Spurs finish off Lakers sweep, roll to 2nd round

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant watches his team play the San Antonio Spurs in the second half in Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Sunday, April 28, 2013, in Los Angeles. The Spurs won 103-82. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant watches his team play the San Antonio Spurs in the second half in Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Sunday, April 28, 2013, in Los Angeles. The Spurs won 103-82. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) pats guard Tony Parker (9), of France, on the head after he scored as Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (12) faces away during the first half in Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Sunday, April 28, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard, right, shoots as San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan defends during the first half in Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Sunday, April 28, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol, right, of Spain, shoots as San Antonio Spurs forward Matt Bonner defends during the first half in Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Sunday, April 28, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green (4) grabs a rebound away from Los Angeles Lakers guard Darius Morris during the first half in Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Sunday, April 28, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Tony Parker could only shake his head at the travails of the Los Angeles Lakers, who probably packed more drama and turmoil into this season than the Spurs point guard has experienced in his entire career with steady San Antonio.

Parker is just grateful the Spurs sidestepped the drama and kept moving steadily into the second round of the playoffs.

Parker scored 23 points, Kawhi Leonard and DeJuan Blair added 13 apiece, and San Antonio eliminated the injury-plagued Lakers with a 103-82 victory in Game 4 on Sunday night, completing a one-sided series with a second straight blowout on the road.

San Antonio trailed for fewer than five combined minutes in the four-game series, grinding out points and defensive stops with the steady professionalism of coach Gregg Popovich's best teams. The Lakers played the finale without Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Metta World Peace and two key reserves, tamping down most of the playoff vibe.

"It was just a weird feeling," Parker said. "Obviously, I am happy we won, but it was just weird. They were missing a lot of guys, so we're just happy to go to the next round."

Tim Duncan had 11 points and six rebounds for the second-seeded Spurs, who will face the winner of Denver's series with Golden State in the second round. They'll get plenty of rest after flattening the Lakers, who staggered through their first opening-round exit since 2007.

"Obviously, it wasn't a fair fight," Popovich said. "When you're a competitor, you want to compete on an even basis, and the Lakers weren't able to do that. ... Even though it wasn't a fair fight, we still want to win the series, and I'm glad we did. Our focus was great."

San Antonio never trailed in the clincher, leading by 25 points in one more businesslike effort against the seventh-seeded Lakers, who provided their usual drama right down to their last gasp.

After Duncan led the Spurs' blowout in Game 3, Parker took the lead in the clincher, scoring 15 points in the first half while exploiting the Lakers' hastily assembled backcourt. Los Angeles' top four guards are out with injuries, including backups Steve Blake and Jodie Meeks, and Parker was merciless against third-stringers.

"This is a good start for us," Duncan said. "We like the pace we're at right now. We like the rhythm we're at right now, and how healthy we are right now. Hopefully it can stay that way."

In his final game before unrestricted free agency, Dwight Howard scored seven points before getting ejected early in the third quarter for arguing. Pau Gasol had 16 points for the Lakers, who were swept from the postseason for the second time in three years despite a late courtside appearance by Bryant on crutches.

"It's like a nightmare," Howard said. "It's like a bad dream we couldn't wake up out of. That's what it felt like. It seemed like nothing could go right from the start."

There's almost no turbulence around the Spurs, who seamlessly replaced injured starting center Tiago Splitter in Game 4 with Australian rookie Aron Baynes, who had six points and played decent defense in his first NBA start.

The Lakers gave away thousands of white towels to their fans Sunday, and they acquired an unfortunate symbolism. They had just nine available players in uniform for the final minutes.

"I'm proud of them, because they fought," Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni said. "It was kind of a year that was all upside-down, but I appreciate the effort to get us into the playoffs. We just didn't have it."

After an unimpressive game featuring just two field goal attempts in 20 minutes, Howard was tossed with 9:51 left in the third quarter for his second technical foul. The All-Star center, furious with the Spurs' unpunished physical play, yelled a few parting words at the court after walking past general manager Mitch Kupchak in the tunnel to the locker room.

Afterward, Howard said he must "do a better job of keeping my cool."

"I hate it for him," D'Antoni said, lamenting the lack of fouls called against players guarding Howard. "He gets banged up so much in there that I'm sure he didn't mean to (get ejected), but he takes a pounding, and after a while, I guess his nerves were shot."

Moments later, Bryant got the solemn Staples Center crowd on its feet when he hobbled out of the tunnel to a seat behind the Lakers' bench, making his first appearance at courtside since tearing his Achilles tendon 16 days ago. Bryant, who might not be healthy by the start of next season, repeatedly yelled instructions and encouragement at the Lakers' young backcourt, Andrew Goudelock and Darius Morris, and fill-in starter Earl Clark.

The Spurs had control of this series from the start: They posted two methodical victories at home before sending the Lakers to their biggest home playoff defeat in their long franchise history in Game 3, 120-89. The clincher was more of the same, with the Lakers unable to mount enough teamwork to challenge the smooth Spurs.

The Spurs have swept three of their last four playoff series, winning every game in the first two rounds last season before losing in six games to Oklahoma City in the Western Conference finals. San Antonio is in the second round of the postseason for the fourth time in six seasons since their last championship in 2007.

NOTES: Gasol got a standing ovation when he left the game with 3:08 to play. The two-time NBA champion has one year left on his contract with the Lakers, but could be a trade chip in the Lakers' rebuild. ... Splitter has a sprained ankle and is out indefinitely, although his teammates think he can return during the second round. F Boris Diaw practiced with contact this weekend in his comeback from a back injury. ... The Lakers faced an 0-3 series deficit for the eighth time in franchise history ? and for the eighth time, they were swept. ... Jack Nicholson and Lil Wayne watched at courtside, but both left early in the fourth quarter.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-04-29-BKN-Spurs-Lakers-Folo/id-4a9453039de84014ba3ce8a53a03d16c

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Boston suspects' father postpones trip to U.S.

MAKHACHKALA, Russia (AP) ? The father of the two Boston bombing suspects said Sunday that he has postponed a trip from Russia to the United States because of poor health.

"I am really sick," Anzor Tsarnaev, 46, told The Associated Press. He said his blood pressure had spiked to dangerous levels.

Tsarnaev said at a news conference Thursday that he planned to leave that day or the next for the U.S. with the hope of seeing his younger son, who is under arrest, and burying his elder son, who was killed. His family, however, indicated later Thursday that the trip could be pushed back because he was not feeling well.

