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There was a time in recent memory when expanding the middle class was considered such a good thing it was the underlying theme of almost all things political. Candidates and elected officials of all stripes promised, or at least discussed, improvements in public education, assistance for small business owners, protecting retirement programs, new technologies and job growth. In fact, we heard some of those very discussions during the 2010 campaigns.
The campaigns are now over and reality has come calling. Our newly elected leaders and their supporters have almost no interest in protecting or expanding the middle class. Quite the contrary. We are now witnessing a full-blown assault on the middle class.
The peripheral skirmishes have been under way for decades with more and more money and power being filtered into the hands of fewer and fewer corporations and individuals. The companions to this transfer have been ever-increasing attacks on working men and women, especially those working in the public sector.
It didnt start that way. Ronald Reagan was fond of saying government wasnt the solution, it was the problem. We all understood he was talking about that amorphous, unresponsive, bloated, overspending thing we call The Government. That has slowly but surely morphed into attacks on something much more specific government workers. And not just those at or near the top of the bureaucratic food chain, but all government workers at every level. Especially if they are in a union.
In Washington and in statehouses throughout the country, public sector employees are now being demonized as the source of our budget woes. Seriously. The problem here, according to newly-elected politicians and those trying to catch the wave of anger sweeping the country, isnt mathematically challenged politicians or greedy corporations or even incompetent bureaucrats.
The villains are now teachers, janitors, bus drivers, police officers, fire fighters, snowplow drivers and all manner of other public employees who try to help us every day. You see, they have those damned contracts that actually pay many of them a livable wage, provide some benefits and oh my God include a retirement program. Can you imagine such a thing? Healthcare and a pension. Apparently, its an outrage.
Working for the government used to be considered an honorable road to the middle class. Economists thought that was a very good thing since the middle class buys more stuff and pays more taxes than any other economic demographic. Their success provided economic stability and a consistent revenue stream to municipal, state and federal programs.
Not anymore. With new leadership in statehouses and in Washington there is a new reality. It is now clear theyve decided its easier to destroy the middle class than it is to expand it.
These New Republicans are not the compassionate conservatives of George Bush the Lesser or the traditional conservatives of Ronald Reagan and Bush the Elder. This is a new breed altogether that serves only to tear down that which so many have worked so hard for so long to build up.
Michigan is a case in point. We have about a $1.6 billion deficit out of a $45.9 billion total budget. Thats about 3.5%. Not good but certainly not a disaster indicating a failure of the budget and tax systems as Governor Snyder claims. Imagine you have $100 but owe bills in the amount of $103.50. Whats your first move? You could cut your expenses or try to increase your income or some combination of both. Most of us would find a way.
What we would not do is immediately decrease our income by nearly 4% as Snyder did with his $1.8 billion in corporate tax breaks. To be sure, Michigans corporate/business tax system is way out of whack and needs reform. Our new governor campaigned on fixing that bizarre state tax code and balancing the budget. Fair enough. But decreasing state revenues by nearly $2 billion when were already $1.6 billion in the red is a peculiar way to balance the budget. The concept that those tax breaks will ultimately trickle down from corporate headquarters to the rest of us in the form of business expansion and job growth is unproven at best and just flat untrue at worst. An uncertain solution in an uncertain economy.
What is certain is how the various states are going to pay for reduced corporate taxes were going to pay for them.
Here in Michigan, if Governor Snyder and his allies have their way, our kids in public schools will pay with reduced funding and seniors will pay with increased taxes. Public employees, the new villains of the New Right, will pay the most having committed the suddenly unforgivable sins of negotiating a middle class wage with decent benefits and something for retirement. Those salaries, benefits and pensions are now at risk all over the country in what appears to be a nationwide effort to balance budgets by punishing working men and women. In Wisconsin, theyve taken the extra step of trying to kill public employee unions once and for all by eliminating collective bargaining.
Most of us understand we need to share in the sacrifices being made during this recession. Nearly all public employee unions have made salary and benefit concessions or have said they are willing to do so. But a nearly $2 billion tax break for corporations in Michigan isnt sharing the sacrifice, its sacrificing our share.
The New Right, fresh from electoral victories, is going to war against the government and the people who work for it. It is unclear who the victors will be. It is painfully clear, however, who the casualties will be whats left of the middle class.


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The Pittsburgh Steelers lost top wide receiver Mike Wallace to free agency, creating a domino effect for players challenged to rise into more pronounced roles.
No amount of production can truly replace Wallace's speed, but this was the time to try. Wallace had worn out his welcome in Pittsburgh while the Steelers groomed other wideouts to take his place in the lineup.
Wallace's void creates opportunities for Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders, as well as rookie Markus Wheaton. That trio can't stretch a defense quite like Wallace, but should still prove a handful.
Brown has one 1,000-yard season under his belt already, but must adjust to life with a target on his back. Sanders is playing for a pay day of his own, having signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal in the offseason.
How Brown and Sanders fare in replacing Wallace will be a central storyline to the Steelers' success in 2013.
Antonio Brown: The emergence of Brown made the team's decision to separate with Wallace that much easier. Brown has compiled 1,895 receiving yards the last two seasons, including a 1,108-yard campaign in 2011. He looks ready to take the mantle as the team's top wideout.
Emmanuel Sanders: As Brown looks to become a bona fide No. 1, Sanders has an opportunity to rise into a starting role. As the team's No. 3 wide receiver last season, Sanders had 44 catches for 626 yards and one touchdown. He had 31 catches for first downs and tied for the team lead with 11 catches for at least 20 yards.
Jerricho Cotchery: A 10-year veteran, Cotchery has seen only spot duty during his tenure in Pittsburgh. That should continue again this season after catching 17 passes for 205 yards in 14 games (two starts) in 2012. Rookie Markus Wheaton will make a hard push for playing time behind Brown and Sanders.
Plaxico Burress: No longer the dynamic force he was with the New York Giants, Burress still has a niche in the Steelers' offense. Burress, who caught three passes in three games late last season, is a red-zone specialist with exceptional height and hands.
Markus Wheaton: A third-round draft pick from Oregon State, Wheaton comes to Pittsburgh after a highly productive college career. His skill set figures to translate immediately to the slot, where he can navigate tight spaces and turn short passes into longer gains.
Justin Brown: Brown, who transferred from Penn State to Oklahoma last summer, has the look of an NFL wideout. He's 6-3 and 209 pounds with long strides and surprising speed for his size. Brown caught 73 passes for 879 yards as a senior and was a standout on punt returns with a 13.6-yard average.
Reggie Dunn: An undrafted free agent, Dunn was a record-setting kick returner at Utah. He was a near-unanimous All-America selection as a senior, when he averaged 30.9 yards per return and set NCAA records with four 100-yard returns for touchdown last season and five in his career.
Mike Wallace: Wallace had worn out his welcome in Pittsburgh, despite leading the team in receiving for the last three seasons. He takes his talents to Miami, where he signed a five-year, $60 million contract. While Wallace's speed and ability to stretch defenses is difficult to replace, Brown and Sanders have shown they can be productive in his absence.
1. Antonio Brown
2. Emmanuel Sanders
3. Markus Wheaton
4. Jerricho Cotchery
5. Plaxico Burress
6. Justin Brown

subset: commoncrawl


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Results tagged ' starting pitching '
Starting pitching doing wonders for Nationals
Starting pitching is the reason the Nationals are never out of a ballgame this season. They rank seventh in the National League with a 3.76 ERA.
