Constitution Gardens & nbsp; . Many ideas were proposed to develop this 50- acre site near the Reflecting Pool and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

It once held " temporary" buildings erected by the Navy before World War I and not removed until after World War II. President Nixon is said to have favored something resembling Copenhagen' s Tivoli Gardens.

The final design was plainer, with paths winding through groves of trees and, on the lake, a tiny island paying tribute to the signers of the Declaration of Independence, their signatures carved into a low stone wall. In 1986 President Reagan proclaimed the gardens a living legacy to the Constitution; in that spirit, a naturalization ceremony for new citizens now takes place here each year. Constitution Ave. between 17th and 23rd Sts.

NW, White House area, 20024. . Foggy Bottom. Dumbarton Oaks & nbsp; . One of the loveliest places for a stroll in Washington is Dumbarton Oaks, the acres of enchanting gardens adjoining Dumbarton House in Georgetown. Planned by noted landscape architect Beatrix Farrand, the gardens incorporate elements of traditional English, Italian, and French styles such as a formal rose garden, an English country garden, and an orangery ( circa 1810) .

A full- time crew of a dozen gardeners toils to maintain the stunning collection of terraces, geometric gardens, tree- shaded brick walks, fountains, arbors, and pools. Plenty of well- positioned benches make this a good place for resting weary feet, too. You enter the gardens at 31st and R streets. Dumbarton House & nbsp; houses world- renowned collections of Byzantine and pre- Columbian art. 1703 32nd St.

NW, Georgetown, 20007. PHONE: 202/ 339- 6401 or 202/ 339- 6400. . COST: Gardens: Apr. - Oct. $ 8, Nov. - Mar. free. OPEN: Gardens: Apr. - Oct. , Tues. - Sun. 2- 6; Nov. - Mar. , Tues. - Sun.

2- 5. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens & nbsp; . Cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post purchased the 25- acre Hillwood Estate in 1955. Post devoted as much attention to her gardens as she did to the 40- room Georgian mansion: you can wander through 13 acres of them, including a Japanese rock and waterfall garden, a manicured formal French garden, a rose garden, Mediterranean fountains, and a greenhouse full of orchids. The " Lunar Lawn, " where she threw garden parties that were the most coveted invitation in Washington society, is planted with dogwood, magnolia, cherry, and plum trees, as well as azaleas, camellias, lilacs, tulips, and pansies.

The estate is best reached by taxi or car ( parking is available on the grounds) . It' s a 20- to 30- minute walk from the Metro. 4155 Linnean Ave.

NW, Northwest, 20008. PHONE: 202/ 686- 5807 or 202/ 686- 8500. .

COST: House and grounds $ 12. OPEN: Feb. - Dec. , Tues. - Sat.

10- 5. Van Ness/ UDC. Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens & nbsp; . Exotic water lilies, lotuses, hyacinths, and other water- loving plants thrive in this 14- acre sanctuary of quiet ponds and marshy flats.

The gardens' wetland animals include turtles, frogs, beavers, spring azure butterflies, and some 40 species of birds. In July nearly everything blossoms; early morning is the best time to visit, when day- bloomers are just opening and night- bloomers have yet to close. The nearest Metro stop is a 15- minute walk away. Anacostia Ave. and Douglas St. NE, Anacostia, 20019.

PHONE: 202/ 426- 6905. . COST: Free. OPEN: Gardens and visitor center, daily 7- 4; garden tours daily at 9, 10, and 11.

Deanwood. Tudor Place & nbsp; . A little more than a block from Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown is this little- known gem, the former home of Martha Washington' s granddaughter. The house has 5.

5 acres of gardens that offer impressive replications of Federal- period gardens and include 19th- century specimen trees and boxwoods from Mount Vernon. Make time for a one- hour tour of the house itself, which features many rare possessions of George and Martha Washington.

1644 31st Pl. NW, Georgetown, 20007. PHONE: 202/ 965- 0400. . COST: $ 8, garden $ 3.

OPEN: House tours: Tues. - Sat. on the hr 10- 3; Sun. on the hr noon- 3. Garden: Mon. - Sat.

10- 4, Sun. noon- 4. Closed Jan. Woodley Park or Dupont Circle. United States Botanic Garden & nbsp; . Established by Congress in 1820, this is the oldest botanic garden in North America.

The garden conservatory sits at the foot of Capitol Hill, in the shadow of the Capitol building. It offers an escape from the stone and marble federal office buildings that surround it; inside are exotic rain- forest species, desert flora, and trees from all parts of the world. A special treat is the extensive collection of rare and unusual orchids. Walkways suspended 24 feet above the ground provide a fascinating view of the plants.

A relatively new addition is the National Garden, opened in 2006, which emphasizes educational exhibits. The garden features the Rose Garden, Butterfly Garden, Lawn Terrace, First Ladies' Water Garden, and Regional Garden.

1st St. and Maryland Ave.

SW, Capitol Hill, 20024. PHONE: 202/ 225- 8333. . COST: Free. OPEN: Daily 10- 5; National Garden closes at 7. Federal Center SW.

United States National Arboretum & nbsp; . During azalea season ( mid- April through May) this 446- acre oasis is a blaze of color. In early summer, clematis, peonies, rhododendrons, and roses bloom.

At any time of year the 22 original Corinthian columns from the U. Capitol, re- erected here in 1990, are striking.

For a soothing, relaxing walk, visit the Cryptomeria Walk and Japanese Stroll Garden, which are part of the Bonsai and Penjing Museum.

On weekends a tram tours the arboretum' s curving roadways at 10: 30, 11: 30, 1, 2, 3, and 4; tickets are $ 4. The National Herb Garden & nbsp; and the National Bonsai Collection & nbsp; are also here.

3501 New York Ave. NE, Northeast, 20002. PHONE: 202/ 245- 2726. . COST: Free.

OPEN: Arboretum and herb garden daily 8- 5, bonsai collection daily 10- 4. Weekends only, Union Station, then X6 bus ( runs every 40 mins) ; weekdays, Stadium/ Armory, then B2 bus to Bladensburg Rd. and R St.

29 Palms Art Gallery features work by local painters, sculptors, and jewelry makers who find inspiration in the desert landscape. www. 29palmsartgallery. com. OPEN: Wed. - Sun. noon- 3.

The Children' s Discovery Museum of the Desert contains instructive hands- on exhibits— a miniature rock- climbing area, a magnetic sculpture wall, make- it- and- take- it- apart projects, a rope maze— and an area for toddlers. Kids can paint a VW Bug, work as chefs . . . The Palm Springs Air Museum showcases 26 World War II aircraft, including a B- 17 Flying Fortress bomber, a P- 51 Mustang, a Lockheed P- 38, and a Grumman TBF Avenger.

Cool exhibits include a Grumman Goose into which kids can crawl, model warships, and a . . . The Palm Springs Art Museum and its grounds hold several wide- ranging collections of contemporary and traditional art displayed in bright, open galleries, with daylight streaming through huge skylights. The permanent collection includes a shimmering . . .

Pickford Salon, a small museum inside the Mary Pickford Theater, showcases the life of the famed actress. On display is a selection of personal items contributed by family members, including her 1976 Oscar for contributions to the film industry, a gown she . . . Three small museums at the Village Green Heritage Center illustrate pioneer life in Palm Springs. The traces the culture and history of the Cahuilla tribe with several exhibits. The holds the collection of the Palm Springs Historical Society. is a . . .

Are You a Love Junkie?

Falling in love is wonderful, but over- attachment to an object of desire or that dizzy state is unhealthy and can spell danger. Being out of control and too " high" on love is just as destructive as an addiction to alcohol, drugs, food or shopping. In the questions below, check the answer that most applies to you. When I fall in love, I . . .

A) B) Feel happy, but keep my nose to the grindstone 2. When I meet someone who seems perfect for me, I . . .

A) B) 3.

My feeling about love is that . . .

A) B) 4. When my love interest calls but I have other plans, I . . . My emotions when I’ m in love . . . A) B) 6. My physical state when I’ m in love . . .

B) Remains basically the same, although some days or nights my appetite or sleep changes 7. When I meet someone I' m wild about, my mood . . . A) Goes through wild swings, from being massively happy to being desperately depressed B) 8.