Tsarnaev confirmed on Sunday that he is staying in Chechnya, a province in southern Russia, but did not specify whether he was hospitalized. He is an ethnic Chechen and has relatives in Chechnya, although he and his family spent little time in Chechnya or anywhere else in Russia before moving to the U.S. a decade ago.

He and the suspects' mother, Zubeidat Tsarnaeva, returned to Russia last year and settled in Makhachkala, the capital of neighboring Dagestan, where Tsarnaeva's relatives live.

During the past week, they were both questioned extensively by U.S. investigators who had traveled to Makhachkala from Moscow. They also were besieged by journalists who staked out their home.

Tsarnaev's family said last week that he intended to get to the U.S. by flying from Grozny, the Chechen capital, to Moscow. He and Tsarnaeva left Dagestan on Friday, but their whereabouts were unclear.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/boston-suspects-father-postpones-trip-us-124041600.html

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Touch footy touches down | Surf Coast Times ? Bellarine Times ...

A new football competition has just arrived on the Surf Coast.

Touch football, which started in Australia back in 1923 is still an emerging sport in AFL-mad Victoria, but is fast gaining in popularity as a non-contact sport that is easy to learn and fun to play.

Due to popular demand, the inaugural Surf Coast Touch Football competition has just kicked off, initially comprising nine teams, over 90 players, for both guys and girls. The competition launched last week at Torquay?s Banyul Warri Fields sports precinct, with a friendly game and function.

With many family members playing in the same teams, it promises to be a real family affair, with ages ranging from 15 to 60-plus and an even gender balance between male and female players.

Organised through the Surf Coast Shire recreation facilities team in conjunction with some committed community members, the competition will run every Thursday night over the next 11 weeks until the end of June.

It follows a series of promotional days at the Cowrie Market over the past six months and a recent six-week Come and Try program that aimed to introduce newcomers to the game.

Touch football was initially played as a training technique for rugby league and also as a social game in parks. It became a recognised sport in its own right in 1968 when the first official game of touch took place in Sydney.

By the early 1970s, touch was widely played throughout New South Wales, Queensland and New Zealand. The ensuing 40 years have seen the game?s rapid expansion, particularly across the South Pacific, Europe and the United Kingdom.

This is reflected in the cultural diversity among participants in the inaugural Surf Coast competition, with many having played touch in other countries before moving to the local area.

The game is easy to learn, requires minimal equipment and has a strong social focus, all of which make it suitable for all ages and levels ? beginners are especially welcome. Played over two 20-minute periods, with a five-minute break in between, the game?s highly aerobic nature also appeals to those looking to improve their health and fitness in a fun environment.

The arrival of touch on the Surf Coast adds to the diversity of activities undertaken at Banyul Warri Fields, which have continued to grow since the precinct opened in late 2011, and further enhances its role as a valuable community asset.

For more information or to enquire about touch football on the Surf Coast, contact the Surf Coast Sport and Recreation Centre on 5261 4606 or by email on surfcoastsrc@surfcoast.vic.gov.au.

Source: http://www.surfcoasttimes.com.au/sport/othersport/2013/04/28/touch-footy-touches-down/

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Insight: Good life goes on as Syrian elite sit out war

By Michael Stott and Samia Nakhoul

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - It might sound absurd to talk about normal life in Syria after two years of civil war which have killed more than 70,000 people and left five million more destitute and homeless.

Yet in the neighborhood of Malki, a tree-lined enclave of central Damascus, a wealthy group of elite, pro-government Syrians still enjoy shopping for imported French cheeses, gourmet hand-made chocolates and iPad minis in the well-stocked, recently built Grand Mall and in nearby boutiques.

Such are the parallel realities of a conflict in which, for all the gains made by rebels and the current chatter about U.S. "red lines" crossed that might ultimately draw in Western might, President Bashar al-Assad is holding his ground in the capital, bulwarked by his own foreign allies and by many Syrians who fear his end could prove fatal for them too. And so life goes on.

In Malki, sprinklers water the manicured lawns outside their blocks of million-dollar apartments. Maids and drivers cater to their every whim and birds sing in the trees. Fuel for their BMWs and electricity for their air-conditioning is plentiful and the well-guarded streets are free of loiterers.

"Look at this display and you feel all is well, life is good and everything is here," said an elegantly dressed Hiyam Jabri, 50, as she placed her order at the delicatessen counter in the mall's main supermarket.

Malki residents continue to enjoy material comforts and abundant supplies of imported goods, even as millions of their compatriots subsist on food handouts.

The United Nations World Food Programme estimates it is feeding 2.5 million people inside Syria - a tenth of the population - and a further million who have fled the country, offering them subsistence rations of flour and rice.

"We are trying to keep up with the enormity of the crisis and the impact of the brutality," the WFP's deputy regional emergency coordinator Matthew Hollingworth said in the capital.

Most of those whom his staff help "haven't been displaced once but sometimes twice, three times". Food is so scarce for those uprooted by the fighting that rations intended to feed a family of five are being shared by three families.

ILLUSIONS

Even in Malki, though, the air of normality is an illusion - as unreal as the oft-repeated assertions of government officials that victory is near and Assad still controls almost all Syria.

Scratch the surface of the illusion and the normality quickly becomes anything but.

Pasted to the lamp-post outside the elegant chocolatier Ghraoui, whose interior boasts award certificates from France, is a wad of black and white fliers. They are printed by families and they mourn sons and husbands killed in the war.

It is a war, however, that seems to be going nowhere fast.

Recent days have shown again the reluctance of the United States and its allies, in the face of evidence Assad's troops may have crossed President Barack Obama's "red line" by using chemical weapons, to intervene militarily against him - not least as some rebels have espoused the cause of al Qaeda.

Among the few independent outsiders seeing at first hand the mosaic of opinion and suffering in Syria, many aid workers lament that international discourse has become a monotone debate on supplying weapons, with little push for a negotiated peace.

"We need a political solution for this conflict," said Marc Lucet, the local emergency coordinator for UNICEF, whose fellow humanitarian workers recount grim tales of hungry refugees found cowering in half-built apartment blocks or idle factories.

The surface serenity of Malki contrasts with what aid groups say is a country splintered by ever shifting frontlines and a fragmenting opposition; many fear violence will spread beyond Syria's borders and are baffled by the debate in the West over how far to arm rebels, saying this will only make matters worse.

Stressing the need for a political settlement, however, unpalatable and, so far, unattainable, UNICEF's Lucet said: "The solution is certainly not to give more weapons to either side."

Attempts to bring Assad down by diplomatic means have failed to break the impasse, even if they do make life less comfortable in Malki.

