Romneys tale mødt med stor begejstring

"I aften beder jeg jer følge mig mod en bedre fremtid."

Sådan indledte den republikanske præsidentkandidat Mitt Romney torsdag aften lokal tid for alvor kampen om Det Hvide Hus med sin tale ved Republikanernes konvent i Florida. 

Det gjorde han ved først at acceptere nomineringen som Republikanernes kandidat til præsidentposten, og dernæst stod han sin hidtil sværeste politiske prøve med sin tale til vælgerne.

At dømme ud fra de gentagne stående bifald, den vedholdende hujen og det insisterende kampråb "USA, USA", som flere gange lød fra de mange fremmødte, klarede Romney prøven til topkarakterer.

Du ved der er noget galt...

Særligt hver gang Romney kom ind på nuværende præsident Barack Obamas bedrifter i lederstolen - eller snarere mangel på samme - blev det mødt med vild begejstring.

"Du ved, der er noget galt med det arbejde, han har udført som præsident, når den bedste følelse du har haft, var den dag du stemte på ham," lød det fra Romney, og salen brød ud i latter.

Familie var også et centralt element i talen, der var Romneys første store mulighed for at tale direkte til vælgerne, som ifølge seneste meningsmåling er splittede. Begge kandidater står til at få 43 procent af stemmerne, hvis der var valg i dag.

Brug for arbejde

Romney brugte adskillige minutter på at fortælle om først sine forældre, dernæst om sit eget ægteskab med Ann Romney, som åbnede Republikanernes konvent med en tale i tirsdags.

Den 65-årige præsidentkandidat opfordrede til sidst amerikanerne til at lægge deres skuffelse over Barack Obama bag sig og i stedet slutte sig til ham i kampen for at genopbygge USA's økonomi og skaffe millioner af nye job.

"Det, der er brug for i vores land i dag, er ikke kompliceret eller omfattende. Vi har ikke brug for en særlig regeringskommission, som kan fortælle os, hvad USA har brug for. Det USA har brug for er job. Masser job," sagde Romney.

This Nokia Windows Phone 8 Render Is Kind of Cool

From leaked hands-on shots, images of components and sketches from patent applications, we’ve had a ton of opportunities to get a look at Nokia’s first Windows Phone 8 hardware. Today we have a new concept render to add to that list, and it doesn’t look half bad.

Let’s be clear: We have no reason to believe this is an actual Nokia design. These appear to be renders from a designer speculating upon what Nokia might be up to for a future product. As a result, we don’t put much faith in claimed specs like a quad-core SoC, 12-megapixel camera and 4.5-inch HD screen.

The first thing we notice about this version is the elongated speaker grilles. The phone would supposedly feature DTS sound, so making them prominent like that could conceivably be a featured selling point. The speakers themselves almost certainly wouldn’t extend the length of the handset like that, with much of the grillework for show.

The placement of the front-facing camera is a bit odd, way too off to the side. We’re also curious about what’s going on up top. Instead of a headphone jack, or even USB port, there’s what looks the most like a fingerprint scanner.

Unfortunately, we do’t get a very complete look at this design from the two pics available. But based on what you can see, what do you think? Would Nokia be wise to release something along these lines?

Facebook Director Thiel Sold Most of Holding as Lock-Up Ends

Facebook Inc. (FB)director (FB) Peter Thiel sold most of his stake in the operator of the world’s largest social-networking website, bringing his proceeds

to more than $1 billion, after restrictions on insider sales ended.

Thiel, one of Facebook’s earliest investors, sold about 20.1 million shares in the company on Aug. 16 and Aug. 17, raising $395.8 million, according to a

filing yesterday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Thiel, a venture capitalist and hedge-fund manager, had already generated $640.1 million

in sales during the initial public offering.

With an investment of $500,000 in 2004, Thiel is one of the biggest beneficiaries of Facebook’s gain before going public. Later backers haven’t fared as

well, with the stock losing almost half its value since the IPO amid signs that the company’s growth is slowing and concerns that more insiders will exit

their stakes. The sales disclosed yesterday were tied to a plan adopted on May 18, Facebook’s first day of trading.

“As of last May, he had basically handed over discretion about these sales,” said Stephen Diamond, associate professor of law at Santa Clara University.

Jeremiah Hall, a spokesman for Thiel, and Ashley Zandy, a spokeswoman for Facebook, declined to comment.

Facebook last week unlocked 271.1 million shares, the first of five insider-sale restrictions scheduled during the company’s first year as a public company.

Another 1.44 billion shares will be freed up through November.

