Passionate for 'Poseidon'
 
 Slideshow: Tour this home

No one thinks twice about grown men who collect Star Wars figures or cults of fans that argue about the merits of this James Bond vs. that James Bond.

But tell people you're a die-hard fan of the 1972 epic The Poseidon Adventure? Talk about a potential disaster.

"Some people find it a little strange," acknowledges Paul Wilson, a Phoenix artist who estimates he replica watches at least a few minutes of the film twice a week. "But I just love it." advertisement  
 
 That could be an understatement. Wilson has re-created the ship's grand ballroom in his carport. His backyard porch resembles a ship's deck, complete with Poseidon life preserver.

Perhaps most impressive: His bedroom is a replica of the stateroom shared by Ernest Borgnine and Stella Stevens in the film. Yes, there are portholes.

A few years ago, Wilson made a movie called The Purseidon Adventure, in which an ocean liner capsizes after being struck by a gigantic handbag. He played all of the roles in the spoof.

Wilson, 42, was 8 when his parents took him to see the movie at the then-Tower Plaza Mall.

"The sudden shift from gaiety to chaos - I found it very shocking," Wilson recalls. "When it was rereleased, I would go every weekend to get a handle on it."

Wilson isn't alone in his enthusiasm. Jak Castro, 42, a financial analyst who lives in Burbank, Calif., runs a fan club devoted to the Irwin Allen-produced film. Members meet yearly, exchange memorabilia and replica watch the film on a big screen.

"It's very respectful," Castro says. "It's not a Rocky Horror-type thing. People aren't laughing at it. You always hear sniffles when Shelley Winters dies."

The club boasts more than 2,000 members, almost all within a six-year age range. "It's basically people who were 9 to 14 when the movie first opened," Castro says.

Wolfgang Petersen directed the remake, which opens Friday. No more miniature ship and Pamela Sue Martin running around in red hot pants. Now it's CGI effects and a multiethnic cast, including all-American replica rolex, Hispanic Mia Maestro and African-American Andre Braugher.

Not to be overshadowed, a deluxe DVD edition of the original that arrives in stores this week features documentaries, behind-the-scenes footage, interviews with cast members and a commentary track.

It's not the first time The Poseidon Adventure has bubbled back to the surface. In 1979, a sequel called Beyond the Poseidon Adventure sailed into theaters. Last year, a made-for-TV remake premièred on NBC.

This week's big-screen remake didn't win Wilson over, either.

Among his criticisms: The film moves too fast, the score is overpowering, characters aren't fleshed out and the sense of being at sea is missing.

On the plus side, Wilson did enjoy a sequence in which the wave slams into the ship's ballroom, although it didn't rival the similar scene in the original

"It's very hard when you're predisposed to the original," he concedes. "If you've never seen the first one, you may think this version is pretty cool, but we dyed-in-the-wool fans remember."

Even if the remake is a smash, it seems unlikely to shake the original from its place in pop culture.

"I'm going through three generations of fans from that movie," Carol Lynley, who starred as go-go-booted Nonnie in the original, said in an interview. "It's the movie that refuses to die."

A TO Z OF POSH & BECKS' WORLD CUP BASH
 
We're sure all those footballers' wives will be reaching for their fellas' credit cards when they see the auction Victoria has set up...

Posh jeweller Aspreys has donated a £ 1million necklace which Victoria helped design.

There's also a limited edition Bentley worth £300,000, a pair of Jacobs replica watches (left) valued at £600,000 and a luxury pad in Dubai's exclusive Palm Jumeirah resort.

B IS FOR BECKINGHAM PALACE

Real name Rowneybury House, where the bash will take place. It's the couple's £2.5million mansion in Sawbridgeworth, Herts, set in 24 acres, where the massive 25x50m marquee will be erected.

Their garden also includes a full-size football pitch, golf course, shrine, pool, replica watch ruined castle, playground and trampoline... in case guests fancy a wander.

C IS FOR CAMERON

Free-loading Tory leader David Cameron - who was not invited - has wangled himself a ticket from another guest

D IS FOR DRESS

Posh has narrowed her choice down to three dresses - one by Roberto Cavalli and two vintage dresses she bought in New York and Paris. And David hasn't decided whether to go for black tie or something funkier.

