International music spins on CDs

International music spins on CDs

Since the separation of human beings at the Tower of Babel, man developed in each nationality and community his own musical individuality according to his experiences, his traditions and what instruments are available to him.

The World Music Festival in Chicago demonstrated the fascinating manner in which music serves as a universal language that all can appreciate.

Among the first and most potent of the CDs available is "World Music Festival Chicago '99," released on the Big Chicago label. It showcases music from Scotland, Brazil, Sweden, Spain, the Congo, India and France, as well as other countries featuring musicians representing …

Nigeria: kidnappers seize 6 Filipinos, free Briton

Unidentified gunmen seized six Filipino seamen from a boat plying the waterways of Nigeria's southern oil delta region, while a British kidnap victim was released in the same area, officials said.

Lt. Col. Sagir Musa said the six Filipinos were taken on Saturday, only hours after the British man was freed.

There was no indication two incidents were linked.

No ransom was paid for the Briton's release after weeks of captivity since his mid-September abduction, said Musa, a spokesman the military task force in the Niger Delta.

The man was "safe …

Globe-trotting couple are together for the long haul ; Ingatestone duo have holidayed 100 times in 60 years' marriage

THE journey continues for an Ingatestone couple who have spenttheir lives travelling the world together as they mark their 60thwedding anniversary.

Bob and June Chatfield have been on more than 100 holidaystogether since they got hitched at Romford Registry Office onFebruary 10, 1951.

It would seem that travelling is in the blood for Bob, 80, theson of a sailor and himself a former Merchant Navy seaman.

While courting June, now 78, after they were introduced by afriend at a youth club in 1949, Bob pledged that one day he wouldtake her to see the world.

And he didn't let her down. The couple, who have three children,brought Robert into the …

China's Premier Orders Lake Algae Probe

SHANGHAI, China - Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday ordered a formal probe into the massive algae growth that smothered one of China's biggest lakes, drawing high-level attention to growing threats facing the country's water bodies.

Citing pollution as its main cause, Wen said the Lake Tai algae outbreak "has sounded the alarm for us," the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Despite attempts to improve the lake's water quality, "the problem has never been tackled at the root," Wen said in a statement read during a water quality seminar held by the State Council, China's Cabinet.

The sudden outbreak of blue-green algae smothered the lake late last month, forcing …

Stock Futures Fall After Tumble Last Week

Stock futures are lower as investors brace for potentially more bad news from some of the nation's banks amid the continuing credit crisis. Last week, the Dow dropped 4.06 percent and the S&P 500 tumbled 3.71 percent. The technology-focused Nasdaq, which often trades with more volatility, plunged 6.49 percent.

Asian markets fell sharply today after Wall Street declined at the end of last week on renewed concerns about U.S. mortgage problems. European markets, however, were mixed.

Trading is expected to be light because of Veterans Day, with the government bond markets closed. This also could lead to higher volatility as institutional traders take positions …

Pacquiao: Margarito knew what was in hand wraps

Manny Pacquiao believes in giving a second chance to disgraced boxer Antonio Margarito, his next opponent.

Pacquiao said he just doesn't believe Margarito was unaware he was wearing illegal hand wraps before a fight nearly two years ago. Though he agrees Margarito deserves a second chance in boxing, Pacquiao isn't buying Margarito's defense and the passionate arguments of promoter Bob Arum, who promotes both fighters.

"Of course, I believe he knew," Pacquiao said. "He's the one who wraps his hands. He's just making some alibi for some reason. What do you think? My belief is you (would) know that."

During an otherwise genial …

Jesse set for high-drama Middle East trip

With the death toll rising among the Palestinians and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon defying President Bush's call for an abrupt end to military attacks, the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. said he is going to the Middle East.

Jackson, who said he'll give Secretary of State Colin Powell a chance to strike an accord first, said he and his World Council of Churches are prepared to go to the Middle East and try to broker a peace plan.

He said the Middle East conflict is a "political battle between men" and not a religious battle about God. "We must reconcile sides" and not favor one side over another during peace talks.

"You cannot negotiate between prison guards and …

Parked car bomb strikes Sadr City market in Baghdad, killing 4, wounding 28

A parked car bomb exploded in a bustling market in Baghdad's main Shiite district on Thursday, killing at least four people and wounding 28, police said.

The blast occurred just before 1 p.m. as the …

Hi-tech firm sets store by city

Bedminster Down investor services company Computershare has openedthe largest archive storage management centre in the South West.

The centre, in Cater Road, is the size of a football pitch andwill contain as many as 12 million documents when it is full.

The new building represents the consolidation of seven archivesites scattered around Bristol and Edinburgh on one site.

It will hold paper records generated by the Australian-ownedcompany in the services it carries out for blue-chip companies,looking after about 60 million shareholders worldwide.

Computershare is the leading global provider of registry for shareand bond markets, and provides high tech …

TALKING POINTS

TALK: "The delegates of the UN World Conference Against Racism agreed that Zionism Is racism."

POINT: In 2001. Arab nations again were seeking to delegitimize Israel by trying to equate Zionism with racism when they held the first UN World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa.

The United States joined Israel in boycotting that conference when it became clear that rather than focus on the evils of racism, anti-Semitism and xenophobia that were supposed to be the subject of the event, the conference had turned into a forum for bashing Israel.

The United States withdrew its delegation "to send a signal to the freedom loving nations of the world that we …

Italian man wanted in 25-year-old slaying of Belgian policeman nabbed in Germany

Police say an Italian man wanted in the slaying of a Belgian policeman 25 years ago has been arrested at Frankfurt Airport.

The man _ identified only as Francesco B. _ was nabbed after arriving at the airport from Venezuela and trying to board a flight to Turin, Italy, on Monday.

Officials said Tuesday they identified him after …

Chicagopedia

Roosevelt Road / RUE suh vehlt rohd/ n. Our common -- and incorrect -- pronunciation of the former 12th Street. It's named for Theodore Roosevelt, who pronounced the first part of his last name like the flower, not like the first syllable of …

No. 25 Iowa State stays unbeaten

Alison Lacey had 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead No. 25 Iowa State to a 75-59 victory over Prairie View A&M on Friday in the Waikiki Beach Marriott Classic.

Kelsey Bolte added 12 points for the Cyclones, who improved to 4-0 for the first time since 2001-02 when they won their first 12 games of the season.

Aminata Dieye's layup with 3:13 left narrowed Iowa State's lead to 67-56, but Lacey scored five points in the final 2 minutes to put it out of reach.

Gaeti Werema and Chari Smith each had 12 points for the Lady Panthers (1-4).

FCC preparing to vote on network neutrality rules

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal regulators are moving ahead with a plan to prohibit phone and cable companies from blocking or discriminating against Internet traffic flowing over their broadband networks.

Julius Genachowski, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, will outline his proposal for so-called "network neutrality" rules in a speech on Wednesday. Despite Republican opposition in Congress, Genachowski plans to bring his proposal to a vote by the full commission before the end of the year.

Net neutrality rules were one of the Obama administration's top campaign pledges to the technology industry and have been among Genachowski's priorities since he took over the FCC more than a year ago.

Many big Internet companies, such as search leader Google Inc. and calling service Skype, as well as public-interest groups, insist regulations are needed to ensure broadband companies don't use their control over Internet connections to dictate where consumers can go and what they can do online.

But Genachowski has run into substantial opposition from big phone and cable companies, including AT&T Inc., Verizon Communications Inc. and Comcast Corp., which argue that they should be allowed to manage their networks as they see fit. Genachowski has spent the past several months trying to craft a compromise.

His new proposal would "culminate recent efforts to find common ground" and create "rules of the road to preserve the freedom and openness of the Internet," according to an advance copy of his remarks.

The plan — which builds on a set of FCC principles first established under the previous administration in 2005 — would require that broadband providers let subscribers access all legal online content, applications and services over their wireline networks.

