Vienna Voted As The Best City To Live

Sphere: Related Content

Vienna has beaten Zurich to be crowned the place with the best quality of living in an annual survey in which European cities dominated the top 10.

Management consultancy Mercer said Vienna scored the highest for overall quality of living in the 215-city survey after improvements in Austria's political and social environment, knocking the Swiss city of Zurich into second position.

Third in the list came another Swiss city, Geneva, followed by Vancouver, Canada, and Auckland, New Zealand, in shared fourth place.

Baghdad, Iraq, came last despite slight improvements in its infrastructure and moves to encourage investment.

Three German cities made the top 10 -- Dusseldorf, Munich and Frankfurt -- with the list rounded out by Bern in Switzerland and Sydney, Australia.

The highest U.S. ranking in the 2009 Worldwide Quality of Living Survey was Honolulu which came 29th while Washington and New York remained in positions 44 and 49 respectively.

London came 38th in the list which is designed to help governments and companies formulate international packages for their employees.

"As a result of the current financial crisis, multinationals are looking to review their international assignment policies with a view to cutting costs," said Slagin Parakatil, senior researcher at Mercer, in a statement.

"Many companies plan to reduce the number of medium to long-term international assignments and localise their expatriate compensation packages where possible though the hardship allowance, based on quality of living criteria, will remain an essential component of the package."

Singapore was the top-scoring Asian city, coming in 26th which was up six places from a year ago due to its growing importance as a financial centre and its wide range of international and private schools.

Beijing moved up three places to 113, boosted by improvements in public transport facilities from the Olympics last August.

Singapore also came first in a separate ranking based on city infrastructure, which examined standards of electricity, water, telephone, mail, public transport, traffic congestion and the range of international flights from local airports.

Singapore was followed in the infrastructure rankings by Munich, Copenhagen, and Tsukuba in Japan. Again, Baghdad came last.

The rankings, based on a point-scoring index in which New York is the base city with 100, are based on 39 quality-of-life determinants such as political stability, schooling, recreation, housing and natural environment.

In Central and South America, San Juan in Puerto Rico retained the highest ranking at 72 followed by Montevideo at 79.

"Political and security issues, and the incidence of natural disasters, continue to hinder the improvement of quality of living in the region. Shortages of consumer goods have also contributed to a decline in quality of living in some cities," said Parakatil.

61 Year Old Marriege To 20 Year Old Lady Anger Family

Sphere: Related Content

Ronnie Wood is planning to marry his young lover Ekaterina Ivanova – and vowed to hold on to as much of his £60million fortune as he can in a “speedy” divorce from wife Jo.

The news couldn’t come at a worse time for Jo. Her organic beauty business is £1.5million in the red and she had been pinning her hopes on the Rolling Stones guitarist “coming to his senses”.

Furious Jo and their children are now refusing to talk to Ronnie, 61,who has told pals he has found “a new lease of life” with 20-year-old Ekaterina.

A friend of Jo’s said: “Jo is devastated and now knows there is no turning back. Ronnie wants the divorce to be settled as soon as possible so he can marry Kat. Jo always believed this was just a silly fling but that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

Ronnie left Jo, 54, for cocktail waitress Ekaterina last summer. The way he has treated his wife has angered her son Jamie, Ronnie’s manager until recently, and their two kids Leah and Tyrone.

A friend said: “It’s been a really horrible few weeks for Jo. She came out fighting when Ronnie left her. She got fit and was going out a lot to prove she was fine.

"And she worked really hard to remain on good terms with Ronnie despite what he has done.

"But now instead of sorting things out he wants to fight any claims. She is feeling pretty miserable.

"Jo just has heard through friends that he is planning to marry Ekaterina. She’s finding it hard going at the moment. To make things worse her business is in trouble.

“Jo and Jamie have put the shutters up and are refusing to have anything to do with Ronnie. It’s all in the hands of the lawyers. The other kids are tending to side with her while Ronnie is off doing his own thing.”

Former model Jo founded her Organic Beauty Products firm in 2005. She had thrown herself into building the company up since finding herself single, but the latest accounts show the firm has built up substantial debts.

It made a loss of £436,951 in 2008, taking the firm’s total debts to £1,451,810. But her spokeswoman insisted the business is thriving and the losses are simply down to the level of investment in it.

She said: “Its future looks very bright.”

Ronnie fled to his country house in Ireland with Ekaterina in July after falling off the wagon and drinking heavily. When he returned to the UK Jo supported him through a spell in rehab at The Priory but he left and set up home with Ekaterina in North London.

Ronnie has spoiled Kat ever since with lavish shopping trips, holidays, cosmetic dentistry – and a dog.

Last week they were photographed picnicking in Primrose Hill, North London, after returning from a holiday in Hawaii. Ronnie was still wearing a wedding ring.

Jo is still living in the couple’s £10million mansion in Richmond, West London.

A source close to her said yesterday: “She has so far not received any divorce papers and is waiting to see what happens.

"As for her business, she is building it up over years. Any new business faces losses in the early days.”

Japanese Superstar Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Goes Naked In The Park

Sphere: Related Content

A Japanese pop star was arrested Thursday for public indecency after being found drunk and naked at a Tokyo park, police said.

Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, a member of hugely popular group SMAP, was arrested on the spot after neighbors complained a drunk man was making a fuss in the park, a Tokyo Metropolitan Police official said on condition of anonymity, citing department rules.

"I caused trouble to many people. I am deeply sorry," 34-year-old Kusanagi was quoted by public broadcaster NHK as saying.

His arrest was the top news item in Japan with major TV networks repeatedly reporting the arrest and broadcasting footage showing Kusanagi being escorted to a police van.

The pop star, sitting on the grass, resisted the arrest, saying, "What's wrong with being naked?" public broadcaster NHK reported earlier. His clothes were bundled in a ball near him.

Police questioned Kusanagi shortly after his arrest and later raided his apartment. Police declined to give further details. Nippon TV said police seized nothing from his Tokyo apartment.

Kusanagi surged to stardom following his 1991 debut as part of the five-member SMAP, which dominated Japan's pop music scene, and starred in TV dramas and films. Kusanagi, fluent in Korean, is also popular in South Korea.

