Obama proposes 'grand bargain' for jobs

FILE - In this July 25, 2013 file photo, President Barack Obama gestures as he speaks at the Jacksonville Port in Jacksonville, Fla. President Barack Obama is extending a new proposal to Republicans that he hopes will break the political gridlock on budget negotiations, offering to cut corporate tax rates in exchange for job investments. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

FILE - In this July 25, 2013 file photo, President Barack Obama gestures as he speaks at the Jacksonville Port in Jacksonville, Fla. President Barack Obama is extending a new proposal to Republicans that he hopes will break the political gridlock on budget negotiations, offering to cut corporate tax rates in exchange for job investments. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama is extending a new proposal to Republicans that he hopes will break the political gridlock on budget negotiations, offering to cut corporate tax rates in exchange for job investments.

White House officials say just because they're at an impasse with congressional Republicans over a grand bargain on reducing the deficit doesn't mean they shouldn't look for other areas of agreement. So Obama plans to use a trip to an Amazon.com distribution center in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Tuesday to propose a "grand bargain for middle-class jobs."

Obama long has called for a cut in corporate tax rates, but previously insisted such business tax reform be coupled with an individual tax overhaul. He's dropping that demand and says instead that he's open to the corporate tax cut that that businesses crave. But he wants it to be coupled with a significant investment on some sort of job creation program, such as manufacturing, infrastructure or community colleges.

House Speaker John Boehner's office said Obama's proposals were hardly a compromise.

"This proposal allows President Obama to support President Obama's position on taxes and President Obama's position on spending, while leaving small businesses and American families behind," Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said.

Congressional Republicans have long insisted on tying corporate and individual tax reform so that small business owners who use the individual tax code would be offered cuts along with large corporations.

Senior administration officials described the corporate tax proposal as the first new economic idea Obama plans to offer in the coming months, with budget deadlines looming in the fall. Administration officials wouldn't put a price tag on the proposal or say how much would be a "significant" investment in jobs since the dollar figures would be part of negotiations with Congress. But in an example from this year's State of the Union address, Obama proposed $50 billion to put Americans to work repairing roads and bridges and other construction jobs.

The officials said money to pay for the jobs creation would come from a one-time revenue boost from measures such as changing depreciation rules or having a one-time fee on earnings held overseas.

"As part of his efforts to focus Washington on the middle class, today in Tennessee the president will call on Washington to work on a grand bargain focused on middle-class jobs by pairing reform of the business tax code with a significant investment in middle-class jobs," Obama senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer said.

Obama planned to make his remarks from an Amazon fulfillment center in Chattanooga, one of more than a dozen warehouses operated by the world's largest online retailer, which announced Monday that it would increase hiring. The company said it would add 7,000 new jobs, including 5,000 more at U.S. distribution centers that currently employ about 20,000 workers who pack and ship customer orders. Amazon.com Inc. has been spending heavily on order fulfillment to help its business grow.

Obama planned to tour the packing floor of the Chattanooga warehouse, which opened in September 2011. It is one of the company's largest and newest facilities, with more than 1 million square feet ? the size of more than 28 football fields full of merchandise.

The plant was the source of tax controversy when it opened; Amazon originally was granted an indefinite waiver on collecting sales tax in a deal to bring two distribution centers to Tennessee. The state's retailers were outraged that they were put at a competitive disadvantage, and Amazon has agreed to start collecting Tennessee sales tax next year.

The White House said Obama wasn't visiting Amazon because of the company's position on taxes, but because it's an example of a successful American business growing and creating more jobs.

Obama proposed last year to overhaul corporate taxes by lowering rates from the current 35 percent to 28 percent, with an even lower effective tax rate of 25 percent for manufacturers. The U.S. has one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world, but many businesses avoid the full cost by taking advantage of deductions, credits and exemptions that Obama wants to eliminate.

Obama wants to do away with corporate tax benefits like oil and natural gas industry subsidies, special breaks for the purchase of private jets and certain corporate tax shelters. He also wants to impose a minimum tax on foreign earnings, a move opposed by multinational corporations and perhaps the most contentious provision in the president's plan.

And the president has made little progress toward getting Republicans to sign on to a "grand bargain" of tax increases and spending cuts to reduce the deficit.

When Obama unveiled the corporate tax plan last year, congressional Republicans called for even deeper cuts for the business world. His campaign rival, Mitt Romney, wanted a 25 percent corporate tax rate.

___

Follow Nedra Pickler on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nedrapickler

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-07-30-US-Obama/id-6ecb4559a3154e8b9f2798cde56892d3

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Travel Tips To Be Considered By Everyone | Content for Reprint

Author: Casie Fuchs | Total views: 51 Comments: 0
Word Count: 819 Date: Tue, 30 Jul 2013 7:32 PM

Traveling is something a lot of people would love to accomplish as much as they can, one of the best ways to do that is to learn how to efficiently travel. When you learn how to travel efficiently you learn how to save money and time, so take some time to read through the tips in this article to see what you can learn.

Be aware of scams that attempt to prey on unwary travelers. In many poorer areas of the world, it is safest to assume that anyone begging for money or trying to stop you for just about any reason could be a pickpocket. Don't ever show or hand over your wallet to anyone, even if they claim to be police officers.

Keep a group journal in your hotel room while traveling. Invest in something as inexpensive as a spiral notebook, and allow the people you are traveling with to write in it during down time. This will provide an interesting read later and will be a nice keepsake from your trip.

Write down your travel plans and leave a copy with friends or family. It is always wise to prepare for the unexpected. Should you go go missing, someone is sure to notice much sooner this way. Knowing what your plans were will also be very helpful to the authorities.

If you are traveling in a poorer country, consider purchasing a large woven sack, like the type used to transport potatoes or other vegetables. Put your bag into this sack, and it is protected from dust, bugs, and moisture. It also nicely camouflages your possesions against thieves, as they will see a bag of farm goods instead of a tourist's bag.

Use vacuum bags to pack more into your carry-on luggage. Trying to fit everything you'll need for your trip into a carry-on-sized bag can be challenging. To maximize the space, try using travel vacuum bags for your clothes. You insert your clothes, zip the bag, and roll it to remove the air. Just be sure to unpack as soon as you arrive at your destination so that your clothes have time to return to their normal shape.

Use travel as an educational tool for the members of your family. If you take reasonable precautions, there is no reason to fear travel to the developing world. It can be a great chance to show your children how the world outside of your country works. Time spent abroad helps you understand and appreciate diverse cultures. In addition, it encourages an acceptance and tolerance of ways of life that differ from your own.