But it would give broadband providers flexibility to manage their systems to deal with problems such as network congestion and unwanted traffic like spam as long as they publicly disclose their network management practices.

The proposal would also prohibit wireless carriers from blocking access to any Web sites or competing applications such as Internet calling services on mobile devices, and would require them to disclose their network management practices.

But it would give wireless carriers more leeway to manage data traffic since wireless systems have more bandwidth constraints than wired networks. That provision is likely to draw fire from public-interest groups, which argue that wireless networks should have the same protections as wired systems, particularly as more and more Americans go online using mobile devices.

In addition, the proposal would allow broadband providers to experiment with routing traffic from specialized services such as smart grids and home security systems over dedicated networks as long as these services do not hurt the public Internet.

In one key victory for the phone and cable companies, Genachowski's proposal would leave in place the FCC's current regulatory framework for broadband, which treats broadband as a lightly regulated "information service."

The agency has been trying to come up with a new framework since a federal appeals court in April ruled that the FCC had overstepped its existing authority in sanctioning cable giant Comcast for discriminating against Internet file-sharing traffic on its network — violating the very net neutrality principles that Genachowski now hopes to adopt as formal rules.

In order to ensure that the commission would be on solid legal ground in adopting net neutrality rules and other broadband regulations following that decision, Genachowski had proposed redefining broadband as a telecommunications service subject to "common carrier" obligations to treat all traffic equally. But that effort quickly triggered a fierce backlash from the phone and cable companies, as well as many Republicans on Capitol Hill — prompting Genachowski to abandon it in his current plan.

Genachowski's new plan is based in large part on a proposal that Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., the outgoing chairman of the House Commerce Committee, tried unsuccessfully to push in Congress several months ago. Waxman, too, ran into opposition from Republicans who warn that net neutrality rules amount to burdensome regulation that would discourage broadband providers from investing in their networks.

With Republicans set to take over the House next year, Genachowski is running out of time to get his net neutrality proposal through the FCC without being blocked by lawmakers.

Supporters argue that net neutrality rules are critical to preserving an open Internet and ensuring that phone and cable companies cannot slow or block online phone calls, Web video and other Internet services that compete with their core businesses.

Indeed, the online file-sharing service blocked by Comcast was used in large part to trade movies and other video over the Internet. Net neutrality proponents also want rules to ensure that broadband companies cannot favor their own online traffic or the traffic of business partners that can pay for priority access.

But the phone and cable companies insist they need flexibility to manage network traffic so that high-bandwidth applications — such as online video — don't hog capacity and slow down their systems. They say this is particularly true for wireless networks. The communications companies also argue that after spending billions to upgrade their lines for broadband, they need to be able earn a healthy return by offering premium services.

Not a normal loss for outmanned Bears

NORMAL, Ill. - Kevin Glenn passed for 286 yards and fourtouchdowns as Illinois State crushed West Virginia University Tech75-10. The Redbirds, ranked No. 5 in the preseason NCAA Division I-AA poll, jumped ahead 31-3 in the first quarter. At halftime, theGolden Bears, a Division II team, were behind 41-3.

The Redbirds, I-AA semifinalists last year and winners of sevenof their last eight games, rolled up 733 yards of total offense.

Justin Frierson, who grabbed Glenn's first two scoring passes of37 and 45 yards, was the only Redbird with more than one TD. WillieWatts ran nine times for 141 yards and one score, while Glenn was 16-of-24 passing.

Kalem McRae of Huntington ran one yard in the third quarter forTech's lone TD. Fadi Hanbali had kicked a 42-yard field goal for theBears (0-2) in the opening quarter. Tech quarterback Eric Smith was18-of-40 for 229 yards. He was intercepted once.

The 75 points are the most the Redbirds (1-0) have scored in anopener, smashing the mark in a 54-0 shutout of Lincoln of Missouriin 1984. ISU's record for most points in a single game was in an 80-0 rout of Eureka in 1937.

Perplexed and hurt by the Mail: ; I am running for elections officer to make a difference

THE Daily Mail, in a Feb. 1 editorial, "Pritt: West Virginianeeds a secretary of state serious about clean elections," took meto task for the unpaid loans and campaign debts from thegubernatorial race of 1996.

I was perplexed and hurt by the tone and the implications of thearticle, especially since so much of my life has been dedicated topromoting and participating in the democratic process.

Plato, in The Republic, said that democracy was a hungry beastthat must constantly be fed. Democracy is not a spectator sport. Inorder for it to work, we must participate.

And one of the most valuable players is an unbiased, free media.Unless the media is fair in its representation of candidates andissues, citizens become discouraged and confused.

Eventually, they feel hopeless and give up on democracy. Theydon't participate. They don't vote.

Our most valuable resource, our young people, seem to have givenup. My candidacy is about renewed hope in the process, a plea to ouryoung people that they are needed, that they can make a difference.

As a teenager, I took to heart the challenge that PresidentKennedy posed: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but whatyou can do for your country."

Because of my family and teachers, I believed in democracy, ourprocess, and the importance of my participation, and I put my heartand work into that belief.

I was selected to represent my school in such programs as KnowYour State Government Day and Girls State. I received the Daughtersof the American Revolution Citizenship Award and was the winner ofthe Voice of Democracy Contest at my school.

My peers showed their faith in my integrity and sincerity byvoting me Miss Citizen.

Although these honors and awards may seem trivial to asophisticated editorial staff, to an idealistic teenager they gaveencouragement and hope that democracy in America was more than aslogan; that it could be a reality.

When I served in the Legislature, I still had hope, and my votingrecord reflected it in the numerous awards citizens andorganizations presented me because of my work.

A few of those: In 1992, the Council of Seniors of West Virginiaawarded me their Outstanding Legislator of the Year for a careerrecord of 100 percent voting on their behalf. In 1992, the Woman'sCommission named me The Outstanding Woman in Government.

In 1993, I was honored by the National Council of Jewish Women,and in 1994 I received the Mother Jones Award on behalf of goodgovernment and election reform.

It appears that the Daily Mail's bone of contention with me isthat I still owe money on my 1996 campaign debt.

As a candidate of moderate means, I was taught to work hard andpay my debts. I have tried to honor those teachings.

After the 1996 election, many people urged me to have thecampaign file bankruptcy. Many candidates do that, but I didn't,because I would not have been able to pay the small business peopleof West Virginia the money the campaign owed them. The bankruptcywould have erased the debt, leaving those the campaign owed withoutcompensation.

I called or wrote to those the campaign owed, explaining that Ichoose to continue paying them, even in small amounts, until thedebt was paid. I felt that was the honorable thing to do.

Ironically, the West Virginia law concerning campaigncontributions in reference to loans was completely open before 1985.Ken Hechler, then secretary of state, brought before the Legislaturea bill that would provide guidelines for those loaning money tocandidates.

I voted for that legislation.

In 1996, before I accepted a loan, I directed my staff to callthe Secretary of State's office for an opinion as to its legality.We were assured that we would be in compliance with West Virginialaw, and we were.

Since we abided by the laws on the books then, and since the lawhas been changed, and since I am continuing to pay my debts, why thecontinued attacks? What purpose do they serve?

Whether intended or not, these attacks seem to imply that if youare a person of moderate means, you should not participate in thedemocratic process.

Although the Secretary of State's office does not make electionlaw, the Legislature makes laws concerning election reform, and theSecretary of State's office can encourage and draft legislation thatcan help make elections cleaner and help make access to the balloteasier.

The Secretary of State's office is especially important to mebecause of voter registration and the potential we have to includemore of our young people in the process. As a former high school andcollege teacher, I know how much energy, intelligence and hope ouryoung people offer.

We need them in order for democracy to work, to grow, to be areality.

As a teenager, I believed that the newspapers and the media wereour greatest hope of getting the truth to the people and keeping ourcountry free. Even though it's much harder when the media is biased,I still dream of and work for the concept of democracy.