The government has used Kusanagi as a promoter of digital terrestrial TV broadcasting, which replaces analog broadcasting in Japan in 2011. The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry supports the promotion, and its minister voiced outrage over Kusanagi's arrest.

"I'm really angry. This is really outrageous," Kunio Hatoyama told reporters.

Kusanagi's TV commercials promoting digital terrestrial TV broadcasting will be taken off the air, the ministry said, and posters featuring Kusanagi for the campaign will be withdrawn.

TV footage showed media and fans swarming outside the park and the police station where he was taken for questioning.

Toyota Motor Corp. immediately suspended its rental car commercials featuring the star, company spokeswoman Rie Takano said. Several other companies with contracts with him were expected to follow suit.

Public indecency carries a penalty of up to six months in prison or a fine of up to 300,000 yen ($3,060).

Secrets That Will Help You Live For Hundred Years

Sphere: Related Content

The biggest factor that determines how well you age is not your genes but how well you live. Not convinced? A new study published in the British Medical Journal of 20,000 British folks shows that you can cut your risk of having a stroke in half by doing the following four things: being active for 30 minutes a day, eating five daily servings of fruit and vegetables, and avoiding cigarettes and excess alcohol.

While those are some of the obvious steps you can take to age well, researchers have discovered that centenarians tend to share certain traits in how they eat, move about, and deal with stress—the sorts of things we can emulate to improve our own aging process. Of course, getting to age 100 is enormously more likely if your parents did. Still, Thomas Perls, who studies the century-plus set at Boston University School of Medicine, believes that assuming you've sidestepped genes for truly fatal diseases like Huntington's, "there's nothing stopping you from living independently well into your 90s." Heck, if your parents and grandparents were heavy smokers, they might have died prematurely without ever reaching their true potential lifespan, so go ahead and shoot for those triple digits by following these 10 habits.

1. Don't retire. "Evidence shows that in societies where people stop working abruptly, the incidence of obesity and chronic disease skyrockets after retirement," says Luigi Ferrucci, director of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. The Chianti region of Italy, which has a high percentage of centenarians, has a different take on leisure time. "After people retire from their jobs, they spend most of the day working on their little farm, cultivating grapes or vegetables," he says. "They're never really inactive." Farming isn't for you? Volunteer as a docent at your local art museum or join the Experience Corps, a program offered in 19 cities that places senior volunteers in urban public elementary schools for about 15 hours a week.

2. Floss every day. That may help keep your arteries healthy. A 2008 New York University study showed that daily flossing reduced the amount of gum-disease-causing bacteria in the mouth. This bacteria is thought to enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammation in the arteries, a major risk factor for heart disease. Other research has shown that those who have high amounts of bacteria in their mouth are more likely to have thickening in their arteries, another sign of heart disease. "I really do think people should floss twice a day to get the biggest life expectancy benefits," stresses Perls.

3. Move around. "Exercise is the only real fountain of youth that exists," says Jay Olshansky, a professor of medicine and aging researcher at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "It's like the oil and lube job for your car. You don't have to do it, but your car will definitely run better." Study after study has documented the benefits of exercise to improve your mood, mental acuity, balance, muscle mass, and bones. "And the benefits kick in immediately after your first workout," Olshansky adds. Don't worry if you're not a gym rat. Those who see the biggest payoffs are the ones who go from doing nothing to simply walking around the neighborhood or local mall for about 30 minutes a day. Building muscle with resistance training is also ideal, but yoga classes can give you similar strength-training effects if you're not into weight lifting.

4. Eat a fiber-rich cereal for breakfast. Getting a serving of whole-grains, especially in the morning, appears to help older folks maintain stable blood sugar levels throughout the day, according to a recent study conducted by Ferrucci and his colleagues. "Those who do this have a lower incidence of diabetes, a known accelerator of aging," he says.

5. Get at least six hours of shut-eye. Instead of skimping on sleep to add more hours to your day, get more to add years to your life. "Sleep is one of the most important functions that our body uses to regulate and heal cells," says Ferrucci. "We've calculated that the minimum amount of sleep that older people need to get those healing REM phases is about six hours." Those who reach the century mark make sleep a top priority.

6. Consume whole foods, not supplements. Strong evidence suggests that people who have high blood levels of certain nutrients—selenium, beta-carotene, vitamins C and E—age much better and have a slower rate of cognitive decline. Unfortunately, there's no evidence that taking pills with these nutrients provides those antiaging benefits. "There are more than 200 different carotenoids and 200 different flavonoids in a single tomato," points out Ferrucci, "and these chemicals can all have complex interactions that foster health beyond the single nutrients we know about like lycopene or vitamin C." Avoid nutrient-lacking white foods (breads, flour, sugar) and go for all those colorful fruits and vegetables and dark whole-grain breads and cereals with their host of hidden nutrients.

7. Be less neurotic. It may work for Woody Allen, who infuses his worries with a healthy dose of humor, but the rest of us neurotics may want to find a new way to deal with stress. "We have a new study coming out that shows that centenarians tend not to internalize things or dwell on their troubles," says Perls. "They are great at rolling with the punches." If this inborn trait is hard to overcome, find better ways to manage when you're stressed: Yoga, exercise, meditation, tai chi, or just deep breathing for a few moments are all good. Ruminating, eating chips in front of the TV, binge drinking? Bad, very bad.

8. Live like a Seventh Day Adventist. Americans who define themselves as Seventh Day Adventists have an average life expectancy of 89, about a decade longer than the average American. One of the basic tenets of the religion is that it's important to cherish the body that's on loan from God, which means no smoking, alcohol abuse, or overindulging in sweets. Followers typically stick to a vegetarian diet based on fruits, vegetables, beans, and nuts, and get plenty of exercise. They're also very focused on family and community.

9. Be a creature of habit. Centenarians tend to live by strict routines, says Olshansky, eating the same kind of diet and doing the same kinds of activities their whole lives. Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day is another good habit to keep your body in the steady equilibrium that can be easily disrupted as you get on in years. "Your physiology becomes frailer when you get older," explains Ferrucci, "and it's harder for your body to bounce back if you, say, miss a few hours of sleep one night or drink too much alcohol." This can weaken immune defenses, leaving you more susceptible to circulating flu viruses or bacterial infections.

