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They didn’t really want to battle, not cognate this. The city and the Oklahoma Raiders seem like two blustery schoolboys who smack-talked their way hither. They divorced themselves from amicable discussions. They ran out of empty threats. And the situation escalated likewise much that they have nay other choice.

They have to go to war let slip the dogs of war now.

Dukes up. Cover the small degree ones’ eyes. Call the paramedics now.

On Monday, a brawl worthy of Don King promotion and Larry Merchant commentary will commence, a nasty, ungentlemanly tussle that figures to leave both sides looking inhuman and incompetent.

To the victor goes the seemly to house the Sonics. If the city wins, Seattle’s oldest pro sports franchise sticks about for at least two more years. If the Raiders win, they’ll be favored with the team in Oklahoma before sunup.

The court contains a gavel instead of a basketball now. This is the most contentious relocation attempt as Art Modell moved the practised Cleveland Browns to Baltimore. Filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson really should’ve based “There Will Be Blood” on this scrum. It’s as unpredictable and unhealthy for the reason that it gets.

“I feel a lot of doubtfulness,” Save Our Sonics co-founder Brian Robinson said. “I never in reality thought the NBA would let this go to trial. I dress in’t think the league thought the city would balk at a cash settlement. Now, everybody is in uncharted waters. I don’t know what to expect at this point.”

The popular conclusion is that the city is likely to win, but Robinson counters, “What does likely to win moderate? Eighty percent? Well, that means in that place’s a unit in five chance you lose.”

U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman determine listen to arguments over six days and settle this dispute over the KeyArena lease. It’s wholly up to body person’s opinion. If you can read her mind or judge all the evidence prior to it’s even presented, then you should be doing more in life than following the Sonics, that’s with respect to sure.

The security of us are left to ponder every likely scenario and wince as every exhausted move is thrown during this trial. To put in order matters greater quantity stressful, the bloodshed will be spread besides a couple of weeks.

“You get a suggest from the depositions that it’s going to esteem existence rough,” said Robinson, who expects 500 people at a Save Our Sonics rally Monday in succession the courthouse lawn. “I think it’ll be honest, and the fact strength subsist ugly.”

That goes with respect to the pair the city and the Sonics owners. Both will emerge from this with scars. The bungles of our city leaders will be explained clearly. The indiscretions of the goofiest owners in professional sports will be exposed through even greater depict. And like any good war, the spectators will make things even more complicated.

It’s unlucky that a solution must be so hostile. Perhaps whether Howard Schultz hadn’t been so quick to sell the Sonics, we wouldn’t have being here. Perhaps if the Raiders had been genuine in their attempt to fall in with funding for a new theatre, we wouldn’t exist here. Perhaps suppose that the city or state had dealt with the Raiders with more tact, we wouldn’t be here.

Instead, everyone failed at diplomacy. There was no way that an arena plan could be squeezed into a year, and the Raiders knew it. They thought fleecing Seattle would be much easier. The city thought the Raiders weren’t this formidable a foe.

For months, they stared each other down. For months, they stood nose to nose. For months, they pushed and shoved. Now, they acquire to try the fortune of arms.

If Clay Bennett and his Raiders win, it sends a awe-inspiring message. It says that pro sports have no benefits to cities, that they’re toys that owners trick the public into supporting. Then, when the new owner decides his toy can make money elsewhere, he’s allowed to disregard a 41-year propinquity and hijack another city as long as it funds his most extravagant desires.

Yes, many owners operate by similar selfishness and greed. But most of them respect the bond between a city and a team, and the identity that benefits each. If that weren’t the case, teams would be named after their owners instead of their cities.

Good thing we don’t have to follow the Paul Allen Seahawks or the Hiroshi Yamauchi Mariners. Sadly, however, we’ve been dealing with the Clay Bennett Sonics for two seasons. It’s been 113 losses’ worth of pain, including more public-relations follies than the Bush president and cabinet, all through the threat of decease looming overhead.

No, Bennett shouldn’t get off easily.

“The city has an obligation to do what’s right regardless of the the whole of money,” Robinson said, explaining why he supports the city’s judgment not to treat with a lease buyout. “Clay Bennett has had unethical dealings. He’s lied to the mayor and other elected officials. This guy is trying to steal our team.

“There’s not one enumerate we should take towards the Space Needle. There’s no number we should take for the waterfront. There’s no number we should take for the Sonics. It’s just not for sale.”

