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Manama: Islamists in Kuwait, stepping up pressure in their battle to have social networks monitored, have called for a massive rally on Sunday.

The call was reportedly prompted by the posting of a new message on Twitter targeting Aisha, the wife of Prophet Mohammad [PBUH].

Kuwaitis said that Abdullah Khalaf, a stateless Arab who had moved to London to work for Yasser Al Habeeb, the self-exiled religious figure whose Kuwaiti nationality was revoked for his attacks on the relatives and companions of Prophet Mohammad [PBUH].

The rally is a message against those who use the networks to abuse Prophet Mohammad [PBUH] and his relatives and companions, the Islamists, including several lawmakers, said.

Iljo Keisse (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) won a dramatic stage 7 at the 2012 Tour of Turkey in the city of Izmir, surviving a crash on the final bend with 1km to go.

Keisse attacked his six breakaway companions 6km from the finish and held a 40-second lead over a charging peloton into the last turn when disaster struck. While gingerly making his way alone around the sharp bend, nonetheless Keisses front wheel slid out sending the 29-year-old Belgian to the tarmac. The picture of calm, Keisse picked himself up off the pavement, put his chain back on and sped onwards down the final straight to the finish.

All of the Belgians breakaway companions were swept up inside the flamme rouge, but Keisse managed to just hold off the surging pack led by Marcel Kittel and Alessandro Petacchi to secure the biggest victory of his career and continue his teams excellent run of form in 2012.

Im over the moon about this victory, Keisse said. Here in Turkey my condition is improving day by day. Every day I was a little bit better. Also yesterday I tried to get in the breakaway without luck. Today I chose the right move. The guys in the break were really motivated. In the final I felt strong. I knew that If I kept going on it was possible to arrive until the finish.

Bulgarias Ivailo Gabrovski (Konya Torku Seker Spor) remains at the top of the general classification, 1:33 up on second-placed Alexandr Dyachenko (Astana) and 1:38 ahead of Danail Andonov Petrov (Caja Rural).

The Tour of Turkey concludes on Sunday with a 121km stage in Istanbul.

In this 2011 photo released by Sniff Pet Candles, Jenn Mohr, founder of Sniff Pet Candles, pets Rufus her 8-year-old Rhodesian ridgeback rescue dog in Miami, Fla. Mohr says she cant forgive Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney for making his dog ride on top of the car during a 1983 family trip to Canada. But many dog owners feel the whole doggone issue is a distraction. (AP Photo/Sniff Pet Candles)

April 16th, 2012 | 1968021 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Falphazone4.com%2F2012%2F04%2F16%2Fus-heads-up-new-x7-pre-release-items-new-companions-and-ravers%2FUS+Heads+Up+-+New+x7+Pre-Release+Items%2C+New+Companions+and+Ravers2012-04-16+16%3A33%3A39AlphaZone4http%3A%2F%2Falphazone4.com%2F%3Fp%3D19680

This week in the US PlayStation Home update, the x7 space gets more early-access items, including a Robotic Cat and meta-physical auras.

Lockwood are updating Sodium2 with the brand new Legendary Racers, which are available by reaching level 40! Also, Lockwood are releasing two new companions into the wild, say hello to Kubwa the Gorilla and Kiboko the baby Hippo. Our full coverage of Lockwoods update is available here.

Granzella release new Feudal Lord clothing to go with the Edo space and the Costume stores updates with new weaponry. Konami are also releasing a collection of Raver items, with glow-in-the-dark effects.

Finally, the Novus Prime 5.5 items that were available in x7 last week are now available to everyone to buy.

Source: US Blog

In the run up to the 50th anniversary of ‘Doctor Who’ in November 2013, Neela Debnath, with the help of BBC DVD, will be writing a review focusing on one story from each of the previous 31 series of the show. Each review will offer readers a snapshot from every series of ‘Doctor Who’ and celebrate the longest-running science fiction television programme in the world.

‘The Underwater Menace’ was the fifth serial in the fourth series and saw the Doctor and his companions captured by a mad scientist who planned to blow up the world.

Due to the practice of wiping tapes during the 1960s and 1970s, there are at present over 100 episodes of ‘Doctor Who’ missing from this era. Although tapes are no longer wiped, a good number of the lost episodes are from series 4 of the show, including ‘The Underwater Menace’. Until recently, only the third part of this serial had been recovered, however, last year the second episode of ‘The Underwater Menace’ was found. This review is based on existing footage and the audio track that was available.

