четверг, 15 марта 2012 г.

A Gold Coast for U.S. // Dream Team II Hammers Russia

UNITED STATES 137 RUSSIA 91

TORONTO Dream Team II came out with all guns blazing Sunday in SkyDome, determined to reclaim the gold medal at the WorldChampionships.

The United States hit its first 10 shots and 16 of its first 17in cruising to a 137-91 victory over Russia. The Americans scoredthe game's first nine points and led all the way. Their biggestlead was 49 points.

With eight players scoring in double figures, Dream Team IIswept the tournament 8-0 to give the United States its first goldmedal in eight years and third in 12 tournaments.

"It doesn't get any better than this," said forward DominiqueWilkins, Dream Team II's oldest player …

Spain wins 2nd in a row at Hopman Cup

PERTH, Australia (AP) — Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues and Fernando Verdasco were nearly perfect in mixed doubles at the Hopman Cup on Tuesday, beating China's Li Na and Wu Di 6-0, 6-2 to clinch a 2-1 team victory.

Verdasco also beat Wu 6-3, 6-4 in singles after French Open champion Li gave the Chinese a 1-0 lead with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Medina Garrigues.

Spain won …

Florida's Meyer rips reporter in defense of player

With a stern look and some finger pointing, Florida coach Urban Meyer had harsh words for a reporter following spring practice Wednesday.

Meyer, speaking for the first time in a week, confronted an Orlando Sentinel reporter and defended receiver Deonte Thompson.

It was unclear why Meyer took issue with the Sentinel's story.

Reporter Jeremy Fowler quoted Thompson as referring to John Brantley as "a real quarterback," in comparison to Tim Tebow.

The exchange was caught on video, captured by a photographer and witnessed by a dozen or more people _ including several fans leaving spring practice.

"You'll be out of …

среда, 14 марта 2012 г.

Caption Only [Photo: BIG IMPROVEMENT: The redesigned Mitsubishi Outlander...]

Caption …

Governor's budget means $141 million additional funding for downstate schools

Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced this week that his budget, passed by the Illinois Senate last month, will pour an additional $141 million into downstate schools for early childhood education, mandated categoricals and a $250 per student increase in general state aid.

The governor made the announcement after visiting pre-schools in three different Illinois communities.

He called on members of the Illinois House of Representatives to approve a state budget that includes funding to enroll more at-risk children in pre-school and new funding for education and healthcare. The budget funds this state's priorities without raising the sales on income taxes.

Currently, …

Palin smiles as 'SNL' mocks her anew

After watching "Saturday Night Live" make fun of her from afar, Sarah Palin witnessed it first hand this week as Tina Fey engaged in fiction by depicting her at the news conference the Republican vice presidential nominee has yet to hold.

Later, Palin came on stage during the Weekend Update mock news segment and bobbed to the beat as cast member Amy Poehler performed a rap song the Alaska governor decided was too hardcore for her to perform personally.

"I'm Jeremiah Wright 'cuz I'm the preacher; I got a bookish look and you're all hot for teacher," Poehler rapped as actors dressed as Eskimos, Palin's husband, Todd, and a moose pranced across …

Three-day meeting to probe casino bids

A meeting which could go on for three days will next week decidewhich firms should be given the chance to operate a casino in Bath.

Four firms have expressed official interest in the principle ofrunning a casino, with their initial applications targeting threecity-centre sites. Three of the applications for what is called aprovisional statement - essentially approval in principle for afully-fledged licence - will be on the table when Bath and NorthEast Somerset Council's gambling and licensing sub-committee meetsnext Tuesday.

Officials have set aside three days for the meeting, which mightwell be the longest ever held by the authority.

It will look …

GI Gets 10 Years in Deaths of 3 Iraqis

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - A soldier accused of ordering subordinates to kill three Iraqi detainees should be sentenced to 10 years in prison, a military jury decided Monday.

Staff Sgt. Ray Girouard, who was found guilty Friday of negligent homicide in his court-martial, could have received up to 21 years in prison. He avoided a life sentence when he was found not guilty of premeditated murder.

Girouard was also found guilty of obstruction of justice for lying to investigators, of conspiracy for trying to conceal the crime and of failure to obey a general order.

He was accused of telling his soldiers to release detainees they captured during the May 9 raid near …

Gefle nips Hammarby 2-1 in Swedish league

Hans Berggren scored one goal and set up another against his former team Sunday to lead Gefle to a 2-1 win over Hammarby in the Swedish league.

Berggren, a 36-year-old who was one of Hammarby's top scorers a decade ago, scored from close range in the 11th minute after a counterattack.

American striker Charlie Davies for Hammarby equalized in the 41st. Berggren, who has scored two goals in Gefle's first two matches this season, …

Deidra White

SHE IS One of the top female radio executives in Chicago. She'sexecutive editor and assistant news director of WBBM radio. BASIC JOB BASIC JOB In charge of reporters, writers, producers andover-all daily coverage. STATS STATS Grew up in West Chatham. Newspaper staffer at St.Francis De Sales High. Grad of U.I.-Chicago in communication.Single, lives in Hyde Park. Mom Vivian works at County Hospital.Dad Thomas is a retired insurance agent. WBBM desk assistant in 1978while in school, newswriter in 1980, producer in 1986, managingeditor in 1989. Named to her current job in April. TWO WHO HELPED TWO WHO HELPED "In high school, I was interested injournalism and communications. I didn't …

Battery explodes at Chicago O'Hare, 1 worker hurt

CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago Fire Department spokesman says a baggage handler at O'Hare International Airport suffered minor injuries when a heavy duty battery exploded inside the container in which it was being shipped.

Department spokesman Larry Langford said it appeared that the battery touched something metal inside the case while it was being carried Tuesday morning, causing it …

Lisicki reaches second round at Tashkent Open

Fourth-seeded Sabine Lisicki of Germany reached the second round of the Tashkent Open by easily beating Dilyara Saidkhodjaeva of Uzbekistan 6-0, 6-1 Monday.

Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia also …

H&R Block posts profit in fiscal 3rd quarter

H&R Block Inc. said Friday its third-quarter profits surged as it prepared more tax returns in the early season and saw smaller losses from discontinued operations.

Shares of H&R Block jumped $1.07, or 6.2 percent, to $18.40 in morning trading.

The Kansas City-based company reported earning $47.4 million, or 14 cents per share, during the three months ended Jan. 31. By comparison, H&R Block lost $47.4 million, or 14 cents per share, during the same period a year ago.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters had expected earnings of 10 cents per share, on average.

Income from continuing operations jumped to $66.8 million, or 20 cents per share, from $7.1 million, or 2 cents per share. Meanwhile, losses from discontinued operations declined 64 percent to $19.5 million, or 6 cents per share, from $54.5 million, or 16 cents per share.

The discontinued operations include the H&R Block Financial Advisors unit, which was sold in November. Last year's results also included the last parts of the company's sale of its mortgage lending operation.

Revenue during the quarter rose 11 percent to $993.5 million, surpassing analysts' expectations of $975.3 million.

"At this stage we remain generally on track to our financial program and to our performance expectations for the full year, although achieving even the bottom end of our earnings guidance is not risk-free," Chairman Richard Breeden told analysts during a conference call, noting that the bulk of the company's revenue and profits come in the fourth quarter. "Overall, we have recorded financial growth while also significantly improving what we believe to be the quality of our client mix and our position in the online battleground."

Tax services revenue increased 15 percent to $761.7 million as the company said it saw a 3 percent increase in the number of tax returns prepared by its retail offices, software and online products through Jan. 31.

Including February returns, however, the number of tax returns prepared declined 1.8 percent versus a year ago, which was partially offset by an 8.5 percent increase in average fees. Those results don't include an additional leap day in February last year or clients who filed tax returns only because it was required to receive an economic stimulus payment.

Retail operations, through February, saw a 3.9 percent decrease in tax returns filed and 5.7 percent fewer taxpayers used H&R Block's TaxCut software to prepare their taxes themselves. The company's online products, including a new free service aimed at lower-income consumers, saw a 56.5 percent jump in returns filed, the company said.

Chief Executive Officer Russ Smyth said the economy is driving more of the company's traditional early season base of customers, especially those with low incomes, to either avoid filing a tax return this year or try preparing their tax returns themselves.

"How long will that last? Part of the answer to that is how long we think people are going to be extremely price-sensitive. It's probably a good couple years," Smyth said.

He added that the decline in low-income customers is being offset by a continued increase in customers with average gross incomes of $90,000 or more, who typically generate higher fees, and that the company plans to spend more on advertising to that base in the last few weeks of the tax season.

The company's consumer financial services unit, which includes the H&R Block Bank, lost $3.3 million pretax during the quarter as it set aside another $13.5 million to cover potential losses on mortgage loans.

вторник, 13 марта 2012 г.

US fully supports Cyprus peace talks

A senior State Department official met with the leaders of Cyprus' two ethnic communities Wednesday to gauge progress in slow-moving United Nations-supervised peace talks to reunify the divided island.

The U.S. could help both sides find "the right mix of ideas at the right moment," said Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Matthew Bryza.

But he stressed that it was up to the Cypriots themselves to find a solution to the decades-old problem.

Bryza initially met with Greek Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias, and then held talks with the leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots, Mehmet Ali Talat, later in the day.

Christofias and Talat restarted moribund peace talks in September last year, but have yet to make any real progress.

Cyprus was ethnically split in 1974 when Turkey invaded in response to a coup by Athens-backed supporters of uniting the island with Greece.

China wants WTO to probe EU taxes on screw imports

China said Monday that it will ask the World Trade Organization to examine whether European Union charges on imports of Chinese steel fasteners comply with international commerce rules.

Beijing argues that the EU is illegally taxing the screws needed for products from furniture to cars. The action unfairly penalizes the commercial interests of over 1,700 Chinese fastener producers, the Asian country says.

