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Kevin Chandler's band returns soul to music

Kevin Chandler's band returns soul to music

Call it soul fusion. Those are the words Kevin Chandler uses to describe the earthy grooves and sentiments his self-named band cranks on their debut album, "Psoul Psychadelica."

"I wanted to do a record that was good music first and labeled soul and R&B second," Chandler said.

"Psoul Psychadelica" comes on the heels of a changing tide in R&B. The push for more musicians in the studios and a return to soul music is a growing concern, one that the Kevin Chandler Band affectionately answers.

Chandler, a Chicago native, used an astounding 40 mostly local musicians to create his album. A producer by trade, Chandler …

Man pleads guilty to fraud for phony asylum claims

A man accused of coaching immigrants on how to make phony asylum claims pleaded guilty to fraud and other charges and agreed to forfeit $1.7 million.

The man, David Lynn, led a ring that prepared 380 asylum applications between 2003 and 2007, charging $8,000 for individuals and $12,000 for couples, prosecutors said, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Most of the asylum seekers were from Russia, but prosecutors said some were from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Ukraine. A few were granted asylum, but …

Enjoy a greener celebration ; Valentine's

Smooch by candlelight Recent research has shown that Brits aremore likely than their French counterparts to switch off the mainlighting and dine by candlelight to save energy and money - around aquarter of Brits compared to only 15 per cent of people in France.Make your own card It just takes a little time and attention (andrecycled paper). The extra effort shows you really care about yourValentine - and the environment.

Plant a green gift - create a lasting symbol of your relationshipby planting a rose bush or a crab apple tree (also called the …

U.S. Dollar, Gold Down in Europe

LONDON - The U.S. dollar was mostly lower against other major currencies in European trading Friday morning. Gold was lower.

The euro traded at $1.3310, up from $1.3307 late Thursday in New York.

Other dollar rates:

-123.43 Japanese yen, up from 122.97

-1.2450 Swiss franc, down from 1.2468

-1.0656 …

WORLD at 1000GMT

HIGHLIGHTS:

New: MALAYSIA-PHILIPPINES-MUSLIM REBELS. Philippines, rebels find common ground.

New: IRAQ. Iraqi police: Suicide car bomb kills 6, wounds 21 in Kirkuk.

New: PAKISTAN. Pakistan readies caretaker government.

New: HUNGARY-OECD-SUBPRIME. OECD chief: economy not out of the woods

New: FRANCE-STRIKES. Second day of transport strike.

New: KENYA-SURVIVING THE PIRATES. Survivors of Somali pirate attack tell of months of horror.

New: ZIMBABWE-SHOPPING SPREES. Mozambique new shopping destination for Zimbaweans.

New: IRAQ-KURDISH QUANDARY. Iraq's Kurds having second thoughts about …

Record crowd forecast for 4th Ashes test

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Cricket Australia believes the Melbourne Cricket Ground will host a world record crowd of 91,000 on Sunday's opening day of the fourth Ashes test between Australia and England.

The record crowd for a cricket test of 90,800 was set at the ground in 1961 during a test between Australia and the West Indies. The opening day of the 2006 Ashes test on the ground four years ago drew 89,155 fans despite cold conditions.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said Tuesday that with the current series tied at 1-1 "the cricket gods are smiling on us all" and circumstances were ideal for a record crowd.

He expected 300,000 people to attend the …

Christian work flows out of Christian worship

Winnipeg

If God's plan to restore the world is to become a reality, Christians need to both worship and work-and the work flows out of worship.

That's what theologian Marva Dawn told more than 250 people at the Refreshing Winds music and worship conference at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) in January. The theme of the bi-annual conference, which attracted registrants from many different denominations from across Canada, was "Worship as reconciliation."

The temptation is for churches to emphasize either personal piety or action, said Dawn, author of 20 books on a variety of church- and worship-related topics. "We need both piety and work in the world to help …

Britain to recognize Kosovo independence

Britain will recognize Kosovo's new status as an independent nation, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Monday.

"On behalf of the United …

Dvd Brochure Coup For Dutton

Dutton Merrifield has just redesigned the DVD range brochure forParamount Home Entertainment UK.

The new brochure, which the Bristol-based agency …

Faith beyond belief

Life in the Postmodern Shift

So is atheism still working for you?" I playfully asked my friend Harry, a philosophy professor at the University of Waterloo.

He sat back in his chair with a quizzical look on his face. "It's funny you should ask that. Trudeau's funeral really affected me. He was one of my political heroes and it finally struck me how important his faith was to him. I have always struggled to understand how so many of the most brilliant thinkers throughout history were Christian. How can these geniuses with IQs much higher than mine believe this stuff? Lately, ... I have actually found myself contemplating Christian faith." He looked down as if he had …

Scores reported injured in a bomb explosion in the Belarusian capital

Belarusian health officials say more than 50 people have been injured in a bomb explosion at an outdoor concert in the capital of Minsk.

The blast took place before dawn Friday at a downtown concert celebrating the country's independence day. The concert was …

Bidder seeks delay in post office auction

A Cook County judge today will be asked to postpone Thursday's scheduled auction of the old Chicago Main Post Office, the vast empty building that spans the Eisenhower Expy.

Circuit Judge Martin Agran has scheduled a hearing on a lawsuit filed by Robert Racky, a prospective bidder for the old post office. According to Racky's suit, bidders haven't had enough time to review "thousands of pages of documents" about the property that the auctioneer issued only last week.

Racky said crucial information about the property's environmental condition and operating costs was late in coming or hasn't been provided. Racky, a developer, also owns Lakeview Baseball Club, 3633 N. …

No No-Hitter for Expos

Pedro Martinez made it through an eighth-inning brawl with ano-hitter, then gave up a leadoff single to Brian Dorsett in theninth as the Montreal Expos beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 Wednesdaynight at Olympic Stadium.

