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We Never Lose Alone...Liverpool choke at Stoke AFP - Sunday, November 14 STOKE, United Kingdom (AFP) - – Ricardo Fuller and Kenwyne Jones scored to earn Stoke a deserved 2-0 win over Liverpool at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday. Tony Pulis's team controlled the entire match and only stout Liverpool defending prevented the Potters from going ahead earlier before Fuller opened the scoring just after half time. The Reds rarely looked like pulling level and a late effort from Jones ensured they slipped to a fifth English Premier League defeat of the season. To make matters worse for Liverpool, they lost Lucas to a red card for a second caution in the closing stages. Stoke attacked from the very start and looked dangerous from a couple of early trademark long throws from Rory Delap. The first effort saw Maxi Rodriguez bundle Jamaica striker Fuller to the ground before Martin Skrtel had to drag Robert Huth out of the way to head clear. Fuller drove over the bar from 25 yards as the hosts, who ended a five-match losing run with a 3-2 victory over Birmingham on Tuesday, piled forward at every opportunity. From another long throw, Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina complained he was being held before the Spaniard pulled off a fine save from Dean Whitehead's drive. From the Matthew Etherington corner that followed, Jones glanced a header wide from six yards after his marker Sotirios Kyrgiakos had slipped. Whitehead then narrowly missed the target with a thumping drive after Kyrgiakos had only half-cleared a Ryan Shawcross free kick. The visitors finally had an effort of their own when England midfielder Steven Gerrard's corner found Kyrgiakos but the Greece defender's header deflected away off Andy Wilkinson. But soon they were having to defend again when Huth flicked on a Delap throw and former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant came close to turning the ball in at the far post. Gerrard was finally causing Stoke some problems and a long-range strike was scrambled wide by Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic. From the Gerrard corner that followed, Raul Meireles had one shot blocked and then forced a save from Begovic with a stinging shot from distance. After Lucas gave away possession in midfield, Fuller fed Jones and the striker's drilled cross was turned away by Jamie Carragher ahead of Etherington. Liverpool were struggling to maintain possession in the Stoke half and when they did, they could not thread the ball through to Fernando Torres and Gerrard missed with another hopeful long-range effort. After the restart, Carragher produced a desperate clearance to a Shawcross free kick and a header from Jones from the resulting Pennant corner skidded across the Liverpool area. Liverpool continued to struggle to assert themselves in attack and a free kick from Gerrard bounced harmlessly wide to sum up their frustration. But in the 56th minute, finally a Delap throw set up Stoke's breakthrough. Liverpool failed to clear and Huth laid off to Etherington, who crossed, and after Fuller had one effort blocked by Paul Konchesky, he prodded in from six yards to give the hosts a deserved lead. Liverpool threatened to pull level when Gerrard fed Dirk Kuyt and the Dutchman's cross picked out Rodriguez, whose low drive was held by Begovic. Then a Gerrard free kick was headed down by Kyrgiakos and Skrtel's stab at goal was deflected wide. Substitute Ryan Babel hit a hopeful shot well wide as Liverpool's desperation increased but Lucas was sent off for a second yellow card late on after Jones sealed victory in the 90th minute.

United late show salvages dramatic draw at Villa AFP - Sunday, November 14 LONDON (AFP) - – Manchester United staged a dramatic fightback with two goals in the last nine minutes to salvage a 2-2 draw at Aston Villa on Saturday. Sir Alex Ferguson's team looked set to suffer their first league defeat since April when Ashley Young's second-half penalty was followed by a Marc Albrighton strike for Villa. But United substitute Federico Macheda reduced the deficit with a superb strike nine minutes from full-time and Serbia defender Nemanja Vidic dived in to head the equaliser from Nani's cross four minutes later. Although United were understandably delighted to escape Villa Park unscathed, Ferguson's second-placed side, who are now three points behind Chelsea, will still be left to count the cost of a sloppy display if the leaders open up a six-point gap by beating Sunderland on Sunday. "In the second half I just think it was carelessness on our part. Our passing was poor. Normally we can control the match. We didn't control it," Ferguson said. "We are a club, though, that never says there is no way back. We brought people on and they changed the game in fairness to them. "Macheda scored a great goal and with another five minutes we would have won the game." Manchester City fans turned on Roberto Mancini after the Italian's side were held to a dour 0-0 draw by Birmingham at Eastlands. City boss Mancini, whose team have failed to score in their last three home games, provoked a furious response when he decided to replace Argentine forward Carlos Tevez with midfielder Gareth Barry as the hosts tried in vain to break down a stubborn Birmingham defence. Tevez earlier had a goal disallowed for handball and fourth-placed City were unable to close the gap on Chelsea. "If you play with four strikers it doesn't mean you score four goals," said Mancini. "Football isn't like that. I must think like a manager, not a supporter." Gareth Bale was in fine form as Tottenham beat Blackburn 4-2 at White Hart Lane. Wales winger Bale was linked with some of Europe's biggest clubs after his recent performances against Inter Milan in the Champions League and he underlined his growing reputation with another dominant display. He opened the scoring in the 16th minute when he headed home Rafael van der Vaart's corner. Harry Redknapp's side squandered a golden chance to increase their lead as Roman Pavlyuchenko smashed a penalty wide after Rovers goalkeeper Paul Robinson fouled Peter Crouch. But Russian striker Pavlyuchenko made amends for that howler in the 42nd minute as he headed Bale's cross past Robinson. Crouch netted Tottenham's third with a 69th minute tap-in before Bale struck again six minutes later. Ryan Nelsen netted for Blackburn in the 80th minute and Gael Givet added a second in the 90th minute. Tottenham assistant coach Joe Jordan said: "At the moment Bale is a provider and he is also scoring goals. "He is so positive going forward but he also does a shift when we have not got the ball. He has got the energy to do that." Bolton moved into fifth place in the table with a 3-2 win at struggling Wolves. Owen Coyle's side were ahead after just 45 seconds as Richard Stearman, under pressure from Matt Taylor, could only turn the ball into his own net. Johan Elmander increased their lead in the 62nd minute and Stuart Holden put Bolton in total control in the 67th minute. Kevin Foley's reply for second-bottom Wolves moments later was followed by a 77th-minute strike from Steven Fletcher. Victor Moses fired Wigan out of the relegation zone as his 70th-minute strike secured a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion at the DW Stadium. West Ham remain bottom of the table after Blackpool's first-teamers returned for a 0-0 draw at Upton Park. Newcastle dropped to seventh after a 0-0 draw at home to Fulham.

How is ya Blue Tunicates doing ?

ACS (I) teacher returns to school By Alicia Wong – November 12th, 2010 The teacher, who accused former principal of Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) Ong Teck Chin of behaving inappropriately towards him , will be returning to the school to teach biology, according to The Straits Times (ST) on Friday. The school’s acting principal Fanny Tan met the heads of department this week to tell them Mr Mark Richie Tan would be back in a teaching position, reported the paper. He is expected to be back in school this week, but will not be teaching as it is the examination period. The controversy broke last month when Mr Tan, who is in his early 30s, filed a complaint with the school’s Board of Governors that Dr Ong had behaved inappropriately toward him. He told the media he had e-mail, text messages and recordings to prove his claims. He later denied saying so in previous reports. While previous reports pegged Mr Tan as a former teacher, having resigned from ACS (I), Mr Tan said he was still with the school. The board has put together a 15-page report after investigating his claims, and is expected to release a statement soon. On Thursday, ST reported the document put Dr Ong in a negative light and reinforced Mr Tan’s original allegations. A student, who declined to be named as teachers and students have been told not to speak to the media, told ST, they were looking forward to having Mr Tan back in school since he is a good biology teacher. “’Hopefully, whatever is over is over and he can just concentrate on being a good biology teacher like before,” said another student. Mr Tan was with ACS (I) for over three years, and had taught at Anglo-Chinese Junior College before that. It is believed Mr Tan and Dr Ong started working closely in the second half of 2009, and he functioned as a personal aide to Dr Ong. Dr Ong, declining comment on the report when contacted earlier this week, had previously cited health reasons for his resignation. The Board of Governors is now searching for a new principal.

