'Lucky idiot' soldier cheats death

A soldier was branded "one lucky idiot" by comrades for cheating death three times during a stint in Afghanistan.

• Private Daniel Britton, 22, from Nantwich, Cheshire, said he is fortunate to be alive after an action-packed six-month tour in Helmand Province.
• He contracted dysentery after nearly drowning in a fast-flowing river, had a bullet brush past his head in an attack by the Taliban and was shot in the chest during a separate strike.
• The soldier, from The 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment, had his first brush with death in April, just one month into his tour, when he was trying to cross a swollen river.
• The current became too strong. It swept my feet from under me. I'm not much of a swimmer and I was washed underneath the water.
• The weight of my kit made it very difficult to stay afloat. All that was going through my mind was 'I'm dying'," he said.
• Private Britton's colleagues managed to pull him out, only for the soldier to be diagnosed with dysentery. And the former South Cheshire College pupil had only just recovered when the Taliban shot at his head and thought they had killed him.
• It was very early morning in the patrol base and I was sat outside cleaning my weapon. All of a sudden several bullets whizzed past my head.
• I yelled to everyone to 'stand to' and that began the start of a four-day contact. When I thought about it afterwards I realised how lucky I was to still to be here. I heard later that the Taliban thought they had killed a British soldier. I know that was me they were talking about," he said.
• Private Britton's troubles were not over. He was within centimetres of death when the Taliban shot him in the chest, and the soldier was sure he was bleeding. But the bullet became lodged in his body armour, and the liquid on his skin turned out to be sweat.
• He said: "The first I knew of the Taliban presence was when I was thrown back with massive force.
• It was like a sledgehammer hitting my chest. I could feel liquid on my skin and I was convinced it was blood. It could have been a different story if it had landed a few centimetres to the right. The guy who had pulled me out of the water at the start of the tour was there this time too. He told me I was 'one lucky idiot'."
• Private Britton admits he was relieved to reach his 22nd birthday but, even then, as he celebrated with friends at a fancy dress party in the patrol base, the Taliban fired a series of Chinese rockets in their direction.

By www.MICHAELJACKSON50.com

US President Barack Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize

Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize

• US President Barack Obama has been awarded this year's prestigious Nobel Peace Prize.
• The US President was awarded the prestigious international accolade for his calls to reduce the world's stockpile of nuclear weapons and working for world peace.
• His "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy" were cited specifically.
• The first African-American to hold the country's highest office, Obama has called for disarmament and worked to restart the stalled Middle East peace process since taking office in January.
• The prize is worth $1.4 million, and it will officially be handed over in Oslo on December 10.
• President Obama held a UN summit last month which focused predominently on nuclear disarmament and curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions.

By www.MICHAELJACKSON50.com

Michael Jackson Five tribute shocks viewers - See the Video

Jackson Jive "Racist" Outrage

• A TV show has outraged viewers after allowing a 'racist' Jackson Five tribute act to appear.
• The Michael Jackson news just keeps on coming. The difference here being it's got nothing to do with the deceased King of Pop.
• In fact, the latest drama took place many miles from his spiritual home of California. Because producers on an Australian TV show are caught-up in an engulfing furore after allowing a Jackson 5 "tribute" act to appear, outraging judge Harry Connick Jr and, we assume, many more the world over.
• Bucking international awareness stretching back years, the Jackson Jive appeared with blacked-up faces in an act that visibly upset their guest, who awarded them zero stars.
• Host Daryl Somers was forced to apologise, while Connick Jr (pictured) pointed to the fact his nation have "spent so much time trying to not make black people look like buffoons", insisting: "If I knew that was going to be part of the show I definitely wouldn't have done it".
• Famethrowa doubts the programme makers have heard the last of this...

This is just sick!!!

Reported by www.MICHAELJACKSON50.com

Scientists discover massive ring around Saturn - would take 1 billion Earths to fill it

NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has spotted a massive, nearly invisible ring around Saturn.