Martinez, 0-4 in four previous big-league starts, was trying tobecome the second pitcher in a week to throw a no-hitter in his firstcomplete game. Kent Mercker of the Atlanta Braves did it against LosAngeles Friday night.

Martinez, younger brother of the Dodgers' Ramon Martinez, had aperfect game and a 2-0 lead with one out in the eighth when he hitReggie Sanders in the elbow with an 0-2 pitch. Sanders charged themound, tackled Martinez and touched off a bench-clearing incident.

Sanders was ejected, and Martinez regained his composure tostrike out Roberto Kelly on a pitch in the dirt. With Willie Greeneat the plate, the 22-year-old right-hander threw a wild pitch thatsent pinch runner Jerome Walton to third. Greene then flied tocenter.

Martinez lost the no-hitter when Dorsett singled sharply tocenter on a 1-2 pitch leading off the ninth.

Braves 6, Giants 3: On the night honoring the 20th anniversaryof Hank Aaron's 715th home run, Fred McGriff homered in the 12th justto the left of the historic landing spot, leading Atlanta by visitingSan Francisco.

Cardinals 4, Dodgers 2: Ray Lankford homered and drove in fourruns, and Rick Sutcliffe (1-0) won his first NL start in three yearsas St. Louis beat Los Angeles at Busch Stadium.

Astros 4, Marlins 2: Houston's Greg Swindell (2-0) allowed fivehits in eight shutout innings and remained unbeaten in four decisionsagainst host Florida.

Pirates 3, Padres 2: Al Martin tripled, doubled and scored thego-ahead run on third baseman Archi Cianfrocco's throwing error inthe fifth as Pittsburgh edged San Diego at Three Rivers Stadium.

Phillies 12, Rockies 3: Darren Daulton drove in four runs andscored four times as Philadelphia beat Colorado at Veterans Stadiumto snap a four-game losing streak.

'Ricky' hit the top without a No. 1 hit

Q. An amazing fact I learned is that before the Beatles, RickyNelson is the only rock artist besides Elvis Presley to have a No. 1album. Now I'm wondering if, like those other two did so often,Nelson simultaneously held the No. 1 position on the singles charts.

A. Nelson almost topped both charts in January 1958, when hisdebut LP "Ricky" reached No. 1. But his hit single then, "Stood Up,"stalled at No. 2. "Ricky" sold very well in spite of having only twohits, "Be-Bop Baby" and its flip side, "Have I Told You Lately That ILove You." (Although they share the same song title, this is acompletely different song than the one that charted for Rod Stewart.And Rick's hit was written by Gene Autry.)

That amazing fact you mention needs a little fine tuning. Only ifyou classify rock separate from soul, or soul stars singing C&W, isthe statement accurate as quoted. If consolidating the styles, thenboth Ray Charles and Little Stevie Wonder preceded the Beatles atopthe LP charts.

Ray reached No. 1 in June 1962 with "Modern Sounds in Country andWestern Music," and Stevie a little over a year later with "The 12Year Old Genius." Coincidentally, both Ray and Stevie topped thesingles charts at the same time as their albums ranked No 1.

Q. I am on the lookout for songs about girls named April. Though Ihave been to Paris ("April in Paris") and in love ("April Love"),they, like most "April" songs, are about the month. My search hasturned up two titles, neither of which I have heard. It is my hopeyou recognize them and can tell me what they are about: "April Again"and "April's Fool."

A. Well, one out of two isn't so bad. "April Again," a Top 10middle-of-the-road hit in 1968 for Dean Martin, is about not beingable to relive the month of April. In "April's Fool," which made theC&W Top 15 in 1969, Ray Price sings of being fooled by a lady namedApril.

Q. Among boxes of very old 78s my parents left me are two by theAmericans Orchestra. Both are on a label whose name is 100 Percent. Ihave no way to play a 78, but these look interesting. The titles are"Mystic City" and "Cross in the Wildwood." Do they have any value?

A. All 78s made by 100 Percent came out in the 1920s and '30s, andany can sell for $75 to $125.

Q. In 1962, I bought a 45 of the rockabilly ballad "Love'sGamble." The disc is long lost and I am searching for moreinformation about it; so far, I have found nothing. I would like toknow the singer, label and flip side. I believe this recordingoriginated from the Bakersfield, Calif., area, though it isdefinitely not country music.

A. "Love's Gamble" is a 1961 release by Bobby Hollister and theRialtos (Pike 5910). The flip side is "Ring Around Your Neck." Youmay be surprised to learn that Pike even issued "Love's Gamble" witha picture sleeve. They must have believed in its potential, though itdid not become a hit.

The best-known Bakersfield talent first reeled in by Pike iscountry-rocker Ronnie Sessions, who made two Pike singles in '61.Neither became a hit but Sessions did finally break through 11 yearslater, charting 15 hits during the '70s for MGM and MCA.

IZ ZAT SO? All 10 of the No. 1 albums in 1970 are categorized asrock, making it the first full year ever -- specifically 1945 through'69 -- when the United States did not have a non-rock LP at the top.

Jerry Osborne is a syndicated columnist. Write to him c/o ChicagoSun-Times, Features Department, 401 N. Wabash, Chicago, IL 60611, e-mail him at jo@jerryosborne.com, or visit his Web site,www.jerryosborne.com.

PUSH hears from Gore

Vice President Al Gore was greeted by a friendly audience Saturdayas he addressed the Rainbow; PUSH Coalition convention, touching onthemes popular with the organization founded by his longtime friend,the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Gore promised to continue affirmative action and push for anational hate crimes bill, a patients bill of rights and a higherminimum wage.

