pdrbt's blog: "News"

Visiting Disney World anytime soon? Have fun, but watch for storms moving in. The odds of having to duck away from a bolt of lightning in the land of Disney's Magic Kingdom, Orlando, Fla., are greater than anywhere else in America. That's what happens when hot air that rises during the summer months in the state's central region draws the wet air from both coasts; the resulting mix means a ton of late-day thunderstorms that spew out as many as 40,000 bolts of lightning. Overall, Florida has been home to over 1,500 lightning deaths and injuries since 1959, according to the National Weather Service. Ask yourself--how important is weather in your day-to-day life? If you can't stand humidity, be sure to steer clear of Quillayute and Olympia, in the state of Washington, which both average about 80% humidity during the year. Washington is also one of the rainiest states in the country, though it doesn't even compare with parts of Hawaii. The city of Hilo, on the state's main island, gets 277 days of rain per year, more than any other town. There's plenty of sunshine, too, though most every day sees a shower come through. That combination keeps the local area at a consistent tropical green year-round. At the other end of the spectrum is Yuma, Ariz., where it rains an average of 17 days per year, or just once every three weeks. As for temperatures, those who don't mind trading extreme winter cold for a relatively cool summer might like International Falls, Minn., near the Canadian border, which averages 36 degrees year-round. Midsummer temperatures can hit the 70s and 80s around midday, but only for a handful of days each summer. Then they often drop to the 40s at night. Dan Baker, who by day works a loss prevention expert for Sears Holdings in Dallas, has spent a chunk of his free time indulging his hobby of tracking weather facts across the U.S. since 1998. His Web site not only provides information on all things Texas, but tells readers where they can find the wettest, driest, snowiest and most volatile weather cities in America. "Growing up in Dallas, with severe weather, my parents gave me an anemometer, which measures wind," he says, and his interest took off from there. Some of Baker's findings are surprising. Who but the most informed would know that Flagstaff, Ariz., is among the top 10 U.S. cities for snow, with 99 inches per year? That's what happens to a city more than a mile above sea level, no matter how close to the desert it might be. The windiest city? It's not Chicago, which doesn't even make the top 10. The distinction goes to Milton, Mass. (elevation 628 feet), the highest peak within 10 miles of the Atlantic that's a sitting duck for strong ocean breezes. And Baker reports that his hometown of Dallas is hotter in the summertime than downstate Houston, which is more known for sweltering heat. Dallas averages 96 degree highs during July and August, four degrees hotter than Houston, which nonetheless has daily downtown employees walking from their cars to their office buildings through air-conditioned breezeways. Overall, the title of hottest American city (weatherwise, that is) goes to Key West, Fla., which averages 78 degrees year-round. And for those who don't like the weather, or at least changes in it, there's the West Coast. Eight of the top 10 cities described as having the "least variety" are in California, led by the big three of San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles. Why? Cities on the water don't heat up and cool down as extremely as landlocked areas do, and the relatively calmer waters of the left coast means less volatility. "The Pacific coast current keeps the water cool," Baker explains.

If you're not sweating your monthly mortgage payment and don't obsessively check refinancing rates, chances are you live in one of America's most affordable areas. Homeowners in Indianapolis know what that's like. Its residents don't have to scrimp and save to afford a home at the median price. There, the bulk of the housing stock is well within reach of the average household. Savings depleted? According to our calculations, it would take just two years of gross salary to become a homeowner there. Cleveland, St Louis and Detroit are also reasonably priced. But affordability isn't limited to the Midwest. Pittsburgh, Atlanta and Greensboro, N.C., made our list as well. Affordability is more complex than sinking a third of your take-home pay into real estate. Instead, we calculated our rankings by using two measurements and applying them to the nation's forty biggest metros. Behind The Numbers The first is a look at the ratio of median home price to median household salary, which determines how many years of gross salary the median household would have to spend to buy the median house. In Indianapolis, where the median household income is $60,383, it would take just under two years of gross salary to buy. That must sound pretty nice to the residents of Los Angeles, where the median household income is $58,319, but housing is more than five times more expensive than in Indianapolis. "When you calculate that