Ready steady, taste

There are many things more fun in theory than they are in reallife - house-parties, for example, are rarely a carefree drinkingfest for the person paying the mortgage.

But lying overlooked in the 'sounds great / actually a nightmare'spectrum is something that seems far less risky - the dinner party.

What, you might idly wonder while inviting 12 people over for aninformal Thursday night supper, is so difficult about holding adinner party?

Put on a nice frock, mix a couple of sophisticated drinks, set thetable and light the candles and it's all sorted. All you need arenice people and you're away. Except you forgot one rather crucialthing.

The food. …

Edward Morse, Citigroup

(This is not a legal transcript. Bloomberg LP cannot guarantee its accuracy.)

EDWARD MORSE, HEAD OF GLOBAL COMMODITIES RESEARCH, CITIGROUP, TALKS ABOUT OIL AT BLOOMBERG SURVEILLANCE

JUNE 28, 2011

SPEAKERS: TOM KEENE, BLOOMBERG SURVEILLANCE HOST

KEN PREWITT, BLOOMBERG SURVEILLANCE CO-HOST

EDWARD MORSE, HEAD OF GLOBAL COMMODITIES RESEARCH, CITIGROUP

7:04

TOM KEENE, BLOOMBERG SURVEILLANCE HOST: Let's bring in Edward Morse, Credit Suisse on oil and all things - good to have you here, good morning.

EDWARD MORSE, HEAD OF GLOBAL COMMODITIES RESEARCH, CITIGROUP: Except I'm at Citi now.

KEENE: You're at …

Minn. gambling authority questions Obama Web offer

A Minnesota official has asked state authorities to investigate whether a request for money by Barack Obama's presidential campaign constitutes an illegal raffle.

In a letter on the campaign's Web site, campaign manager David Plouffe ties the solicitation to the announcement that Obama will deliver his nomination acceptance speech at Denver's 76,000-seat Invesco Field at Mile High.

"If you make a donation of $5 or more between now and midnight on July 31st, you could be one of 10 supporters chosen to fly to Denver and spend two days and nights at the convention, meet Barack backstage, and watch his acceptance speech in person. Each …

Villagers show off the fruits of their labours

Villagers pruned their blooms and perfected their Victoriasponges for this year's Claverton Show.

Despite the weather, entries were up on last year with a bumpercookery and children's section.

The show, which was first held in 1944, also attracted more than100 visitors, keen to take a look at the local produce.

A range of trophies and certificates was presented for the mostunusually shaped vegetable, tastiest rock cakes and digitalphotography.

Show secretary Mike Simmons said: "Despite the disgustingweather, we managed to put together a lot more than we expected.

"The vegetables were hard-hit but we managed to get by. Peoplehave complained that …

Hairston gets Laski's senior medical ID program

Hairston gets Laski's senior medical ID program

A free medical ID program for Chicagoans over 60 sponsored by City Clerk James J. Laski's office is coming to Ald. Leslie Hairston's (5th) Ward office today to distribute invaluable health information.

The program, created by Laski and supported by Mayor Daley, will be at Hairston's office 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 1900 E. 71st, according to Hairston.

The purpose of the free program for those over 60 is to gather medical data and vital statistics so they can be readily on hand just in case they become hysterical or are in a state of total confusion.

In describing the ID card, Hairston said the front includes …

Wal-Mart ups ante in holiday price matching

NEW YORK (AP) — Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, is announcing a new holiday price-matching strategy that aims to pull in procrastinators early by giving them a big incentive: a guarantee they'll get the lowest prices no matter when they buy during the season.

The Bentonville, Ark., discounter said Monday it will be matching prices on all its products — even after …

UK's RBS selling Pakistan unit to Faysal Bank

Royal Bank of Scotland PLC said Wednesday it has agreed to sell its Pakistan unit to Faysal Bank Ltd. of Karachi for (EURO)41 million ($50.6 million).

An earlier deal to sell the unit to MCB Bank of Pakistan for $87 million fell through in January because it didn't gain regulatory approval.

RBS acquired the unit, now called RBS Pakistan, as part of the takeover of the Dutch bank ABN Amro _ a deal that dragged RBS to the brink of collapse.

RBS, now 84-percent controlled by …

City man hopes to benefit from organization's work

Darrell Holley has been an active supporter of the MuscularDystrophy Association. Holley, who owns a Quarrier …

Gullit arrives in Chechnya to coach Terek Grozny

GROZNY, Russia (AP) — Ruud Gullit arrived in Chechnya on Wednesday to take over as coach of Russian league club Terek Grozny.

The former Netherlands star was greeted by several hundred fans at the airport in Grozny before a planned meeting with Kremlin-backed Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who is also president of Terek Grozny.

"Does it seem awful to me? No," Gullit said when asked about the Chechen capital, according to translated remarks. "I've been in more awful, dangerous and impoverished regions. I've been to Darfur and saw how people live there."

Terek finished 12th this season in the Russian Premier League. Kadyrov has given Gullit a target of a top-eight finish …

Zayante Band-winged Grasshopper

Trimerotropis infantilis

Status	Endangered
Listed	January 24, 1997
Family	Acrididae
Description	Body and forewings are pale gray to light brown with dark crossbanding on the forewings; hind wings are pale yellow with a faint thin band.
Habitat	Open sandy areas with sparse low annual and perennial herbs on high ridges with sparse ponderosa pine.
Food	Unknown.
Reproduction	Unknown.
Threats	Habitat destruction through sand mining and urban development; habitat loss and alteration due to recreational activities and …

TWISTS OF THE BLINDFOLD: TORTURE AND SOCIALITY IN ARIEL DORFMAN'S DEATH AND THE MAIDEN

The defining trait of the blindfold lies on its power to generate individualized darkness. It is an artifact that isolates the ones using it from the light that surrounds them, thus creating an artificial and temporary blindness. The main consequence of this feature is the emergence of an asymmetry between those who are and those who are not blindfolded while sharing the same space. The blindfolded individual is seen but cannot see. Further, he or she is looked at in the act of not seeing, arrested in unsuccessful attempts to replace the now useless eyes with the ears or with touch. It suffices to conjure up the image of a group playing blind man's bluff, a scene frequently depicted in …

Second round of China-Tibet talks planned

China's official Xinhua News Agency is reporting that the Dalai Lama's envoys and Chinese officials plan a second round of talks at an unannounced date.

The report came late Sunday after the two sides met in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen. It was the first time they held talks since violent protests erupted in Tibet in March, and China responded with a crackdown on the Himalayan region.

Xinhua did not say when and where the next round of meetings would be held.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

SHENZHEN, China (AP) _ The Dalai Lama's envoys met Chinese officials …

Putin pimps Russian-made ride with German engine

Vladimir Putin drives a Lada Niva to support Russia's domestic car industry. Never mind that it has a German engine.

The prime minister admitted Monday to outfitting his Russian-made SUV with the German engine, regaling students in the Volga River city of Cheboksary with accounts of the car's performance.

"I won't hide it, the car I bought has an Opel engine," he conceded, referring to the car maker based in Ruesselsheim, Germany.

"It turns out that it's more powerful," he was as quoted by Russian news agencies as saying during his working visit to Cheboksary.

But the candid admission is unlikely to help the Lada's reputation. It has been the butt of jokes since Soviet times, and sales in recent years have dropped as Russian consumers opt for European and Japanese car models.

Indeed, Putin's remark wasn't too far off from the old Russian joke "What do you call a Lada with brakes?"

The answer: Customized.

But Putin has said the Niva could help buck that trend, and insisted the car is worth buying. "They are relatively cheap cars by European standards, and the quality's not bad," he said.

He bought his last summer, painted in camouflage, and flaunted it in the Russian media in hopes of boosting the vehicles' sales despite the financial crisis.

He said Monday his SUV even drew admiring remarks from international sporting officials inspecting mountain venues at the Black Sea resort of Sochi, which is set to host the 2014 Winter Games.

"They liked it, and so do I," he said.

City ends ValuJet's Midway lease on eve of test flights

City officials are terminating ValuJet Inc.'s lease at MidwayAirport, a move that will limit the carrier's ability to serveChicago when it resumes operations.

Federal Aviation Administration inspectors will board ValuJettest flights today and Wednesday to determine whether theAtlanta-based carrier can resume passenger service, with the end ofnext week as a target.

But because the carrier has not announced what cities will beserved - and because ValuJet has not returned phone calls fromChicago officials - the city is taking back the gate.

"We haven't been able to get an answer," said Barrett Murphy, aspokesman for the Aviation Department, which has had discussions withother carriers that are interested in taking over the space.

If ValuJet does want to offer service at Midway, it might beable to use one of two city-controlled gates used by smallerairlines.

Before a May 11 crash in the Florida Everglades that killed 110people, ValuJet service at Midway included five daily trips toAtlanta and three to Washington, D.C.

If the airline passes FAA inspections, ValuJet hopes to servefive cities from Atlanta with seven aircraft, then expand itsschedule to 15 aircraft and 17 cities within 45 days, said spokesmanGregg Kenyon.

ValuJet also is awaiting word on a request submitted to theTransportation Department last week, to begin selling tickets andadvertising its fares and flight schedule on radio and in print.

In preparation for its return, ValuJet has recalled 70 pilotsand 100 flight attendants. It will begin training 175 customerservice representatives and 180 reservations agents this week, butthose employees will not be put back on the payroll until ValuJet isallowed to fly, Kenyon said.

al-Qaida Deputy Leader in New Video

BAGHDAD - Al-Qaida's deputy leader sought to bolster the terror network's main arm in Iraq in a new video released Thursday, calling on Muslims to rally behind it at a time when the group is on the defensive, faced with U.S. offensives and splits with other insurgent groups.

Ayman al-Zawahri defended the Islamic State of Iraq - the insurgent umbrella group headed by al-Qaida - against critics among Islamic militant groups, saying it was a vanguard for fighting off the U.S. military and eventually establishing a "caliphate" of Islamic rule across the region.

Al-Zawahri, the top deputy of Osama bin Laden, called on Muslims to follow a two-pronged strategy: work at home to topple "corrupt" Arab regimes and join al-Qaida's "jihad," or holy war, in Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia to fight and train "to prepare for the next jihad."

