Author Archives: Catherine Balavage

Just split up? It’ll cost you £5k to get over your ex

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Every year millions of Brits find themselves single again with the failure of the relationship taking its toll on their bank balance as well as their emotions.

A survey by borro.com, the UK’s leading online pawnbroker, has found that 88% of people spend up to £5,000 to get over an ex; splashing out on nights out, holidays and even new cars to make themselves feel better. Surprisingly, men spend more than women, with 36% shelling out between £1,000 and £5,000 post break-up. Women seem to opt for cheaper ‘pick-me-ups’ with up to £100 going on a new look or pampering.

And the length of time you have been with your partner also has an effect on how much you’ll spend getting over him / her. A massive 43% of relationships in the North West last less than two years and only £100 or less is spent getting over the end of the relationship for two in five people. Relationships in the East Midlands last longer, with 39% surviving three to five years, and 51% spending between £1,000 and £5,000 when they end.

It also seems that men are more sentimental than women, with four out of five men unwilling to use an item given by their ex to fund a post-breakup spending spree. In stark contrast, more than 30 percent of women would happily sell or pawn a present from an ex partner to raise some fast cash. A massive 57% of Scots are happy to say goodbye to a once cherished present, while sentimental souls in the North East would never consider this.

Paul Aitken, Founder and CEO of borro.com says: “We often see people use our service to free up cash to treat themselves after a break up. It’s the ideal option, as if they change their mind and get back together with their ex, they can get their jewellery or watch back and their ex will be none the wiser!”

Dr Pam Spurr, relationship expert and author of The Breakup Survival Kit said, “Although people will find these statistics surprising, I find one of the first things people do after a breakup is look for a quick-fix to feeling better. Often that means treating themselves to a luxury item or for women a makeover where it’s a case of ‘out with the old and in with the new look’!

“Sometimes an element of revenge goes hand-in-hand with this expenditure and a broken-hearted person feels justified pawning a present their ex gave them to use the money as they please.

“What some will find most surprising is that men appear to be more sentimental about hanging on to a present from their ex. In my experience, though, men can be very good at covering up their heartache but will take a breakup every bit as hard as women.

“Challenge yourself to try something new so you break free of ‘ex-related thinking’ – the faulty belief that your new life can ever be as good as your old life with your ex.”

MEN’S ROTARY WHITE DIAL CHRONOGRAPH LAUNCHES EXCLUSIVELY TO WATCHSHOP.COM

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I have came across an amazing website. My father is obsessed with watches. Making him amazingly easy to buy presents for. If you, likewise, want to go watch shopping, I recommend the following site and the beautiful new Rotary watch.

WatchShop.com (www.watchshop.com), the UK’s leading online independent watch retailer, is adding another UK exclusive to its online showroom this week with the White Dial Chronograph Watch from Rotary.

After the success of previous exclusives, WatchShop.com is now offering this performance oriented men’s watch with a highly stylish design.

The watch, officially priced at £185 will be available until 31st August at £92.50.

Complimenting the classic lines of the stainless steel case and bracelet, and showcasing the high performance chronograph movement, an easy to read and stylish white face with silver details now adorns this stylish but feature loaded watch.

The case is waterproof, with screw down crown and caseback to ensure the watch is always ready no matter what conditions.

The polished and brushed finish bracelet has a deployment clasp for security and style on your wrist at all times.

Coupled with Rotary’s lifetime guarantee, this is a solid and dependable performer, and a great watch for the man who wants the style, but doesn’t want to trade durability.

Product code: GB00004/02

Features:

· Rotary Packaging/ Official Rotary presentation box

· Official Rotary lifetime guarantee

· Case width: 40mm

· Case depth: 12mm

· Dial Colour: White

· Metal: Stainless Steel

· Strap type: Metal bracelet – free sizing available

· Strap colour: Silver

· Water resistant: Waterproof

· Clasp type: Deployment

· Movement: Quartz

· Chronograph: Yes

· 24 hour dial: Yes

· Glass: Mineral

· Highly visible dial: Yes

· Hour markers: Batons

· Tachymeter: Yes

A great addition for any stylish man.

