| An inconvenient trip: Here are 10 great destinations before it's too ...
I know that we have seen tremendous growth in our expeditions to the polar regions (Antarctica and the Arctic)," says Jennifer Gregoire, media relations manager for Lindblad Expeditions, via e-mail. The voyages have been sold out far in advance, prompting the company to purchase a second ship for the polar regions. The National Geographic Explorer is expected to set sail in June. Denise Landau, executive director of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, says the increase has nothing to do with climate sightseeing: "It's a fantastic place to go, more vessels available for people to travel on, and there are more companies who are established around the world. I've actually gotten that question a lot, and our operators don't believe it has anything to do with global warming." Online: www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com; www.iaato.org - Low-lying islands A tiny Polynesian island nation called Tuvalu already has discussed evacuation plans if the sea continues to rise.
Builder's models put buyers right at home
I think when you drive up to it, it's kind of like Tara and you think you are going to walk into something traditional. I think they (the designers) wanted to show you something a little different," she said. "And there is nothing in this model that we have ever had in any other model home," she said, adding that once construction on the house was finished, "everything (for the interior) comes in 18-wheelers, all of it." A crew spends the first day doing wall coverings and window treatments and on the second day, they bring in all of the furniture and accessories. "They are in and out in three days and then they're gone, and it's all perfect," she said. When the company is ready to sell the house, Mangrum said the 18-wheelers will reappear.
The Blotter
Patrick Cochran of the child abuse unit. The victims did not know the suspect, Cochran said. Anyone with information is asked to call APD's child abuse unit at 974-6880. Permalink | APD seeking suspect in indecent exposure incident at Gold's Gym Wednesday, February 27, 2008, 01:44 PM From the Austin Police Department: Austin Police Department Sex Crimes detectives are seeking the public's assistance to help identify a suspect involved in an Indecent Exposure case. On Dec. 15, 2007 at Gold's Gym, 1701 W. Ben White Blvd the unidentified suspect entered the sauna. As the suspect entered, the victim noticed all the other men in the sauna leaving. The suspect then exposed and touched himself for self gratification in front of the victim.
Thin(ner) by summer
If you want to lose weight and shape up before summer, there's still time, nutrition experts say. By Easter, which is March 23, you could drop 5 pounds or more and lose some of your belly fat, which means your pants and jeans would fit better. By Memorial Day (May 26), you could lose 10 to 12 pounds and probably wear a bathing suit a size smaller than one you'd fit into now. And by the first day of summer, June 21, you could drop 15 pounds or more and wear shorts that are one to two sizes smaller than what you wear now. To accomplish these goals, you'll need to cut calories by 400 to 500 a day, burn several hundred extra calories a day through an aerobic activity such as walking and start strength training to tone muscle. So says Karen Miller-Kovach, chief scientific officer for Weight Watchers.
Mandarin program sparks parents' hopes
And while the Mandarin program can't help communication with the East Indian pair who speaks Gujarati, it could bring her four-year-old son closer to the Chinese pair. "Hopefully, the family connection is there," she said. The crowd of between 250 and 300 curious parents seemed undaunted by the program's controversial past, including debate at 20 separate school board meetings in the past two years. Yet only a fraction of parents at the 90-minute informational meeting will get "yes" letters, since a mere 40 students will be accepted for the first year of instruction. The 20 kindergarten and 20 first-grade students will be housed in two newly constructed portables at Ohlone starting in August. They will learn mostly in Mandarin and -- administrators hope -- be fluent by fifth grade.
Source: H-F suspends Sanni, Saffold for game
In the Jan. 11 Sports section, Homewood-Flossmoor basketball players Supo Sanni and Jeremy Saffold were erroneously reported as being suspended for their game against Lincoln-Way East. Sanni had 16 points and 7 rebounds in the game, while Saffold played sparingly in the Vikings' 60-37 win.
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State Patrol follows suggestions for lab fixes
The State Patrol announced Thursday that it has followed 23 recommendations of three recent audits aimed at fixing problems at its toxicology lab, and it is working to implement 16 more. At the same time, Fiona Couper has been appointed to take over as the new state toxicologist. She most recently served as chief toxicologist in Washington, D.C. The move is a reflection of the heavy workload of current toxicologist Barry Logan, who will continue to oversee the state's toxicology and crime labs but will no longer run the toxicology lab on a daily basis, State Patrol spokesman Bob Calkins said. The patrol underwent three audits after toxicology lab problems surfaced that have threatened drunken-driving prosecutions around the state. Last summer, toxicology lab manager Ann Marie Gordon was accused of signing off on work she hadn't done.
Boxer Floyd Mayweather Busts Big Show's Nose In WWE No Way Out
WBC Welterweight Champion "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather Jr. participated in an in-ring situation at the WWE NO WAY OUT pay per view in Las Vegas last night, and broke returning giant Big Show's nose in what is will be the most replayed piece of videotape going in to WWE's biggest pay per view of the year -- Wrestlemania XXIV on Sunday, March 30 from The Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. Recent news has Mayweather in a video clip tossing cash at a WWE press conference, taunting them with chants of "I'm the Money Man."
According to www.wrestlingnewsdesk.com, Big Show, real name Paul Wight, has been ironically training to be a boxer since leaving World Wrestling Entertainment in December 2006. The 7-foot tall giant from Aiken, South Carolina was going to be part of a Miami-based promotion owned in part by Hulk Hogan.
Young car thieves' run comes to crashing end
PARKLAND, Wash. -- A group of teenagers in a stolen car crashed into a home in Pierce County on Wednesday while trying to get away from pursuing deputies. Sheriff spokesman Ed Troyer said the driver crashed the gold Cadillac sedan through the wall of a home in the 1010 block of Park Avenue South about 11:15 a.m. No one was in the house at the time and the two boys and one girl in the car were not seriously injured. Troyer said the 17 year old and the two 16 year olds who crashed the Cadillac also stole a Dodge Durango SUV earlier in the day and crashed it near the intersection of 72nd Street and Trafton Street in Tacoma. Teens took out a 1,000-pound telephone pole in that crash. "I just heard one loud smack, that's it," said witness David Knigge.
Tropic Breeze Sets New Benchmark in Luxury Surf Travel
Tropicsurf will set the benchmark in luxury surf travel with the launch of its new 113-foot boat, purpose-built for surfing. Set to sail in April 2008, Tropic Breeze will cruise the secluded outer atolls of the Maldives year round providing the ultimate experience in guided surfing vacations.
A year in the making, this beautiful boat has been designed specifically for surfers by Tropicsurf, and CEO Ross Phillips considers it the best Maldivian live-a-board vessel to date. For the first time, Tropicsurf will be employing and training its own Maldivian crew. According to Phillips, we expect to offer a standard of service unsurpassed in the surf charter industry.
Guests aboard Tropic Breeze will be flown in by private seaplane, allowing them access to un-crowded and in some cases, virgin waves.
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