct contact and is not imported nor with the cotoveladas nor with the blows that sometimes received from his blind spot."

But in Springfield, the state capital, he was known for his pragmatism, which was beyond the divisions between parties, working with other Democrats and Republicans. Obama helped to change the laws on death penalty, ethics and racial profile, and won-tax credit for poor workers. But it failed in its campaign for universal health insurance. As a newly arrived in the atmosphere of closed club of Springfield, Obama also found contempt. Some legislators initially thought he was a little arrogant. "It took a while to prove that he was a face of truth," says state Senator Kirky Dillard, a Republican who appears in a commercial campaign for Obama.

"In the first two years, there was healthy skepticism," he said. That was especially true among his fellow legislators african-Americans. "The roots of Obama and his style - he avoids the rhetoric used by some racially colored black politicians - have long raised debates on their racial identity. Some black leaders and commentators have questioned whether he is "black enough". Obama says there was never questioned about it being black. "If you look at african-american society, you are treated as african-American," he said in an interview to the programme "60 Minutes" of CBS, this year. "And when you're child in particular, is once you start to be identified. At least it was so I felt comfortable for me identify, if not the core of who I am. " Being a black man shaped the lives of Obama so undeniable.

Paper and identity

In his book "The audacity of hope", he says that the senator be spared some of the "esbarrões and bruising" that many black men support. But also wrote that he had faced "the ritual of mesquinharias", including security guards who followed him in department stores, white couples delivering the key to the car with him on the outside of restaurants, confusing it with the manobrista. "I know how it is when people tell me that I can not do something because of my color and I know the bitter taste of black pride swallowed." But, throughout his life, from his childhood in Hawaii to the days of legislature in Springfield, Obama has maintained a racially mixed group of friends and political allies.

As state senator, some of his closest friends were white suburban and rural legislators. Obama also found a powerful ally in Emil Jones, the chairman of the Senate, a Democrat of the old-guard from Chicago known for breaking agreements, punish their enemies and to have several members of his family in payroll. Already counting on three years of legislative career, Obama, tireless and ambitious, challenged the Republican Bobby Rush, a veteran who had an approval rate of 70% and deep roots in the community that datavam of decades ago when he was a "black panther ".

During the campaign, Obama was persecuted by the same question: if he was "bold enough" to the district. His academic credentials matter little to some voters who felt that the Rush understood better. Obama escorregou ugly, losing the primary by 31 percentage points.

When he came to the celebration of victory, the election had already been decided in favor of Rush. "Barack was seen as someone from outside," says Link, the state senator. "He was not one of the boys." He does not desanimou. Two years later, he would start to plan your next step-a campaign for U.S. Senate. At the time, he had a network of friends and people that supported in Springfield, including his fellow poker, who saw similarities in the way he addressed the work and play.

The player

"He was a player calculista," says Link. "If he would play a hand, he knew it would be a hand he had chance to win. The same occurs in politics, too. He vai do not be done. "

Some calls it "The Speech" - a speech of 17 minutes at the opening of the Democratic National Convention that has made him a star. Obama was little known outside Illinois when he was chosen to make the important pronouncement. But he was impressed John Kerry, the Democrat appointed to the presidency, after the senator from Massachusetts had heard him speak at an event to raise funds for the party and the two have campaigned together in Chicago in the spring. His appearance at the convention July was followed by an old saying to Broadway: Barak Obama rose to the stage as an unknown, but it emerged as a star.

Comentaristas and politicians were Zooming with talks on its future-and mentioned as a possible candidate for presidency. But there was something first. Four months later, Obama, with the help of a few blows of luck, won the post in the U.S. Senate with a huge advantage over the second placed. He became the third black U.S. senator since Reconstruction.

Since then, he has had the touch of Midas: two books best-sellers, a Grammy for having written one, the magazine covers, appearances on TV, invitations and more invitations. In last fall, Obama has become one of the biggest attractions in the year 2006, rising to palanque candidates with Democrats around the country. Even President Bush understood the enormous popularity of Obama. When the senator was at a reception at the White House after being sworn, Bush warned that people would be with him in sight, only expecting a slide.