Because for a person of modest means, democracy is our onlychance.

Pritt was a candidate for governor in 1996. She is now seekingthe Democratic nomination for secretary of state.

Former Flyers C Richards set for homecoming

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Under the visor, Mike Richards still looks the same.

It's the rest of his makeover that still seems out of place as he prepares for his Philadelphia homecoming.

He wears No. 10 instead of 18 and the "C'' has been stripped from his jersey. Oh yeah, the jersey. Gone is the orange and black of the Philadelphia Flyers. Richards wears the Los Angeles Kings sweater now, a uniform he's still getting used to four months after his shocking trade out of Philly.

Richards returns Saturday night for the first time since general manager Paul Holmgren dealt him the same day he traded Jeff Carter.

Richards was Philadelphia's captain and led them to the Stanley Cup finals in 2010.

None of that mattered when the Flyers decided to transform the roster in the offseason, moves that have paid off with a 3-0 start.

WGC-Accenture Match Play Results

Results Wednesday from the Accenture Match Play Championship, an $8.5 million World Golf Championships event at 7,849-yard, par-72 Dove Mountain course at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club (seedings in parentheses):

First Round

Lee Westwood (12), England, def. Prayad Marksaeng (53), Thailand, 2 and 1.

Stewart Cink (21), United States, def. Richard Sterne (44), South Africa, 19 holes.

Anthony Kim (11), United States, def. Wen-Tang Lin (54), Taiwan, 7 and 5.

Oliver Wilson (43), England, def. K.J. Choi (22), South Korea, 3 and 1.

Camilo Villegas (9), Colombia, def. Rod Pampling (56), Australia, 7 and 6.

Miguel Angel Jimenez (24), Spain, def. Rory Sabbatini (41), Australia, 2 and 1.

Matthew Goggin (55), Australia, def. Kenny Perry (10), United States, 2 and 1.

Paul Casey (23), England, def. Aaron Baddeley (42), Australia, 1 up.

Phil Mickelson (5), United States, def. Angel Cabrera (60), Argentina, 19 holes.

Zach Johnson (28), United States, def. Graeme McDowell (37), Northern Ireland, 3 and 1.

Davis Love III (59), United States, def. Henrik Stenson (6), Sweden, 21 holes.

Justin Leonard (27), United States, def. Andres Romero (38), Argentina, 2 and 1.

Geoff Ogilvy (8), Australia, def. Kevin Sutherland (57), United States, 19 holes.

Shingo Katayama (40), Japan, def. Trevor Immelman (25), South Africa, 3 and 2.

Peter Hanson (58), Sweden, def. Robert Karlsson (7), Sweden, 3 and 2.

Stephen Ames (39), Trinidad and Tobago, def. Alvaro Quiros (26), Spain, 1 up.

Ernie Els (13), South Africa, def. Soren Hansen (52), Denmark, 4 and 2.

Steve Stricker (20), United States, def. Dustin Johnson (45), United States, 2 and 1.

Jim Furyk (14), United States, def. Anders Hansen (51), Denmark, 2 and 1.

Martin Kaymer (19), Germany, def. Stuart Appleby (46), Australia, 1 up.

Rory McIlroy (16), Northern Ireland, def. Louis Oosthuizen (49), South Africa, 2 and 1.

Hunter Mahan (48), United States, def. Mike Weir (17), Canada, 1 up.

Boo Weekley (50), United States, def. Justin Rose (15), England, 1 up.

Sean O'Hair (47), United States, def. Adam Scott (18), Australia, 1 up.

Vijay Singh (4), Fiji, def. Soren Kjeldsen (61), Denmark, 2 and 1.

Luke Donald (36), England, def. Ben Curtis (29), United States, 19 holes.

Pat Perez (62), United States, def. Padraig Harrington (3), Ireland, 1 up.

Ross Fisher (35), England, def. Robert Allenby (30), Australia, 1 up.

Tiger Woods (1), United States, def. Brendan Jones (64), Australia, 3 and 2.

Tim Clark (32), South Africa, def. Retief Goosen (33), South Africa, 3 and 2.

Charl Schwartzel (63), South Africa, def. Sergio Garcia (2), Spain, 1 up.

Ian Poulter (31), England, def. Jeev Milkha Singh (34), India, 4 and 3.

Article badly flawed

The article by Fran Spielman titled "Some of Burke's war chest may violate ethics law" [Aug. 8] has several inaccuracies and mischaracterizations.

First, Chicago's Campaign Financing Ordinance, which has been posted on my agency's Web site for 10 years and been in effect for more than 20, does not "prohibit elected officials from accepting more than $1,500 a year from city contractors or companies seeking city business." That is incorrect. If there ever is a violation for an excess contribution, it is the contributor's. The law prohibits the making of excess contributions, not the receiving of them.

Second, as I explained to Spielman, it is common for laws of this type to allow, or not prohibit, additional or separate contributions from officers, directors, employees or partners of companies subject to the limitations, provided the individuals are not reimbursed by these companies. This is "right there in the law."

And it is because, under basic corporate law in Illinois and elsewhere, individuals who are principals of corporations (or, more accurately, those who own corporate stock, even a controlling amount of it) are legally distinct "persons" from those corporations. This is why there would need to be evidence of reimbursement to the individuals named as the contributors, much like "piercing the corporate veil," before our board would or could interpret the law to find violations by individual contributors to an elected city official's committee. And this is why I said that the contributions mentioned in the article are not "apparent violations"; it always depends on the specific facts.

Third, I did not characterize this provision of the law as a "loophole." That may be a convenient term for your industry and your profession, but to me and others in my profession, who interpret and enforce these laws, this is not a loophole -- it is just another provision of the law that we consider and apply with great care.

Steve Berlin,

acting executive director, Chicago Board of Ethics

Beer gardens of Eden; Many divine stops for true believers on

It was Benjamin Franklin who said, "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."

I'm going to take that one step further: "Beer is God." (After all, some religious folks tout wine as the Lord's blood.)

If you've only sipped on flavorless American yellow-water, you'd likely disagree; but if you've drunk your way through Europe, you'd be apt to convert to my thinking.

Beer fits most of the criteria for a religion. It has zealots who can be brought to violence over the contents of their cup. And if you truly indulge, miracles tend to happen (even if you regret them the next day). Need I speak of the drink's controlling powers?

The only thing beer as a religion is lacking is the holy pilgrimage. Some would argue Munich is the Mecca, Jerusalem or Santiago de Compostela of beer drinking. I'd agree. But like any good pilgrimage, devotees would need an acceptable route to the land where water flows like ... well, like water, except that water is used to make really, really good beer.

This summer, I searched for that route. Like the stories of many acclaimed faiths, the stopovers most apropos on this journey were gardens. Beer gardens.

Those true believers headed to Bavaria for the 200th anniversary of Oktoberfest -- the Christmas/ Rosh Hashana/Ramadan of beer drinking -- shall taketh the trail that from this day forward will be known as The Beer Garden Pilgrimage to Munich.

Starting point: Prague. In this Czech Republic capital considered to be the new Paris, there are two beer gardens not to be missed.

The first is U Pinkasu, just off Wenceslas Square, at 16 Jungmannovo. Established in 1843, this rectangular garden is next to a towering cathedral with giant bell jar windows, casting both a haunting and holy shadow over the outdoor tavern. Most beer gardens in Europe are more beer and less garden, but this one actually has fauna that clings to the church's stone facade. U Pinkasu was the first bar to serve the famous Pilsner Urquell.

You won't find a beer garden with better fare than U Pinkasu. And pilgrims will appreciate the prices that still embody pre-euro Eastern Europe, with appetizers around $5 and most entrees under $10. Of the old Bohemian specialties, the tastiest is the beef goulash with bread dumplings -- a rich stew served with matzo ball-esque slabs of dumpling. And it would be heresy to pass over the soft sausages soaking in beer broth.

