The Globe Weekly News                                    AROUND THE WORLD                                            International Edition

Front Page I  Political & Social Analyses I Breaking News: USA, World, Europe, Middle East I PoliticsLast Minute International News I Issues of the Hour I Entertainment Cinema I World of Cinema & Entertainment this Year I Music: CDs I World of Music this Year I ArtsTelevision I People I People with an Attitude I Society Lifestyle Culture I Books Travel I Commentaries I Articles Gossips Personal HistoryNewsmakers Consumers I Work I Business Family I Parenting I Health I Around the world I Woman's world I Beauty I Fashion I Style I The Grapevine I Opinions I Viewpoints I Stars. Celebrities I Spotlight I Unusual & Strange World I Studies: Islam I History. Civilization: Iraq I Societies. Social Systems I Contact I Liens inclus I Liens de valeur I

Les Saisies - Station de Ski - Espace Diamant

The Prestigious And Glamorous Faces Of Ufology In "Biographical Encyclopedia of People in Ufology and Scientific Extraterrestrial Research"

Etienne LeRoux, Globe Weekly News Staff Writer

Photo: Front cover of Biographical Encyclopedia of People in Ufology and Scientific Extraterrestrial Research, by Maximillien de Lafayette, edited by Carol Lexter, and published by Times Square Press and Amazon.com Publishing Company. 740 pages, date of publication: January 12, 2008, ISBN: 9781434834492, New York, London.

Who said Ufology and Aliens got to be austere? The mood has changed with glamorous and fun female writers entering the arena of that enigmatic cosmos of aliens and UFOs! Yep! They dashed out colorful and most unusual books on flying saucers sightings, hypnosis, and deep human emotions. In a way, they have blended together, mysteries, vibrant phraseology, science and their scents! All this makes Ufology a more interesting world to explore. How about their males counterparts? Not very glamorous, but equally motivating and intriguing. To learn more about these celebrities, bubbly figures, seasoned writers and bestselling authors, you must read Maximillien de Lafayette's most recent book Biographical Encyclopedia of People in Ufology and Scientific Extraterrestrial Research; a massive compendium of the profiles and biographies of Ufologists and celebrities of the outer galactic realm! I did not know how many women writers have written on the subject until I read Lafayette's book. You will find them in the Encyclopedia, and they come from different fields and professions; physicians, counselors, college professors, fashion designers, jazz singers, ministers, astrophysicists, psychics, tarot readers, channelers, and "UFO hunters!"...I did not catch the last one.

 

The Big Names in Ufology and Paranormal Research...

Michael SallaFrom left to right, the biggest names in Ufology and supernatural studies according to the Encyclopedia:  Barbara Lamb, Dr. Richard Boylan, Joan Ocean,  Dr. Michael Salla, Ellie Crystal, Mary Rodwell, Dr. Lynne Kitei, Dr. Bill Birnes, Dr. Bill Birnes with Nancy Hayfield Birnes.

 

Bill and Nancy Birnes

Quite often, we read frightening articles about alien abduction, extraterrestrial threat, bad bad "Greys" from outer space and the end of the world in 2012! Quite disturbing stuff. However, when you read the biographies of some of the authors in Lafayette's Encyclopedia, the alien scenario changes tone and conveys a message of hope. Primo, because of the positive description of Aliens and their good will, and Segundo, because of the comfort and consolation offered by regression hypnosis therapists. I admit it is very confusing, nevertheless, the extraterrestrials' topics as explained by a limited number of UFOlogy writers become clearer and easier to comprehend, as long as no elaborate theses on conspiracies take over the canvases of alien invasion and menace. But this is NOT the main topic of Lafayette's book. It is purely biographical. I could not read the whole book; it is huge. However, randomly, I browsed a considerable number of profile entries, and became very impressed by the credentials, undertakings, serious published work,  and accomplishments of male and female writers and UFO's scientists, gloriously depicted in the Encyclopedia. Those who caught my attention are evidently "those" who were depicted by the author as "the best of the best". To name a few: Dr. Paul Bennewitz, Nancy Hayfield Birnes, Dr. William Birnes, Dr. Richard Boylan, Branton,  Dr. Courtney Brown,  Barbara Lamb, Dr. Lynne Kitei, Mary Rodwell, Ellie Crystal, Joan Ocean, Richard Dolan, Dr. David Jacobs, Dr. J. Allen Hnek, Montalk (Tom), Patrick Huyghe, et al....Biographical Encyclopedia of People in Ufology and Scientific Extraterrestrial Research, is rendering an enormous service to ufologists, researchers and students of Ufology and related fields. It is concise, comprehensive, authoritative and abundant with useful profiles and biographies. Add it to your library. You will enjoy it for years to come. And hurry up, don't let 2012 catch you around the corner!

 
 
KABBALAH FOR YOUR HAIR, MADAME!                                                                                                       
GIA SARI MAKING A BIG BUZZ IN MANHATTAN AND BEYOND!

Photo:  Gia Sari, the Israeli inventor of the Kabala hair formula in her salon in Manhattan.

Oui Madame, but of course, Kabala formula for your hair. A new product to make a big buzz in the world of beauty and hair fashion, invented by a young  Israeli hair designer who opened a "salon de beaute" in Manhattan. And stars and world celebrities are getting excited and curious about it.  Some of them  might go to heaven with long and beautifully Kabalistic hair. I mean, those who are meditating "under the boardwalk" or using this most unusual hair product!?

Photo: Madonna was the first superstar to receive a Kabala Hair Formula from the hands of inventor Gia Sari.

