FED:News Diary for Tuesday, Aug 2

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-2011
FED:News Diary for Tuesday, Aug 2

Good Evening news editors and chiefs of staff

Here is AAP's preliminary news diary for Tuesday (not for publication).

This is a guide only and stories, local times and locations are subject to change. In
some cases times and bnilocations may not be available. Story coverage is subject to staffing.

TOP STORIES
CLIMATE - Carbon tax debate continues as anti-carbon tax rally is staged in Sydney. Acting
federal opposition leader Julie Bishop in Sydney to address a "Free Syria" meeting.

RANN - South Australia Labor anguishes over its leadership issue.


COURTS
ADELAIDE
- Trial scheduled to start in the Supreme Court over the exploitation of Sir Donald Bradman's
name on merchandise, including chocolate chip cookies sold in India.

BRISBANE
- State Coroner Michael Barnes will hand down the findings of the inquest into the death
of Saxon Bird in Court 4 of the Brisbane Magistrates Court. 1415.


MELBOURNE
1030 - Pre-sentence hearing for a man charged over the bashing death of Canadian man Cain
Aguiar outside a Melbourne pub


SYDNEY
0930 - Trial continues for Mark Standen. Defence summing up continues. SC 3.

1000 - Rajinda Singh (listed as RS), murdered wife at Griffith. Mental health hearing. SC 2.


HOBART
- Hearing into child pornography charges against former ABC television host Andy Muirhead.


OTHER NEWS
BRISBANE
- Spinal Injuries Associated "DisabiliTea" Event. Reddacliff Place, Brisbane.

CANBERRA
0930 - Watching over our food - past, present, future Food Standards Australia New Zealand
20th Anniversary Event. Old Parliament House.

1800 - Killer viruses and killer T cells, Professor Peter Doherty FAA Nobel Laureate.

Shine Dome, Canberra.
SYDNEY
0700 - Federal Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella to join anti-carbon tax rally. Outside the
Port Botany Container Terminal.
1100 - Acting federal opposition leader Julie Bishop delivers keynote address at a `Free
Syria' public meeting hosted by the Australian Syrian Association. Theatrette, NSW Parliament
House, Sydney.
1000 - ICAC inquiry into corruption allegations concerning Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority
and members of the Kazal family continues.

ADELAIDE
- Watching for more developments on Rann/Weatherill transition.

BRISBANE
- Outwatching reaction to Floods Inquiry recommendations.

ENTERTAINMENT
- Helpmann Awards. TBA 2230 AEST.


FINANCE

ECONOMIC NEWS

Sydney - Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) monthly board meeting and interest rate decision

Canberra - Commonwealth Bank-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry business expectations
survey for June quarter

Sydney - Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) House Price Indexes: Eight Capital Cities for June

Sydney - ABS Building Approvals for June

EQUITIES

Sydney - Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) Ltd first half results

Perth - Navitas Ltd full year results

Kalgoorlie, Western Australia - Diggers and Dealers Mining Forum (day 2 of 3)

Adelaide - Hills Holdings Ltd full year results



SPORT

LEAGUE

SYDNEY/BRISBANE - Wrap of NRL news.

SYDNEY - Teams named for NRL round 22.

SYDNEY - Manly coach Des Hasler and players George Rose and Steve Matai for interviews
at 1130, Sydney Academy of Sport, Narrabeen.

AFL

MELBOURNE - Wrap of AFL news; more on coaching change at Melbourne.

MELBOURNE - Media conference with Richmond midfielder Daniel Jackson, 1045 Punt Rd.

MELBOURNE - GWS coach Kevin Sheedy among the guests at launch of former teammate Kevin
Bartlett's new book, 1245 MCG.



RUGBY

GOLD COAST - Wallabies coach Robbie Deans names touring squad for Tri Nations Test
v New Zealand on Saturday; interviews with Quade Cooper and James O'Connor about 1100AEST.

SOCCER

SYDNEY - Socceroos coach Holger Osieck teleconference 1130AEST re the looming friendly
match v Wales.

