The Prince of Wales is to issue a stark warning that nations have “less than 100 months to act” to save the planet from irreversible damage due to climate change.

Prince Charles: 100 months to save the world

The Prince of Wales is to issue a stark warning that nations have “less than 100 months to act” to save the planet from irreversible damage due to climate change.

By Andrew Alderson, Chief Reporter

Prince Charles will say that the need to tackle global warming is more urgent than ever before and that, even in a global recession, the world must not lose sight of the “bigger picture”.

His warning will be delivered on Thursday in a keynote speech in Rio de Janeiro.

Aides believe it will echo one he gave in Sao Paulo in 1991 at the start of the last recession, when he warned that caring for the world’s long term welfare must not become a “luxury”.

The intervention will help to put the environment at the top of the political agenda ahead of the meeting of G20 leaders in London next month.

The Prince starts a ten-day tour of South America today during which he will be playing an elevated role as an international statesman working on behalf of the Government to support British interests on key issues.

Senior sources have revealed that Gordon Brown’s Government wants to make more use on the foreign stage of Prince Charles’s experience, expertise and contacts, particularly on climate change.

Government officials believe that the Prince’s passion to protect the environment is hugely respected abroad and that he can play an increasing important role as he inevitably moves closer to becoming king.

Some believe he is an “asset” that has been underused in the past and they want to use him more in a role of “soft diplomacy”.

In Thursday’s speech, the Prince will warn that a failure to act in the next eight years will have catastrophic effects for the planet….

Source: Telegraph.co.uk

Accuracy to be determined.

Steelers, 24-17

John Clayton: Steelers, 24-17

The premise that defense wins championships doesn’t necessarily apply in a time when the past two Super Bowl winners didn’t rank in the top 10 in scoring defense and when 21 defensive coordinators have been changed after the highest-scoring season since 1965.

What’s historically true is great defenses win championships and this is a great Steelers defense — particularly in stopping the pass. And the Cardinals’ offense is dominated by the pass.

Source: ESPN

Correct! The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in Super Bowl XLIII.

Cardinals 27, Steelers 24.

Ken Whisenhunt will have a great game plan, and the cerebral Kurt Warner will get just enough time from his offensive line to move the chains of history.

Cardinals 27, Steelers 24

Source: AZCentral.com

Wrong! The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in Super Bowl XLIII.

Cardinals 20, Steelers 17.

The Steelers are accustomed to the big stage and that defense can be intimidating. The Cardinals are 3-0 in the playoffs for a reason, however. They have a multitude of offensive threats, and the defense is good enough to control a Steelers offense that isn’t great.

Cardinals 20, Steelers 17

Source: AZCentral.com

Wrong! The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in Super Bowl XLIII.

Cardinals 27, Steelers 24.

As much as the Cardinals’ inexperience could be a concern, they’ve gotten this far despite it and have made big plays on both sides of the ball too many times to ignore. It will be close, but I’ll take the Cardinals.

Cardinals 27, Steelers 24

Source: AZCentral.com

Wrong! The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in Super Bowl XLIII.

BetUs.com predicts Rafael Nadal will defeat Roger Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon final:

Tennis Prediction: While Federer has failed to solve the Nadal dilemma on clay in three tries at the French Open, he has in their last two meetings at Wimbledon. But with the season the Spaniard has enjoyed, significantly winning the Stella Artois Championship, the big question is will Nadal solve the dilemma that is Federer on grass. This match will probably go one of two ways – either it will be a blowout like the French Open final or it will be another epic like the 2007 Wimbledon title. I am hoping for the latter. Since Nadal’s loss at the Masters Series in Rome, he has enjoyed a 23-match-winning streak highlighted by winning the title in Hamburg, French Open and Stella Artois Championships.

Tennis Betting Prediction: I cannot help but feel the turning of tides may have finally arrived in the Spaniards fortunes. He has been World No.2 for three years – a feat no other has accomplished. His run-up to Wimbledon was convincing and his progress through the rounds at the All England Club only confirmed him even more as a viable contender for the 2008 Wimbledon title. Even the odds makers’ are giving him a shot at even odds. Heck, even Bjorn Borg himself picks Nadal – and he is a big fan of Federer.

