The Best Revenge

Do you want to hurt someone because he or she hurt you? Do you need to get even? Are you seeking revenge?

You might think the best revenge is to destroy your enemies. Make them regret ever messing with you. Prove you are more powerful.

For example, Peter and his wife Samantha owned the best restaurant in town. Yet when Peter caught Samantha having an affair, he not only asked for a divorce, he decided to get even. He made sure they fought over every tiny detail of the divorce for three years. In the end, their lawyers had new Mercedes; Peter and Samantha had nothing.

Fighting an enemy can take over your life and cost you enormous amounts of money and time. For example, you get into a car accident, hurt your back and sue the automobile company for an unsafe design. You then spend years proving you are a victim and suffering, when instead, you should be working on your success.

Some people think the best way to get revenge is with violence. They throw a rock, punch a nose or start a war. Yet if you use violence for revenge, you hurt innocent people. You destroy lives. You might even end in up in jail.

So what is the best way to get revenge?

"Sometimes others seek to crush one down, to make nothing out of one’s hopes and dreams, one’s future and one, himself.

"By ridicule and many other means, another who is evil-intentioned toward one can try to bring about one’s decline.

"It is sometimes necessary to handle such directly. But there is a long range handling that seldom fails.

"The real handling of such a situation and such people, the real way to defeat them is to flourish and prosper.

"Oh, yes, it is true that such people, seeing one improve his lot*, can become frantic and attack all the harder. The thing to do is handle them if one must but don’t give up flourishing and prospering for that is what such people want you to do.

If you flourish and prosper more and more, such people go into apathy** about it; they can give it up completely.

"And that is my wish for you: flourish and prosper!" -- L. Ron Hubbard from The Way to Happiness (*lot: one’s destiny or condition in life) (**apathy: complete failure, no feeling, no emotion)

10 Benefits of Getting Revenge by Flourishing and Prospering

1. You feel powerful, not like a victim.

2. Your enemy gives up.

3. Your personal image is improved.

4. You do not waste your time or money in a fight you might lose.

5. You are more motivated to be successful.

6. Bad guys cannot pull you down to their level of evil.

7. Once you defeat your enemies by succeeding, they do not try again. Of course, if they try again, you simply flourish and prosper more than ever!

8. Potential enemies see how you succeed, despite others' opposition, and don't even try.

9. Thanks to an enemy, you end up with more money, more control and more power.

10. You are much, much happier.

Learn more about "The Way to Happiness" at www.twth.org.



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Provided by TipsForSuccess.org as a public service to introduce the technology of L. Ron Hubbard to you.


Copyright © 2010 TipsForSuccess.org. All rights reserved. Grateful acknowledgment is made to L. Ron Hubbard Library for permission to reproduce selections from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard.

People Follow Your Example

Like it or Not, People Follow Your Example

You may not realize how much influence you have on others. You might be the newest guy at the lowest-paying job in the worst company, but you still influence people.

For example, if you walk around work with speed and determination, others will notice this and feel more like walking around with speed and determination. As a new assistant, you therefore influence your boss.

If you taste a cookie in a restaurant and smile, people notice this. They will be happy to taste that type of cookie.

As another example, your friends are laughing at an overweight woman, but you don't laugh. In fact, you frown. You don't say anything. They stop laughing at the woman and may stop making fun of overweight women, because of your example.

"There are many people one influences. The influence can be good or it can be bad." "The way to happiness requires that one set a good example for others." -- L. Ron Hubbard

Children follow examples set by their parents, employees follow examples set by their bosses, and group members follow examples set by their leaders. Yet examples set by children, employees and group members also have an effect.

Set a Good Example

What kind of influence do you wish to cause? How do you want people to behave around you?

Do you like others to be clean, kind, patient, hard-working and honest? Respectful, understanding, interested, cheerful and polite? Healthy, persistent, smart, organized and fair?

By setting an example, you influence others. So the type of influence you wish to make is your choice.

For example, if you want people at work to be more supportive, start being more supportive yourself for several days and see what happens!

1. Write down how you want people to behave at your work and at home.

2. Write down how you can set the example for that behavior.

3. Set the example for a week.

4. Notice what happens.

5. Use this tool to create new happiness and success in your life.

Give it a try!



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Provided by TipsForSuccess.org as a public service to introduce the technology of L. Ron Hubbard to you.


Copyright © 2010 TipsForSuccess.org. All rights reserved. Grateful acknowledgment is made to L. Ron Hubbard Library for permission to reproduce selections from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard.

Do You Ever Try To Avoid Work ?

"Selling advertising space for Independent News limited can earn our top sellers generous bonuses," says our CEO and local news editor Duncan Williams; "Additionally, we offer all our media sales staff ongoing training and full support . We are a company that really cares that you succeed!"

The Secret of How to Build a Cash Surplus

If you had saved 10% of your income since you started working, how much money would you have right now?

Having a big savings account has many advantages. For example:

● You have the option of getting into activities you enjoy

● You can get out of activities you do not enjoy

● You have more choices of where to live

● Emergencies and potential emergencies are less stressful

● You can help the people you love with their emergencies

● You do not feel trapped by your job

● You can devote more time and money to the activities you love

The Problems

Building a surplus of cash for yourself can be very difficult. An immediate need feels more stressful than a future need. Or you earn some money and want to reward yourself.

Even if you manage to save some money, you are tempted to spend it. You have an emergency or find something you really want to buy. You promise yourself you'll pay it back to your cash reserve, but you never do.

Saving money takes a lot self-discipline. However, even though it is difficult to save money each month, most people can pay their bills.