CRICKET

COLOMBO - News and interviews from the Australian T20 team preparing for their two
matches v Sri Lanka.

RACING

MELBOURNE - Weights for Saturday's Aurie's Star Handicap meeting at Flemington.

SYDNEY - Weights for Saturday's Missile Stakes meeting at Randwick.

BRISBANE - Weights for Saturday's Doomben meeting.

MELBOURNE - Nominations close for the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate.



AAP was

KEYWORD: DIARY NEWS TUESDAY

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Metrycom Communication Receives 2 Million NIS from Israel Electric Corp.

Wireless News
04-07-2011
Metrycom Communication Receives 2 Million NIS from Israel Electric Corp.
Type: News

Metrycom Communication announced the investment by IEC via its unit for Accelerating Technological Ideas (Karat), for the development of Metrycom's MetrySense system, which enables real- time monitoring of high-voltage power transmission lines.

One of the applications of MetrySense is the provision of online data regarding the pollution level of power line insulator strings, and the ability to predict electric flashovers on the insulators, which are likely to cause shortcuts and wide-area power sags (instantaneous voltage level drops). With the aid of the system, utility companies will be able at any point of time to optimally direct the insulator washing activity to the most sensitive segments of the transmission lines, thereby improving the quality of the electric network, and significantly saving up on high maintenance costs.
The system supports new internet communication standards (IETF 6LoWPAN), which utilize the IPv6 Protocol over radio network, and create an internet network of sensors ("the internet of things").

"We are happy to make the investment in Metrycom Communications. This investment is done as part of the framework activity of Karat, which is aimed at promoting and accelerating new technological ideas in the fields of smart grid networks, and improving of power quality and energy efficiency," said Dr. Adrian Biano, VP of Strategic Resources at IEC.

"We are pleased that after a long period of feasibility testing IEC decided to invest in Metrycom. MetrySense is a unique system and we are convinced that with the aid of IEC it will be possible to offer an innovative product to the world market that will assist electric companies in improving power quality and significantly save on maintenance expenses," said Liron Frenkel, CEO of Metrycom.

Metrycom Communications develops wireless control solutions which integrate sensors and IP based wireless communication network (IETF 6LoWPAN), enabling maintenance-free monitoring and control of large scale systems.

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

Copyright 2011 Close-Up Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
n/a

FED:Skilled vacancies fall 1.0 per cent

AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-2010
FED:Skilled vacancies fall 1.0 per cent

Figures out today show skilled job vacancies fell by 1.0 per cent in December .. compared
to a month earlier.

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations skilled vacancies index
in December was 43.7 points .. 1.4 per cent higher than in December 2009.

AAP RTV cb/tm/

KEYWORD: SKILLED (CANBERRA)

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED:Liberals' campaign launch underway

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-2010
FED:Liberals' campaign launch underway

The federal Liberal party's official election campaign launch is underway in Brisbane.

Former prime minister JOHN HOWARD and wife JANETTE arrived to a standing ovation ..

as the party faithful filled the Queensland Performing Arts Centre.

Liberal Lord Mayor of Brisbane CAMPBELL NEWMAN gave the welcome speech .. describing
Opposition Leader TONY ABBOTT as a real person with real policies and a real plan for
direct action .. a take-off of Prime Minister JULIA GILLARD'S pledge to show people the
real JULIA.

The nation's only Liberal premier .. West Australia's COLIN BARNETT was up next ..

criticising Labor's proposed minerals resource rent tax.

If Australia used to ride on the sheep's back .. he said .. it leans on the miner's shovel today.

Nationals leader WARREN TRUSS .. the man who would be deputy prime minister in a coalition
government .. went on to describe Labor under JULIA GILLARD as tired and flabby.

He said Ms GILLARD's had to resort to texting her ex .. KEVIN RUDD .. to ask him to
accompany him to the ball because she can't find anyone else to dance with .. and it's
time to vote them off the show.

Mr TRUSS said Labor isn't governing .. it's loitering without intent.