The announcement

From the moment that Obama emerged in the national scene, the question has been: he candidates to the presidency? No, no, no, he replied. Absolutely not. After two short years in the U.S. Senate, the man who was an obscure legislator recently, reversed its course. In a stormy day of February, Barack Obama returned to Springfield, the steps of the Old Capitol, where his hero Abraham Lincoln was legislature. He was making another major speech. He announced that if candidataria the presidency.

Controversial issues

Abortion - Are you in favour of the right to abortion
Gay marriage - Deixaria each state decide. It is against the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
Global warming - wishes to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050, with mandatory limits
Control of arms - People voted to let manufacturers and dealers in weapons vulnerable to processes. It supports tighter restrictions
Public health - Advocates total coverage for children and that help employees pay for insurance
Immigration - People voted for some on the border with Mexico and upholds legality to illegal immigrants, provided they speak English and pay taxes
Iraq - was against the invasion. Advocates of the withdrawal of all combat brigades by March 31, 2008
Research on stem-cells - Support the reduction of restrictions on federal funding of research with embryonic stem cells -
Taxes - Supports $ 80 billion in discounts for low-income workers and elderly

Bolivia condemns attempt to murder of Evo

noreply@blogger.com (Felipe Mendes) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 03:28:00 +0000

The government of Bolivia in this Friday denounced an "attempt to magnicídio" against President Evo Morales, who presumably would be carried out at the airport of Santa Cruz by the opposition.

The police on Thursday arrested two men who portavam weapons in the vicinity of the airport, but a few hours after they were put into freedom for Justice of Santa Cruz.

"On Thursday two people were arrested portavam a weapon of war, a mauser rifle with telescopic sights, and 30 cartridges, 30 projéteis of war, with lethal effect powerful in the hands of two people who were very close to the axis of displacement the president ", informed the Justice Minister, Juan Ramon de la Quintana.

"We condemn the country and the world that behind these actions to attempt to magnicídio there is a plot, a sinister plan whose real power still know, but know the motives. But this puzzle-the conspiracy is already beginning to be assembled," he added .

The government reported earlier attempts of attacks against Morales, but this is the first time that prisoners are supposed involved loading arms close to the president.

"They are going far, far too who should respond to this political project (the government) in the scenario of the political debate and not in the field of lawlessness, crime," added the minister in an interview with an issuing state.

Ramon de la Quintana criticized the release of suspects involved in the attack, ordered by prosecutor William Torres.

The minister described the decision as assembly of a structure of masking in Santa Cruz, where the rich Bolivian department focuses part of the opposition right to Morales, who is of indigenous origin.

Santa Cruz adopted in early May autonomy in relation to the federal government in a referendum seen as a declaration of war in opposition to government plans to introduce socialism in the country.

Will Smith and Charlize Theron promote new movie in Moscow

noreply@blogger.com (Felipe Mendes) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 03:24:00 +0000

The Hollywood stars, Will Smith and Charlize Theron come a red carpet on the night of Thursday to promote his latest film at its premiere in Moscow.

Trajando black suit, Will Smith danced alongside the Russian director Nikita Mikhalkov Oscar winner of the international festival of cinema in Moscow, which was opened with the showing of the film it and Charlize Theron, the comedy Hancock, where Smith is a superhero alcoholic.

"I love being here. This city has a lot of energy," said the Reuters indicated to the actor Oscar, while dançava on the stage.

Created 30 years ago, the festival of Moscow will give his award to a primary, 16 films that include work independent of Albania, Russia and Israel.

"I rendo tribute to the festivals of film," Theron said to journalists in Moscow before the event. "You create space for films that, by normal routes, would not have a very long time of life."

The actress, awarded to the Oscar for his performance in Monster - I wish Killer, 2004, walked the carpet using flowery dress in shades of purple.

The festival lasts one week and is a cinema of the Soviet era between two casinos, with a view to a statue of the writer Alexander Pushkin. During the event, the Japanese actor and director Takeshi Kitano vai receive an award by all of his work.

The Russian cinema is reconquering popularity and higher ticket at home, following the economic boom that has lasted ten consecutive years, driven by record oil prices.

