This should help widen the deep, dark, dank chasm that exists between Russell Brand and Katy Perry – once one of our favourite (if least likely to last couples).
After announcing to the MTV audience the other night that he was on the look out for his next wife (that's where he met Katy - ouch), Russell appeared on the telly this morning to talk to Lorraine Kelly (unintentional rhyme, but nice all the same).
While he was suffocating her in his wet-look beard, he also answered some of her questions on his failed marriage to Katy Perry.
Lorraine being the ever-so-nice interviewer she is, who as a general rule likes to tell people they “look really, really good” and ask them if they’ve “lost weight?” - a lot (nice technique to get them at ease), told Russ she was sorry things hadn’t worked out with Katy.
He replied in rather a simple way for the King of elevated speaking: “Well it did work out in a way because you are married for some time, and that’s really good, and then you're not married, and that’s really good. You just have to have acceptance of things. She is a person that I love, but now this is a new time.”
Lorraine’s compliments continued apace as she said she thought they were well suited and he agreed they were, “for that amount of time, and now this is a new time.”
Why is it that ALL men have that ability to turn off feelings so easily and why don’t we have it?
But it’s his totally cold approach to the final ending of their marriage which should convince Katy she should never have married him in the first place.
“I suppose a divorce is difficult isn’t it, because of the admin! There’s a lot of admin.”
Nice.
Still, Russell’s moving on with the help of yoga – and sex.
“Well firstly, I don't want to sound like a lunatic, but if you meditate and do yoga you become attuned to that there is different energy that’s constant and very, very beautiful. Some people would call it God, some people would call it karma or the cosmos, me - I call it sexual charisma.”
Russell Brand’s term for God is sexual charisma… of course it is.
This naturally led on to Russell flirting heavily with Lorraine – that’s his interviewee technique – and discussing actually having sex.
“I thought how long are we going to sit in what is essentially a hotel room without Lorraine Kelly saying, "Ooh you've got lovely sexual charisma!"
“You’ve got loads of it. You sort of squirm in your seat - I think that’s how you've got your career. Cos you've got the energy sort of very gentle and maternal, but people are sort of thinking "I would".”
As far as we know Lorraine went home alone.
If you can't stop thinking of the words 'sexual charisma' then may we suggest that you click here, to see the top 10 most naked celebrities on Twitter.
Source: www.mirror.co.uk
New Jersey Divorce Advisors LLC Offers Divorce Clients Guidance on Creating a Case Information Statement - YAHOO!
New Jersey Divorce Advisors, LLC, the leading divorce financial experts in New Jersey, provides guidance to divorce clients. Getting it right the first time: why a Case Information Statement is the lifeblood of a divorce settlement, and how to be sure this essential paperwork is completed properly.
Red Bank, NJ (PRWEB) June 13, 2012
New Jersey Divorce Advisors, LLC, the leading divorce financial experts in New Jersey, have released their recommendations for completing a Case Information Statement(“CIS”) during the divorce process.A recent high-profile divorce case proves the point that one of the most important preparations a person must make before going to court is making sure the Case Information Statement is thorough and complete.
Luckily for Laura Blank, her original CIS paperwork (in New York State the CIS is called a Statement of Net Worth) in her divorce from Steven Simkin in 2006 was thorough and complete; it worked in her favor when Simkin brought her back to court to try to renegotiate the settlement agreement. According to the New York Times, when the two divorced, Blank and Simkin split their millions evenly. Blank took hers in the form of cash. That meant that her portion of the investment proceeds was liquidated. Unfortunately for Simkin, he chose to keep his portion of the assets invested with Bernie Madoff. When Madoff was arrested for fraud in 2008, Simkin lost everything he had invested with him. Simkin sued his ex-wife to try to alter the terms of their divorce agreement, but a New York judge ruled that the divorce settlement was based on the value of the asset at the time of the settlement, and as such given that the asset was an investment, there’s an implicit understanding that it may change over time. Had there been an error in the value shown in the CIS at the time of the settlement, the case could have been reopened (Simkin v. Blank, Index 48, NYLJ 1202547876121, at *1 Ct. of App., Decided April 3, 2012) .
The CIS is the most critical document in terms of the financial settlement, and indeed every case in the state of New Jersey requires the completion of a CIS, but what exactly is it?
“Simply put it is a Financial Affidavit created by each spouse,” says Jodi Carter, co-founder of New Jersey Divorce Advisors LLC, and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). “The CIS contains a comprehensive list of all assets, liabilities, income, and expenses for both parties. It contains all relevant case information including date of the marriage, issues in dispute, children’s names, and the date of separation. And it breaks down the household income, taking into account bonuses and commission versus wages, and self-employment income, as well as appropriate tax deductions, analyzing required versus voluntary deductions such as 401(k) contributions.”