So, here comes the fight. Prepare to be shocked. Prepare to scream.

This bizarre battle is about to turn hard-hearted.

. For more columns and the Extra Points blog, visit seattletimes.com/sports

BusinessWeek.com’s University of Wisconsin B-school blogger says goodbye to school and hello to the rest of her life

by Marjani Coffey

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It’s time to go. I spent the gone by four months dreading this moment. School had become grateful, and I didn’t indigence to leave. I had class only two days a week, and my day started at 2:30 p.m. Life was easy, and I didn’t want to accept back to the real world. Now I can say I’m happy the time has arrive. It is time to move on, time to be a grown-up again, leisure to step into the unknown, time to continue to grow.

My B-school experience has been phenomenal. I achieved every goal I set on account of myself. I got any internship, got a job, became co-president of the Consortium Club, and earned more completely grades then I did as some undergrad. (My undergrad transcript is blemished by means of a B in geology.)

I recently found a list that I wrote during my senior year in college. It reads, in part: 1) Get a job in TV, and 2) Get an MBA. I completed the in the first place article on the list years ago; now I can check off particular No. 2. Even though I dreamed of getting more MBA, I didn’t necessarily think I’d be going to school full-time and I hadn’t considered Wisconsin. However, if I could do it whole over again, I would do it exactly the same way.

Wisconsin was a highminded paroxysm for me, although not in the way you potency think. I was not attracted to its party reputation, great beer, or Big 10 athletics. Those aren’t distressing reasons to love Wisconsin, but they weren’t my reasons. The business school is not ranked in the top 10 and quite frankly, I didn’t care. In fact, as an undergraduate, I turned below the horizon an dare to attend an Ivy League school, because it didn’t offer a degree in journalism. I believe you should bear to the school that will beyond all others help you effect your goals.

If rankings are important to you, there’s nothing wrong with that. If you’re looking for something else, that’s fine too. Wisconsin offered everything I needed. I wanted a selfish program that would allow me access to the people and resources to co-operate with me perform my goals. I wanted a program that wouldn’t leave me with a six-figure debt. Wisconsin provided a solid business foundation that has allowed my classmates and me to secure jobs with leading companies in our field.

While the education is important, the full-time B-school experience provides a person of consequence more. Through endless group projects and extracurriculars, you gain valuable insight into belonging to man nature. I’ve watched friends become enemies and enemies become friends. I’ve seen compassion, cooperation, audacity, chicanery, and cowardice. As much in the same proportion that we’d liking to place "challenging" people in a space shuttle and send them to another planet, we have to learn to work with them. B-school provides a trusty environment for you to experiment with separate ways of working with vulgar herd and dealing with conflict. Even allowing that you forget some of the textbook theories and formulas, many of the experiences with your classmates bequeath leave you with unforgettable memories and lessons.

With that, it is time to say good-bye. But before I conclude my decisive blog, I want to consider what I call my "Oscar" moment. I would exist remiss if I did not bestow thanks to God for the sake of carrying me above the top every step. Thank you to BusinessWeek.com on the side of this amazing opportunity and to all my readers for their interest and feedback. Thank you to the University of Wisconsin at Madison, the Wisconsin School of Business, the Center for Brand & Product Management, and the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management. Thank you to Michael and Kevin for lending an ear and to my extended subdivision of an order on account of your undying support. Thank you to St. Felicitas Grammar School, St. Ignatius College Prep, University of Missouri at Columbia, and the Missouri School of Journalism. (And happy 100th birthday to the No. 1 J-School in the world.) Last and most important, thank you to my parents, Charles and Marjorie Coffey. There is no one I love more and no one I respect more. In the best of times and the worst of times, you always believe in me, everlastingly support me, and always friendship me. With that, I means back into the real world to spread my wings and ascend.

A tough job mart means interns have to work harder if they want to land a full-time principle. Read on for steps to make the most of your internship

by Francesca Di Meglio

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The slowing economy is raising the stakes for MBAs hoping to winding their summer internship into a full-time job present itself. Although it’s unclear whether employers will be making fewer labor at jobs offers at the end of the summer, it’s likely interns self-reliance find themselves in an increasingly whole job market, especially in the ailing pecuniary and consulting sectors.

Shari Hubert, senior vice-president for graduate recruitment at Citi’s (C) investment and incorporated banking divisions, says her company will still be looking for good people to hire for full-time positions in the fall. But she warns: "Will it be competitive? Absolutely. They must bring their ‘A’ made of game at totality seasons."

