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Since she leaped to fame in 2008, Katy Perry has been known for her sunny disposition and colourful wardrobe.
But as she addresses her divorce from Russell Brand in the song Wide Awake, the tone of new video is decidedly gloomy.
In contrast to her pink and blue wigs, this time the singer looks brooding in a dark purple wig, purple dress and cape teamed with dramatic make-up.
Scroll down to watch the video
Going to the dark side: Katy Perry goes Gothic in the video for her new single Wide Awake
Gloomy: Katy's dark make-up and purple hair is a change for her usual bright style
The lyrics of the song suggest Katy, 27, regrets moving so fast - she and Russell famously got engaged after just three months of dating and married after just a year together.
However, their long-distance marriage soon took its toll and the couple split in December 2011 after just 14 months of marriage.
Katy sings: 'I’m wide awake. I was in the dark, I was falling hard with an open heart. How did I read the stars so wrong. I was dreaming for so long. I wish I knew then what I know now. I wouldn’t dive in, I wouldn’t bow down.'
Crash to reality: Katy admitted the song was a 'dose of reality' after being high for so long
Trapped in the darkness: Katy is stuck in a labyrinth with no escape
The video starts with Katy wrapping the promo for California Gurls - where she sits on a white cloud wearing a pink wig.
However, as she sits in her dressing room, things quickly turn dark and mystical.
Soon the singer is wondering through a gloomy labyrinth - perhaps a metaphor for feeling lost and unable to see a way out in her marriage.
Temptation: Katy is drawn to a succulent strawberry, which turns out to be poisoned
Seeing double: Katy comes face-to-face with her younger self
She is then accompanied by her younger self and is confronted with a group of paparazzi.
The negative theme continues as Katy is seen slumped in a wheelchair being pushed by her younger self, before being confronted by two men wearing bull's heads.
After they finally escape the labyrinth, everything becomes colourful and bright again and Katy finds a handsome prince waiting for her.
Need to find a way out: Katy is desperate to escape from the labyrinth of her mind
Bid for freedom: After her younger self scares away two guards by the exit, the singer makes a dash for it
However, after initially smiling at him, she then punches him in the face, suggesting she is happy with her single status.
The video ends on a happier note with Katy taking to the stage to perform in concert back in her usual kitsch clothing.
Everything is looking rosy: The two Katys are relieved to have finally escaped
A fairytale ending? Katy is greeted by a handsome prince...
... but punches him in the face: Katy shows her fans she doesn't need a man
Explaining the video, Katy told MTV News: This song in particular is a dose of reality. It's kind of like coming down from a high.
'You've been on cloud nine for so long, and it can't always be so sweet and sometimes you need to realise that, and you have to pick yourself up and move forward and face the facts of life and know that this is just a lesson you learn and you're stronger because of it.'
Oops! Katy revealed a bit too much in her nude bodysuit at the MuchMusic Video Awards in Toronto, Canada, earlier this week
Covering up: But Katy kept her head down as she jetted out of Canada the next day
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
DOWN MEMORY LANE: A family historian’s dream - Chichester Observer
A wonderful resource for family historians whose families lived in West Sussex north of the Downs 100 years ago has just been made searchable online by West Sussex Record Office.
This is the catalogue of photographic portraits of more than 7,600 former inhabitants of the area, which were taken by the photographer Walter Kevis of Petworth between c1876 and 1908.
Walter Kevis was born in 1854, in London, the son of James Kevis, a licensed victualler, and Harriet his wife.
At some time between 1861 and 1871, Harriet died, and it is likely the family household broke up.
James went into private service, and it may be that Walter went into service during that period.
In 1875 he was briefly in service at Petworth House as a footman.
He established himself in Petworth as a photographer in c1876. From the surviving negatives he produced, it seems likely that much of his time was spent in making portraits.
Negatives
Kevis retired in 1908 and left his negatives in his studio in Lombard Street, Petworth.
The shop below was taken over by his nephew, Henry Earle, who carried on the tobacconist’s side of the business until his death in 1950.
After his death, the negatives were rescued by George Garland, himself a Petworth photographer.
When Garland died in 1978 the Kevis negatives were bequeathed to the West Sussex Record Office in Chichester, as part of the Garland Collection, along with his own negatives.
The Kevis portraits have been indexed by Roy and Sheila Morgan, two long-standing volunteers at the Record Office, who undertook the long and arduous job with their customary dedication and efficiency.
Sheila then transferred the data onto a spreadsheet which could be transferred on to the computer system, and uploaded onto the internet.
Portraits
Despite their uncertain history, the negatives are mostly in excellent condition, and the photography is of a very high standard.
The majority of the portraits are taken in Kevis’ studio, with his scenery and props, which were designed to give people something to lean on or hold onto, so they could keep absolutely still for the long exposure time needed.
