Many blacks worry about Obama's safety

By DAVID CRARY, AP National Writer 2 hours, 15 minutes ago

NEW YORK - For many black Americans, it's a conversation they find hard to avoid, revisiting old fears in the light of bright new hopes.
They watch with wonder as Barack Obama moves ever closer to becoming America's first black president. And they ask themselves, their family, their friends: Is he at risk? Will he be safe?
There is, of course, no sure answer. But interviews with blacks across the country, prominent and otherwise, suggest that lingering worries are outweighed by enthusiasm and determination.
"You can't have lived through the civil rights movement and know something about the history of African-Americans in this country and not be a little concerned," said Edna Medford, a history professor at Washington's Howard University.
"But African-Americans are more concerned that Obama get the opportunity to do the best he can," she added. "And if he wins, most of us believe the country would do for him what it would do for any president, that he will be as well protected as any of them."
Clyde Barrett, 66, a longtime U.S. Labor Department employee now retired in Tampa, Fla., says he often hears expressions of concern for Obama's safety. One young acquaintance, Barrett said, declared he wouldn't even vote for Obama for fear of exposing him to more danger.
"To me that's a cop-out, where you can't take a stand and support someone because you fear for his safety," Barrett said. "I don't have any apprehension ... We've got to go ahead and persevere."
For many older blacks, the barometer for gauging hopes and fears is the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
But concern about Obama's safety transcends racial lines. He has white supporters who see him as an inspiring, youthful advocate of change in the mold of Robert F. Kennedy, and they are mindful of Kennedy's assassination just two months after King's.
Pam Hart, the principal of a multiracial elementary school in the Philadelphia suburb of Cheltenham, said she is struck by the contrast between some of the black students there, innocently excited about Obama's candidacy, and the more anxious perspective of older people who lived through the violence of the 1960s.
"My 70-year-old aunt — every time I call her, she says she's really afraid Obama is going to be assassinated. She is so worried that history will repeat itself," said Hart, who is 40. "I understand why she's afraid, but I feel we live in a different world now."
Bruce Gordon, a New York-based business leader and former president of the NAACP, also feels the climate has changed dramatically — as evidenced by the strong nationwide support that Obama is receiving from whites as well as blacks.
Gordon felt differently back in the mid-1990s, when Gen. Colin Powell was weighing a run for the presidency, and Powell's wife, Alma, was among those voicing concern about his safety.
"When Powell decided not to run, I said to myself, 'Good,' because I thought someone would kill him," Gordon recalled. "This time, I think that if, out of fear, we keep our most talented people from running for office, it will never happen.
"Yes, there's a risk, but I would never want it to be in the way," Gordon added. "In running, Barack Obama has to accept the fact that he faces a risk. And yes, we pray for him."
Obama received Secret Service protection last May — the earliest ever for any presidential candidate. At the time, federal officials said they were not aware of any direct threats to Obama, but Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin — who was among those recommending the Secret Service deployment — acknowledged receiving information, some with racial overtones, that made him concerned for Obama's safety.
Obama's campaign, invited this week to comment on the concerns felt by many blacks, referred to a speech given by the candidate's wife, Michelle, to a mostly black audience in South Carolina last fall.
"I know people care about Barack and our family. I know people want to protect us and themselves from disappointment," she said, before urging people to cast fear aside.
"If you're willing to heed Coretta Scott King's words and not be afraid of the future ... there's no challenge we can't overcome," she said.
Obama himself, while acknowledging that his family and friends are concerned about his safety, has drawn a contrast with King.
"He didn't have Secret Service protection," Obama told TV host Tavis Smiley last fall. "I can't even comprehend the degree of courage that was required, and look what he did."
Sherry Miles, 45, of Madison Heights, Va., said she's had sobering talks about Obama's safety with her friends and her mother.
"People who want to bring drastic change bring a certain fear among those who don't want change," Miles said. "You look back at our history, and all of the people who tried to bring about change were killed or threatened."
Miles, who works for Virginia's Department of Mental Health, said she was troubled listening to a recent local radio show in which one female caller termed Obama "the devil" and falsely asserted that he was Muslim.
"It's ill-informed people like her who concern me," Miles said. "I'm very pleased that Obama is there, doing so well. But at the same time I'm fearful someone will try to hurt him."
Bryan Monroe, Chicago-based editorial director for Ebony magazine, said the risk faced by Obama "is in the back of people's minds," but that their worries are often superseded by excitement that he could win. Their No. 1 question, Monroe says, "is could this really happen in our lifetime?"
Yvonne Scruggs-Leftwich, a former executive director of the Black Leadership Forum, noted that political leaders of any race face risks in a society where mass shootings and other violence by aggrieved or deranged assailants is all too common.
It is troubling, she said, to acknowledge such dangers at the very moment when Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton are demonstrating the historic opportunities available to blacks and women.
"We cannot be crippled by fear. That's the overwhelming emotion in the African-American community," Scruggs-Leftwich said. "We have to do the American thing: We buckle up and keep going."

