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- In Alerts 2009
- Post 23 January 2009
- Last Updated on 27 March 2013
Numerous members of the public have written to us expressing their bewilderment at the violence of Israel's 22-day attack on Gaza killing upwards of 1,300 people and wounding 4,200. To many witnessing the onslaught on their TV screens (especially Al Jazeera) this appeared to be an act of state sadism.
Israeli forces repeatedly bombed schools (including UN schools), medical centres, hospitals, ambulances, UN buildings, power plants, sewage plants, roads, bridges and civilian homes.
On January 15, Helpdoctors.org reported that Al Quds hospital had been "again the target of bombing". Some 50 patients, 30 in wheelchairs, fled as the burning hospital was "totally destroyed". (http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2F www.helpdoctors.org%2F&langpair=fr%7Cen&h l=fr&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools)
The hospital's medical director said, "My heart is crying," as he described how intensive care patients and premature babies in incubators were wheeled onto the street in the middle of the night. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7833919.stm)
On January 19, UN official John Ging said half a million people in Gaza had been without water since the conflict began - huge numbers were without power. Four thousand homes have been ruined and tens of thousands of people are homeless. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7836869.stm)
It is now known that the Israeli army (the IDF) used white phosphorus incendiary weapons - designed to burst over a wide area and burn to the bone - against civilian targets, including hospitals and UN buildings. The use of these weapons against civilians is a war crime.
Surgeons in Gaza have reported numerous, unusual cases where bomb victims had lost both legs rather than one, raising suspicions that the Israeli military used Dense Inert Metal Explosive (Dime) bombs - experimental weapons that generate micro-shrapnel that burns and destroys everything within a four-metre radius. Dr. Erik Fosse, a Norwegian surgeon, commented:
"We suspect they used Dime weapons because we saw cases of huge amputations or flesh torn off the lower parts of the body. The pressure wave [from a Dime device] moves from the ground upwards and that's why the majority of patients have huge injuries to the lower part of the body and abdomen... The problem is that most of the patients I saw were children. If they [the Israelis] are trying to be accurate, it seems obvious these weapons were aimed at children." (Patrick O'Connor, 'Reports reveal devastation wreaked by Israeli military in Gaza,' World Socialist Web Site, January 20, 2008; http://www.wsws.org/articles/ 2009/jan2009/gaza-j20.shtml)
The IDF also used hideous "flachette bombs" - high-tech nail bombs that shower victims with small metal darts that penetrate flesh and bone.
(http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/ politics/international_politics/phosphorus+controversy +in+gaza++/2909012)
The BBC - Impartial or Immoral?
Despite this carnage, despite the fact that 89% of Gaza's 1.5 million residents have received no humanitarian aid since Israel began its assault (http://www.maannews.net/en/ index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=35162), the Guardian notes that the BBC has refused to broadcast a national humanitarian appeal for Gaza, "leaving aid agencies with a potential shortfall of millions of pounds in donations." (Jenny Percival, 'Broadcasters refuse to air Gaza charity appeal,' The Guardian, January 23, 2008;
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/ 2009/jan/22/gaza-charity-appeal)
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), an umbrella organisation for 13 aid charities, launched its Gaza appeal yesterday saying the devastation was "so huge that British aid agencies were compelled to act". (Ibid.)
By refusing to give free airtime to the appeal, the BBC made a rare decision to breach an agreement dating back to 1963. Other broadcasters then also rejected it. The DEC's chief executive, Brendan Gormley, said:
"We are used to our appeal getting into every household and offering a safe and necessary way for people to respond. This time we will have to work a lot harder because we won't have the free airtime or the powerful impact of appearing on every TV and radio station." (Ibid.)
A BBC website article defending the BBC's refusal to broadcast the Gaza appeal, asserted:
"The BBC decision was made because of question marks about the delivery of aid in a volatile situation and also to avoid any risk of compromising public confidence in the BBC's impartiality in the context of an ongoing news story." (http://news.bbc.co.uk/ 1/hi/uk/7846150.stm)
Gormley rejected the BBC's claim that there were question marks about the delivery of aid, saying 100 lorries a day were entering Gaza. He also challenged the alleged problem with "impartiality":
"We are totally apolitical and are driven by the principles of the Geneva conventions in terms of impartiality and neutrality. This appeal is a response to those humanitarian principles. The BBC seems to be confusing impartiality with equal airtime." (Percival, op. cit)
ITV said: "The DEC asked all broadcasters if they could support the appeal. We (the broadcasters) assessed the DEC's requirements carefully against the agreed criteria and we were unable to reach the consensus necessary for an appeal." (Ibid.)
Sky said: "We were considering this request internally when the DEC contacted us to let us know that the BBC had decided not to broadcast the appeal at this time. As, by convention, if all broadcasters do not carry the appeal then none do, the decision was effectively made for us." (Ibid.)
This immoral and callous decision by the BBC in response to the suffering of the people of Gaza should not go unchallenged. Please complain using the phone number and email addresses below:
The goal of Media Lens is to promote rationality, compassion and respect for others. If you do write to journalists, we strongly urge you to maintain a polite, non-aggressive and non-abusive tone.
Phone the BBC from the UK on: 03700 100 222
Mark Thompson, BBC Director-General
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Caroline Thomson, BBC Chief Operations Officer
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Helen Boaden, Director of BBC news
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Peter Horrocks, Head of BBC TV News
Email: email@example.com
Richard Sambrook, Director of the World Service and Global News
Email: email@example.com
General complaints to the BBC can be submitted via this form:


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Berlin to Phuket Flights (TXL-HKT)
Berlin to Phuket
Berlin to Phuket
Berlin to Phuket
Berlin to Phuket
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17.10.202014 Days840EUR
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25.02.20207 Days848EUR
Berlin to Phuket
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Berlin Tegel Airport is conveniently located just 9 km northwest of Berlin, making it easy to get from the city centre to the airport. Although TXL is not connected to the city by train, there are several BVG bus lines which link the airport and the U-Bahn and S-Bahn. The airport is also connected to the A111 motorway and taxis are available to take you from the city to the airport in 25 minutes.
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Phuket, Thailand's largest island, enjoys a rich and colourful history, but it is even better known as the ultimate holiday destination for people from all over the world. Patong Beach is famous for its wild nightlife, but don't let it be the only place you see. There are many beaches around the island and numerous activities and attractions for a fun-filled and diverse vacation. This Finnair travel guide to Phuket will show you how to make the most of your time on the island and have a holiday to remember.
Sights in Phuket
When it comes to beaches, Phuket offers some of the best around. Kata Beach has soft sands backed by palm trees and the small Kata Noi offers a quieter vibe and terrific views. The tiny Ya Nui Beach is incredibly picturesque, Freedom Beach is like a little deserted paradise and popular Surin Beach has plenty of facilities. Nai Harn Beach has a sparkling lake right behind it, with the sandy stretch sandwiched between lake and ocean. Patong Beach is raucous with lots of water sports and beach bars and Bangtao Beach is one of the island's longest shores. Even more gorgeous beaches to visit include Kamala Beach, Laem Singh Beach and Banana Beach. While spending your days swimming in refreshing waters and basking on soft white sands may sound deliciously appealing, Phuket does offer a lot more variety. Around the island there are countless possibilities for diving, surfing, fishing, and even playing golf. To experience some culture you can pay a visit to Thalang National Museum and Wat Chalong Temple. The 45-metre-tall (147.6-foot-tall) Big Buddha is one of the island's main landmarks … and it's easy to see why! Sacred shrines are dotted around the island, including the Taoist Shrine of the Serene Light and the Chinese-Buddhist Jui Tui Shrine. The towns are a fun mix of colonial and Chinese architecture, and in Phuket Old Town you'll see traditional Chinese shophouses and a former red light district.
Get close to wildlife at Toh Sae Hill. Also known as Monkey Hill, the highest hill in Phuket is home to around 400 mischievous macaque monkeys. The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project is a worthy visit, with the sanctuary rehabilitating gibbons with the goal of returning them to the wild. The Soi Dog Foundation works to improve the conditions, and lower the numbers, of stray dogs in Thailand, and the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary lets you get close to these magnificent beasts and learn more about ethical elephant experiences in Thailand. For something fun and unusual, check out Phuket Trickeye Museum and Baan Teelanka. The first is a cool interactive museum with lots of 3D artwork; the second is an upside-down house. Touring the Chalong Bay Rum Distillery is another unique activity in Phuket. Take a cooking class, join a yoga session, have a massage, relax in a luxurious spa and watch stunning sunsets from Karon Viewpoint or Promthep Cape. Phuket FantaSea is the island's answer to Disney and it's popular with kids and adults alike. Simon's Cabaret is a family-friendly ladyboy show and Siam Niramit includes dancing, acting, music and traditional costumes for a spectacular cultural event. If pulsating nightlife is more up your street, don't miss the infamous Bangla Road.
Things to See and Do Near Phuket
- Phang Nga Bay – Offering one of Thailand's most iconic views, this striking bay, with its greenery-clad limestone karsts, is located between the provinces of Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi. There are several small islands, islets and rock formations, with the most famous being Koh Tapu; also known as James Bond Island.
- Khao Sok National Park – A scenic wildlife reserve located just a couple of hours' drive from Phuket, offering hiking in the lush wildlife-rich jungle and boat trips around the large lake.
- Khao Lak – A beautiful mainland beach resort with a low-key and family-friendly vibe.
- Similan Islands – This island group is one of the best places in Thailand for scuba diving.
Shopping in Phuket
Although not a major shopping destination, Phuket does its best to cater to international visitors who may want to give their credit cards a workout. Prices are often higher here than elsewhere around the country, so keep that in mind if visiting Phuket as part of a multi-destination trip. There are numerous small shops and street vendors as well as markets and shopping centres. Local products include pearls and dried seafood.
- Phuket Town – One of the best places to find a large variety of gifts and souvenirs in a fairly compact area, the streets of Montri, Ratsada and Yaowarat have a wide array of trinkets and knickknacks.
- Beaches – Vendors patrol the sands of the busier beaches, selling things you may expect, like beach clothes, sunglasses, cold drinks and snacks, and things you might not expect so much, such as carved wooden fruit baskets, ornamental statues of the Lord Buddha, bangles and other souvenirs. Remember to haggle if something catches your eye.
- Jungceylon – Located in Patong, this is one of the two major shopping malls in Phuket. Stores cater to diverse tastes and budgets and there are around 200 stores to browse in air-conditioned comfort.
- Central Festival – Situated on the outskirts of Phuket Town, this is the other major shopping centre in Phuket. You'll find plenty of international brands as well as local goods. Prices are generally fixed, though some store owners may offer discounts for multiple purchases.
- Premium Outlet Phuket – This is an ideal shopping spot for visitors who want to pick up branded products at discount prices. You'll find goods from Nike, Pierre Cardin, Lacoste, Lee, Guy Laroche and more.
- Banzaan Market – A fresh produce market in the heart of frenetic Patong, this is a great place for stocking up on self-catering supplies or simply sampling a slice of local life.
- Naka Market – Held every weekend, this evening event is also known as Phuket Town Weekend Night Market. A large market, it attracts tourists and locals alike, with almost anything you could imagine found somewhere among the diverse stalls. Clothing, pet accessories, handbags, jewellery, lamps, toys, ornaments, art work, pre-cooked meals and fresh fruit are just a few things you're likely to find here.
Food and Drink
- Rum - Chalong Bay Rum Distillery is located in Phuket, producing white rum that is starting to become famous outside of the island.
- Mee hoon baa chaang – A basic local dish, consisting of stir-fried noodles with soy sauce and topped with spring onion.
- Moo satay – This grilled pork on sticks comes with a bag of peanut sauce for dipping.
- Poh pia – These Phuket-style spring rolls are similar in consistency (though not in the filling) to those found in Singapore and Malaysia. The thin rice paper wrapping contains pork, grated turnip, green beans and a sweet and tangy sauce.
- Kaeng som – A speciality from Southern Thailand, this sour fish curry also contains an assortment of vegetables and sometimes even fruit.
Transport in Phuket
As a hugely popular holiday destination, getting around Phuket is often easy. It is, however, generally a lot more expensive than in other parts of the country, with inflated prices because of the large number of international visitors. If you remain around a particular beach / resort area, many places will be reachable on foot. If you wish to explore other parts of the island, though, you'll need to use some form of transportation.
- By foot – Walking between the beach and major hotels, nightlife areas, restaurants and shops is generally easy in the main tourist areas like Patong and Kata.
- Shuttles – Many hotels offer shuttle services to Phuket Town.
- Songthaews – These are converted pickup trucks that have two benches in the back. They typically operate on set routes around the island, usually looped, connecting the beach resorts with Phuket Town. They pick up anywhere along the route; simply flag one down. Ring the bell when you want to get off. Prices are fixed and you pay the driver.
- Tuk tuks – A private-hire type of vehicle, always negotiate a price before starting a journey in a tuk tuk.
- Taxis – There are plentiful taxis in Phuket, though many drivers will refuse to use the meter. Agree prices before starting your trip. It helps to ask in your accommodation for rough ideas of how much the fare should be to a certain place to avoid grossly overpaying. Taxis can be ordered by telephone or flagged down on the street.
- Motorbike taxi – A convenient way for solo passengers to get from A to B, motorbike taxi drivers wear vests to distinguish them from regular motorcyclists. Arrange a price before starting your ride. It is recommended to always wear a helmet, although some drivers do not always have them available. This method of transport is more suited for short distances.
- Boats – Long-tail boats connect Phuket with nearby islands. Island-hopping day trips are popular. Prices are usually advertised but negotiating is possible, especially in the low season.
- Rental scooter – There are many scooter rental companies in Phuket and they can be a cost-effective way for one or two people to explore the island. Do always ensure you wear a helmet and suitable clothing, and it is imperative that you have comprehensive insurance. Renting a scooter is not recommended for people who have no previous riding experience and who do not have the relevant license.
- Rental car – Several car hire companies can be found in Phuket. Do check insurance terms first, remember to drive on the left-hand side of the road and check fuel policies before setting off. Also, make a note of any scratches or damage before taking possession of the vehicle to avoid any potential problems when returning it.
Weather in Phuket
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subset: commoncrawl