The government states that the Russian film production companies have profits of $ 900 million in 2011, almost twice as what was achieved last year.

After boycott in China, Sharon Stone signs with jewelry

noreply@blogger.com (Felipe Mendes) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 03:22:00 +0000

Sharon Stone was in a party promoted by Damiani jewelry this Thursday in Beverly Hills. The actress will be the new face of the brand, representing the collection of diamonds and Must Masterpieces.

The good phase of Sharon comes soon after she suffered intense boycott in China, then to comment - in transition to the Cannes film festival - that the earthquake that killed around 68 thousand people in the country was a result of a 'negative karma'.

The statement traveled the world and Sharon also has been criticized by several American and British newspapers, like The Sun, who said the actress was "irresponsible".

In the event, Sharon refused to comment on the incident, but said he is "sending good vibrations and will soon be announcing its new projects." The increased production that the actress was involved in 2008 was the film Mermaid Island, but the producer - of Chinese origin - resigned after the controversy.

Amy Winehouse free themselves from suspected tuberculosis

noreply@blogger.com (Felipe Mendes) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 03:20:00 +0000

Amy Winehouse found itself free of the suspicion of having contracted tuberculosis. What acometeu the English singer was a lung infection, as noted by the examinations made in the clinic in London, where he is admitted from the day June 16.

The doctors who are treating Amy since she suffered a fainting in last Monday, desconfiavam that the singer had contracted the disease - mainly because it is an evil common among addicts and alcoholics.

The spokesman, Amy Winehouse, Chris Goodman, confirmed to the press that the author of the hit Rehab was not infected with the TB bacterium.

"What she has is a lung infection. She went through tests to detect tuberculosis and they were negative," said Goodman to People.com.

Amy internando and is still receiving treatment. The doctors responsible for their case soon will judge whether it is able to meet its future commitments: a show at the Glastonbury Festival and a presentation of the concert tribute to Nelson Mandela.

Goodmand said, "they love to do the concerts, she always wants to do these things, but it has to listen to doctors in the first."

Rapper Jay-Z faces criticism because they present a festival of rock

noreply@blogger.com (Felipe Mendes) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 03:17:00 +0000

Jay-Z and the organisation of the festival, Glastonbury, England, has faced harsh criticism for the presence of the American rapper as one of the main attractions of the event - which is the tradition of a rock festival. Jay-Z finds the controversy "ridiculous".

The rapper, who was present at Glastonbury in the next day 28, told the BBC that it is time to embrace the hip-hop and differs from "old ideas".

The presence of Jay-Z in Glastonbury was announced in February this year and since then has provided very substrate for discussions.

"I never spent for anything like this before. We are in 2008, whats up mentality is a very old, the world does not more so," the rapper desabafou.

Until the music personalities like Noel Gallagher, the Oasis guitarist, considered wrong rapper for the escalation of the festival.

Perguntado by the BBC to comment on Gallagher, Jay-Z said "will not abraçarmos what is new, then how can we progress?".

Jay-Z, which divide the main stage of the second of the festival with Kings of Leon and The Verve, said the criticism signal "barriers" that separate different musical genres.

The rapper, fans of music in the world today do not think more so. "I hear all kinds of music and is as it should be, so that world has done: mix cultures," said Jay-Z.

Rihanna was introduced in the 'Today Show' in New York

noreply@blogger.com (Felipe Mendes) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 03:08:00 +0000

The singer Rihanna, who is in New York to promote the seventh of its single disc Good Girl Gone Bad, this morning attended the programme network NBC's Today Show.

Rihanna was presented in the morning, to the public that lotava the Rockefeller Center in New York. The show opened the series of concerts of the summer programme.

Using a dancer dressed in black, with a hat-driver, Rihanna sang hits like Please Do not Stop The Music and Rehab, his partnership with Justin Timberlake and Timbaland.

Rihanna was born in Barbados, and became famous with his third album, Good Girl Gone Bad, which brings the success Umbrella, one of the biggest hits of last year.

Lily Allen running dispute with paparazzi

noreply@blogger.com (Felipe Mendes) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:19:00 +0000

The English Lily Allen, who say, is in good shape. That concern the paparazzi that pursued this Saturday 14, in Beverly Hills, where the singer passeava smoothly even be noticed by photographers.

