Baron Samedi

[size=1]If I'm not wrong, isn't it a public vote anyway? Also, just to let people know, if they didn't, that in The Arbiter my last post is actually an official mission, set outside of the Community Event section. It's official, so read it![/size]

[size=1]I didn't get any lag, but I'm not sure what the real panic was either. When Last.fm added their new server, something like twenty million song submissions were backed up, lol. But it is quite amazing that the network now requires [b]four[/b] servers to control it all. Thats wild. Good work fellas.[/size]

[CENTER][B][SIZE=3]Mission #110: Tetros[/SIZE][/B] [SIZE=1][I]Official Mission[/I][/SIZE][/CENTER] [SIZE=1] Tetros was in the Engineering Hall when a young lieutenant approached him, and handed him a short missive. Tetros thanked the lieutenant, and broke the seal on the note. It was only a few lines long, and it read. [center][i]Esm. Tetros. Your presence is requested in my office at 1355 precisely. I suggest that you be prepared to leave at a moments notice as there will be some new orders for you. We here at SATEC appreciate your efforts here over the last few years and would be pleased if following the completion of this new mission you would return. Gen. Alexander Lloyd.[/i][/center] Tetros filed the plans he was working on in his safe, and headed off for the on-base apartments reserved for the non-military departments. ---- He was waiting in the hall outside the General?s office by 1353, and was admitted at 1355. The General ordered him to be at ease and left the office. [i]Shortly after the General left, the room began to fill with an ambient humming, followed by what could only be described as a burst of darkness. And then he was behind the General?s desk. Him. The Arbiter. Leader of the Legionnaires. Whilst not bulky, or spectacularly muscled, he filled the room. The room quailed in his presence. Despite the still air of the office, his cape flapped at some unseen breeze. He stepped forward and said to me. ?Tetros, I must once more request that you leave this behind and commit yourself fully to our cause. We have located the missing 308-A class android, and he needs to be terminated. His actions are a possible infringement of another mission of ours, and our other localised resources are currently?busy. After this mission we will require you to return to Headquarters, as thee are some other issues to be resolved.? With that, The Arbiter handed Tetros a dossier. ?I apologise for the haste, but things are happening. Important things, and I must attend to them immediately. You understand?? ?Yes Sir.? ?Good. You will find what you need in the dossier. Be careful.? And with that, there was a pulse of darkness, and he was gone. I could detect faint notes of discordance in the air, but it gradually dissipated.[/i] As Tetros read through the dossier, he made his way to the apartments. He already had all of his equipment boxed and in the back of his station-wagon. He slid into the drivers seat, and started the car. Time to visit Sydney. ---- After 18 hours of continual driving, and two border crossings, Tetros drove into Sydney along Parramatta Road. He had a reservation at the Metro Inn under the name David Copperson. Tomorrow was the big day. One of the city?s biggest mafia families was attending the funeral of Anthony Fontanini, a big time crook and fraudster, who had blood connections to the Velios?. The target was Angelo Velios. What relation this man had to anything that The Legionnaires could be interested in was unclear to Tetros. From some mild background information provided by the dossier, it seemed as if the world would be better off without Angelo Velios. But it was not Tetros? place to judge. He was merely there to interfere with his assassination. [i]And then, I found in the last few pages in the dossier, a photo of this other android. Not that I really needed it I guess. I mean, I?d recognise him anywhere. He looked just like me.[/i] ---- [i]I got into position early. Posing as a groundsman, I moved among the graves, trimming grass and removing old flowers. Half an hour before the rest of the procession arrived, a group of men entered the cemetery and spread around, standing in the nonchalant fashion of men who were confident in themselves. Obviously bodyguards for the Velios family. To be honest I was not anticipating any great challenge in the disposal of this other android. I mean, I knew my own weaknesses: therefore I knew his. And I had the element of surprise. The only concern of course, is how was he going to attempt to murder Angelo Velios? I had been expecting him to arrive early, but unless he had been there since the previous night, I did not see how he could silently get into the cemetery.