The collection includes every rank of society, from Lord and Lady Leconfield at Petworth House to a workhouse inmate.
It includes more than 300 portraits of people in service at Petworth House, where Kevis himself was a footman for a short time, and a smaller number of portraits of servants in other great houses in the area.
Some of the servants were photographed in their livery or working clothes.
There are also portraits of soldiers and sailors, policemen and firemen, a post man and a nurse, all in their respective uniforms.
Information
There is the sad portrait of Harriet Holden, the invalid daughter of John Holden, on her sick bed, probably shortly before she died in 1884, aged 23.
And there are even portraits of people’s pets – dogs, cats, and even Miss Daintry’s pet rat.
The only information we have about any of the subjects of the portraits is what was written on the envelope in which they were kept.
The information which has survived about each negative is variable, sometimes consisting only of a surname, or there may be a surname and a parish or house name, and a date.
It is hoped that as more people become aware of the collection, in many cases descendants will be able to add information about the subjects of the portraits.
For some lucky people, the Kevis Collection will give them their first opportunity to see the faces of their ancestors.
The Kevis Collection also includes more than 600 images which are not portraits. These include local views, objects, and groups such as wedding parties, schools, servants, and cricketers, The catalogues of these have also been added to the database.
Get in touch
Have you got a memory you would like to see featured on the Down Memory Lane page?
You can email vintage@chiobserver.co.uk or write to The Observer, Unicorn House, 8 Eastgate Square, Chichester, PO19 1JN.
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Print this pageSource: www.chichester.co.uk
'TOWIE' Lauren Goodger: 'Mark Wright and I still love each other' - Digital Spy
Source: www.digitalspy.co.uk
Sussex Police hunt for suspect in Arundel rape case - thisissussex.co.uk
Sussex Police are trying to trace a man who is wanted in connection with a rape near Arundel in 2010.
Detectives are urging members of the public to come forward with any information they may have concerning the whereabouts of Abdul Bieeu, 23.
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Police want to speak to Abdul Bieeu
Mr Bieeu has already been arrested in connection with the rape but he was released on bail and failed to answer bail.
It is thought he may have gone to Libya for a time but may have now returned.
The rape, where the victim was a 19-year-old woman, took place on the site of a Comfort Inn Hotel in Lyminster Road, Lyminster between the 8th and 9th of September 2010.
Mr Bieeu is also known as Marney Rafah, Abdel Sadik, Marney Bieeu and Abdel Sadiq.
A second man has been arrested and charged with rape in relation to this incident. He is Richard Wooster, 24, of Highfield, Wick. He has pleaded not guilty to the offence and is due to appear on trial at Chichester Crown Court on September 3rd 2012.
Detective Constable Andrea Watts of West Sussex CID said: "We have been working to establish Mr Bieeu's whereabouts but have been unable to trace him so far. We are appealing for anyone who has information about his whereabouts to contact police.
"It was believed that he may have gone to Libya for a short time and may have now returned. He also has links to Manchester, Bolton, Chester and Southsea.
"Mr Bieeu has been known to work for cash-in-hand at restaurants and bars and may be using a different name."
If you have any information about his whereabouts please contact Sussex Police on 101 quoting serial 297 of 9/9 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Source: www.thisissussex.co.uk
Is divorce ruining relationships? - Sydney Morning Herald
Divorce is no longer as imposing as a Mt Everest trek. Photo: MacGillivary Freeman Films
Here’s the thing. I am against marriage as the only legitimate romantic relationship. I support gay marriage; matrimony should be possible within any romance, just not the only romantic possibility. I also don’t think marriage has to be monogamous.
But I am starting to have doubts about divorce.
And this is a problem because, er, I am starting to think perhaps divorce really is such a bad thing. I’m starting to think divorce really is ruining our relationships. And it’s starting to make me sound like a hypocritical conservative.
Am I?
Well – perhaps not.
Let me explain.
Divorce used to be difficult, socially. Things that are difficult are generally undesirable, even if their consequence is attractive.
Having the bragging rights to an Mount Everest summit story is attractive, but actually reaching the summit is not. Hence the respect we afford the journey, and the awe-bordering-on-suspicion we grant to those who survive. This peculiar sort of judgement comes from lack of experiential relatability, and a shared belief system – common sense, in this case.
But if the summit could be conquered with ease, and if most of our mates had been there and back, it would be different. Reactions to tales regaled would be met with ambivalence and adverse judgement – “that’s interesting, but you’re crazy” – less likely.
So it is with divorce today. Yes, there are still costs attached to it – legal bills, emotional toll, and so on and so forth, which makes it unattractive. But the social cost has changed. More people have been there and done that, so it’s not as peculiarly fascinating anymore. And the belief system common to most people nowadays doesn’t have the ‘burn in hell’ ring it once did.