Inside the Ghraoui chocolate boutique, as everywhere else in Syria, sales are strictly cash only - sanctions have forced international credit card networks to boycott transactions here.

Prices on restaurant menus in local currency, the Syrian pound, have been hastily updated with stickers multiple times - a tell-tale sign of rapid inflation.

At the luxury mall supermarket, Eyad al-Burghol says he is selling fewer imported foodstuffs than before because many wealthy customers have left the country.

FIGHTING TALK

A distant thump of artillery fire serves as a reminder that, just a few kilometers (miles) away, fierce street-to-street battles are being fought between government and rebel forces. Some days, Russian-made MiG fighter jets streak across the sky on their way to bomb insurgent positions.

The abundant security in Malki, residents say, is provided by men who speak the Iranian tongue of Farsi, rather than Syrian Arabic. Tehran has long been Assad's sponsor against his fellow Arab leaders and the word on the street - impossible to verify - is that this heavily guarded area of town may be home to the Syrian president himself and to his immediate family.

Assad is not seen in public these days and officials refuse to comment on his movements or whereabouts.

Senior Syrian officials try hard to show visiting reporters a picture of normality in which the government is firmly in control. But even the cocoon in which they live and work is starting to be punctured by the facts of war.

Syria's central bank governor Adeeb Mayaleh gave Reuters an interview last week at a headquarters building bearing the scars of a car bomb attack earlier in the month. Blinds hung twisted and useless in front of warped window-frames without glass. A palm tree outside had been reduced to a charred skeleton.

The bank chief insisted that the government had plenty of foreign currency available to guarantee imports and enough cash to pay public employees' wages in advance each month. For how long? Iran and Russia, he said, were about to agree fresh funds.

Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad gave an upbeat assessment of the war in an interview - but a Syrian who works nearby told us that the complex housing the ministry had been attacked four times by rebels in the past few months.

UNICEF regional coordinator Youssef Abdul-Jalil estimated that at least three million children inside Syria now needed humanitarian assistance because of the war: "There is a crisis of the children of Syria," he said. "They are paying a terrible price in their lives, in their surroundings, in their health, in their education and in their lack of protection".

REALITY INTRUDES

Cars still choke central Damascus and traffic police still issue tickets for speeding and even clamp badly parked vehicles. But armed checkpoints snarl progress to a snail's pace.

Travel agents still offer flights and holidays. But the road to the city's airport is considered too dangerous by many and flights are available only to a few, friendly, destinations.

Telephones still work and officials still show up for work in neatly ironed shirts and well-pressed suits - but many scuttle off early to be home before nightfall.

One resident spoke of a distant relative, a Christian from a prosperous family of car dealers, who was kidnapped. Accused of supporting Assad, he was beaten while hanging upside down. His captors then they injected fuel into his veins. Released for a ransom worth over $20,000, the man died a few days later.

While the Syrian elite continue to insist that the military campaign against the rebels is succeeding, aid workers in Aleppo say that the area of the country's biggest city that is now controlled by the government is very small.

The main north-south highway which connects Aleppo to Damascus via the major cities of Homs and Hama now features some 38 checkpoints, about nine of which are manned by various groups of rebels, NGO workers who have traveled along it recently say.

In the capital, the government says it guarantees a "Square of Security" in the center; some locals joke that rebel gains have shorn it to a rather smaller "Security Triangle".

Damascus's walled Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to the 7th-century Umayyad mosque, retains its beauty. But these days it is eerily empty. Tourists have long gone and the souvenir sellers have all but given up hope of selling anything.

Inside the mosque's main prayer hall, featuring a shrine said to contain the head of St. John the Baptist, mournful guides tell of how the imam was recently murdered.

At a jewelry shop in the al-Hamidiyeh bazaar, Anas Hallawi, 25, sat looking bored: "People are selling their gold not buying these days," he said. "Our business thrived on foreign tourists and Syrians buying gold for their brides.

"Now the tourists are gone. And nobody is getting married."

At the Al-Naranj restaurant in the Christian Quarter, one of Damascus's finest eateries, diners discussed the relative risks of car bombings versus random mortar attacks and kidnap. Little wonder that so many with the means have left for Lebanon, as life in the capital becomes a kind of ghoulish Russian roulette.

Across the room, a smartly dressed family group celebrated a betrothal with a lavish spread of traditional Syrian food on a table decorated with red roses.

As the strains of the old songs died away and a festive cake was eaten, a fighter jet roared across the sky. Artillery fire thudded in the distance. The family looked upwards through the restaurant's glass roof, eyes suddenly fearful. (Editing by Alastair Macdonald)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/insight-good-life-goes-syrian-elite-sit-war-154008389.html

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Fire extinguished at Marathon Detroit refinery

HOUSTON (Reuters) - A fire on Saturday night at a Detroit crude oil refinery that forced the partial evacuation of the town of Melvindale, Michigan, has been extinguished, said a spokesman for the plant's owner, Marathon Petroleum Corp.

No injuries were reported at the refinery from the blaze in a tank containing wastewater from the refining process, said Marathon spokesman Shane Pochard.

"We're working with Melvindale police to return residents to their homes," Pochard said. "That has not yet been completed."

Melvindale Police Sergeant Michael Welch said the evacuation order was canceled before all the residents of a square mile (2.6 square km) of the Detroit suburb could be evacuated. He did not know how many residents were affected.

The blaze broke out about 6 p.m. EDT and was extinguished at about 8 p.m.

"As far as I know, the refinery is still operating normally," Pochard said.

Pochard and Welch said air monitoring in Melvindale showed the air in the community was within acceptable levels.

The tank contained what is called sour water, which includes hydrogen sulfide and ammonia from crude oil refining. The pollutants have to be stripped from the water before it can be reused or sent to an outside wastewater system.

Marathon's Detroit refinery is the only one in the state and can refine up to 106,000 barrels of crude oil a day, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

(Reporting by Erwin Seba; Editing by Peter Cooney)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fire-extinguished-marathon-detroit-refinery-no-injuries-005303527.html

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PFT: Jets deal fourth-rounder for Saints RB Ivory

AP

Here are the terms of trades completed on Friday, April 26, the second day of the 2013 NFL Draft. All draft picks are 2013 selections unless otherwise noted:

The Titans acquired a second-round pick from San Francisco (No. 34 overall), sending second- and seventh-round picks (Nos. 40, 216) in 2013 and a 2014 third-rounder to the 49ers. The Titans selected Tennessee wide receiver Justin Hunter at No. 34. The 49ers took Florida State defensive lineman Cornellius ?Tank? Carradine at No. 40.