• Scientists at NASA have discovered a nearly invisible ring around Saturn -- one so large that it would take 1 billion Earths to fill it.
• The ring's orbit is tilted 27 degrees from the planet's main ring plane. The bulk of it starts about 3.7 million miles (6 million km) away from the planet and extends outward another 7.4 million miles (12 million km).
• Its diameter is equivalent to 300 Saturns lined up side to side. And its entire volume can hold one billion Earths, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory said late Tuesday.
• This is one supersized ring," said Anne Verbiscer, an astronomer at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
• Verbiscer and two others are authors of a paper about the discovery published Wednesday in the journal Nature.
• The obvious question: Why did it take scientists so long to discover something so massive?
• The ring is made up of ice and dust particles that are so far apart that "if you were to stand in the ring, you wouldn't even know it," Verbiscer said in a statement.
• Also, Saturn doesn't receive a lot of sunlight, and the rings don't reflect much visible light.
• But the cool dust -- about 80 Kelvin (minus 316 degrees Fahrenheit) -- glows with thermal radiation. NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, used to spot the ring, picked up on the heat.
• One of Saturn's moons, Phoebe, orbits within the ring. As Phoebe collides with comets, it kicks up planetary dust. Scientists believe the ice and dust particles that make up the ring stems from those collisions.
• The ring may also help explain an age-old mystery surrounding another of Saturn's moons: Iapetus.
• Astronomer Giovanni Cassini, who first spotted Iapetus in 1671, deduced the moon has a white and dark side -- akin to a yin-yang symbol. But scientists did not know why.
• The new ring orbits in the opposite direction to Iapetus. And, say researchers, it's possible that the moon's dark coloring is a result of the ring's dust particles splattering against Iapetus like bugs on a windshield.
• Astronomers have long suspected that there is a connection between Saturn's outer moon Phoebe and the dark material on Iapetus," said Douglas Hamilton of the University of Maryland in College Park - one of the three authors reporting on the findings in the journal Nature.
• This new ring provided convincing evidence of that relationship.

By www.MICHAELJACKSON50.com

Top 5 Tips to Avoid Being Pickpocketed

• 1. Never keep your wallet or valuables in your back pocket, even if it buttons up—it's by far the easiest target.
• 2. Beware of the distraction tactic, such as dropping something near you, squirting something on you, or simply jostling you. Be on guard when in crowds, and secure your belongings.
• 3. Pickpockets often work in pairs or groups and it's not just the usual suspects. Be cautious with any strangers—sometimes people who don't look like they'd be a threat, such as children or the elderly, can be part of larger operations.
• 4. Stay alert in confined spaces and near passageways. Try to avoid standing near the doorways of trains as groups of pickpockets can rush at you when the doors open.
• 5. Before you set off on a trip, pare down the contents of your handbag or wallet – the smaller the bulge, the less likely pickpockets are to covet it.

