vol. 40 no. 45 monday, may 2, 2011

KING MEMORIAL EVENTS TO STRETCH FOUR DAYS - PG. 2 NATIONAL NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION

THE NATION’S ONLY BLACK DAILY 35 Cents

Final

RECOVERY HELP FOR TORNADO-HIT SOUTH

The government ramped up efforts on Saturday to help thou- Photo: President Barack Obama tours damage caused by devsands of homeless victims of the country’s second deadliest astating severe storms and tornadoes in the Tuscaloosa, recorded tornado outbreak, which killed at least 350 people. Alabama, area.

SEE PAGE 3.

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DAILY CHALLENGE MONDAY, MAY 2, 2011

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NE W S B R I E F S SCHUMER WANTS CRACKDOWN ON HIDDEN CHECKING FEES Senator Charles Schumer has proposed a crackdown on lengthy checking account applications that often hide or bury fees.

He plans to introduce legislation that would require banks to clearly and briefly describe fees that are current hard to find.

The measure is similar to the socalled “Schumer Box,” which highlights interest rates and other fees on credit card applications.

The senator’s proposal comes after a new report by Pew Charitable Trusts has found that half of all checking account disclosure documents are more than 100 pages long.

FUEL PRICES LIKELY TO INFLUENCE RENT HIKE VOTE Rising fuel prices could lead to another rent hike for New Yorkers in rent-stabilized apartments.

The Rent Guidelines Board is set to vote on preliminary hikes after a study found it cost landlords 6.1 percent more to run their buildings over the past year.

Officials are considering a 3.25 percent hike on one-year leases, and a 6.5 percent hike on two-year leases.

If enacted, it would be the largest rent increase since 2008.

The board is holding a public hearing tomorrow at Cooper Union.

For more information, visit housingnyc.com.

YOUNG SURVIVOR OF DROWNED FAMILY GETS HELP FROM PRO ATHLETES Some big sports names stepped up Saturday to help the 10-year-old boy whose mother drowned herself and his three siblings last month.

LaShaun Armstrong was a special guest last night at the United Athletes Foundation’s Athlete of the Year gala in Midtown.

Some of the event’s proceeds will help create a relief fund to provide LaShaun with mentoring, counseling and tutoring.

The fundraiser is supported by Baltimore Ravens star Ray Lewis, who met with Armstrong soon after the tragedy.

The foundation presented him with a blank check — a symbolic gesture to show it will keep helping him in the future.

“Whatever he needs, whatever he needs he will have for the rest of his existence,” said Lewis. “As long as I have breath, he’ll have it, and that’s what that meant by that check. That we can write many checks and you can tell somebody to go deal with that pain by yourself, but the bottom line is the only way to deal with pain is if you’ve got somebody to deal with it with you.”

LaShaun was the only one who escaped after his mother drove her van into the Hudson River back on April 12.

He now lives with his grandmother.

Gas prices and debt to dominate Congress in May

By RICHARD COWAN WASHINGTON — The Congress returns to work today to begin negotiations in earnest on the government’s jumbo-sized debt, even as Republicans and Democrats trade blame for soaring gasoline prices.

Tamping down voter anger over rising prices at the pump has emerged as a top priority for the White House, which has seen President Barack Obama’s approval ratings take a beating during Congress’s two-week spring recess.

With polls showing higher pump prices undermining Americans’ confidence in Obama’s economic leadership, Republicans are keen to exploit an issue that could hurt the Democratic president’s chances of reelection in 2012.

Prices at the pump are edging toward an all-time record national average of $4.11 a gallon, overshadowing what the White House views as a more pressing problem — raising the level of how much the United States can borrow so that it can continue to pay its bills and avoid defaulting on its debt.

The House of Representatives and the Senate will be the battleground in the coming days as both parties seek political advantage in the debate over higher gasoline prices.

The Republican-led House is expected to vote on expanding offshore oil drilling and speeding up the

government approval process, while Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, plans to introduce legislation ending tax breaks worth billions of dollars for major U.S. oil companies.

But a vastly more difficult fight faces Congress as it stares down two ominous dates — May 16 and July 8 — when the government risks defaulting on its debt unless some big solutions are found for government spending and tax policy over the long-term.

“I see it as a three-ring circus with the debt limit the center ring,” said American University’s Patrick Griffin, a former legislative aide to President Bill Clinton.

The Treasury Department says Washington will breach the congressionally-set $14.3 trillion limit on borrowing by around May 16. By employing extraordinary measures, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will be able to stave off a default, but only until July 8.

Kent Conrad, one of the “Gang of Six” Democratic and Republican senators trying to craft a grand budget deal, told “Fox News Sunday:” “We’ve made enormous progress in that group. And I hope that we are able to announce an agreement soon.”

There has been widespread speculation that the senators — viewed by many in Washington as the best hope for a bipartisan deal — could unveil their plan this week. But Conrad gave no hint of when the group would complete its work.

Tonight, all the key players in the deficit debate will dine at the White House, not so much to work on legislation but to make nice with each other in a prelude to what is expected to be a blistering fight.

Republican leaders, and some Democrats, have made clear they will not support raising the debt ceiling without major cuts in government spending.

During the recess, the White House has continued to work on a plan that would set broad targets for deficit reduction while leaving negotiations on the details until after the 2012 elections. Such a plan would provide lawmakers political cover to vote to increase the U.S. debt ceiling.

Lobbyists representing major U.S. manufacturers, Wall Street banks and other business groups are expected to send a letter to lawmakers this week warning them of the dire economic consequences if the July 8 date is not met.

“Make no mistake, we are at a critical juncture,” Conrad, the Senate Budget Committee chairman, warned in a meeting with business and community leaders in his home state of North Dakota.

“America is borrowing 40 cents of every dollar we spend. We are on an unsustainable course,” he said.

Wall Street is looking to Conrad and his fellow “gang” members to sketch a path for a more sustainable course.

“The big event in May everyone is looking to is the release of the Gang of Six” plan, said Chris Krueger, a policy analyst with the MF Global financial group.

Wall Street will be heartened, Krueger said, if the Gang of Six puts out detailed legislative language for fixing the debt problem “and not just another insufferable white paper.”

King memorial events to stretch four days WASHINGTON — The official dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial in Washington will include four days of events, organizers announced this week.

As many as 250,000 people are expected to attend the various events that culminate with the dedication ceremony Aug. 28, the 48th anniversary of King’s famed “I Have a Dream Speech” at the Lincoln Memorial.

The MLK Memorial Foundation said other events connected to the memorial will include a four-day public exhibition at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and concerts in West Potomac Park.

Construction of the $120 million

monument is still under way. The memorial is located near the World War II Memorial and is highlighted by a 31-foot statue of the slain civil rights leader.

Tickets to the dedication itself will be distributed through a lottery.

Hopefuls may enter at DedicateTheDream.com by May 31, The Washington Post reported Thursday.

Going for coffee? Keep laptop secure New York police say thieves are frequenting the city’s Starbucks, trolling for purses and laptops customers feel comfortable leaving unattended.

Police say victims casually drop a laptop or purse on a table to save it while they stand in line to order beverages and the moment they look away their property is gone.

“You can let your guard down — people are sitting down and talking and using their laptops,” Capt.

Mark DiPaolo of the 84th Precinct in Brooklyn Heights said in a New York Times report Saturday.

His precinct is home to a Court Street Starbucks that has been the scene of four bag thefts this year.

“It is a comfort zone that people have,” DiPaolo added.

DiPalo said Starbucks pops up again and again on police blotters because people drop their guards once inside the comfortable environs of leather chairs and jazz

music.

“I think it’s great people are so comfortable with New York City,” said Lt. Dan Hollywood of the Grand Larceny Task Force in the Manhattan South precincts. “But we’ve turned it around enough; maybe they’re not quite as raised up as they used to be.”

Police said customers should use common sense and keep their bags and laptops with their person at all times.

DAILY CHALLENGE MONDAY, MAY 2, 2011

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Obama ramps up recovery help for tornado-hit South

By VERNA GATES PLEASANT GROVE, Alabama — The government ramped up efforts on Saturday to help thousands of homeless victims of the country’s second deadliest recorded tornado outbreak, which killed at least 350 people.

President Barack Obama, who surveyed the tornado destruction in the worst-hit state of Alabama on Friday and called it “heartbreaking,” was sending top officials to the disaster zone this weekend to escalate federal assistance.

With some estimates putting the number of homes and buildings destroyed at close to 10,000, state and federal authorities in the U.S. South were still coming to terms with the scale of this week’s devastation from the country’s worst natural catastrophe since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Thousands of stunned survivors, many of whom had seen relatives and friends killed by twisters that obliterated whole communities, were camped out in the shattered shells of their homes or moved into shelters or with friends.

One disaster risk modeler, EQECAT, is forecasting insured property losses of between $2 billion and $5 billion from the havoc inflicted by the swarm of tornadoes that gouged through seven southern states this week.

“It is like living in some other world. Devastation is everywhere,” said Pastor John Gates of the United Methodist Church in Pleasant Grove, Alabama, a community with a population of some 10,000 west of Birmingham.

Alabama, the hardest-hit state, revised down its fatalities to 249 on

President Barack Obama shakes hands with residents while he tours damage caused by devastating severe storms and tornadoes in the Tuscaloosa, Alabama, area.

Saturday after initially reporting 255 dead. At least 101 more deaths were reported in Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Georgia, Virginia and Louisiana.

Several thousand people were injured and hurt.

Stories of survival from the deadly twisters were still emerging but one report from a Jefferson County, Alabama emergency official of three people pulled alive from their wrecked home after three days turned out to be false.

The death toll, which is expected to rise, was the second highest inflicted by tornadoes in U.S. history.

In 1925, 747 people were killed after twisters hit the U.S. Midwestern states of Missouri, Illinois and Indiana.

Unlocking federal assistance, Obama late on Friday signed major disaster declarations for Mississippi and Georgia, adding to the one already signed for Alabama.

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate, Housing and

Feds demand New Jersey repay $271 million for tunnel project

By KATIE SILVER The federal government wants New Jersey to repay $271 million after the state’s Republican governor killed a Hudson River tunnel project, considered among the nation’s most expensive public works initiatives.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood made the announcement Friday in a letter to state congressional leaders and in a report delivered to Gov. Chris Christie, saying the governor was not justified in canceling the project.

LaHood argued that terminating the initiative is tantamount to a breach of contract, which would also negatively affect New Jersey and Northeast commuters and reduce employment opportunities.

Christie argued that the potential for major cost overruns and re-estimates prompted him to cancel the project in October.

“New Jersey was unable to move forward with the ... project for reasons beyond the state’s control,” he

said in a statement.

LaHood said the costs had been made clear since August 2008.

The initiative — considered one of the country’s most expensive — would have expanded commuter train capacity between New Jersey and Manhattan in New York.

The New Jersey governor has made deficit reduction a cornerstone of his administration, pushing cuts to education, local governments and mass transit and tackling state pension plans and benefits packages for public-sector workers.

The recent exchange parallels a similar controversy that brewed earlier this year when Republican Gov. Rick Scott of Florida rejected $2.4 billion in federal money that was to fund a proposed high-speed rail system.

Scott cited concerns about longterm operating costs for the 84-mile rail system that would have linked Tampa and Orlando.

The loss of the Florida project was seen by some as a direct blow to President Barack Obama’s vision for a national high-speed rail network.

Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Small Business Administration Administrator Karen Mills were all due to visit devastated areas in Alabama and Mississippi on Sunday, FEMA said.

Obama, mindful of criticism that President George W. Bush was too slow to respond to the 2005 Katrina catastrophe, visited the wrecked city of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on Friday to pledge full federal assistance for states hit.

In many devastated communities, scenes of tangled piles of rubble, timber, vehicles and personal possessions recalled the destruction seen in the recent Japanese earthquake and tsunami. Power and water still were out in many areas.

In the small Alabama community of Phil Campbell, which lost 28 residents, Travis Roberts, 64, credited his wife Brenda’s fear of storms for saving their lives. When they bought their property 35 years ago, he built a storm cellar for $600.

He invited seven of his neighbors to join them in the cellar when the twister hit but they chose to ride it out in their homes. Now five are dead

and two critically injured.

“It wasn’t wind, it was an explosion,” Travis said at his shattered home as he received help from volunteers.

“It’s not an exaggeration to say that whole communities were wiped out,” Yasamie August, spokeswoman for the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, told Reuters.

Officials said even solidly built brick houses had been unable to withstand the force of some of the twisters.

The winds of one in Smithville, Mississippi, was recorded reaching 205 miles per hour. It was a rare EF5 tornado, the highest rating on the Enhanced Fujita scale that measures tornado intensity.

“When you are talking about an EF-5 level tornado there is no place that is safe really,” said Jeff Rent of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. “That kind of tornado sucks up the grass and concrete.”

Many whose homes only lost roofs and windows were camping inside with tarps and plastic sheeting over them but those whose houses were completely razed were forced to move in with family or friends or go into government shelters.

There were 659 people in shelters across Alabama, August said. Tennessee had 233 people in shelters.

Volunteers in many communities turned out to help. “Big grills are set up everywhere to offer people food.

The community has really pulled together,” said Tammy Straate, 29, a Pleasant Grove foster mother who cares for 11 children.

Tornadoes are a regular feature of life in the U.S. South and Midwest but rarely are they so devastating.

Recovery could cost billions of dollars and even with federal disaster aid it could complicate efforts by affected states to bounce back from recession.

Mayor: nice if taxis Brooklyn-made, not crucial With three carmakers vying for a $1 billion contract to supply New York City with new taxis, Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Friday said the choice will be based on safety, reliability and passengers’ convenience.

Turkey’s Karsan hopes its offer to assemble the cars at a new Brooklyn plant — and use union labor — will give it an edge over rivals Nissan of Japan and Ford Motor Co in winning the 10-year contract. Both Nissan and Ford would build the cars at overseas plants.

Bloomberg, a political independent, wants the new taxi to be green and sport an “iconic design” identifying it with New York City, according to a city document posted at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/press_release_02_20_08.pd fdocument.

“You’ve got to look at how much experience companies have in building cars; what do you do if

after two years the wheels start falling off?” Bloomberg asked rhetorically on WOR radio.

“This is data-driven; it’s a nice thing if it’s built in Brooklyn ... but not at the expense of getting the right car,” he said. “If it were tied, yeah, sure, these things matter,” he concluded. The Bloomberg administration will choose the winner.

The Turkish vehicle also is the only one that has a ramp for wheelchairs, an important consideration in protecting the legal rights of disabled people. But Bloomberg suggested that the city might not need to equip all of its taxi fleet with cars that can handle wheelchairs.

Taxi drivers are pushing for a fare hike because gasoline prices have topped $4 a gallon. Bloomberg said he was sympathetic to that request, but the city must be sure that drivers are not refusing to take fares to the outer boroughs.

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DAILY CHALLENGE MONDAY, MAY 2, 2011

FORUM

The Obama Years: Challenges of a Lifetime

By DR. FRED MONDERSON

THOMAS H. WATKINS

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In the tradition of presenting diverse views on the most pressing issues of the day, CEMOTAP presented “THE OBAMA YEARS: Challenges of a Lifetime,” A Panel Discussion based on “Research and Facts” held at Bethesda Missionary Baptist Church, Jamaica Avenue, Queens, Saturday, April 23, 2011, 2: 00 pm.

With an Opening Prayer by Rev. Charles Norris, Jr., the audience singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and Welcome

by Sister Betty Dobson, whose Co-Chair Dr. James Mc Intosh introduced the Panel Facilitator Imhotep, Gary Byrd, who in turn presented the Panel Participants Prof. James Blake, Manhattan Community College; Milton Allimadi, Publisher Black Star News; Dr. Leonard Jeffries, scholar, historian CUNY (not able to attend owing to an engagement in Ghana); Attorney Joseph Mack, lawyer and activist; and Brother Playthel Benjamin, journalist and musician.

After a noteworthy Introduction of Praise for Bethesda Missionary Baptist Church celebrating 100 years of service, and CEMOTAP for its wonderful work on behalf of defending

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the integrity of the black community in media, Gary Byrd informed “President Obama has been the most threatened Chief Executive of all times.”

