Heavy Rain In California, February 2014

Heavy Rain In California, February 2014, Heavy rain and snow are forecast to wallop California Friday and Saturday, helping a bone-dry state enduring a punishing drought but threatening foothills communities with mudslides.

The National Weather Service reports that the storm might dump the most rain on Southern California in nearly two years.

“Rainfall totals will be quite impressive, ranging from 1-3 inches across the coasts and valley to 3-6 inches in the foothills and mountains,” the weather service said. Rain could dampen weekend festivities associated with the Academy Awards, though the worst of the rain could be over before the red carpet fun Sunday night.

Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for 1,000 homes in two foothills suburbs east of Los Angeles in advance of the storm.

The cities of Glendora and Azusa, about 25 miles northeast of Los Angeles, issued the orders at midday Thursday for homes that could be endangered by debris flows from nearly 2,000 acres of steep mountain slopes. Those towns sit at the foot of the steep San Gabriel Mountains, where a wildfire stripped nearly 2,000 acres of vegetation last month, meaning flowing water could pose a danger.

As of Thursday’s U.S. Drought Monitor, a weekly federal website, 94.56% of the state is in a drought, including 26.21% in “exceptional” drought, the worst category.

Crimean Airports ‘Blocked’ In Ukraine

Crimean Airports ‘Blocked’ In Ukraine, Ukraine has accused Russia of carrying out an armed invasion by sending naval forces to occupy Sevastopol airport in the Crimea region.

Russia’s Black Sea Fleet denies its servicemen are blocking the airport.

Another Crimean airport, Simferopol, has also been occupied by armed men, thought to be pro-Russia militia.

Relations between the two countries have been strained since Viktor Yanukovych was ousted as Ukrainian president last week.

REVENGE AGAINST COMPLAINING GUESTS CRAGS HOTEL

REVENGE AGAINST COMPLAINING GUESTS CRAGS HOTEL, Crags Hotel revenge against complaining guests. An outraged hotel owner has hit back at guests who left a negative review on TripAdvisor.

When the disgruntled couple described their stay at the Crags Hotel in Callander, Scotland as a “nightmare”, owner Alex Scrivenor responded with a Basil Fawlty-style post.

The critical review read: “Stay clear of this hotel, was the worst experience ever … Was a nightmare from very beginning as they double-booked our room and continually lied to us about the booking.”

In response, Scrivenor, 41, accused the couple of getting drunk, threatening other guests, damaging a wall and failing to pay their £400 ($750) room fee after they were removed by police.

His tirade — which ended with the sign-off ‘Basil’, has now gone viral despite being removed from the website yesterday.

It read: “ … from henceforth I will remember Valentine’s as the miserable day that I had the misfortune to meet you, your husband and your friends from England! And the 16th Feb. will now be called ’Hatchet Sunday’ in memory of the review you left us.

Later on he said: “I understand that you were angry with me … to arrive at a hotel and be told that you can’t have the room you booked is frustrating! I get that! That is why I gave you a free bottle of wine … and £15 ($28) off the room … and a free night’s stay in March!

“(I was contemplating also throwing in a wee hug for you both … but I felt there might be health consequences!).

“I have struggled to understand why you then felt the need to go on a drunken rant through the hotel, threatening customers and shouting abuse?

“ … In conclusion. you have ruined me! You have set my therapy back some six months … You have stripped me of my greatest strength. my compassion. I will be forever, a ‘Basil’.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed to the Scotsman.com that officers had been called to the hotel, saying: “A 45-year-old man has been charged following a vandalism at a hotel in Callendar on 14th February 2014.”

Just last month another hotel manager landed in hot water for her TripAdvisor rant.

WITH RAPPER BOYFRIEND KATE ROTHSCHILD ALARMS FRIENDS

WITH RAPPER BOYFRIEND KATE ROTHSCHILD ALARMS FRIENDS, Kate Rothschild alarms friends with rapper boyfriend. Kate Rothschild’s friends are concerned about the British banking heiress’ growing wild side, after she was spotted partying in grubby clothes with her rapper boyfriend.

The 39-year-old mother of three was seen wearing sneakers and a tracksuit to a glitzy London nightclub last week, causing a stir when her companion, the extravagantly monikered Jay Electronica, got into an argument with door staff after he was denied him entry.

“To be quite frank I was shocked when I saw the pictures,” a longstanding family friend of the Rothschilds told the Daily Mail . “One tries not to jump to conclusions, but when she goes out looking like that it is terribly worrying.”

The incident underscored what Ms Rothschild’s friends described as a total transformation since 2003, when she married the fabulously wealthy Ben Goldsmith in what was the society wedding of the year.

The marriage imploded in 2012 after Mr Goldsmith uncovered Ms Rothschild’s yearlong affair with the US rapper, whose real name is Timothy Elpadaro Thedford, after finding text messages between the two.

Soon after, Ms Rothschild’s society invitations are said have dried up — not that she seems to mind.

“Kate leads a dual life,” the family friend said. “She is a fantastic mother, utterly dedicated to her three children, but when not on mummy duty she and Jay have a very different lifestyle.”

Mr Thedford, 37, is said to have introduced Ms Rothschild to his world of drinking and partying, which couldn’t be further from her comfortable upbringing.

But for better or for worse, close observers think Ms Rothschild is following her heart.

“Whereas Ben is socially confident and comfortable dealing with huge financial deals, he wouldn’t be able to change a tyre,” the friend said. “Jay could strip down the entire engine and put it back together. I think Kate finds that exciting. There is a passion in this relationship which was sadly lacking with Ben, for all that they were best friends.”

Ms Rothschild and Mr Thedford are both “square pegs in round holes,” the friend added. “Perhaps that’s what has kept them together through everything.”

Dahlan, Exiled Palestinian Leader, Builds Comeback

Dahlan, Exiled Palestinian Leader, Builds Comeback, Fueled by millions in Gulf aid dollars that are his to distribute, an exiled Palestinian operative seems to be orchestrating a comeback that could position him as a potential successor to aging Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

In a phone interview from London, Mohammed Dahlan spoke of his aid projects in the Gaza Strip, his closeness to Egypt’s military leaders and his conviction that the 79-year-old Abbas has left the Palestinian national cause in tatters.

If staging a successful return, Dahlan, a former Gaza security chief once valued by the West for his pragmatism, could reshuffle a stagnant Palestinian deck. Some caution that Dahlan has made too many enemies in Abbas’ Fatah movement and will continue to be ostracized by those planning to compete for the top job in the future.

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