http://www.sammyboy.com/ Sammyboy Alfresco Coffee Shop. en Sun, 19 May 2013 04:43:04 GMT vBulletin 5 http://www.sammyboy.com/images/misc/rss.png http://www.sammyboy.com/ http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152487-It-has-begun&goto=newpost Sun, 19 May 2013 02:12:27 GMT *900 turn up for football reality TV show trials * POSTED: 18 May 2013 10:04 PM Image:...
900 turn up for football reality TV show trials

POSTED: 18 May 2013 10:04 PM



Football hopefuls queuing outside Bishan stadium for the First XI trials.

SINGAPORE: More than 900 people turned up for the First XI trials at Bishan Stadium on Saturday morning.

MediaCorp Channel 5's football reality series is back for a second season.

Football hopefuls lined the streets outside the stadium as early as 7.30am.

This season's trials adopted a different format, with the age limit for participants lowered to 16 years.

Passing and dribbling stations were also replaced by eight-a-side games.

In the series, selected players will go on a one-week training stint at Fundacion Real Madrid in Spain, before the final episode.

Ex-Liverpool player Steve McMahon and former Singapore international R Sasikumar remain as the show's two coaches.

The second season of First XI premieres on 28 August.

Mr McMahon said: "We're hoping to spot lots of talent obviously. I've touched on it. If the players that we can produce, the 16-18 players we eventually end up with, if we can gel as a team and make them a team, I always say and my motto is - to be a team, rather than individuals… I'll be happy with that. Then it's up to the individuals then to go on and be better."

- CNA/xq

]]> The Courtyard Café CarrotHead http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152487-It-has-begun http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152486-Sinkie-Abused-At-Work&goto=newpost Sun, 19 May 2013 00:38:08 GMT Someone was abused at his place at work and they are trying to identify the guy and company. Below is the video ... Someone was abused at his place at work and they are trying to identify the guy and company.

Below is the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=BllBjaFfmrI

Basically above the guy in white is his boss and the victim is the employee
but it seems he is afraid to complain or stand up for himself, but i personally
feel this guy cannot be let go because the guy being hit is just very young.

Anyways for those interested the thread is at hwz below

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/ea...p-4216729.html

Please if anyone recognizes the guy please let post here, no employee deserves this
kind of treatment at all, please if you or your friend recognise him please post here

Also if you see the boss outside feel free to hammer him also ]]> The Courtyard Café Helium http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152486-Sinkie-Abused-At-Work http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152485-Silence-from-quot-Gang-Rape-Zaninudin-quot&goto=newpost Sat, 18 May 2013 19:41:03 GMT 8 days after the thunder and lightening, the threat of law suit against a blogger who turned out to have a humble background and making his way in... 8 days after the thunder and lightening, the threat of law suit against a blogger who turned out to have a humble background and making his way in this world, this prick who is a Member of Parliament, Head of FAS and a fucking mayor has gone quiet.

This is his last message

UPDATE 10/05/2013 @ 2345HRS

MP Zainudin Nordin replied at around 4.30pm with the following email message:

Dear Mr Gangasudhan,
It is clear from your initial posting that it was your intention to ridicule me, and not to debate issues. To do that, you deliberately and mischievously attributed Terry Goodkind’s quote to me and even extracted, without context, part of that quote. Your motives were plain and your response, contrived. You had no choice but to correct this egregious error, but I note there is no hint of an apology from you.
I think it is important to have open, honest debates on issues of the day. It is responses such as yours which in fact stifle honest debate and discourage people from sharing their views.
Thank you.
Zainudin Nordin
Sent from my iPhone ]]> The Courtyard Café scroobal http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152485-Silence-from-quot-Gang-Rape-Zaninudin-quot http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152484-LSS-Grassroots-leaders-are-the-voice-of-silent-majority&goto=newpost Sat, 18 May 2013 18:59:05 GMT Singapore’s Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Swee Say said grassroots leaders are the "voice of the silent majority", helping to strengthen ties between the ground and the government.