He urged Hamas not to compromise and bend under Arab and international pressure to end its rule in the Gaza Strip and make way for a unified Palestinian government that could pursue peace with Israel.

"As for the leadership of Hamas, I tell it: return to the truth, for you will only get something worse than what (late Palestinian leader Yasser) Arafat got" from the Israelis in negotiations, he said. The peace process, he said, is a U.S. attempt to "deceive the Islamic nation and say that America solved the issue of Palestine, so what need is there to fight it and wage jihad against it?"

In an earlier message after its seizure of Gaza, al-Zawahri urged Hamas to form an alliance with al-Qaida, a call the Palestinian militant group shunned.

The Egyptian militant did not mention last week's failed car bombing attempts in Britain, which British authorities are investigating for al-Qaida links. That suggested the video, posted Thursday on an Islamic militant Web site, was made before the events in London and Glasgow.

Al-Qaida's declaration of the Islamic State of Iraq last year was a dramatic move aimed at staking out its leadership of Iraq's insurgency. Allying itself with several smaller Iraqi Sunni insurgent groups, it presented the Islamic State as an alternative government within Iraq, claiming to hold territory.

The move quickly met resistance. Some Islamic extremist clerics in the Arab world said it was too soon to declare an Islamic state because the Islamic law qualifications were not yet met and argued that a true Islamic state is not viable while there are still U.S. forces in Iraq.

Several large Iraqi Sunni insurgent groups publicly denounced al-Qaida, saying its fighters were killing theirs and pressuring them to join the Islamic State. One group, the 1920 Revolution Brigades, has begun overtly cooperating with U.S. forces and Sunni tribal leaders to attack al-Qaida.

At the same time, increased U.S. forces sent to Iraq this year are waging a number of offensives in suspected al-Qaida strongholds north and south of Baghdad and in western Anbar province, claiming to have captured and killed a number of significant figures in the group.

The offensives have caused an increase in American casualties, but insurgent and militia attacks appear to have fallen in the past week. On Thursday, Baghdad was relatively quiet, with police reports of a policeman and a civilian killed in a shooting and bombing. A roadside bomb hit a police patrol in the northern city of Mosul, killing a civilian and wounding three police.

The U.S. military said a helicopter crash on Wednesday that killed an American soldier in western Iraq was caused when the craft hit electrical wires, adding that ground fire was not a cause. The Islamic State of Iraq said in a statement Wednesday the crash happened during a battle, and that "God blinded" the pilot, causing him to hit the wires.

Iraq's Shiite and Kurdish leaders on Thursday were trying to overcome a Sunni Arab boycott of the Cabinet of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, which threatens to hold up a key new oil law. The United States is pressing hard for passage of the long-delayed oil law in hopes it will encourage Sunni support of the government.

Al-Zawahri spent much of the unusually long video - at an hour and 35 minutes - defending the Islamic State, criticizing those who refuse to recognize it "because it lacks the necessary qualifications" even while he acknowledged it had made unspecified mistakes.

"The Islamic State of Iraq is set up in Iraq, the mujahedeen (holy warriors) celebrate it in the streets of Iraq, the people demonstrate in support of it," al-Zawahri said, "pledges of allegiance to it are declared in the mosques of Baghdad."

He said Muslims around the world should "support this blessed fledgling mujahid garrison state with funds, manpower, opinion, information and expertise," saying its founding brought the Islamic world closer to "establishment of the caliphate, with God's permission."

He urged critics to work with the Islamic State "even if we see in it shortcomings," and said Islamic State leaders should "open their hearts" to consultations. "The mujahedeen are not innocent of deficiency, error and slips," he said. "The mujahedeen must solve their problems among themselves."

Al-Zawahri appeared in the video - first reported by IntelCenter and SITE, two U.S.-based groups that monitor militant messages - wearing a white robe and turban and, as he often does, took a professorial tone, making points by citing Islamic history and by showing clips of experts speaking on Western and Arabic media.

He denounced Egypt, Jordan and Saudi at length. He warned Iraq's Sunni minority against seeing them as allies, saying they pretend to support the Sunni cause while allying themselves with the United States.

If Saudi Arabia controls Iraq or Sunni regions of Iraq, "the Iraqis would then suffer the same repression and humiliation which the people suffer under Saudi rule under the pretext of combating terrorism - i.e., combatting jihad and preserving American security," al-Zawahri said.

The al-Qaida deputy also laid out an al-Qaida strategy, saying in the near-term militant should target U.S. and Israeli interests "everywhere" in retaliation for "attacks on the Islamic nation" in Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia.

The long-term strategy calls for "diligent work to change these corrupt and corrupting (Arab) regimes." He said Muslims should "rush to the fields of jihad" in Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia "to defeat the enemies of the Islamic nation" and for "training to prepare for the next jihad."

An alternative to Stroger's county budget

The vitriol and personal attacks that have surrounded the CookCounty budget discussions are unfortunate and accomplish little butdamage the faith of the taxpayers in our government.

The members of the Cook County Board don't have to love eachother. They don't have to get along. But we do have to pass asensible budget that serves the residents and taxpayers of thiscounty.

While they hurl insults, I will continue to discuss the budget.

I oppose Todd Stroger's budget proposal because it unfairly andoppressively reaches into the pocketbooks of Cook County taxpayersto fund a government than has proven to be anything but efficientand accountable.

Stroger has proposed $1 billion in new taxes to cover an alleged$230 million budget deficit. First, why propose new taxes thatequate to more than four times the alleged budget gap? Furthermore,not only do we believe the alleged budget gap is greatly inflated,Stroger has failed to include the county's contingency fund of morethan $60 million in his budget calculations.

Additionally, despite Commissioner William Beavers' assertionthat the budget has been "cut to the bone," we, along with themedia, continue to uncover tens of millions of dollars that arebeing misused, abused, spent wastefully or to hire friends andfamily of political insiders.

Finally, Stroger's repeated assertion that tax increases willcreate "increased revenue" for the government is wrongheaded. Highertaxes cause consumers to spend less and employers to hire fewerworkers, lay off employees or move out of Cook County altogether.Decreased spending by consumers and fewer jobs created by employersmeans less -- not more -- tax revenue.

The formula for successful budgeting is simple: Run an efficientgovernment, have a system of fair taxation that encourages economicgrowth and attract new jobs.

I have proposed a budget plan that would enact a modest 2 percentcut (from the fiscal year 2007 budget) in most county departments,which would allow each department to identify waste and duplicationof effort to meet their budget needs while still serving the countytaxpayers. These modest cuts would allow us to cover our budget gapand force our government to operate more efficiently.

Most important, it would save Cook County residents, taxpayers,consumers and employers from the oppressively high tax increasesproposed by Stroger.

Tony Peraica,

Cook County commissioner,

16th District

Charles Dutoit pushes for inter-Korean orchestra

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Philadelphia Orchestra chief conductor Charles Dutoit was a longtime friend of Isang Yun, a composer jailed and then exiled by his native South Korea for visiting the North.

Now, 16 years after Yun's death, the 75-year-old Dutoit is working to realize a dream inspired by his friend: an inter-Korean youth orchestra.

The Swiss maestro held talks in North Korea late last month and says cultural officials there support the idea. South Korea says it's willing to review the plan. Dutoit hopes to hold an inaugural concert on Aug. 15, the anniversary of a then-unified Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule in 1945.

Nearly 60 years after the Korean War ended with a fragile armistice, the two Koreas are technically still at war. Despite the animosity, analysts say both Koreas could find it difficult to reject such an apolitical event organized by a non-Korean, as neither side would want to be blamed for making ties even worse.

"There is a 50-50 chance for this orchestra project being realized," said Haksoon Paik, a North Korea analyst at the Sejong Institute, a think tank near Seoul.

Dutoit, who conducted the North Korean state symphony on his visit, said he was further inspired by a teary-eyed airport farewell from orchestra members.

"They just didn't (want to) let me to go," he said in a telephone interview from Switzerland. "They wanted to keep me a little longer."

The experience "made me think it would be wonderful to have some little adventure and music together and go over all the problems," he said. "I have to do music to put together these people and to have more comprehension between them."

He says his motivation comes from Yun, one of a handful of figures respected in both Koreas.

Yun became world famous in the late 1960s when he was kidnapped by South Korean agents in Germany after an unauthorized trip to North Korea in 1963. He was sentenced to life in prison but was released and returned to Germany two years later following protests from around the world.

Yun, who became a German citizen in 1971, visited North Korea periodically but was never allowed to return to the South. He died in Germany at age 78 in 1995.

The avant-garde composer, known for about 150 pieces combining Eastern and Western traditions, believed an inter-Korean orchestra could ease animosity.

Dutoit conducted Yun's work and often heard his friend speak of Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, and a music institute there that was named after him.

He first visited Pyongyang in 2002 and was impressed with the skill of the musicians at the institute as they played one of the late composer's works.

Several years later, Dutoit was a conductor for a music festival in Seoul, where he shared with organizers his dream of forming a joint youth orchestra.

The project was set back as tensions rose after North Korea allegedly torpedoed a South Korean warship and killed 46 sailors in March of last year. The North also fired artillery shells on a South Korean border island in November that killed four people.

But Paik, the analyst, said that North Korea now wants to improve its international image, while South Korean President Lee Myung-bak may seek better ties with the North before he leaves office in early 2013.

The South Korean Unification Ministry says it is willing to review the orchestra project after a formal request is made. Dutoit's South Korean partner, Lindenbaum Music Company, plans to file one in coming days. His long-term goal is for the orchestra to perform regularly in Pyongyang, Seoul and the Korean border town of Panmunjom.

He isn't the only one using music as a tool to help ease tension on the Korean peninsula.

Renowned conductor Daniel Barenboim plans to hold a peace concert at the South Korean border town of Imjingak on Aug. 15 with his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, which brings together young musicians from Israel and Arab countries every summer. The New York Philharmonic also held a concert in Pyongyang in 2008.

Disabled Leader Forced to Crawl To Board Plane

WASHINGTON Rick Douglas did not have to cast far for an exampleto use in his Saturday night speech, celebrating the thirdanniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act, on challengesstill facing the disabled.

To get to the speech in Allentown, Pa., the executive directorof the President's Committee on Employment of People withDisabilities had to drag himself up five steps and crawl onto aUnited Express plane at Dulles International Airport as passengersand airline personnel watched.