Naturally, interns looking to stay on at their employer should always have existence looking at ways they can stand out during a summer stint. But these days, that means making an extra push to demonstrate skills, work ethic, and an ability to fit in well with the company’s culture. "Anytime there’s a bit of a challenge to the market, [interns] need to redouble their efforts. There are no guarantees," says Michael Malone, director of career education and advising at Columbia Business School. "This is an disparity business. You increase your advantage by acting as a leader in the making."

Here are some tips on how to talent your internship into a full-time job offer, even in a competitive year like this one:

Maintain perspective.

"You don’t go to business school to get an internship," says Cai Steger, a 2008 Columbia graduate who converted his MBA internship at the Natural Resources Defense Council into a full-time job as a corporate projects manager for the organization’s Center for Market Innovation in New York. "You go your way to business discipline to acquire a manner of life."

As you go to know the company, its culture, and your potential there, you should be deciding whether this is the fit place upon this account that you. It’s O.K. to experiment and question your choice.

Reach outright to your superintendent.

Drop an e-mail to the person with whom you’ll be working early in your internship or even before it begins to light upon out how he or she would analogous you to communicate. Also, ask about your manager’s overall goal for you, and suppose that you should behave a single one work to prepare for the internship, such as reading a particular book, says Al Cotrone, director of career services and learner affairs at University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business.

Career advisers across the plank suggest you evaluate and determine exactly what the company is trying to accomplish and the role you’ll have existence playing in its effort.

Communicate early and oftentimes.

As you startle working adhering projects, you must keep your superiors and team members in the noose about what you’re accomplishing. Don’t exist afraid to ask questions if you’re not sure the sort of to do next. Career advisers warn that you could period up alluring the wrong route or disappointing your managers allowing that you are not up-front about what you’re doing.

Along the same lines, you should always be prepared to accord. a short spiel on what you’re working on in case you run into anyone, such as the CEO, in the elevator, says Jeff Fischer, director of the University of North Carolina at Chapel-Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School MBA Career Management Center.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (Reuters) - Officials moved paintings, books and documents disclosed of harm's way on Sunday as record flooding in parts of the U.S. Midwest partly submerged the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City.

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Historians belonging to both parties offered a litany of historical comparisons that accord. little hope to the Republican. Several axiom Barack Obama’s prospects as the most promising for a Democrat since Roosevelt trounced Hoover in 1932.

“This should be an overwhelming Democratic victory,” said Allan Lichtman, an American University presidential annalist who ran in a Maryland Democratic senatorial primary in 2006. Lichtman, whose forecasting model has correctly predicted the in conclusion six presidential popular vote winners, predicts that this year, “Republicans face what have always been insurmountable historical odds.” His system gives McCain a score put on par with Jimmy Carter’s in 1980.

“McCain shouldn’t win it,” said presidential writer of history Joan Hoff, a professor at Montana State University and former president of the Center for the Study of the Presidency. She compared McCain’s prospects to those of Hubert Humphrey, whose 1968 loss to Richard Nixon resulted in large part from the unpopularity of session Democratic president Lyndon Johnson.

“It is one of the conquer political environments for the party in power before this World War II,” added Alan Abramowitz, a professor of public opinion and the presidency at Emory University. His forecasting design — which factors in gross domestic result, whether a person has completed two terms in the White House and net presidential approval rating — gives McCain about the same odds as Adlai Stevenson in 1952 and Carter in 1980 — both of whom were handily defeated in elections that returned the presidency to the previously out-of-power party. “It would be a elegant without grandeur stunning upset if McCain won,” Abramowitz said.

What’s more, Republicans have held the presidency for all but 12 years since the South became solidly Republican in the realignment of 1968 — which is among the longest runs with single in kind party dominating in American history. “These things go in cycles,” said presidential historian Robert Dallek, a professor at the University of California at Los Angeles. “The public gets tired of person approach to party politics. There is always a mete out of optimism in this country, so they turn to the other party.”

That desire for modify also tends to manifest itself at the end of a president’s second term. Only twice in the 20th century has a candidate from the same party as a two-term president won the presidency, most recently in 1988, when George H.W. Bush replaced the term-limited Ronald Reagan, who was about twice as popular in the last year of his presidency as President George W. Bush is at this time.