10. Stay connected. Having regular social contacts with friends and loved ones is key to avoiding depression, which can lead to premature death, something that's particularly prevalent in elderly widows and widowers. Some psychologists even think that one of the biggest benefits elderly folks get from exercise the strong social interactions that come from walking with a buddy or taking a group exercise class. Having a daily connection with a close friend or family member gives older folks the added benefit of having someone watch their back. "They'll tell you if they think your memory is going or if you seem more withdrawn," says Perls, "and they might push you to see a doctor before you recognize that you need to see one yourself."

Slumdog Millionaire Star, Rubina Ali Is Up For Sale At USD400,000

Sphere: Related Content

The father of "Slumdog Millionaire" child actress Rubina Ali tried to sell his nine-year-old daughter for adoption in a bid to escape the Mumbai slums, a British newspaper said Sunday.

News of the World alleged that Rafiq Qureshi wanted 20 million rupees (400,000 dollars, 310,000 euros) for the girl, who played the young Latika in the British hit film set in India.

"Slumdog Millionaire", a rags-to-riches tale of children from the slums of Mumbai, won eight Oscars in February, including the best picture Academy Award.

News of the World said its reporters posed as a wealthy family from Dubai, employing its regular "fake sheikh" sting tactic.

The weekly tabloid said a Mumbai informant told them that Qureshi was touting for the highest offer, having already been approached by a Middle Eastern family.

The newspaper published pictures of the actress, her father and uncle posing with their undercover reporter, plus video clips of Qureshi and his brother-in-law during their meeting last week.

"Yes, we are considering Rubina's future," Qureshi was quoted as saying.

He put the reporter in touch with his brother-in-law Rajan More.

"We are interested in securing our girl's future," the star's uncle was quoted as saying.

"If you wanted to adopt we could discuss this, but her parents would also expect some proper compensation in return.

"Whatever money is agreed by Rajan, I will accept.

"We can discuss everything about this deal when we meet. There's a lot of interest in Rubina."

Qureshi, Ali, More and some other relatives met the British reporters in a Mumbai hotel, the newspaper said.

"We need two or three months," Qureshi allegedly said. More added: "Until then we can negotiate the amount. We'll come to Dubai, the girl will come and go."

"It's 20 million rupees," the uncle was quoted as saying.

"This discussion will not go beyond the three of us."

Qureshi proudly carried Ali through the Mumbai slums in February after she returned from the Oscar glory of Hollywood.

Susan Boyle Shock Britain And Even Simon Cowell With Her Prowess Vocal

Sphere: Related Content

Scottish charity worker who became an Internet star after her performance on a British talent contest has been invited to appear on Oprah Winfrey's chat show, officials said Friday.

A spokesman for "Oprah" confirmed to AFP that Susan Boyle, 47, had caught the attention of the Chicago-based television mogul Winfrey and was being lined up as a guest. The spokesman could not confirm when Boyle might appear.

By Thursday, a video clip of Boyle's singing debut on the "Britain's Got Talent" television show last weekend has received more than 19 million views on YouTube, with the number rising fast.

US actress Demi Moore was apparently moved to tears by the clip, while the story was been picked up around the world, with US, Australian and other broadcasters reportedly queuing up for interviews.

In the clip, the down-to-earth Boyle walked on stage, saying she dreamed of emulating West End star Elaine Page.

When she began to sing, the panel of three judges led by music guru Simon Cowell appeared visibly taken aback, and the audience in Glasgow rose to its feet as her voiced soared through "I Dreamed A Dream" from "Les Miserables."

David Beckham Goes Naked For Latest Motorola Advert

Sphere: Related Content

David Beckham looks more like the Terminator than a top footballer, as he strips off for a new ad campaign.

"The AURA of David Beckham", Motorola's latest advertising campaign, shows the player as you've never seen him before.

Beckham appears half-human and half-robot in a striking image sure to raise pulses across the globe.

Shot in a studio in Milan last month, a video gives a glimpse of what went on behind the scenes at the photo shoot.

Possibly one of the world's most photographed men, Beckham appears in a unique advert, exposing exactly what drives the England and AC Milan star from within.

The final image, which uses cutting-edge post production techniques, shows Becks in a different light.

Framed by a red light that gives him an otherworldly aura, the image reveals an impression of Beckham's ribs, muscles and arteries, as the phone glides across his body, like an x-ray exposing him from the inside out.

The global advertising campaign is set for launch worldwide at the end of April 2009.

All You Need Is Just 30 Minutes To Be Happy...Here's How...

Sphere: Related Content

In the next half hour, tackle as many of the following suggestions as possible. Not only will these tasks themselves increase your happiness, but the mere fact that you've achieved some concrete goals will boost your mood.

1. Raise your activity level to pump up your energy. If you're on the phone, stand up and pace. Walk to a coworker's office instead of sending an e-mail. Put more energy into your voice. Take a brisk 10-minute walk. Even better...

2. Take a walk outside. Research suggests that light stimulates brain chemicals that improve mood. For an extra boost, get your sunlight first thing in the morning. Find the best walking workout for your exercise style.

3. Reach out. Send an e-mail to a friend you haven't seen in a while, or reach out to someone new. Having close bonds with other people is one of the most important keys to happiness. When you act in a friendly way, not only will others feel more friendly toward you, but you'll also strengthen your feelings of friendliness for other people.

4. Rid yourself of a nagging task. Deal with that insurance problem, purchase something you need, or make that long-postponed appointment with the dentist. Crossing an irksome chore off your to-do list will give you a rush of elation.

5. Create a more serene environment. Outer order contributes to inner peace, so spend some time organizing bills and tackling the piles in the kitchen. A large stack of little tasks can feel overwhelming, but often just a few minutes of work can make a sizable dent. Set the timer for 10 minutes and see what you can do. In that time, take a quick look around the house and see how to get organized using everyday items.

6. Do a good deed. Introduce two people by e-mail, take a minute to pass along useful information, or deliver some gratifying praise. In fact, you can also...

7. Save someone's life. Sign up to be an organ donor, and remember to tell your family about your decision. Do good, feel good―it really works!

8. Act happy. Fake it 'til you feel it. Research shows that even an artificially induced smile boosts your mood. And if you're smiling, other people will perceive you as being friendlier and more approachable. There's no need to walk around in a constant state of worry. After all, what's the worst that can happen if you bounce a check or leave wet clothes in the dryer?

