PFT: Steelers worried Pouncey might miss game

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Saints quarterback Drew Brees wore an NFL Films microphone for Sunday?s regular-season finale, and the audio that was played on Inside the NFL this week showed that Brees spent much of the second half concerned about recognition for his teammates ? but declining recognition for himself.

The Saints have been criticized in some quarters for continuing to play their top offensive players deep into their final two wins over the Falcons and the Panthers in an attempt to pad their stats, and there?s no question they were doing that late in the game against the Panthers. Brees, coach Sean Payton and others on the sideline were keenly aware of how much yardage Jimmy Graham and Darren Sproles needed to break the records for receiving yards in a season by a tight end and for all-purpose yards in a season.

Backup quarterback Chase Daniel checked the stats and went to Brees on the sideline and said, ?Jimmy?s like 25 away.? Brees then went to Graham and told him the route he wanted Graham to run to get him those 25 yards.

Later, Payton approached Brees and said, ?Sproles is four yards shy of the all time?? and before Payton could finish, Brees said, ?Get it to him. Get it to him.?

Payton then told Brees that he should hand off to Sproles on the first play of the next drive and then come out of the game, so that Brees could get one last ovation from the home fans as he trotted off the field. But Brees told Payton that if it was time to put Daniel in, he should do it immediately.

?Coach, you don?t need to do that,? Brees said.

Brees then went to Daniel and told him he?d go in to start the next possession.

?He wanted to pull me out after the first play so everybody could clap, but I told him that?s not necessary,? Brees told Daniel. ?You?re up. It?s your show.?

Daniel then went in, and his first play was a handoff to Sproles for eight yards, earning the new all-purpose yardage record. Daniel also threw twice to Graham, who briefly held the tight end receiving yardage record, although he lost that record within minutes, as the Patriots also had their backup quarterback throwing late in the game, and New England?s Rob Gronkowski ended up taking the record from Graham.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/05/steelers-concerned-about-pouncey-after-missed-practice/related/

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Debate over who needs a thyroid check in pregnancy

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Check-ups during pregnancy tend to focus around the waist. But there's growing debate about which mothers-to-be should have a gland in their neck tested, too.

Numerous studies since 1999 have found that an underactive thyroid can raise a woman's risk of miscarriage, premature birth, or a lower IQ for her baby ? even if it's so mildly sluggish that she feels no symptoms.

The problem: While serious cases are treated with a hormone pill, so far there's little evidence that treating the milder cases makes a difference. So guidelines about who should be tested vary widely.

Now a peek at prenatal testing from one of the country's largest medical labs suggests that nearly a quarter of pregnant women are getting the simple thyroid blood test regardless of whether they have symptoms.

Researchers at Quest Diagnostics examined records for half a million pregnant women. Of those who got tested, a higher-than-expected number ? 15 percent ? had an underactive thyroid. That's five-fold higher than some previous estimates, partly because the way in which the condition is diagnosed has changed recently, says the study published by the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

The vast majority of those women were in the gray zone, with milder cases where no one knows for sure if a diagnosis helps or wastes money on testing and thyroid medication.

The finding adds pressure for science to settle this long-running controversy.

"We still don't have perfect answers," says Dr. Elizabeth Pearce, a well-known endocrinologist at Boston Medical Center, where a recent survey found widespread prenatal thyroid testing. But, "if it's my patient in my office, or it's me or my family member, I'm going to treat every time."

Obstetricians seem more wary.

"There are studies on both sides of the fence," says Dr. Dena Goffman of New York's Montefiore Medical Center, which tests only women at high risk. "If you don't know what to do with the results, you probably shouldn't order the test," she said.

The unassuming thyroid ? a small bow tie-shaped gland nestled in the front of the neck ? plays a big role in good health for everyone. It produces hormones that regulate metabolism and can affect almost every type of tissue in the body. About 20 million Americans are estimated to have a malfunctioning thyroid that, if serious enough, can contribute to heart disease, bone-thinning osteoporosis and infertility.

An overactive thyroid, called hyperthyroidism, speeds up bodily functions, causing such symptoms as weight loss, nervousness, anxiety and increased heart rate and vision problems.

Much more common is an underactive thyroid, called hypothyroidism. It slows body functions, causing such problems as fatigue, weight gain, depression, constipation and dry skin. It even can contribute to high cholesterol, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Thyroid problems increase with age, but they affect far more women than men ? and pregnancy puts extra stress on the gland.

Having enough thyroid hormones is important for fetal brain development, especially during the first trimester, when the fetus depends solely on the mother for them. The hormones also play a role in avoiding miscarriage or premature birth.

Mothers also may harbor immune system cells called antibodies that subtly attack the gland and likewise are linked to miscarriage and prematurity. Italian researchers found that treating those women lowered their risk of encountering this problem.

There is broad agreement that women with overt hypothyroidism ? a seriously underactive gland ? should be treated, most likely given a once-a-day hormone pill long known to be safe in pregnancy. But it takes blood testing to diagnose overt disease because even those women don't always report the vague symptoms.