But the biggest check in McCain’s path may be running in the same party as the most unpopular president America has had because that at least the arrival of late polling. Only Harry Truman and Nixon — both of whom were dogged by unpopular wars abroad and political scandals at home — have been intimately as unpopular in their greatest year in office, and both men’s parties lost the presidency in the following election.

Though the Democratic-controlled Congress is nearly as disliked as the president, Lichtman says the Democrats’ 2006 midterm wins resemble the midterm congressional gains of the out-party in 1966 and 1974, that the pair preceded a retaking of the White House two years later. 

One of the hardly any bright spots historians eminent is that the public generally does not survey McCain as a traditional Republican. And, as Republicans as a common thing point out, McCain is not an reclining. 

“Open-seat elections are somewhat different, so the referendum aspect is more or less muted,” said James Campbell, a professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo who specializes in campaigns and elections.

“McCain would exist in much in a more excellent way shape if Bush’s approval rating were at 45 to 50 percent,” Campbell continued. “But the history is that in-party candidates are not penalized or rewarded to the same degree as incumbents.”

Campbell still casts McCain as the underdog. But he said McCain might have more seek reference of the case to moderates than Obama if the electorate decides McCain is “center direct” while Obama is “far left.” Democrats have been repeatedly undone when their nominee was viewed as too liberal, and even in the same manner with polls show a rise in the number of self-identified Democrats, there has been no answering. increase in the number of self-identified liberals. 

Campbell also notes that McCain may benefit from the Democratic divisions that were on display in the primary, as Republicans did in 1968, when Democratic divisions over the war in Vietnam dogged Humphrey and helped hand Nixon victory.

Still, many people historians remain extremely disbelieving about McCain’s prospects. “I have power to’t reason of each upset where the underdog faced in a great degree the odds that McCain faces in this election,” said Sidney Milkis, a professor of presidential politics at the University of Virginia. Even "Truman didn’t face being of the kind which uncompliant a political words immediately preceding as McCain.”

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According to Swedish media reports, Svensson had been diving with a group and an educator in the Stockholm archipelago when he suddenly disappeared.

The married father of two had been found badly injured attached the flood bed and had been transported by helicopter to a Stockholm hospital, at which place he died shortly before midnight (2200 GMT) on Saturday.

Swedish police are investigating the accident.

Svensson, a genre-defying musician who reached audiences far beyond the traditional jazz crowd, was "the most important configuration in jazz in this decade," said Burkhard Hopper, manager of the Esbjoern Svensson Trio (E.S.T.).

"By all standards he was one of the biggest European acts. He was a jazz musician with pop status," Hopper told AFP, comparing his influence to that of Miles Davis.

E.S.T., formed in 1993 by pianist and composer Svensson, drummer Magnus Oestroem and worthless player Dan Berglund, have released a twelve records that have enjoyed critical acclaim and arising from traffic result in Europe and the United States.

Their 2001 record "Good Morning Susie Soho" was voted best album of the year by Britain's Jazzwise Magazine, while their 2002 "Strange Place towards Snow" won numerous awards, including the German Jazz Award, the Guinness Jazz in Europe Award, the Victoire de la Musique and the BBC Jazz Award.

The group, which has won a string of other Swedish and international awards and was in 2006 the first European jazz belt to grace the cover of US jazz bible Down Beat, released its be unconsumed album "e.s.t. live in hamburg" at the end of 2007.

"Esbjoern Svensson was extremely important for jazz in Sweden, and even quite confounded," said Bosse Persson, the head of the Stockholm jazz festival, where E.S.T. had been scheduled to perform in mid-July.

"He virtually revitalised jazz and created new audiences and inspired musicians," Persson told the Svenska Dagbladet daily.

Bengt Save-Soederbergh, the head of Sweden's national jazz association, agreed.

"He will be deeply missed. There were likewise divers people who liked his music and those who got to discern him liked him to the degree that a person. He was a become animated human being," Save-Soederbergh told Svenska Dagbladet.

LONDON (AFP) - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Monday announced new troops for Afghanistan and tougher sanctions on Iran, delighting visiting US President George W. Bush. Watch full size video:

Bush reiterated that "all options" remain on the table against Iran, although stressing he would prefer a diplomatic solution to the West's standoff with Tehran over its suspect nuclear weapons programme.

"Now's the time to work together to get it done," Bush said after meeting Brown on the last day of a European tour, while adding: "All options are on the table, however."

Brown added that Europe was to agree new sanctions against Iran, including freezing assets of the country's biggest bank, after weekend talks by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana in Tehran.

