Monday, January 12, 2026
Newsletter
Home Blog Page 999

Columbus Day Parade 2012 in NYC

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Columbus Day Parade 2012 in NYC

Of many celebrations that still mark the discovery of America, the biggest ones for consumers are the annual Columbus Day sales by major retailers coast to coast offering early fall bargains on furniture and winter apparel.

And, of course, there are the parades! The one in NYC is by far the largest, grandest and most popular, welcoming over 1 million spectators annually. This year, the annual Columbus Day Parade in NYC takes place on Monday, October 8, 2012 beginning at 11:45 AM – as huge lunchtime crowds come out to cheer along the parade route up Fifth Avenue from 44th Street north to 79th Street.

The vibrant glory of Italian American culture and heritage will take center stage on Fifth Avenue on Monday, October 8 celebrating Columbus Day with the 68th Annual Columbus Day Parade.

The parade will feature 35,000 marchers and over 100 contingents, including virtuoso performances of traditional and contemporary Italian and Italian-American music and dance, street performers, historical and contemporary floats, over a dozen marching bands, and national and international dignitaries.

The parade turns Fifth Avenue into a reverberating canyon of music, dance, and theatrical displays set amid a sea of red, white, and green – the colors of the Italian tri-color flag.

The Grand Marshal will be Mario Gabelli, philanthropist, namesake of the Fordham University Gabelli School of Business and founder, chairman and chief executive officer of GAMCO Investors.

Appearing on the Red Carpet in performances broadcast by WABC-TV will be Elise Testone, Season 11 American Idol contestant, members of the U.S. Marine Corps Band, tenor Christopher Temporelli, and cast members of Seti Mundo (The Seven Worlds).

Meanwhile, another big celebration happens on the West Coast as Columbus Day is observed during San Francisco Fleet Week – when the city’s Italian American population joins in to salute the US Navy while commemorating the famous Italian who brought his three famous ships to America in 1492.

What’s closed on Columbus Day?

Despite it being a normal workday for many Americans, Columbus Day is an official federal government holiday with the post office and banks closing in honor of the day (although Wall Street stock markets still stay open as usual.)

On Columbus Day, American Indians are also given equal time in many areas where Indigenous Peoples Day is celebrated, usually with colorful native festivals and pow-wows to which the public are warmly welcomed.

Columbus Day Parade in New York

[youtube WP–xu_vjss]

[youtube jiWVE4bxbKA]

Columbus Day 2012

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Columbus Day 2012

Columbus Day, which is annually on the second Monday of October, remembers Christopher Columbus’ arrival to the Americas on October 12, 1492.

In 2012, Columbus Day is celebrated on October 8th.

This holiday is controversial because the European settlement in the Americas led to the demise of the history and culture of the indigenous peoples.

What do people do?

Officially, the people of the USA are invited to celebrate the anniversary of the discovery of their country with church services and other activities. In some towns and cities, special church services, parades and large events are held. Most celebrations are concentrated around the Italian-American community. The celebrations in New York and San Francisco are particularly noteworthy. In Hawaii Columbus Day is also known as Landing Day or Discoverer’s Day.

Not all parts of the United States celebrate Columbus Day. It is not a public holiday in California, Nevada and Hawaii. Moreover, Native Americans’ Day is celebrated in South Dakota, while Indigenous People’s Day is celebrated in Berkeley, California.

Public life

Columbus Day is a public holiday in many parts of the United States, but is not observed or is not a holiday in some states. Government offices and schools are generally closed, but businesses may be open. The flag of the United States is displayed on Government buildings.

Background

Christopher Columbus is often portrayed as the first European to sail to the Americas. He is sometimes portrayed as the discoverer of the New World. However, this is controversial on many counts. There is evidence that the first Europeans to sail across the Atlantic were Viking explorers from Scandinavia. In addition, the land was already populated by indigenous peoples, who had “discovered” the Americas thousands of years before.

Columbus Day originated as a celebration of Italian-American heritage and was first held in San Francisco in 1869. The first state-wide celebration was held in Colorado in 1907. In 1937, Columbus Day become a holiday across the United States. Since 1971, it has been celebrated on the second Monday in October. The date on which Columbus arrived in the Americas is also celebrated as the Día de la Raza (Day of the Race) in Latin America and some Latino communities in the USA. However, it is a controversial holiday in some countries and has been re-named in others.

Columbus Day celebrations are controversial because the settlement of Europeans in the Americas led to the deaths of a very large proportion of the native people. It has been argued that this was a direct result of Columbus’ actions. It is clear that the arrival of the European settlers led to the demise of a large proportion of the history and culture of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. It has also been argued that Columbus should not be honored for discovering North America, as he only went as far as some islands in the Caribbean and never got as far as mainland America.

 

An apple a day lowers bad cholesterol and improves heart health in just one month

Kathryn R. Bown
-
0
An apple a day lowers bad cholesterol and improves heart health in just one month

A new study suggests that eating apples each day could significantly improve the heart health of middle-aged adults in just one month.

Those who ate a daily apple over four weeks lowered “bad” cholesterol in the blood by 40% – a substance linked to hardening of the arteries.

Taking capsules containing polyphenols, a type of antioxidant found in apples, had a similar, but not as large, effect.

“Bad” cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) can interact with free radicals to become oxidized, which can trigger inflammation and can cause tissue damage.

Research leader, Professor Robert DiSilvestro, from Ohio State University, said: “When LDL becomes oxidized, it takes on a form that begins atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.

“We got a tremendous effect against LDL being oxidized with just one apple a day for four weeks.”

The difference was similar to that found between people with normal coronary arteries versus those with coronary artery disease, he said.

The study, funded by an apple industry group, is published online in the Journal of Functional Foods and will appear in a future print edition.

Prof. Robert DiSilvestro described daily apple consumption as significantly more effective at lowering oxidized LDL than other antioxidants he has studied, including the spice-based compound curcumin, green tea and tomato extract.

“Not all antioxidants are created equal when it comes to this particular effect,” he said.

Robert DiSilvestro first became interested in studying the health effects of eating an apple a day after reading a Turkish study that found such a regimen increased the amount of a specific antioxidant enzyme in the body.

In the end, his team didn’t find the same effect on the enzyme, but was surprised at the considerable influence the apples had on oxidized LDL.

For the study, the researchers recruited non-smoking healthy adults between the ages of 40 and 60 who had a history of eating apples less than twice a month and who didn’t take supplements containing polyphenols or other plant-based concentrates.

In all, 16 participants ate a large Red or Golden Delicious apple for four weeks; 17 took capsules containing 194 milligrams of polyphenols a day for four weeks; and 18 took a placebo containing no polyphenols. The researchers found no effect on oxidized LDLs in those taking the placebo.

“We think the polyphenols account for a lot of the effect from apples, but we did try to isolate just the polyphenols, using about what you’d get from an apple a day,” Prof. Robert DiSilvestro said.

“We found the polyphenol extract did register a measurable effect, but not as strong as the straight apple. That could either be because there are other things in the apple that could contribute to the effect, or, in some cases, these bioactive compounds seem to get absorbed better when they’re consumed in foods.”