The biggest difference in this serial is that the show has a new Doctor in the form of Patrick Troughton. The first Doctor regenerated in ‘The Tenth Planet’ after he became ill during the adventure which involved Cybermen. Troughton is warmer than William Hartnell’s Doctor and since he is younger his performance is more energetic. He is the original bowtie-wearing Doctor and the similarities between Troughton’s Time Lord and the current Doctor Matt Smith are evident. Both are quizzical about the universe and there is a comic element to the way they play the Doctor.

The second Doctor is joined by a set of new companions in the form of Jamie McCrimmon (Frazer Hines), Polly (Anneke Wills) and Ben Jackson (Michael Craze). This is Jamie’s first adventure as an assistant after meeting the Doctor and his companions in the previous serial ‘The Highlanders’. Jamie is a Scotsman from the 18th century who was encouraged by Polly to step on board the TARDIS.

Polly and Ben have been with the Doctor for some time and were present when he transformed from his first incarnation to the second. Polly is first seen in ‘The War Machines’ serial where she was the secretary of Professor Brett (John Harvey), who is working on the development of artificial intelligence called WOTAN.

The serial also introduced Ben Jackson and is Dodo’s (Jackie Lane) last one. Dodo is hypnotised by WOTAN and suddenly leaves for the countryside never to return. At the end of the serial Polly says that Dodo decided to stay in the 20^th Century and Ben steps in to replace her. Meanwhile Steven Taylor (Peter Purves) makes his departure long before this in the serial ‘The Savages’. Steven decides to take responsibility and lead a combined group of Savages and Elders in order to ensure lasting peace between the two parties.

The title ‘The Underwater Menace’ suggests that the Doctor will be confronting an evil alien but ironically the menace is actually just a very mad human being. Professor Zaroff (Joseph Furst) comes across as the archetypal Bond villain with his subterranean laboratories, sinister pet octopus, insane plans to destroy the world and an Eastern European accent.

Unsurprisingly, Zaroff’s character takes his cue from Ian Fleming’s ‘James Bond’ stories. Fleming wrote the ‘James Bond’ novels during the Cold War, with vague allusions to the political climate and to Russian spies. It seems that writer Geoffrey Orme has drawn upon elements in Fleming’s work and has incorporated them into his story. When the Doctor first encounters Zaroff, the professor mentions that the world believed he was dead with the East blaming the West which is a obvious reference to the two Superpowers.

The other source of inspiration for this serial is ‘The Island of Doctor Moreau’ (1896) by HG Wells which is evident from Zaroff’s Fish People. Zaroff has created them by surgically modifying shipwreck survivors. The idea sounds grotesque and gives a horror element to this story. The scene where Polly is about to be put under before her fish operation is terrifying, it is a classic horror film moment. Unfortunately, the production values dispel most of the fear and detract from the story, the Fish People in particular do not look threatening and are risible if anything.

Overall, the serial is below average for ‘Doctor Who’ and has been notoriously panned in the past. Furst gives a two-dimensional performance as the mad genius and the whole story has a sense of pantomime about it, with all the characters pulling ridiculous ruses over each other. The Doctor stays alive by telling Zaroff that he has a secret that the professor will never know if he is killed. Zaroff outfoxes Polly by feigning an illness before making a miraculous recovery. There is no sense of sophistication to it and these cartoonish manoeuvrings make the story feel weaker. However, the influences of Wells and Fleming, along with the Cold War context, show that there is depth to the serial. The paranoia in this era is reflected in Zaroff’s secret plans to blow up the world the plans themselves may even be an allusion to the fear of possible nuclear warfare.

‘The Underwater Menace’ is an interesting example of science fiction from this time and conveys the concerns of writers in this period. Perhaps the fact that the Doctor saves the day is a sign of hope, a belief that some force will intervene and prevent the destruction of the world. Even to this day the character of the Doctor continues to represent hope and safety.

For more information about the classic series of ‘Doctor Who’ visit: www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic

For more information about the ‘Doctor Who’ DVDs visit: www.bbcshop.com

DVD amp; image credit: BBC

Tagged in: doctor who, james bond

A San Mateo man crashed his motorcycle and died Sunday on his way to South San Francisco to visit the grave of a friend buried at a local cemetery, police said.

The 50-year-old man, identified by the Coroners Office as Raynard Wheeler, lost control of his motorcycle, hit a curb and was then thrown head first into a retaining wall in the 1200 block of Hillside Boulevard around 5:20 pm, said South San Francisco police Sgt. Bruce McPhillips.

The victim, who was wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said the man was riding with two companions, also on motorcycles, to visit the grave of a friend who had died in an accident.

One of the other riders witnessed the San Mateo man lose control of his motorcycle and crash.

Police dont believe drugs or alcohol played a role in the collision, but wont be sure until toxicology tests are completed.

