Portraits of Delhi's Water Crisis

Anna da Costa, contributor

This area will be submerged if the Renuka Dam is built as planned (Image: Neeraj Doshi )

Over the last few months there have been increasingly loud murmurs of discontent over Delhi's proposed Renuka Dam. Planned for construction 300 kilometres outside the capital in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, the dam will be designed to meet a third of the city's burgeoning water demand and provide 40 megawatts of power to Himachal. But not everyone is firmly behind the ?480 million project. With the dam in place, the homes of 750 families in 37 villages, 1,700,000 trees, a diverse range of wildlife and 1630 hectares of agricultural land will all be under water. And the kicker: Delhi doesn't need it.

This contradiction was the subject of Delhi's Might, Renuka's Plight, a photography exhibition held at the Jai Bharat Centre this week. A social investor turned photographer, Neeraj Doshi believes in meeting environmental and social challenges of our times with novel solutions, and hopes photography will help him make his case. "Sometimes pictures can be far more powerful than words", he says.

Tara Devi, a dalit farmer, looks at the land she will lose to the dam (Image: Neeraj Doshi )

Doshi's pictures sketch life on both sides of the dam. In the green areas of Himachal, a woman cooks dinner over an outdoor stove, as grassy hills "notified for submergence" stretch into the distance behind her. Farmers tend their doomed fields with sober expressions - perhaps looking towards a future as city construction workers. Yet as the images shift to the city, one sees dripping pipelines, disused and sullied water bodies, polluted riverways, and overflowing tanks - portraits of waste.

"People in Delhi need to realize that dams are short-term solutions," explained Doshi. "This is not a problem of supply, but of wastage and poor management."

Close to half of Delhi's public water supply is lost in leaky distribution and non-metered connections. Further supplies (an estimated 15-20 billion litres) could also be captured by improving the city's 900 storage structures. City-based rainwater harvesting, for example, has tremendous potential to improve supply, Doshi argues, pointing to recent efforts in Bangalore, and even at a few sites in Delhi.

In addition to improving efficiency, Doshi is eager to address the issue of inequity as well. "At 200 liters per day, Delhi has the highest per capita usage of water in the country, yet many - particularly in the slum areas - remain without access."

Tales of India's looming water crisis are not new, nor is Renuka the first controversial dam or Delhi the only wasteful city. 2010 estimates suggest demand will exceed supply by 50 percent in just 20 years. Yet Doshi, along with the organizers at the Jai Bharat Centre, believes facts and figures on their own aren't enough to get the point across.

"Pictures are, many times, far more accessible than words," said Dipanwita Das, one of the Jai Bharat founders.

And indeed, while this exhibition is about the Renuka Dam, it also serves, more broadly, to highlight contradictions around resource supply and demand across much of India. Doshi hopes the images will make visitors think about how they are connected to these larger problems.

"This is not about assigning blame," he said. "We are all a part of the problem, but we can all be part of the solution too."

"So many such stories have gone untold in the past," said Doshi, "but with the media and internet revolutions we are seeing today, this is no longer possible. Those without voices can be heard in a way that was never possible before."

Source: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10897/s/1a77f45c/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Cblogs0Cculturelab0C20A110C110Cportraits0Eof0Edelhis0Ewater0Ecrisis0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Fonline0Enews/story01.htm

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S&P's lowers sovereign credit rating on Belgium (AP)

BRUSSELS ? Standard & Poor's lowered its long-term sovereign credit rating for Belgium on Friday, citing the country's lack of a permanent government and a looming European recession that threatens the country's exports.

In a sign that financial contagion is spreading across Europe, the agency cut Belgium's credit rating from AA+ to AA, a moved that sent shocked politicians immediately back into new negotiations Friday night.

Belgium has been without a permanent government for 530 days, as a series of negotiators has struggled without success to bridge the country's divide between its French-speakers and its Dutch-speakers.

"In our opinion, protracted political uncertainty remains a risk to its creditworthiness," the ratings agency said.

Caretaker Prime Minister Yves Leterme said Friday "we really need strong signals now" from the six political parties trying to resolve the 2012 budget. He said the six parties needed a deal "tonight, the coming days ? but preferably before we hit the market again" on Monday.

After negotiators reached a constitutional deal two month ago giving regions more autonomy, talks are now stuck over how to contain Belgium's high debt and deficit.

In a statement, Standard & Poor's said Leterme's caretaker government "lacks a mandate to implement deeper fiscal and structural reforms."

The country's yields on long-term bonds are closing in on 6 percent ? getting closer to the 7 percent financial danger zone that has pushed other European nations into international bailouts.

The negotiators need to find euro11 billion ($14.8 billion) more in austerity measures.

Leterme aims to get the budget deficit down to 2.8 percent of GDP in 2012, but the European Union is far from convinced, forecasting a wider shortfall of 4.6 percent for the country. It is also forecasting that Belgium's debt-to-GDP ratio will break through the 100 percent barrier in 2013 without big budget reforms.

The record-long negotiations since the June 13, 2010 election have been hobbled by fundamental differences over Belgium's future. Some pundits have predicted the split of the kingdom of 6.5 million Dutch-speakers in Flanders and 4.5 million French-speakers in Wallonia.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111125/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_belgium_downgrade

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PFT: Ejected Suh tries to defend stomp on Packer

Getty Images

In the past, when Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has supplied his version of an on-field incident that resulted in a penalty or a fine, he seemed persuasive.

After Thursday?s Haynesworthy performance against the Packers, Suh?s effort to talk his way out of trouble comes off as pathetic.

?What I did was remove myself from the situation the best way that I felt in me being held down in the situation that I was in,? Suh said, via NFL.com.? ?My intentions were not to kick anybody, as I did not.? [I was] removing myself, as you see, I?m walking away from the situation.? And with that I apologize to my teammates, and my fans and my coaches for putting myself to be in position to be misinterpreted and taken out of the game.?

It gets better.? Or, for Suh, worse.

?I was on top of a guy being pulled down and trying to get up off the ground, which is why you see me pushing his helmet down,? Suh said.? ?As I?m getting up, I?m getting pushed so I?m getting myself unbalanced. . . .? With that a lot of people are going to interpret it as or create their own storylines, . . . but I know what I did, and the man upstairs knows what I did.?

What Suh did requires no interpretation.? He aggressively pushed the head of Evan Dietrich-Smith into the ground, and Suh stomped on Dietrich-Smith?s arm as Suh started to walk away.

?I understand in this world because of the type of player and type of person I am, all eyes are on me,? Suh said.? ?So why would I do something to jeopardize myself, jeopardize my team, first and foremost?? I don?t do bad things.? I have no intentions to hurt someone.? If I want to hurt him, I?m going to hit his quarterback as I did throughout that game.?

He needs to quit while he?s not ahead.

?If I see a guy stepping on somebody I feel like they?re going to lean into it and forcefully step on that person or stand over that person,? Suh said.? ?I?m going in the opposite direction to where he?s at.?