Lately, the starting staff has been even better. In their last 13 games, Washington starters have allowed two earned runs or fewer 11 times. They are 6-3 with a 2.25 ERA during that span.
Manager Jim Riggleman said he never had a starting staff that threw better than the one he has right now.
"I've never had a club that has done that anywhere. This is really good pitching. It's really a lot of good performances," Riggleman said. "When your starters get you 18 to 21 outs, you have a really good chance because you are going to get some matchups you prefer late in the ballgame."


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It has just been a few years since the takeover or so called merger of Peoples United Bank and The Bank of Smithtown. I walk into the new company branches to see a severe cut back in staffing. I also see that the traffic in the branches had diminished severely. Peoples also bought out the Stop and Shop banking business on Long Island from Citizens Bank. When a Bank of Smithtown branch is located close to one of those supermarket branches they are closing the original branches the BOS established. I might seems like a great move for them, but one of the things they promised us when they took over the Bank of Smithtown (or merged with them) was they would protect the jobs of the existing employees of the company. Lies. When they took over or merged, they let close to 100 employees of the company go. Now they are letting even more Long Islanders even today go out on unemployment. This out of state company is lying to us. They are pulling jobs off Long Island and giving them to the other states they are influents with. The 100 Motor Parkway address the are holding as a NY regional office lease is up in 2014, and that will give them the relief to lay off another 60 people from Long Island jobs. Why would you as a Long Islander want to support a company that with just be another drain on our local economy? When North Fork Bank a Long Island company was acquired by Capitol One a Virginia company, they did the same thing Peoples United bank did. There were mass layoffs. It put good working Long Islanders in devastation. It is time we group up and invest our money in the local community banks. They employ us, and we are you neighbors. There are some great banks out here. You have Bridgehampton bank. You also have Suffolk County Community bank. You might want to stay away from the credit unions promising you the world. They are not based on Long Island like you might think. I applied for a loan and my loan application went to Texas. They lie about be local. And it was not a lie why a Texas address. Please only support Long Island . Empire Bank is also a great bank. Gold Coast Bank you might stay away from though. They are small and really don't have your best interest like the others. Long Islanders stand firm and keep up with the local banks. We need jobs here on Long Island. Don't falter on the lies of the big banks. Bridgehampton Bank a hundred year old bank and Suffolk County National Bank also a hundred year old bank. Empire Bank a newer bank , but is also a great bank to deal with. Jobs on Long Island are important.
And what do you want? This has been happening for as long as man has operated companies and one has taken over another. The retirement eligible will do just that and the educated and prepared will move on. Oh by the way, go ask Obama were the new jobs are in his failed economic recovery.
Very interesting comment.
From 2000 to 2008 there were 0 jobs added to the US economy. If you back out the strong growth in government jobs during the time, private sector jobs were steadily dropping except for a brief period during the hiring of census workers.Since Government employment grew a over 4% from 2000 to 2008 private sector employment dropped a few percentage points, and was negative for almost the whole time, even prior to the economic collapse.
Since the 2009 change over in the oval office the economy has added net jobs, despite the fact that almost a million jobs were lost in that first year as the economy was still cratering.What is amazing about this economic growth is that it is occurring for the first time in memory without government hiring being involved. government employment is down about 3% since the start of 2009.this does not necessarily have anything to do with either part as most of the job cuts came from state and local governments, not the federal government.
The private sector job growth that is being experienced now, believe it or not , is he best that the country has seen in over a decade.


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Devin Booker says he has not trimmed his list from seven leaders.
But when he does, Michigan and rival Michigan State figure to be strong bets to make the cut for the sweet-shooting guard.
"Michigan's been recruiting me since the eighth grade, so they have a special place in my heart I'd say because I've visited there seven times and my mom lives in Michigan still and she'd probably like me to stay closer to home and play," Booker told SNY.tv during an interview at the Nike Global Challenge in Washington D.C.
"I live in Mississippi but I'm there in Michigan for the summer."
Michigan is considered one of the favorites to land Booker, who originally is from Grand Rapids. Michigan State, Kentucky, Missouri, Florida, Duke and North Carolina round out his top seven schools.
The Spartans, like Michigan, have good odds of making Booker's top five because of the school's proximity to his mother.
"Same thing, close to my mom, (Tom) Izzo if one of the best coaches ever," Booker told zagsblog.com. "I like how Coach Izzo pushes his players and all the Final Fours he's been to. You want to win when you go to college."
TheWolverine.com reported Saturday that five schools separated themselves for Booker, and that Michigan was among them. But Booker tweeted Saturday to clarify he does not yet have a top five, and won't until the end of the summer.
Booker is a 6-foot-6 shooting guard who now attends Moss Point High School in Mississippi. He is ranked No. 27 overall in the country by Rivals, and No. 31 by Scout.
He is the Wolverines' biggest target for the 2014 class. Zagsblog.com reported Michigan coach John Beilein and assistant LaVall Jordan were in Washington D.C. this weekend to watch Booker in action.
Booker is expected to visit Michigan in the fall.
-- Download the Michigan football on MLive app for iPhone and Android
-- Download the Michigan basketball on MLive app for iPhone and Android
-- Follow Kyle Meinke and Nick Baumgardner on Twitter
-- Like MLive's Michigan Wolverines Facebook page


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The NGC Universal ID is a four digit alphanumeric that groups coins based on a unique combination of date, mintmark, denomination and striking process (MS, PF, or SP). These IDs are a simple organization of all coins prior to variety attribution and grading.
The 1880s were an unusual decade, and 1887 was an unusual year for the U.S. Mint. The facility struck enormous numbers of Indian Head cents, Liberty nickels, and Morgan dollars, but most gold denominations saw tiny emissions of business strikes, or even proof-only productions in the case of the P-mint double eagle and half eagle. Only 6,160 circulation strikes of the 1887 quarter eagle were manufactured, but that level the production is the highest since 1879.
Description and Analysis courtesy of Heritage Auctions and may not be republished without written permission.
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|Display Modes
|March 19th, 2012
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,310
Fran Drescher: Raped by Nigger, Married to Fag
Fran Drescher speaks on being raped at gunpoint and still not blaming black men on #SwayInTheMorning - YouTube
Fran Drescher On Race, Rape And The Causes Of Sexual Abuse (VIDEO)
Updated: 03/13/2012
"Happily Divorced" star Fran Drescher's commentary is typically heavy on humor, but her recent visit to the Sirius XM radio show "Sway In The Morning" took a serious turn when she opened up about being raped at gunpoint by a black man.
Drescher's revelation came in response to a caller who described being molested as a child by his mother's husband, an experience that he cautioned could have stemmed from his abuser's sexual orientation.
"I've very, very sorry that you had that experience," Drescher responded. "But pedophilia has nothing to do with homosexuality," she said, making a comparison to her own rape by a black man in 1985, and her ability to separate blame from her encounters with other black men. "I have nothing against black men. In fact, I've dated several," Drescher went on to say.
In 2002, the actress told Larry King that she and a girlfriend had been raped during a robbery at her home.
