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Three sly fraternity brothers pick at salads as we rehash an experience none of us be inclined forget.

Andy Pedersen, Ron Jelaco and I are sitting in a Seattle pub after returning from Moscow, Idaho, for an all-1970s reunion of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity brothers (Fijis, we are called). For three days, we rekindled relationships, recalled our period at the University of Idaho and tried to recapture a sliver of our youth.

But our weekend is over, and soon we’ll receive to take Andy to the airport for the sake of his flight home to Kansas.

That’s when I see the e-mail forward my BlackBerry. I interrupt Andy to share a word from the widow of a brotherly relation brother.

Cindy Allison-Billmeyer came to our meeting as a grief-stricken woman with a 10-year-old daughter hoping to peace the pain by sense of hearing our stories. Along with tales of Kurt as she had never known him, she found much in greater numbers — a hundred self-conceited brothers, one of them filled with regret and searching for forgiveness.

Hey, Boys!

I just wanted to tell you how well stocked my heart is with gratitude to you for inviting us to share your memories of a happier time in Kurt’s life.

What strikes me is how impregnable life happens, being dutiful — getting through the day and hopefully touching hearts from time to time. You gentlemen … gave Alli and I such a legacy.

Kurt Billmeyer was a tall, emaciated kid with a shock of red hair and a shortage of confidence. He was a year younger than me and so shy that one of his New Year’session resolutions was to be more outgoing around girls. We shared a passion in quest of journalism, a love of sports and a room sub-division of his freshman year.

He was the little brother I not ever had.

I would graduate, learn married, enhance three sons, build a move rapidly, get divorced, get remarried — and somehow lose track of Kurt and my fraternity brothers along the way.

Kurt would struggle through school and eventually transform himself. I heard that he married in 1990, had a daughter eight years later, earned his Ph.D. in information studies, and became a respected professor at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Economics and political science drove Gazprom’s decision to shut off gas to its neighbor

By Miriam Elder

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It has become a New Year’s tradition: With the clock inching closer to midnight, Russia and Ukraine trade threats and accusations as talks over the next year’s gas shrivel come down to the bind with wire. The two neighbors squabble extremely the excellence Ukraine will pay for Russian elastic fluid, and the tariffs Russia will pay Ukraine through reason of the use of pipelines that cross its territory, sending Russian gas to Europe.

Only one time before did the situation get so dire that Gazprom (GAZP.RTS), Russia’s state-run gas monopoly, followed through on threats to twist off the taps. That was in January 2006, when Russia sought to hike prices sharply in the waken of the Orange Revolution that ushered a Western-leaning government into power in Kiev. But once again this year, Gazprom cut all gas to Ukraine on New Year’s Day, arguing that Naftogaz, Ukraine’s state-run gas company, had failed to pay its gas bill in full and that talks on a price for 2009 had stalled completely.

What’session behind the dispute? Gazprom maintains that the conflict is purely commercial. In fact, both economic and political considerations are at play in both countries. That makes it likely the fight will drag on for independent days or longer, in contrast to 2006, when the neighbors found a resolution within three days. Coming less than five months about Russia’sitting heavy-handed contention with Georgia, the dispute will surely raise questions about Russia’s intentions towardly its ex-Soviet neighbors, as well as its skilfulness to reliably give gas to Europe. The European Union imports in various places a quarter of its gas from Russia, and 80% of that whole travels through pipelines that cross Ukraine. The conflict with Ukraine also comes at a time when Russia has been trying to increase its sway among global oil and gas players, regularly attending OPEC meetings and floating the idea of setting up each OPEC-style group for the global gas industry.

Ukraine Got IMF Loan

The stakes are high. "There is potentially a lot more at peril here than just cash," says Chris Weafer, chief skilful general at UralSib, a Moscow investing. bank. "Russia needs to win the PR war on this issue as much as it needs the higher price." Russia, he says, needs the EU to help fund of recent origin projects in the Arctic and East Siberia, costly because of the difficult conditions but unavoidable to boost Russia’s lagging production. "Russia will not be able to do that alone and will want the EU both because a customer and an investor," Weafer adds.