It?s an amazingly flimsy, and perhaps delusional, effort to explain what was obvious to anyone with eyes.? Apart from the ultimate penalty that will be imposed on Suh by the league office ? and plenty of people believe a suspension is coming ? Suh needs to be concerned about the impact of his behavior and his lame explanation of it on his marketability.? From Subway to Chrysler to any other company that has chosen to give Suh a lot of money to endorse its products, that money could be drying up, quickly.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/11/24/suh-tries-to-defend-his-stomp/related

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Rogers shows us what happens when you fire a Motorola RAZR out of an air cannon

YouTube link for mobile viewing

While we could argue that the Verizon Droid RAZR commercials are kind of over the top and really have nothing to do with the phone, Rogers at least stuck to the whole 'RAZR's are sharp' idea. Poor cake -- I could have eaten that.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/S-nUhZFChIA/story01.htm

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Search for Alien Life Expanding to Explore Non-Earth-Like Planets? (ContributorNetwork)

Except for the occasional theory that life might exist on other planets in the Solar System, the idea that extraterrestrial life might have evolved on other planets circling other stars was relegated to the realm of science fiction until the late 1980s and early 1990s when the first confirmed extra-solar planets were found orbiting other stars. Prior to those announcements, all sorts of fantastical creatures were envisioned on any number of worlds in thousands of stories, many of which dealt with aliens from world's such as the Earth. When it came to astrobiology and the search for alien life forms, the parameters of the searches tended to do the same -- look for alien life on planets found to be consistent with conditions that exist on Earth. A new study from a team of scientists from Washington State University, NASA, the Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), the German Aerospace Agency, and four other universities suggest that future parameters for the search for extraterrestrial life be expanded to include not just worlds where conditions for life are like those on Earth but also planets where conditions could harbor extreme forms of life inconsistent with human existence.

In the paper, "A Two-Tiered Approach to Assessing the Habitability of Exoplanets," which appeared recently in the online December edition of Astrobiology magazine, lead author and astrobiologist Dirk Schulze-Makuch of Washington State University and his colleagues, set out to broaden the indices of what might constitute habitable planets. He and his nine co-authors decided that a two-part approach should be taken when assessing the habitability of extra-solar (or exo-) planets.

"The first question is whether Earth-like conditions can be found on other worlds, since we know empirically that those conditions could harbor life," Schulze-Makuch noted in the paper. "The second question is whether conditions exist on exoplanets that suggest the possibility of other forms of life, whether known to us or not."

The team arrived at two indices for planet categorization: an Earth Similarity Index (ESI) for planet's that have more Earth-like features and a Planetary Habitability Index (PHI) for categorizing worlds with a various chemical and physical parameters that are accepted as theoretically conducive to life in more extreme, not so Earth-like conditions.

"Habitability in a wider sense is not necessarily restricted to water as a solvent or to a planet circling a star," the authors write of their conclusions. "For example, the hydrocarbon lakes on Titan could host a different form of life. Analog studies in hydrocarbon environments on Earth, in fact, clearly indicate that these environments are habitable in principle. Orphan planets wandering free of any central star could likewise conceivably feature conditions suitable for some form of life."

The idea that alien life could exist in such extreme conditions has been given impetus from a variety of sources, foremost being the discovery of life on Earth in extreme environments such as living organisms existing at crushing depths in sulfurous deep-sea volcanic areas, far underground inside miles-deep mines, and the recent discovery of living organisms adapting to arsenic as part of their chemical make-up at Mono Lake in California. Known as extremophiles, these organisms lend themselves to the possibility that conditions for life could exist in even the most unusual and restrictive places.

As for the search for extraterrestrial life -- and intelligent alien life -- the number of planets orbiting other stars has been growing steadily for the past two decades. It was announced in February that NASA's Kepler mission had spotted another 1,200 possible planets. Those extra-solar planets, of course, were still to be confirmed. As of Nov. 18, the officially confirmed (according to the Extrasolar Planets Encyclopedia) number of planets was 702. NASA's PlanetQuest is more conservative but it numbers the confirmed exoplanets at over 680.

And as the number of confirmed planets increases, the possibility that life may be detected on one or a number of them will increase as well. With various methodologies, including spectrographic analysis of planetary atmospheres, many of the planets will be studied to ascertain whether or not they could harbor life. If the two-part indices proposed by Schulze-Makuch, et. al., are adopted by astrobiologists, the future of the search for extraterrestrial life will allow for the possibility of not only life on Earth-like worlds but also on other planets where conditions for alternate forms of life might exist.

Although definitive proof of life on other worlds might be some time coming, erasing the anthropomorphic and Earth-centric constraints on those searching for its existence in the universe might allow said existence to be found just a bit sooner. Until then, there are plenty of aliens, intelligent and otherwise, populating the pages of science fiction.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/space/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20111123/us_ac/10495859_search_for_alien_life_expanding_to_explore_nonearthlike_planets

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Easy Steps to Start Investing | ironbde.com

The beginners guide to investing is simple and everybody who would want to be a good investor can be. Investments are good because most of them appreciate with time instead of depreciating. Therefore making a good investment is better than most of the things that a person would have done with his or her money. So many people benefit from good investments for the rest of their life and this is just how great it is to invest right.

There are easy steps, you just need to have your goals all lined up. That will help in knowing what to indulge in when investing. There are some investments that won?t last long but there are others which are long term. Therefore knowing what one wants is like having the right measurements in a clothing store. Another thing you need to know is how much liquid money you have so you are able to budget for the whole thing.

Source: http://www.ironbde.com/easy-steps-to-start-investing/125/

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Survey reveals showering habits

22 November 2011 Last updated at 11:06 ET By Mark Kinver Environment reporter, BBC News

A survey, using innovative technology, has offered an insight into people's showering habits.

The average shower lasted eight minutes - much longer than previous studies suggested, using almost as much water and energy as the average bath.

The information was compiled from "data loggers" that recorded 2,600 showers by 100 families over a 10-day period.

The survey was carried out by producer Unilever, which wanted to find out how people were using their products.

According to the data, an eight-minute shower used 62 litres of hot water, compared with an average bath's 80 litres.

And, it suggested, that if people were using a power shower - an appliance that adds extra pressure to the water flow - then an eight-minute shower would require twice as much water and energy as a bath.

Hilde Hendrickx, a behavioural scientist in Unilever's R&D department, said that the company decided to carry out the survey because "quite a large proportion of our (products') environmental impact occurred when people used them".

Referring to shower and bath products, she added: "We know that 95% of the associated greenhouse gas emissions are related to people [using] our products because they have to use hot water."

Coming clean

Previously, data on showering behaviour had been collated by asking households to complete questionnaires. But this approach had a number of drawbacks, Dr Hendrickx explained.

"The problem with that is that people do not often have a very good insight into their behaviour because it is a habit and they may not be very aware of what they are actually doing," she told BBC News.

"When it comes to time perception, most people are not very good at estimating at how long it took them to do a particular activity."

Hence the need to find a different way to record it, she said, but the challenge was getting reliable data on a private activity.

"People would not take too kindly to someone standing next to them with a clipboard."

In order to overcome this, the company's R&D department developed a data logger that they called a "shower sensor".

"It is based on acoustics and temperature, so it basically picks up the noise of the water as it runs through the pipe," Dr Hendrickx explained. "It also picks up the change in temperature."

She added that by using algorithms, researchers were able to extract the necessary information about people's showering behaviour from the raw data.

The findings, she said, challenged some long-standing assumptions, such as people showered, on average, for five minutes.

'Fascinating peek'

Paula Owen, an independent environmental consultant, said the survey gave a "fascinating peek into the bathroom-related habits of the British public".

"Most people have now got the message that, generally, taking a shower is more environmentally friendly than a bath, but what this research shows is this is not necessarily the case," she told BBC News.