Flexibility pays when it comes to booking your plane ticket! If your arrival or departure dates aren't set in stone, you can often times find better deals on tickets. Likewise, if you're willing to depart from a variety of airports in the area, you can often save big bucks.

If you're going on a road trip, bring an extra gallon of water with you. While you may think to bring bottled water, you probably wouldn't think of bringing a jug. A gallon of water can be useful for brushing your teeth, washing sticky stuff off your hands, etc. You never know when you may need to wash your hands and not be close to a rest stop or worse, to be near a disgusting rest stop.

If the hotel you're staying in doesn't offer free wifi, try asking for a room on the first or second floor. Most of the time in cities, there are tons of cafes around that offer free wifi and you can pick those signals up when you're on the lower floors.

Traveling with children is very different than traveling alone or with adults. Young children in general do not have the social skills to always behave as they should. Be patient with children, bring along a lot of healthy snacks and even a few unhealthy ones to help their temperament. Be sure to have lots of easily accessible activities handy as well. Try to avoid travel when your child is extremely sick if at all possible.

If you are taking a cruise, bring a tackle box and use it to store your valuables. Most thieves are only interested in what they can quickly find and get out with. They probably will not think to look in a tackle box for valuables.

Making sure you apply as much of the knowledge you learned in this article is key to traveling with success. A good thing to keep in mind is that this article alone isn't going to give you all of the information you need to know, keep on the look out for new tips so you can travel with ease in the future.

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Subic Bay decision could mean more U.S. troops in Philippines

By Jim Gomez

Associated Press

POSTED: 07:38 a.m. HST, Jul 28, 2013
LAST UPDATED: 07:38 a.m. HST, Jul 28, 2013

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Riot police guard the sidewalk as protesters hold a rally against China outside the Chinese Consulate at the financial district of Makati city, east of Manila, Philippines, Wednesday.
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MANILA, Philippines >> The Philippines plans to relocate major air force and navy camps to a former U.S. naval base northwest of Manila to gain faster access to waters being contested by China in the South China Sea, according to the country's defense chief and a confidential government report.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said today that as soon as relocation funds are available the government plans to transfer air force and naval forces and their fleets of aircraft and warships to Subic Bay, which has become a busy free port since the 1992 departure of the U.S. Navy.

"It's for the protection of our West Philippine Sea," Gazmin said from South Korea, where he was on a visit, using the name adopted by the Philippine government for the disputed South China Sea.

Relocating about 250 air force officers and men to Subic, along with "increased rotational presence of foreign visiting forces" would bolster business and trade at the port, according to a confidential defense department document obtained by The Associated Press

Subic's international airport has been underutilized since U.S. courier giant FedEx transferred its lucrative regional hub from Subic to China in 2009, officials said.

The Philippines plans to grant visiting U.S. forces, ships and aircraft temporary access to more of its military camps to allow for a larger number of joint military exercises than are currently staged each year.

A larger U.S. presence could be used for disaster response and serve as a deterrent to what Philippine officials say have been recent aggressive intrusions by China into its territorials waters.

Subic Bay is a natural deep harbor that can accommodate two large warships acquired recently by the Philippines from the United States, a defense treaty ally, he said, especially compared to shallower harbor at the naval fleet base at Sangley Point in Cavite province, south of Manila.

The first U.S. Coast Guard cutter was relaunched as the Philippines' largest warship in 2011. President Benigno Aquino III will lead ceremonies on Aug. 6 to welcome the second ship at Subic, the Philippine navy said.

The defense department document obtained says Subic's location will cut reaction time by fighter aircraft to contested South China Sea areas by more than three minutes compared with flying from Clark airfield, also north of Manila, where some air force planes are based.

"It will provide the armed forces of the Philippines strategic location, direct and shorter access to support West Philippine Sea theater of operations," the document said.

The report said the cost of repairs and improvements for an air force base in Subic would be at least $119 million. It said that compares with an estimated $256 million that it would cost to build a new air force base, because the vast Subic complex about 50 miles west of Manila already has a world-class runway and aviation facilities.

The Philippines has backed Washington's efforts to reassert its military presence in Asia as a counterweight to China's rise. While it has taken diplomatic steps to deal with China's sweeping territorial claims in the South China Sea, the Philippines has struggled to upgrade its military, one of Asia's weakest.

Philippine vessels backed off from the disputed Scarborough Shoal last year after weeks of a tense standoff with Chinese surveillance ship, a move that gave China effective control over the vast fishing ground off the country's northwest.

Many fear the territorial conflicts in the South China Sea, which also involve Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan, could set off a serious conflict that could threaten Asia's growing economies.

Source: http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/20130728_Subic_Bay_decision_could_mean_more_US_troops_in_Philippines.html

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Key events in Egypt's uprising and unrest

Supporters of Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi carry an injured man to a field hospital following clashes with security forces at Nasr City, where pro-Morsi protesters have held a weeks-long sit-in, in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, July 27, 2013. Police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of Morsi supporters, setting off clashes that lasted for hours and left tens of people dead. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Supporters of Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi carry an injured man to a field hospital following clashes with security forces at Nasr City, where pro-Morsi protesters have held a weeks-long sit-in, in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, July 27, 2013. Police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of Morsi supporters, setting off clashes that lasted for hours and left tens of people dead. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

CAIRO (AP) ? Clashes erupted early Saturday in Cairo between security forces and supporters of Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi, killing at least 38 protesters.

Here are some key events from more than two years of turmoil and transition in Egypt:

Jan. 25-Feb. 11, 2011 ? Egyptians stage nationwide demonstrations against the rule of President Hosni Mubarak. Hundreds of protesters are killed as Mubarak and his allies try to crush the uprising.

Feb. 11 ? Mubarak steps down and turns power over to the military. The military dissolves parliament and suspends the constitution, meeting two key demands of protesters.

Nov. 28, 2011-Feb 15, 2012 ? Egypt holds multistage, weekslong parliamentary elections. In the lawmaking lower house, the Muslim Brotherhood wins nearly half the seats, and ultraconservative Salafis take another quarter. The remainder goes to liberal, independent and secular politicians. In the largely powerless upper house, Islamists take nearly 90 percent of the seats.

May 23-24, 2012 ? The first round of voting in presidential elections has a field of 13 candidates. Morsi and Ahmed Shafiq, the last prime minister under Mubarak, emerge as the top two finishers, to face each other in a runoff.

June 14 ? The Supreme Constitutional Court orders the dissolving of the lower house of parliament.

June 16-17 ? Egyptians vote in the presidential runoff between Morsi and Shafiq. Morsi wins with 51.7 percent of the vote.