[/i] Reasoning that he had done enough work to provide his cover, Tetros straightened up from the headstone he had been tidying, and walked across the lawn to the gardeners shed, which was tucked in the corner of the grounds behind a wall of foliage. He stripped off his overalls, revealing dark mottled Kevlar armour, and packed them into a rucksack stashed underneath the bench inside the shed. He withdrew a scoped rifle, and a number of small taser-knives for close up skirmishing. And then he got into a position and waited. [i]After a short period of time the funeral party entered the grounds, and moved towards the southwest corner of the cemetery where the burial was to be held. It was perhaps a hundred metres to the west of my position. And as I scanned the area with the scope on my rifle it was then that I spotted what I perhaps should have noticed before. There was a very fresh grave perhaps four rows away from the main funeral party. But the headstone which accompanied it was old and cracked. And then I saw the earth under it move. The target launched upwards out of the ground, sending dirt flying in all directions. He spun around and it was then that I saw his knives. He had a whole bandolier of them across his chest. With that, I shot him straight in the chest, emptying the four-clip rifle. He paused in mid-movement and whipped his head towards me. I dropped the rifle and sprinted towards him across the cemetery grounds, at speeds far exceeding those of any human runner. I powered straight through some of the tombstones, crushing them with my legs. He had just withdrawn two of his knives when I tackled him around the legs. As we slid along the ground, demolishing another few tombstones, I made an attempt to withdraw one of my taser-knives. It was then that he tried to stab me in my back, but the Kevlar armour proved resistant to the blade.[/i] And as Tetros and the other android engaged in hand-to-hand combat, the funeral party had dispersed, women and children running every which way, and Angelo Velios disappearing surrounded by a wall of bodyguards. The only person who hadn?t left was Fontanini, whose casket had been dropped amidst the general confusion, and now lay half on it?s side across another memorial grave. The other android snapped a kick to Tetros? head from the ground, and took the time to check his surroundings. The cemetery was empty. ?Shit, fuck, [i]fuck[/i]? he swore, before back-flipping off the ground. He faced Tetros and said ?Why, of all the times in the world, would you find me now?? Tetros? only response was to reach for one of his taser-knives. The other android then discharged two smoke-bombs from some hidden area of his person, and turned to run. [i]I switched to infra-red but couldn?t see him. And there was nothing on my radar either. And then I realised: whilst he had my weaknesses, he also had my strengths. I was heat-shielded and had radar scrambling capabilities. And so did he.[/i] ---- The other android stepped through the rubble that cluttered the doorway. He had a bad feeling about this. The stately home, set well back from the road, was absolutely trashed. The three security guards in the outer grounds had all been killed. They simply had no heads. It was if someone had just torn their heads off. It had to have been that other android, the other ?him?. The one who had ruined everything at the funeral. But how had he found out so much about him? As he moved through the house, from one corpse littered room to another, he reached the office that had belonged to Max Darlinghurst, who for the time being was his employer. [i]Had been[/i] his employer. This room was relatively untouched. There were no people impaled on chair legs, no holes in the walls. But lying on the powder blue Persian carpet, with his eyes as vacant as they would ever be, was Max Darlinghurst, with the phone?s receiver clutched firmly in his death grasp. His cause of death was obvious. Massive bruising existed all across his neck and upper arms, and when he removed his shirt he found more mottled bruising up Darlinghurst?s torso. He had been crushed against the desk. Probably lifted up and slammed into it. The force would have ruptured many internal organs, but he would have lived for several minutes. Enough time to make a phone call. And that?s when it hit him. This other android, his replica was destroying his life. They looked identical. By now, at least one other person thought that he, Nightblade [a persona he had constructed for his assassination jobs], had just murdered his employer and likely bungled a job. As he turned around to leave the office, he then saw the message that had been stuck squarely on the door. It was written in blood, on a yellow Post-it note. On it, it had a time and location. ---- Tetros had it all sorted, or so he thought. He knew what to initially aim for, in order to cripple the other android. He then knew where to go from there. Unfortunately, it required what amounted to utter destruction of the other android. 