Bynum shot 13-for-18, helping the Lakers win their third in a row following the team’s first 0-2 start since 2002-03.

The 7-foot center was suspended without pay for the first four games of the season because of a flagrant foul against Dallas’ J.J. Barea in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals. The original ban was five games, but was reduced on Dec. 23 as a result of a shortened schedule caused by the NBA lockout.

• BOX SCORE: Lakers 92, Nuggets 89

• PHOTOS: Images from the NBA season

Bynum totaled 41 points and 23 rebounds in two preseason games against the Clippers.

Kobe Bryant, bogged down by foul trouble, had 17 points along with nine assists and 10 rebounds. The Lakers overcame 2-for-24 shooting from three-point range.

Reserve forward Al Harrington had 21 points for the Nuggets, who have lost 25 of their last 29 road games against the Lakers.

The Lakers missed their first 12 shots from three-point range — all of them in the first half — before Matt Barnes connected with 11:11 left in the third to put Los Angeles ahead 49-47. The Nuggets weren’t much better from behind the arc, missing nine of their first 10 before finishing up 7-for-26.

Trailing 71-69 after three quarters, the Lakers tied it four times before Harrington’s three-pointer gave Denver an 85-80 lead with 5:29 to play. Bynum guided in a pass above the rim from Bryant and converted the ensuing free throw to narrow the gap to 89-87 with 3:23 left.

Derek Fisher, who fouled out with six points in his 500th consecutive game, missed a three-point shot trying to beat the 24-second clock — but hustled all the way to the other side of the court to fall on the loose ball and get a timeout with 2:29 remaining and the Lakers still down by two.

Bryant tied it 89-all with a pair of free throws and Bynum blocked a layup by Nene with two minutes left before converting a layup at the other end for a 91-89 lead with 1:50 to go.

The Nuggets had a few opportunities to pull it out. But Gasol blocked a layup by Ty Lawson, who then missed two free throws the next time the Nuggets had possession. Danilo Gallinari had a chance to tie it, but blew an easy fast-break layup after a missed jumper by Bryant at the other end.

Bynum made four of his first five shots and finished the first quarter with 10 points. Bryant, who averaged 27.8 points through the first four games despite playing with a torn ligament in his right wrist, missed his first three shots and played more than 14 scoreless minutes before ending the drought on a floater that put the Lakers ahead 38-36 with 3:40 left in the second quarter.

Notes: The Lakers have played six times on New Year’s Eve since coming to Los Angeles — all at home (5-1). Their rematch with the Nuggets on Sunday night will mark the first time the Lakers have played on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day in the same season since 1959-60, when the franchise was based in Minneapolis. … Bryant needs four points to become the sixth player in history to surpass 28,000. … Fisher’s consecutive-game streak is the NBA’s longest active streak. Former Lakers forward A.C. Green, a teammate of Fisher’s during the 1999-00 season, holds the league record with 1,192 in a row. “That’s what’s so amazing about what he was able to accomplish — especially as a big guy out there banging with the best of them,” the 37-year-old Fisher said. “For him to be able to have done what it took mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically to be prepared to go to work every single day for all those seasons was a big-time example for me. It’s not like I’m chasing any type of number, but I just try to bring the same mentality to work, whether it’s 500 or 1,000.”

By Saundra Sovick, AP

Gus Malzahn speaks during an NCAA college football news conference where he was introduced as the new football coach at Arkansas State, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011, at Jonesboro, Ark.

Refunds ranging from $18.04 to thousands of dollars are being sent to roughly 10 million consumers who used MasterCard, Visa or Diners Club credit and debit cards while traveling abroad between Feb. 1, 1996, and Nov. 8, 2006.

The checks are from the settlement of a class-action suit that alleged those card companies and several of their issuing banks overcharged and inadequately informed users about the extra fees tacked onto purchases abroad. The fees, usually 1% to 3% of the charged amount, have long annoyed many business travelers.