By realizing that he was being persecuted, Lily "invited" his followers to run. There has another, the photographers were behind the singer, but lost sight of.

Lily, smiling and good humor, emerged victorious from the competition. Details: it still carried the bags of an afternoon of shopping.

Earthquake in Japan already has left 10 dead

noreply@blogger.com (Felipe Mendes) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:16:00 +0000

The number of deaths in the strong earthquake that struck northern Japan rose to 10 this Monday (16), when troops and rescue teams continue to search for survivors in remote and mountainous area that was hit by more tremors.

A fourth body was taken from the ruins of a hotel in Miyagi, said a local authority. The building was hit by a huge slide of soil caused by the earthquake of 7.2 degrees in magnitude, occurred on the morning of Saturday (14).

Twelve people remain missing, including three who were in the hotel and at least 231 were injured, according to the agency of fires and disasters of Tokyo.

More than 200 people are in shelters and trucks are taking water to the areas most affected. More than 3.5 thousand homes are without water or electricity, according to local government authorities.

About 50 people are still without aid in remote villages in Miyagi.

"I am concerned about how this still vai last, I am worried about my house," said a woman on TV Asahi in a shelter.

The landslides of land and roads assustaram halted the Japanese, but the number of dead was limited due to strict standards for buildings and the fact that the population is very scattered by the affected region.

Japan is one of the areas with greater seismic activity in the world. The country has about 20 percent of earthquakes with magnitude 6 or more in the world.

The premiê Yasuo Fukuda asked the authorities to ensure that essential services work quickly.

"I want basic services are restored as soon as possible so that the lives of those who suffered from the earthquake are stabilized," he said on Monday, according to a news agency Kyodo.

Condolências

The Japanese emperors, Akihito and Michiko, expressed his condolences for the victims of the earthquake while attending a ceremony to planting trees in Kitaakita, Akita, province of Akita, near the area hit by the earthquake.

"I hope people can return to their lives pleasant as soon as possible, because I heard that there were several aftershocks," said Akihito, according to the local news agency.

Seismic Zone

This is the strongest earthquake to hit the Japan since occurred in August 2005, which also had magnitude of 7.2 on the Richter scale and 6 on the Japanese scale, which vai up to seven points.

Japan is one of the most active earthquake zones in the world. The most severe earthquake occurred in recent years was in Kobe (west of the country) on January 17, 1995, with a magnitude of 7.3 degrees on the Richter scale and left more than 6 thousand dead.

Oil is high and sudden hits new record in New York

noreply@blogger.com (Felipe Mendes) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:12:00 +0000

The price of oil has risen súbida of U.S. $ 5 this Monday (16) and reached the record price of $ 139.89 a barrel in the negotiations of the New York Merchantile Exhange (Nymex).

After reaching a new record, a barrel of oil of the type WTI retrocedia and was quoted at U.S. $ 138.60 in high of $ 3.74 compared with the closing of Friday.

The barrel of oil Brent North Sea for delivery in August also hit a historic mark, to $ 139.32 in the second. Later, it fell to $ 138.21 in high of $ 3.10 compared with the closing of Friday.
Remember

The last record price of oil had been reached on 6 this month, when a barrel was the highest high of history in a single floor and reached a value of $ 138.54.

The surge came after a top floor of calm, where the price of the commodity deteriorated after the information that Saudi Arabia would be prepared to increase its production.

Pregão of Friday

On Friday, the price of a barrel of oil closed lower, in the midst of a recovery in the dollar.

At the Nymex, a barrel for delivery in July closed the floor to $ 134.86, with a low of $ 1.88 on Thursday (12). In London, a barrel for delivery in July (last day of quotation) sold U.S. $ 1.84, closing at $ 134.25.

"The dollar remains an important factor for the market, and there is no doubt that a strong dollar pressing prices," explained Eric Wittenauer, analyst at Wachovia Securities consultancy.

Angola ensured that there is peace in the occupied territory of Cabinda

noreply@blogger.com (Felipe Mendes) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:14:00 +0000

The commander of the II Angolan military region, which occupies Cabinda, General Jack Raul, pledged today that the political and military situation in this province is "stable and secure", despite recent "attempts to actions by enemies of peace" in the enclave.