The Secret

"When a surplus is made part of the ‘need' by disguised outgo, a surplus occurs. Only then will it occur. It will not happen otherwise." -- L. Ron Hubbard

If you pay your bills, you can also save money. You arrange bills that are actually savings. You won't miss the money.

For example, you arrange a monthly debit from your checking account into a saving account. Any bank can set up a savings plan for you.

Certain credit card programs allow you to make monthly payments into an investment account, such as savings accounts with insurance companies or banks. The amount you authorize is automatically charged to your credit card each month.

You can pay money toward a future purchase by making an agreement with the group you want to buy from. For example, some colleges allow you to freeze the tuition, if you make monthly payments.

You can also sign up for your company's payroll savings plan or retirement plan. You tell your employer how much to save for you. Your savings is withheld from your pay, just like your tax payments.

Even though opportunities to create a bill that becomes a savings account are not widely promoted, they are available.

Recommendations

1. Decide how much you wish to save each month. The amount should not be so high that it becomes a burden, but you might be surprised how easily you can live on 90% of your current income when you are saving 10%. If none of the above examples fit your situation, talk to someone at your bank, at your job or at an investment company. You might also ask people who have made themselves wealthy as they will have good ideas.

2. Then find a bill or system that will force you to save money. The need to pay the disguised bill must be as urgent as any of your other bills. In other words, you must pay it each month, without fail.

3. The cash reserve must also be difficult for you to spend. For some people, a small penalty is enough to leave the money alone. For others, it must be more difficult. For example, you can set up a joint account so another person must approve your withdrawal from your savings.

4. Finally, the saving account must also increase each month, by itself. All banks pay interest if the money is flowing into the right type of account. Anything is better than nothing!

Make this small, but important change to your finances and you will have more options for success in your future!


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Provided by TipsForSuccess.org as a public service to introduce the technology of L. Ron Hubbard to you.


Copyright © 2010 TipsForSuccess.org. All rights reserved. Grateful acknowledgment is made to L. Ron Hubbard Library for permission to reproduce selections from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard.

The New White knights of Camelot

THE NEW LIGHT KNIGHTS OF CAMELOT CASTLE from Camelot Castle on Vimeo.

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Regional magazines and newspapers can help promote your business

You deserve a Kingdom

You deserve a kingdom.

For example, Bob is the king of the little-league baseball team he coaches. Kelli is the queen of the company she started. Peter's kingdom is a garden or a coin collection.

Stella is the queen over the report filing department. Fred commands the school. Linda rules everything and everyone within her kitchen.

"There is no happiness higher than to be king in some corner -- no man* is worth anything who is not." -- L. Ron Hubbard (*man: a member of mankind; a man, woman or child)

So what is your kingdom? What are your goals for your kingdom? What new kingdom do you wish to rule?

Recommendations

Define your kingdom. You are the ruler of your own life, your own space, your own activities, your own possessions. You influence people. You command an area of this world.

Allow others to be part of your kingdom. Let them create their own kingdoms inside or outside your kingdom. As a result, your kingdom will grow.

Rule your kingdom with kindness and wisdom. Set goals to expand it and make it more successful. Use your kingdom for good and your happiness is guaranteed!


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Provided by TipsForSuccess.org as a public service to introduce the technology of L. Ron Hubbard to you.


Copyright © 2010 TipsForSuccess.org. All rights reserved. Grateful acknowledgment is made to L. Ron Hubbard Library for permission to reproduce selections from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard.

Anonymous bullies target famous Cornish Hotel, increasing local media interest!

Nobody likes a bigot. The recent anti religious rantings of Pastor Terry Jones, on the anniversary of 9/11, attests to this. His words and threats were reviled by good people and faiths the world over.

But an anonymous bigot is a different breed of creature altogether.

Too cowardly to openly voice their diatribes, too wretched to sign a name to their hateful cant.

Sadly, the internet can often be abused by those who bare ill will. Victims for slander can be easily targeted by cowards.

With these thoughts in mind, and because of the ongoing vitriolic attacks, by bigots, towards a tourist hotel and many people resident in the small town of Tintagel in Cornwall, our media company is restating our support.

Our own Director of Publishing, Duncan Williams, who was himself brought up in the North Cornwall area, is said to be appalled by the lies and accusations that are set to 'damage Tintagel' irreparably if left unchallenged.

"What good is achieved for this town?" says our publisher. "Particularly during a period of recession, by badmouthing its largest hotel? What gain is there for the community?"

Hysterical internet postings, over many weeks now, have centred upon John Mappin, his Kazakhstan born wife, Irina, and a resident painter named Ted Stourton, who are each co-owners of Tintagel's famous Camelot Castle Hotel.

John says; "At Camelot Castle we have a business policy of trying to use local Tintagel traders and to buy locally wherever possible. We are all learning this week what it might mean to our village to lose an important business. Once the heart of a village dies it can be very hard to breath life back into it."

However, the roots of this controversy seem to centre around the Mappin's involvement in the mysterious Scientology 'religion'. Itself often accused of bullying tactics towards its own members.

Unrelenting web outbursts and a cruel hate campaign by email, attacking the owners of the clifftop resort, their friends, business associates, and even their foreign employees, have all been swamping the internet for weeks now. It is clearly having an adverse effect on business.

"Bigotry like this is totally unacceptable," insists Duncan Williams. His independent news company has even been accused, quite wrongly, of 'bribery by the American Church' in order to support their corner in print. "There is no prejudicial bias in any of our publications. It goes against everything I believe in."

