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Racial Issues Within Street Sense Newspaper
Talking about a homeless newspaper that is an advocate for the homeless but not proving their point.
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Britney Spears wins loads of awards at pointless MTV Bash
So, who actually watches MTV anymore?
What a pile of drivel.
I can't wait for the African, Latino, Asian, Australian and European VMA's so she can win more. So, who actually watches MTV anymore? What a pile of drivel. ... more -
Football on a Sunday? Ulster says MAYBE!
As a football league match was played on a Sunday in Northern Ireland for the first time, BBC Ireland correspondent Mark Simpson went along to hear the views on both sides.
There was no clear winner as two of Northern Ireland's great passions - football and religion - clashed on the streets of east Belfast.
On the one side, there were around 50 protesters in their Sunday-best suits, campaigning to keep the Sabbath holy.
On the other side, were hundreds of fans in shiny football shirts, wanting to watch their favourite team.
Unlike many previous street protests in Belfast, this one was peaceful. Indeed, the only time voices were raised was when the demonstrators sang hymns.
And unlike most disputes in Northern Ireland, this one was not between Catholics and Protestants. This one was Protestant versus Protestant.
"Fundamentally, it is a desecration of God's day"-Reverend David McIveen As a football league match was played on a Sunday in Northern Ireland for the first time, BBC Ireland correspondent Mark Simpson went ... more -
All Ireland Hurling Final: Kilkenny 3-30 Waterford 1-13
The cats absolutely Hammered Waterford, in Waterford's first final in over 45 years.
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Young 'ignorant on mental health'
Almost half of all schoolchildren cannot name a single mental health condition, a study of 500 young people has found.
And fewer than half of those surveyed felt that schools provided enough information about mental health, a third preferred to trust the internet.
Great Ormond Street Hospital conducted the poll. It is launching its own child mental health information website.
A spokesman said the results were "worrying and surprising".
Mental health problems are far from rare in the young - between one in 12 and one in 15 children and teenagers deliberately self-harm, with more than 25,000 admitted to hospital each year due to the severity of their injuries.
More than 1% of 11 to 16-year-olds are said to be "seriously depressed."
However, the survey of 500 young people revealed wide gaps in knowledge, with boys between the ages of 12 and 14 the least likely to be able to name a single mental health condition.
Those who did manage to do so were most likely to point to substance abuse, depression and self-harm as the most common.
Celebrity confessions
While the internet was the most popular source of advice, 17 and 18-year-old girls said that they likely to gather their mental health knowledge from celebrities talking about their mental health problems.
Dr Jon Goldin, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at Great Ormond Street, said: "Our findings which show that nearly half of 12-18 year olds in the UK cannot name a single mental health condition are both worrying and surprising.
"This ignorance is probably one of the reasons why for too long now there has been a stigma attached to living with a mental health condition.
"It is important that young people feel they can come forward and speak out if they or someone they know is experiencing mental health difficulties."
An analysis of 2,000 confidential enquiries to Great Ormond Street's "Children First" website found that "psychosocial" problems were the most common topic.
The hospital has responded by setting up a new section on the site, complete with information and audio diaries recorded by teenagers with mental health problems.
Child mental health charity Young Minds said the website would be a "vital resource".
Its chief executive Sarah Brennan said: "Websites such as Great Ormond Street Hospital's help young people to understand more about mental health problems and ensure they have access to information when they need it.
"They provide information which young people don't feel comfortable getting elsewhere, often helping to identify what might be wrong and how to get help." Almost half of all schoolchildren cannot name a single mental health condition, a study of 500 young people has found. ... more -
US takes over key mortgage firms
US financial officials have outlined plans for the government to take over the failing mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.
The two companies account for nearly half of the outstanding mortgages in the US, and have lost billions of dollars during the US housing crash.
The most recent figures show about 9% of US homeowners were behind on their payments or faced repossession.
The federal takeover is one of the largest bail-outs in US history.