Michael Jackson duet with Akon set for release Reuters 15 mins ago A duet recorded by Michael Jackson and rapper-producer Akon will go on sale on Monday -- the first single off an album of new music from the King of Pop after his death in 2009, his record label said on Thursday. Called "Hold My Hand", the song was first recorded in 2007 and was leaked in an unfinished state on the Internet in 2008. Jackson's Sony/Epic record label said Akon recently completed production on the track. It will be released globally on November 15 as the first official single from the album "Michael", which goes on sale on December 14. Sony and the executors of Jackson's estate said they had a hand-written note from the "Thriller" singer, indicating his desire that "Hold My Hand" be the first single on his next project. "The world was not ready to hear 'Hold My Hand' when it leaked a couple years ago. We were devastated about it," said Akon, who was known to be working with Jackson before his sudden death in June 2009 at the age of 50. "But its time has definitely come; now in its final state, it has become an incredible, beautiful, anthemic song. I'm so proud to have had the chance to work with Michael, one of my all time idols," the music producer said in a statement. Sony also released details of the 10 tracks on "Michael" -- the first album of new material from the singer since "Invincible" in 2001. Two of the tracks feature rapper 50 Cent and rocker Lenny Kravitz. Sony said the songs were the work of "an esteemed group of producers along with Michael Jackson. While primarily focussed on songs that Michael worked on recently, there are also earlier compelling tracks." Monday's release for digital sale of "Hold My Hand" follows the streaming on the Internet this week of another new track "Breaking News" from the upcoming album, which has met with initial skepticism. Some music critics, along with a few of Jackson's family members, have said they do not believe the vocals on "Breaking News" really belong to the entertainer. Jackson's estranged father Joe has said his perfectionist son would not have wanted his unfinished material released. But last week Sony countered that after extensive research, it was confident the vocals are Jackson's own. "Michael" has the backing of Jackson's official estate and is the latest commercial venture to capitalise on the singer's renewed popularity in death. A Cirque du Soleil show, dance videogame and a DVD set of all his pop music videos is also on its way. (Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

Premier League - Barton banned after accepting charge Thu, 11 Nov 19:19:00 2010 Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton will be banned for three Premier League matches after accepting a charge of violent conduct following an incident during Wednesday's 2-1 home loss to Blackburn Rovers. The 28-year-old was charged by the Football Association on Thursday for punching Rovers' Norway midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen in the chest, which was not seen by the referee. "I fully accept that I was in the wrong on this occasion and accept the charge that the FA have brought against me," Barton said in a club statement before apologising to all involved. "This season I have really been enjoying my football and although I have been on the receiving end of a few robust challenges I have, up until now, remained calm in the face of provocation and just carried on with the game. "But I hold my hands up, I reacted badly to the situation on Wednesday night and I deeply regret it." Barton was given until Friday to reply to the charge and under the FA's fast-track regulations his admission means he will now be handed a standard three-match ban. The incident is the latest in a long list of disciplinary problems faced by the former Manchester City player, who joined Newcastle in June 2007. He was jailed in 2008 for assault. He will now miss the Premier league matches against Fulham, Bolton Wanderers and Chelsea. Newcastle manager Chris Hughton said: "He has worked so hard on his game this season, but he knows that he can't react the way he did on Wednesday." THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOEY BARTON April 2004 - Storms out of Eastlands before kick-off after being axed from the Manchester City side to face Southampton. July 2004 - Sparks a mass brawl in a pre-season 'friendly' against Doncaster. December 2004 - A Christmas bash for Manchester City players sees him stub a lit cigar into the eye of young team-mate Jamie Tandy. He is fined six weeks' wages by City. May 2005 - Breaks the leg of a 35-year-old pedestrian while driving his car at 2am in Liverpool city centre. June 2005 - Involved in a spat with a 15-year-old Everton fan at City's team hotel in Bangkok. Again he is fined by City. October 2006 - The bad blood with Everton fans continues in 2006 when he drops his shorts in the direction of home fans at Goodison Park. He is fined and warned by the FA for his conduct. December 2006 - Blasts England players releasing autobiographies after an unsuccessful World Cup campaign. "England did nothing in the World Cup, so why are they bringing books out? 'We got beat in the quarter-finals, I played like s***, here's my book'. Who wants to read that? I don't," he says. February 2007 - Makes his England debut against Spain, replacing Frank Lampard, one of the players he was thought to have aimed his earlier criticism at. March 2007 - Arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal damage in an incident involving a taxi driver. He is alleged to have ripped out the cabbie's radio because he would not wait at a McDonald's drive-through while Barton got food. He is later found not guilty of vandalising the taxi. His cousin, Joshua Wilson, 19, admitted doing the damage. May 2007 - Involved in a training ground incident with Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo, who presses charges. Barton admits assault and in July 2008 is given a four-month suspended jail sentence. In November 2008 he is also given a six-match ban, with a further six suspended, after admitting an FA violent conduct charge relating to the incident. June 2007 - Sold by City to Newcastle Utd for £5.8 million. Aims parting shot at City boss Stuart Pearce, blaming his departure on a "relationship breakdown" between the pair. November 2007 - The press reacts furiously to a studs-up challenge on Sunderland's Dickson Etuhu during the Tyne-Wear derby. "Ban him" screams the News of the World headline. He escapes FA sanction. December 2007 - Sits out Newcastle's Boxing Day game through injury, but goes drinking in Liverpool city centre afterwards. In the early hours of December 27 he gets into a row in a McDonald's and violence again breaks out. Drunk, Barton straddles his victim, punching him repeatedly in the face. He is refused bail and is forced to spend the New Year behind bars. May 2008 - Admits assault and affray and is jailed for six months, of which he serves 74 days at Strangeways prison in Manchester, November 2008 - Escapes FA action after an on-pitch incident involving Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor. Media reports claim Barton made a racial slur but Agbonlahor decides not to pursue disciplinary action. May 2009 - Sent off on first game back from a long-term injury against Liverpool for a wild tackle on Xabi Alonso. Suspended by club following claims of a dressing-room row with manager Alan Shearer. November 2010 - Backs controversial team-mate Andy Carroll for an England call, saying: "The frustrating thing for me is we pick the good guys, the guys who won't cause any problems. Hopefully England will stop worrying about what the sponsors are going to say and that 'goody two-shoes' is the right image for Team England. They need to start picking players to win football matches ... He can't be any worse than what's gone before." November 2010 - Charged with violent conduct by the FA for apparently punching Blackburn's Morten Gamst Pedersen. Reuters