SINGAPORE: Singapore’s Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Swee Say said grassroots leaders are the "voice of the silent majority", helping to strengthen ties between the ground and the government.

Mr Lim, who is also deputy chairman of the People's Association (PA), made the comments at the PA Awards Ceremony on Saturday afternoon.

Mr Lim said the ongoing “Our Singapore Conversation”, which seeks to reach consensus among Singaporeans on the country's future, illustrates the role of the grassroots movement in reaching out to what he described as "the silent majority".

He said grassroots leaders reach out to some 1.7 million residents every year.

Through the interactions, he said they give frank feedback to the government as well as suggest ideas on how the government can do better.

Mr Lim said Phase One of the Our Singapore Conversation exercise involved some 18,000 residents.

He added the feedback received is being taken very seriously by the government.

He said: "In fact right now, as we're sitting here, the entire cabinet is at the Istana, going through some of the feedback, some of the suggestions, put forward by the OSC. In fact, this afternoon's session is but just one of a series.

“I want you to know, that as a grassroots movement, what you're doing in voicing out for the silent majority, is a very important role.”

Mr Lim also spoke of the evolving role of the grassroots movement, from the 1960s to today.

He said: "In the 60s, we rallied the ground to support National Service and to keep Singapore clean. In the 70s, Courtesy Campaign, Speak Mandarin Campaign and so on. And in more recent years, SARS. Right now, again, the grassroots movement is in action, against this anti-dengue, this Mozzie Wipeout and so on.”

Mr Lim said there are three areas that the PA could improve on in the future. The first is to try new ideas, and be open to innovation as the movement widens its approach. The second is to do more to bridge an emerging social gap within the community. The third is to deepen the engagement among residents.


-





]]> The Courtyard Café Leepotism http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152484-LSS-Grassroots-leaders-are-the-voice-of-silent-majority http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152481-LSH-Tears-Apart-FAP-Traitors-Attack-on-WP&goto=newpost Sat, 18 May 2013 18:26:20 GMT MND responds to Workers’ PartyPosted date: *May 15, 2013*In: *Commentaries (http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/category/commentaries/), Leong Sze Hian... MND responds to Workers’ Party

Posted date: May 15, 2013In: Commentaries, Leong Sze Hian, Main story





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By Leong Sze Hian
I refer to the article “MND explains computing method for MA rate for town councils” (Channel NewsAsia, May 14) in response to the Workers’ Party’s media release of 14 May – “AHPETC / WP’s RESPONSE TO COMPARISONS ON MANAGING AGENT RATES”.
Did Ministry of National Development (MND) calculate using all residential and commercial units?
It states that “The National Development Ministry said it computes the Managing Agent (MA) rate per unit for each town council by dividing the MA tender rate that the town council submits to HDB by the total number of residential and commercial units the town council manages and covered by the MA contract.
The town councils collect Service and Conservancy Charges from both residential and commercial properties.
The ministry said this is the method it has always used, and applied consistently to all town councils.
Aljunied Hougang Punggol Town Council (AHPTC) calculate using residential units only?
The ministry added it notes that the numbers provided by Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council only covered residential units and excluded the commercial units and this provides an incomplete picture.
“Complete picture” may look even better for AHPTC?
I am rather puzzled by the above, because if AHPTC uses the MND’s method of “dividing the MA tender rate by the total number of residential and commercial units”, instead of “by only the residential units” as AHPTC had done – wouldn’t the AHPTC MA rate per unit be even lower?
If this is correct, wouldn’t it make AHPTC’s rebuttal even stronger and better?
If so, what is the MND trying to say in its “this provides an incomplete picture”?
In other words, the “incomplete picture” may actually make AHPTC look worse than the “complete picture”?
Why not just do the calculation?
Actually, for the sake of clarity and to avoid any further confusion, the MND could just simply have calculated the “complete picture” and included it in its statement, instead of merely saying “this provides an incomplete picture”.
Comparison with Tampines?
As to “As a comparison, the ministry referred to Tampines Town Council as it was closest in size to Aljunied-Hougang Town Council, with the number of units managed at about 57,000.
EM Services was the Managing Agent for Tampines.
In FY2010, it charged a monthly rate of $5.14 per property unit.
In FY2011, it charged $5.15 per property unit..
WP’s rebuttal
In August 2012, an open tender was called, and CPG Facilities Management won the bid to provide MA services to Tampines Town Council, at a monthly rate of $4.99 per property unit” – Let’s look at what the Workers’ Party said in this regard – “According to the Minister, Tampines TC’s MA rate for 2012 is $4.99 per property unit.
MA change, rate drop?
We understand that there was a change in MA from 2011 to 2012, meaning that it was the first year in Tampines for the incumbent MA, CPG. Coincidentally, CPG was incumbent in Aljunied TC until 2011, and its unit rate tendered in FY 2010 for Aljunied had been $6.51 (according to the government’s tables).
We do not wish to speculate why a MA would tender in 2012 at a lower rate for MA services than in 2010, given the rising costs. However, we note that as early as at 2007, another MA, EM Services, had tendered at $5.75 per residential unit for Pasir Ris-Punggol Town.
Table 3 – Tampines TC’s MA rate

