Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

THE first circus for ten years to include animals is to be held at the Great Yarmouth Hippodrome over Christmas and new year.

The nine Chitty Chitty Bang Bang dogs will be joining Charlie Chaplin look-a-like Ionut Roncescau in a comedy routine worthy of the master himself.

Jack and Peter Jay's Christmas Spectacular returns for its seventh successful season and is running from tonight until Sunday January 6.

Ionut, who is originally from Romania, said: “I have been performing this act for 10 years. Funnily enough I was in a show here in 1997. It is great to be able to perform with the terrier dogs and they love it!”

The dogs have all been appearing in the recent west end show Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The new Norfolk tradition is combining more than 60 acts including the best in international artists, a unique water spectacle with synchronised swimmers, giant fountains and the magic of Christmas with a large children's troupe, hilarious clowns and impressive acrobats.

The bill includes for the first time ever the Bulgarian Globe of Death Bikers, and includes death defying stunts in a huge steel globe.

The Kenya Chiefs, are bringing the mad rhythms and acrobatics of Africa to the show, also making an appearance will be Robert Foxhall, the man who can fly, a hit from this year's circus summer season smash Excape.

From the Ukraine, with supermodel looks and amazing body skills, Anastasia Voladas performs her mind boggling balancing act. The glamorous Estelle Clifton Dancers and the Jan Baines Show Swimmers combine with the 30 Children from the Dance Estelle and Norwich's unique youth gymnastic team Chermond Circus Academy to create a wonderful Christmas atmosphere. Aerialists Pasha and Cara perform high in the roof of the Hippodrome above the water spectacle with an amazing soundtrack and artistic virtuosity. Young comedy star Bippo, who has just been starring in the nationwide tour of Zippo's Circus, brings his own kind of clown mayhem into the ring.

Estelle said: “This is especially gratifying for me, because three of my students will be taking part this year.”

Peter Jay said: “Our Christmas seasons have gone from strength to strength and I urge everyone to book early as many of these shows will sell out - especially our fabulous New Years Eve Gala show and Boxing Day. It's a fantastic experience for all the family, full of the magic spirit of Christmas. It's an ideal festive family treat.”

Tickets are on sale now at £15, £14, £12.50 and £10 - OAP's £11 in all seats, Children £9 (add £2 to all seats for the special New Years Eve Gala show.) Call 01493 844172.

Source

Indiana Road Conditions When Winter Blast Arrives

Indianapolis - The snow arrived Saturday morning, and it was only the beginning of a pre-Christmas winter blast.

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for much of Central Indiana through Sunday afternoon. Several inches are expected in the metro area by Saturday afternoon, with a sleet/snow mix expected later. Heavy snow is expected overnight with totals as high as 17 inches in areas to the north of Marion County.

Detailed Forecast

We'll see the first band of snow pass through Central Indiana Saturday morning, with about one to three inches falling, some areas picking up four. SkyTrak Weather says we should see a break this afternoon before freezing rain, sleet and snow develop for tonight and early Sunday morning.

Wind gusts to 35 and 45 mph on Sunday morning could make for blizzard like conditions. Areas that see all snow and no ice could pick up 10-17 inches. This area includes just to the north of I-70. Along and south of I-70 6-12 inches is possible along with significant freezing rain and sleet. Our far southern counties will see about 4-8 inches due to a lot of ice and rain. Some areas in Hamilton County could see the greater snow amounts.

CLOSINGS AND DELAYS


Stay tuned to Eyewitness News and WTHR.com for the latest updates on the storm, as well as closings and delays. Sign up for your Personal Forecast from WTHR.com to stay on top of the weather. And when it's all over, head outside and snap a few pictures for our photo gallery.

Ice wreaks havoc on roadways

Around 3:00 pm, the snowfall that blanketed the area turned to a light rain. By the late evening hours, the rain had begun to freeze on windshields in the downtown area, and some roads on the north side had become icy. The far northwest corner of Interstate 465 was closed around 9:45 Saturday night, and two southbound lanes of the outerbelt near I-70 on the east side closed due to a crash shortly before 11 pm.

In Carmel, a van crashed into a pond at 141st Street and Towne Road, apparently trapping four people inside. Crews transported the victims to the hospital and remain on the scene. There is no report on the condition of the passengers, which witnesses say included an adult and three children.

Further north, there were reports of ice on I-65 toward Lebanon causing at least one accident. At 11 pm, the freezing rain and ice extended north from south of Indianapolis to Frankfort. North of the rain was heavy snow. Meteorologist Jude Redfield says the freezing rain will continue until 2 am before temperatures get cold enough for the precipitation to turn to snow. The storm is now forecast to leave 5 to 9 inches of snow on the ground around central Indiana, including what fell Saturday morning.

