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Archive for November, 2012

Keeping Them Honest: Gaza Child Killed By Failed Hamas Rocket Reported By CNN As Killed By Israel

11/18/2012 2 comments

Concocted. Negligent. Narrow. This is CNN …

By Robert Spencer – “CNN takes it as a given that young Mahmoud Sadallah (Sadhala) was killed by an Israeli airstrike.

Only one problem: he was killed by a Hamas rocket that fell short in Gaza.

There is a lot of evidence for this. Read the New York Times’ account of his death:

The Abu Wardah family woke up on Friday morning to word that a hudna — Arabic for cease-fire — had been declared during the three-hour visit of the Egyptian prime minister to this embattled territory. So, after two days of huddling indoors to avoid intensifying Israeli air assaults, Abed Abu Wardah, the patriarch, went to the market to buy fruits and vegetables. His 22-year-old son, Aiman, took an empty blue canister to be refilled with cooking gas. The younger children of their neighborhood, Annazla, in this town north of Gaza City went out to the dirt alley to kick a soccer ball.But around 9:45 a.m., family members and neighbors said, an explosion  struck a doorway near the Abu Wardah home, killing Aiman Abu Wardah as he returned from his errand, as well as Mahmoud Sadallah, 4, who lived  next door and had refused his older cousin’s pleas to stay indoors.

It is unclear who was responsible for the strike on Annazla: the damage was nowhere near severe enough to have come from an Israeli F-16,raising the possibility that an errant missile fired by Palestinian militants was responsible for the deaths. What seems clear is that expectations for a pause in the fighting, for at least one family, were tragically misplaced.

The IDF did not launch any airstrikes in Gaza while Egyptian PM Kandil was in Gaza.

Read more.

The Telegraph: Four-Year Old Child Was Killed By Hamas Rocket, Not Israel – “… there were signs on Saturday that not all the Palestinian casualties have been the result of Israeli air strikes. The highly publicised death of four-year-old Mohammed Sadallah appeared to have been the result of a misfiring home-made rocket, not a bomb dropped by Israel. The child’s death on Friday figured prominently in media coverage after Hisham Kandil, the Egyptian prime minister, was filmed lifting his dead body out of an ambulance. ‘The boy, the martyr, whose blood is still on my hands and clothes, is something that we cannot keep silent about,’ he said, before promising to defend the Palestinian people.” Read more.

Click here to watch CNN’s report.

Somalia: Muslims Gather To Watch Convert To Christianity Beheaded By Al-Shabaab Islamists

11/18/2012 2 comments

Hadith: Bukhari 9.84.57, “Muhammad said, ‘Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him.’”

Morning Star News – “NAIROBI, Kenya (Morning Star News) – Islamic extremists from Somalia’s rebel Al-Shabaab militants on Friday (Nov. 16) killed a Christian in Somalia’s coastal city of Barawa, accusing him of being a spy and leaving Islam, Christian and Muslim witnesses said.

The extremists beheaded 25-year-old Farhan Haji Mose after monitoring his movements for six months, Christian sources said. Mose drew suspicion when he returned to Barawa, in Somalia’s Lower Shebelle Region, in December 2011 after spending time in Kenya, underground Christians in Somalia told Morning Star News.

Kenya’s population is nearly 83 percent Christian, according to Operation World, while Somalia’s is close to 100 percent Muslim.

A crowd assembled in the coastal city on Friday morning to watch the slaughter of Mose, the sources said.

‘His body was split into two, then carried away, only to be dumped near the beach of Barawa city,’ a Christian source who witnessed the murder told Morning Star News.

Other witnesses, Muslims, independently described the same scene. They and the Christian witness told Morning Star News that the Islamic extremists accused Mose of being a spy for foreigners and of embracing the ‘foreign religion of Christianity.’

Loved ones of the deceased did not risk immediately recovering the body, fearing that the militants would consider them guilty by association and kill them as well. A source said a Muslim fisherman who came upon Mose’s body this morning (Nov. 17) lamented, ‘What a brutal murder – why did the Al Shabaab kill this man? Did he deserve such a brutal death because he associated with the Christian people in Kenya?'” Read more.