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Please join us for Evening Worship. This service is the same service (if not, abbreviated) that is offered on Sunday Morning. If you are unable to make Sunday and Monday works better for you, we would love to have you!
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: December 9Sunday School, Teen Bible Study, Adult Bible Study
Later Event: December 11Confirmation Class


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173 shops. 215 eateries. And more than 5,000 businesses in one-half a square mile. Learning in a dynamic, urban environment has its advantages. Here are but a few of them:
- The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership offers one of the country's largest high-performance outdoor wireless networks. Even better – each day's first two-hours are free. Learn more here
- Nearly 170 bus and light rail routes can get you nearly anywhere you want to go.
- Pittsburgh's three rivers all converge at Point State Park, which features an iconic fountain.
- The Rink at PPG Place is larger than Rockefeller Center's!
- Several bike trails are available, as well as the chance to kayak along the North Shore.
- Find out more at http://www.downtownpittsburgh.com


text: This Northern UK beauty has the high cheekbones and sultry elegance of a certain type of gloriously hot English babe. Her long brunette locks and light seductive cat eyes flatter her incredible curvy physique, and those huge breasts certainly add to her charm. A stellar performer with fashion model good looks has brought many admirers her way. Seeing Tara get her cunt split in hardcore scenes in the UK inspired us to invite her to share her erotic talents here on the best pornsite around. Check out her luscious curves and lusty fucking action here on Brazzers in vivid HD.


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Reserve this product between 4 weeks and 3 days before you fly and we'll have it ready to collect when you're at the airport.
Product availability check
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Reservation Window
- Add to Basket & ReserveAdd the items you want to reserve to your basket and complete the order form. No payment is taken and you have no obligation to purchase.
- ConfirmHeathrow's Shopping Services Team will confirm the price and availability of your reservation request.
- Collect & PayWhen you arrive at Heathrow, visit the store where you have made your reservation to collect and pay for your shopping.
Product information
"Serpenti Diamond Blast" shoulder bag in black quilted nappa leather body and black calf leather frames. Iconic snakehead closure in dark ruthenium plated brass enriched with black and white enamel and black onyx eyes.


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jspiker77 needed a new banner ad design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 51 designs submitted by 15 freelance designers.
I am looking to give my site a new fresh look and I am starting with the header.
Offering over 15,000 Titles at a HUGE Discount
Desired Color Scheme:
Light flowing colors blues, greens etc
Desired Style:
Vector as to easy integration to the Asp.net pages
Accepted File Formats:
psd, png
As you can see this site is currently a little stark. I am looking for a new page header that gives this site a little life and then I will be focusing on the rest.
What I am looking for is chearful colors such as blues, greens, etc. I would also like to see a "geek" in the header along with something referencing software as to the site is SoftwareGeek.com.
The design doesn't have to completly flow with the category headers as to I am going to those graphics redone in another listing but the header you design will be the "all mighty" for the site flow.
If there is anything specific that I can answer please let me know.


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This European summer we have been busy taking the 'Save The Arctic' campaign around the summer festival circuit. So far we have been to Nova, Latitude and WOMAD. Next up is the Wilderness Festival.
Our mission was to sign people up to become Arctic Defenders and to campaign to make the Arctic a protected zone in the same way that we managed to protect Antarctica which was declared a World Park in 1991.
To do this we created a vintage explorers. This setting allowed people to be photographed dressed as Arctic explorers and have their pictures taken and sent to others around the world. It was amazing to see people dressed up throwing snowballs at each other in this setting whilst festival goers walking by were wearing sombreros and shorts!
The famous polar explorer Jim McNeill, who was involved in filming for Frozen Planet, was also at the camp and he shared his stories and experiences of the Arctic with our visiters. Other storytellers shared their stories with the crowd. Some were educational and some were bewildering fictional tales of princesses and polar bears, which the kids loved.
On the other side of our camp we built a life-sized 'Ice cave' for Paula the Polar bear to live in. It was great to see the faces of people when they saw a huge ice cave with a moving polar bear inside, it definitely was a head turner! We also had face masks depicting four key Arctic species for the kids to colour in and wear around the festivals. Our face painting corner was also very popular.
So look out for us this weekend at Wilderness and we'll also be at the Thames festival on the 8th and 9th of September. See you soon?
P.s. If we don't see you this festival season, you can join the movement for a protected Arctic here.