Those $25 blood tests are sure to uncover women with mild hypothyroidism, too, the people in the so-called gray zone. Some research has raised questions about whether mild cases really pose a pregnancy risk, and preliminary results from a large British study recently found no overall IQ benefit to the resulting children if their mothers had been treated.

But the damage might already have been done by the time treatment began late in the first trimester, notes Boston's Pearce. In the U.S., doctors are anxiously awaiting a similar National Institutes of Health study; results aren't expected until 2015.

What's the advice until then? The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends testing only pregnant women who have thyroid symptoms, have had previous thyroid problems, or have similar autoimmune diseases such as Type 1 diabetes ? those considered at risk for overt disease.

The American Thyroid Association goes further. Last summer it advised also testing all pregnant women age 30 and older, and those with enlarged thyroids, previous pregnancy problems or those who are obese, says Pearce, who co-authored the guidelines.

Most guidelines cite the lack of evidence for treating mild cases. The thyroid association does urge treatment if those women harbor the worrisome antibodies.

A final tip: Pregnant women should check that their prenatal vitamins contain iodine, important for proper thyroid function, Pearce says. Not all do. Most Americans get enough iodine from dairy products, bread, seafood and iodized table salt. But women need extra during pregnancy.

___

EDITOR'S NOTE ? Lauran Neergaard covers health and medical issues for The Associated Press in Washington.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/bbd825583c8542898e6fa7d440b9febc/Article_2012-01-03-HealthBeat-Thyroid-Pregnancy/id-305697ff66da49b5a6308336152f9cf6

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CIA Investing If Obama Leaked Bin Laden Secrets To Sony at Pat ...

Obama speaking at campaign fundraiser on Sony Pictures back lot, hosted by studio

The Hill:

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Pete King (R-N.Y.) says the Defense Department and the Central Intelligence Agency are investigating whether classified information was released to filmmakers on how Osama bin Laden was killed.

King received confirmation of the investigation in letters from Defense and the CIA that he made public on Thursday.

?Following a shockingly dismissive response to my request from White House press secretary Jay Carney, I am pleased that the inspectors general at DOD and the CIA agree with me that potential leaks to filmmakers are something worth investigating and taking action to address,? King said.

?The leaks that followed the successful bin Laden mission led to the arrests of Pakistanis and put in danger the mission?s heroes and their families,? he said. ?Privately, individuals in the intelligence and special operations communities expressed support for my request for a probe. I look forward to an update on the investigation and actions taken thus far.?

DOD?s letter, dated Dec. 23, includes a Dec. 10 document from Deputy Inspector General for Intelligence and Special Program Assessments Patricia Brannin that says, ?We plan to begin subject investigation immediately.?

King has sought an investigation since the summer, when he cited reports that people making a movie about bin Laden?s killing were receiving classified information.

These charges led one House Republican to introduce legislation that would prevent the Obama administration from sharing information in order to make a bin Laden movie that could be released later this year.

The White House dismissed King?s concerns in August.

?We do not discuss classified information and I would hope as we face a continued threat from terrorism, the House Committee on Homeland Security would have more important topics to discuss than a movie,? Carney said.

Source: http://patdollard.com/2012/01/cia-investing-if-obama-leaked-bin-laden-secrets-to-sony/

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The Obama Campaign's Romney Glossary (Time.com)

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Safety demand for French reactors

3 January 2012 Last updated at 08:42 ET

France's nuclear watchdog has called on the country's 58 power plants to make safety improvements quickly, almost 10 months after the Fukushima disaster.

But it says none of the reactors needs to be shut down, following stress tests carried out in the wake of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

The watchdog estimates the changes would cost tens of billions of euros.

France obtains 75% of its electricity from nuclear power and the industry's future has become a political issue.

The opposition Socialists want to reduce the country's reliance on nuclear power and have agreed to phase out 24 reactors as part of a pact criticised by the ruling UMP party ahead of presidential elections.

The Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) says industry operators must come forward by 30 June with measures they would take in response to floods and earthquakes, "preventing a serious accident or limiting its spread" and "limiting massive [radioactive] releases".

It also proposes the establishment by 2014 of a rapid reaction force that would take charge within 24 hours of a nuclear accident taking place.

ASN President Andre-Claude Lacoste said the work and funding for the proposals was "quite massive" and would involve the recruitment of hundreds of people.