Thus divorce is less undesirable. Certainly it’s not attractive – I imagine few divorcees wanted to get divorced as they walked down the aisle – but it is accessible. And this accessibility has impacted on the way we view relationships. And when I say we I mean me, though I presume I’m not alone.
Certainly, when I broach the subject with my 20-to-30-something friends who are single-ish, educated, and could hardly recall a positive parental romance between them, I find similar thoughts have seeded. These notions might not be proudly nurtured by those who would self-describe as liberal progressives who value choice and freedom and individualism above all else. But the idea is there all the same.
The idea that perhaps too much choice, freedom and individualism is challenging love lives in the way their opposites did generations ago, before no-fault divorce swept through much needed change. Divorce in the 60s and 70s was a much needed antidote to the social stiffness and personal constraints of the decades previous.
But that was then. Now, the accessibility of divorce – the ease with which we can conceptualise ending relationships, even very, very serious ones – has helped make the reality of marriage a difficult pill to swallow. The reality of long-term, life-time commitment is the new Mt Everest. Those who manage it might be publicly feted, generally envied and privately doubted by those who have not, but want to.
And about here is where my palm hits my face. What am I saying? That we should go back to a time when marriage was for life no matter what? Where giving up on the great dream was social suicide? Have I regressed?
I don’t think so. I simply think the pendulum has swung too far in the opposite direction and needs to be corrected. I think many of us are sleeping in uncomfortable, lonely and sometimes very unhappy beds. We’ve made these beds with sheets of perpetual dissatisfaction on which we lie and wonder, ‘are you really the one, or just the one for now?’
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Source: www.smh.com.au
Kim Kardashian, Kris Humphries divorce trial to begin this week? - Digital Spy
Source: www.digitalspy.co.uk
Plamen Petkov honoured for West Wittering beach rescue - BBC News
A man who drowned saving a young child from being swept out to sea off West Sussex has been rewarded for his "self-sacrifice and courage".
Plamen Petkov, of Sutton, south London, died after saving a five-year-old girl off West Wittering beach on 26 May.
Mr Petkov, 32, who was a British citizen of Bulgarian origin, has been posthumously awarded the highest civilian Bulgarian distinction.
His family have also set up an RNLI fund in his name.
Mr Petkov dived into the water after he and a friend spotted a mother shouting for help because her daughter was adrift on an inflatable ring being taken out to sea.
'Heroic act'He managed to reach the girl but after he passed her to a woman from Guildford, who also entered the water, he was dragged under the water by strong currents.
Mr Petkov was pronounced dead at the scene by the emergency services despite attempts by the woman to resuscitate him.
He has been posthumously awarded the Honorary Decoration of St George by the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria for his "self-sacrifice and courage".
A spokeswoman for the Bulgarian Embassy in London said the award had been given in recognition of Mr Petkov's "illustrated bravery, self-renunciation, civil courage" and for "upholding the prestige of the Republic of Bulgaria".
In a statement, his family said: "Although tragic, we are touched by the fact that Plamen's heroic act has been so widely and internationally praised.
"We would like to direct the support of those who have been moved by Plamen's bravery to the RNLI in their efforts to make Britain's beaches safer."
Gemma Nightingale, of the RNLI, said: "We are honoured that the family of Plamen Petkov have chosen to remember his life with a Forever by the Sea fund.
"It is a fitting tribute that this young man's ultimate generosity of spirit will be reflected in the generosity of those who now visit the site."
The young girl was reunited with her family who are from north west London.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Queen’s birthday honours for wildlife expert and PC Kate! - eastbourneherald.co.uk
THE man who founded the East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service along with a Hailsham police officer have been honoured in the Queen’s birthday honours list.
Trevor Weeks who founded the East Sussex WRAS in 1996, is to receive an MBE, while PC Kate Brookman, who has been a Neighbourhood Schools Officer covering south Wealden for 17 years, has been awarded the Queen’s Police Medal.
Eastbourne-born Trevor has spent all of his life living in East Sussex, and was just 13-years-old when he first became involved with wildlife rescue and conservation work.
It is estimated that Trevor has now been on call helping wildlife in need for over 145,000 hours for the Stone Cross-based charity and helped rescue approximately 50,000 animals over the last 27 years.
He said that he would not be receiving this award if it was not for the help and support of WRAS’s supporters, its volunteers and committee.
The first he knew of the honour was a letter from the Cabinet Office a month ago. He said: “I opened the letter whilst in a long queue of traffic on my way to the Casualty Centre one morning, I had to pull over into a lay-by to re-read it several times. To say the least, I was shocked. I never thought I would ever be accepted for anything like this. I feel privileged to be named for such an prestigious award.”
Trevor is now awaiting an invitation to an investiture ceremony organised by the Central Chancery of the Order of Knighthood at St James’s Palace. Once this has taken place WRAS hope to hold a small celebration as a thank you to its supporters and volunteers.
