Latvia enjoys strongest economic growth in EU

RIGA, Latvia (AP) ? Latvia's economy grew 5.6 percent last year ? the best performance among the 27-country European Union ? thanks to robust trade and manufacturing.

The national statistics agency said Monday that growth accelerated from 5.4 percent in 2011. In the fourth quarter of 2012, gross domestic product increased 5.1 percent.

Though Latvia is enjoying fast growth, it remains one of the poorest of the bloc's 27 members.

After several years of rapid expansion, the country's economy entered a deep recession in 2008 and had to be bailed out by international lenders such as the EU and the International Monetary Fund.

The Baltic state's center-right government hopes to phase in the euro in 2014, which would make it the 18th member in the currency union.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/latvia-enjoys-strongest-economic-growth-eu-130620996--finance.html

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Factbox: List of likely candidates for papacy

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Cardinals Angelo Scola of Milan and Odilo Scherer of Sao Paulo are the two most often-mentioned frontrunners in the conclave to elect the next Roman Catholic pope that opens on Tuesday.

But about a dozen names of "papabile" (possible popes) are circulating among Vatican watchers in Rome. The 115 cardinals can turn to other candidates if the favourites fail to build momentum towards the necessary two-thirds majority, or 77 votes.

Identifying trends is difficult because there are no declared candidates and electors are sworn to secrecy about their preparations for the conclave and what happens inside the Sistine Chapel while they vote.

A strong candidate could win a large minority of votes in the first voting round on Tuesday afternoon. But if he fails to build on it in subsequent voting rounds - two each in morning and afternoon sessions - the cardinals could look elsewhere.

Here are the dozen most frequently mentioned names:

TOP CONTENDERS

- Angelo Scola (Italy, 71) is archbishop of Milan, a springboard to the papacy, and the leading Italian candidate. An expert on moral theology, Pope Benedict moved him there from Venice - another papal launching pad - in 2011 in what some saw as a sign of approval. Scola was long close to the conservative Italian Catholic group Communion and Liberation, which Benedict also favoured, but has kept his distance in recent years. He is familiar with Islam as head of a centre for Muslim-Christian understanding, with wide contacts abroad. His dense intellectual oratory could put off cardinals seeking a charismatic preacher.

- Odilo Scherer (Brazil, 63) is the leading candidate from Latin America, where 42 percent of the world's Catholics live. Archbishop of Sao Paulo, the biggest diocese in the country, he is conservative there but would rank as a moderate elsewhere. His German family roots and stint working in the Vatican Curia give him important links to Europe, the largest voting bloc. Italian media say he enjoys support among Curia cardinals opposed to Scola. He is known for a sense of humour and tweets regularly. The rapid growth of Protestant churches in Brazil that woo away Catholics could count against him.

- Marc Ouellet (Canada, 68) is the Vatican's top staff director, as head of the Congregation for Bishops. An academic theologian of the Ratzinger school, he once said becoming pope "would be a nightmare". Well-connected within the Curia, the Vatican bureaucracy, he also has ties to Latin America from teaching there and now heading a Vatican commission on the region. Factors against him include his rough time as archbishop of Quebec, where his conservative views clashed with the very secular society there and he left apologising for any hurt he had caused. His bland speaking style is another drawback.

- Sean O'Malley (USA, 68) is the "clean hands" candidate if cardinals make settling the sexual abuse crisis a top priority. Appointed in 2003 to Boston, the third diocese in a row where he was called in to clean up after sexual abuse crises, he sold off Church properties to pay damages. He also shut down little-used churches despite strong protests, a sign of management mettle despite his humble appearance in the brown habit of his Capuchian Franciscan order. Conclaves have long been wary of picking a "superpower pope" from the U.S. but his calm authority and Franciscan humility have eased many of these concerns.

POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES

- Timothy Dolan (USA, 63), archbishop of New York and head of the U.S. bishops, has made his Church a conclave player like never before. His humour and dynamism impress many in the Vatican, where both are often missing, and attract cardinals who want a strong manager and a charismatic preacher. His fans say Dolan would bring stricter American management to the Curia and a renewed self-confidence in standing up for orthodox Church teachings like opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage. His detractors find him too informal, "too American," and fear he might use too stiff a broom to clean out the Curia.

- Leonardo Sandri (Argentina, 69) is a "transatlantic" born to Italian parents in Buenos Aires who rose to hold the third-highest Vatican post as chief of staff in 2000-2007. A "safe pair of hands", he is often seen as an ideal Secretary of State, or deputy to the pope, rather than pontiff. He has no pastoral experience and his Curia job overseeing Eastern Rite churches is not a power position in Rome. He recently said women should be given more leadership positions in the Church. One drawback could be that he is identified with John Paul's papacy, when sexual abuse cases were swept under the carpet.

- Luis Tagle (Philippines, 55) has a charisma often compared to that of the late Pope John Paul. Now archbishop of Manila, he cultivated close ties to Pope Benedict while working with him on a Vatican theologians commission, and his rapid rise to cardinal is seen as strong support from the now retired pope for him. Tagle has impressed other prelates by preaching at major Catholic meetings in recent years. Filipinos tell many stories of his humility, openness and generosity. But he only became a cardinal last November and conclaves are often wary of picking young men who could have very long reigns.

- Peter Erdo (Hungary, 60) ranks as a prime compromise option if the conclave's European majority fails to elect an Italian and fears letting the papacy go overseas. Two terms as head of a European bishops council and strong links with African church leaders signal Erdo's wide contacts. A canon lawyer by training and conservative in his views, he has also been a pioneer in the New Evangelisation drive to revive the Catholic faith, a priority mentioned by many cardinals in pre-conclave debates. On the minus side, he is not a dynamic preacher and has only an average record for management in his own archdiocese.

- Christoph Schoenborn (Austria, 68) is a former student of Pope Benedict who became Vienna archbishop after a sexual abuse scandal. A gifted polyglot preacher and editor of the Church's catechism, he was seen as "papabile" in the 2005 conclave but also too young at the time. He has openly criticised the Vatican's slow handling of abuse cases and supported cautious reforms, including more respect for gays in the Church. That could dent his support among some cardinals, as could an active dissent movement by some Austrian priests that he has chosen to talk with rather than discipline strictly.

ALSO MENTIONED

- Peter Turkson (Ghana, 64) is the top African candidate. Head of the Vatican justice and peace bureau, he is spokesman for the church's social conscience and backs world financial reform. The prospect of an "Obama moment" with the first pope from sub-Saharan Africa fascinates many Catholics, but Turkson faces formidable obstacles. He is seen as campaigning too openly for the post, breaking a strong Vatican taboo, and critics say his financial reform plan was naive. He upset many bishops by showing a sensational anti-Muslim video at a recent Vatican synod, raising doubts about his diplomacy and views on Islam.

- Joao Braz de Aviz (Brazil, 65), the former archbishop of Brasilia, brought fresh air to the Vatican department for religious congregations when he took over in 2011 and eased some strains created by his more dogmatic predecessor. He backs the support for the poor in Latin America's liberation theology, but not its leftist political activism. When he was made a cardinal last year, he said it was time for a non-European pope and his passport could help if the conclave needs a compromise candidate. He has kept a low profile in Rome and has not stood out as a dynamic preacher or energetic manager.

- Gianfranco Ravasi (Italy, 70) is Vatican culture minister and Bible expert who represents the Church to the worlds of art, science, culture and even to atheists. A brilliant preacher and writer, quoting everyone from Aristotle to Amy Winehouse, he is seen as a possible Italian alternative to Scola. Pope Benedict asked him to preach at Curia Lenten exercises this year, a sign of his approval. But the now retired pope has also discreetly criticised Ravasi's meetings with atheists as ineffective and his profile seems out of step with the preacher-manager that cardinals say they want to replace the theologian Benedict.