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Orange County bust leads to six arrests
Orange County Sheriff's deputies arrested six people on Tuesday, April 29 and Wednesday April 30, after a traffic stop led to a search warrant of a local residence.
On April 29 at about 10:10 p.m., detectives with the Orange County Sheriff's Office Special Services Division were patrolling the area of Highway 62 near Tulane Road in Orange when they observed a white Ford pick- up truck northbound on the Hwy 62 service road near the overpass with Tulane Road. The truck reportedly veered across the center yellow dividing lines of the northbound and southbound lanes and crossed into the oncoming lane of travel. After the truck veered back into the northbound lane, it then crossed over the white line into the unimproved shoulder area. Detectives conducted a traffic stop on the white Ford truck for the traffic violations, OCSO reports.
As the vehicle was pulling over, detectives observed an object, which was later determined to be a methamphetamine pipe, thrown from the driver's side window of the vehicle. Detectives searched the vehicle and located a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. The three occupants in the truck were arrested and transported to the Orange County Jail.
The driver was identified as 34-year-old Timothy Murphy of Orange. The passengers were identified as 33-year-old Sarah Smith of Orange and 31-year-old Jonathan Quebedeaux of Vidor.
During the book-in process at the jail, OCSO reports that Sarah Smith was found to be in possession of methamphetamine that was hidden under her clothing. It was then discovered that she also had an amount of illegal drugs concealed "in her body parts," according to the news release. She was transported to the hospital so that the remaining illegal drugs could be removed from her person by a medical professional. The concealed illegal drugs were determined by investigators to be methamphetamine.
All three suspects were charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, a 2nd Degree Felony, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a Class C Misdemeanor. Timothy Murphy had an additional charge of Unlawfully Carrying a Weapon, a Class A Misdemeanor. Jonathan Quebedeaux had an additional charge of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, a 3rd Degree Felony.
On the morning of Wednesday, April 30, Justice of the Peace David Peck arraigned the three suspects and set Murphy's and Quebedeaux's bonds at $30,500 each. Smith's bond was set at $25,000. All three remain in custody at the Orange County Jail.
Search Warrant
During the investigation after the arrests of the three suspects, detectives were able to obtain a search warrant for Timothy Murphy's residence at 5438 South Burton Road in Orange. OCSO Deputies executed the warrant at about 10:07 a.m. on April 30. Three suspects were located in the residence at the time of the search warrant, and all three were allegedly found to be in possession of methamphetamine. One of the suspects, a previously convicted felon, was found to be in possession of a firearm.
The three suspects were arrested and transported to the Orange County Jail. They were identified as 40-year-old Jason Penn of Orange; 31-year-old white female, Tarah Murphy of Orange; and 19-year-old Hillary Fenton of Beaumont. All three were booked for Possession of a Controlled Substance. Fenton and Murphy possessed a 3rd Degree Felony amount of methamphetamine and Penn possessed a 2nd Degree Felony amount of methamphetamine, according to OCSO. Penn also had an additional charge of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, a 3rd Degree Felony. All are currently in the Orange County Jail awaiting arraignment.
Sheriff Keith Merritt said he "will continue utilizing every resource the Sheriff's Office has available to take drugs off the streets and out of our neighborhoods in Orange County."


text: You know you have good friends when they gift you the world's best caramel corn ever. Well I mean, I think my recipe is the best caramel corn recipe ever, but prepackaged this is the stuff. Kristin picked this Pinkleton's caramel corn up on her recent vacation to Portland and knowing my love of snacks, caramel corn and cardamom, she knew I needed to try it too. The flavor is outrageous. It is at once bitter and sweet with subtle and bold flavors. It's the perfect crunchy texture. And I didn't want to share it. I also knew that if I wasn't careful, I would end up eating the whole bag in one sitting. I ate some on the beach during a family picnic. I packed this in my suitcase for my New York trip (I never like to be snacky in a hotel with only a mini bar available) and brought the rest home with me. This would make a great gift for the foodies and snack lovers in your life. I'm dying to try the other flavors too! I mean – salted vanilla, salted molasses and spicy mexican cocoa?! Order some for you summer vacations. You're welcome. And thank you, Kristin, for knowing me so well!


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Feminist News
Texas Becomes First State to Require HPV Vaccine
Texas Governor Rick Perry (R) on Friday issued an executive order that made Texas the first state to require girls entering the sixth grade to receive the HPV vaccine, beginning in September 2008. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Gardasil, a vaccine that prevents several strands of the sexually transmitted disease human papillomavirus (HPV), in June 2006. Gardasil is approved for women ages nine-26 to prevent cervical cancer and genital warts caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18.
Though Governor Perry is known as a social conservative, his press secretary, Robert Black, told The Dallas Morning News, "He came to the conclusion it was the right thing to do. You don't have opportunities like this where you can certainly prevent a cancer. It�s never happened before, so it would be irresponsible to walk away from it."
Texas has the second highest number of women with cervical cancer in the country, the New York Times reports. Governor Perry pointed out in his executive order that there were 1,169 new cases and 391 deaths from cervical cancer in Texas in 2006.
funny gifs funny pictures funny images funny photos
Media Resources: Dallas Morning News 2/3/07; Executive Order RP65 2/2/07; New York Times 2/3/07