When my feelings get sparked by someone I love, I . . . A) B) 9. When love is not in my life, I . . . A) B) 10.

When a love affair ends, I . . . A) Panic, feeling the world has come to an end B) 11. Life without that " special someone" . . . A) B) Tally up the number of " A' s" you selected and look below to get your results. 7 or More " A' s" : You' re a love junkie.

Too quick to fall in love, and hit too hard when love ends, you' re caught in a love trap, likely addicted to love. Get more control over your feelings by giving infatuation more time to grow and see what happens. Like addictions to other substances, addiction to love requires recognizing your emotional needs, regaining control over urges, finding other sources of fulfillment. Medication and therapy helps in extreme cases before you lose your job, friends or your mind.

4 to 6 " A' s" : You' re on the verge of being a love junkie. While you haven' t quite lost control over all your senses when love appears, you’ re still too focused on Prince Charming solving your life problems.

Instead of desperately seeking love from an outside person, do things to love yourself. Under 4 " A' s" : You' re a level- headed lover. & # 160; Like every healthy person, you enjoy being in love but it doesn' t drive your life or edge out anything else.

You know that the thrill can come and go. Keep that reasonable head on your shoulders so you can still enjoy the moment without sabotaging the rest of your life. & # 160; Looking to find love online? Click to find out how!

For more relationship and dating quizzes click on . About the Author: Dr.

Judy Kuriansky is a world- renowned clinical psychologist, trusted relationship advisor, award- winning TV and radio personality, advice columnist and author. An expert in relationships, she hosted the popular syndicated radio advice show “ Love. Phones” aired on Z100 in New York, as well as the TV show “ Total Wellness for Women” in the southeast and “ Money and Emotions” on CNBC- TV. At the United Nations, she is the NGO representative for the International Association of Applied Psychology, a Board member of the Committee on Mental Health, and Director of the Student Journalism Program. Also the director of psychosocial programs for US Doctors for Africa, and a teacher at Columbia University Teachers College, she has authored many books including “ The Complete Idiots Guide for A Healthy Relationship” and “ Beyond Bullets and Bombs: Grassroots Peacebulding between Israelis and Palestinians. ” Her “ Stand Up for Peace” band plays at Global Harmony concerts in Japan and worldwide.

See .

House Republicans plan a vote on " Cut, Cap and Balance" this week as the president and Congressional leaders continue to search for a deal that will raise the debt limit by August 2.

Joining " Fox News Sunday" to discuss it are Representative Chris Van Hollen ( D- MD) and Representative Jim Jordan ( R- OH) . Then, we continue our " 2012: One on One" series with presidential candidate Herman Cain. Congress and the Obama administration are weighing their options as time closes in on the deadline for raising the nation' s debt ceiling, and the White House may call another meeting Sunday of congressional leaders and President Barack Obama.

House Republicans are preparing to vote this week on allowing an increase in the government' s borrowing limit through 2012 as long as Congress approves a balanced- budget constitutional amendment, which is highly unlikely.

In the Senate, the Republican and Democratic leaders are working on a bipartisan plan that would allow Obama to raise the debt limit without a prior vote by lawmakers. The talks are focusing on how to address long- term deficit reduction in the proposal to satisfy House Republicans. Even as President Obama and congressional leaders focus on a fallback plan to lift the nation& rsquo; s debt ceiling, top Democrats and Republicans have begun to map a new way to craft the same sort of ambitious deficit- cutting plan they abandoned last week. As part of the deal being discussed to raise the debt ceiling, leaders on Capitol Hill are forming an especially powerful congressional committee that would be charged with drawing up a new & ldquo; grand bargain, & rdquo; possibly by the end of the year Key elements for a big deal remain in place.

Obama has been clear that he wants one and has started making the case to skeptical factions of his own party that getting the nation& rsquo; s fiscal house in order is in their best interest. House Speaker John A. Boehner ( R- Ohio) also remains committed to an ambitious plan, having told his troops that he didn& rsquo; t become speaker to do small things. And, perhaps most critically, the markets are demanding it.

The credit rating agency Standard & amp; Poor& rsquo; s says Washington must agree to reduce the debt by $ 4 trillion over 10 years to avert a downgrade. Former pizza chain executive Herman Cain, a GOP presidential hopeful, addresses Ala. GOP group - Associated Press He' s run a pizza chain, served as a radio talk show host and now he' s seeking the GOP nomination for president, telling his latest audience in Alabama: " I' m a problem solver, not a politician. " Herman Cain, the former Godfather Pizza chief executive, spoke Saturday night to an audience of Shelby County Republicans at the their GOP' s 2011 Reagan- Lincoln Dinner fundraiser at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center.

His comments were reported by the Birmingham News. Cain struck up conservative themes, saying the U. S. has become a country of crises, wrestling with moral, economic, immigration, energy and leadership issues. On the current debate in Washington to raise the debt limit: " I can tell you what to do with the debt ceiling - - leave the sucker where it is! " Cain said if he were president, he would have dealt with the issue well before it became a crisis.

On federal spending: " They' ve put $ 14 trillion in the caboose" instead of in the economic engine of business. On his lack of political experience: " I' ve been told, ` Mr. Cain, you don' t have a lot of foreign policy experience. ' This one does? " He said, referring to President Barack Obama.

On Obama: " The biggest crisis we have is a severe deficiency of leadership. " Cain said strict government regulations are stifling business and outlined his vision for changing the nation' s tax structure and making steep cuts in the Environmental Protection Agency. A Cain- led government, he added, would be " more empowerment, less entitlement. " As for Arizona and its stance on illegal immigration, he said: " I wouldn' t have sued Arizona; I would have given them a medal. " Arizona passed one of the nation' s strongest illegal immigration bills in the country. Freshmen Say Debt Concerns Them More Than Re- election- New York Times & ldquo; Re- election is the farthest thing from my mind, & rdquo; said Representative Tom Reed, a freshman Republican from upstate New York. & ldquo; Like many of my colleagues in the freshman class, I came down here to get our fiscal house in order and take care of the threat to national security that we see in the federal debt.

We came here not to have long careers.

We came here to do something.

We don& rsquo; t care about re- election. & rdquo; It is not clear how genuine or widespread that sentiment is in Congress, but regardless, it has upended what President Obama said on Friday had been a & ldquo; difficult but routine process& rdquo; in past years. The sheer size of the debt and its rapid growth in recent years have emboldened fiscal conservatives in the House, prompting some of them to pledge not to vote for a higher debt ceiling even if a compromise can be reached before Aug. 2, when the Treasury Department says it will hit the $ 14. 3 trillion debt cap and run out of borrowing authority.

Since Mr.

Obama took office in January 2009, near the end of a long recession, the total federal debt & mdash; including debt held by the public and by government trust funds & mdash; has increased 35 percent. While debt exploded, the economy was stagnant, so debt as a share of the gross domestic product has also increased. The current battle over deficits and debt could become the norm if Republicans hold on to their seats or make gains in Congress. The federal debt represents the accumulated total of past borrowing.

So even if the government slashes the annual budget deficit, it generally cannot reduce the debt unless it runs a surplus To have Fox News Sunday Snippets delivered to your inbox subscribe fns@ foxnews. com

A white former school bus is now a tiny spotless kitchen on wheels. Noted for its ' dogs, divine lobster burger, and the " Mac. Jean, " a hearty breakfast sandwich with sausage or bacon and sometimes cheese on homemade Bahamian bread, the dishes are all cooked . . . For the freshest— and according to locals, best— conch salad and the coldest beer, look for the splatter- painted seaside shack a stone' s throw from Grand Isle Resort, where Big D does the fishing every day.

You can' t get a better water view, and the beach . . .

On the top of Buccaneer Hill overlooking the town and the harbor, this mid- 19th- century farmhouse is now a restaurant serving three meals a day, with an outdoor dining area surrounded by a garden of bougainvillea, hibiscus, and coconut palms. The beach is . . . Yacht folks, locals, and visitors alike rub shoulders at Kenneth Bowe' s funky open- air beach bar on the point at Stocking Island.