out, it's nearly 20 years more of mortgage payments," says Wendell Cox, founder of Demographia, a St. Louis-based research firm. "There has never been anything like the difference in housing affordability that exists today." The second measure tracks the percentage of homes sold in the first quarter of this year that were affordable to the median income-earning household. This metric illustrates what's at play in a market like San Diego . The city might be in the midst of a price slump, but that doesn't necessarily mean it has become significantly more affordable. Only 9% of San Diego homes sold in the first quarter of 2007 were within the reach of the median income-earning household, according to the National Association of Home Builders and the Wells Fargo affordability index, which assumes a 10% down payment and a market-rate mortgage. Economists say this indicates the top of the market is moving, but the middle and bottom strata are having problems. In a market where housing is that unaffordable, buyers have to rely more heavily on credit. Potential future foreclosures can throw a market into stall--not a great sign for recovery. "Affordable markets are in a better position for a strong recovery, because more buyers can come in once prices fall," says Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com. "In markets that rely more on credit, any recovery will be more muted if lending standards remain tight or tighten." Reasonable Real Estate Compare San Diego's numbers to those of the country's most affordable areas. Almost 90% of Indianapolis sales in the first quarter of this year were affordable to the median income-earning household. In Cincinnati, that number was 78% and in Cleveland, 82%. The skeptics might cry "Rust Belt!" here and point out that those cities' markets aren't exactly healthy. This is certainly the case in Cleveland and Detroit, which have suffered from massive subprime lending practices, emigration and poor local economics; prices there are affordable as a partial result. Other areas on our list, however, such as Dallas and Atlanta, are experiencing growth, yet remain affordable. Price-to-income affordability in Dallas was seventh best overall, and just under 70% of homes sold in Atlanta in the first quarter of this year were available to the median income-earning household. Prices can remain affordable in fast-growing cities when there are high rates of new-home construction and relaxed growth restrictions. High demand doesn't necessarily impede affordability either. Examine the difference between Boston and Raleigh, N.C. ; since 2000, Boston has experienced steady emigration, while Raleigh, has welcomed new residents. But during that time, Boston home prices increased by 16.7%, and median income-earning households can afford about half of what they could seven years ago. In Raleigh, home prices have grown by 37%, but the share of median income earners who can afford homes has only dropped by 3%, all while the city underwent a population boom. What gives? A high increase in new-home construction and growth policies not overburdened by regulation acted as price reliefs in Raleigh. Boston doesn't have such policies and hasn't seen a great deal of new-home construction. Both Raleigh and Charlotte, just missed making the list, landing at Nos. 12 and 13, respectively. "There are so many people moving [to Charlotte] now that everyone and their brother is a real estate agent," says Francine Dupont, a broker with Dupont Real Estate in Charlotte. "A lot of people are cashing in on their northeastern properties and moving down here because you can get so much more for your money."

There may not be such a thing as a free lunch, but there are some freebies that are just as good -- if not better. So go ahead. Embrace your inner tightwad. Here is a list of 15. For more, go to Kiplinger's. FREE (AND LEGAL) MUSIC You can find a smattering of free and legal music tracks online at Amazon.com, CNet's Download.com and Walmart.com. But listening to Internet radio is the best way to get your free groove on. At Slacker.com, for example, you can listen to 75 genre stations and 10,000 artist-specific stations for free. Or be your own DJ and build a customized station. (It's in beta-testing mode, and the free service will be ad supported.) FREE SHIPPING Many merchants offer free shipping if you spend a certain amount. (Some of our favorites: Amazon.com for orders over $25, eBags.com on orders over $50 and Sephora.com on orders over $75.) But a few sites offer this freebie no matter how much you spend. These include 1800Contacts.com (contact lenses), Alyssagiftbaskets.com (special-occasion gifts), Bellacor.com (lighting and home furnishings), Bluenile.com (jewelry), Shopbop.com (clothes) and Zappos.com(shoes). FREE PC PROTECTION Guard against spyware, viruses and other invaders with three free software defenders: 1. For a firewall: Zonealarm.com. 2. To annihilate spyware: Microsoft Windows Defender 3. To kill viruses: AOL's Safety and Security Center FREE BOOKS, MUSIC & MOVIES If you haven't been to the public library since you graduated from high school, dust