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Dwina Gibb fears Robin Gibb’s lover Claire Yang will demand more cash after she received £4M pay off

Lisa.Felice
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Dwina Gibb fears Robin Gibb’s lover Claire Yang will demand more cash after she received £4M pay off

Dwina Gibb, Robin Gibb’s widow, fears the mother of his love child fathered with their former housekeeper will demand more cash since his death – despite reportedly receiving a £4 million ($6.4 million) pay off.

After 12 months of legal wrangling Robin Gibb’s lover Claire Yang is said to have received the one off payment for three-year-old Snow Robin’s care.

But after Robin Gibb’s death the family are said to fear his former lover will demand a larger slice of his £140million ($225 million) fortune.

Dwina Gibb is said to be worried Claire Yang, 36, will seek legal advice despite agreeing to the one-off child maintenance deal in January.

A source close to the Gibb family told The Sunday Mirror the legal fight, which went on while Robin was undergoing hospital treatment, upset Dwina.

The source added: “If Claire does go to the funeral she will be ¬keeping her distance from Dwina and it will be awkward. Robin never walked away from his responsibilities and always made sure the child was fully provided for.

“Snow Robin is a Gibb child so will be treated exactly the same as the other three children. It is not about the money but it is the nature of the lengthy legal process which distressed Dwina and the family.”

After 12 months of legal wrangling Robin Gibb's lover Claire Yang is said to have received the one off payment for three-year-old Snow Robin's care
After 12 months of legal wrangling Robin Gibb's lover Claire Yang is said to have received the one off payment for three-year-old Snow Robin's care

Robin Gibb, 62, who died from liver and colon cancer on May 20, had a long-term affair with Claire Yang but was asked to leave the Gibbs’ house by bisexual Dwina Gibb, 59, when she became pregnant.

Despite having an open relationship it is thought Dwina Gibb “hit the roof” when she discovered Claire Yang was pregnant.

Robin Gibb later brought his mistress a home five miles from his Thame home after paying her rent before his daughter was born.

Friends have spoken of Claire Yang’s love for Robin Gibb and the former housekeeper, who became known as the star’s companion, thought the pair could have a future together.

But Robin Gibb is thought to have told his mistress he would never leave his wife.

Speaking about her married life, Dwina Gibb famously said: “We have an open relationship. Robin has had flings in the past with friends of mine and he talks about them.

“It doesn’t worry me because I trust my friends. And I am, after all, his best friend as well as his wife and lover – and I’m sure we’ll be together.”

Robin Gibb and his twin brother Maurice formed the Bee Gees with their older brother Barry, now 63 in the late 50s.

The trio shot to mega-stardom after creating the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever in 1977. Maurice Gibb died of a burst intestine in 2003 and their younger brother Andy died from a cocaine overdose aged just 30 in the 1980s.

Under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975, any child in UK is allowed to contest a will.

 

Kim Kardashian and her sister Kourtney open up about Kris Jenner’s extramarital affair

Lisa.Felice
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Kim Kardashian and her sister Kourtney open up about Kris Jenner’s extramarital affair

Kim Kardashian and her sister Kourtney have opened up about their feelings on their mother Kris Jenner’s extramarital affair.

The two sisters air their thoughts on the issue during tomorrow night’s episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

Kris Jenner confessed to the fling in her recent autobiography.

The reality show matriarch was married to Robert Kardashian, Kim and Kourtney’s late father, when she strayed.

Kim Kardashian and her sister Kourtney have opened up about their feelings on their mother Kris Jenner's extramarital affair
Kim Kardashian and her sister Kourtney have opened up about their feelings on their mother Kris Jenner's extramarital affair

Kris and Robert divorced and in 1991, then Kris married Bruce Jenner.

As they talked, Kourtney Kardashian revealed that she was angry that her other included the infidelity in her book.

Kim Kardashian told her to talk it through with their mother because “you have this resentment towards mom”.

But despite the revelation of the affair, Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner are just as close as ever.

The two were spotted this weekend in Beverly Hills for a round of exercise.

 

Fauja Singh, the world’s oldest marathon runner aged 101, on the start line at Edinburgh Marathon Festival

Clyde K. Valle
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Fauja Singh, the world’s oldest marathon runner aged 101, on the start line at Edinburgh Marathon Festival

Fauja Singh, the world’s oldest marathon runner, is set to join more than 27,000 people taking part in the 10th Edinburgh Marathon Festival.

Fauja Singh, 101, retired from running full marathons following his eighth marathon in London in April but he will be taking part in the Edinburgh relay.

As well as the relay, there will be a full 26 mile marathon, a half marathon, a 10K, a 5K, and junior races.

It is the biggest running event in Scotland.

It is second only to London in UK marathon size.

Fauja Singh, the world's oldest marathon runner, is set to join more than 27,000 people taking part in the 10th Edinburgh Marathon Festival
Fauja Singh, the world's oldest marathon runner, is set to join more than 27,000 people taking part in the 10th Edinburgh Marathon Festival

This year’s Edinburgh marathon features a line up of some of the finest athletes in the world.

Among those on the start line will be Zachary Kihara, 33, of Kenya who holds the course record, crossing the finish line in 2:15:46.

Since the Edinburgh Marathon started in 2003 it has had an economic impact of more than £25 million ($40 million) for the Scottish capital and has helped raise more than £30 million ($48 million) for hundreds of charities.

Together with the Edinburgh Marathon’s official charity Macmillan Cancer Support and hundreds of other charities the 10th anniversary organizers are hoping to break all previous records and raise more than £4.5 million ($7.2 million) in 2012.

Neil Kilgour, Edinburgh Marathon Festival race director, said: “It’s hard to believe that a decade has gone by since our first event in 2003 but we’re delighted that we have developed into one of the UK’s and Scotland’s major running occasions.

“Edinburgh Marathon Festival has it all – a great city that acts as a stunning backdrop to the event’s proceedings and a programme of races that means that everyone is catered for from children to marathon veterans.

“We’re looking forward to a great 10th birthday and welcoming back the thousands of runners who’ve supported the event over the years plus the thousands who will be joining us for the first time.”

 

Which words to avoid using online if you don’t want Homeland Security spying on you

Nancy Clayson
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Which words to avoid using online if you don’t want Homeland Security spying on you

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been forced to release a list of keywords and phrases it uses to monitor social networking sites and online media for signs of terrorist or other threats.

The government uses a number of different techniques to determine potential threats to the country, and create different methods to detect and act on ones that seem the most serious. In some cases, the FBI or the Department of Homeland Security must develop programs in order to intercept individuals or organization. However, they also must be very careful in order to avoid crossing national and international laws, like the controversial NSA surveillance program, PRISM. The clandestine mass electronic surveillance program has been in the middle of an ethical debate regarding personal privacy laws, but has already endangered individual rights, American business privacy and American interest abroad. Hopefully, this time, DHS monitoring will not repeat the same mistakes.

The intriguing the list includes obvious choices such as “attack”, “Al Qaeda”, “terrorism” and “dirty bomb” alongside dozens of seemingly innocent words like “pork”, “cloud”, “team” and “Mexico”.

Released under a freedom of information request, the information sheds new light on how government analysts are instructed to patrol the internet searching for domestic and external threats.