By www.MICHAELJACKSON50.com

World's worst cities for pickpockets

• We reveal the 10 worst cities in the world for pickpocketing - and give tips on how to avoid being targeted.
• 1. Barcelona, Spain One TripAdvisor reviewer compares Barcelona pickpocketing to a generally practiced and accepted sport, like football. For those who'd rather stay off the field, take caution: Las Ramblas, the famous wide, pedestrian walkway full of life, music, and people at all hours of the day and night, is the perfect place to get your purse poached.
• 2. Rome, Italy With its ancient buildings and astounding historical and cultural attractions, Rome is full of both tourists and incredible things to sightsee. With thousands of people admiring the Trevi Fountain or the Pantheon, it's easy for a pickpocket to lift a camera or purse with a quick snip of scissors or some clever handiwork with a zipper.
• 3. Prague, Czech Republic The famously beautiful Charles Bridge is lined with 30 baroque-style statues, as well as thousands of tourists who crowd its ancient stones each year, making a perfect recipe for pickpocketing. Before taking in the view of the Vltava River and the Prague Castle beyond, be sure valuables are strapped down.
• 4. Madrid, Spain El Rastro flea-market and the crowded metro are often cited as spots where unfriendly pickpocket schemes can put a damper on a visit to this beautiful city. However, travellers should also beware that in museums ( Madrid has many) pickpockets can be crafty as well, preying on distracted tourists.
• 5. Paris, France The City of Light draws enormous crowds from the base of the Eiffel Tower to the steps of Sacré-Coeur and everywhere in between. But enormous crowds can also be found below ground, in the city's metro system, where travellers should be especially cautious.
• 6. Florence, Italy It is certainly easy to see why tourists would be distracted by the majestic beauty of Michelangelo's David and the other incredible and awe-inspiring works of art and pieces of history all around Florence . When admiring Michelangelo's creation, or at its replica in busy Piazza della Signoria , be alert that others may have their attention on your wallet.
• 7. Buenos Aires, Argentina Buenos Aires is a vibrant and culturally rich city with much to offer, from the famed Teatro Colon to the city's many distinct neighborhoods. However, if while sightseeing you find you are suddenly covered in “bird droppings” (likely mustard) and a “friendly” local (likely a thief) happens to be standing by with napkins to help you clean up, beware.
• 8. Amsterdam , Netherlands It's easy to get carried away in Amsterdam with so many fun things to see and do, but don't be too taken in by the canals and the friendly, laid-back atmosphere – pickpocketers have been known to take advantage of countless tourists in this enchanting city.
• 9. Athens , Greece This legendary city features countless ancient monuments, many of which are outdoors. Whether visiting the Parthenon on the Acropolis, or anything else in this magnificent historic city, keep the bags close to your chest while your eyes admire the rest.
• 10. Hanoi , Vietnam The capital of Vietnam has its charming Old Quarter, littered with monuments and colonial architecture, and the city also features 600 temples and pagodas, making it a beautiful and unique place to visit, but also a place to stay alert for mischief.

By www.MICHAELJACKSON50.com

'Woman's education affects lifespan' - A woman's education influences how long she and her partner will live

Women's education affects lifespan

• A woman's education influences how long she - and her partner - will live, according to new research.
• A woman's education influences how long she - and her partner - will live, researchers have said.
• A study on 1.5 million people found a woman's level of education was more important than a man's when it came to the chance of him living a long life. But a man's social class and income seemed to have the most impact on a woman's chances of living longer - more than the impact of her own employment.
• The research, from experts at Stockholm University, examined data from the 1990 Swedish Census on 1.5 million people aged 30 to 59 who were in employment. Information on causes of death, including from cancer and circulatory diseases like heart disease and stroke, was then examined for the following 13-year period.
• Education was found to be "of great importance" through a direct influence on death rates as well as indirectly via occupation and income.
• Education may also have an indirect effect through its possible importance for choice of partner," the authors said.
• They suggested that better educated women may be more aware of healthy diets and medical treatments, thereby influencing their partner's lifespan.
• Women traditionally take more responsibility for the home than men do, and, as a consequence, women's education might be more important for the family lifestyle - for example, in terms of food habits - than men's education.
• If highly educated women more easily understand the plethora of advice about healthy lifestyles, women's education could have a substantial influence on the health and mortality of the partner. Women with higher education may in addition (be able to) receive better medical treatment, which may also be true for men - and for partners of highly educated women."
• The study was published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. It said a man's income influenced death rates for both sexes "presumably since men stand for the major part of the family income and thus the material standard of the family."
• The authors concluded: "For men, the wife's education is more important for the mortality risk than his own education when the man's social class is included in the model.
• For women, the husband's social class yields larger mortality differences than own occupational measures. Women's education and men's social class and income are particularly important for women's deaths from circulatory diseases."

By www.MICHAELJACKSON50.com