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There will be much more written and many photos to come when our editors get back to the offices, but there are a few things worth mentioning the morning after the event.
I am told that the mood following the U.S. Open this year was crazy good. I am sure some anglers were dissapointed in how they did overall, or how they did on the last day. But the general atmosphere was that this was a very special OPEN. The was a buzz at the awards ceremonyin the RAILHEAD ROOM at the BOULDER STATION Hotel & Casino which was unmistakingly positive.
Unlike many bass tournament awards banquets this one was packed, quite possibly because the first 150 or so were promised and then given an asssortment of lures from our sponsors, and that we still had a lot of big prizes to award in raffles. Three more trolling motors from Motorguide and 9 Optima Blue Top Batteries that came with them were still to be given away, as was a Lowrance unit, and a lot of other super prizes such as Plano tackle boxes stuffed with lures from the many U.S. Open sponsors. So there was this big crowd and guys were done fishing and just having a good time after 3 gruelling days on Lake Mead. The Railhead room is by the way a great place to host a party, so everything was just as you would like it to be.
As people enetered the room they were given a chance to enter a raffle to get a signed jersey from Kevin VanDam, with all the money all going to the Wounded Warriors fund. I think the fishermen bought $2,800.00 in tickets for the Wounded Warriors, so that was really cool. The bass anglers were in a festive mood and it was just a great party atmosphere, and most everyone was happy to have been a part of another great U.S. Open.
When you get a big crowd of bass fishermen together and a popular star like Aaron Marten wins the mood tends to be very upbeat, so the place was rocking, guys got prizes and awards, and some were having a cocktail or two. Things were going along and the awards are being handed out, among them the fiftenn $1,000.00 big fish winners. Everyone getting a check was getting lots of cheers and support from the large crowd, but what was about to happen wasn't at all expected and brought the already boisterous crowd to its feet.
One of the winners was the young AAA from Texas, Carson Sims, who is only 13 years old. He came to the US OPEN with his dad who is a big stick who has won 5-6 boats in tournaments back home in Texas, and Carson is about 6 foot tall, so this isn't your typical 13 year old angler. Anyway Carson comes up to the stage to get his $1,000.00 big fish check and he gets a larger than average round of applause just because he is a great young kid and he and his dad had already impressed many in attendance during the week. Then without missing a beat Carson steps up to the microphone and donates his $1,000.00 check to the WOUNDED WARRIORS. Needless to say the crowd went totally nuts at this point, and it put an explmation point on what already was a great evening.
It's really great to put on a big tournaemnt like the U.S. Open and have it go really well, then crown a great Champion like Aaron Martens. But it was more than just that in that we were also able to do some good as a group of anglers, and raise a little money for charity.
Hopefully this is just a start and we can do more and bigger things going forward. Our sponsors even threw a great, free cocktail party on Saturday evening for the anglers and their wives or guest, and that was yet another nice touch that sort of gets lost in the whole deal.
Our sincerest thanks to the anglers and sponsors who made this a great tournament and who were gracious enough to support the WOUNDED WARRIORS with their donantions. Good job and thanks to everyonbe involved!
by Bob Twilegar
President, Western Outdoors Publications
Final Group now coming up...
Two time U.S. Open winner Clifford Pirch has a good bag with 8.85-lbs. Great job and way to finish strong.Here comes Gary Klein and it looks like his bag has some weight in it! Everyone is pretty excited as the scale settles on a weight and it's 8.84-lbs ! There is a good reason why these guys can compete wherever they go and at any level.Boris Antolos continues his good fishing at the U.S. Open and today he has 10.36-lbs!That's it. The U.S. Open is finished and the weights will be checked, double checked, and everyone will head back to the big awards event at the Boulder Station in the Railhead room. Lot's of money, awards and more sponsor prizes to be awarded, including 3 more Motorguide trolling motors, that come with 3 bateries each. The final, offcial standings will be up immediately after the are announced to the anglers.
Shawn Lee, who was in second place and who will take the lead with a decent weight today is now coming to the scales.Chris Bozarth the leader left the door open with today and let's see what happens now. Shawn has less than the other days and 7.64-lbs. is his official weight today. It will be interesting to see how this all shakes out.Roumbanis just dropped 7.41 pounds of bass on the scales.Unofficially we have: Peltier at 31.26 lbs/Lee 30.71-lbsKlinger at 29.19-lbs.But Marten and Klein still have to weigh in...And right on que here comes Aaron towards the scales....It's 10.51 lbs. !!!!
We still have Klein out there, but this can't be any more dramatic. The crowd is going nuts.
4:00 Update
Matt Massey weighed in a good 9.47-lb.sack of fish which will help him.Gary Boyd is in the same good neighborhood with 9.81 lbs.So far 290 fish have been brought to the scales and so far today 1/3 of them are smallmouths. Very few fish were DOA despite the heat. The Nevada Department of Wildlife works with WON BASS during the U.S. Open and goes to great lengths to make sure that extra steps are taken to protect the fish during these hot summer months.U.S. Open legend Mike Folkestad was in 13th place and he just weighed in a 3.27 pound big fish, but his bag was only 5.08-lbs today.The 7th flight is coming in soon with some of the leaders.
3:15 Update
John Murray weighed 5 fish for 8.15 pounds mostly fishing football jigs with craw baits deep. It seems like a lot of different baits and styles are working for some, but other anglers can't find anything that works today.Gabe Bolivar just made the point again by weighing in10.45 pounds on topwater baits.Dick Watson was right behind him but he struggled a bit trying to get a limit and only had 4 fish for 6.12-lbs.Young professional Kyle Grover who is a major force in the southern California team Inland Empire region weighed in with 7.30-lbs. Give this young man a few more years of experience on the professional circuit and his talent will get him a lot of victories on the Pro tour too.Chris Bozarth was our leader, but he just came in with only three fish which weighed 4.82 pounds. He had a great tournament regardless, but no doubt today will haunt him for a while. He is still in the hunt, but Klein and Martens are still out there.
2:50 Update
Kevin Johnson just came to the scales and he has 7.70-lbs which seems to be a good, but not a winning weight today. Kevin has been in contention the last few years at the U.S. Open and is one of the top touring fishermen out west. He is a very good pro and didn't show his disappointment much as he told the large crowd that his fish came fishing a drop shot.Clunn just came to the scales and he only had 3 fish for a little less than 5-pounds. You can tell that he is one of the crowd favorites even as he approaches the stage. Everyone appreciates him being at the U.S. OPEN and many were pulling for him to win it again.
At 2:00 PM as we are waiting for the first guys to come to the scales it's 110 degrees and dead calm, no wind at all at Callville Bay. The bay itself is mirror calm. Inside the big tent at the top of the launch ramp by the the marina store the stage is set up again today. But today there is a larger, standing room only crowd, and there is a real buzz as friends, familly and fans wait for the anglers to come up to the scales.
One of the first to come to the scales is Dave Peltier who came into today in 5th place, and he starts the day off with a big 10.13-lbs ! Tough to know at this point if that is going to be huge bag or if today's weights are going to be big for everyone.
Joe Uribe, one of the other guys near the top of the standing just came in and only had 4-pounds today, so now we have seen both extreemes and we're just getting started.
Moses Mokuahi, another leader who was in 4th place going into today just weighed in only four fish for 6.68-ilbs, He burned 58 gallons today and came in on fumes.Continuing the up and down trend today, John Morrow was in 31st place and he just plopped 12.08-pounds of bass on the scales, with two bug smallmouths close to 3-lbs each.Duane Cowley weighed in a 4.17-pound Big Bass.Rich Tauber weighed in a 6.68 sack and told the crowd that all of them were caught burning a spinnerbait.
Korean pro angler buys Nitro boat
Are wondering what happened to the Nitro Z8 U.S. Open tournament boat that was parked out in front of the Boulder Station Hotel and Casino? Professional angler Siwon Kang liked fishing out of the Nitro loaner boat so much after day-one of the tournament; he bought it to fish the rest of the tournament.
Kang with a 2.67 smallie on day-two
Kang day-two
Eleven and twelve pounds is the target weight
U.S. Open anglers that brought eleven or twelve pounds to the scales yesterday made big jumps into the top ten. Moses Mokuahi of Las Vegas rocked the scales and jumped from 23rd place into 4th place with a 12.10 pound sack.
Long time supporter of WON BASS Dr. Randy Estrada of Corona made a move from 49th place into 9th place with a big sack of 11.81 pounds.
Another long time supporter of WON BASS Boris Antolos of Torrance launched into the top ten with 11.35 pounds and a move from 39th place into 8th place. "I made a bad decision on day-one and second guessed myself with the cloud cover," said Antolos. "I changed my game plan and it hurt me. I'm back on my game and should weigh in another big bag tomorrow."
Tournament leader and local angler from Henderson Chris Bozarth weighed in an 11.89 pond sack on day-one and 11.31 ponds on day-two. "I'm on em', said Bozarth.
It will take eleven or twelve pounds to win this tournament today and like always, its have 3 days of 10 pounds or better or you are out of the running for the win.
Bors Antolos with 11.35 pounds on day-two.
Get ready folks, this year's WON BASS U.S. Open is going down to the wire!
Las Vegas, Nev. — The closer any sporting event comes to a photo finish, the more exciting it invariably becomes. The same can be applied to any bass tournament, but it becomes even more exhilarating in the context of the U.S. Open. And given the Open takes place on the waters of Lake Mead, within the confines of Las Vegas, it seems only appropriate that the cards would fall into place for a truly nail-biting finish.
The leaderboard changed rather significantly this afternoon, as some anglers fell from grace, while others ascended the ranks. Chris Bozarth maintained his lofty position, weighing in another solid 11.31 pounds, and taking the first-place slot. Aaron Martens managed a hearty 9.62 pounds; enough to secure third place at the end of day two. Shawn Lee jumped to second place with a 12.18-pound bag, and Moses Mokuahi skyrocketed from 23rd to fourth place with 12.10 pounds. Boris Antolos probably made the most impressive leap, landing in eighth place, from 39th the day prior. David Peltier moved from sixth to fifth place with 10.06 pounds.
On the AAA side, Tyler Vanderhorst retained his first-place position, Ryan Yamagata landed in second, Tom Kruse (of Boat Bling) was in third, 13-year-old Carson Sims found himself in fourth, and Justin Martens rounded out the top five.
As it stands right now, a mere 2 pounds, 7 ounces separates first from fifth place, while .13 pounds lies between first and second. In short, this one's going down to the wire, and it's certainly anyone's tournament. Stay tuned folks, as this one could be one of the best U.S. Open finishes in the history of WON BASS.
"I'm having a great time said," said Mrs. Fleck. Her husband is AAA angler Joel Fleck of Menifee CA. "We are having some great family time and I have met some of the other wives, made some new friends, and we are hanging out together at the pool and gambling.
"I have been gambling and winning, hanging out at the pool, met some new friends, and just having a great time," said Cindy Delgado who's husband is AAA angler Doug Delgado of West Lake Village, CA.
Rick Clunn and lake conditions
I spoke with Rick Clunn at the Anglers Appreciation night and he said, "Many anglers thought the fishing would be better with the high water, but it actually makes it more difficult because last year you could pull into a cove or bay and pinpoint where you would catch 3 or 4 fish. This year there will be 10-20 spots that look like they would be holding fish and there not there. So it's taking a lot longer to catch the quality bass needed to win."
Clunn told Steve Menudo of WON BASS, "You just have to pick the right bush holding the larger bass for the big bags in this event. Clunn only weighed in an 8.65 pound sack yesterday and is sitting in 36th place, but he's Rick Clunn, don't count him out just yet.
Clunn heads to the scales on day-one
Clunn at the scales on day-one.
Big bass goes to 13-year-old angler
Carson Sims of Boerne Texas, the youngest angler to ever fish the Open, on day-one caught the big bass of the day, a smallmouth that tip the scales at 4.40. Cason also caught what would have been the second big bass of the day another 4 pounder to add to the total weight of the day 11.29.
Now for the kicker, the young angler from Texas drew Aaron Martens for day-two of the competition. When I ask Sims who he drew for day-two he replied, "Aaron Marten, who is he?" I couldn't believe what I had heard, first of all that he drew Aaron Martens and second he didn't know who he was. I told him Martens is one of the best anglers in the world and second one of the best anglers on Lake Mead.
"The bass aren't as big here as they are in Texas," said Sims at the weigh-in scales. Sims and his father Claude Sims, have been fishing team events in Texas and winning a few events this year. His father has won 5 boats in 7 years in Texas and knows his way around a bass tournament.
"I'm so excited for Carson," I don't care if I catch another fish for the rest of the tournament. We came here for Carson and he has already had the time of his life," said his father.
Carson Sims is sitting in 8th place and everyone will be watching to see how the young angler from Texas fares today, fishing with one of the best anglers in the world, Aaron Martens.
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — While a number of familiar faces represented the top anglers on day one of the WON BASS U.S. Open, there were a handful of relative unknowns (at least in California) that proved their mettle on one of the most difficult fisheries in the West, perhaps even the entire country.
Past U.S. Open champion Aaron Martens is certainly no stranger to the winner's circle, which, ironically enough, is where he found himself after weighing in a 12.98-pound bag; in first place, more specifically. The legendary Gary Klein resided in fourth place with a total weight of 11.35 pounds. Second in the Pro division went to Ray Arbesu and his 12.37-pound, 5-fish limit, while third belonged to Chris Bozarth and his 11.89 pounds. Young Wade Strelic rounded out the top five with an 11.28-pound limit.
On the AAA side of things, it was Tyler Vanderhorst in first, Douglas Minor in second, David Shearrer in third, Bill Byrd in fourth, and Ryan Yamagata in fifth.
Past champions and top-five finishers aside, however, one of the most exciting facets of day-one competition were the impressive achievements of two of the youngest U.S. Open anglers in the history of the event. Thirteen-year-old (yes, 13) Carson Sims ventured all the way from Texas — where he's already making a name for himself, along with his father — to fish the Open, and managed an incredible 11.29 pounds penalty alongside his Pro, Shawn Lee, (minus .40 pounds for a dead-fish). Sims also bagged the day-one big fish of 4.4 pounds. Also worth mentioning might be the fact the young angler drew Aaron Martens as his Pro for tomorrow's competition. This should prove to be interesting…
Another impressive finish was handed in by 17-year-old Mark McClain of Menifee, whose mother purchased his AAA U.S. Open entry as a graduation gift. He fished with Joe Uribe Jr. for a 10.93-pound bag.
The Open is up for grabs, as two more days of fishing remain, but as things are shaping up, keep an eye out for those mentioned above.
Aaron Martens is all smiles as he leads the tournament with 12.98
2nd Place Ray Arbesuwith 12.37.
3rd Place Chris Bozarth 11.89.
4th Place Gary Klein with 11.35.
5th Place Wade Strelic with 11.28.
Day 1 crowd
Tony Schultz and his new holding tanks.
The partner pairing for day one are up Click HERE to get to them.
It's really getting much warmer than the last few days in Las Vegas and at Lake Mead. The were predictions of possible rain today, but it's mostly just humid with temperatures up to 110 degrees.
Many of the bigger fish today have been smallmouths, including the biggest one caught by the 13 year old AAA from Texas, Carson Simms. Carson will be paired with Aaron Martens tomorrow so the young man is really getting his money's worth on the first couple of days of fishing the US OPEN.
Chris Bozarth ended things up today by bringing 11.89 pounds to the scales, so while it looks like Aaron will be wearing the yellow jacket after day one there are many right on his heels.
Sean Stafford performs on the big stage as expected and just came in with with a 10.83-pound sack of fish.
Dave Peltier and Yasuhiro Okuda check in with 11.07-lbs and are also in great shape after day 1.
3:25 pm- A lot of people in contention for sure....
Joe Uribe came to the scales with 10.93-lbs
John Mackey is in it with 10.63-lbs.
Klayton Beldon is right behind the leaders with 8.02-lbs.
We will try and get the draw report up soon too.
Scott Nielsen came in just now with 10.88
Two time winner Cifford Pirch came in with 9.15-lbs.
Brett Lieber with 10.15-lbs.
3:00 Update
Sean Lee came in with 11.25-lbs. but the great part of this story is that he also had a 4.4-lb smallie caught by 13-year old AAA Carson Simms.
2:45 Update U.S. Open
Aaron Marten just came in and had a big bag and is our new leader and big fish leader with 12.98-pounds and a 3.52-pound big fish.
Right behind him was another big name with a big sack of fish... Gary Klein with 11.35-pounds.
2:30 Update
We got some early results and it's typically Lake Mead so far on day one.
Clunn just came in with 8.65-lbs.
Then John Murray came in with 9.65-pound limit to take the early lead. Shortly thereafter Tom Leedom checked in with 10-65-lbs.
Claud Simms also weighed in with a 3.65 big fish.
More to come...
AAA Brian Caulfield is already a winner
Caullfield and Simmons first boat out day-one.
Sean Stafford Jr. drew Caulfield lucky ticket.
Caulfield won the Motorguide trolling motor and 3 Optima batteries.
Ladies are busy while anglers are on the water
While the U.S. Open anglers are on the water for day-one, the ladies had their Ladies Buffet Breakfast and Guess-The-Weight contest. The lady that comes closest to guessing her husband or boyfriends total weight of the tournament will win
U.S. Open day-one launch
U.S. Open day-one launch went smoothly and 112 boats were on the lake in 18 minutes.
Anglers launched with a patchy cloud cover and maybe a slight chance of rain in the morning hours. The weather forecast is calling for 105 degrees as a high for the day.
It looked like there were 3 times the Nitro boats on the water this year compared to last year and Mercury motors still a huge majority in the WON BASS events.
Word has it, Aaron Martens is on fish and the winning pattern just might be tailor made for his style of fishing. Martens could possible be the next 3 time winner of this event and Rick Clunn is also confident in this year's event and could also be a 3 time winner of the U.S. Open.
The first flight will weigh-in at 2:00 pm and a total of 8 flights total will come to the scales. Check back later for day-one standings.
Rick Clunn
The practice days are over and the anglers have a day off before the tournament starts tomorrow. The poker tournament started at 9:00 this morning, the sponsors showcase is at 2:00 pm, and the partner pairings are at 6:00 pm.
RIGGING RODS--left to right is Claude Sims, Carson Sims, and Joe Gunnells of Texas and getting ready for U.S.Open tomorrow.
Some of the anglers are making last minute tackle and boat preparations and others are just enjoying the day off before the 3 day event begins.
"Is that Gary Klein over there," said Carson Sims from Texas, the youngest angler to ever fish a U.S. Open event. Carson and his dad Claude were rigging rods on top of the Boulder Station garage this morning and Klein was in the boat next to them rigging his rods. I told Carson I would take him over and introduce him to Klein and he immediately said yes. "I got to meet Rick Clunn last night at the Angler Appreciation event last night and that was pretty cool," said Carson. Klein took some photos with Carson and they chatted as they rigged there rods for tomorrows event.
Pro angler Brett Leber of Dixon CA was also rigging rods with one of the Japanese anglers Naoaki Fujimoto of Osaka Japan. Leber spent 3 days on the water with 3 different Japanese anglers pre-fishing this last week.
Some of the anglers chose to play card at the poker tournament this morning and the non lucky card players, like me, chose to save their money and not donate to the cause.
I can't wait for the biggest bass fishing event to begin tomorrow!