The words are included in the DHS’s 2011 “Analyst’s Desktop Binder” used by workers at their National Operations Center which instructs workers to identify “media reports that reflect adversely on DHS and response activities”.

Department chiefs were forced to release the manual following a House hearing over documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit which revealed how analysts monitor social networks and media organizations for comments that “reflect adversely” on the government.

However they insisted the practice was aimed not at policing the internet for disparaging remarks about the government and signs of general dissent, but to provide awareness of any potential threats.

As well as terrorism, analysts are instructed to search for evidence of unfolding natural disasters, public health threats and serious crimes such as mall/school shootings, major drug busts, illegal immigrant busts.

The list has been posted online by the Electronic Privacy Information Center – a privacy watchdog group who filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act before suing to obtain the release of the documents.

In a letter to the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counter-terrorism and Intelligence, the centre described the choice of words as “broad, vague and ambiguous”.

They point out that it includes “vast amounts of First Amendment protected speech that is entirely unrelated to the Department of Homeland Security mission to protect the public against terrorism and disasters”.

A senior Homeland Security official told the Huffington Post that the manual “is a starting point, not the endgame” in maintaining situational awareness of natural and man-made threats and denied that the government was monitoring signs of dissent.

However, DHS admitted that the language used was vague and in need of updating.

Spokesman Matthew Chandler told website: “To ensure clarity, as part of … routine compliance review, DHS will review the language contained in all materials to clearly and accurately convey the parameters and intention of the program.”

US Department of Homeland Security has been forced to release a list of keywords and phrases it uses to monitor social networking sites and online media for signs of terrorist or other threats
US Department of Homeland Security has been forced to release a list of keywords and phrases it uses to monitor social networking sites and online media for signs of terrorist or other threats

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AS10, the fruit drink developed by NASA that rejuvenates the skin

Kathryn R. Bown
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AS10, the fruit drink developed by NASA that rejuvenates the skin

A new study has shown that a fruit drink developed by NASA to protect astronauts from radiation, known as AS10, dramatically reduces wrinkles, blemishes and sun damage after four months.

Visia photographs – which reveal the condition of the skin below the surface by using different types of light exposure – were taken of 180 participants at the start of the trial, and again after four months of drinking two shots of AS10 a day. By the end UV spots were reduced by 30% and wrinkles by 17%.

AS10 was developed as a nutritional supplement for astronauts to protect them from the damaging effects of high levels of radiation outside the Earth’s atmosphere.

The drink contains a blend of fruits including cupuacu (a Brazilian fruit from the cacao plant family), acai, acerola, prickly pear and yumberry, which all provide vitamins and phytochemicals – compounds known to block the harmful effects of radiation. Other ingredients are grape, green tea, pomegranate and vegetables.

A new study has shown that a fruit drink developed by NASA to protect astronauts from radiation, known as AS10, dramatically reduces wrinkles, blemishes and sun damage after four months
A new study has shown that a fruit drink developed by NASA to protect astronauts from radiation, known as AS10, dramatically reduces wrinkles, blemishes and sun damage after four months

Radiation particles alter oxygen molecules in the body to create reactive oxygen species (ROS) – so-called “free radicals” which damage cells in a process known as oxidative stress. This process has been linked to diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s. The toxic molecules are also thought to play a role in the skin ageing process.

ROS are created naturally within the body as cells generate energy, but also through environmental factors such as chemicals and ultraviolet light from the sun – the strongest stress to skin. Mobile phone radiation, cigarette smoke and alcohol also generate ROS.

“Think of them as little Pac-men taking bites out of molecules that are essential for cells to function,” says Dr. Aaron Barson, the nutritional scientist from Utah, US, who carried out the AS10 study after patients reported dramatic improvement from the drink.

AS10 is thought to improve skin condition because the drink’s large quantities of antioxidants ward off oxidative stress, allowing the skin to heal naturally. Antioxidants attach themselves to ROS and neutralize them before they cause damage.

Dr. Aaron Barson says: “The skin is the first body tissue to be exposed to UV rays and we know it is sensitive to oxidative stress. Our study shows it greatly benefits from a reduction in this stress. The effects of oxidative stress on the skin can be quickly modified and the skin can heal itself by drinking AS10.”

He suggests that the results may have been even better had the trial been conducted during the winter, when exposure to ultraviolet light would have been less.

A second, larger study is planned this summer to investigate for how long the effects last and whether skin condition reaches a plateau or deteriorates once the drink is no longer consumed.

The main drawback is the high price of the drink. The women in the trial drank a sherry glass – 60ml – of AS10 a day. At $50 per 750ml bottle, the cost was just under $500 over the four months.

 

Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher emotional reunion at Rabbi Yehuda Berg’s birthday party

Lisa.Felice
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Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher emotional reunion at Rabbi Yehuda Berg’s birthday party

Demi Moore announced that she was going to divorce Ashton Kutcher back in November, but never followed through with proceedings.

And it may well be that Demi Moore never does as she is reportedly heading for a reconciliation with her estranged husband.

The Sunday Mirror are reporting that Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher are still very much in love and recently had an emotional reunion at a friend’s birthday party.

The soiree was thrown for Kabbalah Rabbi Yehuda Berg, who officiated the Hollywood couple’s wedding back in 2005.

Upon seeing each other at the event, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher reportedly embraced for a lengthy 60 seconds.

“They are still desperately in love and could be on for a reconciliation,” a source told the publication.

“The divorce isn’t being processed right now.”

Reports are saying that Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher are still very much in love and recently had an emotional reunion at Rabbi Yehuda Berg's birthday party
Reports are saying that Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher are still very much in love and recently had an emotional reunion at Rabbi Yehuda Berg's birthday party

During the dinner, Ashton Kutcher also made an emotional speech for Yehuda Berg and his eyes welled up with tears when he admitted that he had made “mistakes”.

“I’ve made all these horrendous mistakes in the last year,” Ashton Kutcher reportedly said in the speech.

Sources at the event said Ashton Kutcher broke down in tears as he sat down in his chair following the speech.

“Ashton’s voice started to break as he spoke. He just fell into tears. He sat down to a round of applause while Demi just looked frozen.”

Demi Moore reportedly arrived at the event after Ashton Kutcher, and looked sensational.

After wishing the Rabbi a Happy Birthday, she chatted to her ex.

“She went over to wish Yehuda a happy birthday and Ashton was right by him. Yehuda left them to talk. They started to chat and were extremely affectionate. She was staring at him like a lovesick puppy,” the source told the publication.

Meanwhile Demi Moore has also been hinting via her Twitter account that she might be ready to forgive.

She favourited two significant Tweets, both which referred to making mistakes and not giving up on the people you love.

They included one from rapper Wiz Khalifa which read: “We all make mistakes. Don’t let that be the reason you give up on somebody.”

And another from The Love Stories: “Sometimes you have to love people from a distance and give them a space and time to get their minds right.”

Demi Moore announced her intention to divorce Ashton Kutcher last November – although proceedings are yet to be executed by either party.

It followed claims he had cheated on her with partygirl Sara Leal during a seedy night in San Diego.

 

Lady Gaga cancels Indonesia gig after Islamic groups objected to her show

Lisa.Felice
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Lady Gaga cancels Indonesia gig after Islamic groups objected to her show

Lady Gaga has cancelled a concert in Jakarta, Indonesia, citing “security” concerns, after protests by religious groups.

