The availability of H1N1 vaccine is still less than what manufacturers had predicted and what federal health officials had wanted. Still, the 38 million doses currently ready for states to order is 11 million more than what was available a week ago, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“The pace of our progress is picking up,” said Rear Adm. Anne Schuchat, MD, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

Schuchat stopped short of predicting when the supply of vaccine would be enough to become readily available to the general public.

States, and in some cases municipalities, are responsible for determining how best to distribute limited supplies. In most areas, vaccinations are directed toward those at highest risk of spreading the disease or suffering the worst consequences.

Children remain among the groups most vulnerable. The virus is now blamed for 129 pediatric deaths in the U.S. Approximately two-thirds of these children had underlying neurological or respiratory conditions, Schuchat said.

According to the CDC, influenza activity is “widespread” in 48 states, with 7.7 percent of doctor’s office visits from patients reporting flu-like symptoms. That’s down slightly from last week’s figure of 8 percent. However, federal health officials say it’s too early to say whether H1N1 activity has peaked.

“Flu season can last until May,” Schuchat sait. “So, we really don’t know what trajectory we’ll see with this virus or with the flu season in general.”

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“We are getting to the level where it will become significantly easier to find vaccine,” said Thomas Frieden, MD.

The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, as of today, 22.4 million doses of H1N1 vaccine are available for shipment to providers. While that figure is not as high as public health officials would like, it represents an 8 million dose increase over the amount of vaccine available last week.

“Eventually there will be enough vaccine for all who want to get vaccinated to get vaccinated,” Frieden said.

Frieden said H1N1 activity is actually beginning to decrease in some parts of the country, including Georgia — where the spread of H1N1 got off to a rapid start (likely because of the early beginning of the school year in that state).

And while that may be good news for your Atlanta-based correspondent, the threat of H1N1 is far from over. Cases continue to increase in other parts of the country.

“H1N1 influenza remains widespread throughout the United States,” Frieden said.

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The H1N1 vaccine came out sooner than expected, but in smaller amounts. So vaccination efforts continue to focus on high risk groups.

Just 20 blocks from our FOX News Atlanta Bureau (where I’m writing this blog), Emory University Hospital Midtown is vaccinating pregnant women. And in New York City, public schools are sending students home with parental consent forms for a pediatric vaccine campaign to begin next week.

Most of us outside the high risk groups, however, will likely have to wait well into November before we can get the shots.

In the meantime — many hospitals, local governments and other entities are taking precautions to slow the spread of H1N1, or at least prevent the virus from disrupting operations.

In Minneapolis, Hennepin County Court officials are issuing 20 percent more jury summons than normal. They’re also doubling the number of alternate jurors assigned to trials.

That way, even if some members of the jury pool get sick with H1N1, the trials are likely to proceed on schedule.

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“If I could wave the vaccine magic wand or we could consult the Hogwarts Medical School, we’d have had a vaccine back in May,” said Jay Butler, MD. The director of the CDC’s H1N1 Vaccine Task Force was jokingly referring to the fictitious Hogwarts boarding school of wizardry in J.K. Rowling’s popular Harry Potter book series.

In the real world, the amount of time it took researchers and public health officials to develop and begin distribution of an H1N1 vaccine is on the faster end of the spectrum of what experts had predicted.

“We anticipated that it would probably be six to nine months after a pandemic is identified before a vaccine would actually be available,” Butler said. “Here we are, barely six months into the pandemic, and we’re starting to see vaccine available for administration.”

Today, the first doses of H1N1 vaccine arrived at hospitals in Memphis, Tenn. and Indianapolis, Ind. in the form of a nasal spray.

At these two locations, health care workers are getting vaccinated first. Local health officials said this is to prevent health care workers from getting sick and missing work at a time they are most needed, as well as to reduce the chances of them spreading the virus among hospital patients — who often have weakened immune systems.

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State and local governments have begun placing orders for H1N1 vaccine. The first 600-thousand doses will be distributed by Tuesday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More than 250-million doses are expected over the course of the fall and early winter. Federal health officials say this will be enough to accommodate everyone who wants to get the vaccine, however its availability will be sporadic during the first days and weeks.

One of the top priorities during the initial phase of the vaccination campaign will be pregnant women. They are at much higher risk for suffering complications from H1N1 than from seasonal flu.

