text:
Islamic State of Iraq
|Islamic State of Iraq
|دولة العراق الإسلامية (Arabic)
Dawlat al-ʿIrāq al-ʾIslāmiyyah
Participant in the Iraq War, the Iraqi insurgency, and the Global War on Terrorism
|15 October 2006 – 8 April 2013 (under various names)[clarification needed][1]
|Salafist Islamism[citation needed]
Salafist Jihadism[citation needed]
Takfirism[citation needed]
Anti-Shia[citation needed]
|Abu Omar al-Baghdadi (2006–2010) (KIA)
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (2010–2013)
|Area of operations
|Part of
|Originated as
| al-Qaeda in Iraq
Mujahideen Shura Council
|Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
| Multi-National Force – Iraq
Republic of Iraq
Kurdish and Shia militias
Awakening Councils
|Battles and wars
|Iraqi insurgency (Iraq War)
Iraqi insurgency (2011–present)
The Islamic State of Iraq (ISI; Arabic: دولة العراق الإسلامية Dawlat al-ʿIrāq al-ʾIslāmiyyah) was a Sunni Islamic group that aimed to establish an Islamic state in Sunni, Arab-majority areas of Iraq. It was formed on 15 October 2006 from the merger of a number Iraqi insurgent groups, including Tanzim Qaidat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn—'Al-Qaeda in Iraq'—and its Mujahideen Shura Council allies.[2]
In 2006–2008, during the Iraq War, ISI had military units or strongholds in Mosul and in the governorates of Baghdad, Al Anbar and Diyala, and they claimed Baqubah as their capital.
In April 2013, ISI transformed itself into Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, ISIS, IS), which is still active today.
- 1 Background
- 2 General characteristics
- 3 Topics 2006–2008
- 3.1 2006–2008 military presence or control
- 3.2 2006–2007 attacks claimed by or attributed to AQI/ISI
- 3.3 ISI expelling Christians
- 3.4 Defying Iran
- 3.5 2007 conflicts with Sunni and nationalist Iraqi groups
- 3.6 U.S.' rhetorical focusing on "al Qaeda (in Iraq)"
- 3.7 2007 U.S. arming militias against AQI
- 3.8 2007 U.S. and others fighting AQI/ISI
- 3.9 2008 U.S. and others fighting AQI/ISI
- 4 Topics 2009–2010
- 5 Topics 2011–2013
- 6 See also
- 7 References
- Jordanian Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a 1966 born veteran of the Soviet war in Afghanistan (1979–1989), in 1999 started a militia called Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad ('Organization of Monotheism and Jihad') aiming to overthrow the 'apostate' Kingdom of Jordan. After their presumed assassination of U.S. diplomat Laurence Foley in 2002 in Jordan, however, they became mainly notorious for their brutally violent campaign in Iraq, which began in August 2003.
- In October 2004, Zarqawi pledged alliance to Osama bin Laden and changed the name of his group into Tanzim Qaidat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn ('Organization of Jihad's Base in Mesopotamia', often referred to as Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI)), which indulged in dozens of violent attacks per year in Iraq.
- In January 2006, AQI united with five smaller Sunni Islamic groups into Mujahideen Shura Council (Iraq) (MSC). Attacks in Iraq blamed on or claimed by either AQI or MSC continued. In June 2006, Zarqawi was killed by the U.S., AQI's leadership passed on to Egyptian Abu Ayyub al-Masri.
General characteristics[edit]
Part of a series on the
| Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad (1999–2004)
Tanzim Qaidat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn (2004–06)
Mujahideen Shura Council (2006)
Islamic State of Iraq (2006–13)
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (2013–14)Self-proclaimed as the Islamic State (June 2014–present)
|By topic
On 13[3] and 15 October 2006, messages on Internet in the name of Iraqi Mujahideen Shura Council consisting of Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) and five smaller insurgent groups declared the establishment of the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) which should encompass the governorates of Baghdad, Anbar, Diyala, Kirkuk, Salaheddin, Niniveh and parts of Babel and Wasit – a swathe of central and western Iraq where most Sunni Arabs live.[2] In April 2007, International Herald Tribune called ISI 'a coalition of eight Sunni factions'.[4]
In 2003–2004, under its earlier name Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, the group had chosen as its (killing) targets Shi'ite mosques and civilians, Iraqi government institutions, and the U.S.-led Multi-National Force in Iraq. In 2005, under its name Al Qaeda in Iraq, its goals were: expelling the U.S. from Iraq; turning Iraq into a (Sunni) Islamic state or caliphate; extending this program to neighboring countries. In 2009, these were still the goals of Islamic State of Iraq.[5]
When ISI was formed, October 2006, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi was presented as its leader[6] or emir.[3] Since July 2007, the U.S. government however considered Omar al-Baghdadi to be fictitious, invented to try to put an Iraqi face on the leadership of ISI which in reality was only a front organization of Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) which was a foreign-driven network.[6]
Abu Ayyub al-Masri (an Egyptian also known as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir[7]), since June 2006 leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, was therefore also the real, non-fictional, leader of ISI;[8] officially, he was only the military commander,[7] and from April 2007 Minister of War,[9] of Islamic State of Iraq.
Al-Masri and (fictitious) Omar al-Baghdadi were both reported killed 18 April 2010 in a raid by Iraqi and U.S. forces.[8] On 16 May 2010, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was announced as the new leader of the Islamic State of Iraq; his deputy to be Abu Abdallah al-Husseini al-Qurashi.[7]
In April 2007, ISI on Internet declared to have formed a 'cabinet' of ten 'ministers', under its (fictitious) leader Abu Omar al-Baghdadi.[9] For most of those 'ministers', this was the first and the last thing the world ever heard about them, with only two exceptions:
- Abdullah al-Janabi, Minister of Security, was already wanted by the Iraqi Criminal Court since 2005, and in 2014 he was still preaching sermons in Fallujah.[10]
- Abu Ayyub al-Masri, Minister of War, was already wanted by Iraqi and U.S.-coalition authorities since 2005, and was killed by U.S./Iraqi forces in April 2010. The successor as Minister of War as of April 2010 was Abu Suleiman al-Naser.
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who in May 2010 would become the new leader of ISI, was before April 2010 the general supervisor of ISI's provincial sharia committees and a member of its senior consultative council.[11]
(For ISI management after April 2010, see also section 2010 revival ISI, new attacks.)
Funding and financing[edit]
Before 2008, according to Iraqi and U.S. spokesmen, AQI raised money through kidnappings of wealthy Iraqi people for ransom, car theft, hijacking fuel trucks, counterfeiting, raised supplies by commandeering rations and shaking down Iraqi soldiers for ammunition, and most lucratively stole oil in the region of Bayji (between Baghdad and Mosul) for the black market. The oil business yielded them $2 million a month, the other activities also brought in tens of millions of dollars.[12]
In addition, elements outside Iraq, like jihadists in Saudi Arabia and Syria, provided funding for AQI.[12]
After 2007, AQI lost considerable funding sources and popular support, U.S. authorities said in 2009.[5]
But in 2010, two Iraqi refugees in the U.S. are supposed to have planned to send money and weapons to AQI; they stood on trial for that charge, in August 2012, and one of them pleaded guilty.[13]
In 2006, Iraqis effectively ran Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) in positions like security princes and brigade and battalion commanders, with foreign fighters' roles relegated to canon fodder of suicide attacks, but the upper tiers of the organization were still dominated by non-Iraqis.[14]
In 2006, AQI was a well-oiled and bureaucratic organisation with a high degree of documentation of its activities, like pay records, death lists of opponents, verdicts and sentences on prisoners.[14]
In 2008, AQI appeared to have at least 80 execution videos, mostly beheadings, lying on the shelf that had never been distributed or released on Internet: a former al-Qaeda commander told CNN that they were used to verify the deaths to al Qaeda superiors and to justify continued funding and support.[14]
By the end of 2009, AQI was, according to U.S. and Iraqi officials, a mostly Iraqi network of small, roving cells, still relying on fighters and weapons smuggled through the Syrian border.[5]
For speculations about its later management structure, see section 2010, revival ISI.
In August 2006, ISI's predecessor Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) (see above) had been considered by the United States as the dominant power in the Iraqi Al Anbar Governorate,[15] and Al-Qaeda in Iraq's core membership was estimated that year as "more than 1,000".[16]
In 2007, estimates of the group's strength ranged from just 850 to several thousand full-time fighters.[16][17]
Between the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq in late 2011, and late 2012, al-Qaeda in Iraq more than doubled in strength, from 1,000 to 2,500 fighters.[18]
Topics 2006–2008[edit]
2006–2008 military presence or control[edit]
The Washington Post said that between 2005 and 2008 AQI came to control large parts of Iraq.[5]
Autumn 2006, AQI had taken over Baqubah, the capital of Diyala Governorate, and before March 2007 ISI claimed Baqubah as its capital.[19]
In 2006, AQI/ISI had strongholds in the Al Anbar Governorate, from Fallujah to Qaim,[20] and for some time they were the dominant power in Al Anbar, according to the U.S.[15]
In 2007, ISI seems to have had military units in the Baghdad Governorate.[21]
In 2007–2008, ISI seems to have had strongholds or at least military units in Mosul in the Ninawa Governorate.[12]
Between July and October 2007, al-Qaeda in Iraq or ISI seemed to have lost their secure military bases in Anbar province and the Baghdad area.[22]
Between April 2007 and April 2009, AQI lost considerable support, mobility and financial backing.[23]
2006–2007 attacks claimed by or attributed to AQI/ISI[edit]
The 23 November 2006 Sadr City bombings, killing 215 people, were blamed by the U.S. on Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI).[24]
In February and on 16 and 27 March 2007, lethal attacks on Sunni Iraqi targets took place that were not claimed, but that either Western observers or Iraqi rivals blamed on AQI/ISI (see section 2007 conflicts with Sunni and nationalist Iraqi groups).
The 23 March 2007 assassination attempt on Sunni Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq Salam al-Zaubai was claimed by ISI: "We tell the traitors of al-Maliki's infidel government, wait for what will destroy you".[25]
The 12 April 2007 Iraqi Parliament bombing was reportedly also claimed by ISI.[26]
In May 2007, Islamic State of Iraq claimed responsibility for an attack on a US military post that cost the live of seven Americans.
The 25 June 2007 suicide bombing of a meeting of Al Anbar tribal leaders and officials at Mansour Hotel, Baghdad, killing 13 people, including six Sunni sheikhs and other prominent figures,[27] was claimed by ISI who in a statement on Internet said this attack was revenge for raping a girl by "members of the apostate police force at Anbar".[28] Security at the hotel, which is 100 meters outside the Green Zone, was provided by a British contractor.[29]
For the August 2007 Yazidi communities bombings, which killed some 800 people, U.S. military and government sources named al-Qaeda as the "prime suspect", but there was no claim of responsibility for those attacks.
