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PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Jeffry Picower, a Florida philanthropist alleged to have extracted billions from Bernard Madoff's investment scheme, drowned in his pool Sunday, police said. He was 67. The former New York lawyer and accountant had been a friend of Madoff for decades. A statement from Palm Beach police said Picower's wife and a maid found the body at the bottom of the pool Sunday afternoon and rescue workers could not revive him. Picower was transported to Good Samaritan Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at about 1:30 p.m.

The Giant Pool of Money What does the housing crisis have to do with the turmoil on Wall Street? Why did banks make half-million dollar loans to people without jobs or income? And why is everyone talking so much about the 1930s? It all comes back to the Giant Pool of Money I have wanted to hear this or read the transcript every since I first heard portions of it on my car radio. I was driving to Pennsylvania on Interstate 81 with a destination of McConnellsburg to join some friends for a week-end of camping and shooting skeet. I...

The waters were still and the gates locked at the Valley Swim Club Thursday. Board members decided to close the private Huntington Valley, Pa. club for the day as it combats accusations of racism for booting 65 mostly minority day campers from its grounds without explanation late last month. Creative Steps Day Camp paid The Valley Swim Club more than $1900 for one day of swimming a week, but after the first day, the money was quickly refunded and the campers were told not to return. Several campers said they heard pool members making racial remarks during their time inside...

Over 60 Black and Latino inner city campers show up to use a pool at a private facility. They have only 90 minutes to use the pool and are very excited. One child claims to have overhead a parent say: "Uh, what are all these black kids doing here?' 'I'm scared they might do something to my child". A parent of one of the kids claimed:"The pool attendants came and told the black children that they did not allow minorities in the club and needed the children to leave immediately." As many predicted, more info has come out in later...

More than 60 campers from Northeast Philadelphia were turned away from a private swim club and left to wonder if their race was the reason.Kids at Creative Steps Day Camp were thrilled to go swimming once a week at the Valley Swim Club. But after only one trip to the private club, they were... "I heard this lady, she was like, 'Uh, what are all these black kids doing here?' She's like, 'I'm scared they might do something to my child,'" said camper Dymire Baylor. The Creative Steps Day Camp paid more than $1900 to The Valley Swim Club. The...

Email sent to Overland Park KS pool nazi at oppr@opkansas.org Re: finger scans... You have told us that in addition to the photos, you want finger scans for us to be able to use our tax payer supported pools. Please cite to me immediately the city or state regulation which entitles the city of Overland Park to require this invasion of our privacy to allow us to use this facility. If you cannot do so by this coming Wednesday, I must insist on a full refund of the fees I have paid you

If you like doing laps in the swimming pool, you might want to stock up on the energy drinks before diving in to this one. It is more than 1,000 yards long, covers 20 acres, had a 115ft deep end and holds 66 million gallons of water. The Guinness Book of Records named the vast pool beside the sea in Chile as the biggest in the world. Acknowledged by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest swimming pool, the lagoon measures 1,013 metres in length and covers an area of eight hectares But if you fancy splashing...

A group of mothers plan to breastfeed in a Calgary pool Sunday morning to protest what they are calling harassment from lifeguards. The women say it's their right to breastfeed wherever they want to, but the lifeguards at the southwest Killarney pool have asked them to get out of the water or use the change rooms for nursing. Gemma Kelsall takes her two children to the pool every Thursday morning where they meet up with other families. If her 21-month-old Kaliya gets hungry, they don't leave the pool to breastfeed. But lifeguards have told her she is not allowed to...

Muslim women head to a Cary pool as another cultural barrier falls Salman Sheikh was organizing a swim class for his two sons last summer when fellow Muslim parents approached him about starting a class for girls. Sheikh told them he would ask the Curran Aquatic Center in Cary whether it could accommodate a group of Muslims who preferred a women-only pool. Yes, of course, the leaders of the aquatic center said, and showed him a 15-yard pool that could be rented for $170 an hour. STAFF PHOTOS BY COREY LOWENSTEIN - Tarannum Khan, 30, of Apex, left, and Israa...

Swedish public pool to rent out burkinis Published: 8 Dec 08 13:59 CETOnline: http://www.thelocal.se/16210/20081208/ New feature Double click on a word to get a translationIn a nod to women not wishing to reveal too much, an indoor public swimming pool in Sweden has begun renting out burkinis, full-body swimsuits that cover everything but the face, hands, and feet. Fresh blow for topless Swedish bathers (21 May 08)Muslim mum discrimination case headed to Supreme Court (27 Feb 08)Topless Swedish bathers: 'They're just breasts' (12 Nov 07)For 30 kronor ($3.75), the Stadsparksbadet pool in Borås in western Sweden now offers bathers...