The refunds were a long time coming. The $336 million settlement was approved in October 2009. But nearly a dozen appeals had to be resolved before the funds could be handed out.

“Nobody is happy about the length of time it took,” says Merrill Davidoff, co-lead counsel on the case. “But we’re gratified we finally got some of these overcharges to approximately 10 million consumers who we alleged were unjustifiably charged these fees,”

The lawsuit has led to changes by credit card companies and banks.

“Now the fees are much better disclosed,” Davidoff says, “and if consumers shop around, they can find cards that don’t charge a fee at all or a lower fee.”

So far, at least 7 million people have received checks, with the current batch making its way to recipients on the East Coast, Davidoff says.

Jennifer Welch, a flight attendant who has homes in Maui and Hillsborough, Calif., is one who has gotten a check, though she didn’t even remember that she’d filed a claim prior to the deadline of May 30, 2008.

“The $18 I received was a small sum,” she says, “however receiving unexpected money in the mail is always a good thing, especially during the holidays.”

Barry Maher’s refund was far less than the hundreds of dollars in overseas transaction fees he pays in any given year. But it still felt satisfying, he says.

“You know when you’re taking those fees you’re paying ridiculous amounts, and when you see it on the credit card it’s always really irritating,” says Maher, a motivational speaker who lives in Corona, Calif. “But when the money came back, it still felt good. You weren’t ripped off quite as badly as you thought you were.”

With the recent death of Kim Jong-Il, many people ignorant of the internal workings of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea might have some questions. Perhaps you’re curious about how a DPRK citizen spends his or her time, or maybe you’re looking for commentary on slippery rumors about mass starvation and nuclear weapons. Well, worry no more friends: North Korea maintains a FAQ that should answer just about any question you might have. And it’s not full of bald-faced propaganda, of course not.

The website claims to be maintained by the Korean Friendship Association. Though based in Spain, the group functions as an official public face for North Korea to the rest of the world.

Here are some of the best entries in this mindblowing FAQ.

1. Can I get a signed photograph from Leader Kim Jong IL?

The KFA Shop is offering this article. Please visit the following webpage:

http://www.korea-dpr.com/catalog2

Because freedom means never being alone.

8. Can I travel to North Korea as a backpacker?

No. You must travel as a group only, even if you are the only participant you must be with Korean guides at all times.

I mean, that’s one way to recycle stuff.

11. I want to know why North Korea has nuclear weapons.

After the US failed to fulfill the terms in the Agreed Framework by supplying two light-water reactors to the DPRK as compensation for the discontinuing of Korean nuclear power, the DPRK withdrew in October 2002 from the NPT and thus restarted its own energy-producing program, and then started to recycle spent fuel-rods.

The DPRK has a nuclear deterrence as a life-insurance to protect the motherland. The US, who put the country inside the “Axis of Evil”, and is threatening with a nuclear holocaust pre-emptive strike has created this situation and made this neccessary. The situation is no less serious because the US side has nuclear weapons and other missiles stationed in South Korea.

Because freedom means one political party.

13. Is North Korea a dictatorship?

No, the DPRK is a single-united-party constitutional democracy guaranteeing freedom of speech and assembly to all citizens. DPRK citizens play an active role in their nation’s political life at the local, regional and national levels, through their trade unions or as members of one of the nation’s three political parties, which include the Workers’ Party of Korea, the Chondoist Chongu Party and the Korean Social Democratic Party.

That’s not a “no.”

17. I hear that North Koreans are very poor. Is this true?

By international standards, DPRK citizens enjoy a very high standard of living. In Socialist Korea, the state guarantees all citizens the right to quality healthcare, education, stipends for the disabled, retirement pensions and access to recreational facilities, as well as a wide array of other state-supported services. Indeed, DPRK citizens are guaranteed many provisions that are uncommon in many developed capitalist societies, which are home to real poverty. Unlike in many countries of the capitalist world, the DPRK is a state free of homelessness, unemployment, prostitution and starvation.

