2011-06-02

減手機致癌風險 專家有計

減手機致癌風險 專家有計
6/2/2011
經濟日報 


手機是不少人的隨身必備,專家教路,市民應在手機接收訊號較好時使用。  (曾耀輝攝)


專家表示,在同樣的接收訊號下,Wi-Fi、藍牙的輻射功率較3G或GSM上網手機低。 


【經濟日報專訊】近年全球就手機輻射致癌與否爭論不休,世衞(WHO)癌症研究機構日前將手機列為「有可能致癌」級別,風險跟咖啡及鉛等看齊,但專家稱須進一步研究長期及頻繁使用手機的影響。
有學者表示,手機接收訊號愈好,輻射功率愈低,建議市民可靠窗戶講電話,或以短訊代通話。


AT&T Wireless 


來自14個國家的31名科學家工作小組日前在世界衞生組織的國際癌症研究中心(IARC)會議上,評估了多項有關人及動物暴露在射頻電磁場環境下對健康影響的研究資料,並認為基於有限數據,長期、高強度用無綫通訊設備「可能導致」患神經膠質瘤,屬腦瘤中的惡性腫瘤。
WHO列「有可能致癌」級別
雖然該工作小組並無量化罹患該種癌症的風險,但國際癌症研究中心聲明中提及04年的一項研究,如連續10年平均每天使用手機30分鐘,罹患神經膠質瘤機率便可能增加4成。
國際癌症研究中心將致癌風險分為致癌、很可能致癌、可能致癌、無法歸類或很可能不致癌的5個級別,而長期、高強度使用無綫通訊設備的風險被評為「可能致癌」,跟鉛、咖啡及醃製蔬菜等同級。同時建議使用免提裝置,或利用手機短訊代替語音通話,減少接觸手機電磁波。
不過,專家承認仍未有確實證據顯示手機是致癌兇手,須要作進一步研究。


理大電子及資訊工程學系高級講師周海林接受查詢時表示,假設同樣的訊號接收情況,Wi-Fi、藍牙的輻射功率較3G或GSM上網手機低,而不同的手機或電子產品量度人體實際吸收射頻能量水平的比吸收率(SAR)亦不同,市民購買前可作比較(見表)。


他坦言,所有電子產品都有輻射,對人的健康有一定影響,但使用器材、時間及模式不同,對人體的影響都不一樣,需要蒐集更多數據支持有關結論。


接收訊號好 輻射功率低
為免吸收過量輻射,周海林建議應到靠近窗戶等接收訊號較佳地方講電話,及避免在電梯等接收訊號較差的地方通話;當通話至電池發熱時便應停止,亦可透過短訊傳達信息,避免手機長時間貼近腦部。


香港放射科醫學院名譽秘書張志偉亦指,醫學上暫時未有證據顯示使用手機會致癌,因為手機的電磁波強度跟微波爐及磁力共振相若,最多只會加熱細胞,不可能如X-光般致癌:「X-光能量高到可以改變分子結構形成電離狀態,而手機的能量極其量只能令身體稍稍變熱。」
全球目前約有50億手機用戶,而本港的手機用戶去年亦突破1,300萬,滲透率達186%,即平均每名市民擁有1.86個手機帳戶。

屋宇署勸喻拆玻璃 特首曾蔭權表示盡快拆僭建

屋署勸喻拆玻璃
特首:盡快拆

經濟日報
6/2/2011


特首曾蔭權昨晚表示,會按屋宇署勸喻,盡快清拆玻璃嵌板,並跟進如何依法例要求,重建合乎標準的客廳外廊。


屋宇署回應特首涉僭建


【經濟日報專訊】特首曾蔭權的麥當勞道物業經屋宇署兩日調查後,昨終發出清拆勸喻令,指玻璃窗密封露台涉違反《建築物條例》;曾蔭權昨晚亦發表聲明,指為消除一切疑慮,會安排盡快清拆現有的玻璃嵌板。有學者及政黨均指曾蔭權應向公眾道歉,並盡快解決僭建問題。
據悉,港府對打擊僭建問題上,內部出現兩類意見,有指新的嚴打僭建措施剛於4月推行,應繼續推行;但亦有因應現時新的形勢,是否由社會再討論管制僭建的尺度可務實處理,避免新措施變為擾民之政。


