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Arrest made in death of 18-year-old cycl...

beibeiueb — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:34:27 +0200

Arrest made in death of 18-year-old cyclist

Carpet Arnel Ulep Abuluyan was arrested at 2:30 p.m. yesterday onsuspicion of failure to render aid in the death of Aldridge, 18.Abuluyan was being held at the main police station cellblock.

Police seized a white GMC Savannah van with front-end damage ownedby Abbey Carpet & Floors from Kuroda Auto Body in Waipi'o asevidence. Abuluyan is employed by the carpet company.

Police said a tip led to the arrest.

Last night, Abuluyan's family said that he is single and lives athome at the 'Oliana Street address with his mother and a sister.

Arnel Abuluyan came to Hawai'i from the Philippines in 1983, hissister Evelyn said. She lives in San Jose, Calif., and is inHawai'i visiting, she said.

"I was a little shook," when the police came and arrested him, shesaid late last night.

His sister Verlita said that Arnel Abuluyan works for Abbey Carpetinstalling carpet. His sister Evelyn said he drives a white van forthe company.

Aldridge was riding his bicycle home after work along KamehamehaHighway near the Dole Plantation when a speeding vehicle veeredonto the shoulder and struck him at around 1:35 a.m.

A passing motorist spotted Aldridge in the grass next to thehighway and contacted authorities.

The young man was first taken to Wahiawa General Hospital incritical condition.

He was later transferred to The Queen's Medical Center, where hedied at around 5 a.m.

Aldridge's death led to an outpouring of community reaction, with areward offered for information leading to an arrest and a fundcreated to assist the family.

After the wreck, Aldridge's family and police put out a publicappeal for information into the incident.

Police issued a description of a suspect vehicle, but it was saidto be a red GMC truck with lights on top.

Memorial service

A memorial service for Aldridge, who wanted to attend college inGermany and become an entrepreneur, was held Tuesday at SchofieldBarracks. Burial was to be in Jeffersonville, Ind.

A Leilehua High School graduate, Aldridge was described by friendsand family as fun-loving and outgoing. His father, Army Staff Sgt.David Aldridge, said his friends nicknamed his son "McLovin'."

Many who knew the younger Aldridge expressed shock and sorrow thatthe young man's life ended suddenly just as it was set to take off.

Struck riding home

The manager of a Burger King restaurant where Aldridge had beenemployed for several months as a food service worker said Aldridgeworked the 4 to 10:30 p.m. shift, and then would ride his bicycleto the Helemano Military Reservation where his family lived on APono Court.

The elder Aldridge, who has been deployed twice to Iraq, was on anArmy training mission in Texas when his son was struck and killed.

He returned home early the next day to be with his wife, Susanne,and the couple's 3-year-old daughter, Destiny.

Attempts to reach him last night were unsuccessful.

Reach Kelli Miura at 535-2467 or kmmiura@honoluluadvertiser .com.

Reach Rod Ohira at

rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com and John Windrow at jwindrow@honoluluadvertiser.com

Postal Workers To Get Red Carpet Treatme...

beibeiueb — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:33:20 +0200

Postal Workers To Get Red Carpet Treatment

Carpet 03 August 2008 by Steve Lawson -© Hellmail.co.uk

Fatigue at work can be due to many things, but Correos, the Spanishpostal operator, is to make fundamental changes to mail centreswhich it says will improve staff health and improve productivity.

After succesful trials last year, Correos is to introduce new floorsurfaces designed to reduce fatigue and make tasks that necessitatestanding for long periods, more comfortable. It had been recognisedthat hard floors were a problem for many workers and the newsurfaces reduce vibration as well as insulating employees from thecold. Seating and tables are also to be replaced where possible,with more ergonomic designs. The introduction of better equipmentis also likely to improve conditions for Correos employees.

Over the next five months, most key mail centres will benefit fromimproved flooring including those at Valencia, Oviedo, Tenerife,Vitoria, Bilbao, Barcelona, Seville, Valladolid, Malaga, Santiago,Granada, Saragossa, the Balearics, Merida, Alicante, and Madrid.

Hellmail content is covered by copyright and may not be reproducedwithout a return link to the article.

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Postal Workers To Get Red Carpet Treatme...

beibeiueb — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:33:17 +0200

Postal Workers To Get Red Carpet Treatment

Carpet 03 August 2008 by Steve Lawson -© Hellmail.co.uk

Fatigue at work can be due to many things, but Correos, the Spanishpostal operator, is to make fundamental changes to mail centreswhich it says will improve staff health and improve productivity.

Hellmail content is covered by copyright and may not be reproducedwithout a return link to the article.

Articles can be E-mailed to a friend and you can get a printableversion of the article.