Today, in “evasive, cryptic answers:”

24. Is it true that all citizens of the DPRK work for the government?

Government and people are one. There is no distinction of them.

And finally, straight answers for hard-hitting questions.

23. What activites does the average person do in a week for fun?

Hiking, Bowling, Reading, listen to music etc – it differs from person to person.

You can read the full list here, and have your mind still further blown when you discover that North Korea has an official blog. Didn’t see an answer for your question about the DPRK? Well, that’s okay, there’s a system for that.

This is the official FAQ for questions about North Korea. If your question is not on the list you can

security@korea-dpr.com – send us your question.

Now that is one intimidating email address.

(via @paleofuture)

Relevant to your interests

• Here’s the movie Kim Jong-Il kidnapped a man to make
• Totally not forced mourning at the death of Kim Jong-Il
• They left “goldfarming” off the list of things DPRK citizens do for fun

What’s the best way to tell a child they have autism? Is it necessary to tell them at all?

“Does Matthew know that he has autism?” my friends used to ask.

Young Matthew, right, with younger brother Andy (baby brother John yet to make the scene)

When he was very young, I saw no reason to tell him.  Each of my three sons was different from the other, and I didn’t want Matthew to feel like he was being singled out because of his autism. But from early on,   the words “autistic”, “special” “handicap” and “different” were mentioned casually in his presence by so many. “I’m not special!” Matthew would say, “I’m regular just like my brothers and the kids at my school!” I wondered if there would ever be a day that I could have a meaningful talk with him about his autism diagnosis. Just writing about it brings back that old familiar lump in my throat.

I asked parents to share their stories, and the good news is that worrying and the anguish are the worst part. Read on:

Not a big deal

“I don’t think there was a moment we ‘told’ Justin. From the start we used the word regularly. I wanted to be sure he always knew that it was just another part of him like the color of his eyes. In terms of autism as a disability, to us it is no different than being near sighted or diabetic. We don’t use it as an excuse, but kind of the same way as you give an extra hand to some with a broken arm.”

Darlene, Honolulu

Take it slow

“It was gradual. I was afraid. I wanted him to understand, but didn’t want to frighten him or make him feel inferior. When the gap continued to widen between him and his peers, somewhere in the teenage years is when we started bring it up. Once he understood what autism was, and how it affected him socially, he seemed relieved. I think I was the one with the problem. Telling my son about his autism made it more real for me, and for the first time it hit me that his autism was here to stay.”

Susan, Salt Lake City

It’s not a sad thing

“It was hard because my ex-husband was in denial, but I wasn’t. I wanted to tell my son from the beginning, and felt he was at a disadvantage not knowing. I finally told him when he was 12 years old. He asked me a lot of questions and as hard as I wanted to cry, I didn’t. I wanted to be strong so my son can see that autism is not a sad thing and that he is amazing and smart and can be anything he wants to be.”

Karen, Duluth

“My son wasn’t diagnosed until he was 9. We were very open with him and explained that a lot of problems during school and with making friends stemmed from the way his brain was wired differently than most kids’. We were SUPER clear that his brain wiring isn’t wrong, it has some really cool qualities in fact. Once we explained HFA/Asperger’s to him we talked about how some things would always be harder for him than other people and some things would be a lot easier for him. Nearly 4 years later he now says things like “If I’m talking too much about something and it bugs you tell me. I have something called Asperger’s which is a kind of autism I don’t always know I’m bugging you.” HUGE step forward for him.”

Lee Ann, Indiana

“We always talk about autism in our home. We want to make it seem normal. Everyone has challenges right? When our daughter was in first grade she asked why we had IEP meetings ‎(which she always attends) and we had to explain more fully. We answered the questions she asked and let her know that we think it’s really cool that her brain works differently than ours. She says “regular” people are weird and kind of boring. Our 3 year old hasn’t asked any questions yet, but we routinely bring him out into the world in his “Autism is my superpower” t-shirt.”

