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HIV/AIDS Diagnoses Among Blacks --- Florida, 1999--2004
In 2004, Florida accounted for 11% of the total number of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases in the United States, ranking third behind New York and California. Florida also had the second-highest reported AIDS diagnosis rate (behind New York) (1). During 2004, non-Hispanic blacks* accounted for 14% of the Florida population but 52% of the 77,421 persons in Florida living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS. This report describes trends in diagnoses of HIV/AIDS cases that occurred among blacks during 1999--2004 and were reported to the Florida Department of Health. These data indicate that, during 1999--2004, the annual rate of HIV/AIDS diagnosis among blacks decreased more than the rates among other racial/ethnic groups. To examine possible explanations for this decline, HIV/AIDS diagnosis rate trends were compared with trends in gonorrhea diagnosis and publicly funded HIV testing in Florida. The results indicated that gonorrhea diagnosis rates also decreased among blacks in Florida during 1999--2004, whereas the number of HIV tests increased. These findings suggest that HIV/AIDS diagnoses in blacks might be associated with a reduction in high-risk sexual behavior and that the decline was not the result of less testing.
The diagnosis date for HIV/AIDS was defined as the diagnosis date for HIV infection, regardless of whether AIDS was diagnosed subsequently. HIV/AIDS case data were adjusted for reporting delays and insufficient information to enable classification into risk-factor categories (2).§ Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) in diagnoses were calculated by Poisson regression. A z test for differences in two parameters was used to evaluate the statistical significance of racial/ethnic differences in EAPCs.
During 1999--2004, the HIV/AIDS diagnosis rate among blacks in Florida decreased from 224.4 cases per 100,000 population in 1999 to 134.0 in 2004 (Table 1). This decrease resulted in a decrease in the disparity in diagnosis rates between blacks and Hispanics (with 47.9 cases per 100,000 population in 1999 and 46.1 in 2004) and between blacks and whites (with 18.8 cases per 100,000 population in 1999 and 18.4 in 2004); the diagnosis rate among blacks was 11.9 times higher than that among whites in 1999 but 7.3 times higher in 2004.¶ During 1999--2004, the rate decreased among black, Hispanic, and white females and among black males. The annual percentage decrease in the rate was greater among black women (EAPC = -10.2) than white women (EAPC = -3.3) and Hispanic women (EAPC = -2.9) (p<0.05) (Table 1). Among blacks, the total number of diagnoses decreased from 1999 to 2004 among men and women with a history of injection-drug use (IDU), men with a history of both male-to-male sexual contact and IDU, and men and women with a history of high-risk heterosexual contact (i.e., sexual contact with a person known to be HIV infected or at high risk for HIV infection [e.g., history of IDU or male-to-male sexual contact]) (Table 2). The EAPC decreased more among blacks than among whites and Hispanics in all risk-factor categories (p<0.05) except men with a history of both male-to-male sexual contact and IDU, among whom the difference between blacks and Hispanics was not significant.
Data reported to the Florida Department of Health regarding the number of diagnosed gonorrhea cases and publicly funded HIV tests indicated that, during 1999--2004, when HIV/AIDS diagnosis rates significantly decreased among blacks, gonorrhea rates also significantly decreased among black males (EAPC = -8.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -9.2 to -8.2) and black females (EAPC = -7.4, CI = -7.9 to -6.8) (Table 3). Conversely, during 1999--2004, the annual number of publicly funded HIV tests in Florida increased significantly among blacks, from 81,101 tests in 1999 to 105,072 in 2004 (EAPC = 5.7, CI = 5.5--5.9), among whites, from 108,680 tests in 1999 to 114,103 in 2004 (EAPC = 1.7, CI = 1.6--1.9), and among Hispanics, from 32,050 tests in 1999 to 64,472 in 2004 (EAPC = 15.3, CI = 15.0--15.5).
Reported by: S Lieb, MPH, M LaLota, MPH, T Liberti, L Maddox, MPH, D Thompson, MPH, Florida Dept of Health. R Selik, MD, Div of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STDs, and Tuberculosis Prevention (proposed), CDC.
Editorial Note:
In Florida, as in most of the United States (1), HIV/AIDS rates are higher among blacks than among any other racial/ethnic population. However, the results of this study indicate that the HIV/AIDS diagnosis rate in Florida decreased more among blacks than among other racial/ethnic populations during 1999--2004. Among blacks, rates decreased for both sexes, and the number of cases decreased in all risk-factor categories except men with a history of male-to-male sexual contact, among whom the number of cases increased significantly for whites and Hispanics.
CDC encourages health departments to use multiple data sources to develop epidemiologic profiles of populations at risk for HIV/AIDS, which can help improve prevention and treatment programs (3). The Florida Department of Health has analyzed data such as those described in this report by county and presented them to county health departments and the Florida public for HIV-prevention planning and community mobilization.
Trends in gonorrhea diagnosis were examined as a possible reflection of trends in high-risk sexual behavior and because gonorrhea typically is diagnosed soon after sexual transmission. Like HIV/AIDS diagnosis rates in Florida, gonorrhea diagnosis rates decreased both among black males and females. Although increases or decreases in diagnosis rates for both HIV/AIDS and gonorrhea might reflect changes in methods of diagnosis, treatment, or surveillance, rather than changes in sexual behavior, the finding that gonorrhea and HIV/AIDS diagnosis rates both decreased suggests that high-risk sexual behavior also decreased.
The possibility that decreases in HIV/AIDS diagnoses were a result of decreased HIV testing among blacks was not supported by data, which indicated a significant increase in testing among blacks at publicly funded HIV testing sites. Approximately 45% of all non-AIDS HIV diagnoses in Florida were reported from these sites.
The findings in this report are subject to at least four limitations. First, because retroactive reporting of HIV cases diagnosed before July 1997 (the implementation date of HIV reporting) was not allowed for persons without AIDS, some persons whose initial HIV diagnosis occurred before mid-1997 might have been misclassified with a later diagnosis date in this analysis if they were retested for HIV during the study period. Depending on whether the diagnosis dates were misclassified to the study period's early (1999--2001) or late (2002--2004) years, the decrease in diagnoses might have been overestimated or underestimated, respectively. Second, data on annual numbers of HIV tests were restricted to public clinics, which might have resulted in an overall underestimation of numbers of tests or a more pronounced underestimation for one racial/ethnic population compared with others. Third, persons who had multiple HIV tests in a certain year might have been counted multiple times in the annual HIV test data. Finally, the validity of the findings might be reduced by any inaccuracy of the adjustments for reporting delay and by missing risk-factor information.
Trends in the diagnosis of HIV/AIDS do not necessarily reflect trends in the transmission of HIV infection because diagnosis trends might be affected by other factors, including changes in testing behavior, clinical practice, or public health surveillance. CDC plans to address these factors by supplementing the HIV/AIDS case surveillance system with estimates of HIV incidence using a previously described serologic testing strategy (4). Meanwhile, examining data from other surveillance systems can assist public health professionals with interpreting HIV/AIDS diagnosis trends, as indicated by this report, in which multiple data sources support the finding that HIV/AIDS diagnosis rates among blacks decreased in Florida and that this decrease might have been associated with a decrease in high-risk sexual behavior.
The continuing high rates of HIV/AIDS and gonorrhea diagnoses among blacks and the significantly increasing numbers of HIV/AIDS diagnoses for white and Hispanic men with a history of male-to-male sexual contact underscore the need for additional and improved prevention measures. Higher rates of HIV testing can be expected to increase the number of HIV- infected persons who are aware of their infection, decrease HIV transmission to others, link infected persons to care and counseling services earlier, and ultimately reduce progression to AIDS and death (5).
This report is based, in part, on contributions by P Arons, MD, and R Grigg, PhD, Florida Dept of Health.
* For this report, persons identified as white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, or American Indian/Alaska Native are all non-Hispanic; persons described as Hispanic might be of any race.
Reporting of positive HIV tests by laboratories and of HIV cases (without AIDS) by health-care providers who diagnose or treat a case has been mandatory since mid-1997, and reporting of AIDS cases by health-care providers who diagnose or treat a case has been mandatory since 1983; cases from both the private and public sectors are reported to county health departments. A case is defined as a newly diagnosed condition; a positive test (e.g., from a publicly funded test site) does not become a reported case until it is investigated, at which time the case registry is searched for duplicate reports. Data on numbers of tests conducted at publicly funded counseling and testing clinics include both negative and positive tests and might include more than one test per person.
§ Florida Department of Health staff obtained risk information for approximately 80% of HIV/AIDS cases from medical records in hospitals and doctors' offices and from data collected by publicly funded HIV testing sites; in addition, certain patients were interviewed. The remaining cases (i.e., without an identified HIV risk factor) were statistically redistributed into categories for specified risk factors, based on expected results of follow-up investigations.
¶ The numbers of cases among Asians/Pacific Islanders and American Indians/Alaska Natives were too small for meaningful analysis and are not included in this report.
Table 1
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Date last reviewed: 1/31/2007


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Tsialis Hotel
Tsialis Hotel Apartments is family run and is built in a unique low rise architectural design within lush landscaped gardens, which give a colourful display all year round. The Hotel is located approximately 200 metres from a lovely sandy beach and there are all kinds of watersports available on the beach. Diving instructors are available for anyone who would like to explore the Zenobia shipwreck beneath the clear blue sea of the Mediteranean. There are 44 fully furnished apartments, a 24-hour Reception, Health Club, a well equipped bar and restaurant which serves breakfast and lunches, and you can sit outside to enjoy your meal or drink beside the swimming pool or under the gazebo.