But the vice president stopped short of directly answering achallenge from his campaign opponent, Bill Bradley, who told the sameconvention days earlier that Gore should help put an immediate stopto racial profiling by police departments.

Gore has said halting racial profiling would be one of the firstacts of his presidency, but Bradley said Gore should encouragePresident Clinton now to end the practice.

During a speech that drew several standing ovations, Gore recalledhis late father's civil rights record as a Tennessee senator, andlauded the achievements of the Clinton administration: more Cabinetpositions for minorities, the largest four-year drop in African-American poverty in 25 years, and increased home ownership amongAfrican Americans.

"I want to work with you to close the opportunity gaps. I want towork with you for an America where we don't tolerate a single crimeof hate and where police don't target the innocent," Gore said.

"Those who say we're a color-blind society, what community arethey looking at?" he asked.

Gore bashed the Republican tax "scheme" where "the wealthiest 1percent get more money than the bottom 60 percent."

Proposing to raise the hourly minimum wage by a dollar and workfor paycheck equity between men and women, Gore said, "I don't wantmy grandchildren and yours to grow up in an America where an African-American family earns one-tenth of the salary of a white family."

Gore also stressed the importance of improving higher education toregain a competitive edge in the United States.

"Sixty percent of businesses can't find Americans with sufficienteducation and skills to fill jobs in areas of high technology," hesaid. "We have a problem that should be viewed as an opportunity."

Jackson refrained from making any endorsement and said Bradley andGore "are testing messages to see what works. But the people need tohear from them. If they speak and their message penetrates andresonates, they'll begin to create the kind of interest they need tocreate."

Gore's spokesman, Chris Lehane, said the vice president plans to"work extremely hard to earn the support of Reverend Jackson. He hasbeen an articulate, eloquent spokesperson and a leader for thosepeople in this country that've been left behind. It's a group thatwe think is absolutely important."

Stress: A tool on the soul

A new Al study reveals a troubled engineering workforce. What's it mean for you and your life?

Last fall Ron Zarella looked death square in the face. During a routine check-up doctors found the president of General Motors North American Operations had one blocked artery. Four days later he was laying in a hospital bed recovering from a triple bypass.

"Like many people who think they can do anything, I almost waited too long," admits the 50-year-old executive.

Zarella was scared but the experience gave him a level of spiritual clarity concerning work-family balance -- avoid burnout, be conscious of work/life balance and pay attention to stress.

"You don't have to work with any less intensity or passion, just balance it with other things that are important in your life," Zarella says. So these days he runs on his treadmill every morning, cuts back on dinner meetings and spends more time with his family.

"He's picked up the call," says Tim McDonald, manager of corporate health promotions at GM in Detroit. McDonald knows the go-getters. He's intimately familiar with the profile of a tirelessly, diligentsome would say driven person who comes in every day every weekend, sun up to sut down.

"We have that person in abundance here at GM, but not we're trying to show that pehaps there's another model out there," McDonald says. "In the past, executives were rewarded for tireless efforts and lots of overtime at the expense of really bringing any kind of balance to their lives. A big part of leadership is being able to maintain a balance in your life." As a result, he says, there's much more of a corporate effort in making people more aware of their personal health status, and what they can do to improve it.

In the space of a generation, the number of hours Americans work each week has increased by 8% to an average of 47, says Dr. Linda Rosenstock, director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health "And 20% of the American workforce is now working 49 hours a week" But as they work harder, she adds, "more people are worried about being laid off." In the last 10 years, the number that fearjob loss has doubled. "And most of them have concerns even if they feel they are performing well or very well on theirjobs," she says.

As part of Al's first Engineering Survey, we queried 1,200 engineers about everything from job-related stress to where they expect to be working in five years, (see p. 74 for detailed bn). The survey, mailed to a random selection of engineers subscribing to the magazine, produced some startling and rather sad results. Almost two-thirds of both OEM and supplier engineers say they felt more stress then they'd like, and about one-third say job-related stress had affected their health. Among the common complaintswere weight gain, high blood pressure, sore shoulders and back, fatigue, headaches and even heart problems.

In the overall survey, our readers say the leading job-related persional issues are stress, compensation ans being over-worked. However, one respondent notes his biggest issue is "working wasted with fools," while another says "too much money is wasted on eective, dead-weight midmanagers."

Two-thirds say they didn't have enough free time, while 83% of suppliers and 89% of OEM engineers say they take work home with them during the week - more than a fifth spend more than five hours a week doing "homework."

One supplier engineer sums it up simply He "takes his troubles home." Another notes, "I spend more time at work than home." Meanwhile, one engineer cryptically jots down - "two divorces," as another flames, "expected uncompenstated' overtime has to stop."

Wild Business

The problem, experts say, is that the stress level is going to get worse.

"This is a wild business," says David Cole, director of the Office for the Study for Automotive rsportation at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. "Most people better prepare for the fact that it will get wilder. It's not going to get easier."

It's compounded by the constant drive to get leaner - that is do more, better, faster. That means the stress is spread around and amplified to fewer people. "It's like trying to sprint through a marathon. I don't know how long it can continue," Cole says.

"We're now on call basically 24-hours a day," says Herbert Everss, CEO of Mannesmann VDO in Rochester Hills, Mich. "I'm not making phone calls at 3 o'clock in the morning. But I can tell you I'm checking more phone mail at 5:30 in the morning than I did five years ago."

Those pressures make it more important to delegate authority to match responsibility, select the right people with the competence to do the job and to provide the right type of training and support. For managers, Cole says, that means moving from traditional "Top John, I make all the decisions" manager to that of a motivational coach.

