Doyle Dane mulls merger

Doyle Dane Bernbach is talking merger, but industry analysts arein the dark about who its partner might be. Speculation centers oncompanies outside the advertising business.

Doyle Dane Bernbach Group Inc. said yesterday it is involved indiscussions "involving an exchange of securities," leading analyststo conclude the suitor is another publicly held company.

Yesterday afternoon, trading was stopped on the company's stockat $27.75, which was up $4.50 from the previous day's close.

Industry analysts were calling this deal "the mystery merger,"in contrast with the many rumors that surround most ad agencyacquisitions.

The major advertising agency …

Abbas Overhauls Palestinian Election Law

RAMALLAH, West Bank - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday announced changes in Palestinian election law aimed at bolstering his Fatah party against the rival Hamas group.

It was the latest step taken by Abbas meant to marginalize Hamas since the Islamic militant group violently seized control of the Gaza Strip in June.

Abbas has kicked Hamas out of the Palestinian government and announced plans for new elections. No date for the vote has been set.

Under the new law, Palestinians will vote solely for party lists, while district voting will be eliminated. In the last legislative election in early 2006, half the seats were chosen on a national list and the …

Ore. man accused of trying to burn post office

A man accused of trying to burn down a post office to protest the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has been charged with attempted arson. The Register-Guard newspaper reported a 45-year-old man was arrested Tuesday in front of the post office holding a beer, a hammer and a propane torch.

Police found the front door smashed and saw a garbage can and …

FTC Launches Crackdown // Charges Hit Infomercial Pitchman

The infomercial industry has found out the hard way that magicwands and crystal power won't help it get respect.

Program-length TV commercials have come under fire in a FederalTrade Commission investigation leading Thursday to charges that TVpitchman David Del Dotto made false and deceptive claims.

The latest charges come just as infomercials are beginning toattract Fortune 500 companies excited by the industry's marketingpower but still wary of its reputation for bilking consumers withbogus products.

How bogus are the products involved?

Del Dotto is accused of peddling a get-rich-in-real-estatescheme that supposedly shows consumers how to take …

Chicago's Ben One ready for spring release

Chicago native recording artist Ben One is ready to go big time.

After 14 years of singing and performing with his brothers in the forming with his brothers in group, Strong, Ben One is set to group, Strong, Ben One is set to his self-entitled album to listeners spring.

The 23-year-old artist talked his music life with the Defender.

CD: Are you more comfortable in a CD: Are you more comfortable in a group or solo?

BO: I'm more comfortable solo because just being in a group is a huge responsibility, and I can focus more on my craft (as a solo artist) than what I was able to a long time ago because I was basically the leader of (Strong).

CD: What made you …

17 Tibetan exiles arrested in northern India during march to Tibet

Indian police arrested 17 Tibetan exiles Saturday as they attempted to march from a remote Himalayan region in northern India into Tibet, officials said.

The group was arrested in Ladakh, an area that borders Tibet and is home to about 7,000 Tibetan exiles, said M.K. Bhandari, a senior local official.

The group was arrested for violating a law that prohibits entry into sensitive border areas, Bhandari said.

The arrests came amid reports of ongoing unrest in China's Tibetan areas.

Police fired on hundreds of protesters in a Tibetan area of western China, killing eight people, overseas activist groups said. State media reported one …

Fixtures

Saturday, July 7

SATURDAY CONFERENCE

Division 1: Combe Down v Dyrham & Hinton; Stratton on the Fosse vExiles (Bath); Wrington v Bath 3rd; Bath Hospitals v Bear Flat ;Brislington 3rd v Stanton Drew

Division 2: Churchways v Knowle West; Grendel v GWR Bristol; OldBristolians Westbury 3rd v Old England & Bristol Sikhs; Bath 4th vHarptree Villages; Larkhall v Bristol 3rd

Division 3: Saltford Fairway v Ston Easton CC; Shoscombe Villagev Weston Super Mare 3rd; Whitchurch 2nd v Midsomer Norton 3rd; Dyrham& Hinton 2nd v Nailsea 3rd

Division 4: Old Park v UBH; Oldfield Park v Easton Cowboys;Stratton on the Fosse 2nd v Old Bristolians Westbury 4th; …

Restaurant recycling and vermicomposting

When kitchen staff at the Cricklewood Restaurant take out the garbage, they bring it to worm bins instead of a dumpster. Owner Michael O'Brien started vermicomposting produce residuals from his 215-seat prime rib and steakhouse restaurant about a year ago. He built three wooden bins - two measuring four by eight feet, and the other half that size. The worms are fed approximately two to two and a half five-gallon containers of produce scraps each day.

O'Brien has been recycling for many of the 24 years he has owned the …

Woman in Wisconsin torture cases gets 37 years

A drifter accused of helping her gang torture an 11-year-old boy was sentenced Tuesday to 37 years in prison.

Michaela Clerc, 21, and her gang scalded, whipped and starved the child and stuffed him in a closet in a house they rented in Portage.

According to a criminal complaint, the boy told detectives that everyone in the gang, including his mother and sister, had beat him.

Investigators discovered the body of the boy's mother buried behind the house.

Clerc pleaded no contest to four charges in February and was sentenced Tuesday by Columbia County Circuit Judge Alan White.

Investigators said Clerc roamed the country with a …

Falling gas prices mean savings for drivers in winter

NEW YORK - Natural gas prices tumbled again Thursday, hitting newseven-year lows as the country pares down on energy usage and moreunused supply is put into storage.

That will mean huge savings for a lot of people this winter whenthe heating bill arrives.

On Monday, Spokane, Wash.-based utility Avista Corp. said itwants to reduce natural gas prices for its Oregon customers to thelowest levels in five years. And in the Midwest, Alliant EnergyCorp. and Wisconsin Public Service Corp. both predicted heatingbills would drop around 20 percent.

"Any savings we get, they get," Alliant spokesman ScottDrzycimski said.

Natural gas for October delivery gave up 20.7 …

Jake Plummer Reportedly Mulls Retirement

DENVER - Jake Plummer's status with the Denver Broncos was in limbo Friday. The quarterback who lost his starting job during the 2006 season reportedly would rather retire than accept a trade to Tampa Bay, the NFL Network and other media sources reported Friday afternoon.

The Broncos and Buccaneers had reportedly worked out an agreement that would send Plummer to the Buccaneers in exchange for a middle-round draft pick.

But Plummer, who has three years left on his contract and is due $5.3 million in 2007, is reportedly balking at the possible trade.

Plummer and his agent, David Dunn, didn't return phone calls placed by the Associated Press. Broncos spokesman Jim …

Three Muslims sentenced to life for attempting to kill Pakistan's Musharraf in 2002

An anti-terrorism court sentenced three Muslim militants to life in prison on Tuesday for attempting to kill President Pervez Musharraf in 2002, a state prosecutor said.

The court found the three men guilty of plotting to kill Musharraf by setting off a car bomb …

Man sentenced to 60 years for killing 4-year-old boy

As his three children played in the courtroom, Jesus Munoz-Padilla was sentenced Wednesday to 60 years in jail for grabbing ashotgun and firing through a kitchen window during a family squabble,killing a 4-year-old boy.

Munoz-Padilla had tearfully told the judge his actions last yearwere "an accident" and begged for forgiveness for the death ofEnrique Mendujano, but Judge James Egan said Munoz-Padilla deserved astiff sentence. The boy's mother, Rosa Flores, also tearfullydemanded justice for her son.

"There was a choice made, a choice to get the gun, and a choice topull the trigger," Egan said.

Egan sentenced Munoz-Padilla to 35 years in prison for the murderand 25 years because a gun was used.

The boy was a victim of a family squabble between Munoz-Padillaand his brother over money at an apartment building in the 2900 blockof West 38th in April 2002.

Flores testified during the trial that she took her son upstairsfrom their basement apartment in the building to the second-floorapartment where the boy's baby-sitters lived. Later, a familyargument in that apartment flared out of control.

Munoz-Padilla, 34, first tried to scald his brother with a pan ofjuice from a roasting goat before grabbing the shotgun and firingfrom a landing outside the apartment, prosecutors said. The boy wassitting three feet from the window.

During the sentencing hearing Wednesday, Munoz-Padilla's threechildren played in the courtroom as family members and friendsdescribed Munoz-Padilla, 34, as a dedicated father who lovedchildren.

But Flores said the loss of her middle son has caused her to loseher faith and question how anything so horrible could happen to aninnocent child. Through an interpreter, Flores recounted how she hadto leave her son with a baby-sitter because she was working. She hashad to try to explain to her two other children about the boy'sdeath.

"How can I explain to my other children that someone killed theirbrother; I live for my children, it's [the] thing that keeps mealive," Flores said. "I don't know why these things happen to peoplewho don't harm anyone."

She said her surviving son, who is now 9, and her daughter, who isabout to turn 5, have blamed themselves and her for the death of her"Enriquito." Her surviving son even tried to get her to take him tojail to visit Munoz-Padilla and scold him for killing his brother.She told the children that he has become a little angel and is inheaven watching over them.

"My son said, 'It's my fault, it's my fault, I was always with himtaking care of him,' " said Flores. "My daughter says to me, 'Why didyou let him go to heaven? It's your fault he went to heaven.' Shesays she wants him to come for vacation and visit. How do you explainto this 5-year-old?"

Munoz-Padilla apologized to Flores and asked the judge forleniency so his children would not be without their father. Munoz-Padilla's wife, Olga, also asked for leniency.

"Give them hope so they can have their father one day," Olga Munoz-Padilla said.

Settler fires rocket at Palestinians

Israeli security officials said Friday that students from a far-right Jewish theological seminary at a West Bank settlement recently built a crude rocket and fired it at a nearby Palestinian village, although it failed to reach its target.

The officials said troops in the area heard a loud explosion and initially thought Palestinians were attacking the settlement of Yitzhar, where the seminary is situated. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the incident, which occurred about two weeks ago, is still being investigated by police and agents of the Shin Bet security agency.

