More Women Seek Legislative Office

TRENTON, N.J. - More women are running for state legislative seats than ever before, a group that tracks women's involvement in American politics said Monday.

A record 2,431 women are running for state legislative seats on Nov. 7, 56 more than the previous record of 2,375 set in 1992, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University's Eagleton Institute.

"To see an increase is a good sign, but one year does not make a trend," said Debbie Walsh, the center's head. "It's taken us 14 years to break the old record."

It's important to see women running for and winning election to their state legislatures because the seats provide a …

Finland plans Internet access to all by 2010

Finland plans to provide fast Internet access to all homes and offices by July.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications says telecom operators must be able to provide "every residence and business office with access to a reasonably priced and high-quality connection" with a …

Changing of the guard

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Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Result

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Pakistan and Sri Lanka drew the first test at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in a match dominated by two double centuries by Taufeeq Umar and Kumar Sangakkara.

___

Scores:

Sri …

Police, paramilitary troops greet Olympic torch as it passes through riot-hit capital of Tibet

Hundreds of police and paramilitary troops stood watch and hand-picked onlookers cheered as the Olympic torch passed through the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, the scene of bloody anti-government riots three months earlier.

No disruptions were reported Saturday although the overall mood was far more subdued than during the torch's earlier travels elsewhere in China.

The city, which has been under a security lockdown since the March riots, all but closed down for Saturday's relay, with streets deserted and shops closed. A security cordon was thrown around central Potala Square, with costumed performers taking the place of Buddhist pilgrims who visit to turn …

Children's Hospital nurse, music lover

PAUL 'STERNO' BAUMANN 1961-2006

At first glance, Paul "Sterno" Baumann might have seemed less likea deep intellectual ready to roll off a pun about an obscure 19thcentury historical fact and more like a Harley-riding fixture atlocal clubs like the Metro or Fitzgerald's.

He was both . . . and then some.

"The thing about him is he was really into everything -- it wasexhausting," said Benn Greenspan, Mr. Baumann's stepfather. "He'dmake birch bark canoes like Lakeland Native Americans made. He gothis nickname because . . . being so big, he always ended up in thestern of the canoe.

"He'd trek out to the western suburbs to take bagpipe lessons,"added …

Profiting from the Plains: The Great Northern Railway and Corporate Development of the American West

Profiting from the Plains: The Great Northern Railway and Corporate Development of the American West. By Claire Strom. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2003. x + 228 pp. Photographs, illustrations, maps, bibliography, notes, index. Cloth, $35. ISBN: 0-295-98348-5.

Farming in the northern plains states has never been easy. Even during the "wet years" of the late nineteenth century, yields on the northern plains were relatively low compared with the harvests of their southern neighbors. If farmers on the northern plains had one advantage, it was the railroad. By the turn of the century, the Northern Pacific Railroad, the Great Northern Railway, and a host of smaller local …

India opener Gambhir banned for one test

India opener Gautam Gambhir was banned for one test Friday for elbowing Australian bowler Shane Watson during the first day of the third test.

Gambhir, who pleaded guilty to the Level 2 offense, will miss the final test of the series against Australia in Nagpur from Thursday, barring a successful appeal. The Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary N Srinivasan confirmed there would be an appeal.

Match referee Chris Broad told Gambhir of the decision before the third day's play, having considered the evidence overnight after Thursday's hearing on the charge of not conducting play "within the spirit of the game as well as within the laws of …

Dance

Midnight Tango Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-On-Sea Monday, July 18to 23 Strictly Come Dancing's Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace havecreated their own show - a breathtaking mix of drama, sensuality andelegance. The show is set in a late night bar in downtown …

Rapper Remy Ma Arrested in NYC Shooting

NEW YORK - Grammy-nominated rapper Remy Ma was arrested Saturday on charges of attempted murder in a shooting outside a trendy Manhattan nightspot, police said.

The 26-year-old rapper, whose real name is Remy Smith, had been sought for questioning in the shooting of a 23-year-old woman early Saturday after a verbal dispute near a bar in the Meatpacking District. She reported to police Saturday evening and was also arrested on charges of assault and criminal possession of a weapon, police said.

The rapper's manager said Saturday that she could not talk and referred calls to Remy Ma's attorney, who was with the rapper as she reported to police.

"I ask everyone to …

Pakistan set to come in cold at Twenty20 World Cup

Beaten finalists in the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup two years ago, Pakistan would ordinarily be regarded as a title contender in the second edition of the event.

However, a shortage of recent top-class experience in the format and an overall lack of international cricket have hurt its chances.

Pakistan's ongoing security problems means the national team has struggled to find willing opponents, while its players were also banned from competing in the Indian Premier League.

Pakistan has played only one Twenty20 international this year, beating Australia in the United Arab Emirates in May. Sri Lanka has been the only other quality opponent for …

Rdio extends free trial period for music plan

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Music startup Rdio is joining several competitors in a crowded field of all-you-can-listening services by taking the time limit off its free trial.

The trial had been limited to seven days, and those wanting to continue had to pay for a subscription.

The new plan will give people using computers several months' worth of free listening to any track they want out of a library of 12 million songs. Mobile device users will also get an indefinite amount of free listening, but will be prompted to pay after a shorter amount of use.

Rdio, whose backers include Skype co-founder Janus Friis, is offering the trial without ads.

Plastic lumber bridges the gap at army base

Bridge project shows the potential for recycled plastic to replace wood in some applications.

RECYCLED plastic bridge at Fort Leonard Wood in Champaign, Illinois demonstrates a promising alternative to conventional wood construction. Completed last summer, the bridge spans a creek on the Army post's Gammon Field, representing reuse of some 6.5 tons of mixed plastics once destined for a landfill. "This construction is significant in that, while largersized structures have been built using recycled plastic lumber, no other one is known to have the structural capacity of this bridge," says Richard Lampo, researcher at the U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories (CERL), which led the project.

The recycled plastic bridge replaces an older wooden one and will bear mostly foot traffic. Standing 25 feet long by 26.5 feet wide, the structure sits on six steel beams that had supported the original bridge. "I drove my half-ton pickup over it," says Stan Martin, civil engineering technician at Fort Leonard Wood's Directorate of Public Works (DPW). "It just looks like a painted wooden bridge until you get up close and see that it's plastic."