Cabinda is the action stage of independence movement Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda - Cabindesas Armed Forces (FLEC-FAC) which takes a "war" with the colonial government of Luanda.

These statements of Jack Raul (cited by Angop), which recently assumed the duties of military commander of the Armed Forces of Angola (FAA) in Cabinda, were made during a visit by a provincial governor, José Aníbal Rocha, Massabi, municipality of Cacongo, inside the occupied territory and that is only land border with Congo-Brazzaville, to discuss a "real political and military situation in the region."

Even quoted by state news agency of Angola, Jack Raul said that "the FAA will continue to comply with its role is to defend the homeland, the interests of the state and the sovereignty of symbols and people".

He added that "any action aimed at undermining peace and stability reinante in the country, especially in the province of Cabinda, deserve answers to keep the peace."

Jack Raul also pledged that the province or the territory under military occupation, is in "real peace" and that the actions of "enemies of peace" against some targets of the state "will not change the overall stability and security of the people seeking the improvement of living conditions and supply of goods and services. "

The Angop explains that the actions that Jack Raul case started from "a group of old elements in the region of Kouiloui - Congo Brazzaville - which tried, fracassadamente, action against infrastructure in the country outskirts of the Commune of Massabi."

The agency Lusa traveled two weeks ago the main route linking the city of Cabinda to the interior of the enclave, Buco-Zau and Belize, the 120 kilometres of the provincial capital, having seen a strong presence of the FAA along the route

Meanwhile, the governor of Cabinda, in statements to the press after a visit to the interior of the enclave to discuss with the traditional local authorities (sobas), said he "awakened people and the traditional authorities to be" vigilant and attentive to manoeuvres the enemies of peace ".

"We have to be careful. The enemy does not like the well we are doing to our people. So I ask you to denounce these negative practices authorities because you are with the communities and villages," said Aníbal Rocha.

The Angop also informed that Rocha explained that efforts have been developed with the governors in the border departments of Congo Brazzaville so that in the forums themselves and within the framework of meetings of the Joint Commission for Defence and Security, is carried out a more thorough discussion on the current the security situation on both sides of the common border.

In brief, he said, are plans to hold a meeting of the Joint Commission for Defence and Security between the Angolan provinces of Cabinda and Congolesas of Niari Region, Ponta Negra and Kouilou-(Congo Brazzaville) to discuss issues of security.

The enclave of Cabinda has 10,000 square kilometers and 300,000 inhabitants and is responsible for most of Angolan oil production, and have other resources, like gold. Hence the occupation on the part of Angola.

In August 2006, the Angolan Government and Cabindês Forum for Dialogue (FCD), led by the current minister without portfolio Bento Bembe signed a Memorandum of Understanding for Peace and Reconciliation in Cabinda.

The agreement has always been challenged by the leader of FLEC, N'Zita Tiago, which continues its struggle in the province.

Montanhista if sacrifices to save woman and friend in the U.S.

noreply@blogger.com (Felipe Mendes) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:13:00 +0000

SEATTLE, USA - A Romanian mountaineer lost her life on Wednesday, August 11, to lie on the snow to protect a woman and friend of the cold.

The trio escalava the Monte Raineir when it was surprised by a snow storm. When you take account that no longer could find the way back, the mountaineers escavaram with their hands a trench in the snow.

Eduard Burceag of 31 years, deitou in the snow and his two companions damaged on top of him. When they suggested exchange of place, Burceag refused claiming he was well. The Mariana Burceag survived the storm, as well as the friend of the couple, Daniel Vlad, 34 years.

"The refusal may have saved the lives of women and friend," said Kevin Bacher, speaker of the national park where the mountain is located.
Kevin Hammonds, an official of the rescue team that attended the park to call for assistance at 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 10, described the storm as the worst he has ever seen.

Despite the visibility near zero, Hammonds and a colleague went in search of mountaineers. They find something like a rock in an unusual location, and with the aid of binoculars, can understand that the object is mexia. They were the three mountaineers who were protected from the storm.