June 30 ? Morsi takes his oath of office.

Nov. 19 ? Members of liberal parties and representatives of Egypt's churches withdraw from the 100-member assembly writing the constitution, protesting attempts by Islamists to impose their will.

Nov. 22 ? Morsi unilaterally decrees greater powers for himself, giving his decisions immunity from judicial review and barring the courts from dissolving the constituent assembly and the upper house of parliament. The move sparks days of protests.

Nov. 30 ?Islamists in the constituent assembly rush to complete the draft of the constitution. Morsi sets a Dec. 15 date for a referendum.

Dec. 4 ? More than 100,000 protesters march on the presidential palace, demanding the cancellation of the referendum and the writing of a new constitution. The next day, Islamists attack an anti-Morsi sit-in, sparking street battles that leave at least 10 dead.

Dec. 15, Dec. 22 ? In the two-round referendum, Egyptians approve the constitution, with 63.8 percent voting in favor. Turnout is low.

Jan. 25, 2013 ? Hundreds of thousands hold protests against Morsi on the 2-year anniversary of the start of the revolt against Mubarak, and clashes erupt in many places.

Feb.-March 2013 ? Protests rage in Port Said and other cities for weeks, with dozens more dying in clashes.

April 7 ? A Muslim mob attacks the main cathedral of the Coptic Orthodox Church as Christians hold a funeral and protest there over four Christians killed in sectarian violence the day before. Pope Tawadros II publicly blames Morsi for failing to protect the building.

June 23 ? A mob beats to death four Egyptian Shiites in a village on the outskirts of Cairo.

June 30 ? Millions of Egyptians demonstrate, calling for Morsi to step down. Eight people are killed in clashes outside the Muslim Brotherhood's Cairo headquarters.

July 1 ? Huge demonstrations continue, and Egypt's powerful military gives the president and the opposition 48 hours to resolve their disputes, or it will impose its own solution.

July 2 ? Military officials disclose main details of the army's plan if no agreement is reached: replacing Morsi with an interim administration, canceling the Islamist-based constitution and calling elections in a year. Morsi delivers a late-night speech in which he pledges to defend his legitimacy and vows not to step down.

July 3 ? Egypt's military chief announces that Morsi has been deposed, to be replaced by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Constitutional Court until new presidential elections. No time frame is given. Muslim Brotherhood leaders are arrested.

July 4 ? Supreme Constitutional Court Chief Justice Adly Mansour is sworn in as Egypt's interim president.

July 5 ? Mansour dissolves the Islamist-dominated upper house of parliament as Morsi's supporters stage mass protests demanding his return. Clashes between pro- and anti-Morsi groups in Cairo and Alexandria, and violence elsewhere leave at least 36 dead. A Brotherhood strongman, deputy head Khairat el-Shater, is arrested.

July 8 ? Egyptian soldiers open fire on Muslim Brotherhood demonstrators in front of a military base in Cairo, killing more than 50. Each side blames the other for starting the clash. The Brotherhood calls for an uprising against the military. Mansour puts forward a time line for amending the constitution and electing a new president and parliament by mid-February. The Brotherhood refuses to participate in the process.

July 9 ? Mansour appoints economist Hazem el-Beblawi as prime minister and opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei as vice president. A military announcement backs up the appointments.

July 26 ? Millions pour into the streets of Egypt in rival demonstrations after a call by the country's military chief for protesters to give him a mandate to stop "potential terrorism" by supporters of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood. Five people are killed in clashes. Prosecutors announce Morsi is under investigation for a host of allegations including murder and conspiracy with the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

July 27 ?Clashes in the early morning hours between security forces and Morsi supporters kill at least 38 protesters in Cairo.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-07-27-Egypt-Timeline/id-b155364fd1c7420a8c09cd7dd4f920f5

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I'm Trapped In The Reply-All Email Chain From ... - Business Insider

Last Sunday afternoon, at 12.34pm, I received an email from someone I did not know. The email was titled simply "Hey." and contained a link to a nefarious looking website.

Within a half hour or so, another person I did not know responded, adding simply "spam?"

I didn't know it at the time, but this was the beginning of my ascent into "reply-all" hell. Since Sunday afternoon I've received 293 emails from people I don't know in response to this first email. What's worse, is that this doesn't seem to be the standard case of stupidity, naivety, or unfunny jokes ? instead, me and the 342 other people trapped on the email list from hell seem to be stuck in some kind of infinite loop.

It took me a little while to realize, but it's all Facebook's fault.

Screengrab

The beginning.

Every person who has a Facebook account has a Facebook e-mail address. This is an email address that can be used to send messages to your Facebook account.

This feature was implemented in 2010, but the service never really took off ? despite Facebook making it your "default" email address. It's still there, however, and it's still possible to send messages to people via their Facebook email address, which is usually related to their username.

One place you are likely to have seen Facebook email addresses is in your mobile phone's contact book. If you've ever synced your contacts with your Facebook profile, you may notice that when you look at a contact on your phone is an "@facebook.com" address for them. It's a little confusing, and has sparked a small amount of controversy from some who said it was replacing their original contacts, but other than that it always seemed harmless.

That is, until it trapped me in an infinite loop of "reply-all" emails.

I actually never read the first email with that nefarious link that was sent to me ? my spam filter caught it. Looking back, I can see that I must have been in the person's address book because they tried to contact me about a story a couple of times (I never responded). Then it appears that this person got some kind of virus that sent the dodgy link out to everyone in his contact book.

Curiously, I would guess that the email may have been sent from this person's phone. How can I tell? Because more around half of the addresses on the list seem to be "@facebook.com" email addresses, amongst the many gmail addresses and the automatically created "@craigslist.org" addresses.

By their very nature, the Facebook email addresses add another layer of disaster to this "reply-all" email thread. This is because they are two things at once ? both emails and Facebook messages.

When one of the Facebook users, understandably, wants to leave the conversation, they click "leave conversation" in their Facebook message window. Doing this, however, sends the following message to all people on the email chain:

"Auto-generated message: [Person's Name] has left this conversation and will no longer see your messages"

For reasons I don't quite seem to understand, it's not quite as simple as that for the Facebook users. Despite the 293 emails that have been sent, almost all attempts to leave the thread, my latest email shows 306 people on the respondent list for the latest email.? According to the emails, some people appear to have "left this conversation" multiple times, but they are still there in the latest email. Those who are receiving the messages on their normal email addresses, like me, for example, have no option to "leave the conversation" at all.