9. Learn something new. Think of a subject that you wish you knew more about and spend 15 minutes on the Internet reading about it, or go to a bookstore and buy a book about it. But be honest! Pick a topic that really interests you, not something you think you "should" or "need to" learn about.

Learn How You Can Drink More Water Naturally

Sphere: Related Content

Many health experts will agree that drinking more water will help give you more energy. In celebration of this week's theme on keeping up your energy, here are my personal tricks on drinking more water.

* Make it a Morning Ritual. I once read in a magazine article that many of us wake up dehydrated, and the first thing you should do before you do anything else is drink two glasses of water. I've now made it a regular morning habit, and it inspires the momentum to continue drinking more for the rest of the day.

* Add Some Lemon. Back in the early stages when I couldn't stand drinking water, I squeezed lemon juice into my water. At restaurants, I would ask the servers to provide lemon slices with my water--which makes me sound snobby, but most restaurants are willing and expected to provide this service.

* Keep it In the Clear. When your urine is clear, you are properly hydrated. When your urine is a dark yellow, you are definitely dehydrated.

* Think of How Pretty You'll Look. I don't know how direct the correlation is between having healthy, glowing skin and drinking a lot of water, but I'm not taking any chances. Whatever psychological trick keeps me hydrated!

* Do It Like It's Hot. If you're in the mood for a hot drink, drink heated water. Sometimes we just want the psychological pleasure that comes with having a hot mug cupped in our hands than the actual drink itself. Plus, coffee and tea contain caffeine, which is a diuretic and elevates the rate of water being expelled from your body via urination.

* Drink When You Have a Munchie Attack. Sometimes our hunger is thirst masquerading as fake hunger. Drinking a cup or two of water will make you feel "full."

*Take Baby Steps. Don't expect to go from zero glasses of water to the full 8 glasses overnight. Start with one glass of water in the morning and one glass of water at night, and build your way up from there.

* Cheap cheap. Water at restaurants are FREE!

* Always have a full glass of water near you when you are working. It will give you something to mindlessly sip on when you are brainstorming or need something to do with your hands.

Somalian Pirate Share His Fortune Making Story

Sphere: Related Content

As bandits continue to terrorise shipping off the coast of Somalia, a pirate has claimed he was forced into a life of crime - but has made a fortune from it.

Speaking before the kidnapping of US sea captain Richard Phillips, Yassin Dheere said he had lost track of the money he has made since taking to piracy five years ago.

The 39-year-old, dressed in expensive-looking traditional robes and holding an AK-47, said he was born in a notorious pirate stronghold in Somalia.

"I was born in Eyl town and I used to be a fisherman," he told the Reuters news agency.

"I was forced to hijack foreign ships after the central government collapsed.

"No one was monitoring the sea, and we couldn't fish properly, because the ships which trawl the Somali coasts illegally would destroy our small boats and equipment.

"That is what forced us to become pirates.

"The first time I was involved in hijacking a ship was 2003. It must have been Arabian, there were 18 Yemeni crew.

"It was a big fishing ship that destroyed our boats several times.

"We surrounded it with our boats and seized it at gunpoint at night. We did not know these modern methods of using hooks and ladders, so we got near with our boats and climbed on.

"We held it for two weeks, then some Somali and Arab mediators stepped in to negotiate. We were convinced to take $50,000 (about £34,000) as compensation.

"This was a huge amount for us. That inspired us and gave us an appetite for hunting ships.

"At that time we had no idea what we were doing, we were very worried about what would happen. Two of my friends backed out because they were afraid.

"In fact, my life has changed dramatically because I've received more money than I ever thought I would see.

"In one incident, I got $250,000 (about £170,000), so my life has changed completely.

"It is incalculable how much money I have made. I mean, I won't tell you how much.

"With the money, I buy cars, weapons, and boats. I also like having a good time and relaxing."

Somalia descended into anarchy in 1991 when warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.

Towards the end of the 1990s, local fishermen and militia formed groups - with names like the Somali Coastguards and the National Volunteer Coastguards - to drive away or apprehend vessels from South Korea, Italy, Spain and Thailand which were fishing illegally or dumping toxic waste.

Seeing how easy it was to capture vessels, those groups developed into old-fashioned pirate gangs, becoming ever more sophisticated in methods and bold in range.

Chewing khat and flanked by bodyguards, Dheere said some of his colleagues had died at sea when their boats capsized.

He said that he had once been imprisoned - but was busted out of jail by relatives who killed two police officers in the process.

The pirate said: "The worst experience I had was when a US warship attacked us while we were hunting a ship.

"It fired on us and captured some of us unexpectedly. We escaped with our speedboats while bullets buzzed over us.

"In 2006, we were chasing a ship to hijack, we pulled up alongside it, and one of our friends jumped onto the ship.

"The ship managed to escape, and we haven't heard of our friend since. We don't know whether he is alive or dead.

"I was also once jailed in Garowe. But my family attacked the jail and they killed two of the policemen, and then in the exchange of fire I escaped together with other prisoners.

"I have employees doing the business for me now. I am a financier. I get my money and I don't have to leave Eyl. I have not gone to sea to hijack in recent months.

"My group goes to the sea and I manage their finances. I buy speedboats and weapons, whatever they need."

Dheere said that pirates were now changing their tactics to try to stay one step ahead of the warships increasingly gathering in Somali waters as pirate outrages attract the attention of governments thousands of miles away.

He said: "It's difficult to stay being a pirate but we have changed our previous strategies.

"We have transformed our operations in the Indian Ocean with new types of attacks, using modern equipments including GPS to show us where warships are passing.

"At the moment we have a new, active young generation which wants to take part in piracy. They mostly like money.

"If the UN gives approval to fight pirates on land, that will only lead to death of innocent Somalis.

"They cannot differentiate us from ordinary Somalis, we dress alike. Piracy will not stop unless we get a government."