UC Davis professor Gregory M. Herek makes a similar point to Drescher's, noting the following in his research on the link between pedophilia and homosexuality:
The empirical research does not show that gay or bisexual men are any more likely than heterosexual men to molest children. This is not to argue that homosexual and bisexual men never molest children. But there is no scientific basis for asserting that they are more likely than heterosexual men to do so. Many child molesters cannot be characterized as having an adult sexual orientation at all; they are fixated on children.
In recent media appearances to promote the second season of her show "Happily Divorced," Drescher has openly expressed her support for gay marriage, lashing out last week at "Growing Pains" actor-turned-evangelist Kirk Cameron when he made controversial comments against homosexuality.
Drescher's show is based on her real life, 20-year marriage to high school sweetheart, Peter Jacobson, who revealed that he was gay after the couple divorced.
|March 19th, 2012
Holohoax Survivor
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 697
It's not rape if you like it!
"One cannot discuss the Jewish question with the Jews. One can hardly prove to a person that one has the duty to render him harmless." - Goebbels
Hell hath no fury like the white race awoken.
|March 19th, 2012
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: The Heart of Dixie
Posts: 13,170
It seems like a lot of Jewish men turn out to be faggots. Of course Jewish women, like Fran Drescher, probably contribute to this.
|March 19th, 2012
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Houston,TX
Posts: 47
Sadly, the title of this thread represents exactly what the judenschwein wants to happen to every gentile.
|March 20th, 2012
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,749
Its time to stop being Americans. Its time to start being White Men again. - Gregory Hood
Last edited by John in Woodbridge; March 20th, 2012 at 12:52 AM.
|July 1st, 2012
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 50
Re: Fran Drescher: Raped by Nigger, Married to Fag
Not surprised. In my experience, most Jewish men are gay, whether they're officially out or not. Even the straight ones have effeminate characteristics such as being drama queens.
|black-jewish alliance, brooklyn accent, fag hag, fran drescher
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Zack & Zoey Poinsettia Sweaters Black
The Holiday will be in full bloom when your pet wears this cheery Holiday sweater! Our Zack & Zoey� Poinsettia Sweater is a comfy knit sweater featureing a glimmering embroidered and sequin-accented poinsettia design on the back, and ribbed sleeves, cuffs and hem.
Sizing Information:
XX-Small: 8" length
X-Small: 10" length
Small: 12" length
Small/Medium: 14" length
Medium: 16" length
Large: 20" length
All Pet Costume sales are Final. No returns or exchanges.
5.00 rating based on 1 review
Featured Reviews for Zack & Zoey Poinsettia Sweaters Black - XS (10")
Very Classy Sweater by glenH from Northern Nevada12/07/2011
This Poinsettia and another sweater I ordered for my Chihuahua arrived very quickly. I was really surprised by the quality of construction and design in both sweaters. We live in the Northern Nevada High Desert and my Chi gets shivering cold easily. I figure if she has to wear clothes they are going to be very nice, high quality sweaters and these more than qualify. She wore this one to the bank today and the sweater got almost as much attention as she did. The sizing was right on. I couldn't be more pleased with my purchase. Thanks "Zack and Zoey", and EntirelyPets.


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MORRISTOWN — The state is getting a tiny taste of winter this morning.
A cold front moved across the Poconos overnight, bringing with it a temperature drop and the first snowflakes of the fall.
But don't expect accumulation except perhaps in the highest elevations in the northern part of the state, said Lee Robertson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's office in Mount Holly.
"The temperatures were fairly warm overnight," Robertson said. "The ground is still too warm for it to stick."
The rain-snow line crosses from Morris County west back into Pennsylvania's Bucks County, but that line is constantly changing this morning as the cold air envelops the area, the meteorologist added. The precipitation is expected to cross east over the rest of the state and pass out to the Atlantic by noon, he said.
Some of the moisture that does fall could freeze on some roadways in the highest elevations in northern New Jersey, the National Weather Service warned in a special weather statement issued before dawn. However, predictions have most of the state reaching highs in the 40s today, before dropping to lows in the 20s tonight.
• Cold air poised to plunge into NJ but no significant snowfall predicted
• Could N.J. see its first snow of the season next week? Maybe


text: Mainstays Hampton Gazebo, 118" x 118" Flag this deal What's the matter? Choose a reason Dead deal Duplicate Bad link Spam Inaccurate No value Alive again Edit deal branie Jun 04, 2013 I am really considering this, reviews are fairly good and the price is even better, but I have to ask does anyone have this??? Reply FibroMom May 04, 2013 Very nice price! This will make outdoor outings extra special this year! Nice find, thanks for sharing! :) Reply littlexu May 04, 2013 Great price for such a Gazebo. Nice find and thanks for sharing. Reply xptrish May 03, 2013 excellent price and it comes with the screening too! a lot of them you have to buy it seperate! Reply twilightlover May 03, 2013 Really great price for this! Thanks for posting! Reply Brentheriot May 03, 2013 Free shipping over $45 Reply cid681 May 03, 2013 Beautiful, almost 10' x 10'... Wish I had the space for that... Reply Load More Comments


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Jennie-O names Meehan retail product manager
WILLMAR — Jennie-O Turkey Store announces that Dionne Meehan has been promoted to the position of product manager for the retail business team at Jennie-O Turkey Store at the Willmar corporate office location.
Meehan has been with Jennie-O Turkey Store/Hormel for almost six years, with experience in both the operations and quality assurance areas. She graduated from Upper Iowa University with a bachelor's degree in human resource management and is retired from the U.S. Army.
"Dionne's broad experience set with Jennie-O Turkey Store, Hormel Foods, and the U.S. military will make her a great addition to the marketing team." said Jen Ehresmann, director of marketing.


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The two on her passenger-side had been slashed.
She parked at the spot at 7:30 a.m. and returned around 6 p.m., Ms. Vento said.
"Pretty much as I pulled away from the curb, there were two flat tires on the passenger side," she said, citing what she believes was an intentional act of pettiness and maliciousness.
"Luckily, there were no cars behind or in front of her," said her mother, Rosemary Vento.
Her daughter said she specifically went out of her way not to park in front of somebody's house.
"It's unnecessary. People don't know other peoples' situations. To have to spend money on replacing tires that weren't broken otherwise was wasteful," she said.
One neighbor said that during the summer, between June and August, at least 10 cars had tires slashed after motorists parked on Sunset and Harold.
Commuters often park on the block to catch the X31 to Manhattan
"It's a territorial thing," believes Julie Joseph, who has lived in the area for five years.
She believes one neighbor doesn't want people parking their cars near the homeowner's property.
"I don't think it's kids. It has to be someone in the neighborhood," said Ms. Joseph. "I guess people don't want it in front of their house."
She further believes this theory because she and her neighbors haven't had anything similar happen to them, and she added that the mischief hasn't occurred since summer.
"It's just bizarre. It's such a nice neighborhood," said Mrs. Vento, who lives nearby. "We have cars park in front of our house every single day because of Susan Wagner High School. No one wants people to leave their cars around all day, but it happens. It's a public street. I've never heard of anyone puncturing tires because of a parking spot. I could almost understand that stupid mentality, but come on."
The Advance attempted to contact a neighbor that Ms. Joseph said may be the culprit, but the person who answered the door refused to comment.
Two other neighbors on the block, who chose to remain anonymous, said that they've never seen or heard of anything like this and believe they live in good neighborhoods.
A police officer at the 122nd Precinct, which monitors Meiers Corners, said that police officers were unfamiliar with the alleged situation.
