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The Boy Scouts of America has been accused of covering up the abuses of Rick Turley, a paedophile who was repeatedly allowed back as a leader despite admitting to abusing boys in his care.

Police has recently released documents showing that Boy Scouts of America officials didn’t call authorities after Rick Turley admitted molesting three boys and welcomed him back as a leader even after he kidnapped a boy in a stolen plane.

Rick Turley, now 58, said he is surprised at how many times he got away with it.

An investigation has found that Rick Turley molested at least 15 children in Southern California and British Columbia over 20 years, most of whom he met through American and Canadian Scouting.

“It was easy,” Rick Turley told CBC News.

Rick Turley said that he thinks if the police had been called in 1979 when he confessed to abusing three boys it “probably would have put a stop to me years and years ago”.

Instead, Rick Turley “went back to the Scouts again and again as a leader and offended against the boys,” he told CBC News.

Rick Turley is one of more than 5,000 suspected child molesters named in confidential files kept by the Boy Scouts of America.

An investigation has found that Rick Turley molested at least 15 children in Southern California and British Columbia over 20 years, most of whom he met through American and Canadian Scouting

An investigation has found that Rick Turley molested at least 15 children in Southern California and British Columbia over 20 years, most of whom he met through American and Canadian Scouting

Boy Scouts of America had long recommended that troops kept abuse allegations a secret.

In Rick Turley’s earlier known sexual abuse in 1971, he met Joey Day, a 10-year-old boy while working as a truck driver on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Rick Turley offered to take Joey Day to cubs, but instead took him to a nearby lake where he coerced him into skinny dipping and molested him.

Over the next two years, instead of taking the boy to cub meetings, Rick Turley took him to his apartment where he plied the boy alcohol, showed him pornography and abused him.

When Joey Day tried to tell his father about the abuse, he was beaten.

In January 1975, Rick Turley visited a Scout troop in Orange County and asked Eddy Iris, an 11-year-old boy, if he could show him around, saying he was one of Canada’s top Scout leaders.

Rick Turley shared a sleeping bag with Eddy Iris in the mountains, before taking him to the airport where he stole a plane and after taking off reportedly told the boy: “You do realize you’ve been kidnapped, don’t you?”

When the plane ran out of fuel and made an emergency landing, Rick Turley was arrested and pleaded guilty to child stealing.

Rick Turley was committed to Patton State Hospital as a “mentally disordered sex offender”.

He was released after 18 months on probation and ordered to return to Canada, but he instead got a job at a Boy Scout camp close to the hospital and worked at camps in San Bernardino and San Diego counties for the next three summer.

By 1978, Rick Turley had become a programme director at a Scout Camp in San Diego County. He persuaded the leader of a troop to let his son and two other boys stay at the camp for an extra night.

When they went home they reported that they had been arrested. Rick Turley admitted the offences but officials decided not to report them to police.

Buford Hill, a former Orange County Scouting official told the LA Times:

“We were following exactly the national recommendations of the Boy Scouts of America and its board who set up the rules.”

“You do not want to broadcast to the entire population that these things happen. You take care of it quietly and make sure it never happens again.”

Rick Turley returned to British Columbia where he became a Scout Master again.

At least two Canadian Scout leaders reported that Rick Turley had boys share his tent on trips.

In the mid 1980s, Boy Scouts officials decided rather than calling police or forcing Rick Turley to step down that he should be transferred to another troop.

In 1995, Rick Turley was arrested when his girlfriend told police that he was sexually attracted to children.

Rick Turley was sentenced to 7 years in prison, reduced to 5 on appeal, after he was convicted of five counts of molesting children.

In 2000, while out on parole Rick Turley was caught trying to coerce two boys into a relationship and was sent back to prison for two years.

Rick Turley now says that he is able to control his behaviour.

When questioned by CBC News at a motel in Alberta where Rick Turley now works he said that “it’s hard to put a number” on how many boys he abused.

Asked if he had a son, would he send him to Scouts, Turley said: “No, it’s still going on and will probably always go on.”

A Boy Scouts of America spokesman told the LA Times: “The BSA has continued to enhance its youth protection efforts as society has increased its understanding of the dangers children face.”

 

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Charla Nash, the woman who had her face and hands ripped off in a horrifying attack by a pet chimpanzee has spoken publicly for the first time since she had a face transplant.

Charla Nash, 55, is single mother from Stamford, Connecticut, nearly died after the mauling in 2009.

The woman tried to catch her boss’ escaped pet ape Travis, when the 14-year-old male chimp went berserk.

The chimp attack left Charla Nash terribly disfigured, but a 20-hour operation earlier this year that involved scores of doctors has given her a new face.

Charla Nash has decided today to bravely face the cameras.

Charla Nash has spoken publicly for the first time since she had a face transplant

Charla Nash has spoken publicly for the first time since she had a face transplant

 

Charla Nash’s interview is part of a documentary series called Extraordinary People.

Charla Nash said: “A lot of people tell me I look beautiful and I never had anyone tell me that before.

“I look OK now and I don’t have to worry about scaring anyone.”

The chimp attack has left Charla Nash blind, but family members have been doing everything in their power to help her through her ordeal.

Charla Nash before the chimp attack

Charla Nash before the chimp attack

Charla Nash spoke of her disappointment that her hand transplant was unsuccessful, but she’s optimistic she may one day get a successful hand transplant.

Charla Nash’s recovery will take years and she will always have to take anti-rejection drugs.

One of her doctors, Bohdan Pomahac said it would be a gradual recovery.

“Nine months to a year is typically when they can control the face and smile,” Dr. Pomahac said.

Charla Nash’s twin brother, Mike said: “I saw her and I said <<wow>>. It’s amazing, the miracles of science.”

Despite her trauma, Charla Nash remains determined to lead as normal a life as possible.

“I think in the beginning, I always wondered <<why me?>>

“But then again, my whole life has not been easy but I never gave up.”

Charla Nash’s face transplant operation was carried out in May, when more than 30 surgeons, nurses and anaesthetists at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, led by Dr. Bohdan Pomanhac, worked to rebuilt her face.

The team kept the date secret to protect Charla Nash’s privacy.

The doctors took the donor’s skin, underlying muscle, nerves and upper palate and transplanted the whole face on to Charla Nash’s skull.

Charla Nash’s hands had to be removed after she developed severe complications, including kidney failure and pneumonia, which caused low circulation in the new hands.

She has hidden her face under a veil for the past two years.

Charla Nash bravely revealed her disfigured features in an interview with Oprah Winfrey just a few months after the attack, when she said:

“I wear (the veil) so I don’t scare people. Sometimes other people might insult you, so I figure maybe it’s easier if I just walk around covered up.”

The chimp that attacked Charla Nash two years ago was later shot by police. Sandra Herold, the chimp owner speculated the pet was trying to protect her and didn’t recognize Charla Nash because she had changed her hairstyle.

Sandra Herold died of an aneurysm in 2010.

Charla Nash’s family are suing her estate for $50million and wants to sue the state for $150million, saying officials failed to prevent the attack.

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Robin Gibb, the Bee Gees star, was forced to miss a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron due to his health status.

Robin Gibb, 61, spent four days in hospital earlier this month suffering from inflammation of the colon.

The Bee Gees singer twin brother, Maurice, died of an intestinal illness in 2003.

Robin Gibb had been due to launch this year’s official Poppy Appeal song at 10 Downing Street, but a close friend said he was too ill to attend.

But he later appeared on ITV’s Alan Titchmarsh Show, where he made no mention of his health problems.

Robin Gibb spent four days in hospital earlier this month suffering from inflammation of the colon

Robin Gibb spent four days in hospital earlier this month suffering from inflammation of the colon

However, he apologized on camera to the Prime Minister David Cameron for missing their meeting.

“Robin’s not well. He didn’t feel well enough to meet Mr Cameron and stayed at home for the morning,” said a source close to Robin Gibb.

“But by the afternoon, he felt well enough to go on the Titchmarsh show.”

Robin Gibb was taken to Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford on October 13, after suffering severe stomach pains at his home in Thame, Oxfordshire.

“This is what did it for his brother Maurice – but what is different is his condition was left for a long time and Robin’s has not been,” Robin Gibb’s manager said.

Robin Gibb was only discharged from hospital a week ago, but was determined to get back to work as he promoted his new charity single.

However, as the singer arrived at the ITV studios, it was clear his recent illness has taken its toll.

The Bee Gees band: Robin Gibb (right) and his brothers, Barry (left) and Maurice

The Bee Gees band: Robin Gibb (right) and his brothers, Barry (left) and Maurice

 

Robin Gibb had obviously lost a lot of weight and looked frail and gaunt as he turned up to promote his single with The Soldiers, I’ve Gotta Get A Message To You.

Robin Gibb’s wife Dwina had called the emergency services after he was “taken short with pains” at their mansion in Thame.

After this incident, Robin Gibb, who is estimated to be worth £110 million ($170 million), had to pull out of a BBC Songs of Praise concert.

The singer is said to be an ardent tee-totaller and vegan.

Robin Gibb’s manager explained: “Obviously it is a worry. This is what did it for his brother Maurice – but what is different is his condition was left for a long time and Robin’s has not been.

“Our concern is that it keeps recurring but he is determined to get better and we just hope things will be OK. Robin just wants to get back to work.”

In 2010, Robin Gibb had emergency abdominal surgery to remove part of his intestine after suffering excruciating pain at a concert in Belgium.

Afterwards it was revealed that if Robin Gibb’s condition had not been dealt with so promptly he could have been dead “in two hours”.

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World’s first digital camera that allows multiple refocuses after the picture was taken, Lytro light field camera, becomes available to customers.

 

The camera uses a concept developed by Professor Ren Ng, the light field. The light travels with an enormous speed in lots of directions. The immense number of rays rapidly changing directions make us to see an image in different shapes, depths, and color intensity. Lytro light field camera captures instantly a great part of this field of light and reproduces it in the digital picture.

 

Lytro's desktop application allows the user to focus on various points of the picture after it was downloaded to computer.

Lytro's desktop application allows the user to focus on various points of the picture after it was downloaded to computer.