E IS FOR ENGLISH FOOD

Chef Gordon Ramsay plans a feast for the night, serving up English roast chicken and a peanut butter par fait. "Footballers like that sort of food," he insists. "There won't be any f***ing French or German food either."

F IS FOR FULLLENGTH AND FABULOUS

The dress code. Guests will be expected to dress-to-impress...in amazing frocks, designer black tie and enough bling to sink a ship.

G IS FOR GUESTS

Said to include Tom Cruise, below, and replica rolex, team-mates, including Wayne Rooney with Coleen McLoughlin, right, and the 1966 World Cup winners. David Blaine may perform. Just keep him away from the pool...

H IS FOR HOSTS

Presenter Graham Norton and Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans have spent hours rehearsing their scripts for the evening. Celeb guests better watch out - they're gonna be the butt of these guys' jokes.

I IS FOR INVITES

350 invitations on thick white card with silver letters were created by Sienna Miller's designer stepmum Kelly Hoppen. If yours hasn't arrived yet, you've had it...

J IS FOR JAMES BROWN

The Godfather of Soul will be banging out Sex Machine before getting up off his knees for a special duet with Robbie Williams. The Robster will also entertain guests with his own set. Then DJ Spoony, a pal of the Beckhams, and DJ Russell, a new kid on the block, will take over and spin a few discs.

K IS FOR KEEPSAKE

There isn't a goody bag - so last-season, darling - but every guest will get a special gift as they leave. It's a closely guarded secret, but we're thinking something unique that money simply can't buy.

L IS FOR LANGUAGE EXPERT

Victoria hired a Spanish language expert for some top tips for her speech, which she's going to be introducing in the language of her new home. After dinner she'll stand up and give a special speech to say farewell to her husband and the rest of the English squad. Tissues at the ready, guys!

M IS FOR MAGICAL WOODLAND

That's the theme for the extravaganza. Victoria's brainchild, we've been told she wants to create an enchanted atmosphere for her guests. Entertainers will be dressed as fairies with twinkling lights in the trees, so guests feel as if they are stepping into a different world. We can just imagine Becks as Robin Hood...

N IS FOR NO-SHOWS

They were keen to lure a royal or two, but sadly, Charles, Camilla and William and Harry can't make it. Ah well, who needs royalty when you've got P&B?

O IS FOR ORANGE AND LEMON TREES

Being flown in from Spain to "reflect her love" of the country. They'll be decorated with twinkling fairy lights as part of the Magical Woodland theme. Flying in trees? That's got to be a first.

P IS FOR PEREGRINE ARMSTRONG- JONES

Posh party planner who organised their 1999 wedding, has also organised this bash. His firm, Bentley Entertainments, also did Elton John's recent wedding to David Furnish and a birthday bash for Elt. Only the best for Becks.

Q IS FOR QUEUES OF PAPARAZZI

It's going to be the biggest showbiz bash of the year so there's going to be hordes of photographers outside the mansion, all trying to get that one exclusive snap. But knowing VB, security's going to be extra tight.

R ULES

Guests are under strict instructions not to bring any cameras, mobile phones or recording equipment. The A-listers will have to check all their gadgets in at the door or they'll be refused entry.

S IS FOR STILT-WALKER, MAGICIANS AND MIME ARTISTS

Being drafted in to keep the Beckham tots Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz entertained until bedtime. Clearly Barney DVDs just don't cut it round here.

T IS FOR TV

The entire party is being filmed by ITV. Camera crews have been following Victoria around in the build-up to the bash as she has discussions with her party planner and picks out her place mats.

On Sunday night they will be allowed access to every area of the party and an exclusive interview with David and Victoria will be broadcast on May 28 on ITV1. We can't wait.

U IS FOR UNICEF

The Prince's Trust and Unicef, the Beckhams' children's charity. will share the proceeds of the charity auction.

Unicef has sent out a personalised message to its ambassador David Beckham thanking him for his support. Bless.

V IS FOR VA VA VOOM

Special helicopter pads have been built in the grounds to accommodate the dozen or so guests who will be flying in. And, of course, you can expect a tailback of Bentleys, Rolls Royces and Jags queuing to get up the drive.

