Roland Emmerich works from his meatiest and most sophisticated script yet, the work of John Orloff -- then again, we are talking about the director of "Independence Day," "The Day After Tomorrow" and "2012." And all the rich period detail is in place, alongside the kind of big, sweeping aerial shots you'd expect from the maker of blockbusters.
Edward takes in these performances with a detached demeanor, but internally he's seething with conflict -- with the thrill of seeing his words brought to life, as well as the frustration of not being able to bask in the adulation. Anyone who comes into contact with him knows how devastatingly verbal he can be, though, in both seduction and confrontation. It's a thrilling, surprising performance from Ifans, who's probably best known for comedy.


FORT COLLINS — Colorado State on Monday reached an agreement to name Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo the Rams’ new football coach.
Bobo, 40, will be introduced at a news conference at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Fort Collins. After making $575,000 at Georgia this season, Bobo’s five-year deal with CSU will include annual raises, and his base salary will average slightly more than $1.5 million.
Bobo will succeed Jim McElwain, who accepted the job at Florida after guiding the Rams to a 10-2 regular-season record in his third season at CSU.
With CSU president Tony Frank involved, final interviews of candidates were conducted Sunday in Las Vegas, the day after the Rams fell 45-10 to Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl.
The hiring of Bobo, at least on the surface, is going back to a repeat formula — tapping a Southeastern Conference offensive coordinator — as CSU attempts to build on the Rams’ surprising season and move toward finalization of plans for construction of an on-campus stadium to open in 2017.
McElwain was 49 and well-traveled as an assistant, and had spent four seasons as offensive coordinator at Alabama when he took the CSU job in late 2011 with a starting base salary of $1.35 million. His base salary this season, in the first year of a new five-year deal he signed in June, was $1.5 million.
After the Sunday interviews in Las Vegas, CSU closed in on an agreement with Bobo on Monday morning. A deal was closed late in the afternoon, subject to the attorneys’ final scrutiny, and shortly before 9 p.m., the school announced the hire and the Tuesday news conference.
Bobo was the Georgia’s prep player of the year in 1993 at Thomasville High School, near the Georgia-Florida border. He played for his father, George, who was a longtime successful high school coach.
As a Georgia quarterback from 1994-97, Bobo played three seasons with former Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey, and he was a freshman when Terrell Davis was a senior. Bobo ranks third on the Bulldogs’ career passing list, with 6,334 yards.
Bobo has spent all but one season of his coaching career at his alma mater. He was a graduate assistant for two years and was on the Jacksonville State staff for the 2000 season before returning to Georgia as quarterbacks coach under Mark Richt. Bobo was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2007, with Richt relinquishing the play-calling duties. Bobo worked with, among others, quarterbacks David Greene, Aaron Murray of the Kansas City Chiefs and Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions.
Richt often has been under fire despite an excellent overall record. So it’s not surprising that Bobo also has drawn barbed criticism at times from a wing of Georgia fandom, but that has quieted in recent seasons as the transition to a no-huddle, spread approach led to sometimes stunning production.
The Bulldogs, with Murray at quarterback, set school records for points and touchdowns in 2012 and averaged 36.7 points in 2013. This season, the Bulldogs (9-3) are eighth in the nation in scoring, averaging 41.7 points, 13th in rushing (255 yards) and 88th in passing (200 yards), with senior Hutson Mason completing 67.9 percent of his passes 2,019 yards and 15 touchdowns, with only four interceptions.
Georgia faces Louisville in the Belk Bowl on Dec. 30.
At CSU, offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin, who oversaw a Rams attack that averaged nearly 500 yards per game in the regular season, was interim head coach after McElwain’s departure.
Although Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost was contacted about the job and since November had been mentioned as a possible candidate to succeed McElwain if he left, it has been clear for weeks that Frost was unlikely to be sold on coming to CSU.
The CSU coaching search had been ongoing since McElwain’s departure, and involved the Chicago-based search firm DHR International as consultants. Executive vice presidents Glenn Sugiyama and Pat Richter, a former NFL receiver and athletic director at Wisconsin, were the original DHR representatives as the firm and CSU worked to screen and vet candidates through initial interviews — including one with Bobo.
Others in the mix during the process included Baldwin; Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash; former Southern California associate coach John Baxter; Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi; Texas defensive coordinator Vance Bedford, a one-time CSU assistant under Earle Bruce; and former CSU players Billy Gonzales, co-offensive coordinator at Mississippi State; and Tony Alford, running backs coach at Notre Dame.
McElwain’s latest contract included annual one-year rollovers that could be triggered by either side, and it called for CSU to get a $7.5 million buyout — officially in “liquidated damages” — if he left. That figure was tied to the value left on his deal, so the figure could go up if he met “achievement” clauses that increased his base salary. CSU eventually agreed to accept $5 million and a $2 million guarantee for a road game at Florida.
After McElwain took the Florida job, CSU interim athletic director John Morris indicated a buyout would be part of the next coach’s deal as well, but he didn’t discuss a specific figure. It’s expected that Bobo’s buyout will be more in line with industry norms — significant and designed to compensate the school left behind, but not so daunting that it potentially could lock in a coach at a school against his wishes at some point.
• Has been offensive coordinator at Georgia since 2007.
• Has coached several prominent quarterbacks at Georgia, including No. 1 overall draft pick Matthew Stafford.
• As Georgia quarterback, set school record for completion percentage in a season (.650).
• Star player at Thomasville High School; named 1993 Georgia player of the year by USA Today.
• Married to the former Lainie Meshad. They have five children: Drew, 10; triplets Olivia, Jake and Ava Grace, 8; and Kate, 6.


SDNY COURTHOUSE, March 22 – For weeks the trial of US v. Latique Johnson et al has plodded along in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Courtroom 318 in 40 Foley Square; on March 20 a defense lawyer was giving his summation, waving around a rifle before SDNY Judge Paul G. Gardephe. But on March 22 the courtroom was quiet with six in the audience and the defense lawyers - but not prosecutors - waiting. Inner City Press stopped in and waited, since neither the government nor administration will commit to announcing when the jury comes back. The public has spent much money on this prosecution; the government called it a proceeding of interest. But where are the exhibits? Where is the commitment to notice? What of general deterrence, if it comes to that? Back on March 20 the lawyer asked, Do you think you could stuff this rifle in your pants? And get in the back of a taxi? It's ludicrous. He also mocked a proffered jailhouse confession -- "who does that?" -- and emphasized that government witness Rosario had access to discovery in the case. You've read the book, now you can tell the story, the defense lawyer snarked, telling you jury, You won't lend these witnesses fifty dollars, why should you believe them? The rifle appeared again, (mis) described as a "baby AK" in connection with the "chicken spot shooting." At day's end on March 18, the defense had asked for a ruling on a cryptic note among the 3500 material: "Prince shot Box kills = beef b/t egp and brims." Judge Gardephe asked the lawyers, That's some gangster or gang? Well, yes: East Gangster Bloods and bloodhound brims, was the answer, all leading to a shoot out on White Plains Road in The Bronx. Judge Gardephe said, Let the jury decide what it means, if as the government says it's two incidents (Prince being shot and Box being killed) or at the defense surmises, Prince shooting Box to death. Judge Gardephe said he will rule on March 19 on the phone calls Latique Johnson the defendant wants to offer. The case began with a sealed indictment, signed by Preet Bharara in 2016, alleging the use of a firearm for a drug dealing conspiracy in The Bronx. Preet has moved on, but the trial continues. On March 15 there was talk of sour diesel marijuana packed in vacuum sealed bags, BWM car keys and digital scales. Judge Gardephe said he would not be comfortable with a witness saying he thought the Facebook photo showed marijuana; the relative attributability of Instagram and Facebook pages was discussed, although the companies are commonly owned. During the trial the jury has only sat 9:30 to 2:30; next week it will shift to a full shift to 5 pm if Judge Gardephe has his way. Inner City Press will be there - watch this site. Back on March 8 a shooting in The Bronx in October 2018 was the subject of an ill-attended SDNY conference. Jerome Jackson is described as in a white t-shirt with silver handgun on 2 October 2018 on Freeman Street - but in the SDNY courtroom of Judge Kevin Castel he was in jail house blues and shackles. His lawyer Julia Gatto questioned whether the NYPD detectives who questioned Jackson about the shooting were in fact part of a joint task force with the Feds - no, Karin Potlock for the government said, and on that basis no suppression - and questioned probable cause. There will be a hearing on that on April Fools Day and Inner City Press aims to be there. The case is US v. Jackson, 18 CR 760. A week before on March 1 when Statue of Liberty climber Patricia Okoumou appeared in the SDNY , it was to face revocation of bail for more recent climbs, all to protest the separation of immigrant families. SDNY Judge Gorenstein did not revoke bail but imposed house arrest. He jibed that it appeared Ms. Okoumou could only support herself by donations garnered by climbing. Afterward Inner City Press asked her lawyer Ron Kuby about this argument. He said the judge has it precisely wrong, or in reverse: she raised money because she is an activist, she is not an actively in order to make money. Ms. Okoumou raised her fist, and headed to Staten Island. Photos here. Inner City Press, which interviewed Okoumou on December 5 just after another SDNY decision, in the Patrick Ho / CEFC China Energy UN bribery case, headed out and streamed this Periscope, and this Q&A, with more to come, on this case and others. How guns eject shell casings was the subject of expert testimony in a Bronx gang trial on February 27 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Before Judge Robert W. Sweet, an ATF agent traced a bullet back to Illinois; under cross examination he said a shell casing might eject feet rather than yards unless it bounced on something. Then testimony went back to 2007, a 14-year old with a gun heading from the Millbrook projects to the Mitchell Houses. The defense asked for a mistrial when the name of a second gang was introduced; the prosecution shot back (so to speak) that it came from photos on the defendant's own Facebook page. And so it goes in trials these days. Back on February 25 a prison sentence of life plus five years was imposed for a Bronx murder by SDNY Chief Judge Colleen McMahon on February 25. She presided over the trial in which Stiven Siri-Reynoso was convicted of, among other things, murder in aid of racketeering for the death of Jessica White, a 28 year old mother of three, in the Bronx in 2016. Jessica White's mother was in the court room; she was greeted by Judge McMahon but declined to speak before sentencing. Siri-Reynoso was representing himself by this point, with a back-up counsel by his side. Judge McMahon told him, "You're a very smart man... a tough guy, a calculating person... You are a coward, sent a child to do it for you... Your emissary shot the wrong person, a lovely lady... It was a vicious, evil attack against the good people of that neighborhood." When she imposed the life plus five sentence, a woman on the Jessica White side of the courtroom cried out, yes Ma'am, put the animal away! Later, after Siri-Reynoso ended asking how he can get more documents about the case, a woman on his side of the courtroom said, "No te preocupes, muchacho, Dios sabe lo que hace" - don't worry, God knows what he is doing. But does He? Earlier on February 25 when the government tried to defend its 2018 change of policy or practice on Special Immigrant Juvenile status in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge John G. Koeltl had many questions about the change. He asked, are you saying that all the decisions before 2018 were just wrong, under a policy in place but not implemented at the time? In the overflow courtroom 15C the largely young audience laughed, as the government lawyer tried to say it wasn't a change of policy but rather an agency interpretation of the statute. Shouldn't there have been notice and comment rulemaking under the Administrative Procedure Act? The government said the argument proffered for this was about the Freedom of Information Act (on which, as Inner City Press has noted, the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has similarly reversed its policy 180 degrees without justification). SDNY Judge Koeltl demanded t know if the government is arguing that no juvenile court in New York, California (and maybe Texas for other reasons he said) is empowered to grant relief. The answer was far from clear - but where the ruling is going does seem so. Watch this site. The Bangladeshi Central Bank which was hacked for $81 million in February 2016, on January 31 sued in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. Now the first pre-trial conference in the case has been set, for 2 April 2019 before SDNY Judge Lorna G. Schofield. Inner City Press will be there.