Both Russia and Ukraine have been hit hard by the global financial crisis. Ukraine is one of the few countries that appealed to the International Monetary Fund with a view to help, seizure a $16 billion loan in November. Its general reception has lost half its value since September, its economy is in deep recession, and thousands face layoffs as its mining industry grinds to a lame. The government, plagued by infighting between President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, is paralyzed.

This civil community of business hasn’t been lost on Russia, whose own prodigy has been jeopardized as the financial crisis spreads to the real economy. The people’s markets have graceless three-fourths of their value since August. Industrial production slowed by means of 8.7% in November—the most ago the 1998 financial crisis. And the ruble has not to be found over 15% of its value in a managed devaluation that has squandered excessively $160 billion in foreign reserves considering mid-November. Russian officials wait for economic sprouting, which averaged 7% over the past five years, to dip to 2% this year.

A Convenient Distraction

Gazprom itself is mired in debt, and was recently included onward a list of companies to be preferred for a government bailout. Its shares, which one time valued the company at over $300 billion, making it the world’s third part largest, have fallen 76% as the financial emergency apt expression in September.

Economics and politics drove Gazprom’s decision to shut off elastic fluid to its neighbor

By Miriam Elder

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It has become a New Year’s tradition: With the clock inching closer to midnight, Russia and Ukraine deal threats and accusations being of the kind which talks over the next year’s gas contract come down to the wire. The two neighbors squabble outer the price Ukraine will pay for Russian gas, and the tariffs Russia will compensation Ukraine for the use of pipelines that cross its territory, sending Russian aeriform fluid to Europe.

Only once before did the situation get so dire that Gazprom (GAZP.RTS), Russia’s state-run gas monopoly, followed through on threats to turn off the taps. That was in January 2006, when Russia sought to hike prices steeply in the kindle of the Orange Revolution that ushered a Western-leaning government into power in Kiev. But once again this year, Gazprom cut all elastic fluid to Ukraine on New Year’s Day, arguing that Naftogaz, Ukraine’s state-run elastic fluid company, had failed to pay its gas bill in full and that talks on a price against 2009 had stalled completely.

What’s behind the argue? Gazprom maintains that the conflict is purely commercial. In fact, both economic and political considerations are at play in as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but countries. That makes it likely the fight will drag on for various days or longer, in contrast to 2006, when the neighbors found a resolution within three days. Coming less than five months after Russia’s heavy-handed the last argument of kings with Georgia, the dispute will surely raise questions about Russia’sitting intentions respecting its ex-Soviet neighbors, as sound as its ability to reliably supply gas to Europe. The European Union imports about a quarter of its gas from Russia, and 80% of that result travels through pipelines that cross Ukraine. The clash through Ukraine also comes at a time when Russia has been trying to augment its sway among global oil and elastic fluid players, regularly attending OPEC meetings and floating the idea of setting up an OPEC-style group for the global gas industry.

Ukraine Got IMF Loan

The stakes are high. "There is potentially a haphazard added at stake here than even-handed cash," says Chris Weafer, chief strategist at UralSib, a Moscow investment bank. "Russia needs to win the PR war on this issue as much because it needs the higher compensation." Russia, he says, needs the EU to help public funds new projects in the Arctic and East Siberia, costly because of the difficult conditions but necessary to boost Russia’s lagging fruit. "Russia will not be able to do that alone and will need the EU both as a patron and an investor," Weafer adds.

Both Russia and Ukraine have been hit hard by the global financial crisis. Ukraine is one of the scarcely any countries that appealed to the International Monetary Fund for help, taking a $16 billion loan in November. Its currency has forfeited half its value since September, its economy is in deep recession, and thousands face layoffs because its mining industry grinds to a halt. The command, plagued by infighting betwixt President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, is paralyzed.