(Reporting By Tom Heneghan; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/factbox-list-likely-candidates-papacy-010338018.html

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Western powers congratulate Kenya on poll, not Kenyatta

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Western capitals on Saturday applauded Kenya's peaceful vote but avoided naming president-elect Uhuru Kenyatta, whose election they had said would complicate ties because of the charges of crimes against humanity he faces.

Foreign diplomats in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, had made it clear in the run-up to the poll that it could not be business as usual when dealing with Kenyatta if he triumphed in the poll, due to his indictment by the International Criminal Court.

"We stand with you at this historic moment and will continue to be a strong friend and ally of the Kenyan people," U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement.

While Kerry congratulated "all those elected to office", he did not mention Kenyatta, who won more than half the vote. Kerry's words echoed a statement by President Barack Obama ahead of the March 4 election.

But Kenyatta's supporters may see them as a climbdown from the words of Ambassador Johnnie Carson, Washington's top diplomat to Africa, who before the vote cautioned that "choices have consequences" - seen as a clear hint about America's preferred outcome.

Western powers have a delicate path to tread in their dealings with Kenyatta, who is accused of organising tribal violence in the wake of the disputed 2007 election.

Citing the need for the organisers of the deadly fighting five years ago to be held to account, they are determined that the ICC process be seen through.

But they will be reluctant to jeopardise long-held diplomatic, trade and military ties with Kenya, the lynchpin of east Africa's regional economy and a key ally in the U.S.-led war against militant Islam.

Kenyatta said in his acceptance speech that he and his team would cooperate with all international institutions and that he expected the international community to respect Kenya's sovereignty.

He did not mention the ICC directly, but has previously said that he and his running mate, William Ruto who is also indicted, would cooperate with the court to clear their names.

The real test of Western resolve will come if Kenyatta turns his back on the tribunal, like Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.

A spokesman for the ICC, Fadi El-Abdallah, said: "Until now, Kenyatta has been cooperating with the court and we do hope this will continue."

Western diplomats have worked closely on coordinating their stances on Kenyatta. Statements from Brussels, London and Berlin all appeared to follow a similar formula and tiptoed around Kenyatta's name.

Germany said it expected Kenya to uphold its international duties. "This specifically includes cooperation with the International Criminal Court," German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said in a statement.

A statement from Uganda's veteran president, Yoweri Museveni, highlighted the gulf between Western governments and many in Africa, where the ICC is frequently accused of an anti-Africa agenda.

"I am writing to congratulate you on the historic victory you achieved by winning the tightly contested presidential election," Museveni said, adding that the election "had redeemed the honour of Kenya and Africa".

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/western-powers-congratulate-kenya-poll-not-kenyatta-081433522.html

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Homes MSP Real Estate Blog: Baby Boomers and the next decade

I read recently that 30 percent of Minnesota's doctors are predicted to retire in the next decade... just?when we are likely to need more doctors than ever as Baby Boomers create the largest group of retirees this country has ever seen. This could create a health care crisis.

Researcher Arthur C. Nelson predicts another?potential crisis?for the?retiring Baby Boomer population...?a housing crisis?he calls the "Great Senior Sell-Off".

The housing boom in the 1990's and early 2000's was largely driven by Baby Boomers in their peak family and income years.?According to Nelson, 77 percent of new housing construction during that time was driven by this demand.

He predicts we could have another housing crisis in about another decade as?downsizers?become ready to sell off their large suburban homes and there isn't a ready supply of buyers for them. Although many households with children still will likely want such homes, there is a shift towards smaller, more energy efficient homes in more urban settings.

I know I see this all the time. Many families want more sustainable living, living closer to where they work and supporting local neighborhood eateries and businesses.

Add to this the shift we are seeing in demographics and we?could have a compounded?problem. Nelson fears that we are not doing a good job of educating minorities (who are becoming the new majority) to make the kinds of incomes required to buy the homes we've already built. He predicts this will create a crisis in the 2020s and 2030s for seniors who simply cannot sell their large homes.

Unlike our recent housing crisis, he predicts this one will peimarily affect America's aging grandparents and will mean many people will be 'aging in place' simply because they can't sell their homes.