In addition to the precipitation, winds picking up to between 25 and 40 miles an hour could create blizzard-like conditions in the morning into the early afternoon.

Snow gives way to ice in the afternoon

At around 9:30 am, traffic on I-65 was smooth, although the snowfall was picking up and the wind got stronger. State police reported several slide-offs on different parts of the interstates and in the metro area.

State and county road crews started working Friday to prepare the roads. In Indianapolis, some 75 Department of Public Works drivers are planning for 12-hour shifts and began dropping salt on roads before the snow started falling. The state used liquid salt brine to get ahead of predictions for impending ice. Around 60 INDOT trucks will be out, as well as 300 in the central Indiana area.

"Typically the worst is when the snow is falling heavily. So take a look outside the window and if possible try to squeeze your Christmas shopping in when it's not falling from the sky," said Paul Whitmore, Department of Public Works.

Many drivers were heeding that advice as they headed to the mall or grocery store early Saturday morning. Some hardware stores reported that they had already sold out of snowblowers.

INDOT plans to have Hoosier Helpers on patrol on the Interstate system within Marion County to assist motorists that get stranded in the storm.

Anderson vehicle order

Anderson Mayor Kevin S. Smith has asked all city residents to remove their vehicles from city streets, if possible, in anticipation of a major snowstorm that is expected to develop Saturday. If all vehicles can be moved to driveways or other private property, the city's snow emergency task force will be better able to clear streets and roadways. See the city website for updates.

Emergency declarations

Indiana has a new standardized system to report across the state during severe weather and other hazardous situations if it includes snowstorms and tornadoes, floods, fires, utility failures, major accidents, public health energies and even acts of terrorism.

Before this year, each of Indiana's 92 counties reported conditions differently making it difficult to give an appropriate response in a timely manner. Now the system includes one easy to read statewide map that can be posted here and allows for quick emergency declarations meaning a quicker response for those who need help.

ISP offers winter driving tips

The combination of snow, freezing rain, ice and wind can cause driving conditions to change quickly. To help Hoosiers prepare for this winter storm, the Indiana State Police offers the following safety tips.

Be prepared:

• Before traveling, check the forecast and let someone know your travel route.
  
• Keep your gas tank at least half-full.
  
• Carry a winter driving kit that should include blankets, flashlight, extra batteries, a brightly colored cloth, sand (or cat litter), shovel, candle, matches, non-perishable high calorie food, first aid kit, and jumper cables.
  
• Slow down on snow/ice covered roads.
  
• Allow extra time to arrive at your destination.
  
• Clear all windows of ice and snow and remove snow from hood, roof, and lights.
  
• Use extra caution when driving across bridges, underpasses, shaded areas and intersections where ice is slow to melt.
  
• Avoid abrupt stops and starts. Slow down gradually and keep wheels turning to avoid loosing traction.
  
• Use low beam headlights to decrease glare from ice.
  

Should you become stranded:

• Don't leave your car. It's the best protection you have.
  
• Tie a brightly colored cloth to your antenna.
  
• Roll down your window a small amount.
  
• Keep the exhaust pipe free of blockage to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
  
• Don't panic. An idling car uses only one gallon of gas per hour.
  

A four-wheel drive vehicle may keep you from being stuck in deep snow or aid in acceleration during slippery road conditions, but it will not allow you to stop any quicker. Slow down and allow yourself plenty of stopping distance.

For Indiana road conditions between December 1 and April 1, call 317-232-8298 or 800-261-7623 or visit the state police web site.

Source

Reps. Mack, Mary Bono Wed in Private Ceremony

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Mary Bono, who was married to late singer-turned-politician Sonny Bono and replaced him in Congress after his death, has married U.S. Rep. Connie Mack.

Bono's sister, Katherine Whitaker, told The Associated Press the couple were married Saturday in a private ceremony attended by 35 family members.

"It was fantastic," Whitaker said. "It was a very quiet ceremony."

A spokeswoman for Mack had said in November that Asheville was selected because it is Whitaker's home.

Mack, a Republican representative from Florida, and Bono, R-Calif., had been dating for two years. Bono's chief of staff, Frank Cullen Jr., said Mack proposed in late August while the couple were on a camping trip in Arches National Park in Utah.

The 45-year-old Bono replaced Sonny Bono in Congress in a special election in 1998. The 40-year-old Mack, who is divorced, is the son of the Florida senator of the same name and great-grandson of Hall of Fame baseball manager Connie Mack.

Source

Turkish Delight, Anyone?

Dessert, anyone?