The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court on Thursday banned all caste-based rallies and conferences in Uttar Pradesh — a state where politics is driven by caste. HT reports. Caste rallies and UP politics|VOTE: Do you agree with the HC's order staying caste based rallies?
The Lucknow bench of Allahabad high court on Thursday banned caste-based rallies and conferences in Uttar Pradesh — a state where politics is driven by caste.
“We stay caste-based rallies throughout the state of UP,” the court said, issuing notices to the Centre and state government, the election commission, Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress.
A bench of justice Uma Nath Singh and justice Mahendra Dayal passed the order on a public interest litigation of filed by local lawyer Motilal Yadav, who had sought a ban on such rallies, saying they were against the basic concept of the Constitution.
In the last two decades, caste politics have played an increasingly crucial role in Uttar Pradesh, which has 80 Lok Sabha seats — the highest in the country.
Yadav said there had been a spurt in caste rallies with an eye on the Lok Sabha elections due in 2014. He said political parties were dividing the society by trying to woo voters on caste lines.
This year, the opposition BSP got off the blocks with 38 Brahmin conferences in May-June. This culminated in major Brahmin rally in Lucknow on July 7, which was addressed by BSP chief Mayawati. The BSP has also held a series of Muslim Bhai Chara conferences.
The ruling SP too held a “Backward Class Mahasammelan” in Meerut on July 8. The party had also organised a Muslims’ conference recently.
In the absence of any well-defined data, a rough estimate of UP’s caste combination is backward classes 52% (as per the Mandal report), Dalits 18%, Brahmins and Thakurs 5% each, Muslims 17% and remaining 3%.


LAST WORDS: Doomed Tina Adovasio texted her husband, Edwin Coello (above), as he returned home late.
Prosecutors are hoping a woman’s texts from beyond the grave will put her husband away for murder.
The defendant in the unusual case in Bronx Supreme Court is Edwin Coello, a former NYPD cop with a record of allegedly abusing women.
He’s accused of beating and strangling his estranged wife and dumping her body off a Westchester parkway.
Prosecutors say Coello, 41, flew into a violent rage after his wife, Tina Adovasio, 40, told him in text messages that she wanted a divorce because she suspected him of cheating.
In one, she invited him to “live your life as a single guy,’’ take “your s–t’’ and get out.
The texts were read at a pretrial hearing on a defense motion to keep the jury from seeing them.
Adovasio, a nurse, vanished March 6, 2011, from her Bronx home.
Her beaten and strangled body was found six days later in a wooded area off the Taconic Parkway in Yorktown Heights.
Detectives did not have to dig hard to find incriminating evidence.
The angry missives about Coello’s alleged cheating were retrieved from Coello’s own cellphone by Detective John Fennelli shortly after cops arrested the ex-cop at his Morris Heights home.
In one, Coello told his suspicious wife that he was having trouble getting home because of flooded highways.
“Do you really think I’m stupid to believe highways are flooded after sun out all day. Really?” she responded.
“[I] hope you have money saved for your lawyer cause you’ll need it,” she wrote.
At another point, she wrote, “You want to live your life as a single guy then go ahead and take your s–t and leave,” according to a transcript Fennelli read in court.
Coello’s lawyer, Renee Hill, is asking Judge Ralph Fabrizio to toss out the text messages, along with the testimony of a former girlfriend who described the alleged abuse that got him kicked out of the NYPD in 2000.
Hill refused to talk about the evidence until after the judge makes a ruling.
Prosecutors also want to introduce a handwritten alibi they say Coello concocted to describe the final moments before his wife’s disappearance.
“Tina was there. Spoke with trying to explain [I] am not cheating on her,” he wrote.
Coello told police she stormed out of their home after the fight.
Coello’s alibi quickly unraveled after security video showed him leaving their apartment building alone carrying a duffel bag.
After he lost his job as a cop, Coello returned to his old post as a doorman at a luxury Upper East Side building.
His volatile marriage to Adovasio was marred by several incidents of domestic strife.
In February 2005, Coello pleaded guilty to second-degree harassment after a domestic incident and received a conditional discharge.
In February 2007, he was arrested for an attack that landed her in a hospital. That case was sealed.
In November 2010, police were called to their home after a fight, but no arrests were made.
On Nov. 11, 2010, police were called to Adovasio’s home for a fight at the dinner table. No arrests were made.
Adovasio was the mother of Coello’s 6-year-old daughter and had three children from a previous marriage.
Coello was placed in protective custody after his arrest last year.


The grid of musical buttons known as Monome will be updated to a new version that will feature a new button design, the innards of which are depicted to the right (the design of the first "40h" model gives a better indication of what the second model will look like).
buttons can be configured as toggles, radio groupings, sliders, ororganized into more sophisticated systems to monitor and trigger sampleplayback positions, stream 1-bit video, interact with dynamic physicalmodels, and play games. button press and visual indication aredecoupled by design: the correlation is established by each application.
allmodels will have black walnut bottom enclosures and the newly designedkeypads. all will be compatible with the entire growing library ofapplications available here. we’re making 100 units of each. maybe moreif there’s sufficient demand.


It is common knowledge that smart speakers are quite a big deal in the interactive marketplace, and now yet another study confirms that smart speakers are a significant component of the smart home.
About 53 million people in the U.S. now own a smart speaker -- including 14 million new owners in 2018 -- according to the study, comprising a telephone survey of 1,000 U.S. adults by National Public Radio and Edison Research.
Of speaker owners, the majority (52%) of consumers own two or more, with 30% of them owning three or more.
The growth of smart speakers in U.S. households grew 78% in a year, according to the survey.
The holidays also were good for smart speakers, with 8% of people in the U.S. getting smart speaker during that time.
Those smart speakers are not just sitting on a shelf. The majority (53%) of consumers use them nearly every day or several times a day.
A side benefit of smart speaker growth is awareness. Most (77%) of consumers are now aware of smart speakers.
That awareness is likely to lead to even more smart speaker sales and adoption.
1 comment about "Smart Speaker Growth Hits 78%".
PJ Lehrer from NYU, January 15, 2019 at 11:02 a.m.


Come to Prudential Center for #ShopPru, a seasonal shopping event on Wednesday,September 12, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The cooler weather is on its way and that means it's time to start thinking about cozy sweaters, fall denim, and pumpkin cocktails! Join us for an evening celebrating the best of the season with snacks, bubbly, and fall fashion.
CHECK IN by Club Monaco. The first 100 guests to arrive will receive a #ShopPru swag bag filled with goodies.
Lovepop cart - Stop by the cart for a chance to win one card a month for a year!
Madewell - Bring a pair of your pre-loved jeans to their table and you'll get $20 toward new ones!