Next he identified his Program on WLIB, 1190 AM, Sunday evening 7:00-12:00 pm and that there’s an “Obama Watch” segment at 8:55 pm. Pointing out “conversation is important, critical” and offering CUDOS to CEMOTAP for sharing information, he called attention to past debates betweem Al Sharpton and Cornell West and a Like It Is NY, TV 7, episode featuring Councilman Charles Barron and newspaperman Les Payne, that “produced fire, heat and high intensity, among conscious blacks,” then he admonished the audience “Let’s come out of this discussion empowered.”

Insisting he was concerned with politics and policy and not philosophy and religion, the first panelist Playthel Benjamin began his presentation by quoting “A Negro preacher must be a poet in order to survive” and chided Glen Ford and Cornell West and Michael Erik Dyson for the theatricality of their performances as it related to President Obama. Calling Cornell West “Prof. Longhair” and Michael Erik Dyson “Chilly D. Knowledge” he insisted “they indulged in

whishful thinking.” He further pointed out “These people’s critique of Obama portends trouble for our people.” Next he defined the exercise of Power as “the ability to do what you want;” “the ability to get other people to do what you want;” and “the ability to get most of what you want.” This last is significantlhy accomplished through compromise!

The policy choices Obama has made, he stated, are considered “real politik” in the environment in which the man functioned, despite the watching opposition hand behind him. In this he expressed unambiguous and unequivocal support for President Obama whom he called the most humane president in the history of the American Presidency.

Obama is a political genius, he noted, and the most progressive Chief Executive to occupy the White House. He did point out there were consequences on the President taking over this office. He insisted further, “This will be a Neo-Periclean age” he opined, “if Democrats win back the House and President Obama is reelected.” He described the President as a pragmatic technocrat not an ideologue for which he argued “Black people benefit more from any thing Barack Obama does more than any other group.” Then he supported this view by mentioning the multi-billion dollar award to Black Farmers; the Lilly Ledbetter Law for equal pay for women; rescue of the the Auto Industry that provides jobs for

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DAILY CHALLENGE MONDAY, MAY 2, 2011

Not just another empty suit

By WILLIAM REED Seems that all America’s Black Ladies’ Clubs have banned together to “boycott Donald Trump until he admits that President Obama was born in the U.S.” Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice” television show, his casinos, office buildings, and hotels, have been put in economic peril by little gray-haired Black ladies.

The Little Ladies’ boycott may be “on hold” since President Obama put out his long-form Birth Certificate.

Basically, Trump is blowing smoke to inflate his television and presidential poll ratings; but the theory that Obama is not a naturally-born citizen and consequently ineligible to serve as President continues to build in size and strength. Birthers’ doubts about Obama go to the core of his signature appeal: his life as an example of “a multicultural ideal”. The “legitimacy” question encompasses Obama and Black Ladies’ Clubs’ mission to hate on Trump is headed for overtime. Record say that Barack Sr. and Ann Dunham married in

Wailuku, Maui, on February 2, 1961; but many wonder whether it was a marriage in anything but name or whether there was a marriage at all.

Trump’s legitimacy to be President of the United States is very much in question too.

Trump talks more game than he’s got. It’s said in business circles that “The Donald” begged Forbes to list him as a billionaire, but – to no avail. Trump’s claim to fame is more that of a celebrity His father than businessman. already had a real estate empire. The fourth of Fred Trump’s five children, 65-year-old Donald John Trump plays the role of a prominent American business magnate, author, and television personality. He is the Chairman and CEO of the Trump Organization, a U.S.-based real estate developer. Trump is also the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts, which operates numerous casinos and hotels across the world. Trump’s extravagant lifestyle and outspoken manner have made him a celebrity for years most recently with his NBC reality show, The Apprentice (where he serves as host and executive pro-

Challenges of a Lifetime Continued from page 4 significant numbers of black workers; and aid to Historical Black Colleges.

Prof. James Blake said Barack Obama’s occupancy of the White House is worth more than a million words, as he identified “white hopes” in the person of the present Republican presidential contenders.

The Republican Party unleashed brutal attacks on the President determined to see him failwas well agreed upon. This position is clearly credited to Mitch McConnel who set and stated his goal is to make a failure of the President. To everything the President did and proposed the Republicans “just say no!” Obama has had to face white haters and black distractors full of lies and acting as forces of distraction. They were interested in “Getting that Nigger and his family out of the White House.” History has shown a powerful strategy of divide and rule is to “Separate the leader from his people before you murder him!”

Prof. Blake has insisted in 22 months Barack Obama has amassed 2200 accomplishments, an unheard of total. To understand how these legislative acts benefited blacks you have to examine the language its couched in, he argued.

In the book Slave Songs in the United States Prof. James pointed out, there were subliminal messages in such songs as “Go Down Moses” and “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” and in the language “Childhood Obelsity, Low Income, Health Care Reform, Healthy Child Reconstruct Act and Pre-Existing Health Condition” these are designed for and clearly the greatest beneficiaries are

blacks! Mr. Obama bailed out Ford and this provided jobs for Blacks.

Obama leveled the playing field in Education. He increased funding for Black Colleges and enacted a Childhood Obesity Act. Low income housing assistance and Choice Neighborhoods means the Projects.

The New York Times of July 12, 2009 informed President Obama had increased food aid from $15billion to $20 billion. And the President made provision for the Global Poverty Act to reduce by half by the year 2015. Prof. Blake insisted, “This Panel Discussion should not be called the Obama Years but the Obama Months for in 28 months he did more than Bush did in 8 years.”

Next Prof. Blake pointedly asked, “It is not what Obama has done for us, but what have you done for Obama.” We are in an age of “Divide and Conquer.” He insisted the “race card” has been played in presidential politics. Stating the president faces enormous challenges, he then asked the powerful question as to how will history judge us all in this Lenthen season, “Where were you when they crucified our Lord (President)?”

Next Gary Byrd identified the “Counterpoint of the program” when he introduced Attorney/activist Joseph Mack who laid great store upon President Obama not supporting the Defense of Marriage Act. His theme seemed to be regarding the question of “Full faith and credit.” He raised the question of “Killing of the first born in Egypt” “Bethelehem” and the “Sacrificial Lamb” paying particular attention to events in North Africa, and that the target was not specifi-

5

ducer). Most African-Americans ultimately don’t take Donald Trump’s presidential candidacy seriously.

But, they should understand and accept the “he’s not one of us” position and culture.

Bottom-line, the Little Ladies have a tiger by the tail. The “birther” issue is part of a definite and dedicated movement to make Barack Obama a one-term President. Trump’s candidacy message may fall on deaf ears among African Americans, but Herman Cain represents the kind of “American success” bona fides the Little Ladies might get to like. Plus, there is no question that Cain is “one of us. A 66 year-old successful businessman and radio talk show host, Cain is an “equal opportunity poster child”. He is a former chairman and CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, former deputy chairman (1992–94) and chairman (1995–96) of the Federal A Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

“Morehouse Man,” Cain joined Pillsbury in 1977 and rose to vice president level. A successful company man, in his career, Cain took poor performing units and made them profitable. Pillsbury then appointed him President and CEO of Godfather’s Pizza and in 14 months Cain returned Godfather’s to profitability.

— William Reed is available for speaking/seminar projects via BaileyGroup.org.

cally Gadhafi but his son and successor. This action was aimed at eviscerating the future leadership of that oil rich African country.

Mr. Mack confessed, initially he supported Barack Obama but recent events caused him to reassess that support particularly after the bombing of Africa, Libya. This caused Mack to reject the President whom he accused of having “no spine” for allowing the Republicans to bullyhim. However, both Playthel Benjamin and Prof. Blake disagreed vehemently and pointed to Republican opposition and the minefield President Obama has to function in.

Joining the group, Milton Allimadi informed he was in Libya in January and seeing the number of high rise building going up in that cocuntry, particularly by Italian and German investment groups, asked the Libyans could American Black contractors and investors be given a chance. To this the Libyans agreed.

Next he proposed setting up Libyan banks in black communities such as Harlem to finance black investment and development. This too, the Libyans agreed to. There was much agreement that oil was not the single driving force in the rebellious action but also to sever future Libyan leadership because of what the Libyans have done for Africa in general.

Overall, Playthell indicated his support for Barack Obama has been unwavering because the President has faced the hounds while passing

significant legislation that benefited all Americans particularly Blacks.

Prof. Blake equally agreed that the President had passed significant legislation that equally aided blacks but this was done despite the hostile environment of Republican obstructionism and some blacks who either were ignorant of the facts or had resolved to throw the President under the bus, were “men of little faith.” He felt history would judge those who chose not to understand the nature of contemporary American politics and that “Republicans play dirty pool.” Attorney Mack confessed to losing faith in the President particularly because of his allowing the Republicans get what they want but more especially because of events unfolding in Libya, as elements sought to “kill the first born.” Some in attendance believed, the “first born” they were attempting to kill was Barack Obama.

To the question as to what Dr. King would say regarding Barack Obama, the answer was “Dr. King would commend the President, recognize he had opened the door and given the hostility of the environment under which he functioned, was pleased with his accomplishments.”

Thanking Rev. Norris and providing a donation for the use of the facilities, Dr. McIntosh thanked all in attendance and adjourned until the next significant gathering of CEMOTAP.

In 1988, Cain and a group of investors bought Godfather’s where Cain continued as CEO until 1996 when he resigned to become CEO of the National Restaurant Association where he had previously been chairman concurrently with his role at Godfather’s.

A 2012 election campaign with Cain on the ticket would be the type of “hope and change” Americans thought they were getting in 2008.

If Cain couples his candidacy with a focus on race issues that could put many Black voters in the Republicans’ camp in 2012. Cain’s conservative credentials enhance his approach to the race issue and could jeopardize Obama’s and the Democrats’ ability to continue getting 95 percent Black voter support for gratis. Only such a candidacy as Cain can mount could get the millions of Little Ladies to see how issues of Black economic development and chronic unemployment are being overlooked at the expense of the symbolism of keeping Obama in office. Herman Cain is a Black man worth watching.

6

DAILY CHALLENGE MONDAY, MAY 2, 2011

Court backs federal embryonic stem cells funds

By JEREMY PELOFSKY WASHINGTON — An appeals court ruled on Friday the Obama administration can continue using federal money to fund human embryonic stem cell research, a possible avenue toward new treatments for many medical conditions.

The appeals court overturned a ruling by a federal judge who found that the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines on such research violated the law because embryos were destroyed and it put other researchers working with adult stem cells at a disadvantage to win federal grants.

Opponents of human embryonic stem cell research, including many religious conservatives, argue that it is unacceptable because it destroys human embryos.

Such stem cells come from days-old human embryos and can produce any type of cell in the body. Scientists hope to

be able to use them to address spinal cord injuries, cancer, diabetes and diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth last August blocked the taxpayer funding. His decision was put on hold pending appeal so federal money continued to flow after the White House warned research costing millions of dollars would be lost if halted.

A panel of three judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, all appointed by Republican presidents, voted 2-1 to vacate Lamberth’s injunction, saying the challengers were unlikely to win on the merits.

The U.S. law was “ambiguous” and “did not prohibit funding a research project in which an ESC (embryonic stem cell) will be used,” the majority opinion said.

“This is a momentous day — not only for science, but for the hopes of thousands of patients and their families who are relying on NIH-funded scientists to pursue lifesaving discoveries and thera-

pies that could come from stem cell research,” NIH Director Francis Collins said in a statement.

Shortly after taking office in 2009, President Barack Obama expanded federal funding for research involving human embryonic stem cells in hopes it would lead to cures for diseases.

In a bid to answer critics, Obama directed the NIH to come up with an ethical process for paying for such research, specifically that the embryos come from fertility clinics and were going to be thrown away otherwise.

Since the appeals court ruling was on the injunction Lamberth issued, the focus now turns back to his courtroom where the two sides have been arguing over the specific merits of whether the stem cell guidelines are legal.

The U.S. law on embryonic stem cell research funding prohibits the NIH from funding the creation of human embryos for research or the research in which a human embryo is destroyed, leading the judges to argue over its true intent.

Judge Douglas Ginsburg, appointed by President Ronald Reagan, wrote that it was “entirely reasonable” for

the NIH to interpret the law as “permitting funding for research using cell lines derived without federal funding, even as it bars funding for the derivation of additional lines.”

In a dissenting opinion, Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson, appointed by President George H.W. Bush, said the federal law was clear about banning funding for human embryonic stem cell research and that the court majority was engaging in “linguistic jujitsu” to back it.

The case emerged from two researchers who opposed work with embryonic stem cells and sued to block such funding. They argued that they were at risk of being squeezed out of federal grants for their own work with adult stem cells, which do not involve the destruction of embryos.

The researchers, Dr. James Sherley, a biological engineer at Boston Biomedical Research Institute, and Theresa Deisher, of Washington-based AVM Biotechnology, could appeal the ruling to the full appeals court, a lawyer involved in the case said.

Samuel Casey of the Law of Life Project, an attorney

involved in the challenge, said he was disappointed but not surprised by the ruling, and was gratified that it was narrow.

Bernard Siegel, executive director of the Genetics Policy Institute and founder of the Stem Cell Action Coalition, hailed the decision as lifting a cloud of uncertainty over research.

“This case is not over by any stretch but this lifts the cloud temporarily,” he told Reuters. “This is still fundamental research that needs to take place before we can advance it fully and translate it into cures. For them to hold it back in 2010, 2011 and on into 2012 would be a travesty for patients.”

Gary Rabin, chief executive of Advanced Cell Technology, which is developing treatments for two eye diseases using embryonic stem cells and has gotten approval to begin human clinical trials, praised the ruling.

“You’re at the very beginning of what will ultimately be a tidal wave of opportunities within the embryonic stem cell community,” he said. “We believe this is the first step for us for ensuring that our cell lines will be fundable by the government.”

WASHINGTON — A U.S. congressman says he will introduce a bill requiring each presidential candidate to file a birth certificate copy with the Federal Election Commission.

The bill’s sponsor, U.S. Rep. Bill Posey R-Fla., insisted the proposed legislation isn’t “solely” directed at President Obama, who has addressed charges made by several people he was not born in the United States, The Hill reported Friday.

“This legislation has never been about one candidate,” Posey wrote. “It’s been about addressing something that’s come up at least seven times before. With its passage, this won’t be a distraction for anyone in the future.”

It isn’t clear why it should be a distraction now.

Obama released a short form of his birth certificate in 2008, showing he was born in Honolulu Aug. 4, 1961, but so-called birthers — one of them celebrity and possible

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, whom Obama referred to as a “carnival barker” — wouldn’t believe the apparent truth.

The president released a long-form copy of his birth certificate last Wednesday.

Posey introduced the bill in March 2009 to a Democratic-controlled House, but now that Rep. John Boehner, ROhio, is speaker, pundits speculate he may have a better chance of moving it along, The Hill said.

Escaped prisoner shoots four in Mass. rampage Congressman to introduce birther bill DEERFIELD, Massachusetts — fugitive prisoner in Massachusetts shot one man dead and wounded three others — including two police officers — before being shot by police, authorities said on Saturday.

Tamik Kirkland (right), 24, had escaped from a medium-security prison in Shirley, Mass., on Monday morning, where he was serving 2-4 years on weapons charges.

The spree began at around noon on Saturday when Kirkland shot one man dead and wounded another at a beauty salon in Springfield, police said.

Kirkland then ran from the salon and hid in a house a few streets away. Later, a woman in a silver car backed up to the house, and Kirkland climbed into the trunk.

After being challenged by police, Kirkland popped up out of the trunk and shot and slightly wounded two officers, Springfield Police Sgt. John Delaney said.

The officers returned fire multiple times, striking Kirkland, who was taken to a local hospital in critical

condition.

A six-month old baby that police found in the car’s backseat following the shootout was unharmed.

Police were unaware the infant was there until after the shootout was over.

Kirkland, who last was arrested in 2008, has a history of gun and drug charges, authorities say.

