A perfect day in Las Vegas

A slice of desert that has transformed itself into one of the most lavish places on earth, Las Vegas is a neon-clad metropolis where dreams come down to the turn of a card. But look beyond the lights of the Strip for local flare and natural beauty.
Morning

Start the day off in true Vegas fashion at Le Village Buffet(3655 Las Vegas Blvd S; Paris Las Vegas). French classics such as crêpes and brie cheese are served alongside local standards including peel-and-eat jumbo shrimp.reported by A PAKISTAN TIMES

Before leaving ‘Paris’, take the elevator to the top of the mock Eiffel Tower for panoramic views of the Strip. Stay long enough to catch the quarter-hourly performances of the Bellagio fountains, a clichéd but quintessential Vegas experience.
Midday

It’s time to walk off the extra calories. Head over to the brand new CityCenter Las Vegas (3730 Las Vegas Blvd S), a collection of modernist hotels, residences, malls and casinos that is the Strip’s most luxurious offering to date.

Brushed metal, sparkling glass and polished stone accentuate the dramatic architecture of the Aria Resort & Casino. High limit tables lure in the serious punters, while swish lounges swarm with buzzing socialites.

European Athletics 2010: Brit Farah wins 10,000m gold

European Athletics Championships 2010
Venue: Barcelona Dates: 27 July - 1 August
Coverage: Watch live on BBC HD, BBC One, BBC Two and BBC Sport website (UK users only); Live coverage on BBC Radio 5 live; Highlights of the biggest events on demand online (UK only).
Mo Farah clinched Great Britain's first gold medal of the 2010 European Championships in Barcelona by storming to victory in the men's 10,000m. reported by A PAKISTAN TIMES

Farah, 27, came home in a time of 28 minutes, 24.99 seconds, finishing ahead of fellow Brit Chris Thompson, who made it a GB one-two in the event.

The bronze went to Italy's Daniele Meucci who lost out to Thompson by a fraction of a second on the line.

It was GB's first-ever European 10,000m gold and Farah's first major title.

He had to settle for silver at the 2006 European Championships in Gothenburg in the 5,000m, so gold in Barcelona represented redemption for the Somalia-born athlete.

S Korea-US military exercise begins in the Sea of Japan

The US and South Korea have begun a major military exercise in the Sea of Japan, despite threats of retaliation from North Korea.
The navy and air force manoeuvres involve 20 ships, 200 planes and 8,000 US and South Korean personnel.

Washington and Seoul say they want to send a clear signal to the North following the sinking of a South Korean warship in March.

An international investigation said a North Korean torpedo sank the ship.
However, the claim has been angrily denied by Pyongyang.
reported by A PAKISTAN TIMES
On Saturday, North Korea threatened to use its nuclear deterrent in a retaliatory, "sacred war" in response to the exercise.

The BBC's John Sudworth, who is aboard one of the warships, says the show of strength is intended to rattle Pyongyang's military and political elite.

But some observers are questioning whether the display of military power will simply galvanise the hardliners inside the isolated country, he says.

North Korea's inflammatory rhetoric is nothing new, he adds, but the rising tension is causing concern, with China urging all parties to show restraint.

The South Korean defence ministry said the manoeuvres had been relocated from the sensitive Yellow Sea to the Sea of Japan following protests from China, North Korea's ally.

Geo’s reporter Anwar hurt in Hyderabad ambush

Updated at: Sunday, July 25, 2010
HYDERABAD: Unknown assailant(s) opened fire at Geo News’ van, injuring reporter Anwar Kamal and driver Naseem seriously here at Thandi Sarak, A PAKISTAN TIMES reported late Saturday.

Two were rushed to a local hospital where they are being provided medical aid.

According to details, Anwar Kamal along driver Naseem was on his way to Hyderabad on Geo’s van after covering a news event relating to Dadu-Manchar Lake, when unknown gunmen on motorcycle opened indiscriminate fire at van.

The ambush took place in front of GOR police station, a woman police station, but the assailants could not be identified who, all of a sudden, succeeded to flee the crime scene, sources said.

Anwar Kamal received a bullet on his left shoulder, hospital sources confirmed to media.

DIG Hyderabad Fayyaz Laghari said security at all the city’s entrance and exit points has been beefed up.

Chenab floodwater heading to Qadirabad

Updated at: 1105 PST, Friday, July 23, 2010
LAHORE: Floodwater from River Chenab is heading to Qadirabad while reports of high-level flood in River Chenab at Head Khanki and Head Marala positions are reaching here,reported BY
A PAKISTAN TIMES.

