NEW MEMBER JOINS SCHOOL BOARD TONIGHT.(CAPITAL REGION)

BALLSTON -- Sheryl Sprague, who won election to the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake school board in a special election on Wednesday, is to be sworn in as a member of the board tonight.

The board meets at 7:30 in the high school library …

Pakistan vs. Australia Scoreboard

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Scoreboard Saturday after Pakistan's four-wicket win over Australia in a World Cup Group A match at R. Premadasa Stadium:

Australia Innings

Shane Watson b Gul 9

Brad Haddin c Kamran Akmal b Riaz 42

Ricky Ponting c Kamran Akmal b Hafeez 19

Michael Clarke b Razzaq 34

Cameron White run out 8

Mike Hussey c Misbah b Rehman 12

Steve Smith b Afridi 25

Mitchell Johnson c Kamran Akmal b Razzaq 0

Jason Krejza b Gul 7

Brett Lee c Mibah b Gul 5

Shaun Tait not out 0

Extras: (5lb, 10w) 15

TOTAL: (all out) 176

Overs: 46.4.

Fall of wickets: …

Wright hits first homer of spring, has three RBIs

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — David Wright hit a two-run homer and an RBI single in the New York Mets' 3-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday.

Wright, who was batting just .200 entering the game, drove in a run on a base hit in the fourth inning, then hit a long homer over the left field wall in the sixth inning. It was his first home run of the …

Camp spotlight

CUTLER WATCH

Not as accurate on the fourth day of practice as he has been, but Jay Cutler swiftly guided the team into field-goal range, and Robbie Gould connected on a 53-yarder during the two-minute drill that closed practice. Cutler started moving the chains with a sideline route to Greg Olsen and was 3-for-6. He just missed an outstretched Earl Bennett on what would've been a touchdown, and the Bears survived a brief scare when the receiver took his time getting off the ground. Cutler looked toward rookie Juaquin Iglesias during 11-on-11 drills as Iglesias got brief time with the first team. He didn't push the ball downfield as much as in some other practices.

On the …

Strengthening FDA's post-market program for medical devices.(Company overview)

Report of the Post-Market Transformation Leadership Team Nov 09 2006 US Food & Drug Administration Washington DC

After a thorough review of its post-market processes, FDA CDRH recently published 2 documents--"Ensuring the Safety of Marketed Medical Devices: CDRH's Medical Device Post-Market Safety Framework" and "Ensuring the Safety of Marketed Medical Devices--Synopsis & Recommendations."

These reports recommended improvements in the following 4 areas: intra-Center communication, post-market data systems, risk communication efforts, and enforcement strategies.

The reports also recommended that a senior team of leaders evaluate the report's recommendations and propose an implementation strategy. The Post-market Transformation Leadership Team (PTLT) was formed in response.

The PTLT met several times in Jan-Sept 2006 and identified issues that needed to be addressed. The Team also developed a list of prioritized recommendations for action to be taken by CDRH, in order to address these issues and achieve post-market transformation.

ISSUES

The issues the PTLT identified included inadequacies in CDRH's internal communication network, shortcomings with the current system for receipt, processing and analysis of reports from the Medical Device Reporting system (MDR), under-utilization of data and expertise outside of the Center, to better evaluate post-market issues, the inadequacy of the Center's current computer systems to efficiently track, search, and analyze data, confusion in the industry as to how and when to report adverse events, lack of a comprehensive risk communication system for external stakeholders, need for increased coordination between CDRH and ORA especially given the shrinking resources available for field activities, and an inadequately coordinated system for using postmarket data to inform premarket decisions, and assist in enforcement and compliance actions.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The PTLT made several recommendations to address these issues. These recommendations elaborated the four areas designated for improvement in the previous post-market reports and are outlined below.

CREATE A CULTURE OF COLLABORATION

The Center should add cross-cutting product-related groups over the current functionally-based organization to foster information sharing, collaboration and, ultimately, more effective public health promotion and protection. This cross-cutting matrix should be permanent, so that collaboration occurs not just in crisis situations, but also as a part of routine, day-to-day operations.

In addition, Center managers should encourage cross-organizational collaboration through training and recruitment. Employee recognition should be based on successful collaboration, and communication with outside experts on post-market issues should be formalized and expanded.

DEVELOP WORLD CLASS DATA SYSTEMS

Data input, mining, analysis, and tracking systems should be strengthened, improved, or created as needed for post-market issues. Unique device identifiers, electronic registration and listing, electronic medical device reporting (eMDR), and alternative summary reporting strategies would streamline the process of acquiring data.

The MAUDE database, which houses the Center's MDR data, should be updated. MedSun, the Center's user facility reporting network, should play a larger role in the early identification of postmarket issues. CDRH staff should be cross-trained to evaluate adverse event reports, and outside experts should be asked to assist in the review process. Finally, a pilot project should be initiated to prospectively quantify the risks associated with different medical devices.

ENHANCE RISK/BENEFIT COMMUNICATION EFFORTS

CDRH should be a trusted, publicly identifiable source for safety information about medical devices and radiation-emitting products. To that end, an analysis of the communication needs of CDRH stakeholders should be performed, and a process for the development and dissemination of risk-benefit information should be done in collaboration with clinical practitioners and professional communities.

COLLABORATE ON ENFORCEMENT STRATEGIES & OUTCOMES

Both the quantity and the quality of Center /ORA interactions should be transformed through increased collaboration among CDRH, the Office of Regulatory Affairs, and the Office of Chief Counsel.

Post-market data and information should be considered when prioritizing inspections, and part of the inspection preparation process should include a review of recent post-market data.

These data should also be integrated into other CDRH programs. CDRH should develop ways to leverage the audit results obtained by accredited third-party auditing bodies. Enforcement data systems should be updated, and employees trained to use them. All available enforcement tools should be used, including civil money penalties.

IMMEDIATE PRIORITY ACTIONS

Immediate priority actions were identified by the PTLT. They are to:

* Create a matrix system of collaborative product groups to complement the largely functional organization of the Center

* Develop metrics and methods for tracking the handling of post-market issues

* Pursue the development of unique identifiers (UDI) for medical devices

* Propose mandatory electronic MDR reporting

* Revise and update the MAUDE system, and expand the premarket data-warehousing project to include post-market needs

* Increase the quality and quantity of Center/ ORA/OCC interactions

* Develop and implement a risk-communication strategy

* Design a pilot project to test the usefulness of quantitative decision-making methods for medical device regulation across the total product life cycle

* Enhance utility of MedSun programs

The PTLT acknowledged that much work is required to realize each of these recommendations, and the Team proposed next steps for beginning the process.

INTRODUCTION

The FDA Center for Devices & Radiological Health (CDRH) is committed to achieving a seamless approach to the regulation of medical devices. In such an environment, the Center's premarket evaluation activities would be integrated with continued post-market vigilance and enforcement, and appropriate and timely information would be fed back to all of its stakeholders.

This regulatory approach, which encompasses the entire life cycle of a medical device, is described in the Center's "total product life cycle" (TPLC) model - a model that guides CRDH as it works to fulfill its public health mission to protect and promote public health.

Most observers tend to break the life cycle of medical devices into premarket and post-market phases, based on the legislative framework for device regulation. While this approach has been very useful to date, it does not reflect CDRH's vision of TPLC in which premarket activities and post-market activities are integrated into a smoothly functioning and efficient whole.

Recently, CDRH published 2 documents on the post-market safety of medical devices. One describes CDRH's post-market goals and the approaches the organization uses to monitor and address adverse events and risks associated with the use of devices that are currently on the market (see "Ensuring the Safety of Marketed Medical Devices: CDRH's Medical Device Post-market Safety Framework").

The 2nd document provides a number of recommendations for improving the post-market program (see "Ensuring the Safety of Marketed Medical Devices--Synopsis & Recommendations").

Both of these documents are available on the CDRH website:

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/post-market/mdpi.html One of the recommendations in the Synopsis and Recommendations is that a senior-level team, comprised of Center management and experienced outside consultants, be established to evaluate the recommendations in the report and propose an implementation strategy. This recommendation led to the formation of the CDRH Postmarket Transformation Leadership Team (PTLT).