In addition, the CIS requires each spouse to set forth a budget as to the standard of living acquired during the marriage and expected after the marriage. This is why this form is the most important document in the divorce, it allows each party to track the money that was spent during the marriage, and also prepares each person for life after divorce. The form includes all of each person’s assets and liabilities, not only those that are subject to equitable distribution, and requires the submitting spouse to sign off on the accuracy and validity of the information contained in the document.
“Many parties and even some attorneys fail to appreciate the importance of preparing an accurate CIS. Success in negotiations, mediation, collaborative divorce, pendente lite motions, and trial depends on the accuracy of historic budgets, projected budgets, current income, and financial net worth,” says Hanan M. Isaacs, Esq., a Certified Matrimonial Specialist, mediator, and collaborative attorney located in Kingston, NJ.
In divorce litigation, the attorneys will rely on the information provided in the CIS to present their cases and negotiate an equitable settlement for their clients. The judge will also rely on the data provided in the CIS to assess the marital lifestyle and rule on alimony, child support, and distribution of assets. In mediation & Collaborative divorce, the CIS is not mandatory but is typically used because it is beneficial to the parties to work from this document. In less adversarial situations, the parties may create a joint CIS to be used by both parties.
“For many clients, the CIS represents the first time they’ve compiled a household budget or household balance sheet,” says Bryan Koslow, co-founder of New Jersey Divorce Advisors LLC, and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA™). “It forces people to compare their household inflows vs. outflows. At New Jersey Divorce Advisors LLC, we take it a step further by creating separate budgets for our clients for post-divorce to give them a framework for making decisions. For example, the budget will drive decisions about whether you can stay in the marital home, and how many hours you may need to work to support your desired lifestyle. The CIS is also the basis for determining how disruptive the divorce will be to college savings plans, retirement plans, and estate plans.”
Hiring a financial expert to create a lifestyle analysis takes the CIS preparation to the next level. The financial professional will meticulously examine tax returns, bank account statements, brokerage account statements, credit card statements, credit reports and other financial documents provided by the client to create an accurate account of the couple’s standard of living for the court. The lifestyle analysis will demonstrate the couple’s day-to-day expenses, and the spending habits of each party. This can help the court more clearly understand the couple’s finances, which is critical because one of the factors that the court considers when determining alimony is the standard of living to which each party was accustomed during the marriage.
Too often couples see the CIS as another required document for the divorce. By viewing this document as the basis for decisions and a wealth of information for planning for their future, it becomes a pivotal tool in moving from one stage of life to the next.
About NJDA
New Jersey Divorce Advisors, LLC is a financial consulting and planning firm specializing in the financial aspects of divorce. By analyzing the unique situation of each client, the firm structures equitable settlements and creates a plan for the client’s future. The firm, founded by a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Financial Planner™, provides clients a comprehensive financial assessment that includes tax analysis, financial planning, retirement and estate planning, and insurance recommendations. The firm may be utilized in Divorce Mediation, Litigation, or Collaborative Divorce.
Bryan Koslow
New Jersey Divorce Advisors
732-703-6532
Email Information
Source: news.yahoo.com
You wouldn't want to Occupy this! The squalid conditions of protesters' London camp are revealed - Daily Mail
By Ian Garland
|
A mountain of discarded roadsigns and shopping trolleys protects a makeshift camps of tattered tents.
Eight months after they first occupied Finsbury Square, in the heart of the City of London, the anti-capitalist protesters who have set up home there show no sign of waning.
As another eviction threat looms this week, the 20 to 30 protesters - London's last remaining Occupy outpost - have barricaded themselves into their squalid camp ready to defend themselves against the police.
Occupy protesters have barricaded themselves into their camp on Finsbury Square in the City of London
Before protesters were evicted from the neighbouring camp at St. Paul's Cathedral in February, Finsbury Square was used as an overspill.
It later became an 'eco village' where sustainable technologies were showcased.
But there was no sign of that today. The once pleasant park is now a barren, litter-strewn dump.
20-30 'protestors' remain at the Finsbury Square camp - eight months after it was first 'occupied'
Residents of the square are bracing themselves for an eviction attempt on Friday and have barricaded themselves in
Islington Borough Council moved in March to start eviction proceedings against the 'residents' of Finsbury Square.
The most recent stay of execution expires on Friday after Justice Hickinbottom ruled at the High Court last week that Islington Council has the right to repossess the public space.
Islington councillor Paul Convery insists the time has come to move the camp on - claiming many legitimate protesters have been replaced by vulnerable homeless people.
He told the Guardian: 'The council has said from the outset that we support the right to peaceful protest, and we have tolerated Occupy's presence at Finsbury Square since October.
