Planet NBA

Russia and the United States decided to stop being enemies. They no longer wanted to blow each other up with bombs. Each side stopped making bombs.

The U.S. no longer tests nuclear weapons. There is not enough money to support making nuclear weapons. But the piles of nuclear weapons are still around. They need to be watched over to keep them safe.

The scientists who made the bombs still have a lot of their research information. They did not want to get rid of it. They decided to save it for others to use and learn from.

The men and women who invented nuclear weapons helped to create large bombs. By having so many large bombs, the countries who had them did not want to use them. All of the bombs would wipe out everyone on Earth. This knowledge is being kept by scientists across the U.S.

Bruce Willis: And tonight is about healing. When the world says please, let us help, extraordinary things begin to happen.

Actor Robert Downey Junior spoke of the needs of those in stricken communities, initially for basics like cooking utensils, and later for things like school supplies. We have a choice, said actor Clint Eastwood. We can either look away or we can help.The actor Robert De Niro spoke of the force and devastation of the earthquake and tsunami that followed.

Robert De Niro: But tonight we can participate in a force more powerful than that, the power of giving, and help change the lives of those most directly affected by this tragedy. And in the process, we change our hearts because you can’t give and remain the same.

Celebrities manned the phone banks to speak with those who called to make their contributions. The effort was reminiscent of a televised fundraiser in the aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, which raised nearly $130 million for the families of the victims.

Saturday’s event was organized by the NBC Universal Television Group and was aired its flagship NBC broadcast network and several affiliated cable networks. NBC executives say they will release fundraising totals later.

President Bush is promising $350 million to help victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami, as the death toll across a dozen countries approaches 125,000. Secretary of State Colin Powell will be leading a U.S. delegation to South Asia to assess what is needed most.

President Bush says initial U.S. assessments indicate that the need for financial and other help will steadily increase in the days and weeks ahead.

In a written statement from his Texas ranch, Mr. Bush committed $350 million to fund the U.S. portion of the relief effort, and said those contributions will continue to be revised as the full effects of the tragedy become clearer.

The new aid figure is 10 times the $35 million that Washington initially pledged. That first amount drew some criticism, considering the size and wealth of the United States when compared to Britain’s pledge of $95 million, or Sweden’s pledge of $75 million.

When I was still basking myself in the yesterday’s fortune that the mistake made public actually had nothing
to do with me, another email directly sent to me caught me by surprise.

The moment the email arrived, I was working on another project and thus, was not the least ready for it.
Opening the email, it bowled me over to see I was actually one of the people the email was for. In fact, it
was no good news to receive an email captioned Mistake. Followed would be marked by strenuous effort to
find out the person who dropped the ball, petrifying everyone. Mistake-phobic Ivy, having already committed
more mistakes than she was expected to as a freshman, was sitting on her chair, her heart beating fast,
feeling as if dooms day were coming.

This time, it was not a tiny mistake. Though later on result came out that the ball didn’t fall on my
court, the fear was still there to stay. But this alone couldn’t justify they went public with every
mistake always as far as I am concerned. They were just too harsh on us, putting too much strain on our
work. For me, the mistakes I made and the fear of their action detracted away my confidence, the same way
other colleagues felt. I’ve no idea if there was – like I said- the office politics thing in here? Anybody
out there they are interested in taking down? Have I read too many negative reports on office competition
that actually my vision was blurred, and my opinion biased? Not a clue!

Older people are often denied access to the full range of mental health services available to younger adults, a watchdog has found.

At four out of six mental health trusts examined in England decisions were based as much on age as clinical need, the Healthcare Commission found.

Out-of-hours, alcohol and crisis services, and psychological therapies were often unavailable to the over 65s.

A body representing trusts said new policies would benefit older patients.

Healthcare Commission chief executive Anna Walker called the findings “unacceptable”.

The research showed that older people were often prevented from accessing care because of stretched services or a lack of age-appropriate care.

Some staff said patient groups considered to be of high risk to the public or where government targets were applicable were often prioritised, leaving older people’s services lagging behind with little funding.

Ms Walker said: “Trusts are not always providing appropriate mental health services to the over 65s.