JEMMA KIDD FRONTS NEW CAMPAIGN FOR NEWBURY RACECOURSE LADIES DAY SATURDAY 14 AUGUST 2010

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Today, Newbury Racecourse announced international celebrity make-up artist Jemma Kidd as ambassador for its annual Ladies Day featuring Party in the Paddock, 14 August 2010.

With ticket sales fuelled by Westlife’s performance after racing, the Racecourse is expecting to break last year’s Ladies Day record of 26,000 racegoers, meaning the 2010 event will result in the largest attendance in the racecourse’s recent history.

Racegoers from Edinburgh to Exeter and Newport to Newcastle are signing up to attend the August Ladies Day celebration, which includes seven top race fixtures, an evening performance from Westlife, ‘New Racegoer Masterclasses’ and a prize for the most stylish dresser in a Fashions in the Field competition – with the winner being crowned the style queen of Ladies Day.

Jemma Kidd says, “I have a lifelong passion for horses and I am calling all ladies to come to Ladies Day and experience the buzz you can only get from being at the races. For first-timers or those who have yet to be bitten by the bug, Newbury Racecourse’s onsite new racegoer sessions will really allow ladies to engage in racing and help them feel how I do about the sport! In return for a great day out I hope to see ladies giving generously in support of a great cause – The Eve Appeal.”

Newbury Racecourse has also pledged its support of The Eve Appeal as the Official Charity of Ladies Day and is aiming to raise thousands of pounds for the cause in donations. In celebration of this partnership and to raise further funds for gynaecological cancers on the day, Newbury Racecourse has launched the “Eve Salad” – a light, crunchy seafood salad, perfect for an afternoon at the races in the mid-August heat.

For the first time ever, Newbury will be offering onsite masterclasses, which will also be broadcast on screens around the racecourse. Whether it’s their 1st or 100th time at the races, these sessions will give ladies the skills to walk the walk and talk the talk on Ladies Day. Tips will include where and when to be seen, how to get close to the horses, how to bet, and learn the racing lingo – impressing even the most knowledgeable racegoer.

Stephen Higgins, joint Managing Director of Newbury Racecourse says “This year we are launching onsite masterclasses as part of our new racegoer campaign and will have experts available during the day to offer handy hints and tips to help ladies to get the most out of their day. Involving Jemma and the Eve Appeal can only complement this drive and confirm our position at the forefront of the campaign to ignite people’s passion for racing.”

Jemma will be joined on the day by Chanelle McCoy wife of Grand National winning Jockey Tony McCoy and Channel 4 Racing presenter Emma Spencer, who will form the key members of the Fashions in the Field judging panel.

To book tickets to this star-studded day out and for further information please visit www.newbury-racecourse.co.uk

Photo credit: Catherine Balavage

Brand New School Aces Strategic Design for Cartoon Network Brand Expansion

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NEW YORK and HOLLYWOOD – (Aug. 5, 2010) – To help Cartoon Network bring to life its vision of a brand expansion strategy that included a new look and tone, the international creative design and production studio Brand New School (BNS, www.brandnewschool.com) partnered with the network’s creative team to produce a look and sensibility that would allow them to have a dialogue with its audience across an array of platforms.

The network chose to embrace its brand visual heritage of the black and white checkerboard by imbuing it with new meaning, and the artists and producers of BNS were able to bring this idea to life in a fresh, compelling way using dimension, color and movement. All the new design elements began appearing in late May, and the new on-air IDs premiered on the network this week.

“Our brand expansion represents our commitment to delivering a breadth of content that our audience cannot find anywhere else,” said Senior Vice President of Creative Direction, Michael Ouweleen. “The checkerboard is in our DNA and is not only reflected in the subtle redesign of the logo but also provides a through line that connects and helps frame our diverse slate of programming from animation to live-action. The art direction and creative acumen of the Brand New School and their ability to breathe new into the iconic was invaluable and helped us achieve our goal.”