Police in Indonesia had refused to issue a permit for Lady Gaga after Islamic groups objected to her show, claiming it was too vulgar.

The hard-line Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) had threatened to try to stop Lady Gaga getting off the plane.

Indonesia is officially secular but has more Muslims than any other country.

Lady Gaga has cancelled a concert in Jakarta, Indonesia, citing "security" concerns, after protests by religious groups
Lady Gaga has cancelled a concert in Jakarta, Indonesia, citing "security" concerns, after protests by religious groups

More than 50,000 tickets had been sold for the 3 June event. Promoters said they would offer refunds.

“Lady Gaga’s management has considered the situation minute to minute, and with threats if the concert goes ahead, Lady Gaga’s side is calling off the concert,” Minola Sebayang, lawyer for promoters Big Daddy, told reporters.

This is not the first time that Lady Gaga has faced objections during her Asian tour.

Her concert in South Korea in April was made an adults-only event following protests from Christian groups.

Protests also took place in the Philippines, with Christian groups accusing her of being blasphemous.

 

Sweden wins Eurovision Song Contest 2012 with Loreen’s club track Euphoria

Sonia Pantiss
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Sweden wins Eurovision Song Contest 2012 with Loreen’s club track Euphoria

Swedish Loreen has won the 57th Eurovision Song Contest in Baku, Azerbaijan, with her club track Euphoria.

Loreen, a former Swedish Idol contestant, led from early on in the voting, challenged only by Russia’s Buranovo Grannies and host nation Azerbaijan.

British entry Engelbert Humperdinck, who opened the contest with his ballad Love Will Set You Free, finished second from last – despite high hopes.

However the 76-year-old was spared the humiliation of “nil points”.

Swedish Loreen has won the 57th Eurovision Song Contest in Baku, Azerbaijan, with her club track Euphoria
Swedish Loreen has won the 57th Eurovision Song Contest in Baku, Azerbaijan, with her club track Euphoria

The legendary crooner, who has sold more than 150 million records worldwide, received just 12 points – from Estonia, Latvia, Belgium and Ireland.

There were high hopes for Engelbert Humperdinck – affectionately known as “The Hump” – given his huge global fanbase, but his draw as first to sing in the contest seemingly proved detrimental.

Historically no-one who has opened the contest has gone on to win, as viewers often tune in late and miss the early contenders.

Twenty six countries took part in the final in Azerbaijan’s spectacular Crystal Hall, in front of a live audience of some 20,000.

Up to 125 million viewers typically watch the annual contest on television around the world.

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Weirdest Baby Names In US

Diane A. Wade
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Weirdest Baby Names In US

A list of US names compiled by Nameberry has unearthed a selection of unlikely monikers including Tequila, Cougar and Moo.

Also included in their round-up of the most bizarre names are Swayze, after late actor Patrick, which five boys were named last year, while 14 girls and 25 boys were given the name Wrigley, after the Chicago stadium.

The name Tomorrow also appeared on the register, alongside Evening and Future, while Cougar was one of the more unusual among the trend for what Nameberry calls “fierce” names.

“To the six girls named Bunny out there: Watch out,” joked site founder Pamela Redmond Satran.

A list of US names compiled by Nameberry has unearthed a selection of unlikely monikers including Tequila, Cougar and Moo
A list of US names compiled by Nameberry has unearthed a selection of unlikely monikers including Tequila, Cougar and Moo

The strangest, though, has to be the dismissive Eh, which 14 girls were named last year.

Another six of last year’s babies must have been born troublemakers as their parents elected to name them Corleone after the fictional Mob family in The Godfather.

Mad Men character Don inspired parents to call their sons Draper, while Elvis Presley’s home Graceland was the name given to seven baby girls.

Notorious was the name given to five boys – no doubt their parents were fans of Biggie, while the very tough-sounding Tank was among this year’s newest names.

Conjoined names – those without a space, hyphen or even spelling the second of the two names with a capital letter – also emerged as an unlikely new trend.

Five boys were named Kingsolomon, while others on the register were Princewilliam, Princemichael, Sircharles, and Marcjacob.

 

 

Kate Moss emerges from La Bodega Negra with her jeans unzipped

Lisa.Felice
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Kate Moss emerges from La Bodega Negra with her jeans unzipped

Kate Moss emerged from Mexican restaurant La Bodega Negra in London on Thursday night with her flies undone.

However, the mother-of-one still managed to look effortlessly cool as she left the London eatery with husband Jamie Hince.

Kate Moss, 38, teamed the blue denim jeans with a smart black blazer, a matching vest top and a pair of black heeled ankle boots.

The Croydon-born star appeared a little unsteady on her feet, and as they made their way to their car Jamie Hince put a protective arm around his wife.

Kate Moss emerged from Mexican restaurant La Bodega Negra in London on Thursday night with her flies undone
Kate Moss emerged from Mexican restaurant La Bodega Negra in London on Thursday night with her flies undone

Earlier on in the night, the happy couple had headed to the Soho Theatre to cheer on Sadie Frost as she made her return to the stage.

Kate Moss was joined by British rocker Ronnie Wood who also attended the press night for Sadie Frost’s latest role in the one woman musical Touched…Like A Virgin.

As the three good friends posed for a photo after the show, Sadie Frost couldn’t hide her happiness.

Wearing a simple black on black ensemble and adding a splash of color with a thin scarlet waist belt, Sadie Frost mingled with her friends at the drinks reception that followed.

Ronnie Wood was dressed causal in a printed shirt and a pair of black trousers and also flashed a huge grin for the camera.

 

World’s first womb transplant successfully performed in Turkey

Kathryn R. Bown
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World’s first womb transplant successfully performed in Turkey

Turkish doctors have carried out the world’s first successful womb transplant in a breakthrough that could allow thousands of young women to fulfill their dream of motherhood.

Derya Sert, a young Turkish woman who was born without a womb, received a healthy organ in a seven-hour operation.

Scans show her new womb, which came from a woman who had died in a car crash, to be healthy and working well.

Derya Sert, 22, is due to start IVF treatment in Turkey in September in the hope of conceiving a longed-for child.

She said: “People ask me now if I want a boy or a girl, but it doesn’t make any difference to me, I just want a child a healthy baby.

“If I had a magic wand, I would want to be pregnant now. I just want to hold my baby in my arms, to be a mother.”

Her surgeon, who believes womb transplants will become common in the future, said that some women’s desire to be pregnant is so overwhelming that they would take any risk – even death – to have a child.

Risks range from rejection of the new womb, to potentially fatal complications of pregnancy. Any baby will have to be delivered by caesarean section and the drugs needed to prevent the womb being rejected can raise the risk of cancer and trigger illnesses such as diabetes.

Derya Sert, the first woman in the world who received a womb from a cadaver in a seven-hour operation
Derya Sert, the first woman in the world who received a womb from a cadaver in a seven-hour operation

Womb transplants have been carried out successfully in animals including mice, rats and sheep, who then went on to have offspring.

The operation has been done on a woman once before, in Saudi Arabia in 2000.

But the donated womb, taken from a living donor, withered after three months because the blood vessels used to connect it were too narrow and became blocked by clots.