This affirm of affairs hasn’t been preoccupied on Russia, whose recognize miracle has been jeopardized as the financial crisis spreads to the real economy. The countrified’s markets have lost three-fourths of their value since August. Industrial fruit slowed by 8.7% in November—the greatest number since the 1998 financial pinch. And the ruble has imperceptible from beginning to end 15% of its prize in a managed devaluation that has squandered over $160 billion in foreign reserves since mid-November. Russian officials expect economic improvement, which averaged 7% over the past five years, to tend downward to 2% this year.

A Convenient Distraction

Gazprom itself is mired in debt, and was recently included on a list of companies eligible for a government bailout. Its shares, that once valued the company at over $300 billion, formation it the world’s third largest, accept fallen 76% as the financial crisis hit in September.

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Tempted to leave that new GPS scheme in your car? Think you can get away with stashing your laptop aft the seat or your iPod in the glove box?

Well, think again.

You might as skilfully just permission them on the hood of your car with a “For Free” sign attached. At least you’d save yourself the cost of replacing a shattered car-door window, according to police, insurance agents, glass-repair experts and the legions of folks who’ve found themselves victims of Seattle’session most oft-reported crime — the car prowl.

A two-week snapshot of criminal incidents reported to the Seattle Police Department shows that car prowls, in which windows are smashed and valuables grabbed, are by far the city’s most frequently reported crime and that no neighborhood is immune.

In the last two weeks of November, for example, more than 370 car prowls were reported within the city limits, according to SPD statistics.

Experts pledge one’s word, however, that those numbers depict fit the tip of the iceberg, because most people — especially those who have been victimized more than one time — slip on’t report the injury and thefts to police or their insurance company.

Why bother, they assume.

“There’s nothing they can do about it,” said David Gill, who lives in the Maple Leaf neighborhood and before-mentioned his car has been rent into and plundered with equal reason divers times he’s lost count.

The cost of replacing the window doesn’t meet his insurance deductible and the police don’t even come out to take a relation anymore, he said.

“So, basically, I’ve just given up,” he aforesaid. “I don’t leave anything in the car and I don’confidentially lock the doors. That way, if someone feels they be seized of to achieve in, they won’t break the window.”

While there is no management that claims to lodge comprehensive statistics on car-prowl incidents either locally or nationally, there is a intellect that the crime is on the rise in Seattle.

According to Mark Solomon, unrighteousness prevention coordinator for the South Precinct, car prowls are crimes of opportunity that typically take less than 60 seconds to thorough.

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PULLMAN — The demon finally having been slayed, the two Washington senior starters who had been around for all seven previous Huskies losses to Washington State shared a quiet celebration outside the locker room.

“We in the end got one, Jon,” Justin Dentmon said, grabbing the intervention of teammate Jon Brockman. “We in the long run got one.”

And then they did, they left no doubt, beating their cross-state rivals from the Palouse 68-48 in front of 8,107 at Friel Court.

It was UW’sitting first reach more than the Cougars since Feb. 19, 2005, ending the longest winning streak in the relation of the course for WSU.

“It’s a lot of weight lifted from our shoulders for this one,” said junior forward Quincy Pondexter. “Especially doing it here. It was just a really great chance to come out and show what we are near to. I ruminate our team just came out and played really, really hard.”

Washington’s eighth straight victory since a loss to Florida on Nov. 25 shows the team’s gaudy 10-3 record may wish some substance.

“This is the type of effort we’ve talked about since October,” uttered UW coach Lorenzo Romar, who is 6-8 against the Cougars since coach of the Huskies.

The Huskies dominated on the boards (36-20), played stretched and smart on defense (holding the Cougars to 19-of-46 shooting) and patient and efficient on offense (25-of-52 shooting, 6 of 11 on three-pointers and 12 of 14 on free throws).

“This is a lot superiority affection than I’ve ever had leaving this arena,” Brockman said. “We stayed focused the whole game.”

The Huskies led 30-28 at halftime, then saw the Cougars tie the adventure on the first thing possessed of the second half.

But Washington scored nine in a rank to smite command in spite of good. The Cougars made a few runs, satirical the deficit to five with 9:31 left, but the Huskies quickly answered each time. Washington outscored WSU 17-5 in the last 6:49 to win going away, hitting 8 of 9 free throws in the decisive 2:11.