After landing, he waited until the other passengers had gottenoff and then dragged himself from his seat and down the steps.

Douglas, disabled by multiple sclerosis, said United Expresspersonnel at Dulles Airport first told him that he could not fly onthe commuter airplane at all because he needs a wheelchair, then saidthat he could go only if he got aboard without any assistance.

"It was humiliating. My clothes are covered with aviation fueland oil," he said Sunday in a telephone interview from Allentown. "Iwas coming up against the day-to-day discrimination that discourages(disabled) people from traveling and even working."

Douglas, 50, who lives in Washington, said United Expressviolated federal law requiring equal access to public transportationfor disabled people. The incident is an example of how airlinestaffs have not been properly briefed on the laws, he said.

Douglas said he and his wife had traveled Saturday fromCharleston, S.C., and were transferring at Dulles to United ExpressFlight 6251 to Allentown. When he purchased the ticket, he explainedthat he is a wheelchair user and that information was put on histicket record with the airline, he said.

But airline personnel stopped him at the gate. When he draggedhimself up the steps at Dulles, the United Express ground crew "justwatched me," he said. Finally, one female staff member "broke ranks"and helped him lift his legs up the steps, Douglas said.

After landing in Allentown, none of the ground crew would helpwith his bags, so the co-pilot carried them, he said. Douglasreturned from Pennsylvania on a USAir flight Sunday and airline staffcarried him up the steps in a chair to board, he said.

A United Express spokesman, Barron Beneski, said personnel hadfollowed airline and Federal Aviation Administration rules in makingDouglas board unassisted. The 19-seat commuter plane had no flightattendant, and in case of emergency, passengers must be able to getout on their own, Beneski said.

"If you can't get yourself on the airplane, you can't board"when there is no flight attendant, Beneski said. "You are apotential safety threat in the event of an emergency to yourself andother passengers."

Access to transportation has been a major issue for disabledpeople. Advocates for the disabled have been lobbying airlines andairports, particularly those with small commuter planes, to invest inspecial lifts to get disabled people onto airplanes usually boardedusing steps, Douglas said.

Davis Cup Results

WORLD GROUP
Semifinals
Winners to World Group finals, Nov. 26-28
France 5, Argentina 0
At Palais des Sports de Gerland
Lyon, France
Surface: Hard-Indoor
Singles

Michael Llodra, France, def. Juan Monaco, Argentina, 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Gael Monfils, France, def. David Nalbandian, Argentina, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Doubles

Michael Llodra and Arnaud Clement, France, def. Eduardo Schwank and Horacio Zeballos, Argentina, 6-4, 7-5, 6-3.

Reverse Singles

Gilles Simon, France, def. Eduardo Schwank, Argentina, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (6), 6-3.

Arnaud Clement, France, def. Horacio Zeballos, Argentina, 7-5, 6-1.

Serbia 3, Czech Republic 2
At Belgrade Arena
Belgrade, Serbia
Surface: Hard-Indoor
Singles

Radek Stepanek, Czech Republic, def. Viktor Troicki, Serbia, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.

Janko Tipsarevic, Serbia, def. Tomas Berdych, Czech Republic, 7-5, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (5).

Doubles

Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek, Czech Republic, def. Novak Djokovic and Nenad Zimonjic, Serbia, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-1.

Reverse Singles

Novak Djokovic, Serbia, def. Tomas Berdych, Czech Republic, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

Janko Tipsarevic, Serbia, def. Radek Stepanek, Czech Republic, 6-0, 7-6 (6), 6-4.

Playoffs
Winners to 2011 World Group; losers to 2011 Zonal groups
United States 3, Colombia 1
At Plaza de Toros La Santamaria
Bogota, Colombia
Surface: Clay-Outdoor
Singles

Mardy Fish, United States,def. Alejandro Falla, Colombia, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

Santiago Giraldo Colombia, def. Sam Querrey, United States 6-2, 6-4, 7-5.

Doubles

Mardy Fish and John Isner, United States, def. Robert Farah and Carlos Salamanca, Colombia, 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-3.

Reverse Singles

Mardy Fish, United States, def. Santiago Giraldo, Colombia, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 4-6, 8-6.

Alejandro Falla, Colombia, vs. Sam Querrey, United States, ccd., rain.

Austria 3, Israel 2
At Nokia Stadium
Tel Aviv, Israel
Surface: Hard-Indoor
Singles

Dudi Sela, Israel, def. Andreas Haider-Maurer, Austria, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3.

Jurgen Melzer, Austria, def. Harel Levy, Israel, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.

Doubles

Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram, Israel, def. Jurgen Melzer and Alexander Peya, Austria, 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-4.

Reverse Singles

Jurgen Melzer, Austria, def. Dudi Sela, Israel, 6-4, 6-0, 6-3.

Martin Fischer, Austria, def. Harel Levy, Israel, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0, 6-3.

Germany 5, South Africa 0
At TC Weissenhof
Stuttgart, Germany
Surface: Clay-Outdoor
Singles

Philipp Kohlschreiber, Germany, def. Rik de Voest, South Africa, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

Florian Mayer, Germany, def. Izak van der Merwe, South Africa, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 7-6 (6).

Doubles

Andreas Beck and Christopher Kas, Germany, def. Rik de Voest and Wesley Moodie, South Africa, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Reverse Singles

Andreas Beck, Germany, def. Izak van der Merwe, South Africa, 7-5, 6-2.

Florian Mayer, Germany, def. Rik de Voest, South Africa, 6-3, 6-7 (8), 6-2.

Sweden 3, Italy 2
At Sparbanken Lidkoping Arena
Lidkoping, Sweden
Surface: Hard-Indoor
Singles

Potito Starace, Italy, def. Andreas Vinciguerra, Sweden, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2.

Robin Soderling, Sweden, def. Fabio Fognini, Italy, 6-1, 6-3, 6-2.

Doubles

Simon Aspelin and Robert Lindstedt, Sweden, def. Simone Bolelli and Potito Starace, Italy, 5-7, 6-7 (0), 7-6 (4), 6-3, 7-5.

Reverse Singles

Robin Soderling, Sweden, def. Simone Bolelli, Italy, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.

Fabio Fognini, Italy, def. Andreas Vinciguerra, Sweden, 6-1, 6-3.

India 3, Brazil 2
At SDAT Tennis Stadium
Chennai, India
Surface: Hard-Outdoor
Singles

Thomaz Bellucci, Brazil, def. Rohan Bopanna, India, 7-6 (2), 6-7 (7), 7-5 4-6, 10-8.

Ricardo Mello, Brazil, def Somdev Devvarman, India, 4-6, 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-4.

Doubles

Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes, India, def. Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares, Brazil, 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-1.

Reverse Singles

Somdev Devvarman, India, def. Thomaz Bellucci, Brazil, 7-6 (3), 4-0, retired.

Rohan Bopanna, India, def. Ricardo Mello, Brazil, 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-3.

Belgium 3, Australia 2
At Cairns Regional Tennis Centre
North Cairns, Australia
Surface: Hard-Outdoor
Singles

Lleyton Hewitt, Australia, def. Ruben Bemelmans, Belgium, 7-6 (4), 7-5, 2-6, 6-4.

Olivier Rochus, Belgium, def. Carsten Ball, Australia, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (5).

Doubles

Paul Hanley and Lleyton Hewitt, Australia, def. Ruben Bemelmans and Olivier Rochus, Belgium, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.

Reverse Singles

Olivier Rochus, Belgium, def. Peter Luczak, Australia, 7-6 (8), 6-4, 6-7 (0), 7-6 (2).

Steve Darcis, Belgium, def. Carsten Ball, Australia, 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-4.

Kazakhstan 5, Switzerland 0
At National Tennis Centre
Astana, Kazakhstan
Surface: Hard-Indoor
Singles

Andrey Golubev, Kazakhstan, def. Marco Chiudinelli, Switzerland, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

Mikhail Kukushkin, Kazakhstan, def. Stanislas Wawrinka, Switzerland, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.

Doubles

Andrey Golubev and Yuriy Schukin, Kazakhstan, def. Yves Allegro and Stanislas Wawrinka, Switzerland, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.

Reverse Singles

Andrey Golubev, Kazakhstan, def. Michael Lammer, Switzerland, 6-3, 6-2.

Mikhail Kukushkin, Kazakhstan, def. Marco Chiudinelli, Switzerland, 6-2, 6-4.

Romania 5, Ecuador 0
At Centrul National de Tenis
Bucharest, Romania
Surface: Clay-Outdoor
Singles

Victor Hanescu, Romania, def. Ivan Endara, Ecuador, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2.

Adrian Ungur, Romania, def. Giovanni Lapentti, Ecuador, 6-7 (2), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1.

Doubles

Victor Hanescu and Horia Tecau, Romania, def. Ivan Endara and Giovanni Lapentti, Ecuador, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2.

Reverse Singles

Victor Crivoi, Romania, def. Giovanni Lapentti, Ecuador, 6-2, 6-4.

Adrian Ungur, Romania, def. Emilio Gomez, Ecuador, 6-3, 6-4.

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE
Group I
Second Round Playoffs
Losers to 2011 Group II
Slovakia 3, Belarus 1
At Republic Olympic Training Center for Tennis
Minsk, Belarus
Surface: Hard-Outdoor
Singles

Uladzimir Ignatik, Belarus, def. Martin Klizan, Slovakia, 7-6 (9), 6-2, 6-2.

Lukas Lacko, Slovakia, def. Siarhei Betau, Belarus, 6-0, 6-4, 6-4.

Doubles

Michal Mertinak and Filip Polasek, Slovakia, def. Uladzimir Ignatik and Max Mirnyi, Belarus, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6), 3-6, 4-6, 6-4.

Reverse Singles

Lukas Lacko, Slovakia, def. Uladzimir Ignatik, Belarus, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7 (7), 6-4.

Martin Klizan, Slovakia, def. Siarhei Betau, Belarus, 7-6 (2), 6-2.

Poland 3, Latvia 2
At Olympic Sports Centre
Riga, Latvia
Surface: Carpet-Indoor
Singles

Michal Przysiezny, Poland, def. Andis Juska, Latvia, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

Ernests Gulbis, Latvia, def. Jerzy Janowicz, Poland, 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

Doubles

Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski, Poland, def. Andis Juska and Deniss Pavlovs, Latvia, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4).