The waiters are friendly but pushy with the tips. Ours brought a calculator to the table and typed in the gratuity he felt he deserved -- a bit more generous than the standard 10 percent. Credit cards are accepted, which is not common as the pilgrimage marches forward.

Onward young believer. Next stop: the yellow fortress of U Fleku. This spot at Kremencova 11 serves only one beer, Flekovsky Lezak 13. Even my non-beer drinking girlfriend enjoyed this dark lager.

Waiters march around the stone yard with trays stacked with foaming 0.4-liter glasses as if it were a dim sum restaurant. To sip the black magic will run you $4 a glass. The garden, which accommodates 450 imbibers, is larger than U Pinkasu's, yet has a more romantic vibe. Accordion players and other musicians play local tunes, while mixing in a few Western favorites like "Oh My Darlin' Clementine."

An on-site museum offers tours of the brewery that, if you speak German, will teach you all about the three-week brewing process of Flekovsky Lezak.

As for food, I can only recommend what not to order: beer cheese. Unless you're a huge fan of two cold mounds of Easy Cheese mixed with onions and paprika, along with a side of over-buttered bread you could break a tooth on.

Upon leaving Prague, you may start to feel overwhelmed. Gone are the quaint 100-person gardens. Hello, stadium-sized courtyards. But what they lack in charm, they make up for with lots of good beer.

In Vienna, take the U-Bahn (subway) to Praterstern, famous for its Ferris wheel and amusement park. Head south through the park to the green fence of Schweizerhaus, which started serving beer in 1766.

Inside, thousands of boisterous beer gardeners drown out the sounds from the park -- and make finding a table like battling the mobs at Black Friday sales. When you do locate a free seat, be prepared for gruff waiters. I asked ours to recommend a beer from the list of seven. Instead of offering guidance, he threw his hands in the air and kicked at the loose gravel as he stormed off.

Disgruntled staff members are tolerable thanks to the $4 half liters that include three types of Budweiser Budvar (of no relation to its poor American namesake), Paulaner wheat beer (Hefeweiss), a frothy red brew (Rotes Zwickel), a beer mixed with lemonade (known throughout the countries as Radler) and a toasted, malty lager highlighted with notes of caramel (Grieskirchner Dunkles).

Despite rude waiters, biting mosquitoes, barking dogs and fainting patrons (a woman a few tables down had to be carried out by a pair of waiters), it's a relatively peaceful place to worship.

You may want to acclimate to big beer gardens as if you were climbing Everest. A good base camp of sorts is Vienna's Siebenstern Brau Haus, or 7 Stern Brau Haus, behind Museum Quarter at Siebensterngasse 19.

The small garden fits about 100 people, with one giant umbrella basically covering every table. The few flowerpots fail to create a garden feel as the cement walls -- standard in European beer gardens -- prevail. What doesn't fail is 7 Stern's selection of daring concoctions. A must is the spicy Stern Chili. I needed to wash this one down with the brewery's best beer, Wiener Helles, a hoppy, unfiltered blonde. For a sweet-flavored beer, try the hemp-infused Stern Hanf.

It's time to head west to Salzburg, Austria, where the Salzach River, hilltop fortresses and oxidized church domes pull you back to an age when monks ran the breweries.

About a mile out of town is Augustiner Braustubl Mulln, a brewery started by monks in 1621. You'll be filled with doubt upon entering the building's empty lobby. Have faith. Follow the hallway, walk through doors, down the stairs and past the indoor food market. Upon reaching the second set of stairs, the 1,400-person courtyard will seduce you like the snake and apple from that other garden.

Grab a table, head to the cashier and choose between the liter ($7) and half-liter stein. After paying, take your mug off a long wooden shelf, rinse it under the copper spigots, and hand your receipt to the man pouring the Marzen that flows from a wooden keg. The unfiltered brew tastes almost like a wheat beer infused with oranges, with strong wafts of yeast.

For a simple snack try the pozna: two sausages stuffed into a toasted roll along with onions, mustard, and a few dashes of curry powder. If you have a bigger appetite, the rotisserie chicken is a sure bet, as the burly Austrian woman sweating over the birds confirmed with her repetition of the word "good" as she poked at the flesh.

Well done so far, beer-fearing traveler. Now it's time to bring the pilgrimage home: Munich.

When Bavarians agreed to join the rest of Germany, it was under one condition: they would be allowed to maintain their beer purity laws. Whether you visit the city's beer garden complexes or niche boites, the beer will always be as pure as holy water.

My first stop was the Augustiner Brau Haus, another brewery started by monks, this one in 1328. Walk two blocks from the Hackerbrucke stop to Landsbergerstrasse 19 and you'll see a green fence and orange tables and blue banners, proving that the grounds' designer was constantly inebriated. But you won't mind the clashing colors as you fill up an $8 liter of the smooth golden brew, Augustiner Edelstoff, at the self-service station.

There's no point straying from Edelstoff; not only is it delectable, but it's hard to convince the bartenders to serve you anything else. When I inquired about the bottled wheat beer, the bartender smirked, shook his head, and with his long index finger called me over to the wooden keg of Edelstoff as though he were offering his dog a treat.

"Best beer in Munich," he proclaimed and poured me another cold one.

You've now worked your way up to Hirschgarten, the largest beer garden in Bavaria. Capacity: 8,000. It's a short No. 17 tram ride toward Amalienburgstrasse. Get off at Romanplatz, wobble down Gunthestrasse, and enter under the green sign. It's nothing new: self-service fare, more good beer and more trees. But it's a nice escape from the city, and you might even spot some of the deer (hirsch) that gave Hirschgarten its name.

Your journey should end with the most beautiful beer garden of the bunch. Enter Munich's Englischer Gartens, a sprawling expanse that dwarfs New York City's Central Park. Nestled within the lush park -- beyond the surfers who ride the standing river wave at the south end and the nude sunbathers who bear all on the great lawn -- is the beer garden at Chinesischer Turm.

You'll find locals sporting lederhosen, knee-high socks and clogs. The food court is packed with options and -- miracle of miracles -- they accept credit cards. They serve the pale lager, Helles, as well as a cloudy wheat beer and Urbock Starkbier, an amber brew with an alcohol content nearing 10 percent.

A few things to keep in mind as you sojourn: Beer gardens typically are open from mid-March through October, from about 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., give or take an hour. And they usually flagellate credit card users.

Since beer drinking is now an official religion, I have a confession. I couldn't bring myself to drink the Radler. Having half my beer replaced with lemonade felt akin to binge eating during a fast.

And remember disciples, you are beer drinkers. You don't need to walk this pilgrimage. Take the trains.

Noah Lederman is a New York-based free-lance writer.

Photo: Christof Stache, Getty Images / Maria Newrzella as "Munchner Kindl" (the symbol of the city of Munich) presents the official beer mug for this year's Oktoberfest.; Photo: Joe Klamar, Getty Images / Beer disciples give a hearty Prost! to celebrate the holy half-month of Oktoberfest -- the Christmas/Rosh Hashana/Ramadan of suds drinking. The festival, held in the Bavarian city of Munich, will take place from Sept. 18 to Oct. 4 this year, the 200th anniversary of the event.; Photo: Marissa Steinberg, For the Sun-Times / The accordion player at U Fleku's beer garden in Prague, Czech Republic, can bust out a rendition of "Oh My Darlin' Clementine."; Photo: Marissa Steinberg, For the Sun-Times / Marzen beer gets poured from wooden kegs at Augustiner Braustubl Mulln in Salzburg, Austria.; Photo: Marissa Steinberg, For the Sun-Times / A fitting end to your pilgrimage is Munich's Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower) beer garden, which can hold thousands of revelers.

