Failed Xmas attack raises new security concerns

U.S. counterterrorism officials are scrambling to assess a potential new threat from an explosive mixture that evaded detection aboard a Detroit-bound airliner but failed to bring down the plane.

Multiple law enforcement officials said the suspected attacker _ identified as a Nigerian man named Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab _ claimed to have acted on instructions from al-Qaida to detonate the explosive device over U.S. soil. The law enforcement officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case.

The law enforcement officials cautioned that such claims could not be verified immediately, and said the man may have been …

Goodman adds more shows to its lineup

The Goodman Theatre, 200 S. Columbus, has announced additionalproductions for its 1997-98 mainstage and studio seasons.

A revival of Noel Coward's "Design for Living," staged byGoodman resident director David Petrarca, will be the third work ofthe mainstage season. The run dates will be announced later.

The Coward play joins the previously announced mainstage lineupof Shakespeare's "As You Like It," Sept. 19-Oct. 25, and the worldpremiere of Eric Bogosian's "Griller," Jan. 9-Feb. 14."The Press and the Presidency," Anna …

Ohio officials: We can't take man's exotic animals

COLUMBIA STATION, Ohio (AP) — Officials in the Cleveland suburb where a captive bear killed a man say they can't force the bear's owner to give up his exotic animals.

Columbia Township trustees responded Tuesday night to concerns raised by neighbors of Sam Mazzola. One woman living near Mazzola's property told the trustees that she worries about safety if the animals ever got out. Another said Mazzola's menagerie makes a lot of …

Gov't says abuse of prescription meds skyrocketing

A new government study finds a 400 percent increase in the number of people admitted to treatment for abusing prescription pain medication.

The increase in substance abuse among people ages 12 and older was recorded during the 10-year-period from 1998 to 2008. It spans every gender, race, ethnicity, education and employment …

SAY WHAT?

"I just think that Ally McBeal is totally huggable."

- Christopher Darden"A Double-Double might cost a little more than a …

Gating Mechanisms of the Type-1 Inositol Trisphosphate Receptor

ABSTRACT

A large amount of data and observations on inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP^sub 3^) binding to the IP^sub 3^ receptor/Ca^sup 2+^ channel, the steady-state activity of the channel, and its inactivation by IP^sub 3^ can be explained by assuming one activation and one inhibition module, both allosterically operated by Ca^sup 2+^, IP^sub 3^, and ATP, and one adaptation element, driven by IP^sub 3^, Ca^sup 2+^, and the interconversion between two possible conformations of the receptor. The adaptation module becomes completely insensitive to a second IP^sub 3^ pulse within 80 s. Observed kinetic responses are well reproduced if, in addition, two module open states are rendered …

Illinois Senate opens impeachment trial

Gov. Rod Blagojevich's historic impeachment trial began Monday without its defiant defendant, who was away in New York doing media interviews arguing he couldn't get a fair hearing before the Illinois state Senate.

At the start of the trial, Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald asked whether Blagojevich was present and a long silence followed. The chief justice then ordered the proceedings to begin as if Blagojevich had entered a plea of not guilty.

"This is a solemn and serious business we're about to engage in," Fitzgerald told the Senate chambers.

Blagojevich, meanwhile, was hundreds of miles away in New York, where …

Hynes fadeout shows weakness

The decision by Thomas Hynes to drop out of today's election formayor is not likely to have as great an impact on the outcome as manythink.

Indeed, I suspect that it was designed less to change thisoutcome than to change Mr. Hynes' political future. The racialimplications are, however, disturbing.

A poll showed Mr. Hynes getting about 11 percent of the vote.Even if all 11 percent went to Edward Vrdolyak,, a very unlikelyprospect, he would still lose handily. In fact, if Mr. Vrdolyakpicked up Mr. Hynes' votes and all of the undecideds, he would stilllose.

Of course, not all of Mr. Hynes' supporters will vote for Mr.Vrdolyak. Some will support Mayor …

Israel Comes to Standstill at Yom Kippur

JERUSALEM - Israel came to a virtual standstill at sundown Friday as Jews across the country began observing Yom Kippur, the holiest day of their calendar.

Stores closed early and the airwaves were filled with liturgical Hebrew music leading up to the contemplative Day of Atonement, when tradition says divine judgment of Jews is sealed and their fate is decided for the coming year.

Jews across the world will fast and pray in synagogues as they seek forgiveness for their actions in the past year. Ahead of the holiday, religious Jews often ask their acquaintances to forgive them for any offense they might have committed.

Even though most Israelis aren't Orthodox, …

Galacticos II at Madrid if Ronaldo joins Kaka

Real Madrid appears to be auditioning for Galacticos II.

Only three days after Kaka joined the Spanish team, Cristiano Ronaldo is at last on his way to Madrid from Manchester United for a record transfer fee.

Florentino Perez, the club president who assembled the team's first set of superstars, is again in charge of the check book at Madrid and appears to be more than willing to spend million after million to bring glory back to the Santiago Bernabeu stadium _ especially in the wake of Barcelona's triple haul of the Champions League, the Spanish league and the Copa del Rey.

Three days after Madrid completed the signing of Kaka from AC Milan for a …

Man Held in Scheme To Snare Teen Girls

Police have charged a 36-year-old Chicago man who they say luredperhaps hundreds of teenage girls by placing advertisements in Polishmagazines and newspapers and sexually abusing some of them.

Early today, Maximillian Rubaka of the Near West Side wascharged with two counts of criminal sexual abuse and one count ofaggravated criminal sexual abuse. He is accused of usingPolish-language ads to recruit girls ages 11 to 18 for clerical,business and modeling work.

Rubaka has five convictions for fraud, larceny and auto theftand was imprisoned on the theft conviction, officials said.

Police Lt. Ralph Chiczewski said Rubaka also is suspected ofoperating the …

Biden offers voice of empathy on the economy

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden is reprising his role as one of the Obama administration's top surrogates on the economy and an empathetic voice in states hard hit by the recession which could decide the outcome of the 2012 presidential election.

Biden, who spoke frequently of his working class roots in Scranton, Pennsylvania, during the 2008 presidential campaign, is expected to focus in the 2012 campaign on states like Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania, which President Barack Obama carried in 2008 but which elected Republican governors in 2010.

Polls show that Obama remains personally popular, but has lower job approval ratings. Republicans say the sputtering …

Lineup shuffle on deck

It isn't just that the Cubs lost two out of three games to the struggling Houston Astros, who arrived Friday at Wrigley Field with only one victory in their first nine games.

It was what manager Lou Piniella didn't see from his offense in the losses Saturday and Sunday that rattled his nerves, which is why he plans to juggle the lineup starting tonight against New York Mets left-hander Jonathon Niese at Citi Field.

''If you put five, six, seven runs on the board, it's a different story,'' Piniella said after a 3-2, 10-inning loss Sunday that was made more annoying because it was a game the Cubs led 2-0 until the eighth. ''Score two or three runs, and you can flip coins to see what happens.''

Here is what the Cubs' lineup will look like now against lefties: Marlon Byrd, who had a two-run single in the third inning against lefty Wandy Rodriguez, will bat first. Jeff Baker, who was 1-for-2 with a run scored, will bat second. After Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez, look for Xavier Nady and Alfonso Soriano to bat fifth and sixth. Geovany Soto will bat seventh and Ryan Theriot, whose eight-game hitting streak ended, eighth.

''I might even move Nady to the fourth spot,'' Piniella said. ''We'll have to make some adjustments. Shake it up a little bit.''

With the Mets scheduled to start three lefties in the four-game series, the shakeup will get a quick test.

''I show up and play,'' Byrd said of batting first. ''Wherever he wants to put me. You just see it and hit it. There's no secret to it. You can't change your game.''

Baker batted second for most of the 2008 season with the Colorado Rockies, but he knows the batting order isn't necessarily as important as the approach.

''It's not that big a deal,'' he said. ''Where you hit doesn't matter; you just have to play the game. If [Piniella] thinks it matters, it matters. But it comes down to when you're in the situation, you have to execute. We just have to have better at-bats. Two runs isn't going to do it.''

Had closer Carlos Marmol been able to hold on to the 2-0 lead starter Ryan Dempster held for 7� innings, the Cubs' offensive struggles might have stayed under the radar for a little longer.

But Dempster left with two men on base in the eighth, and Jeff Keppinger's single on Marmol's first pitch scored Tommy Manzella before the inning ended. Marmol then gave up the tying run in the ninth when Hunter Pence singled with one out, stole second and scored on a double by Geoff Blum.

