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Tintin cover fetches 1.3 million Euros at a Tintin memorabilia in Paris

Sonia Pantiss
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Tintin cover fetches 1.3 million Euros at a Tintin memorabilia in Paris

A rare 1932 cover drawing of a Tintin comic book has fetched a record 1.3 million Euros ($1.6 million) at auction in Paris.

The Tintin in America cover, hand-drawn by Belgian writer and illustrator Herge, broke the record – set by the same item in 2008, when it sold for 764,000 euros.

It shows the young adventurer Tintin, dressed as a cowboy and sitting with his dog, Snowy, as axe-wielding American Indians creep up on them.

It was bought by a private collector.

The Indian ink and gouache drawing work is one of only five remaining such works by Herge – real name Georges Remi – who died in 1983. Only two of those are in private hands.

A rare 1932 cover drawing of a Tintin comic book has fetched a record 1.3 million Euros ($1.6 million) at auction in Paris
A rare 1932 cover drawing of a Tintin comic book has fetched a record 1.3 million Euros ($1.6 million) at auction in Paris

The buyer is anonymous but he was represented at the auction by a friend identified only as Didier.

“If he’d have been able to get it for less I think he would have been happy,” Didier said after the sale, according to news agency Reuters.

“The aim was not to beat a record; the aim was to obtain the work, before anything else… You don’t come here to beat the world record, to spend money, that doesn’t make any sense.”

Saturday’s sale was part of a rare larger sale of Tintin memorabilia, reportedly including draft sketches of Tintin and a copy of Explorers on the Moon, signed by the first men to walk on the Moon, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, and fellow astronaut Michael Collins.

 

Revitalift Laser X3 from L’Oreal Paris mimics the effects of laser treatment

Kathryn R. Bown
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Revitalift Laser X3 from L’Oreal Paris mimics the effects of laser treatment

L’Oreal Paris launched Revitalift Laser X3, a new anti-ageing range with prices starting from just $31.99.

The products claim to smooth fine lines and wrinkles as effectively as a $5,000 clinical laser treatment.

An independent study backed up this claim.

Testing Revitalift Laser X3’s Daily Rejuvenating Moisturiser, $31.99, Super Serum, $39.99, and Precision Eye Cream, $31.99, for two weeks, the effects could be seen almost immediately.

The fine lines at the side of the eyes were instantly softened thanks to the eye cream. After just 24 hours, the serum and moisturizer appeared to have worked together to create smoother skin.

L’Oreal Paris launched Revitalift Laser X3, a new anti-ageing range with prices starting from just $31.99
L’Oreal Paris launched Revitalift Laser X3, a new anti-ageing range with prices starting from just $31.99

The skin cycle – the length of time it takes for our skin to make new proteins such as collagen – is four weeks, so it is remarkable to get such rapid results. What’s more, the products absorb easily and feel light on the skin – no greasiness or oily residue. The star ingredient is Pro-Xylane, derived from plant sugars.

It mimics the effects of a laser treatment and stimulates collagen, helps promote skin regeneration, reduces the appearance of fine lines and smooths wrinkles. In lab tests, it has been shown to increase skin plumpness because it retains large amounts of moisture.

It works alongside a special form of hyaluronic acid, a potent moisturizer that is absorbed easily by the skin, and lipohydroxy acid, a gentle exfoliating ingredient that refines the skin surface and stimulates new cell growth.

 

Extreme exercise may permanently damage the heart and trigger rhythm abnormalities

Kathryn R. Bown
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Extreme exercise may permanently damage the heart and trigger rhythm abnormalities

Researchers warn that extreme exercise, such as marathons, may permanently damage the heart and trigger rhythm abnormalities.

They say the safe “upper limit” for heart health is a maximum of an hour a day – after which there is little benefit to the individual.

A review of research evidence by US physicians says intensive training schedules and extreme endurance competitions can cause long-term harm to people’s hearts.

Activities such as marathons, iron man distance triathlons, and very long distance bicycle races may cause structural changes to the heart and large arteries, leading to lasting injury.

Lead author Dr. James O’Keefe, of Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City, said exercise was generally beneficial for health but could tip into becoming harmful when taken to excessive lengths.

Dr. James O’Keefe said: “Physical exercise, though not a drug, possesses many traits of a powerful pharmacologic agent.

“A routine of daily physical activity can be highly effective for prevention and treatment of many diseases, including coronary heart disease, hypertension, heart failure, and obesity.

“However, as with any pharmacologic agent, a safe upper dose limit potentially exists, beyond which the adverse effects of physical exercise, such as musculoskeletal trauma and cardiovascular stress, may outweigh its benefits.”

A review of research evidence by US physicians says intensive training schedules and extreme endurance competitions can cause long-term harm to people’s hearts
A review of research evidence by US physicians says intensive training schedules and extreme endurance competitions can cause long-term harm to people’s hearts

A review published in the medical journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings (must credit) looked at studies detailing the mechanisms, pathophysiology, and clinical manifestations of cardiovascular injury from excessive endurance exercise.

Dr. James O’Keefe and colleagues said research suggests that extreme endurance training can cause transient structural cardiovascular changes and elevations of cardiac biomarkers, all of which return to normal within one week.

But for some individuals, over months and years of repetitive injury, this process can lead to the development of patchy scarring of certain areas of the heart, and abnormal heart rhythms.

In one study, approximately 12% of apparently healthy marathon runners showed evidence for patchy myocardial scarring, and the coronary heart disease event rate during a two-year follow up was significantly higher in marathon runners than in runners not doing marathons.

The review said it had been known that elite-level athletes commonly develop abnormal electrocardiogram readings.

However, studies now show that changes to the heart triggered by excessive exercise can lead to rhythm abnormalities.

Endurance sports such as ultramarathon running or professional cycling have been associated with as much as a five-fold increase in the prevalence of atrial fibrillation, or abnormal heart rhythms.

Chronic excessive sustained exercise may also be associated with other heart problems including artery wall stiffening.

Dr. James O’Keefe said lifelong vigorous exercisers generally have lower death and disability rates compared with non-exercisers, but it was becoming important to detect intense exercisers whose regime might put them at risk.

The phenomenon has been dubbed Phidippides cardiomyopathy – after the fatal heart damage suffered by the original marathon runner.

The young Greek messenger in 490BC died suddenly after running 175 miles in two days, with the last leg of 26.2 miles from Marathon to Athens.

His death was the first report of a sudden cardiac death of a long distance runner.

Dr. James O’Keefe stressed the review findings should not undermine the message that physical exercise was good for most people.

He said: “Physically active people are much healthier than their sedentary counterparts. Exercise is one of the most important things you need to do on a daily basis.

“But what this paper points out is that a lot of people do not understand that the lion’s share of health benefits accrue at a relatively modest level.

“Extreme exercise is not really conducive to great cardiovascular health. Beyond 30-60 minutes per day, you reach a point of diminishing returns.”

Government guidelines recommend adults take aerobic exercise five times a week for 30 minutes or more for maximum health benefits.

Children should have at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise a day, including taking part in sports, brisk walking and running.

Aerobic exercise is achieved through sports such as jogging, running, cycling, tennis and swimming.

The level of aerobic exertion should be enough to raise the heart rate to 120 beats a minute or higher, which includes a brisk walk and swimming. But taking a stroll or even gardening is also regarded as healthy activity.

 

George Soros warns European leaders over a three-month window to save the euro

Clyde K. Valle
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George Soros warns European leaders over a three-month window to save the euro

George Soros warns European leaders they have a “three-month window” to save the euro.

The billionaire investor said he believed Greece would elect a government willing to abide by loan conditions imposed by the EU in this month’s elections.

But George Soros said the German economy would begin in weaken in the autumn, making it much harder for Chancellor Angela Merkel to provide further support.

He said leaders did not understand “the nature of the crisis”.

George Soros also said that while European leaders were focusing on debt levels, the crisis was “more of a banking problem and a problem of competitiveness”.

George Soros warns European leaders they have a "three-month window" to save the euro
George Soros warns European leaders they have a "three-month window" to save the euro

For this reason, he said they had “applied the wrong remedy”.

“You cannot reduce the debt burden by shrinking the economy, only by growing your way out of it,” George Soros added.

George Soros, speaking at a conference in Italy, was referring to the drastic austerity measures that have been implemented across Europe, measures that are now being questioned by a growing number of politicians and commentators.

Without policies to boost growth, which would enable governments to raise revenue to pay down debt, George Soros said time was running out for the euro.

“I expect the Greek public will be sufficiently frightened by the prospect of expulsion from the EU that it will give a narrow majority of seats to a coalition that is ready to abide by the current [bailout] agreement,” he said.

However, this would provide only temporary respite, he warned, as the German public becomes less willing to continue bailing out its weaker European neighbors.

“The crisis is likely to come to a climax in the [autumn]. By that time, the German economy will also be weakening, so that Chancellor Merkel will find it even more difficult than today to persuade the German public to accept any additional European responsibilities.

“That is what creates a three-month window.”

 

 

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee: A-list pop stars will play for Queen Elizabeth II in front of Buckingham Palace

Diane A. Wade
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Queen’s Diamond Jubilee: A-list pop stars will play for Queen Elizabeth II in front of Buckingham Palace

An A-list concert, which will be held in front of Buckingham Palace later today, will mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Sir Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and Sir Elton John are among the artists, and Madness will perform on the roof.

The audience will comprise of people who got tickets in a public ballot and those from charities with royal links.

At the end of the show, Queen Elizabeth II will light one of the last of around 4,500 beacons across the globe – in celebration of her 60-year reign.

