Israel eases building materials blockade on Gaza

JERUSALEM (AP) ? Israel has started allowing long-banned building materials into the Gaza Strip, its first key concession to the Palestinian territory's ruling Hamas movement under the cease-fire that ended eight days of fighting last month, the military said Monday.

The military says the shipments will continue so long as the border remains quiet. But a Hamas official said the amount sent so far is "cosmetic," and Gaza economists say it would take years of round-the-clock shipments to even make a dent in the gap left by five years of blockade.

Israel imposed a wide-ranging embargo on Gaza after Hamas seized it in 2007. Building materials like cement, gravel and metal rods were largely banned, as Israel argued they could be used to make fortifications and weapons to attack the Jewish state.

The military says it began allowing shipments of gravel to Gaza's private sector on Sunday because the Israeli attacks on Hamas' military operations in November cowed the militant group into quiet.

After the November hostilities, Israel and Hamas began indirect, Egyptian-led talks over new border arrangements. The militant group wants Israel to lift what remains of a sweeping land and naval embargo it imposed after the Hamas takeover. In return, Israel demands an end to arms smuggling into Gaza.

With limited exceptions, Israel had blocked construction materials from entering Gaza.

"Now we're talking about a permanent easing," said Maj. Guy Inbar, a military spokesman, adding that 20 truckloads a day could enter Gaza, depending on Palestinian demand. Other concessions could follow, he said.

"The longer the calm persists, the more we'll weigh additional easings of restrictions that will benefit the private sector," he said.

Israel recently authorized the entry of 60 trucks and buses for the first time since Hamas' 2007 Gaza takeover, though there are conflicting reports on whether vehicles have actually gone through.

Another major concession the Gazans seek would be a lifting of a near-ban on exports from the impoverished territory. Exports, especially to the West Bank, the Palestinian territory on the opposite side of Israel, once formed the backbone of Gaza's economy.

Exports might be expanded, Inbar said, "depending on the continuation of the calm."

Critics contend the export ban punishes ordinary Gazans instead of pressuring Hamas, hurting four in five Gaza factories and contributing heavily to an unemployment rate of about one-third of the work force. Eighty percent of Gaza's 1.6 million people rely on U.N. handouts.

Israel lifted its restrictions on consumer goods entering Gaza overland after a deadly Israeli naval raid on a blockade-busting flotilla in 2010 drew international attention to the Israeli embargo. But the blockade on construction materials remained intact, save for shipments used to build U.N. schools and a pilot project of shipments to the private sector a year ago.

"The Israelis promised to undertake further measures to alleviate the difficult economic situation in Gaza as a result of the calm," said Palestinian crossing official Raed Fattouh in Gaza, confirming that the Israelis had agreed to send in 20 trucks of gravel daily, five days a week. "This move had been expected as part of the deal."

Israel has not eased its naval blockade of the territory, which it says is imperative to keep weapons from being smuggled into Gaza by sea.

Egypt, which had joined the Israeli blockade, similarly eased its own restrictions on Saturday, allowing in 1,400 tons of gravel paid for by Qatar. The oil-rich emirate recently pledged $425 million to build housing, schools, a hospital and roads in Gaza as part of its attempt to build its influence in Palestinian politics and its power in the region, at the expense of regional rival Iran, Hamas' longtime patron.

Shipments from Egypt are expected to be ramped up to 4,000 tons daily, said Yassir al Shanti, Gaza's deputy minister of housing and public works. He estimated Gaza needs up to 3 million tons of gravel to build roads and that the Qatar-funded projects need more than 1 million tons.

The shipments from Egypt were launched following consultation with Israeli officials, who were in Cairo Thursday to discuss the cease-fire and other matters, an Egyptian official said last week.

Under former President Hosni Mubarak, Israel's longtime ally, Egypt had poor relations with Hamas, and teamed up with Israel to blockade Gaza. Egypt's new president, Mohammed Morsi, comes from Hamas' parent group, the Muslim Brotherhood, and has vowed not to abandon the Palestinians. But he is moving cautiously, in part to avoid alienating Cairo's biggest patron, the United States.

Palestinian economist Mouin Rajab said the new shipments would go only a small way to meet the needs Gaza has accumulated throughout six years of blockade, during which time Hamas and Israel warred twice.