According to CDC figures released today, H1N1 has caused the deaths of 28 pregnant women in the U.S. so far, and is responsible for approximately 100 intensive care unit hospitalizations.

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With the first doses of 2009 H1N1 vaccine expected in early October, many Americans will have already been exposed to the virus — which was first identified in April. A common question is whether someone who’s already been sick still needs to get vaccinated — or whether they’re already protected.

The short answer is: Yes AND yes, according to experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“People who have actually been infected with the 2009 H1N1 virus likely do have some immunity,” said Jay Butler, MD, chief of the CDC’s 2009 H1N1 Vaccine Task Force. “But the important issue is whether or not they know that’s what they were actually infected with.”

Most suspected H1N1 cases are diagnosed without laboratory confirmation.

“Early in the epidemic, we had other strains of influenza circulating,” Butler said. “There are other viruses that can make people ill as well. So, even if someone has had an illness that’s similar to influenza, even if there was perhaps a credible diagnosis of H1N1 infection made, our recommendation would still be to receive the vaccine so that you know that you’re immune.”

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Reporting on Atlanta real estate for a New York-based network is a lot of fun.

In my earpiece, I hear the anchors, producers and audio technicians at our Midtown Manhattan headquarters marvel at what $225-thousand will buy you down here — charming houses that would cost a fortune up there.

Today, we’re checking in with Realtor Joshua Keen of RealSource Brokers, as we have throughout the year, to see how economic trends are affecting him. Click here to watch our live/on the scene interview.

Joshua says he’s seen business pick up by 50 percent over the past 45 days. Eighty percent of his clientele these days are first time buyers. He says much of this is being driven by the first time homebuyer tax credit which expires Nov. 30.

Joshua says the Average sales price in town remains steady at… $225-thousand.

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At a time H1N1 influenza has heightened awareness and concern about the spread of infectious diseases, two British companies — BAE Systems and Quest International UK — have announced new technology to inhibit the spread of pathogens on board aircraft.

The AirManager cabin air management system “eliminates all airborne viruses and bacteria,” according to a news release posted on BAE’s website. The company also writes:

The patented AirManager uses a revolutionary Close Coupled Field Technology (CCFT) – a contained and safe electrical field that eliminates smells, and breaks down and destroys airborne pathogens, contaminants and toxins.

BAE says it has successfully tested the filtration system on eight BAe 146 and Avro RJ aircraft. Both of these models are regional passenger jets. The company is currently conducting trials in much larger Boeing 757 jetliners and expects to design similar filters for use in two workhorses of commercial aviation — the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320.

Even before H1N1, airline cabin air quality had come under scrutiny. Because jet engines have to work harder to pull in fresh air from outside, many aircraft recycle cabin air to reduce fuel costs. The practice has caused considerable debate within the aviation industry and the medical community as to whether it increases the transmission of disease.

BAE officials claim their AirManager will allow air conditioning systems to operate even more efficiently — essentially paying for the system in fuel conservation within the first year of use.

Meanwhile, on the ground, the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority has begun weekly cleaning of common areas to reduce the spread of flu among its estimated 1 million daily passengers. For more on that, and other H1N1-related information, see my Liveshots Blog.

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The Food and Drug Administration has approved the new H1N1 vaccine.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told Congress a limited number of doses may be distributed in early October, with a bulk shipment in the middle of that month.

This year’s response to H1N1 marks one of the fastest research and development phases of an influenza vaccine. In an interview earlier this month, Jay Butler, MD, director of the CDC’s H1N1 Vaccine Task Force told me:

I think the news is really good in terms of what we’ve been saying over the past several years — how we’ve planned, particularly at the state level, for the next pandemic. We’ve anticipated that a vaccine wouldn’t be available for about six to nine months after the first cases are identified. If, indeed, we can be getting vaccine out to the public by mid-October, we’re actually a little bit ahead of schedule.

Public health officials first discovered this H1N1 outbreak in April.

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America’s hospitals are preparing for a resurgence of H1N1 flu. But a limited number of beds will require some out of the box thinking.

“Hospitals have taken the same approach the airlines have. They’ve tried to fill every seat,” said Art Kellermann, MD, professor of emergency medicine at Emory University. “A full hospital is an economically efficient hospital. But a full hospital to start a flu season is a very, very tough place to manage.”

