Crosswords/2005/February/19Saturday, February 19, 2005
Feel free to use the Wikimedia sites to solve our Wikinews crossword. Please do not fill it out online as it would spoil it for other people; print it out and fill it in at your own leisure!
By CSStephanie Larkin
When most people are planning a trip to Cancun, Mexico, they look for exciting nightlife and sunny beaches. However, Cancun has a lot more to offer than that. Cancun actually has a very rich history, and you can supplement your beach time with tours of some breath-taking historical sites. The following list is your guide to the top historical sites that you should consider seeing the next time you plan a trip to Cancun:
Chichen Itza
The most famous of the historic sites in the Cancun area of Mexico, Chichen Itza is a restored Mayan city, and contains a huge, spectacular temple among other attractions. This site is also home to the largest known Mayan ball court, and tours are given daily throughout the site or you can explore on your own. It is a day-long trip, as it is about 200 km from Cancun, but it is well worth the drive. You can either rent a car or take a bus. In fact, many hotels in the Cancun area offer guided bus tours to Chichen Itza. If you’re going to tour the site on your own, get there early to avoid the tour bus crowds.
Coba Ruins
Also a famous ancient Mayan city, the Coba Ruins is the oldest of the Mayan sites in this area. This area is extremely remote, and only a few of the structures were uncovered and restored, leaving almost all of the six thousand buildings still covered by jungle. Here, you can see Mayan stone roads, as well as the tallest pyramid in the vicinity of Cancun. The Coba Ruins are also a bit of a drive from Cancun, but again, many Cancun hotels run tours to this destination via free or low-cost buses.
Tulum Ruins
If you want to see some Mayan ruins without sacrificing an entire day to a tour, check out the Tulum Ruins, which are closer to Cancun. This location is unique because it is built along the coast, making the structures there almost lighthouse-like. A large wall surrounds the city, and the only way to explore inside is through one of the original tunnels. Be forewarned, however, that this historical spot is extremely popular for tourists and often quite crowded.
La Destileria
One of the most traditional activities in Mexico is the making of tequila. La Destileria isn’t exactly a historic site like the ancient ruins listed above, but at this museum and restaurant you can explore the history of this liquor. Guided tours will teach you how tequila is made, and at the end you get to try samples of the tequila that they make right there at the restaurant.
Xcaret
If you are traveling with people who are not as interested in seeing historical sites, you can consider a trip to Xcaret. This water park and activity center was once a place of Mayan ceremonies, and they have built a replica of a Mayan city to showcase the ancient culture. You will also be able to snorkel in the waterfalls, swim with the dolphins, and explore the environmental center in Xcaret. Don’t forget to stick around to watch descendants of the Mayans perform customary dances and musical shows.
Mercado Coral Negro
Before you leave Cancun, you should also make plans to stop at one of the traditional Mexican markets. Mercado Coral Negro is a great choice. Like the tequila museum, this site in and of itself isn’t a place of ancient history, but here you can see (and buy) traditional craft items like embroidered clothing, hats, and decorative pieces. You can also find traditional Mayan food at these markets. Of course, there are the run-of-the-mill “Cancun” T-shirts for tourists as well, but this shopping opportunity is great for those wanting some historically significant items to take home without spending a fortune.
If you are interested in more great historical Cancun sites, your best bet is to ask the customer service representatives at your hotel for their opinions on local sites. You can also speak with taxi cab drivers and tour guides – providing they speak English or you speak Spanish! The best way to find historical spots off the beaten path is to talk to those who live and work in Cancun all year-round.
Cancun, and all of Mexico, is full of history. It is a wonderful place to experience modern beaches, water sports, and nightlife. While that part of Cancun can be great fun, make sure that you spend a bit of time exploring Cancun’s ancient ruins and other historical activities. You won’t be sorry!
About the Author: Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to vacations and the travel industry such as Cancun Vacation Packages at flightcentre.ca/holidays/toronto/more-mexico.jsp
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UK fighters confront Russian bombers over international watersSunday, May 13, 2007
Last week, RAF Leuchars in Fife scambled two Tornado F3 interceptors, when radar detected two Tupolev Tu-142 Bear Bombers and the alarm was sounded “Bears in the Air”.