On 13 September 2007, ISI killed Sunni sheikh Abdul Sattar Abu Risha, and on 25 September, another lethal attack on Sunni as well as Shiite leaders was blamed on ISI (for both, see section 2007 conflicts with Sunni and nationalist Iraqi groups).
ISI expelling Christians[edit]
After in autumn 2004 Sunni militants had bombed churches and kidnapped Christians in Dora, a district in Baghdad, and U.S. military in autumn 2006 had 'cleared' Dora, Sunni militants tied to Al Qaeda in Iraq in late 2006 quickly reestablished themselves in Dora and began harassing Christians.[30] By January 2007, ISI proclamations appeared on walls in Dora and leaflets were circulated: women should wear veils; shorts and cellphones were prohibited.[30] Christians were given the choice: either pay a tax, or become a Muslim, or leave the district. By May 2007, 500 Christian families had indeed left Dora.[30]
Continued Christian assailing would appear in ISI's 2010 Baghdad church massacre.
For continued persecution of (Christian) Assyrians in 2014 by ISIL, see: Persecution of Assyrians by ISIL.
Defying Iran[edit]
In July 2007, ISI's supposed leader Abu Omar al-Baghdadi threatened Iran with war: "We are giving the Persians, and especially the rulers of Iran, a two-month period to end all kinds of support for the Iraqi Shia government and to stop direct and indirect intervention ... otherwise a severe war is waiting for you." He also warned Arab states against doing business with Iran.[31]
2007 conflicts with Sunni and nationalist Iraqi groups[edit]
(See preceding events in: Conflicts between Al Qaeda in Iraq and other Sunni Iraqi groups, 2005–2006.)
By the beginning of 2007, Sunni tribes and nationalist insurgents were still battling with AQI trying to retake control of Sunni communities,[32] and some Sunni groups agreed to fight Al Qaeda in exchange for American arms, ammunition, cash, pick-up trucks, fuel and supplies (see also section 2007 U.S. arming militias against AQI).[33][34]
Sometime February 2007, a truck bomb exploded near a mosque near Fallujah where the imam had criticised AQI, and killed 35 people—the BBC suggested, this attack may have been a retaliation from AQI.[35] 16 March 2007, three attacks near Fallujah and Ramadi (50 km west of Fallujah) killed eight people: a BBC correspondent assumed two of those attacks to have been targeting tribal leaders who had spoken out against AQI.[35]
27 March 2007, the leader of Sunni Arab insurgent group 1920 Revolution Brigades was killed. An official of the group blamed AQI for the attack, but did not say how he arrived at that conclusion. The 1920 Revolution Brigades had for some time been rumored to have taken part in secret talks with American and Iraqi officials who tried to draw Sunni groups away from AQI.[36]
Around 10 April 2007,[4] a spokesman of Islamic Army in Iraq (IAI), a significant Sunni Arab insurgent group fighting Iraqi and U.S. forces,[37] on television accused AQI of killing 30[38] members of his group,[4] and also members of the Army of the Mujahideen and of the Ansar Al-Sunna resistance group,[38] and called on AQI to review its behaviour: "Killing Sunnis has become a legitimate target for them, especially rich ones. Either they pay them what they want or they kill them", their statement said; "They would kill any critic or whoever tries to show them their mistakes. Assaulting people's homes became permitted and calling people infidels became popular".[37] In reaction, leader Abu Omar al-Baghdadi of Islamic State of Iraq on 17 April released a 42-minute audiotape, saying: "To my sons of the Islamic Army (…) We swear to you we don't shed the protected blood of Muslims intentionally", and, calling for unity: "One group is essential to accomplish victory".[4]
The first week of June 2007, in several Baghdad neighborhoods, AQI fighters exchanged heavy fire with Sunni insurgents, including some of Islamic Army in Iraq (IAI).[39] 6 June 2007, Islamic Army in Iraq "reached an agreement with al-Qaeda in Iraq, leading to an immediate cessation of all military operations between the two sides", as the IAI statement on some jihadist website said. An IAI commander explained to TIME: IAI and ISI still disagree on some things, but "the most important thing is that it's our common duty to fight the Americans".[39]
ISI on 14 September 2007 claimed responsibility for the killing of Sunni sheikh Abdul Sattar Abu Risha the previous day, leader of the Anbar Salvation Council that cooperated with U.S. to push al Qaeda out of Anbar Province, and vowed to assassinate more tribal leaders who cooperate with U.S. and Iraqi government forces.[40]
On 23 September 2007, 'Islamic State of Iraq' in a statement accused Hamas of Iraq and the 1920 Revolution Brigades of killing numerous Al-Qaeda-recruited fighters. On 25 September, a bomb in a Shiite mosque in the city of Baqubah, during a meeting between tribal, police and guerilla leaders, killed the leaders of Hamas of Iraq and the 1920 Revolution Brigades and other leaders: local reports said the attack was the work of ISI.[41]
U.S.' rhetorical focusing on "al Qaeda (in Iraq)"[edit]
During 2007, US authorities and President George W. Bush strongly emphasized the role of "Al Qaeda (in Iraq)" in violence, insurgency and attacks on U.S. troops, and the threat of them acquiring 'real power' in Iraq.[42][43] While some 30 groups now claimed responsibility for attacks on U.S. troops and on Iraqi government targets, U.S. military authorities mentioned the name 'al-Qaida (in Iraq)' 51 times against only five mentionings of specific other groups, in an examined period in May 2007.[42] Observers and scholars (like U.S. Middle East specialist Steven Simon,[42] U.S. terrorism analyst Lydia Khalil,[42] Anthony H. Cordesman of the U.S. Center for Strategic and International Studies[43]) suggested that the role played by AQI in violence, insurgency and attacks on U.S. troops was being unduly stressed.
In March 2007, the US-sponsored Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty analyzed attacks in Iraq in that month and concluded that AQI had taken credit for 43 out of 439 attacks on Iraqi security forces and Shia militias, and 17 out of 357 attacks on US troops.[16] According to National Intelligence Estimate and Defense Intelligence Agency reports in July 2007, AQI accounted for 15% percent of the attacks in Iraq. The Congressional Research Service noted in its September 2007 report that attacks from al-Qaeda were less than 2% of the violence in Iraq. It criticized the Bush administration's statistics, noting that its false reporting of insurgency attacks as AQI attacks had increased since the surge operations began in 2007.[16][44]
At a press conference, 29 December 2007, U.S. General David Petraeus again said that "the vast majority" of attacks in Iraq are still carried out by AQI.[32]
2007 U.S. arming militias against AQI[edit]
Starting early in 2007 in Anbar Province, according to American commanders and officials, Sunni groups in several Iraqi provinces, that had grown disillusioned with 'Al Qaeda (in Mesopotamia)' tactics like suicide bombings killing thousands of Iraqi civilians, had agreed to fight Al Qaeda in exchange for American arms, ammunition, cash, pick-up trucks, fuel and supplies, and in some cases had agreed to alert American troops on locations of roadside bombs and booby traps.[33][34] Apparently, this practice of negotiating arms deals with "Sunni insurgents" was approved of by the US high command in June 2007.[34]
By December 2007, the so-called "Awakening movement" (see also Conflicts between Al Qaeda in Iraq and other Sunni Iraqi groups, 2005–2006), a Sunni Arab force paid by the American military to fight 'Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia', started in Anbar Province but spread over all Iraq, had grown to 65,000–80,000 fighters.[45] Iraqi government and Shiites expressed their worry that this would lead to tens of thousands of armed Sunnis in hardly controlled tribal 'Awakening groups', exciting Shiite militias to grow too, finally leading to civil war.[45]
2007 U.S. and others fighting AQI/ISI[edit]
In January 2007, U.S. President George W. Bush ordered an extra 20,000 soldiers into Iraq ('the surge'), most into Baghdad and Al Anbar Governorate, to help provide security and support reconciliation between communities, and motivated that decision predominantly by pointing at "outrageous acts of murder aimed at innocent Iraqis" by "Al Qaeda terrorists".[46]
31 May 2007, in Baghdad's Amariyah district,, at 11 a.m., gunmen—identified as al-Qaida by residents—shooted randomly in the air, claiming through loudspeakers that Amariyah was under control of Islamic State of Iraq. Armed residents are said to have resisted, set al-Qaida men's cars on fire, and called the Americans for help; the Americans came in the afternoon, and "it got quiet for a while", as a resident said.[21]
Between March and August 2007, U.S. and Iraqi government forces fought the Battle of Baqubah in the Diyala Governorate against AQI, "to eliminate Al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists operating in Baqubah and its surrounding areas",[47] resulting in 227 AQI fighters being killed and 100 arrested, 31 U.S. and 12 Iraqi soldiers being killed. While in July 7,000 U.S. troops and 2,500 Iraqi troops were fighting AQI/ISI in that battle, the U.S. army admitted that 80 percent of AQI leaders had fled the area.[48]
The U.S. Iraq War troop surge of 2007 (see above) went into full effect in June 2007, and supplied the military with more manpower for operations targeting Islamic State of Iraq. In July, 19 senior 'al Qaeda in Iraq' operatives were killed or captured by U.S. and Iraqi Security Forces; in August 25; in September 29; in October 45, said U.S. Colonel Donald Bacon.[49]
By October 2007, U.S. military believed to have dealt devastating, perhaps irreversible, blows to AQI. But a senior intelligence official advised against a declaration of victory over the group, because, he said, AQI retains the ability for surprise and for catastrophic attacks.[22]
2008 U.S. and others fighting AQI/ISI[edit]
In Operation Phantom Phoenix, January–July 2008, the multi-national force in Iraq attempted to hunt down the last 200 Al-Qaeda extremists in the eastern Diyala Governorate, which resulted in 900 (non-descript) 'insurgents' being killed and 2,500 captured, and 59 U.S., 776 Iraqi, three Georgian and one UK soldiers killed.