According to the Boston Globe, Kirkland is also known as “Matik” and identifies himself on a website as a member of the Springfieldbased rap group, The Mafioso Mobsters, and as the founder of Ahnesty Records, a recording label.

FAA shakes up air traffic control management WASHINGTON — U.S. aviation authorities further shook up air traffic management following embarrassing incidents involving sleeping controllers and mistakes handling first lady Michelle Obama’s plane.

Randy Babbitt, administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, reassigned three senior managers, including those responsible for airport towers, approach and departure centers, and transoceanic operations. All three were replaced.

“This is just the beginning of the process to make sure we have the best possible team in place,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, whose agency oversees the FAA. The chief of air traffic operations, Hank Krakowski, resigned two weeks ago amid uproar over disclosures of tower and other controllers falling asleep on the job.

Three controllers have been fired.

Those problems were magnified by widely publicized air traffic miscues last week

involving a government plane carrying the first lady.

The FAA established an independent committee to evaluate air traffic control training and job placement.

Academic experts, airline and FAA officials and the air traffic controller union is represented on the five-member review panel.

The FAA oversees 15,000 air traffic controllers who handle more than 9 million commercial and private flights annually at more than 400 airports.

INTERNATIONAL

DAILY CHALLENGE MONDAY, MAY 2, 2011

7

Bahrain promises government jobs, protests continue

By FREDERIK RICHTER MANAMA (Reuters) - Plans by Bahrain to create 20,000 jobs in its security apparatus could be a move to open up government jobs to the country’s disgruntled Shi’ites and appease protesters against the Sunni-led government.

Bahrain has seen its worst unrest since the 1990s after a nascent youth movement emboldened by similar protests elsewhere in the Arab world took to the streets last month and were met with heavy-handed police violence that killed seven.

The country, an ally of the United States and top oil exporter Saudi Arabia, is ruled by the Sunni al-Khalifa family and its majority Shi’ites have complained of discrimination in government jobs. The government denies this.

Bahrain’s Minister of Interior Sheikh Rashed bin Abdullah al-Khalifa told local newspaper editors on Saturday that King Hamad bin Isa had ordered a round

Shi'ite Bahraini women form a human chain from Al Fateh Mosque (seen behind) to Pearl Square, about 5km (3 miles) long, during an antigovernment protest in Manama, March 5, 2011.

Photo/James Lawler Duggan of new hires in a num- political stability and of reason why we’re havber of government raising demands.” ing people in the institutions, including The opposition said it street,” Jasim Husain of 20,000 jobs in his min- interpreted the Wefaq, the main Shi’ite istry. announcement as an opposition group, said.

“We hope this step attempt to appease “The Ministry of will have a positive Shi’ite protesters who Interior has been slow effect on the safety and say government jobs in creating jobs, in parsecurity of citizens,” al- have been shut to them. ticular for Shi’ites.”

Wasat daily quoted the “I think it’s mainly There is no official minister as saying. meant for Shi’ites, in figure of how many are “The minister said particular for the com- employed by Bahrain’s national dialogue was ing graduates. Unequal armed forces and its the way to achieving opportunities is one police and security

forces. Officials at the Ministry of Interior declined to comment but said details of the plans would be released later this week.

Bahrain has granted citizenship to Sunni foreigners serving in its armed forces, limiting the number of secure government jobs its Shi’ite population can potentially access.

The practice has long been a bone of contention for the opposition who see it as an attempt to alter the sectarian balance, an accusation the government denies.

The government says all naturalization is done in full transparency and in accordance with Bahrain’s immigration policies.

Bahrain’s king said last year the government would start to limit the practice.

Clashes erupted last week between residents in Hamad Town, an area where both Shi’ites and Sunni live, including foreigners who were granted citizenship.

It was not clear what sparked the clashes that were contained by police forces, but resi-

dents said that Syrians were involved in the fighting with metal sticks and batons.

Husain said the new jobs could potentially be funded by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) that is currently discussing a joint fund to back Bahrain and Oman, which also has seen unrest.

Bahrain’s opposition groups, including Wefaq, demand the resignation of the government and a new constitutional monarchy.

Currently, parliament has little powers, cabinet is appointed by the king and most ministers are from the ruling family.

But many of the thousands in Bahrain’s youth movement who are occupying Manama’s Pearl Square and staging daily protests want the complete ouster of the ruling family.

Hundreds staged an hours-long sit-in on Sunday outside the palace in Manama that serves as an office to Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman alKhalifa, the world’s longest serving head of government.

U.S. war ns citiz ens on Yemen

By MOHAMED SUDAM SANAA - The United States warned citizens in Yemen Sunday to consider departing as protests seeking the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh gather momentum, saying the security risk in the impoverished state was extremely high.

Tens of thousands of protesters have camped out in major Yemeni cities, their tone hardening daily, and protests turned to clashes in the town of Ibb Sunday when government loyalists attacked demonstrators with sticks and stones.

Violence also flared in outlying provinces, where six security men were killed in attacks blamed on al Qaeda.

“The Department (of State) urges U.S. citizens not to travel to Yemen. U.S. citizens currently in Yemen should consider departing,” the U.S. State Department said in a travel warning.

“The security threat level in Yemen is extremely high due to terrorist activities and civil unrest,” it added.

Britain has also warned against travel, advising those without a pressing need to stay to leave by commercial flights.

The growing Yemeni protests, and a series of defections from Saleh’s allies, have added pressure on Saleh to end his three-

decade rule in the Arabian Peninsula state. But neither side appears willing to compromise to end the deadlock.

Protesters want Saleh to step down by the end of this year, if not sooner, while the president is sticking to an earlier pledge to leave office only when his current term ends in 2013.

Yemen, a neighbor of Saudi Arabia, was teetering on the brink of failed statehood even before recent protests, with Saleh struggling to cement a truce with Shi’ite rebels in the north and quell a secessionist rebellion in the south.

Analysts say the recent protests, inspired by unrest that has toppled the leaders of Egypt and Tunisia

and sparked an insurrection in Libya, may be reaching a point where it will be difficult for Saleh, an astute politician, to cling to power.

“The country is on the brink of imploding,” said Dubai-based security analyst Theodore Karasik.

“This popular uprising is going to hit some kind of crescendo and you might have an outbreak of more violence.

We might be looking at a Libya situation emerging in Yemen.”

UNREST BUBBLING Washington said its ability to help citizens in a crisis could be restricted, and evacuation options would be “extremely limited.” It authorized the voluntary departure of the family members of U.S. embassy staff and non-

essential personnel.

Yemeni protests, relatively peaceful in recent days, turned to violence in the town of Ibb when Saleh loyalists marched on an anti-government protest site in a park where thousands were camped out, attacking demonstrators with stones and batons.

“There were a large number who tried to storm the park carrying clubs and pelting us with stones and shouting: ‘No to destruction and chaos’,” said protester Ahmed Saleh, citing a slogan widely used by Saleh supporters.

Police fired in the air to disperse the protesters. At least 47 people were hurt in the melee, six critically, including a youth protest leader, an activist and witness-

es said. Some 26 people have been killed since protests surged in early February.

Opposition leader Yassin Said Noman said there was currently “no dialogue or even discussion” with the government and that so long as street protests continued, any future talks would be only about bringing down the government.

Saturday, protesters blocked Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Megawar from arriving at Sanaa University to hold talks with protesters there.

Protesters say they are frustrated with corruption and soaring unemployment in Yemen where 40 percent of its 23 million people live on $2 a day or less and a third face chronic hunger.

AFRICAN SCENE

88

DAILY CHALLENGE MONDAY, MAY 2, 2011

Nigeria post-poll killings planned: Nobel laureate LAGOS Nigerian Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has said killings in the country’s north amid widespread rioting following presidential elections were preplanned, local media reported on Friday.

Several Nigerian newspapers quoted Soyinka, Africa’s first Nobel literature laureate, speaking of preplanned violence and implicitly criticising opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari, who lost to incumbent Goodluck Jonathan.

According to one version of his comments in ThisDay newspaper, Soyinka told journalists that “anybody who said they were not planned

beforehand was a very naive individual.”

“These killings were carried out on the basis of lies,” the paper quoted him as saying, apparently referring to allegations of rigging.

“In my view, they were planned well beforehand.”

The April 16 election won by Jonathan, a southern Christian, led to an explosion of rioting across the mainly Muslim north, the home region of ex-military ruler Buhari.

A local rights groups says more than 500 people were killed.

Soyinka, a longtime critic of Nigeria’s corrupt elite who has also harshly criticised Buhari over allegations of rights abuses during his rule in the 1980s, said the results giving Jonathan victory

seemed credible.

He implicitly criticised Buhari, who disassociated himself from the violence in interviews but never appeared publicly to strongly denounce it, as well as others, but did not name names.

“I did not detect any vestige of remorse from the expressions of these leaders,” he reportedly said.

A spokesman for a political party started

by Soyinka contacted

by AFP said the writer did not want to comment further.

There have been accusations that some of the rioting was instigated by politicians, though election observers say they appear to have started for a variety of reasons.

Soyinka, a dramatist and essayist, became

People holding wooden and metal sticks demonstrate in Nigeria's northern city of Kano where running battles broke out between protesters and soldiers on April 18. Nigerian Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has said killings in the country's north amid widespread rioting following presidential elections were pre-planned, local media reported.

Photo/Seyllou Diallo Africa’s first Nobel laureate in literature when he won the prize in 1986.

His book “The Man Died” recounts his time in jail after being imprisoned following

his attempt to broker talks during Nigeria’s 1967-1970 civil war.

Mor occo pr o be s Al Qaeda li nk to Mar rakesh blast

By VIRGINIE GROGNOU MARRAKESH, Morocco - The AlQaeda terror network is suspected of involvement in a bomb attack on a popular tourist cafe that killed 15 people in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh, the government said on Friday.

The Moroccan news agency, citing an official source, said that the death toll was 15, not 16 as previously stated, and it said the dead included “two Moroccans, two French nationals, two Canadians and a Dutch national.”

Communications Minister Khalid Naciri said that investigators would pursue all leads including possible links to Al-Qaeda which operates a north African offshoot in the region.

“All leads will be investigated, including Al-Qaeda,” he said.

“The investigation continues to find the perpetrators, but for the moment I am not prepared to point the finger.”

The victims, mostly foreigners, died Thursday when a suspected suicide bomb exploded at a tourist cafe in Djemaa el-Fna, the main square of Marrakesh.

A total of 23 others were badly injured, two of whom died overnight.

French intelligence

and anti-terrorism experts will travel to Marrakesh on Friday to help in the probe, a Moroccan official source said, particularly the “identification of the bodies”.

International police agency Interpol condemned the attack and said it would ensure “the Moroccan authorities investigating this terrible attack have the full support of the global law enforcement community.”

The blast was condemned as a terrorist attack by the Moroccan government, the European Union, the United States and France and a Moroccan official said it may have been the work of a suicide bomber.

Authorities in France

said at least six of the dead were French while the Netherlands said a Dutchman had also died.

Israeli media reported that a 30-year-old pregnant Israeli woman and her husband, who was originally from Morocco, were among those killed.

Rabat, Washington and Paris condemned a “terrorist” attack on the cafe, a favourite haunt for tourists in the city about 350 kilometres (220 miles) south of the capital.

Witnesses said the explosion happened on the terrace of the Argana cafe, whose facade and first floor were severely damaged, with tables and chairs strewn around the terrace.

Dutch tourist John Van Leeuwen said that he had looked the man believed responsible for the attack in the eyes moments before his bomb exploded.

“There were only tourists in the cafe, and three other Moroccans, and one guy that didn’t initially look suspicious,” Van Leeuwen told AFP by telephone as he waited to catch a flight home with Marjolein Appel, 39.

“But after we found out it wasn’t a gas explosion, my girlfriend and I, we looked at each other, and said that must have been him.”

“There was an Arab man in the cafe, carrying two huge bags, including a backpack, that was an unusual sight, because it was

about a metre (yard) high, and a second sports bag, also a very large bag.”

Moroccan newspapers united in condemning the attack, coverage of which dominated front pages.

The latest attack was the deadliest in the North African monarchy since 33 people were killed by 12 suicide bombers in Casablanca in 2003. An attempted attack in 2007 was thwarted and one of three would-be bombers killed.

Moroccan Islamist movement Justice and Charity condemned the “barbaric” attack and appealed to the authorities “not to repeat the human rights abuses” that followed the Casablanca attacks.

10-year ter m sought for Rwandan r epor ter: RSF NAIROBI - Media rights watchdog Reporters without Borders (RSF) said Friday it is “appalled” by what it says is Rwanda’s determination to hound an exiled

Gasasira is charged “Acting on orders journalist from an per Umuvugizi and one charges on which the anti-government of the country?s most Kigali high court acquit- with spreading rumours from the most senior outspoken journalists,” ted him last September,” that incited civil disobe- government officials, paper.

“RSF is appalled by the Rwandan government?s determination to keep hounding one of its media bugbears, Jean Bosco Gasasira, editor of the bimonthly newspa-

the Paris-based organisation said in a statement.

“Prosecutors on Thursday asked Rwanda?s supreme court to sentence him to ten years in prison on

RSF said.

The request was made at a hearing at which Gasasira, who fled the country several months ago, was not represented by a lawyer, the watchdog said.

dience, insulting the president and deliberately violating Rwanda?s media law. The supreme court, whose decisions cannot be appealed, is due to announce its verdict on 27 May.

Rwanda?s prosecutors are clearly bent on convicting Gasasira at all costs,” RSF said, urging the supreme court “to follow the high court?s example and dismiss the charges.”

D CHALLENGE MONDAY, MAY 2, 2011 DAILY

AFRICAN SCENE

Elections alone not enough for Africa: Odinga B U L AWAY O , Zimbabwe (AFP) Multi-party elections alone are not enough to save Africa from authoritarian rule, Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga said Friday as he urged Zimbabwe to pursue deeper reforms.

“We have seen that the mere re-introduction of multi-party politics in Africa, after decades of single-party and military dictatorships, has not solved the governance problem,” Odinga told supporters of Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party.

“We have seen that multi-party elections alone will not propel us from institutionalised authoritarian systems to more democratic modes of governance,”

Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga addresses Zimbabwean Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Party Congress in Bulawayo. he said, speaking as the guest of honour at an MDC congress in the second city of Bulawayo.

Both Odinga and Tsvangirai came to government through power-sharing deals signed in the wake of disputed and violent elections.

The pacts have been credited with restoring stability in both countries, but critics say the

forced marriages have done little to resolve underlying problems.

Odinga, who has shared power with President Mwai Kibaki since 2008, urged Zimbabwe to move “quickly” toward reforms.

Zimbabwe is currently in the middle of drafting a new constitution as part of Tsvangirai’s 2009 power-sharing deal

with long-time President Robert Mugabe.

The process was supposed to pave the way to new elections but has been repeatedly delayed by outbreaks of violence.

“Zimbabwe must move quickly to resolve its democratic challenges, so that it can take its rightful place as a potential centre for economic growth in this part of the continent,” Odinga said.

“You will have to dig deep into your reservoirs of tolerance and compromise to ensure that this happens, for the alternative would serve neither the MDC nor its partner in government. It would only cripple the nation.”

Odinga earlier met with Mugabe in the capital, Harare, describing the encounter as “very good”.

Pro-Gaddafi forces clash with Tunisian military

By ZOUBEIR SOUISSI DEHIBA, Tunisia Forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi fought a gun battle with Tunisian troops in a frontier town on Friday as Libya’s conflict spilled over its borders.

Pro-Gaddafi forces shelled the town of Dehiba, damaging buildings and wounding at least one resident, and a squad drove into the town in a truck chasing anti-Gaddafi rebels.

Tunisia summoned Libya’s ambassador to protest against the incursions.

Tunisian deputy foreign minister Radhouane Nouicer, speaking on Al Jazeera television, said casualties had been inflicted, including a young girl.

“We summoned the Libyan envoy and gave him a strong protest because we won’t tolerate any repetition of such violations.

Tunisian soil is a red line and no one is allowed to breach it,” he said.