In August last year, Derya Sert became the first woman in the world to receive a womb from a dead donor.

Using a dead donor allowed her doctors at Akdeniz University Hospital in the Turkish city of Antalya to remove the extra tissue and large blood vessels needed to give the womb a reliable blood supply.

Like one in every 5,000 women, Derya Sert, a housewife married to a car mechanic, was born without a womb. She had never had periods, but her ovaries were healthy and she could produce eggs.

Raised in Anamur, a traditional, conservative town in the country’s southern tip, the farmer’s daughter found it difficult to come to terms with the fact that she would never become pregnant and appealed to doctors for help.

The operation involved leading plastic surgeon Omer Ozkan, seven other doctors and another seven medical staff.

Derya Sert spent six months in hospital and was given powerful immunosuppressant drugs to stop her body rejecting the new womb.

Her periods started three weeks after the operation, a signal that the new womb is working well. Scans show its lining to be healthy. The true test of success will come in September, when up to two of the eight embryos created from Derya Sert’s eggs and her husband’s sperm, and frozen ahead of the transplant, will be inserted into her womb.

Derya Sert said: “We could be so happy if I could be a hope for other women. I wish for them to have the baby they long for.”

Her husband Mustafa, 35, said: “If the baby is a boy, we will name him after our doctor.”

Dr. Omer Ozkan, who has just carried out a full face transplant, has been contacted by women from all over the world desperate to have womb transplants.

But he does not plan to do another of the operations until he has seen if Derya Sert is able to have a healthy baby.

Dr. Omer Ozkan said: “This is the first successful womb transplant but the most difficult stage still lies ahead – learning if the patient can become pregnant and have a baby.”

In Sweden, surgeons at the University of Gothenburg have been given the go-ahead to carry out living transplants in which a mother gives her womb to her daughter.

In UK, Richard Smith, a consultant gynaecological surgeon at Imperial College London, could be ready to operate on British women, using wombs from dead donors, in two to three years. More than 50 potential patients have already come forward.

 

Beyonce back to stage for the first time since giving birth to Blue Ivy in Atlantic City concert

Lisa.Felice
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Beyonce back to stage for the first time since giving birth to Blue Ivy in Atlantic City concert

Beyonce took the stage in Atlantic City, New Jersey, last night for the first time since giving birth to daughter Blue Ivy Carter.

Showing off her post-baby curves in a showgirl-style, fringed bra let and tiny shorts, Beyonce, 30,wowed the sold-out crowd on the first of a three-night stint at the Revel Resort & Casino in Atlantic City.

Supporting her from the wings was her rapper husband Jay-Z, who recently returned from the London leg of his Watch The Thrones tour with Kanye West.

Under his Twitter name Mr. Carter, Jay-Z wrote: “I’m gonna say this and then I’m gonna end mine. BEYONCE is the best performer in the world. Period.”

The gig marked Beyonce’s first concert since giving birth to their daughter Blue Ivy in January, following her last gig at the MTV Video Music Awards last August – the same day she confirmed her pregnancy.

Beyonce took the stage in Atlantic City, New Jersey, last night for the first time since giving birth to daughter Blue Ivy Carter
Beyonce took the stage in Atlantic City, New Jersey, last night for the first time since giving birth to daughter Blue Ivy Carter

Speaking to the 5,500 fans at the Ovation Hall in the Revel, Beyonce said: “I gotta say, it feels so good to be back home on stage.”

However, she didn’t bring up her new life as motherhood too often, except for a fleeting glimpse of Beyonce cradling her daughter in a video montage on the screen behind her.

Her sexy costumes were custom-made by London design house Ralph & Russo, who used 500,000 Swarovski Elements crystals to create the look.

Ralph & Russo designer Tamara Ralph told People magazine: “Beyoncé wanted us to be really creative and create fun and edgy designs that had an ultra-glamorous feel to them.”

During the set, Beyonce performed a selection of her biggest hits, including Crazy In Love, Love On Top, Irresistible and If I Were A Boy.

The singer paid tribute to the late Whitney Houston with a cover of I Will Always Love You and closed the concert with Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It).

Critics and fans were unanimously impressed, with USA Today’s Elysa Gardner writing: “Backed by an all-female band and a tireless posse of dancers and backup vocalists, Beyonce reasserted her unique pop persona; she was at once angel and seductress, cool diva and woman of the people.”

Also in the crowd were Beyonce’s former Destiny’s Child bandmate Kelly Rowland and Victoria’s Secret model Selita Ebanks.

Ahead of the concert, Beyonce posted a behind-the-scenes video on YouTube featuring her rehearsals for the concerts, admitting she was “nervous” about returning to the stage.

She said: “I’m enjoying being a mother so it’s like going back to my old job, and it’s a little strange.

“But it’s important that you don’t lose yourself and still have your own passions. And so I’m back to work, I’m back to business.”

 

Eurovision 2012: List of Countries in Grand Final

Sonia Pantiss
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Eurovision 2012: List of Countries in Grand Final

Twenty-six countries will be competing at the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 at Crystal Hall in the Azeri capital Baku tonight.

List of countries competing in Eurovision Grand Final:

Albania

Azerbaijan

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Cyprus

Denmark

Estonia

F.Y.R. Macedonia

France

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Iceland

Ireland

Italy

Lithuania

Malta

Moldova

Norway

Romania’s Mandinga is one of the favorites at Eurovision Song Contest in Baku with Zaleilah song
Romania’s Mandinga is one of the favorites at Eurovision Song Contest in Baku with Zaleilah song

Romania

Russia

Serbia

Spain

Sweden

Turkey

Ukraine

United Kingdom

A combination of points from televoting and national juries decides the winner.

Each country awards points to 10 competitors based on judges’ scores and a public vote, with 12 points being the maximum awarded.

Earlier this week 37 countries competed in the semi-finals for 20 places, with the Eastern European candidates dominating the list of finalists.

Sweden’s Euphoria – a club hit by singer Loreen that has already topped the charts in four countries – is among the front runners for the prize.

Serbia, Romania and Italy are also among those tipped for success. But they will face stiff competition from Russian “Buranovo Grannies”.

 [youtube FGNmRkYZkk4]

Olor a Nuevo: perfume that smells like a new car launched by Ford Spain

Lisa.Felice
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0
Olor a Nuevo: perfume that smells like a new car launched by Ford Spain

Ford Spain has created a perfume called Olor a Nuevo (which means “smells new”) – the scent of new car.

The fragrance forms the keynote of the car manufacturer’s new olfactory campaign, designed in association with Ogilvy Madrid to promote its Seleccion line of used cars.

It is promoting the range on the promise that these are “the only used cars that smell new.”

Ford Spain has created a perfume called Olor a Nuevo (which means “smells new”), the scent of new car
Ford Spain has created a perfume called Olor a Nuevo (which means “smells new”), the scent of new car

The idea is that the fragrance is spritzed on the interior of used cars to make them smell showroom fresh, eliminating the musty scent associated with buying an Arthur Daley style used car.

Ford Spain produced tongue-in-cheek radio and television commercials involving actual phone calls with used-car salespeople.

When asked if the cars they sold would smell new, every one of them said no.

Ford then also produced bottles of the scent and came up with an aromatic marketing campaign in which scented cards were hung inside public transport.