Williams, whose grandfather was a local C of E vicar, goes on to say; "Cornwall has always been a place where all kinds of people are welcomed, from all walks of life, wherever they are from and whatever their faith may happen to be - and no matter how eccentric it might seem to others..."

It would be a sad day, indeed, if this were ever to change. A sad day for Tintagel. And a sad day for Cornwall.

"Standing up to bullies is never easy," laments John Mappin.

Standing up to an anonymous bully, perhaps harder still.

But, as anyone working in the media knows only too well; words that can be used to hurt can equally be used, with truth and time, to heal.

And all bullies and bigots must, and will, be brought to heel.


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More information can be found at;
http://www.whyweprotest.net
http://www.camelotcastle.com

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Independent News Ltd. - Established publisher of UK regional newspapers and magazines. Offering distribution and marketing opportunities in key locations throughout Great Britain.
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Doing The Work You Were Born To Do

By Catherine Trebble

Have you ever felt like you were born to do something in particular with your life? Maybe you don't really understand why, but you feel yourself pulled in a particular direction and feel like if you don't do it now, you will regret it.

You might very well have a job right now that isn't so bad. Maybe you enjoy the people you work with and you get joy out of it. But it's still not what you really want to be doing with your life. It could be that you ended up in the job that you are in now because you took a wrong turn somewhere in your life, or maybe it's just because you've just never mustered up enough courage to take whatever leap you need to take to do what it is that you know you want to do.

As a person who has always had that feeling inside me, I can tell you from my own personal experience that if you feel yourself being pulled in a certain direction when it comes to your career, don't ignore it. Even if you feel right now is the worst time possible for you to just drop everything and pursue the job of your dreams, you can at least stop ignoring your calling and start working on a plan to get you from where you are right now to where you want to be.

When we're little, we always have an idea of what we want to be when we grow up. More often than not, we miss the boat and don't always get to realize our childhood dreams. As we grow older, not only do our interests change, but our realities change as well. But that doesn't mean you've missed the boat entirely.

There are many opportunities awaiting you out there. It all starts with working out what's right for you and then designing a plan that will help you get from where you are right now to where you want to be.

This plan will not only help make the transition from your comfort zone to your new career environment a lot smoother and easier to navigate, it will also help you achieve the happiness you want and deserve in your life.

There is a lot of truth in the saying "Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life." When you do what you love, your entire outlook when it comes to work changes. Stress is minimized, your confidence and self esteem rises, and life is more enjoyable and fulfilling all around. When you love what you do for a living, you will find it easier to give more of yourself and to be the best at what you do. Because when you care about what you are doing, your heart is in it!

In life, there are no guarantees. You may think that you can pursue your dreams later, but if you continue to put things off, you may run out of time and there may be no later. We all know people who never 'got around to it'. So act now-even if the first step is to simply acknowledge what it is you want to do with your life. After that, it's all about making a plan and taking the steps, no matter how little or big, to launch you into doing what you know you were born to do.

Copyright (c) 2010 Catherine Trebble. All Rights Reserved.

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The era of the 'new media baron' dawns at Camelot Castle, Cornwall

Camelot Castle Hotel in Tintagel, Cornwall, plays host to celebrities, business owners and media leaders; where talks are held, sometimes late into the night, to uphold the values of positive news reporting

The names John Mappin and Duncan Williams are synonymous with local media.

Both men have strong links to Cornwall, and both have been pioneers of positive news reporting; pledging to use media as a tool to improve understanding, communication and peace.

Lately, John Mappin is just as well known for his remarkable restoration of Tintagel's Camelot Castle Hotel; now an international focal point for members of the celebrity and media worlds. In fact, Camelot has once again become a global round table where decisions are made.

Nicolas Cage, Kate Winslet, Buzz Aldrin, Donald Pleasence, the Emir of Quatar, key business leaders, politicians and even a Russian Oil Oligarch, have all enjoyed visits and talked into the small hours at Camelot Castle.

Williams himself recalls his first memorable visit to the hotel, some years ago, when it was being used as a movie set for a big budget adaptation of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'.

"Some while later John Mappin and I were working together on a small newspaper," says Duncan. "Which, at the time, was one of the very few in this country to make a brave stand against the pressured political cries for an invasion of Afghanistan."

Under Tony Blair, most major newspapers and indeed old school 'press barons' toed the line and printed the lie. Now look at what has resulted!

Duncan Williams went on to form his own ethical publishing company, printing 1000s of copies of a successful self help book, then created a series of regional newspaper and magazine titles.

Mappin and Williams hold the view that society and survival are in grave danger when false reporting or incorrect data are used to justify an unsound government agenda.

Media then has a duty to report the truth. Positive reporting is ethical reporting. Transmitting a fact without recourse to negative spin.

"It is sad to read so much negativity about the work that goes on at Camelot Castle," says Duncan. "John Mappin, his wife Irina and resident artist Ted Stourton all contribute a huge amount to Cornwall. They offer their home as a base for debate about issues concerning local and national media."

And these are issues that still concern us all ...

To find out more about the real Camelot Castle Hotel follow these links below;

http://www.camelotcastle.com

http://vimeo.com/13887539
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Independent News Ltd. - Established publisher of UK regional newspapers and magazines. Offering distribution and marketing opportunities in key locations throughout Great Britain.

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WRITERS WANTED!

How do I get a break into the competitive world of journalism?

We are regularly asked if we 'have any vacancies for journalists on our newspaper and magazine titles?'

The answer is; yes! ... We are always on the lookout for genuinely talented people. YOU are the lifeblood of future reporting and the news industry depends upon your input.

