Monday, December 13, 2010

'sleep with us' ad causes restless turmoil-Sweden

Hotel ad cited for inviting guests to 'sleep with us'

Published: 3 Dec 10 14:25 CET | Double click on a word to get a translationShare

Nordic hotel chain First Hotels has been slammed by the Swedish advertising ombudsman (Reklamombudsman - RO) for an internet campaign featuring scantilly clad employees and sexual innuendo.

The two adverts, which respectively feature a bellboy and a chambermaid sitting on a bed under the text "Sleep with us", are discriminatory and in breach of International Chamber of Commerce rules, according to the RO.

"By their clothing and pose they are presented as pure sex objects in a way that can be considered offensive to women and men in general," the ombudsman argued in a statement on Friday.

First Hotels meanwhile argued that the adverts are intended to display the humour of its staff.

"We were surprised at the reactions of a few people and now the ombudsman. The humour in the ads is obvious," said Michael Telling, President and CEO of First Hotels, to The Local on Friday, pointing out that the campaign has now finished.

The firm, which operates 47 hotels across Scandinavia, argued that the retro French maid and bell boy attire was evidence of this playful approach and rejected accusations of discrimination, pointing out that both sexes were represented in the ads.

"I think we did everything we could to be balanced," Telling said, explaining that the campaign's objective was to recruit members to its loyalty programme.

The ombudsman conceded that the models in the ads could be "considered to have some connection" to the product as they were at least dressed as employees.

However, several of those who reported the campaign argued that it appeared the hotel was offering prostitution services.

"The text 'Sleep with us' and 'Our first members are getting it on a regular basis' further strengthens the offensive impression," the ombudsman argued.

The ombudsman detailed that the ads had a further feature with a clickable text inviting guests to "Go to bed".

Michael Telling told The Local that the decision would not have an immediate impact on First Hotels' future advertising policy, but underlined that the firm always tries to avoid giving offence.

"It is difficult to have a campaign which doesn't offend somebody. but it is definitely not our intention to do so."

Nude Marilyn sells for £15,000....

Marilyn Monroe nude Playboy photo sells for £15k at auction

Playboy magazine artworks including Marilyn Monroe swimming nude and supermodel Elle Macpherson naked have fetched almost £2 million at auction.

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Related Tags:: Elle Macpherson; Marilyn Monroe; New York; photo; nude

Prints of Marilyn Monroe swimming nude and towelling herself sold for £15,823 at auction (Tim Stewart News)

Iconic pictures of Playmates Elle Macpherson, Cindy Crawford, Bo Derek and Marilyn Monroe were among 85 lots that went under the hammer for a total of £1,837,618 in New York.

The top seller was Tom Wesselmann's 'Mouth' - a pop art image of a smiling, lipsticked mouth, which sold for £1,186,392.

The huge cut-out mouth painting was commissioned by the adult magazine in 1966 and intended to be glossy yet sexually inviting, according to the artist.

A wooden Playboy rabbit head logo created by artist Roger Brown sold for £31,646.

Dozens of photos of naked supermodels with Hefner's initials on some of the layouts he signed off also sparked a bidding frenzy.

Sexy shots of screen siren Marilyn Monroe taking a swim nude and then towelling herself off in 1964 raised £15,823.

A 1958 cover photo of topless Brigitte Bardot went for £15,032 while 1991 photos of Stephanie Seymour frolicking in the sea made £14,241.

Cindy Crawford holding her breasts and other 1988 prints of the American supermodel by photographer Herb Ritts went for £13,449.

Classic 1994 black and white shots of Elle 'The Body' MacPherson posing nude fetched £7,500.

The Christie's auction, which marked the magazine's 50th anniversary, was called The Year of the Rabbit: The Playboy Collection.

CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR GALLERY OF THE PLAYBOY ARTWORKS

Jet liner evades huge storm...

Rider through the storm: Monster cloud chases plane across Montana's big sky

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 11:32 AM on 13th December 2010

In this extraordinary image a passenger plane can be seen trying to get away from a massive storm cloud sweeping along behind it.

On several occasions it is almost engulfed as it is chased across the skies of Montana in the U.S.

Doug Roane, a doctor and semi-professional photographer, happened to catch the moment on camera as he was driving home from his grandson's first birthday party.

Doug, 46, from Billings, Montana, was snapping away at the storm when he saw the plane emerge from the thick black cloud.