TORRINGTON >> The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is aiming to increase the percentage of recyclable materials the state is able to take in and process significantly by 2024, according to a presentation shared last week with the Northwest Hills Council of Governments.
At this time, the state generates 3.2 million tons of municipal solid waste per year, 800,000 of which are successfully recycled.
The agency hopes to improve practices to the point that it can divert 60 percent by 2024.
“It’s an ambitious goal, but we think it’s realistic,” said Lee Sawyer, who works for the DEEP Bureau of Materials Management and Compliance Assurance, and spoke before the council Thursday.
According to Sawyer, to speed progress toward this mark, DEEP is looking to “more closely coordinate state, regional and local planning,” find room under current regulations to allow new technologies to come into use, support market growth to drive the creation of useful infrastructure, increase public awareness and participation at the consumer level and strengthen enforcement of existing law at the state level.
A study to characterize state municipal solid waste is currently underway — the first such work since 2009, before single-stream recycling was instituted in a number of municipalities across the state — while a study of waste generated by construction and demolition, which the state currently recycles 5-10 percent of compared to 33 percent recycled in Massachusetts, is set to begin in June.
“We’re looking at developing some statewide data on the composition, flow patterns and recycling rates of various materials included in the construction and demolition category, and opportunity for higher uses of those materials,” said Sawyer.
The department is also looking at refining the single-stream recycling process.
A study designed to aid in altering and adding to infrastructure, largely by considering economic modeling of various strategies under consideration, is also planned.
A draft of DEEP’s plan, which will encompass the results of these studies, as well as input from local and regional actors, is tentatively expected to be released for public comment in November.


Universal has made an official press release regarding some new casting choices for their upcoming Russell Crowe Robin Hood project.
It was just two weeks ago when we found out that Scott Grimes, Kevin Durand and Allan Doyle would be playing some of Robin Hood’s Merry Men. In addition to those characters, the roles of Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, Sir Godfrey, French Princess Isabella and King John have now also been cast.
Joining Crowe and Blanchett for the film are Oscar® winner Vanessa Redgrave (Julia, Atonement) as John and Richard’s mother, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine; Mark Strong (Body of Lies, Stardust) as King John’s vicious henchman, Sir Godfrey; Oscar Isaac (Che, Body of Lies) as King John; and Léa Seydoux (13 French Street, upcoming Inglourious Basterds) as the woman who will become queen, French Princess Isabella. Playing key members of Robin’s band of men are Scott Grimes (television’s ER, American Dad) as Welshman Will Scarlet; Kevin Durand (upcoming X-Men Origins: Wolverine, 3:10 to Yuma) as Robin’s right-hand, Scotsman Little John; and newcomer Alan Doyle as their troubadour, Irishman Allan Adayle.
And here’s a new synopsis for the movie which is quite bit different than what Ridley Scott had originally promised for this film – an original take which focused on the Sheriff of Nottingham and portrayed him as the hero of the story.
The untitled Robin Hood adventure chronicles the life of an expert archer, previously interested only in self-preservation, from his service in King Richard’s army against the French. Upon Richard’s death, Robin travels to Nottingham, a town suffering from the corruption of a despotic sheriff and crippling taxation, where he falls for the spirited widow Lady Marian (Blanchett), a woman skeptical of the identity and motivations of this crusader from the forest. Hoping to earn the hand of Maid Marian and salvage the village, Robin assembles a gang whose lethal mercenary skills are matched only by its appetite for life. Together, they begin preying on the indulgent upper class to correct injustices under the sheriff.
As Screen Rant writer Niall Browne pointed out, this Robin Hood story is not as interesting compared to what they original had planned to offer audiences. It’s been done before and the original plan sounded so much better.
As for the casting decisions we’ve seen so far, they’ve given credit to actors who have been making waves in recent times with prominent roles in major mainstream movies. Two of these actors are personal favorites of mine, Canadian actor Kevin Durand and English-born Mark Strong, and I look forward to seeing them in this movie.
Although there is some criticism being aimed at the producers of this film for not casting English-born actors for many of these roles, I personally am in favor of these choices. I understand the complaints to a certain extent, but I think they’ve cast great actors for these roles and they might just pull off some nice accents in the end (better than Kevin Costner I’m sure).
What do you think of the cast for the next Robin Hood movie?
Production has begun on the untitled Robin Hood Adventure and the movie is set to release May 14, 2010.


SINGAPORE - The former student named in a poison pen letter about Workers' Party candidate Daniel Goh said that her relationship with him was a professional one.
In a response to The Straits Times on Friday morning, she said: "Dr. Daniel Goh was a supervisor for my thesis at NUS. He also gave me advice on postgraduate studies. The relationship was a professional one."
Her remarks came hours after Dr Goh said he filed a police report over the letter alleging that he had an affair with a former student.
Dr Goh strongly refuted the allegations in a post on his Facebook page on Thursday night, and on Friday morning, he wrote that he had lodged a report in person at Serangoon Neighbourhood Police Centre, which is a short walk from his home.
"It felt so unreal walking down the familiar sidewalk, perhaps it was the slight haze from the burning of paper money," he said.
Dr Goh added: "I said during my speech at the Punggol East By-election rally that life is too short and special to be kiasu, kiasi and kiagui. People have asked me what gui (ghosts) might mean? Perhaps the government? No, not at all, there is no reason to fear the government which serves and protects us. I just thought gui was appropriate because we do not know what ghosts there are, kindly or evil, and we shouldn't be afraid nevertheless."
He ended his post by thanking people for their support and saying "Let's move on to the issues at hand."
The letter, sent to several media organisations and the WP on Thursday, alleged that Dr Goh had an affair in 2008 with an NUS postgraduate.
Late Thursday night, Dr Goh said in a Facebook post that he categorically refutes the "baseless accusations" and questioned the timing of the letter.
"I have been in the public eye, involved with WP, for over two years, and if the intention is to alert the party to alleged moral failings, it would have been done earlier and directly to the party leaders. I have always maintained a professional relationship with my students. This is very hurtful and unfair to my family."
Dr Goh, 42, is married to a housewife, 39. They have a three-year-old son. He was introduced on Wednesday as a WP candidate for the coming polls and may be fielded by the party in East Coast GRC.


HERE’S a line-up of lionesses to get England’s stars roaring for today’s big match.
At the back in short shirts we have, from the left, The Sun’s Bust of Britain winner Lulu Cole, 22, Holly Peers, 30, and Sabine Jemeljanova, 26.
In front of them are Rosie Danvers, 23, Rhian Sugden and Dani Wells, both 31. They squeezed into their England strips ahead of today’s World Cup clash with Panama.
Just like the rest of the nation’s Three Lions fans they are putting their shirts on a win for Gareth Southgate’s team.
Rhian Sugden, 31, reckons England will be gunning for the South American minnows.
She said: “We should have enough in the locker to see off Panama – but we must stay composed.
Rosie Danvers and Dani Wells predict England will win to nil.
The Page 3 stunners will be all-eyes on Gareth Southgate’s men for the lunch-time kick-off.


David Couch, attorney for Let Arkansas Decide, provided the ethics form filed today by the committee, which has submitted petitions to the secretary of state to call a statewide election on a constitutional amendment to allow alcohol sales in every county. The campaign filing reveals precious little.
Retail grocers and convenience stores support the effort, we've been told previously.
The report shows no financial contributions to the campaign, except for a $20,000 "loan" from National Ballot Access, a company in the business of paid canvassing for signatures. It shows expenditures of $28,000, mostly pay to people who gather signatures.
Couch said the report covers June. All contributions to the committee were made in July, so they won't be reported until next month.


Morin cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday.
Morin has a mediocre 4.60 ERA in 172 career major-league innings split between three organizations. He has a 3.24 ERA in 25 innings for Tacoma so far this season and has allowed one run in two big-league innings for the Mariners.


Royal news: This royal just paid the sweetest tribute to his wife and children - with a very modern accessory | HELLO!
Prince Daniel of Sweden made an adorable tribute to his family on Sunday, when he stepped out for the inaugural Race and Sports Day in Stockholm alongside his wife Princess Victoria and children Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar. In one photograph, Daniel was spotted chatting on his mobile, showing that he has a sweet personalised phone case that features a never-before-seen shot of his wife and two children. The snap, which sees Victoria with her arms around six-year-old Estelle and two-year-old Oscar, is thought to have been taken at Estelle's sixth birthday photo-shoot. Aw!
The photographs were taken at an exciting time for Daniel, who has spearheaded the new Race and Sports Day to encourage more young people to take part in sport, and to emphasise the importance of health for children and young people. The Swedish Royal Court's website reads: "It is hoped that the day will spur on children who do not currently participate in sport, and to encourage them to get involved in sport with all the advantages this brings."
Prince Daniel isn't the only royal to show his love through his phone accessories – in fact, Princess Eugenie also has a sweet personalised case with a snap of her fiancé Jack Brooksbank. Her mother, the Duchess of York, is also a fan of sentimental pieces, and often carries a tote bag featuring a photograph of her two daughters.
Like their British counterparts, the Swedish royal family have recently returned to public duty after taking their annual summer break. Victoria, Daniel and their two children even shared some adorable photographs of their holiday at Solliden Palace on their official website, revealing that little Oscar has begun learning to ride a horse. What a lovely family!
Three royal couples are celebrating their wedding anniversary today - find out who!