"Gaza needs more than what Israel has allowed and what Egypt has promised to allow. We are talking about six years of blockade, no real economy and no projects in addition to what Gaza lost during two wars in 2009 and 2012."

"This amount which has been sent by the Israelis still is cosmetic," a Hamas government official in Gaza said. "Israel, according to the understanding, should allow more building materials into Gaza as part of the understandings reached by Cairo. We are waiting and we told the Egyptians that."

He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the understandings.

Reconstruction since the 2009 fighting has been slow, in large part because of the blockades. To make up the shortage, a bustling smuggling industry through underground tunnels along the Egyptian border has sprung up. While prices for key construction goods have come down, they still remain expensive for the majority of Gaza's 1.6 million people, 80 percent of whom rely on U.N. handouts.

Israel and Hamas shun each other, so Egypt is mediating the new border arrangements. A Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to disclose confidential contacts, said a Hamas delegation arrived Sunday night in Cairo to meet with Egyptian security officials for a second round of talks on the border arrangements.

-----------------

Barzak reported from Gaza City, Gaza Strip.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/israel-eases-building-materials-blockade-gaza-120221766.html

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Help Me with My East Coast family vacation? - Early Retirement ...

Help Me with My East Coast family vacation?

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Yesterday, 09:00 PM	? #2
Recycles dryer sheets ? Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 135	OK.... where you starting from, how you travelling... such things. ' + '?' + google_ads[i].line2 + '?' + google_ads[i].line3 + '?' + '' + google_ads[i].visible_url + ' '; } } '' } if (google_ads[0].bidtype == "CPC") { /* insert this snippet for each ad call */ google_adnum = google_adnum + google_ads.length; } document.write(s); return; } google_ad_client = 'ca-pub-7757781251671730'; google_ad_channel = '3568142076'; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '6'; google_ad_type = 'text'; google_feedback = 'on'; // --> __________________
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Yesterday, 09:05 PM	? #3
Recycles dryer sheets ? Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 232	Flying or driving? Many years ago, we spent three days in Washington, D. C. en route to Boston and Maine (family in both of last two places). This was in the good old days when in-laws had a lake cottage in Maine. Our vacations would last 5-6 weeks total. Miss those days. ANYway, from central Arkansas, we made that trip in probably 8 days up (including D.C.) and 4 days back, just counting the driving days. Another year we incorporated a trip through a little part of Canada, as well as Niagara Falls. Great trips, both of them. I hope you can make it happen. btw, our eldest lives in Portland, ME. Quite often, he and his gf take the train to Boston, spend a couple days, and head back to ME. They think that is fun. __________________
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Yesterday, 09:08 PM	? #4
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ... ? Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 13,382	Depends on how much time you want to spend in each place, I guess. For all that is in it, Boston proper is a fairly small place. You could walk it in an afternoon. "Maine" is pretty vague. Without a more focused idea of what you have in mind, it is hard to comment. DC is huge, painfully urban, IMO well described by JFK's famous line ("a city of northern charm and southern efficiency"), and has a truly enormous amount of stuff to see. You could easily spend half or more of your time there and not really see everything. __________________ "To be a man means that you are brave, loyal and true. When you are in the wrong, you own up and take your punishment. You don't take advantage of women. As a husband, you support and protect your wife and children. You are gracious in victory and a good sport in defeat. Your word is your bond. Your handshake is as good as your word... When the ship goes down, you put the women and children into the lifeboats and wave good-bye with a smile." C Murray
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Yesterday, 09:39 PM	? #5
Dryer sheet aficionado ? Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 27	I just did a quick look at the mileage. Wash DC > Boston > Bar Harbor > Niagra Falls is almost 1500 miles so you'll have about 30 hours of driving just getting from place to place. Here is a rough itinerary that might work. Not sure where you are coming from but here it goes. 1 day getting to DC 3 days total driving time between major stops 3 days in DC 1 day in Boston 2 days in Maine 1 day at Niagra Falls 1 day getting home from Niagra Falls That's 12 days of pretty intense sight-seeing and traveling. It's doable and you'll have lots of highlights and memories but you'll still miss a lot. Look at it this way...you'll have lots to see on your next trip to these areas. __________________
