2012年1月10日星期二

Woman faces court after top Opal Rachel Jarry bashed at Federation Square

Jessica Croucher, 18, is facing 22 charges including intentionally and recklessly causing serious injury, making threats to kill and robbery.

Prosecutor Patrick O'Halloran told the court the charges stemmed from three separate violent incidents in Melbourne's CBD early yesterday morning.

Mr O'Halloran said Jarry, 20, received bruising and lacerations to her face during one of the robbery attacks.

It is alleged Ms Croucher stole Jarry's satchel containing a Louis Vuitton purse, driver's licence, bank cards, cash and an iPhone.

Ms Coucher allegedly threatened to kill Jarry.

Other victims suffered facial fractures, a broken nose, chipped teeth and an arm laceration requiring surgery, as well as being threatened, it is alleged.

“The allegation is that this accused was directly involved in all three incidents,” Mr O'Halloran said.With all of the miumiuhandbags sales rampant,

Magistrate Loiusa Bazzani was told Ms Croucher was not drug dependent.

It is Ms Croucher's first time in custody.

She made no application for bail and is due to reappear in court on April 2.

Meanwhile,Trade Leads for canadagooseparkajackets, Search ecplaza.net for buying and selling leads,High quality coachhandbags Product of well known brands . Jarry, who plays for Bulleen Boomers and the Opals national team, said she wouldn't let the attack shatter her dream of competing at the London Olympic Games this year.

At the time of the attack Jarry said she was walking to her car behind Federation Square with a friend after a night out.

She said they were confronted just before 2am by a group claiming to be armed.

"They just took all of our belongings and bashed us, and repeatedly were kicking and punching .Intensify your own Grace with bestchloehandbags... it was really brazen and they just wouldn't stop," Jarry said.,authenticguccihandbags cartier mens pasha seatimer watches.

"We got quite swollen and bruised faces. My friend needs an X-ray - she's got a suspected fractured cheekbone."

Jarry said the gang took the pair's phones, wallets, keys and bags.

Last night she tweeted: "Physical scars will heal. Emotional ones will take longer but I refuse to be beaten by a group of gutless scum."

2012年1月9日星期一

Anderson sees much milder winter this year than last

Madison County is having a much milder winter than residents are used to, and the National Weather Service said the outlook for the rest of January shows the streak continuing.

Jason Puma, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, said the area around Indianapolis normally has about 9 or 10 inches of snow by now.

So far, the area's only seen 3.2 inches.

It's certainly a tamer year compared to last, he said, when the area saw 16 inches of snow by this time.

"The comparison to one another is like night and day," he said.

The temperature has been above normal, too.

Puma said Muncie averaged at 36.4 degrees in December. That's 5.7 degrees above normal.

Although it's not far into January, the weather has been averaging at 33.6 degrees, 6.6 degrees above normal, and Puma said forecasters predict above normal temperatures for the rest of the month.

So where's the colder weather gone?

Puma said the higher temperatures have resulted due to the jet stream pattern that's remained north of central Indiana up in the northern Plains and Canada.

Hoosier weather is known to change swiftly. Puma said it's not unusual to go from an extremely cold winter to a mild one due to factors like the jet stream and El Nino.

Whatever the reasons for the warmer weather, residents were just glad to take advantage of a high of 49 degrees on Sunday.

Dawn and Luis Ambrocio-Lopez took their four children to Shadyside Park to enjoy the day.

"I love this warm weather," Dawn said. "We love to be outside. We're very family-oriented."

The family will often go out when it's warm enough to walk or let the kids ride their scooters or bikes or, like Sunday, head to the park.

She said this winter has just been different than what she's used to.

"The weather's changed a lot," she said. "It's definitely warmer."

Normally, she said they'd be stuck inside right now due to the lower temperatures and snow that she doesn't like to drive in, entertaining the kids with family games.

"They love to be outside," she said. "It just kills them when it snows or something, but they do go sledding (sometimes)."

Dawn's daughter, Andrea Bailey, 6, said she likes to be outside "'cause it's more fun."

"I like the swing," she said.

She also likes the slides and riding her bike.

While warmer weather requires less winter gear, area stores said their winter item sales haven't dropped much. Actually, they said they've remained fairly average for this time of year.

Many stores like Target and Kmart start selling items like winter coats, gloves and hats in September.

"People tend to buy them before the season," said Jennifer Clements, executive team leader of human resources for Target. "The kids need new jackets or there's new styles."