308-A Class androids were built for war. They weren?t invincible, but there wasn?t much shy of a direct hit with a missile that could permanently put them out of action. Concussive shock waves from large-scale explosions were also quite disastrous for the androids, and there were other things that could kill them. But it was no easy task. ---- The other android strode across the concrete, to the base of the stairs, and looked around. There were some people in the court, but not very many. It was a cool night outside. The impressive bulk of the Sydney Opera house towered above him. As he turned on the spot, he felt, rather than saw, a vague sensation of movement along the roofline. And then, like some avenging demon out of the night sky, leapt Tetros. With a taser-knife in each hand, he crashed feet first into the chest of the other android, knocking him flying. Without wasting any time, he charged across the court, as the few pedestrians in the area fled shrieking. The other android was lying on his back, apparently dazed, but just as Tetros got within striking distance, the other android lashed out with his feet and flicked Tetros over his head, sending him crashing into a wall. And then he ran. Tetros stared in astonishment for several seconds, before chasing after the other android. They continued in this hit and run manner around the entirety of Circular Quay, past the old frame of the trampoline bungee, crashing through several of the plate glass windows at the iMax cinema. And then, they were at the bridge. Rather, the Bridge. The Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Tetros was following the other android as he [i]crawled up the outside of the pylon[/i], fingers stretching for the tiny ledges between the sandstone blocks. Tetros knew that he was being driven somewhere, as surely as if he was the one being chased. The other android obviously had the place all picked out, but Tetros felt confident in himself. Perhaps this was once more his under-estimation of others. ---- And then, for what was to be one final time, they faced each other across the span of the bridge, each with a taser-knife held firmly in their fist. [i]We sized each other up, and then he leapt forward, charging at my low down, in an attempt to tackle me. But he wasn?t as good as he thought he was. He was too brutal, and lacked the finesse that was necessary. I leapt high over his back, and spun around when I landed to slack him across the back of his knee. This was a point where the highly resistant skin compound was thinnest, and the taser-knife punctured, severing through the main hydraulics for the leg, and simultaneously sending thousands of volts through his system. It was enough charge to level a raging bull-elephant, and he faltered before turning. ?You stole my idea? he grunted at me, before making another pass. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, and in time-honoured tradition, pole-drove him headfirst into the steel of the bridge?s arch. He grabbed my legs from his upside-down position and attempted to do to me what I had to him. Still holding onto his legs, I kicked him in the hand, crushing it in part, before plunging my hand into the hole I had cut before. I jammed my arm further up his leg, ripping and tearing anything within my reach. He managed then to drive his knife into my thigh, and I fall, causing both of us to roll dangerously close to the edge of the bridge. With an effort he rolled both of us back, and made another attempt to cut into my legs. I kicked him in the head, and once more drove the taser-knife into the hole in his leg.[/i] And then, he had won. With one hand wreaking havoc inside, and gripping his opponent by the throat, Nightblade grabbed hold of the Central Power Core inside of Tetros, and tore it out. And as he was flung out into the night sky, Tetros wondered how it went so wrong. ---- [i]He leaned forward over his desk and said ?Well Tetros, to be frank, I?m surprised that you managed to accomplish your mission. Nightblade had killed two other agents that we had sent after him. The Legionnaires are deeply grateful to you for your services. Please, head down to the Technical Center and see if we can?t find someone to repair your leg hydraulics. We?re going to need you sometime in the next few days, depending on how things turn out.? ?Yes Sir.? ?Good man. I?d recommend Frank Mitchell: he?s a genius with technical repairs? ?Thankyou Sir? And with that I wheeled myself out of the office, and down the corridor. Who said that meeting Tetros was that bad a thing?[/i][/SIZE]