AAP RTV gd/rl/jmt

KEYWORD: POLL10 LIBERALS LAUNCH (CANBERRA)

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Foiled Bombing Is Similar To Past Al-Qaida Attempts

LINDA WERTHEIMER
NPR Morning Edition
12-29-2009
Foiled Bombing Is Similar To Past Al-Qaida Attempts

Host: LINDA WERTHEIMER
Time 10:00-11:00 AM

Play Audio


LINDA WERTHEIMER, host:

It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Linda Wertheimer.

STEVE INSKEEP, host:

And I'm Steve Inskeep on this final week of the year. Good morning.

The investigation of the failed bombing of an American airliner goes halfway around the world.

President BARACK OBAMA: We will not rest until we find all who were involved and hold them accountable.

INSKEEP: That's President Obama speaking after a Nigerian man was accused of the attack. As for all who were involved, the suspect spent time in Yemen. And in a moment, we'll learn more about that troubled nation at the end of the Arabian Peninsula.

We start with NPR's counterterrorism correspondent Dina Temple-Raston. She's on the line with us once again. Dina, good morning.

DINA TEMPLE-RASTON: Good morning.

INSKEEP: I suppose we should begin with this group called al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, which has taken responsibility for the attack. Who are they?

TEMPLE-RASTON: Well, they're an arm of al-Qaida that's been growing in the past couple of years. It's based in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. And they claimed responsibility for the attack on a number of jihadi Web sites yesterday. They claim that they gave explosives to Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the suspect in the case that the FBI now has in custody. And in their Internet statement, the group sort of crowed about the facts that Abdulmutallab was able to get past all this modern advanced technology and security in international airports and managed to get this explosive on Northwest Flight 253.

INSKEEP: Ok, they can do their crowing, but has the United States acknowledged that these folks might actually be responsible?

TEMPLE-RASTON: Well, that's unclear. I mean, there are a lot of things that sort of indicate that they might have been responsible, some circumstantial evidence; this is very similar to some other attacks that the FBI has confirmed that they were part of.

INSKEEP: We're talking with NPR's Dina Temple-Raston about the investigation of the Christmas Day attempted bombing of an American airliner heading into Detroit. And Dina, as you know well, the administration is facing criticism here, because the man allegedly made it onto a plane and was only stopped by a faulty detonator and by the passengers. How is President Obama's administration changing what it says about that as the days go on?

TEMPLE-RASTON: Well, the Obama administration is taking a look at, for example, watch lists and no-fly lists to see how people get on those lists and how their - how information is shared. In addition to that, we know that airport security is really being beefed up. They're being very vague about how it's being beefed up because it's different in every location.

INSKEEP: They started out saying the system worked. It sounds like they now acknowledge that maybe it didn't.

TEMPLE-RASTON: Oh, that's right. The secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, backtracked yesterday. Over the weekend, she was saying this all worked because the attack wasn't successful. And finally, yesterday, she said, well, in fact, the explosives got on the plane, so something is wrong and we're checking into our systems.

INSKEEP: This must be a situation where if you're the FBI, you're very careful about anything that you say.

TEMPLE-RASTON: Well, yes, very much. There is a criminal case going on right now. If they say that Abdulmutallab is part of al-Qaida, for example, which is something they have not said so far. They need to be able to prove it and they don't want to sort of queer the case. But that said, there is lots of circumstantial evidence that suggests al-Qaida is involved.

INSKEEP: Do you have any sense, Dina Temple-Raston, from the people that you're speaking with, whether this suspect - who is in custody, who has made some statements - has been, in any way, useful to investigators or what other leads that they have that they can pursue here?

TEMPLE-RASTON: It's very unclear. He apparently has told investigators that there are other people like him in Yemen. By that, I think, he means there are other bombers who are prepared to get on U.S. flights. But clearly they haven't been able to confirm that. In fact, until the Yemeni government confirmed that this young man had been in Yemen from August to December, the FBI hadn't been able to actually place him in that country. So, they're trying to figure out who it is he talked to when he was there, and then the investigation will branch out from there.