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學者:屋署未指違規 涉偏幫


中大社會學系副教授陳健民指出,屋宇署沒有說明曾蔭權的寓所違規,是故意偏幫,認為曾蔭權應公開道歉:「特首好明顯是違規,若不違規,為何會勸喻他清拆﹖政府想維持公信力,就側側膊叫特首私下解決。」


本報翻查屋宇署建築批准圖則,發現麥當勞道64號碧雲樓自1965年落成以來,有5份加建及改建申請,但沒有一份申請涉及1B室,顯示特首持有該單位未曾向屋宇署申請進行任何改動工程。


曾蔭權物業周一被揭疑有僭建,屋宇署昨晚近10時才發出回應,指曾蔭權物業以「大型玻璃嵌板圍封客廳外廊的工程需要根據《建築物條例》跟進」,並發出勸喻清拆令;或聘請認可人士證明該僭建物符合法例。


測量師:窗不能開 已不合格


屋宇署又解釋,06年並非要求清拆,是基於當年只進行「大型清拆外牆僭建物」,針對範圍並不包括密封玻璃露台。


曾蔭權發出聲明指,為消除一切疑慮,會盡快清拆現有的玻璃嵌板;聲明並無就涉違規一事道歉。


資深建築測量師陳華偉接受訪問時指,根據《建築物條例》,所有住所的窗戶的採光及通風標準,都有一定要求。他舉例指,窗戶一定要屬「打得開、通到風」,「如果玻璃窗是固定,不能開啟的,就已經不合格,入則都不會批。」他又指,若通風標準不合格,已屬僭建。
城市大學學術統籌宋立功批評,曾蔭權的聲明反映他仍堅持物業「未必違規」,只是為釋取疑慮才清拆,「根本是將責任推給屋宇署」,他形容曾此舉政治上非常不智,只會令市民感到憤怒。


議員抨知法犯法 促道歉釋疑


他又指屋宇署作為最熟悉建築物條例的政府部門,竟發出軟弱聲明,不敢直接判斷曾蔭權物業是否僭建,「明顯是為了護主。」


李永達強調,勸喻信是「最低級別」的警告,但曾蔭權卻是僭建,要求屋宇署解釋為何不發出較高嚴重性的的清拆令或通知書。「是否日後所有露台僭建,屋宇署都只發勸喻信,不發清拆令?還是因為那個是特首,才手鬆一點?」民主黨李永達表示,屋宇署證實曾蔭權知法犯法,認為曾蔭權一定要向公眾道歉,否則難以令市民釋疑。「如果他不道歉,日後市民會覺得不用守法。」

2011-05-31

The Best Bodyweight Exercises for Arms #832

The Best Bodyweight Exercises for Arms #832

《山城搜奇》ep41-西醫大揭秘
主持:卓飛, 劉六
嘉賓:周兆祥博士
Listen Online or Download MP3

生活中常見的有害化學物質

人工食用色素的危險性

髒兮兮的孩子更健康?

疫苗打得越多,嬰兒早夭越多

別再使用不沾鍋!揭開不沾鍋廚具業者的謊言
然而在最近的測試中,研究人員卻發現,若是以一般電爐加熱不沾黏平底鍋,在 3 分多鐘內溫度便會上升至大約攝氏 390 度,而且在關火 20 秒之後溫度仍會繼續上升;在由業者所進行的研究中,不沾鍋廚具在攝氏 230 度時便會開始釋放有毒氣體,等到 360 度時即會大量釋放出至少 6 種有毒氣體,若是繼續上升到 540 度,不沾黏塗料還會開始分解成一種稱作全氟異丁烯 (Perfluoroisobutene,PFIB) 的有毒物質,是在二次大戰中曾經使用過的神經毒氣成分。

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2011-05-30

More Vaccines = Higher Infant Mortality Rate

These Undeniable Facts are Ignored by Mainstream Doctors
More Vaccines = Higher Infant Mortality Rate

I Strongly Recommend Avoiding These 7 Foods

Fit for Life [Paperback]
Harvey Diamond (Author), Marilyn Diamond (Author)

蜂蜜: 加工食品與天然食物的差別

Cell towers hidden in church steeples

Female Elephants Rescue A Drowning Baby

Bhajan - 24hr Kirtan - Mukunda Datta das - Bhaja Hu Re Mana - 25/26

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2011-05-29

巴塞捧歐聯冠軍過百人慶祝時受傷八十人被捕

巴塞捧歐聯冠軍過百人慶祝時受傷八十人被捕
 (商台)2011年5月29日 星期日 


Sports Equipment


巴塞羅那三比一擊敗曼聯    ,捧走歐聯    錦標。五萬名球迷,湧上巴塞羅那街頭慶祝,但就演變成暴力衝突,過百人受傷,當中至少十八人要送院治理,包括一名警員。另外有八十名球迷被拘捕,他們涉嫌向警員扔水樽及煙花,以及破壞公園長椅及巴士站,外電拍攝到,有警員穿上巴塞羅那球衣,混入慶祝的球迷當中執法。