Dr Owen, who produced "eco action trump" cards to help people understand the environmental and economic impact of everyday activities, said that she recommended that people took four-minute showers.

"Unfortunately it seems that message is not getting through," she said.

"The results here show that the average time spent in a shower is double that. This wastes not only water, but also the energy needed for heating the water too.

"People always consider the running costs of cars and phones, but no-one considers the running costs of everyday appliances such as showers, washing machines and TVs."

The survey suggested that taking eight-minutes showers would cost an average UK family ?416 a year; using a power shower would see the annual bill soar to ?918.

But Dr Owen said there were a number of options available to people who wanted to cut their water and energy bills.

"Water companies often give away timers that help you limit your time in the shower and attachments are available to fix to your shower head that will reduce the flow but not the bathing experience," she explained.

"If you are partial to singing in the shower, pick a short pop classic to shower to; and when lathering up think about turning the flow off until you are ready to rinse."

Dr Hendrickx acknowledged that the survey was not representative of the entire nation, but added that there were plans to conduct more surveys in the future.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/science-environment-15836433

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Mitt Romney: In the Shadow of JFK (ContributorNetwork)

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Mitt Romney scheduled his public endorsement for the Republican Presidential nomination by U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte in front of the Nashua, New Hampshire City Hall. Their appearance took place directly in back of a monument memorializing the late John F. Kennedy , who launched his successful Presidential campaign in Nashua on January 25, 1960.

Surprisingly, Romney did not mention JFK despite the fact that the two men share much in common, including hailing from neighboring Massachusetts.

Fortunate Sons

Tall and movie star handsome like JFK, Willard Mitt Romney (like JFK) is the scion of a prominent family that had great wealth and political influence. Both were the sons of extraordinarily successful fathers who had political careers.

Joseph P. Kennedy made a fortune in finance and was a key supporter of Franklin Roosevelt. He served FDR as the first chairman of the new Securities & Exchange Commission and was later appointed ambassador to Great Britain.

George Romney was CEO of American Motors before serving as governor of Michigan in the 1960s. After a failed attempt at the 1968 Republican Presidential nomination, the elder Romney served in Richard Nixon's cabinet.

Both JFK and Mitt Romney share another distinction: Both had problems with religion. JFK was a Roman Catholic and Romney belongs to the Church of Jesus of the Latter-day Saints (Mormons).

Religious Bigotry

In a country in which six of the nine justices of the Supreme Court are Roman Catholics, it is hard to remember that Catholics once faced overt discrimination. Only three Catholics have run for Presidency on a major party ticket and only one -- JFK -- was elected. (Joe Biden is the sole Catholic to serve as Vice President.)

No Mormon has been on a major party Presidential ticket and none has ever sat on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Mitt Romney tackled the "problem" with his religion just as John Kennedy did back in September 1960. The Democratic nominee, addressing a group of Protestant ministers in Houston, Texas, tackled the question about whether a Roman Catholic would be a puppet of the Pope. JFK said that questioning his loyalty was un-American and pledged that he would uphold the doctrine of the separation of church and state. Romney made a similar speech on December 6, 2007 speech at the George Bush Presidential Library, which also is in Houston.

The problem for Romney is that many evangelical Christians, a huge block of voters in the Republican Party, not only view Mormons as heretics, but believe that there should be no separation of church and state. As these evangelicals want a steady Christian hand on the tiller of state, they are wary of a Mormon in the Oval Office as they see Mormons as non-Christians.

Romney dealt with the issue before the 2008 campaign, but so far, has not addressed the issue of evangelicals' hostility to his religion. It may be the unspoken of "Elephant in the Room" in the GOP primary season as, despite a solid core of support, Romney had yet to emerge as the clear front-runner for the nomination. (Fellow Mormon Jon Huntsman has been shunned by Republicans).

Failing to recognize this religious problem -- just as he failed to recognize JFK in Nashua -- and tackle the subject head on may prove fatal to Romney's Presidential ambitions.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20111123/us_ac/10514665_mitt_romney_in_the_shadow_of_jfk

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Acupuncture Safe for Children, Review Finds (HealthDay)

MONDAY, Nov. 21 (HealthDay News) -- When done by well-trained professionals, acupuncture can be a safe treatment for children, new research suggests.

In an analysis of 37 studies or case reports, Canadian researchers found that in over 1,400 children treated with acupuncture, just 168 experienced a mild adverse reaction, such as crying or pain. The investigators found 25 reports of serious adverse events.

"In trained hands, acupuncture seems safe in children," said the study's senior author, Dr. Sunita Vohra, a professor in the department of pediatrics at the University of Alberta in Canada.

Results of the study are published online and in the December issue of Pediatrics.

Acupuncture is a treatment that is said to have originated in China thousands of years ago. In Eastern medicine, acupuncture is believed to open the channels where a person's Qi (pronounced chee), or life force, is blocked. In Western medicine, it's more commonly believed that acupuncture works by stimulating the release of the body's natural painkillers, according to the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Stimulation of certain areas to release the blocked Qi (called acupoints) can be done through the insertion of very thin needles or with heat, pressure or a laser, the study authors pointed out in background information in the article.

Acupuncture is used for a variety of problems, such as pain, nausea, vomiting, anxiety and muscle spasm, according to Vohra and Dr. Raymond Pitetti, the associate medical director of the emergency department at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Jeannie Kang, president of the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, added that acupuncture is also used for sprains, allergies, asthma, and menstrual cramps and irregularities.

In the United States, recent estimates suggest that as many as 3 million people have tried acupuncture therapy.

Because acupuncture is growing in popularity, and no specific studies have been conducted on the safety of acupuncture in children, Vohra and her colleagues wanted to assess the available evidence to determine whether or not acupuncture is a safe treatment for children.

The researchers reviewed all of the available literature on acupuncture in children. They found 37 studies and case reports that met their inclusion criteria.

The rate of adverse events was significantly lower in children than what has been reported in adults, the results showed.

The current analysis found a mild adverse event rate of nearly 12 percent in children. Mild events included bleeding, pain, crying, bruising and worsening of symptoms.

Serious events occurred in 25 children. Twelve children had thumb deformities, and five experienced infections after acupuncture. There were also isolated heart problems, lung problems, bleeding issues, nerve impairment, intestinal obstruction, hospitalization and a reversible coma.

Many of the serious adverse events were believed to be the result of substandard practices, said Vohra.

All three experts recommended making sure your child's acupuncturist is well trained. In Canada, acupuncture is regulated in a standard fashion and acupuncturists have to have specific training. In the United States, requirements vary by state, although most require that acupuncturists be licensed, according to Kang. Vohra and Kang both recommended contacting national acupuncture associations for a practitioner recommendation. Practitioners certified by national organizations will likely have more training.

Kang said that there are some acupuncturists who specialize in acupuncture on children, but that most practitioners will have had some pediatric experience. She said that it's uncommon to do needle insertions on children younger than 11 years old. Instead, she said, acupuncture practitioners will usually use something that "looks like a spiky rolling pin" to put pressure on acupoints.

Pitetti said he didn't know if there were specific areas of the body where acupuncture absolutely shouldn't be used, but "into the neck, into the brain would make me more concerned. Also, when you start to go near major organs, like the heart, or right around the spinal cord, that would make me nervous."

But, he said, "This study should give parents a little reassurance that it's probably a safe procedure, but it should also make them take a hard look at who's doing the acupuncture to make sure that they're reputable and skilled."