Shares in Menlo Park, California-based Facebook rose 5 percent to $20.01 at the close in New York yesterday.
Accel Distribution

Another Facebook investor, Accel Partners, distributed more than 50 million shares to investors in the venture capital firm’s funds on Aug. 16, according to

another filing yesterday.

Thiel’s sale, at prices from $19.27 to $20.69 a share, represents most of the 27.9 million shares the investor held after the IPO. He still holds more than

5 million shares, and the proceeds don’t reflect underwriter or broker fees.

Thiel freed up extra shares for sale when he converted more than 9 million shares to Class A from Class B, according to a document filed Aug. 10 with the

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

As a co-founder of PayPal Inc., he served as chief executive officer until the company was bought by EBay Inc. (EBAY) for $1.5 billion in 2002. Thiel, who’s

also a member of the so- called “PayPal Mafia,” used his fortune to start hedge fund Clarium Capital Management LLC and to invest in startups.

One of those startups was Facebook, a social-networking service devoted to college campuses at the time of the investment in 2004. Thiel also participated in

a $25 million funding round in 2006 when the company was valued at $500 million.

-- Editors: Reed Stevenson, Tom Giles

To contact the reporters on this story: Brian Womack in San Francisco at bwomack1@bloomberg.net; Ari Levy in San Francisco at alevy5@bloomberg.net

LeBron savoring special summer

LeBron James squeezed his mom's hands, the way he did as a kid.

Moments before being honored again in his hometown, where they still love him and always will, James stood among family members and friends. With the days in

this summer of summers dwindling quickly, this was another moment to savor. So as he waited to be introduced, James hugged his mom, Gloria, around the neck,

took out his phone and snapped their picture.

He was home.

"I know this place," he said, "and it knows me."

Fresh off leading the U.S. men's team to a gold medal at the London Olympics, James was praised Sunday during a minor league game for his recent basketball

accomplishments _ an MVP award, NBA title and the gold _ and for giving back to Akron, where his "Wheels For Education" initiative has provided inner-city

kids with supplies, programs, mentors, and above all, hope.

"I was one of these kids," James said. "It means everything to me to be able to give back. I have a passion for it. I love seeing kids smile, and for them to

have someone who can lead them. For me to be in this position and being able to help and give back, means a lot."

James received a warm ovation from the crowd of 3,843 _ more than double the average attendance _ when he walked onto the infield at Canal Park, home of the

Double-A Akron Aeros, during the middle of the eighth inning escorted by Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic.

As James reached the area in front of the pitcher's mound, infielders for the Reading Phillies lined up on the grass between first and second base and gawked

at the superstar.

It was also going according to plan before a malfunctioning microphone caused several anxious and awkward moments.

Plusquellic's comments kept cutting out over the ballpark's speaker system, allowing two anti-James fans, one of them wearing a Cleveland Browns jersey,

sitting a few rows behind Akron's dugout to shout "traitor" and other insults at James, who seemed unsure of what to do as the delay dragged on and stadium

personnel scrambled to find a new microphone.

When it became apparent James would not be able to address the crowd, he posed for pictures and then left the field, slapping hands with a few Reading

players who leaned over their dugout railing to greet the All-Star, who was mobbed by fans as he made his way up the aisle.

It was somewhat poetic, James going in one week from stepping onto a gold-medal podium with his teammates on the world's largest stage to a mix-up inside a

minor league ballpark where he grew up and where Thursday's postgame entertainment will include midget wrestling.

Before taking the field, James retreated to a dusty stairwell corner with large rakes leaning on one cinder-block wall and reflected on his spectacular

summer, a three-month whirlwind of awards that began with his third MVP trophy and was capped by a second gold medal.

James told the Associated Press he would like to play in a fourth Olympics. He has not yet informed USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo of his

intentions, but the 27-year-old said he'd like to step inside the five rings one more time.

"We haven't had that conversation," James said. "But if I'm healthy, I did the math and I'll be 31, and if I have the opportunity to be out there, I will do

it. I love it. I love being a part of it and representing my country. I don't know what may happen in four years, but it would be great to be back out there

again. Definitely."

Since winning gold, James said he hasn't heard from any members of the immortalized 1992 Dream Team, which scoffed at the idea that this year's U.S. Olympic

team could beat them.

"Nah," he said. "I don't expect to hear from any of them."

James was the U.S. team's best all-around player in London, doing whatever coach Mike Krzyzewski needed while leading the Americans to their second straight

gold. He was virtually unstoppable, just as he was in carrying the Miami Heat to an NBA championship in June.

In doing so, he silenced those critics who wondered if he could ever win the big one. James is on top, and he plans to stay there.