Chelsea won't miss Wilkins Thu Nov 11 05:33PM Ray Wilkins's removal as Chelsea's assistant manager is an odd one, alright. Last night, he sat next to Carlo Ancelotti during the 1-0 win against Fulham, and today he watched a reserve team match at the Blues' Cobham training ground. At half-time, he was reportedly called away and given his marching orders. Hardly the most dignified exit for a man who brought a welcome touch of grace and humility to Chelsea. Everyone in football agrees that Wilkins is a thoroughly nice man. Yet, whatever the circumstances of his sacking, his absence will not be keenly felt. Not because there is anything wrong with Wilkins, you understand. But because the position of assistant manager simply isn't that important - especially for clubs with competent managers. We like to imagine that number twos are actually the brains of the operation, the power behind the throne. Brian Clough's assistant Peter Taylor is a case in point - the film version of The Damned United is basically a love story between the two, culminating in Clough's admission that he is nothing without Taylor. But that is cinema. In any case, Taylor was a special case whose chief skill was actually as a scout, identifying players for Clough to bring in. His importance was also increased by Clough's cavalier attitude to tactics and training. The same slapdash trait does not exist in Carlo Ancelotti or any other of today's leading bosses. Assistant managers might sit in the same dug-out as the gaffer, and do the odd post-match interview, but do not be fooled into thinking they are important. Steve Clarke was hailed as Mourinho's training-ground general, yet remarkably the Special One has coped without the Scot at Internazionale and Real Madrid. Clarke's so-called magic was not enough to keep Gianfranco Zola in a job at West Ham, and both men are now unemployed. When Alex Ferguson's long-time assistant Brian Kidd left Manchester United in 1998, many predicted dire consequences. A year later, United had won the treble and Kidd had got Blackburn relegated. Steve McClaren, Jimmy Ryan, Carlos Queiroz (twice) and Walter Smith (briefly) all came and went without any appreciable effect on United's results. Mike Phelan now sits next to Fergie and talks to the BBC for him. And what of Pat Rice, Arsene Wenger's trusty lieutenant? How much credit does he deserve for the Gunners' success? I suspect Wenger had kept him on simply because he's good at putting out cones on the London Colney training pitch and he knows where the biscuits are kept. As for Liverpool, Paco Ayestaran's departure in 2007 has been pinpointed by many as the beginning of the end for Rafa Benitez's reign. But that didn't stop Benitez's Paco-less Reds finishing second in the Premier League two years later, losing just twice in 38 games. What of Chelsea without Wilkins? Ancelotti wrote in his recent autobiography: "Ray is a real blue-blood, Chelsea flows in his veins. Without him, we couldn't have won a thing." Kind words, but the fact the Italian was happy to lose Wilkins suggests he might have been exaggerating a touch. Butch was a familiar and friendly face around the club, and perhaps an important figure in helping Ancelotti to bring the squad on side. But the manager's English is now up to scratch, and the players trust him, making Wilkins expendable. His removal is unexpected and ruthless, but don't expect the effects to be felt on the pitch.

Premier League - Wilkins leaves after SNUB Thu, 11 Nov 15:20:00 2010 Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins has left the club with immediate effect after the club declined to renew his contract. "On behalf of everyone at the club I would like to thank Ray for everything he has done for Chelsea Football Club. We all wish him well for the future," Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay said. No reason was given for the sudden departure of Carlo Ancelotti's trusted right-hand man, a former Chelsea midfielder and England international. The 54-year-old, who began his career at Chelsea and made 179 appearances before joining Manchester United in 1979, has been a steadying influence behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge in recent seasons. He was appointed assistant coach at Chelsea under Luiz Felipe Scolari and briefly took charge of the first team when the Brazilian was sacked in 2009. Wilkins worked as assistant to Dutchman Guus Hiddink during his short reign and continued in that role when Italian Ancelotti became manager - helping lead Chelsea to last season's Premier League title. Wilkins, whose career also took in spells with Milan and Rangers, is a fluent Italian speaker and is credited with maintaining strong links between the players and the coaching staff at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea's said that Wilkins had not been offered a new contract and that he would leave immediately. Reuters

SIA hit by massive S$132 million fine EU fines 11 airlines 800 million euros for air cargo cartel AFP - Wednesday, November 10 BRUSSELS (AFP) - Europe's competition watchdog hit 11 airlines with nearly 800 million euros in fines Tuesday for running a global cargo cartel that included Air France-KLM, British Airways and Japan Airlines. "It is deplorable that so many major airlines coordinated their pricing to the detriment of European businesses and European consumers," said European competition commissioner Joaquin Almunia. The fines, totalling 799.4 million euros (1.1 billion dollars), were slapped on airlines that span the globe, from Air Canada and LAN Chile in the Americas to Cathay Pacific Airways and Singapore Airlines in Asia and Qantas in Australia. The 11 cargo carriers coordinated their action on surcharges for fuel and security without discounts over a six-year period, between December 1999 and February 2006, the European Commission said. The cartel covered flights from, to and within the European Economic Area. The Air France-KLM group was hit with the biggest fine, 310 million euros, of which 183 million euros was for Air France and 127 million euros for KLM. Martinair, which is owned by Air France, was fined 29.5 million euros. Air France-KLM said it plans to appeal the fine. "The group will file an appeal against the decision in the EU General Court," it said in statement. Elsewhere in Europe, British Airways was ordered to pay 104 million euros, Scandinavia's SAS group was fined 70.2 million euros and Luxembourg's Cargolux will have to pay 79.9 million euros. In Asia, Singapore Airlines was fined 74.8 million euros, Cathay was hit with 57.1 million euros and Japan Airlines will pay 35.7 million euros. Air Canada must pay 21 million euros while Qantas and LAN Chile got the smallest fines, 8.9 million and 8.2 million euros, respectively. Five airlines applied for a reduction in the fine, claiming they were unable to pay it, but the commission said none of them met the conditions. Lufthansa and its subsidiary Swiss International Air Lines escaped a fine under the commission's leniency programme for being the first to provide information about the cartel. The commission said it dropped charges against another 11 carriers and one consultancy firm which it did not name. The cartel initially began with contacts between airlines to ensure that worldwide air freight carriers imposed a "flat rate surchage per kilo for all shipments," the commission said. The cooperation expanded with the introduction of a security surcharge. The companies refused to pay a commission on such surcharges to their clients, the regulator said. "By refusing to pay a commission, the airlines ensured that surcharges did not become subject to competition through the granting of discounts to customers," the commission said. SAS also said it would appeal the fine. "We adamantly maintain that these isolated incidents do not mean that SAS Cargo has been involved in a global cartel," the airline's chief legal officer, Mats Loennkvist, said in a statement. "We are highly disappointed and strongly contest the considerable level of the fines, which we believe to be disproportionate to SAS Cargos actions."

New 'Call of Duty' blasts last year's sales record New 'Call of Duty' video game hits $360 million in 24 hours, blowing up entertainment record Barbara Ortutay, AP Technology Writer, On Friday 12 November 2010, 8:25 SGT NEW YORK (AP) - "Call of Duty: Black Ops" blasted entertainment records this week by raking in $360 million in its first 24 hours on sale, a dramatic and lucrative indication that video games have cemented their place as mainstream entertainment on a par with movies, books and music. For the hordes of devoted fans who waited at midnight Monday to get their hands on the military shooter, this is hardly a surprise. For them, popping the new "Call of Duty" into a game console is the equivalent of turning on the TV to watch the Super Bowl or sitting back with a tub of popcorn to watch the latest blockbuster movie. But while movies happen at you, video games allow the user to affect the story's outcome. That hands-on experience and interactions with other players fit the emerging social-media era where consumers demand a voice in whatever they do. Across two years, with a budget well in the tens of millions of dollars, the developers of "Black Ops" created a world that immerses players in Cold War-era battles with settings ranging from 1960s Cuba to Vietnam and the Soviet Union. Its intricate graphics and details -- down to the gruesome sound a knife makes when pulled from an enemy's neck -- are amplified in players' homes through big-screen TV sets and powerful speakers. In one mission, which takes place with John F. Kennedy in the White House before the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion and the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, players must shoot their way through Havana to assassinate a young Fidel Castro. Cuba state-run media has leveled harsh criticism at the game, calling it "doubly perverse" by glorifying assassination and stimulating "sociopathic attitudes in North American children and adolescents." "What the United States couldn't accomplish in more than 50 years, they are now trying to do virtually," said an article on Cubadebate, a state-run news website. Though game developers see their creations as art, not everyone agrees. Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments over a California law that seeks to ban the sale of ultra-violent video games to minors. Parents' groups and politicians say games should be regulated like firearms and tobacco rather than like books and movies, which are protected by the First Amendment. A ruling is expected next year. Many liken these games to movies -- and it's an apt comparison. Along with the hyper-realistic cinematic scenery and surprise plot twists, there are well-known actors -- including Gary Oldman, Ed Harris and Sam Worthington -- lending their voices to the game's main characters. Also, the motion-capture technology used to track actors' bodies is the same that was used in "Avatar." Activision Blizzard Inc. sold 5.6 million units the day "Call of Duty" went on sale, according to the company. Its predecessor, "Call of Duty, Modern Warfare 2," sold 4.7 million copies in 24 hours to reap $310 million on its first day of sale last year. Within a week, it made $550 million. "Not too many years back it would have been unfathomable that the biggest entertainment launch would be a video game two years in a row," said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing. No longer. Today, such games as "Call of Duty," "Grand Theft Auto" and "Halo" all fit into the blockbuster category, and with each sequel they only get bigger. Production budgets for these games rival those of big-screen movies, as does the marketing push behind them. "You are delivering not just a gaming experience but a cinematic experience as well," Hirshberg said. "The characters are emerging as the protagonists of the story." The video game audience has expanded considerably in the last five years, reaching women, young children and even senior centers. But the people who flock to "Call of Duty" and other shooters are still primarily young men, just not as young as some would think. The average U.S. game player is 34 years old, according to the Entertainment Software Association. A big part of the appeal of "Call of Duty" is its multiplayer feature, meaning gamers can fight against someone across the country or on the other side of the world. "Everyone thinks that games are these solitary things," said Patrick Markey, a Villanova University professor who studies video games. "But now, hooked up to the Internet, it's friends and strangers we are playing with." "Black Ops" went on sale Tuesday in North America and the U.K. It costs $60 and works on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 gaming consoles, and PCs. With that cost, games have an easier time setting dollar sales records than much less expensive movies or music. The latest "Call of Duty" game broke records set by its predecessor a year ago. The $360 million in North American and U.K. sales on the first day is higher than any other form of entertainment -- even beating box office sales of top movies in those markets over the entire opening weekend. The game is rated M for mature -- meaning it's not meant for kids under 17. It's bloody, to be sure, but new media professor Charles Palmer says that's not the main appeal. "It's the challenge," said Palmer, who teaches at the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. "It's one of those areas that thrills and excites people." Sports games, such as "Madden," from Electronic Arts, are also popular, as are music simulators such as "Guitar Hero." But shooters in the style of "Call of Duty" continue to be the most popular. "There is a DNA-level curiosity about and attraction to battle," Hirshberg said. "That has been a staple of the entertainment industry -- movies, television, books and fiction -- forever. And the same is true for video games. 'Call of Duty" has delivered perhaps the gold standard experience of battle."