And, he added, it would be very helpful for parents if pediatricians were more aware of complementary medicine therapies, as well as the practitioners in the local area.

More information

Learn more about what to look for in an acupuncture practitioner from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/parenting/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20111122/hl_hsn/acupuncturesafeforchildrenreviewfinds

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Can 'Rocky: The Musical' deliver a knockout?

Apparently not bowed by the train wreck that was "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark," Sylvester Stallone is teaming up with world champion boxing brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko to make a musical version of his Oscar-winning boxing film "Rocky."

Stallone and the Klitschkos, who will produce "Rocky: The Musical" together with Kevin King Templeton of Stallone?s Rouge Marble shingle, announced the project in Hamburg on Monday.

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Stallone said in giving the pugilist classic the Andrew Lloyd Webber treatment he would b?e focusing on "Rocky?s" romantic side.

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"At the end of the day, 'Rocky'is a love story and he could never have reached the final bell without Adrian," said Stallone. "To see this story coming to life on a musical stage makes me proud. And it would make Rocky proud."

PHOTOS: "The Expendables" and 9 Other Sleeper Hits

Broadway veteran Thomas Meehan ("The Producers") will write the script to "Rocky: the Musical." "Ragtime?s" Tony-award winning lyricist Lynn Ahrens and composer Stephen Flaherty will re-team for the music, which will include songs from the "Rocky" films, among them ?Eye of the Tiger,? ?Gonna Fly Now? and ?Take You Back.? Tony Award nominee Alex Timbers will direct.

Story: Sylvester Stallone sued, accused of stealing screenplay

In addition to co-producing, the Klitchko brothers will train the lead actor, who has not yet been cast, in the sweet science.

COVER STORY: Why 'Expendables' Producer Avi Lerner Is Paying Sylvester Stallone $15 Million to Star in Sequel

Budgeted at $15 million, "Rocky: The Musical" will have its world debut, in German, in Hamburg November 2012. Stallone plans to then take an English version of the musical on the road to stages worldwide.

Would you see a musical based on "Rocky"? Tell us on Facebook.

Copyright 2011 The Hollywood Reporter

Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45400644/ns/today-entertainment/

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Poor recycling of BACE1 enzyme could promote Alzheimer's disease

Monday, November 21, 2011

Sluggish recycling of a protein-slicing enzyme could promote Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published online on November 21 in The Journal of Cell Biology (www.jcb.org).

Abeta, the toxic protein that accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, is formed when enzymes cut up its parental protein, known as amyloid precursor protein. One of those enzymes is beta-secretase or BACE1. BACE1 cycles between the Golgi apparatus and the plasma membrane, traveling through endosomes on the way. A protein complex called the retromer helps transport proteins back from endosomes to the Golgi. Previous studies have found reduced levels of two retromer components, including the protein VPS35, in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

To find out whether VPS35 affects Alzheimer's disease progression, Wen-Cheng Xiong and colleagues crossed two mouse lines to create animals that are prone to many symptoms of the disease and generate half the normal amount of VPS35. The mice displayed Alzheimer's-like abnormalities earlier than their parental strains, and their brains accumulated more Abeta.

Cells lacking VPS35 carried extra BACE1 in their endosomes, consistent with a defect in retromer-mediated protein transport. BACE1 is more active in the acidic interior of endosomes than in the more basic surroundings of the Golgi apparatus. Thus, by leaving more BACE1 trapped in endosomes, the decline in VPS35 levels could enhance BACE1 activity and generate more Abeta. Although no VPS35 mutations have so far turned up in Alzheimer's patients, the protein's level in the brain dwindles in aging mice. The researchers suspect that certain Alzheimer's disease risk factors, such as oxidative stress, also diminish VPS35 levels in the brain.

###

Rockefeller University Press: http://www.rupress.org/

Thanks to Rockefeller University Press for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/115359/Poor_recycling_of_BACE__enzyme_could_promote_Alzheimer_s_disease_

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Himalayan nations agree on climate adaptation plan

NEW DELHI (AP) ? Four Himalayan nations facing the threat of weather changes have agreed to collaborate on ways to adapt to climate change after a two-day summit in Bhutan.

India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan were part of the Climate Summit for a Living Himalayas held in Bhutan's capital Thimphu on Saturday. They agreed to cooperate on energy, water, food and biodiversity issues.

"The success of our initiative will not only have direct and immediate benefits for our own people, but we could be setting a worthy precedent for other countries that share similar conditions," Bhutan's Prime Minister Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y. Thinley said according to a press statement released late Saturday.

Pakistan, China and Afghanistan were absent from the summit but organizers downplayed that, saying that the summit was focused on securing ecosystems, endangered species,and food and water sources for only the Himalayas' eastern part.

The summit called for action amid the international community's inability to agree on limiting greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global climate change. The next round of U.N. climate talks begin in Durban, South Africa Nov. 28, but the expectations of any breakthrough there are limited.

As part of the declaration the four nations agreed to work together to increase access to "affordable and reliable" clean energy resources and technology through a regional knowledge sharing mechanism, a press statement from the World Wildlife Fund said.

The draft of the declaration was not immediately available Sunday.

The most contentious part of the talks dealt with water security, according to the WWF release, but the four nations did agree to work together on ecosystem and disaster management, sharing their knowledge in water use efficiency.

Regional tensions have long prevented Himalayan cooperation, including basic research in the world's largest block of glaciers outside the polar regions, and accounting for 40 percent of the world's fresh water.

There was also consensus on food security and securing livelihoods and the deal covers way to adapt and improve food production and help vulnerable communities get better access to nutritious food.

"These kinds of regional initiatives are really needed," said Liisa Rohweder, CEO of WWF Finland, adding the summit was a good lead to follow for the Durban meeting.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/b2f0ca3a594644ee9e50a8ec4ce2d6de/Article_2011-11-20-AS-Bhutan-Climate-Summit/id-bae6c4dd3d4d4917b47cff621bb51fa6

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TCTV: The TechCrunch Gadgets Webcast

Welcome to another exciting episode of the TechCrunch Gadgets Webcast. This week we talk about the Kindle Fire, the Nook Tablet, the Nexus, and SOPA. Plus, we have a special surprise for all those who prefer sound to moving pictures.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/i7UFGQeQZW4/

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Chiles assembles boxes for alumni members of military

what is needed

hand sanitizers, prepaid phone cards, dry roasted peanuts (individual serving bags), Skittles, chewing gum, mints, Twizzlers (no chocolate please), fruit cups (individual single-serving containers), easy mac, hard candy (peppermint), cracker-cheese (individual single-serving packages), malted crackers with peanut butter (individual serving packages), cheese crackers with peanut butter (individual serving packages), sunscreen, playing cards, foot powder, puzzle books, toothbrushes and toothpaste, paperback books and Ramen noodles.

More In Chronicle

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Source: http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20111116/CHRONICLE/111160342

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Energy Secretary Chu faces test on Solyndra loan (AP)

WASHINGTON ? Energy Secretary Steven Chu won a Nobel Prize in physics, but his handling of a solar energy loan has some critics calling him clueless.

Chu undoubtedly will face hostile questioning Thursday from House Republicans who are investigating the $528 million federal loan received by solar panel maker Solyndra before it went belly up, laying off its 1,100 workers.

Some Republicans, including presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, have called for Chu to be fired. Newly released emails show the White House considered doing just that earlier this year as the Obama administration braced for a political storm brewing over Solyndra.