off your card. It's your ticket to mounds of free books, magazines, CDs and movies. Many libraries also offer free lectures, book readings and community clubs to residents. FREE CREDIT REPORT You're entitled to one by law once a year from each of the three main credit bureaus. Go to annualcreditreport.com" to see what lenders can see about your credit history. FREE E-MAIL No more fretting over someone sending you a huge e-mail file. Free accounts from Gmail, Hotmail and Yahoo now give you at least 2 GB of storage. Sure, you get an e-mail address from your Internet service provider. But it's nice to have the freedom to change ISPs if you want without worrying about alerting all your contacts about an e-mail address change. FREE ATMs A buck or two here and there may not seem like a big deal, but if you're frequenting ATMs outside your bank's network, the surcharges can add up quickly. Get money from an ATM that belongs to a surcharge-free network. Allpoint has about 200 participating institutions and 32,000 ATMs. Money Pass has 600 members and 8,000 ATMs. FREE MONEY FOR GRAD SCHOOL A year of graduate school costs, on average, anywhere from $17,000 for a master's degree at a public university to more than $56,000 at a private dental school. But free money abounds, from grants and scholarships to assistantships and fellowships. FREE COLLEGE COURSES Colleges and universities worldwide are posting course materials on the Internet, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University and Harvard Law School. You won't get credit toward a degree, but you can pursue an interest or sharpen your skills. FREE FURNITURE You'll find all sorts of stuff for free on your local Craigslist and Freecycle sites, including couches, chairs, beds and tables. Many are in heavily used condition and will work fine to furnish a dorm or first apartment. Keep your eyes peeled for diamonds in the rough, too. We recently spied a free pool table in good condition in Baltimore, and a free 1-year-old TV in San Francisco in perfect working order. FREE MONEY You have to buy groceries and gas anyway, so why not use those purchases to get a little more green in your wallet? Sign up for a rewards credit card and get free money, gift certificates, airline miles or other perks. For example, the Discover More and American Express Blue Cash cards each give you up to 5% cash back. Spend just $500 on gas and groceries in a month, and you'll get $25 back. That's $300 of free money in a year. Sweet. FREE KIDS' MEALS Kids eat free at Denny's and Lone Star Steakhouse every Tuesday night (and some Saturdays) with a paying adult. IHOP, American Cafe, Hooters, Red Robin and Roadhouse Grill restaurants offer kids-eat-free deals at select locations. You can search for eateries in your area at KidsEatFree.com. FREE BUDGETING Looking for help keeping tabs on your budget? You don't have to shell out for Quicken or Microsoft Money software. Track your spending instead through the free service at Wesabe.com. You enter your accounts to organize your spending into different categories on one convenient site. Wesabe will also help you pinpoint areas where you could improve, and lets you get feedback from other Wesabe users, all while protecting your passwords, identity and other sensitive information. FREE PHONE CALLS Save on your long-distance bill and chat via computer with free software from Skype.com. You won't pay a dime for any call to another Skype user. You can call non-users' landlines, too, for about $3 a month. FREE FINANCIAL ADVICE Not to toot our own horn (okay, maybe just a little), but Kiplinger.com is a treasure trove of free financial advice. Our tools and calculators will help you get on the right financial track. Our expert columnists will answer your personal questions, including general financial answers from Kim Lankford, family and kid topics from Janet Bodnar and big-picture financial planning from our Portfolio Doctor, Jeff Kosnett.

I just downloaded a program called Teebo and it allows you to watch TV off the net and in my poking around of the English channels I came across one called AMP24... As I type this they are showing a public access show called Democracy Now and they are talking about how good ole Prez Bush wants to possibly bombing Iran back to the stone age...How damned idiotic is that? And to make matters worse, some woman fasted in the name of peace for 24 days till Sen Liberman talked to her...The bleeding hearts are out there in force... Having been in the military, both Army and Navy, I can say without a doubt, what the hell purpose does it serve to bomb Iran...We already caused enough damage in the Middle East and now Bush is contemplating making matters worse... Bush is getting carried away with trying to stop the terrorists and is seeing conspiracies where there arent any... From what they said Iranians LOVE the US and want to have relations and regualr trade with us...They want peace and evidently there is a democratic movement going on in Iran... Im losing faith in the azzhats in DC...Things need to get better and less stressful for us as a people and as a country...