Flashback: Al-Shabaab Vows To Continue Killing Those Who Do Not Worship Allah – “Somalia militia group Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for Sunday’s twin attacks on two churches in Garissa County that left 17 people dead… An Al-Shabaab loyalist Sheikh Hassan Takar said that the militia killed people who did not profess allegiance to Allah. ‘The mujahedeen (holy warriors) punished with their hands those believing and worshipping other than Allah,’ he said. ‘The militants will continue until such practice is eliminated.’ He added” Read more.

Flashback: Somalia: Muslim Extremists from Al Shabaab Behead Another Christian for Leaving Islam – “Islamic extremists from the rebel al Shabaab militia in Somalia beheaded a Christian on the outskirts of Mogadishu last month, sources said. The militants fighting the transitional government in Mogadishu murdered Zakaria Hussein Omar, 26, on Jan. 2 in Cee-carfiid village, about 15 kilometers (nine miles) outside of the Somali capital, they said. Omar had worked for a Christian humanitarian organization that al Shabaab banned last year.” Read more.

Israel Surrounded: Gaza Conflict Shows How The Power Of The Arab Spring Was Underestimated By Western Capitals

11/18/2012 1 comment

Zechariah 12:2, “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem.”

Joel 3:12, “Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; For there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.”

By Richard Spencer, The Telegraph – “The central quandary of the Arab Spring was never lost on Israel. For years it held itself up as the only democracy in the Middle East, surrounded by vicious and anti-semitic dictatorships.

Now other countries are following suit, but in the turmoil of change life is becoming more dangerous, not less.

Israel’s Western allies were also quick to grasp this, tempering their enthusiasm for the political reforms which they had long promoted with caution as to the consequences; above all, now, in Syria where they are being dragged kicking and screaming into intervening on the rebels’ side.

But the surprise in western capitals at the imminent Gaza war is a sign that the real risk may have been overlooked. Last week saw not just the old battle between Israel’s defensiveness and militarism and the Arab world’s hostility and paranoia, but this time with a dash of popular feeling thrown in.

There is not, in fact, some overwhelming demand on the Egyptian street for the newly elected President Mohammed Morsi to take on Israel, despite what you might have read, even if it watches televised images of Gaza hospitals with as much horror as before.

Rather, what the Arab Spring has done is to change the strategic calculations of all the main players: Israel, Hamas, neighbours like Egypt and the Gulf’s small but rich new play-maker, Qatar. They all have different points to make from before.

Hamas is an off-shoot of the Muslim Brotherhood. However different they are, the bonds that unite its branches are strong and Hamas feels its time has come. Gaza is now part of a swathe of the Middle East where Islamists are leading politics, from Morocco to Iran.” Read more.

Flashback: NBC’s Engel ‘Worried’ About ‘Ferociously Anti-Israel’ Arab Street and Concludes ‘This Thing Ends in Jerusalem’

Israel Issues Stern Warning To Hamas: We Are Ready To ‘Significantly Expand’ Gaza Offensive If Rocket Attacks Continue

11/18/2012 1 comment

France24 – “The Israeli army is ready to ‘significantly expand’ its operation in Gaza, the country’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday as Hamas launched fresh rocket attacks on Tel Aviv.

Speaking at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said ‘The soldiers are ready for any activity that could take place’.

Netanyahu issued the warning as Israel’s ‘Iron Dome’ system intercepted two rockets aimed at Tel Aviv. Hamas militants admitted responsibility for the latest rocket attack on Israel’s commercial capital.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry told FRANCE24 that a ground offensive into Gaza was likely if the rocket attacks continued.

‘Our sole aim of this offensive is to make Hamas stop firing rockets. We have used air strikes but if that’s not enough then we may contemplate ground operations as well,’ Ygal Palmor from the Israeli foreign ministry told FRANCE 24 on Sunday.

‘If rockets are being fired then that will bring the ground operation forward,’ he added.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman also said on Sunday that Israel would not negotiate a truce with the Gaza Strip’s Hamas rulers as long as rocket fire continues from the Palestinian enclave.

Israel’s operation has drawn Western support for what US and European leaders have called Israel’s right to self-defence, but there have also been a growing number of calls from world leaders to seek an end to the violence.” Read more.