''I could have done a better job in the eighth,'' said Dempster, who allowed one run and four hits and struck out eight. ''I had a walk [to Michael Bourn] to put a runner in scoring position, and that put [Marmol] in a tough situation.

''Everybody goes through streaks. Our offense will go through streaks, our starting pitching will go through streaks. That's the nice part about playing the whole season: It evens out. There are going to be stretches where those guys carry the team.

''Any loss is tough, no matter how it comes. Just figure out a way to get a little bit better tomorrow.''

Color Photo: Charles Cherney, AP / Derrek Lee reacts after striking out to end the game Sunday. The Cubs lost 3-2 in 10 innings.

Orioles, Tejada headed toward reunion in Baltimore

The Baltimore Orioles and Miguel Tejada are headed toward a reunion. This time, however, Tejada will play third base instead of shortstop.

Tejada and the Orioles have agreed on a 1-year contract, pending a physical, the infielder confirmed Saturday.

"I've reached a deal for one season and $6 million. I know it's less than what I made last year, but the market has changed and I feel happy to be able to play in the major leagues," Tejada told The Associated Press in Santo Domingo during a phone interview from Miami.

Tejada made more than $14 million with the Houston Astros in 2009, the final season of a six-year, $72 million contract he signed with the Orioles. Tejada played shortstop with the Orioles from 2004-07 before being traded to Houston for five players: outfielder Luke Scott, pitchers Troy Patton, Matt Albers and Dennis Sarfate, and third baseman Mike Costanzo.

Cesar Izturis played deftly in the field at shortstop with Baltimore last year and is expected to retain his starting position in 2010. Tejada will be asked to play third base, a position that became vacant when the Orioles decided against bringing back Melvin Mora.

"I'll play in third base, which means a change in my career," he said. "It's like the beginning of a new career, but I'll continue doing my same workout routine to be able continue my career."

Tejada hit .313 with 14 home runs and 86 RBIs in 158 games last season. The 35-year-old became a free agent after the Astros declined to offer him arbitration last month.

Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail recalled Saturday asking Tejada to move from shortstop during his final year in Baltimore.

"He said he didn't think it was time. He went to the National League after I traded him there and was the All-Star shortstop for two years," MacPhail noted. "So, who's to say Miggy wasn't right?"

Now, however, Tejada is willing to switch to the hot corner. And MacPhail is confident Tejada will capably handle the position.

"He's probably aware that at this point in his career, that's the right move," MacPhail said. "He's certainly not the first shortstop, if he ends up playing third, that made that change."

Orioles Hall of Famer Cal Ripken went from shortstop to third in the latter stage of his career and played the position well. Can Tejada do likewise?

"You don't know until you get there," said MacPhail, who was questioned by reporters at FanFest, a function at the Baltimore Convention Center designed to connect team officials and players with fans.

Last March, Tejada was sentenced to one year of probation for misleading Congress. He admitted he withheld information about an ex-teammate's use of performance-enhancing drugs when questioned in 2005 by congressional investigators.

Tejada acknowledged he bought human growth hormone while playing for Oakland, but said he threw the drugs away without using them. Prosecutors said during his February plea hearing they had no evidence to contradict that.

Through it all, Tejada has excelled on the field. Without saying names, MacPhail explained that he never figured his new third baseman would be available this late in the offseason.

"I would be honest with you: I don't know how realistic I thought our potential acquisition was going to be," MacPhail said. "We always had him on the board. But I wasn't holding my breath."

MacPhail assumed his current position midseason in 2007. One of the key deals in his effort to rebuild the team was the trade of Tejada that December; three of the five players have already made notable contributions and Patton is considered among the team's top prospects.

And now, it appears Baltimore will again benefit from Tejada's powerful bat and veteran leadership. MacPhail said several of the Orioles _ notably second baseman Brian Roberts _ considered Tejada to be a positive influence in the clubhouse during his stay in Baltimore.

"I do know that Miggy was a very popular teammate. I know that because Brian volunteered it," MacPhail said.

Manager Dave Trembley said, "I'll say this about Tejada: I don't think there's ever been a guy who wants to win more. He has a very, very strong passion to win. Guys on the team love him. I never had a problem with him. If it works out that he comes back here, I think it would be a real good acquisition."

The addition of Tejada means newcomer Garrett Atkins will spend most his time in the field at first base. Atkins, signed as a free agent in December, can also play third.

"The plan is for me to play first, depending on who else they sign," Atkins said at FanFest.

___

AP writer Dionisio Soldevila in the Dominican Republic contributed to this report.

Stock prices fall again after Thursday's big drop

Stocks fell again Friday after a sharp dive in the previous session, with investors anxious about a new oil price record but relieved about increases in personal incomes and spending.

The Commerce Department said spending rose 0.8 percent in May, as taxpayers started receiving their stimulus checks. The increase was higher than the 0.7 percent economists predicted. The report also said personal incomes surged 1.9 percent _ significantly more than anticipated. After taxes, incomes surged 5.7 percent, the largest amount in 33 years.

The data appeared to provide a bit of solace to investors nervous about consumers struggling with rising prices, falling home values and the shaky job market. Consumer spending accounts for more than two-thirds of economic activity.

But with many commodities on a seemingly unstoppable incline, Wall Street remains concerned that they will slam consumers with not only elevated costs for energy and food, but also for other goods if cash-strapped companies decide to pass along the rising costs. Early Friday, light, sweet crude was up more than $1 above $141 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, after briefly surpassing $142 in pre-market trading.

Corn and soybean prices have also been hitting new all-time highs.

In the first hour of trading, the Dow fell 25.49, or 0.22 percent, to 11,427.93, sacrificing an advance in the first minutes of the session.

Broader stock indicators also declined. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 1.34, or 0.10 percent, to 1,281.81, and the Nasdaq composite index fell 10.87, or 0.47 percent, to 2,310.50.

On Thursday, the Dow Jones industrial average gave up nearly 360 points and fell to its lowest level since September 2006 on a combination of worries about oil prices and the financial, automotive and technology sectors. General Motors Corp. shares dropped to their lowest level in more than three decades.

2011 Election: Directors

Timothy J. Anderson

Tim Anderson is a Distinguished Professor at the Univ. of Florida and Director of the statewide Florida Energy Systems Consortium. He received his education in chemical engineering trom Iowa State (BS) and the Univ. d California, Berkeley (PhD). Tim's academic career has been somewhat unusual in that he has been able to pursue discipline research (electronic materials processing with over 200 publications and 6 patents), education research (over 25 publications), and administration (department chair, dean of research). He is editor of the Chemical Engineering Education journal, past consulting editor of AIChE Journal 'and a Fellow of AIChE and the American Society tor Engineering Education (ASEE).

Tim has a continuous record of service to AIChE over the past 30 years, serving as founding member and chair of the Chemical Engineering Technology Operating Council (CTOC) and Program Chair for the 1995 Annual Meeting; chairing the Computational Molecular Science and Engineering Forum (ComSEF) formation committee; chairing the Executive Board of the National Program Committee (EBPC); establishing the electronic materials programming area 8e; and chairing the Materials Engineering and Sciences Div.

Statement: This is certainly an exciting time for our profession with our expansion into the life sciences and nanotechnology as well as the changing energy and sustainability drivers. Further changes are anticipated in the demographics of our profession, the structure of benefits offered by employers, and the way we acquire and use information. More than ever, a strong professional society is needed to provide leadership and balanced services to its members.

It is important that all chemical engineers value participation in AIChE and have pride in their profession and professional organization. If elected to the Board of Directors, I would work with the Board and other AlChE entities to address the following priorities:

* Expand cost-effective professional development opportunities and career services to our members through better use of technology.

* Ensure membership relevance to the full community with focus on attracting students and recently graduated chemical engineers as well as those from related disciplines.

* Make AIChE the premiere forum for industry-academicgovemment technical dialogue.

* Increase access to technical programming through society partnerships and incubation.

* Leverage the network and buying power of the Institute to provide members access to a full range of benefits including job placement and financial resources.

Thank you for your consideration. I hope that you will allow me the opportunity to serve as a Director of AIChE during this time of considerable opportunity.