When the trio was redeemed. Mariana Burceag was aware, but said things without consistency. Her husband was already unconscious and no pulse. Mariana was heated and brought to the base camp. An hour later, the rescue team returned to the site to search for Eduard Burceag, but attempts to reanimá it had no success.

TSE cancels nearly 2 million of securities by Country

noreply@blogger.com (Felipe Mendes) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:08:00 +0000

Brasilia- The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) announced this Friday that canceled almost two million titles in 24 electoral states of the country According to the advice of the TSE press, in all were cancelled 1,866,020 shares.

The Bahia led the ranking of cancellations: 677,790 voters have lost the title. Only there was no revision in Amapa, Roraima and the Federal District. The purpose of the review is settled electoral register, to prevent fraud and irregularities.

In the month of September 2007, the TSE decided to review the electorate in 1128 municipalities of the country, almost one fourth of the 5,564 Brazilian cities.

According to the advice of the TSE, Article 92 of Law on Elections determines the review when "the number of voters of the city is more than 80% of the population, total shipments of titles for the current year is 10% higher in relation the transfer of the previous year and the electorate is more than twice the population between 10 and 15 years, also added with more than 70 years. " According to the TSE, the three requirements must be met simultaneously.

Cuba sends accused of paedophilia back to the U.S.

noreply@blogger.com (Felipe Mendes) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:06:00 +0000

HAVANA (AP) - Cuba sent this Friday a fugitive the U.S. back to the United States, where he is accused of sexually abusing a minor and possession of child pornography.
The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Leonard Auerbach came into Cuba by Mexico on April 8 and, on May 7, was arrested thanks to information provided by the U.S. authorities.
In a statement sent to the press in April, the U.S. authorities said they Auerbach, 61, who lived in California and expert in mortgages, was on the list of "most wanted" by keeping sex with children and possess pornographic pictures of a girl in Costa Rica.
The Cuban government said it decided to act because "the charges that weigh against him in the United States are serious and fought strongly by our authorities."
Cuba added that found no evidence that the U.S. has committed crimes in Cuba.
Cuba and the United States, which are only 140 kilometers away, do not maintain diplomatic relations, but Cuba had sent the U.S. fugitives back to their country.

Bush and Benedict 16 amid talk to the gardens of the Vatican

noreply@blogger.com (Felipe Mendes) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:04:00 +0000

VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Benedict 16 received the U.S. President, George W. Bush, on a surprisingly warm on Friday in the Vatican Gardens, before the leader resume its campaign to convince Europe to accept the imposition of new sanctions against Iran

Under a strong security scheme, Bush was taken from the bustling centre of Rome for idyllic scenery. While passarinhos trinavam, the two joined in a restored medieval tower where he talked privately for 30 minutes.
"I am very honoured, very honoured," said Bush the Catholic leader.
After the meeting in the tower, the two were on a terrace to enjoy the views of the 44 hectares of gardens, old buildings and walls that form the Vatican City.
Bush asked: "How big it?" An adviser to the Vatican replied: "Not as big as Texas." The North American president said then: "Yes, but more important. This is spectacular."
The conversation in the tower, the garden walk by and presentation performed by a choir while the two were seated in chairs, wood accounted for a pause in the normal protocol of the North American leader.
The meeting of Bush with the pope was the first in which the Catholic leader received a head of state out of his office particular. The attitude wanted to return to the U.S. President hospitality with which Benedict received 16 in the White House in April, when the pontiff completed 81 years of age.
Later, Bush flew to Paris, where he would continue with its spin by Europe. The leader should make a speech within the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and then meet with the president of France, Nicolas Sarkozy.
Montou is a great scheme of security around the Vatican City - police formed strips of insulation on the streets, officials responsible for identifying suspects postavam up on top of buildings and ended up secondary streets closed to the case of Bush, because of a emergency, having to leave the area through an alternate route.
The predecessor of Benedict 16, John Paul 2, had commanded a campaign against the invasion of Iraq, led by the U.S. and in 2003. But the president and pontiff agreed that about several issues, including abortion, same-sex marriage and stem-cell research with embryonic.
In a statement, the Vatican said that Bush and Benedict 16 talked about "the defence of fundamental moral values" as well as on peace in the Middle East, on globalisation and the crisis of food.
A spokesman for House Banking said that the two had "established a good relationship," which allowed them to talk about a number of issues, including AIDS, Africa and combating poverty.