He added: “I would like to express my personal thanks to all our loyal volunteers and supporters without whom WRAS would not exist and my role helping wildlife would not be possible. I do not see this award as being mine, but as a national acknowledgement of everyone past and present who have helped make me who I am and have made my involvement in WRAS what it is today.
“I feel deeply honoured to receive this award, and I hope this will help bring in funding and prove our commitment to help wildlife in need.”
PC Kate Brookman has worked with thousands of children over many years and is affectionately known as ‘PC Kate’.
She explained: “It started when I went to my first school assembly for children aged only four or five. I thought it would be simpler for them to remember my first name, but it was also important to keep the ‘PC’. I wanted them to learn that police are people who are friendly and who they can trust.
“Since then, it’s stuck! In the local area, everyone calls me that. Some of the young people I used to work with now have children of their own at school, so there are whole generations who call me ‘PC Kate’. I love it, but it’s sometimes confusing when people come to the police station or call asking for me!”
PC Kate first joined Sussex Police as a special constable, because she wanted to see what it was like before deciding if it was the right choice for her. She has been a full-time officer for 26 years - with roles including neighbourhood officer in Eastbourne, communications officer at Gatwick and crime scene support officer - before she found her passion working with young people.
Talking about what she enjoys most about her role, she added: “I am lucky to meet so many great young people, especially as they can unfairly get a bad name from others. I feel privileged already to work with them, so could hardly believe when I was told I’d be receiving an honour from the Queen.
“Of course, I also help schools and families deal with some really difficult issues. What makes me most proud is when I can help a young person through a really rough patch or when they come back when they’re older and tell me I helped keep them on the right path and out of trouble.
“I’m a huge believer in working with the community. The police cannot identify issues or solve problems on our own. I am lucky to have schools who phone me regularly, shops that let me know what’s going on, not to mention all the assistance from young people’s families and friends and the wider public.
“The world changes, but young people and their issues stay largely the same. I’m still doing the safety talks in schools and speaking with head teachers like I did 17 years ago, but these days I also have 1,900 Facebook friends who I share advice with and who sometimes ask me for help.”
PC Kate Brookman is married to Sussex Police officer Chief Inspector Steve Brookman, who works in the Operational Communications Department, and they have two teenage boys. Her family are excited to be accompanying her to Buckingham Palace later in the year where she’ll receive the honour.
Chief Constable Martin Richards adds: “I am delighted that Kate’s passion to serve her local community has been recognised. The way Kate has dedicated her career to working with young people - from giving them the knowledge to stay safe at a very young age through to helping them during really challenging times in later years - is an inspiration to us all.”
Source: www.eastbourneherald.co.uk
Captain of Navy ship relieved following collision - msnbc.com
By JULIE WATSON
Associated Press
SAN DIEGO (AP) - The Navy relieved the commanding officer of the USS Essex of his position, saying Tuesday that officials lost confidence in his abilities after his ship collided with a tanker at sea.
Capt. Chuck Litchfield had only been the commanding officer of the amphibious assault ship for a few weeks when the crash occurred about 120 miles off the coast of Southern California on May 16. There were no injuries or fuel spills.
The Essex was approaching the oiler USNS Yukon to be refueled as part of a routine operation when they ran into each other. Both ships were damaged but were able to continue on their way to San Diego.
Navy spokeswoman, Cmdr. Tamsen Reese, said the steering failed on the Essex, which caused the two ships to move closely together.
But the crew was able to regain control of the rudder before the collision.
The investigation determined that there were break downs in the command and control of the Essex, and in the communication between the two ships, Reese said.
Authorities also found there was a loss of situational awareness on the bridge.
All those factors, Reese said, led to the collision.
Essex was carrying 982 crew members on its way to San Diego for scheduled maintenance. It had spent the past 12 years based in Sasebo, Japan, as command ship for the Navy's Expeditionary Strike Group 7.
Litchfield was relieved Monday of his position and has been administratively reassigned to the staff of Commander, Naval Air Force of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
He could not be reached for comment.
Litchfield graduated with merit from the Naval Academy in 1988 and has been recognized for his achievements as a naval aviator. He was selected for major sea command in 2009.
Capt. Jonathan Harnden has temporarily assumed command of the Essex until a permanent replacement is assigned. Harnden previously commanded the USS Bonhomme Richard, which Litchfield had taken command of Feb. 3 before switching over to the Essex on April 23.
Officials said the Essex will depart Wednesday as scheduled to participate in the Rim of the Pacific exercise this summer in Hawaii.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Source: www.msnbc.msn.com
Why do people think that Goth means dressing like Lily Munster? geez
- boocat, Coos Bay, Oregon, 20/6/2012 01:16
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