Iran annual handmade carpet exports hit...

beibeiueb — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:32:35 +0200

Iran annual handmade carpet exports hit 4m sqm

Carpet Tehran:

20:11

2008/08/03

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Iran"s annual handmade carpet exports hit 4m sqm

TEHRAN, Aug. 3 (MNA) Iran annually exports over 4 millionsquare meters of carpet to the world, Iran National Carpet Center(INCC) director said here on Sunday.

The main destinations of Iran"s handmade carpets are the U.S.,Europe, Persian Gulf countries, Japan, China, and Russia, MortezaFaraji said to IRNA.

These carpets are mainly weaved in West and East Azarbiajan,Khorasan, Fars, and Chahar Mahal Bakhtiari provinces.

Morteza Faraji also stated that the INCC plans to hold a carpetexhibition in late August.

SAt least 70 handmade carpet merchants and buyers from 35American, European and Asian countries are expected to attend thisexhibition.

The 17th Persian Handmade Carpet Grand Exhibition will be held fromAug. 22 to 28 at the permanent fairgrounds of Tehran.

RVA/MRK

END

MNA

Inside Macau: Red-carpet treatment for p...

beibeiueb — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:31:08 +0200

Inside Macau: Red-carpet treatment for privileged Paula

Carpet Team Radcliffe are on their way to join Britain's band of happycampers on an island more used to accommodating sybarites thansporting types. When Paula, husband and coach Gary, daughter Isla,mum, dad and personal physio fly into Macau today she will find herteam-mates on the last leg of their pre-Games preparations. Butsome may wonder if she is being afforded special treatment by beingallowed to having her entire entourage with her as she attempts towin her fitness race against a stress fracture and compete in themarathon. Dave Collins, the UK Athletics performance director,insists he has no qualms about this, or that if necessary Radcliffewill be given until the eve of the race to claim a place. "Withproven performance comes privilege," he says, "and Paula is anexceptionally talented athlete who should be given everyopportunity to do what she feels is best for herself. If you askedAlex Ferguson I'm sure he'd give one of his star players right upto the kick-off to try and pass a fitness test. When you have anathlete of her quality this has to be the case."

Dream on as United States seek redemption

No doubt who are the highest rollers in Macau. Overshadowing thepresence of the Beijing-bound Brits are sport's biggest earners,the basketball giants of America's Dream Team, warming up here forMission Redemption. Four years ago in Athens the NBA superstars,lacking interest and motivation, were embarrassed with only abronze medal but now the new dreamers, spearheaded by Kobe Bryant,promise to atone. The fervour here for sell-out matches againstTurkey and Lithuania leaves no doubt what will be the biggestattraction in basketball-besotted China.

Wiggins in pole position as flag-bearer

It is odds-on a cyclist or sailor being the flag-bearer when theBritish team of 313 march into the Bird's Nest Stadium on Fridayevening, those being potentially the most productive sports as faras medals are concerned. For those fancying a flutter in one of themany casinos which dominate the Macau skyline, the smart moneywould be on Bradley Wiggins, Chris Hoy or Ben Ainslie. Of thattrio, Wiggins seems favourite. The 28-year-old Londoner, abrilliant mimic who is popular with fellow athletes, pedalled tothree golds in the previous World Championships and took amemorable collection of gold, silver and bronze from Athens. He istipped to win three more golds in Beijing, which would put himclose to Sir Steve Redgrave as an Olympic medallion man.

Testing time for Boris and the China watchers

A hundred British spies are heading for Beijing this week, briefedto watch every move the Chinese make. These are all members ofSebastian Coe's 2012 team, whose mission is to compile a dossier onhow London can avoid being put in the shade by what will be themost stupendous Olympic production ever. Travelling with them willbe London's mayor, Boris Johnson, who will be centre stage at theclosing ceremony and, according to Coe, has been undergoing "someserious aerobic conditioning". Coe says: "We've had a series ofcoaches training him to wave the flag six times."

Joking apart, these archers can be Britain's golden shots

With inevitable references to Robin Hood, it is just as wellBritain's archers, in form and on target for a team gold, have asense of humour. Cumbrian carpenter Alan Wills says his home club,Sellafield, have only a handful of members yet regularly produce anarray of champions. "It must be something in the water."

insidelines@independent.co.uk

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Carpet tycoon sells his house for 67m bu...

beibeiueb — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:30:16 +0200

Carpet tycoon sells his house for 67m but still loses a pile

Carpet This one is of me being smuggled away by my minders . . .

TONY and Cherie Blair were never knowingly under-photgraphed whileon holiday when they were in power.

Now their daughter Kathryn seems to have gone a lititle far evenfor her publicity-hungry parents. She has apparently been postingdetails of family holidays on her profile page on the Facebooknetworking website.

The shindigs disclosed on Kathryn's page, no longer visible on theinternet, include a meeting with Chelsea football team and a tripby Tony, Cherie, Kathryn and two of her brothers to the holidayisland of Penang, Malaysia, last week.