2011-05-28

黑客木馬遙控視像鏡 電視節目非誠勿擾女嘉賓遭拍裸照勒索3萬

黑客遙控視像鏡 非誠女遭拍裸照
 (明報)2011年5月27日 星期五

【明報專訊】電腦裝有鏡頭的網民要小心,因為隨時可能遭黑客偷窺偷拍。內地人氣電視節目《非誠勿擾》兩名女嘉賓的手提電腦遭黑客用遠程軟件入侵並偷拍多張裸照,其中一人遭勒索3萬元人民幣。北京    市朝陽區法院前日以敲詐勒索罪判處該名黑客入獄3年。

相親節目嘉賓電郵中木馬

據北京傳媒報道,去年5月,廣東30歲男子陳定寧看過江蘇衛視相親節目《非誠勿擾》後,將目標鎖定來自北京的女嘉賓陳美(化名)。他根據陳美的博客得知其電郵地址,向她發送了一封名為「代言的事宜」遠程控制軟件,陳美不知是病毒點擊下載,令木馬程式植入其電腦後控制了視像鏡頭,並在陳美不知情下偷拍了她在家中的多張私密裸照。


威脅公開裸照 勒索3萬

至去年7月20日,陳美的手提電腦突然有一封信在桌面自動彈開,對方自稱是黑客,並稱偷拍了其裸照,要她把3萬元款項匯到指定銀行帳戶,否則就把其裸照發到網上。陳美以為是惡作劇而未有理會,但次日電腦上竟彈出自己的半身裸照和一個對話框,對話框內容要求她在第2天中午前將錢存到指定帳戶內,否則其大批裸照會出現在色情網站及她的個人網誌上,陳美大驚之下報警求助。

去年10月,北京警方將在廣東的嫌犯陳定寧拘捕。據他交代,他還向另一名家住北京朝陽區的《非誠勿擾》女嘉賓潘×電腦發送了同樣病毒郵件,也以掌握其裸照為由向對方索要3萬元。警方在其電腦及硬碟中發現了大量陳美和潘×的私密照片。

北京朝陽區法院閉門審理此案。法官指陳定寧以受害者隱私相片要挾勒索錢財,已構成敲詐勒索罪,但鑑於其犯罪未遂,並自願認罪,故輕判入獄3年。法官呼籲網民不要輕信陌生電郵或網頁,不宜將電腦攝像鏡頭對準臥室,以保護私隱。

2011-05-27

Reasons to Avoid Sugar and Artificial Sweeteners

人民日報指一日吞下九十種添加劑 
香港人日吞 超過76種致敏致癌添加劑

Reasons to Avoid Sugar and Artificial Sweeteners

Scientists reverse stance on sun and cancer: Now they admit sunlight can prevent skin cancer


生活中常見的有害化學物質

綠色琪談 - 張韻琪
環境激素食落肚?

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美國大西洋城21點賭神 Don Johnson 12小時贏4520萬

21點賭神12小時贏4520萬
 (明報)2011年5月27日 星期五


【明報專訊】美國    大西洋城近半年有一名21點「賭神」橫行,在3大賭場共贏得1510萬美元    (約1.18億港元),最高紀錄是12小時內捧走580萬美元(約4524萬港元)。他堅拒透露贏錢秘技,謙稱純粹靠運。


49歲「賭神」約翰遜(Don Johnson)正職是懷俄明州的網上賭馬公司總裁,「副業」卻是在大西洋城多間賭場玩21點。有別於電影中衣冠楚楚的「賭神」,約翰遜「造型」樸實,常穿運動鞋、運動衣和印有賭場標誌的鴨舌帽,絕不引人注目,但每注動輒10萬美元(約78萬港元)。


Online Casinos 
Online Poker



兩晚贏1755萬 被賭場封殺


去年12月,他從凱撒賭場贏了約3300萬港元,並從百佳    塔酒店賭場捧走約778萬港元。今年3至4月,他又贏了約1400萬港元,另在4月底兩晚(48小時)內捧走約1755萬港元。最驚人的紀錄,卻是上月在半天內從好世界賭場贏得逾4500萬港元,創下該賭場最高賠錢紀錄。