The stars and "mesdames de la societe"  want to know everything about this magical "Kabala stuff" that makes your hair glow and grow like a sun flower. Why stars and starlets are getting curious and excited? Well, a special specimen, a very special bottle of this Israeli formula was given to Madonna to try it. And that's good. Because, nowadays, Madonna is trying everything. Her latest passion? Kabala or Kaballah of course. So why not a Kabala hair formula?. Madonna got the bottle and the paparazzi and gossips prima donne want to hear the rest of the story. Is it working? What there is in this thing? Who is using it? Any star a la carte?  The cost per bottle? And of course, the name of the inventor. Alright, the inventor is a stunning, very bright, sweet and funny Israeli girl from Jerusalem who landed in New York  City and opened a lovely and extremely friendly hair salon in Upper Manhattan. Her name is Gia Sari, a  stunning beauty and creative hair stylist who is taking Manhattan by storm. Gia is an Israeli fashion and hair stylist par excellence and by raison d'etre. Before conquering New York City, Gia began her career in London, in the salon of her mother. At eighteen, Gia  joined the prestigious and ritzy salons of Vidal Sasoon and short after, she  became a part of Elle and Vogue magazines teams. Her talent was noticed and her unique creativity attracted the attention of superstars and celebrities like Brooke Shields and Johnny Depp. She is accustomed to mingle with movies stars and celebrities. One day, she noticed that when stars get tired  "because of this or that", Gia said, their hair loses their healthy look and brightness.  Commercial products "don't do the trick, all the time. You need a special formula which has a supra-power. Something from above, which gives your hair a celestial splash. And I found the formula. It is inspired and influenced by the Kabala which I have studied for year." said Gia Sari. And she is serious. Really serious! This Israeli young beauty is fun and charming, but please, Madame, and you too mon cher Monsieur,  please remember, Gia is very serious. So far, her salon is a smash hit. Now, let's wait and see what Madonna and other big shots of the glitzy society of New York will have to say about Sari kabala's bottle. Perhaps bottles, because those bothoto: Ambassador John Boltontles start to circulate like hot cakes in the discreet corridors of New York City and beyond. Meanwhile, pay a visit to Gia 's salon. It could be very celestial and enlightening experience. The service is superb and Gia's assistants are very friendly, especially Dana, one of the shining stars of Gia Sari's team.

Graft & Sex Scandals Running Rampant in UN

Photo: Ambassador John Bolton.

U.S. Ambassador John Bolton criticizes the United Nations for rampant graft by insiders and sex scandals involving UN peacekeepers. Joe Klein, FrontPage columnist and author of the new UN book "Global Deception" (a book on Bolton's reading list) lauds the charges and explains why Kofi Annan does not want to reform the international organization. The American Ambassador to the United Nations turned heads this past weekend by calling out the international organization as riled with financial corruption and plagued by sex scandals involving its own peacekeepers.  "The UN has thus far turned a blind eye to the horrible reports of sexual abuse on the part of the peacekeepers they've sent to the world's worst regions," notes Klein, who is also a NY attorney who studied at Harvard Law under the late Archibald Cox. "The globalists in charge of the United Nations have no interest in reform -- they only care about increasing the UN's power and turning it into a mechanism for global governance and massive wealth re-distribution on a global scale that American taxpayers are supposed to pay for," concluded Klein. Earlier this month Bolton's office informed Klein they would pass a copy of Global Deception along to the ambassador. This came on the heels of grassroots interest in the book on the part of UN employees and delegates, many of whom contacted the publisher seeking copies of this candid new book. 

The publisher subsequently contacted Kofi Annan's office for assistance in distributing the book to all UN employees, but the Secretary-General's office has not yet responded to the offer. "Kofi Annan and his fellow globalists love to 'talk the talk' about reforming the UN  but, as we have seen over and over again, the only 'reform' they really want is to transfer more power to the UN bureaucracy and their free-riding supporters in the General Assembly at the expense of United States.   Speaking truth to power, Ambassador Bolton is making sure that our huge investment in the United Nations - nearly a quarter of its multibillion dollar budget - is not entirely wasted.  The Senate should not wait for Ambassador Bolton's recess appointment to expire.  It should make up for its past wrongs by confirming him immediately."

 

 

GREAT PLACES TO VISIT

IF YOU ARE VISITING NEW YORK FOR THE FIRST TIME

Being a first time visitor to New York, Ginny decided that the best way to kick off her visit was a trip to the top of Manhattan icon, the Empire State Building, and to experience a Deborah Kerr's eye-view of what promised to be the most exciting city on earth. Manhattan is made up of many different neighbourhoods, so a view from the top gave her an idea of the city's geography - the skyscrapers of the Financial district, Chinatown, the bridges near the Lower East Side, SoHo, Greenwich Village, Chelsea, and Midtown.

Sex and the City

Ginny just had to go for a ride in a big New York yellow taxi. She was surprised at how much cheaper they were than taxis back in the UK. Her destination was SoHo, and Hotel Venus, a funky clothes store owned by New Yorker, Patricia Field, the stylist for Sex and the City. Patricia expressed her love of the great mix of people who live in and share New York and what the city offers. Her tip for a first time visitor was to go to Greenwich Village for a girly Manhattan ritual. Ginny joined the queue at the Magnolia Bakery in the West Village to pick up a cup cake, the ultimate being a 'vanilla with vanilla icing, in pink'. The girls from Sex and the City reckoned they were the ultimate comfort food...A few blocks north, on the lower westside is the Meat Packing district. It’s a rough and ready corner of the West Village between 8th Avenue and the Hudson River. The cobbled streets have been home to the city’s meat trade since before the turn of the last century, but now designer clothes hang on the racks as well as the carcasses. Fashion luminaries have moved in, including Brits Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen. The shops aren't cheap but the best pound to dollar exchange rate in years may encourage you to flash your plastic - Ginny couldn't resist trying on a few pairs of shoes.

