Dreamspace artist was 'negligent'

Two women killed when an inflatable artwork flipped over in a County Durham park died as a result of the creator's negligence, a court has been told.

Maurice Agis is accused of manslaughter and a breach of the Health and Safety Act following the Dreamspace incident in Chester-le-Street in July 2006.

The 77-year-old, of Bethnal Green, east London, denies all charges.

Newcastle Crown Court was told that in 1986 another of his artworks broke free from its moorings during strong wind.

Prosecutor Paul Sloan QC told the jury at Newcastle Crown Court that Mr Agis was guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence.

He said the artist was "well aware" of the dangers that strong gusts of wind posed to Dreamspace.

The sculpture was set up on 18 July by Mr Agis and event organisers Brouhaha International, and secured by ropes attached to metal pegs hammered into the ground.

On 23 July, the day of the incident, an employee of Brouhaha reported to Mr Agis that the left-hand side of the structure had lifted up while she was inside it.

Another employee later noticed that the wind was getting underneath and lifting it up several feet.

Mr Sloan said that the normal procedure in such a case was to evacuate the structure immediately, and an evacuation began.

But Mr Agis, having taken a look, said that it was all right for members of the public to re-enter.

"He did, however, instruct two Brouhaha International employees to attach some more ropes to pegs around the structure," Mr Sloan said.

"They put some extra ropes at the front, to the left of the entrance, and along the left-hand side of the structure.

"They were then interrupted by the defendant, Maurice Agis, who told them to resume duties at the entrance dealing with members of the public, so that he and his partner could enjoy a refreshment break.

"As a result, no additional ropes and pegs were attached to the rear of the structure."

The artwork was lifted into the air at about 1530 BST that afternoon.

Claire Furmedge, 38, from Chester-le-Street and 68-year-old Elizabeth Collings, from Seaham, died and 13 people were hurt.

The jury was also told that at an earlier hearing, Chester-le-Street Council and Brouhaha International admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974.

source :BBC news

`Idol' returns with the good, the bad, the bikini

By LYNN ELBER

The flat notes, the sweet surprises, the pleas of the rejected are all intact as "American Idol" returns for its eighth season of first-class karaoke.

A new twist is the bikini-clad contestant who splits the judges straight down the gender line in the debut episode.

Fox previewed the show Monday night for TV critics who simply couldn't wait 24 hours to see it air. The rest of America can judge for itself from 8-10 p.m. Tuesday.

The episode opens with auditions taped in Phoenix and features newcomer Kara DioGuardi, who joins Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson on the judging panel.

DioGuardi immediately distinguished herself by throwing down with the willowy woman in the very orange, very small bikini. DioGuardi, a songwriter-producer who also knows how to belt a tune, sang a few bars to show the contestant how it should have been done.

"Honestly, you don't have the chops to sing that song, sweetie," DioGuardi told her.

"But your demonstration wasn't any better," the woman snapped back.

Not diplomatic, Abdul cautioned, jumping into the fray.

But the male judges were definitely impressed.

"Beautiful," Cowell pronounced after hearing just a few bars.

From Jackson: "I think you have a have a lot of potential. I'm going to say yes."

That bikini is going to Hollywood and the next round of auditions.

Not so lucky was the extremely nervous man who was sweating as if he knew the executioner's ax hovered.

"You look like you're in pain or something," Cowell told him.

The British music producer was his usual amusing, acidic self. Jackson appeared loose and eager for another season, chair-dancing to the rhythm of more than one bad singer.

Definitely no, Jackson told one contestant, then added gleefully, "Man, that was wild!"

A pink cowboy-hatted teenager pleaded for another shot.

"Please, I'm shaking in my boots here," she pleaded, charmingly.

Boots, it turns out, are not as persuasive as a bathing suit.

source :Washingtonpost.com

Prediction Make Up Artist The World To year 2009

WHEN held a Fashion Week, which is offered on the catwalk is not just style clothing and accessories, but also the trends trappings. How the make-up artist in New York trappings predict trends for the coming year?

Caprice - KC / AMO
From New York, the glamor with the trappings merona red lipstick and the smoky eye look so you're looking for style in the years ahead. Apart from the catwalk, the style trappings glamor is also visible in the fashion magazines that circulate. Now it is time to experiment.

Trappings Eyes
To trappings eyes, the style is so smoky eyes pledge to show the dramatic trappings. This style trappings most suitable to the events in the night and basically every person applying it can be. It's a little bit difficult to create smoky eyes look, but the more often you practice, you create more skilled eyes of the "talking". For your dark skin, select perona brown eyes, brown or dark greenery to look more fresh.

Dyes lips
Other beauty trends taken from the Hollywood triumph-1990 era of glamor. When you're charming, the stars of Hollywood at that time always use red lipstick. In addition glamor, lipstick color is also synonymous with the sensual impression. If you want to try it, make sure your eyes trappings natural style.

Trends eyebrows
Style thin curved eyebrows high indeed have long abandoned. Instead, allow the hair-eyebrow hair natural fit because your eyebrows and thick black back trends. Use dark colored eyebrow pencil to create a line of eyebrows, baurkan thin-thin brush with hair that looks thick eyebrows and natural.