28 Views no discussions The new United Kingdom High Commissioner to Dominica finally presented her credentials to President of Dominica His Excellency Charles Savarin on Wednesday after it was postponed due to the passage of Hurricane Maria last September. Speaking during a short ceremony Her Excellency Janet Elizabeth Douglas expressed delight at having arrived at this point in presenting her credentials to President Savarin. “The effects of the Hurricane, the first catergory 5 on record to strike the island are still very evident today as I saw when I traveled around the island yesterday…but I am very pleased to note the enormous strides that have been taken in recovering and rebuilding and I am equally pleased that we have now been able to reinstate my visit at last to present my credentials,” she said. She added that the recovery Dominica has made in the past five months is due to the resilience of the people. “Their aestheticism and firmness in the face of extreme hardship has been a defining feature in the way in which they have responded. Throughout the extensive media coverage of the aftermath of the hurricane, the spirit and sheer grit of Dominican citizens shone through,” she said. In the next few months, the UK will be intensively involved in negotiations over the terms of their exit of the European Union. Her Excellency Douglas said though they are leaving the EU, they are not leaving Europe and that during her tenure as High Commissioner to Dominica and other islands in the region would be to ensure a seamless transition. Tweet Share Share
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Pelabuhan Bojonegara, Mungkinkah Jadi “Pesaing” Pelabuhan Ferry Merak?
Adanya perbedaan tarif ini dikarenakan Pelabuhan Merak kini sudah menggunakan sistem tiket otomatis atau automatic ticketing, dimana semua transaksi pembayaran dari pengguna jasa dapat dilihat secara transparan. Sedangkan pelabuhan Bojonegara masih mengadopsi pembayaran tiket secara manual. Hal ini yang membuat banyak pengemudi kendaraan-kendaraan berat mulai beralih ke Pelabuhan Bojonegara untuk mendapat harga yang lebih murah, terlebih bila terjadi antrian panjang menuju Pelabuhan Merak.Kendaraan-kendaraan besar seperti truk yang menggunakan jasa di Pelabuhan Bojonegara bisa disandingkan dengan golongan V sampai dengan IX pada penetapan tarif kapal ferry oleh PT ASDP. “Kalau golongan yang dominan di pelabuhan Bojonegara kendaraan barang mulai dari golongan V sampai dengan IX,” ujar Branch Manager PT Mata Pensil Globalindo Cabang Merak, Muhamad Hakim yang dihubungi KabarPenumpang.com (19/9/2017). PT Mata Pensil Globalindo adalah mitra kerja PT ASDP untuk penyediaan layanan automatic ticketing di Pelabuhan Merak dan Bakauheni. Sebagai ilustrasi Gol V-B Truck Sedang dikenakan tarif Rp645.000 oleh PT ASDP.Foto: BeritatransDari beberapa sumber yang diperoleh, tarif golongan kendaraan besar di Pelabuhan Bojonegara bila kelebihan 10 cm pada tahun 2015 akan dikenakan sekitar Rp500 ribu lebih murah dibandingkan dengan tarif di Pelabuhan Merak. Tetapi untuk tahun ini beberapa sumber mengatakan perbedaan tarif hingga Rp200 ribu lebih murah dari tarif di Pelabuhan Merak.Baca juga: Landing Craft Tank Mulai Gerus Pendapatan Pengusaha Kapal FerryNamun, karena tarif yang berbeda terlalu jauh, Gabungan Pengusaha Nasional Angkuutan Sungai, Danau dan Penyeberangan (Gapasdap) meminta pada Kementerian Perhubungan agar tarif disamaratakan antara Pelabuhan Bojonegara dengan Pelabuhan Merak. Sebab dua pelabuhan ini menyeberang melalui Selat Sunda yang juga diatur dalam regulasi Kemenhub, walaupun tujuannya dari Merak menuju Bakauheni dan Bojonegara menuju Muara Pilu.Bila permasalahan ini tak kunjung dipecahkan, maka jasa penyeberangan melalui jalur Pelabuhan Merak akan terancam. Tetapi jika regulasi dijadikan satu pintu dengan tarif yang sama kedua pelabuhan ini akan bisa berjalan dengan lancar dan lebih baik. Pelabuhan Bojonegara dahulu menginduk pada regulasi yang ditetapkan Direktorat Jenderal Perhubungan Laut, sementara Pelabuhan Ferry Merak menginduk pada regulasi dari Direktorat Jenderal Perhubungan Darat.Tidak adanya ketentuan batas ketinggian barang bawaan pada truk menjadi daya pikat tersendiri bagi pengemudi truk untuk beralih ke jasa LCT. Padahal tidak adanya ketentuan batas ketinggian pada truk yang dibawa berbuntut pada masalah standar keselamatan dan mengganggu stabilitas kapal. Karena tak dirancang dengan standar keselamatan yang baik, kelengkapan seperti “life jacket”, “inflatable life raft” (ILR), dan sprinkler di setiap geladak juga tidak ada .Dari sisi keamanan LCT tidak dilengkapi dengan CCTV dan tenaga keamanan. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Like this:Like Loading… RelatedPelabuhan Srengsem, Aset PT KAI Tempat Sejenak Melepas Penat31/08/2018In “Darat”Mengenal Bakauheni, Pelabuhan Utama Penghubung Transportasi ke Sumatera08/02/2017In “Angkutan Ferry”Mengenal Pelabuhan Merak, Gerbang Penyeberangan Tersibuk di Indonesia02/02/2017In “Angkutan Ferry” Pelabuhan Bojonegara di Cilegon Banten dalam beberapa waktu lalu sempat disebut sebagai pesaing utama layanan penyebarangan di Pelabuhan Merak dalam angkutan barang menuju ke Lampung. Berbeda dengan Pelabuhan Merak yang mengoperasikan kapal ferry, di Pelabuhan Bojonegara belum terdapat fasilitas dermaga yang memadai, layanan pelayaran menggunakan kapal jenis Landing Craft Tank (LCT) yang digunakan untuk menyeberangkan kendaraan-kendaraan bertonase besar.Baca juga: Mengenal Pelabuhan Merak, Gerbang Penyeberangan Tersibuk di IndonesiaDari legalitasnya, Pelabuhan Bojonegara berada di bawah manajemen PT Pelindo II dengan pengoperasian armada LCT oleh PT Bandar Niaga Raya (BNR). KabarPenumpang.com merangkum dari berbagai sumber, ternyata tarif kendaraan-kendaraan besar untuk menyeberang pada lintasan Bojonegera – Muara Pilu (Lampung) memiliki perbedaan tarif dengan yang digunakan PT ASDP di lintasan Merak – Bakauheni.
Nippon Paper wins national title
GET THE BEST OF THE JAPAN TIMES IN FIVE EASY PIECES WITH TAKE 5 HACHINOHE, Aomori Pref. – Hiroo Iizuka scored twice in a 4-1 drubbing of the Seibu Prince Rabbits, helping lead the Nippon Paper Cranes to their second consecutive title victory in the national championships on Monday.Iizuka found the net twice in the second period and helped execute a power play in the third to extend the lead at Niida Indoor Rink.