Olor a Nuevo is not the first bizarre scent to hit the market, with zany scientists Air Aroma recently recreating the scent of a new Apple product.

It certainly beats a cardboard pine tree dangling from your rear view mirror, but we don’t think anyone will be mistaking it for Tom Ford’s award- winning Violet Blonde any time soon.

 [youtube UGxkFRXexhY]

 

Paolo Gabriele officially named as suspect in Vatileaks scandal

Diane A. Wade
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0
Paolo Gabriele officially named as suspect in Vatileaks scandal

Paolo Gabriele, Pope Benedict’s butler, has been formally named as a suspect in the Vatican’s inquiry into a series of media leaks from the Church’s highest levels.

Vatican magistrates accused Paolo Gabriele, 46, of illegal possession of confidential documents.

A series of leaks, dubbed Vatileaks, has revealed alleged corruption, mismanagement and internal conflicts.

Last month, Pope Benedict XVI set up a special commission of cardinals to find the source.

Paolo Gabriele is the pope’s personal butler and assistant and one of very few laymen to have access to the Pope’s private apartments.

He lives with his wife and three children in an apartment within the Vatican walls, where Italian media report that a stash of confidential documents had been discovered.

“I confirm that the person detained on Wednesday for illegal possession of private documents is Mr. Paolo Gabriele, who remains in detention,” the spokesman for the Holy See, Father Federico Lombardi said, according to Italy’s state broadcaster, Rai.

Paolo Gabriele, Pope Benedict's butler, has been formally named as a suspect in the Vatican's inquiry into a series of media leaks from the Church's highest levels
Paolo Gabriele, Pope Benedict's butler, has been formally named as a suspect in the Vatican's inquiry into a series of media leaks from the Church's highest levels

Father Federico Lombardi added that now the initial stage of the process was complete, Paolo Gabriele had nominated two lawyers capable of representing him at a Vatican Tribunal, and had met with them.

He would, the Vatican spokesman added, have “all the juridical guarantees foreseen by the criminal code of the State of Vatican City”.

As the Vatican has no jail, Paolo Gabriele is being held in one of the three so-called “secure rooms” in the offices of the Vatican’s tiny police force inside the walled city-state, Reuters reports.

If convicted, Paolo Gabriele could face a sentence of up to 30 years for illegal possession of documents of a head of state, probably to be served in an Italian prison due to an agreement between Italy and the Vatican, Italian media report.

The Vatileaks scandal has filled Italian media – dominating the columns of Italian newspapers and filling TV programmes and magazines.

The detention comes during one of the most tumultuous weeks in recent history for the Vatican.

Last week a book, entitled His Holiness, was published by an Italian journalist with reproductions of confidential letters and memos between the pope and his personal secretary.

The Vatican called the book “criminal” and vowed to take legal action against the author, publisher, and whoever leaked the documents.

Last Thursday, the president of the Vatican bank – Ettore Gotti Tedeschi – was ousted by the bank’s board.

Sources close to the investigation said he too had been found to have leaked documents, though the official reason for his departure was that he had failed to do his job.

Ettore Gotti Tedeschi himself said the move had been a punishment for his attempt to make the bank more open.

The leak of a string of highly sensitive internal documents from inside the Vatican’s Secretariat of State, including personal letters to Pope Benedict XVI, has been an evident embarrassment to the Pope, prompting the rare investigation.

The leaked documents include a letter to Pope Benedict XVI by the Vatican’s current ambassador to Washington alleging cronyism, nepotism and corruption among the administrators of Vatican City.

Others concern “poison pen” memos criticizing Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the pope’s number two, and the reporting of suspicious payments by the Vatican Bank.

 [youtube BNImTYkTNUM]

EU Cookies Law comes into force today

Nancy Clayson
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EU Cookies Law comes into force today

Thousands of websites in Europe are expected to be in breach of a law that dictates what they can log about visitors.

European laws that define what details sites can record in text files called cookies come into force on 26 May.

Cookies are widely used to customize what repeat visitors see on a site and by advertisers to track users online.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said it would offer help to non-compliant sites rather than take legal action against them.

The regulations say websites must get “informed consent” from users before they record any detailed information in the cookies they store on visitors’ computers.

Among websites that have complied with the law, getting consent has involved a pop-up box that explains the changes. Users are then asked to click to consent to having information recorded and told what will happen if they refuse.

Thousands of websites in Europe are expected to be in breach of a law that dictates what they can log about visitors
Thousands of websites in Europe are expected to be in breach of a law that dictates what they can log about visitors

The ICO has also updated its policy to allow organizations to use “implied consent” to comply. This means users do not have to make an explicit choice. Instead, their continued use of a site would be taken to mean they are happy for information to be gathered.

However, it was a “concern” for the ICO that so many sites were not yet compliant, said Dave Evans, group manager at the ICO who has led its work on cookies in the last 18 months. However, he added, it was not necessarily easy for companies to comply with the laws because of the amount of work it involved.

On busy sites, he said, an audit of current cookie practices could take time because of the sheer number of cookie files they regularly issue, monitor and update.

Dave Evans said the ICO was expecting sites that were not compliant to be able to demonstrate what work they had done in the last year to get ready.

Fines for non-compliance were unlikely to be levied, he said, because there was little risk that a non-compliant site would cause a serious breach of data protection laws that was likely to cause substantial damage and distress to a user.

It was planning to use formal undertakings or enforcement notices to make sites take action, he said.

“Those are setting out the steps we think they need to take in order to become compliant and when we expect them to be taking those steps,” he said.

“If they comply with one of those notices or sign one of those undertakings they are committing to doing this properly and that’s the main point.”

As well as advising firms, the ICO has also issued guidance to the public that explains what cookies are, how to change cookie settings and how to complain if they are worried about a site’s policy.

 

Mohammed Mursi vs Ahmed Shafiq in the second round of Egypt’s first free presidential polls

Roy Siemens
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Mohammed Mursi vs Ahmed Shafiq in the second round of Egypt’s first free presidential polls

Egyptians will choose between Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate Mohammed Mursi and Ahmed Shafiq, a candidate from the Mubarak-era regime, when the presidential election goes to a run-off, state media confirm.

Mohammed Mursi has a slight lead on former PM Ahmed Shafiq with a reported 25.3% of votes against 24.9%.

The two represent forces that have battled each other for decades.

The second round in Egypt’s first free presidential polls is on 16-17 June.

Voting in the first round took place peacefully on Wednesday and Thursday.

The official results will be announced on Tuesday, but state media have been reporting tallies from polling stations around the country and have now confirmed the two frontrunners.

The vote was hailed as a historic achievement by international observers but many Egyptians – particularly supporters of the revolution – will find the choice they have been left with most unappealing.

Egyptians will choose between Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate Mohammed Mursi and Ahmed Shafiq, a candidate from the Mubarak-era regime, when the presidential election goes to a run-off
Egyptians will choose between Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate Mohammed Mursi and Ahmed Shafiq, a candidate from the Mubarak-era regime, when the presidential election goes to a run-off

A spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood said Egypt would be “in danger” if Ahmed Shafiq won, and the group would reach out to other candidates to defeat him.

Warning of “determined efforts to recreate the old regime”, the Brotherhood urged parties that supported the uprising that overthrew Hosni Mubarak to unite around their candidate.