WASHINGTON - A new threat assessment from U.S. counterterrorism analysts says that al-Qaida has used its safe haven along the Afghan-Pakistan border to restore its operating capabilities to a level unseen since the months before Sept. 11, 2001. A counterterrorism official familiar with a five-page summary of the document — titled "Al-Qaida better positioned to strike the West" — called it a stark appraisal. The analysis will be part of a broader meeting at the White House on Thursday about an upcoming National Intelligence Estimate. The official and others spoke to The Associated Press on condition they not be identified because the report remains classified. The findings suggests that the network that launched the most devastating terror attack on U.S. soil has been able to regroup despite nearly six years of bombings, war and other tactics aimed at dismantling it. At his news conference Thursday, President Bush acknowledged the report's existence and al-Qaida's continuing threat to the United States. He said, however, that the report refers only to al-Qaida's strength in 2001, not prior to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The group was at its strongest throughout most of that year, with well-established training camps in Afghanistan, recruitment networks and command structures. Bush used the new threat assessment to show his administration's policies are the right course. "Because of the actions we've taken, al-Qaida is weaker today than they would have been," he said. "They are still a threat. They are still dangerous. And that is why it is important that we succeed in Afghanistan and Iraq and anywhere else we find them." The threat assessment focuses on the terror group's safe haven in Pakistan and makes a range of observations about the threat posed to the United States and its allies, officials said. Counterterrorism officials have been increasingly concerned about al-Qaida's recent operations. This week, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said he had a "gut feeling" that the United States faced a heightened risk of attack this summer. Still, numerous government officials say they know of no specific, credible threat of a new attack on U.S. soil. And Chertoff repeated that Thursday during appearances on morning television news shows. But in an interview on NBC's "Today" show, he also said officials believe "we're entering a period" of increased risk. Asked on ABC's "Good Morning America" to explain al-Qaida's continuing strength nearly six years after the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States, Chertoff said, "It reflects the fact that just as we improve our defenses, the enemy tries to improve its defenses and rebuild itself." Al-Qaida is "considerably operationally stronger than a year ago" and has "regrouped to an extent not seen since 2001," the counterterrorism official said, paraphrasing the report's conclusions. "They are showing greater and greater ability to plan attacks in Europe and the United States." The group also has created "the most robust training program since 2001, with an interest in using European operatives," the official quoted the report as saying. At the same time, this official said, the report speaks of "significant gaps in intelligence" so U.S. authorities may be ignorant of potential or planned attacks. John Kringen, who heads the CIA's analysis directorate, echoed the concerns about al-Qaida's resurgence during testimony and conversations with reporters at a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday. "They seem to be fairly well settled into the safe haven and the ungoverned spaces of Pakistan," Kringen testified. "We see more training. We see more money. We see more communications. We see that activity rising." The threat assessment comes as the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies prepare a National Intelligence Estimate focusing on threats to the United States. A senior intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity while the high-level analysis was being completed, said the document has been in the works for roughly two years. Kringen and aides to National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell would not comment on the details of that analysis. "Preparation of the estimate is not a response to any specific threat," McConnell's spokesman Ross Feinstein said, adding that it probably will be ready for distribution this summer. Kringen said he wouldn't attach a summer time frame to the concern. In studying the threat, he said he begins with the premise that al-Qaida would consider attacking the U.S. a "home run hit" and that the easiest way to get into the United States would be through Europe. Several European countries — among them Britain, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands — are highlighted in the threat assessment partly because they have arrangements with the Pakistani government that allow their citizens easier access to Pakistan than others, according to the counterterrorism official. This is more troubling because all four are part of the U.S. visa waiver program, and their citizens can enter the United States without additional security scrutiny, the official said. The Bush administration has repeatedly cited al-Qaida as a key justification for continuing the fight in Iraq. "The No. 1 enemy in Iraq is al-Qaida," White House press secretary Tony Snow said Wednesday. "Al-Qaida continues to be the chief organizer of mayhem within Iraq." The findings could bolster the president's hand at a moment when support on Capitol Hill for the war is eroding and the administration is struggling to defend its decision for a military buildup in Iraq. The threat assessment says that al-Qaida stepped up efforts to "improve its core operational capability" in late 2004 but did not succeed until December of 2006 after the Pakistani government signed a peace agreement with tribal leaders that effectively removed government military presence from the northwest frontier with Afghanistan. The agreement allows Taliban and al-Qaida operatives to move across the border with impunity and establish and run training centers, the report says, according to the official. It also says that al-Qaida is particularly interested in building up the numbers in its middle ranks, or operational positions, so there is not as great a lag in attacks when such people are killed. "Being No. 3 in al-Qaida is a bad job. We regularly get to the No. 3 person," Tom Fingar, the top U.S. intelligence analyst, told the House panel. The report also notes that al-Qaida has increased its public statements, although analysts stressed that those video and audio messages aren't reliable indicators of the actions the group may take.