AMORGOS BOUTIQUE HOTEL - Albergo
Conveniently located in Larnaca City Centre, only 100 meters away from the famous Palm Tree Sea Front and a mere 50 metres away from the shopping centre of the city and a variety of restaurants, cafes, bars and nightclubs. This newly refurbished modern style hotel, offers an excellent standard of accommodation in a quiet and fashionable environment. In addition to the trendy look of the space, great importance has been given to the quality of sleep and comfort. All rooms are equipped with A/C & Heating, International Telephone, Electronic Safe Deposit Box, Satellite TV, Electronic Lock Key System, Hairdryer, Bathrobe, Slippers and a wide selection of Toiletries & Amenities. A Complimentary Bottle of Wine, Fresh Fruit and Mineral Water upon arrival. Complimentary Tea and Coffee Facilities. Laptop, Iron & Ironing Board on request. Cable Internet Access. Non-smoking and Interconnecting Rooms are also available on request.
Lordos Beach Hotel
Lordos Beach Hotel - Albergo
Discover the perfect recipe for relaxation at the Lordos Beach Hotel. Soak up the sun on the beach or enjoy a cooling dip in one of the beautiful cascading pools with outdoor jacuzzi. As one of the leading 4 star hotels in Cyprus, the hotel is ideally located on the sandy beach of Larnaca, close to both the Larnaca International Airport and the city centre. The Lordos Beach Hotel combines first class accommodation, good food and excellent service with a wide variety of entertainment – all complemented by a large range of leisure facilities and water sports.
Livadhiotis Hotel Apartments
Livadhiotis City Hotel established in 1986 provides a pleasant and friendly atmosphere to its clients. It is a family run business and we are more than happy to give you our undivided attention and make you feel at home. The hotel is situated just 100 meters from the famous Larnaca Seafront (Phinikoudes Beach), right in the heart of this beautiful city of Larnaca . It rests in the beautiful St. Lazarus square with the famous St Lazarus church being directly opposite the hotel. It is only a stone's throw away from the shopping center, bars and restaurants and all sort of amenities can be found within walking distance from the Hotel. Most of Larnaca's main attractions like the Pierides Museum , Larnaca Medieval Castle , Larnaca Marina, and Larnaca Archaeological Museum are within a range of 5 minutes walk from our location. And all these, just 10 minutes away from the Larnaca International Airport. The Hotel is comprised of 55 newly renovated rooms furnished to a high standard with private bathroom/shower, direct telephone lines, Television, Radio, Hair Dryer, Air conditioning, Heating and balconies. There is daily maid service, a well stocked Bar, Breakfast facilities, Internet facilities a TV Lounge and a 24 Hour reception desk, maker a good value for money. At Livadhiotis we are sure to please the most demanding of customers and we assure that you will find more than what you are looking
Sun Hall Hotel
The Sun Hall Hotel and the adjacent Sun Hall Hotel Apartments are located in the very center of the town of Larnaca enjoying a panoramic view to the famous Palm Trees "Phynikoudes" promenade and the Mediterranean Sea. The privileged position of the Sun Hall and Sun Hall Hotel Apartments, just across the shopping and commercial center, makes the hotel and the hotel apts a top choice both for the holiday maker as well as the discerning business traveller. OFFICIAL CATEGORY HOTEL: 4 Stars Sun Hall Hotel Apartments HOTEL ACCOMMODATION ****: Total : 112 rooms, including suites and family rooms, all elegantly furnished with TV, radio, telephone, mini bar, hair dryer, A/C, bath/shower and balcony with town view, side sea view and sea view overlooking the blue
Lenios Hotel
You vision. You prepare. Then one day, that long awaited dream comes true. You've longed for your perfect dream vacation in the Mediterranean. Now it's time to start living that dream and bring it into reality. Lenios is the newly renovated escape made just for you! Fine, romantic, active. All for you. Aiming to offer quality service and always a warm Cypriot welcome, Lenios ensures your ideal vacation. The Lenios Beach Hotel comprises of 66 luxuriously furnished rooms and is located on its own sandy beach making it the perfect choice for a relaxing break by the
Louis Princess Beach
Louis Princess Beach - Albergo
The Louis Princess Beach is located on a long sandy beach in the heart of Larnaca's tourist area where bars, restaurants and discos are found in abundance. Enjoy uninterrupted Mediterranean views from your balcony or from the terrace. Let us pamper you and your family in the best possible way as to enjoy the most of your Cyprus holidays.
Sandy Beach Hotel
Sandy Beach Hotel - Albergo
The island of Cyprus is the jewel of the Mediterranean. It is an island of stark contrasts; it offers a blend of magnificent mountain ranges, picturesque traditional villages and unforgettable sandy beaches. Newly renovated, the Sandy Beach Hotel in Larnaca, is located right on the beach of Dhekelia, situated on a beautiful stretch of sand overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Offering one of the most beautiful views the Sandy Beach has all the modern facilities of a four star hotel with professional and friendly service typical of Cyprus. All 195 rooms and suites with side sea views and side sea and pool views have been refurbished giving then a relaxed and modern
Achilleos Hotel
Achilleos Hotel Apt is a modern, comfortable hotel ideally located in the center of Larnaca. The hotel is run under the owner's supervision and our friendly, hospitable staff will go to great lengths to make you feel at home. The hotel is located just 50 meters from "Phinikoudes", the town's famous palm tree lined seafront and just 10 minutes drive from the airport, providing the ideal place for business and pleasure. Our hotel consists of 17 one-bedroom flats and 3 studios. All 20 luxurious, comfortable apartments have fully equipped kitchenettes, sitting rooms, private bathrooms, direct dial telephones, color TVs, full air-conditioning and
ONISILLOS HOTEL - Albergo
Onisillos Hotel is a small (40 rooms) family run hotel situated in a nice residential area only 8 minutes drive from Larnaka airport and 6 minutes walk from the beach and the town centre. The 9th century magnificent church of Agios Lazarus is only 4 minutes walk from the
San Remo Hotel
San Remo Hotel - Albergo
Welcome to San Remo, a family run hotel, where friendly staff and a professional management team awaits you to ensure a truly exciting and satisfactory stay. San Remo is a 2 star hotel with facilities of a 3 star hotel and beautiful sandy beaches just a few hundred metres away. Conveniently located between Larnaca International airport and Larnaca city
Golden Bay Beach Hotel
Golden Bay Beach Hotel - Albergo
The Golden Bay Beach Hotel is perfectly situated at the edge of the tourist part of Larnaca, right on a long and wide stretch of fine and clear sandy beach, 10 km from the town center, just 15 km from Larnaca International Airport and 30 minutes from the capital city of Nicosia, this prestigious five star hotel is renowned for its excellent facilities, combined with impeccable service and finest cuisine in luxurious surroundings. Larnaca is the oldest living city of Cyprus and was originally known as Kition, or Kittium.
Lysithea Beach Hotel Apartments
Welcome to Lysithea Beach Hotel Apartments in Dhekelia, Larnaca Cyprus. Here you will find up to date and relevant information regarding our hotel apartments and what we have on offer. Our hotel apartments offer a little piece of paradise here on the island of Cyprus, we can make your dreams come true, we can make your holiday one to remember, and we will offer our first class service to all our precious guests. We ensure your stay here at Lysithea Beach Hotel, will be a memorable one in an idyllic surrounding. Our holiday apartments are close to the beach, shops and night life offering a paradise setting in a great location. Lysithea Beach Hotel in Larnaca has great online booking deals. Keep updated to see our special deals that we have on offer. Cyprus is becoming more and more popular with holiday goers, looking for a peace of paradise, with its glorious sunshine, and warm friendly people Cyprus is the place to be. If it is a relaxing holiday or fun night life we have it all to offer. With its Larnaca bars and markets, beautiful beaches and fantastic sights you will not go far wrong. Lysithea beach hotel apartments is based in Larnaca on the Dhekelia road area close to everything you may need. The Lysithea Beach Hotel Apartments is a family run unit which has enjoyed remarkable success in all the years of its running, from both home and abroad. Its ideal location, its beautiful building design and last but not least our friendly but yet professional staff, are the ingredients for its popularity and our success in the hotel industry. Here at the Lysithea you will feel comfortable, relaxed and overjoyed with our location and hospitality. We are looking forward in welcoming you to to our hotel and in our
Palm Beach Hotel & Bungalows
Palm Beach Hotel & Bungalows - Albergo
The Hotel has been extensively renovated and upgraded recently and features 5* facilities and services. The serene Mediterranean coastline laced gently with palm trees and spiced with an abundance of colour, indigenous only to the unique island of Cyprus is the ideal foundation for an equally unique hotel The Palm Beach Hotel & Bungalows welcomes you to a Mediterranean Sensation. Ideally located, close to both Larnaka International Airport and the Town Centre, this luxurious Hotel with its exotic, spacious gardens and long sandy beach provides the perfect setting for both business and pleasure. The Hotel itself and all its 228 rooms, including Royal Suites and Garden Studio Bungalow Suites are equipped with all the modern amenities expected from a hotel of this standard. The Garden Studio Bungalows are part of a complex of 40 units, all overlooking a large lagoon shape magnificent swimming pool and the exotic gardens of the Hotel. At your disposal you will find two floodlit tennis courts, a fully air - conditioned squash court, table tennis, an outdoor half Olympic size swimming pool, an indoor heated pool during the Winter months and a lagoon style pool at the Garden Studio Bungalows
Crown Resorts Henipa