Denise Antonia Foote

Using Stories

“We told our son this year. He turned 9 and before school started he was saying that he was “broken” and not like other kids. We got a video from Coulter Videos and we all watched it as a family. We also got an easy to read kids book on it. Then we talked to him about it. It was hard at first but now he’s a lot happier knowing he’s not broken.”

Faith, Texas

“We use Social Stories to build understanding about autism.  We list each member of the family’s individual challenges and talents and then go over the list over and over again. We change the list of challenges and talents frequently to keep things light. God knows we need to lighten up every now and then!”

John Jeffries, Seattle

“I told my son he had Asperger’s when he was 6 years old.  He was in Kindergarten, and left with his “special teachers” to go to OT and Speech. He was starting to ask why he got to do this. I felt the time was right to explain. I found a children’s story called “A Friend Like Simon” and read it to him and talked with him about it.  His teacher asked me to come share this book with his class for Autism Awareness Month. I talked with my son first to be sure he was ok with it, and he was. When I visited his class to talk about autism, it went really well. I had emailed the other parents to let them know that if their children had questions they couldn’t answer to call me. Most of the parents replied and were all very supportive. They even discussed it with their children the night before I came.”

Jennifer, Los Angeles

Talk to your child about his individual talents and challenges on the autism spectrum in the context of the talents and challenges of his typically developing siblings and peers.”

Barbara Boroson, parent of a 13 year old son with an autism spectrum  consultant  and author of Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Mainstream Classroom: How to Reach and Teach Students With ASDs

Timing is everything

“Our son’s psychiatrist told us that our son would tell us when he was ready to know about his diagnosis. He was right. Our son asked us calmly on his twelfth birthday “What does it mean that I have autism?” I drew a tree with different branches of autism, and explained each one, and showed him which one was his, he asked a few more questions and we made it as positive as we could.”
Beth, Brooklyn

“I’m the parent of a teenage son with autism, and I have high functioning autism myself. My son grew up telling others ‘I don’t have autism, but my mom does.’  Telling him that he also had autism was step by step process. He transitioned from ‘Mom has it’ to ‘We both have it’ to now ‘I have autism and that means a lot of positive things.’. I recently asked him if he knew what autism means, and he said’It means that I am creative, can problem solve better than most people and am full of strength and determination.’ I could not have said that better myself.”

Mary Sheldon, St Louis

“My daughter is 10 and she knows that she has autism. She is fine with it and tells her friends she has it when the situation requires it. She explains that he sees things differently from others. She tells them that she has skills in areas they don’t and that they have skills in areas that are harder for her. She’s clear that she has autism and that autism does not have her. Knowing about autism brings her peace of mind and confidence.”

Vanessa Alvarado, Phoenix

***

After anxiety ridden years of shielding Matthew from the topic of autism, it eventually came up when I least expected it.

He was 15 years old, and he asked where his brothers Andy and John were.

“They are with their friends.” I said.

“Why are they good at friends and I’m not?” Matthew cried, “is it because I have autism?”

“Everyone in this family has different things that they are good at, and other things they are not so good at.” I said.

“Andy is pretty good at making friends but he’s not good with lawn mowers. I don’t think he even knows how to start one!

John is good at skateboarding, but he isn’t good at eating vegetables. You have a hard time learning how to be a friend, but you are really good at gardening and making jokes. You know what I mean?”

I waited for Matthew to process my explanation, feeling as if I had just completed a marathon. After a long pause, a mischievous smile spread over Matthew’s face.

“How funny it is that Andy can’t start a lawnmower?” he said.

“Really funny,” I sighed.

____

To read more stories from parents about talking about autism, GO HERE.

Happy New Year! It’s been a big one for autism research and science. CLICK HERE to read a round-up from Autism Speaks.

___

Got autism questions? Need resources? Email me here citybights@sfgate.com and I will do my very best to help.

FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK and TWITTER.

In case you wondered, I’m happy to talk to your group.

GO HERE to learn more.

Read the first three chapters of A REGULAR GUY: GROWING UP WITH AUTISM here.

Q. Am I cool enough to get into a private Super Bowl party?

Absolutely — if you’re a celebrity or model who can add glamour to the event, or if you do business with the high-roller hosts.

Or, as Indianapolis promoter Amp Harris put it: “Do you know somebody or do you have a big wallet? (It’s got to be) one or the other.”

Contest on Facebook: Enter here to win tickets to the big game.

The glitzy events — including those put on by corporations and NFL team owners — are pretty much closed to the public. But if you have an extra $600 to $1,000, some flashy parties — such as the Taste of the NFL and Rolling Stone magazine’s bash — are accessible. For his part, Harris is offering fans an affordable Feb. 2 show at Conseco Fieldhouse with comedian Mike Epps, and rappers Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa and a few surprise performers. Tickets are $60-$90.

Most people, though, can expect to stick with official Super Bowl events, such as the NFL Experience and Super Bowl Village.

Or, you can try to get creative. Houston-based event producer Fontaine Swope recalls the time a man tried to crash one of her Super Bowl parties in Miami in 2007.

Sporting a blue blazer and a khaki pants, the uninvited guest climbed a palm tree and dropped himself into the event’s VIP lounge.

“Several startled celebrities spilled drinks just from laughing,” said Swope, who works for ELI Marketing and is producing events for Super Bowl XLVI. “It was hysterical. It was one of those moments that made the party.”

Still, the interloper he had to go.

“We can’t let that happen,” Swope said. — Cathy Kightlinger

Q. I have a great idea for a Super Bowl T-shirt and commemorative coffee mug. Can I just make some up and sell them on the street?

You know how when you read that sentence you thought, “Oh there’s no way I can do that?” There’s no way you can do that. Kate Johnson, public information officer of the Department of Code Enforcement for the city of Indianapolis, says such entrepreneurial spirit requires a Limited Duration License.

“We’re the point person to get that through the Super Bowl Host Committee,” Johnson says. “You come into the office, submit an application — the fee for that is $75 — and follow the process. There are some provisions about making sure the public way is clear, setting up on a sidewalk, that sort of thing. Then we’d issue a limited license for a fixed location at a fixed time period.”

As far as printing up hilarious bootleg shirts and hawking them Downtown on game day, surprisingly that’s frowned upon. If you’d like to learn more about what you can and can’t sell, Johnson suggests the Deparment of Code Enforcement website — http://www.indy.gov/eGov/City/DCE/Pages/home.aspx. — Jeff Vrabel, Star correspondent

Q. Can I turn my yard or driveway into a parking lot and charge visitors?

Yes! Yes you can! Johnson at the Department of Code Enforcementsays as long as the event is a civic-sponsored special event (the NCAA championships, for instance), this one has plenty of precedent.

“When we have the 500 you see a lot of that, with all those friends and family members coming over,” she says. “The difference is now that commercial operation is permitted, so long as it’s by the owner or agent of the property.”

Johnson, who says this one resulted in “a lot of debate,” does have a few provisions: You can’t park over a sidewalk or cross a curb to get into that yard. Oh, and the space has to be yours: squatters’ rights don’t count. “You can’t just go into an empty space and start charging money,” she says. “That’s happened.”

Oh, and it has to be a special event. “If somebody wanted to turn their yard into a commercial parking facility on a day-to-day basis, that’s not allowed,” she says with a laugh. — Jeff Vrabel, Star correspondent

Q. I’m craving _________ at my favorite Downtown restaurant. Will I be able to get at table during Super Bowl week?

Colin Atterson, general manager at Oceanaire, has one word: “Absolutely.”

Oceanaire, as of press time is, “completely open 100 percent for business” that week. The restaurant will bring in extra servers, though Atterson recommends diners plan ahead. “We do encourage people to get reservations together as soon as possible.”