"The pace is fast, but it can be very invigorating," says Sharon Wenzel, vice president of corporate relations at Feudenberg-NOK in Plymouth, Mich. "It's something people either really adjust to well, or they don't." Today most automotive OEMs and suppliers have some sort of wellness program to help employees ad just. The DaimlerChrysler effort in Auburn Hills is typical. Its Wellness Program provides the educational components, including workshops, courses, campaigns, health screening on stress management, nutrition, exercise, blood pressure, cholesterol, weight control and nutrition.

"Here at the Auburn Hills complex about 74% of the employees have participated in our programs," says Brenda Elibri, DaimlerChrysler's program coordinator of the StayWell Program. The highest participation is in cholesterol and blood pressure screening.

There are some other perks, though. Massages are available very workday This employee-paid service includes back, head, neck, shoulder and hand massage. Relaxation techniques, conflict resolution, dealing with change, time management skills and positive attitude-positive results programs are also offered. For people who don't want to participate in programs or classes, there's a library of videos, books and self-help resources.

Even stress classes are less stressFul. Valorie Snyder-Pitts, a senior project manager with the StayWell Program, says over the past 10 years the course on stress management has shifted from formal classroom instruction to self-paced, bite-sized packages. "People don't need more stress," she says. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention notes that employers can make work less stressful by matching workloads to worker's capabilities and resources, define each worker's role clearly and share decision-making.

Prey And Predator

One of the biggest questions in the auto industry now is how do people and the organization adapt to stressful situations like reorganizations, downsizing, mergers and acquisitions? Sometimes it means employees have to redefine who themselves and their aspirations, says Calvin Morrill, a sociology professor at the University of Arizona, who has studied a number of corporations involved in "prey and predator" mergers and acquisitions.

One of the most recent mergers was Lear's purchase of UT Automotive. That was very stressful for a number of people. When told she no longer had a job one woman reacted so strongly that human resources had to tell this usually serene person that they would have her escorted out if she didn't calm down.

"The worst part is going to work and not having anything to do," says another UTA manager who was let go after the acquisition. "You feel like your time has been totally wasted for the past two months. If I'd known one way or the other it would lessen the stress tremendously. But I am relived that the waiting is over."

Those that stayed with the new company face other stressful situations such as consolidation of fiefdoms and becoming highly insular and risk adverting, Morrill says. Some adapt by cutting off old alliances they may have had in the past.

Another cultural adaptation is a rise in ritualistic activities, especially related to meetings. One example is the "meeting duel" - an aggressive give-and-take while presenting information.

Meanwhile, he warns that some internal stress management programs supplied by human resources departments may not help as much as first thought.

"In fact," Morrill says, "ironically sometimes those programs can have the unintended consequence of heightening stress, rather than reducing it. They can highlight what is causing stress, and unfortunately get people to realize more than before all the problems, uncertainties and ambiguities they face."

One suggestion, Morrill says, is to have line executives, not personnel people, explain the coming changes to the ranks. "They need line executives who can actually talk about the changes that are going to come, or have been through these changes in similar corporations."

At the end of the day, though, company leaders absolutely have to demonstrate the behavior, if it's going to take hold. "It has to start somewhere, and really the best place to start is at the top," says GM's McDonald.

Any questions? Ask Ron Zarella.

[Sidebar]

On The Move

Adjusting To A New Country Means Added $is

Overseas stints are almost inevitable in this global industry. They can be exciting, but they also put huge stress on family life. For employers, the stakes are high, too. Unhappy families represent the main cause of failed foreign assingments.

In trying to make transitions abroad smoother, auto suppliers and OEMs are increasing their focus an easing disruptions. Siemens Automotive in Auburn Hills, Mich., for instance, has people scattered around the world, from its parent's headquaters in Germany to Changchun, China.

The stress of moving can be especially hard on the family. While the employee has a built-in social structure, thoes left at home may not be so lucky. Take Hans-Joachim Schmidt, a Siemans marketing manager who recently moved from Engelstrat, Germany, to Auburn Hills, Mich. While he adjusted quite well, his wife had a difficult time. With no local mass transit, ha says, "she felt like she was in prison,"

For that reason, multinational companies are being much more proactive in assisting the entire family when it comes to overseas assingments. At Siemens, a number of company-paid services are provided including cross-cultural training, mail service, housing locators, tax services and even how to find a good local grocery, says Allison Meengs, the company's human resource administrator.

Meanwhile, for Americans going overseas, clearly, learning a new language is among the highest stresses.

Joseph Schuck, director of sales at Siemens spent three years in Reagansburg. Germany. "They will tolerate you if you speak English, but if you speek German they will accept you," he says. But despite eight years of German language training here, he says he was still struggling after a year to speak effectively in technical areas.

So with greater emphasis on language ability and some handholding by the company, these stays abroad won't have to be interminable. They'll be fun.

Nowitzki-LeBron Showdown Goes to Mavs

CLEVELAND - Dirk Nowitzki and LeBron James struggled. Fortunately for Nowitzki, the rest of the Dallas Mavericks outplayed James' teammates. Nowitzki scored 23 points and Jason Terry added 21 to help the Mavericks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time this month, 98-90 Wednesday night.

"That's why we are a great team, because other guys stepped up when we needed them," said Nowitzki, who added nine rebounds and six assists.

The Mavericks, who have the NBA's best record at 56-11, have won four straight and are 3-0 on a six-game road trip that's included victories over Detroit and New York.

The Mavs controlled the game for all but the first quarter, making the Cavaliers look inept and one-dimensional offensively on their own court.

James had a tough night shooting and got roughed up as well. He finished with 31 points but was 12-for-28 shooting as he single-handedly tried to put his team back in it.

