Why let hater rip pope?

Watching the pope yesterday, I couldn't help to think about the column in your paper by a man by the name of Hitchens. You gave him nearly a full page to criticize the pope and the Catholic church. This man had the gall to pound away, telling the pope what he should do, with no praise for him at all. This writer is an ultraconservative atheist. An avowed atheist, hater of all things …

WOMEN TO WATCH; Seraina Maag.(NEWS)

President

Commercial Specialties

Zurich North America

40

Appointed president of Zurich North America's Commercial Specialties unit in 2007, Seraina Maag rose rapidly at the Zurich Financial Services Group Inc. unit after serving as its chief financial officer for slightly more than a year. Ms. Maag applies a collaborative leadership approach to drive decisionmaking authority to field offices. The specialties unit is a $2.4 billion business providing products for complex and volatile risks. She joined Zurich in 2002 as senior investor relations officer and in 2004 became head of investor relations and rating agency management. She simultaneously …

WHALEN'S PROPOSED BUDGET UNDER FIRE ENVIRONMENTALIST, POLICE UNIONIST ASSAIL MAYOR'S PLAN.(Local)

Byline: Jay Jochnowitz Staff writer

An environmental attorney on Wednesday branded Mayor Thomas M. Whalen III's budget unrealistic and off by millions of dollars in garbage costs, while the head of the city police union sharply attacked the mayor for not providing enough funds to run the department.

The criticisms of Whalen's proposed $78 million 1989 spending plan were leveled at a public hearing before the Common Council's Finance Committee.

In terms of cost, the biggest money issue Wednesday was the city's landfill problem. Albany's existing landfill off Rapp Road is nearing capacity and is expected to close next year or in 1990. The city wants …

OLD TUBE, NEW TRICK.(BUSINESS)

Byline: MARGARET D. WILLIAMS Bloomberg News

LOS ANGELES -- The idea was enticing: a box that attaches to the television and flashes motivational messages while you watch your favorite shows.

The $245.95 product from Dutch company Motivision Worldwide Plc is the size of a shoebox and about as heavy as a paperback. It was easy to hook up to a VCR. The reprogrammed messages are aimed mainly at weight loss and stress reduction and can't be changed.

Motivision is making its first big U.S. push with an infomercial scheduled to run this month. Until now, the product's been sold only in test markets.

When it operates, 21 …

Web magic.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)(www.servicemagic.com)(Brief Article)

The home services portal run by Service Magic has emerged as an effective tool for small custom home builders. Rodney Rice, the company's co-CEO, says that of the 45,000 businesses Service Magic has screened, profiled, and rated, about 23,000 are contractors, 1,000 …

Kings-Cavaliers, Box

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SACRAMENTO (93)

Garcia 7-13 0-0 15, Moore 5-8 1-1 11, Miller 7-15 3-3 17, Udrih 5-12 0-0 11, Salmons 10-14 1-2 22, Douby 0-2 0-0 0, Williams 4-5 0-4 8, Hawes 1-1 0-0 2, Jones 3-6 1-2 7. Totals 42-76 6-12 93.

CLEVELAND (97)

James 7-18 9-12 24, Gooden 4-11 1-2 9, Ilgauskas 4-15 6-7 14, Pavlovic 4-11 0-2 9, Hughes 2-11 0-0 4, Varejao 5-9 1-1 11, Gibson 4-9 2-3 13, Dw.Jones 0-0 0-0 0, D.Brown 5-7 3-4 13. Totals 35-91 22-31 97.

Feldman a favorite today at Arlington

Pssst! Want a sure winner at Arlington Park today? How aboutDave Feldman?

Arlington Park will honor Feldman with a special day, includinga race in his name in tribute to his election to the Chicago SportsHall of Fame.

There also will be a special presentation to Feldman after therace in his honor.

Feldman is being inducted to the Hall for his more than 50 yearsof service to thoroughbred racing. He will receive the Hall'sDistinguished Achievement Award.

The track also will hand out free 6-foot "One In A Million,"posters of …