Why Your Workouts Don't Work

Did you know the average health club exerciser quits after just six months for one of the following reasons:
Not Enough Time
Not Seeing Results Sadly, most people become frustrated and quit exercising before they see any real results. But it's not surprising given the common mistakes many people make with their training programs. Are you making these workout mistakes?
Common Reasons Your Workouts Don't Work
All Quantity, No QualityTake a look around the gym (if you haven't quit going yet) and see how many people are really getting a quality workout. I'm always amazed by how many people are wandering aimlessly, walking leisurely on a treadmill while reading a book, lifting weights so light that not one hair moves out of place, or simply look bored. A lot of exercisers head to the gym out of habit, and as if on automatic pilot, put in some time and head back to work or home. If you are one of these people, ask yourself, "What do I want to get out of this?" If you want serious results, you need to do serious exercise. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy it and have fun. But it does means you need to focus on what you are doing and increase the quality of every movement. Once you start exercising with a real purpose and pushing both your aerobic capacity and your strength you will find your workouts take half the time and give better results. Also See:Tips for More Effective TrainingEfficient Strength TrainingHow to use the Perceived Exertion Scale
Overestimating Your ExerciseMost exercisers are far too generous with estimates of exercise intensity and time, weight lifted and the frequency of their workouts. To avoid overestimating it's helpful to keep an exercise log and track these items. Additionally, many people mistakingly believe that if they exercise at a moderate pace for 30 minutes they have burned lots and lots of calories and fat. Unfortunately, it's not that simple. While exercise does burn calories over time and consistent exercise is one of the best ways to lose weight and keep it off, it's hard to lose body fat through exercise alone. Which brings us to the next mistake. . . Also See:Why Short, High-Intensity Exercise Burns More CaloriesHow Much Exercise Does It Take?
Underestimating Your EatingMany people are in denial about the foods they eat and especially the quantity consumed. If you really want to lose weight you need to be honest with yourself about what you put into your mouth and how that helps or hinders your weight loss goals. To get real with yourself, write it down. Tracking what you eat in a food diary will help you break the cycle of food denial. (Besides, you are the only one who needs to know). Also See:Nutrition for Optimal Performance
Doing the Wrong Type of WorkoutWhere did you learn your current exercise routine? Watching others at the gym (who are exercising incorrectly)? From your friends, coworkers, the web, tv, newspaper, the latest research findings, or perhaps your 5th grade gym teacher? What you are doing for exercise directly determines the results you will get. To learn what you should do, there is no better place to start then by writing down your goals and then working with a professional trainer to design the right workout to meet those goals. Haphazard exercise will provide haphazard results. Also See:The Exercise PrescriptionHow to Design Your Own Exercise Program
Never Changing Your Workout When you do the same thing day after day, you get very good at it. In exercise this is called the principle of adaptation. It basically means that we become very efficient by doing the same exercise over and over. This is great for sports performance, but not that great for weight lose, strength increases or physical fitness progression. If you always do the same workout for the same amount of time you will eventually hit a plateau where you fail to see any additional change. One way of overcoming this plateau is to modify your workouts every few weeks or months. You can change the type of exercise you do, the length, the amount of weight lifted or the number or reps. This is why professional athletes change their program during the off-season. Also See:The Principles of ConditioningBreaking Through Exercise Plateaus Crosstraining Principles
Using Incorrect Form or TechniqueLearning the right way to exercise is essential to getting results. Form does matter, especially when doing any strength training exercise. Incorrect form or technique also sets you up for potential injuries, pain and soreness. To learn proper technique, there is no better place to start than with a personal trainer or coach. Also See:Do You Need a Personal Trainer?
Setting Unrealistic GoalsSo, what are your goals? Are they realistic for you? If your goal is to be the next Lance Armstrong, and you only have 30 minutes a day to train, or wanting to lose 25 pounds in a month, well, how realistic is that? Again, it comes back to being honest with yourself about your abilities, your level of commitment and your lifestyle. We need to set appropriate goals that start from where we are and progress at an attainable pass or we are sure to get frustrated and quit. Also See:Goal Setting for ExerciseGetting Started and Sticking with Exercise
Measuring the Wrong ResultsMany people think their workout isn't working because they don't measure the right things. Looking for proof in a scale is often a set-up for disappointment because some new exercisers build muscle and lose fat, but the scale doesn't provide information about body composition. Better ways to measure your fitness progress include tracking your heart rate at a given pace, measuring the distance you can cover in a certain amount of time, tracking the amount of weight you can lift, or even writing down how you feel -- physically -- at the end of each day. Many of the benefits from exercise are subtle and not visible by looking into the mirror, but things such as cholesterol level, blood pressure, and the ease with which you can do daily chores are every bit as motivating -- if you monitor them. Also See:The Many Benefits of Exercise