"Our defense won the game," Nowitzki said. "LeBron is a great player and will always get his numbers, but we were making him take some tough shots."

As if James' night wasn't hard enough, he banged his head on the floor after getting spun around by Josh Howard while going for a loose ball. He was slow to get up but stayed in the game.

James also took an elbow from Nowitzki with 1:39 left and fell to the floor.

"I'm definitely not feeling 100 percent," James said. "I took two dangerous hits today."

Devin Harris scored 17 points with six assists, punishing the Cavaliers every time they tried to get something going. Erick Dampier scored 13 with nine rebounds.

"This team is not going to win 50-plus games with just Josh Howard and Dirk Nowitzki," James said. "They have great players in Devin Harris, (Jerry) Stackhouse and J.T., and their bigs are very active."

James finally got in a groove early in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 straight on a 3-pointer and a series of drives to get within six.

The Cavaliers got their only bench points when Donyell Marshall hit a 3-pointer with 5:10 left in the fourth to make it 86-80. But Nowitzki responded with a 3-pointer, then a jumper to deflate the crowd and the Cavaliers' comeback.

James said before the game that he gets energized for Western Conference teams because the East doesn't get enough respect.

"Tonight wasn't about West vs. East, it's about us getting better, getting ready for the playoffs," Nowitzki said.

James (1-of-9) and Nowitzki (1-of-6) both started off poorly, each scoring just eight points in the first half. Nowitzki (9-of-24) also tossed up an airball on a late 3-pointer.

"Dirk was cold early, but that's what makes this team so tough," Harris said. "We have so many weapons who can step up until he gets in his rhythm and that's what happened tonight."

James wasn't his usual self either and didn't attack the rim until late in the game, which surprised Stackhouse.

"He had opportunities early, but wasn't taking them for some reason," said Stackhouse, who scored 10 off the bench.

The Mavericks took over the lead for good with a 14-0 run when Cleveland went eight minutes without scoring between the first and second quarters.

"That was the difference in the game," Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. "We fought. We didn't hang our heads or give up, but when you play against a team like that ... it puts you in a hole that's hard to fight back from."

The Cavaliers fell to 18-10 against the West and 12-2 at home. Those records lead all Eastern Conference teams, but the Cavaliers have failed to top the league's best team.

Cleveland has now lost two straight after winning eight in a row. The Mavericks beat the Cavaliers 95-92 on March 1.

Both teams were playing on the second night of a back-to-back. The Mavericks won at New York on Tuesday night and the Cavaliers lost in overtime to Charlotte.

All five Cleveland starters were in double figures. Drew Gooden scored 19 points and Sasha Pavlovic 16 for the Cavaliers. But Cleveland's bench managed just three points on 1-for-11 shooting in a combined 58 minutes.

Notes:@ Mavericks swingman Devean George, who has missed the last five games (sore right knee), will rejoin the team Thursday. ... G Greg Buckner, out since he sprained his left knee March 14 against Phoenix, will practice Thursday. ... The Mavericks are five wins from the best record in franchise history. They went 60-22 last year and in 2002-03.

In memoriam: Darrell Malott

On January 28, the collision repair industry was rocked by news of the sudden death of former Colision Industry Conference Chairman Darrell Malott. The 46-year-old shop owner was found dead of an apparent gunshot wound in his home in San Bernardino, Calif. Police began their investigation after family and friends reported him missing for about 10 days. The body of Malott's wife Dar, 36, was found in a vehicle in the garage. The couple had been married for a little more than a year.

Malott, the owner of Toler's Auto Body in San Bernardino, served the industry on many levels. In addition to chairing CIC, he was a past chairman of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists and past president of the California Autobody Association. He was a popular speaker at industry events around the country, and occasionally wrote for industry publications including ABRN and Autobody News.

Upon learning of Malott's death, CIC Administrative Director Jeff Hendler wrote the following about his friend and colleague:

"Once in a while, a great while, someone comes along and quietly sneaks into your life and changes it. On even rarer occasions, these quiet people tend to change a lot of lives. Darrell Malott was one of those people.

"It is a trite phrase that states, `We have lost a friend,' but we have. Even more tragic is that we have lost one of the lights that helped our industry to better see and understand our future. Darrell Malott, a quiet soul now silenced, will be truly missed by us all."

A memorial service for Malott was held on February 5 at the EmmersonBartlett Memorial Chapel in Redlands, Calif.

-Kathy Forrey

Health insurers spend heavily on overhead, study reports

WASHINGTON Private health insurance companies spend an average of37.2 cents on administrative costs for every dollar's worth of healthcare coverage, a study released Thursday says.

Paper work, advertising, commissions and overhead expenses aresoaking up more and more of the premiums paid by individuals andemployers, according to the report by Citizen Action, a private groupfunded by foundation grants and 3 million members.

The 37.2 cents figure comes from data that insurance companiesgive to state regulators and is the average for 1990, the last yearstatistics were available. It compares with 30.7 cents on the dollarin 1981 and 33.5 cents in 1988.

The Health Insurance Association of America, a trade associationrepresenting private insurers, disputed the figure, sayingadministrative costs were 14.2 percent of total private healthpremiums in 1990.

Citizen Action's vice president, Robert Brandon, said he stoodby his numbers as an accurate analysis of state documents.

Brandon's organization is pushing for a national health caresystem like Canada's. "The Canadians spend 0.9 cents for everydollar in benefits," Brandon said.

The problem in the United States stems from a "hodgepodge"system in which 1,500 private health insurance companies are sellingcoverage, he said.

A single-payer system would be much more efficient, he said.Medicare, for example, spends only 2.1 cents to deliver each dollar'sworth of coverage, he said.

