READER PUTS HIS 2 CENTS IN ABOUT HIGHER PAYROLL TAXES.(MAIN)

Byline: ANTHONY R. LUPO GUILDERLAND

There is much talk these days about how to save the Social Security system. You've done your own analysis (Jan. 12) and concluded that higher payroll taxes may be what is needed to save Social Security.

Indeed, a higher payroll tax is one of the methods being talked about nationally as a possible solution. The most popular figure being thrown around is a 1.6 to 2 percent payroll tax hike.

It is likely that if a tax hike is proposed, we will be told that ``2 percent is only 2 cents …

US brings back Findley for 2nd round against Ghana

The United States made two changes to its lineup for Saturday's second-round World Cup match against Ghana.

Coach Bob Bradley restored forward Robbie Findley to the starting lineup in place of Herculez Gomez and brought in midfielder Ricardo Clark for Maurice Edu.

Findley was suspended for the Wednesday's 1-0 win over Algeria, which took the Americans through to the round of 16.

Captain Carlos Bocanegra will again play in central defense after switching from left back for the final group match.

While the United States is aiming for consecutive victories at the World Cup for the first time since 1930, Ghana made just one change as it …

A nasty little secret

ELDER ABUSE

"My God, J put my hope in you: I have trusted in you since I was young. I have relied on you all my life; you have protected me since the day I was born. Do not reject me now that I am old; do not abandon me now that I am feeble. You have taught me ever since I was young and I still tell of your wonderful acts. Now that I am old and my hair is grey, do not abandon me, O God' Be with me while I proclaim your power and might to all generations to come" Psalm 71:5-6, 9, 17-18.

A pastor receives a phone call from Sarah*, a distraught 74-year-old woman, telling him that her son Bob* (names are pseudonyms) has been beating her for years - since he took her into his …

Maxim Bakiev is in Latvia.

The son of deposed President of Kyrgyzstan Kurmanbek Bakiev is now in Latvia, where he co-owns several enterprises, reported the National News Agency of Latvia LETA.His arrival in Latvia was agreed on with the government agencies, including the Ministyr of Foreign Affairs.Maxim Bakiev is the partner of Latvian banker Valery Belokon in Maval Activity, where both of them …

SPAIN CAPTURES CUP.(SPORTS)

Byline: Associated Press

BARCELONA, Spain -- Even Spain's king had to cover his eyes with victory so close.

Then Juan Carlos Ferrero provided the winning point, and the king joined the singing, flag-waving crowd in celebrating Spain's first Davis Cup title, its 79-year wait over.

Ferrero beat Lleyton Hewitt 6-2, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-4 in almost four hours Sunday for an insurmountable 3-1 lead over defending champion Australia in the best-of-5 series.

Pat Cash won the Honda Challenge seniors title, beating a racket-throwing John McEnroe 6-7 (3), 7-5, 14-12 at Royal Albert Hall in London.

McEnroe had won this event the last three years. …

Ronaldo picked in Portugal squad for WCup playoff

Cristiano Ronaldo was included in Portugal's squad Sunday for the two-legged World Cup playoff against Bosnia-Herzegovina despite not having played in nearly a month due to an ankle injury.

The 24-year-old Real Madrid winger was selected in Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz's squad for Saturday's home match at Lisbon's Estadio da Luz. The second leg is at Zenica four days later.

Queiroz had said Ronaldo would be picked despite needing two more weeks rest, claiming the winger could be important even if he only played for a few minutes.

Ronaldo was hurt while playing for Madrid on Sept. 30. He aggravated his right ankle injury when playing for Portugal …

MasterCard Certifies Two BlackBerry Phones For SIM-Based NFC Payments.(MasterCard International Inc)(Brief article)

Byline: Will Hernandez

Two new Blackberry devices are the first Subscriber Identity Module-based Near Field Communication smartphones to receive MasterCard Worldwide PayPass certification, Research In Motion Ltd. announced Oct. 26.

MasterCard's certification enables banks to add account accessibility via PayPass to the SIM card of the Research In Motion's Blackberry Bold 9900 and the Blackberry Curve 9360.

France-based telecommunications company Orange is the …