Still, Prof. Robert DiSilvestro said polyphenol extracts could be useful in some situations, “perhaps in higher doses than we used in the study, or for people who just never eat apples”.

The study also found eating apples had some effects on antioxidants in saliva, which has implications for dental health, Prof. Robert DiSilvestro said. He hopes to follow up on that finding in a future study.

[youtube P52Qzg6HUDQ]

[youtube 4wQZPito840]

North American Wife Carrying Championship: Taisto Miettinen and Kristina Haapanen win 2012 title

Diane A. Wade
-
0
North American Wife Carrying Championship: Taisto Miettinen and Kristina Haapanen win 2012 title

A Finnish couple has won the North American Wife Carrying Championship at Maine’s Sunday River ski resort, just months after winning the world title.

Travelling from Helsinki where they won the World Wife Carrying Championship in July, Taisto Miettinen and Kristina Haapanen powered through the 260-yard course in 52.58 seconds’ time on Saturday.

Powering past hurdles, sand traps and a water hole – along with at least 50 other registered contestants – the couple carried home the woman’s weight in beer and five times her weight in cash

For Taisto Miettinen and Kristina Haapanen, that meant a check for $530. Their beer winnings of presumably 106 lbs, according to that sum, they shared with the second and third place finishers.

Out of 51 competing pairs, Jesse Wall and Christine Arsenault of South Paris took second place this year with a time of 53.22 seconds.

After winning the World Wife Carrying Championship in July, Taisto Miettinen and Kristina Haapanen powered through the 260-yard course in 52.58 seconds
After winning the World Wife Carrying Championship in July, Taisto Miettinen and Kristina Haapanen powered through the 260-yard course in 52.58 seconds

David and Lacey Castro of Lewiston, who won the event two years ago and took second in 2011, finished in 53.66 seconds.

“You train all year long for 50 seconds but that’s the way it goes,” David Castro, a former assistant football coach at Lewiston High School told the Sun Journal.

The most popular method of carrying the women, used by all winners to date according to the contest, is called the “Estonian” method.

Wrapping the women’s legs around the man’s head and hanging upside-down behind them, as Lacey Castro told ABC, it was inspired by how Eastern Europeans use to carry their women, at least according to folklore.

“Estonians use to come over to the Finish villages and literally steal wives and run as fast as they could back to Estonia to keep as their own wives,” Lacey Castro said.

She said it’s not the most appealing position for the woman – her facing “his butt” the whole time – but she laughs it off saying: “We’re married so I don’t mind. It’s one of the perks of the job.”

She adds it having been her suggestion of them entering the competition a few years ago.

[youtube sk44NWM9aj0]

Huawei and ZTE pose a security threat to the US, congressional panel warns

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Huawei and ZTE pose a security threat to the US, congressional panel warns

Chinese telecom companies Huawei and ZTE pose a security threat to the US, a congressional panel has warned after an investigation into the two firms.

The two firms should be barred from any mergers and acquisitions in the US, the panel has recommended in its report set to be released later on Monday.

It said the firms had failed to allay fears about their association with the Chinese government and military.

The two are among the world’s biggest makers of telecom networking equipment.

“China has the means, opportunity and motive to use telecommunications companies for malicious purposes,” the committee said in its report.

“Based on available classified and unclassified information, Huawei and ZTE cannot be trusted to be free of foreign state influence and thus pose a security threat to the United States and to our systems.”

Both Huawei and ZTE have previously denied the allegations.

Huawei was started by Ren Zhengfei, a former member of the People’s Liberation Army, in 1987.

As the firm has grown to become one of the largest global players in the sector, fears about its ties with the Chinese military have frequently surfaced.

There have been concerns and allegations that it was helping China gather information on foreign states and companies, charges that the firm has denied.

Last year, its purchase of American computer company 3Leaf systems, was rejected by a US security panel.

Earlier this year, it along with ZTE, faced allegations that some of their equipment had been installed with codes to relay sensitive information back to China.

Senior executives from the two companies denied those allegations when they appeared before US lawmakers in September.

This latest report comes in the midst of a US presidential campaign in which China has become a political hot topic.

Both President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney have pledged to increase the pressure on Beijing on issues ranging from China’s currency policy to state subsidies for Chinese firms.

Earlier this month, Barack Obama signed an order blocking a deal by a Chinese firm, Ralls Corp, to acquire four wind farm projects near a US naval facility in Oregon.

It was the first foreign investment to be blocked in the US for 22 years.

The Chinese firm has since sued Barack Obama, alleging the US government overstepped its authority.

William Plummer, Huawei’s vice-president, said the latest accusations against the telecom firm were politically motivated.

“The integrity and independence of Huawei’s organization and business practices are trusted and respected across almost 150 markets,” he was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.

“Purporting that Huawei is somehow uniquely vulnerable to cyber mischief ignores technical and commercial realities, recklessly threatens American jobs and innovation, does nothing to protect national security, and should be exposed as dangerous political distractions.”

 

Hugo Chavez wins Venezuela’s presidential election

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Hugo Chavez wins Venezuela’s presidential election

Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez has won a fourth term in office, after opposition leader Henrique Capriles admitted defeat.

Hugo Chavez won 54% of the vote, the country’s electoral council announced, with turnout at about 81%.

Noisy celebrations among Hugo Chavez supporters erupted across the capital, Caracas, following the result.

Hugo Chavez said Venezuela would continue its march towards socialism but also vowed he would be a “better president”.

Electoral council president Tibisay Lucena announced that with 90% of votes counted Hugo Chavez had taken 54.42% of the vote with Henrique Capriles on 44.97%.

“The revolution has triumphed,” President Hugo Chavez told a cheering crowd from the balcony of the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas.

“Viva Venezuela! Viva the fatherland! The battle was perfect and the victory was perfect,” he said.

However, Hugo Chavez also sounded a conciliatory note, saying he wanted to “include everybody”, adding: “I commit to being a better president than I’ve been these past few years.”

A subdued Henrique Capriles congratulated Hugo Chavez but told opposition supporters not to feel defeated.

“I want to congratulate the candidate, the president of the republic,” he said at his campaign headquarters.

He added: “We have planted many seeds across Venezuela and I know that these seeds are going to produce many trees.”

Jubilant Hugo Chavez supporters held impromptu street parties in central Caracas, blaring horns and waving flags.

“I’m celebrating with a big heart – Chavez is the hope of the people and of Latin America,” said Chavez supporter Mary Reina.

Construction worker Edgar Gonzalez said: “I can’t describe the relief and happiness I feel right now.

“The revolution will continue, thanks to God and the people of this great country.”

At the Capriles’ campaign headquarters, some opposition supporters were in tears at the news.

Henrique Capriles said he hoped Hugo Chavez would recognize that almost half the country disagreed with his policies.

Henrique Capriles said: “There’s a country that is divided and to be a good president means to work for all Venezuelans, to work for the solution of all Venezuelans’ problems.”

