Dorothy’s dress from Wizard of Oz sells for £140,000

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

The auction hammer came down Wednesday, in London, on Judy Garland’s blue gingham dress, worn in the 1939 movie “The Wizard of Oz.” It sold for £140,000 (about US$262,157.40).

The identity of the buyer, who sealed the deal on the telephone, was not immediately revealed. Bonham auctioneers told reporters there was a pre-sale estimate of £35,000 (about US$65,529.47).

The dress, one of the most recognizable in the movie world, was made for the 17-year-old Garland who had a 27-inch (68-centimetre) waist. Her name is still on a tag on an inside hem. It was auctioned as part of a sale of rock and film memorabilia and was described as a “cherished memory for millions of fans worldwide.”

The story of the “Wizard of Oz,” which sealed Garland’s legend as a worldwide star, tells the story of a young Kansan, Dorothy (Judy Garland) and her dog Toto. They are whisked away from their rural Kansas home by a tornado to a magical realm called OZ.

In their travels, they meet other now-famous characters, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion.

Although the film started with only modest success, it has since become a screen classic.

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Family dog missing after protecting kids from bear

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

A boxer is missing in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, after it chased off a bear to protect three children. According to Bill Rusko, the father of two of the children, the bear crossed Route 30 in Ligonier Township and moved towards the three kids as they played badminton. The year-old dog, Major, then ran around the bear to distract it and bit it in the face. As the bear ran back into the woods, the dog chased it. It remains missing; however, neighbors say they saw it in the area. Major is now safe at his home.

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Teaching Teens About Spending Smart

By Stewart Wrighter

The crucial economic crisis all over the world may be a major concern for you. If you go bankrupt, you would be looking for The Woodlands bankruptcy attorney or a Houston bankruptcy attorney. The Woodlands bankruptcy lawyer would help you in managing all the legal actions regarding bankruptcy. However, when you are bringing your children up, you need to teach them about spending money wisely.

Parents are the most influential role models that children find. Therefore, what you teach them about spending money, they continue the same habits in their future. The unsteady economic situation and increasing unemployment has increased numbers of teens worried about money matters. Many college students are also observed to drop out from college, not because of poor academics, but because they cannot manage the college fee. More and more students are falling under debt, and this is creating a major issue for the parents.

Basic teaching about money begins from your own spending habits. If you tend to spend money beyond your means, there is a lesser chance that your child will have a habit of wise spending. Therefore, the best lesson is a ‘show-and-tell’ lesson. Take your teens to the grocery store with you and let them buy stuff. Also teach them that it is not always necessary to buy your desired item. If they choose to buy the lesser expensive version of the same item, they can save some money to buy something else they might need or like to have.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zyx5dFiFzaA[/youtube]

Give some allowance to your teens. Make sure this is according to their needs. Handing them money in their own hands teaches them a lot about money management. You should give them a certain amount of money to spend every week and it is important that you stay strict about it. They should not be coming up to you, asking you for more and more money each day.

A savings account is another good idea to inculcate a saving habit in your teen children. Opening a savings account in the bank will also tell them about different bank policies. They can also get to learn about different ways of investments, like bonds, stocks, mutual funds, etc. You should also tell them about different account statements like 401k statements and credit card statements. This will also tell them that a credit card is not free money, but you have to pay it off in the end.

Older teens can also be encouraged to find employment. Youngsters might start with work experience in part-time jobs and internships. Such an experience will show them the importance of money. It will also teach them different skills about the corporate sector. You might also tell your child to keep a particular amount from his/her income for retirement. Young adults between the ages of 16 and 21 can put some money in Roth IRA, and it can give them great benefits by the time of their retirement.

In all, smart spending is all about saving. Train your teens to save money on every little thing they buy. A penny saved today can grow to be a dollar tomorrow. Ensure that your children know all about wise spending to tackle the critical economic times in their future.

