There's something wrong with redheads?

Reuters

Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:36pm EST LONDON (Reuters) - An ad for a TV dating show has been banned for suggesting that redheads are unattractive, Britain's advertising watchdog said on Wednesday.

Virgin Media's newspaper advert for the program "Dating in the Dark" included the text: "How do you spot a ginger in the dark?"

Virgin said the premise of the show was to challenge people's perception of attractiveness and to encourage decisions based on personality as well as looks.

However the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) agreed with three complainants that the ad was likely to cause serious offence and should not be used again.

"We considered the text was likely to be interpreted ... as a statement that reflected a choice between looks and personality ... being a suggestion that people with ginger hair were unattractive," the ASA said in a statement.

"We considered the ad was unlikely to be interpreted to be light-hearted in tone and was instead likely to be seen as prejudicial against people with ginger hair."

Other adverts in the series used to promote the show had included the tagline: "When the lights come on I just hope I haven't been kissing Shrek."

On Tuesday, Britain's biggest retailer Tesco apologized and said it had withdrawn a Christmas card which showed a child with red hair sitting on the lap of Santa Claus under the banner: "Santa loves all kids. Even ginger ones."

(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Steve Addison)

Telstra - Media Centre - Announcement...

Telstra to trial FTTP in Point Cook

Sydney 18 December, 2009. Telstra today announced a trial in Point Cook, Victoria, to upgrade part of its access network with fibre to the premise (FTTP) technology.

The upgrade will mean around 1,500 residential customers in the area will have the opportunity to be one of the first in Australia to have Telstra replace their copper access with fibre, bringing their broadband speeds into line with some of the fastest residential services in the world.

Telstra has invited the NBN Co to act as an observer on the project, which could provide NBN Co important insights into the network deployment and customer migration aspects of its planned National Broadband Network (NBN) project.

Executive Director of Telstra Network & Technology Michael Lawrey said Point Cook was an ideal location for the trial because the area's rapid residential growth in recent years meant demand for broadband had outstripped the capacity of the copper network.

"Demand for broadband in areas of Point Cook is very high. In improving the capacity of broadband in these areas we had a choice of upgrading the copper infrastructure, which might shortly be overbuilt by the NBN, or using fibre," Mr Lawrey said.

"Rolling out fibre is in line with the Government's vision to get fibre to as many Australian homes as quickly as possible and could provide valuable lessons for the NBN."

The FTTP build will commence immediately and is expected to be completed by May 2010. On completion, residents in the trial area will be able to take up a fibre service or retain their existing copper line.

Once the deployment is completed, Telstra will trial an interim wholesale offering over the fibre, with the detail of both retail and wholesale offerings to be released closer to the build's completion.

Media Contact:
Andrew Butcher

Reference Number: 424/2009

42 needles found in Brazilian boy...

Telstra BigPond News

Friday, December 18, 2009 Surgeons are hopeful they can remove most of the metal sewing needles inserted into a two-year-old Brazilian boy in a suspected black magic ritual.

A former stepfather of the boy is being held by police having told officers he inserted 42 needles into the boy with the help of two unidentified women.

The police inspector in charge of the case said a black magic ritual involving the boy was among the motives police were looking into.

'All of our officers are focused on this case, gathering information,' he said.

The youngster is in intensive care in hospital in the northeastern city of Barreiras and is to be transferred to a specialist heart unit because two of the needles are close to his heart.

Dr. Luiz Cesar Soltoski, who is treating the boy, said surgeons hope to remove most of the needles - some as long as two inches - but those in the lungs will have to wait until the child's breathing improves.

The doctor said he believed the needles were stuck into the child's body one by one.

'We think it could have only been by penetration because we found needles in the lung, the left leg and in different parts of the thorax. It couldn't have been by ingestion,' Soltoski said.

The boy's mother, a maid, took him to a hospital in the small city of Ibotirama saying he was complaining of pain.

Three days later, after X-rays revealed many of the needles, doctors moved him to a larger hospital in the nearby city of Barreiras.

The boy's father, Gessivaldo Alves, said he believed his son could have been a victim of a black magic ritual.