The high-level flood is feared to hit Qadirabad sometimes at 12 pm today, Flood Warning Center said.

FWC has issued warning of high-level flood heading to hit Qadirabad as water level is constantly rising here.
sources:www.geo.tv

Hundreds of dead penguins wash ashore in Brazil

SAO PAULO — Hundreds of penguins that apparently starved to death are washing up on the beaches of Brazil, worrying scientists who are still investigating what's causing them to die.

About 500 of the black-and-white birds have been found just in the last 10 days on Peruibe, Praia Grande and Itanhaem beaches in Sao Paulo state, said Thiago do Nascimento, a biologist at the Peruibe Aquarium.

Most were Magellan penguins migrating north from Argentina, Chile and the Falkland Islands in search of food in warmer waters.reported by A PAKISTAN TIMES

Many are not finding it: Autopsies done on several birds revealed their stomachs were entirely empty — indicating they likely starved to death, Nascimento said.

Scientists are investigating whether strong currents and colder-than-normal waters have hurt populations of the species that make up the penguins' diet, or whether human activity may be playing a role.

"Overfishing may have made the fish and squid scarcer," Nascimento said.

Nascimento said it's common for penguins to swim north this time of year. Inevitably, some get lost along the way or die from hunger or exhaustion, and end up on the Brazilian coast far from home.

But not in such numbers — Nascimento said about 100 to 150 live penguins show up on the beach in an average year, and only 10 or so are dead.

"What worries us this year," he said, "is the absurdly high number of penguins that have appeared dead in a short period of time."
sources:www.msnbc.msn.com

Small Screens, Big Budgets

By AMY CHOZICK

For its new gangster series "Boardwalk Empire," HBO built a $5 million, 300-foot-long boardwalk on the Brooklyn waterfront to recreate Atlantic City circa 1920. The set required 150 tons of steel and includes historical elements like the Baby Incubator, an actual nursery where tourists could gawk at tiny, premature infants.reported by A PAKISTAN TIMES
The 12 episodes produced for the first season employed more than 300 crew members, 225 actors in speaking roles and 1,000 extras. It took about 200 days to shoot, twice what a standard network drama would take.

Sumptuous historical epics have long been part of screen entertainment, from Cecil B. DeMille to "Gone With the Wind," "Ben-Hur" to "Braveheart." Now, a Renaissance is flourishing, and in an unlikely spot—cable TV. As broadcast networks cut back and fill the prime-time schedule with reality shows made on the cheap, pay-cable channels are splurging on lavish period pieces, and spending big money to mount these productions. Many of these series strive for high quality. Virtually all of them also take advantage of the looser cable environment to portray grisly violence, heaving décolletage and more.
sources:www.online.wsj.com

Tony Hawk: Still the World's Best Skateboarder at Age 42

Tony Hawk may very well be the greatest skateboarder of all time. At age 42, the legendary Hawk can still pull off a 900. For those who don't know, a "900" refers to a 900 degree aerial spin off of a skateboard ramp. This is one of the most insane skateboarding tricks, and Hawk is one of only four (in the world) who have ever pulled it off.reported by A PAKISTAN TIMES

Watch the video below as Hawk performs in front of more than 25,000 spectators at the Plaza del Mar beach in Barcelona.

P.S. If you're inspired, here's a collection of HowTo's straight from the master himself.
source:www.wonderhowto.com

Kingston man arraigned in third child-rape case

A Kingston man awaiting trial in two child-rape cases was arraigned Wednesday on charges of raping a third child on hundreds of occasions earlier this decade.

Brockton Superior Court Judge Joseph Walker III ordered Joseph H. Gardner held on $1.5 million bail with surety or $150,000 cash bail.reported by A PAKISTAN TIMES

Gardner, 27, was already being held without bail after pleading innocent Dec. 14 to raping a 3-year-old girl when she was staying overnight at his apartment with her mother.

At the time of that alleged offense, Gardner was out on bail after pleading innocent three months earlier to breaking into a Kingston home and raping a 5-year-old girl.

Plymouth County prosecutors say publicity from those two cases prompted the victim in the latest case to come forward.

Gardner is accused of raping the child on 300 to 400 occasions from 1999 to 2002. The girl reportedly told a counselor about the alleged abuse.

Gardner was indicted by a grand jury July 2 and faces one count of forcible child rape. He faces four additional child-rape counts in juvenile court for encounters he allegedly had with the child while he was still a juvenile.

An arraignment date has not yet been set in juvenile court. Prosecutors will argue to have the charges transferred to Superior Court.

Gardner is due back in Brockton Superior Court on Aug. 23 for a pre-trial conference.
source:www.patriotledger.com