Syrian defense minister killed in suicide blast

This undated photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows Syrian Defense Minister Gen. Dawoud Rajha in Damascus, Syria. Syria's state-run TV says the country's defense minister has been killed in a suicide blast in the capital. Wednesday's attack struck the National Security building in Damascus during a meeting of Cabinet ministers and senior security officials. (AP Photo/SANA)

This undated photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows Syrian Defense Minister Gen. Dawoud Rajha in Damascus, Syria. Syria's state-run TV says the country's defense minister has been killed in a suicide blast in the capital. Wednesday's attack struck the National Security building in Damascus during a meeting of Cabinet ministers and senior security officials. (AP Photo/SANA)

In this photo released by the office of the Egyptian Presidency, President Mohammed Morsi, second from right, talks with Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, second left, as they attend a military graduation ceremony with Prime Minister Kamal el-Ganzouri, left, and Chief of Staff Sami Anan, right, in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, July 17, 2012. Egypt?s President Mohammed Morsi hailed the Egyptian army and its commanders at a time the newly elected Islamist president and the military council, which took power after ouster of Hosni Mubarak last year, are in mid of power struggle. (AP Photo/Sheriff Abd El Minoem, Egyptian Presidency)

BEIRUT (AP) ? A suicide bomber struck the National Security building in the Syrian capital Wednesday, killing the defense minister and wounding other senior officials in a brazen attack on the seat of government power, state-run TV said.

Defense Minister Dawoud Rajha, 65, is the most senior government official to be killed in the Syrian civil war as rebels battle to oust President Bashar Assad.

The capital has seen four straight days of clashes pitting government troops against rebels ? an unprecedented challenge to government rule in the tightly controlled capital.

Rajha, a former army general, was the most senior Christian government official in Syria. Assad appointed him to the post last year.

His death will resonate with Syria's minority Christian population, who make up about 10 percent of Syria's population and have generally stood by the regime.

Christians say they are particularly vulnerable to the violence sweeping the country of 22 million people, and they are fearful that Syria will become another Iraq, with Christians caught in the crossfire between rival Muslim groups.

Wednesday's attack struck the National Security building in Damascus during a meeting of Cabinet ministers and senior security officials. State-run TV said some of the officials were seriously wounded, and later reported the defense minister killed.

Damascus-based activist Omar al-Dimashki said Republican Guard troops surrounded the nearby al-Shami Hospital where some officials were taken for treatment.

Facing increasingly chaotic violence, the U.N. Security Council was scheduled to vote later Wednesday on a new resolution aimed at pressuring the Syrian regime to comply with a peace plan.

But Russia remained at loggerheads with the U.S. and its European allies over any mention of sanctions and Chapter 7 of the U.N. charter, which could eventually allow the use of force to end the conflict in Syria.

Besides a government crackdown, rebel fighters are launching increasingly deadly attacks on regime targets, and several massive suicide attacks this year suggest al-Qaida or other extremists are joining the fray.

Activists say more than 17,000 people have been killed since the uprising began in March 2011.

The state-run news agency SANA reported that Wednesday's blast was aimed at the National Security building, a headquarters for one of Syria's intelligence branches and less than 500 meters (yards) from the U.S. Embassy.

Police had cordoned off the area, and journalists were banned from approaching the site.

Earlier Wednesday, SANA said soldiers were chasing rebels in the Midan neighborhood, causing "great losses among them." The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said army helicopters attacked the neighborhoods of Qaboun and Barzeh.

Diplomacy so far has failed to stop the bloodshed, and there appeared to be little hope that the U.N.'s most powerful body would unite behind a plan.

The key stumbling block is the Western demand for a resolution threatening non-military sanctions and tied to Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter, which could eventually allow the use of force to end the conflict in Syria.

Russia is adamantly opposed to any mention of sanctions or Chapter 7. After Security Council consultations late Tuesday on a revised draft resolution pushed by Moscow, Russia's deputy U.N. ambassador Alexander Pankin said these remain "red lines."

Russia has said it will veto any Chapter 7 resolution, but council diplomats said there is still a possibility of last-minute negotiations.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-07-18-ML-Syria/id-917f7704e9114ab38a86f6c731851700

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Amazon: Clore Automotive Jump-N-Carry 12-Volt Jump Starter $99.95

I have priced these before- $99.95 is not a bad price!