Alves reportedly said he visited the home where the boy was living and found unspecified items that could be used for black magic.

Teens ignore laws against texting while driving...

Reuters Dan Whitcomb

Fri, Dec 11 2009 LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Karen Cordova, a 17-year-old high school student and part-time supermarket cashier, admits she sometimes texts friends while driving home from work late at night, lonely and bored.

The Arizona teenager knows it's illegal in Phoenix and dangerous. She once almost drifted into oncoming traffic while looking at her phone.

But would a nationwide ban stop Cordova and her friends from texting in their cars? No way, she said.

"Nobody is going to listen," Cordova said.

With momentum building in Washington for all 50 U.S. states to outlaw text messaging behind the wheel, there is evidence that the key demographic targeted by such legislation, teen drivers, will not pay much attention.

At least one major study has found that, with mobile devices now central to their lives, young people often ignore laws against using cell phones or texting in the car.

The number of text messages is up tenfold in the past three years and Americans sent an estimated 1 trillion in 2009.

Some police agencies, while strongly in favor of such mandates, say its tough for officers to enforce them.

The California Highway Patrol has handed out nearly 163,000 tickets to drivers talking on hand-held phones since mid-2008. But it has issued only 1,400 texting citations since January in a state of 23 million drivers -- not for lack of trying.

"The handheld cell phone is relatively easy for us to spot, we can see when somebody has their phone up to their ear," CHP spokeswoman Fran Clader said.

"But with the texting it's a little bit more of a challenge to catch them in the act, because we have to see it and if they are holding it down in their lap it's going to be harder for us to see."

Already 19 states and the District of Columbia ban texting by all drivers, while 9 others prohibit it by young drivers.

TEXTING CAUSES ACCIDENTS

In July, Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer, citing a study that found texting drivers were 23 times more likely to be in an accident, introduced a bill requiring states to prohibit the practice or risk losing federal highway funds.

Since then, Senator Jay Rockefeller has offered his own bill that would achieve the ban through grants to states.

In October, during a three-day conference in Washington on distracted driving, President Barack Obama signed an executive order barring federal employees from texting behind the wheel.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said he would seek to expand that rule to bus drivers and truckers who cross state lines and called the conference "probably the most important meeting in the history of the Department of Transportation."

But a much-cited study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that usage of cell phones for calls and texting in North Carolina actually ticked up slightly after the state banned them for drivers under the age of 18.

A study by the Automobile Club of Southern California found that texting by drivers dropped after the state's law took effect, but it did not break down the data by age.

"What I would say is that texting and cell phone devices have become such a component of life for teens and for young people that it's hard for them to differentiate between doing something normal and doing something wrong," said Steven Bloch, senior research associate for the Automobile Club.

The problem is not unique to the United States. In Britain, a public service announcement on texting while driving drew worldwide attention for its extremely graphic imagery.

The spot shows three texting teen girls in a horrific head-on collision with another car, and lingers on shots of their bloodied faces shattering the windshield as a child whose parents have been killed cries for her dead mother to wake up.

In 2007, Phoenix became one of the first U.S. cities to ban texting while driving, although Arizona still has no statewide law.

Out of a group of four high school students interviewed by Reuters in Phoenix, three admitted texting while driving and a fourth said he had stopped only after his cousin caused a serious traffic accident while sending a message.

Cordova's classmate, 17-year-old Anna Hauer, says she often texts her boyfriend when she drives and doubts she or her friends would stop because of new legislation.

"By the time they pull you over, the chances are you are going to be done with your text anyway so they can't exactly prove that you were texting," she said.

(Additional reporting by Tim Gaynor in Phoenix and Sinead Carew in New York; editing by Mohammad Zargham)

Dead drunk policeman stripped of martyrdom

Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:35pm BEIJING (Reuters) - The Chinese police captain who named his subordinate a "martyr" after he died from a drinking binge has been suspended, the Shenzhen Public Security Authority said on Tuesday.

