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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 10:38 EST, 29 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:38 EST, 29 September 2013 . Mystery surrounds a note inside a century-old glass vessel that was painstakingly recovered from under a flagstone at Durham Cathedral this week. The bottle contained a faded piece of paper with the names of who are believed to be three gravediggers, along with the message: 'This grave was opened on Sunday May 11th 1913.' But experts are baffled as to why the men left the note there or what it means. Mystery: Experts painstakingly recovered this century-old glass vessel from underneath Durham Cathedral but bafflement surrounds the meaning of a note that was left inside . Plot thickens: The note was believed to have been planted by three gravediggers. It said: 'This grave was opened on May 11th 1913' Bafflement: Experts have no idea of the context of the note or what the men could have meant . Cathedral archaeologist Norman Emery said: 'Whether they opened the grave deliberately or by accident is not known. 'We will now attempt to find out who the three men were and then try and find out whose grave they opened. 'They reason why they left the note may be one part of the conundrum we will never be able to solve.' Stonemason Steve Mann unearthed the remarkably well-preserved bottle while re-laying the flagstones near the tomb of the Venerable Bede in the cathedral's 12 century Galilee Chapel on Tuesday last week. The only tantalizing clue to what lay within was the words Globe Theatre, visible on the paper's letterhead. The bottle was handed over to Durham University conservator Liz Brannigan, who looked on as freelance conservator Bob Elsey gently prised the cork out under a microscope on Friday. The note was written on the back of an advert for the Globe Theatre in London, known now as the Gielgud Theatre . Mr Elsey said: 'After five minutes the cork it started to loosen. That was the easy bit, the hard bit was the paper which had been rolled up and then folded over and inserted. It was a delicate operation easing it out little by little.' A theatre advert - believed to be the closest piece of paper to hand when the note was made - was for a production of English dance and folk songs at the Globe Theatre, in London, Shaftesbury Avenue. On the back were the names Mr W Wraybole, Mr W Carter, Mr G Yeoman. They were bracketed with the word Grave and what appears to be a capital D and included a stonemason mark - along with the enigmatic message. Mr Emery said: 'The interesting thing to the advert is that it refers to the sole lessee of the Globe Theatre as Charles Frohman, the American impresario of the day. Frohman produced JM Barries' Peter Pan.' The Globe was renamed the Gielgud Theatre in 1994.

Century-old note was uncovered below Durham Cathedral this week . It carried the names of three gravediggers along with a message . It read: 'This grave was opened on Sunday May 11th 1913' Experts are baffled as to why the note was left there and its context .

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(CNN) -- Humans have a strange relationship with food. This seems to be a global truth that is perhaps best evidenced by the array of unusual food festivals the world over. We don't merely celebrate food, we wrestle in it, wage war with it, idolize it, and, in Gloucestershire, England, race it down a steep hill. No matter what your favorite food is, chances are somewhere, large gatherings of aficionados have found some outlandish way to commemorate it. Even Spam has found a place of honor. "Hawaii is one of the biggest consumers of Spam in the world," explains Karen Winpenny, an organizer of the annual Waikiki Spam Jam, which last year had 25,000 visitors. Hormel Foods sells more product in Hawaii per person than in any other U.S. state. According to the Spam Jam website, almost seven million cans of the stuff are eaten in Hawaii every year. The festival's dozen or so vendors demonstrate the meat-product's unexpected versatility. "This year, we had Spam cheesecake and Spam ice cream. In the past, we've had Spam ravioli, Spam kotsu, Spam poki, Spam French fries -- pretty much everything can be made with Spam," says Winpenny. Foods represented at festivals can range from the more mundane -- melons, pumpkins, potatoes -- to the downright daring. In West Virginia, locals are keen to celebrate a local delicacy -- road kill. Last week saw the kick off of Clinton, MT's Testy Festy, a celebration of Rocky Mountain Oysters, aka bull testicles. Next month, adventurous eaters can sample scorpions at Bugfest in North Carolina. However, there are times when imbibing our favorite foods is not enough. Sometimes, it seems, making a mess is the only way to do it justice. Several festivals demand participants get dirty. La Tomatina -- where thousands travel to Spain to engage in a bustling tomato fight -- is perhaps the most famous of these, though there are many instances in which festival-goers feel the need to rollick around in grub. On August 23, Barnesville, Minnesota, will celebrate Potato Days, an annual two-day festival dedicated to the humble tuber. No matter how many activities the organizers introduce, however, the most popular remains the mashed potato wrestling competition. "It's quite a sight to watch people wrestling around in mashed potatoes," admits Theresa Olson, the festival's executive director. "Afterward, they find mashed potato everywhere." The festival started in 1951 as a source of post-harvest entertainment. Back then, the activities were limited to a potato picking contest for the men, and a peeling competition for the women. Since then, it's matured, and events include a cook-off, a mashed potato sculpting contest and a potato sack fashion show. Read more: The world's messiest festivals . "It's often voted one of the best festivals in America, partly because it's family friendly, and it's free," says Olson. In some instances, culinary celebrations act as a historic link. In Bessieres, France, the townspeople make a giant omelet every Easter to feed the poor, a tradition that supposedly started when Napoleon and his army stopped in the town for the night. Legend has it that The Little Corporal ordered the villagers to gather all their eggs to make an omelet for his army. The celebration has since spread to French-speaking communities across the globe. In Abbeville, Louisiana, the town launched their own version of the tradition (albeit with a Creole twist). "It's grown to seven cities throughout the world, and we each add a local ingredient," says Arlene White, the third Grand Maitre of Abbeville's Giant Omelette Celebration. The town uses 5,000 eggs, and adds Tabasco and crayfish to make it their own. While there are many who would argue that food is art, some regions take this line of thinking to a new level. At the Räbechilbi Turnip Festival in Switzerland, for instance, locals create elaborate floats using 40 tons of hallowed out turnips. In the past, they've created replicas of panthers, windmills, ships, whales -- even Amy Winehouse. Though the tiny town of Richterswil houses a meager 12,000 residents, the festival attracts 20,000 visitors each year. "We're a small village, so you can imagine how crowded it gets," says Michèle Fasler, a spokeswoman for Räbechilbi. Fasler describes the atmosphere as warm and peaceful. Just don't eat the turnips, she warns. "It's not good for your stomach," she says. "It's like eating too much beans."