About the Author: Stewart Wrighter recently spent time researching law firms with

The Woodlands bankruptcy attorney

on staff. His sister hired a

The Woodlands bankruptcy lawyer

to help her with her financial problems.

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=623879&ca=Finances

Eleven killed in train crash in northern Victoria, Australia

Tuesday, June 5, 2007File:Swan Hill3.jpg

Eleven people have been killed, and more than 20 injured, when a V/Line passenger train and a semi trailer collided at a level crossing on the Murray Valley Highway in northern Victoria, Australia. At least 13 more are still missing and are believed to be trapped in the wreckage.

The collision, which occurred at 1:40 p.m. local time, was approximately 10 km north of the town of Kerang, on the Swan Hill railway line.

The train involved in the accident was a service from Swan Hill, which departed at 1:00 p.m. from Swan Hill railway station, and was destined for Melbourne. The train was comprised of a locomotive and three carriages.

Witness reports say that the semi-trailer collided into the second of the three carriages, and then detached the third carriage from the remainder of the train and causing it to derail. The whole side of the second carriage was ripped open from the direct impact of the semi-trailer.

The injured have been transferred from the scene to hospitals in the area, including Kerang and Mildura, by ambulance. Helicopters and light aircraft have been used to transfer patients to Melbourne, as local hospitals struggle with the sudden influx of patients. The driver of the semi-trailer has been moved to the hospital in Mildura in “critical condition”, according to police at the scene.

The train had 39 people on board the 1:00 p.m. service, according to train documents. This included three staff employed by the train operator V/Line, who have all been accounted for and are not injured. Of the 36 passengers on the train, it has been reported that 23 have suffered injuries.

Reports say six people were airlifted to Melbourne for treatment, however one has since died. The remaining 17 have been moved to regional hospitals, including the temporary relief centre in Kerang, according to a Rural Ambulance Service spokesperson.

Although there are still 13 people unaccounted for, police say it is possible that some had bought tickets and were therefore listed on the train manifest, but did not end up catching the service.

Premier of Victoria Steve Bracks is expected to fly to the crash scene this evening. He has ordered a full investigation into the incident. Federal Minister for Transport Mark Vaile has offered Federal government assistance from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau to help with the investigation. The Prime Minister John Howard has offered the Victorian government any additional aid that is requires in the aftermath of this incident.

Train operator V/Line have set up an emergency hotline to assist relatives and friends of those on the train receive information. The number is 1800 800 120.

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US unemployment rate reaches 9.8%

Friday, October 2, 2009

Companies in the United States are shedding more jobs, pushing the country’s unemployment rate to a 26-year high of 9.8%.

The US Labor Department said on Friday that employers cut 263,000 jobs in September, with companies in the service industries — including banks, restaurants and retailers — hit especially hard. This is the 21st consecutive month of job losses in the country.

The United States has now lost 7.2 million jobs since the recession officially began in December 2007. The new data has sparked fears that unemployment could threaten an economic recovery. Top US officials have warned that any recovery would be slow and uneven, and some have predicted the unemployment rate will top 10% before the situation improves.

“Continued household deleveraging and rising unemployment may weigh more on consumption than forecast, and accelerating corporate and commercial property defaults could slow the improvement in financial conditions,” read a report by the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook, predicting that unemployment will average 10.1% by next year and not go back down to five percent until 2014.

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Economy.com, said that “it’s a very fragile and tentative recovery. Policy makers need to do more.”

“The number came in weaker than expected. We saw a lot of artificial involvement by the government to prop up the markets, and now that that is starting to end, the private sector isn’t yet showing signs of life,” said Kevin Caron, a market strategist for Stifel, Nicolaus & Co.

Also on Thursday, the US Commerce Department said factory orders fell for the first time in five months, dropping eight-tenths of a percent in August. Orders for durable goods — items intended to last several years (including everything from appliances to airliners) — fell 2.6%, the largest drop since January of this year.

The US government has been spending billions of dollars — part of a $787 billion stimulus package — to help spark economic growth. There have been some signs the economy is improving.