Frick Collection

It's a long way from London's Bethnal Green, but Brit Keith McNally is behind some of Manhattan’s most fashionable restaurants, including Pastis on 9th Avenue. Keith explained to Ginny how New Yorkers love to embrace new restaurants, and revealed that his idea of a good restaurant is one that 'inspires conversation'. He loves going to museums and for him, the best gallery in the city to visit is the Frick Collection. One of New York's less obvious choices, the Frick Collection is located at the edge of Central Park. Ginny thought that it had a lovely feel to it, perhaps because it was once a private home. The owner spent a large part of the fortune he made through the steel industry on a private art collection which is open to the public. The Frick Collection features works by Constable, Rembrandt and Vermeer.

Central Park or Broadway?

When it came to somewhere to rest her head, Ginny realised that you get what you pay for, and in New York, you certainly can pay for it. The Mandarin Oriental, part of the Time Warner centre overlooking Central Park, was the first major city building project to be completed after the tragic events of 9/11. With the hotel lobby on the 35th floor, most of the rooms have spectacular views. Ginny found a more affordable option at Hotel 41,  just off Times Square - she couldn't have found a more convenient location. Times Square is the self-acclaimed crossroads of the world, it's the heart of Broadway and also a complete tourist trap. But it's still somewhere that Ginny couldn't not visit. With a theatre on every street corner, one of Times Square's most popular attractions is the TKTS ticket booth which sells discounted theatre tickets to the huge array of shows. From Times Square Ginny took the 15 minute walk down 42nd Street to Grand Central Station. The star of so many movies, it was renovated in 1998 and even if you're not planning on taking a train, Ginny recommended it as a place you should definitely visit. Along with strolling and shopping, eating goes hand in hand with exploring any city. Ginny found that what was great about New York was that alongside the hip restaurants with their minimalist menus and huge bills, there were huge diners with a massive choice, massive portions, cheap prices, and friendly service. Ginny believed that this experience really gave her a feel for what living in New York was all about.

The immigration years

To get an understanding of the colliding cultures which make up this extraordinary city, you need to pick up a ferry from Battery Park and head for Ellis Island Immigration Museum. Seventeen million immigrants from all corners of the globe arrived at this entry point to the New World. During the peak immigration years at the start of the last century, around 5,000 people a day came into the registry room to be checked by doctors and asked 29 questions. The answers they gave to those questions determined whether they were able to start a new life in New York, or were denied entry. Going to Ellis Island helped Ginny to understand what makes New York the place it is. A third of all the people that arrived there ended up settling in the city. And for a sense of the kind of life awaiting those new arrivals, Ginny moved on to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum in Orchard Street, where actors play the parts of past residents of the building. There was something very familiar about New York, even though she hadn't been before, with so many tv shows and movies having been filmed there. Nonetheless, the city exceeded all her expectations.

Have you been to New York? Did you find any good places that you'd recommend to others? Places you should consider:

Attractions - Staten Island Ferry

Peter from Llantrisant, S. Wales writes: the Staten Island Ferry is now free and is a 24-hour service. If offers great views of Liberty, one of the places where you can get all of the statue in the picture frame! It also passes Ellis Island. Not much to see on Staten Island near the ferry terminal so stay on for the return trip. Beware, it gets busy at commuting times.

Accommdation - Roosevelt Hotel

Gary from Sheffield writes: the Roosevelt Hotel was a perfect location on the corner of Madison Avenue and 42nd Street, only three blocks away from Times Square, two minutes walk from Grand Central, which in turn gets you anywhere in the city pretty quickly. The main shopping area of 5th Avenue is only a ten-minute walk, as is the bottom of Central Park where in winter the ice rink is. The Roosevelt is also on par with other hotels for price and room standard. The concierge will do everything they can to help and even book resturants for you. All in all a brilliant location to get around NYC.

Attractions - Brooklyn Bridge

David from Sunderland writes: there were so many great things about New York but if I had to choose one it would be the walk across Brooklyn Bridge. My tip would be to go to the Brooklyn side of the bridge and walk back into Manhattan. The views are breathtaking and much as the Empire State Building was a showstopper for us as well during our visit, the views from the bridge give you a whole different perspective.

Food - Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station

David from Sunderland writes: you really are spoilt for choice in NYC for places to eat but for my wife and I our personal favourite was the Oyster Bar in the lower levels of Grand Central Station. The food service and the architecture of the resteraunt itself were all superb and we'd recommend you have a good look round the station first which is amazing. We'd also suggest booking a table as it was a very popular venue with the locals and visitors alike.- By G. Bucklee

 FLORIDA IS A GREAT CHOICE

Single parent Nicky Taylor headed for popular family destination, Florida's Orlando. For Nicky, the idea of going on holiday with her three children, six-year-old Freya, five-year-old Milly and three-year-old Harry, on her own, with no help, was daunting. She'd never done it before and wasn't sure how she was going to cope. Orlando is the number one longhaul destination for families, and Nicky went out there to try out part of a ten-day trip that included theme parks and a cruise to find out if it lived up to the expectations of a single mum. Disney has four theme parks and Nicky chose Animal Kingdom, where she thought her trio would have the most fun. Animal Kingdom's central point is the tree of life, a giant tree that can be seen from the whole park, and a very useful navigational point. Nicky started with The Lion King show. She hadn't been sure what to expect from it, thinking that it would perhaps be a watered-down version of the West End show or the film, but found the show amazing and very visual, with fire, acrobatics and stunts, and her children were completely rapt by the experience. Animal Kingdom is home to more than 1,500 animals and a safari. The whole experience of going on a big truck is all woven into a story. Nicky thought that this made it all quite exciting and you felt that you were really there in the jungle spotting wildlife. Again, the children loved it.