The French government asked the watchdog to investigate the safety of the country's nuclear plants in March 2011. ASN's conclusions were based on a report by experts last November that decided the reactors were safe but that some were vulnerable to external factors such as earthquakes or floods.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-europe-16393560

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Source: http://www.oneview.com/url/33013435/

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24-year-old arrested in Los Angeles arson spree

Los Angeles firefighters battle an arson car fire under a carport in Los Angeles Monday, Jan. 2, 2012. Twelve suspected arson fires broke out early Monday in the Los Angeles area. A "person of interest" was taken into custody for questioning in connection with the dozens of suspicious car fires that have hit the city during the past week. (AP Photo/Mike Meadows)

Los Angeles firefighters battle an arson car fire under a carport in Los Angeles Monday, Jan. 2, 2012. Twelve suspected arson fires broke out early Monday in the Los Angeles area. A "person of interest" was taken into custody for questioning in connection with the dozens of suspicious car fires that have hit the city during the past week. (AP Photo/Mike Meadows)

Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charles Beck flanked by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, right, answers questions during a news conference of the joint task force announcing the apprehension of a prime suspect Harry Burkhart in a series of 53 blazes in the Los Angeles Area, Monday, Jan. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)

From left, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charles Beck, LA City Council Member Tom LaBonge, and LA County Board of Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, stand behind Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa as he delivers a statement during a news conference of the joint task force announcing the apprehension of a prime suspect in a series of 53 blazes in the Los Angeles Area, Monday, Jan. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)

Los Angeles Fire Captain Jaime Moore, left, addresses the media regarding the arrest of a man in connection with dozens of suspected arson attacks that destroyed parked cars, scorched buildings and rattled much of the nation?s second-largest city over the New Year?s weekend, Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, in Los Angeles. At right is Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Andrew Smith. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Jaime Moore, right, addresses the media regarding the arrest of a man in connection with dozens of suspected arson attacks that destroyed parked cars, scorched buildings and rattled much of the nation?s second-largest city over the New Year?s weekend, Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, in Los Angeles. Others attending the news conference are, from left, Christian Hoffman with the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and Los Angeles Police spokesman Andrew Smith. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? It was another night of firefighters scrambling across the nation's second largest city to snuff out a series of arson attacks when a tip came in about a German man who matched the description of someone with a shoulder-length ponytail captured on a surveillance video near where a car fire was reported.

Five hours later Harry Burkhart was pulled over by a reserve sheriff's deputy who works for $1 a year and later booked for investigation of arson of an inhabited dwelling. Since the arrest, firefighters have not responded to any other suspicious fires.

While the investigation is ongoing ? authorities haven't ruled out the possibility that others may be involved ? Burkhart's arrest was a measure of relief to anxious residents who had grown fearful after several nights of seemingly random blazes.

"Our long four-day nightmare is over," said Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky.

Police declined to reveal any motive for more than 50 fires that have occurred since Friday in Hollywood, neighboring West Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley, causing about $3 million in damage.

However, the 24-year-old who told officers he's from Frankfurt may have been upset about his mother's legal woes. When asked at a news conference about reports that an immigration problem with Burhkart's mother may have been a factor, authorities declined to comment.

Galina Illarionova, who lives in the same apartment complex as the suspect, told reporters through a Russian translator that an agitated Burkhart visited her Sunday and said his mother was having some kind of legal problems. He told her his mother was in trouble with authorities and wanted Illarionova to attend a legal hearing with him, but he later said he didn't need her help.

"We are very confident in this arrest, but we have a long way to go," said Police Chief Charlie Beck, who mentioned receiving information from federal authorities who recognized Burkhart from the video. They believed he had been involved in removal hearings in immigration court, but they didn't specify how he was involved.

Burkhart is being held without bail and was called by Sheriff Lee Baca as the "most dangerous arsonist in Los Angeles County that I can recall." Authorities didn't know how long he's been in the United States and said he isn't cooperating with them.

One of Baca's reserve deputies, Shervin Lalezary, pulled over Burkhart's van sought by arson investigators shortly after 3 a.m. Lalezary works as an attorney and he said was glad he helped out.

"I'm ecstatic that law enforcement gets to shine a little bit," he told reporters.

The onslaught of intentionally set fires left residents on edge over the holiday weekend in some of the most densely populated areas of the city. Hundreds of investigators, police officers and firefighters raced to deal with the blazes. Police conducted extra patrols all weekend, and the noise of helicopters and sirens persisted virtually nonstop in Hollywood.

The blazes forced many apartment dwellers from their homes. But there were no serious injuries ? one firefighter was hurt in a fall from a ladder, and another person suffered smoke inhalation.

Most of the fires began in cars, and authorities have not said how they were started.

One of Saturday's fires occurred at the Hollywood and Highland entertainment complex, a popular tourist destination bordered by the Walk of Fame in a neighborhood that includes Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

Damaged buildings included a former home of Doors singer Jim Morrison in Laurel Canyon.

Despite the arrest, authorities continued to urge vigilance.

"We're not resting, and we're not stopping" the extra patrols, police Cmdr. Andrew Smith said. "If you have lights in your carport area, keep them on tonight."

Some other deliberately set fires were reported Thursday in Hollywood, and two people were arrested. But police said Monday that those suspects were not connected with the 52 other blazes.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-01-03-US-Los-Angeles-Arson/id-614e1bcb1e8443c9bdccc88b33955251

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