Police spokesman Danny Poleg said detectives searched the settlement Thursday and questioned residents but made no arrests and found no explosives. He would not comment further.

The Israeli daily Maariv, which reported the incident Friday, said police believe the perpetrator probably found rocket-making instructions on the Internet.

Until a truce with Islamic militants took effect Thursday, Palestinians regularly fired rockets into Israel from Gaza.

Yitzhar is a known hotbed of ultranationalist Israelis who believe that the West Bank is part of the biblical land of Israel promised to the Jewish people by God. They oppose any concessions to the Palestinians.

An instructor at the seminary was arrested in 2006 on suspicion of inciting violence against Arabs.

Yitzhar residents have repeatedly fought farmers from the Palestinian villages that surround their hilltop settlement and have clashed with police sent to supervise demolition of unlicensed buildings in the area.

In 2006, the Israeli army withdrew troops stationed at Yitzhar for its protection, citing repeated settler attacks on soldiers and destruction of military equipment.

On the pulse

38% of Americans believe George W. Bush is too conservative; 41%believe John F. Kerry is too liberal.

Millions spent on publicity

Nearly pounds2 million was spent by Aberdeen City Council onpublicising itself last year.

The bill for websites, press officers, communications staff andadvertising for new staff came to pounds1.9 million - a rise of256.8% over the last 10 years.

The equivalent figure for Aberdeenshire was pounds1.6 million -a huge jump of 455.4% in a decade.

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the Tax Payers' Alliance,which collected the figures, said: "With the internet cutting thecost of communication, it should not be difficult for localauthorities to find savings."

A spokesman for the Convention of Scottish Local Authoritiessaid: "Much of the publicity is about keeping communities informed."

Romney Says Bin Laden Is Deluded

CHEROKEE, Iowa - Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney hammered Saturday on radical jihadists and Iran's nuclear potential while campaigning in the Little Sioux River Valley, where residents enjoy rodeos, symphonies and county fairs.

Romney said while visiting the campus of a northwest Iowa community college that the new videotaped message from al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden is nearly impossible for Americans to understand.

"Who can be so deluded as he is?" Romney said.

Romney told reporters afterward that bin Laden's ideas on Americans being coerced into converting to Islam "are not in line with rational thought."

In the 26-minute video, bin Laden compares the Iraq war to Vietnam, criticizes the Democratic Party for failing to prompt a U.S. pullout from Iraq and encourages Americans to welcome Islam. He does not make any direct warning of an imminent attack.

"The whole radical jihadist movement is extraordinarily misguided and evil and is a form of delusion," Romney said. "I was, in some respects, thankful that he reminded the people of the world what the face of evil looks like."

At the community college, Romney was asked how he would respond to Iran. He said the United States must "tighten the sanctions hard so that the people of Iran understand just what renegades their leaders seem like on the world stage."

Romney said that response also should include the tightening of diplomatic sanctions and indicting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"I want to indict him for incitation to genocide," Romney said.

The former Massachusetts governor said he hopes Iran can be persuaded to give up its nuclear ambitions. However, Romney said, if a nuclear weapon from Iran ever found its way "into the hands of terrorists and it's used, we will not just respond to the terrorist, we will respond to the nation who gave the material to the terrorists."

"Regardless of how it might be used in the world, we will act," he said, adding that military action is not just "on the table, it's in our hand."

Romney said the U.S. troop buildup in Iraq is working, but many lawmakers are neither listening nor waiting for a report to Congress by the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker, which is expected to begin Monday.

"Some of these guys are so anxious to declare defeat that they're not willing to look at the data," Romney told the crowd of about 130 people. Democrats, Romney said, are saying some things that are "dispiriting, disgraceful, obviously discouraging to our troops."

Romney also played to social conservatives repeating his condemnation of same-sex marriages.

He said the recent ruling in Polk County, Iowa, which found the state's ban on gay marriage unconstitutional, was "an attack on the family and on the marriage structure" that points out the need for a federal amendment to the Constitution that defines marriage.

"Civilizations have recognized since the beginning of time ... that the ideal setting for raising a child is where there is a mom and a dad," he said.

Debt concerns weigh on stocks

NEW YORK (AP) — Technology company troubles and renewed concerns about Europe's debt dragged stocks lower for a second day.

European finance ministers approved $110 billion in rescue loans to Portugal on Monday, but have yet to decide on a second rescue package for Greece.

The arrest of the head of the International Monetary Fund is expected to make solving Greece's problems more difficult. The official, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, had been heavily involved in trying to fix the debt crises in Portugal and Greece. He is being held without bail on charges of sexually assaulting a hotel employee in New York City.

Technology companies sustained the largest losses in Monday trading. Yahoo! Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. fell by more than 4 percent. Yahoo is in a dispute with Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. over its online payment business. Yahoo owns a 40 percent stake in the company, which transferred its online payment business to another company without consulting Yahoo.

Investors are growing increasingly concerned over the prospect of an unprecedented U.S. default on its debt. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told Congressional lawmakers in a letter Monday that the agency is taking steps to postpone a default.

"The main thing hanging over most financial markets right now is what's going to happen with the debt ceiling and government borrowing and spending," said Tim Courtney, the chief investment officer at Burns Advisory Group in Oklahoma City.

The Dow Jones industrial average lost 47.38 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 12,548.37. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 8.30 points, or 0.6 percent, to 1,329.47. The Nasdaq fell 46.16, or 1.6 percent, to 2,782.31.

Commodity prices were mostly lower. Oil prices fell $2.28 to settle at $97.37 a barrel Monday as worries eased that Mississippi River flooding could disrupt refineries and slow demand.

Commodities have been falling broadly over the last two weeks because of concerns that the global economy is showing signs of weakening. A series of margin-hikes that were meant to curb the influence of speculators, whose heavy trading sent commodities like silver up more than 11 percent for the year, have also sent commodities lower.

"People are coming back into the commodity markets because they think that, in the back of their minds, the global growth story will continue," said Zahid Siddique, an associate portfolio manager at Gabelli Equity Trust, a money manager based in New York.

The stock market has lost some of its momentum in the last few weeks after finishing its best first quarter since 1998. Companies in so-called defensive industries like health care, utilities and consumer staples have outperformed lately due in part to concerns that high gas prices will slow the economy and cut into corporate profits.

Two well-known retailers in the U.S. fell after reporting quarterly results Monday. Home improvement company Lowe's Cos. fell 2 percent in after its quarterly report missed Wall Street's estimates and the company cut its outlook for the year. Bad weather and a decline in consumer spending combined to drive its profit down 6 percent in the first quarter.

J.C. Penny Co. Inc. lost 1.5 percent despite raising its full year profit estimates.

One of the most talked-about deals on Wall Street was officially nixed as well. The parent company of the New York Stock Exchange dropped nearly 11 percent after competitors Nasdaq OMX Group and ICE announced that they had withdrawn their hostile bid for the company. NYSE Euronext had angered its shareholders by refusing to meet with the two companies, which offered a higher price than what NYSE received from a German exchange operator. The withdrawn offer clears one hurdle to the proposed combination of the NYSE and its German counterpart.

More than two shares fell for every one that rose on the New York Stock Exchange. Trading volume was 3.5 billion shares.

Winning BET

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Billionaire Bob Johnson (a k a Robert L.Johnson), former owner of Black Entertainment Television, will putin a rare appearance when he speaks before the annual "Breakfast ofChampions" business event sponsored by WVON radio and N'Digomagapaper March 19 at the Hyatt Regency. This rich man is hard tocatch up with since he owns and operates so much property andvarious types of businesses.

Johnson was born in Hickory, Miss., the ninth of 10 children.However, he spent most of his childhood in Downstate Freeport andgraduated from the University of Illinois. Johnson became a bonafide billionaire when, in 1999, he sold BET to Viacom for anincredible $3 billion. Hey brother . . . can you spare a dime?

HERE YE! A casting call for the new "Humboldt Park" movie isSaturday at the Clemente Community Academy High School from 10 a.m.to 3 p.m. Casting director Sharon King and Humboldt Park Productionsare looking for Latino males, females, extras, all ethnic groupsages 18 to 50 and over. Bring a head shot and resume.

NOW ACTRESS Jessica Alba and boyfriend Cash Warren are preggers!As are Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry and Nicole Richie and JoelMadden. These out-of-wedlock scenarios coming out of Hollywood sendthe wrong message to young STUPID GIRLS and BOYS. Yeah, I said it!

THE L.A. LAKERS' KOBE BRYANT will be speaking to a select groupof high school basketball players Monday at the new Attack AthleticCenter on the West Side. The facility is owned by Michael Jordan'slongtime trainer, Tim Grover. The event is sponsored by Nike andfeatures a dinner and Q&A with Kobe.

POLITICAL STUFF: Former Ald. Dorothy Tillman's book signing ofHang Onto Your Hats is Sunday at the Harold Washington CulturalCenter. . . . Noted jingle writer Curtis Green hosts a fund-raiserfor Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown on Monday.

MORE STUFF: The Former Assistant U.S. Attorneys' annual shindigwas held at the Union League Club last week and was chaired by JimSloan. U.S Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald was a special guest, as wellas FAUSA's oldest practicing member, 91-year-old Chicagoan BillBarnett -- who worked with Special Agent Eliot Ness and the U.S.attorneys who prosecuted mobster Al Capone on tax evasion.

JUST IN: THE HARLEM Globetrotters' awesome ballhandler, Anthony"Buckets" Blakes, makes a guest appearance at the ESPN Zone Monday.The team will be in town for its "Magic As Ever" World Tour Jan. 11-12 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont. . . . Top record retailerGeorge Daniels' annual birthday party/toy drive is Tuesday at theAlhambra Palace. "The Color Purple" star Fantasia and her boyfriend,rapper Young Dro, are co-hosting.

HEY, THAT KIM KARDASHIAN is a real piece of work. On a recentepisode of her VH-1 reality show, she quibbles about doing a Playboyphoto shoot -- and had the nerve to ask Hugh Hefner if she'd have totake her clothes off. Duh!