Reverse Singles

Ernests Gulbis, Latvia, def. Michal Przysiezny, Poland, 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-2, 7-5.

Jerzy Janowicz, Poland, def. Karlis Lejnieks, Latvia, 7-5, 6-4, 7-6 (3).

Group II
Third Round
Winners to 2011 Group I
Slovenia 3, Lithuania 2
At SEB Arena
Vilnius, Lithuania
Surface: Hard-Indoor
Singles

Ricardas Berankis, Lithuania, def. Blaz Kavcic, Slovenia, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (9), 6-4.

Grega Zemlja, Slovenia, def. Laurynas Grigelis, Lithuania, 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3.

Doubles

Ricardas Berankis and Laurynas Grigelis, Lithuania, def. Luka Gregorc and Grega Zemlja, Slovenia, 5-7, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3.

Reverse Singles

Grega Zemlja, Slovenia, def. Ricardas Berankis, Lithuania, 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-3.

Blaz Kavcic, Slovenia, def. Laurynas Grigelis, Lithuania, 6-4, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5).

Portugal 3, Bosnia-Herzegovina 2
At Centro de Tenis Do Jamor
Cruz Quebrada, Portugal
Surface: Clay-Outdoor
Singles

Frederico Gil, Portugal, def. Amer Delic, Bosnia-Herzegovina, 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (14), 3-6, 9-7.

Aldin Setkic, Bosnia-Herzegovina, def. Rui Machado, Portugal, 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-1.

Doubles

Frederico Gil and Leonardo Tavares, Portugal, def. Amer Delic and Aldin Setkic, Bosnia-Herzegovina, 6-1, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

Reverse Singles

Frederico Gil, Portugal, def. Aldin Setkic, Bosnia-Herzegovina, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.

Damir Dzumhur, Bosnia-Herzegovina, def. Joao Sousa, Portugal, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

AMERICAS ZONE
Group I
Second Round Playoffs
Losers to 2011 Group II
Canada 5, Dominican Republic 0
At Rexall Centre
Toronto
Surface: Hard-Outdoor
Singles

Peter Polansky, Canada, vs. Jhonson Garcia, Dominican Republic, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Milos Raonic, Canada, vs. Victor Estrella, Dominican Republic, 5-7, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (3), 9-7.

Doubles

Frank Dancevic and Daniel Nestor, Canada, def. Victor Estrella and Jhonson Garcia, Dominican Republic, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.

Reverse Singles

Peter Polansky, Canada, def. Victor Estrella, Dominican Republic, 6-1, 6-2.

Frank Dancevic, Canada, def. Luis Delgado, Dominican Republic, 6-1, 6-0.

Group II
Third Round
Winners to 2011 Group I
Mexico 4, Venezuela 1
At Rafael El Pelon Osuna
Mexico City
Surface: Clay-Outdoor
Singles

Daniel Garza, Mexico, def. Roman Recarte, Venezuela, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2.

Cesar Ramirez, Mexico, def. Jose de Armas, Venezuela, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3.

Doubles

Miguel-Angel Reyes-Varela and Bruno Rodriguez, Mexico, def. Jose de Armas and Piero Luisi, Venezuela, 7-6 (2), 6-3, 6-2.

Reverse Singles

Daniel Garza, Mexico, def. Luis David Martinez, Venezuela, 6-4, 6-1.

Piero Luisi, Venezuela, def. Cesar Ramirez, Mexico, 6-4, 6-4.

ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE
Group I
Second Round Playoff
Loser to 2011 Group II
Philippines 3, South Korea 2
At Chanwon Municipal Tennis Courts
Changwon, South Korea
Surface: Hard-Outdoor
Singles

Lim Yong-kyu, South Korea, def. Treat Huey, Philippines, 6-7 (8), 6-2, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (4).

Jeong Suk-young, South Korea, def. Cecil Mamiit, Philippines, 0-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-0, 6-2.

Doubles

Treat Huey and Cecil Mamiit, Philippines, def. Kim Hyun-joon and Seol Jae-min, South Korea, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

Reverse Singles

Cecil Mamiit, Philippines, def. Lim Yong-kyu, South Korea, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 1-1, retired.

Treat Huey, Philippines, def. Jeong Suk-young, South Korea, 7-5, 7-5, 6-3.

Group II
Third Round
Winner to 2011 Group I
New Zealand 3, Thailand 2
At National Tennis Development Centre (LTAT)
Nontheburi, Thailand
Surface: Hard-Outdoor
Singles

Michael Venus, New Zealand, def. Weerapat Doakmaiklee, Thailand, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (1).

Jose Statham, New Zealand, def. Kittiphong Wachiramanowong, Thailand, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-1, 7-6 (2).

Doubles

Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana, Thailand, def. Dan King-Turner and Michael Venus, New Zealand, 0-6, 6-7 (6), 6-0, 6-3, 6-4.

Reverse Singles

Kittiphong Wachiramanowong, Thailand, def. Michael Venus, New Zealand, 7-5, 7-6 (6), 6-2.

Jose Statham, New Zealand, def. Sanchai Ratiwatana, Thailand, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3.

Pistons Beat Magic 101-93

Richard Hamilton scored 32 points and Rasheed Wallace had 13 of his 15 in the first quarter, helping the Detroit Pistons build a big lead that allowed them to coast in a 101-93 win over the Orlando Magic on Friday night.

The Central Divison-leading Pistons were dominant in the first half, setting up their second straight win after dropping a season-high three in a row _ including a loss at Orlando _ and six of nine games.

Dwight Howard had 22 points and 14 rebounds and Hedo Turkoglu scored 23 for the Southeast Division-leading Magic, who had won three straight.

Wallace controlled in the beginning, making a steal on the opening possession and scoring seven points, blocking a shot and grabbing a rebound in the first 2 1/2 minutes.

The rest of the Pistons started strong, too, combining to make 77 percent of their shots as they scored a season-high 39 points in the first quarter.

Hamilton scoring 14 of Detroit's 29 points in the second quarter, helping the Pistons score a season-high 68 points in the first half.

The Magic went on a 13-0 run late in the third quarter and pulled to 85-73, then hung around in the fourth without truly threatening to come back.

Orlando got an injury scare from reserve guard Keyon Dooling in the second quarter.

The reserve guard bruised his right knee in the opening minute and was helped off the court, walking gingerly toward the locker room. Dooling returned late in the third quarter and started the fourth.

Detroit's Chauncey Billups had 21 points and six assists. Antonio McDyess had 10 points and 13 rebounds.

Wallace's production fell off after his sensational start.

He went to the bench with four fouls at the 3:58 mark of the third quarter. After he was called for a fifth foul with 8:04 left in the game, he was called for a technical for arguing. He fouled out late in the game.

Orlando's Rashard Lewis had a lackluster game, missing 12 of 15 shots and scoring 13 points. Carlos Arroyo had 16 points and reserve Keith Bogans added 10.

Notes:@ Orlando PG Jameer Nelson (right foot) missed the game and is day to day. ... The Magic gave up more points in the first quarter and half than they had previously this season. ... Arroyo and Maurice Evans, former Pistons, were in Orlando's starting lineup. ... Detroit leads the season series 2-1 with one scheduled remaining on Feb. 19 at home. ... Detroit is 4 1/2 games ahead of Orlando for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. ... Faces in the crowd included Tigers CF Curtis Granderson and P Dontrelle Willis along with Michigan Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard.

Southern California home prices fall in July

Southern California home prices fell 31.1 percent in July from last year, with bargain hunters snapping up foreclosed properties and sending overall sales to a 16-month high, a research firm said Monday.

The median price for all homes and condo sales _ including new and existing models _ dropped to $348,000 in the six-county region last month, down from the market peak of $505,000 in July 2007 and down slightly from $355,000 in June, MDA DataQuick said.

A total of 20,329 homes and condos were sold during the month, up 13.8 percent from July 2007 and up 16.7 percent from June, the researcher said. It was the highest monthly tally since March 2007, when 21,856 homes were sold.

Foreclosures accounted for 43.6 percent of all resold properties last month, up from 7.9 percent in July 2007 and a revised 41.8 percent in June.

Foreclosures ranged from 22.2 percent of resold homes in Orange County last month to 64.4 percent in Riverside County. MDA DataQuick said foreclosures were at record highs and continue to be "the dominant factor" driving sales.

"What we're looking at is a fire sale of properties in newer affordable neighborhoods that were bought or refinanced near the price peak with lousy mortgages," said John Walsh, president of MDA DataQuick.

Distress sales have yet to reach older, more expensive neighborhoods, Walsh said.

The report covers sales in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.

High Court to Hear Exxon Valdez Case

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to decide whether Exxon Mobil Corp. should pay $2.5 billion in punitive damages in connection with the huge Exxon Valdez oil spill that fouled more than 1,200 miles of Alaskan coastline in 1989.

The high court stepped into the long-running battle over the damages that Exxon Mobil owes in the spillage of 11 million gallons of oil into Alaska's Prince William Sound, the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

The Exxon Valdez supertanker had run aground on a reef. A federal appeals court already had cut in half the $5 billion in damages awarded by a jury in 1994.

The justices said they would consider whether the company should have to pay any punitive damages at all. If the court decides some money is due, Exxon is arguing that $2.5 billion is excessive under laws governing shipping and prior high court decisions limiting punitive damages.

The damages were, by far, the largest ever approved by federal appeals judges, the company said in its brief to the court.

The case probably will be heard in the spring. The court's last ruling on punitive damages, in February, set aside a nearly $80 million judgment against Altria Group Inc.'s Philip Morris USA. The money was awarded to the widow of a smoker in Oregon.

Justice Samuel Alito, who owns between $100,000 and $250,000 in Exxon stock, recused himself from the case.

Exxon said it already has paid $3.4 billion in clean-up costs and other penalties resulting from the oil spill, which killed hundreds of thousands of seabirds and marine animals.

"This case has never been about compensating people for actual damages," company spokesman Tony Cudmore said in a statement. "Rather it is about whether further punishment is warranted...We do not believe any punitive damages are warranted in this case."