Managing Agent	FY 2007	FY 2010	FY 2012
EM Services – PRPG	$5.75	-	-
CPG – ATC	-	$6.51	-
CPG – Tampines TC	-	-	$4.99

“Selective” comparison?
We can only surmise that the Tampines TC’s MA rate of $4.99 in 2012 which was chosen for comparison was an outlier”.
Figures appear to be different?
So, Singaporeans are perhaps even more confused now because if you look at the MND’s and the WP’s media statements (and of course as well as what the Minister said in the Parliamentary debate) – both parties’ MA rates for both AHTC and Tampines appear to be different.
More detailed data please?
I would like to suggest that they both come up with more detailed calculations to show Singaporeans how each side’s figures were derived – such as what was the total tender sum, number of residential and commercial units, etc – rather than just talking – like in a war of “words” without more detailed “numbers”.
Let’s have a more complete comparison?
The MND should also give the numbers for all the 14 town councils, instead of just Tampines.
Comparison was an outlier?
Saying “As a comparison, the ministry referred to Tampines Town Council as it was closest in size to Aljunied-Hougang Town Council, with the number of units managed at about 57,000″ – may have opened its “comparison” to what I believe the WP may be hinting at, in its statement that it may be an unfair selective comparison –
(WP’s words – “We do not wish to speculate why a MA would tender in 2012 at a lower rate for MA services than in 2010, given the rising costs.
We can only surmise that the Tampines TC’s MA rate of $4.99 in 2012 which was chosen for comparison was an outlier”).
Some questions for the sake of clarity?
In this connection, does Tampines have the lowest MA rate amongst the town councils?
Any other town council had a decrease in its MA rate by 3 per cent or more like Tampines, compared to the rates in FY2011 and FY2010?
What is the range in the variation of MA rates for all the town councils, relative to Tampines?
How does AHPTC’s rates compare to all the other town councils?
Why did Tampines increase S & CC?
Finally, if Tampines happens to have the lowest rate which also decreased – whereas the others increased over the last 2 years (I am just speculating for the purpose of using an example now, as I have no way of telling without the data) – then why did Tampines town council increase its S & CC last year, when it had an operating surplus of $3.51 million in the financial year 2010/2011, surplus for the financial year of $6.9 million and an accumulated surplus of $8.4 million?
AHPTC reduced S & CC
Also, by the way, AHPTC reduced its S & CC after it took over the town council, following the last elections.
So, what do we seem to have here – at least from the perspective of residents – a much lower MA rate like in Tampines means an increase in the S & CC – and a much higher (which is the subject of contention now) MA rate in AHPTC means a decrease in the S & CC? ]]> The Courtyard Café makapaaa http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152481-LSH-Tears-Apart-FAP-Traitors-Attack-on-WP http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152480-Why-Teo-Ho-Pin-say-WP-is-missing-1-million-in-Aljunied&goto=newpost Sat, 18 May 2013 17:27:52 GMT Thought Sylvia Lim already explained about FMSS? PAP pulled out so WP has to get FMSS to run the town council. The Teo say WP rates are higher than... Thought Sylvia Lim already explained about FMSS? PAP pulled out so WP has to get FMSS to run the town council. The Teo say WP rates are higher than what Sylvia has disclosed and accused Sylvia of misleading the people. Worse, now Teo is saying WP is hiding $1 million dollars somewhere! Why don't Teo call CPIB to investigate as suggested by Sylvia if Teo thinks WP is corrupt? ]]> Political Issues leetahbah http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152480-Why-Teo-Ho-Pin-say-WP-is-missing-1-million-in-Aljunied http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152478-I-m-losing-my-virginity-in-Spain-at-0200hrs-S-pore-time-tonight&goto=newpost Sat, 18 May 2013 16:47:10 GMT That's when Pon!@#$% plays Numancia in the Spanish lower league