But first of all we need to know that you can develop the same high standard we have come to expect from our team of writers?

To give you a chance to shine as a scribe we select interns who can trial for a period as 'guest bloggers' on one of our publication's websites; working on established regional newspapers and magazines that go out in key areas throughout the UK.

In this way you get a chance to put your news and views across direct to our readers, 1000s of them, often gaining you an immediate following and linking your name, as a brand new journalist, with one of Britain's most successful and prolific regional publishing companies.

So, if you are really interested in making an impression and possibly joining our professional team of bloggers for a 12 week period of free training, please read the five tips below and then do get in touch with us...

Five Tips Every Guest Blogger Should Know


One of the best ways to increase your visibility is to become a guest blogger at a popular blog. This is a chance for you to gain exposure to a new audience and credibility by being associated with highly-respected bloggers with major followings. Guest blogging is a win-win situation for everyone if done right: the blog gets excellent and free content to use while the guest blogger gets increased exposure for their blog, brand or products.

Of course, there are many other people who want to become guest bloggers for the same reason it might make sense for you to do the same. In order to get the prime guest blogging spots on the top sites you need to make yourself and your content stand out from the pack. Here are five tips on how to make that happen:

1. Read and Understand the Blog: It's amazing how many people contact major blogs wanting to be guest bloggers without fully understanding what the blog is all about. Each blog has its own topics that are of interest to the owners and their readers. If you suggest content which is not appropriate your guest blogging request is going to be denied.

Instead, read through the past two to three months of blog posts to see what topics the blog is focused on. You'll want to avoid pitching topic ideas that have already been covered, but at the same time you might be able to pitch a rebuttal to a previous post or a different take on a popular theme. This will also give you a strong sense for the tone of the blog.

2. Know the Guest Blogging Guidelines: Not all blogs accept guest bloggers, so you'll want to make sure they do before you pitch them with your idea. If they do accept guest posts, chances are that they'll have specific guest blogger guidelines published on their site. It's important to review these rules before you contact a blog. You don't want to break any rules at the start which might anger the blog owners and make it harder for you to convince them to let you be a guest blogger. If you seem uninformed about the guidelines of the blog, it's tough to convince a blogger that you will provide great content.

3. Write the Blog First: If you are dealing with a very popular blog, chances are that the site's owners and editorial team are extremely busy. Taking the time to establish a rapport with the blog's management, pitching a story idea and then working through the details is time-consuming. In many cases, it's better to just write a blog on a topic you feel confident will work and send it to the blog. If they like it, they can publish it without having to jump through hoops. If they reject it, you can take it to another blog.

4. Prove Yourself: It's important to provide your credentials when sending over a guest blog in order for the bloggers to understand that you are an expert in the field. A guest blog written by a savvy industry professional is going to carry more weight than one written by a random person. Explain to the blog why you are the right person to discuss a certain topic with their audience and what perspective you bring that can't be found anywhere else.

5. Write a Compelling Headline: A great headline can do more than bring readers to your blog -- it's also the perfect way to grab the attention of the owner or editor of a blog. Much like readers, the people you contact with a request to guest post might only skim to the title of your proposed post. If it's interesting and engaging, they'll want to read more; if it's boring or stale, they'll move on. One great tip is to write a headline that proposes a question you will answer in your article.



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What Happens When Motivation Fails?

An article for Independent News by Lindelle Jones




When we put forth a constant effort to be positive and behave in a positive manner, yet the day comes to an end and you are lacking that motivation. What causes this type of motivational failure? How can we beat it?

There are probably two very different types of individuals that ask this question:

1) The Individual Being Motivated: Employee, Student, Daughter, Son, etc. These are the types of individuals that normally receive motivation from a motivator, or are guided along the self motivation path. Yet they have trouble finding motivation.

2) The Individual Motivator: Manager, Teacher, Mother, Father, etc. These are the types of individuals who inspire motivation, help guide motivation, and require self motivation. Yet they too find it hard to stay motivated.

Understanding the problem and finding a solution may vary upon individuals. The first group has lost confidence and need a bit of a nudge now and again. They are finding themselves and need to be guided along the pathway of motivation. It is important to note that this group tends to need motivation defined by someone else before they see it within themselves. They have to learn to set attainable goals. They must create a version of success within their own minds and follow their own path. They may need help along the way, but they'll make it.

The second group has to have an understanding of individualism and understand the fact that everyone is different. Nothing is set in stone, and what motivates one individual may not work for another. They have to be willing to help change the attitudes of others. Attitudes cause behavioural problems when they are out of synch with the individual. These are tell tale signs that more guidance is needed, and that the individual has yet to be motivated properly. When this group gets down they must reflect inward and look for the changes and adjustments they can make within their own lives.

Let's look at some of the things that motivate people. Some people are motivated by an example. A teacher gives guidance and motivates students by showing a positive attitude. The students pick up on this and exemplify that attitude. Some people are motivated by money. A manager and employee; the manager sets a bonus for productivity and the employee works toward that. A criminal and a police officer; the criminals actions are normally motivated by the fear of being caught and the thrill of getting away with something illegal. Fear can be a very powerful motivator. There are as many different types of motivators as there are people, and each individual is motivated by something unique to them. Some will be the same as others and others will be totally independent.

The idea is that with the right attitude and proper motivation, anyone can pick themselves back up. Some people may need help, others just need time. Overall it just depends on the individual and what motivates them.