[size=1][b]Negative[/b]: I'd love to see some more Community Wide Events. I understand that flooding us with them isn't necessarily good, but I'd love a few more anyway, heh. [b]Positive[/b]: The people this place has connected me with. The emphasis on quality and the open atmosphere of the boards has been a large feature of my life these past few years.[/size]

[size=1]Wow. Wow, wow, wow. An excellent round, for sure. [b]Sun[/b]: I really dig the cool and relaxed feel of this piece. Excellent colour decisions to go with the image, and you've pulled it off nicely. A-Class border, fitting font choice, consistent theme. My one negative would be the quote. It is too... obvious, in it's message. It's blunt. And it doesn't flow well. It just sits wrong with me. [b]Ozymandius[/b]: Excellent piece. I really really love your border - the attention to detail is obvious and well done. I like the fact that this is all your own personal stuff, it's a really good way of doing it, I think. Good font choice, although you could have done with some glow on some of the text, to separate it from the background a bit more. I like this quote better than Sun's, even if it does feel a tad awkward. My vote goes to [b]Ozymandius[/b]: This was an excellent round and difficult to decide, but ultimately I felt that Ozymandius' work was far more representative of materialism.[/size]

[size=1]Oh, damn. Damn damn damn. I read 300x300. =\[/size]

[CENTER][size=1]------------- [IMG]http://www.otakuboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24473&stc=1[/IMG] [b]Produced And Treated With Organic Compunds Such As DTD For The Pleasure Of The Fickle And Uninspired Masses.[/b] ------------- A tribute to Warhol and the pop art phenomenon.[/size][/CENTER]

[size=1]Could we please get this second round underway pretty quickly? As of next Saturday I'll be absent for a week =\[/size]

[size=1][b]Name[/b]: Alexander Joel Mackay [b]Age[/b]: 42 [b]Job[/b]: Accounting Assistant for P & J Moxey Ltd. [b]Appearance[/b]: [url=http://images.veer.com/IMG/PIMG/DVP/DVP090025G_P.JPG]Photo[/url] [b]Justification[/b]: Alex had been married [[i]sans[/i] happily] for fifteen years. But sometime during that period, their relationship lost it's edge. Maybe it was him, or maybe they just weren't meant to be together forever. Whatever the reason, she left him. Left him for that bastard Shaun Campbell. That bastard. Afer a year and a half's worth of sitting alone in front of the TV, with his dog Malcolm by his side, Alex decided this was enough. But he wasn't really prepared for real-world dating. His fear of rejection ran too deep. So, feeling at a loss as to where to turn, he decided to try speed-dating. He had nothing left to lose, really.[/size]

[QUOTE=Rising Sun][SIZE=1] Does this qualify as an entry? This seems like it was made in Microsoft Paint, and it seems like it was thrown together in a mere 30 seconds. No offense to Young Cheezy, but i've seen your work and it is much better than this, and if you just did a last minute entry just so you could stay in the contest, it wouldn't be fair to your opponent or the participants. So i'm asking you Dagger. Does this qualify? [/SIZE][/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]I'd swear that is actually a 3d model. [b]Edit[/b]: Actually scrap that, it is a stock that has been 'shopped and stuff - it probably would have taken quite some time.[/SIZE]

[size=1][b]Domon[/b]: I don't want to be too harsh but... did you do this seriously? Some parts aren't cropped properly, the image is incredibly pixellated, you've used Comic Sans, and a gradient. On the plus side, no typo's. Unlike Retri's ~_^ [b]Retribution[/b]: Nice and clean, except for the typo. I might've been fond of some kind of image...but someitmes things work better plainly. Alas, the rest of the text clashes with the 'Guns' text, but it does have some appeal. [b]Vote[/b]: [i]Retribution[/i].[/size]

[size=1][b]Katana[/b]: A good effort here, although I am a fan of constant borders ~_^ I can't say that the font choices did too much for your piece. Arial, as has been mentioned, is rather too plain and awkward a font to use, especially for something like this. In contrast, your 'falling' and 'flying' font is much too busy. Perhaps a 30% opacity blend without the shadow would have been better. I wouldn't make that stand out so much. I love the silhouette idea, and I love the quote, but I think some areas need improvement. [b]Revue[/b]: Great effort. The cheerful colour scheme complements the whimsical style of the lyrics, which are great by the way. It appears that the first orange vectored part [immediately bordering the stars layer] is filtered in some way relative to the stars - make it opaque I'd recommend. I'm talking about those little black spots. I'm not all that big on the grid, but I [b]love[/b] those clouds. So cute. [b]Vote[/b]: [i]Revue[/i].[/size]

[size=1]Or, perhaps a different addition to the set... [b]E - PG - M - R[/b]. R for Restricted ~_^[/size]

[size=1]There is nothing wrong with the rating system itself. Thats like saying knives are bad because you can stab people with them. The rating system is fine - it's people's 'abuse' of it that is causing the problem here. And the solution is really quite simple. Let it be known that if your RPG will mainly have no LVS, but that some posts [b]may[/b] have elements of that in there. And the person who creates a post which exceeds the thread's own rating simply puts in a rating at the top of their post. Simple. Easy. Stress free.[/size]