According to Kellermann, many hospitals already have contingency plans in place — opening separate waiting areas for people with flu symptoms and expanding patient treatment into areas normally used for administration.

Kellermann said the general public can also play an important role by getting vaccinated, covering coughs, washing hands and staying home when sick to slow the spread of H1N1. “If you can spread the epidemic season out, that means — on any given day or any given week — doctors like me have less severely ill patients to take care of,” he said.

According to public health experts, the vast majority of those infected with H1N1 will not require a visit to the emergency room. Convincing people with mild cases to recover at home will be key to freeing up America’s ERs for those who need them most, Kellermann said.

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The idea of testing a vaccine on children makes many parents squeamish. But for Amanda Strudwick, it was a chance for the Atlanta mother and nurse to protect her children and the nation from H1N1.

“There are children in school getting sick already,” Strudwick said. “If my children are vaccinated,  it means hopefully that they won’t pass it along to somebody else who may have a lower immune system.”

Strudwick;s daughters Nina, 7, and Hannah, 9, are among 100 children participating in an H1N1 vaccine study being conducted at Emory University and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. For more details on that study, see my related blog or watch my video report.

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Press room at the CDC in Atlanta.

As researchers continue to test vaccines against H1N1 influenza, public health officials are addressing the concerns of many Americans about the risks — both real and perceived.

Approximately 100 million people in the U.S. get vaccines for seasonal influenza each year, according to Anne Schuchat, MD, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“The way that the H1N1 vaccine is being made is the same way that the seasonal influenza vaccines are made, and so we have a good track record there,” she said. “On the other hand, unexpected things can happen and we’re going to have a very strong safety system in place that we’re increasing in intensity right now to make sure that if there are any problems — that we don’t expect, but could happen — we’re on top of them and we take steps quickly.”

Five manufacturers are producing H1N1 vaccines, which are currently undergoing clinical trials in human volunteers, including children. Researchers say, so far, the studies have raised no red flags in terms of safety.

CDC officials expect the vaccines to become available to the general public in mid-October. They emphasize that the immunization program will be voluntary.

Approximately one in three Americans gets vaccinated for seasonal flu each year. Seventy percent of Americans 65 and older — among those at highest risk for suffering complications from seasonal flu — get the shots. The numbers are much lower for young people.

But young people are at highest risk for H1N1. What remains uncertain is whether the increased risk will translate into more young people getting immunized.

The CDC is planning public information campaigns on H1N1, not only using traditional outlets such as radio and TV, but new media and social networking sites such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

Related post: Tracking H1N1 – Reporting from the CDC

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The CDC's Global Communications Center in Atlanta.

This morning, I’m on my way to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. The CDC is holding a two day workshop for journalists covering influenza (including H1N1), to give us the latest information on these viruses as well as more in-depth background.

I will update this blog with what we learn. Regarding H1N1, here’s what we know so far:

According to the CDC’s latest figures, H1N1 has been responsible for 7,983 hospitalizations and 522 deaths in the U.S. this year.

“It’s important to keep in mind that these numbers radically underestimate the number of cases that actually occur,” said Jay Butler, director of the CDC’s H1N1 Vaccine Task Force. “Many cases go without testing and, in many areas, there is not routine testing of people who are not sick enough to require hospitalization.”

The CDC stopped reporting estimates of probable cases of 2009 H1N1 on July 24. Mathematical modeling at the time suggested as many as 1 million Americans may have been infected.

“If that’s accurate, it’s more than 1 million cases now,” Butler said.

Health officials say H1N1 continues to disproportionately affect young people — unlike seasonal flu, which tends to hit the elderly the hardest. According to Butler, 75 percent of H1N1 hospitalizations and 60 percent of H1N1 deaths involve persons under 49 years of age.

This year, H1N1 is the predominant influenza virus circulating worldwide. Researchers have been keeping a close eye on South America and Australia, which are approaching the end of their winter flu season.

So far, fears that the virus might mutate into a more dangerous form have not been realized.

“There have been no significant changes detected in the influenza virus isolated from persons in the southern hemisphere as compared to viruses isolated from persons in the northern hemisphere,” Butler said.