Hawaii is America's largest consumer of Spam. No wonder they host the annual Spam Jam. In the U.S., there are food festivals dedicated to bugs and fried testicles. Food wrestling is a theme at several celebrations, including Potato Days. AT Räbechilbi in Switzerland, turnips are turned into works of art.

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(AOL Autos) -- For those of you who are schoolteachers, you will understand what I am about to relate. While at the car repair facility, look for certifications displayed on the wall. You lay out a lesson plan to teach a particular topic, for example, how to solve a basic algebraic equation. You proceed to follow the plan, working with your students until you feel they understand the necessary mathematical principles. A couple of weeks pass and, low and behold, you discover that there are several people who have somehow forgotten what they appeared to have learned! They look at you like you're speaking another language, and you realize you have to start over with the basics again. Frustrated, you repeat the same process until you think they have it, and low and behold, it happens again. Sound familiar? I understand your plight. I get the same question from my readers over and over: "How do I find a good auto repair shop?! What do I look for?!" I've written reams on this subject. As a matter of fact, I've even created a separate section within my Web site to make this information available, and still the question keeps coming up. So for those of you who have either never read my columns pertaining to this topic, or have "forgotten," allow me to refresh your memory with a few updates. Before I start, I want to emphasize that the question "How do I find a good auto repair shop?" represents a universal concern. This question comes to me from virtually all over the world on a regular basis (Singapore, Scotland, England, Brazil, Calcutta India, just to name a few). An interesting story related to this concern: A man from Calcutta (his name is Moeeb) asked me if I would come to Calcutta and open an auto repair shop with him, because there was such a need. To quote Moeeb, "There is great opportunity for great profits to be made." He said he would front all the money we needed for a building and equipment. In jest, I pointed out to him that I was not proficient in camel repair and would have to decline. His response was serious. "Tom, people who can afford a car in Calcutta are wealthy, and they usually drive a Rolls Royce, Mercedes, Porsche, Lincoln, or a Cadillac, and NOT a camel! i.e. Sheiks and the like." I still found myself declining the offer, after watching the reaction on my wife's face to the possibility. Anyway, it just goes to show you, car care problems are the same everywhere! AOL Autos: Most stolen cars . So what is the answer to the universal perplexity pertaining to auto repair? First of all, start shopping for a repair facility BEFORE you need one. Why? Because a more sound decision is made when you're not facing an urgent need for transportation because your vehicle just broke down. We all make poorer choices when we are under the stress of the moment. AOL Autos: 10 best cars of 2009 . Call around to various repair shops and ask them if they are members of associations such as: "NAPA Autocare," "ASP," "Parts Plus," "AAA," or "TechNet." Membership is these associations means the shop has qualified in some way. For instance, to become a AAA Approved Auto Repair Facility, a shop must undergo a rigorous investigation. In addition to having state-of-the-art equipment, training, qualified technicians, and information systems in place, the shop must score high with its customers. AAA contacts about 100 of the shop's most recent customers and conducts a CSI (Consumer Satisfaction Index) study. AOL Autos: Top 5 crossover vehicles . They ask the customers such questions as: . • Was the estimate accurate (or significantly less than the actual bill)? • Was the job done on time? • Did they fix it right the first time? • What kind of warranty did they give you? • Was the shop clean and presentable? • Did they offer a ride to work or wherever you needed to go? • Was there a comfortable, pleasant, and clean waiting area? If the repair facility passes the test, it can hang the "AAA Approved" shingle. As you can see, membership in associations such as the ones mentioned above is a significant qualifier for a shop. AOL Autos: Best selling sedans . Visit the shop. Is it clean and orderly? Or does it look like it ought to be condemned by the health department? Ask customers in the shop, "Why do you do business with this shop?" Answers such as "They are the cheapest" or "They offer a lot of specials" or "Because the owner is a friend of my father's" don't have much credibility. Look for responses such as: . "They fix my car right the first time." "I can trust them to do the job at a fair price." "They welcome my questions and concerns and take the time to answer them." "There are never any surprises when I come to pick up the car." "They patiently explain in plain English what the problem is and explain my options." AOL Autos: Cars with best resale values . While at the facility, look for certifications displayed on the wall. If there aren't any, then ask to see their qualifications; this will tell you a lot about the facility. What shingles and certifications should you look for? • Do the technicians have certification from ASE, Delco, ASP, and/or manufacturers such as GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Nissan, etc.? • Do they have after market training from such leaders as NAPA/Echlin, Moog, TRW, or Bendix? • How about continued education from BOCES or a technical college such as an Alfred University or Erie County College Vehicle Training Center? These shingles indicate that the technicians have taken the initiative to go beyond the requirements to keep up with the changes in their field. This indicates serious interest as well as pride in their work (not to mention the fact that they are trained in the latest technology). And this extra training not only takes time, but costs them a lot of money! In addition, membership in such associations as the BBB (Better Business Bureau), ATEA (Automotive Technology and Energy Association), ASP (Automotive Service Professionals), ICAR (Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair), and ASE (The Institute for Automotive Service Excellence) tells you that the owner of the shop cares about the quality of the workmanship and, most likely, operates by a code of ethics required by the association. In addition, membership in these associations usually means that the shop is willing to subject itself to an arbitration process that is binding, should the need for arbitration between customer and shop arise. Another factor to consider when choosing a repair facility is the equipment available. Is the shop equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, such as hand held computer scanners and diagnostic software, digital volt-ohm meters, logic probes, lab scopes, and on-line computer systems like CAS, Alldata, or Mitchell-On-Demand? Don't be afraid to ask the shop if they have this equipment. These systems and tools are necessary to diagnose and repair your hi-tech car accurately. Without them, fixing your automobile is a hit-and-miss proposition. Sometimes it's best to take your car to a specialist. Specialists cost more money initially. But because they are specialists, they often know how to pinpoint and repair certain types of problems more efficiently and effectively. Why? Because they deal with these problems every day, plus they have the knowledge, equipment, and information systems necessary to get directly to the problem. While "Joe down the street" is floundering and replacing parts trying to correct the problem, the specialist diagnoses with laser-like accuracy. He can locate the problem and replace only the parts that are necessary. Less guesswork and fewer parts translates into money in your pocket, even though the labor rate is higher! Don't be short-sighted! Common areas of automotive specialties: . • Transmission and Drivetrain . • Computer, Drivability, and Electrical . • Collision Repair . • Foreign Car Repair . • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) • Radiator Repair & Cooling System Repair . Remember, consider the long-term cost. Don't sell yourself short for a few bucks. Quality repair is not expensive ... it's PRICELESS! Equipment, information systems, and technical training must be up to date! A final note about shop size. Some people think that the cost of repair varies with the size of the shop (a large shop or dealership is probably more expensive). Not true! These days, with the high cost of equipment, training, and information systems, the cost of repair at dealerships, large repair facilities and small shops is balancing out. As a matter of fact, in a lot of cases, I see the larger entities, such as the dealers and larger repair facilities, offering competitive pricing to the little guys. If service facilities meet the criteria I discussed (and the quality of the parts and warranties are similar) you will find prices are about the same, regardless of size. So your decision at this point is a matter of whom you feel most comfortable dealing with. Some people prefer a larger shop or their dealership, others prefer a smaller shop. Don't trust your $25,000 automobile, which carries your family through life's daily trips, to just anyone. Pick your repair facility like you would your family doctor. In the long run, this approach saves you not only money, but time and aggravation. Even more importantly, a well maintained vehicle is a safer one. Tom Torbjornsen is a veteran of 37 years in the auto service industry, an automotive journalist registered with IMPA.