Mrs. Vento hopes other unsuspecting drivers avoid her fate.
"It's more than wacky; it's really vicious," she said.
"Especially around the holidays," her daughter said.


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The New York Knicks beat the Miami Heat without Carmelo Anthony, so they should be good enough to do the same against the 5-19 Cleveland Cavaliers, right?
Anthony is being listed as "questionable" for tonight's game against the Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden after suffering a sprained ankle in Thursday's win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Anthony collided with Lakers center Dwight Howard and came down awkwardly on his ankle before eventually left the game
"He'll be back out here shortly," Rasheed Wallace said, as quoted by Marc Berman of the New York Post. "It shows what kind of team we have [winning without him]. We did it before when he went down, with the lacerated finger. It brings us together more to know somewhere in the back of our mind we can't let him down and we can't have a lot of people think we're all Carmelo, all Carmelo."
Anthony admitted to being "real sore" after the game and was described as "day to day" by coach Mike Woodson.
Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reported that Anthony is hopeful to play against Cleveland, but that the team has already shut him down:
Carmelo Anthony is lobbying to play on Saturday against the Cleveland Cavaliers but the Knicks intend to hold out the injured forward for at least one game, according to a team source.
In other Knicks news:
• Newsday's Al Iannazzone had a hopeful perspective regarding Anthony's ankle: "It could be a positive sign that Anthony didn't require X-rays and the Knicks haven't ruled him out completely for Saturday night. General manager Glen Grunwald said after the game it's not 'anything serious.' But the Knicks (17-5) have to think about their long-term goals of getting a high playoff seed and competing for a championship."
• Grantland's Zach Lowe discussed the Knicks' record-setting pace from behind the arc: "The Knicks are a product of the league's evolution, and their 3-point numbers, while outliers in some respects, fit snugly within that evolution. There's consensus now that the 3 is a powerful and necessary weapon against shifting defenses that can use zone principles to overload the strong side of the floor. The average team has taken 20.1 3's per game this season, compared to 14.6 a decade ago and about 10 per game in the early 1990s. The Knicks have attempted about 1.45 times this season's average, or about 45 percent more 3's than a typical team. The mid-1990s Rockets, often cited as perhaps the first NBA team to embrace the 3 as part of an inside-out attack, attempted 1.58 times more 3's than the average club in 1993-94 and 1.4 times as many the next season. Other teams trailed them fairly closely, and ratios in the 1.4 range have been common for the league leader in 3-point attempts — and sometimes the top two or three in that category — in most seasons since then."
• ESPNNewYork.com's Jared Zwerling piggybacked Lowe's piece in another article: "You also have to credit world-renowned Knicks shooting coach Dave Hopla, who was hired this offseason, and the players for demonstrating confidence with every release. That's because Woodson has given his guys the green light, a different mentality than he had in Atlanta. But he realizes the current effectiveness."
• Even Berman got into the spirit of the 3-pointer: "Thirty-five percent of the Knicks' field-goal attempts are taken from 3-point range. Consider the Rockets, who won the NBA title in 1993-94, led the league in 3-point attempts that season, yet only 19 percent of their total shots were from beyond the arc... The Rockets are the only club to lead the league in 3-point attempts and win a championship, turning the trick two straight seasons in 1993-94 over the Knicks and 1994-95. The only other team to make The Finals and lead the league in 3-point hoists is the 1992-93 Suns, according to the Elias Sports Bureau."
• The New York Times' Bill Morris wrote about Knicks and Lakers fans: "Standing nearby, Pat Gee, a union carpenter from the Bronx, was sharing Scarpinato's amazement at the Knicks' 16-5 record, tops in the N.B.A. Eastern Conference. Assessing the evening's vulnerable opposition, he added: 'I'll take any wins we can get. You never know when you're going to hit the skids.'"


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Insight editor Keith Moor reconstructs the story behind the 2002 Bali bombing
- From: Herald Sun
- October 07, 2012
IT is 10 years ago this month since 88 Australians died in a terrorist attack that killed 202 people in Bali's nightclub district.
Herald Sun Insight editor Keith Moor spent months interviewing people, examining thousands of pages of court transcripts and having exclusive access to a range of police and other documents - all of which enabled him to piece together why and how a group of fanatical Muslims declared war on the West, and attacked Westerners simply out enjoying themselves.
Much of the detail came from the mouths of the bombers themselves in witness statements made to police.
Moor's report traced the bombers' background, reconstructed what happened on the night through the eyes of those in the Sari Club and Paddy's Pub, and examined the police hunt for the terrorists.
This is an updated version of part one of that report, which was initially published in the Herald Sun in a 20-page liftout on the first anniversary of the Bali Bombings.
Today we have begun a big project. Today we have declared war on America
THE plot to blow up Westerners in Bali took years to germinate. Its seeds were first sown in the mind of Bali bombing architect Mukhlas as far back as 1986 by now dead Jemaah Islamiah founder Abdullah Sungkar.
Al-Qaida's Osama bin Laden helped those kernels grow when he fought alongside Mukhlas in Afghanistan during 1987.
They were further fed in January 2002 when Mukhlas attended a meeting in Thailand chaired by then Jemaah Islamiyah operational leader Hambali.
Hambali decreed during the meeting that the terrorist group would concentrate its future attacks on soft targets frequented by citizens of the United States and its allies.
And those seeds finally came to fruition that year when Mukhlas teamed up with fellow Afghanistan-trained terrorist Imam Samudra.
Between them they put together a team in mid-2002 to plan and carry out the October 12 Sari Club and Paddy's Pub bombings in Bali's entertainment strip of Kuta.
JI head Sungkar inducted Mukhlas into the group in 1986, with Mukhlas swearing the JI oath to "promise to obey my Amir (leader) in all things, as long as he does not give orders in violation of God's law''.
Mukhlas claims he was visited by the prophet Mohammed in a dream soon after his JI induction, and that the prophet suggested he join the "holy war'' in Afghanistan.
He took note of what Mohammed had said, leaving almost immediately for the border area between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and spending the next two years taking part in the jihad against Afghanistan's Soviet invaders.
"I met with Sheik Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan in Joji,'' Mukhlas said.
"At the time the Joji area was under continuous attack by Russian forces. The mujahidin staged an attack in Joji and I joined them.
"The leader of the mujahidin in Joji, as well as the leader of the camp, was Sheik Osama bin Laden.
"Everything was funded by Sheik Osama bin Laden.
"I first became acquainted with Hambali in Afghanistan in 1987-88, as one who was training with me in Afghanistan.
"When I was waging jihad in Afghanistan I went to war using an AK47 and also a few mortars and other things, being trained by other fellow mujahidin.''
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After returning from Afghanistan in 1989, Mukhlas, at the suggestion of JI leader Sungkar, established the Lukman nul Hakim religious school at Johor in Malaysia.
It quickly became a JI recruiting ground, as did Sungkar's al-Mukmin Islamic boarding school at Ngruki, in the central Java city of Solo.
Several of the Bali bombers trained or taught at these schools, which took in thousands of students each year.
Watching his older brother Mukhlas develop as an Islamic fundamentalist with a hatred of all things American was an equally impressionable Amrozi.
The ever-smiling Amrozi was inspired by his sibling's warmongering exploits and was easily recruited into the anti-US cause.
'Angel of Bali' tells how fun night turned to horror
He was also influenced by a sermon given in 2000 by radical Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, who reputedly took over from Sungkar as leader of JI after Sungkar's death in 1999.