In the afternoon, prior to the Jubilee concert, 10,000 ballot winners and VIPs will have a picnic in the gardens of Buckingham Palace.

The concert follows Sunday’s spectacular River Thames pageant which attracted hundreds of thousands of rain-soaked people to watch the flotilla of 1,000 vessels.

Queen Elizabeth II travelled in a barge alongside senior members of the Royal Family as street parties were held around the country.

Buckingham Palace said the Royal Family were “touched” at the turnout, despite the weather.

The A-list concert, which starts at 19:30 BST (18:30 GMT) and will be broadcast by the BBC, also includes Robbie Williams, Ed Sheeran, JLS, Kylie Minogue, Sir Tom Jones, Jessie J, Dame Shirley Bassey and Annie Lennox.

And it will feature a special song – sung by 200 people from around the Commonwealth – co-written for the occasion by Gary Barlow and Lord Lloyd Webber.

An A-list concert, which will be held in front of Buckingham Palace later today, will mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
An A-list concert, which will be held in front of Buckingham Palace later today, will mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

Motown legend Stevie Wonder has said: “It’s an honour to celebrate The Queen. It’s an honour to celebrate Great Britain. The time is overdue that I meet Her Majesty.”

The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will join the Queen at the concert.

Pop veterans Madness will play their hit Our House on the roof of Buckingham Palace – echoing Queen guitarist Brian May’s performance of the National Anthem in 2002 for the Golden Jubilee.

After the musical tribute, the Queen will greet the crowds and set the national beacon ablaze.

At 22:30 BST (21:30 GMT), Queen Elizabeth II is scheduled to place a crystal glass diamond into a special pod, triggering the lighting of the last beacon in The Mall.

Beacons will be lit throughout the evening in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, the Commonwealth and other overseas territories.

Bruno Peek, pageantmaster of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee beacons, said: “We set out to have 2,012 beacons, which would have been the most ever for this type of occasion.

“To have reached double that figure reflects the national and worldwide respect and affection for the Queen and the desire to celebrate her 60-year reign.”

The network of beacons across the UK will be placed on historic landmarks, hill-top vantage points and famous mountains.

Beacons will also be placed on the battlements of the Tower of London, and at St James’s Palace, Lambeth Palace, Windsor Castle, Sandringham, Balmoral and Holyroodhouse.

Sixty will be lit in sequence on Hadrian’s Wall – one for each year of the Monarch’s reign.

And the highest peaks of the UK’s four nations will be lit up by teams from four charities.

Help for Heroes will conquer Ben Nevis in Scotland, Walking With The Wounded will climb Snowdon in Wales, Cancer Research UK will scale England’s Scafell Pike and in Northern Ireland, Field of Life will go up Slieve Donard in County Down.

The hotel in Kenya where the Queen was told in 1952 of her father George VI’s death – which meant she would become the monarch – will also light a beacon.

The first of the beacons will be lit on the south Pacific island of Tonga, while Tristan da Cunha, a British territory in the South Atlantic, is the location for the most remote lighting.

Like the conclusion of the Thames pageant, the evening will end with a firework display.

Diamond Jubilee beacons:

• About 4,500 beacons will be lit in the UK, Commonwealth and overseas territories

• Beacons in the UK and British dependencies will be lit in stages between 22:00 and 22:30 BST

• The Queen will light the National Beacon near Buckingham Palace at 22:30 BST

• Overseas beacons will be lit at 22:00 local time in countries including Canada, Australia and Kenya

• Two types of Beacons are used: Bonfires and the church tower beacon fuelled by bottled gas

• Beacons were lit on Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897 and for 1977’s Silver Jubilee

 

Miiverse, Nintendo’s Wii U social network, presented ahead of E3 video games conference

Nancy Clayson
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Miiverse, Nintendo’s Wii U social network, presented ahead of E3 video games conference

A video presentation released ahead of the E3 video games conference has showed that Nintendo’s new Wii U console will embrace social networking.

Wii U console will promote the Miiverse in which users can see what others are playing, share self-created game content and swap gaming tips.

Nintendo said members would eventually be able to connect to the network via its 3DS handheld, PCs and smartphones.

The Japanese firm posted its first annual loss in April.

Its share price has nearly halved since it first announced the Wii U last year after investors expressed doubts about the potential of the next-generation device.

The revelations, ahead of the Los Angeles trade show, may be designed to create a new buzz about the product ahead of a more detailed press conference on Tuesday.

The presentation, by the firm’s global president Satoru Iwata, said that when users turned on their console it would show animated avatars on the television screen flocking towards the most popular games at that time.

However, the focus of the network is on a smaller touchscreen on the Wii U Game Pad.

This can be used to send typed or handwritten messages to other Miiverse members as well as drawings.

Wii U console will promote the Miiverse in which users can see what others are playing, share self-created game content and swap gaming tips
Wii U console will promote the Miiverse in which users can see what others are playing, share self-created game content and swap gaming tips

A video trailer showed one player using the device to quiz other gamers about how to kill a zombie. The actor then placed the handset next to his television to launch a video chat with another user.

“We believe it can solve the issue of ‘alone together’,” said Satoru Iwata.

“We believe it enables the sharing of more smiles, more laughs and more empathy.”

However, Patrick Garratt, founder of gaming website VG247, expressed reservations.

“The social aspects in the presentation show Nintendo realizes people now need to be constantly connected through their digital devices, but my concern is that the entire system appears to be closed,” he said.

“Without a wholesale embrace of Twitter and Facebook I think you have to ask serious questions about how well Nintendo understands the social networking space.”

The presentation also showed changes made to the game pad from the version displayed last year including redesigned thumbsitck controllers, extra buttons and a card slot to add data to the device.

Video games publisher Konami also opted to release a pre-show announcement video.

It included trailers for the firm’s upcoming Metal Gear Rising Revengeance – an action title featuring a cyborg ninja due out “early 2013” – and the latest in its vampire series, Castlevania: Lord of Shadows 2.

The coming days will bring a plethora of announcements from other firms at the trade show. Close to 200 are hosting exhibits.

Keynote presentations from Microsoft and Sony will be the focus of the event’s first day.

Both companies have said they would not debut their next-generation consoles at this year’s event. So the focus will instead be on how they will attempt to maintain interest in the seven-year-old Xbox 360 and six-year-old Playstation 3.

News site Examiner.com has reported that Microsoft’s announcement might include a new service called Xbox Smart Glass.

It said the product would allow users to control their console remotely via devices running Windows, Windows Phone, Android and iOS systems.

It added that the software would also work the other way, allowing consoles to screen content streamed to them by third-party devices.

Microsoft’s presentation is also likely to focus on its Kinect motion and voice recognition sensor, possibly including footage from a recently announced Harry Potter title.

There has been speculation that Sony will announce a tie-up or even a takeover of a cloud gaming company. This could allow Playstation owners to continue playing games when they do not have access to their consoles by streaming titles off remote servers to other types of devices.

Trade magazine MCV has reported a deal could involve one of two California-based companies: OnLive or Gaikai.

It noted that Gaikai had sent out a press release promising news that had “the potential to change the future of video games, game consoles and how we play”.

Cloud-based gaming services have had limited appeal to date because of issues including compromised picture quality and lag – delayed responses to button presses or joystick moves caused by the fact that commands have to be sent to a remote server.

However, one analyst noted that new technology might be about to solve these problems.

“A few weeks ago we saw Nvidia come out with a cloud GPU [graphics processing unit] product,” said Brian Blau, research director at Gartner’s consumer services group.

“Up until now cloud gaming vendors had to cobble together their own servers and graphics solutions and you can’t build those in a way that is easily maintainable and extendable over a long period of time.

“Now all of a sudden you can have standard Nvidia graphics with the same drivers you use on your desktop in a virtualized environment, and it provides a really great production environment for someone who wants to deliver cloud games.”

Tech site Engadget has also reported that Sony is expected to cut the price of its Vita handheld console. A similar move helped boost sales of Nintendo’s rival 3DS last year.

Away from the hardware manufacturers, extensions of existing gaming franchises are likely to dominate this year’s show with a raft of sequels, prequels and reboots set to be shown off.

Titles including Halo 4; Assassin’s Creed 3; Tomb Raider: Crossroads; Hitman: Absolution; Gears of War: Judgement; Dead Space 3; New Mario Super Bros 2; Disney Epic Mickey 2; God of War: Ascension and Star Wars 1313 are all set to be teased at the event.

However, hopes that the much anticipated Half Life 3 would be finally unveiled have been confounded by PC-developer Valve’s announcement that it would not announce any new products despite hosting a booth at the show.

Social games specialist Zynga is also exhibiting at the event – its first appearance. However, it has also signalled it would not launch any new products.

“We don’t have a big flashy show presence – it’s all business,” said the firm’s head of partner publishing Rob Dyer.

“We are focused on finding and signing partners to publish on our platform.”

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Princess Maha Al-Sudairi of Saudi tried to run from Shangri-La hotel in Paris without paying $8M bill

Diane A. Wade
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Princess Maha Al-Sudairi of Saudi tried to run from Shangri-La hotel in Paris without paying $8M bill

Princess Maha Al-Sudairi of Saudi tried to dodge paying an $8 million bill from a five-star establishment in Paris, leaving the hotel with her retinue of 60 servants in tow and a mountain of suitcases.

Princess Maha Al-Sudairi’s planned escape was always destined to end in farce and fiasco.

She and her entourage were instantly spotted by staff when filing out of the exclusive Shangri-La hotel at 3:30 a.m. last Friday.

They called the police and the wayward ex-wife of Saudi Crown Prince and deputy prime minister Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz – who is second-in-line to the Saudi throne – was stopped as her extensive luggage was being bundled into a fleet of limousines.