Up close and personal with the animals

Their hotel was only a short bus ride from the park so after all the walking around, Nicky decided to refresh her children by dunking them in the pool, which was built like a fort with a large slide. The children had great fun and wanted to stay there all day. However, Nicky had hired a car to drive to Forever Florida, an hour-and-a-half from the hotel, with good freeway access. The car contained a GPS (Global Positioning System) system called Neverlost, so there was no need for a map. Forever Florida, together with the Crescent J Ranch, are made up of a 4,700-acre cattle ranch and nature preserve. Nicky and the children found it a complete contrast from Disney, and a great opportunity to get up close and personal with the wild animals. Steve Wagner, Wildlife Educator, encouraged the children to pat a Florida Panther and an alligator. On the way back, Nicky took the children to see the Arabian Nights show, about 20 minutes from the hotel. This was one of a number of extra costs to the trip, but it proved good value as it included dinner. Nicky considered it an amazing experience and definitely worth a visit. After a busy day, she hadn't expected the children to be up to a late night, but they really enjoyed the sight of the running stallions, and the combination of pantomime, spectacle and acrobatics.

Disney cruise

For the second part of their holiday, Nicky and the children embarked on a three-night cruise from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas. As soon as they walked through the Mickey Mouse doors and onto the ship, they were greeted personally and applauded, as if they were stars in a show. After stowing their gear, they went up on deck for the departure party as the Disney cruise liner started to head south to its own island, 'Castaway Cay'. It was the first time that Nicky had been on such a large ship. It felt like a floating hotel and with a capacity of 2,500 people Nicky thought that she might feel claustrophobic. At mealtimes, it was fairly crowded, but tNicky found opportunities to escape. On deck there were three different pools, one of them in the shape of Mickey Mouse. Again, the children had great fun, and Nicky found that everything was very clean and she felt very looked after. After a swim, Nicky swapped her three children for a pager and headed for the 'tropical rain forest'. She found the pager a really good idea, allowing her to have some precious time on her own, knowing that her children were in excellent hands on an extremely safe ship, but being on hand just in case she was needed. After a night sailing south from Port Canaveral, they arrived at Castaway Cay. Nicky thought it was like a typical Robinson Crusoe island, a tropical paradise, where you can see palm trees as far as the eyes can stretch, plus rather a lot of deckchairs. There were some areas on the island for adults who wanted a more peaceful area, but otherwise it was really geared towards family fun and entertainment. Going to Florida with her three children was an amazing experience for Nicky. The kids loved it and it was a perfect family destination. To see her kids' faces light up during their experiences and adventures was what it was all about for her and she loved it. Places you might consider:

Fiona from Pinner writes: I'd always go to a villa or apartment rather than a hotel or motel because hotels in the USA don't provide meals. It's very expensive and tiring to eat three meals a day in a restaurant. If you're self catering you can prepare your own breakfast and if you just want to crash out after a day at the theme parks, you don't have to get changed and go out for dinner!

Attractions - Orlando

Melanie from Chigwell, Essex writes:: I've been to Orlando three times and loved each visit, in fact I'm planning to go back next year for my honeymoon. There are so many different attractions in Orlando, but there's something to suit all ages. Be aware though that some of the Disney rides do have height restrictions. I've stayed aound the International Drive area and it's great for getting to all the parks, and having all sorts of cuisine on your doorstep. Some of the restaurants are fantastic and getting to the Florida mall is only about 10 minutes' away. It does help if you have a hire car, on our last visit the car had a navigation system and it was brilliant, we didn't get lost once. In all, Orlando is the best holiday for people of all ages, and I'd recommend to anyone!

Attractions - a must for all: Leslie from Birmingham writes: I've been to Florida four times and there's so much still to do. I've been with my family and gone with friends and it hasn't disappointed anyone. The attractions are well thought out and they put things there for everyone from white knuckle to very tame rides and if rides are not your thing then there are many shows to entertain!

___________________________________

HOW ABOUT ANDORRA?

Andorra

Andorra is a tiny mountain principality sandwiched between France and Spain, and attracts over nine million visitors a year. Have you had a holiday there? Is it a family-friendly destination? Pip took his mum, Jilly Goolden, to the ski slopes of Andorra. Andorra has been known for its cheap ski packages, but is now extending its repertoire. Pip and Jilly were booked on a group activity holiday with a mix of ages, and Pip admitted that he had never experienced this type of holiday before so he wasn't sure what it was going to be like. They often go skiing together, but now Pip is older and soon to be a teenager, travelling with mum in tow is getting tougher.

Dog sleds and dug holes

They were staying just outside the resort of Soldeu, for a week that promised not just skiing, but a whole range of winter activities suitable for families. Jilly was hoping that there would be enough planned to keep them both entertained. Dog sledding's not a local tradition. It started in Northern Siberia but today it's on offer in many winter resorts. Manuel Lafuente was the leader of this pack, knowing the names and personalities of all of his 90 or so devoted working dogs. The sledding was at a family-friendly pace and everyone had the chance to be a driver. Pip still needed some convincing that apart from the thermometer, this was a cool holiday. On their first morning in the mountains when he was all geared up for an adventure holiday, they set off to dig some holes in the snow. These were in fact snow holes and are used to survive the night on a bare mountain. Jilly appreciated the fact that everyone was getting involved, working together and that the barriers were breaking down so quickly. And Pip was having fun and starting to show some dangerously 'uncool' enthusiasm.

Speeding on a snowmobile

He was certainly enthusiastic for the next activity, which involved a a bit of speed. But to Pip's disgust, you have to be 16 years old to drive. The snowmobiles they were on have a top speed of 50km (31.1 miles) per hour but this trip was designed to be a safe first experience for novice riders and their kids. Jilly and Pip were staying at the two star, Hotel Roc de St Miquel. The group was mixed in age, and there were a number of single parents. Jilly spoke to some of the group who had chosen the holiday in order to meet other parents with children, and to allow adults to meet adults while the kids meet and get to know other children.