Beautifully set in a palm garden like an oasis, offers personal atmosphere and friendly hospitality. Official Category: 3* LOCATION: Crown Resorts Henipa is situated in one of the most priviledged locations of Larnaca - Dhekelia Road, 150 metres from the beach. 6km from the city centre and 9km from Larnaca's Internationl Airport. International and local restaurants, taverns, shops and bars are within easy reach, as well as tourist spots and beautiful surrounding villages. [Printable Map]. ACCOMMODATION: The Hotel consists of 164 rooms, which include 6 suites, 40 Luxury Bungalows and 8 handicapped rooms. All rooms are superbly furnished with private bathrooms and balconies, most of them with panoramic views. All rooms have individually controlled air-conditioning and heating, direct dial telephone, satelite TV, radio and central music system. FACILITIES & OUTLETS: The Hotel offers a comfortable lobby area, cocktail bar, Restaurant with weekly special events, pool bar and snack bar. Conference rooms can accomodate 20 people (board room style) to 300 people (theatre style) with audiovisual facilities for up to 180 delegates are also available. LEISURE & RECREATION: Two nicely set swimming pools, one with a swim-up bar, 2 kids paddling pools, indoor swimming pool (heated in winter), sunbathing area. Gym & Health Center equipped for professional sport training or for pleasure, tennis court (flood-lit), table tennis, billiards etc. Kids playground and games room. Water sports, diving and snorkeling on the beach
Sandbeach Castle Hotel
Sandbeach Castle Hotel is a small family run hotel located directly on the beach of Larnaca, Cyprus. Over the past 21 years we have had the honour of offering our seaside accommodation and warm hospitality to many thousands of holiday makers from all over the world. For us, there is nothing more rewarding and pleasurable than seeing many of our guests revisiting our hotel. This proves to us that we are satisfying all our customers needs with our accommodation, hospitality, services, personal attention, and dedication. We thank all our loyal customers who have given us the opportunity to provide them with a holiday worth doing again. Whether you are looking for a relaxing holiday destination or an action packed holiday the Sandbeach Castle Hotel team is here to help. Our facilities, services, and special events are listed below: * Restaurant * Terrace * Cafeteria * Bar * Satellite Television * Private Beach *
San Remo Hotel
San Remo Hotel - Albergo
One of the hotels in Larnaca that has excellent reviews. Situated not far from Larnaca airport the San Remo offers everthing you require from a hotel in Larnaca. Visit the San Remo and see for yourselves. Hotel in LarnacaWhere friendly staff and a professional management team awaits you to ensure a truly exciting and satisfactory stay. There are few places in the world as enchanting as this Mediterranean island, where the climate is excellently warm and the people wonderfully hospitable. You 'll be tempted to explore the daily lives of the Cypriot people, whose long and often stormy history is certainly worth investigating through the island's museums, ancient stones and archeological sites and monuments. Out of town you'll be stunned by the innocence of residents from traditional villages and the beautiful monasteries many of which are situated in superb mountain areas with breathtaking views. Room Facilities • Air-Conditioning/Heating • Colour/Satellite Television • Shaver Point • 220/240 Volts International Electricity Outlet • Housekeeping Service • Furnished Balcony • Safe Boxes available for Hire • Hair Dryers available upon request (No charge) • Bar Fridge available on a daily
Avenue Hotel
An ideal location The Avenue Hotel Apts is centrally situated, on the main avenue of the town, the Arch. Makarios III Avenue, which is within 10 minutes walking distance from the main Beach area of 'PHOENIKOUDES', the shopping centre, banks, pubs, cafes, restaurants, pharmacies, travel agents, discos etc. Facilities Its 34 apts consist of studios, one bedroom, and two bedroom apts. Each apt has a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom/shower, w.c, balcony, some with sea view, TV, telephone and individual air-condition unit for cooling/heating. Facilities include bar, lounge and TV area, safe box, daily maid service. A/c is available at a
Tuck Inn
Tuck Inn - Albergo
Tuck Inn was established in 1986 and has served constantly the most delicious Cypriot dishes. Tuck Inn is a restaurant which has been set up to serve freshly prepared food and beverages to order, to be consumed on and off the premises. Always with the same quality and best service. Our loyal customers are the reward of our efforts. We are situated on the most popular tourist spot in Larnaca, the finikoudes beach with rich experience of more than 25 years in catering to tourists and locals. We have 5 studio and one 2-bedroom apartment and a well known restaurant which serves local Cypriot , Chinese and Indian cuisine. The blue flag beach is at stone's throw and is a must visit place for tourists in Larnaca. Numerous other tourist stops like St. Lazarous Church, Larnaca castle and main downtown market of Larnaca are all in less than 5 mins walking distance. Tourist buses to other cities operate from right outside our apartments. All our apartments are very newly constructed, designed and furnished and are maintained in immaculate condition. The amenities include Satellite TV, free WiFi, Air conditioning, basic kitchen equipment and utensils (refrigerator, electric cooking plates, Cutlery, Utensils etc.) , 24 hrs Hot & Cold water, Shower items( Towels /soap / shampoo etc.) The services include Daily house keeping, room service , Doctor on call, sun beds, breakfast and meals at restaurant . Some services are charged extra unless exclusively provided for in the room rent. Kindly refer to the attachment for basic tariffs. Also find in the attachment some pictures of our property and view form the
Frixos Suites Hotel Apts
Frixos Suites Hotel Apts - Albergo
Stai cercando un appartamento per vacanze a Cipro SUITE per rilassarsi e godersi il sole e il mare? I nostri SUITES per le vacanze in Larnaca (a volte scritto anche come Larnaka), Cipro è la più grande destinazione per le vostre vacanze. Tutto ciò è necessario avere per le vostre vacanze romantiche nei pressi di Ayia Napa e Finikoudes, sono all inclusive. Qui a Frixos appartamenti e alberghi a Cipro, vi promettiamo che si possono incontrare tutte le parole piccole, ma significative necessarie per rendere la vostra vacanza perfetta. Tutto quello che devi fare è impacchettare e vieni a Larnaca, e godetevi la vostra tranquilla, silenziosa, spaziosa vacanza. Venite a godere dell\'ospitalità cipriota Frixos Apts Suites Hotel e ci prenderemo cura per il vostro soggiorno a Cipro. Frixos SUITES Hotel Apts è composto da 21 lussuose e arredate con gusto una camera da letto suite tutte con balcone privato. La maggior parte dei balconi si affacciano sul Mar Mediterraneo. Ogni servizi in camera standard suite dispone di una cucina completamente attrezzata, soggiorno, bagno privato, telefono diretto, radio, TV satellitare, cassaforte elettronica, wi-fi e aria
Mariandy Hotel
The perfect escape Mariandy is a comfortable modern hotel, where the personal touch and friendly atmosphere make it the ideal place for family
Kition Hotel
Kition Hotel - Albergo
Welcome to the online world of the Kition Hotel complex in Larnaca, Cyprus! Kition is a self-sufficient complex, with restaurant and bar facilities, a supermarket, convenience store, and banking and travel services all available within the building. The hotel comprises 56 spacious apartments, each with a fully-equipped kitchen, satellite TV and air-conditioning in every room. The hotel�s swimming pool is on the fifth floor and is serviced by a special pool-side bar. The pool is open all the year round due to a heating system which maintains the water at a comfortably warm temperature even in winter. Our apartments are situated on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors and range from studios to 3 bedroom flats. Each apartment is self-contained with a fully-equipped kitchen, bathroom, telephone, satellite TV and air-conditioning in every
Single Standard
Triple Standard
Sea 'N Lake View
Sea 'N Lake View - Appartamento
The family owned complex offers a relaxed and friendly atmoshpere were guests are walmly welcomed. Located 10 minutes from the airport and only meters away from the beach, The Sea N Lake View Hotel apts is an ideal place to stay at. Very popular with young couples and families, who return often after their first stay. At The Sea N Lake guest are not only welcomed to Cyrpus but to the family! All apartments are fully furnished with en suite bathrooms, a living room and kitchenette. All apartments have their own spacious private balcony and over look the pool area. Aparments can host a maximum of 4 persons. Syudio apartments host maximum 3 persons. A bar and snack area provide entertainment as well as the lounge area were satellit TV and internet is available. Safety boxes are available at
Larco Hotel
Larco Hotel - Albergo
LARCO completely renovated, a two star hotel, beautifully designed and decorated in true Cypriot style, situated in a quiet residential area, with only a 15 minute walk to the commercial and tourist centre of Larnaka with its famous Palm tree promenade. The hotel consists of 55 comfortable rooms all with: * bath or shower * balcony * direct dial telephone * satelite (in all rooms) * television * piped music * air-conditioning and
San Remo Hotel
San Remo Hotel - Albergo
One of the hotels in Larnaca that has excellent reviews. Situated not far from Larnaca airport the San Remo offers everthing you require from a hotel in Larnaca. Visit the San Remo and see for yourselves. Hotel in LarnacaWhere friendly staff and a professional management team awaits you to ensure a truly exciting and satisfactory stay. There are few places in the world as enchanting as this Mediterranean island, where the climate is excellently warm and the people wonderfully hospitable. You 'll be tempted to explore the daily lives of the Cypriot people, whose long and often stormy history is certainly worth investigating through the island's museums, ancient stones and archeological sites and monuments. Out of town you'll be stunned by the innocence of residents from traditional villages and the beautiful monasteries many of which are situated in superb mountain areas with breathtaking
Lordos Beach Hotel
Lordos Beach Hotel - Albergo
Discover the perfect recipe for relaxation at the Lordos Beach Hotel. Soak up the sun on the beach or enjoy a cooling dip in one of the beautiful cascading pools with outdoor jacuzzi. As one of the leading 4 star hotels in Cyprus, the hotel is ideally located on the sandy beach of Larnaca, close to both the Larnaca International Airport and the city centre. The Lordos Beach Hotel combines first class accommodation, good food and excellent service with a wide variety of entertainment – all complemented by a large range of leisure facilities and water sports.