I just wonder if she asked her ex-boyfriend, recording artist RayJ, if she'd have to take her clothes off for that all-in-your-face,scandalous T&A sex tape they made.

Kardashian's stepbrother Brody Jenner, the handsome star of MTV's"The Hills," will be at the Enclave nightclub Saturday to judge amodel search. . . . Lil' Jon performed at the posh club lastweekend.

SOCIABLE SCENES: Art Smith, Oprah's longtime chef and owner ofthe trendy Table 52, dined at La Pomme Rouge. . . . TV's "Curb YourEnthusiasm" star Jeff Garlin was seen eatin' at the Ashkenaz Deli. .. . WLS-Channel 7's Mark Giangreco relaxing at Jilly's Big Room onRush. . . . New Blackhawks prez John McDonough had lunch at Gibsonswith Score radio's Mike North, and on a separate day, actor PatrickSwayze dined with his family, while the Bears' Rex Grossman was infor lunch. McDonough recently lunched at Harry Caray's with Hawksowner Rocky Wirtz. . . . Also at the HC, actor R. Lee Ermey of "FullMetal Jacket," and WLS radio's Roe Conn.

THE BIRTHDAY FOLKS: Richard Dent, Donna LaPietra and belated toRenetta McCann, the Sun-Times' Deborah Douglas, Illinois SupremeCourt Justice Charles Freeman, and anniversary wishes (9th) to WGN-Channel 9's Merri Dee and Nick Fulop. Friday: John Iltis, PastorCharles Jenkins, WBBM-Channel 2's Antonio Mora and ValerieValentine. Saturday: Pat Quinn, Channel 5's Camille Edwards, andanniversary greetings to Bishop Charles Little and Corine. Sunday:Channel 2's Mai Martinez and WTTW-Channel 11's Shaunese Teamer.Monday: Photog Vic Skrebneski and Dr. Neil Stone.

Well, that's Stella in the City!

e-mail: sfoster@suntimes.com

into

One way or another, you'll find yourself saying, "Awwwwww." The adorable baby animals and the grace and kindness of the people who care for them, as depicted in the documentary "Born to Be Wild 3D," are guaranteed to warm every heart in the theater.

In Borneo, Dr. Birute Mary Galdikas rescues orangutans orphaned by developers who cut down jungle trees to produce palm oil. In Kenya, Dame Daphne M. Sheldrick provides a home for the baby elephants orphaned by poachers. More than 5,000 miles apart, the two women care for different animals but share the same goal: to raise the babies without taming them, so they can return to a natural life in the wild.

Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman narrates the story, taking us back and forth as we see the newest babies arrive and the adolescents "graduate." The goal is to nurture them only as long as they need help and then find them a safe home in a nature preserve. They are "under human care but not human control; they need to retain their wildness."

Some of the animals arrive traumatized. A baby elephant who saw humans kill his mother has to learn these humans are different; they just want to feed and protect him. Amazingly, the other orphaned elephants gather around to reassure him that he is safe. They show him that a giant-size bottle can be a good way to get milk. Unlike mother elephants, humans are not big enough to cast protective shadows to prevent sunburn, so Dame Daphne and her colleagues rub sunblock on the tender ears of the baby elephants instead. Elephants do not sleep well alone, so the keepers curl up near them at night. These are the cutest pachyderms onscreen since the baby elephants marched to the Henry Mancini soundtrack in "Hatari."

Elephants are social creatures. In one very touching scene, when the now "ex-orphans" are brought to a halfway house to get used to living away from the humans, the current residents somehow sense newcomers are arriving and come to a drop-off point to welcome them.

The orangutans interact more directly with their human caregivers, draping themselves along their backs and hugging their chests. Dr. Galdikas and her crew have built a contraption for swinging and climbing to teach them the skills they need to find food and a safe place to sleep: a literal jungle gym. She teaches them more than skills for survival; she makes each one of them feel special and cared for. "As long as they feel loved," she says, "they'll have the confidence they need."

The movie is empathetic but respectful to the animals. It enlarges our circle of compassion by reacquainting us with our fellow residents of the planet. Yet it avoids getting cutesy or overly anthropomorphic. These are not pets, and they are not being tamed. They are temporary guests, learning what they need to know so they can go home.

In the early scenes, we see the orangutans covered with shampoo and sharing a plate of pasta with Dr. Galdikas to the tune of bouncy American roots music such as Hank Williams' "Jambalaya." Then as they return to the wild, the soundtrack turns African, more serious and stirring, and we share the mixed feelings of these dedicated people who have cared for the animals for so long. We are happy they are going home but know they will be missed. We are hopeful for their future but worried that the wilderness left for them is shrinking every day.

"Born to Be Wild" is everything a family movie should be: touching, funny and inspiring. With a brisk 40-minute running time, it doesn't require anyone to sit still for too long. The IMAX 3D format may be overwhelming for children under 5, but anyone older will find the baby animals hard to resist, the scenery breathtaking, and the devotion of Dr. Galdikas and Dame Daphne deeply moving.

Free-lance contributor Nell Minow is the film critic for the website beliefnet.com.

In a Kenyan animal shelter, an ele­phant wallows in red dust, which serves as a sort of talcum powder, in the IMAX doc "Born to Be Wild 3D."Drew FellmanA baby orangutan learns survival skills. "As long as they feel loved, they'll have the confidence they need," a trainer says.

Fact Box: 'BORN TO BE WILD 3D' ★★★Warner Bros. presents a documentary by David Lickley. Written by Drew Fellman. Narrated by Morgan Freeman. Running time: 40 minutes. Rated G. Opening today at local IMAX theaters.

Pirates rip Cubs, Morgan // Struggling team can't wait to get out of Pennsylvania

PIRATES 7 CUBS 2

PITTSBURGH The Cubs finally are out of the state of Pennsylvania- but they are far from a state of well-being.

As bad as Wednesday's 7-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates werethe gloomy circumstances surrounding it: Mike Morgan (0-2) absorbed his second straight loss, stumbling againin the sixth inning when 10 Pirates batted against Morgan, PaulAssenmacher and Heath Slocumb in a four-run outburst aided by fourwalks (one of them intentional), two of which scored. Cubs bats faltered again, accounting for eight hits but few when itcounted. Twice runners were stranded at third base, including whenHector Villanueva and Luis Salazar were left at third and secondafter back-to-back, one-out singles in the second inning, and whenRyne Sandberg (3-for-4, one RBI) never scored after tripling in SammySosa with no outs in the sixth.

"The old saying is the worm has to turn," manager Jim Lefebvresaid after the team's fourth road loss to division rivalsPhiladelphia and Pittsburgh. "We haven't had much luck in thisseries, and that happens."

The Cubs had only bad luck in the third inning when the Piratesscored two unearned runs.

Slow-running catcher Mike LaValliere led with a single andshould have been a dead duck when he broke for second on ahit-and-run play. The Cubs called for a pitch-out, but Morgan'sthrow wasn't "out" enough.

Jose Lind reached out for it at the same time catcherVillanueva did. Lind's bat rapped Villanueva's glove and the catcherwas called for interference.

"He (Lind) had a job to do to swing the bat," said Villanueva,who wasn't injured on the play.

LaValliere and Lind eventually scored, LaValliere on a Morganwild pitch and Lind on a chopping infield single over third by JayBell.

"That was the biggest play of the game and it will go unnoticedbecause of the score," Lefebvre said. "If we throw the guy out,maybe no runs score that inning.

"Then we come back with a triple (by Sandberg in the sixth) andwe didn't get him home."

The Pirates also stranded a man at third after ex-Cub GaryVarsho tripled home pitcher Randy Tomlin (2-0) in the fifth. Tomlinwas one of three Morgan walks that scored.

Where would the Pirates be without their reserves?

"We definitely wouldn't be 6-2," said reserve Varsho. "We'd be.500 or maybe un der .500. That's what a 25-man roster is all about. Jim Leylandpicks and chooses for the best matchups and we've had some success."

"Whoever wins this division, I guarantee will be a club thatgets the most out of all 25 guys," Leyland said. "You have to haveeveryone contribute."

Morgan tried to explain his tough night on the mound.

"Five walks (one intentional) isn't me," Morgan said. "I wastrying to get Lind to hit a ground ball for a double play, but thesituation was a pitch-out and it was an excellent call. I just gotit too close to the plate.

"It's the little things to night that turned out to be the big things. I beat myself."

As they had in both games here, the Cubs gave Morgan afirst-inning lead when Sammy Sosa singled, took third on Sandberg'ssingle and scored on Andre Dawson's sacrifice fly. But like theirprevious game, they managed only one other score when Sosa andSandberg again combined in the sixth.

"Things aren't going our way right now and they took advantageof it," Lefebvre said. "They took advantage of every one."

The loss was especially frustrating for Morgan, who had analmost identical first outing in Philadelphia last week, lasting only five innings before getting chased in a similarfour-run sixth.

"It's been kind of tough - six innings in Philly and six inningstoday. In the past I've been strong out of the blocks in April andMay, so maybe good things are ahead for me and for this team.

"I'm not very happy about it. It's kind of hard to tip yourhat to the opposition when you beat yourself," Morgan said. "It'snot fun when you don't give your team a chance to win. But it'searly. It'll get better - let's put it this way, it better getbetter." BOX SCORE, PAGE 98

Tiger isn't talking -- or playing

Photo: Tiger Woods and wife Elin Nordegren in June page 20

Televison version turns `80 Days' into an arduous journey

Around the World in 80 Days (STAR) (STAR) Phileas Fogg Pierce Brosnan Passepartout Eric Idle Detective Fix Peter Ustinov Princess Aouda Julia Nickson

NBC presents a three-part mini-series, directed by Buzz Kulik andwritten by John Gay. Airing from 8 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Tuesdayover WMAQ-Channel 5.

