Prisoner sues after pet parrot dies

An ex-con is suing a prison warder who he claims denied him a phone call that would have saved his pet parrot's life.
Thomas Goodrich is seeking a total of $500,000 (£347,000) in punitive damages from the Delaware Department of Correction Commissioner and a warden at the correctional institution, reports the Daily Telegraph.
He was being held for 12 days over an outstanding arrest warrant and an expired driving licence when he claims he was denied the chance to contact a friend to feed Freddie - a £15,000 gold and blue macaw which had been his beloved pet for 20 years.
Mr Goodrich said when he was finally released on December 19, he found Freddy dead. Two other parrots, both Amazons, survived. "They apparently had enough food in their cages," he said.
In court papers submitted to the local federal court, Mr Goodrich said he was given a code number to operate a prison phone that did not work, and he was told he would have to wait eight days for a replacement number.
He alleges that prison officials lacked compassion and acted "irresponsibly" when such "animal cruelty was taking place".
One, criminal defence attorney Joe Hurley, said that inmates sent to Young prison tended to go missing for days while staff processed the paperwork created by their arrival.
"That is the way it is," he said, adding that Mr Goodrich was lucky his situation involved a parrot "and not his child."
Martin Mersereau, from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said that if true, the situation was "absolutely appalling" and "horrific", and that prison officials should be held accountable.

Mariah Carey wants Leona Lewis for musical role

Mariah Carey wants Leona Lewis to play her in a Broadway version of her life story.
Although several actresses have been suggested for the role, US singer Mariah is thought to favour east London siren Leona.
An insider told the Daily Mirror: "Mariah's not sure if she'll star in it herself. If she doesn't, names being tossed around include Vanessa Hudgens and Eva Longoria. But Mariah secretly likes the idea of Leona Lewis playing her."
The insider added: "Not only is she exotic, she's the only one who they reckon would be able to tackle Mariah's eight-octave vocal range."
A spokeswoman has confirmed Mariah is in talks about a Broadway musical to be made about her life in 2009.

Robert Plant awarded CBE

Robert Plant has been named a CBE in honour his services to music.
The former Led Zeppelin star sold more than 200 million albums with the band, who formed in 1968 and split 12 years later.
Plant has since found solo fame, winning a Mercury Music Prize nomination this year for Raising Sand, his collaboration with bluegrass singer Alison Krauss.
Although Led Zeppelin reformed for a one-off show last year, the Worcestershire-born singer has refused to take part in further reunions.
But the band are rumoured to be rehearsing with a replacement for a 2009 tour.
The New Year Honours list, announced today, also named jazz saxophonist Courtney Pine as a CBE.

Ugly turkey has lucky escape

A turkey has been spared ending up on the dinner plate this Christmas - as he's too ugly.
Wilbur is underweight, has no tail feathers, a misshapen body and walks with a limp.
He's the only bird remaining at the pick-your-own turkey farm in Totnes, Devon.
Farm owner Peter Hayford told The Sun: "This was his first Christmas and it was meant to be his last. But no one chose him because of his appearance.
"Everyone said Wilbur looked too sad and bedraggled and the others were upbeat.
"He's also a little underweight and is a bit misshapen, so maybe that's why."
Wilbur is in for a treat this Christmas as Peter says him and his wife Jackie plan to keep him as a pet.
Peter added: "One thing's for sure - he's the luckiest little bird in the world.
"Wilbur will become one of the family. He might be an ugly old thing, but we think he's lovely."