My last bet I was totally flattened when in an attempt to win S$100,000 I lost over S$40,000 in one match

Now the bookie called me from London and offered me 10,000 pounds credit or $20,000, whichever currency I choose

He tried many times to jio me again after I hammered big big the last time

I was numb after my last loss, but in my whole life I have never borrowed big money to gamble

Tonight, I will whack $10,000 on Pon!@#$% -0.5 ball, even though I can't spell out the name

It will be my first bet on credit - so I'll be losing my virginity in this sense

Chok dee mak mak ]]> The Courtyard Café Romagnum http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152478-I-m-losing-my-virginity-in-Spain-at-0200hrs-S-pore-time-tonight http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152477-Cheap-cocaine-for-the-masses-now-available&goto=newpost Sat, 18 May 2013 16:23:26 GMT *Greek addicts turn to deadly shisha drug as economic crisis deepens (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/16/greek-addicts-sisha-drug-crisis)* ... Greek addicts turn to deadly shisha drug as economic crisis deepens

Nobody knows which came first: the economic crisis tearing Greece apart or shisha, the drug now known as the "cocaine of the poor". What everyone does accept is that shisha is a killer. And at €2 or less a hit, it is one that has come to stalk Greece, the country long on the frontline of Europe's financial meltdown.

"As drugs go, it is the worst. It burns your insides, it makes you aggressive and ensures that you go totally mad," said Maria, a former heroin addict. "But it is cheap and it is easy to get, and it is what everyone is doing."

]]> The Courtyard Café kryonlight http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152477-Cheap-cocaine-for-the-masses-now-available http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152476-Italians-unveil-long-lost-tomb-medallion-of-Scottish-MP&goto=newpost Sat, 18 May 2013 16:15:14 GMT *Italians unveil long-lost tomb medallion of Scottish MP* Profile of Francis Horner created by regency sculptor Sir Francis Chantrey is found by...
Italians unveil long-lost tomb medallion of Scottish MP

Profile of Francis Horner created by regency sculptor Sir Francis Chantrey is found by volunteers at Livorno cemetery

Lizzy Davies in Livorno
The Guardian, Saturday 18 May 2013



Sir Francis Chantrey's medallion portrait of Francis Horner found at the Protestant cemetery in Livorno.

Amid rampant weeds and crumbling stones, Matteo Giunti makes his way to the tomb of Francis Horner MP, a Scottish Whig who co-founded the Edinburgh Review and died, in 1817, in what he would have known as the prosperous Tuscan port of Leghorn.

But, as he reaches the once imposing grave, Giunti stops first at the Nike trainer and plastic bottle that have been left there overnight – not, presumably, by well-wishers. "This is nothing," he says. "People throw trash over the walls. We've found bicycles. We've found wheels. We've found all sorts of things."



Francis Horner's damaged tomb.