Shocking Pictures And Video Of A Polar Bear Mauling A Lady In Berlin Zoo

Sphere: Related Content

She looks happy enough but this woman has just jumped into an enclosure housing polar bears at Berlin Zoo. Her appearance immediately drew the attention of one of the four bears who inhabit the enclosure ... and amazingly the woman swam right towards the imposing creature. This was the predictable, if shocking, outcome. Zookeepers eventually managed to push the bear away and carry the woman to safety - but not before she had been badly mauled. She is now recovering in hospital and still has given no reason for her actions.

Artificial Fin Give Turtle New Life After Shark Attack

Sphere: Related Content

Introducing Allison, a rescued green sea turtle who has only one flipper. She is seen here swimming with the aid of a fin at the Sea Turtle Inc. in South Padre Island, Texas. Allison lost three of her flippers in a shark attack, leaving her with just her right front flipper that can only propel her to the left. The neoprene vest and fin was developed at the turtle rescue centre.

Without the snug-fitting jacket, Allison can only swim in circles.

Staff at Sea Turtle Inc had previously experimented with prosthetic flippers, but without luck

Happily Allison is now able to swim and dive with ease.

Politician Blast Zoo For Spending £7.6m On Gay Elephant

Sphere: Related Content

A Polish politician has blasted his local zoo for splashing out on a "gay" elephant. Michal Grzes lashed out over the acquisition of Ninio, who prefers the company of other male elephants and is unlikely to procreate, local media reported.

"We didn't pay 37 million zlotys (£7.6m) for the largest elephant house in Europe to have a gay elephant live there," Mr Grzes was quoted as saying.

"We were supposed to have a herd, but as Ninio prefers male friends over females how will he produce offspring?"

Mr Grzes, from the right-wing opposition Law and Justice party, is a councillor in the western Polish city of Poznan.

The head of the Poznan zoo said Ninio may be too young to decide whether he prefers males or females.

Ninio is only 10 years old but elephants do not reach sexual maturity until they are 14.

University Made Porn Movie Scrap After Senators Threaten To Cut Fund

Sphere: Related Content

An attempt to distract university students in Maryland from late-night drinking with a feature-length porn movie was blocked Thursday after state senators threatened to cut funds for the college.

The two-and-a-half-hour "Pirates II: Stagnetti's Revenge" -- the most expensive pornographic film ever made, at a cost of 10 million dollars -- would have been shown at a University of Maryland student union theater on Saturday.

Organizers at the College Park campus, 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Washington, had championed educational aspects of the screening, with health group Planned Parenthood planning to hold a presentation on safe sex practices beforehand.

The event was also previously seen by university officials as an "alternative to late-night drinking and other dangerous activities," the Baltimore Sun reported before the cancellation.

Republican state senator Andy Harris, however, proposed an amendment to the state budget to deny millions of dollars in funding for any educational institutions that screen a porn movie.

Harris said he had been "shocked and dismayed" to hear the college was going to screen the movie, and denounced what he described as the "dangers of pornography."

He said he was "extremely concerned that the policy of our public colleges and universities would allow 'hard core' pornography" to be shown.

"I am pleased to know that the university did the right thing and canceled this movie. However, I remain concerned that they do not have a policy prohibiting this," the senator said in a statement after the university reversed its decision.

Harris added he was "working to seek assurances that this will not happen again."

The Sun said that during a lengthy debate Thursday morning at the state legislature in Annapolis, Maryland, senate president Thomas Miller indicated he would back Harris' threat to cut millions of dollars in funding.

Linda Clement, the university's vice president of student affairs, denied the cancellation was linked to threats made by state lawmakers.

"No, we canceled the (showing) because the educational context of the movie has been lost in the titillation that's been associated with the movie itself," according to Clement's spokesman Millree Williams.

"That's hard to believe," responded Adam Kissel, director of the Individual Rights Defense Program at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The university's claim, he said, was extremely unlikely because beforehand "university administrators had known about it, had expected it to go on and they had no problem with it."

Kissel said his education rights group was "very concerned" about the likely constitutional violation, namely the First Amendment that protects free speech.

"Strictly based on the plot and the trailer, the movie has plenty of action beyond the sexual action -- it has a plot, it has intrigue, just like any movie.

"So it's almost 100 percent certain that the university is violating the free speech rights of the students," said Kissel, noting that a First Amendment case was strengthened because of the educational component of Planned Parenthood's presentation.

Digital Playground, the adult film company behind "Pirates II," said on its website it had already shown the film to thousands of students on several college campuses this year, including the University of California, Los Angeles; Northwestern University in Chicago; and Southern Connecticut State University.

On-campus showings of X-rated movies such as "Behind the Green Door" and "Deep Throat" stirred sensation and controversy in the 1970s and 1980s, but porn has become commonplace on campuses over the past decade with virtually unlimited access to X-rated material via the Internet.

Violent Games Help To Sharpen Mind

Sphere: Related Content

Slaying hordes of bad guys -- the more the better -- in fast-paced video games improves vision, a study published Sunday showed for the first time.

Far from being harmful to eyesight, as some had feared, action games such as Counter-Strike, Call of Duty, or Left 4 Dead provide excellent training for what eye doctors call contrast sensitivity, the study found.

Contrast sensitivity is the ability to notice tiny changes in shades of grey against a uniform background, and is critical to everyday activities such as night driving and reading. It often degrades with age.

The findings, published in Nature Neuroscience, reveal a previously unsuspected adaptability in the brain, and could open the way to new therapies, the researchers said.

"This is not a skill that people were supposed to get better at by training," said Daphne Bavelier, a professor at the University of Rochester in New York state and the study's lead researcher.

"It was something that we corrected for at the level of the optics of the eye -- to get better contrast detection you get glasses or laser surgery."

"What we found is that even without this correction you can help your brain make better use of whatever information is received from your retina," she said in a phone interview.

For the study, Bavelier and three colleagues conducted two sets of experiments.

In the first, they compared the contrast sensitivity of hard-core action game players with video game aficionados of the same age who preferred less rapid-fire fare.

In action games, players typically target and shoot figures that pop up suddenly on a computer screen.

The researchers found that the action buffs were 50 percent more efficient at detecting contrast.

But there remained a chicken-or-egg question: had their vision been improved by playing, or did they become action game players because they had better than average contrast sensitivity to start with?

To find out, Bavelier asked two groups of non-action video game players to undergo 50 hours of training. One played a popular point-and-shoot game called Call of Duty, and the other played a game that offered a rich visual experience, but one bereft of action.