 

Lytro light field sensor captures 11 million light rays of data (11 megarays) per shot. It also captures the direction of each ray. With no focus needed, the image capture is almost instantaneous. The result is 4-dimensional image capture. Light field imaging engine processes the data producing HD quality images. The pictures are displayed in 2D, but in 2012 a special algorithm will be applied to the light field and the photos will be displayed in 3D. The viewers will be able to shift the perspective of the scene.

Lytro light field camera also can shot images in low light without the use of a flash. The pictures taken are 11 megarays (around 22 megapixels). For the first customers Lytro offers free storage of images on its servers.

Light field photography was once only possible with 100 cameras tethered to a supercomputer in a lab. Today it’s accessible to everyone in a camera that’s small and powerful, but incredibly easy to use. Our goal is to forever change the way people take and experience pictures, and today marks our first major step,” said Professor Ng.

 

Lytro has an original design. It was compared to a lipstick case both in shape and dimensions.

 

It measures 1.61 inches x 1.61 inches x 4.41 inches (41 mm x 41 mm x 112 mm) and weighs 7.55 ounces (214 g). It has an anodized aluminum frame and a rubber back-end with two buttons (one for shutter and the other for power). Its 1.46 inches (33 mm) back-lit LCD display with glass touchscreen (1.46-inch) allows the user to change the focus on-camera, compose shot, set exposure and view picture. Power button, Shutter button, Zoom slider and touchscreen are the controls.

 

Lytro light field cameras come in two models 8GB (blue, graphite) and 16GB (red).

Lytro light field cameras come in two models 8GB (blue, graphite) and 16GB (red).

 

Lytro has an internal lithium-ion battery and non-removable flash storage. It has an f/2 aperture and 8x zoom lens. Its storage capacity is from 8GB to 16GB and the battery can last till the memory is filled with images.

Lytro’s desktop application is a free download editing software. With this special photo interface the pictures can be downloaded to computer via USB and then manipulated. Lytro’s desktop serves also for sharing pictures on social networks. Picture shared from Mac (OS X) computer allows the recipient to shift the focus without other special software. Images “become interactive, living pictures,” said Professor Ng. A version for Windows will be available in 2012.

 

Lytro's desktop application allows an user to interact with a photo shared by someone with no need of other software.

Lytro's desktop application allows an user to interact with a photo shared by someone with no need of other software. (Mac only till now)

 

Lytro, a Silicon Valley company, was founded in 2006 by Professor Ren Ng. In 2006 Association for Computing Machinery Dissertation awarded his research on light field photography and he won Standford University’s prize for best thesis in computer science.

Lytro light field camera can be pre-ordered starting from October 19, 2011 on Lytro.com, but it will be shipped in early 2012. There are two models: 8GB (350 images), price $399, available in electric blue or graphite, and $499 16GB model (750 photos), red hot.

 

New Lytro 3D Living Picture Demo (video)

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Comedian Catherine Tate and Take That singer Jason Orange have been involved in a secret romance over the recent months, according to sources.

Catherine Tate, 43, and Jason Orange, 41, first met when they took part in a Comic Relief sketch back in March. According to a source, they have been on a string of dates in recent weeks, including an overnight trip to Stratford-Upon-Avon.

The source told The Sun: “They were trying to keep things secret but looked very loved up and happy together.

“It’s a very unlikely pairing but they have really hit it off. They’ve been on a number of dates to the theatre and the cinema.

“They really enjoy each other’s company. Catherine deserves someone nice and she has landed on her feet with Jason.

“But they have both been desperate to keep their romance secret.”

 

Jason Orange has been dating Catherine Tate over the recent months

Jason Orange has been dating Catherine Tate over the recent months

 

Catherine Tate and Jason Orange first struck up a friendship when she took on the role of Jason in spoof band Fake That for the sketch.

Catherine Tate starred alongside James Corden, Alan Carr, Kevin Bishop and David Walliams as the fake Take That.

They were getting on well while filming the sketch and, afterwards, stayed in touch and their romance is thought to have blossomed this summer, following Catherine Tate’s split from stage manager partner Twig Clark.

Catherine Tate and Jason Orange have been spotted at A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Stratford, on dates to the cinema, the National Theatre and at a coffee shop near Jason’s flat in West London.

Catherine Tate became famous after she played Lauren Cooper and she is well-known for her catchphrase “Am I Bovvered?” in her TV sketch show.

Catherine Tate, who has also a significant theatre career, has been recently starred alongside David Tennant in Much Ado About Nothing.

While Catherine Tate’s most recent relationship was with Twig Clark, who was stage manager for her play at the National Theatre, Jason Orange has remained quiet about his personal life during his time in the spotlight.

Jason Orange has been romantically linked during the time to stars including singer Lulu and TV presenter Jenny Powell.

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Earlier this month it was claimed Demi Moore’s weight had plummeted to around 100 lbs (45 kg) after allegations emerged that her husband Ashton Kutcher had been unfaithful with Texan Sara Leal.

Last night, it appears Demi Moore has lost even more weight in the last weeks, when the actress has showed her skinny figure at the premiere of her new movie Margin Call in New York.

Demi Moore, 48, looked shockingly thin at the Margin Call premiere, which will no doubt raise further concerns about how she is coping.

The actress was dressed in a demure red dress which sat just below her knee, emphasizing her tiny frame. The V-neckline highlighted her collarbones and the capped sleeves showed how Demi Moore has barely any body fat on her sinewy arms.

Demi Moore looked even thinner at her movie Margin Call premiere in New York

Demi Moore looked even thinner at her movie Margin Call premiere in New York

Demi Moore tried to bravely smile on the red carpet and she was still wearing her wedding ring.

According to Grazia magazine comments earlier this month, Demi Moore’s weight was “hovering around the seven stone mark” which given her five foot five height would make her significantly underweight.

Since Grazia magazine wrote the article, it appears that Demi Moore has shed even further pounds, ones she simply cannot afford to lose.

At the last night event in New York, Demi Moore joined her Margin Call co-stars on the red carpet and she chatted with Kevin Spacey and Paul Bettany.

Other Margin Call co-stars are Gossip Girl star Penn Badgley and Star Trek star Zachary Quinto, who revealed he was gay this week. Margin Call is a thriller that documents the events within an investment bank during the early stages of the financial crisis.

Demi Moore joined her Margin Call co-stars, Paul Bettany and Kevin Spacey, on the red carpet

Demi Moore joined her Margin Call co-stars, Paul Bettany and Kevin Spacey, on the red carpet

Demi Moore’s appearance has quickly deteriorated since news of Ashton Kutcher’s alleged affair with 22-year-old Texan Sara Leal broke at the end of September.

Ashton Kutcher is accused of cheating on Demi Moore with blonde Sara Leal after a hot tub party at Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego, on the weekend of their sixth wedding anniversary.

Demi Moore is said to have contacted a divorce after the scandal broke, but she was seen with Ashton Kutcher visiting a Kabbalah camping on Yom Kippur. Sources said the couple has been apart in recent weeks.

In the recent months, Ashton Kutcher has been working on Two And A Half Men in Los Angeles and Demi Moore has been in New York promoting her latest projects.

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Asda is selling beer at less than £0.5 a bottle as the supermarket price war blows retailer promises to tackle binge drinking out of the water.

Asda is selling 24 bottles of 0.33 l Budweiser pack for just £11 under Rollback price cutting scheme.

The supermarket reduced Budweiser price from the normal price of £15.98 as its battle with Tesco over which is the cheapest intensifies.

During the time, bargain drink deals from supermarkets have been criticized by doctors, police and the charity Alcohol Concern for fuelling binge drinking among young people, resulting in violence, disorder and ill-health.

Asda has reduced 24 bottles Budweiser pack price from £15.98 to £11 as its battle with Tesco over which is the cheapest intensifies

Asda has reduced 24 bottles Budweiser pack price from £15.98 to £11 as its battle with Tesco over which is the cheapest intensifies

 

According to drink wholesalers, Asda is selling the Budweiser at a “dramatically cheaper” price than they have to pay the big brewers.

Martin Williams, Landmark Wholesale managing director said: “In this day and age of responsible consumption and retailing, offering a major brand for under 50p a bottle completely contradicts all the messages that retailers and wholesalers are giving out.”

Meanwhile, the British government attempts to crack down on supermarkets using alcohol as a loss leader in order to bring in shoppers.

In the past months, British PM David Cameron said: “There is a problem with very cheap alcohol, alcohol being bought at convenience stores and supermarkets that people are using to what’s called <<pre-load>> before they go out. And this is a problem you just can’t ignore.

“We’ve got a situation where in some supermarkets you can walk in and buy incredibly cheap drinks, a lot of which is high strength lager, which people are using to get off their heads before they even go out. That is what we’ve got to hit.”

At that moment, Asda announced it would not sell drink at less than the price of tax – duty plus VAT. But, this does not stop Asda from using it as a loss leader to attract customers from rivals.

Martin Williams from Landmark Wholesale said the Asda price is so low that corner shops and pubs will find it cheaper to buy stocks from the supermarket than from wholesalers.

“Twenty-four bottles is a full-blown wholesale case. At a time when prices are going up in the market and brewers are putting up prices, to retail at that sort of price is crazy.”

Defending the deal, Asda says: “We are as committed to our role as a responsible alcohol retailer as we are to providing affordable deals for our customers.”

Dan Wheldon, Indianapolis 500 winner died Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after his car burst into flames following a high-speed 15-car pile-up.

Dan Wheldon’s Dallara-Honda flew over another racer’s car and landed in a catch fence just outside Turn 2. Three other drivers, including championship contender Will Power, were hurt in the pileup during Lap 11.

Dan Wheldon, 33, was a two-time Indy winner, including this year’s race.

The British Indycar champion was rushed to University Medical Center of Las Vegas in a helicopter but died as a result of his severe “unsurvivable” injuries.

Dan Wheldon, Indianapolis 500 winner died Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after his car burst into flames following a high-speed 15-car pile-up

Dan Wheldon, Indianapolis 500 winner died Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after his car burst into flames following a high-speed 15-car pile-up

 

There were speculations that Dan Wheldon was pushing himself to the limits for the massive $5 million bonus given to drivers who had started at the back of the grid.

Organizers of the race had offered the $5 million bonus to any non-regular IndyCar driver, such as Dan Wheldon, who had started at the back of the field.