INSKEEP: We're going to talk a lot more about Yemen in just a few seconds, but let me ask you. When you speak with investigators in your job, Dina Temple-Raston, how often do they raise Yemen as a place of concern?

TEMPLE-RASTON: Well, it's interesting. Everybody's sort of focused on Yemen, all of a sudden, now, but in fact, Yemen has been a problem for some time. It was the kidnapping capital of the world for a long time. Al-Qaida has, long time, had a presence there. The government is not very effective there, so it's an easy place for people to go and hide out. You'll recall there are lots of different plots that have taken place here in this country, that have been broken up, that somehow have a Yemeni connection. For example, in the fall, there was a man called Mehanna, out of Boston, who wanted to shoot up shopping malls. He'd gone to Yemen to try and get some sort of training to do that.

INSKEEP: Dina, thanks very much.

TEMPLE-RASTON: You're welcome.

INSKEEP: That's NPR's Dina Temple-Raston this morning.


Copyright 2005 National Public Radio, Inc.. All rights reserved.

NSW: Girl, 12, approached by man: police

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2009
NSW: Girl, 12, approached by man: police

SYDNEY, Aug 17 AAP - A 12-year-old girl has been approached by a man who repeatedly
tried to coax her into his car in southwest Sydney, police say.

The youngster was walking along Charles Street at Liverpool about 11am (AEST) on Sunday
when a man driving a white Toyota Corolla began waving at her.

"The girl did not respond and the car continued for a short distance before stopping
and quickly reversing backwards for about 100 metres on the wrong side of the road to
her position," police said in a statement.

"The man began to speak with the girl before allegedly trying to coax her into his
car three times.

"The child refused before walking away and calling her mother."

Police want to speak with the man who is described as being of Middle Eastern appearance,
about 40, with shaved black hair but an unshaven face.

At the time of the incident, the man wore a dark blue t-shirt.

Anyone with information about the man or who witnessed the girl allegedly being approach,
should contact police.

AAP ad/hn/ash

KEYWORD: COAX

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Nude beaches could shore up wobbly industry: survey

AAP General News (Australia)
04-07-2009
Qld: Nude beaches could shore up wobbly industry: survey

Four in 10 travellers say nudist beaches would boost tourism numbers to Australia.

Travel website totaltravel.com has surveyed 12 hundred people and found more than 40
per cent are happy for beachgoers to strip .. but many want appropriate signage to mark
nudist beaches.

Meanwhile .. 33 per cent of those surveyed say nude sunbathing is distasteful and should
be banned.

AAP RTV jmm/pjo/ka

KEYWORD: TOURISM NUDIST (BRISBANE)

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Man pleads not guilty in Internet sex case ; Michael Berk is accused of offering to pay for sex with a Biddeford girl, 12.

TREVOR MAXWELL By TREVOR MAXWELL Staff Writer
Portland Press Herald (Maine)
12-02-2008
Man pleads not guilty in Internet sex case ; Michael Berk is accused of offering to pay for sex with a Biddeford girl, 12.
Byline: TREVOR MAXWELL By TREVOR MAXWELL Staff Writer
Edition: Final
Section: Local & State
Type: News

A 28-year-old Brownfield man, accused of trying to rent a 12- year-old girl for sex, remains in federal custody after pleading not guilty on Monday.

Michael Berk waived his right to a bail hearing at U.S. District Court in Portland. His trial date was set for Feb. 2.
The federal prosecutor said additional charges involving child pornography are forthcoming against Berk. Investigators believe he may have traveled to Thailand last spring, and images on his seized laptop computer show Thai children engaged in sex acts, according to court documents.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Halsey Frank declined to comment on the ongoing investigation, but said he expects to file new charges against Berk.

In August, Berk allegedly responded to a help-wanted advertisement posted by a Biddeford man on the Internet site Craigslist. The man said he needed work to help provide for four children. Berk allegedly offered to pay the man to have sex with his 12-year-old daughter. The man called police.

On Aug. 28, Biddeford police and detectives from the Maine Computer Crimes Task Force conducted a sting at a Dunkin' Donuts store in Westbrook. They arrested Berk after a conversation between him and an undercover officer.