W IS FOR WINE

Posh has ordered 250 magnums of Moet Rose studded with Swarovski crystals at £85 a pop. Guests will also drink their way through 100 bottles of Belvedere vodka in specially created martinis. And 50 cases of Terrazas wine from Argentina have been flown in along with 40 cases of New Zealand Cloudy Bay.

X IS FOR X-FACTOR JUDGE SHARON OSBOURNE

Expected to attend with husband Ozzy. Sharon and Victoria buried the hatchet after the Beckhams scooped the Osbournes over hiring the same butler for Christmas 2004. We spotted Sharon and Posh chat ting like old mates at last year's Pride of Britain awards.

Y IS FOR YOKOHAMA

The English team will hope to achieve more in Germany than they did in the 2002 World Cup in Japan. Back then, the Beckhams held a lavish Japanese-theme party, right, at Beckingham Palace and we hear Posh reckons this year's bash is going to be even better.

Press Release
Release date: March 27, 2006

Lead-free Power Supplies Now Available from BEAR

Standard and custom AC/DC converters for commercial, industrial and medical systems comply with RoHS directive

Phelps, NY - March 27, 2006 - BEAR Power Supplies today announced availability of its lead-free power supplies for commercial, industrial and medical applications. All of the company's standard and custom AC/DC power converter models manufactured after April 15, 2006 will be lead-free and in full compliance with the RoHS directive. The supplies will carry a "RoHS compliant" marking.

BEAR's standard lead-free power supplies range from 5 W to 15 W, with universal input and 3.3 V to 24 V output. They are noted for their rugged design and wide full-load operating temperature range of -40 to +70 degrees C. Complete specifications are found atAdvertisement
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Both PCB-mountable and chassis-mountable power modules are available with BEAR's unique mini-IEC input connector and detachable line cord, which improves safety by eliminating exposed high voltage traces from the system designer's printed circuit board.

All BEAR power supplies are CE marked and FCC Class B compliant. Commercial and industrial models are approved to UL 60950-1, CAN/CSA-C22.2 no. 60950-1-03, and EN 60950-1 standards. Medical power supplies are approved to UL 2601-1, CAN/CASA-C22.2 no. 601.1-M90, EN 60601-1-2, and IEC 601-1/A2 standards.

Standard lead-free, RoHS power supplies are available from stock, starting as low as $30 each in volume.

About BEAR Power Supplies, Inc.
BEAR Power Supplies (www.yunhuancord.com) designs and makes rugged AC/DC power supplies for commercial, industrial, and medical systems. BEAR's unique design encapsulates active inrush current limiting, fusing, and EMI filtering in one compact module. This lets engineers devote less board space and design time to the power circuit, and get smaller products to market more quickly. A patent-pending detachable line cord option with mini-IEC connector improves safety and simplifies the design by eliminating exposed high-voltage traces from the printed circuit board. Both PCB-mountable and chassis-mountable packages feature long life and reliable operation from -40¡ãC to +70¡ãC. Competitively priced, ROHS compliant and TUV certified, BEAR power supplies are made in the USA for high quality, fast delivery, predictable lead times, and easy customization. Call 1-800-551-2327 or (315) 548-6113.

U.S. Welcomes China Pledges on Market Access, IPR Enforcement
U.S.-Chinese trade officials meet for annual trade talks

Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi, and U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman talk during a news conference in Washington, April 11, 2006. 

Washington -- The United States welcomes China's pledge to increase U.S. access to Chinese markets and improve enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR), says Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez.

"We still have much work to do but today's meeting was a positive step forward on a number of key issues," Gutierrez said April 11 at a press conference following a senior-level meeting of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT).

The plenary session of the 17th JCCT was held in Washington and co-chaired by Gutierrez, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Rob Portman, and Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi.  Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns also attended the talks.

The JCCT was established in 1983 as a forum for high-level dialogue on bilateral trade issues and a vehicle for promoting commercial relations. The United States uses the annual talks as a forum to identify and resolve trade problems as well as to expand commercial opportunities.

This round of talks comes one week before the arrival of China's President Hu Jintao for a meeting with President Bush at the White House.

MARKET ACCESS AND TRANSPARENCY

China has agreed to reopen its market to U.S. beef as well as lower some of the barriers facing U.S. companies in sectors such as telecommunications and medical devices, according to Gutierrez.