The Libyan troops were chasing rebels from the Western Mountains region who fled into Tunisia in the past few days after Gaddafi forces overran a border post they had earlier seized.

A Reuters cameraman who crossed into Libya saw the bodies of three Gaddafi soldiers on the ground. It was not clear if they had been shot by the rebels or by the Tunisian military.

Tunisian border guards had shut down the border, he said.

They were laying barbed wire and fortify-

ing their positions.

Columns of Libyan refugees fleeing the fighting in the Western Mountains were reaching the crossing but were unable to get through.

Reuters photographers in Dehiba, a short distance from the border, saw several abandoned pick-up trucks which Gaddafi loyalists had driven. One had a multiple rocket launcher on the back. Another, which had overturned and lay upside down in the sand, was fitted with a heavy caliber machine gun.

Two residents told Reuters that shells had fallen on the town from pro-Gaddafi positions across the border.

“Rounds from the bombardment are falling on houses.. A Tunisian woman was injured,” one resident, called Ali, told Reuters

by telephone.

He said later the fighting and shelling had stopped.

“The Tunisian army is combing the town.

We have no idea about the fate of Gaddafi’s forces there because the Tunisian army closed the gates to the town and nobody is allowed to enter.”

Tunisia toppled its own veteran leader, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, in a revolution earlier this year that triggered turmoil through the Middle East and many Tunisians are sympathetic to the rebels fighting Gaddafi’s forces.

ON THE BORDER While Dehiba was under fire, the rebels, who are fighting to end more than four decades of Gaddafi rule, announced they had recaptured the border post.

9

2 dead: Riots erupt in Uganda after brutal arrest

By GODFREY OLUKYA KAMPALA, Uganda - Army troops and police fired live bullets at rioting demonstrators Friday, and at least two people were killed and 120 wounded in the largest anti-government protest in subSaharan Africa this year.

Rioters burned tires in downtown streets as security forces fired tear gas and guns, and a Red Cross spokeswoman said 15 of the wounded and been hit by live bullets. Battles between protesters and police were also reported elsewhere around the country.

The protests are the first serious demonstrations in sub-Saharan Africa since a wave of antigovernment protests swept leaders in Tunisia and Egypt out of power. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power for a quartercentury, has vowed repeatedly that his government will not be taken down by protests.

The breakout of violence came one day after a brutal takedown of the country’s top opposition politician, Kizza Besigye. Police smashed through the window of Besigye’s vehicle with the butt of a gun and doused him with tear gas at close range before bundling him into the back of a pickup truck and speeding off.

“They arrested him like a chicken thief. We cannot allow such things to continue. Museveni must go,” said Brown Ndese, one of the protesters.

Red Cross spokeswoman Catherine Ntabadde said at least two people were killed and 120 people wounded. Uganda police spokeswoman Judith Nabakooba said the police were working to contain the demonstrations and did not immediately have a casualty figure.

Some 360 people were arrested, the government said.

Besigye was freed on bail on Thursday but did not make any public appearances or statements on Friday. Radio reports quoted an aide as saying Besigye was in poor health and that he was to fly him out of the country for treatment.

Besigye withstood long volleys of tear gas sprayed directly on him Thursday, but it wasn’t clear how sick or injured he was. Attempts to reach Besigye aides for comment failed.

Besigye has held five “walk to work” demonstrations to protest rising prices and what he calls a corrupt government. On Friday, demonstrators carried posters praising Besigye, and questioned why police needed to use violence to arrest him.

Opposition members of parliament have demanded an explanation from the government over his treatment.

Ugandan Minister of Internal Affairs Kirunda Kivejinja said at a news conference Friday that police had no intention of arresting Besigye in such a harsh manner on Thursday.

“The way he was arrested was due to the way he reacted,” Kivejinja said. “When police advised him not to use a particular road, he instead got out of his vehicle and called his supporters.”

About comparisons to Arab uprisings, he said: “Uganda cannot be like Tunisia and Egypt. ...

Here we simply have Besigye who does not want to cooperate. He is defiant against lawful orders.”

Earlier this month Besigye was shot in the right hand by what he says was a rubber bullet fired by police. He now wears a thick white cast that reaches halfway up his right arm.

Uganda’s Daily Monitor newspaper reported on its website Friday that military forces and police fired live ammunition and tear gas at demonstrators in the eastern town of Mbale, some 200 miles (300 kilometers) outside Kampala. Demonstrators fought back with rocks.

1 10

CARIBBEAN NEWS DAILY CHALLENGE MONDAY, MAY 2, 2011

Bahamas airline targeting summer for launch of Cuba flights

By JAMMAL SMITH N A S S A U , Bahamas - Bahamas air carrier Western Air is inching closer towards launching its flights to Cuba, with the head of the carrier saying services will likely begin by the summer.

Director of operations at Western Air, Seyfert Wolf, told Guardian Business on Wednesday that a meeting is scheduled with the Department of Civil Aviation Air Transport License Authority on Friday to gain approval for its expansion of services into Havana, Cuba.

He is optimistic of a good outcome.

“We have a meeting with the licensing board

for approval for additional licensing,” Wolf said. “Once we get the approval we applied for then we’ll be able to move to the next stage and start planning and put everything in motion.”

Wolf mentioned that flights to Cuba should start by mid-to-late sum-

Jamaican government ready to discuss public sector wage freeze KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — The Jamaican government says it is now in a position to fully engage public sector leaders on issues relating to the outstanding seven percent salary increase owed to civil servants.

Opening the 2011/12 budget debate on Thursday, Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, said this decision follows consultations between government officials and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the matter He stated that in recent discussions with public sector leaders, it was intimated to them that the government would consult with the IMF, with a view to reducing the length of the wage freeze and how to treat the arrears.

“The Financial Secretary recently held these consultations and reported to Cabinet on Tuesday of this week. Accordingly, the government is now in a position to fully engage the public sector leaders, as to precisely how the wage issue can be resolved,” he said.

Shaw pointed out that the government was cognizant of the “difficult times” which public sector workers have faced consequent on the institution of the freeze on April 1, 2009.

“It is well known that (the) wage freeze was...scheduled to last for three financial years, to March 31, 2012. We must point out, however, that even while we have had a wage freeze in the public sector, it is not an absolute freeze, as the usual increments, averaging 2.5 per cent of the wage bill, have been honoured over the past two years,” he explained. He noted that these increases amounted to $3 billion.

The finance minister pointed out, however, that any solution must be affordable and “not undermine the hard-won gains” made in stabilizing the economy.

He added that it must also take into account the provision in both the IMF agreement, and the government’s fiscal responsibility framework, to reduce the public sector wage bill/GDP ratio.

- Douglas McIntosh

Western Airlines mer, adding that after the airline gains approval locally it will take about 30 days to gain approval from the aviation authority in Cuba.

After those approvals are granted, Wolf said the airline will have a 90-day window to prepare the service for the public.

The airline initially targeted the end of March to launch services into Havana, but regulatory approvals from the US are still pending.

Expansion into the US was also planned, but those flights will come on stream after the Cuba services are running, according to Wolf.

The airline’s route expansion plans included flights from Nassau to Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Havana, Cuba, as well as services from Freeport and Marsh Harbor, Abaco to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The only daily flights will depart from the three Bahamian islands to Fort Lauderdale, while the remaining services will operate on a Wednesday-FridaySunday schedule.

The Western Air executive also hinted at moving into the Dominican Republic market, saying the domestic carrier has a bit of interest in “filling the void” left by Bahamasair when it offered services to Santo Domingo.

An additional three aircraft would be needed for the expanded serv-

ice, according to Wolf in an earlier interview, adding that an additional 30 jobs would be created with the new routes — between 10 and 15 in ground operations and the same number on the flight operations side.

While the company is looking forward to its future expansion, the present routes are showing some promise as well.

“It looks like the economy is improving and that’s encouraging for us,” Wolf said. “We had a good Bimini regatta weekend and are looking forward to the Exuma one as well. It looks like the Bahamian traveler is starting to feel a little bit more confident and is doing some traveling, and we are ensuring that we are in a position to capitalize on that.”

St Vincent PM defends talks with predecessor TAIPEI, Taiwan — Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) Dr Ralph Gonsalves of the Unity Labour Party (ULP) says he does not need permission from anyone to collaborate with his predecessor, Sir James Mitchell of the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP).

Gonsalves and Mitchell recently discussed cocoa cultivation in SVG. Mitchell had, on behalf of the NDP, proposed cocoa cultivation during the campaign for the general elections last December.

The gentlemen have also “exchanged letters” about the

Interaction Council’s work on a Declaration on Human Responsibilities to be dealt with at the United Nations.

NDP president and leader of the Opposition Arnhim Eustace said that Mitchell had not informed him or the NDP — which Sir James founded in 1975 — of his discussions with Gonsalves.

Eustace, however, said that he welcomes any benefit to SVG that comes from the collaboration between Gonsalves and Mitchell.

Gonsalves noted to Vincentians in Taiwan that together he and Mitchell have been prime minster of SVG for 26 years since it gained independence in 1979.

Gonsalves, who came to office in 2001, said that only he and

Mitchell know what it is truly like to be prime minister.

Eustace was prime minister for five months before his party lost the March 2001 general elections after almost 17 years in office.

“I tell you, you do not understand the office of prime minister if you are prime minister for five months,” Gonsalves said last week.

“I don’t understand where this kind of vanity comes from. I certainly don’t require permission from anybody to talk to Sir James and I don’t think he requires permission from anybody to talk to me. I call up Mr. Eustace and talk to him. He is leader of the opposition. I don’t need permission from anyone,” Gonsalves added.

“The word prime

before minister means something you know. ... I am not being arrogant ... but, as a leader, I must have room, some scope to manoeuvre and to talk to people I want to talk to. That’s why you are called leader,” he further said.

Gonsalves said that, while Mitchell, an agronomist, had raised the issue of cocoa during the elections, the NDP did not include the proposal in its manifesto.

“It came as an afterthought because Sir James raised it on the platform and it sounded interested and they caught on to it,” he said.

Gonsalves said that he had discussed cocoa production with Hotel Chocolate 18 months ago but the company was interested first “in dealing with St Lucia”.

Most Americans would consider visiting Cuba if travel restrictions lifted HAVANA, Cuba among almost — Nearly 75 percent of all Americans would at least consider visiting Cuba if all travel restrictions were lifted, according to an informal survey carried out

1,000 people by Travel Leaders, a Minneapolis-based network of travel agencies.

The online survey relied heavily on social media such as Facebook and Twitter, and it was conducted from March

10 through April 10.

During this period, 953 consumers responded to the question: “If all travel restrictions are lifted, how interested would you be in traveling to Cuba?”

Among respondents, 20.2 percent said “I’d go immediately”; 33

percent said “I might consider going”; 21.8 percent said “I would go as soon as I believed Cuba was ready for Americans”; and 23.2 percent said “I have no interest in going.” The rest, almost 1.7 percent, said they had already been to Cuba.

CARIBBEAN NEWS DAILY CHALLENGE MONDAY, MAY 2, 2011

OECS/CARICOM embassy proposed for Taiwan

By KENTON X. CHANCE TAIPEI, Taiwan — There is no need for each Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) nation that has diplomatic ties with Taiwan to set up an embassy here, prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) Dr Ralph Gonsalves said last week.

Gonsalves told Vincentians in Taiwan that his government is proposing a joint OECS mission for SVG, St Lucia, and St KittsNevis, the three members of the eight-nation sub-regional grouping that recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation.

He is also open to a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) mission that will also represent Belize, in addition to the OECS nations.

Two of the Englishspeaking CARICOM nations — St. Kitts and Belize — that maintain relations with Taiwan have embassies here while SVG and St Lucia do not.

Haiti, CARICOM’s only French-speaking nation, also has an embassy in Taiwan.

“Frankly speaking, I’m hoping that we can have a mission for St Lucia, St Vincent, and St Kitts/Nevis; if possible, Belize,” Gonsalves said during an official visit here.

He said that he had

CAL board should go PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad Finance Minister Winston Dookeran has recommended that the entire board of the stateowned Caribbean Airlines (CAL) be dismissed and replaced with one headed by former British West Indian Airways (BWIA) chief executive officer, Conrad Aleong.

The Trinidad Guardian newspaper reported today that Dookeran, who is acting prime minister in the absence of Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar., who is out of the country, had submitted his recommendations two weeks ago.

The paper said the recommendations had been submitted to Prime Minister Persad Bissessar in a letter and follows the ongoing controversy within the George Nicholasled board of directors.

In his letter,

Dookeran said the present board “does not have knowledge or competence in the issues pertaining to airline business” and that it “does not have any appreciation for the issues of good corporate governance.

“The commercial stakes are high and the cost of political inaction will be high as well,” Dookeran wrote.

Two weeks after assuming office, the board fired former chief executive Captain Ian Brunton, indulged in a public rift and reconciliation with line Minister Jack Warner and then began infighting with each other. Warner already has presented a note to Cabinet, advising that the board be dissolved.

But Cabinet referred the matter to the Finance and General Purposes Committee and before her departure on Sunday for Brazil, the Prime Minister said she was awaiting a report before making a decision on the controversial board.

St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves discussed the idea with his Kittitian colleague, Dr Denzel Douglas before St Kitts set up its embassy here three years ago.

“The Taiwanese had said that they would provide for us the accommodation,” Gonsalves said in response to a question regarding whether his government was moving to set up an embassy in Taiwan.

“I don’t think we need to have three different set of buildings.

We can have one build-

ing. We can have an ambassador and we can have other members of staff. Let’s say for instance a Kittitian is the ambassador, a Vincentian can be in the staff to address the consular matters relating to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, in the way in which we do it in Brussels, in the way in which we do it in Ottawa,” Gonsalves said. “...I am hoping that we can get this thing sorted out ... I would very much like if we

can do this thing together, those of us who have the relations with Taiwan. I think it is easier on Taiwan, it is cheaper on us and we can work in a coordinated manner. I don’t see the problem,” he said.

Gonsalves further said that he had been discussing with Taipei’s ambassador to Kingstown ways in which Vincentians in Taiwan can access consular services in the absence of an embassy.

Panday retrial in June PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad The retrial of former prime minister Basdeo Panday on charges of failing to declare a London bank account to the I n t e g r i t y Commission will begin on June 13.

Panday, 78, who is being represented by his daughter, Mickela Panday, faces three charges of knowingly failing to declare the London bank account to the Integrity Commission in 1997, 1998 and 1999, in contravention of the Integrity in Public Life Act. In March 2006, Panday went on trial before then chief mag-

Basdeo Panday istrate Sherman Court of Appeal McNicolls who found quashed the conviction him guilty and sen- based on the possibility tenced him to a two- that he may not have year prison term. received a fair trial.

But he appealed the Panday served as conviction and on prime minister from March 20, 2007, the 1995-2001. (CMC)

11

Prisoners take 22 hostages at Venezuela prison C A R A C A S , Venezuela Inmates took 22 employees hostage at a Venezuelan prison to demand human rights guarantees and improved living conditions, authorities said Thursday.

The uprising inside El Rodeo prison began Wednesday, when inmates complained of a tuberculosis outbreak inside the lockup about 30 miles (45 kilometers) east of Caracas.

“Yesterday an irregular situation began involving some people who have been held against their will by prisoners,” Deputy Justice Minister Edwin Rojas told the staterun AVN news agency.

Rojas said the government was trying to resolve the standoff by talking to the inmates.

But he added that authorities “cannot allow demands to be made under these conditions because we have 22 people there, including men and woman who are social workers from the prison.”

The prison’s director and human rights activists were among the hostages, Rojas said.

Violence is common in Venezuela’s overcrowded and understaffed prisons, as is the case in many parts of Latin America.

Some corrupt prison guards help inmates gain access to firearms and other weapons.

New American

The

12

DAILY CHALLENGE MONDAY, MAY 2, 2011

One Thought - One Humanity

For the conclusions of these stories check out the April 28th - May 4th, 2011 issue of The New American, which hits newsstands every Thursday Jennifer Hudson is losing convinced weight has improved her singing ability as her vocal range is now nearly as extensive as it was during her teenage years.