'Comprehensive action'
As part of the changes, the management of the two companies will be replaced while the firms will be given access to extra funding to support their business going forward.
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said the government was intervening in the wider interests of the financial system and of taxpayers since the financial position of the two firms was fast deteriorating.
He added that the two firms' debt levels posed a "systemic risk" to financial stability and that, without action, the situation would get worse.
"We examined all options available and determined this comprehensive and complementary set of actions best met the objectives of market stability, mortgage availability and taxpayer protection," he said.
"Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are so large and interwoven in our financial system that a failure of either of them would create great turmoil in financial markets here and around the globe."
The move is intended to keep the two companies afloat, amid fears that either could go bankrupt as borrowers default on their home loans.
The two firms will be administered by the Federal Housing Finance Agency until their long-term future is decided.
The Congressional Budget Office has said such a move could cost up to $25bn but Mr Paulson said there was no reason why taxpayers should have to directly foot the bill.
Funding guarantee
Together, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae own or guarantee about $5.3 trillion (£3 trillion) of mortgages.
But they have made a combined loss of about $14bn in the past year and officials were worried that they would no longer be able to continue functioning if such losses continued. US financial officials have outlined plans for the government to take over the failing mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. ... more -
Glasgow limbers up for Euro dance
Who knew eh?
Millions of people in 23 countries are expected to watch the Eurovision Dance Contest, which will take place at the SECC in Glasgow later.
Television coverage will be hosted live on BBC One by Graham Norton and Claudia Winkleman.
The 135-minute programme will see 15 couples compete - each made up of one professional and one celebrity.
They will perform one freestyle dance with a national flavour which may have elements of Latin and Ballroom.
Strictly Come Dancing's Len Goodman and Craig Revell Horwood will offer comments on performances and artistic content.
Viewers will then be asked to vote on the choreography, costume and music.
Seems odd, pairing up with a celebrity, not in the spirit of the song contest.
Still, with a few beers on a saturday night I'm sure there uglier things I could watch, like football.. Who knew eh? ... more -
17-year-old gir dead as storms move across UK
Storms which left one person dead in mid-Wales and caused floods across Wales and south-west England are set to spread to other parts of the UK.
Persistent rain is forecast for north and north-east England and south-east Scotland, with the risk of flooding.
One severe flood warning and 52 flood warnings are in place.
On Friday afternoon, a 17-year-old girl died when a 4x4 vehicle overturned trying to cross a swollen river at a ford near Llyn Brianne in Powys.
Several rivers in Wales have already burst their banks
On the weather prospects for Saturday, BBC forecaster Jay Wynne said: "It's going to be pretty wet throughout northern England generally, and south-east Scotland too.
"The ground is already saturated so the water will run off pretty quickly into the rivers, so we could see some flooding problems in those areas.
"The rain won't be as heavy as it was in Wales and south-west England on Friday but it will be persistent, raining pretty much all day."
The Environment Agency's severe flood warning is for Cringle Brook in the Fallowfield, Withington and Burnage districts of Manchester. In addition to the warnings, the agency has 170 flood watches in place for England and Wales.
The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency has one flood watch, for across the Scottish Borders where up to 50mm (2ins) of rain are possible.
The teenager who was killed in Powys was airlifted to Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth - along with a male and another female both suffering from hypothermia - but died after arrival.
It's been atrocious here on the east coast of Ireland too, my garden here is basically a swimming pool. Storms which left one person dead in mid-Wales and caused floods across Wales and south-west England are set to spread to other parts ... more -
Lung specialist urges Automatic Organ Donation
A leading lung specialist has said Ireland should seriously consider automatic organ donation after death, to increase the number of transplant operations.
Mater Hospital consultant, Dr Jim Egan, said a change from the existing voluntary donation system to one of 'presumed consent' would save lives.
Currently around 600 patients are on the waiting list for an organ transplant here.