Turkish Scholar To Hamas: Stop Focusing On Rocket Attacks And Start Focusing On The Islamic Messiah

11/18/2012 Leave a comment

In other words, don’t waste your time lobbing rockets at the Zionists in an effort to destroy Israel. Antichrist will unite the Ummah and do that for you when he comes …

By Chana Ya’ar, INN – “Turkish Islamic scholar Adnan Oktar is urging Gaza terrorist groups on his A9TV satellite television talk show to stop the rocket fire and instead focus on calling for the Messiah.

Oktar, based in Istanbul, is known for hosting colleagues of various other faiths, including numerous rabbis from Israel, Europe and the United States. He is active in interfaith affairs and has studied Judaic and Christian texts in addition to those of his own Muslim faith, a point for which radical Islamists have often vilified him — and sometimes even threatened him — around the world.

The Islamic scholar said last week in response to an article about Israel’s current Operation Pillar of Defense, detailing the IAF’s attacks on Gaza to silence the rocket fire against southern Israeli communities, ‘What Israel must do is constantly ask Allah for Moshiach, for the coming of the King Messiah. What Palestine must do is constantly ask Allah and strive for the Mahdi and Islamic Unity.

‘These rocket attacks and the like are totally stupid and pointless,’ he said. ‘They do nothing for five months and then suddenly decide to attack Israel and fire off 300 rockets. Where? At whom? What is your target? The rockets fall on the homes of innocent Israeli civilians. Where does that get you?’ he asked.

‘They then retaliate and hundreds or thousands of people are martyred, homes are bulldozed and children are martyred or injured. I fail to understand why they carry out such plans and why they want it. Who sets these things in motion in Palestine? And who goes along and regards these things as logical? I want to know. Have you never heard of peace, my brother?

‘There are the sons of Jacob there. Let them live in peace. And there are the sons of Ishmael. Leave them in peace, too. Sit down as brothers, break bread, talk… They can pray in the synagogues and you can pray in the mosques. But live in peace, my brothers. They insist on engaging in provocative actions. That is very, very wrong.'” Source – INN.

Sri Lanka: Unexplained ‘Red Rain’ Falling From The Sky Prompts Investigation

11/17/2012 Leave a comment

By Ridma Dissanayake, Daily News – “Rare showers of red rain fell for over 15 minutes in Sewanagala, Monaragala and Manampitiya,Polonnaruwa yesterday morning hours of yesterday and day before yesterday. According to Meteorology Department sources red rain fell heavily in these areas and the reason has not been found yet.

Red rain in Sewanagala and Manampitiya left red frost on the ground. This is the first time red rain was witnessed in Sri Lanka. The Health Ministry Secretary informed Medical Research Institute (MRI) Director Dr Anil Samaranayake to conduct a study to ascertain the reasons for red rain by taking water samples from Monaragala and Polonnaruwa.

Increase in the acidity of the air and sand storms are the usual reasons for red rain. However, there are no sand storms in Sri Lanka. India had red rain last year and Indian scientists discovered a variety of micro organisms as a reason for the rains. Since the micro organisms had no DNA, they guessed it had to be a strange phenomenon.

The MRI is carrying out research to find the exact reason for red rain in Sri Lanka.” Source – Daily News.

Categories: Anything Else

Nigeria: Christian Family Burned To Death After Suspected Islamists Rampage Through Northern Christian Community

11/17/2012 Leave a comment

Christian Today – “Christian Solidarity Worldwide has expressed fears for Christians in northern Nigeria after a family was killed in Kaduna State this week.

The organisation reports that gunmen opened fire on the home of Yakubu Kayit in Madauchi-Zonkwa.

There were reportedly five family members in the house when the gunmen set it ablaze, killing everyone inside.

Pastor Bitrus Titus of Living Faith Church, Zonkwa, told CSW Nigeria that the sound of gun fire lasted for close to an hour last night.

He added that there was no intervention from security personnel and that the bodies were burnt beyond recognition.

The attack has shocked and angered the Christian community. Some young men took to the streets to protest the attack and demand that soldiers stationed nearby be removed from their post.