The Gold Box deal of the day today on Amazon is Clore Automotive JNC660 Jump-N-Carry 1,700 Peak Amp 12-Volt Jump Starter?for $99.95.

If you have a car that struggles with it?s battery or just get nervous about being in a parking lot with a dead vehicle this is a great tool.

It has over 160 reviews almost all of them 5 star.

Serious Power for Tough Starting Jobs

The JNC660 delivers 1,700 peak amps and 425 cranking amps of battery-charging power to a disabled vehicle. It?s equipped with the company?s proprietary PROFORMER battery, which is made for maximum power density and durability, resulting in exceptional cranking power, extended cranking duration, and a long service life. Other features include heavy-duty cable leads mated to the battery?s output along with industrial-grade clamps that penetrate corrosion on the vehicle?s battery for a good electrical connection.

Recharge the Jump Starter with Ease

Thanks to an AC charger built into the front of the unit, recharging the JNC660?s battery is simple. Just use an extension cord to plug the JNC660 into a standard AC outlet, and the jump starter begins charging immediately. This makes it easy to keep the machine charged and in top operating condition. The onboard battery automatically stops charging when it has reached a full charge?allowing you to keep the JNC660 connected to an AC outlet indefinitely without causing any harm to the battery.

Warranty and Repair Service Coupon

The JNC660 is backed by a one-year limited warranty. Also included is a repair service coupon from the manufacturer that allows for a fixed-cost, one-time repair of the unit after the warranty has expired?regardless of the cause of the damage.

About Clore Automotive

Founded in 2001, but with a more-than-50-year heritage, Clore Automotive is a leader in the design, development, and manufacture of automotive service equipment for professionals and consumers. Its brands include some of the most widely recognized names in the automotive equipment aftermarket, including Booster PAC, Jump-N-Carry, SOLAR, Christie, VIPER, and T-TECH.

As always this is Amazon- the price can change at any moment!

It is important to note that this blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorships, paid insertions, or other forms of compensation. The compensation received will never influence the content, topics or posts made in this blog. All opinions stated in this blog belong to its author and no one else. I will only endorse products, companies, and services that I have found worthy of my time and opinion. A Frugal Chick is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to www.amazon.com.

Source: http://www.afrugalchick.com/amazon-clore-automotive-jump-n-carry-12-volt-jump-starter-99-95/

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How NASA Uses the Ocean to Train Astronauts for its Most Dangerous Missions [Video]

The astronauts are wearing white suits with American flags and mission patches on them. They're aware but unworried about the hostile environment inches away from their noses. They'd be dead in seconds if it were not for their air supply. As they bound nimbly along in a state of near-weightlessness, all each astronaut can hear is breathing. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/TyHyH3ECNfQ/how-nasa-uses-the-ocean-to-train-astronauts-for-its-most-dangerous-missions

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Mexico's old rulers claim presidential election victory

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's old rulers claimed victory in a presidential election on Sunday, ending 12 years in opposition after a campaign dominated by a sputtering economy and rampant drug violence.

After pledging to restore order and ramp up economic growth, Enrique Pena Nieto of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) had a clear lead over his rivals in exit polls and a "quick count" conducted by electoral authorities.

Although his main rival said it was too early to concede defeat, the 45-year-old Pena Nieto delivered a late-night victory speech to cheering supporters, and a senior electoral official said the PRI candidate's lead was "irreversible".

"Mexicans have given our party another chance. We are going to honor it with results," a visibly moved Pena Nieto told followers packed inside the PRI headquarters in Mexico City.

Jubilant supporters waved banners sporting caricatures of their candidate and his trademark quiff, and confetti in the red, green and white of the Mexican flag - and the PRI's colors - rained down inside the hall.

Outgoing President Felipe Calderon congratulated Pena Nieto on his triumph, which completed a dramatic comeback for the PRI.

Having run Mexico as a virtual one-party state for most of the 20th century, it was ousted in an election 12 years ago and was seen by many as being on its death bed when it finished way back in third place in the 2006 presidential vote.

Renowned as much for his unfailingly well-groomed appearance as his political skills, the handsome Pena Nieto gave a fresh face to the PRI, helping to instill a new sense of discipline and make the party electable again.

He hopes to use economic reform as a springboard to ignite growth, create jobs and draw the heat out of a drug war that has killed over 55,000 people since late 2006.

He has pledged to boost economic growth to about 6 percent a year and make bold economic changes, including reforms to allow more private investment in Mexico's state-run oil industry.