Hugo Chavez, 58, was diagnosed with cancer last year but says he is now fully recovered.

He has been in power since 1999 and said he needed another six-year term to continue his “Bolivarian revolution” towards socialism.

During his time in office Hugo Chavez has nationalized key sectors of the country’s economy.

Venezuela is a major oil producer and high oil prices have allowed his government to fund healthcare, education programmes and social housing.

In his campaign, Henrique Capriles, who headed a coalition of 30 opposition parties, said the president’s policies had led to bureaucracy, inefficiency and shortages.

Earlier, Defence Minister Henry Rangel Silva said the armed forces had identified some groups planning to cause public disturbances but said violence was “unlikely”.

A week before the election, three opposition activists were killed during a campaign rally, while four people were injured in a shooting during a voting rehearsal in September.

From Saturday evening to Monday evening, the sale of alcohol has been banned and only the security forces are allowed to carry arms.

Analysts say Hugo Chavez’s victory will also be welcomed by several countries in the region – including Cuba and Nicaragua – that benefit from his Petrocaribe scheme which provides Venezuelan oil at preferential rates.

He also has strong ties to Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, backing Argentina’s sovereignty dispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands.

After the election result was announced, she tweeted: “Your victory is our victory! And the victory of South America and the Caribbean!”

President Hugo Chavez’s new six-year term will begin on 10 January.

Hugo Chavez

• Born 28 July 1954 in Sabaneta, Barinas state, the son of schoolteachers

• Graduated from military academy in 1975

• Has four children

• Keen baseball player

[youtube PvlZ2MY1QBg

Honey Boo Boo and her family visit Coca-Cola factory

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Honey Boo Boo and her family visit Coca-Cola factory

June Shannon came under fire for giving her daughter Go-Go-Juice, a mixture of Mountain Dew and Red Bull, before little Honey Boo Boo took to the stage in pageants.

Yet the mother-of-four thought it wise to take seven-year-old Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson to the Coca-Cola factory in Atlanta, Georgia, for a family day out instead of somewhere educational.

The whole gang – including Honey Boo Boo’s half-sisters Lauryn, Anna and Jessica, and her father Mike “Sugar Bear” Thompson – were spotted as they took photographs with Coca-Cola’s iconic polar bear.

They also took the factory tour, watched a 3D movie on the secret ingredient, posed by the famous American Idol chair, and tasted different varieties of the carbonated drink from across the globe.

Honey Boo Boo and her family visit Coca-Cola factory
Honey Boo Boo and her family visit Coca-Cola factory

Honey Boo Boo initially found fame on Toddlers & Tiaras before landing her own self-titled spin-off show on TLC, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.

She was seen confidently playing around the tourist spot, dressed appropriately in black leggings and a white blouse with stars speckled on it – instead of garish pageant clothes.

Even Honey Boo Boo’s newborn niece Kaitlyn went along for the ride, strapped to her mother Anna.

The last episode of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, which aired at the end of September, saw the 17-year-old single mother give birth during the season finale.

Meanwhile, Honey Boo Boo played the devoted daughter, pushing her father around in his wheelchair.

Sugar Bear recently spent 12 days in hospital following emergency surgery to fix a leg infection.

In other news on the loveable rogues, TMZ have reported that TLC boosted the family’s salary from approximately $5,000 per episode, to a sky-high $20,000 after seeing the success of the series.

 

Dragon cargo capsule begins re-supply mission to ISS

James J. Williams
-
0
Dragon cargo capsule begins re-supply mission to ISS

The first commercially contracted re-supply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) has begun.

A Falcon rocket carrying a Dragon cargo capsule lifted clear of Cape Canaveral in Florida at 20:35 (00:35 GMT).

The robotic Dragon ship will deliver 400 kg of food, clothing, experiments and spares to the orbiting platform’s six astronauts.

It is the maiden flight in a sequence of 12 missions that California’s SpaceX company is performing for NASA.

NASA is looking to the private sector to assume routine transport duties to and from low-Earth orbit.

It has given SpaceX a $1.6 billion contract to keep the ISS stocked up with essentials, restoring a re-supply capability that the US lost when it retired the shuttles last year.

The terms of the contract kicked in following a successful test of Dragon’s systems in May.

That demonstration saw the capsule berth with the ISS – the first commercially designed and built vehicle to do so – and then return safely to Earth.

NASA has a second company it hopes also can soon begin operational cargo deliveries to the station.

The Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) will shortly test its new Antares rocket before undertaking its own ISS demonstration with a robotic vessel called Cygnus.

If that mission – tipped to take place next year – goes well then it will trigger a $1.9 billion contract for Orbital.

NASA wants eventually to put astronaut transport in the hands of the private sector, too.

SpaceX is eyeing this business as well, and is developing the critical life-support and safety systems that would turn Dragon into a human-rated vehicle. The company says it is just a few years away from being able to provide an astronaut “taxi” service.

NASA’s policy of outsourcing its cargo and crew transport needs is intended to find savings that can be ploughed back into building a rocket and capsule system capable of taking humans beyond low-Earth to more challenging destinations.

“We’re handing off to the private sector our transportation to the International Space Station so that NASA can focus on what we do best – exploring even deeper into our Solar System, with missions to an asteroid and Mars on the horizon,” explained agency administrator Charles Bolden.

Sunday’s nine-minute, 14-second ascent to orbit appeared flawless.

The Falcon dropped the Dragon off in an elliptical path running from 197 km above the Earth out to 328 km.

“Dragon was inserted into a picture-perfect orbit,” said SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell.

“Its solar arrays deployed and it’s driving its way to station. So, that’s just awesome.”

Dragon must raise itself to the ISS’s altitude, which is presently at more than 400 km.

It is scheduled to arrive at the station on Wednesday. It will follow the routine established in May of parking itself just below the platform so that it can be grabbed by a robotic arm and pulled into a berthing port.

The attachment should take place at about 05:40 GMT.

Dragon is expected to return to Earth at the end of the month.

Its cargo then will include broken machinery and science materials that need to be handed back to researchers.

 

Lady Gaga throws up four times live on stage during Barcelona concert

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Lady Gaga throws up four times live on stage during Barcelona concert

Lady Gaga surprised fans when she vomited four times live on stage during a concert last week in Barcelona, Spain.

Lady Gaga, 26, had just begun to strut down a set of stairs on to the main stage area when her sickness kicked in.

The pop performer, who was dressed in a typically revealing outfit, halted at the top of the steps and was seen leaning over the edge with her back to the audience.

After following the recent example of Justin Bieber, by throwing up, she attempted bravely to continue with her dance routine as she began to perform of Edge Of Glory.

However, Lady Gaga was unable to carry with the routine without stopping again to vomit over the barrier behind her.

Lady Gaga had just begun to strut down a set of stairs on to the main stage area when her sickness kicked in
Lady Gaga had just begun to strut down a set of stairs on to the main stage area when her sickness kicked in

Ever the professional Lady Gaga valiantly did more dance moves in between throwing up even more while her male dancer tried his best to obscure the view by staying in front of her.