When it hit the big screen in 1956, producer Mike Todd'sextravaganza "Around the World in 80 Days" marked the beginning of aHollywood genre: the overblown sweeping story with a heavy emphasison "cameo" appearances by big-name stars.

It was followed by the likes of "How the West Was Won," "It's aMad, Mad, Mad, Mad World," "Those Magnificient Men in Their FlyingMachines" and others that shared one common ingredient: constantemployment for the gap-toothed British actor Terry-Thomas.

If television has learned anything from its big screen brethren,it is the dubious art of excess. The original "Around the World in80 Days" (which won the Academy Award for best picture) ran two hoursand 13 minutes. The NBC mini-series version will air from 8 to 10p.m. Sunday through Tuesday over WMAQ-Channel 5. Pierce Brosnanplays the David Niven role of Phileas Fogg, who wagers his life'sfortune that he can circumnavigate the globe in just under threemonths - a darn sight less time than it feels like sitting in frontof the tube.

Joining Brosnan are Eric Idle in the Cantinflas role of theable, loyal servant Passepartout; Peter Ustinov in the Robert Newtonrole of Detective Fix, who chases the globe-trotters around theworld, and Julia Nickson in the Shirley MacLaine role as Fogg's loveinterest, the beautiful Princess Aouda.

This lavish production is based on Jules Verne's whimsical 19thcentury odyssey by the persnickety, precise, punctual Fogg, whocasually bets 30,000 pounds with friends at his private club that hecan circle the globe in 1,920 hours, or 80 days. It was 20,000pounds in the original film. The increase is due to inflation, Iguess.

Accompanied by the ever-harassed Passepartout, Fogg sets outacross the English Channel on his quest. Along the way, he confrontsthe rebels of the French Revolution, angry Hindus, shipwrecks andJesse James. And, of course, he uses an odd assortment of vehiclesto transport him, ranging from hot air balloons, to elephants, torickety steamships, to a bizarre trucklike thing he uses to cross theWild West. At the same time, the bumbling, fumbling Detective Fix,who wrongly believes Fogg is the mastermind of a robbery at the Bankof England, pursues his quarry around the world.

The production of this mini-series was as complex as Fogg'sfictional journey. Shooting took place in five countries, with 765scenes, 151 speaking parts and 4,300 extras. (The original film usedmore than 70,000 extras.) More than 400,000 feet of film captures the25,000 miles the cast and crew traveled.

As a travelogue, all of that is very impressive. Unfortunately,as entertainment, "Around the World in 80 Days" is about as thrillingas a trip to Cleveland. Despite its best picture Oscar, the original"Around the World in 80 Days" was more a tribute to pure showmanshipthan storytelling. Its tenuous appeal held up only on the basis onthe ever-charming and debonair David Niven, a wonderful, frequentlyunderrated actor, who brought a zest and sense of fun to the film.

That sense of joy is lost in the television version. Brosnan,an able, solid actor, simply fails to create the wistfulness requiredto sustain this mini-series. And while Ustinov is always afascinating actor to watch, not even his beleaguered Detective Fix isa strong enough character to support this laborious production.

It takes more than interesting visual images to hold up amini-series. The original film was co-written by S. J. Perlman, oneof America's greatest humorists. The mini-series was written by JohnGay, a fine screenwriter whose talents are most closely associatedwith more serious works such as "Fatal Vision," "The Bunker,""Separate Tables" and "Run Silent, Run Deep" - not exactlyrib-tickling laugh riots.

Also, the original "Around the World in 80 Days" featured 44cameo appearances by some of Hollywood's biggest names, includingCharles Boyer, Ronald Colman, Noel Coward, Marlene Dietrich, JohnGielgud, Trevor Howard, Beatrice Lillie, Peter Lorre, George Raft,Frank Sinatra, Red Skelton and Ava Gardner. By comparison, the listof cameos in the mini-series is a distant cousin to the original:Henry Gibson, John Hillerman, Jack Klugman, Christopher Lee, RoddyMcDowall, Darren McGavin, Pernell Roberts, James B. Sikking and SimonWard. The bigger names include Robert Wagner, Jill St. John, RobertMorley and Lee Remick in a throwaway bit as Sarah Bernhardt.

In 1956, Todd produced a sweeping, entertaining film featuringsome of the greatest stars of the day in two hours and 13 minutes.NBC, in taking on the same task with a lesser cast and weaker script,has managed to extend the story over three nights. Something isterribly wrong here.

If you can, rent the original movie. You will have more fun andsave more time. For the ship already sailed for "Around the World in80 Days" 33 years ago.

Safeway boss to move

Safeway chairman David Webster is to move to InterContinentalHotels once the 10-month battle to take over the supermarket chain issettled.

Mr Webster, who is the last director still at the company who wasinvolved in its formation, expects to move to the hotel group onJanuary 1 as non-executive chairman, although that could change if heis not then free to leave Safeway.

Rival supermarket Morrison's is now the only candidate to buySafeway, after BhS owner Philip Green pulled out of the race andTesco, Asda and Sainbury's were barred.

Nobunari Oda of Japan wins Trophee Bompard

Nobunari Oda of Japan captured the Trophee Bompard on Saturday, winning the free skate to finish ahead of Tomas Verner of Czech Republic and American teenager Adam Rippon.

Oda was second after the short program but overtook Verner with a flawless performance to a Charlie Chaplin medley.

Skating in a black tuxedo, Oda combined perfect jumps with artistic intensity to seduce the judges and the Parisian crowd.

Oda opened his program with a triple toeloop before landing a triple axel-triple toeloop combination. He won with a total of 242.53 points after receiving 166.33 in the free skate. It was his third Grand Prix win following victories in last year's NHK Trophy and the 2006 Skate America.

"I did a good performance today. Everything was good. I'm really happy and I really appreciated the people's support," said Oda, who didn't attempt a quadruple but landed eight triples.

With 144.14 points, Rippon approached his personal best of 147.70 in the free skate and finished with 219.96. He moved to Canada last year to train with Brian Orser, the 1984 and 1988 Olympic silver medallist.

"Working with Brian is a pleasure," the 19-year-old said. "He is a great coach and a mentor. I'm excited to go home and continue working with him. I still have a lot of things to improve."

After a bright opening, Rippon missed a landing of his triple axel when he attempted a triple axel-double tooeloop combination on his second item.

"It wasn't my best, but it was strong, and to be able to medal in such a deep field with so many great and strong skaters is very rewarding," said Rippon, who hopes to make the cut for the Olympics.

"Going into this Grand Prix, I wanted to show everyone in the U.S. that I can be one of those three men going to Vancouver."

Former European champion Verner led after the short program but was betrayed by his jumps in the free skate. The Czech skater started strong with a quadruple toeloop-double toeloop combination but missed a triple lutz and botched a combination later in his program.

"My first four elements were clean, and then I made a mistake," said Verner, who skated to music from "The Godfather." "I'm a bit angry but I think I can improve that."

Verner received 148.96 points for his free skate and finished with 229.96.

Former world champion Brian Joubert of France, sixth after the short program, climbed to fourth place overall despite missing two quadruple jumps.

Oda clinched his third Grand Prix win following victories in last year's NHK Trophy and the 2006 Skate America.

This is the first time the Trophee Bompard has opened the six-event ISU Grand Prix, which traditionally starts with Skate America.

Skaters collect points toward a place in the Grand Prix final in December at Tokyo.

(This version CORRECTS triple toeloop in 3rd graf.)

BC-AP--AP News Pronunciation Guide A-C

A

Abakan -- ah-bah-KAHN'

Feroz Abbasi -- feh-ROOZ' ah-BAH'-see

Abul Abbas -- AH'-bool ah-BAHS'

Mahmoud Abbas -- mahk-MOOD' ah-BAHS'

Abbottabad, Pakistan -- AHB'-tuh-bad

Mahmoud Abdel-Baset -- mah-MOOD' ab-DEHL'-BA'-set

Anthony Abbate -- ah-BAHT'-ee

Raouf Abdel-Rahman -- rah-OOF' AHB'-del RAKH-men

Nuradin Abdi -- NUR'-uh-din AHB'-dee

Naser Abdo -- NAS'-ur AB'-doh

Bilal Abdullah -- BIL'-ahl ab-DUHL'-uh

King Abdullah -- ab-DUHL'-uh

Agron Abdullahu -- AG'-rahn ab-DOO'-lah-hoo

Adel Abdul-Mahdi -- ah-DEEL' AHB'-dool-MAH'-dee

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab -- OO'-mahr fah-ROOK' ahb-DOOL'-moo-TAH'-lahb

Shinzo Abe -- shin-zoh ah-bay

Huma Abedin -- HOO'-muh AB'-uh-deen

Abidjan -- ah-bee-JAHN'

John Abizaid -- AB'-ih-zayd

Abkhazia -- ab-KAH'-zhee-uh

Ahmed Aboul Gheit -- AKH'-med ah-BOOL' RAYT

Jack Abramoff -- AY'-bruh-mahf

Khaled Abu Arafa -- HAH'-lid AH'-boo AR'-ah-feh

Mahmoud Abuarqoub -- mah-MOOD' ah-BOO'-kwab

Elias Abuelazam -- eh-lee-AHS' A'-boo-LAH'-zuhm

Abu Hafs -- AH'-boo HUHFS

Abu Hazim al-Sha'ir -- AH'-boo hah-ZEEM' al-shah-EER'

Abuja -- ah-BOO'-juh

Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook -- MOOS'-ah moh-HAH'-med AH'-boo mahr-ZOOK'