Despite his previous success, Dan Wheldon was not a regular driver this season and accepted the offer, leading to speculation this caused him to drive faster than normal. A win would have helped to restore him to the heights of the series and helped with sponsorship.

The race was abandoned after the tragedy and as news of Dan Wheldon’s death spread there were emotional scenes track side.

IndyCar CEO, Randy Bernard confirmed Dan Wheldon’s death during a press conference.

“IndyCar is very sad to announce that Dan Wheldon has passed away from unsurvivable injuries.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family today.”

Fellow driver Dario Franchitti, Den Wheldon’s former teammate and friend since the age of six, said:

“One minute you’re joking around at driver intros.

“I lost, we lost, a good friend. Everybody in the IndyCar series considered him a friend. He was such a good guy. He was a charmer.”

With the race abandoned, drivers, many sobbing openly, took part in a five-lap salute around the oval in honor of one of the sport’s biggest stars.

Dan Wheldon is the first IndyCar driver to die on the track since rookie Paul Dana was killed in practice on the morning of race day at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2006.

The tragedy comes just months after Dan Wheldon won the famous Indianapolis 500 in May for the second time.

Dan Wheldon, who lived in St Petersburg, Florida, won the entire IndyCar series championship back in 2005, when he also enjoyed his first triumph in the Indy500 race.

Dan Wheldon was born in Emberton, Buckinghamshire, and he attended the fee-paying Bedford School and started karting at the age of four.

After an early racing rivalry with contemporary and Formula One ace Jenson Button, Dan Wheldon left the UK in 1999 for the more lucrative racing scene in the USA.

Dan Wheldon with his wife Susie, baby son Oliver, and older son Sebastian, when he won Indianapolis 500 in May 2011

Dan Wheldon with his wife Susie, baby son Oliver, and older son Sebastian, when he won Indianapolis 500 in May 2011

Dan Wheldon’s first Indianapolis 500 victory was in 2005, when he passed Danica Patrick with less than 10 laps to go that year.

He was the beneficiary of a huge gaffe by someone else.

Dan Wheldon was in second place, far back of rookie J.R. Hildebrand approaching the final turn – when Hildebrand lost control and clipped the wall.

Dan Wheldon was almost resigned to finishing second at Indy for the third straight year, before misfortune struck Hildebrand.

“It’s obviously unfortunate, but that’s Indianapolis,” he said.

“That’s why it’s the greatest spectacle in racing. You never know what’s going to happen.”

Dan Wheldon is survived by his wife Susie and two sons, Sebastian and Oliver.

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Jobe Kilbride, 13, was the youngest of a gang of five, who went on a terrifying 10-day robbery spree across Liverpool in April and May this year.

Jobe Kilbride poses brazenly with a deadly sawn-off shotgun during a 10-day robbery spree which brought terror to Liverpool. Police found his pictures that his friends had taken on his mobile phone.

The gang, whose members’ ages ranged from 13 to 18, targeted taxi drivers and shopkeepers and shot one man during their rampage.

The gang leader was Bradley Beveridge, 18, who had been on the police radar since his early teens and has already racked up a host of convictions.

Bradley Beveridge was locked up indefinitely.

Jobe Kilbride, 13, was the youngest of a gang of five, who went on a terrifying 10-day robbery spree across Liverpool

Jobe Kilbride, 13, was the youngest of a gang of five, who went on a terrifying 10-day robbery spree across Liverpool

Jobe Kilbride was given 4 years while his older brother Declan, 16, was locked up for 9 years.

Other gang member, Declan Culshaw, 15, who acted as look-out in the gang’s final robbery, was given 5 years while Dylan Currie, 14, was jailed for 6 years.

The gang’ spree was opportunistic, they had their faces covered by hoods or simply by pulling their jumpers up as they prowled the streets with a loaded shotgun.

The first robber was on April 30, around 1:00 a.m., when a private hire taxi driver, went to pick up a fare on Daneville Road, Norris Green.

When the taxi driver pulled up he was faced with three figures with a shotgun who stole his takings and his cab, a silver Ford Mondeo, dumping it less than half-a-mile away.

Next day, on May 1, at the same morning hour, another private hire driver – this time in a silver Ford Focus – became the gang’s next victim.

He picked up three youths on Scargreen Avenue, Norris Green, and was told to take them to Delamore Street, in Anfield.

As they neared their destination, one of them grabbed the handbrake while the driver had a shotgun shoved in his face.

They took the cash and the car, abandoning it on Scarisbrick Road, Norris Green, 45 minutes later.

In the same day, at 11:10 p.m., two of them, having a shotgun, burst into the Quickhomesave store, on Selwyn Street, Walton, threatened staff and fled with cash.

On May 4, the gang burst again at the All in One convenience store on Tarbock Road, Huyton, threatening staff with a shotgun and taking cash and cigarettes.

The last two crimes happened within minutes of each other at around 10:15 p.m. on May 10.

The gang stood huddled in a bus stop on Muirhead Avenue East, Norris Green, for 20 or so minutes, one by one going to peer inside the nearby All in One shop until they were sure the coast was clear.

As seen on CCTV, they filed into the shop and robbed it, leaving the lone staff member cowering in a corner.

As they fled across the main road into a nearby estate, they were confronted by the shop’s owner who was on his way to his business after hearing what was going on.

In Winskill Road, the teenager gang shot at Rajeethan Pulendran and a friend when they tried to stop them, hitting the friend in the body. The man escaped the attack with only minor injuries.

San Diego police has arrested at least two people and used pepper spray yesterday to break up a human chain formed by Occupy movement protesters at a downtown plaza where they’ve camped for a week.

The action started Friday early in the morning, when police began removing about a half-dozen tents after warning protesters their personal belongings couldn’t stay in the Occupy San Diego camp. However, Occupy demonstrators can continue protesting without the tents, tarps and tables, according to authorities.

According to police Lt. Andra Brown, one man was arrested before 8 a.m. for interfering with a police officer after he sat down and refused to take away his tent. After the man and his tent were removed, other protesters erected another tent and formed a human chain around it.

By noon, police officers pulled apart Occupy demonstrators and used pepper spray to disperse them.

According to demonstrators, several protesters were suffering burning eyes from the pepper spray.

 

Police used pepper spray to disperse Occupy San Diego protesters

Police used pepper spray to disperse Occupy San Diego protesters

 

One of the protesters, Michael Basillas, a 26-year-old college student, said they were regrouping to make a new plan and many of them had moved to Balboa Park.

Michael Basillas said San Diego Police refused to negotiate with the Occupy protests organizers about the removal orders.

Police said they met with the Occupy protests organizers on Thursday night to tell them they would need to remove their tents to allow the city to prepare for a weekend event at the civic center plaza.

“They chose just to force their way in,” student Michael Basillas said.

On Friday night, Officer David Stafford said that Occupy San Diego protesters remain on the scene, and police officers are there to monitor the situation.

Occupy San Diego protest is in sympathy with Occupy Wall Street demonstrations in New York and other cities to protest corporate influence on politics.

Apple launched its latest top class operating system, iOS5, on Wednesday afternoon.

 

iOS 5 includes over 200 features like iTunes and iCloud. The iMessage service let iPhone users send messages with text, photos and video to other iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch users free of charge.

 

Apple's iMessage feature

“There’s a big potential issue here,” said Craig Moffett, an analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein. “The wireless industry makes most of its money from high-priced but low-bandwidth services like voice and text.”

Every year, more than 2 trillion text messages are sent over cellular networks in the U.S. alone. At the moment, wireless carriers charge about 20 cents for sending and then another 20 cents for getting the messages.

Texting is hugely lucrative for the wireless industry. It generated about $21 billion in revenue last year and is estimated to grow to $23 billion this year, according to the Consumer Federation of America.

 

iMessage uses the carrier’s data network or the Internet via a Wi-Fi connection to transmit the text like email. When users send a text to a friend with iMessage turned on, it shows up as a blue chat bubble and doesn’t count as a text message in their phone plan. Texting someone with an Android or other non-Apple phone will count as a text message and show up as a green chat bubble.

 

One of the nice features of iMessage is it allows you to set it up with the same email address on multiple devices. You can begin a conversation with someone on your iPhone while you’re out and about, then pick up at exactly the same spot when you get home and use your iPad. Texting takes place virtually instantaneously; I had the above conversation with a TUAW staffer on the other side of the planet, and it was as seamless as you’d expect from a modern IM app.

Research in Motion’s (RIM) BlackBerry Messenger is losing credit because of the latest issues expericend throughout the world. The iMessage service will give them a really hard time.

 

BlackBerry users express more and more the desire of switching to a better service like Apple. The failure of BlackBerry’s service happened at a really bad time. Apple is getting more and more attention from the Tech consumers.

 

iMessage can send messages to any device that’s running iOS 5. The iPhone remains the only iOS device capable of sending text messages to non-iOS devices.Since there are still so many to non-iOS devices, it doesn’t necessarily mean that iMessage is going to “kill” SMS texting. However, if everyone in your circle of friends has a device running iOS 5, iMessage could very well obviate the need for an unlimited texting plan on your iPhone.

 

Taking a new step on preventing melanoma, Edmund G. Brown, Jr., California Governor, signed on October 9 SB 746 into a law that restricts persons under age of 18 from using indoor tanning devices.

 

The law takes effect starting January 1, 2012.

It is the first time in the U.S. when a state interdicts tanning beds use to minors. Senate Bill 746 replaces the current law, which allows teens (14-17 years old) to use tanning beds if they have parental permission.

Minimum 32 states regulate the use of tanning devices by teens. In 2010 Howard County, Maryland was the first jurisdiction that restricted tanning booths for children under 18. Texas has prohibited the use of tanning booths for persons under 16.

Senator Ted W. Lieu is the author of the bill in the Senate and the law was sponsored by AIM at Melanoma and the California Society of Dermatology & Dermatological Surgery (CalDerm) and backed by medical organizations and health insurers.

Illinois, New York, Ohio and Rhode Island have considered the same age limit for tanning beds prohibition, but they have to enact the law.

Indoor Tanning Association said the interdiction affects businesses, lots of them owned by women, as around 5 percent to 10 percent of its members’ customers are under 18.