Hit the slopes

There was time on the slopes too as everyone in the group got a skiing lesson. Jilly and Pip had skied a bit before, but most of the others hadn't, so they had their first lesson on a nursery slope away from the other runs. Pip decided that Jilly should have a go at snowboarding. She did, and was actually 'quite good', according to her son. Later, their tour manager, Nick Elrington, offered to take the more experienced skiers up onto the trickier slopes. Jilly found it an amazing activity holiday - they were almost on their knees with exhaustion from so much sporting activity. If you've never had the chance to holiday in the snow, this is the way to find out just what there is out there.

 

Parisian Patisserie for pets

Mon Bon Chien dog patisseriePhoto: Mon Bon Chien makes 200 to 300 biscuits every day.

Paris is well known as a canine form of paradise, with the city's 200,000 dogs welcome in department stores and even allowed to eat at the table in the best restaurants.  Now though one entrepreneur has ingeniously combined Parisians' two real passions - for their pets and gourmet food - to produce the perfect Parisian patisserie: a bakery devoted to dogs. It sells bacon biscuits in the shape of a cat, or garlic and cheese flavour, and even bone-shaped cookies made of real foie gras. All are on offer here, sugar and salt-free for the sensitive pet. 'Pastries and pets': The boutique's owner is an award-winning pastry chef. But - whisper it quietly, so that spoilt Parisian pooches don't hear - she's an American.

Harriet Sternstein

Photo: Proprietor Harriet Sternstein is an award-winning pastry chef

Harriet Sternstein moved to Paris from the United States with her dog Sophie-Marie, a golden labrador with a love of biscuits and glamorous pink nail varnish. Sophie-Marie provided the inspiration for the new business for her owner, who decided the best way to make a living was to combine her biggest enthusiasms - pastries and pets. And so far, the patisserie Mon Bon Chien has been a real hit with Parisians - both the two- and four-legged varieties. "Everything is made in the back of the boutique," said Ms Sternstein. "Every day, I make 200 to 300 biscuits and special orders are taken on a daily basis. "The Parisians come - and the first time they think it's very funny and they look at it, and buy the ones that they think are the cutest. Then the dogs come back and choose which flavours they like the best. "It's not so much a matter of the form that they're in, but the taste. We have peanut butter bears, we have vegetable stars, we have foie gras, which is actual foie gras that you and I would eat," she explains. "Those are the butterflies and then their little shapes; we also have the bacon cats. "I change flavours, based on what's going on for the holidays. We did a whole Halloween one, Christmas and next, I think it will be Valentine's Day." The biscuits can also be eaten by humans, although Ms Sternstein advises using your back teeth to chew them rather than your canines! -By Carolinne Watt.

THE GRAPEVINE:

Trump could face fines

Did "The Apprentice" star pack too many people into an Elton John show?

Photo: Donald Trump could face fines for allegedly allowing too many people into the ballroom of his Palm Beach resort for an Elton John show.

Donald Trump could be facing charges after allegedly crowding too many people into a concert by Elton John. Civic officials in Palm Beach, Florida, are investigating reports that the ballroom of Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort was over capacity during the singer's show. Some reports suggest as many as 900 people were in attendance, well over the room's limit of 700 people. Trump's staff reportedly packed more people into the ballroom to maximize revenues since Elton demanded $1 million for his AIDS Foundation and another $250,000 for his band. Tickets went for $1,000 each. Palm Beach zoning director Veronica Close confirmed the investigation and said Trump could be fined. Fire Chief Ed Moran said his department stopped organizers from adding two rows of seating just before the concert. Trump, whose wife gave birth in New York on Monday morning, was on hand for the 90-minute show.

Gwyneth's haunted houseGwyneth's haunted house

Photo: The 33-year-old is adamant her London home is haunted and wants to create a good energy before she gives birth to her second child .

Gwyneth Paltrow is planning to have her home exorcised, it has been reported. The 33-year-old is adamant her London house is haunted and wants to create a good energy before she gives birth to her second child. Gwyneth and husband Chris Martin have repeatedly said their £3.5 million mansion in Belsize Park is full of 'bad energy'. The couple have apparently blamed their home for Gwyneth's turbulent second pregnancy and have sought help from the London Kabbalah Centre - as recommended by pop pal Madonna. It is rumoured that ten male Kabbalah followers will read a series of psalms and blow a ram's horn as part of the exorcism. There were reports last year that Gwyneth and Chris were going to up-sticks and move across the pond to New York, but it looks as though the couple will be staying in the UK, if the exorcism goes to plan.