Traffic officer Chen Lusheng of the southern city of Shenzhen was off-duty when he attended a banquet with officials from Mabu village in late October. After repeated toasts, he vomited and passed out on a couch, where he suffocated, state media said.

His captain, Xie Feiyong, attempted to declare Chen a martyr, in order to get higher compensation for his family and possibly to avert any investigation into his death. He was suspended from duty on Tuesday, the Xinhua news agency said, citing the police.

The Shenzhen government information office did not immediately answer a query on the matter.

Shenzhen police told local media the policeman was a victim of China's infamous Chinese business banquet ganbei or "bottoms up" culture, where diners attempt to out-drink each other to gain concessions. They did not explain why Chen was attending the banquet in the first place.

Forced drinking is so widespread that workplace injuries regulations in the southwestern city of Chongqing were recently amended to classify deaths caused by drinking as "workplace accidents" bosses send staff out drinking for business.

Xie argued that Chen died in a work-related incident and that there was nothing wrong in wanting to leave behind a glorious legacy for his colleague.

The application for the posthumous honor was denied by the District Brigade, on grounds that Chen died neither in the line of duty nor during work hours.

Chen's family, who are demanding 4.8 million yuan ($703,200) in compensation, had camped out in the police station and set up a mourning hall there.

Black nativity angers Italy's "White Xmas" party

Mon Dec 14, 2009 1:03pm ROME (Reuters) - A nativity scene featuring a dark-skinned Jesus, Mary and Joseph that has gone on display in a Verona courthouse has created heated debate in a city with strong links to Italy's anti-immigration Northern League party.

The nativity's appearance coincides with the League's controversial operation "White Christmas," a two-month sweep ending on Christmas Day to ferret out foreigners without proper permits in Coccaglio, a small League-led town east of Milan.

The Christmas scene -- featuring a dark-skinned baby Jesus dressed in a red shirt and lying in a manger -- was the idea of Mario Giulio Schinaia, the chief Public Prosecutor in Verona.

"History teaches us that baby Jesus and his parents were very probably dark-skinned," Schinaia told Reuters. "This nativity belongs to a universal Christmas tradition that brings together the whole of Christianity in celebration."

The nativity has caused heated reactions in the rich northern town, where resentment toward foreigners has spread as the number of immigrants, particularly from north Africa and eastern Europe, continues to rise.

"It is a useless act of provocation, just like the suggestion not to have a nativity scene at all, in order not to offend Muslims," Northern League farm minister Luca Zaia told one paper, referring to proposals in recent years that town halls and stores should no longer sponsor Christmas scenes.

"Magistrates have other problems to deal with: I hope they spend as much time thinking about lawsuits and trials," he said.

The Northern League, an ally of conservative Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi with key cabinet posts including the interior ministry, has used its growing political clout to secure tough new laws including making illegal immigration a crime.

League proposals have ranged from separate buses and trains for immigrants to banning new mosques and forbidding the serving of Chinese food and kebabs in towns under its control.

Schinaia defended his black nativity scene, saying it was not intended to be polemical but to encourage debate.

"There shouldn't be a white or black Christmas, only a merry Christmas for everyone, of every skin color, ethnic background and nationality."

(Reporting by Ella Ide; Editing by Stephen Brown)

Rotating house puts family in a spin...

Reuters

SYDNEY Friday 11 Dec. 2009(Reuters) - An Australian family is turning heads with a rotating house that can guarantee a different view every time they wake up.

The Everinghams have been in a spin since they moved into their dream home in the countryside north of Sydney three years ago. They can turn the house to follow the sun without having to leave the comfort of their armchairs.

"When you wake up you do wonder where you'll be facing," said Luke Everingham, a sound-engineer who came up with the idea with his wife, Deb, after chatting with neighbors.

The neighbors wished they had built their home 15 degrees further to the north to capture more sunlight.

The octagonal-shaped house sits on a turntable powered by a small electric motor and controlled by a computer, which allows it move on demand.

The house cost about A$700,000 ($641,000) to build and can complete a full rotation in about 30 minutes, according to the Everinghams' own Web site (www.everinghamrotatinghouse.com.au).