Over the last 10 years of coaching men, I have been asked time and time again to come up with a list of the best secrets for meeting, approaching and attracting great women. Well, guys, there is no magic pickup line that will work in every situation, but there are guidelines that will help you understand a woman better, so you can be more successful in making a connection. For those of you interested in being successful with women for the rest of your lives, take note of these simple things that will help you understand women far better than you do now. 10 secrets you need to know 1. All women like surprises; women believe they should be surprised at least once a month. 2. All women have fantasies. A man should take the time to find out her fantasy. 3. Women want a man to “be sensitive yet fight for them” be sensitive yet fight for them if they needed to. 4. Women want a man to be gentle and rough at the same time. 5. Women want to be told they're beautiful, then after a time told they're sexy. 6. Women want their man to notice when another man tries to pick them up, but refrain from jealousy. 7. Women will alter their appearance with a new hairstyle or buy something skimpy for themselves, not a man. 8. A woman will groom herself that day if there is a chance for her to meet someone that night. 9. Women believe in the fairytale and will look at most men in the first 30 seconds as if they could be the prince they have been looking for. 10. If a woman really likes a man, she will spend all day trying to look good for him and still not feel perfect, yet at times she will not be made up and feel perfect. 1. 10 ways make yourself attractive to womanBe confident in who you are. 2. Have a sense of humor. 3. Show good manners. 4. Be respectful. 5. Be controversial. 6. Be sensitive. 7. Ask her what she wants and likes. 8. Don't just tell her you do, but put your trust in her. 9. Tell her about one time your feelings got hurt. 10. Kiss her softly, then kiss her passionately. 1. 7 sure-fire ways to repulse a womanTell her what you don't want her to wear. 2. Look at another woman while talking to her. 3. Show her that you have no direction in your life. 4. Be too proud of your qualities. 5. Drink too much or have a serious addiction. 6. Insult her style, friends or family. 7. Use stupid pickup lines like: "Do you want to have sex?" "Can I smell your roses?" "Baby, that's the sweetest butt I've ever seen!" "Hey you, come here!" The best pickup line Observe what she is doing, then walk over and have a conversation about what is going on at that moment. For example, she is in the video store and looking at "The Departed." You can either ask her about the movie and what she knows about it, or if you saw it you can say, "Loved that movie...." and start the conversation from there. Good luck!

SANFORD, Fla. - A small plane carrying the husband of a NASCAR executive crashed into a neighborhood Tuesday and engulfed two houses in flames, killing both people aboard the aircraft and three others on the ground. The pilot had reported smoke in the cockpit and was trying to make an emergency landing when the twin-engine plane went down in suburban Orlando, officials said. NASCAR confirmed that Dr. Bruce Kennedy, a Daytona Beach plastic surgeon and husband of International Speedway Corp. President Lesa France Kennedy, and NASCAR Aviation pilot Michael Klemm were among the dead. The identities of the victims on the ground were not immediately released. Authorities said an adult and two children died in the homes that were quickly gutted by fire after the airplane crashed. Among the three survivors was a boy about 10 years old who had burns over 80 to 90 percent of his body. Eric Domnitz, who lives just down the street from the crash site, hurried to the scene with a fire extinguisher and said he saw some of the victims. "It's in my head. The woman was just melting. It looked like her skin was just melting off," he said. "The guy, he was melting. He looked like wax." Matt Minnetto, an investigator with the Sanford Fire Department, said the plane itself was scattered in several pieces. The crash spilled aviation fuel, contributing to the fire's spread. A firefighter who responded to the blaze was also hurt trying to reach the victims. The twin-engine Cessna 310 had been traveling from Daytona Beach to Lakeland when the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit shortly before the crash, said Kathleen Bergen with the Federal Aviation Administration. The pilot was trying to land at the Orlando Sanford International Airport when the plane went down about a mile or two north of the airport, Bergen said. The plane was registered to Competitor Liaison Bureau Inc. of Daytona Beach. Records show the company is registered under the name of William C. France, the late chairman of NASCAR who died June 4 at his Daytona Beach home. Lesa France Kennedy, whose husband died in the plane crash, is France's daughter. International Speedway Corporation, of which she is president, owns or operates 13 of the nation's major motorsports facilities.