"I want that feeling again," he said of winning his first title.

James doesn't know if being a champion _ and the only player other than Michael Jordan to win an MVP, an NBA title and Olympic gold in the same year _ will

change the way he's viewed. Since announcing his decision to leave Cleveland as a free agent two years ago, he has been cast as the villain, reviled outside

South Florida perhaps more than any athlete in memory.

Some fans have moved on. Some can't. Some never will.

James once succumbed to the pressure produced by the constant condemnation. He's not bothered by it any longer.

Love him or hate him, James is only going to be himself.

"I don't even get involved with that anymore," he said. "I don't look for it. I don't shy away from it. I just kind of roll with what's going on. For me, and

it started before last season, I came in with a different mindset and a different attitude and it didn't matter if you believed in me or not, I was still

going to be how I was and stay true to who I was and who I am.

"And that's all that matters."

Asylum seekers act like pirates: Oppn

The federal opposition says asylum seekers who behaved like "pirates" and demanded to be taken to Australia should be prosecuted as criminals.

The MV Parsifal picked up 67 asylum seekers from near Java on Monday and planned to take them to its intended destination of Singapore.

But the asylum seekers reportedly became agitated and successfully demanded they be taken to Christmas Island where they were dropped off on Tuesday night.

Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare confirmed on Thursday the asylum seekers had become "very aggressive" when told they would be taken to Singapore.
However, he said they now faced processing in Nauru, where a reconnaissance team of military and government officials was heading on Thursday morning.

"They now face the prospect, like other people who come by boat over the next few days, of ending up in Nauru," Mr Clare told Sky News.

He confirmed one asylum seeker on the vessel had fallen overboard and was believed to have died.

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison labelled the incident an "outrageous act" of piracy.

"What we have here are pirates effectively, taking control of vessels allegedly ... using force and threats and intimidation," he told Sky News.

He called for the government to immediately investigate whether police could lay criminal charges against asylum seekers involved.

"I think they should be locked up and there should be a charge sheet," Mr Morrison said.

Meanwhile, debate continues in the Senate on the government's asylum seeker laws, which passed the lower house on Wednesday with the coalition's support.

The bill will enable the reopening of the Nauru and Papua New Guinea centres, and pave the way for a broader regional approach to the issue.

On Nauru, the reconnaissance team will produce a video which can be shown to potential boat passengers via social media and television to deter them from

coming.

But Australian Greens leader Christine Milne said she doubted that film clips would work.

"They are not going to be as bad as the situation from which people are fleeing," she told reporters in Canberra.

The Greens want a 12-month time limit for processing asylum claims offshore.

The government has yet to receive United Nations refugee agency advice on an appropriate time to process the asylum seekers, but is firm in its stance that

there should be "no advantage" for those getting on boats over others who are in refugee camps awaiting an outcome.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith said a C130 aircraft, which left Canberra on Thursday morning, will land in Brisbane and pick up more members of the

reconnaissance team before heading to Port Moresby.

The aircraft will then head to Manus Island and Nauru on Friday.

Mr Smith said the aim of the trip was to do a scoping study and reconnaissance, as well as establish temporary facilities.

"We are proceeding on the basis that defence will establish a temporary facility and then hand over that facility to immigration and others as soon as

possible," he told ABC television.

"We think we are talking days and weeks, not weeks and months (for it to be operating)."

Mr Smith said Defence would not be playing any further role in terms of transporting asylum seekers or managing the facilities.

"My advice is this won't have adverse implications on any of our operations and we don't regard it as a role for Defence to be engaged in an ongoing way."

NASA Records One of Fastest Solar Flares on Record

Late last month, the sun let off another solar flare—and the particles associated with the storm were some of the fastest NASA has ever recorded, reaching

speeds of up to 2,200 miles per second, or 7.92 million miles per hour.

NASA scientist Phillip Chamberlin, with the solar physics laboratory, called the July 23 "coronal mass ejection," or CME, a "huge" event and said the storm

also caused one of the largest magnetic fields ever measured. Luckily, the storm was "directed away from the Earth," so nothing terrestrial was likely

affected.

[See Spectacular Snapshots of Space]

Because it wasn't facing Earth, NASA scientists weren't able to determine the size of the flare that caused the particle ejection. CMEs are associated with

large solar storms and are the charged particles that can knock satellites and power grids offline.

According to NASA's "SCORE" system, which rates CMEs according to their speed, last month's event was "extremely rare." More common CMEs clock in at about

620 miles per second.