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Our Readers' Poll of Top Ten Family Movies

If you're looking for an affordable fun-filled activity that you and your family members can enjoy, then you don't need to reinvent the wheel. Watch a movie! Although not every movie is appropriate for children, there are still tons that are. Here are 10 fun, wholesome films in no particular order that every member of your family can enjoy:

1. The Wizard of Oz (1939)

This is an oldie-but-goodie film that never seems to become outdated. The film is based on the children's novel by L. Frank Baum, of the same title. "The Wizard of Oz" is about Dorothy Gale, 12-year-old girl from a Kansas farm. After becoming unconscious during a tornado, Dorothy and her dog Toto seem to be transported to the world of Oz. There, she meets a host of memorable characters.

2. The Parent Trap (1961)

This original version was much better than the 1998 remake. The Disney film is based on the life of teenage identical twins, and their (divorced) parents. Sharon and Susan meet at summer came, but don't realize that they're actually sisters. After becoming friends, they learn that their parents had divorced soon after the twins were born. The twins switch places, and ultimately attempt to reunite their parents.

3. Mary Poppins (1964)

This Disney musical stared Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, and was based on the Mary Poppins books written by P.L. Travers. The story is based on the adventures experienced by the Banks' family's new nanny, Mary Poppins; Mary's friend Bert; and the Banks' children Jane and Michael. "Marry Poppins" won five Academy Awards, and was nominated for 13 awards-an all-time record for Disney films.

4. The Bad News Bears (1976)

This original film is heads and shoulders better than the 2005 remake, and is also arguably one of the best sports films ever made. The movie is about Morris Buttermaker, who's recruited to coach the worst team in a Southern California baseball Little League. Although the Bears' first game of the season is a disaster, the team eventually earns a spot in the Little League championship.

5. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

This film stars a young Drew Barrymore before she became a household name in Hollywood. The story is about Elliott, a lonely boy who becomes friends with an extraterrestrial named "E.T." Elliott and his sibling try to keep E.T. hidden from their mother and the U.S. government, while E.T. strives to return home.

6. Back to the Future (1985)

The film is the story of Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox. McFly is a teenager who accidentally travels back in time, from 1985 to 1955. Afterwards, he meets his parents while they're high school students. Marty has two missions: to make his parents fall in love with each other, and to find a way back to the future-the year 1985.

7. The Princess Bride (1987)

This is not only a fun family film-it's also funny! The film is based on grandfather's reading a book to his ill grandson. The humor in the fairytale is what makes it different from run-of-the-mill fairy-tales featured in other family films. It's a film with multiple layers.

8. Toy Story (1995)

The film was the first computer-animated family film to be produced, and was the first feature film in history to be made entirely using Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI). It also features voice acting by several Hollywood stars. The story is about the toys of eight-year-old Andy. The toys come to life whenever humans aren't around.

9. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)

This is the first film in the series, which introduces the audience to the world of Harry Potter. On his eleventh birthday, Harry Potter learns that he's a wizard. He then must attend the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, to begin his education in magic. There he meets Ron and Hermione, who become his best friends.

10. Shrek (2001)

"Shrek" is an animated comedy film that was the first movie to win the "Best Animated Feature" award at the Academy Awards. The movie is about an ogre named Shrek, a beautiful princess named Fiona, and Donkey-a chatty donkey.

While several family movies have been produced in the history of film, these aforementioned ones are some of the best-of-the-best. If you have a DVD player then you're ready to enjoy an evening of quality entertainment with your family.

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Forty billionaires to give away wealth

Forty American billionaires have pledged to give at least half of their fortunes to charity as part of a campaign by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. Microsoft founder Gates and investor Buffett, who are worth a combined $90bn (£56.6bn), have persuaded 38 of their fellow billionaires to sign up.

The friends and philanthropists started The Giving Pledge last month.

Its aim is to persuade fellow billionaires to pledge the money to charity, either in their lifetime or after they die.

Buffett said: "We've really just started, but already we've had a terrific response.

"At its core, the Giving Pledge is about asking wealthy families to have important conversations about their wealth and how it will be used."

He added: "We're delighted that so many people are doing just that - and that so many have decided to not only take this pledge but also to commit to sums far greater than the 50% minimum level."

Those who sign the pledge are also invited to publish a letter explaining their decision.

Among the latest batch to have signed up is New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is worth $18bn (£11.3bn).

In his letter Bloomberg wrote: "Making a difference in people's lives - and seeing it with your own eyes - is perhaps the most satisfying thing you'll ever do. If you want to fully enjoy life - give.

"And if you want to do something for your children and show how much you love them, the single best thing - by far - is to support organisations that will create a better world for them and their children."

Joining him is Star Wars Director George Lucas.

Lucas wrote: "My pledge is to the process; as long as I have the resources at my disposal, I will seek to raise the bar for future generations of students of all ages."

Others on the list include entertainment executive Barry Diller ($1.2bn, £775m), Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison ($28bn, £17.6bn), energy tycoon T. Boone Pickens ($1.1bn, £692m), media mogul Ted Turner ($4.8bn, £3bn), banker David Rockefeller ($2.2bn, £1.3bn) and investor Ronald Perelman ($11bn, £6.9bn).

They join Eli Broad, who made his money in property, venture capitalist John Doerr, media entrepreneur Gerry Lenfest and former Cisco Systems Chairman John Morgridge in supporting the effort.

The US has 403 billionaires, the most of any country, and all together they have a combined fortune of $1.3 trillion.

Mr Buffett himself pledged to give 99% of his wealth to good causes in 2006.

Gates and Buffet will now wine and dine other billionaires in an attempt to persuade them to follow suit.