They have invited a range of opposition figures to a meeting on Saturday.

Both the Brotherhood and Shafiq campaigns have accused each other of “stealing” the revolution.

Ahmed Shafiq spokesman Ahmed Sarhan urged pro-revolutionaries to vote for his candidate, saying that while his programme was about “the future”, the Brotherhood’s was about “an Islamic empire”.

The polarized choice remaining in the run-off suggests Egypt could be entering a new period of confrontation.

Ahmed Khairy, spokesman for the Free Egyptians Party, a secular liberal party which emerged last year, said the outcome of the first round was “the worst possible scenario”, reported Egyptian newspaper al-Ahram.

He described Mohammed Mursi as an “Islamic fascist” and Ahmed Shafiq as a “military fascist”.

The pro-revolution vote was split, the reported results suggest, between leftist Hamdin Sabbahi (third with 21.5%) and a moderate Islamist who broke with the Brotherhood, Abdul Moneim Aboul Fotouh (fourth with about 19%).

Hamdin Sabbahi dominated in many urban areas, including Alexandria, local reports suggested.

Former Arab league chief Amr Moussa trailed in fifth place.

Mohammed Mursi and ahmed Shafiq represent very different strands of Egyptian society.

Mohammed Mursi is seen as belonging to a popular strand of political Islam that was excluded from the political process for many years under Hosni Mubarak.

Ahmed Shafiq, who served briefly as Hosni Mubarak’s prime minister, is regarded by many as a creature of the old secular regime.

Analysts say he drew his support from people fearful of an Islamist takeover, and those exhausted by the upheavals of the past 16 months.

About 50 million people were eligible to vote in the polls, in which 13 candidates were vying for the presidency.

It was the country’s first freely contested presidential election in its history, and observers said it had been conducted peacefully.

The military body that assumed presidential power in February 2011 – the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) – has promised a fair vote and civilian rule.

Until a new constitution is approved it is unclear what powers the president will have, prompting fears of friction with a military which seems determined to retain its powerful position.

Many Egyptians have grown frustrated with the pace of change in their country following the revolution, as the economy languishes, public services break down and crime levels rise.

 

Tim Cook turns down a $75 million payout

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Tim Cook turns down a $75 million payout

Tim Cook, Apple CEO, has turned down a payout worth about $75 million.

Apple will pay a quarterly dividend of $2.65 per share from July, the first time the technology giant has declared a dividend since 1995.

But a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission revealed that Tim Cook will not take up his dividends.

A newspaper recently said that Tim Cook was the best-paid boss in the US with an income of more than $300 million.

“At Mr. Cook’s request, none of his restricted stock units will participate in dividend equivalents,” the filing said. It did not say why.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Tim Cook made $378 million last year, most of which came from a grant of one million shares awarded.

His base salary is $900,000. His predecessor, Steve Jobs, famously had an annual salary of $1.

A regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission revealed that Tim Cook will not take up his Apple dividends
A regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission revealed that Tim Cook will not take up his Apple dividends

Earlier this week, Apple’s lead designer Jonathan Ive was knighted.

The Briton – responsible for the designs behind iconic products like Apple’s iPod, iPhone and iPad – also reaffirmed his desire to stay at the company.

Since the death of Steve Jobs, the Apple co-founder and figurehead, many have speculated that the company might struggle to maintain its reputation for innovative products and would face an exodus of top talent.

That has not happened yet as Apple has sought to lock in people like Tim Cook and Sir Jonathan Ive through long-term stock options.

Apple has about $110 billion in cash. In March, the tech giant said it would use its cash to start paying a dividend to shareholders and to buy back some of its shares.

It expects to use $45 billion over the next three years.

Earlier this year, Apple’s shares touched a high of $644, surpassing $600 billion in market value and making the company the world’s most valuable firm.

Since then, Apple shares have dropped to $562 each, making the company worth $525 billion.

 

Ridiculously Photogenic Girl: ICU patient Rachel becomes internet sensation with her hospital photo

Diane A. Wade
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0
Ridiculously Photogenic Girl: ICU patient Rachel becomes internet sensation with her hospital photo

A photograph of a woman recovering from a lung operation has gone viral after hundreds of thousands of viewers are clicking on to see Rachel, whose surname is not known, because she is ridiculously photogenic.

Rachel, 28, posted a photo of herself in hospital on the “Ask Me Anything” section of Reddit.

The young woman is pictured in bed in the ICU at the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, after 60% of her lung was removed.

The army wife was diagnosed with congenital emphysema after contracting pneumonia.

Over 400,000 have seen the picture in just two days and it has been shared thousands of times.

In the image, Rachel is clutching a big fluffy heart that says “Lose 60% of her lung…wins 100% of my heart”.

Rachel, 28, posted a photo of herself in hospital on the “Ask Me Anything” section of Reddit
Rachel, 28, posted a photo of herself in hospital on the “Ask Me Anything” section of Reddit

Rachel, who uses the tag WhosThatGirl_ItsRach, says she is flattered by all the attention.

“People have been saying so many nice things about me the last few days,” Rachel told Yahoo.

“I’ve never felt more beautiful,” she said.

The attention is a boost to the patient who only a few days before the picture went viral was speaking openly about the pain she’d been experiencing on the website’s message board.

“They stopped my epidural for awhile [sic] yesterday. I wanted to die. My incisions and tubes and lungs were on fire. I wanted to scream but moving and making noise made it worse. I thought I was going to pass out from holding my breath. I’m scared right now,” she wrote.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’m just SO afraid. It’s making me cry thinking about it. I feel so helpless right now. Yesterday was agony.”

Now Rachel is enjoying replying to more positive posts.

“Damn, I wish I had looked this good after my surgeries,” says one comment.

“As a woman my first thought was <<Fake. No one looks that good after surgery!>>. You are beautiful! Good luck with the recovery :)” said another.

Rachel’s ability to look fantastic despite the odds has her in good company.

The story is just like that of Zeddie Watkins Little who meant nothing to the average American until a picture of the 25-year-old was posted on the web as he ran a 10k run in March.

Next thing Zeddie Watkins Little, who is from Charleston, South Carolina, knew he was on morning television as “Ridiculously Photogenic Guy”.

“I find the humor in all of it, it’s funny. I feel honored to be part of a joke that’s in good spirits because the Internet can be a little vicious,” he said on the television show.

His photo was viewed on Facebook 1.25 million times in the two weeks after it was posted on the social networking site on March 31.

 

Hyvinkaa shooting: gunman killed two people and injured seven others in south Finland

Diane A. Wade
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Hyvinkaa shooting: gunman killed two people and injured seven others in south Finland

A gunman fired from the rooftop of a house in Hyvinkaa, a southern Finnish town, killing two people and injuring seven others, the authorities have said.

Police arrested an 18-year-old man suspected of the shootings in Hyvinkaa, 50 km (30 miles) north of Helsinki.

A man and a woman, both 18 years old, were killed in the incident. A police officer was among the wounded.

Some of the injured were said to be in a serious condition and have been taken to Helsinki for emergency treatment.

Local media reported that a man in combat fatigues opened fire on crowds in the early hours.

A gunman fired from the rooftop of a house in Hyvinka killing two people and injuring seven others
A gunman fired from the rooftop of a house in Hyvinka killing two people and injuring seven others

MTV3 channel said the man used a rifle and fled shortly after the incident.