In March last year, as he and fellow volunteer Francesco Ceccarini were scrabbling through the mud and vegetation on the top of Horner's dilapidated tomb in the city's old English cemetery, they stumbled on something whose significance was not immediately apparent. A piece of stone, broken into three and caked in dirt, it was barely recognisable. But, after some research and more thought, the penny dropped. They had, Giunti realised, found the long-lost medallion that had once graced the tomb: a profile of Horner in bas relief carved by the foremost sculptor of Regency Britain, Sir Francis Chantrey. "When I understood what it was," he says, "we decided, 'Wow, this is something – we need to take it away from here.'"

Unveiled on Friday before journalists and locals in the Museo Fattori, the sculpture represents vindication for the five locals who make up the cultural association Livorno delle Nazioni (LdN) and who have fought to reverse the decline of what they describe as Italy's oldest Protestant cemetery still in existence.

With its first marked grave dating from 1646 (a 21-year-old, Leonard Digges), Livorno's small corner of England has almost two centuries on its counterpart in Florence and is older even than Rome's. There are merchants and mothers; novelists and navy men; one of Byron's bankers and a favoured pupil of Mary Wollstonecraft.

After wartime bombing and decades of neglect, however, many tombstones lie cracked and dirty. And the cemetery's aesthetic appeal is marred by the large car park that opened last year next door. The cemetery has been run for decades by the Misericordia, a charity which also runs an ambulance service. In 2011, the LdN was set up to formalise the efforts of Giunti and his fellow volunteers, who have tried to step up the cleaning, gardening and research that is needed if the place is to be returned to its former glory.

Now, the LdN hopes that the discovery of the Chantrey could help to attract attention – and money. "I'm pretty confident that this could be a real treasure. It's something that just needs more organisation and funding," says Lisa Lillie, Giunti's American wife. Among the hundreds of graves are those of Scottish writer Tobias Smollett, Irish aristocrat Margaret King – taught by Wollstonecraft and friend to her daughter, Mary Shelley – and the English merchant Robert Bateman. The cemetery was closed in the mid-19th century.

What will become of Chantrey's long-lost work is unclear. It must first be restored, then a decision taken on whether to put it back on Horner's tomb or in a Livorno museum. "I feel that someone would steal it," Giunti says, rather despondently. "Even if it's difficult to sell it."

]]> International News |ASIA| http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152476-Italians-unveil-long-lost-tomb-medallion-of-Scottish-MP http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152475-Marine-reunited-with-dog-he-handled-in-Afghanistan-in-surprise-ceremony&goto=newpost Sat, 18 May 2013 16:11:29 GMT *Marine reunited with dog he handled in Afghanistan in surprise ceremony* Published May 18, 2013 Associated Press Image:...
Marine reunited with dog he handled in Afghanistan in surprise ceremony

Published May 18, 2013
Associated Press



May 17, 2013: Marine Sgt. Ross Gundlach, of Madison, Wisc., gets a kiss from Casey, a four-year-old yellow labrador that he worked with while deployed in Afghanistan, as the two are reunited during a surprise ceremony at the Statehouse in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP)

DES MOINES, Iowa – When Marine Sgt. Ross Gundlach served as a dog handler in Afghanistan, he told the yellow lab who was his constant companion that he'd look her up when he returned home.

"I promised her if we made it out of alive, I'd do whatever it took to find her," Gundlach said.

On Friday, he made good on that vow with help from some sentimental state officials in Iowa who know how to pull off a surprise. Since leaving active duty to take classes at the University of Wisconsin this summer, Gundlach, of Madison, Wis., had been seeking to adopt 4-year-old Casey.

The 25-year-old learned Casey had finished her military service and had been sent to the Iowa State Fire Marshal's Office, where she was used to detect explosives. Gundlach wrote to State Fire Marshal Director Ray Reynolds, explaining the connection he felt with the dog. He even has a tattoo on his right forearm depicting Casey with angel wings and a halo, sitting at the foot of a Marine.

"He's been putting a case together for the last two months, sending me pictures ... it just tugged on your heart," Reynolds said. Reynolds decided to arrange a surprise. First, he got in touch with the Iowa Elk's Association, which agreed to donate $8,500 to buy another dog for the agency.

