A compilation of brief news reports for Thursday, December 4, 2008.

File:Imsdal 33cl.JPG

On December 2, the Toronto city council voted in favor of banning the sales and distribution of bottled water on city property. The council also agreed to provide public drinking fountains on their properties, as well as on a measure that would make shoppers pay at least five Canadian cents for plastic grocery bags and force business owners to offer reusable bags and carry-out containers.

“Toronto’s decision to ban the bottle and turn on the tap sends a clear message that bottled water’s 15 minutes are up,” said Polaris Institute’s campaign coordinator, Joe Cressy.

All of the city’s facilities should be following the water ban by 2011, while businesses will have to implement their bag fees by 2010. Toronto has become the largest city in the world to ban bottled water on government property.

Related news

  • “Calls for bottled water bans grow in Canada” — Wikinews, August 23, 2008

Sources

  • “Toronto Bans Bottled Water” — CNW Group, December 3, 2008
  • “Toronto council approves plastic bag charge, bottle ban” — CBC News, December 3, 2008

On Tuesday, American actor, Patrick Swayze, who suffers from pancreatic cancer, denied reports that he was near death. American tabloid National Inquirer reported on November 28 that Swayze’s cancer had spread to his liver and that he was preparing for his death.

“The only thorn in my side being that many tabloids have been consistently reporting lies and false information about me and those close to me,” said Swayze in a statement to the press who also added that he knows he is in “the fight for his life,” but that it is a fight that he “is winning.”

“I’m one of the lucky few that responds well to treatment,” added Swayze.

Swayze has starred in over a dozen films, including the 1987 hit film Dirty Dancing.

Related news

  • “Wikinews Shorts: November 28, 2008” — Wikinews, November 28, 2008

Sources

  • “Swayze denies ‘deathbed’ rumours” — BBC News Online, December 3, 2008
  • “Patrick Swayze denies reports he is near death” — Reuters, December 2, 2008

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Wikinews_Shorts:_December_4,_2008&oldid=4494611”
Posted in Uncategorized

Monday, September 24, 2007

A woman found herself £226,000 richer, one the biggest ever payouts to a female client, after placing a series of bets on last weeks Champions League games, despite knowing nothing about football.

Kathrin Rotmann, 33, placed a £1,000 bet based on her tactics of supporting “teams that are strong and winning”.

“I am delighted. I only ever bet on football — last year I won £35,000 with one bet. I just keep a track of those teams which are playing well and bet on them. It was very exciting when the results went my way.”

She was delighted when she saw her bet multiply in front of her eyes, when her 226-1 odds of wins for Arsenal, Man United, Rangers, Slavia Prague, Barcelona, Roma, Fenerbahce and PSV come in on television.

The exact amount won was £226,834.36.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Woman_strikes_lucky_betting_on_Champions_League_football&oldid=850240”
Posted in Uncategorized

By Fenella McPherson

Parents who are expecting a baby girl have a ton of things to do while their little one is on her way. There are doctors’ appointments and pre-natal classes and choosing a pediatrician, as well as researching and buying the necessary infant paraphernalia, such as a carriage, a carrier, and a playpen. They may need to childproof certain living areas, and must purchase baby garments and the various day-to-day supplies that are required whenever there is a new baby in the house.

Above all, they have to prepare the special space in which their precious daughter will pass the major portion of her earliest days and nights. They may have to paint walls and they certainly will have to get appropriate furniture, but the key visual elements of their decorating activity will fall into the category of room accessories and baby girl bedding.

It is, however, a harsh fact of life nowadays that even the simplest online search for nursery merchandise results in a staggering number of links and an even more staggering number of individual products. One way to greatly simplify the process is to decide in advance the sorts of colors and prints which are preferable.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7GGqkx-CLI[/youtube]

Polka dot baby bedding is a particularly desirable alternative, since it is cheerful, colorful, and available in many varieties. You can go bold and brassy if that’s your style, or small and delicate if you prefer classic simplicity, or pick dots in assorted sizes for a 60s look. Some dots come in formal linear patterns, some are scattered in a more casual fashion, while some are partially overlapping. It’s all up to you, as is the choice among the coordinating options, such as matching everything, or using solid sheets with dotted accessories, or vice versa.

But before signing on the (polka) dotted line for any bedding purchases, parents must learn about child safety – especially if this is their first child. The field of baby-safe bedding has come a long way, but moms and dads should still check items carefully. If a sheet doesn’t fit its mattress tightly, it can become wrapped around a sleeping infant, and a baby can unintentionally pull a too-puffy comforter over her nose and mouth. Materials which may provoke allergies must be avoided, as must harmful chemicals which threaten the newly formed respiratory system.