Doug, 46, from Billings, Montana, was snapping away at the storm when he saw the plane emerge from the thick black cloud: 'The airport was only two miles away but it looked like the plane was having a constant battle with the storm all the way.'

He said: 'I pulled over when I saw the storm getting worse and got out to take a few pictures.

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Minneapolis Metrodome's inflatable roof collapses as 20 INCHES of snow is dumped on Midwest in ONE DAY

'The plane came as a complete surprise and seemed to appear out of nowhere as I was photographing.

'The airport was only two miles away but it looked like it was having a constant battle with the storm all the way.

'It really did look as though it was being chased by the cloud.

'I've always had a passion for the outdoors and landscape photography and I like to take pictures which make people think they're right there in the middle of it.

'But I doubt anyone would want to be anywhere near this.

'I've never seen anything like it before. It's very rare to see such a well-defined storm front, never mind a plane in the centre of it.'

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Church flower ladies quit after criminal background check....

Cathedral flower ladies quitting over criminal record checks

A volunteer's stand against criminal record checks as prompted several of her supporters to quit, as David Harrison reports.

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Annabel Hayter, front, with her supporters Marjorie Corley, Nancy Selwyn and Maureen Polhill, all of whom have quit their roles as florists in protest Photo: JAY WILLIAMS

By David Harrison 9:00AM GMT 12 Dec 2010

For more than a decade, Annabel Hayter arranged the flowers at Gloucester cathedral, providing her time and talent free to make her church more beautiful.

But earlier this month Mrs Hayter was forced to turn her back on the job she loved and resign as chairman of the cathedral's flower guild after she refused to undergo criminal record checks ordered by cathedral officials.

They said they were concerned that Mrs Hayter and her fellow flower-arrangers – average age around 70 – shared a lavatory with choirboys and said there was a risk of paedophiles infiltrating the guild.

The case has split the close-knit cathedral community, with one of Mrs Hayter's supporters describing it as being like T S Eliot's Murder in the Cathedral. Five other guild members have resigned in protest at the way the mother of four and grandmother of 11 has been treated and others may follow.

Cathedral officials remain unrepentant, claiming that Mrs Hayter's "campaigning activities are incompatible with her role as chairman of the guild".

The row has also highlighted growing concern over the "overzealous" use of Criminal Records Bureau checks, which critics say are deterring and demoralising volunteers across the country.

One campaigner accused cathedral officials of "worshipping procedure and the idea that if you fill in a form or give someone a badge everything will be OK".

Mrs Hayter, 64, said she and her fellow flower-arrangers were "deeply insulted" by the demands for criminal record checks. "It is offensive," she told The Sunday Telegraph. "The people who forced me to resign have had dinner at my house. They know me well. They are showing an incredible lack of trust and common sense.

"The 60 women in the guild are lovely ladies who would not hurt a fly. They are not paedophiles. It is terribly sad but it's also quite pathetic."

Maureen Polhill, 64, who has resigned from the guild over the affair, said: "The cathedral is a beautiful place and it's a shame it's come to this. But Annabel has been treated badly and I support her all the way.

"It's ridiculous that we should be CRB-checked. All the women who work here are mothers and most are grandmothers."

Another supporter, Nancy Selwyn, 75, said: "I've had enough. I've told the canon to take me off the list. These checks are absolute rubbish."

Marjorie Corley, who has resigned after working at the cathedral for 17 years – seven as a flower-arranger and 12 as a tour guide – said: "What makes this all the more absurd is that the choirboys are at school when we are working at the cathedral so even if we did pose a threat we would never see them."

Prostitutes must pay 'sex tax'-Germany

Dortmund introduces 'sex tax' on prostitutes

Prostitutes in the German city of Dortmund will only be allowed to work if they purchase a 'day ticket', as city officials attempt to reduce the country's budget deficit.

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Related Tags:: Germany; sex; dortmund; tax; prostitutes

Dortmund has resorted to taxing prostitutes to help resolve its crippling £80 million deficit (Corbis)

If prostitutes do not buy the $8 (£5) ticket they will face a potential fine. The city of Dortmund is hoping that the new tax will bring in an extra £600,000 each year.

City spokesman Michael Meinders said: ‘Dortmund has financial problems like many cities in Germany. We considered several sex taxes but this was the most practical proposal.’

More: Zurich planning drive-in sex-boxes

An alternative proposal was to impose a tax on anyone entering the city’s red-light district, but this plan did not receive as much political support.