According to Butler, the viruses remain susceptible to anti-viral drugs, such as oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza). He said they also remain similar to the viruses selected for H1N1 vaccines currently in development.

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Long lines outside the Jefferson County Courthouse.

When we arrived at the Jefferson County Courthouse in downtown Birmingham, Alabama, a long line of residents stretched down the front steps and along a sidewalk. Many of these people were simply waiting to renew their vehicle tags.

“You’ve got people 60, 70 and 80 (years old) and they have to stand up for four and five hours,” said Timothy Stanfield, a Birmingham resident.

The long lines are symptomatic of a budget crisis that has prompted Jefferson County to close satellite government offices in outlying areas and lay off well over a quarter of its workforce.

Although Jefferson County has been in the national spotlight recently for its difficulties paying off $4 billion in sewer bonds, commissioners say the mass-layoffs stem from an unrelated financial crisis: loss of tax revenue.

Earlier this year, a judge struck down Jefferson County’s occupational tax — a half percent levy on the earnings of people who work in the county (excluding certain professionals, such as barbers, who already pay county licensing fees). That tax had generated approximately $75 million in annual revenue.

State lawmakers from the area are proposing a new occupational tax that would affect every worker in the county — no exceptions — thereby surpassing the previous tax in the amount of revenue generated.

The local sheriff is asking for something even more dramatic.

After losing a legal battle to protect his budget from the Jefferson County Commission’s fiscal ax, Sheriff Mike Hale sent a request to Alabama Governor Bob Riley, asking him to consider sending state funds — or the National Guard.

“I need force multipliers” Hale said. “I need the National Guard to partner with my deputies to make sure communities and neighborhoods are safe.”

According to the Sheriff, the $4 million budget cut slated for his office could result in layoffs of as many as 300 of his 700 employees.

Hale insists public safety is crucial. But so are many other public services, according to Jefferson County Commissioner Jim Carnes.

“It’s no good if we’ve got law enforcement (and) we don’t have a coroner to say, ‘This person was murdered,’ and a D.A.” to try the suspected killer, he said.

As for the people waiting for vehicle tags, we saw one man emerge from the courthouse with his renewed license plate — nearly 9 hours after he arrived.

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The most surprising information to come out of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s briefing on the H1N1 flu outbreak today does not concern the disease itself, but pubic opinion.

According to Prof. Robert Blendon of the Harvard School of Public Health, 77 percent of Americans surveyed say they continue to follow news stories about H1N1, even though 61 percent say they’re not worried about themselves or their families getting sick from the virus in the next 12 months. That’s up from last week, when 53 percent said they were not worried. Normally, people stop following diseases in the news after they stop considering those diseases a direct threat. Prof. Blendon interprets it this way:

We think what people are saying is that they are following the news closely because they’re both interested and uncertain about the risk for themselves and their families during the next year. So even though they’re not immediately worried at this point, they are uncertain. So, they’re going to pay a lot of attention to whatever comes out as the days and weeks go by.

The survey suggests 83 percent of the general public believe local, state and federal health officials are managing the outbreak well and doing a good job getting information out.

However, parents of school age children are substantially more concerned than the rest of the population about the risks of their families getting the disease. Half of these parents report not knowing what their schools are doing in response to the outbreak, according to Prof. Blendon, who said this high level of concern needs to be addressed.

For additional information, visit the CDC’s website at: pandemicflu.gov.

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School closings are no longer recommended for controlling the spread of the H1N1 “swine flu” virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta issued new recommendations today, which focus instead on personal responsibility and keeping infected individuals at home for at least seven days. CDC Acting Director Richard Besser, MD said the changes were the result of some key findings:

• H1N1 is not as severe as originally thought and is presenting itself more like seasonal flu.
• Schools reporting H1N1 infections are in communities where the disease has already shown up in the general public.
• School closings are “incredibly burdensome and difficult,” according to Dr. Besser, who said the CDC has heard stories of working parents dropping their children off at public libraries because they lack adequate home care.

The median age of persons infected with H1N1 is 16. Why so young?

One theory is that youthful populations, such as spring breakers in Mexico, were the first to be exposed to the disease. Another possibility is that older people have developed more resistance to the H1N1 strain through annual exposure to seasonal flu or flu vaccines.