By May 2008, according to Newsweek, US and Iraqi military offensives had driven AQI from Al Anbar and Diyala Provinces, leaving AQI holed up in and around the northern city of Mosul.[12]
The effect of the U.S. Iraq War troop surge of 2007 (see above), between June 2007 and January 2009, together with creating American-funded Sunni groups fighting AQI (see section 2007 U.S. arming militias against AQI), was—according to The Washington Post—that 'scores of AQI leaders' were killed or detained.[50]
Topics 2009–2010[edit]
2009 attacks (possibly) by ISI/AQI; revival[edit]
3 January 2009, a suicide bomb attack in Yusufiyah, 25 miles from Baghdad, killed 23 people; The Christian Science Monitor suggested the hand of AQI, but presented no evidence. A local Sons of Iraq spokesman said: "There are still some tribes who are trying to hide AQI members".[51]
After the Iraqi provincial elections in January 2009, AQI offered an olive branch to other Sunni extremist groups, and even extended "a hand of forgiveness" to those who had worked with the Americans.[50] Some Sunni groups responded positively to this invitation.[50]
Beginning of April 2009, 'Sunni insurgent groups' warned that they would step up attacks against U.S. troops and Iraq's Shiite-led government.[23] Between 7 and 22 April, 10 bomb attacks killed 74 people.[52] Two more suicide attacks on 23 April 2009, with 76 deaths, were without evidence attributed to 'AQI-affiliated' groups. Some more unclaimed suicide bombings in April brought the number of Iraqis killed in bombings that month on 350.[53]
In the 20 June 2009 Taza bombing near a mosque, 73 Shias were killed; Western media, like Reuters, hinted at "…Sunni Islamist insurgents, including al Qaeda…".[54]
On 19 August 2009, three car bombs exploded in Baghdad, targeting the Iraqi Finance and Foreign Ministries, a hotel and a commercial district, killing 101 and injuring 563 people. The attacks were claimed, two months later, by Islamic State of Iraq, calling the targets "dens of infidelity".[55]
The 25 October 2009 twin bombings again targeting Iraqi government buildings in Baghdad killed 155 people and injured 721,[56] and were also claimed by Islamic State of Iraq, calling the targets "dens of infidelity".[55]
In November 2009, Islamic State of Iraq issued another plea on Internet (see also January), calling for Sunnis to rally around a common end goal.[50] Iraqi (Shi'ite) Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki—installed December 2006—assumed in November 2009 that Al Qaeda in Iraq and former Ba'athists together tried to undermine security and elections of January 2010.[57]
8 December 2009, ISI committed five bomb attacks in Baghdad targeting government buildings and a police patrol, killing 127 people and injuring 448 more. ISI declared the targets "headquarters of evil, nests of unbelief".[58]
2010 revival ISI, new attacks[edit]
After on 18 April 2010 Abu Ayyub al-Masri, leader of AQI, and Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, leader of Islamic State of Iraq, had been killed in a joint US-Iraqi raid near Tikrit,[8] on 16 May 2010 Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was announced to be the new leader of the Islamic State of Iraq; his deputy would be Abu Abdallah al-Husseini al-Qurashi.[7]
Leader Bakr al-Baghdadi —according to The New York Times—had a preference for former Ba'ath Party military and intelligence officers who had served during the Hussein regime who knew how to fight[59] as his deputies, and built a management structure of those, mostly middle-aged, Hussein-era Iraqi officers overseeing departments of finance, arms, local governance, military operations and recruitment.[60] These leaders added terrorist techniques, refined through years of fighting American troops, to their traditional military skill, and so made ISI a hybrid of terrorists and army.[60] Analysts believe, a Hussein-era officer, known as Hajji Bakr, was appointed as military commander of ISI, heading a military council including three other former Hussein-regime officers.[59]
13 June 2010, suicide bombers disguised in military uniforms attacked the Central Bank of Iraq, killing 18 people and wounding 55. 16 June, ISI in a message on the Hanein jihadist forum claimed the attack.[61]
17 August 2010, ISI executed a suicide bomb attack on army recruits queuing outside a recruiting centre in Baghdad, killing 60 people. 19 or 20 August, ISI claimed the attack, saying it targeted "a group of Shias and apostates who sold their faith for money and to be a tool in the war on Iraqi Sunnis".[62]
On 31 October 2010, members of ISI attacked Our Lady of Salvation Syrian Catholic church in Baghdad with the purpose to kill Christians—purportedly in revenge for an American Christian burning of the Qur'an that hadn't actually happened yet. 58 worshippers, priests, policemen and bystanders got killed, many badly wounded. This attack can be seen as reprisal of the 2004 Iraq churches attacks blamed on the future leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and continuation of the Christian-expulsion taken up by ISI early 2007 (see section ISI expelling Christians).
2009–2010 U.S. and others fighting ISI/AQI[edit]
In May 2009, Iraqi officials said they again needed U.S. troops support in Diyala Governorate, because of suicide bomb attacks.[53]
18 April 2010, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, leader of AQI, and Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, presumably fictitious leader of Islamic State of Iraq, were killed in a joint US-Iraqi raid near Tikrit.[8]
In June 2010, while the U.S. had 88,000 soldiers on Iraqi soil down from an earlier 175,000, US commander General Ray Odierno said that 34 of 42 top leaders of AQI had been killed or captured, not specifying the period in which that had happened, and proudly announced that AQI had "lost connection" with its leadership in Pakistan and would have difficulties in recruiting, finding new leaders, establishing havens, or challenging the Iraqi government.[63][64][65]
In November 2010, 12 suspects, including Huthaifa al-Batawi, al-Qaeda (in Iraq)'s "Emir of Baghdad", were arrested in connection with the 31 October 2010 assault on Our Lady of Salvation Syrian Catholic church in Baghdad.
Batawi was locked up in a counter-terrorism jail complex in Baghdad's Karrada district. During an attempt to escape in May 2011, Batawi and 10 other senior al-Qaeda militants were killed by an Iraqi SWAT team.[66][67]
Topics 2011–2013[edit]
Revival ISI/ISIL in Iraq[edit]
According to the United States Department of State, AQI operated in 2011 predominantly in Iraq but it also attacked in Jordan, and it maintained a logistical network throughout the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and Europe.[68]
In a speech on Internet on 22 July 2012, Al-Baghdadi announced a return of ISI to Iraqi strongholds they had been driven from by U.S. forces and allied militias in 2007 and 2008 (see section 2007–2008, U.S. and others fighting AQI/ISI), and a campaign to free imprisoned AQI members, and urged Iraqi tribal leaders to send their sons "to join the ranks of the mujahideen (fighters) in defense of your religion and honor … The majority of the Sunnis in Iraq support al-Qaida and are waiting for its return".[69] In that speech, Baghdadi also predicted a wave of 40 attacks across Iraq the next day,[70] in which 100 were killed and 300 wounded.[citation needed]
Between July 2012 and July 2013, ISI (renamed on 8 April 2013 as "Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham"[71]) carried out 24 waves of car bomb attacks and eight prison breaks in Iraq.[72] In 2013, Sunni militants like ISI/ISIL regained momentum in their fight against Iraq's supposedly Shi'ite government. The Sunni minority increasingly resented Shi'ite domination, insurgents regrouped, carried out many violent attacks, and drew new Sunni recruits.[73]
Expansion into Syria[edit]
In August 2011, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and al Qaeda's central command authorized the Syrian Abu Mohammad al-Golani to set up a Syrian offshoot of al Qaeda, to bring down the Syrian Assad regime and establish an Islamic state there. Golani with some colleagues snuck over the border into Syria, and reached out to cells of men released since May–June 2011 from the Syrian Sednaya military prison already active in armed battle against Assad's security forces, and to others. Golani's group on 23 January 2012 formally announced itself under the name " Jabhat al-Nusra l'Ahl as-Sham " (Support Front for the People of the Sham).[71][74]
On 22 July 2012, Al-Baghdadi placed a 33-minute speech on Internet, mostly devoted to the Syrian uprising or civil war: "Our people there have fired the coup the grace at the terror that grasped the nation [Syria] for decades … and taught the world lessons of courage and jihad and proved that injustice could only be removed by force", he said.[69]
The second half of 2012, Jabhat al-Nusra stood out among the array of armed groups emerging in Syria as a disciplined and effective fighting force.[71]
In December 2012, the U.S. designated Nusra a terrorist organization and an alias of al Qaeda in Iraq.[71] By January 2013, Nusra was a formidable force with strong popular support in Syria.[71] On 8 April 2013, ISI-leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi announced—what had never been made public—that he had once spawned Jabhat al-Nusra and was now merging them with ISI again into one group, "Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham" (ISIL or ISIS), under his command.[71][75] Golani rejected the merger. Nusra split up. Some fighters, especially the foreign fighters (muhajiroon), followed Baghdadi's edict and joined ISIL, others stayed with Golani.[71]
Poking up Egypt[edit]
On 8 February 2011, when the Egyptian protests—which would end in revolution—ran in their 15th consecutive day, ISI called on Egyptian protesters to wage jihad and strive for truly Islamic government: "The market of jihad (has opened) … the doors of martyrdom have opened … (Egyptians must ignore the) ignorant deceiving ways of rotten pagan nationalism … Your jihad is for every Muslim touched by oppression of the tyrant of Egypt and his masters in Washington and Tel Aviv".[76]
2011 U.S. interfering[edit]
On 4 October 2011, the United States Department of State listed ISI leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, and announced a reward of US$10 million for information leading to his capture or death.[77]
Changing name to 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant'[edit]
On 8 April 2013, having expanded into Syria (see above), ISI adopted the name "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL), also known as "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" or "Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS)."[75][78][79]
See also[edit]
- ^ Knights, Michael (29 May 2014). "The ISIL's Stand in the Ramadi-Falluja Corridor". Combating Terrorism Center. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
- ^ a b Stephen Negus: "Call for Sunni state in Iraq". ft.com, 15 October 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2015. (Free) registration required.
- ^ a b "The Rump Islamic Emirate of Iraq". The Long War Journal. 16 October 2006. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Al-Qaida linked group moves to patch up rift among insurgent factions". International Herald Tribune. Associated Press. 17 April 2007. Archived from the original on 27 January 2008. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ^ a b c d Londoño, Ernesto (22 November 2009). "Resurgent Al-Qaeda in Iraq seeks to undermine government (page 1)". The Washington Post. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ a b Yates, Dean (18 July 2007). "Senior Qaeda figure in Iraq a myth: U.S. military". Reuters. p. 1. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ^ a b c d Shadid, Anthony (16 May 2010). "Iraqi Insurgent Group Names New Leaders". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
- ^ a b c d Arango, Tim (19 April 2010). "Top Qaeda Leaders in Iraq Reported Killed in Raid". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
- ^ a b "Islamic State of Iraq Announces Establishment of the Cabinet of its First Islamic Administration in Video Issued Through al-Furqan Foundation". SITE Institute. 19 April 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
- ^ "Abdullah al Janabi openly preaches in Fallujah mosque". The Long War Journal. 18 January 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
- ^ "Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi: Islamic State's driving force". BBC World News. 31 July 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
- ^ a b c d Samuels, Lennox (20 May 2008). "Al Qaeda in Iraq Ramps Up Its Racketeering". Newsweek. Retrieved 16 December 2014.(subscription required) Accessible via Google.