The RAF would not disclose the exact time of the incident, which was to the north of the Outer Hebrides. It did say that no contact was made between the aircraft.
The Russian Bear Foxtrot bombers are renowned maritime raiders that regularly probed the United Kingdom’s airspace during the Cold War.
The Russian aircraft were snooping on Neptune Warrior, a Royal Navy exercise taking place near the Outer Hebrides last week. Neptune Warrior was a live-fire naval training exercise involving warships, submarines and aircraft that took place between April 22 and May 3.
| “ | The Russians obviously thought it might be worth coming to have a look at what we were up to and probably take some photos. It’s a throwback to the Cold War when they used to fly in regularly to poke and prod at the edges of British airspace and test our reaction times. It’s normal to let such aircraft know we’re there by pulling up alongside them and they left quietly. The whole encounter probably lasted 20 minutes. | ” |
The Tornado’s watched the Russians for approximately 15 minutes until the bombers returned to their home base in Murmansk.
| “ | This aircraft dates back to the 1950s and although the air frame might look dated it is still highly effective in terms of long-range maritime reconnaissance. These used to fly over the North Sea and the Greenland Gap daily during the Cold War and, while rare today, it’s by no means a unique occurrence. It’s nice to know the Russians are out and about again. The exercise was in international waters and the Russians have got just as much right to be there as we have. We do it to them, they do it to us. All the RAF is doing is telling them: We could do this for real if we wanted to, so go and tell your mates back home.’ | ” |
During the Cold War in the 1970s and 1980s, Soviet spies were sometimes spotted watching from the perimeter of RAF stations to time exactly how long it took jets to take off and intercept Bear bombers, probing the United Kingdom’s defences and testing the response. Nato pilots in those days were well accustomed to an almost daily aerial game of cat-and-mouse.
Squadrons of Phantom interceptors were on constant quick-reaction standby through the 1970s and 1980s to deal with the threat of Soviet long-range bombers engaging in a long-range attack on Great Britain. The Bears can carry an arsenal of missiles, some nuclear-tipped, to strike NATO warships blocking the entrance to the vital North Atlantic sealanes between the United States and Europe.
In July, the Tornado will be replaced by the new Eurofighter Typhoon. Currently, RAF personnel on scrambling duty spend most of their time on counter-terrorist missions, checking out commercial airliners approaching Britain in ways that arouse suspicion, either because they have taken the wrong flight path or because the pilot has not contacted ground control.
Submitted by: Radson Smith
As we age, our skin develops spots and blemishes. For some time at least, when these signs of aging do not manifest completely, we can afford to be casual about it. However, the late twenties or early thirties is the period when the skin needs proper care. Some time needs to be devoted from our otherwise busy schedules for the same. Basically, some primary skin care tips and a few lifestyle choices can help delay the natural aging process and prevent the more common skin problems from coming up. This in turn can keep skin healthy and glowing for years to come. Using a good quality even skin toner can also go a long way in combating the signs of aging or tired skin.
Few steps to even out the skin tone and look good:
Exfoliate
Start by exfoliating your skin at least 2-3 times a week. This involves the removal of dead skin on the skin’s surface through facials, scrubs or chemical peels. Regular exfoliation removes dead skin cells to reveal fresher, younger skin from below. Another good practice is to exfoliate before applying even skin toners, serums and creams to make it easier for these products to penetrate the skin.
Use a sunscreen daily
Using a good quality sunscreen lotion protects skin from the harmful effects of the sun and prevents the emergence of sun spots and wrinkles. Using a sun block while going out makes sense, as it absorbs and reflects some of the sun’s ultraviolet radiations (UV) and counteracts sunburns. An even skin toner or a skin lightening product containing sunscreen can also be used to protect your skin from the sun. Lighter skin requires more protection, as it is more susceptible to damage of this kind.
Change the way you live
Avoid smoking as exposure to cigarette smoke can discolor your skin and cause hyper pigmentation and wrinkling. The chemicals and toxins present in cigarettes can rob your skin of that youthful and even skin tone. Another effective practice is to exercise regularly to stay fit and healthy.