The 27-nation EU accuses Chinese manufacturers of breaking trade rules by selling a flood of screws at 30 percent to 50 percent below European prices, but China's exporters contend that their screws are weaker and less expensive than those made in Europe.

The dispute between the two trade powers is highly sensitive. Beijing said negotiations with the EU last month in Geneva failed to resolve the disagreement.

China will ask that an investigative panel be established when the WTO's dispute body meets next week, it said in a statement.

"The Chinese government (is) opposed firmly to ... any promotion of trade protectionism," it said.

The EU said China's allegations of wrongdoing were "unfounded" and that the fastener charges were imposed on the "basis of clear evidence that dumping of Chinese products has taken place, and that this dumping is harming otherwise competitive EU industry."

In January, the EU slapped Chinese exporters with trade charges ranging between 26.5 percent and 85 percent for five years, arguing that below-cost selling by Chinese companies prevented European producers from gaining extra market share as sales boomed in recent years.

Governments investigate dumping when they suspect foreign producers are exporting goods at artificially low prices _ usually as a result of subsidies or in an attempt to corner a market.

"Antidumping measures are not about protectionism, they are about fighting unfair trade," said the EU statement.

Chinese screwmakers complained in February that the EU's actions would hurt consumers without helping European producers. Manufacturers from Jiaxing city in Zhejiang province in eastern China _ representing a quarter of Chinese screw exports _ say they are unfairly being singled out because they charge the same as Taiwanese producers and more than rivals based in Malaysia, Vietnam and India.

Brussels can delay the establishment of a WTO panel only once, meaning a formal investigation could be pushed back until November.

The WTO cannot force countries to comply with its rulings, but it can authorize commercial sanctions against nations continuing to break the rules. Trade cases generally take years to reach that point.

Parkinson's disease: Implications for nutritional care

Abstract/Resume

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive, neurode-- generative disease. People with PD are particularly susceptible to weight loss and malnutrition. Involuntary movements associated with PD result in increased energy expenditure, while both dis-- ease symptoms and medication side-effects can limit food intake. In addition, patients with the disease may choose to follow unconventional nutritional therapies that exacerbate malnutri-- tion. Dietitians play a key role in helping patients with PD to optimize their nutritional status and manage various nutrition-- related symptoms and medication side-effects. To assume this role, dietitians need to have current knowledge about PD and its nutritional consequences, as well as strategies for managing a variety of nutrition-related symptoms.

(Can J Diet Prac Res 2002; 63:81-87)

La maladie de Parkinson est une maladie chronique, progressive et neurodegenerative. Les personnel qui en sont atteintes sont particulierement sujettes a la perte de poids et a la malnutrition. Les mouvements involontaires associes a cette maladie entrainent une depense d'energie accrue, tandis que tant les symptomes que les effets secondaires des medicaments peuvent limiter l'apport alimentaire. De plus, les patients peuvent suivre des traitements nutritionnels non traditionnels qui accentuent la malnutrition. Les dietetistes jouent un role cle pour les aider a optimiser leur etat nutritionnel et a traiter divers symptomes lies a la nutrition et aux effets secondaires des medicaments. Pour assumer ce role, les dietetistes doivent connaitre la maladie de Parkinson et ses consequences nutritionnelles, de meme que les strategies de traite-- ment des symptomes lies a la nutrition.

(Rev can prat rech dieter 2002; 63:81-87)

INTRODUCTION

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive neu-- rodegenerative disorder affecting approximately 80,000 Cana-- dians (Parkinson Society Canada). Many of its symptoms and treatment side effects have nutritional implications. This paper provides an overview of PD, including its treatment and its implications for nutritional care.

PARKINSON'S DISEASE OVERVIEW

The cardinal signs of PD - tremor, muscular rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability (Table 1) - result from dopamine depletion in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmit-- ter that allows messages to be sent from the brain to muscle to initiate voluntary movement (1). As PD progresses, a variety of other symptoms emerge, including dysphagia, soft monotone speech, impaired gastrointestinal motility, fatigue, depression, and cognitive impairment. PD is most prevalent in older indi-- viduals; 1:1,000 of those over age 55 and 1:100 of those over age 65 (2). The prevalence of PD is increasing at a faster rate than can be explained by the aging population (3). About 20% of cases are diagnosed in individuals under age 50 (4). Patients may live with this illness for up to 30 years (5,6). In the earlier stages of PD, patients continue to live independent lives (5). At the end stage, often lasting over ten years, patients typi-- cally become totally dependent, and develop nutrition-- related problems including malnutrition, dehydration, dysphagia and bowel dysfunction (5,7-9).

The cause of most cases of PD is unknown and there is evidence that PD is not one disease (10). People with fre-- quent exposure to large groups of people appear to be at increased risk for developing PD (11). For some patients, genetic or familial factors may be involved (12-15). Some antipsychotic and antiemetic medications cause parkinsonism, which is reversible if the drug can be discontinued (5,7,16).

Drug therapy is essential for controlling symptoms and maintaining mobility in PD (5,7,16). Drug therapy involves replacing or mimicking dopamine in the brain. The precur-- sor, levodopa, is used, as dopamine does not cross the blood-brain barrier. Levodopa is taken in combination with a dopa decarboxylase inhibitor (DDCI), carbidopa or benserazide, (e.g., Sinemet(R), Sinemet CR(R), and Prolopa(R)). DDCIs limit conversion of levodopa to dopamine in peripheral tissues, which allows a greater proportion of the levodopa to enter the brain and minimizes its adverse side effects.

Dopamine agonists (drugs mimick-- ing dopamine) are now often the first drug prescribed, particularly in patients who are young at the onset of PD (17). They are also regularly used in conjunction with levodopa therapy. Additional medications may be used as adjunctive therapy (1,5,16). Surgical treatments for PD include thalamo-- tomy to relieve tremor (18), and palli-- dotomy and deep brain stimulation (DBS), to relieve dyskinesias (involun-- tary movements) (19-22). Thalamo-- tomy and pallidotomy create permanent lesions in the basal ganglia. DBS employs a modified cardiac pacemaker and a probe to create a non-permanent lesion that can be turned on and off as needed. DBS is often used in patients who have already had one pallidotomy (19). Bilat-- eral stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus is being studied in several centres including Canada (19).

NUTRITIONAL CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH PD

Good nutrition is essential at all stages of PD (6,23,24). Nutritional needs are individual and vary according to disease stage, response to treatment, side effects of medications, and comor-- bid conditions. Patients with PD are at increased risk for malnutrition and weight loss (24-26), resulting from many factors including medication side effects (nausea and vomiting), dysphagia, dyskinesias, depression, dementia, reduced intake, self-imposed dietary restrictions, and increased time required to complete a meal (6,8,25,26). The likelihood of weight loss increases with disease progression (26). Body weight and indicators of nutrition risk must be routinely monitored (26).

There is no single, specific diet for PD. Patients with PD need a well-- balanced diet containing adequate energy and protein intake to prevent weight loss and muscle wasting, sufficient quantities of fibre and fluid to prevent constipation, and enough calcium to maintain existing bone struc-- ture (6,23,24,26). In practical terms, many of these recommendations may be difficult for patients to achieve, particularly in late-stage disease.

Patients with PD, like others with chronic progressive conditions, may be attracted to unconventional diets that could further compromise nutri-- tional status (27). While dietitians need to respect the right of patients to explore alternative therapies, they have a role in informing patients about known risks and benefits of such therapies, and cautioning against those that may cause harm.

Energy requirements

Energy requirements vary by dis-- ease stage and severity of symptoms (24). Patients with dyskinesias may expend as much energy as people undertaking moderate physical activ-- ity, so energy intake should be esti-- mated accordingly (24). Increased energy expenditure is likely a factor in the weight loss observed in late-- stage disease (24).

Although weight loss is a much more prevalent concern than over-- weight in PD, some individuals with PD may be overweight in the earlier stages of the disease, which can further hamper their mobility. Stringent diets are not recommended, because they can contribute to diminished energy level and are often unsuccessful in the long term. Patients who are overweight should be encouraged to stabilize their weight by eating nutritious foods, con-- trolling portions, and being as active as their symptoms allow.

Protein

Amino acids compete with levodopa for transport across the blood-- brain barrier (24). In the late 1980s, it was postulated that low protein diets might improve medication uptake and enhance mobility in patients taking levodopa who had severe medication-- induced fluctuations in mobility (28). While dietary protein restriction seemed to be helpful for a small number of patients taking immediate-release levodopa (in controlled study settings), the protein-restricted diet was considered to be unhealthy for contin-- uous use, particularly in a patient pop-- ulation prone to malnutrition (29,30). With the introduction of controlled release preparations of levodopa, the earlier use of combined lower dose therapy, and use of surgical interven-- tions, the proportion of individuals with PD who might benefit from pro-- tein restriction has declined (24,30,31). As well, long-term use of restrictive diets is likely to increase propensity for other nutrition-related conditions, such as osteoporosis (32). However, the myth persists and dietitians and nurses continue to encounter patients with PD on severely restricted, low protein diets.

A very small number of patients may notice that eating high protein meals affects the absorption of their drugs. Rather than restricting protein, these patients should be advised to redistribute their protein throughout the day, avoid large amounts of pro-- tein at one time, and avoid taking high protein foods in conjunction with their levodopa doses (7,31). These patients need to be made aware that adequate protein intake is necessary to maintain optimal health.

Despite professional concerns about the use of protein-restricted diets in this population, some patients may have heard about the low protein diet and insist on trying it. These patients should be monitored by a neurologist, as levodopa side effects, including nau-- sea, dyskinesias and hallucinations may emerge, requiring medication adjust-- ment (25). These patients should con-- sult with a dietitian, who can advise them about optimizing the nutritional content of the diet (25). Patients should be informed that they will note benefits of the protein restriction almost imme-- diately. If no benefits are seen after one or two weeks, the diet should be discontinued (29).

