Trust & integrity

FOR THE PROFESSION

CAs sometimes take the trust and integrity that are at the core of our brand for granted-until an event like the unraveling of Enron offers a tabloid view of how vulnerable all brands can be. It's encouraging that, at a time when questions about our integrity are on the tips of reporters' pens, we have a national leader, like David Smith, FCA, who embodies trustworthiness and integrity.

In his first two months on the job, CICA's new CEO has made a point of extending a warm hand of friendship to the provincial institutes, along with a message about the need for all of us to pull together. During his visit to Vancouver in mid-January, Smith spoke about …

Baby tigers found dead at Chinese zoo where Siberian tiger was killed

The bodies of two Bengal tiger cubs were found in a refrigerator at the Chinese zoo where a rare Siberian tiger was beheaded last week, a news report said.

The cubs were stillborn on Nov. 28 at the Three Gorges Forest Wild Animal World in the central city of Yichang, the government's Xinhua News Agency said Monday. Zoo employees then stored the bodies in a refrigerator.

There was no indication of foul play in the deaths of the cubs, but the Yichang Forestry Bureau said the zoo failed to follow regulations for disposing of animal bodies.

"The bureau has ordered the zoo to shape up its management and make the laws and regulations on wildlife …

Mayor culpa: Daley catches an earful at public hearing

Keep city mental health centers open. Expand foreclosure outreach programs. Increase funding for youth jobs and mentoring. Fix giant sinkholes. And dump Jody Weis.

Those were among the litany of suggestions -- and demands -- Mayor Daley received Tuesday night at the first public hearing on his 2010 preliminary budget that's marked by a $520 million shortfall.

"You promised us in April that these centers would stay open. Now, we're back in the same situation, yet your department has not been billing for Medicare for at least two years," said Carol Smith, treasurer of the Citywide Mental Health Board.

"They messed up the computer system and they messed up the …

For discussion

1. Ralph Lebold says that "the congregation is the central reality for gathered Christians." Do you agree? What are some ways that people from your congregation engage meaningfully with each other? Why do we often resist being open about our questions, finances, mental and emotional struggles?

2. Should all Christians have a sense of "call," or is that only for pastors and church workers? How have you, or others in your congregation, experienced a sense of call? How often does responding to Jesus' call to follow him require leaving home or …

No. 13 Louisville Trounces Temple 62-0

PHILADELPHIA - George Stripling and Sergio Spencer each ran for two touchdowns, ably filling in for Michael Bush, to lead No. 13 Louisville to a 62-0 win over Temple on Saturday.

Kurt Quarterman and Kolby Smith added touchdown runs for the Cardinals (2-0) and Brian Brohm threw for 307 yards and a score in their biggest win since beating Cincinnati 70-7 in 2004.

Mario Urrutia had five catches for 110 yards and a touchdown, and the Cardinals finished with 671 yards of total offense - the fifth-highest total in school history. The winning margin on the road was the third-highest in team history.

With a game against Miami next week, the lowly Owls (0-2) were a …

California girl gets dying wish to see movie 'Up'

Colby Curtin got her final wish.

The 10-year-old girl desperately wanted to see the new Disney-Pixar movie, "Up." But the cancer-stricken girl was too sick to go to a theater.

Thanks to a family friend who got in touch with the movie studio Pixar, an employee of the Emeryville-based company arrived at Colby's home with a DVD copy of the movie, The Orange County Register reported Friday. The girl died later that night.

Colby's mother, Lisa, said she had asked her daughter if she could hang on until the movie arrived.

"I'm ready (to die), but I'm going to wait for the movie," she said her daughter replied.

…

STIFF OR STAR // 76ers Preaching Patience on Bradley Front

PHILADELPHIA It's been a rough first month of the season forfirst-round picks.

But nobody has been feeling the pressure more than the No. 2 pick,Shawn Bradley, the skinny 7-6 center from Castle Dale, Utah, whomPhiladelphia 76ers owner Harold Katz signed to a guaranteedeight-year, $44.28 million contract. Katz predicted Bradley willchange the way the game is played.

"I think Shawn is going to be a very unique center because of theheight and the way he plays," Katz said. "There's very few(seven-footers) I've ever seen . . . who dive for balls. I feel heis a 7-6 player in a 6-foot body and plays like that."

Fred Carter, 76ers coach, also boosted Bradley. …

Paterno's casket placed in hearse after service

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Private services for legendary Penn State football coach Joe Paterno have ended, and his casket has been placed in a hearse for a procession that will carry him past Beaver Stadium and thousands of people lining the streets.

Several pallbearers placed the casket inside the hearse, which left the campus spiritual center Wednesday …

Netanyahu tries to play down tensions with US

Israel's leader tried to play down tensions with the U.S. on Sunday after a rocky meeting at the White House last week, saying that relations with Washington remain solid.

In his first public comments on the matter, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet that Israel and the U.S. can work out their differences.

"The relationship between Israel and the U.S. is one between allies and friends, and it's a relationship based on years of tradition," Netanyahu said. "Even if there are disagreements, these are disagreements between friends, and that's how they will stay."

The U.S. has criticized Israeli construction in east …

American education level on the rise

WASHINGTON American adults are getting better educated, new CensusBureau estimates show.

Of Americans age 25 and older this year, a record-high 84.1percent had at least a high school degree, up from 83.4 percent in1999 and 24.5 percent in 1940, the earliest records available,according to the census report released today.

In addition, 25.6 percent of those age 25 and older have graduatedfrom college, also a new high. It was up slightly from 25.2 percentlast year, and 4.6 percent in 1940.

The report is in line with other studies on Americans' educationalattainment, advocates say. It typically shows about a 1 percentagepoint increase in degree holders each year, …

Red Bulls hold off FC Dallas to advance

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Thierry Henry scored deep in injury time as the New York Red Bulls held off FC Dallas 2-0 on Wednesday night in an MLS Wild Card playoff match to set up a semifinal against Los Angeles.

Joel Lindpere chipped over Dallas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman in the 61st minute and Henry's late shot increased the margin for a Red Bulls team that only just scraped into the playoffs and gave up a one-man advantage after the 79th minute against Dallas when Solli Jan Gunnar was red carded.

Dallas, which lost in the MLS Cup final last season, missed a …

AC Milan hoping for compensation from US Soccer

AC Milan is hoping for compensation from the United States Soccer Federation because defender Oguchi Onyewu was injured in a World Cup qualifying match against Costa Rica.

"I'm very angry because once again the national teams take players and we lose out due to injuries," Milan CEO Adriano Galliani told Italian media Thursday.

"This is a problem that needs to be resolved. We at Milan are expecting compensation from the American federation. We can't pay a player who can't play for six …

Poet leads hundreds in Mexico peace caravan

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican poet-turned-activist Javier Sicilia set off Saturday on a cross-country caravan with hundreds of fellow demonstrators to demand an end to drug-related bloodshed.

The caravan of about a dozen buses started in Cuernavaca, a resort and industrial city south of Mexico City where Siclia's son and six others were slain March 28.

The caravan is scheduled to arrive June 10 in violence-plagued Ciudad Juarez, across the border from El Paso, Texas. Organizers plan protest events in at least eight Mexican states along the way.

More than 35,000 people have died in drug-related violence since December 2006. The killings of Sicilia's son, Juan Francisco, and his friends, sparked protests in several Mexican cities. Their deaths caused outrage particularly because the victims appeared to have had nothing to do with the drug trade.

Sicilia has called on Mexico's leaders to do more to stop the violence and said civil disobedience is a legitimate response to government inaction. But he said during a caravan stop-off in Mexico City on Saturday that his message is not anti-government.

The protest is "against the ways in which this country has been run, the mistaken ways that serve personal interests and do not give citizens a political life," Sicilia told reporters at a protest event in front of the capital's Angel of Independence.

Camless In Colorado

Major OEMs work with Sturman Industries to bring camless IC engines to fruition in this decade.

High in the mountains near Colorado Springs, the dynamometers at Sturman Industries have to be adjusted to sea level conditions rather than altitude. Always different.

That's the hallmark of anything company founder Eddie Sturman touches. Spend any time with him and you fall under the spelf of this physicist/inventor, who really is out to save the world by dramatically improving fuel economy and reducing toxic and greenhouse emissions through advanced engine technology. Always interesting.