The sun has been extremely volatile this year, Chamberlin says, because the sun is likely entering the peak of its "solar cycle." Strong solar storms are

expected to happen with increasing frequency until the beginning of 2014.

"There definitely will be more [storms]. We're trying to see exactly where we are in the solar cycle," he says. "We won't know when the actual peak was until

a year or two after it quiets down, but the predictions say [the sun is still getting more volatile]."

The sun's active region responsible for the July 23 eruption caused four previous flares before it rotated out of Earth's sight.

"It was a very active active region," he says. Another active region is expected to rotate toward Earth within the next week, Chamberlin says.

His team is still working on discovering why the July 23 eruption caused such a fast CME.

Red Sox, Orioles hard to figure

By now, Boston Red Sox fans have come to grips with the fact that their team doesn't seem to be going anywhere this season. At 57-59, the Red Sox have been

sunk by injuries, inconsistent performances and bafflingly bad starting pitching.

But even more surprising than the unpredictability of the Red Sox has been the consistency of the Baltimore Orioles. The team that everyone thought would

fade away has not only stayed in the hunt, it's currently leading the American League wild-card race at 62-53, nine games over .500.
The Orioles, who host a three-game series against the Red Sox starting Tuesday, have a minus-49 run differential this season, which is the fourth-worst in

the American League. The Red Sox, on the other hand, are at plus-41, which is tied for fourth-best in the league.

How is the disparity explained? It's simple. The Red Sox are a middling 12-14 in one-run games and just 2-6 in extra innings. The Orioles, meanwhile, have a

major league-best 22-6 record in one-run games (including an 11-game win streak that began in June) and are a staggering 12-2 in extra innings. Of

Baltimore's six wins against Boston this season, four have come in extra innings.

"From what I understand, this team has some people scratching their heads," Orioles manager Buck Showalter told The Associated Press.

The same observers who expect the Red Sox to go on a run are waiting for the Orioles, who haven't made the playoffs in 14 years, to fall off. But ask

yourself, which is more likely at this point? What former Red Sox GM Dan Duquette has built in Baltimore doesn't appear headed to a crash-and-burn ending.

The Red Sox, on the other hand …

If they hope to make things at all interesting down the stretch, they have to start winning series. Their last series victory came against the Detroit Tigers

almost two weeks ago. They followed that up with series losses to the Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers and, most recently, a four-game split against the

Indians in Cleveland.

The offense has been doing its job of late, especially at the top of the order. Carl Crawford, Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez have been hot.

In the first three games of the Cleveland series, Crawford was 0-for-8 but he exploded for three hits and three RBIs in Sunday's 14-1 win over the Indians.

He has hit safely in 12 of his past 16 games.

Pedroia has hit safely in each of the past seven games, posting a .467 average (14-for-30) with 3 doubles, 4 RBIs and 8 runs scored in that stretch.
Gonzalez has been one of the league's best hitters since the All-Star break, especially in the month of August. He's hitting .422 (19-for-45) with 3 homers,

8 doubles and 18 RBIs in the last 12 games.

The fact remains, though, that the plight of the Red Sox will depend on starting pitching.

Josh Beckett, who was hammered for eight runs over five innings in his most recent start, will get the ball Tuesday against the Orioles' Wei-Yin Chen (10-7,

3.79). Beckett has lost his last three starts against Baltimore, including a 2-1 loss on June 6, when he allowed only two runs on five hits in eight innings.

Beckett has a 5-3 record with a 3.61 ERA in 12 career starts at Camden Yards. The right-hander pitches well there and has lasted at least six innings in 11

starts at Camden, including his past seven.

Chen posted his best outing of the season in that June 6 game at Fenway Park, allowing only one run on seven hits in seven innings. He is coming off his

worst outing of the season, however, lasting just 4 2/3 innings while giving up seven runs to the Royals last week.

On Wednesday, Red Sox right-hander Aaron Cook (3-5, 4.70) will face Baltimore's Miguel Gonzalez (4-2, 3.42). Clay Buchholz (10-3, 4.24) will take the ball

for Boston in the series finale on Thursday. He will face the Orioles' Chris Tillman (5-2, 3.40).

Besides the struggles of the starting pitchers, who have the fifth-worst ERA in baseball, the Red Sox also are still battling injuries to key players.

It's unknown when David Ortiz, whose OPS at the time of his Achilles strain on July 17 (1.024) was the highest in the AL, will be ready to return. Every time

it appears he is close to being activated, the injury does not respond well to his daily workouts and treatments, forcing a longer stay on the DL.

"It's not healing," Ortiz told reporters in Cleveland on Sunday. "I thought I was getting there and it's still sore and I still can't run. I'm doing the best

I can with it."