The White House says Chu retains the president's confidence, but that trust could be challenged when the energy secretary faces GOP critics for the first time. Chu is scheduled to be the sole witness as the House Energy and Commerce Committee continues a nine-month investigation.

"Although several red flags were raised over Solyndra's financial stability, the Department of Energy and the White House decided to put taxpayer funds at risk," said Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., who is leading the GOP investigation. "I look forward to asking Secretary Chu why these warnings were ignored."

Besides the initial loan, Chu also will be asked to explain why he approved a restructuring of Solyndra's debt that allowed two private investors to move ahead of taxpayers for repayment in case of default. He also will be asked about possible political influence by two major Obama campaign donors, Steve Spinner and George Kaiser.

Chu, in remarks prepared for delivery Thursday, was ready to play defense. He said the Solyndra loan was subject to "proper, rigorous scrutiny and healthy debate" before it was approved in 2009.

"While we are disappointed in the outcome of this particular loan, we support Congress' mandate to finance the deployment of innovative technologies and believe that our portfolio of loans does so responsibly," Chu said.

Solyndra was the first renewable-energy company to receive a loan guarantee under the 2009 stimulus law, and the Obama administration frequently promoted the company as a model for its clean energy program. Chu attended a September 2009 groundbreaking when the loan was announced, and President Barack Obama visited the company's Fremont, Calif., headquarters last year.

Since then, the company's implosion and revelations that the administration hurried a review of the loan in time for the groundbreaking has become an embarrassment for Chu and Obama and a rallying cry for GOP critics of the administration's green energy program.

The Energy Department hired Spinner, a former sports fitness executive, to help monitor the loan guarantee program. Emails released to the committee show Spinner was actively involved in the Solyndra loan, despite pledging to step aside because his wife's law firm represented the company.

Kaiser, an Oklahoma billionaire, invested $400 million in the solar company through an investment vehicle connected to a family foundation. Kaiser has said he played no part in helping Solyndra win the 2009 loan, but emails released last week show he discussed Solyndra with the White House on at least one occasion. Kaiser also directed business associates on how to approach the White House and Energy Department to help Solyndra deal with its financial problems.

Chu also may face questions about emails released Wednesday showing that Energy Department officials asked Solyndra to postpone an early round of layoffs until after the 2010 midterm elections. The company complied.

Chu said he still believes in renewable energy despite the Solyndra debacle.

"When it comes to the clean energy race, America faces a simple choice: Compete or accept defeat. I believe we can and must compete," he said.

Chu's department has cooperated with the energy panel's investigation, providing more than 186,000 pages of documents, appearing at hearings and meeting with committee staff eight times, Chu said.

But the investigation became so combative that the committee voted along partisan lines to subpoena the White House for internal communications about Solyndra. GOP investigators have complained they've only received partial responses from the administration.

There's little question the Solyndra case has tarnished Chu's once-sterling reputation, a standing that caused Obama to belittle his own Nobel Peace Prize. At a speech earlier this year, Obama said Chu "actually deserved his Nobel Prize."

Salo Zelermyer, a lawyer and former Energy Department official, said Chu's political standing has been diminished by the Solyndra flap, but not beyond repair.

"There's very little documentation about his personal involvement" in the Solyndra loan, Zelermyer said. Still, the case has raised doubts about the government's role as an investor in clean technology and its ability to act as a sort of venture capitalist for renewable energy, he said.

"And obviously the plain facts of the loss of a half-billion dollars and 1,100 jobs for folks out in California have certainly cast a black cloud" over the renewable energy program, Zelermyer said.

Chu came to the administration as a scientist. His last job was director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. While Chu's intellect is held in high regard, the Solyndra case has raised questions about whether he could manage a politically fraught, $36 billion renewable energy loan program.

Kevin Book, an analyst at Clearview Energy Partners, called Chu's testimony the culmination of months of political posturing by both sides.

"This is a political showdown and it should be interpreted as such," Book said. "Questions are being fielded by a scientist, not a politician, and you get different kinds of answers in Washington than you get in a national lab," Book said.

Fielding pointed questions about his judgment is a steep fall for Chu, who has won a reputation not only as an Obama favorite but as one of the smartest people in government. Obama repeatedly credits Chu with helping to plug the massive BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico last year.

In hindsight, Obama may have been better served by an energy secretary with more experience dealing with Capitol Hill, Zelermyer said.

The secretary's job is more about leadership qualities than scientific knowledge, he and other experts said, noting that the department is a large bureaucracy with 20,000 employees and four times that number of private contractors.

Daniel J. Weiss, director of climate strategy at the liberal Center for American Progress, said he expects Chu to survive the Solyndra crisis.

"Dr. Chu didn't get (the energy secretary's job) because he's good at glad-handing or giving a speech. He got it because he understands at a level most of us can't the science behind global warming and clean energy," Weiss said, calling Chu an effective advocate for clean technology.

Weiss and others said the more likely casualty of Solyndra is the clean-energy loan program, which has come under withering assault from Republicans and even some Democrats.

"You don't need too many Solyndras before public support for this kind of funding collapses," Book said.

___

Matthew Daly can be reached at http://twitter.com/MatthewDalyWDC

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politics/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111116/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_solar_investigation

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Retirement: Is 80 the new 65? (The Week)

New York ? Slowing down may not be an option for many Americans. A new survey finds that many plan to keep working for years ? whether they want to or not

The traditional retirement age of 65 is a thing of the past, according to a new survey from Wells Fargo. Many Americans say they intend to work well into their retirement years, and a quarter say they won't have enough money saved to retire comfortably until they're 80, if ever. Three quarters of the 1,500 middle-class Americans surveyed said the amount you have squirreled away ? not your age ? should determine when you slow down. Meanwhile, just 20 percent said you should pick an age and quit then, no matter how much money you have. What does this survey say about how Americans will spend their Golden Years? Here, four takeaways:

1. Many people don't want to retire
Not everyone who plans to work into retirement is doing it just to pay their bills. Thirty-five percent of those surveyed said they'll keep working?because they want to. But some in this group still plan to slow down a bit ? 42 percent say they'll look for something with "less responsibility."

2. Americans are bad at saving
The average person has set aside just 7 percent of his hoped-for retirement savings ? a median of just $25,000 versus a desired goal of $350,000, according to the survey. Three in 10 people in their 60s have less than $25,000, suggesting they'll have no choice but to live on Social Security. One rule of thumb suggests that to retire worry-free, you'll need a nest egg of?10 times your final salary.

3. And they worry about relying on Social Security
The Social Security system is facing an uncertain future, with baby boomers retiring and not enough money being paid into the system to cover all future benefits. Americans are factoring that into their expectations. Survey respondents in their sixties are counting on Social Security to provide 60 percent of their retirement income, while those in their fifties are banking on only 36 percent. That might be why younger people have fewer objections than their elders to cutting benefits to put the system on better financial footing.

4. We've lost our pie-in-the-sky attitude
The recession has left us rattled, making pessimism rampant. In a Yahoo! Finance survey, 41 percent of respondents ages 18 to 64 said the American Dream is "out of reach." Thirty-seven percent said they had no retirement savings at all. Fewer than half had saved anything to pay for college for their kids.