T. Bond Calloway, Jr.

Bond Calloway is the Alternative Energy Research Manager at Savannah River National Laboratory. He has served AIChE in roles focused on improving the quality and relevance of technical activities, including: 2009 Annual Meeting Program Vice Chair; Nuclear Engineering Div. Chair/Vice Chair/Director; Chemical Engineering Technology Operating Council member; and Executive Board Programming Committee member. He was recipient of the first AIChE Herb Epstein Award for meritorious contributions to AIChE and the ChE profession. He currently serves as AIChE Foundation Trustee; Research and New Technology Committee Chair; and on the Energy Advisory Board. Bond brings to his AIChE service more than 25 years of industrial experience in R&D, design, construction, and operation of nuclear waste/chemical processes. He has been an NSF peer reviewer, authored more than 40 papers about energy/environmental research, and led the development of three special energy sections for CEP. He reviews AIChE grant opportunities for AIChE staff. He received his BSChE from Auburn Univ. and is an R&D100 award recipient.

Statement: If elected a Director, my top priority is expansion of AlChE's membership through value-added services and securing AlChE's financial future, As the world continues to struggle through economic crisis, it is important for AIChE to develop and expand webbased services that benefit all of our members, especially those affected by economic fluctuations. These additional benefits will attract and diversify our membership, thus sustaining AIChE. Through my work as Annual Meeting Program Vice Chair and Research and New Technology Chair, I developed a web-based survey that provides insight into energy research funding sources and reported the results in CEP. This type of enhancement illustrates additional value of AIChE to industrial, university, international, and most importantly, chemical engineering students and early career professionals who remain the cornerstone to securing AlChE's future. If elected, I will:

* Foster and participate in the development and startup ot value-added, Institute-wide initiatives that foster university/industrial/ governmental collaboration.

* Encourage development of web-based tools and services that reach out to members who may not normally be engaged in face-toface AIChE meetings.

* Become an active leader to support student and early-careerbased Industrial programs.

* Provide a resource to review and develop grants for AIChE that will promote university educational projects in energy, water, and computing.

* Foster the development of regional meetings that can bring chemical engineering technology closer to our industrial and academic members.

I would appreciate your vote and support in the upcoming election.

Emmanuel A. Dada

Emmanuel Dada is the Chief Technology Officer of ChemProcess Technologies, LLC, responsible for process intensification, innovative and emergent technologies in the areas of reactive distillation, microreactor technology, and energy-efficient processes. He worked for FMC for over 14 years, becoming an Associate Research Fellow in 2004. Prior to joining FMC in 1 995, he had worked at Rohm and Haas Co, from 1989 to 1994. Emmanuel received his BSChE from Obafemi Awolowo Univ., Nigeria, and his MS and PhD in chemical engineering from Lehigh Univ.

An AlChE Fellow, Emmanuel is a member of the Admissions Committee, the Separations Div, and the Process Development Div. He was an active member of the Delaware Valley Local Section before he relocated to Houston in 2009, and now participates actively in South Texas Section meetings. He served as chair of the centennial General Arrangement Committee at the AIChE Annual Meeting in Philadelphia in 2008. He also served as chair of the Minority Affairs Committee (MAC) from 2000 to 2002, chaired its student scholarship program since 1999, and received the MAC Distinguished Service Award in 2000. He served two terms from 2006 to 2007 as chair of the Societal Impact Operating Council (SIOC) and as its secretary in 2009. In 2007, as chair of SIOC, he welcomed the idea of partnership with Engineers Without Borders (EWB) - USA, a nonprofit humanitarian organization, which eventually led to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and a rewarding partnership between AIChE and EWB. For many years, Emmanuel represented FMC in AlChE's Center for Sustainable Technology Practices (CSTP), an industry consortium on sustainability issues. He served as a technical advisor representing AIChE on the recently released worldwide ETHfCANA video on The Global Anti-Corruption Education and Training (ACET) Initiatives to reduce corruption In the engineering and construction Industry.

Statement: AIChE faces the challenges of maintaining its financial stability, reversing its declining membership, and improving relevance. If elected, as AIChE Director i will focus on:

* Providing greater value for members, improving members' understanding of the value that AIChE provides, and becoming more responsive and relevant to AIChE members.

* Identifying new services and business models that will lead to financial strength and operational effectiveness of AlChE.

* Reversing the declining membership and positioning AIChE on the path to becoming a global organization of chemical engineers through partnership with sister organizations worldwide.

* Making local sections more relevant and effective by also including virtual iocal sections.

* Encouraging and engaging students and Young Professionals, as they are the future of AfChE.

Karl V. Jacob

Karl Jacob is currently Fellow and Technical Manager for the Solids Processing Discipline within Engineering Sciences at The Dow Chemical Co. He received a BSChE in 1981 from Case Western Reserve Univ. He founded the Solids Processing Discipline at Dow in 1989 in order to meet the needs of the company in particle technology and solids processing, and has been recognized with several Dow awards for his technology contributions. In the early 1990s, he was a co-founder of AlChE's Particle Technology Forum (PTF), In response to an unmet need within the Institute. He received the Gary Leach Award for that work. Karl has served as both board member (1996-2000) and chair (2000-2002) of the PTF - representing the PTF to the larger worldwide solids processing community. He is currently Chair of the Nominating Committee for AlChE's Institute Awards program recognizing achievements by chemical engineers in industry. He serves as chair of the Univ. of Akron chemical engineering advisory board and routinely lectures on particle technology at several universities.

Statement: With the challenges we face in trends such as fresh water, sustainability, human health and energy, I believe that chemical engineers are well positioned to provide innovative solutions to these large societal problems. AIChE will play a key role in formulating and delivering technology-based solutions on many of these Important issues. Chemical engineers are actively engaged across increasingly diverse sectors of industry and academia. Consequently, we need to explore ways to ensure that AIChE provides relevant services to our members. From my perspective, key issues for AIChE are;

* To fully explore the opportunities for delivery of educational offerings to the members, whether in the form of webinars, short courses or other emerging media. Use of multiple delivery mechanisms will enable us to reach all AIChE members and provide them with the right content at the right time at an affordable cost.

* As we slowly work our way out of the global recession, many In the Institute are having difficulty finding employment, it is a high priority to find ways to make the connection between these members and potential employers.

* To ensure that the programming at all of our national and regional meetings is topical, effective and current such that those in attendance will be better prepared to address global chemical engineering Issues and feel they've received good value for their registration fee.

I would appreciate your vote and the opportunity to serve you as a Director of AIChE.

JoAnn Slama Ughty

JoAnn Slama Ughty is Professor and Chair of the Dept. of Chemical Engineering at the Univ. of Utah. She received her BS and PhD degrees in chemical engineering from the Univ. of Utah. JoAnn has received the National Science Foundation (NSF) Presidential Young Investigator Award, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Distinguished Engineering Educator Award, and the Univ. of Utah's Distinguished Service to Women Award and Diversity Award. In addition to teaching and research, she has served in a variety of administrative positions, including Associate Dean for the College of Engineering and founding Director of the Institute for Combustion and Energy Studies. Her research interests include the formation of fine particles from combustion systems, coal combustion and chemical looping, and oxy-fuel combustion. Professor Ughty has been a member of AIChE for over 25 years, She has served as Secretary and a Director of AlChE's Environmental Div. and was recently elected as an AIChE Fellow.

Statement: As a Director of AIChE, I will continue to broaden the participation of all members (industrial, governmental, and academic) in the Institute. As evidenced by the number OfAIChE technical divisions and forums, AIChE covers many specific subject areas, and participation and discussion amongst members in these diverse groups can lead to innovative solutions for the challenges facing our world. AIChE meetings are an ideal forum for discussions of innovation. For example, the recent focus on energy sessions at the meeting fosters interaction and discussion between colleagues in different divisions.

I will continue the emphasis on the involvement of student and early-career engineers in the Institute. While the ScaleUp program is effective for bringing students into AIChE, strategies must be in place to have the students continue their membership. Coordination between the Student Conference and Annual Meeting brings students and industry together and is an important learning opportunity. Students and early-career engineers are the future leaders, and their participation is critical to the future of AIChE.

In addition, AIChE services and programs must continue to meet the needs of the membership. It is important for AIChE Career Resources to play a role in helping connect potential employees with employers, as engineers face the challenges of job placement and changes. AIChE Education and Training programs are opportunities to engage the membership in career and personal development and can be used to ensure that members find value in being part of AIChE over the course of their careers.