Jeffrey Perkins, manager of the Palomino, agrees. “I think you’ll be able to get into places,” he says. So many places were booking out that a lot of restaurants opted to only reserve certain tables, so there’d be plenty of first-come-first-serve seating.” His restaurant is offering both.

Palomino is having its entire outside patio tented in and adding dining spaces in its beer garden. The menu, meanwhile, will include items based on what teams made it to the big game. — Jeff Vrabel, Star correspondent

Q. I just saw Diddy! How should I ask him to pose with me for a photo?

Erm, with grace, if at all. Lisa Mirza Grotts, author of “A Traveler’s Passport to Etiquette,” says that on the not-entirely-unlikely chance you bump into someone from the TV around town that week, you should let common sense be your guide.

“Never interrupt a celebrity to ask for an autograph,” Frotts wrote in 2010 on the Huffington Post. “Remain professional at all times {$326} Respect that person’s privacy. If you must take a photograph or video, ask permission first.”

Other tips: Always use “Mr.” and “Mrs.,” don’t ask anything stupid like, “Can I be an extra on your series?” Above all, be gracious and not weird. These are also actually pretty good tips for the rest of your life as well. — Jeff Vrabel, Star correspondent

Q. Can I still sign up for some last-minute, official Super Bowl volunteer spots?

Sorry — you’re about three weeks late. The Super Bowl Host Committee had to close applications Dec. 9 to meet NFL regulations and begin background checks. As 8,000 fans who’ve already signed up know: It pays to be an early bird. — Zachary Keefer

Q. What are the odds I can work from home, so I don’t have to deal with Downtown traffic?

A. Go to work, make a list of the 10 Most Awesome Things You Did in 2010, and ask your boss really nicely; on the plus side, it’s not like you’ll be the only one with other things on your mind that week.

On the whole, some Downtown companies are starting to think about how Super Bowl week will affect their employees’ productivity, parking abilities and general focus issues, but many have yet to establish any official rules. Tony Welts, public relations director at Wellpoint for instance, says their company hasn’t made any decisions what, if anything, they’ll do.

Christine Holley, senior director of market communications for Interactive Intelligence, says they don’t have any specific plans, but the company already has a flexible work-from-home policy and software that enables its employees to work anywhere.

Don’t use sick days though — that’s pretty much themost transparent excuse ever. And if you are actually sick, get a doctor’s note. — Jeff Vrabel, Star correspondent

Q. My sister just announced over Christmas that she’s getting married in Phoenix — on Feb. 4. What should I know before leaving for the airport?

A. Get there early — as in, three hours before your flight departs — and be prepared. An extra 40,000 commercial travelers are expected to land at Indianapolis International Airport during Super Bowl week, said Carlo Bertolini of the Indianapolis Airport Authority. “We urge all travelers to check their flight information online before they head to the airport,” Bertolini says. “We also encourage people to check in online and print out their boarding passes if possible.”

As for parking, lots should be open. February is typically a slow travel month, aside from the Super Bowl, he says.

But if you can, delay that return flight until after Feb. 6. Bertolini expects the Monday after the game to be one of the airport’s single-busiest travel days of the year. Some ticket counters will open as early as 3 a.m. — Zachary Keefer

Q. Wait — I have a lot more questions about surviving and thriving at Super Bowl XLVI. Who can answer them for me?

Send them to Zachary Keefer, zachary.keefer@indystar.com. He’s our Super Bowl-scene intern of sorts. Which means if you ask nicely, he might even get you a cup of coffee, too!

Be one of the unfortunate teams to get a game against King James on his birthday, and you know you’re in for a long night.

• PHOTOS: Images from the 2011-12 NBA season

James turned a ripe old 27 on Friday, and the Miami Heat star says he always plays with a little extra juice on his birthday.