Tennis Free Picks: Nadal in four sets

 

Source: BetUs.com

Point-Spreads.com picks the Chicago White Sox over the Oakland Athletics in their July 3, 2008 matchup:

The Chicago White Sox have kept some breathing room between them and Minnesota in the American League Central by winning six straight as of Wednesday. The White Sox will try to keep this run going when they host the Oakland Athletics at Cellular Field on Thursday night to kick off a four-game series. BetOnline.com has the Chicago White Sox –127 odds baseball prediction favorite against the Oakland Athletics +107 odds with the total set at 8 runs and –105 reduced juice.

Justin Duchscherer (8-5, 1.91) had a four-game winning streak snapped in a 1-0 loss at home to San Francisco, giving up a run on only two hits over eight innings. Duchscherer is rocketing through his first year as a full-time starter in the big leagues, as he leads the American League in ERA and has now given up more than two runs in only one of his 13 starts in 2008. The 30-year-old righthander who is in his seventh major-league season made two relief appearances against the White Sox last season, blowing one save opportunity with an ERA of 9.00.

Javier Vazquez (7-6, 4.49) had his fifth straight outing of four earned runs or more as he took a no-decision in a 6-5 win at home over the Cubs, allowing five runs on nine hits in just 4 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts and three walks. Cellular Field has been very good to Vazquez this season, as he is 5-1 in eight home starts with an ERA of 4.68. Vazquez faced the Athletics once last season, earning a no-decision by giving up four runs on seven hits over six innings in an 8-5 loss at Oakland.

These two split a two-game set in Chicago in early April in a low-scoring affair, and this could be another one of those games if Vazquez can be more efficient. The 31-year-old threw 105 pitches in that outing against the Cubs, and is now averaging almost 105 pitcher per game, which is high for a pitcher that only gives up five to six innings. However, four of Duchscherer’s five losses have come on the road, so take the White Sox to come away with a close one on Thursday.

Oakland Athletics at Chicago White Sox – 8:11 PM ET

Free Baseball Prediction: Chicago White Sox

 

Source: Point-Spreads.com

TOW Sports News predicts Patrick “The Predator” Cote will defeat Ricardo “Cachorrao” Almeida at UFC 86 in Las Vegas, Nevada:

Although Almeida is likely a class above just about anyone at middleweight in the UFC on the ground, Cote has been training with Fabio Holanda at Brazilian Top Team Canada and has shown a much better submission defense since losing The Ultimate Fighter finale to another jui jitsu specialist in Travis Lutter.

On the feet, this fight should be all Cote. On the ground, Almeida will have an edge although I don’t think Cote is going to be submitted easily. Wrestling and grappling are fairly close. This one could go either way and it wouldn’t surprise me.

Cote has fought the better competition, has been at it longer, and has been more impressive recently. He has a very nice overall skill set and generally game plans very well. On those abilities alone, I have to give the edge to Patrick Cote in this one although Ricardo Almeida should be lively.

Source: TheOnlineWire.com

Election-Projection.net “uses computer simulation to calculate the probability of Obama or McCain winning the presidential election based on recent polls.” The website currently estimates a 96.1% probablity Barack Obama will win the 2008 presidential election.

Source: election-projection.net

The National Agricultural Statistics Service predicts an 8%-increase in almond production this year. The Modesto Bee reports:

Almond growers are in for another record-breaking season, according to a federal government projection released Monday in Modesto.

The orchards that paint the valley a pale shade of pink every spring will yield about 1.5 billion pounds of nut meat this year, according to a National Agricultural Statistics Service projection released Monday. That’s an 8 percent growth over last year’s record production.

“Bloom conditions up and down the valley were just about perfect,” said Almond Board of California Chief Executive Officer Richard Waycott. “Eight percent is a significant increase. Fortunately, our industry has proven it can market the increase.”

California produces 80 percent of the world’s almond supply. Almonds are the second-highest valued crop in Stanislaus County after milk, according to the most recent crop report, which is based on production in 2006. Growers in Stanislaus County made an estimated $833 million two years ago.

Source: The Modesto Bee