'However, it is now apparent that the character of the protest has changed and Occupy's presence is significantly diminished. In the protesters' place, we now see a group of vulnerable and homeless people who would be better cared for elsewhere.'
At one time protesters used the square to showcase sustainable technology, but it is now a litter strewn dump
But Tom McCarthy, a resident at Finsbury Square, insists the camp serves an important purpose.
He wrote on the Occupy Finsbury Square blog: 'This camp makes a political statement about our society.
'Since Occupy opened the camp on 21 October, it has become a home and community for many homeless people, for whom the system has failed.
'In evicting this community, Islington Council – who have helped to re-home some people that have ticked certain boxes – are potentially leaving some people in a much worse position than they are already in.
'We ask Islington Council to not go down the same route at the City of London Corporation – cleansing the City of homeless people is not the way forward. Helping to find real solutions is.'
Islington Council claims the camp is now just occupied by vulnerable and homeless people
Banners erected on the camp still preach anti-capitalist slogans, despite claims by councillors the square has become a haven for the homeless
Islington Borough Council are keen to repossess the square so they can start fixing the damage caused by protesters
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
London 2012 - Olympics hits home for Grainger - Yahoo! Eurosport
Even in the current climate of questionable selection policies it would have taken the keenest of imaginations to concoct a scenario where three-time Olympic silver medallist and nigh-on untouchable world No.1 Katherine Grainger could be overlooked for London 2012.
But despite her pre-eminence the Scottish rower admits it is a week which included a brush with the Olympic flame - and the much-expected rubber-stamping of her British spot for London 2012 - that has finally brought home the reality of a home Games.
If the sporting Gods - and the Edinburgh University Boat Club - hadn't intervened, Grainger could have been a fellow martial artist such as Aaron Cook, who has found himself in the middle of an almighty selection row in recent weeks.
Despite being ranked the world's best fighter at -80kg Cook, having been overlooked for selection in favour of Lutalo Muhammad, is most likely facing up to a legal battle to secure his Games participation.
In contrast Grainger's progress has been serene - indeed in the last two years, since an comparatively unsuccessful foray into the world of single sculling in 2009, she and double sculls partner Anna Watkins have barely broken sweat in going through successive seasons unbeaten.
That equilibrium was thrown slightly off course in a rare day off the water when Grainger took her turn with the Olympic flame in Glasgow last Friday.
And, while insistent she's exactly where she wants to be with London 2012 just around the corner, the 36-year-old admitted getting up close and personal with the torch brings with it a sense of trepidation.
Rowing redemption - in the shape of Olympic gold at the fourth time of asking - is Grainger's unequivocal London goal and she said: "It was an emotional moment holding the torch.
"Partly because of the chaos getting to hold it and rushing through the traffic to get there but also partly because when you hold it you think, this is it, this is the flame that's going to light the London Games in a few weeks time.
"It definitely brought the Games very close, a lot of the time when you are training you are away from the spotlight and it is in dark sweaty gyms or on windswept and rain-swept waters.
"So in a way you feel quite detached from the experience of an Olympic Games. We hear about it the whole time on the radio and TV and newspapers but when we go training day-to-day you still feel a little bit away from that.
"And then with a combination of the selection and the torch you suddenly realise that, one you're very much a part of this huge, massive ongoing building experience to what will be this greatest show on Earth and tow that we are now counting it in days.
"We have counted in years for a long time and then it was months, weeks and now it is days so it does feel like we are getting to the end now."
The end - London 2012 - for Grainger will be a career-defining moment regardless of the outcome. After three consecutive Games silvers Grainger has been vocal in her win or bust attitude towards the home Olympics.
And in carrying the torch the 36-year-old admitted she had a moment of clarity - realising just how all-encompassing the Olympics has been on her life.
"The flame and the torch is such a symbol of the Games so to actually be holding that means so much to me and my life," she added.
"London is something that I have been building to for seven years and to be honest the last 15 years of my life has been slightly defined by the Olympic Games.
"Last week was massive with both the official selection, although it wasn't a huge surprise, and carrying the torch.
"It wasn't whether or not we had been picked it's that big milestone that we are now officially part of Team GB.
"Although you know it's been coming for a long time it's the first moment when you know it's definitely going to happen and you're definitely going to be a part of it."
Source: uk.eurosport.yahoo.com
Kobe Bryant's divorce 'off for now' - New Kerala
Washington, June 13 : Kobe Bryant's estranged wife Vanessa will not sign documents to make her divorce final, at least for now, because she and the basketball star are working on a full reconciliation.
According to reports, the LA Lakers shooting guard and Vanessa are trying to work out the issues that caused her to file for divorce back in December, TMZ.com reported.
They spend a lot of time together but he has not officially moved back in with her.