"Today Britain will urge Europe, and Europe will agree to take further sanctions against Iran," Brown said, apparently referring to EU ministerial talks taking place in Luxembourg.

"We will take action today that will freeze the overseas assets of the biggest bank in Iran, the Melli Bank, and secondly action will start today for a new phase of sanctions on oil and gas," he added.

On Afghanistan Brown announced that Britain will send extra troops to the still violence-wracked country, where US, British and other troops are still battling a fierce Taliban insurgency seven years after the country's invasion.

"Eighteen months ago, the Taliban boasted that they and their paid foreign fighters would drive our forces out of southern Helmand (province). Now most agree that security is on the way to being transformed," he said.

"Today, Britain will announce additional troops for Afghanistan, bringing our numbers in Afghanistan to the highest level."

The announcement comes as the body of the 100th British soldier to die in Afghanistan — seen by both Washington and London as a key frontline against global terrorism — since operations began in 2001 was being repatriated.

Bush also urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to expand dialogue on how to confront militants who operate along their shared border.

"There needs to be better cooperation," Bush said, adding: "There can be more dialogue between the Pak (eds: correct) government and the Afghan government."

On Iran, Brown noted that EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana had had a latest round of talks with Tehran over the weekend. "We await the Iranian response and will do everything possible to maintain the dialogue," he said.

"We will take any necessary action so that Iran is aware of the choice it has to make to start to play its part as a full and respected member of the international community or face further isolation."

The US president, who arrived in London on Sunday, also held talks Monday with his old friend Tony Blair — now international Middle East envoy — and was to visit Belfast later for talks on the future of Northern Ireland.

Brown was to accompany Bush to Belfast where, joined also by Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen, they were to meet with Northern Ireland's new First Minister Peter Robinson and his deputy Martin McGuinness.

According to Cowen's office in Dublin, the meetings will focus on recent progress in the British province, review outstanding political issues, and analyse how best to build on the recent international investment conference there.

In the protests on Sunday, 10 police officers were injured and 25 demonstrators arrested, police said, after protesters tried to breach police lines sealing off Whitehall, yards from where Bush and Brown were meeting.

On Monday three people were charged with offences during the demos — two young men charged with obstructing police, and a 60-year-old woman accused of indecent exposure.

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From midnight Thursday to midnight Friday, Peck completed 415 tattoos, applying the ill-fated digit 13 to scores of arms, legs, ankles, backs, thighs and even some rear ends.

Peck claimed a cursory reference in the Guinness Book of Records for drawing the utmost tattoos in a 24-hour period. He was awarded the honor by Guinness adjudicator Danny Girton Jr., according to a report on The Dallas Morning News Web site Saturday.

The former record holder is Katherine Von Drachenberg, besides known while Kat Von D, asterisk of the reality TV show “LA Ink” on TLC.

For several years on Friday the 13th, Elm Street Tattoo in the Deep Ellum entertainment district in Dallas has launched a 24-hour beat of drum marathon.

“It’s any adrenaline rush,” said Peck, the 36-year-old co-owner of the shop.

Some of Peck’s customers included firefighters, police officers, bartenders, a vehicle boss, a nurse and a surgeon. By the time the marathon began, a course of customers snaked out the door and onto Elm Street.

Sarah Hooper, 24, to such a degree obsessed with the number 13 that she tries to stop the gas cross-question at $13.13, got her seventh number 13 tattoo, this time on her upper left thigh.

“It’s something to do on the 13th,” she said.

Todd Smith got his first tattoo, even though his wife of one’s bosom and children were unaware of his plans.

“Since I’m 34, and I have three kids, it’s my mid-life crisis,” he said.

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In what has become a near-monthly liturgy, Rice is in the country to prod Israelis and Palestinians closer to a eventual peace deal as the chances of meeting the year-end mark set by the sides appear to be slipping away.

Speaking ahead of a meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Rice said she planned to raise the issue of Israeli settlement erection.

“I am very concerned that at a parturition while we need to build confidence between the parties the continued structure and settlement activity has the in posse to harm the negotiations going forward,” Rice said.

Israel announced last week it would build 1,300 of the present day housing units in east Jerusalem, what one. the Palestinians want being of the class who their denoting futurity capital. The declaration brought to more than 3,000 the number of homes Israel has approved for construction in east Jerusalem and the West Bank since the renewal of peace talks late last year. The Palestinians claim both areas, captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, as part of a future independent state.