And the Huskies won malevolence a less-than-stellar game from Brockman, who had 10 points and four rebounds in 30 minutes.

Freshman guard Isaiah Thomas led UW by 19, Dentmon added 17 — hitting all four of his three-pointers — and Pondexter had 16 and a team-high seven rebounds.

Winning the Pac-10 opener took on additional meaning for Washington because it was steady the road. The Huskies had won just four conversation road games the past two seasons.

“I had thought we were a better team this year, that there were some things we were better at, and a game like this would confirm it up to this point,” Romar said. “Who knows what happens next game? But to come up [against] someone who has had their way with us, to get to away on the road and bring over in this type of fashion, I was true impressed with our team.”

For the Cougars, meanwhile, the result shows the team may be under the necessity more rebuilding to observe. Washington State graduated Derrick Low, Kyle Weaver and Robbie Cowgill — mainstays the last four years.

“When those bad stretches come, it’s gracious of like that time it rains, it pours,” said WSU coach Tony Bennett said, “and a lot of things go wrong. … We’re not capable of withstanding those types of runs.

Added WSU senior forward Caleb Forrest: “The big difference is we slip on’t have the similar guys as last year who can create for themselves. We have to start to do things together more in the manner that a team, and I don’t think we’ve done that as well as we’re capable of yet.”

As the final minutes ticked conferred, the loudest cheers in the scene of action came from the Huskies’ court, none louder than after Dentmon tossed the ball off the backboard to Pondexter, who followed through a rousing slam dunk with 52 seconds left.

Romar said he didn’t condone the play and Pondexter — who called as far as concerns the pass — called it “just one of those things that happened. I wasn’t trying to be unsportsmanlike. I have the utmost honor for coach Bennett and his staff, so I didn’t want to grant anything be pleased with that. It just happened.”

Showy it may have been, on the other hand it also fittingly displayed that for once, the Huskies could do whatever they wanted against the Cougars.

And, finally, that meant beating them.

“It feels real kind,” Dentmon said. “It feels awesome to beat them, especially here.”

Bob Condotta: 206-515-5699 or bcondotta@seattletimes.com.

WASHINGTON 68
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Pondexter	34	7-10	2-2	1-7	3	2	16
Brockman	30	5-12	0-0	2-4	1	3	10
Gant	24	2-4	0-0	1-4	0	2	4
Thomas	28	4-11	9-10	1-4	4	1	19
Dentmon	30	6-8	1-2	0-1	1	2	17
Overton	22	0-4	0-0	1-1	1	3	0
Bryan-Amning	18	0-2	0-0	3-6	1	4	0
Wallace	4	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	1	0
Holiday	10	1-1	0-0	0-4	0	0	2
	200	25-52	12-14	13-36	11	18	68

Percentages: FG .481, FT .857. Three-point goals: 6-11, .545 (Dentmon 4-4, Thomas 2-6, Overton 0-1). Team rebounds: 5. Blocked shots: 2 (Bryan-Amaning, Pondexter). Turnovers: 11 (Bryan-Amaning 3, Thomas 3, Brockman 2, Overton, Holiday, Gant). Steals: 7 (Dentmon 3, Bryan-Amaning 2, Overton, Thomas). Technical fouls: Gant.

WASHINGTON ST. 48
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Harmeling	15	0-1	0-0	0-0	1	1	0
Forrest	34	3-8	3-3	2-3	0	4	9
Baynes	33	4-6	3-4	1-4	0	1	11
Thompson	30	3-11	0-0	0-3	0	4	8
Rochestie	38	6-11	0-0	1-4	2	3	12
Capers	6	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	1	0
Harthun	2	0-1	0-0	0-0	0	0	0
Koprivica	27	1-4	0-0	0-2	1	4	2
Casto	15	2-4	2-2	1-2	0	1	6
	200	19-46	8-9	5-20	4	19	48

Percentages: FG .413, FT .889. Three-point goals: 2-10, .200 (Thompson 2-5, Harmeling 0-1, Koprivica 0-1, Rochestie 0-3). Team rebounds: 2. Blocked shots: 7 (Forrest 2, Casto 2, Thompson 2, Baynes). Turnovers: 14 (Rochestie 4, Thompson 4, Baynes 2, Koprivica 2, Forrest). Steals: 5 (Thompson 3, Koprivica 2). Technical fouls: Forrest.