- ^ Brett Barrouquere (16 August 2012). "Iraqis in Ky. linked to IED attack zone". Army Times. Associated Press. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
- ^ a b c Ware, Michael (11 June 2008). "Papers give peek inside al Qaeda in Iraq". CNN. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- ^ a b "Anbar Picture Grows Clearer, and Bleaker". Washington Post, 28 November 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- ^ a b c d Tilghman, Andrew (October 2007). "The Myth of AQI". Washington Monthly. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
- ^ Parker, Ned (15 July 2007). "Saudis' role in Iraq insurgency outlined". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 1 September 2007.
- ^ "Al Qaeda in Iraq suicide bomber kills 31 at Iraqi Army base in Taji". The Long War Journal. 6 November 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ^ "TASK FORCE 5-20 INFANTRY REGIMENT OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 06-07 (under section 'A Commander's Perspective')". U.S. Army 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment. Archived from the original on 18 November 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ^ Beaumont, Peter (3 October 2006). "Iraqi tribes launch battle to drive al-Qaida out of troubled province". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
- ^ a b Hurst, Steven R. (1 June 2007). "U.S. battles al-Qaida gunmen in west Baghdad after Sunnis revolt against terror group". Associated Press. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
- ^ a b Ricks, Thomas; DeYoung, Karen (15 October 2007). "Al-Qaeda in Iraq Reported Crippled". The Washington Post. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ^ a b Londoã±O, Ernesto; Alwan, Aziz (24 April 2009). "Suicide Bombers Kill More Than 70 in Baghdad, Diyala Province". The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ DeYoung, Karen; Pincus, Walter (18 March 2007). "Al-Qaeda in Iraq May Not Be Threat Here". The Washington Times. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
- ^ "Highest-ranking Sunni official in Iraq target of mosque bombing", theworldlink, March 24, 2007. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
- ^ Insurgents claim Baghdad attack, BBC, 13 April 2007. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
- ^ "Suicide bomber kills 13 at busy Baghdad hotel". The Washington Times. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
- ^ Tran, Mark (26 June 2007). "Al-Qaida linked to Baghdad hotel bombing". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
- ^ "Brit Security Firm Faulted in Hotel Bombing". IraqSlogger, 27 June 2007. Retrieved 27 June 2007.
- ^ a b c Parker, Ned (27 June 2007). "Christians chased out of district". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
- ^ Cordover, Adam B (9 July 2007). "Al-Qaeda Issues Ultimatum to Iran". Cafe Cordover. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ^ a b Crain, Charles (1 January 2008). "Exit Al-Qaeda. Enter the Militias?". Time. Archived from the original on 11 February 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
- ^ a b Burns, John; Rubin, Alissa (11 June 2007). "US Arming Sunnis in Iraq to Battle Old Qaeda Allies". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
- ^ a b c MacAskill, Ewen (12 June 2007). "US arms Sunni dissidents in risky bid to contain al-Qaida fighters in Iraq". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 20 December 2014.
- ^ a b "Iraqis killed by chlorine bombs". BBC News. 17 March 2007. Archived from the original on 20 December 2010. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
- ^ "Official Blames Al Qaeda in Iraq for Death of Key Sunni Insurgent Leader". Fox News Channel. Associated Press. 27 March 2007. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ^ a b "Rebels call on Al Qaida to 'review' behaviour". Gulf News. Reuters. 7 April 2007. Archived from the original on 28 June 2007. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ^ a b Andoni, Lamis. "On whose side is Al-Qaeda?". Al-Ahram Weekly. 26 April-2 May 2007. Issue 842. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
- ^ a b Ghosh, Bobby (6 June 2007). "A Truce Between US Enemies in Iraq". Time. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
- ^ Iraqis vow to fight al Qaeda after sheikh death, Reuters, Sep 14, 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
- ^ "Leader of 'Hamas of Iraq' and 1920 Brigades dead in mosque attack". Adnkronos. 25 September 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
- ^ a b c d Yacoub, Sameer N. (8 June 2007). "In motley array of Iraqi foes, why does U.S. spotlight al-Qaida?". International Herald Tribune. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 27 January 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ^ a b Hoyt, Clark (8 July 2007). "Seeing Al Qaeda Around Every Corner". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ^ "CRS Report for Congress – Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. 6 September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
- ^ a b Rubin, Alissa J.; Damien Cave (23 December 2007). "In a Force for Iraqi Calm, Seeds of Conflict". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
- ^ President George W. Bush (January 10, 2007). "President's Address to the Nation". Office of the Press Secretary. Retrieved on 28 January 2015.
- ^ "US launches major Iraq offensive". BBC News.19 June 2007. Retrieved 27 June 2007.
- ^ Al-Mufti, Nermeen. "More death and political intrigue". Al-Ahram Weekly. 5–11 July 2007. Issue 852. Retrieved 20 January 2015..
- ^ Targeting al Qaeda in Iraq's Network, The Weekly Standard, 13 November 2007. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
- ^ a b c d Londoño, Ernesto (22 November 2009). "Resurgent Al-Qaeda in Iraq seeks to undermine government (page 2)". The Washington Post. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ Peter, Tom (13 January 2009). "As US withdraws, will Al Qaeda in Iraq find new openings?". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ Sly, Liz; Redha, Usama (24 April 2009). "Iraq suicide bombings kill 79". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ a b Arraf, Jane (13 May 2009). "Spike in suicide attacks: Is Al Qaeda in Iraq coming back?". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ "Suicide truck bomber kills dozens in northern Iraq". Reuters. 21 June 2009. Archived from the original on 22 June 2009. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ a b Londoño, Ernesto (27 October 2009). "Extremist group claims responsibility for Baghdad bombs". Washington Post. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ "Baghdad bomb fatalities pass 150". BBC News. 26 October 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
- ^ Christie, Michael (18 November 2009). "Al Qaeda in Iraq becoming less foreign-US general". Reuters. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
- ^ "Al-Qaeda group claims Iraq attack". BBC news. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
- ^ a b "U.S. Actions in Iraq Fueled Rise of a Rebel". The New York Times. 10 August 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
- ^ a b "Military Skill and Terrorist Technique Fuel Success of ISIS". The New York Times. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ^ "Qaeda in Iraq claims deadly central bank raid". Agence France-Presse. 17 June 2010. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
- ^ "Al-Qaeda 'claims' Baghdad attack". Al-Jazeera. 20 August 2010. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
- ^ Shanker, Thom (4 June 2010). "Qaeda Leaders in Iraq Neutralized, US Says". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
- ^ "US says 80% of al-Qaeda leaders in Iraq removed". BBC News. 4 June 2010.
- ^ "Attacks in Iraq down, Al-Qaeda arrests up: US general". Google News. Agence France-Presse. 4 June 2010.[dead link]
- ^ "Al-Qaeda leader attempts Baghdad jailbreak leaving 18 dead". The Telegraph (London). 8 May 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
- ^ Mohammed, Muhanad (8 May 2011). "Al Qaeda leader and 17 others killed in Iraq jail clash". Reuters. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- ^ "Foreign Terrorist Organizations". Country Reports on Terrorism 2011. United States Department of State. 31 July 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- ^ a b "Al-Qaida: We're returning to old Iraq strongholds". Associated Press. 22 July 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
- ^ Nordland, Rod (24 July 2012). "Al Qaeda Taking Deadly New Role in Syria Conflict". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g Abouzeid, Rania (23 June 2014). "The Jihad Next Door". Politico. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ^ "Al Qaeda in Iraq Resurgent" (PDF). Institute for the Study of War. September 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
- ^ "Al Qaeda says it freed 500 inmates in Iraq jail-break". Reuters. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- ^ "Jabhat al-Nusra A Strategic Briefing" (PDF). Quilliam Foundation. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
- ^ a b "ISI Confirms That Jabhat Al-Nusra Is Its Extension In Syria, Declares 'Islamic State Of Iraq And Al-Sham' As New Name of Merged Group". MEMRI. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
- ^ "Al Qaeda in Iraq calls Egypt protesters to wage jihad". Dawn. Agence France-Presse. 9 February 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ^ "Terrorist Designation of Ibrahim Awwad Ibrahim Ali al-Badri". United States Department of State. 4 October 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
- ^ "Key Free Syria Army rebel 'killed by Islamist group'". BBC News. 12 July 2013.
- ^ "Al-Qaeda in Iraq confirms Syria's Nusra Front is part of its network". Al Arabiya. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2014.


text:
Worries about Calif. priest came early in career
OAKLAND, Calif. Even in his seminary days in the early 1970s, there were questions about California priest Stephen Kiesle: Colleagues said he had trouble relating to adults, lacked spirituality and didn't seem committed to anything but youth ministry.
Those colleagues, who helped make the case to the Vatican in 1981 seeking to let him leave the priesthood, said they were concerned before Kiesle was ordained, and more so after revelations Kiesle had molested children in his parish.
"He was not grown up. He spent more time with kids than with people his own age. You get suspicious of that. There's something wrong there," said John Cummins, former bishop in the Diocese of Oakland, now retired.
Still, future Pope Benedict XVI resisted pleas from the diocese to act on the case, according to a 1985 letter in Latin obtained by The Associated Press that bore his signature as then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.
It would take another two years before the Vatican doctrine watchdog office headed by Ratzinger would approve Kiesle's own request to leave the priesthood in 1987.
Vatican attorney Jeffrey Lena said the matter proceeded "expeditiously, not by modern standards, but by those standards at the time."
Kiesle pleaded no contest in 1978 to lewd conduct for tying up and molesting two boys and was sentenced to three years probation. He took a leave of absence from his parish position, and in 1981 returned and asked the Oakland bishop to be laicized, or removed from the priesthood.
In building a case to laicize Kiesle, the Rev. George Mockel of the Oakland Diocese asked priests who had worked with Kiesle to share their opinions of his time in seminary and work in the priesthood after being ordained in 1972.
One colleague was the Rev. Louis Dabovich, of the Church of the Good Shepherd, where Kiesle served as a deacon in the early 1970s.
"Stephen Kiesle was a very intelligent, personable and industrious young man, and yet he lacked maturity and responsibility and spirituality," Dabovich wrote. He said teenagers and children liked him; "Yet he acted as one of them: played ball with them; took them to outings and shows and spent time in their homes."