How to Change Your Workout to Get the Results You Want
By Elizabeth Quinn, About.com
Updated: January 25, 2008
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Medical Review Board

detox diet

Nutrition & Fitness
Detoxing: The Big Clean
Detox diet: Do or don't?

News items about the health effects of many popular foods inspire us to think in new ways about what we eat, what we shouldn't eat, and what it's doing to our body. If you're ready to put down the bag of Doritos, large Frappuccino, or box of Oreos and commit to eating better, you might want to consider detoxing.
Here, registered dietitian and American Dietetic Association spokesperson Lisa Dorfman discusses detoxing and whether it's right for you.
What is detoxing?
Detoxing boosts your body's nutritional intake and sheds toxins such as processed food chemicals and environmental pollutants, Dorfman says. This weeklong process involves eating a nutritious, well-balanced diet, drinking plenty of water and clear fluids, and getting enough rest. You can also include light-to-moderate exercises in your routine.
Who should detox?
Detoxing is a good choice for people with diets consistently low in one or more essential nutrients, such as certain vitamins or minerals, fibre, probiotics or antioxidants, Dorfman says. "A dietitian can help you analyze what you're missing and what you need more of."
Who shouldn't detox?
Dorfman says individuals should avoid detoxing, or talk to their doctor or dietitian first, if they:
are under 18
are pregnant or lactating
have a gastrointestinal disorder such as Crohn's disease or gastritis
have an autoimmune disease such as lupus or arthritis
are training for an endurance event
have any other serious health condition not listed here
Which foods should I eat?
Divine detox foods Dorfman says should make up a balanced diet include:
whole-grain cereals, pastas, and breads: high in vitamin B, fibre and minerals
probiotic yogurt: rich in calcium and protein, and the live cultures aid in digestion
whole fruits, especially acid fruits such as orange, grapefruit, lemon, pineapples, and tangerines. If you are taking any medications, check with your pharmacist to see if it's safe for you to have grapefruit or grapefruit juice.
cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts and arugula: high in vital vitamins and minerals, fibre, antioxidants, and isothiocyanates, which help your body break down potential carcinogens
salmon: low in saturated fat and calories, high in protein, and a source of omega-3 fatty acids, which promote heart health
water and clear natural juices: digest most easily and keep you hydrated
When should I detox?
Consider scheduling your detox around the new year - a time of renewal for many - or during spring cleaning, since you're already in an out-with-the-old, in-with-the-new mentality, Dorfman says. Detoxing a few times a year is beneficial, she says: like your car, your body also requires regular maintenance. Ideally, you might begin incorporating some or all elements of your detox diet into your regular diet.
What are the benefits?
Eating better is your body's ticket to improving your energy, preventing long-term health problems, and achieving a general sense of wellness. "When you're healthy and confident in your body, it affects your whole life," Dorfman explains. "You feel better, you're more productive at work, you feel more inspired to liven up your marriage, run a marathon - anything you put your mind to."More:
The real deal on detoxing