BNS founder and creative director Jonathan Notaro, along with art directors Eric Adolfsen and Mike Calvert, provided detailed insights into the conceptual thinking behind the multifaceted brand expansion project, where their approaches emphasized interconnectedness across each and every deliverable, as well as the pairing of extremely thoughtful design with animation geared toward generating specific audience responses, including laughter.

“This has been a very exciting opportunity for us to be closely involved with Cartoon Network and their continued evolution,” Notaro began. “The new on-air identity complements its diverse range of visual languages, and leverages our design expertise by incorporating specific, creative means for consistently packaging the network’s editorial humor into every second of each broadcast day.”

By combining their design ideas within the organizational approach, the BNS team is pleased to have created a meta-narrative that uses the complete visual identity system to creatively convey the interconnectedness of the channel’s content. From the promos to the menus to the bumps to the IDs, each piece tells the same story from a different perspective, where the checkerboard functions like a chessboard, with infinite moves possible.

“Because we’d created such a gridded and structured designs for the overall approach, it became imperative that the movement of these pieces felt snappy, fast-paced, and above all, playful and full of life,” said Calvert. “Our animators developed a language that’s rooted in familiar physical interactions, but caricatured and amplified into something incredibly captivating and energetic.”

It was important to Cartoon Network that each day part be distinct and branded with its own color, humor and expanding level of complexity. “We wanted to share on-air the excitement we found in the initial explorations of the checkerboard and the grid,” said Adolfsen. “From the first to the last second of each day, we looked for ways to consistently surprise viewers and build on the language of the checkerboard, eventually creating a visual shorthand the audience could embrace.”

The creation of each animated asset in the project was led by BNS’s Hyesung Park, Arthur Hur and Andy Mastrocinque. Among many elements created by various artists under their supervision is a series of 14 short, black-and-white animated IDs, each of which derives visually from the letter forms of the newly designed Cartoon Network logo.

As summarized by Calvert, “Our enthusiasm for the brand reached every pocket of this redesign, culminating in the ID system we developed,” explained Calvert. For the ID’s, Brand New School established a simple rule: make a black and white animation based on each of the 14 letters of the words Cartoon Network. “The idents are both a nod to the channel’s history as well as an opportunity to curate the artists we love. They’re a celebration of every form of animation, from hand-drawn cel to 3D.”

For HD design and finishing, as well as all elements of the broadcast package, primary artistic tools for BNS have included Adobe Creative Suite, Autodesk Maya, Apple’s Final Cut Pro and Flame. Complete project credits are available upon request.

About Brand New School
With offices in New York, Los Angeles and London, Brand New School is a bicoastal directing collective working in all fields of commercial art. Ever evolving, the studio continues to cultivate a sense of wonder and exploration. For its artists and clients alike, BNS represents an opportunity to play at work, to conduct experiments in image-making, and to feed the inspiration that drives the industry. For more information, please visit www.BrandNewSchool.com.

About Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network (www.CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in more than 97 million U.S. homes and 166 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s ad-supported cable service now available in HD offering the best in original, acquired and classic entertainment for kids and families. Nightly from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired entertainment for young adults 18-34. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

DreamWorks Animation Reports Second Quarter 2010 Financial Results

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Company Announces New $150 Million Share Repurchase Program

DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (NASDAQ:DWA) today announced financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2010. In the quarter, the Company reported total revenue of $158.1 million and net income of $24.0 million, or $0.27 per share on a fully diluted basis.

“Our strong second quarter was driven primarily by the blockbuster performances of Shrek Forever After and How to Train Your Dragon, two of the top 10 films of 2010 on both a domestic and a worldwide basis,” said Jeffrey Katzenberg, DreamWorks Animation’s CEO. “We have once again surpassed $1 billion in worldwide box office and with Megamind still to be released on November 5th, we are on track to make 2010 not only DreamWorks Animation’s single biggest year at the box office, but also the biggest year ever for any CG animation studio.”