"We have a motto in our association that as long as there are veterans, the Elks will strive to help them," Iowa Elks Association president Tom Maher said. Then, Reynolds came up with a ruse to get Gundlach to Des Moines, telling Gundlach he needed to come to the state Capitol to plead his case in front of a "bureaucratic oversight committee."

When Gundlach arrived with his parents, Reynolds told them the meeting had been delayed and invited them to join an Armed Services Day celebration in the rotunda. There, hundreds of law enforcement officers, military personnel and civilians were seated, keeping the secret — until they brought out Casey.

When Gundlach saw Casey, he put his head in his hands and cried. She licked his face, wagging her tail furiously. "It was a total surprise," he said. "I owe her. I'll just try to give her the best life I can." His father, Glen Gundlach, seemed just as surprised. "It's unbelievable ... the state of Iowa, I love 'em," he said.

Gov. Terry Branstad officially retired Casey from active duty during Friday's ceremony, thanking the dog for a "job well done." During the 150 missions they performed together, Gundlach said Casey never missed an explosive — she caught three before they could be detonated. He credits her for making it back home safely.

"I wouldn't be here ... any kids I ever had wouldn't exist if Casey hadn't been here," he said.


]]> International News |ASIA| http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152475-Marine-reunited-with-dog-he-handled-in-Afghanistan-in-surprise-ceremony http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152474-UK-backpacker-dies-from-poisoned-alcohol-in-Indonesia&goto=newpost Sat, 18 May 2013 16:07:00 GMT *UK backpacker dies from poisoned alcohol in Indonesia * Cheznye Emmons, 23, has life support machine turned off after drinking methanol from a...
UK backpacker dies from poisoned alcohol in Indonesia

Cheznye Emmons, 23, has life support machine turned off after drinking methanol from a bottle labelled as gin

Martin Williams
The Guardian Saturday 18 May 2013 10.15 BST



Cheznye Emmons was trekking with her boyfriend and another traveller in the Indonesian jungle when they drank the methanol. Photograph: Peter Lawson/East News Press Agency

A British backpacker has died after drinking poisoned alcohol in the Indonesian jungle.

Cheznye Emmons, 23, had bought a bottle labelled "gin" from a shop, which turned out to be deadly methanol. The beauty therapist from Essex had been trekking with her boyfriend and another man they met while travelling.

All three suffered health problems after drinking the methanol, which can cause kidney failure, blindness, seizures and death. Emmons lost her sight and was taken through the jungle to the nearest eye clinic. She was referred to hospital where she was placed in an induced coma.

Her parents flew to Indonesia where they eventually decided to turn off her life support machine.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We can confirm the death of a British national in Indonesia and we are providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time."

Her brother, Michael Emmons, said: "We're all just in shock. From what we understand, the shop poured the gin out of the original bottle and then replaced it with methanol. It was in the original bottle with the gin label on it. As far as we're aware, the shop has been shut and there's a police investigation."

Home-brewed spirits are common in Indonesia because of an alcohol tax of more than 200%, but methanol is a by-product of poor distillation techniques.

]]> International News Discovery http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152474-UK-backpacker-dies-from-poisoned-alcohol-in-Indonesia http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152473-VIDEO-Meteor-crashes-into-moon-s-surface-causing-flash&goto=newpost Sat, 18 May 2013 16:03:34 GMT A Nasa...]]>



A Nasa telescope captures the moment a 40kg (88lb) rock crashes into the moon's surface on Friday. The impact caused a flash 10 times brighter than any other Nasa has seen since it began monitoring the lunar surface eight years ago. Nasa's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter satellite is now hunting for the newly-formed crater, which scientists believe could be up to 20m (66ft) in width


]]> International News Discovery http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152473-VIDEO-Meteor-crashes-into-moon-s-surface-causing-flash http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152472-Commuter-train-derails-in-Connecticut-injuring-60&goto=newpost Sat, 18 May 2013 15:49:58 GMT *Passengers bloodied after trains derail, collide in southwest Connecticut* By Greg Botelho and Rob Frehse, CNN May 18, 2013 -- Updated 0243...
Passengers bloodied after trains derail, collide in southwest Connecticut

By Greg Botelho and Rob Frehse, CNN

May 18, 2013 -- Updated 0243 GMT (1043 HKT)



(CNN) -- Two Metro-North passenger trains heading in opposite directions collided during rush hour Friday evening in southwestern Connecticut, damaging both trains and leaving dozens injured -- some of them critically -- authorities said.