Start shopping for a repair facility before you need one . Ask if they are members of associations such as "NAPA Autocare" or "AAA" Another factor to consider is the equipment available . Don't sell yourself short for a few bucks. Quality repair is priceless .

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(CNN) -- Life is difficult. Death used to be simple. You simply died, and that was it. Now, in the modern era of high-tech medicine, death is difficult, too. The predicament facing Nelson Mandela, who has been critically ill for the past five weeks and turns 95 on Thursday, brings into sharp focus an important question that eventually affects all of us. How do we want to die? Mandela is one of the most influential and important people on Earth, but nothing about his situation is unique or special. Intensivists -- those doctors who specialize in intensive care patients -- will tell you that every day thousands of people all over the world are going through the same thing. Playing out the end game, many of them are stuck on a ventilator with a slim to vanishing chance of ever getting back to the life they knew and loved. Modern society is confronting a tragic, silent epidemic of frail elderly people who suffer needlessly at the end of life because of unwanted life support. These folks are effectively left to die a slow death connected to machines. As a critical care specialist who has seen this process play out many times, it can be agonizing to witness. How did we end up here? Why has death become so complicated? Modern medicine is powerful, but it is a double-edged sword. The way we can bring people back from the brink of death is truly amazing. There is nothing more satisfying professionally than having a grateful patent walk back into the ICU after surviving a near-death experience. But more often, for very old people, aggressive life support doesn't work out so well. Prolonged ICU care often gradually evolves into a checkmate situation. Intensivists know what it usually means when the condition of an elderly person hospitalized for weeks is described as "critical but stable." After weeks of aggressive support, the patient still cannot survive off the ventilator. When this happens, the muscles start to wither away from a condition called ICU-acquired myopathy. Little may seem to be happening, but as the body inevitably continues to weaken, a relentless series of secondary complications will ensue, such as pneumonia, delirium and failure of the circulatory system or kidneys. In most cases, patients need to be continuously sedated to minimize obvious pain and suffering. When do you stop? How do you stop? And who decides? These are the wrenching issues that confront the family. The fundamental question is this: When is it time to accept the inevitability of death, change the goal of care to comfort, and let the patient have peace? It used to be that doctors struggled with withdrawing life support, or wouldn't even consider it. At the height of the Jack Kevorkian era in the mid-1990s the chairman of our hospital ethics committee, a good friend and colleague, told me that withdrawing life support should always be difficult and make me uncomfortable. I couldn't have agreed less, but I didn't tell him. Thankfully over the years, his views and those of most physicians have changed. Unlike my generation, medical students are now trained in ethics and palliative care. More patients have advance directives and living wills. Every intensivist will tell you that withdrawing life support and helping someone "make the transition" with comfort and dignity is one of the most satisfying and useful things that they can do. But despite this progress, there is still a fundamental disconnect. The epidemic of futile support at the end-of-life persists. The major reason is a perfect storm created by the power of modern medical technology, our cultural emphasis on patient autonomy and the innate human tendency to deny and hide from the reality of death. Death is scary and makes us uncomfortable. Modern culture has insulated us from witnessing death. We are out of touch with the life cycle. We deny death. We also believe that the patient should call the shots and get the care he or she wants. But what happens when the patient can no longer express his or her wishes? Spouses, children and family are forced to make life-and-death decisions that they never volunteered to make, sometimes may not be equipped to make, or unrealistically assumed they would never have to make. But make no mistake: Unless death is sudden, one day you will need to decide when to allow someone you love to die, and someone will have to make that decision for you. Intensivists often hear this: "I know my dad wouldn't want this, but I just can't bring myself to do it." Advance directives or a living will do not necessarily mean you will get the end-of-life care that you want. This is because withdrawing life support depends on your decision-makers, usually your loved ones, understanding and believing that you are past the point of no return. It depends on accepting death. Mandela fought for freedom all of his life, and the world does not want to lose him. Now all we can hope for is that he is comfortable, and getting the care that he would want. If and when the day comes that he has fought long enough, it will be OK to let him be free. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Stephan A. Mayer.