Shrek Forever After, which was released on May 21, 2010, contributed $51.8 million of revenue in the quarter, generated by its domestic box office performance as well as merchandising and licensing activities. It has reached approximately $235 million in domestic box office and approximately $368 million in international box office for a worldwide box office total of approximately $603 million to date.

How to Train Your Dragon, which was released on March 26, 2010, contributed $33.4 million of revenue to the quarter, driven primarily by its domestic and international box office performance. It has reached approximately $480 million in worldwide box office to date.

The Company’s 2009 release, Monsters vs. Aliens, contributed $17.2 million of revenue to the quarter, driven primarily by international pay television. The film reached an estimated 7.7 million home entertainment units sold, net of actual and estimated future returns, by the end of the second quarter.

The Company’s 2008 releases, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa and Kung Fu Panda, contributed $4.4 million and $2.5 million of revenue to the quarter, respectively.

Library and other items contributed approximately $48.8 million of revenue to the quarter.

Costs of revenue for the quarter equaled $98.7 million. Selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $27.8 million, including approximately $7.9 million of stock compensation expense and approximately $2.0 million of marketing expense related to the launch of the Company’s online virtual world, Kung Fu Panda World.

Additionally, the Company recorded an expense of approximately $8.7 million related to its tax sharing agreement with a former stockholder. Combining the amount due to the former stockholder with the Company’s income tax expense of approximately $0.7 million, the result is an overall equivalent tax rate of 28.1% for the second quarter.

The Company also announced today that its Board of Directors has approved a new $150 million share repurchase program. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the Company has repurchased approximately 3.1 million shares for approximately $111 million.

The Company’s third quarter results are expected to be driven primarily by the continued international box office performance of Shrek Forever After. The Company expects its full year 2010 results, which will likely be heavily weighted toward the second half of the year, to be driven by the continued box office performance of Shrek Forever After as well as the home entertainment performance of How to Train Your Dragon and Shrek Forever After, both of which are expected to be released on DVD and Blu-ray in the fourth quarter.

Items related to the earnings press release for the second quarter of 2010 will be discussed in more detail on the Company’s second quarter 2010 earnings conference call later today.

Conference Call Information

DreamWorks Animation will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the results on Tuesday, July 27, 2010, at 4:30 p.m. (ET). Investors can access the call by dialing (800) 230-1096 in the U.S. and (612) 332-0107 internationally and identifying “DreamWorks Animation Earnings” to the operator. The call will also be available via live webcast at www.dreamworksanimation.com.

A replay of the conference call will be available shortly after the call ends on Tuesday, July 27, 2010. To access the replay, dial (800) 475-6701 in the U.S. and (320) 365-3844 internationally and enter 163006 as the conference ID number. Both the earnings release and archived webcast will be available on the Company’s website at www.dreamworksanimation.com.

About DreamWorks Animation SKG

DreamWorks Animation creates high-quality entertainment, including CG animated feature films, television specials and series, live entertainment properties and online virtual worlds, meant for audiences around the world. The Company has world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced filmmaking technology and techniques. DreamWorks Animation has been named one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” by FORTUNE® Magazine for two consecutive years. In 2010, DreamWorks Animation ranks #6 on the list. All of DreamWorks Animation’s feature films are now being produced in 3D. The Company has theatrically released a total of 20 animated feature films, including the franchise properties of Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and How to Train Your Dragon. DreamWorks Animation’s next feature film is Megamind, scheduled to be released in 3D on November 5, 2010.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This document includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company’s plans, prospects, strategies, proposals and our beliefs and expectations concerning performance of our current and future releases and anticipated talent, directors and storyline for our upcoming films and other projects, constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry in which we operate and management’s beliefs and assumptions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in economic, business, competitive, technological and/or regulatory factors, and other risks and uncertainties affecting the operation of the business of DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. These risks and uncertainties include: audience acceptance of our films, our dependence on the success of a limited number of releases each year, the increasing cost of producing and marketing feature films, piracy of motion pictures, the effect of rapid technological change or alternative forms of entertainment and our need to protect our proprietary technology and enhance or develop new technology. In addition, due to the uncertainties and risks involved in the development and production of animated feature projects, the release dates for the projects described in this document may be delayed. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and our most recent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. DreamWorks Animation is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