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The Secret of Camelot Castle

Camelot Castle Celebration - The Secret of Camelot Castle from Camelot Castle on Vimeo.

CityLife : Now a Big Spark in Belfast and Portsmouth

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Paul Allen commits majority of his wealth to philanthropy

Billionaire Paul Allen has taken his friend Bill Gates up on his challenge to publicly pledge the majority of his wealth to philanthropy.

Paul G. Allen, who is 57, said today that he plans to leave the majority of his $13 billion estate to philanthropy to continue the work of his foundation and to fund scientific research. It was also a way of marking the 20th anniversary of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, which he started in 1990 with his sister, Jo Lynn Allen, and has since given 3,000 grants totaling about $400 million.

A month ago, Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett began a public campaign to encourage other billionaires to make a "Giving Pledge," and donate at least half of their wealth to charity.

Allen said he has planned to do that for many years, but he had not gone public with his intentions until now.

"He and Bill have talked about this and he thinks it's a good idea to let people know," said David Postman, a spokesman for Allen at Vulcan. "He hopes that maybe it spurs other people to give and he's hoping there will be good things that come of it."

Allen said he wanted to make it clear that his philanthropic efforts "will continue after my lifetime," he said in a statement. "As our philanthropy continues in the years ahead, we will look for new opportunities to make a difference in the lives of future generations."

This year Forbes ranked Allen as the world's 37th richest person with a fortune estimated at $13.5 billion.

His total giving over the years has reached about $1 billion, reflecting eclectic interests in science, the arts and education, including nonprofits he founded: the Allen Institute for Brain Science and the Experience Music Project.

While Gates' charity has become global in size and ambition, Allen's has remained mostly local and personal.

"Since the beginning, our philanthropy has been focused in the Pacific Northwest, where I live and work," Allen said. "I'm proud to have helped fund great work done by non-profit groups throughout the region. But there's always more to do."

Allen has battled non-Hodgkin's lymphoma since his diagnosis last fall. He has finished chemotherapy treatments and has been been doing well, Postman said. Allen traveled to Africa recently, and has been "running businesses as much as he ever has. He stays intimately involved in the things he cares about."

Microsoft founders and future billionaires Bill Gates, left, and Paul Allen in Bellevue in 1981, when the company employed less than 100 people.

The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation also announced $3.9 million in funding to 41 nonprofit organizations in the Pacific Northwest, focused largely on arts and culture.

The foundation gave Anniversary grants of $20,000 each to five individual founders of nonprofits, recognized as "change agents who created organizations that continue to deliver high impact programs for local communities."

The recipients are Rachel Bristol, founder and CEO of Oregon Food Bank; Bridget Cooke, founder and executive director of Adelante Mujeres in Forest Grove, Ore.; Jeanne Harmon, founder and executive director of the Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession in Tacoma; Myra Platt and Jane Jones, founders of Book-It Repertory Theatre in Seattle; and Ken Stuart, founder and president of Seattle Biomedical Research Institute.

SOURCE: TED S. WARREN/ASSOCIATED PRESS/SEATTLE TIMES

Capello Press conference, why Fab must STAY

A personal commentary by the sport's favourite journalist FRANK WORRALL


Have just watched Capello on SkySports News for his final Press conference in South Africa - and have changed my opinion on him...

I know I said yesterday that he should go...but nowt is set in stone, is it?

Now I believe he should STAY. He looked to me like a man who had learned many lessons - yes, he agrees we should build with young players and I am sure he will weed out the deadwood and the stirrers. He looked contrite and even humble...the great Capello humbled! Whatever next...

But the main reason he should stay (apart from those 12 million smackers which, rather than being used to pay him off could be employed to more useful benefit like opening up the national centre for excellence in Burton) is that here is a man who had a point to prove.

For the first time in a distinguished career Fabio Capello is being viewed as a FLOP. He has the ideal motive to make England great again - to salvage his own rep - so give him two years to do it.

Two years to give us a team we can be proud of. A young team playing with vibrancy, urgency and passion for the shirt.

I believe it is a win-win situation if we keep him.

You can read more Frankie Worrall at; www.FrankWorrall.com


Copyright (c) 2010, Independent News Ltd.

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Bail out Britain - all parties to the pump! - a political perspective by William Briggs

A bookmaker taking bets on what would be the main pull-quote from David Cameron’s first speech as Prime Minister would have given long odds against the phrase “This will not be a marriage of convenience” being the phrase which the media picked up and analysed at length. As inspiring opening statements by newly-elected leaders go, it doesn’t compete with minor examples of the genre such as John Major’s “I want to see us build a country that is at ease with itself”, let alone FDR’s “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”, but it does acknowledge a current political reality. After four weeks of going out of his way to “agree with Nick” while also arguing that Nick’s policies on Europe and Trident would leave Britain a defenseless backwater, the sudden agreement between Liberals and Conservatives needed to be addressed in a way which disarmed cynicism.

The coalition may last the full five years or end prematurely amid calls for a snap election and accusations from each party about the other being unfit to govern. Either way, the coalition was forced on the two parties by an inconclusive election result that gave life to the theory that the electorate, disillusioned by the political class as a whole, voted the way they did because they positively wanted a two-party government. The ‘New Politics’ which began on May 11th, intended to be open-hearted and free from sleaze, was created amid great public goodwill and will need to maintain its central spirit of cooperation to maintain it. Not, then, a marriage of convenience but certainly a settling down between two singletons who had planned to remain bachelors for a lot longer. The first soundbite of the new government also meant that the headlines in the event of the coalition breaking up could be predicted years in advance - “Cameron and Clegg: the Messy Divorce”, “Clegg - ‘I’m Leaving You. It’s Over’”, etc.