Vitamins and minerals

Patients with PD who have diffi-- culty maintaining a balanced diet may benefit from taking a multivitamin-- mineral preparation (24-26). It has been postulated that antioxidant therapy could delay progression of PD by minimising oxidative stress associated with the death of dopamine neurons; however, this theory is highly contro-- versial (33). The results of a large, multicentre study of high dose alpha-- tocopherol therapy in PD were incon-- clusive (34) and there are concerns that the vitamin E might not even have crossed the blood-brain barrier (35). In light of this, general guidelines for supplementation should be used (24,25). Those patients opting to use high dose vitamin supplements should be informed about potential side effects (36).

Pyridoxine (vitamin B6)

In the past, pyridoxine restriction was recommended for patients using levodopa, as pyridoxine facilitates the conversion of levodopa to dopamine outside the brain. Now that combined levodopa/DDCI preparations are routinely used, pyridoxine intake need not be restricted (24,36).

Calcium/vitamin D

Patients with PD are prone to osteoporosis. Bone mass density of patients with PD closely correlates with disease severity (37). Immobility and the resulting lack of weight-- bearing exercise, decreased intake, and poor nutritional status are contributing factors (37). Calcium and vitamin D intake need to be assessed in the early stages of the disease to prevent or limit osteoporosis (24, 37). Patients with PD who are at risk for osteoporosis should consult their physi-- clans about all available diagnostic and treatment options for osteoporosis, including bone density scanning, hormone replacement therapy and medications.

People with PD should be advised to take 1,000-1,500 mg of calcium and 10-15 pg vitamin D daily (24), a recom-- mendation consistent with current Dietary Reference Intakes (38). Those who have poor overall intake or who avoid dairy products are likely to require supplementa-- tion with calcium and vitamin D to meet these recommendations. Although concerns have been raised about whether supplements can assist in maintaining bone density in immobile patients with PD (37), clinical trials involving calcium and vitamin D supplementation in an elderly population offer compelling evidence for the benefits of supplementation (39, 40).

Herbal supplements

With the current popularity of herbal supplements, patients with PD are likely to use them. Little is known about the pos-- sible interaction between herbal supplements and PD symp-- toms and/or medications, although some reports have been published about general interactions (41,42). Patients with PD should be advised to exercise caution when using herbal supplements and to discontinue them if side-effects occur.

MEDICATION SIDE EFFECTS

Some of the nutritional problems encountered by PD patients are due to medication side-effects. Dietitians work-- ing with these patients need to be aware of antiparkinson medications and strategies for managing their nutrition-- related side effects (Table 2). Most side effects occur with initiation of treatment and abate as tolerance develops (1,5,6,16,41,43).

SYMPTOMS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT

Bowel dysfunction

Constipation is a serious problem, because patients with PD are particularly susceptible to impaction, obstruction, volvulus, and paralytic ileus. If these are left untreated, they can result in death (5,7,9,44). Contributing factors include slowed gastric motility, autonomic dysfunction, medication side effects, and the inability to exercise, eat enough fibre, or drink enough fluid (5,9,31,45,46). Management consists of dietary changes, exercise, and pharmacotherapy (5,9,45,46). Dietary modifications for constipation are aimed at increas-- ing bulk and softening stool (9,25). Fibre intake should be increased gradually, and diets high in fibre should be advocated only if patients can achieve adequate fluid intake (at least 1.5-2 L per day). Patients may have difficulty doing this if they have not been regular water drinkers, are too weak to drink, avoid drinking to prevent having to mobilise to go to the bathroom, or are unable to take liquids due to dysphagia (31). In addition to undertaking dietary measures, patients should be encouraged to increase physical activity within the boundaries of their physical capabilities (23).

If constipation persists despite dietary modification and increased physical activity, a stool softener given with meals can be helpful. If necessary, this can be followed by a prokinetic agent to increase intestinal motility (9). Patients who do not respond to other interventions may have to use other mild laxatives, suppositories and enemas and their use may become inevitable in the later stages of the disease (9). Some patients have difficulty passing normal, soft stools due to impaired anorectal muscle coordination or fatigue, which interfere with the ability to expel faeces (9,47). Dietary modifications are unhelpful in this situa-- tion; patients can try applying warm water and/or gentle finger stimulation (9). If these measures fail, patients may need to use a glycerine suppository (9).

Dysphagia

Dysphagia resulting from bradykinesia and rigidity occurs in over 50% of individuals with PD (48-50), and is most prevalent in late-stage disease (50). Dysphagia-related aspiration is a common cause of death in PD (7,48). Dys-- phagia varies in severity and can affect the mouth, pharynx, and esophagus (48,49). Patients with PD also experience saliva build-up in the mouth, leading to drooling, resulting from the inability to swallow voluntarily, and stooped pos-- ture. This may be embarrassing for patients. Mouth care before meals can minimise the impact on enjoyment of food. Pilot studies indicate that injections of botulinum toxin may be effective in reducing saliva build-up (51,52).

A swallowing assessment by a trained therapist is recom-- mended to evaluate swallowing dysfunction and make diet, positioning, and swallowing technique recommendations (25,53-55). Modifications in diet texture, fluid viscosity, and food temperature may be required. Patients who have diffi-- culty moving their jaws, lips, or tongue may find soft, minced or pureed foods and thick soups easiest to eat. Those who have difficulty swallowing thin liquids may find more vis-- cous fluids and carbonated beverages easier to swallow (31). Foods that are ice-cold may help to stimulate swallowing (56). Sour boluses enhance both oral and pharyngeal aspects of swallowing (57).

Choking is common in patients with dysphagia. To reduce this risk, patients should eat in an upright position and care-- givers should learn the Heimlich maneuver. Patients with severe dysphagia, particularly those who have had choking episodes, may need to be considered for gastrostomy feeding, which can also be used to administer drugs (5,25,58). All antiparkinson drugs, with the exception of controlled release preparations, can be crushed and administered through a feeding tube (5). Ethical and quality of life issues should be considered before gastrostomy feeding is implemented.

Nausea/vomiting/anorexia

The anorexia, nausea, and vomiting associated with antiparkinson drugs most often occurs with their initiation; the symptoms subside as medication tolerance develops (5,6,16,24). Some physicians advise patients to take their antiparkinson drugs on an empty stomach; however, taking these drugs with a meal or snack (such as juice or ginger ale plus crackers, cookies, or fruit) can help to minimize nausea (6). In addition, there are prokinetic reasons why controlled-- release levodopa preparations should be taken with food (36). If nausea persists despite taking medications with food, tak-- ing domperidone (Motilium) 30-60 minutes before each dose of drug can be effective. Domperidone prevents levodopa from passing through the vomiting centre (6,7,43). The patient with nausea and anorexia is at risk for inadequate nutrition and weight loss, and should be monitored.

Delayed gastric emptying

Delayed gastric emptying occurs frequently in PD (59), likely caused by autonomic dysfunction and chronic medica-- tion administration (24,25). Delayed gastric emptying can cause early satiety, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, heartburn and reflux, and can contribute to decreased drug absorption.

Strategies that may help with delayed gastric emptying include eating small, frequent meals and snacks, and taking medications 15-30 minutes before meals. The latter may be difficult for those patients who suffer nausea from their med-- ication (24,25). A prokinetic agent, such as domperidone, may be required to improve gastric motility. (9,24,45,60). Domperidone has the added benefit of preventing reflux. Although a diet lower in protein and fat empties the stom-- ach more quickly (24,45,60,61), this diet is not advisable for PD patients, as they are at risk for malnutrition.

Orthostatic hypotension

Patients with PD often develop orthostatic hypotension (OH), a fall in blood pressure that occurs upon standing. It may be symptomatic (dizziness, fainting) or asymptomatic (62). Contributing factors in PD include duration of disease, use of antiparkinson drugs, and decreased fluid intake. Patients with OH should be advised to increase their dietary sodium. Practical methods for increasing sodium are liberal use of table salt and high salt foods or administration of sodium tablets (5,62-64). For patients on tube feeding, salt can be added to the tube feed, or a saline flush can be used. PD patients with OH should increase their fluid intake to 1.5-2L per day if possible (5). Drugs such as fludrocortisone or amatine may be required to increase intravascular volume (5,25,63).

Bradykinesia

The slowness and stiffness associated with PD can make eating laborious and may adversely affect food intake. Small portions on a small plate that can be regularly replenished are more appetizing than large plates of food. Food can be cut in advance in both home and restaurant kitchens to reduce self-consciousness in the presence of others. Some patients may opt to eat quietly at home before large family or public outings, thus reducing their need to focus on eat-- ing when they are also trying to enjoy themselves (23,65).

Dyskinesias

Dyskinesias may impair feeding, and can increase energy requirements (24). High-energy foods, nutrition supple-- ments and increased time to eat are often required. Finger foods may help individuals to be independent with feeding (23), and dyskinetic patients may also prefer to eat in the privacy of their own homes (65).

Depression

Depression occurs in up to 40% of patients with PD (65-67), and contributes to malnutrition risk (24,66,67). Patients who appear depressed should be encouraged to see their physician. Antidepressant therapy is frequently necessary and beneficial (10,67), and some antidepressants such as tricyclics stimulate appetite and cause weight gain (36,65,67).

Impaired cognitive function

Dementia occurs in approximately 30% of patients with PD; drug-induced psychosis may also occur in late-stage patients when the amount of drug needed to maintain mobil-- ity is high enough to induce psychiatric side effects (5,7). Patients with impaired cognitive function are at increased risk for malnutrition due to their impaired ability to prepare and consume food (24,25,68). Psychotic patients may have paranoid delusions about their food, leading to reduced intake (24,25,68). Patients with cognitive impairment may benefit from a meal delivery program and/or use of nutri-- tion supplements (24,25,68). Patients with drug-induced psychosis may need a reduction in PD medication or the addition of one of the newer antipsychotic agents (clozapine, olanzapine or quietapine) (8,69,70).