Wat about W M ???

Kinect for Xbox 360 Tue Nov 09 11:16AM by Paul Davies Four Christmases after Wii wove its merry magic, Xbox 360 literally takes the next step with a gadget that transforms your entire body into the controller. Kinect has arrived and here's what to expect. What is it ? Essentially Kinect is a high-tech motion-sensing camera and microphone set up, competing with Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3 Move for its share of gesture-based gaming excitement. Because Kinect scans your entire body the games require you to reach out with both hands and step around or kick with both legs. Also, Kinect includes voice recognition so that you can instruct the Xbox 360 console to play DVDs or music and movies downloaded from Xbox LIVE. Counting the pennies If you already own an Xbox 360 a standalone Kinect costs £129.99, and comes with the excellent ‘Kinect Adventures' game. If you're considering buying an Xbox 360 just for Kinect, there is a 4GB model at £249.99 or a 250GB model at £299.99, both also include Kinect Adventures. Although the price appears to be quite high it is worth bearing in mind that no additional controllers are necessary, which also means there is no need to buy charge-kits or rechargeable batteries for them. But let's put away the calculators for the time being, clear some space, and see how we get on with getting Kinect connected and seeing what it can do. Getting it home and setting up Compared to the little motion-sensing bar with Nintendo Wii, Kinect is a large and conspicuous gadget. However it is very light, and almost as easy to get set up. Ours sits just below the TV screen on its built-in stand. You can buy an attachment to securely place it on top of the telly if you prefer. If you have one of the newer Xbox 360 'Slim' consoles, there's only one connection to be made at the back of the console. If you have one of the older ones you'll also need to plug in a power adator (supplied). After this, calibrating Kinect requires a short routine upon powering it all up, testing for lighting conditions and the amount of space you have in front of the telly. This is all very easy, and Kinect turns out to be much more forgiving than PlayStation Move for distance and illumination. However, as you might expect, more room is better for two-player games. Reckon on at least six feet or two metres. Browsing and video chat with Kinect The combination of voice-activation and controller-free browsing of menu screens works better than we expected. You do feel daft saying ‘Xbox [instruction]' if you're entertaining guests with a video, but being able to play, stop, rewind etc using voice commands becomes second nature and beats reaching for the remote. ‘Xbox Pause' is just so convenient! Another benefit of owning this versatile camera is video chat at the wave of a hand, especially if you have friends on Messenger. It was no trouble at all signing into our Messenger account to call home and have a quick chinwag while recovering from another hour-long ‘Dance Central' session. Equally collecting calls is easy, speaking (not shouting) ‘Xbox, Kinect, Video Kinect' and you're there. We could get used to this. Fun Factor: 4 out of 5 Must-have Kinect gaming experiences Kinect Adventures (Microsoft, bundled with Kinect) You get a full-body workout in this boldly presented compendium of fast moving mini games. These include five main activities, namely Rally Ball, Reflex Ridge, River Rush, Space Pops, and 20000 Leaks. One or two players can take part, but the game is strict about the space required in front of the telly. Rally Ball has you stretching your limbs to smack basketballs at rows of blocks, judging the trajectory is tricky but fair. The balloon-popping antics in Space Pops can be frustrating, although flapping your arms in Zero G is fun. Our favourites are the mine-cart racing of Reflex Ridge and leaping around on a rubber boat in River Rush. With two people responsible for changing direction it's hilarious. Fun Factor: 5 out of 5 Dance Central (MTV Games, £39.99) The reason we were most looking forward to Kinect surpasses many expectations but oddly falls short on one account. It's such a fun and sexy-looking jukebox of top tunes to really get you moving, yet only one person is allowed to take centre stage, even during a Dance Battle. But as dance instructor and party starter you won't find a sassier partner. You mirror the poses of your chosen dancer, in a venue you most prefer, to choreography of increasing difficulty. ‘Hey Mami' by Fannypack is a breeze compared to ‘Just Dance' by Lady Gaga. Honestly I'm no dancer, but ‘Dance Central' got me moving, thanks to its Break-it-Down feature and most of all sheer exhilaration. Fun Factor: 5 out of 5 Kinect Sports (Microsoft, £39.99) Remember to keep your knees up in this modest selection of sporting events; the best Kinect launch title for competitive friends. There are six events, all significantly different, and each one compelling you to improve performance meaning that ‘Kinect Sports' has legs, if you'll excuse the pun. Football was the surprise of the bunch, cleverly demanding that you block passes before aiming a succession of your own and then taking your shot on goal. You can even jump for a header. Within the Track & Field there's running, jumping, discus and javelin to enjoy. Boxing works quite well, but you'll complain about the timing. Table Tennis lacks the precision of its PS3 Move counterpart. Even so, this is brilliant fun. Fun Factor: 4 out of 5 Also worth considering Kinectimals (Microsoft, £39.99) This really ought to have been called ‘Kinecticats' because felines are the only cuddly critters available. Still, we enjoyed befriending the cubs of tigers and panthers - they act smart and look adorable. You can reach out and stroke the kiddie cats, walk around them to pat their sides. Mainly though the idea is to unlock and perform simple activities with your new best friend. ‘Kinectimals' is gentle compared to ‘Kinect Adventures' and ‘Kinect Sports'. You encourage animals to play dead by flopping onto the floor or working as a team to demolish blocks by kicking a ball between each other. Each new area on the lush island brings new toys to play with. It's charming, but only of real interest to very young children. Fun Factor: 3 out of 5 Your Shape: Fitness Evolved (Ubisoft, £39.99) If you're going to spend time throwing yourself around the living room, we suppose it is sensible to have a ‘game' that makes the whole business of it more constructive. At least with ‘Your Shape: Fitness Evolved' on Kinect you're reassured that the virtual instructor can see your mistakes. Having said that, there are still some poses that the camera seems not to detect so well, and this could lead to injury. Cardio workouts that include boxing and playful block-smashing or balancing mini-games are successful. Yoga-inspired ‘Zen' routines, however, tend to gloss over the all-important issue of alignment. Despite these concerns, ‘Your Shape: Fitness Evolved' is the closest thing we've seen to a personal trainer on a games console. Fun Factor: 4 out of 5 And if you're really keen... Fighters Un-caged (Ubisoft, £39.99) If this were the very first Kinect game you laid eyes on you'd be impressed, enough to buy the gadget perhaps. Its impact is lessened by the boxing opportunities within ‘Kinect Sports' and more authentically with kick-boxing in ‘Your Shape: Fitness Evolved'. So you're left with just the street fighting theme to get you motivated. You know what, it works! ‘Fighters Un-caged' is silly, and probably won't last you much beyond a week of pummelling ugly punks in a variety of urban locations. But when you're on your feet trading jabs and hooks, push kicks and spinning roundhouses, you would happily trade ‘Fighters Un-caged' for ‘Fight Night' to provide an evening's raucous entertainment. You might even lose some of that beer belly. Fun Factor: 3 out of 5 Kinect Joyride (Microsoft, £39.99) As a launch title ‘Kinect Joyride' gets away with being rather flimsy because its premise is so simple: a racing game for two people on the same console, performing silly stunts in a vibrant world. It's also the only title that lets you compete across Xbox LIVE, rallying against seven people online. Were ‘Kinect Joyride' a simple Xbox LIVE Arcade title we doubt it would grab as much attention; the invisible steering wheel appeal of Kinect really makes a difference. To see a couple of guys leaping around, leaning into turns, and thrusting their arms forward to trigger speed boosts, looks terrific fun. That said, we think 1200 Microsoft Points is a fairer reflection of the core experience. Fun Factor: 3 out of 5 Verdict Pre-orders for Kinect have long since sold out, but supplies are being rushed to retail by Microsoft this very week. We think the furore is deserved, as it proved to be with Nintendo Wii: Kinect is a true game changer and not just for the traditional software - we've grown used to saying ‘Xbox Pause' to boil the kettle while watching our movies too. With Kinect the Xbox 360 really has achieved a new status as a big value family entertainer, keeping your games hardcore, and your loved ones happy. Got to have it: 5 out of 5 More Kinect games available from 10 November: Crossboard 7 (Konami) Dance Evolution (Konami) Dance Paradise (Mindscape) EA Sports Active 2 (EA) Game Party: In Motion (Warner Bros) Get Fit With Mel B (Black Bean) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (EA) Motion Sports (Ubisoft) Sonic Free Rider (Sega) The Biggest Loser: Ultimate Workout (THQ) Zumba Fitness (Majesco)

