| Warning on inflation, higher rates
Last week's official rate rise of 25 basis points takes official rates to 6.75 per cent and variable home loan interest rates to 8.57 per cent, an 11-year high, up from 8.32 per cent. Australians have been confronted by 10 interest rate rises in the last five years - and six times since the last election in 2004 A strong economy will keep upward pressure on interest rates. "The most recent data indicate that the economy had more momentum than expected through the middle of 2007," the RBA said. "Given the recent pattern of quarterly outcomes, both CPI (consumer price index) inflation and underlying measures are likely to rise above 3 per cent on a year-ended basis over the next two quarters. The RBA said that both underlying and CPI inflation would remain close to 3 per cent throughout 2008 and 2009. The central bank sets interest rates to keep inflation between 2 and 3 per cent.
Adrienne Kennedy Inaugurates PUBLIC LAB
Hot off the griddle. That's a culinary way of describing PUBLIC LAB, a new play series jointly birthed by the Public Theater and the LAByrinth Theater Company and running at the Public's Lafayette Street complex through June. The goal is to present new works quickly — with minimal stage design and a short rehearsal period. Tickets are a wallet-friendly $10 each. Up first is "Mom, How Did You Meet the Beatles?" The memoir, currently running through Feb. 23, is by Adam P. Kennedy and his mother, noted playwright Adrienne Kennedy, best known for her "Funnyhouse of a Negro." The 65-minute production, directed by Peter DuBois, is a recollection of Adrienne Kennedy's time in London in the late 1960s, specifically when she was attempting a theatrical adaptation of John Lennon's nonsense book, "In His Own Write." As played by actress Brenda Pressley, the playwright recounts what she calls "my search for fame and fortune," and her brush with such English celebrities as Laurence Olivier as well as all four Beatles.
Music Therapy may Ease Depression
While the evidence came from a few small studies, it suggests that this is an area that is well worth further investigation and, if the use of music therapy is supported by future trials, we need to find out which forms have greatest effect," lead author Anna Maratos, arts therapist for the National Health Service in London, was quoted as saying. "The current studies indicate that music therapy may be able to improve mood and has low drop-out rates." About 121 million people are believed to suffer from depression worldwide. Symptoms include changes in appetite, poor sleep, low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness and guilt. Depression can lead to suicide and is associated with one million deaths a year. SOURCE: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2008;1:CD004517 .
Archives for: 2 2008
Lorenzo is going to community college in Hutchinson, Kan., to play ball. Dennard has not visited Nebraska, but said Thursday night, "I liked the coaching staff. I liked Coach (Bo) Pelini. I liked Memorial Stadium. I checked it all out on the Internet." Dennard gives NU 22 commitments. Marvin Sanders, formerly a North Carolina assistant, was the primary recruiter and paid a visit to Dennard Wednesday night. Ledford said Dennard runs the 40 in 4.4 and has a 36-inch vertical leap. He also is a point guard on the hoops team and runs sprints on the track team. On the football field, Ledford moved Dennard from an outside linebacker/strong safety spot to cornerback midway through the junior season. In his first two games at corner, he had five interceptions.
Masking a crime
She recounts the case of Terry Sinclair, a drug dealer from her native New Zealand, who sneaked out of the country with a false passport and a prosthetically disguised face. He died in Parkhurst prison in 1983. She has also heard of make-up artists being approached by people who want to fake insurance claims by creating or exaggerating bruising or scarring. Those with scars, burns or other disfiguring marks sometimes use theatrical make-up as "cosmetic camouflage". And morticians also use nose and scar wax - a flesh-coloured putty - to repair facial wounds or blemishes, especially if relatives want an open casket at a funeral. .
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