Most offenders in her position would have been arrested on the spot, charged and perhaps would already be behind bars.

But because the princess is protected by diplomatic immunity, police were unable to arrest or even charge her with an offence.

Instead the French authorities can only approach the Saudi Embassy in a bid to get them to help.

Princess Maha Al-Sudairi of Saudi tried to dodge paying an $8 million bill from a five-star establishment in Paris, leaving the hotel with her retinue of 60 servants in tow and a mountain of suitcases
Princess Maha Al-Sudairi of Saudi tried to dodge paying an $8 million bill from a five-star establishment in Paris, leaving the hotel with her retinue of 60 servants in tow and a mountain of suitcases

In the meantime the princess and her small army of servants have been offered refuge from their troubles – at another luxury hotel, the Royal Monceau, near the Champs-Elysees.

The five-star hotel is owned by “family friend”, the Emir of Qatar, who has offered to put her up while the matter is resolved. Princess Maha Al-Sudairi arrived in Paris with her entourage on December 23 last year and booked out an entire 41-room floor of the Shangri-La.

Up until then Princess Maha Al-Sudairi had been confined to a palace in the middle eastern state by Saudi King Abdullah after leaving behind a trail of unpaid bills with luxury firms across Europe, reportedly including Dior, jewellery outlets Chaumet and Victoria Casal, and at least one hotel.

Princess Maha Al-Sudairi repeatedly dodged demands from the hotel to settle her ballooning bill, the newspaper Le Parisien reported.

Matters finally came to a head last week when police found her and her servants attempting to leave the hotel. This is not the first time the royal has found herself in hot water.

Her global over-spending has been well-documented in the past.

Princess Maha Al-Sudairi was originally “cut off” by a furious King Abdullah after racking up massive debts all over the world during the last few years.

In June 2009, Princess Maha Al-Sudairi claimed diplomatic immunity in France after amassing $24 million in unpaid shopping bills, including $100,000 on designer lingerie alone.

The following year, she was once again bailed out by her oil-rich government after she ordered $30,000 worth of glassware and silverware from a Paris store.

Despite this, her fabulously wealthy credentials meant the “IOU” notes handed to shopkeepers which read “payment to follow” were usually accepted.

Over the years, up to 30 of Paris’s most exclusive retailers have fallen foul of her bouncing credit notes, French newspapers reported.

Shop owner Jacky Giami, who owns Paris’s Key Largo leisure wear store, said the princess and her relatives had more than $160,000 worth of his stock.

Last night, police in Paris said they were unable to arrest or charge Princess Maha Al-Sudairi because she was claiming diplomatic immunity. They said they would be asking the Saudi embassy to help settle her accounts.

 

Bruce Campbell, the man who transformed a passenger jet into a house in Oregon woodland

Diane A. Wade
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Bruce Campbell, the man who transformed a passenger jet into a house in Oregon woodland

Bruce Campbell reveals his future home is a 727-200 aircraft tucked away in the woods of Oregon.

Describing the plane as a “bird that’s meant to fly”, Bruce Campbell proudly gave CNN reporters a grand tour around his unusual choice of home.

Entering and exiting through stairs lowered down from the plane, Bruce Campbell explains that he tries to keep his new home clean and tidy as he wipes his feet and clambers through the latch-operated door.

With the passenger chairs ripped out of the main cabin there is plenty of room for Bruce Campbell’s possessions – cardboard boxes waiting to be unpacked are stacked throughout the room.

Bruce Campbell reveals his future home is a 727-200 aircraft tucked away in the woods of Oregon
Bruce Campbell reveals his future home is a 727-200 aircraft tucked away in the woods of Oregon

Clearly excited to be showing visitors around, Bruce Campbell says the prospect of living in the plane full-time “exhilarates” him.

With electricity already functioning, one of the first tasks in transforming the jumbo jet into a hospitable living space was, of course, getting a working plumbing system.

Bruce Campbell is still tinkering with it but one of the aircraft’s three toilets is already up and running.

“It’s small but I’m small”, he says, peeking into the functioning restroom.

Furthermore, he has installed a temporary shower within the main cabin of the plane.

Bruce Campbell concedes the shower doesn’t afford much privacy but points out that if you live in the middle of the woods that isn’t a pressing concern.

Describing the venture as an “experiment”, Bruce Campbell hopes that others will follow his lead: “It is a good experiment in a living environment that, I hope, will prove to be something that mankind will embrace with vigor at a later time.”

Lighting up with glee, Bruce Campbell ushers his guests into the space he describes as his “favorite playroom”: the cockpit.

And in warmer weather, the aircraft’s wings make for great decks – easily accessed through the emergency exits.

Bruce Campbell has had some visitors to his bizarre bolthole and, he says, some have fallen in love with it.

There is no radio or TV in the plane but an iPod touch provides music as Campbell potters away creating his new home.

“It’s not for everybody. But I think it is for a lot of people and it is definitely for me. I absolutely love it,” says Bruce Campbell as he concludes his tour.

 [youtube NgQnw1CDpWw]

Richard Dawson dies from esophageal cancer complications aged 79

Sonia Pantiss
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Richard Dawson dies from esophageal cancer complications aged 79

Richard Dawson, the actor and TV host who found fame in at the helm of game show Family Feud and in sitcom Hogan’s Heroes, has died at 79.

Richard Dawson, ex-husband of actress Diana Dors, was born in Gosport, Hampshire, UK, and played Corporal Peter Newkirk in World War II comedy Hogan’s Heroes for six years.

He became a panelist on TV show Match Game before hosting Family Feud for 10 years.

Richard dawson’ son Gary wrote on Facebook on Saturday: “It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you that my father passed away this evening from complications due to esophageal cancer.

“He was surrounded by his family. He was an amazing talent, a loving husband, a great dad, and a doting grandfather. He will be missed but always remembered.”

Richard Dawson, the actor and TV host who found fame in at the helm of game show Family Feud and in sitcom Hogan's Heroes, has died at 79
Richard Dawson, the actor and TV host who found fame in at the helm of game show Family Feud and in sitcom Hogan's Heroes, has died at 79

After starting his career as a stand-up comedian, Richard Dawson married the English pin-up Diana Dors in 1959. The couple settled in California but he was devastated when she walked out on him and they divorced in 1967.

By then, Richard Dawson was known as the Cockney prisoner of war in Hogan’s Heroes, which ran on CBS from 1965 to ’71.

He became Family Feud’s host when it launched on the ABC network in 1976 and won a daytime Emmy Award in 1978 for best game show host.

At its height, Family Feud was one of the most popular programmes on US TV, airing 11 times a week – five in daytime and six in the evening.

Known for giving the female contestants a kiss, Richard Dawson met his second wife Gretchen when she appeared on the programme with her family in 1981.

He left the show in 1985 but returned for one further series in 1994.

Not afraid to play on his TV persona, Richard Dawson appeared as the ruthless game show host Damon Killian alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1987 film The Running Man.

 

Kathryn Joosten, Desperate Housewives star, dies at 72

Lisa.Felice
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Kathryn Joosten, Desperate Housewives star, dies at 72

Actress Kathryn Joosten, best known for her roles in Desperate Housewives and The West Wing, has died at 72.

Kathryn Joosten died in California of lung cancer, 11 years after she was first diagnosed with the disease.

The actress won two Emmy Awards for playing nosey neighbor Karen McCluskey in suburban drama Desperate Housewives.

Kathryn Joosten had previously portrayed Delores Landingham, the secretary to fictional US President Josiah Bartlet, played by Martin Sheen, on The West Wing.

Her family said in a statement that the actress was “surrounded by love and humour ’til the end”, adding: “We are laughing through our tears.”

Actress Kathryn Joosten, best known for her roles in Desperate Housewives and The West Wing, has died at 72
Actress Kathryn Joosten, best known for her roles in Desperate Housewives and The West Wing, has died at 72

Kathryn Joosten did not begin her acting career until the age of 42, having worked as a psychiatric nurse at a medium security hospital unit in Chicago.

But after getting divorced and hearing her mother’s deathbed regrets at not having pursued her dreams, Kathryn Joosten decided to revisit her childhood passion for acting and became involved with her local community theatre.

She then worked as a street performer at Disney World in Florida before moving to Hollywood in the mid-1990s and winning small roles in shows including Murphy Brown, Frasier and The Drew Carey Show.

The West Wing brought wider recognition. “Some people in Hollywood think of me as a model for dramatic mid-life transitions – from suburban housewife to Emmy-winning actress,” she said.

“But I never plotted out a master plan for following my dreams.”

Her other roles included one of the recurring Gods in Joan of Arcadia and Claire in Dharma and Greg.

Her part in Desperate Housewives earned her the Primetime Emmy Awards for outstanding guest actress in a comedy series in 2005 and 2008, and she was nominated again in 2010.

Kathryn Joosten encouraged the show’s creator Marc Cherry to give her character lung cancer in order to raise awareness. The show ended in the US just three weeks ago after eight years on air.

 

Nigeria: Dana Air plane with at least 162 people on board crashes into a building in Lagos

Diane A. Wade
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Nigeria: Dana Air plane with at least 162 people on board crashes into a building in Lagos

A Dana Air passenger plane with at least 162 people on board has crashed into a building in Nigeria’s main city of Lagos, officials say.

Witnesses told Reuters news agency they saw the Dana Air plane strike the two-storey building and burst into flames.

At least 162 people were thought to be on board, but the head of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority said he doubted any could have survived.

The crash took place in a neighborhood just outside the airport in overcast weather, reports said.