Elysso Hotel Apartments
Elysso Hotel Apartments - Albergo
The people of Cyprus owe their individuality and warmth to the fact that they are the product of an amazingly colorful history. This sun drenched island has been at the crossroads of world events for centuries. Roman, Byzantine, Greek and British influences (to name just a few) have all had a bearing on life in Cyprus. Perhaps that's why Cypriots have a special knack of making visitors feel at home as soon as they step off the plane or ship. That warm welcome, plus the unhurried pace of daily life, makes Cyprus an instant favorite of anyone who goes there. The island nation is a fascinating land of contrasts. It has some of the most sophisticated cities in the region, and yet, a short distance away, you can feel as if you have stepped back into a previous century, not just the 19th, but far back to a time when people pursued simpler pleasures. Drop into almost any country teverna, or join the locals at a town market, and you will feel the atmosphere of a way of life that has remained essentially the same for centuries. The island has proved irresistible to many famous historical personalities, such as Cleopatra, Alexander the Great, Leonard da Vinci and Richard the Lion Heart. When Richard freed his imprisoned bride-to-be, Berengaria of Navarre, in 1191, Cypriots all across the island seized on the opportunity to have a party! As you can see, a delight in having a good time is at the heart of the Cypriot personality. Observe the fun Cypriots have when they go out — perhaps in large family groups — to eat and drink, and you will see how important a lust for life is on this enchanted island. Get to know the people, and you will probably be invited back to a Cypriot home to enjoy a meal of meze. Then, you'll truly learn the meaning of the word
Sveltos Hotel
Sveltos Hotel - Albergo
Sveltos, a three star hotel, is situated in tourist area of Larnaca, approximately 10 minutes by car from the center of town and 20 minutes by car from Larnaca International Airport. All 46 rooms of the hotel are with an air conditioner/heating, with bathroom, radio, hairdryer, safebox, TV with satellite reception, and international line
Eleonora Hotel Apts
Eleonora Hotel Apts - Albergo
Eleonora Hotel Apts., for a long time the major hotel on Larnaca's picturesque, brick-paved Ermou Square, has reopened under new ownership and new management, and it has been completely renovated. Phinikoudes Beach - FREE sunbeds & umbrellas for our guests! To undertake the ambitious remodeling of all of the hotel's rooms and facilities, Eleonora closed in April 2008 and major reconstruction took place for one year: Balconies overlooking the square were expanded, all fixtures and fittings were replaced, all plumbing was updated, and air-conditioning units were installed in all rooms. All bathtubs, showers and toilets were replaced, and professional decorators updated every room with stylish, contemporary furniture and window treatments. Eleonora reopened its doors on May 9th, 2009. Eleonora now offers both studio and 2-room apartments that can accommodate up to 4 guests and are equipped with all the comforts for a long stay in Larnaca: Each apartment includes fresh linens, large closets, a dresser and a large mirror, a fully-equipped kitchen, with a range, an oven, a large refrigerator with freezer, a microwave oven, a water kettle, and glasses, coffee and espresso cups, dishes and cutlery. Plus, exclusively for Eleonora guests, an offer that no other hotel in Larnaca can make: enjoy totally free sunbeds & umbrellas on Phinikoudes Beach for the duration of your stay! Eleonora's mission is to make any stay as pleasant and comfortable as
Flamingo Beach Hotel
Flamingo Beach Hotel - Albergo
The Flamingo Beach Hotel is a comfortable three-star hotel with a pleasant atmosphere. Its ideal location, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the salt lake and the Larnaca bay line, make it the perfect address in Cyprus for business travellers and tourists alike. Prompt service without unnecessary formalities, tasty food and refreshing beverages in a relaxed environment are the trademarks of this hotel. Flamingo Beach Hotel is equipped with 64 double rooms each of which have been recently renovated (2007). Rooms include: · Hair Dryer · Telephone · Satellite TV · Radio · Air conditioning · Spacious wardrobe · 24 hours Room service · en suite bathroom Prompt service without unnecessary formalities, tasty food and refreshing beverages in a relaxed environment are the trade marks of this
Lucky Hotel Apartments
Lucky Hotel Apartments - Albergo
Larnaca Hotel Apartments is based in the tourist district of Larnaca bay, 200 meters from the beach, close to great bars and restaurants and only 15-20 minutes drive from the town center of Larnaca, also with FREE Broadband ADSL Wi-Fi wireless internet for all visitors. Below are the main facilities of Lucky Hotel Apts: * 27 Class B one bedroom Apts- * 200 meters from the beach, * Restaurant - delicious local and international dishes, * Fitness room, * Sauna, * Swimming pool, * Children's play area, * FREE (Wi-Fi) Wireless Internet available at the hotel lobby/rooms/apartments for all clients, , * Bicycle rental and car rental available at the reception, * Large parking area, * Larnaka center is 10 Km away 15-20 minutes drive from the Lucky Hotel Apts, * Larnaka International air-port is 18km away 20-25 minutes drive from the Lucky Hotel Apts, All Apartments have: - Balcony or veranda, - International direct dialing telephone, - Early wake-up call system, - Bathroom with shower and bath, - Television with 'fixed' satellite channels , - Air-condition in bedroom, - Safe deposit boxes, - Fridge, - Stove/Hotplate, - Cutlery (Plates ,Forks, Knives, cups, glasses, Cooking equipment
Twin Standard
Frangiorgio Hotel Apartments
Frangiorgio hotel apartments in Larnaca, Cyprus, is a friendly modern hotel with a welcoming atmosphere. A feeling of real hospitality from the staff, beginning from breakfast time, to a relaxing drink in the bar cafeteria at the end of the day. The friendly atmosphere and personal touch (being family run) at Frangiorgio will make your holidays unforgettable. Frangiorgio hotel apartments in Larnaca, Cyprus, consists of 3 two-bedroom flats, 15 one-bedroom flats, and 6 studios. All 24 luxury furnished apartments have been recently renovated and include: fully equipped kitchens fridges with separate refrigerators individually controlled air-conditioning systems heating satellite color TVs double glazed windows private balconies and telephones Other facilities include: daily cleaning of rooms laundry service bar fax service free wireless connection in the lobby areas 24 hour reception new in-house 24 hour mini
Petrou Bros Hotel Apartments
Petrou Bros Hotel Apartments - Albergo
AN IDEAL LOCATION Petrou Bros Hotel Apts is a modern complex, providing comfortable accommodation at reasonable prices. Only 10 minutes drive from Larnaca International Airport, conveniently located in the heart of Larnaca. Easily accessible to all amenities and only 2 minutes walk from the long sandy beach that stretches along Larnaca's impressive Palm Tree seafront Promenade. Surrounded by a variety of shops, restaurants, cafes and bars, it provides an ideal base to explore this beautiful island, rich in history and culture, renowned for its genuine hospitality and endless sunny days. WARM HOSPITALITY & COMFORT Petrou Bros. Hotel Apartments provide a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, with that personal touch, and service to make your vacation more comfortable and enjoyable. Help is always on hand should you require advice on car and motorbike hire, boat trips, mini cruises, diving expeditions, and various daily excursions around the island. FACILITIES Made up of 52 Self-Catering Apartments 40 One bedroomed apartments, 6 Two bedroomed apartments, 3 Three bedroomed apartments and 3 Family Rooms. Each apartment consists of a separate fully equipped kitchen, bathroom or shower, w.c. balcony, satellite T.V., telephone. Facilities inc.: 24hr reception, lounge area, lifts, fax service, internet facilities (e-mail, web, printing), baby carrier. Rooms cleaned daily, laundry service, doctor on call, baby sitting service, car park, Safe box, A/C.and Breakfast available on request at a supplement. You are always assured a warm welcome at Petrou Bros
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Maria Eftychi-Degrade Line Necklace
At Design Interviews
(Excerpt) Interview with Maria Eftychi : Frank Scott: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?. Maria Eftychi : I always had this idea about a color degrade line that sits around your neck and when i started working with paper I realized it was a great material to experiment with this notion. The thin thickness of the material allows the gradual merge between different colors. The Degrade Line is the combination of two different collections of Design m.e the FOLD and the DEGRADE. The DEGRADE was obviously related to this gradual color merge while the FOLD is a series of jewels related to the geometrical structure and the action of folding pieces of paper to craft the final pieces. .Frank Scott: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?. Maria Eftychi : The main focus was to succeed a smooth geometrical merge and to found a suitable finishing that would suit this specific design. The coral ball in the finishing part, brings back a touch of red and a similar sense of volume as the rest of the piece. The golden plated silver clasp remained classical keeping its practicality in the usage. .Frank Scott: What are your future plans for this award winning design?. Maria Eftychi : I would like to create an extended collection based on 'Degrade Lines' with different color merges and promote it through all the opportunities that the A' Design Awards offer. .Frank Scott: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?. Maria Eftychi : As I said the 'Degrade Line' Necklace is a combination of two existing collections which took 6 months to come to life fully. After that the specific design concept was a natural outcome and it took a week for the design and crafting, and one more week testing the best finishing part for it. .Frank Scott: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?. Maria Eftychi : It was a combination in fact. The initial first piece was from a client who was asking me for an order. That specific order was from the FOLD series but it was not possible to remake because it was made from a very specific recycled paper. She then told me that she trusted me to make something similar with tones of blue. I took the initiative to pursuit the 'degrade line' inspiration and i created a similar piece to the awarded one but in tones of dark and blue, turquoise etc. The finishing piece inspired me to create more and one of them was the awarded piece. .Frank Scott: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?. Maria Eftychi : Currently I am designing and crafting the jewels myself, but i would like to systematize more my production process for the future development. .Frank Scott: What made you design this particular type of work?. Maria Eftychi : I got intrigued to design and craft something out of all this paper waste i experience everyday. Design m.e was born like this. The particular design evolved through experimentation of folding and merging different paper pieces. The extremely thin thickness of paper for me was very challenging because it is where the fragility but also all the charm and flexibility comes from. The way you can mix the colors reminds me the way a paint brush is mixing colors, with a very high resolution. .Frank Scott: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work.[ End of Excerpt: Read complete interview with Maria Eftychi on Degrade Line Necklace at design-interviews.com ]
Maria Eftychi-Degrade Line Necklace Images:
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ASUS Radeon HD 6970 DirectCU II Video Card Review (Page 19)
Total Value Rating
The TVR graph is the TPR score divided by the price of the video card. The price of the video card is based on the list price of the model on Newegg.com. In the event the card isn't listed, it will be based on the U.S. $ MSRP given to us by the manufacturer.