There was also news out of Cleveland on Sunday that Crawford's surgically repaired wrist has been bothering him. He's already dealing with the likelihood of

Tommy John elbow surgery during the offseason, and now the wrist is an issue again.

Who knows, maybe the Sox will knock the Orioles back a peg by sweeping the series in Baltimore and using that as a springboard to make a run of their own.

Maybe the Sox will get some good news on the injury front and finally get some consistent starting pitching to build on. And maybe the overachieving Orioles'

luck will finally run out. The odds say it's bound to happen.
Just don't count on it.

Santorum goes to bat for Romney

Conservative Republican Rick Santorum will campaign for his former presidential rival Mitt Romney in the key swing state of Ohio this week, officials with

the Romney campaign said on Monday.

Santorum, an ex-senator from Pennsylvania, emerged as Romney's main challenger during their party's state-by-state nominating contest earlier this year,

portraying the former Massachusetts governor as not being a true conservative.

He has only campaigned once on behalf of Romney since bowing out of the race and endorsing the White House hopeful.

Romney officials, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said Santorum would make the appearance in Ohio on Wednesday.

Conservatives have rallied to Romney's cause after he announced on Saturday that he had chosen Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan, a darling of conservative

Republicans, to be his vice-presidential running mate for the November 6 election.

Santorum, who praised Romney's choice of Ryan, says he plans to appear more frequently on Romney's behalf and hopes to boost enthusiasm for the Republican

ticket among voters in northern industrial states like Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana who were attracted to Santorum's social conservatism and focus on

revitalising the manufacturing sector.

“We're trying to do our best through speeches and communicating with our folks, as you heard today, to try to get them excited,” Santorum told Reuters in

an interview in Waukee, Iowa on Saturday.

Santorum has been invited to speak at the Republican National Convention later this month in Tampa, Florida. His wife Karen also has joined a coalition of

women supporting Romney.

During the Republican presidential nomination campaign, Santorum labelled Romney the single worst Republican to go up against President Barack Obama on

account of the similarities between Obama's 2010 health reform and Romney's 2006 health insurance restructuring.

When asked by Reuters on Saturday whether he would have a hard time campaigning for Romney, Santorum said, “Yeah, except I come down to the bottom line,

which is Barack Obama is not going to repeal this (2010) health plan.”

“While Governor Romney and I have differences, they pale in comparison to the differences, what Barack Obama wants to do and what (Romney) has said he wants

to do. No, it's not hard for me.” - Reuters

Diabetes among elderly is growing along with overall U.S. cases

SACRAMENTO, Calif. Just as America's diabetes epidemic began almost two decades ago, Georgia Richardson was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, the potentially

life-threatening illness that affects the body's ability to process blood sugar.
"To be honest, I was in denial about my diabetes for awhile," she said. "It's as if I thought, 'Maybe it will go away,' even though I knew it wouldn't."

Now 77, Richardson, a retired Sacramento, Calif., teacher, eventually reduced her weight and began an exercise regimen. But she admits she lost valuable time

embracing the necessary lifestyle changes that can help combat the disease.

"We need to look at things people don't want to face," she said, "and diabetes is one of them."

If extending longevity was the signature public health achievement of the 20th century, many experts believe that conquering obesity and Type 2 diabetes —

conditions that often go hand in hand — will be the key public health challenge of the 21st.

"It's a largely self-inflicted problem," said Dr. John Bissell, chief of neurology at Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center. "And there are huge

public health problems as a result."

While doctors also worry about the rise of Type 2 diabetes in younger people, an aging country — driven in large part by the enormous population wave of the

baby boom generation — is by definition a country coping with a diabetes problem. Older age is one of the main risk factors for the disease, along with

obesity, poor exercise habits, certain ethnic backgrounds and genetic predisposition.

Left unchecked, the diabetes epidemic will result in higher medical costs as well as the threat of shortened life spans for younger generations. It also

raises the possibility that for people already 65 and older, their elderly years could become a time of chronic, painful consequences.

Type 2 diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, new cases of blindness and amputation for reasons other than trauma. It's a top contributor to high

blood pressure, stroke and heart attacks, and it's been linked with the development of dementia.

In short, the disease makes older age exponentially more difficult than it needs to be.

"The dementia link is significant," said Bissell, "but I don't think that's well understood by people with diabetes. They have so many other health problems,

and they have so many people beating on them about their weight because of those health problems."

Almost 27 million Americans age 65 and older - more than one-fourth of that age group - have Type 2 diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

An additional half of all people in that demographic are pre-diabetic, with blood sugar levels high enough to cause concern. While new diabetes cases have

soared especially high in the South, the overall national rate has doubled since 1995.