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Yesterday, 10:17 PM	? #7
Moderator ? Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 10,608	No, don't do both (especially starting from the Milwaukee area). My suggestions are to first do the Capitol government (is there still an FBI tour? Your son might love that) and museums, Monticello, Mount Vernon, Williamsburg stuff for one trip, before high school. Then the next summer or so, do the New England American Revolution sites (Boston, Concord) and American literature (Hawthorne, Thoreau, Dickinson, and Maine's Steven King) and seashores of the Cape and Maine beaches, and swing home through Niagara Falls. And see Fenway Park of course. Better yet, separately take your DW alone to the Falls and then Montreal for some smoochie smoochie romance. __________________ Everything will be Santa in the end. If it's not Santa, it's not the end.
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Today, 08:00 AM	? #10
Dryer sheet aficionado ? Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 39	I agree that New England, Washington DC, and Western NY (Niagra Falls) are three different vacations. By the same token, you can accomplish the equivalent of two vacations in 12 days. But not three vacations. While you can walk around Boston in a day, that's all you'll be able to do in that day, i.e., walk around Boston. In essence, you can visit the Freedom Trail in a day, enjoying stops along the way such as Faneuil Hall, and perhaps do a duck tour... maybe. But you'll need a lot more time to "visit Boston". If you tried to do it all in a day, you won't be able to fit in a game at Fenway (which might be a very attractive part of a vacation in Boston for some), and you surely won't be able to visit Salem (3/4 day, between the maritime museum and all the Witch trial historical stuff, not to mention the Peabody-Essex Museum if your son is inclined toward historical art and culture in any way). You can spend most of a full day in either Old Sturbridge Village or Plymouth Plantation (though I would recommending doing both in the same trip, since they "cover the same bases"). You may also want to consider fitting in a whale watching tour while you're here. Then there's Minuteman National Historical Park, which actually meanders in sections from the Lexington Common ("the shot heard 'round the world"), through the Old Battle Road that winds through Lincoln MA ("The redcoats are Coming!"), complete with restored colonial homes with scheduled and self-guided tours, to Concord and the Old North Bridge. And despite living here for so many years, I only just realized that beyond the Old North Bridge is The Old Manse! (Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne both called the Manse home for a time.) And then there's Maine. There are lots of options for spending a day in Maine, though I don't really associate Maine with someplace I'd take a 13 year old to, necessarily. I think there's more than enough to full a full week just within Eastern Massachusetts itself. And if you think it is difficult to fit "Visiting Boston" into just one week (and after reading what I wrote above, if I did a good job, then you should think it would be difficult to do so), "Visiting Washington DC" in just one week would be even more difficult. The Capitol; the White House; the Washington Memorial; the Jefferson Memorial; the Viet Nam War Memorial; the Roosevelt Memorial; the King Memorial; Arlington National; the Smithsonian itself, and its associated museums - History and Technology (name has changed, but I don't remember what they're calling it now); Air and Space; Frick (art). Then: The National Archives; the Bureau of Engraving and Printing; the Holocaust Museum; Ford's Theater; Kennedy Center. And that's just right off the very top of my head. As I sit typing this sentence a dozen others just popped into my head. And I've never lived there ... that just from my own personal visits to the place, over the years. I'd type some more in, but I've got to get ready for church. __________________
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Source: http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f46/help-me-with-my-east-coast-family-vacation-64321.html

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Daytrading, Stock Trading, Investing and Forex Trading ? Stock ...

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If you're think about making an investment in a stockmarket dealing software then it'd be to your benefit to learn all you are able to about the numerous type and the good points and bad points of every one before purchasing one. Perching in front of his PC screen was now a pain and he probably did that most of the day as he observed the market ?fire it?s bullets. ? The knot in his stomach and the tightness in his chest, relentless companions. He continued to trade and as he was trading under duress, more losses were amassing. The cloud was going to let the rain pour down with the actuality what hadn't truly considered. He began to make actually poor calls. Now, think About this eventuality 2 months on Bill had now established a trading plan.