Right Diet
A diet rich in nutrients and vitamins is very important for a glowing, healthy and even complexion. Include strawberries, mushrooms, oranges and multi-grain bread in your food and notice the difference in your skin within a very short time. As they say, we are what we eat and the way we look is an integral part of who we are.
Use some special cosmetics
Even the prettiest women would not mind some help when it comes to looking good. Some very innovative and effective skin care products currently available in the market are an answer to your persistent skin problems. Regular use of an even skin toner from a brand you trust can help you cleanse your skin and reduce the appearance of pores. There are also some very effective skin lightening products and whitening creams that promise to reduce discoloration and even out your skin tone. You can browse the online marketplace to know more about how to even skin toner and the best-in-class lightening products. However, it is always a good practice to consult your dermatologist before using any of these products. When it comes to your skin, you cannot afford to take any chances.
Some or all of these tips can be followed to get a radiant, smooth and even skin tone. You would need to be patient enough, as great skin cannot be achieved over night. It takes time for the changes to manifest themselves and all the effects to reflect on the way you look.
About the Author: Even Skin Tone Products and skin lightening products can smoothen out your skin and minimize the appearance of fine lines. Knowing more on how to even skin toner can also help you replenish and revitalize your skin.
miracleskintransformer.com/mst/
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Sydney Opera House ‘No War’ activists face court for paint cansTuesday, January 3, 2006
Two activists convicted for painting the words “NO WAR” in five-metre-high red letters on the highest sail of Sydney Opera House in March 2003, are facing court action again to prevent them from auctioning the equipment used to paint the controversial sign.
Dr Will Saunders and David Burgess were sentenced to nine months periodic detention and ordered to pay the Opera House Trust $151,000 for malicious damage to the building on March 18, 2003.
The pair spent six months in jail for painting the slogan on one of the sails of the Opera House on the eve of the invasion of Iraq. The protesters say they wish to auction the equipment for humanitarian causes in Iraq.
Police confiscated the paint can and two brushes used in the incident and have now applied for a court order to have the can and brushes destroyed. They are saying such an auction would contravene proceeds of crime laws.
Saunders said they wanted to auction the can and send the proceeds to humanitarian causes in Iraq. According to The Australian newspaper, Mr Saunders said the auction could be conducted by a registered charity to raise money for the Mother and Child Hospital in Basra.
He said the can should also be preserved as an important piece of Sydney history.
“We want to give the surplus money that we’ve raised, and anything extra we can make from an auction – not only the paint pot … I think we can raise many many thousands of dollars,” he said. “We’d be happy to come to any reasonable arrangement with the police about how this auction takes place … it’s just mean beyond belief, petty-minded just to destroy it.”
The matter will go before a Sydney court on January 16.
Meanwhile, the world-famous Sydney Opera House is one of 21 international landmarks short-listed to become the new Seven Wonders of the World. The list includes modern landmarks such as Paris’ Eiffel Tower and older candidates like the Colosseum in Rome and China’s Great Wall.
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New York City Mass Transit facing service cutsFriday, December 11, 2009
New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority is proposing to make service cuts to close its expected US$343 million (€234m, GBP £211m) budget deficit. The plan includes the elimination of multiple bus lines in The Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn, the elimination of the W (Astoria, Queens to Lower Manhattan) and the Z (Jamaica, Queens to Lower Manhattan via Brooklyn) train services. Also included in the plan are cuts of nighttime bus and train service.
“We’re not going to rely on anyone else to do anything for us. We’re going to rely on ourselves.” MTA board member Mitchell Pally said, commenting on the New York state’s budget plan cutting $143 million of tax revenue from the agency. MTA Chairman Jay Walder has said in the past that he would not raise fares ahead of schedule.
Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers Campaign, a commuter advocacy group, said that the agency should take money from its current construction and maintenance fund, and put it into maintaining these services.
Submitted by: Mike Benton
As of today, January 18, 2012, mortgage applications are up by 23.1% for the month of January. This is great news for home buyers and investors alike, as it may be an early indication that we could see some substantial improvements in the Fort Lauderdale real estate market this year. Here are 10 more statistics that lead us to believe that 2012 will be a great year for home buyers and investors looking to buy one of the existing Fort Lauderdale homes for sale.