Michael Jackson new album vocals genuine, Sony says Reuters - Saturday, November 6 By Jill Serjeant LOS ANGELES, Nov 5 - Sony Music on Friday released a brief "teaser" of a new Michael Jackson single and insisted that the vocals on an upcoming new album were genuinely those of the late "Thriller" singer. But controversy over the December album release of "Michael" was stoked by a representative of Jackson's father Joe, who said the perfectionist performer would never have wanted his unfinished material to be released. A short clip on the official michaeljackson.com web site for "Breaking News" -- a song that Jackson is said to have recorded in 2007 -- consisted of TV news soundbites on Jackson's June 2009 death, followed by a faint scream of less than two seconds. The full song will be released on Monday. The new album "Michael" will be released Dec. 14. "Michael" is the latest commercial venture by Jackson's official estate and the first album of new material from the singer since his "Invincible" album in 2001. Sony has declined to say how much production work was done on the album after Jackson's sudden death from a prescription drug overdose, or how many tracks it contains. "If Michael had wanted this music released he would have done so before his death," Brian Oxman, a lawyer for Joe Jackson, said in a statement on Friday. "The songs which are being released on the new Michael Jackson album were unfinished and incomplete tracks that Michael said over and over many times he never wanted released. We should honor Michael Jackson's wishes," Oxman added. Earlier this week, celebrity website TMZ.com said that Jackson's mother Katherine, and his two eldest children, Prince and Paris, believe that the voice on some of the album tracks is not Michael's. But a spokeswoman for Sony's Epic Records said on Friday that the label has "complete confidence in the results of our extensive research as well as the accounts of those who were in the studio with Michael that the vocals on the new album are his own." The Jackson family's misgivings follow an embarrassing debacle last year when "This Is It," a new Jackson single touted as his first posthumous release, turned out to have been first recorded 18 years earlier under a different title by an obscure Puerto Rican singer. Sony said "Breaking News" was recorded by Jackson at a friend's place in New Jersey in 2007 and "recently brought to completion." Other tracks were recorded at studios in Las Vegas and Los Angeles with various unidentified collaborators, Sony Music said. At the time of his death, Jackson was reported to be working with hitmakers like R&B star Akon and Lady Gaga collaborator RedOne. The executors of Jackson's estate have sanctioned a number of projects to pay off the singer's debts and to provide for his mother and children. They include a Jackson-themed Cirque du Soleil tour that will open in Montreal next October, and a dance videogame due in stores later this month. (Additional reporting by Dean Goodman, editing by Christine Kearney)

What are Executive Condominiums ??? By iProperty.com Singapore November 8th, 2010 HDB flats house around 80% of Singapores population, but there is one type of HDB housing that actually has more in common with the private than the public market: Executive Condominiums (EC). We look at the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing this uniquely Singaporean form of housing, whos eligible to purchase one, and the various rules and regulations concerning ownership. What are Executive Condominiums? The HDB website describes them as being introduced to cater to Singaporeans, especially young graduates and professionals who can afford more than an HDB flat but find private property to be out of their reach. ECs are comparable in design and facilities to private condominiums as they are developed and sold by the private developers. Essentially, an EC has most if not all the facilities of most condos but is a 99-year leasehold rather than a freehold. Who is eligible to buy an Executive Condominium? There are a number of criteria purchasers must meet, but first and foremost, applicants would need to be at least Singapore Citizens or Singapore Citizen + Singapore Permanent Resident combo. They must form a family nucleus, in line with those expected of Public Housing Scheme and their household incomes should not exceed S$10,000 per month. What incentive is there to purchase an EC? If both applicants are Singapore citizens, they are eligible to receive a S$30,000 housing grant. If the applicants are a Singapore citizen and a PR, they are eligible to receive S$20,000. What documentation do applicants need to bring with them to the Application process? Generally, the documents required would be their NRICs, birth certificates, marriage certificates, and latest income statements. Check with your HR at work to ensure that the income statements are what is required by HDB. What are the advantages of purchasing an EC ? An Executive Condominium is much more similar to a private condominium, where there are facilities for owners to enjoy, which are usually restricted to residents usage. In addition, purchasers of EC are able to apply and use the Housing Grant for the purchase of the EC unit, if they are eligible and have not not apply for it previously. Can you rent out your EC? You cannot rent out the EC during the minimum occupation period (MOP) of the first five years. You can, however, rent out rooms within the EC during this period. What are the rules and regulations governing selling an EC? Owners would have to fulfil a MOP of five years. No transaction is permitted before this period is fulfilled. After five years, owners can sell their units to Singapore Citizens and/or Singapore Permanent Resident, and after 10 years they can sell to foreigners. Upon selling an EC, you must wait 30 months before buying any flat directly from HDB.