The Citizen Action study did not include Blue Cross-Blue Shieldcompanies, health maintenance organizations or companies that areself-insured.

The Health Insurance Association said the exclusions are a keyfailing of the study. The health plans funded directly by employers,for example, tend to be large, with relatively low administrativecosts, the trade association said.

The association said health insurance plans must be judged forwhat they provides individuals, not simply on costs.

Economic crisis pressures Russia's ruling tandem

Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev has twice rebuked the government led by his predecessor Vladimir Putin in the past couple of weeks, raising questions of whether a rift is developing between the powerful former Kremlin leader and the man he chose to replace him.

On both occasions, Medvedev criticized the government for not doing enough to help industry and business cope with the global financial crisis, which has hit Russia hard.

"The planned measures are being fulfilled slower than we counted on and, most important, slower than the current situation demands," Medvedev said during a visit Sunday to an engine plant outside Moscow with government ministers.

Two weeks earlier, Medvedev characterized the government's anti-crisis program as "well-balanced but not ideal."

But political analysts played down the idea of a rift, saying the remarks are more a sign of the growing economic pressures. Putin remains the far more powerful figure and Medvedev is too weak to challenge him, even if he wanted to, analysts said.

"A revolt by Medvedev is impossible," said Olga Kryshtanovskaya, a sociologist who studies the Russian political elite. Medvedev's televised criticism of Putin's government was meant only to reassure the population that more would be done to relieve their economic pain, she said.

"This is not an act of rebellion against Putin," Kryshtanovskaya said. "It's populism, directed at ordinary people."

Since Medvedev became president in May, he and Putin as prime minister have formed what has come to be called a ruling tandem. Medvedev, 43, usually defers to Putin, although he is showing more assertiveness as he grows into the job.

Putin left open the possibility of a return to the presidency when he stepped down after serving the two consecutive terms allowed under Russia's constitution. In his choice of Medvedev as successor, the 56-year-old Putin selected someone whose loyalty was unquestioned and who could be counted on to do his bidding.

In the months since Medvedev took over, the global financial crisis and a steep drop in oil prices have taken a toll on Russia's resource-based economy, slowing growth and sending unemployment higher. That has put Russia's leaders under tremendous pressure as they try to prevent an explosion of social protest that could threaten their rule.

If economic pressure increases further, there is a potential for tension between Medvedev and Putin, especially if they tried to pass the blame onto each other. But it is more likely the two leaders will close ranks rather than grow apart and one of Putin's deputies could take the fall if needed.

In the past, the prime minister would be forced to take the blame for failed policies, but Putin's deputies are now more suited for this role. The finance minister, who also has the rank of deputy prime minister, is already serving as a lightning rod for criticism coming from the communists.

How the two leaders deal with the crisis will affect not only Putin's legacy but perhaps his expected return to the presidency.

Under Putin's leadership, Russia's relations with the United States deteriorated and as prime minister he has tried to divert responsibility away from his government by blaming the global financial crisis on the United States.

A bitter gas dispute with Ukraine over the past few weeks has also has served as a major distraction from Russia's own economic troubles, while increasing Russians' sense of patriotism and pride.

Russia cut off natural gas supplies to Ukraine on Jan. 1 after it refused to pay higher prices and then six days later stopped sending Europe-bound gas through Ukrainian pipelines, accusing Ukraine of stealing the gas. The dispute is both commercial and political, with Russia eager to punish Western-leaning Ukraine for seeking to join NATO and the European Union.

Putin's televised order to shut off gas supplies to Europe and his appearances in the control room of the gas giant Gazprom send a message that Russia is strong.

Kryshtanovskaya, the sociologist, said Medvedev does not have the power base to challenge Putin. He has no team of his own, as the Kremlin and government are still controlled by Putin's people, she said.

In the upper levels of the bureaucracy, only 16 percent of the people were brought in by Medvedev and none are in key positions, Kryshtanovskaya said.

"I call him the president without a team," she said.

If Medvedev were to try to set his own course, Putin and his team of political heavyweights would quickly sideline him.

If the economic crisis leaves Putin feeling too vulnerable, some analysts predict he will make an early return to the safety of the presidency. A constitutional amendment adopted hastily late last year extended the presidential term from four years to six, which many saw as preparing the way for an early election.

EDITORIALS

Luoni

- The school board's man in the middle

seems to have the right prioritiesYou might have missed it in the continuing furor over an anonymouselection pamphlet, but the Kanawha County school board has madeseveral seemingly small decisions that could end up with bigpricetags.Board member John Luoni has been alone in opposing thosedecisions. In doing so, he has demonstrated fiscal responsibility -a quality too often missing on the school board.With only Luoni dissenting, the board recently voted to allowDuPont Junior High to push back the beginning of its school day.Providing the extra buses and drivers for the school would cost$45,000 next year - a total that seems modest in the overall countyschool budget. And the school has been pushing for the change formonths.But there are 18 other schools with starting times later than 8:30a.m. that could seek similar adjustments in their schedules.Accommodating their requests would cost $3.6 million next year.Following the same squeaky-wheel method of policy-making, theboard has granted other requests from individual schools in recentweeks over Luoni's objections. If those requests are seconded byother schools in the same situations, the tab could skyrocket."It will just rob other areas of things they need," Luoni toldDaily Mail education reporter Bridget Bradburn. "A lot of badlyneeded maintenance items are obviously going to take a back seat."Luoni is known for demanding financial and other backgroundinformation on virtually every issue, and for peppering schoolofficials with questions before casting his vote.While such behavior can prolong school board meetings, taxpayersexpect their money to be spent with this kind of caution.It looks as though Luoni's opinion could be decisive when theboard's makeup changes next month.Returning board member Betty Jarvis has isolated herself from hercolleagues by continuing to defend the anonymous pamphlet. And newlyelected member Pete Thaw has expressed little interest in workingwith the other two returning board members, Bill Raglin and CheryleHall.Luoni could be the swing vote on many issues. The taxpayers whopay for the county school system should be pleased.