A Dana Air passenger plane with at least 162 people on board has crashed into a building in Nigeria's main city of Lagos
A Dana Air passenger plane with at least 162 people on board has crashed into a building in Nigeria's main city of Lagos

Federal emergency personnel were said to be on their way to the scene.

There were conflicting reports as to whether the flight was arriving in Lagos from the Nigerian capital, Abuja, or was leaving Lagos bound for Abuja when the crash happened.

Nigeria, like many African countries, has a poor air safety record, though some efforts have been made to improve it since a spate of airline disasters in 2005.

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Thames flotilla for the Diamond jubilee: magnificent nautical event in London

Diane A. Wade
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Thames flotilla for the Diamond jubilee: magnificent nautical event in London

LONDON — Under the rainy skies of London, the crowds acclaim for  the monarch marking 60 years on the throne, a flotilla of 1,000 boats set off down the Thames on Sunday in an extravagant royal pageant. Thousands of Londoners are lining the Thames in London for the Jubilee river pageant despite the dank weather, as street parties get under way across the nation.

The spectacle, along a seven-mile stretch, will end six hours later when the last boat passes Tower Bridge.

The Thames barrier is being lowered to slow the river’s flow. Some 20,000 people are expected to be in the boats of the flotilla, which will travel at 4 knots (4.6 miles) an hour.

Despite cool, drizzly weather, hundreds of thousands of people are expected to line the riverbanks between Hammersmith and Tower Bridge in London, feting the British monarch whose longevity has given her the status of the nation’s favorite grandmother.

The flotilla, the largest such pageant for 350 years, will range from rowing boats to military boats, including a barge carrying the Queen and other members of her family. The queen and members of her family will lead the river pageant aboard a flower-bedecked royal barge, accompanied by skiffs, barges, narrowboats, motor launches, row boats and sailing vessels from around the world.

Other vessels will include a contingent of Dunkirk “little ships” and tall ships such the Southampton-based Tenacious, which will be sailed by a mixed crew of able-bodied and disabled people.

More than 20 vessels from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) are being drafted in for the occasion to help with safety on the river. Another vessel will take on a ceremonial role during the pageant in celebration of the 60,000 lives saved by the RNLI during the Queen’s reign.

The 86-year-old queen, accompanied by her 90-year-old consort Prince Philip and an array of family members, was scheduled to spend two hours moving slowly down the river aboard a lavishly adapted royal barge, the Spirit of Chartwell, that was emblazoned for the occasion with a coat of 10,000 cut flowers.

Only once before in the 1,000-year history of the British monarchy had any reigning sovereign lived long enough to mark a diamond jubilee, and that was in 1897, when Queen Elizabeth’s great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria, then aged 78, achieved the landmark.

“We in Britain are experts at not letting the weather spoil our fun,” said Adrian Evans, pageant master for Sunday’s flotilla. “The London Philharmonic Orchestra will be playing ‘Singin’ In The Rain’ as they travel down the river, and the crowd can sing along with them.”

Hundreds of people ignored the persistent rain and camped out overnight to secure prime riverside spots. Crowds swelled into the thousands Sunday, with revelers in hats, flags, leggings and rain ponchos adorned with the Union flag mixing with burger and cotton candy vendors along the 7-mile (11-kilometer) route.

“It would have been wonderful if it had been sunny like last Sunday but we have come prepared,” said 57-year-old Christine Steele. “We have got blankets, brollies (umbrellas), flags and bunting. We even got our glittery Union Jack hats and wigs, and the Champagne is on ice.”

Not everyone in Britain is celebrating. The anti-monarchist group Republic held a riverbank protest Sunday to oppose the wave of jubilee-mania.

“People are sick and tired of being told they must celebrate 60 years of one very privileged, very remote and very uninspiring head of state,” said the group’s chief executive, Graham Smith. “The hereditary system is offensive to all the democratic values this country has fought for in the past.”

Jubilee celebrations kicked off Saturday with a royal day at the races, as the queen watched a horse with the courtly name of Camelot win the Epsom Derby.

 

 

VIDEO: Heroic garbage truck driver rescues runaway stroller in Seattle

Ricky Robinson
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VIDEO: Heroic garbage truck driver rescues runaway stroller in Seattle

 Jeff Blackburn was driving his garbage truck on his regular route in Seattle when he saw a woman jogging with a baby in a pram, TV network Komo 4 reports.

Scroll down for video



The mother turned the pram sideways at the top of a hill and moved away to talk to some other women when the stroller took off, he said.

“She was on a hill and almost immediately when she turned the corner the stroller started to turn and roll down the hill,” Mr Blackburn said.

“So I started honking the horn and speeding up so I could catch up to it before it got to the intersection, because at the bottom of the hill was a busy intersection with stop signs.” 

  

Blackburn acted quickly to avert disaster. He honked the horn of his truck repeatedly, attracting the attention of a FedEx truck that stopped in time. Quick thinking, he used his big truck to block traffic so the intersection was free for the stroller to roll across safely.

 

He then jumped out of his truck and ran across the road just in time to stop the stroller as it bumped over a curb.

 

He told KOMO4: “When I got to the bottom, I hit the brake, got out of the truck and tried to grab it. Luckily when I was honking the horn, a FedEx truck was going through the intersection and stopped because he heard the horn honking.”

 

The video shows a woman giving a helping hand with the rescue effort.

 

The boy was rescued unhurt and and it seems he had enjoyed the roll down the hill. Blackburn told KOMO4: “He seemed to be having a great time rolling down the hill… he seemed to enjoy it.”

 

The frantic woman arrived seconds later.

 

“She came running in — she was freaked out and was shaking and… I don’t even think she said anything, she just grabbed the kid and ran away,” Blackburn said. “She was just really, really shook up.”

 

He says he was in the right place at the right time because the FedEx truck going through the intersection would likely have never seen the stroller had it not been for all the horn honking.

 

Blackburn was asked if he had seen anything before in the three years he’s been on the route.

“No, this is the first. People usually hold on to their children,” he laughed.


Toronto Eaton Centre shooting: one person has been killed and 7 others injured

Diane A. Wade
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Toronto Eaton Centre shooting: one person has been killed and 7 others injured

Canadian police have confirmed that one person has been killed and seven others injured in a shooting at Eaton Centre in Toronto.

Witnesses described scenes of panic after gunfire broke out in the food court of the Eaton Centre.

“A herd of people were just running toward us, screaming, running, freaking out,” said one shopper.

Police said two of the injured were in a critical condition and warned that they were still hunting the shooter.

A 13-year-old boy was among those seriously injured.

Officials said a 25-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.

As crowds gathered outside, an injured man with two bullet wounds in his chest was wheeled out on a stretcher and rushed away by ambulance.

Canadian police have confirmed that one person has been killed and seven others injured in a shooting at Eaton Centre in Toronto
Canadian police have confirmed that one person has been killed and seven others injured in a shooting at Eaton Centre in Toronto

Toronto police chief Bill Blair described it as a targeted shooting in which bystanders were also hit.

“The nature of the wounds indicate this individual was targeted,” he said.

“A lot of innocent people were hurt and a lot of innocent people were put at risk.

“We will be relentless in our pursuit of the individual or individuals that were responsible. We are receiving a lot of co-operation from the people that were present in the food court.”

He added: “I believe every Torontonian is shocked and appalled by this crime.”

Although some witnesses said they saw a man with a gun, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford told reporters at the scene that it was not immediately clear if the shooter was a man or a woman.

“It’s terrible when you hear something like this,” said Rob Ford.

“My heart goes out to the families that have been affected by this terrible crime. We have to apprehend this shooter.”

Marcus Neves-Polonio, 19, who works in the shopping centre’s food court, said he saw a man pull out a gun and start firing. He saw at least two people on the ground.

Erica Solmes, manager of a McDonald’s outlet, said she heard about 15 shots before hundreds of shoppers started stampeding for the exits.

Police constable Victor Kwong said at least two people had been trampled in the rush, including a pregnant woman who subsequently went into labour.

Gun ownership in Canada has been subject to licensing since the 1970s, and gun crime has dramatically declined over the years.

The last similar incident in Toronto was in 2005, when an exchange of gunfire between rival gangs in a street near to the Eaton Centre killed a teenage girl.

 [youtube SIra7CpYQzQ]

 

Diamond Jubilee Events Guide

Diane A. Wade
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Diamond Jubilee Events Guide

Celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in London with your neighbors by hosting a Big Jubilee Lunch.

Big Jubilee Lunch in London

 

The_Diamond_Jubilee_London_Big_Jubilee_Lunch

 

The Big Lunch is an annual nationwide event which encourages people across the UK to enjoy lunch with their neighbors.

This year The Big Lunch falls on the same weekend as The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, which is a four-day Bank Holiday weekend. So dust off the bunting and Union Jack flags from the Royal Wedding and enjoy a lunch fit for The Queen!

All you have to do is gather together your neighbors and choose what kind of an event you want – from a small gathering raising money for charity to a full-blown street party with music and a barbeque.

How to Organize a Big Jubilee Lunch

 

Every year since it began in 2009, The Big Lunch has been enjoyed by more than a million people, and this year’s special Big Jubilee Lunch is likely to attract even more participants.

If you want to get involved and set up your own local event, follow the “10 Steps to Organizing a Big Lunch Guide” on the Big Lunch website.

You can also request a Big Jubilee Lunch pack, containing advice as well as posters, leaflets and recipes.

 

The Central Weekend 2 – 5 June 2012

 

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The Central Weekend to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee takes place from Saturday 2 June to Tuesday 5 June 2012, with celebratory activities throughout the UK and across the Commonwealth

If you are considering visiting central London to join in with the celebrations, you may find it useful to visit the Transport for London website

Alternatively, you may wish to consider watching events on one of the many BBC Big Screens around the UK.