Away in a mangetout

A farm shop in Crawley has created a nativity scene using fruit and veg.
The Three Wise Men are made of marrows, onions and apples. Mary and Joseph are made from butternut squash with lemon crowns and the animals from potatoes and parsnips.
All the characters have been created using produce from the shop including a cauliflower sheep and a baby Jesus made from carrots.
Owner of Tulleys Farm shop in Sussex Stuart Beare said: "As an independent farm shop we pride ourselves on supplying fresh quality produce and we thought a vegetable nativity scene would be a good way to get children to think about different types of vegetables."
Story filed: 09:29 Wednesday 24th December 2008 -->

Madge thrashes out custody deal

It seems Madonna may be struggling to get into the festive spirit.
When she arrived back in the UK to spend Christmas with her children she didn't rush to do last minute shopping - but instead rushed for talks with her divorce lawyer.
Fiona Shackleton who represented Sir Paul McCartney in his divorce from Heath Mills has been hired by her Madgesty to sort out a child custody deal.
A source told the Daily Mirror: "It doesn't look like Madonna is that keen on having a family Christmas.
"The first thing she did when she arrived was have a meeting with her divorce lawyer.
"That won't make things any easier when she is trying to keep things civil over the dinner table at Christmas.
"It remains to be seen how much time Madonna and Guy will spend together as they're started off by doing their best to avoid each other."
Madonna and Guy have decided to put aside their differences and spend Christmas with the children but both are keen to settle the custody deal as soon as possible.
The source added: "Guy and Madonna are keen to tie things up quickly so that they attract as little media attention as possible.
"They want to move on quickly for the sake of the kids."

My Chemical Romance plan fourth album

My Chemical Romance have said the group’s next studio album won’t follow a concept.
Frontman Gerard Way said that, unlike the New Jersey band's previous three albums, their forthcoming new record won't be inspired by "a definite story".
He told MTV: "I said that during [2006's] Welcome To The Black Parade, but I still think I had something to work out. I think I had to get it out of my system, as far as writing concept records.
"I had to at least do one more before I stopped doing them. Obviously, they'll always be cohesive. The songs need to fit together, that's what makes a great album."
Way said the five-piece had yet to begin recording, but planned to take inspiration from their live show when they do enter the studio in order to make a truly "punk" record.
He explained: "I think it'd be interesting to hear what the band sounds like recorded at least somewhat in those parameters of a live set.
"And that's not to say it'll all be distorted, who knows. I think you record it live viscerally, and the minute you put in the distortion, yeah, it's going to sound 'punk’.
"The song [a cover of Bob Dylan's 'Desolation Row'] we did for [forthcoming superhero film] Watchmen in a lot of ways is a really good test-run or experiment, at least, sonically."

Elbow top critic and public poll

Elbow's The Seldom Seen Kid has been voted album of the year by a selection of critics and members of the public.
Bury's thoughtful indie quintet won this year's Mercury Music Prize with the album, their fourth.
HMV's poll surveyed critics, staff at the firm and online customers.
Portishead's Third came in second, with Nick Cave's Dig, Lazurus, Dig taking bronze.
The rest of the Top 10 saw many familiar names from critical end of year polls, with New Yorkers Vampire Weekend hitting No.5 with their self-titled debut, and Hot Chip reaching No.10 with Made In The Dark.
Duffy's Rockferry, the UK's biggest-selling album of the year, managed No.28 in the poll.

Adele alone on Christmas night

Adele has revealed that she spent the evening of Christmas Day alone.
The soul siren wrote on her official blog: "I had Christmas night on my bloody own! Charming! Glamour? Yeah, whatever!
"Chatting away to myself and listening to (Tom Petty's 1989 hit)'Free Fallin''. Typical night!"
As well as detailing the earlier events of her Christmas Day, which included being "asleep for most of it", Adele said she bought her family Nintendo DS consoles and ate a 'sweaty' turkey.
She continued: "Turkey was good. we bought one you oven in a bag? Sweat it out? I didn't have much to do with it."
Adele also added that she has been searching for X Factor winner Alexandra Burke's songs on YouTube while working out how to tell a boy she fancies him!
She explained: "I'm hoping I'll pluck up the courage to tell this boy I like that...well that I like him!
"I'm YouTubing Alexandra's songs now. It's 5am - what am I doing with myself! It's so nice to have a bit of time off!"