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (AP) -- Pro wrestler Chris Benoit strangled his wife, suffocated his 7-year-old son and placed a Bible next to their bodies before hanging himself with a weight-machine pulley, authorities said Tuesday. Investigators found anabolic steroids in the house and want to know whether the muscle man nicknamed "The Canadian Crippler" was unhinged by the bodybuilding drugs, which can cause paranoia, depression and explosive outbursts known as "roid rage." Authorities offered no motive for the killings, which were spread out over a weekend, and would not discuss Benoit's state of mind. No suicide note was found. "In a community like this it's bizarre to have a murder-suicide, especially involving the death of a 7-year-old," District Attorney Scott Ballard said. "I don't think we'll ever be able to wrap our minds around this." The Montreal-born Benoit was one of the stars of the WWE wrestling circuit and was known for his wholesome family-man image. His wife, Nancy, was a wrestling stage manager who worked under the name "Woman." They married in 2000. When he won the world heavyweight championship in 2004, Benoit (pronounced ben-WAH) hoisted the belt over his head and invited his wife and child into the ring to celebrate. Asked by the Calgary Sun that year to name his worst vice, Benoit replied: "Quality time with my family is a big vice. It's something I'll fight for and crave." Despite those appearances, Nancy Benoit had filed for a divorce in 2003, saying the couple's three-year marriage was irrevocably broken and alleging "cruel treatment." She later dropped the complaint, as well as a request for a restraining order in which she charged that the 5-foot-10, 220-pound Benoit had threatened her and had broken furniture in their home. In the divorce filing, she said Benoit made more than $500,000 a year as a professional wrestler and asked for permanent custody of Daniel and child support. In response, Benoit sought joint custody. The bodies were found Monday afternoon in the house, off a gravel road in this suburb about 20 miles south of Atlanta. Benoit's 43-year-old wife was killed Friday in an upstairs family room, her feet and wrists were bound and there was blood under her head, indicating a possible struggle, Ballard said. Daniel was probably killed late Saturday or early Sunday, the body found in his bed, the district attorney said. Benoit, 40, apparently hanged himself several hours and as long as a day later, Ballard said. His body was found in a downstairs weight room, his body found hanging from the pulley of a piece of exercise equipment. A closed Bible was placed next to the bodies of the wife and son, authorities said. The prosecutor said he found it "bizarre" that the wrestler spread out the killings over a weekend and appeared to remain in the house for up to a day with the bodies. Ballard said Benoit had sent two text messages to acquaintances, one saying that his wife and son were sick. The other, to a neighbor, said the door to the house was open and that the pets were outside. The prosecutor said the messages appeared to be an attempt to get someone to the home to find the bodies after his suicide. The boy had old needle marks in his arms, Ballard said. He said he had been told the parents considered him undersized and had given him growth hormones. "The boy was very small, even dwarfed," Ballard said. Toxicology test results may not be available for weeks or even months, Ballard said. As for whether steroids played a role in the crime, he said: "We don't know yet. That's one of the things we'll be looking at." Benoit received drug deliveries from a Florida business that sold steroids, human growth hormone and testosterone on the Internet, according to the Albany County, N.Y., District Attorney's Office, which is investigating the business, MedXLife.com. Six people, including two of the pharmacy's owners, have pleaded guilty in the Albany investigation, and 20 more have been arrested, including doctors and pharmacists. Steroids have been linked to the deaths of several professional wrestlers in recent years. Eddie Guerrero, one of Benoit's best friends, died in 2005 from heart failure linked to long-term steroid use. The father of Curt "Mr. Perfect" Hennig blamed steroids and painkillers for Hennig's drug overdose death in 2003. Davey Boy Smith, the "British Bulldog," died in 2002 from heart failure that a coroner said was probably caused by steroids. The WWE, based in Stamford, Conn., issued a news release Tuesday evening saying steroids "were not and could not be related to the cause of death." "The physical findings announced by authorities indicate deliberation, not rage," the company said, adding that Benoit tested negative April 10, the last time he was tested for drugs. Benoit was a quiet, roughhewn figure amid the glitz and bluster of pro wrestling. He performed under his real name, eschewed scripted personas and didn't bother to fix a gap where he had lost one of his front teeth. (According to the WWE Web site, he lost the tooth while roughhousing with his pet Rottweiler.) His signature move was the "Crippler Crossface," in which he would lock his hands around an opponent's face and stretch his neck. "You always rooted for him, because he was a good guy and he overcame the odds," said Dave Meltzer, editor of the Wrestling Observer, a weekly news letter. "It's like if you watched `Rocky,' and in the end it comes out that Rocky killed his wife and his son." Benoit met his wife in the 1990s when she was married to rival wrestler Kevin Sullivan. As part of the scripted rivalry, Benoit and Nancy were supposed to act as if they were having an affair. A real romance blossomed, and she left