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Gamespot • Page 2
Gamespot offers Conan PvP beta keys
Gamespot's offering and exclusive chance to get on the Age of Conan PvP beta weekend, running April 18-20. Find the details here. The site's giving away 15,000 slots on the test, and you'll need to be a registered Gamespot user to get involved. Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures releases globally on May 20.
Gerstmann: Gamespot fired me
Just in case there was any doubt left in anyone's mind that Gamespot ed ex-chief Jeff Gerstmann came to any mutual understanding about his position at Gamespot last year, consider it put to rest. In the words of the man himself, he was sacked. "I was fired, and kind of went home, decided to sit […]
Gerstmann sacker sacked from Gamespot
Kotaku's reporting that Josh Larson, CNET's VP of games, will be leaving after some "restructuring". While never officially implicated for the firing of Gamespot's Jeff Gerstmann last year in the now infamous – and nuclear – Gerstmanngate Kane & Lynch review scandal, insiders have made it clear that Larson was responsible for blurring the line […]
Gamespot goes on recruitment drive
Want to work for Gamespot? Have a definite love for Eidos games? Then take a look at this. Following a string of departures since last November, Gamespot is now on a major recruitment drive to plug the gaps. Do bear in mind that Gamespot editors face "a hefty and steady stream of review work each […]
Gamespot edits Lost Odyssey review but leaves score alone
As you can see here, Gamespot decided not to change the score on its Lost Odyssey review, as reported here. Instead, the reviewer took a look at the load times on the retail version, agreed they were shorter than had been pointed out in the original review, made an edit and turned the light out. […]
Gerstmann and Davis launch new podcast
Jeff Gerstmann and Ryan Davis, the two high profile departures from Gamespot after last year's Lynchgate review horror, have launched a new podcast called Arrow Pointing Down. We're going to listen to it later. Apparently the audio quality's terrible, but the kids don't care. Have a listen.
GDC: Mario Kart Wii playtests hit web
Both Gamespot and IGN have posted extensive playtests of Mario Kart Wii today, so if you're up for ploughing through about 20,000 words on a Nintendo racer, you're in luck. Gamespot got very excited about the whole thing, saying it was "pleased" with the game. There's no solid release date from either site other than […]
Gamespot could change Lost Odyssey score
According to this, Gamespot may change the score on its Lost Odyssey review because load times in the retail version may differ from those in the review code the site was given by Microsoft. "We will be purchasing retail copies of Lost Odyssey this morning at our local EBGames," said the game's reviewer on the […]
GameStop to carry AIAS award badges
There's no stopping "the Academy". The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, organiser of the self-styled videogames Oscars, has confirmed that US retailer GameStop is going to badge games with the awards they won this week at DICE in Las Vegas at the 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards. This means CoD4 will now carry a […]
Iwata: 10 million VC downloads doesn't mean end of discs
Speaking in a Gamespot interview, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has revealed that 10 million games have been downloaded from Wii's Virtual Console system, but that he doesn't believe downloaded content will replace retail discs in the current console cycle. "The current state of affairs is that the Virtual Console saw over 10 million downloads by […]
Davis: "Gerstmann firing destroyed me"
Gamespot staffer Ryan Davis has said that Jeff Gerstmann's sacking from the site last November signalled the end of his time at the site, at which he'd worked since 2000. "Jeff's firing just destroyed me, and I think it shed a light on the other stuff that I had been kind of rolling along with," […]
Ryan Davis quits Gamespot as Gerstmann fallout continues
Long-time staffer Ryan Davis is to leave Gamespot, says this, the reason apparently being the November departure of Jeff Gerstmann following a 6/10 review for Kane & Lynch. The news brings the tally of lost staff due to the incident to four, if Gerstmann himself is included. New editor-in-chief Ricardo Torres confirmed the decision. Davis […]
New Gamespot ed "taken aback" by Gerstmann sacking
In his first interview since being promoted to editor-in-chief of US site Gamespot, Ricardo Torres has admitted that the high profile departure of long-time editorial boss Jeff Gerstmann could have been handled "differently". "We were all pretty taken aback and surprised by how it all went down," he said, speaking in this interview. "Hindsight's always […]
Gamespot names new editor-in-chief
Ricardo Torres is to be Gamespot's new editor-in-chief, the US site has announced, replacing Jeff Gerstmann after a torrid departure last November. Torres was previously editorial director for the site (isn't that a step backwards?) and has done loads of awesome stuff, like being "instrumental in bringing the GameSpot audience groundbreaking live coverage of the […]
There must be more to Gerstmann "firing", says EGM editor
EGM editor Dan Hsu (who recently spoke out about untoward treatment towards his magazine from Ubisoft, "Sony's sport department" and Midway) has reached the common sense conclusion that there was more to the Jeff Gerstmann "sacking" from Gamespot than meets the eye. "I'd be really surprised if what everyone thinks happened really happened," he said, […]
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Dangerous climate change?
This is a slightly edited version of a comment Richard Betts left on the discussion forum. I thought it was quite challenging to much of what we hear about climate change in the mainstream media and therefore worthy of posting here as a header post. (Richard, for anyone visiting for the first time, is head of climate change impacts at the Met Office).
Most climate scientists* do not subscribe to the 2 degrees "Dangerous Climate Change" meme (I know I don't). "Dangerous" is a value judgement, and the relationship between any particular level of global mean temperature rise and impacts on society are fraught with uncertainties, including the nature of regional climate responses and the vulnerability/resilience of society. The most solid evidence for something with serious global implications that might happen at 2 degrees is the possible passing of a key threshold for the Greenland ice sheet, but even then that's the lower limit and also would probably take centuries to take full effect. Other impacts like drought and crop failures are massively uncertain, and while severe negative impacts may occur in some regions, positive impacts may occur in others. While the major negative impacts can't be ruled out, their certainty is wildly over-stated.
While really bad things may happen at 2 degrees, they may very well not happen either - especially in the short term (there may be a committment to longer-term consequences such as ongoing sea level rise that future generations have to deal with, but imminent catastrophe affecting the current generation is far less certain than people make out. We just don't know.
The thing that worries me about the talking-up of doom at 2 degrees is that this could lead to some very bad and expensive decisions in terms of adaptation. It probably is correct that we have about 5 years to achieve a peak and decline of global emissions that give a reasonable probability of staying below 2 degrees, but what happens in 10 years' time when emissions are still rising and we are probably on course for 2 degrees? If the doom scenario is right then it would make sense to prepare to adapt to the massive impacts expected within a few decades, and hence we'd have to start spending billions on new flood defences, water infrastructure and storm shelters, and it would probably also make sense for conservationists to give up on areas of biodiversity that are apparently "committed to extinction" - however all these things do not make sense if the probability of the major impacts is actually quite small.
So while I do agree that climate change is a serious issue and it makes sense to try to avoid committing the planet to long-term changes, creating a sense of urgency by over-stating imminent catastrophe at 2 degrees could paint us into a corner when 2 degrees does become inevitable.
*I prefer to distinguish between "climate scientists" (who are mainly atmospheric physicists) and "climate change scientists" who seem to be just about anyone in science or social science that has decided to see what climate change means for their own particular field of expertise. While many of these folks do have a good grasp of climate science (atmospheric physics) and the uncertainties in attribution of past events and future projections, many sadly do not. "Climate change science" is unfortunately a rather disconnected set of disciplines with some not understanding the others - see the inconsistencies between WG1 and WG2 in IPCC AR4 for example. We are working hard to overcome these barriers but there is a long way to go.