Jeff ery P. Perl

Jeff has 25 years serving the chemical/environmental Industry in process-related subjects, including design, troubleshooting, and root cause forensic engineering regarding deathrelated or economic loss failures and USEPA Superfund remediation. ChE education: BS (1977) and PhD (1984), Illinois Institute of Technology; post-doc, Brown Univ. (1984-85). Prior to graduate school, Jeff worked for Safety-Kleen in solvent recycling operations and development. Jeff spent 1 0 years as Air Force reservist in HQ assignments for the AF Civil Engineer and AF Surgeon General. Jeff is adjunct professor, Univ, of Illinois-Chicago (UiC; senior process design, 2008-present). AIChE service includes Chicago Section Chair (1993-1994); General Arrangements Chair, 1996 Annual Meeting; Research and New Technology Committee Chair (2005 and 2006); Environmental Div. Treasurer (1997-2001); Military Interaction Committee Chair (1995-2002); Career and Education Operating Council board (2008-present). Jeff is a Midwest AIChE Regional Conference organizer (2006-2009), NCEES ChE PE licensing committee member (2007-present) and an AlChE Fellow (2007).

Statement: Because of strong mentoring, I was fortunate early on to interweave my education and ChE work experience. This gave me an understanding of the fundamental importance of integrating ChE academic research with the demands of plant operations and industrial R&D. Air Force engineering exposed me to ChE activities within the government, most notably EPA, DOE and DOD. Threading together diverse member needs across industry, academia, government, and even public entities has been a lifelong continuing interest.

In Chicago, I work with our local section to mentor leaders and students alike, and to help develop programs that encourage high school and college student participation within AIChE, including support to our strong Young Professionals group and incorporating academia into all AIChE activities.

Experience has shown that AIChE Is the logical, but not always obvious, one-stop shopping place for both technical growth and developing and sustaining lifelong networks so necessary to survival, as well as enjoyment. Helping young professionals see AIChE as a lifelong professional development home is another objective. Providing a iotum to academia to iitati w\h mdustiy is also a special focus for me. At UIC, I developed a senior design course with engineering practitioners I have known through AIChE and my practice over 25 years, to tap Into the vibrant academic/industry environment.

I also believe AIChE should continue to provide rational advice to the public at large and government crafters of energy, environmental and natural resources policy. For over 30 years, AIChE has been all of these things for me and I will continue to work to help make this so tor all our members, both existing and potential.

Freeman E. Self

Freeman is a process engineer with Bechtel, specializing in process safety. He received a BChE from Georgia Tech, MSChE from Rice Univ. and MBA from the Univ. of Houston. Leadership and service to AiChE:

* Committed to local sections, he has served the South Texas Section (STS) in many positions. As Chair in 1987, he led the STS through tough times, including resuming the annual regional conferences. He co-founded STSs Young Professional Group and helped start STS's employment program.

* Past Chair of the Career and Education Operating Council (CEOC), providing operating direction for local sections, student chapters, career services and educational programs.

* Treasurer of the Fuels and Petrochemicals Div.

* Original member of Prairie View A&M Univ.'s ChE Advisory Board; served as chair and continues on the Board

* Launched the initiative to provide websites for all local sections

* Lecturer for pre-conference courses and co-author of the award-winning AlChE book, "Refining Overview."

Statement: I will continue the great strides that AIChE has made in the last several years. AIChE is the chemical engineer's professional home, offering a wide range of technical information and global professional support, and i will advocate providing real value for our members. I invite all members to join me in tackling the important issues in chemical engineering, As Director, I will focus on the following:

* Strengthening career resources and tools. Creating certification programs, such as those being developed by the Institute for Sustainability, to enhance professional qualifications.

* Lowering membership costs is essential. This can be achieved by establishing new sources of revenues such as corporate and public partnerships and grants, as is being done by CCPS.

* Rolling out additional regional conferences and virtual meetings to provide convenient and inexpensive forums covering local and global issues. Continuing to increase the number of local sections with websites to improve communications.

* Advancing networking opportunities for making and maintaining professional contacts. The recently launched ChEnected website is an excellent resource for young professionals.

* Increasing the number of sections developing Young Professional groups. Young professionals contribute dynamic ideas and leadership that sustain AIChE.

* Expanding offerings of webinars, online courses, and other products through ChemE on Demand. Chemical engineers need instant access to information via the web.

* Supporting programs, such as the Energy Initiative, to address challenges in energy, sustainability, and the environment. AIChE has the expertise to successfully advance solutions to these problems.

Katherine S. Ziemer

Kate Ziemer is an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at Northeastern Univ. Kate worked for seven years at DuPont after earning a BS in chemical engineering from Virginia Tech. Her people and technology development experience with DuPont, along with several years of education outreach, inspired her to become a university professor. Kate earned her PhD from West Virginia Univ., and joined Northeastern Univ. in 2001. She has more than 40 publications and 70 presentations on both educational and research topics. She has organized multiple workshops in her research area of multifuntional materials, and participates in several U.S. and global research collaborations. Kate has been an active member of AIChE since 1994, has held an office in the Boston Local Section, has chaired multiple sessions at national meetings, and developed and led workshops on K- 12 Outreach. She is a student chapter advisor (4 Outstanding Chapter Awards; Chem-E-Car Competition: 2nd place in 2002, 1st in 2010), a Societal Impact Operating Council (SIOC) member, and leader of AIChE's K-12 Web Initiative.

Statement: Chemical engineering is key to addressing many of today's grand challenges: sustainable living, environmental responsibility, protection against terrorism, advancing medicine and medical devices, improving computer, sensor, and control technology to the industrial process, and increasing technical literacy of the general public. AIChE is a global society, which deepens and broadens the societal responsibilities associated with meeting these challenges. AIChE's strength is its knowledgeable and creative membership that enables the Institute to responsibly lead technological advances.

My first priority is to expand membership and engage all members through relevant and meaningful services, and provide opportunities for involvement. I would like to ensure continued attention to engaging members at all stages: students, young professionals, mid-career, and Fellows. This involves continued use of technology for lifelong education and networking. I would work to identify effective ways to 1) engage all members in identifying Institute needs and enable them to participate on Institute initiatives through both web-based technology and global, topical symposia, 2) remain fiscally responsible through both external funding of initiatives and increased cooperation on common goals, and 3) promote interaction with other professional societies to synergize our collective impact on issues such as the diversity pipeline, K-12 outreach, informal education, and public policies. I will work to make AIChE a leader among professional societies, while building the public awareness of today's chemical engineer.

I am honored to be a part of AIChE. I feel confident that AIChE and its members will bring a future of promise for generations to come.

India's lower house clears crucial nuclear bill

India's lower house of Parliament approved a crucial nuclear liability bill Wednesday aimed at attracting foreign companies to invest in the country's potentially vast atomic energy market.

Lawmakers from the ruling Congress and main opposition parties cleared the bill, which caps the liability of foreign firms at $320 million in the case of an industrial accident. It will also have be cleared by the upper house of Parliament before it becomes law.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told lawmakers that India had no option but to turn to nuclear power to meet its burgeoning energy needs.

"Nuclear power is an option which we should simply not ignore," Singh said during the daylong debate in the Lok Sabha, as the lower house is known.

However, some private firms, especially those from the U.S., have been reluctant to set up nuclear power plants in India without a law that would limit their compensation payments if there is a nuclear accident.

But such a cap stirred strong opposition in India, where victims of the 1984 gas leak at a Union Carbide plant in Bhopal are still seeking increased compensation for their suffering. That leak, the world's worst industrial disaster, killed 15,000 people.

India's potential nuclear energy market has been pegged at $150 billion. At present, nuclear energy forms only 3 percent of power available in the country.

But New Delhi has been keen to expand its nuclear power generation capacity due to environmental concerns over coal-based plants or large dams.

The international community had barred India from the trade in civilian nuclear technology after the country conducted nuclear tests in 1974 and 1998.

In 2008, India emerged from its nuclear isolation after it signed a landmark civil nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States. The 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group then lifted a three-decade global ban on nuclear trade with India.

The energy-starved country hopes to harness its new acceptance to build nuclear power plants.

U.S.-based firms GE-Hitachi and Westinghouse Electric, a subsidiary of Japan's Toshiba Corp, have been waiting for the liability bill to pass before they would enter India's nuclear energy sector.

Meanwhile, Russian and French nuclear companies linked to their governments have raced ahead and have been awarded contracts.

Brazil trying to legalize Amazon landholdings

The Brazilian government is beginning a new push to document who owns private land in the Amazon, a top official said Thursday.

Less than 4 percent of private land in the vast Amazon region is deeded, a situtation that stokes violent conflicts between competing interests, said Roberto Mangabeira Unger, Brazil's strategic affairs minister.