CHARGE TO THE CDRH POST-MARKET TRANSFORMATION LEADERSHIP TEAM

The PTLT was given the following charge in Jan 2006, by the Director of CDRH:

A comprehensive TPLC approach to post-market safety is necessary to identify and address problems with marketed products, integrate the information learned into Center activities, and feed back the lessons learned to the public, manufacturers, and health professionals. The Post-market Transformation Leadership Team will evaluate the recommendations in the CDRH document, "Ensuring the Safety of Marketed Medical Devices--Synopsis & Recommendations," collect additional data as necessary, supplement the recommendations if needed, and propose a prioritized implementation plan for a transformed post-market process to the Center Director.

The name of the group was deliberately chosen to underscore the expectation that the recommendations that resulted were to be targeted toward nothing less than a transformation of the Center's post-market program.

The PTLT used a series of meetings to focus on the structural, programmatic and procedural changes that would be necessary to transform the post-market program. Presentations were made by each Center Office on what works and what does not work in that Office's handling of postmarket issues.

Important insights into the impact of organizational change were presented by the Office of In-Vitro Diagnostic Device Evaluation and Safety (OIVD) and the Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories (OSEL). Meetings and phone discussions were also held with selected CDRH staff.

In addition, the PTLT heard from the chair of one of the Center's most visible cross-cutting teams, the Defibrillator Working Group, and from the outside consultant who recently completed an analysis of internal communication in CDRH. During the same time period that the PTLT was meeting, a series of meetings to discuss post-market issues was held with an industry working group.

The insights obtained in these meetings were used to review the four recommendations made for improving the post-market program in "Ensuring the Safety of Marketed Medical Devices - Synopsis & Recommendations" and to …

TELEMATICS PUT INTERNET ON THE REAL HIGHWAY.(LIFE & LEISURE)

Telematics.

If the word means nothing to you now, it soon will.

Telematics refers to small, dashboard- mounted devices for your car that are capable of accessing limited Internet content. And we're talking about aftermarket devices -- those that can be added to older model cars rather than having to be factory installed on new ones. Microsoft already has unveiled its new Windows CE for Automotive. And Palm is teaming with Delphi Automotive Corp. and the Mayfield Fund to develop Internet services for drivers. Their new company, MobileAria Inc., plans to sell the service by the second quarter of 2001 at a monthly fee of $10 to $20. General Motors plans to offer an in-car Internet …

Advertising revenue for CMP Media's (Manhasset, NY) GovernmentVAR increased 96% in 2003, going from 48.5 ad pages in 2002 to 95 pages in 2003, while editorial increased 31% during the year and total folio was up 70%.(Brief Article)

Advertising revenue for CMP Media's (Manhasset, NY) GovernmentVAR increased 96% in 2003, going from 48.5 ad pages in 2002 to 95 pages in 2003, while editorial …

Dozens of Wildfires Ravage the West

HOT SPRINGS, S.D. - Overnight rain and cooler temperatures slowed a wildfire that had raced out of a canyon, destroyed at least 30 houses and killed a homeowner who went back to try to save his belongings, a top fire official said Monday.

The change in weather gave firefighters a chance to shore up their fire lines, though conditions could shift again for the worse, state wildland fire coordinator Joe Lowe told crews at a morning briefing held in light rain.

"This fire is not over yet," he cautioned. "This fire could come back to life again."

The blaze was started by lightning on Saturday, and by Monday it had covered an estimated 11 square miles just southwest …

Business Appraisers; CERTIFIED MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT APPRAISER.

The purpose of this company is to provide truly independent, credible, Certified Machinery & Equipment Appraisals to all avenues of the business community. Professional designations and work experience for Bob Portz, CMEA, include: CMEA Experience: I have personally conducted numerous desktop and summary machinery & equipment appraisals for many industries including (but not limited to): restaurant, manufacturing, heavy equipment, dry cleaning, printing, fitness, and retail. I was also the project coordinator for a major FFM&E Project (55 Banks) closed by the Federal Government. US Navy Veteran - Second Class Petty Officer, Honorable Discharge, Good Conduct Award Bob Portz, …

Gospel jam gains wide notice.

Byline: Kelli Gauthier

Jan. 17--DAYTON, Tenn. -- The McDonald's singers are used to having their picture taken.

It's been almost eight years since the singing ensemble debuted as the opening act at the Dayton McDonald's gospel music jam, and they've been the subject of media attention from Dayton to London.

Sometimes event organizer Anna Kyle, 75, is the one snapping photos of the group. Every Thursday night she shows up with a disposable camera to capture the regulars singing, smiling and stomping.

But she's most concerned with snapping a photo of each reporter or photographer coming to get the story.

Along with her husband, Gil …

Finnish higher education in transition: Perspectives on massification and globalization.(Book Review)

Edited by Jussi Valimaa Jyvaskyla, Finland: University of Jyvaskyla, Institute for Educational Research, 2001.

People in the Australian higher education community probably seldom think of Finland. However the Finnish and Australian higher education systems have many similar characteristics. Both nations have a strong commitment to social equity shaping education policy, very much in the Scandinavian tradition for the Finns. As a result, the universities of both systems are predominantly public institutions. Both nations have relatively small systems in international terms, yet both provide education for rural and remote regions of low population density. Both nations are small and their economies are exposed to the potentially negative effects of globalization. The Finns are particularly alert to these forces, wedged as they are between Sweden and Russia and with a turbulent national history as a borderland and intermittent battleground for more powerful neighbors.

Finnish higher education in transition is edited by Jussi Valimaa of the Institute for Educational Research, University of Jyvaskyla, and is co-authored by his Institute colleagues. The book is written in English with the international community in mind. Valimaa contributes …

That's Tait, as in great

Living legends, a weary Waylon Jennings once sang, are a dying breed.

Joe Tait can relate.

''I feel old, fat and tired,'' the signature radio voice of the Cleveland Cavaliers said. ''Some days, I feel like I could go on forever. Other days, I'm not sure I'll make it past noon.''

Tait will make it past noon today to call Game 3 of the first-round playoff series between the Cavs and Bulls tonight over Cleveland's powerful WTAM-AM (1100).

Most nights, the station can be heard in Chicago. That has been a magic reality that extends back to when it was WWWE-AM and, before then, the old rock powerhouse KYW-AM.

Tait, 72, has said that next season will be …

ROBIN BRENNAN OF SCHENECTADY BETHESDA HOUSE SCHENECTADY INNER CITY MINISTRY.(CAPITAL REGION)

Byline: PEG SHIRO -

Being director of student volunteers at the daytime homeless shelter involves lots more for this 16-year-old than organizing schedules, arranging for substitutes and planning seminar sessions. She spends more time in giving of herself to Bethesda House guests by preparing food, visiting, playing games with them, helping them complete applications for human services and just being a friend.

According to John Davis, Bethesda House director, ``Despite her youth, Robin's astuteness has provided direction and …

Ocean City Restaurant Association wants voters to settle BYOB debate

OCEAN CITY -- A group of restaurant owners started a petition drive Tuesday to allow patrons to bring their own alcohol -- but just beer and wine -- when they dine on the island.

The group says it opposes the sale of alcohol, which has been prohibited here since a group of Methodists developed the resort on little more than a cow pasture a century ago. But the restaurateurs said a Bring Your Own Bottle policy would help their businesses.

"I think it will enhance what Ocean City has to offer. It will help downtown shopping," said Bill McGinnity, who owns Cousin's Restaurant on Asbury Avenue and is helping organize the initiative. "Instead of driving over the bridge, people will go to restaurants in town. It could increase weekend business in the shoulder seasons."

The move was immediately opposed by Mayor Jay Gillian, a local amusement-park operator who said the resort's success is based on such prohibitions. He said any easing of alcohol restrictions would tarnish the city's image.

"It's great the way it is. We are America's Greatest Family Resort. Our brand is nationally known," Gillian said. "It's a shame. A few people are trying to change a way of life in Ocean City."

It will take more than a few people to bring the issue to voters in November. City Clerk Linda MacIntyre said the petition must have 747 signatures by registered voters and must meet a Sept. 6 deadline to get on the ballot. It will be her job to validate the petition.