USL Pro to undergo a rebrand
Gothamite Prev 5,159 Sodboy13 Sports Logos Posted February 10, 2015 I just checked the PDL site, and that has not been rebranded. Share on other sites 1 0 1 Share on other sites 19,560 posts Location:Effington Next Gothamite 22,644 Link to post 22,644 Posted February 10, 2015 763 Link to post Members Link to post 74 5,159 USL Pro to undergo a rebrand 27 Moderators Favourite Logos:Barcelona DragonsHartford WhalersUS Soccer RattlesnakeJoliet Slammers “J-Bird”NBA All-Star New Orleans Crawfish Yeah, but the English system failed to make sense a long time ago, when they named their top minor league “Championship”. I don’t mind the various MLS2 names out there, since they are the subordinate version of the original clubs. That at least has an internal logic to it. Members 22,644 five boroughs, one City. kmccarthy27 patsox 22,644 Gothamite patsox Link to post Gothamite It will be nice to see USL PRO logo league updated. With the expansion of many MLS clubs creating reserve sides, the league needed a new branding. Lets hope it’s a thing of beauty. Gothamite Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 Grand Pooba of Walksylvania 53,285 posts kmccarthy27 22,644 Posted February 9, 2015 21,915 posts Share on other sites 2 Share on other sites 2,414 Gothamite It will be nice to see USL PRO logo league updated. With the expansion of many MLS clubs creating reserve sides, the league needed a new branding. Lets hope it’s a thing of beauty.They should just re-name to Minor League Soccer but hey, that’s another topic for another day. Page 1 of 2 No, they’re the third division. 2 wouldn’t make sense.Tell that to the MLS-owned affiliates in the league, then. Please, for the love of non-insulting branding, tell them. Share this post Favourite Logos:Seattle Sounders FC Location:Vancouver Forums Home 1 Location:Wisco Location:Williamstown, NJ Posted February 8, 2015 kmccarthy27 19,663 posts Members Share this post 66 “People of the court, these guys are total dildos!" 1,453 posts Link to post 262 27 402 nas1787 22,252 posts 5,708 posts 74 Sodboy13 22,644 Posted February 9, 2015 Link to post Location:Victoria, BC All Activity Share this post 5,159 Walking down Wembley Way…for the chance to touch silverware Breakwood Share this post Share this post Phoenix is a bangwagon town Members Recommended Posts Share this post Members 262 0 They’ve just posted a teaser to their website.http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/861174.htmlThe rebrand is to be shown on 10 February.This is the current USL Pro logo: Share this post 22,644 Link to post Share this post Sports Logos Share on other sites No, they’re the third division. 2 wouldn’t make sense.Isn’t England’s third division known as Football League One? Followers 2 five boroughs, one City. Gothamite Members Share this post Posted February 10, 2015 No, they’re the third division. 2 wouldn’t make sense. VictoriaGooner Next Link to post Oh man their website is the worst isn’t it? I expected an update before last season, but there HAS to be something before this season, right? Phoenix is a bangwagon town 5,159 0 crashcarson15 0 Favourite Logos:Seattle Sounders FC Posted February 11, 2015 Location:San Jose Posted February 10, 2015 Weren’t they called the USL before they were called USLPro? At least they’re not using that flaming ball again. 19,560 posts -kj VictoriaGooner Posted February 11, 2015 Link to post Share on other sites Share this post Share this post Page 1 of 2 Location:San Antonio, Texas That was uneventful: 53,285 posts 423 The Man Behind the Curtain 262 crashcarson15 Share this post Share on other sites Sodboy13 Link to post 0 0 66 1,123 22,644 Link to post Sodboy13 22,644 0 Link to post I just checked the PDL site, and that has not been rebranded. Actually, they just call themselves the PDL now. (no “USL”) Sign in to follow this Members
Link to post Share on other sites Share this post 1,453 posts kmccarthy27 262 Share on other sites Members 5,026 Share on other sites Share on other sites Posted February 10, 2015 Prev USL Pro to undergo a rebrand Share on other sites 12,353 posts 423 5,159 Location:Williamstown, NJ USL Pro to undergo a rebrand Posted February 10, 2015 Link to post Link to post five boroughs, one City. Location:Boston Link to post Here it is:http://uslsoccer.