RELEVANCE TO PRACTICE

Dietitians can help PD patients to optimize their nutri-- tional status and manage nutrition-related symptoms at all stages of the disease. To assume this role, they need to have current knowledge about PD and its nutritional consequences. To develop practical strategies for managing the myriad of nutrition-related symptoms arising in PD, it may be nec-- essary for dietitians to seek the advice of colleagues with expertise in a variety of specialty areas including neurology, geriatrics, dysphagia, gastrointestinal disorders, and nutri-- tion support.

Acknowledgments

This work received no financial support from any outside agency or company. Susan Calne's work is supported by the National Parkinson Foundation Miami through a Centre of Excellence Grant.

[Reference]

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1. Lang AE, Lozano AM. Parkinson's disease: second of two parts. N Engl J Med 1998;339(16):1130-1143.

2. Hoehn MM, Yahr MD. Parkinsonism: onset, progression, and mortality. Neurology 1967;17:427-442.

3. Lilienfeld DE, Perl DP. Mortality from parkinsonism in the United States, 1990-2040. Neurodegeneration 1994;3:21-24.

4. Schrag A, Ben-Schlomo Y, Brown R, et al. Young-onset Parkinson's disease revisited - clinical features, natural history and mortality. Mov Disord 1998;13 (6):885-894.

5. Caine DB, Caine S. Treatment of Parkinson's disease. In: Ancil RJ, Holliday SG, Mithani AH, eds. Therapeutics in Geriatric Neuropsychiatry. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons Ltd; 1997.p. 1-12.

6. Caine S. Nursing care of patients with idiopathic parkinsonism. Nursing Times 1994; 90:38-39.

7. Caine DB. Treatment of Parkinson's disease. N Engl J Med 1993;329:1021-1027.

8. Korczyn A. Neuropsychiatric manifestations of Parkinson's disease. In: Caine DB, Caine SM, eds. Parkinson's disease: advances in neurology Vol 86. Philadelphia: Lippincott,Williams and Wilkins; 2001.p. 395-398.

9. Pfeiffer RF, Quigley EMM. Gastrointestinal motility problems in patients with Parkinson's disease - Epidemiology, pathophysiology and guidelines for management. Central Nervous System Drugs

1999;11 (6):435-448.

10. Caine DB. Parkinson's disease is not one disease. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders 2001;7(1):3-7.

11. Tsui JKC, Caine DB, Wang Y, et al. Occupational risk factors in Parkinson's disease. Can J Public Health 1999;90(5):334-335.

12. Caine S, Schoenberg B, Martin W, et al. Familial Parkinson's disease: possible role of environmental factors. Can J Neurol Sci 1987;14:303-305. 13. Hattori N, Kitada T, Matsumine H, et al. Molecular genetic analysis of a novel Parkin gene in Japanese families with autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism: evidence for variable homozygous deletions in the Parkin gene in affected individuals. Ann Neurol 1998;44(6):935-941.

14. Polymeropoulos MH, Lavedan C, Leroy E, et al. Mutation in the a-Synuclein gene identified in families with Parkinson's disease. Science 1997;276:2045-2047.

[Reference]

15. Tanner CM, Ottman R, Goldman SM, et al. Parkinson disease in twins: an etiologic study. JAMA 1999;281 (4):341-346.

16. Uitti R, Wszolek Z. Medical treatment of Parkinson's disease. Neuroscience News 1999;2:36-43.

17. Rascol OFJJ, Thalamas CGM, Montastruc J-L Dopamine agonists: their role in the nanagement of Parkinson's disease. In: Calne DB, Calne SM, ed. Parkinson's disease, Advances in Neurology. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins; 2001.p. 301-309.

18. Narabayashi H. Stereotactic surgery and Parkinson's disease. Funct Neurol 1988;70:114-121.

19. Benabid A, Koudsie A, Benazzouz A, et al. Deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease. In: Calne DB, Calne SM, ed. Parkinson's disease, advances in neurology. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins; 2001.p. 405-412.

20. Laitinen LV. Ventroposterolateral pallidotomy. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 1994;62:41-52.

21. Samii A, Turnbull IM, Kishore A, et al. Reassessment of unilateral pallidotomy in Parkinson's disease. A 2-year follow-up study. Brain 1999;122:417-425.

22. Pal PK, Samii A, Kishore A, et al. Long-term outcome of unilateral pallidotomy: follow up of 15 patients for three years.

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2000;69(3):337-344.

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23. Caine S, McConnell B, Shaw C, et al. Taking charge: A guide to living with parkinsonism. 3rd ed. Toronto: Parkinson Foundation of Canada; 1999.

24. Carter J, Nutt J. Dietary issues in Parkinson's disease. In: Koller W, Paulson G, eds. Therapy of Parkinson's disease. New York: Marcel Dekker, 1995:443-461.

25. Olanow CW, Koller W. An algorithm (decision tree) for the management of Parkinson's disease: treatment guidelines. Neurology 1998;50(Supp 3):Sl-557.

26. Beyer P, Palarimo M, Michalek D, et al. Weight change and body composition in patients with Parkinson's disease. J Am Diet Assoc 1995;95 (9):979-983.

27. Olanow CW, Tatton WG. Etiology and pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. Ann Rev Neurosci 1999;22:123-144.

28. Pincus JH, Barry KM. Plasma levels of amino acids correlate with motor fluctuations in parkinsonism. Arch Neurol 1987;44(10):1006-1009.

29. Pare S, Barr S, Ross S. Effect of daytime protein restriction on nutrient intakes of free-living Parkinson's disease patients. Am J Clin Nutr 1992;55:701-707.

30. Tsui JKC, Ross S, Poulin K, et al. The effect of dietary protein on the efficacy of L-dopa: A double blind study. Neurology 1989;39:4:549-552. 31. Caine SM, Kumar A. Management of late stage Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinsonism and Related Disorders 2003. In press.

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32. Chiu JF, Lan SJ, Yang CY, et al. Long-term vegetarian diet and bone mineral density in postmenopausal Taiwanese women. Calcif Tissue Int 1997;60(3):245-249.

33. Calne DB. The free radical hypothesis in idiopathic parkinsonism: Evidence against it. Ann of Neurol 1992;32:799-803.

34. The Parkinson Study Group. Impact of deprenyl and tocopherol treatment in Parkinson's disease in DATATOP subjects not requiring levodopa. Ann Neurol 1996;39:29-36.

35. Chase T. National Institutes of Health. Personal communication, 1999 36. Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties (CPS). 33rd ed. Ottawa: Canadian Pharmacists Association;1998.

37. Sato Y, Kikuyama M, Oizumi K. High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and reduced bone mass in Parkinson's disease. Neurology 1997;49:1273-1277.

38. Institute of Medicine (U.S.), Standing committee on the scientific evaluation of dietary reference intakes. Dietary reference intakes for calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin D, and fluoride. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1997.

39. Chapuy MC, Arlot ME, Duboeuf F, et al. Vitamin D3 and calcium to prevent hip fractures in the elderly women. N Engl J Med 1992;327(23):1637-1642.

40. Chapuy MC, Meunier PJ. Calcium and vitamin D3, a prevention of femoral neck fractures in elderly women. Presse Med

1993;22 (13):615-616.

41. McCarty MF, Russell AL, Seed MP. Sulfated glycosaminoglycans and glucosamine may synergize in promoting synovial hyaluronic acid synthesis. Medical Hypotheses 2000;54(5):798-802.

42. Moore LB, Goodwin B, Jones SA et al. St. John's Wort induces hepatic drug metabolism through activation of the pregnane X receptor. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2000;97(13):7500-7502.

43. Soykan I, Saroseik I, Shifflett J, et al. Effect of chronic oral domperidone therapy on gastrointestinal symptoms and gastric emptying in patients with Parkinson's disease. Mov Disord 1997;12(6):952-957.

44. Rosenthal MJ, Marshall CE. Sigmoid volvulus in association with parkinsonism. Report of four cases. J Am Geriatr Soc 1987;35(7):683-684.

[Reference]

45. Jost WH. Gastrointestinal motility problems in patients with Parkinson's disease. Effects of antiparkinsonian treatment and guidelines for management. Drugs Aging 1997;10(4):249-258.

46. Martignoni E, Pacchetti C, Godi L, et al. Autonomic disorders in Parkinson's disease. J Neural Transm 1995;Suppl. 45:11-19.

47. Ashraf W, Wszolek ZK, Pfeiffer RF, et al. Anorectal function in fluctuating (on-off) Parkinson's disease: evaluation by combined anorectal manometry and electromyography. Mov Disord 1995;10(5):650-657.

48. Johnston BT, Li Q, Castell JA, et al. Swallowing and esophageal function in Parkinson's disease. Am J Gastroenterol 1995;90(10):1741-1746.

49. Miller R, Groher M. General treatment of neurologic swallowing disorders. In: Groher ME, ed. Dysphagia: diagnosis and management. Boston: Butterworth Heineman; 1997.p. 223-241.

50. Pengilly KI Introduction to speech and swallowing problems associated with Parkinson's disease. Miami: National Parkinson Foundation; 1998. 51. Friedman A, Potulska A. Quantative assessment of parkinsonian

sialorrhea and results of treatment with botulinum toxin. Parkinsonism and Related Disorders 2001;7(4):329-332.

52. Pal PK, Came DB, Calne S, et al. Botulinum - A toxin in the treatment of sialorrhea in patients with Parkinson's disease. Neurology 2000;54:244-247. 53. Clarke CE, Gullaksen E, Macdonald S, et al. Referral criteria for speech

and language therapy assessment of dysphagia caused by idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Acta Neurol Stand 1998;97(1):27-35.

[Reference]

54. Nagaya M, Kachi T, Yamada T. Effect of swallowing training on swallowing disorders in Parkinson's disease. Scand J Rehabil Med 2000;32(1):11-15.