"We found that the people in the first group improved by 43 percent, and the other group not at all," she said.

As important, the study also found that the improvement was not transitory. "The positive effect remained months, even years after training, indicating long-lasting gains," she added.

Is there some limit beyond which playing action games loses its positive effect or becomes detrimental? Can you, in other words, have too much of a "good thing"?

"For your visual system, probably not. For your social life, perhaps," said Bavelier.

Secrets Of Becoming Billionaire Revealed

Sphere: Related Content

Want to become a billionaire? Up your chances by dropping out of college, working at Goldman Sachs or joining Skull & Bones.

Are billionaires born or made? What are the common attributes among the uber-wealthy? Are there any true secrets of the self-made?

We get these questions a lot, and decided it was time to go beyond the broad answers of smarts, ambition and luck by sorting through our database of wealthy individuals in search of bona fide trends. We analyzed everything from the billionaires' parents' professions to where they went to school, their track records in the early stages of their careers and other experiences that may have put them on the path to extreme wealth.

Our admittedly unscientific study of the 657 self-made billionaires we counted in February for our list of the World's Billionaires yielded some interesting results.

First, a significant percentage of billionaires had parents with a high aptitude for math. The ability to crunch numbers is crucial to becoming a billionaire, and mathematical prowess is hereditary. Some of the most common professions among the parents of American billionaires (for whom we could find the information) were engineer, accountant and small-business owner.

Consistent with the rest of the population, more American billionaires were born in the fall than in any other season. However, relatively few billionaires were born in December, traditionally the month with the eighth highest birth rate. This anomaly holds true among billionaires in the U.S. and abroad.

More than 20% of the 292 of the self-made American billionaires on the most recent list of the World's Billionaires have either never started or never completed college. This is especially true of those destined for careers as technology entrepreneurs: Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Michael Dell, Larry Ellison, and Theodore Waitt.

Billionaires who derive their fortunes from finance make up one of the most highly educated sub-groups: More than 55% of them have graduate degrees. Nearly 90% of those with M.B.A.s obtained their master's degree from one of three Ivy League schools: Harvard, Columbia or U. Penn's Wharton School of Business.

Goldman Sachs has attracted a large share of hungry minds that went on to garner 10-figure fortunes. At least 11 current and recent billionaire financiers worked at Goldman early in their careers, including Edward Lampert, Daniel Och, Tom Steyer and Richard Perry.

Several billionaires suffered a bitter professional setback early in their careers that heightened their fear of failure. Pharmaceutical tycoon R.J. Kirk's first venture was a flop--an experience he regrets but appreciates. "Failure early on is a necessary condition for success, though not a sufficient one," he told Forbes in 2007.

According to a statement read by Phil Falcone during a congressional hearing in November, his botched buyout of a company in Newark in the early 1990s taught him "several valuable lessons that have had a profound impact upon my success as a hedge fund manager."

Several current and former billionaires rounded out their Yale careers as members of Skull and Bones, the secret society portrayed with enigmatic relish by Hollywood in movies like The Skulls and W. Among those who were inducted: investor Edward Lampert, Blackstone co-founder Steven Schwarzman, and FedEx founder Frederick Smith.

Parents Had Math-Related Careers

The ability to crunch numbers is normally a key to becoming a billionaire. Often, mathematical prowess is hereditary. Some of the most common professions among the parents of American billionaires for whom we could find that information were engineer, accountant and small-business owner.

September Birthdays

Of the 380 self-made American tycoons who have appeared on the Forbes list of the World's Billionaires in the past three years, 42 were born in September--more than in any other month. Maybe that's because September is the month the Forbes list of the 400 richest Americans is published.

Tech Titans Who Dropped Out of College

Forget everything your guidance counselor told you: You don't have to go to college to be successful. More than 20% of the self-made American moguls on the most recent list of the World's Billionaires never finished college. Many of them made their fortunes in tech. Among them: Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Michael Dell, Larry Ellison, (Oracle) and Theodore Waitt (Gateway).

Skull and Bones

Several current and former billionaires rounded out their Yale careers as members of Skull and Bones, the secret society portrayed with enigmatic relish by Hollywood in movies like The Skulls and W. Among those who were inducted: investor Edward Lampert, Blackstone co-founder Steven Schwarzman and FedEx founder Frederick Smith.

Goldman Sachs

A stint at investment bank Goldman Sachs is a prime credential for becoming a finance billionaire. Of the 68 self-made American billionaires that derive their fortunes from finance, at least eight cut their teeth in Goldman's investment banking, trading, or asset management divisions. The company's crown jewel: its "risk arbitrage" unit, which launched the careers of billionaires Edward Lampert and Daniel Och, as well as former billionaires Tom Steyer and Richard Perry.

Super Food That Will Make Your Skin Looks Gorgeous

Sphere: Related Content

Strawberries, citrus fruits, red peppers, broccoli

Produce packed with vitamin C is crucial for the production and formation of collagen, skin's support structure. And it's that strong support layer that evens out the top layer and wards off wrinkles. Try to have two 1-cup servings of fruit (Not a fan of strawberries? Try oranges or grapefruit.) and 1 cup of red peppers and/or broccoli each day. Or try applying them directly with this at-home facial recipe.

Sunflower seed and almonds

Edible SPF? Practically. These seeds and nuts are loaded with vitamin E, an antioxidant that, with other antioxidants, works to protect skin from UV-related free radicals. Skin's top layers contain high levels of E that help guard cells' outer membrane, so cells stay healthy. Plus, strong membranes hold water in, keeping skin hydrated. Aim for 2 tablespoons of hulled seeds or 23 almonds daily. Find more healthy snack options from the No-Cook Diet.

Dark orange, leafy green and red vegetables

Squash, sweet potatoes and spinach are teeming with the antioxidant beta-carotene. Your body converts it to vitamin A, which regulates cell production and turnover so skin's surface is smooth. Carotenoids might also lower your skin's sensitivity to sun. Shoot for three 1-cup servings a day of these polishing picks. Try them in delicious, good-for-you recipes like Butternut Squash Pizza, Cheesy Sweet Potato Crisps, and Oatmeal Meatballs With Spinach.