Fish lives out of water for 21 hours

Ginger the goldfish has amazed experts by surviving out of water for up to 21 hours.
He was found lying on the floor behind a chest by owner Barbara Woodward at her home at 7am.
She assumed he was dead and, as she could not move the heavy chest, left the pet and went to work, reports The Sun.
But when she returned at 8pm, Ginger was still alive and flapping.
He was last seen in his tank at 11pm the night before - and so could have been out of water an incredible 21 hours.
A local vet said fish usually die in minutes without water as they need it to breathe.
Ginger was a gift to receptionist Barbara, 61, from her husband Alan, 62.
She said in Gloucester: "I can't believe it. He looked lifeless and I had planned on burying him. It's a real Christmas miracle."

Bush chuckers target shoe discount

A Chinese shop is giving discounts to customers who hit an image of George Bush by throwing shoes.
Customers hitting zones A-D can receive a discount from 20% to 50% off at the store in Wenzhou.
The activity, with a slogan "Hitting for world fame and good fortune", was so popular among shoppers that the store had to call police to maintain order.
During the first 30 minutes of the special promotion they sold 64 pairs of shoes and earned more £1,000. Several hundred pairs of shoes were sold on the second day.
"We were inspired by the shoe throwing incident in Iraq and hoped customers can get some entertainment while shopping," said the shop owner.

Bruni sues over naked bag photo

Lawyers for Carla Bruni are taking legal action to prevent a company from selling a bag featuring a nude image of her.
They are claiming more than £100,000 in damages from the firm, Pardon, based in the Indian Ocean island of Reunion, reports the BBC.
The white canvas bag features a black-and-white image of former model Ms Bruni, who is married to French President Nicholas Sarkozy.
The bags have already been on sale in Reunion for £2.60 each, and were due to go on sale in France this week.
"Neither Carla Bruni nor the photographer has given consent for the use of the photo," said lawyer Gesche Le Fur at a court hearing in Saint-Denis, capital of the French Indian Ocean island.
Ms Bruni's legal team argue that the first lady did not want the image's original goal of raising Aids awareness to be "hijacked" and used for commercial purposes.
An original print of the picture - taken by Swiss-born fashion photographer Michel Comte - fetched £59,000 at a New York auction in April.
Pardon boss Peter Mertes told the court that the 10,000 bags had been pulled from the shelves, and that the company planned to burn them.
Mr Mertes' lawyer argued that the sum sought by Ms Bruni was excessive. The court is expected to give its decision on Thursday.

Prison calendar a surprise hit

A calendar featuring England's prisons has become an unlikely best-selling stocking filler for Christmas.
Strangeways, Wormwood Scrubs, Dartmoor and Pentonville, are among 12 institutions featured in Her Majesty's Prisons of England 2009, reports the Daily Telegraph.
It follows the surprise success of the Boring Postcard books which became an overnight success with its prints of motorway service stations, roundabouts and shopping centres.
The idea was dreamt up by Kevin Beresford, 56, from Worcestershire, whose fascination with the less aesthetically pleasing features of Britain have spawned a series of books and calendars.
The year begins with Wormwood Scrubs while the Victorian form of HMP Leicester, the all-male Nottingham prison, Long Lartin in Evesham and HMP Gloucester also feature.
"The calendar shows prisons from all over England from Hull to Dartmoor," said Mr Beresford. "It seems to appeal to all sorts of people although I've not had any orders from prisons yet.
"Every year you see the same calendars on the shelves, such as Jordan and Cliff Richard, so I decided to come up with something totally unique
"I'm a courier and everywhere I turn there seems to be a prison so I went up and down the country taking pictures and turned them into a calendar.
"It started off as a bit of a joke but the orders have been pouring in. I gave one to Jacqui Smith, who is MP in my hometown of Redditch, and she thought it was hilarious."