Hundreds of people have been killed in the region in the past two decades during fights over land amid rapid economic development.

"No one knows who owns what, and that is the source of economic disintegration and violent confrontation at the grassroots," Unger told The Associated Press. "We must settle this problem if we are going to move forward on other issues."

The first thing the government wants to do, Unger said, is streamline the process by which land is deeded in the Amazon in a manner that protects the interests of small and medium-sized farmers as much as the large operations.

Under the plan, farms that are less than 100 hectares (250 acres) can be deeded at no cost. Farms larger than that will have to pay to receive land titles, with the price rising along with the size of the farm.

Farms larger than 2,500 hectares will only be titled with the approval of congress, Unger said, in hopes that will help end a system that has resulted in wealthy farmers acquiring enormous swaths of land by forcing out smaller operations, often through violence.

"For the first time in our history we will have a form of social and economic organization that is powerfully slanted to the small and medium-sized owners and farmers, not to the big guys, who will be the losers," Unger said.

Environmentalists contend that the plan essentially allows those who have illegally occupied land _ whether small or large plots _ to apply for a title. And large landowners may simply divide their farms into small parcels and put the titles in the names of family members or close associates.

Former Environment Minister Marina Silva said the plan "legalizes the usurpation of land" in the Amazon.

But Unger countered that the plan will provide crucial legal guarantees for vulnerable smaller farmers.

Education - still the answer

Education -- still the answer

Colleges and universities have had their commencements. High school seniors will receive their diplomas this month. It is time for blacks to evaluate the state of education in African America.

As one might expect, there is some good news and some bad news. The good news is that all of the seniors graduating from Boston's Jeremiah Burke High School have been admitted to a two-year or four-year college.

All of the seniors from the Burke are to be congratulated for their achievement. But this success points out a serious deficiency in many black students. There is a tendency to underperform. Where is the motivation to achieve academic success?

There was a time, not too long ago, when education was highly regarded. However, because of the availability of high paying jobs for laborers, youngsters in families with serious financial difficulties were expected to get a job as soon as possible.

That was once a reasonable short-term decision. In 1979 a man with some college education earned only a little more than a high school graduate. But even then a high school drop-out could earn only 75 percent of a graduate. The income of a family headed by a high school drop-out was about $26,842 in 1979.

But the economy has changed. By 1994 the average family income of drop-outs had declined to $22,664. On the other hand income levels of those with four years or more of college have greatly increased since 1979. That trend will continue because of the highly technological nature of the modern economy.

Nothing illustrates the issue more clearly than the unemployment rates for various education levels in 1999, a year when the economy was strong. Among black high school drop-outs, 11.6 percent were unemployed. That rate dropped to 6.3 percent for high school graduates, 4.7 percent for those blacks with some college and only 2.7 percent for college graduates.

It appears that black women understand the economic reality more than black men. In 1997 almost one million black women were enrolled in higher education compared with only 600,000 black men. The disparity was even greater in graduate school. About 90,000 black women were enrolled compared with only 41,000 black men.

The demands of academic success are rigorous. Hard work is required for a period of years. Unfortunately, too many young black males believe that they can circumvent the process for achieving financial security by dallying in criminal adventures. Now the prisons are filled with strong black men who took such a misstep.

Blacks emancipated from slavery understood that education was the avenue to success in America. But somewhere that understanding was lost. Often black students who perform at a high level have to conceal their success from friends to avoid social ostracism. They are sometimes accused of trying to be white because they are academically oriented.

This is foolish self-abnegation. Throughout human history blacks have been intellectually prominent. It is time for the African American culture to revive an awareness of black intellectual prowess.

Twins score in ninth to beat A's

Matt Tolbert hit a tiebreaking two-out single in the ninth inning to drive in pinch-runner J.J. Hardy and the Minnesota Twins made it hold up in a 4-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday night.

Pinch-hitter Justin Morneau started the inning with an intentional walk and was replaced by Hardy, who was a late scratch from Minnesota's starting lineup because of a sore left wrist. After A's reliever Brad Ziegler (2-3) walked Nick Punto, Denard Span hit into a fielder's choice to move Hardy to third, Tolbert lined a 1-0 pitch into left-center to drive in the eventual winning run.

Tolbert's hit was only his second in 14 at-bats since being recalled from Triple-A Rochester on June 1. The infielder had not driven in a run since returning to the majors but delivered the winner against the A's to help Minnesota even its record to 3-3 on its current trip.

Adam Rosales had two hits for Oakland, including a two-run triple in the eighth.

Alex Burnett (1-1) retired one batter for the win, while Jon Rauch pitched a scoreless ninth for his 15th save in 17 chances.

The Twins nearly wasted a solid outing from starter Francisco Liriano. The Twins' left-hander scattered five hits, matched his season high of 10 strikeouts and allowed only two runners past second base before leaving with a 3-1 lead after seven innings.

That was welcomed news for Minnesota, which had seen the lanky pitcher struggle for most of May after being honored as the AL Pitcher of the Month in April.

The Twins' bullpen nearly let it slip away.

Reliever Jesse Crain gave up singles to Mark Ellis and Kurt Suzuki in the eighth before Rosales lined a two-out triple to left-center to tie it at 3. Burnett replaced Crain and retired pinch-hitter Daric Barton on a fly out to escape the jam.

Oakland starter Trevor Cahill matched Liriano early but struggled with his control in the sixth when five of the first six Minnesota batters reached base. Cahill, who had not allowed more than one run while winning his previous three starts, walked four and struck out six.

Cahill gave up a run in the second on Delmon Young's sacrifice fly then settled into a groove until Joe Mauer's one-out ground-rule double in the sixth. After Jim Thome and Jason Kubel walked, Young slapped the first pitch he saw from Cahill into right field to score Mauer and Thome.

Oakland took a 1-0 lead in the first when Rajai Davis scored on a double-play groundout.

NOTES: Hardy's wrist is the same one that forced him to miss 13 games earlier this season. Punto was moved to shortstop to replace Hardy in the starting while Tolbert was inserted at second base. ... Oakland 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff was held without a homer for the first time in four games. ... Morneau had been slated to take the day off, his first since April 29th, before pinch-hitting in place of Brendan Harris with one out in the ninth. Morneau was intentionally walked. ... Liriano is winless (0-3) in five career starts at the Oakland Coliseum.

Increasing the volume of CPHA's advocacy voice/L'ACSP revendique haut et fort

Advocating for sound public health policy, infrastructure and best practice is CPHA's "raison d'�tre". Over the past few months, CPHA has taken steps to increase our capacity and visibility in this area by raising the profile of several key public health issues.

Earlier this year, I was invited to participate at the Senate Subcommittee on Population Health Roundtable. This was an opportunity to provide feedback to an Issues and Options Paper developed by the Committee, focusing on the factors and conditions that contribute to the health of the population. CPHA also submitted a written brief to the Subcommittee noting the lack of consideration of enhanced public health capacity as a gap in the issues identified in the Subcommittee's report. The Subcommittee's final report is expected to be tabled in December 2008. CPHA will respond to the Subcommittee's findings and recommendations.

On June 18, 2008, the first annual report from Canada's Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO) Dr. David Butler-Jones was tabled in Parliament. CPHA congratulated the CPHO for publishing this landmark report, and called upon the federal government to reinforce its leadership in public health and take progressive action to address the broad spectrum of determinants of health in consultation with the provincial and territorial governments and municipalities.

In early July, CPHA issued a statement on the BC Supreme Court's ruling in support of the supervised injection facility in Vancouver's downtown eastside. CPHA's position is based on the opinion that putting into place and nurturing a supportive environment for a continuum of services (prevention, care, support and treatment) is key to keeping drug users alive and reducing harm and risk to their own lives and to others.

CPHA houses the secretariat for the Canadian Coalition on Public Health in the 21st Century (CCPH21). CCPH21 is a pan-Canadian network of non-profit organizations, health charities, and academic researchers. The Coalition's goal is to advocate for public policy to ensure adequate public health functions to protect and promote health and prevent disease and injury. We recently issued a pre-election backgrounder advocating for increased investment in public health and in the training and deployment of public health human resources and enhanced public health leadership. The backgrounder was sent to all candidates.

CPHA also made a written brief to the Standing Committee on Finance advocating for consideration in the next federal budget of an increased investment in Canada's public health infrastructure and called for the establishment of a funding mechanism dedicated to supporting the implementation of a social determinants of health approach to reducing health inequity in Canada.