For information about the Official Diamond Jubilee Souvenir Programme click here.

Here is our run-down  of events over the Diamond Jubilee weekend, including approximate timings:

Saturday 2 June, 2012

 


The Queen will attend the Epsom Derby.

Sunday 3 June, 2012

 

The Big Jubilee Lunch: Building on the already popular Big Lunch initiative, people will be encouraged to share lunch with neighbours and friends as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. This may take the form of a traditional street party or a picnic lunch in small or larger groups. This event is being organised by the Big Lunch. Find out more.

The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant: This event will take place on the Thames and consist of up to 1,000 boats assembled from across the UK, the Commonwealth and around the world. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will travel in the Royal Barge which will form the centrepiece of the flotilla. Find out more

Approximate timings are as follows:

14:30BST – The Queen embarks the Royal barge, the Spirit of Chartwell, near Albert Bridge  

16:15BST  – The Royal Barge comes alongside HMS President (Royal Naval Reserve Unit), near Tower Bridge  

Monday 4 June, 2012

 

BBC Concert at Buckingham Palace: There will be a televised Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace with tickets being available to UK residents by public ballot. The musical programme for the concert is still being planned and is expected to feature British and Commonwealth musicians. Details on how to apply for the concert will be available in due course. This event is being organised by the BBC. Find out more

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Beacons: A network of 2,012 Beacons will be lit by communities and individuals throughout the United Kingdom, as well as the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Commonwealth. As in 2002, The Queen will light the National Beacon. Find out more

Approximate timings are as follows:

19:30BST  – Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace begins

After 22:30BST – The Queen lights the National Beacon outside Buckingham Palace 

 

Tuesday 5 June, 2012

 


On Tuesday 5 June, the Diamond Jubilee weekend will culminate with a day of celebrations in central London, including a service at St Paul’s Cathedral followed by two receptions, a lunch at Westminster Hall, a Carriage Procession to Buckingham Palace and finally a Balcony appearance, Flypast, and Feu de Joie. Find out more.

Download the Order of Service

Approximate timings are as follows:

10:15BST – The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace by car

10:30-11.30BST – Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s  

12.30BST – The Queen travels by car from Mansion House to the Palace of Westminster

14:20BST – Carriage Procession from Westminster Hall to Buckingham Palace commences

Approximately 15:25BST – Royal Family appear on the Balcony at Buckingham Palace 

 

 

Top 10 Art Exhibitions in London

 

The_Diamond_Jubilee_London_Art_Exhibition

 

Don’t miss out on the best London exhibitions! Catch one of these great London exhibitions as chosen by our editorial team.

 

Damien Hirst at Tate Modern

 

 

A shark suspended in formaldehyde, a bisected cow and calf… Damien Hirst is well-known for his imaginative and sometimes shocking works. This April, Tate Modern unveils the first substantial survey of Damien Hirst’s work ever held in the UK, featuring more than 70 iconic pieces. Until 9 Sep

 

Picasso and Modern British Art at Tate Britain

 

The influence of Picasso on British art and artists has rarely been recognized – until now, thanks to Tate Britain’s new exhibition. Picasso and Modern British Art explore the Spanish artist’s reputation in Britain, and looks at how Picasso’s work affected British modernism and inspired British artists. Until 15 Jul

 

British Design 1948-2012: Innovation in the Modern Age

 

In this Olympic year the Victoria & Albert Museum celebrates the best of British art and design since London last held the Olympic Games, in 1948. The exhibition brings together more than 300 objects from the fields of fashion, ceramics, graphics, photography, sculpture, product design, architecture, furniture and fine art. Until 12 Aug

 

Yayoi Kusama

 

 

One of Japan’s best-known living artists, Yayoi Kusama’s work spans more than six decades. Kusama is known for her immersive artworks and at this Tate Modern exhibition you can wander through a series of rooms covered in hallucinatory polka dots, mirrors and more. Until 5 Jun

Turner Inspired: In the Light of Claude

 

 

Turner’s daring painting technique dazzled audiences at the beginning of the 19th century and influenced future generations of artists. This National Gallery exhibition examines how Turner was inspired by Claude’s portrayal of light and landscape, and features pictures by Turner and Claude hung side-by-side. Until 5 Jun

 

Royal River: Power, Pageantry and the Thames at the National Maritime Museum

 

As well as being The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year, 2012 sees the 75th birthday of the National Maritime Museum. Royal River celebrates them both by exploring the relationship between British monarchs and the River Thames throughout history. Royal River is curated by one of Britain’s leading historians, David Starkey. Until 9 Sep

 

Leonardo da Vinci: Anatomist at the Queen’s Gallery

 

Don’t miss the largest-ever exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci’s anatomical drawings at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace. Da Vinci produced amazingly accurate anatomical drawings. His research included working in hospitals and medicals schools, where he dissected human and animal material. Until 7 Oct

 

Christian Louboutin at the Design Museum

 

This Design Museum offers a unique retrospective of famous shoe designer Christian Louboutin’s work and a preview of his next collection. Using items from Christian Louboutin’s personal archive the exhibition showcases his designs, methods and inspirations over the past 20 years. Until 9 Jul

 

The Queen: Art and Image at the National Portrait Gallery

 

To celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the National Portrait Gallery is bringing together 60 images from The Queen’s 60-year reign. See how The Queen has been portrayed through painting, photography and press images by renowned artists and photographers. Until 21 Oct

 

Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition

 

Don’t miss the highly popular summer exhibition at the Royal Academy, now in its 244th year. Displaying some of the best of contemporary art, the exhibition features more than 1,200 works by both new and distinguished artists, many of which are available to purchase. 4 Jun-12 Aug

 

 

The Diamond Jubilee – Frequently Asked Questions

Diane A. Wade
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The Diamond Jubilee – Frequently Asked Questions

A. Celebrations

What is Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee?
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee marks 60 years since her accession in 1952. Royal Jubilees celebrate significant periods in monarchs’ reigns and national life. In 2012, The Queen will become only the second UK monarch to mark 60 years on the throne. Celebrations were previously held for Her Majesty’s Silver Jubilee in 1977 and Golden Jubilee in 2002.

Diamond_Jubilee_Carriage

 

When exactly is The Queen marking her Diamond Jubilee?

While Accession Day is on 6 February, celebrations will occur throughout 2012, with a special extended bank holiday central weekend in the United Kingdom on 2-5 June.

What events will take place over this bank holiday central weekend?
On Saturday 2 June, The Queen will attend the Epsom Derby. On Sunday 3 June the Big Jubilee Lunch and the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant will take place. On Monday 4 June a concert will be held at Buckingham Palace and a network of beacons will be lit throughout the UK and the Commonwealth. On Tuesday 5 June a Service of Thanksgiving will be held at St. Paul’s Cathedral, which will be followed by a formal carriage Procession.

Will there be events at other times during the year?
There will be many other events held locally and on a national scale. For example, in May 2012 a Diamond Jubilee Pageant will be held, as part of the Windsor Horse Show, involving equine displays and other acts from around the world.

For more information and news on Jubilee events and activities, please visit www.direct.gov.uk/diamondjubilee or see national and local media as further details are announced.

I would like to organise an event in my local area. Whom do I contact?
People should make contact with the appropriate organisations or representatives – for example, one of the organisations involved with the central weekend, Lord Lieutenancies and local authorities.

Will Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee be marked in other Realm countries?
Her Majesty is Queen in 15 Commonwealth Realms in addition to the United Kingdom. The British Monarchy and UK Government websites will carry details only for those events and celebrations taking place in the United Kingdom. More details will be available elsewhere about activities taking place in Her Majesty’s other Realms.

Diamond_Jubilee_Carriage2

B. Central Jubilee Weekend Events

Big Jubilee Lunch
I would like to organise a street party or Big Jubilee Lunch. Who should I contact for more information?
The Big Jubilee Lunch is being organised by the Big Lunch, which is part of the Eden Project. It will be held on Sunday 3 June 2012. For more information please see www.thebiglunch.com or contact [email protected]

Thames Pageant
From where can I watch the Pageant?
Details about where spectators can view the Pageant will be announced by the organisers in due course. Please see http://www.thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org/ for more details.

Can I register a vessel to take part?
Boat registrations closed on 31 October 2011. Please see http://www.thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org/ for more details.

Can I get tickets to be on a boat sailing in the flotilla?
Further details about the Pageant will be announced on the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant website in due course.

Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace
When is the concert?
The Queen is hosting a concert organised by the BBC at Buckingham Palace on Monday 4 June.

Can I apply for tickets?
Details of how to apply for an invitation to the Concert will be announced in early 2012. Successful applicants, chosen by ballot, will be notified in writing.

Can I perform during the concert?
The content of the concert will be decided by the BBC.

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Beacons
Can I light a Beacon?
Details of how to take part in Beacon lighting ceremonies are available on www.diamondjubileebeacons.co.uk

When will the Beacons be lit?
The Queen will light the National Beacon on Monday 4 June. Further details about the lighting of Beacons will be announced by Diamond Jubilee Beacons Ltd.

Ceremonial Procession
Will there be a ceremonial procession to or from the Service of Thanksgiving, and if so, from where can I watch it?
There will be a formal carriage procession but details of the routes to and from the Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral will be announced closer to the time and published on the Monarchy website.

C. Commemorative Articles

Can I produce Diamond Jubilee Souvenirs?
The Lord Chamberlain’s Office at Buckingham Palace produces definitive guidelines on the use of the Royal Arms, Royal Devices, Emblems and Titles and of photographs, portraits, engravings, effigies and busts of The Queen and Members of the Royal Family.