All of the food is grilled over an open fire; awesome conch burgers with secret spices and grilled fish with onions and . . . Fried chicken, lobster, T- bone steak, and cracked conch are the delicious reasons people eat at this modest lakeside establishment. No credit cards.

Closed Sun. About 10 mi from George Town, close to the airport, this hole- in- the- wall lunch and dinner spot has an island- wide reputation for having the best native food.

Try one of the delectable shrimp dishes— coconut beer shrimp, spicy Cajun shrimp, or scampi, all . . . Although you can sample local Bahamian fare at this famous eatery, the star of the menu is the cheeseburger, purportedly the inspiration for Jimmy Buffett' s " Cheeseburger in Paradise" song. Maybe it' s the rustic charm of the breezy patio, or the secret . . . A few miles south of Governor' s Harbour, this casual neighborhood restaurant specializes in pizza; try one topped with conch. Sandwiches, Bahamian specialties, and ice- cream sundaes are also served.

The walls are painted with tropical sunset scenes and . . .

Four blocks from the ferry dock on Bay Street with a deck overlooking the water, Lavaughn Percentie reigns over her colorful snack stand, renowned for its freshly caught conch salad ( $ 8) , which is diced in front of you, mixed with fresh vegetables, and . . . This spotless stop is owned by Sammy Culmer and managed by his friendly daughter Margarita.

It serves conch fritters, fried chicken, lobster and fish, and peas ' n' rice. When it' s available in season, don' t miss the guava duff dessert, sweet bread with . . . This waterfront pavilion at the Romora Bay Club perfectly frames sunsets over Harbour Island, so be sure to get here in time to snag a good seat for the show. Popular with locals, the restaurant serves midpriced Bahamian specialties such as conch fritters . . . This George Town restaurant serves breakfast ( especially popular on Saturday) — consider trying the stew' fish or chicken souse— and lunches of grilled fish or seafood sandwiches with three sides.

It' s open until 3 pm.

Don' t miss the baked goods, especially . . .

& nbsp; Georgia Witkin joined FOX News Channel ( FNC) in February 1998 as the host of " Beyond the News. " She is also the lifestyle contributor to WNBC- TV, NBC' s flagship station in New York. Her segments appear on " Weekend Today" in New York, " Live at Five, " " News at Noon, " and the early- morning " Today in New York" program.

Dr. Witkin is the author of " Stress Relief: For Disasters Great and Small; " " The Female Stress Syndrome; " " The Male Stress Syndrome; " " Quick Fixes & amp; Small Comforts; " " Beyond Quick Fixes; " " Passions and The Truth About Women. " She has also served on the editorial boards of New Woman, The Journal of Preventive Psychiatry, Health Woman Magazine and Bride' s Magazine. Dr. Witkin is a nationally recognized speaker and has written and hosted her own television show " Between The Sexes. " She also co- hosted a show with Dr.

Frank Field, entitled " Just Between Us" on WLVI- TV in Boston, and has appeared on CNBC since its inception.

Senate leaders from both parties joined Fox News Sunday to discuss the final days of the lame duck session of Congress and whether a bipartisan agreement can be reached in order to pass the START missile treaty with Russia. Senator Jon Kyl ( R- AZ) , who serves as his partys Minority Whip, has been a key player in the START negotiations. When asked, he made clear that he will not support the treaty as it is currently written. Kyl said, The problem here is that the United States in the past has kept missile defense off the table when talking about reducing strategic offensive weapons what are we going through this exercise, then, for?

We' re just a rubber stamp for the administration and the Russians. Dick Durbin ( D- IL) , who is the Democrats number two leader in the Senate, predicted the deal would pass. When asked if he had the votes, Durbin said, I think we do. We had 66 votes for those who wanted to move to this debate, and I think that we have had a debate now.

A bill, which would provide health care to the 9/ 11 first responders who went to Ground Zero, remains stalled in the Senate. Democrats have accused Republicans of holding the measure up, but the GOP has pointed to the fact that Democrats have not made the issue a priority and are trying to pass too many bills in too short a period of time. Kyl defended his position by saying, They ( 9/ 11 First Responders) should have peace of mind when it comes to health care. The question is what and how. And when you try to do it, as you said in your introduction, in a hurry, in the lame duck session, without a hearing, without understanding what the ramifications are and whether we can amend the bill, you' re doing it in the worst way.

Senator Durbin was asked why the White House wasnt making the issue more of a top priority, he responded, I can' t tell you where the White House stands. I hope they support it.

On the surface, it would seem like an opportune time for Congress to include targeted tax hikes as part of a cost- cutting package to reduce the huge federal deficit. Federal taxes, as a share of the overall economy, are at their lowest levels since 1950. A return to the higher income tax rates of the Clinton presidency & mdash; when many Americans prospered, and calls for tax cuts were fairly muted & mdash; would wipe out most of the deficit. And congressional Democrats appear ready to make deep spending cuts, sought by Republicans, in exchange for a smaller level of tax increases.

Despite all that, most congressional Republicans have vowed not to raise taxes of any kind, complicating efforts to reach a bipartisan deal to reduce spending and prevent the from defaulting on its loans. The adamant stand puzzles many analysts.

They say it' s almost self- defeating, blocking Republicans from accepting deals in which Democrats have made the biggest concessions. " Republicans don' t know when to take ' yes' for an answer, " said Bob Bixby of the bipartisan Concord Coalition, a leading advocate of balanced budgets. " They could have very, very favorable terms" in the current negotiations, he said, with Democrats yielding far more in spending cuts than Republicans would have to yield in tax hikes. The potency of the Republican Party' s anti- tax stance seems to have caught even a top GOP lawmaker, House Speaker of Ohio, by surprise. He had to back away from suggestions that he might accept significant revenue hikes as part of a $ 4 trillion deficit- reduction plan. " There was never any agreement to allow tax rates to go up in any discussions I' ve ever had with the , " Boehner said Monday. Key Republicans and others cite at least four key events that transformed the GOP from a party with a balanced approach to taxes and spending & mdash; and both raised taxes, though many Republicans now ignore those facts & mdash; to a party that puts a no- net- tax- increase pledge above almost everything else. & mdash; Read My Lips. George H.

Bush' s most memorable campaign phrase in 1988 was " Read my lips: No new taxes! " But in 1990, Bush faced a rising deficit and congressional Democrats who, like today, insisted on revenue increases to partly offset spending cuts.

Bush' s advisers persuaded him to accept the deal. Hardcore conservatives howled, and Bush lost his 1992 re- election bid to .

A dispirited GOP played a role, but Bush' s slow response to a rapidly deteriorating economy probably played a bigger part. Nonetheless, Republican lore holds that Bush lost because he reneged on a vow never to raise taxes, and thousands of Republican officials since then have sworn not to make the same mistake. & mdash; 2003. By that year, Bush' s son had succeeded Clinton as president, and he solidified the GOP' s image as a party that doesn' t raise taxes, even when it launches costly new missions.

In fact, President persuaded Congress to enact a second major tax cut, on top of the one from 2001. Also in 2003, the United States invaded and the GOP- led Congress expanded to cover prescription drugs, both of which were paid for with borrowed money. " 2003 was the most fiscally irresponsible year, possibly of all time, " said David Walker, a former comptroller general who travels the country calling for deficit reduction.

Despite such charges, few Republican officials today say the lesson of 2003 is to raise revenues when programs expand and deficits soar. & mdash; A man named Grover. Grover Norquist, head of Americans for Tax Reform, has spent years cajoling, persuading and bullying GOP officials into signing a pledge never to support a net increase in taxes. While some Republicans grumble about Norquist' s clout, he still wields enormous influence, partly by warning those who defy his pledge that they will pay a political price. " My God, what has this country come to when one person has to give you permission to do what' s best for the country? " Clinton said in a recent speech, referring to Norquist. & mdash; A more conservative GOP. In recent years, staunch conservatives have expanded their influence in the Republican electorate. " The Republican Party is dependent, to an extent unprecedented in recent political history, on a single ideological group, " which is conservatives, writes political analyst Nate Silver. The trend increases the threat of a party primary challenger to any GOP lawmaker who makes accommodations, such as tax increases, to reach an accord with Democrats.