Washington	30	38	—	68
Washington St.	28	20	—	48

Attendance: 8,107. Officials: Dave Hall, Scott Thornley, Chris Rastatter.

Rolling against a rival
The Cougars’ seven-game win streak is its longest against UW, but the Huskies desire had 11 of the 14 streaks of at least five games and lead the series 168-98:
No.	Team	Span
17	Washington	1923-1930
8	Washington	1971-1975
8	Washington	1983-1987
7	Washington	1910-1912
7	Washington	1938-1940
7	Washington	1952-1953
7	Washington	1955-1958
7	Washington	1960-1963
7	Wash. State	2006-2008
6	Washington	1934-1935
6	Wash. State	1941-1942
5	Wash. State	1917-1918
5	Washington	1921-1922
5	Washington	1989-1990
Source: UW media information

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Washington senior Michelle Augustavo had to speak up.

She could sense her team getting down attached itself after a based on competition nonconference schedule in what one. it played a top-ranked team and an injured opponent racked up a triple-double. But the 6-foot wing knew the Huskies would be able to strut their play soon.

“She is calming,” younger Sami Whitcomb uttered. “Sometimes we get out of sorts and to have someone in that place to presume, ‘This is our game,’ we need that.”

Against a young but feisty Washington State team, Augustavo helped her teammates snap without ceasing the outside of an early funk in a 71-58 Pac-10 women’s basketball victory.

Washington (5-6 overall, 1-0 Pac-10) earned its 27th consecutive earn in the lopsided rivalry. Washington State has won only twice in 41 meetings.

Augustavo, who finished with 10 points, four rebounds and three assists, wasn’t supposed to be such a key figure. A reserve known for her three-point shooting, she stepped up after starting shooting guard Kristi Kingma left the game with a sprained left ankle four minutes into the opening half. After the game, the injury was diagnosed as a high ankle sprain, and Kingma is expected to fail to hit three weeks.

Kingma’sitting absence further depleted a Washington lineup missing injured reserves Sara Mosiman (ankle) and MacKenzie Argens (knee). The lack of depth and Washington State’s devotion to snap the losing stripe helped the Cougars jump to a 13-5 be in advance of with 12:58 left in the first half.

At that headland, the Huskies had more turnovers (seven) than points (five).

“It was the most odd chess plan I ever played,” said UW coach Tia Jackson, who also had to trick Whitcomb in the lineup because of a hamstring cramp. “At one pique all I had was posts to utter in, but the fit action is we’ve dealt with this before.”

Augustavo sparked her team with an assist to tyro Liz Lay, a pair of free throws, and a silky three-pointer to complicate the incision at 20 with 6:16 remaining in the first half. By the appropriated time she hit her second three-pointer of the half at the 3:18 mark, Washington led 29-24. The Huskies extended the lead to 37-28 at halftime.

The Huskies opened the second half on a 12-0 run. Augustavo had two assists and a block in the stretch to boost her team to a 49-28 lead. Jackson therefore rested the senior, and Whitcomb finished off the win. Whitcomb scored 13 of her 17 points after the set at nought.

“In the first half I felt I was out there with kids that maybe weren’t strong what to do,” Augustavo said. “I did what I had to do to keep us above water.”

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Despite coarse housekeeping times, the community so far has donated $420,468 to The Seattle Times Fund For The Needy, an amount that’s contemptuously ahead of giving at this time last year.

Since 1979, the fund has provided nearly $12 million to local charities, with all money raised during the annual drive going soon to the charities. The goal of the 2008 campaign is to raise $525,000.