The bridge was built under a joint project involving CERL, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Fort Wood's DPW. Also participating were Battelle in Columbus, Ohio, the Plastic Lumber Trade Association (PLTA) in Akron, Ohio, and Rutgers University. Four companies donated materials.

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

The bridge was designed by McLaren Consulting Engineers using a protocol developed for recycled plastics in coordination with the American Society for Testing and Materials and PLTA. Materials for the bridge construction were selected according to their mechanical properties. The plastic lumber was composed predominantly of high-density polyethylene. The joists and railing posts had polystyrene added to the formulation to increase the stiffness of the boards based on their intended use.

Over 4.2 million tons of plastic containers are produced each year in the U.S.; about three million tons are landfilled. "Historically, markets for mixed plastics have been weak, which has greatly limited recycling of these materials," says Terry Grist of the EPA's Office of Solid Waste. "The success of projects such as this one will serve to open up new markets for these materials and provide the opportunity to increase the overall recovery rate for plastics."

CERL has been working since the early 1990s with Rutgers University, EPA, and a group of plastic lumber manufacturers to improve product quality and develop standards and specifications for the materials. Its interest was to infuse this environmentally friendly technology into military and civil works construction.

PLASTIC LUMBER ADVANTAGES

Recycled plastic lumber offers a replacement for wood products, many of which are treated with chemicals to resist rot and insect attack. Treated wood can require special handling because chemicals can leach into the environment if not disposed of properly. Wood structures not treated with chemicals have to be maintained periodically by coating with preservatives that can release organic volatiles into the atmosphere. Plastic lumber requires no such maintenance.

"We have wooden bridges and they're a maintenance problem," says Fort Wood's Martin. "We have to send crews out two or three times a year to replace deteriorated lumber and fasteners that have worked loose. Most of our wood bridges are on running or hiking paths, so the splinters and loose fasteners become a safety hazard."

Martin estimates that bridges made with CCA-treated wood last about 15 years under the climate and usage frequency at Fort Wood. Untreated wood bridges may have to be replaced as often as every five years. In contrast, CERL's Lampo projects a 50-year, maintenancefree service life for the recycled plastic lumber bridge (although steel supports may need repainting).

The initial cost of the materials for the bridge was 2.5 to three times what it would be for chemically treated wood lumber materials. Since there is no need for maintenance and replacement, this difference should be equalized in 8.5 years, with savings resulting over the remaining life of the plastic lumber bridge.

Resistance to moisture/water, rot and insects, as well as other advantages, make plastic lumber well suited to replace wood in damp, wet and/or insect-infected areas. The supply of feedstock is virtually limitless. "It would take 87 miles of a bridge the same width as this one to use up just one year's landfilled plastics," says Lampo - the equivalent of 462,500 bridges sized like the one on Gammon Field. "We're not going to run out of raw materials any time soon."

Museums

ADLER PLANETARIUM AND ASTRONOMY MUSEUM. 1300 S. Lake Shore.Ongoing: "Stars of the Pharaohs"; "Egyptian Nights"; "Space in YourFace"; "TimeSpace." Museum for astronomy and space exploration.Includes a major collection of artifacts on the history of astronomy,and an in-depth introduction to the wonders of the galaxy in thePlanetarium's Ameritech Milky Way Gallery. Planetarium hours: Daily,9:30 am-6 pm; first Friday of each month is Far Out Fridays, 4:30-10pm. Admission (includes admission and one sky show, each additionalshow $5): Adults, $16 (Chicago residents $14); Kids ages 4-17: $14(Chicago residents $13); Seniors: $15 (Chicago residents $10). FarOut Fridays: Adults, $20; Kids/Seniors, $17; Members/Students/Teachers, $5; Family Star Pack for four, $60. Additional fee for Skyand StarRider Theaters. (312) 922-STAR or visitwww.adlerplanetarium.org.

AGELESS CLASSICS MUSEUM OF TRANSPORTATION. 100 S. River, Aurora.Exhibits include military aircraft form World War II to OperationDesert Storm and aviation memorabilia from World War I to Vietnam.Group tours available. Thu, 10 am-5 pm; Fri, 2-10 pm; Sat, 10 am-5pm; Sun, 11 am-5 pm. Adults, $5; seniors, $4; children 6-16, $3;children under 6, free. (630) 466-0888.

AMERICAN MOVIE PALACE MUSEUM. York Theatre Building, 152 N. York,Elmhurst. The facility features blueprints, photos, posters, programsand artifacts from theatres across the United States. Mon-Fri, 9 am-4 pm. (630) 782-1800.

ARGONNE INFORMATION CENTER. Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S.Cass, Argonne. Over 30 exhibits on science and technology. Tours ofthe laboratory are available most Saturdays. Tue-Fri, 10 am-3 pm;closed on holidays. Free. (630) 252-5562.

ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO. 111 S. Michigan. Ongoing: "Faces,Places, and Inner Spaces." Museum hours: Mon, Tue, Wed, 10:30 am-5pm; Thu-Fri, 10:30 am-9 pm; Sat-Sun, 10 am-5 pm. Adults, $12;seniors, students and children over 5, $7; children under 5, free;Tuesday, free. (312) 443-3600.

AURORA HISTORICAL SOCIETY. David L. Pierce Art and History Center,20 E. Downer, Aurora. Wed-Sun, noon-4 pm. (630) 897-9029.

BETHEL NEW LIFE CULTURAL ARTS. 1140 N. Lamon. Ongoing: "Steppin'Up: Journeys from the Soul." Mon-Fri, 8:30 am-6 pm. (773) 378-3600.

BLOCK MUSEUM OF ART. Northwestern University. 40 Arts Circle,Evanston. Ongoing: "Theo Leffmann: Weaving a Life into Art." Tue, 10am-5 pm; Wed, Fri, 10 am-8 pm; Sat-Sun, noon-5 pm. Free. (847) 491-4000.

