Court reduces sentence for Iraqi shoe thrower

Iraq's highest court on Tuesday reduced the prison sentence for an Iraqi journalist who hurled his shoes at former President George W. Bush from three years to one, a court spokesman said.

Abdul-Sattar Bayrkdar, the spokesman, said the decision was taken because the journalist had no prior criminal history.

The defense appealed the original ruling to the Federal Appeals Court citing an Iraqi law stipulating a maximum sentence of only two years for publicly insulting a visiting foreign leader.

The decision came as Barack Obama made his first official visit to Iraq as U.S. president.

Muntadhar al-Zeidi was sentenced to three years in …

Doggie diet

What's the number one health problem for dogs? You might be surprised to find out that, according to a new study, it's the same runaway health problem affecting an increasing number of people worldwide and especially in the United States: obesity. The second-biggest health danger for dogs is traffic, while disc problems are third.

Almost three-quarters of physiotherapists cited obesity in the survey, which was announced March 6 by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, a British medical organization that deals with animal and human health.

But just why are our pets becoming super-sized? For many …

(C) 1999 BI DIRECTORY OF RISK MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS.(Directory)

CGR

455 W. St. Antoine, Suite 310,

Montreal, Quebec, Canada H22 1J1;

514-392-1253 fax: 514-392-0559

Consulting since: 1987.

1998 revenues

Continuous consulting: 75%

Risk management audits: 14%

Special consulting projects: 10%

Actuarial/accounting services: 1%

Staff

Total: 3

Risk management professionals: 2

Includes: 1 principal consultant, 1 consultant.

Clients

Total: 10

Services: Most risk management services.

Specialties: Manufacturing, technology, global companies.

Compensation: By the project, on retainer, by the hour: $200 per principal consultant, $160 per consultant, $150 per analyst, $45 per clerical.

Officers: Andre Goyette, Jacques Pharand.

Cannon Cochran Management Services Inc.

2 E. Main St.,

Danville, Ill. 61832;

217-446-1089 fax: 217-443-0927

www.ccmsi.com

Consulting since: 1978.

1998 revenues

Total gross revenues: $23,100,000

Consulting revenues: $2,079,000

Continuous consulting: 94%

Risk management audits: 1%

Actuarial/accounting services: 5%

Staff

Total: 301

Risk management professionals: 14

Includes: 14 principal consultants.

Clients

Total: 130

U.S.: 100%

Services: Most risk management services.

Specialties: Provides consulting to all or most types of business or industry.

Compensation: By the project.

Officers: G. Bryan Thomas, president; Rodney Golden, senior vp; Steven Luebbert, vp/chief marketing officer.

Contact: Karen Waclaw, marketing coordinator.

Cantor & Co.

9100 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 445E,

Beverly Hills, Calif. 90212;

310-859-7277 fax: 310-859-7415

www.cantorandco.com

Consulting since: 1982.

1998 revenues

Continuous consulting: 90%

Special consulting projects: 10%

Staff

Total: 6

Includes: 1 principal consultant, 3 analysts.

Clients

Total: 50

U.S.: 95%

Non-U.S. 5%

Services: Alternative risk financing consulting, consulting on design of risk management information systems, loss prevention consulting.

Specialties: Health care providers, transportation, global companies.

Compensation: By the project, on retainer, by the hour: $180 per principal consultant, $120 per analyst, $55 per clerical. …

Ergonomics at work.

Byline: Jim Mackinnon

Aug. 27--Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'s top executives were looking for a way to make factories safer and workers more productive.

They weren't satisfied with the records they reviewed, even though the company considered itself an industry leader in safety, said Mike Porter,

Goodyear's director of global health, safety and chemical material management. In addition to serious injuries and lesser cuts and bumps, the data the executives looked over in late 2004 showed factory floor workers with such things as sprains and strains, he said.

"We looked at that and asked, how do we aggressively go after those types of injuries," he said. "And that's how …

LLOYD VAN FLEET, 85.(CAPITAL REGION)

CHATHAM Lloyd H. Van Fleet, 85, of Chatham, died Sunday in Barnwell Health Facility in Valatie.

Mr. Van Fleet was born in Middletown, Orange County.

He was manager of Middletown Oil Co. He was a golf pro at the Orange County Country Club and sales director and secretary of Columbia Corp. He had also been employed as a sales manager by Continental Can Co. and Fort Orange Paper Co. After his retirement, he had worked part time at Slattery's Store in East Chatham. Many years ago, he operated a newspaper store on Main Street.

Mr. Van Fleet was active in scouting and had served as a finance chairman of Fort Orange Council of Boy …

Paper reveals South Carolina gov's e-mail exchange

Just after South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford admitted to a yearlong extramarital affair, his state's largest newspaper posted online romantic, suggestive e-mails that it says were exchanged between the chief executive and his Argentinian lover.

The State newspaper of Columbia redacted the full name of the woman, identifying her only as "Maria," but their contents clearly show they were more than friends.

The newspaper says it has had the messages since December, which would be about the time Sanford says his wife found out about the tryst. In a message to The Associated Press, managing editor Steve Brook declined to immediately elaborate on why it …

Howard reportedly talking with Bullets

Free-agent forward Juwan Howard, whose contract with the MiamiHeat was rejected by the NBA, is negotiating with the WashingtonBullets in an attempt to rejoin his former team, the Washington Postreported Sunday.

Citing an unidentified source, the Post also said the NBA likelywill allow the Bullets to exceed the salary cap to re-sign Howard.

Howard became a free agent last month and signed a seven-year,$100.8 million contract with the Heat. But the NBA blocked thecontract last week, saying the Heat exceeded the salary cap byagreeing to pay Howard $9 million this season.

Teams are allowed to exceed the cap to re-sign their own playersbut not to sign players …