VP Powell? If Only We Knew What He's Up To

Canny old Cap Weinberger may have tipped the most secretivepolitical hand in modern history the other day - and on C-SPAN. Thecable company reporter was asking about Colin Powell: Would he runfor president as a Republican, Democrat or independent?

Weinberger, the former defense secretary who boosted Powell intothe public-policy big leagues, demurred, adding mildly that no onecan tell "with whom the general will affiliate."

"Affiliate"? That means a vice presidential linkup. If so,with whom? Weinberger's innuendo eluded the pretty-boy anchor, butcoming from the lips of a key operative who served Presidents RichardNixon and Ronald Reagan in vitally important posts, that would meanwhat a few have always suspected: Powell, one of the most popularnon-politicians in the country, will not run for president but forvice president . . . thereby to snatch the nation's second-highestoffice at a gulp, without examination.

Sen. Bob Dole, at this point, is heavily favored to win thenomination and is endangered only by speculation about his age andhealth (at 73 he would be the oldest U.S. president to be elected; oncompletion of his first term he would be 77). Who better as arunning mate than one who has faced impressive national securitytests: a four-star general, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs,holder of the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Air Medal and Medal ofFreedom?

How's that for a running mate? Plus, Powell is an AfricanAmerican, which may at long last allow the GOP to crack the elusiveminority vote. But although Powell will ideally solve Dole'sproblems, if he continues with his reluctance to speak out on theissues, he could well become the first president about whom we knowvery little.

So the question for Republicans is: Given that Powell hasobviously determined to forgo the presidency by not speaking out ororganizing for the primaries, and given that he would logicallydeliver the presidency to almost any GOP nominee, is it right for theGOP to serve up someone who will not commit himself on key issues,given the likelihood of his succeeding to the presidency by death ofthe incumbent or primogeniture?

"It's not true that Colin Powell isn't making himself specificon the issues!" argued a friend of mine. "I just heard his speechand is he terrific! Calls 'em as he sees 'em. He's for the balancedbudget. How do you like that?"

Is Powell for the balanced budget amendment? Is he for thepresident's route to a balanced budget, which will take 10 years? Orthe Republicans' glide path, which will take seven years?

"He didn't say," my friend growled. "Why do you want to pinthis hero down on specifics?"

See what I mean? Maybe Weinberger knows what Powell thinks. Wedon't.

Thomas F. Roeser is a former fellow of the John F. KennedySchool of Government at Harvard University and founder of theRepublican Assembly of Illinois.

Cellarius, Simon

Cellarius, Simon, German composer and clergyman; b. probably in Saxony, date unknown; d. Kohren, 1544. He was Kantor at St. Mary's in Zwickau in 1521–22, and then active as a Protestant clergyman. Cellarius was one of the finest early composers of Protestant church music. Among his extant works are motets, Psalms, and hymns.

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

Missing Myanmar blogger seen in detention at Home Ministry, opposition party says

A blogger who was apparently picked up in an Internet crackdown by the Myanmar military government has been seen in detention at a government office, an opposition party spokesman said.

The blogger, Nay Phone Latt, disappeared on Jan. 29.

Officials have declined to confirm his whereabouts _ or his arrest. Recently-released opposition party members said Monday they saw him in a government office while they were briefly detained.

No reason for Nay Phone Latt's apparent detention has been made public, but he disappeared amid tightening government control of the Internet. Even in normal times, the ruling junta tries to block many Web sites it considers subversive.

Reporters Without Borders said last week that Myanmar authorities have stepped up their surveillance of the Internet since the beginning of the year, pressuring Internet cafe owners to register all users' personal details and to program screen captures every five minutes on each computer.

Bloggers played a major role in ensuring the free flow of information in and out of Myanmar late last year during massive anti-government protests and the violent crackdown that ended them.

They managed to post up-to-date news, photos and commentary that captured the world's attention.

Three youth members of the opposition National League for Democracy party were detained last week. They said after their release Monday that they had seen Nay Phone Latt at the Home Ministry, which coordinates security affairs, said league spokesman Nyan Win.

They also saw a woman believed to be a league member, he said without elaborating.

The case of Nay Phone Latt, also known as Nay Bone Latt or Nay Myo Latt, drew the concern of worldwide organizations that promote freedom of the press, including the International Freedom of Expression Exchange and Reporters Without Borders.

Reporters Without Borders said the only blog platform that remained accessible within Myanmar, the Google-owned Blogger, has been blocked by the regime since Jan. 23, preventing bloggers from posting entries unless they use proxy Internet servers or other ways to get around censorship.

Nyan Win said Nay Phone Latt operates a legal internet business in Thuwunna in Yangon's eastern suburbs but did not know why he was arrested.

Nay Phone Latt's Myanmar-language blog at http://www.nayphonelatt.net/ was still accessible Monday outside Myanmar, with visitors able to add comments.

Buddhist monks last September began leading anti-government protests, the biggest in two decades. At least 30 people are believed to have been killed when the government suppressed the demonstrations, and thousands detained, though most have since been released.

Taiwanese go to the polls in crucial legislative elections

Taiwanese voters went to the polls Saturday to elect a new 113-seat Legislature, a contest widely seen as a referendum on President Chen Shui-bian and his often divisive handling of Taiwan's tense relations with rival China.

Voter turnout was expected to be high, with a key presidential election coming in two months and increasing voter dissatisfaction over the state of a once-vibrant economy that has been overshadowed by China's boom.

Chen, who must step down after eight years as president, has been criticized for aggravating relations with Beijing by promoting policies to formalize Taiwan's de facto independence from China. Critics say that has allowed the economy to lose competitiveness and ratcheted up tension in the perennially edgy Taiwan Strait.

Analysts expect Chen's Democratic Progressive Party to receive a drubbing in Saturday's poll, allowing the Nationalists to expand its slim legislative majority.

If the Nationalists make huge gains and go on to recapture the presidency, the elections could end years of political deadlock and stabilize the island's rocky relations with China, which still considers Taiwan a part of its territory and has threatened unification by force nearly six decades after the sides split amid civil war.

The Nationalists lean toward eventual unification with China.

Reflecting the heated political atmosphere, the Justice Ministry said it had received more than 6,000 complaints about alleged vote-buying, many believed to be filed by candidates in order to smear their opponents.

In a dramatic move on the election's eve, Nationalist candidate Ho Tsai-feng shaved her hair to proclaim her innocence, denouncing rivals for making false vote-buying accusations against her and allegedly harassing her children in her constituency in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan.

After casting his ballot in a Taipei school Saturday, office worker Tsai Ting-yu said he believed the election was crucial for Taiwan's future.

"I voted for a party which can bring us economic prosperity and peace," he said, declining to identify the party he voted for.

Chen's DPP has acknowledged its original target of 50 seats seems out of reach. A big Nationalist victory would provide a substantial boost for Ma Ying-jeou, who will be running for the party against the DPP's Frank Hsieh in March 22 presidential elections. Recent opinion polls show Ma with a lead of 20-30 points.

During Chen's two terms as president, the Nationalists have used a slender legislative majority to block many of his policy initiatives, including the purchase of a multibillion-dollar (euro) package of American weapons.

Ma has been at the forefront of the Nationalists' legislative campaign, pressing home his message that Chen's emphasis on underscoring Taiwan's separate status from China has hurt the island's economy and increased tension with Beijing.

Protect our natural habitats

It came as some surprise in these quarters, and we suppose in afew others, that outside of the Shawnee National Forest at the farsouthern tip of Illinois, the Chicago area is the largest safe harborfor the state's endangered and threatened species.

What with all the bulldozing and paving over of the landscape socharacteristic of these parts, it would seem that it should be prettytough going here for lady slippers, loggerhead shrikes and Cooper'shawks.

In fact, the habitat is a lot more dangerous for such species inthe vast middle regions of the state, where some of the best farmlandin the nation has have been plowed over and under for years. AsSun-Times nature writer K. O. Dawes explained, the habitats wereretained here and in far southern Illinois because of the untillableland, undrained wetlands and far-sighted open space acquisitions.