Sources: ABC News, Financial, LA Times (2), Motley Fool, Wells Fargo

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Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/oped/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/theweek/20111118/cm_theweek/221651

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"Occupy Wall Street" Passes Near Scientific American`s Office in New York City

I heard on the news this morning that the Occupy Wall Street encampment at Zuccotti Park in Lower Manhattan was broken up by police overnight and that protesters were set to march north today to the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Canal Street?one block from Scientific American?s office in New York.

Indeed, when various SA employees and I independently surfaced from our subway commutes between 8 and 10 am, several hundred protesters and accompanying media, police and lookers-on were assembled off the intersection at Duarte Square (marked by a statue of Juan Pablo Duarte, a leader who helped establish the Dominican Republican?s independence in the 19th century).

Public health was one of the grounds for the protesters? dismissal (they might return to their original site later today). Zuccotti Park was power-washed this morning and no doubt cleared of the debris that modern humans inevitably leave behind and the vermin that even Manhattan?s finest restaurants struggle to purge. ?Zuccotti lung,? possibly a respiratory infection, has afflicted some of the demonstrators. Also, some reportedly use drugs. Most don?t. Some have fairly obvious mental illnesses. Most don?t. Some wear clothes of the sixties. Most don?t. Some were napping on bed rolls or slouched against a nearby fence, which seems reasonable if one has been roused by police in the middle of the night. Some were chanting something about the UN General Assembly. Overall, it looked and sounded like a gathering of highly socialized humans.

That?s not how insiders or outsiders tend to see it.

?You?re looking at the height of disorder,? a healthy-looking young man wearing a patch with a red cross on it told me through a couple light coughs as I asked him if there was a leader or spokesman to ask about the group?s latest plans. I offered him a cough drop. ?No, thanks. We have ?em.?

Later in the morning, the protesters marched some more and reassembled at Duarte Square, a co-worker told me.

Living outdoors and self-assembling into organized groups and communities is what humans have done quite successfully overall for most of our history. It?s not always pretty, but I?ve always been fascinated by how we make social order and civilization, on scales large and small, despite various adversities?bad weather, bad leaders, bad moods and ill health. Here?s how that looked this morning at Duarte Square.

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=9b962ba4653fcb00c01a79a7c0cb34f4

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Lohan reports to jail, released hours later

Mario Anzuoni / AFP - Getty Images

By Courtney Hazlett

While much of the country was fast asleep, Lindsay Lohan was out and about. And while that might sound like any other day that ends in "y," in the case of Sunday night and the wee hours of Monday, the situation was a little different: Lohan reported to jail, for her 30-day sentence. TMZ broke that news, and also the news that she was released just 4 1/2 hours after she checked in to the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, Calif.

Live Poll

Do you think by reporting to jail early, Lindsay Lohan is taking the right steps to get her life back on track?

• 166668

  Yes: The old Lindsay would have waited until the last minute

  5%

• 166669

  No: She's just going through the motions

  80%

• 166670

  Maybe: She's got a lot to do to prove she can be trusted

  15%

VoteTotal Votes: 11196

The sentence was rendered after Lohan admitted that she violated her probation. Lohan actually reported to jail ahead of schedule; on Nov. 2, she had initially been told she would have to surrender herself by Nov. 9.

Lohan won't have to serve an additional 270 days in jail if she performs 12 days of community service at the morgue and attends four psychotherapy sessions before Dec. 14.

Related content:

Source: http://scoop.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/07/8679032-lindsay-lohan-reports-to-jail-released-hours-later

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Nicaragua's Ortega nears landslide re-election win (Reuters)

MANAGUA (Reuters) ? Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, a former Marxist rebel leader and Cold War enemy of the United States, marched toward a landslide re-election victory after drawing broad support for his anti-poverty programs.

Ortega had 62.6 percent support based on a sample of votes from almost 40 percent of polling stations in Sunday's presidential election. Actual ballots showed a similar result as counting stretched into Monday, electoral officials said.

Ortega was streets ahead of his two main conservative rivals, popular radio personality Fabio Gadea and former president Arnoldo Aleman, and Ortega's supporters poured into the streets of Managua on Sunday night to celebrate.

Ortega, 65, needed only 40 percent support to take a first round victory and avoid a run-off vote, and early results showed him scoring well above that level across the country.

Helped by financial support from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, his close socialist ally, Ortega has won over many poorer Nicaraguans with welfare programs since taking office in early 2007 and was a hot favorite to win a new five-year term.

The programs to boost health and education, provide loans for businesses and help farmers have won widespread support in largely agrarian Nicaragua, which was a Cold War battleground in the 1980s when Ortega's left-wing Sandinista government fought U.S.-backed Contra rebels.

"He's a person who looks after the poor and we have noticed the change," said 43-year-old Xiomara Amador, a former army nurse who lost her right leg in the conflict. "In 16 years of other governments, no-one helped the handicapped."

In a separate presidential election in Guatemala, voters elected another Cold War veteran on Sunday, but from the other side of the ideological divide: retired right-wing general Otto Perez.

Ortega was a leader of the Sandinista revolution in Nicaragua that toppled the Somoza family's brutal dictatorship in 1979.

U.S. President Ronald Reagan saw the Sandinistas as a threat and backed right-wing rebels known as Contras in a decade-long civil war that killed around 30,000 people and wrecked the economy.

A REFORMED REBEL

Ortega was elected president in 1984 at the height of the war but was voted out in 1990 and then spent 16 years in opposition before bouncing back to power. He had gradually toned down his radical rhetoric and styled himself as a devout Christian by the time he won the last election in late 2006.

Since 2006, Ortega has cemented his hold on Nicaragua. About 57 percent of its people now live below the poverty line, down from 65.5 percent in 2005, according to government and World Bank statistics. And Ortega has let private businesses work untroubled even as he pushes his anti-poverty policies.

The economy grew 4.5 percent in 2010 and is expected to expand 4 percent this year, making it one of the best performers in Central America, although it is still the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, behind Haiti.

Critics accuse Ortega of using the Sandinistas' control of the Supreme Court to lift a ban on consecutive presidential terms in a controversial 2009 decision, and of planning to further extend his rule, just as Chavez has done in Venezuela.

"If you breach the constitution, you can mess with other things too," said Milton Ramirez, a 35-year sales executive who voted for Gadea. "We don't want another dictatorship."

Opponents also say Ortega has made the country too dependent on Venezuelan petrodollars, and that he has moved deliberately to weaken democratic institutions.

Yet Ortega still managed to neutralize the threat from the right, and Gadea and Aleman failed to unite against him even though the son of one is married to the other's daughter.

Gadea supporters accused Ortega's party of manipulating the electoral process on Sunday, stuffing ballot boxes and making it hard for conservatives to cast their vote.

But the fact voters backed him despite reservations about his leadership style shows Nicaragua has moved on from the painful war years, said Hector Perla, a political scientist at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

"Contrary to what most people believe, Ortega's re-election signals the end of polarization in the country, at least as far as the average voter is concerned," said Perla.

"A Sandinista victory shows that ordinary Nicaraguans are no longer driven by ideologically-based arguments, but rather by economic results that benefit the majority of Nicaraguans."

(Writing by Dave Graham; Editing by Kieran Murray)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111107/wl_nm/us_nicaragua_election

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Heavy D's Death Hits Nicki Minaj, Usher, More Celebs

'Truly gone too soon,' Usher tweets Tuesday.
By James Dinh

Heavy D
Photo: Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images

Hip-hop lost a rap icon when Heavy D died Tuesday afternoon (November 8) at age 44, and the music industry is clearly mourning the loss. A string of stars, including Usher, Timbaland and Nicki Minaj, have shared their memories of the late MC on Twitter.