約翰遜否認透過「出千」或以電影《鬥智21點》中的算牌方式致勝。他稱:「我的致勝關鍵,運氣大於技巧,最終總有人會贏,慶幸這就是我。」他說有時也會輸錢,沒可能逢賭必贏。


多間賭場最初把他奉為貴賓,輸錢可打八折,現在他卻被凱撒等大賭場列入黑名單。他說:「我想大西洋城的賭場不會再讓我賭了。即使不玩21點,我還可以賭馬。」


每日郵報

2011-05-26

Fukushima "ear-less bunny" is first, deformed human babies may be next in the list.

Fukushima "ear-less bunny" is first, deformed human babies may be next in the list.

Spending time in the sun does not constitute dangerous behavior


Girls Given This Vitamin at Birth May be 41% More Likely to Die

Hidden Fat in Thin People?

Oceana: 5 Shocking Fish Facts

The dangers of artificial food colors

93 percent of unborn babies contaminated with GMO toxins, study finds
Published in the journal Reproductive Toxicology, the study explains that Bt toxin enters the body not only through direct consumption of GMOs, but also from consumption of meat, milk and eggs from animals whose feed contains GMOs. Among all women tested, 80 percent of the pregnant group tested positive for Bt toxin in their babies' umbilical cords, and 69 percent of non-pregnant women tested positive for Bt toxin.

Hospitals mislead patients about benefits of robotic surgery

Two new studies warn -- medical doctors may be hazardous to your health

Cancer screenings are now spreading deadly superbugs, say reports

Vegan Vows: A Yummy Cruelty-Free Wedding

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23 Breathtaking Natural Swimming Pools

2011-05-17  <-- good
主持人: 潘紹聰 / 嘉賓:殯儀從業員 張先生
主題: 恐怖在線(第708集)
張生接觸在殯儀儀式上種種的知識及詭異現象
張生哥哥玩招靈遊戲惹女鬼坐電單車尾
坐上自殺女的士司機車箱驚覺自己入住凶宅

EWG's 2011 Sunscreen Guide

Best Beach & Sport Sunscreens

Top Sun Safety Tips

What's wrong with the sunscreen protection business

Bill Gates pushes for 90 percent vaccination rate worldwide


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每人獲資深股市交易員Mike Baghdady 打本10萬鎊 倫敦師奶司機學炒股

每人獲打本百萬 師奶司機學炒股
 (明報)2011年5月25日 星期三 


【明報專訊】一名美籍埃及    裔資深股市交易員,為驗證「人人可成股市贏家」理念,特意向的士司機、撲克玩家等15名股壇門外漢,傳授一套獨門法則,再給每人打本10萬鎊(約125萬港元)作股票買賣,以此驗證人人毋須特殊專才、天賦,3年內皆可當成功交易員。


開展「實驗」的是有36年美股等交易經驗的巴格達迪(Mike Baghdady)。他2009年曾在法蘭克福世界交易錦標賽中奪獎,現時在倫敦    開辦交易員訓練機構,開班授徒。


投資大師開班 「3年可變交易員」


他4月宣布這項打本培訓計劃,至今收到大概8000份申請。如今從中選出15人,包括曾從事投資銀行IT工作的家庭主婦、退伍軍官、的士司機,介乎23至42歲。


他們會由7月4日開始,在倫敦學習巴格達迪的獨門「價格行為」(Price Behaviour)系統——透過分析人群怎樣理解市場的價格和價值的背後心理,識別取勝交易。


Electronics Canada


學員初期虧損由公司承擔,盈利的20%則可歸學員擁有。3年內投資表現出色者(可多過1人),可獲得巴格達迪投資公司一份全職對冲基金交易員工作。


30歲俄羅斯    法律系畢業生(Sergey Guseynov)是「新海龜」一員。他生於阿塞拜疆,2005年到英國    學英語,現職酒店接待員,他對勝任新挑戰信心滿滿。


另一學員表示,已為此活動辭工。「你對交易可以隨意亂學一通,但像這樣的雙贏機會卻是難得一次,你不接受就蠢了。」


巴格達迪表示,其培訓理念源自傳奇芝加哥交易員丹尼斯(Richard Dennis)。丹尼斯1983年與友打賭,表示只要傳授一套法則,任何人皆可成為傑出交易員。


13名稱為「海龜」(Turtles)的學徒遂在丹尼斯的培訓後,靠他提供的100萬美元,在4年間成績卓越,獲利最高達3100萬美元(2.4億港元),堪稱交易場中最著名實驗。