Other snaps include Kathryn living it up at Chequers. Presumablythey were taken before Gordon Brown took up residence.

You'd think one Keith Vaz was enough for anybody

Should it not be against the law to impersonate Keith Acolleague of mine called the outspoken Labour MP for Leicester Eastlast week on his mobile phone, and a man who claimed he was Vazsaid he couldn’t speak as he was “jumping up and downon the wife”.

MPs should note that this excuse cuts no ice with our reporters,because our man – aware that Vaz is a bit of a character– pressed ahead with an inquiry about knife crime. He wasslightly surprised at the reply. “Knife the f*****s! Knifethe f*****s!” said Vaz.

The real Vaz, it seems, has a new mobile phone number. But thisraises the question: is the country really ready for two of KeithVaz? Can the home secretary do nothing to end this menace?

Happiness is a cigar called Winston – a snip at £11each

You can smoke them on the beaches, and you can just about stillsmoke them in the fields and in the streets. But with Britain undersiege from the health Nazis, is this really the best time to belaunching a new range of Winston Churchill cigars?

Showing the family’s typical bulldog spirit, the wartimeleader’s grandson, the former Tory MP Winston Churchill, hasnamed the new cigars after places associated with his grandfather– including Blenheim, Chequers and No 10.

“Retailers have told me that people who would normally buy atthe bottom end of the market want to push the boat out if theycould buy a Churchill,” he says.

“I think my grandfather would have liked that. The cigar wascertainly one of his principal props.”

A box of 25 Blenheims will set you back £275. All you have todo then is find somewhere comfortable you’re allowed tosmoke.

Good work, Charles, but we saw how you got here

It was typically courageous of the Prince of Wales to visit theSuffolk resort of Southwold last week, despite the obvious dangerof seeing Gordon Brown in a pair of tight Speedo trunks. The princeapparently bought some seaweed, as you do, and enjoyed a pint ofthe local brewery’s new carbon-neutral beer.

It was an example to us all of how we can enjoy a summer break while still thinking of the environment. Or it would have been, apart from one small point – he arrived by helicopter.

After the Sexual Health Independent Advisory Group (SHIAG),here’s another unfortunate acronym from the Crown Prosecution Service – Capability Review Action Planning.

LITTLE BRITAIN

Today we launch a new reader service: Jim Naughtie’s Questionof the Week. Here’s what the Today presenter asked the EU commissioner Peter Mandelson on Wednesday: “Do you think that the mechanism of the WTO – this vast round, a kind of Rubik’s cube in which all kinds of parallel negotiations have to be sorted out to get a comprehensive deal – is still the way to do it; with the emerging economies pursuing their own interests, with the US unable to come to a deal with China and India, for example, on a way into their markets; can it work onthat model, given the way the world is?

Could he have meant: “Is the World Trade Organisation justtoo complicated for the modern world, or what?”

Good news for Liberal Democrats thinking of a holiday on the Greekisland of Poros. First, it’s okay to wear sandals withoutembarrassment. Second, there is a taverna that boasts:“Everything we serve is without conservatives.”

Lord Harris, the Tory peer, has just sold his house in London for£67m. Four years ago he turned down an offer of £100m.Harris, who made his money in carpets, not property, is a directorof Arsenal FC but says that the reason he declined RomanAbramovich's offer was nothing to do with sporting rivalry: "Weweren't interested in selling four years ago."

An arthritic tortoise who couldn’t walk has been saved by acobbler who made him special leather boots. “I was pleasedthe owners came to me,” said Trevor Adams, of TraditionalShoe Repairs, in Haverfordwest. “They said they knew I had agood reputation for shoe repairs but wanted me to do somethingabout their tortoise.

“He’s going great guns across the patio now. When hisshell gets heavier, I’ll make him a set of wheels.” Benthe tortoise was recently discovered to be female, but is stiller ferred to as “he”.

The owner, who did not want to be named, said: “We’ vebeen calling him a ‘he’ for 28 years. It’s a bitawkward changing now.” – Western Mail

A woman stabbed her partner to death because she did not want to move to Wolverhampton, a court heard. – The Sun

Drinkers have been sneaking onto the wards of Homerton universityhospital and stealing the alcohol-based hand gel used to fight thespread of deadly diseases. Bottles of the gel have even beensnatched from the ends of patients’ beds. Police believe thethieves are diluting the gel with orange juice and cola. –Hackney Gazette

Send your observations to atticus@sunday-times.co.uk

There must be blood on the carpet as eve...

beibeiueb — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:28:58 +0200

There must be blood on the carpet as even Vaughan faces unkindest cut

Carpet England are in a mess. It may be largely of their own making,although South Africa have stirred the pot with immense, hard-nosedgusto. They might have won yesterday, there were times when theythought they would indeed do so.

