Geithner hears Democrats' economic anxieties

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner urged House Democrats to be patient with President Barack Obama's young administration on Monday as lawmakers conveyed the frustrations of their economically anxious constituents.

California Rep. Lois Capps said her colleague, Rep. Carol Shea-Porter of New Hampshire, implored Geithner: "Hurry, whatever you're doing, please hurry."

Geithner addressed House Democratic members for nearly two hours Monday evening in a closed session in the Capitol. He sought to reassure them that Obama's administration has acted quickly to respond to the recession and the financial crisis.

"The members of the caucus …

`Friendship in Vienna' is fine family entertainment

A Friendship in Vienna (STAR) (STAR) (STAR) 1/2 Inga Dornenwald Jenny Lewis Lise Mueller Kamie Harper Opah Oskar Ed Asner Hannah Dornenwald Jane Alexander The Disney Channel presents a movie directed by Christopher Morganand written by Richard Alfieri. Showing from 6 to 8 p.m. tomorrowover local cable systems.

When it first arrived on the cable scene in 1983, the DisneyChannel understandably was offered to subscribers as thequintessential family entertainment service.

For a long time, the term "family entertainment" was little morethan a euphemism for simple-minded cartoons, dancing animals and oldDisney Studio Fred …

Libyan rebels hurt by lack of discipline, training

DAFNIYA, Libya (AP) — Wearing flip flops and a baseball cap, the young rebel hoisted a backpack of five rocket propelled grenades and pretended to fire into the air.

"Boom! Pow! Boom!" he yelled.

His friends, carrying AK-47 automatic rifles, their chests strapped with bandoliers of ammunition, howled with laughter.

The Libyan rebels at Dafniya, just west of their port stronghold of Misrata, arguably are fighting at the most dangerous and important front line.

On Monday, after weeks of stalemate, they pushed Moammar Gadhafi's besieging troops back toward Tripoli, 140 miles to the West of Misrata. They cracked the government lines as fighters across the country …

Thanksgiving Day kicks off with slew of parades

Giant balloons, floats, marching bands and clowns with confetti brought smiles to thousands of revelers Thursday eager to catch a glimpse of a parade as steeped in Thanksgiving Day tradition as turkey and pumpkin pie.

Thousands lined the streets of Manhattan for the 83rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, while crowds gathered nationwide for parades in cities such as Detroit and Philadelphia.

Katie Stam, Miss America 2009, waved to crowds from a Statue of Liberty float she shared with Meb Keflezighi, the first American in 11 years to win the New York City Marathon.

Shailesh Dighe and his family came to the fabled New York City parade to snap …

Democrats outdraw GOP in TV ratings

ABC won the ratings race for its coverage of the RepublicanNational Convention last week, although all three major networks drewfewer viewers than for the Democratic convention in July.

Led by anchor Peter Jennings, ABC averaged a 6.7 rating and 13share for the four-night GOP gathering, according to A.C. Nielsen Co.figures. NBC was second with a 6.3 rating and 12 share, and CBStrailed with a 5.7 rating and 11 share. Added together, the threenetworks averaged an 18.7 rating and 36 share - down negligibly fromtheir 18.8 rating and 37 share for the Republicans in 1984.

Coverage of the Democratic convention last month gave NBC a 7.5rating and 14 share, ABC a 6.9 …

Cities on the Plain

Cities on the Plain SMALL, GRITTY, AND GREEN: THE PROMISE OF AMERICA'S SMALLER INDUSTRIAL CITIES IN A LOW-CARBON WORLD BY CATHERINE TUMBER Cambridge, ma: mit press. 192 pages. $25.

"Don't laugh." It's the very first paragraph, and Catherine Tumber is already worried that we won't take her seriously. She has good reason, since the thesis of her new book is that small Rust Belt cities can help all of us turn green.

It's a bold and hopeful thesis, but also a tough sell. After all, as Tumber notes at the outset of Small, Gritty, and Green, debates about urban issues have long been dominated by big-city people who tend to disparage or ignore the dull, diminutive towns scattered …

Wayne Rooney's agent banned by English FA for 18 months for improper conduct

Wayne Rooney's agent was banned and fined Wednesday by England's Football Association over how he came to represent the England striker.

Paul Stretford vowed to appeal the independent disciplinary commission's verdict of improper conduct along with the 18-month ban and 300,000 pound (US$586,000; euro375,000) fine.

"The commission found that Mr. Stretford did encourage Mr. Rooney and his parents to enter into a representation agreement with Proactive Sports Management Limited on July 17, 2002, although he knew Mr. Rooney was still then under contract with Pro-Form Sports Management Limited," the FA said in a statement.

Stretford will …