The Department of Public Enterprises and National Treasury awarded global management consultancy firm Bain & Company a tender worth R12.1m, Parliament has heard.
Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan said in a written reply to a question from Member of Parliament for the Economic Freedom Fighters Mzingisi Dlamini that the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) and National Treasury had participated in awarding the tender to Bain following a tender evaluation.
The tender was for work to be done at state-owned airlines, said Gordhan.
Dlamini wrote to Gordhan after the firm landed in hot water when its name came up during Judge Robert Nugent’s Commission into the South African Revenue Service, and evidence emerged of its role in changing the operating model at SARS in 2015 under the watch of now suspended Commissioner Tom Moyane.
Most recently, Business Leadership South Africa cut ties with the consultancy firm over the imbroglio.
Bain also pledged R164m as prescribed by the Nugent Commission of Inquiry or – in the absence of such prescription – for the benefit of South Africa.
"The two departments entered into a memorandum of understanding where National Treasury contributed R10m and the Department of Public Enterprises R2.1m respectively towards the project to develop an optimal group corporate structure for the state-owned airlines," said Gordhan.
Gordhan said the tender was procured for the development of "the optimal group corporate structure for the state-owned airlines".
The contract was awarded in October 2016. The work undertaken by Bain commenced in November 2016 and was completed in March 2017, he added.
He said Eskom had awarded a tender to Bain and Company in 2010, but that other state-owned companies like South African Airways, Denel and Transnet had not.
This article has been amended to reflect that Business Leadership South Africa has cut ties with Bain and Company, and not Business Unity South Africa. Business Unity South Africa has never been a member or partner to Bain and Company. It was also amended to reflect that the R164m will be used either as prescribed by the Nugent Commission of Inquiry or – in the absence of such prescription – for the benefit of South Africa, not to assist with the costs of the Commission.


Sonakshi Sinha is really excited about the year ahead and says the audience will see her narrating different stories in 2019.
“I’m really excited... Doing all these interesting films, narrating such different stories and playing characters so far apart from each other is what made me opt for these projects when the offers came my way,” she said in a statement.
The actress will be seen in Abhishek Varman’s period drama ‘Kalank’, and then in India’s first space film ‘Mission Mangal’.
She is currently shooting for a yet-untitled film in Amritsar. Directed by Shilpi Dasgupta and jointly produced by T-Series and Mrighdeep Lamba, the film is scheduled to release in August this year.
She will end the year with ‘Dabangg 3’.
The actress said the “prep and head space for each character has been very individualistic and the process of unlearning and relearning has been a constant”.
“Every director’s narrative and each character’s journey is so different which makes this entire process riveting.
“I’m really looking forward to the year ahead and I hope the audiences enjoy my performances as much as I’m enjoying working,” she added.


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KOLKATA, INDIA Oct (IPS) - Flush after a court order lifting a ban on one of her many controversial books and sitting in the company of her Indian friends in this eastern city, Taslima Nasreen had every reason to look smug.
"This is the victory of people who believe in freedom of speech," said Nasreen, referring to a Calcutta High Court order, last month, that quashed a ban imposed on the third volume of her seven-part autobiography "Dwikhandito" (Split in Two) by the Leftist government of West Bengal state.
"When I was hearing the verdict of the Calcutta High Court on Friday, I was not too excited or overcome with emotion - it was expected. It was a vedict for democracy in a democratic nation," Nasreen told IPS.
The swanky rented apartment in the city's upmarket Rawdon Street, complete with avant-garde paintings and ethnic furniture, is a far cry from the cheap hotel rooms that she favoured some years back and bears testimony to the relative stability that seems to have come into this exiled Bangladeshi writer's tumultuous life.
Security checks at the gate and the policeman posted outside her apartment are reminders that she continues to be on the hit-list of Islamic fundamentalists both in West Bengal and in her native Bangladesh.
It is another matter that the third volume of her autobiography was controversial, more for the hints at her alleged sexual liaisons with the cream of literary intelligentsia in West Bengal and in Bangladesh, than for anything else.
"If the ruling communists proscribed the book to appease some fundamentalists, then they were not real friends of Muslims," Nasreen, a gynecologist who styles herself as a feminist, said bluntly.
She could not have been unaware that her statements could anger the communists in West Bengal, on whose support the Congress-party-led coalition government in New Delhi depends, and affect the status of her one-year entry visa. But then Nasreen has seldom cared for the consequences of her often reckless actions.
Nasreen, who is now penning the fifth volume of her seven-part autobiography, titled "Ami Bhalo Achi, Tum Bhalo Theko, Priyo Desh" (I am fine, take care, my beloved country), on her life in exile in Europe between 1994 and 1997, said the Leftists were pandering to a handful of fundamentalists just to garner votes.
She first went into hiding in 1994 and then fled Bangladesh with support from international human rights organizations like PEN and Amnesty International and was given asylum in Sweden. Since then she has lived in Germany, France, the United States and India.
In her third volume, Nasreen had, using her talent at mixing issues, managed to bracket "progressive" Bengali intelligentsia with religious fundamentalists.
''I have read the book many times, goaded 25 eminent persons to read it and then we took the decision after considering every opinion,'' West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya had said while imposing the ban.
By quashing the ban, the Calcutta High Court undermined the communist government's contention that the book's harsh take on how women under Islam was offensive to Muslims and could cause unrest in the state, which borders Islamic Bangladesh.
"Women are worst victims of Islam," reiterated Nasreen, who has been sued by an Indian poet, Syed Hasmat Jalal, for making the hints at sexual liaisons between her and Bengali literary figures in her controversial volume.
"My memoir's purpose was not to prove that I am a good person, a saint, a goddess. My purpose was to describe the beautiful, the not-so-beautiful and the in-between events that happen in one's literary life,'' said Nasreen.
The 395-page volume was also banned in Bangladesh, where it was published under the title "Ka", (or Speak) after Islamic fundamentalists objected to it.
Taslima Nasreen fled her native country in 1994 after her book, "Lajja",(or Shame), dealing with the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh, angered Muslim hardliners who threatened to kill her.


Student trustees at Orange Coast College decided to not say the Pledge of Allegiance at their meetings anymore. It doesn’t affect other groups or organizations on campus. They just won’t recite the Pledge at the trustees’ meetings.
Maybe she doesn’t understand that no one is trying to stop her from doing that. No one is disrespecting her. And if she feels so strongly about this, maybe she should have run for the trustee position so she could vote on this petty issue.
If anything, the trustees just saved fifteen seconds that could now be used for more important, relevant discussion.
It saddens me that of all the things these student leaders do that *actually* impact life on campus, the one that seems to draw the most attention is the one that affects no one but the trustees themselves and anyone who attends their meetings.
On a side note, Jason Bell (one of the elected trustees and an atheist) is now my entry in the Secular Coalition for America’s $1,000 contest to find the highest-ranking elected atheist in the country.


There's been much talk about the need for more women in leadership roles, the possibility of formal quotas to guarantee equal representation for women in top political and business echelons, and the need to teach women the skills they need to succeed up top while they are still little girls.
Although women comprise 45.9 per cent of all employees in Australia, according to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, they account for less less than 20 per cent of the Australian ICT workforce. The lack of female representation at senior levels is even greater, according to professional services firm Deloitte.
Reason to celebrate... companies are reporting good results from their gender diversity policies.
Some companies want to redress the imbalance. For example, Westpac has set an aspirational target of 50 per cent female representation within leadership roles by 2017.
Here IT Pro continues the conversation about legislated female quotas and the need to attract more schoolgirls into technology careers with a look at gender diversity policies that are working for companies employing women both in technology and other leadership roles and with tips on how to avoid it all going pear shaped.
If you want to see more talented women in technology and leadership roles, it’s essential that senior male leaders champion change, says Dayle Stevens, NAB head of enterprise application and data services, technology.
"As the majority of senior roles in technology are held by men, the sponsorship and support of senior leaders is key."
Role models are also important, says Stevens. "Examples set by senior leaders can inspire positive change and help [women] see that maintaining [work/life] balance is possible."
Just make sure middle management is also aligned with the same values, says Ros Harvey, founding director of Sense-T at the University of Tasmania, and a veteran of corporate responsibility and labour standards for agencies of the World Bank.
Where you recruit from is important, says Harvey. "Don't just recruit through technical trade channels as they are mainly male dominated. Recruit wider and go through channels that reach women."
NAB, Westpac, and global software consulting company ThoughtWorks aim to hire equal numbers of men and women in their graduate programs.
Lindy Stephens, director of social impact at ThoughtWorks, says companies need to set recruitment targets because "good intentions don't work".
"The minute we had quotas for recruiters, the situation changed overnight. Having quotas doesn't mean we hire women without merit. Women with merit are out there, but we have to find them."
The percentage of women employed in ThoughtWorks Australia increased from 19 per cent to 40 percent since 2011. Similarly, NAB aims at hiring equal numbers of men and women in its graduate programs. As of September 2013, 47 per cent of the graduates who accepted positions in the bank's 2014 graduate program were women.
In 2010, the bank also set a target to raise the proportion of women on its Group subsidiary board from 14 per cent to 38 percent by the end of 2013, at September women accounted for 30 per cent of executive management.
While some organisations find formal targets help get more women into the business, and then into leadership positions, others see it as an undeserving advantage.
One man who runs a public relations company says he is angry that there should be "a special elevator to the top jobs just for people in skirts". The man who asked to remain anonymous, says women should be promoted on merit, just like men.
Google doesn’t have formal targets. "It's more about how to build a healthy team," says Mary Selby, engineering manager at Google in Sydney. "We encourage women in other ways."
But why not have targets, or even legislated quotas, if decades of other methods haven't worked, asks Harvey.
"It's the definition of insanity – to keep doing the same thing and expect different results. Quotas work and they set a hard metric. We already have quotas in Parliament. We can extend these concepts to gender."
She says quotas are dangerous when no effort is made to find talented women and a role is handed to someone who is not qualified.
Programs where women can develop their knowledge and skills in the workplace, and address any weaknesses when competing in a male environment is proving a good policy for Google and others.
"The key is building confidence in women," says Selby.
Cisco has a future leaders program where high potential women are groomed to take on senior roles. Two recent participants have been promoted to sales directors.
ThoughtWorks has a Women In Leadership Development program, which helps women set high goals and visions, and discusses what could be holding them back, such as lack of confidence, or experience in negotiating salaries.
But it's pointless having gender policies if relationships aren't strong enough within a team, says Martine Harkin, facilitator at Leading Teams, which runs leadership development and training courses.
"Men have to be involved in the conversation. It's not just women who have to do something about [gender imbalance]. You have the best results when the whole team is engaged, and you can all discuss the consequences of not having women leaders."
Many organisations, such as ThoughtWorks, match mentors with people on similar career paths for advice and guidance. "It's important to pick the right mentor," says Harkin.
Cisco has a shadowing program. "If a woman wants to be the next CIO then she will follow the CIO around," says head of human resources Danielle Weese.
Cisco allows flexible working hours and employees can work from home if needed. Both men and women can schedule their hours around, say, dropping off the kids at school, says Weese, who recently spent three months working in Canada while looking after her sick mother.
Parental leave at full pay - ThoughtWorks offers 18 weeks for the primary carer and two weeks for the secondary - part-time and job-sharing roles are also policies that are begining to make a difference, even if the company has had to work hard to convince some clients their consultants do not need to work full-time.