Lady Gaga held up her own hair as she avoided getting any mess on herself before standing erect and bouncing across the stage to entertain the audience.

It is not the first time Lady Gaga has fallen ill on stage as she was forced to halt a concert in Romania back in August to vomit off camera.

When she returned to the stage she said: “I went backstage and vomited, and I did not want you to see this… It happens to me sometimes.”

Things only got worse for the singer as some of the 25,000 strong crowd poked fun at her over her recent 25 lbs weight gain.

Lady Gaga was showered with sausages but took the jibe in her stride as she tweeted after: “SPAIN, you took the p*** outta me. Thats some hard bodied pop stuff. I’ll never forget tonight Barcelona. FOREVER.”

[youtube -uSvC1moIIY]

Recipe: Rose water pistachio cupcakes

Kathryn R. Bown
-
0
Recipe: Rose water pistachio cupcakes

Rose water pistachio cupcakes

 

INGREDIENTS

• 150 g (5½ oz) butter

• 150 g (5½ oz) caster sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1 tbsp rose water

• 200 ml (7 fl oz) buttermilk

• 225 g (8 oz) self-raising flour

For the icing

• 250 g (9o z) icing sugar, sifted

• 1 tbsp rose water

To decorate

• 25g (1oz) unsalted shelled pistachios, chopped

• 12 crystallised rose petals

Rose water pistachio cupcake
Rose water pistachio cupcake

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/ gas 4, and line a 12-hole muffin tray with paper cases. Cream the butter in a large bowl or electric food mixer. Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy.

Whisk the eggs with the rose water for a few seconds, then gradually add to the butter mixture, beating all the time. Next beat in the buttermilk, then sift in the flour and fold in gently to combine. Divide the mixture between the cases, filling each three-quarters full, then bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden.

Leave for 5 minutes before removing from the tin and cooling on a wire rack. To make the icing, mix the icing sugar and rose water with 1 tablespoon of water until thick, adding a tiny extra splash of rose water or water if too thick to spread. Spread the icing using the back of a teaspoon or with a palette knife dipped into hot water and sprinkle with the chopped pistachios.

Transfer to a serving plate and scatter with crystallized rose petals to finish.

 

HOW TO MAKE CRYSTALLISED ROSE PETALS

Use a small paintbrush to brush the petals with just enough lightly whisked egg white to cover the surface.

Sprinkle with caster sugar, then gently shake off any excess sugar and leave to dry overnight on a baking tray lined with parchment.

 

 

Cissy Houston Fears Bobbi Kristina Brown Will Die Like Whitney, From Drugs and Bad Influences

Lisa.Felice
-
0

Cissy Houston is terrified granddaughter Bobbi Kristina Brown will suffer the same fate as Whitney Houston – and die young from drugs.

Last week, it was reported that the Houston family were going to court in a bid to keep Bobbi Kristina Brown’s inheritance money protected from bad influences.

And now TMZ claim that sources close to Cissy Houston say the 79-year-old fears Bobbi Kristina Brown’s own boyfriend Nick Gordon and father Bobby Brown are capable of “draining Bobbi’s fortune given half the chance”.

Insiders claim Cissy Houston wants the 19-year-old to “mature” before getting her hands on an estate of $20 million.

Bobbi Kristina Brown hit the headlines after she started dating her foster brother Nick Gordon and decided to star in her own reality show.

And it seems her behavior has come back to haunt her, as the family of try to stop her getting her hands on her inheritance.

The trustees of the estate, which includes Cissy Houston, have filed legal documents requesting that the payment schedule to Bobbi Kristina Brown be changed.

According to Radar, they fear Bobbi Kristina Brown is under the “undue influence” of objectionable people.

In court documents filed in Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta, Cissy Houston is claiming her granddaughter “is a highly visible target for those who would exert undue influence over her inheritance and/or seek to benefit from respondent’s resources and celebrity”.

The trustees claim in the schedule of distribution conflicts with her “intent to provide long-term financial security and protection for her child”.

“Compliance with the provisions of the trust would defeat or substantially impair the accomplishment of the purposes of the trust, which were to provide for the proper maintenance and comfort of the respondent, and to prevent the wasting of trust assets, as evidenced by the trust’s spend thrift provision.”

Bobbi Kristina Brown is the sole beneficiary of Whitney Houston’s estate, which holds all of the superstar’s remaining earnings and assets.

Whitney Houston was found dead in the bathtub of her hotel room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in February, with the coroner ruling she died of an accidental drowning.

James Holmes Halloween mask on eBay for $500

Diane A. Wade
-
0
James Holmes Halloween mask on eBay for $500

A Halloween mask of alleged Colorado shooter James Holmes was put on eBay for $500 by an anonymous seller.

The creepy, rubber face with bright orange, curly hair led to widespread outrage and disgust, including from victims who were personally affected by the Aurora tragedy.

James Holmes, 24, is believed to have opened fire at the Aurora movie theater on July 20, killing 12 people and wounding 58 others.

The seller hid behind the tag “realface13” and advertised the gruesome disguise with the words: “SHOCK EVERYONE YOU KNOW!. There is nothing more scary than crawling into James Holmes mind and wearing his face.

“His <<soul penetrating eyes>> and <<The Joker>> orange hair makes this mask the most disturbing object you will ever own. Imagine owning the mask of supposedly the most dangerous mass murderer in US history.”

Halloween mask of alleged Colorado shooter James Holmes was put on eBay for $500 by an anonymous seller
Halloween mask of alleged Colorado shooter James Holmes was put on eBay for $500 by an anonymous seller

The mask was said to have been designed for a private collector. The item was taken off the site by eBay on Friday after being viewed 1,133 times – however no one had placed a bid on it.

Josh Nolan, a father-of-two who was shot at the midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises, told ABC: “Are you kidding me? That just took the cake right there. I’m too upset to think about it.”

It is the policy of eBay to remove products considered offensive which includes those that attempt to profit from disaster or human tragedy. Other banned items are those related to the KKK, Nazis or violent felons.

 

Barcode birthday: October 7th is the 60th anniversary of the barcode patent

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Barcode birthday: October 7th is the 60th anniversary of the barcode patent

According to regulator GS1 UK, there are now more than five million individual barcodes in use around the world.

Sunday, 7 October is the 60th anniversary of the barcode patent, filed in the US in 1952.

However, the distinctive black-and-white stripes did not make their first appearance in an American shop until 1974 – because the laser technology used to read them did not exist.

GS1 said the QR code was not a threat to the traditional linear barcode.

A QR (Quick Response) code is an image made up of dots, which can contain more data than a barcode.

“They have different purposes – the barcode on the side of a tin of beans is for point-of-sale scanning. It ensures the consumer is charged the right amount and updates stock records,” said Gary Lynch, chief executive of GS1 UK.

“The QR code’s main purpose is to take the person that scans it to an extended multimedia environment. Technically you can combine the two but nobody’s asking for that right now.”

The first item to be scanned by a barcode was a packet of chewing gum in an Ohio supermarket in 1974.