BLOOMINGDALE PARK DISTRICT MUSEUM. 108 S. Bloomingdale,Bloomingdale. Wed, 4-8 pm; Thu-Fri, 10 am-4 pm; Sat, noon-4 pm. (630)539-3096.

CANTIGNY. 1 S 151 Winfield, Wheaton. Ongoing: The former home ofChicago Mayor Joseph Medill and his grandson, Col. Robert McCormick,features 10 acres of gardens and landscaped grounds, the Robert R.McCormick Museum and the First Division Museum of War Memorabilia,with items dating to the Revolutionary War. Museum open Tue-Sun, 10am-4 pm; park open 9 am-sunset. $7 per car. (630) 668-5161.

CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION. 224 S. Michigan. Ongoing:"ReThink ReDesign ReCycle." Sat, 9 am-6 pm; Sun, 9:30 am-5 pm. (312)922-3432, Ext. 239.

CHICAGO ATHENAEUM AT SCHAUMBURG. 190 S. Roselle, Schaumburg.Ongoing: "International Sculpture Park"; "Art and Design - ASelection of Art, Design and Architecture From the PermanentCollections of the Chicago Athenaeum." Wed-Fri, 11 am-6 pm; Sat-Sun,noon-5 pm. (847) 895-3950.

CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN. 1000 Lake Cook, Glencoe. Ongoing: Expandedbonzai exhibit features 185 unique plants displayed on a rotatingbasis. Daily, 7 am-9 pm. Admission is free; parking is $12. (847) 835-5440.

CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER. 78 E. Washington. Ongoing: "ChicagoLandmarks Before the Lens"; "Heraldic Emblems I-IV by DeborahBoardman." Mon-Wed, 10 am-7 pm; Thu, 10 am-9 pm; Fri, 10 am-6 pm;Sat, 10 am-5 pm; Sun, 11 am-5 pm. Closed holidays. Free. (312) 744-6630.

CHICAGOLAND SPORTS HALL OF FAME. A collection of sportsmemorabilia honoring over 300 area athletes, schools and professionalteams. Ten interactive, touch-screen video kiosks feature a sportstrivia game, sports writers discussing their favorite sports momentsand biographies, stats, and more. Mon-Fri, 10 am-4 pm. Free.Maryville Academy, 1150 N. River, Des Plaines. (847) 294-1799.

THE CHINESE-AMERICAN MUSEUM OF CHICAGO. 238 W. 23rd. Fri, 8:30 am-1:30 pm; Sat-Sun, 10 am-5 pm. $1, $2. (312) 949-1000;www.ccamuseum.org.

DEPAUL UNIVERSITY ART MUSEUM. 2350 N. Kenmore. Mon-Thu, 11 am-5pm; Fri, 11 am-7 pm; Sat-Sun, noon-5 pm. (773) 325-7506.

DOWNERS GROVE PARK DISTRICT MUSEUM. 831 Maple, Downers Grove.Ongoing: "Images of You: Photos of Downers Grove's Past"; "Quiltsfrom the Collection"; "Recent Acquisitions." Sun-Fri, 1-3 pm. (630)963-1309.

DUPAGE COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM. 102 E. Wesley, Wheaton. Ongoing:"A Walk in the Woods"; "Made to Measure"; "Chairs, A Revealing Look";"DuPage County History -- An Overview"; "Laundry"; "Bicycling." Mon,Wed, Fri-Sat, 10 am-4 pm; Sun, 1-4 pm. Free. (630) 682-7343.

DUSABLE MUSEUM OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY. 740 E. 56th Place.Ongoing: "DuSable Treasures: Selections from the Permanent Collectionof Art"; "Songs of My People"; "Distorted Images"; "Fight to Fly:Blacks in Aviation"; "Trial to Triumph"; "Africa Speaks"; "The AmesMural." Tue-Sat, 10 am-5 pm; Sun, noon-5 pm. $1-$3; Sunday, free.(773) 947-0600.

EAA AIRVENTURE MUSEUM. 3000 Poberezny, Oshkosh, Wis. The aviationmuseum features authentic replicas of the Wright Brothers' WrightFlyer, Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis, as well as a collection offull-sized World War II fighters and bombers. Mon-Sat, 8:30 am-5 pm;Sun, 11 am-5 pm. Adults, $7.50; seniors, $6.50; children 8-17, $6;children 7 and under, free. (920) 426-6535.

ELMHURST ART MUSEUM. 150 Cottage Hill, Elmhurst. Tue, Thu, Sat, 10am-4 pm; Wed, 1-8 pm; Fri, Sun, 1-4 pm. Tuesday, free. Adults, $4;seniors, $3; students, $2; (630) 834-0202.

ELMHURST HISTORICAL MUSEUM. 120 E. Park, Elmhurst. Ongoing:"Visions of Home"; "From Mansion to Museum." Tue-Sun, 1-5 pm. Free.(630) 833-1457.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY MUSEUM. 200 N. Oak Park, Oak Park. Just a shortwalk from Hemingway's birthplace, the museum explores the first 20years of the author's life, highlighting his family experiences,education, love of the outdoors and involvement in World War I andII. Ongoing: "Teaching Hemingway How to Write: Developing theLiterary Genius"; "Hemingway and Hollywood"; "Hemingway and theArts." Hours for museum and birthplace, Thu-Fri, Sun, 1-5 pm; Sat, 10am-5 pm. Adults, $6; seniors and students, $4.50; includes museum andbirthplace. (708) 848-2222.

EVANSTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 225 Greenwood, Evanston. (847) 475-3410.

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF CHICAGO. visitors center, 230 S. LaSalle.A variety of exhibits about the central bank. Free. Mon-Fri, 9 am-5pm. (312) 322-2400.

FIELD MUSEUM. 1400 S. Lake Shore. To Jan. 1: "Tutankhamun and theGolden Age of the Pharaohs." Permanent: "Pawnee Earth Lodge";"Regenstein Laboratory"; "Underground Adventure"; "Sue"; "Hall ofJades"; "Man-Eating Lions of Tsavo"; "Inside Ancient Egypt." Museumhours: Daily, 9 am-5 pm. Field Museum Gold Pass (Includes Museumadmission and Underground Adventure), $19 adults; $14 seniors andstudents with ID; $9 children 4-11. Museum admission: $12 adults; $7seniors and students with ID and children 4-11. Discount for Chicagoresidents with proof of residency. (312) 922-9410 or visitwww.fieldmuseum.org.

