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I lost my cellphone while skiing this winter. I quickly realized that I must have dropped it at the top of the hill, since I had just made a phone call. Not a problem - I grabbed my cell-equipped Blackberry and phoned my number, hoping someone might hear my cell ringing.

No such luck. Imagine my surprise when I later found it at the ski club's lost and found. A ski patrol had spotted my cell whizzing down the hill and retrieved it at the bottom. (Given that the hill was rather icy, it wasn't surprising that my phone could ski as well as I can.)

This anecdote isn't important, other than it made me think about all …

South Korea struggles to clean up blackened shore after country's largest oil spill

Thousands of people used shovels and buckets Sunday to clean up a devastating oil spill at a scenic beach on South Korea's western coast, some battling headaches and nausea from the stench.

About 7,500 volunteers, local residents, civil servants and members of the coast guard, police and military scooped up oil that began washing ashore at Mallipo beach Saturday from a damaged supertanker, the Coast Guard said.

Still more worked aboard 105 ships along South Korea's western coast trying to clean the sea.

The Coast Guard said late Sunday 514 metric tons (565 tons) of oil had been collected, which would amount to about 5 percent of the total …

Orders streaming in for new Tesla electric sedans, to be released in 2011

Tesla Motors says orders have been streaming in for its electric Model- sedans due to begin rolling off assembly lines in 2011.

The U.S. automaker said it has received 520 orders for the sedans since the Model- was unveiled in Southern California last week.

"Frankly the number of cars reserved in the first week has exceeded our optimistic internal projections," said Tesla chief executive Elon Musk.

"Enthusiasm surrounding the Model- is proof that there's pent-up demand for more affordable, fuel-efficient vehicles -- including those made in America."

Tesla's state-of-the-art five-seat sedan is expected to be one of the first mass-produced, highway-capable …

A new star on the edge of the horizon

As a kid, I remember when McDonald's was on top of the heap in fast food restaurants. In fact, it had just about all of the market. It was unimaginable that another fast food chain would come along and try to compete with the burger powerhouse.

So, along came Burger King. The first Burger King in my town opened just a half block away from McDonald's. Then, next thing you know, there was a Wendy's, then a Taco Bell, which all have their own segment of the fast food market.

That same scenario replays itself everyday in many different industries. Just look at the changes in the automobile industry over the last 20 years.

Well, there's a terrific story in the golf …

Italy Boots Germany 2-0 to Reach Final

DORTMUND, Germany - For nearly two hours, Germany probed, Italy held firm and penalty kicks seemed inevitable. Then with two stunningly swift strikes in the last two minutes, Italy unraveled it all - the tension, the match, the Germans' dream of lifting the World Cup trophy in Berlin.

First came the left-footed shot that Fabio Grosso twisted into the far side of the net in the 119th minute. Then Alessandro Del Piero clinched the 2-0 win a minute later with a counterattacking goal as the Germans pressed frantically to equalize.

"Italy deserved to win," Italy coach Marcello Lippi said. "We controlled the play more than Germany did and, in the end, we got these two great …

Bakery allegedly discards employee's severed arm

A Spanish trade union is suing a bakery that allegedly threw the severed arm of an employee into a bin after it was amputated in an accident with a kneading machine. The Workers Commissions said in a statement Wednesday that Bolivian immigrant Franns Rilles lost his left arm in May 28 at the Rovira bakery in the eastern Valencia region.

The union said that while Rilles was being taken …

THE LAW

What is it? 12 weeks of unpaid leave in a 12-month period with job guaranteesupon return to work. Health benefits continue. Who gets to leave? New parents - men or women - after childbirth or adoption. Employees who need to care for a sick child, spouse or parent. Workers who suffer serious illnesses. Who's affected? …