55. Nagaya M, Kachi T, Yamada T, et al. Videofluorographic study of swallowing in Parkinson's disease. Dysphagia 1998;13(2):95-100.

56. Farber SD. Neurorehabilitation: A multisensory approach. Philadelphia: Saunders; 1982.

57. Logemann JA, Pauloski BR, Colangelo L, et al. Effects of a sour bolus on oropharyngeal swallowing measures in patients with neurogenic dysphagia. J Speech Hear Res 1995;38(3):556-563.

58. Fuh JL, Lee RC, Wang SJ, et al. Swallowing difficulty in Parkinson's disease. Clin Neurol & Neurosurg 1997;99(2):106-112.

59. Djaldetti R, Baron J, Ziv I, et al. Gastric emptying in Parkinson's disease: patients with and without response fluctuations. Neurology 1996;46(4):1051-1054.

60. Pfeiffer RF. Gastrointestinal dysfunction in Parkinson's disease. Clinical Neuroscience 1998;5(2):136-146.

[Reference]

61. Cunningham KM, Read NW. The effect of incorporating fat into different components of a meal on gastric emptying and postprandial blood glucose and insulin responses. Br J Nutr 1989;61 (2):285-290.

62. Onrot J. Therapeutic Choices. 2nd ed. Toronto: Canadian Association of Pharmacists; 1998.

63. Senard JM, Rai S, Lapeyre-Mestre Mea. Prevalence of orthostatic hypotension in Parkinson's disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiat 1997;63:584-589.

64. Jansen R, Lipstiz L Postprandial hypotension: epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical management. Ann Intern Med 1995;122:286-295.

65. Caine S, Hurwitz T. Adjustment, adaptation, and accommodation: Psychosocial approaches to living with Parkinson's disease. Miami, Florida. National Parkinson Foundation, 1997.

66. Cummings JL. Depression and Parkinson's disease: a review. Am J Psychiatry 1992;149(4):443-454.

67. Oertel WH, Hoefinger G, Caraceni T, et al. Depression in Parkinson's disease: an update. In: Caine DB, Came SM, ed. Parkinson's disease Advances in Neurol 2001;86:373-383.

68. Lyons LI Schindell C. Dementia: the nurse's role. In: Ancil R, Holliday SG, eds. Therapeutics in geriatric psychiatry. Chichister: Wiley;

1997.p. 115-127.

69. Fernandez HH, Friedman JH, Jacques C, et al. Quetiapine for the treatment of drug-induced psychosis in Parkinson's disease. Mov Disord 1999;14(3):484-487.

70. Wolters EC. Psychiatric complications in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. In: Caine DB, Caine S, ed. Parkinson's disease: Advances in Neurology. Philadelphia:Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins; 2001.p. 385-93.

[Author Affiliation]

MEREDITH L. CUSHING, RDN, formerly Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre, currently Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI);

KAROL A. TRAVISS, MSc, RDN, Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre, Department of Food and Nutrition Services, Vancouver, BC; SUSAN M. CALNE, CN, RN, Pacific Parkinsons Research Centre, Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre, Vancouver, BC

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EDITORS:

These are among the top sports events of the week. Coverage of most of these events will move on this circuit:

FRIDAY, Feb. 26

thru 28, Vancouver, British Columbia _ Winter Olympics.

Cardiff, Wales _ rugby, Six Nations: Wales vs. France.

thru 27, Dubai, United Arab Emirates _ tennis, ATP, Dubai Tennis Championships.

thru 28, Delray Beach, Florida _ tennis, ATP, Delray Beach International Tennis Championships.

thru 27, Acapulco, Mexico _ tennis, ATP-WTA, Abierto Mexicano Telcel.

thru 28, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia _ tennis, WTA, Malaysian Open.

thru 28, Scottsdale, Arizona _ golf, US PGA, Waste Management Phoenix Open.

thru 28, Singapore _ golf, US LPGA, HSBC Women's Championship.

thru 28, Christchurch, New Zealand _ golf, Ladies European-Australian, New Zealand Women's Open.

Wellington, New Zealand _ cricket, New Zealand vs. Australia, 1st Twenty20.

thru 28, Rostock, Germany _ diving, FINA Grand Prix.

SATURDAY, Feb. 27

Various sites, Europe _ rugby, Six Nations: Italy vs. Scotland, England vs. Ireland.

Ahmedabad, India _ cricket, India vs. South Africa, 3rd ODI.

Kempton Park, South Africa _ boxing, Hekkie Budler vs. Juanito Rubillar for vacant IBO light flyweight title.

Bayamon, Puerto Rico _ boxing, Marvin Sonsona vs. Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. for vacant WBO junior featherweight title.

Cancun, Mexico _ boxing, Hugo Hernan Garay vs. Chris Henry for vacant WBA interim light heavyweight title.

SUNDAY, Feb. 28

Wembley, England _ football, League Cup final: Manchester United vs. Aston Villa.

thru March 13, New Delhi _ field hockey, World Cup.

Dhaka, Bangladesh _ cricket, Bangladesh vs. England, 1st ODI.

Christchurch, New Zealand _ cricket, New Zealand vs Australia, 2nd Twenty20.

Tokyo _ athletics, Tokyo Marathon

Las Vegas _ auto racing, NASCAR, Shelby American.

Phillip Island, Australia _ motorbikes, superbikes.

Leeds, England _ rugby league, World Club Challenge: Leeds Rhinos vs. Melbourne Storm.

MONDAY, March 1

thru 3, Manchester, England _ football, Soccerex European forum.

thru 7, Monterrey, Mexico _ tennis, WTA, Monterry Open International.

TUESDAY, March 2

Dhaka, Bangladesh _ cricket, Bangladesh vs. England, 2nd ODI.

London _ football, friendly, Ireland vs. Brazil.

WEDNESDAY, March 3

Various sites, Asia, Middle East _ football, Asian Cup qualifiers: Japan vs. Bahrain, Hong Kong vs. Yemen, Australia vs. Indonesia, Oman vs. Kuwait, Uzbekistan vs. United Arab Emirates, Syria vs. Lebanon, Iran vs. Thailand, Jordan vs. Singapore.

Various sites _ football, friendlies: France vs. Spain, Algeria vs. Serbia, Chile vs. Uruguay, Germany vs. Argentina, Netherlands vs. United States, England vs. Egypt, Wales vs. Sweden, Italy vs. Cameroon (at Monte Carlo), Luxembourg vs. Azerbaijan, Malta vs. Finland, Romania vs. Israel, Scotland vs, Czech Republic, Slovenia vs. Qatar, Albania vs. Northern Ireland, Armenia vs. Belarus, Austria vs. Denmark, Cyprus vs. Iceland, Georgia vs. Estonia, Ivory Coast vs. South Korea (at London), Greece vs. Senegal, Hungary vs. Russia, Turkey vs. Honduras, New Zealand vs. Mexico (at Pasadena), Macedonia vs. Montenegro, Slovakia vs. Norway, Moldova vs. Kazakhstan, Bosnia-Herezegovina vs. Ghana, Switzerland vs. Uruguay, Poland vs. Bulgaria, Portugal vs. China, Belgium vs. Croatia.

Napier, New Zealand _ cricket, New Zealand vs. Australia, 1st ODI.

Norefjell, Norway _ skiing, freestyle World Cup.

THURSDAY, March 4

thru 7, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida _ golf, US PGA, The Honda Classic.

thru 7, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia _ golf, Asian-European, Malaysian Open.

thru 7, Gold Coast, Australia _ golf, Australian-Ladies European, ANZ Ladies Masters.

Georgetown, Guyana _ cricket, West Indies vs. Zimbabwe, 1st ODI.

thru 7, Kvitfjell, Norway _ skiing, Alpine, World Cup, men.

Melbourne, Australia _ athletics, IAAF World Challenge, Melbourne Track Classic.

thru 7, Moscow _ diving, FINA Grand Prix.

FRIDAY, March 5

thru 7, various sites _ tennis, Davis Cup, WORLD GROUP: Belgium vs. Czech Republic, Chile vs. Israel, Croatia vs. Ecuador, France vs. Germany, Russia vs. India, Serbia vs. United States, Spain vs. Switzerland, Sweden vs. Argentina.

thru 7, Leon, Mexico _ auto racing, WRC, Rally Mexico.

Chittagong, Bangladesh _ cricket, Bangladesh vs. England, 3rd ODI.

Lievin, France _ athletics, Meeting du Pas-de-Calais.

thru 7, Newport Beach, California _ golf, Champions, Toshiba Classic.

SATURDAY, March 6

Georgetown, Guyana _ cricket, West Indies vs. Zimbabwe, 1st ODI.

Auckland, New Zealand _ cricket, New Zealand vs. Australia, 2nd ODI.

Moscow _ snowboarding, World Cup.

thru 7, Lahti, Finland _ skiing, cross-country World Cup.

thru 7, Inawashiro, Japan _ skiing, freestyle World Cup.

Branas, Sweden _ skiing, freestyle World Cup.

Moscow _ snowboarding, World Cup.

Uncasville, Connecticut _ boxing, Devon Alexander vs. Juan Urango for Alexander's WBC and Urango's IBF junior welterweight titles.

Zurich _ football, International Football Association Board meeting.

SUNDAY, March 7

thru 14, various sites, France _ cycling, Paris-Nice.

Osaka, Japan _ athletics, Make Biwa Mainichi Marathon.

Hampton, Georgia _ auto racing, NASCAR, Kobalt Tools 500.

What writers loved to read // Sun-Times team lists year's best

Walk through any newsroom and the scene is pretty much the same.You'll see desks piled high with newspapers, files, notepads andbooks. Lots of books.