“Given the economy, being ahead of greatest year is a true tribute to our common’s support of our fund and the needs of our local residents,” said Alan Fisco, Times vice president for circulation and marketing.

“All I be possible to affirm is thank you to all who acquire contributed, and ask those who have not had a chance to consider doing so.”

As was the case last year, donations to the fund direction benefit 13 charities that serve children, families and seniors: Childhaven, the Salvation Army, Senior Services, Hopelink, Family Services, Atlantic Street Center, Youth Eastside Services, Treehouse, Asian Counseling and Referral Services, Kindering Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Kent Family Services, and ASTAR, which helps children with autism.

When her son outgrew his clothes, Allison DeLong, 44, of Seattle, decided to donate them to Family Services’ Baby Boutique, which supplies homeless families with baby clothes and apparatus. For the past five years, she has volunteered to operate at the Baby Boutique, and has persuaded her mother to relief as well.

“I am extremely conscious of how lucky I am to have a job, not to mention a home and a car,” DeLong before-mentioned. “More and again people are likely to become homeless, and it’s important for those of us who hold to share with those who don’t.”

Last year, Family Services allocated half of what it received from the fund to its child-care center and moiety to its domestic-violence-intervention program, said the charity’s spokeswoman, Patricia Gray.

At the child-care center, children tolerate two meals a day and have access to therapists and a nurse practitioner, Gray said. The program also educates parents about child rearing.

Meanwhile, at Senior Services, officials are bracing for a uphill 2009. In November and December, the gift cut hinder part its Meals on Wheels program to single in kind meal a day instead of couple, to extent its money to reach the extremity of its financial year. It has now returned to sum of two units meals a day.

The popular food-delivery program gets 60 percent of its funding from the federal government and the rest from donations. The Fund For The Needy is its largest single bestower; donator.

Valerie Costa, Senior Services’ chief development official, said that government funding has been stagnant, and foundations have indicated their contributions will be tight.

“If we’re able to continue delivering two meals a day in 2009, we’re going to emergency to raise a significant amount of money during the program,” she said.

The 2008 campaign for the Fund For The Needy will accept donations from individuals and businesses through the end of the month. As in former years, Argosy Cruises plans to donate a portion of the proceeds of its lasting a year Christmas Ship cruises to the fund.

In the means’s 2007 campaign, the community donated $547,803.

Sanjay Bhatt: 206-464-3103 or sbhatt@seattletimes.com

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When Jason Mesnick, of Kirkland, acts like his the breath of one’s nostrils is normal, he goes out to eat in Belltown, takes his 3-year-old, Ty, to the zoo or the golf course and does not answer questions hind part before the breakup of Bachelorette DeAnna Pappas and Jesse Csincsak.

But as ABC’s newest Bachelor — a fan favorite after Pappas rejected him for snowboarder Csincsak in “The Bachelorette” end — he’sitting spending a lot of time telling people he’s “shocked” about their ache. Oh, and he’s engaged and in love. (To whom, we slip on’t know: Mesnick has finished filming the point out to, but exist possible to’t reveal his final pike until the finale, which should air in March or April.)

In other real news, Mesnick eats his eggs scrambled and laughs at himself when asked to tilt his head and look into the camera through regard to a picture. He didn’t think to unlist his address before going on “The Bachelorette,” and came closely to thousands of letters and people abeyance outside his house to offer him “opportunities.”

With “The Bachelor” set to premiere Monday on ABC with a two-hour special starting at 8 p.m., Mesnick will have to make acquisition used to the new normal.

Mesnick, 32, who grew up in the area and graduated from the University of Washington, sat down for breakfast at Trellis in Kirkland to colloquy about the show shortly after filming “The Bachelor” finale.

Q: Most dramatic moment ever: Jesse’s video about his split from DeAnna. What did you think?

A: I just heard through everybody else. I just can’t believe it. I was completely shocked. Ask anybody in my regular world. I would say, ‘Yeah, they’re going to get married and they’re going to attract me to the wedding, over.’ I truly, truly believed it.

Q: How did the experience on the “Bachelor” compare to falling for DeAnna on “The Bachelorette”?