"The man offered $300 per week for three times per week with the girl. The entire conversation was recorded," task force Detective Laurie Northrup said in an affidavit.

Northrup said Berk waived his Miranda rights and cooperated with investigators after the arrest. Berk admitted that he had traveled to Westbrook to arrange payment to have sex with a 12-year-old, Northrup said.

Berk was released on $1,000 bail a day after the arrest. That same day, police executed a search warrant for Berk's Volkswagen sedan and his home at 715 Spring St. in Brownfield. Among the items found were a laptop computer, a hard drive, routers, other computer equipment and three digital cameras.

"Stored on the hard drive of the computer they found images that appeared to be minors engaged in sexual activity and the children may be of Thai origin. It also appears that Mr. Berk may have been in Thailand in the spring of 2008 based on video clips that appear to depict Thailand in a file named Thailand," Northrup said in the affidavit. "The clips appear to have been created by one of the cameras found in Mr. Berk's possession."

Northrup consulted with federal prosecutors and a warrant was issued for Berk's arrest. Police arrested him Oct. 7 in Frederick County, Md. Berk was indicted by a grand jury on Nov. 20, on two counts of using the Internet to coerce or entice a female.

That crime is punishable by a minimum of 10 years in prison.

Berk lived in Maine once before and had resided in Brownfield since February or March. He also lived in Texas, Arizona, New York and New Jersey, police say.

Staff Writer Trevor Maxwell can be contacted at 791-6451 or at:

tmaxwell@pressherald.com

Illustrations/Photos:
Caption: Michael Berk

Copyright 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

Fed: Seven rallies behind McKenney

AAP General News (Australia)
04-29-2008
Fed: Seven rallies behind McKenney

By Katherine Field, National Entertainment Writer

SYDNEY, April 29 AAP - The Seven Network has rallied behind Todd McKenney, saying his
judging position on Dancing With The Stars is safe despite drugs charges against him.

McKenney, who also co-hosts a breakfast radio show on Mix 106.5 FM, was charged with
drug possession after he was found unconscious in Sydney's Rushcutter's Bay park on Friday
afternoon.

Amid speculation that McKenney's position as a judge on the reality TV dancing show
could be cut, Seven today insisted it was standing by McKenney.

A Seven spokeswoman said McKenney was already involved in pre-production for the show,
due to return in the second half of the year.

She said that reports he would not rejoin the hit dancing show were "wrong".

"We feel for Todd and what he is going through here, which is obviously a very tough
time," the Seven spokeswoman told AAP today.

"He's a valued member of our team and we're looking forward to getting down to work
on the next project together."

Seven also hosed down rumours that one of the heads of Dancing With The Stars had bailed
out on a meeting with McKenney yesterday, saying there was never any meeting.

"That's absolute rubbish," the spokeswoman said.

McKenney, the original Boy from Oz star, has vowed to fight the charges, saying his
drink was spiked.

Reports have claimed he had up to 10 doses of the illegal drug GHB, or fantasy on him
when he was found and had been partying until the early hours of the morning.

McKenney had been expected to do an interview with Today Tonight but backed out because
his lawyers advised against it.

The Seven spokeswoman today said there was no McKenney interview in the Today Tonight
line-up in the short term.

McKenney is set to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on May 16.

AAP kaf/srp/cdh

KEYWORD: MCKENNEY

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Rough surf claims life of male windsurfer

AAP General News (Australia)
12-27-2007
Qld: Rough surf claims life of male windsurfer

Police say a Cairns man has died after a wind surfing accident on Queensland's Sunshine
Coast yesterday.

The 43-year-old man apparently experienced difficulties in heavy surf at the Caloundra bar.

A person in a nearby high rise unit spotted him and notified police about 3.10 (AEST)
yesterday afternoon.

Water police and surf life savers found the man floating face down .. and tried to
resuscitate him.

Police say he was taken by ambulance to Caloundra Hospital where he died a short time later.