[quote name='Sage Kaley']I think what bothers me about ID is how it tries to both have religion and distance itself from it. One of the leaders of the ID movement has said that it's not saying God created us but rather that a Creator did. That just sounds silly. Not God but some Creator, which is another term for God...but not God...that bugs me I suppose. I think they should just say God. I don't mind if someone believes God created us but I don't. I mean, a Creator is vague...God, aliens, what? Christians originally created ID so why not just say God?[/quote][size=1] There is a large difference between the Christian God creating everything, and between another Intelligent force [i.e. some 'Creator']. I know it might seem like semantics, but it's actually quite an important distinction. Sure, God may have formed ID, but it's much more appropriate to refer to it as some 'Creator', because the point is, we don't know.[/size]

[size=1]Why does 'intelligent design' have to mean God is involved? I'm sure that Christians who realise the folly of the Bible's chain of events would like to think that intelligent design, with God as the creator, is an acceptable alternative. And maybe it is, and maybe it's right. But, don't close off Intelligent Design because of a lack of belief in a Christian God. Really, intelligent could be anything. It's just examining whether this process was actually constructed.[/size]

[size=1][quote name='Shy']This is correct, there are three players (not including myself) who are not included in a specific mission. Am I being cruel? Not really, I just have something special in mind for these three characters in particular.[/quote] I count 23 in Teams, 28 total... But anyway, it is good to know we haven't been forgotten :p[/size]

[size=1]And now, just to try and calm the mood and explain an additional thought to Sage, you said that when you had 20 or so players, it lost it's quality and consistency. If there is no posting order - i.e. no specified time that you have to post, then there are those who will post compulsively, and those who will drift away. Eventually, your 20 or so players will dwindle, and you'll only have a 'core' group of 6 or so rabid posters. And you know, eventually the grand aims that your 20 character RPG had will stagnate. By having a posting order, [b]it encourages posting[/b], even if it lengthens the time between posts. Do you see where I'm coming from?[/size]

[size=1]Sage, stress less. Maybe you have all day to be sitting online, but not only is school starting up again, but these things take time. It takes time to create a quality post. If you honestly don't believe that an RPG can come to fruition using posting schedules, just take a look at 'Kill Adam'. It took time, and perhaps too long at times, but look at the great quality. Give people a break man. It's been 24 hours, not a week.[/size]

[size=1]Simple answer: OB has a counter to keep track of it's visitors. The counter is provided by Bravenet, and when the counter needed updated code, thats what happened. Nothing to fret over.[/size]

[size=1]Exactly right Lunox. Oh, and Kamuro... [b]you[/b] think her music sucks, but that doesn't mean it does. Obviously it's appealing to a lot of people, neh?[/size]

[size=1]Alright. Year 6 or 7, I'm not sure. Back in 2001, I think. School computers in my class were always a fight to get onto. I think there were four computers, and there were often 10 or more kids wanting to get on them. It started off with Neopets and Cartoon Network games. It then became that I was looking for Pokemon information. I discovered OB and made a few posts. Because I had no internet at home, I drifted away over school holidays. And then... March of 2003, I remembered OB. I came back, and got myself a new name. And started posting. And here I am ~_^ I use the internet for a lot of things. I obviously post here, I blog, I chat, I surf and I download. The internet is a vital part of who I am as a person - over the last few years it has most definitely helped to shape me.[/size]

[size=1]Every time an artist deviates from what they've done before, and just perhaps become that little bit more mainstream, then you get people bitching about how they've 'sold out'. Pop is short for Popular. Gwen's songs are catchy, I'll admit. It isn't music I'm going to go out there and buy, or music I want to listen to. But, y'know, if I hear it on the radio, that's cool. It's catchy music. I quite like Hollaback Girl to be honest. It's catchy, and sounds pretty good. Her music's genre is hardly Bubblegum Pop. It's just music that has proven attractive to a large enough audience that it has now come under the banner of 'Pop'. So what? Get over this stigma you've attached to Pop, people.[/size]

[size=1]I don't think that it's necessarily all bad. Think from your friends point of view: why would they want a book that 'teaches' them how to get more friends? There is an obvious answer to that one. Some people don't naturally possess social confidence, and don't 'get' how to make friends easily. I'm sure that most of you have seen how some people can just walk into a room, and have friends five minutes later. You have it, or you work at it. And that's what your friends are doing. It's a shame that they are coming across as being false, but be patient with them. If it gets too much, have a quiet word to them about it. But above all, let them do it. And see where it goes.[/size]