Without a major public health awakening, the CDC projects that one-third of all Americans will have the disease by mid-century.

"We see the effects of the diabetes epidemic every day," said Dr. Kimberly Buss, Sutter Medical Foundation's medical director of diabetes education. "We used

to get 100 new cases referred to us every month. Now it's 400 or 500 a month.

"And as the proportion of people 65 and older goes up, the total prevalence of diabetes will increase."

Type 2 diabetes results when the body can't produce the hormone insulin or when it has become resistant to the insulin it produces. (Weight and inactivity

help create insulin problems, though researchers don't know why.) Without insulin to whisk glucose into the cells for use as energy, damaging levels of sugar

build up in the bloodstream.

Many people develop excessive thirst, fatigue, blurred vision, darkened neck folds and other symptoms that lead them to seek help. But many, like Richardson,

have few symptoms before routine blood work provides diagnosis.

The good news is that unlike Type 1 diabetes — an autoimmune disorder with onset in childhood — Type 2 diabetes often can be prevented by healthy lifestyle

habits: walking 30 minutes five times each week and eating a balanced diet.

It's a simple solution to the epidemic. But by the millions, people don't do it.

The consequences are steep. Type 2 diabetes cannot be cured, though evidence indicates weight loss surgery might help reverse it. Generally, with diligence,

the illness can be managed, so complications never occur.

Buss finds that newly diagnosed older patients tend to take diabetes education seriously, even when they're already dealing with other chronic ailments.

"They take their diagnosis as the motivation they need to truly make dramatic changes," said Buss. "It's a catalyst for them. They're just at the point of

retiring from work. They have the time to focus."

And since the most devastating complications often take a decade or two to develop, people diagnosed at 65 still have time to prevent the damage.

"We often see folks in this age range really embrace the changes," she said.

The risk of Type 2 diabetes increases as we age and prevention is key, said Dr. Sol Jacobs, division of endocrinology at Emory Clinic. While some risk

factors such as age and family history are not modifiable, changing certain behaviors can make a difference. But starting early, even in young children, is

important, he said. Here are a few tips to help stave off the condition.

    A good diet that excludes refined carbohydrates such as candy or cake. Stick with veggies and whole grain carbohydrates, said Dr. Jacobs. Also avoid any

saturated and trans fats.
    Exercise as tolerated under a physician's supervision. Even moderate weight loss — 5 to 10 percent over six months— has been shown to make a

difference, said Dr. Jacobs. The exercise should include moderate aerobic activity, which for someone who is inactive can be in the range of 15 to 30 minutes

every day or every other day.
    Though diet and weight loss are better at preventing diabetes, committing to lifestyle changes can be tough. There is evidence that in patients at high-

risk for diabetes or suffering with pre-diabetes, the medication Metformin can prevent the progression of the disease. But medication is not a cure-all.

Anyone who takes Metformin should still make changes to his or her diet and begin exercising.

Madonna supports Russian rockers on trial for speaking out against Putin

Madonna, who has voiced her support for the three Russian rockers that are on trial for performing a "punk prayer" against Vladimir Putin, says she is

hopeful that the feminist rockers will be released soon.

Pictures: Madonna

The pop star told the AP during her concert tour of Russia that she supports freedom of speech and hopes the judge will show leniency.

"I'm against censorship, so I hope that the judge is lenient with them and that they are freed soon," she said.

Two weeks before Putin's return to the presidency in March's election, the three members of the Pussy Riot band high-kicked and danced in Moscow's main

cathedral while singing "Virgin Mary, drive Putin away!"

The three were arrested, and have spent five months in custody on charges of hooliganism. They face seven years in prison if convicted.

International rights groups have called them prisoners of conscience.

HCA Holdings, American Capital Mortgage Investment Crp Among Stocks Down on High Volume Monday

There are a few stocks that are down on high volume today:

    HCA Holdings (HCA) is trading down on above-average volume today, seeing a price drop on a volume of 6.9 million, or 3.4 times its average daily volume.

Shares are down 7.5% to $24.60. Over the last month, the share price has dropped $3.81 (-13.4%) from $28.41 on July 6, 2012. The stock has moved down across

its 200-day moving average of $26.20 today.

    Trading at a volume of 1.1 million, or 2.5 times its average daily volume, American Capital Mortgage Investment Crp (MTGE) is down on high volume today.

The stock price is $23.80, reflecting a 3.2% decrease. The share price has been declining in the last month, down $1.03 (-4.1%) from $24.83 on July 6, 2012.