The Commerce Department said on Thursday that spending on home construction jumped in August for its biggest increase in 16 years. A real estate trade group, the National Association of Realtors, said pending sales of previously owned homes rose more than 12 percent in August, compared to August 2008.

A separate Commerce Department report said that consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, rose at its fastest pace in nearly eight years, jumping 1.3 percent in August.

Other reports have provided cause for concern. A banking industry trade group said Thursday the number of US consumers making late payments, or failing to make payments, on loans and credit cards is on the rise. A survey by a business group, the Institute for Supply Management, Thursday showed US manufacturing grew in September, but at a slower pace than in August when manufacturing increased for the first time in a year and a half.

Stock markets reacted negatively to the reports. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 41 points in early trading, reaching a level of 9467. This follows a drop of 203 points on Thursday, its largest loss in a single day since July. The London FTSE index fell 55 points, or 1.1%, to reach 4993 points by 15.00 local time.

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Headless man found near suburban Chicago school

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

A headless man was found near a suburban Chicago, Illinois school early Tuesday morning. The man had a pipe bomb near him. Another explosive device had decapitated the man, according to Evanston, Illinois police.

After the body was found in a field near Evanston’s Nichols Middle School by a man walking his dog, police searched a nearby apartment and a bomb squad was called to the area. The FBI is also helping with the investigation.

Residents of the area said that around 3:50 AM Central time they heard a loud explosion. Dale Wyatt, who was walking his dog, Buddah, said that his dog found the body around 5:15 AM.

Classes at Nichols were canceled Tuesday and are also, according to website, canceled for Wednesday.

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News briefs:June 30, 2005

Thursday, June 30, 2005

Contents

  • 1 Bodies found at crash site of US helicopter in Afghanistan
  • 2 Flash floods hit Australia’s eastern coast
  • 3 Undercover investigation into protests planned for July’s G8 summit
  • 4 Rwandan businessmen sentenced for War Crimes
  • 5 Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales announces cooperation between KDE Group and Wikimedia
  • 6 OhmyNews forum discusses experiences in citizen journalism
  • 7 Sharapova knocked out of Wimbledon 2005 in semi-final
  • 8 Brazil wins Confederations Cup
  • 9 Football: Kežman goes to Madrid
  • 10 Closing comments
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Fifteen killed in apartment fire in Osaka, Japan

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

A seven story concrete apartment building in the Naniwanaka Naniwa Ward of Osaka, Japan was set ablaze, killing at least 15 people. The fire started early in the morning on October 1st in the Video DVD Cat sex shop on the first floor.

At least eight people were rescued from the building, four of whom were seriously injured in the fire. Most of the injuries and deaths were caused by smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning. According to authorities, all of the fatalities were in private viewing rooms in a video shop that was located on the first floor of the building.

The sex shop had 32 cubicles for watching videos, all of which were equipped with a bed, television, and video deck. Due to the beds, and a shower, shops like this are often used as cheap hotels. A customer, who fled to safety when the fire started, said to the media that the inside of shop was dark, and that he had difficulty seeing where he was going as he escaped.

Witnesses said that they first noticed a burning smell at 2:30am local time, and that the fire was reported to Osaka Fire Department around 3am. 40 fire trucks and 120 firefighters took part in the efforts to bring the blaze under control. The fire was extinguished at around 4:30am, after burning for about one and a half hours. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

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Elwood Norris receives 2005 Lemelson-MIT Prize for invention

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

MIT has announced that Elwood “Woody” Norris, inventor of potentially revolutionary technologies of Hypersonic Sound beams and AirScooter flying vehicles, will receive this year’s Lemelson-MIT prize for invention this Friday, April 22. The prize comes with an award of US$500,000, making it the largest single award for invention given in the United States.

Contents

  • 1 Hypersonic Sound beams
  • 2 AirScooter flying vehicles
  • 3 Woody Norris
  • 4 Sources
  • 5 Press Releases
  • 6 External links
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