Dr. Besser said it’s unclear whether either theory is true, but the CDC is actively investigating.

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George Zinkhan (Source: MyFOXAtlanta.com)

University of Georgia officials expressed shock and sadness as police continued the manhunt for George Zinkhan, the marketing professor accused of fatally shooting three people outside a community theater in the small college town of Athens.

Although the campus is operating under its normal class schedule this week, administrators are urging students and faculty to exercise caution until the suspect is apprehended.

“We remain very concerned about the impact of this situation on our students and our employees,” said UGA President Michael Adams. “We will deploy, without regard to expense, every available resource in an effort to protect and support our people.”

UGA is providing grief counselors. University police have called in additional personnel. Officers carry semi-automatic rifles in plain view.

UGA officials removed Prof. Zinkhan’s name from email distribution lists before sending out alerts to the campus community, so as not to reveal campus security measures to the suspect.

However, UGA Police Chief Jimmy Williamson said, “Based on what we know now, we feel he’s no longer local.”

Investigators are looking into leads that Zinkhan may have arranged a flight to the Netherlands. He is a part time instructor at Vrije University in Amsterdam and reportedly has a home in that city.

According to Greg Jones, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Atlanta Field Division,
searches of the suspect’s property have failed to locate his passport. However, he said the FBI has no evidence to suggest that Zinkhan has boarded any international flight.

Jones said the professor made no substantial withdrawals from his bank account in the days leading up to Saturday’s shooting, and there has been no activity on his ATM and credit cards since the crime.

Police said the last credible sighting of Zinkhan occurred shortly after the shooting, when the professor left his two young children with a neighbor, explaining there had been an “emergency.”

Investigators continue the search for the suspect’s vehicle, a reddish 2005 Jeep Liberty with Georgia license tag AIX1376.

Zinkhan’s wife, family law attorney Marie Bruce, died in Saturday’s shootings along with Clemson University economics professor Tom Tanner and long-time community theater volunteer Ben Teague.

All three were members of the Town and Gown Players. The theatrical group was holding a reception outside the off-campus theater when the shootings took place.

Two law enforcement sources tell FOX News investigators are piecing together witness accounts of alleged affairs that may have led to the violence between Zinkhan and his wife. But it remains unclear what grievances the suspect may have had with the other two victims who died.

All three victims were shot multiple times at close range, according to police.

UGA has officially terminated its relationship with Prof. Zinkhan. His name plate has been removed from his office door.

Tomorrow evening, the university will hold its annual campus memorial service, recognizing students, faculty and staff who died over the past year. President Adams said, “Although this service traditionally focuses on those directly tied to UGA, we will pay appropriate respect for those we lost this weekend.”

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The world’s first patrol vehicle built specifically for law enforcement nears reality as Carbon Motors Corporation announces its short list of potential sites for its manufacturing plant and company headquarters.

The Carbon Motors "E7"

The shortlist, released early this morning, includes two cities in Georgia (Braselton and Pooler); Connersville, Indiana; Plymouth, Michigan; Charlotte, North Carolina; and the Greenville/Spartanburg area of Upstate South Carolina.

Carbon Motors CEO and chairman William Santana Li predicts the facility will create 10-thousand direct and indirect jobs. And this optimistic news comes from an American company at a time the nation’s legacy automakers are struggling for survival. The eyes of the world are watching.

Related Story: Next Generation Police Car is More 007 than Adam 12

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Nashville voters defeated a proposal that would have required local government workers and officials to conduct business in English.

The final tally from last night’s special election shows 42,752 votes against the proposed “English First” amendment to the Nashville/Davidson County charter to 32,144 in favor (57 to 43 percent), with all precincts reporting.

Strong passions on both sides fueled a higher than expected voter turnout.

In a press release, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean said the amendment’s defeat “reaffirms Nashville’s identity as a welcoming and friendly city, and our ability to come together as a community.”

In the days leading up to the election, some critics of “English First” portrayed the measure as anti-immigrant. But Nashville Metro Councilman Eric Crafton, who is married to an immigrant from Japan and speaks fluent Japanese, said his proposal was intended to unify the community around one language and reduce translation costs.

Crafton’s initial effort to adopt “English First” through a Metro Council vote in 2007 was vetoed by then-mayor Bill Purcell. Undaunted, Crafton pushed to let Nashville voters decide the issue.