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=32800&ATCLID=209874501&SPLASH_SET=YESThey dropped the Pro from the name. In order to realize our potential, we are reorganizing. Starting today USL PRO will compete simply as the USL. We have reached a point in our evolution where we can confidently call ourselves United.Explanation of logo. The new USL mark is the central pillar in a new design philosophy for our league. Inspired by the geometry of the field, its design cues are more akin to a 21st century startup than those of a monolithic sports league.The simple shapes of the USL lettering appear as a stencil and hint at its flexible use. The new logo is not a corporate logo: it is a tribal mark, something to be taken to the heart of each club’s community, personalized and worn with pride. This new design system will be explored and developed by our clubs and their fans from this season on. 2 0 Share this post Share on other sites Share this post 262 Posted February 10, 2015 Members 1,123 All Activity Resident CRJ stan Members 1 Link to post 22,644 By Louis, February 8, 2015 in Sports Logo News Share this post BigRed618 1,123 Louis Location:Williamstown, NJ kmccarthy27 63 74 Members Members 27 Vancouver’s is way to busy. Funny how the TFC2 USL logo has the wrong badge on it. MJWalker45 Allez l’OL! 3,670 posts 0 1,953 posts 5,026 soccer 5,026 Posted February 10, 2015 Share this post 63 They were USL1 and USL2, right?I like this rebrand. I love the stencil logo by itself, even if some of the individual team brands are too busy. But it’s a huge upgrade over their rinky-dink old logo and name. Members 66 Members 262 Location:Indiana 2,414 Favourite Logos:Seattle Sounders FC Go To Topic Listing 0 nas1787 262 402 763 763 Share this post Banned So they went the MLS rebrand route, got half way there, and parked on the side of the road. These remind me of the “Game is in US” motto US Soccer used from the World Cup. 402 423 Share this post five boroughs, one City. Share on other sites MBurmy 63 2,215 109 posts Just a fan who happened to find this page. Breakwood Favourite Logos:Barcelona DragonsHartford WhalersUS Soccer RattlesnakeJoliet Slammers “J-Bird”NBA All-Star New Orleans Crawfish kmccarthy27 So, will it be MLS 2? MLS II? Perhaps MLS²? Posted February 10, 2015 Link to post 0 2,414 SportsLogos.Net Share on other sites Link to post Members BigRed618 0 1,453 posts Posted February 10, 2015 2,068 posts 1 9,699 posts Share this post as much as I like this, though:The simple shapes of the USL lettering appear as a stencil and hint at its flexible use. The new logo is not a corporate logo: it is a tribal markYes it is, and no it isn’t. Favourite Logos:Arsenal FC, Sydney Swans (AFL), Hamilton Chiefs (Super Rugby), South Sydney Rabbitohs (NRL), Kolkata Knight Riders (IPL) 2,215 illwauk This topic is now closed to further replies. Gothamite 53,285 posts Members I knew it… Location:Racine, Wisconsin 53,285 posts 0 1 0 Posted February 9, 2015 Location:Effington Share on other sites 262 -kj 5,159 22,644 illwauk MBurmy 0 Share on other sites Share on other sites Share on other sites 2,215 5,297 posts Posted February 11, 2015 Share on other sites SportsLogos.Net 1 Posted February 11, 2015 Link to post 262 Sign in to follow this 22,644 MJWalker45 Members One can only hope it’s accompanied by changing web hosts, as Demosphere is just awful. Louis Forums Home Sports Logo News Sports Logo News Followers 2
Tottenham Hotspur’s defender Oryre’s brother is shot at a nightclub in…
Passers-by on the street found a 26-year-old man with a gunshot wound in the abdomen. A weapon was also found next to Christopher.“Spurs” footballer’s brother was taken to the hospital, but the medics could not save his life.🔴 ALERT INFO – #Miscellaneous facts: The brother of footballer Serge #Aurier ex @PSG_inside #PSG shot dead in #Toulouse this morning around 5am on the public highway. The 26-year-old is said to have died in hospital. The murderer is on the run (Le Point). pic.twitter.com/MWoIohOVgk— FranceNews24 (@FranceNews24) July 13, 2020
Elon Musk was left behind; Mukesh Ambani is the sixth…
Mukesh Ambani surpasses Tesla boss Elon Musk and Alphabet co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page. Mukesh Ambani is the sixth richest man in the world.Last week, Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani topped Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, which owns a major stake in a number of global companies, including Coca – Cola, American Express, Johnson & Johnson. Mukesh Ambani tops Bloomberg list of richest people in the world Reliance Industries has been boosted by large investments in Geo from companies such as Facebook, Silver Lake and Qualcomm.Read Also Shivashankar questioned by customs; Inquiry to the highest level https://metrojournalonline.com/kerala/2020/07/14/shivasankar-questioning-customs.htmlReliance is moving towards e-commerce and digital with the energy business. Statistics show that the fall in the US stock market has helped Mukesh Ambani to become the richest man in the world. Elon Musk’s net worth fell to $ 68.6 billion on the back of a slump in the U.S. market.