“It is truly unacceptable that out of hours and crisis services were often not available to older people.

“There needs to be a fundamental shift towards providing care based on a person’s clinical need rather than their age.

“Considering a quarter of admissions to mental health inpatient services are over 65, this issue needs urgent attention.”

Don Shenker, chief executive of the charity Alcohol Concern, said: “If the high number of older drinkers seems shocking, it’s because these are a group of drinkers who hide their problems in the home.

“Unfortunately, the figures are backed up by an increasing number of alcohol-related hospital admissions in older people in recent years.

“Social isolation, physical ill health, bereavement and a variety of social factors can play a part in an older person developing alcohol misuse problems and the associated health risks.

“Currently, some treatment services will not treat over 65s, and it can be difficult for older people to access appropriate treatment.

“The government needs to develop a strategy for reducing alcohol harm among older people, to identify those at risk and provide specialist treatment.”

A Department of Health spokesperson said: “Alcohol is one of the most challenging public health issues we face and it affects people of all ages.

“We are working harder than ever to reduce alcohol-related hospital admissions, and to help people of all ages who regularly drink too much or are dependent on alcohol.”

Film and theatre director Sam Mendes has pulled out of making his opera debut at Glyndebourne in 2010.

Mendes was due to direct Mozart’s Don Giovanni for the festival and his appointment was greeted with excitement in the opera world.

The director said his decision had nothing to do with the production or cast. He pulled out with “great regret” due to “massive theatre commitments”.

The director of the festival, David Pickard called it “very sad news”.

Pickard had tried to secure the Oscar-winning director for the Sussex festival for five years.

However Mendes said that setting up his new theatre company had “turned out to be much more time- and energy-consuming than I ever could have guessed, and has tied me almost permanently to New York.”

Jonathan Kent has now been lined up to direct the production. His 2006 production of The Turn of the Screw for the festival was widely acclaimed, and this year he directs The Fairy Queen.

Pickard said: “I have no doubt that [Kent] will bring his customary flair and imagination to Don Giovanni.”

Mendes insisted that when he does direct his first opera, it will be for Glyndebourne.

I used to watch her from my kitchen window, she seemed so small as she 1)muscled her way through the crowd of boys on the playground. The school was across the street from our home and I would often watch the kids as they played during recess. A sea of children, and yet to me, she stood out from them all.

I remember the first day I saw her playing basketball. I watched in wonder as she ran circles around the other kids. She managed to shoot jump shots just over their heads and into the net. The boys always tried to stop her but no one could.

UK ministers have released documents detailing their correspondence with the Scottish Government over the fate of the Lockerbie bomber.

The Scottish Government is also set to publish documents it says will justify the decision to release the Libyan on compassionate grounds.

Eight letters between the governments, dating back to 2007, were published on the UK Ministry of Justice’s website.

Terminally ill Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi was freed on 20 August.

The Scottish Government announced the publication amid strong criticism of the decision to release Megrahi.

Westminster sources have indicated the UK government correspondence is said to support its position that no deals were done with Libya to secure Megrahi’s freedom.

UK Justice Secretary Jack Straw has previously described reports that the bomber was released over an oil deal as “wholly untrue”.

BBC political correspondent Iain Watson says the Westminster government is keen to emphasise there was no secret deal with Libya, following negative newspaper stories at the weekend.

“And they are equally anxious to prove that they did not place pressure on the Scottish government to allow the only man to be convicted of the Lockerbie bombing to return home on compassionate grounds.

“They believe that by making all relevant documents public today, they will strengthen that case.”

Mr MacAskill said the Scottish Government was seeking to act “openly and accountably” and had “nothing to hide”.

The Awakening of true Love lies in finding peace within yourself… This peace is found through an open Heart.

Welcome to Faith Radio Online-Simply to Relax. I’m Faith. In today’s program, I would like to introduce 7 steps to quieting your mind, enhancing your life and allowing more health, love and joy to flow through your Heart.

Taking a few minutes in the morning when you first awaken is an excellent time to take yourself through these seven steps. Feel free to use these steps during your day as well. It is an excellent way to keep yourself focused on what is most important to you and to stay connected to your essence… your Truth.