Reverend Yunusa Nmadu, chief executive of CSW Nigeria, met with protesters during a visit to the area on Thursday.

He said, ‘We are saddened by yet another attack on a predominately Christian community and urge the relevant security agents to live up to their responsibilities, especially since there has been a long standing threat that the community and others around would be attacked after the April 2011 presidential electoral violence in Kaduna State.

‘Our hearts go out to the relatives and friends of the family that has been affected.’

Andrew Johnston, Advocacy Director at Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), said, ‘We send our heartfelt condolences to the relations and friends of the Kayit family. It is deeply worrying to hear that despite the long-standing nature of the threat against the area, the security services did not come to the aid of the victims, and this sustained, brutal attack was allowed to continue for almost an hour. We urge those responsible for security in this area to fulfil their mandate to protect innocent civilians from attack.'” Source – Christian Today.

Flashback: Boko Haram: Our Goal is to Eliminate Followers of Christ – “Terrorist organisation Boko Haram has issued a statement making clear that its goal is to eliminate followers of Christ from Nigeria and establish an Islamic state. ‘The Nigerian state and Christians are our enemies and we will be launching attacks on the Nigerian state and its security apparatus as well as churches until we achieve our goal of establishing an Islamic state in place of the secular state … We are responsible for the suicide attack on a church in Jos and also another attack on another church in Biu,’ a spokesman for the group, Abul Qaqa, is said to have told reporters in the northeastern city of Maiduguri over the phone.” Read more.

Iran Set To Double Nuclear Fuel Capability, May Have Enough Uranium For Nuclear Bomb By March 2013

11/17/2012 3 comments

As Israel quickly runs out of time, it is looking more and more likely that 2013 will be the year that everything changes …

By JAY SOLOMON, The Wall Street Journel – “Iran has finished installing nearly 3,000 nuclear-fuel production machines at its underground military facility near the holy city of Qom, providing Tehran the capability to double its production of medium-enriched uranium in the coming months, a new report said.

These advances, outlined in a report on Iran by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations nuclear watchdog, could allow Tehran’s Islamist leaders to accumulate in as little as three to four months enough uranium enriched to 20% purity for one atomic weapon, according to nuclear experts.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cited this level of nuclear-fuel production by Tehran as the ‘red line’ for when the Jewish state might launch military strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities. Iran was likely to amass this stockpile of fissile material by next summer, Mr. Netanyahu estimated in a September speech at the U.N.

The installation of the nearly 3,000 centrifuge machines at Qom could allow it to reach this point much quicker, experts say, if the machines there and at a second nuclear-fuel site at the city of Natanz are utilized.

‘The number of centrifuges are steadily increasing, which diminishes the time for a breakout for a nuclear weapon in two ways,’ said Olli Heinonen, a former chief weapons inspector at the IAEA. ‘Iran’s inventories will increase as well as its pace of production.’ Tehran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and denies it is pursuing bomb production.

Iran currently has a stockpile of 232 kilograms of 20% enriched uranium, or about 510 pounds, of which 96 kilograms has been detected for the production of fuel plates, according to the IAEA. Nuclear experts estimate that Iran would need 220 to 250 kilograms to produce one nuclear weapon.

They said Iran’s rate of quarterly production could grow to around 25 kilograms per month with the Qom facility fully operational.

To make a bomb, Iran would then need to convert this stockpile to weapons-grade levels, which is around 90% purity. It has the technology to do so, by reconfiguring centrifuges, in an additional few months, say experts.” Read more.

An Obama Nation: Seniors To Suffer As Obamacare’s $716 Billion In Cuts Drive Doctors Out Of Medicare

11/17/2012 1 comment

By Avik Roy, Forbes -“A new survey of physicians has found that 30 percent of doctors in Florida intend to place new or additional limits on accepting Medicare patients, with 27 percent altogether refusing to accept new Medicare patients, because of Obamacare’s impact on the fees that Medicare pays to providers of health-care services. In addition, Obamacare will deeply cut Medicare Advantage for 1.2 million Florida seniors who are enrolled in the program, and drive up the cost of private health coverage, especially for those who buy insurance on their own. Read on for more details…

Obamacare cuts Medicare by $716 billion between 2013 and 2022 in order to pay for part of the law’s $1.9 trillion in new health-care spending for younger people over the same time frame. My co-blogger Robert Book and Michael Ramlet have published a paper for the University of Minnesota showing that Florida’s share of those Medicare cuts is $44.4 billion. This year, Florida has 3,527,830 Medicare enrollees, which means that these cuts amount to $12,584 for every senior in the state.