McGinnity said the question would ask for a simple "yes" or "no" on whether BYOB should be allowed. A majority vote will determine if a formal policy should be enacted by City Council.

The group has already drafted an ordinance to set parameters, including: the types of alcohol (beer and wine), hours it would be allowed (2 to 11 p.m.), amounts (one bottle of wine per patron or a six pack of beer or wine coolers per two patrons), and even how it would be brought into an establishment -- such as going through the back door at Boardwalk restaurants during summer but being allowed in the front door the rest of the year.

If approved, McGinnity said it would be up to individual restaurant owners to allow alcohol.

If it reaches voters for approval Nov. 8, the ordinance could replace an existing one that prohibits alcohol consumption at places that serve food. MacIntyre said council must adopt an ordinance if voters approve the question, and it cannot be amended or repealed for three years.

McGinnity argues the city already has plenty of alcohol. Though sales are banned, there is no ban on drinking. He pointed to the annual Night in Venice boat parade as an example.

"There's alcohol in Ocean City. Look at Night In Venice. Everybody is drinking everywhere. Look at the recycling cans," said McGinnity, who attended Ocean City High School but now lives in Linwood. "It's here. It's not alcohol-free."

Gillian acknowledged Ocean City is "probably the wettest dry town" around, but he noted alcohol still isn't allowed in public. He said a BYOB policy would change that. He said people would be strolling down the Boardwalk with six packs and it could "open Pandora's box" by easing of other restrictions.

He compared the restaurant owners to people who buy a house next to an airport and then complain about the planes.

"What's next, bars? We're going to ruin what we have," Gillian said. "They're taking a hell of a risk trying to challenge our brand. Everybody wants to be Ocean City."

McGinnity agreed it could open the door to alcohol sales, but noted the city would have to go to the state for permission to sell liquor licenses and that is not likely to happen.

Some restaurant owners had been waging an Internet campaign to ease alcohol restrictions, but City Council earlier this year passed a resolution in a 5-0 vote against allowing a BYOB policy. Council cited public-opinion polls that have showed people support the restrictions. Gillian said he expects strong opposition to form against any changes.

But a public ballot question in 1986 was successful in overturning the city's blue laws limiting certain retail sales on Sundays, another holdover from the resort's founding by Methodist ministers beginning in 1879.

The island, then known as Peck's Beach, was developed by the Ocean City Association with sales limited to those who agreed to uphold strict regulations "against liquor and immorality," a book on Cape May County's history by Rutgers University professor Jeffery Dorwart says. Originally, Sunday bathing and travel was also prohibited.

The initiative has already split restaurant owners. Some have chosen to leave the Ocean City Restaurant Association over the issue, though McGinnity said the majority favor BYOB. He said there are about 75 restaurants in town with 54 in the association.

"All we're saying is let the people decide what they want," McGinnity said.

Gillian said the primary goal is to make more money, but it may backfire with lower customer turnover as restaurant patrons spend more time drinking.

"Just because you have BYOB doesn't mean you'll be successful. It all comes down to money and it's a shame," Gillian said.

McGinnity said the group will go for 800 signatures just in case some are invalidated.

Contact Richard Degener:

609-463-6711

RDegener@pressofac.com

Oz taxpayers' money funding guide to snorting cocaine, other party drugs

Melbourne, Jan. 23 -- The Australian taxpayers' money is being used to fund a guide on ways to inject, snort, and swallow cocaine and other party drugs.

The guide, however, is being released under the guise of AIDS prevention.

The guide titled 'Routes of Administration', is being published by the former AIDS Council of NSW, now known as ACON, which was set up to promote health and reduce HIV transmission in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, reports News.com.au.

The document, available at ACON's offices and via the Internet, includes tips such as: finely chop powdered drugs before inhaling, alternate nostrils and rinse nostrils after snorting - using common house and office utensils.

Warning readers not to mix up their utensils with those of other people, the guide advises: "Using post-it notes with your name on is an easy way to keep track of your own equipment."

What is the justification for such a guide you ask? They say Hepatitis C can be passed on from sharing equipment.

However, the guide doesn't have many takers. Gay activist Gary Burns, most widely known as the man who sued radio broadcaster John Laws for vilification against homosexuals, believes that the guide is 'dangerous'.

"It is way beyond harm minimisation. It is giving you a step-by-step guide to killing yourself," he said.

A NSW Health spokesman said the harm reduction strategies in no way condoned drug use.

Published by HT Syndication with permission from Asian News International.

For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

Why They Don't Hate Us: Lifting the Veil on the Axis of Evil, By Mark LeVine; The Modern Middle East, by Ilan Pappe

Joe Lockard is assistant professor of English at Arizona State University, where he teaches early American and African American literature. His book, Brave New Classrooms: Democratic Education and the Internet, co-edited with Mark Pegrum, is forthcoming from Peter Lang.

As U.S. universities grapple with the forces of globalization, Middle East studies has become a leading site for contested scholarship. Due to the discipline's location at the confluence of critical state interests, global corporations, religious conflicts, and political sensibilities (particularly towards criticism of Israel), studies of the region are both eminently useful and consistently charged. Driven by public demand for objective reporting and analysis on the one hand, and by a requirement for "useful" facts justifying the foreign policy endeavors of the Bush administration on the other, it's safe to say that Middle East studies is the single most politicized area of academic research in American universities today.

That is to say, there is a political and administrative demand to control knowledge, to make it productive by integrating it into broader systems of power. The Bush administration's Middle East policy legitimates itself by using a rhetoric of false democracy, factual disinformation, and neo-religious moral authority. Cultural knowledge and counter-information generated by scholars that lie outside these parameters contradict the notion--widespread in the United States--of a disinterested national benevolence, the sort of social self-congratulation that supports American exceptionalism. Middle Eastern societies might not, after all, not be entirely about brutality and domination.

At its best, Middle East studies benefits from a rich pool of scholars who understand the role of historic colonialism and oil-driven neo-colonialism in creating the contemporary Middle East. Such scholars appreciate the complex imbrication of religion and politics in nations as distinct as Israel and Saudi Arabia, and view the U.S. role in the region with skepticism at best. In short, an intellectually exciting Middle East studies department is an academic "perfect storm" waiting to happen, the sort of public relations nightmare that makes university deans wonder why they did not choose a safe career like repairing Gulf Coast flood levees during hurricanes.

The issue for scholars, teachers and educational institutions at this juncture must lie in how to create new knowledge and promote free discussions about the Middle East that will resist what Henry Giroux correctly terms "the new authoritarianism." It is the twin specters of Islamic terrorism and oil shortages that have supplied rightwing authoritarianism in the United States with organizing impetus and themes. Progressive counter-education against the use of the Middle East as a political and military stomping-ground for the American Empire needs new ideas, new texts, and new pedagogies. Where might they be? Two recent studies, Mark LeVine's trade book, Why They Don't Hate Us: Lifting the Veil on the Axis of Evil, and Ilan Pappe's textbook, The Modern Middle East, exemplify both the advantages and pitfalls of available critiques of social transformation in the Middle East.

Anti-Globalist Culture Jamming

LeVine's study is long, sinuous, and twisting, like an 'Um Kalthoum song. He accompanies his academic career with a musical one, so readers can come away from Why They Don't Hate Us with as much musical knowledge as political insight. LeVine uses the idea of "culture jamming" to discuss the cultural cross-inspiration and oppositional connection between rap, blues, heavy metal, and music from the Islamic world. This is not culture jamming in the Negativland sense of appropriating pop music samples in order to criticize power, but rather jamming as a strategy for solidarity and resistance among groups that share massive youth consumer cultures and political marginalization. So, it becomes possible to read Shiite preacher Moqtada al-Sadr and 50 Cent as streetwise gangsta rappers up against the same metaphorical Man. That Man's precise identity changes from Europe to the Middle East to the United States, but there is a global jam happening against this authority figure who is always a stand-in for neoliberalism.