And finally, at the Closing Session of CPHA's Annual Conference, CPHA issued a Call to Action, informed by the public health community and proceedings of the Conference, emphasizing the need to move forward on specific actions to address health inequity in Canada. The Call, posted on our website, outlines some of our specific commitments as an organization. One of CPHA's first commitments is to promote the much-anticipated report of the WHO Commission on the Social Determinants of Health. By the time this Journal goes to press, I am hopeful that the Report and CPHA's response will have already been widely publicized. The ongoing challenge will be to sustain the momentum for a 'social movement' to eliminate health inequity in Canada.

CPHA will continue its history of excellence in public health advocacy. Stay tuned to the Association's website for new postings on policy and advocacy development.

Debra Lynkowski

Chief Executive Officer

L'ACSP revendique haut et fort

La raison d'�tre de l'ACSP est de promulguer des politiques rationnelles, des infrastructures solides et des pratiques exemplaires en sant� publique. Ces derniers mois, l'Association a pris des mesures pour accro�tre sa capacit� et sa visibilit� dans ce domaine en braquant les projecteurs sur plusieurs probl�mes de sant� publique fondamentaux.

Plus t�t cette ann�e, j'ai �t� invit�e � participer � la table ronde du Sous-comit� s�natorial sur la sant� des populations afin de contribuer � un document d'enjeux et d'options portant sur les facteurs et les conditions qui influent sur la sant� des populations. L'ACSP a aussi pr�sent� un m�moire �crit au sous-comit� pour signaler que dans les enjeux soulign�s dans le rapport, on semble avoir oubli� l'am�lioration des capacit�s en sant� publique. L'ACSP r�agira aux constatations et aux recommandations du sous-comit� apr�s la publication du rapport final, attendu en d�cembre 2008.

Le 18 juin 2008, le premier rapport annuel de l'administrateur en chef de la sant� publique du Canada, le Dr David Butler-Jones, a �t� d�pos� au Parlement. L'ACSP a f�licit� l'administrateur en chef d'avoir publi� ce rapport phare et a invit� le gouvernement f�d�ral � renforcer son leadership en sant� publique et � prendre des mesures progressives pour aborder tout l'�ventail des d�terminants de la sant�, en consultation avec les gouvernements provinciaux et territoriaux et les municipalit�s.

Au d�but de juillet, l'ACSP a diffus� une d�claration sur la d�cision de la Cour supr�me de la Colombie-Britannique en faveur des piqueries supervis�es dans le quartier Downtown Eastside de Vancouver. L'ACSP est d'avis que la mise en place et l'entretien d'un milieu favorable � un continuum de services (pr�vention, soins, soutien et traitement) sont essentiels pour garder les utilisateurs de drogue en vie et r�duire les m�faits et les risques pour leur propre vie et celle des autres.

L'ACSP h�berge le secr�tariat de la Coalition canadienne pour la sant� publique au 21e si�cle (CCSP21), un r�seau pancanadien d'organismes sans but lucratif, d'organismes caritatifs du domaine de la sant� et de chercheurs universitaires. L'objectif de la Coalition est de promulguer des politiques qui font en sorte que les fonctions de sant� publique suffisent � prot�ger et promouvoir la sant� et � pr�venir les maladies et les blessures. Nous venons de diffuser un cahier documentaire pr�-�lectoral qui pr�conise des investissements accrus, l'am�lioration de la formation et de la r�partition des ressources humaines, ainsi que le renforcement du leadership en sant� publique. Ce cahier a �t� envoy� � tous les candidats.

L'ACSP a aussi pr�sent� un m�moire �crit au Comit� permanent des finances en pr�vision du prochain budget f�d�ral; elle y r�clame un accroissement des investissements dans les infrastructures du Canada en sant� publique et l'instauration d'un m�canisme pour financer une approche ax�e sur les d�terminants sociaux de la sant� afin de r�duire les in�galit�s en sant� au Canada.

Enfin, � la s�ance de cl�ture de sa conf�rence annuelle, l'ACSP a lanc� un appel � l'action, �tay� par les opinions des intervenants en sant� publique et les d�lib�rations de la conf�rence, afin de souligner qu'il faut prendre des mesures concr�tes pour redresser les in�galit�s en sant� au Canada. Cet appel, publi� sur le site Web de l'Association, pr�sente certains des engagements de l'ACSP en tant qu'organisme. L'un des principaux est de promouvoir le rapport tr�s attendu de la Commission des d�terminants sociaux de la sant� de l'OMS. Lorsque la Revue ira sous presse, j'esp�re que le rapport et la r�ponse de l'ACSP auront d�j� �t� publicis�s � grande �chelle. Le d�fi sera de soutenir l'�lan en faveur d'un � mouvement social � pour �liminer les in�galit�s en sant� au Canada.

L'ACSP entend conserver sa r�putation d'excellence en mati�re de politiques, de programmes et de d�fense des droits en sant� publique. Par divers moyens, notamment dans la Revue canadienne de sant� publique, elle rendra compte aupr�s des intervenants de la sant� publique du pays des r�sultats de ses efforts de revendication.

La chef de direction,

Debra Lynkowski

Earnings Preview: Verizon to post 4Q earnings

NEW YORK (AP) — Verizon Communications Inc., the nation's largest wireless carrier and second-largest telecommunications company, reports its fourth-quarter results before the stock market opens on Tuesday.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Verizon Wireless announced two weeks ago that it's going to start selling the iPhone of Feb. 10, ending years of speculation and AT&T Inc.'s exclusive hold on the device.

Fourth-quarter results will, of course, not reflect the addition of the iPhone, but executives will hold an analyst meeting in New York in conjunction with the release of the results, so investors could get an update on the company's expectations.

Analysts vary widely in their estimates of sales of Verizon iPhones this year, from 5 million to 13 million. They note that selling the popular device will likely reduce Verizon's earnings this year, because the company will be subsidizing each phone by about $400 and it takes time to make the money back through monthly service fees.

On Friday, Verizon Communications Inc. announced a change to its accounting practices, effectively moving $20.2 billion in losses from future earnings reports to the past. It's now recognizing losses and gains in its plans that fund pensions and other retirement benefits, like health care, in the same year that they occur rather than amortizing them over time, as has been standard practice. It's following the lead of AT&T, which instituted such a change a week earlier.

For the fourth quarter, this means that Verizon will post a $600 million charge to reflect the performance of its pension plans and changes in assumptions on returns and benefits.

The adjustment to past results means that Verizon lost $8.6 billion in 2008, rather than its originally reported net income of $6.4 billion, as the financial meltdown hammered the value of pension-plan assets like stocks. In general, the change will mean wider swings in net income in the fourth quarter every year, as the company books pension-related items.

WHY IT MATTERS: Verizon had 93.2 million wireless customers and 26.5 million landlines at the end of the last quarter. The stock is a component of the 30-stock blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average index.

WHAT'S EXPECTED: Verizon has forecast earnings that work out to 50 cents to 55 cents per share, excluding items. Analysts polled by FactSet expect Verizon to earn 55 cents per share, on revenue of $26.47 billion.

Verizon might provide an outlook for the current quarter. Analysts are expecting earnings of 52 cents per share on $26.67 billion in revenue.

Another closely-watched figure is the number of new wireless subscribers on contract-based plans. Michael Nelson of Mizuho Securities said he expects Verizon to report the addition of a net 650,000 subscribers.

LAST YEAR'S QUARTER: Verizon initially reported a loss of 23 cents per share for the fourth quarter of 2009, but adjusted that on Friday to a profit of 22 cents per share due to the change in its pension accounting practices. Revenue totaled $27.1 billion.

Are they or aren't they?

So is he or isn't he dating Jessica Simpson? Hot comic Dane Cookfound himself on the cover of US magazine last week, named asSimpson's new main squeeze.

Yes, they're filming the comedy "Employee of the Month" together.No, they're not dating, even though they've been to the movies a fewtimes together.

"We're just friends," Cook says. "I don't have much time for apersonal life. It's pretty much go, go, go."

He says watching Simpson has been an education. "It's pretty mucha crash course in fame," he says. "You watch her lead her life, andshe handles it remarkably. She also rocks in the movie. She's verysweet. It's pretty insane to watch how she handles everything."