Linear sprints and warm-ups

[Graph Not Transcribed]

This issue, I bring you more warm-ups and linear sprints. These linear sprints focus on the left-hand crossover. The pattern consists of an ascending and descending arpeggio of the four basic triad qualities, with the left hand crossing over the right hand for a two-octave jump. When crossing over, keep the hand as low as possible without hitting the right hand, of course. This will help you land in time, especially at faster tempos. Remember to keep the fingertips firm each time the hand lands for a clean, balanced sound. Try this in all keys.

Linear Sprint #1

[Graph Not Transcribed]

Here is an etude featuring right-hand 4[Symbol Not Transcribed] voicings. Starting with F7sus, the chords move up in whole steps through the first four measures. In the fifth measure, they start from F#7sus and ascend again. The chords are also given in descending order.

Chord-Toner #1

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Variations

Practice Linear Sprint #1 with a short, detached staccato feel. Play at both piano and forte levels.

Practice Chord-Toner #1 giving a short staccato sound to all the quarter notes.

Tom Brislin is a keyboardist, vocalist and songwriter who appears regularly in the New York and New Jersey areas. He has performed and/or recorded with artists in many styles of music including Meat Loaf, Glen Burtnik and Michael Brecker. Currently, he fronts the original modern-rock band, You Were Spiraling, and has produced the band's two CDs: You Were Spiraling and The Hello CD.

Source: Juanes postpones concert in Miami

NEW YORK (AP) — Colombian superstar singer Juanes is canceling his April 15 concert at the American Airlines Arena in Miami because it was to fall on the 50th anniversary of the Bay of Pigs Invasion of Cuba, a source close to the singer told The Associated Press.

The source, who did not want to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter, told The Associated Press that when the Miami show was booked, Juanes didn't realize it was the anniversary and that it was the only date available at the time. Miami has a large population of Cuban exiles.

"Cuban exiles are pressuring us and the sponsors not to do it. ... It's not a date to celebrate in Miami," said the source. "The pressure is big."

A new date will be announced in the next few days. Tickets for the concert were already on sale.

In April 1961, about 1,500 Cuban exiles trained under CIA guidance in Guatemala and invaded Cuba in a failed bid to overthrow Fidel Castro's communist regime.

In 2009, Juanes was in the eye of the storm after announcing that he would take his "Peace Without Borders" show to the Revolution Square in Havana.

Although at first he considered canceling that show after criticism, the rocker and activist explained his idea was to bring his message of peace and his music to the Cuban people, not to sing in favor of the Cuban government.

The concert, before a million spectators, was considered a triumph.

"It is a strange coincidence" that Juanes is again in conflict with the Cuban exiles, said his spokesman. "That is not our intention."

Juanes' "P.A.R.C.E." tour starts March 10 in Seattle.

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AP writer Andrea Rodriguez contributed with this report from Havana.

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Online:

www.juanes.net

Gunmen hold hostages in Pakistan army headquarters

Militants held several security officers hostage inside an intelligence wing of the army headquarters Saturday after they and others attacked the complex in an audacious assault on Pakistan's most powerful institution.

The attack, which left at least 10 people dead, was the third major militant strike in Pakistan in a week and came as the government was planning an imminent offensive against Islamist militants in their strongholds in the rugged mountains along the border with Afghanistan.

It showed that the militants retain the ability to strike at the very heart of Pakistan's security apparatus despite recent military operations against their forces and the killing of Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud in a CIA drone attack in August.

An army statement said more than two assailants were holding several officers hostage in the "security office building" inside the heavily fortified complex close to the capital. The army uses that term to refer to the headquarters of either the military intelligence or the country's premier spy agency, the Inter Services Intelligence.

The whereabouts of military chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and ISI chief Lt. Gen. Ahmed Shujaa Pasha were not known. Separate army statements said Kayani attended meetings at the headquarters and at the president's office in nearby Islamabad during the day.

The attack began shortly before noon when the gunmen, dressed in camouflage military uniforms and wielding assault rifles and grenades, drove in a white van up to the army compound and opened fire, army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas and a witness said.

"There was fierce firing, and then there was a blast," said Khan Bahadur, a shuttle van driver who was standing outside the gate of the compound. "Soldiers were running here and there," he said. "The firing continued for about a half-hour. There was smoke everywhere. Then there was a break, and then firing again."

After a 45-minute gunfight, four of the attackers were killed, said Abbas, who told the private Geo news television channel the assault over and the situation "under full control."

But more than an hour later, gunshots rang out from the compound, and Abbas confirmed that gunmen had eluded security forces and slipped into the headquarters compound in Rawalpindi. The city is filled with security checkpoints and police roadblocks.

"We are trying to finish it (the siege) at the earliest, clear the area of terrorists and restore complete control," Abbas told Dunya TV.

Abbas said six troops were killed and five wounded, one critically. Those killed included a brigadier and a lieutenant colonel, according to a military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Pakistani media said the Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, and Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the ongoing assaults strengthened the government's resolve to launch the offensive.

"We have been left no other option except to go ahead to face them," he told Dawn television.

Militants regularly attack army bases across the country and bombed a checkpoint the outside army compound in Rawalpindi two years ago.

The gunbattle following a car bombing that killed 49 on Friday in the northwestern city of Peshawar and the bombing of a U.N. aid agency Monday that killed five in Islamabad. The man who attacked the U.N. was also wearing a security forces' uniform and was granted entry to the compound after asking to use the bathroom.

