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Sunday, December 23, 2012

Will he or won't he? Italy awaits Monti's decision

Italian Premier Mario Monti delivers his speech at the Foreign Ministry on the occasion of the Italian Ambassadors conference in Rome, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. Monti's speech in Rome was his last official act as premier. He has pledged to step down as soon as Parliament gives final passage to the budget law, which happened just as diplomats were giving Monti a standing ovation. Italian news reports say he is expected to hand in his resignation Friday evening after his last Cabinet meeting. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

In this photo released by the Italian Presidency, the general secretary Donato Marra officially announces the resignation of Mario Monti at the Quirinale presidential palace in Rome Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. Mario Monti handed in his resignation to Italy's president in Rome on Friday, bringing to a close his 13-month technical government and preparing the country for national elections. President Giorgio Napolitano -- who tapped Monti in November 2011 to come up with reforms to shield Italy from the continent's debt crisis -- asked Monti to stay on as head of a caretaker government until the national vote, expected in February. (AP Photo/Antonio Di Gennaro, Italian Presidency ho)

Italian Premier Mario Monti moves his tag name as he delivers his speech at the Foreign Ministry on the occasion of the Italian Ambassadors conference in Rome, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. Monti pledged to resign as soon as the budget law is passed after Silvio Berlusconi yanked support for his government, accelerating national elections now expected in February. The budget law was approved Friday afternoon. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

ROME (AP) ? Italy's president dissolved parliament Saturday, setting the stage for general elections in February and leaving only one lingering question from Premier Mario Monti's 13-month term trying to fix Italy's troubled finances: whether he will run.

Monti will announce his decision Sunday, ending weeks of speculation and jockeying that have dominated Italy's political discourse and preoccupied much of Europe, which is eager to see Monti's financial reforms continue in the continent's third-largest economy.

With polls showing a Monti-led list would only garner about 15 percent of the vote, all signs indicated he would refrain from campaigning or even allowing his name to be used on a political ticket grouping a handful of small centrist parties.

"Monti leaning towards a 'no'," the Turin daily La Stampa headlined Sunday. "Monti pulls back on running," Corriere della Sera said on its front page.

Whether he might endorse a centrist movement is another matter.

"It's clear that Monti's candidacy would give authority to our political platform, but we'll respect his choices, whatever they may be," said Pier Ferdinando Casini, one of the centrist leaders who have been actively courting Monti in recent weeks.

Monti resigned Friday after ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi's party withdrew its support from his technical government, forcing a crisis that brought a premature and chaotic end to the legislature's five-year term.

Monti was tapped by Italy's president to lead the country in late November 2011 after Berlusconi was forced to resign, having lost the confidence of international markets in his ability to save the country from a Greek-style debt crisis.

The respected economist and former European Union commissioner won back a degree of international credibility for the country through a series of tax hikes and fiscal reforms that were deeply unpopular at home. Italy's borrowing rates have come down significantly, thanks also to the European Central Bank's bond-buying program.

Monti's resignation set in motion a series of procedures that culminated with President Giorgio Napolitano signing a decree Saturday to dissolve parliament.

Polls indicate the center-left Democratic Party will win the vote, with the upstart populist movement of comic Bepe Grillo coming in second and Berlusconi's People of Freedom party coming in third.

Berlusconi's party has been in disarray ever since he resigned, with defections of top party leaders and chaos over whether the billionaire media mogul will run himself. He has flip-flopped several times about his intentions, with his latest that he would run but would step aside if Monti runs.

Berlusconi's party has also been discredited by a series of party funding scandals that have seen dozens of local politicians placed under investigation for allegedly misusing public funds for personal use. He also was convicted of tax fraud in October and is on trial on charges he paid for sex with an underage woman. He has denied the charges and is appealing the conviction. He also recently announced he was dating a woman nearly 50 years his junior.

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Follow Nicole Winfield at www.twitter.com/nwinfield

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-12-22-Italy-Politics/id-f1f949592e7c4ce48de7028c532a4fb1

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Don't give up your dead | Northern Star

Topics:? funeral director

TAKE YOUR TIME: Funeral director Lisa Laversage of Nimbin pictured at her home office Doug Eaton

"WHEN someone dies, don't pick up the phone, pick up the kettle," says Nimbin funeral celebrant Lisa Liversage.

Ms Liversage is passionate about death and dying and says there is no need to rush things once a person has died.

"Once you make that call you lose control," she said.

"There is a push to get things done quickly, it is a production line."