Eyewitnesses spoke of panic as they were shut inside bars and clubs for hours while police searched the area.

Detective Chief Inspector Markku Tuominen said the suspect was arrested several hours later and offered no resistance.

“The man was found with two weapons… including a hunting rifle,” he said.

The police have not publicly commented on a possible motive for the crime.

Finland has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in Europe.

However, a series of mass shootings prompted the government to tighten the rules last June.

The police said the Hyvinkaa suspect had no license for his weapons.

 

Fresh insight into Barack Obama’s marijuana-smoking days in David Maraniss’ new book

Diane A. Wade
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0
Fresh insight into Barack Obama’s marijuana-smoking days in David Maraniss’ new book

A new book by biographer David Maraniss that delves into Barack Obama’s teenage years gives fresh insight into the president’s marijuana-smoking days as a high school student in the 1970s.

The book reveals how a teen Barack Obama and his friends formed The Choom Gang – slang for smoking marijuana – in which he invented inhaling techniques and rode a car called the Choomwagon.

In the book, Barack Obama: The Story, David Maraniss calls the future president “Barry” and reveals he “was known for starting a few pot-smoking trends”.

One was “total absorption” or “TA”, the rules of which stated that if you exhaled early, “you were assessed a penalty and your turn was skipped the next time the joint came around”.

Another idea was “Roof Hits” – rolling up car windows to stop smoke blowing out and going to waste.

“When the pot was gone, they tilted their heads back and sucked in the last bit of smoke from the ceiling,” David Maraniss writes in the book, excerpted on Google Books and due out June 19.

“Wasting good bud smoke was not tolerated,” an old school friend told the author.

And if that rule didn’t give enough of an insight into how much Barack Obama loved his marijuana, David Maraniss goes on to reveal he was known for his “interceptions” when a joint was being passed around.

“He often elbowed his way in, out of turn, shouted <<intercepted>>, and took an extra hit,” David Maraniss writes.

In the book, Barack Obama The Story, David Maraniss calls the future president “Barry” and reveals he “was known for starting a few pot-smoking trends”
In the book, Barack Obama The Story, David Maraniss calls the future president “Barry” and reveals he “was known for starting a few pot-smoking trends”

The anecdotes are from Barack Obama’s time studying at Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii and Occidental College in Los Angeles.

It is not the first time the spotlight has fallen on his teenage use of marijuana. In his 1995 autobiography, Dreams from My Father, Barack Obama made the admission himself.

Barack Obama wrote about some of his smoking haunts, including “a white classmate’s sparkling new van”, “in the dorm room of some brother” and “on the beach with a couple of Hawaiian kids”.

“Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it,” Barack Obama adds in the memoir.

But David Maraniss is quick to point out that Barack Obama was surrounded with the drug in Hawaii – where a wide selection of varieties were on offer – and that “Barry” did not fit the stereotype of a teen pot smoker.

“In fact, most members of the Choom Gang were decent students and athletes who went on to successful and productive lawyers, writers and businessmen,” David Maraniss writes.

But they weren’t all destined for great futures. Ray, who dealt pot to the group and was known for his ability “to score quality bud”, was later killed by a “scorned gay lover” armed with a hammer.

Ray gets another mention in Barack Obama’s school yearbook as the teenager wrote his thanks to: “Tut [his grandmother], Gramps, Choom Gang, and Ray for all the good times.”

One of Barack Obama’s friends, Mark Bendix, had a Volkswagen microbus that they called “the Choomwagon”, the book continues, and they would use it to drive up Mount Tantalus in Honolulu.

Once parked, they “turned up their stereos playing Aerosmith, Blue Oyster Cult and Stevie Wonder, lit up some <<sweet-sticky Hawaiian buds>> and washed it down with <<green bottled beer>> (the Choom Gang preferred Heineken, Becks, and St. Pauli Girl)”.

The book also documents Barack Obama’s early democratic leanings, explaining that the group operated by consensus and any member could veto a suggestion.

“Whenever an idea was broached, someone could hold up his hand in the V sign (a backward peace sign of that era) and indicate that the motion was not approved.

“They later shortened the process so that you could just shout <<V>> to get the point across,” he wrote.

As well as in Dreams from My Father – in which he wrote he “got high [to] push questions of who I was out of my mind” – Barack Obama has been forthcoming about his use of marijuana.

When Bill Clinton’s claimed that he had tried marijuana but insisted he “didn’t inhale” in 2006, Barack Obama said: “That was the point, wasn’t it?”

Yet since coming into power in 2008, Barack Obama’s support for the substance has waned, enforcing strict penalties for drug use – that would have prevented his presidency if he himself had been caught.

 

Easter Island mysterious heads have full bodies

James J. Williams
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Easter Island mysterious heads have full bodies

A research team has discovered that the mysterious heads on Easter Island have full bodies, extending down many, many feet into the ground of the island.

The Easter Island Statue Project (EISP) has been carefully excavating two of 1,000-plus statues on the islands – doing their best to uncover the secrets of the mysterious stones, and the people who built them.

Project director Jo Anne Van Tilburg said: “Our EISP excavations recently exposed the torsos of two 7 m tall statues.

“Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of visitors to the island have been astonished to see that, indeed, Easter Island statues have bodies!

“More important, however, we discovered a great deal about the Rapa Nui techniques of ancient engineering.”

The Easter Island Statue Project (EISP) has been carefully excavating two of 1,000-plus statues on the islands, doing their best to uncover the secrets of the mysterious stones, and the people who built them
The Easter Island Statue Project (EISP) has been carefully excavating two of 1,000-plus statues on the islands, doing their best to uncover the secrets of the mysterious stones, and the people who built them

Among their discoveries, the team has discovered:

• The dirt and detritus partially burying the statues was washed down from above and not deliberately placed there to bury, protect, or support the statues

• The statues were erected in place and stand on stone pavements

• Post holes were cut into bedrock to support upright tree trunks

• Rope guides were cut into bedrock around the post holes

• Posts, ropes, stones, and different types of stone tools were all used to carve and raise the statues upright

The remote island – one of the remotest in the world, tucked away in the South Pacific Ocean – was once home to a Polynesian population, whose history remains mysterious.

They likely sailed to the islands in canoes – a 1,500-mile journey over the open waters, and then, once they landed, they began relentlessly carving the stone statues.

This led to their own downfall: By the time Europeans discovered the island in the 1700s, the population had decimated nearly all the trees in the island to help with the statue construction, and the knock-on effect on the island’s ecology led to their decline.

The team also discovered that ceremonies were certainly associated with the statues.

On the project website, Jo Anne Van Tilburg said: “We found large quantities of red pigment, some of which may have been used to paint the statues.

“Finally, and perhaps most poignantly, we found in the pavement under one statue a single stone carved with a crescent symbol said to represent a canoe, or vaka.

“The backs of both statues are covered with petroglyphs, many of which are also vaka. A direct connection between the vaka symbol and the identity of the artist or group owning the statue is strongly suggested.”

[youtube kslElhGj_UI]

 

Eurovision Song Contest 2012: 26 countries compete in the final at Crystal Hall in Baku

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Eurovision Song Contest 2012: 26 countries compete in the final at Crystal Hall in Baku

Engelbert Humperdinck from UK will open the proceedings as 26 countries compete in the final of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Baku tonight.