Scout leaders capsized by hippo

Three British scout leaders were forced to trek through jungle for five days after a hippo capsized their canoe.
Terrified Brian Sheen, 66, Geoff Ryder, 59, and Michael Billworth, 23, were travelling on the River Niger in Guinea when the huge beast struck.
They were four days into a planned 2,500-mile river journey through Africa, reports the Daily Mail.
Mr Sheen, a retired chemist of Par, Cornwall, said: "We were on full hippo watch and all of a sudden we came to an abrupt halt. I thought we had hit a rock. The front went up and the middle went up.
"Then the back flew in the air and Geoff, who is 16 stone, was suddenly airborne and landed in the water beside the boat.
"It burst out like a submarine missile. We didn't have time to be scared. The canoe was going down fast. The hippo was about 20 yards away looking at us."
The men ditched their canoe - made from a tree trunk - and escaped after scrambling up the riverbank.
They abandoned all their gear apart from their sat nav systems and started a trek through head-high elephant grass and bamboo.
Five days later they reached a village and were fed by the inhabitants, before being given a lift 60 miles on motorcycles back to the town of Faranah in Guinea where they had begun their journey.

Ghost photographed in haunted hotel

A hotel in Romania has become a local attraction after a photograph of a ghost was published by newspapers and television.
The ghost of a tall woman in a long white dress reportedly watches the hallways and staircases of the Decebal hotel, in the Baile Herculane mountain spa.
The 150-year-old hotel is believed to hide ancient Roman treasure under its foundations and the ghost is said by locals to keep treasure hunters away.
The hotel has been closed for renovations for five years but people who have ventured inside claim to have seen - and photographed - the ghost.
Victoria Iovan, 33, from Baile Herculane, said: "I photographed my boyfriend in the hotel. Back home I was shocked to see another woman's shadow in the picture. She looked like a priestess in long white clothes."
Another witness, a high school student called Alexandra, said he and six classmates went into the hotel late one evening for fun.
"All of a sudden we felt a cold air and we saw a white silhouette close to us. We couldn't find our way out because we ran so fast," he said.
Local authorities have warned people not to go into the hotel because they say it is unsafe because of the building work.

Lily Allen in trouble over Britney cover

Lily Allen has revealed that she is in trouble with her record label after Mark Ronson leaked her cover of Britney Spears' 'Womanizer'.
The Londoner says she didn't intend for her reinterpretation to gather so much exposure, but it was the only song she had to hand when Mark Ronson called her for a favour.
Lily wrote on her official blog: "Some of you may be wondering why I covered "Womanizer". Simple really , I love Britney and I love the song.
"It wasn't my intention for it to have whizzed round the world like it has. Mark Ronson asked me for something no one had heard to play on his radio show and 'Womanizer' was the only song I had as an attachment on my BlackBerry.
"I had asked him to talk all over it so it wouldn't get ripped, but he didn't. Thanks Mark, for getting me in serious trouble with my record company."
After spending much of the latter half of 2008 trying to secure a release date for her second album, It's Not Me, It's You, Lily says that she has high hopes for 2009.
She said: "I am so excited, everything seems to be falling into place and I couldn't be happier. Touch wood."
Lily Allen's new single, 'The Fear' is due for release on 26 January 2009.

Girls Aloud announce new dates

Girls Aloud have added more dates to their mammoth UK tour next year.

Additional shows have been scheduled for Manchester MEN Arena (24 April), Sheffield Arena (25 April) and London O2 Arena (26 April).
Tickets for the extra dates go on sale tomorrow morning (18 December) at 9am.
The tour, now taking in 27 dates, is in support of the five-piece's latest album, Out Of Control, released in November.
New single 'The Loving Kind' is due for release on 12 January.

Robbie Williams: I'd love to rejoin Take That

Robbie Williams has revealed that he wants to reunite with Take That.
Now based in Los Angeles, Robbie says that he is proud of the group's triumphant comeback and misses their company.
The singer wrote on his website: "I'm over the moon for the boys. The thing that struck me the most was how much fun they're having. It's more rewarding when you're a gang."
He continued: "Ever since I left Take That I've wanted to be in a band. I'd love to be in the band again but I've got some unfinished business of my own."
Since leaving the group in 1995, Stoke-born Robbie has released seven solo albums, with another rumoured to be underway.
Speculation about a reunion increased recently when the star made up with his former bandmates after years of frosty relations.
34-year-old Robbie explained: "We got together a lot over the summer. It was amazing. We've all matured a lot since we parted. I'm very pleased to say the differences we've had have just melted away."
Take That's new album, The Circus, is out now.