I've long been a supporter of this, It was pioneered in Argentina I believe and has saved many many lives
Remember that if you want to donate, an organ donor card isn't enough and isnt even that necessary as your next of kin decide. You MUST let you family know your decision. A leading lung specialist has said Ireland should seriously consider automatic organ donation after death, to increase the number of t... more -
Toilets Flush Out Population Numbers
Discovery-News.com: Ocean City, Maryland is using wastewater to calculate population estimates. James Williams checks out the formula to see if it adds up. Discovery-News.com: Ocean City, Maryland is using wastewater to calculate population estimates. James Williams checks out the formula... more
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Suicide prevention in Shanghai schools
Recent months has seen a shocking spate of suicides and attempted suicides amongst Shanghai highschoolers, with four attempted suicides already this month (one of them, a 12 year old, was successful, jumping from a 6th floor window as his horrified parents looked on) , coinciding with the start of the new school year on September 1st.
In response, questionnaires are to be given out among the city's 3,000 sixth grade pupils in 21 of Shanghai's middle schools, mapping their mental health, with the aim of identifying those who are potentially at risk - who will then be given counselling. Recent months has seen a shocking spate of suicides and attempted suicides amongst Shanghai highschoolers, with four attempted suicide... more -
Spittin' marbles
I came across this amazing gadget on the Make Blog this morning - what a brilliant marble machine! Beautiful as well as ingenious, and it all started as 'an experiment to make a wooden bike chain'! Keep the vid rolling for more detailed close-ups of the mechanism. I came across this amazing gadget on the Make Blog this morning - what a brilliant marble machine! Beautiful as well as ingenious, an... more
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Britons doubt Olympics will be a success
In a survey of 2,000 Brits taken just after the Beijing Olympics, it was revealed that only 11% believe that the 2012 London Olympics will be a success.
Though nearly half now feel more excited about hosting the Games since Team GB's performance this summer, 21% think that the Olympics will be good for Britain's international reputation, up from 15% before the Games.
60% also said that the performance of the UK team this year has not made them feel more confident about the Government. In a survey of 2,000 Brits taken just after the Beijing Olympics, it was revealed that only 11% believe that the 2012 London Olympics ... more -
backstage gocce d'acqua video
backstage dell'ultimo video della band gto
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Chinese Paralympians go for gold
An interesting feature about athletes competeing in the Paralympics in Beijing this year. The athletes hope to create more understanding of their disabilities - and abilities through the competitions, in a culture that still has many misconceptions and prejudices regarding disability. An interesting feature about athletes competeing in the Paralympics in Beijing this year. The athletes hope to create more understand... more
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A Chinese Experiment in Democracy Meets Fierce Resistance
A worrying tale of the difficulties a small Chinese community faced in an experimental introduction of democracy to the area's local politics.
Looks like the local political system and general attitudes towards being in power needs to be completely shaken up before democracy can really work in China. A worrying tale of the difficulties a small Chinese community faced in an experimental introduction of democracy to the area's lo... more -
Spore has been hacked, cracked and dumped on Bittorrent for world to have for free
Well not exactly surprising news today as, 24 hours before its official launch, the much hyped Spore game has been cracked and put up for torrenters to download for free. So far an estimated 27,000 people have already downloaded the illegal version despite hightened warnings against illegal torrent downloads that have lately hit the media.
The official version of Spore comes to shops tomorrow. Well not exactly surprising news today as, 24 hours before its official launch, the much hyped Spore game has been cracked and put up ... more -
Hi-tech electric cigar dodges smoking ban
Ok, I'm sure I've already seen cigarettes like this but for the more high-classed cigar chompers, I guess this has become the solution if you don't want to be kicked out of the Club for antisocial (and illegal) smoking habits..)
This electronic battery operated cigar even glows red at the end and allows you to exhale legal and harmless water vapour rather than nasty carcinogenic tobacco smoke.
Has to be said though, if your addiction's so bad that you feel you have to suck on a glowing toy cigar to get your hits indoors, it might be time to consider kicking the habit once and for all... Ok, I'm sure I've already seen cigarettes like this but for the more high-classed cigar chompers, I guess this has become th... more
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