Robert Book published another paper, this time with former White House budget official James Capretta, detailing Obamacare’s cuts to Medicare Advantage on a state-by-state basis. Robert and Jim found that, in 2017, Obamacare will cut $3,203 in Medicare Advantage services for every Floridian enrolled in the program: a 21 percent cut. 34 percent of Florida’s seniors—1,198,943—are enrolled in Medicare Advantage…

Last month, the Physicians Foundation published one of the largest physician surveys ever conducted in the United States, with 13,575 respondents. They asked physicians a broad range of questions, including several about their views on Obamacare. 67 percent of Florida physicians said that the Affordable Care Act made them ‘less positive about the direction and future of healthcare in America.’ Only 12 percent said it made them feel more positive.

If Medicare fees decrease by ten percent or more—as the Affordable Care Act will require—30 percent of doctors in Florida say that they will place ‘new or additional limits’ on accepting Medicare patients. 27 percent say they’ll stop accepting Medicare patients altogether.” Read more.

How Obamacare’s $716 Billion in Cuts Will Drive Doctors Out of Medicare – “There are 600,000 physicians in America who care for the 48 million seniors on Medicare. Of the $716 billion that the Affordable Care Act cuts from the program over the next ten years, the largest chunk—$415 billion—comes from slashing Medicare’s reimbursement rates to hospitals, nursing homes, and doctors. This significant reduction in fees is driving many doctors to stop accepting new Medicare patients, making it harder for seniors to gain access to needed care.” Read more.

An Obama Nation: Tsunami Of Obamacare Regulations Forcing Drastic Measures Upon Restaurant Owners To Ensure Profitability

11/17/2012 1 comment

The examples below are a drop in the bucket. Many restaurant employees who voted for Obama are now beginning to develop a sour taste in the mouth. Elections have consequences …

By Kemberlee Kaye – “Business owners nationwide are making preparations for the upcoming Obamacare regulatory tsunami. Citing cumbersome regulations and costs, entrepreneurs are being forced to make very difficult decisions. The stories are becoming all too common. In order to keep their businesses afloat, companies are laying off workers, reducing their hours and in some cases, closing locations.

The problem is not industry specific either. Energy companies, technology companies, retail establishments and restaurants are all facing the economic challenges created by Obamacare. Following the re-election of President Obama, several restauranteurs have gone to the press to express their disastifaction with the President’s hallmark legislation.

Yesterday, Florida restaurant owner, John Metz explained that in preparation for the January 2014 regulatory onslaught, he will be forced to take drastic measures. Metz owns 40 Denny’s locations, several Dairy Queens and the Hurricane Grill & Wings franchise. In order to offset the cost of Obamacare, Metz is considering adding a 5% surcharge to all purchases, effectively passing the cost on to the consumer.

But the consumer would not be the only affected party. According the Huffington Post, Metz plans to meet with employees next month to explain, ‘that because of Obamacare, we are going to be cutting front-of-the-house employees to under 30 hours, effective immediately.’ Metz went on to say, ‘I think it’s a terrible thing. It’s ridiculous that the maximum hours we can give people is 28 hours a week instead of 40. It’s going to force my employees to go out and get a second job.'” Read more.

Zane Tankel, Applebee’s Franchisee, Says He Won’t Hire Because Of Obamacare – “‘We’ve calculated it will [cost] some millions of dollars across our system. So what does that say — that says we won’t build more restaurants. We won’t hire more people,’ Zane Tankel, chairman and CEO of Apple-Metro, told Fox Business Network on Thursday. Apple-Metro, which runs 40 Applebee’s restaurants, employs from 80 to 300 people at each of its locations. Obamacare mandates that businesses with more than 50 workers must offer an approved insurance plan or pay a penalty of $2,000 for each full-time worker over 30 workers.” Read more.