Dabovich said he was somewhat concerned about Kiesle's relationship with the youths, but never heard complaints. Only years after Kiesle left the parish did Dabovich say he learned of "some improprieties."
Dabovich also said he had spoken with then-Oakland bishop Floyd Begin about concerns he had regarding Kiesle, including the books he was reading and his general lack of maturity and spirituality.
"To me these were signs of some internal turmoil and the need to satisfy his nature, the need to share his life with someone," Dabovich wrote. "However he was ordained and most probably my observations were not taken seriously."
Dabovich said it could be detrimental if he were to remain in active ministry.
Mockel replied that there "has been a general 'tightening up' in Rome regarding these petitions. I am sure, however, that your cogent observations will be most helpful."

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"A long and happy marriage." It sounds like the end of a fairy tale--an illusion that modern times have exposed.
And it is, if marriage depends on a constant stream of romantic emotion, or even on copious amounts of time or money. Thank the Lord, none of those are necessary. Two thousand years ago, Paul gave women the key to a successful marriage, and it can be summed up in two words: "unconditional respect." It's not popular. It doesn't sound fair. It can be hard to imagine.
But it works.
Nina Roesner has led countless women through this practical and life-changing journey, and in "The Respect Dare" she offers you the hope that so many others have found. Day by day, true stories and thought-provoking questions will help you apply biblical wisdom to the most important relationship in your life.
Give it forty days. Experience the intimacy God intended and discover what he can do in your heart and in your marriage when you choose to show respect his way.


text:
Gus, NYC's Favorite Polar Bear, Passed Away On Tuesday
Though he was accustomed to the coldest of temperatures, Gus melted many a New Yorker's heart.
1. Gus, New York City's favorite polar bear, was euthanized on Tuesday after vets discovered that he had an inoperable tumor.
Dan Callister / REX USA
2. He was 27 years old and, according to the Central Park Zoo where he lived, he had seen more than 20 million zoo visitors during his lifetime.
Julie Larsen Maher / AP
3. Gus made headlines in 1994 for his repetitive swimming patterns that indicated he suffered from neurosis and depression.
Dan Callister / REX USA
4. But the public loved Gus for his quirks and became even more endeared to him after hearing about his troubles.
5. Though male polar bears in the wild are typically solitary creatures, Gus loved his partner Ida, and the two had a wonderful bond.
Flickr: nina-lee /Creative Commons
This is them in 2009.
6. Ida died in 2011 at the age of 25 from liver disease, leaving Gus with a broken heart. He was described as depressed and listless after her death.
Dan Callister/REX USA
Ida in 2010.
7. More recently, caretakers first noticed something was terribly wrong with Gus's health when he stopped eating like his normal self and had trouble chewing.
Peter Morgan / Reuters
8. That's when the tumor was discovered and it was decided that Gus would need to be put down.
Diane Bondareff / AP
9. Gus and Ida will both be remembered for the joy they brought to the New York public, and the love they shared.
Dan Callister / REX USA
10. Oh, and for the fact that they were super cute.
Flickr: lwr /Creative Commons
11. And so we say thank you to Gus and Ida for sharing their lives with us. You will not be forgotten.
Dan Callister / REX USA
Julie Larsen Maher / AP / Via gawker.com
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A57 Intermittent Mechanical Noise On Long Exposures
Started 11 months ago | Discussions thread
New Member • Posts: 4
A57 Intermittent Mechanical Noise On Long Exposures
11 months ago
I've got a new A57 that had been working fine until I tried shooting night shots with 4-30 second exposures. The camera sometimes makes a noise when the shutter is open, I can also feel a small vibration through the body. The sound isn't steady, it fluctuates in tone; I'd compare it to the sound of a 35mm film camera rewinding the roll. This happened on both manual and AF settings. Is this normal?
Sony SLT-A57
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On What's Happening With My Nails?
I've been getting gel manicures for two months now and my nails are long as fuqqqqqqq without tips and I LOVE IT SO MUCH. I love the way they click clack against the keys of my work computer. I work in a male dominated field and the fact that even on my casual dress down days i have an obvious and bright marker of feminine grooming GIVES ME LIFE.
On Hysteria and Teenage Girls
I love this piece. I'm screaming like a Bieber fan about this piece.
On The Top 1000 Movies I've Never Seen
I'm sure everyone will chime in with this, but: HOW CAN YOU LIVE WITHOUT HAVING SEEN CHASING PAPI??
On How Do You Get Shit Done?
@Chareth Cutestory Yesss! Pomodoros are the best. I have a timer on my phone!
On How Do You Get Shit Done?
It's kind of corporate speak-y, but you will become insanely more productive. I don't necessarily get more accomplished, I just do so quicker so I have more time to do absolutely nothing and not feel so guilty about it. I watch so much netflix now! Without those horrible pangs of guilt!
At least implement the 2 minute rule, which kind of sounds like Jolie's JFDI mantra. If you can do it in under 2 minutes, just do it now! That way you don't have to add it to the to do list.
On What Your Favorite Alcoholic Beverage Says About You
Barry deserved it.
On Self-Care, in Theory and Practice
Sara, I must recommend two things to you:
1. Melatonin. I am also very afraid of sleeping pills but took melatonin for the first time two nights ago and it was magic. 3 mg was all it took. Took it with a glass of sleepy time tea, in bed with the radio on, and it was great. V peaceful. I've been an insomniac since I was a kid and the nighttime ritual is VERY important.
2. GTD - Getting Things Done. It's a very corporate america type thing in its jargon and the discourse surrounding it, but it's helped me find a lot of peace. Now when I get those imposter syndrome fueled moments of self doubt I can look back at my "completed" tasks in GTD (I used doit.im, omnifocus is good app for macs) and see that NO! I am productive! I did good work today! It also helps because you realize you don't NEED to put every moment of your life to a certain class of tasks (read: work) and that putting aside an hour to yourself every day for routine (cooking/cleaning/self care) and another hour for self improvement (reading a good book/learning a new task) does not make a huge dent in the main focus (work) at all.
As a neurotic and an insomniac I URGE you to look into those things. They have been very helpful for me! Especially GTD!
On Dress Your Family In Your Lover's Shoes
@Plexia In the US welfare benefits are asset based, meaning it is not your income that determines your entitlement, but all of your possessions in total. Some people have even been forced to sell their cars to qualify for it. In every state in the US having a trust, or any savings at all that you declare, would disqualify you from welfare.
On Overheard at a Women-Only Charity Event
"You guys are all so beautiful. Like, there's not enough time to hug you all and grab all your butts."
I have said this exact thing I want to go to this ladies only charity event and touch some butts in the spirit of friendship.
On I Came Dressed to Kill: Tracking the Nicki Minaj Makeunder
Great piece. I'm digging watching Nicki evolve, I can't get enough of her.


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Activities and Amenities
|Within Facility
|Within 10 Miles
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part ofBandelier National Monument, National Park Service
Status: Open year round. Season Dates
OverviewFor guests to Bandelier National Monument, Ponderosa Campground is an ideal place to stay. Located 6 miles from the main park entrance, the campground is just a short drive from the main visitor center, the Frijoles Canyon Shuttle System and the adjacent town of Los Alamos.
Ponderosa Campground is open year-round. The canyon and most of the park's trails are only accessible by shuttle bus during designated periods, but guests can access those areas by vehicle the remainder of the year.
Natural Features:
Bandelier National Monument protects over 33,000 acres of rugged, beautiful canyon and mesa country as well as evidence of a human presence here going back over 11,000 years. Petroglyphs, dwellings carved into the soft rock cliffs and standing masonry walls pay tribute to the early days of a culture that still survives in the surrounding communities.
Hikers can access one trail directly from the facility. The Ponderosa Trail descends into the park through ponderosa pine forest and leads 8 miles through Frijoles Canyon to the visitor center and Main Loop Trail. The visitor center and over 70 miles of trails can be accessed by car, about 9 miles from the campground.
Vault toilets, drinking water, a picnic shelter and picnic tables are provided at this facility. Food storage lockers and campfire rings are available. These sites are tent-only, but one RV per site can be accommodated in the parking area. No hookup campsites are available. Each site can accommodate between 10 and 50 people.
Nearby Attractions:
The town of Los Alamos has shopping, museums, amenities, a movie theater, ice rink and ski hill. The YMCA and a swimming pool both have showers for campers. Nearby Department of Energy and Forest Service lands provide trails which accommodate pets.
Activities and Amenities
Know Before You Go
Getting There:GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):
35.83278, -106.35694
From Santa Fe, take Saint Francis Drive (Highway 84/285) north toward Los Alamos. After passing Pojoaque, merge right onto New Mexico 502 to Los Alamos. Continue up 502 toward Los Alamos. Bear right and exit onto New Mexico 4 toward White Rock. Continue for 12 miles, passing White Rock. Bandelier's entrance is on your left. Enter here and purchase your entrance pass at the entrance station. Continue 6 more miles up Route 4, Ponderosa Campground is on your left. Travel distance from Santa Fe is 1 hour.
From Taos, take New Mexico 68 (Paseo del Pueblo Sur) south for 47 miles. In Espanola, turn right onto Fairway. Turn left at next stoplight on Highway 84/285. At stoplight near the Ford Dealership, turn right on Highway 30. Follow 30 through Santa Clara Pueblo to junction with Highway 502. Merge right onto 502 toward Los Alamos. Follow directions above. Travel distance from Taos is 1.5 hours.
Contact Information:
Mailing Address:PONDEROSA CAMPGROUND (NM)
15 Entrance Road
Los Alamos NM 87544
Phone Number:Information: (505) 672-3861
Additional Information
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- Green Street - http://greenstreet.weei.com -
Tony Allen makes unexpected return
Posted By Jessica Camerato On October 9, 2009 @ 10:41 pm In General | No Comments
Celtics [1] guard Tony Allen [2] made an unexpected return to the court Friday night against the Knicks [3] (recap here [4]). Before the game, coach Doc Rivers [5] said Allen, who underwent right ankle surgery in June, would not play until Sunday against the Nets [6].
Allen credits strength and conditioning coach Bryan Doo for his expedited comeback.
"He warmed me up pretty good, got to shoot a couple of jump shots, felt good on my landing," Allen told WEEI.com after the game. "I just thought I'd give it a shot."
Allen went scoreless (0-2 FG) in eight minutes of play, contributing an assist and a steal while committing two turnovers and two fouls. He wasn't playing for the box score, though. This was a test of his recovery.
"I felt good. I did some good things, I did some bad things. But most importantly, I just want to see how my ankle's going to act tomorrow," he said. "I got a little hands on deflections, my man couldn't get past me, [but I] turned it over, being too aggressive, and didn't let the game come to me are the bad things. But for the most part I was out there, I got up and down the court. Now I've got to see how it's going to feel tomorrow when I wake up."