Stephan Mayer: Critically ill for five weeks, Mandela makes us think of how we want to die . Mayer: There's an epidemic of people suffering as they die hooked up to machines . He says we deny death, are scared, don't want loved ones to go, allow medicine to prolong life . Mayer: One day you might need to decide when to allow someone you love to die .

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By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 00:10 EST, 22 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:33 EST, 22 November 2013 . The best place for a life free from health worries has been revealed as the wealthy home counties around London, according to a new report. The findings from the Office of National Statistics also reveal a stark north, south divide with disabled people living in the north finding they are more constrained in their daily lives than those living in the wealthier south east. The report shows that, for example, people living in the more deprived north west of England were three times more likely be negatively impacted by disabilities or health issues. The percentage of residents with day-to-day activities 'limited a lot' was strongly related to the level of deprivation experienced by the authorities, the report warned . Meanwhile just one in 20 people living in the affluent counties of Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire claimed they were hampered by health issues in their day-to-day lives, according to the ONS. Elmbridge in Surrey is home to the fewest number of people whose lives are confined by illness or disability - where just 4.9 per cent of the population describe themselves as 'limited a lot', the ONS said. In comparison, around 16 per cent of residents in Knowsley, Merseyside, described themselves as 'limited a lot' in carrying out normal day-to-day activities. The figures echo another set of statistics exploring live expectancy across the country. It showed that residents of wealthy southern counties could expect to remain well and active for as much as 18 years longer than people in England’s poorest boroughs. Exclusive Elmbridge, dubbed ‘Britain’s Beverley Hills’ has claimed the title of the best place to live for a good quality of life on four separate occasions in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Elmbridge in Surrey is home to the fewest number of people whose lives are confined by illness or disability . The report states: 'There is significant inequality across local authorities in England with almost three times as many people in Knowsley, Merseyside, reporting that their activities were 'limited a lot' compared to Elmbridge, Surrey. 'The percentage of residents with day-to-day activities 'limited a lot' was strongly related to the level of deprivation experienced by the authorities' residents. 'The 10 authorities with the lowest rates were the same authorities for males and females. 'These authorities were among the least deprived in England, located in the commuter belts of Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire and Surrey and having extensive rural and semi-rural populations.' The ONS also noted significant variations across Wales. Across England and Wales, 9.6 million people reported their day-to-day activities were limited in some way because of a health problem or disability . In Monmouthshire, 9 per cent of the population describe themselves as 'limited a lot' compares to 17 per cent who live in Merthyr Tydfil. Overall, 12 per cent of residents of Wales reported their day-to-day activities as 'limited a lot' compared to less than 9 per cent of people in England. In total around a fifth of the population of England and Wales -  9.6 million people - reported their day-to-day activities were limited in some way by issues relating to their health. But less than half of these, just 46 per cent, described themselves as 'limited a lot.' The report, collated from 2011 Census data, states that most people will experience some sort of illness or impairment at some point in their lives. While some people's day-to-day activities such as socialising, going to work and living independently will not be affected, other impairments restrict activities such as employment, accessing services independently, and performing self-care tasks. The report also found health problems . were far more common among younger people in more deprived parts of the . country and said the findings could suggest variations in access to . effective health care in different areas.

People living in London's commuter belt are the least likely in England to be limited by health problems or disability . People in the north west of England had higher proportions of residents who said they were extremely constrained by disabilities or health issues .

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PUBLISHED: . 05:39 EST, 26 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:11 EST, 26 February 2013 . Vice president Joe Biden is giving his Republican adversaries something to think about as he reveals his new 'tough guy' official portrait. Mr Biden folded his arms to adopt a strong pose and showed off a confident smile in the photo, which could be seen as a defiant gesture to Speaker of the House and regular critic, John Boehner. The photographic portrait was unveiled to mark the Democrat's second term in office. Say cheese: U.S. vice president Joe Biden poses for his official portrait to mark his second term in office . He is proudly pictured inside his West Wing office at the White House, standing in front of the United States and vice president's flags. The photograph replaces the previous portrait from 2009, when the vice president posed in front of the two flags and a white back drop. Critic: Speaker of the House Joe Boehner has been a regular adversary of the president and vice-president . It was taken on January 10 by his official photographer David Lienemann. The photograph follows the release of a new official portrait of president Barack Obama and the first lady, Michelle. Mr Biden, who is dubbed Diamond Joe and is considered one of the party's most effective draws for swing voters, has shown few signs of aging since his 2009 portrait. Mr Obama on the other hand has many more grey hairs, although his grin was much wider than when he posed for his first portrait. White House photographer, Pete Souza, took the updated picture of the president, who also had his arms folded, in December inside the Oval Office. Mr Biden, from Scranton, . Pennsylvania, became one of the youngest people ever to be elected to . the United States Senate when he was just 29. He . was sworn in at his two sons' hospital bedsides, after they were . involved in a car crash, which killed his wife Neilia and . one-year-old daughter Naomi just weeks after his election. Mr Biden twice attempted to run for the presidency but dropped out on both occasions. In 1988 he was found to have life-threatening brain aneurysms.

Photograph of Joe Biden is unveiled to mark vice president's second term . Picture was taken in the White House by his photographer David Lienemann . Mr Biden seen with arms folded in a defiant pose to Republican adversaries .

