Bodman: Insufficient oil production behind prices

The U.S. energy secretary said Saturday that insufficient oil production, not financial speculation, was driving soaring crude prices.

Secretary Samuel Bodman's comments on the eve of an energy summit in the Saudi port city of Jiddah set the stage for a showdown between the U.S. and conference host Saudi Arabia, which has largely blamed speculation in the oil markets for record prices.

The U.S. and many other Western nations have put increasing pressure on Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, to increase production. Saudi officials have been hesitant to do so, arguing that soaring prices have not been caused by a shortage of supply.

Bodman …

New on DVD

MONSTER-IN-LAW (STAR)

(2005; Warner Bros.; 100 minutes)

Jane Fonda's first film role in 15 years, and the movie is a wasteof her time -- and ours. She plays a recently fired TV celebrity whogoes berserk when she discovers her son the surgeon (Michael Vartan)is going to marry a temp (Jennifer Lopez, with Fonda, right). Lopezremains serene and heroic as the Fonda character teeters "on theverge of a psychotic break." Wanda Sykes, as Fonda's assistant,steals scenes by being the movie's resident adult. The movie failsGene Siskel's test: Is this film more interesting than a documentaryof the same actors having lunch? Rated PG-13. (Roger Ebert) DVDspecial features: …

UNDER PRESSURE; Printmaking studies at Flying M

One way to get some insight into art is to study its studies. As people learn how to work with images and take advantage of a new medium, they inevitably uncover a lot of what constitutes art. You get to see what works and what doesn't. In the less finished work of students more of the actual work that goes into art and more of the difficult decisions that have to add up during its creation are closer to the surface. Sometimes I like to take a stroll through the halls of Boise State's Liberal Arts building and take a look at what the students there are creating.

Of course there are always degrees of finish in the work, and usually there are a few technically gifted students who are …

Obama hails 'extraordinary' moment with presidents

Confronting a grim economy and a Middle East on fire, Barack Obama turned Wednesday to perhaps the only people on the planet who understand what he's in for: the four living members of the U.S. presidents' club. In an image bound to go down in history, every living U.S. president came together at the White House on Wednesday to hash over the world's challenges with the president-elect. There they stood, shoulder-to-shoulder in the Oval Office: George H.W. Bush, Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.

"This is an extraordinary gathering," Obama said, looking plenty at ease in the humbling office that will soon be his.

"All the …

Wilson issues new battle cry in race for title Inverurie Locos captain Tommy Wilson today urged his team-mates to forget the heartbreak of last season.

Inverurie Locos captain Tommy Wilson today urged his team-mates to forget the heartbreak of last season.

Locos take on Aberdeen at Harlaw Park tomorrow night in their lastfriendly before the season kicks off on Saturday.

And after letting the title slip from their grasp on the last dayof the season last term, Wilson has urged his players to move on.

"We are dying to win the title after what happened," said Wilson.

"It was an awful feeling losing it on the last day. It was asickener.

"But we have to forget it and get on with it.

"We will have to play our best and earn the points - or else wewon't be up there."

The Garioch side lost the …

White excited about WVU hire

DAILY MAIL SPORTSWRITER

Marshall Coach Greg White considers Dan Dakich a great hire forWest Virginia University.

Relatively speaking, that is.

"His wife's maiden name is White - Jackie White," White said witha chuckle. "When we were up at Bowling Green this season I told her Ithought we were distant cousins."

White was joking, of course. But that also is an indication of howthe Marshall coach's once turbulent relationship with Dakich haschanged.

Dakich accepted the WVU head coaching job today. He was to beintroduced at an afternoon press conference.

"He and I have put our differences behind us," said White, who hasexchanged verbal barbs …

Poland issues arrest warrant for Stalinist-era prosecutor living in Britain

A Polish court issued a European arrest warrant Tuesday for Helena Wolinska, a Stalinist-era prosecutor now living in Britain who is accused of fabricating evidence in show trials in the 1950s.

Wolinska, 88, who has lived in England since 1972 and is a British citizen, is accused of masterminding the wrongful arrest and execution of Gen. Emil Fieldorf, a World War II-era Polish hero, and of the wrongful arrest of 24 others. If convicted, she could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.

Wolinska dismissed the request for her extradition.

"I will not speak about this because it is not a criminal case, it is a political one," she said …