LeVine argues that neoliberal economics involve communicative pathologies no less than terrorism does, and that cross-cultural jamming provides a means of building the political trust needed to overcome global antagonisms and build an "axis of empathy." Different versions of this argument on the political utility of popular culture have appeared in the past, made by artists as different as Louis Armstrong and 1970s Czechoslovakian rockers Plastic People of the Universe. LeVine's innovation lies in his belief that the multicultural combinations of scholars, activists, and artists can produce and articulate community-based radical politics that will have mass appeal and thus impact politics. Scholarship needs to find a new voice in order to bring its knowledge of world cultures and ideology to bear effectively on the world. Progressive scholarship might as well learn to carry a tune if it wants to achieve its goals.

What is most fascinating about the cultural front LeVine envisions is not his high estimation of the political vanguardism of left-wing Middle Eastern intellectuals, but his remarkable faith in the capacity of regional youth to assume the same political agency that Western college students had during the 1960s. For LeVine, young people in the Middle East have, through the experience of neoliberal globalization, become quasirevolutionary subjects much like postwar European and American youth. Are Middle Eastern youth really so ripe for radicalization? The author believes they truly are.

The next step of LeVine's argument is similarly Gramscian, with some serious qualifications. He proposes to bridge the divide between the Islamic world and the West by employing progressive religion to transform the new public political space created by culture jamming into something palatable to the masses. If popular music culture can be a leading means of mobilization, LeVine reasons, why not also use popular religion? "Only by helping people to hear God's voice," LeVine writes "can Christians transcend Bush and his dreams of apocalyptic rapture, Jews transcend Sharon and his "settler Judaism," Muslims transcend bin Laden and his nihilistic utopianism ...." In short, the new philosophy of praxis, which Gramsci conceived of as worldly, material, and humanist, will now be divinely inspired, even for secularists who do not claim specific religious commitments.

The problem with using Gramsci in this fashion is not that Gramsci's philosophy was itself inherently secular. Clearly, for any progressive religious purpose, left-wing theory, even in its most nonreligious forms, has much to offer persons of all cultural persuasions. Yet problems begin when LeVine asks secularists to play the religion card, as if faith itself does not matter. Nor does he consider if it makes sense to ask both the Western and Middle Eastern left to transcend religious nationalisms without interrogating the role of religion in creating and perpetuating the so-called clash between their civilizations. This creates some serious problems for LeVine. Even leaving aside the more clearly nationalistic forms of religiosity ascribed to by both Bush and bin Laden, the author's approach offers uncritical support for what all must acknowledge has been a critical factor causing Middle East violence.

It is at moments like these, despite LeVine's brilliant comparative observations on culture in Islamic countries and the West, or his persuasive case concerning the effects of globalization on the Middle East, that one feels that we are endlessly revisiting the lessons of the Enlightenment. Refusal to distinguish between state and religious authority represents an illegitimate invasion against private conscience--even in the Middle East. As many Arabs and Israelis will both tell you, there is nothing progressive about the religious colonization of the public sphere when everyday life is so heavily over-determined by the most oppressive of religious ideologies.

Middle East Modernism and Exclusion

If LeVine is a hip-hop anti-globalist writing a book-length culture jam, then Ilan Pappe is an older-style theorist of regional modernization who perhaps owes more to Eugene Rostow than he thinks. There is a strong modernist vs. postmodernist generational difference between the intellectual styles of Pappe and LeVine.

Pappe's milieu is the old school of Israeli leftism, one characterized by decisive certainty on the correctness of its historical knowledge; more frequent recourse to "I was there" narratives or rhetorical histrionics than to solid analysis; and condescension towards "outsiders" for their supposed ignorance. This is a problem that extends across the right-to-left spectrum of Israel's political society, where there is a pronounced conversational tendency to assume that an interlocutor is an ignorant tam in desperate need of education by monologue. The late twentieth-century's emphasis on the relativism of knowledge has had little if any discernable impact upon the Left in Israel and Palestine; cultural attitudes employing unchallengeable victimization and self-righteousness as political platforms remain common.

Pappe adopts this well-tried and tired pose in the opening paragraphs of his twentieth-century history survey text, The Modern Middle East. He writes "I have devoted my struggle within Israeli academia against my own state's and society's wish to be excluded from the Middle East and thus remain--as [Israel] has been since its inception in 1948--an alien state within the region. I paid dearly for this struggle ... I was nearly expelled from Haifa University in April 2002."

This is nonsense twice over. Against the background of a public controversy involving Pappe's support for a master's thesis alleging mass killing of Palestinian villagers in 1948 by the Alexandroni Brigade in the coastal village of Tantara, a faculty colleague filed a complaint against Pappe for slandering faculty and staff, damaging their professional reputations. An academic disciplinary court summarily dismissed the complaint, without hearing, two weeks later. Pappe's academic freedom was at risk only in his own imagination. In an environment where there are so many real victims, false claims of victimization have a special distastefulness.

The Association of University Teachers in Great Britain nonetheless seized on Pappe's claim in 2005 as grounds to call for a boycott against Haifa University, a boycott that Pappe supported in the Guardian and other public fora and which the AUT rescinded after a re-vote. Belying his claim to struggle against Israel's supposed cultural self-exclusion from the Middle East, Pappe's political history is that of a participant in efforts to ghettoize Israeli academia. Sharing an all-too-common escape tactic in Jewish intellectual history, Pappe's history counters Israel's proclaimed distinctiveness among its neighbors by substituting a distinction of a different kind--the negation of Israel as an authentic neighbor and player in the Middle Eastern world. In the relatively few allusions to Israel that appear in this volume, a clear pattern emerges: Israel and its Zionists are colonial infiltrators, nation-destroyers, regional troublemakers, labor exploiters, and cultural thieves. For the most part, to read Pappe, Israel is a nation-state that exists in an ahistorical lacuna created by the events of 1948. A reader would never know that Israel functions within the same set of social and political contradictions as other states throughout the Middle East, including the introduction of neo-liberal economics, mass impoverishment, militarization, labor migration, male supremacist culture, and oppressive religious orthodoxies and bureaucracies. Israel possesses far more in common with the Palestinian territories, Jordan, or Lebanon than any of them have with European societies; it requires mutual xenophobia to ignore that commonality.

Condensed treatment hardly explains some of the historical ellipses that characterize Pappe's text. In a chapter on Middle Eastern media, radio disappears in a paragraph and a half, although it was an immensely influential popular medium from the establishment of colonial broadcasting networks until the 1960s. It is surprising to learn that, according to Pappe, Ibrahim Hasan Sirhan began Palestine's film industry in 1935 with a twenty-minute documentary. Yaakov Ben Dov, a student of Sergei Eisenstein, and Joseph Gal-Ezer filmed in Palestine throughout the teens and 1920s. Natan Axelrod began releasing Carmel newsreels in 1935, and Helmar Lerski directed Avodah in the same year.

These Jewish immigrant filmmakers inconvenience Pappe's inherently exclusivist definition of who counts as a "Palestinian." Imagine if an American cultural historian categorized Anzia Yezierska as a Polish rather than an American silent film script-writer in 1920s Hollywood because she was an immigrant. That is precisely the sort of categorization Pappe performs here. Such denial of identity leads to a denial of history. Other forms of denial appear here. An otherwise competent chapter reviewing rural history in the Middle East is marred by counterfactual assertion, based on one secondary source, that the Palestinian countryside during the Mandate witnessed "unprecedented devastation" and impoverishment. Issa Khalaf's "collapse thesis" points out stunning changes in the Palestinian Arab world during the years of the Mandate, including the consolidation of elite-notable class power and land ownership, dispossession of peasants, growth of the wage labor sector, and the rupture of older social institutions. But does modernization equate with devastation? During much of the interwar period, for example, the Arab-owned citrus sector paced the growth of the Jewish-owned sector despite the latter's advantage of foreign capital investment, and by World War II was larger than the Jewish sector. While this benefited landowning Arab families--and citrus monoculture contributed to rural proletarianization--Palestine's rural peasantry remained resilient and as or even more adaptive towards modernization than the peasantries of other Middle Eastern societies.