每日郵報/CityAM/倫敦都市報

2011-05-25

網上假聘神秘顧客騙財 指派應徵者借貸「試銀行服務」 捲款失蹤

網上假聘神秘顧客騙財 指派應徵者借貸「試銀行服務」 捲款失蹤
 (明報)2011年5月25日 星期三


mystery shopper, mystery shopping scam


【明報專訊】暑假將至,就業市場多了不少學生及畢業生,容易跌入求職陷阱,警方日前就破獲一個招聘「神秘顧客」詐騙集團,拘捕5名年輕男女。騙徒在網上聲稱聘請神秘顧客,往銀行或財務機構正式申請貸款,以測試借貸過程的服務水平,取得貸款後須將金錢連同文件、服務質素評估表交給疑犯,以換取佣金。騙徒取得款項後便去如黃鶴,暫有7人被騙共25萬元。


記者昨日瀏覽互聯網討論區,亦發現不少招聘神秘顧客的留言,其中有人自稱可提供渠道任職神秘顧客,卻要先繳付300元介紹費,記者留下信息,至截稿仍未回覆,故不知是否有詐。


5青年被捕 女主腦21歲


Job Search


至於被商罪科拘捕的2男3女,年齡介乎19至25歲,全報稱無業,其中一名21歲女生相信為集團主腦。7名受害者年齡18至25歲,全為學生,被騙金額由1.5萬至8萬元,其中一名男學生更分別被指派到3間公司借貸,共被騙去8萬元;7人共被騙款項25萬元。


商罪科科技罪案組警司招秀美表示,詐騙集團成員是透過互聯網認識,今年1月起組織一間以提供神秘顧客服務為名的有限公司,並在網上討論區張貼招聘長工或兼職神秘顧客的廣告。


聘人逼真 簽約派工作流程


當有應徵者與詐騙集團聯絡,集團會相約受害人到公眾地方面試。為求逼真,疑犯會要求受害人簽署合約以落實聘請事宜,然後派發工作流程表,再安排受害人到不同銀行及金融機構作「神秘顧客」測試,包括安信、中國銀行    及恒生銀行等。


7學生被騙25萬元


騙徒要求受害人正式申請貸款以測試借貸過程,受害人取得貸款後,須將款項連同簽署的借貸文件及服務質素評估表,在公眾地方交給疑犯,以換取每次150至800元佣金。


不過,當疑犯取得貸款後,便從此失去蹤影,各受害人驚覺被騙,先後由家人陪同到警署報警。經過半個月情報整理及分析,商罪科探員周日及周一在新界多處地方,包括葵青、元朗及沙田    拘捕5名疑犯,並檢走疑犯的手提電腦、銀行帳戶、電話及文件調查,5人至今仍遭扣查。因警員從電話紀錄發現疑犯多次跟不同的人聯絡,不排除稍後會發現更多受害者。


商罪科高級督察黃美娟說,今次涉案的年輕人,主要心態都是賺快錢,犯案模式是今年最新,但手法並不專業,若受害人小心查證,應可以避免受騙。她提醒打算找暑期工的學生,面試前應了解公司背景及地點等資料,若地點可疑切勿單獨前往,最好由成人或朋友陪同,更不要隨便在網上公開個人資料。


商業罪案調查科科技罪案組警司招秀美(中)表示,今次騙徒行騙手法雖新,但並不專業,提醒年輕人找工作時要注意廣告內容,及避免在互聯網公開個人資料。(梁琬珊攝)

In Joplin, salvaging what they can as skies darken

In Joplin, salvaging what they can as skies darken


The death toll from Sunday's tornado rises to 122 as rescuers continue to look for survivors. Hundreds seek shelter before new storms strike.


By Nicholas Riccardi, Matt Pearce and Mitchell Landsberg, Los Angeles Times


May 25, 2011


Reporting from Joplin, Mo., and Los Angeles


As the sky filled with dark clouds again, the pace picked up on Kentucky Avenue.


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Tim Jasinski, a 44-year-old contractor, loaded bundles of sheetrock into the back of his pickup, then added a bicycle belonging to one of his seven children. He cast a glance back at his house, a century-old bungalow he had been renovating before a tornado touched down Sunday.


"It's gone," he said Tuesday. "It's just a matter of how long before it topples. We're just salvaging what we can."