So, here's a well-done for those who have labored in Cook andother counties to acquire the forest preserves and other open space.

But there also is a message in this. As development inevitablycontinues in the Chicago area, especially after the recession, itbecomes all the more important that economic benefits of the newhomes, offices and malls be balanced with the need to preserve plantand animal species which, most of us assumed, could readily surviveDownstate.

Medical offices planned near Memorial Hospital

A York County man plans to convert a nearly 69,000-squarefoot building near Memorial Hospital into office condominiums, primarily for medical businesses.

In late June, a limited partnership called Sixth Avenue Professional Center paid about $1.1 million for the building at 1600 Sixth Ave. in Spring Garden Township.

John Woodward and his wife, Tamela, run the partnership, John Woodward is president of Real Services Inc., a Yorkbased construction and property maintenance company.

Woodward hopes to capitalize on some doctors' growing desire to have offices on or near hospital campuses. Woodward's building is about one block from Memorial Hospital.

"There are a lot of doctors who want to stay close to their home hospitals," Woodward said.

Woodward plans to start renovating the building within 30 days.

The project, which Woodward estimated would cost between $2 million and $2.5 million, will include a new facade, landscaping and parking for more than 200 cars,

About 40 percent of the space has been sold. Although Woodward would not provide specifics, he said one of the tenants was a professional office, and the others were medical offices- The first tenant is expected to move in later this year, and Woodward said he expected the building to be full within three years.

In addition to its proximity to Memorial Hospital, the building also is near Interstate 83 and Route 30, which should make it attractive to tenants, said Russ Bardolf of Rock Commercial Real Estate. Bardolf and David Bode of the York-based firm handled the sale. Ettco Tool & Machine Co. moved out of the building in late June.

"It was an excellent opportunity to reuse this building," Bardolf said.

Several medical office buildings have appeared in Central Pennsylvania in the past few years. For example, Harrisburgbased PinnacleHealth System opened the Fredricksen Outpatient Center in Cumberland County in 2000. The Hampden Township center includes 60,000 square feet of office space for physicians.

In 2003, Lancaster General Hospital added a 60,000-squarefoot medical office building on its health campus in East Hempfield Township, Lancaster County.

Office space on or near a hospital campus can be attractive to doctors in specialties that require them to spend a lot of time at the hospital, said Sherry Migliore, director of consulting with PMSCO Healthcare Consulting in Lower Paxton Township.

Such specialties include surgery and cardiology.

However, the space is not suitable for some doctors, such as those with patients who do not live near a hospital.

"Doctors are not going to move away from their patients just to be near a hospital," Migliore said.

Film Set Director Ruiz Del Rio Dies

MADRID, Spain - Emilio Ruiz del Rio, the award-winning Spanish set decorator and visual and special effects wizard who worked on such films as "Dr. Zhivago," "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Pan's Labyrinth," has died, a hospital official said Sunday. He was 84.

Ruiz del Rio died of respiratory failure on Friday at Madrid's San Rafael Hospital, the official said.

During a career spanning more than 60 years, Ruiz del Rio worked on more than 450 movies in Europe and the United States, teaming up with directors such as Orson Welles ("Mr. Arkadin," 1955), Stanley Kubrick ("Spartacus," 1960) and George Cukor ("Travels with My Aunt," 1970).

He won three Goya awards, the Spanish version of the Oscars, most recently for "Pan's Labyrinth." The film by Mexican director Guillermo del Toro was nominated for six Oscars last year and won three, although none in Ruiz del Rio's category.

"Everything I have done and continue to do is aimed exclusively at learning," Ruiz del Rio wrote in a book of memoirs in 1996.

"When a director asks me for one thing I give him two, not out of generosity but because in this way I impose on myself a challenge that I have to resolve, and this stimulates me," Ruiz del Rio wrote.

He remained active until the end of his life, working on "Luz de Domingo" (Sunday Light) by Spanish director Jose Luis Garci - one of three films nominated last week by the Spanish cinema academy as a candidate for Spain's best foreign film entry at the next Oscars.

Funeral arrangements were not immediately known.

Worley 3-hits Giants after Lincecum scratched

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tim Lincecum was scratched from his scheduled start with a stomach illness on Tuesday night, and the San Francisco Giants hitters couldn't have felt well after facing Philadelphia Phillies rookie right-hander Vance Worley.

Worley threw a three-hitter and Chase Utley hit an inside-the-park homer to lead Philadelphia to a 7-2 victory in a matchup of the NL's top teams.

Worley (7-1) had five strikeouts and one walk, and has allowed two earned runs or less in 11 of his 13 career starts. It was Worley's fifth straight win.

"He has good stuff," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of Worley. "He throws quality strikes, pounds the strike zone and stayed in command the whole game."

Barry Zito (3-3), a late replacement for Lincecum, allowed six runs and six hits in seven innings while striking out four and walking two.

Lincecum was scratched two hours before the game and is listed as day-to-day. He could pitch Wednesday against the Phillies, taking Zito's place, and Bochy said after the game that a decision wouldn't be made until Wednesday.

Zito was headed to take batting practice at 5:20 p.m. when Bochy informed him of the start. It was the first-ever fill-in start for Zito, who was forced to slightly alter his routine. But he did not use it as an excuse for the outing.

"I skipped a couple of things but for the most part if you have an hour-and-a-half to get ready, you're going to be ready," he said. "I didn't really have everything working until the second or third (inning). I think the difference in the game was they didn't miss mistakes."

Zito, pitching on nine days' rest, was roughed up in the first inning when Philadelphia scored four runs.

"That's what makes it tough that first inning, getting behind when (Worley's) throwing the ball as well as he is and it's just too much to overcome," Bochy said.

Ryan Howard, John Mayberry Jr. and Raul Ibanez also homered for the Phillies (65-37).

Aaron Rowand homered against his former team for the Giants (59-44).

But San Francisco couldn't muster much else against Worley.

"He did a real good job," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said of Worley. "He's aggressive and goes right at them."

"I think I'm figuring how to pitch now," Worley said.

Manuel said Worley deserved to go the distance.

"I think it does something for the guy," Manuel said. "I wanted him to stay in there for himself. He earned the right."

Worley shared the credit with backup catcher Brian Schneider.

"I'm not out there thinking too much," Worley said. "I'm just going with the pitches I had. He's really smooth back there. We were definitely both on the same page."

Six of the Phillies' seven hits were for six extra bases.

In the sixth, Utley drove the ball off the wall in center. It caromed away from center fielder Andres Torres and was retrieved by right fielder Nate Schierholtz. The relay came to shortstop Mike Fontenot, whose throw home was slightly to the left of catcher Eli Whiteside. Utley, sliding headfirst, just beat the lunging tag of Whiteside to put Philadelphia up 6-1.

"It hit the wall, took that corner and kept going the other way," Torres said.

The game was a rematch of last season's NLCS when the Giants beat the Phillies in six games on their way to winning the World Series.

The Phillies scored four runs in the first after Zito had retired the first two batters, highlighted by Ibanez's three-run homer to deep right-center. Ibanez had been 9 for 49 (.184) lifetime against Zito entering the game. Howard had put Philadelphia on the board with an RBI double to right that scored Utley.

Zito said the pitch to Ibanez was a cutter that didn't move enough inside.

"I felt pretty good after the first," Zito said. "That Ibanez pitch I want back."

The left-hander rebounded after the slow start, allowing two runs and three hits over his final six innings.

"It's a shame he couldn't get out of that (first) inning because he regrouped and ended up throwing the ball fairly well," Bochy said. "That's impressive on his part, not caving in and finding a way to give us innings."

The Giants took a 1-0 lead in the first on Pablo Sandoval's sacrifice fly.

Mayberry homered to left in the fourth to give the Phillies a 5-1 lead.