"I remember I felt that the sermon made it clear that the Koran and the Hadisc indicated that we needed to go to war with America due to its opposition to Islam,'' Amrozi said.
"Since that sermon I have wanted to war with America.''
Mukhlas and Amrozi's younger brother Ali Imron shared in this fervent zeal to attack the US - hardly surprising, having been indoctrinated in the same schools of terrorism as Mukhlas.
Imron did his stint of jihad in Afghanistan between 1992-95.
"I studied the science of war, including using weapons, AK47, TT pistols, which are built in Russia, RPG rockets, built in Russia, mortars and the method of building various bombs,'' Imron said.
JI became increasingly organised and active during the late 1990s, culminating in Hambali ordering a string of church bombings in Indonesia on Christmas Eve 2000 that killed 19 people.
The authorities were on to Hambali after that and it became increasingly difficult for him to be an effective terrorist leader.
He decided at a Kuala Lumpur meeting in March 2001 to step down as chairman of one of JI's four cells - known as Mantiqi 1, 2, 3 and 4 - so he could go into hiding.
Mukhlas by this time had impressed JI's executive team and he was elected to replace Hambali as the new chairman of JI's Mantiqi 1, which covered Malaysia, Singapore and southern Thailand.
Mantiqi 2 incorporated most of Indonesia; Mantiqi 3 - which had been headed by Mukhlas' brother-in-law Nasir bin Abbas - took in East Kalimantan, Sabah, South Philippines and Sulawesi; and Mantiqi 4 was responsible for Australia and Irian Jaya.
"A selection process to appoint me as head of Mantiqi 1 was done by consultation and it was unanimous,'' Mukhlas said.
"The reason I was chosen was because all those present held the view that from a religious aspect, I was superior to the others.
"Besides that, I was regarded as experienced. I headed a religious school. I waged jihad and trained in Afghanistan.''
Although in hiding, Hambali continued to scheme against the US and was still seen as superior to the four Mantiqi leaders, being answerable only to reputed overall JI leader Bashir.
It was Hambali who convened a January 2002 JI meeting in southern Thailand to announce a change of strategy that would ultimately lead to tourist spots in Bali becoming targets.
Hambali told those attending, including Mukhlas, that he wanted JI to start attacking soft targets where Westerners, Americans or their allies went to shop, socialise or holiday.
He said it was becoming too risky to attack hard targets as a result of increased security around such places as embassies.
Hambali convened a second meeting the next month in Bangkok to further discuss the soft target strategy and continuing jihad against the US and its allies.
It was attended by a veritable Who's Who of JI, including future JI leadership prospect Zulkifli Marzuki, bomb maker Dr Azahari, financier Noor Din Mohammed Top and Mukhlas.
Just like the Italian mafia, those at the top of JI were often linked either through marriage or blood ties. Dr Azahari, Top and Mukhlas were married to three sisters.
Less than eight weeks after the two Thailand JI leadership summits, Mukhlas was given $US35,500 to fund the attacking of the first soft target. Convicted Bali bomber Ali Imron told a Jakarta court in March 2012 that the cash came directly from al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.
Everything was funded by Sheik Osama bin Laden
At the time Mukhlas was given the money, no decision had been made as to what soft target to attack.
But during the next few months, Mukhlas and Samudra singled out Bali as the area in which to find the proposed soft targets.
Samudra - who actually placed and detonated one of the bombs during the Christmas 2000 church bombing campaign in Indonesia - said Mukhlas summonsed him to a meeting in Solo in April 2002.
It was in the home of bomb maker Dulmatin and the thrice-married Amrozi was also in attendance.
GALLERY: The Bali bombing aftermath (graphic image warning)
"The meeting agenda was an evaluation of the bombings carried out thus far in churches,'' Samudra said.
"They were assessed as ineffective and not well received by the Muslim community, and in future we could better focus our targets on America and her allies.
"Mukhlas suggested we explode a bomb at the Australian School in Jakarta. I disagreed because the victims would have been children or school security guards.
"We also discussed the plan to explode a bomb at Newmont (a gold mine) in Lombok. All those in attendance agreed to carry this out.''
GALLERY: Global shock, how the world's media reacted
Samudra said there was a second meeting soon after at the Solo home of Bashir.
"Bashir critiqued that the church bombings were ineffective and there were innocent victims,'' Samudra said. "Bashir also said we should concentrate on confronting America and her allies.
"Bashir gave two envelopes of money to Mukhlas, who later told me it contained $US6000, Singapore $17,000 and 15,000 rupees.''
More funding for the soft target bombing campaign was raised during an August 2002 robbery at the Elita Indah Gold Shop in West Java, in which shop assistant Vini Khian, 18, was shot and wounded.
Samudra was given the proceeds of that robbery, which amounted to gold and jewellery weighing 2.5kg and five million rupiah in cash.
He had orchestrated the robbery and it was carried out by Abdul Rauf, Hidayat, Junaedi and Acong.
Rauf later recruited a number of potential suicide bombers and Acong, who used the aliases Arnasan and Jimi, ended up being the one who detonated the Sari Club vehicle bomb.
The next meeting to discuss the soft target bombing campaign was in Amrozi's car outside a petrol station in Solo in August 2002, with Samudra and Dulmatin in attendance.
"Today we have begun a big project. Today we have declared war on America,'' Samudra told them.
"We will have to wait before establishing a target and plan because we need time to seek the target, the means and, most importantly, the funds.''
Seven days later he met Amrozi and Christmas 2000 church bomber Idris at a Solo mosque.
Samudra ordered Amrozi to buy enough chemicals to make a bomb of at least one tonne and a vehicle to put it in.
He gave Idris the job of organising accommodation and transport for the bombing team.
A larger meeting was organised for mid-August 2002 at the Solo home of JI foot soldier Hernianto.
Mukhlas arrived at the meeting with his younger brothers Amrozi and Ali Imron.
Also among those in attendance were Samudra, Dulmatin, Idris and Abdul Ghani.
Samudra opened the meeting with a prayer before getting down to the deadly business of deciding what to bomb and when and where.
"Mukhlas explained the operations were to be conducted under his orders and had the blessing of grandpa - grandpa being Bashir,'' Samudra said.
"The Newmont bombing in Lombok was cancelled because many employees were Muslims.
"Mukhlas suggested the subsequent bombing project was in Bali and I agreed because I had the same idea, mainly after America bombed Afghanistan during the fasting month of September 2001.
"The other meeting parties agreed with the plan. Mukhlas appointed me to co-ordinate the execution of the Bali bombings and I accepted this appointment.''
Samudra, as commander of the Bali bombing operation, was responsible for setting targets, locations, times and the actual strategic bombing plans.
He used the meeting in Hernianto's home to confirm Amrozi's role as chemical and vehicle bomb buyer, and Idris's appointment as field commander responsible for reconnaissance and logistics, such as accommodation and the transport needs of the bomb crew.
Samudra also gave Dulmatin the task of constructing the bombs and ordered Abdul Ghani to assist in the bomb assembly.
Imron said Samudra had originally wanted the Bali bombing to take place on September 11, 2002, to coincide with the first anniversary of the September 11 World Trade Centre attack in New York.
But others in the group argued that was not allowing enough time for them to prepare. No date for the bombing ended up being fixed during the meeting at Hernianto's house.