But they lost, beaten by a better, wiser side, playing morecomplete cricket. The series has gone the way it was feared.England have been let down by dithering selectors but not half asmuch as they have let themselves down. Both parties have beenguilty of fooling themselves.

When England established a lead of 280 yesterday, they thought thatthey would win, it was revealed later. Michael Vaughan, theirbeleaguered captain, said he had assumed they would dismiss SouthAfrica for not much above 200. It isnot Vaughan's solitary piece ofdelusion lately.

But he was, as ever, intelligent to recognise England's parlousstate in the immediate aftermath of a long and salutary day andwhat it meant to him. "This is a real bitter blow. I think we havegot to sit down and reassess," he said. "We're not playing the typeof cricket we would like." He could have said that again.

"I think we can learn from the way South Africa play. A lot of usare not playing to the standards we have set."

The pressure Vaughan is under after a long sequence of low scoresand misjudgements at the crease is obvious. But he was givingnothing away about the captaincy. It did not sound as he was givingthe captaincy away either.

"We've got to let the dust settle," he said. There will not be muchtime for that to happen. The dust will still be very much up in theair by the time the England team for the Fourth Test is announcedthis morning. "I have got no doubts about my captaincy but I'm notscoring runs. If you don't score runs it doesn't matter whatposition you bat."

Vaughan has never previouslylost two successive Tests as captain– he used to win them regularly – and for his restoredtalisman Andrew Flintoff, thedefeat yesterday was his eighthconsecutively in Tests.

There will have to be some blood on the selectors' carpet thismorning otherwise the knives will be out for them. They have takenthe policy of continuity to a new level and in doing so have failedto spot the crack appearing. They have given so many playersreprieves and last chances that the team have been unable to evolveas all teams must. They have been swayed by victories against thelikes of West Indies and New Zealand and not taken enough accountof defeats by India, Sri Lanka and now South Africa. Always therewas something round the next corner. They should know what it is bynow. Collingwood, doughty Collingwood, so nearly the hero ofEdgbaston before Graeme Smith strode out, is a case in point.

Collingwood is a cricketer's cricketer. That is to say hiscolleagues recognise his worth more than the man on the ClaphamOmnibus. Or the Mackem on the Gateshead Metro, come to that. But byany rational standards of selection, he should not have beenplaying in this match. He wasrecalled because a new panel in theirfirst season appeared to get into a bit of a tizz about how torectify previous errors, and because England were not scoringenough runs (again).

He had done nothing to encourage their faith once they had decidedto drop him from the Second Test at Headingley, simply because hehad not played another innings. If they had wanted another batsmanfor this match they should indeed have looked for another batsman.

But Collingwood was saved, partly, perhaps largely, because he isdarned good chap in the dressing room. His mate Vaughan had all butsaid how strange it had seemed without him. Collingwood was all ofa dither in the first part of the match. It could have been hisfirst Test, not his 38th. But the real point was that it could havebeen his last.

He scored four in England's first innings, which was at least fourmore than he looked capable of doing, and shelled some catchablecatches. It looked as it had from the outset, an artless and cravenpiece of selection from selectors who had either forgotten orsimply did not know how to select. They were, not for the firsttime, confusing their fidelity to the players and their obligationto the team.

And then in came Collingwood on Friday afternoon. No innings couldhave better embodied the man it was played by. But the defiantcentury has complicatedissues. By showing faith the selectors arestuck with him and a good few others in the team. They had betteruncomplicate a few issues today. Or South Africa will go 3-0 up atThe Oval.

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Breast Cancer Survivors Gather for "A Pi...

beibeiueb — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:27:59 +0200

Breast Cancer Survivors Gather for "A Pink Carpet Affair"

Carpet OMAHA (KPM) - West Omaha was colored pink Saturday afternoon.Nebraska's Susan G. Komen For the Cure Survivors Luncheon was heldat the D.C. Center.

More than 500 breast cancer survivors, from as far away asScottsbluff were in attendance. The lunch was called "a pink carpetaffair," featuring a hollywood theme.

It gives survivors a chance to get together and talk about theirstruggles and medical advancements.

"Everybody supports one another and gives one another the hope,will and thrill to go on and know there are answers that are comingto make the future better for our friends, family and children,"said Marcy Cotton, a member of the Friends of Epply Cancer CenterBoard.

The Nebraska chapter also presented a grant to the UNMC CancerCenter, one of the leaders in breast cancer research.

Anita Borg Institute Names William Wulf...

beibeiueb — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:14:07 +0200

Anita Borg Institute Names William Wulf Chair of the Board of Trustees

Anita Borg Institute Names William Wulf Chair of the Board ofTrustees

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology (ABI)announced today that William Wulf, Professor University ofVirginia, has been elected chair of its Board of Trustees,replacing Maria Klawe, President of Harvey Mudd College, who willremain a board member.