This post is a reminder of those with swimming pools and pets to make sure that you have sufficient safeguards in place to protect your animals from drowning. A couple of weeks ago, our almost 13-year old Lhasa Apso, Woody, who has lived with us at this home for the past 5 years and for 8 years in total, was becoming quite blind in the past year and went through the doggy door in middle of the night, as he does frequently, and accidentally fell into our pool. The motion light apparently was not tripped and he miss-stepped, I'm sure,...

FORWARD OPERATING BASE RUSTAMIYAH — Citizens of Baghdad al Jadida in eastern Baghdad received a newly renovated swimming pool last week. Opening just in time for the hot months of summer, the Baghdad al Jadida pool is the first of three to be opened in the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light), operating environment. “The attendance of so many members from both the community and security forces marks a big step forward toward the cooperation needed to establish a meaningful peace in this area,” commented Lt. Col. Scott McKean, battalion commander for 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 66th Armor...

Good dog, bad pool owners. Let’s face it, you wouldn’t jump in either! That's one smart doggie...http://boknowsonline.com/2008/05/30/doggie-paddle/

These are the results of the latest poll.

"Women will continue to be barred from bathing topless at an indoor pool in the central Swedish town of Enköping following a decision by the town council’s recreation committee on Tuesday. Prior to the decision, committee member Stefan Brandberg cited concerns about the health of young girls in his opposition to the proposed lifting of the ban. “We believe that it can contribute to anorexia—there is a risk for that,” he said to the newspaper Expressen. Monica Hällgren, chair of the Enköping recreation committee, confirmed that one of the central arguments for leaving the ban in place was concern over...

A MAN has caused a security scare after jumping from a Manly ferry and breaking into the grounds of the Governor-Generals' official Sydney home. An AAP journalist, who was an eyewitness, said the man jumped off the ferry in Sydney harbour at about 2.50pm (AEST) and swam up to 600 metres towards Admiralty House, dodging four police boats before making it to shore. "He jumped off the ferry and started swimming,'' he said. "The maritime police tried to corner him and lasso him.'' The witness said the man climbed a wall and was in the grounds of Governor-General Michael Jeffrey's...

OMAHA, Neb. -- A 6-year-old girl who underwent a rare transplant surgery after her intestines were sucked out in a swimming pool has died in an Omaha hospital. Abigail Taylor's family said she died Thursday evening. Bob Bennett is an attorney for the Taylor family. He said Abigail's parents were with her when she died at Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. NMC's Paul Baltes confirmed to KETV NewsWatch 7 that Abigail died at the hospital, where she has been under care since the operation. Baltes was not sure whether an autopsy or exact cause of death would be sought or...

Injured soldiers who lost their limbs fighting for their country have been driven from a swimming pool training session by jeering members of the public. The men, injured during tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, were taking part in a rehabilitation session at a leisure centre, when two women demanded they be removed from the pool. They claimed that the soldiers "hadn't paid" and might scare the children. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation. Adml Lord Boyce, a former head of the Armed Forces, said last night the women should be "named and shamed". advertisement "These people are beneath contempt and...

An alligator was found swimming in a Central Florida YMCA on Friday morning. The gator, which was about 4 feet long, was discovered by a swimmer in the pool, which is located on the campus of Brevard Community College on Clearlake Road in Cocoa. It is not known how the alligator got into the facility. A YMCA worker joked that the alligator was targeting her because she was wearing an Auburn Tigers sweatshirt. The Florida Gators play Auburn on Saturday. Officials who removed the alligator said it will be released into the wild.

PATERSON -- Someone stole 1,000 gallons of water from Daisy Valdivia's backyard. And they didn't spill a drop. Valdivia woke Wednesday morning to find that her family's inflatable pool, hip high and 10 feet in diameter and filled with water, was stolen from her backyard in the middle of the night. There is no evidence that the water was poured out, pumped out, evaporated or drunk. "I've never heard of a pool being stolen, let alone one with water in it," Valdivia said. According to Valdivia, the theft must have occurred between 1 a.m., the time her husband went to...

Toddler Was Denied Shower Access as Well: A couple says their vacation was ruined when an RV park owner told them they weren't welcome after discovering their 2-year-old foster son had the HIV virus. Last week, Dick and Silvia Glover went to the Wales West RV Park in Silver Hill, Ala., with their foster son Caleb. When the boy was banned from using the pool and showers, the Glovers said they were offered an uncomfortable and painful choice: They could either keep Caleb out of the water or leave.