Tanning salons are regulated by the state Department of Consumer Affairs and the federal Food and Drug Administration, said the organization.

 

Using a tanning device before the age of 20 increases the risk of melanoma by two times.

Using a tanning device before the age of 20 increases the risk of melanoma by two times.

 

 

The linkage between tanning devices and melanoma was emphasized during the recent years.

 

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and artificial sources (tanning beds and sun lamps) is a carcinogen, stated The United States Department of Health and Human Services in 2002.

People under the age of 35 who are exposed to indoor tanning have a 75 percent increased risk of skin cancer, and the younger you are exposed to indoor tanning, the greater your risk of getting potentially fatal melanoma,” Dr. Peter Beilenson said in 2009, citing a study from the World Health Organization.

Teenagers are much more likely to burn with indoor tanning. Fifty-eight percent report burning in indoor tanning. And burns, particularly at a young age, are clearly correlated with developing melanoma and other skin cancers later in life,” he said.

 

Repeated exposure to UV radiation from tanning devices before age of 35 is associated with a 75 percent increased risk of melanoma, and non-melanoma skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma), studies show.

 

Exposure to UV can cause skin damage which is cumulative and can lead to skin cancers, or melanoma.

Exposure to UV can cause skin damage which is cumulative and can lead to skin cancers, or melanoma.

 

Around 30 million people in the U. S., including 2.3 million teens, use tanning beds annually.

The use of tanning devices before the age of 20 double the risk of developing melanoma. In women between the ages of 25 and 30 melanoma causes more deaths than all other cancers, while in women 30-34 this deadliest skin cancer comes second after the breast cancer.

If everyone knew the true dangers of tanning beds, they’d be shocked. Skin cancer is a rising epidemic and the leading cause of cancer death for women between 25 and 29,” said Ted Lieu and cited a recent Stanford Cancer Institute study according to higher melanoma rates were found among girls and young women in areas of higher income.

Indoor tanning is especially harmful because of the intense and dangerous type of UV rays emitted from the tanning beds. Moreover the skin damage is cumulative, so the more exposure one gets younger in life, the worse the harmful effects will be,” he said.

More than 3.5 million skin cancers in more than 2 million people are diagnosed annually. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer during the lifetime, it is estimated.

 

Jerry Brown was praised by the melanoma prevention supporters.

 

California is expected to have 8,250 new cases of melanoma in 2011, or approximately 12 percent of the estimated 70,000 cases nationwide. Melanoma incidence rates have been increasing for the last 30 years, but have been growing most rapidly — three percent per year — since 1992 among young women ages 15 to 39. We encourage other states to follow California’s lead and help slow the incidence of potentially deadly skin cancer by prohibiting the use of commercial tanning devices by minors,” said dermatologist Ann F. Haas, MD, FAAD, former president of the CalDerm.

I praise Governor Brown for his courage in taking this much-needed step to protect some of California’s most vulnerable residents – our kids – from what the ‘House of Medicine’ has conclusively shown is lethally dangerous: ultraviolet-emitting radiation from tanning beds,” said Ted Lieu.

Girls in affluent California communities especially are surrounded by the message that being tanned all year round is cool. Pop music star Katy Perry is even singing about it,” said Christina Clarke of the Cancer Prevention Institute of California.

The California Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery (CalDerm) and AIM at Melanoma Foundation, the bill’s two co-sponsors, applaud Governor Brown for taking the time to thoroughly understand the importance of this first-in-the-nation legislation. We also commend Senator Ted Lieu, his staff and the members of the California legislature who supported efforts to protect young Californians from the dangers of indoor tanning,” said Alex Miller, MD, President of CalDerm.

This is a major victory in the fight against melanoma. It is alarming that so many young women are unnecessarily developing melanoma because of a recreational activity. We applaud Governor Brown for taking advantage of this unique opportunity to blaze a trail by banning minors from using tanning beds. We thank him for joining our fight against this preventable killer,” said Valerie Guild, president and founder of AIM at Melanoma.

Valerie Guild lost her daughter (age 26) because of melanoma. AIM at Melanoma was founded in memory of Charlie Guild and Jim Schlipmann (who died of melanoma at 44). It is the largest international melanoma foundation focused on melanoma research, patient advocacy, legislation, education and awareness. The foundation supports melanoma research efforts by hosting international research forums and is helping to create the first melanoma tissue bank, widely believed by the oncology community to be a key to major breakthroughs in melanoma research.

For more information on melanoma please visit www.AIMatMelanoma.org, www.aad.org, or contact the Academy at 1 (888) 462-DERM (3376).

 

 

 

L’Oréal’s anti-grey pill, a daily medication based on a secret fruit extract, is scheduled to launch within the next four years.

Bruno Bernard, head of hair biology at L’Oréal, told The Sunday Times:

“We have a watertight proof of concept with this, and we think it will have a market among men as well as women.”

Although L’Oréal has been researching the pill for more than a decade, scientists acknowledge it will take at least another 10 more to chart its effectiveness, because hair-greying is such a slow process.

The bad news for people whose hair has already started to turn grey, the scientists believe the anti-grey pill won’t reverse the process.

“Ideally you would take it (the pill) for your whole life,” said Bruno Bernard.

“But realistically we would encourage people to start using it before their hair goes grey because we don’t think it can reverse the process once it has started.”

Scientists say they don't believe their anti-grey pill will work on people like George Clooney, whose hair has already begun the greying process

Scientists say they don't believe their anti-grey pill will work on people like George Clooney, whose hair has already begun the greying process

Hair cells are at their best between puberty and the age of 25. Once people hit 30, the hair cells slump into an “oxidative stress” process and their defense against toxins breaks down summoning the appearance of grey hairs.

The new anti-grey pill is designed to protect the hair cells.

According to researchers, the absence of a protective enzyme called tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2) causes hair pigment cells to die as people get older.

But, instead of developing a synthetic drug that mimics TRP-2, L’Oréal screened thousands of natural compounds humans are exposed to already and found one in the fruit.

Des Tobin, professor of cell biology at Bradford University’s Centre for Skin Science, told The Sunday Times:

 “With people living longer and working longer, they are in the grey zone for longer, and the demand for something like this is huge.”

George Cotsarelis, a hair cell expert at the University of Pennsylvania’s Institute for Regenerative Medicine, said although he was skeptical, if the company had found a way to prevent pigment cells from dying off it could be “very interesting”.

John Hemming, the Liberal Democrat Member of British Parliament has two “homes” in Moseley, a leafy and affluent suburb of Birmingham.

Less than a mile separates the two houses, but one is rather grander than the other.

The first home is an eight-bedroom, three-bathroom affair and is the residence of Christine Hemming, 53, John Hemming’s wife of nearly 30 years. The couple has three children and six contented cats.

The second home, a mere 20-minute walk away, is a modest red-brick semi, inhabited by John Hemming’s 36-year-old mistress, Emily Cox, their five-year-old daughter, Isabel, and a solitary cat, Twinkle.

When he is not on parliamentary business in London, John Hemming, the Liberal Democrat MP for Birmingham Yardley spends week nights at Emily Cox before returning to the marital home at weekends.

The relationship is, as Emily Cox admits, an “unconventional” set-up and one which has been subject to much tension over the years.

But even the most colorful imaginations would struggle to summon the affair’s latest chapter, which unfolded in Birmingham Crown Court this week.

MP John Hemming’s wife, Christine Hemming was yesterday found guilty of burgling the home of Emily Cox and stealing a four-month-old kitten called Beauty.

The court heard how Christine Hemming crept through Emily Cox’s back door, scooped up the tabby and tootled away with her through the back garden. Beauty has not been seen since, leaving Twinkle as the sole feline in the house.

Christine Hemming was found guilty of burgling the home of her love rival and stealing a four-month-old kitten called Beauty

Christine Hemming was found guilty of burgling the home of her love rival and stealing a four-month-old kitten called Beauty

And although Christine Hemming denied the charges, the act was caught on CCTV. In footages bordering on farce, she is seen sneaking around in the shadows of her love rival’s garden. As she passes a window, where a light shines from inside, she gets down on her hands and knees to avoid being spotted.

After several minutes, Christine Hemming enters through the unlocked back door, then, she leaves with Beauty, worth £20 ($30), under her left arm. As she walks back to her car, bespectacled Christine Hemming looks up – straight into one of the four cameras installed by Emily Cox.

16 minutes of footage were played to the jury on Friday, the day three of the trial and called “compelling evidence” by prosecutor Jason Pegg.

For the past few years, John Hemming has openly divided his living arrangements between the homes of his wife and mistress. They, in turn, have veered from begrudging tolerance to open warfare, with no love lost between the two women.

“Mrs Hemming has not and never will be welcome in my home,” Emily Cox said. “The way she has behaved is appalling.”

This accusation could be leveled at all parties in this set-up – particularly MP John Hemming, a bespectacled and slightly portly figure who makes for a rather unlikely Casanova.

Even now, friends say John Hemming remains a ‘committed flirt”, who likes nothing better than the company of pretty young women.

MP John Hemming recently posted footage of himself playing the keyboard alongside a sextet of young female saxophonists at this year’s Liberal Democrat party conference. Billed as “John Hemming And The Sisters Of Jazz”, the MP looks like the cat who got the cream.

John Hemming’s wife, Christine is described as more determined than most; in the words of one friend, she “decides what she wants and makes it happen”.

This seemed to be the case when it came to her husband, whom she set her cap at more than 30 years ago after reading an article John Hemming had written for the Oxford University magazine Isis in 1981.

John Hemming was at Magdalen College studying physics, while Christine pursued her studies in Edinburgh.

So impressed was Christine by John Hemming’s weighty rhetoric that she travelled from Scotland to Bridlington to meet her future beau at a student conference where he was speaking.

Six months later, the couple was married, John Hemming only 21 and Christine just 23. They settled in Birmingham, where John Hemming started to pursue his political career at a local level, while establishing the software business that would make him a millionaire.

Christine and John Hemming had three children – Marion, 21, Alex, 18, and Alice, 11. Christine worked as John Hemming’s company accountant.

MP John Hemming’s wife, Christine with one of her six cats

MP John Hemming’s wife, Christine with one of her six cats

By the late ‘80, Christine realized her husband had a roving eye. John Hemming apparently confessed to a number of flings and she agreed to ignore them for the sake of their children.