Lawyers for the plaintiffs, some of whom are deceased, said the damages award is "barely more than three weeks of Exxon's net profits." The plaintiffs still living include about 33,000 commercial fishermen, cannery workers, landowners, Native Alaskans, local governments and businesses.

The Irving, Texas-based oil company marshaled more than a dozen organizations ranging from groups of shippers to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to support its bid for Supreme Court review.

The company argued it should not be held responsible for the mistakes of the ship's captain, Captain Joseph Hazelwood, who violated clear company rules when the Exxon Valdez ran aground with 53 million gallons of crude oil in its hold on March 23, 1989.

The plaintiffs said Exxon knew Hazelwood had sought treatment for drinking, but had begun drinking again. "Exxon placed a relapsed alcoholic, who it knew was drinking aboard its ships, in command of an enormous vessel carrying toxic cargo across treacherous and resource-rich waters," they said.

The company has been battling the judgment for over a decade. The company has managed to get the award cut in half from the original $5 billion awarded in 1994 by an Anchorage jury in the class-action suit.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reduced the punitive damages because, in part, the company tried to clean up the spill and didn't spill oil from the tanker Exxon Valdez deliberately.

The disaster prompted Congress in 1990 to pass a law banning single-hulled tankers like the Valdez from domestic waters by 2015.

Exxon Mobil shares were up $1.61, or about 2 percent, to $93.82 in morning trading.

The case is Exxon Shipping Co. v. Baker, 07-219.

Michael Frazier casts his future on Halsted St.

In the arena of high-risk investing, few ventures are asperilous and as thoroughly resistant to rational judgment as thetheater. Art (and even entertainment) defies the principles ofanalysis applicable to pork bellies, crude oil and gold. And thefact that anyone other than the certifiably deranged would evenconsider buying stock in such an odds-defying field is a testament tothe formidable powers of that rare breed, the theatrical producer.

A successful producer is invariably a bit schizophrenic; abig-time gambler and wide-eyed dreamer on the one hand, and afull-time pragmatist who can build bridges between the worlds offinance and fantasy on the other. It also doesn't hurt if he'ssomething of a seer - a person with that rare ability to forecast theneeds and tastes of that most unpredictable and fickle group ofconsumers - the audience.

As producer Michael Frazier admitted: "I earn my living in thetheater, and there aren't too many people who do what I do who cansay that."

Frazier, who has an impressive list of Broadway, Off-Broadwayand national touring company hits to his credit (and some formidableflops, as well), has been particularly bullish on Chicago theater forseveral years now - ever since his production of "Nunsense" at theForum Theatre in southwest suburban Summit became a big moneymaker.

"Nunsense" may have been artistically negligible, but itconvinced Frazier that there was a strong potential audience forcommercial theater here. And his dream is to build on that financialbase as a means of subsidizing new, experimental and otherwise lesscommercially viable productions.

On Thursday, Frazier will begin what he hopes will be along-term investment in Chicago as he opens his new Halsted TheatreCentre at 2700 N. Halsted with a production of the mini-musical "OilCity Symphony." The investment is twofold for the moment, and willbe expanded gradually during the next year.

First, there's the theater itself. Just a few months ago it wasa storefront aerobics studio. Unlike several other developers on theNorth Side who have chosen to build expensive new theaters from theground up (with only one, the two-year-old Royal-George, a reality sofar), Frazier opted for renovation. And with a relatively smallinvestment of $150,000, he has turned the space into a flexible360-to-400-seat mainstage theater. An adjacent "black box" space,seating 160 to 180 and designed for smaller productions, also hasbeen created. And plans are under way for a 100-seat cabaret on thebuilding's second floor. A bar and parking facilities are part ofthe project, with a small cafe to open in the future.

"I'm up to my eyeballs in being a landlord," Frazier saidrecently. A meticulously groomed man of 52, whose speech is lacedwith the lilting but gravelly tones of Boston Irish, he seemed ratheramused that he was becoming a developer as well as a producer.

"Suddenly I'm learning about construction - about power problemsand air conditioning. But it's been great; there's a real Mickey(Rooney) and Judy (Garland) attitude on the part of the constructionpeople. I think they're enticed by the idea of working on a theater.

"There is a shortage of 400- to 500-seat houses in this city,"Frazier said. "More and more material is being created for that sizevenue, but very few such places exist here, and those that do (among them, the Apollo and the BriarStreet) are continually booked. I acquired the rights to `Oil City'over a year ago, and only after an extensive but futile six-monthsearch for the right theater did I come to the realization that I hadto create one."

Frazier also believes that non-profit companies must ventureinto theaters of that size if they are to survive. "What I intend todo is to find a balance between the commercial and the non-profit,"he said.

He will begin on the profit front with "Oil City," which hasbeen enjoying a successful Off-Broadway run since its opening inNovember, 1987. (The show received the 1988 Drama Desk Award and theOuter Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical).

Created by Mark Hardwick, Mike Craver, Debra Monk and MaryMurfitt (Hardwick and Monk were part of the team behind "Pump Boysand Dinettes"), the show features a quartet ofsinger-actor-instrumentalists in the roles of four 1960s graduates -talented hicks who reassemble for a high-school reunion honoringtheir first music teacher. The Chicago production will includeMurfitt, a member of the original cast, and will be directed by LarryForde, who also staged the New York production.

The show was recommended to Frazier by his partner, John Sharp,a Chicago-born dancer-choreographer-director who worked as anassistant to Bob Fosse. "John told me to go see this show inGreenwich Village," Frazier recalled. "I never say no, which meansthat much of my time is spent seeing dreadful stuff. But I enjoyedthis one."

"Oil City" is being produced by four investors - different fromthose who are backing the development of the theater complex itself,and from that which will underwrite Frazier's other ventures.Frazier has a core group of about 10 investors who he always turns tofirst. "They range from a New Orleans real estate developer and artspatroness to a Chicago doctor," he said. "The two things they have incommon is that they're all theater lovers, and they all stick by methrough thick and thin."

In addition to his plans for a series of new American plays, tobe staged in the "black box" space, the care and feeding of newmusicals is also a goal high on Frazier's list. "I love beinginvolved in the whole process, and I think there's an audience outthere like me that enjoys seeing in-process works," he said. "I'm nota fan of the workshop process, which presents a show without theessential design elements and doesn't really give the material a fairshake. But I do believe in small-scale productions that test ashow's worth."

One of the properties Frazier would like to remount is "Mail," amusical that proved to be a disaster last year when he produced it onBroadway. A big hit in California, "Mail" could be reworked andgiven a second life, Frazier believes. Among the Chicago talentsFrazier hopes to tap for such projects is William Pullinsi, artisticdirector of the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse.

And there are other shows Frazier is interested in producing,including "Dancing on Air," a musical version of George BernardShaw's "The Devil's Disciple"; "A Happy Lot," by Hugh Martin andMarshall Baer, about a group of former performers who only come outat night and live out their fantasies on the sets of a movie studiolot, and perhaps best of all, a musical based on Billy Wilder's 1954film, "Sabrina." (Frazier already has met with screenwriter SamTaylor to discuss the possibility.)

"I do a lot of poking around in trunks," Frazier said. "And Ioften find things in them."

Despite his theatrical passions, Frazier was not born in atrunk. He grew up in Taunton, Mass., a small industrial town 30miles from Boston. (He now lives in New York but has a secondapartment in Chicago's Dearborn Park neighborhood.)

A political science major at Boston College, he planned to gointo the Foreign Service Corp, but changed his mind after onesemester at Georgetown. After a stint in the Army, he did someteaching, and then began a business career. Business eventually ledhim to the theater.

Frazier worked for the Lipton Tea Co., moved on to the GrayAdvertising Agency and then was hired as head of corporate personnelby Paramount Pictures, splitting his time between New York and LosAngeles. From 1969-74, he was vice president of industrial relationsfor Paramount. And during that period he was first approached towork in the theater, signing on as associate producer for "Dr.Selavy'sMagic Theatre," a whimsical, avant-garde production that had asuccessful Off-Broadway run. Within six months of the opening ofthat show, he raised the money for an all-star Broadway revival of"The Women."

`I gained a reputation for being able to put money together, andonce you show you can do that, everyone is after you. Later, theyeven begin trusting your artistic judgment," he said. Most recently,Jerome Robbins consulted him during the early stages of his currenthit restrospective "Jerome Robbins' Broadway."

Since his first efforts in New York, Frazier has co-producedthe boffo "Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music" on Broadway (his mostprofitable venture to date); Arthur Kopit's "End of the World";"Noel Coward in Two Keys," with Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy, andthe disastrous musical "Grind." He presented the American premiereof "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," the national tourof "Steel Magnolias," and the Boston and Chicago productions of"Nunsense."

Frazier has few regrets in terms of his life in the theater, buthe does enjoy telling this story on himself:

"A friend of mine from London sent a young man to see me duringthe run of `Lena Horne.' He came backstage on a particularly crazynight, when Henry Kissinger and Paul Newman were in the audience. Iwas polite to him, but I didn't really take the time to talk to himthe way I should have. The next thing I knew, he was opening `Cats'in New York."

The man, by the way, went on to produce "Les Miserables" and"Phantom of the Opera." His name? Cameron Mackintosh.

Horoscope

FORECAST FOR TUESDAY

eARIES (March 21-April 19). It's important to embody your variousroles in life to their fulles. Like an expert actor, you can fill outthe role without being defined by it.

rTAURUS (April 20-May 20). Society seems determined to point outto you how old or young you are. You can go far beyond the limitsusually imposed on people your age.

tGEMINI (May 21-June 21). Accountability and compassion are thefounding principles of your work. As long as you embody both, you aresuccessful, no matter how much actual product you are able to turnout.

yCANCER (June 22-July 22). The best thing you can do for yourreality now is to momentarily shake and possibly shatter it. Imaginelife without your current job, home or relationships in place, andyou'll get a glimpse of what's vital to your existence.

uLEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You rebel against all dictates, especiallyif administered to you by yourself. You may think that what you'reinstructed to do is too small for you, but in actuality, you can savethe world by doing small things with great love.

iVIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Public relations isn't just forcorporations and movie stars. You need a little good PR yourself -get fantastic pictures taken, buy fabulous stationary or have yourbusiness card revamped.

oLIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You're reaching for a new level offinancial success, but aren't there yet. Keep practicing fiscalresponsibility. Don't be seduced by low-rate credit cards that kickinto high gear after a few months.

pSCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). It's strange, this thing called"respect." Some mistakenly think it's obtained through being biggerand more powerful than others, but it's actually gotten through aposition of humble servitude.

[SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Appreciate yourself to the hilt. Afair dose of pampering will knock out even the nastiest bout of self-pity. Your love life benefits from a change of scenery.

]CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). If ideas were dollars, you'd be amillionaire. Well, ideas are dollars. So apply your sign's famousfollow-through to your best one. Spend an hour brainstorming.

qAQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). When a friend exaggerates anddramatizes events, you find it endearing. Afford yourself the sameleeway. Allow yourself the luxury of feeling your feelings.

wPISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You see certain VIPs as untouchable,but they are not. No one has everything. There is always somethingmissing. If you put your mind to it, you'll think of the perfect wayto help someone powerful fill a void.

IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS DEC. 6: Trust that your needs will be takencare of this year - they will. The big "issue" of last year quicklybecomes a big "non-issue" when an expert steps in to help you solvethe problem. A move could involve your living quarters. Your luckynumbers are: 13, 25, 18, 34 and 29.

Olympic torch rerouted through streets of San Francisco away from crowds

The Olympic torch played hide and seek with thousands of demonstrators and spectators crowding the San Francisco waterfront before being spirited away without even a formal goodbye on its symbolic stop in the United States.

After its parade was rerouted and shortened to prevent disruptions by massive crowds of anti-China protesters, the planned closing ceremony at the waterfront was canceled and moved to San Francisco International Airport. The flame was put directly on a plane and was not displayed.

The last-minute changes to the route and the site of the closing ceremony were made amid security concerns following chaotic protests in London and Paris of China's human rights record in Tibet and elsewhere, but they effectively prevented many spectators who wanted to see the flame from witnessing the historic moment.

As it made its way through the streets of San Francisco, the flame traveled in switchbacks and left the crowds confused and waiting for a parade that never arrived. Protesters also hurriedly changed plans and chased the rerouted flame.

Mayor Gavin Newsom told The Associated Press that the well-choreographed switch of the site of the closing ceremony was prompted by the size and behavior of the crowds massing outside AT&T Park, where the opening ceremony took place.

There was "a disproportionate concentration of people in and around the start of the relay," he said in a phone interview while traveling in a caravan that accompanied the torch.

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge expressed relief that the San Francisco relay avoided the turmoil at previous events.

"Fortunately, the situation was better ... in San Francisco," Rogge said at an Olympic meeting in Beijing. "It was, however, not the joyous party that we had wished it to be."

Less than an hour before the relay began, officials cut the original six-mile route nearly in half.

Chinese state media declared the event a success, praising the last-minute route changes as a clever strategy for thwarting "Tibetan separatists."

The activists "ran into a brick wall in San Francisco," the Global Times newspaper, published by the Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily, said on its Web site. It called the changes a "brilliant idea."

"Today's relay was full of suspense and drama ... the whole story was like a Hollywood movie," China News Service said, though it also called the San Francisco leg a "harmonious journey."

Jiang Xiayou, executive vice president of the Beijing Olympic torch relay committee, thanked San Francisco.

"Perhaps some of them failed to see the sacred flame today," Jiang said, speaking through a translator at the closing ceremony. "But we all have felt the passion of the Olympic movement."

There were signs of tension even before the torch relay began. Pro-Tibet and pro-China groups were given side-by-side permits to demonstrate, and representatives from both sides spilled from their sanctioned sites across a major street and shouted at each other nose to nose, with no visible police presence to separate them.

Farther along the planned route, about 200 Chinese college students mobbed a car carrying two people waving Tibetan flags in front of the city's Pier 39 tourist destination. The students, who arrived by bus from the University of California, Davis, banged drums and chanted "Go Olympics" in Chinese.

"I'm proud to be Chinese and I'm outraged because there are so many people who are so ignorant they don't know Tibet is part of China," Yi Che said. "It was and is and will forever be part of China."

The torch's 85,000-mile (137,000-kilometer), 20-nation global journey is the longest in Olympic history, and is meant to build excitement for the Beijing Games. But it has also been targeted by activists angered over China's human rights record.

One of the runners who planned to carry the torch dropped out earlier this week because of safety concerns, officials said. The torchbearers competed with people not only protesting China's grip on Tibet, but its human rights record and support for the governments of Myanmar and Sudan.

Local officials say they support the diversity of viewpoints, but tightened security following chaotic protests during the torch's stops in London and Paris and a demonstration Monday in which activists hung banners from the Golden Gate bridge.

Peter Ueberroth, chairman of the United States Olympic Committee, said the U.S. had struck the right balance between preserving freedom of speech for protesters, providing an exhilarating experience for the torchbearers, and preventing a repeat of previous chaotic demonstrations.

The Olympic flame began its worldwide trek from Ancient Olympia in Greece to Beijing on March 24, and was the focus of protests right from the start.

Torchbearers in other cities have complained of aggressive behavior by paramilitary police in blue track suits sent by Beijing to guard the Olympic flame. Although there were no major problems reported in California, they did make their presence felt.

At least one torchbearer decided to show her support for Tibetan independence during her moment in the spotlight. After being passed the Olympic flame, Majora Carter pulled out a small Tibetan flag that she had hidden in her shirt sleeve.

"They pulled me out of the race, and then San Francisco police officers pushed me back into the crowd on the side of the street," Carter said

San Francisco was chosen to host the relay in part because of its large Chinese-American population.

In Beijing, International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday to discuss preparations for the games, and "a range of games topics were discussed," the IOC said.

Rogge is to give more details at a news conference Friday, when the IOC's executive board is to discuss Friday whether to end the remaining international legs of the relay after San Francisco because of widespread protest. The torch is scheduled to travel to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and then to a dozen other countries before arriving in China on May 4. The Olympics begin Aug. 8.

Rogge has refrained from criticizing China, saying he prefers to engage in "silent diplomacy" with the Chinese.

In an interview broadcast Wednesday on the VRT television network in his native Belgium, Rogge warned that pushing China too hard on Tibet and human rights would be counterproductive.

"If you know China, you know that mounting the barricades and using tough language will have the opposite effect," he said. "China will close itself off from the rest of the world, which, don't forget it, it has done for some 2,000 years."

Meanwhile Wednesday, the White House said anew that President George W. Bush would attend the Olympics, but left open the possibility that he would skip the opening ceremonies. Asked whether Bush would go to that portion of the games, White House press secretary Dana Perino demurred, citing the fluid nature of a foreign trip schedule this far out and the many factors that go into devising it.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the British leader will not attend the opening ceremony. Brown's office said the decision was not aimed at sending a message of protest to the Chinese government, that Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell will represent the British government at the opening, and that Brown would attend the closing ceremony.

London is hosting the 2012 Olympics and British officials were expected to attend events throughout the games.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said he is debating not attending the opening ceremony as a protest of China's crackdown in Tibet.

___

Associated Press writers Ron Harris, Evelyn Nieves, Scott Lindlaw, Jason Dearen, Amanda Fehd, Paul Elias, Martha Mendoza and Anita Chang in Beijing also contributed to this report.

Report: N. Korea Appears to Test Nukes

SEOUL, South Korea - A South Korean government official said North Korea appeared to have conducted a nuclear test on Monday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun later convened a meeting of top security officials, the news agency said.

News in Brief

PRINCIPAL ACCUSED OF ABUSING 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL

A 54-year-old elementary school principal in Beach Park has been charged with sexually abusing an 11-year-old female student, officials said. Daniel R. Pirozzi, of the 39000 block of North Green Bay Road in Beach Park, is principal at the Biblical Baptist Church Academy. The girl said Pirozzi held "secret meetings" with her at his office and in the church.

BLAGOJEVICH, 3 OTHERS TO APPEAR IN COURT TUESDAY

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and three co-defendants are expected to appear in federal court Tuesday to be arraigned.

5 ACCUSED OF MURDERING BLOOM TRAIL STUDENT

Five men have been accused of murdering Charles Evans, a Bloom Trail High School senior, in 2006, in Chicago Heights. Charged are Byron L. Smith, 24, Ford Heights; Michael Caraway, 28, Dolton; Donnail Hannah, 21, Sauk Village; Daniel Washington, 18, Chicago Heights, and Reginald Wilder Jr., 18, Chicago Heights.

BODY FOUND TWO DAYS AFTER BUILDING BLAZE

A man's body was discovered Wednesday in the basement of a building that caught fire Monday on the 3500 block of West Polk. The man was identified as Crosby Lipscomb, of 4402 W. Jackson Blvd, officials said.

Opel workers say they will help cut costs for GM

Opel workers are ready to help cut costs as GM moves to restructure its troubled European operations, Opel's chief employee representative said Friday.

European workers are prepared to make concessions that could save General Motors Co. euro265 million ($398 million) annually, employee council head Klaus Franz said after meeting GM's top official in Europe, Nick Reilly at Adam Opel GmbH's headquarters in Ruesselsheim.

Franz did not elaborate.

Unions and employees had offered cost-cutting concessions to ease the sale of a majority in Opel and sister brand Vauxhall to a consortium led by Magna International Inc. However, that offer _ which included forgoing pay increases _ was taken off the table after GM decided last month to scrap the sale.

Reilly said he still expects the company to cut some 9,000 jobs across Europe and that a decision on which plants would close or shed workers would come in late December or early January _ later than a mid-December deadline it had earlier mentioned.

Reilly was also named president of GM Europe on Friday. He previously served as the president of GM International Operations and has been working in recent months on restructuring GM's European business.

"We've got to take our overall costs down, we've got to take some of our capacity out," he told reporters in Brussels later in the day after meeting European Union economy ministers. "We think if we do implement this plan, we can survive."

GM is asking EU governments to help pay most of the euro3.3 billion it says it needs to restructure the company. Reilly said he gave ministers confidential information about product lines and investment in new technology to show how GM could return to profitability.

The company did not tell European governments where it planned to make cuts, nor did ministers say how much they might be willing to pay the company in loans or grants.

German Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle said Reilly told them that GM wanted to put only 20 percent of its own money toward the restructuring costs. He was critical of this, saying he thought General Motors "has a lot of resources."