HOWARD STERN: CHILDREN'S BOOK CHARACTER?!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Katharine DeBrecht's latest book, “Help! Mom! Hollywood’s in My Hamper,” features shock jock Stern along with Barbra Streisand, Madonna, Britney Spears, Tom Cruise and Oprah as cartoon villains. This Hollywood satire -- just in time for the Oscars -- is the sequel to last fall's #1 Bestseller, "Help! Mom! There Are Liberals Under My Bed," the children's book praised by Rush Limbaugh and condemned by Hillary Clinton.  Who would’ve thought that shock jock Howard Stern, formerly the target of federal regulators for his crude on-air antics, would ever appear as a character in a book intended for children? But that’s exactly what happens later this month as Stern and a host of other celebrities become characters in a new illustrated book by a conservative kid’s author. Barbra Streisand, Madonna, Britney Spears, Tom Cruise, and Sean Penn all join Stern as cartoon villains in the new book Help! Mom! Hollywood’s in My Hamper! The book reunites the best-selling team of “Security Mom for Bush” author Katharine DeBrecht and award-winning illustrator Jim Hummel for a tale of traditional values that skewers many high profile left-wing celebrities in the process. Help! Mom! Hollywood’s in My Hamper! tells the story of Janie and Sam, two girls who were happy just being kids until Hollywood celebrities start popping out of their hamper to tell them how to behave and to sell them useless clothes and trinkets. The girls encounter a number of goofy celebrities along the way—including look-alikes for Ben Affleck, Katie Couric, Jack Nicholson, an improbably impish Michael Moore, and revered daytime host Oprah Winfrey—and in the process learn that stars don’t always know best. “Know-it-all liberal celebrities are in our faces every day, telling people how to live, what to buy, and often how to vote,” says DeBrecht, a mother of three. “Children need to understand that just because these people show up on television doesn’t mean they know what’s best for the rest of America. In fact, it’s usually quite the opposite!” The book is the highly anticipated sequel to last fall’s surprise hit Help! Mom! There Are Liberals Under My Bed! which reached #1 on Barnes & Noble’s website but drew fiery criticism from liberals for its portrayal of Hillary Clinton and Ted Kennedy as cartoon villains who tax and regulate a lemonade stand. Fox News host Alan Colmes said the book was “brainwashing,” MSNBC host Ron Reagan told DeBrecht that he wanted to write a children's book portraying conservatives as “hating black people,” and the Democratic Underground named the author to its “Top 10 Conservative Idiots” list. Even Hillary Clinton’s spokesman took a swipe at the book.  “Oddly enough, I didn’t get my invitation to the Academy Awards this year,” laughs DeBrecht, whose book also features cameos by several conservative icons, including Rush Limbaugh. “But if Hollywood insists on handing out Oscars to movies about gay cowboys, sympathetic terrorists, and communist apologizers, then I guess my time is better served in writing books that stand up for traditional values.”

 

Front.Page Breaking.news Politics Entertainment Arts People.Society Lifestyle Culture. Books  Travel Commentaries. Articles Gossips Personal History Newsmakers Consumers Work Business Family. Parenting Health  Contact

LAURICE RAHME: New York's Queen of Fragrances...

By Shoshanna Rozenberg and Shoshanna Rozenstein

Photo: Laurice Rahme.

Does New York smell? Maybe, hot dogs and chili on major avenues. But how about intimate and exotic aromas of fancy neighborhoods? How About Chelsea, Soho and Tribeca? Central Park? Anything particular about those glitzy areas, besides exorbitant rent, high robbery price tags on imported goods and hot gossips?! You bet! And Laurice Rahme found out. She came up with most unusual idea. IDEA? Are you kidding? How about an invention? A flashy-dashy-aromatic invention? She did! World class perfume designer, creator and entrepreneur Laurice Rahme thinks that New York smells pretty good. And neighborhoods like Soho, Chelsea and Wall Street smell terrific. So, Rahme decided to create a fragrance for each of them, exotic neighborhoods, that is! And she came up with a set of 21 different fragrances ranging from vanilla to chamomile. Each fragrance in the collection represents a specific downtown, midtown or uptown locale in New York City.

Photo: Central Park fragrance.

For those who have always wanted to give the entire City of New York as a gift, Rahme's set of Bond No 9' represents 18 of their most sought-after neighborhood fragrances. The perfume bottle comes in handy 6ml pocket spray forms, packed in two enticing layers in a white presentation box. "The elegantly elongated bottles, wrapped like candies in Bond No. 9's signature foils are the perfect size for travel. Plus they are refillable!!" said Laurice Rahme. The exotic and elegant collection includes  fragrances named after New York's  neighborhoods: Eau de New York; Central Park; Park Avenue; So New York; West Broadway; Chelsea Flowers; Fashion Avenue; Nuits de Noho; Chez Bond;  Little Italy; Riverside Drive; Broadway Nite; New Haarlem; Chinatown; Eau de Noho; Madison Soiree; Hamptons;  Wall Street. Let's explore the aromatic cosmos of Rahme and find out what Rahme "put" in these fragrances!

Photo: The Hamptons' fragrance.

Broadway Nite is a fantasy Floral Bouquet. It draws you to it with flashy, neon-lit aldehydes and violet,  then zooms into a spice-dream of rose, iris, honeysuckle, and heliotrope. What lingers are its come-hither vanilla and amber notes. Notes of Green Violet, Rose, Vanilla Beans and Musk. Chelsea Flowers smells like an exuberant bouquet of peonies, tulips,  hyacinth, magnolia and rose.

 

Caught at the peak of freshness, imagine they've just been wrapped at the Chelsea Market, leaving traces not just of the insolently fresh flowers, but of the musk, sandalwood, vetiver, and treemoss that surround them. Notes of White Peony, White Hyacinth, and Musk. Madison Soiree is a bouquet of the world's most audaciously sultry flowers. Night blooming jasmine, gardenia and honeysuckle.  Their intoxicating effect is cleverly prolonged by oakmoss, an earthy lost in the forest aura. Notes of Gardenia, Jasmine and Oakmoss. Nuits de Noho is a contemporary gourmand treat. First you get a whiff of a mouthwatering bergamot, the quintessence of citrus. Then rosewood and jasmine are folded in for smoothness. Finally, a lingering hit of patchouli, like a jolt of vodka or gin that gives Nuit de Noho a wry and sexy urbanity. Notes of Jasmine, Creamy Vanilla and Sheer Patchouli. Park Avenue is an understated melange that discreet and sweet but not too sweet. It combines fresh florals-paperwhite, iris, rose with soothing chamomile, like a cup of well-brewed tea. Notes of Chamomile, Paperwhite, Vanilla.

Photo: Eau de New York fragrance.