Writers are readers, naturally enough. So we asked Sun-Timesreporters, columnists and contributors to tell us their favoritebooks from 1997.Movies

Who the Devil Made It by Peter Bogdanovich (Knopf, $39.95).Who the Devil Made It is a feast of memories, history and talltales, told by the directors who shaped the course of Americanmovies, in long conversations over a period of years. It's a massivebook, and if the directors ramble, Bogdanovich is happy to let them;sometimes they ramble straight for gold. Among the subjects areHoward Hawks, Raoul Walsh, Alfred Hitchcock, Leo McCarey and FritzLang ("Did you know that I invented the countdown? When I shot thetakeoff, I said, `If I count 1, 2, 3, 4 . . . an audience doesn'tknow when it will go off. But if I count down . . . 5, 4, 3, 2, 1,Zero - then they will know.' ").Roger Ebert, film criticRockThe Mansion on the Hill: Dylan, Young, Geffen, Springsteen, andthe Head-on Collision of Rock and Commerce by Fred Goodman (TimesBooks, $25).The most eagerly awaited music-business expose since FredricDannen's Hit Men, former Rolling Stone reporter Fred Goodman's heftytome didn't measure up in terms of truly revealing inside dirt, andits Baby Boomer myopia could be offensive to readers who didn't growup thinking that Woodstock was the be-all and end-all of rockhistory. Despite these problems, The Mansion on the Hill was thebest rock read of 1997, charting the origins of the feud between artand commerce that has raged within the music since the idealistic'60s yielded to the materialistic '70s. The main characters are allcited in the title, but it's Bruce Springsteen who takes the biggesthit: Goodman charges that manager Jon Landau virtually remade theBoss, creating a political and social conscience that wasn't therebefore and which, by the time of "Born in the U.S.A.," proved to bevery good for business. This doesn't change the quality ofSpringsteen's music, of course. But it's certainly entertaining toread about the gap between (as Rolling Stone would say) perceptionand reality.Jim DeRogatis, pop music criticDancePassion & Line: Photographs of Dancers, by Howard Schatz(Graphis, $50).Dance is an exceptionally difficult art form to capture inphotographs. The camera freezes time; dance defines and thendiscards it. Only a handful of photographers have demonstrated theability to seize the perfect image of exquisite, highly trained andimpossibly expressive bodies in motion. As this book demonstrates,Howard Schatz is one of them. He also is a master at capturingdancers in moments of repose, recognizing that they embody an almostpalpable kinetic energy even at rest.Drawing on a wide array of performers throughout the UnitedStates - including members of the San Francisco Ballet, Alvin AileyAmerican Dance Theater, the Paul Taylor Company and American BalletTheater - Schatz's vivid images remind you of the phrase MarthaGraham used to describe her dancers. They were, she said, "acrobatsof God." Schatz's subjects are almost unearthly creatures who cancarve out space by outlining the air.There is an unadulterated erotic component to these photographs,as well. Many of the dancers are nude or scantily clothed. But whywould anyone want to dress up a jaguar or an eagle in mid-flight?Hedy Weiss, theater and dance criticAmericanaInside U.S.A. by John Gunther (New Press, $19.95).Over the summer, New Press released the 50th anniversary editionof reporter John Gunther's Inside U.S.A., a spellbinding collectionof 52 essays that Gunther wrote in the 1930s and 1940s as he droveacross America. A native Chicagoan who was born in 1901, Gunther cuthis teeth at the Chicago Daily News. He is a no-nonsense writer,mincing few words as he explores the Tennessee Valley Authority,Henry Ford (then 84 years old), and the magic of Harry Truman'sIndependence, Mo., which some Mormons think will be the scene of theResurrection.Many of Gunther's observations are still pertinent, such as whenhe compared the Chicago Tribune to Soviet Russia (one of thenewspaper's targets): "big, totalitarian, successful, dominated byone man as of the moment, suspicious of outsiders, cranky and withgreat natural resources not fully developed." I became acquaintedwith his work when I was a kid and read Death Be Not Proud, Gunther'stender memoir of his son's battle with a brain tumor. Chase down acopy of Inside U.S.A. and follow Gunther's warm tracks on your nextroad trip.Dave Hoekstra, staff writerJazzSpace Is the Place: The Lives and Times of Sun Ra by John F.Szwed (Pantheon, $29.95).Art aspires to reflect life, and life has a way of reflectingart, but seldom have those twains met as profoundly as they did inshaping the legend of Sun Ra. Laugh at his costumed antics andcosmic claims if you will, but as documented in Space Is the Place,the late avant-garde jazz pioneer was profoundly involved in the ideaof being a brother from a less-cruel planet - and in creating musicthat embodied the high principles of freedom, equality andself-expression.Perhaps in more detail than is needed, Szwed explores Ra'sphilosophies and visions. He immerses us in the origins of theexuberant big band sound this native of Birmingham, Ala., launched inChicago in the mid-'50s. The reader is also privy to Ra's exactingmethods as a leader and unusual communal relationship with the coremembers of his longstanding - and long-neglected - Arkestra.It's a great story, told well. But the best thing about SpaceIs the Place is the appetite it whets for Ra's music. There isnothing like it, and likely won't ever be.Lloyd Sachs, entertainment criticHome improvementThe Tool Book, by William Bryant Logan, (Workman Publishing Co.,$40).All the tools you need to know so you can build the coffee tablethis book should sit atop.Hard to imagine, but author William Bryant Logan has written acoffee table book on tools. Who'd ever imagine tools could be socolorful, so picturesque, so interesting? The Tool Book is 300 pagesof illustrations, historical notes and a guide on how to pick theright tool for any given task.The book, frankly, is beautiful - this from a man who findsturning a spade akin to eating broccoli. Did you know there are 10different types of pruning saw, including the traditional Japanesefolding version and its American counterpart? The Western versionalso comes with Japanese-style teeth, by the way.If you're a gardener, a wood-working hobbyist, or just needadvice on whether to use a thatching rake or light thatching rake foryour fallen leaves, this well-organized book is recommended.It even looks good next to the oversized Monet picture book onyour coffee table.Eric Benderoff, deputy features editor/real estateClassicalMemoirs by Sir Georg Solti (Knopf, $25.95).For classical music fans in Chicago, the top book of 1997 has tobe Sir Georg Solti's Memoirs.The Chicago Symphony Orchestra's music director laureatefinished working on the manuscript a few hours before he diedunexpectedly Sept. 5, and Knopf issued it on Oct. 21, which wouldhave been Solti's 85th birthday. The book is a lively memoir by oneof the CSO's greatest music directors and the last of the greatpost-World War II maestros.Virtually by definition, autobiographies are selectiveremembrances. But it's always valuable to see how great artistsperceive themselves, and Solti's perceptions of himself and themusical world around him are remarkably clear-eyed.The uncertainty of his early struggles to make a career inEurope in the face of anti-Semitism and the upheavals of World War IIis vividly described. So is his love affair with the ChicagoSymphony Orchestra. The classical music world has changedirrevocably since Solti made his conducting debut on the eve of WorldWar II. We truly shall not see his like again.Wynne Delacoma, classical music criticSportsJackie Robinson by Arnold Rampersad (Knopf, $27.50).Rampersad's meticulous and elegantly written story of Robinson'slife, which benefitted immensely from the cooperation of Robinson'swidow Rachel, is as important as any biography that appeared thisyear - or any year.Rampersad accomplishes the formidable task of making Robinson asymbol of Jim Crow America, of the integration of this country'smajor institutions and of the twists and turns of the civil rightsmovement, without ever losing sight of Robinson - the passionate butconflicted human being.The story of how Robinson broke baseball's color line has beentold before, although never in such breathtaking detail. Rampersad'ssignal achievement is to make Robinson's life before and afterbaseball equally compelling.Ron Rapoport, deputy sports editorTravelThese Rare Lands: Images of America's National Parks (Simon &Schuster, $40).With a whole world of topics to chose from, it's no surprise thatthe offerings in the travel category are vast and varied. Greatguide books aside, These Rare Lands: Images of America's NationalParks is at the top of my gift list for this holiday season. Thetopic is a classic and one explored by many, but this testimony tothe country's 54 national parks is as lovely a collection as one willfind. Photographer Stan Jorstad's lush photos capture the grandeurof each park, from Maine's Acadia to Hawaii's Haleakala. Former U.S.poet laureate Mark Strand enhances the photo collection withcompelling reflections. A little bonus: an introduction by RobertRedford.Mi-Ai Ahern, travel editorTelevisionThe Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family edited byRay Richmond (Harper Perennial, $15.95).Publicity-seeking politicians spent most of 1997 yammering aboutfamily values on television programs."The Simpsons," a satiric cartoon series on the Fox network, isthe current longest-running weekly program devoted to a working-classfamily. Now in its eighth season, Matt Groening's creation haspassed "The Flintstones" as the prime-time longevity champ among allanimated TV shows.The Complete Guide is a 249-page collection of "Simpsons"history and mythology."If `The Simpsons' is a show that rewards you for payingattention," says Groening, "then this book is for that exalted and/orsorry bunch of you who just can't seem to stop paying attention."The guide includes character sketches, tons of trivia, factoidsand catchphrases. "Seventeen people went totally insane in themaking of this book," Groening says.Lon Grahnke, television criticMediaA Reporter's Life by Walter Cronkite (Alfred A. Knopf, $26.95;Ballatine paperback, $14).I can die a happy man now that I've read the splendidautobiography of my lifelong hero and mentor, Walter Cronkite.Titled A Reporter's Life, it's the enthralling story of how anoverworked and underpaid wire-service correspondent was instrumentalin the creation of television news (the term "anchorman" was coinedfor him) and came to be known as "The Most Trusted Man in America."From his roots as a newsboy peddling the Kansas City Star to hisstatus today as the revered elder statesman of broadcast journalism,Uncle Walter recalls in vivid detail his impressions as an eyewitnessto the greatest triumphs and tragedies of the 20th century.Ironically, his two decades at the helm of "The CBS EveningNews" gave rise to the cult of personality surrounding the currentcrop of millionaire news anchors - a disturbing trend Cronkitedecries. His book should be required reading for anyone whobroadcasts the news - or watches it.Robert Feder, television/radiocolumnistArtAmerican Visions: The Epic History of Art in America by RobertHughes (Knopf, $65).By the pound or by the inch, Time magazine art critic RobertHughes' American Visions: The Epic History of Art in America is ameaty tome. Hitting the bookstands this spring to coincide with aneight-hour PBS series that aired in May, it was greeted by acontrapuntal chorus of rants and raves - some warranted, some not.It isn't a perfect book. Five hundred years of Americans makingart, and what one of the nation's most widely read and outspokenwriters has to say about it, is a pretty snug fit even for 636 pages.But as a wide-ranging (and, yes, over-reaching) survey aimed at thegeneral reader with an interest in art, it offers lots ofinformation, flashes of insight and even some gossipy tidbits.Hughes' examination of architecture, design, furniture, paintingand sculpture and how they've been influenced by commerce, politics,philosophy and religion is wonderfully descriptive and lively.Central to it all, he believes, is the American obsession with"newness." Not just a loosely stitched patchwork of various artists,eras and styles, this lavishly illustrated chronicle continuouslyweaves past and present art into a rich and textured whole cloth.Garrett Holg, freelance art criticFashionSecrets of a Fashion Therapist by Betty Halbreich (Cliff StreetBooks, $25).Losing your mind over what to wear? Seek help - from a fashiontherapist, that is.Chicago native Betty Halbreich is ready to counsel with her newbook, Secrets of a Fashion Therapist. As director of Solutions atBergdorf Goodman in New York, she's been helping women getdressed for every occasion.Now she, along with Sally Wadyka, wants to help anyone willingto listen. The 204-page book is written in a conversational andcomfortable tone. Halbreich provides sensible advice, taking intoaccount various clothing budgets and tastes. She forces readers totake a cold, hard look at their bodies and assess what works best forthem. She even gives tips on how to shop for clothes in the chapter"Taking the Store by Storm." Unlike other fashion self-help books,Halbreich focuses on the basicsof good dressing. This timeless advice will help any reader make aquick recovery.Lisa Lenoir, fashion writerCelebrityWhen Do I Start? by Karl Malden with Carla Malden (Simon &Schuster, $25).This year, publishers threw money at anyone with a flashy name.Bookstores peddled Jenny McCarthy's (co-written) autobiography, JennyJones' (co-written) life story, even Tina Louise's bizarre memoir(unfortunately, not co-written).But the best celebrity book was by the decidedly unflashyMalden, written with his daughter in a warm, anecdotal, thoughtfulmanner. There are no tales of drug addiction, no axes to grind, noego trips - just the memories of an 85-year-old actor who acceptedalmost any job that would come his way by saying, "When do I start?"The book captures his love affair with acting withoutpretension. And the affair lasted - he tells of starring on Broadwayin "A Streetcar Named Desire," in films such as "Patton," and on TV's"The Streets of San Francisco." And today's actors could learn fromhis professionalism. Acting was his job, and people like MarlonBrando, Michael Douglas and Barbra Streisand were his co-workers.You'll love the trip, even if you weren't around for it thefirst time.Paige Smoron, assistant Showcase editorPop culturePoison Pen: The True Confessions of Two Tabloid Reporters byLysa Moskowitz-Mateu and David LaFontaine (Dove Books, $18.95).There's no guilty pleasure more delicious than reading theconfessional purgings of semi-reformed scum. Lysa Moskowitz-Mateauwas a staff reporter for Star magazine and has free-lanced for theNational Enquirer and the Globe; her ex-husband David LaFontaine wasalso on staff at the Star. Together they have produced a breezy,cheeky and sometimes appalling retelling of their adventures stalkingthe likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Tommy and Pamela Lee, Michael Jackson,and O.J. Simpson. (The celebrity names drop like hockey pucks from areferee's hand in this book.)Even more entertaining are the stories about the minor celebs -a Richard "Empty Nest" Mulligan, a Crystal "Wings" Bernard, - whoseprivate lives must be sullied for the tabloids to have enough copyevery week. You won't like Moskowitz-Mateau or LaFontaine very much,but you'll find them to be fascinatingly repellent creatures - muchlike the jackal or the vulture.Richard Roeper, columnistCookingVegetarian Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madison (BroadwayBooks, $35).Deborah Madison has written the perfect book for someone whowants to eat healthfully, but is clueless in the kitchen.Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone has more than 1,400 alluringrecipes - from a fresh tomato sauce made with just five ingredients(including salt and pepper) to elegant spring asparagus soup toearthy, trendy goat cheese enchiladas with corn and red mole sauce.But it's also a wealth of easy-to-understand help for beginners.The inside cover lists definitions of the simplest recipe terms("Butter means lightly salted or unsalted butter"). Introductorychapters explain such basics as how to hold a knife while chopping,and describe, in words and sketches, kitchen tools from measuringcups to a food mill. The 115-page vegetables section describesdozens of varieties and tells how to shop for, store and use them.Best of all, Madison, a founder of San Francisco's landmarkvegetarian restaurant Greens, demystifies vegetarianism. Even "ifyou don't attach a title to your eating style," she writes, "you cancook everything in this book and serve it with meat, fish or fowl."That's what I call vegetarian cooking for everyone.Barbara Sadek, food editor