Today' s Republican Party is so taxaphobic that hardly anyone blinks when Senate GOP leader says, day after day, that the nation has a spending problem, not a taxing problem. Mathematically, of course, that' s not necessarily true.

A government can close a budget gap with tax hikes, spending cuts or some combination of the two. Liberal bloggers make this point more robustly than do most Democrats in Congress. " No, Mc.

Connell, we have a revenue problem, not a spending problem, " wrote a blogger named westcoastliberal at Rawstory. com. " If you and your GOP cohorts had not sought tax cuts as a remedy for every problem, we could be sitting pretty as a country right now. " The Republican Party' s anti- tax stand is aided by a public with conflicting wishes. Voters generally oppose large deficits, higher taxes and cuts in programs that benefit them, a painless but impossible combination. A March AP- Gf. K poll found that 62 percent of Americans say cutting government services is preferable to raising taxes in order to balance the budget.

Less than one- third favored tax hikes.

But their tune changes when faced with specifics, such as cutting popular and expensive programs that threaten to drive the deficit much higher. A new Pew Research poll asked whether it is more important to reduce the budget deficit or to maintain current Medicare and benefits. " The public decisively supports maintaining the status quo, " Pew found. Walker says the growing deficit mirrors a changed society that' s less willing to confront the consequences of spending more money than one makes. For 175 years, he said, the country refused to accept big deficits except in cases of deep recessions, declared wars or national emergencies. " It was part of our culture, " he said. " About three decades ago, our culture changed, " Walker said. Americans amassed debts on their credit cards and home equity loans, and the government similarly lived on borrowed money.

Given voters' and lawmakers' reluctance to make sacrifices, Walker said, Congress should enact a system of automatic spending cuts and temporary tax surcharges that would be triggered when the deficit hits designated levels. Bixby, of the Concord Coalition, said deal- making in Congress " used to be a good thing. " Now, he said, " people seem to be going out of their way to avoid a solution. " Tax hikes and program cuts are naturally unpopular, Bixby said, but how else can the deficit be tamed? " Raise revenues and cut spending, " he said. " It' s not that difficult. "

Older adults who get very little vitamin C in their diets may have an increased risk of developing cataracts , a study in India finds Older adults who get very little vitamin C in their diets may have an increased risk of developing cataracts , a study in India finds. Cataracts are a clouding of the eye' s lens that commonly cause vision problems in older people. Some studies, but not all, have found that people with higher intakes of antioxidants, including vitamin C, may have a lower risk of developing the condition. But those studies have been done in Western countries & mdash; and not in lower- income countries like India, where people' s vitamin C levels tend to be very low and rates of cataract are particularly high.

For the new study, researchers evaluated more than 5, 600 Indian adults age 60 and up for cataracts. They also interviewed them about their diets and lifestyle habits, and measured their blood levels of vitamin C.

Overall, nearly 73 percent of the study participants were found to have cataracts. But that risk dipped as vitamin C blood levels and vitamin C intake rose.

In the roughly one- quarter of older adults wit. . .

Though a sign on the door says it' s open by appointment only, a simple knock almost always gains you admission to this water rat' s dream store— but call ahead to be sure. The 6, 000- square- foot space looks like the attic of a merchant seaman: in addition to . . . Dutch design with contemporary panache pervades South Washington Street' s coolest home store— the best place to pick up bright oversize pillows, china, tables, Asian cabinets, and sleek, contemporary flatware. Metro: Back Bay/ South End.

There' s a shoe here for everyone. High- end Italian designers meet less expensive brands at this boutique. leokadiashoes. com.

You may have spotted this company in the " resources" pages of glossy home- decor magazines. At the shop it' s hard to choose from among the exquisite curtains made from 120- year- old patterns.

Metro: Massachusetts Ave. The pristine, all- white atmosphere directs your focus to the clothing.

Parisian designers share racks with lesser- knowns, providing a classy, yet edgy selection. loocboutique. com. This is a reliable, if somewhat overstuffed with merchandise, stop for classic clothing by such designers as Anne Klein and Ralph Lauren, along with accessories, cosmetics, and jewelry. Metro: Prudential Center.

Impeccably tailored designs, subtly updated classics, and the latest Italian styles highlight a wide selection of imported clothing and accessories.

Visiting celebrities might be trolling the racks along with you as jazz spills out into the street from the . . .

Obviously, the could see that polling numbers on the “ birther” issue were starting to turn negative on . Obviously, Obama himself was persuaded that Donald Trump was drawing blood as Trump railed against Obama’ s credibility. Obviously, the Obama re- election campaign machinery was worried that the controversy over the birth certificate was opening up larger questions about Obama’ s trustworthiness- - and thus jeopardizing the 44th president’ s re- election chances.

Those might seem like harsh judgments on Obama- - and, also, high praise for the politico- media punch of Trump. But let’ s ask: If the Obamans were not feeling severe pressure, why would the President choose personally to wrap himself in the birther story, by stepping into the White House press briefing room on Wednesday morning to deliver the message that he does, in fact, have a genuine birth certificate?

And why would the White House step on one of the best stories it has had in months, the implicit endorsement of Obama by Gen. ? The news that Defense Secretary is retiring, to be replaced by current CIA director , is no big deal; Panetta is a longtime Democratic warhorse, regarded more as a loyalist than as a military expert.

But Petraeus is a big deal. The four- star general- - the hero of the surge, the most visible military man over the last decade of the global war on terror- - is retiring from the Army to become a civilian appointee in the Obama administration, replacing Panetta at the CIA.

In other words, in purely political terms, Petraeus is a huge “ get” for Obama. Some thought that Petraeus would be running for president by now, as a Republican. Or at least that he would be keeping his options open, as he continued to lead the fight against Muslim extremism.

By staying in the military under Obama, Petraeus was, of course, loyally serving the Commander- in- Chief, but now that dynamic has changed. There’ s a huge difference between staying in uniform under C- in- C Obama and taking on a whole new job as an adviser to him at the CIA; one of the CIA director’ s duties is personally to brief the president on a near- daily basis about national security issues. So Petraeus has, in effect, endorsed Obama’ s leadership, and he will do so for every day that he serves in the CIA post. Moreover, having accepted the CIA appointment, Petraeus will now have to go through Senate confirmation hearings, in which questions will arise about whether or not he has supported, and will support, various Obama policies. It’ s inconceivable that Petraeus won’ t be confirmed, but if Petraeus seeks to be part of the Obama team, he will have to answer Senatorial questions about people and policy.

And not only will he have to praise, effusively, President Obama, but also Vice President Biden, Secretary of State Clinton, and other present and future Obama colleagues. In addition, he will have be supportive of Obama policies concerning , , and other warzones and hotspots.

In other words, Petraeus- to- CIA is a great storyline for Obama.

His 2012 re- electioneers can say, “ Folks, America’ s greatest living general has signed on with Team Obama: Why would you want to risk changing leaders in the next presidential election? But instead, the White House goofed. It trampled all over that story- - and got a much different story: Instead of “ Petraeus Boosts Obama, ” it was “ Obama vs. Trump. ” Indeed, since it was Obama reacting to Trump’ s taunts, we can say that Trump won the round.

Whatever one wants to say about the merits of the birther story, “ Bragging aside, it does make Trump look like he is driving the agenda and forced the White House to react. ” Indeed.

In the game of politics, either you are moving the ball, or the other guy is moving the ball. And Trump was doing the moving.

So score one for The Donald. Now Trump is on to new inquiries, such as Obama’ s school transcripts. In fairness to Trump, he has a great many bones to pick with the President, from Libya to oil prices to China, but these personal issues are the red meat that activists- - and reporters- - thrive on. In 1996, Kenneth T. Walsh, a veteran White House reporter, entitled " Feeding the Beast: The White House Versus the Press. " The point of the book was that the White House media operation had to “ feed the beast” that is, keep reporters happy by feeding them news.

That was 15 years ago; today, the few hundred reporters who get paid to cover the White House have been joined by many millions of cable- news watchers, e- mailers, bloggers, and tweeters, all salivating for more, more, more. So expect more curiosity about every aspect of Obama’ s life in the months to come. Having gotten their inch, Obama critics will now want their mile. One might think that Obama would seek to squelch all these diggers and critics with a display of seriousness. You know, say, summon the , or speak on “ grand strategy” to the Council on Foreign Relations.