It's the items like shovels and ice melts that are really more dependent upon how bad it gets outside, she said.Every people wants to buy cheap canada goose but with best quality.

When bad weather does hit, she said those items sell quickly. As the temperature drops, more customers come in looking for items like gloves or boots or snowsuits for kids.

"We haven't seen a rush because we haven't had bad weather," she said. "Many buy in advance to prepare and don't want to get out (when it's snowing or icing)."

Puma said the week should start off warm with the high in the 50s today and Tuesday; Wednesday and Thursday likely to see rain.

The warmer weather won't last for the week, though. Thursday and Friday are predicted to get cold with below freezing temperatures, Puma said.

He said Friday morning is predicted to be in the teens with a slight chance of snow, although nothing big.

Winter TV Press Tour 2012: Hosts of 'The Revolution' say, 'We're not trying to replace anyone.'

There's no mistaking Disney's days at TV Press tour. The place is festooned with beefy, clean-cut guys in suits and little wires curling from their ears into their jackets, stationed in hallways and doorways, watching carefully.

Security is tight on Disney days, even when the most clear and present danger would appear to be the TV critics who are also "One Life to Live" fans who descended on "The Revolution" Q&A session.

Last April, ABC announced it would cancel "One Life to Live" after nearly 44 years to make way for "The Revolution," which debuts Monday.

Each week on "The Revolution," some woman's five-month weight-loss journey will time-lapse in just five days; her final transformation will be revealed on Denouement Friday.

The new daily show, ABC has promised, will help viewers complete transformations in all areas of their lives, including physical and emotional well-being, family, fashion, home design, personal finance, food, jobs — and more!

The Revolution-aries include celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak, ob-gyn Jennifer Ashton, carpenter-turned-"design expert" Ty Pennington, fashion guru Tim Gunn and therapist Tiffanie David Henry. On Monday, they came to Winter TV Press Tour 2012 to take questions.

"One Life to Live" fans are very angry and deeply committed to bringing down this new show, one "OLTL" fan-cum-TV critic announced dramatically at the start of "The Revolution" Q&A session.

"Any words for these people?" the critic asked. Then, she added: "I'm sure you people are really nice."

Pennington noted that "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," on which he starred, also got canceled, so he should get a pass.

"Well put," Gunn told Pennington graciously. "We're not trying to replace anyone."

"Speaking for me, but I know for all of us, it's just a great joy and a great privilege and honor to be part of 'The Revolution,' because we are helping change lives," Gunn added modestly.

The Revolution-aries proceeded to give critics an earful about their mission: They represent Hope — the same Hope that "elected our last president," according to show executive producer J.D. Roth.

Roth is a one-man fat-farm industry. He also exec-produces ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition," and the NBC series "The Biggest Loser."

Women are sitting alone in the dark, the panel said. They're on the hamster wheel of life. They need help getting "unstuck." And it's not just about losing fat — though losing fat is what Denouement Fridays are all about,There are tons of canada goose jacket discount around nys. because fat usually is connected to other issues.

While we wiped away tears, "OLTL" fans/TV critics in the room were sisters and brothers united against "The Revolution."

"Wouldn't the first step be turning off daytime television?" asked one TV critic and suspected "One Life to Live" fan.

The Revolution-aries pretended not to understand the question. Or, they'd been put through Art of the Interview 101: Don't answer the question you were asked — answer the question you want to answer. Because they started repeating their message about this show being sooo much better than all those other fixing-women TV shows, because they are a virtually mini-mall of experts in all the various ways that women have fat-producing problems.

Another "OLTL/TVC grabbed a microphone: "What appeal does this show have for a woman who is fairly happy with her life, who is in shape, and who knows that skim milk has fewer calories than whole milk? Why should she, who enjoyed the aspirational, strong women of 'One Life to Live,' watch this show?"

Saks Woos Women Back to Clothes After Accessories-Filled Recession: Retail

After getting women hooked on fancy handbags and expensive shoes in recent years, retailers are trying to rekindle a love affair with clothes.

U.S. department stores are leading the charge, with Saks Inc. (SKS), Nordstrom Inc. (JWN) and Macy's Inc. (M) improving in-house clothing lines and refurbishing women's departments.

The retailers are counting on women to spend more overall and not simply shift their dollars away from higher-margin purses and footwear, said Liz Dunn, a New York-based analyst with Macquarie Group, an Australian investment firm.