Bush Taps Ag Deputy to Run Agency

WASHINGTON - Charles Conner, the Agriculture Department official picked to become acting secretary upon the departure of Mike Johanns, has worked on farm issues in Washington for more than two decades.

Conner became deputy agriculture secretary in 2005. Before that he was a White House farm adviser and president of the Corn Refiners Association. He also worked on the Senate Agriculture Committee for 12 years, most of that time as staff director.

A native of Indiana, Conner grew up on a farm that remains in his family.

Conner assumes the job as Congress is writing the next farm bill. The House passed its version of the multi-billion-dollar legislation in June, but negotiations have hit bumps in the Senate.

Mary Kay Thatcher, a lobbyist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the transition should be smooth with Conner at the helm, since he has been involved in the process so far.

Johanns, who announced his resignation Thursday and is expected to run for the U.S. Senate, strenuously objected to the House farm bill. He argued that Congress should put stronger limits on payments to wealthy farmers. The White House issued a veto threat.

"I think the farm bill is an administration position, not a Mike Johanns position," Thatcher said.

Thatcher and Tom Buis, president of the National Farmers Union, praised Conner's experience.

"I think (Conner) will be very positive for the process because of his knowledge of all of the intricacies of farm policy," Buis said. "He's very well liked on Capitol Hill."

North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad, a Democratic member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said he has known Conner for a long time and has always liked him, even if he hasn't always agreed with him.

"He is somebody who will be respected in the discussions," Conrad said.

Still, Conrad said it is distracting to change leadership in the middle of a farm bill.

"For the secretary to walk away in the middle of a farm bill borders on irresponsible," Conrad said.

Several state officials said that Johanns is expected to seek the Senate seat being vacated at the end of next year by Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb.

NATO sticking to 2014 pullout date for now

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO's top official said Monday that the alliance will adhere to its plans to hand over security to local forces in Afghanistan by the end of 2014, comments that came after France said it would push NATO to speed up its timeline for the handover of combat operations by a year.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen acknowledged that the final transition phase, which involves handing over lead responsibility for provinces and districts to Afghan authorities, would start from "mid-2013." A number of areas and towns already have been handed over to the Afghan army and police since the transition started a year ago.

Nonetheless, the overall NATO plan is still pegged on a 2014 pullout date, Fogh Rasmussen said after a meeting with Romanian President Traian Basescu.

"We will stick to the roadmap that was outlined at the NATO summit in Lisbon in 2010, according to which we will gradually hand over lead responsibility to the Afghans, a process that has been started and hopefully will be completed by the end of 2014," Fogh Rasmussen said.

Last week, French President Nicolas Sarkozy jolted NATO by announcing France would speed up its exit and ask NATO to end its combat mission in 2013. The announcement came after an Afghan soldier killed 4 French soldiers on Jan. 20.

The move was seen as the latest crack in a coalition already strained by economic troubles in Europe and the United States, the Afghan government's sluggish battle against corruption, and a Taliban insurgency that remains unbeaten after more than a decade of war.

It's unclear if Sarkozy's call for all foreign forces to hand security over to the Afghan forces in 2013 will have traction when is presented on Thursday and Friday at a NATO defense ministers' meeting in Brussels. Britain and Germany have already indicated they would stick to the 2014 timeline.

Basescu said Romania, with a contingent of 1,900 troops, will focus on training Afghanistan's paramilitary police forces.

Fogh Rasmussen said "there is nothing new" in the fact that from mid-2013 the role of coalition forces in Afghanistan will start changing from combat to a support role.

NATO is speeding up the training of the Afghan security forces, which are due to gradually expand to over 350,000 members. But incidents in which Afghan soldiers have turned on NATO troops have raised fears of increased Taliban infiltration of the Afghan police and army.

France, which now has about 3,600 soldiers in the coalition force, joins Britain, Germany and Italy in the top five largest troop-contributing nations. All those national contingents are dwarfed by the 90,000-strong U.S. force.

Sarkozy's government has been under political pressure to withdraw French troops before the United States' pegged pullout in 2014. Polls show most French want an early pullout — and such a move could affect Sarkozy's re-election prospects.

Socialist candidate Francois Hollande, the front-runner in the polls, has said that if elected this spring he hopes to withdraw French forces by the end of this year.

___

Slobodan Lekic can be reached on Twitter at http://twitter.com/slekich

EU ministers meet on Gaza crisis

European Union foreign ministers are scheduled to gather in Paris on Tuesday evening for an urgent meeting on the crisis in Gaza, with France and Germany both seeking a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.

Most of the European Union's 27 members are sending foreign ministers or their deputies to the talks, which are being hosted by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, said ministry spokesman Romain Nadal.

Germany said its foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, has spoken with Israeli, Egyptian and Syrian officials to sound out the possibility of a "humanitarian cease-fire" in Gaza.