1917 was a democratic revolution!
Labour Party: the sham of "one member, one vote"
Chapter 4: Superstition or struggle?
Was advocating extra-parliamentary direct action to bring down the elected Thatcher government anti-democratic? Are 'by democratic means' and 'by parliamentary means' identical concepts?
The 1917 revolution was one of the greatest democratic moments in history.
The Bolshevik Party, which is now lyingly identified in both outright bourgeois and hypocritical Labour Party- style anti-socialist propaganda, as an enemy of democracy, was, above all else, the great force for democracy in the Russia of 1917. It was a force, moreover, without which the workers and peasants of the former Tsarist empire would have been crushed and their drive for democratic self-rule drowned in blood. These are the truths propounded and convincingly argued for by Max Shachtman.
By James P Cannon. This is an extract from Cannon's reply to a criticism of his court evidence in 1941.
Comrade Munis  is dissatisfied with our assertions at the trial that “we submit to the majority”.
By James P Cannon, from Socialism on Trial, 1941. This is an extract from Cannon's evidence in the court where, during World War 2, he and other American Trotskyists and trade unionists were put on trial and jailed for hindering the US war effort.
Q: And how will the dictatorship of the proletariat operate insofar as democratic rights are concerned?
"After the rising of the 17th of June [the East Berlin workers uprising of 1953] the Secretary of the Writers Union had leaflets handed out in the Stalinallee in which it can be read that the people had forfeited the confidence of the government, and could only win it back by redoubled efforts. Would it not be simpler if the government dissolved the people and elected another?"
Lenin called for the "dictatorship of the proletariat" as a great expansion of democracy.
By "dictatorship" he meant the rule of a class, not of a Hitler or a Stalin. This is an abridged version of Lenin's "Theses on Bourgeois Democracy and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat", adopted by the founding congress of the Communist International in March 1919. Long-forgotten contemporary references and examples have been cut.
The malaise of bourgeois democracy in Britain is now a subject of much discussion and concern. The discussion on democracy, early in 1982, between Michael Foot, then leader of the Labour Party, and Socialist Organiser, a forerunner of AWL, may help readers form a clearer picture of the issues beyond small-scale financial corruption.
Why parliament? Can those old arthritic limbs still move as the nation needs?
Why parliamentary democracy? Why should democratic socialists and, more especially, democratic socialists in Britain, continue to assert their faith in the supremacy of Parliament? Were those who framed the Labour Party constitution right in their sense of balance when they declared that their objective was to sustain a Labour Party in Parliament and in the country?


Most small businesses I have worked with spend the majority of their new business development time marketing. Hey, branding, and building awareness is critical, but the fact of the matter is marketing can learn invaluable lessons from selling skills.
u The most successful sales reps are the ones who are effective listeners. They do not try to push their product or service, but rather solve problems and address concerns. They sincerely want to help the prospect become more successful and eliminate the frustrations and stress they are experiencing. What are you offering in your marketing communications that will give prospects what they currently are not getting? A "me too" rarely convinces a prospect to switch suppliers. Give them a good reason to want to do business with you.
u Successful sales reps are the ones who are unashamed to ask for the order. They are not shy or bashful as they believe they provide the best solution for their prospect's needs. They cannot effectively pull this off if they haven't listened first. When you develop your website and e-mail communications, they must project a need for the reader to take action now. Let's face it; people do not spend a lot of time analyzing your website or literature. If they have to connect the dots in order to figure out you want their order, you are not going to get very many of them.
u Effective sales reps anticipate objections and are well prepared to deal with them. Think about the most common reasons why a prospect would be hesitant to buy your product or service and include answers to those objections in your website, literature and communications.
u Sales reps communicate in a style and manner that prospects can easily relate to. They like to be able to comprehend the message without having to work hard to understand it. Too often, owners write their own copy, and it is too technical or confusing. Have a sales person review the copy so that the reader can not only easily understand it but actually want to read it.
u Sales reps will go the extra mile to get answers and be responsive to the requests of a prospect, such as how soon can I get a quote, responding to an inquiry or getting them a shipping date. When you get an inquiry, jump on it right away! The early bird gets the worm.
u Do most prospects buy from sales reps who do not look or communicate professionally? Present professional looking communications. Does your website, business cards and literature look like they were made in the back room by your nephew? You only get one chance to make a good first impression.
By incorporating a selling perspective into your marketing communications, you will be more effective and more successful. Like most objectives, it takes some time and effort. It is well worth it.


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A car has plunged over the seawall onto rocks in Portstewart, Co Londonderry.
The incident happened shortly after 10am on Tuesday and emergency services had to be called to the scene.
The vehicle, which had sustained significant damage, was later recovered.
It remains unclear how the incident came about.


The performances conjure up the moves of stellar silver screen dancing duo Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and Marilyn Monroe’s iconic “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend” number in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
Gene Kelly, Cyd Charisse, Rita Hayworth, Jane Russell and Debbie Reynolds and the films The Band Wagon, Cover Girl, Singin’ in the Rain and An American in Paris also serve as inspiration for the Gucci Spring-Summer 2019 #GucciShowtime campaign that “delivers maximum glitz and glamour…the mood is playful, knowing and evokes the joyful outlook of the famous musical films of the ‘40s and ‘50s,” says a press statement from the Italian luxury fashion house helmed by creative director Alessandro Michele.
The campaign was shot and directed by Brooklyn-based photographer and long-time Gucci collaborator Glen Luchford (who frequents Los Angeles as co-owner of the Rose Hotel in Venice).
Last September, Gucci presented the Spring-Summer 2019 collection in Paris at Le Palace, the 1912 music hall-turned-cinema that morphed into one of the city’s buzziest nightclubs in 1978 to rival Studio 54 in New York.
Guests Jared Leto, Faye Dunaway and Salma Hayek Pinault watched from the balcony as Jane Birkin stood up at one point to serenade the room with her 1983 song “Baby Alone in Babylone” — a song about a sad, lonely Hollywood that might call to mind filmmaker Kenneth Anger’s famed 1959 book Hollywood Babylon, detailing legendary scandals in La La Land. And that circles back nicely to Damien Chazelle’s award-winning 2016 film of that title that revived the old-fashioned movie musical.
Michele’s imaginative designs never fail to entertain. Through his signature retro lens, this collection is marked by sparkly entrance-making dresses, ostrich feathers, glittery fringe, and pops of saturated Technicolor fit for 21st century showgirls and boys. As usual, there are a medley of styles, textures and prints — classic tailoring, piles of pleating and ruffles, plaids and stripes, leopard and strawberry prints, GG logos and rhinestone bling galore — even Mickey Mouse head handbags.
Having grown up with a mother who worked as an assistant to a film executive in Italy, Michele has long been inspired by the movie industry; since his appointment as creative director of Gucci in 2015, Michele has incorporated Hollywood imagery into his collections, from Donald Duck patterns for spring 2017 to Hollywood film studio logos in fall 2018.


Fort Defiance brought a strong performance to Robert E. Lee on Monday.
STAUNTON – Fort Defiance brought a strong performance to Robert E. Lee on Monday, winning 7-2.
The Indians return to action Tuesday at home in a conference and Valley District match up against Turner Ashby. The Lee Ladies play Tuesday at Broadway.
Singles winners for Fort included Whitney Kiser, Carly Wine, Noel Witherow, Ashley Crickenberger and Allyson Senger. For Lee, Addison Willett won her singles match.


Where the Wild Things Are just had a bang-up opening weekend–$32.5 million, well above the expected take of around $25 million. Warner Brothers should be breathing a sigh of relief. As we wrote before, the marketing run-up seemed to veered towards hipsters rather than kids. That left many wondering who exactly would see the film.
Our writer, Cliff Kuang, spoke this weekend on NPR’s All Things Considered about how the movie was marketed, and why. Listen below.