Generally, the safest of these products are the ones that are packaged in coordinated collections of accessories and crib bedding. They not only tend to come in standard sizes, but are also pleasantly affordable, costing around $125 to $200 depending on the number of items included.

If you’re expecting the birth of a daughter, you already know that there are a lot of things to prepare yourself for before the big day comes. New parents will have consider needs like doctors’ appointments to birthing classes to choosing a pediatrician and buying all the necessary infant paraphernalia such as strollers, carriers and playpens. The prospective parents are too busy as they have to mark some specific living areas for the new baby and are required to buy the garments for the baby and have to take care of the supply of lot of materials that are required by the new born baby in the house.

It’s really amazing, though, that just a single internet query asking about nursery furnishings will yield a huge amount of responses for individual items and links that can be clicked on. If you decide beforehand which colors and prints are preferred, it will greatly simplify the process.

For the most part, the best option for these goods are those that are marketed as matching ranges of add-on items and crib bedding. These baby sets not only come in sizes meeting the safety standards and norms but also come quite within the easily affordable budget costing in the range of a couple of hundred long greens, depending upon the accessories that you buy along with the baby bedding.

About the Author: Fenella McPherson is a writer for Baby Bedding Zone, an online retailer of baby bedding, including a wide selection of

polka dot baby bedding

and

baby girl bedding

.

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=554494&ca=Parenting

Posted in Bed Linen

Thursday, January 25, 2007

 Correction — February 8, 2007 Terrie Berenden’s pet shop is located in the town of Zelhem, not Amsterdam as stated in the article & title. Zelhem is approximately 135 km (85 miles) from Amsterdam 

A woman in The Netherlands who uses her dogs to hunt in Austria has decided to give her dogs a new kind of treat: beer.

Terrie Berenden, a woman who owns a pet shop in Amsterdam, created a non-alcoholic beer for her dogs which is made from malt and a beef extract. The beer is called Kwispelbier (‘kwispelen’ means “wagging of a [dog’s] tail” in Dutch), and was put onto shelves just last week.

“Once a year we go to Austria to hunt with our dogs, and at the end of the day we sit on the verandah and drink a beer. So we thought, my dog also has earned it,” said Berenden.

According to Berenden, owners can enjoy the new beer as well, but she also stated that it will cost owners about four times as much to drink the beer than to buy a ‘human beer.’ A bottle of the dog beer sells at about $2.14.

The slogan for the new dog beer is “a beer for your best friend” and Brenden hopes that the product will grab international attention. Requests for the beer are already coming from the United States, England and Japan.

“We are overwhelmed with it. From America, England and Japan we have (received) mail and we are just going to think about it, how we can bring it on the market there,” said Brenden.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Amsterdam_pet_shop_owner_creates_beer_for_dogs&oldid=982971”
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Friday, December 14, 2007

Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a genetic condition causing benign tumors (neurofibromas) to grow along certain types of nerves and, in addition, it can affect the development of bones or skin. There are several variants of the disease but type 1 and type 2 NF account for the vast majority of cases.

The disease manifestations can vary from very mild to severe. Major symptoms include growths on and under the skin; skin pigmentations called café au lait spots in type 1; acoustic nerve tumors and consequent hearing loss in type 2. Growths can affect nearly all parts of the body, and pressure on nearby structures can cause a wide variety of complications. There is a small risk that the tumors transform into malignant cancerous lesions.

NF is one of the most common single-gene human diseases; around 1 in 2,500-4,000 live births are affected by NF-1, whereas NF-2 occurs in about 1 in 50,000-120,000. Both type 1 and 2 are autosomal dominant conditions, meaning that only one copy of the mutated gene need be inherited to pass the disorder. A child of a parent with neurofibromatosis and an unaffected parent will have a 50% chance of inheriting the disorder. The gene responsible for NF-1 and possibly NF-2 is thought to function as a tumor suppressor gene.

In most cases of neurofibromatosis 1, patients can live normal and productive lives. In about 25-40% of patients there is an associated learning disability with or without ADHD. In some cases of neurofibromatosis 2, the damage to nearby vital structures, such as the cranial nerves and the brainstem, can be life-threatening. When tumors are causing pain or disfiguration, surgery is thus far the only proven beneficial treatment option.

Reggie Bibbs is a 43-year-old-man living in Houston, Texas. Mr Bibbs was born with a genetic disease called neurofibromatosis (NF), which causes him to develop tumors on his body (see infobox on the right). NF can be a subtle disease, but in Bibbs’ case it has left him with a disfigured face and deformed leg. But he is happy with the way he looks, and doesn’t want to change his appearance to please other people. He has launched a successful campaign entitled “Just Ask”, and that’s just what Wikinews did in a video-interview.