(WCCO) Minneapolis A six-year-old Edina, Minn. girl has been hospitalized after a horrific accident at a swimming pool. Abigail Taylor was severely injured Friday when she sat over an open drain hole in a wading pool at the Minneapolis Golf Club.

Pool knowledge to find the origins of language 19:00 26 September 2006 NewScientist.com news service John Pickrell Linguists are calling for an online public database, similar to the human genome project, that would allow researchers to collaboratively share different studies of language impairment. By gathering together studies of developmental disorders that cause communication impairments – such as autism or Down’s syndrome – they hope to provide new clues about the origins of language. Such a database might also help treat language disorders or help people learn foreign tongues, they say. Language is one of the defining characters of our species,...

A U.S. Army soldier guides 6th Iraqi Army Division soldiers through correct preventive maintenance checks and services (PMCS) on a humvee during a driver’s training class. The PMCS training was part of a three-day driver’s training course taught by 16th Engineer Brigade soldiers throughout the month of August. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Tracy Ballog Iraqi Army Soldiers Get Behind the Wheel Iraqi Army soldiers attended classes to gain experience in maintaining andoperating humvees, which will eventually be fielded to Iraqi army units. U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Tracy Ballog CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq, Aug. 28, 2006 --...

WASHINGTON, March 29, 2006 – The Defense Department is working on ways to use technology to save lives on the battlefield, and has created a full scholarship program to increase its talent pool of scientists, engineers and mathematicians, a top official said here recently. During DoD's Women's History Month observance at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial here earlier this month, Sue C. Payton, DoD's deputy undersecretary for advanced systems and concepts, spoke of technologies provided by "the best and brightest female scientists and engineers in DoD and the world." She noted that "dozens of exceptional women scientists...

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The lifeguards find bare breasts distracting. That's one of the reasons officials at the Ann Arbor, Mich., YMCA said they've banned breast-feeding at the pool. But nursing moms counter that's no excuse. The breast-feeding mothers plan a nurse-in at the Y Saturday to protest the ban. However, Krista Dragun, one of the protest organizers, said they'll be nursing their babies in the lobby, not the pool area. She said they want the Y to adopt a more mother-baby friendly policy for the pool. Y officials note there's no eating or drinking allowed at the pool for...

Christianity Today, October 2005 Raiders of the Lost PoolNew finds bolster the historicity of John's Gospel. by Gordon Govier | posted 10/26/2005 09:00 a.m. The Pool of Siloam, considered a metaphor in John's Gospel by some New Testament scholars, was in fact a huge basin at the lowest point in the city of Jerusalem. Recent excavations have uncovered two corners and one side of the pool that stretched for half the length of a football field. "It's very exciting," James Charlesworth, a professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary, told CT. "It's very important for the study of the...

12,000 paid not to work Big 3 and suppliers pay billions to keep downsized UAW members on payroll in decades-long deal. By Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News WAYNE -- Ken Pool is making good money. On weekdays, he shows up at 7 a.m. at Ford Motor Co.'s Michigan Truck Plant in Wayne, signs in, and then starts working -- on a crossword puzzle. Pool hates the monotony, but the pay is good: more than $31 an hour, plus benefits. "We just go in and play crossword puzzles, watch videos that someone brings in or read the newspaper," he...

Marc Sayre looks like a typical college student: baggy jeans, unbuttoned plaid shirt over a grungy tee and a knit black cap. He lives off campus with friends who favor Coldplay, cold beer, pool tournaments—and the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus. Their fratlike group, called the Knights of the Holy Queen, consists of nearly 40 male students at Franciscan University. They pray together daily and convene once a week to share the long, ritualistic prayer of the rosary, which is more commonly performed by folks their grandmothers' age. "This is what we long for in our faith," says Sayre, 21,...

FRESNO — The nectarine came off the branch with a rustle of leaves and a snap of the stem. The flesh was soft and light, with a tangy aftertaste that was only slightly sour. It was a few days from being perfectly ripe — and that, said Central Valley labor contractor Fred Garza, was a problem. It might have been too ripe to make the market in time. "The harvest started getting away from us. We should have 25 men here, but we only have six," Garza said while standing in a nectarine orchard last month. "I've lost two jobs...

  To begin 4th of July weekend, U.S. soldiers spend the afternoon around a swimming pool outside a former Saddam Hussein palace, which is now part of the U.S. military base Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, July 3, 2005. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed) AP - Jul 03 10:56 AM To begin the 4th of July weekend, U.S. soldiers spend the afternoon around a swimming pool outside a former Saddam Hussein palace which is now part of the U.S. military base Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, July 3, 2005. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed) AP - Jul 03 10:49 AMTo begin 4th of July weekend, U.S....