Albanians in Canada say Kosovo's independence shouldn't raise fears about Quebec

By Merita Ilo, The Canadian Press

TORONTO - Undeterred by the freezing rain and low temperatures, thousands of jubilant Albanian-Canadians gathered Sunday in Toronto to celebrate the newly-declared independence of Kosovo, eagerly waiting to hear if Ottawa would recognize their homeland's changed status.
But there was no word from the Conservative government Sunday and a spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs repeated a comment from the previous day that "the government is still discussing the decision."
Kosovo's parliament declared the territory's independence from Serbia on Sunday. The historic move was backed by the United States and a number of European countries, but Serbia immediately denounced the declaration as illegal. Russia also rejected it, demanding an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
"The best thing for Kosovo and the region was to have a United Nations Security Council resolution," said Robert Austin, a University of Toronto professor who teaches the history and politics of southeastern Europe at the Munk Centre for International Studies.
"That would have given everybody, even those opposed to Kosovo's independence, a more or less easy out," said Austin, who was in Kosovo's capital of Pristina Sunday with a group of U of T undergraduate students doing field research.
"The atmosphere is one of tremendous excitement," Austin told The Canadian Press by telephone, as hundreds of thousands of people celebrated in the streets holding pro-US and pro-European signs and flags.
"It's mostly Albanian flags ...but also a tremendous amount of U.S. flags with a scatter here and there of the odd Canadian flag and the odd European Union flag," said Austin.
The similarities between Kosovo's drive for independence and Quebec's separatist aspirations are believed to be behind Ottawa's reluctance to join its traditional Western allies in supporting the independence of Europe's youngest state, speculate some political experts.
But Austin argued the Kosovo situation is not comparable to the situation in Quebec and ethnic Albanian community leaders in Canada expressed their frustration with the analogy.
Albert Xhaferri, one of the organizer of the Toronto rally said he understands that "it might be an issue within the Canadian government."
"But here we are talking about two different things - Kosovo and Quebec - they're completely two different issues, nobody in Quebec has been prosecuted from the Canadian government, nobody has been beaten or killed for that matter. In Kosovo it happened," he said.
But a retired Canadian general who commanded UN troops during the Bosnian war of 1992 warned that the message Kosovo is sending to a number of independent minded movements around the world is troubling.
"It's a wrong decision," Maj.-Gen. Lewis MacKenzie told The Canadian Press.
"The potential ripple effect is quite staggering, " said MacKenzie, who's been a long-time opponent of NATO's intervention in Kosovo.
MacKenzie said some countries' willingness to recognize Kosovo's independence stemmed from their willingness to have NATO intervene there militarily in 1999.
"I think people are trying to perhaps right a historical wrong and get it off the table but this thing ain't going away any time soon," MacKenzie warned .
"This is going to cause some serious, serious repercussions internationally, in my opinion."
It's because of those repercussions that a number of countries with separatist minded ethnic groups like Spain, Greece, Georgia and Cyprus have said they will not recognize an independent Kosovo.
The ethnic Albanian community is worried Canada may decide to join the company of those countries, but so far has refrained from publicly criticizing the government. They say they'll always be grateful to Canada for participating in the NATO military campaign and for taking in thousands of refugees after the war ended.
However, thousands of people wrapped in Albanian and Canadian flags, singing traditional songs and displaying national symbols, thousands of people gathered in front of Ontario's legislature building in Toronto, urging Canada to act fast.
"This is a great day of celebration and hope, but also an occasion for reflection and determination," read the letter that a group of Albanian community leaders sent to Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Sunday.
"As proud citizens of this country, with strong roots to our homeland, we ask that the Canadian government ... reflect on this new development by not delaying what is deemed as a coherent step: the recognition of the Republic of Kosova," said the letter, calling the new country by the name ethnic Albanians call it.

Irish pub, French language watchdog battle over vintage signs, service

By Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press

MONTREAL - It appears a few pints of beer won't be sufficient to douse the latest language tensions brewing in Montreal - this time, Quebec's language watchdog is frothing over a popular watering hole cluttered with classic Irish signage and English-only posters.
The wall hangings at McKibbin's Irish Pub include vintage advertisements for Guinness and Harp as well as other traditional fare like Palethorpes Pork Pies.
The owners of the popular hangout say it all just adds to the charm and ambience of the downtown watering hole.
Still, the Office quebecois de la langue francaise says complaints about the English-only signs, an English-only chalkboard menu and English-only service prompted it to send the pub owners a letter wanting answers.
"What we asked them were what measures would be taken to ensure that service would be offered in French because we received two complaints," Office spokesman Gerald Paquette said in an interview Friday.
"If the business says some of those pictures are decorative to give the pub an Irish flavour, it is certain we would exempt them from the charter rules," Paquette said. "But there were other posters also, notably ones about contests and events, that were in English only."
The brewhaha has prompted the pub's co-owners to extend an invite to Premier Jean Charest to stop by for a hearty meal and a pint and inspect the signs himself.
Dean Laderoute and Rick Fon say they'll remove the signs if Charest believes they violate the Quebec language law.
"An Irish pub without these decorations is just an empty box," Fon said in an interview. "It's the decor, the pictures, the clutter, it creates the warmth."
Fon also says they have bilingual menus and that his regulars, including a considerable French clientele, all agree the complaints are ridiculous.
"It makes no sense, it's silly," said regular Suzette L'Abbe.
"The staff, if not French-speaking to begin with, get by in French," L'Abbe added.
The pub could face fines as high as $1,500 for each infraction.
The pub skirmish is the latest battle over the question of whether there is enough French spoken in downtown Montreal.
The ever-bubbling issue of language has resurfaced in recent months, beginning with a report in Le Journal de Montreal about the ease of obtaining employment downtown with a limited knowledge of French.
Other controversies have included the language of instruction for tots in day care and the use of English on the automated call-answering systems of Quebec government departments.
The debate promises to get even more heated next month when the language watchdog releases a study on language trends in the province.
Paquette says McKibbin's has 30 days to come up with answers and if the issue goes further, a legal warning would be sent and Quebec's attorney general would decide on penalties and fines.
English-rights activist Gary Shapiro believes the whole language pot started stirring again with the so-called reasonable accommodation debate and has been fuelled since by politicians and a small group of malcontents.
"It's basic harassment," said Shapiro.
"Are they going to come into our homes and our bedrooms next?," Shapiro asked. "Where is it going to end?"