Cook says the experience of tabloids linking him with Simpson hasbeen eye-opening: "It's weird," he says. "You rarely see comedians inthe tabs. It doesn't seem to go together. But as I gather these rolesand I'm fortunate enough to stay busy, I can only hope that nobody ishiding and waiting to go through my garbage."

He is excited about the movie.

"It's going amazingly, but it's hard work. We have lunch at 1:30in the morning," Cook says.

"I play this guy who works at Super Club, a Costco-type of place.I've worked there for 10 years when I planned to work there 10minutes.

"My nemesis, played by Dax Shepherd, sparks a competition to getthe employee-of-the-month award. We're competing to get it becausethis girl played by Jessica has a rumor surrounding her; supposedly,she only has sex with the employee of the month!"

Number of children in Japan slides to new low

Japan, which designates every May 5 as Children's Day, has fewer children to celebrate the holiday for the 28th straight year, underscoring a demographic dilemma that could eventually wreak havoc on the world's second-largest economy.

A government report released this week said the number of children under age 15 as of April 1 had fallen to about 17 million. Japan's proportion of children _ which has been declining for the past 35 years _ now stands at just 13 percent of the country's 128 million people.

In contrast, Japan's elderly population is swelling. The number of those over 65 years old has reached 22.5 percent and continues to climb.

The unprecedented changes to Japan's population, fueled by low birthrates and one of the world's highest life expectancies, are expected to strain government services and pension programs, as well as lead to labor shortages in the near future.

Japan now has the lowest percentage of children among 31 major countries, trailing Germany and Italy, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications report. Children make up about 20 percent of the U.S. population and 17 percent in neighboring South Korea.

Government efforts to boost the number of new babies have been unsuccessful thus far, and lawmakers have long been reluctant to relax the country's strict immigration laws.

As part of his recent economic stimulus measures, Prime Minister Taro Aso called for new financial support for child birth and an expansion of neonatal intensive care units.

Officials have also stepped up programs that encourage the elderly to stay active and working. The government is gradually extending the retirement age to 65 from 60, and is now pushing for a further extension to 70. Tokyo also introduced a new health insurance system last year to deal with ballooning medical costs for people 75 or older.

In a dozen years, the percentage of children is projected to drop to under 11 percent, while the proportion of those 65 and older is likely to rise to 29 percent, according to government estimates.

Japan's population posted its sharpest decline ever last year, falling by 51,000.

30-year mortgage rates rise after record run

Rates on 30-year mortgages rose above 5 percent this week, ending a five-week run at record low levels, Freddie Mac reported Thursday.

Mortgage rates have been in decline since the Federal Reserve said in late November it would buy up to $500 billion in mortgage-backed securities to get banks to lend more money in hopes of bolstering the troubled U.S. housing market.

Freddie Mac reported Thursday that average rates on 30-year fixed mortgages rose to 5.12 percent this week from a record low of 4.96 percent established last week. At this time last year, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage averaged 5.48 percent.

Last week's mark of 4.96 percent was the lowest since Freddie Mac started its survey in April 1971, Freddie Mac said.

The lower rates also kick-started mortgage refinancing activity. Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac's chief economist, said refinancing applications totaled about 86 percent of all conventional loans in the first three weeks of 2009. Nothaft said this week's rise in average mortgage rates followed increases in bond yields.

The average rate on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 4.8 percent, from 4.65 percent last week. The 15-year fixed rate averaged 4.95 percent at this time last year.

Average rates on five-year, adjustable-rate mortgages fell to 5.24 percent, their lowest level since the week ending Sept. 8, 2005, Freddie Mac said. Rates on one-year, adjustable-rate mortgages rose to 4.92 percent from 4.89 percent last week.

The rates do not include add-on fees known as points. The nationwide fee for 30-year, 15-year and one-year adjustable-rate mortgages averaged 0.7 point for this week. Fees for five-year adjustable rate mortgages averaged sixth-tenths of a point.

Freddie Mac and sibling company Fannie Mae, own or guarantee about half of the $11.5 trillion in U.S. outstanding home loan debt. The government seized control of the companies in September.

U.S. Army Wartime Acquisition and Procurement

Warfighters deployed in support of the global war on terrorism (GWOT) quickly discovered that additional equipment was required to fulfill their mission because of the environment, operations tempo (OPTEMPO) and threat. The diverse operations environment found many units ill-equipped for the long deployments, harsh desert landscape and prolonged OPTEMPO. In short, today's missions are far different than the ones the Army faced during the Cold War.

To counter these emerging threats, the military is rapidly transforming into a lighter, leaner and more lethal and sustainable force. Today's combat environment is all encompassing, from fighting urban insurgents with superb technology to cave-dwelling nomads who prosecute the war with a frightening single-mindedness and tenacity. As a result, U.S. forces have had to continually change tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs).

The austere, extremely harsh environmental conditions, coupled with using equipment at rates 5-10 times the normal peacetime rates have placed much greater demands on all facets of the Army's logistics and sustainment capabilities and support structure. Accordingly, the acquisition of materiel solutions, supplies and services to support frontline equipment halfway around the world has been extremely challenging and resulted in the procurement of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) items. These evolving field requirements must be swiftly and effectively managed to properly outfit warfighters to ensure their battlefield survivability. This article briefly discusses some current procurement methods the Army is using to provide products and services to our combatant commanders and Soldiers waging the GWOT.

The Apache Attack Helicopter Project Management Office receives requests daily for modifications or additions to currently deployed helicopter systems and subsystems. User requirements are funneled from the requesting unit through the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) to HQDA and DOD. HQDA and DOD - and in some cases Congress - work the approval process and funding piece and then issue directives to the Assistant secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology for execution. The product managers (PMs) then execute the programs under their charter. In the past, DA had to carefully manage numerous budgets supporting multiple operations and maintenance programs. As a result, procurement cycles could be rather cumbersome and slow. But given today's high OPTEMPO environment, the acquisition community has developed solutions to streamline Army procurement and acquisition.

Our traditional life-cycle acquisition process is a 5- to 7-year process that begins during pre-systems acquisition with the combat developer presenting an Interim Capabilities Document to the Army Requirements Oversight Counsel and Joint Requirements Oversight Counsel for authority to begin developing concepts for a materiel solution to bridge gaps in current and future capabilities. The process is thorough, but slow. It involves multiple levels of decision makers, staffers, technical people, contractors and government personnel within the Army and DOD. They provide data, analysis, technical input, hardware, software, simulation, testing, fielding and sustainment. The process serves a purpose, but in wartime is not responsive enough to meet combatant commander or Soldier requirements.

Operational Needs Statement (ONS)

The process begins when organizations identify new requirements. They then submit an ONS or Urgent Needs Statements (UNS) to the first general officer in their respective chains of command. Each ONS must address an accurate description of the requirement, including - most importantly - the capability gap that needs to be filled. Most units have a tendency to request specific products and name brands. Unfortunately, the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) typically requires government contracts to be available in an equitable manner to all potential vendors. Thankfully, DFARS allows contracts that are competitively bid to be awarded as "best value" not "lowest bidder," as was frequently done in the past.

The ONS must include a recommended Basis of Issue Plan for distribution and a sustainment and supportability plan. It must also address all known safety and health hazards. The PM can assist with the technical aspects and independent government cost estimates. Once these documents are compiled, the ONS is forwarded through the chain of command for endorsements of concurrence or nonconcurrence. Most staff offices have tracking systems for each ONS as it is staffed through various levels of command. Army Regulation 71-9, Materiel Requirements, provides regulatory guidance on how the ONS process works. Additionally, recent HQDA G-4 guidance describes the detailed coordination and approval required by HQDA, the materiel developer and the testing community.

The ONS is usually presented to the Joint Acquisition Review Board (JARB). The JARB is generally conducted at the Multi-National Corps/Force-Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force-76 (Afghanistan) and the Coalition Forces Land Component Command (CFLCC) level with certain authority and funding restrictions. The JARB can endorse a requirement and forward the ONS to HQDA or, in some cases, take actions at that level to fulfill a requirement by validating and funding the requirement. The "power-down" concept works great in this situation because it provides the warfighters' equipment faster. The drawback is Army Materiel Command and its major subordinate commands may not be "in the loop" and could lose track of configuration changes.

