The 411 on Pacific Pokers

Source: Inquirer.net (Original Article)

MANILA, Philippines—From the Sydney Opera House to Rome’s Colosseum to the Sears Tower’s famous antennas in Chicago and San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, floodlit icons of civilization went dark for Earth Hour, a worldwide campaign to highlight the threat of climate change.

Organizers of Earth Hour, a self-imposed 60-minute blackout from 8 p.m. on Saturday, hoped 100 million people turned off their nonessential lights and electronic appliances for the hour. Electricity plants produce greenhouse gases that cause climate change.

In the Philippines, shopping malls and homes in scattered parts of Metro Manila and in some provinces were shrouded in darkness for an hour.

Thousands of households in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao—including those in areas where the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) operates—switched off their solar-powered lights and television sets.

The Catholic-run Notre Dame Broadcasting Corp., which operates radio stations in Cotabato City, Koronadal and Kidapawan, went off the air for an hour.

More than 380 towns and cities and 3,500 businesses in 35 countries signed up for the campaign.

Buildings account for about one-third of the carbon emissions that scientists say will boost global average temperatures by between 1.4 and 4.0 degrees Celsius this century bringing floods and famines and putting millions of lives at risk.

Organizers said that while switching off a light for one hour would have little impact on carbon emissions, the fact that so many people were taking part showed how much interest and concern at the climate crisis had taken hold. They plan a similar event on March 28, 2009.

The environmental group World Wildlife Fund (WWF) urged governments, businesses and households to turn back to candle power for at least 60 minutes wherever they were.

The campaign began last year in Australia, and traveled this year from the South Pacific to Frequent Flyer Cards Europe to North America in cadence …continue reading

Source: Globe and Mail (Original Article)

1GRIN AND BEAR IT Now that this hideous week is over, Bay Streeters will spend the weekend fretting over market meltdowns - or disappearing into their favourite distractions. Note to floor traders: Refrain from showing Edvard Munch’s Scream face when the market turns bad. Learn to maintain a poker face when on camera.
2PICK A SIGN
Today at 10:30 a.m. at the Revue Cinema on Roncesvalles, a team from E.R.A. Architects Inc. will present three proposals for the marquee. The old sign slipped its mooring with a crash a year ago February, and locals have been anxious to see the façade of the revitalized theatre restored to its former glory.

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3SUPPORT YOUR
LOCAL TEAM
Technically, the Leafs are still in with a shot for the Eastern Conference playoffs. It’s just a really, really, really long shot. But the late season surge has brought the love back and fans will be glued to the television for tonight’s game against the Senators, in which the Leafs could very well be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.
4TAP SOME SAP
Sugar-bush festivals are in full swing as spring sets maple sap a-humming. Bronte Creek, Crawford Lake and Bruce’s Mill will be busy with wagon rides, tours and AMERICAN DRAGON dvd pancakes. Yes, kids, candy really does …continue reading

Source: Providence Journal (Original Article)

TOKYO - In the first full day of their weeklong visit to Japan, Red Sox players worked out at the Tokyo Dome and toured an American military base. In the meantime, Red Sox management sent an early message of goodwill to the Red Sox hosts, even as a former major leaguer now managing in Japan said the team should have come some other time.

Team owner John Henry, manager Terry Francona and general manager Theo Epstein took part in an introductory press conference this afternoon, and all proclaimed that opening the 2008 season here is a great honor.

"We’re excited about starting our season here," Henry said.

"We want to express our appreciation for the graciousness that’s been shown to us," added Francona. "and we hope to play the kind of baseball that’s expected of us."

"It really is an honor to represent the Red Sox and Major League Baseball," said Epstein. "These days, it’s impossible to fully appreciate baseball without seeing it on an international level and especially here in Japan."

Meanwhile, Bobby Valentine, the outspoken manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines, is angry that the two regular-season games here Tuesday and Wednesday between the Sox and A’s is threatening to distract from the opening of the Pacific League on Thursday. Valentine is a former major-league player and former manager of the Texas Rangers and the New York Mets.

"I hope the Red Sox and A’s have a great time here and I’m sure everyone will enjoy it but it’s ludicrous that our games will be going on at the same time," Valentine said. "The timing is a mistake and I guess that’s something that slipped through the cracks when they were planning the schedules."

In a press conference this afternoon, Daisuke Matsuzaka, who began his career in the Pacific League, seemed to agreee that Valentine had a point.

"It would have been American Express Cards better if the two games could …continue reading

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