10 signs it's time to quit CareerBuilder.co.uk How many times a day do you say to yourself, "I like what I do, but not where I work?" Or the opposite, "I like where I work, but not what I do?" The current economy has kept many employees stationed for the past couple of years, not because they love what they do -- but because they are too scared to pursue other opportunities. But many employees feel disengaged from their jobs and don't know what to do. So should you continue to stay in a job where you are unhappy? Or start looking for somewhere where you'll be happier? People quit their jobs for many reasons. Maybe you don't like your co-workers or your boss drives you crazy. Maybe there's nowhere for you to move up in the company. Maybe you're overworked and underpaid. Maybe you're all of the above. While the choice to move on to greener pastures is up to you, here are 10 signs that should tell you if it's time to start thinking about moving on: 1. Your co-workers drive you crazy. Co-workers can be a curse or a blessing in the workplace. When you work with people you love, it's one thing. But how are you supposed to get any work done when your colleagues are irritating you, offending you, distracting you, coming in late, leaving early, talking loudly on the phone, procrastinating or coming to your desk to gossip? If you find that you want to tear your hair out at the end of each day because of your colleagues, it might be time to look for more tolerable people. 2. You hate going to work. When Sunday night rolls around, are you dreading going into the office the next morning? As soon as you arrive on Monday morning, are you already thinking about Friday at 5 p.m.? Aall of us have had to go to a job that we hate at least once, and if you haven't -- you're the exception, not the rule (not to mention extremely lucky). When you're spending 40+ hours at work, the last thing you want is to hate every second you're there. If you do, it might be time to start thinking about your next career move. 3. You're bored. Most people like to feel challenged at work. If your work has started to seem too easy or repetitive, it's a sign that you need more responsibility or extra a change in roles. But, don't confuse boredom with slacking off. There's a vast difference between watching YouTube videos all day long with work piling up next to you and watching YouTube videos all day long because you've completed all there is to do. 4. The company -- or your job -- is in trouble. It's no secret that many companies are still struggling as a result of the economy. There continue to be layoffs and budget cuts. While we don't suggest quitting your job in a panic without having some sort of plan as to what your next step is, we do think you should pay attention to what's going on at your company. If you're concerned about the state of your job or the company, approach your manager with any concerns before taking other actions. 5. You don't feel at home. Sometimes we forget how important it is to feel comfortable at work -- that is, until we don't. If competition seems far from friendly, your colleagues steal your ideas, your ethics or values conflict with the company, or even if your casual style clashes with the buttoned-up policies of management, you might try to find a company where you feel more at home. 6. You can't stand your boss. Just because someone is a manager or boss doesn't give him free reign to be stupid. Whether you realize it or not, your relationship with your boss has a huge impact on your overall professional happiness and success. After all, even the best job can be terrible if your boss is lousy. If you don't see eye-to-eye or your manager is untrustworthy or unwilling to help you succeed, it might be time to look for a new job -- with a new supervisor. 7. Your career is at a standstill. Maybe you've been doing the same job for several years and you're ready for more responsibility. Maybe you've lost your passion for what you used to love. Maybe you work at a company where there's no other role for you than the one you're currently in. Start by talking to your boss about taking on more work, or trying different tasks. Express to him or her that you want to continue to develop your skills and reach your goals. If no alternatives are available, it might be time to start looking around. 8. You're not valued. Recognition is important -- you need to feel as though you're making a contribution and like other people will give you credit for your successes. Is your company doing anything to reward your efforts? Do you get bonuses, perks or positive feedback? If your boss has never heard of positive reinforcement, it might be time to find a company that will value your talent. 9. Your work environment sucks. State of the economy aside, every job and every company experiences highs and lows. It doesn't take a psychiatrist to know that working in place with negative energy or low morale is draining on even the happiest soul. If you find that you're always feeling stressed out, depressed or having a negative attitude, it might be time to explore more positive options. 10. You're exhausted. Everyone says they're stressed. But some people are really stressed. Too many projects and not enough help equal a heavy workload and job burnout. We don't advise quitting when the going gets tough once in a while -- let's be honest, everyone has to take one for the team at some point. But, if there's no end or reprieve in sight, do yourself (and your sanity) a favour and see what else is out there.

British PM rejects China request on poppy November 10, 2010 - 7:04PM © 2010 AFP British Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday wore a poppy in his lapel to honour British war dead, despite China's request he remove it because officials said it reminded them of the Opium Wars. Cameron and members of his delegation have all worn poppies during their two-day visit to China ahead of Armistice Day on Thursday, the 92nd anniversary of the end of World War I. Poppies, however, have a different meaning for Chinese officials who asked the delegation to remove the paper flowers because they were reminders of the two 19th century Opium Wars that China lost to Britain, a British official said. "The Chinese informed us it would be inappropriate to wear poppies because of the Opium Wars," an official from the prime minister's office said on condition of anonymity. "We informed them that they mean a great deal to us and we would be wearing them all the same," the official said. Poppies became a symbol for the war dead because they grew on the battlefields of Western Europe. They now are sold each November in Britain and several other countries to raise money for veterans' charities. Chinese schoolchildren are taught as part of their patriotic education that the Opium Wars were a symbol of national humiliation. This year is the 150th anniversary of the second Opium War, which Britain fought to force China to open up to trade, including the narcotic made from the poppy. The first Opium War, which ended in 1842, ended with China ceding Hong Kong to Queen Victoria. Britain returned the territory to China in 1997.

Property cooling measures explained By iProperty.com Singapore – October 29th, 2010 Debate over the government’s recent cooling measures continues to rage. Here we pick out the four main areas of concern and ask the Chris Koh, director of Dennis Wee Group – one of Singapore’s biggest realtors – to give his professional opinion on how they will affect property buyers and sellers. 1. The Seller Stamp Duty The Seller Stamp Duty is a government-imposed tax on persons selling their property within a set period. If you bought a property after 20 February 2010 (but before 30 August 2010), you will have to pay the Seller Stamp Duty on it if you sell it within a year. If you bought a property after 30 August, you will have to pay a Seller Stamp Duty if you sell the property within three years of purchasing it. How much? The Seller Stamp Duty is 3% of the value of the property minus S$5,400. If you sell in the first year, you pay the full amount, if you sell in the second year, the Stamp Duty is two-thirds the amount, and if you sell it in the third year the the Stamp Duty is one-third the amount. Example: If you sell your property at a million dollars, the stamp duty would be S$24,600 (S$30,000 minus S$5,400), which is what you would pay if you sold in the first year. In the second year you would pay S$16,400, and in the third year you would pay S$8,200. Remember, if you bought a property in January of this year, you are not affected and can sell it without any penalty. 2. Housing Loan Limit On 20 February, financing was brought down from 90% to 80%, so if you sought a housing loan the bank would only loan you 80% of the property’s value. On 30 August, the government further tightened the financing by ruling that if you have an outstanding loan at this time and you wish to purchase another property by taking a loan, the banks will only now loan you 70% instead of 80%. The move is seen as an attempt to encourage financial prudence and not to take on loans beyond their means. 3. Cash Portion Increased From 30 August, if you have an outstanding loan on a property, don’t wish to sell that property, and choose to buy a second residential property, the cash portion of the payment has been increased from 5% to 10%. 4. No Dual Ownership of Private and HDB Properties If you buy a private property, and are eligible to buy a HDB, you will be forced to dispose of your private property within six months. If you bought your HDB before 30 August, you will not be forced to dispose of the HDB because you bought your HDB before the measures were implemented. Of course, if you took advantage of any governmental grants or loans when purchasing your HDB you will have to hold it for five years before you can private property – in order to discourage people from owning a government-subsidised flat and private property at the same time.

Aiyoh !...so SILLY man. Man fined S$30,000 for not declaring S$7 million By Ion Danker – November 10th, 2010 A South Korean man has been fined S$30,000 after failing to declare he had S$7 million in his two briefcases at Changi Airport in August. Kim Wooyeong, 28, was stopped and arrested at the Budget Terminal on August 24 for trying to take the undeclared amount of cash out of Singapore. It is the believed to be the biggest amount to date to be carried over the border. His uncle, Park Dong Choel, 43, an agent for casino patrons in Macau, had won the money from Marina Bay Sands’ (MBS) casino and had asked his nephew Kim to help bring the winnings back to the Chinese territory. A district court heard that anyone moving cash amounting to more than S$30,000 in or out of Singapore needs to declare the amount. The court heard that security officers at the terminal became suspicious after the X-ray screening machine showed Kim’s two briefcases were packed with paper. They then conducted a physical search before uncovering a total of S$7.027 million in the briefcases. According to court documents, Kim had asked MBS executive Terry Kim Taesoo, 28, how he could take the money out of Singapore. Taesoo told Kim that he needed a certificate from the casino cashier to prove the money was winnings so he could leave the country with it. However, as it took awhile to prepare the certificate, MBS senior executive Shin Jung Whoan, 31, arranged for Kim to receive a transaction slip. But Kim was under the impression that this was all he needed to bring the money out and did not get the certificate. He could have been jailed up to three years, fined a maximum of S$50,000 or both.