By the ‘90, the strain was too much and Christine served judicial separation papers.

One of her friends said this week: “She didn’t want to go the whole hog and file for divorce, but she did want to draw a line.”

In what would soon become a pattern, Christine changed her mind and they decided to try again for the sake of the children. The arrival of the couple’s third child, Alice, in 2000, seemed to herald a period of calm. However, Christine was not to know John Hemming had by then already been romancing Emily Cox.

A Devon-born history graduate from Warwick University, Emily Cox was John Hemming’s personal assistant – a position that had become vacant in 2000 after Christine Hemming decided to step back from overseeing her husband’s financial affairs.

MP John Hemming with his mistress Emma Cox

MP John Hemming with his mistress Emma Cox

Christine Hemming told the court this week: “I had access to his financial affairs, but when I served the judicial separation papers I don’t think he felt it appropriate I should be in that position anymore.”

Initially, Christine was not threatened by her successor, Emily Cox, despite the fact she was staying in the top-floor flat of John Hemming’s £600,000 detached office premises in Birmingham. In 2004, Mrs. Hemming grew suspicious.

Mrs Hemming related in court: “It was normal for me to accept John had late nights, but when it came to a Sunday and it was 11 pm and I didn’t know where he was – and then I tracked it back to the office in Birmingham where there was also a flat where Emily lived – I thought there was more going on than paperwork.”

This time not only was John hemming less forthcoming when she confronted him, but she felt less accepting, too.

“At this point we had quite severe arguments about what he was doing,” Christine Hemming said.

In 2011, things came to a head when Emily Cox came to “have it out” with her love rival at the family home. Although the police were called, nothing more came of it – unlike last year, when an irate Christine Hemming turned up at Emily Cox’s home.

As the latter claimed in her court evidence, Christine Hemming set upon her wielding a pair of garden secateurs and later received a police caution.

“She assaulted me and committed criminal damage to my garden, which some of the plants are still recovering from,” Emily Cox claimed.

In June 2005 – one month after John Hemming had been elected to parliament for the first time – Christine learned Emily Cox was four months pregnant with her husband’s child.

Publicly, at least, Christine remained stoic, implying her rival had entrapped John Hemming and describing the affair as “about number 26” on her errant husband’s list of infidelities. John Hemming said this number had been “plucked out of thin air” by Christine, as it is also the date of her birthday.

John Hemming, meanwhile, pledged to stand by both women and “do the right thing”, although this did not preclude him later showing a degree of braggadocio about his activities.

At the end of 2005, John Hemming voted for himself in a competition run by tabloid to find the year’s greatest love rat.

“People used to think of me as a bit of a geek,” John Hemming declared.

“But I’ve turned into some kind of James Bond character.”

Despite such insensitivity, John Hemming’s marriage seemed to be flourishing. In 2008, John Hemming booked a two-week trip to Mauritius for his wife’s 50th birthday – a “second honeymoon”.

In 2009, Emily Cox expressed a desire to move out of her top-floor flat, triggering yet more aggravation. John Hemming discussed the dilemma with his wife.

Christine Hemming revealed to the jury that after learning that her husband wanted to purchase a small house for Emily Cox, they pored over a local map to identify streets his mistress should avoid, to prevent her having to encounter the mistress.

What wife did not know was that John Hemming went on to purchase a £212,000 property for Emily Cox in December 2009, using what Christine called “marital assets’.

Either way, in Christine’s view, John Hemming had effectively taken money out of the marital purse to fund his mistress and, after discovering his purchase last summer, she finally asked her husband to move out.

“I came to a decision on September 26 – my birthday – that I wanted John to leave,” Christine told the court.

“I asked him: <<As a birthday present, can you go?>> ”

Three days later, after a telephone argument with her husband, Christine Hemming arrived at Emily Cox’s home, apparently to deliver some post.

What she did instead was make off with Emily Cox’s cat after crawling through the undergrowth of her back garden.

Christine Hemming now must wait to find out if she will receive a custodial sentence after the judge adjourned sentencing until October 28.

The case went to Crown Court, as magistrates decided earlier this year it was not suitable for summary trial because their sentencing powers are limited to six months.

Burglary carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in jail, but sentencing guidelines state the starting point in Christine Hemming’s case will be nine months’ custody. That could be reduced to a conditional discharge or a community sentence.

John Hemming, who was not at court yesterday but arrived with Emily Cox on the first day of the trial, said:

“I’m not commenting on the case until I have spoken to both Emily and Christine.”

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Pictures showing Ashton Kutcher with his alleged lover Sara Leal three months before their nightclub “fling” have surfaced today.

Ashton Kutcher and Sara Leal were seen leaving the Roosevelt Hotel together back in June after watching the Beacher’s Madhouse show with friends.

In the unearthed photographs, Ashton Kutcher, 33, is seen driving off with Sara Leal seated in the back seat of his car.

In the unearthed photographs, Ashton Kutcher is seen driving off with Sara Leal seated in the back seat of his car

In the unearthed photographs, Ashton Kutcher is seen driving off with Sara Leal seated in the back seat of his car

It was also reported that Ashton Kutcher’s wife, Demi Moore, 48, was not in attendance.

Now, Sara Leal is demanding a $250,000 pay-off to buy her silence.

Ashton Kutcher and Sara Leal watched the Beacher's Madhouse show at the hotel before leaving with friends, but Demi Moore was not in attendance

Ashton Kutcher and Sara Leal watched the Beacher's Madhouse show at the hotel before leaving with friends, but Demi Moore was not in attendance

Sara Leal is said to be hoping Ashton Kutcher will come up with the cash to stop her from revealing intimate details of their fling – and save his marriage to actress Demi Moore.

Sara Leal has met with lawyers who help her negotiate a settlement with ashton Kutcher’s team.

Sara Leal is demanding $250,000 for her silence

Sara Leal is demanding $250,000 for her silence

Sources told the New York Post Sara Leal is looking for a six-figure pay-off or she will sell her story to the media.

“Sara is talking to multiple media outlets for a deal. She wants $250,000, but the offers haven’t been as high,” a source told the New York Post.

“What she really wants is to get a pay-off from Ashton. She has reached out to Ashton’s team.”

Ashton Kutcher and Sara Leal are reported to have hooked up last weekend after partying in San Diego.

Ashton Kutcher allegedly met up with Sara Leal at Fluxx in San Diego on Friday evening

Ashton Kutcher allegedly met up with Sara Leal at Fluxx in San Diego on Friday evening

 

The latest alleged encounter happened on the 12th floor of the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego, California, in the early hours of Saturday – the day of Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moor sixth wedding anniversary.

Ashton Kutcher and Sara Leal had apparently been partying at Fluxx club in the city.

Demi Moore, who is 15 years senior to Ashton Kutcher, has refused to comment on the claims.

Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher were last seen together two months ago.

Demi Moore looked more slender than usual and preoccupied on Monday night at a screening of the new Lifetime movie Five in New York City

Demi Moore looked more slender than usual and preoccupied on Monday night at a screening of the new Lifetime movie Five in New York City

Demi Moore’s Twitter posts have turned much darker in recent weeks.

Earlier this week Demi Moore posted a picture of her face with her eyes closed and the words: “I see through you.”

On that same night of Ashton Kutcher’s alleged fling, Demi Moore was tweeting from the East Coast, where she is temporarily based.

The actress shared a quote from Greek philosopher Epictetus on September 23, writing:

“When we are offended at any man’s fault, turn to yourself and study your own failings. Then you will forget your anger.”

Sara Leal has been talking with Beverly Hills lawyer Keith Davidson who represented Betty Ford worker Dawn Holland following her spat with actress Lindsay Lohan.

The pay-off wanted by Sara Leal from Ashton Kutcher will be similar to that negotiated by nightclub hostess Rachel Uchitel after her affair with Tiger Woods was exposed.

Rachel Uchitel, 35, received a reported $10 million from the golf star in return for not talking about their affair.

Rachel Uchitel later had to pay back the money after appearing on Celebrity Rehab with Tiger Wood’s lawyers saying she had breached the confidentiality clause.

A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney ends its weekly appearances on CBS’ 60 Minutes.

 

On Sunday, October 2, the veteran radio and television writer, Andy Rooney, is expected to make his last regular attendance, he discusses the decision on  his 1,097th signature essay.

The 60 minutes‘ curmudgeon told TVNewser in June 2010 he wanted to work on the show until he “dropped dead“. “Until somebody tells me different, I’m not going to quit,” he said.

There’s nobody like Andy and there never will be. He’ll hate hearing this, but he’s an American original.” He “will always have the ability to speak his mind on ’60 Minutes’ when the urge hits him,” said Jeff Fager, chairman CBS News and the executive producer of 60 Minutes.

 

Andy Rooney will discuss the decision of leaving "60 Minutes" on October 2 in his 1097th signature essay.

Andy Rooney will discuss the decision of leaving "60 Minutes" on October 2 in his 1097th signature essay.

 

Andy Rooney, who turns 93 on January 14, 2012, started to work with CBS as a writer for Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts in 1949 and began to appear on the show (started in 1968) in 1978 with an essay about the reporting of automobile fatalities on the Independence Day weekend.

His end-of-show part, Three Minutes or So With Andy Rooney (later A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney), began as a summer replacement for the debate segment Point/Counterpoint featuring Shana Alexander and James Kilpatrick.

Andy Rooney began his career in journalism in 1942 writing for Stars and Stripes newspaper. He was one of six correspondents who flew on the first American bombing raid over Germany (1943) and one of the first American journalists to visit the Nazi concentration camps.

I can’t deny that The War–we call World War II ‘The War,’ as though there had never been another–was the ultimate experience for anyone in it,” he wrote in his book My War.

His wife, Marguerite, died in 2004 of heart failure, after 62 years of marriage. He has four children, the twins  Emily and Martha, a daughter Ellen, and a son, Brian.

At 60 Minutes longevity seems to be a habit. Mike Wallace, 93, worked full-time until 2006, then occasionally until 2008. Don Hewitt, the show creator and executive producer, was 81 when he retired in 2004. He died in 2009.

 

Andy Rooney has become known for his folksy, often curmudgeonly, TV essays on life, culture and news events.

