EPA Proposes Standards to Protect Florida’s Waters
News release: "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing water quality standards to protect people’s health, aquatic life and the long term recreational uses of Florida’s waters, which are a critical part of the state’s economy. In 2009, EPA entered into a consent decree with the Florida Wildlife Federation to propose limits to this pollution. The proposed action, released for public comment and developed in collaboration with the state, would set a series of numeric limits on the amount of phosphorus and nitrogen, also known as “nutrients,” that would be allowed in Florida’s lakes, rivers, streams, springs and canals."
• More on the proposed rule and public hearings

Ranking of compact cars and subcompact cars, generally priced under $20,000. Rankings based on an in-depth analysis by U.S. News editors of all published auto ratings, reviews and test drives.
http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/rankings/Affordable-Small-Cars/

The eight parts of speech are noun, pronoun, verb, adverb, adjective, preposition, conjunction, and interjection. See functions, example words and example sentences:
http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/parts-of-speech_1.htm

The FAA last April opened its records on more than 100,000 reports of birds colliding with aircraft since 1990. The records showed that airplanes struck birds 16 to 78 times a year between 1990 and 2008 at Philadelphia. Airports, with open fields and grass, are particularly vulnerable to birds, and many of the nation's busiest airports are next to water or wildlife sanctuaries that attract birds. Bird populations have flourished in recent years with the banning of pesticides and environmental cleanup. Until 2008, the FAA saw a decline in bird-plane collisions considered "substantial" - causing structural damage, such as a hole in the wing or a destroyed engine. But in 2009, with an increase in strike reports, came "a jump in more serious damage strikes . . . Bird-detecting radar and special lighting on aircraft during takeoff and landing could alert birds that "something is coming at them very fast," Richard Dolbeer, wildlife expert for the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/business/20100113_Birds_vs__airplanes__The_menace_continues.html

WHO - Healthcare coordination crucial in earthquake-hit Haiti
World Health Organization: "Strong coordination of health services and supplies is needed to effectively treat thousands of people injured in the 12 January earthquake. WHO is sending medicines and supplies to treat 165 000 people for one month, plus drugs and equipment to treat 1000 people with trauma injuries. Water pumps, containers and water quality testers are being sent to help meet water demands."

U.S. State Dept. Resources on 2010 Earthquake in Haiti
2010 Earthquake in Haiti - Includes links to:
Briefings and Remarks
Fact Sheets
Interviews
Secretary Clinton's Visit to Haiti
White House Releases
Collected Releases
Red Cross Photos: 2010 Haiti earthquake

"Avatar's" record-breaking run worldwide is getting pulled up short in China.
Authorities are pulling the non-3D version of the science fiction epic from screens across the country as of Jan. 23, according to theater operators and state media, apparently for political and economic reasons. China Film Group, the state-run domestic distributor of the Hollywood blockbuster, has reportedly ordered cinemas to stop showing the 2D version of James Cameron's global hit by this weekend on the orders of China's censors, though the 3D and IMAX versions of the movie will continue their run into February.
http://news.findlaw.com/ap/e/1402/01-19-2010/20100119025007_03.html

What does avatar mean?
embodiment: a new personification of a familiar idea; "the embodiment of hope"; "the incarnation of evil"; "the very avatar of cunning"
the manifestation of a Hindu deity (especially Vishnu) in human or superhuman or animal form; "the Buddha is considered an avatar of the god Vishnu"
See other meanings here: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&defl=en&q=define:avatar&ei=0DxYS6GREoiENrmu9NYE&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title&ved=0CAcQkAE

After days of tense negotiations, "The Tonight Show" host Conan O'Brien signed an agreement early Thursday, January 21 to part ways with NBC, according to a person familiar with the situation. The deal clears the way for rival Jay Leno to reclaim his old show at 11:35 pm. Mr. O'Brien signed the agreement around 1 a.m. Pacific time.
NBC is expected to announce the agreement later on Thursday morning.
While details on the final agreement were unclear, the deal was expected to include a payout of about $32 million for Mr. O'Brien and about $12 million for his staff. It is also believed to include a nondisparagement clause, both for the 46-year-old comedian and NBC. The deal has been said to include a provision that would bar or limit Mr. OBrien from appearing on other shows or hosting his own show for a period of time, according to people familiar with the negotiations. "In the end, Conan was appreciative of the steps NBC made to take care of his staff and crew, and decided to supplement the severance they were getting out of his own pocket," said Gavin Polone, Mr. O'Brien's manager. "Now he just wants to get back on the air as quickly as possible."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703699204575016514111492610.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines

Robert B. Parker, who wrote more than 60 books all told, including westerns and young-adult novels, died on January 18. In recent years he had come up with two new protagonists: Jesse Stone, an alcoholic ex-ballplayer turned small-town chief of police, who was featured in nine novels written since 1997, including “Split Image,” to be published next month; and Sunny Randall, a fashion-conscious, unlucky-in-love, daughter-of-a-cop private eye created at the request of the actress Helen Hunt, who was hoping for a juicy movie role.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/books/20parker.html

If you're a fan of NASA's Mars missions, a few things have started heading in the right direction - including a renewed flow of eye-pleasing pictures from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, a new program that gives you a say in picking the orbiter's future targets, and new signs of progress in the months-long effort to free the Spirit rover from a sand trap. See story and pictures at: http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/01/21/2181157.aspx