WAH LAU !...Simi Tai-Chi ??? :shocked: Gang armed with parangs go on slashing spree in Bukit Panjang :readingdarkorange: By Ewen Boey November 10th, 2010 Less than two weeks after the Downtown East murder of 19-year-old Darren Ng, another seven youths were slashed by parang-wielding men at Bukit Panjang on Monday night. The victims, aged between 14 to 20, were assaulted in two separate incidents. First, a 20-year-old assistant technician was slashed in the back and legs at around 10pm at Block 418 Fajar Road. Later on, a group of 20 youths were surrounded and attacked near a street soccer court at Block 505 Jelapang Road about 500 metres from the first incident. The Straits Times reported that the attackers, believed to be a group of eight men, first asked their victims if they were from the gang Pak Hai Tong. When the victims denied the association, they were brutally hacked. The gang also shouted Sah Lak Kau (Hokkien for 369″), the name of the gang linked to the Downtown East murder, before fleeing the scene. The brutal attack left 20-year-old Jayasiva Shangar Guru hospitalised while the other six victims received outpatient treatment for their injuries. Mr Jayasiva, who was walking home and was only 600m from his block, said from his hospital bed, They asked me in Malay whether I was from the Pak Hai Tong gang… I said no. His response apparently did not matter as the men proceeded to verbally abuse him before pinning him to the ground and slashing him with their 16-inch long parangs. They pulled up my left leg and three guys started slashing me… I tried to struggle but was too shocked and helpless, I couldnt open my mouth to shout for help, he said. The attack left Mr Jayasivas main artery and five tendons in his left limb damaged, and he is not expected to walk for the next six months. The assailants also stabbed him in the back before fleeing after a friend of his, who was jogging past, screamed for help. Less than five minutes after that, the same group confronted a young group of about 20 youths at a street soccer court at Jelapang Road. The group, which included a young boy who was only eight, had just finished playing soccer and were resting when they were suddenly set upon. One of the group, who called himself Aaron told The New Paper, None of us recognised them but they attacked us while we were sitting at the fitness corner during a break. The Sec 5 student added,This group of six boys ran towards us with knives that were wrapped in aluminium foil in their hands. We thought they were fooling around, but then they said Pak Hai Tong ah? and began hitting us before we could react. Another of the victims, Lucas Tan, 17, a Republic Polytechnic student, was slashed on his neck and needed seven stitches. He said, About seven of them were holding parangs and they whacked us. We tried to run but everything happened very fast. The victims have denied their involvement in any gangs. Residents in the neighbourhood say the place is a common hangout for rowdy youth in their late teens who sleep overnight in the nearby playground. At times, they would hurl Hokkien vulgarities at each other in the wee hours of the morning, said Ms Stella Koh, who has lived in Block 418 for six years. The police are conducting investigations in to the attack. Ng Boon Gay, director of the Criminal Investigation Department, said in a statement that such violent acts will not be tolerated by the police. We are determine to hunt down the perpetrators and see to it that they are dealt with to the fullest extent of the law, regardless of their age, he added.

What will Singapore’s future be like without MM Lee ??? yahoosingapore – November 9th, 2010 By Seah Chiang Nee With election buzz rising, Singapore’s talking point these days centres around two questions: What will the future be like without Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew? Will the young generation, whose voting strength is increasing, continue to support the People’s Action Party (PAP) under its present strategies without the founding leader? An indication may come in the next few months from a benchmark general election possibly without the participation of the 87-year-old Lee for the first time in 51 years. Still in grief over the recent passing of his wife, Lee is also weakened by a chest infection after a fall in Moscow. He is likely to recover but will be, in his own words, “a different man” without her. Under the circumstances, Lee may decide to call it quits when the PAP announces its candidates. “No one can tell for sure,” said a party insider. “But he has already done so much for the country. He has often said he’ll step down if health forbids him from contributing. Regretfully, I think the time has come.” If it happens, history will start a new chapter after 51 years of Lee’s powerful presence that helped to shape today’s Singapore. It will also, for better or worse, lead to major changes after a period of continuity. The result of the coming polls – as is Singapore’s future – will largely be decided by the younger generation of both leaders and the electorate. Sensing a turning point, but not sure exactly how the longer term future will turn out, Singaporeans are awaiting the polls with some anxiety. No date has been announced, but it is widely expected to take place within the next six months. Foreign Minister George Yeo has already told party activists to prepare for one at the year-end or early 2011. In 2006, the PAP won 82 seats on 66.6% popular votes while the opposition got only two seats, but won one-third of the votes. Some 47 per cent of the seats were uncontested because there were no opposition candidates, resulting in many PAP MPs winning seats by walkovers. Critics attribute it to a fear of Lee and his history of detaining or suing his political foes. The Government, however, attributes it to the poor performance of a fractious opposition. Things will dramatically change in a post-Lee Singapore. He himself had years ago predicted that after he quits, more and better quality Singaporeans would join the opposition to take on the PAP. He also said that his successors would have no problem winning the next two elections (until 2016-17), but hinted that they could be voted out if they failed to measure up to rising expectations. At the moment, the focus is on the ruling party’s self-renewal, like whether Lee and who among the older staunch Cabinet supporters will leave to make way for new blood. If it follows tradition, a quarter of its current 82 MPs will be replaced by younger men and women. Even without Lee or the fear factor, the ruling party as the incumbent will still enjoy overwhelming odds over its fledgling rivals, including the power to change rules and the support of a compliant press. Above all, the party is believed to retain broad support from older, conservative Singaporeans (especially housewives), the wealthy, the vast bureaucracy and upper middle class, who feel “safe” under PAP rule. Few in this group appear keen to opt for the unknown. But the same cannot be said of the lower income group, struggling wage earners and young professionals who have suffered from the foreign influx. “There are many jobless or underemployed people out there who have become despondent and bitter,” one writer opined. “And young professionals are worried at all times that ‘cheaper’ foreigners will replace them or retard their pay rise.” Summing up this feeling was a recent letter “Linda” posted on the Internet, which said: - “My family members were staunch supporters of PAP and Lee Kuan Yew who had improved most Singaporeans’ standard of living through hard work and education. “But during these past 10 years, I have seen one by one, my siblings, relatives and friends, become jobless. A qualified accountant was told to apply for a job as chambermaid when she approached (an official job help body).” Linda said she had not believed this could happen, until the past few years, “when I realised that so many foreigners were taking up most of the office jobs, and true-blue Singa­poreans were being displaced”. “Sorry, Mr Lee and PAP, I have now second thoughts about you. But thanks for the good years some of my generation had gone through – but not now for my children,” she concluded. Rising discontent will make the approaching election one of the hardest to confidently predict by using past yardsticks. In the wake of large-scale immigration, which was recently cut down, Singapore is now bigger and divided so much that it is difficult to stereotype its people. Lee’s old consensus society has disappeared long before him. Despite this, Lee will leave behind a country that largely works – an efficient, purposeful civil service and a strong infrastructure. These will probably allow the PAP to retain a mandate for a while with or without Lee. But with the ground souring, his party will likely lose popularity to a rising, more credible opposition both in votes and the number of seats. The coming polls will be crucial because it will show how the young will vote and how political upstarts, both in the PAP and in the opposition, will fare when things get hot. They could throw up a future prime minister.