The quick count showed Pena Nieto with around 38 percent of the vote with leftist candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in second place with less than 32 percent.

That margin, however, was considerably smaller than most opinion polls had predicted, and it was far from clear that the PRI would win a majority in Congress.

Lopez Obrador could choose to challenge the election, as he did six years ago when he narrowly lost to Calderon and launched months of protests against alleged fraud.

He has said in recent weeks that this election campaign was also plagued with irregularities, raising concerns that he might again call his supporters onto the streets.

STINGING DEFEAT

Josefina Vazquez Mota of the ruling National Action Party, or PAN, trailed with less than 26 percent of the vote in Sunday's election.

It was a humiliating defeat for conservative President Felipe Calderon's party, worn out after a dozen years in power.

Inspiring high hopes when it was elected in 2000, the party has failed to ignite stronger economic growth and Calderon has had no answer to the rampant violence of Mexico's drug war.

"Nothing has improved since the PAN got in," said Mexico City plumber Raimundo Salazar, 44. "The PRI understands how things work here. And it knows how to manage the drug gangs."

The telegenic Pena Nieto built his reputation as governor of the State of Mexico in 2005-2011, where he oversaw solid economic growth and brought down the state government's debt.

"He did a really good job ... building lots of hospitals, roads and schools," said Lino Posadas, 30, a parking attendant from the town of San Jose del Rincon in the state.

To his critics, the 45-year-old is a product created by Mexico's main television companies to serve as a proxy for the country's biggest businesses and the ruling elites in the PRI.

"He's been imposed on us by powerful interests like the TV stations and old presidents," said Javier Aguilar, a 62-year-old biochemist. "How can it be that a country this miserable is home to the world's richest man?" he said, referring to tycoon Carlos Slim.

Pena Nieto's plans include raising tax revenues, a business-friendly overhaul of labor laws and steps to open the struggling state-owned oil giant Pemex to more private investment.

The planned reforms were also pushed by the PAN under Calderon, only to be stalled by the PRI in Congress. Indeed, with its close ties to the oil workers' union, the PRI could prove a bigger obstacle to revamping Pemex than the PAN.

PRI'S RISE AND FALL

Created after the turmoil of the Mexican Revolution, the PRI laid the foundations for modern Mexico. It started out as a socialist party that nationalized the oil industry in the 1930s before drifting to the center to establish a corporatist model of rule once described as the "perfect dictatorship."

But Mexicans tired of rampant corruption, rigged elections and heavy-handed rule under the PRI, and finally voted it out of power at the turn of the century.

The PAN took over under former Coca-Cola executive Vicente Fox, promising strong growth and more democratic government. But the economy underperformed its peers in Latin America for most of the 12-year rule by the PAN, which never had a majority in Congress and was unable to push through many reform plans.

When Calderon succeeded Fox in 2006, he deployed the army against warring drug gangs. Instead of quelling the violence, it soared to new heights and the relentless wave of beheadings and massacres turned even more voters away from the PAN.

Bit by bit, the PRI began to recover ground.

Despite its reputation for corruption, the PRI appeals to many voters as the only party with the experience needed to pacify the country and raise living standards.

Pena Nieto has vowed to stamp out the undemocratic excesses, misuse of public funds and shady acts of political patronage that tarnished the PRI's decades in power.

Yet as the head of a beast whose tentacles still extend into every aspect of Mexican life, he will have his work cut out keeping the PRI clean, even if he is not already compromised by the deals he had to make to win the support of party barons.

He will take over at a time when Mexico's finances are in good order and the economy is beginning to improve, although it still cannot generate enough work for the growing population.

Under the PAN, growth has averaged barely 2 percent a year. That has left hundreds of thousands of young Mexicans out of work and exposed them to the lure of quick, dangerous money in the pay of the drug gangs.

Wary of becoming bogged down in the same battle that exhausted Calderon, Pena Nieto has shied away from targeting the drug cartels, pledging instead to focus on reducing crime.

"The fight against crime will continue, yes, with a new strategy to reduce violence and above all protect the lives of all Mexicans," Pena Nieto said on Sunday night.

However, he dismissed accusations by opponents that the PRI might try to make agreements with drug cartels. "Let it be very clear: There will be no deal, no truce with organized crime."

