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Saturday, June 4, 2005

Overnight Friday a Southerly storm brought snow to both the Southern Alps and the central North Island mountains of New Zealand for the first time this year, closing major roads and stranding travellers at the start of the Queens Birthday holiday weekend. Police and the AA urged motorists to drive with extra care and to the conditions this weekend.

In the North Island, State Highway 1 between Waiouru and Rangipo, the Desert Road was closed by deep snow at 3 PM on Friday afternoon. Other roads in the area, including other parts of State Highway 1 between Bulls and Turangi, State Highway 4, via National Park, and 49, via Ohakune, were closed at 8 PM.

These road closures stopped all traffic through the centre of the North Island. About 200 travellers were reported to have spent the night at the Waiouru Army Camp, being accommodated in the Marae and the Barracks. Grit trucks and snow ploughs worked overnight to clear the snow and reopen roads, with the Desert Road finally being reopened about 12:30 PM Saturday.

Together with a slip threatening to close State Highway 3 in the Manawatu Gorge and damage to State Highway 2 after floods in the Bay of Plenty a couple of weeks ago, the only reliable alternative route for travellers around the North Island was via Wanganui and Taranaki.

In the South Island, Police and the AA advised that chains were essential when travelling over the mountain passes.

Yesterday, Mount Hutt skifield announced it would be opening Saturday morning. Early Saturday morning, skiers were reported to be queuing at the gates of Mount Hutt skifield, eager to get the first opportunity to hit the slopes in 2005. Other South Island ski fields were also indicating June opening dates.

The weather outlook is for cold southerly winds and rain over the Queens Birthday holiday weekend, with snow down to 400m in the South Island.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=First_winter_snowfall_in_New_Zealand&oldid=1682826”

“Woofstock” dog festival in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

North America’s largest outdoor dog festival came back to Toronto last weekend for its fifth year. It ran from the 9th of June to the 10th of June at Toronto’s historical St. Lawrence Market. A Wikinews reporter was there on Sunday to report on some of the events that happened on the last day.

The “Woofstock” dog festival attracted as many as 140,000 people with their dogs. The festival had tons of accessories, sold under tents, to buy for dogs; food, toys, designer clothes, and more. About 400 vendors and exhibitors were there to promote their products, which also gave private dog companies or groups a chance to show their new products. The local SPCA and some animal rescues were under tents answering questions from visitors. While walking, all visitors could see the CN Tower and other very tall buildings.

One of the local TV stations, Citytv, was there. They hosted a live event at the show which was broadcast on TV. People came up on the stage and asked questions regarding their dogs and the host and co-host answered them.

A man, who called himself the “Chalk Master”, drew two pictures on pavement with chalk. He did it for free but donations were welcome. One was a picture of a girl’s head beside a dog’s head, and another with a wolf.

“Hello Humans. I’ve been invited here to provide your eyeball(s), with some pretty colours. I don’t get paid as I work this weekend strictly for tips… so, if you like what you see please make a DONATION. If you don’t like it simply reach into the pocket of the person next to you and give me their money. CHALK MASTER.”

A contest called “Canada’s top dog” had its own tent with a professional photographer taking pictures of dogs behind a white screen; the winning photo is to be published on the cover of “Puppy and dog basics” magazine.

Large “Gourmet” dog bones were also served from a cart and table.

Next year’s festival is expected to be bigger and better with even more attractions.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=%22Woofstock%22_dog_festival_in_Toronto,_Ontario,_Canada&oldid=724933”

Severe sandstorm strikes Beijing, China

Sunday, March 21, 2010

A severe sandstorm has struck north-west China over the past few weeks, reaching Beijing on Saturday morning. The sandstorm, which covered homes, streets, and cars in dust, has left the sky a murky yellow. The air quality was rated as level five. Beijing’s Weather Bureau issued a warning for the sandstorm, and advised citizens to stay in their homes until it passes. As much as 1500 micrograms per cubic meter of dust were reported to be airborne.

Beijing has experienced unusually cold weather this year, with temperatures below freezing at night, even after the start of spring. The sandstorm is affecting more than 50 million people, and forecasters do not see signs of it stopping soon. The desertification of the western China and the Mongolian steppes has made the annual spring sandstorm become worse in the recent years, reaching countries such as South Korea and Japan. The sandstorm has turned the rain and snow yellow.