Western Michigan Christian boys pull away for an easy 62-42 win over Zion Christian
DEAL OF THE DAY Other Bestseller ENDS IN $0.00 Add Comments (Max 320 characters) Other × × LocalSportsJournal.comThe Western Michigan Christian boys basketball team used a big run at the end of the first half on Tuesday as a springboard for a 62-42 non-league win over Zion Christian.WMC led by seven after the first quarter, then the big run, in the final minute of the second quarter, extended the lead to 37-22 at halftime.Tyler Somers led the team with 12 points and seven rebounds. Owen Varnado and Kellen Mitchell had 11 points apiece.The Warriors (7-9) travel to Ludington on Friday for a conference matchup. Not relevant Displayed poorly The League Other Shop Now Displayed poorly Other Report a problem This item is… Thank you! This will help us improve your ad experience. We will try not to show you such ads again. Other Thank you! This will help us improve your ad experience. We will try not to show you such ads again. × (822) Inappropriate / Offensive DEAL OF THE DAY Report a problem This item is… DEAL OF THE DAY ENDS IN MIRITY Women Racerback Sports Bra… Report a problem This item is… Report a problem This item is… Thank you! This will help us improve your ad experience. We will try not to show you such ads again. DEAL OF THE DAY Other ENDS IN Fox Sports Go (7802) Bestseller Not relevant Add Comments (Max 320 characters) Inappropriate / Offensive Displayed poorly Add Comments (Max 320 characters) Shares (117) Ads by Amazon (17612) Not relevant ENDS IN × $9.99 Report a problem This item is… Add Comments (Max 320 characters) Inappropriate / Offensive Displayed poorly (31628) × Bestseller Report a problem This item is… $49.95 $15.29$17.99
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Cold, hard numbers prevail over emotion with Markakis’ departure
The Orioles faced difficult free-agent decisions entering the offseason after winning their first American League East title in 17 years.The anticipated departures of slugger Nelson Cruz and shutdown lefty reliever Andrew Miller certainly hurt from an on-field standpoint, but both were hired guns for the 2014 season with little emotional attachment.But longtime right fielder Nick Markakis?That one hurts. It hurts a lot.It stings fans, teammates who adore him and respect his everyday approach, and manager Buck Showalter, who has often said Markakis is the kind of player whose value isn’t fully felt until you don’t have him anymore.That sentiment now becomes reality, and we’ll learn how true the manager’s words ring.The organization’s longest-tenured player departing to sign a four-year, $44 million deal with the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday hurts as much as any Oriole to leave via free agency since longtime ace Mike Mussina joined the New York Yankees 14 years ago. After making his home in Monkton, Markakis was supposed to spend his entire career with the Orioles.One of the lasting images of a wonderful 2014 season was watching Markakis, after enduring years of losing in Baltimore, celebrate the Orioles’ first division title since 1997 when they clinched in mid-September. After he could only watch the Orioles in the 2012 playoffs because of a season-ending thumb injury sustained a month earlier, the 2003 first-round pick finally earned his first taste of postseason play in his ninth major league season.So, how did it get to this point after nearly everyone assumed that Markakis would be back?Both local and national outlets reported a month ago that the Orioles and Markakis were working toward a four-year deal in the neighborhood of what the Braves ultimately paid the veteran outfielder. Concerns over a herniated disc in his neck discovered in 2013 reportedly prompted the Orioles to hedge on a guaranteed fourth year as the weeks progressed while Atlanta offered no such trepidation in bringing Markakis back to his home state.Frustrated fans will understandably question the Orioles’ loyalty in how they negotiated and in ultimately failing to retain their longest-tenured player, but how much responsibility should Markakis hold? If he were truly committed to staying, why not sign a month ago when a similar offer was allegedly on the table instead