 

He presents satire on everyday life (the cost of groceries, annoying relatives, faulty Christmas presents) essays on life, culture and news events, or politics.

His essays have been published in books, Common Nonsense (2002), Years of Minutes, (2003). He has won three Emmy Awards for his essays, and a Lifetime Achievement Emmy in 2003.

He has been target of parodies and impersonations (Frank Caliendo, Rich Little, Beavis), and served as subject for one of Saturday Night Live’s parodies on NBC network.

The Andy Rooney Television Collection – His Best Minutes (1993) and Andy Rooney On Almost Everything, Things That Bother Andy Rooney, and Andy Rooney’s Solutions (2006) include his commentaries and field reports.

The writer was criticized he does not want to adapt to the modern times and he is out of touch with contemporary culture (contemporary music). He said never had heard of Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga and Usher in 2009 and said young people probably did not listen to Ella Fitzgerald.

 

Criticized or praised, Andy Rooney, 92, remains a living legend. The walnut table was made by himself.

Criticized or praised, Andy Rooney, 92, remains a living legend. The walnut table was made by himself.

 

 

Found dull by some people, but in the same outstanding, interesting and funny by others, Andy Rooney remains a living legend and a respectable active old person.

 

He has always considered himself a writer who incidentally appears on television behind his famous walnut table, made by himself.

The process by which each of us acquires a reputation isn’t independent of our character. It almost always depends more on the decisions we make than on chance occurrences,” he wrote in his book, Andy Rooney: 60 Years of Wisdom and Wit.

Andy Rooney on vacation: “Avoiding work is hard work”.

Andy Rooney on presents: ”In spite of the old sayings to the contrary, the best presents come in large packages.”

Andy Rooney on cats: ”I have never met a cat I liked.”

Andy Rooney on commerce: ”There are idiots who will buy anything as long as it costs enough.” “Money is a strange concept, right? What ever happened to the beads and shells?”

Andy Rooney on politics: “The best president of my lifetime? Rutherford B. Hayes.”

Andy Rooney on opinion: ”If you wonder what anyone thinks of you, consider what you think of them.” ”Not everyone has a right to his own opinion. If he doesn’t know the facts, his opinion doesn’t count.”

Andy Rooney on sports: “Darryl “Chocolate Thunder” Dawkins was the best player to ever grace a court.”

Andy Rooney on medical advances: “Pray you never live this long.”

Andy Rooney on Heaven: ”My idea of heaven would be to die and awaken in a place that has all my lost things.”

 

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Spinach dip, sold by Publix Super Markets in Florida, might be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and is recalled by the retailer.

 

A recall for prepackaged spinach dip has been issued because of concerns about a potential risk of listeria food poisoning.

 

Listeria monocytogenes was found in prepackaged spinach dip sold by Publix Supermarkets in Florida.

Listeria monocytogenes was found in prepackaged spinach dip sold by Publix Supermarkets in Florida.

 

A routine bacterial test, conducted by Publix Super Markets, showed the presence of Listeria in a sampling and the spinach dip recall was announced on September 26.

The recall involves 16 ounces containers of prepackaged spinach dip sold at the deli department of Publix stores in Florida. The spinach dip is labeled with UPC code 41415-00062 and a use by date of Oct 10 C1. Spinach dip sold by Publix in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee were not recalled.

Consumers who bought the spinach dip affected by the recall are asked to return the dip to the store for a full refund. Further details can be learn calling 1-800-242-1227 or visiting www.publix.com. No sickness has been associated to this recall.

On September 14 Jensen Farms in Colorado recalled its Rocky Ford cantaloupes. That recall was linked to the deadliest food poisoning outbreak in more than 10 years. Cantaloupe Listeria outbreak killed 16 people and sickened 72 others in 18 states. In 2008 were nine deaths from a salmonella (Salmonella typhimurium bacteria) peanut butter outbreak.

 

There are about 800 cases of listeria infections in the U.S. linked to three or four outbreaks each year, according to the CDC. Generally the outbreaks are traced to deli meat and soft cheeses, where listeria is common.

 

Listeria monocytogenes can grow at refrigerator temperature, 40◦ Fahrenheit (4◦ Celsius).

Listeria monocytogenes can grow at refrigerator temperature, 40◦ Fahrenheit (4◦ Celsius).

 

Listeriosis is a serious bacterial infection, but it can be treated with antibiotics. Earlier diagnosis means a better cure, blood tests are used to diagnose it. The elderly, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and newborns have a higher risk. Fever, muscle aches are the most common symptoms, also abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, severe headache, stiffness in the neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. If bacteria leave the intestines and reach the nervous system through bloodstream, they cause meningitis. In pregnant women Listeria bacterium can cause miscarriages and still births.

 

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A bride stepped out onto the dock over a Michigan lake to pose for a photograph with her husband, bridesmaids and groomsmen, but the platform gave way, plunging the group into the water.

The bride’s feet and the trail of her wedding dress were submerged for many seconds before she was able to clamber out with the assistance of her friends.

The dock over Sugarloaf Lake in Michigan collapses when the bridal group step onto it

The dock over Sugarloaf Lake in Michigan collapses when the bridal group step onto it

 

The video was taken by California-based cinematographer Jeff Hayford, who posted on YouTube captures the whole incident, which gave a new meaning to “wearing something blue”.

Since being uploaded on Monday, the clip has attracted around 20,000 views on the site, while a picture of the moment the dock collapsed posted on Imgur, under the title “My cousin’s entire Bridal Party sank into a lake this weekend. Awesome picture….” has been seen nearly 800,000 times.

The couple is believed to be Nikki Palluzzi and Jonathan Wagenschutz, who married on Saturday and held their ceremony by Sugarloaf Lake, outside Detroit.

They had headed out to the lake to get a scenic shot of their special day, when disaster struck.

The couple is believed to be Nikki Palluzzi and Jonathan Wagenschutz, who married on Saturday and held their ceremony by Sugarloaf Lake, outside Detroit

The couple is believed to be Nikki Palluzzi and Jonathan Wagenschutz, who married on Saturday and held their ceremony by Sugarloaf Lake, outside Detroit

 

A groomsman surveying the scene saw it coming, according to ChigacoNow.com, saying: “I think the dock is going to collapse.”

It did.

After the shock subsided, everyone involved quickly saw the funny side and was able to get to shore and dry off.

Nikki Palluzzi, a senior coordinator at not-for-profit organization SmithBucklin, according to her LinkedIn profile, can be heard joking: “Jon, towel my legs, you idiot”.

Her husband, Jonathan Wagenschutz rushes to dry the water from bride’s feet and legs, before helping out the bridesmaids.

Nikki Palluzzi then says: “I’m OK. I knew that could happen so I used my core.”

Someone off camera can be heard to remark to Jonathan Wagenschutz: “It was right after you said, <<I have complete confidence>>.”

The groom retorts: “No I said, <<I have confidence>>.”

The group then decide the best way to get over the debacle is to crack open a few beers.

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16 people have died from possible Listeria illnesses traced to Colorado cantaloupes, the deadliest food outbreak in more than 10 years, according to health officials.

72 Listeria illnesses, including 13 deaths, are linked to the tainted fruit, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday. State and local authorities say they are investigating three additional deaths that may be connected to Listeria outbreak.

The Listeria outbreak death toll released by the CDC Tuesday – including newly confirmed deaths in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Texas – surpassed the number of deaths linked to an outbreak of Salmonella in peanuts almost three years ago. Nine people died in that outbreak.

The CDC has confirmed two deaths in Texas and one death each in in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.

Last week the CDC reported two deaths in Colorado, four deaths in New Mexico, one in Oklahoma and one in Maryland.

New Mexico authorities said yesterday they are investigating a fifth death, while health officials in Kansas and Wyoming said they too are investigating additional deaths possibly linked to the tainted fruit.

Listeria is more deadly than well-known pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli, though those outbreaks generally cause many more illnesses.

The recalled cantaloupe involved in Listeria outbreak may be labeled Colorado Grown, Distributed by Frontera Produce, Jensenfarms.com or Sweet Rocky Fords

The recalled cantaloupe involved in Listeria outbreak may be labeled Colorado Grown, Distributed by Frontera Produce, Jensenfarms.com or Sweet Rocky Fords

21 people died in an outbreak of Listeria poisoning in 1998 traced to contaminated hot dogs and possibly deli meats made by Bil Mar Foods, a subsidiary of Sara Lee Corp, the Associated Press reports.

Another large Listeria outbreak in 1985 killed 52 people and was linked to Mexican-style soft cheese.

Listeria generally only affects the elderly, pregnant women and others with compromised immune systems.

The CDC said the median age of those sickened is 78 and that one in five who contract the disease can die.

Dr. Robert Tauxe of the CDC says the number of illnesses and deaths will probably grow in coming weeks because the symptoms of listeria don’t always show up right away.

It could take four weeks or more for a person to fall ill after eating food contaminated with Listeria.

“That long incubation period is a real problem,” Dr. Robert Tauxe said.

“People who ate a contaminated food two weeks ago or even a week ago could still be falling sick weeks later.”

CDC reported the 72 Listeria illnesses and deaths in 18 states.

Cases of Listeria infection were reported in California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

The most illnesses were reported in Colorado, which has seen 15 sickened. 14 illnesses were reported in Texas, 10 in New Mexico and eight in Oklahoma.

Listeria outbreak has been traced to Jensen Farms in Holly, Colorado, which recalled the tainted cantaloupes earlier this month.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said state health officials had found Listeria in cantaloupes taken from grocery stores in the state and from a victim’s home that were grown at Jensen Farms.

Matching strains of the disease were found on equipment and cantaloupe samples at Jensen Farms’ packing facility in Granada, Colorado.

FDA, which investigates the cause of foodborne outbreaks, has not released any additional details on how the contamination may have happened, but says its investigation is ongoing.

2

Campaigners disagreed with the report concerning terminal cancer patient treatment strategy, especially the exclusion of the drugs that were expected to prolong life for terminal cancer patient.

 

A report on managing cancer costs, made by 37 cancer experts from developed countries, was published in the Lancet Oncology on September 26 . The study highlights the need of a judicious medication for terminal cancer patient. Professor Richard Sullivan has presented the study at the European Multidisciplinary Cancer Congress in Stockholm. Terminal cancer therapy is “futile and potentially inconsistent with patients’ wishes’“, according to the study.