** FINANCIAL TABLES ATTACHED**

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

December
June 30, 31,
2010 2009
—- —-
(unaudited)
(in thousands,
except par value and
share
amounts)
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $76,918 $231,245
Trade accounts receivable, net of
allowance for doubtful accounts 46,558 42,175
Income taxes receivable 13,690 9,016
Receivable from Paramount, net of
reserve for returns and allowance
for doubtful accounts 161,259 171,292
Film, live performance and other
inventory costs, net 752,950 695,963
Prepaid expenses 33,018 25,505
Other assets 21,913 15,958
Property, plant, and equipment, net
of accumulated depreciation and
amortization 174,862 161,558
Deferred taxes, net 7,106 7,669
Goodwill 34,216 34,216

Total assets $1,322,490 $1,394,597
========== ==========

Liabilities and Equity
Liabilities:
Accounts payable $2,194 $2,400
Accrued liabilities 101,998 111,281
Payable to former stockholder 61,744 67,456
Deferred revenue and other advances 41,060 60,870
—— ——

Total liabilities 206,996 242,007
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Stockholders’ equity:
Class A common stock, par value
$.01 per share, 350,000,000 shares
authorized, 97,022,472 and
95,967,515 shares issued, as of
June 30, 2010 and December 31,
2009, respectively 970 960
Class B common stock, par value
$.01 per share, 150,000,000 shares
authorized, 10,838,731 and
11,419,461 shares issued and
outstanding, as of June 30, 2010
and December 31, 2009,
respectively 108 114
Additional paid-in capital 953,203 922,681
Retained earnings 841,940 796,296
Less: Class A Treasury common
stock, at cost, 23,612,421 and
20,430,031 shares, as of June 30.
2010 and December 31, 2009,
respectively (680,727) (567,461)
——– ——–

Total stockholders’ equity 1,115,494 1,152,590
——— ———

Total liabilities and stockholders’
equity $1,322,490 $1,394,597
========== ==========

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended
June 30,
——–
2010 2009
— —
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Revenues $158,095 $131,990
Costs of revenues 98,734 74,022
—- —-

Gross profit 59,361 57,968
Product development 422 93
Selling, general and
administrative
expenses 27,751 24,831
—— ——

Operating income 31,188 33,044
Interest income, net 171 979
Other income, net 2,004 1,613
Increase in income
tax benefit payable
to former
stockholder (8,668) (11,020)
—— ——-

Income before income
taxes 24,695 24,616
Provision (benefit)
for income taxes 720 (940)
— —-

Net income $23,975 $25,556
======= =======

Basic net income per
share $0.28 $0.30
Diluted net income
per share $0.27 $0.30
Shares used in
computing net
income per share
Basic 85,709 85,890
Diluted 87,582 86,382

Six Months Ended
June 30,
——–
2010 2009
— —
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Revenues $320,238 $395,514
Costs of revenues 204,917 230,428
—– —–

Gross profit 115,321 165,086
Product development 607 2,461
Selling, general
and administrative
expenses 51,261 45,522
—— ——

Operating income 63,453 117,103
Interest income,
net 230 1,518
Other income, net 4,097 3,065
Increase in income
tax benefit
payable to former
stockholder (16,856) (27,030)
——- ——-

Income before
income taxes 50,924 94,656
Provision (benefit)
for income taxes 5,280 6,790
—– —–