GARFIELD FARM MUSEUM. 3N016 Garfield, LaFox. Call for hours at(630) 584-8485 or visit www.garfieldfarm.org.

GARFIELD PARK CONSERVATORY. 300 N. Central Park. Ongoing: Eightexhibit halls display plants found in climates ranging from rainforest to desert. Ongoing exhibits: "Elizabeth Morse GeniusChildren's Garden"; "Urban Demonstration Garden." Guided tours areavailable daily, 9 am-5 pm. Conservatory hours: daily, 9 am-5 pm;Thu, 9 am-8 pm. Free. (312) 746-5100.

HAGGERTY MUSEUM OF ART. North 13th Street and West ClybournAvenue, Milwaukee. Mon-Wed, Fri-Sat, 10 am-4:30 pm; Thu, 10 am-8 pm;Sun, 10 am-5 pm. Free. (414) 288-3657.

HELLENIC MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER. 801 W. Adams, fourth floor.Tue-Fri, 10 am-4 pm; Sat, 11 am-4 pm. (312) 655-1234.

HISTORIC AUTO MUSEUM. 5290 Lansing, Roscoe. A display of over 60vehicles of historical interest including racecars, presidential carsand movie and entertainment cars. Tue-Sun, 11 am-8 pm. (815) 389-9999, Ext. 20.

HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF OAK PARK AND RIVER FOREST. Pleasant Home,217 S. Home, Oak Park. A museum that highlights the history of OakPark and River Forest, turn of the century photographs and otherperiod memorabilia. Research of local topics and historical sites isalso available. Thu-Sun, 12:30 pm. Adults, $5; children, $3; Fri,free. (708) 848-6755.

HOUDINI HISTORICAL CENTER. 330 E. College, Appleton, Wis. Over 120artifacts and 150 photographic images that take a personal look atthe legendary Harry Houdini. Tue-Sat, 10 am-5 pm; Sun, noon-5 pm.Adults, $4; seniors, $3.50; children 5-17, $2. (920) 733-8445.

ILLINOIS RAILWAY MUSEUM. Union and Olson, Union. The museumfeatures America's largest collection of historic railway equipmentincluding streetcars and interurbans, steam, diesel, and electriclocomotives. Admission and hours vary; call for schedule. (815) 923-4000.

INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM OF SURGICAL SCIENCE. 1524 N. Lake Shore.Ongoing: "The Japan Hall of Fame"; "Windows to the World: the Scienceof Sight and Opthalmic Art." Permanent: "Nursing: Care for a ChangingWorld" and "Milestones in Medical Imaging: From X-Ray to NuclearMedicine." Tue-Sun, 10 am-4 pm. Adults, $6; seniors and students, $3;Tuesday, free. (312) 642-6502; www.imss.org.

JANE ADDAMS HULL-HOUSE MUSEUM. University of Illinois at Chicago,800 S. Halsted. The building where Jane Addams founded Hull-House in1889 Honors the work of the settlement house leader and social-welfare pioneer. Open for tours and educational programs. Mon-Fri, 10am-4 pm; Sun, noon-5 pm. Free. (312) 413-5353.

JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER ARTS CENTER. 608 New York, Sheboygan, Wis.Ongoing: "Pure Magic: the Sculpture of M. Elisabeth Higgins-O'Connor"; "The Gardens"; "Sandra Byers: A Gentle Nature"; "Mi-SookHur: Secret Gardens"; "Arts/Industry: A 27-Year Collaboration";"Among Art: Evolving Traditions"; "Eye Spy Color"; "ArtistRestrooms." Mon, Wed, Fri, 10 am-5 pm; Tue, Thu, 10 am-8 pm; Sat-Sun, 10 am-4 pm. Free. (920) 458-6144.

JOLIET AREA HISTORICAL MUSEUM. 204 N. Ottawa, Joliet. $3-$5. Tue-Sat, 10 am-5 pm; Sun, noon-5 pm. (815) 723-5201.

KENOSHA PUBLIC MUSEUM. 5500 First, Kenosha, Wis. Mon, noon-5 pm;Tue-Sat, 9 am-5 pm; Sun, noon-5 pm. Free. (262) 653-4140.

KOEHNLINE MUSEUM OF ART. 1600 E. Golf, Des Plaines. Mon-Fri, 10 am-6 pm; Sat, 11 am-4 pm. (847) 635-2633.

LAKE COUNTY DISCOVERY MUSEUM. Rte 176 in Lakewood Forest Preserve,near Wauconda. Mon-Sat, 11 am-4:30 pm; Sun, 1-4:30 pm. (847) 968-3400.

LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO MUSEUM OF ART. 820 N. Michigan. Ongoing:Martin D'Arcy Collection of Medieva, Renaissance and Baroque Art. $5,$6. Tue, 10 am-8 pm; Wed-Sun, 10 am-6 pm. (312) 915-7600.

MEXICAN FINE ARTS CENTER MUSEUM. 1852 W. 19th St. Ongoing:"Mexican Chicago: Huellas (Photographic Footprints)." Tue-Sun, 10 am-5 pm; closed Mondays and holidays. Free for exhibitions. Donationsaccepted. (312) 738-1503.

MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM. 700 N. Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wis. To Aug.13: "Masters of American Comics." Tue-Sun 10 am-5 pm; Thu, 5-8 pm.Adults, $6; seniors and students, $4; children under 12, free. (414)224-3200.