Often, not being aware of sustainment responsibilities and associated costs thwarts rapid procurement, illustrating the need for a well-planned ONS from the originator as well as the staff. Staffs at each level of approval must scrutinize every ONS to ensure the gap cannot be bridged without a materiel solution. Staffs and commanders should approve materiel solutions only as a last resort and only after a solid analysis of doctrine, organization, training, leadership, materiel, personnel and facilities (DOTLMPF) has been conducted. Time spent doing this analysis could save the Army millions of dollars. Something as simple as changing TTPs and updating doctrine could actually bridge a gap, thus providing a nonmatcricl solution. Units should not adopt the mentality of "just buy it and we'll get the Army to figure out how to sustain it." In fact, 60-80 percent ot all life-cycle costs occur after a system is fielded. It is incumbent upon the combat developers and logisticians to ensure that materiel solutions are valid for bridging both technology and capabilities gaps.

If a nonmateriel solution using DOTLMPF cannot be found, the JARB may validate an ONS at the JARB level. Sometimes an ONS may have to be staffed further and validated by HQDA. Intermediate staffing is required at CFLCC and U.S. Central Command prior to being staffed at HQDA G-3. In cases involving Army aviation, the ONS should be forwarded to the Aviation Task Force (AVN TF). The AVN TF would then staff the requirement with the Aviation Center and the combat developer for concurrences/nonconcurrences for materiel solutions.

The user's representative with the loudest voice is the TRADOC Systems Manager (TSM). The TSM typically has rwo main focus areas - futures and immediate capability gaps. To best support units in the field, TSMs must continuously try to identify immediate capability gaps within the perspective of DOTLMPF. Ultimately, every change to the DOTLMPF must have a requirement behind it and an ONS/UNS is a very good place to start. This process normally can take months for simple needs, and years for more complex needs. The bottom line is the TSM will work all identified gaps and continue to provide warfighters with the best possible capabilities. Fortunately, with HQDA approval, TSM offices, in concert with the PM offices, are taking the initiative to push non-DOTLMPF solutions to fill identified critical needs. There are several major initiatives underway to provide immediate capabilities to the field. There are limitations to these fixes, but the benefits greatly outweigh any shortcomings.

Once the ONS makes it to the Pentagon G-3, it may be presented to the Counsel of Colonels and the General Officer Review Board for the Army's Requirements and Resources Board. During the validation process, the requirement will go to G-8 Force Development Aviation for sourcing strategy and funding determination with the Army Budget Office. If the ONS is deemed to be a high priority, then funding will be assigned. If funding is limited, then quantities might be adjusted to support limited fielding, which might include deployed units only. For example, in aviation units, this may become a Threshold Mission Essential Package. In some cases where funding is extremely limited, some equipment may be designated as Stay-Behind Equipment.

In cases where the requirement is validated and funded, the G-3 Future Warfighting Capabilities Division will initiate a materiel release by issuing a Directed Requirement Memorandum, which requires a:

* Safety and health hazard assessment.

* Airworthiness statement, if applicable.

* Explosive ordnance disposal statement.

* Insensitive munitions certificate.

* Acceptance statement signed by the gaining command's general officer (or civilian equivalent).

The procurement process - once validated and funded - will depend on the type of equipment to be purchased. In the case of COTS equipment, the product is generally considered readily available unless large requests generate lead times. Non-Developmental Items require longer procurement timelines to accommodate developmental and operational testing. Some cases may require further testing, even after an Urgent Materiel Release (UMR). COTS procurements, although quick, may present second- and third-order consequences that, if not properly planned for, may cause sustainability and stockage problems as mentioned earlier. Approved UMRs require materiel release coordinators to enter items into the Materiel Release Tracking System. The PMs will work through their Life Cycle Management Commands to enter the UMR into the Standard Study Number-Line Item Number Automated Management and Integrating System. Other procurement systems include the Rapid Equipping Force, in which teams are deployed forward and have the ability to make fast procurements happen through nontraditional, streamlined acquisition processes.

These new procurement instruments are getting much-needed equipment and supplies into warfighters' hands quicker and with fewer logistics setbacks than ever before. Using this method, we can mitigate issues associated with rapid procurements, including technical manuals, provisioning for spare parts, special tools, calibration, repair contracts, configuration management, unit accountability and disposal costs. New equipment delivered faster will challenge logisticians at all levels. As we rapidly decrease the traditional logistics tail and footprint, acquisition professionals will continue to overcome sustainment challenges through innovation, procurement process changes and manufacturing solutions.

[Sidebar]

Evolving field requirements must be swiftly and effectively managed to properly outfit warfighters to ensure their battlefield survivability.

[Sidebar]

The "power-down" concept works great ... because it provides the warfighters' equipment faster.

[Author Affiliation]

MAJ James Bledsoe

[Author Affiliation]

MAJ JAMES BLEDSOE is an Assistant PM in the AH-64 Apache Helicopter Project Office, Apache Modernization and Recapitalization, Redstone Arsenal, AL. He earned a B.A. in American studies from California State University-Chico, and is a U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and Acquisition Basic Course graduate. Bledsoe recently returned from Iraq where he served as the Chief, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command Theater Aviation Single Manager. To share lessons learned or continue this discussion with the author, e-mail him at james.bledsoe2@us.army.mil.

WCup qualifying starts in Trinidad on Wednesday

GENEVA (AP) — The road to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil officially begins Wednesday when the first qualifying match is played on Trinidad, the Caribbean island at the epicenter of a bribery scandal that's shaken tournament organizer FIFA.

Three years before the tournament begins in Brazil, the first of 832 scheduled qualifiers features two low-ranked teams playing on neutral ground in suspended FIFA vice president Jack Warner's home nation.

Because Montserrat's home stadium doesn't meet international standards, it faces Belize in a preliminary round, first-leg match in Couva that Warner is banned from attending.

Warner and former FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam are accused of paying or offering $40,000 in cash bribes to Caribbean voters in nearby Port of Spain last month. They deny the allegations.

Montserrat is among around 18 Caribbean Football Union members targeted in an ongoing FIFA investigation into the alleged bribes, but national team coach Kenny Dyer told The Associated Press that his players are focused only on their game.

"There is no distraction," Dyer said Tuesday in a telephone interview. "There's only one thing on their minds and that's training and getting the right result."

Dyer said the Montserrat squad listened to a pep talk from their federation president Vincent Cassell on Tuesday. At the same time, some of Cassell's CFU colleagues were in the Bahamas to be interviewed by former FBI agents who are gathering evidence for FIFA's investigation.

Bribery and World Cup football will compete for FIFA's time and attention in the coming weeks.

Warner and bin Hammam's expected date with the FIFA ethics committee in Zurich shapes as an unwelcome distraction before July 30, when the full World Cup qualifying draw is conducted in Rio de Janeiro where countries will discover their route to getting one of 31 spots available in Brazil in 2014.

First, there are preliminary matches in the North, Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF) region and Asia for the likes of 202nd-ranked Montserrat and No. 172 Belize.

"It means a lot to them," CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer told The AP by telephone from New York. "It's an exciting time for them. There's a lot of attention focused on it."

It was Blazer who sparked the corruption crisis by submitting evidence implicating his FIFA executive committee colleagues, but Dyer's world is far removed from football's power games.

"Some players are seeing each other for the first time," said Dyer, whose squad of mainly England-based players includes just three attached to Montserrat clubs. The team last played a competitive match in October.

"We've got players that work in McDonalds, we've got accountants, a few full-time professionals, policemen," said the 46-year-old Dyer, who played professionally in England and Cyprus. "It's not easy trying to get players to play for Montserrat. But there's national pride."

Montserrat was devastated when the Soufriere Hills volcano erupted in 1995, one year before gaining FIFA membership, and its football culture has struggled since.

In three World Cup qualifying campaigns, Montserrat has never won a match, nor played on home ground.

That could soon change.

The reward for eliminating Belize could be a genuine home game at Blakes Estate stadium when CONCACAF qualifying resumes in September.

"That will be a first. The whole island will come to a standstill," Dyer said. "Our field in Montserrat is one of the best I've ever seen, absolutely plush."

In Asian qualifying, eight first-round matches begin June 29. A second preliminary round is then required to decide which 20 Asian Football Confederation members will be in the draw in Rio.

Europe's 53 teams, including defending champion Spain, begin their qualifying groups in September 2012.

Nine South American teams begin their single-group program in October without Brazil, which qualifies automatically as host.

Africa has a preliminary round in November before a 40-team group phase starts next year.

Oceania kicks off in August with a tournament at the Pacific Games in New Caledonia.

CONCACAF's powers, including the United States and Mexico, join play in June 2012.

Just four of FIFA's 208 members opted not to enter: Asia's Bhutan, Brunei and Guam plus Africa's Mauritania.