Iranian paper: Great war to wipe out Israel coming...

Iranian newspapers Kehyan and and Resalat have urged Muslims around the world to prepare for a 'great war' to destroy the State of Israel.

The newspapers published the editorials, translated from Persian by MEMRI , the Middle East translation service, to mark 'Quds' day on October 20, an Iranian 'holiday' calling for the "liberation" of Jerusalem and war against Israel.

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How to get better gas mileage...

Drive Sensibly
Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 5-33%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.12-$0.76/gallon

Observe the Speed Limit

While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph.

As a rule of thumb, you can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas.

Observing the speed limit is also safer.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 7-23%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.16-$0.53/gallon

Remove Excess Weight

Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2%. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 1-2%/100 lbs
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.02-$0.05/gallon

Avoid Excessive Idling

Idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than do cars with smaller engines.

Use Cruise Control

Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.

Use Overdrive Gears

When you use overdrive gearing, your car's engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces engine wear.

Note: Cost savings are based on an assumed fuel price of $2.31/gallon.

[Read More] Fueleconomy.gov

Great USA Today Article about Photographer's Rights...

I'm glad to find this article, since I've been harassed many times while taking photos at airports. If you are a photographer of any kind, you'll want to read this.

The author recommends carrying printed copies of the article and his PDF file, in case you are harassed or God forbid arrested.

In essence:

"The law in the United States of America is pretty simple. You are allowed to photograph anything with the following exceptions:

• Certain military installations or operations.

• People who have a reasonable expectation of privacy. That is, people who are some place that's not easily visible to the general public, e.g., if you shoot through someone's window with a telephoto lens.

That's it."

[READ MORE]...

[PDF FILE] The Photographer's Right

In Arizona, ‘For Sale’ Is a Sign of the Times...

PHOENIX — Until recently, this fast-growing area was a paradise on earth for home builders. Fulton Homes’ developments, for example, were so popular last year that it was able to raise prices on its new homes by $1,000 to $10,000 almost every week.
“People were standing in line for lotteries,” recalled Douglas S. Fulton, president of the company, one of the largest private builders in the Phoenix area. And they were “camping overnight begging to be the next number in the next lot in the next house.”
No more.

[READ MORE]

Official: Castro's Return May Be Delayed...

(AP) Cuba's foreign minister backed away Monday from his prediction that Fidel Castro will return to power by early December, raising questions about the pace of the communist leader's recovery from intestinal surgery.

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Where are the Alquaeda Tapes?

Not a peep, not a squeak. Well it seems that Zahawiri and Osama have finally wised up and decided that maybe if they don't send a taped terror message reminding Americans that they are still around, it would help the Democrat party defeat the Republicans in the Tuesday midterm election. After all if you were Osama Bin Ladin, what party would you want in power? There is only one obvious answer to that question, and that is: The Democrats.

Or maybe the U.S. military has them on the run so badly, that they have not even had a chance to put a tape togheter. Whatever the case, hopefully the latter, we have not seen or heard from the terror duo since their last tape was realeased on September 2nd, and we all know they are watching everything we do. In fact, I dare say that they are probably better informed about the United States than many Americans. That is a sad commentary but I believe it's probably true.

Or perhaps Carl Rove and his sinister political machinery forgot to fake the tapes this time as it would be too obvious. In many ways George Bush and the Republicans are victims of their own success. Because we haven't been attacked again, we are again growing complacent. And this complacency is most plainly embodied in the Democrats, who in their rethoric, and lust to regain power have put partisan politics ahead of what is best for the country. Security continues to be of paramount concern at least to this American. Whithout security there is no economy, no healthcare, no social security, no gay marriage or any of the other topics bandied about in the national discourse.

Let's hope the voters turn out and are smart enough to set aside all the vitriol, and partisan hot air, and vote conscientioulsly for the lesser of two evils. The one that has proven that at least they can protect us.

Ortega Makes a Comeback in Nicaragua

MANAGUA, Nicaragua (Nov. 6) - Former Nicaraguan leader Daniel Ortega appeared headed for victory Monday in his longtime quest to regain power, 16 years after a U.S.-backed rebellion helped drive the former Marxist revolutionary from office.

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Other Headlines:

Blair opposes death penalty for Saddam

Italy convicts Egyptian tied to Madrid bombs