The storm also impacted Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Hebei for a total of 270 million people over an area of 1.8 million square kilometers. It is expected the storm will last until Monday.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Severe_sandstorm_strikes_Beijing,_China&oldid=3221964”

Prepare Your Child For The Future

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Classes For Acting

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It is never too soon or too late to prepare your child for the future. When it is time to send your child to school, you % of their students go off to college, and not only do well, but succeed in whatever job choice they desire. Their advanced teaching methods start from the time your child walks into their first day of class.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzgIoD2UueY[/youtube]

Enriching Your Children’s Life

There is a preparatory school in Houston that knows it can take a lot to be committed to the education of children. This is why they hire teachers that will help your child be ready for college when the time comes. This type of school will focus on extended learning and enrichment for students. A preparatory school loves to work with children and watch as they use hands on teaching to discover new technology as well as science. With accelerated learning, your child will stay enthusiastic about what they will learn next in school. Students use technology, science, mathematics and engineering, and students are challenged to reach their full potential and not be left behind because they became bored or un-interested. This type of school has students using real world experiences to help them prepare for higher education.

Focus For a High School Student

Sadly, most regular high schools do not have enough time to help a student choose a career path, or even tell them what classes to take to help them. A preparatory school helps the students get a more concrete vision of what type of career is interesting to them. The student would be evaluated and have an achievement plan put into place to attain career goals. Students can also take college level courses that will not cost them anything. Teachers and staff help the students have the skills they would need to acquire the job they wish to have. This is a “win situation” for everyone involved. It sets the students up for future success, and gives parents peace of mind in knowing that their children can achieve great things with proper guidance. The transition from high school to college will be a breeze when your child attends preparatory school.

Are you looking for a preparatory school in Houston? Fallbrook College Preparatory Academy has an excellent reputation for providing quality educational services. Contact them today for further information.

Sean Penn endorses Kucinich for US President

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Academy Award winning actor and political activist Sean Penn has just thrown his support in the 2008 US Presidential election behind Dennis Kucinich.

In a San Francisco speech described by his PR people as “a blistering indictment of political leaders and an impassioned endorsement of Presidential proportions,” Penn threw his support behind the lesser known Democratic candidate.

The Kucinich campaign did not vet the speech.

Dennis Kucinich, who with the minimal time allotted him, once again rose up beyond the sound bite and put principle ahead of party; argued policy rather than politeness. He has been the dominant voice of integrity on issues of trade, labor, education, environment, health, civil liberties, and the one endlessly determined voice of peace.

But is he too short? Does his haircut not appeal? Is he not loyal enough to a cowardly democratic platform? Does he not appeal to the cult of personality?

And what if the answer is yes?

What if Dennis Kucinich, the most deserving and noble of candidates, the most experienced in issues of policy and the least willing to play into the politics of personal power? What if we can’t elect a man simply on the basis of the best ideas, the most courage, and the most selfless service? What does it say about our country when we can’t rally the voices of the common good to support a man, like our troops, who would die for us, who would die for our constitution?

Other recent celebrity endorsements in the race include Oprah Winfrey for Barack Obama, Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling for John McCain, Harry Belafonte endorsed John Edwards, and both 50 Cent and Barbra Streisand behind Hillary Clinton. Chuck Norris has backed Mike Huckabee in a high profile, comedic endorsement ad.

Penn first became politically active in October 2002, when he spent $56,000 on a full-page ad in the Washington Post, asking President George W. Bush to end “a cycle of violence”. He visited Iraq briefly in December of that year, Iran in 2005 as a journalist, and met with Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez for two hours in 2007.

Penn went to New Orleans to “aid rescue workers” after Hurricane Katrina; many questioned how much of a liability an untrained worker, especially when his boat sprang a leak, would be. One website commented “just showed up with his entourage and a personal photographer with the apparent intent of just wandering around looking for a good photo op.”

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Sean_Penn_endorses_Kucinich_for_US_President&oldid=3851952”

Sony’s PlayStation Portable is launched in North America

Thursday, March 24, 2005

Sony launched its eagerly anticipated PlayStation Portable (PSP) in the North American market today. The PlayStation costs $250 and plays MP3 files, movies and of course games.

Launched previously in Japan last year with much fanfare, the PSP quickly achieved sales of more than 800,000 units. The device is Sony’s first major attempt at challenging Nintendo’s long held grip on the market for handheld games.

Nintendo currently holds a 90 percent of the market share for handhelds in North America. With the recent introduction of Nintendo DS, the fight for control of this market is expected to become even more intense.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Sony%27s_PlayStation_Portable_is_launched_in_North_America&oldid=439352”

Who Benefits Most From A Self Storage Franchise

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Eco Friendly Home Builders Australia

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Every day, people move from one home to another. Some of them are simply moving to a larger house in the same town, but others are engaging in more complicated and lengthier moves. They may need to move into a temporary dwelling while they scour the market for the right forever home, or they may embark on a journey across the country to their new living space. When people are in this more elaborate situations, they often wonder what they are going to do with all of their belongings.