Photos: Devastation in Joplin, Mo.


As the death toll from one of the nation's deadliest tornadoes rose to 122, with more than 750 injured, residents raced to salvage what they could before new storms struck. Throughout Joplin's six-mile-long swath of destruction, rescue teams probed and dug through splintered ruins in a desperate search for survivors.


Elsewhere, five people were reported killed late Tuesday when at least one tornado touched down just west of Oklahoma City. A tornado also struck a three-county area of central and eastern Pennsylvania, but there were no reports of serious damage or injury.


In Joplin, tornado sirens sounded about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, and again shortly after 10. No twisters touched down, but a tornado watch remained in effect until 3 a.m.


Earlier in the day, rescuers searched a half-collapsed Wal-Mart, a Home Depot and a large apartment complex, also in ruins.


Two people were found alive in damaged buildings Tuesday, in addition to seven found the day before.


The tornado, which packed winds of over 200 mph, was the eighth deadliest in U.S. history, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It was the worst since 1947, when 181 people died in Woodward, Okla. Officials in Joplin said 8,000 structures had been damaged, many beyond repair.


It was one of a series of devastating tornadoes that have struck the Midwest and South this spring, causing more than 480 deaths.


The scene Tuesday on Kentucky Avenue was typical of what was happening all along the path of destruction in this city of 50,000 in southwestern Missouri, close by Oklahoma and Kansas. Homeowners, joined by friends and family, gathered up personal items and frantically tried to shore up tottering houses as the sky turned from a welcome hazy blue to an ever-darker and more threatening gray.


Before Sunday, this was a pleasant, leafy block of early 20th century bungalows with converted attics. Many of those attics were lopped off by Sunday's storm. Oaks lay across lawns, roofs and living rooms, shorn of their bark and leaves. Yards were heaped with torn-out insulation, mud and battered belongings.


Across the street from Jasinski, John Mott stood on his debris-covered lawn, sipping a Coke and considering the state of his home.


"The inside is kindling," he said. "The south wall is separated from the foundation and I'm trying to prop it up so it can survive another night."


Mott was wistful, remembering how friendly the street had been, how folks had looked out for one another. His eyes focused on a devastated bungalow across the street where an elderly man used to live. The man died before the storm.


"He lived there since 1958, and I'm glad he didn't get to see what happened to his house," Mott said.


His attention returned to how he would survive the night ahead. "Pray," he said. "We don't have a lot of choice."


While some people insisted on staying in their battered houses, others had no choice but to seek shelter. At Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, 143 people took refuge in a basketball arena; elsewhere, 34 people stayed in a church. Public health officials administered tetanus shots and about 190 National Guard troops helped search for survivors.


Police made several looting arrests, and the city instituted a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew in the damaged zone, Chief Lane Roberts said at a news conference.


About 1,500 people were reported missing. However, City Manager Mark Rohn emphasized: "That does not mean they are injured or deceased. It means loved ones are not aware of their whereabouts for many reasons." Many people were without working phones, and traveling even a short distance in the city was difficult.


Social networking sites pulsed with messages. "I am looking for my family … on Peace Church Road," one man wrote on Facebook. "If anyone has had contact with them please let them know that Paul … is concerned."


Another message: "To anyone out there that knows the family of little boy SKYLAR, please tell them to check with Children's Mercy Hospital."


In central Joplin, Shane Hunter and his squad of firefighters, both full-time and volunteer, stood wearily by a huge pile of wreckage. The dozens of hours they had spent painstakingly searching piles of debris were written on their faces.


"There's stuff laying on top of stuff laying on top of stuff," said Steve Slagle, a volunteer from Springfield, Mo.


When Hunter and the rest of his team — a mix of firefighters and volunteers with emergency response experience from as far as Nashville — first arrived late Sunday, they hoped they'd be pulling living people from the rubble. But after checking a four-mile area, they had found no one.


"I don't think there are any survivors," said Hunter, from nearby Diamond, Mo. "It becomes more of a search and recovery."


Just then his radio squawked. He put it to his ear. They found some people, he told his team. "They're taking them to B company now."


At the news of survivors, the exhausted, grimy faces allowed themselves the slightest grins. Hunter, laconically, said, "Cool." Then he told his team they had to move along.


Devastation in Joplin, Mo.


Riccardi and Pearce reported from Joplin, Landsberg from Los Angeles. Times staff writer Stephen Ceasar contributed to this report.