Thursday, June 30, 2005
Seoul —
The OhmyNews International Citizen Reporters’ Forum (see previous report) concluded on Saturday with several speeches and a visit to sponsoring companies in South Korea’s technology sector. Some invited “citizen reporters” from around the world extended their stay by several days to tour the country. Since the conclusion of the conference, presentations and transcripts have been published on the OhmyNews web site. [1]
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
A record number of complaints, over 600, against the New Zealand restaurant chain Hell Pizza for its advertising campaign using condoms delivered via letterbox have been upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). Family First “welcomes heavenly decision from ASA on Hells Pizza.”
Hell Pizza delivered sealed foil condoms in a cardboard box to households nationwide. On the outside of the box were the words: “Our pizza for meat lovers!” and the restaurant logo. The inside of the box included the condom and explicit instructions on how to use it. Hell Pizza delivered 70,000 condoms to households. An additional 100,000 were distributed to health and community groups who the chain said were “very supportive.”
Bob McCoskrie, director of Family First, said: “This is a victory for the protection of families from grubby advertising by companies like Hell’s Pizza, and is also a message to other companies who cross the line of what is decent and acceptable to our community. This is a pizza delivery company taking the moral high ground on sex education and telling parents how to give sex education to their kids, implying that all parents have failed at this, and kids as young as five should be exposed to this type of material.”
S. Nicholas filed a formal complaint and said in the complaint:” Any child can open the box take out these condoms and play with them. These are contraceptive devices, not playthings. The package also gave full instructions ‘how to use the condom’ in case some young person wanted to ‘experiment’! It shows lack of taste and is irresponsible.”
Other complainants said that it is inappropriate to promote food with a condom, the text “meat lovers” was offensive, that it undermined family values, and removed the right for families to teach sex education to their children. Condom use instructions that came with the advertising campaign were unnecessary and unacceptable and that there are health and safety issues if the condom broke during delivery.
The ASA said that three code of ethic rules were broken. They were basic principle 4, advertisements should follow a sense of social responsibility to both the consumers and society; rule 4, advertisements should not contain anything generally offensive and rule 5, advertisements should not contain anything that would cause serious widespread offence.
The agency Cinderella, acting on behalf of Hell Pizza, said that they “most certainly did approach this campaign with a due sense of social responsibility to consumers and society.”
Cinderella said: “From the very beginning, the company’s marketing activities were unconventional and memorable… HELL has built a successful brand by utilizing a limited marketing budget in ways that sought to grab attention and secure significant additional media coverage that would never have been able to be sustained using conventional, paid-for, advertising techniques.”
“LUST and sex are, in our experience, often found not far apart. One generally follows the other. And enjoying great food either before or after is also not such a stretch.”
Replying to the instructions that have to be printed, Cinderella said: “The terms are not really sexually arousing and the suggestion made by one hysterical complainant that they could then go and act out the instructions on the next door child is just not plausible and probably not even physically possible. It borders on insane to believe that this is a credible risk. …there has not been an explosion of sexual assault of children after being exposed to government health warnings.”
The ASA then considered all information given to them by both complainants and the advertiser.
The ASA agreed that the advertisements were in breach of basic principle 4 because: “Unsolicited, unaddressed delivery of a condom to letterboxes to promote a food brand did not meet [the basic principle 4] standard.” The standard “required all advertising to be prepared with a due sense of social responsibility to consumers and society.”
The ASA then reviewed whether or not the advertisement programme had breached rule 4 and rule 5. “The method of distribution was a key factor in considering whether or not the promotion had breached the Rules, taking into account the random context, medium, audience and product. The majority of the Board noted that it was difficult to target specific groups or ages using unaddressed letterbox distribution. In addition, it was concerned that such a method of distribution allowed any member of a household access to the advertising.” The majority of the ASA board did not find the instructions offensive but did agree that it would cause widespread offense. The advertisement programme is in breach of rule 4 and rule 5.
Some of the ASA board said: “…While the promotion had caused offence to some, this was offset by the possibility that the promotion had reached an audience that may not access the safe sex message via other media.”
The ASA decided to uphold the complaints, “complaints were unanimously upheld.”
“Our message to Hell’s Pizza is simple – stay out of the bedroom and get back into the kitchen,” Mr McCoskrie said.
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By Colon Bolden
Many people are excited by the idea of venturing onto the internet. In fact, going online for the first time is relatively simple. It is no more difficult than installing a new piece of software. To connect to the internet you need a modem and an Internet Service Provider (ISP). You also need a web browser.
Can you remember when there were essentially only two web browsers? Nowadays, there are several web browsers available and as a result, it has become crucial for website owners and developers to ensure that their websites are compatible with all the browsers.