Usher offered his sympathy to the family of the Jamaican-born rap heavyweight, tweeting, "This is too heavy, I can't believe it. HEAVY D was just here. Truly gone too soon. My heart and support goes out to his family. R.I.P HEAVY."

Mega-producer Timbaland couldn't even process the announcement, writing, "I'm at a loss for words rip heavy d."

After re-tweeting the late-MC's last message ("BE INSPIRED"), hip-hop's Harajuku Barbie also weighed in on the news. "We'll never forget you babe! #hiphopelite #RIPHeavyD," Nicki wrote.

From one raptress to the next, Missy Elliott shared her thoughts: "U will be missed Heavy D so many laughs we've shared but your Music is Timeless and will Always be Around 4ever Love u Heav..."

Ciara described the MC as "a really nice man. Sending my condolences to him and his family!"

DJ Drama and Nick Cannon reflected on the icon's impact. "Heavy D 'Who's The Man' was one of my 1st pieces of vinyl when I first started djayin," DJ Drama wrote. "Def 1 of the first 5 records I spent $ on. RIP."

Cannon said he had "just talked" to Heavy D, adding, "He was just encouraging me about life."

"RIP TO A REAL HIP HOP LEGEND HEAVY D!" Nas chimed in.

Juelz Santana recalled the rapper/actor's recent BET Hip Hop Awards performance. "RIP Heavy D. He was a Hip Hop Legend," he shared. "Crazy how sh-- happens. I was late 2 da BET Awards & Heavy D's Performance was 1 of da only 2 I got 2 see. Blessed 4 dat opportunity. RIP."

Boyz II Men, who shared the '90s spotlight with the MC, sent condolences to his family, writing, "UGH...heavy d..always cool as hell with us..just a sick feeling....praying for his little daughter and family."

Share your memories of Heavy D on Facebook.

Related Videos

• Remembering Heavy D

Related Photos

• Heavy D: Life, Music And Friends

Related Artists

• Heavy D
• Nicki Minaj
• Usher
• Timbaland

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674014/heavy-d-death-celebrity-reaction.jhtml

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Keep Your Shopping List in Your Pantry to Remember to Pick Up Unusual Items [Shopping]

It's easy to forget things at the grocery store as it is, but it seems like the items that don't get purchased as often, say flour or non-stick oil, are even harder to remember. Martha Stewart suggests keeping your grocery list in your pantry as opposed on your refrigerator to help you remember.

While her suggestion incorporates chalkboard paint into the equation, you can use whatever method you prefer to get the same results. Since pantries are often layered with a lot of different types of foods, it might help you avoid making multiple trips to the grocery store just to make a plate of pasta.

Pantry Reminder | Martha Stewart

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/xvO6OLjB6lw/keep-your-shopping-list-in-your-pantry-to-remember-to-pick-up-unusual-items

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Suicide bomber kills 2 in northwestern Pakistan

Afghan refugees living on the outskirts of Peshawar, Pakistan, offer Eid al-Adha prayers, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011. Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha or the Feast of the Sacrifice. (AP Photo/Mohammad Sajjad)

Afghan refugees living on the outskirts of Peshawar, Pakistan, offer Eid al-Adha prayers, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011. Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha or the Feast of the Sacrifice. (AP Photo/Mohammad Sajjad)

A Pakistani police officer stands guard as Afghan refugees living on the outskirts of Peshawar, Pakistan offer Eid al-Adha prayers, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011. Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha or the Feast of the Sacrifice. (AP Photo/Mohammad Sajjad)

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) ? A suicide bomber detonated his explosives Monday as a former government official greeted others outside a mosque in northwestern Pakistan on an important Islamic holiday, killing the official and his guard, police said.

Malik Hanif Khan Jadoon had just finished morning prayers celebrating Eid-al-Adha at the mosque in Swabi district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province when the attack occurred, said Ijaz Khan, a senior local police officer. Jadoon and his guard were killed and nine others were wounded, including the former official's son, said Khan.

Jadoon used to be a senior official in Swabi and was a member of the Awami National Party, a Pashtun nationalist party whose members have often been targeted by the Pakistani Taliban.

There has been no claim of responsibility yet for Monday's attack.

The Pakistani Taliban is also predominantly made up of Pashtuns, but they resent the secular Awami National Party, which is the ruling party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The party has opposed the spread of the Taliban in the province and supported military operations against them.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2011-11-07-AS-Pakistan/id-867319a631a9483fade6301e726f61d5

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Penn St ex-coach, others charged in child sex case

In this photo provided by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, former Penn State football defensive coordinator Gerald "Jerry" Sandusky, center, is placed in a police car in Boalsburg, Pa., to be taken to the office of Centre County Magisterial District Judge Leslie A. Dutchcot on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011. Sandusky is charged with sexually abusing eight young men. Also, Penn State athletic director Tim Curley and Penn State vice president for finance and business Gary Schultz, 62, are expected to turn themselves in on Monday in Harrisburg, Pa., on charges of perjury and failure to report under Pennsylvania?s child protective services law in connection with the investigation into the abuse allegations against Sandusky. (AP Photo/Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General via Commonwealth Media Services)

In this photo provided by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, former Penn State football defensive coordinator Gerald "Jerry" Sandusky, center, is placed in a police car in Boalsburg, Pa., to be taken to the office of Centre County Magisterial District Judge Leslie A. Dutchcot on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011. Sandusky is charged with sexually abusing eight young men. Also, Penn State athletic director Tim Curley and Penn State vice president for finance and business Gary Schultz, 62, are expected to turn themselves in on Monday in Harrisburg, Pa., on charges of perjury and failure to report under Pennsylvania?s child protective services law in connection with the investigation into the abuse allegations against Sandusky. (AP Photo/Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General via Commonwealth Media Services)

This Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011 photo provided by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General shows former Penn State football defensive coordinator Gerald "Jerry" Sandusky. Sandusky is charged with sexually abusing eight young men. Also, Penn State athletic director Tim Curley and Penn State vice president for finance and business Gary Schultz, 62, are expected to turn themselves in on Monday in Harrisburg, Pa., on charges of perjury and failure to report under Pennsylvania?s child protective services law in connection with the investigation into the abuse allegations against Sandusky. (AP Photo/Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General)

A sign for The Second Mile charity is seen outside the organization's headquarters in State College, Pa., on Saturday Nov. 2, 2011. The charity's founder, former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, was charged Saturday with 40 criminal counts for allegedly molesting eight boys. (AP Photo/Genaro C. Armas)

In this photo provided by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, former Penn State football defensive coordinator Gerald "Jerry" Sandusky, center, walks to the office of Centre County Magisterial District Judge Leslie A. Dutchcot while being escorted by Pennsylvania State Police and Attorney General's Office officials on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, in State College, Pa. Sandusky is charged with sexually abusing eight young men. Also, Penn State athletic director Tim Curley and Penn State vice president for finance and business Gary Schultz, 62, are expected to turn themselves in on Monday in Harrisburg, Pa., on charges of perjury and failure to report under Pennsylvania?s child protective services law in connection with the investigation into the abuse allegations against Sandusky. (AP Photo/Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General via Commonwealth Media Services)

Former Penn State football defensive coordinator Gerald "Jerry" Sandusky sits in a car as he leaves the office of Centre County Magisterial District Judge Leslie A. Dutchcot on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, in State College, Pa. Sandusky is charged with sexually abusing eight young men. Also, Penn State athletic director Tim Curley and Penn State vice president for finance and business Gary Schultz, 62, are expected to turn themselves in on Monday in Harrisburg, Pa., on charges of perjury and failure to report under Pennsylvania?s child protective services law in connection with the investigation into the abuse allegations against Sandusky. (AP Photo/Andy Colwell, The Patriot-News)

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) ? An explosive sex abuse scandal and possible cover-up rocked "Happy Valley" on Saturday when former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, once considered Joe Paterno's heir apparent, was charged with sexually assaulting eight boys over a 15-year period. Among the allegations was a 2002 incident in which a graduate assistant for the team said he saw Sandusky assault a boy in the shower at the Nittany Lions' practice center.