Sturman's early innovations included digital latching valves which were applied to the Apollo Space program in the 1960s. These digital valves use the principle of residual magnetism to open and close working at blinding speeds and consuming minimum energy. And today he continues to innovate new efficient designs.Always saving energy.

Co-founder Carol Sturman and Eddie have put together the most breathtaking combination R&cD and production facility I have ever seen. Housed in a 60,000 sq.ft. structure featuring vaulted wooden ceilings, Herman Miller furniture and situated across the valley from the magnificent Pike's Peak, it is an atmosphere that attracts the best and brightest and a creates a culture that thrives on freethinking and innovation.

Just last month Rick Dunagan, executive director for General Motors Powertrain for the past six years, signed on at Sturman as CEO. His mission is to continue the commercialization of Sturman's digital systems (DHOS) by seeking strategic manufacturing alliances globally. A 22 year veteran with GM, Dunagan has broad experience with fuel injection systems including several year stints in both Brazil and China.

Ai visited the rustic development/production center very recently, meeting there with Dunagan, the Sturmans, engineering manager David Burt, and a host of other development and production specialists. It's our third visit in six years and the pace and scope of the activity never ceases to amaze. This time was no different.

Sturman produced its first Hydraulic Valve Actuation (HVA) System in 1996. This is what provides for the camless actuation of an engine's intake and exhaust valves. The system can and has been applied to both diesel and gasoline engines.

No question, Eddie Sturman is a diesel enthusiast because the cycle is inherently more efficient. he firmly believes that the improvements he sees coming in diesel fuel near and medium term will greatly enhance its advantages, an important subject for another time.

Work on the HVA (camless) system has been ongoing for eight years. The first vehicle in operation with HVA was fielded in 1999, a medium duty truck. Another truck was fitted with a more advanced system in 2000. A VW Jetta passenger car was equipped with camless technology last year.

Sturman is now working with 10 customers worldwide, a handful of them are automakers, "Interest is growing here," says Dunagan, "and we've got plenty on our plate as it is. What we're trying to do, what I've come here to do, is to bring the focus that achieves application of the DHOS^sup tm^ technology on a production platform and that will happen in this decade.

"Here in the U.S. we are kind of stumbling around with hybrids and the hydrogen economy and long-term hydrogen may or may not be an answer. But so much right now is political posturing and grandstanding and diminishes efforts on the near and medium term. That's where we will fit in."

Since the advent of common raif fuel injection, the mechanical camshaft no longer plays a role in fuel management. It only manages the air side of the combustion equation and occupies a lot of real estate to accomplish that.

In Sturman's view, the mechanical camshaft, even with cam phasers and variable valve timing, doesn't permit the same control flexibility and latitude with air management as has been achieved in fuel management.

"It is really a question of achieving a balanced approach to combustion," says Sturman. "Not that we can't go farther in refining our management of fuel. We are still working on many advances there. But we haven't made the same progress in managing the air. It has not received nearly as much attention and yet it is obvious that it is just as important.

"To make further significant gains in fuel economy, performance, reduce emissions while reducing after treatment requirements, and further reduce noise, we need to control both fuel and air together with the same flexibility and precision. It can't be done with a camshaft."

Since 1999, the HVA family has evolved from a single-stage open loop actuator with fixed lift, the HVA-2, to a single-stage closed loop actuator with variable lift, the HVA-3, in 2000. In 2001 came the HVA-4A, this actuator being a two-stage actuator with variable lift. This is the valve actuator most suited to use on camless gasoline engines.

The latest, coming last year, is the HVA-4D and this is a family of two-stage open loop actuators including one with 2'lift positions, another with 3-lift positions, and a third featuring variable lift.

This family is intended for camless engine applications. The design objectives for the HVA-4D were achieve a more robust design, eliminate an engine valve sensor, reduce controls complexity and lower production costs.

The valve is controlled completely with respect to the precise lift timing, the amount of lift itself, the duration of the lift and even the seating of the lift to control noise.

Each valve of every cylinder is independently controlled and so a cylinder deactivation or partial deactivation strategy can also be applied to every combustion event. Imagine that, partial cylinder deactivation. The engine is effectively tuned instantaneously to produce only the performance and power required.

As to packaging, the profile of an HVA head would fall in between the height of push rod engine and an overhead cam. But since it's claimed to augment power per unit of displacement, a somewhat smaller engine would be envisioned on an application by application basis.

On the fuel management side, Sturman has just introduced its new Sl diesel injector which combines the advantages of mechanical unit injectors, high pressure common rail injectors, and intensifier style injectors in a single package complete with active rate shaping.

"The real benefits will occur as we balance our air and fuel control technology and bring it together with the third leg of our triangle, closed-loop combustion control," says Sturman. "We are doing this now on our test benches and the cylinder-to-cylinder balancing capability is just outstanding."

Sturman sees HVA as having equal weight with other development areas, but it is certainly the one that makes the camless engine possible.

As Dunagan sees it, "If what's needed is something you can just plug in near term, with no implications to infrastructure, then HVA will surely find its place probably in Europe first, but with Japan not far behind. Eventually, it will migrate here."

Juan Hidalgo

SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, SPAIN

Juan Hidalgo

TENERIFE ESPACIO DE US ARTES

In 1964, Juan Hidalgo was a founding member of ZAJ-an avantgarde collective crucial to Spanish art during the Franco years. The group has been compared to Fluxus, thanks to its roots in experimental music and its sense of humor. Hidalgo's work straddles the fields of poetry, performance, and music, all with a cultural sensibility based in Zen thought, which he studied in Italy. The content of his performances and writings-"etceteras," as he called them, "public documents" in the form of poster-invitations bearing clever and irreverent phrases-has often been markedly sexual. At the famous Destruction in Art Symposium (DIAS) in London in 1966, for example, Hidalgo carried out an action entitled M�sica para cinco perros, un polo y seis int�rpretes varones (Music for Five Dogs, a Popsicle, and Six Male Performers). Who would have thought that Hermann Nitsch, G�nter Brus, and especially the very macho Otto M�hl, among others, would so willingly have allowed Hidalgo to rub a melting Popsicle over their behinds?

Though now eighty-one years old, Hidalgo still has the same unruly spirit. The uninhibited sexuality of the works he has produced since 1997, recently shown at TEA, is startling. Hidalgo rejects the assumption that sex is the sole domain of youth. Many of the works take the form of what Hidalgo calls "photographic actions," images in which the importance of artistic skill and form is second to poetic content. The show also contained objects from sex shops (vibrators and dildos of different shapes and colors) inside urns, which gave them a somewhat comic, unreal, and strangely mortuary feel: They looked like embalmed fetish objects. This is certainly the case of Tibor mulato, 2001, a collage-object with a surrealist air that shows an erect fake phallus on a base of gravel. A tibor is a large earthenware vessel from China or Japan, usually in the shape of an urn and decorated on the outside. Hidalgo turns his tibor into a transparent glass container and puts the dildo atop an unusual color of gravel (purple, which often appears in Hidalgo's work). Indeed, color has been crucial to all of Hidalgo's art, and thus all the rooms in his show at tea were painted in multicolored stripes of red, yellow, and purple-the colors of the Spanish Republican flag, flown until Franco's coup d'�tat.

A recent text that Hidalgo wrote while in Ayacata, the small village in the Canary Islands where he lives, reveals his unhurried way of seeing the world: He asserts that the world is ruled by chance, and that life is above all a form of transit, of continuous movement in space and time. What really matters is ethical action. The text continues, "Do not kill, be ignorant, harbor religions, extreme nationalism or any of the other things that are the root of all evil. Do not be racist: Let there be white, let there be black, and let there be white and black. Respect each and every sexual preference. Do not steal and brush your teeth every day." A sense of irony animates these "Notes for the Millennium" (2000), and they evoke a Mallarm�an typographical chaos: The words appear inside a yellow circle on a blue background, luminous tones for a clearly Zen-inspired work.

-Juan Vicente Aliaga

Translated from Spanish by Jane Brodie.