Federal Police conducts operation and holds the newborn son of governor and 11 more

noreply@blogger.com (Felipe Mendes) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 18:59:00 +0000

Around 190 police involved in "Operation Hygieia" to meet 13 warrants of arrest and 42 search and seizure in Rio Grande do Norte (RN) and Paraiba (PB). According to the advice of the FP, 11 people were arrested in newborns and one in Paraiba. There is still a prison to be done also in newborns.

Also according to the PF, the group promoted the diversion of public funds, mainly in health, through contracts with companies kept the two states. The contracts were awarded and extended through the payment to civil servants.

According to the FP, there was also the practice of corruption of public officials and trafficking of influence for emergency hiring.

The investigations began in late 2005 and were conducted by the Regional Superintendent of Police Federal do Rio Grande do Norte.

The payment of monthly bills of contracts carried out illegal amounts to $ 2.4 million per month. The values of contracts fraudados reach the sum of over $ 36 million, throughout the period investigated.

The prisoners can answer for the crimes of ideological falsehood, embezzlement, corruption, prevarication, trafficking in influence, the auction fraud, improper exemption from bidding, sponsorship of private interest and improper contract extension. Penalties cominadas alone range from 3 months to 12 years' imprisonment.

The advice of the Governor Vilma de Faria was contacted by the press but did not rule on the case.

According to the PF, so far, were arrested the following people:

Lauro Maia (son of the Governor)
Joao Henrique Lins Bahia (interim Secretary of Sports)
Eleonora Maria Lopes Castim (wife of Secretary for Security)
Michael Anderson Silva
Jana Alves
Mauro Bezerra da Silva
Rosa Maria da Figueira Caldas House Presentation
Marco Antonio France
Ulysses Fernandes de Barros
Francisco Alves Filho Souza
France Joao Antonio de Oliveira
Hérberth Florentino Gabriel

Lula discuss municipal elections in ministerial meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Felipe Mendes) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:56:00 +0000

The President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva meets today with the ministry, from 9.30, in the Oval room of the Planalto Palace, to define the conduct of the direct aids during the dispute in the municipalities. Concerned to prevent new cracks in the allied base in Congress, formed by 14 parties, they will ask the ministers that no rise in longlines outside their electoral redoubt, according to a person close to the president. Also vai hear suggestions of the team.

The meeting was suggested by Minister José Múcio, the Secretariat of Institutional Relations, which warned the president about problems that already occur on the basis ally as a result of the election process. In many of the capitals and cities with more than 200 thousand voters, there are disputes between candidates of parties that form the basis for sustaining the government. The president warned that Lula does not want to climb on longlines in the first inning. He asks only votes in the second round, where only one ally is in dispute.

Probably, the meeting today will be the last before the closing of Plateau for reform. From the second half, Lula will ship in another building of Brasilia. The ministerial meeting today, which should extend the afternoon, is the 18 th since the first possession of the president in five years and half of government and 4 of the second term. The last meeting between Lula with its 37 ministers took place on January 23 this year. At the time, he charged the auxiliary greater dialogue with the parties allies. The leaders of the government in Congress complain that the ministers do not meet the basic litigation.

Today will debut in the ministerial meeting of Carlos Minc, Environment, and Mr Jose Pimentel petista (EC) will take on Wednesday the portfolio of Welfare in place of Luiz Marinho, who compete for the mayoralty of San Bernardo. It will also be the debut of Luiz Eduardo Barreto, interim Tourism since last week. He replaces Marta Suplicy, who disputará the elections in São Paulo. Both Marta Marino asked about the presence of Lula in longlines. The president may make an exception. He should help Marino in St. Bernard, where apartment.

Actress Cybele Dorsa follows admitted after an accident in SP

noreply@blogger.com (Felipe Mendes) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:53:00 +0000

The actress and writer Cybele Dorsa, of 33 years, still admitted in the Hospital Oswaldo Cruz, region of Paradise, in southern Sao Paulo. She suffered a serious accident Saturday in a car on Avenue Garden City, also in the area south of the city.