Special guidelines for the use of protected Royal Devices on souvenirs have been produced for The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and can be found here – http://www.royal.gov.uk/pdf/DJ%20Emblem%20Guidelines/Souvenir%20Guidelines%20DJ%202012.pdf

Where can I find the Official Diamond Jubilee Emblem?
The Official Diamond Jubilee Emblem is based on an illustration by 10 year-old Katherine Dewar who won a BBC Blue Peter competition. It is available to download, free of charge from the Monarchy website and comes in a number of electronic formats; in English and in Welsh; and in colour, black and white and whiteout.

Where can I use the Emblem?
The emblem is available for use for activities associated with the Diamond Jubilee celebrations including community and national events, publications, retail and merchandising.

Unofficial Publications
As you would expect, the Royal Household takes seriously any reports of individuals or organisations using the Jubilee to raise money in an inappropriate or unauthorised manner. If you are invited to donate money to “official publications”, please write to The Queen’s Assistant Private Secretary, at Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA.

D. Use of The Queen’s title, name and emblems

Can I name something after The Queen or the Diamond Jubilee?
As is customary in Jubilee years, the Deputy Prime Minister and the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales have been given discretion to sanction the use of The Queen’s title and name. A blanket approval is in place for the use of “Diamond Jubilee” and “Jubilee” for community events and buildings (subject to the proviso that building works start or finish in 2012, and events take place in 2012). Permission need not be sought for the use of the titles “Diamond Jubilee” and “Jubilee” in these circumstances.

Applications to use “The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee”, “Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee” and “Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee” must be submitted in writing. Applications in respect of England, Northern Ireland or any of the Crown Dependencies – Parliament and Constitution Division of the Cabinet Office; applications in respect of Scotland or Wales where responsibility for the subject of the application remains with the UK Government – to the Scotland Office and Wales Office respectively.

Can I use an image of the Crown or The Queen’s Cypher (EIIR) for my Jubilee event/project?
Applications to use an image of the Crown, The Queen’s Cypher (EIIR) or Her Majesty’s Coat of Arms must be submitted to the Constitutional and Policy team in the Parliament and Constitution Division of the Cabinet Office.

E. Invitations to Visit

Will The Queen or other Members of the Royal Family be visiting my local area in 2012?
The Queen’s Programme and details of where other Members of the Royal Family will visit will be announced in 2012. Please continue to check the Monarchy website for updates.

I would like to invite The Queen to my Diamond Jubilee event. How do I do this?
The Queen will be extraordinarily busy during her Diamond Jubilee and it will not be possible for her to accept all of the many invitations she will receive. However, if you wish to invite Her Majesty to an event please write to The Queen’s Diary Secretary at Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA.

F. Other

I would like to compose a piece of music for The Queen for her Diamond Jubilee. Can I perform or dedicate it to Her Majesty?
We have been overwhelmed by generous offers to compose or perform pieces of music in celebration of Her Majesty’s Jubilee next year and while there would of course be no objection to musical events of this nature taking place, it will not be possible to associate The Queen directly with these events.

How do I find out more information about Diamond Jubilee projects and events between now and next year?
For those events listed above and taking place over the Jubilee central weekend, please see their individual websites for more details as they are announced. Alternatively, the Government DirectGov website will be updated with further news and announcements as they occur.

The Diamond Jubilee – The Queen

Roy Siemens
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The Diamond Jubilee – The Queen

Early life

Her Majesty the Queen was born on 21 April 1926 in London, the first child of Prince Albert, The Duke of York, and his wife, formerly Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.

Third in line to the throne, it seemed unlikely that Princess Elizabeth would be Queen. However, shortly after the death of George V, the new King – her uncle Edward VIII – dramatically abdicated so he could marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee. Princess Elizabeth’s father then became King George VI and she became heir to the throne.

Princess Elizabeth and her younger sister Princess Margaret were educated at home. During the Blitz in 1940, they were moved to Windsor Castle and stayed there for most of the Second World War. In 1945, Princess Elizabeth joined the war effort, training as a driver in the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service (WATS).


The_Diamond_Jubilee_The_Queen

 

Princess, wife, mother

In November 1947, she married a distant cousin, Philip Mountbatten, who was then created His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The wedding – which took place during the austere post-War years – was described by Winston Churchill as a ‘flash of colour’. The Princess used ration coupons to buy the material for her dress.

The couple have four children. Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales, is the eldest and next in line to throne. Both he and Princess Anne, The Princess Royal were born before their mother became Queen. Prince Andrew, The Duke of York and Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex are the only two children to be born to a reigning monarch since Queen Victoria.

Accession and coronation

George VI died on 6 February 1952 while Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip were touring Kenya. She returned home immediately and acceded to the throne. After months of preparation, Queen Elizabeth II was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953. For the first time, the ceremony and the huge public celebrations were broadcast by TV across the UK, the Commonwealth and the rest of the world.

A young and glamorous Queen

On her accession, the Queen immediately began her political duties which included opening Parliament and receiving her prime ministers. Throughout the 1950s, the Queen and Prince Philip cut young and glamorous figures as they extensively toured the UK and the Commonwealth.

During the 1960s, the Queen made historic visits to West Berlin at the height of the Cold War, and welcomed Emperor Hirohito of Japan on a state visit to Britain. Against a backdrop of political and social unrest, she celebrated her Silver Jubilee in 1977. It was a huge success and tens of thousands of street parties were thrown by the public across the country.

The 1980s onwards

Five years later, the UK was at war over the Falkland Islands during which Prince Andrew served with the Royal Navy as a helicopter pilot. The 1980s also saw the birth of her first grandchildren, Peter and Zara Phillips.

Disaster struck in 1992 when a devastating fire broke out in Windsor Castle. The same year the respective marriages of Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne disintegrated. The Queen deemed this her ‘annus horribilis’. Tragedy was to follow in 1997, when Diana, Princess of Wales was killed in a car accident.

And 2002 was another year of personal sadness for the Queen, as both her sister Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother died, casting a shadow over the Golden Jubilee celebrations a few months later.

The Diamond Queen

For the last 60 years, during a period of great change in Britain, the Queen has continued to carry out her political duties as head of state, her role as head of the Commonwealth, the ceremonial responsibilities of the sovereign, and a large annual programme of visits in the UK as well as many foreign tours.

The Queen has also made numerous reforms to the monarchy during her reign. In 1992, she offered to start paying income and capital gains tax. She has opened her official residencies to the public – including Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle – in order to finance their maintenance.

She supported ending the rule of male primogeniture, which now means the eldest child can succeed to the throne, regardless of gender. She also supported lifting the ban on anyone in the line of succession marrying a Catholic.

Her reign has heralded the introduction of less formal engagements and visits, and the introduction of the ‘walkabout’ – the meeting and greeting of large numbers of the public.

In 2002, the Queen celebrated 50 years on the throne; in 2006, her 80th birthday; and in 2012, her Diamond Jubilee. The Jubilee will be marked by celebrations across the UK throughout the year.

 

Official website of The Diamond Jubilee: http://www.thediamondjubilee.org/

Bigfoot image captured in Idaho by a group of high school students

Diane A. Wade
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Bigfoot image captured in Idaho by a group of high school students

A group of high school students believe they may have stumbled upon Bigfoot while in the Idaho wilderness for a class project.

The teenagers were in the woods near Mink Creek in Franklin County when they said they noticed a dark creature watching them from a ridge.

One of the students managed to grab his camera to film the large figure retreating between the trees.

The group then raced to the point they had seen the creature, and said they found a large foot imprint in the dirt and took a photograph of it.

“It just didn’t look human-like,” the student who recorded the footage and who does not wish to be identified told Local News 8.

“I don’t know what that is, it’s not a bear, it’s not a moose or anything. It was big and bulky and black.”

He went on: “I’m not going to say yes it was a Bigfoot or no it wasn’t, because I don’t know, and nobody knows.”

The teenagers were in the woods near Mink Creek in Franklin County when they said they noticed a dark creature watching them from a ridge
The teenagers were in the woods near Mink Creek in Franklin County when they said they noticed a dark creature watching them from a ridge

The news station took the footage and the image of the large foot to Jeff Meldrum, a Sasquatch expert at Idaho State University.

While he could not be certain of what the creature was, “it nevertheless is a large dark figure that bears resemblance to descriptions of Sasquatch”, he said.

He explained that although the beast is often rumored to be living in the Northwest of North America, there is also local Bigfoot lore.

He said it has been documented by “immigrants coming into this new frontier and encountering strange and marvelous things including stories of wild men and mountain devils”.

He was joined in his office by anatomist Trent Stephens, who said the beast resembled that seen by Roger Patterson in a famous 1967 clip taken on the Klamath River in California.

“I was just dumb-founded,” Trent Stephens said.

“That arm swaying is exactly like the Patterson film.”

He added: “There’s always room for a hoax, but this was pretty amazing.”

Bigfoot is allegedly an ape-like creature said to inhabit forests mainly in the Northwest, but his existence has not been scientifically proven.

There have been scores of sightings, including in Spokane, Washington in May 2011, when a woman hiker captured a large figure on camera and uploaded the footage to YouTube.

The Animal Planet show Finding Bigfoot will visit Pocatello, Idaho next month to investigate the claims that Bigfoot could be in the area.

 [youtube R7W8xQWEV_g]

THE MYSTERY OF BIGFOOT

Bigfoot, also known as Sasquatch, is described as a hairy, ape-like creature purportedly living in forests, mainly in the Northwest of North America.

Scientists have rejected the beast’s existence, and sightings are widely considered to be either misidentification or hoaxes.