A web browser is a piece of software that allows you to access Web sites and navigate between them. Once your browser is set up, you can explore the fascinating world beyond. All web browser are the same in principle. They contain an address box, in which you type a web address, and an area in which web pages are displayed.
Every Web address is unique, in the same way that your telephone number is. It’s helpful to think of a web address as a telephone number, whereby you dial the site’s address to view it. Web address tells you that the site belongs to the World Wide Web.
Two of the most popular browsers are Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. If you bought your personal computer in 1999 or later, Microsoft Internet Explorer will almost certain have come pre-installed on your system.
Whether or not your personal computer came with its own browser, your internet service provider may also provide you with one in its start up kit. This could be Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator, but some ISPs, such as AOL and Compuserve, provide you with their own specialty designed Web browser.
You can have more than one Web browser, just as you can have more than one word processor or spreadsheet program. When your internet service provider software first loads, look for a button that says “Internet,” “Browse the Internet,” or something close to this. When you click on this it will start up your web browser ready to surf the internet.
Lets get one thing clear the internet is a great place but there are some huge security issues with it, for instance the majority of information that it sent and received for your computer is completely insecure and visible, it is transmitted in clear text and is visible to anyone with a mind to intercept.
In fact a recent European directive has stated that all logs of your web browsing, emails and communication should be kept by the ISPs for two years. The UK Government actually want to store this data on a central database, of course it is all done in the causes of catching criminals, terrorists and the like. We sacrifice our freedom and privacy for the small chance of catching a terrorist who has been surfing extremist websites – personally I’m not overly keen on this.
About the Author: As the Author of this article, Colon Bolden is a dedicated business coach. His passion is working with people around the world helping them to use a
better web builder
to create success with the least amount of effort. To learn more about the most powerful way he can help your computer business move to the next level, visit his site at
BetterWebsiteBuilder.com
.
Source:
isnare.com
Permanent Link:
isnare.com/?aid=433979&ca=Internet
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Plastic surgeon to the stars Dr. Frank Ryan has died in a car accident at age 50. It is reported that the Jeep Ryan was driving crashed over the side of the Pacific Coast Highway and landed on rocks. Lifeguards were first on the scene and unsuccessfully tried to rescue Ryan. It is thought that no other vehicle was involved in the incident.
Dr. Ryan, a celebrity in his own right, performed plastic surgery on several stars including Janice Dickinson, Gene Simmons, Shauna Sand and Adrianne Curry. He appeared on several television shows and became one of the first people to perform plastic surgery on television in 1995.
A representative for Janice Dickinson released a statement about the death of Ryan. She said “Janice is deeply, deeply anguished! She is stunned and wants the world to know what a genius Dr. Ryan was.”
Ryan was traveling with his pet dog at the time of the crash; the dog was found seriously injured in the ocean and was transported to a local veterinarian. Dr. Ryan was pronounced dead at the scene.
Friday, May 26, 2006
New Zealand police officers and customs officials working with Hong Kong authorities have seized methamphetamine with a street value of $135 million dollars (NZD).
The drugs were found in a container from China, among bags of cement.
There were 96 1-kg bags of crystal methamphetamine, or P, worth $1 million each and 150kg of pseudoephedrine, the main ingredient in the making of P, worth $40 million.
“It’s a group that’s operating offshore that’s sending produce to New Zealand and possibly to other places,” Police Detective Inspector, Bruce Good said. The inquiry team also found loaded guns, fake passports and $50,000 in cash while searching an Auckland home. Weapons discovered included a M16 assault rifle, three handguns and a tiny pen gun, which is banned in New Zealand.
Six people have been charged and are in custody, two New Zealanders, one person from Hong Kong and three from mainland China.
This is 10 times bigger than any other drug bust in New Zealand, reports Detective Superintendent Nick Perry. The previous largest confiscation of crystal methamphetamine was just over 8 kg, which was discovered in Wellington after being smuggled into New Zealand from the Port of Auckland.
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Why Team Building Activities to Start the New Year?
by
Colette Johnston
Are you looking for ways to improve your team culture for the new year? Team building activities help build a purposeful team culture within your organization, so why not include a workshop in your annual kick-off meeting? One of the reasons companies have offsite team meetings is to not only share and gather information but also to improve their team culture by giving people face time . If you re planning an offsite meeting, here are some things to keep in mind.
In today s economy everybody has to learn to do more with less. What happens when we have limited resources? How do limited resources impact our relationships and integrity? Teams can learn to think creatively through team building activities. Oftentimes in team building workshops, participants are given a series of creative challenges and problem solving activities. What they realize is just because they ve always done something a certain way, doesn t mean it s the way they should continue to do it. To not only survive, but thrive we need to do things differently to get better results. Rather than looking for what s not working ask what s possible. This releases creativity and attracts those who care and are committed to making it happen.