(Reporting by Amy Pyett; Editing by Miral Fahmy

Elin to stand by Tiger....

Golf - Fox Sports By Annette Witheridge and David Gardner

Elin Nordegren to stay with Tiger Woods for the sake of their children

December 11, 2009 .The wife of Tiger Woods will stick with her cheating husband for the sake of their two young children.

Friends of Elin Nordegren, 29, said she was devastated and heartbroken by the extent of his alleged infidelities but plans to stay married.

The couple, who wed in 2004, have a daughter Sam, 2, and son Charlie, 10 months.

"She is a child of divorce and that's not something she's likely going to want to do to Sam and Charlie," an unnamed friend told US magazine People. "She really believes in the importance of parents staying together."

The friend said Tiger Woods, 33, had finally come clean and told Elin, a former nanny, the full extent of his alleged womanising. They are believed to be in negotiations to alter their prenuptial agreement, which could allow her to walk away with $US55 million ($A60 million) if she remains married for another two years.

So far, 11 women have claimed affairs with the golfer and other revelations, including a fling with a British TV presenter, are expected.

The friend said Elin heard whispers about Woods's active sex life before they married - but he promised to reform.

"Elin had talked to other golfers and their wives about Tiger's wild parties. When she asked Tiger about it, he said he would stop doing it. And she believed him. But he never did," one friend said.

Friends said they had been having problems for two years and have had public arguments in Stockholm, where they own an apartment.

Their marital woes exploded into headlines two weeks ago when Elin, whose Swedish parents divorced when she was six, chased Woods from their Orlando home and allegedly attacked his car with a golf club. He crashed into a fire hydrant and a tree.

Since then, the scandal has erupted and placed the billionaire golfer's lucrative sponsorship deals in doubt - he gets an estimated 90 per cent of his income from endorsements.

The 15 TV advertisements now featuring him have vanished.

Public relations guru Howard Rubenstein sees little hope, saying: "He is beyond PR redemption."
Racy texts have now emerged, appearing to show Woods flirting with 24-year-old cocktail waitress Jaimee Grubbs.

Grubbs, alleged mistress number three was the first to publicly apologise to Elin.

"I couldn't describe how remorseful that I am to have hurt her family," the cocktail waitress told US showbiz news program Extra.

Then there is the alleged email exchange between alleged mistress Rachel Uchitel and Woods.

"I know it's brutal on you that you can't be with me all the time," the golfer texted her, said In Touch magazine. "I finally found someone I connect with."

Porn star Holly Sampson, 26, added her own touch with a video clip, recorded in May, boasting how she and Woods met at a party and became bedmates. "He picked me to go into the room," she said.

Ashley Samson, the source for the National Enquirer's story on Uchitel, said Woods's management offered her $US200,000 ($A218,000) to shut up. "I turned them down flat, saying I would not lie for Tiger because the truth is the truth," she said.

Woods has laid low since the storm erupted but it is now claimed the reason is because Elin broke his tooth in their row before the crash.

Star magazine in the US reported that Elin threw a mobile phone at him after she caught him texting Uchitel.

Groom creates viral storm twittering from altar....

Reuters Basil Katz

Wed, Nov 18 2009. NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Maryland groom has created an viral story storm after he interrupted his wedding last month to update his Facebook and Twitter accounts from the altar.

Dana Hanna, who works for a pet website, also posted a short video of the ceremony on the Internet. It showed him reaching into his pocket for his phone as the minister was about to pronounce the couple husband and wife.

The video has had more than 350,000 views.

"Oh, Dana is updating his relationship status on Facebook," the minister said as the audience at the wedding laughed.

After Hanna finished twittering he continued the ceremony.

"As I was saying, I now pronounce you husband and wife. It's now official on Facebook. It's official in my book. Dana you may kiss your bride."

Hanna, who lists his profession on the networking site LinkedIn as chief architect at Next Day Pets, described his reaction to the ceremony on his YouTube account the day after the ceremony.

"I surprised not only my guests, but also Tracy (his wife) by pulling out my phone and posting on Facebook and Twitter from the altar during out wedding," he said.