Personally, I am not particularly upset when I get stuck in "reply-all" email threads. I am aware of how to block email addresses or mute certain conversations in gmail. Whenever I get a new email in this particular email thread, I chuckle to myself, thinking "Wow, it's still going."

However, amongst the others, things are getting a little Lord of the Flies-esque amongst those in this "reply-all" society.

"Mark" writes:

If I find out who put me on this list, they will be banned from my Friend's list.

"David" seemed confused:

What in the world is all this about and why now am I seeing it on Facebook after a day of constantly having to clean out my regular [mail] inbox the last couple of days?

"Rebecca" is exasperated:

how the hell do you make this message stop.. I have hit leave conversation now over [ten] times and this shit keeps showing up in my inbox and popping up a chat box. .

Someone named "Big David" wrote 560 words in size 18 font admonishing people for hitting the "reply-all" button ? slightly missing the point, I felt.

Sadly, the problem may not go away away anytime soon. According to Facebook's Community Help pages, the issue is widespread. One man complains he's been getting hundreds of messages for months. In a post marked "leave a conversation for eternity," someone complains that they've been getting the messages for around 6 months and have tried multiple tactics to get themselves out of the infinite message loop.

For now, I've put up a filter that will keep the emails out of my inbox. It's a minor annoyance, sure, but it's a sad legacy for an email system even Business Insider once called "brilliant."

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/im-trapped-in-the-reply-all-email-chain-from-hell-and-its-all-facebooks-fault-2013-7

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'Dirty' BBQ Veg with Queso Fresco ? Food Stories

?

?Dirty veg?. This isn?t some new dude food trend, but a pretty shit hot way of cooking vegetables on a BBQ. Cooking something ?dirty? basically means cooking it directly on the coals. I found this on a blog called Country Wood Smoke, which is written by a guy down in Devon who appears to be married to his BBQ. Actually I have many friends like that. Hang on, actually I?m a bit like that?

Anyway, the idea is simple and brilliant; nothing ground breaking but a real trick up the sleeve nonetheless. Basically, man-down-in-Devon (real name ? Marcus) is saying, ?what the hell y?all doing slinging your vegetables on dat grill when you could be charring em directly in the coals you bunch of absolute fookin? numpties?? because in my head Marcus has an accent which is a cross between Southern American, gangsta and Scottish. Wouldn?t that be a thing. Weirdy hybrid accents are cool. I met a man recently who had an accent which was a cross between Georgian (ex-Soviet state Georgian), and cockney. That was hilarious. I really liked him. He didn?t like me because I laughed every time he said something.

Anyhow. Get yourself some hardy-ish veg like peppers and courgettes and some onions, oil them up, salt and pepper them, then stick them directly in the coals once they?re ready for cooking (ie when the flames have died down and they are white/grey). Turn them occasionally until they?re charred in places all over. You think the courgette won?t cook, but it will. It?s also nice to do some more delicate veg, so once you?ve taken peppers et al off the coals and put them aside, get your er, BBQ wok (a wok with holes in) or, if like me, you don?t have one, a metal colander, and put that directly in the coals. Oil and season up some cherry toms and also some baby corn and put them in, tossing them about quite often, until they?re charred in places too. When all veg are done, chop them finely; the smoke and char flavour is just wonderful. What difference does it make cooking them in the coals rather than on the grill? Well they taste?smokier, they cook in about 2 minutes flat and above anything else, it?s just really FUN.

Not quite cock rocket veg arrangement

Makeshift BBQ wok. Probably should warn you I can?t really get all the burnt bits off the bottom?

When you first put the vegetables in the coals you will think, ?I can?t eat it that! It?s all dirty!? That of course is stupid. They don?t come out covered in ash, just nicely charred and tasting amazing. Woman up.

We ate them wrapped with salsa, and some queso fresco, which is a Mexican cheese in case you don?t know. The idea that you might not know it will sound ridiculous to any American or, indeed, Mexican readers (sure I have loads), but it?s really not a cheese that is available here. And now someone is making it in Peckham. I know.?Gringa Dairy is under an arch on the Old Kent Road. This means there are now like, 3 reasons to love the Old Kent Road! There?s Gringa and Shu Castle and also the fireman in the window ? you?ll know what the last reference is all about if you know the Old Kent Road. I can hear at least two of you shouting, ?I know the fireman in the window!?

The cheese is a bit like feta, but less salty, more creamy and a little less crumbly. You could slice it, for example. It?s apparently a right ball-ache to get the cheese tasting the way it does in Mexico due to issues of climate and method. I can?t say I?ve tasted the original to compare but by gum it tastes just perfect with a bit of dirty veg of a summer?s eve. Give it a whirl. We also splodged on some sour cream plus green chillies (note to self ? CHAR THOSE TOO). A squeeze of lime caramelised on the grill?

I don?t want to make some cliche about this being the best vegetarian BBQ food as if there?s nothing good for vegetarians to eat from the BBQ. It is, though.

Dirty BBQ Veg ?(two of us managed to plough through this ? disgraceful)

2 peppers
1 courgette
2 large red onions, peeled and quartered
Handful baby corn
Handful cherry toms
Handful garlic cloves, unpeeled
Green chillies
Olive oil

Oil up the veg and season with salt and pepper. As I said the peppers, courgette and onions can go directly in the coals, just move them around a bit ? this is proper instinctive cooking you cavewoman, you. Once done, set aside then do the baby corn, chillies, tomatoes and garlic in a metal colander or BBQ wok, if you?re well organised and er, have one. Move them frequently. When all veg are charred, chop them up. They should still have nice crisp bits on the inside, but will be soft and charred outside.

Serve with tortillas/tacos, sour cream, salsa, queso fresco?wrap em up. The possibilities for variations on garnish are obviously many.

Source: http://helengraves.co.uk/2013/07/dirty-bbq-veg-with-queso-fresco/

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Job Seekers: You Must Quantify Your Performance to Get Noticed ...

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Use the terminology that the target company is using. In this electronic age, be willing to customize your resume and cover letter to every target position. Do your homework and use the same terms that are in their job ...

Source: http://blog.ziprecruiter.com/2013/07/24/job-seeker-quantify-performance/

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Arrival of new CIBC Pink Collection? signals official kick off of the 2013 CIBC Run for the Cure in branches across Canada

Scott McGillivray and Tracy Moore join Team CIBC's campaign for a future without breast cancer

TORONTO, July 25, 2013 /CNW/ - (TSX: CM) (NYSE: CM) kicks-off the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure campaign with the 2013 edition of the CIBC Pink Collection?, now available exclusively in CIBC branches across Canada. All net proceeds from the Collection support the Foundation's goal to achieve a future without breast cancer.