Use of force policy revised to enhance accountability: Officers now have 'less lethal' options

A major revision of the Chicago Police Department's use of force policy was introduced by Supt. Terry G. Hillard late Tuesday, citing enhanced accountability for the ongoing safety of citizens and officers as the key reasons.

The key revisions, which will be implemented next week include: The introduction of a new report to be completed by officers involved in use of force incidents; and the addition of "less lethal" technology in the form of tasers in cases warranting the immobilization of arrestees.

Speaking at a press conference at the department's training academy, Hillard said "Our top priority will always be to treat all citizens with respect and dignity."

Hillard went on to say that police work is an "ever-evolving profession. It presents new challenges to us every day. That's why it is our obligation to constantly review and revise our procedures.

"These changes will make us more accountable. They will also enhance the safety of our officers and our citizens."

Just over a year ago, Hillard appointed an internal committee to conduct a top-to-bottom review of the department's use of force policy. The review determined that officers needed additional options in determining how and when appropriate force can be applied.

The panel also determined that implementing additional accountability measures would better serve the department and the public.

To complete the review, the committee explored best practices from other major police departments, examined changes in the law, consulted with academic and law enforcement experts and researched available tools that would give officers additional less-lethal options in applying force.

Hillard went on to say: "The appropriate application of force is perhaps the greatest challenge officers face on a day-to-day basis. No two accidents are alike. No two offenders are alike.

But no matter the situation," Hillard said, "officers must make sure that force is used effectively, but not excessively. That is often a very fine line to walk.

Officers in the city's 25 police districts will receive General Order 02-08 entitled "Use of Force Guidelines," which will become effective Oct. 1. The revised order states the department's policy regarding the use of force, provides guidelines for the use of force and introduces the Tactical Response Report.

The report will be completed by an officer when force is used or resistance encountered. The revised statutes means that Watch Commanders will be responsible for conducting a comprehensive review of the incident to ensure proper use of force was used.

Included in the revision, Supt. Hillard also authorizes use of less-lethal technology including tasers. The taser is a devise used to control or subdue an assailant through the use of electric impulses.

Hillard said tasers will be deployed on a geographic basis early next year. No officer will carry the weapon until he/she has received thorough training on operating the device.

Officers are also restricted from firing warning shots, firing over crowds, firing at a subject whose only threat is him/herself and firing into vehicles unless it is to prevent great bodily harm or death.

Hillard concluded his conference by saying: "Arrests are not pleasant situations. They sometimes involve offenders who will do everything in their power to defeat an arrest.

"That is why the appropriate use of force is a necessary element of keeping our neighborhoods safe."

Zero interest rates back in Japan

TOKYO (AP) — Japan's central bank cut its key interest rate to virtually zero in a surprise move Tuesday and is looking to set up a $60 billion fund to buy government bonds and other assets as it tries to inject life into a faltering economy.

The Bank of Japan's nine-member policy board voted unanimously to set its overnight call rate target to a range of zero to 0.1 percent, returning to zero rates for the first time in more than four years.

The decision underscores growing worries about the Japanese economy, which is being battered by a strong yen and persistently falling prices. The central bank had left rates untouched since December 2008 when it lowered the target to 0.1 percent.

It also suggests Japan is taking a page from U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's playbook. The move closely resembles a move by the Fed to cut its key interest rate to near zero and then turn to other unconventional methods, such as buying securities, to juice up economic growth.

In Japan, recent economic indicators point toward deteriorating exports, industrial production and corporate sentiment. Authorities intervened in currency markets last month to weaken the yen, but the impact was short-lived. Lawmakers repeatedly called on the Bank of Japan for more help.

"Although Japan's economy still shows signs of a moderate recovery, the pace of recovery is slowing down partly due to the slowdown in overseas economies and the effects of the yen's appreciation on business sentiment," the central bank said in its statement.

The rate cut is the first step of a three-pronged approach outlined by the central bank to answer critics who had disparaged previous efforts as inadequate. It did nothing at its last meeting in early September, which followed an emergency meeting in late August when it expanded a low-interest credit program.

"It's a good move," said Kyohei Morita, chief economist at Barclays Capital Japan. "All that they announced today is something that is beyond my expectations."

Other analysts agreed. Junko Nishioka, chief economist at RBS Securities Japan, said the central bank "made major progress" Tuesday.

In the U.S., Bernanke sent a stronger signal on Monday that the Fed is readying another program to buy government debt, which is formally known as quantitative easing.

The Fed's key rate has been sitting at a record low near zero since December 2008. After that, the Fed started buying mortgages securities and government debt to force down rates on a variety of consumer and business loans. It also rolled out a series of other programs to make loans more available and cheaper. Those aid programs were shut down after the crisis.

With the U.S. economy losing momentum, the Fed appears poised to launch a new round of debt purchases. An announcement could come at the Fed's next meeting Nov. 2-3.

"Bernanke wants the Fed to stay focused and ahead of the curve," says Randall Kroszner, a former Fed governor who served under Bernanke. "He doesn't want the United States to turn into another Japan."

The Fed is weighing buying more government debt in a bid to drive down interest rates further on mortgages and other loans. If that spurs Americans to buy more, the economy would grow stronger. And, that helps combat deflationary forces.

The Fed is grappling with how much in additional securities it should buy.

One option is to start off with a modest amount — perhaps $100 billion or less. After than, the Fed would decide on a meeting-by-meeting basis, how much more — if any— should be bought depending on how the economy is performing. That approach gives the Fed more leeway to adjust policy. In contrast, during the recession, the Fed announced a massive, trillion-dollar-plus program to buy mortgage securities and government debt.

In Japan, part two of what the BOJ describes as a "comprehensive monetary easing policy" is a pledge to maintain the zero rate policy until prices start rising again. That will probably take three or four years, which means rock-bottom rates are here to stay for a while, Morita said.

Japan's last period of zero rates lasted for five years starting March 2001. Through its quantitative easing policy to boost the economy, the central bank flooded markets with excess liquidity to hold short-term interest rates near zero.

The final piece of the central bank's strategy is the creation of a temporary 5-trillion-yen ($60 billion) fund to purchase financial assets such as government securities, commercial paper and corporate bonds in an attempt to stimulate the economy by lowering longer-term interest rates and risk premiums. About 70 percent of the fund will be used to buy long-term government bonds and treasury discount bills.

The central bank will offer another 30 trillion yen ($359 billion) through its loan program.

The rate cut gave an immediate boost to the stock market, with the Nikkei 225 index jumping 1.5 percent to 9,518.76 after spending much of the day in the red.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengogku said he welcomed the central bank's announcement. The decision stands "in concert with the government's efforts to overcome deflation," he told reporters, according to Kyodo news agency.

In addition to a 915 billion yen stimulus package announced last month, Prime Minister Naoto Kan is expected to unveil new spending through a supplementary budget that could be as big as 5 trillion yen.

The central bank's government bond purchases will help fund Kan's extra budget, which could spur some growth, said Christian Carrillo, head of Asia-Pacific interest rate strategy at Societe Generale. But it's unclear whether the Bank of Japan's steps will have a meaningful impact on the overall economy.

"I wouldn't say it's something that will strongly stimulate the economy," Carrillo said.

Slowing growth in the U.S. is just one of the headaches facing Japan, which has relied on overseas demand to fuel its recovery. Figures last week showed that core consumer prices in August fell for the 18th straight month as a strong yen pushed import prices south.

While lower prices may boost individual purchasing power, deflation hamstrings an economy. It plagued Japan during its "Lost Decade" in the 1990s, curtailing growth by dragging company profits, sparking wage cuts and causing consumers to postpone purchases. It also can increase debt burdens.

___

AP Economics Writer Jeannine Aversa contributed in Washington to this article.

Some homeless turn to foreclosed homes for shelter

The U.S. foreclosure crisis has led to a painful irony for homeless people: On any given night they are outnumbered in some cities by vacant houses. Some street people are taking advantage of the opportunity by becoming squatters.

Foreclosed homes often have an advantage over boarded-up and dilapidated houses abandoned because of rundown conditions: Sometimes the heat, lights and water are still working.

"That's what you call convenient," said James Bertan, 41, an ex-convict and self-described "bando," or someone who lives in abandoned houses.