When you have an annual meeting it s a great opportunity for your team to get to know each other through interactive team building activities. You can build camaraderie with interactive sessions because when we are connected to each other, we participate. When we have trust, we take risks. When we care, we are willing to go the extra mile. Collaboration and creativity start when we begin to know each other as human beings, not just roles or titles. For example, we provided our Build-A-Bike team building workshop for a client in the Seattle area last month. Because of the interactive team building activities, the participants said they knew each other better after a half day session than after a year sitting next to each other in cubicles. And when times are uncertain, it s the relationship that matters.
Team building activities that include a philanthropic twist have become increasingly popular in recent years. And with good reason! Service to others is a strong part of the culture within many companies who want to feel good by giving back – and not just during the holidays. Our charitable bike building workshop is by far our most popular because teams build bikes that are then donated to children in the community. Do you remember what it felt like when you got your first car how it expanded your world? A new bike can change the life of a child, and it s a goose bump moment when you watch them ride it for the first time. Decide if a service mentality is an important part of your culture, and send that message at your next offsite meeting.
So if you want to improve your team culture, start at your next offsite meeting by learning to think creatively and be resourceful, building camaraderie with interactive sessions, and feeling good by giving back in some way. Your team will discover together what it cares about and set your company up for a successful new year.
Colette Johnston is a Corporate Team Building Consultant with The Leader\’s Institute, a soft-skills training company focusing on team building, public speaking and leadership development. She works with clients in over 30 major cities including Seattle, Los Angeles, Detroit and New York. For free brochures, tips and information, visit
our website
.
Article Source:
ArticleRich.com
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Brett McKenzie is running for the Green Party of Ontario in the Ontario provincial election, in the London North Centre riding. Wikinews’ Nick Moreau interviewed him regarding his values, his experience, and his campaign.
Stay tuned for further interviews; every candidate from every party is eligible, and will be contacted. Expect interviews from Liberals, Progressive Conservatives, New Democratic Party members, Ontario Greens, as well as members from the Family Coalition, Freedom, Communist, Libertarian, and Confederation of Regions parties, as well as independents.
Friday, September 26, 2008
On October 14, 2008, Canadians will be heading to the polls for the federal election. New Democratic Party candidate Michael McMahon is standing for election in the riding of Prince Edward—Hastings. McMahon moved to Windsor in 1951, getting a degree in education, teaching locally and in Papua New Guinea. He served as Branch President of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF), served on multiple of their major committees, and recently retired from the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board.
Wikinews contacted Michael McMahon, to talk about the issues facing Canadians, and what they and their party would do to address them. Wikinews is in the process of contacting every candidate, in every riding across the country, no matter their political stripe. All interviews are conducted over e-mail, and interviews are published unedited, allowing candidates to impart their full message to our readers, uninterrupted.
Since being redefined in 2003, the riding includes the County of Prince Edward and the County of Hastings (except the City of Quinte West). Conservative Party member Daryl Kramp currently represents the riding, after beating a Liberal in 2004. Ken Cole of the Liberals and Alan Coxwell of the Greens are also running in the riding.
For more information, visit the campaign’s official website, listed below.
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Dispelling Any Concerns About the Safety of BOTOX
by
Dr Barry Eppley
Recent media releases that I have read on the use of BOTOX in children with neuromuscular disorders does not accurately represent its safety record in cosmetic applications. To allay potential patient concerns, it is useful to review some of the existing information to clear up any confusion created by these internet and paper reports on this very popular cosmetic treatment.
BOTOX cosmetic (Botulinum Toxin Type A) is produced and sold by the proprietary company, Allergan, based in Irvine California. It was initially approved for the treatment of excessive eyelid twitching 18 years ago and its approval for the treatment of vertical brow lines was 6 years ago. Many millions of cosmetic patients have been treated globally and the manufacturer reports that more than 13 million doses have been given since 2002. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgery, BOTOX cosmetic is the #1 cosmetic procedure done in the U.S. since 2002 with over 3 million doses given in 2006. With over 3,000 published medical reports and a large number of clinical trial subjects studied, a welth of safety information is available. Significant adverse reactions to the use of BOTOX, despite the large amount of doses given and the patients treated cosmetic is extremely rare.Any true allergies to its use have not been reported. To date, there has never been a single reported death associated with its use either. These cosmetic experiences must be contrasted with the media reports where its use has been in limb spasticity, which is not an FDA-approved application. Substantially larger doses (up to 100 times) are given in these neuromuscular uses compared to what is given for cosmetic wrinkle treatments and are injected in these juvenile patients who are often sickly from their neuromuscular disease. These two patient populations, and their indications, are simply not the same. The FDA appears to recognize these differences and has issued no stoppage of its use for any application to any health care provider at the present time. The accurate portrayal of the safety data on BOTOX cosmetic should provide great comfort to those patients who regularly receive aesthetic treatments or to those considering it in the near future.