Rowand's pinch-hit homer in the eighth pulled the Giants within 6-2, but Howard got the run back with a solo shot to left in the bottom of the inning.

Cody Ross, the MVP of last season's NLCS, went 0 for 3 and is 1 for his last 17.

Notes: The crowd of 45,740 was the Phillies' 177th consecutive sellout. ... Philadelphia hasn't had a losing streak since dropping four straight from May 31-June 4. ... Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins went 0 for 4, stretching his slump to one hit in his last 20 at-bats.

Shingles.(AgePage)(Disease/Disorder overview)

Ruth, a 79-year-old woman, said her case of shingles was causing her so much pain she couldn't bear to put on her clothes or have sheets touch her skin. Ruth was sick for several months. Her friend, Sarah, had it easier. Shingles made Sarah feel sick for a few days, and she had some discomfort. But she was back to her old self in a few weeks. Sarah noted, "Having shingles wasn't so bad."

What Is Shingles?

Shingles is a disease that affects nerves and results in pain and blisters in adults. It is caused by the same varicella-zoster virus that causes chickenpox. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus does not leave your body, but continues to live in some nerve cells. For reasons that aren't totally understood, the virus can become active instead of remaining inactive. When it's activated, it produces shingles.

Just like chickenpox, people with shingles will feel sick and have a rash on their body or face. The major difference is that chickenpox is a childhood illness, while shingles targets older people. Most adults live with the virus in their body and never get shingles. But about one in .ve people who have had chickenpox will get shingles later in life--usually after the age of 50.

When the activated virus travels along the path of a nerve to the surface of the skin, a rash will appear. It usually shows up as a band on one side of the face or body. The word "shingles" comes from the Latin word for belt or girdle because often the rash is shaped like a belt.

Who Is at Risk?

Anyone with the varicella-zoster virus in their body can be at risk for getting shingles. Right now there is no way of knowing who will get the disease.

But, there are things that make you more likely to get shingles.

* Advanced age

The risk of getting shingles increases as you age. People have a hard time fighting off infections as they get older. The chance of getting shingles becomes much higher by age 70.

* Trouble fighting infections Your immune system is the part of your body that fights off infections. Age can affect your immune system. So can an HIV infection, cancer, cancer drugs, radiation treatments, or organ transplant. Even stress or a cold can weaken your immune system for a short time and put you at risk for shingles. What Are the Symptoms of Shingles?

What Are the Symptoms of Shingles?

Most people have some of the following symptoms.

* Burning, tingling, or numbness of the skin

* Feeling sick--chills, fever, upset stomach, or headache

* Fluid-filled blisters

* Skin that is sensitive to touch

* Mild itching to strong pain

Shingles follows a pattern. A few days after the tingling or burning feeling on the skin, a red rash will come out on your body, face, or neck. In a few days, the rash will turn into fluid-filled blisters. The blisters dry up and crust over within several days. The rash usually happens on one side of the body. Most cases of shingles last from 3 to 5 weeks.

Do You Need A Doctor?

George, age 67, had a red rash on his face and felt sick. His wife urged him to see a doctor, but he told her, "It's just a rash. I'll be all right in a few days." His wife insisted that he go to the doctor. The doctor told George that he had shingles and ordered some medicine for him.

It's important to go to your doctor no later than 3 days after the rash starts. The doctor needs to see the rash to confirm what you have and make a treatment plan. Although there is no cure for shingles, early treatment with drugs that fight the virus can help. Shingles can often be treated at home. Patients with shingles rarely need to stay in a hospital.

How Is Shingles Treated?

For people with severe symptoms, there are many medications your doctor can prescribe to treat shingles. These include medicines that:

* Fight the virus--antiviral drugs

* Lessen pain and shorten the time you're sick--steroids

* Help with pain relief--antide-pressants and anticonvulsants

* Reduce pain--analgesics

When started within 72 hours of getting the rash, these medicines help shorten the length of the infection and lower the risk of other problems.

Prevent Shingles--A Vaccine

A new way to keep you from getting shingles has recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. You should ask your doctor if the new shingles vaccine is right for you. It is available for ages 60 and older.

Why Does the Pain Go On and On?

After the rash goes away, some people may be left with long lasting pain called post-herpetic neuralgia or PHN. The pain is felt in the same area where the rash had been. For some people, PHN is the longest lasting and worst part of shingles. The pain can make some people feel weak and unable to do things they usually enjoy. Those who have had PHN say the pain is sharp, throbbing, or stabbing. Their skin is so sensitive they can't bear to wear even soft, light clothing. People who have PHN call it a pain that won't go away.

The older you are when you get shingles, the greater your chance of developing PHN. This pain can last for weeks, months, or even years.

    "I've had post-herpetic neuralgia    for nine months," said Pete, an    80-year-old man. "I've lost 20    pounds. I can't find anything    that helps with the pain." 

The PHN pain can cause depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, and weight loss. Some people with PHN find it hard to go about their daily activities like dressing, cooking, and eating. Talk to your doctor if you have any of these problems. There are medicines that may help. Usually PHN will get better over time.

What Are Other Complications?

In some cases, blisters can become infected. Scarring of the skin may result. Your doctor can prescribe an antibiotic treatment. Keep the area clean, and try not to scratch!

There are other problems to watch for. If blisters occur near or in the eye, lasting eye damage or blindness may result. This can be very serious. See an eye doctor right away.

Other problems may include hearing loss or a brief paralysis of the face. In a small number of cases, swelling of the brain (encephalitis) can occur. It's very important to go to the doctor as soon as possible--especially if you have blisters on your face.

Can You Catch Shingles?

No, shingles is not contagious. You can't catch shingles from someone who has it. But you can catch chickenpox from someone with shingles. So, if you've never had chickenpox, try to stay away from anyone who has shingles.

Flo, a 77-year-old woman notes, "My daughter stayed away when I had shingles. She'd never had chickenpox and didn't want to risk catching it. Good thing my sister lived nearby and could help me during those first few weeks."

Will Shingles Return?

Most people get shingles only once. But it is possible to have it more than once.

What Can You Do?

If you have shingles, here are some things that may make you feel better:

* Make sure you get enough rest, avoid stress as much as you can, and eat well-balanced meals.

* Simple exercises like stretching or walking can help. Check with your doctor first.

* Dip a washcloth in cool water and apply it to your blisters to ease the pain and help dry the blisters.

* Do things that take your mind off your pain. Watch TV, read interesting books, talk with friends, or work on a hobby you like.

* Try to relax. Stress can make the pain worse. Listen to music that helps you relax.

* Share your feelings about you pain with family and friends. Ask for their help.

Where Can I Get More Information?

For more information about shingles and pain management, you can call or write:

Food and Drug Administration

5600 Fishers Lane

Rockville, MD 20857

888-463-6332 (toll-free)

www.fda.gov

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

6610 Rockledge Drive MSC 6612

Bethesda, MD 20892

301-496-5717

www.niaid.nih.gov

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

P.O. Box 5801

Bethesda, MD 20824

800-352-9424 (toll-free)

301-468-5981 (TTY)

www.ninds.nih.gov

American Chronic Pain Association

P.O. Box 850

Rocklin, CA 95677-0850

800-533-3231 (toll-free)

www.theacpa.org

National Foundation for the Treatment of Pain

P.O. Box 70045

Houston, TX 77270-0045

713-862-9332

www.paincare.org

VZV Research Foundation

24 E. 64 Street, Floor 2

New York, NY 10021

800-472-8478 (toll-free)

www.vzvfoundation.org

For more information on health and aging, contact:

National Institute on Aging Information Center

P.O. Box 8057

Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057

800-222-2225 (toll-free)

800-222-4225 (TTY/toll-free)

www.nia.nih.gov

Visit www.nia.nih.gov/HeathInformation to order publications (in English or Spanish) or sign up for regular email alerts.