Papa John’s to Reduce Workers Hours Due to Obamacare – “Papa John’s workers will have their hours reduced due to Obamacare, Huffington Post reports Nov. 9. The pizza chain’s CEO, John Schnatter, said now that President Obama has been re-elected he plans to pass the expense of the nation’s new health care plan down to his workers — which means less hours… John Schnatter might be getting a lot of criticism for the prices raised on Papa John’s pizza and reducing his workers’ hours, but people can expect to see more of this in order to support Obamacare.” Read more.

Obamacare May Force Owner Of ‘Jim’s Restaurants’ To Fire Full-Time Employees – “‘Many of us are left out there hanging, so to speak, in a holding pattern, because we don’t know,’ said Jimmy Hasslocher, the owner of Jim’s Restaurants. His local chain has 1100 employees, which is enough to trigger mandatory health insurance for full-time employees — one of the rules in the Affordable Care Act. Hasslocher said there’s a slim profit margin in food sales, so something’s going to have to give. And it just may be his full-time employees.” Read more.

An Obama Nation: President’s ‘War On Coal’ Forces Mine To Lay Off Workers, 204 Coal-Fired Plants To Close By 2014

11/17/2012 2 comments

Look on the bright side. Thanks to Obama’s energy policies, more coal miners out of work means fewer kids will be getting a lump of coal in their stocking for Christmas …

By Geoff Liesik – “EAST CARBON, Carbon County — A Utah coal company owned by a vocal critic of President Barack Obama has laid off 102 miners.

The layoffs at the West Ridge Mine are effective immediately, according to UtahAmerican Energy Inc., a subsidiary of Murray Energy Corp. They were announced in a short statement made public Thursday, two days after Obama won re-election.

The layoffs are necessary because of the president’s ‘war on coal,’ the statement said. The slogan is one used frequently during the election by Murray Energy CEO Robert Murray, who was an ardent supporter of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

In its statement, UtahAmerican Energy blames the Obama administration for instituting policies that will close down ‘204 American coal-fired power plants by 2014’ and for drastically reducing the market for coal.

‘There is nowhere to sell our coal, and when we can, the market prices are far lower,’ the statement said. ‘Without markets, there can be no coal mines and no coal jobs.'” Read more.

Flashback: Obama Planned to Bankrupt Coal Industry and Raise Energy Prices

An Obama Nation: US Poverty Rate Rises Sharply, Number Of Americans On Food Stamps Hits All-Time Record

11/17/2012 Leave a comment

“WASHINGTON (CBSDC/AP) – As President Barack Obama is set to begin his second term, new statistics on America’s poverty rate indicate that nearly 50 million Americans, more than 16 percent of the population, are struggling to survive.

New figures released by the Census Bureau this week found a spike in poverty numbers last year, going from 49 million in 2010 to 49.7 million last year. The numbers may come as a surprise to Congress, which estimated in September that the poverty rate would drop to 46.2 million. One of the most startling findings showed that almost 20 percent of American children continue to live in poverty.

The Associated Press reports that the new figures are based on an updated formula devised by the Census Bureau to help give the government a better understanding for how to use safety-net programs.

The numbers found that Hispanics and people living in urban areas had a higher chance of struggling to make it financially. Poverty among full-time and part-time workers also saw a jump from its 2010 numbers.

Based on the formula implemented by the Census Bureau, California tops the list as the sate most likely to bring about poverty. The top five is rounded out by the District of Columbia, Arizona, Florida and Georgia.” Read more.

Report Hidden Until After Election Shows Record Surge In Americans Using Food Stamps – “The number of Americans relying on food stamps to stay fed has been steadily on the rise, hitting an all-time record this year, with more than 47.1 million Americans using government assistance to obtain food. The US Monthly Data report, released by the Department of Agriculture (USDA), is normally issued at month’s end. But the most recent report, which shows the record-breaking surge in food stamp dependence, was published on November 9 – three days after the presidential election. About 15 percent of all Americans, or 47,102,780 people, are now enrolled in the federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This is the highest number on record, and surpasses the number of unemployed Americans who found jobs during the same time period.” Read more.