In the event we can't source a price from either, the product will not receive a TVR rating. As with our TPR graph, the amount of video cards on the list will grow over time and the price of the model won't change from what it was when first reviewed. For this reason the U.S. $ price that the card is based off will be included next to the name of the model.
In the event you want to find the TVR rating yourself based on the current price, all you have to do is simply divide the TPR number by the list price.
TVR numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number; 100.3 will be 100; 100.8 will be 101 and 100.5 will be rounded down to 100.
The ASUS HD 6970 DirectCU II is one of the more expensive HD 6970s on the market and FPS per dollar doesn't make it the best looking card in terms of value because it carries almost stock clocks and a higher price tag. The TVR graph of course doesn't put into consideration the features that are on offer, though, and the cooler on the card here is a real stand out.
Last updated: Apr 7, 2020 at 12:30 pm CDT
PRICING: You can find products similar to this one for sale below.
United States: Find other tech and computer products like this over at Amazon.com
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Australia: Find other tech and computer products like this over at Amazon.com.au
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- Page 1 [Introduction and Package]
- Page 2 [Card & Specification]
- Page 3 [Test System Setup and 3DMark 11]
- Page 4 [3DMark Vantage]
- Page 5 [Unigine Heaven Benchmark]
- Page 6 [Benchmarks - Resident Evil 5]
- Page 7 [Benchmarks - Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. 2]
- Page 8 [Benchmarks - Mafia II]
- Page 9 [Benchmarks - Lost Planet 2]
- Page 10 [Benchmarks - Aliens vs. Predator]
- Page 11 [Benchmarks - Street Fighter IV]
- Page 12 [Benchmarks - Far Cry 2]
- Page 13 [Benchmarks - Batman Arkham Asylum]
- Page 14 [Benchmarks - High Quality AA and AF]
- Page 15 [Temperature Test]
- Page 16 [Sound Test]
- Page 17 [Power Consumption Tests]
- Page 18 [Total Performance Rating (TPR)]
- Page 19 [Total Value Rating (TVR)]
- Page 20 [Final Thoughts]


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At least one aspect of fracking's risks to drinking water became a little clearer this week.
A study led by Rob Jackson of Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment, and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that drinking water wells located within 1 kilometer of a shale gas well in a region of northeastern Pennsylvania are at high risk of contamination with methane.
Fracking, shorthand for hydraulic fracturing, is the process of blasting water mixed with sand and chemicals deep underground at high pressure so as to fracture shale rock and release the gas it holds.
Colorless, odorless, and highly flammable, methane is the primary component of natural gas. It is not regulated as a drinking water contaminant, but it poses potential health and safety hazards. If the gas builds up in a basement or other confined space, for example, it can set off an explosion or start a fire. If breathed in high enough concentrations, it can cause dizziness, headaches and nausea.
The risks of long-term exposure and of secondary water quality changes due to high levels of dissolved methane are not known.
The research team analyzed 141 drinking water wells in northeastern Pennsylvania's gas-rich Marcellus shale region and detected methane in 82 percent of them. For homes within 1 kilometer of a gas well, the average methane concentration was six times higher than in water wells located further away.
Nearly 1 in 11 of the household wells analyzed had methane concentrations above the threshold level set by the U.S. Department of Interior for immediate remediation; all but one of those drinking water wells was within 1 kilometer of an active shale gas well.
By analyzing the isotopic signature of the gases, Jackson's team determined that the methane found in the drinking water was of fossil origin, not from current biological activity. The presence of ethane and propane, constituents of natural gas that are not produced by microbes, also signaled that the contamination was coming from nearby fracking operations.
Ethane was detected in 30 percent of the home water wells sampled, and concentrations of this gas were 23 times higher on average for homes less than one kilometer from a fracking well.
"Overall, our data suggest that some homeowners living <1 km from gas wells have drinking water contaminated with stray gases," Jackson's team concluded.
Stray gases are those that leak out of the production wells and enter the surrounding environment, including groundwater. The leaks can occur, for example, from faulty steel casings, which are supposed to keep the gas inside the well. Or they can occur from imperfections in the cement sealing between the well casing and the surrounding rock that permit fluids to migrate up the outside of the gas well.
While compelling, the study is not definitive because of the lack of data on the quality of the drinking water wells before the fracking began.
To better gauge fracking's risks to drinking water, the natural gas industry should be required to disclose its well records or pay for the state or a third party to collect water quality data before fracking operations are allowed to begin.
Without those data, we are flying blind about where, how and under what conditions fracking poses threats to drinking water.
As the Jackson team concludes: "Ultimately, we need to understand why, in some cases, shale gas extraction contaminates groundwater and how to keep it from happening elsewhere."
The migration of methane into groundwater is only one possible risk to water quality from fracking. Another is the potential for the fracking fluids – the toxic mixture of sand, water and chemicals used to break open the gas-holding shale formations – to move through natural or secondary fractures into groundwater. And yet another is the contamination threat posed by the discharge of toxic wastewater produced by fracking operations.
In all these cases, more scientific research is needed. Much of it requires that industry not only collect and make available pre-fracking water quality data, but also release the names of the chemicals they are using, instead of hiding them behind the veil of company secrets.
Ultimately, more transparent and safer fracking operations will benefit the industry as well as the families living in fracking territory. Until the public has full confidence that its drinking water is being safeguarded from contamination, it will continue to protest fracking's expansion.
If hydraulic fracturing is as safe as its proponents claim, then the industry should welcome the scientific studies needed to prove it so.
Until such studies are completed, the public is wise to call for precautionary measures – including moratoriums on fracking.
Sandra Postel is director of the Global Water Policy Project and Freshwater Fellow of the National Geographic Society. She is co-creator of Change the Course, the national freshwater conservation and restoration campaign being piloted in the Colorado River Basin.


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The Jackson family will continue to celebrate the life of Michael Jackson following the star's private funeral Thursday night.
Access Hollywood has confirmed that the family has booked an Italian restaurant, Villa Sorriso Ristorante, in Pasadena, Calif., for family and guests following the funeral at Forest Lawn Glendale.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Michael Jackson Death Investigation: Who's Who?
According to TMZ, the Jackson family is calling the event a "Celebration of Life." The family is expected to travel to the restaurant immediately following the funeral proceedings.
Michael's brother, Randy, reportedly made the reservation and "bought out the facility for the night."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Michael Jackson's Children
According to the Villa Sorriso Ristorante Executive Director of Operations, the Jackson family has been frequenting the Pasadena establishment for years.
TMZ reported that more than 150 guests are expected to attend the celebration.
As previously reported on Access Hollywood.com, Jackson's death at the age of 50 has been ruled a homicide by the Los Angeles County Coroner's office. The singer's death certificate has been amended, citing "injection by another" as the fatal injury. No criminal charges have been filed over the singer's June 25 death.
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Hollywood Remembers Michael Jackson
PLAY IT NOW: Joe Jackson Reacts To Michael Jackson's Death Being Ruled A Homicide (August 31, 2009)
PLAY IT NOW: Michael Jackson Lives Forever At Madame Tussauds
MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: Michael Jackson - Funerals - Deaths - TV One - Pop


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by Tom Utescher
When the hoop squads from Catholic Academies rivals Mount St. Joseph and Villa Maria square off, you might as well put two minutes on the game clock and have the teams fight it out from there.
In the AACA championship game last winter, the Mount Magic used a buzzer-beating jumper to knock of the Hurricanes. In their next meeting, on December 13, Villa was leading with 1:50 left to play, then Mount St. Joe came back to win, 34-31.
In last Tuesday's regular-season rematch out in Malvern, Bridget Higgins went the length of the court to score a lay-up with one second left, giving the visiting Magic a 31-30 victory. The senior guard finished with eight points, six rebounds, and two assists for the Mount, which received seven points apiece from junior Kelsey Jones and sophomore Alex Louin (two assists), and six from junior Cailin Schmeer.
Barring unforeseen upsets, this was a pivotal victory for the Magic. They climbed to 13-1 overall, but just as important, they remained unbeaten in league play, at 7-0. Villa (10-4 overall), second in the AACA standings, had been upset by St. Basil's a week earlier, and Tuesday's setback dropped the Hurricanes to 4-3 in the league.
VMA junior Lisa Mirarchi, a lithe guard with a very quick first step, put in a game-high 11 points, and the hosts had six points each from Kellie O'Rourke and Maddie Joyce, and five from Kelly Anthony. Mirarchi's final field goal had given her squad a 30-29 lead in the game with 14 seconds to go.
"It was a good win – it gave us a good lead in our league and it was also important to get a win coming off of a loss," Higgins reflected.
After a 12-0 start on the season, the Magic had lost to Spring-Ford High School three days before the trip to Villa.
"We stick together as a team, and I thought we came back hard today and everyone played well," Higgins said. "It was good after we lost that we had a big game like this – everyone was really up for it."
Midway through the first quarter Villa led 8-4. Schmeer then scored her second field goal for the Magic, and a lob inside to sophomore forward Carly Monzo got the visitors even at 8-all. The 'Canes gained a 10-8 edge when Anthony converted off a rebound late in the opening frame.
Six points in the second stanza from Jones helped the visitors go up 18-12 with three minutes left in the half, but Villa chipped away at the lead and by the time the intermission arrived it was back to square one, with the combatants locked up at 20-20.
To start the second half, MSJ's Louin lofted a jumper from beyond the foul line, but this would prove to be the only field goal of the third quarter as the defenses grew especially stingy. Jones added a free throw for the Mount, but Villa drained four shots from the stripe to enter the final eight minutes with a 24-23 advantage.
During the first half, the Mount's player rotation and help defense prevented any individual from getting into foul trouble; at the break seven players each had one personal. Given the formidable task of guarding Mirarchi, Higgins picked up a second foul in the third quarter and was hit with two more in the first two-and-a-half minutes of the final frame.