But the black-and-white stripes did not get a universal welcome, with some wine manufacturers refusing to incorporate barcodes onto their labels for aesthetic reasons.

Now it occasionally doubles as body art, with pos star Pink among those who sport a barcode tattoo.

“Barcodes are an icon and rightly so – we’re quite pleased about it,” said Gary Lynch.

“But if one of my daughters had one in homage to her father I’d be rather upset.”

 

Cruciferous vegetables cut oral cancer risk

Kathryn R. Bown
-
0
Cruciferous vegetables cut oral cancer risk

Eating cruciferous vegetables such as sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower at least once a week can cut the risk of developing a variety of cancers.

Those who ate them at least weekly cut the risk of mouth cancer and breast cancer by almost a fifth and oesophageal cancer by more than a quarter, a study has found.

The research linked poor diet with the fatal disease with around a third of all cases of oral cancer is thought to be linked to an unhealthy diet.

Previous studies have found that a particular nutrient in cruciferous vegetables, which also include cabbage, watercress and radish, can kill cancer cells and gives potential for the production of new drugs.

The results, published in the Annals of Oncology, found that the risk of kidney cancer was cut by almost a third and colorectal cancer by almost a fifth.

Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr. Nigel Carter wanted to highlight the link between poor diet and mouth cancer.

He said: “Around a third of all cases of oral cancer are thought to be linked to an unhealthy diet.

“The number of people being diagnosed with mouth, throat and food pipe cancer is continually rising.

“The Foundation recommends that people ensure they eat a healthy, balanced diet, with plenty of fruit and vegetables.”

Researchers believe that unhealthy habits and diet may be reasons behind the rise in oral cancer.

Dr. Nigel Carter said: “Researchers believe this is due to excessive smoking, drinking and an unhealthy diet among the young, while new research shows a dramatic rise in oral cancer as a result of the human papilloma virus and oral sex.

“We must not forget tobacco is still the most likely cause of mouth cancer, linked to around three-quarters of all cases of a disease which kills one person every five hours in the UK.

“With new cases occurring all the time, too many people still remain unaware of the risk smoking poses. Encouraging people to quit smoking and pursue a healthy lifestyle would reduce the risk of developing oral cancer.”

Oral cancer is a group of cancers including cancer of the lip, tongue, mouth, oropharynx, piriform sinus, hypopharynx and other and ill-defined sites of the lip, oral cavity and pharynx.

 

Elisabetta Canalis wardrobe malfunction: TV presenter reveals too much after she steps out in tight outfit

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Elisabetta Canalis wardrobe malfunction: TV presenter reveals too much after she steps out in tight outfit

Elisabetta Canalis almost gave onlookers in Milan more than they bargained for after her ample assets almost spilled out of her top.

Elisabetta Canalis was enjoying a night out in the Italian city wearing a stylish black outfit.

But the TV presenter almost caused a stir after stepping out of the car with her cleavage in full show.

Luckily, Elisabetta Canalis managed to compose herself and seemed relaxed during her evening stroll.

She even managed to find some time for shopping, and was spotted with a shopping bag carrying a no doubt pricey purchase.

Elisabetta Canalis almost gave onlookers in Milan more than they bargained for after her ample assets almost spilled out of her top
Elisabetta Canalis almost gave onlookers in Milan more than they bargained for after her ample assets almost spilled out of her top

After Elisabetta Canalis took off her jacket, she almost suffered a second wardrobe malfunction.

Cheekily blowing a kiss to photographers, the tight backless dress seemed to offer no support as her bosom threatened to spill out once more.

However, George Clooney’s ex once again composed herself and continued cutting a stylish figure during her walk.

Elisabetta Canalis split from George Clooney in 2011, and also ended her relationship to Jackass star Steve O earlier this year.

In a recent interview with Italian Max magazine, Elisabetta Canalis said of her time with Steve O: “I thought he was crazy, but he’s much more sensible to me.”

She told Max magazine she is now based in California to further her acting career.

Elisabetta Canalis added: “I live in LA because I want to make it as an actress in America. I am based there, but if they call me in Italy, I take a plane and come.”

 

Nicole Kidman plays Grace Kelly in a Princess of Monaco’s biopic

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Nicole Kidman plays Grace Kelly in a Princess of Monaco’s biopic

Grace Kelly is one of the silver screen’s greatest icons.

But it seems Nicole Kidman will be able to pull off the difficult task of playing her in a new Grace Kelly biopic.

Nicole Kidman, 45, looks sensational in a portrait where she has the Princess of Monaco’s glamorous style down to perfection.

The Australian actress wears the Oscar-winning star’s swept back hairstyle, and a classically elegant gown in the image from Grace of Monaco.

And Nicole Kidman should have the acting chops to pull of such a difficult role too, as she won an Academy Award herself for her portrayal of Virginia Woolf in 2002’s The Hours.

Nicole Kidman looks sensational in a portrait where she has the Princess of Monaco's glamorous style down to perfection
Nicole Kidman looks sensational in a portrait where she has the Princess of Monaco’s glamorous style down to perfection

The film is not quite a classic biopic however, as it follows Grace Kelly’s personal story during an intriguing time in the principality’s history in 1962.

It focuses on a six-month period in which the new Princess of Monaco maneuvered behind the scenes in an effort to save the city-state from a coup.

It has a heavyweight cast which includes Tim Roth, Parker Posey, and Milo Ventimiglia, and is directed by La Vie en Rose favorite Olivier Dahn.

Nicole Kidman’s classically elegant look is certainly a million miles away from her appearance in The Paperboy, which has just been released in cinemas.

She plays wild character Charlotte Bless, which follows a reporter [Matthew McConaughey] and his younger brother [Zac Efron] as they investigate a murder to exonerate a man on death row.

Nicole Kidman ends up urinating on Zac Efron after his character has an encounter with a jellyfish, and also participates in some sex scenes.

 

Diana Ross steps out make-up free while shopping at CVS Parmacy

Lisa.Felice
-
0

Diana Ross almost always looks immaculate and glamorous and is one of the few recording artists to have two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

But, the soul singer looked a million miles away from the multi-award winning artist that wowed the public during a 40-year career.

Diana Ross, 68, was dressed down as she headed to her local pharmacy for some supplies on Saturday afternoon, in Beverly Hills, California.

She stepped out make-up free while shopping at CVS Pharmacy and had tried to keep a low profile during the trip.

There was no sign of her trademark long gowns as she sported a pair of baggy purple jogging bottoms and some trainers.

The diva also wore a sandy yellow hoody and hid her eyes behind a pair of sunglasses as she ventured out with an au-naturel style.

Diana Ross stepped out make-up free while shopping at CVS Pharmacy and had tried to keep a low profile during the trip
Diana Ross stepped out make-up free while shopping at CVS Pharmacy and had tried to keep a low profile during the trip

Although she had no make-up on, the grandmother-of-two still looked pretty as she smiled while checking her shopping receipt.