A friend of the actress, who ran the vehicle, died. The actress rising to a party, when the car in which she and a friend traveled fought against pole.

Cybele Dorsa had fractures in the arm and leg. She was initially taken to the Hospital das Clinicas removed and then to the Hospital Oswaldo Cruz, where he was subjected to a surgery for the placement of pins.

The latest information is that the actress is recovering well from the operation, is admitted in a room and not at risk of death, according to the advice of the press at the hospital.

Dorsa is also presenter of radio Transamérica and author of the book "Men in Pocket", which deals with aspects of male personality. In April, the actress was cover of Playboy magazine, when posou naked for photographer JR Duran in test based on the parades of grife Victoria's Secret.

FX CHANNEL AMERICAN CANCELA 'DIRT', A SERIES OF COURTENEY COX

noreply@blogger.com (Felipe Mendes) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:43:00 +0000

The curse afflicting the actors of "Friends" continues! His new victim is Courteney "Monica" Fox Arquette, whose series "Dirt" has just been cancelled by the American channel FX.

Who gave the bad news was the very Courteney during the event benefit "A Time For Heroes" held this Sunday in Los Angeles. When asked about the third season of the drama, it was lacônica: "has just been cancelled."

Nevertheless, the actress is optimistic and has a number of projects with her husband David Arquette: "We are producing a lot."

For here, the end of the first season - with lesbian kiss between Courteney Cox and Jennifer Aniston - was displayed in last Sunday (8). The second year is to debut here in the last quarter of 2008.

Earthquake in southern Greece leaves 2 dead and 50 injured

noreply@blogger.com (Felipe Mendes) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:39:00 +0000

An earthquake of intensity 6.5 on the Richter scale hit the southern Greece on Sunday, killing at least two people and leaving 50 others injured, besides destroying houses and a military base, authorities reported.
Residents rushed in panic to the streets and some jumped drawn when the earthquake that was felt even in Italy, occurred (at 9.25 am the time of Brasilia) to 54 km south of the port city of Patras.
The tremor also caused desabamentos of land and banned a wide road.
"We had two deaths as a result of the earthquake," said the Greek Minister of Interior, Prokopis Pavlopoulos. "There are many more injured. (Rescue teams) are in the affected areas since the beginning, and even more are on the way."
A man was found dead under a wall in desabada Kato Achaia, near the epicenter, while a woman of 80 years, from a village nearby, died in hospital suffering from injuries.
"I never felt a thing before, I mergulhei for under the table and expect that end," told Reuters by telephone, the student Vassilis Lambropoulos, of Patras.
"When completed, the entire neighborhood went to the streets and tried to connect to its known, but the communications network was congested, raising the fear," he added.
Teams of regaste concentrated their efforts on Kato Achaia, where the greatest damage apparently occurred, a police officer told Reuters.
The Greek television showed images of residents in the wreckage revirando panic trying to find their belongings, while others vagavam through the streets confused and afraid.
At least four persons including a girl who was arrested in houses that desabaram, were rescued soon after the earthquake, according to firefighters.
There are also reports of two more people arrested in the rubble in Kato Achaia, which was not confirmed by authorities.
Tremor side continued to occur, with many residents of the area were preparing to spend the night outside the home and in cars, for fear of recurrence.
"My life passed in front of my eyes," said Aphrodite Arachoviti, 22 years, the Reuters by telephone. "I never spent on anything like that. Many people are still out there. They go to sleep on the streets tonight."
The federal highway Athens-Patras was blocked by a collapse of land caused by the earthquake, interditando one of the main routes of transportation in the South. The authorities worked to reopen it.
The tremors were felt as far as southern Italy, but official in the region found no damage or victims.
The earthquake was felt in Athens, where 143 people died in 1999 in an earthquake of 5.9 on the Richter scale. Greece is frequently hit by earthquakes, most without major damage.
In January, an earthquake of 6.5 on the Richter scale shook Greece, with the epicenter also in the Peloponnese peninsula. (Reportage additional Michele Kambas in Cyprus and Phillip Pulella in Italy).