of holding out for more and giving the Orioles the opportunity to rethink their position?For as much as Markakis has been valued for his durability and consistency throughout his tenure in Baltimore, let’s not pretend the $30 million he earned in his final two seasons with the Orioles was reciprocated with similar value in production.And that’s when we begin to view Markakis as the fascinating case study of weighing the old-school “gamer” against the cold, hard numbers he produces.A look at the negative reaction from players via social media in the hours after the announcement suggests how unpopular the move will be in the Orioles clubhouse. Though a quiet man who doesn’t draw attention to himself, Markakis was a prime example of the club’s sum being better than its parts over the last three winning years. He plays the game the right way and is admired by teammates and fans alike.But how much can and should you pay for those intangibles?Assessing his value based solely on what shows up in the box score, Markakis likely isn’t worth close to $44 million over the next four seasons. In fact, observers with no apparent agenda are already saying the Braves will wildly regret investing so much in an outfielder whose numbers have declined over the last couple years.Though he never developed the home run power some projected him to earlier in his career, Markakis averaged more than 65 extra-base hits per year from 2007 through 2010. He’s averaged just under 42 in each of the four years since, with only 34 in 160 games in 2013. What was once a gap hitter who regularly hit more than 40 doubles per year has become much more of a singles hitter — with little speed — in recent years.His slugging percentage has dipped below .400 in each of the last two seasons, and he has only posted an on-base plus slugging percentage above .756 once in the last four years — his injury-abbreviated 2012 campaign when he produced an .834 OPS in only 471 plate appearances. Though a very good and dependable right fielder with a strong arm that resulted in him winning his second Gold Glove in 2014, Markakis’ range in right field has declined and figures to get worse over the next four years.Those numbers aren’t presented to suggest Markakis no longer has any value as his durability, leadership, and work ethic can’t easily be quantified and will certainly be missed in addition to what he can still bring with the bat. But the numbers do confirm there is strong evidence to suggest he’s not worthy of a four-year investment after already showing substantial decline in recent seasons.Only time will tell if the Orioles regret their decision based on how effectively they’re able to replace their longtime right fielder and on how he plays in his new home. It’s quite possible executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette made the responsible call, but that will only matter if the Orioles find a quality replacement at the top of the order and in right field to continue the momentum of three straight winning seasons and a 2014 division title.That will be easier said than done based on what options are available on the open market unless they plan to overpay some other player after drawing a line in the sand with the longest-tenured member of the organization.The numbers and projections certainly shouldn’t be ignored, but baseball isn’t played in a vacuum, either. Markakis will be missed by teammates and fans alike, but the cold, hard numbers ultimately prevailed.Markakis wasn’t the biggest or only reason why the Orioles have won over the last three years, but he has been a significant part of what they’ve done. He’s been one of their rare hitters to work counts and get on base — major weaknesses for the club despite their winning record — and one of their most influential presences in a clubhouse that’s been harmonious under Showalter.Despite the disappointment and the frustration felt by many over the lifelong Oriole’s departure and the questions it creates, four months remain before Opening Day. Duquette deserves some benefit of the doubt after a very rocky start to the offseason in which two key everyday players have bolted.But the Orioles have a lot of work to do to appease both a shaken fan base and an unhappy clubhouse.