It appears the crash was just a tragic accident, McPhillips said.

Authorities in Palawan province are now tracking down at least five companions of a suspect linked to the twin blaststhat injured at least three people last Maundy Thursday.

Now that the days are longer and getting warmer, we are enjoying outdoor spaces more with our pets. You may be starting to add plants to the garden or providing maintenance care to spruce up your yard and garden. While you are cultivating plants, nurturing grass or trying to rid the yard of weeds, here are a few tips to help keep your pets safe from potential accidents, poisonings and emergencies.

General

recommendations

Safe storage: Store all fertilizers, chemicals, tools, etc. in closed cabinets or/and in pet proof containers. Dont leave bags out for dogs to chew through. Keep all products well-labeled, ideally in the original package. Before purchasing and using, we recommend that you read all labels to understand potential precautions that should be taken and to keep labels for reference if you need to call your vet or poison control.

Safe design: Planning a garden overhaul or starting from scratch? Consider non-metal lawn edging to avoid lacerated paws. Review the list of toxic plants on The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) website (aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants) and either avoid planting these plants or ensure your pet wont have unsupervised access to these potential toxins. A few examples include lilies (many varieties), tulips, gardenias, irises, avocados and grass palms. Learn what plants are currently in your yard and determine if you need to keep your pet away.

Safe training: Consistent, regular behavior training can help you keep your pet safe and away from dangers.

The following list contains some of the most common examples of pet emergencies related to gardening season.

Most common pet

garden emergencies

Cocoa mulch: contains theobromine, the same chemical compound found in chocolate, which is toxic to dogs. Dogs may be attracted to the scent of this mulch, and if ingested, it can cause illness. Mild symptoms include gastrointestinal upset eg, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. More severe symptoms can progress to muscle tremors, weakness, seizures and, in extreme or rare cases, death. The toxicity level depends on the amount of the mulch ingested and the size of the dog. Best rule of thumb: keep this type of mulch out of muzzle reach of your pooch.

Other types of mulch: (eg, cedar, pine, fir, and spruce) can contain oils that cause gastrointestinal upset, and in very high concentrations possible neurologic symptoms.

Overconsumption of grass, mulch: Some of our pet companions are simply fascinated with eating anything and large amounts of it. These pets may get themselves into a life-threatening situation by eating so much that it causes stomach bloat or/and intestinal obstruction. These situations may require emergency intervention — including surgery — to cure. These pets should be supervised or not permitted in areas where they might ingest mulch, grass, etc. Working with a trainer may be a tool to help train your dog to avoid this behavior.

Fertilizers or weed killers: Proper use of these substances is key to protecting your pets. Read all warning labels of any products that you are using. Some will indicate that the substance is not harmful to pets or people once it has dried. Some may recommend a certain number of hours or days before coming into contact with treated grass. Be aware of the forecast: if it is going to be a windy day, avoid applying these products. If rain is predicted too soon after you will be applying the product, it would be best to wait. Exposure to these chemicals can cause skin and pad irritation, oral (tongue, gum tissue) irritation if eaten, possibly gastrointestinal upset if swallowed. For cats, permethrin-based products are especially toxic, causing neurologic changes, seizures, death.

Compost ingestion: Compost bins often contain many foods that are toxic to our pets, including coffee and onions. Keep these bins in an area that your pet cant reach or a place that is well enclosed.

Metal lawn edging and other sharp tools: Many wounds that occur on the paws of our pets can be prevented by eliminating our pets exposure to these sharp objects.

Parks and open fields: Watch for flags that indicate recent pesticide usage. Consider consulting with your local grounds maintenance about the products that they use.

If your pet is exposed, the following are general guidelines. In all cases, consultation with your veterinarian is the best recommendation.

Skin or pad exposure: rinse well with water, bathe with mild shampoo (ie, oatmeal based) to remove oils and chemicals from skin surfaces.

Ingestions: Call your veterinarian for advice. Depending on what was eaten, the amount, and the time frame of ingestion, your vet may counsel you regarding inducing vomiting and emergency treatment, or they may determine that no treatment is needed.

ASPCA Poison Hotline (aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control), 1.888.426.4435. There is currently a $65 fee.

We hope these tips will help keep your pets safe this summer from common gardening mishaps!

Jennifer Bolser, DVM is Chief Clinic Veterinarian for the Humane Society of Boulder Valleys full-service public veterinary clinic. The veterinary clinic is located at 2323 55th Street in Boulder and is open six days a week. Info: boulderhumane.org or call 303-442-4030 option 2.

Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice will host Companions in Grief, a monthly support group, from 10 to 11:30 am. Monday at Cumbernauld Village, in the Peach and Horn Room.