“Retailers are trying to give women more reasons to buy clothes,” said Candace Corlett, the president of WSL Strategic Retail in New York. “In the late 1990s and early 2000s, people were scooping up lots of stuff so you now could say, ‘How many pairs of black pants do I need?'”

While handbags can be marginally more profitable because retailers discount them less, department stores are pushing women's apparel because it draws traffic and is purchased more frequently, said Steven Dennis, founder of SageBerry Consulting LLC, a Dallas-based luxury consulting firm.

Besides, women spend far more on clothes than accessories, Corlett said. Women's apparel sales amounted to $108 billion in the 12 months ended in September, according to NPD Group Inc. Women bought $22.5 billion of footwear and $5.7 billion of handbags, the Port Washington, New York-based firm said.
Accessories Obsession

Overcoming an accessories obsession that has been going strong since the late 1990s won't be easy, Corlett said. In many cases, bags and shoes outshine apparel with innovative uses of materials and pure panache. Hot sellers include a Gucci python bag for $4,700 and Christian Louboutin red-soled platform pumps for $795.

During and after the recession, many women were looking to refresh their look without buying entire outfits, according to Dunn and Corlett. Bags and shoes also can be worn on more occasions and from season to season, they said. Even though the jobs situation has improved recently, post-recession female shoppers remain value-oriented, Dunn said, which makes the stores' new strategy challenging.

Saks has refurbished the mid-priced fourth floor of its Manhattan store under a “Wear Now” banner touting the clothes' current look. The space houses 15 connected designer shops, featuring brands including Tory Burch, Ralph Lauren Blue Label,canada goose parka jackets have always been on the priority list of males. and M Missoni. The New York-based chain (SKS) also extended its Saks Fifth Avenue Collection, taking it beyond simple separates like cashmere sweaters to include such fashions as three-color striped rabbit fur vests and cropped, black shearling jackets.
Outperforming Sales

Sales have outperformed old-style departments at other locations, said Saks Chief Executive Officer Stephen Sadove on a Nov. 15 conference call with analysts.

Nordstrom, the Seattle-based chain of 117 department stores, has been testing a refurbished women's department in nine stores, said Colin Johnson, a spokesman. It combined multiple, narrowly defined women's apparel areas -- which had such names as “Individualist” and “Savvy” -- into three main departments called “Trendy,” with its “edgier” fashion, “Modern” with contemporary clothes and denim, and “Updated Traditional,” with suits and separates, Johnson said. The idea is to make the store easier to navigate.

In the spring, Cincinnati-based Macy's is rolling out a remade version of its private-label Charter Club line centered on a handful of “modern classic” pieces that are the foundation of its customer's wardrobe: the blazer, the tunic, georgette blouse, cardigan, printed skirt, pants and trench coat, said Jim Sluzewski, a spokesman for the retailer.
Face the Mirror

Changing shopping behavior won't be easy because women are used to scanning the handbag aisle and seeing something they don't have in the closet, Corlett said. Also “you don't have to face the mirror to buy it,” she said.

Casual traditional women's clothing was one of the two weakest categories last quarter at Macy's. At New York-based Saks, women's apparel generates 37.5 percent of revenue, slightly lower than it was five years earlier. Women's shoes account for 12.8 percent. In the year ended in January 2006, all shoes came to 8.5 percent. A similar story has played out at Neiman Marcus Group Inc., according to regulatory filings from the closely held Dallas-based retailer.

Last month, Saks already was offering deep discounts in its new “Wear Now” department. The rabbit fur vests were nearly 60 percent off the original $995 price as was the black shearling jacket, down to about $922.

Some of the area's winter theater highlights

Colorado's January/February theater calendar is rich and varied, offering Pulitzer Prize winners, new comedies and dramas — and new takes on some longtime favorites. Winter is an exciting time in the metro area arts community, inviting folks to pull on their coats and explore.

We highlight a few, but certainly not all, of the many plays available:

"The Elephant Man" by Bernard Pomerance, a Pulitzer Prize winner after its Broadway opening in 1979, will be presented Jan. 12 to Feb. 4 at the Aurora Fox Theatre, 9900 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora.

Director Steve Wilson said "The Elephant Man presents a singular opportunity for PHAMALY (The Physically Handicapped Actors and Musical Artists League). It is a Pulitzer Prize winning play that connects completely to the core mission of this company — disability awareness. The play is beautifully constructed with great economy of writing — touching on broad, deep issues in a short expanse of time... These themes are timeless... resonate even more fully when realized by a cast made up of actors with disabilities themselves.You can find all the burberryhandbags you need here."