While no one keeps numbers of below-the-radar homeless finding shelter in properties left vacant by foreclosure, homeless advocates agree the locations _ even with utilities cut off _ would be inviting to some. There are risks for squatters, including fires from using candles and confrontations with drug dealers, prostitutes, copper thieves or police.

"Many homeless people see the foreclosure crisis as an opportunity to find low-cost housing (FREE!) with some privacy," Brian Davis, director of the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, said in the summary of the latest census of homeless sleeping outside in downtown Cleveland.

The census had dropped from 40 to 17 people. Davis, a board member of the National Coalition for the Homeless, cited factors including the availability of shelter in foreclosed homes, aggressive sidewalk and street cleaning and the relocation of a homeless feeding site. He said there are an average 4,000 homeless in Cleveland on any given night. There are an estimated 15,000 single-family homes vacant due to foreclosure in Cleveland and suburban Cuyahoga County.

In Texas, Larry James, president and chief executive officer of Central Dallas Ministries, said he was not surprised that homeless might be taking advantage of vacant homes in residential neighborhoods beyond the reach of his downtown agency.

"There are some campgrounds and creek beds and such where people would be tempted to walk across the street or climb out of the creek bed and sneak into a vacant house," he said.

Bertan, who does not like shelters because of the rules, said he has been homeless or in prison for drugs and other charges for the past nine years. He has noticed the increased availability of boarded-up homes amid the foreclosure crisis.

He said a "fresh building" _ recently foreclosed _ offered the best prospects to squatters.

"You can be pretty comfortable for a little bit until it gets burned out," he said as he made the rounds of places where homeless in Cleveland are offered medical checkups, haircuts, a hot meal and self-help information.

Shelia Wilson, 50, who was homeless for years because of drug abuse problems, also has lived in abandoned homes, and for the same reason as Bertan: She kept getting thrown out of shelters for violating rules. "Every place, I've been kicked out of because of drugs," she said.

Michael Stoops, acting executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, has not seen evidence of increased homeless moving into foreclosed homes but is not surprised. He said anecdotal evidence _ candles burning in boarded-up homes, a squatter killed by a fire set to keep warm _ shows the determination of the homeless to find shelter.

Davis said Cleveland's high foreclosure rate and the proximity of downtown shelters to residential neighborhoods has given the city a lead role in the homeless/foreclosure phenomenon.

Many cities roust homeless from vacant homes, which more typically will be used by drug dealers or prostitutes than a homeless person looking for a place to sleep, Stoops said.

Police across the country must deal with squatters and vandalism involving vacant homes:

_ In suburban Shaker Heights, which has $1 million (euro680,000 million) homes on wide boulevards, poorer neighborhoods with foreclosed homes get extra police attention.

_ East of San Francisco, a man was arrested in November on a code violation while living without water service in a vacant home in Manteca, California, which has been hit hard by the foreclosure crisis.

_ In Cape Coral, Florida, a man arrested in September in a foreclosed home said he had been living there since helping a friend move out weeks earlier.

Bertan and Wilson agreed that squatting in a foreclosed home can be dangerous because the locations can attract drug dealers, prostitutes and, eventually, police.

William Reed, 64, a homeless man who walks with a cane, thumbed through a shoulder bag holding a blue-bound Bible, notebooks with his pencil drawings and a plastic-wrapped piece of bread as he sat on a retainer wall in the cold outside St. John Cathedral in downtown Cleveland. He has gone inside empty homes but thinks it is too risky to spend the night.

Even the inviting idea of countless foreclosed empty homes did not overcome the possible risk of entering a crack house.

"Their brains could be burned up," said Reed, who did not want to detail where he sleeps at night.

Sometimes it is hard to track where the homeless go.

In Philadelphia, the risk is too great to send case workers into vacant homes to check for homeless needing help, said Ed Speedling, community liaison with Project H.O.M.E. "We're very, very wary of going inside. There's danger. I mean, if the floor caves in. There's potential danger: Sometimes they are still owned by someone," Speedling said.

William Walker, 57, who was homeless for seven years and now counsels drifters at a sprawling warehouse-turned-shelter overlooking Lake Erie, has seen people living in foreclosed homes in his blue-collar neighborhood in Cleveland. He estimated that three or four boarded-up homes in his neighborhood have homeless living there from time to time.

Sometimes homeless men living in tents in a nearby woods disappear from their makeshift homes, Walker said. "The guys who were there last year are not there now. Are they in the (foreclosed) homes? I don't know. They are just not in their places," Walker said.

___

On the Net:

NE Ohio Coalition for Homeless: http://www.neoch.org

Troubled Ohio County Key to Dem Primary

The largest concentration of Democrats in swing-state Ohio will cast presidential primary ballots Tuesday in a county fraught with election problems, on a voting system just 74 days old.

Election watchdogs are worried that votes in Cuyahoga County, with more than 250,000 Democrats among its 1 million registered voters, will be lost because of a hurried switch from electronic touch-screen voting to paper ballots and a new vote counting system.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign could be at stake. She has lost a string of 11 presidential contests, and a poll this week showed her Ohio lead over Sen. Barack Obama narrowing. Even Bill Clinton says Ohio and Texas, which votes the same day, are crucial to her hopes for a nomination.

Yet it might take well into Wednesday to get results in Cuyahoga County, which is making its second change since ditching punch-card ballots in 2005, a year after President Bush won re-election by winning Ohio.

Merle King, executive director of the Center for Election Systems at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, said it's not the best time to introduce a new system.

"Ohio is again going to be in the public's attention, particularly Cuyahoga County because of its size," King said. "There's never a great time. What you would hope for is a low-profile election."

Many poll workers were unprepared for electronic voting in the 2006 primary, and results were delayed five days because absentee ballots had to be hand counted. In November, vote totals were delayed until almost noon the day after the election because of computer server problems.

Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner pushed the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections to scrap the $21 million system. The idea was to use Ohio's primary, which usually doesn't figure into the presidential nominations, to work out the kinks of the new optical-scan paper ballot system. That would get the county ready for the November presidential election.

But to everyone's surprise, neither Clinton nor Obama has pulled into the clear, so the attention arrived early in Cleveland.

"We were hoping not to have a lot of scrutiny, but we're going to be ready for it," said Inajo Davis Chappell, an elections board member.

Brunner wants 53 other Ohio counties that use electronic voting machines to switch to paper as well, but for the primary she's only requiring them to make paper ballots available to voters who ask for them.

Cuyahoga is counting its votes in one location _ a downtown warehouse _ instead of at precincts, preventing voters from being alerted if their ballots are improperly filled out, so-called second-chance voting.

The American Civil Liberties Union _ which unsuccessfully sued to stop the county from using the system _ and election watchers like Candice Hoke, director of Cleveland State University's Center for Election Integrity, fear votes will be lost as a result.

The board plans to begin counting in the precincts at the November election but said there wasn't enough time to put that system in place for the primary.

The county expects a voter turnout of more than 30 percent, comparable to the 34 percent turnout in the 2004 presidential primary.

"We've asked almost the impossible of this board of elections," Hoke said. "I believe they have a high commitment to an accurate, fair election, but trying to make this kind of transition in 60 days is difficult."

___

Associated Press writer Thomas J. Sheeran contributed to this report.

___

On the Net:

Cuyahoga County Board of Elections: http://boe.cuyahogacounty.us/

Langston Hughes Reads His Poetry

Flava 4 Your Ears

Poetry is a genre that is often heard more than seen. Celebrate this year's National Poetry Month by taking in the aural experience of poetry by going to a poetry reading, and checking out some of the wonderful poetry offerings on cassette and CD. Here are a few we've listened to that will make your morning drive time a little more sensual:

Langston Hughes Reads His Poetry

by Langston Hughes with commentary and reflections from the author

Caedmon Audio, ISBN 0-694-52273-2

1 cassette, approx. 60 min.

A beautifully produced audiotape of Hughes reading some of his best work, including classics such as "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" and less-widely-celebrated greats such as "Out of Work" and "The Explanation of Our Times." Ossie Davis says it best in his introduction: "Open your ears and your heart if you've got one; Langston will walk right in and do the rest."