"CIBC is proud to support the vital work of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, not only in raising funds that will help find a cure for breast cancer, but in prevention and early detection education as well," said Christina Kramer, CIBC Executive Vice-President and National Run Champion. "Our long-term involvement in the CIBC Run for the Cure includes taking a lead role in promoting the Run across the country, employee volunteers providing leadership at every site and CIBC employees and clients helping to raise $30 million for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation last year alone."

As part of an integrated campaign to encourage Canadians to participate, CIBC is working with Scott McGillivray, Host and Executive Producer of HGTV Canada's Income Property, and Tracy Moore, Host of Cityline.

"As the faces of the CIBC Run for the Cure campaign this year, we are thrilled that Scott and Tracy are helping Team CIBC bring awareness to a cause that affects one in nine Canadian women and their families," added Kramer.

"I know cancer can be beat and I plan on being part of the solution," said McGillivray, who has lost family members and friends to cancer. "I am excited to help generate awareness and promote participation in the CIBC Run for Cure.? I'm hoping to inspire more Canadians to get involved."

The 2013 CIBC Pink Collection features a number of items for a suggested contribution:

• Charm key chain for $6
• Journal for $7
• Cooler tote for $12
• Wristlet wallet for $20

"We wish to extend our gratitude to CIBC for their continued support and ongoing commitment to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure. The funds raised by the CIBC Pink Collection in addition to Team CIBC fundraising and volunteer support, allows us to continue to fund relevant, innovative research and support and advocate for the breast cancer community," said Deborah Dubenofsky, National Board Chair, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

CIBC is in its 17th year as title sponsor of Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure. "CIBC's involvement started with a group of supportive and dedicated employees, and has grown into an important part of the fabric of our organization. Today, our employees remain at the heart of our continued support for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation's vision of creating a world without breast cancer," said Kramer.

Every contribution counts, which is why CIBC donates 100% of the net proceeds from the Pink Collection to the CBCF for breast cancer research, education and awareness programs. Visit your nearest CIBC branch to see the Collection and show your support.

About the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure
Since 1992, the annual Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure has been the largest, single-day, volunteer-led national event in support of creating a future without breast cancer. In 2012, close to 170,000 participants raised over $30 million to fund innovative breast cancer research, education and awareness programs. On October 6, 2013 this national movement will again connect participants and volunteers in 66 communities across the country. For more information, visit www.runforthecure.com.

About CIBC
CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with nearly 11 million personal banking and business clients. CIBC is committed to supporting causes that matter to our clients, our employees and our communities. We aim to make a difference in communities through corporate donations, sponsorships and the volunteer spirit of employees. In 2012, CIBC contributed more than $38 million to over 1,900 charitable and non-profit initiatives in 450 communities. You can find other news releases and information about CIBC in our Press Centre on our corporate website at www.cibc.com.

About the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation is the leading community-driven organization in Canada dedicated to creating a future without breast cancer.? Our investments in innovative and relevant research and education have led to progress in breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care. Since 1986, we have been at the forefront of a nationwide movement supporting and advocating for the breast cancer community. Join us at www.cbcf.org.

Attention Editors: Regional CIBC Run Champions are available for interviews and can share their personal stories about why they became involved in the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for a Cure.

SOURCE CIBC

For further information:

Media contact: Roderick Cumming, Senior Director, Communications & Public Affairs, CIBC, 416-304-5567 or Kevin Dove, Senior Director, External Communications & Media Relations, CIBC, 416-980-8835.

Source: http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1202809/arrival-of-new-cibc-pink-collectiontm-signals-official-kick-off-of-the-2013-cibc-run-for-the-cure-in-branches-across-canada

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Ready for 'common sense' copyright? Finnish parliament to consider ...

Published time: July 23, 2013 18:03

Finland?s parliament will become the first in the world to examine a citizen-drafted copyright law, after an outline of an ?anti-lobbyist? intellectual property bill garnered over 50,000 votes on a legal initiatives website.

The Common Sense in Copyright Act seeks to roll back stricter punishments for infringements that have been in force since 2005. Among the proposed measures are reducing illegal downloading from a crime to a misdemeanor, allowing people to make copies of digital data they own, and widening ?fair use? of copyrighted materials.

The authors, a non-governmental activist group, say the act is ?not a pro-piracy law? but merely seeks to ?alleviate the overly strict copyright regulations? and bring Finland in line with other countries.

It was made possible by Open Ministry, an innovative public proposal website that has been in operation since last year. Anyone can place a potential piece of legislation on the website, and if it is endorsed by over 50,000 people - just over one per cent of the country?s electorate - within six months, it goes before a parliamentary committee.

The Common Sense in Copyright Act reached the threshold with one day to spare, boosted by a word-of-mouth campaign that heavily featured a 9-year-old girl who had her ?Winnie the Pooh? laptop confiscated by the police for downloading a single album.

The US operates a superficially similar petitioning program called ?We the People,? although citizens have to gather 100,000 signatures to receive an official response from the White House on a relevant issue - without any promise of follow-up steps being taken.

Open Ministry has publicly endorsed the proposed copyright act, suggesting it marks a sea change in how legislation is made in the country.

?Members of Parliament are quite open about the fact that copyright laws are handed down to them from the international lobbyists. If we do not push back, they will keep on rubber-stamping harsh legislation and infringing on consumer rights,? Joonas Pekkanen, Chairman of Open Ministry, told Torrentfreak website.

The breakthrough does not, however, guarantee that Finnish deputies will vote for the proposal - or even vote at all. The parliamentary commission has to first decide on the legal validity of the initiative - which may clash with other international treaties to which the country is a signatory. If it passes the first filter, the vote will likely take place at the beginning of next year.

So far only one Open Ministry proposal has gone before deputies. A law banning all fur farming was resoundingly defeated last month. A bill on gay marriage has yet to be considered, after easily passing the 50,000 threshold.

But activists behind the Common Sense in Copyright Act are undaunted.

Sampsa, a political street artist known as the ?Finnish Banksy? and one of the ideologues behind the proposed law, told Torrentfreak that supporters worldwide will keep the issue in the public eye over the next few months ?so copyright law is changed forever? - not just in Finland, but potentially further afield.

Source: http://rt.com/news/copyright-finland-parliament-law-481/

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Homeland Security nominee under investigation

WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama's choice to be the No. 2 official at the Homeland Security Department is under investigation for his role in helping a company secure an international investor visa for a Chinese executive, The Associated Press has learned.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Alejandro Mayorkas, who has been nominated to be the department's No. 2 leader, was named by the DHS Inspector General's Office as a target in an ongoing investigation about the foreign investor program run by USCIS.