"She's a good player," the MSJ guard said of her Villa rival. "I just tried to play good defense, and once I got four fouls Kelsey [Jones] did a good job on her, too."
Up to that point the 'Canes, usually deadly from the foul line, had shot four-for-nine in the second half.
Over the first three minutes of the fourth quarter, a driving lay-up by Villa's O'Rourke had been matched by a short Higgins jumper from the left side. The scoring pace picked up slightly after the middle of the period. Higgins bagged two free throws and the Hurricanes answered with a drive by Mirarchi. Receiving a short baseline inbounds pass and almost getting trapped under the basket, the Magic's Louin twisted the upper half of her body while in the air, getting enough of an angle to sink a lay-up. That nudged the Mount ahead, 29-28, with 1:53 remaining in the game.
That count stayed on the board as the clock cut into the final minute and the Magic missed the front end of a one-and-one at the free throw line. Villa brought the ball over half-court and called time-out with 36 seconds to go.
The 'Canes passed the ball around in the set offense, winding down the clock and probing for an opening. Mirarchi had the ball just above the foul line and when she made a lateral move, MSJ's Jones slipped and fell. The VMA junior zipped through the lane to score, and when the Mount got a time-out called, the board showed 13.3 seconds and a 30-29 Villa lead.
Higgins received the MSJ inbounds pass just a few feet from the defensive baseline and brought the ball up the left flank. When she crossed midcourt, she sensed that she had an opportunity to penetrate to the basket.
"It's something we usually do on a fast break," she said. "I saw that I could go all the way in."
Off of her lay-up, the ball perched tantalizingly on the back of the rim, then fell through the net. The buzzer sounded during the ensuing turmoil, and the officials put 1.1 seconds back on the clock for a final Villa inbounds play. The Hurricanes heaved the ball to O'Rourke a few yards over midcourt, but it was impossible to get off a viable shot before the horn.


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Statement by UH Manoa Chancellor Konan on the tragedy at Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Student safety support services are available hereUniversity of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Chancellor's Office
After Monday's horrific and tragic events, the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa wishes to express our deepest condolences to our colleagues at our sister Land Grant institution, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Many of our Mānoa community have connections, family, and colleagues at Virginia Tech, and wish to send our most heartfelt Aloha to them.
Our thoughts go particularly to the families of the students and staff of Virginia Tech who lost loved ones in this unthinkable incident. The campus violence that erupted earlier today is truly shocking and makes us recognize the importance of caring for our own community.
We take the safety of our students and campus community very seriously, and I want to take this opportunity to remind our Mānoa students of the resources that are available to support them:
Campus Security (956-6911) Campus Security should be contacted for immediate assistance. Campus Security also provides such services as crime prevention services, escort service (see below), emergency call boxes, crime prevention presentations, and others.
Escort Service (956-8211) Campus Security provides transportation or a walking escort from dusk to dawn for anyone walking alone on campus at night. By calling 6-8211 (V/T) (on-campus phone), an escort can be summoned to your location. The escort will either transport you in a Campus Security vehicle or accompany you on foot to any University parking lot or facility.
Women's Center (956-8059) The Women's Center is a safe space for students to meet and to gather. The Center also oversees the Program Against Violence to Women, which has established a coordinated campus-community response to address issues of partner violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campus.
Ombuds Office (956-3391) The UH Mānoa ombuds staff will help you deal with any problems that faculty, students and staff may have with the university. We are impartial and offer a safe, confidential way of helping you deal with your problems.
Advocacy Office (956-9977) The Advocacy office provides information for students, staff and faculty at UH Manoa, conducts educational workshops for the entire campus community, and provides advocacy and informal resolutions for students specifically on issues of sexual harassment, assault, stalking, Gender Equity and Civil Rights. Their emphasis is on education, prevention and early resolution.
Counseling and Student Development Center (956-7927) The Counseling and Student Development Center (CSDC) is a University service that provides a variety of counseling and testing services for students and uses a holistic approach to promote wellness and personal success. The services are confidential and free of charge for Manoa students.
The University of Hawaii at Manoa remains committed to a non-violent learning environment for all our students, and I want to assure everyone that we take this responsibility very seriously.
**This document is being distributed to all members of the UH Manoa student body, faculty and staff.


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Somebody Taze Me!
This Wednesday officially kicks off the 2012 MLB season and even though I'll probably be fast asleep while it unfolds in the Far East, I'm sure the Japanese will be plenty excited about watching two awful teams compete against one another, especially since there's at least one Suzuki per nine.
On this side of the pond, we have much, MUCH more to look forward to. In fact, I might need a good tazing before the Cardinals open up in Miami, just so I'm forced to sit down!
Here are some of the things that have me baseball-tweaking:
The GOOD Blue Jays Uniforms Are Back!
Still mesmerized by the awful logo redesign and poor color scheme that killed Joe Carter's Blue Jays look in 2003, I can't tell you how happy I am to see the old logo back. And royal blue! No gray! Alongside the Cardinals, Yankees, Dodgers and Red Sox, I gotta say the classic Jays uni is about as smart and sleek as baseball uniforms come.
Grant Balfour Finally Gets to Be a Closer!
The 34-year old Aussie has been quietly waiting in the wings of every team he's been on and now, finally, the Oakland A's are giving him a shot at the closer role. I still think closers are overrated, but I like to think that maybe, if Balfour performs well in his new role, he might finally get paid what he's worth. His numbers are fantastic and most people don't even know who he is. I'm afraid playing in Oakland won't help his popularity, but maybe Billy Beane will throw him another peanut. (Also, if you're wondering, yes, Balfour's fastball does have an Australian accent.)
Bobby Valentine!
I love Bobby Valentine. For myriad reasons. He's cocky. He's loud. His feelings get hurt. He's controversial. He pisses off players, coaches, umpires. And he's a goddamn baseball genius. HOLLA!!!
Jamie Moyer!
Good grief. The dude is gonna be FIFTY this year. FIFTY YEARS OLD. And he's still gettin' guys out. I absolutely love that. I love him! How can you not?!?!
And finally… you probably knew this was coming but…
Hate me 'cuz I'm loud, just don't hate me 'cuz I'm right.


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While a major bike sharing program is coming and the D.O.T. continues to make changes to make the city better for cyclists of all levels, the NYPD are up to there usual tricks of harassment.
Gothamist recently posted an article on cops handing out tickets on the Williamsburg bridge.
Once again the NYPD chooses a punitive approach instead of directing people to use of the right path, marked by bad signage.
Cops Ticketing Dozens Of Cyclists Near Williamsburg Bridge Entrance In Brooklyn
While the DOT is hard at work installing barriers at the bottom of the Williamsburg Bridge bike/pedestrian path in Manhattan, the NYPD is hard at work on the other side of the bridge writing tickets to cyclists. During yesterday's p.m. rush hour, a tipster sent us these photos of the NYPD issuing a slew of summonses. The offense? Riding the wrong way down a wide, sleepy half-block to get to the cyclist entrance to the bridge. The witness estimates that he saw "16-20 people" ticketed in twenty minutes, which seems hard to believe, but he tells us the offending cyclists were ordered to stand on line and wait their turn as the cops took care of business (literally).
Read more here.


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Yep, that's a Lambo. This elegant pile of angles was produced using a 3-D modeling process that its makers have dubbed the Lo Res Project. How they made it is both simple and fascinating.
As you might expect, the shape above was built in a computer. The people responsible started with a complex, polygon-based digital model of a real Countach, then gradually decreased the model's resolution, removing polygons and detail. The resulting shape is simple, complicated, and immediately recognizable.
The program is the result of a collaboration between European clothing company United Nude and the software company INUS Technology. It's produced elegant, abstract models of everything from motorcycles to wine glasses. (Step-by-step graphic breakdowns of some of them can be found here.)
[via PopSci]


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(UPDATE: I'll be doing a live online chat at 11 a.m.
Wednesday at www.charlotteobserver.com. We'll talk about Thanksgiving
holiday weather and holiday travel. If you want to shoot me some
questions about the upcoming winter, I'll try to deal with those if we
have the time.)
The storm system responsible for the weekend's icy conditions and hundreds of flight delays and cancellations in Texas is moving eastward and still threatening to make a mess of Thanksgiving travel plans.
The Charlotte area will avoid frozen precipitation from this storm, and the rain likely will end by Wednesday morning. But this storm has the potential of fouling up flight schedules along the East Coast. That, of course, has a ripple effect which would be felt in Charlotte.
And regardless of the storm's impact on flight schedules, it will make for nasty traveling conditions Wednesday for people headed north and even east from Charlotte.
Latest indications are that the storm's snow will be limited to inland areas, with the heaviest snow falling in a band from central New York up into Vermont and eastern Ontario and western Quebec. However, several inches of snow are likely in parts of West Virginia and in the western half of Pennsylvania.
Along the Interstate 95 corridor, it looks to be a rain event. The rain could fall heavily at times late Tuesday and Wednesday, which will make for bad driving conditions up I-95 and I-81.
Added to all this will be gusty winds Wednesday.
The impact on air travel is still uncertain. If low visibilities and heavy rain develop Wednesday along the I-95 corridor from Richmond up to Boston, that will cause flight delays. Typically, as the delays build, the impact spreads to locations far from the storm's effects. That is the potential problem Wednesday.
We'll keep close tabs on travel conditions Tuesday and Wednesday.
The good news is that conditions look to be a lot quieter at the end of the weekend, when Thanksgiving travelers are returning home.
Monday, November 25, 2013
Thanksgiving travel mess looms
(UPDATE: I'll be doing a live online chat at 11 a.m.
Wednesday at www.charlotteobserver.com. We'll talk about Thanksgiving
holiday weather and holiday travel. If you want to shoot me some
questions about the upcoming winter, I'll try to deal with those if we
have the time.)