MILWAUKEE PUBLIC MUSEUM. 800 W. Wells, Milwaukee, Wis. TheMilwaukee Public Museum is located in the Pioneer House, areproduction of a rural 19th century Wisconsin homestead built byNorwegian settlers. Ongoing exhibits: "Bugs Alive! Insects and TheirRelatives"; "Build an Egyptian Tomb"; "Ferguson Rifle - ARevolutionary Firearm"; "From Dr. Mom to Dr. Welby: Healing inAmerica"; "Ivory-billed Woodpecker"; "Puelicher Butterfly Wing";"Streets of Old Milwaukee"; "Tourist Takeout: A Taste for Souvenirs";"Watson Family House"; "Exploring Life on Earth." In the HumphreyIMAX Dome Theater. Ongoing: "Forces of Nature." Enjoy free silentmovies daily, 11 am-1:30 pm. Free with museum admission. Museumhours: Daily, 9 am-5 pm. Museum admission: Adults, $6.75; seniors,$5.50; children 4-17, $4.50; children under 3, free; free Monday forMilwaukee County residents. Additional fee for IMAX Theater. (414)278-2702.

MITCHELL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN. Kendall College, 2600Central Park, Evanston. Suggested donation: $2.50, $5. (847) 475-1030; www.mitchellmuseum.org.

MORTON ARBORETUM. 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Maze Garden, a permanentone-acre living puzzle of hedges and other plants. Ongoing: The 1,700-acre arboretum features more than 30,000 labeled plant specimensrepresenting 3,600 different types of plants. It is home to thelargest U.S. collection of plants from Russia, China, the Balkans andNortheast Asia, as well as a collection representing NorthernIllinois. Daily, 7 am-7 pm. Adults, $7; seniors, $5; children ages 3-12, $4. Wednesday prices are adults, $4; seniors, $3; children, $2.(630) 968-0074 or (630) 719-2400.

MUSEUM OF BROADCAST COMMUNICATIONS. Museum closed and moving tonew location at State and Kinzie. Will reopen in 2006.

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART. 220 E. Chicago. To Oct. 15: "DrawnInto the World." To Aug. 27: "Chris Ware." To Oct. 15: "CatherineOpie: Chicago (American Cities)." Closes Sun: "Patty Chang: Shangri-La." Museum hours: Tue, 10 am-8 pm, Wed-Sun, 10 am-5 pm. Adults, $10;students and seniors, $6; free, members and children 12 and under;Tuesday, free from 10 am-8 pm. (312) 280-2660.

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY. Columbia College Chicago, 600S. Michigan. Mon-Fri, 10 am-5 pm; Thu, 5-8 pm; Sat, noon-5 pm. Free.(312) 663-5554.

MUSEUM OF HOLOGRAPHY. 1134 W. Washington. Feature exhibits includean animated gold miner, a 3-by-3 foot hologram of a large dinosaur,moving holograms, and an animated hologram of Michael Jordan. Wed-Sun, 12:30-5 pm. $2.50, $3. (312) 226-1007.

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 57th and Lake Shore. To Sept. 4:"Leonardo da Vinci: Man, Inventor, Genius." To Jan. 7: "Frogs: AChorus of Colors." $5. Ongoing: "U-505 Submarine"; "Circus"; "PioneerZephyr"; "Reusable City"; "All Aboard the Silver Streak"; "IdeaFactory"; "Take Flight (727)"; "Navy: Technology at Sea"; "The CoalMine"; "Virtual Reality in Imaging"; "Toymaker 3000"; "Yesterday'sMain Street"; "The Great Train Story"; "Genetics: Decoding Life";"Networld"; "The Farm"; "Enterprise"; "Petroleum Planet." In theHenry Crown Space Center Omnimax Theater. Now showing: ""Wired toWin: Surviving the Tour de France." "Greece: Secrets of the Past."Regular Museum hours: Mon-Sat, 9:30 am-5:30 pm; Sun, 11 am-5:30 pm.General admission: Adults, $11; seniors, $9.50; children 3-11, $7.Chicago residents: Adults, $10; seniors, $8.75; children 3-11, $6.25.(773) 684-1414 or visit www.msichicago.org.

NAPER SETTLEMENT. 523 S. Webster, Naperville. Ongoing: "HistoryConnection" and "Brushstrokes of the Past." Tue-Sat, 10 am-4 pm; Sun,1-4 pm. Adults, $6.50; seniors, $5.50; children, $4. (630) 420-6010.

THE NATIONAL ITALIAN AMERICAN SPORTS HALL OF FAME. 1431 W. Taylor.An educational institution dedicated to promoting the history andheritage of Italian American in sports. Artifacts include RockyMarciano's World Heavyweight championship belt and Matt Biondi's 11Olympica medals. Mon-Fri, 9 am-5 pm; Sat-Sun, 11 am-4 pm. (312) 226-5566.

NATIONAL RAILROAD MUSEUM. 2285 S. Broadway, Green Bay, Wis. The26,000 square-foot facility of rolling stock and locomotives featuresGeneral Eisenhower's World War II command train, a Union Pacific BigBoy, the world's largest steam locomotive, and the Frederick J.Lenfestey Center. Mon-Sat, 9 am-5 pm; Sun, 11 am-5 pm. (920) 437-7623.

NATIONAL VIETNAM VETERANS ART MUSEUM. 1801 S. Indiana. Mon-Fri, 11am-6 pm; Sat, 10 am-5 pm; Sun, noon-5 pm. Ongoing: Over 700 works offine art created by 115 artists who participated as soldiers in theVietnam War. The museum's permanent collection focuses on the subjectof war from the personal point of view. Tue-Fri, 11 am-6 pm; Sat, 10am-5 pm; Sun, noon-5 pm. Adults, $5; seniors and students, $4. (312)326-0270.

NEVILLE PUBLIC MUSEUM. 210 Museum Place, Green Bay, Wis. Ongoing:"On the Edge of the Inland Sea." Tue, Thu-Sat, 9 am-4 pm; Wed, 9 am-9 pm; Sun, noon-4 pm. Suggested donation: Adults, $3; children, $2.(920) 448-4460.

NIU ART MUSEUM. Altgeld Hall, Rotunda Gallery, DeKalb. Fri, 10 am-5 pm; Sat-Sat, noon-4 pm. (815) 753-1936. Chicago Gallery, 215 W.Superior. Wed-Sat, 11 am-5 pm. (312) 642-6010.