According to an email sent to lawmakers Monday evening, the IG's office said that it initially started investigating the EB-5 visa program last year based on a referral from an FBI analyst in the counter intelligence unit in Washington.

In the email detailing the case, the IG's office said "at this point in our investigation, we do not have any findings of criminal misconduct." The email does not specify what criminal violations it is investigating.

White House press secretary Jay Carney referred questions to the DHS inspector general's office, which said the probe is in its preliminary stage and that it doesn't comment on the specifics of investigations.

The EB-5 program allows foreign nationals to get a visa if they invest $500,000 to $1 million in a project or business that creates jobs for U.S. citizens. The amount of the investment required depends on the type of project. Investors who are approved for the program can become legal permanent residents after two years and would later be eligible to become citizens.

The White House did not have an immediate comment on the investigation. Neither the department nor USCIS immediately responded to inquiries.

Were Mayorkas confirmed as the department's deputy secretary, he likely would run the department on an interim basis until a permanent replacement has been approved to take over for departing Secretary Janet Napolitano.

The email said the primary complaint against Mayorkas was that he helped a financing company run by Anthony Rodham, the brother of former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, to win approval for an investor visa, even after the application was denied and an appeal was rejected.

Mayorkas, a former U.S. attorney in California, previously came under fire for his involvement in the commutation by President Bill Clinton of the prison sentence of the son of a Democratic Party donor. Another of Hillary Clinton's brothers, Hugh Rodham, had been hired by the donor to lobby for the commutation. Mayorkas told lawmakers during his 2009 confirmation hearing that "it was a mistake" to talk to the White House about the request.

According to the Inspector General's email, the investigation of the investor visa program also includes allegations that other USCIS Office of General Counsel officials obstructed an audit of the visa program by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The email did not name any specific official from the general counsel's office.

The email says investigators did not know whether Mayorkas was aware of the investigation. The FBI's Washington Field Office was told about the investigation in June after it inquired about Mayorkas as part of the White House background investigation for his nomination as deputy DHS secretary.

The FBI in Washington has been concerned about the investor visa program and the projects funded by foreign sources since at least March, according to emails obtained by The AP.

The bureau wanted details of all of the limited liability companies that had invested in the EB-5 visa program. Of particular concern, the FBI official wrote, was Chinese investment in projects, including the building of an FBI facility.

"Let's just say that we have a significant issue that my higher ups are really concerned about and this may be addressed way above my pay grade," the official wrote. The FBI official's name was redacted in the email.

Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent the FBI a lengthy letter Tuesday asking for details of its review of the foreign investor visa program and Chinese investment in U.S. infrastructure projects.

Chinese investment in U.S. infrastructure projects has long been a concern of the U.S. government. In September, the Obama administration blocked a Chinese company from owning four wind farm projects in northern Oregon that were near a Navy base used to fly unmanned drones and electronic-warfare planes on training missions. And in October, the House Intelligence Committee warned that two leading Chinese technology firms, Huawei Technologies Ltd. and ZTE Corp., pose a major security threat to the U.S. Both firms have denied being influenced by the Chinese government.

The most routine users of the EB-5 program are Chinese investors. According to an undated, unclassified State Department report about the program obtained by the AP, the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, China, processed more investor visas in the 2011 fiscal year than any other consulate or embassy. The document says "applicants are usually coached and prepped for their interviews, making it difficult to take at face value applicants' claims" about where their money comes from and whether they hold membership in the Chinese Communist Party. Party membership would make an applicant ineligible for the investor visa.

Anthony Rodham is president and CEO of Gulf Coast Funds Management LLC in McLean, Va. The firm is one of hundreds of "Regional Centers" that pool investments from foreign nationals looking to invest in U.S. businesses or industries as part of the foreign investor visa program.

There was no immediate response to an email sent to Gulf Coast requesting comment.

It is unclear from the IG's email why the investor visa application was denied. Visa requests can be denied for a number of reasons, including a circumstance where an applicant has a criminal background or is considered a threat to national security or public safety.

__

Associated Press reporters Stephen Braun and Nedra Pickler contributed to this report.

Follow Alicia A. Caldwell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/acaldwellap

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ap-newsbreak-homeland-security-official-probed-151349975.html

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Police ID suspect in deaths of 3 Ohio women

EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio (AP) ? Authorities responding to a report of a foul odor from a home ultimately discovered three bodies and arrested a registered sex offender who sent police and volunteers through a poor Ohio neighborhood in a search for more victims Sunday, officials said.

East Cleveland Police Chief Ralph Spotts had cautioned searchers to be prepared to find one or two more victims. But after a daylong search that included 40 abandoned houses and other areas, no more bodies were found.

Spotts identified the suspect as 35-year-old Michael Madison. He said Madison is expected to be formally charged Monday, but did not elaborate.

Mayor Gary Norton said the suspect has indicated he might have been influenced by Cleveland serial killer Anthony Sowell, who was convicted in 2011 of murdering 11 women and sentenced to death.

It's the latest in a series of high-profile cases involving the disappearance of women from the Cleveland area.

The odor led to the discovery Friday of one body in a garage. Two others were found Saturday ? one in a backyard and the other in the basement of a vacant house. The bodies of the three women, all wrapped in plastic bags, were found about 100 to 200 yards apart, and authorities believed the victims were killed in the last six to 10 days.

Searchers rummaging through vacant houses in the same neighborhood Sunday were warned by Spotts to brace themselves for the smell of rotting bodies and to look out for trash bags that might conceal a body.

Spotts indicated later Sunday that the suspect's comments haven't provided clarity on whether more bodies might be found.

"He really hasn't stated that there's any more, but he hasn't said anything that would make us think that there's not," Spotts said.

Norton said authorities have "lots of reasons" to suspect there are more victims, but he refused to say why.

Norton said Madison, who was arrested Friday after a police standoff, has indicated to authorities he might have been influenced by Sowell.

"He said some things that led us to believe that in some way, shape, or form, Sowell might be an influence," Norton told The Associated Press.

It wasn't immediately clear whether Madison has an attorney, and no one was commenting Sunday afternoon at the address his mother's home.

Madison was classified as a sex offender in 2002 when he was sentenced to four years in prison for attempted rape, according to Cuyahoga County court records. He had previous convictions in 2000 and 2001 for drug-related charges.

All three bodies were found in the fetal position, wrapped in several layers of trash bags, Norton said. He said detectives continue to interview Madison, who used his mother's address in Cleveland in registering as a sex offender, the mayor said.