Dr. Wulf has served on the ABI Board of Trustees for 11 years.Former president of the National Academy of Engineering, hereceived the first Computer Science Ph.D. ever awarded at theUniversity of Virginia. He served as a faculty member atCarnegie-Mellon University, as chairperson of Tartan Laboratories,and as assistant director of the National Science Foundation. Dr.Wulf is a Fellow of the National Academy of Engineering, a Fellowof ACM, a Fellow of the IEEE, and a member of the American Academyof Arts and Sciences. In addition, he has directed more than 25Ph.D. theses and is the author or co-author of three books and morethan 40 papers.

Dr Wulf’

s depth and breadth of experience make him the ideal choice to headABI’

s board,” said Dr. Telle Whitney, president and CEO of the Anita BorgInstitute for Women and Technology. “He is universally respected by both our academic and corporateconstituencies and his unique talents and insights will beinvaluable as we work together to fulfill our mission of deliveringinitiatives that change the world for women in technology.

”As a founding member of the Board of Trustees, I am very proud ofthe Anita Borg Institute

’s progress toward increasing the impact of women on all aspects oftechnology,

”said Dr. Wulf. “I look forward to leading the board in its efforts to continueconnecting women and technology in more powerful and meaningfulways.”

The Board of Trustees is composed of 15 members who collectivelyhave vast experience leading technology companies, educationalinstitutions, and nonprofit organizations. Vice-chair Bill Unger ispartner emeritus of Mayfield Fund and has served on the board forfive years. Other board members include leaders from IBM, Google,Microsoft, HP, Intel, UC San Diego, and SmartForest Ventures.

About the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology (ABI)

The Anita Borg Institute provides resources and programs to helpindustry, academia, and government recruit, retain, and developwomen leaders in high-tech fields, resulting in higher levels oftechnological innovation. ABI programs serve high-tech women bycreating a community and providing tools to help them develop theircareers. ABI is a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 charitable organization.ABI Partners include: Google, Microsoft Corporation, HP, Sun,Cisco, Intel, SAP, Juniper Networks, NSF, NCWIT, IBM, Symantec,Computer Associates, NetApp, and Capgemini. For more information,visit

www.anitaborg.org

In the donor chair at 16

beibeiueb — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:13:45 +0200

When Michael Weikamp was a little boy, he would sit in a miniaturechildren's chair while playing games and watching his mother a fewfeet away donating blood at United Blood Services in Phoenix.

On Monday, Weikamp, now 16, sat in the same grown-up chair at theblood-bank location, copying what his mother - who recentlyreceived a pin for hitting the 12-gallon mark in blood donation -has been doing all these years.

Weikamp was one of four boys from Bourgade Catholic High School inPhoenix who were among the first 16-year-olds in the state to giveblood after a recent clarification of a state law opened theblood-donor pool to the younger demographic.

"It's just an awesome opportunity," said Mary Ann Burns, Weikamp'smother, who was at Monday's blood draw to commemorate United BloodServices' new policy to lower the age limit of donors from 17 to16. Minors must provide parental consent.

"I hope he continues donating," she said.

The bill that clarifies the existing law goes into effect Sept. 26,but because the law never actually prohibited 16-year-olds fromdonating, the blood bank went ahead with drawing from the youngerage group before the start of the school year, said United BloodServices spokeswoman Sue Thew.

Weikamp said that when a teacher at his school approached him andasked if he'd be willing to give blood at UBS' blood-drawing event,he was a little nervous about the pain from the needle at first.

"I put it past me, (though), and thought it was worth the pain," hesaid, holding his arm straight up in the air as the nurse hadinstructed him.

Sen. Robert Blendu, the bill's sponsor, said he thought it wasimportant to officially lower the donor age because he didn't wantthe state to ever be in a position where there wasn't enoughavailable blood.

"It isn't until someone you know that's close to you needs blood,you start realizing what if that blood's not there," said Blendu,R-Litchfield Park.

These sentiments hit close to home for Zackary O'Meara, one of theother 16-year-olds at Monday's blood draw.

O'Meara needed blood when he had heart surgery at age 11. He saidhe again saw how important blood donations are when his fathersuffered a heart attack and had medical treatment that requiredblood.

"We both knew what it was like to need blood," he said.

O'Meara said it would have been a crime for him not to have takenthis opportunity to donate.

"I know he's proud of me," he said of his father, who accompaniedthe teen to the blood bank.

Along with the change in age limitations, UBS implemented reviseddonor height and weight restrictions in their new policy that alsowent into effect Monday.

The new height and weight requirement states that "generally, boysat least 5 feet tall and who weigh at least 110 pounds and girlswho are at least 5 feet 3 inches and weigh at least 124 pounds" areeligible to donate.