THE NOTEBAERT NATURE MUSEUM. 2430 N. Cannon. Through winter:"Climate Chaos." Special exhibition admission, $3. Permanent:"RiverWorks," an interactive water play exhibit with hands-onactivities including building dams and changing water oxygen levelsto illustrate the importance of river ecology; "Mysteries of theMarsh" highlights one of the Midwest's most unique ecosystems throughhands-on activities. To Sept. 24: Jin Lee, Prairie. To Sept. 4: IceAge. To Oct: Chinese Butterflies. Ongoing: "Hands-on Habitat."; "JudyIstock Butterfly Haven"; "African Butterflies." Museum hours: Mon-Fri, 9 am-4:30 pm; Sat-Sun, 10 am-5 pm. Non-Chicago residents:Adults, $7; seniors and students, $5; children 3-12, $4. Thursday,free. (773) 755-5100; www.naturemuseum.org.

O'HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. 10000 W. O'Hare. Ongoing: "Kids onthe Fly"; "Brachiosaurus." (312) 922-9410.

ORIENTAL INSTITUTE MUSEUM. 1155 E. 58th. Ongoing: "WhereCivilization Began: Celebrating Ancient Mesopotamia" and "Empires inthe Fertile Crescent: Ancient Assyria, Anatolia and Israel." Ashowcase of the history, art and architecture of the ancient NearEast. Tue, Thu-Sat, 10 am-6 pm; Wed, 10 am-8:30 pm; Sun, noon-6 pm.(773) 702-9514.

THE PEACE MUSEUM. 100 N. Central Park. Thu, Fri, 1-6 pm; Sat-Sun,noon-4 pm. $5. (773) 638-6450; www.peacemuseum.org.

THE POLISH MUSEUM OF AMERICA. 984 N. Milwaukee. (773) 384-3352.

PYROGRAPHIC MUSEUM. Sale Barn Square, 961 N. Milwaukee, Wheeling.Vintage pyrographic equipment and artwork on display includes flatburning on wood, gourd art decoration, 3-D leather and buckskinburning. Tue-Sat, 11 am-5 pm. Free. (847) 229-1000.

RENAISSANCE SOCIETY. Cobb Hall, Room 418, University of Chicago,5811 S. Ellis. Free. Tue-Fri, 10 am-5 pm; Sat-Sun, noon-5 pm. (773)702-8670.

RIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 10621 S. Seeley. Ongoing: "From theHomefront to the Battlefront." Thu, Sun, 2-5 pm, or by appointment.(773) 881-1675.

ROCKFORD ART MUSEUM. Riverfront Museum Park, 711 N. Main,Rockford. Free. Tue-Fri, 11 am-5 pm; Sat, 10 am-5 pm; Sun, noon-5 pm.(815) 968-2787.

ROSENTHAL ARCHIVES OF THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. Thecollection of audio-visual materials, programs, photographs,newspaper clippings, and administrative records document theactivities of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, the CivicOrchestra, and other Orchestra Hall events. Mon-Fri, 9 am-5 pm, byappointment. Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan. (312) 294-3055.

RYERSON WOODS. Riverwoods, between Half Day and Deerfield,Deerfield. $8, $10. (847) 968-3321.

SCHINGOETHE CENTER FOR NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURES. Dunham Hall,Aurora University, 1400 Marseillaise, Aurora. Tue, 10 am-7 pm; Wed-Fri, 10 am-4 pm; Sun, 1-4 pm. (630) 844-5402.

SCITECH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INTERACTIVE CENTER. 18 W. Benton,Aurora. Ongoing: "Weather Wave"; "Lithophone"; "Giant Lever." Tue-Wed, noon-5 pm; Thu, noon-8 pm; Fri, noon-9 pm; Sat, 10 am-5 pm; Sun,noon-5 pm. Adults, $6; seniors and children 3-17, $5. (630) 859-3434.

SHEDD AQUARIUM. 1200 S. Lake Shore. Ongoing: The world's largestindoor aquarium is home to more than 22,000 animals and boasts a90,000-gallon Caribbean Reef where divers hand-feed fish, sharks anda sea turtle daily. The Oceanarium offers winding nature trailsthrough scenic re-creations of a Pacific Northwest coastline andincludes encounters with beluga whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins,Alaskan sea otters, harbor seals and penguins. Animal Encounters,daily (times vary), when guests can look at learn about and touchsuch critters as a Chilean rose tarantula, leopard gecko, Africanbullfrog, red-tailed boa, yellow-footed tortoise, and more. TheOceanarium's Beluga School--It's Cool, daily at 11 a.m. AmazonRising: Seasons of the River, looks at the largest freshwater riversystem in the world. Museum hours: Mon-Fri, 9 am-6 pm; Sat-Sun, 9 am-6 pm. Free General Admission Fri. All-Access Pass is $15 for adultsand $10 for seniors and children on Fri. All Access Pass (Aquarium,Oceanarium and Wild Reef): Adults, $23; Seniors and Children 3-11,$16. Mini Pass (Aquarium and either Oceanarium or Wild Reef): Adults,$18; seniors and children 3-11, $14. Aquarium only: Adults, $8;seniors and children 3-11, $6; children 2 and under, free. Discountfor Chicago residents. (312) 939-2435 or visit www.shedd.org.

SMART MUSEUM OF ART. University of Chicago, 5550 S. Greenwood. Tue-Wed, Fri, 10 am-4 pm; Thu, 10 am-9 pm; Sat-Sun, noon-6 pm; closedholidays. Free. (312) 702-0200.

Sports committee head resigns over fake degree

The head of Pakistan's parliamentary sports committee has resigned for allegedly holding a fake degree in Islamic studies.

Jamshed Dasti, chairman of national assembly standing committee on sports, tendered his resignation to a six-member larger bench of the supreme court, local media reported Friday.

Leading newspaper The News said Dasti failed to answer a volley of questions from the court regarding his education when he appeared Thursday.

"He (Dasti) remained unable to tell the court even about the duration of the (Islamic) course," The News reported.

Dasti has been critical of the working of several Pakistan sporting bodies _ especially the Pakistan Cricket Board.