As the attack wore on Saturday, Pakistan briefly took two news channels, Geo and SAMA, off the air, but several others continued broadcasting.

The attack appeared to be a message to the army that the militants intend to ramp up their strikes across the country in response to the government's planned offensive against Taliban strongholds in the border region of South Waziristan.

Pakistan vowed Friday to launch the new offensive in the wake of the massive Peshawar bombing.

The United States has been pushing Pakistan to take strong action against insurgents using its soil as a base for attacks in Afghanistan. The assault could be risky for the army, which was beaten back on three previous offensives into the Taliban heartland.

But the army may have been emboldened by its successes against the militants in the Swat Valley and by the killing of Baitullah Mehsud.

Islamist militants have been carrying out nearly weekly attacks in Pakistan, but the sheer scale of Friday's bombing _ which killed nine children _ pushed the government to declare it would take the fight to the lawless tribal belt along the border where al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden may be hiding.

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Associated Press writer Munir Ahmad contributed to this report from Islamabad.

European, US stocks ease after mixed bank earnings

European and U.S. stock markets drifted down Thursday after mixed bank earnings reined in the optimism that sent many of the world's major indexes to year highs the day before.

In Europe, the FTSE 100 index of leading British shares was down 18.60 points, or 0.4 percent, at 5,237.50, while Germany's DAX fell 17.19 points, or 0.3 percent, to 5,836.95. France's CAC-40 was down 7.71 points, or 0.2 percent, at 3,874.96.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average was 19.27 points, or 0.2 percent, down at 9,996.59 in New York morning trading while the broader Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 3.28 points, or 0.3 percent, at 1,088.74.

All five indexes had closed Wednesday at their highest levels for over a year after strong earnings from the likes of JP Morgan Chase & Co. and Intel Corp.

Thursday's raft of earnings were relatively mixed. Though Goldman Sachs' earnings more than tripled in the wake of a strong performance from the bank's trading operations, its rival Citigroup Inc. barely booked a profit after accounting for more bad loans.

Despite their contrasting fortunes, both stock prices fell. Analysts said the strong start to the third-quarter earnings results season had perhaps ratcheted up expectations a bit too much.

"JP Morgan and Intel have raised the bar, and though Goldman's results were certainly not negative, there's still a long way to go in terms of the third quarter reporting season," said Richard Hunter, equity strategist at Hargreaves Lansdown stockbrokers in London.

There's also talk that the markets may be getting ahead of themselves in anticipating a speedy and significant global economic recovery, especially after Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia Corp. reported a loss of ⁈llion ($832 million) in the third quarter, taking hits from a 20 percent drop in sales and a one-time charge for the fallen value of its network equipment unit. Nokia shares were down 10 percent

Howard Wheeldon, senior strategist at BGC Partners, said investors across all markets, whether stocks or commodities or bonds, have to be careful that they don't overreact to the better than expected earnings.

"We must take care now not to ignore the likelihood that what we are seeing unfold before our eyes now is nothing short of a bubble and one that at some point will surely burst," he said.

Earlier in Asia, stocks had rallied hard, as investors caught up with the gains posted in Europe and the U.S. Wednesday.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 stock average gained 178.44 points, or 1.8 percent, to 10,238.65, and Hong Kong's benchmark added 112.60, or 0.5 percent, to 21,999.08, hitting a new high for the year during trade.

South Korea's Kospi edged up 0.6 percent, while markets in mainland China and Taiwan also were higher.

Australia's stock market and currency made further gains amid rising confidence about its resource-driven economy, with the benchmark stock index up 0.6 percent. On Thursday, the country's central bank chief said the worst of the global financial crisis is probably over for Australia and suggested more rises in interest rates to contain the threat of inflation.

Thailand bucked Asia's advance as worries about the health of the country's 81-year-old king sent the stock market plunging over 8 percent at one point.

Meanwhile, the dollar pared early losses after hitting another 14-month low against the euro.

The dollar was up 1.4 percent at 90.58 yen while the euro fell 0.3 percent at $1.4896, having earlier hit $1.4967, its highest level since August 2008.

Oil prices rose towards year highs on growing investor optimism about an economic recovery. Benchmark crude for November delivery was up 32 cents to $75.50 a barrel.

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AP Business Writer Jeremiah Marquez in Hong Kong contributed to this report.

IT'S LIKE A PUZZLE: IT'S A DOWNHILL AND IT'S A CROSS

Beats us. All we know is that the Bogus to Boise Banzai is one gnarly race, and it's all local (and, dare we say, loco).

Here's the format: Racers start at High Noon at Bogus Basin, ride along the trails over to the Eighth Street Connection road, then bomb the hill all the way down to the finish line at the Boise Coop. Yeah, it's that nuts. Imagine the carnage. Imagine the fun.

Technically, the Bogus To Boise Banzai Is known as a "super D" tor "super downhill." Whereas many downhill mountain-bike races are for big bikes with lots of suspension and a passing resemblance to motorcycles, events like these lend themselves more to athletic racing. The idea is that you'll need to pedal-a-lot-as well as just hang on and drop.

But the Bogus to Boise race is just the capstone to a long weekend of racing events. Saturday hosts the National Off Road Biking Association's state and northwest Regional Singlespeed Championships. Just one gear and a lot of pedaling. The racers for this event will gather on Saturday, September 15, at Bogus Basin's Shafer Butte trails where races start and end at the resort's lower lodge. If you've ever wondered how fast a person can go on a bike with only one gear, now's your chance to see some pedals flying. Transportation is available to Bogus Basin from Ridley's on Bogus Basin Road. For more Information or to register, visit WildRockies.com.

-BW Staff