The story is based on a real, badly deformed person, Frank Merrick, who was rescued from a freak show by a doctor. The tradition is to let the actor encourage the audience to imagine the deformity, rather than use heavy prosthetics.

"Present Laughter" by Noel Coward, plays through Feb. 12 at Miner's Alley Playhouse, 1224 Washington Ave., Golden. Richard Pegg of Highlands Ranch directs this cast of funny characters in a sure anecdote for January blahs. Celebrity Gary Essendine is surrounded by admirers as he tries to head overseas — without them. Talented Englewood residents Christian Mast and Haley Johnson share the stage with Chris Bleau, Dave Blumenstock, Rachel Bouchard, Adrian Egolf, Erica Johnson, Tim McGrath, Kelly Reeves, Crystal Verdon and Jack Wefso.

"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, another Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner, is perennially popular, despite its demand for a large, fairly sophisticated cast. It runs Jan. 13 through Feb. 5 at Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main Street in Littleton, directed by veteran funny guy Robert Wells, with choreography by Nick Sugar and music direction by Donna K. Debreceni.

Scott McLean returns to Town Hall as the wily,Buy these louisvuittonleatherhandbags on line. manipulative slave, Pseudolus, a choice part. While the comedy has roots in a 200-year-old play by a 2,000-year-old comedy by the Roman playwright Plautus, much of its wit really rings true today, with our year round political circus and the various innocent and scheming types who inhabit our world.

"Nine Circles" by Bill Cain, plays at Curious Theatre, 1080 Acoma St., Denver Jan. 12 through Feb. 18, directed by Christy Montour-Larson. The story of a young man on trial for war crimes was winner of the 2011 Harold and Mimi Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Award for Best New Play. "'9 Circles' perfectly reflects Curious' mission to showcase important contemporary issues through provocative modern theater," said Curious Artistic Director Chip Walton. It mirrors Dante's Infernos nine circles in its nine scenes, looking at the aftermath of war and the possibility of peace.

"The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde is billed as "A Trivial Comedy for Serious People —" whatever that means! It is certain to make the audience giggle throughout. Originally presented in Victorian London in 1895, it is a romance and spoof of the upper crust, with feigned identities and comedic misadventures that are as funny as ever today. Director Rod Lansberry has assembled a fine cast: Scott Bellott, Jake Walker, Kate Berry, Caitlin Wise, Bev Newcomb, Billie McBride, Colin Alexander, Mark Rubald and Jamie Ann Romero.

Four actresses will play 27 parts in "String of Pearls" by the award-wining Michelle Lowe from Jan. 20 to Feb. 25 at the Avenue Theater, 417 E. 17th Ave., Denver. The theatre celebrates its 25th anniversary season and its fifth annual Woman's Series with this comedy about women who come in contact with a string of pearls. Gillian McNalley of the University of Colorado directs Elgin Kelly, Amie Mackenzie, Megan Pettigrew and Samantha Provenzano.

Crumbs from the Table of Joy" by Pulitzer winner Lynn Nottage (author of "Ruined," which played last season at the Denver Center) will play Jan. 27 through Feb. 19 at the Aurora Fox, 9900 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora. This is a memory play about 17-year-old Ernestine and her deep-south family that has moved to bustling Brooklyn in 1950, experiencing extreme lifestyle change. Directed by donnie l. betts.

"Turn of the Screw" by Jeffrey Hatcher,, alexanderwangreplica offer a wide selection of Replica Watches of all popular Replica Watches brands including Replica Bell & Ross Watches, based on a story by Henry James, will play at the Byers-Evans Mansion, 1310 Bannock St., Denver — which is a great ghost story venue for the recently-formed Living Room Theatre. The audience gathers in the parlor, surrounded by Victorian woodwork and furnishings. Prior to the 7:30 performance, a Central City Opera ensemble will perform excerpts from the Benjamin Britten opera, Turn of the Screw," which it will present in summer 2012, and from other ghost story operas — in the Music Room, of course. Ed Osbourne directs in this intimate setting.

Airport volunteers are South Florida's ambassadors

If it's winter, there must be lots of tourists — and lots of questions, usually about bathrooms and baggage.Buy fendireplica are becoming popular.This privacy statement discloses the privacy practices for nylonbagfactory321.