For now, his anke bothers him. He soaked his foot in ice and noticeably favored it as he walked in the locker room after the game. But Allen is taking it one day at a time.
"It's pretty sore right now but I can't be [psychic Miss] Cleo in this situation to tell you how I'm going to be tomorrow," he said. "So we'll see what's good. "
Article printed from Green Street: http://greenstreet.weei.com
URL to article: http://greenstreet.weei.com/sports/boston/basketball/celtics/2009/10/09/tony-allen-makes-unexpected-return/
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[1] Celtics: http://weei.stats.com/nba/teamstats.asp?teamno=02&type=teamhome
[2] Tony Allen: http://weei.stats.com/nba/playerstats.asp?id=3842&team=2
[3] Knicks: http://weei.stats.com/nba/teamstats.asp?teamno=18&btnGo=Go&type=teamhome
[4] recap here: http://weei.stats.com/nba/boxscore.asp?gamecode=2009100902&home=2&vis=18&meta=true
[5] Doc Rivers: http://media.weei.com/basketball/doc-rivers.htm
[6] the Nets: http://media.weei.com/basketball/new-jersey-nets.htm
[7] > Tony Allen makes unexpected return" data-url="http://greenstreet.weei.com/sports/boston/basketball/celtics/2009/10/09/tony-allen-makes-unexpected-return/">Tweet: http://twitter.com/share
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SDG&E wants new power plant
San Diego County's electric utility is shopping around for a major power plant in addition to the transmission line it wants to build across the North County backcountry.
Over the weekend, San Diego Gas & Electric Co. launched a bidding process among would-be power-plant builders, saying it needs a 500-megawatt generator that can operate around the clock by 2010. The plant, utility officials said, is needed to help quench the region's growing thirst for electricity and make up for an anticipated loss of regional supplies.
The bid launch is expected to spark a competition among proponents of new power plants at Chula Vista and Miramar Marine Corps Air Station, and an existing plant at Boulder City, Nev., that the utility has the option to buy at a reduced rate.
The utility also invited contractors to submit bids to build several small plants, with a combined capacity of 200 megawatts, that would be called upon only on hot summer days when electricity demand shoots through the roof. And the firm is calling upon area businesses to conserve power on the hottest days.
One megawatt is what is required to keep about 750 homes powered for most of the year, although substantially more is needed during heat waves.
"We want to make sure that when the customer flips the switch, energy is provided," said Peter Hidalgo, a spokesman of San Diego Gas & Electric, in a telephone interview Monday.
Over the next four years, 2,000 megawatts - more than 40 percent of San Diego Gas & Electric's supply - could disappear. That, said Hidalgo, is because the South Bay power plant in Chula Vista is scheduled to retire in 2009, and power contracts the state signed on the utility's behalf during the electricity crisis are about to expire.
"We currently have several power contracts with the California Department of Water Resources that will expire over the next few years, and that electricity must be replaced," said Terry Farrelly, vice president for electricity and gas procurement, in a statement.
San Diego Gas & Electric is hoping to fill a large portion of the region's future needs with its 500-kilovolt Sunrise Powerlink transmission line, which would run 150 miles from Imperial County to Carmel Valley and deliver 1,000 megawatts to customers in San Diego County and southern Orange County. The wires would cross Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Ramona and Rancho Penasquitos.
The major new conventional power plant for which the utility is seeking bids would be much like the 550-megawatt Palomar Energy Center that opened in Escondido last year.
The bid request was something LS Power had been waiting for, said David Hicks, a spokesman for the company in San Diego.
LS Power last summer submitted an application to the state to replace its 700-megawatt South Bay plant - following its scheduled dismantling in 2009 - with a new, efficient natural-gas-fired plant capable of generating 600 megawatts. However, LS Power first needs someone to sell the power to, and that would be San Diego Gas & Electric.


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LIMA — Lima Allen County Neighborhoods in Partnership will hold the ninth annual International Expo starting at 1 p.m. Sunday at Lima Senior High School. Those in attendance will be able to learn about a variety of cultures from around the world.
"This is a free family event at Lima Senior," event organizer Connie Hornung said. "There are a lot of displayers and entertainment and food, some of it free. There are also things they can buy. Usually, we tell people not to bring extra money, but this year, they may want to."
Hornung and the other organizers found the presenters for Sunday's event in a variety of places.
"There are about 200 kids from 25 different countries who attend Ohio Northern and two of them are coming to our event, one from Denmark and one from South Korea," she said. "Apollo has the ESOL program out there, and we have a lady from Russia and a young couple from Ghana who will be with us from that program. Also, we have both of the Chinese teachers from Lima Senior High, so we've tapped into some more cultures."
Hornung is passionate about this event because it allows Lima residents to not only learn about cultures they might not otherwise encounter, but also to interact with people from those nations, forming and renewing international connections.
"This is an important event because there are people here who never get to leave Lima and travel around the world," she said. "Here, they can visit 15 different countries without leaving Lima. What fun to actually meet people from those countries and not just read about them in a book."


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Special Correspondent
HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has asked the district Collectors to ensure availability of essential provisions like soaps and blankets in social welfare hostels.
The Chief Minister's directive comes in the light of a representation made by Congress MLAs belonging to SC/ST communities about the cut in the budgetary provisions effected by the Finance Department.
The MLAs told Dr. Reddy that the Finance Department had cut the budgetary allocations for purchase of soaps and other essentials as they were categorised as `cosmetics.' Dr. Reddy assured them that the officials would be instructed to take steps to restore the provisions.
More In: ANDHRA PRADESH | NATIONAL


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[ syll. sa-man-(t)hy, sam-an-thy ] The baby girl name Samanthy is pronounced as SAAMAEN-THIY †. Samanthy's language of origin is English. Samanthy is a variation of Samantha (English, French, and German).
Samanthy is not commonly used as a baby girl name. It is not listed within the top 1000. In 2012, among the family of girl names directly related to Samanthy, Samantha was the most regularly used.
Baby names that sound like Samanthy include Samanthi (English), Samanath, Samanta (English, French, and German), Samantah, Samantha (English, French, and German), Samanthah, Samata (Indian), Samatha (English), Sammantha (English), Sammatha, Sananda (Indian), Sandea, Sandhiya, Sandhyah, Sandia, Sandiah, Santee, Seante, Seconda, and Secunda.
† approx English pronunciation for Samanthy: S as in "see (S.IY)" ; AA as in "odd (AA.D)" ; M as in "me (M.IY)" ; AE as in "at (AE.T)" ; N as in "knee (N.IY)" ; TH as in "theme (TH.IY.M)" ; IY as in "eat (IY.T)"


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Apr 2012 Fukuoka Now
Fukuoka Now's renewal issue! This month we welcome back some old favourite sections- Snapshots, Dodesho and In Fukuoka! We taste classic pizza at Pizzeria de Gaetano, meet the GM of the ANA Crowne Plaza, and provide you with a refresher course in disaster preparedness. In the return of the infamous "Dodesho?" reader opinion column, Jamina asks "What's up with public napping?", and we taste spring cupcakes at ELLE Cafe with Lulu Hon Miyazaki.
restaurants Bars maps events thIngs to do www.fukuoka-now.com RENEWAL ISSUE! Free APR 2012 #160 A FUIKUOKA'S IN ODUC NG FUKUOKS R INT EIGNER DENT FOR RESI HO? DES DO ! AK OUT E DERS SP REA Cover model: Mireya Lopez at Desigual, Fukuoka snapshots more snaps and videos online! fukuoka-now.com DesiguaL - Cover anD Party! Fukuoka Custom Car show 2012 On Feb. 18, the NOW team reported on this crazy car show at Yahoo! Japan Dome. It was the show's third yearwith 130 booths, flashy cars, pretty girls and 40,000 people in attendance! Watch the video report with charismatic NOW reporter, James Cunningham. Since 1984, Desigual has been dressing fashionable folks all over the world (in 72 countries, to be exact!) and this month, they dressed our cover model, Mireya! The cover was shot inside the Desigual shop in Canal City East. Then, on Mar. 9, Fukuoka Now guests enjoyed invitations to the Desigual "Friends & Family Night". The fashionable crowd enjoyed nibbles, drinks, DJ beats, lucky prize draws and more! 130 4 ! 3 9 www.desigual.com www.youtube.com/fukuokanow sweet anniversary at eLLe CaF� Happy 1st anniversary ELLE CAF�! They celebrated in style with exquisite party drinks, instore talk show and cupcake demo by Chie Kato. ELLE ELLE ELLE a table www.ellecafe.jp International Moving Tel: 0120-8348-22 (EX. 1) 092-632-0320 www.nipponexpress.com/hq Worldwide moving from �64,800 (Busan) tax, insurance and fuel surcharge not included. 