If you’re anything like me, you’re probably regularly imagining the next room makeover you’re going to do in your home -- and sometimes all you need to make a space feel fresh is a brand-new paint job.
It all starts with choosing the perfect paint. Only thing is, with so many colors and finishes to choose from, that decision can get intimidating.
You want a look that isn’t going to go out of style in half a second. I get it. So I talked to the pros -- interior designers who shared the hottest wall colors and finishes their clients are requesting. These hues will make your walls feel fashion forward.
But first, a word of warning: “While a homeowner can get wrapped up in trends, remember to create a space that works for your whole family and honors the integrity of your home,” says Jessica Davis, principal interior designer at JL Design Nashville.
In other words, you’re going to have to take in all of these trends, think about how they’d look in your space, and consider which best reflects your family’s personalities. Then pick one and get painting!
Think you have to go plain white on the ceiling? Not so. Color's coming to the tippy-top of the room, say the pros.
"Think about the ceiling -- it is a huge flat expanse and should be considered when making design decisions," says Marika Meyer of Marika Meyer Interiors. She recently added a pop of hot pink to the ceiling of a wallpapered kid's room.
The darker grays that have been hugely popular in recent years are getting a bit lighter, says Salimpour. "'Shadow white' is darker than white and lighter than gray," she explains. "This understated and versatile color is perfect for mixing with jewel tones."


Cuomo's call for cops to get involved came just hours after he requested that the State Education Department also look into what happened at the East Middle School in Binghamton on Jan. 15.
The strip searches, which were apparently conducted by the school nurse and an assistant principal, have caused outrage in Binghamton, with several protests being thrown near the school over the past two weeks.
Progressive Leaders of Tomorrow, a local activist organization that has pushed for an investigation, welcomed the governor’s call for action.


We have shown a lot of transformer beds on TreeHugger, including others that rise into the ceiling. The idea is so sensible; a bed takes up a lot of space, why not have it go away when you don't need it? Murphy beds that fold up are problematic; you have to make the bed and often strap the mattress. You have to lift it up. That's work; if you want a bed to hideaway for your pied-a-terre in the Marais or Hyde Park, you have people to lift. The Liftbed solves the problem; you don't have to make the bed, or tell your new darling to hide in the closet, you just press a button and the whole thing rises up into the ceiling.
The bed cantilevers off two columns at the head of the bed; the mechanism is hidden inside. There must be a lot of steel in there; the bed is rated for a metric tonne of load (2200 pounds). On a cantilever that long, that is a lot of moment; imagine what it would take to lift with thirteen people sitting on it.
I really think that this design is very clever, the way the bed is built around a sofa that then acts as a headboard for the bed.
Custom built by a 3D robotic engineering company that also produces Porsche and Audi vehicle parts, this 21st century piece of technology can help turn any room in the house into a further bedroom at just the flick of a switch.... With city centre home floor space costing between £500 and £1500 per square foot upgrading from a one or two bedroom apartment can cost as much as £70,000 in London and other major prime city centre locations and with stamp duty and moving costs potentially adding a further £12,000 to the cost, it's no wonder that this product is finding a good market for what it offers to the homeowner.


Barnsley have completed the signing of Hull's Nathan Doyle on a free transfer.
The 23-year-old utility player, who has been on loan at Oakwell since 18 September 2009, has agreed a two-and-a-half year deal.
Reds boss Mark Robins told the club website: "Nathan did very well during his loan spell and we are delighted to bring him back to the club.
"This is a deal we have been working on for a while and I am delighted that it has now come to fruition."
Meanwhile Grimsby are expected to complete the signing of striker Michael Coulson on a permanent basis.
Coulson has been on loan at Blundell Park since November.


PARADISE BY THE LAKE. ESCAPE TO OWN YOUR PERSONAL CAMPER/CAMP SITE. .4 ACRES/ CORNER LOT. This Super Nice 37' 2001 Fleetwood Camper sleeps 10. 17'x17' deck w/table/chairs. Plenty of storage.This property comes with 20'x30' Garage, 8'x10' Utility Shed w/frig, Screen Gazebo w/table, Grill, nicely landscaped, brick sidewalk thru out w/path lights, 2 extra EL Hook-ups, 2 Riding mowers, Ladders, 10'x10' canopy, Large camp fire pit. All of the amenities you need for camping and property Maint.. 2 mins to Brookville Lake. Gated Community MUST SEE TO APPRECIATE.


Alabama's beach properties appear small compared to neighboring Florida's, but what Mobile lacks in acreage, it makes up for in availability and charm. Beaches near the Mobile area enjoy a longer vacation season than some regions because of the sub-tropical temperatures and higher humidity. Because Mobile is located near two bodies of water -- Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico -- travelers have a few beach choices.
Access Dauphin Island, located in southernmost Mobile County, by crossing the island's only bridge. On the east side of the island, campers will find the Dauphin Island Campground (dauphinisland.org) complete with water and electrical hookups. The beach on this end of the island is small and quiet, but, because anglers like fishing from the nearby jetties, do not expect much privacy. Many beach visitors enjoy stopping by the east end's Sea Lab and Estuarium (disl.org).
For sunbathing and beach sports, visit the island's west end to access the two public beaches. Book a room at the Harbor Lights Inn (no website; 1506 Cadillac Ave; Dauphin Island; 251-861-5534) or the Gulf Breeze Motel (no website; 1512 Cadillac Ave; Dauphin Island; 251- 861-7344) if you want to stay overnight. The west side has one resort, the Holiday Isle Resort, located on the island's main road, Bienville Boulevard. To reach the first beach on the west side, you must park and walk. Recent hurricanes have pushed the beach farther away from the parking area, so plan to take a short hike. The second beach is located farther west, but is easier to access. Visitors must pay a parking and pay-per-person fee. On this beach, beachgoers will find a small boardwalk with refreshments and entertainment.
Gulf Shores is approximately 45 minutes from Mobile, but, despite the trip, is a popular beach destination, even for locals. Gulf Shores offers fishing, helicopter tours, swimming and snorkeling. Largely a vacation town, vacationers will find a range of condominiums, hotels and beachside resorts. When booking a room, ask for popular features at these resorts like beachside pools and oceanside balconies.
Visit four of the Orange Beach area beaches: Cotton Bayou, East Alabama Point, Romar Beach or Gulf State Park. Cotton Bayou and Romar Beach have free parking with short walks to the actual beach property. Located on the east side of Perdido Pass, East Alabama Point is a favorite spot of nature lovers. If you are looking for a family-friendly destination, the Gulf State Park makes an excellent choice. Amenities like pavilions, air-conditioned restrooms and shady picnic areas draw beachgoers from around the region.


What is it really like to live there?
When searching for a home, there are many unknowns: crime, pest infestations, air quality, landlords to don't make repairs, etc.
Revaluate provides information on these an many other issues to help renters and and buyers make better-informed decisions about where to live.
The information is based on data that we have collected from a wide range of sources, and is presented in a high-level way, similar to an online review.
Each address is assigned ratings across four categories: Safety, Environment, Quality of Life, and Expenses, as well as an overall "Livability" rating. And for those want to dig in deeper, we present the specific information that went into calculating the ratings.


SAUDI ARABIA. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), represented by Badir program for technology incubators and accelerators, disclosed that the number of Saudi women entrepreneur-owned technology startups incubated in the Program during the past year increased by 144%.
Out of the number, 44 companies are active in the fields of communications, software, e-commerce and smart device applications.
Badir forecast an increase in the establishment of Saudi startups and a promotion of technical innovation and development in these companies as the government sees a prominent role of this sector in the future economy.
Nawaf Al Sahhaf, CEO of Badir Program for Technology Incubators, described the growth rate of women's projects incubated by the program as "good" compared to the past five years, stressing that the program has contributed to supporting the ambitious and innovative initiatives and ideas of Saudi women entrepreneurs and providing them with an appropriate work environment through the offices specialized in the preparation, habilitation, training and workshops, enabling them to run their businesses efficiently and effectively and helping them to participate in local and regional conferences.


The cast of "Game of Thrones" at the 67th annual Primetime Emmy Awards.
A Lannister always pays his debts, and so it seems does "Game of Thrones."
The HBO fantasy series is reportedly increasing the salaries of its lead stars Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister), Kit Harington (Jon Snow), Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister), Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen) and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister), according to Deadline. The actors will make more than $500,000 per episode in season seven and the potential eighth season.
However, the negotiations do not guarantee that all five actors' characters will survive through the end of the series.
The last salary negotiations for the quintet took place in October 2014 and landed them each $300,000 per episode. That 2014 deal put the "Game of Thrones" actors among the highest-paid actors on cable TV, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Even the new negotiations still are nowhere near the deals "The Big Bang Theory" actors Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco have scored — each earns $1 million per episode just like the entire cast of "Friends" did for the show's final seasons. Though actors on broadcast networks also typically earn more than their cable counterparts.
A seventh season of "Game of Thrones" is confirmed while the eighth season is still just a possibility. Showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have said they have "between 70 and 75 hours before the credits roll for the last time." At the end of the sixth season, "Game of Thrones" will have aired 60 hours over six seasons. This could mean the final seasons will each have less episodes than normal.