What is most striking about this chapter, however, is how nuanced Pappe's treatment is of early twentieth-century Egyptian cotton agriculture, Nasser's land reforms, and the rural sociology of the region. How can such strength in one area be reconciled with weakness in another? The strength of Pappe's writing emerges in his knowledgeable ability to summarize and integrate social movements within a problematically over-broad regional category called the 'Middle East' stretching from the Atlantic to the Arabian Sea, with the exception of Israel. History-writing in general is far more successful where it aims towards inclusion rather than exclusion, and Pappe's failures occur where he chooses exclusion of people or contradictory facts.

There is a manifest hunger that emerges at moments in Pappe's writings for an immersion within Arab cultures that has been denied to him by circumstances of birth and history. In a February 2005 interview, Pappe mentions reading and writing increasingly in Arabic; in this book he mentions in passing an observation from a Yemenite newspaper. Ilan Pappe is taking one of the intellectual directions that can most benefit Israeli Jewish society: learning the neighbors' language and its cultures. This critically necessary educational process in support of peaceful co-existence does not, however, need to entail the internalized self-negation of Jewish national subjectivity, the antimodern road that Pappe has chosen for himself.

Article copyright the Institute for Labor and Mental Health.

Photograph (Book jacket; The Modern Middle East by Ilan Pappe)

Forsythe Names Steve Abbott as Executive VP of Sales

Forsythe Technology, an IT infrastructure integrator, announcedthe promotion of Steve Abbott to executive VP, sales.

According to a release, in his new role he will oversee allcommercial operations, including Forsythe's enterprise sales,marketing and field operations for the U.S. and also ForsytheTechnology Canada. He will continue to report to Bill Brennan.Abbott joined Forsythe in 2008 as senior VP of security solutions.

"Steve is a dynamic leader with more than 20 years of sales andexecutive management experience in the IT industry and a strongvision of how to serve clients effectively in today's constantlyevolving converged technology marketplace," says Bill Brennan,president and CEO, Forsythe.

Prior to joining Forsythe, Abbott was VP of sales at PGP Corp., aglobal enterprise security company he co-founded in 2002.Previously, he served as VP of sales and then CEO of PortAuthorityTechnologies, an early provider of data leak prevention (DLP)solutions. Prior to that, he served as VP of channel sales forVantive, an early leader in customer relationship managementsolutions. Before that, Abbott was director of OEM sales forantivirus software and computer security company Network Associates(now McAfee), Abbott began his career as a sales representative atInternet security-provider Symantec.

More Information:

forsythe.com

((Comments on this story may be sent tonewsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

Fatal attraction: Discovery lures viewers with a morbid theme

Death becomes Discovery.

The Discovery Channel announced Wednesday that Captain PhilHarris will have the longest death scene in reality-show history,encompassing eight episodes.

Harris, the gruff 53-year-old star of the "Deadliest Catch"series, died Feb. 9 of complications from a stroke he suffered inlate January while unloading crab from his fishing vessel in Alaska.

News that Harris died has been very good for the show, whichreturned in April with original episodes we all knew would beCaptain Phil's last. Over the past 10 weeks, "Deadliest Catch" hasenjoyed double-digit ratings jumps compared with last season. Thisseason of "Deadliest" has ranked No. 1 among all cable programs onTuesday nights, averaging nearly 4 million viewers.

Meanwhile, over at Discovery-owned TLC network, the realityseries "Little People, Big World" decided to get itself some ofthat, running a season finale episode Tuesday night that wasintended to make viewers think the show's patriarch, Matt Roloff,had gone to the Big Pumpkin Patch in the Sky.

Seen sitting in his tractor-thinggummy on his farm outside ofPortland, Ore., Roloff gave a hacking cough and said: "I love thisspot. I'm gonna build me a Swiss chalet so I can die happy," as heclutched at his left shoulder and arm and breathed heavily -- leftshoulder and arm pain being a possible symptom of a certain type ofheart attack.

"That's what I want to do -- die happy. This would be a goodplace for my ashes, right here," Roloff continued to scenery-chew.

"I want to get burned, so the kids can put my urn -- my ashes -- so I can enjoy the farm: Put the urn up on the tower for a weekor so, put it over in the church for a week," he said, stillclutching at his left shoulder and giving the camera an all-flesh-is-as-grass look.

A second hacking cough later, he adds: "Every time I tell Amy I'mabout ready to die, she says 'Promises! Promises!' Little does sheknow."

In short order he's seen sitting at his desk, drinking out of apoison-green plastic cup and looking like a character out of a Greektragedy pursued by the Fates. Cut to a shot of the outside of thehouse. A loud-ish "ka-thunk" is heard.

The family reacts:

"What, what?" says one.

"Dad?" says another.

"What happened?" asks a third.

"Father!" screams a female.

Matt is seen lying facedown on the floor beside his desk.

"Get him a bottle of water," someone suggests.

The curtain falls.

Of course, the show was shot in the fall -- remember, thepumpkins were in season? And Roloff has made many personalappearances since then, which would seem to suggest he did not, youknow, die.

And yet, the stunt worked like gangbusters, the blatherospheregoing gaga the next day with bloggers reporting on Matt's shockingdemise, including these headlines:

Matt Roloff, patriarch of the Roloff family and star of the TLCseries "Little People, Big World," was rumored to have diedfollowing a heart attack as seen on the last episode of the seasonfinale. . . .

Matt Roloff Dead by Heart Attack Rumors Spread on the Internet,True or Not? . . .

Matt Roloff, a participant with his family in the realitytelevision program "Little People, Big World" on TLC, is rumored tobe dead by heart attack. . . .

. . . all of this demonstrating for the 1,342,566th to1,342,569th times why covering TV should be left to professionals.

On Tuesday, TLC announced it had ordered a sixth season of"Little People, Big World," which is a good thing because otherwisehow will all those bloggers find out whether Roloff is dead?

Meanwhile, back in Discovery's land of really-most-sincerely-dead, Captain Phil will begin his tragic scene on Episode 11, to betelecast June 22. That "opening episode," as Discovery is callingit, includes Harris's initial stroke.

One week later, in Episode 12, the rest of the fleet will beginto hear the unsettling news and react with stunned disbelief,Discovery promises.

Everyone will continue to be unsettled in Episode 13, and anotherweek later, in Episode 14, Harris dies. Later that night, thecompanion show "After the Catch" will remember Harris at the BlueNile Bar in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

Then it's back aboard "Deadliest Catch: The Mothership," forEpisode 15, for a look back at Harris, including fan remembrancesrecorded at CatchCon in May. (Oh yes, Discovery threw a one-dayfestival at a conference hall in Seattle for "Catch"-aholics.)

And, in conclusion -- we promise -- one week later, inEpisode 16, Discovery Channel will finally let Harris rest in peace,though everyone else will still be absorbing the news of his death.

"I wish this would never have been a story line of the series,"Discovery Channel President and General Manager Clark Bunting saidWednesday in a statement, "but I am proud of the heart and emotionwe have worked so hard to put into these very special episodes as atribute to Phil."

demoraesl@washpost.com

Berestov grabs shock gold for Russia as Qatar mercenary bombs ou

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2004
Berestov grabs shock gold for Russia as Qatar mercenary bombs ou

By John Crean

ATHENS, Aug 24 AFP - Dmitry Berestov of Russia took full advantage of a mystifying
performance by Qatar world champion Asaad Said Saif Asaad, who moved to the tiny oil state
from Bulgaria in a football-style transfer, to win the heavyweight weightlifting gold
tonight

The 24-year-old Berestov, who was runner up in this year's European Championships,
lifted a total of 425kg to give the former powerhouses their first gold in the men's Olympic
competition.

Ferenc Gyurkovics of Hungary lifted a 'life or death' 225kg in the clean and jerk to
grab silver on 420kg with Ukraine's Igor Razoronov being relegated to bronze medal position
on higher body weight after registering the same total.

As Berestov celebrated what he described as a 'surprise win', the Qatar delegation
were piecing together a night of lost opportunity.

Asaad had been expected to deliver Qatar their first Olympic gold and repay a $1US
million investment in him and seven Bulgarian teammates in the late 1990s.

But the grand plan disintegrated as Asaad, who as Angel Popov won the 1999 Junior World
Championship for Bulgaria, passed on a vital lift, missed two more and then had a seemingly
good attempt ruled out 2-1 by the judges.