Diana Ross’s wild mane of hair was free flowing and untouched as she made her way back to her car no doubt hoping nobody recognized her.

She may have to get out her glad rags soon enough after it was announced a new musical based on her and Motown would be hitting Broadway.

Motown: the Musical will be based on a book written by Berry Gordy, the owner of the iconic record label.

It will cover his youth, inspiration and will detail his long effort to get the label off the ground.

 

Shakira shows off her baby bump for the first time

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Shakira shows off her baby bump for the first time

Shakira recently announced she is expecting her first child together with Gerard Pique and now she has done another first.

Shakira, 35, who is around six-months pregnant, shared a picture of herself that shows off her baby bump for the very first time.

She looks positively radiant in the image that shows her in a lovely purple dress that cannot hide her growing bump.

The Colombian star posted the picture on Facebook on Saturday afternoon and added the caption: “Now I don’t have a six pack, only one pack!!”

Almost instantly after sharing the intimate photograph fans inundated her with well wishes and congratulations.

The picture received almost 50,000 comments and had near 400,000 people saying they liked it.

Shakira, who is around six-months pregnant, shared a picture of herself that shows off her baby bump for the very first time
Shakira, who is around six-months pregnant, shared a picture of herself that shows off her baby bump for the very first time

Shakira announced last month that she was five months pregnant with her first child.

She wrote on her Facebook page: “As some of you may know, Gerard and I are very happy awaiting the arrival of our first baby!

“At this time we have decided to give priority to this unique moment in our lives and postpone all the promotional activities planned over the next few days.”

Her baby joy comes nearly two years after she started dating Gerard Pique.

The handsome couple met in 2010 while shooting the video to her song Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).

The song was the official track of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, which was won by Spain.

Earlier this year, Shakira and Gerard Pique made the all-important decision to live together and recently purchased a large home in Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona.

Her romance with Gerard Pique comes after she was in an 11-year relationship with Argentine lawyer Antonio de la Rua.

Coincidentally, Antonio de la Rua has also revealed this month he is set to become a father for the first time.

His girlfriend, former Miss Colombia Daniela Ramos, 24, is four months pregnant with his child.

 

Meningitis outbreak: New England Compounding Center injectable steroids make seven victims

Kathryn R. Bown
-
0
Meningitis outbreak: New England Compounding Center injectable steroids make seven victims

Fungal meningitis outbreak death toll has risen to seven in U.S.

The disease has been linked to spinal steroid injections, sparking fear as new cases have been reported in nine states.

The potential scope of the meningitis outbreak, that has sickened 64 people, widened dramatically as health officials warned that hundreds, perhaps thousands, of patients who received steroid back injections in 23 states could be at risk.

The outbreak of the disease, known as Aspergillus meningitis, is caused by a fungus found in a spinal steroid injections, a fairly common treatment used to relieve back pain, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The latest fatalities were reported in Michigan on Saturday, though the Michigan Department of Community Health said they would not provide more information on the two deaths until after the weekend.

The fifth victim, Diana Reed, died on Wednesday afternoon at St Thomas Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, surrounded by family members.

Diana Reed, 56, is one of thousands of patients recently treated in Tennessee hospitals for back pain with a steroid epidural – a fairly typical treatment. But since then a tainted batch of steroids released across the U.S. has been linked to dozens of cases of fungal meningitis.

The injectable steroids responsible for Diana Reed’s death were produced by New England Compounding Center, a specialized pharmacy in Framingham, Massachusetts. The company has shut down operations and said it is working with regulators to identify the source of the infection.

It is not clear how many patients received tainted injections, or even whether everyone who got one will get sick.

So far, 64 people in nine states – Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, Florida, North Carolina, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio – have contracted fungal meningitis, and five have died, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In an alarming indication that the outbreak could get a lot bigger, Massachusetts health officials said the pharmacy involved, the New England Compounding Center of Framingham, has recalled three lots consisting of a total of 17,676 single-dose vials of the steroid, preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate.

An unknown number of those vials reached 75 clinics and other facilities in 23 states between July and September, federal health officials said. Several hundred of the vials, maybe more, have been returned unused, one Massachusetts official said.

However, many other vials were used. At one clinic in Evansville, Indiana, more than 500 patients got shots from the suspect lots, officials said. At two clinics in Tennessee, more than 900 patients received them.

The incubation period before symptoms appear is 28 days, and is almost certain more cases will be reported say health officials, who are now calling this a national health crisis.

Unlike the more common viral and bacterial meningitis, fungal meningitis is not contagious. It is an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.

Symptoms include a severe headache, nausea, fever, and dizziness.

The first patients identified in Tennessee experienced slurred speech, and difficulty walking and urinating.

The pharmacy voluntarily recalled three lots of the steroid Methylprednisolone Acetate on September 26 according to the FDA. The drug is primarily used to relieve back pain.

The drug was administered to patients in their late 40s to early 80s.

Tennessee’s S. Thomas Hospital, ground zero for the outbreak with a suspected 15 cases as of Wednesday with two in critical condition, reported having 2,000 vials of the steroid in stock before the threat was discovered.

“Some are doing well and improving. Some are very ill – very, very seriously ill and may die,” Tennessee health official Dr. David Reagan said.

In Tennessee alone roughly 1,000 people were administered the steroid.

The link between the injections and the meningitis was discovered by Tennessee physician April Pettit, who found the initial cases were all people who’d recently received an epidural.

Officials are still investigating how the steroid resulted in fungal meningitis.

New England Compounding Center released a statement promising to work with heath authorities to discover what happened. But company president and licensed pharmacist Barry J. Cadden has otherwise dodged interview requests and the company web site is down.

An archived version of the site notes the company is licensed to distribute drugs in every U.S. state.

New England Compounding Center is among the approximately 3,000 U.S. compounding pharmacies specializing in blending, liquefying, or combining medicines customized for patients unable to swallow tablets, require specific dosages, or who have allergies.

Such companies are regulated by the state boards of pharmacy that license them rather than facing the broader regulations traditional drug companies deal with.

The pharmacy has produced questionable products before. In 2006, New England Compounding Center was one of four companies ordered by the Food and Drug Administration to cease producing a topical anesthetic cream that was found to cause “grave reactions including seizures and irregular heartbeats”.

The cream was the cause of two deaths, neither tied directly to New England Compounding Center.

That same year the company was also cited for multiple violations of federal laws and regulations based on a 2004 review of its offices. They were charged with misbranding drugs prescribed for eye treatment, misbranding an anesthetic drug and failing to provide adequate directions for its use, and promoting the use of a cancer drug for an unapproved purpose.

An FDA warning letter admonished the company that it was “distributing an unapproved drug in violation” of federal regulations.

In 2010 the company was sued by an Illinois firm that alleged New England Compounding Center illegally hacked its database violating the federal computer fraud and abuse act. The case was eventually settled.

STATE-BY-STATE BREAKDOWN

Tennessee: The initial outbreak site with a suspected 16 cases, two of whom are in critical condition. Three others have already died.

North Carolina: The second state to report infection with one case found at an unidentified clinic.