 

Much of terminal cancer therapy is "futile and potentially inconsistent with patients’ wishes", cancer experts say in Lancet Oncology.

Much of terminal cancer therapy is "futile and potentially inconsistent with patients’ wishes", cancer experts say in Lancet Oncology.

 

I would hardly call this type of treatment futile. We have kidney cancer patients on a life-prolonging drug called Sutent who have been told they have only two to three weeks to live but who go on to live for a further five years,” said Rose Woodward, of the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer.

Describing all treatments near the end of life as futile is tantamount to writing patients off. Just because they cannot be “cured” does not mean that we cannot give them valuable treatment, care and support,” said a spokesman for the Rarer Cancers Foundation.

While cancer care can be expensive, it is unjust to put a cost on the lives of patients, especially when modern treatments can often give them precious time with their loved ones and increase their length and quality of life,” said Ian Beaumont of Bowel Cancer UK.

 

Some life-extending drugs has shown increased positive results for certain terminal cancer patients.

 

Abiraterone, for prostate cancer, was approved in the UK at a cost of £35,000 a patient last week. On average it only extends lives by a few weeks, but some patients survive for five years.

Avastin, for advanced bowel cancer, was initially thought to extend survival by an average of only six weeks. Some patients are still alive five years later and with no tumors relapse.

Daily Mail presented the case of Barbara Moss who was given several months to live when she was diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer that had metastasized to her liver in November 2006. She paid for Avastin privately and the drug shrank the tumors and they were small enough to be removed by surgery and she has lived an extra five years.

Zelboraf, a targeted medicine for inoperable or metastatic melanoma BRAF V600E mutation-positive, has shown it increased survival rate of the patients and was approved by FDA last month.

Adcetris, the first drug approved by the FDA for Hodgkin lymphoma in more than 30 years, an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) directed to CD30, has demonstrated a high durable complete remission rate in CD30-positive malignancies.

 

Some life-extending drugs has shown increased positive results for certain terminal cancer patients.

Some life-extending drugs has shown increased positive results for certain terminal cancer patients.

 

 

Other medicines are still in a trial stage, but some of them are very promising even for terminal cancer.

 

Scientists from the University of Pennsylvania have genetically engineered patients’ T cells to attack cancer cells in advanced cases of a common type of leukemia. Two of three patients studied have been cancer-free for more than one year. In the third case over 70% of cancer cells were removed.

Researchers from Lund University have identified a method that may attack and destroy prostate cancer stem cells and might lead to a complete cure.

Autumn crocus extract drug could wipe out cancer in a single treatment with minimal side effects, according to University of Bradford researchers in UK. The new drug is able to kill off more than one type of the disease, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung and bowel cancer.

Recently presented data have shown Zybrestat, a pro-drug vascular disrupting agent, helped improve the one-year survival rate of patients with larger anaplastic thyroid cancer tumors.

Specialists at London’s Royal Marsden Hospital have tested radium-223 chloride (a powerful alpha radiation drug for prostate cancer) on 461 patients while another group of the same number was being treated with placebo. The group taking the new drug experienced less pain, side effects and lived longer, and the doctors decided to stop the trial and started treating all 922 patients taking part in the study because they said it would be unethical not to.

Giving a terminal cancer patient false hope is unethically, but in the same time to refuse a potentially helpful treatment to a terminal cancer patient is unethically too. This is not a recent debate, unfortunately health services and terminal cancer still need adjustments, but these can be done by trying and studying.

 

 

A report on managing  cancer costs, made by 37 cancer experts (economists, patient advocates and physicians) from developed countries (U.S., UK, Germany, Australia), was published in the Lancet Oncology on September 26 . The study highlights the need of a judicious medication for terminal cancer patient.

 

Professor Richard Sullivan, of the King’s Health Partners Integrated Cancer Centre, London, has presented the study at the European Multidisciplinary Cancer Congress in Stockholm.

Input from drug-makers, payers and educators will be key to future discussions, David Collingridge, the journal’s editor, said.

With an aging global population and an endless conveyor belt of expensive new drugs and technologies and increasing financial pressures, the cost of cancer care in high-income countries is becoming unsustainable,” The Lancet Oncology said.

Developed countries have varying levels of GDP assigned to health, but the percent of  cancer care cost is between four and seven  in the majority of countries.

Around 12 million people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer annually, the costs of the new cases was at least $286 billion in 2009, according to the report. By 2030, about 22 million people will be diagnosed with the disease annually. More than half of the $286 billion in costs was related to treatment, while a quarter was linked to lost productivity.

 

"We over-diagnose, over-treat, and over-promise. This extends from use of complex technology, surgery, and drugs to events related to the acceptance of treatment side-effects." say experts, making a special reference to terminal cancer.

"We over-diagnose, over-treat, and over-promise. This extends from use of complex technology, surgery, and drugs to events related to the acceptance of treatment side-effects." say experts, making a special reference to terminal cancer.

 

In UK around 310,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year and by 2030 this is expected to have risen to 400,000. The National Health Service spends over £5billion annually on cancer treatments, up from £3billion in 2002.

All health systems face budget limitations, while at the same time the cancer burden and expenditures are increasing steeply. Every cancer patient, now and in the future, must have fair access to quality cancer care and to innovation. This can only be safeguarded by transparent and evidence-based analysis and policy development,” said Professor Michael Baumann , president of the European cancer organization, ECCO.

 

The cancer experts have criticized a “culture of excess” that gives false hopes to patients with terminal cancer.

 

In developed countries, cancer treatment is becoming a culture of excess. We over-diagnose, over-treat, and over-promise. This extends from use of complex technology, surgery, and drugs to events related to the acceptance of treatment side-effects.” the cancer experts said.

They emphasized the importance of choosing a right treatment strategy for terminal cancer patients. The life-extending medication should not be use as it shows no benefits for terminal cancer, and has dangerous side-effects.

 

The life-extending medication should not be use as it shows no benefits for terminal cancer, and has dangerous side-effects, said the cancer experts.

The life-extending medication should not be use as it shows no benefits for terminal cancer, and has dangerous side-effects, said the cancer experts.

 

Special consideration must be given to costs of cancer care at the end of life. Many forms of cancer are currently incurable and patients will eventually die from their disease.”

In fact studies suggest that a substantial portion of the total cost of cancer care is for care delivered in the last weeks or days of life, and that much of this care is futile and potentially inconsistent with patients’ wishes.”

If we could accurately predict when further disease-directed therapy would be futile, we clearly would want to spare the patient the toxicity and false hope associated with such treatment, as well as the expense.”

The scientists said a more rigorous evaluation of the relative benefits of surgery to treat cancer and of the less invasive robotic surgery had to be done.

 

Reducing the cost of cancer services or reducing the number of people using them, especially terminal cancer patients, are the two ways the authors proposed to solve the problem.

 

The best cancer treatments would be the preserve of the rich because they would be too expensive for the Health Service, warned last week Professor Karol Sikora, one of the 37 cancer experts.

Molecular bio-markers could be used to pre-screen patients for treatments and imaging methods should be used to select only those patients who could benefit from a treatment. Early-stage studies could also help to remove marginally effective or ineffective drugs faster, researchers said.

We are at a crossroads for affordable cancer care, where our choices, or refusal to make choices, will affect the lives of millions of people. Making individual patients more sensitive to the costs of care is necessary for an informed public debate around this critical issue,” Professor Richard Sullivan said.

 

MRI performed prior to surgery predicts the follow-up treatment for advanced rectal cancer, recent study shows. Generally the doctors will not abandon drugs for terminal cancer  patients, despite the costs.

MRI performed prior to surgery predicts the follow-up treatment for advanced rectal cancer, recent study shows. Generally the doctors will not abandon drugs for terminal cancer patients, despite the costs.

 

Cancer diagnosis and treatment has became more complex, with imaging, surgery, radiation and drug therapy. Specialists need to come together and discuss with patients, insurers and industry players the best ways to lower costs without compromising care, they said.

 

The Colorado-grown cantaloupes death toll has risen to eight in an outbreak of Listeria, officials said Wednesday.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) said that a person in Maryland died from eating the tainted produce. Four other deaths have been reported in New Mexico and two in Colorado, and one person has died in Oklahoma.

According to the CDC, 55 people in 14 states have now been confirmed as sickened from eating the cantaloupes.

At the beginning of this week, the CDC reported 4 deaths and 35 illnesses in 10 states due to Listeria infection.

The death count due to Listeria infection is the highest in a known food outbreak since tainted peanuts were linked to nine deaths almost three years ago and could go even higher.

The Colorado-grown cantaloupes death toll has risen to eight in an outbreak of Listeria

The Colorado-grown cantaloupes death toll has risen to eight in an outbreak of Listeria

CDC said illnesses in several other states potentially connected to Listeria outbreak were under investigation, the Associated Press reports.

Listeria infections have been reported in California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Colorado has the most illnesses with 14 sickened, followed by New Mexico with 10, Texas with nine and Oklahoma with eight.

Listeria outbreak has been traced to cantaloupes from Jensen Farms in Holly, Colorado, which recalled the tainted produce last week.

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) said Monday that it had found Listeria in samples of Jensen Farms’ cantaloupes taken from a Denver-area store and on samples taken from equipment and cantaloupes at the farm’s packing facility.

The FDA tests confirmed that the samples matched strains of the disease found in those sickened.

According to Jensen Farms, the recalled Rocky Ford-brand cantaloupes were shipped from July 29 through September 10 to Illinois, Wyoming, Tennessee, Utah, Texas, Colorado, Minnesota, Kansas, New Mexico, North Carolina, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arizona, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

But the FDA said it is possible the company distributed to other states as well.

The recalled cantaloupe may be labelled “Colorado Grown,” “Distributed by Frontera Produce,” “Jensenfarms.com” or “Sweet Rocky Fords.”

But not all of the recalled cantaloupes are labelled with a sticker, the FDA said.

In a statement, Jensen Farms said:

“We are deeply saddened to learn that cantaloupes grown on our farm have been linked to the current listeria outbreak. Our hearts go out to those individuals and their families who have been affected by this terrible situation.”