The interview was prepared by Wikinews reporter Michaël Laurent with the help of Bertalan Meskó (who has a popular genetics and web 2.0 blog). Their questions were sent to a close friend of Mr. Bibbs, Lou Congelio, who kindly conducted the interview.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Interview_with_Reggie_Bibbs_on_his_life_with_neurofibromatosis&oldid=4567787”
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Wednesday, May 20, 2015

On Sunday, at Calderón Stadium in Madrid, Spain, F.C. Barcelona association football club won the Spanish La Liga title. The team defeated Atlético Madrid 1–0 to clinch the title for the 23rd time.

Lionel Andrés “Leo” Messi Cuccittini scored the only goal of the match. A victory in this match ensured the title for Barcelona.

Uruguayan striker Suárez was rested due to a hamstring injury. A goal scored by Messi secured the 1–0 win and took the title from defending champions Atlético Madrid. Meanwhile, multiple FIFA Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo scored three goals against Barcelona based club Espanyol. But his hat-trick could not fetch his club, Real Madrid, the title, since F.C. Barcelona won against Atlético Madrid.

Luis Enrique, ex-Barcelona player and current manager of the team, wins the league for Barcelona in his first year as its manager.


May 17, 2015
Atletico Madrid 0–1 F.C. Barcelona Estadio Vicente Calderón, Madrid Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain)
Messi 65′
Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=F.C._Barcelona_wins_La_Liga_2014-2015&oldid=4551490”
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By Cole Carson

It’s no secret that we live in a world where it’s easy to become bogged down by stress. Our responsibilities keep stacking up on top of us, and it feels like if we make a single, tiny misstep it’s all going to come crashing down on top of us. Unfortunately, not only does this stress interfere with our happiness, it also takes a toll on our bodies – if left unchecked, stress can cause damage to almost every major part of the body, most notably our hearts and immune system, as well as causing depression. So how do we fight stress?

Stress is actually the releasing of certain hormones into the bloodstream by the brain. It’s a natural act, designed to help our bodies work over-time to escape a dangerous situation. Our hearts beat faster and harder, our hearing increases, our lungs take in more oxygen – nearly every major system in the body is taxed to help us escape from harm. Although this is natural, prolonged stress is not, and can be extremely damaging to the body.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQfjb530Aew[/youtube]

A good way to protect yourself is to make sure that you get the occasional break, but the key to avoiding the dangers of stress comes from your ability to mentally leave behind a stressful situation once you no longer have control of it. Most of us face small situations of stress everyday, whether it be a traffic jam, a crying baby, or having to put up with an irritating history professor. These situations are unavoidable, and the only way to protect yourself is to not let them get to you. You need to take mental control of the situation. Remind yourself that this is only a minor problem, and that it isn’t serious. Think of other similar situations that actually ended up as a funny story. The bottom line is that the first step to preventing stress damage is to remain calm and relatively unaffected by the small quirks in life that we just don’t have any control of.

Obviously, all of our problems aren’t small matters. We also have larger, more significant issues to deal with, and these can be much more difficult to escape. It could be that you have to work two jobs to pay the bills, or you are worried about your health or the health of a loved one, or perhaps you can’t seem to find the right job for you. These are things that cannot be ignored. The way to handle them is to first make sure that you have done everything you can to take care of your situation. Once you have done that, you have to realize that there is nothing else for you to do, and any time spent lingering on it will only be destructive. It can be difficult, but it is something you must take control of. If you don’t, not only will you be more miserable, but you won’t be able to deal with the problem as effectively. Walk away from them – put them out of your mind, and focus on other, happier things.

Lastly, one great way to get rid of stress in your life is to keep yourself occupied with things that you enjoy. It can be difficult to shove aside your problems if you’re bored, but if you’re having fun, it isn’t that difficult now, is it? Identify the little things that bring pleasure into your life. Maybe it’s fishing, or building model cars, or playing sports, and helping your kids with their schoolwork. Whatever it is, try to schedule in more of it. Don’t forget to keep it simple as well – you don’t want to stress yourself out trying to plan for a time that will help you release your stress!

There is no way to escape stress, but fortunately, we don’t have to. Stress itself is natural, but living in stress is not, and it isn’t something anyone has to do. If left unchecked, stress will wear away at you physically and make you ill equipped to handle your responsibilities, so slow down, take a fresh view of the world, and unwind.

About the Author: Cole Carson is a successful entrepreneur and internet marketer.

Being healthy is a great way to keep stress low. Find out how you can keep healthy with with Himalayan Goji Juice. – goji-dog.com

health-goji-juice.com

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=202048&ca=Self+Help

Posted in Business Energy Advice

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Freezing temperatures, combined with snow over the past few days, have caused travel problems throughout Europe and been responsible for the deaths of 10 people. On Monday a strong winter storm moved across Europe, covering parts of France and the United Kingdom with several inches of snow.