Yet some scientists, including Idaho State University’s Jeff Meldrum, have taken interest in further investigations into sightings.

The most famous sighting of the beast was in 1967, with footage taken of a seven-foot-tall, hairy biped by Roger Patterson on the Klamath River in California.

Images have been taken more recently, including by hunter Rick Jacobs in 2007 who captured a beast using a camera attached to a tree. It was dismissed as a “bear with mange”.

 

Paralyzed rats able to walk again after spinal stimulation

Kathryn R. Bown
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Paralyzed rats able to walk again after spinal stimulation

Scientists have shown that paralyzed rats have been able to walk again after their spinal cords were bathed in chemicals and zapped with electricity.

An injury to the spinal cord stops the brain controlling the body.

The study, published in the journal Science, showed injured rats could even learn to sprint with spinal stimulation.

Experts said it was an “exceptional study” and that restoring function after paralysis “can no longer be dismissed as a pipedream”.

In 2011, a man from Oregon in the US was able to stand up again while his spinal cord was stimulated with electricity. Rob Summers had been paralyzed from the chest down after being hit by a car.

Now researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology say they have restored far more movement in rats which became able to run and climb stairs.

Scientists have shown that paralyzed rats have been able to walk again after their spinal cords were bathed in chemicals and zapped with electricity
Scientists have shown that paralyzed rats have been able to walk again after their spinal cords were bathed in chemicals and zapped with electricity

The spinal cord of the rats was cut in two places. It meant messages could not travel from the brain to the legs, but the spinal cord was still in one piece.

The researchers then tried to repair the damage. The spinal cord was injected with chemicals which stimulated the nerves in the spine and the base of the spinal cord was electrically stimulated as well. The scientists say they were reawakening the “spinal brain”.

However, this was not sufficient to restore movement. The rats were supported in a robotic harness and were shown a treat which they needed to “learn” to walk towards.

The lead researcher, Prof. Gregoire Courtine, said: “Over time the animal regains the capacity to perform one, two steps, then a long run and eventually we gain the capacity to sprint over ground, climb stairs and even pass obstacles.”

He said: “It is completely unexpected to see this recovery, they walk and climb stairs voluntarily.”

The scientists showed that new nerves were forming across the injury and there were also changes in the brain.

This is not, however, a cure for spinal cord injuries in people.

Prof. Reggie Edgerton, from the University of California Los Angeles, was part of the team which helped Rob Summers stand again.

He said the study was “important” and that it was becoming clear that engaging the brain was the key.

“You’ve got to make the rat want to step, it demonstrates the importance of training and rehabilitation,” he said.

How this works is still unknown. Prof. Reggie Edgerton speculated that “we are activating the spinal cord to a critical level” close to the level which would trigger movement, and a small signal from “the brain pushes it over” leading to movement.

 

From scrawny to brawny in just six weeks

Clyde K. Valle
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From scrawny to brawny in just six weeks

Six British broadcasters have competed in Men’s Health magazine’s annual Celebrity Six-Pack Challenge.

Sky Sports’ Alex Payne was one of them.

The most unlikely of men have been transformed into cover model stars thanks to the fitness initiative and the 31-year-old is no exception.

Alex Payne admitted that at first it was a struggle bulking up his “lean frame” but he soon managed to schedule in daily workout sessions.

“I wouldn’t have done this if it weren’t for the element of competition. I genuinely thought I was going to die after the first gym session but I don’t think I really hated any of it.

“I got some very strange looks from the boys in the commentary teams when I started tucking into a protein shake at half time,” he told Men’s Health.

Six British broadcasters have competed in Men’s Health magazine's annual Celebrity Six-Pack Challenge
Six British broadcasters have competed in Men’s Health magazine's annual Celebrity Six-Pack Challenge

Lifting weights, drinking protein shakes, running and abdominal crunches were some methods each of the male contestants, all aged over 30, used to get in shape.

And each says that colleagues, friends and family have been shocked by their new toned physiques.

Goals on Sunday host Ben Shephard, 37, said: “The banter from the other guys has been pretty intense.

“My wife went away for a few days and was shocked when she got back.”

Meanwhile the oldest contestant, former pro-footballer and exuberant Sky pundit Chris Kamara, 54, added: “The last time I had a six-pack was 30 years ago and it’s been 20 since I lifted a weight.

“So I thought I was too old and that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with the young lads.

However, his transformation proved getting a six-pack isn’t just a young man’s game.

“To lose 6 kg and gain muscle like I did in a few weeks shows it’s possible.”

Soccer AM’s Max Rushden, Radio 5 Live’s Mark Chapman and Football Focus and Match of the Day’s Danny Walker also took part.

Previous winners of the Men’s Health Celebrity Six-Pack challenge include Andi Peters and Reggie Yates.

Men’s Health Editor Toby Wiseman said: “Six weeks might not seem long to get into great shape but each one of this year’s Men’s Health Celebrity Six-Pack challengers has achieved incredible physical results.”

 

Lady Gaga becomes first person to pass 25 million followers on Twitter

Lisa.Felice
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Lady Gaga becomes first person to pass 25 million followers on Twitter

Lady Gaga became the first person to pass 25 million followers on Twitter as she immediately tweeted her gratitude to fans yesterday.

“#25milliontweetymonsters wow! I’m officially feeling like the luckiest girl in the world today,” the singer wrote.

Lady Gaga, 26, has more than two and a half million followers more than her nearest competitor, Justin Bieber, who has 22.5 million.

The singer is one of eight pop stars in the top ten most followed people on Twitter, with Barack Obama and Kim Kardashian and Oprah Winfrey making up the final two.

Lady Gaga was also the first person to reach the milestones of 10, 15 and 20 million followers respectively on the social networking site.

She has won legions of fans with her outlandish costumes, including the infamous meat dress which she famously wore to the 2010 MTV awards.

Lady Gaga became the first person to pass 25 million followers on Twitter as she immediately tweeted her gratitude to fans yesterday.
Lady Gaga became the first person to pass 25 million followers on Twitter as she immediately tweeted her gratitude to fans yesterday.

Lady Gaga, real name Stefani Germanotta, has a special relationship with her fans, dubbing them “little monsters” and herself “mother monster”.

However, she suffered a setback this week when she was forced to cancel a concert in Indonesia after Islamist hard-liners threatened violence, claiming her sexy clothes and provocative dance moves would corrupt the nation’s youth.

The singer has since moved on and was spotted strolling around Bangkok in a typically outlandish dress made of black PVC last week.

  

THE MOST FOLLOWED CELEBRITIES ON TWITTER

1. Lady Gaga – 25 million

2. Justin Bieber – 22.5 million

3. Katy Perry – 20.4 million

4. Rihanna – 19.7 million

5. Britney Spears – 17.2 million

6. Shakira – 16.3 million

7. Barack Obama – 16 million

8. Kim Kardashian – 14.8 million

9. Taylor Swift – 14.5 million

10. Nicki Minaj – 12.2 million

Source: twittercounter.com

 

Women’s sex history can be known from the way they walk

Kathryn R. Bown
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Women’s sex history can be known from the way they walk

Belgian researchers watched videos of women walking and were able to tell whether they regularly had orgasms from intercourse.

At the Universiti Catholique de Louvain, Institut d’itudes de la famille et de la sexualiti, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, experts set about proving the theory right.

The researchers took women with known histories of either vaginal orgasm or inability to orgasm from sex and videotaped them walking on the street, and their orgasmic status was judged by sexologists blind to their history.

“In the sample of healthy young Belgian women, half of whom were vaginally orgasmic, history of vaginal orgasm that was triggered solely by penile-vaginal intercourse, was diagnosable at far better than chance.”

Belgian researchers watched videos of women walking and were able to tell whether they regularly had orgasms from intercourse
Belgian researchers watched videos of women walking and were able to tell whether they regularly had orgasms from intercourse

The researchers think that, as well as having an effect on people’s mental health, orgasms can “loosen” muscle groups.

They wrote: “Research has demonstrated the association between vaginal orgasm and better mental health. Some theories of psychotherapy assert a link between muscle blocks and disturbances of both character and sexual function. In Functional-Sexological therapy, one focus of treatment is amelioration of voluntary movement.

“The present study examines the association of general everyday body movement with history of vaginal orgasm.”

The team said the objective was to determine if appropriately trained sexologists could infer women’s history of vaginal orgasm from observing only their gait.

“Clitoral orgasm history was unrelated to both ratings and to vaginal orgasm history. Exploratory analyses suggest that greater pelvic and vertebral rotation and stride length might be characteristic of the gait of women who have experienced vaginal orgasm.

“The discerning observer may infer women’s experience of vaginal orgasm from a gait that comprises fluidity, energy, sensuality, freedom, and absence of both flaccid and locked muscles.

“Results are discussed with regard to previous research on gait, the effect of the musculature on sexual function, the special nature of vaginal orgasm, and implications for sexual therapy.”

 

Hubble Space Telescope works out on when Milky Way will crash into Andromeda

James J. Williams
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Hubble Space Telescope works out on when Milky Way will crash into Andromeda

Hubble Space Telescope has been used to work out on when precisely our Milky Way Galaxy will crash into its neighbor, Andromeda, astronomers announce.

Milky Way and Andromeda are being pulled together by their mutual gravity and the scientists expect them to begin to merge in about four billion years’ time.

A further two billion years on and they will appear as a single entity.

Our Sun’s position will be disturbed but the star and its planets are in little danger of being destroyed.

Viewed from Earth, however, the night sky should look fairly spectacular. That is assuming, of course, that a human species is still around billions of years into the future to look upwards.