Source: http://traders101.com/2012/12/31/stock-market-dealing-colleges/

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Rice wins Armed Forces Bowl, 33-14 over Air Force

Air Force quarterback Connor Dietz (11) pitches the ball as Rice defensive end Tanner Leland (13) chases during the first half of the Armed Forces Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Air Force quarterback Connor Dietz (11) pitches the ball as Rice defensive end Tanner Leland (13) chases during the first half of the Armed Forces Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Air Force running back Mike DeWitt is wrapped up by Rice safeties Paul Porras (24) and Gabe Baker (27) after a gain during the first half of the Armed Forces Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012, in Fort Worth, Texas. . (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Rice quarterback Taylor McHargue is checked on the bench after he left the game with a concussion during the first half of the Armed Forces Bowl NCAA college football game against Air Force, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Air Force running back Cody Getz (28) runs against Rice defensive end Jared Williams (97) during the first half of the Armed Forces Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Rice wide receiver Jordan Taylor (15) catches a touchdown pass against Air Force defensive back Chris Miller (3) during the first half of the Armed Forces Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) ? When Rice freshman quarterback Driphus Jackson was suddenly thrust into action in the Armed Forces Bowl, he drove the Owls within 2 yards of a tying touchdown before his errant pitch.

Jackson more than made up for that miscue that ended the first half.

After starter Taylor McHargue was knocked out the game because of a concussion, Jackson threw for 264 yards with two second-half touchdowns to Jordan Taylor, and Rice beat Air Force 33-14 on Saturday.

"I couldn't get down (after the fumble). The guys had all the confidence in the world in me," Jackson said. "Things slowed down for me in the second half."

Rice (7-6), which had to win four in a row just to get bowl eligible, has won both of its bowl games under sixth-year coach David Bailiff. Before their 2008 Texas Bowl victory, the Owls had lost their only four bowl games since winning the 1954 Cotton Bowl.

"This football team has overcome a lot of adversity and really played well down the stretch," Bailiff said. "We had a very motivational talk with our team just before the winning streak, and our coaching staff and players worked hard and kept improving every game."

And this is a Rice team with only seven seniors, three of them tight ends.

The Owls were 1-5 after a loss at Memphis on Oct. 6, and their only loss was 28-24 to Conference USA champion Tulsa.

"We had our ups and downs. To cap it after the start we had, it means the world," said running back Turner Petersen (nine carries for 81 yards).

Air Force (6-7) scored on consecutive drives in the second quarter with backup quarterback Kale Pearson in the game. But the Falcons had a season-low 214 total yards.

Jackson's first series ended with a bad pitch near the goal line only 2 seconds before halftime, when the Owls trailed 14-7. It was the third lost fumble by Rice in the second quarter.

"We didn't make a lot of adjustments at halftime," said Taylor, who had nine catches for 153 yards and three TDs, including a 16-yarder from McHargue in the first quarter. "The coaches just told us to execute and protect the football better than we did in the first half."

Jackson had consecutive completions of 25 and 22 yards before a 2-yard keeper and then a 22-yard TD to Taylor on Rice's opening drive of the second half.

The Owls went ahead to stay, 21-14, when Jackson hit six passes in a row to set up Charles Ross' 2-yard TD run.

"As soon as the starter went out, we knew there were adjustments we had to make," Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said. "We put an enormous amount of strain on our defense. Any time you make only 12 first downs, you're going to tax your defense."

Jackson, who started against Houston when McHargue had a shoulder problem, completed 15 of 21 passes and rushed for 32 yards.

"After having one start under my belt, I knew what to expect," Jackson said. "I had an idea of how to manage the game. They gave me the keys and told me to go."

McHargue never returned after a helmet-to-helmet collision on a 5-yard run with about 5 minutes left in the first half.

He put his head down and ran into defensive back Steffon Batts, and fumbled. McHargue was noticeably wobbly while being helped to the sideline.

The Falcons then went 35 yards in nine plays for a 14-7 lead. Mike DeWitt converted fourth-and-1 with a 2-yard run, and Wes Cobb scored on a 1-yard run.

Jackson then came in for the Owls and had keepers of 5 and 14 yards before a 23-yard pass to Taylor. After another 10-yard pass for first-and-goal from the 2 before Jackson's bad pitch.

McHargue hit 6 of 8 passes for 31 yards. He stood on the sideline after halftime wearing a warmup suit and a cap.

Since the Falcons' last game, senior quarterback Connor Dietz has graduated from the academy and been commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force.

Dietz ran six times for 11 yards and completed only 1 of 3 passes.