The storm ranged as far as Germany, Belgium, and parts of Northern Italy. It brought with it freezing, Arctic-like temperatures ranging from -5° Celsius (23° Fahrenheit) to -10°C (14°F) in the United Kingdom and France, down to -31°C (-24°F) in central Romania and what felt like -26°C (-15°F) in Germany. Forecasters predict that the freezing temperatures may be the start of a cold spell that could affect the entire continent throughout the month.

Monday’s heavy snowstorm forced Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport, slightly north of Paris, to cancel most of its flights. 1,658 passengers from Air France alone were stranded at the airport after their flights were grounded due to the heavy snow and icy conditions. The passengers from the 120 cancelled Air France flights spent the night in hotels near the airport which were accommodated for by the airline.

An official from Air France stated that the passengers “will have available food and hot drinks”. Most flights were grounded until the next morning. Tuesday, an official from Roissy-Charles de Gaulle said, “It did not snow last night. The runways are clear and have been de-iced. Traffic is returning to normal.”

The frigid temperatures resulted in several school closings across France and the United Kingdom, with government forecasters from both countries predicting that the cold would stay for several days. Many schools in the United Kingdom were closed because of problems with their heating systems, while heating repair services in Britain received a record number of calls this week.

In Paris, accumulating snow and slippery ice resulted in French officials closing pedestrian access to the Eiffel Tower, one of the city’s prime tourist locations.

“We can’t put down salt because it’s metallic, we can’t use sand either because it risks getting into the elevator,” stated a press official from the Eiffel Tower. The tower remained closed on Monday and re-opened on Tuesday.

The storm has caused the deaths of at least 13 people, whether directly or indirectly. Polish government officials have reported that 10 people have frozen to death following overnight temperatures of -25°C as recorded throughout the country. Police in Germany reported that a 77-year-old mentally-ill woman also froze to death after she was reported missing from a nursing home in Weimar. Romanian officials reported that frigid temperatures killed two people and sent several to the hospital. Temperatures there were reported as low as -31°C in some parts.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Ice,_snow,_and_cold_strike_throughout_Europe&oldid=4594862”
Posted in Uncategorized

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Skyservice, a Canadian charter airline, has cancelled several flights from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, with reports that the airline has ceased operations.

The company cites debt levels and changes in the vacation travel market with its decision to shut down operations and file for receivership. At the time of the filing in Ontario Superior Court, Skyservice is said to owe almost $9 million CAD to long-term partner and Thomas Cook subsidiary Sunquest Vacations. This situation exacerbated the debt load already put on the airline by a leveraged buyout in 2007 by Vancouver-based private equity firm Gibralt Capital Corporation. That placed more debt than was workable on the troubled airline, along with Roynat Capital calling in their loans to Skyservice earlier in the year.

Skyservice has stated that it will work with its partner companies and other providers to ensure customers stranded by the airline’s sudden shutdown are dealt with effectively, according to a company representative. In addition to customers impacted by the cancellation of flights for the month of April, approximately 860 jobs are expected to be lost as a result of this shutdown.

Tour operator Signature Vacations, under a contract with Skyservice until 2013, has stated that they were prepared for the airline’s receivership, having joined forces with rival service Sunwing Airlines.

Last year, operator Conquest Vacations declared bankruptcy, allegedly due to the economic downturn and reduced revenues throughout the industry.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Canadian_charter_airline_Skyservice_suspends_operations&oldid=4199229”
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Friday, May 31, 2013

An extremely well preserved woolly mammoth has been found by Russian scientists in Siberia, announced Wednesday.

The adult female was found with blood preserved still intact in ice cavities. When palaeontologists excavated the animal, blood flowed from the space below the animal’s abdomen.

The discovery was made on the Lyakhovsky Islands by scientists from the North-Eastern Federal University in Yakutsk, who estimated the animal’s age at 10,000 years.

The temperature of the ice at time of excavation was estimated between ?7 °C (19 °F) and ?10 °C (14 °F). This has led scientists to believe mammoth blood may contain some cryoprotectant, making it resistant to freezing.

Scientists are currently discussing the possibility of resurrecting extinct animals from their DNA.Along with blood samples taken from the site, scientists also discovered well-preserved muscle tissue described as the color of fresh red meat.

The scientists hypothesise the mammoth had fallen into a swamp or water, where she was trapped and eventually died. The remains are to be transported to Yakutsk and tested to ensure there are no dangerous diseases present.

Researchers said this mammoth is the best-preserved ever discovered.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Highly_preserved_mammoth_presents_scientists_with_blood_sample&oldid=4581664”
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