The singer/actress embarked on a strict diet after giving birth to her son David in 2009, dropping 80 pounds within months and becoming a spokesperson for healthy eating plan WeightWatchers. She has now revealed shedding the weight has not only given her more confidence; it is also helping her voice.

Hudson tells British TV show Daybreak, “When I was in high school, I could do (sing) the whole piano. Now I’ve lost weight my voice is getting back to that same state.”

Warren G is seriously rising to the occasion -- because the guy’s peddling PENIS pills on brand new infomercials ... and even claims to use the sexual enhancement products to regulate himself.

Mariah Carey will not be adding to her family once her twins are born in the coming weeks. In an interview with Life & Style magazine, the pop superstar admits she’s “ready to be done” as a mom. She admits her pregnancy has been difficult at times and it would take “a much stronger person” than her to go through it all again.

But Carey admits she has cherished the experience of pregnancy after miscarrying a child in 2009. She tells the publication, “It’s all worth it.” The Hero singer is due to give birth next month but a series of recent scares suggest the babies could be born any day.

Stic Man from Dead Prez is gearing up for another solo album

release.

Toni Braxton has no plans to legally end her marriage to estranged husband Keri Lewis because she can’t bear to break the news to the couple’s two young sons. The star split from Lewis, a former member of R&B band Mint Condition, in late 2009 but the pair has remained close for the sake of their boys Denim, nine, and Diezel, eight. And Braxton admits she can’t see herself filing for divorce to finalize their split for fear of upsetting her children.

She says “We co-parent together. Sometimes he stays over with the kids; he’s very involved with his kids...April would have been 10 years (since we wed).

We’re, like, the best of friends. “We told the kids, ‘Sometimes mommy and daddy need a little break.’

That’s probably why I haven’t done a straight divorce yet.”

Jadakiss is prepping his new solo album but he may have abandoned his latest title.

Rihanna is being accused of causing costly re-editing delays on a commercial that she thought she looked fat in. After seeing the final cut of her charity public service announcement for UNICEF, she complained she looked heavier than usual.

According to Page Six, Rihanna’s “selfinvolved demands caused ‘extensive delays’” and held up the “the project’s launch for more than a week at a cost of more than $15,000.” However, a UNICEF rep is refuting the rumors, saying, “We’re surprised to hear that. She was not unhappy. We were very thankful.

Rihanna was very collaborative and very participatory.

What

was shot was what exists now.

No reshoots were done.”

This year at ASCAP’s 5th Annual “I Create Music” Expo, producer Pharrell Williams will host and may lend a few pearls of wisdom to attendees. The event, to take place in Los Angeles April 28-30, will feature performances, celebrity panels, and technology demonstrations, will educate artists and rising stars about the music industry and the latest hot issues. Last year’s event featured panels and performances by singer Bill Withers, Quincy Jones, Justin Timberlake and producer Dr. Luke.

Farrah Franklin a former member of Destiny’s Child was arrested for disorderly conduct over the weekend.

According to TMZ, Farrah was taken into custody in the Culver City area of Los Angeles, and alcohol may have played a part in the incident. The singer was released hours later on $100 bail. Farrah was fired from Destiny’s Child by fellow members Beyonce Knowles and Kelly Rowland in 2000, after being with the group for just five months.

On May 18, at Atlanta, Georgia’s Buckhead Theatre, the 14th annual BMI Unsigned Urban Showcase will take place.

Hosted by Grand Hustle Records’ DJ Drama and Lil Duval, the event is designed to provide information and entertainment to BMI members, looking to break further into the urban music industry. Performers for the event were announced this morning, and will include Def Jam Records star Rick Ross, as well as DJ Khaled protege Ace Hood.

Jennifer Lopez addresses past and present loves on upcoming album For many fans of Jennifer Lopez, Love? has been a long time coming.

After almost four years since her last effort, JLo’s seventh studio album, and first with new label Island Def Jam is easily her finest. Full of fantastic production, great hooks, killer melodies and a constant narrative through the tracks, Love?, due May 3rd, sees Jennifer Lopez back with a confidence and focused direction that we have not seen from her work in years.

The tone of the that she brought ghetto fabulousalbum is set perfectly from the out- ness to pop before Beyoncé started set with the number one hit On The killing off the other members of DesFloor. If you told us a few months tiny’s Child and plagiarising songs. ago that Jennifer Lopez would be the Second single I’m Into You evokes singer to release the most engaging the same reggaeton flavour of pop release of the year so far, we’d Rihanna’s What’s My Name? but have laughed in your face, but the adds so much sexiness to the track single when held alongside Brit- you can’t help but grind your hips. ney’s Hold It Against Me, Lady The album’s title track, freshly GaGa’s Born This Way and even rebranded with newly placed parenBeyoncé’s most recent effort Run thesis, (What Is) Love?, originally The World (Girls), is still the most appeared on the soundtrack for instant pop track of them all. Where Lopez’s most recent film The Back the others feel contrived and trite, Up Plan. Co-written by Wynter GorOn The Floor with its fantastic Lam- don, the song’s narrative seems eeribada sample, is a club record ly self-reflective for a track not writthrough and through. Still sitting in ten by Jennifer herself, as she questhe top 10 on iTunes in most mar- tions if she will ever find true love. kets, the song doesn’t look like it’s The song is obscenely addictive with going away anywhere soon, and this a fantastic vocal and great hook. It’s is a testament to just how addictive great to see that the track has stuck the song is. around from the older writing sesFrom there, Good Hit sees JLo in sions from the album as it very full fierce diva mode with the help much deserves it place on the with some mild auto-tune and a lot record. of swagger, further reminding us - Full Story In This Week’s New American Newspaper -

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DAILY CHALLENGE MONDAY, MAY 2, 2011

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DAILY CHALLENGE MONDAY, MAY 2, 2011

14

Blacks with liver cancer get fewer transplants

By JANICE M. HOROWITZ African Americans with liver cancer are less likely than whites to get a transplant for the disease, according to U.S. researchers.

And that gap hasn’t changed in a decade, they report in the journal Cancer.

“This treatment is expensive, high tech and on the rise — just the kind of perfect storm that leads to a disparity in care,” said study researcher Dr. Anthony Robbins of the American Cancer Society, who called liver transplants “a new lease on life.”

Liver cancer is a brutal disease, leaving just one in seven Americans alive five years after it has been diag-

nosed.

About one in 100 men in the U.S. develop the cancer at some point, while women are less than half as likely to do so, according to the American Cancer Society.

For the new study, Robbins and his colleagues tapped into U.S. hospital records on more than 7,700 liver cancer patients diagnosed between 1998 and 2007.

All of the patients in the study had the most common form of the disease, known as hepatocellular carcinoma, which affects 80% of all liver cancer patients.

According the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the liver infections hepatitis B and C are behind most cases of this type of cancer.

The researchers found

that over the first half of the study, white liver cancer patients had a 30 percent chance of receiving a new liver, compared to only 15 percent for blacks.

While the chances climbed somewhat during the next five years, the disparities remained. Taking into account if how soon the patients died — some might have died before they could get a new liver, for instance — blacks were 36 percent less likely than whites to undergo the surgery.

They were also 36 percent more likely to die within five years of their diagnosis.

Once blacks got on a waiting list for a transplant, however, the gap closed and they face the same survival odds as whites.

Robbins said the medical community has known for

years about the inequity in care between blacks and whites.

“After an intense effort to try to fix things and lots of thought and sensitivity to this issue, the disparity hasn’t gone away,” he said.

Although there are probably several reasons for the disparity, Robbins added, “the biggest driver is the difference in access to care at the early stages of the disease due to health insurance. And that needs to change.”

The average cost of surgery plus first year medical bills amounts to nearly $450,000.

The study also compared Asians and Hispanics to whites.

There was little difference in the number of liver transplants between whites and

Study: Stillbirths tied to secondhand smoke

By FREDERIK JOELVING Pregnant women who live or work with smokers may be at slightly higher risk of having a stillbirth, suggests a study that adds to evidence that even secondhand smoke can harm unborn babies.

Newborns also weighed a little less and had smaller heads if their mothers were passive smokers, Canadian researchers found.

“This information is important for women, their families and healthcare providers,” Dr. Joan Crane of Eastern Health in St. John’s and colleagues write in the BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Secondhand smoke is thought to expose people to about one percent of the smoke that active smokers inhale. According to the researchers, “undiluted side-stream smoke contains many harmful chemicals and in greater concentration than cigarette smoke inhaled through a filter.”

Those chemicals may harm the fetus in a variety of ways, for instance by restricting blood flow and possibly damaging the placenta.

Little is known about the risk of stillbirth in passive smokers, so Crane and her colleagues used a database of pregnant women from the Canadian provinces of New-

foundland and Labrador to shed light on the question.

They also looked at other birth outcomes, such as head circumference, which has been linked to kids’ intellectual development.

Of nearly 12,000 women in the database, 11 percent said they had been exposed to secondhand smoke.

The rate of stillbirth, in which the baby dies during the third trimester of pregnancy, was 0.83 percent in passive smokers and 0.37 percent in women who didn’t breathe tobacco fumes.

That doesn’t prove that smoke itself was the culprit, because other risk factors might be different between

the two groups.

Yet when the researchers accounted for several of those, including age and the women’s drinking and drug habits, passive smokers had more than three times the odds of stillbirth.

In other words, if smoke is indeed to blame, one extra baby would die in the womb for every 117 women exposed.

“This is huge,” said Dr. Hamisu Salihu, an expert on stillbirth at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

“We can now inform patients that exposure to secondhand smoke means they can lose their baby.”

That link had not been

firmly established until now, Salihu, who was not involved in the work, told Reuters Health.

On a global scale, the most common causes of stillbirth are complications during childbirth, infections like syphilis during pregnancy, health problems like high blood pressure or diabetes, fetal growth restriction — in which babies fail to grow at the proper rate — and birth defects.

Most miscarriages, on the other hand, happen in the first trimester and most are believed to be due to random genetic abnormalities.

Still, certain lifestyle habits have been tied to a

Hispanics. Asians had only a 19 percent chance of getting a new liver in the first half of the study, and a 24 percent chance in the following five years.

While that was much lower than whites, their disease tended to be less devastating and likely did not require a transplant in the first place, the researchers say.

Dr. Andre Dick, a transplant surgeon at Seattle Children’s Hospital who was not involved in the study, said the new research is important.

“This makes people aware that it’s getting to that waiting list that’s important and that’s where the real disparities are still showing up,” he told Reuters Health.

“And how the question is, how do we overcome them?” higher risk of miscarriage, including heavy drinking, drug use and, in some studies, smoking.

The Canadian researchers also found that babies born to passive smokers weighed 54 grams, or nearly 2 ounces, less than babies whose mothers lived and worked in smoke-free households.

And their heads were slightly smaller, too, measuring 0.24 centimeters (about 0.1 inch) less on average.

Salihu said head circumference has been associated with IQ, although the link is indirect.

“Policy makers should really take this matter seriously,” he concluded. “We need to enact laws to protect these babies.”

Hospitals to get cash boost for better care WASHINGTON — Hospitals that improve medical care for elderly patients, and reduce deadly errors, will get millions of dollars under an incentive program launched on Friday that aims to cut overall Medicare costs.

The government healthcare program for seniors spent about $4.4 billion in 2009 to care for patients who were harmed in the hospital, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Hospital readmissions because of faulty care cost Medicare, which is being targeted for budget cuts by both Democrats and Republi-

cans, another $26 billion.

Hospitals that meet the quality performance stan-

dards in 2012 will receive a share of some $850 million the following year. The funds will come from what Medicare otherwise would have spent for extra hospital stays.

“It’s a historic change,” CMS Administrator Donald Berwick told reporters on a telephone conference.

“For the first time hospitals around the country are going to be paid for inpatient acute services based on healthcare quality not just on the quantity of services they provide.”

The initiative to improve care quality was called for in President Barack Obama’s healthcare overhaul.

It aims to reduce costly errors and repeated hospital stays and to improve followup with patients to make sure they are following treatment instructions.

“It is the most important answer to the healthcare sustainability issue, achieving lower costs through high quality is the right way to do it,” Berwick said.

Medicare spending is expected to balloon over the next few decades as the 77million-strong baby boom generation retires and draws on the benefits.

Studies have shown that hospital errors are behind as many as 98,000 deaths a year in the United States.

NEW JERSEY

DAILY CHALLENGE MONDAY, MAY 2, 2011

Federal judge rules against Carl Lewis’ claim that N.J. residency requirement is unconstitutional

By MATT FRIEDMAN CAMDEN - In a setback to Olympic track and field champion Carl Lewis’ plans to run for state Senate, a federal judge today tossed out his claim that New Jersey’s four-year residency requirement for the office violates the U.S. Constitution.

Saying he is bound by two New Hampshire cases in which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld that state’s seven-year residency requirement, U.S. District Court Judge Noel L. Hillman dismissed Lewis’ contention that the 167year-old state requirement violates the equal protection clause and is rendered obsolete by technological

advances.

Hillman said candidates “should be familiar with the district, its peoples, its problems, its issues and the political structure. ... Even in the age of the internet, there is a meaningful difference between what one hears and reads on the computer screen, and what one hears and learns at the local coffee shop and firehouse.”

Lewis, 49, wants to run against state Sen. Dawn Addiego (RBurlington) as a Democrat in South Jersey’s Republicanleaning 8th Legislative District.

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, in her dual role as Secretary of State, kicked Lewis off the ballot Tuesday, overturning an administrative law judge.

Guadagno, a Republican, said Lewis did not meet the state

Constitution’s residency requirement in part because he voted in California as recently as 2009.

The decision does not dash Lewis’ hopes to run. His attorney, William Tambussi, has also challenged Guadagno’s decision in state appeals court and said he would appeal Hillman’s opinion in federal court. No hearing has been set in the state case.

“The whole object here is to get Carl Lewis on the ballot.

Whatever court wants to do it, I’ll accept it,” said Tambussi.

Tambussi also said Lewis is not a “carpetbagger,” saying he grew up in New Jersey and is known as a native of the state.

“Mr. Lewis is the Bruce Springsteen of track. He’s in the Hall of Fame - the New Jersey Hall of Fame,” he said.

15

N.J. lawmakers near vote to eliminate earlyrelease prison program

By CHRIS MEGERIAN TRENTON today Lawmakers moved toward eliminating the state’s controversial early-release program, which allows some inmates out of prison six months ahead of schedule.

Gov. Chris Christie and some lawmakers have blamed the program for two homicides allegedly committed by inmates released early.

Christie accelerated the program’s repeal last month with a conditional veto of related legislation intended to broaden the Parole Board’s discretion to review cases. The Senate approved the conditional veto today, sending the measure to the Assembly.

“There are no more excuses left,” Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak said in a statement.

“The Assembly must act immediately to repeal this dangerous failure of a law.”

Senators overwhelmingly backed repealing the program, but not without some debate.

Sen. Nia Gill (D-Essex) criticized Christie for what she called personal attacks on Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer), who sponsored the program.

Sen. Ronald Rice (DEssex), the only lawmaker to vote against repeal, was also critical, saying, “It wasn’t an assemblyman or a senator who killed these people.”

Others said ending the program was overdue.

“Two New Jerseayns lost their lives because of inaction in this chamber,” Sen. Tom Kean (RUnion) said.

Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) did not say how her caucus would vote on the issue, but said in a statement that “clearly concerns have been raised that warrant re-examination” of the program.

Since the program began on Jan. 3, 363 inmates have been released early, according to the Parole Board.

Twenty-two been arrested for new crimes. That includes Antoine Trent, 25, and Tyree Brown, 24, who were accused of attacking a police officer in Union Township last week.

Nearly 80 percent of N.J. school budgets pass, representing highest rate in a decade

By JESSICA CALEFATI Bound Brook Superintendent Edward Hoffman was not expecting his district’s budget to pass - voters in the Somerset County town have only approved the school budget twice in the past 15 years.

“In the best of years, you don’t expect our budget to pass,” Hoffman said.