The answer is to use the services of a Self Storage Franchise. Zippy Shell Greater Columbus is particularly useful for people who living in temporary dwellings while they look for a new house or while they wait for renovations to be completed on their purchased property. Usually, when people opt for a temporary dwelling, they live in a smaller space. For example, they may stay with relatives or friends for several months, or they may live in an extended stay hotel. Others choose to rent an apartment that offers a month-to-month lease. When they choose the services of a Self Storage Franchise, they do not need to cram all of their belongings into a tiny space.

While self-storage is useful for people who are purchasing a new home, it also comes in handy for many recent college graduates. These individuals have spent their last few years living in the dorms or renting a house with all of their closest friends. Now that graduation has arrived, they are planning to start their full-time positions, and they wish to stay in the area. However, they don’t know exactly where they are going to live or with whom they will rent a dwelling place. Therefore, they are sleeping on a friend’s couch for awhile, or they are using up every minute of their lease in their off-campus property. Until they figure out the specifics of their future situation, they can also use the services of a self-storage entity. Ultimately, this type of service is practical and useful for any person who needs a place to keep his or her belongings.

Israeli PM Ariel Sharon undergoes emergency surgery

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon underwent emergency surgery at Hadassah Medical Center in Israel to treat intestinal damage revealed by a recent computed tomography, better known as a CT scan. The Chief Surgeon said, “Sharon is out of danger, for the moment. His condition is stable and the surgery was a success.” Sharon is currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital.

Yesterday doctors treating Sharon had noticed a swollen abdomen and ordered a CT scan on his torso and found the damage to his intestine. Later tests had shown that part of the large intestine had developed necrosis and needed to be immediately removed.

Hospital director Shlomo Mor-Yosef stated a press conference that there were “no complications” during surgery. “His (Sharon’s) key problem is lack of consciousness. There is no significant change in his condition. Doctors did not find any occluded artery and there were no blood vessels blocked. He is stable but in critical condition at this time and he is in no immediate danger at this moment.”

Yosef also said that Sharon’s sons and family had met earlier and decided to go forward with the surgery and treatment.

Doctors removed at least 50cm of Sharon’s large intestine.

Yosef also said that possible reasons as to why Sharon’s intestine was damaged were, “maybe infection or decline of blood supply to the intestine.” Yosef also said that the surgery was both a “routine procedure” and “not a dramatic” one. “Hospitals perform these operations sometimes two or three times a day,” he added.

Yael Bossem-Levy, a spokesman for Hadassah Medical Center said earlier that, “the prime minister’s life is in danger. His condition is now very serious, or critical. Sharon’s digestive tract has undergone severe deterioration while he’s been unconscious, and there appears to be a blockage in his blood circulation. The restricted blood flow raised the possibility of necrosis, or death of tissue, in the intestines.”

Levy also stated that Sharon’s condition has “deteriorated to its most critical point since his admission.”

The 77 year-old leader has been hospitalized since January 4th, after suffering a massive stroke which left him comatose. This is his seventh surgery since his hospitalization.

Sharon has been hospitalized for thirty-nine days, and has been on a feeding tube for two weeks.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Israeli_PM_Ariel_Sharon_undergoes_emergency_surgery&oldid=4230545”

New York Governor introduces same-sex marriage bill

Thursday, April 16, 2009

New York’s governor David Paterson introduced a bill Thursday into the state legislature to legalize marriage between same-sex couples, although it appears to lack the necessary support in the state senate.

	For too long, the gay and lesbian communities have been told their rights and freedoms have to wait.

“For too long, the gay and lesbian communities have been told their rights and freedoms have to wait”, said Gov. Paterson. “The time has come to bring marriage equality to the State of New York.”

The legislation would give same-sex couples 1,300 to 1,400 rights that don’t exist unless a couple is married, he said.

Of the four states in which same-sex marriage is presently legal — Vermont, Iowa, Massachusetts, and Connecticut — only Vermont has legalized marriage within the state legislature. The other three states have determined through the courts that the prohibition of same-sex marriage was not allowed under their state constitutions.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=New_York_Governor_introduces_same-sex_marriage_bill&oldid=3285750”

“Woofstock” dog festival in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Large “Gourmet” dog bones were also served from a cart and table.

Next year’s festival is expected to be bigger and better with even more attractions.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=%22Woofstock%22_dog_festival_in_Toronto,_Ontario,_Canada&oldid=724933”

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