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Cranberry Apple Cinnamon Sponge Cake
The light, moist sponge cake perfectly balances the decadence of the whipping cream. And the All-American combination of cinnamon, apples and cranberries helps make this dessert just a little less sinful. It will disappear quick from your dinner table!
Yields: 6 servings30 grams all purpose flour
30 grams potato flour, or cornstarch
2 egg whites
2 whole large eggs
40 grams superfine sugar
¼ cup cranberries, dried
1 cup Turkish apple spice tea, or any other kind
5 Fuji apples
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
juice of a lemon, (1 Tbs for the spongecake batter)
1- ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
2 tablespoons superfine sugar
¼ cup water
1 tablespoon maple syrup, or 1 Tbs brandy
1 cup whipping cream
1 tablespoon powdered sugar
1/3 cup cranberry apple butter, plus extra for assembling
4 tablespoons almond, sliced, slightly toasted
Preheat oven to 425°F
For the cranberries:
Soak the cranberries in the hot cup of tea and let them sit for at least 20 minutes, then strain and reserve the cranberries, discarding the liquid.
For the syrup:
In a small saucepan, bring 2 tablespoons of sugar and the 1/4 cup of water to a boil, stirring constantly. Cover immediately, remove from the heat, and cool. Transfer to a measuring cup and stir in the maple syrup. If the syrup has evaporated too much, add enough water to equal 1/3 cup of syrup. Cool the syrup in its cup, in a icy cold water bath.
For the sponge cake batter:
Sift the flour with the potato flour and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon.
In two bowls, seperate the yolks fromt the egg whites. In egg yolk one, whisk the egg yolks with the sugar using a hand mixer until it's thick and has a pale yellow color. Add the vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Slowly add in 3 times the flour and other dry ingredients using a spatula.
Wash thoroughly the hand mizer, then whisk the egg whites with the cream of tartar until soft peaks form.Pour 1/3 of the egg white mixture into the egg yolk mixture then gently stir everything to soften the batter. Pour the rest of the egg whites and gently fold the egg whites into the egg yolks to get an airy batter. Pour the soaked cranberries.
Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Even the batter with the spatula and by gently lifting the baking sheet and dropping it several times.
Bake for about 7 minutes. A tootpick should come out clean. Remove from the oven. Flip the cake, then transfer to a cooling rack. Cool for about 5 minutes then baste the cake with the syrup.
For the cream:
The whipping cream should be whipped cold. Whisk the cream until soft peaks. Add a tablespoon of powdered sugar and the cranberry apple butter.
For the apples:
Mix the rest of the powdered sugar with 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon.
Peel, core and thinly slice the apples. Coat them with lemon juice to prevent them from browning. On a sheet of parchment paper, draw circles the same size as the cake rounds with a pencil. Flip the sheet of paper and line a baking sheet with it. Brush with a thin layer of oil. Fill the circles with the apples forming a pretty flower shape by fanning the slices. Dust the top with powdered sugar. Let stand for about 5 minutes and sprinkle one more time with the powdered sugar. Place the tray in the oven and broil for about 7 minutes (depending on your oven). Allow to cool.
Assembly time:
Make sure the sponge cake is completely cool. You can either serve the cake individually or make a bigger version.
If you make the individual version, cut 2 disks using a cookie cutter. And for the big version, cut four big disks.
Place a tablespoon of cranberry apple butter in a dessert plate, add the first disk of sponge cake. Cover it with a first layer of cranberry apple butter cream, then a layer of baked apples, another layer of cream, then a disk of sponge cake, layered with the cranberry apple butter. Add another disk of sponge cake, covered with cream, then apples, then cream and finish with the last disk of sponge cake. Cover the top 2 layers with the remaining cream then cover the sides with toasted almond (they have to be cooled down). Finally top the cake with apples forming a pretty flower shape by fanning the slices out.
Bon appétit!
You can substitute the apples by berries and change the dried fruit as well depending on the season.
I prefer using superfine sugar. It's is a fine-grained sugar and it dissolves much quicker than the regular one.
Published By: on January 19, 2009.


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Enya Val Incoll Any questions Contact us Available soon on Amazon.
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Last year I wrote on the practice of provignage at Domaine de la Bergerie. In a quick two or three sentence recap, provignage is an ancient method of propagating plants, including vines, obviously. A branch or runner is pinned under the soil (with a peg of some sort, or simply by placing a rock over it), after which it will put out new roots, and by cutting the runner/branch joining this new growth to the parent plant – hey presto! – you have a new plant. For free. It was, naturally, an excellent way for peasant vignerons to propagate new vinestock for their vineyard (there's more detail in the post linked above if the above isn't clear).
And then along came phylloxera. And now, if you believe the books, vines in France and other infested regions of Europe must be established on grafted phylloxera-rootstock if they are to survive. Either that, or planted on certain phylloxera-unfriendly sandy soils.
Which is why the vines at Domaine de la Bergerie were of such interest to me. They had been propagated using provignage many decades before, and seemed to be thriving, despite living on their own roots in a damp clay soils, just perfect for phylloxera. Proprietor Yves Guégniard didn't seem to know why or how they survived, but I suspected it was something to do with the fact that in every case the original runner connecting the new plant to its parent had not been cut.
I haven't thought much about it since until, late last year, at Château Boyd-Cantenac in Margaux, there before my eyes were yet more vines propagated in the same manner. The picture above shows the runner, about as thick as my thumb (and so nowhere near as old and crusty as Guégniard's vines) which originates with the parent (on the right) and dives beneath the surface towards the roots of the offspring plant (on the left). Here, however, owner Lucien Guillemet referred to this practice not as provignage but as marcottage. Having read around, I can see no difference between the two practices; I had thought it might refer to whether the runner is cut or not, but it seems not. Descriptions of the two are identical; I would be delighted if any viticulturists or plant scientists out there want to chip in with an explanation of how they are different, if indeed that's the case.
I asked Lucien what would happen if the runner were cut, and he was quite certain in his response; the offspring plant will die. This clearly indicates it is reliant on its parent for support, and so my initial suspicions were correct. Its own (no doubt phylloxera-infested) roots are not enough to maintain vitality, but with the help of its parent's American rootstock it survives. Does any nutrition come from the infected root system at all, I wonder? Is the plant entirely dependent on its parent for life, or is it more of a crutch? And if dependent, is it really a separate vine, and not merely a branch? Should this be taken into consideration when looking at planting density, numbers of buds and bunches, and yields?


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Come out for 'Breakfast with the Stags' on Sunday
Send a link to a friend
[April 22, 2014]
HARTSBURG-EMDEN — On Sunday, the
Hartem Athletic Boosters Club will serve "Breakfast with the Stags"
from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Emden Grade School.
The price is by donation, which includes a free picture
with the Hartem Stags mascot. Wear your favorite sports gear, bring
your special sports equipment and get your Hartem Stags picture.
The boosters will also host a quarter auction starting at 12:45
p.m. Items for auction include gifts, crafts and gift certificates.
[Text from file received from
Jennifer Hayes]
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The Sole F85 treadmill is the best folding treadmill that Sole Fitness do, they don't come any better than this. This is their strongest unit capable of a user weight of up to 400 lbs. The motor is their largest too with a 3.5 horse power motor which is enough for all kinds of running. The F85 treadmill is the most feature packed:
- Starts from a gentle 0.05 mph and rises to a challenging 12 mph
- The running surface is the longest in this range at 60″ for the most secure confident run
- Built in cooling fans, mp3 station and water bottle holder
- Quality durable materials and construction for long lasting use with a long warranty
Sole F85 Treadmill review
The Sole F85 represents all of Sole's their expertise and quality. Sole supply treadmills to the fitness rooms of the Hilton Hotel group and the F85 treadmill has many of the features you'll find on those and other commercial treadmills. What's great is that the F85 is designed for the home and has a home based price and the ultimate home based feature – it folds for better storage.
As well as the whisper quiet deck is powered by Sole's strongest motor the treadmill has 6 programs available. Of course you don't have to use these you can adjust the speed and incline at a touch of the button as you run on a manual setting but the programs will give you some variety should you need it. Two of the programs can be defined by the user so you could create a interesting courses for yourself.
The treadmill comes with a heart rate chest strap to monitor your heart rate while exercising and is 99% accurate. Add to that you can combine this with the heart rate program which adjusts the treadmill's incline to keep your heart rate at a predetermined level while you run. This is truly advanced exercising and is ideal for people of all fitness levels and ages who want to ensure they workout at the best intensity of them.
While you're exercising at the perfect intensity you may want a gentle breeze to cool you down, well the in built cooling fans will do just that. You may want to listen to your favorite music to help motivate you? Well the inbuilt mp3 station can help you there. Combine that with the water bottle holder and the large vibrant screen display and you see why it's very much like a commercial treadmill.
For anyone wondering how long the unit will last then rest assured that Sole make's it's treadmills using the highest quality materials and components. The user capacity is 400 lbs so you have a strong treadmill that can take any punishment you can give it. Combine this with the longest of warranties (details below) and it's many popular reviews from it's users and you have a great in home folding treadmill suitable for anyone.