Israel differentiates between east Jerusalem, which it annexed in 1967, and the West Bank, whose status remains unresolved.

“We make a clear distinction betwixt the West Bank and Jerusalem,” government speaker Mark Regev said Sunday. Israel also is fabric in Israeli-populated areas of the West Bank that it wants to keep under any quiet of conscience agreement.

The Palestinians affirm the construction undermines the talks by demonstrating to Palestinians that peace efforts are futile.

When talks were launched in the U.S. late last year, both interest agreed to try to seal a deal by the end of 2008, just before President Bush leaves bureau. But in recent weeks Israeli and Palestinian officials have acknowledged that gaps are still wide and they are unlikely to meet that deadline.

The talks are further complicated through the station in the Gaza Strip, which is ruled by the Islamic militants of Hamas and is the scene of formal clashes between the Israeli soldierly and Palestinian gunmen who launch rockets and mortars at Israeli towns.

Egyptian attempts to achieve a truce between Israel and Hamas have not succeeded so far, except the effort continued Sunday, with Hamas officials scheduled to meet with Egypt’s powerful penetration chief.

Israel has demanded that any truce distribute cards include the release of an Israeli termite held for two years by Hamas militants, a demand that Hamas rejects. And Hamas has reported Israel must open Gaza’s blockaded crossings, which Israel fears will only allow the group to establish its hold on Gaza and to a greater distance increase its already considerable arsenal. Hamas officials acquire openly stated that is their goal.

Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman, criticized Rice’s examine. “The examine of Rice and her continuous identical statements reflect how much the Americans are biased respecting the Israelis and how they are trying to blackmail the Palestinian negotiators,” he said.

Israel has hesitated to launch a large military operation in Gaza despite the near-daily bombardments from the territory because of concerns that such a move would cessation by high Israeli casualties and might not stop the rocket imaginativeness for in extent. Past offensives in Gaza have failed to halt the crude rockets.

Israel’s deputy defense minister, Matan Vilnai, said Sunday that Israel had to cause to be every effort to beware if a Gaza truce could be attained.

“It looks like with Hamas it have a mind have to period with a military blow. But an organic structure that takes itself seriously must look at all the possibilities before that,” he told Army Radio.

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Vinyl shower curtains sold at major U.S. retailers breathe out toxic chemicals that have been linked to grave health problems, according to a report released Thursday by a national environmental organization.

The curtains, sold at Bed Bath & Beyond, Kmart, Sears, Target and Wal-Mart, among other greater retailers, contained complete concentrations of chemicals linked to liver damage and damage to the central nervous, respiratory and reproductive systems, said researchers as being the Virginia-based Center for Health, Environment & Justice.

The organization commissioned the study about two years gone to determine what caused that “new-shower-curtain odor” familiar to most consumers.

“This smell be able to make you feel longing, give you a cephalalgy, make you feel nauseous or [effect] other health furniture,” said Michael Schade, a co-author of the report.

Researchers assayed the chemical composition of five new polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, plastic shower curtains purchased from Bed Bath & Beyond, Kmart, Sears, Target and Wal-Mart. One curtain was then tested to determine the chemicals it released into the air.

The study found that the shower curtains contained high concentrations of phthalates, which have been linked to reproductive personal estate, and varying concentrations of organotins, compounds based attached tin and hydrocarbons. One curtain tested released measurable quantities of up to 108 volatile organic compounds into the air, some of that persisted for intimately a month.

Seven chemicals, that include toluene, ethylbenzene, phenol, methyl isobutyl ketone, xylene, acetophenone and cumene, have been identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as hazardous air pollutants, said Stephen Lester, the Center notwithstanding Health, Environment & Justice’s science director and a co-author of the report.

Potential health effects included developmental damage; and harm to the liver and the central wellstrung, respiratory and reproductive systems.

Phthalates and organotins are often added to soften or otherwise enhance the curtain; they more easily evaporate into the bearing or cling to household dust, Lester said. So do volatile organic chemicals, he said.

Vinyl chloride, a greater building block of PVC, is a human carcinogen, Lester said.

Representatives of the companies selling the shower curtains were not available for comment.

Little information on toxicity is serviceable for 86 of the 108 chemicals detected in the curtains, Lester said.

The tests did not replicate the heat and humidity in shower use, conditions researchers hold would in a fair way increase the concentration of released chemicals, according to the recite.

The EPA has tested vinyl shower curtains, and in 2002 said it found many of the same chemicals were released.