But for Bound Brook and hundreds of other school districts across the state, the consequences of leaner budgets last year - including program cuts, teacher layoffs, and higher extracurricular activity fees - spelled a new result: New Jersey voters approved nearly 80 percent of the school budgets considered Wednesday, the highest rate of passage in a decade and a stunning reversal of last year’s record budget defeats, according to the New

Jersey School Boards Association.

“Voters understood the difficult choices many school boards had to make this year when developing their budget proposals,” said Raymond Wiss, president of the school boards association.

In total, New Jerseyans approved 429 of the 538 budgets considered, with 100 percent passage rates in Somerset, Essex and Morris counties. Most districts proposed budgets at or below the 2 percent tax cap Gov. Chris Christie and the state Legislature imposed last year.

Last year, Christie became a lightning rod for taxpayer fury over the economy by urging voters to “send a message” and defeat budgets in districts where teachers refused a pay freeze. His rhetoric helped lead six in 10 budgets to fail.

This year, Christie kept quiet on school budgets, and results swung dramatically in the opposite direction.

Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for the governor,

said the effective tax cap is the reason behind this year’s high budget approval rate, not Christie’s silence.

“What we take away from the results is that the new cap law worked as intended, keeping local spending under control and predictable and giving voters who pay the taxes final say on whether to exceed the cap,” Drewniak said.

Plainfield, Woodbridge and Bound Brook are a few of many districts where budgets were approved Wednesday after having been rejected last year. Other districts, however, had their spending plans rejected two years in a row, including Dunellen, Spotswood and Delaware Valley Regional.

New Jersey Education Association president Barbara Keshishian said voters sent a clear message in yesterday’s school budget elections: “Our students have suffered enough.

“Even though voters are still concerned about rising property taxes, yesterday’s results show that they are

Julie Reisig, of Bordentown Township, hands her voting ticket to election worker Marc Gutterson early Wednesday before casting her vote in the school budget elections. not willing to sacrifice out children’s future by cutting off funding for public education,” Keshishian said.

Sandy Giercyk, president of the Parsippany-Troy Hills Parent Teacher Association, said voters are starting to understand what it means to vote down a school budget.

After voters defeated Parsippany’s budget last year and the district endured

Christie’s repeated attacks on Superintendent Leroy Seitz’s salary, Giercyk said she was “ecstatic” about Wednesday’s approval.

“You as a taxpayer vote no, but you don’t get to pick what goes,” Giercyk said. “A ‘no’ vote loses programs and services. People think it’s going to decrease teacher benefit packages. It’s not.”

16

DAILY CHALLENGE MONDAY, MAY 2, 2011

Cirque to create Michael Jackson entertainment complex in Vegas Cirque du Soleil is getting deep into the Michael Jackson business — way beyond just the “Michael Jackson, Immortal World Tour.”

The Mandalay Bay hotelcasino on the Las Vegas Strip plans to open a sprawling entertainment complex that includes a Jacksonthemed lounge, an interactive memorabilia museum and a theater designed to replicate the music legend’s longtime home, Cirque du Soleil president Daniel Lamarre announced Wednesday.

“This place, Mandalay Bay, is going to become the home of Michael Jackson in many, many ways,” he said at an announcement at the casino attended by Jackson’s older brother, Jackie.

John Branca, co-executor of Michael Jackson’s estate, said the attraction will offer fans a permanent place to celebrate, as well as give

them the opportunity to see some of the objects displayed at Neverland Ranch.

“Very few fans would ever get to visit Michael’s Neverland Ranch because of its remote location,” he said.

Plans for the Las Vegas lodestone, set to open in 2013, are part of the budding business relationship between the acrobatic troupe and the pop star’s estate.

Cirque du Soleil’s homage to Jackson kicks off in October, with the most expensive show in the French company’s history. The $57 million “Michael Jackson, The Immortal World Tour” will open in Montreal and hit 30 cities including New York, Miami, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

The tour’s Las Vegas stop at Mandalay Bay will kick off with a fan convention in December as a preview to the permanent Jackson attraction.

Concept art for the touring show’s set prominently features a massive tree symbolic of a favorite oak that was outside Jackson’s Neverland bedroom. The singer nicknamed it the Giving Tree and had a perch built atop it where he wrote music and sometimes slept.

For Jackson’s “Thriller,” tombstones overwhelm the set in a nod to the music video’s horror-film motif and gyrating zombies.

Excerpts from Jackson’s music videos will be part of the 90-minute show, with no specific performer representing Jackson. “Immortal” will also feature as-yet-unreleased songs that Jackson finished before his death in 2009.

The tour then goes to Europe, Lamarre said, while Cirque producers open a more intimate, theatrical show at the new Las Vegas theater.

Jackson’s estate and Cirque will each own 50 percent of both projects and share equally in the cost of putting on the productions.

Tour director Jamie King said he searched for acrobats, dancers and musicians from across the world who could capture Jackson’s spirit and showmanship.

“I feel like I am not doing it alone, I feel like I am doing it with Michael as my codirector all the way,” said King, who has directed concert tours for Madonna, Rihanna and Celine Dion and is a former Jackson back-up dancer.

Jackson admired the Canadian troupe’s work and attended Cirque shows in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

His support, Lamarre said, helped build the company.

Cirque du Soleil has since become as ubiquitous on the Las Vegas Strip as all-youcan-eat buffets or buzzing slot machines, with shows in recent years honoring Elvis Presley, Celine Dion and the Beatles.

Mandalay Bay, long home to Disney’s The Lion King musical, has never hosted a Cirque show before.

Mandalay Bay President Chuck Bowling said the Jackson attraction will strengthen the casino’s financial health in future years.

The theatrical performance will take over The Lion King stage when that show closes in December, and some venues in the casino will have to be relocated to accommodate the mega attraction.

Lamarre said the changes will be permanent.

“The tradition here is our shows last forever,” he said.

Summer of superheroes ride to Hollywood’s rescue

By ZORIANNA KIT LOS ANGELES — It’s looking to be another summer of superheroes and sequels as Hollywood unleashes a barrage of pictures aimed at their core audience of young men.

Studios generate about 40 percent of their annual sales during the lucrative fourmonth summer season. But although ticket sales brought in a record $4.35 billion in 2010, that was due to higher prices.

The grim reality is that attendance has fallen for the past three summers, reach-

ing its lowest level last summer since 1997.

So what gives? Paul Dergarabedian, box office analyst for Hollywood.com, said alternative ways of watching movies from the likes of Netflix, Hulu and video on demand are giving movie theaters a run for their money.

“The immediacy of online delivery has created a competitive landscape for theatrical movie going,” Dergarabedian told Reuters.

Not that going to the multiplex is in danger of becoming extinct — so long as the product is good.

A year after “Iron Man,” “Twilight” and “Shrek”

sequels pulled in summer crowds, the studios are front loading many of their potential blockbusters early.

Summer cannot come soon enough for Hollywood with 2011 sales to date of $2.7 billion, down nearly 18 percent from last year.

“The cavalry is on its way to get the momentum going, so it’s all about big names and big franchises,” Dergarabedian said.

Guns might not be blazing, but hammers will certainly be pounding when the Marvel comic adaptation “Thor” — with a reported production budget of $150 million — kicks things off on May 6.

‘Spartacus: Blood and Sand’ finds its new Naevia TVGuide.com has confirmed that actress Cynthia Addai-Robinson will replace Lesley-Ann Brandt as Naevia in the Starz original series “Spartacus: Blood and Sand.”

In the prequel “Spartacus: Gods of the Arena,” Brandt played body slave Naevia to Lucretia (Lucy Lawless) and then eventually became the lover of Crixus the gladiator in the original series’ first season.

Brandt decided not to

renew her contract to appear in the second season, so producers recast her character with Addai-Robinson, who has appeared on “FlashForward,” “CSI: NY,” and “Chuck.”

This is the second actor from the series who has been replaced. Star Andy Whitfield had to drop out of “Spartacus’ to battle non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and Liam McIntyre stepped into his sandals for the second season.

“Spartacus” Season 2 will premiere in 2012.

Australian newcomer Chris Hemsworth stars in the title role as the God of Thunder.

Following in quick succession will be a fourth “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie (May 20), “Hangover” and “Kung Fu Panda” sequels (May 26) and “X-Men: First Class,” (June 3) a prequel to the franchise.

Before the season ends in September, two more superhero comic books will come to life including “Green Lantern” (June 17) and “Captain America: The First Avenger” (July 22).

Summer inevitably pits earthlings against intergalactic aggressors. Aliens will have two shots: in “Star Trek” director J.J. Abrams’ 1979-set “Super 8” (June 10); and in the sci-fi western “Cowboys & Aliens,” starring Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford (July 29).

On July 1, those shapeshifting robots return for a third attempt at taking over civilization in “Transformers: Dark of the Moon.” Primates stake their claim on August 5 in “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” a prequel starring James Franco.

But no doubt the biggest battle will occur on July 15 between wizards and witches, Muggles and Squibs, half-

bloods and humans as “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2” closes the chapter on the biggest movie franchise of all time.

With kids out of school, plenty of family films are on offer.

But familiarity abounds. Offerings include a wishfully titled book adaptation, “Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer” (May 20), “Cars 2” (June 24), “The Smurfs” (July 29), and “Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World 3D” (August 19).

Prefer some raunch with your popcorn? Edgy comedies are coming out full force this summer. A sequel to 2009’s surprise hit “The Hangover,” opens on May 26.

Two weeks earlier, on May 13, the ladies get to live it up in “Bridesmaids.”

Justin Timberlake stars in a pair of adult comedies, reuniting with real-life exgirlfriend Cameron Diaz in “Bad Teacher” (June 24) and teaming with Mila Kunis for “Friends With Benefits” (July 22).

“It’s at the point now where there are as many raunchy comedies as there are comic book movies,” said Dave Karger of Entertainment Weekly. “Every studio is chasing ‘The Hangover.’”

DAILY CHALLENGE MONDAY, MAY 2, 2011

17

Mike Tyson tattoo artist sues to block ‘Hangover’

By MATTHEW BELLONI LOS ANGELES — The man who gave Mike Tyson his distinctive facial tattoo has sued Warner Bros. over the similar-looking facial art on Ed Helms’ character in the upcoming comedy “The Hangover: Part II.” S. Victor Whitmill, an award-winning tattoo artist who calls the Tyson design “one of the most distinctive tattoos in the nation,” is asking for an injunction to stop the release of the highlyanticipated comedy sequel, set to bow in the United States over Memorial Day weekend at the end of May. “When Mr. Whitmill created the Original Tattoo, Mr Tyson agreed that Mr. Whitmill would own the artwork

and thus, the copyright in the Original Tattoo,” argues the complaint, filed Thursday in federal court in Missouri.

“Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. — without attempting to contact Mr. Whitmill, obtain his permis-

Studios team up on Martin Luther King movie

By BORYS KIT LOS ANGELES — While other Martin Luther King projects seem to be on the ropes, DreamWorks’ untitled biopic about the slain civil rights leader is starting to come together.

Kario Salem, best known for writing the 2001 Robert De Niro-Edward Norton drama “The Score,” is in negotiations to pen the project, which also sees Warner Bros. coming on board to co-finance and to distribute with Disney’s Touchstone label. (Disney is where DreamWorks is housed.)

DreamWorks acquired King’s life rights in May 2009. Not only did it secure the cooperation of the King estate, the studio also has access to King’s intellectual property, including his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

Warners, meanwhile, had been working on its biopic for several years and had a Salem script in deep development. Salem is said to have done three-and-a-half years’ worth of research and interviews when writing his screenplay.

But while the DreamWorks and Warners efforts were more or less under the radar, competing projects

began making a lot of noise.

“Precious” director Lee Daniels has been trying to raise financing for his take on the 1960s marches in Selma, Ala., and he has David Oyelowo attached to play King. Universal, meanwhile, was planning to finance and distribute “Memphis,” a look at MLK’s final days, to be directed by Paul Greengrass.

But those projects are having a tough time making it to the screen. Universal backed out of “Memphis” less than a month ago, leaving Greengrass to seek funds independently.

One major reason for the hurdles, according to sources, is the disapproval of the MLK estate, which is not afraid to exert pressure to stall projects it deems as unflattering to the civil rights leader.

In recent weeks, both DreamWorks and Warners realized that one project had the thumbs-up of the estate and the other was backed by years of research, meaning a team-up would best tell the MLK tale.

Salem will now write a new script with the estate’s backing. Three members of the King family — Dexter, Bernice and Martin Luther King II — are acting as executive producers.

sion, or credit his creation — has copied Mr. Whitmill’s Original Tattoo and placed it on the face of another actor ...

This unauthorized exploitation of the Original Tattoo constitutes copyright infringement.”

Warners declined to comment on the suit.

It’s an interesting lawsuit.

Copyrighted works are copyrighted works, no matter whether they are painted on canvases or walls or the bodies of former heavyweight champions. Whitmill attaches to the lawsuit his copyright registration for the “Original Tattoo,” as well as Tyson’s signed release granting rights in the work. (He also includes some photos of himself with the boxer while applying the tattoo in 2003 in Las Vegas.)

The designs do look very similar. And what makes the matter dicey for Warners is that the tattoo on the Helms character appears to be a direct comedic reference to Tyson, who appeared extensively in the first film. That might make it tough to

argue that the designs are merely coincidentally similar.

But Warners could argue that the copyright isn’t valid, or that the studio changed the design just enough to escape infringement, or that the use in the film is “transformative,” meaning it is depicted in a larger context and thus a fair use, or that’s it’s a parody. Whitmill also is challenging the use of the image in ad materials and trailers.

What’s scary for the studio is the request for an injunction to stop the movie’s release. A few years back, Warners was forced to fork over a hefty settlement to the author of the source material for its “Dukes of Hazzard” film when a judge issued an injunction weeks before the film’s release.

Mariah Carey gives birth to twins on wedding anniversary LOS ANGELES — Singer Mariah Carey on Saturday gave birth to twins, delivering a boy and a girl on the third anniversary of her wedding to Nick Cannon, her spokeswoman said.

The babies were born shortly after 9 a.m. local time at a Los Angeles hospital, said Carey’s representative, Cindi Berger.

Berger said the babies weigh over 5 pounds each, and the girl is 18 inches long while the boy is 19 inches.

The names of the children

were not immediately known.

Grammy winning singer Carey and Cannon, an actor and rapper, were married on April 30, 2008.

“Babies were born on their wedding anniversary,” Berger said in a statement. “Not even Mariah could plan that!”

Carey announced she was pregnant in October. At the time, Cannon said the couple delayed telling people about the pregnancy because Carey once suffered a miscarriage.

Oprah to host farewell bash at Chicago arena LOS ANGELES — Oprah Winfrey will host a free farewell bash at Chicago’s United Center on May 17 as the clock ticks down to the finale of her popular syndicated talk show, its producers said.

Big-name actors and musicians will be brought out to surprise Winfrey and the 20,000-odd guests at the basketball arena. The gathering, dubbed “Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular,” will air in two parts, on May 23 and May 24. The last episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” will air on May 25.

“As most of our viewers

know, being surprised is not one of Oprah’s favorite things,” executive producer Sheri Salata said in a statement. “In the spirit of our farewell season, she is making a rare exception and we intend to make the most of that opportunity.”

Tickets are available only through oprah.com.

Winfrey, regarded as the most influential woman on U.S. television, is stepping down from her Chicago-based talk show to devote more energy to her fledgling cable network OWN, a joint venture with Discovery Communications.

DAILY CHALLENGE MONDAY, MAY 2, 2011

18

Sony to resume some PlayStation services

By ISABEL REYNOLDS TOKYO — Sony said it would resume some services on its PlayStation Network this week and offer incentives to customers to try to prevent them turning to competitors after the theft of personal information belonging to 78 million user accounts.

Top Sony executives apologized for the massive data breach at a news conference in Tokyo on Sunday, the first public comments from senior management on the crisis.

“We apologize deeply for causing great unease and trouble to our users,” Kazuo Hirai, Sony’s number 2 and the frontrunner to succeed CEO Howard Stringer, said bowing deeply three times during a lengthy news conference. Stringer was not at the event.