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By . Emma Thomas . PUBLISHED: . 06:27 EST, 29 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:34 EST, 29 October 2013 . Navy ships are using Britney Spears to scare off Somali pirates. Captains are playing the popstar's hits at full volume to deter 'western culture-hating' pirates and stop them boarding the ships, merchant navy officer Rachel Owens revealed to the Metro. Classic hits Baby One More Time and Oops! I Did It Again are being used and have proved effective at stopping kidnap attempts from bandits. Second Officer Owens, who works on supertankers off the east coast of Africa, said: ‘Her songs were chosen by the security team because they thought the pirates would hate them most. ‘These guys can’t stand Western culture or music, making Britney’s hits perfect.’ Scroll down for video . 'Hit Me Baby, One More Time': Somali pirates apparently hate Western music - especially Britney Spears . Vessels in the area come under attack frequently from pirates who board the ships and demand multi-million-pound ransoms. One of the most high-profile cases was in 2009 when a 17,000 ton container ship, owned by Maersk Line, was been hijacked by Somalia pirates with 20 crew members aboard while sailing from Salalah in Oman to the Kenyan port of Mombassa via Djibouti. In 2011, there were 176 attacks on ships by gangs of bandits off the Horn of Africa. Most recently, last Thursday, Pirates attacked an oil supply vessel off the Nigerian coast and kidnapped the captain and chief engineer. They are such a threat, the Royal Navy has 1,500 sailors on 14 warships operating round-the-clock patrols in the area. Hijacked: ne of the most high-profile cases was in 2009 when a 17,000 ton container ship, owned by Maersk Line, was hijacked by Somalia pirates with 20 crew members aboard . Deterrent: Britney Spears songs are played to pirates to deter them from boarding ships . Ms Owens, who guides tankers through the waters, said the ship’s speakers can be aimed at the pirates so the crew are not disturbed. ‘It’s so effective the ship’s security rarely needs to resort to firing guns,’ said the 34-year-old, from Gartmore, near Aberfoyle, Stirling. ‘As soon as the pirates get a blast of Britney, they move on as quickly as they can.’ Steven Jones, of the Security Association for the Maritime Industry, added: ‘Pirates will go to any lengths to avoid or try to overcome the music.’ 'I’d imagine using Justin Bieber would be against the Geneva Convention.’ Spears, who started her career in a 1990s revamp of the Mickey Mouse Club (with Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake... and Ryan Gosling), has always pointed to Madonna and Janet Jackson as two of her major influences. Perhaps now she can boast that warding off piracy on the high seas is an honour (albeit a dubious one) that Madonna and Jackson can't claim.

Captains playing Britney Spears hits to deter kidnaps . Baby One More Time and Oops! I Did It Again most effective . In 2011, there were 176 attacks on ships by gangs of bandits .

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(CNN) -- You can't escape tango in Buenos Aires. It is danced on the trains and in the streets. Restaurants in the bohemian neighborhoods of San Telmo and La Boca try to lure tourists inside with exhibition dancing outside their doors. Taxi drivers play tango music on their radios, and giant billboards promote choreographed tango shows. Tango grew from the working class port neighborhoods of Buenos Aires to become a global dance and music phenomenon that in 2009 was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. But for those visiting the Argentinean capital for the first time, the sheer number of opportunities to experience tango can be overwhelming, and many of the best venues are off the beaten track. Expat-New Yorker Migdalia Romero is here to help. Here, the author of the "Tango Lover's Guide to Buenos Aires" offers her insights for all aspiring "tangueros" traveling the city: . History . Tango was especially important in Buenos Aires at the turn of the century when immigrants -- especially men without partners -- were looking for a worthwhile diversion. The men would practice together to perfect their dance -- and hopefully impress the women. But tango moved from the brothels to higher society very soon after it became fashionable in Paris. The music has always been an integral part of growing up in Buenos Aires. Generations have been nursed on it. The older generation of women dancers remember when they danced resting on the feet of their fathers. Boys would sneak out to the dance halls to see the older men (brothers and fathers) dancing. While tango skipped a generation of men and women who preferred rock in the 60s, it is now very much in vogue among the youth. Dance halls fill with young and old alike -- there are strictly no age restrictions. Read related: Musician's passionate journey through Buenos Aires . Embrace the passion . There's a saying in Spanish that captures the importance of the embrace in tango: "El abrazo es mas important que el paso" (The embrace is more important than the step) The prelude to tango begins at the moment that two people stand face to face and listen silently to a few notes of the music, before settling in on the embrace and beginning to dance. Tango is a dance that stresses elegant walking and close attention to the music. More than anything, if you are new to it, just enjoy the scene. Notice the subtle movements of the dancers, the ways in which they negotiate small spaces and crowded dance floors, and the delicate way they accomplish the seductive invitation to dance. Where to watch . There are classy dinner shows that feature full stage productions for tourists, and then there are intimate tango venues that provide more authentic shows for enthusiasts and local patrons. Be aware that dinner shows can be expensive, and some of the more hidden and intimate clubs offer a less expensive alternative -- many charging only for what is consumed. On Sunday afternoons at Plaza Dorrego in the San Telmo Antiques flea market, a local legend and resident, El Indio, does a demonstration of tango accompanied by a bit of history (in Spanish). Even if you don't understand the language, the demonstration is worth your time and, best of all, it's free. A number of "milongas" (dance halls dedicated to tango) offer late night shows with either live music and/or authentic exhibition dancing. Generally these milongas open at 11 pm, but Buenos Aires is a nocturnal city and the shows themselves don't normally start until after one in the morning. Two noteworthy examples are the milonga at Confiteria La Ideal on Thursday nights and that at Salon Canning on Tuesday and Friday nights after 11 pm. At both places you will see locals, as well as tourists who are completely hooked on tango, dancing socially while making sure to respect all the dance floor etiquette ("codigos") that make this a cultural experience. You will notice men signaling silently for a dance across a crowded room with the nod of their head, a wink, or a raised eyebrow. Men and women are never seated together, even if they are in close proximity. The most traditional milongas place men on one side of the room and women on the other. If you're more interested in choreographed shows, then head straight to the Piazzolla Tango, which offers a flamboyant dinner show, preceded by a lesson. The space has been restored beautifully with a real air of art-deco elegance. Meanwhile, those concerned with the history and culture of tango should stroll to the former fruit and vegetable market area of Abasto in the Balvanera neighborhood, which is very much connected to Carlos Gardel -- the definitive tango icon. Gardel wrote many tango classics and was famed for his extraordinary baritone voice. He lived his whole life in Abasto and within a two block radius you will see signs of this famous tango figure on buildings, in stores, and even in the museum that was once his home. Where to learn . Tango is a dance that takes years to master. However, a good teacher can get you on the dance floor, walking simply and in time to the music, within a few lessons. The two studios that teach tango seriously and cater in large part to tourists from around the world are the Studio DNI and the Escuela Argentina de Tango at Galerias Pacifico -- inside a beautiful upscale mall. Both schools offer lessons to beginners as well as to experienced dancers. Some milongas also provide lessons right before the official dance begins. One of my favorites is Nuevo Chique at La Casa de Galicia. The class is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the late afternoons. Nothing builds the appetite more than a day of tango and, conveniently, there is a lovely Spanish restaurant on the second floor where hungry bellies are quickly satisfied.