Dr Barry Eppley is a board-certified plastic surgeon who writes a daily blog on trends in plastic surgery at
exploreplasticsurgery.com
. He is in private practice in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Article Source:
ArticleRich.com
Friday, June 26, 2015
Annabel Goldie, Scottish Conservative Party leader from 2005 to 2011, has announced she will stand down as an MSP at the next elections in 2016. Goldie, who has been an MSP for the West Scotland (previously West of Scotland) electoral region since the Scottish Parliament’s formation in 1999, said she intends to focus on her role in the House of Lords, where she has been a peer since 2013.File:Annabel Goldie.jpg
In a statement today, Goldie said leading the party was an “enormous honour” for her. She also said: “It has afforded me both satisfaction and pleasure to serve my constituents and to serve the parliament and I will look back with great happiness at my time as an MSP. I am grateful to friends and colleagues from all parties for their support. Sometimes we found common ground, sometimes we disagreed but never I hope with rancour nor disrespect. Politics is a rough trade but we have built a strong parliament in Scotland of which we can all be rightly proud.” She said because of Ruth Davidson, her successor as Scottish Conservative leader, the party is now “in fine fettle and stands a great chance of making real progress in the years ahead,” concluding by saying: “I look forward to continuing to work as part of that effort in the House of Lords in the years to come.”
Davidson responded to the news by calling Goldie an “unstoppable force”, adding: “She has been an inspiration to a whole generation of Scottish Conservatives, and she has been a tremendous mentor, support and friend to me. In Holyrood, she has fostered both affection and respect from all members – regardless of their political affiliation – and her retirement from the Scottish Parliament will leave an Annabel-sized hole which won’t ever quite be filled. She is unique.” Meanwhile, David Cameron, UK Conservative leader and UK Prime Minister, said: “Annabel is one of those rare breeds in Scottish politics, somebody known by her first name alone. When she was Scottish Conservative leader, I valued her sage advice. She has been a towering strength to our party in Scotland, a doughty debater in the TV studios and Scottish Parliament and has one of the sharpest wits around. I wish her a long and happy retirement after 17 years unstinting service at Holyrood – but look forward to seeing her on the red benches of the Lords for years to come.”
| In Holyrood, she has fostered both affection and respect from all members – regardless of their political affiliation – and her retirement from the Scottish Parliament will leave an Annabel-sized hole which won’t ever quite be filled. She is unique. | ||
Goldie, the Scottish Conservatives’ first ever female leader, was elected unopposed. She took up the role in the aftermath of David McLetchie’s resignation from the role in an expenses usage controversy and subsequent resignation of Brian Monteith from his Conservative whip role in the Scottish Parliament for briefing the media against him. Meanwhile, as Scottish Conservatives won 18 seats in the Scottish Parliament in 1999 and 2003, the party had been less successful in UK general elections in Scotland; Conservatives went up from zero out of a possible 72 UK MPs in Scotland in 1997 to one in 2001. This led to Goldie remarking in her inaugural speech in 2005 that: “The wheels are back on the wagon – and I’m the nag hitched up to tow it.” She also said: “The party is still way ahead of where it was in 1997. And my first task is to take it forward to 2007.” However, under Goldie’s leadership, the number of seats the Scottish Conservatives won in the Scottish Parliament slightly decreased from 18 in 2003 to 17 in 2007 and to 15 in 2011. At the same time, the number of Conservative MPs stood at one out of a possible 59 after the 2010 UK general election.
In the aforementioned 2005 speech, she also said the party could be trusted with devolution in Scotland, adding: “making devolution work better means real devolution: not the lumbering and cripplingly expensive array of government departments, government advisers, consultants, quangos, quasi-quangos and agencies with all their expensive appendages, but devolving down to people and their communities, their right to make their own decisions about their lives, how for example they procure healthcare and how they educate their children.” Goldie would go on to sit on the advisory board for the Smith Commission, which was set up to examine which further political powers should be devolved to Scotland following the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. More recently, Goldie supported a reduction in the voting age for Scottish Parliament elections from 18 to 16 in a vote earlier this month, commenting: “I think it is an opportunity for them to continue their high level of engagement in topical affairs that we saw with the independence referendum.”
Goldie, a member of the Salvation Army’s West of Scotland Advisory Board and a Church of Scotland elder, is not the only Scottish Conservative MSP intending to stand down in 2016. Mary Scanlon, Gavin Brown, Alex Fergusson and Nanette Milne all reportedly intend to leave the Scottish Parliament next year.