Soaring textbook costs at issue

The state Higher Education Policy Commission is giving collegestudents - and their parents - a chance to talk about the risingcost of textbooks.

The average American college student pays almost $1,000 a yearjust for books.

The cost of those books has risen much faster than most otherschool expenses - almost 110 percent between 1987 and 2004,according to a congressional advisory report issued last year.

A hearing on the matter is set for 10 a.m. Oct. 10 at the WilsonUniversity Union at West Virginia State University in Institute.

Last year, the Higher Education Policy Commission formed ataskforce to study textbook affordability, said higher educationChancellor Brian Noland. Members of the taskforce have beenresearching the issue and plan to issue a report by January.

West Virginia law requires colleges and universities to adoptpolicies that ensure school bookstores do what they can to keepcosts down, said HEPC commissioner and taskforce co-chairman NelsonRobinson.

However, the taskforce discovered that several schools -Glenville State College, West Liberty State College, and WestVirginia State University - did not have such policies, Robinsonsaid.

"It's my understanding that they're in the process of adoptingrules now," Robinson said.

Many factors play into the rising cost of textbooks, but onereason is that publishers issue new editions more frequently, Nolandsaid.

"The days of having a used textbook are still with us," he said,"but those textbooks and the revisions are turned around on a muchmore rapid basis than in the past."

Publishing companies also add pricey extras, such as CD-ROMs andother supplemental materials.

"You're no longer just buying a textbook," he said.

Robinson said he's heard "horrendous" stories about the costs oftextbooks - such as students paying up to $1,500 for books, orunfair return policies at campus bookstores.

"I think many of our institutions use the bookstores as a revenueproducer," Robinson said, "and that should not be the case."

Lisle town-house development to be built near golf course

Hidden Lake's 88 town houses will border the Seven Bridges golfcourse, south of Illinois Benedictine College in west suburban Lisle.

The town houses with partial brick exteriors start at $156,000to $180,000. Seven home designs range from 1,277 to 1,685 squarefeet, with 2 or 3 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths. Walkout basements are anoption.

The lowest-price unit, the Amberly, features a two-story livingroom with optional fireplace and a master bedroom suite with walk-incloset and master bath. A 2-car attached garage is standard; abasement is an option.Options include garden baths; lofts or bonus rooms; oakrailings, and whirlpool tubs.Also on the list: woodburning fireplaces per plan; gas logfireplaces; central air conditioning; flush oak doors and trim;garden or walk-out basements, and life safety systems.Hidden Lake, on Abbeywood Drive, 3/4 mile east of College Road,Lisle; Ryland Homes, (630) 435-1486.

AP Enterprise: BP is looking strong a year later

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — It's hard to tell that just a year ago BP was reeling from financial havoc and an American public out for blood.

The oil giant at the center of one of the world's biggest environmental crises is making strong profits again, its stock has largely rebounded, and it is paying dividends to shareholders once more. It is also pursuing new ventures from the Arctic to India. It is even angling to explore again in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico, where it holds more leases than any competitor.

"BP has a critical role to play in meeting the world's ever-growing need for energy," BP chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg said at the company's annual meeting in London last week.

While some of this angers Gulf Coast residents, it is a testament to some deft handling of the crisis by the company, which after some major gaffes early on conducted a housecleaning in its executive ranks, adopted a careful communications strategy and assigned an outsider to handle victims' compensation claims.

The company's decision to open its checkbook and pump hundreds of millions of dollars into Gulf communities, help out-of-work rig hands and support Gulf research also contributed to the turnaround.

Yet BP is not out of the woods yet.

BP employees could be found criminally negligent for the 206 million gallons of oil the U.S. government says gushed from the company's blown-out well and for the 11 men who died when the Deepwater Horizon rig it was leasing exploded. Hundreds of lawsuits and civil and criminal fines could add billions of dollars to its already staggering liabilities. And the findings of several investigations still under way could further damage its reputation.

BP has estimated that the spill will cost the company at least $40.9 billion but is hoping to force some of its partners on the doomed rig to assume some of those costs.

There is also lasting damage in the Gulf, including empty hotels, out-of-work oystermen and fears of a badly disrupted underwater ecosystem. And some of those worst hit by the spill scoff at BP's oft-repeated promises to make people whole again.

"I don't know of one person who has come to me and said, 'I've been made whole. I feel good.' Everything is completely negative from everybody," said Louisiana fishing guide Ron Price.

When BP finally managed to cap its runaway well in July and permanently sealed it in September, the bankruptcy talk was reduced to a whisper and the 24-hour-a-day beating the company was taking on television and newspaper front pages eased up.

By the fall, there was talk that the crisis wasn't as bad as feared and that the Gulf might recover sooner than expected. Then soaring oil prices came to the company's rescue, boosting its bottom line. Now, as Wednesday's anniversary approaches, the oil spill that so riveted the nation's attention is beginning to fade into memory.

For the families of the men killed on the rig, BP's resilience can be downright painful.

"BP has never done anything other than send flowers and three people to Jason's memorial service," said Shelley Anderson, the widow of rig worker Jason Anderson.

BP officials point out that they set aside $20 billion for a fund that is still processing claims for victims of the disaster, though only $3.8 billion of it has actually been paid to date. They also still employ cleanup and recovery workers, though far fewer than before.

Company officials also say they are living up to their commitments to restore the region's economy and environment.

"BP has not — and will not — shy away from its responsibilities," CEO Bob Dudley told shareholders at the company's annual meeting, which was marked by scuffles between protesters and security guards, and investor dissent over the performance of several directors.

Dudley took over Oct. 1 as CEO after the ouster of Tony Hayward, who infuriated Gulf residents by saying during the crisis, "I'd like my life back." Dudley, who grew up in Mississippi and was the first American ever to lead the British company, quickly sought to move BP beyond the crisis, firing the executive responsible for deep-water wells and announcing a new unit to police safety throughout the company.

BP also signed energy-exploration agreements in Indonesia, China, India and Australia. It agreed to pay $680 million for a controlling interest in Brazilian ethanol and sugar producer CNAA. BP also agreed to pay India's Reliance Industries $7.2 billion for a stake in key oil and gas blocks, and announced a deal with Russia's state-owned oil firm Rosneft that would involve exploration in the Arctic Sea, where a big oil spill could damage a pristine ecosystem far less resilient than the Gulf of Mexico. The deal is facing opposition and is not yet final.

BP isn't shying away from the Gulf, either, though it is moving more methodically there amid the political currents.

The first deep-water permit issued after the Obama administration lifted a post-spill drilling ban went to Noble Energy Inc. for work on a well off the coast of Louisiana. BP is not the operator but it has a 46 percent stake in the well. BP also bought out Shell's 25 percent interest in two Gulf fields in December, making BP the sole owner of both.

Spokesman Scott Dean said BP, the leading leaseholder in the Gulf, will remain active in all facets of the Gulf of Mexico oil exploration. The company has applied for a permit to drill one new well in the Gulf and is certain to apply for more.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Regulation and Enforcement said BP's applications will be weighed just like any other company's.

"BP is trying to refill its new-project pipeline with deals in the Arctic, offshore India, and Asia, but the Gulf of Mexico remains a key region for the company," said industry analyst Fadel Gheit of Oppenheimer & Co. "They don't want to push too hard, knowing politicians and environmentalists will be all over them."

Despite the uncertainties, BP announced Feb. 1 that it would restore its dividend and that it made a fourth-quarter profit of $5.6 billion, a 30 percent increase from the same period a year earlier. Rising oil prices are certain to boost its cash on hand and could lead to even higher profits. BP's stock fell 54 percent in the months after the spill, but it has regained much of that since then. Its stock is now trading about 20 percent lower than what it was the day before the rig exploded.

BP was able to deflect some of the criticism by shifting the paying of victims' compensation to claims czar Ken Feinberg, who has absorbed much of the blame for what victims say is a slow payment process.

Overall, the oil giant still has a lot of work to do to improve its reputation. Five Gulf Coast residents who had planned to tell investors about their post-spill woes were denied access to the company meeting, prompting confrontations with guards. Inside, hundreds of BP investors questioned board members about what they said was excessive executive pay and a lack of transparency on safety improvements.

In Washington, lawmakers are watching BP closely.