"This will remove a barrier to U.S. service providers who seek to compete with China," he said.

The commerce secretary said the United States and China also plan to establish a working group on the manufacturing of pharmaceutical ingredients as well as a dialogue on steel production.

Portman added: "Our message to China has been consistent and clear. American exporters, workers, farmers and service providers deserve the same access to Chinese markets as China has to our markets."

The United States recently completed an interagency "top-to-bottom" review of its trade with China and found that China must demonstrate greater accountability to its international commitments, including greater access for U.S. exports.  (See related article.)

"The Chinese have taken steps to ensure greater transparency in their economy," Gutierrez said, noting that China recently announced it would begin negotiations to join the World Trade Organization's government procurement agreement in December 2007. This agreement is designed to prevent discrimination against foreign companies in government contracts.

"For the first time, China is requiring all central, provincial and local governments to publish their trade-related measures in the central government's official gazette," Gutierrez said.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

Regarding protection of intellectual property rights, Gutierrez said, China has closed a number of factories that produced pirated optical discs and is increasing overall enforcement of IPR laws.

Additionally, he said, the Chinese government agreed to clamp down on pirated software by allowing software to be preloaded onto computers before they are sold.

Vice Premier Wu Yi said the Chinese government planned to establish 50 IPR trial courts across China and 50 IPR Infringement Reporting Centers in cities across China.

"The real outcome of this meeting, of course, will be known when we see results," Gutierrez said.  "We will both be looking for results before the next annual meeting to bring additional equity and balance to the U.S.-China trade relationship."

AGREEMENT ON ANIMAL HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY

Following the JCCT meeting, Agriculture Secretary Johanns signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Minister Li Changjiang of China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine to improve bilateral cooperation on animal and plant health and food safety.

"This memorandum of understanding will create a structure to enable us to address sanitary, phytosanitary and food safety issues before they become barriers to the thriving agricultural trade between our two countries," Johanns said.

Under the MOU, the two countries will exchange information on food regulation and standards, inspection and quarantine procedures and other issues such as pests and disease, harmful residues and food certification.

"China is an increasingly important market for U.S. food and agricultural products," said Johanns. "In 2005, U.S. farmers and ranchers sold more than $6 billion in agricultural products to China, making it our fifth largest export market."

See the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) fact sheet "The U.S. -China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) Outcomes on U.S. Requests" and the news release "Johanns Signs Agreement with China on Food Safety and Plant and Animal Health."

ECLAC meets on social security reform, poverty in Uruguay 
 
    The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) started a five-day meeting here on Monday to address social security reform and poverty in the region.

    Jose Luis Machinea, head of ECLAC, said health care and social security were in urgent need of reform, citing the figure that only four out of 10 workers have a certain kind of social security.

    He believes that there can be no social security without economic growth and the poverty issue can not be solved by just one policy.

    According to ECLAC, some 220 million people, 43 percent of the population of Latin America and the Caribbean, live in poverty. One of every five lives in extreme poverty.

    Machinea said that barriers to knowledge and technology, to land and to social security are the reasons behind.

    He proposed countries in the region work out both short-term and long-term programs based on concrete cases to fight poverty.

    About 200 government officials and 100 others from the United Nations and non-governmental organizations took part in the meeting.

    According to the agenda, ECLAC's Special Committee for Population and Development will publish its program for 2008 and 2009 on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the organization will publish the document: Social Security of the Future: Access, Financing and Solidarity.

Lebanon, Israel warned to keep border areas calm
 
    Lebanon and Israel should ease the tension along their shared border in this critical period, the UN Representative to Lebanon, Geir Pedersen, said Monday after meeting Lebanon's Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri.

    The Israeli government announced that its border troops had been put in a state of combat readiness because of the March 28 general election.

    The UN Interim Force in South Lebanon has asked Lebanon and Israel to exercise restraint, after Israeli forces heightened their alert status along the "line of withdrawal" between Israel and Lebanon.

    Asked about the disputed Shebaa Farms, Pedersen said Lebanon should reach consensus with Israel over its sovereighty.

    He reiterated the UN statement, first released in 2000, saying the United Nations would accept any agreement reached by the two sides.