Sandusky retired in 1999 but continued to use the school's facilities for his work with The Second Mile, a foundation he established to help at-risk kids. The state grand jury investigation also resulted in perjury charges against Tim Curley, Penn State's athletic director, and Gary Schultz, vice president for finance and business. The two administrators were accused of failing to alert police ? as required by state law ? of their investigation of the allegations.

"This is a case about a sexual predator who used his position within the university and community to repeatedly prey on young boys," Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly said in a statement.

Paterno, who last week became the winningest coach in Division I football, was not charged, and the grand jury report did not appear to implicate him in wrongdoing.

Under Paterno's four-decades-and-counting stewardship, the Nittany Lions became a bedrock in the college game and fans packed the stadium in State College, a campus town routinely ranked among America's best places to live and nicknamed "Happy Valley." Paterno's teams were revered both for winning games ? including two national championships ? and largely steering clear of trouble. Sandusky, whose defenses were usually anchored by tough-guy linebackers ? hence the moniker, "Linebacker U" ? spent three decades at the school. The charges against him cover the period between 1994 and 2009.

Sandusky, 67, was arrested Saturday and released on $100,000 bail after being arraigned on 40 criminal counts. Curley, 57, and Schultz, 62, were expected to turn themselves in on Monday in Harrisburg.

The allegations against Sandusky, who started The Second Mile in 1977, range from sexual advances to touching to oral and anal sex. The young men testified before a state grand jury that they were in their early teens when some of the abuse occurred; there is evidence even younger children may have been victimized. Defense attorney Joe Amendola said Sandusky has been aware of the accusations for about three years and has maintained his innocence.

"He's shaky, as you can expect," Amendola told WJAC-TV after Sandusky was arraigned. "Being 67 years old, never having faced criminal charges in his life, and having the distinguished career that he's had, these are very serious allegations."

A preliminary hearing scheduled for Wednesday would likely be delayed, Amendola said. Sandusky is charged with multiple counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, corruption of minors, endangering the welfare of a child, indecent assault and unlawful contact with a minor, as well as single counts of aggravated indecent assault and attempted indecent assault.

No one answered a knock at the door Saturday at Sandusky's modest, two-story brick home at the end of a dead-end road in State College. A man who answered the door at The Second Mile office in State College declined to give his name and said the organization had no comment.

The grand jury said eight boys were targets of sexual advances or assaults by Sandusky. None was named, and in at least one case, the jury said the child's identity remains unknown to authorities.

One accuser, now 27, testified that Sandusky initiated contact with a "soap battle" in the shower that led to multiple instances of involuntary sexual intercourse and indecent assault at Sandusky's hands, the grand jury report said.

He said he traveled to charity functions and Penn State games with Sandusky, even being listed as a member of the Sandusky family party for the 1998 Outback Bowl and 1999 Alamo Bowl. But when the boy resisted his advances, Sandusky threatened to send him home from the Alamo Bowl, the report said.

Sandusky also gave him clothes, shoes, a snowboard, golf clubs, hockey gear and football jerseys, and even guaranteed that he could walk on to the football team, the grand jury said, and the boy also appeared with Sandusky in a photo in Sports Illustrated. He testified that Sandusky once gave him $50 to buy marijuana, drove him to purchase it and then drove him home as the boy smoked the drug.

The first case to come to light was a boy who met Sandusky when he was 11 or 12, the grand jury said. The boy received expensive gifts and trips to sports events from Sandusky, and physical contact began during his overnight stays at Sandusky's home, jurors said. Eventually, the boy's mother reported the allegations of sexual assault to his high school, and Sandusky was banned from the child's school district in Clinton County in 2009. That triggered the state investigation that culminated in charges Saturday.

But the report also alleges much earlier instances of abuse, and details failed efforts to stop it by some who became aware of what was happening.

Another child, known only as a boy about 11 to 13, was seen by a janitor pinned against a wall while Sandusky performed oral sex on him in fall 2000, the grand jury said.

And in 2002, Kelly said, a graduate assistant saw Sandusky sexually assault a naked boy, estimated to be about 10 years old, in a team locker room shower. The grad student and his father reported what he saw to Paterno, who immediately told Curley, prosecutors said.

Curley and Schultz met with the graduate assistant about a week and a half later, Kelly said.

"Despite a powerful eyewitness statement about the sexual assault of a child, this incident was not reported to any law enforcement or child protective agency, as required by Pennsylvania law," Kelly said.

There's no indication that anyone at school attempted to find the boy, or follow up with the witness, she said.

Curley denied that the assistant had reported anything of a sexual nature, calling it "merely 'horsing around,'" the 23-page grand jury report said. But he also testified that he barred Sandusky from bringing children onto campus and that he advised Penn State president Graham Spanier of the matter.

The grand jury said Curley was lying, Kelly said, adding that it also deemed portions of Schultz's testimony not to be credible.

Schultz told the jurors he also knew of a 1998 investigation involving sexually inappropriate behavior by Sandusky with a boy in the showers the football team used.

But despite his job overseeing campus police, he never reported the 2002 allegations to any authorities, "never sought or received a police report on the 1998 incident and never attempted to learn the identity of the child in the shower in 2002," the jurors wrote. "No one from the university did so."

Lawyers for both Curley and Schultz issued statements saying they are innocent of all charges.

In response to a request for comment from Paterno, a spokesman for the athletic department said all such questions would be referred to university representatives, who released a statement from Spanier calling the allegations against Sandusky "troubling" and adding Curley and Schultz had his unconditional support.

He predicted they will be exonerated.

"I have known and worked daily with Tim and Gary for more than 16 years," Spanier said. "I have complete confidence in how they handled the allegations about a former university employee."

Sandusky, once considered a potential successor to Paterno, drew up the defenses for the Nittany Lions' national-title teams in 1982 and 1986. The team is enjoying another successful run this season; at 8-1, Penn State is ranked No. 16 in the AP Top 25 and is the last undefeated squad in Big Ten play. The Nittany Lions were off Saturday.

As the head football coach, Paterno has spent years cultivating a reputation for putting integrity ahead of modern college-sports economics. It's a notion that has benefited Penn State's marketing and recruiting efforts over the decades and one that the Big Ten school's alumni proudly tout years after they leave.

"We're supposed to be one of the universities to follow after, someone to look up to," said sophomore Brian Prewitt of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. "Now that people on the top are involved, it's going to be bad."

___

Scolforo reported from Harrisburg.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2011-11-05-Penn%20State%20Ex-Coach-Allegations/id-272623f2c00a4408b62b26e0f2876287

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