UN probes Wheat Pool Payments of $23.15M made in oil-for-food scandal congressional hearing told Steven Edwards CanWest News Service Saturday, April 30, 2005 UNITED NATIONS -- The Saskatchewan Wheat Pool has emerged as one of the companies involved in Iraq oil-for-food deals now under investigation by a U.S. congressional committee probing the United Nations aid program, which Saddam Hussein manipulated to skim off billions of dollars for himself. The focus on the company comes as the UN announced Friday it had discovered a staff-rule violation by Canadian businessperson and international diplomat Maurice Strong, whose long record at the world body...

EDGECLIFF VILLAGE - A 2-year-old boy who wandered from the front yard where he was playing Tuesday afternoon was found floating facedown in a neighbor's swimming pool, authorities said. The child, Derick Rangel, was in critical condition Thursday night at Cook Children's Medical Center. The boy's aunt was caring for him and her 2-year-old son when she apparently lost track of them about 1 p.m. in the 100 block of Chelsea Drive, said Terry Grisham, spokesman for the Tarrant County Sheriff's Department. The aunt ran to a neighbor's house for help, said Division Chief Curtis Young of the Edgecliff Village...

Woman settles lawsuit after being barred from public pool wearing Muslim garb LINCOLN, Neb. A Muslim woman in Omaha, Nebraska, says it's nice to feel like part of the community again now that a public swimming pool's dress code has been modified. Lubna Hussein had been barred from accompanying her three children to the pool area because she was fully clothed, even though she wasn't going in the water. It took a federal lawsuit to get dress code altered. The suit, filed by the A-C-L-U, has now been settled and the dress code accommodates religious or medical needs. Hussein says...

Six people were under arrest today in connection with a gang-related altercation in a Columbia Heights pool hall Thursday that left two people dead and four others wounded. Capt. Rob Bredtsen of the Anoka County Sheriff's office said he had no other information on the arrests this morning. The violence bagan in a pool hall on Central Avenue NE. Jimmy Wetch, owner of Jimmy's Pro Billiards at 4040 Central Av. NE., said a group of 20 or 30 people came in and started fighting with another group shortly after 10 p.m. Balls and cue sticks were flung and the fight...

Crocodile clears Darwin swimming pool A one-metre salt water crocodile has been found swimming in a public pool in Palmerston, south of Darwin. Swimmers discovered the young male saltie lurking amongst them at Palmerston Leisure Centre's olympic-size pool this morning. After a quick exodus from the water, police and Parks and Wildlife staff were called in. Clay Smith, from the parks service, says the crocodile was placid and seemed in poor health, making him easier to catch. Mr Smith says swimmers were not in much danger. "He'd be dangerous if you grabbed him, he might cause some lacerations in your...

Pregnant cow takes plunge in British neighbor's pool LONDON (AFP) - A pregnant British cow took a plunge into a neighbor's chilly pool in southern England, wading around for four hours before being rescued. A total of 10 cows,had broken out of their field through a hedge and wandered into a private garden near Andover, Hampshire. "The homeowner, who is having her birthday today, woke up this morning to find several cows in her garden and one in the swimming pool," a fire service spokeswoman said Monday. Firefighters went into the freezing water to join the animal while waiting for...

I just got this e-mail and hadn't seen it before. I laughed so hard I almost....never mind.

On Monday, December 8, 2003, President Bush signed into law a Medicare prescription drug benefits package designed to help American seniors pay for their medications. This month, the Kerry campaign released a TV ad attacking President Bush’s Medicare record stating, “The very next day George Bush imposes the biggest Medicare premium increase in history while prescription drug costs still skyrocket.” There are several problems with this ad, namely that fact that 1) Kerry skipped the December 8 vote and 2) Kerry voted to support the increase in Medicare premiums that he now criticizes. The Kerry campaign offers no specifics on...

Archaeologists said Monday they have found a cave where they believe John the Baptist anointed many of his disciples - a huge cistern with 28 steps leading to an underground pool of water. During an exclusive tour of the cave by The Associated Press, archaeologists presented wall carvings they said tell the story of the fiery New Testament preacher, as well as a stone they believe was used for ceremonial foot washing. They also pulled about 250,000 pottery shards from the cave, the apparent remnants of small water jugs used in baptismal ritual. "John the Baptist, who was just a...