Imron said they decided to wait until the materials and funding were in place before settling on a date, but September was certainly too early.
Amrozi wasted no time finding a vehicle. With Idris, he bought a 1983 Mitsubishi L300 van from Aswar Prianto in East Java for 32 million rupiah in early September 2002.
He then stripped out the seats and airconditioning unit.
Thinking ahead about avoiding detection, Amrozi also got out his angle grinder and ground off the L300's engine and chassis numbers.
Amrozi prepared a flat surface in the rear by installing a false floor, making it easier to load and bolt in the bomb. All this was done at his home in the East Java village of Tenggulun.
As Amrozi was preparing the bomb vehicle, his older brother Mukhlas was paid a surprise visit by JI master bomb builder Dr Azahari.
"I was surprised to see Dr Azahari coming in with Noor Din Top, accompanied by Dulmatin,'' Mukhlas said. "Dr Azahari came to see me in Tenggulun because he saw me as one who was considered the leader and his coming to see me was in relation to the planning for the American and allied interests.
"Dr Azahari spoke to me about my stay in Malaysia and informed me about the plans of bombing American interests in Singapore.
"They said they were not able to carry it out so they came to Indonesia to join in the conduct of bombings in Indonesia. The following morning, I left for Solo with Dr Azahari, Dulmatin and others.
"On arrival in Solo, at the house of Dulmatin, I passed Dr Azahari to Dulmatin to discuss the large scale bombing which I and my friends had planned at a previous meeting at Hernianto's house in Solo.
"I stayed with Dr Azahari talking with Dulmatin until about 5am.
"We discussed the technical problems of carrying out bombings on targets in Legian, Bali. I did not officially request Dr Azahari to help Dulmatin with planning the bombings in Legian.
"I introduced Dr Azahari to Dulmatin, bearing in mind Dulmatin was an expert bomb maker, as was Dr Azahari, so that to achieve a good outcome, it was better to have one bomb expert talking to another bomb expert.''
Meanwhile, Amrozi was busy buying the chemicals Dr Azahari and Dulmatin would eventually mix into the Sari Club bomb.
He went to the Tidar Kima chemical shop of Silvester Tendean in Surabaya on September 18 and on September 23, buying chemicals weighing more than a tonne.
"I went by myself to Surabaya and asked questions from shop to shop, asking for what I needed, and I ended up buying the chemicals at Tidar Kima,'' Amrozi said.
He said he knew the owner of the shop as he had previously bought chemicals there in 2000 to send to the Indonesian island of Ambon to help Muslims who were battling Christians there.
Although the chemicals bought by Amrozi were unrestricted, and as such did not need to be reported to police, Amrozi still insisted on his receipts being made out for chemicals other than those he bought.
Also in September 2002, Samudra and Ali Imron conducted surveillance in Bali of locations frequented by foreigners. They noted the Sari Club and Paddy's Pub were particularly popular, and Samudra decided they would be the targets.
Mukhlas ordered Samudra to also arrange for a bomb to be exploded outside the US Consulate in Bali on the same night, so there could be no doubt the nightclub bombings were linked to the policies of America.
"After purchasing a motorcycle on September 12, 2002, approximately, I, in company of Samudra, rode the motorbike to survey the locations to be the targets of the bomb explosion, including Legian St, by sitting around on the footpath outside the Sari Club and Paddy's Pub and walking around these locations,'' Imron said.
Samudra met Amrozi and Idris at Amrozi's house in Tenggulun on September 25, 2002 for a report.
Amrozi told him that the vehicle and chemicals had been bought.
Samudra then ordered that the chemicals bought by Amrozi be sent to Bali.
They decided to send them by night bus in 50kg packages to avoid suspicion, with the first lot being put on a Bali-bound bus on September 27, and the last on October 2.
It was Idris' job to collect each consignment of chemicals from the Bali bus terminal.
"On October 3 in the afternoon, I received an SMS message from Samudra saying that the chemicals had arrived in Bali and he also asked to quickly send the L300 to Bali,'' Amrozi said.
Amrozi, travelling with Dulmatin, Ali Imron and others, left Tenggulun village for Bali on October 5, 2002 using the L300 and a green Suzuki Vitara, buying plastic four-drawer filing cabinets on the way that would later be used to form the bomb casing.
They arrived at the Hotel Harum in Denpasar at 11pm on October 6, where Samudra was waiting to greet them.
Samudra organised a meeting the next day at 18 Manjangan St in Denpasar, which he and Imron had rented the previous month specifically to make the bombs in.
Those attending included Samudra, Amrozi, Mukhlas, Imron, Idris, Dulmatin, Abdul Ghani, Umar Kecil and Dr Azahari.
They discussed the Bali bombing plan in detail and how the bombs, under the guidance of Dr Azahari and Dulmatin, were coming along.
The meeting was told the chemicals were being mixed by hand by Sawad, Abdul Ghani Ali Imron, Umar Patek and others, and placed in the 48 drawers of 12 plastic filing cabinets.
Those cabinets were to be bolted to the false floor of the L300, three wide and four deep.
Another filing cabinet drawer, filled with TNT, would be placed next to them to act as a booster charge to ignite the main bomb.
Mukhlas visited Bali in early October 2002 to check on the plans and he was introduced to the two suicide bombers recruited by Rauf and Samudra.
The other bombers knew them as Arnasan and Feri but they were using aliases of Jimi and Iqbal in Bali.
Jimi asked Mukhlas if he could write his last will and testament.
"I said he could,'' Mukhlas said.
"Then he asked my opinion about its contents regarding asking for forgiveness from his family and friends and proclaiming the spread of jihad to young Muslims to wage holy war. I replied that this was fine.''
Jimi, 22, the son of a poor rice farmer from the West Java village of Malingping, revealed in his will that he was a member of the underground Darul Islam movement.
Darul Islam, often known as DI or NII, standing for Indonesian Islamic State, was committed to establishing an Islamic state in Indonesia - a goal it shared with the terrorist group JI.
Jimi used his will to encourage his friends to join his fight against the Christian Cross by also spilling their blood to become martyrs.
"Today there is so much work that must be completed for the sake of the struggle, and pray that my martyrdom will be the trigger for the growth of the mujahidin,'' he wrote in a will addressed to 21 people in Malingping, including several religious leaders.
"And today I prove that I am a child of DI/NII who is ready to sacrifice his life for Islam. If you all truly want to build a return to glory the NII that today is buried, pour your blood out in order that you are not all ashamed before God, who recognises the children of DI/NII.
"Stir your troops, don't be lulled into sleep. Prepare and crush the forces of the cross, shoulder to shoulder. Arouse the passion of the mujahidin in Malingping.''
In a second will addressed to his parents and siblings, Jimi asked that his clothes be given to the poor.
"Accept this last will and testament from me and again, don't be shocked,'' he wrote. "Mother, again, pray for me so I will fight to defend Islam. I want Jihad to defend Islam, which is crushed by non-believers.
"I only ask for prayers from Mother, Father so that in order that I Sahid (die in the care of Islam).''
Mukhlas said Jimi and Iqbal told him they had agreed to become martyrs after dreaming they had visited Afghanistan and been embraced by Osama bin Laden.
"And were asked by Sheik Osama bin Laden: `Do you want to die as martyrs?' '' Mukhlas said.
"They then were instructed by him to go to the river and bathe with the mujahidin and they did so. He stated there were many mujahidin there and the water was very clean.''