The diggers would still dig, of course, and the critics would still criticize, but Obama would be demonstrating that he is a serious man, doing serious things on behalf of the national interest. Yet instead of heavy, Obama went fluffy- - he sought comfort in the television studio of .

In the White House on Wednesday, the president said, “ I’ ve got better stuff to do” than deal with the birth certificate issue- - even as, of course, he was dealing with it.

And immediately after that, he and the First Lady flew to Chicago where they chuckled over the “ silliness” of the birther issue. And then it was off to New York City, for a fundraiser, where the President again joked about birtherism.

Is this a good strategy for Obama? To keep the story alive- - even as he tries to laugh it off? Probably not, for two reasons. First, as we have seen, every time Obama reacts to Trump, he is feeding Trump, and all the Trump wannabes. And second, the more engaged he seems to be about political gossip, the more disengaged he seems to be about real issues facing America. - - that was the headline in Thursday’ s Wall Street Journal.

And if that economic slowdown continues, in a couple of years, Obama will have plenty of time to battle Trump, or to go on Oprah- - because he will no longer be distracted by his duties at the White House.

James P.

Pinkerton is a Fox News contributor and panelist on Fox News Channel' s " Fox News Watch. " Watch him this weekend Saturday at 2: 30 p. m. ET.

Germany' s finance minister on Saturday added to a chorus of calls for France' s Christine Lagarde to become a new leader of the International Monetary Fund. Germany' s finance minister on Saturday added to a chorus of calls for France' s Christine Lagarde to become a new leader of the International Monetary Fund. Lagarde has emerged as a front- runner to replace Dominique Strauss- Kahn, also of France, who resigned this week to face charges in New York that he tried to rape a hotel maid. He denies the charges. Germany' s Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said Lagarde would give Europe its best chance to again lead the fund.

Chancellor Angela Merkel called her a " distinguished" and " very experienced" personality. " Europe would have the best chance to secure the post again with Christine Lagarde, if she decides to run, " Schaeuble told the German weekly Bild am Sonntag. He was quoted as saying that Lagarde was " outstandingly qualified" and " extremely respected and appreciated in the entire financial world. " Schaeuble and Merkel said that it is crucial that all Europeans now rally behind a candidate. Merkel on Saturday stopped short of formally endorsi. . .

The fires searing parts of the American West are an eerie echo of the past, a frightening reminder of a once terrible danger that had been held largely at bay for decades. The number of large wildfires has been rising for roughly the past 25 years, and they are lasting longer amid fire seasons that also last longer. Is it global warming?

Experts won' t say that, pointing instead to a variety of factors ranging from local weather to insect infestations to more people living and camping out in the woods. The Arizona fire, with almost half a million acres destroyed, makes it one of the largest since statehood in 1912. A related blaze is under way in New Mexico, another fire has forced people to evacuate parts of Colorado, and the has issued " red flag" warnings - - indicating conditions favorable to wildfires - - for parts of Texas, Florida and . So far this year, 31, 650 wildfires have burned more than 4 million acres of land - - more than twice the area of Delaware - - according to the National Interagency Coordination Center.

That' s up from 27, 077 fires at the same time a year ago, which burned about a third as much acreage as this year. The number of large fires began to grow in the mid- 1980s, according to research by Anthony L.

Westerling of the University of California, Merced.

His paper published in the journal Science in 2006 documented the number, size and frequency of fires. The fires in Yellowstone Park in 1988 seemed to inaugurate this new era of major wildfires in the West. These blazes lasted more than three months and burned 1.

5 million acres of forest. Despite the investment of millions of dollars and deployment of 25, 000 firefighters, they were only extinguished when snow began to fall in mid- September, Steven W. Running of the University of Montana said in a commentary on Westerling' s study. The increase in large wildfires could be seen as a return to the situation a century earlier, when they were more common. The last of those big fires occurred during the drought in the 1930s, noted Stephen J.

Pyne of Arizona State University, author of " Year of the Fires: The Story of the Great Fires of 1910. " After that, a combination of fire- control efforts and social changes resulted in fewer fires. Now, over the last few decades, there has been an increase, although not every year, said Pyne. " The question is why. " The U. Forest Service and U. Geological Survey studied fires of more than 1, 000 acres and found that from 1984 to 1999 an average of 2. 2 million acres nationally burned each year.

From 2000 to 2008, the acreage destroyed annually rose to 6. 4 million acres. " What we can' t do is definitively tie this to any specific driving factor like climate variability, " said Matt Rollins, who monitors wildfires for the Geological Survey.

That' s because fire is a highly complex ecosystem process affected by local, short- term weather patterns, regional climate trends, vegetation and other elements like storm damage, insects and pathogens, along with human activities, Rollins explained. Thomas W. Swetnam of the University of Arizona said frequent and extensive fires were common before 1900, and tree ring records show they occurred at the same times in many areas of the West. " What' s different about this ( Arizona) fire is the severity, the intensity of the heat and the amount of trees that are killed, " he said. It' s at least partly because the lack of frequent surface fires allowed fuel like brush and leaves to accumulate over the years. Add high temperatures and windy conditions and the scene is set for a devastating fire.

In the middle of the 1900s, " Smokey Bear and the government Park Service and Forest Service made it their mission to put all fires out, " Swetnam said, and that " disrupted the natural fire regime. " Surface fires were the natural way to remove the kind of growth that' s been building up for a century, he said. Overgrazing, logging and fire prevention have created a lot more stuff to burn, added Pyne. Global warming has also been predicted to result in more wildfires by producing more hot, dry conditions.

But " we don' t even need to involve global warming, " in this case, Pyne said. It' s hot at this time of year, and " all you need is couple of weeks of really dry weather. " In recent decades, the policy of attacking every fire changed and officials began trying to allow natural fires to flare up again, Pyne said. " That was the goal.

We knew we could not continue to exclude fire; it was self- defeating. " In remote areas especially, fires have been allowed more room, he said, but the problem comes when that policy is taken over by sloppy campers, arsonists and lightning. Changes in land use have also added to the problem, Pyne said. Cities and suburbs have expanded into fire- prone areas and new wilderness areas provide plenty of places for fires to concentrate. Over a century ago, massive and deadly forest fires plagued America. The deadliest wildfire in American history killed an estimated 2, 200 people and destroyed more than 2, 400 square miles of forest around Peshtigo, Wis.

But that blaze gets little attention because it occurred on the same day in 1871 as the " Great Chicago Fire, " which killed 300 people a couple hundred miles to the south.

The German immigrants who settled in Lincoln Square have mostly moved on, making room for a new generation of urban hipsters. But they leave behind the Brauhaus, an Oktoberfest of a restaurant featuring a live band playing nightly polkas and waltzes that bring old- timers and new converts to the dance floor. Though the atmosphere is the draw over the food, you can' t go wrong with the bratwurst and sauerkraut or the schnitzel.

Large tables easily accommodate groups. The spacious bar and a good selection of German beers draw oompah- loving drinkers. www. chicagobrauhaus. com. Closed Tues.

June 02, 2011 That is what some reluctant admirers are calling Casey Anthony’ s relatively young and inexperienced Latino defense attorney Jos Baez. May 19, 2011 Mildred Patricia Baena, or simply Patty to the Schwarzenegger family, would never be mistaken for Salma Hayek; yet she has now become the country’ s most prominent Latina, temporarily eclipsing even Shakira and J. Lo. April 27, 2011 This is a story of two gut- wrenching escapes that crippled our grueling war against terror, perhaps irrevocably. I want to return soon to Latino- themed topics, but the significance of these critical events for our nation cannot go unnoted.

All good political dramas feature hair- raising narrow escapes from the claws of policy defeat and the jaws of political death. If President Obama wants to survive this summer of political drama over health care he will have to do an Indiana Jones exit from the temple of his doom as poll numbers are collapsing around him and newly energized political opponents go in for the “ kill” as they smell his blood in the water.