UK's total debt forecast to hit £10 trillion by 2015 Emma Rowley, 6:29, Tuesday 9 November 2010 Britain's total debt will top £10 trillion by 2015, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers, which warned the burden could slow growth for decades as interest rates eventually rise. Property-related borrowing and lending between financial institutions helped the collected debt of households, businesses and government balloon from roughly twice gross domestic product (GDP) in 1987 to around 5.4 times by 2009, when total debt stood at £7.5 trillion, according to the report. Despite government austerity measures, the firm's latest economic outlook sees the UK's debt to GDP ratio sticking near historic highs as borrowing hits £10.2 trillion by 2015. But if the economy does not perform as well as expected, one plausible alternative scenario could still see the debt burden soar as high as 5.8 times of GDP, the report said. Deleveraging will go well beyond the immediate challenge of getting public finances under control, PwC warned. While attention is on reining in government borrowing, the "debt explosion" seen since the mid-1980s has been most marked in the private sector, it said. Even in 2009, government debt was still less than a sixth of the size of the private sector's total debt, which grew as financial institutions geared up in search of higher returns on equity and pre-recession house price rises fuelled mortgage lending for households. The increased burden has so far been supported by low interest rates, but these are likely to rise "significantly" over the next five years, said PwC. The firm believes interest rates on mortgages may end up higher than before the recession, as tougher regulation pushes up lenders' costs. The projections will stoke fears for households kept afloat by near-zero rates. "The UK's addiction to debt has reached alarming levels during the past decade," said John Hawksworth, chief economist at PwC. The unprecedented levels of private sector debt would, sooner or later, have to be addressed, "either through debt being run down sharply, which would risk triggering another recession, or more likely through a persistently heavy debt service burden that could dampen economic growth for decades to come". He added: "Either way, deleveraging will be a painful process for the UK." Separately, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said the leading economies appear to be diverging as they recover, with the UK among those facing a downturn. While the organisation's composite leading indicators (CLI) a measure of economic turning points stayed steady for its 33 members as a group, there were marked differences between rival nations. Signs pointing to a "moderate downturn" in the UK, Canada, France, India and Italy offset indicators of continuing expansion in Germany, Japan, the US and Russia. Indicators for Brazil and China were worse, implying industrial production will fall below longer-term trends.

Singapore Airlines to change three Rolls-Royce A380 engines after finding oil stains Reuters, 7:22, Wednesday 10 November 2010 Singapore Airlines will replace engines on three of its Airbus A380 planes after finding oil stains on them, almost a week after Australia's Qantas grounded its A380 fleet due to an engine failure. Qantas' six A380s have been grounded since Thursday, when a Rolls-Royce engine partly disintegrated mid-flight, forcing the fully laden Airbus to make an emergency landing in the biggest incident to date for the world's largest passenger jet. Investigations into that incident have focused on oil leaks inside the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines, the same model used to power Singapore Airlines' and German Lufthansa's A380 fleet. But Singapore Airlines stressed the problems on three of its 11 A380s were precautionary and unrelated as the oil stains were different from the oil leakage in the Qantas turbines. Singapore's findings may deal a fresh blow to Rolls Royce, which moved on Monday to contain a crisis of confidence, saying it was making progress in understanding what caused last week's blowout on the Qantas A380 flight. "This is a precautionary move to find out what caused the oil stains." a Singapore Airlines spokeswoman said. "Rolls Royce recommended a detailed inspection of the engines." Rolls Royce shares already lost over 7pc since the Qantas incident, while Airbus and Qantas shares both slipped 2.5pc. Singapore Airlines shares were little affected on Tuesday with the stock down 0.4pc in early trading in the Far East. A spokesman for Rolls Royce declined to comment.

Microsoft launch hands-free Kinect for XBox 360 9 hours 57 mins ago Keen gamers are already queuing for the midnight launch of Microsoft's new Xbox 360 Kinect, a retailer has said. The motion sensor, which allows users to play games without holding a controller, has been tipped as a Christmas best-seller despite its £129.99 price tag. UK retailer Game is releasing the first of the gadgets at midnight and said customers had been queuing since 9am outside its Oxford Street store in London. Game spokesman Neil Ashurst said: "We're excited to be opening our Game stores across the country at midnight. Our customers and staff are equally excited to experience Kinect. This is definitely going to be on Christmas wishlists around the country." Kinect is compatible with every Xbox 360 console and combines a camera, depth sensor and microphone that tracks full-body movement and individual voices. Some of the high-profile Kinect-enabled games set to be released before Christmas including Dance Central, in which players mirror moves they see on screen, the child-friendly Kinectimals and Kinect Sports. The gadget will face competition from Sony's PlayStation Move controller and Nintendo's upgraded WiiMotion Plus. Stephen McGill, Microsoft's director of Xbox for the UK and Ireland, said: "Kinect for Xbox 360 is set to revolutionise the way people consume entertainment, not just games but movies, music and keeping in touch with friends and family."

Jackson family call single a fake Posted Tue 9 Nov 2010 10:14 GMT by Ben Arnold in Pop Gossip Sony Music has had to release a statement refuting claims the new Michael Jackson song is a fake, after members of his family denounced the release. Jackson's nephews Taryll and TJ, sons of Michael's brother Tito, have made their opinions known about single 'Breaking News' on their Twitter pages. “Deceptively merging shady vocals with MJ samples will never fool me,” said TJ. “I'm disgusted, disappointed and saddened. The vibrato is a dead give away that it's not my uncle. Fans, I am so sorry you were put through this. If you heard the a capella you would be even more disgusted. “I was at the studio when these questionable files were delivered,” added Taryll. “How they constructed these songs is very sneaky and sly. Many people who have worked on this project either have strong doubts and questions while others KNOW the truth yet decided to turn and look the other way with their hands out for $$$. “There are songs that ARE my uncle singing on the upcoming album and I will support those 100%. But I will not support 'Breaking News' and a few others because it simply is not him.” Sony Music has said that they have “complete confidence in the results of our extensive research as well as the accounts of those who were in the studio with Michael that the vocals on the new album are his own”. [The Independent/Twitter] The reason behind the confusion could well be the fact that Jackson reportedly recorded the vocals on a mobile phone. Apparently the singer was so scared that the tracks would be leaked that he performed the song whilst on the phone and recorded the tracks on voicemail. A source told The Sun: "A large chunk of the album came from voicemails. Michael was certain new stuff would get out so he decided to sing lyrics down the phone".

Superman, Joker original comic art goes to auction Reuters - Wednesday, November 10 LOS ANGELES - A 1942 piece of Superman comic book cover art goes up for auction for the first time on Wednesday in a thriving collectibles market where old superheroes can change hands for more than $1 million. The cover art for the Superman 14 issue, also known as the Superman Patriotic Shield cover, is described by auction house ComicConnect.com as "by far the single most valuable piece of original comic book artwork still in existence." Illustrated by DC artist Fred Ray, the sketch shows Superman with an eagle on one arm in front of a stars and stripes shield and is regarded as defining the action hero's status as a 20th century American icon. Steven Fishler, chief executive of ComicConnect.com, told Reuters the piece should conservatively fetch upward of $500,000 but that its eventual price was "pure conjecture" because it is so rare. Earlier this year, two comic books featuring the first appearances of Superman in 1938 and Batman in 1939 set auction sales records of $1 million and $1.075 million respectively. But the original cover art is an even rarer find. The Superman 14 cover art in Wednesday's auction comes direct from the collection of Jerry Robinson, now 88, a member of the original Batman team and the creator of the Joker. Robinson also is putting up for auction for the first time his 1942 cover art for "Double Guns" Detective Comics issue 69, which features Batman, Robin and a huge image of the Joker. In the 1940s, most original comic art was destroyed by engravers hours after the printing presses finished their run. "Thank goodness for Jerry Robinson," Fishler said. "He was one of the few pros of the era with the foresight to save these artifacts." Both pieces of comic art will be auctioned by ComicConnect.com. Bidding opens November10 and closes on December 1.