Instead, the family of the deceased should pause and think through what they would like to happen next. Are they ready to have the body removed from the home?

"The body can stay in the home for up to five days," Ms Liversage said.

"We give it to funeral directors to deal with, but you can be part of the death care process."

Ms Liversage, who has worked as a palliative care nurse, mortuary technician, forensic mortician, undertaker for the coroner and has qualifications in trauma and grief counselling, said the family could be involved in washing and dressing the deceased. By keeping the body at home longer the family were better able to grieve, she said.

"We need to look after our own, that is what we did 80 years ago. "Death is one of the most important parts of life. We are all going to die."

Cooling blankets could be used to extend the period of time a body should be kept in the home, she said.

Ms Liversage said most funeral directors were trained to not get emotionally involved, but she took the opposite view.

"You develop a personal relationship with the family, and I always get emotionally involved," she said.

"They are trusting you with their deceased one."

"I would like to change how things are done."

Ms Liversage opened Nimbin Funeral Services five months ago, and offers chemical-free funerals AND eco-friendly embalming.

Source: http://www.northernstar.com.au/news/dont-give-up-your-dead/1695505/

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Student?s plan to come to school as Santa goes awry

A student?s apparent innocent promise of a surprise at his high school left him surprised?when he was suspended.

The Georgia Crawford County High School sophomore John George III had planned to come to school dressed as Santa. He posted on his Facebook page "Students of cchs ur in for a big surprise tomorrow ." But someone who saw the post found it threatening?and called the police.

According to local station 13WMAZ, police said the teen?s mother confirmed that George had bought a Santa costume, and that he had told police that he and his friends planned to dress up as Santa and his elves?and hand out candy canes. He had even alerted a teacher to his idea.
Police investigated and found no cause for concern. But Crawford High School principal Mike Campbell was not convinced, saying he found the post disturbing. He had George suspended while the school investigates.

Roberta police chief Ben Thomas told the Georgia station that nervousness around the Newtown, Conn., school massacre could be to blame.? "I guess it could have been that, with all the stuff that happened in the elementary school last week, the shootings and all, have people concerned."
George?s father, John, said the school over-reacted. "We don't own any guns. We don't have any of that stuff going on here and we don't believe in it. We're a good family. He's a mouthy kid like all of them, but he comes back in tune with everything and doesn't cause any problems."

The suspended teen added that "taking something innocent like this and turning it into, like, World War II, it's ridiculous."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/student-plans-come-school-santa-confused-violent-threat-174737767.html

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Saturday, December 22, 2012

Obama says he is 'ready and willing' to get deal

WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama says he is "ready and willing" to get a big package done to deal with the "fiscal cliff" and says there's no reason not to protect middle-class Americans from tax increases.

Obama says he spoke Friday with House Speaker John Boehner and met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. He says Congress should pass a plan to extend tax breaks for the middle class and extend unemployment benefits.

Obama says no one can get 100 percent of what they want and there are "real consequences" to how they deal with the across-the-board tax increases and steep spending cuts scheduled to kick in Jan. 1. Economists fear the combination could deliver a blow to the U.S. economy.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-says-ready-willing-deal-224559943--politics.html

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Monday, December 17, 2012

Corinthians beats Chelsea 1-0 for world club title

Corinthians players and team staff pose for a group photo during an award ceremony after beating Chelsea FC 1-0 in their final match to win the FIFA Club World Cup soccer tournament in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

Chelsea FC's Gary Cahill, left, reacts after receiving a red card during the final match against Corinthians at the FIFA Club World Cup soccer tournament in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

Corinthians' Paolo Guerrero celebrates after scoring a goal against Chelsea FC during the final of the FIFA Club World Cup soccer tournament in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

Corinthians' Paolo Guerrero, right, celebrates after scoring a goal against Chelsea FC during their final match at the FIFA Club World Cup soccer tournament in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

Chelsea FC's Fernando Torres, right, reacts after his shot saved by Corinthians' goalkeeper Cassio during the final of the FIFA Club World Cup soccer tournament in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) ? Brazil's Corinthians ended Europe's five-year winning streak at the Club World Cup, beating Chelsea 1-0 Sunday night behind Paolo Guerrero's goal off a scramble in the 69th minute.

Paulinho broke into the box and laid the ball off to Danilo, whose shot deflected off the legs of defender Gary Cahill. The ball bounded to Guerrero, and the Peruvian headed the ball past goalkeeper Petr Cech and defenders David Luiz and Ashley Cole, who all were on the goal line.