Prior to his becoming Prime Minister, the debate around David Cameron centered on what kind of Conservative he would be when he took office. (And on whether he should be addressed as ‘Dave’ to remind people how matey he is or ‘David’ to remind people that he is fifth cousin to the Queen). Now, the debate centers on how his moderate conservatism will survive during a period when future short-term diagnoses for the British economy range from double-dip recession at worst to minimal growth at best.

On becoming Party leader, Cameron was widely believed to be a simple reincarnation of the worst, shallow aspects of Tony Blair, who just happened to be leading the opposing party. The Cameron persona at the time was that of a moderately handsome, moderately viewed politician, with a history in PR (to match Blair’s schooling in amateur drama and early attempts at being a rock star), with a nice young family, and an interest in the environment somewhat anomalous for a Tory. Over the course of five years he has not yet won unconditional support or affection from the public, but a more subtle political personality has emerged, as noted by both supporters and opponents.

The Labour left, and the majority of the left-wing press, welcomed Cameron’s election as leader in 2005 as the return of the Eton-educated Toff to the top of the Tory party, assuming that, in time, simple class antagonism would turn the public against him. So far that has not happened. Cartoonists may find it impossible to portray Cameron wearing anything other than top-hat and tails but so far the attack has been largely affectionate. That situation will change if the economy collapses further and the contrast between David and Samantha Cameron’s family fortune, which the Sunday Times Rich List estimates at £30 million plus, and the income of the average voter diverges even further. But for the moment the poshest Prime Minister since Sir Alec Douglas-Home appears to be safe from a class-war backlash and even to have tapped into the some of the ancient British love for the aristocracy.

The Right-wing media have had a harder time knowing what to do with their new man in Downing Street. Right-wing columnists such as Peter Hitchens have reacted to Cameronism as the final straw that has driven them away from the party altogether. Tory romantics such as Andrew Roberts have accused him of directly ripping his shtick from Harold Macmillan, i.e. using his privileged background as a cloaking device under which to push the country further to the left. To some extent this accusation is true. 2010 saw the first deliberately moderate, One Nation, Conservative election campaign in a generation. The result of this, when added to the unpopularity of the sitting government, was very nearly a full majority. In terms of social and foreign policy, Cameron has done much toward his stated aim of ‘detoxifying the Tory brand’ and in doing so has distanced himself from the more confrontational excesses of Thatcherism. Sections of his own party have offered mild rebellion over what they see as unnecessarily progressive policies on education, gay marriage and Europe. The general idea of the natural party of government sharing power with its opponents has also provoked rumbles of discontent. Far better to go it alone with in a minority government and gain support from the Ulster Unionists and whatever parts of the opposition have enough common sense to support us, say some constituency parties and members of the 1922 Committee.

The silencing of the Liberals and the defeat of Labour has created the unusual possibility for the new Prime Minister that at first his most effective opposition will come from internal dissent. The two most notable features of Cameron’s first few weeks at Prime Minister's Questions were the body language between himself and Nick Clegg (supportive but cautious and tense, as one might expect), and questions from Conservative backbenchers enquiring whether the coalition would care to start acting like a right-wing government (repeal the Human Rights Act, reform the House of Lords, hold a ‘bonfire of the QUANGOs’ etc). Internal opposition is likely to dog Cameron in one form or another, as it does every party leader, and it is not yet entirely clear what his various self definitions (a "liberal Conservative", "not a deeply ideological person”, "a modern, compassionate conservative") actually mean in practice. But the fact remains that no other viable candidate for national leader currently exists and, for the time being, for any Conservative, or for that matter Liberal, serious about the idea of power, Cameron’s leadership is the only game in town.

Barring electoral reform re-emerging as a popular issue as it did during the election campaign, it is the state of the economy that is likely to dictate the amicability between the two coalition partners and the popularity of the government as a whole. At the time of writing, the program of tax-increases and public spending cuts, conceded as a necessity by all three main parties, is just beginning. (The term used to take the sting out of this is ‘fiscal adjustment’. Get used to hearing it.) The first sign of the new spirit of fiscal conservatism came with the announcement of the new Cabinet. As with Margaret Thatcher’s first government, Ministers keen on reductions in public spending were placed in key positions, such as Iain Duncan Smith at Work and Pensions and Liam Fox at Defence and, briefly, David Laws as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Vince Cable’s admission, after only three days in government, that he would in fact have to go against his party’s manifesto pledge and oversee large cuts in public spending, officially because of the effect of the Greek crisis on the European economy as a whole, also acted as handy public neutering of the leading Liberal seen as having the finest mind in the government.

The fiscal adjustment process will obviously be unpleasant but, in another contrast with early Thatcherism, the government looks set to acknowledge the potential pain they will cause. Chancellor George Osborne has set out £6.2bn of cuts on what he calls "wasteful spending"; there will also be £20bn cut in welfare and pensions over the next five years and a public sector pay freeze for those earning more than £18’000 a year which is likely to extend into 2011. Amongst the talks of painful cuts and rises in VAT to pay off spiraling national debt, the Coalition has also signaled that it will be interventionist where necessary. The earliest sign of this was the announcement that a £20 million grant awarded by the previous government to Nissan’s Sunderland plant to develop the next generation of electric cars will still be honored The early weeks of the coalition also saw the unusual sight of Conservative ministers talking about the need for government to stimulate industry and manufacturing. This may prove to be a simple political gimmick. No British politician has spoken in favour of denuding the manufacturing base but plenty have done so. It will be interesting to see what the promise amounts to, particularly in the North East and North West, traditionally anti-Conservative areas where the need for manufacturing jobs is great but support for the new government is low.

Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition, meanwhile, are determined to engage in a civilized post-defeat, leadership election which will be a “chance to help shape Britain’s progressive future” according to interim Leader Harriet Harman. Four former cabinet ministers - Ed Balls, Andy Burnham and David & Ed Miliband - and one feisty backbencher - Diane Abbott - will fight for the future of the people’s party over the course of a fifteen week contest. Historically, the script for Labour leadership races consisted of a series of dirty tricks and deep ideological divides, conducted in confrontational and public way which scared many voters away from the party for a generation. Post-New Labour, lessons appear to have been learnt about keeping rows private and, so far, the atmosphere between the candidates has been competitive but collegial. The central question of the process will be how the party can reposition itself against a Coalition which now occupies much of the ground between the centre-right and centre-left of British politics. It remains to be seen whether or not for Labour 2010, like 1992, could be considered a good election to have lost, thus avoiding being in power during an inevitable period of government unpopularity. According to the Office for Budget Responsibility, outgoing Chancellor Alistair Darling's prediction of 3% economic growth for 2010 were wildly optimistic and minimal or negative growth for the year is a real possibility. Far better to have created that situation than to have to deal with it. The ultimate irony, the electorate returning to Labour because the new government cannot deal with the mess that Brown and co. created, may be the best hope they have of avoiding an extended period in the wilderness.



Copyright (c) 2010, Independent News Ltd.

From the darker side of Grub Street to the lighter side of positive publishing: Profile of a Media Career...

Duncan Williams, tabloid dirt digger turned positive media guru : An article by Liz Hunter for theMediaNet.org

Duncan Williams has seen the very worst of the media world. Working as a tabloid ‘dirt-digger’ in the late 90s he spent his days seeking out celebrity stories in a culture where bribery, blackmail and stealing rubbish was the norm. Even born again Christian Jonathan Aitken once phoned to call him "a lying, underhanded s++t!." Now, though, Duncan owns his own ethical publishing company with a keen vision of building up struggling local and regional titles, and helping them to keep giving a voice to communities who are often drowned out in the noise of globalisation. He deliberately employs a proportion of ex-offenders and those recovering from addiction - and insists on a strongly positive editorial policy. In a nightmare market, the company is going from strength to strength. So how did he get from one to the other?

Duncan’s first contact with the media was through editing his school magazine, which he quickly renamed Bronco after a notorious brand of toilet roll. Writing gave him and his rebellious school friends a chance to let off steam, and he was hooked. At age 17 he moved from the West Country to London to attend film school, and went on to have a career in new media and film advertising throughout the 90s boom years. It was a destructive environment, with a heavy drinking culture, but even then Duncan says “writing was really a form of prayer, a way of getting in touch with my real myself when I couldn’t always express things well verbally".

A move into print at the end of the decade proved lucrative - whilst selling advertising for a series of high profile London magazine titles, Duncan realised that the real money was in sensationalist news and set himself up as a freelance investigator for all the major tabloids.

Kept on retainer, he would be given a brief by an editor and set about finding, or creating, a story about them. One well read middle England title, he recalls, would particularly like tittle tattle about society women and would pay very handsomely for insider gossip. It’s wasn’t just journalists that are paid by the papers - behind the staff whose names appear on by-lines there is a huge network of contacts receiving a monthly fee for feeding in stories, from celebrities’ close 'friends' to hairdressers and even doctors. It was not unusual to see suitcases of cash changing hands. Duncan had regular dealings with ‘Benji the Binman’ who made his fortune hunting for scandal in rubbish, and would also employ covert surveillance. Even if all that failed it didn’t mean the story was dead. “I clearly remember one day seeing a front cover of renown Sunday tabloid, a story about Robbie Williams, and knowing that 90% of it was distorted from fact, because I had engineered most of these embellishments. Robbie went on to sue and win a large out of court settlement, but most of the time, for the papers, it was worth it”. As several recent revelations about tabloid reporting practice confirm, he doesn’t think much has changed.

"Today, one rewarding amend for me, " says Duncan. " Is that I am able to commission the very celebrity targets of my past life to write positive pieces for my own publications. Obviously, celebrities have feelings too... and fortunately forgiveness is often one of them!"

Duncan says that there was no blinding light epiphany for him, just a realisation over several years that his life had “bottomed out”. He sought help with his heavy drinking and excessive lifestyle, and became a committed Catholic Christian. Not long after he made the decision to use all the money he had made to set up his own independent news company. With the support of some old tabloid colleagues, angel investors and some big hearted celebrities, this step forward seems to have worked out.

Duncan thinks it’s the most exciting time to be in papers, and that the laments over the death of journalism are misguided. Change is inevitable, but not disastrous, and can be a chance for good. There are huge opportunities for those who want to be influential people of integrity. He was able to buy shares in several large media companies after the price had dropped by 90% last year and is now on the board of five of these; “There are huge opportunities for those who want to be influential people of integrity. The digital revolution will eventually provide far more readers for local titles once they’ve embraced new platforms; Things like Kindle and the iPad provide an amazing way to get positive, ethical stories out there, and we’re showing that there is an audience for it.”

The titles owned by Duncan, and his group of positive independent news companies, are trying to make a stand against the “propaganda of negativity” that he thinks so shapes our thinking. Like many of us, and even having seen the very darkest side to the media, he passionately believes it can be a force for good.



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