The Chargers traded for the Cardinals? second-round pick (No. 38), giving up second- and fourth-round picks (Nos. 45, 110) to Arizona. The Chargers used selection No. 38 on Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te?o, while the Cardinals took LSU linebacker Kevin Minter at No. 45.

The 49ers acquired the Packers? second-round pick (No. 55). In return, San Francisco surrendered second- and sixth-round picks (Nos. 61, 173). The 49ers took Rice tight end Vance McDonald at No. 55. The Packers used the No. 61 choice on Alabama running back Eddie Lacy.

The Ravens traded for the Seahawks? second-round selection (No. 56). Baltimore sent Seattle second-, fifth- and sixth-round picks (Nos. 62, 165, 199) to complete the deal. The Ravens took Kansas State linebacker Arthur Brown with pick No. 56. Six picks later, the Seahawks selected Texas A&M running back Christine Michael at No. 62.

The Saints acquired a third-round selection from Miami (No. 82). In exchange, the Dolphins received two fourth-round picks (Nos. 106, 109) from New Orleans. The Saints took Georgia nose tackle John Jenkins at No. 82. The Dolphins would trade selection No. 109 to Green Bay.

The 49ers traded for the Packers? third-round choice (No. 88), surrendering third- and seventh-round picks (Nos. 93, 216) to Green Bay. With pick No. 88, San Francisco chose Auburn defensive lineman Corey Lemonier. The Packers would deal the 93^rd selection to Miami (see next entry).

The Dolphins acquired a third-round pick from Green Bay (No. 93), giving up fourth-, fifth- and seventh-round picks (Nos. 109, 146, 224). The Dolphins selected Utah State cornerback Will Davis at No. 93.

The Dolphins traded wide receiver Davone Bess and their fourth- and seventh-round picks (Nos. 111, 217) to Cleveland. In return, the Browns sent the Dolphins fourth- and fifth-round picks (Nos. 104, 164).

The Saints traded running back Chris Ivory to the Jets in exchange for New York?s fourth-round pick (No. 106). The Saints dealt No. 106 in a package for pick No. 82, which was used on Georgia nose tackle John Jenkins.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/26/jets-trade-fourth-to-saints-for-chris-ivory/related/

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Developers gain root access on Google Glass, not yet sure what to do with it

Access to Google's Glass headsets is still limited to a lucky few, but that's more than enough to include several curious coders. Some have had success identifying the hardware contained within, but others are focusing on the software. Cydia founder Jay Freeman posted the above image on Twitter this afternoon to show that he had gained root access on his unit, telling Forbes he relied upon a well-known Android 4.0.4 exploit to take control of its OS. The bad news? He hasn't been able to use it much yet, since the Explorer edition isn't quite ready for prescription glasses wearers. For now, the question of whether the same technique will work on eventual retail versions remains unanswered, as well as what it's actually going to be useful for. Steven Troughton-Smith suggests developers can use it to try out more complicated apps than Google currently allows, including always-on heads-up displays or camera apps. Overcoming any remote deactivation Google may try to enforce or loading your own unauthorized apps are also definite possibilities, though we're sure others will surface soon.

Filed under: Wearables, Google

Comments

Source: Jay Freeman (Twitter), Forbes, 9to5Google

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/_oZYnojEGfA/

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Novelties: In Cancer Treatment, New DNA Tools

[unable to retrieve full-text content]With new tools and tests on the market, doctors are now better prepared to sort through the genetic flaws that cause cells to become cancerous.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/28/business/in-cancer-treatment-new-dna-tools.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

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After Childhood Cancer | Your Health Journal - Len Saunders

By Beth Kurt, MD

Less than 20 percent of children survived cancer in the 1960?s. Fortunately, the five-year survival rate for childhood cancer is now approaching 80 percent. (1)

As a consequence of these improved survival rates, more teenagers and young adults who have undergone cancer therapy will go on to face special challenges when transitioning from active cancer treatment to resuming a normal life. Many survivors of childhood cancer experience late occurring health complications related to their cancer or its treatment; thus, regular medical follow-up is critical to maintain good health.

Recent studies have found that significant numbers of childhood cancer survivors do not receive the follow-up care needed. (2) The reasons may include financial difficulties, lack of insurance or a desire to move past a cancer diagnosis. To make matters more difficult, most primary care providers have cared for only a handful of childhood cancer patients and are not well-equipped to refer families to cancer centers to provide the best follow-up care. (3)

At our After Care and Transition (ACT) Program clinic visits, we provide a summary letter to the patient and their primary care physician, which details information about the cancer diagnosis, treatment and health problems that may occur as a result. We also provide resources for further reading and ways to stay healthy.

Among the issues that cancer survivors need to discuss and learn about at their follow-up doctor visits are:

? Signs and symptoms that should prompt a visit to their doctor.

? Risk for infertility and premature menopause.

? Risk for long-term heart toxicity and ways to improve or maintain heart health.

? Resources for mental health counseling.

? College scholarship opportunities.

? Other preventative health measures: use of sunscreen/risk for skin cancer, hearing protection etc.

One particular challenge stems from normal tensions between adolescent desires for autonomy and privacy, and strong parental desires to protect and care for their child both during and long after a life-threatening illness.

During appointments with our patients, we do our best to educate adolescents and young adults about the importance of learning their own medical histories and speaking up when they have a concern about how they are feeling. This can be difficult, as adolescents may be inclined to deny symptoms like pain, depression or certain worries in front of their parents, and ?neglect? to share information unless the right questions are asked. Well-meaning parents, on the other hand, are so used to being the primary historian and making decisions for their child, that it?s a learning process for them, too.

We encourage patients and their physicians to contact us if they have questions about how a health concern may relate to their cancer history. All of us at the ACT clinic keep an open-door policy, even after patients have officially ?graduated? from the practice.

References:

1) National Cancer Institute

2) Oeffinger KC, Mertens AC, Hudson MM, Gurney JG, Casillas J, Chen H, et al. Health care of young adult survivors of childhood cancer: a report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Ann Fam Med 2004;2:61-70.

3) Nathan PC, Daugherty CK, Wroblewski KE, Kigin ML, Stewart TV Hlubocky FJ et al, Family physician preferences and knowledge gaps regarding the care of adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancer. J Cancer Survivor, 2013.

- Beth Kurt, MD, pediatric oncologist, Spectrum Health Medical Group and co-director of the After Care and Transition (ACT) Program for childhood cancer survivors at Helen DeVos Children?s Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI.