Here's a recipe for Turkish Delight that I found off the internet. You could try it out for yourself, but if you're a first time cook, try making smaller batches! ;-)

Turkish Delight Recipe

Ingredients:
1 lb glucose
5 1/2 lbs granulated sugar
3/4 lb cornstarch
juice of one lemon
1 ts pulverized mastic
a few drops of food coloring if desired
3 Tbs orange blossom water or rose water
3 to 4 oz almonds or pistachios, chopped
cornstarch to dust the tray
powdered sugar

Directions:
Put the glucose and the granulated sugar into a large pan with 2 cups of water. Stir well and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Put the cornstarch into another large pan. Add 6 cups water gradually, stirring until well mixed. Bring to the boil slowly, stirring all the time, until you have a smooth, creamy white paste. Add this slowly to the hot sugar and water syrup, stirring vigorously so that no lumps form.

Bring to a boil again, and cook, uncovered, over a constant low flame for 3 hours, stirring as often as possible with a wooden spoon. If the flame is too high, the bottom of the mixture will tend to carmelize.

The mixture must be cooked until it reaches the right consistency. THis takes about 3 hours, and on this depends the success of the recipe. To test the consistency, squeeze a small blob of the mixture between two fingers. Only when it clings to both fingers as they are drawn apart, making gummed threads, is it ready. It may then have acquired a warm golden color. Add the lemon juice and the flavorings. THe mastic should be ground with a little granulated sugar to be successfully pulverized. Add coloring if you wish. Stir vigorously and cook a few minutes longer. Add the chopped nuts and mix well.

Pour the hot mixture out about 1 inch deep into trays that have been dusted with cornstarch to prevent sticking. Flatten it with a knife and leave it to set for at least 24 hours. THen cut into squares with a sharp knife, and roll in sifted powdered sugar. The Halkoum will keep for a long time packed in a box.

Source

The Rules Of Attraction - Coming To Grips With It

You And Yours

THIS week sees reality show, I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here returning to our screens.

Many are already speculating about the possibility of another jungle romance. This is, after all, the show that brought together one of the nation's most famous couples, Peter Andre and Katie Price.

Not only did Katie and Peter fall for each other on the show but they went on to get married and have a family.

However, couples who get together in the fishbowl environment of reality television rarely last the course when they get back out into the real world. Just look at Big Brother couple Ziggy and Chanelle's very public break-up.

The rules of attraction seem to be amplified so much in the extreme environment of these shows that the resulting relationships can be artificial.

They might be very intense and passionate in the early stages but they quickly fizzle out when boring reality hits. People often find themselves falling for others who they are thrown together with in group situations, especially when there is some pressure involved.

Here are some reasons why you might find yourself falling for someone who you work closely with and why these kinds of relationships might prove to be short-lived:

One obvious reason for this is that humans are driven to form relationships. So when placed in a small group environment, your choice is limited and you might fall for the person who you are most attracted to out of that group, even if you wouldn't normally give them a second glance.

Sharing a group experience gives you something in common and this is a crucial ingredient in attraction. This can soon fade if you discover you have little else in common.

It always feels good to be listened to and understood. Someone who is going through the same experience as you will be interested and is more likely to empathise with you.

However, this doesn't mean they will give their full attention to everything you have to say and once you realise this, you might well feel let down.

Proximity and familiarity are also important in attraction. You are more likely to be attracted to someone who happens to be close by and who you see often.

Being in a stressful situation can make us more likely to form bonds with others. So while you might feel the need to be with someone while you're under pressure, you may well wonder why you bothered with them once the pressure is off.

Lastly, the excitement of a different or new experience can make a relationship seem special. But even the most passionate of relationships will become more predictable in time. The real test of the relationship will be dealing with the monotony of everyday life.

Rosemarie Lynass is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy

Source

Washington Monument Height - Vietnam Memorial invites reflection, reconciliation

Vietnam Memorial invites reflection, reconciliation

Joseph R. Reisert
11/16/2007
Source

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., was dedicated 25 years ago this week.

The occasion was commemorated last Sunday, Veterans Day, with a ceremony featuring an address by former Secretary of State Colin Powell. Powell, a retired general, is a veteran of the Vietnam War.

I was on the Mall early on Saturday, long before the official event, but even then scores of returning Vietnam veterans were making their pilgrimage to the memorial that has meant so much to so many of them.

When it was built, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was unlike everything else on the National Mall.

The Lincoln and Jefferson memorials and the Washington Monument are all soaring, white marble edifices.

The two marble memorials stand as shrines to the ideals of America's most idealistic presidents. Both feature larger than life statues of the presidents they honor, as if Lincoln and Jefferson were greater than ordinary mortals. Both memorials feature the words through which they called America to its highest expressions of liberty and equality.

The Washington Monument is simple and abstract, an unmarked obelisk pointing to the sky -- suggesting the greatness of Washington's achievement and the uprightness of his character.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is, in every respect, the opposite of the others. They are erected from white marble; it is constructed from black granite. They reach skyward; it is a wall, set into a hillside, below ground. The wall consists of two long, narrow triangles set base to base, reaching a height of about 10 feet in the center, tapering to a point at either end. Etched into the wall are the names of those killed or officially recorded as missing in action, listed in chronological order.