“My birthday and my mom’s birthday are the two days I feel real, real good about playing basketball,” James said on Friday morning after the team’s shootaround. “I’ve had the luxury of having games on my birthday and my mom’s birthday so we’ll see what happens.”

That could be bad news for the Minnesota Timberwolves. The undefeated Heat play at Target Center in the fifth time in James’ nine seasons that he has played on his birthday.

In four previous birthday games, James has averaged 35.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists. He’s also shot 55 percent from the field and 45 percent from 3-point range.

So what gets into him on those days?

“You know my birthday when I turned 15 or I turned 9, when I was growing up, it wasn’t the best of days on my birthday,” he said. “To see where I am today, and to be able to turn 21 and be in the NBA and turn 22 and now turn 27 and be a part of this league, it’s a testament. It’s also I’m very humbled that I am able to be here and I’m very blessed.”

James’ best birthday performance came in 2009 when he had 48 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in a victory over Atlanta while he was still with the Cleveland Cavaliers. That’s also the only time he’s headed home for his birthday cake with a victory.

James had 38 points and seven assists in a loss to Miami in 2008, 33 points and nine boards against Chicago in 2006 and 22 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in a loss to Indiana as a rookie in 2003.

“It’s amazing how many games he gets on his birthday, I’ll tell you that,” Heat star Dwyane Wade said. “He’s had a lot of games on his birthday. The schedule works that way.”

James is playing some of the best basketball of his career early this season for the Heat, who are coming off a disappointing NBA finals loss to the Dallas Mavericks last season. He’s averaging 32.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists in his first three games, and has developed a low-post game to boot.

“He’s been playing exceptionally well,” Wade said. “He’s in a different mind state right now. I expect him to continue the mind state he’s in.

“You can’t always know what that is going to result to, but he always enjoys certain moments. It’s a special moment when you get an opportunity to play on this day. The biggest thing is to try to come out and lead us to a win.”

James said the best birthday present he ever received was the Hummer SUV his mother bought him when he turned 18.

The Timberwolves had their own birthday treat for James when they shut down guard J.J. Barea for the game with a strained right hamstring. The super-quick Barea hurt the Heat in the NBA finals last season and was a major reason the Mavs were able to pull off the upset.

Asked if he will miss chasing Barea around, James didn’t hesitate: “Absolutely not.”

Wade a game-time decision vs. T’wolves

Heat guard Dwyane Wade says he will wait until game time to see if his sore left foot will allow him to play against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Wade tested his foot with a thorough workout at the team’s shootaround Friday morning. He tried jumping off it and landing on it on several drives to the basket to see if it was ready for the pounding of a game.

Wade says the foot is still a little sore and that he will wait to see how it feels in the evening before deciding whether to play.

For the Timberwolves, veteran guard J.J. Barea will miss the game with a strained right hamstring. Barea hopes to return Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks, his former team.

When does the daily podcast return?
“The Fix” returns January 3rd, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. (EST/UTC -5). As always, Tas and Skeets will discuss the major games and story lines from the night before, with a mix of in-depth analysis and irreverent humor. “The Fix” will run Monday to Thursday, recorded and broadcasted live on The Score’s website.

Hold on, hold on. It’s live?
Yes.

What do you mean?
We take pride in adding a new twist to The Jones with each new season, be it making the leap from weekly to daily, audio to video, or a condo game room to a full-blown studio, we like to keep shit fresh. So this year, we’ll be recording “The Fix” live — at 10:30 a.m. EST — with an entire production crew. That’s right, not only will you get to see every inevitable fuck-up as it happens, but you’ll be able to tweet it in real-time with the #TBJ community.

But what if I can’t watch “The Fix” live? Will it be posted online after?
Of course. We’ll embed the entire show on our blog — using YouTube’s video player this year — as well as have it available in both of our iTunes feeds (audio and video).

Are you still doing “The Overdose?”
Yes. Similar to last year, Skeets, Tas and Trey will record the hour-long, audio-only podcast on Fridays. We’ll discuss the week’s biggest stories, talk to a cast of NBA writers and bloggers, answer some of your mailbag questions, and generally just have a grand ol’ time. It’ll be posted around 1 p.m. EST.