UBS Marketing Manager Brad Daughtry said he expects the amount ofteenage donors to significantly increase as a result of theirchanged policy.

Thew noted that in the 2007-2008 school year, 18,300 people betweenthe ages of 17 and 19 donated to the blood bank. She said that setof teens represents the largest three-year age group of UBS blooddonors.

O'Meara said now that he's able to donate, he plans on continuingto do so as often as possible.

"It's not like we're being heroes," he said. "We're normal peoplewho are aware."

Home repair companies inundated with cal...

beibeiueb — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:13:17 +0200

caused boulders to slide down the mountain slopes.

The area had a record high of 1.77 inches of rain Saturday. West ElPaso had as much as 5 inches of rain and the Northeast had about 3inches of rain, said Dave Novlan, National Weather Servicemeteorologist.

Remnants from the hurricane increased chances of precipitation from80 and 100 percent during the weekend, he said.

Dolly also maintained a small hurricane structure when it reachedEl Paso -- more than 800 miles from where it reached landfall,Novlan said.

The last time a hurricane maintained its structure on land was in1980 when Hurricane Allen hit Brownsville and made its way up theRio Grande, he said. It was one of the few hurricanes to reachCategory 5, the most severe.

"It's very unusual to have a lot of tropical systems maintain theiridentity," he said. "Usually, it's a blob of a moisture field.(But) the body was still warm and in a cyclonic circulation."

In Jurez, more than 100 police and other officials had to usesandbags to stop a dam from overflowing at El Barreal. Mexicanofficials said about 150 families had to be evacuated from theirhomes.

Karla Ponce, an office coordinator with Althouse Cleaning, a carpetcleaning company at 6180 Doniphan, said they're booked through theend of the week.

The company, which cleans and repairs carpets in El Paso and LasCruces, has been getting calls from people needing their services,she said. She said replacing soggy, smelly, flood-damaged carpetscould cost hundreds of dollars.

Adan Vera, owner of AAA Roofing, which repairs and installs roofs,said he, too, has had a high volume of calls. Most calls areinquiries about leaky roofs, he said.

People who have experienced weather-related damage to theirproperty should call their home insurance company to file a claim,he said.

Mary Charnichart lives in one area that is hit hard when it rains.She said the Coronado Mobile Home Park in the 6300 block of NorthMesa is constantly flooded during rain storms.

Both her car and house have been flooded several times, and she hasspend hundreds of dollars for repairs, she said.

To prevent another flooding in the arroyo where she lives,neighbors had to break a wall and dig through dirt, she said.

"It does scare us that (severe) flooding will happen again," shesaid.

Carpet-baggers 'exploiting' Indigenous a...

beibeiueb — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:12:45 +0200

Carpet-baggers 'exploiting' Indigenous artists

Allegations of widespread exploitation of Aboriginal artists havesurfaced in central Australia.

The ABC's

Four Corners

program has found artists are working and living in fenced-offblocks of land around Alice Springs where they have no guaranteedentry or exit.

Sarah Brown, a health worker in Alice Springs, says dialysispatients will often miss appointments because they are lockedinside the bush blocks.

Ms Brown says "carpet-bagging" or the unregulated art trade isprolific in central Australia.

"That's the reality of the situation. I'm sure they'll say it's forsafety and security or whatever but the reality is that peoplecan't get in and out, people are in there to paint," she said.

"It's a battery farm for Western Desert painters."

Ms Brown says there are about 30 places in Alice Springs engaged inthe unregulated Aboriginal art industry.

But the dealers, commonly known as carpet-baggers, say the artistsare treated fairly and equitably.

Steve Nibbs, who is an art dealer in Alice Springs, says he takesartists away on holidays, gives them cars and always respects theirwishes.

"I was the original carpet-bagger ... I was the first one theystarted calling a carpet-bagger," he said.

"As a carpet-bagger I believe also that if anyone sat down and hada look at what I do, I've done just as much as anybody has forAboriginal artists.

"I've nursed a lot of old men and a lot of old women, I've beensitting up in hospital until 3:00am in the morning.

"I'm just trying to get the artist a better chance to promotehimself."

Photo Gallery: WRATH OF CON Red Carpet A...

beibeiueb — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:11:49 +0200

Photo Gallery: WRATH OF CON Red Carpet Arrivals

The party on Saturday night was a huge success with around 750 ofour best friends attending!

Celebrity attendees that walked the red carpet included JasonStatham, Darren Lynn Bousman, David Goyer, Lena Headey, DavidGoyer, Mark Neveldine, Alyson Lohman, Ray Park, Jamie King, KyleNewman, Frank Miller, Larry Hama, Ryan Schifrin, Ken Foree, TonyTodd and many more!

We also need to say thanks to our partners in crime - LakeshoreEntertainment, Anchor Bay, San Diego Harley Davidson, Film.com,Latinoreview.com and Bustelo Caf?