Mukhlas said they told him that after that dream they became even more convinced about becoming suicide bombers and martyrs.
Several members of the bomb team left Bali a few days before the October 12, 2002 bombing, returning to their homes to establish alibis.
Only Samudra, Imron and Idris, plus the two suicide bombers Jimi and Iqbal, stayed in Bali to execute the bombings.
Mukhlas left Bali on October 9 - the day his grand plan came dangerously close to coming unstuck.
"After afternoon prayers there was an explosion at the room where the bomb was being assembled, causing the neighbours to come outside the house at the time,'' Imron said.
The neighbour asked Imron and Idris what the noise had been and Idris said he thought either a balloon or car tyre had burst.
"It was actually caused because the remnants of the chemical ingredients on the tiles were scraped, which resulted in an explosion,'' Imron said.
The plastic filing cabinets containing the Sari Club bomb chemicals were what had been scraped across the tiles, which could easily have resulted in the house being blown up. The neighbour could just as easily have reported the explosion to police.
Idris, Ali Imron and Amrozi bought a Yamaha FZ1R motorcycle from a dealer on October 10, 2002, with the intention of using it to place the much smaller bomb at the US consulate in Renon, a Denpasar suburb.
Later that day, Imron met the two suicide bombers Jimi and Iqbal.
"My aim in meeting them was to show them the targets of the bombing. Iqbal at Paddy's and Jimi outside the Sari,'' Imron said.
"Iqbal was to wear the bomb vest and enter Paddy's as a suicide bomber, Jimi was to explode the car bomb outside the Sari Club as a suicide bomber.
"I was invited by Idris to test Jimi driving the vehicle in Legian St, Kuta to practice for the explosion that was to take place on October 12.
"That work was carried out on Friday night.''
To his horror, Imron discovered Jimi could hardly drive in a straight line, let alone turn corners.
A quick change of plan was made so that Imron would drive the bomb vehicle to within a short distance of the Sari Club before handing the wheel over to Jimi for the last 400m or so.
Imron spent the rest of that final Friday night installing three switches under the seat of the motorcycle bought specifically to deliver the bomb to the US consulate.
One switch was to kill the engine, another was to kill the brake light and the third was to kill the back light.
The plan was for Imron to ride the bike to the US consulate, flick the engine kill switch to fake a breakdown and place the small bomb while leaning down pretending to see what was wrong with the engine.
Switches to kill the brake and rear lights were in case Imron was pursued from the scene.
Jimi and Iqbal were picked up by Imron at noon on Saturday, October 12 and taken to the house in Manjangan St, where the bombs were made and kept.
"I taught Iqbal how to use the vest and the switch to explode it, and Jimi the use of the switch that was in a box system that was to explode the L300, as I had been taught by Dulmatin,'' Imron said.
"Afterwards I ordered Iqbal and Jimi to repeat and practise what I had told them.
"After I felt that they had studied enough, after sunset prayer, we rested until 19.00 and I ordered Jimi and Iqbal to prepare to carry out suicide bombing.''
Imron reported in to Samudra at 8pm, at Samudra's rented accommodation in Pinang St, that the bombers and the bombs were ready.
"I returned to the house in Manjangan St at 20.45,'' Imron said.
"I left using the FZ1R motorcycle with the bomb that had already been linked to a remote hand phone and had been packaged in a plastic bag.''
Imron rode with one hand on the handlebars and the other clutching the 5kg bomb, which was balanced on the front seat of the motorbike.
He did his "bike has broken down'' trick using the engine-killing switch he had previously installed.
After placing the bomb on the footpath outside the US consulate in Renon, Imron rode back to the Manjangan St house.
He then told Jimi and Iqbal to get into the L300, with Iqbal clutching the vest bomb he was going to wear.
Jimi's appalling driving skills resulted in him being told to sit next to Imron while Imron drove the 12.5km from the house to within 400m of the Sari Club.
Iqbal sat next to Jimi while Imron slowly drove the van, which was weighed down by the 1.1 tonne bomb.
"I ordered Iqbal to put on the vest that contained the bomb and ordered Jimi to join the cables from the detonator to the switch,'' Imron said.
"We were already close to the T-intersection with Legian St. Jimi and Iqbal were ready.
"At the T-intersection I parked on the left side around 30m from the T-intersection. I then got out of the vehicle and Jimi took my place.''
Idris had accompanied the bomb vehicle on the motorbike. Imron joined him on the bike and the pair rode off towards Denpasar.
"Myself and Idris stopped on the side of the street, but still on the motorcycle,'' Imron said.
"Then Idris exploded the bomb that was in Renon (the US consulate) with his hand phone.''
The purpose of the Renon bomb was simply to make an anti-US statement. It did very little damage and injured no one.
Meanwhile, Jimi illegally parked the L300 outside the Sari Club on the right hand side of busy Legian St.
Iqbal got out and started walking towards Paddy's Pub.
Jimi locked all the doors from the inside and put the steering wheel into the locked position.
Vehicles following him down the busy one-way street couldn't get past the L300 because of cars correctly parked on the left hand side of Legian St.
Walking bomb Iqbal sauntered into Paddy's Pub about the same time as the Renon device went off outside the US Consulate.
He made his way through the more than 150 people and while standing about 2m from the DJ's podium he flicked the switch to explode the vest bomb he was wearing.
Panic and pandemonium ensued.
Jimi, as instructed, waited just long enough for patrons to be fleeing out of Paddy's Pub and towards the Sari Club before detonating the devastating bomb he was sitting in.
In part two tomorrow: The fatal night - 'One moment I was talking to friends and the next was like being in a war zone'


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No flu crisis yet for many local schools
That's how it starts, anyways. Add a fever or feeling feverish and having chills (though some may never have a fever), cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue — it's the perfect recipe for the seasonal flu, according the the Center for Disease Control.
ProHealth Care has seen flu cases, yes, but Waukesha County is not as hard hit as Milwaukee County. ProHealth internal medical physician Eric Conradson, who practices in Oconomowoc, said Waukesha is lucky, but it's definitely coming.
"Lannon, Maple Avenue, Woodside and Marcy elementary schools – they have not noticed an increase of absences. A couple of students have stomach flu, but it has not been anything out of the ordinary for this time of the year," public information coordinator Denise Dorn Lindberg said.
"If there is a flu outbreak in Waukesha County, we are not seeing it – yet. Fingers crossed," Lindberg added.
That means now is a good time to get vaccinated. In fact, everyone age 6 months and older should get a flu vaccination.
"There's always an opportunity to get vaccinated," Conradson said.
This season's flu vaccine is designed to protect against three to four influenza virus strains, depending on which vaccine you get. All of the vaccine options this season include protection against pH1N1.
Vaccination is especially important for high-risk individuals (or those around them) who could suffer from serious flu-related complications, such as young children and people 65 and older, pregnant women, and people with certain chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease. Those high-risk individuals, too, should see their doctor right away if they get flu symptoms.
There are other steps families can take to avoid getting sick this winter.
"Cover your mouth!" Conradson explained.
The CDC says that most experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Less often, a person might also get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, eyes or possibly their nose.
"The majority of viruses are spread from hand-to-mouth," Conradson said, who recommends washing hands thoroughly before eating. He added that hands should touch nothing that you'll put into your mouth — use a napkin if you are eating finger foods, just in case.