Asaad, a bronze medallist in the Sydney Olympics and the 2002 Asian Games champion,
looked well in command in the snatch with a lift of 192.5kg.

But he did not take his third attempt causing anguish among the Qatar camp led by Mohamed
Yousef Al Mana, the president of the country's weightlifting federation.

"I spoke to the coach and Asaad was not injured - it was a pyschological thing," he
said. "He did not feel up to lifting heavier in that section."

Asaad, trailing by 2.5kg going into the clean and jerk, made two half-hearted attempts
at 225kg before having his 227.5kg lift ruled out by the judges. He finished unranked.

"I thought it was a good lift," said Qatar weightlifting coach Salman Almass Ahmad.

"But it would not have been good enough for a medal. I cannot explain what happened (tonight)."

Qatar sport was in the news earlier this year when the Football Association tried to
bring in several Brazilians to play for the national team. FIFA scuppered the plan by
clamping down on naturalisation by players who do not have an obvious connection with
their new country.

Big money has enticed the likes of Gabriel Batistuta, Stefan Effenberg and Franck Leboeuf
to finish their playing careers in Qatar, a situation which critics say is stalling the
careers of young Qatari players.

Gold medallist Berestov did not dwell on the Qatar lifter's nightmare.

"It is true I did not expect to win but I have the gold," he said. "There were times
during the competition I did not think it was going to be my day."

Silver medallist Gyurkovics said that he had decided to gamble on a higher weight in
the clean and jerk.

"I had missed a lower weight and it was a life or death lift - thankfully I made it
and it was life not death," he said. "The coach probably was near to getting a heart attack.

But all is well that ends well."

AFP nh

KEYWORD: OLY WGT HEAVY

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

WA: Hood-wearing speeding cops set to be sacked over stunt

AAP General News (Australia)
04-19-2004
WA: Hood-wearing speeding cops set to be sacked over stunt

West Australian Police Commissioner BARRY MATTHEWS says he has no choice but to sack
two officers who drove past a speed camera at more than 120 kilometres an hour while wearing
Ku Klux Klan-style hoods.

Mr MATTHEWS has recommended to the state's police minister that the two officers, from
the south-west city of Bunbury, be removed from the service over the prank in August 2001.

And he says although he accepts there was no racist element to their actions, the deception
during the incident and in failing to admit their complicity for more than two years means
they should be sacked.

The officers were on duty when they donned white hoods, obscured the licence plate
of their unmarked police car and drove past a speed camera at 126kph in a 60 zone.

The officers are both permitted to appeal the commissioner's recommendation.

AAP RTV tc/hn/rsm/rp

KEYWORD: HOODS (PERTH)

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Family sues obstetrician over child's brain damage

AAP General News (Australia)
02-11-2004
NSW: Family sues obstetrician over child's brain damage

By Kylie Williams

SYDNEY, Feb 11 AAP - The family of a Sydney teenager with cerebral palsy are suing
her mother's obstetrician, claiming his miscalculation of her birth date caused her brain
damage.

Sharon Chevelle gave birth to Kristy Bruce at the Royal Hospital for Women, in Sydney's
east, on March 21, 1989.

Kristy, now 14, was born with cerebral palsy, is wheelchair-bound and cannot speak.

Her family claim her mother's obstetrician Dr Alan Kaye did not accurately predict
Kristy's birth date, thereby allowing her to be born between two-and-a-half and almost
six weeks overdue.

They are claiming more than $750,000 in damages in the NSW Supreme Court.

"She was probably about four weeks over when she was delivered," the family's counsel
Tony Bartley, SC, told the court today.

Mr Bartley said the brain damage resulted from Kristy being allowed to stay in the
womb for longer than 42 weeks, which causes the placenta to deteriorate.

"If you let the pregnancy go for 42 weeks you increase the risk of a compromised foetus,"

he said.

The court was told Ms Chevelle's uterus was ruptured during the birth, forcing an emergency
hysterectomy to save her life.

"He (Dr Kaye) just kept saying I was very lucky to be alive and I had a one-in-13 million
chance of surviving," she said.

Ms Chevelle, 49, has been Kristy's full time carer since birth, the court was told.

She and Kristy's father, Mark Bruce, separated 10 years ago and she has sold raffle
tickets and conducted door knocks to pay for her daughter's care for the past 12 years.

The court heard Ms Chevelle also arranged and paid for a teacher in a cerebral palsy
therapy method to come to Australia from Hungary to teach Kristy and other children with
the condition.

"There are so many things they (doctors) said she'd never do that she can do now,"

Ms Chevelle said.

Ms Chevelle had three other children before Kristy and the third was a difficult birth
involving a caesarian section, the court was told.

The hearing continues tomorrow.

AAP klw/nf/tma/de

KEYWORD: BRUCE NIGHTLEAD (PIX AVAILABLE)

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Sydney Dance Theatre Company robbed

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-2003
NSW: Sydney Dance Theatre Company robbed

SYDNEY, Dec 12 AAP - A brazen daylight armed robbery at the Sydney Dance theatre company
today netted a small haul for the bandits.

Two men, one armed with a pistol, entered the wharf theatre's premises on Hickson Road
at The Rocks about 2.30pm (AEDT), demanding money from the ticket office.

A police spokesman said the two men managed to escape with a small amount of cash.

There were no descriptions of the offenders available to police, the spokesman said.

AAP ved/kbw/jnb

KEYWORD: THEATRE

2003 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Ekka comes to town

00-00-0000
Qld: Ekka comes to town

Queensland and New South Wales will battle it out in a State of Origin with a twist,as the Ekka comes to town today.

One of the traditional features of Brisbane's 127-year-old Royal Queensland Show --or Ekka as it is better known -- is the Queensland Rail Silver Spike Rail Race.

Two teams race against the clock to build 13 metres of railway track by hand, thena pump car is placed on the track and the teams race to the stop block.

This Saturday for the first time Queensland will take on New South Wales in the SilverSpike State of Origin.

Also new to the Ekka is a concert series featuring Diesel, Taxiride and Killing Heidi,children's concerts, a family horse show and international food fair.

The country will come to the city with sheep-shearing, whip cracking and a wide varietyof animals on display in pavilions and the show ring.

AAP RTV pjo/sc/rca

KEYWORD: EKKA (BRISBANE)

Tas: Diabetes patients first to access health info online

00-00-0000
Tas: Diabetes patients first to access health info online

HOBART, Feb 25 AAP - Tasmanian patients have become the first in Australia to accesstheir medical information online in a trial to determine the feasibility of a nationalelectronic health records system.

A joint commonwealth and state government initiative, the HealthConnect trial beganlast October and has since enrolled 400 participants - all adults with diabetes beingtreated in southern Tasmania.

From today, the patients can view their personal medical records on a secure onlinesite which is updated regularly by their GPs and other healthcare professionals.

The trial, …

Vic: Christmas buyers swoop on electrical goods

00-00-0000
Vic: Christmas buyers swoop on electrical goods

MELBOURNE, Dec 24 AAP - Kitchen appliances and homewares were the gifts of choice inVictoria this Christmas, retailers said today.

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) reports that homeware, do-it-yourself projectkits, electrical goods and DVD players have been pouring off shop shelves.

In its annual survey, the ARA estimated that about 60 per cent of Christmas presentsthis year would be homewares or kitchen appliances.

"People aren't going overseas so they have more spare cash to spend on things," saidthe association's Victorian director Brian Donegan.

The ARA estimates Victorians will spend about $1.5 billion on Christmas-related goods,including presents, food and liquor.

"We're hopeful that will be achieved, and if it is, it will be a four per cent increaseon last year," Mr Donegan said.

Melbourne's Chadstone Shopping Centre will have been open for 33 consecutive hours,when it closes at 6pm (AEDT) tonight, with 180,000 last-minute shoppers expected to passthrough its doors in that period.

General manager Kim Pepi believes Melbourne's housing boom over the past 12 to 18 monthsexplains why homeware and electrical goods have been hot sellers.

"There are two sectors," Ms Pepi said. "First home buyers and baby boomers who aresetting up beach houses or inner city apartments."