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Other Work
Published by Charleston Flower Girl
Hello! Angela Concepcion is a floral designer in charming Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston Flower Girl began in 2015 after making just a few centerpieces for Halloween. Discovering a new creative outlet, Angela began taking on clients and has been hustling ever since. We pour our heart into every arrangement and strive to make a lasting impression with every detail. Angela's dedication to her projects can only be matched by her love for her clients. Please do not hesitate to contact us for your floral needs. We cannot wait to create something uniquely you! View all posts by Charleston Flower Girl


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Rocky Mountain Bicycle Show – Part 1
Snow bikes, bamboo townies, tandems and other strangeness
The second Rocky Mountain Bicycle Show took place over the weekend of August 21-22 in Denver, Colorado. Once again, there were plenty of unique handmade bikes on display, demonstrating a wide range of building materials and techniques.
Snow bikes in August?
Small builders seem to love snow bikes for whatever reason and RMBS 2009 was no exception. Local builder James Bleakley of Black Sheep Bikes showed up with his rendition, a typically swoopy titanium singlespeed creation complete with his own take on the small-tubed titanium truss fork. Instead of the usual sliding dropouts or eccentric bottom bracket, Bleakley also chose to go his own route with a pair of telescoping chain stays to tension the chain.
Unlike the Moots snow bike (which also made another appearance at this year's show), Bleakley's bike looked to be more utilitarian with its capacious front rack and yes, a cupholder. As is usually the case for this segment, both the front and rear wheels use identically spaced hubs in case something goes wrong with one of the freehub drivers.
Upstart builder Sendero Cycles also brought its own version, outfitted in more of an expedition style with front and rear racks, a Cane Creek Thudbuster suspension seatpost and five bottle mounts – two specifically sized for fuel canisters. Save for the dual top tubes, the steel frame was otherwise fairly traditional in appearance and construction.
Sendero Fauxgsley
Haven't heard of Sendero? Neither had we before the show, seeing as how they've only been around since December. But one of its key members certainly has plenty of experience: none other than mountain biking legend Joe Murray. Keep an eye on these guys.
Townies abound in bicycle-friendly Denver
RMBS' host city may contain roughly half a million inhabitants but its numerous bike paths and lanes and mostly aware drivers still make Denver an official bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community. Not surprisingly, townies and commuters still occupied much of the show floor this year.
Aaron Hayes of Courage Bicycles built this townie for his girlfriend
Portland-based builder Aaron Hayes of Courage Bicycles tossed the gamut of small builder tricks into an understated brown townie he built for his girlfriend. A Schlumpf crank neatly provides two gear ratios but with the clean look of a singlespeed, the Schmidt front hub dynamo powers neatly integrated front and rear E3 LED lights, and just in case some more intensive travel is in store, the lugged steel frame includes a pair of S&S couplings for quick disassembly.
Tyson Hart (Civilian) brought this green townie
Fellow Portland builder Tyson Hart of Civilian Bicycle Company showed off his own townie, too, built with a step-through lugged and TIG-welded steel frame and Shimano Nexus internally geared hub.
A closeup of Ben Farver's townie he built for his girlfriend
Likewise, Argonaut Cycles builder Ben Farver also brought along a townie he built for his significant other. The steel step-through frame features both lugged and fillet brazed joints along with leather details and a trick stainless steel brace joining the top tube and seat tube. Naturally, there's a Schmidt dynamo front hub here as well.
Renovo's bamboo Panda
One of the most unusual townies on hand, though, was the laminated bamboo Panda from Renovo. Unlike Calfee's natural bamboo creations, Renovo first builds up blocks of bamboo, whose inner and outer surfaces are then machined like with their hardwood bikes (yes, wood – as in Paul Bunyan) and bonded together to form the final structure.
According to Renovo, the natural composite materials (wood and bamboo are actually quite similar in principle to carbon fibre composites) offer an ultra-smooth ride, carbon-like durability and are also environmentally sustainable – not to mention recyclable.
The Sendero Station Wagon
Sendero's commuter was also rather unique. Built on an extended wheelbase measuring somewhere in between an ultra-long Xtracycle and a standard single frame, the 'Station Wagon' was commissioned for a customer who wanted to haul a lot of gear but also the occasional passenger. Footpegs are integrated into the chain stays just ahead of the rear dropouts and the rear rack is reinforced with extra-beefy hardware. Anyone need a lift?
High-end options for the discerning tandem rider(s)
DaVinci's unique tandem drivetrain
Three tandems also caught our eye at this year's RMBS. As always, DaVinci's unique drivetrain is compelling for its ability to let the captain and stoker pedal at different cadences – or even coast completely while the other rider does all the work. The system is more complex looking than typical tandem transmissions but its independent pedaling benefits and extra-wide gearing range still makes it more than worthwhile for many potential customers.
Bilenky's stunning white/red tandem
Situated right next door was a Rohloff hub-equipped tandem from Bilenky Cycle Works. In contrast to the DaVinci, the Bilenky drivetrain was more simplistic in appearance, sporting just two chains, no visible derailleurs and both chains on the right-hand side of the bike. S&S couplings on the frame also make for reasonably easy transport as well.
Oh, but where to put the Rohloff shifter? Since the proprietary twister is intended only for use on mountain bike bars, Bilenky built a short extension into an extra-tall headset spacer. Though not quite as ergonomic as having the shifter underhand at all times, it's admittedly functional.
Paketa's super light tandem
Paketa's road tandem definitely slotted in at the more performance-oriented end of the scale with a feathery magnesium frame that the company claims is lighter, stiffer and smoother than an aluminium equivalent – all without the usual supplementary tube between the captain and stoker compartments.
According to Paketa's JP Burow, the V2 tandem can be built up around 11kg (24lb) and the show display bike was likely even lighter given its Gates Carbon Belt Drive standing in for the usual timing chain.


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Suunto introduces today the Customizer, a new online tool that allows users to create unique, personalized sports watches. The Customizer is launched with Ambit3 Peak and Ambit3 Sport and users can choose their favorite colors and materials for practically every part visible on the watch. The array of design elements selectable enables thousands of unique combinations. Adding your own name to the watch means it feels like a piece of yourself as soon as it's in your hands.
"Some people prefer trail running and mountaineering, others like busting it out with triathlon and cycling – athletes come in all stripes and now their sport watches can too. For a long while now, our Ambit collection users have been able to modify watch features according to their personal requirements. Our users also create content, develop Apps and share their workout programs on movescount.com, so the Customization tool is really a natural continuation for us," says Janne Kallio, Performance Business Digital Lead at Suunto.
Get inspiration from your favorite athletes and create designs that inspire others
Designs created and saved by users are showcased in the Design Gallery, generating a rich database of unique designs for anyone to view and purchase. Users will also be able to vote for their favorite design and each month the design with the most votes will be highlighted as "Design of the Month".
From the design gallery you can also find inspiring designs made by Suunto ambassadors, available for everyone to order. The ambassador collections are kicked-off with designs made by the Spanish trail runner and ski mountaineer Kilian Jornet and by Swedish triathlete Åsa Lundström.
Customize a sports watch for your team
Suunto Customizer also allows teams to create their own designs. Choose the colors and details that reflect your team's spirit and finalize the design with the team's name. Save the design to the design gallery, supplement it with a team description and imagery and share it with your team members to purchase.
Each custom watch is hand build according to customer's design in the Suunto production facility in Vantaa Finland, and the delivery time is two weeks from order to your home door. Enter the Suunto Customizer tool here www.suunto.com/customize or view ready-made designs from the Design Gallery www.suunto.com/designgallery.


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Adding Pictures
The program allows to store the current picture in all modes. Press the "Add picture" button on the vertical control bar "Outputs". This opens the "New picture" dialog window and inserts the current view on the desktop into the window.
The picture is always linked to a certain input mode or analysis. (The current mode is displayed next to the picture name). When printing a document the picture is automatically added to a specific mode in the tree.
The program allows to define the picture either for a specific stage of construction (or for the current analysis) or adjusting the setting such that the picture is added to the document in all stages of construction (or all analyses). The latter option is assumed when selecting "all" in the "Stages" combo list (or "Analysis" list).
Checkbox "Whole page picture" allows to use whole page picture in the document.
Warning: All input pictures are automatically regenerated whenever modifying data.
The "Picture settings" frame in bottom part of the dialog window further allows to adjust colors and style of lines (object) drawing. Settings in this part of the frame is taken from the drawing settings for the desktop. The function of the frame is the same as the desktop visualization settings and is described in "Drawing Settings".
The "OK" button stores the picture into the "Picture list". It can then be opened and modified at any time.
The picture can also be printed out from this window by pressing the "Print" button, which opens a dialog window for printing and exporting desktop view. If the picture is active over all stages (or all analyses), then all possible combinations of pictures are printed all at once.
Dialog window "New picture"
Tool bar "Outputs"


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Plans to shift the Warriors to Eden Park and build a $20 million venue for test cricket at Western Springs may proceed without the public having a proper say.
A two-year project on the future of the city's big stadiums comes back to the council on Thursday, with the sporting codes no nearer to agreeing on officials' recommended options.
The Warriors have reservations about the high cost of shifting to Eden Park, which is cash-strapped and weighed down by debt in the wake of the Rugby World Cup euphoria.
Auckland Cricket wants to stay at Eden Park and speedway is considering a move to Mt Smart Stadium - something that worries Athletics Auckland.
After councillors voted in September to give Aucklanders a say on the stadium plans, council executives have recommended a "targeted approach" to community consultation.
By "community", they mean the affected sporting codes (the rugby league, speedway), Western Springs and Eden Park communities, plus the relevant local boards.
Consultation would be via the council website next March. There are no specific plans to involve the wider public.
Councillor Cathy Casey said she understood the September decision for "community consultation" meant the wider public. "People want to have a say whether they live next to Eden Park or 30km away," she said.
The issue of public consultation divided councillors 11-7 in September and was privately regarded by Regional Facilities Auckland, the council body overseeing the review, as unnecessary and a further delay.
A paper prepared for Thursday's meeting recommends Eden Park as the city's premier stadium and used for big Warriors matches.
Mt Smart would be upgraded for about $25 million for Warriors attendances of fewer than 20,000 or as a venue for speedway and big concerts. Western Springs would become the home of test cricket with a new pitch, pavilion and grassed embankments costing $20 million.
A further recommendation is to build a speedway practice track at Colin Dale Park in Manukau.
Stadium moves?
Eden Park - rugby and big league matches
Mt Smart Stadium - smaller league matches/athletics/speedway/big concerts
Western Springs - test cricket
Colin Dale Park - speedway practice