CEO Dudley still spends a great deal of time reassuring detractors.

"We need to earn back your trust, along with that of state and federal leaders and the trust of Gulf Coast residents and customers," he said at an industry conference in Houston last month. "We are determined we will once again restore that trust, and I realize this requires action, not words."

___

Associated Press writers Dina Cappiello in Washington, Jonathan Fahey in Houston and Jason Bronis in Buras, Louisiana, contributed to this report.

Flyers-Blue Jackets Sums

Philadelphia	0 0 1—1
Columbus	1 1 0—2

First Period_1, Columbus, Wilson 1 (Clark, Methot), 12:19. Penalties_None.

Second Period_2, Columbus, Brassard 2 (Nash, Voracek), 9:57 (pp). Penalties_Briere, Phi (hooking), 8:39; Pahlsson, Clm (holding), 10:44; Powe, Phi (interference), 15:13; Wilson, Clm (interference), 18:58.

Third Period_3, Philadelphia, Leino 2 (Briere, Hartnell), 14:59. Penalties_Briere, Phi (holding), 10:00; Powe, Phi (interference), 15:05; Briere, Phi (cross-checking), 19:56; Hartnell, Phi, minor-misconduct (roughing), 19:56; Clark, Clm (roughing), 19:56.

Shots on Goal_Philadelphia 10-7-12_29. Columbus 11-10-4_25.

Power-play opportunities_Philadelphia 0 of 2; Columbus 1 of 4.

Goalies_Philadelphia, Boucher 1-2-1 (25 shots-23 saves). Columbus, Garon 2-0-0 (29-28).

A_11,727 (18,144). T_2:20.

Referees_Marc Joannette, Brad Watson. Linesmen_Jonny Murray, Bryan Pancich.

Key dates during 50 years of Cuban revolution

Key moments in Cuba's past 50 years:

Jan. 1, 1959 _ Fidel Castro's rebels take power as dictator Fulgencio Batista flees Cuba.

June 1960 _ Cuba nationalizes U.S.-owned oil refineries after they refuse to process Soviet oil. Nearly all other U.S. businesses expropriated by October.

October 1960 _ Washington bans exports to Cuba, other than food and medicine.

Jan. 3, 1961 _ U.S. government breaks diplomatic relations with Cuba.

April 16, 1961 _ Castro declares Cuba socialist state.

April 17, 1961 _ CIA-backed Cuban exiles stage failed invasion at Bay of Pigs.

Feb, 7, 1962 _ Washington bans all Cuban imports.

October 1962 _ U.S. blockade forces removal of Soviet nuclear missiles from Cuba. U.S. President John F. Kennedy agrees privately not to invade Cuba.

March 1968 _ Castro's government takes over almost all private businesses.

April 1980 _ Mariel boatlift: Cuba says anyone can leave; some 125,000 Cubans flee.

December 1991 _ Collapse of Soviet Union devastates Cuban economy.

August 1994 _ Castro declares he will not stop Cubans trying to leave; some 40,000 take to sea heading for United States.

March 18, 2003 _ 75 Cuban dissidents sentenced to prison.

July 31, 2006 _ Five days after his last public appearance, Castro announces he has had operation, temporarily cedes power to brother Raul.

Feb. 19, 2008 _ Castro resigns as president.

Feb. 24, 2008 _ Cuban parliament elects Raul Castro as president.

WRESTLING ROUNDUP Sandburg soars to invitational title Eagles dominate at Wheeling; Barrington best at Prospect

Sandburg's Eagles are flying in the right direction after winning10 weight classes and capturing the Wheeling Invitational title with248 points Saturday.

There are high expectations with this group," Sandburg coach MikePolz said. We have 90 percent of the group going hard. Every weekthey've made adjustments, and they're getting better."

No. 3 Sandburg got pins from Brandon Precin (125), Ryan Precin(130), Mike Anello (140), Eric Pretto (145) and Ben Friedl (152).Brett Ambrosino (160) had a major, and Matt Schmeski (112), MattCusick (135), Clinton Polz (171) and Eric Rettke (275) earneddecisions.

Everyone in the room is strong," Anello said. We all go at eachother hard; there's never a break. Our JV guys give us a battle. Ourcoaches are always pushing us all the time."

Sophomore Cusick earned the outstanding wrestler award with amajor, a pin and a 6-3 win over Wheeling's Matt Smith in the final.

Lincoln-Way Central was second with 179 points; Wheeling scored140.5. The Knights were led by Josh Kratovil (103) and Thomas Gagan(119), who pinned Grayslake's Dan Lund in the first period. Gagan (6-1), who had three pins on the day to give him six for the season, hasbeen using his Mills quite well.

I am charged up this year," said Gagan, who reached the statequarterfinals last year. I am focused on what to do. I have to go getit.

When I wrestled [in junior high] with the Little Celtics, we usedthe Mills all the time. It's been working well for me so far."

St. Laurence's Scott Sands (189) had two majors and a technicalfall on the day. Sands will get his first big test when the Vikingsface Mount Carmel and host St. Rita on Wednesday. Grayslake's DavidQuedens (215) beat Lincoln-Way's Chris Coccaro 4-1.

*Barrington won the Prospect Invitational with 200.5 points. TheBroncos were led by Nate Horswill (112), Andy McArthur (119) andChris Ciepley (130).

Kent Roome (160) and Jonny Brennan (103) led the way for Prospect,which finished in second place with 182 points.

Fremd (171.5 points) was led by Robert Panayi (215), who had threepins -- all in the first period. Buddy Dudczak (275), Jake Jobst(152) and Joe VanWetering (125) also were winners.

Maine South's Rich Loera defeated Prospect's Justin Milos 6-4 inthe 171-pound final.

WANT TO BE SMRT? JOIN ROA

WASHINGTON D.C. - Reserve Officers Association (ROA) members are sponsoring mobilized non-member Reserve officers for one and two-year memberships by signing up for ROA's "Sponsor a Mobilized Reservist Today" campaign. "Sponsor a Mobilized Reservist Today" (SMRT - pronounced "smart") started during the summer of 2005 as a way for ROA members to thank mobilized Reserve officers, who are not ROA members, for their service and sacrifice.

For non-members, SMRT provides easy access to the ROA family and all the benefits it offers.

To qualify as an ROA member, candidates must be federally recognized commissioned officers, warrant officers, or their spouses from the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy, Marine Corps, Public Health Service, or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. ROA members, who sponsor mobilized officers for memberships, receive a tax-deductible donation.

For additional information on the ROA's SMRT Program, contact LTC Michael Boone, at 800-809-9448, ext. 727, or email mbooneiaroa.org.

[Author Affiliation]

By Lou Lew

Reserve Officers Association

MGIC, Radian Terminate Pending Merger

MILWAUKEE - MGIC Investment Corp. and rival Radian Group Inc. said Wednesday they are abandoning plans to combine the two companies, citing troubles in the mortgage industry.

The companies announced a deal on Feb. 6 calling for MGIC to pay about $5 billion for Radian, but its value tumbled along with MGIC's stock price.

MGIC, a private-mortgage insurer, said in August it did not …

FOOTBALL: KEANEWOULD CENTRE-HALF THEM IN TWO; FORMER TEAM-MATE SAYS NEW BHOY ROY CAN BE A STAR IN MIDFIELD OR DEFENCEAN BE A STAR IN MIDFIELD OR DEFENCE Berg backs Roy to terrify forwards in Celts backline.(Sport)

Byline: By Neil Cameron

THERE are some English commentators who believe Roy Keane took a step backwards when he moved to Scotland.

Whatever your view on the matter, Gordon Strachan may yet ask the Irishman to take a visible step back to allow Celtic to truly benefit from his arrival in Glasgow.

Amid all the latest goings-on at Celtic Park, be it their extended lead at the top of the table, the manager's entertaining fall-out with Inverness No.2 Malky Thomson or the signing of Keane, one topic appears to have passed without a mention.

That is a defence which for a while looked to have clicked after some hard toil has started leaking goals again.

It's not an emergency but, by the same token, for a manager who is something of a perfectionist it will not have escaped his attention.

This is where Keane may well come in when he eventually gets clearance to don the famous green and white hoops.