Companions in Grief provides information and support for those coping with the death of a loved one. Anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one is encouraged to attend.

The group session will take place at Cumbernauld Village, 716 Tweed.

For more information contact Michelle Shaheen at (316) 219-1774 or 1 (800) 767-4965.

Former Spanish national champion Francisco Mancebo scooped victory in what is billed as America’s toughest one day event, the Tour of the Battenkill, outsprinting last year’s runner-up Jesse Anthony (Optum Pro Cycling/Kelly Benefit Strategies) and Bissell Pro Cycling’s Jeremy Vennell.

The Spanish Competitive Cyclist Team rider and his two breakaway companions were part of the day’s crucial move, infiltrating a fifteen man breakaway group, then pushing on together inside the final ten kilometres of racing.

Mancebo then attacked hard inside the final kilometre, catching the other two riders out and hitting the line two seconds clear.

His directeur sportif Gord Fraser enthused about what he saw, and the significance of Mancebo’s triumph.

“Epic is a word often used in describing a particularly tough and memorable race,” the former pro said. “I’ve seen many races that could be described this way, but after what I witnessed yesterday, I will need to redefine the word.”

Part of the reason for his reaction are the many dirt road stretches which form part of the route. Like the Strade Bianche race in Italy, these intermittent sections impose an additional physical and technical demand on the riders, and are a big part of making the race as tough as it is.

“The terrain was deceivingly hard and the dirt sections were chaotic,” he continued. “Some moments the dust was so thick it was impossible to see what was in front of you.”

The victory was Mancebo’s first of this season, and saw him end the day atop the men’s individual National Racing Calendar (NRC) standings. He’s got a nine point advantage over the previous leader, Kenda/5 Hour Energy p/b GearGrider’s Phillip Gaimon.

How it played out:

After Saturday’s huge, 3,000 rider pro/am and Sunday’ morning’s 35 kilometre ride with Greg LeMond, 153 pro riders lined out for the 200 kilometre men’s Tour of the Battenkill. As before, the race featured a mix of standard roads and also dirt sections, creating the environment for a very aggressive and technically demanding race.

On the second of two 100 kilometre laps a serious move slipped clear. The initial ten man group comprised Ben Day (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling), Tom Last (Team IG-Sigma Sport), John Murphy (Kenda/5-Hour Energy p/b Geargrinder), Devan Dunn (CashCall Mortgage), Bruno Langois (Garneau/Quebecor Cycling Team), Jeremy Vennell (Bissell Pro Cycling), Chad Beyer (Competitive Cyclist Racing Team), Joey Rosskopf (Team Type 1-Sanofi), Marsh Cooper and Mike Friedman (both Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies).

With the lead hovering just over half a minute, Francisco Mancebo (Competitive Cyclist Racing Team) realized that he had to seize the moment to bridge across. He jumped clear on a steep hill and was followed by four others, namely last year’s runner-up Jesse Anthony (Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) the current NRC leader Phil Gaimon (Kenda/5-Hour Energy p/b Geargrinder), Bissell’s Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell Pro Cycling) and Jeff Louder of the UnitedHealthCare Pro Cycling team.

They soon got across to the others and opened a two minute lead over the peloton. This spelled the end for all those who had missed the break, and meant that one of the fifteen would take the 2012 title.

Beyer was determined to try to put himself in a position to do that and surged clear on the Ferguson Road dirt sector. Langois was determined to mark anything dangerous and tagged along, building a strong lead over the Optum Pro Cycling-led group behind.

Gaimon’s NRC lead ensured he was highly motivated to do well but his morale was no shield against a mechanical issue which would force him to stop on several occasions, and ultimately saw him lost his place out front.

With approximately thirty kilometres left, Langois and Beyer’s bid for freedom was hauled back. They were caught by nine others and were gapped, but Langois managed to get back on and even went briefly clear again.

That ten man group raced on to the final climb of Stage Road, where Mancebo put in a big attack and drew Anthony and Vennell clear. They raced over the final ten kilometres to the finish, where the Spaniard jumped early and hit the line two seconds ahead.

The win was his first of the current season, and is a major success for both him and his team.

Meanwhile Tibco’s Veronique Fortin soloed to victory in the women’s 100 kilometre race, reaching the line 44 seconds ahead of Crystal Anthony (LadiesFirst Racing) and Alizee Brien (Specialized-Mazda-SGC) and a further second clear of Marti Shea (Destination Cycling).

Those riders opened serious time on those behind, with Evelyne Blouin (Real Deal Racing / La Bicicletta) three minutes back and a group of thirteen riders a further minute and 15 seconds behind.