Utrecht Netherlands

The first thing you notice about Utrecht is the Dom. Soaring 336 feet, the church tower, said to be the tallest in the Netherlands, is the city's centerpiece. At first it seems almost too big to stand above the quiet canals and streets, as though the size of the town never expanded to the grandness the tower promises. But after spending a little time in this, the oldest Dutch city, I realized that it all fits together nicely. I arrived in Utrecht after a 30-minute train ride from Amsterdam.

The first thing you notice about Utrecht is the Dom. Soaring 336 feet, the church tower, said to be the tallest in the Netherlands, is the city's centerpiece. At first it seems almost too big to stand above the quiet canals and streets, as though the size of the town never expanded to the grandness the tower promises. But after spending a little time in this, the oldest Dutch city, I realized that it all fits together nicely. I arrived in Utrecht after a 30-minute train ride from Amsterdam.

Linval Wilson scored with 19 minutes remaining as Jamaica rallied to beat Puerto Rico, 2-1, in a World Cup qualifier at Kingston, Jamaica. Australia gained the 16th and final spot in the Olympic soccer tournament, playing a 2-2 overtime tie with the Netherlands at Utrecht, Netherlands. The teams played a 1-1 tie last week at Sydney. Because the overall score was tied, Australia advanced on a 2-1 away goals margin and will play in Group D with Denmark, Ghana and Mexico.

Wireless Communications: An Irvine-based company is scheduled to announced today that it is teaming up with a unit of AT&T to develop devices about the size of a credit card that will allow laptop computers to communicate with other computers using radio waves. New Media Corp. says it will exchange programs and documents with a division of AT&T's Global Information Solutions based in Utrecht, the Netherlands, to develop the devices.

"CSI," the CBS franchise that makes forensic science sexy, has developed a worldwide following with the Netherlands serving as its home base. Yes, the Netherlands. To cater to "CSI"-philes who prefer one-stop-shopping for all the latest news, episode guides and spoilers about Gus Grissom and the gang in Las Vegas, Horatio Caine in Miami and Mac Taylor in the upcoming inaugural season of "CSI: New York," Christian Hohne Sparborth of Utrecht, Netherlands, has created www.csifiles.com.

Anton Geesink, who helped make judo a universally popular sport by winning a gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, has died. He was 76. Geesink died Friday, according to the Dutch state broadcaster NOS. He had spent several weeks in a hospital in his hometown of Utrecht, Netherlands. No other details were released. The 6-foot-6 Geesink stunned Japan by becoming the first Westerner to win the World Judo Championship in 1961 in Paris, then won his Olympic gold three years later in Tokyo, the first time the Olympics included judo.

Gae Aulenti Architect Italian architect Aulenti made her reputation with the Musee d'Orsay in Paris and several Italian projects, including an Italian Pavilion for Seville's Expo '92. Her style is often noted for a sense of space, and an imaginative use of wood and brick. Aulenti, who says she likes "forms in a harmonious relationship with the context for which they are created," also works in interior and industrial design.

Soy protein, which has been recommended to menopausal women as a substitute for hormone replacement therapy, did not fend off symptoms such as bone loss in a study of Dutch women released Tuesday. Naturally occurring compounds called isoflavones found in soybeans are thought to mimic estrogen compounds in hormone replacement therapy. Some women want to avoid hormone therapy because recent studies have shown long-term use can raise the risk of stroke, dementia and some forms of cancer.

Most directors of Los Angeles art galleries are gearing up for this fall's season, installing shows to open in a week or so. Sarah Watson, head of the L.A. branch of L&M Arts, a high-end New York gallery, is making plans for September 2010. L&M's two-building complex, at 660 Venice Blvd., is a work in progress. But Watson has lined up an L.A.-based artist with a hefty international resume to launch the exhibition program. It's Paul McCarthy, known for roasting fairy tales and family values on a fire of grotesque humor in performances, installations and sculptures.

Hurricane-force winds and heavy downpours hammered northern Europe on Thursday, killing 27 people, damaging buildings and disrupting travel for tens of thousands. The storms were among the fiercest in years, ripping off part of the roof at Lord's Cricket Ground in London and a several-ton steel support on the facade of Berlin's new central train station.

Argentina won the FIFA World Youth Championship, defeating Nigeria, 2-1, on Lionel Messi's two penalty kicks for a record fifth title on Saturday at Utrecht, Netherlands. The two goals also turned the FC Barcelona midfielder into the top scorer in the under-20 competition with six goals. He was also named the player of the tournament.