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Thanksgiving travel troubles ... and really cold air
We've had relatively quiet weather for the past several months, since the heavy rain and flooding of June, July and early August came to an end.
Now all that is preparing to change.
It appears as if the eastern United States, including the Carolinas, will be paying attention to weather forecasts for the next several weeks. If you can believe the computer models (and they seem to be relatively consistent on this), you can pack away the shorts. Get the winter coats ready.
It all starts Saturday night and Sunday, of course, with the arrival of some very cold air. High temperatures Sunday probably won't get above the upper 30s in Charlotte, and don't be surprised to see some places in the area with lows around 13 to 15 degrees Monday morning.
Next up will be an old-fashioned Gulf of Mexico winter storm system. We haven't experienced many of these in recent years, but such a critter will develop Monday and push across northern Florida and southern Georgia. If temperatures were a few degrees colder, we'd be looking at a winter storm. Instead, prepare for cold rain, and possibly plenty of it.
After that, the big question is how quickly the storm system departs, and which way it goes from here.
If it's still raining on Wednesday, that will have an impact on Thanksgiving travel for Carolinas residents. Some forecasts indicate the rain could end as snow in higher elevations. That's another bad scenario for travelers.
And will the storm system push out to sea, or go up the East Coast? If it's the latter, then big travel hubs like Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston will be getting drenching rain and gusty winds on Wednesday. That won't help the airline schedules.
Once the storm system is gone, things won't change a lot. Cold air will remain.
The longer-range computer models show a big dip in the jet stream, with cold air mass after cold air mass dropping from Alaska and western Canada into the eastern half of the United States. The models differ in predicting whether the heart of the cold air will affect the central U.S. or the East. But it appears nearly certain that there will be cold air around.
Will the southern part of the jet stream remain active, bringing storm systems across the Gulf of Mexico and into the Southeast? That's something to watch. An active southern jet stream added to the cold air is a big deal along the East Coast.
And some of the long-range models show some ridiculously cold temperatures for the Carolinas for the period around Dec. 6-11.
Meteorologists could be kept very busy over the next two or three weeks, at least.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Some worries for Thanksgiving travel
After several years of peaceful weather in the Southeast for Thanksgiving holiday travelers, some forecasters say the bottom could fall out this time.
There are increasing signs that stormy conditions could dominate a sizeable chunk of the eastern United States, although the details are still hazy. With cold weather also in play, it's possible, forecasters say, for snow or other frozen precipitation to hamper travel -- especially north of the Mason-Dixon Line.
"There are a lot of possibilities next week with the storm in the East, but whether or not there is snow north and west of the I-95 corridor is still uncertain at this time," said Bernie Raynor, senior meteorologist at Pennsylvania-based Accu-Weather.
Both of the main long-range computer models are pointing toward stormy weather, but as usual, there are differences in the timing. And there are questions as to how much cold weather will be in place.
Thanksgiving is the biggest travel holiday of the year, and any type of inclement weather next Wednesday could wreak havoc with flight schedules at the major Eastern airports.
The computer models indicate a dip in the jet stream will build this weekend, as another cold high pressure system pushes southward from Alaska and Canada. That system is expected to bring cold weather and snow into the Midwest, with the chilly air extending southward into the Carolinas. Temperatures on Sunday in the Charlotte area could be quite cold, perhaps rivaling the readings of last week.
Then the computer models predict low pressure will form in the Gulf of Mexico and move up the Eastern Seaboard.
Right now, the indication is that wet weather is most likely Thanksgiving Day and on Black Friday. But forecasts this far in advance are full of uncertainty, meteorologists say.
"The details on the track and speed of that storm during the middle of next week ... will unfold later this week and into the weekend," Accu-Weather's Alex Sosnowski wrote in a briefing Tuesday.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Don't let Monday's warmth fool you, Panther fans
Some Carolina Panthers fans might be in for a rude surprise if they attend Monday night's game against the New England Patriots and make their clothing apparel decisions on the basis of daytime weather Monday.
It will be two entirely different stories Monday, with a warm afternoon followed by tumbling temperatures in the evening.
A strong cold front is expected to cross the Charlotte region sometime around daybreak Monday. It will be preceeded by some Sunday evening showers, and possibly another round of precipitation when the front comes through.
Behind the front, forecasters expect rapid clearing later Monday morning. Winds will be westerly, coming off the mountains. High pressure building in behind the front will push the winds downward, which will cause heating.
The bottom line: Even though a pretty chilly air mass is headed into the Carolinas, area residents won't really feel the impact until later in the day. Forecasters expect sunny skies, breezy conditions, and temperatures in the lower 70s Monday afternoon.
If you're headed to the game, don't let the balmy conditions fool you. By later in the afternoon, a process known as cold air advection -- basically, the intrusion of cold air from a Canadian high pressure system -- will take control. Meteorologists expect temperatures to fall quickly into the 60s by mid-afternoon Monday, then rapidly through the 50s in the evening hours.
It likely will be in the lower 50s at kickoff Monday and the lower 40s by the end of the game. That is quite a change from those lower 70s in the afternoon.
So dress accordingly.
One bit of good news ... it will be dry Monday evening.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Thanksgiving warmup might not materialize
I wrote earlier this week about forecasts that the two cold snaps -- this week's and the one coming next week -- would be followed by milder weather through the end of November.
Forget it.
Most of the long-range forecasts now show the rest of November, except for the next few days, as being chilly. It probably won't be quite as cold, compared to average, as what we had earlier this week. But forecasters aren't hinting at shorts-and-T shirt weather for Thanksgiving.
We'll get a couple days of milder conditions, with highs in the 60s Saturday and Sunday and probably pushing 70 degrees Monday. But another strong high pressure system will push down from Canada early next week, and the Charlotte region will be back to chilly weather (daytime highs in the mid and upper 50s, lows around freezing) for the rest of the week.
NOAA's Climate Prediction Center is calling for a strong chance of below-average temperatures in the Southeast over the next 8 to 14 days. That forecast is echoed by a number of private meteorologists -- but not by everyone.
Forecasters at Accu-Weather earlier this week mentioned a chance of milder weather around Thanksgiving in the Southeast.
As WCNC-TV chief meteorologist Brad Panovich noted earlier this week, the cold weather in November could have an impact on long-term winter forecasts. Cold weather could help put down a heavy cover of snow in southern Canada and the northern part of the United States. If that happens, high pressure systems that push southward from Canada and the Arctic won't modify much.
And that would mean colder weather this winter in the Southeast.
We'll have to wait and see what happens over the next several weeks.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Does this mean a cold, snowy winter?
The strong blast of arctic air roaring into the Carolinas on Tuesday probably will set off a lot of speculation over whether this is the harbinger of a cold and snowy winter.
After all, a weak low pressure system trailing the cold front is expected to set off snow showers Tuesday afternoon and early evening in the mountains and foothills, and the National Weather Service office in Greer, S.C., says residents of Rowan and eastern Davie counties could see snow flying later this evening and the impulse moves by.
In the immediate Charlotte area, there's a chance that the rain showers could mix with snow before ending this evening.
For those of you wondering what happened to the more significant snow that was being discussed last week, the answer is simple. The European weather model, which favored a snowier scenario, was wrong. It forecast stronger low pressure developing along the front. The Global model had the precipitation forecast right -- very light.
So the winter scoreboard so far is Global 1, European 0. I'll remember that, the next time one of the models starts indicating snow.
But back to the long-range picture.
The simple answer is that this week's taste of winter doesn't mean anything for the long-range winter outlook.
In fact, we'll see a warmup later this week, and after another shot of chilly air moves into the East next week (it won't be as strong as this week's), it could turn rather warm for the last 7 to 10 days of the month. I noticed that Alex Sosnowski of Accu-Weather mentioned this morning that his company's meteorologists think temperatures could be quite mild in our part of the country around Thanksgiving.
In another week or two, I'll write about the various players on the field for our winter weather outlook -- and how meteorologists think it will all play out.
This week's cold: It's coming, in a hurry. While the temperature at Charlotte Douglas International Airport was 67 degrees at 1 p.m. Tuesday, it was 44 degrees with a howling northwest wind in Asheville. Temperatures already had fallen into the 50s in the foothills and South Carolina Upstate, and you can expect the same to happen in Charlotte over the next few hours.
Record low temperatures aren't likely the next two mornings, but readings won't be far away from setting marks. The record for Wednesday morning in Charlotte is 25, set in 1911. Thursday morning's record is 22, set in 1986.
On second thought, tomorrow morning's record isn't really too far out of touch. Forecast lows overnight are in the middle 20s.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Cold is definitely coming ... snow still in forecast
The computer models continue to paint a portrait of mid-January weather around the middle of this week for the Carolinas, and that will include the possibility of snow.
Before we get to the snow, let's get one thing clear. It will be cold from Wednesday into Friday or Saturday. Very cold. January cold.
Chances of accumulating snow in places like Charlotte are almost zero, but there remains a chance that we'll see some snow showers in the area early Wednesday. Considering this is the first half of November, it's a very strange forecast.
There is a higher chance of accumulating snow not far northwest of Charlotte. In the morning meteorological discussion, Rodney Hinson of the National Weather Service office in Greer said the model consensus seems to indicate an inch of snow in the mountains and even the foothills.
Basically, here's what will happen.
A very deep trough will move into the eastern United States. A cold front is forecast to push through the region late Tuesday, setting the stage for arctic air to pour into the Carolinas and most of the rest of the East. The models indicate some form of low pressure will form along or near the front, and that would be the snow-maker.
But there are questions. How strong will the low be? How much precipitation?
As Hinson wrote in Sunday morning's discuss, "It should be said that this is an atypical system in an atypical time of year for heavy snowfall. Therefore, excitement should remain tempered until a better consensus on amount and placement of precipitation can be reached."
So we'll keep an eye on things, and even if climatological normalcy takes over, and there isn't any snow in our region, it still is a threat. And it gives snow-lovers a little something to whet their appetite about, as we move closer to the start of real winter.