So New York is a Chocolate fantasy. It starts out with a fruity scent of bergamot and plum (as in plum pudding). Then come two unique new accords: bittersweet espresso, and a seductive warm milk accord. Patchouli, lily of the valley, peony, musk and precious woods add to the grown-up flavor. Notes of Mirabelle, Espresso Accord, Cocoa Powder. Bleecker Street is the fragrance of the moment, merging art and fashion, reflecting the neighborhood's home to artists and its emergence as a style mecca. The unique bottle was designed by Rachel Katz, a watercolor artist and fashion designer, a beautiful design of handpainted dress fabric design of intersecting arches that are outsized echoes of the gold filigree for the NYC Token. Top Notes of: Cassis and Thyme Middle Notes of; jasmine, Cedarwood, and Cinnamon Basenotes of: Oakmoss, Suede, Patchouli, Amber and Vanilla.

The Hamptons, known as the playground of the rich of New York. Now captured by Bond No 9 as an intoxicating fragrance...the allure of the salty-sea meets the greenery of the farmland. Top notes are fresh savory greens, lime blossom, bigarrade oil (from the bittersweet orange flower), lemony lime bergamot, and balancing stimulating armoise oil, with overtones of cedar and sage. The midnotes are lush florals: magnolia, white jasmine and Turkish rose. Then comes the beautiful drydown, amber, sandalwood, and cashmere musk that lingers like the creamy mist that descends on the sea from dusk to dawn. The distinctive flacon is the superstar bottle, a deep but transparent ocean blue and topped with a nautical white cap. So crisp, it's summer and seaworthy all year long. A beautiful addition for all fragrance collectors. West Broadway. "Forget about sweetness and flowers. This is a smart little lime gimlet, laced with crisp greens, mate (a stimulating Brazilian-Paraguayan tea), and sheer musk (for a jolt of sensuality). This is the wave of the future for perfumery. Notes of Lime, Lily of the Valley, and Sheer Musk.", said Laurice Rahme.

Eau de New York is a fast-as-a-flirt-paced blend of fruits, flowers and greens whose scent molecules positively whizz through the air. Top notes of grapefruit, mandarin, bergamot and petit grain spiked with fresh greens. Middle notes of rich-bodied neroli, exotic gardenia and delicate cyclamen, intoxicating white lily, basil, verbena, and jasmine. Base notes of vetiver, oakmoss, skin musk, and white wood. LITTLE ITALY: Top notes of clementine, grapefruit and mandarin. Middle notes of tangerine and jasmine. Base notes of sheer musk. Wall Street: Top notes of sea kale and cucumber. Middle notes of ozone, marine aroma and lavender. Base notes of musks, vetiver, and ambergris. And so on...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journalist: Acting Prime Minister Olmert received apartment bribe

The New York Monthly Herald reported that Israeli journalist Yoav Yitzhak said that  Israel's acting prime minister got apartment discount in exchange for expediting construction permits. But Mr.  Olmert was on the offensive. He replired: " Claims are ridiculous and untrue." Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert received a USD 320,000 discount on an apartment in an upscale Jerusalem project in exchange for expediting construction permits, journalist Yoav Yitzhak charged. The apartment was purchased in October 2004 for USD 1.2 million, which according to Yitzhak means the developers lost money on the transaction.

The journalist says a separate case currently probed by the State Comptroller - another Olmert house, which reportedly sold for more than the market price - pales in comparison to the amounts of money involved in the other deal. Yitzhak claims that Olmert expedited construction permits on behalf of the contractors while he served as Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor and oversaw the Israel Land Administration.

The developers admitted to giving Olmert a discounted price, but said they did so because Olmert was the first to purchase an apartment in the project. The Prime Minister's Office, however, dismissed the charges. "Today, as is the case every day, Yoav Yitzhak tries to 'expose a new sensation', and today, as is the case every day, the exposure has no truth to it". The response also notes that Olmert contract with the developers clearly notes he is entitled to cancel the deal if the contractor cannot obtain all the permits. "In complete contradiction to Yoav Yitzhak's claims, thus far, a year and half after the transaction, the project didn't obtain the permits," the statement reads.

Meanwhile, according to real-estate agents familiar with the area in question, Olmert paid a legitimate, fair price, considering the location and the fact the acting prime minister purchased the apartment long before it is slated to be completed. Ronny Sofer, Neta Sela and Ido Efrati contributed to the report.

 

 

Muslim head says gays 'harmful' Iqbal Sacranie

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Sir Iqbal Sacranie said everyone's views should be heard.

A British Muslim leader has told the BBC he believes homosexuality is "not acceptable" and denounced new same-sex civil partnerships as "harmful". Head of the Muslim Council of Britain Sir Iqbal Sacranie said introducing the partnerships did "not augur well" for building the foundations of society. Nevertheless, he told BBC Radio 4's PM programme, everyone should be tolerant. Peter Tatchell of gay rights group OutRage! said: "It is tragic for one minority to attack another minority." Sir Iqbal said of civil partnerships: "This is harmful. "It does not augur well in building the very foundations of society - stability, family relationships. And it is something we would certainly not, in any form, encourage the community to be involved in."

He said he was guided by the teachings of the Muslim faith, adding that other religions such as Christianity and Judaism held the same stance. "Each of our faiths tells us that it is harmful and I think, if you look into the scientific evidence that has been available in terms of the forms of various other illnesses and diseases that are there, surely it points out that where homosexuality is practised there is a greater concern in that area." He said everyone in society should be tolerant, and if they are not happy then engage in the democratic processes to give their views. "We may not be happy with the views being expressed by others.

But the difficulty comes in that at the end of the day we are human beings." He said both the opponents and supporters of civil partnerships had the right to speak out. Mr Tatchell, the founder of OutRage!, added: "Both the Muslim and gay communities suffer prejudice and discrimination. We should stand together to fight Islamophobia and homophobia."

The 99 Most Powerful Women in the World. (2005-2006): Listed in no particular order. Listed by name, country and age.