The 76-year-old singer will be the first to perform in Azerbaijan’s Crystal Hall, with his ballad Love Will Set You Free.

Sweden’s Euphoria – a club hit by singer Loreen that has already topped the charts in four countries – is among the frontrunners for the prize.

A combination of points from televoting and national juries decides the winner.

Each country awards points to 10 competitors based on judges’ scores and a public vote, with 12 points being the maximum awarded.

Earlier this week 37 countries competed in the semi-finals for 20 places, with the Eastern European candidates dominating the list of finalists.

Romania, Serbia and Italy are among those tipped for success. But they will face stiff competition from the Russian “Buranovo Grannies”.

The group comprises six pensioners from a church choir in rural Russia who will perform Party for Everyone, a cross between a traditional folk tune and a dance track.

The grannies include Natalya Pugacheva who, at the age of 77, is the oldest ever participant in the contest.

Buranova Babushkas, a group comprises six pensioners from a church choir in rural Russia, will perform Party for Everyone, a cross between a traditional folk tune and a dance track
Buranova Babushkas, a group comprises six pensioners from a church choir in rural Russia, will perform Party for Everyone, a cross between a traditional folk tune and a dance track

Ireland will be represented by pop duo Jedward for the second year running, following the brothers’ finish in eighth place last year.

Their performance of pop track Waterline will end with the 20-year-old Grimes twins jumping into a fountain in the middle of the stage.

The former X Factor contestants described the occasion as “awesome”.

“We’ve bought Eurovision back to the glory days,” John said.

France, Italy, Spain, Germany and the UK automatically qualified for the final as they contributed the most money to the competition. Hosts Azerbaijan also went straight through.

Britain has fared poorly in recent years. The UK has not won since 1997 and has come last three times in the past 10 years.

But there are high hopes for Engelbert Humperdinck – affectionately known as “The Hump” – given his huge global fanbase and strong following in Eastern Europe.

The veteran crooner has received four Grammy nominations and a Golden Globe for Entertainer of the Year.

He is also one of only a handful of artists with a star on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Las Vegas Walk of Fame.

“I never realized the magnitude of it… how big it was,” he said.

“Now I am here I think the responsibility is pretty heavy-duty. But I am really thrilled to representing my country in this contest.

“It’s my job, I am singer and I do have 45 years of experience. So I hope it has some bearing on whatever the results will be.”

The Eurovision Song Contest is one of the most watched television events in the world, with 125 million viewers expected to tune in.

The show will kick off at 20:00 BST and finish at 23:15.

Following last year’s unprecedented Eurovision victory in Germany, the Azeri government, eager to boost the oil-rich country’s global image, has poured money into preparations for the contest.

But media attention has proved both positive and negative, with much of the focus on Azerbaijan’s poor human rights record, and protests by democracy campaigners being broken up in the capital Baku.

Eurovision Song Contest

• Created by Marcel Bezencon in 1955

• First held in Lugano, Switzerland, in 1956, when the winning song was Refrain performed by Lys Assia

• Twenty-six countries are competing in the 2012 final

• Watch clips and find out more at the Eurovision website (www.eurovision.tv)

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Janet Jackson shows off her slim frame at amFAR’s Cinema Against AIDS Gala in Cannes

Lisa.Felice
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Janet Jackson shows off her slim frame at amFAR’s Cinema Against AIDS Gala in Cannes

Janet Jackson arrived at amFAR’s Cinema Against AIDS annual ball at Cannes in a stunning bright white Pucci by Peter Dundas gown that showed off her slim, toned frame.

Janet Jackson, 46, paired the show-stopping number with shoes by Giuseppe Zanotti and jewelry by Pomellato.

The singer has become a spokesperson for NutriSystem after her most recent successful attempt to battle the bulge.

Michael Jackson’s little sister is dedicated to helping others shed weight, as much for their health as anything else as she has admitted that she put her own in danger by being overweight.

Janet Jackson arrived at amFAR's Cinema Against AIDS annual ball at Cannes in a stunning bright white Pucci by Peter Dundas gown that showed off her slim, toned frame
Janet Jackson arrived at amFAR's Cinema Against AIDS annual ball at Cannes in a stunning bright white Pucci by Peter Dundas gown that showed off her slim, toned frame

Janet Jackson told Prevention magazine: “Health was always a concern. When I gained weight in 2005, my nutritionist was very worried. I was close to having diabetes.

“Even when I lost it and then gained quite a bit back, there was always the thought of heart disease.”

But Janet Jackson credits her trainer with helping her get motivated, she said: “I don’t like to work out, and I get bored easily. [Trainer] Tony Martinez is great. When I’m getting ready for a tour, I’ll work out with the dancers. He’ll put us in teams and we’ll do all sorts of drills and races.”

The singer adds: “I think people really connect with the idea of someone who’s gained and lost weight in a very public way, and also someone who’s an emotional eater.”

In the commercial, released last month, a newly-slim Janet Jackson said: “This is what success looks like.”

Back in 2006, Janet Jackson weighed 180 lbs before slimming down. However following the death of sibling Michael three years later, she began to pile on the pounds again.

Janet Jackson has championed the brand on Twitter, simply saying: “Nutrisystem works. #SUCCESS”

In her book, True You, release last year, Janet Jackson wrote: “For more than three decades, I’ve struggled with yo-yo dieting. Some of my battles with weight have been very public.

“But most of them have been internal. Even at my thinnest, when my body was being praised, I wasn’t happy with what I saw in the mirror or how I felt about myself.”

 

Fugitive Humboldt penguin 337 caught on the loose in Tokyo

James J. Williams
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Fugitive Humboldt penguin 337 caught on the loose in Tokyo

A one-year-old Humboldt penguin which escaped from a Tokyo aquarium has been caught after more than two months on the loose in the Japanese capital.

The Humboldt penguin scaled a wall and slipped though a fence at the Tokyo Sea Life Park in March.

It has since been spotted several times swimming in rivers running into Tokyo Bay, but had eluded keepers.

The fugitive penguin was finally recaptured on Thursday evening.

Two keepers went to a river after a sighting of the penguin was reported in the morning. They managed to catch it later that day on the river bank, a spokesman for Tokyo Sea Life Park said.

Escaped penguin 337 has since been spotted several times swimming in rivers running into Tokyo Bay, but had eluded keepers
Escaped penguin 337 has since been spotted several times swimming in rivers running into Tokyo Bay, but had eluded keepers

The penguin – known only as 337 – was being examined by experts but appeared to be in good condition.

“It hasn’t lost weight,” the spokesman said.

“It hasn’t got fatter either but its health seems good.”

After the penguin escaped, the aquarium launched an appeal for help and sent employees out searching.

On one occasion Japanese coast guards spotted the penguin and followed it but were unable to secure it.

Kazuhiro Sakamoto, vice-head of the aquarium, told Kyodo news agency he was “relieved to see the penguin come back alive”.

The penguin is one of 135 penguins at the park. Humboldt penguins breed on the Pacific coast of South America and offshore islands of Chile and Peru.

They are thought to be declining in number. One of the reasons is due to increasing water temperatures caused by the El Nino effect and reduced food supply.

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