Abu Qaswarah -- kahs-WAHR'-uh

Nabil Abu Rdeneh -- nuh-BEEL' AH'-boo ruh-DIH'-nay

Abu Sayyaf -- AH'-boo SEYE'-yahf

Sami Abu Zuhri -- SAH'-mee AH'-boo ZUHKH'-ree

Joe Acaba -- uh-KAH'-buh

Anibal Acevedo Vila -- AH'-nee-bahl ah-seh-VAY'-doh VEE'-lah

Acre, Israel -- AH'-koh

Udi Adam -- OO'-dee AH'-dahm

Addis Ababa -- AHD'-ihs AHB'-uh-buh

Khalid Adem -- KAH'-lihd AH'-duhm

Naima Adedapo -- nay-EE'-mah ad-ed-DAH'-poh

Jason Ader -- AY'-dur

Bhumibol Adulyadej -- POOM'-ee-pahn ah-DOON'-yah-dayt

Naveed Afzal Haq -- nah-VEED' AHF'-zal hahk

Ahmad Afzali -- AKH'-mahd ahf-ZAH'-lee

Adnan -- AHD'-nahn

Aeropostale -- ayr-uh-pohst-AHL'

Mehmet Ali Agca -- MEH'-met AH'-lee AH'-juh

Gul Agha -- gool AH'-guh

Shohreh Aghdashloo -- SHOH'-reh ahg-DAHSH'-loo

Babar Ahmad -- BAH'-bahr AH'-mahd

Ahmadabad -- AH'-muh-duh-bahd

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad -- ah-muh-DEE'-neh-zhahd

Martti Ahtisaari -- MAHR'-tee ah-tih-ZAH'-ree

Franklin Ajaye -- AY'-jay

Ajdabiya -- ahj-DAH'-bee-yah

Daniel Akaka -- ah-KAH'-kah

Askar Akayev -- AHS'-kahr ah-KY'-ev

Hasan Akbar -- AK'-bar

Kamran Akhtar -- AHK'-tahr

Srednyaya Akhtuba -- SREHD'-nyah-yah ahk-TOO'-buh

Mullah Mohammed Hasan Akhund -- MOO'-lah moh-HAHM'-ed hah-SUHN' uh-HOOND'

Jamal Akkal -- jah-MAHL' AH'-kel

Akon -- AY'-kahn

Roberto Alagna -- ahl-AH'-nyuh

Alakai -- AH'-lah-ky

Tony Alamo -- uh-LAH'-moh

Ricardo Alarcon -- ah-lahr-KOHN'

Irakli Alasania -- ir-AHK'-lee al-uh-SAHN'-ee-ah

Mohammad Alavi -- ah-LAH'-vee

Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali -- ah-LEE' ahbd al-ah-ZEEZ' ah-LEE'

Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari -- KAH'-lihd ah-lee-EHM' al-duh-SAHR'-ee

Riad Ali -- ree-AHD' ah-LEE'

Ilham Aliyev -- ihl-HAHM' ah-lee-EHV'

Ayad Allawi -- EE'-yahd ah-LAH'-wee

Alli -- AL'-eye

Ruben Almaguer -- ahl-mah-GUR'

Altria -- AL'-tree-uh

Sahim Alwan -- sah-HEEM' al-WAHN'

Al-, al-, al

Note: The use of "al" in Arabic names varies from country to country, and even within families. Some Arabs use "Al"; others use "al". Some separate the "al" from the following name with a space or a hyphen. Some Arabs use "el" instead of "al."

The AP's practice is to use the common accepted form on well-known names or the form preferred by an individual.

Saif al-Adel -- sayf al-AD'-ul

Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin -- jah-MEEL' ab-DUHL'-uh al-ah-MEEN'

Mohammed Hamdi al-Ahdal -- HAHM'-dee ahl-uh-DAHL'

Al Aqsa -- ahl AHK'-sah

Azzan al-Amriki -- ah-ZAHN' ahl-ahm-RIH'-kee

Sami Al-Arian -- SAM'-ee al EHR'-ee-an

Al-Arabiyah -- ahl-ah-rih-BEE'-yah

Sami al-Askari -- SAH'-mee ahl as-KAHR'-ee

Younis al-Astal -- YOO'-nihs ahl-AHS'-tahl

Mukhtar al-Bakri -- MOOK'-tahr al-BAHK'-ree

Al-Barakaat -- ahl-bahr-uh-KAT'

Ali al-Dabbagh -- ahl-dah-BAH'

Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri -- EE'-zaht EE'-brah-heem ahl DOOR'-ee

Mohammed Al-Douri -- ahl DOOR'-ee

Khalil al-Dulaimi -- kah-LEEL' ahl-doo-LAY'-mee

Jamal Al-Fadl -- ahl-FAHD'-uhl

Saud al-Faisal -- sah-OOD' ahl fy-ZAHL'

Mohamed al-Fayed -- ahl-FY'-ehd

Fathur Al-Ghozi -- faht-HOOR' al-GOH'-zee

Abu Zubair al-Haili -- ah-boo zoo-BY'-ur ahl-hy-EE'-lee Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim -- BAH'-keer ahl hah-KEEM'

Ahmad al-Halabi -- ah-MEHD' ehl HAH'-luh-bee

Khaled bin Ouda bin Mohammed al-Harby -- KHAH'-lid bin OO'-duh bin moh-HAH'-med ahl-HAHR'-bee

Hajim al-Hassani -- HAH'-jim ahl hah-SAH'-nee

Aquila al-Hashimi -- ah-KEE'-lah ahl HAH'-shee-mee

Dar al-Hijra -- dahr al-HIHDJ'-ruh

Sami Omar Al-Hussayen -- SAM'-mee OH'-mahr al hoo-SAY'-ihn

Alhurra -- ahl-HUR'-ruh

Farouk Ali -- fah-ROOK' ah-LEE'

Ibrahim al-Jaafari -- EE'-brah-heem ahl JAH'-fah-ree

Al-Jazeera -- al-jah-ZEER'-ah

Yassir al-Jaziri -- yah-sur ahl jah-ZEER'-ee

Adel al-Jubeir -- AD'-duhl ahl-joo-BEHR'

Hamid al-Kafai -- HAH'-mid ahl-kuh-FEYE

Monzer al-Kassar -- MAHN'-zur ahl-kuh-SAHR'

Fadhil Al-Khaledy -- FAH'-deel ahl-KUH'-lay-dee

Abdullah Al Khalifa -- hah-LEE-fah

Abdullah Mahmoud al-Khattab -- MAH'-mood ahl-huh-TAHB'

Nasser Al-Kidwa -- ahl KIHD'-wah

Abu Farraj al-Libbi -- ah-BOO' fuh-RAZH' ahl LIH'-bee

Abu Laith al-Libi -- ah-BOO' LAYTH ahl-LIH'-bee

Abu Yahia al-Libi -- ah-BOO' yah-HEE'-ah ahl LIH'-bee

Ali Hassan al-Majid -- ah-LEE' hah-SAHN' ahl mah-ZHEED'

Jawad al-Maliki -- jah-WEHD' ahl-MAHL'-ee-kee

Nouri al-Maliki -- NOO'-ree ahl-MAHL'-ih-kee

Nabil Al-Marabh -- nuh-BEEL' ahl-muh-RAHB'

Dawoud Mahmoud al-Mashhadani -- dah-OOD' mahk-MOOD' al-mah-sha-DAH'-nee

Abu Ayyub al-Masri -- ah-BOO' eye-YOOB' ahl MAH'-sree

Abu Hamza al-Masri -- AH'-boo HAHM'-zuh ahl MAHZ'-ree

Abu Obeida al-Masri -- ah-boo oh-BAY'-duh ahl-MAHZ'-ree

Abdel Baset Ali al-Megrahi -- AHB'-dehl BAH'-seht AH'-lee ahl-meh-GRAH'-hee

Mohammed Al Hasan Al-Moayad -- hah-SAHN' ahl maw-YAHD'

Hussam Almousaly -- huh-SAM' ahl-MOO'-sah-lee

Abdulaziz al-Moqrin -- ahb-dool-uh-ZEEZ' ahl MOH'-krin

Jaafar al-Moussawi -- JA'-fur al-moo-SOW'-ee

Abu Hamza al Muhajer -- AH'-boo HAM'-zah ahl muh-HAJ'-ur

Abdullah al Muhajir -- ahl-moo-hah-JEER'

Rageh Al-Murisi -- rah-GAY' al-moor-EE'-see

Sami al-Mutairi -- SA'-mee al-moo-ty-EE'-ree

Abdur Rahman al-Najdi -- ahb-dur rah-mahn al-NAHZH'-dee

Mazen Al-Najjar -- MAH'-zen al-NAH'-jar

Zuhayr Talib Abd al-Sattar al-Naqib -- zoo-HAHR' TAH-lihb ab-dahl SAH'tar al nah-KEEB'

Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri -- ahbd al-ruh-HEEM' al-nuh-SHEE'-ree

Mohamed Rashed Daoud Al-'Owhali -- moh-HAH'-mehd rah-SHEED' dah-ood ahl-oh-WAHL'-ee

Yasin al-Qadi -- yah-sin ahl-KAH'-dee

Al-Qaida -- al-KY'-ee-duh

Al-Qaqaa -- al-KAH'-kah

Atiyah al-Rahman -- AH'-tee-ah ahl-RAHK'-mahn

Fawaz Yahya al-Rabeei -- fuh-WEHZ' WAH'-yuh ahl-rah-BY'-ee

Ayad Futayyih Khalifa al-Rawi -- eye-YAHD' fuh-TYAH' khuh-lee-fuh al-RAH'-wee

Essam al-Rawi -- eh-SAHM' al-RAH'-wee

Mohammed Al Rehaief -- ahl-RAY'-ehf

Mouwafak al-Rubaie -- moh-WAH'-fahk ahl-roo-BAH'-ee

Amer al-Saadi -- ah-MEHR' ahl SAH'-dee

Muqtada al-Sadr -- mook-TAH'-duh ahl SAH'-dur

Hamed al-Saeedi -- HAM'-id ahl-sah-EE'-dee

Mohammed Saeed al Sahhaf -- moh-HAH'-mehd sah-EED' ahl sah-HAHF'

al-Sajr -- ahl-SIH'-jur

Saud Abdulaziz Saud al-Rasheed -- sah-OOD' ahb-del-ah-ZEEZ' sah-OOD'ahl-rah-SHEED'

Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah -- jah-BAYR' ahl ah-MEHD' ahl sa-BAH'

Saad Al Abdullah Al Sabah -- sahd ahl ab-DUHL'-luh ahl sa-BAH'

Al Sayd -- al-sah-HOOD'

Hussain al-Shahristani -- hoo-SAYN' ahl SHI'-ri-stah-nee

Ihab al-Sherif -- ee-HAHB' ahl sheh-REEF'

Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani -- ah-lee ahl-hoo-SAY'-nee ahl-sih-STAH'-nee

Ahmed Qusai al-Taayie -- AH'-mehd koo-SAY' ahl-TAH'-ee

Hamad bin Jassem Al Thani -- HAH'-mihd bihn JAH'-sihm ahl THAH'-nee

Muzahim Sa'b Hassan al-Tikriti -- moo-zah-HEEM' sahb HAH'-sahn al-tih-KREE'-tee

Ali al-Timimi -- tih-MEE'-mee

Maria de Jesus Quiej Alvarez -- hay-SOOS' kee-EHSH'

Ghazi Mashal Ajil al-Yawer -- GAH'-zee MAH'-shahl uh-JEEL' ahl-YOW'-ur

Faris Ahmed Jamaan al-Showeel al-Zahrani -- FAH'-rehs HAH'-mehd zhuh-MAHN' al-shoh-WAYL' al-zah-RAH'-nee

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi -- AH'-boo MOO'-sahb ahl-zahr-KOW'-ee

Ayman al-Zawahri -- AY'-muhn ahl-ZWAH'-ree

Muntadar al-Zeidi -- MOON'-tuh-dahr ahl-zay-EE'-dee

Muhammad Hamza al-Zubaydi -- HAHMZ'-uh ahl-zoo-BY'-dee

Mohammed Mohsen al-Zubaidi -- moh-SEHN' ahl-zoo-BY'-dee

Salam al-Zubaie -- ahl-zoo-BAH'-ee

Am to Az

Amarah -- ah-MAHR'-uh

Ameren -- AM'-uh-rehn

Bishop Amfilohije -- ahm-fee-loh-HEE'-yeh

Haron Amin -- hah-ROHN' ah-MEEN'

Hossam Mohamed Amin -- hah-SAHM' moh-HAH'-med ah-MEEN'

Rizgar Mohammed Amin -- RIZ'-gahr moh-HAH'-med ah-MEEN'

Aminopterin -- am-in-AHP'-tur-in

Amman -- ah-MAHN'

Nabil Amr -- nah-BEEL' AH'-mur

Amrozi bin Nurhasyim -- am-ROH'-zee bihn noor-hah-SEEM'

Eva Amurri -- EH'-vuh uh-MUR'-ee

Anadarko -- an-uh-DAHR'-koh

Sade Anding -- sah-DAY' AN'-ding

Phil Angelides -- an-juh-LEE'-deez

Maya Angelou -- MY'-ah AN'-jeh-loh

Anguilla -- ang-GWIL'-uh

Ankara -- ANG'-kuh-ruh

Kofi Annan -- KOH'-fee AN'-nan

Anousheh Ansari -- ah-NOO'-shuh an-SAH'-ree

Antigua (Caribbean island) -- an-TEE'-guh

Antigua, Guatemala -- an-TEE'-gwah

Michel Aoun -- mih-SHEL' ah-OON'

Apalachicola -- ap-uh-lach-ih-KOH'-luh

Judd Apatow -- AP'-ih-tow

Aqaba -- AH'-kah-bah

Maher Arar -- MAH'-hur uh-RAHR'

Eddie Araujo -- uh-ROW'-hoh

Lee Archambault -- AHR'-sham-boh

Elvira Arellano -- el-VEE'-ruh ah-ray-AH'-noh

Saul Arellano -- sah-OOL' ah-ray-AH'-noh

Javier Arellano-Felix -- HAH'-vee-yehr ah-ray-YAH'-noh fay-LEEKS'

Greg Argyros -- AHR'-jih-ruhs

Arica -- ah-REE'-kah

Michael Arif -- uh-REEF'

Camp Arifjan -- AHR'-ihf-jahn

Enaam Arnaout -- EE'-nam ahr-NAHT'

Joe Arpaio -- ahr-PY'-oh

Gerard Arpey -- AHR'-pee

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo -- mah-kuh-puh-GAHL' uh-ROY'-oh

Vladimir Arutyunian -- vlahd-EE'-meer ah-roo-tyoo-NYAHN'

Ashoura -- ah-SHOOR'-ah

Hamid Reza Asefi -- HAH'-mihd RAY'-zah ah-seh-FEE'

Hassan Asfour -- HAH'-sahn AHS'-fohr

Ashkelon -- ASH'-kuh-lohn

Abdelhaleem Hasan Abdelraziq Ashqar -- ahb-DEL'-hah-leem HAH'-san

ahb-DEL'-rahz-eek AHSH'-kahr

Hanan Ashrawi -- HAH'-nahn ash-ROW'-ee

Manfo Kwaku Asiedu -- MAHN'-foh KWAH'-koo ah-see-EH'-doo

Askariya -- ah-skah-REE'-ah

Bashar Assad -- bah-SHAHR' AH'-sahd

Julian Assange -- ah-SAHNJ'

Haroon Rashid Aswat -- hah-ROON' rah-SHEED' AHZ'-waht

Mohammed Atef -- AH'-tehf

Shatha Atiya -- SHAH'-thah ah-TEE'-yah

Burson Augustin -- BUR'-sehn AH'-guhs-tihn

Ali Aujali -- OH-zhah'-lee

Aulaqi -- OW'-lahk-ee

Pekka-Eric Auvinen -- PEK'-ah EHR'-ik OW'-ee-nehn

Avastin -- uh-VAS'-tihn

Avaya -- uh-VY'-uh

Lixion Avila -- LIHKS'-ee-ohn AH'-vee-lah

Osama Awadallah -- ah-wah-DAH'-lah

Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys -- shayk hah-SAHN' dah-HEER' ah-WAYS'

Anna Ayala -- eye-AH'-luh

Daniel Ayalon -- eye-yuh-LOHN'

Kelly Ayotte -- AY'-aht

Azerbaijan -- ah-zur-by-JAHN'

Shaukat Aziz -- show-KAHT' ah-ZEEZ'

Tariq Azizuddin -- ah-zee-zoo-DEEN'

Az Zubayr -- ahz zoo-BY'-ur

B

Baalbek -- BAHL'-behk

Baath party -- bath

Mohammed Junaid Babar -- joo-NAYD' buh-BAHR'

Babel -- BAB'-ul

Michelle Bachelet -- bah-cheh-LET'

Todd and Barbara Bachman -- BAHK'-muhn

Michele Bachmann -- BAHK'-muhn

Kjetil Backen -- SHEHT'-il

Sajid Badat -- SAH'-jeed buh-DAHT'

Ahmed Badawi -- AH'-mehd buh-DAH'-wee

Zaki Badawi -- ZAH'-kee buh-DOW'-ee

Michael Baden -- BAH'-dun

Erykah Badu -- EHR'-ih-kah BAH'-doo

Raul Isaias Baduel -- ee-sah-EE'-uh bah-doo-EL'

Bagram -- BAH'-grahm

Baguio -- BAG'-yoh

Bahrain -- bah-RAYN'

Baikonur -- BY'-kah-nur

Bai Yun -- by yoon

Kurmanbek Bakiyev -- KUR'-mahn-bek bah-KEE'-yev

Adnan Bakkour -- ahd-NAHN' bah-KOOR'

Omar Bakri -- BAHK'-ree

Balad -- BEHL'-ihd

Gina Balaya -- buh-LY'-uh

Oded Balilty -- oh-DED' bah-LIL'-tee

Jan Peter Balkenende -- yahn PAY'-tehr BAHL'-keh-nehn-deh

Jim Balsilliee -- BAHL'-see-lee

Banda Aceh -- BAHN'-duh AH'-cheh Bandung -- BAHN'-doong

Bangui -- bahng-GEE'

Bani Walid -- BAH'-nee wah-LEED'

Ban Ki-moon -- bahn kee-moon

Baquba -- bah-KOO'-bah

Abdul Ghani Baradar -- BEHR'-uh-dahr

Ehud Barak -- EH'-hud bah-RAHK'

Javier Bardem -- HAH'-vee-ayr bahr-DEHM'

Marwan Barghouti -- mahr-WAHN' bahr-GOO'-tee

Neil Barofsky -- buh-RAHF'-skee

Sergio Villarreal Barragan - vee-uh-ray-AL' bah-rah-GAHN'

Francoise Barre-Sinoussi -- fran-SWAHZ' ba-RAY' see-noo-see

Debra Bartoshevich -- bahr-toh-SHAY'-vich

Rifqa Bary -- RIF'-kuh BEHR'-ee

Massoud Barzani -- mah-SOOD' bar-ZAH'-nee

Ilker Basbug -- EEL'-kayr BAHSH'-boo

Traian Basescu -- TRY'-ahn bah-SEHS'-koo

Abu Bakar Bashir -- ah-BOO' bah-KAHR' bah-SHEER'

Martin Bashir -- buh-SHEER'

Basra -- BAS'-ruh or BAHS'-rah

Victor Batarseh -- bah-TAHR'-seh

John Batiste -- buh-TEEST'

Lance Battreal -- BAT'-ree-al

Evan Bayh -- BY

Defne Bayrak -- DEHF'-nay BY'-rak

Kevin Beary -- BEHR'-ee

Beaujolais Nouveau -- boh-zhoh-LAY' noo-VOH'

Joy Behar -- BAY'-hahr

Bob Behnken -- BENK'-en

Maurine Behrend -- mohr-EEN' BEHR'-ehnd

Beit Hanoun -- bayt ha-NOON'

Beit Lahiya -- bayt lah-HEE'-yah

Beit Shean -- bayt shah-AHN'

Beiji -- BAY'-zhee

Beijing -- bay-JING'