Pearson wasn't must better, 2-of-8 passing for 44 yards with six carries for 11 yards. But he was on the field for both of Air Force's scoring drives with a 9-yard TD run

The Falcons have made a school-record six consecutive bowl appearances under Calhoun, but are 2-4 in those games (1-3 in the Armed Forces Bowl). Air Force lost four of its last five games to finish this season.

Chris Boswell made field goals of 24 and 25 yards in the fourth quarter, before Jackson hit Taylor for a 34-yard TD with 1:38 left.

Boswell, who made six field goals of at least 50 yards during the regular season, had apparently made a 52-yarder early in the second quarter before officials blew the whistle for an Air Force timeout. Boswell got another try, but pushed it wide right with about 9 minutes left in the first half.

That's when Pearson took over for Air Force, leading them 66 yards in 10 plays. He had a 15-yard pass and ended the drive with a wide sweeping run to get into the front corner of the end zone to tie the game at 7.

"We really struggled. We had a good second quarter," Calhoun said. "But there's no way you win this game playing well in one quarter."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-12-30-FBC-Armed-Forces-Bowl/id-434c973fd8074a689589326dc4dbc941

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US Cellular?s Samsung Galaxy Note II gets the multi-window upgrade

US Cellular has joined the rest of the Galaxy Note II toting carriers and released an update to Android 4.1.1 (baseband R950VXALL1) which brings multi-window functionality along with a number of other changes.

The multi-window function is a distinguishing feature, and comes in super handy on the 5.5-inch phablet. The update also brings some bug fixes including solving an apparent problem with the burst-mode in the camera, which caused random black images. The Search feature has been fixed within the My Files application also.

The update is available over-the-air, just go to Settings >> About Device >> Software update.

Here is a rundown of the change log:

• Split screen functionality is supported (Multi-Window)
• The following U.S. Cellular pre-loads are included:

• City ID ? v. 1.25.1
• Daily Perks ? v. 4.5.14
• Your Navigator Deluxe ? v 3.1.4.7141069
• Tone Room Deluxe ? v. 2.0.31
• Gameloft Portal ? v. 2.1.1
• Mobi TV ? 5.1.1.6-216355
• Amazon Apps ? v. 2.6.53
• Amazon Audible ? v. 1.3.9
• Amazon IMDB ? v. 2.7.0
• Amazon MP3 ? v. 2.7.0
• Amazon Shopping ? v. 2.0.2
• Amazon Zappos ? v. 2.0.2
• Amazon Kindle ? v. 3.7.1.8
• Let?s Golf 3 ? 1.0.2
• Slacker Radio 3.2.1062
• Wi-Fi Now ? 4.4.67

• When taking pictures using ?BURST? mode sometimes when you go to gallery pictures would not be displayed they would be black images
• Devices would occasionally toggle between 3G and 1X which is not customer impacting but could generate calls
• Could not search image files by ?Search? option in My Files application
• UI changes
• In drop down menu ?Sync? was replaced with ?Multi-Window? option
• Sound icon (4th position) color was changed from Gray to Green

sources: US Cellular via Android Authority

Source: http://www.phonearena.com/news/US-Cellulars-Samsung-Galaxy-Note-II-gets-the-multi-window-upgrade_id38162

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Planned Parenthood introduces Frequent Flucker reward card: 'Come again soon!'

Obama: If I had a mother, she'd look like Trayvon Martin's

Study: Ozzie Guillen's beatdown by U.S. media not as bad as beatdown in Cuban prison for speaking out

Olbermann: "They fired me for wearing a hoodie!"

Cheney gets new heart; nation also hopeful that Biden gets brain, Obama courage, and House drops on Pelosi

Trayvor Martin shooting causes fear of backlash among Latinos with old-Jewish-guy names

In effort to escape vigilante justice, George Zimmerman changes name to George Dylan

Larry Sinclair: : If I had a son, he'd look like Barack Obama

Secretary of Energy Steven Chu: due to energy conservation, the light at the end of the tunnel will be switched off

To raise awareness about how unattractive respiratory disorders can be, Obama's FDA bans over-the-counter sales of asthma inhalers

Turning disaster into success, Disney renames failing "John Carter" movie to "John Reagan"

Voters Without Borders oppose Texas new voter ID law