Florida: Only two cases have been reported but health officials fear more may come forward.

Virginia: One person has died from fungal meningitis and three more cases are still being treated.

Maryland: Seven medical clinics in Maryland pulled their stock of a questionable steroid after one person died and two more cases were reported.

Indiana: At least five people in Indiana are sick with fungal meningitis, with no fatalities yet reported.

Michigan: There are at least eight confirmed cases of meningitis in Michigan, including two deaths.

Minnesota: Fungal meningitis has been diagnosed in two women hospitalized in Minnesota.

Ohio: Health officials reported Saturday of a 65-year-old man being treated for the meningitis after receiving the steroid.

 

 

Oestrogen cream speeds up leg ulcers healing process

Kathryn R. Bown
-
0
Oestrogen cream speeds up leg ulcers healing process

Doctors have discovered why wounds such as ulcers take longer to heal in older people – and they believe a cream containing the female hormone oestrogen could be the answer.

Diabetics, the elderly and people with nerve damage or circulatory problems are particularly at risk.

Not only are these wounds painful and debilitating – taking months to heal or, in some cases, never healing – they also leave people exposed to potentially life-threatening infections because there is no barrier preventing bacteria entering the body.

Furthermore, research shows that patients who develop a non-healing wound end up staying in hospital three times longer than they should.

Until now, it has been poorly understood why some wounds take a long time to heal.

It’s thought it is because cells are not co-ordinating properly to allow tissue to heal, although the precise mechanism is not known.

This means current treatments – including dressings and even the use of maggots to clean wounds – are largely ineffective.

For some, the only solution is amputation.

Now British researchers at the University of Manchester have discovered that the female hormone oestrogen – which is naturally present in both men and women – plays a key role in wound healing.

Oestrogen levels decline in both men and women as they get older as part of the natural ageing process: in women after the menopause while men experience a gradual fall from their 20s.

Falling oestrogen levels are known to age the skin, reducing elasticity and altering the body’s response to inflammation.

Laboratory tests have now shown that oestrogen has an effect on a range of different cells within a wound.

The research involved taking tissue samples from young and older men and looking for differences in the genes involved in the body’s healing process.

Scientists found the main variations were in genes affected by oestrogen.

The differences in the genes were “very strong” between the young and older men, explains Dr. Matthew Hardman, a senior research fellow from the University of Manchester’s Healing Foundation Centre who made the breakthrough.

In other words, the natural fall in oestrogen levels that occurs with age is the reason wounds don’t heal as well in older people. This led to the conclusion that if older people could be given oestrogen, their bodies would heal better.

Dr. Matthew Hardman says: “We knew that oestrogen was important in healing, but we didn’t realize it played such a pivotal role.

“Our discovery could lead to a new treatment for people with non-healing wounds.

“This could make a huge difference to their lives, as these wounds are not only painful but cause immobility and social isolation.”

However, it is not possible to simply give patients oestrogen because of its side-effects, including an increased risk of cancer, he adds.

“So we have been developing and testing treatment options using compounds similar to oestrogen but without the side-effects that come with it.”

Breast cancer drug Tamoxifen, which is similar in structure to oestrogen, has been identified as a possible treatment for non-healing wounds by the researchers.

After successfully turning the drug into a cream that can be applied to an open wound, they are about to test it on 30 volunteers over the age of 65.

They will receive two small skin cuts, one treated with the Tamoxifen cream and the other with a placebo.

If the trial is successful, the cream will then be tested on a larger group of patients with chronic wounds and could be widely available in five years’ time, says Dr. Matthew Hardman.

Meanwhile, researchers have been testing the benefits of algae for slowing down the effects of ageing.

A study published in the journal Actia Biochmica Polonica shows that an antioxidant harvested from sea algae may improve skin elasticity and moisture content.

In one trial, conducted in Japan, 30 women with dry skin were given a 6mg daily oral supplement and a rub-on solution.

After eight weeks there were significant improvements in moisture content of the outer skin layer.

In another trial with 36 men, moisture content and sebum oil level in the cheeks improved after six weeks.

It’s thought the benefits may be due to the antioxidant astaxanthin, also found in fish and seafood (it provides the red color of salmon).

This may help protect the outer layers of the skin against free radical cell damage.

 

Karrueche Tran disappointed by Chris Brown’s recent video claiming he still loves Rihanna

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Karrueche Tran disappointed by Chris Brown’s recent video claiming he still loves Rihanna

Karrueche Tran, Chris Brown’s former lover, is said to be livid about his recent video in which he claims he loves “two women at the same time”.

A source close to Karrueche Tran has told TMZ that she is “pissed” at Chris Brown for dumping her in such a public way.

Karrueche Tran, 23, is said to be disappointed in Chris Brown’s decision to broadcast his feelings on the internet and feels he should have kept things private.

Meanwhile, sources close to Chris Brown say he made the video in an attempt to soften the blow for ex-girlfriend Karrueche Tran.

Karrueche Tran, Chris Brown's former lover, is said to be livid about his recent video
Karrueche Tran, Chris Brown’s former lover, is said to be livid about his recent video

In the video, Chris Brown says: “I’m stressed out… when you share history with somebody, then you tend to fall in love with somebody else, it’s kinda difficult.

“Is there such thing as loving two people? I don’t know if that’s possible, but for me, I feel like that.”

But after Chris Brown made his video public, Karreuche Tran was less than impressed with his admission.

She tweeted: “Wtf is going on? All I’m saying is.. You don’t mess with people’s genuine feelings. You just don’t! Life moves on.. So let’s all.”

Meanwhile Rihanna made a veiled reference to Chris Brown as she wrote on her Twitter: “Ain’t nobody bidness….. But mine and my baby!”

And friends of the pair are said to be concerned about their potential reconciliation.

A source told RadarOnline.com: “Chris and Rihanna just love the drama. They know their fans don’t support them getting back together, and that it’s a terrible PR move since Chris was convicted of beating Rihanna.

“However, this is what Chris and Rihanna thrive on. There are still major trust issues that Rihanna has with Chris, with good reason, he was hooking up with her while he was still dating Karrueche. Chris and Rihanna back together in any capacity is just a disaster in the making.”

[youtube 4kSB57XGZmI]

Sudan: military plane crashes near Khartoum killing 13 people

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Sudan: military plane crashes near Khartoum killing 13 people

A Sudanese military plane has crashed outside the capital, Khartoum, killing some 13 people, officials say.

The Russian-made Antonov was travelling from Khartoum to Fasher in the conflict-riven region of Darfur.

The plane made an emergency landing after trying to turn back to the air base in Khartoum because of mechanical problems, a military spokesman said.

Some nine people were rescued from the crash site west of the capital, he told state TV.

“Five minutes into the flight… the pilot radioed that one engine had stopped working,” said army spokesman Col al-Sawarmi Khalid.

“Shortly afterwards, he reported that a second engine on the same side (wing) had broken down, which made the plane unbalanced. He said he would make an emergency landing.”

There have been a number of deadly plane crashes in Sudan in recent years.