Net income $45,644 $87,866
======= =======

Basic net income
per share $0.53 $1.01
Diluted net income
per share $0.51 $1.01
Shares used in
computing net
income per share
Basic 86,741 86,673
Diluted 88,972 87,390

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)

Six Months Ended
June 30,
2010 2009
(in thousands)
Operating activities
Net income $45,644 $87,866
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
cash (used in) provided by operating
activities:
Amortization and write off of film, live
performance and other inventory costs 183,295 192,183
Stock compensation expense 15,210 14,695
Depreciation and amortization 2,526 1,831
Revenue earned against deferred revenue and
other advances (53,499) (51,667)
Deferred taxes, net 563 12,330
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts receivable (4,383) 2,427
Receivable from Paramount 10,033 72,534
Film, live performance and other inventory
costs (223,418) (183,574)
Prepaid expenses and other assets (15,540) (16,242)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (9,347) (27,749)
Payable to former stockholder (5,712) (1,466)
Income taxes payable/receivable, net (4,851) (8,001)
Deferred revenue and other advances 35,549 74,515
—— ——

Net cash (used in) provided by operating
activities (23,930) 169,682
——- ——-

Investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment (26,590) (31,495)
——- ——-

Net cash used in investing activities (26,590) (31,495)
——- ——-

Financing Activities
Receipts from exercise of stock options 8,786 90
Excess tax benefits from employee equity
awards 673 –
Purchase of treasury stock (113,266) (52,125)
——– ——-

Net cash used in financing activities (103,807) (52,035)
——– ——-

(Decrease) increase in cash and cash
equivalents (154,327) 86,152
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of
period 231,245 262,644
——- ——-

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $76,918 $348,796
======= ========

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow
information:
Cash paid during the period for income
taxes, net $8,891 $2,373
—— ——

Cash paid during the period for interest,
net of amounts capitalized $281 $355
—- —-

Source: DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.

Foot Phobia – Dressing our Feet for Summer! {Style}

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It’s an everyday scenario that when the sun comes out, so too do our feet. Our feet which have been locked away in the chastity belt encasements of lace-up shoes, trainers, and brogues have spent most of their time being battered through the winter months; toes are stubbed on bed steads , objects are kicked, and some have walked the distance from earth to the moon to the requirements of the lunch-break dash for the shops, lost car keys, housework, and trips to the supermarket (amongst other things).

As we look forward to our summer holidays away in Benidorm, Scarborough and the like, us girls especially, will almost certainly have a fit of panic (duration of a personal choice) when we look to our footwear, and hence contemplate the exposure (god forbid) of our feet. One must assess the situation with calmness and rationale and then organise the mandatory pedicure of the year pronto. If on a budget then a home kit will be satisfactory, but a speed read through the instructions shouldn’t go amiss.

Personal foot issues are not rare, the odd protruding fourth toe, or a ‘stumpy’ shape (always over exaggerated by the foot’s owner) for example, will have some walking around Ibiza in wetsuit boots. But this phobia can be overcome with some gentle persuasion and a friendly open door into the magic world of shoe engineering and design.

The seasons’ trend of gladiator sandals, along with a strong nail colour, have enabled us to really make a fuss of our feet. And whether we like it or not, those feet will be exposed sometime during the summer, even if it’s only to a household pet. So the only thing to do is to embrace this opportunity; get to Superdrug straight away and start buying out a range of incandescent nail varnishes. Then elaborately paint those toenails to one’s desires. Its carte blanche baby, rainbow colours all the way!

One can complement their foot shape, be it short, long, wide, narrow, etc, with a sandal. However, this is not just any sandal. With so many on the market, especially gladiator sandals, one can really pick and choose one that will show, or hide, the foot appropriately. For example, chunky ankles may require sandals with an ankle cuff like these from Dorothy Perkins £28. 

Alternatively, a long elegant foot may require little embellishment, hence a sandal with just a minimalist thong will do, such as these from ASOS.com.