1. Benazir Bhutto - Pakistan, 42 . 2. Hillary Clinton - US, 48 . 3. Queen Elizabeth II - UK, 70 . 4. Margaret Thatcher - UK, 70 . 5. Alice Mitchell Rivlin - US, 65 . 6. Tansu Ciller - Turkey, 49 . 7. Gro Harlem Brundtland - Norway, 57 . 8. Wu Yi - China, 57 . 9. Germaine Greer - Australia, 57 . 10. Oprah Winfrey - US, 42 . 11. Sadako Ogata - Japan, 68 . 12. Christine Todd Whitman - US, 49 . 13. Anson Chang - Hong Kong, 55 . 14. Late Katharine Graham - US, 78 . 15. Laura d'Andrea Tyson - US, 49 . 16. Rachel Lomax - UK, 50 . 17. Madeleine Korbel Albright - US, 58 . 18. Tutut Suharto - Indonesia, 47 . 19. Aung San Suu Kyi - Burma, 50 . 20. Mary Robinson - Ireland, 51 . 21. Vidgis Finnbogadottir - Iceland, 66 . 22. Janet Reno - US, 58 . 23. Nafis Sadik - Pakistan, 61 . 24. Hanan Ashrawi - Palestine, 49 . 25. Queen Beatrix - The Netherlands, 58 . 26. Charlotte Beers - US, 59 . 27. Sheila Widnall - US, 58 . 28. Sheila Maureen Copps - Canada, 43 . 29. Nguyen Thi Binh - Vietnam, 69 . 30. Dianne Feinstein - US, 63 . 31. Violeta Chamorro - Nicaragua, 65 . 32. Chandrika Kumaratunga - Sri Lanka, 50 . 33. Begum Khaleda Zia - Bangladesh, 50 . 34. Rita Sussmuth - Germany, 59 . 35. Mirjana Markovic - former Yugoslavia, 53 . 36. Christine Ockrent - France, 51 . 37. Sherry Lansing - US, 51 . 38. Gloria Steinem - US, 61 . 39. Jodie Foster - US, 33 . 40. Late Estee Lauder - US, 87 . 41. Rosabeth Moss Kanter - US, 53 . 42. Pauline Green - UK, 47 . 43. Barbara Walters - US, 64 . 44. Sandra Day O'Connor - US, 66 . 45. Anita Roddick - UK, 53 . 46. Ruth Bader Ginsburg - US, 63 . 47. Nadine Gordimer - South Africa, 73 . 48. Tina Brown - US, 42 . 49. Christy Turlington - US, 27.   50. Susanna Agnelli - Italy, 73 . 51. Carol Bellamy - US, 54 . 52. Liliana Ferraro - Italy, 52 . 53. Carol Galley - UK, 47 . 54. Madonna - US, 38 . 55. Countess Marion Donhoff - Germany, 86 . 56. Jana Wendt - Australia, 39 . 57. Sylvia Toth - The Netherlands, 52 . 58. Imelda Marcos - Philippines, 67 . 59. Queen Sirikit - Thailand, 63 . 60. Irene Pivetti - Italy, 33 . 61. Cheryl Kernot - Australia, 47 .

62. Catherine Bertini - US, 46 . 63. Ritt Bjerregaard - Denmark, 54 . 64. Elizabeth Dole - US, 59 . 65. Elizabeth Dowdeswell - Canada, 50 66. Takako Doi - Japan, 67 . 67. Anita DeFrantz - US, 43 . 68. Donna Karan - US, 47 . 69. Miriam Defensor Santiago - Philippines, 51 . 70. Helen Gurley Brown - US, 74 . 71. Elisabeth Guigou - France, 49 . 72. Janet Holmes  - Australia, 52 . 73. Bodil Nyboe Andersen - Denmark, 55 . 74. Heide Simonis - Germany, 52 . 75. Jutta Limbach - Germany, 61 . 76. Hanna Suchocka - Poland, 50 . 77. Wandira Kazibwe - Uganda, 42 . 78. Simone Veil - France, 68 . 79. Jennie George - Australia, 48 . 80. Rosalyn Higgins - UK, 58 . 81. Dame Leonie Kramer - Australia, 71. 82. Rene Saez - Venezuela, 34 . 83. Megawati Sukarno - Indonesia, 49 . 84. Erika Emmerich - Germany, 52 . 85. Dai Qing - China, 55 . 86. Sirkka Hamalainen - Finland, 57 . 87. Roseanne - US, 42 . 88. Winnie Mandela - South Africa, 61 . 89. Xuxa - Brazil, 43. 90. Irina Khakamada - Russia, 40 . 91. Helen Clark - New Zealand, 46 . 92. Esther Koplowitz - Spain, 44 . 93. Alicia Koplowitz - Spain, 42 . 94. Tatyana Mitkova - Russia, 40 . 95. Ilda Boccassini - Italy, 46 . 96. Francoise Baree-Sinoussi - France, 48 . 97. Emily Lau - China, 43 . 98. Late Mother Teresa - India, 85 . 99. Betty Boothroyd - UK, 66

 

WESTERN INTEL RECRUITS PALESTINIANS

GAZA CITY [MENL] -- Western intelligence agencies were said to have been recruiting Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Palestinian sources said Western diplomatic installations have been recruiting Palestinians for security positions. They said the Palestinians were initially offered to work as security guards but later some of them were given intelligence duties. Palestinian legislator Abdul Rahman Zaydan said Western intelligence agencies have been seeking Palestinian recruits. Zaydan said Western embassies and consulates have placed anonymous ads in Palestinian Authority owned newspapers for Palestinian security personnel. Zaydan called on PA intelligence agencies to investigate and stop the recruitment of Palestinians by Western agencies. He termed the purported Western effort a danger to Palestinian security.