Yesterday he got his wish, if not his outcome.

Related Post: Nashville to Vote on English as Official Language

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One of the most unusual manhunts has come to an end.

Marcus Schrenker, the Indiana businessman accused of trying to fake his own death by parachuting out of a small plane, is under arrest in Florida. He’s also hospitalized after apparently trying to take his own life.

Late yesterday, Federal and local authorities discovered large amounts of blood around Schrenker’s tent in a remote campground, north of Tallahassee, Fla. They found Schrenker inside with a large cut on his left wrist, which investigators believe was self-inflicted.

Assistant Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Frank Chiumento was on the scene and describes what happened:

He wasn’t resistant physically, but he was verbally when he was muttering words… I took it where he was trying to say that he didn’t want any medical attention. He mentioned the word ‘die’ one or two times.

Authorities administered first aid at the scene. A helicopter flew Schrenker to a hospital in Tallahassee, where he is listed in fair condition.

Schrenker is expected to make a full recovery and face extradition to Indiana to answer charges of financial fraud.

The 38-year-old financial adviser is under investigation for allegedly selling investment products after his state license expired, and for allegedly redistributing some of his clients’ funds without their authorization.

Schrenker now faces additional charges stemming from allegations of making a fake distress call and intentionally crashing his plane. On Sunday, Schrenker radioed ground controllers that a cockpit window had imploded, spraying him with glass.

But when military pilots located the plane in flight before it crashed in the Florida Panhandle, they reported the windows undamaged  and the aircraft’s door open with no sign of anyone inside.

Authorities say Schrenker left the plane on auto-pilot and parachuted over central Alabama, where he reclaimed a motorcycle he had left at a storage facility the day before. Investigators say they found the motorcycle near Schrenker’s tent at the campsite in Florida.

Just hours before Schrenker’s arrest, his wife’s attorney released a written statement about another issue facing the Indiana businessman — the pending breakup of his marriage. Attorney Mary Schmid writes:

I represent Michelle Schrenker. Michelle first contacted me this past summer to discuss a divorce this past summer because her husband was having an affair.  At the time, she wanted to work on reconciling with her husband. However, he continued his affair. and, as a result, on December 30th 2008, she filed a petition for dissolution of her marriage from Marcus Schrenker. Her decision to file for divorce was based on her husband’s infidelity and in no way was based on the investment fraud of which he is accused.  In fact, Michelle first learned of the allegations against him when, on December 31st 2008, the police and investigators came to her door to search her home. To Michelle’s dismay, at the time her home was being searched, Marcus was in Florida with his girlfriend. Clearly, Michelle and her three young children are victim’s of this man’s deceitfulness as well. She is not guilty of anything other than trusting her husband of 13 years. Everyone should remember that Michelle and her children are suffering through a terrible time right now. Through no fault of their own, they are having to deal with the repercussion’s of this man’s behavior and will be doing so for a long time to come.

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3:00- drove back down to Gaza border.

4:20 – arrived to find art and air strikes “softening” the ground. A strange new smoke bomb was fired laying out fog by Gaza border.

5:30 – Eli fastman and I drive to see tank unit that had been staging near Erez crossing.

5:39 – Tanks are moving. We shoot with my little handheld video camera.

6:00 – We’re back at LIVE location. Air strikes and Artillery shake the night sky.

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There were protests outside the Israeli Embassy in London Tuesday for the third day in a row.

300 people gathered, most with placards saying things like “End the siege in Gaza”, “Free Palestine”, “Stop the Holocaust in Gaza”, or “Stop the Killing, Stop the Crime”.

It was freezing in London Tuesday.  The assembled crowd was varied with young and old,  Arab and non-Arab.

I spoke to Eileen Maclean who works for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. She said she’d come to join the demonstration in Kensington, on the edge of Kensington Gardens, because she was “so angry” about what is going on, the military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which has left over 350 Palestinians dead, a campaign that is Israel’s retaliation for Hamas’ firing of rockets into southern Israel.

A couple of Brazilian tourists were next in line behind the police barricades.  Police were out in numbers, because the protests did get a bit rough on Sunday.

The Brazilians, of Lebanese origin, had seen the demonstrations on the news and wanted to come out and express support for the people of Gaza.  They said they were not against Israel and its right to exist.  They just wanted to see two states, Israel and Palestine, living together in peace.