Fortified cereal, lean meat, pork, poultry, oysters

These protein-rich foods are full of zinc and iron, minerals crucial to healthy skin function. Zinc supports cell production as well as natural cell sloughing, which keeps dullness at bay. Red blood cells need iron to carry oxygen to skin, helping give you a glow. Pile your plate with 1 serving of cereal (a cup), 1 palm-sized serving of meat or poultry or 3 oysters per day. Bored with chicken? You just need a new recipe.

Wild salmon, Atlantic mackerel, walnuts

These fish and nuts, plus fortified eggs, are chockablock with omega-3 fatty acids, which fight inflammation in the body caused by sun and stress. Inflammation produces free radicals, and free radicals contribute to aging by attacking collagen. Research still needs to provide solid proof that the anti-inflammatory abilities of omega-3s yield younger-looking skin, but one study found that older people who consumed more fish and veggies over their life had fewer wrinkles than those who ate more meat, the Journal of the American College of Nutrition reports. Aim for two 5-ounce servings of fish per week; on other days, 1 oz of walnuts or 2 omega-3-fortified eggs. Get creative with recipes like a Salmon BLT or a single-serving Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomato Frittata.

Whole wheat and grains

Clear up your skin with these complex carbs. Australian researchers found that a low-glycemic diet (more whole grains, protein and produce versus refined carbs such as white bread) may reduce acne. One reason why: Low-glycemic foods keep insulin steady, while refined carbs and sugar spike it. The surges may boost production of androgens, hormones that, when boosted, can cause zits. After 12 weeks of a low-glycemic diet, subjects' pimple counts dropped 20 percent, a study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition notes. More research is needed to support the clear-skin connection, but no M.D. will talk you out of eating whole grains and veggies! Try to have three servings a day (one serving equals a slice of bread or 1/2 cup cooked grains). See how a beauty editor cleared up her acne problem.

Water

OK, so water isn’t a food, but you can sip your way to dewy skin! Skin cells contain mostly H20, and if you're dehydrated, skin looks and feel parched, too. But you needn't chug gallons each day: Research from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia found no studies to back up the recommendation of eight glasses a day. Prevent dehydration—and dryness—by drinking when you're thirsty. Aim for 6 cups a day.

Statistic Show Asians Can't Live Without Internet

Sphere: Related Content

Want to get across to Asia's youth? Do it through media or music, with a survey revealing that most spend on average 10 hours a day watching TV, on the Internet, reading magazines or listening to the radio.

In findings bound to cheer advertisers, the annual Synovate Young Asians survey, which polled some 13,000 people aged between 8 and 24, also showed many of these youth have a say over a variety of purchases ranging from their own snacks and clothes to the family holiday and even the family car.

"It's vital that smart marketers continue to engage with these young audiences to build a loyal consumer base," Miranda Cheung, managing director of market research firm Synovate in Singapore, said in a statement.

"With so much time spent each day on media consumption, there is every reason to believe that brand communications have filtered through and influenced purchase decisions," she said.

Nearly a third of young Asians said they plan their day around their favorite TV programs, hoping to catch every episode, the survey revealed.

Up to a quarter said they could not live without the Internet, and two-thirds said they must listen to music daily.

"Asia's young people have certainly embraced multi-tasking," Cheung said.

"Kids are watching the TV, but also talking on the phone. They are on the Internet with the radio on in the background. Or they may be sending email, texting on their mobile phone and playing an online game all at the same time," she added.

Koreans spent over 13 hours a day -- the longest in the region -- consuming some form of media, followed by Hong Kong youth and Singaporeans.

Synovate found that 35 percent of youths had increased their Internet usage in the past year. Close to a quarter had spent more time watching TV while 34 percent said that they had devoted more time to listening to music.

The survey covers 12 countries across Asia, including Vietnam and Japan for the first time.

South Korea Voted As Best And Cheapest Nose Job Country

Sphere: Related Content

South Korea's plunge towards recession is bringing in high-spending tourists by the planeload in search of bargains and beauty.

Foreign tourists, mainly from Japan and China, have been pouring into their smaller neighbour to snap up Louis Vuitton bags and get a nose job, sometimes on the same trip.

The attraction? Thanks to a Korean won that has fallen in the past year by 40 percent against the yen alone, Asia's fourth largest economy has become cheap for foreigners.

"Costs for plastic surgery here used to be just half of what it costs in the U.S. But with the foreign exchange rates, we charge about a third now," said Kim Byung-gun, chief plastic surgeon at BK DongYang Plastic Surgery Clinic in Seoul.

"Foreign patients have doubled. I see infinite growth potential in the plastic surgery market for foreigners," said Kim.

Elaine Teo, a 35-year-old Singaporean, is a case in point.

"You know, it's like using one stone to kill two birds," she told Reuters at a plastic surgery clinic in downtown Seoul where she was getting a facial wrinkle-lift.

She expected to spend 2-3 days in hospital for the surgery. The rest of her 10-day holiday in Seoul was to be spent shopping.

According to the Korea Tourism Organisation, the number of foreign visitors in the first two months of this year jumped 25.5 percent from a year ago.

Tourists from Japan surged more than 64 percent and from China 16 percent. They are easy to spot in the streets of Seoul, laden with shopping bags from up-market department stores and duty-free shops.

It was a similar story with the number of foreigners coming to South Korea for medical treatment jumping just over 60 percent to over 27,000, many of them on so-called "shopping & surgery" packages.

It is proving a boon for the host country which is tipping into its first recession in over a decade and where locals are spending less and less.

The government plans to allow local hospitals to hire marketing agencies to attract overseas customers from May and train more interpreters for foreign patients.

"Tourists for medical services usually spend three to 10 times more than other foreign visitors. That is a great market we should boost," said Joung Jin-su, a director of strategy tourism product team at the Korea Tourism Organisation.

BATH AND SHOP

With the Japanese yen nearly doubling against the won from a year ago, domestic retailers are also coming up with ways to attract more Japanese tourists.

In early March, top retailer Shinsegae opened Centum City, the country's largest department store offering shops and spa facilities, in the southern port city of Busan, less than 200 km from Japan.

"Bathing is culturally very close to the Japanese. We came up with a concept that can provide both shopping and what they like best, bathing," said a spokesman at Shinsegae.