EU Economy Commissioner Guenter Verheugen said European governments where GM makes cars had agreed to hold off granting financial help to the company until they checked with the EU's executive commission that it wouldn't harm competition.

He said EU regulators would judge whether the restructuring plan was "economically viable and whether or not in the long-term it safeguards the competitiveness of the company."

Belgium and others had complained about reports that Germany had offered huge loans to a potential buyer for Opel earlier this year in return for a pledge not to cut German jobs _ a move that would likely have seen closures of more efficient plants elsewhere in Europe.

Sweden's enterprise minister Maud Olofsson told reporters before the meeting that EU countries wanted to decide together on subsidies and "will not allow GM to go to each and every country to negotiate about state aid ... because that's not fair."

She also said EU nations are urging GM to invest in more fuel-efficient cars "because that gives us a golden opportunity in Europe to be competitive." Sweden led the talks as the current holder of the rotating EU presidency.

Opel and Vauxhall employ around 48,000 people in Europe, about half of them in Germany. Franz said that 548 engineering jobs at the plant in Ruesselsheim, Germany, which were previously in question are now secure.

Olofsson said the Swedish government was "working very hard to get a new buyer" for GM's Saab unit after a takeover by sports car maker Koenigsegg Automotive AB fell through. She said a new buyer "needs to have lots of money and a strong business plan."

GM says it will phase out the brand _ with the loss of up to 4,500 jobs _ if it can't sell the company by the end of month. Chinese company Beijing Automotive Industry Holdings has expressed interest but has not made a bid.

___

White and Associated Press writer Barbara Schaeder contributed from Brussels.

Setting metrics for process safety

Safety

Opinion

A better way is needed by the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board to assess the progress made in improving process safety. Two key modifications are examined here.

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board's primary mission is to prevent major accidental chemical releases. The nature of the prevention effort facing the Board can only be understood in relation to the responsibilities and authorities it is given under law and the type of major accidents falling within its purview. Successful programs require suitable metrics for measuring if an organization is making progress in accomplishing its mission, as well as identifying where the organization should focus its efforts and resources.

At present, suitable data systems do not exist for generating the metrics needed by the Board, or for that matter, for the industry to guide its prevention efforts and measure its success. We shall briefly examine the deficiencies of existing databases in generating metrics on the progress in preventing major accidents and then propose steps to generate a best practical approach for doing so. Board's primary mission and responsibilities

The purpose of Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (112(r)) is the prevention of major accidental chemical releases. Therefore, the Board's mission is the same as those of EPA's Risk Management Program (RMP) and OSHA's Process Safety Management (PSM) regulation required under 112(r). The Board's responsibilities and authority that are most pertinent to the topic of metrics, can be stated by extracting language from (6)C and F of 112 (r) as follows:

"The Board shall ...

* "... investigate (or cause to be investigated), determine and report to the public in writing the facts, conditions, and circumstances and the cause or probable cause of any accidental release resulting in a fatality, serious injury or substantial property damages.

* "... issue periodic reports to the Congress, federal, state and local agencies, including the EPA and OSHA, concerned with the safety of chemical production, processing, handling and storage, and other interested persons recommending measures to reduce the likelihood or consequences of accidental releases and proposing corrective steps, etc.

* "... establish by regulation [the] requirements binding on persons for reporting accidental releases into the ambient air subject to the Board's investigatory jurisdiction.

* "... [be] authorized to conduct research and studies with respect to the potential for accidental releases, whether or not an accidental release has occurred, where there is evidence which indicates the presence of a potential hazard or hazards."

The Board's activities

There are four major categories of activities that the Board employs to discharge its responsibilities and make progress in achieving its prevention mission:

1. Investigating either the root causes of pertinent accidental releases or evaluating hazards leading to such releases that may require additional societal responses.

2. Disseminating investigative findings and corrective recommendations among pertinent stakeholders.

3. Conducting outreach and educational efforts aimed at having managers, industry employees, educators and government agencies translate the Board's investigative findings and recommendations into effective prevention.

4. Tracking recommendations to completion and informing the public on progress made in implementing such recommendations by the parties to whom the recommendations were made.

The Board faces a classic management problem: How should it distribute its resources among and within these programs to maximize the prevention of accidental chemical releases pertinent to the Board's responsibilities?

Pertinent accidental releases

The law spells out significant classes of releases that are not directly pertinent, such as those from offshore facilities, or releases that have no significant acute effects. However, a great deal of insight into what types of releases are pertinent to the Board's responsibilities can be obtained by closely examining the Clean Air Act's mission statement:

"... [to] prevent the accidental release and to minimize the consequences of any such release of any substance listed pursuant to Paragraph (3) or any other extremely hazardous substance." (Paragraph (3) concerns the language used in the Act and defines terms such as "stationary source" - see below.)

Three of the key terms used to describe the type of accidents covered under the mission statement - accidental release, regulated substance and stationary source - are defined in Section 112(r)(2) as follows:

"The term `accidental release' means an unanticipated emission of a regulated substance or other extremely hazardous substance into the ambient air from a stationary source."

"The term `regulated substance' means a substance listed under Paragraph (3)."

"The term `stationary source' means any buildings, structures, equipment, installations or substance-emitting stationary activities (i) which belong to the same industrial group, (ii) which are located on one or more contiguous properties, (iii) which are under the control of the same person (or persons under common control), and (iv) from which an accidental release may occur."

The term "consequences" is not explicitly defined, but the body of the law emphasizes "acute" exposures causing, or having the potential to cause "death, injury or serious adverse effects to human health or the environment."

The meaning of "extremely hazardous substances," is also ambiguous in Section 112(r). However, as used in this section, the term includes at least all of the of approximately 360 substances listed as extremely hazardous in Section 302 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA). The qualifier "at least" has been inserted because, on occasion, the Senate report on Section 112(r) and the law itself use the term to cover "any substance which causes death or serious injury because of its acute toxic effect or as the result of explosion or fire, or which causes substantial property damage by blast, fire, corrosion or other reaction."

While the bulk of the Board's investigations are likely to focus on accidental releases of regulated or defined "extremely hazardous substances," there are clearly instances when the Board will need to conduct an investigation of an accidental release of a substance that is neither a defined Section 302 extremely hazardous substance, nor is regulated under the EPA or OSHA rules. Such investigations will need to be done to discharge the Board's obligation to ascertain whether the hazard and/or substance should be recommended for regulation or for listing as extremely hazardous by EPA.

The list of chemicals covered under the original RMP rule was established to include most historical accidental releases, while minimizing the economic cost of the program. Unless Congress explicitly decides against such actions, similar adjustments to the list of covered substances will be made in the future as a result of EPA and OSHA actions supported by Board recommendations. This is particularly true if such releases affect the public or are a significant fraction of the total releases resulting from accidental release of Paragraph (3)-regulated substances.

Minimum metrics

General considerations - Congress and the public want to know whether the Board and its sister agencies (e.g., OSHA and EPA), as well industry, are making progress in preventing the type of accidental chemical releases that led to the current prevention laws and regulations. The Board needs to be able to answer the following two questions:

* Are the incidence rate and frequency of pertinent accidental releases going up or down? (prevention)

* Are the consequences of such accidents increasing or decreasing? (mitigation)

Moreover, while the resources entrusted to the Board by Congress are significant, they allow for investigating only a small fraction of the releases that are pertinent to even the narrowest view of the Board's duties. For the most part, Board investigations will cover accidental releases of Paragraph (3)-regulated and "extremely hazardous" substances that are certainly within its jurisdiction. However, as the language of Section 112(r)(6) indicates, the Board's range also extends to any accidental release of a substance in any type of fixed facility that might be a candidate for regulation or listing by EPA or OSHA, since the consequences or circumstances of the release may indicate that an investigation is required for the Board to discharge its responsibilities in generating recommendations to these agencies.

Therefore, the Board also needs metrics to help decide upon which industry/process/substance combinations it would be most cost-effective to concentrate its tools and activities resources. Given these considerations, the author believes that the Board requires two types of metrics to achieve its prevention mission:

1. Metrics capable of tracking industry's progress in regard to the frequency, incidence rate and consequences of pertinent accidental releases.

2. Metrics for guiding cost-effective deployment of the Board's resources aimed at prevention.

Tracking progress in reducing releases

Examples of metrics that might be considered for tracking progress in the overall prevention of accidental releases and/or mitigating their consequences are:

1. Total accident frequency - the number of pertinent accidents in a specified time period

2. Total accident incidence rate - the number of pertinent accidents per year divided by the total number of pertinent processes operating in a specified time period

3. Total frequency or incidence rates for specified accident consequences:

a. employee fatalities

b. employee injuries

c. public injuries

d. public sheltering-in-place and evacuations

e. property damage

f. ecosystem impacts

4. Other possible metrics that could offer useful insights:

a. OSHA Occupational Injury and Illness (011) rate for the facility

b. number of Board recommendations adopted within a specified period

Metrics for guiding resource deployment

Examples of some possible metrics for guiding deployment are:

1. Frequency and incidence rates of accidents within the Board's purview by:

a. North American Industrial Classification (NAIC) code

b. substance released

c. pound of covered substance potentially released under the RMP worst-case scenario

d. type of process involved in the accidental release (e.g., batch, semi-batch, continuous, etc.)

2. Consequences of Board-pertinent accidents by NAIC code and/or substance expressed as:

a. worker fatalities and injuries from accidental releases

b. public injuries, sheltering-in-place and evacuations

c. property damage

d. ecosystem impacts

There are obvious problems in relying solely on the frequency of accidental releases to track the progress in preventing them, since the number of accidents occurring in a fixed period can change purely because the number of facilities or the level at which the facilities operate changes. For this reason, the Board should try to use incidence rates adjusted for the level of operation to track progress in preventing accidental releases.

Both the frequency and incidence rates by the NAIC code and the covered substance can be useful in deciding upon the deployment of prevention resources among different classes of facilities. One needs to consider that the law of diminishing returns probably also operates in regard to prevention efforts.

Consider two classes of facilities with the same accident frequency F events/yr. Class A has x number of facilities, the other, Class B, has 2x. Therefore, Class A has an incidence rate of F/x per year and Class B an incidence rate of F/2x or one-half that of Class A. All things being equal, the law of diminishing returns would say that one should expect a greater degree of accident reduction for a given prevention investment in Class A vs. Class B.