2 � Fukuoka Now � #160 � April 2012 read more online! fukuoka-now.com Neapolitan pizza. Senior instructor Gaetano Fazio also runs the internationally renowned De Gaetano on the island of Ischia. He has lent his name to just one other restaurant in the whole world. And it's right here in Fukuoka. Owner Tommy studied under Gaetano for six years, and the reasons his restaurant received such an honor can be seen in the loving care with which the ingredients are selected and prepared. Only the finest San Felice flour is used, fresh mozzarella cheese is flown in three times a week from Naples, while their vegetables are grown locally in Fukutsu by a Neapolitan farmer named Silvio. Even their firewood is from Naples. The d�cor is authentic too, and the staff speak both Italian and gourmet A whatwhere&howmuch 1F Paguro Yakuin, 2-7-14 Watanabe-dori, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka Tel: 092-986-8822 Opening hours: 11:30�13:00 (LO), 18:00�22:00 (LO) *Open for dinner only on Mondays Closed: Sundays, 1st Monday of the month Menu: Pizza: Marinara �750, Margherita �850, Capriciosa �1350, Pizza Gaetano �1850, Others: Angioletti �280, Selection of antipasto (from �1,000/ person), Tiramisu �400, Panna Cotta �400, Glass Wine �500~ English, as well as Japanese. Great food aside, this is also one of the most fun and lively eateries in the city. Enjoy with wine and friends! Pizzeria De Gaetano izza, originally from Naples, is now hugely popular around the world. You can find numerous pizzerias in Fukuoka, with many even using traditional wood-burning stoves. Neapolitans, however, are famously strict about what they consider to be real pizza. The Vera Pizza Napoletana Association exists to certify pizzerias that produce "true" traditional P TOMMY 2-7-141F Tel 092-986-8822 11:3013:00(L.O.) 18:0022:00 L.O. 1 750 850 1,350 1,850 TOMMY1,800 280 11,000 400 500 OK 3 5 www.fukuoka-now.com � 3 dodesho? WHAT'S WITH THAT? READERS SPEAK OUT! Sleeping Beauties: Ode to the Japanese Commuter Jamina Ovbude, English Teacher, USA iven Japan's refined social norms, some might assume it taboo to sleep in public. But after traveling around this bustling little city (and country), you'll soon notice that public napping is not in fact forbidden. Rather, it is a collectively engaged activity. So much so that sleeping in public could be deemed a favorite Japanese pastime. I come from the west--southern California to be precise. Despite Los Angeles' terrible traffic and unreliable public transportation, you'll find mostly coffee-high commuters eager to talk about last night's primetime [insert sporting event here]. People stay awake because getting a catnap on a bus or train could result in a stolen wallet or worse. In the American southwest at least, sleeping while G commuting is risky business. On the contrary, most early morning trains in Fukuoka are muted capsules of snoozers. Riders are transported whizzing past the world in a dream-like state, often crammed nose to chin as they go. Speaking is discouraged, cell phone use is prohibited and napping is commonplace. Once while taking my quotidian route to work, I sat mesmerized by a young man who had fallen asleep next to an equally young woman. I watched with amusement as the man slowly dipped his head drifting lower and lower until it was heavily mounting her shoulder. Her reaction to her slumping bench companion was like a delicately choreographed dance--when he swayed, she swayed and when he leaned, she leaned. until both passengers were bent over, him collapsed atop her, almost parallel to their seats. The poor girl rather than take the western approach and offer a swift shove or sharp yell, sat sour faced and endured the heaviness of her new travel companion--like a shark to a remora. I suppose she did this to keep from disrupting the collective "harmony." A true selflessness found in few corners of the earth. And I'm not the only who's noticed Japan's unique public napping phenomenon. The internet is littered with blog rolls featuring images of commuters sprawled out on train pews, hunched over water fountains, spread-legged in office chairs and face down in bowls of ramen. But why are Japanese people so tired? One explanation could come from the success of this petite nation. Japan boasts the 3rd L.A. 4 � Fukuoka Now � #160 � April 2012 Dodesho? post YOUR comment online fukuoka-now.com largest economy in the world, with an equally impressive 4.6% unemployment rate (Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, 2012). Indeed, Japanese people work hard. In fact, Japanese work culture seems to design people who relish overtime hours. Many a salaryman is expected to stay until the wee hours leaving only after their superiors have gone--which can be as late as a workaholic desires. Being present is crucial, as the employee who stays the latest is considered most dedicated and most valuable. Additionally, the strong drinking culture contributes to nights spent in izakayas where employees do their best hob knobbing for that promotion or corneroffice. Students and teachers alike endure grueling school schedules with the hopes of achieving the similar amounts of recognition. If you work, you are worthy. Therefore, napping is a kind of pat on the back--a pleasant respite for having worked yourself to exhaustion. "Take your reward! You deserve your 10 minutes of uncomfortable sleep," some might say. Maybe though, it's all a bit too much. Along with that impressive unemployment rate and GDP, Japan consistently reports among the highest suicide rates in the world. It could also be said that the huge amount of time spent working leaves little time for building families. Thus leading to the concerning and steady decline of the Japanese population. Not to mention increased cases of stomach cancer (Mayoclinic, 2012) and depression due to risk factors like high stress and sleepless nights. Now, I'm not implying that I know all on this subject. And I certainly understand that there are certain social pressures at work here undetectable to the untrained (read: non-Japanese). But come on people get your 6-8 hours, at home! Sleep is so much more refreshing (and beneficial) when it's done atop your heavenly mound of futon and pillows. You work hard, you deserve that too. SPEAK OUT! Only in Japan, you say? Share YOUR opinion here in print and online. Pitch your idea: fukuoka-now.com/dodesho-write Opinions expressed here are our writer's and not the publisher's. 3 4.6%2012 1 10 GDP 1 6 8 61 www.fukuoka-now.com � 5 27 23 24 In Fukuoka ...introducing Fukuoka's resident foreigners Jean Raphael (JR) Felus ean Raphael Felus is a self-confessed "hotel person", having worked in hotels for over 20 years, or as long as he can remember. The French born, current General Manager of ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Fukuoka maintains that the only real choice he ever made was to move from Paris to Yokohama. By going with the flow and taking opportunities as they came along, JR has taken hotel management positions far and wide across Japan- from Tokyo to Okinawa- and overseas in both Korea and Oman. In his current position at ANA Crowne Plaza Fukuoka, JR is constantly striving to offer the best guest experience in Fukuoka. Although the hotel is 36 years old, JR notes that recent renovations have kept it's facilities to a high standard. He is proud of his staff and attributes most of the hotel's success to his hard-working team, praising the natural hospitality of Japanese people. As for his personal success, he owes it to noone but himself. JR believes that work is the only key to success. In his free time, JR enjoys exploring Fukuoka's natural landscape by car, taking drives with his wife and enjoying the local food, culture and nature. J Hometown: Paris, France In Japan: 20 years Identity: ANA Crowne Plaza General Manager 20 ANA 20 2010 9 ANA 36 Read the full interview on our website: www.fukuoka-now.com www.fukuoka-now.com � 7 FUKUOKA CITY BULLETIN SELECTED NEWS TOPICS BY FUKUOKA NOW FROM FUKUOKA CITYS SHISEI DAYORI open top sightseeing Buses Debut Fukuoka City and Nishitetsu will begin operating double-decker buses on Sat., March 24, to the main sightseeing spots in the city. These are the first special order double-decker buses without roofs in made in Japan. There are two buses covering different courses. One is red and is designed to symbolize "the city", with the Hakata Gion Yamakasa and other scenes on the exterior. The other will be blue and present an image of Fukuoka as a waterfront city. The fare will be �1,500 for adults, and �750 for children older than four and younger than 13. Children under 3 not allowed. The blue bus will be on the Seaside Momochi � Fukuoka Castle hour-long course touring Tenjin, city offices, Sea Hawk Hotel, Fukuoka Tower, and Ohori Park/Fukuoka Castle five times a day. The red bus will handle the Bayside � Hakata-machi course to Tenjin, city offices, Hakata Wharf Bayside Place, Hakata Station, and the Kushida shrine. There will be four hour-long circuits a day. The red bus will also go on a 90-minute night tour once starting at 18:30 from Tenjin to the city offices, Hakata Station, Sea Hawk Hotel, and Fukuoka Tower. Reservations for city office departures only and only by phone. No reservations are needed if there are empty seats. Tel: 0570-00-1010. Hakata, Seiryu Park, Hakata Chuo Park, City Hall and Kego Park. They'll be at their best until mid-April. There'll also be a gardening show at Fureai Hiroba on the west side of the city offices from Sat., April 7 to Sun., the 15th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It will feature hands-on instruction, events, and a caf�, and the site will be decorated with flower beds and hanging baskets made by local people. with infants. The museum is open from 09:30 to 17:30, with admissions ending at 17:00. Closed: Mon., or next day if Nat. hol.) yellow sand information on website Forecasts and information on airborne yellow sand and how to handle it is now available on the Fukuoka City website. There will be forecasts for the course of the yellow sand in a 10-kilometer radius for that day and the next two days when issued by The Japan Meteorological Agency. The objective is to prevent any potential problems from arising, and to caution people not to hang laundry outdoors, to keep windows closed, and to wash your eyes and gargle upon returning from outside. City museum reopens apr 3 The Fukuoka City Museum at 3-1-1 Momochihama Sawara Ward is due to reopen on Tue., April 3 after being closed for remodeling. An open-air terrace has been built outdoors on the first floor, with tables and 20 chairs. Another addition is a nursery to enable visitors 100,000 tulips tie tenjin & hakata together About 100,000 tulips are in bloom along a 2-kilometer stretch from Hakata Station to Tenjin, going from the station to Canal City yiPee! For Free! hakatan walk stamp spring rally 2012 Try this stamp rally running until May 6 to 9 locations. Get more than three stamps and receive a badge at Hakatamachiya Furusatokan and the Hakata Traditional Craft Center. The free stamp sheet has a map with the 9 spots: Canal City Hakata, Hakata Riverain, the Tourist Information Center at Hakata Station, Shofuku-ji, Jotenji, Tocho-ji, Sofukuzen-ji, Kushida-jinja, and Sumiyoshi-jinja and Joho Plaza, City Hall. � Fukuoka City Bulletin For more inFormation Fukuoka Shisei Dayori is City Hall's official magazine published bi-weekly on 1st and 15th of each month 23 times per year. It's available in Japanese online too. Consider using it for Japanese study! Website: www.city.fukuoka.lg.jp/shisei/kouhou-hodo/shiseidayori � twitter and Facebook updates! Check Twitter (twitter.com/fukuokanow) & Facebook (facebook.com/fukuokanow) for updates and breaking news! 8 � Fukuoka Now � #160 � April 2012 FUKUOKA CITY DISASTER PREPAREDNESS Many foreigners have never experienced an earthquake. Fortunately, they are very infrequent in Fukuoka, however it is important to be prepared. Learn more online at Fukuoka International Association website and watch the Mayor Takashima's informative videos on YouTube (English, Korean, and Chinese). www.rainbowfia.or.jp/en/foreigner/disaster.html Videos: search "FukuokaIA" YouTube channel Meanwhile, protect your friends and family with these potentially life saving tips. 10 Reduce risk of fires. Shut off the gas main switch and unplug electrical appliances. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Evacuate on foot and minimize baggage. Prepare emergency supplies in a backpack. Do not use cars or elevators. Point Earthquake Safety Guide Open a door to secure your exit. In order to ensure a point of evacuation open all doors near you. Earthquakes are disasters that occur without warning, unlike windstorms or floods. For your own safety do not panic. Preparations are key to minimize damage. Extinguish fires immediately. Prepare and check fire extinguishers and practice fire fighting on a routine basis. Keep away from walls, cliffs, rivers and small alleys. Distance yourself from things that fall easily such as brick walls, gateposts and vending machines. Firstly, secure your own safety. Hide under a table or a desk. Be careful around furniture which may fall. 1 Keep flashlights nearby. Keep flashlights handy in case of power outage or nighttime evacuation. 9 Act calmly and obtain information from reliable sources. Prepare a portable radio and do not be misled by incorrect information or rumors. Be aware of landslides and tsunami. If you're in an area likely to be effected evacuate as soon as possible. Cooperate and help each other. Assist elderly, handicapped and injured persons. Cooperate to extinguish fires. 10 www.fukuoka-now.com � 9 events �SoftBank HAWKS aPr 1,7,8 aPr 13,14,15 aPr 17 aPr 18 Cherry Blossom and Nanohana Nights One of Fukuoka's best sakura spots, just 10 minutes by ferry from Meinohama. For three nights only Noko Island's cherry blossoms and nanohana will be illuminated, creating a spectacular atmosphere. Enjoy stunning Hakata Bay views and an array of spring flowers! Hawks vs. Marines See the Softbank Hawks square off against the Chiba Lotte Marines. After a close matching in 2011, the Marines will come back fighting. Don't forget to fly yellow balloons at the bottom of the 7th innings and white balloons when the Hawks win! Go! Hawks Go! Dinner Party with Michael Mondavi Michael Mondavi (uS) will share his life-long passion with wine at this special dinner party on the Hilton's 35F. Mondavi's love of wine began young, his father a master of Californian wine. Enjoy dinner with stunning night views whilst expanding your knowledge of wine. David Bromberg Band Japan Tour 2012 Returning to Fukuoka for the first time in 34 years, David Bromberg brings a new band to his Japan 2012 Tour. See the popular 1960s folk singer from New York play a wide range of genres- from folk, blues and rock to pop. You'll be impressed by his technique. 10 50 4/1 (Sun.), 7 (Sat.), 8 (Sun.) 9:00 ~ 20:00 Nokonoshima Island Park Adult: �1,000 / ES & MS: �500 / Infant: �300 half price after 17:30 Adult: �500 / ES & MS: �300 / Infant: �100 092-8812494 Nokonoshima, Nishi-ku VS 4/13 (Fri.) 18:00 ~, 14 (Sat.) 14:00 ~, 15 (Sun.) 13:00 ~ Fukuoka Yahoo! Japan Dome A: �4,300 / B: �2,800 etc. 092-847-1006 2-2-2 Jigyohama, Chuo-ku 35 4/17 (Tue.) Open: 18:30, 19:00 ~ 21:00 Sky Dining Angel 35F, Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk �11,000 (tax and service fee included) 092-844-8000 2-23 Jigyohama, Chuo-ku 34 1960 NO.1 4/18 (Wed.) Open: 18:00, Start: 19:00 Gate's 7 Adv.: �6,500 / Door: �7,500 / Req. 1 drink order: �500 092-738-9088 (Jabup) / 092-283-0577 (Gate's 7) Gate's 7F, 3-7-24 Nakasu, Hakata-ku FRIENDSHIP DAY 2012 CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF MARINE CORPS AVIATION MCAS Iwakuni 8 AM - 4 PM 5.5.12 Find us on Facebook: Friendship Day MCAS Iwakuni 0827-79-6227/www.friendship-day.net 10 � Fukuoka Now � #160 � April 2012 check more online! CPA fukuoka-now.com aPr 18~ aPr 22 aPr 26 aPr 29~may 5 Yame Kuroki Wisteria Festival The Kuroki wisteria tree is a 600-year-old national Natural Treasure, its vines extending for meters. It will be illuminated during the festival making for a magical sight. Visit between April 25 ~ 30 for prime viewing, and browse the exhibition of Kuroki, Yame products. Cheese Dontaku The biggest event in Kyushu to be dedicated entirely to cheese, with over 100 types of cheese on sale. Learn to choose the right wine for your cheese, take part in cheesetasting and cheese-making sessions. Discount tickets avail. when booking in advance (NOW readers only). Morrissey Japan Tour 2012 Legendary English singer/lyricist Morrissey is coming to town! Former front man of The Smiths has pursued a long, successful solo career and was named by NME as "one of the most influential artists ever". Don't miss a chance to see this artist with his iconic quiff and dynamic live performance. Arita Ceramic Fair Around one million people visit this annual festival in Arita, Saga Prefecture- a town renowned for fine ceramics and porcelain. 550 shops line the streets selling both discounted and expensive ceramics. Haggle your heart out for a good deal and a souvenir of Kyushu! 600 50m 80m 4 25 30 100 NOW 4/22 (Sun.) Open: 16:30, 17:00 ~ 20:00 Banquet Hall 2F, Hakata Miyako Hotel Adv.: NOW readers: �5,500 / Adult: �6,000 / ES Student: �1,000 / Infant: Free, Door: �6,500 03-5577-5737 2-2-1 Hakataekihigashi, Hakata-ku 2012 NME 4/26 (Thu.) Open: 18:00 Start: 19:00 Zepp Fukuoka 1F Standing: �8,000 / 2F Reserved: �9,000 / 1 drink order req. / Children under 6 not permitted 092-714-0159 (Kyodo Nishinihon) 2-2-1 Jigyohama, Chuo-ku 550 4/29 (Sun.) ~ 5/5 (Sat.) Around 8:00 ~ Arita area Free 0955-42-4111 Arita-cho, Saga-ken 4/18 (Wed.) ~ begining of May Sasano Shrine Free 0943-42-1115 5-2 Kuroki, Kuroki-machi, Yame-shi (0827)79-6227 Featured Sponsor www.fukuoka-now.com � 11 Hawks Town (near Momochi) Yahoo! Dome Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk Hotel �Fukuoka Pref. Museum of Art To Bayside Place Hakata 61 Zepp Fukuoka Hard Rock Cafe United Cinemas Toysrus Hawks Town Namco Korean Consulate Chinese Consulate KBC Cinema Suzaki Park Daikoku-bashi Bridge �Nakashima Park Fukuoka Garden Benten-bashi H Palace Bridge Nakasu �Tsukushi Nakashima Kaikan -cho Na ka Ri v. Hotel Eclair H Nagahama SB Hotel �KBC CHUO-KU �Sony Nagahama Park Police � � Heiwadai Hotel Tenjin Drum Be-1� OYA O FUK RI -DO Hotel Okura H Hakata R Dukes Hotel Fukuoka Art M Nakasu IP Hotel Fukuoka 11 Shopper's Daiei �Ensho-ji Temple Mina Tenjin Nishi Nakashima-bashi Bridge Aqua Hakata H Nishitetsu NA N U OTS -DO RI �Mist 11 �School Drum Logos� Chuo Post Office �Children's Science & Culture Center �Airef �Udon no West Hamanomachi � Hospital �NTT Docomo Hotel Etwas Daicho-ji � Temple Valie Hotel Tenjin Hotel Mystays Hotel Ascent Tully's Futata 9 27 Y UBWA 10 10 Nakasu Inn Fukuoka Taiyo H Hak Exce Nishi Ohashi Bridge Fukuhaku Dea Bridge Monterey �Best Denki Tenjin Core Vivre Starbucks � Parco H Oriental Hotel La Soeur 9 � �Junkudo Nishi-na Drug Segami Tenjin S Shi Daimyo Central Park McDonald's Tenjin Valie Hotel Catholic City Hall IMS Solaria Stage Akasaka �Mandarake Church L'Institut (Rainbow Plaza) (Incube) Poplar � Toyok KFC Franco-Japonais DORI ute Nishitetsu du Kyushu Ro Iwataya Vioro MEIJI6 Saiseikai 6 side Solaria Grand Hotel In Tenjin Toho Shinkan Hospital� �Australian � Plaza �Chuo Ward School� � McDonald's ORI Consulate �Police EKI-D a M Nishitetsu k Office KIRA Akasa ute H Court Hotel �Starbucks Solaria El Gala 7 Bus Center mi e Ro Artry Inn Iwataya Nishitetsu 8 (Highway Bus Stn.) na Outsid 8 Daimaru mi �Freshness Burger Hotel Ippudo� Nishitetsu nZara� �NTT nji Tenjin Fukuoka Stn. 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Information by foreigners for foreigners. twitter.com/fukuokanow Latest news-breaking tweets - daily! STAFF This month's question: Where would you like to nap? Publisher Nick Szasz CLASSIFIEDS fukuoka-now.com/classifieds Buy, sell, find friends, jobs, students & teachers and more! Singapore Airline's 1st Class cabin General Manager Emiko Szasz FUKUOKA MAP The best FREE map of Fukuoka! Available at tourist info Korean counters & English Edition and hotels On The Dead Sea SHOPPING GUIDE Media Team www.fukuoka-now.com Ellery Herbert Vol. C-1, Feb. 2012 NEW Traditional Chinese Edition Simple & At the aquarium! 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CUBE Castella by Fukusaya Since 1624 Fukusaya Castella Available at department stores and Fukuoka Airport domestic terminal Tel: 092-761-2938 www.castella.jp full report & more images! fukuoka-now.com rendezvous ELLE CAF� 2000 DJ 10 ELLE MENU �840 �525 Full of energy! S pring has come! To celebrate, Fairy Cakes have been added to the menu at ELLE CAF�! Topped with fruit, they fill the showcase with color and an essence of spring. As this month's guest Lulu Hon Miyazaki sits down to chat, she remarks that cafes are an important part of her lifestyle, providing her with a place to enjoy time for herself. Though it seems hard to imagine that Lulu ever finds time to relax! Lulu first came to Fukuoka from Beijing to attend graduate school. After meeting her husband and starting a family, Lulu found that becoming a mother redefined her life and gave her new energy. While her children were small, she studied at home to improve her credentials and, as her children grew up, she took work at a travel agency and the immigration office. Through these experiences, Lulu realized she has a unique perspective on her Chinese culture and wanted to share this. She decided to start her own business. "Living in Japan, I realised that if I wanted something, I would have to pursue it myself." And she did just that! In 2000, she opened Hong Mong- a Chinese restaurant in Akasaka. her joy to fusing the local flavor of FuLulu stays dedicated to her family and kuoka with her personal background. business, and is always trying to improve "Mixing cultures gives you a chance to herself. She is conscious of staying slim and explore your personality" As such Luhealthy, and enjoys studying English through lu's lifestyle is one which many readers fashion magazines and films. Lulu also shares of ELLE magazine can easily relate to. her Chinese culture, hosting an international MENu: Fairy Cake �840 (drink set) / radio show for over 10 years. Lulu attributes �525 (take-out) Hakata Hankyu ELLE CAF� 4F Hakata Hankyu, 1-1 Hakataeki-chuogai, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka Tel: 092-419-5832 Open: 10:00 ~ 21:00 (last order 20:30) C ELLE CAF� ONLINE http://ellecafe.jp ELLE CAF� 1 1 4 092-419-5832 10:00 21:00L.O.20:30 ELLE CAF� ONLINE http://ellecafe.jp www.fukuoka-now.com � 15