1. Florida existing home sales rose 11% y/y in November, moderating slightly from the 13% y/y increase in October. Though metro areas may lag behind the state sales rate, Fort Lauderdale real estate is in high demand by investors and international buyers. The state sales rate increase is encouraging, and our level of sales activity is consistent with this information.
2. Good news! Bank repossessions in Florida are down 33% in November according to RealtyTrac. This is a good indication that perhaps fewer homeowners and investors are going upside down on their mortgage payments. However, it could also be a sign of massive foreclosure delays due to improper documentation have falsely deflated the number of foreclosures, in which case it would be too early to celebrate. Time will tell, but the fact that income rates in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas are expected to rise would suggest otherwise. Our hope is that increased income levels in the area will support home ownership.
3. More specifically, South Florida sales increased by 14% in November 2011. This is exciting news for those of you with Fort Lauderdale homes for sale. We can thank international buyers who have come to this area in search of a primary or secondary homes for sale in Fort Lauderdale. These buyers typically purchase homes with all cash transactions, causing a significant sales increase during the month of November. In Miami 64% of re-sales were all-cash transactions up from 62% a year ago, according to Dataquick. Meanwhile, CentralFlorida sales rose 10% y/y (versus +14% y/y in October), while North Florida sales rose 15% y/y (versus +9% y/y in October).
4. Statewide median prices held steady in November, an improvement over the trend we saw in October 2011. Statewide foreclosure delays would suggest that the price stabilization is temporary. Though the statewide unemployment rate is 10%, the unemployment rate in the Fort Lauderdale and Miami metro areas is lower at 9%. This rate is expected to decrease again in 2012, which may help offset the effects of the looming foreclosure backlog. Buyers who have more cash in pocket are more likely to buy when interest rates are as low as they are right now.
5. Florida condominium sales rose by 2% to 5,590 units in November 2011. Though Fort Lauderdale condo sales decreased by 1%, West Palm Beach condo sales increased 19% y/y, and sales in Tampa rose 8%. Even more interestingly, Miami sales improved 2% y/y. Fort Lauderdale condos for sale do continue to sell if priced well enough, and even then Fort Lauderdale condo prices have increased by 19%. Even better is the fact that statewide condo prices rose by 4% in November to $86,700.
6. Real estate listings in Florida key markets are down, but the reasons for this remain unclear. It could be that a temporary decrease in bank owned real estate listings have defrayed the number while the shadow inventory grows larger. It could also be that the severe negative equity situation for many real estate owners is slowing down the listing rates. The monthly supply of real estate listings in most major metro areas in Florida (Orlando, Tampa, Broward, Dade) are all below the national average of 7.6. Then again, the number of mortgages not being paid in Florida are higher than the national average. Again, we suspect that negative equity and foreclosure delays have deflated the real estate listings number. We have read that there is about a 19 month backlog of statewide distressed inventory, not including bank owned properties. Yikes.
As real estate professionals, we wish the Broward County supply of shadow inventory would make its way to MLS. We see a shortage of real estate inventory here for our buyers, who often compete for properties and put in 2-3 contracts before having an offer accepted.
7. The rental market is improving. Occupancy and rental rate trends improved across most Florida markets during the 3rd quarter of the year. More specifically, Miami (+3.6%), Tampa(+3.3%) and Fort Myers (+2.3%) recorded the largest y/y increases in rent, while West Palm Beach (+0.7%), Fort Lauderdale (+1.7%), and FortMyers (+2.3%) showed less significant improvements. While Miami and Tampa may represent the highest increases in rental rate trends, the rental market in Fort Lauderdale is alive and well. The rental conditions across the state of Florida have improved over the past year, and we only expect that to get better in 2012.
8. November 2011 was the best month yet for Fort Lauderdale real estate sales, with an increased sales rate of 22%. August was also a good month, with sales increasing by 19%-perhaps due to the back to school effect. Many people put contracts on homes during that time of year before school starts.