A poor defensive performance on Sunday saw Inverness score within 32 seconds and had it not been for the heroics of Artur Boruc, Celtic may well have lost in the Highlands.

Dunfermline,Hibs and Aberdeen have all had some joy against the same defence of late but Celtic escaped because of the team's forward play. However, they won't emerge unscathed on every occasion.

Bobo Balde has gone back to his old unpredictable ways which, if allowed to fester, will not do the promising Stephen McManus any favours in the long run.

But put Keane in there at centre-half and it could be a problem quickly solved.

Henning Berg knows the Scottish game from his year spent at Rangers and certainly knows Keane - his captain for five years at Old Trafford.

They played together in defence a couple of times at Manchester United and the Norwegian has no doubts Keane can provide the solution to the defensive frailties.

Berg said: "Could Roy play in defence? I honestly could not see that being any sort of problem.

"I played alongside him once ortwice at the back and it was no problem for him. In fact, he played at the back quite a few times at United and Sir Alex Ferguson used tosayhewasone of the best central defenders around"Roy can read a game better than anyone I know, which is so important for a defender. His combativeness and ability to tackle goes withoutsayingso there wouldbeno worries there.

"He might not be the tallest but it's not as if he is small either.Plus he is a fantastic header of the ball.

"Roy is 34 now and that has to be taken into consideration and I'm sure some fans will have thought about that. But perhaps that is why defence might be his best position.

"He won't need to run about the park as much as he would in midfield, although I would have to say I'm absolutely sure Roy could still play in the middle.

"But I can see him at the back. He is so good at starting attacks and keeping possession, vital for a centre-half. I don't think sweeper would be the best way to use him.He could play as a centre-half but I'd have a taller player beside him.

"And I think it would be fair to say that any young SPL striker would be, if not intimidated, then certainly in awe of a legend whenever they came up against him.

"I haven't seen Celtic this season so I don't know how the defence has played, although it can't have been too bad as they are top of the league. But Roy can only help out the players around him."

Celtic will have to do without Balde when the African Nations Cup stars next month and while the giant Guinean's performances can swing from brilliant to bewildering, the fact remains he still needs to be replaced.

Chinese international Due Wei is un-tried while Stanislav Varga seems to be completely out of the picture. While Celtic may win the league anyway, from Strachan's point of view there is no point in risking anything now McManus has come on a ton but is still learning. And who better to learn fromthanamaster of his craft.

Berg said: "For any young player there is no better teacher. I don't think I ever played with anyone like him. I honestly don't think I can remember a time when he didn't give 100 per cent. He demands that for himself and from everyone around him.

"If Celtic have young guys, particularly at the back, then Roy is just the man to lead them. He is one of the most influential players football has seen in a long time.

"At his peak, nobody could say anything other than he was one of the best of his generation.

"Good players can play anywhere. I'm sure Gordon Strachan would just have wanted a player of his stature at the club. Then he could decide where he would play in the team."

If Keane's role in the side is still to be determined his love for the club is not up for question.

Berg added: "It didn't surprise me when I heard he had signed for the club. Everyone at United always knew he was a Celtic fan

CAPTION(S):

STAND-OUT STAND-IN: Berg, above left, feels Keane will shine in defence in Balde's absence; INFLUENTIAL: Roy Keane will be happy in any position for Celtic, according to Henning Berg

FOOTBALL: KEANEWOULD CENTRE-HALF THEM IN TWO; FORMER TEAM-MATE SAYS NEW BHOY ROY CAN BE A STAR IN MIDFIELD OR DEFENCEAN BE A STAR IN MIDFIELD OR DEFENCE Berg backs Roy to terrify forwards in Celts backline.(Sport)

Byline: By Neil Cameron

THERE are some English commentators who believe Roy Keane took a step backwards when he moved to Scotland.

Whatever your view on the matter, Gordon Strachan may yet ask the Irishman to take a visible step back to allow Celtic to truly benefit from his arrival in Glasgow.

Amid all the latest goings-on at Celtic Park, be it their extended lead at the top of the table, the manager's entertaining fall-out with Inverness No.2 Malky Thomson or the signing of Keane, one topic appears to have passed without a mention.

That is a defence which for a while looked to have clicked after some hard toil has started leaking goals again.

It's not an emergency but, by the same token, for a manager who is something of a perfectionist it will not have escaped his attention.

This is where Keane may well come in when he eventually gets clearance to don the famous green and white hoops.

A poor defensive performance on Sunday saw Inverness score within 32 seconds and had it not been for the heroics of Artur Boruc, Celtic may well have lost in the Highlands.

Dunfermline,Hibs and Aberdeen have all had some joy against the same defence of late but Celtic escaped because of the team's forward play. However, they won't emerge unscathed on every occasion.

Bobo Balde has gone back to his old unpredictable ways which, if allowed to fester, will not do the promising Stephen McManus any favours in the long run.

But put Keane in there at centre-half and it could be a problem quickly solved.

Henning Berg knows the Scottish game from his year spent at Rangers and certainly knows Keane - his captain for five years at Old Trafford.

They played together in defence a couple of times at Manchester United and the Norwegian has no doubts Keane can provide the solution to the defensive frailties.

Berg said: "Could Roy play in defence? I honestly could not see that being any sort of problem.

"I played alongside him once ortwice at the back and it was no problem for him. In fact, he played at the back quite a few times at United and Sir Alex Ferguson used tosayhewasone of the best central defenders around"Roy can read a game better than anyone I know, which is so important for a defender. His combativeness and ability to tackle goes withoutsayingso there wouldbeno worries there.

"He might not be the tallest but it's not as if he is small either.Plus he is a fantastic header of the ball.

"Roy is 34 now and that has to be taken into consideration and I'm sure some fans will have thought about that. But perhaps that is why defence might be his best position.

"He won't need to run about the park as much as he would in midfield, although I would have to say I'm absolutely sure Roy could still play in the middle.

"But I can see him at the back. He is so good at starting attacks and keeping possession, vital for a centre-half. I don't think sweeper would be the best way to use him.He could play as a centre-half but I'd have a taller player beside him.

"And I think it would be fair to say that any young SPL striker would be, if not intimidated, then certainly in awe of a legend whenever they came up against him.

"I haven't seen Celtic this season so I don't know how the defence has played, although it can't have been too bad as they are top of the league. But Roy can only help out the players around him."

Celtic will have to do without Balde when the African Nations Cup stars next month and while the giant Guinean's performances can swing from brilliant to bewildering, the fact remains he still needs to be replaced.

Chinese international Due Wei is un-tried while Stanislav Varga seems to be completely out of the picture. While Celtic may win the league anyway, from Strachan's point of view there is no point in risking anything now McManus has come on a ton but is still learning. And who better to learn fromthanamaster of his craft.

Berg said: "For any young player there is no better teacher. I don't think I ever played with anyone like him. I honestly don't think I can remember a time when he didn't give 100 per cent. He demands that for himself and from everyone around him.

"If Celtic have young guys, particularly at the back, then Roy is just the man to lead them. He is one of the most influential players football has seen in a long time.

"At his peak, nobody could say anything other than he was one of the best of his generation.

"Good players can play anywhere. I'm sure Gordon Strachan would just have wanted a player of his stature at the club. Then he could decide where he would play in the team."

If Keane's role in the side is still to be determined his love for the club is not up for question.

Berg added: "It didn't surprise me when I heard he had signed for the club. Everyone at United always knew he was a Celtic fan

CAPTION(S):

STAND-OUT STAND-IN: Berg, above left, feels Keane will shine in defence in Balde's absence; INFLUENTIAL: Roy Keane will be happy in any position for Celtic, according to Henning Berg

FOOTBALL: KEANEWOULD CENTRE-HALF THEM IN TWO; FORMER TEAM-MATE SAYS NEW BHOY ROY CAN BE A STAR IN MIDFIELD OR DEFENCEAN BE A STAR IN MIDFIELD OR DEFENCE Berg backs Roy to terrify forwards in Celts backline.(Sport)

Byline: By Neil Cameron

THERE are some English commentators who believe Roy Keane took a step backwards when he moved to Scotland.

Whatever your view on the matter, Gordon Strachan may yet ask the Irishman to take a visible step back to allow Celtic to truly benefit from his arrival in Glasgow.