How can he start a comeback? It is all or nothing right now with Wednesday night’ s speech to Congress.

The president has to play to his political strength; specifically the trust the American voter has in him to do what is right on health care. When it comes to commanding public trust on healthcare Republicans in Congress, even Democrats in Congress, do not come close to President Obama. Insurance companies, drug companies, big business also can’ t compete with President Obama when it comes to trust. To quote Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew polling outfit: “ For all the public’ s reservations about health care reform… Barack Obama continues to enjoy the confidence of a majority of the public with regard to this issue. ” In hard poll numbers from Pew a majority, 56 percent of Americans, say they believe the president is looking out for them on health care. Only 45 percent of Americans have such confidence in Congressional Democrats.

Even fewer, 39 percent, have any fair in Congressional Republicans to improve the health care system. CBS News poll numbers also show that a majority of Americans continue to want health care reform. Fifty- four percent agreed when CBS asked: “ if there are no government reforms the health care system will get worse. ” More than 80 percent, in that same poll agreed that they “ see the U. S. health care system as needing major changes. ” And nearly 80 percent told the CBS pollsters they want insurance companies to cover “ anyone who applies for health insurance regardless of whether or not they have a pre- existing medical condition. ” What is clear on this political map is that most Americans trust one person above all others on health care reform - - President Obama - - and most Americans want health care reform.

But the polling also indicates that two- thirds of Americans are confused by all the health care reform ideas. They fear that the cost of getting medical care will go up, that it will be harder to get an appointment to see the doctor and the overall quality of care will go down if the proposals now in Congress are put into action. Polls also show that most Americans cannot tell you what they most dislike or like about the health care proposals being circulated. So Americans want reform but they are uninformed and scared.

The one person they trust is not saying anything concrete about what is best. - - He only takes time to tell them that his critics are not telling the truth. - - That is a waste of the trust invested in him. That is why the president’ s approval ratings on health care are falling fast, threatening to take his whole administration down and sink the Democrats in next year’ s midterms.

This means President Obama has to give a speech Wednesday night in which he lives up to the trust given to him by the American people and takes control of a haywire debate over health care. He has to tell the majority who trust him more than anyone else on this subject to ignore diversions and scare tactics with catch phrases like “ death panels, ” “ rationing” and cries about future tax hikes caused by budget busting deficit spending on health care. In order to do all of this he has to say is that he has an idea for an all- American health care system that is better than the existing one. Then he needs to specifically lay out that plan in simple terms. And if it means telling people they will have to pay more for health insurance as a matter of common sacrifice for the common good of all Americans then he should say it.

He should also say it may mean higher taxes on people who earn less than $ 250, 000.

And if we, the American people, have to pay more then tell us that it is because our personal best interest is best served by having fewer uninsured people and under- insured people jammed into our emergency room and driving up the cost of medicine, hospitals and the price of health insurance. Tell people who are being scared off by the prospect of bigger health care prices under reform that they are already paying that money out every single day without fixing the problem.

And tell them that the problem is going to get worse and more expensive without serious, caring people standing up to address the problem now. He can say he is open to negotiations about specific ideas but make it clear that the idea of a public health insurance plan or so- called public option is key to making health insurance coverage more easily accessible to more people.

It is not intended to put anyone out of business or make insurance more expensive and if the president has the evidence that it won’ t he needs to say so and say it loud.

The next step for President Obama to escape his summer of peril is to celebrate his identity as a centrist political leader who genuinely cares about what is best for America. He ran and won the presidency as a centrist. Yes, he has lots of liberal friends and a liberal voting record in the U. Senate. Yes, he even has radical friends and appointees like the recently resigned Van Jones.

But his political future is tied to electorate’ s middle and when his approval numbers go down it is because of loss of faith from that middle. Democrats and liberals are not abandoning the president on health care. - - Even among conservatives and Republicans only 33 percent and 36 percent respectively, according to the CBS poll, describe themselves as “ angry” about the president’ s handling of the healthcare debate.

As a crusading champion of the American middle the president needs to launch into the insurance companies, the drug companies, the hospital groups and all the lobbyists who are happy to make money bleeding any business offering health insurance to their employees and bankrupting anyone who gets sick or has a sick parent, spouse - - any relative. Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel made a mistake by trying to cut private deals with the insurance companies and drug companies before the public debate. It has not stopped the forces of support for the status quo from working against change; it has only freed them from being called out as selfish, greedy fiends who have quietly plotted to scare people by having their political pals to talk about death panels and socialized medicine. Mr. President, tell stories about people who don’ t get health care right now because they’ ve been denied coverage despite paying years of insurance bills.

Have a mom stand next to you and explain that she works as a waitress and can’ t get health care coverage to pay for back- to- school immunizations for her kids. Have an elderly person stand with you and, with tears falling, recount the painful choice between of buying high- priced medicine and missing a meal.

Have someone who lost a limb to diabetes tell the story of how their diagnosis came too late for anything but amputation because they did not have the money or the insurance coverage to see a doctor before they nearly died.

This is the speech that will be a first step to escape a summer of doom. The sequel will be how the president twists arms among fellow Democrats, energizes churches, doctors, civil rights groups, the media, big political donors, unions, the Internet, students, and more to raise their voices and help him now. Even the president needs help to stay alive on the politically treacherous terrain surrounding health care reform but it all starts with a speech in which he helps himself.

WASHINGTON - - Congress is working on dual tracks and racing against the clock to raise the nation' s debt ceiling while President appeals directly to the public in hopes of influencing a deficit reduction deal that failed to materialize during talks he led at the . " We have to ask everyone to play their part because we are all part of the same country, " Obama said Saturday, as he pushed for a package of spending cuts and tax increases that has met stiff resistance from Republicans. " We are all in this together. " In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama said the wealthiest Americans must " pay their fair share. " He invoked budget deals negotiated by former President and Democratic House Speaker Tip O' Neill, and former President and Republican Speaker . " You sent us to Washington to do the tough things, the right things, " he said. " Not just for some of us, but for all of us. " But as a critical Aug. 2 deadline approached, the chances that Obama would get $ 4 trillion or even $ 2 trillion in deficit reduction on terms he preferred were quickly fading as Congress moved to take control of the debate.

House Republicans prepared to hold a vote next week to allow an increase in the debt ceiling through 2012 as long as Congress approves a balanced- budget constitutional amendment, a highly unlikely outcome. In the Senate, the Republican and Democratic leaders worked on a bipartisan plan that would allow Obama to raise the debt limit without a prior vote by lawmakers. The talks focused on how to address long- term deficit reduction in the proposal in hopes of satisfying House Republicans.

In the Republicans' address Saturday, Sen. of Utah argued for passage of a balanced- budget amendment, blaming Democrats for failing to embrace adequate budget cuts and declaring, " The solution to a spending crisis is not tax increases. " An amendment that requires a balanced budget, he said, " would put us on a path to fiscal health and would prevent this White House or any future White House from forcing more debt on the American people. " The government said Friday it was using its last stopgap measure to avoid exceeding the current $ 14. 3 trillion debt limit. Administration officials, economists and the financial markets have warned that missing the Aug. 2 deadline and precipitating a government default would send convulsions through an already weakened economy. In a news conference Friday, the president argued that he had the public on his side as in calling for a large deficit reduction package that included spending cuts and increased tax revenues.

But Republicans have flatly rejected any proposal from Obama that contains additional revenue from closing tax loopholes, restricting the value of deductions for the rich, increasing tax rates for hedge fund managers or ending oil and gas subsidies. " This is not a matter of the American people knowing what the right thing to do is, " Obama said. " It' s a matter of Congress doing the right thing and reflecting the will of the American people. " Obama had held five straight days of meeting with congressional leaders at the White House, but none of the three options he proposed - - deficit cuts of $ 4 trillion, $ 2 trillion or $ 1. 5 trillion over 10 years - - were unlocking enough support to increase the debt ceiling by the $ 2. 4 trillion Obama wants to make it last beyond the 2012 elections.

Essentially declaring those discussions over, Senate Republican leader said Friday: " Now the debate will move from a room in the White House to the House and Senate floors. "

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. & # 8211; & nbsp; Each of the Southeastern Conference' s 12 basketball teams will match up against Big East squads in December. The expanded Big East/ SEC Challenge will be held Dec. 1- 3, with the venues split evenly between the leagues.