He summoned PCB officials several times and even questioned then Pakistan team captain Younis Khan over allegations of match-fixing during the Champions Trophy last year.

Dasti contested the general elections in Feb. 2008 from the Muzaffargarh district of Punjab province. Dasti's electoral opponent had challenged his education credentials in supreme court.

The court told Dasti if he did not resign he would not be able to contest upcoming by-elections.

US Senate runoff could decide balance of power

Georgia's long U.S. Senate campaign drew to a finish on Tuesday as polls closed on the hotly contested race that could sway the balance of power in Washington.

Republican U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss faced Democrat Jim Martin in a runoff election that drew national political heavyweights from both parties.

It was necessary after a three-way general election prevented any of the candidates from getting the necessary 50 percent.

What was at stake was significant: Democrats in the 100-member U.S. Senate are just two votes shy of the 60 needed to block Republican filibusters _ a key bid for power that would be immensely helpful as a Democrat heads to the White House for the first time in a decade.

Georgia is one of the two unresolved Senate races. In Minnesota, a recount is under way in a tight race between Republican Sen. Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken.

Elections officials reported steady to light turnout since polls opened at 7 a.m., and no problems throughout the day. Polls closed at 7 p.m. A spokesman for Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel predicted turnout would be between 18 and 20 percent, far less than the 65 percent who voted in last month's general election.

Chambliss and Martin both fell short of the 50-percent threshold in a three-way general election race with Libertarian candidate Allen Buckley, who drew 3.4 percent of the vote.

Chambliss, 65, is seeking a second term after winning in 2002 against Democratic Sen. Max Cleland in a campaign that infuriated Democrats. Chambliss ran a TV ad that questioned Cleland's commitment to national security and flashed a photo of Osama bin Laden. Cleland is a triple amputee wounded in the Vietnam War.

Martin, a 63-year-old former state lawmaker from Atlanta, has aligned himself with President-elect Barack Obama's message of change, and has vowed to provide economic relief for the middle class. A onetime agricultural lawyer from Moultrie, Chambliss has promised to be a firewall against a Democratic-dominated Washington getting a "blank check."

Early voting statistics were encouraging for the Chambliss camp. Of the nearly 500,000 early voters, turnout was down among black voters and higher among white males compared to advance voting before the general election.

White males normally are a solid Republican constituency in Georgia, while exit polls showed that Martin won the votes of nine of ten Georgia blacks who registered a preference.

Some 3.7 million people cast ballots in this year's general election, and both sides have since tried to keep voters' attention with a barrage of ads and visits by political heavy-hitters.

Former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore both stumped for Martin. President-elect Barack Obama recorded a radio ad for Martin and sent 100 field operatives, but he didn't campaign in the state despite a request from Martin to do so.

Several ex-Republican presidential candidates made appearances for Chambliss, including nominee John McCain, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, McCain's vice presidential pick, held four rallies for Chambliss that drew thousands of party faithful Monday.

___

Associated Press writers Russ Bynum in Savannah, and Greg Bluestein and Johnny Clark in Atlanta contributed to this report.

___

On the Net:

Saxby Chambliss: http://www.saxby.org

Jim Martin: http://www.martinforsenate.com

White Sox OF Dye appeals fine, suspension

Chicago White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye is appealing his fine and two-game suspension and will play against the Blue Jays on Friday night.

Earlier in the day, Major League Baseball suspended Dye and fined him an undisclosed amount after he threw his helmet and it bounced off an umpire in Wednesday's victory at Cleveland.

Dye was ejected by plate umpire Mike DiMuro after being called out on strikes with the bases loaded in the sixth inning. Dye argued briefly with DiMuro and was ejected after slamming down his helmet, which bounced off the umpire.

"I didn't turn around so I didn't even know it hit him," Dye said. "I still haven't seen the replay so I don't even know what it looks like."

Dye, who is batting .283 with seven homers and 17 RBIs, batted fourth and played right field Friday night at Toronto.

The ejection was Dye's second since joining the White Sox in 2005.

"I didn't know what to expect because I've never been suspended before," Dye said. "I don't know how they even go about knowing how long a suspension should be. I figured if anything I'd be fined. It wasn't intentional. I can't control the helmet if it goes backwards. I slammed it straight down just being mad at myself. That was it, it wasn't intentional."

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen also was ejected after the incident.

Earlier this week, White Sox closer Bobby Jenks was fined an undisclosed amount for throwing a pitch behind Texas' Ian Kinsler last weekend.

Day After: Life's a Romp For the $1 Million Man

The day after he made "the shot heard 'round the world," DonCalhoun went back to work.

"I have to take inventory," said Calhoun, 23, an office supplysalesman in Downstate Bloomington.

But inventory would have to wait. When Calhoun arrived, he wascrunched by media and handed more than 100 telephone messages frompeople wanting to know everything about the "million dollar man."

Calhoun had become an instant celebrity Wednesday night when heearned $1 million for making a 79-foot shot during a timeout at aBulls game at Chicago Stadium.

The secretary at the Bloomington store answered the telephonelike this: "Reliable Office Superstore, home of Don Calhoun, ourmillion dollar man."

The calls came "from everywhere," Connie Williams said."Canada, San Francisco, investment firms, law firms. People wantingto sell him cars. People wanting to issue him credit cards."

Some even wanted to know about his $54.99 pair of Size 13 WorldCup shoes from Kinneys.

"Traditionally with me, World Cup is a pretty cheap shoe,"Calhoun said. "But these are good shoes. I think I'll keep themforever for good luck."

The $1 million shot has been attempted 19 times at the Stadiumthis season. Another fan will get a chance at a Bulls game nextweek.

Calhoun, chosen at random to take the shot (because Bullsrepresentatives liked his shoes), was still recovering from asleepless night.

"I'm just trying to let it kick in," Calhoun said Thursday. "Ihaven't been to sleep since it happened. Not that I didn't havetime. I had plenty of time, but my heart was beating too fast."