Athletics SA face wrath of government for transformation efforts
Not for the first time in its history, local athletics has emerged as the black sheep of South African sport.Athletics South Africa (ASA) suffered the indignity of being the only member of the so-called Big Five federations to miss its transformation targets.Sports minister Tokozile Xasa on Tuesday “insisted” that the governing body meet with her urgently to discuss their indiscretions following the release of 2017/18’s Eminent Persons Group (EPG) report, which chronicles how sporting codes are progressing on becoming more representative.“I will in due course have a meeting with ASA to insist that they present me with detail of how they plan to address this matter,” Xasa told a media briefing.“We believe that athletics is too important for us not to act.”In 2016, then minister Fikile Mbalula took the radical of suspending five federations – which included cricket and rugby – from bidding for international events as sanction for not meeting their targets.It’s unclear what Xasa has in store for ASA.Meanwhile, rugby, cricket, soccer and netball all met their objectives, with Xasa in particular impressed with how federations are electing more black presidents and board members.A major concern though remains a lack of transformation within coaching circles.For more sport your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.
Polio-like disease appears in California children
STANFORD, Calif. | An extremely rare, polio-like disease has appeared in more than a dozen California children within the past year, and each of them suffered paralysis to one or more arms or legs, Stanford University researchers say. But public health officials haven’t identified any common causes connecting the cases.The illness is still being investigated and appears to be very unusual, but Dr. Keith Van Haren at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University warned Monday that any child showing a sudden onset of weakness in their limbs or symptoms of paralysis should be immediately seen by a doctor.“The disease resembles but is not the same as polio,” he said. “But this is serious. Most of the children we’ve seen so far have not recovered use of their arm or their leg.”But doctors are not sure if it’s a virus or something else, he said. Van Haren said he has studied five cases from Monterey up through the San Francisco Bay Area, including two that were identified as the disease enterovirus-68, which is from the same family as the polio viruses. He said there have been about 20 cases statewide.“We want to temper the concern, because at the moment, it does not appear to represent a major epidemic but only a very rare phenomenon,” he said, noting similar outbreaks in Asia and Australia.But for some children, like Sofia Jarvis, 4, of Berkeley, rare doesn’t mean safe.She first developed what looked like asthma two years ago, but then her left arm stopped moving, and it has remained paralyzed ever since.“You can imagine. We had two boys that are very healthy, and Sofia was healthy until that point,” said her mother, Jessica Tomei. “We did not realize what we were in store for. We did not realize her arm would be permanently paralyzed.”Van Haren, who diagnosed Sofia, said polio vaccines do not protect children from the disease, but he stressed that it is still important for children to receive that vaccine.Dr. Jane Seward of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said Monday that the research is still underway in California, and there are a variety of infectious diseases that can cause childhood paralysis.Any of a number of illnesses could be at work, and it’s possible some of the cases had one infection and some had another. Regarding the presence of EV-68 in at least two cases, “it could be an incidental finding,” Seward said.Until officials get more information, Seward said they are not looking around the country for similar cases of EV-68.The California Department of Public Health has not identified any common causes that suggest that the cases are linked, said Dr. Gil Chavez, the deputy director of the Center for Infectious Disease and state epidemiologist.“Physicians and public health officials who have encountered similar illnesses have submitted 20 reports to CDPH, and CDPH has conducted preliminary tests on 15 of these specimens,” he said. “Thus far, the department has not identified any common causes that suggest that the cases are linked.”University of California, San Francisco, neurology professor Emmanuelle Waubant said doctors believe, but don’t have proof, that it’s a virus that for most children shows up only as a benign cold. She said a few children, due to their biological makeup, are having much more serious symptoms and she hoped doctors would look for them.“For a lot of the neurologists who have trained in the last 30 years, it’s extremely rare to see polio or polio-like syndrome,” she said.___Associated Press writer Mike Stobbe in Atlanta contributed to this report.