A British pensioner, Richard Frost, chimed in next.  “We are giving Israel the hardware to destroy unarmed civilians to our eternal shame.”

And then Violetta Thompson, originally from Spain.  “They say they are destroying Hamas but they are destroying the little bit of infrastructure the Palestinians have left.  What do they want them to do? Live in sewers, like rats?”

A group of Palestinian women told me they had come out, because their family lives in Gaza.  They said “everyone is waiting for death”.

A group of ultra orthodox Jews joined, Jews with signs expressing support for the Palestinians, Jews whose version of the religion tells them there should not be a Jewish state until the Messiah comes.

The demonstration was just about to wind down, around sunset, when suddenly the shouts got louder, and the movement a bit more frenetic.  An Israeli flag went up in flames.  As the hustle and bustle of life busy Kensington continued around it all.  The police were relaxed, but never let down their guard.

And then it was over and everyone went home vowing to return on Wednesday as news of a possible truce between Israel and Hamas, if only a temporary one, crossed the wires.

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I spent the better part of 1986 watching “Top Gun” (my big brothers were CONSTANTLY renting that tape from the video store)!  We also listened to the film’s soundtrack on the way to school – every single day!

Between “Top Gun” and little projects from “Risky Business” to “Jerry McGuire,” Tom Cruise has firmly established himself as a superstar.

In recent years, he’s gotten more headlines for Scientology and bad PR moments than for his work.  But at last night’s “Valkyrie” premiere, we locked eyes and, for a moment, all the wacky headlines seemed to fade away!

That’s partly because Cruise is REALLY good-looking in person.  It’s shocking.  And, to this “Top Gun” fan, he is clearly one of the most famous people in the world.  It’s always fun to interview the big stars!  Also, he seems like a really nice guy, taking time for every reporter and giving thoughtful interviews.

So while his film is getting mixed reviews, Cruise himself was a hit with the journalists on the red carpet.

Here’s some (rough) video of Cruise on the carpet, and a couple quick soundbites from him and co-star Terence Stamp:

Click “comments” below and tell us:

• Has Cruise moved past his bad PR moments, or will they always impact his image?

• Will you see “Valkyrie”?

• What’s your favorite Tom Cruise movie?

Tell us what YOU think!

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Update -5:00pm: The Indian media here are reporting Deccan Mujaheedin has sent emails to Indian Media saying a 2nd attack will come Dec 3rd- Dec 7th and will target Delhi, Bangalore, or Chennai  airports.

I heard one guy practically yelling on TV saying, “If I’m going to get killed in a war – I don’t mind.  I just don’t want to get killed while eating food with my parents at a restaurant.”

4:42pm: Pierre was attacked by an angry mob last night while we where in between LIVE shots.  One man started shouting and threatened to beat him.  They were looking to pick a fight.  Varuna stepped in and spoke to them in Hindi.  That managed to calm them down.   People are so emotionally charged here.  Tonight feels like the climax.  We took no chances.  We headed to the area of The Oberoi Hotel to do our LIVE shots, instead.

A young girl, no older than 5 years, was selling coloring books.  20 rupees for one (40 cents) or 10 for 180 rupees ($3.50). I bought 10, gave her 200 rupees and told her to keep the books.  She refued and said I had to take them.

3:13pm: The crowds are getting out of control.  We can’t find our driver to head to The Oberoi Hotel for lives. No one has a cell phone signal.  Crowds keep streaming in from all directions.

We decide to take a cab.  All the taxi drivers refuse to take anyone.  After the fifth cab refused us.  I just opened the door to the sixth cab and got in.  Cameraman Pierre, Producer Mark and Varuna, and I pile in.

1:15pm: As we made our way to The Taj Hotel LIVE shot position, just before sunset, we knew we had problems.  Thousands of Mumbai residents were marching to the hotel.  It was supposed to be a peaceful solidarity march but there was lots of negative energy.

Some signs read:

“Die Pakistan Die”

“Make Pakistan history”

“8% GDP growth, 100% terrorism growth”

My cameraman Pierre and I climbed up a street divider full of plants to do a standup to show just how large the crowds were.

Keep checking back for more updates LIVE from India!

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