Source: http://www.lensaunders.com/wp/after-childhood-cancer/

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TSX up 6th day on upbeat data, Potash earnings

By John Tilak

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index extended its gains into a sixth straight session on Thursday, buoyed by positive U.S. economic data and a stronger-than-expected earnings report from Potash Corp .

Investors were encouraged by data showing the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell last week, offering reassurance that the bottom is not falling out of the labor market.

The Toronto market, which posted its biggest jump in more than eight months on Wednesday, has erased most of the losses incurred during a massive commodities-led rout earlier this month.

"The TSX is staging a bit of a recovery," said Keith G. Richards, portfolio manager and technical analyst at ValueTrend Wealth Management. "I see this near-term rally as a near-term rally, and that's all."

He expects weakness in banks and commodities to hold the index back over the next couple of months.

Despite the gains, the index is down 0.9 percent on the year, compared with a 10.7 percent rise in the S&P 500.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index <.gsptse> was up 53.18 points, or 0.43 percent, at 12,323.61 on Thursday. It hit its highest point since the huge selloff on April 15.

Eight of the 10 main sectors of the index were higher.

A 2.4 percent gain in Potash and rise in gold shares boosted the materials sector, which climbed 2.3 percent.

The price of bullion hit a 10-day high, lifted by a weak dollar and strong physical buying.

Potash said it was abandoning efforts to take over Israel Chemicals Ltd because of strong opposition in Israel. The fertilizer giant also reported a stronger-than-expected 13 percent rise in profit after renewed sales to China and India.

"Potash has got near-term upside," Richards said. "Positive news on the stock is going to push it a bit."

Energy shares rose 0.5 percent, reflecting a rise in the price of oil.

Financials, the index's most heavily weighted sector, gave back 0.2 percent.

In other company news, Open Text Corp reported a 25 percent rise in third-quarter adjusted profit as its cloud-based services business expanded. The business software maker's stock added 9.1 percent to C$63.02.

Shares of Imperial Oil Ltd climbed 1.4 percent after Canada's No. 2 oil producer and refiner reported a first-quarter profit.

(Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/tsx-set-open-higher-stronger-earnings-data-124832541--finance.html

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Curry leads Warriors past Nuggets in Game 3

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) reacts as Denver Nuggets' Ty Lawson watches, right, at the end of Game 3 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series on Friday, April 26, 2013, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) reacts as Denver Nuggets' Ty Lawson watches, right, at the end of Game 3 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series on Friday, April 26, 2013, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) lays up a shot against Denver Nuggets' Wilson Chandler, right, during the second half of Game 3 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series on Friday, April 26, 2013, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Denver Nuggets' Kenneth Faried (35) scores against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of Game 3 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series on Friday, April 26, 2013, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Denver Nuggets' Andre Iguodala (9) lays up a shot against Golden State Warriors' Jarrett Jack (2) during the first half of Game 3 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series on Friday, April 26, 2013, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) guards Denver Nuggets' Andre Iguodala, right, during the first half of Game 3 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series on Friday, April 26, 2013, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) ? Playing on a sprained left ankle, Stephen Curry has the Golden State Warriors on firm footing in the playoffs.

Curry overcame his latest ankle injury to score 29 points and hand out 11 assists, and the Warriors outlasted the Denver Nuggets 110-108 on Friday night to take a 2-1 series lead.

"Feels good. Just thankful to be able to get through the game without any incidents," said Curry, who had ice wrapped around his ankle in the locker room.

Jarrett Jack added 23 points and seven assists, and Harrison Barnes and Carl Landry each scored 19 points to help the Warriors rally from 13 points down in the third quarter.

They still had to sweat out Andre Iguodala's missed 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded, setting off a gold-confetti celebration throughout the announced sellout crowd of 19,596, which stood for most of the fourth quarter in Golden State's first home playoff game since 2007 and just the second postseason appearance in 19 years.

"There's nothing like something being as good as advertised," Warriors coach Mark Jackson said. "They were loud. They were consistent and we fed off them even when we didn't match their intensity."

Ty Lawson had a career playoff-high 35 points to go with 10 assists, and reserve Corey Brewer scored 16 points as Denver dropped its second straight game ? and its grip on the best-of-seven series.

Game 4 is Sunday night in Oakland.

"There was a lot of good tonight," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "I told the team after the game, 'The process of the NBA playoffs is to get better. We got better tonight. We didn't win tonight. But there's a process going on, and it's just two wins. They're only halfway there.'"

The teams traded spectacular shots for most of the game, especially in the closing moments.

Curry, wearing a large white brace around both ankles, crossed over Kenneth Faried and then dropped in a high-arching lefty floater. Curry added another on the next possession ? only with his right hand, and this time hitting almost all net to put the Warriors back up four.

Faried, who finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, followed with a reverse layup. A few plays later, Curry stole the ball from Andre Miller from behind and then nearly dropped in another floater as Wilson Chandler fouled him. Curry's free throws gave Golden State a 108-102 lead with 1:54 remaining.

After Denver called timeout, Lawson's layup over Draymond Green started a three-point play. Denver got a stop before Lawson's 3-pointer hit the front iron and Curry corralled the rebound ? but then missed a layup on the other end.

Twice given a chance to either tie or take the lead, Denver blew both.

Iguodala got caught in the air trying to make a pass, Jack batted it away and hit 1 of 2 free throws for a 109-105 lead with 21.5 seconds to play. Chandler stunned the crowd with a quick 3 from the corner, the Nuggets covered Curry on the ensuing inbound and Jack was called for a rare 5-second violation.

Klay Thompson and backup center Festus Ezeli trapped Lawson off a pick-and-roll, and Lawson dribbled the ball off his leg and out of bounds. Officials confirmed the call with a video review.

"We gotta take care of our business," said Lawson, who shot 11 for 22 from the floor.

After Barnes made just the second free throw, Iguodala received the inbound pass. He took a few dribbles and heaved a shot from around half-court, hitting the front iron and letting the home fans exhale.

Golden State followed its 64.6 percent shooting performance ? the highest in an NBA playoff game in 22 years ? during its 131-117 win at Denver on Tuesday night with another gem befitting the Bay Area's basketball party.

Ushers and parking lot attendants greeted fans with "welcome to the playoffs." Almost every fan wore a gold shirt read "We are Warriors" on the front, and the 33rd straight sellout that packed Oracle Arena often yelled so loud even players had a hard time hearing whistles.

"I've never seen anything like it," Jack said.

The Warriors outshot the Nuggets 52.5 to 46.5 percent and won the rebounding battle for the third straight game, 42-34.