Buenos Aires is the birthplace of tango, and the city still buzzes with its music and culture . Local tango expert provides her travel tips for dance lovers traveling to the Argentinean capital . Traditional "milongas" and elaborately choreographed shows among highlights .

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Gareth Bale has been included in the Wales squad to face Belgium in their Euro 2016 qualifier next weekend despite the forward's recent injury absence. The most expensive footballer of all time made his return for Real Madrid for the final 30 minutes of their Champions League victory over Liverpool on Tuesday night having missed their previous five matches with a buttock muscle injury he picked up in Wales' victory over Cyrpus last month. But he is named in a strong Welsh squad ahead of next Sunday's clash in Brussels along with midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen who make welcome returns after injury but there is no place for the suspended Andy King, who serves the first of a two-match suspension, and injured trio Simon Church, Sam Vokes and David Edwards. Gareth Bale (above) sustained a buttock muscle injury the last time he played for Wales, against Cyprus .

Gareth Bale returns to Chris Coleman's team for their Euro 2016 qualifier . Bale missed five Real Madrid matches after injuring buttock muscle . The injury was caused when he was last on international duty with Wales .

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(CNN) -- You would think that a black man born and raised in Georgia, who was a teenager during the civil rights movement, would understand the transition of African-Americans from voting overwhelmingly Republican to strongly supporting the Democratic Party. But the GOP presidential candidate clearly didn't have the common sense that he often speaks of having when he went on CNN's "The Situation Room" and accused many African-Americans of being brainwashed to vote Democratic. "Many African-Americans have been brainwashed into not being open-minded, not even considering a conservative point of view," Cain said. "I have received some of that same vitriol simply because I am running for the Republican nomination as a conservative. "So it's just brainwashing and people not being open-minded, pure and simple." Cain's off-base and historically ignorant comments have received widespread coverage. In some quarters, they have been criticized, while MSNBC's Pat Buchanan, who has a long history of racially offensive comments, didn't surprise many by coming to Cain's defense. It's not the first time I've heard someone question the reasons for blacks' allegiance to the Democratic Party, but history has to be taken into account. According to the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a think tank focused on African-American issues, in the aftermath of the Emancipation Proclamation, black folks who could vote in the United States quickly joined the Republican Party out of affection for President Abraham Lincoln. Check the political party affiliation of blacks elected during the period of Reconstruction and you will see a lot of R's after their names. The policies of Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry Truman, who desegregated the military, led more African-Americans to vote for the Democrats. Still, Dwight Eisenhower got 39 percent of the black vote when he ran for re-election in 1956; and Vice President Richard Nixon received 31 percent against the eventual winner, Sen. John F. Kennedy. The shift became more noticeable in 1964, when the Republican Party nominated Sen. Barry Goldwater as its presidential nominee. It was Goldwater's ardent stance against the Civil Rights Act that led President Lyndon Johnson to garner 94 percent of the black vote. What's interesting to note is the greatest threat to passage of the bill came from white Southern Democrats, known as Dixiecrats. Moderate Republicans played a crucial role in getting the Civil Rights Act passed, yet as the GOP began to go against civil rights, the national Democratic Party saw a chance to solidify the black vote. In 1968, Nixon returned to the national stage with his Southern Strategy, a detailed plan of racial politics that ignored, denigrated and dismissed black voters while playing up racial issues as a way to gain support from white voters. All of this was an outgrowth of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which led President Johnson to say his signing of the law would deliver the South to the GOP for the next generation. The Southern Strategy became the go-to play for Republicans over the next 40 years, as they virtually ignored the interests of black voters and catered to a largely white party. So on one hand you have a party that totally ignores black voters -- the GOP -- and then you have Democrats who see a chance to capture those same voters. If Republicans today are angry about a high level of animosity coming from black voters, they need to blame their white forefathers who wanted to see the racial divide continue over their refusal to allow African-Americans to be full citizens of the United States. The problem is that the GOP has done little to change the game since then, virtually ignoring African-Americans and advocating policies that blacks believe go against their interests. What is so shameful and asinine about Cain's "brainwashing " comment is that he assumes that African-Americans aren't smart and sophisticated enough to make their own choices. Just like whites, Asians, Hispanics, women, Catholics, Jews, Baptists, Wall Street bankers, or any other voting group, they look at the candidates, determine how they line up with their views, and make a selection. So when someone says that blacks don't vote with their brains, that's utterly false. Now, for all of the trolls who usually populate web sites comments sections saying I'm playing the race card, answer this: If I said that Southern whites were a bunch of brainwashed, dead heads who give the GOP their vote, how would you respond? U.S. Census Bureau statistics show that of the 10 poorest states in America, nine are mostly red states. The lowest when it comes to education? Mostly red states. The most obese? Worst health care? Mostly red states. So if the talking points suggest the Democrats advance poverty programs more than the GOP; push for more funding for education; and want a strong health care program, then why are these white voters in these mostly red states voting for the GOP? Have they been brainwashed by virtue of the Southern Strategy to keep voting straight ticket? The GOP has no real plan to even talk to black voters. They are afraid of them. Yes, afraid. If you want to put a Republican in the most uncomfortable position, then see them try to give a speech in front of a room of black folks. There is mistrust on both sides rather than straight talk on the issues. For years I have lamented the GOP's refusal to engage African-Americans. We care about housing, economic development, education, any host of issues. But in the minds of a lot of Republicans, it's all about welfare or affirmative action. African-Americans are largely social conservatives, but the GOP can't even figure out how to reach us even with God! I'm the host of Washington Watch, a weekly Sunday morning news show on TV One Cable Network, a lifestyles and entertainment network targeting African-Americans, and the GOP flat out refuses to even accept our invitations. For two years we've had an open invite for any House or Senate Republican to come on our show, no matter the week. Out of 80-plus shows, Rep. Tom Price of Georgia (twice) and Rep. Allen West of Florida (once) have accepted our invitations. West sat in my studio and told his press secretary to send an e-mail to every GOP press secretary in the House to tell them that my show was a great forum for them to talk to Black America. None followed his admonition. When Michael Steele was chairman of the Republican National Committee, he did my show several times. Steele told me he went to the GOP House and Senate leadership to tell them they should accept my invites, but none did. Now if the GOP is scared to even come on a TV show that targets blacks, do you actually think they'll show up in a black community? If the GOP wants black folks to consider voting for them, they their candidates will have to make an effort to reach out. The distrust is wide and great, but it can be overcome. But doing nothing will get you nowhere, other than guarantee that a strong voting bloc will do all it can to make sure you are defeated at the polls. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Roland S. Martin.

