| Tom Cruise 1st to Get Ducati Superbike
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. January 29, 2008, 08:44 pm ET · Tom Cruise is the first on the list to get Ducati's newest motorcycle — a $72,500 superbike bristling with titanium, magnesium and carbon fiber technology that can scoot up to 200 mph. Cruise is scheduled to take delivery of the Desmosedici RR at Beverly Hills Ducati this week. Only 1,500 of the red-and-white Moto GP racing replica motorcycles will be made and Cruise gets the first. Michael Lock, chief of Cupertino-based Ducati North America, said the Desmosedici RR "is the impossible dream — made possible." "We are delighted to be able to deliver the world's first production unit here in the USA to Tom Cruise, who is a well-known Ducati enthusiast," Lock said in a statement. ——— On The Net: http://www.ducatiusa.com.
Taxi drivers demand increase in fares
ANGRY WA taxi drivers today brought their demands for an immediate industry overhaul to the steps of Parliament House. About 100 fed up cabbies brought with them a raft of demands, including an immediate increase in fares to cover rising costs, a freeze on plate releases, more selective employment of cabbies and the establishment of new body to run the industry.The rally was organised by the Taxi Industry Forum of WA in response to rising frustration among drivers.Taxi forum chief executive Chris Kelsey said Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan and her department had overseen a decline in the service to the public while drivers increasingly struggled to make a living.The forum is supporting immediate increases in tariffs of 10 per cent and minimum fares of $10 to apply during the day and $15 at night.Peak period plates, which allow part-time drivers to work at the busiest periods at minimal cost, were a major sticking point for full-time cabbies.They demanded the minister to stop issuing new plates and instead concentrate on employing more trained drivers to keep the existing fleet on the road longer.The list of grievances has been presented to the government.Mr Kelsey urged the minister to act on them immediately."Everybody here has been affected by the decisions,'' he told today's rally."Enough is enough.''The drivers' demands also included better training with a knowledge of English and Perth roads being a minimum requirement for new recruits.Other sticking points included over charging of leases, dress standards and driver safety.PerthNow Subscribe to our Email Newsletter .
Brad Renfro: The End
Exactly one week before Ledger died, fellow actor and Knoxville native Brad Renfro passed away in his Los Angeles home at the age of 25. For family and friends, each death was a shock and a tragedy, not a news story. In each case, speculation about drugs being a factor in the death has run rampant, though perhaps with Renfro the discussion has been more intense because of his series of drug- and alcohol-related arrests. In general, the media seem to have been kinder to Ledger, focusing on his work and promise. With Renfro, the emphasis has been on his misdeeds. Knoxvillians and others might do well to readjust their thinking, not just out of loyalty to a native son but because Renfro's work demands it. Beginning with his debut in director Joel Schumacher's film of John Grisham's page-turner "The Client" and culminating earlier this month when he wrapped production on "The Informers," in which he co-starred with Billy Bob Thornton, Winona Ryder, Mickey Rourke, Kim Basinger and Brandon Routh, Renfro acted in 20 feature films and received high praise for nearly every performance he gave.
Wolves offer hockey experience for women
The Wolves, whose charitable work and fan-friendly efforts make it one of the most popular franchises in the city, are offering a behind-the-scenes hockey experience for women. It's the second annual Hockey For Her,'' sponsored by Rush North Shore Medical Center and proceeds benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund and various Chicagoland charities. The event, held at the Hoffman Estates Park District Community Center and Ice Arena, is for women 18 and older. For $50, women can get a sneak peek at the Wolves' state-of-the-art practice facility, get strength-and-conditioning advice from assistant coach Wendell Young, talk strategy with head coach John Anderson as well as several Wolves players. Participants also will take home gift bags, enjoy refreshments courtesy of Ginos East in Rolling Meadows and Pepsi, and have the chance to bid on items including lunch with players, spa visits and special game packages at a silent auction throughout the evening.
2007: The year in review
Ultimately, though, the $15million, 120-foot-tall building on two acres of the park was approved. Our take Staff writer Michael Futch has observed the arts and entertainment scene in Fayetteville for two decades: "Already, Festival Park has proven it can be a cornerstone for the gathering of people. But it will never compete for major recording artists with the Alltel Pavilion at Walnut Creek in Raleigh, the Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park in Cary or the outdoor Joseph. M. Bryan Jr. Theater at the N.C. Museum of Art in Raleigh. That’s a given. Stage shows can be presented there. High school graduations can be staged there. And, among other things, so can smaller-scale concerts. Think Gillian Welch over Faith Hill. Think Al Green over Alicia Keys." Your take Fouad Fakhouri is the music director and conductor of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra: "With the idea of rejuvenating downtown and changing the image of the downtown area, I think it’s a wonderful thing to happen.
Bucks County real estate transactions
222 Liberty Trail Ct West Pulte Homes Pa LP to Robert C and Kristin A O'Shea, $500,590. 174 Pipers Inn Dr Pulte Homes Pa LP to Joseph R Jr and Lois M Skiba, $302,435. 178 Pipers Inn Dr Pulte Homes Pa LP to Stephen D Voorhees, $378,049. 430 Saddlery Dr NVR Inc to John and Suzana Carey, $392,615. 109 Wigton Cir Brian R Horton to Marvin Royal, $216,000. 52 Williams Dr Pulte Homes Pa LP to Steven and Suzyn Bucksner, $312,000. 77 Williams Dr David Borden Jr and Jason Borden to Diana and Michael Larsen, $330,000. Bensalem Twp 252 Hemlock Ave Robert E Weigand to Bruce E and Anya Gramiak, $245,000. Bristol Boro 607 Bath St Michael A Fehrle to Cameron D Chatman, $120,000. Bristol Twp 88 Daffodil La John McMullen to Joseph R and Laurie A Schmeltzer, $223,000. 594 Fernwood La Stephen C Demschick Jr to Matthew T Reed, $340,000.
A raging fire
On the fateful night of Dec 27, 2007, I managed to reach home with great difficulty at 11pm, had dinner and went to sleep around 1am. I was rudely woken up at 2am by the violent ringing of the door bell. On opening the door I was shocked to see the chowkidar, who agitatedly said that the building was on fire and we should all vacate it quickly. Panic spread in the family as I gathered my mother, wife and children and managed to reach the safety of the road with great difficulty through the thick, black smoke which had started to engulf the stairs.
I asked the chowkidar how the fire erupted and he replied that four to five youngsters came to the branch of a bank located on the ground floor and threw some inflammable material through its glass doors. This exploded and the bank caught fire, which then rapidly spread to the flats above.
|