Hmmm... sounds like it could be good to downsize sooner rather than later. I work with many Baby Boomers planning ahead and doing just that!

Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email- Baby Boomer Realtor

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Source: http://www.homesmsprealestateblog.com/2013/03/baby-boomers-and-the-next-decade.html

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Remake of the 1981 film Evil Dead plays at SXSW

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) ? Plans to remake the 1981 cult horror film "Evil Dead" may have brought some initial skepticism, but with the original filmmakers behind the scenes and a fresh-faced director and cast to inject youthful enthusiasm, the South by Southwest festival crowd welcomed the reboot with open arms.

Sam Raimi, who directed the original, and Bruce Campbell, who starred in it, produced the new "Evil Dead." Fede Alvarez, a Uruguayan directing his first feature-length film, oversaw a small cast with Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Jessica Lucas, Lou Taylor Pucci and Elizabeth Blackmore.

The film reimagines the plot of the first Evil Dead but replaced the original five college students on vacation with five high school friends reuniting to help one of them kick a drug addiction. When they find the "Book of the Dead" in their cabin, a demon emerges to possess the students one by one until only one remains.

Gone is the iconic hero Ash, played by Campbell, with Alvarez taking a more ensemble approach that gives Levy and Fernandez equal time.

The mix of fire-hose blood spray, psychological terror and black humor, though, remain true to the campy original that boiled the horror movie genre down to its essence. Robert Tapert, who produced the original and the remake, said Evil Dead was intended for drive-in movies and crowded theaters, but most fans only discovered it on VHS or DVD years later.

"You need to see this with other people, where you can yell and scream. There needs to be a party atmosphere," he said, in explaining his desire to update it. Festival-goers at South by Southwest played right along, cheering, screaming and laughing in all of the right places.

Alvarez said Campbell recruited him to take on the project after years or rumors that he, Raimi and Tapert were planning to remake the low-budget, indie masterpiece t that launched their careers. Alvarez insisted on making the film without computer generated images, instead taking 70 nights to film it using many of the old-school special effects that Raimi used 30 years ago.

"A good movie is about showing real stuff, if you see something fake you wake up from the movie dream," he said. "The other reason was to make the movie timeless. Today's CGI looks great, but five years from now, you say, 'God, what was I thinking?'"

Levy, who stars in the television series "Suburgatory," called the weeks spent in special prosthetics and covered in slimy fluids "torture."

"It was a really long shoot and it felt like it went on forever," she said.

Raimi screened his low-budget 1981 film at the Cannes Film Festival and eventually signed a distribution deal, however the extreme violence and gore initially earned the film an X rating and it still carries an NC-17. The $375,000 movie grossed $2.4 million at the box office, but launched Raimi's career. He made two sequels with Campbell playing Ash, "The Evil Dead II" and "Army of Darkness." The film also spun off a video game, comic book and musical.

Raimi later directed Hollywood blockbusters including the first three "Spider Man" films, "The Gift" and the recently released "Oz The Great and Powerful."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-03-09-US-FILM-SXSW-Evil-Dead/id-1b5f3aece3fc4ed2bcca269fb1af7780

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Mexico, Canada Brawl: World Baseball Classic Fight - Huffington Post

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Make a Ukelele From a Laundry Detergent Bottle

I can't imagine there's a better first instrument for a kid than a ukulele. With its lilliputian body and only four nylon strings that tune to "My Dog Has Fleas," the humble uke just begs to be rocked by kindergartners like my daughter, Marigold. While I dream of her one day strumming "Aloha 'Oe" on the beloved Kamaka soprano ukulele I inherited from my maternal grandmother, I decided it might be fun for us to build a starter ax that is even easier to play (and less precious, you know, in case Goldie were to drop it).

Degree of Difficulty: 7/10

Ages: 6+

Build Time: 3 Hours

Parts Cost: About $25

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/how-to-plans/make-a-ukelele-from-a-laundry-detergent-bottle?src=rss

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