A report is to be prepared for the coroner.

AAP RTV dmc/tm

KEYWORD: WINDSURFER (BRISBANE)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Woman killed in highway smash

AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-2007
NSW: Woman killed in highway smash

SYDNEY, Aug 18 AAP - Police are appealing for witnesses to a horror highway smash on
the NSW north coast between a car and semi trailer in which a young woman died.

The head-on collision occurred about 5.45pm (AEST) yesterday on the Pacific Highway
north of Grafton.

Police have been told a Holden sedan was turning right from the northbound side of
the Pacific Highway into Watts Road.

A front seat passenger in the sedan, a 22-year-old Yamba woman, died at the scene.

The 27-year-old male driver was airlifted to Lismore Base Hospital with serious injuries.

The 48-year-old truck driver was taken to Maclean Hospital and treated for shock.

A southbound lane of the Pacific Highway was closed for about four hours.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

AAP sk/it

KEYWORD: TOLL NSW DAYLEAD

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

CORRRECTION CORRECTION CORRECTION

AAP General News (Australia)
04-03-2007
CORRRECTION CORRECTION CORRECTION

Eds: In story keyworded LIVING, ex Sydney, sent at approx 1149 AEST, please amend third
par to read:





Sydney ranks ninth on the list, ahead of Melbourne at 17, Perth at 21, Adelaide at
30 and Brisbane at 32.



(correcting that Adelaide is at 30, sted 32 as sent, and Brisbane at 32, sted 31, on
updated advice from Mercer.)



A corrected repeat will follow.



AAP wjf

KEYWORD: LIVING CORRRECTION

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Man charged after punching policeman

AAP General News (Australia)
12-02-2006
Qld: Man charged after punching policeman

Police in Brisbane have charged a 25-year-old man .. who allegedly towed a skateboarder
behind his motorcycle .. and punched a policeman for stopping him.

The Runaway Bay man has been charged with three counts of serious assault and nine
traffic offences.

A Redland Bay woman has been charged with obstructing police.

Both will appear in the Cleveland Magistrates Court on December 21.

The incident allegedly happened in Victoria Point last night.

AAP RTV sjk/ibw

KEYWORD: SKATE (BRISBANE)

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Break-ins, car thefts down - ABS

AAP General News (Australia)
04-26-2006
Fed: Break-ins, car thefts down - ABS

New figures from the Bureau of Stats show break-ins and motor vehicle thefts have fallen
dramatically in the past three years.

Household break-ins in the year to April 2005 were down by 27 per cent on 2002 figures.

The number of households which were victim to car theft almost halved.





Victoria and Tasmania had the lowest number of victims of theft .. with five per cent
of households experiencing at least one break-in .. attempted break-in or motor vehicle
theft.

The Northern Territory had the highest incident level at 13 per cent.

AAP RTV ms/so/ibw/bart

KEYWORD: THEFT (CANBERRA)

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Four men face court over "brutal" pub attack

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-2005
Qld: Four men face court over "brutal" pub attack

By Johanna Leggatt

BRISBANE, Aug 24 AAP - Three drunken men launched a brutal attack on four pub employees,
shattering one of their eye sockets, after being refused entry to the hotel, a Brisbane
court has been told.

Brisbane men Scott Aaron Freier, Joshua William Price and Brett Sidney Sargeant, all
26, pleaded guilty in the Queensland District Court today to assaulting bouncers Adrianus
Pemen and Cameron Mathams as well as duty manger Daniel Begley and barman Wayne Francis.

Freier is facing a further charge of grievous bodily harm, to which he also pleaded
guilty, for the king hit he delivered to Mr Pemen which rendered him lifeless on the ground.

The assault at the Glen Hotel in Eight Mile Plains, south of Brisbane, was captured
on film by security video and played to the court today.

Prosecutor James Godbolt described the attack as "substantial and vicious and brutal"

and said all three men should face a period of imprisonment.

Judge Julie Ryrie adjourned her sentencing until Tuesday.

The court was told Mr Pemen refused the three men entry on December 14, 2003, after
he saw Sargeant urinating against a tree.