“Today, the Andromeda Galaxy appears to us on the sky as a small fuzzy object that was first seen by ancient astronomers more than one thousand years ago,” said lead researcher Roeland van der Marel from the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, US.

“Few things fascinate humans more than to know what our cosmic destiny and future fate will be. The fact that we can predict that this small fuzzy object will one day come to engulf and enshroud our Sun and Solar System is a truly remarkable and fascinating finding.”

Milky Way and Andromeda are being pulled together by their mutual gravity and the scientists expect them to begin to merge in about four billion years' time
Milky Way and Andromeda are being pulled together by their mutual gravity and the scientists expect them to begin to merge in about four billion years' time

It has long been known that the two galaxies have been heading in the general direction of each other.

They are separated by about 2.5 million light-years, but are converging at something like 400,000 km/h (250,000 mph). The new Hubble data provides fresh insight on when and how a union is likely to unfold.

This is possible because the orbiting observatory has measured in finer detail than ever before the motions of select regions of Andromeda, also frequently referred to by its catalogue name M31.

“It’s necessary to know not only how Andromeda is moving in our direction but also what its sideways motion is, because that will determine whether Andromeda will miss us at a distance or whether it might be heading straight for us,” explained Dr Roeland van der Marel.

“Astronomers have tried to measure the sideways motion for over a century. However, this was always unsuccessful because the available techniques were not sufficient to perform the measurement.

“For the very first time, we’ve been able to measure the sideways motion – in astronomy, also known as proper motion – of the Andromeda Galaxy using the unique observational capabilities of the Hubble Space Telescope.”

Computer simulations based on Hubble’s data indicate the two great masses of stars will eventually shape themselves into a single elliptical galaxy similar to the kind commonly seen in the local Universe.

However, although the galaxies will plough into each other, individual stars will not collide because the space between them will still be huge.

Nonetheless, the gravitational disturbance will shift the location of our Solar System, the researchers believe.

It is likely also that the merger will kick off a vigorous phase of new star formation as gas clouds are perturbed and collapse in on themselves.

From their observations, the scientists say it is quite possible Andromeda’s small companion, the Triangulum galaxy, or M33, will also join the fray.

 [youtube PrIk6dKcdoU]

Vibram, the footwear company that gave Five Fingers counterfeiters the boot

Clyde K. Valle
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2
Vibram, the footwear company that gave Five Fingers counterfeiters the boot

Tony Post, the chief executive of Vibram USA and former marathon runner, introduced the minimalist Five Fingers running shoe in 2007.

The footwear, which Tony Post describes as “ballet shoes with toes”, entered the market just as the so-called “barefoot” running craze took off in the US.

What started as a way to showcase the company’s design skills quickly ballooned into a multi-million dollar business.

Its revenues jumped from $400,000 in 2007 to $90 million last year, and Vibram struggled at first to keep up with demand.

It was an entrepreneur’s dream – and a counterfeiter’s.

During the summer of 2010 a package arrived at Vibram’s cosy offices, stationed in a former flannel mill in Concord, Massachusetts.

Inside were a pair of torn-up Five Fingers shoes and a complaint from a customer who said that the shoes fell apart easily.

Tony Post recalls that the shoes “looked like one of our products – it had our trademark on it – but it was made of different materials”.

When Tony Post asked the customer where they got the shoes, they named a website he hadn’t heard of.

When he looked it up, he saw that while the website included images from Vibram and even listed Vibram’s Concord address, something was wrong.

All of a sudden, Tony Post says he realized: “Oh my God, this is counterfeit product.”

Within months, his office had received more than 1,000 returned pairs. The shoes all looked similar to the original – with rubber soles and vinyl tops, and the distinctive colorful, reptilian look.

But Tony Post and his team of employees – almost all of who wear the shoes around the office – could spot the differences. They saw that the stitching between the toes was sloppy, and that the colors, while similar, were never exact duplicates of the models Vibram manufactured.

They realized that the company’s failure to keep up with demand had given counterfeiters an opportunity to move into the market.

Tony Post, the chief executive of Vibram USA and former marathon runner, introduced the minimalist Five Fingers running shoe in 2007
Tony Post, the chief executive of Vibram USA and former marathon runner, introduced the minimalist Five Fingers running shoe in 2007

By the autumn of 2010, more than half of the Google search results for Five Fingers led to counterfeit sites, according to BirthdayShoes.com, a fan website.

More than $178 million worth of counterfeit goods were seized at US borders last year, according to the country’s Department of Homeland Security.

Over the past decade, the most often item seized has been footwear, with more than two-thirds coming from China.

“If bags were the thing in the ’90s, shoes are the thing in the new millennium,” says Susan Scafidi, the director of the Fashion Law Institute at Fordham University.

The growth in confiscated footwear has mirrored the growth in online sales, which has made it more difficult for authorities to track counterfeit products.

“Mail is particularly challenging because we don’t have the same information that we would have on ocean container loads of shipments,” says Therese Randazzo, director of Intellectual Property Rights Policy & Programs Division at US Customs and Border Protection, a division of Homeland Security.

This is why the agency has stepped up enforcement at areas other than the traditional ports of entry. Since 2007, there has been an 84% increase in the amount of product seized from mail centres.

Vibram’s Tony Post initially tried to go to Congress to ask for help, and even hired private investigators to take photos of the factories making the shoes.

However, he quickly realized that “Congress doesn’t work at the speed of business”, and that shutting down one counterfeit factory just led to another opening up.

Ultimately the most helpful step for Vibram was to make customers aware of the counterfeit goods.

It was a risky move, according to Susan Scafidi, who says that a company associating its name – however tangentially – with counterfeit goods could damage its brand.

Tony Post says he didn’t have a choice: “We knew if we didn’t react quickly enough, they [the counterfeits] were only going to get better… so we needed to be sure to put them in their place quickly.”

Vibram offered vouchers to customers who had unwittingly bought fake Five Fingers, so that they could buy the real product at cost price.

The company also put up a page on its website alerting customers, enlisted the help of bloggers and asked fans of its Facebook page to get the word out.

Within a year, the deluge of complaints from customers who had bought fake products slowed to a trickle.

“Candidly, you have to realize that intellectual property only gets you so far,” says Tony Post

“At the end of the day it’s really about your relationship with the consumer.”

Vibram seems to be out of the woods – but not everyone is as lucky.

Steve Behling lost his ski- and snowboard-binding business Kobe International Trading Company in 2002 to Chinese counterfeiters, who he says flooded the market with knock-offs of his proprietary designs.

“They basically drove me out of business and anybody else that was in that type of business,” he says.

“They ruined a whole industry.”

By most measures, the counterfeiting industry is growing.

A report published last year by the business group the International Chamber of Commerce estimated that from 2008 to 2015, the amount of counterfeit goods is expected to increase by more than two-fold.

Dan Harris, a lawyer with Harris & Moore and author of the popular China Law Blog, says that while American companies have got smarter about protecting their products, there is still one golden rule.

“The key is if you don’t register your intellectual property – your trademark, your copyright, your patent – you have pretty much no chance,” says Dan Harris.

But, he adds, focusing on how to protect your business can drive you crazy – and at the end of the day: “Sometimes you have to ignore it and focus on making money.”

 

Spain denies IMF bailout rumors

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Spain denies IMF bailout rumors

Spanish Economy Minister Luis de Guindos has dismissed talk of it seeking a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as “senseless”.

And the IMF denied that Spain had asked to discuss rescue loans.

The IMF has contributed to bailouts of all the other eurozone nations, such as Greece, that needed help.

Meanwhile, the European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi described the current set-up of the eurozone as “unsustainable”.

There were rumors that Spain had already gone to the IMF, after the Spanish deputy prime minister went to meet the IMF’s managing director Christine Lagarde.

Spanish Economy Minister Luis de Guindos has dismissed talk of it seeking a bailout from the IMF as senseless
Spanish Economy Minister Luis de Guindos has dismissed talk of it seeking a bailout from the IMF as senseless

“My desire is to not come out and deny these rumours because they are senseless,” Spanish Economy Minister Luis de Guindos said on Spanish television.

Spain has taken Greece’s place as the epicentre of the eurozone crisis as concerns over the health of Spanish banks have shaken markets.

Bankia, Spain’s fourth largest bank, has asked for another 19 billion Euros recently from Madrid, but many question whether Spain will be able to afford it.

Speaking to the European Parliament, Mario Draghi said: “Can the ECB fill the vacuum of lack of action by national governments on fiscal growth? The answer is no. Can the ECB fill the vacuum of the lack of action by national governments on the structural problem. The answer is no.

“The next step… is to clarify what is the vision a certain number of years from now. The sooner this is specified, the better it is.”

And EU economics commissioner Olli Rehn said more austerity was needed if the eurozone was to avoid disintegration.

Olli Rehn talked down the idea of European states issuing joint bonds, saying that austerity and closer co-operation were needed.

“We need a genuine stability culture and a much upgraded common capacity to contain common contagion,” he told a conference.

New figures also showed eurozone inflation slowed more than expected this month.

Inflation in the 17 countries that use the euro eased to 2.4% in May from 2.6% in April.

The figure is still above the ECB’s target to keep inflation below 2%, but the lower-than-expected number could fuel calls for an interest rate cut next week.

In other figures released on Thursday, Germany’s unemployment rate fell below 7% as Europe’s biggest economy continued to perform strongly.

The jobless rate dropped to 6.7% in May, from 7% in April, as the number of people unemployed fell by 108,000 to 2.86 million.

However, there was more bad news from Greece as figures showed that Greek retail sales volumes fell by 16.2% in March compared with a year earlier. This followed February’s decline of 12.9%.

 

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