A train heading from New Haven to New York City derailed around 6:10 p.m., hitting the other train in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Metro-North spokeswoman Marjorie Anders said. That caused some cars on the second train, which was destined for New Haven, to likewise leave the tracks.

Gov. Dannel Malloy told reporters Friday night that five people were "critically injured," one of whom was in "very critical condition."

Two of the 26 people being treated at Bridgeport Hospital are in critical condition, said spokesman John Cappiello.

St. Vincent's Medical Center, also in Bridgeport, treated 41 patients from the incident, hospital spokeswoman Lucinda Ames said. One of those was in serious condition and in intensive care, while the others mostly had minor injuries like "you might get in a car accident."

By 9:45 p.m., 11 of the 67 who had gone to hospitals had been released.

A passenger in a middle car of the New York-bound train, Chris Martin, recalled to CNN how his car went dark after the crash, then someone over the intercom "called all the doctors up front."

He and others aboard his "pretty full train" were evacuated, most of them physically fine if emotionally shaken. But there were signs of injuries outside, as Martin said he personally saw eight or nine ambulances and a number of wounded people on stretchers.

Brian Alvarez, who saw the wreckage, described the scene as "pretty graphic." "I saw this one car and it was completely destroyed, and they were pulling people out of the car," Alvarez said. "... They were all bloody."

Power was shut off along the line and service has been halted -- westbound past Bridgeport, which is about 60 miles northeast of New York City on the Long Island Sound, and eastbound beyond South Norwalk -- because of the derailment. Amtrak also announced early Friday night that it had suspended all travel between New York and Boston indefinitely after the crash.

Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch said such travel headaches could persist for weeks, because the two tracks affected by the derailment -- which are both "shot right now" -- may take weeks to repair. Because of a bridge replacement project, those two tracks are the only way in and out of New York City by train from that part of Connecticut.

Workers will need to not only remove disabled trains, but also remove the tracks, regrade the rail bed, then lay down the tracks again, according to Finch.

"This is our pipeline to New York City, and it's going to be shut down for some time," the mayor said. "And it's going to cost this region a great deal of money, frankly, not just to repair it but the lost wages and the lost economy."

Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board will head the investigation into the crash. Terry Williams, a Washington-based spokesman for that agency, said a team should be on site by 9 a.m. Saturday.

"We have no reason to believe that it's anything but an accident," Gov. Malloy said.

CNN's Morgan Winsor, Brittany Brady, Todd Sperry and Mayra Cuevas contributed to this report.

]]> International News TommyThayer http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152472-Commuter-train-derails-in-Connecticut-injuring-60 http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152470-VIDEO-Thief-botches-his-getaway-by-running-into-the-path-of-moving-bus&goto=newpost Sat, 18 May 2013 15:40:07 GMT
Phone thief runs in front of bus during getaway



A thief in Colombia is caught on CCTV grabbing a woman's phone at a bus stop, then being hit by a bus as he tries to get away. The video shows the woman, who had struggled as the man stole her mobile from her hands, helping the man out from under the bus. He is said to have suffered only minor injuries

]]> International News SecretMessages http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152470-VIDEO-Thief-botches-his-getaway-by-running-into-the-path-of-moving-bus http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152469-Local-forum-makes-it-to-Shin-Min-Headlines-for-Correctly-Predicting-5M-Toto-Numbers&goto=newpost Sat, 18 May 2013 15:31:30 GMT No it's obviously not this forum. :rolleyes:



News Article from Shin Min



Here is the exact post

]]> The Courtyard Café Jah_rastafar_I http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?152469-Local-forum-makes-it-to-Shin-Min-Headlines-for-Correctly-Predicting-5M-Toto-Numbers