Is it true The Jones are hosting “Court Surfing” on The Score this year?
Absolutely. This only applies to Canadians, but, yes, Skeets and Tas will guide viewers through the most exciting NBA games of the night on The Score television network. Check out the entire “Court Surfing” schedule here.

And what can we expect from the TBJ blog in 2012?
With Trey Kerby running the show? Laughs, bro. Lots and lots of laughs. But we’re also very excited to unleash a brand new cast of TBJ contributors, which includes, in no particular order: comedian Chris Gethard (with general NBA commentary), Sham Sports’ Mark Deeks (with transaction analysis and trend examinations), 48 Minutes of Hell’s Graydon Gordian (with Xs and Os talk and media commentary), Dennis Velasco (with fantasy basketball insight), Scott Carefoot (with immediate news reaction pieces), and Andrew Unterbeger (with long form pop culture posts). Can you say “Murderers Row” or what? Hot damn!

Anything else I should know about?
That we love you. Seriously. We appreciate the privilege of writing and talking about the NBA for a living and realize that without your support, we just simply wouldn’t be. Thanks for all of the clicks, comments, retweets and Facebook messages. Respect.

See you next year!

(Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)

FAQ – Biosolids Management Project

What is a Biosolids Management Facility?

A Biosolids Management Facility processes sewage sludge, which is a normal end product of the sewage treatment process, to create a product with low odour potential and little environmental impact. Biosolids Management Facilities use a heat and/or chemical process to kill harmful organisms called pathogens present in untreated sewage sludge. The process being considered by the City of Greater Sudbury will produce a Class A Biosolids product, suitable for long-term disposal or as a soil amendment product for various purposes.

Why does Greater Sudbury need a Biosolids Management Facility?

The municipality has been using tailings ponds near Lively for over 30 years as a disposal site for waste activated sludge from its wastewater treatment facilities. While this was once an acceptable practice, changing environmental standards and recurrent episodes of foul odour have made this disposal method unsustainable. The City is required to cease using the tailings ponds for disposal purposes after 2012.

How much will it cost to build a Biosolids Management Facility?

The City of Greater Sudbury has studied various options for sludge management through a number of processes, including a Master Plan Environmental Assessment. It has been determined that the preferred alternative is to build a Biosolids Management Facility at the Sudbury Wastewater Treatment Plant on Kelly Lake Road. Total projected costs to construct the treatment facility are estimated to be in the range of $30 to $40 million.

Read the entire FAQ

Source: City of Greater Sudbury

One of the biggest decisions facing Sudbury city council in the New Year will deal with hiring a private company to build and operate a public facility. It’s a plant for processing sewage sludge — sludge that for decades, has been dumped in a tailings pond owned by Vale, near Lively.

The city is looking for a company to build the biosolids plant, which may cost as much as $40 million.

The plant, which would also be run by the same company, would be in operation for the next 20 years. It is estimated that three workers at the plant would not be public servants.

But that is not what concerns Rick Leroux, who’s with the Candian Union of Public Employees, which represents municipal workers in Greater Sudbury.

“There’s no transparency or accountability to the public,” Leroux said. “You have a private, for-profit company running a plant on taxpayers dollars.”

Leroux said the city should instead look for public-public partnerships with neighbouring cities and towns.

The federal government has committed $11 million to the plant, based on it being a public-private partnership.

But Sudbury city councillor Frances Caldarelli said it isn’t a done deal.

“We haven’t absolutely decided whether we go public-private, but I think that will likely happen,” she said.

That decision is expected to come early in the New Year.

The city is aiming to start construction in the spring and have the plant ready in time to meet Vale’s deadline.

The mining company keeps pushing back the date when it will stop letting city trucks onto its property.

The deadline has been extended to the end of October 2013.

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