ESPN networks will televise all 12 games.

The matchups include St. John' s at Kentucky, Georgetown at , Mississippi at De. Paul and Providence at South Carolina on Dec.

On Dec. 2 Florida heads to Syracuse, Vanderbilt visits Louisville, Cincinnati is at Georgia and Auburn plays at Seton Hall. The final day features Tennessee hosting Pittsburgh, Arkansas at Connecticut, West Virginia at Mississippi State and LSU at Rutgers. The past four years, the event has included four games at two neutral sites. The series is tied at 8- 8. '

Officials have confirmed an outbreak of salmonella poisoning at a high- security federal prison in northeastern Pennsylvania that sickened more than 300 inmates and staff who ate tainted chicken last month. Lamine N' diaye, a spokesman for the federal Bureau of Prisons northeast regional office, said the kitchen at the U. Penitentiary- Canaan in Waymart had been closed down as a precaution for cleaning, but reopened Wednesday after a bureau inspector deemed it safe. N' diaye told The Associated Press that " tainted chicken" served in fajitas on June 25 has been confirmed as the cause of the outbreak at the prison 135 miles north of Philadelphia. But N' diaye and Russell Reuthe, the prison' s human resources manager, said officials can' t comment on who supplied the chicken, where and how in the supply chain it became tainted.

Those details are being gathered for an " after action" report on the incident, they said. Reuthe confirmed that the food wasn' t prepared by an outside vendor, which is why the kitchen was closed when inmates and staff fell ill soon after eating the chicken. " It' s all wholesale food cooked on site, prepared on site, " Reuthe said.

The kitchen was closed " just in case. " Salmonellosis is an infection caused by salmonella bacteria, which can contaminate food or water. Generally, those who get it will suffer from diarrhea, fever, dehydration and cramps for up to three days & mdash; but the illness can spread in those with impaired immune systems, children or the elderly. Salmonellosis is not often fatal, but it can be if it spreads to someone' s bloodstream or intestines.

It can also cause a specific form of arthritis.

The AP first learned of the outbreak from attorneys at the Seattle- based law firm of Marler Clark, which specializes in foodborne illness litigation. Attorneys Bill Marler and Claire Mitchell said the families of more than a half dozen inmates called them Thursday to report the outbreak. " I would say between six to 10 phone calls from people who have been reporting that there are a couple of hundred people sick in this prison, and guards have been sick as well, " Mitchell told the AP.

Mitchell said the firm was still investigating those claims and that it was too early to determine if any lawsuits will be filed or how ill any of the inmates had become.

Reuthe said four inmates were treated for dehydration at a hospital emergency room and immediately returned to the prison, and none were admitted.

USP- Canaan houses about 1, 400 male offenders in the high- security prison, with a satellite camp for roughly 125 minimum- security inmates, Reuthe said. Meals for the high- security prison were prepared at the minimum- security camp while the prison' s kitchen was shut down.

Marler Clark attorneys have represented hundreds of people sickened by foodborne illnesses in Pennsylvania in recent years, including salmonella- tainted tomatoes served on made- to- order sandwiches at Sheetz convenience stores in 2004.

More than 400 customers in Pennsylvania and eight other states were sickened in that outbreak. At least 660 people developed hepatitis A in 2003 when they ate tainted green onions at a Chi- Chi' s restaurant in Beaver County, about 20 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. At the time, it was the largest single- source hepatitis A outbreak in U. S. history, and three people died.

The law firm successfully resolved 78 claims in the Chi- Chi' s outbreak, including a $ 6. 25 million settlement for a man who required a liver transplant. The Chi- Chi' s case was unusual because health officials also encouraged about 9, 000 people who at the restaurant during the outbreak to get immune globulin shots to ward off hepatitis A, and more than half of them split an $ 800, 000 settlement to compensate them for that inconvenience. Federal investigators determined the Sheetz tomatoes were contaminated at a West Virginia supplier where they were chopped and repackaged for sale to the convenience store chain. The green onions were tainted at the farms in Mexico where human waste was allowed to flow downhill into the fields where they were grown.

Christine Cronkright, a Pennsylvania Department of Health spokeswoman, said the investigation into the cause of contaminated chicken at the federal prison was continuing. She said no new illnesses were reported since July 2 and that 90 percent of those who got sick reported eating the chicken fajitas. " We did provide assistance to the facility by taking stool specimens and food testing, " Cronkright said, adding that all food stored at the prison when the outbreak was first reported was thrown away as a precaution. Reuthe said the bureau of prisons generally works with the local health agency, in this case the state health department, unless " other issues arise" in which case other agencies can become involved.

That hasn' t happened in this case, he said.

Thursday, August 27, 2009 A look at offseason changes in the NFL that could affect fantasy football rosters, with rookies designated by ( R) : _ ARIZONA: ADDED: RB Chris Wells ( R) , RB Jason Wright, C Melvin Fowler, Mike Miller promoted from receivers coach to passing game coordinator, assistant head coach and offensive line coach Russ Grimm also made running game coordinator. GONE: RB Edgerrin James, offensive coordinator Todd Haley, RB J. Arrington, C Donovan Raiola, C Alex Stepanovich. _ ATLANTA: ADDED: TE Tony Gonzalez, WR Marty Booker, WR Robert Ferguson, RB Verron Haynes, C Brett Romberg. GONE: WR Harry Douglas ( season- ending knee injury) . _ BALTIMORE: ADDED: TE L.

Smith, WR Kelley Washington, QB Cleo Lemon, C Matt Birk, T Michael Oher ( R) . GONE: QB Kyle Boller, QB Todd Bouman, T Willie Anderson, C Jason Brown, T Adam Terry ( out for season with knee injury) , K Matt Stover. _ BUFFALO: ADDED: WR Terrell Owens, RB Dominic Rhodes, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, OL Geoff Hangartner, OL Seth Mc. Kinney, C Eric Wood ( R) , G Andy Levitre ( R) . GONE: QB J. Losman, TE Robert Royal, G Derrick Dockery, G Duke Preston, OL Melvin Fowler, T Jason Peters. _ CAROLINA: ADDED: G Justin Geisinger.

GONE: WR D. Hackett, RB Nick Goings, OL Geoff Hangartner, OL Frank Omiyale, G Jeremy Bridges, G Toniu Fotoni. _ CHICAGO: ADDED: QB Jay Cutler, TE Michael Gaines, T Orlando Pace, OL Frank Omiyale, G Kevin Shaffer.

GONE: QB Rex Grossman, WR Marty Booker, WR Brandon Lloyd, T John Tait, T John St. Clair. _ CINCINNATI: ADDED: WR Laveranues Coles, RB Brian Leonard, QB J. O' Sullivan, FB Dan Kreider, T Andre Smith ( R) , K Sam Swank.

GONE: WR T.

Houshmandzadeh, RB Chris Perry, RB Kenny Watson, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, OL Stacy Andrews, T Levi Jones, G James Blair, C Eric Ghiaciuc. _ CLEVELAND: ADDED: WR David Patten, WR Mike Furrey, TE Robert Royal, WR Brian Robiskie ( R) , WR Mohamed Massaquoi ( R) , RB Noah Herron, T John St. Clair, OL Floyd Womack, OL Fred Weary, C Alex Mack ( R) , coach Eric Mangini, offensive coordinator Brian Daboll ( former Jets QBs coach) . GONE: TE Kellen Winslow, WR Donte' Stallworth ( suspended for the season) , RB Jason Wright, WR Joe Jurevicius, QB Bruce Gradkowski, T Kevin Shaffer, OL Seth Mc. Kinney, coach Romeo Crenell, offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski. _ DALLAS: ADDED: QB Jon Kitna.

GONE: WR Terrell Owens, QB Brad Johnson, TE Tony Curtis. _ DENVER: ADDED: QB Kyle Orton, RB Knowshon Moreno ( R) , RB La. Mont Jordan, RB Darius Walker, RB Correll Buckhalter, WR Jabar Gaffney, WR Brandon Lloyd QB Chris Simms, TE Richard Quinn ( R) , coach Josh Mc. Daniels ( the former New England offensive guru) , offensive coordinator Mike Mc. Coy ( Carolina offensive assistant for past 9 years) .

