Don't wear socks, hot Pakistanis told amid power crisis

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan has told civil servants not to wear socks as the country turns off air-conditioners amid a chronic power crisis and soaring temperatures.

The government has turned off all air-conditioning in its offices as the country endures blackouts of up to 20 hours a day in some places.

"There shall be no more use of air-conditioners in public offices till such time that substantial improvement in the energy situation takes place," a cabinet directive said.

As part of a new dress code, moccasins or sandals must be worn without socks.

The power shortages have sparked violent protests and crippled key industries, costing hundreds of thousands of jobs in a country already beset by high unemployment, a failing economy, widespread poverty and a Taliban insurgency.

The "load-shedding" means many families cannot pump water, let alone run air-conditioners, with a disastrous knock-on effect on health and domestic life.

Frustration over the power cuts contributed to the former ruling party's poor showing in a May 11 general election.

Two ministers in charge of water and power explained what can be done to end power cuts in parts of the country enduring temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius and above - absolutely nothing, it seems, except raise prices.

Ministers Musadiq Malik and Sohail Wajahat Siddiqui "expressed their inability to overcome the crisis", the Daily Times quoted them as telling a news conference in Lahore, where the temperature was 40 C (104 degrees Fahrenheit) on Monday.

"They have termed financial constraints as a major, and incompetence as a minor, hurdle in resolving the issue," the newspaper said.

"Presenting the realistic picture, the ministers announced that they were going to increase the price of electricity and gas for all sectors."

They gave no details but said the problem would get worse before it gets better.

About two-thirds of Pakistan's energy is generated by oil and gas and there are widespread gas shortages, with cars run by CNG, compressed natural gas, queuing up for hours overnight to fill their tanks.

(Reporting by Nick Macfie; Editing by Robert Birsel)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pakistan-holds-news-conference-cant-end-power-blackouts-064456087.html

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'Undercover Angel' singer Alan O'Day dies

Celebs

Randee Dawn TODAY contributor

10 hours ago

Songwriter and singer Alan O'Day, who wrote tunes for such artists as the Righteous Brothers and Helen Reddy, then went on to land his own No. 1 hit in 1977, died at his home in Westwood, Calif. He was 72.

His label, 1st Phase Records, reported his death from cancer on Friday.

"Alan continued to write and perform until his last days," said a statement from the record company. "Alan was a generous man who gave his heart and soul to the music industry."

O'Day first signed with Warner Bros. in 1971 and wrote "Train of Thought" for Cher, "Rock and Roll Heaven" for the Righteous Brothers, and the No. 1 single "Angie Baby" in 1974 for Helen Reddy. Three years after that, he also topped the charts with his own single, "Undercover Angel."

In the next decade he paired with Janis Liebhart to share writing credits on many songs for the "Muppet Babies" cartoons. During his career, his songs were performed by other artists, including Tom Jones, Dusty Springfield and Tony Orlando.

The Hollywood Reporter quoted a statement from O'Day's friend and fellow songwriter Diane Warren: "My dear dear friend and mentor Alan O'Day has passed away. 'If you believe in forever, then life is just a one-night stand. If there's a rock and roll heaven, well you know they've got one hell of a band.' (From Alan's song 'Rock And Roll Heaven'). Well the band just got better. Rest in peace my friend."

He is survived by his wife, Yuka.

Source: http://www.today.com/entertainment/angie-baby-songwriter-undercover-angel-singer-alan-oday-dies-1C9992098

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Affymetrix CFO Barabe to retire in June

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- Affymetrix Chief Financial Officer Tim Barabe is planning to retire from his post next month.

The genetic testing instrument business said Monday that it is promoting Gavin Wood to the position. Barabe's retirement is effective June 28.

Wood will be responsible for Affymetrix's finance, accounting, information technology, facilities and investor relations functions.

Wood, who has worked for Affymetrix Inc. since 2006, most recently served as vice president of finance, international controller. He will report to CEO Frank Witney.

Affymetrix is based in Santa Clara, Calif. Its shares finished at $3.69 in Friday. Its shares have traded in a 52-week range of $2.96 to $5.50.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/affymetrix-cfo-barabe-retire-june-102937943.html

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Ever 'hack your body?' Chat with author Dave Asprey

Founded in 1994, Amazon.com has steadily grown into one of the most popular online retailers in the world. In 2012, Amazon hit $61 billion in sales, according to InternetRetailer.com's Top 500 list. As the company continues to grow, consumers have looked far and wide to score significant deals on the website. Here are five of the best ways to save money on Amazon purchases:

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chat-live-with-rewnowned-biohackers-about--hacking-your-body--at-2-00pm-144851209.html

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Car bombs kill 20 in Turkish town near Syrian border

By Ece Toksabay

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Twin car bombs killed at least 20 people near Turkey's border with Syria on Saturday, increasing fears that Syria's civil war was dragging in neighbors and drawing a swift warning from Ankara not to test its resolve.

Turkey supports the uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said it was no coincidence the attacks in the town of Reyhanli came as diplomatic moves to end the conflict intensify.

"There may be those who want to sabotage Turkey's peace, but we will not allow that," Davutoglu told reporters during a trip to Berlin. "No-one should attempt to test Turkey's power, our security forces will take all necessary measures."

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

NATO member Turkey has been one of Assad's harshest critics and has harbored both Syrian refugees and rebels during the uprising against him, now in its third year.

Prospects appeared to improve this week for diplomacy over the civil war, in which more than 70,000 people have been killed, after Moscow and Washington announced a joint effort to bring government and rebels to an international conference.

But a Russian official said on Saturday that there was already disagreement over who would represent the opposition and he doubted whether a meeting could happen this month.

DEATH TOLL MAY RISE

Smoke rose above Reyhanli, which lies in Turkey's southern Hatay province, after the blasts, which occurred close to local administrative buildings.

"We have around 20 dead and 46 people were injured, but we have to note that many of the injuries are severe, which means the death toll could unfortunately rise," Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said in comments broadcast on Turkish television.

Erdogan said this week that Turkey would support a U.S.-enforced no-fly zone in Syria and warned that Damascus crossed President Barack Obama's "red line" on chemical weapons use long ago.

A no-fly zone to prohibit Syrian military aircraft from hitting rebel targets has been mentioned by American lawmakers as one option the United States could use to pressure Assad.

Erdogan is due to meet Obama in Washington on May 16.

Violence has spilled over the border before.

In February, a minibus blew up at a border crossing near Reyhanli, killing 14 people and wounding dozens more.

The Syrian opposition said one of its delegations appeared to have been the target of that attack, but there has been no confirmation of this from the Turkish authorities.

In October, five Turkish civilians were killed in Akcakale when a mortar bomb fired from Syria landed on their house, prompting Turkey to fire back across the frontier.

Turkey is sheltering more than 300,000 Syrians, most of them in camps along the 900-km (560-mile) frontier, and is struggling to keep up with the influx.

(Additional reporting by Gulsen Solaker in Berlin and Steve Gutterman in Moscow; Writing by Nick Tattersall; Editing by Matthew Tostevin)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syria-peace-conference-already-hitting-snags-russia-115216400.html

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