Sullivan for Benoit. Neighbors said the Benoits led a low-key lifestyle. "We would see Chris walking in his yard from time to time. He wasn't rude, but he wasn't really outwardly warm," said Alaina Jones, who lives across the street. Jimmy Baswell, who was Benoit's driver for more than five years, placed a white wreath at their gate. "They always seemed like they were the happiest people," he said. World Wrestling Entertainment said on its Web site that it asked authorities to check on Benoit and his family after being alerted by friends who had received "several curious text messages sent by Benoit early Sunday morning." "He was like a family member to me, and everyone in my family is taking it real hard," said fellow Canadian Bret Hart, a five-time champion. The WWE canceled its live "Monday Night RAW" card in Corpus Christi, Texas, after the bodies were discovered. Monday's show was supposed to be a memorial service for WWE owner Vince McMahon. In a storyline concocted by the WWE, McMahon was supposedly "assassinated" in a limousine explosion two weeks earlier. McMahon appeared at the beginning of Monday's telecast and acknowledged the bombing was made up. The McMahon storyline has been dropped.

Treatment Overview Treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) includes lifestyle changes, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) (to prevent the airway from closing during sleep), and surgery. The goals of treatment are to relieve symptoms such as snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness and prevent other problems, such as high blood pressure. Your doctor will base your treatment on how severe your sleep apnea is. Generally, your doctor will have you try lifestyle changes and CPAP first. Surgery is an option only if these do not work. You may need to be treated for other health problems before you are treated for sleep apnea. For example, people who also have infections need to take antibiotics. People who have an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) need to take thyroid medicine. Children have the same treatment options as adults. However, surgery (tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy) generally is the first choice because enlarged tonsils or adenoids cause most cases of sleep apnea in children. Children are treated using CPAP if surgery is not possible or does not work. Initial treatment The first treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) consists of making lifestyle changes. These include: * Losing weight (if needed). Small studies have indicated that losing weight reduces the number of times per hour you stop breathing (apnea) or breathe very slowly (hypopnea). 4 Experts agree that weight loss should be a component of managing sleep apnea. 4 * Going to bed at the same time every night. * Sleeping on your side. Try sewing a pocket in the middle of the back of your pajama top, putting a tennis ball into the pocket, and stitching it shut. This will help keep you from sleeping on your back. Sleeping on your side may eliminate mild sleep apnea. 5 * Avoiding the use of alcohol and some medicines, especially sleeping pills and sedatives, before bed. * Quitting smoking. The nicotine in tobacco relaxes the muscles that keep the airways open. If you don't smoke, those muscles are less likely to collapse at night and narrow the airways. * Raising the head of your bed 4 in. (10 cm) to 6 in. (15 cm) by putting bricks under the legs of the bed. Using pillows to raise your head and upper body will not work. * Promptly treating breathing problems, such as a stuffy nose caused by a cold or allergies. All people who have sleep apnea should make these lifestyle changes. They may be all that is needed to relieve mild sleep apnea. Some people use nasal strips, which widen the nostrils and improve air flow. Although these strips may decrease snoring, they cannot treat sleep apnea. First medical treatment Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is nearly always the first medical treatment for sleep apnea. * In CPAP, you use a breathing device that prevents your airways from closing during sleep. * CPAP is the preferred treatment for moderate or severe sleep apnea. * It may take time for you to be at ease when you use CPAP. You may find that you want to take the mask off, or you may find it difficult to sleep while using it. If you cannot get used to it, talk to your doctor. You might be able to try another type of mask or make other adjustments. Other medical treatment includes: * Devices that are similar to CPAP. These devices automatically adjust air pressure or use different air pressures when you breathe in or out. They are easier and more comfortable for some people to use. * Oral breathing devices. These devices reposition your tongue and jaw during sleep, which opens up your airways. Surgery might be the first treatment when a blockage can be fixed easily, such as when you have overly large tonsils. Ongoing treatment Ongoing treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) includes using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or an oral breathing device and making changes in your lifestyle. Lifestyle changes include losing weight (if needed), improving sleep habits (such as going to bed at the same time every night and sleeping on your side), avoiding the use of alcohol and certain medicines (especially sleeping pills