Centum City reported more than 20 billion won in sales in its first week, thanks to Japanese tourists. The number taking the ferry across to Busan is up 50 percent so far this year, according to the Busan Metropolitan Office.

They hone in on pricey brand name goods that are 30-40 percent cheaper than at home.

"We just came but I'm hoping to shop a lot since it's so cheap," said Rika Ikechi, 27, on her first day of shopping but already holding several bags from one of Seoul's top duty free stores:

"Usually I don't do this, but I just bought three of same cosmetics."

Teacher Voted As The Most Sexiest By Posing Just In Thong

Sphere: Related Content

A PE teacher is facing disciplinary action after appearing in a range of "completely inappropriate" poses on a modelling website.

Natasha Gray, who was voted the UK's sexiest teacher on a television show in 2002, was shown in one photograph wearing a thong while lying on her front on a bed.

Ben Slade, headteacher of Manor Community College in Cambridge, said the pictures of the head of physical education should not have been published.

"They were completely inappropriate for somebody who is a teacher," he said.

"They were absolutely not pornographic but do you want to see your teacher in that way? Probably not."

Mr Slade said he had ordered the immediate removal of the portfolio of "about eight" photographs from the website iModel.com after he became aware of them.

He said they featured Miss Gray, who is in her early 30s, in a range of poses, including one "lying on a bed on her front in a thong".

"I'm not the sort of person who will accept totally inappropriate behaviour by a member of staff," said Mr Slade.

"I'm in consultation with our personnel department and with the local authority in relation to further action."

He said Miss Gray had not been suspended but added he felt "let down" by her actions.

"We're trying to improve things here. Results have gone up considerably in the last two years - from 32% achieving 5 A-C grades at GCSE to 50%," Mr Slade said.

"I'm extremely disappointed that this member of staff has let us down."

Taliban Plan To Shock The World By Attacking White House

Sphere: Related Content

The commander of the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility Tuesday for a deadly assault on a Pakistani police academy and said the group was planning a terrorist attack on the White House that would "amaze" the world.

Baitullah Mehsud, who has a $5 million bounty on his head from the U.S., said Monday's attack on the outskirts of the eastern city of Lahore was retaliation for U.S. missile strikes against militants along the Afghan border.

"Soon we will launch an attack in Washington that will amaze everyone in the world," Mehsud told The Associated Press by phone. He provided no details.

Mehsud has never been directly linked to any attacks outside Pakistan, but attacks blamed on his network of fighters have widened in scope and ambition in recent years. The threat comes days after President Barack Obama warned that al-Qaida is actively planning attacks on the United States from secret havens in Pakistan.

Pakistan's former government and the CIA named Mehsud as the prime suspect behind the December 2007 killing of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Pakistani officials accuse him of harboring foreign fighters, including Central Asians linked to al-Qaida, and of training suicide bombers.

In his latest comments, Mehsud identified the White House as one of the targets in an interview with local Dewa Radio, a copy of which was obtained by the AP.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid said he had not seen any reports of Mehsud's comments but that he would "take the threat under consideration."

Mehsud also claimed responsibility for a suicide car bombing that killed four soldiers Monday in Bannu district and a suicide attack targeting a police station in Islamabad last week that killed one officer.

Such attacks pose a major test for the weak, year-old civilian administration of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari that has been gripped with political turmoil in recent weeks.

An Interior Ministry spokesman said it was too early to respond to Mehsud's claim, but the Interior Ministry chief said Monday that authorities had information linking the attack to Mehsud. He said at least one of the attackers arrived in Lahore about 15 days ago from Mehsud's stronghold of South Waziristan near the border with Pakistan and rented a house.

The gunmen who attacked the police academy killed seven police and two civilians, holding security forces at bay for about eight hours before being overpowered by Pakistani commandos. Some of the attackers wore police uniforms, and they took hostages and tossed grenades during the assault.

Earlier Tuesday, a spokesman from a little-known militant group linked to the Pakistani Taliban also claimed responsibility for the attack and a similar ambush-style attack against the Sri Lankan cricket team earlier this month in Lahore. It was not immediately possible to reconcile the two claims.

Omar Farooq, who said he is the spokesman for Fedayeen al-Islam, said the group would carry out more attacks unless Pakistani troops withdraw from tribal areas near the Afghan border and the U.S. stops its drone strikes. The group previously said it was behind the deadly September bombing of the Marriott hotel in Islamabad that killed 54 people.

Mehsud declined to comment on Fedayeen al-Islam's claim that it carried out the attack or to say whether the group is linked to his own. The Pakistani Taliban leader also said he was not deterred by the U.S. bounty on his head: "I wish to die and embrace martyrdom."

The AP has spoken to Mehsud several times in the past and recognized his voice, and a request for an interview with Mehsud was submitted through his aide. The militant leader also granted phone interviews to other media organizations.

The Pakistani Taliban has links with al-Qaida and Afghan Taliban militants who have launched attacks against U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan from a base in the border region between the two countries.

Pakistan faces tremendous U.S. pressure to eradicate militants from its soil and has launched several military operations in the Afghan border region.

The U.S. has stepped up drone attacks against militants in the area, causing tension with Pakistani officials who protest they are a violation of the country's sovereignty and kill innocent civilians.

Monday's highly coordinated attack highlighted that militants in the country pose a threat far outside the border region. It prompted Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik, Pakistan's top civilian security official, to say that militant groups were "destabilizing the country."

After gunmen stormed the academy, masses of security forces surrounded the compound, exchanging fire in televised scenes reminiscent of the militant siege in the Indian city of Mumbai in November and the attack on Sri Lanka's cricket team.

Officials Tuesday were still trying to sort out how many attackers were involved, giving varying accounts to the media.

A senior Lahore police investigator, Zulfikar Hameed, told the AP that three of the attackers blew themselves up when commandos retook the police academy and one was shot by security forces. Hameed said it was difficult to say precisely how many militants carried out the attack and some may have escaped.

Tasneem Qureshi, a top official at the Interior Ministry, told an Express News TV that four attackers were in custody and "one, who was wounded, managed to escape."

Punjab police chief, Khawaja Khalid Farooq, said one of the captured militants had provided useful information and that about 50 other people in Lahore were detained overnight for questioning.