Amid all the latest goings-on at Celtic Park, be it their extended lead at the top of the table, the manager's entertaining fall-out with Inverness No.2 Malky Thomson or the signing of Keane, one topic appears to have passed without a mention.

That is a defence which for a while looked to have clicked after some hard toil has started leaking goals again.

It's not an emergency but, by the same token, for a manager who is something of a perfectionist it will not have escaped his attention.

This is where Keane may well come in when he eventually gets clearance to don the famous green and white hoops.

A poor defensive performance on Sunday saw Inverness score within 32 seconds and had it not been for the heroics of Artur Boruc, Celtic may well have lost in the Highlands.

Dunfermline,Hibs and Aberdeen have all had some joy against the same defence of late but Celtic escaped because of the team's forward play. However, they won't emerge unscathed on every occasion.

Bobo Balde has gone back to his old unpredictable ways which, if allowed to fester, will not do the promising Stephen McManus any favours in the long run.

But put Keane in there at centre-half and it could be a problem quickly solved.

Henning Berg knows the Scottish game from his year spent at Rangers and certainly knows Keane - his captain for five years at Old Trafford.

They played together in defence a couple of times at Manchester United and the Norwegian has no doubts Keane can provide the solution to the defensive frailties.

Berg said: "Could Roy play in defence? I honestly could not see that being any sort of problem.

"I played alongside him once ortwice at the back and it was no problem for him. In fact, he played at the back quite a few times at United and Sir Alex Ferguson used tosayhewasone of the best central defenders around"Roy can read a game better than anyone I know, which is so important for a defender. His combativeness and ability to tackle goes withoutsayingso there wouldbeno worries there.

"He might not be the tallest but it's not as if he is small either.Plus he is a fantastic header of the ball.

"Roy is 34 now and that has to be taken into consideration and I'm sure some fans will have thought about that. But perhaps that is why defence might be his best position.

"He won't need to run about the park as much as he would in midfield, although I would have to say I'm absolutely sure Roy could still play in the middle.

"But I can see him at the back. He is so good at starting attacks and keeping possession, vital for a centre-half. I don't think sweeper would be the best way to use him.He could play as a centre-half but I'd have a taller player beside him.

"And I think it would be fair to say that any young SPL striker would be, if not intimidated, then certainly in awe of a legend whenever they came up against him.

"I haven't seen Celtic this season so I don't know how the defence has played, although it can't have been too bad as they are top of the league. But Roy can only help out the players around him."

Celtic will have to do without Balde when the African Nations Cup stars next month and while the giant Guinean's performances can swing from brilliant to bewildering, the fact remains he still needs to be replaced.

Chinese international Due Wei is un-tried while Stanislav Varga seems to be completely out of the picture. While Celtic may win the league anyway, from Strachan's point of view there is no point in risking anything now McManus has come on a ton but is still learning. And who better to learn fromthanamaster of his craft.

Berg said: "For any young player there is no better teacher. I don't think I ever played with anyone like him. I honestly don't think I can remember a time when he didn't give 100 per cent. He demands that for himself and from everyone around him.

"If Celtic have young guys, particularly at the back, then Roy is just the man to lead them. He is one of the most influential players football has seen in a long time.

"At his peak, nobody could say anything other than he was one of the best of his generation.

"Good players can play anywhere. I'm sure Gordon Strachan would just have wanted a player of his stature at the club. Then he could decide where he would play in the team."

If Keane's role in the side is still to be determined his love for the club is not up for question.

Berg added: "It didn't surprise me when I heard he had signed for the club. Everyone at United always knew he was a Celtic fan

CAPTION(S):

STAND-OUT STAND-IN: Berg, above left, feels Keane will shine in defence in Balde's absence; INFLUENTIAL: Roy Keane will be happy in any position for Celtic, according to Henning Berg

FOOTBALL: KEANEWOULD CENTRE-HALF THEM IN TWO; FORMER TEAM-MATE SAYS NEW BHOY ROY CAN BE A STAR IN MIDFIELD OR DEFENCEAN BE A STAR IN MIDFIELD OR DEFENCE Berg backs Roy to terrify forwards in Celts backline.(Sport)

Byline: By Neil Cameron

THERE are some English commentators who believe Roy Keane took a step backwards when he moved to Scotland.

Whatever your view on the matter, Gordon Strachan may yet ask the Irishman to take a visible step back to allow Celtic to truly benefit from his arrival in Glasgow.

Amid all the latest goings-on at Celtic Park, be it their extended lead at the top of the table, the manager's entertaining fall-out with Inverness No.2 Malky Thomson or the signing of Keane, one topic appears to have passed without a mention.

That is a defence which for a while looked to have clicked after some hard toil has started leaking goals again.

It's not an emergency but, by the same token, for a manager who is something of a perfectionist it will not have escaped his attention.

This is where Keane may well come in when he eventually gets clearance to don the famous green and white hoops.

A poor defensive performance on Sunday saw Inverness score within 32 seconds and had it not been for the heroics of Artur Boruc, Celtic may well have lost in the Highlands.

Dunfermline,Hibs and Aberdeen have all had some joy against the same defence of late but Celtic escaped because of the team's forward play. However, they won't emerge unscathed on every occasion.

Bobo Balde has gone back to his old unpredictable ways which, if allowed to fester, will not do the promising Stephen McManus any favours in the long run.

But put Keane in there at centre-half and it could be a problem quickly solved.

Henning Berg knows the Scottish game from his year spent at Rangers and certainly knows Keane - his captain for five years at Old Trafford.

They played together in defence a couple of times at Manchester United and the Norwegian has no doubts Keane can provide the solution to the defensive frailties.

Berg said: "Could Roy play in defence? I honestly could not see that being any sort of problem.

"I played alongside him once ortwice at the back and it was no problem for him. In fact, he played at the back quite a few times at United and Sir Alex Ferguson used tosayhewasone of the best central defenders around"Roy can read a game better than anyone I know, which is so important for a defender. His combativeness and ability to tackle goes withoutsayingso there wouldbeno worries there.

"He might not be the tallest but it's not as if he is small either.Plus he is a fantastic header of the ball.

"Roy is 34 now and that has to be taken into consideration and I'm sure some fans will have thought about that. But perhaps that is why defence might be his best position.

"He won't need to run about the park as much as he would in midfield, although I would have to say I'm absolutely sure Roy could still play in the middle.

"But I can see him at the back. He is so good at starting attacks and keeping possession, vital for a centre-half. I don't think sweeper would be the best way to use him.He could play as a centre-half but I'd have a taller player beside him.

"And I think it would be fair to say that any young SPL striker would be, if not intimidated, then certainly in awe of a legend whenever they came up against him.

"I haven't seen Celtic this season so I don't know how the defence has played, although it can't have been too bad as they are top of the league. But Roy can only help out the players around him."

Celtic will have to do without Balde when the African Nations Cup stars next month and while the giant Guinean's performances can swing from brilliant to bewildering, the fact remains he still needs to be replaced.

Chinese international Due Wei is un-tried while Stanislav Varga seems to be completely out of the picture. While Celtic may win the league anyway, from Strachan's point of view there is no point in risking anything now McManus has come on a ton but is still learning. And who better to learn fromthanamaster of his craft.

Berg said: "For any young player there is no better teacher. I don't think I ever played with anyone like him. I honestly don't think I can remember a time when he didn't give 100 per cent. He demands that for himself and from everyone around him.

"If Celtic have young guys, particularly at the back, then Roy is just the man to lead them. He is one of the most influential players football has seen in a long time.

"At his peak, nobody could say anything other than he was one of the best of his generation.

"Good players can play anywhere. I'm sure Gordon Strachan would just have wanted a player of his stature at the club. Then he could decide where he would play in the team."

If Keane's role in the side is still to be determined his love for the club is not up for question.

Berg added: "It didn't surprise me when I heard he had signed for the club. Everyone at United always knew he was a Celtic fan

CAPTION(S):

STAND-OUT STAND-IN: Berg, above left, feels Keane will shine in defence in Balde's absence; INFLUENTIAL: Roy Keane will be happy in any position for Celtic, according to Henning Berg

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