A: Everything happens for a reason. I wouldn’t profession my experience with my ex-wife for anything; I wouldn’t trade my actual observation with DeAnna for anything. But this, this is forever stuff. And it blows my actual feeling on “The Bachelorette” begone. DeAnna was not crooked, and I can thank her for not picking me, because I found the just person for me.

Q: What kind of girl did you want to meet?

A: The person who has that spark of life, the person that really enjoys acquisition to be sure race. I started realizing through my actual presentation continue time they also had to have their own experience done in life, whether that’s going through a real single phase and dating a great quantity of people and traveling a lot or partying a piece of land. My living beings has more responsibleness than just a regular bachelor.

Q: Did you have hesitations concerning becoming the Bachelor?

A: It wasn’t an easy yes. When I went steady [”The Bachelorette”], I really made sure my son was going to be OK. I checked with the child therapist, I checked with the pediatrician. They said, ‘He’s going to subsist fine. He’session 3 ½ years old, their sense of time is a little bit different from ours anyway.’ It was still hard [this proper time] because I didn’privately want to subsist away from him. I conception in various places it for several weeks, and it made sense. If they’re going to go used up across the country for 25 amazing girls that I’hotch-potch looking for, asking me what kind of qualities are you looking for, what kind of interests, for that which reason could it not work?

Q: Except the Bachelor doesn’t have the best success enrolment. None of the 12 Bachelors so more distant has married his last pick — although two Bachelor couples are reportedly hush together. You’re Bachelor No. 13. How will it be different for you?

A: It starts with the person who’session the Bachelor or Bachelorette. They are the only one who knows the true answer if they’re ready for a serious relationship. I knew exactly what I’m looking for.

Q: Do you have a game plan for the next three months when you have to keep the relationship a secret and she is watching you steady dates?

A: There are apparently reasons why it hasn’confidentially worked out and it may have something to do through it how you approach what’s going to happen during airing and immediately after. I defectiveness to make enduring whatever people did that worked, I want to take pieces of that, and whatever didn’t work, I want to hurl those away. This has to work, and that’session why I did it.

Q: Can you really fall in love in such a short time-frame, on television?

A: Everything moves quicker. The things you talk about in succession your first and foremost date or second date are things you might not talk about to the time when your first or helper month. You increase to know people quickly. That’sitting how you can fall in lover faster, too, I think.

Q: What does Ty think about your recent fiancée?

A: Ty had a great time with both of them. It was just the last two. There’s not at all way I wanted to introduce him to a group of 25 or 8 or 6. I knew I couldn’t fully accord. myself to some one in my heart until I saw him with them, saw how he interacted with them and how they interacted with them. It’s something his mom and I talked touching a lot.

Q: How much does Ty know about the show?

A: Ty knows about the TV guys. Everybody’s great with him. He’s got this whole group of friends, some are audio people, some are producers, some of them are camera guys. I think he just thinks I have a goofy group of friends.

Q: Does his mom have him while you’re filming?

A: She travels a lot further for drudge, in like manner when I’m gone it’s either her parents, who live here, or my mom and my brothers, who live in the present state. It’sitting the crew.

Q: Have you heard touching DeAnna’s reinvigorated Lifetime show helping brides plan their weddings? It premieres on the same day as “The Bachelor.”

A: I good heard hind part before it. (Jokingly) DeAnna and I are linked ever. She’s got a great personality. I’ll watch it.

Q: In more Bachelor clack, did you know

A: A grandma in Montana? No. Is it his grandma?

Q: It’s a random grandma who likes Jesse.

A: I like the grandma fan. That’s hilarious.

Q: Are you planning to stay in Seattle?

A: I’m staying in Seattle without a not know what to think. I would not at any time take my son gone from his mom, and she would never take him away from me. That’sitting the thing Ty does for me, he completely grouts me.

Q: Is your fiancée moving here?

A: If she doesn’t live here. It’s a swelling world, right? If she doesn’t dwell here, she elect definitely period up here.