Fernando Torres headed the ball into the goal in the second minute of stoppage time but was ruled offside.

"You could see today from the first minute it was going to be tough, they were very physical and organized," Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez said. "We had many chances but their 'keeper was man of the match."

Corinthians, which won the inaugural tournament in 2000, joined Barcelona as the only teams to win the title twice.

Goalkeeper Cassio made several important saves, giving to stop Cahill's shot in the 11th minute and Victor Moses' angled effort in the 39th.

"This victory is the result of teamwork. Each player played his own role," Corinthians coach Tite said. "There were a lot of elements to this victory. We created many chances and it was a high quality match for us. We used our marking system in the second half. We did get tired but we stayed calm"

Chelsea finished a man short after Cahill was give a red card for a rough challenge on Emerson in the 90th.

Frank Lampard, back from a right calf injury, captained Chelsea in his third appearances and first start since Oct 23.

"We knew it was going to be a tough game," Lampard said. "They were very organized on counterattack. It was disappointing to come all the way out here and not win it."

Benitez was in his third world final, following a loss with Liverpool in 2005 and a win with Inter Milan two years ago.

The tournament was the first to feature goal-line technology. Magnetic-field-based system GoalRef was used at Yokohama Stadium ,while Toyota Stadium was equipped with the camera-based Hawk-Eye system. There were no close calls, however.

Mexico's Monterrey defeated Egypt's Al-Ahly for third place on goals by Jesus Corona in the third minute and Cesar Delgado in the 66th.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-12-16-SOC-Club-World-Cup/id-a752f01777504548a13c08f78a67dbae

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Sunday, December 16, 2012

State: Big surge in Calif. smokeless tobacco sales

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- While cigarette sales have plunged, sales of smokeless tobacco products have surged in the past decade in California, with use among high school students especially leaving state public health officials concerned, according to a state report.

The report released Thursday by the Department of Public Health says the amount spent on smokeless tobacco products has nearly tripled in 10 years, from $77 million in 2001 to about $211 million in 2011.

Among high school students, smokeless tobacco use has increased from 3.1 percent of students in 2004 to 3.9 percent in 2010, the report said.

Chewing tobacco and snuff remain the main smokeless products sold in the state, but newer products like the small, dissolvable packets known as snus have seen an increase in popularity, promotion and availability. Even smaller and more discreet dissolvable products like orbs and strips are becoming popular in other states and are likely to arrive in California soon.

Colleen Stevens, branch chief of the tobacco control program for the Department of Public Health, said the newer products can go unnoticed and even be used in classrooms because they closely resemble breath mints and strips.

"Some of these products are really flying under the radar," Stevens told the Los Angeles Times.

Stevens said there is far less research on the newer smokeless tobacco products than on chewing tobacco and cigarettes, and there are fewer restrictions on their marketing and advertising.

Illegal sales of all forms of tobacco to minors increased in the past year, reversing a downward trend since the mid-1990s, according to the report.

The highest share of illegal sales to minors came in unusual outlets like discount stores, delis and discount shops where the owners may not be entirely aware of the laws and penalties and can escape the notice of law enforcement.

"Kids are smart," Stevens told the Times. "All it takes is one place that is selling tobacco and it goes through the grapevine and kids know where that store is."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/state-big-surge-calif-smokeless-025013382.html

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Saturday, December 15, 2012

TV Ad Volume to CALM Down

Thanks to a new law, TV viewers won't have to reach for the remote to save their hearing when Grey's Anatomy cuts to commercial tonight.

The CALM Act , signed by Obama in 2010 and passed by the Federal Communications Commission a year ago today, puts a stop to blaring ads that come on at a higher volume than the shows they interrupt.

CALM stands for Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation. The regulations require cable and broadcast stations to keep commercials no louder than the average volume of the show they accompany.

The original bill was passed in September 2010 during the lame-duck session of Congress. More than two years later, ultra-loud commercials could mean repercussions for the stations broadcasting them.

Communications commission staff will rely on viewers to report noisy ads that they think are out of compliance.

The FCC gave television stations a year to implement the new rules. Stations can apply for an extension. Two waivers have already been granted, but by mid-March both of those stations will also have to get the ads under control.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, R-R.I., sponsored the CALM Act when it was first introduced three years ago on Dec. 8, 2009.

"Loud TV commercials have been among the most common consumer complaints to the FCC for decades now," Whitehouse said in an email today. "While this is a small issue compared to the big challenges facing our nation, it is an unnecessary annoyance in the daily lives of many Americans, and I'm glad to have done something about it."