Gift vouchers had also been popular at Chadstone, Ms Pepi said, with sales up 40 percent from last year.

With an extra shopping day in the lead-up to Christmas this year, retail giants ColesMyer Ltd and Woolworths Ltd will be looking for a good December.

A Woolworths spokesman said that yesterday and today were crucial to the Christmas season.

"It's particularly important in our discount department store Big W which sells goodssuch as home entertainment, books and garden material," he said.

Meanwhile, it seems that kids and kids-at-heart just want to be rock stars.

Toys `R' Us merchandising manager John Redenbech said sales of karaoke machines were"just phenomenal".

But despite a bumper year, with Toys `R' Us sales 20 per cent up on last year, Decembersales had been below expectations.

"My theory is that with the anniversary of September 11 and the Bali bombing, peopleadopted retail therapy earlier in October and November," Mr Redenbech said.

AAP jt/gfr/ldj/sb

KEYWORD: XMAS TRADE VIC

NSW: Legal eagles at odds with political and community leaders

00-00-0000
NSW: Legal eagles at odds with political and community leaders

SYDNEY, Aug 16 AAP - Legal experts were today at odds with political and communityleaders over the 55-year jail sentence handed down to the leader of a vicious pack ofgang rapists.

The 20-year-old man will be eligible for parole in 2040 for his 21 offences committedagainst the victims, then aged between 16 and 18, in Sydney's west over a three-week periodin August 2000.

He cannot be named until his brother is also sentenced in relation to two of the rapes.

In sentencing yesterday, Sydney District Court Judge Michael Finnane said the prisonerand his gang treated their victims "much like wild animals treat prey they had just killed".

But University of Sydney criminologist Professor Mark Findlay said the sentence wasdisproportionate.

"The sentence is as shocking as the crime," Prof Findlay said.

"This is obviously an extreme case but it's still longer than any of the sentenceshanded down for murder.

"Proportionality is an issue in all sentencing ... so that our justice system makes sense."

John North, an executive member of the Law Council of Australia, said proportionalityneeded to be retained in the NSW criminal justice system.

"It would be very difficult to tell the parents of the girls who are murdered thata 20-year sentence was sufficient if 40-year sentences are being handed down where peopleare not murdered," he said.

NSW Premier Bob Carr said the tough sentence would stand as a major deterrent.

"Justice has been served," he said in a statement.

"It is also a vindication of the bravery of the young women who gave evidence.

"This is the sort of sentence the community expects, the community wants tough sentencesin cases of wanton violent crime."

Australian Lebanese Association president Philip Rizk said the community was happythe full treatment of the law had been handed down.

"If you commit a crime beyond imaginable human behaviour, you should be put away andthe key thrown away," he told the Daily Telegraph.

NSW Opposition Leader John Brogden said it was about time the courts handed down atough sentence for gang rape.

"I commend the judge on his decision, we support it strongly," he told reporters inwestern Sydney.

Mr Brogden said he hoped the ringleader would rot in jail for his horrible crime.

"This guy deserves to rot in jail and I hope he does," he said.

"But I do say that we need greater consistency from the courts when it comes to theissue of sentencing particularly on gang rapes."

AAP rcg/mk/arb/las/de

KEYWORD: GANG RAPE SECOND DAYLEAD

Fed: Minister welcomes independent aged care inquiry

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Fed: Minister welcomes independent aged care inquiry

Ageing Minister KEVIN ANDREWS has welcomed an independent inquiry into the state ofaged care, saying it will provide important information for the government.

Philanthropists ARVI PARBO and BAILLIEU MYER have teamed up to conduct the inquiry,which will be free from political interference.

The inquiry will receive $1 million in funding from the Myer Foundation, which is chairedby Mr MYER.

Mr ANDREWS' office says the department of health and ageing will provide assistanceto the inquiry, which will be headed by University of Queensland geriatric medicine professorLEN GRAY.

A spokeswoman says Mr ANDREWS, who's in Madrid attending the United Nations World Assemblyon Ageing, spoke with Sir ARVI about the details of the study some time ago.

Sir ARVI's told ABC radio he hopes the inquiry will encourage constructive debate onthe future of Australia's aged population, which is set to double over the next 20 years.

AAP RTV sm/daw/rsm/rp

KEYWORD: AGED ANDREWS (CANBERRA)

SA: Premier Kerin expected to call February 9 poll

00-00-0000
SA: Premier Kerin expected to call February 9 poll

ADELAIDE, Jan 15 AAP - South Australian Premier Rob Kerin will arrive at GovernmentHouse at 1.30pm (CDT) today, where he is expected to ask Governor-General Marjorie Jackson-Nelsonto dissolve parliament and issue a writ for a February 9 election.

The premier would hold a media conference after the visit, at 2.30pm (CDT), his spokesmansaid today.

Mr Kerin earlier today told Adelaide radio station 5AA: "All will be revealed beforethe day's out."

He has said he had two options for an election date - February 9 or in early April.

The Liberal …

Gym: Delay scotches gymnast's hopes of representing Australia

AAP General News (Australia)
08-28-2001
Gym: Delay scotches gymnast's hopes of representing Australia

BRISBANE, Aug 28 AAP - Olympic rhythmic gymnast Valeria Vatkina will represent Belarus
at the Goodwill Games after running out of time to compete for Australia.

The Australian Gymnastics Federation (AGF) had hoped the 20-year-old's citizenship
papers would have arrived in time for her to represent her adopted country in the rhythmic
gymnastics competition which starts on Friday.

But after their failure to arrive on time, International Gymnastics Federation (FIG)
technical liaison officer Margaret Lanz said a decision had to be made on which country
Vatkina would represent in Brisbane.

"We had official notification from FIG that Valeria was to compete under her old country's
flag," Lanz said.

"As she was originally selected from the Sydney Olympic Games where she competed for
Belarus, that was who she would compete for in Brisbane."

Vatkina represented Belarus at the Sydney Olympics and came eighth in the rhythmic
gymnastics all-round section.

She made the decision to stay in Australia shortly after the games.

Her father Vladamir is the Australian Institute of Sport's men's gymnastic coach and
has lived in Australia for almost five years.

Lanz said Australian officials were waiting anxiously for Vatkina's citizenship papers to arrive.

Vatkina is a member of the Australian squad for the 2001 World Championships in Spain.

"Her citizenship papers did not come in time for the Goodwill Games, but the papers
are due any day now," Lanz said.

"We're anxious for them to arrive, as the team is leaving on 7 October for the World
Championships."

Vatkina currently lives and trains in Sydney.

AAP ch/sp

KEYWORD: GOOD GYM VATKINA

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Klim and Popov shattered by steroid allegations

AAP General News (Australia)
04-11-2001
Fed: Klim and Popov shattered by steroid allegations

By Jordan Baker

CANBERRA, April 11 AAP - Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Michael Klim today said
he was shattered by the charge laid against his coach Gennadi Touretski for alleged possession
of banned anabolic steroids.

Other members of the 19-strong Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) swim team said Touretski
was like a father figure and vowed to stick by him.

The Russian-born swim coach has been suspended on full pay from coaching at the AIS
and will face Canberra Magistrates Court tomorrow charged with possession of the anabolic
steroid, Stanozolol.

Touretski has declared his innocence.

Klim, who won gold at the Sydney Olympics under Touretski's guidance, said his coach
seemed disappointed when he spoke to him two days ago.

"I was shocked myself as well," Klim told a packed media conference beside the AIS pool.

"(Drug possession would be) totally out of character.

"Obviously it's been very tough for me over the past couple of days as you can imagine.

"I'm not used to this kind of scrutiny, because I've ... been innocent - I've never
turned in a positive drug test.

"And I don't have to prove my innocence in any of these allegations."

The Australian Sports Drug Agency (ASDA) released Klim's drug test history, revealing
it had tested the high-profile swimmer 47 times in his career.

Klim said his training partner, four-time Russian gold medallist Alexander Popov, was
too upset to train this morning.

"Obviously he's shattered by what's happened as well," he said.

Popov did not talk to the media but issued a statement, saying he had never had cause
to question his coach during their 11-year partnership.