In August, a civilian plane crashed in a southern state, killing more than 30 people including a government minister.

The authorities say it is hard to get spare parts because of US sanctions against Khartoum.

Government forces are still involved in clashes with rebels in Darfur, where a civil war broke out in 2003, though violence in the western region has fallen from its peak.

 

Lady Gaga’s restaurant smacked with a C grade after health officials inspection

Kathryn R. Bown
-
0
Lady Gaga’s restaurant smacked with a C grade after health officials inspection

The high-end Manhattan restaurant owned by Lady Gaga and her family has been slammed by health officials for its filthy ways.

Joanne Trattoria on the city’s West Side scored an embarrassing “C” grade during a Department of Health inspection, the lowest possible rating.

And it wasn’t even close to the boundary – any restaurant racking up 28 or more violation points gets stamped with a “C” and Lady Gaga’s was found to have a staggering 42, six of them “critical”.

Joanne Trattoria was visited by the clean team on October 2, the report since published by the Smoking Gun.

Joseph and Cynthia Germanotta, Lady Gaga’s restaurant-running parents ought really to have seen it coming, following a string of crushing reviews including that the food is “worse than herpes”.

But perhaps they spent too much time listening to their daughter, who in September blamed recent weight gain on eating too much of their good food.

“I’m dieting right now, because I gained, like, 25 pounds,” Lady Gaga told radio host Elvis Duran.

“My father opened a restaurant. It’s so amazing… it’s so freaking delicious, but I’m telling you I gain five pounds every time I go in there.”

The Gotham eatery, which has only been in business since February, began ruffling feathers in the sanitary department shortly after opening.

The West 68th Street spot first fell foul (literally) of health standards less than one month after launching, scoring a boarder-line “C” with 31 violations.

It sharpened up its act, being up-graded and just scraping an “A” with 12 out of a possible 14 counts.

While the “C” shame was swept under the carpet, the restaurant embraced its new found “A”, posting photographs of its qualifying certificate among beaming staff on Facebook.

Now though it seems to have let standards slip once more and is back on the black-list.

With salads charged at more than $20 and steaks in excess of $38, you’d think the family-run business might be able to afford hand-wash basins in staff toilets.

“Hand washing facility not provided in or near food preparation area and toilet room,” the scathing report reads.

“Hot and cold running water at adequate pressure to enable cleanliness of employees not provided at facility. Soap and an acceptable hand-drying device not provided.”

That revelation was made more revolting still by the finding that staff was abandoning kitchen utensils in favor of their hands.

Other health crimes committed by Joanne Trattoria’s included staff wearing filthy clothing and no hair nets.

Surfaces were left unwashed, officials found, food not protected from contamination and kitchen workers abandoned utensils in favor of their hands.

Needless to say this one is unlikely to be advertised by the Lady Gaga-clan on social media.

[youtube mb-tn4-NjT8]

South Korea triples its ballistic missile system range

Roy Siemens
-
0
South Korea triples its ballistic missile system range

South Korea has announced a deal with the US to almost triple the range of its ballistic missile system, saying this will counter the threat from North Korea.

The whole of the North, along with parts of China and Japan, will be within South Korea’s new 800 km range.

South Korea had been restricted to missiles with a range of 300 km under a previous security deal.

It was revised after North Korea tested a long-range rocket launch in April.

The US has more than 28,000 troops in South Korea and provides security guarantees for its ally.

A spokeswoman for President Lee Myung-bak said there was no imminent change of strategy, but the new agreement was a political symbol of the strong alliance with the US and a deterrent to Pyongyang.

“The biggest purpose of the revision is curbing military provocations by North Korea,” said another official, National Security Adviser Chun Yung-woo.

Under a 2001 accord, South Korea had been prevented from developing and deploying ballistic missiles with a range of more than 300 km (186 miles) because of concerns this could trigger a regional arms race.

The new deal puts North Korean military facilities which were previously out of range within reach, as well as parts of China and Japan.

It will also allow South Korea to triple the payload from 500 kg for missiles over shorter distances.

Correspondents say Seoul has for a long time argued for an extension of the range limit, but this took on greater urgency earlier this year.

In April, North Korea conducted a failed long-range rocket launch that it said was an attempt to put a satellite into orbit.

Critics said the launch was a disguised test of missile technology, banned under UN resolutions.

Three weeks ago, the US and Japan agreed to set up a second missile defence system on Japanese soil in response to the North Korean threat.

 

Turkey in new Syria retaliation

Roy Siemens
-
0
Turkey in new Syria retaliation

Turkish military has returned fire across the border after a Syrian mortar round again landed on Turkey soil, television channels say.

The incident happened in southern Hatay province on Friday afternoon, Turkish media said. No injuries were reported.

On Wednesday Syrian mortar fire killed five Turkish civilians in the town of Akcakale.

That prompted Turkey to return fire and its parliament to authorize military action inside Syria.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had warned Syria earlier on Friday at a large rally in Istanbul that the countries were “not far” from war.

Although he has insisted the parliamentary vote was only a deterrent and that Turkey would not start a war, he said at the rally: “Those who attempt to test Turkey’s deterrence, its decisiveness, its capacity, I say here they are making a fatal mistake.”

On Friday, Turkey moved tanks and anti-aircraft missiles into Akcakale and a Turkish foreign ministry official told Associated Press that Syria had pulled tanks and other material away from the border.

Turkish NTV channel said Syria had ordered warplanes and helicopters not to enter within 10 km (six miles) of the Turkish border, but Damascus has made no comment on this.

Friday’s shelling incident reportedly took place near the Turkish town of Altinozu in Hatay province, much further west, at about 16:30 GMT.

The governor of Hatay province, Celalettin Lekesiz, was quoted by the Anadolu agency as saying that Turkish troops “responded with fire” after a mortar round landed in a rural area.

Although there were no reports of fresh cross-border clashes in Akcakale, the situation there remains tense.

One resident of Oncul, close to Akcakale, told AP: “Our store owners, our citizens and our children are all very concerned. We did not sleep until morning.”

On Thursday, the UN Security Council said the Akcakale shelling – which is believed to have been an accident – underscored the grave impact the Syrian crisis was having on “regional peace and stability”. Two women and three children were killed.

Turkey’s parliamentary vote authorized troops to launch cross-border operations against Syria and strike at Syrian targets for a period of one year.

Turkey’s retaliatory fire is its first since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad’s government began 18 months ago.

Clashes between government forces and rebels continued across Syria on Friday.

The city of Homs was subjected to its most severe bombardment in five months, activists said.

They also reported fierce clashes in the second city Aleppo, and government shelling in the capital Damascus, Hama and Idlib.

Activists also posted videos online which they said showed a military aircraft being shot down by rebel fighters as it bombarded towns in the eastern Ghouta area.

It was unclear whether it was a helicopter or fighter jet.

According to activists, more than 30,000 people have been killed since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began. The UN estimates that at least 20,000 have died.

[youtube yqUCMOmq2tI]

1...9989991,000...1,228Page 999 of 1,228