and sedatives) before bed, and stopping smoking. If CPAP is not working, you may need another sleep study to find out whether your CPAP machine needs to be adjusted. You may also need to think about surgery. Surgical choices include: * Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, which removes excess tissue in the throat to make the airway wider. It is the most common surgery to treat sleep apnea in adults. * Tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy, which removes the tonsils and/or the adenoids. It may be used if you have enlarged tonsils and adenoids that are blocking your airway during sleep. This is often the first treatment option for children because enlarged tonsils and adenoids are usually the cause of their sleep apnea. * Other surgical procedures, which are used to repair bone and tissue problems in the mouth and throat. Should I have surgery to treat obstructive sleep apnea? Treatment if the condition gets worse If your obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) gets worse, talk to your doctor. You may need another complete sleep study, and you may need to adjust your continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. You may also need treatment for problems that sleep apnea may cause, such as high blood pressure. In some cases, you may need surgery. Surgical options include: * Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, which removes excess tissue in the throat to make the airway wider. It is the most common surgery to treat sleep apnea in adults. * Tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy, which removes the tonsils and/or the adenoids. It may be used if you have enlarged tonsils and adenoids that are blocking your airway during sleep. This is often the first treatment option for children because enlarged tonsils and adenoids are usually the cause of their sleep apnea. * Other surgical procedures, which are used to repair bone and tissue problems in the mouth and throat. * Tracheostomy, which creates a hole in the windpipe (trachea). A tube is then put in the hole to bring air in. Doctors rarely use this surgery because it may cause other health problems. However, when other techniques have failed, almost all people who are treated with tracheostomy will be cured of their sleep apnea. Should I have surgery to treat obstructive sleep apnea? What To Think About Research shows that continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) decreases daytime sleepiness, especially in people who have moderate to severe sleep apnea. 6, 4 However, CPAP may not work as well for people who have mild sleep apnea. 4 If you use CPAP to treat sleep apnea, you need to use it every night. If you do not use it, your symptoms will return right away. Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty may be used to treat snoring. It is sometimes used to treat mild to moderate sleep apnea, though it does not benefit all people. This surgery is not approved by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine to treat sleep apnea. 7

Reader Jason writes: Is it better to leave a computer on all the time or shut it off when you done? If I leave it on, what settings (like hibernate) should I use? Years ago the conventional wisdom was that leaving your computer on all the time would allow it to last longer before a crash. The culprit: Your hard drive. Frequent starts and stops would cause your hard drive mechanism to wear out much faster than if the drive never spun down. An old saying (possibly apocryphal) was that stopping and restarting a hard drive was the same as eight hours of regular running time. I talked to the good folks at Seagate to find out if things had changed. According to the company, starting and stopping is not a huge problem with drives any more, and they can be safely shut off and on in order to save power. According to Seagate, you can expect a drive to last for three to five years of running time before dying, though obviously many drives last longer. What's the big factor that causes drives to die early? Heat, says Seagate. Ensuring your computer stays cool through the proper use of fans is far and away the best thing you can do to keep your drive healthy. I'd imagine that shutting it down when not in use will only help. Naturally, shutting down your computer will also conserve electricity, so unless there's a compelling reason to leave it on (as with a server), you should probably shut down at night. So, how should you shut down properly? It's completely up to you, really. If you do a full "Shut Down" (or "Turn Off Computer") your computer will be completely off, using no power at all. "Hibernate" and "Standby" are lower-power states that allow you to resume quickly into the Windows desktop. Standby simply powers down hardware components like the hard drive, monitor, and peripherals, but continues to provide power to RAM, so everything you were doing stays active. Hibernate is closer to a shut down: It saves an exact image of your Windows desktop, then powers the PC down. When you awaken from hibernation, everything is back where you last had it. Personally I'm not a big fan of hibernate, because if I'm going to shut Windows down completely I like to reload everything fresh into RAM, which helps system stability. I tend to use both standby (for shorter times away from my PC) and shut down (for more than a few hours of downtime) instead.