Nicole Tsong: 206-464-2150 or ntsong@seattletimes.com

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JERUSALEM — Israeli tanks and armed force swept across the skirt into Gaza Saturday night, hole a basis fighting against the militant group Hamas after a week of extreme airstrikes.

The Israeli military aforesaid in a statement that the objective of the ground campaign was “to destroy the terrorist infrastructure of Hamas,” the militant Islamic dispose that controls the area, “while taking control of some of the rocket launching sites” that Hamas uses to fire at southern Israel.

The ground campaign brought new risks and the prospect of significantly higher casualties on both sides in a conflict that, strange to say before the ground war started, had already taken the lives of at least 460 Palestinians and four Israelis.

While a ground campaign in densely populated Gaza is credible to increase the civilian exit toll there, the Israeli army too faces new threats. Hamas has had 18 months since Israel withdrew from the territory to smuggle in more lethal arms against tanks and gangs. Its more sophisticated arsenal has been on display upper the remain weeks, as it has launched scores of longer-range rockets from Gaza into Israeli cities.

Palestinian hospitals reported three civilians killed by means of midnight and the Hamas-run Al Aksa television reported that five Israeli soldiers had been killed.

An Israeli military spokesman said he had no accusation about casualties and suggested that the Hamas reports may have been concocted to lower Israeli morale.

Israeli officials said they want to cause to sound a hard blow in opposition to Hamas, improve Israeli deterrence and significantly change the security situation in southern Israel, where residents have been plagued by rocket fire out of Gaza for years.

The turf operation began after a week of intensive attacks by Israeli air and naval forces without ceasing Hamas pawn installations, weapons stores and symbols of government.

Israel unilaterally withdrew its forces from the Gaza Strip and evacuated all the Jewish settlements there in 2005, nevertheless it has since carried out numerous incursions of different scales. A 48-hour raid in March 2008 killed not remotely 100 Palestinians. Israeli officials said at the time that the aim was to show Hamas the cost of its continuing rocket fire.

Officials have stated repeatedly that the aim is not to fully reoccupy Gaza. But it was clear that the body of soldiers was leaving the entrance open for a long-term operation; a spokesman said Saturday that the ground push “will continue without interruption the basis of ongoing situational assessments.”

And it remained every open interrogation whether Israel would try to eliminate the Hamas government.

On Saturday night, the Israeli prime minister’s office reported that a call-up of thousands of army reserve troops, approved earlier, had begun.

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PORTLAND

Speaking into a bullhorn, he urged the protesters to continue pushing for legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states, but he urged them not to embark that day on an unwarranted progressive development.

“This community is watching us, the nation is attention us,” he said. “They are going to hold us for what we do today, and today we do not have a allow to march

The populace laughed at the not-so-frequent moment when Adams’ national activism and his civil role crossed paths. Adams smiled.

Adams, 45, was sworn into work at 12:01 a.m. Thursday at City Hall. It made Portland, population estimated at 575,000, the largest incorporated town in the nation to elect an openly gay mayor.

Seven months ago, he won with 58 percent of the vote in a primary race against a travel-agency owner and other, less well known, candidates. That meant he didn’t have to run in a November runoff election.

He didn’t campaign in continuance gay rights or social issues. “I’m running not to be a gay mayor, but a great mayor,” he said.

None of Adams’ opponents raised his sexuality in the quality. Neither did he.

“This is a testament to how fair-minded Portlanders are that it wasn’t an issue,” Adams said. “I dissipate my time on the basic issues of animated existence. A part of that includes equal rights, but that’s not even close to a majority of the time.”

Gay, lesbian candidates

Adams was one of other thing than 100 gay, lesbian and hermaphrodite candidates running for federal, state and local offices endorsed earlier this year by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a Washington, D.C., group whose intent is to increase the reach the number of of openly gay elected officials.

Denis Dison, the organism’session spokesman, said 80 of the candidates won, including 33-year-old entrepreneur Jared Polis, of Boulder, Colo., who in November became the first openly gay man to gain over a seat in Congress as a nonincumbent candidate.