Check out the red carpet arrivals gallery below!

Milk Cup red carpet for Manchester Unite...

beibeiueb — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:09:57 +0200

Milk Cup red carpet for Manchester United legend Solskjaer Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored another majortriumph in Coleraine last night.

The goalscoring hero of the Red Devils’ 1999 Champions’League final won over thousands of fans as he opened the Milk Cupyouth tournament.

The unassuming Old Trafford legend was cheered by thousands ofpeople lining the main streets of the town as they welcomed playersfrom 19 countries who are here to contest Elite, Premier and Juniorcompetitions.

Solskjaer said: “This competition has built up a worldwidereputation for excellence and we have sent teams here for manyyears.”

The little Norwegian, nicknamed the “baby-facedassassin” revealed that United boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, hadtold him all about how successful the event is.

“He told me how he admires the people who run it because theywork non-stop to make it the success it has become.

“But the most striking thing about it is the enormousenthusiasm everyone possesses for the event. There is a genuineexcitement and that is fantastic to experience.”

United’s new full-time reserve team boss is gearing up forhis testimonial against Spanish club Espanyol on Saturday. He plansto use the proceeds of the multi-million-pound match to build 10schools in southern Africa under the umbrella of UNICEF, theworldwide children’s charity for whom he has been a goodwillambassador since 2001.

Last night the 35-year-old star said: “I’ll pull on thered jersey one more time - if Sir Alex selects me!

“It will be a sad occasion in a way but I am not leaving theclub either so that’s a plus point.”

The former Norwegian international who flew into Belfast with PaulMcGuinness’ Manchester United squad contesting the PremierMilk Cup, has been appointed full-time reserves boss at OldTrafford.

Ole Gunnar received a rousing reception from fans when he walkedonto the Showgrounds arena and was later engulfed by autographhunters after unfurling the tournament flag.

Solskjaer gave the players words of encouragement and told themthey were the real stars on this week’s stage.

He also made a point of speaking to players from Rosenborg who arethe first Norwegian team to appear at the tournament.

Fashion, style refuse to retreat on SONA...

beibeiueb — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:09:35 +0200

MANILA, PhilippinesThe true state of the nation might have beenfar from rosy for a growing number of Filipinos reeling fromsoaring food and gas prices, but President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,wearing a fuchsia gown to advance her case, thought otherwise.

For several hours Monday afternoon, crisis-weary Filipinos setaside their money woes to get a glimpse of their favoritepoliticians and their significant others as they did their versionof the Red Carpet.

In true show biz fashion, Arroyo's 8th State of the Nation Addressto a joint session of Congress at the Batasang Pambansa in QuezonCity invariably became a much-awaited annual fashion spectacle,complete with its share of victims and victors.

Leading the stellar lineup is Arroyo herself in JC Buendia'supdated version of the Maria Clara made of and dyed in fuchsiausing the sabang plant's bark extract. Threads used for theembroidery were also dyed using coconut husk extract.

"La Herminia weavers from Aklan wove the fabric," said Buendia, oneof Arroyo's favorite designers, in a pre-SONA e-mail. "An heirloompink zircon brooch will hold the President's panuelo in place."

Buendia also did Assunta de Rossi-Ledesma's draped silk chiffonterno. For the afternoon event, the statuesque former actress andwife of Representative Jules Ledesma opted for an unembellishedteal number.

De Rossi-Ledesma drew attention to her neck and chest by wearing aJewelmer necklace consisting of dangling white and yellow pearls --a wedding gift, she said, from husband Jules.

"The occasion may seem like a show biz event, but I always adviseclients, even those who come from the ranks of the old rich, totone it down," said one designer who requested not to beidentified. "Instead of wearing their diamonds, I tell them to wearpearls or simple heirloom pieces. As public servants, it's alwaysbetter to look understated than to appear ostentatious especiallyduring hard times."

Ostentatious she certainly wasn't. Still, Senator Loren Legardamanaged to generate her fair share of attention in Paul Cabral'sblack backless, off-the-shoulder silk crepe number with a stylizedhand-embroidered panuelo by embroiderers from Lumban.

Legarda accessorized her look with a huge cameo pendant and amother-of-pearl minaudiere by Celestina, the high-end branddesigned by former model Tina Maristela-Ocampo. She also wore apair of medium-sized gold tambourine earrings she inherited fromher late mother.

"You could say I chose black as a way of mourning [over] thePresident's unfulfilled promises," said Legarda, who was one of thelast politicians to do the Red Carpet. "At the same time, I wantedto make a statement that you could still look simple and elegantcourtesy of world-class Filipino talents from Cebu, Laguna andBulacan."

Another proud owner of a Celestina minaudiere was society columnistMons Romulo-Tantoco, daughter of Foreign Affairs Secretary AlbertoRomulo. She wore a powder pink chiffon terno with laser-cutleatherette sleeves resembling doilies by Lebanon-based Cebuanodesigner Cary Santiago.