Herman Cain said that black voters were "brainwashed" to support Democrats . Roland Martin says Cain is ignoring ample historical reason for that support . Republicans had substantial black support but adopted a strategy that spurns them, he says . Martin: If GOP wants black support, it has to make its case to black voters .

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By . Victoria Woollaston . We are a step closer to DIY phones that could spell the end of expensive upgrades after Google released the first glimpse at how the devices will work. The Project Ara Module Developers Kit is now available for free for developers, and the tech giant said it is 'a very early version.' But, following testing, the final version of modular phones is expected to be on sale as soon as the end of this year. The Project Ara Module Developers Kit is now available. Google said the files give developers a first glimpse at its plans for a DIY phone. Each phone will have a central 'spine' and an endoskeleton that individual modules will clip on to. There will be three different sized endos - mini, medium and large, pictured . According to the developer kit, Ara phones will be able run on multiple batteries - when one battery dies, it can be detached and replaced with a full battery module. Each phone . will have a central 'spine' and an endoskeleton - nicknamed 'endo' - . made of ribs that the individual modules will clip on to. There will be three different sized . endos - including mini, medium and large - to rival the existing range of . phones currently on the market, from compacts to phablets. Larger phones will be able to accomodate either larger, or additional modules, than the mini will. Google's kit describes various modules including batteries, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips, cameras, speakers and more. In theory, any sensor that can be fitted to a module will be able to attach to a module and while Google will make the shell, these modules will be made by other companies. By printing their own parts, users will also be able to customise them. According to the files, Ara phones will be able run on multiple batteries - when one battery dies, it can be detached and replaced with a full battery module. Lower-resolution cameras can be swapped with higher-res versions, and users will be also be able to 3D print replacement parts. By printing their own parts, users will also be able to customise them. The files also reveal each phone will have a central 'spine' and an endoskeleton - nicknamed 'endo' - made of ribs that the individual modules will clip on to. There will be three different sized endos - including mini, medium and large - to rival the existing range of phones currently on the market, from compacts to phablets. Larger Ara phones will be able to accomodate more modules than the mini will, for example. Google's kit describes various modules including batteries, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips, cameras, speakers and more. In theory, any sensor that can be fitted to a module will be able to attach to an Ara device, and while Google will make the shell, these modules will be made by other companies. Larger phones will be able to accomodate more modules than the mini will, for example. Google's kit describes various modules including batteries, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips, cameras, speakers and more. In theory, any sensor that can be fitted to a module will work on Ara handsets, pictured . The project was initially assigned to Motorola, and the handsets had been planned to add to the firm's existing range, but Google sold Motorola in January this year to Lenovo. As part of the sale, Google kept hold of Project Ara, pictured . Google's Project Ara is based on the Phonebloks designs by Dutch inventor Dave Hakkens. It was initially assigned to Motorola, and had been planned to add to the firm's existing range, but Google sold the phone maker to Lenovo in January. As part of the sale, Google kept hold of Project Ara. Google said: 'The Module Developers Kit . (MDK) defines the Ara platform for module developers and provides . reference implementations for various design features. Google's Project Ara is based on the Phonebloks designs by Dutch inventor Dave Hakkens. His components were called bloks, and they each attached to a universal base that contained all the relevant electric connections. They were fixed onto this board using pins, with two screws holding everything in place . 'The Ara platform consists of an on-device packet-switched data network based on the MIPI UniPro protocol stack, a flexible power bus, and an elegant industrial design that mechanically unites the modules with an endoskeleton.' It continued that there will be more releases in the coming months before it reaches a final version towards the end of the year. Price information has not been revealed. Google will host its first Project Ara Developers Conference in California next week.