Problems with existing data

There are difficulties in generating the Board's metrics using existing databases. Many existing federal-government systems contain data on accidental releases that are pertinent to the Board. Perhaps the most prominent of these are the:

* Incident Reporting Information System (IRIS), from the National Response Center

* Emergency Response Notification System (ERNS), operated by the EPA

* Integrated Management Information System (MIS), kept by OSHA

* Hazardous Material Incident Reporting System (HMIRS), from the U.S. Dept. of Transportation

* National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), recorded by the U.S. Fire Administration

* Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES), from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

* Risk Management Accident Reporting System (RMP*INFO), EPA's online database.

A number of studies of these seven systems have been made by EPA (1), the Board and others. Based on these, the following conclusions apply to all but the last database:

1. The accidental-release data in these systems cannot be used to calculate incidence rates because the reporting population (denominator) is not defined.

2. The quality, completeness and appropriateness of the data for a substantial part of the accidental-release reports are not adequate. For example, substantive deficiencies variously exist in regard to the:

* entry of NAIC or Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes

* identity of the substance being processed or released

* type of process and facility where the release occurred

* consequences of the release

* mechanisms for establishing the completeness of reporting on incidents pertinent to the Board

* reports on accidental releases of some substances and releases pertinent to the Board are excluded, eg., HSEES excludes hydrocarbons and RMP*INFO has no reports on nonregulated EPCRA-Section 302 extremely hazardous substances or some accidents covered under OSHA's PSM standard

* many events not pertinent to the Board's responsibilities are included and are not identifiable as such

* multiple reports on the same incident are often not identifiable

* focus of the system is on accidental releases other than those from fixed facilities (HMIRS).

3. The best data and system available to the Board for pertinent accidental releases is RMP*INFO. This system was established to collect the 5-yr accident history on processes covered under the EPA's RMP rule:

* All facilities covered under this system must report the number of defined accidental releases or their absence. This establishes the sample population at risk (denominator), the number of defined accidental releases which occur in this atrisk population (numerator) and, thus, one can calculate an incidence rate. The requirement that each facility that does not report any accidental releases certify "`zero releases" decreases the likelihood of omitted accident reports.

* All substances, consequences and facilities involved in the reported accidents are pertinent to the Board's responsibilities.

* Substances and facilities involved in accidents are clearly identified.

* Data are readily available to the Board and public online.

* The associated RMP report contains data on demographics, NAIC codes, some data on what the facility believes is the proximate cause of the accident and links to financial information. These are important datum for research on possible links between accidental releases and factors such as, organizational culture, financial business results, management systems, etc.

4. While the RMP*INFO system has most of the data needed to generate the minimum metrics needed by the Board, it has a few significant limitations. Examples include:

* Complete reporting of all accident data from all facilities to RMP*INFO is required only every 5 yr, even though accidents must be investigated and recorded by facilities as they occur.

* Explicit data are not available on how long the covered process has been in active operation during the 5-yr filing interval.

* Data are not available on all accidental releases pertinent to the Board's responsibilities, e.g., fewer than 200 extremely hazardous substances are covered under the EPA RMP and OSHA PSM rules.

5. EPCRA Title III is an additional possible source of data that could be important in generating the needed metrics by the Board. EPCRA Section 304 requires:

* Immediate notification of accidental releases of Section 302(a) extremely hazardous substances to the State Emergency Planning Committee (SERC) or Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) having jurisdiction over the facility that had the release.

* Confirmation of the initial notification and further specified information on the release must be supplied in writing "as soon as practicable" after the occurrence (Section 304(c)).

* Unfortunately, there are no requirements that the written reports must contain important data needed by the Board to generate its minimum metrics. Examples are: NAIC/SIC codes, property or environmental damage, the total number of facilities handling Section 302 substances within the state or local community, etc.

* While most occurrences of accidental releases pertinent to the Board's responsibilities would be contained in the data required to be reported to either RMP*INFO and/or the SERCs/LEPCs, most states do not appear to have effective systems for collecting, storing and making the reported data available online.

* Finally, there appears to be no requirement that EPCRA Section 302(a) releases be reported to either the National Response Center, EPA or, for that matter, to any national government agency.

Based on the current state of existing accidental-release-- data collection systems, the author concludes that these systems cannot be used as is or in combination to generate the minimum metrics that the author believes the Board requires.

Generating the minimum metrics

The Board needs metrics now and certainly not 10 years from now. Therefore, any proposal for obtaining the proper data should be practical, which, in the author's opinion, requires that it meet the following boundary conditions:

1. Provides data needed to generate the minimum metrics.

2. Receives strong stakeholder support and acceptance.

3. Is achievable within 3 years after the Board commits to a specific proposal.

4. Appears acceptable to Congress, the Board's sister agencies, and the Office of Management of the Budget (OMB).

Based on informal conversations with a variety of parties, the author proposes such a practical approach that would use the existing EPA RMP*INFO system with essentially two changes. More specifically, rulemaking would require:

* Annual, rather than 5-yr, reporting of the data on accidental releases that RMP-covered facilities must presently submit to the RMP*INFO system under 40 CFR Part 68.

* Approximate information on the fraction of the reporting year that each covered process was in operation (produced some level of commercial product).

Annual reporting of the two new suggested elements to RMP*INFO should not be costly, since the majority of facilities file electronically, accidents must presently be investigated immediately and rough estimates of past operating times are available.

This proposal would not, of course, furnish data on all accidental releases pertinent to the Board's responsibilities. The validity of metrics developed under this proposal rests on the likely assumption, discussed above, that RMP coverage mirrors the larger universe pertinent to the Board's responsibilities. This assumption could be tested by cross-checking with events captured in representative SERC and LEPC records, and conducting studies to relate accidents contained in the database with those reported elsewhere, eg., in the news media.

Other useful data and metrics

Stakeholders have expressed the need for additional data elements over and above those presently collected in RMP*INFO. There is a reasonable chance that some of these requests would meet the practicality criteria and not delay adoption of the two changes that the author believes are vital for satisfying the Board's minimum metric needs.

Examples of potentially desirable practical data other than those required to meet minimum the Board's metrics include:

* Information on whether the covered process involves batch, continuous or storage operations. (Does one class of operations pose more risk than the others?)

* Inclusion of data on OSHA OR for the covered process or the facility housing the process. (Is there a correlation between OR and accidental release frequency? Has the 50-80% reduction in OR projected by OSHA after implementation of the OSHA PSM occurred?)

* The census track number. (Are there correlations between community demographics and accidental releases, e.g., environmental justice issues.)

* OSHA facility number, which would enable crosschecks between OSHA reports and accidental releases.

* Stock-exchange ticker symbol of parent company to help unravel problems with Dunn and Bradstreet identifiers. (Studies relating accidental release data to corporate culture and financial status.)

* The Board and its partners should also consider and make plans to evaluate other opportunities to generate or embrace any practical proposals put forward by stakeholders.

Also, there are other desirable changes in data collection that may not meet the criterion of practicality. The author wants to emphasize his belief that the Board and its sister agencies should focus on proceeding rapidly toward accomplishing the two practical changes in the reporting requirements of the RMP rule that are the key to obtaining the minimum metrics. However, as noted above, there may be opportunities to "bundle in" additional improvements without affecting the speed with which the changes needed would be accomplished (for minimum metrics).

Further, any discussions on short-term goals can also be an opportunity to evoke and illuminate longer term needs. This can be accomplished without compromising the achievement of the Board's other stakeholder's minimum goals.

Typical examples of data that might be useful, but do not appear to meet the stated practicality criteria are:

1. Report of accidental releases from processes covered only under the OSHA PSM standard to RMP*INFO. (This would increase the representiveness of the population of facilities that would report on pertinent accidental releases and might provide better insight into the prevention value of both EPA's RMP and OSHA's PSM rules.)

2. Identification of equipment, instruments and controls whose malfunction or failure was directly involved in an accidental release. (This would allow industry to move more rapidly in detecting significant failure patterns and take corrective actions.)

Next steps

The Board should proceed along the following lines:

1. Partner with EPA and OSHA in preparing a draft advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) along the lines put forward here.

2. Use the draft ANPR to search for stakeholder inputs on other changes in present RMP*INFO reporting elements that add value and are compatible with the stated criteria for practicality.

3. Modify the draft ANPR based on stakeholder inputs.

4. Move forward to formal rulemaking if a consensus emerges on the need and appropriateness of the modified ANPR.

[Sidebar]

This article reflects the author's opinions and should not be viewed as the policy of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. The author acknowledges contributions from Anna Johnson and Daniel Horowitz of the Board staff, who analyzed the contents of the databases referenced here.

[Reference]

Literature Cited

[Reference]

1. "User's Guide to Federal Accidental Release Databases," U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC; Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, National Response Team, Washington, DC. NTIS Order Number: PB96-134291 (1995).

[Author Affiliation]

ISADORE ROSENTHAL,

U.S. CHEMICAL SAFETY AND

HAZARD INVESTIGATION

BOARD

[Author Affiliation]

ISADORE (IRV) ROSENTHAL is a member of the National Chemical Safety and Hazards Investigation Board (2175 K Street, N. W., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20037; Phone: (202) 261-768o; Fax: (202) 943-9723; E-mail: Rosenthal@board.gov). He joined the Board in 1998. Previously, he was employed at Rohm and Haas for 38 years in a variety of research, development, business unit and corporate staff positions. For his last 13 years there, Rosenthal served as corporate director of safety, health, environmental affairs and product integrity. After his retirement, he joined the Wharton Risk Management and Decisions Processes Center as a senior research fellow. His areas of research were in the management of risks associated with lowprobability high-consequence accidents, market-based alternatives to government regulation of industrial risks, and the methodology of risk assessment. Rosenthal has been a member the Technical Advisory Committee of the Environmental Management Division of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the OECD Risk Terminology Project Steering Group, and the EPA Accident Prevention Subcommittee of the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee. He holds a BA from New York Univ., an MS from Purdue Univ. and a PhD from Penn State (the latter two in physical chemistry), where he was also a post-doctoral fellow. He is a member of AIChE.