The trio then assaulted both Mr Pemen and Mr Mathams. A tape played in court showed
a number of punches being thrown as the bouncers tried to defend themselves.

The men left but returned not long after, and it was then that Freier delivered the
king hit to Mr Pemen, the court was told.

Mr Begley and Mr Francis, who were present in court today, rushed out to help but were
also assaulted.

Mr Pemen's injuries included substantial bruising, a split lip, a depressed left cheek
and a shattered eye socket.

A titanium plate had to be inserted into his cheek to fix the injury.

Mr Mathams, Mr Begley and Mr Francis all suffered cuts and abrasions.

Freier later told police he felt remorse for what he had done.

AAP jtl/wh/lma/sd

KEYWORD: PUB WITH PIX

2005 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Accidents involving accelarants leading cause of burns

AAP General News (Australia)
12-22-2004
Vic: Accidents involving accelarants leading cause of burns

A new study has revealed misuse or careless use of accelerants is the leading cause
of burn-related admissions to Melbourne hospitals.

The Metropolitan Fire Brigade study shows almost one-fifth of those hospitalised with
burns between July 1998 and June 2003 were exposed to highly flammable materials.

The report's found smoking or lighting a match near highly flammable liquids and throwing
petrol or aerosol cans into a fire were major causes of accelerant-related accidents.

The study has revealed more than 900 people were admitted to hospitals for treatment for burns.

Nine per cent of those admitted to hospital had been involved in an explosion involving
materials other than accelerants, while six per cent had harmed themselves.

About one-third of those who visited hospitals with burns had injuries to the upper
body, including the hands.

AAP RTV kw/gfr/ved/jo

KEYWORD: BURNS (MELBOURNE)

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Indian Flood

Indian Flood See Fish and the Flood.

Depression starts whenever a 'hot woman' appears

Dear Ellie: I'm a man in my 20s who gets depressed when I see a beautiful woman. Whether I'm walking down the street, watching TV (an actress or an anchorwoman), see a friend's girlfriend or any other hot girl, I'll get depressed.

I avoid watching certain shows or even award shows because I know I'll see tons of gorgeous girls and get depressed because I don't have one myself. This happens primarily because I feel my life would be much better if I had a woman who was drop-dead gorgeous. I also feel this would stop the negative feelings I have when I do see a beautiful woman.

I've had a few girlfriends before but none of them have been gorgeous. They've been sweet, nice and cute but not hot.

I'm a good-looking guy, but for some reason I never get the hot girl. How can I stop these feelings?

Blue

DEAR BLUE: Look deeply at yourself instead of gazing at women so superficially. You are without a girlfriend for all the wrong reasons; by thinking a "drop-dead" beauty will rescue you from your imperfect life, you demonstrate how inadequate and insecure you really feel.

You need professional help to examine why you value yourself so low, other than granting yourself marks for having decent looks. Beautiful women also have brains and are rarely drawn to a guy who's only looking for "eye candy" to draw attention to himself as a so-called success.

See your family doctor if your depression continues and ask for a referral to see an individual counselor about your low self-image.

Dear Ellie: My ex-husband and I separated a year ago; he told me he couldn't live with me anymore. Our baby was then a year old and we were almost at our 10th anniversary. After a year of agony and frustration while we tried to get a separation agreement finalized, he now says he loves me and wants to come back. He recounts it as being a "fight" and he's sorry.

I see no possibility to reunite. He'd taken me and our marriage for granted and lied to me about secret relationships, among other things. His priorities are video games and internet porn. I'm tired of taking care of a 40-year-old child.

The way he's treated me since our separation proves he has no respect for me or my family. I explained this to him and written him in detail. Now I avoid talking to him.

I have a wonderful family with my parents and my daughter. How do I convince him it's over?

Closing Down

DEAR CLOSING DOWN: Your child deserves the effort you must make to finish this properly. That involves not only a separation agreement, including custody and access issues. As well, "separation counseling" may be required to help both of you move on.