That's where the airport volunteers come in. Airport officials consider their job critical because they frequently are the first to welcome travelers, and help them out in some unusual situations.Trade Leads for canadagooseparkajackets, Search ecplaza.net for buying and selling leads,

For example, Peggy Ellefsen, 83, a volunteer in Fort Lauderdale, had to deal with a woman who complained that "stupid" shuttle drivers couldn't find her car. When Ellefsen asked how she got to the airport, the woman said she drove by way of Interstate 4.

"I said, 'You're in the wrong city. You should be in Orlando,'" Ellefsen said. "It was hard for me not to laugh."

With the busy winter travel season under way, both Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood and Palm Beach international airports are looking for additional volunteers. Recognizable by their red jackets in Fort Lauderdale, teal in West Palm Beach, the airport "ambassadors" generally are retired although some are in high school.

After receiving training, they work at least one four-hour shift a week. At Fort Lauderdale, they receive discounts at airport restaurants; at PBI, they are given a $14 meal voucher per shift. They also are provided free parking at both airports.

"The key to doing this successfully is be flexible and smile," said Felice Schneider, who coordinates the volunteer program at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International.

There is not a lot of downtime on the job. Passengers blitzed Landstein with questions while she worked in the baggage claim area of Terminal 3 on Thursday, everything from where to find restaurants to restrooms.

The most common question: Where's the rental car center? "I get that question a hundred times a day," said Landstein.

Jason Baker, 86, of Boynton Beach, an airport volunteer for 14 years, once noticed an 11-year-old boy who appeared lost. When Baker approached him, the boy asked if he was in Fort Worth, Texas.

"He was supposed to change planes in Atlanta," said Baker, who arranged for him to fly back to Atlanta and catch the right flight.

On another occasion, after landing in Fort Lauderdale, a businesswoman asked Baker the fastest way to get to Fort Myers.

"I said. 'Lady, it's on the other side of the state," Baker recalled.Thirty pages into the book louisvuittonhandbag has not done anything recently. He ended up putting her in a limo, which got her there for $275.

When questions are posed in Spanish, French and other languages, the ambassadors,,schoolbagfactory has not set an Overall Goal. who mostly speak English, simply find other airport workers who are bilingual. Once Ellefsen ran into a passenger who only spoke Russian; JetBlue employees helped Ellefsen find a translator.

2012年1月5日星期四

Environmentalists forget there is nothing new under the sun

After Marks & Spencer began charging for plastic bags three years ago, citing concerns for the environment, it was inevitable that others would follow suit. Since last September, the Welsh Assembly has required all retailers to charge for any form of carrier bag, raising costs for many shoppers and attracting praise from the green lobby.

But environmentalists forget that there is nothing new under the sun. Here,Trade Leads for canadagooseparkajackets, Search ecplaza.net for buying and selling leads, as an antidote to the holier-than-thou attitude of some who cannot do good without forcing others to do so too, is a tale sent to me by Alan Steel.

In the queue at a supermarket, a young checkout assistant told an older man that he should bring his own grocery bags because disposable ones weren't good for the environment.

The old man apologised to her and explained: "We didn't have the green thing back in my day." The young woman responded: "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment."

She was right – our generation didn't have the green thing. Back then, we returned milk bottles, soft-drink bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the factory to be washed and sterilised and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the corner shop and didn't climb into a two-ton car every time we went shopping. But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby's nappies because we didn't have the disposable kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy-gobbling machine burning up 240 volts. Wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

Back then, we had one TV, or radio,Buy laptopbagfactory from thousands of International exporters, in the house – not a TV in every room. And the TV had a screen the size of a handkerchief, not a screen the size of a football pitch.

We drank from a water fountain or tap when we were thirsty, instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole caboodle just because the blade got dull.Buy besthandbags online at Goldsmiths quality jewellers. But we didn't have the green thing back then.

Back then, children rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their parents into 24-hour taxi services. And we didn't need a computerised gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,,womenhandbags bulbs are a great way to save energy and money.000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest chip shop.Market wholesalereplicahandbags feedback Forum Talk.

As you can see, Alan is not a man to argue with. He adds: "But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?

"Please forward this to another selfish old person who needs a lesson in conservation from some wet-behind-the-ears young twit."

Don't get him started, as they say. And before anyone tells me they have seen this one before, haven't they heard of recycling?