Yossi Beilin -- YOH'-see BAY'-lin

Beit Hanoun -- bayt ha-NOON'

Bekaa Valley -- beh-KAH'

Belarus -- BEHL'-uh-roos

Arden Bemet -- BEH'-mit

David Bena -- BEN'-uh

Zine El Abidine Ben Ali -- ZEEN ehl AH'-bih-deen behn-ah-LEE'

Shlomo Ben-Ami -- SHLOH'-moh ben-ah-MEE'

Binyamin Ben-Eliezer -- behn-yah-MEEN' behn-ehl-ee-EH'-zahr

Eliahu Ben-Elissar -- ehl-ee-ah-HOO' ben-ehl-ee-ZAHR'

Eric Benet -- be-NAY'

Benin -- beh-NEEN'

Chris Benoit -- ben-WAH'

Benzodiazepines -- ben-zoh-dy-AZ'-uh-peens

Silvio Berlusconi -- behr-loos-KOH'-nee

Ben Bernanke -- bur-NANG'-kee

Elmer Bernstein -- BURN'-steen

Rick Beseler -- BEES'-lur

Steve Beshear -- buh-SHEER'

Beslan -- bez-LAHN'

Tom Bettag -- beh-TAG'

Beyonce -- bee-AHN'-say

Bhutan -- boo-TAHN'

Benazir Bhutto -- BEN'-uh-zeer BOO'-toh

Dan Biechele -- BEEK'-lee

Marvin Bieghler -- BEE'-glur

James Biela -- BEE'-lah

Susan Bies -- BYZ

Ladan Bijani -- LAH'-dahn

Laleh Bijani -- LAH'-lay

Ahmed and Muhammad Bilal -- BIL'-ahl

Ramzi Binalshibh -- RAM'-zee bin-al-SHEEB'

Nguyen Vu Binh -- win voo bihn

Hamza bin Laden -- HUHM'-zuh bin LAH'-din

Saad bin Laden -- SAHD bin-LAH'-din

Amrozi bin Nurhasyim -- am-ROH'-zee bihn noor-hah-SEEM'

Alwaleed Bin Talal -- al-wa-LEED' bin TAL'-al

Bint Jbail -- bint zhoo-BAYL'

Biogen Idec -- EYE'-dek

Kenneth Biros -- BY'-rohs

Bishkek -- bish-KEK'

Bisphenol -- BIHS'-fen-ahl

Usha Bista -- OO'-shuh BIH'-stuh

Bisys Group -- BY'-sis

Christopher Bizilj -- buh-SEEL'

Bjork -- byork

Rod Blagojevich -- blah-GOY'-uh-vich

William Bleakley -- BLAYK'-lee

B'nai B'rith -- buh-NAY' BRITH

Eric Boe -- boh

John Boehner -- BAY'-nur

Yvo de Boer -- EE'-voh duh BOH'-ah

Matthew Bogdanos -- bohg-DAN'-ohs

David Boruchowitz -- buh-ROOK'-uh-witz

Boscawen -- BAHS'-kwyn

Reigh Boss -- ray

Viktor Bout -- boot

Abdelaziz Bouteflika -- ahb-DUL'-ah-ZEEZ' boot-uh-FLEE'-kuh

Joseph Bozicevich -- BAH'-seh-vich

Valorie Brabazon -- BRAH'-buh-zahn

Lakhdar Brahimi -- LAHK'-dahr brah-HEE'-mee

Rym Brahimi -- reem bruh-HEE'-mee

Algirdas Brazauskas -- al-HEER'-dahs brah-ZOW'-skas

Brazos River -- BRAH'-zohs

Phil Bredesen -- BRED'-uh-sen

Brevard -- breh-VAHRD'

Dawn Brancheau -- bran-CHOH'

Anders Breivik -- AHN'-durs BRAY'-vihk

Leonie Brinkema -- lee-OH'-nee BRINK'-uh-muh

Brisbane -- BRIHZ'-buhn

Amber Brkich -- BUR'-kich

Eli Broad -- brohd

Richard Brodhead -- BRAWD'-hed

Soemadi Brotodiningrat -- soh-MAH'-dee broh-toh-DIN'-ing-rat

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy -- BROO'-nee sahr-koh-ZEE

Camp Bucca -- BOO'-kah

Claire Buchan -- BYOO'-kan

Nevaeh Buchanan -- nuh-VAY'-uh byoo-KAN'-uhn

David Budwah -- BOOD'-wah

Bukavu -- boo-KAH'-voo

James "Whitey" Bulger -- BUHL'-jur

Gisele Bundchen -- jih-ZEHL' BUN'-chen

Bunia -- BOON'-yah

Nino Burdzhanadze -- burd-sheh-NAHD'-zeh

Paul Burrell -- BUR'-uhl

Burundi -- boo-ROON'-dee

Busan -- boo-sahn Elisabeth Byrs -- BEERS

C

Cabo San Lucas -- KAH'-boh sahn LOO'-kuhs

Caddo -- KAD'-oh

Cahokia -- kuh-HOH'-kee-uh

Caicos -- KAY'-kohs

Cairns -- kanz

Cairo -- KEHR'-oh (Illinois)

Nicola Calipari -- NEE'-koh-lah kahl-uh-PAHR'-ee

Felipe Calderon -- fay-LEE'-pay kahl-duh-ROHN'

Camaguey -- KA'-muh-gway

Stephen Cambone -- kam-BOHN'

Peter Camejo -- kam-AY'-oh

Campeche -- kam-PAY'-chay

La Canada Flintridge -- lah kahn-YAH'-dah

Canberra -- KAN'-behr-uh

Cancun -- kan-KOON'

John Cangialosi -- kan-juh-LOH'-see

Cannes -- kan

Sandra Cantu -- KAN'-too

Joseph Cao -- gow

Mario Capecchi -- kuh-PEK'-ee

Michael Capellas -- kuh-PEHL'-uhs

Don Carcieri -- kuh-CHEHR'-ee

Jose Carranza -- kah-RAHN'-zah

Don Cazayoux -- KAZ'-uh-yoo

Kristine Cecava -- suh-KAYE'-vuh

Tony Ceccacci -- seh-KAH'-chee

Steve Centanni -- sehn-TAH'-nee

Cepia -- SEE'-pee-yuh

Whitney Cerak -- SEER'-ak

Cerberus -- SUR'-bur-uhs

Cernobbio -- chehr-NOH'-bee-oh

George Chaanine -- SHAH'-neen

Lacey Chabert -- shuh-BEHR'

Ahmad Chalabi -- AHK'-mahd SHAH'-lah-bee

Salem Chalabi -- SAH'-lem CHAH'-lah-bee

Chaldean -- kal-DEE'-uhn

Champs-Elysees -- shamz ay-lee-ZAY'

Greg Chamitoff -- SHAM'-ih-tahf

Lien Chan -- lee-EHN' jahn

Channahon -- SHAN'-uh-hahn

Chappaqua -- CHAP'-uh-kwah

Charles Chaput -- SHAP'-yoo

Jean Charest -- zhahn shuh-RAY'

Chatham -- CHAT'-um

Chattahoochee -- chat-uh-HOO'-chee

Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry -- IF'-tih-kahr moh-HAH'-med CHAW'-dree

Hugo Chavez -- OO'-goh CHAH'-vez

Steven Chealander -- CHEE'-lan-dur

Chechnya -- CHECH'-nyah

Chehalis -- shuh-HAY'-lihs

Richard Chekevdia -- cheh-KEHV'-duh

Chennai -- CHUH'-ny

Chen Shui-bian -- jehn shwee bee-ehn

Jeffrey Chessani -- CHEH'-zah-nee

Chetumal -- chay-too-MAHL'

John Chiang -- chuhng

Chiang Kai-shek -- chang ky-shehk

Leroy Chiao -- chow

Chiapas -- chee-AH'-puhs

Peter Chiarelli -- kuh-REL'-ee

Chickasha -- CHIK'-uh-shay

Arthur Chi'en -- chee-EN'

Chikezie -- chih-KEE'-zee

Jacques Chirac -- zhahk shih-RAHK'

Royal Marine Base Chivenor -- CHIH'-veh-nur

Seung-Hui Cho -- sung-wee joh

Omar Choudhary -- CHOOD'-ur-ee

Albert Chretien -- KREH'-tee-ehn

Jean Chretien -- zhahn kreh-TYEN'

Surayud Chulanont -- SOO'-rah-yood joo-LAH'-nohn

Carlo Ciampi -- CHAHM'-pee

Vincent "Buddy" Cianci -- see-AN'-see

Ann Marie Ciarcia -- see-AHR'-see-uh

Mark Ciavarella -- shih-vuh-REHL'-uh

Daniela Cicarelli -- chih-kah-REHL'-ee

Aaron Ciechanover -- CHEH'-kuh-noh-ver

Golan Cipel -- sih-PEL'

Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne -- sip-ree-AHN'-ee THOHR'-nay

Cite Soleil -- see-TAY' soh-LAY'

Ciudad Juarez -- see-yoo-DAHD' WAH'-rehz

Nkem Chukwu -- nih-KEHM' chuhk-WOO'

Dave Cieslewicz -- shihz-LEH'-vich

Max Cleland -- KLEE'-lund

David Clohessy -- KLOH'-uh-see

Steven Cojocaru -- koh-joh-KAHR'-oo

Stephen Colbert -- kohl-BEHR'

Comair -- KAHM'-ayr

Cristeta Comerford -- krihs-TEH'-tah KUH'-mur-furd

Concepcion -- kohn-sehp-SYOHN'

Coppell, Texas -- kuh-PEHL'

Edwin Coq - kohk

John Cornyn -- KOHR'-nihn

Jon Corzine -- KOHR'-zyn

Marion Cotillard -- koh-tee-YAHR'

Dominique Cottrez -- coh-TREHZ'

Natalie Coughlin -- KAHG'-lihn

Mike Crapo -- KRAY'-poh

Joaquim Crima -- joh-ah-KEEM' KREE'-mah

Crizotinib -- krih-ZAH'-tihn-ihb

Ken Cuccinelli -- koo-chih-NEHL'-ee

Haleigh Cummings -- HAY'-lee

Cheney more than holds his own as crack political infighter

PHILADELPHIA The fear all week among rank-and-file delegates tothe Republican National Convention had been that Dick Cheney was solaid back and retiring that the vice presidential nominee would notserve up the partisan fare expected of the ticket's No. 2.