Visit NIHSeniorHealth.gov (www.nihseniorhealth.gov), a senior-friendly website from the National Institute on Aging and the National Library of Medicine. This simple-to-use website features popular health topics for older adults. It has large type and a "talking" function that reads the text out loud.

Shingles.(AgePage)(Disease/Disorder overview)

Ruth, a 79-year-old woman, said her case of shingles was causing her so much pain she couldn't bear to put on her clothes or have sheets touch her skin. Ruth was sick for several months. Her friend, Sarah, had it easier. Shingles made Sarah feel sick for a few days, and she had some discomfort. But she was back to her old self in a few weeks. Sarah noted, "Having shingles wasn't so bad."

What Is Shingles?

Shingles is a disease that affects nerves and results in pain and blisters in adults. It is caused by the same varicella-zoster virus that causes chickenpox. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus does not leave your body, but continues to live in some nerve cells. For reasons that aren't totally understood, the virus can become active instead of remaining inactive. When it's activated, it produces shingles.

Just like chickenpox, people with shingles will feel sick and have a rash on their body or face. The major difference is that chickenpox is a childhood illness, while shingles targets older people. Most adults live with the virus in their body and never get shingles. But about one in .ve people who have had chickenpox will get shingles later in life--usually after the age of 50.

When the activated virus travels along the path of a nerve to the surface of the skin, a rash will appear. It usually shows up as a band on one side of the face or body. The word "shingles" comes from the Latin word for belt or girdle because often the rash is shaped like a belt.

Who Is at Risk?

Anyone with the varicella-zoster virus in their body can be at risk for getting shingles. Right now there is no way of knowing who will get the disease.

But, there are things that make you more likely to get shingles.

* Advanced age

The risk of getting shingles increases as you age. People have a hard time fighting off infections as they get older. The chance of getting shingles becomes much higher by age 70.

* Trouble fighting infections Your immune system is the part of your body that fights off infections. Age can affect your immune system. So can an HIV infection, cancer, cancer drugs, radiation treatments, or organ transplant. Even stress or a cold can weaken your immune system for a short time and put you at risk for shingles. What Are the Symptoms of Shingles?

What Are the Symptoms of Shingles?

Most people have some of the following symptoms.

* Burning, tingling, or numbness of the skin

* Feeling sick--chills, fever, upset stomach, or headache

* Fluid-filled blisters

* Skin that is sensitive to touch

* Mild itching to strong pain

Shingles follows a pattern. A few days after the tingling or burning feeling on the skin, a red rash will come out on your body, face, or neck. In a few days, the rash will turn into fluid-filled blisters. The blisters dry up and crust over within several days. The rash usually happens on one side of the body. Most cases of shingles last from 3 to 5 weeks.

Do You Need A Doctor?

George, age 67, had a red rash on his face and felt sick. His wife urged him to see a doctor, but he told her, "It's just a rash. I'll be all right in a few days." His wife insisted that he go to the doctor. The doctor told George that he had shingles and ordered some medicine for him.

It's important to go to your doctor no later than 3 days after the rash starts. The doctor needs to see the rash to confirm what you have and make a treatment plan. Although there is no cure for shingles, early treatment with drugs that fight the virus can help. Shingles can often be treated at home. Patients with shingles rarely need to stay in a hospital.

How Is Shingles Treated?

For people with severe symptoms, there are many medications your doctor can prescribe to treat shingles. These include medicines that:

* Fight the virus--antiviral drugs

* Lessen pain and shorten the time you're sick--steroids

* Help with pain relief--antide-pressants and anticonvulsants

* Reduce pain--analgesics

When started within 72 hours of getting the rash, these medicines help shorten the length of the infection and lower the risk of other problems.

Prevent Shingles--A Vaccine

A new way to keep you from getting shingles has recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. You should ask your doctor if the new shingles vaccine is right for you. It is available for ages 60 and older.

Why Does the Pain Go On and On?

After the rash goes away, some people may be left with long lasting pain called post-herpetic neuralgia or PHN. The pain is felt in the same area where the rash had been. For some people, PHN is the longest lasting and worst part of shingles. The pain can make some people feel weak and unable to do things they usually enjoy. Those who have had PHN say the pain is sharp, throbbing, or stabbing. Their skin is so sensitive they can't bear to wear even soft, light clothing. People who have PHN call it a pain that won't go away.

The older you are when you get shingles, the greater your chance of developing PHN. This pain can last for weeks, months, or even years.

    "I've had post-herpetic neuralgia    for nine months," said Pete, an    80-year-old man. "I've lost 20    pounds. I can't find anything    that helps with the pain." 

The PHN pain can cause depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, and weight loss. Some people with PHN find it hard to go about their daily activities like dressing, cooking, and eating. Talk to your doctor if you have any of these problems. There are medicines that may help. Usually PHN will get better over time.

What Are Other Complications?

In some cases, blisters can become infected. Scarring of the skin may result. Your doctor can prescribe an antibiotic treatment. Keep the area clean, and try not to scratch!

There are other problems to watch for. If blisters occur near or in the eye, lasting eye damage or blindness may result. This can be very serious. See an eye doctor right away.

Other problems may include hearing loss or a brief paralysis of the face. In a small number of cases, swelling of the brain (encephalitis) can occur. It's very important to go to the doctor as soon as possible--especially if you have blisters on your face.

Can You Catch Shingles?

No, shingles is not contagious. You can't catch shingles from someone who has it. But you can catch chickenpox from someone with shingles. So, if you've never had chickenpox, try to stay away from anyone who has shingles.

Flo, a 77-year-old woman notes, "My daughter stayed away when I had shingles. She'd never had chickenpox and didn't want to risk catching it. Good thing my sister lived nearby and could help me during those first few weeks."

Will Shingles Return?

Most people get shingles only once. But it is possible to have it more than once.

What Can You Do?

If you have shingles, here are some things that may make you feel better:

* Make sure you get enough rest, avoid stress as much as you can, and eat well-balanced meals.

* Simple exercises like stretching or walking can help. Check with your doctor first.

* Dip a washcloth in cool water and apply it to your blisters to ease the pain and help dry the blisters.

* Do things that take your mind off your pain. Watch TV, read interesting books, talk with friends, or work on a hobby you like.

* Try to relax. Stress can make the pain worse. Listen to music that helps you relax.

* Share your feelings about you pain with family and friends. Ask for their help.

Where Can I Get More Information?

For more information about shingles and pain management, you can call or write:

Food and Drug Administration

5600 Fishers Lane

Rockville, MD 20857

888-463-6332 (toll-free)

www.fda.gov

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

6610 Rockledge Drive MSC 6612

Bethesda, MD 20892

301-496-5717

www.niaid.nih.gov

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

P.O. Box 5801

Bethesda, MD 20824

800-352-9424 (toll-free)

301-468-5981 (TTY)

www.ninds.nih.gov

American Chronic Pain Association

P.O. Box 850

Rocklin, CA 95677-0850

800-533-3231 (toll-free)

www.theacpa.org

National Foundation for the Treatment of Pain

P.O. Box 70045

Houston, TX 77270-0045

713-862-9332

www.paincare.org

VZV Research Foundation

24 E. 64 Street, Floor 2

New York, NY 10021

800-472-8478 (toll-free)

www.vzvfoundation.org

For more information on health and aging, contact:

National Institute on Aging Information Center

P.O. Box 8057

Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057

800-222-2225 (toll-free)

800-222-4225 (TTY/toll-free)

www.nia.nih.gov

Visit www.nia.nih.gov/HeathInformation to order publications (in English or Spanish) or sign up for regular email alerts.

Visit NIHSeniorHealth.gov (www.nihseniorhealth.gov), a senior-friendly website from the National Institute on Aging and the National Library of Medicine. This simple-to-use website features popular health topics for older adults. It has large type and a "talking" function that reads the text out loud.

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