Where the older memorials articulate or imply the nobility of America's moral aspirations, the Vietnam Memorial spoke to me of nothing but failure and futility, and, of course, of death.

So I thought, when it opened.

Too young to have any first-hand recollection of the war or the turmoil it provoked at home, I nevertheless knew what I liked in a war memorial: I liked the noble and the grand. I much preferred the equestrian statue of Ulysses S. Grant, facing west from the front of the Capitol toward the Washington Monument, looking every inch the conquering Civil War general whose grim determination to take and inflict heavy casualties won the war and saved the Union.

Twenty-five years later, I have come to appreciate what the Vietnam Memorial's architect, Maya Lin, must have understood intuitively: the Vietnam War was nothing like the Civil War, and the America of the decades after that war was nothing like the self-confident, rising power that emerged from Grant's victory.

Although the memorial opened to controversy, Vietnam veterans and the friends and kin of those whose names appear on the wall have embraced it. Long before I came to understand the memorial or to value it for itself, I found myself deeply moved by the emotional responses of other visitors as they walked, or stood, or knelt before the somber wall of black granite. The memorial spoke to those veterans and others touched by the Vietnam War, and it reached them -- intimately, viscerally -- in a way it did not reach me.

The philosopher Charles Griswold recently published a remarkable book about forgiveness, and near its end, he offers a profound interpretation of the Vietnam Memorial, which, finally, enabled me to understand: it is, or rather invites, a process of national apology and forgiveness.

The memorial does not, as I had thought, speak of failure or futility. It does not speak, affirmatively, at all; it questions.

The memorial's black granite is polished to a reflective finish for a reason. Standing before the wall to read the names inscribed there, the visitor sees his own reflection, with the names of the lost and fallen across his own image. The walls, one of which points to the Lincoln Memorial, the other to the Washington Monument, invite us to ask ourselves: Did we live up to our national ideals in sending these of our fellow citizens to war in Vietnam? Did we live up to those ideals in how we treated them and their fellow veterans when they returned home to us?

The Vietnam Memorial's power to invite reflection and reconciliation, and even healing, is extraordinary. But I also pray that we will not need to construct our next war memorial in its likeness.

Joseph R. Reisert is associate professor of American Constitutional Law and chairman of the Department of Government at Colby College in Waterville.

10 Weird Tech Devices For Your Bedroom

Geek out your bedroom with these devices, including an LED blanket that tells stories and an iPod-friendly bed. (Just make sure to ask your spouse first.)

by Jennifer L. DeLeo
Source

Traditionally, the bedroom is known as the place to catch some zzz's (we're trying to keep it "PG" here, folks). With the dawn of the digital age, however, it's no longer just a room to unwind or send the kids to be punished; there are just too many tech distractions: TVs, gaming consoles, stereo systems, computers, and more.

That said, there's more you can do than just watch late-night TV or check your e-mail in the comfort of your bedroom. With the addition of these unusual tech products to the boudoir—a wrist band that relieves snoring and iPod-friendly sleepwear, for example—you may never want to leave your bedroom.

Here are a couple of the products you'll find in today's 10 Weird Tech Devices for Your Bedroom slideshow:

Snore Relief Wrist Band
Live with a snorer? We're sorry. Hopefully you can get a good night's rest by treating your bed mate to the Snore Relief Wrist Band. It consists of a microphone that can "discriminate between ambient noise…and snoring and uses electrical signals that gently stimulate the median nerves located at the inner wrists without waking you." A study of the device showed that 80 percent of the participants stopped snoring after two weeks of use. And, the device is also water-resistant. You know, in case you drool in your sleep. It operates on one AAA battery and sells for $79.95 at Hammacher.com.

Play Print iBoxers
Admit it: you prance around your bedroom in your boxers with a hairbrush in your hand, belting out Madonna's "Material Girl" in front of your mirror. Why not kick it up a notch of the ridiculous scale by sporting these iPod-friendly Print iBoxers from Play? Made of ribbed cotton and spandex, it features a small front pocket to tuck away your MP3 player or mobile phone while dancing around the bedroom. Available in pink or turquoise, sing in fashionable sleepwear for $19 each from FreshPair.com. And guys, you're not left out: Play also makes iBoxers for Men, priced at $22 each.

Now check out the rest of our 10 Weird Tech Devices for Your Bedroom story, including Pottery Barn's Tune-In Bed and Display-It Smart Bedside Table, The Story Blanket, d-light Huggable Pillow, Eyezone Massager, Ozone Inflatable Lounger, Little Lamp, and Flickering LED Remote-Controlled Scented Candle.