Cuyahoga County medical examiner Dr. Thomas P. Gilson said Sunday that the bodies were in advanced stages of decomposition and that it would take several days to identify them and how they died.

About three dozen volunteers, including community anti-crime activists, fanned out Sunday morning across yards, through vacant houses and along a railroad to help police search. The chief advised them to watch for missing floor boards as they looked inside houses. One young searcher crawled under a board screwed across a door to go inside a house to search.

"The MO of each body we've found so far was wrapped up in a lot of garbage bags, so if you see anything .... and it might not look like it's a body, but it could be ? because each bag, the way he had each person was in a fetal position," Spotts told searchers before they began. "It didn't look like a person could actually fit in the bag."

Pam Butcher, 55, said she came out to help search her neighborhood because she was disturbed by the death and said she knew other volunteers were, too.

"They are concerned because it could have been one of their family members," she said. "It could have been one of their kids. It could have been one of their nieces. It could have been one of their aunts."

One neighbor, Nathenia Crosby, said she was familiar with Madison and had seen him walking through the neighborhood. She said she had told him to stop chatting with her daughter and warned him after seeing him talk to her cousin.

"It's very scary, especially when he used to be talking to my daughter," said Crosby, 48. "But I told him he was too old to be talking to my daughter because she was only 19. When I found out how old he was, I said, 'You need to move on, she's too young.' "

A day earlier, police, FBI, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department went through yards and abandoned houses over about three blocks and used dogs trained to find cadavers.

The neighborhood in East Cleveland, which has some 17,000 residents, has many abandoned houses and authorities want to be thorough, the mayor said.

"Hopefully, we pray to God, this is it," he said.

The case brings to mind recent notorious Cleveland searches that involved missing women.

In May, three women who separately vanished a decade ago were found captive in a run-down house. Ariel Castro, a former school bus driver, has pleaded not guilty to nearly 1,000 counts of kidnap, rape and other crimes.

In 2009, Sowell was arrested after a woman escaped from his house and said she had been raped there. Police found the mostly nude bodies of 11 women in garbage bags and plastic sheets throughout the home.

Prosecutors described him in court papers as "the worst offender in the history of Cuyahoga County and arguably the State of Ohio."

He was found guilty in 2011 and sentenced to death.

___

Associated Press writers Kantele Franko in Columbus, Dan Sewell in Cincinnati, and Peggy Harris in Philadelphia contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/foul-odor-leads-ohio-authorities-grisly-215245651.html

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The Chinese Burger

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Source: http://uniquedaily.com/2013/07/the-chinese-burger/

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Weakness in boys toy business hurts Hasbro second-quarter

(Reuters) - Hasbro Inc , the second-largest U.S. toymaker, reported a lower-than-expected quarterly profit on weak demand for its toys for boys.

The company, home to brands such as G.I. Joe, Nerf and Mr. Potato Head, said its second-quarter net profit fell to $36.5 million, or 28 cents a share, from $43.4 million, or 33 cents a share, a year earlier.

Excluding a pension charge, it earned 29 cents a share, missing the analysts' average estimate of 34 cents a share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

(Reporting By Dhanya Skariachan; Editing by Alden Bentley)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hasbro-quarterly-profit-sales-miss-analyst-estimates-104748075.html

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Video: Cramer's Stocks to Watch

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Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/video/cnbc/52542233/

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Staten Island contingent earns Scouting's Gold Award during ceremony at Manhattan's Cooper Union

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Nineteen teens from Staten Island were honored with the Gold Award for exemplary community service by the Girl Scouts of Greater New York. (The Gold Award is the highest honor in Girl Scouting.) Pictured are, from the left in the top row, Kaitlyn McCloskey, Troop 5022; Justine Sallusto, Troop 8503; Kayla Vastardis, Amy Azzopardi, Samantha Brandt, Chrysanthe Haliotis, Victoria Mattera, and Kaitlyn Casserly, Troop 5138; Stephanie Campitiello, Troop 5062, and Danielle Crespo, Troop 5304. In the bottom row, from the left, are Julia D’Alessio, Troop 5304; Hayley Rosenfeld, Troop 5227; Kimberly Modolo, Troop 5022, and Alyssa LaRocca, Troop 5138. Not pictured are Amanda Rose Benjamin, Troop 5062; Amanda Casella, Troop 5239; Jenna Ericksen, Troop 5144; Sabrina Rae Gallagher, Troop 5150, and Zara Tamton, Troop 5138. Photo Courtesy of Girl Scouts of Greater New York
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - ALL SHORES - A total of 50 Girl Scouts, aged 14 through 17, including 19 from Staten Island, were recently honored with Girl Scouting's Gold Award for exemplary community service.

The Scouts were presented their awards during a ceremony hosted by the Girl Scouts of Greater New York at Manhattan's Cooper Union.

Among the roster of "Golden Girls" who received awards included South Shore Scouts Justine Sallusto, Julia D'Alesso, Amanda Rose Benjamin, Amanda Casella, Jenna Erickson and Stephanie Campitiello; Hayley Rosenfeld, Sabrina Rae Gallagher, Amy Azzopardi, Samantha Brandt, Kaitlyn McCloskey, Kaitlyn Casserly and Kimberly Modolo, North Shore; Alyssa LaRocca and Kayla Vastardis, East Shore; Danielle Crespo, Chrysanthe Haliotis, Zara Tamton and Victoria Mattera, West Shore.

A little more than 5 percent of eligible Girl Scouts successfully earn the Gold Award, the highest award that Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts may earn.

Earning the Gold Award requires a suggested 80 hours of planning and implementing a challenging, large-scale project that is innovative, engages others, and has a lasting impact on the community with an emphasis on sustainability.

PROJECT SAMPLINGS

?Some of the projects undertaken by the Island Scouts involved planting and distributing fresh vegetables; organizing book drives to promote literacy, and coming to the aid of families devastated by Hurricane Sandy.

In the borough with some of the highest obesity rates in the state, for example, Miss Sallusto planted a fresh vegetable garden in her community using both conventional and new vertical gardening techniques to grow healthy food for the local pantry. She grew around 106 pounds of plum tomatoes, plus 60 pounds of squash, cucumbers, radishes, and more for her community, in addition to a garden at her home where she grew pounds of strawberries ? all donated to the local food pantry.