Jackson stuck with his smaller lineup for the second straight game since David Lee went down with a season-ending tear of his right hip flexor. Guards Curry, Jack and Thompson started alongside small forward Barnes and center Andrew Bogut, who had nine rebounds and six points and was a constant paint presence.

Karl countered with an even smaller lineup: forward Faried started at center in place of struggling big man Kosta Koufos, Chandler was at power forward, Iguodala at small forward, Evan Fournier at shooting guard and Lawson at point guard.

The athletic Nuggets constantly swarmed Curry and Jack ? or whoever dribbled off pick-and-rolls ? with double teams as soon as they crossed midcourt, forcing Golden State into 23 total turnovers.

"We were hot, we were feeling it but we had to stay aggressive and we stopped," Faried said.

Every time Curry lined up to shoot, the crowd's collective inhale could be heard. The silence was usually followed by a remarkable roar ? and until the final 15 minutes, often by another avalanche of Denver offense.

After going down by 13 points in the third quarter, the Warriors answered with a 16-2 run capped by Curry's 3-pointer near Denver's bench. The shot gave Golden State a 74-73 lead and sent owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber jumping out of their courtside seats, screaming, clapping and motioning to the stands to shout even louder.

"The fans," Curry said, "really had that energy stored up."

NOTES: Bogut was called for a technical foul in the third quarter after a verbal exchange with Denver's JaVale McGee. ... McGee grabbed his right shoulder when he was fouled in the first quarter. He had four points and one rebound in almost 14 minutes. ... Lee was in a suit and often engaged in the huddle.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-04-27-BKN-Nuggets-Warriors/id-7ede42f9cca4449d9f6217039efaa67b

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Ask A VC: NEA's Pete Sonsini On The Next Disruptive Startup In The Enterprise

This week, NEA's Pete Sonsini joined us in the studio for Ask A VC. Sonsini joined NEA in 2005 and is the co-head of the firm's enterprise software practice group, focusing on early-stage investments in the space. His investments include Xensource (acquired by Citrix Systems) and Teracent (acquired by Google). He is currently on the board of Engine Yard, Eucalyptus Systems and a number of others.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/S43tGAqBW9k/

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Obama: "There've been times where Michelle probably felt like a single mom" (Washington Bureau)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/301350493?client_source=feed&format=rss

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New battery design could help solar and wind power the grid

Apr. 24, 2013 ? Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University have designed a low-cost, long-life battery that could enable solar and wind energy to become major suppliers to the electrical grid.

"For solar and wind power to be used in a significant way, we need a battery made of economical materials that are easy to scale and still efficient," said Yi Cui, a Stanford associate professor of materials science and engineering and a member of the Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences, a SLAC/Stanford joint institute. "We believe our new battery may be the best yet designed to regulate the natural fluctuations of these alternative energies."

Cui and colleagues report their research results, some of the earliest supported by the DOE's new Joint Center for Energy Storage Research battery hub, in the May issue of Energy & Environmental Science.

Currently the electrical grid cannot tolerate large and sudden power fluctuations caused by wide swings in sunlight and wind. As solar and wind's combined contributions to an electrical grid approach 20 percent, energy storage systems must be available to smooth out the peaks and valleys of this "intermittent" power -- storing excess energy and discharging when input drops.

Among the most promising batteries for intermittent grid storage today are "flow" batteries, because it's relatively simple to scale their tanks, pumps and pipes to the sizes needed to handle large capacities of energy. The new flow battery developed by Cui's group has a simplified, less expensive design that presents a potentially viable solution for large-scale production.

Today's flow batteries pump two different liquids through an interaction chamber where dissolved molecules undergo chemical reactions that store or give up energy. The chamber contains a membrane that only allows ions not involved in reactions to pass between the liquids while keeping the active ions physically separated. This battery design has two major drawbacks: the high cost of liquids containing rare materials such as vanadium -- especially in the huge quantities needed for grid storage -- and the membrane, which is also very expensive and requires frequent maintenance.

The new Stanford/SLAC battery design uses only one stream of molecules and does not need a membrane at all. Its molecules mostly consist of the relatively inexpensive elements lithium and sulfur, which interact with a piece of lithium metal coated with a barrier that permits electrons to pass without degrading the metal. When discharging, the molecules, called lithium polysulfides, absorb lithium ions; when charging, they lose them back into the liquid. The entire molecular stream is dissolved in an organic solvent, which doesn't have the corrosion issues of water-based flow batteries.

"In initial lab tests, the new battery also retained excellent energy-storage performance through more than 2,000 charges and discharges, equivalent to more than 5.5 years of daily cycles," Cui said.

To demonstrate their concept, the researchers created a miniature system using simple glassware. Adding a lithium polysulfide solution to the flask immediately produces electricity that lights an LED.

A utility version of the new battery would be scaled up to store many megawatt-hours of energy.

In the future, Cui's group plans to make a laboratory-scale system to optimize its energy storage process and identify potential engineering issues, and to start discussions with potential hosts for a full-scale field-demonstration unit.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by DOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. Yuan Yang, Guangyuan Zheng, Yi Cui. A membrane-free lithium/polysulfide semi-liquid battery for large-scale energy storage. Energy & Environmental Science, 2013; DOI: 10.1039/C3EE00072A

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/dKbtCcUUT2g/130424140603.htm

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New imaging technology could reveal cellular secrets

Apr. 25, 2013 ? Researchers have married two biological imaging technologies, creating a new way to learn how good cells go bad.

"Let's say you have a large population of cells," said Corey Neu, an assistant professor in Purdue University's Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering. "Just one of them might metastasize or proliferate, forming a cancerous tumor. We need to understand what it is that gives rise to that one bad cell."

Such an advance makes it possible to simultaneously study the mechanical and biochemical behavior of cells, which could provide new insights into disease processes, said biomedical engineering postdoctoral fellow Charilaos "Harris" Mousoulis.

Being able to study a cell's internal workings in fine detail would likely yield insights into the physical and biochemical responses to its environment. The technology, which combines an atomic force microscope and nuclear magnetic resonance system, could help researchers study individual cancer cells, for example, to uncover mechanisms leading up to cancer metastasis for research and diagnostics.

The prototype's capabilities were demonstrated by taking nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of hydrogen atoms in water. Findings represent a proof of concept of the technology and are detailed in a research paper that appeared online April 11 in the journal Applied Physics Letters. The paper was co-authored by Mousoulis' research scientist Teimour Maleki, Babak Ziaie, a professor of electrical and computer engineering; and Neu.