The stock is trading 5.2% above its 200-day moving average.

    Exelixis (EXEL) is trading down on a volume of 4.1 million, or 1.9 times its normal daily volume. The stock is down 8.6% to $5.10. Shares are down $1.35

(-20.9%) from a price of $6.45 on July 30, 2012. The stock has moved down across its 200-day moving average of $5.28 today.

    Tesco Corporation (TESO) is seeing its price fall on above-normal volume today, as 649,690 shares have moved, or 3.2 times its average daily volume. The

stock price has slipped 14.5% to $10.31. The stock is down over the last three months, having fallen $3.59 (-25.8%) from $13.90 on May 9, 2012. The stock has

moved down across its 50-day moving average of $11.47 today.

    FreightCar America (RAIL) is down on high volume today, trading with volume of 204,211, or 3.1 times its average daily volume. Trading at $18.85, the

stock is down 10.2%. The stock has been losing steam over the last month, decreasing $2.96 (-13.6%) from a price of $21.81 on July 6, 2012. The stock has

moved down across its 50-day moving average of $20.85 today.

    Assisted Living Concepts (ALC) is trading down on above-normal volume today, seeing a price drop on a volume of 318,392, or 2.9 times its average daily

volume. Shares are down 15.9% to $10.82. The stock is trading at 77.3% of its 50-day moving average and 71.1% of its 200-day moving average.

    Today, Solar Senior Capital (SUNS) is down on high volume, trading at a volume of 102,791, or 3.1 times its average daily volume. Shares have dropped

1.3% to $17.20. Shares are up over the last two months, having risen 66 cents (4%) from a price of $16.54 on June 7, 2012. The stock has dropped a step

closer to its 50-day moving average, sitting just 1.8% above the mark.

    Neostem (NBS) is trading down on a volume of 2.2 million, or 1.8 times its normal daily volume. The stock price had dipped 10.6% to 72 cents. The stock

is trading 15.4% above its 50-day moving average and 27.2% above its 200-day moving average.

    CVD Equipment Corporation (CVV) is trading down on a volume of 126,696, or three times its average daily volume. The stock is down 8.2% to $10.02. The

stock has fallen over the last three months, dropping $4.45 (-30.8%) from $14.47 on May 9, 2012. The stock is trading at 82.7% of its 50-day moving average

and 79.1% of its 200-day moving average.

Disagreements within the 17

Disagreements within the 17-nation euro area are undermining the future of the European Union, said Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Monti as the stand-off on

European Central Bank support for Italian and Spanish debt hardened.

“The tensions that have accompanied the euro zone in the past years are already showing signs of a psychological dissolution of Europe,” he told Germany’s

Spiegel magazine in an interview published yesterday. “I can only welcome the ECB’s statement that there is a ‘severe malfunctioning’ in the market for

government bonds in the euro region. It’s also true that some countries have to shoulder ‘extraordinarily high’ costs to finance their debts. That’s

exactly what I’ve been saying for a long time.” He urged swift action to lower borrowing rates.
Investors and politicians are still grappling with the significance of comments on sovereign debt purchases by European Central Bank President Mario Draghi

last week. While markets initially tumbled on Aug. 2 after Draghi said Spain and Italy would have to formally request a resumption of the bank’s bond

buying, they rallied the following day as investors concluded that ECB action would occur, albeit on an unknown future date.

“The ECB did not restart its bond purchases this week, as widely expected, but pointed to a more important and constructive shift in its approach to

managing the crisis,” Bruce Kasman, chief economist at JPMorgan Chase & Co., said in an Aug. 3 note to clients. “If the arrangement sketched out is fully

implemented, the ECB will provide an effective liquidity backstop, enabling sovereigns to retain access to markets for a large portion of their funding

needs.”
Italian Yields

Spain’s 10-year bond yield rose as high as 7.44 percent after Draghi’s press conference, before ending the week at 6.77 percent. Yields on Italy’s

similarly dated bonds rose to 6.28 percent and ended the week at 6.01 percent. That compares with 1.42 percent for 10-year German debt.

Monti said Italy was effectively helping German borrowing costs as the federal government benefited from its neighbors’ rates.

“The high yields Italy has to pay right now subsidize the low ones Germany is paying,” he told Spiegel. “Without that risk, the yields on German

government bonds would be somewhat higher.”