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A sandal which encases the entire foot, almost like a shoe, would suit a wider foot as the lines will create the illusion of a more slender form, try these from Schuh for size. £39.99.

If walking around a lot, it’s worth investing in some rubber soled sandals. Hideous as this may sound, one can always fall back on a lifelong pair of Birkenstocks. This may well save you the humiliation of walking around in trainers for the forthcoming weeks on your return. But above all, ‘tis the season to have fun with your feet!!

By Katie Fremantle

Michael Moore To Broadcast San Francisco Kent State Truth Tribunal

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West Coast witnesses and participants are invited to record their stories

First New Media Truth-seeking Initiative Documents 1970 Campus Shooting of Kent State University Students

On Aug 7-8, 2010 filmmaker Michael Moore will livecast the hearings of the Kent State Truth Tribunal, streaming in real-time the accounts of participants and witnesses to the events surrounding the 1970 Kent State shootings, that left four students dead and nine injured. This livecast is a continuation of the first real-time broadcast of a truth-seeking initiative on Kent State and will be broadcast on www.MichaelMoore.com from 9am-5pm PT. The Tribunal in San Francisco follows a four-day tribunal in Kent, Ohio in early May which marked the 40th anniversary of the campus shootings and assembled over 70 testimonies.

The Kent State Truth Tribunal in May resulted in an outpouring of original participant testimonies, some who shared their stories for the first time since the shootings, forty years ago. Demand for participation was immense at the 40th anniversary yet many witnesses and participants in the events surrounding the shootings were not able to travel to Ohio.

“San Francisco was a cultural and political hub in the sixties and seventies and it is no accident that so many young people scarred by the events of Kent State headed west after the tragic events of May 1970. Forty years later, the west remains a progressive mecca and many Kent State participants made the west coast their home, like me. We will collect their experiences of the Kent State shootings to continue to try to learn the truth about Kent State in 2010,” said Laurel Krause, tribunal founder and sister of Allison Krause, one of four students killed at Kent.

The Kent State Truth Tribunal was convened by family members of students killed at Kent State in order to record and preserve the stories of those directly affected by the shootings and reveal the truth of what happened on that day 40 years ago. The Ohio National Guard, who opened fire on the protesters, has never publicized the findings of its internal investigation into command responsibility for the shootings.

Michael Moore commented on the truth tribunal: “40 years after the Kent State killings, justice still has not been served. The Kent State Truth Tribunal brings us closer to that goal by sharing first-hand accounts with the public. I am grateful for their efforts and hopeful that some day the truth will come out.”

Three days after the original Kent State Truth Tribunal the Cleveland Plain Dealer broke a major story about a recorded order to fire given to the Ohio National Guard on May 4, 1970. Then on June 15th, in the U.K., British Prime Minister David Cameron apologized for the killings of Bloody Sunday, a strikingly similar event in 1972 where British paratroopers fired on demonstrators, killing 14 people.

Tribunal organizers are asking the United States government to acknowledge the ‘wrongs’ of May 4, 1970, in the hope of reclaiming what was lost that day – freedom to protest and to peacefully assemble and the democratic right to question the government and hold it accountable for wrongdoings.

The Truth Tribunal is generating a comprehensive historical record of the Kent State massacre. Interviews are being conducted by award-winning filmmaker Emily Kunstler and like the 40th anniversary hearings, will be simultaneously livecast on the home page of www.MichaelMoore.com Archived interviews can be found on http://truthtribunal.org/testimonials. The footage and mementos from the tribunal will be physically archived and available for viewing by the public as part of the permanent collection at the renowned Tamiment Library at New York University.

The west coast tribunal will take place over the weekend of August 7 & 8, 2010 at 150 Green Street, San Francisco, California. Organizers are asking for all original participants and witnesses of the event surrounding the 1970 Kent State shootings to pre-register at www.TruthTribunal.org/preregister. An East Coast Tribunal will follow in New York City on September 25 & 26.