Many PlayStation users around the world had been angered by the fact that the first warning of one of the largest Internet security break-ins ever came a week after Sony detected a problem with

the network on April 19.

The warning that user credit card information might have been stolen also came just hours after Sony unveiled its first tablet computers at an event where executives made no mention of the PlayStation breach.

Sunday’s news sparked thousands of comments on the official PlayStation fan page on Facebook, some of them from users who said they would switch to Microsoft’s Xbox Live games network.

Sony said it would offer some free content, including 30 days of free membership to a premium service to existing users and in some regions pay credit card renewal fees.

It said compensation would only be paid if users suffered damage.

Sony did not elaborate except to say there was no evidence that credit card details had actually been stolen. It has confirmed the theft of names and addresses.

Since the breach, security has been boosted on Sony’s computer systems, the company said, adding that

enhanced levels of data protection and encryption would be implemented. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation had been asked to probe the breach, Sony said.

“The negative impact on Sony is likely to be short-term, but the industry as a whole will suffer a longer-term impact,” said Kazutaka Oshima, president of Rakuten Investment Management.

“I think it will impact Amazon and other e-commerce businesses. Sony might have had some security problems but I don’t think they had a particularly big hole.”

Peppered with questions about accusations Sony was slow to inform users of the intrusion, a grim-faced Hirai said the company first wanted to know what kind of information had been stolen.

Hirai said he had known about the infiltration when he unveiled Sony’s first tablet computers on April 26.

“We made the announcement as soon as we could, which turned out to be the day after the launch,” said

Hirai, Sony’s executive deputy president.

The breach could be a major setback for Sony.

Although video game hardware and software sales have declined globally, the PlayStation Network is a key initiative for the electronics firm, which one analyst estimates brings in around $500 million in annual revenues.

Hirai said Sony could not yet assess the impact on earnings, but at this point saw no effect on the launch timing for its new hand-held games device or its tablets.

“This criminal act against our network had a significant impact not only on our consumers but our entire industry. These illegal attacks obviously highlight the widespread problem with cyber-security,” Hirai said in a separate statement.

“In addition, the organization has worked around the clock to bring these services back on line and are doing so only after we had verified increased levels of security across our networks.”

Smartphone boom lifts phone market in first quarter

By TARMO VIRKI HELSINKI — Strong demand for smartphones gave a further boost to overall cellphone market volumes in January-March and made iPhone supplier Apple Inc a rare winner on the market, research firms said on Friday.

IDC saw JanuaryMarch market growth of 20 percent, helped also by strong gains by smaller vendors as the three largest phone makers — Nokia Oyj, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and LG Electronics Inc — lost market share.

Apple’s iPhone sales more than doubled from a year ago, buoyed by strong sales on Verizon Wireless and additional carrier deals elsewhere, with market

share rising to 5 percent.

“The iPhone once again sold particularly well in developed economic regions of the world, such as North America and western Europe,” IDC said.

Apple is now within striking distance of LG, which had a 6.6 percent market share in the quarter. Nokia’s share dropped to 29 percent from 35 percent a year ago while Samsung slipped to 19 percent,

IDC said.

Blackberry-maker Research In Motion Ltd benefited from the smartphone boom in the quarter, winning market share, but warned late on Thursday its quarterly sales would miss earlier forecasts.

The Canadian group is in a transition period as it revamps its product line and launches its first tablet computer.

Separately Strategy Analytics estimated

handset shipments grew 17 percent from a year ago, driven by surging smartphone demand in mature regions and increasingly popular models with multiple SIM cards in emerging markets.

“The first quarter of 2011 was marked by supply-chain disruptions related to the Japan earthquake tragedy and by ongoing mild component constraints in areas such as touchscreens, memory and cameras,” said Neil Mawston, analyst at Strategy Analytics.

Mawston said component shortages would continue for at least the next six to nine months, causing restricted volumes or rising input prices, but operational challenges from this would remain minor for most manufacturers.

The incident has sparked legal action and investigations by authorities in North America and Europe, home to almost 90 percent of the users of the network, which enables gamers to download software and compete with other members.

Sony shares tumbled 4.5 percent on Thursday. Markets were closed on Friday.

It is unclear whether Hirai’s explanation will persuade users that the network is safe and investors that Sony’s strategy of exploiting synergies between hardware and content via online services, which he has expanded

to include movies and music, is manageable.

Hirai told the news conference that Sony would continue to build its network-related businesses as a key strategy for the company. Hirai was appointed to the No. 2 position in March after spearheading the development of networked businesses.

Sony is the latest Japanese company to come under fire for not disclosing bad news quickly.

Tokyo Electric Power Co was criticized for how it handled the nuclear crisis after the March 11 earthquake.

Last year, Toyota Motor Corp was slammed for being less than forthright about problems over a massive vehicle recall.

Samsung launches patent counterattack against Apple SAN FRANCISCO — Samsung Electronics filed its own U.S. lawsuit against Apple, accusing the iPad maker of infringing 10 patents in an escalation of the dispute over tablet and mobile technology.

The latest legal move comes after Apple sued Samsung earlier this month, claiming the Samsung’s Galaxy line of mobile phones and tablets “slavishly” copies the iPhone and iPad. Apple and Samsung are part of a wider web of litigation among phone makers and software firms over who owns the patents used in smartphones and tablets, as rivals aggressively rush into a market in which Apple jumpstarted with iPhone and iPad. Samsung is one of the fastest growing smartphone makers and has emerged as Apple’s strongest competitor in the booming tablet market with models in three sizes, but it remains a distant second in the space.

Samsung’s Galaxy products use Google’s Android operating system, which directly competes with Apple’s

mobile software.

Apple was Samsung’s second-biggest customer last year, mostly for semiconductors. The iPhone maker’s claims against Samsung focus on Galaxy’s design features, such as the look of its screen icons.

The lawsuit filed by Samsung on Wednesday in a California federal court follows litigation initiated against Apple in South Korea, Japan and Germany last week.

Apple copied many of Samsung’s innovations, according to Samsung’s U.S. lawsuit.

For instance, one of the patents Samsung accuses Apple of violating involves the ability for mobile phones to display the time, the lawsuit says.

“As users travel across time zones, the ability of a mobile device to update to the local time is important for tracking appointments and meetings,” the lawsuit said.

An Apple spokeswoman referred to a previous statement from the company, which accused Samsung of “blatant copying.”

DAILY CHALLENGE MONDAY, MAY 2, 2011

19

Gasoline prices dent U.S. consumers’ buying power

By LUCIA MUTIKANI WASHINGTON — U.S. consumers increased spending for a ninth straight month in March as they stretched to cover higher costs for food and gasoline, with inflation posting its biggest yearon-year gain in 10 months.

Despite the rising cost of living, Americans grew a bit more optimistic about the economy this month and even dialed down their expectations for inflation over the medium-to-long term, another report showed on Friday.

Consumers appear to be taking the high costs in stride, but could be put to the test if gasoline prices shoot above $4 a gallon. The national price for regular unleaded gasoline rose 3.5 cents to $3.88 in the week through Monday.

“My guess is that we are not going to see further increases in energy prices as we go through the year. Consumers will continue to contribute to the expansion, albeit in a supporting role,” said Richard DeKaser, an economist at the Parthenon Group in Boston.

Consumer spending, which drives 70 percent of the economy, rose 0.6 percent last month after advancing 0.9 percent in February, the Commerce Department said.

But prices rose a stiff 0.4 percent month-onmonth, leaving spending up just 0.2 percent after adjusting for inflation.

While commodity prices have robbed consumers of purchasing power, they entered the second quarter with a slightly upbeat outlook.

The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index rose to 69.8 from 67.5 in March. The survey’s one-year inflation expectation was unchanged at 4.6 percent, but the five-to-10year inflation outlook slipped to 2.9 percent from 3.2 percent in March.

Improving confidence and a strengthening labor market should support spending, even if gasoline prices remain elevated, economists say.

“We are looking for consumption to continue to grow in the second quarter, we will probably see (spending) growth pretty similar to what we saw in the first quarter,” said Daniel

Silver, an economist at JPMorgan in New York.

Consumer spending growth slowed to a 2.7 percent annual rate in the first quarter after a 4 percent rise in the final three months of 2010, the government reported on Thursday.

That gain, which took into account the spending data released on Friday, was a factor behind a slowing in overall economic growth to a 1.8 percent pace at the start of this year from the 3.1 percent expansion in the last quarter of 2010.

A third report showed factory activity in the country’s Midwest slowed this month, although it remained at a strong level and the data did little to shake economists’ convictions that growth would pick up in the current quarter.

Economists said tepid demand in the first quarter had left businesses with less of a need to rebuild inventories.

“The need for new orders and production to beef up inventories is greatly reduced and as a consequence, we are seeing the factory sector slow down somewhat,” said DeKaser.

“Manufacturing is

coming off a sprint earlier this year and still moving ahead at a healthy clip.”

The mixed economic reports had little impact on U.S. financial markets. Strong earnings from Caterpillar Inc, the world’s largest heavyequipment maker, and oil company Chevron Corp, put the Dow Jones industrial average in line for its best monthly performance since December.

The dollar fell to a three-year low against a basket of currencies on views the Fed’s monetary policy stance will remain accommodative.

Prices for U.S. government debt rose.

Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman said he was positive on the near-term outlook for

Lawmakers: Extend privacy codes to app makers

By JASMIN MELVIN WASHINGTON — Mobile privacy safeguards should also extend to third-party application developers, two lawmakers said after reviewing the practices of four major U.S. wireless carriers.

Representatives Edward Markey and Joe Barton, co-chairs of the House Bi-Partisan Privacy Caucus, released on Thursday letters they received from Verizon Wireless, AT&T Inc, Sprint Nextel Corp and T-Mobile in response to their inquiries last month about the collection, use and storage of location data.

The letters showed

the wireless carriers generally asked customers before accessing their location data.

But developers of popular mobile phone applications were less than forthcoming about their tracking.

“Third-party developers can access the location of customers any time they want,” Barton said. “They shouldn’t have free reign over your location data and personally identifiable information.”

Markey echoed this sentiment, saying consumer privacy protections must apply “across the entire wireless ecosystem — from wireless carriers, to mobile handset makers, to application developers.”

Markey and Barton grew concerned about location tracking after media reports found that Deutsche Telekom AG tracked the exact coordinates of a German politician using its service over a sixmonth period.

More recently Apple Inc has been caught in a firestorm that has broken out over whether it is monitoring the whereabouts of its customers, promising to adjust the mobile software to store less location data.

Google Inc, a fierce competitor of Apple in mobile computing, has also faced sharp criticism over reports that Android-based phones track the locations of users.

Senate Commerce

Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller will hold a hearing in May on consumer protection and privacy in the mobile marketplace.

Senator Al Franken said on Thursday both Google and Apple would attend his May 10 hearing, the first by the new Senate judiciary subcommittee on privacy, technology and the law.

It is unclear if this legislative scrutiny will lead to strict new privacy laws that will include app developers.

“You’ll see Congress give it a lot of attention, but it’s still going to be difficult to get comprehensive privacy legislation out of this Congress,” Medley Global Advisors analyst Jeffrey Silva said.

the U.S. economy, but that budget cuts were needed in Washington to lay a sounder foundation for growth.

“Instead of pointing fingers at each other, the (Obama) administration and members of Congress need to work hand in hand to find solutions that will position the U.S. economy for long-term strength,” Oberhelman said.

The spending report showed consumer prices up 1.8 percent from a year ago — the largest 12-month gain since May. An index of core prices, which strips out food and energy costs, rose just 0.1 percent from February, keeping its year-on-year gain at 0.9 percent, just a touch above the all-time low of 0.7 percent struck in December.

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DAILY CHALLENGE MONDAY, MAY 2, 2011

Kobe Bryant still limping

By DAVE MCMENAMIN EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Before the Los Angeles Lakers begin their second-round series against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, there continues to be some secondguessing about the state of Kobe Bryant’s guard sprained left ankle.

“I’m fine,” Bryant said after sitting out practice Saturday to rest the ankle that he hurt late in Game 4 of the Lakers’ first-round series against the New Orleans Hornets. “I finished off Game 4 fine, played Game 5 fine, Game 6 was fine [too].”

Bryant averaged 23.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.7 steals on 41.9 percent shooting in 36.8 minutes in Games 1 through 4. He had far less playing time in Games 5 and 6 (29.5 minutes per game), but his production level stayed about the same as he averaged 21.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals on 48.3 percent shooting.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson

would not go so far as to grant his star guard a clean bill of health, however.

“It still affects him a lot,” Jackson said. “This is not going to go away anytime soon. We’re just going to have to be very close to what he’s doing, monitor it a lot. I think that he’ll have limited amount of practice time, so it’s going to be something that he’s going to have to do in games that puts him on beam and the right position to help us out.”

Bryant said that he spent the team’s off day on Friday “getting healthier” and “resting,” but Jackson said that Bryant’s ankle has yet to fully recover after he sprained it six days ago.

“It’s tender to the touch still,” Jackson said. “He’s still limping when he walks.

It’s a limited amount of improvement.”

Bryant originally sprained his left ankle playing in Dallas on March 12, coincidentally. While Bryant called that injury against the Mavs the “scariest” sprain of his 15-year career, there is no fear among the back-to-

back champion Lakers ahead of their Western Conference semifinals against Dallas.

But there is a good deal of respect.

“We’re obviously preparing to play a different team, a very good team in the Mavericks — a very efficient team, very well-balanced in what they do,” said Derek Fisher. “They play hard, they play with passion, they play with energy.”

“They’ve been at a high level for a long time,” said Jackson, citing the Mavericks’ string of 11 straight seasons with 50-plus wins.

The Lakers won two out of three regular-season meetings with the Mavericks this year but finished with the same amount of wins (57) overall. Even though the Lakers have home-court advantage as the No. 2 seed against the third-seeded Mavericks, Dallas had the best road record in the league at 28-13 during the regular season. Los Angeles was second at 27-14.

“They’re a great team,” Bryant said. “They played just as well as we did during

the season. They had a stretch there where Dirk [Nowitzki] went down when they lost a bunch of games; other than that, they would have probably won just as many games as San Antonio did. So, they’re definitely a championship-caliber team.”

The last of the two teams’ meetings in the regular season, a 110-82 win by the Lakers on March 31, was marred by an altercation between Jason Terry and Steve Blake that led to a onegame suspension for Matt Barnes after he got involved and later pushed Dallas assistant coach Terry Stotts to the floor when Stotts was trying to restrain him from behind.

“It carries over,” Bryant said, when asked if that chippiness between the two teams will still apply to the playoffs.

Barnes, however, vowed not to allow it to affect his focus.

“This is the playoffs, it’s going to be a heated battle because of the simple fact that we’re both trying to get to the next round but I’m not worried about anything that happened in the past,” Barnes said. “I’m not carrying anything over. I’m not trying to go out there and

21

get in trouble and get technical fouls and hurt my team in any way.”

Jackson sounded a lot like Barnes when talking about his history of verbal warfare with Dallas owner Mark Cuban, downplaying the impact that he and Cuban lobbing barbs at one another through the media could have on the series.

“That doesn’t have anything to do with it,” Jackson said. “It’s not about generating animosity. This is about healthy competition.”

Jackson even took the edge off a dig he made at Cuban earlier in the season when he said, “[Cuban] provided a great roster that’s almost as good as money can buy. But not quite.”

On Saturday, Jackson said the Mavericks were “the best team money can buy, really. I think they’re really one of the better teams and I think the ownership has really supplied them good backup players and a lot of help.”

When asked about the quote, Jackson said, “We are too,” pointing out that the Lakers have the highest payroll in the league ($91.6 million), even higher than the Mavericks’ $90.8 million roster.

Jamaican sprinters, Felix star at Penn Relays PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania — Asafa Powell helped Jamaica defend the men’s 4x100m crown while Allyson Felix (right) aided two US women’s triumphs in Saturday’s “USA Versus the World” events at the 117th Penn Relays.

More than 180 athletes from 16 nations took part but Jamaica’s men and America’s women shined brightest at Franklin Field.