Steinmeier also discussed the situation with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday.

The German Foreign Ministry said Steinmeier wanted explore ways to ease delivery of aid to people in Gaza and allow diplomatic efforts to create a permanent cease-fire. Germany said its deputy foreign minister, Guenter Gloser, would attend the meeting in Paris.

France, which holds the EU's rotating presidency until Thursday, when the Czech Republic takes over, called again for an end to the fighting in Gaza. Nadal, the French spokesman, said the population in Hamas-ruled Gaza needs humanitarian aid, and border points should be reopened so aid gets through.

The European Commission asked Israel to allow relief workers into the Gaza area. In a statement Tuesday, the European Commission asked Israel "to open up the humanitarian space" so aid and relief workers can reach the Gaza area.

And Norway announced Tuesday that it is giving 30 million kroner ($4.3 million) in immediate humanitarian aid for residents of the Gaza.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said hospitals in Gaza need medical equipment urgently. Norway's donation will be channeled through humanitarian organizations and U.N. agencies.

More than 370 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began attacks directed against Gaza's Hamas rulers on Saturday, shortly after a six-month truce expired. Most of the dead were members of Hamas security forces but the number included at least 64 civilians, according to U.N. figures.

понедельник, 12 марта 2012 г.

Swaziland gov't beefs up security ahead of protest

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — An activist said Thursday that Swazi ministers have used money from their self-imposed salary cuts to pay for 500 recently hired security officials, further beefing up forces ahead of a planned April 12 pro-democracy uprising.

The government is passing out guns to the tiny mountain kingdom's army, one of the largest in the region, instead of using the money to provide public services, said Mandla Hlatshwayo, founder of the Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Civic Organizations.

The government has stepped up its security presence since a March 18 protest for democracy brought 7,000 protesters to the usually quiet capital of Mbabane, said Thuli Makama, director of the Swaziland Legal Assistance Center.

The current police presence is unlike anything the country has seen, with frequent checkpoints and roadblocks, she said at a news conference in Johannesburg.

"The king is determined in making sure armed forces are comfortable and thus ready to serve him," Makama said. "One would think he's ready to quash any uprising. If space is not open for people to participate in the government, I can see the whole thing imploding."

Swazi government spokeswoman Macanjana Motsa did not immediately respond to calls for comment.

An anti-monarchy movement has gained momentum since the government, embroiled in a budget crisis, proposed freezing civil service wages which prompted the protest in March.

"If there are salary cuts, who inherits that money?" said Sibongile Mazibuko, president of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers. "Unless the prime minister and cabinet resign from office, we are not going to sit down to negotiate our salaries being cut. We are not going to cut anything."

Talks on the civil service salary freezes are ongoing.

Swaziland's Cabinet agreed to their own 10 percent salary cuts March 24, which they said would save the government 240 million Lilangeni ($34.9 million) over the next three years when combined with salary freezes.

Mazibuko and Makama said the Cabinet pay cuts were a publicity stunt and that they had actually given themselves recent pay raises to cushion the cuts.

Swazi youth are rallying support for a pro-democracy protest on April 12, exactly 38 years after Swazi King Mswati III banned political parties and abandoned the country's constitution, said Pius Vilikati, the former president of the Swaziland student union, who is now living in exile in Johannesburg.

Swaziland's budget deficit was worsened by an out-of-budget wage increase for civil servants and politicians in April 2010 and a $50 million budget addendum for a new airport project, said Joannes Mongardini, the IMF's mission chief for Swaziland.

People in the conservative kingdom of Swaziland see monarchy as central to their national identities, even those who do not like the current king, who democracy activists call corrupt and irresponsible.

"Swazis are proud of the institution of the king insofar as its a symbol of the Swazi nation," Makama said. "Whilst we love him, people have started asking questions."

Sondheim, played for laughs

No one is officially saying that the new HBO series, "The Miraculous Year," is specifically based on the life of legendary gay Broadway composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, but it's hard to miss the resemblances. Sondheim suffered a heart attack at age 49, and "Year"'s protagonist (played by Tony-winning actor Norbert Leo Butz) is a 44-year-old Broadway composer who suffers an aneurysm. But whether it's based onreal life, "The Miraculous Year" sounds promising, with a cast that also features fellow Tony winners Frank Langella, Patti LuPone and Eddie Redmayne, plus Oscar-winners Susan Sarandon (acting) and Kathryn Bigelow (directing the pilot, written by gay Oscar-nominated screenwriter John Logan). Authences will have to wait until the possibly miraculous year of 20 1 1 to catch what promises to be a dishy dive into Broadway's backstage drama.

EUROPE NEWS AT 0600GMT

UPCOMING COVERAGE FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 19:

EU SUMMIT

BRUSSELS, Belgium _ The EU's 27 leaders gather for their regular two-day June summit. Agenda items include Irish 'no' vote in referendum on Lisbon Treaty, spiraling fuel and food prices across Europe. AP Photos.

FRANCE-ISRAEL

PARIS _ Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak meets his French counterpart Herve Morin and visits an arms show near Paris. AP Photos.

WORLD COURT-MEXICAN PRISONERS

THE HAGUE, Netherlands _ International Court of Justice begins hearing two days of arguments on Mexico's request appeal for an injunction to halt the execution of Mexican prisoners on death row in the US who were denied pretrial access to their consulate. Hearings begin 0800GMT.

RUSSIA-SPAIN

MOSCOW _ Spanish King Juan Carlos visits Moscow and meets with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

ALBANIA-KOSOVO

TIRANA, Albania _ Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci opens a two-day visit to Albania. News conference of the two premiers at 0910GMT. AP Photos.

EQUATORIAL GUINEA-MERCENARY TRIAL

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea _ Final day of three-day trial of British mercenary Simon Mann, accused of masterminding failed coup plot in 2004.

SWITZERLAND-NATIONAL BANK

GENEVA _ The president of the Swiss National Bank presents his annual report on the economic and monetary situation in Switzerland.

The AP

US begins airlift to cyclone victims as Myanmar junta is accused of 'malign neglect'

The U.S. began its first airlift of relief goods for Myanmar cyclone victims Monday after prolonged negotiations with its military rulers, accused of endangering the lives of up to 1.5 million survivors by restricting international aid efforts.

In what was seen as a huge concession by the junta, the United States finally received the go-ahead to send a C-130 cargo plane packed with supplies to Yangon, with two more air shipments scheduled to land Tuesday.

However, the government continued to refuse visas for most foreign aid experts, insisting that the long-isolated country is capable of distributing aid alone.

"Let them in, let them save lives," urged Eric John, the U.S. ambassador to Thailand.

The junta has been sharply criticized for its handling of the May 3 disaster, from failing to provide adequate warnings about the approaching storm to responding slowly to offers of help.

Myanmar state television announced Sunday the death toll from Cyclone Nargis had jumped by about 5,000 to 28,458, with another 33,416 still missing.

International aid groups say they fear the number could reach 100,000, and the British group Oxfam said up to 15 times that number could face death from a public health catastrophe if people do not get clean water and sanitation soon.

"A natural disaster is turning into a humanitarian catastrophe of genuinely epic proportions in significant part because of the malign neglect of the regime," British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said.

Though international assistance has started trickling in, the few foreign relief workers who have been allowed entry have been restricted to the largest city of Yangon. Only a handful have succeeded in getting past checkpoints into the worst-affected areas.

Myanmar's military rulers are especially suspicious of the United States, which has long been one of the biggest critics of the junta's human rights record and its failure to hand over power to a democratically elected government.

"We hope that this is the beginning of a long line of assistance from the United States," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe told reporters in Crawford, Texas, over the weekend. "They're going to need our help for a long time."

The C-130 took off from a Thai air force base in Utapao, Thailand, loaded with 28,000 pounds (12,700 kilograms) of supplies, including mosquito nets, blankets and water in an operation dubbed "Joint Task Force Carrying Response."

"Today's flight is just the first step and we hope they will allow us to do more in the future. It's really just up to what the Burmese will allow us to do," said Lt. Col. Douglas Powell, the U.S. Marines spokesman for the operation. Myanmar is also known as Burma.

Powell said the military transport was carrying U.S. government, not military, aid supplies and was unarmed.

He said the United States had 11,000 servicemen and four ships in the region for an annual military exercise, Cobra Gold, which could be harnessed to help in the mercy mission.

Admiral Timothy J. Keating, who commands the U.S. Pacific Fleet, said Washington was prepared to offer 200,000 pounds (90,700 kilograms) of relief aid each day, "anything we can put on the back of a C-130."

Highlighting the many challenges ahead, a Red Cross boat carrying rice, drinking water and other goods for more than 1,000 people sank Sunday near hard-hit Bogalay town. All four aid workers on board were safe.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies could not say how much of the cargo had been lost, but said the food supplies were contaminated by river water.

"Apart from the delay in getting aid to people we may now have to re-evaluate how we transport that aid," said Michael Annear, the IFRC's disaster manager in Yangon, who described the sinking as "a big blow."

Other aid was increasingly getting through, the group said, but on "nowhere near the scale required."

Heavy showers were forecast for the coming week, further complicating aid delivery to the badly hit Irrawaddy delta, which was pounded by 120 mph (190 kph) winds and 12-foot-high (4-meter-high) storm surges from the sea.

The U.N. said about 2 million people were severely affected by the storm.

In hard-hit Laputta, hundreds of survivors crowded the floor of a monastery's open-air hall, the sound of hungry children wailing. Many people tried to sleep sitting up because of lack of space.

Pain Na Kon, a tiny nearby village of just 300, was completely obliterated.

The only 12 known survivors _ including 6-year-old Mien Mien, who lost both her parents _ huddled together in a tent set up in a rice field, sharing a small portion of biscuits and watery soup handed out at a local monastery.

"We are family now," said U Nyo, a man in his 30s, his eyes red and watery. "We are from the same place. We are together."