Regardless of the snow, the temperatures will be unseasonably cold. Don't be surprised if Wednesday's high temperatures don't climb above the low 40s. It could be next weekend before Charlotte is even remotely close to 60 degrees again.
Stay tuned.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Snow a possibility in North Carolina next week
I won't even beat around the bush on this one. Some of the computer models are predicting the development of a big East Coast storm next week that could bring snow to parts of North Carolina.
If you believe a few of the models, snowflakes could even be falling in the Charlotte region next Wednesday.
It's crazy early for such a thing to happen, but some of the models show enough arctic air being dragged into the back side of the system for snow to fall in parts of North Carolina.
The National Weather Service meteorologists at the Greer office think it will be the cold-chasing-precipitation scenario. That is often the case in the Charlotte region, as it was several time in the last few years. Precipitation falls as rain and ends before the really cold air arrives.
So that's the official forecast -- rain, followed by some very chilly air around Wednesday or Thursday of next week.
But the Weather Service thinks rain could mix with or change to snow along and north of the I-40 corridor. And the mountains seem destined for snow.
The European model is most bullish on some snow falling in the Carolinas. The Global model has a more tame solution.
Either way, it looks as if an arctic high pressure system is expected to move into the central United States early next week and then spread eastward. That will bring very cold weather into areas north of the Carolinas. If the low pressure trough over the East is strong and digs deep into the Southeast, then some of that arctic air will filter down this way.
Like I said ... mid-November is mighty early to be thinking about a winter storm. But if a strong low pressure system really develops, inland areas of the Mid-Atlantic apparently are in for something that might seem more fitting for December or January.
We'll keep an eye on this in coming days.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
100 years ago: A November hurricane on the Great Lakes
If you've lived in the Great Lakes area, you're aware of the fury that can develop on the lakes in November.
Even if you've never lived there, you might remember Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot's "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," a decades-ago hit about the sinking of the ore carrier during a violent storm in November 1975.
This week marks the 100th anniversary of a storm generally considered to be the worst ever on the Great Lakes.
It was called "Freshwater Fury" or the "White Hurricane," although the latter title was used by some people to describe an intense blizzard that hit lakes Erie and Ontario in late January 1978.
Anyways, the 1913 storm left more than 250 people dead, sank 19 ships, and caused nearly $5 million damage. That's in 1913 dollars. In today's money, that would have been about $120 million.
Like a number of the other big Great Lakes gales in November, the 1913 storm was the product of two low pressure systems. One moved eastward from the Great Plains, and another apparently formed in the Southeast and drifted northward. I've seen several accounts of a "lull" in the storm, and I wonder if that happened when the Great Plains low pressure system -- which was very strong -- merged with the Southeast low.
At any rate, the storm moved into the Lake Superior area on Friday, Nov. 7. The U.S. Weather Bureau's forecast system wasn't great at the time, and the storm caught people by surprise. Winds had been expected to be 50 mph but exceeded 74 mph. The next day, winds were sustained at 60 mph in Duluth, Minn.
The storm's quiet period came later on Nov. 8, but by midday on Sunday, Nov. 9, the "Freshwater Fury" was at its strongest. Storm accounts seem to indicate the worst conditions were on Lake Huron. Its north-south alignment, along with the vicious northerly winds, allowed huge waves to form and batter the southern shore.
Farther to the east, winds gusted to 80 mph in Cleveland and Buffalo. By late on the day Nov. 9, sustained winds of 70 mph with gusts to 90 mph were common in all but the eastern-most lake, Ontario.
As the storm pushed northeast into Ontario on Nov. 10 and 11, it dragged much colder air into the lake-effect areas of Lake Erie, from Cleveland up to Buffalo. More than 2 feet of snow fell in Cleveland, with drifts of 7 or 8 feet reported. In addition, the strong winds had knocked down power poles across the area, so many people had to deal with very deep snow and no electricity.
Tens of thousands of customers were without power for a week in parts of Michigan, Ohio and Ontario. There was heavy damage along the shore of Lake Michigan, in Chicago and Milwaukee.
The damage to shipping was heavy. There are photos of a capsized freighter, the Charles S. Price, floating in Lake Huron. Twenty-eight sailors died in that wreck. There also were 28 deaths aboard the John A. McGean and the Isaac M. Scott. Wrecks from the 1913 storm litter the bottom of the Great Lakes, and one wreck, the Henry B. Smith, was discovered at the bottom of Lake Superior five months ago.
By the way, the largest ship ever to sink in the Great Lakes was the Edmund Fitzgerald, at a length of 729 feet. It went down in 70 mph winds and 40-foot waves at the eastern end of Lake Superior.


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By Karin Calloway
Chilled Avocado-Lime Soup
Winter is usually thought of as soup season, but a cold soup in the summer can be a refreshing change of pace. My Chilled Avocado-Lime Soup is lusciously rich and simple to prepare. It's a combination of ripe avocado, reduced fat sour cream, chicken broth and fresh lime juice, all pureed in my Viking blender or food processor. A bit of chili powder gives this soup a slightly Southwestern flavor, making it the perfect starter for my Sophisticated Southwestern menu posted on this site.
Cold soups usually require several hours to chill, and that means advance planning. However, if most of the ingredients are nicely chilled and waiting in the refrigerator – for example, the sour cream and the chicken broth – then you'll be able to serve your soup right when you make it. Freezing your serving bowls also will help keep the soup cold.
The soup is delicious as is, served with a garnish of chopped ripe tomato and cilantro, but I like to take the soup over the top with the addition of a simple Crab Ceviche. Either way it's a cool way to start a summer menu.
Crab Ceviche
Makes 6 to 8 servings.


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Devine qui vient jouer? is also available on Mini TFO A section just for the kids, without ads! Click to explore!
Devine qui vient jouer?
Everyone want to go down the slide at Elyse's to go play! Kids do puzzles and play at "Who am I?" After the games, time to jump in the ball pit. Don't forget Virgule, the big friendly dog! (Please note that new seasons of this show are not in the works. It is therefore impossible to register any new participants for it!)
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The versatile ventriloquist Jeff Dunham takes the leap into animation with "Achmed Saves America." One of Dunham's recurring characters, Achmed in puppet form is a manic skeleton, still very much alive after being blown up in a foiled terrorist act. A bit politically incorrect perhaps, but in Dunham's act it's usually funny. Here he's transformed into an animated character (after a live-action intro where he expresses a deep longing to become a cartoon) and let loose in an hour-long affair. After his latest terrorist misfiring (mocking a "Road Runner" cartoon) he finds himself landing on a "Liberty Freedom Airways" plane headed for America and lands right outside the all-American town of Americaville. A stereotypical American family, the Wilsons, runs into him in their minivan and mistakes him for the French exchange student they're supposed to pick up- they figure he's from France after telling them "I hate you and I hate this country!" They take him home, and he begins building a huge bomb which he plans to detonate during Americaville's 100th anniversary celebration. After planting it under the town square celebration, Achmed suddenly has a change of heart as the citizens (including a stereotypical redneck also voiced by Dunham) embrace his cultural differences and make him an honorary citizen- and he figures the all-you-can-eat buffets are a pretty good reason not to blow the place up as well.
Translating this character into animated form has its pros and cons- on one hand the animated version of Achmed can do much more physically than he can as a puppet, but on the other hand puppets are the main element of Dunham's act (which he designs and builds himself), and making one of these characters into a cartoon seems a bit counterintuitive (reason why I never liked the animated "Muppet Babies" show.) Letting that slide, it's sometimes a bit of a challenge for Achmed to carry the whole thing by himself- although there are a couple blink-and-you'll-miss-them cameos from other Jeff Dunham characters, it might have been a better idea to give some of them a bigger part in this. There are a couple points with a big punch-line which would have been suitable endings, yet the production continues at length afterwards. Still, many of the supporting characters created for "Achmed Saves America" make it enjoyable, most of them stereotypical middle-Americans. Although Dunham voices many characters other than Achmed (and it would be a very impressive effort if he'd voiced every character), there is a large supporting voice cast including Tom Kenny (best known as SpongeBob SquarePants) as the host family's dad.
The animation, produced by Bento Box with additional help from Rough Draft Animation, looks very clean on Blu-Ray, with most characters sharply outlined as seems to be the trend at least in current TV-based animation. In keeping with the theme, the colors red and blue are used predominantly. During the live-action intro I noticed a bit of compression artifacts but the rest looked pretty much perfect.
As with previous Comedy Central Blu-Ray releases, 5.1 Dolby TrueHD and 2-channel standard Dolby Digital tracks are included. The 5.1 mix isn't very aggressive but suits the material, with dialogue often panned to the left and right up front and occasional uses of the surround channels.
I'd previously reviewed the Blu-Ray of Jeff Dunham's "Minding The Monsters" special, which included some rather in-depth extras, but the only video extra here is a 4-minute making-of piece. The back cover plays it up a bit as including "tour of the animation studio, original script reading and voiceover session" and you do see those during the four minutes but not quite as much as some might like. Still it's interesting to see how some of the animation was tweaked during production, as it was done via computers although it's clearly made to mimic the style of hand-drawn animation without as much intensive labor involved. There's also a commentary track with Jeff Dunham, Kelly Asbury (who also appeared on the "Minding the Monsters" commentary) and scriptwriter Michael Price.
Being familiar with Jeff Dunham's act will probably affect your enjoyment of "Achmed Saves America" as that will give you a basis for the Achmed character and much of the humor, otherwise it might play like a pilot for a potential animated series. While it may not be a great work of art, in the end it's an entertaining diversion.
Jesse Skeen is a life-long obsessive media collector (with an unhealthy preoccupation with obsolete and failed formats) and former theater film projectionist. He enjoys watching movies and strives for presenting them perfectly, but lacks the talent to make his own.