Association for Mother’s Milk Donation and MDA to begin operating first National Mother's Milk Bank in Israel for Premature and Sick Babies.
In April of 2018 the first national Mother's Milk Bank is set to open in Israel. The service will be established by Magen David Adom in collaboration with the Association for Mother’s Milk Donation. The organization will allow nursing women to donate excess mother's milk to babies whose mothers are not available or able to nurse. The Bank will be established in the MDA Jerusalem station, and the facility's operation will be funded mostly by MDA and partially by the Health Ministry.
Mother's milk offers many benefits, including providing antibodies that defend babies against diseases and enable immune development, a process of utmost importance among premature and sick babies. Baby food formulas and substitutes do not offer the same advantages.
Breast milk, similar to blood units, is a human secretion containing stem cells and white blood cells – an irreplaceable composition. Research conducted in the field by Dr. Sharon Bransburg Zabary has affirmed this unique benefit. Bransburg Zabary is a member of the establishing committee of the Association of Mother’s Milk Donation and was one of the activists who spearheaded this initiative to which MDA and relevant government offices enlisted.
According to medical statistics, only 30% of women nurse without using any substitutes or formula, and could act as potential donors to the Mother's Milk Bank. The average donation volume ranges from 100-200 cc per day during a time period ranging from 3-9 months post-partum. The expected demand for mother's milk is estimated to be hundreds of liters a month.
Milk for premature babies from a mother who gave birth between the 34th week, and through six weeks postpartum.
Milk from a mother who gave birth on her planned due date.
The donation process ensures milk quality. Women who nurse and are interested in donating should approach the Mother's Milk Bank and will be invited for a medical interview, as well as undergo a set of tests to ensure safety and quality of the milk. Women who are found to be healthy and eligible will pump excess milk using a personal pump authorized according to global standards. They may do so either at home or at a hospital. The milk will be kept in a special bag at a cold temperature until it is collected by MDA. The donor will state the volume of each donation as appears on the pump, her name, date, and whether or not anything unusual occurred during pumping. MDA will then coordinate a convenient time to collect the donation.


The Accord is a partnership between the government and construction industry, which commits to achieving a more productive, capable and resilient sector. It includes a strong focus on health, safety and wellbeing.
"The construction industry consistently accounts for a high proportion of work related fatalities, injuries and ill health in New Zealand," says WorkSafe’s Director of Strategic Engagement and Implementation, Paula Knaap.
"If we want to see a strong, resilient sector we must focus on health and safety. It is great to see the government and industry really stepping up to lead and work together to make it a priority.
"We know from past experience the building blocks to achieve great health and safety outcomes are the same pillars we need to support strong, resilient and sustainable industry."
WorkSafe’s data shows that in 2018 there were six fatalities in the construction area and in the first six months of the year, 2,746 workers suffered from illness or injury.
The Canterbury Rebuild Safety Charter was developed by WorkSafe to improve health and safety outcomes in the construction sector following the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes.
Evaluation findings showed the Charter was successful in creating a unified front on health and safety across the rebuild.
WorkSafe will be bringing learnings from the Charter to supporting the health and safety component of the Accord. It will also be working with the industry to understand mental health and wellbeing challenges in the construction area.


The internet has reacted in disgust, amusement and confusion after Ikea launched an ad encouraging women to pee on it. If they're pregnant, a discounted price for a crib magically appears.
The retailer revealed the ad, which features in the store's Swedish catalog, in a video released on Tuesday. The clip was aptly titled "Pee on this ad."
"This ad can change your life as you know it," the opening sentence states. "Follow the instructions and simply pee on the marked area," the video continues.
If the person peeing on the ad is pregnant, a "family price" will appear, allowing them to purchase a Sundvik crib at a large discount. The ad, which is currently available only in the Swedish catalogue, has unsurprisingly solicited a strong response from people who are intrigued, disgusted and everything in between.
Many tweeted that Ikea was "literally taking the piss."
One person reacted with a simple - but probably fair - "what the f**k, Ikea?"
Another noted the point that Ikea probably didn't run the promotion by their employees, as cashiers are apparently going to have to handle "urine soaked catalog pages" when pregnant customers bring their ads into the store.
One person joked about the conversation that must have taken place during the brainstorming session for the ad.
Another individual quipped that she couldn't wait for Ikea's "discount toilet ad to debut," seemingly implying that such an ad would likely encourage customers to, erm, poop on it.
Others, however, were more enthusiastic about the unconventional advertisement.
The ad even made it onto the Jimmy Kimmel Live! television show in the US. "Allow me to present what is either the most creative or repulsive ad for baby furniture of all time," the late night talk show host said, before playing a clip of the Ikea video.
The concept works in basically the same way as a traditional pregnancy test, reacting to hCG hormone, which is found in pregnant women. However, Ikea did seek outside help from Swedish chemical manufacturer Mercene Labs in order to "scale up the technology" and "make it work in the format of a printed ad," Felix Östman from Ikea Sweden’s press department told The Local.


Tim Gideon Sony MDR-NC300D If you want to effectively block outside noise, but bulky headphones aren't your thing, Sony's MDR-NC300D is a solid in-ear noise-cancellation solution. But you'll have to sacrifice some audio quality in the bargain.
Top-notch, adjustable noise cancellation. Five ear tip sizes provide a secure fit. Selectable listening modes optimize bass or movie dialogue. Useful Monitor mode mutes music and eliminates noise cancellation.
Audio performance is lacking for the price. Runs on AA battery (not included). No passive mode for listening.
If you want to effectively block outside noise, but bulky headphones aren't your thing, Sony's MDR-NC300D is a solid in-ear noise-cancellation solution. But you'll have to sacrifice some audio quality in the bargain.
Sony has included embedded noise-cancellation in some of its Walkman portable media players, like the X Series ($299.00, ), for a while now. The company moves the circuitry out of the player and into the earphones with its ($299.99 direct) MDR-NC300D. The in-ear 'phones actively block out sound, and even analyze your environment to determine which of its three selectable noise cancellation modes is the best choice. The NC300D does a solid job dampening the outside din, but drawbacks include subpar audio performance and a bulky on-cable circuitry-and-battery compartment.
The earpieces on the MDR-NC300D look a bit large, but aren't heavy and stay in place just fine. Microphones, pointing outward on each earpiece in order to sample the ambient room noise and feed it to the noise canceling circuitry, are the primary reason for the bulkiness of the black-and-chrome design. The largish 2.9-by-1.3-by-0.7-inch circuitry-and-battery compartment sits about halfway of the way down the 47.2-inch cable. With the required single AA battery installed, the MDR-NC300D weighs 2.2 ouncesit doesn't operate in a passive mode without the battery like the Creative Aurvana X-Fi ($300.00, ), for example, does. Five sizes of rubber ear-tips come with the earphones, as does a velvet pouch, a leather carrying case, an earphone extension cable, an airline adapter, and a shirt clip. Sony estimates battery life at about 15 hours, but, of course, this depends on what brand you use, and the AA battery is not included.
Using the included shirt clip, which attaches to the back of the circuitry/battery compartment is pretty much essentialotherwise, you'll have this heavy, awkward box dangling from the cableand likely yanking the earpieces from your ears. A Monitor button on the front face of the compartment mutes all music and disengages the noise canceling circuitrybut still utilizes the microphonesso you can hear what's going on in the outside world with a simple push. Beside the button is a tiny battery-life-indicator and mode display. The Sound Mode button is on the top panel, along with the Volume rocker, and the Power/Hold switch.
Sony is proud of its new technology, claiming it's the only manufacturer to offer true 100 percent digital noise cancellation. And the MDR-NC300D impresses with its array of noise-cancellation modes. Mode A focuses on low-to mid-range frequencies (best for airplanes), Mode B focuses on extremely low frequencies (better for trains and buses), and Mode C minimizes over a wide band of frequencies (ideal for noisy office settings). In addition, you can press the "NC Optimize" button on the back panel of the compartment, which, according to Sony, adjusts the noise canceling signal shape to fit the unique contour of your inner ear. Adjusting this setting, which spans from -10 up to 10, seems to allow more low frequencies through at the lowest setting and higher frequencies at the highest setting. During testing, I kept my NC Optimization set to 0.
Given their respective sizes, it's not quite fair to compare the noise cancellation of the MDR-NC300D with headphones trying to accomplish the same task. Bose's $299 QuietComfort 15 ($299.95, ) headphones are the best noise canceling pair available, but Sony's earphones use their in-ear seal to great advantage. Combining passive reduction with the active digital noise-canceling circuitryand the ability to adjust which frequencies get the most attentionthe MDR-NC300D rivals just about any other model you can buy. Thing is, there aren't many in-ear 'phones with active cancellation on the market. Denon makes an in-ear model, the AH-NC600 ($199.99, ) that sounds fantastic, but its noise cancellation is merely decentthe opposite of the MDR-NC300D. Denon can't touch the selectable modes and the excellent seal created by Sony's comfortable rubbery ear tips.
Unfortunately, like with Bose's earlier QuietComfort headphone models, audio performance is not a strong suit here. During testing regardless of the sound mode I selected, the audio was a bit too sculpted for my taste. My primary complaint is the earphones are overly crispthe Rolling Stone's "Rocks Off" sounds too sibilant and bright, although Bass mode seemed to balance things out a bit. Basically, the middle frequencies seem a bit under-represented. Movie mode is helpful for hearing dialogue betterespecially if you are in a particularly loud environment that the noise cancellation can't completely conquer. The bass response, in Bass mode, is definitely enjoyable, but it's offset a bit by the middle frequency deficiencies.
Is the sound you'll get from the MDR-NC300D downright awful? Not by any stretch of the imagination. The thing is, though, the audio quality isn't what you'd expect from a $300 pair of earphones. But again, the noise cancellation is top-notch. While it isn't fair to compare apples and oranges, it's worth noting that Bose has made strides in the frequency response of its QuietComfort linethe same-price QC 15 still isn't a sonic masterpiece, but it does offer a better listening experience than the MDR-NC300D. Why don't these pricey products deliver audio bliss? It's simple: All the manufacturing cost is sunk into the impressive noise-canceling technology and the hardwarewith little left for the earphone's drivers, which are responsible for sound quality.
If you eschew bulky over-the-ear headphones like the Bose QuietComfort 15, but effective noise cancellation is your top priority, the Sony MDR-NC300D is a solid option. But if sound quality trumps dampening the outside din, you should skip this pair and check out the $200 Denon AH-NC600, which offers capable-but-not-astounding noise reduction and great audio performance for $100 less.
Compare the Sony MDR-NC300D with several other headphones side by side.
Bottom Line: If you want to effectively block outside noise, but bulky headphones aren't your thing, Sony's MDR-NC300D is a solid in-ear noise-cancellation solution. But you'll have to sacrifice some audio quality in the bargain.


