UK curry competition proves too hot to handle

EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — Some like it hot, but contestants at a curry eating contest in Scotland collapsed in agony after biting off more than they could chew at a self-styled "world's hottest chili" competition.

One contestant was hospitalized twice, and others writhed in agony, panting and vomiting after sampling the "Kismot Killer" at a charity eating competition at the Kismot restaurant in Edinburgh on Saturday.

Owner Abdul Ali staged the event to raise money for a children's hospice. He has conceded he'll …

Intraorganizational Alignment and Innovation Processes: Philips and Transistor Technology

The Dutch company Philips succeeded in producing transistors early on. By the early 1950s, it had acquired a strong position in the European semiconductor market. However, by the end of the 1950s, it was being surpassed by competitors. In response to the developments in solid state electronics, Philips' management adjusted the company's research, development, and production capabilities, enabling the firm to bring point-contact and layer transistors onto the market and to develop its own high-frequency transistor. When demand for industrial transistors increased, Philips was unprepared, leaving it without an entr�e to this new market. The company's exclusive contracts with IBM not only …

Medvedev: a loyal servant who has always marched in lockstep with Putin

Dmitry Medvedev's career so far depicts a dedicated aide who has always marched in lockstep with Vladimir Putin.

Consequently, Russia's election campaign _ drained of suspense due to the obvious outcome _ was laced with suspicion that Medvedev, who wants to name the outgoing president as his prime minister, will still take orders from Putin despite outranking him.

Putin, 55, and Medvedev, 42, first worked together for a former law professor who became head of the city council in Leningrad _ now St. Petersburg _ in 1990.

Putin brought Medvedev to Moscow in 1999, shortly before Boris Yeltsin stepped down and handed him the presidency. Medvedev …

Energy services firm in running for awards

A Firm with its headquarters in Aberdeen is on the shortlists fortwo top awards.

Energy services firm John Wood Group Plc is among the contendersfor both the Danwood Growth Strategy of the Year and Business of theYear in the 2007 National Business Awards for Scotland.

Group chairman Sir Ian Wood won the scheme's Lifetime AchievementAward in 2004.

Last year the group reported a 47% increase in pre-tax profits topounds95.4 million.

This came after very strong market …

What is the Spirit saying to the churches?

Budget deficit leads to soul-searching in MC Eastern Canada

"The deficit was the precipitating issue. . . . We could either slash budget with choices made very quickly or take time for some better-quality discernment."

This was how David Martin, Mennonite Church Eastern Canada executive minister, explained why he, other staff and the Executive Board engaged area church congregations and agencies in a consultation this fall.

"We could do this as just the Executive Board, but given the new challenges facing the church at this point in time, the sense was this was a good opportunity to look at where we want to move into the future as an area church," Martin said, …

Bengals, Jets heading in opposite directions

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Chad Ochocinco toned it down a bit for a change.

The chatty Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver is never at a loss for words, but he couldn't bring himself to stir things up the way he usually does.

"It's hard to give you the good stuff when we're 2-8, so I have to be sort of in the humbling spirit right now," Ochocinco said Tuesday on a conference call with New York reporters.

"I apologize."

That's a far cry from last season when Ochocinco playfully popped off before the regular-season finale between the Bengals and Jets, declaring that New York cornerback Darrelle Revis couldn't cover him "in a brown paper bag on a corner of a Manhattan …

Celtics fight back to down Pacers

The Boston Celtics came from a 12-point third-quarter deficit to run down the Indiana Pacers and win 103-94 on Tuesday, boosting their lead in the NBA's Eastern Conference.

Paul Pierce missed his first 10 shots but then scored 16 points in the fourth quarter, including seven straight, to put Boston ahead for good.

Pierce finished with 21 points, going 12 for 13 from the free throw line to make up for his slow start from the floor. Kendrick Perkins scored 19 points to go with eight rebounds.

Indiana's Troy Murphy had 24 points and a season-high 18 rebounds but the Pacers gave up a 15-point halftime lead to fall to a fourth straight loss.

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