"I have had an association both socially and professionally with Gennadi for 11 years
and I have never had any need to question his credibility or his ethics," Popov said in
a statement.

Klim, flanked by the rest of the AIS swim squad, read a statement to the press conference
reiterating the team's tough anti-drugs stance.

"Whatever the circumstances of the last days, and whatever the outcome of the future,
we assert again our total opposition to drug-taking, our total commitment to drug-free
sport and our total commitment to continuing in the future as we have in the past," the
statement said.

Another of Touretski's charges, Sarah Ryan, said the coach was like a father figure.

"It is quite hard, I suppose, but I have no problems training with other coaches at
the AIS," she told journalists.

Veteran swimmer Petria Thomas said the swimmers were going to get on with the job of
preparing for the World Championships, to be held in Japan in July.

"Of course we feel for Gennadi, he's part of the AIS family and we're going to stick
by him as much as we can until we find out exactly what's going on," she said.

AAP jb/kjp/sp/bwl A

KEYWORD: TOURETSKI SECOND DAYLEAD

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: ANSTO won t release nuclear shipment details: Greenpeace

AAP General News (Australia)
01-19-2001
NSW: ANSTO won t release nuclear shipment details: Greenpeace

Greenpeace claims the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation has refused
to release details of the transportation of a shipment of 360 spent nuclear fuel rods.

The environmental group claims the nuclear cargo is scheduled to travel through the
streets of Sydney on Monday night from the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor to Botany Bay
via the Sutherland Shire.

They say from there it will board a vessel heading to France where the waste will be
reprocessed and …

NSW: Opp wins bid to have Baker bill debated

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2000
NSW: Opp wins bid to have Baker bill debated

SYDNEY, Aug 30 AAP - New South Wales Opposition Leader Kerry Chikarovski has won her
bid to have a bill to keep convicted killer Allan Baker behind bars debated in state parliament.

Moves to have the legislation debated in the lower house have been repeatedly blocked
by the government.

However the opposition today received the support of the crossbenchers to have the
bill heard in the upper house.

Baker and Kevin Crump were jailed for life in 1974 for the shooting murder of Ian Lamb
and for conspiracy to murder Virginia Morse.

Mrs Chikarovski's bill denies Baker, whose case is before the NSW Supreme Court, the
right to apply for his life sentence to be redetermined.

If the court upholds Baker's request for redetermination, a judge will set a date after
which Baker can apply to the Parole Board for release.

The government has argued debating the bill while the matter was before the court could
jeopardise the proceedings.

AAP ls/ah/arb/bwl

KEYWORD: BAKER (CARRIED EARLIER)

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

AAP National News Wire Round Up for Midday, April 16

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2000
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Please contact technical support by phone at 1-800-247-7198 or by email at help@bigchalk.com
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2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: ALP s turn to stumble on tax detail

AAP General News (Australia)
01-20-2000
Fed: ALP s turn to stumble on tax detail

CANBERRA, Jan 20 AAP - After a week of stumbles over the GST, the government was today
pointing the finger back at its chief accuser, opposition treasury spokesman Simon Crean,
after he tripped up on the existing wholesale sales tax (WST) system.

Mr Crean defended the WST by declaring that while its rates were higher than the 10
per cent GST, it only applied to luxury items.

"The wholesale sales tax was off the necessities of life," he told 2GB's Stan Zemanek.

"It didn't apply to food."

But …

QLD: Lang Park to be site of Brisbane "super stadium"

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-1999
QLD: Lang Park to be site of Brisbane "super stadium"

BRISBANE, Aug 31 AAP - Lang Park has been chosen as the preferred site for Brisbane's Super
Stadium.

As expected, Premier Peter Beattie said Cabinet has approved the $204 million upgrade of
the sentimental favourite over the RNA site at nearby Bowen Hills.

But Mr Beattie said the project was dependent on the Broncos being released by the Brisbane
City Council from their tenancy agreement with ANZ Stadium.

The government is expected to seek major private sector funding for the project, which is
due for completion in 2003.

AAP sls/jak/sd/trm

KEYWORD: STADIUM DECISION

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

DIARY FRIDAY ADD APRIL 9, 1999

AAP General News (Australia)
04-08-1999
DIARY FRIDAY ADD APRIL 9, 1999

BRISBANE

1200 - Maroochy Shire Australian citizenship ceremony,
Nambour Civic Centre. Info: Claudia Di Blasi 5441 8241.

1930 - University of Southern Queensland confers the degree
of Doctor of Letters, Honoris Causa on Brisbane Anglican
Archbishop Peter Hollingworth. Clive Berghofer Recreation
Centre, Toowoomba. Info: Gus Snow-McLean 4631 2495.

AAP jfs/jnb

KEYWORD: DIARY FRIDAY ADD April 9, 1999

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

What the nation s newspapers are saying today, December 23

AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-1998
What the nation s newspapers are saying today, December 23

SYDNEY, Dec 23 AAP - The Australian Financial Review says editorially today that in global
economic history, 1998 "may well go down as the year of the near miss".

"Contrary to fears earlier in the year, it seems increasingly that Australia, and the
world, will avoid a recession as a result of the crisis in Asia," it says, adding that "1999
will not be a year for governments - or business - to rest on their oars".

The Australian says trade unionism is declining not only because of changes in the labour
market but because the union movement has made itself increasingly irrelevant to employees.

It says ACTU secretary Bill Kelty has been with the ACTU for 20 years and has chalked up
some significant achievements - including helping to bring the concept of the social wage to
Australia - but "the industrial world has changed more quickly than Mr Kelty and he should
make room for a successor".

The Sydney Morning Herald agrees, saying the legacy of Mr Kelty now "is a trade union
movement that is locked into the past.

But in its main editorial, the SMH says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be
remembered for compromise and failure in bringing peace to the Middle East - mainly because he
is "captive to a small but powerful minority of zealots committed to preserving the territory
of biblical Israel".

With elections looming in Israel, The Canberra Times takes up the same theme, saying Mr
Netanyahu has no long-term vision or commitment to peace and "the chameleon has been exposed".

And it cautions that Israel's new electoral system - with a popularly-elected leader -
gives less guarantee for stability than having the prime minister emerge from the
parliamentary majority.

" ... Israelis and the Palestinians deserve a better prime minister - committed to peace,
not a chameleon who plays with a peace process in order to stay in power," it says.

The Daily Telegraph in Sydney says in its editorial today that the time has come for the
introduction to serious criminal trials of verdicts reached by a majority of jurors, rather
than unanimous decisions.

"This change should be based on the logical notion that the decisions of 10 or 11 jurors
should not be outweighed by the decision of one or two," it says.

"The prime aim should be to make jury decisions fairer and more effective, less subject to
strong individuals and personal foibles."

The Age says suggestions by the Australian Private Hospitals Association that some people
be able to opt out of the Medicare system ignore the wide popularity of Medicare with the
electorate.

"That system has served this country far more effectively than its critics allow," the
paper says.

Australia provides universal health cover by spending 8.4 per cent of its gross demestic
product, compared to 14 per cent in the US, where 30 per cent of the population have no health
insurance and therefore no access to affordable health care.

Cricket diehards would cry foul at news the International Cricket Council was threatening
to downgrade the importance of the England-Australia Ashes series, the Herald Sun said in its
editorial.

The paper says a move to reduce the Ashes series to three or four tests may be seen as a
"British fix" to the problem that England was constantly being trounced by Australia.

But it says the proposed changes would see a greater variety of cricketing nations playing
a world championship series of tests in Australia.

The Courier-Mail in Brisbane focuses on the decision of the Federal Court to reject a
native title claim by the Yorta Yorta people to an area of more than 113,000 hectares of
publicly-owned land and water in Victoria and New South Wales.

The paper says that over the past year or two, much of the political debate about native
title has been based on fantastic scenarios which conjured up a picture of more than half the
country being taken over by a small number of Aboriginal people.

But the paper says Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett's call for people to be tolerant and
magnanimous about the court decision and offer to have discussions about reconciliation with
the claimants is "commendable."

AAP kr

KEYWORD: EDITORIALS TUESDAY, Dec 23 1998

1998 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.