Keep surfaces such as bedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom, kitchen counters and toys for children clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label.
Some school districts, such as the Pewaukee School District, take an extra step in sterilization. They use a Zero Trace machine that cleans surfaces and clears the air with active oxygen or ozone. It is supposed to use electricity and oxygen to completely clean and purify any space. Buildings and Grounds Director John Stangler works with the school nurses to bring the machine into specific classrooms, which are then cleaned at night.
If you or your child has the flu, first of all, stay home. It's important to rest and to keep the flu from spreading. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others a whole day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick.
Aim to stay home at least 24 hours after the fever is gone.
"It's a good thing for folks to stay home. Separate themselves, if possible. Social distancing, we call it," Conradson said. He also recommends Tylenol for headaches or fever (ibuprofen can be used, too, but a small percentage of people experience some swelling in the brain, making their headaches worse), Mucinex products to loosen phlegm and plenty of fluids.
"This could go into pneumonia, and if you are dehydrated, your phlegm can become thicker," he explained, adding that other serious conditions such as bronchitis and ear or sinus infections could also result.
Go to the doctor if you aren't getting better or if you are a high-risk individual. Severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion and severe or persistent vomiting mean you need to see a doctor.
Your physician might be able to helpby prescribing antiviral medications if you get in early enough. But getting in right away is key.
"The antiviral is only effective when you take it during the first two days. It only works when you go in early, so you should go in promptly if you get sick," Conradson said.
Be mindful, too, and see your doctor if your child has fast breathing or trouble breathing, bluish skin color, not drinking enough fluids, not waking up or not interacting, being so irritable that the child does not want to be held, flulike symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough or get a fever with a rash.
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SAN JUAN – The leader of Puerto Rico's main opposition PPD, Alejandro García Padilla, would prevail over incumbent Gov. Luis Fortuño by 38 percent to 30 percent if the election were today, according to a survey published in El Nuevo Día.
The San Juan daily's poll shows Juan Dalmau of the small Puerto Rican Independence Party with 4 percent and two other candidates with 1 percent each.
Thirteen percent of respondents said they would not vote in November and 12 percent were undecided.
The newspaper took an identical survey in March 2011 that showed García Padilla leading Fortuño by 47 percent to 25 percent.
Seven months later, the opposition leader was the choice of 39 percent while Fortuño obtained 33 percent of voter preference.
El Nuevo Día said that the opposition tactic of spotlighting Garcia Padilla more in public discussions about the island's problems has given a slight boost to his lead over Fortuño, who is seeking a second four-year term.
The daily's analysis of the poll result said that García Padilla was favored by being a "new face" and the spokesman of hope and change for a territory plunged in a recession that has lasted five years and with a runaway crime rate that each weekend brings violent death to around 10 people.
The gubernatorial election will be held Nov. 6, the same day Puerto Ricans go to vote in a non-binding referendum on the island's future political relationship with the United States.
While Fortuño's party, the PNP, favors full statehood, the PPD advocates an enhanced version of Puerto Rico's current commonwealth status.
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text:
Diane Simmons with the famous Ringeau and Dr. Dog.
Photo by Deborah Stone.
by Deborah Stone
Wake up to the smells of fresh scones, Belgian waffles and bacon. If that doesn't get you out of bed, then the sounds of horses gently neighing for their breakfast and the neighbors' dueling roosters will. Everything from the warmth of the wood stove to the scent of potpourri spells cozy at this newest of inns in Woodinville.
Innkeeper Diane Simmons opened the doors to Whispering Trees Farm last August, turning her own home of eight years into a licensed bed and breakfast. What is distinctive about her inn is that it's the only one on the Eastside designed for equestrians. Guests with or without their horses are welcome at Whispering Trees Farm, and both humans and animals will find their needs catered to with every amenity provided. Horses will enjoy the six-stall barn with ample portions of timothy hay, while their human counterparts are treated to the personal touches Simmons provides during their stay.
Each of the two available bedrooms (a third will be ready by next summer), the Foxes Den and the Garden Room, is decorated uniquely. The Foxes Den is done in hunter green and burgundy with a lace canopy bed; the Garden Room is awash in soft pink and green pastels. Bags of treats and stuffed animals adorn the beds. An inviting common area, sitting room, and spacious dining room where full breakfasts are served complete the country picture.
A fox hunting theme dominates throughout the inn, with photos, prints, and memorabilia lining the walls. Simmons is on the Board of Trustees of the Woodbrook Hunt club in Tacoma and is a frequent participant in "drag" hunts, a type of mock hunt in which no foxes are involved. Instead, humans lay a scent using commercially produced fox urine, and hounds and horses follow a course of up to 25 miles.
"It's the most fun you can have on a horse, and the adrenaline rush is great!" said Simmons, who has two horses of her own.
Her love of animals and the outdoors is evident at the inn. Part of the welcoming committee are her two blue-heeler dogs, Ringeau and Dr. Dog, and her cat, L.C. Guests can relish the fact that they share space with a famous movie dog. Ringeau has been seen in the TV show Northern Exposure, the movie My Private Idaho, and various other projects. He can easily be persuaded to show off his talents to visitors in exchange for a treat.
Simmons says Whispering Trees Farm has gotten off to a quick start. "I'm very pleased, as I've been busy every weekend and am booked for the holidays," she said. Referrals from other inns, in the area combined with advertising and word-of-mouth recommendations, have helped increase the inn's visibility. Since August, she has hosted guests from parts of Asia, Europe, and all over the U.S., marking their locales with pins on a map.
Whispering Trees is located on three-and-a-quarter acres off Mink Road just east of Cottage Lake and less than a half-mile from the Tolt Pipeline Trail. This is ideal for equestrians, and Simmons readily offers to take guests on trail rides which can go as far as Bridle Trails State Park or the Snoqualmie Valley.
In addition to being the sole owner and operator of the inn, Simmons is a marketing consultant and runs a mail order business. She is also a Reiki Master who treats cancer patients using an ancient healing art.
Although Simmons said she finds the business hard work, its rewards are very gratifying. "I'm very proud to bring people to Woodinville and help them experience this wonderful community," she said.
For more information about The Whispering Trees Farm, call 788-2315.


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MOBILE, Alabama -- Walk-on tight end Kyle Sappington noted on his Twitter account that he is leaving the South Alabama football team and will join the UAB football team this fall.
It's official I'm a UAB Blazer and will be playing in Birmingham this fall. I wish nothing but the... http://t.co/r4QMMRzNYl
-- Kyle Sappington (@ksapp_85) May 15, 2014
His Twitter announcement reads, "It's official I'm a UAB Blazer and will be playing in Birmingham this fall. I wish nothing but the best for all my boys and friends at South.''
Sappington joined the Jaguars' program in 2012 and was redshirted that season. Last season, he did not accumulate any stats with the Jags.
In spring practice this year, the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder from Northport, who was a four-year letterman at American Christian Academy, found himself down the depth chart at a deep position for the Jags.
First-team All-Sun Belt Conference tight end Wes Saxton was joined in spring by first-team junior college All-America selection Braedon Bowman, who will have two years of eligibility with the Jags. South Alabama also had Rush Hendricks and Ryan Onkka in front of Sappington coming out of spring drills.
At American Christian, Sappington caught 42 passes for 689 yards as a senior. On defense that year, he made 132 tackles.