At 5 a.m., after staring at the ceiling of his Sheraton hotelroom "and counting sheep" for five restless hours, Calhoun's heartwas still racing. It was time for a remote interview at Channel 5with NBC's Bryant Gumbel.

"The Good Morning . . . what is it, the `Today Show'? The onewith Bryant Gumbel, the guy everyone watches in the morning," Calhounsaid. "It was awesome. And it seemed strange. It's something I'llalways cherish."

Wednesday night Calhoun was attending his first Bulls game infive years. He got the ticket from an accountant friend "whocouldn't go because it's tax time."

"During the first quarter, I was thinking about the shot andthen I said to myself, `Don't worry. I came in here without amillion and if I leave without seizing the opportunity, there's noloss. In the second quarter, I decided to gather all my confidence,go out there, be spontaneous and put the ball in the hole."

The $1 million contest was sponsored by Lettuce Entertain You andCoca-Cola.

Lettuce Entertain You spokeswoman Janet Kerrigan said acelebration party for Calhoun and his family will be planned.

"When we find him," she said.

Calhoun wasn't hiding. He tried doing as many interview requestsas he could "because I feel blessed and I want to share this withothers."

‘Burnt Mountain’ recalls a simpler South

Burnt Mountain, the peak in Georgia, is among the southernmost in the ancient Appalachian range. It rises to grab the occasional dusting of snow in winter and swells with crowds of campers and hikers seeking refuge in summer.

To those classic services, best-selling novelist Anne Rivers Siddons adds numerous romantic ones for the peak to perform. Her Burnt Mountain (Grand Central, $25.99) is the repository of childhood memories, the source of marital conflict and revelation, and the setting for one character's unsettling breakdown. It is hard to imagine a real place hosting such intense pivot points in the lives of so many interrelated people, but the majestic peak largely holds its own. At Burnt Mountain, her central characters come of age, honeymoon, vacation, die and engage in a deeply mysterious scandal involving an Irish folklorist, a smarmy businessman and scores of young boys.

Siddons is at her most effective rendering the Southern landscape and the region's languorous summers. Lots of iced tea and lemonade and even mint juleps are consumed on porches. Children play in the shade, women swoon from the heat, for sure, but more from frustration at not climbing the social register — or not fast enough. And there's lots of swimming, in pools, in rivers and in lakes. Siddons masterfully portrays growing up in a small town outside Atlanta, much like her hometown. The terrain is rich with grand old houses lovingly restored; there's a begrudging nod to Gone With the Wind, which the young people call GWTW; and the race and class divides are so vast that every key character is white, Protestant and wealthy. The lone Jew's heritage automatically grants him outsider status and seems to imply his financial success.

Even as they age, Siddons' characters focus on their sensations and needs and aspirations, but that single-mindedness coaxes readers to side with her central character. Anyone who appreciates the instant gratification of romance novels — Burnt Mountain seems designed for a few days of beach reading — will be quickly taken in by the quiet and beautiful tomboy, whose father dies young and whose vengeful mother never outgrows her tendency to belittle her daughter. When Thayer Wentworth figures out young that life's nastiest snarls may not all be loosened and smoothed and retied in neat bows, we fret with her. And when everything inevitably does start to work out, we are as relieved as she is.

But that satisfaction is shallow. There are just too many snags along the way in Burnt Mountain, including problems as fundamental as time lapsing unevenly for different characters. In the same period that Thayer attends college, marries and lackadaisically takes a job, another character also earns a graduate degree, has two children, wins acclaim in his career and separates from his wife.

Siddons, who has adroitly illustrated Southern race politics in the past, also slips into anachronisms so uncomfortable they are nearly fatal. There's a trip for our wealthy heroine to a dangerous back-alley abortion clinic, even though it's roughly 1990 and abortions have been widely available in Atlanta for many years. The mid-1990s civic scene in Atlanta lacks black residents of any economic means, and Asian visitors are mocked for pronouncing the word barbecue as "bobby-coo." Burnt Mountain thankfully doesn't attempt to traverse the sociopolitical minefield that was the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. But the novel might have worked better set earlier, in a time we're now willing to believe was simpler.

AP

BURNT MOUNTAIN

By Anne Rivers Siddons

Grand Central, 336 pages, $25.99

Bad month for Vikes' Robinson

Vikings wide receiver Koren Robinson's arrest this week fordrunken driving wasn't his first scrape with the law since trainingcamp opened in Mankato, Minn.

Robinson got a ticket Aug. 10 for driving a 2003 BMW 760 sedanwithout a valid Minnesota driver's license. The license issued in hishome state of North Carolina was suspended, according to the policereport.

Mankato police said Robinson was pursued when he passed a policevehicle traveling 67 miles per hour in a 50-mph zone.

Police said the earlier stop was on the same street where he wasarrested Tuesday night following a high-speed chase from St. Peter toMankato.

Robinson was excused from the last day of training camp onThursday, and his status with the team was uncertain.

PATS SIGN SEAU: Junior Seau returned to the NFL after a four-dayretirement, trading surfing in San Diego for a one-year contract withthe New England Patriots that the 12-time Pro Bowl linebacker hopeswill pay off with a long-sought Super Bowl ring.

"I'm going after my master's now," the jet-lagged Seau said in aconference call.

That was a reference to his lavish retirement ceremony Monday atthe San Diego Chargers' headquarters when he said: "I'm not retiring.I am graduating."

The 37-year-old Seau said then that no teams wanted or needed him.But he didn't rule out coming back if the right situation came up.

Seau said the Patriots called on Tuesday. New England neededanother linebacker because Tedy Bruschi has a broken wrist. ChadBrown and Monte Beisel also are hurt, and Willie McGinest, a mainstayof the Patriots' three Super Bowl titles in four seasons, signed withthe Cleveland Browns as a free agent.

"When a championship team calls, you've definitely got to answerthe call and definitely look into it," Seau said.

COWBOYS NIX TRADE: Wide receiver Charlie Adams failed his physicalwith the Dallas Cowboys, voiding a trade with the Denver Broncos.

The Broncos sent Adams to Dallas for a sixth-round draft pick onThursday.

"He just didn't pass our physical, that's all," Cowboys coach BillParcells said.