Though users have sent marriage proposals over the micro-blogging site Twitter, interrupting a wedding ceremony to update social networking site Facebook and send out a Tweet on Twitter about it appears to be a first.

"I had her phone ready in my pocket, so when she asked for it I could hand it to her. No one knew about this except the minister and myself." he said on YouTube.

The Twitter post, which has garnered Hanna instant online fame, is still up on his account.

"Standing at the altar with @TracyPage where just a second ago, she became my wife! Gotta go, time to kiss my bride. #weddingday 1:48 PM Nov 21st from Twittelator."

Yesterday, apparently overwhelmed by media attention, Hanna posted a new comment on his Twitter account.

"To all the criticizers of my video out there questioning my sanity: You don't get it. I was having fun at MY wedding! Loosen up, have fun!"

His new bride, apparently also surprised at the viral storm her husband launched, also posted on her Twitter account.

"Can't sleep, very anxious about this new fame. What will become of it?" she asked.

Geen haast bij tumor in prostaat...

Trouw News Paper Bij Sander Becker

7 December 2009.Geen haast bij tumor in prostaat. Behandeling is vaak onnodig.Veel mannen met prostaatkanker ondervinden meer hinder dan voordeel van de behandeling. ’Actief afwachten’ blijkt vaak verstandiger.

Ingrijpende behandelingen van prostaatkanker zijn vaak helemaal niet nodig, stelt Roderick van den Bergh, uroloog-in-opleiding in het Erasmus Medisch Centrum in Rotterdam. „Prostaattumoren groeien meestal heel traag. Daardoor zou de helft van de mannen na de diagnose nooit klachten hebben gekregen.”

Toch vragen de meeste patiënten zelf om een operatie of een bestraling, ook al kunnen ze daar incontinent en impotent van worden. „Het ligt erg gevoelig”, verklaart Van den Bergh. „De diagnose ’k’ komt toch als een schok. Dan kun je als arts wel uitleggen dat ze een heel klein tumortje hebben waar ze waarschijnlijk nooit klachten van krijgen. Maar de meesten kiezen toch voor behandeling.”

Dat terwijl een ’actief afwachtend beleid’ met af en toe een extra controle een zeer verantwoord alternatief kan zijn, bewijst Van den Bergh in zijn proefschrift, waarop hij woensdag promoveert. De arts bekeek ruim zeshonderd mannen met prostaatkanker, die hadden besloten zich niet te laten behandelen. Na tien jaar was geen van hen aan de tumor overleden; een kwart was wel aan iets anders gestorven. De patiënten werden op gezette tijden opnieuw onderzocht. Eventuele vertraging die dat opleverde voor de behandeling, bleek niet nadelig.

In Rotterdam zijn ze met nieuw onderzoek begonnen om te testen hoe zulk afwachtend beleid in de praktijk kan worden ingevoerd. „We hebben we nu een protocol ontwikkeld met strenge criteria. Als de tumor geen agressieve kenmerken vertoont, kan de patiënt kiezen voor afwachten plus extra controles.”

Van den Bergh schat dat een derde tot de helft van alle mannen met prostaatkanker in aanmerking komt voor afwachten. Dat zal veel nutteloze behandelingen schelen, al benadrukt hij dat ze soms ook nodig zijn: het is onomstotelijk bewezen dat de vroege opsporing van prostaatkanker in combinatie met ingrijpende behandelingen de sterfte aan prostaatkanker met 20 procent vermindert.

Steeds meer mannen krijgen te horen dat ze prostaatkanker hebben. Daar zijn ze grotendeels zelf voor verantwoordelijk. Ze lezen op internet iets over een ’PSA-test’ die de ziekte kan opsporen, vragen de huisarts om de test te laten uitvoeren, en zie daar: acht- tot negenduizend diagnoses per jaar. Slechts één op de vier zal aan die tumor overlijden. Nummer twee krijgt alleen milde klachten, en nummer drie en vier zullen nooit ergens last van krijgen.

© Trouw 2009, op dit artikel rust copyright.