GONE: QB Jay Cutler, RB Selvin Young, RB Ryan Torain, TE Adam Bergen, QB Patrick Ramsey, coach Mike Shanahan, G Russ Hochstein. _ DETROIT: ADDED: QB Matthew Stafford ( R) , RB Maurice Morris, WR Bryant Johnson, WR Dennis Northcutt, WR Billy Mc. Mullen, WR Dane Looker, TE Brandon Pettigrew ( R) , FB Terrelle Smith, T Ephraim Salaam, T Jon Jansen, G Matt Lentz, coach Jim Schwartz, offensive coordinator Scott Linehan ( former coordinator in Minnesota and Miami before coaching Rams) . GONE: QB Jon Kitna, WR Shaun Mc. Donald, WR Mike Furrey, QB Dan Orlovsky, QB Drew Henson, TE John Owens, TE Michael Gaines, T George Foster, T Damion Cook ( out for season with injury) , coach Rod Marinelli, offensive coordinator Jim Colletto. _ GREEN BAY: ADDED: None. _ HOUSTON: ADDED: RB Andre Hall, QB Rex Grossman, QB Dan Orlovsky, G Adrian Jones. GONE: QB Sage Rosenfels, RB Darius Walker, RB Ahman Green, TE Courtney Anderson, C Bryan Pittman, T Ephraim Salaam. _ INDIANAPOLIS: ADDED: RB Donald Brown ( R) , coach Jim Caldwell, longtime offensive assistant Clyde Christensen promoted to offensive coordinator.

GONE: WR Marvin Harrison, RB Dominic Rhodes, coach Tony Dungy, offensive coordinator Tom Moore, offensive line coach Howard Mudd ( though Moore and Mudd will remain as consultants) . _ JACKSONVILLE: ADDED: WR Torry Holt, TE Zach Miller, QB Todd Bouman, T Tra Thomas, T Eugene Monroe ( R) , T Eben Britton ( R) . GONE: RB Fred Taylor, WR Jerry Porter, WR Dennis Northcutt, WR Matt Jones, TE George Wrighster, QB Cleo Lemon, OL Tutan Reyes, T Khalif Barnes. _ KANSAS CITY: ADDED: QB Matt Cassel, WR Bobby Engram, WR Amani Toomer, WR Terrance Copper, WR Ashley Lelie, TE Tony Curtis, G Mike Goff, C Eric Ghiaciuc, coach Todd Haley ( offensive coordinator Chan Gailey was retained) , K Ryan Succop ( R) . GONE: TE Tony Gonzalez, QB Damon Huard, QB Quinn Gray, OL Andy Alleman, G Ike Ndukwe, G Adrian Jones, coach Herman Edwards, K Connor Barth. _ MIAMI: ADDED: QB Pat White ( R) , C Jake Grove.

GONE: QB John Beck, C Samson Satele. GONE: WR Ernest Wilford, OL Andy Alleman, G Ike Ndukwe. _ MINNESOTA: ADDED: QB Brett Favre, QB Sage Rosenfels, WR Percy Harvin ( R) , T Phil Loadholt ( R) . GONE: C Matt Birk, T Marcus Johnson. _ NEW ENGLAND: ADDED: RB Fred Taylor, WR Joey Galloway, WR Greg Lewis, TE Chris Baker, TE Alex Smith, QB Andrew Walter, G Russ Hochstein, T Sebastian Vollmer ( R) . GONE: QB Matt Cassel, offensive assistant and guru Josh Mc.

Daniels, RB La. Mont Jordan, WR Jabar Gaffney, WR Kelley Washington, FB Heath Evans, G Billy Yates. _ NEW ORLEANS: ADDED K John Carney, FB Heath Evans, C Nick Leckey. GONE: WR David Patten, WR Terrance Copper, FB Mike Karney, C Kevin Houser, K Garrett Hartley suspended for first 4 games of season. _ NY GIANTS: ADDED: WR Hakeem Nicks ( R) , TE George Wrighster, OL Tutan Reyes, T Will Beatty ( R) .

GONE: WR Plaxico Burress, RB Derrick Ward, WR Amani Toomer, RB Patrick Pass. _ NY JETS: ADDED: QB Mark Sanchez ( R) , RB Shonn Greene ( R) , coach Rex Ryan. GONE: QB Brett Favre, WR Laveranues Coles, TE Bubba Franks, K Mike Nugent, TE Chris Baker, coach Eric Mangini ( but offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer retained) . _ OAKLAND: ADDED: QB Jeff Garcia, WR Darrius Heyward- Bey ( R) , RB Gary Russell, QB Bruce Gradkowski, QB Charlie Frye, FB Lorenzo Neal, C Samson Satele, T Khalif Barnes, T Marcus Johnson ( coach Tom Cable will call plays in conjunction with assistants Ted Tollner and Paul Hackett) . GONE: RB La. Mont Jordan, WR Ronald Curry, QB Andrew Walter, FB Justin Griffith, T Kwame Harris, offensive coordinator Greg Knapp. _ PHILADELPHIA: ADDED: WR Jeremy Maclin ( R) , RB Le.

Sean Mc. Coy ( R) , QB Michael Vick, FB Leonard Weaver, TE Tony Curtis, OL Stacy Andrews, T Jason Peters.

GONE: RB Correll Buckhalter, TE L. Smith, WR Greg Lewis, T Tra Thomas. _ PITTSBURGH: ADDED: WR Shaun Mc. Donald, C Alex Stepanovich. GONE: QB Byron Leftwich, WR Nate Washington, RB Gary Russell, T Marvel Smith, G Kendall Simmons, G Matt Lentz. _ SAN DIEGO: GONE: G Mike Goff, C Jeremy Newberry. _ SAN FRANCISCO: ADDED: WR Michael Crabtree ( R) , RB Glen Coffee ( R) , WR Brandon Jones, longtime NFL assistant Jimmy Raye named offensive coordinator, QB Damon Huard, T Marvel Smith.

GONE: Offensive coordinator Mike Martz, WR Bryant Johnson, QB J. O' Sullivan, T Jonas Jennings, OL Damane Duckett. _ SEATTLE: ADDED: WR T. Houshmandzadeh, RB Edgerrin James, TE John Owens, FB Justin Griffith, C Bryan Pittman, C Max Unger ( R) , coach Jim Mora, former Oakland, Atlanta and San Francisco offensive coordinator Greg Knapp ( known for powerful run- oriented offenses) . GONE: WR Bobby Engram, RB Maurice Morris, RB T.

Duckett, WR Billy Mc. Mullen, QB Charlie Frye, FB Leonard Weaver, OL Floyd Womack, C Steve Mc. Kinney, coach Mike Holmgren. _ ST. LOUIS: ADDED: QB Kyle Boller, WR Ronald Curry, C Jason Brown, T Jason Smith ( R) , coach Steve Spagnuolo, offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur ( the Eagles' QBs coach for the past 7 years) . GONE: WR Torry Holt, RB Brian Leonard, QB Trent Green, T Orlando Pace, C Brett Romberg, C Nick Leckey. _ TAMPA BAY: ADDED: RB Derrick Ward, TE Kellen Winslow, QB Byron Leftwich, QB Josh Freeman ( R) , K Mike Nugent, coach Raheem Morris, offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski ( former Boston College coach) .

GONE: Coach Jon Gruden, QB Jeff Garcia, QB Brian Griese, RB Warrick Dunn, WR Joey Galloway, WR Ike Hilliard, TE Alex Smith, RB Noah Herron. _ TENNESSEE: ADDED: WR Nate Washington, QB Patrick Ramsey, WR Kenny Britt ( R) .

GONE: WR Brandon Jones, WR Roydell Williams, QB Chris Simms. _ WASHINGTON: ADDED: WR D.

Hackett, WR Roydell Williams, OL Derrick Dockery, G Jeremy Bridges. GONE: WR James Thrash, T Jon Jansen, G Pete Kendall, G Justin Geisinger, G Jason Fabini. Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.