(Additional reporting by Miguel Angel Gutierrez, Daniel Trotta, Ioan Grillo and David Alire Garcia.; Editing by Kieran Murray and Christopher Wilson)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/exit-polls-show-mexicos-pena-nieto-winning-presidency-011510137.html

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Red Cross evacuates civilians from Damascus suburb

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/red-cross-evacuates-civilians-damascus-suburb-090120019.html

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Sports briefs: Satanka Cove, Eagles Nest Open Space reopen

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20120629/SPORTS/306290064/1006/SPORTS

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Jacobs coach knew Olympian had something special

Article updated: 6/29/2012 11:29 PM

	Evan Jager celebrates after winning the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase Thursday at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Ore. ? Associated Press
	Evan Jager leads the 1600-meter run during a track meet at Naperville North High School during his junior year at Jacobs. He won four state titles in four events during his high school career. He turned pro after a year at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Jager qualified for the London Olympics in just his fourth steeplechase entry. $PHOTOCREDIT_ON$Paul Michna/ pmichna@dailyherald.com, 2006$PHOTOCREDIT_OFF$ ?
	Evan Jager, center, is flanked by friends and supporters after his state cross country title win in Peoria. ? Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer, 2006
	In high school, Evan Jager?s hair was his brand. That and his great speed, of course. Friends wore these T-shirts to meets. ? Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer, 2006

From local high school distance runner to the Olympics in five short years.

Evan Jager, a 2007 graduate of Algonquin's Jacobs High School, qualified Thursday for the U.S. Olympic track and field team by winning the men's 3000-meter steeplechase, a race he hadn't run competitively until two months ago, at the Olympic Trials in Oregon.

Jager, easily picked out of a crowd by his enormous head of blond hair and fashionable headbands ? and the fact that he always seemed leading the pack ? has come many miles in his quest.

But his high school coach says in spite of all the miles Jager has logged since high school, he's the same kid.

?Evan hasn't changed,? Jacobs coach Jason Borhart said after watching Jager's TV interview. ?With his hair, you can always pick out Evan.?

More than that, though, Borhart said he's a good kid.

Before Evan went to high school, he played soccer and had to choose between it and running.

Borhart and the rest of the coaching staff knew Evan was special. ?I would put him as one of the most athletic kids to ever come through (Jacobs),? Borhart said. ?We knew he was going to do some great things.?

Jager broke three school records in the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter races. He also took first in the state competitions for the 2-mile relay, the 1,600-meter run, 3,200-meter run and cross country.

Four state titles in four different events ?just speaks to his all around athleticism,? Borhart said.

The 2-mile relay has stuck with Borhart the longest, though.

As a junior, Jager had the opportunity to win a state title on his own in a distance event but chose not to. Many coaches, teammates and competitors thought it was a terrible idea, Borhart recalls. ?He wanted to run with his teammates and give them the opportunity to win a state championship,? he said. He is very unselfish, Borhart said.

Little did everyone know then that the relay team would win state and set a record.

?He did a lot of things for a lot of people; he kind of made track a more glamorous event,? Borhart said.

Jacobs coaches weren't the only ones to see Jager's promise. He went on to run for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A year later, he went pro. He was picked up by Nike to run for the Oregon Track Club and sponsored by KIMbia Athletics.

Jager competed as a distance runner for almost all of his career. It was not until recently he became a steeplechase competitor. The steeplechase is an event where runners pass through 28 barriers and seven water jumps in 3,000 meters. Steeplechase is not a high school event, and because of that, Evan didn't run it throughout his career.

?Today was my fourth steeplechase,? Jager said during a news conference Thursday after winning in the Olympic trials. ?I wasn't really worried about my lack of experience coming into the trials because the steeple felt so natural. My first race I was just a few seconds under the 'A' standard, so I was pretty confident I could come and compete with these guys.?

Borhart said many people knew he was good, but not many realized he was Olympics good. The 2009 world championship opened a lot of people's eyes, Borhardt said. With a third-place finish in the U.S. championships, Jager qualified for the 5,000-meter run at the world meet.

When Borhart was watching Thursday's race, he noticed Evan gaining steps after he jumped a barrier. ?He is getting into them and out of them much easier than other runners,? Borhart said. ?He made everything look easy.?

Jager is a comparatively young Olympic runner.

?It's going to be exciting,? Borhart said, though he knows the competition just gets harder from here and Jager will need to train himself to get a jump on more competitive runners. ?He's a competitor. and I know he's going to give it everything he's got ... I can tell he's got more in him.?

Source: http://dailyherald.com/article/20120629/sports/706299767/

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