Coldplay have rearranged their forthcoming December tour date in Belfast.
The band were scheduled to perform at the Odyssey Arena on 18 December, with the new show rebooked for 23 December.
No explanation has been given for the change of date.
All tickets for the original show are valid for the new gig, while refunds are available at point of purchase.
As previously reported, Coldplay yesterday made a public statement denying Joe Satriani's accusations of plagarism.
Last Thursday (4 December), Satriani issued a writ against the British band claiming their song 'Vida La Vida' used "substantial original portions" of his 2004 tune, 'If I Could Fly'.
Yesterday's statement from Chris Martin and co read: "If there are any similarities between our two pieces of music, they are entirely coincidental and just as surprising to us as to him."

JLS bag Rihanna duet for X Factor final

London boyband JLS are set to duet with US star Rihanna for Saturday's live X Factor final.
Bookies say the four-piece are still third favourites to win the competition, but odds have been slashed since the announcement this morning (11 December).
A show insider said: "They are thrilled to be working with Rihanna. It is a massive coup.
"She has an incredibly wide fan-base which is bound to help pull in votes. The feeling is that Rihanna's backing is the clincher. Even Simon Cowell has admitted they could win."
Favourite Alexandra Burke is due to perform with Irish quartet Westlife, while Eoghan Quigg has been teamed up with reformed manband Boyzone.

Beermats aim to shock binge drinkers

Beermats aim to shock binge drinkers
Teenage binge drinkers are being sobered up with beermats plastered with pictures of young boozers unconscious in puddles of vomit.
Millions of the shocking coasters are being distributed to German clubs and pubs to remind youngsters how their night could end.
Germany is facing a teen binge drinking epidemic fuelled by all-you-can-drink parties where youngsters pay an entry fee and then drink until they drop.
One coaster has a picture of a teenage boy, dancing at a party and showing off his muscles to the girls then on the flip side he is passed out after wetting himself.
Another beermat shows a girl laughing with friends while the reverse shows her passed out on a picnic table in her underwear.
And one shows football fans enjoying a match on one side, but a fan asleep and covered in his own vomit on the reverse.

Wanted: Volunteers to share pen with wolves

Wanted: Volunteers to share pen with wolves
A wildlife park in China is looking for three human volunteers to share an enclosure with 36 wild wolves.
Qinling Wildlife Park in Xi’an says they will be safe in a tree house 10ft above the ground, reports the Xi'an Evening Post.
It wants three volunteers, aged between 22 and 45, to spend three full days in the treehouse in exchange for a certificate and a cash reward worth £500.
"They will be safe in the hut. We will equip them with a walkie-talkie and monitor the hut around the clock. In case of emergencies, we can shoot tranquilizer darts at the wolves,” said a park spokesman.
The three volunteers will each be expected to write three 300-word articles, take eight pictures and film two video clips per day, as well as answer questions from the public online.
The 36 wolves in the enclosure are all said to be "very wild" and between three and ten years old.
"It will be a real challenge, both physically and mentally," added the spokesman.
More than 600 people, including several women, volunteered in just two days for the experiment which is being broadcast live on local TV.

Black carpet for Twilight stars
Twilight star Kristen Stewart defied the freezing weather at the movie's UK premiere.
She wore a skimpy black mini-dress as she walked down a black carpet blasted with dry ice in London's Leicester Square.
Stewart was joined by British co-star Robert Pattinson at the event which was besieged by thousands of screaming fans.
Twlight is based on the first novel in Stephanie Meyer's series about a high school girl who falls in love with a vampire.
The film has already been a box office sensation in the US, where it took nearly $70m in its opening weekend - more than the new Bond movie.
Twilight opens in UK cinemas on 19 December.