9. So far, January mortgage applications are at an all time high at a 23.1% increase, which suggests that this rate of growth will continue. At least, we hope it will. This spike in mortgage applications means that many people are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and theyre not afraid to bank on it. The people who act before others are usually those who make the most money from their investments. Were hoping thats the case with the cowboys/cowgirls in this new economic frontier.
10. Mortgage interest rates are at an all time low, which makes for an inviting scenario for those with cash in pocket. Between the influx of international buyers who buy property with all cash transactions and the number of new home buyers and investors taking advantage of the low interest rates right now, we think there is more reason than not to feel optimistic about the Fort Lauderdale real estate market.
More good things are happening than bad in the Fort Lauderdale housing market-there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and its not a train, folks. You can read more about the Fort Lauderdale real estate forecast for 2012 in our recent article on this topic, too.
About the Author: Mike Benton is a real estate professional specializing in short sale and foreclosure properties in the greater Fort Lauderdale area. Learn more or find the best Fort Lauderdale homes for sale at
FortLauderdaleForeclosures.org
.
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Day 1 report of Wikimania 2006| This article mentions the Wikimedia Foundation, one of its projects, or people related to it. Wikinews is a project of the Wikimedia Foundation. |
Sunday, August 6, 2006
Wikimania 2006 is the second annual Wikimedia conference. Hosted by the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at the Harvard Law School campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it began August 4 and will run until August 6.
Wikimania began with a keynote presentation from Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation. Wales played a short portion of a clip from a recent episode of U.S. television program The Colbert Report discussing Wikipedia. In the clip, Colbert says that “any website that has a longer entry on truthiness than Lutheranism has got its priorities straight.” His keynote continued by re-emphasising Wikimedia’s mission, as stated by Wales in a Slashdot interview: “Imagine a world in which every single person on the planet is given free access to the sum of all human knowledge. That’s what we’re doing”.
Wales stated that Wikipedia is “not as good as Britannica — yet”. Additionally, he also stated that in the coming year, Wikipedia will be making “a turn towards quality”. “We have always had this goal, but we all know we’re not there yet – in the coming years one of the themes is going to be a turn towards quality.” said Wales.
He then introduced Brad Patrick, the general counsel and recently-appointed interim CEO of Wikimedia. Patrick said he found Wikimedia after reading Wales’ list Ten Things That Will Be Free on Lawrence Lessig‘s blog. After discovering the Wikimedia Foundation, Patrick emailed Wales about meeting for lunch. He had lunch with Wales a few months later and was hired as general counsel shortly after.
Wales went on to describe Wikia, the company he co-founded with Angela Beesley. He announced that Wikia has received venture capital, allowing them to hire full-time engineers to work on the MediaWiki software. He emphasized that Wikia, has “a total commitment to free knowledge and respect for communities.”
Later, Wales announced that the One Laptop Per Child project will be including Wikipedia as the first element in the content repository. He also announced that the board has approved Wikiversity as “a center for the creation and use of free learning materials and activities”. Wikiversity will “create and host a range of free-content multilingual learning materials for all age groups in all languages”. It will be launched soon with a three language, six month, beta trial period.
Wales described a project called Wikiwyg: a WYSIWYG editor for the wiki. Wikiwyg is an attempt to make the wiki easier to edit. “An intelligence test by making it hard to edit, just does not work,” noted Wales. While the release date is uncertain both Wikia and Socialtext are devoting full-time engineers to the project.
Wales emphasized the need to focus on quality. He also briefly discussed the commitment in the German Wikipedia to rolling out a stable version. He stated that if we do not have it rolled out by next year’s keynote “we are making a big mistake”.
Wales finished his keynote by giving an update on his Ten Things That Will Be Free and proposing “that the foundation seek funding to hire community coordinator and recruiters for important languages where we currently do poorly”.
Other notable speakers included Ward Cunningham, Lawrence Lessig, Eben Moglen and many members of the Wikimedia communities.
The day wrapped up with a poster reception and a party celebrating Wikia’s 250,000 articles and Wikia’s founders Angela Beesley and Jimmy Wales birthdays.
Archived copies of many of the presentations are available on the Wikimania wiki.