Despite your decision being final, it's worthwhile to attend at least one joint session and several individual sessions with the clear purpose of accepting that there's going to be a divorce, and that the two of you still need to communicate with regard to your child.

Your family may be supportive, but this man will also be in your life because of your joint responsibility to your daughter. She needs to have contact with her father. You want to encourage this despite your anger, as it is in your child's best interests emotionally.

Ellie's column runs Monday through Friday. Send e-mail to askellie@suntimes.com.

HOST WITH THE MOST CATERER SHARES HER SECRETS FOR GREAT PARTIES.(Home Front)

Byline: Rebecca Jones News Staff Writer

Caterer Sheila Middendorf says a great host is like a great general: It takes a mishap to see his or her genius.

``Don't ever let your guests see your mistakes,'' Middendorf advises students in her ``Dazzling Catering Secrets'' class, offered through Colorado Free University. ``To guests, you should make it all look easy.''

That may mean improvising. Who will know you didn't originally intend to serve the cheesecake without the chocolate sauce that burned on the stove? When confronted with disaster, don't panic, says Middendorf. Think!

Setbacks will occur, even to the most seasoned entertainer. But the wise host will avoid much misfortune simply by (a) making a plan and sticking to it; and (b) doing as much of the food preparation as possible in advance.

``The first thing you do is get your menu planned,'' says Middendorf, a professional caterer for 10 years who now works for the Colorado Catering Co. Decide whether you want to set up a buffet or have a sit-down meal. Do you want serving stations? A themed meal? Do any guests have food allergies or require a special menu?

``Know exactly what you're going to serve,'' Middendorf says. ``Then don't suddenly change your mind at the grocery store. You only want to have to make one trip to the store.''

Planning and preparing a spectacular menu is, of course, only half the task for a host. Presentation of the meal is just as important, Middendorf says.

``I can't say enough about decorative linen,'' Middendorf says. A pretty tablecloth is nice, but what about spreading your buffet atop a length of lame, trimmed with a flounce of tulle? It will be ever so much more elegant.

Props make a buffet more interesting, too. Bunches of fruit, either real or plastic, Chianti bottles, slabs of marble, a wicker wine rack.

If you're really out to impress and you suspect your mismatched hand-me-down

INFOBOX

For a great-looking buffet

Remember to elevate. ``Elevation gives depth and dimension to your buffet,'' says Sheila Middendorf. Place your dishes at different levels. Use anything sturdy as your foundation - a plastic crate, a coffee can, a couple of bricks. It doesn't matter how prosaic the object because that lovely decorative linen will be covering it up, making it look exquisite.

Caterer's tips

* Allow about 1 pound of food per person, including 4 ounces of meat for brunch or lunch, 6 to 8 ounces of meat for dinner.

* Anything deep-fried holds well in the oven if you want to keep it warm until time to serve. Cheesy dishes do not.

* If you succumb to the temptation to buy prepared foods, don't skimp and buy the cheapest thing you can find. Get top quality.

* Great food and cooking Web sites exist all over the Internet. Two of the best: foodtv.com and iVillage.com.

* All napkin-folding instruction books are about the same. Caterer Sheila Middendorf uses Great Napkin Folding and Table Setting by Marianne Muller and Ola Mikolasek.

SUGGESTED BRUNCH MENU

Omelet station: shredded cheeses, diced ham, crumbled bacon, turkey sausage, diced onion, sliced mushrooms, diced green and red peppers.

Crepes station: blueberry filling, cherry filling, sour cream, cinnamon.

Buffet table: spiral cut ham, fresh fruit, assorted miniature Danishes and muffins.

Beverages: coffee (regular and decaf), hot tea, orange juice, apple juice, cranberry juice.

Dessert: minifruit tarts, mini chocolate mousse tarts.

CAPTION(S):

Photo (2)

Caterer Sheila Middendorf reveals some trade secrets of setting a beautiful table. By Jessica Tefft / Special to the News.

CAPTION: Pictured below ar the basic plates and flatware for hosting a party. By Jessica Tefft / Special to the News.