    The Shebaa Farms lie at the convergence of the Lebanese-Syrian-Israeli borders and remain under Israeli control although it withdrew troops from Lebanon in May 2000.

    Pedersen also reaffirmed that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan supported the ongoing national dialogue in Lebanon, hoping it would discuss the disarmament of the Hezbollah group in the next round of talks.

State must be major holder of banks 
 
    The government must keep its status as the majority shareholder of State banks to ensure the country's economic and financial security, a senior official said in remarks published yesterday in domestic newspapers.

    Meanwhile, a mid-sized bank, Dalian City Commercial Bank, became the latest domestic bank to announce it was seeking strategic institutional investors, domestic media reported.

    In a speech to a national banking industry conference, Vice Premier Huang Ju stressed the need for domestic banks to improve risk management as they restructure and improve their competitiveness ahead of the opening of the financial market to full foreign competition late this year.

    "For the sake of national economic security and financial safety, the government must retain its status as the controlling shareholder as the banks carry out shareholding reforms," the China Securities Journal cited Huang as saying.

    The government has been encouraging strategic foreign investment in the banking sector, expecting such tie-ups to bring in international expertise and technology, as well as badly needed capital.

    Dalian City Commercial Bank is in talks with several foreign investors, but leaning toward accepting bids from Canada¡¯s Bank of Nova Scotia, or Scotiabank, or National Australia Bank, the China Daily cited Liu Weizhi, manager of the bank¡¯s strategic development department, as saying.

    The Dalian bank intends to bring in only one foreign bank, though it may also invite smaller investments by other institutions, the bank said.

(Source: Shenzhen Daily/Agencies)
 

Two more people die from bird flu in China 
 
    Two more people have died of the H5N1 strain of bird flu in China, making the death toll to five out of eight human cases reported so far in the country, said the Ministry of Health here Wednesday.

    The two victims, reported last month, were a 10-year-old girl in the southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and a 35-year-old man in eastern Jiangxi Province.

    They died on Dec. 16 and 30 respectively after all medical treatment measures failed.

    In the other six human cases reported since China first confirmed human infection on Nov. 16, two from eastern Anhui Province were dead, two from central Hunan Province and northeast Liaoning Province were cured and one from eastern Fujian Province dead.

    The latest victim is a six-year-old boy from Hunan, who fell ill in December and is now in hospital. The boy is in critical condition.
 
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Bin Laden's aide boycotts Guantanamo trial

   A former aide of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden boycotted a US military court when he was brought to a trial Wednesday at the U.S. Naval base at Guantanamo,Cuba.

    Ali Hamza Ahmad al-Bahlul, a 37-year-old Yemeni, defiantly told the U.S. war crimes tribunal he will boycott the court because he was not allowed to defend himself and did not recognize its authority.

    U.S. prosecutors allege Bahlul had made a videotape on bin Laden's orders to glorify al Qaeda's October 2000 attack on the USS Cole in Yemen that killed 17 U.S. sailors.

    He is also accused of wearing an explosive belt to protect bin Laden when he traveled with him in 2001.

    During his court appearance, Bahlul held up a sign written in Arabic which reads "boycott."

    "I am boycotting all sessions, even if I'm forced to be present,"Bahlul said via a translator.

    He also managed to speak out the word "boycott" in English.

    In the end, Army Col. Peter E. Brownback, the presiding officer of the tribunal, denied Bahlul's request to represent himself and set a May 15 trial date.

    It was the second time Bahlul appeared before a war crime tribunal, which was set up by the U.S. military under the authorization of U.S. President George W. Bush, in order to try "enemy combatants" after the Sept. 11 terror attacks in 2001.

    Later Wednesday, a separate panel was to start hearing the caseof Omar Khadr, a Canadian who was only 15 when he was detained in Afghanistan in 2002 and accused of killing a US military medic with a hand grenade during a battle.

    Khadr's defenders have also protested over the handling of the trials.

    The latest hearings came on the fourth anniversary of the opening of the Guantanamo detention facility for prisoners roundedup in Afghanistan, Iraq and other hotspots in the "war on terror" declared by Bush in 2001.

    At present, there are about 500 prisoners from almost 30 countries in Guantanamo, most of them being detained indefinitely without a trial.