AP: Group Discovers John the Baptist Cave KIBBUTZ TZUBA, Israel (AP) KARIN LAUB Archaeologists said Monday they have found a cave where they believe John the Baptist anointed many of his disciples - a huge cistern with 28 steps leading to an underground pool of water. During an exclusive tour of the cave by The Associated Press, archaeologists presented wall carvings they said tell the story of the fiery New Testament preacher, as well as a stone they believe was used for ceremonial foot washing. They also pulled about 250,000 pottery shards from the cave, the apparent remnants of small...

Pols swim against tide of DNC `overkill' By Dave Wedge Saturday, July 17, 2004 While angry parents fumed over the shutdown of some public pools during the Democratic National Convention, U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano blasted the state agency in charge, calling the decision ``overkill.'' ``To close down a pool on what is on average the hottest week of the year is nuts,'' Capuano said. ``These kids have no other place to go. It's unnecessary.'' The Department of Conservation and Recreation - the agency formerly known as the oft-criticized Metropolitan District Commission - decided to close pools in Somerville and Cambridge...

Texas Pool May Have Pulled 4 Victims Down Friday June 18, 2004 12:46 AM By ANGELA K. BROWN Associated Press Writer FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - With their hotel pool closed for cleaning and the Texas heat reaching nearly 90 degrees, Myron Dukes took his two children and another child to check out the fountains and pools at the park across the street. Within minutes, all four drowned in a swirling, decorative pool posted with no-swimming signs. Authorities said powerful suction apparently pulled the victims to the bottom of the 9-foot pool at the Fort Worth Water Gardens. Witness accounts...

CHICAGO RIDGE, Ill. -- Six-year-old Donnie Hauser-Richerme knew he couldn't swim, but he also knew the little girl in the murky, debris-filled swimming pool was in trouble. Donnie jumped in and helped save 5-year-old Karah Moran's life before becoming stuck in five feet of blackened rain water and muck at the bottom of the deep end. Paramedics eventually rescued him, but he was in critical condition and on life support Thursday. Karah called Donnie "my hero." "I can't say enough about this little guy," said Chicago Ridge Police Chief Tim Baldermann. "It's amazing that this little kid, old enough to...

"I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it."And there you have it - the beginning of the end. Clark did it. Dean did it. Kerry will eventually do it - it's just a matter of time.

<p>MANILA, Philippines -- Michaela Tabb, a referee for nine-ball pool, had no inkling how much of a celebrity she is before she came to the Philippines.</p> <p>But when the 35-year-old Scot arrived in Manila recently to officiate a "Philippines vs. the Rest of the World" tournament, she was besieged by fans who had seen her on television and wanted her to sign their pool cues.</p>

Mixed-sex pool halls shut down in Iran November 01 2003 at 03:55PM Tehran - Ten billiards clubs found to have been allowing mixed-sex games have been closed down in the Iranian capital, the Jam-e Jaam newspaper reported on Saturday. The paper said the clubs, shut down last week, had been caught breaking the Islamic republic's strict rules on gender segregation late at night. Snooker, billiards and pool clubs have only recently been opening in Iran, after a ban on the pastime was lifted. But the games remain banned in two of the country's 28 provinces, on the grounds that they...

Further to the FReepmail that went out last week announcing this, all FReepers and lurkers in good standing, and authorized guests, spouses, significant others, and their children are invited to beat the dog days of summer by coming to BillF's backyard (aka "The Hidden Pond", see photo to right) this Saturday, July 19 for a DC Chapter meeting/pool party.RSVP PER BELOW WITH NUMBER ATTENDING ASAP AND BY JULY 16 IF POSSIBLE AND AT LEAST BY NOON ON JULY 18 WHEN: Saturday, July 19 at 1 PM 'til ? (those going to Orioles game should probably leave by 5 PM)...

Asthma rise 'link' to pool chemicals Chemicals in indoor pools can afffect the lungs Chemicals used to keep swimming pools clean may be behind the rise in asthma in children, a study suggests. Researchers in Belgium have found that chlorine in pools can react with sweat or urine to create harmful fumes which can damage lungs. They believe exposure to these fumes leaves children susceptible to allergens, which may then trigger asthma. But other experts have criticised the study and have dismissed the claims. Dr Alfred Barnard and colleagues at the Catholic University of Louvain in Brussels carried out tests...

<p>WASHINGTON -- House Democrats are pledging not to repeat the mistake of the 2002 elections when lawmakers in safe districts ended the campaign season sitting on $60 million in unspent campaign money.</p> <p>This time, Democratic campaign leaders are asking their colleagues to contribute early and often. So far, the results dwarf those of two years ago. Democratic lawmakers have transferred $2.1 million from their accounts to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in the first three months of the year. In 2001, the amount was less than $650,000.</p>