"You could detect many different types of chemical elements, but in this case hydrogen is nice to detect because it's abundant," Neu said. "You could detect carbon, nitrogen and other elements to get more detailed information about specific biochemistry inside a cell."

An atomic force microscope (AFM) uses a tiny vibrating probe called a cantilever to yield information about materials and surfaces on the scale of nanometers, or billionths of a meter. Because the instrument enables scientists to "see" objects far smaller than possible using light microscopes, it could be ideal for studying molecules, cell membranes and other biological structures.

However, the AFM does not provide information about the biological and chemical properties of cells. So the researchers fabricated a metal microcoil on the AFM cantilever. An electrical current is passed though the coil, causing it to exchange electromagnetic radiation with protons in molecules within the cell and inducing another current in the coil, which is detected.

The Purdue researchers perform "mechanobiology" studies to learn how forces exerted on cells influence their behavior. In work focusing on osteoarthritis, their research includes the study of cartilage cells from the knee to learn how they interact with the complex matrix of structures and biochemistry between cells.

Future research might include studying cells in "microfluidic chambers" to test how they respond to specific drugs and environmental changes.

A U.S. patent application has been filed for the concept. The research has been funded by Purdue's Showalter Trust Fund and the National Institutes of Health.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Purdue University. The original article was written by Emil Venere.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. Charilaos Mousoulis, Teimour Maleki, Babak Ziaie, Corey P. Neu. Atomic force microscopy-coupled microcoils for cellular-scale nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Applied Physics Letters, 2013; 102 (14): 143702 DOI: 10.1063/1.4801318

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ayYzbNTiLZE/130425160208.htm

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Escaped psychiatric patient attacks rabbi in Paris

PARIS (AP) ? An escapee from a psychiatric institution slashed a rabbi and his son with a box-cutter on Tuesday, prompting witnesses to tackle and subdue the attacker after a chase through a Paris synagogue, officials said.

The rabbi, who is in his late 40s, was recovering from surgery for a neck injury and his 18-year-old son sustained lesser injuries in the attack north of a touristic shopping area near Paris' gilded Opera Garnier, according to police and judicial officials and Richard Prasquier, who heads CRIF, France's largest umbrella organization of Jewish groups.

The assailant was of Iranian origin, and an official investigation was underway to determine a possible motive, Prasquier said. The attacker, now in police custody, had escaped from a psychiatric hospital near southeastern Lyon last week, said a police official on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.

Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre, a spokeswoman for the Paris prosecutor's office, said the two victims had been wearing Jewish skullcaps, and the attacker was detained after a chase through the synagogue. The Simon Wiesenthal Center, which monitors anti-Semitic incidents worldwide, said in a statement that the assailant screamed "Allah-u-Akbar" ? or "God is great" ? during the attack.

France is home to the largest Jewish community in Western Europe, at some 500,000 people, which has faced sporadic bouts of anti-Semitism over the years. In one of the country's most wrenching episodes in recent years, three Jewish schoolchildren and a rabbi were shot and killed by a radical Islamic militant in March last year in the southwestern city of Toulouse.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/escaped-psychiatric-patient-attacks-rabbi-paris-143515618.html

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Four Telling Facts About Netflix, Which Is ~$3 ... - Business Insider

Netflix added three million subscribers?two million at home and one million outside the US?in the first three months of 2013, returning the subscription video service to profitability and sending its stock up?nearly 25%?in after-hours trading. Here?s a look at Netflix subscriptions over the past seven quarters:

There are several ways to look at Netflix?s recent success. Here are four of them, all superlative.

Netflix has more American subscribers than HBO

After several strong quarters of growth, Netflix now has 29.2 million people in the US subscribed to its $8-a-month streaming plan, which is, for the first time, greater than HBO?s domestic subscription base of 28.7 million. HBO?s figure dates to the end of 2012, but it?s unlikely to have grown much in the first three months of 2013, owing as much to the cable TV industry?s stagnation as its own trouble signing up new subscribers. (Outside the US, the situation is much different: HBO has a huge lead over Netflix.)

The comparison between Netflix and HBO isn?t perfect, but they increasingly appear to be on similar trajectories. Both started by offering only movies that had long been out of theaters, then ventured into original programming?HBO?in 1997 with?Oz?and Netflix earlier this year with?House of Cards. Meanwhile, all of HBO?s customers buy it as an add-on to existing cable TV subscriptions, but HBO Go now offers all of the network?s programming over the internet, like Netflix. At the moment, it?s just a free perk for existing subscribers, but executives at HBO parent Time Warner have been?hinting at a future?when HBO Go is sold directly to consumers.

?The goal is to become HBO faster than HBO can become us,? Ted Sarandos, Netflix?s chief content officer,?put it recently.

Netflix is the most watched ?cable network? in the US

Of course, Netflix isn?t a cable network, but it competes for attention with television fare beyond just HBO. And in that context, Netflix commands more attention?87 minutes per US household per day?than any American cable network, according to an estimate?pulled together earlier this month by BTIG analyst Rich Greenfield?(registration required).

That?s just slightly more than the Disney Channel, which is not a coincidence: Netflix has a large of catalog of children?s programming, and some of its most loyal subscribers are parents who use Netflix as a babysitting tool. Later this year, Netflix will debut an?original show about a speedy snail, which should appeal to children and another core Netflix demographic: stoners.

The watching time data is important because Netflix depends on loyalty to retain subscribers, and the more people use it, the more valuable they are likely to find the service. Both Netflix and HBO have had trouble with churn, or people dropping their subscriptions, because people see them as luxury expenses that can be easily trimmed when budgets get tight. HBO uses HBO Go as a carrot to keep subscribers; Netflix has tried to add more and better programming. Both strategies seem to be working.

Netflix is America?s biggest bandwidth hog, by far

As TV and the internet converge, it?s increasingly important to look at what content is dominating those pipes. For now, it?s Netflix. And it?s not even close.

During peak periods of internet use in the US, Netflix constitutes 33% of all downstream traffic, which means content that goes into the device instead of out,?according to broadband network provider Sandvine?(pdf). That?s more than Google?s YouTube (14.8%), BitTorrent (5.9%), Apple?s iTunes (3.9%), Amazon Video (1.8%), and Facebook (1.5%), among others. Netflix isn?t as dominant in mobile internet use, where it has just 2.7% to YouTube?s 31%, but that?s the next battleground.

Bandwidth is a good metric to watch because it arguably measures the depth of attention commanded by these big media companies. Facebook obviously controls a large share of internet use, but the content it serves isn?t as rich, or bandwidth-heavy, as YouTube or Netflix. In theory, the richer media should ultimately translate into more revenue.