Sugababe says Girls Aloud have bigger public persona

Sugababe says Girls Aloud have bigger public persona
Keisha Buchanan, one third of pop trio Sugababes, says rival group Girls Aloud are obsessed with celebrity.
24-year-old Keisha insists that she and bandmates Heidi Range and Amelle Berrabah are more concerned with music than media attention, unlike their chart rivals.
She told BBC Radio 1: "With Girls Aloud, they've come from a reality TV show and it's a lot more about being a celebrity. The public persona of theirs is definitely a lot bigger than Sugababes."
The Londoner claims that the music business no longer makes songs the main priority.
"Now it's all about being a celebrity and having the music at the same time. We're not that kind of band", she added.
"Sugababes have been going for 12 years now and that's what we'll continue doing - writing with each other and making music, because that's what's important."
Sugababes' latest album, Catfights And Spotlights, is out now.

The Killers reveal Elton John admiration

The Killers reveal Elton John admiration
Brandon Flowers explains origins of festive collaboration
The Killers have been reflecting on recording a Christmas single with one of their heroes, Elton John.
The band revealed that the decision to co-write 'Joseph, Better You Than Me' with the legendary British singer arose after a series of meetings in their hometown.
Lead singer Brandon Flowers told NME: " He's been doing this show called the Red Piano in Las Vegas for a while, and so every now and then we'll go see the show and we'll go have dinner.
He continued: "We're big admirers of him and his voice and his gift for writing amazing songs so it's been cool to be around him. We were writing this Christmas song and we asked him if he wanted to chip in.
"He wrote the chorus, so it's a collaboration in every sense."
Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant also contributed lyrics and vocals to the track, which is The Killers' third festive effort.
A release date for the single is still to be set.

Leona Lewis: Grammy shortlist is empowering

Leona Lewis: Grammy shortlist is empowering
Leona Lewis says she has been heartened by the number of female artists nominated for next year's Grammy awards.
The British chanteuse is nominated for three gongs, including Record Of The Year for 'Bleeding Love'.
Other female nominees include homegrown talents Adele, Duffy and MIA, plus US performers Katy Perry, Madonna and Rihanna.
London girl Leona told the World Entertainment News Network (WENN): "I am so supportive of any artist but female artists in particular. It's a hard industry and so many people want the chance to live out what we are doing."
She added: "I think that we have to support each other and flourish on it. It's great that so many women are coming out and being successful - so empowering!"
The awards ceremony will be held on 8 February in Los Angeles.
Story filed: 15:10 Friday 5th December 2008 -->

Ready, teddy, go ... into space!
Two teddy bears have been launched into space on a budget of just £60.
The toys, named MAT and KMS, were decked out in custom-made space suits and launched on a weather balloon more than 18 miles above the Earth in the four-hour expedition.
The toys, bought from Mothercare, endured temperatures of minus 31F (-35C) in the mission launched by Cambridge University's Space Flight science club, reports the Daily Telegraph.
A laptop attached to a webcam captured stunning images of the bears looking down on Earth from nearly 100,000ft.
Pupils from nearby Parkside and Coleridge community colleges assisted scientists by creating space suits to stop the teddies from freezing solid.
After completing their mission the pair parachuted back to earth and made a soft landing near Ipswich just 50 miles from their launch pad.
Henry Hallam, 21, an aerodynamics student at Pembroke College at Cambridge, led the successful experiment to monitor weather conditions above the Earth.
He said: "We asked the children to build the space suits for the teddy bears and we monitored the temperatures inside and outside the suits.
"It was still pretty cold for the bears but they would be frozen solid if they didn't have their suits.
"It was great to involve these young people in the Space Flight club, so they can learn about physics in a different and exciting way."
Thia Unsworth, 12, from Parkside College, helped to design the spacesuit for MAT.
She said: "It was unbelievable to see the balloon take off and it's incredible to see the pictures of the teddy bears in space.
"I've always loved science before, but I now understand how it helps in the real world."

Elf and safety training for santas

Elf and safety training for santas
Santas are going on health and safety courses so they don't hurt themselves balancing children on their knees.
Lessons include the correct posture to adopt in their chairs as excited youngsters queue to reel off their Christmas lists.
They are also being taught how to lift heavy presents without doing themselves an injury, reports The Sun.
Dozens of the one-day courses are being staged by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.
A spokeswoman stressed: "Of course there's only one Santa - but hundreds of stand-ins work in stores in the run-up to Christmas."