The Project Ara Module Developers Kit is now available for free . Google said it will give developers a first glimpse at the DIY phone . Project Ara was assigned to Motorola, before Google sold the mobile firm . According to the kit, Ara phones can run on multiple batteries, for example . Lower-resolution cameras can be swapped with higher-res versions . Users will be also able to 3D print replacement parts, and customise them . Back to Mail Online home . Back to the page you came from .

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An American tycoon has refused to rescue a doomed French tyre factory in frustration at the nation's 'stupid' labour laws. U.S. tyre giant Titan International's boss Maurice Taylor branded French unions demands for the takeover as 'the dumbest thing in the world'. And he said it was so difficult to do business in France, the nation may as well 'become communist'. Scroll down for video . American tycoon Maurice Taylor has refused to rescue doomed French Goodyear plant in Amiens out of frustration at the nation's 'stupid' labour laws . Mr Taylor, above, has twice tried to save the plant that US threatened with closure and the loss of 1.170 jobs; after visiting in February last year he wrote to France's then industry minister Arnaud Montebourg branding workers as 'lazy, overpaid and talking too much' He told France Info radio today: 'You can't buy Goodyear. Under your laws, we have to take a minimum of 662 or 672 employees. You can't do that. The most you could take is 333. There's no business for that plant now. 'You guys have got to wake up over there and tell the unions, ''Hey if they're so smart, they should buy the factory''. 'It's stupid. It's the dumbest thing in the world. France should just become communist and then when it goes all bad like Russia did, then maybe you'd have a chance.' It is Taylor's second failed attempt to buy the Goodyear plant in Amiens that is threatened with closure and the loss of 1,170 jobs. He visited the factory in February last year, and later wrote to France's then industry minister Arnaud Montebourg branding workers as 'lazy, overpaid and talking too much'. In the letter published in the Les Echoes financial newspaper, he wrote: 'I have visited the factory several times. The French workforce gets paid high wages but works only three hours. Mr Taylor said, 'I have visited the factory several times. The French workforce gets paid high wages but works only three hours'; A A 2013 global study of working hours also revealed the French worked the fewest hours of any country in the world . 'They get one hour for breaks and lunch, talk for three hours and work for three. I told the French union workers this to their faces. They told me that's the French way! 'Titan is the one with the money and the talent to produce tyres. What does the crazy union have? It has the French government. 'The French farmer wants cheap tires. He does not care if the tyres come from India or China and these governments are subsidising them. Your government doesn't care either.' Mr Taylor's latest embarrassing assessment of French workers comes as France teeters on the brink of recession and unemployment has risen above three million - the highest level of joblessness in 15 years. A 2013 global study of working hours also revealed the French worked the fewest hours of any country in the world. The report by Swiss bank UBS found the French graft for just 1,480 hours a year, with 27 days annual holiday. Britons work 1,782 hours a year - 301 more than the French - and have 20 days holiday a year, making us the world's 36th most lazy nation.

U.S. tyre boss labels French unions demands 'dumbest thing in the world' Under French law he would have to take on over 600 employees . Maurice Taylor has made two attempts to save the plant from closure . Report finds French worked the fewest hours of any country in the world .

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KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Two separate militant assaults Saturday in the southeastern Afghan province of Paktika led to the deaths of two U.S. soldiers and at least 42 insurgents, military officials said. U.S. Marines, under fire from a building, move to take it Saturday in Helmand province, Afghanistan. The soldiers died when Taliban fighters attacked a base in Zerok that houses members of the U.S. military, Afghan national police and Afghan National Army, said the provincial governor's spokesman, Hamidullah Zawak. He said the Taliban first detonated a truck full of explosives, then attacked the base with missiles and rockets. The military responded by sending in aircraft and dropping bombs, killing 32 Taliban fighters and wounding many, Zawak said, without giving a number. Seven of the wounded Taliban fighters were arrested. Zawak said one U.S. soldier was killed and another wounded. Sgt. Chuck Marsh, however, a U.S. military spokesman, said two U.S. service members were killed and four wounded. Two soldiers from the Afghan National Army were also hurt, Zawak said. A Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack in a phone call to a CNN stringer in Kabul. Several hours later, at least 10 militants were killed and one detained in an assault on a combat outpost in the province. Insurgents attacked with indirect fire, including multiple rockets and mortars -- at least one of which contained white phosphorous -- small-arms fire and a car bomb, according to a statement from NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Soldiers from ISAF and the Afghan National Army fired back, aided by planes and attack helicopters. No civilian casualties were reported. In other developments in and around Paktika: . • On Saturday, a suicide car bomb detonated near a private security company in Lashkar Gah city in Helmand province. One person was killed and five were wounded, said Assadullah Sherzad, Helmand provincial police chief. • The U.S.-led Operation Khanjar, or Strike of the Sword, is targeting Taliban militants in Helmand province, near Paktika in southern Afghanistan. Thousands of U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers are trying to rout the Taliban from strongholds in the Helmand River Valley. The operation began early Thursday. Helmand's poppy crop produces more than half of the opium cultivated in Afghanistan, the source of 90 percent of the global supply, according to the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime. The revenues help support the Taliban. • On Tuesday, a U.S. soldier was abducted in Paktika province. The Taliban claimed responsibility. A senior U.S. military official later said the soldier was being held by the militant Haqqani clan, a Taliban-affiliated network led by warlord Siraj Haqqani. The Haqqanis -- who operate on both sides of the Afghan and Pakistani borders -- are well-known to the U.S. military, which said it was using all means to locate the soldier, whose name has not been released. CNN's Atia Abawi and reporter Wahidullah Mayar contributed to this report.

Taliban attacks base in Paktika province; two U.S. troops killed . Insurgents detonated explosives-laden truck, later launched rockets at base . At least 32 Taliban fighters killed in response to attack . Ten militants killed during assault on a combat outpost in Paktika province .

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