One of the labels from the recalled cantaloupe of Jensen Farms

One of the labels from the recalled cantaloupe of Jensen Farms

Jensen Farms said it has hired an independent food safety expert to help determine the cause of the problem and how to address it.

According to health officials, the number of illnesses and deaths could continue to grow because the incubation period for Listeria can be up to a month.

Unlike many pathogens, Listeria bacteria can grow at room and refrigerator temperatures.

The FDA and CDC recommend anyone who may have one of the contaminated cantaloupes throw it out immediately.

About 800 cases of Listeria are found in the United States each year, according to CDC, and there usually are three or four outbreaks.

Most of outbreaks are traced to deli meat and soft cheeses, where Listeria is most common.

Produce has rarely been the culprit, but federal investigators say they have seen more produce-related listeria illnesses in the past two years.

It was found in sprouts in 2009 and celery in 2010.

While most healthy adults can consume Listeria with no ill effects, it can kill the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.

Listeria is also dangerous to pregnant women because it easily passes through to the fetus.

In the current Listeria outbreak, the median age of those sickened is 78, according to the CDC.

Symptoms of Listeria infection include fever and muscle aches, often with other gastrointestinal symptoms.

On Monday, September 19, the Food and Drug Administration announced that it found Listeria monocytogenes in samples of Jensen Farms’ Rocky Ford-brand cantaloupe taken from a Denver-area store and on samples taken from equipment and cantaloupe at the Jensen Farms’ packing facility.

 

Listeria monocytogenes causes listeriosis, with fever, muscle aches and vomiting

Listeria monocytogenes causes listeriosis, with fever, muscle aches and vomiting

 

Tests confirmed that the Listeria monocytogenes found in the samples matches one of the three different strains of Listeria monocytogenes associated with the multi-state outbreak of listeriosis.

Jensen Farms recalled its Rocky Ford-brand cantaloupes on September 14 in response to the multi-state outbreak of listeriosis. Cantaloupes from other farms in Colorado, including farms in the Rocky Ford growing area, have not been linked to this outbreak.

Jensen Farms shipped the recalled cantaloupes from July 29 through September 10 to at least 17 states with possible further distribution.

FDA investigators collected cantaloupes and environmental samples from a Denver-area store and from the Jensen Farms packing facility in Granada, after Colorado state health officials identified Jensen Farms’ Rocky Ford-brand cantaloupes as the common food eaten by several listeriosis patients.

 

The Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention reports that 35 people in 10 states, including five deaths, have been infected with the outbreak strains of Listeria monocytogenes.

 

The Food and Drug Administration found Listeria monocytogenes in samples of Jensen Farms’ Rocky Ford-brand cantaloupe

The Food and Drug Administration found Listeria monocytogenes in samples of Jensen Farms’ Rocky Ford-brand cantaloupe. Listeria bacteria can grow in the cantaloupe at room and refrigerator temperatures.

 

Jensen Farms, based in Holly, is cooperating with the FDA and state officials in Colorado. The company is working with federal and state authorities to ensure the recalled cantaloupes are promptly removed from the marketplace. Jensen Farms is also helping federal and state authorities determine the root cause of how the cantaloupes became contaminated.

The FDA’s root-cause investigation and environmental assessment includes the on-site expertise of FDA and state of Colorado microbiologists, environmental health specialists, veterinarians and investigative officers. The experts conducting the assessment will analyze the evidence, determine the most likely cause of contamination and identify potential controls to help prevent contamination in the future. The FDA will use the findings to help inform agency policy regarding Listeria and produce food safety best practices.

The FDA advises consumers, especially persons at high risk for listeriosis (older adults, persons with weakened immune systems and pregnant women) not to eat the recalled cantaloupes and to throw them away. Even if some of the cantaloupe has been eaten without becoming ill, dispose of the rest of the cantaloupe immediately. Listeria bacteria can grow in the cantaloupe at room and refrigerator temperatures. Do not try to wash the harmful bacteria off the cantaloupe as contamination may be both on the inside and outside of the cantaloupe. Cutting, slicing and dicing may also transfer harmful Listeria monocytogenes from the fruit’s surface to the fruit’s flesh.

 

0

A former Kenyan hotel worker was today charged over the abduction of British tourist Judith Tebbutt and the shooting of her husband David.

Ali Babitu Kololo, the 25 year-old father of three, appeared in court on the island of Lamu charged with kidnapping and violent robbery.

David and Judith Tebbutt were attacked on September 11 during their holiday at a remote Kenyan luxury beach resort

Prosecutors said they believed Ali Babitu Kololo was part of a gang of six armed with AK-47 rifles who burst into the Tebbutts’ beach cottage at the Kiwayu Safari Village near the border with Somalia.

Ali Babitu Kololo was involved in the death of David Tebbutt and kidnapping of Judith Tebbutt

Ali Babitu Kololo was involved in the death of David Tebbutt and kidnapping of Judith Tebbutt

 

It is alleged that Ali Babitu Kololo and his unidentified alleged accomplices then stole a handbag, cash and passports from the couple before shooting dead David Tebbutt, 58, and kidnapping his 56 year-old wife, Judith Tebbutt.

Today Kololo, admitted in the court he had led the raiders to the site in the moments before the midnight attack.

But the worker claimed he did so only after the gang of unidentified Somali criminals held him up at gunpoint.

Kololo claimed the raiders drove him first to the town of Odo in Somalia last Saturday before sailing out to sea and ordering him to direct them after dark to the hotel where he had previously been employed as a maintenance worker.

“The men found me as I was cutting down trees in the forest. I was with a colleague but he ran away and the gunmen abducted me. They took me to Odo and from there the hijackers took me deep out in the sea with a boat.

“At around 11pm they took me towards the hotel. They were armed and forced me to show them the way.”

Kololo admitted he had directed the gang to the Kiwayu hotel, which lies around 30 miles from Somalia.

But he told the court that at that stage he did not know the Tebbutts had checked into the resort and said he neither entered the couple’s cottage nor heard the fatal gunshot which killed David Tebbutt.

Ali Babitu Kololo claimed he fled his captors as they landed on the beach before handing himself into police the following day.

“When we landed on the beach it was dark and I ran away into the bushes. They would have killed me had I refused to go with them and I did what I did to save my own life.

“I’m not a bad man. If I was I would not have surrendered to police and informed them.”

Kololo’s statement about his actions on the night of September is the most vivid description yet of the moments before the Tebbutts were attacked.

David and Judith Tebbutt were from Bishop’s Stortford in Hertfordshire and had arrived at the Kiwayu Safari village just hours before the pirates struck.

David Tebbutt, a publishing executive, died in the grass-woven beach hut after being shot in the chest as he apparently resisted the group.

Judith Tebbutt, a deaf social worker, was then bundled into a boat which headed towards Somalia.

Ali Babitu Kololo was arrested on September 11and today pleaded not guilty to both charges against him but was remanded in custody.

The two counts, which do not include murder, represent the state’s belief that Ali Babitu Kololo was involved in the death of David Tebbutt but not necessarily that he was himself directly responsible for the murder.

Speaking afterwards, Ali Babitu Kololo claimed he had been tortured by police.

“They beat and tortured me. They hit my manhood and they beat my stomach.

“Then they refused to let me go to the hospital. They want me to admit that I am guilty but I am innocent so that is something I could never do.”

The suspect was ordered to reappear for a further hearing on October 25.

Ali Babitu Kololo’s lawyer George Wakahiu later said he planned to apply for bail.

0

Judith Tebbutt, the kidnapped British tourist in Kenya is refusing food and defying her captors who are continually moving her to different locations, sources in Somalia claimed Sunday.

Locals reported explosions, believed to be bombs dropped by Kenyan or U.S. helicopters, in the Kismayo area of Somalia where Judith Tebbutt, 56, was brought ashore “kicking and screaming” last Monday after she was abducted and her husband David Tebbutt shot dead at their Kenyan beach lodge in Kiwayu Safari Village.

A Kenyan man is due to appear today in court at Lamu, 40 miles south of the murder scene, to face charges of abduction and robbery.

 

Ali Babitu Kololo, a Kenyan handyman, was arrested over the abduction of Judith Tebbutt

Ali Babitu Kololo, a Kenyan handyman, was arrested over the abduction of Judith Tebbutt

 

Ali Babitu Kololo, a 25 year-old handyman, is a former employee of the Kiwayu Safari Village and has allegedly told police he helped direct the armed kidnappers to Tebbutts lodge.

The handyman has claimed he did so only under duress after being held up at gunpoint himself.

Kenyan police have also arrested a second suspect, Isa Sheikh Saadi, 37.

The Al Shabaab Islamist group fighting to overthrow the Somalian government has claimed that it seized Judith Tebbutt and murdered David Tebbutt.

The claim is impossible to verify because the group have yet to offer any evidence they are truly holding Judith Tebbutt.

On Sunday afternoon it was also claimed that she was in the hands of Somali pirates in the centre of the country.

One of the pirates, calling himself Mohamed, said:

“My colleagues brought her. I am among the ones guarding her. Although you can understand the fatigue from her face, she is healthy.”

Kenyan witnesses said Judith Tebbutt was “kicking and screaming” as armed bandits dragged her ashore from a speedboat into a convoy of four-wheel-drive Toyotas last Monday.

“She was resisting all the time and the men were forcing her into the car,” a harbor porter said.

Sources in Somalia claimed woman had been moved several times last week and again on Saturday night.

Judith Tebbutt had refused offers of spaghetti and rice, and had rebuffed all attempts to enter into conversation.

“She doesn’t eat and she’s not saying anything,” said a Somali source who has spoken to members of the Al Shabaab group.

“They know she is deaf but have been trying to communicate with hand signals, but she ignores them.”

Publishing executive David Tebbutt and his wife,Judith Tebbutt, a social worker, from Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, were halfway through a two-week holiday when they were attacked by three armed raiders in Kiwayu, 20 miles from the border with Somalia, one week ago.

The attackers shot David Tebbutt with an AK-47 rifle and whisked Judith Tebbutt away by boat in her night clothes to an island off the coast of Somalia before transferring her to Kismayo the next day.

David Tebbutt’s body is expected to be brought back to Britain this week.