As matters turned out, however, the concern in George W. Bush'spolitical high command was just the opposite. Cheney, out of politicsfor the last seven years as a corporate executive, wanted tostrengthen the rhetoric even more. His wife, Lynne (who for threeyears was the resident right-winger on CNN's weekend edition of"Crossfire"), wanted it still tougher.

While less strident than the Cheneys desired, Wednesday night'sacceptance was joyously welcomed by the delegates, who had had aboutenough of the sweetness dispensed at the convention for more than twodays.

Yet, in the sober light of day Thursday, some Republican insidersworried that Cheney might have gone a shade too far in denouncingBill Clinton and seeking to tie Al Gore to him irrevocably.

The episode exposed to the party a little of what Dick Cheney isand what he is not:

He is not a 59-year-old senior citizen on the ticket solely tocapitalize on his prestige as a manager of the Persian Gulf Warwithout getting intimately involved in the political rough-and-tumble.

He is an experienced political infighter who knows the Washingtoncorridors of power from the White House to Capitol Hill to thePentagon.

He is not a running mate willing to read something handed to himby the presidential candidate's team.

He and his wife are accomplished writers, who once co-authored anexcellent history of congressional leaders (Kings of the Hill) andcollaborated on the first draft of the Wednesday night address.

He is not an outsider who will submit to a prefabricated campaignteam to guide him through the next three months as did the previoustwo Republican vice presidential candidates, Dan Quayle and JackKemp.

Cheney's 1994-2000 stint running a Dallas-based energy companymade him a multimillionaire but certainly did not stop him from beinga politician. When he arrived in Philadelphia, he quickly sat downfor an informal session with a select group of Republican operativeswho are his close friends and advisers. "He never missed a beat intalking politics with us," one of the group told me.

He did not miss a beat either in making clear that he would notaccept a campaign staff selected by the Bush organization. Cheneypicked his own people after conferring with one of his closestfriends: the legendary political consultant Stu Spencer, who nowlives in retirement in Oregon and Palm Springs, Calif.

Cheney performed poorly as stump speaker in his aborted 1993exploration of a presidential candidacy, and so expectations were lowin the convention hall Wednesday when he went to the podium. Thathelps explain why it was the best received vice presidential speechin my experience of reporting 19 national political conventions.

It was an effective address, effectively delivered-a politician'sspeech crafted by an accomplished politician. Dick Cheney is notRonald Reagan, but neither is he Spiro Agnew or Dan Quayle.

Maarten Van De Kamp, agricultural composting advocate: 1942-1999

The many friends and colleagues of Maarten van de Kamp mourned his death on July 5, 1999. Maarten was highly regarded for his constructive, steadfast work to advance agricultural composting - not only in Massachusetts, where he assisted staff of the Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture as well as educators at the Smith Vocational and Agricultural School, but throughout North America.

He graduated from the University of Rochester in 1963 and earned a …

Warner Music Group posts smaller 2Q loss

Warner Music Group Corp. narrowed its fiscal second-quarter loss with cost cutting as the recording industry struggles to make the transition to digital music sales.

The company said Thursday that broader economic weakness is still weighing on consumers. Digital revenue rose, but not enough to offset the decline in compact disc sales.

Warner lost $25 million, or 17 cents per share, in the first three months of the year. That compares with a loss of $68 million, or 45 cents per share, a year ago.

Revenue …

Wyeth-Ayerst Antibody-Targeted Chemotherapy Included In Practice Guidelines.

2002 JAN 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Thousands of patients affected by acute myeloid leukemia (AML) may benefit from new National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines regarding the appropriate treatment of AML, including the use of Mylotarg (gemtuzumab ozogamicin for injection) in specific clinical situations, according to Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories.

Mylotarg is indicated for the treatment of patients with CD33[superscript]+ AML in first relapse who are 60 years of age or older and who are not considered candidates for other cytotoxic chemotherapy. The safety and efficacy of Mylotarg in patients with poor performance status and organ dysfunction has not …

Fragrance market to see surge in new items.

The fragrance arena will see a surge in launches this fall, as marketers seek to put some sizzle back into the business.

For the 52 weeks ended February 26 sales of fragrances at food, drug and discounters rose 5.8% to $804.9 million, according to Information Resources Inc. The big winner was Coty Inc.'s Vanilla Fields, which registered a 132.6% jump in sales to $33.8 million (a 4.2% market share). Jovan - another member of the Coty family - also posted a respectable increase, with sales rising 8.4% to $33.3 million (a 4.1% share).

But Coty also saw one of its brands falter a bit: Lady Stetson sales were off a fraction to $22.9 million (a 2.8% share), but Sand & Sable made up for that slip with a …

RAYMOND FIRESTONE; TIRE COMPANY HEIR.(CAPITAL REGION)

Byline: Knight-Ridder

AKRON, Ohio Unpretentious, not one to push himself on people, Raymond C. Firestone didn't fit the picture of the typical industrialist. For that, the people who knew him are grateful.

The last of the family to run the tire company founded by his father, Firestone died from heart ailments early Friday at the Cleveland Clinic, losing a struggle of many years.

He was 86.

Family members and former employees remembered the sportsman and philanthropist Friday as a man who took pride in his family name and worked hard to make sure Firestone remained a name worthy of respect.

Firestone, a longtime Bath, Ohio, …

Philippines wants Pakistan tie moved to Manila

The Philippines' tennis authorities have asked Davis Cup organizers to move the July regional playoff against Pakistan from Lahore to Manila due to fears of its players being attacked.

Philippine Lawn Tennis Association vice president Randy Villanueva cited the March 3 attack on Sri Lanka's cricketers in Lahore, which killed six police officers and a driver and injured several players, as evidence of the risk for sports team visiting Pakistan.

"We asked them to be moved here to the Philippines because of the safety of our players and because of recent events in Pakistan, especially the cricket team of Sri Lanka getting …

Teddy Bear Fair teaches kids health-related lessons

Charleston Area Medical Center will hold its Teddy Bear Fair from10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Women and Children's Hospital.

Children can bring stuffed animals or pick up one at the fair.Doctors, nurses and …

Jean Coutu posts double-digit gains.(Brief Article)

LONGUEUIL, Quebec -- With its U.S. and Canadian operations chalking up gains, Jean Coutu Group cranked out double-digit increases in revenues and earnings during the third quarter of fiscal 2000.

Net income for the three months ended February 29 grew 17.4% to $23.6 million (Canadian), up from $20.1 million a year earlier. Revenues rose 11.7% to $653.4 million from $585.1 million during the third quarter of 1999.

Over the first nine months of the year net income advanced 19.3% to $64.2 million from $53.8 million in fiscal 1999 on a 12.4% increase in revenues to $1.9 billion from $1.69 billion.

Bottom-line growth in both periods was aided by a lower …

Bloodfever.(Brief article)(Audiobook review)

Bloodfever

Karen Marie Moning

Brilliance Audio

Box 887, Grand Haven MI 49417

1423341937, $34.95 www.brillianceaudio.com

Veteran audio narrator Joyce Bean adds a compelling voice to this story of a dead sister in Ireland and a …

TEXAS DEMOCRATS HEAD HOME.(MAIN)

Byline: Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas -- Fifty-one fugitive Democratic lawmakers declared victory Thursday in their scheme to scuttle a GOP redistricting effort and returned to Texas from self-imposed exile in Oklahoma.

The 51 Democrats who walked out in protest of the measure began their 270-mile trip to Austin late Thursday, their mission nearly accomplished. Forty-seven were aboard two charter buses; three others drove cars back and one flew.

``I'm pretty excited about it,'' Rep. Pete Gallego said just before the first bus crossed the state line. ``People are really tired. They're ready to get back to Texas.''

Meanwhile, the federal …

TEACHER FRAMED, ATTORNEY CLAIMS.(Local)

Byline: Kiley Armstrong Associated Press

Defense attorney David Lewis, invoking images of the Salem witch trials, said in closing arguments Monday that Carolyn Warmus was framed for a killing that several other people might have committed.

Lewis, intermittently roaring and whispering, tried to cast doubt on the prosecution's witnesses and circumstantial evidence against Warmus, a 27-year-old elementary school teacher and millionaire's daughter who is charged with second-degree murder and weapon possession.

The prosecution claims Warmus pumped nine bullets into Betty Jeanne Solomon, 40, on the night of Jan. 15, 1989 - then met Mrs. Solomon's husband, …

Australian lawmaker: I don't always tell the truth

An Australian political leader came under attack Tuesday for speaking what many would consider a self-evident truth _ that not everything any politician says can be believed.

Tony Abbott, leader of the conservative opposition Liberal Party, stunned many political observers in his explanation during a television interview Monday night of a backflip on his month-old promise to raise no new taxes if his party is voted into power.

He now promises to levy a new company tax to fund paid maternity leave if he becomes prime minister at elections late this year.

Abbott, a 52-year-old former seminarian, drew a distinction between what he sometimes says …

Russia orders halt to Tu-154B flights after fire

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia's transport oversight agency on Sunday ordered the country's airlines to stop using Tu-154B planes until the cause of a passenger jet fire and explosion that killed three people is determined.

A spokesman for the agency, Sergei Romanchev, said airlines must obey the order. The state news agency RIA Novosti said there are 14 Tu-154Bs in service in Russia.

The Tu-154B is one variant of the Tu-154 model, which has been in service since the early 1970s and has been in wide use on Russian internal flights and extensively in other countries, including Iran and former Soviet republics.

No cause has been determined for Saturday's fire, which also injured 43 …