Miss Rosenfeld organized multiple drives and fundraisers to provide needed equipment to families of disabled children in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Miss Campitiello organized book drives to replace books that had been lost due to the hurricane. She collected more than 850 books, which she delivered to Borough Hall to be distributed. Miss Tamton also addressed the issue of literacy by hosting book drives in which she collected more than 500 books, and reading to children at 20 workshops she held to promote literacy.

Miss Azzopardi, meanwhile, created a photography exhibition of Staten Island, the "forgotten borough," consisting entirely of photos she took herself. The photos document the damage and recovery efforts after Sandy.

Source: http://www.silive.com/northshore/index.ssf/2013/07/staten_islands_contingent_earn.html

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Witnesses: Woman falls to her death from Texas roller coaster

People say they looked on in horror as a woman fell to her death at Six Flags over Texas Friday. The woman was riding "The Texas Giant," one of the largest and most popular roller coasters in the country. NBC's Veronica De La Cruz reports.

By M. Alex Johnson, Staff Writer, NBC News

A woman died Friday at Six Flags Over Texas near Dallas while riding the world's steepest wooden roller coaster, the park confirmed Friday night.

NBCDFW.com

Six Flags Over Texas bills the Texas Giant as the world's steepest wooden roller coaster.

The Texas Giant, a 14-story-high, 4,900-feet-long roller coaster that is among the premiere attractions at the park in Arlington, Texas, was closed, the park said in a statement.

The park said in its statement that the woman died "on" the ride, but park visitors?told NBC 5 of Dallas that they saw her fall from the roller coaster shortly after 6:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. ET).

They said workers on the ride directed paramedics to her location.

Nadine Kelley, who had been waiting in line for the ride, told NBC 5 of Dallas that riders who were sitting behind the woman said that "right when they came down off the first bump and hit that first turn, she flew out."

---

The woman was accompanied by two children, who were "hysterical," Kelley said. "They were saying that their mother flew out of the car."

"It was sad. It was very sad," she said. "We kept telling them to let them out because they were hysterical. The daughter and the son said, 'We have to go get my mom. We have to go get my mom.' We were kind of in disbelief, and we just said a prayer for her."

In a statement released Saturday, a park spokeswoman said an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

"We are committed to determining the cause of this tragic accident and will utilize every resource throughout this process," Sharon Parker said in a statement. "It would be a disservice to the family to speculate regarding what transpired. When we have new information to provide, we will do so. Our thoughts, prayers and full support remain with the family."

More coverage of this story at NBCDFW.com

Carmen Brown, of Arlington, told the Dallas Morning News that she had been waiting in line as the victim got on the ride.

She said the woman told a park employee that she thought she was not properly secured in her seat.

?He was, like, ?As long as you heard it click, you?re fine,?? Brown told the paper.

She also said the woman had fallen from the ride. ?We heard her screaming. We were, like, ?Did she just fall???

The park sent a tweet announcing the closing Friday night:

Twitter.com

The identity of the woman was not immediately reported.

Arlington police didn't immediately respond to a request for more information.?

The Texas Giant opened in 1990 and underwent a $10 million renovation two years ago, adding a steel track to the wooden roller coaster and making the ride higher and faster.

It's the steepest wooden roller coaster in the world, the park says on its website, and has a record bank of 95 degrees.

In another incident Friday, seven people were injured at the Cedar Park amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, when their boat on the Shoot the Rapids thrill ride rolled backward down a hill and overturned, officials said.

Watch US News videos on NBCNews.com

This story was originally published on Sat Jul 20, 2013 3:28 PM EDT

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Granger sisters keep careers going, sign with Western New Mexico

CARLSBAD ? Plans can be subject to change, and often the heart ends up making a decision the mind can't make. For Lacy and Linzy Granger, the heart won out and the Cavegirl duo will be heading to join the Western New Mexico Mustangs softball squad.

But that wasn't the plan originally.

When the women graduated from Carlsbad High School in May, their minds were on the University of New Mexico and pursuing their degrees there. But as their minds got to thinking, they realized their hearts were still in softball.

"We had decided on Albuquerque, but if we could continued to do what we loved, then we were going to do that," Linzy said.

"We can always go to UNM, but we can't go to UNM and then back to softball,"

Lonnie and Cynthia Granger and Western New Mexico coach Angela Corliss pose with Linzy and Lacy Granger as they sign to play with the Western New Mexico Mustangs. (Submitted Photo)

Lacy said.

After seeing the two play in the state tournament, Mustangs coach Angela Corliss spoke with the pair about continuing their playing careers. At first they weren't sure, but after a visit to the campus in Silver City, their hearts and minds where finally in agreement.

"When we went to state, Coach (Corliss) watched us almost every game and gave us a good offer on going there," Linzy said. "We knew we could always go back to UNM, but we couldn't go back to softball if we went there first."

The trip to Silver City is just over five hours, but it won't be the first time the girls have lived outside Carlsbad. It will, however, be one of the only times in their careers that they will be playing with new teammates.

One of the hallmarks of the Cavegirls the last few years has been the fact the group of seniors had been playing with each other their entire lives. Now all the graduating Cavegirls, including the Grang-ers, will have to adjust to new teammates.

"It is going to be a real big learning experience, because I've always known the next move the person on my team was going to make. It is going to be hard because they don't know you and how you're going to react," Linzy said. "It's just scary going somewhere you don't know."

"It is going to be different," Lacy said. "I've played with different girls a few times, but I like the girls I grew up and played with. It is just going to be a learning experience."

The Granger sisters helped power the Cavegirls line-up with Linzy's .472 and Lacy's .435 batting aver-ages. The two were often in the three and four spots of coach George Frederick's line up, and first and second in RBI with 31 and 43, respectively.

"It made us excited seeing the confiedence of their players," Lacy said. "They want to win, they just aren't there (at school) just because of softball."

The Mustangs went 19-32 overall and 16-22 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in Division II. The Grangers both said they don't know how much playing time they'll get in their first year, but as the current group of starting seniors graduates, the sisters plan to make their impact.

"(Corliss) said there is no promising spots for the seniors just as much as she isn't promising me a spot. She said you have to work for it," Lacy said.

"Just like with the Cavegirls, you have to prove you are better than them," Linzy said.

Their personal lives and playing careers are in a state of flux right now, but one thing hasn't changed.

"Well, I have Linzy. We've always wanted to go to the same school and it would almost scare me not to go together," Lacy said.

"It is always good to have someone doing the same thing as you're doing because you are just as scared as the person next to you or just as brave," Linzy said. "It's good to have her there competing, too. I always want to be better than her, and she wants to be better than me."

Source: http://www.currentargus.com/ci_23688277/granger-sisters-keep-careers-going-sign-western-new?source=rss_viewed

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