On May 4, 1970 the Ohio National Guard opened fire on unarmed students protesting America’s invasion of Cambodia during the Vietnam War. In a day that changed America, four students were killed and nine were wounded as they protested against the war. The incident triggered national outrage in a country already divided. In immediate response to the Kent State shootings, more than four million students rose up in dissent across 900 campuses, generating the only nationwide student protest in U.S. history. No one has been held responsible for the deaths and injuries that resulted from the shootings.

Lizzie Mary Cullen Helps the Homeless with First Solo Show! All profits donated to The Big Issue.

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9 September 2009

Award winning international artist & designer Lizzie Mary Cullen is hosting her first solo exhibition in London UK, in aid of the homeless.

All proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to the Big Issue, the social enterprise, magazine and charity that helps homeless people in Britain earn a legitimate income and help themselves.

A former Production Assistant for Warner Bros, Lizzie worked on the Harry Potter films prior to venturing into the art world. She is securing support from a number of high-profile cast members from the blockbusters, and their celebrity friends pals to be present on the opening night.Mainstream press and key figures from the magazine and charity will also be present. The artist expects to raise at least £20,000 for the Big Issue at the exhibition

Having raised funds for various charities and supporting worthy causes, Emmanuel Ray says he is proud to be partnering with a successful and talented artist who, just like him, is using her growing popularity to help those in need. “It is not only a privilege but also great fun to be working with one of the most talented contemporary artists Britain has ever produced. Lizzie is a visionary artist and the intricate detail in her work, the magical symphony of colours and her ability to make even black and white drawings look enchanting and inviting, is highly impressive and a visual treat!” he added.

Last year saw Lizzie Mary Cullen sashaying into the design world with confidence and scooping up two prestigious awards; Association of Illustrators New Talent 2009 and New Designers One Year On 2009. At 24 Lizzie is enviably successful. Having graduated from Goldsmiths in 2008 she exhibited her work internationally. Her recent exhibitions have included A View of London at The London Transport Museum UK, and New Designers One Year On where she won her second award. Currently touring into 2010 is the Association of Illustrators Images 33 Tour, in which Lizzie’s award-winning iconic illustration Tower Bridge is being exhibited.

Lizzie’s big break came when popular Italian restaurant chain Zizzi commissioned her to design and hand-draw large scale wall murals in a number of their restaurants throughout the UK as part of their national re-brand, revamping 105 branches. Lizzie has also designed their national menus has already completed murals in various Zizzi restaurants in the UK; Covent Garden-Bow Street, Camberley, Tunbridge Wells, Marlow, Newcastle Metro Centre, Sevenoaks, Maidstone and Nottingham, to start with.

Lizzie has been featured in numerous publications including the acclaimed Beyond Architecture:
Imaginative Buildings and Fictional Cities, and Martin Dawber’s The Big Book of Contemporary Illustration. She had a cover feature in Design Week magazine as the next New Design Star. She was also featured in Icon Magazine and Blueprint Magazine. Computer Arts Magazine named her one of the design world’s up-and-coming talents. She also writes for Design Week and Illustration Magazine. Lizzie has just completed a spread for Illustration Magazine’s Summer 2010 issue and has given an exclusive interview for Digital Arts magazine.

She has also just finished editing her first illustrated children’s book about a family of modern fairies living in London. Lizzie exhibited at Grand Designs Show 2010 in Excel London, where she received a number of ad hoc commissions. She has also worked with MTV, Design Week and Tom Felton who plays Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter movie series. Her illustrations will feature on his new website to promote his debut album with Six String Productions. Lizzie will also design the album artwork. Tom Felton and Daniel Radcliffe are expected to attend the exhibition and support the lady who worked in the film that made them international stars!

Lizzie Mary Cullen The First Solo Show opens on 9 September at the Artefact: The Framers Gallery in London’s West End and will run until 25th September.