Netflix is the S&P?s best performing stock of the year

If its after-hours surge holds up when the markets open again tomorrow, Netflix will be the?top performing stock?in the S&P 500 this year, up 134%. It?s already the best S&P stock?since the market?s previous peak?in 2007.

Netflix stock tanked in the middle of 2011 after a?poorly handled price hike, then stubbornly refused to recover as investors fretted about the increasing costs of content. Those costs continue to rise, but Netflix has been able to show strong subscriber growth and convince investors that it has a strategy. This, despite companies like Hulu and Amazon?increasingly competing with Netflix?for existing and original content.

More from Quartz:

Click here?to sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief and start your day with the latest intelligence on the new global economy.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/four-telling-facts-about-netflix-which-is-3-billion-more-valuable-today-than-it-was-yesterday-2013-4

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Readers share their photos as floods hammer Midwest

By Vicenta DeVries

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.?The flooding has closed roads, collected debris, damaged foundations of homes and business, caused sewer and sanitation problems and contaminated drinking water.... more?

By Vicenta DeVries

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.?The flooding has closed roads, collected debris, damaged foundations of homes and business, caused sewer and sanitation problems and contaminated drinking water. By Tuesday, the flooding reached its peak ?hit over the weekend?and has started to move out to the outer lakes and rivers. But the water is still above the flood levels, which is also above the flood walls within the city.

The problems are far from over. Michigan has begun the clean-up process to help those affected. I have seen volunteers sacking bags of sand to help divert the flow of water from many homes and businesses. This shows how Michigan people help each other during calamities and a disaster arises. less?

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/lightbox/midwest-flooding-in-photos-first-hand-accounts-slideshow/

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Iran's wooing of Africa yields scant results as sanctions bite

By David Lewis

DAKAR (Reuters) - Before Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad started a visit to Niger last week, there was talk that the poor West African state might add Iran to its list of buyers for the uranium mined in its remote desert north.

Such a deal would have alarmed world powers seeking to have Iran curb its shadowy nuclear program. But the outcome of Ahmadinejad's trip was far less spectacular: an agreement on visas for diplomats and another on health cooperation.

Ahmadinejad's final African tour before he steps down this year illustrated how Iran's campaign to court the fast-growing continent has yielded remarkably little in the way of trade and votes at the United Nations against sanctions targeting its disputed nuclear activity over the past seven years.

"There is a general sense that Iran's influence in Africa is on the wane," said Manoah Esipisu, a Johannesburg-based Africa analyst. "Iran means trouble with Washington and its allies, and there is little appetite for that."

With an economic growth rate forecast above 5 percent this year despite a global slowdown, Africa is now attracting investment from around the world, meaning the continent can afford to be choosier about its friends.

Burgeoning oil production from countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Chad and Equatorial Guinea also means Tehran's chief economic bargaining chip is of less value.

South Africa, sub-Saharan Africa's largest economy, had relied on Iran for a quarter of its oil imports but gave in to Western moves last year to embargo Iranian oil exports, turning elsewhere to secure its crude.

Kenya, an important Western ally in the fight against militant Islam in East Africa, also backtracked within days on a deal to import 4 million tons of Iranian oil last year after its allies expressed disapproval.

South African Deputy Foreign Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim said he had told Tehran frankly that his country could no longer purchase Iranian oil to avoid running into Western sanctions.

"I told them the United States is an important export market ... We don't want a situation that will damage our economy," said Ebrahim, who returned from Tehran last week.

"While we may appreciate and sympathize with them, there are certain realities that we need to take into consideration."

Many developing states in principle back Iran's insistence on the right to enrich uranium for what it says will be civilian nuclear energy only. But they also feel Iran should heed U.N. demands for transparency in its nuclear work to help defuse fears that it is trying to develop the means to make atom bombs.

TRADE DOWN, NO VOTES AT UNITED NATIONS

Last week's visit to Benin, Niger and Ghana was Ahmadinejad's fifth to the continent since he took office in 2005. Before the trip, he described relations with Africa as "of paramount importance to Tehran".

But Tehran's lobbying for votes at the U.N. Security Council has fallen on deaf ears. African nations have voted in favor of all four sanctions resolutions passed between 2006 and 2010 as a result of Iran's nuclear program.

IMF data also suggests that Iran's trade with Africa - a fraction of other emerging powers' - has been hurt by sanctions. Its exports to sub-Saharan Africa peaked at $3.9 billion in 2011 only to slump last year to $1.8 billion.

Senegal exemplifies Iran's chequered record. A deal signed under the previous government of President Abdoulaye Wade led to a factory churning out yellow, Iranian-designed vehicles.

But promises of a Iranian-built refinery to help ease Senegal's chronic fuel shortage never materialized.

Then the seizure of a secret Iranian arms shipment in Nigeria in 2010 en route for Gambia prompted Dakar to break off relations with Tehran as it feared the arms would have found their way across the border into the hands of separatist rebels.

The link between Iran and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which was ties in West Africa, causes particular concern.

"It's important these countries are aware of the connections Iran has," said one Western diplomat, noting Tehran was using its chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement to court African nations. "You can track a lot of things going on back to Iran ... which means we need to be alert to what is going on."

Iranian warships visited Sudan last year after Khartoum accused Israel of bombing a weapons factory there. Israel has not commented on that accusation but has accused Sudan of smuggling weapons to Iranian-allied Palestinian group Hamas.

In Niamey, the Nigerien capital, Ahmadinejad called on Muslim states to resist Western efforts to divide them.

"The enemy doesn't want to see nations, especially Muslim ones, have good ties. They are always plotting ... but there is no doubt that the will of the people will triumph," he said.

But, with France a significant donor and security ally for Niger, Nigerien Foreign Minister Mohamed Bazoum was quick to stress that any exchange with Iran would have to meet international laws.

Jack Rosen, president of the American Jewish Congress and an adviser to several African leaders, said he was previously alarmed that Iranian activities on the continent were not being taken seriously enough but now feels the tide has turned.

"Iran and Ahmadinejad have become more pariah-like than they were a few years ago and African leaders understand where their long-term bread is buttered," he said.

(Additional reporting by Pascal Fletcher and Peroshni Govender in Pretoria, Louis Charbonneau at the United Nations, Abdoulaye Massalatchi in Niamey; Editing by Daniel Flynn and Mark Heinrich)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/irans-wooing-africa-yields-scant-results-sanctions-bite-144209350--finance.html

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