The sex tax went into effect in August but it is only this week that the prostitution day tickets have been made available.

Prostitution is legal in Germany - as are brothels - and sex workers are expected to pay tax on their income.

Putin the jazz singer on Blueberry Hill-Russia

Sing-along-a-Vlad: now Putin is Blueberry Hill crooner of the Kremlin

By MAIL ON SUNDAY REPORTER
Last updated at 11:01 AM on 12th December 2010

Is there no end to Vladimir Putin’s talents? The Russian Prime Minister already has a reputation as an accomplished fighter-jet pilot and Siberian tiger-hunter, and is a black belt in judo. Now you can add jazz crooner to the list.

The 58-year-old former KGB chief stunned an audience at a charity event on Friday that included Sharon Stone and Kevin Costner with his rendition of Blueberry Hill.

‘Like an overwhelming majority of people, I can neither sing nor play but I very much like doing it,’ he said modestly after being urged by the event’s host to get up on stage and perform. After playing the opening notes to the Fats Domino hit on the piano, he stepped up to the microphone and sang.

Putin on a show: The former KGB officer showcases his talents on the piano

Putin, described as ‘alpha-dog’ in diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks, is reported to have sung patriotic songs to a group of Russian agents after they were expelled from America in July. But before Friday’s show in St Petersburg, his musical prowess had not been noted.

His spokesman said he learned the lyrics to Blueberry Hill as part of his English language studies.

At the show, Putin also tried to play a Soviet-era song called From Where The Motherland Begins but hit a wrong key and stopped.

Entertainer: The event was a charity concert for children suffering from eye diseases and cancer

The former KGB officer has previously been photographed in a series of PR pictures on holiday.

Three years ago he was seen fishing bare-chested on a Siberian river as he entertained Prince Albert of Monaco on an outdoor pursuits holiday.

They weren't the first images of the former Russian president holidaying in bare-chested in Siberia.

Images of a shirtless Putin fishing in a Siberian river caused a stir when they were published two years ago. The pictures sealed his fate as a pin-up for men and women alike.

He was seen showing off his torso again last year during a camping holiday in Siberia as he displayed his love of physical activity by snapping twigs over his knee for firewood and taking a brisk dip in a Siberian lake.

Outdoor pursuits: Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin swims in a lake in southern Siberia's Tuva region in 2009

A dog's life: Vladimir Putin performs a strange pose with Buffy. The animal was given to him by the Bulgarian Prime Minister

The athletic politician demonstrated his trademark judo moves at a dojo school in St Petersburg, using a a sweeping hip throw on a succession of opponents.

He even released his own judo DVD two years ago, called 'Learn judo with Vladimir'.

The photographic display of Putin's masculinity has included images of him fishing shirtless, shooting a tiger with a tranquiliser dart, horseriding, racing a truck, driving a train, piloting a fighter jet and a commanding a submarine.

Meanwhile, the Russian Prime Minister re-named his dog Buffy after holding a nationwide naming contest.

Announcing the name - his favourite from thousands - Putin performed a bizarre dog-like pose.

The animal was given to him as a present by Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov after the two states agreed a deal over an energy pipeline.

Former President Boris Yeltsin famously performed a stiff and awkward dance at a rock concert in 1996 as he approached elections.

31 foot snowman in Poland

Let's hope THIS Frosty doesn't come to life! 'Bored' Poles build 31ft behemoth with a traffic cone for a nose

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 4:50 AM on 12th December 2010

It's Frosty, super-sized.

This 31-foot behemoth - dubbed 'Milocinek' - is casting a long, frigid shadow over Trzebnica, Poland.

A group of 'bored' Poles started building him one day - and then decided they would just keep going.

Six days later, they hunted down a barrel for a hat and a traffic cone for a nose, and their work was done.

Who's a big boy: A 31-foot snowman with a barrel for a hat and a traffic cone for a nose towers above cars and houses in Trzebnica, Poland, on Saturday

The resulting Goliath of a snowman stands on eye-level with surrounding two-storey homes, and dwarfs passing cars.

The snowman was completed Friday near the town of Trzebnica in southwestern Poland.

A Polish newspaper's website reported Saturday that the snowman's builders believe Milocinek is the largest snowman built in Poland since winter weather set in more than a week ago.

Other observers go further - suggesting he may well be the largest snowman in the world.

But with a major storm dumping two inches of snow an hour on America's mid-west last night, and thousands of children being held home from school, that record may not last for long.

The Quirky Globe

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