Next to Rajo Laurel, Cabral probably made the most number of gownsand barongs in this year's SONA. He also did the ternos of DeputySpeaker Amelita Villarosa, Representative Lorna Silverio, LaniMercado and Baby Arenas.

Mercado, wife of Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla, wore an empire-cutterno with pleated detailing. Arenas, mother of RepresentativeRachel Arenas, opted for white Mikado silk with layers of Frenchlace and silk organza from the hips down.

Rodora Nograles, wife of House Speaker Prospero Nograles, almostforgot to have an outfit made for the SONA. She had a lime greenchiffon terno accented with undulating organza ruffles on the skirtrushed for the occasion.

Since two of her favorite designers, Patis Tesoro and Laurel, weretoo busy attending to previous orders, she took her chance withCabral. She seemed happy with the results.

"It slipped my mind since this is the first SONA where my husbandis speaker," said Nograles, who wore a set of heirloom jewelryconsisting of a pair of ruby earrings, brooch and ring.

"These pieces are special to me because I was with my mother whenshe bought them in Escolta," she said. "I was only in high schoolback then, which was a long time ago. That's why I asked Paul to doa gown that would make me look younger."

Representative Cynthia Villar, wife of Senate president MannyVillar, on the other hand, wore a semi-beaded and modernized kimonaover a strapless lavender dress by Nolie Hans.

Apart from Revilla, Cabral also did the barongs of Senators JoseJinggoy Estrada and Francis "Chiz" Escudero.

Escudero's wife Christine, however, wore Frederick Peralta'sCastilian-inspired terno made of duchess satin and embellished withgeometric details and an overlay of black point d'esprit. Thedesigner also did the gray and silver jusi and terno of MimiZamora, wife of Representative Ronaldo Zamora.

No one could have worn a more stylized Maria Clara than Senator PiaCayetano, who donned a shirred, off-shoulder, Grecian-inspiredolive dress by Mia Urquico. She spruced up the look with afloral-inspired multi-colored necklace she bought from South Africaand a pair of borrowed dangling earrings.

"I'm not really very much into jewelry," she said. "I was in ahurry that I forgot to bring a pair of earrings with me thismorning. I had to borrow earrings from my chief of staff, AttorneyDG Uy."

Veteran politicians had to share the spotlight with younger andarguably more fashion-forward wives of congressmen and senators.Majority of them also glided down the Red Carpet either in updatedternos or stylized Maria Claras.

Audrey Zubiri, wife of Senator Miguel Zubiri, one of the mostphotographed women in last year's SONA, again tapped Laurel to doher terno, a draped silk tulle number in deep turquoise with silverand crystal beading.

Tootsie Angara, wife of Aurora Representative Sonny Angara anddaughter-in-law of Senator Edgardo Angara, was also a repeatcustomer who came in Laurel's pale pink and white chiffon ternowith a tiered skirt.

Laurel also did the SONA outfits of more than a dozen congressionalwives, including Nettie Agabao, Candy Biron, Zona Teves and JennyBarzaga. He also transformed a white-and-orange sari fabric intohis three-piece version of the Maria Clara for RepresentativeJocelyn Limkaichong of Negros Oriental.

Angela Arroyo, wife of Representative Mikey Arroyo, held her own inDennis Lustico's Thai silk terno with orchid motif, beadwork andhandpainting, while Jit Remulla, wife of Representative CrispinRemulla, wore Jojie Lloren's modernized silk Maria Clara, completewith baro, panuelo and sobrefalda, and a slim pair of checkeredpants.

She finished off the look with an heirloom piece, a chunky necklaceconsisting of several strands of semi-precious stones. The look,she reportedly said to one reporter, was "global Filipino," whichtook its cue from Arroyos yet-to-be-delivered SONA message.

Statements were not confined on the Red Carpet. Akbayanrepresentative Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, wearing a fuchsia terno ofsilk and organza, held a press conference at the Batasan some threehours before Red Carpet parade.

As expected, she and fellow sectoral representative Liza L. Maza ofGabriela boycotted Arroyo's SONA. True to form, instead of goingfor a mainstream designer, Hontiveros-Baraquel went for amarginalized dressmaker.

"Suki Yula, a single mother living with cancer, did my terno," saidHontiveros-Baraquel, a former broadcaster. "She used to work forAureo Alonzo, and now works out of her home in Mandaluyong."

Meanwhile, reporters and photographers, in show biz parlance, hadto "make lagare," (work double-time) as guests used two entrancesto glide to the session hall. Wearing a gray terno, actress DawnZulueta, wife of Representative Anton Lagdameo, skipped the RedCarpet altogether and went directly to the congressmen's offices assoon as she arrived.