Powell, Michael Frater, Nesta Carter and anchor Steve Mullings won the 4x100m relay in 38.33 seconds, .10 ahead of USA Red’s Walter Dix, Wallace Spearmon, Trell Krimmons and Mike Rodgers.

Powell, Carter and Frater joined world record-holder Usain Bolt in setting the world 4x100 record of 37.10 in 2008. Only Bolt was part of the Jamaican squad that won the 2010 Penn Relays in 37.90, Bolt with an 8.79 anchor leg.

The other trio from the world record run joined

Mullings, who owns the season’s best 100m time of 9.90 seconds, in defending the title.

USA Blue’s Justin Gatlin, Darvis Patton, Shawn Crawford and Ivory Williams came third in 38.66.

Felix and Carmelita Jeter helped extend the US women’s 4x100m win streak to seven years, sparking USA Red to victory in a meetrecord 42.28 with USA Blue second in 42.64.

Jamaica was third in 42.74 with a lineup that included Olympic and world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser and Olympic medalists Kerron Stewart and Sherone Simpson.

Lauryn Williams ran the USA Red opening leg, then passed to Felix, who has been on the past five winning foursomes in the event.

She handed off to Marshavet Myers, who delivered the baton for the anhcor leg to Jeter, the 2011 100m world leader who has helped win the event three years in

a row.

Felix also helped the US women to an 11th 4x400m relay title in 12 tries against global rivals at the Penn Relays, joining Sanya Richards-Ross in claiming their fifth 4x400 Penn title in the US-World format.

Richards-Ross ran the fastest anchor leg in 51.18 to bring home the crown for a team that also featured opener Debbie Dunn, second-leg Felix and Natasha Hastings.

USA Blue was second in 3:23.17 with Jamaica third in 3:23.82.

US 400 hurdles stars Bershawn Jackson and Angelo Taylor rank the final two legs for the triumphant US 4x400 relay, joining opener Quentin Summers and Jamal Torrence to win for USA Red in 3:02.40.

Taylor’s anchor leg of 45.49 seconds was only fourth-best but still enough to give the Americans the victory over Chris Brownanchored Bahamas by .39 of a second with Grenada third

in 3:04.69.

Jamaica won a fourth consecutive women’s sprint medley relay crown in 3:34.64 with Kenia Sinclair’s 800m anchor leg of 1:57.06 putting the Caribbean squad across the finish line 3.17 seconds ahead of USA Red. The Jamaicans were .08 of a second off the world record set in Jamaica’s 2009 victory, when Sinclair’s anchor leg was .37 slower than this year.

Morocco team of

Mohammed Moustaoui, Marouan Maadadi, Mohammed Laalou and Amine Laalou won the men’s distance medley relay in 9:17.48, edging Australia’s Ryan Gregson, Sean Wroe, Lachlan Renshaw and Jeff Riseley by .08.

Bernard Lagat, a ninetime world or Olympic medalist, led off the USA Red squad that was third in 9:18.09 but the Americans have still never won the event at the Penn Relays.

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DAILY CHALLENGE MONDAY, MAY 2, 2011

Top pick Newton still aims high after overcoming bumpy road

By LARRY FINE It was hardly surprising after the turbulent year that he has endured that Cam Newton would be greeted by both cheers and jeers when he was named on Thursday as the NFL’s first pick in the annual draft.

The 21-year-old quarterback from Auburn University may well have been the outstanding College player last year but he remains a controversial figure that has traveled a bumpy road to the top.

His ability as a player is unquestioned and it was no surprise that the Carolina Panthers unhesitatingly opted for him as the number one choice, an honor that is sure to net him a fortune whole exposing him to life in the spotlight with a struggling team.

“It’s a great responsibility and I’m willing to take that,” Newton said about leading the offense of the Panthers, who finished an NFL worst 2-14 last season.

Newton started his college football career at Florida but after being found with a stolen laptop and dogged by

Quarterback Cam Newton of Auburn University is hugged by his mother Jackie after being selected as the first overall pick by the Carolina Panthers in the 2011 NFL football Draft. rumors of academic cheating he transferred to a junior college.

At Blinn College, he led the football team to a national junior college title before transferring back into bigtime U.S. college football at Auburn.

That process led to another crisis for Newton.

In the midst of Auburn’s brilliant 2010 gridiron campaign that featured the strong arm and bruising

running of Newton, a major controversy arose over his eligibility.

It was revealed that his father Cecil Newton, who played two seasons for the Dallas Cowboys as a safety, had tried to solicit payments from another university for his son’s services, in violation of strict amateur rules.

Newton was briefly declared ineligible to play but later reinstated after no evidence was found proving

he had any knowledge of his father’s activities.

In the end, the strapping 6-foot-5, 250-pound (113 kilograms) quarterback rose to new heights. He threw 30 touchdown passes and was intercepted just seven times.

He was a runaway winner of the Heisman Trophy, as the best player in college, and showed his ability to overcome criticism when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced at Radio City Hall on Thursday that he was the number one pick.

“Man, am I happy. I’m glad for it to be over. There’s been some sleepless nights,” he said.

“Oh, man, I’m relieved.

What I really want to do, I can’t do it. I just want to scream.”

Newton was asked if his selection made all his travails worthwhile.

“To some degree it does.

But at the same time, when I wake up in the morning, it’s another goal or a task at hand that I need to tackle.

You know, it’s transforming an organization that was worst and try to progress to be the first.”

Others before him have been paid richly to take on

that challenge. Last year, quarterback Sam Bradford signed a six-year, $78 million deal with the St Louis Rams.

With uncertainty surrounding the NFL labor situation it is not clear whether Newton can expect the same sort of deal.

“I’m really not focused on endorsements and money,” he said.

“That’s something that’s going to take care of itself.

The one thing I’m focused on, my number one priority, is getting in this organization and make steps as far as me becoming a better player.”

Newton has heard criticisms that he could have trouble adjusting to the more complex NFL game, but he is eager to prove skeptics wrong.

“I’ve learned a lot. I’ve learned that you guys have a job to do in critiquing each athlete to the core, but at the same time I have embraced this process...

“I’m not trying to prove nothing to no-one that I’m not trying to prove to myself, and I understand that I’m my biggest critic.”

Court restores lockout hours after players return

By GENE CHERRY SALVO, North Carolina — A U.S. appeals court granted the NFL’s request to put the lockout back into effect Friday in a decision that came only hours after players across the league had returned to work.

The ruling is a temporary “administrative stay” to give the Eighth District Court of Appeals time to evaluate the league’s main request for a stay pending appeal on the injunction imposed earlier this week.

“The clubs have been told that the prior lockout rules are reinstated effective immediately,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in an email statement.

The lockout began seven weeks ago after talks between the league and players over a new collective bargaining agreement broke down on March 11.

That led to a flurry of

legal activity and Monday the players succeeded in gaining an injunction from a district court to halt the lockout.

Adding to the atmosphere of chaos surrounding the league, the court’s order was issued while the NFL was carrying out the second and third rounds of their annual player draft.

The first impact of the return to the lockout is to put the brakes on any potential free agency deals.

Players at the first round of Thursday’s nationally televised draft, witnessed NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell being booed by fans who chanted “We want football.”

For a few hours on Friday, football did return to something close to normality.

Athletes worked out, chatted with coaches and picked up new playbooks as NFL teams began implementing rules for complying with a

judge’s order.

“It just feels good to come home, so to speak, and get back to football,” Selvish Capers, who was among a dozen players at the Washington Redskins facilities, told the Washington Post.

“It makes it easier to prepare for the season, being that our coaches are here and we have all the fields and equipment we need

here.”

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, a plaintiff in the players’ antitrust lawsuit against the owners, told CNBC he was confident there would be a 2011 season.

“There are too many players and too many owners that want it,” said Brady.

“There needs to be compromise.

“There are going to be a lot of talks that take place, a lot of negotiating sessions, and hopefully a lot of compromise comes from that.”

The legal wrangling could take months before a resolution, experts have said. At issue between owners and players is how to divide the $9 billion in revenue America’s most popular sport takes in each year.

Final pick Ozougwu is ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ Rice University linebacker Cheta Ozougwu earned the 2011 “Mr. Irrelevant” award Saturday by being the last player taken in the NFL draft.

Ozougwu was selected by the Houston Texans with the 254th and final pick of the seven-round draft.

The pick wrapped up three days of drafting by NFL teams at Radio City Music Hall in New York, which was

conducted under the shadow of a renewed lockout of players by team owners.

The title “Mr. Irrelevant” was coined by former NFL receiver Paul Salata in the 1970s when he instituted a one-week vacation trip in Newport Beach, Calif., in honor of the last player taken in the draft, during which he is treated to golf tournament, a regatta and a roast.

DAILY CHALLENGE MONDAY, MAY 2, 2011

23

10 things we learned from the 2011 NFL draft

By DOUG FARRAR 1. The Cincinnati Bengals are moving on Two offseason issues plagued the Bengals in the offseason: What to do about Twitter-happy (but team unhappy) Chad Ochocinco now that he’s thrown head coach Marvin Lewis under the bus in several social media instances, and how to replace quarterback Carson Palmer after his threats to retire.

Team owner Mike Brown has said that the Bengals would not trade Palmer, but it sure seems as if the front office is getting ready for the inevitable post-labor standoff.

Brown and his minions took Georgia receiver A.J. Green with the fourth overall pick and TCU quarterback Andy Dalton in the second round.

Green was the best wideout in this draft class (think Randy Moss Lite), but Dalton impresses more with his intangibles, throwing the deep ball a lot like Palmer after injuries took a toll.

2. The Washington Redskins have finally embraced the draft concept After abdicating the draft altogether in some seasons through the Vinny Cerrato era (or at least it seemed that way; there was the one year in which Vinny tried to give the Bengals about half his picks for the aforementioned Senor Ochiconco), Mike Shanahan has endeavored to turn over a new leaf in the nation’s capitol. Trading down multiple times to get several extra selections, Shanahan and GM Bruce Allen picked up several defenders who look to be better fits in Jim Haslett’s hybrid defense, including Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan and Clemson DT Jarvis Jenkins. Getting players who actually fit the hybrid defenses you’re playing? What a concept!

3. Da’Quan Bowers’ knee and Ryan Mallett’s issues were legit At one time, Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers and Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett were thought to be guaranteed high first-round picks. Bowers for his explosive pass rush and devastating run defense, and Mallett for the best arm in this draft class (and perhaps the last few draft classes). But the worry about the effects of a torn meniscus suffered

halfway through the 2010 season pushed Bowers down to the 19th pick in the second round to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mallett, whose rocket arm was negated in the minds of many by his relative lack of mobility and alleged off-field dings, dropped even further — to 74th overall. The good news for Mallett is that he went to New England, where he’ll see the position played about as well as it can be.

4. The rest of the NFL may want to double up their guards when playing Detroit Yeouch. Last year, the Detroit Lions took defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh with the second overall pick, and Suh plowed a path of destruction on his way to the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

Pairing him with Auburn tackle Nick Fairley, whose disruptive abilities rival Suh’s in the minds of some, seems unfair. Head coach Jim Schwartz and defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham have more flexibility with their tackles. Suh also showed the ability to wreak havoc outside in three-man fronts, and the Fairly/Suh combo could be just about unblockable when stunting inside.

5. The Atlanta Falcons think they’re a Super Bowl team There’s no other reason to do what they did in the first round, trading up from the 27th overall pick, taking the Cleveland Browns’ sixth pick, and giving up five total picks — three in 2011 and two more in 2012 — for the right to get

Alabama receiver Julio Jones.

No doubt that Jones is a great player, but it wasn’t a lack of receiver talent that got the Falcons booted out of the playoffs against the eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers; it was the defense’s tendency to look like a clown school against Aaron Rodgers. Atlanta also traded two late-round picks to move up and take Oregon State running back Jacquizz Rodgers.

Atlanta’s draft strategy this year can be summed up in four words: “This had better work.”

6. Failing a drug test at the scouting combine is a very, very bad idea If you don’t believe us, just ask Georgia outside linebacker Justin Houston and Iowa defensive lineman Christian Ballard. The news came out this week that each player had reportedly failed tests for marijuana at the combine, which is about the dumbest drug test failure you can manage — it’s not exactly random and surprising. As a result, Houston dropped from where most people had him projected (late first or early second round) to the seventh pick in the third round, where the Kansas City Chiefs picked him up. Things were worse for Ballard, who was taken by the Minnesota Vikings early in the fourth round after most people thought he’d be gone by the mid-second.

7. The Seattle Seahawks want to punch you in the mouth Seattle went into the draft supposedly needing a franchise quarterback, but you

wouldn’t have known it by the way they went about the first three rounds of their draft.

While millions of mock drafts had Pete Carroll and John Schneider going with Dalton, Mallett or some other midround prospect, the Seahawks took a right tackle (Alabama’s James Carpenter) with their first-round pick, traded out of the second round and picked up Wisconsin guard John Moffitt in the third. It’s a sea change for a team that hasn’t had a powerful offensive line in years. When one member of the local media asked line coach Tom Cable about Carpenter’s rumored “finesse” blocking style, Cable gruffly responded that he didn’t take finesse guys. Well, alrighty then! (And by the way, the Seahawks didn’t take a quarterback with any of their nine draft picks).

8. The Broncos are John Fox’s team as much as John Elway’s For all the pre-draft talk about how John Elway didn’t see a franchise quarterback on the current roster, the Broncos certainly went more to the defensive leanings of head coach John Fox when all was said and done. Made sense, really — while Denver’s offense was fairly functional in 2010, the defense was a sinkhole. That’s why they took Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller and UCLA safety Rahim Moore up top, and filled out the draft with linebacker Nate Irving of N.C. State, linebacker Mike Mohamed and Oklahoma defensive lineman Jeremy Beal.

9. Don’t invite the Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears to the same party It started out as just another draft pick timing disaster in which Mike Tice was tangentially involved, and has developed into an NFL version of “Playin’ the Feud!” It started with the Chicago Bears calling the Ravens and asking to move up to snag Baltimore’s 26th overall pick. After some discussion, GM Ozzie Newsome agreed to Chicago’s offer — and that’s where it got weird. Chicago somehow failed to confirm the trade in time, which meant that the Ravens were basically on the hook for a draft pick they thought they’d traded. They wound up passing, quote to their surprise. After the Kansas City Chiefs selected Pitt receiver Jon Baldwin, the Ravens sashayed back in and got Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith, the guy they wanted all along.

The Ravens wanted the Bears to give them the fourthround pick they had agreed to, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell even recommended that the Bears do so.

But Bears GM Jerry Angelo felt differently. “The only thing I’m gonna say [is] they have rules when you do something wrong, not when you make mistakes,” Angelo said on Friday. “A mistake was made. No rule was broken.”

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti? Not amused. “I’m disappointed in the Bears and the McCaskeys,” Bisciotti said. “It is in my opinion a deviation from their great legacy,” Bisciotti said. “They concluded that their heartfelt and admirable apology was sufficient for our loss. All of us at the Ravens strongly disagree ... probably end of story.”

And probably end of story if Angelo ever feels like doing any further deals with the Ravens.

10. Appalachian State is still beating Michigan.

On September 1, 2007, Appalachian State shocked the Michigan Wolverines (and the rest of the world) by beating them, 34-32. On April 30, 2011, Appalachian State (Daniel Kilgore, Mark Legree, D.J. Smith) shocked the Wolverines again (Jonas Mouton, Steve Schilling) by beating them, 3-2, in draft picks.

Some teams just have other teams’ numbers.

MONDAY, MAY 2, 2011

NEWTON STILL AIMS HIGH It was hardly surprising after the turbulent year that both cheers and jeers when he was named as the he has endured that Cam Newton would be greeted by NFL’s first pick in the annual draft.

SEE PAGE 22.

FINAL PICK OZOUGWU IS ‘MR. IRRELEVANT’ Rice University linebacker Cheta Ozougwu earned the 2011 “Mr. Irrelevant” awardby being the last player taken in the NFL draft.

SEE PAGE 22.