Spain and Italy, whose borrowing costs have become a key indicator of the euro-area crisis, meanwhile suggested that bailout requests may not be imminent or

necessary.
Bond Buying

The Spanish Economy Minister Luis de Guindos told ABC newspaper at the weekend that his country awaits details of the ECB’s bond-buying proposals before

deciding whether to request aid. Both Italian Bank of Italy Governor Ignazio Visco and Minister for Economic Development Corrado Passera said in separate

newspaper interviews that the country doesn’t need a bailout.

Visco told La Repubblica newspaper that markets had initially misunderstood Draghi’s comments.

“Not only did the ECB not take any steps backward, but it took decisive steps forward to correct the functioning of monetary policy transmission, and

therefore of the stability of the single currency,” he told the newspaper.

Draghi’s plans to reactivate the ECB’s bond purchase program generated some critical comment in Germany. Former ECB Chief Economist Otmar Issing said price

stability is “massively threatened,” Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung reported yesterday, while Juergen Stark, Issing’s successor, said the ECB is

being asked to act outside its mandate, faces conflicts of interest and is losing its independence, the same newspaper said.
Vacation Time

There was no official German reaction to Draghi’s statements, partly because it’s vacation time across Europe.

Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is in his native Galicia, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is walking in the Italian Alps, and French President Francois

Hollande is staying at an official vacation residence in the South of France.

Euro-area finance chiefs won’t meet until Sept. 3 to discuss possible Spanish bond buying and the economic situation in Greece, Italian news agency Ansa

reported Aug. 3, citing unidentified European officials. European governments would not confirm the meeting. The next meeting of the ECB’s governing council

is Sept. 6.

Monti also appealed for European governments not to be overly bound by their parliaments.

“Of course every government has to follow its parliament’s decisions,” he told Spiegel. “But every government also has the duty to educate the parliament

” or risk making a euro-area breakup more likely.
‘Anti-Democratic’

Hans Michelbach, a lawmaker representing the coalition Christian Social Union, said in an e-mailed statement that elements of Monti’s comments are “anti-

democratic” and incompatible with European principles. Michael Meister, the deputy leader in parliament of Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union, called for

“not less, but more democracy in Europe,” Tagesspiegel newspaper reported after Monti’s remarks.

The so-called “Troika” of the International Monetary Fund, the ECB, and the European Commission, held its latest talks with the Greek government about the

progress of its aid program.

“We made a lot of good progress,” Poul Thomsen, the IMF’s representative to Athens said after the meeting ended yesterday. “We’ll take a break now and

come back in early September.”

Movie reviews: ‘Searching for Sugar Man,’ ‘Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry’

Biography of enigmatic musician Sixto Rodriguez. Not rated. Angelika, Lincoln Plaza.

“How do you solve a mystery?” Malik Bendjelloul’s outstanding debut documentary suggests that “you use whatever information is available.” Bendjelloul

starts there, in his captivating search for the long-lost musician Sixto Rodriguez. But then he keeps going, drawing so much meaning from his discoveries

that he winds up turning Rodriguez’s very life into art itself.

Born and raised in Detroit, Rodriguez was a political folk singer who released two striking albums in the early ’70s. Virtually no one cared. Except, by

some random miracle, in South Africa, where he became “bigger than Elvis” and inspired a generation of anti-apartheid activists.
 With no idea of these developments, he remained in Detroit, working hard labor and skirting homelessness. And then ... what? Did he really kill himself

onstage, as fans insisted? Did he disappear into the streets? Or did something else happen entirely?

Though Bendjelloul solves that central mystery, he leaves other threads untied. It’s a wise and appropriately jarring choice, a reminder that we aren’t

entitled to know everything about our idols. What’s more important is the power of their art, to speak to our souls and possibly even change our lives.

Rodriguez’s story is almost inconceivable in an obsessively magnified, heavily hyped Internet era. Which makes it all the more important to be shared.

Listen, be moved, and pass it on.

AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY — 3 stars

Biography of the celebrated Chinese artist-dissident (1:31). R: Language. IFC Center. In English and Mandarin with subtitles.

Alison Klayman’s chronicle of Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei is so straightforward that one can’t help wishing the subject would make his own, more

complex cinematic self-portrait. But for now, Klayman has provided a valuable introduction to a man everyone should know.

In 2011, Ai showcased his art worldwide, was a finalist for Time’s Person of the Year, and was jailed by his own government. Klayman mostly documents the

work that led up to his arrest, including several direct provocations with law enforcement.

We also learn about his early years in Manhattan, the birth of a child he never expected to have, and the mother who still worries — with reason — about

his heroically rebellious spirit. This is Klayman’s first film, and she’s unable to transcend the limits of her too-traditional biographical structure.

But Ai is such a compelling figure that it’s worthwhile to learn more about him in every way we can.