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Cleanse purify & gently exfoliate
This is a are very efficient gentle & unique little cleansing & exfoliating cube formulated for all skin types. It will leave the skin immaculately clean, refined and comfortable.
This product features Mere-Dream's special blend of plant extracts
to soothe skin & help regenerate skin cells.
For: All skin types
Remove makeup with cleansing cream or cleansing milk. Moisten face & facial cube with warm water. Gently massage around face & neck with a firm but gentle circling motion for one minute. Rinse off with warm water.
Follow with Mere-Dream's Herbal Facial Tonic and Mere-Dream's
Herbal Antioxidant Day Cream or Herbal Intensive Care Night Treatment.
Mere-Dream Facial Cube will gently exfoliate whilst replenishing the skin with natural oils, leaving the skin with a natural glow.
Active ingredients include:
© 2014 Mere Dream.
All rights reserved
Design by Visualsauce


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Israel has pounded the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip and rocket salvoes have thudded into southern Israel as terrified residents on both sides are holed up in their homes.
The, air, sea and land operation by Israel, launched in response to several days of rocket fire from the coastal territory, is Israel's most intense attack on Gaza since its full-scale war there four years ago.
It started with the assassination on Wednesday of Hamas' top military commander, deepening the instability gripping the Mideast.
Israel's already strained relations with Egypt's new Islamist government frayed even further as Cairo recalled its ambassador in response to the Israeli military operation.
Just days earlier, Israel was drawn into Syria's civil war for the first time, firing missiles into its northern neighbour for the first time in four decades after stray mortar fire landed in Israeli-occupied Syrian territory.
The assassination of Hamas mastermind Ahmed Jabari was followed by a wave of Israeli airstrikes on more than 100 militant targets.
The air attacks continued steadily into early Thursday, targeting the armed group's training facilities and rocket launchers. Ten Palestinians, including two children and seven militants, were killed on Wednesday and more than 93 were wounded.
Early on Thursday, Israel targeted a motorcycle carrying a rocket squad, killing one militant and wounding two, a Palestinian health official said.
The Israeli military had no immediate confirmation of the report. Tank shells and naval gunfire backed up the air onslaught.
Few in the territory's largest urban area, Gaza City, came out following the call for dawn prayers, and the only vehicles were ambulances and media cars.
Gaza schools were ordered closed until the operation ends, and most of the territory's 1.6 million people were expected to hunker down close to home, venturing out only to buy food, fuel and other basic supplies.
Hamas announced a state of emergency in Gaza, evacuating all its security buildings and deploying its troops away from their locations. Israeli aircraft dropped leaflets on several locations in Gaza early on Thursday, warning Gazans to stay away from Hamas.
The Israeli military said that the Hamas fighters and other militant factions, undeterred by the air attacks, bombarded southern Israel with more than 70 rockets after the operation began.
Israel declared a state of emergency in the south, where more than one million Israelis live within rocket range. School was cancelled in communities within a 40km radius of Gaza. People living in areas along the frontier were ordered to stay home from work.
Israel said Wednesday's airstrikes were the beginning of a broader operation against the Islamic militants and that a ground invasion was a strong possibility in the coming days if Hamas didn't rein in the rocket fire.
The military said it destroyed dozens of the militants' most potent rockets – the Iranian-made Fajr, which is capable of striking Israel's Tel Aviv heartland – as well as shorter-range rockets.
In all, the military estimated Hamas had 10,000 rockets and mortars in its arsenal before the military operation began. In a nationwide address, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel could no longer stand repeated attacks on its southern towns.
The Israeli military was cleared to call up special reserve units – a sign the operation might broaden. For the past four years, Israel and Hamas have largely observed an informal truce.
But in recent weeks, the calm has unravelled in a bout of rocket attacks from Gaza and retaliatory Israeli airstrikes. From Israel's perspective, Hamas escalated the situation with two specific attacks in recent days: an explosion in a tunnel along the Israeli border and a missile attack on an Israeli military jeep that seriously wounded four soldiers.
Earlier this week, Israeli defence officials warned they were considering resuming their controversial practice of assassinating senior militants. Wednesday's killing of Jabari was an indication they were serious.
Hamas officials had brushed off the Israeli threats, and Jabari, contrary to form, was driving in daylight when his vehicle was hit.
The Hamas military chief had long topped Israel's most-wanted list, blamed for masterminding a string of deadly attacks that including a bold, cross-border kidnapping of an Israeli soldier in 2006.
He also was believed to be a key player in Hamas' takeover of Gaza in 2007 from a rival Palestinian faction, the Western-backed Fatah movement.
In a statement, Hamas' prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh, eulogised Jabari and vowed revenge. "We mourn our late leader who walked the path of jihad while he knew the end, either victory or martyrdom," Haniyeh said. "There is no fear among our people and our resistance, and we will face this vicious attack."
Hamas accused Netanyahu of launching Wednesday's operation to win votes in the January parliamentary election.
But major Israeli parties, including the dovish opposition, all lined up behind Netanyahu.
On its official Facebook page, Egypt's Freedom and Justice Party, which is the Muslim Brotherhood's political arm, called Jabari's assassination a "crime that requires a quick Arab and international response to stem these massacres against the besieged Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip."
It accused Israel of trying to "drag the region toward instability". In Washington, the United States lined up behind Israel.
"We support Israel's right to defend itself, and we encourage Israel to continue to take every effort to avoid civilian casualties," said State Department spokesman Mark Toner.
President Barack Obama spoke to Netanyahu and they agreed Hamas needed to stop its attacks on Israel to allow tensions to ease, the White House said.
Obama spoke separately to Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, given Egypt's central role in preserving regional security, the White House said. The two agreed on the need to de-escalate the conflict as quickly as possible.
On Wednesday night, the UN Security Council met behind closed doors to consider an Egyptian request for an emergency meeting on Israel's military action in Gaza.
The Palestinians asked the council to act to stop the operation.


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I have been seeing these bars all over blog land and have been wanting to try them. I am always looking for something compact that I can toss in my purse or bag for emergencies. I usually eat every 3-4 hours and get super cranky and sometimes light headed when I am hungry, so I try to always have something on hand. I spotted the Pure Bars at Whole Foods & Raisin Rack recently & picked up the Chocolate Brownie flavor. Pure Bars are vegan, raw, gluten-free & organic. What more could you ask for? The Chocolate Brownie bar has 200 calories, 9 grams of fat, 5 grams of fiber & 6 grams of protein (great for this kind of bar). It all sounds great, right? Now, the real test, how does it taste? Upon first inspection the bar reminded me of a Lara Bar. I believe that the Pure Bar is a little larger in size than the Lara Bar, I also think the taste is a little more intense, in a good way. I am not dissing my Lara Bars, don't worry, but trying to be fair here. There were plenty of almonds & cashews throughout this bar. A definite plus. The chocolate flavor did, indeed, remind me of a chocolate brownie. Excellent! The one thing the Pure Bar has going over Lara Bar is the protein. I don't recall Lara Bar's protein off hand, but I know that the added Organic Brown Rice Protein in the Pure Bar is what boosts that number up and Lara Bar does not have that. This bar kept me full until lunch, something that is hard to do. I ate it around 10 AM and eat lunch around 12 Noon. I was very surprised. The only negative I can find with the Pure Bar is the price. I believe this bar was close to $2, if not over $2. Definitely something to buy in bulk on Amazon or on sale, if you can find them on sale.
I also love the saying on the bottom of the wrapper "Like a good mood in a wrapper". So true!
Filed under: Family, Gluten-Free, Gluten-free Products | 1 Comment »


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Quantum Break
Welcome to Quantum Break on Xbox One and Windows 10. Find links here to videos and demos, information about the game's server status and differences in game versions, and troubleshooting help. You can also find links to purchase the game for Xbox One and Windows 10.
On this page
Quantum Break overview
Explore Quantum Break on Xbox One through videos and demos. Learn about gameplay, add-ons, and how to buy the game.
Explore Quantum Break on Windows 10 through videos and demos. Learn about gameplay, add-ons, and how to buy the game.
If you've received a code to download Quantum Break on Windows 10, here's how to redeem it. You can also check that your device is compatible before downloading.
Find out how you can start playing Quantum Break on one platform and continue on another, as well as troubleshooting information.
Find out how to watch the in-game live action show, and how to remove the videos to save storage space.
Visit the Quantum Break on Xbox One forum to learn more about the game, join the community in conversation, and find troubleshooting support for questions not answered here.
If you're having trouble using Xbox Live to play a game, check for current service issues. If there is a relevant alert, wait until the service is up and running and try again.
Sign in to your Microsoft account to manage your information and purchases, your family's devices, and your security and privacy.
Quantum Break management and help on Xbox One
Learn how to install your game to the Xbox One hard drive.
Want to play new Xbox One games as soon as possible? Learn about pre-purchasing Xbox One games that will soon be released.
Learn how to install games and downloadable game content after redeeming a code on Xbox One.
Learn about achievements, challenges, and how to earn rewards on your Xbox One console.
Find answers to frequently asked questions about Xbox One cloud game saves.
Find out how to troubleshoot slow game or app downloads on your Xbox One console.
Learn what to do if you're having trouble loading a disc on your Xbox One console.
Follow these steps if you're unable to connect to multiplayer games through Xbox Live.
Quantum Break management and help on Windows 10
See answers to commonly asked questions about Quantum Break on Windows 10.
Make sure your device is capable of playing the game before you purchase it.
Go to Microsoft Store support for help with transactions and purchases.
Visit Microsoft Store support for information about troubleshooting download and installation issues.
Troubleshoot crashes, freezes, and poor performance with your Windows 10 games.
By keeping your device up to date, you'll ensure that you're always running the latest software or hardware drivers.
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