When members of the Jefferson swim and dive team discovered that their school would be placed in Virginia’s 5A North region ahead of this school year, there was disappointment.
Swimming has traditionally been one of the science and technology-oriented magnet school’s best sports, and not being able to compete against traditional regional powerhouses, now 6A schools, was disheartening to a team that boasts the D.C. area’s best male swimmer in junior Andrew Seliskar and a group of boys that can compete with the best in any league.
That disappointment was all but forgotten on Friday night at George Mason’s Freedom Aquatic Center as the boys’ team cheered, joked and posted some of their fastest times of the season on their way to the 5A North region title — their first in 12 seasons. The girls finished second, behind Albemarle.
The Colonials opened the meet with back-to-back victories in the boys’ and girls’ 200-yard medley relays, sending a clear message from the outset.
Seliskar, a two-time All-Met, turned a half-body length lead in the medley relay into a four-body length blowout with a blazing 21-second split during the butterfly leg. Oakley finished it off with a 21.65-second freestyle split to win the event in 1 minute 34.96 seconds.
One event later, Carrie Heilbrun showed speed of her own by bringing the girls’ relay from seventh to second, again during the butterfly leg, before handing it off the sophomore Charlie Lertlumpraset, who outpaced the field to win in a time of 1:51.09.
“The relays are really something special to high school swimming, and it’s a great opportunity to get up, have some fun and swim fast,” Seliskar said.
Both swimmers were back in the water moments later for the 200 freestyle. Seliskar took it out fast before cruising in the final half for a time of 1:41.56, well off his automatic all-American time of 1:38.42 from last week’s conferences. Heilbrun won the girls’ race in 1:53.57.
Seliskar capped his night by posting the sixth-fastest 500 free time ever by an area high schooler — 4:24.70. Less than 15 minutes later he turned in a 19.88-second split in the 200 free relay.
Heilbrun won the girls’ 100 freestyle in 52.70 and had a 23.51 split on the girls’ freestyle relay.
Jefferson also had top-three finishes from Oakley and Luke Thorsell, who contributed on all three relays and individually.
Other area winners were Falls Church’s James Sturges, who won the boys’ 50 free over Oakley, 21.90 to 21.94 and Edison’s Francisco Nieves in the boys’ 100 free (48.40). Tuscarora’s Pim Silpacharn won the girls’ 50 free (25.10) and Briar Woods’s Brennan Maxwell took the boys’ 100 butterfly (51.22).
Stone Ridge junior Katie Ledecky set the American record in the women’s 500-yard freestyle on Friday night during prelims at the Washington Metropolitan Interscholastic Swim & Dive Championships. Her time of 4:28.71 shattered the previous mark, set by Katie Hoff in 2008, by 1.76 seconds.
Ledecky, the 2012-2013 All-Met Swimmer of the Year, is the second swimmer in history to set the American record in the event at Metros. O’Connell’s Kate Ziegler broke Janet Evans’s mark in 2006. Ledecky’s time also broke her own national high school record by 2.67 seconds. She is the top seed for Saturday’s finals by nearly 28 seconds.


Aides to US President expect him to release his Israel-PA peace plan once Netanyahu forms a government coalition.
Aides to US President Donald Trump expect the president to release his peace plan for Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) once Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu forms a coalition, Reuters reported on Wednesday, a day after Netanyahu’s election victory.
Officials said that despite criticism of the administration’s moves to date, the plan will demand compromises from both sides.
The contents of the Middle East peace plan, authored by President Donald Trump’s advisers Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt, have remained a secret thus far.
Kushner and Greenblatt have limited the plan’s distribution over the two years they have been crafting it. It has been kept secret “to ensure people approach it with an open mind” when it is released, a senior administration official told Reuters.
Only four people have regular access - Kushner, Greenblatt, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and Kushner aide Avi Berkowitz, the official said.
Trump is briefed regularly on the contents but is not believed to have read the entire document of dozens of pages.
“He is briefed if something interesting is happening or there is an idea they want to run by him,” the official told Reuters.
While the plan has not yet been made public, Kushner recently discussed it in an interview with Sky News in Arabic.
According to Reuters, the proposal also addresses such core political issues as the status of Jerusalem, and separately aims at helping the Palestinian Arabs strengthen their economy.
Cloaked in secrecy is whether the plan will propose outright the creation of a Palestinian state.
On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the plan would be presented before too long but, when asked, declined to say whether the administration favored a two-state solution.
The PA, meanwhile, has been boycotting the US ever since Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in December of 2017 and has rejected the US peace plan before it has even been unveiled.


The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association issued a statement Monday saying it was “astounded” that the National Football League has rejected its request that the Dallas Cowboys football team wear commemorative decals on helmets to honor the five Dallas police officers killed by a sniper in July.
The Association says that the NFL denied the request because of a policy regarding uniform regulations. Dallas Cowboy executive vice president Stephen Jones told Sports Day that he respects the NFL’s decision.
“Everyone has to be uniform with the league and the other 31 teams,” Jones said.
The associations’ national President Nathan Catura is asking the NFL to reconsider.
“When the Dallas Cowboys opened their training camp by walking arm-in-arm with members of the slain Dallas police officers’ families, FLEOA’s membership was overwhelmed with pride.
“However, we were astounded to find that the NFL denied permission for this important gesture. In the past, the NFL has allowed exceptions to their strict uniform rules to bring attention to breast cancer prevention and national memorials.
Posted: 8/15/16 at 2:53 PM under News Story.


One of Scotland’s most famous couples are expecting - and nature lovers will be watching the entire drama unfold on camera.
They suffered lightning strikes, camera outages and pine marten attacks during the last nesting season.
A north-east animal rescue centre has been quarantined after an osprey showed potential signs of a deadly avian condition.
A “tragic error” resulted in a baby bird of prey dying while a wildlife charity attempted to tag it.
Watch this cheeky pine marten checking out an osprey nest in the early hours of Friday morning.
Louis the osprey continues to entertain as he gets to work on building his nest - but struggles to manoeuvre a huge stick.
Holidaymakers are not the only north-east residents off to warmer climes this month - four osprey chicks are also off to sunny Spain.
These striking photos show a rare glimpse of a lucky osprey catching a bite to eat from the River Don in Aberdeen.
One of only two female Welsh ospreys breeding successfully in the UK has hatched two chicks in a Scottish national park.
The first osprey chick of the season has hatched at a Perthshire nature reserve.
A lonely osprey, who kept a vigil in his Highland nest waiting for his mate to arrive, has had his patience rewarded in duplicate.
In a nest at the top of an ancient Caledonian pine tree in the Highlands, a lovesick osprey is waiting patiently for his mate to arrive.
Here are the pictures which prove that a female osprey has returned to Scotland earlier than expected.
Bird enthusiasts in the Cairngorms National Park have been left devastated after their regular male osprey was usurped by a new pretender.
Wildlife watchers are enjoying a double delight with the arrival of a second osprey egg at the Loch of the Lowes.
One of Scotland's best known wild birds does not appear to be one of the country's most loved.
The historic 100th chick to fledge from Scotland's most famous osprey nest has died in West Africa.
The winner of this year's Scottish Tree of the Year has been revealed.
Dramatic images of an osprey swooping down on a loch to catch a fish have been captured at Aviemore.
Conservationists fear they could have said a final farewell to Scotland's best-loved osprey.
A famous Osprey nest in the Highlands has produced three chicks on the 60th anniversary of the birds returning to Scotland after being extinct.
Three osprey chicks have hatched at a north-east visitor attraction.
A leading conservation charity has warned that osprey breeding sites in part of the North East appear to have fallen.


I attended the Union Colony Dinner Theatre on Sunday with my daughter Chris Anderson and my son-in-law Ron Anderson. It was just great! There was very good acting and singing and it was so nice see the young people who undoubtedly will never forget the experience they had in this play. The King with a bald pate, even shinier than mine at 87 was a wonderful actor/singer. I would describe the entire performance with one word: Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (anybody our there know how to spell that?). Even the food served by the actors was fantastic. I can’t wait to go again. Looks like Annie will be a good one. Greeley is becoming my favorite city.


The Jubilee Debt Campaign has called for all of Egypt and Tunisia’s ‘unjust debts’ to be cancelled unconditionally, ahead of a G8 discussion on north Africa.
MPs have voted for a bill to restrict 'vulture funds' – companies that buy up poor country debts cheaply, and then sue for massive profits. However, the Conservative Party has been criticised for slowing down the Bill's progress.
As well as responding to the devastating earthquake in Haiti with immediate relief, Christian Aid are calling for the full cancellation of Haiti's debt of US$890 million.
Debt campaigners welcome the decision of the Paris Club of creditors to cancel US$347 million of Togo's debt and impose a moratorium on remaining payments to these creditors until 2011.
For Zambia to be secure from the risk of high debts and poor management of debt resources, a comprehensive debt management strategy should be enforced a new report has said.
A new report from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund has revealed that ‘vulture funds’ and other commercial creditors are chasing a staggering $1.8 billion from some of the world’s poorest countries - after they have had debts cancelled by rich countries.