[size=1][b]Quoted from Ninemsn[/b]:" KFAR DAROM SETTLEMENT - Jewish protestors hurled acid at police attempting to evict them from a Gaza Strip synagogue, in the most violent confrontations since Israel began its historic pullout from the territory. The incident in the isolated settlement of Kfar Darom, which wounded two dozen police, came as Israel pressed on for a second day to remove remaining settlers and protestors who have refused to obey orders to quit Gaza for ever. Troops succeeded in dragging out almost all the protestors in the synagogues at Kfar Darom and in the main settlement of Neve Dekalim as Israel's withdrawal from the territory after 38 years of occupation proceeded apace. Over half the 21 settlements were reported empty and Israeli officials were predicting that Israel's first ever withdrawal from Palestinian territory would be over by early next week. The scenes of Jewish soldiers locked in confrontation with settlers and their sympathisers were repeated elsewhere in Gaza, with security forces finding themselves the targets of insults, rotten eggs, and tins of food. "We have several policemen who have been wounded by acid and we will apply the full force of the law," General Dan Harel, in charge of the pullout, told reporters. Medical sources said that 45 people, including 27 police, were wounded during Thursday's operations. Some 100 radical Jews were arrested after the Kfar Darom clashes. Some officers were seen leaving the synagogue in only their underwear and were seen washing themselves down with water after they were sprayed with the liquid. A young woman clutching her child was among those who were herded out of the synagogue, whose foundation stone was ironically laid by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, the settlers' one-time champion now turned foe. But as the brilliant blue skies gave way to nightfall, it appeared that the security forces had gained the upper hand, with screaming protestors being hauled out one-by-one by their hands and feet to waiting coaches. One Israeli soldier was seen refusing to carry out his orders to drag out the settlers before being pulled away by other soldiers and policemen. Similar dramatic scenes were also played out at the synagogue in the main settlement of Neve Dekalim, as Israeli forces pushed forward with the first ever withdrawal from occupied Palestinian land that many Jews believe was promised to them by God. There, teenage and adult religious Jews were being carried out by their arms and legs, screaming abuse at the unarmed police who raided the synagogue after the estimated 2,000 inside defied an ultimatum to leave voluntarily and end a two-day standoff. Israeli troops also cleared the messianic beachside settlement of Shirat Hayam, believed to be the most radical of all, dragging settlers out of their homes and manhandling them onto buses. "This is one of the saddest moments of my life. It's disgusting throwing these Jews out of here. These families sacrificed their lives," said 18-year-old sympathiser Toby. "Shame on you," shrieked residents as an army bulldozer smashed its way into Netzer Hazani, the oldest settlement in the land seized by Israel in the 1967 war. In the Kfar Yam settlement, scores of Israeli soldiers raided a house where an armed Jewish settler and around 30 people, including children, had barricaded themselves inside. On the second day of the forcible clearance of the 21 Jewish settlements in Gaza, seven settlements had been completely evacuated, while another seven are virtually empty. Palestinians have welcomed the pullout as a victory for the resistance to four decades of Israeli occupation, while the international community hopes it will mark a new page in efforts to bring peace to the Middle East. Some 70 percent of the estimated 8,000 settlers have left, public radio reported, although their numbers were swelled by around 5,000 infiltrators. The final Israelis are to be evacuated by Monday or Tuesday, it said. Meanwhile, a West Bank settler who gunned down four Palestinians on the first day of the forcible evacuation on Wednesday said he had no remorse, as thoughts turned to the future of Gaza after the withdrawal. "I am not sorry for what I have done. I wanted to stop the pullout and I hope someone murders Sharon as well," Asher Weisgan told reporters as he was brought by police to a court near Tel Aviv. Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas, who has a force of some 7,500 deployed to prevent militant attacks, urged calm in the aftermath of the killings although radical groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad vowed revenge. The jailed leader of the Palestinian uprising, Marwan Barghuti, hailed the pullout as a "victory for the resistance" over the Israeli occupation in the teeming Gaza Strip, where 1.3 million Palestinians live in mostly abject poverty. Sharon said he had been moved to tears seeing Jews being hauled from their homes by Jews, and has pledged to pursue settlement activity in the West Bank -- action that defies an internationally-drafted peace plan for the Middle East. A spokesman for Sharon, Raanan Gissin, said the next days would be crucial for Israel's leaders "to find a way to reconcile the differences, to heal the wounds that have been created by events like this."[/size]