Quebec language police nab Montreal bar for vintage posters

Last Updated: Thursday, February 14, 2008 6:10 PM ET
CBC News
An Irish pub in Montreal will fight an order from Quebec's language watchdog to take down antique advertising posters from its walls.
The Office de la langue francaise (OLF) issued the order to McKibbins Irish Pub on Feb. 6, informing the tavern it was violating Quebec's language charter by displaying the imported vintage posters.
The wall hangings include vintage advertisements for Guinness and St. James Gate Dublin, imported from Ireland.
McKibbins owner Rick Fon told CBC News he will not take the posters down because they serve as decoration, not to advertise beer.
The OLF said it received a complaint about the pub and sent an inspector to investigate the downtown watering hole.
The inspector ruled McKibbins' bilingual menu, bar service and vintage posters do not respect article 58 of Quebec's language charter.
The OLF was not available for comment on Thursday.

Irish pub in trouble with Quebec language cops for vintage English-only signs

By The Canadian Press

MONTREAL - The latest language skirmish in Quebec is turning into a real brewhaha.
Quebec's language watchdog is frothing at the mouth because of unilingual-English signs in a popular downtown Irish pub that showcase beers such as "Harp" and "Caffrey."
Dean Laderoute and Rick Fon, co-owners of McKibbins Irish Pub, are inviting Jean Charest in for a pint and say they will remove any sign the premier believes violates Quebec's language laws.
The Office quebecois de la langue francaise is cracking down on the English promotional posters and paraphernalia adorning the pub's walls.
Laderoute and Fon say the posters are simply decor and do not advertise anything the pub is selling.
The pub could face fines as high as $1,500 for each infraction.
-
MONTREAL - The Office quebecois de la langue francaise is investigating a pub in downtown Montreal for English-only signs promoting Irish beers such as "Harp" and "Caffrey." Here are some other cases over the years that have attracted the interest of the language watchdog or people seeking to protect the French language:
1996:(at) - A woman warns the owner of a Quebec pet store she might get in touch with language authorities because Peekaboo, the parrot she wanted to buy, didn't speak French.
1999:(at) - The Old Navy chain is asked to rename its stores "La Vieille Riviere." It never happens.
2000:(at) - The owner of an Indian restaurant is told he's breaking the law by having coasters for "Double Diamond," a British beer.
2001:(at) Some people express disappointment that race-car driver Jacques Villeneuve calls his restaurant "Newtown."
2005:(at) Language authorities say they will investigate complaints that Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay's party used the word "Go" on its posters and pamphlets, as in "Go Montreal."
2007:(at) - Imperial Oil says it will keep its Quebec-only "Marche Express" name for its Esso gas stations after protests surfaced regarding a proposal to change the name to "On The Run" as they are known elsewhere in North America.
2007:(at) About 50 people protest outside a Second Cup outlet to demonstrate against the words "Les cafes" being dropped from "Les cafes Second Cup" at some of the chain's outlets.
2007:(at) Language activists decry the fact that callers to many Quebec government offices are told to "press nine" for English before instructions are delivered in French. Some of the departments have since changed the message to put English at the end.

rrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Im feeling not good today. Out of sight out of mind. Is it really true?
Recently I have been thinking this expression quite works, unfortunetly.
I can't say my mind with just a sentence but it's certain that Im quite curious about our realationship.
Few days ago, He said he would call me. However, he didn't.. I know he is hard working, busy. Most saddiest thing was I had been waiting for his call. I dont wanna disturb during his work, so I had just waiting at home instead of calling him directly. Moreover, I turned on MSN messenger almost whole day. We can't see each other since I came in Korea. I know our situation is pretty hard to have a good realation. However, in my point of view, at least we should try as soon as we can. I need to talk with him about this. I hope everthying gonna be alright, cuz I have been tired a littl bit......=(