Under California law, Vanessa has to wait 6 months before she can file final docs making the divorce official.
The 6-month mark hits this weekend, so Vanessa could end the marriage as early as Monday, but she won't as of now.
The two have been working hard at a reconciliation. They were spotted sharing a post-game kiss on Valentines Day after the Lakers' victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
Despite the delay in their divorce proceedings, Vanessa is already sitting pretty.
They had previously reached a property settlement deal in which she got all three of their Newport Beach estates.
She got the house the couple were living in, the estate where her mom resides, and the new estate which they have been building for two years. This means Vanessa will already walk away with 75 million dollars, close to half of their total assets, whether she signs this weekend or not. (ANI)
Source: www.newkerala.com
Occupy London - my protest - Daily Mail
By Anna Maxted
|
Occupy London are determined to protest against the City of London Corporation, so today they set up camp on that ugly symbol of elitism and privilege, Hampstead Heath.
Sadly, in another victory for the overarching forces of international capitalism, the park's police escorted them off the premises just after teatime.
I've lived near the Heath all my life and it's one of the most serene and beautiful areas of the capital; one of the few that you don't need money to enjoy. When Karl Marx lived in London, he loved to visit with his family. Kenwood House - part of the estate bestowed to the nation by that privileged toff Lord Iveagh in 1927 - may look tatty on the outside, but if you nip inside (donations are voluntary) you can show your five-year old a Gainsborough.
A privilege to be there: When you're on Hampstead Heath, your status, your bank balance ceases to matter
I was there this morning, beaming at the exquisite views of the City, breathing in the delicious air, marvelling at the gorgeous profusion of green, along with various other capitalist pigs (an old lady on a Zimmer frame, an artist, a young photographer, an elderly man walking his dog, a young couple with a newborn...).
Eventually I spotted the Occupy London set, trudging along the sun-dappled paths, squinting at their maps - though they were hardly obvious: none of the people wandering around the Heath this morning were head-to-toe in Dior.
They set up camp in the Vale of Health (convenient for Hampstead High Street; Starbucks, Tesco Metro and The Gap). One doesn't have to eschew all trappings of commercialism to make a huffy point against capitalism - I don't expect them to scrape for nuts and berries and live on rainwater - but this exercise was little more than a hypocritical student jolly.
Trespassers in tents: Will we soon see scenes like this, outside St Paul's last year, on the Heath?
I feel aggrieved at the wretched difference between wealthy and poor - but I feel as aggrieved that these protestors were so witless as to think that they were doing the less privileged a favour by camping out - with their litter, and worse, judging from the mess they made of St Paul's - in the one place that is an oasis of peace, and serenity - and free to those who have everything and nothing alike.
When you're on Hampstead Heath, your status, your bank balance ceases to matter. You feel privileged to be there. You feel rich. Until you chance upon a massive bunch of trespassers in tents, and then the Heath loses its magic, and your carefree ramble becomes yet another irritating, slightly depressing exercise in trying to enjoy London despite it being stuffed full of sociopaths and egotists.
Truly, harassing a bunch of dog walkers is not a valid form of protest against bankers. It was facetious, brattish; bullying. If they wish to get their point across in a democratic manner, they have civilised options - from blogging to, hm, politics - but they made the laziest, most slovenly choice: to make a nuisance of themselves and inconvenience, oh, just everyone. A minority, imposing their selfish will on the majority, is nothing less than tyranny.
Exquisite views of the City: Misty view over London from Hampstead Heath
They claimed that they wanted to 'reach out to the community about shared concerns'... I can tell you what the community's main concern was today - that a bunch of pseudo-crusties had illegally pitched their luxury tents in a public beauty spot. (Hampstead Heath's by-laws forbid 'the training of whippets,' 'the beating of carpets,' and 'Persons in an Offensive, Filthy Condition.' And no camping, either.)
One of OL's excuses was that fans of the Heath ponds were 'up in arms' about the recent outrageous decision by the City of London to charge a couple of quid for a swim. My husband has swum there for years, occasionally with our 10-year old son, and says that most who use the pond have no objection - if they want a lifeguard, and basic maintenance, they see it makes sense to contribute a little.
As far as I can tell, this protest was a feeble excuse for a spot of glamping. If they are genuinely serious about protesting against capitalism, I suggest they occupy Legoland: nearly 200 on the gate, for a family of five. However, if they prefer to occupy a green space owned by the City of London, why not try West Ham Park? It has all the traditional trappings of privilege (children's playground and so on.) Or are the views not spectacular enough?
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Kobe & Vanessa Bryant: Their divorce is minor compared to these top 10 settlements - Washington Times
SAN DIEGO – June 13, 2012 – Every couple’s divorce is unique, like a snowflake. But there are more things in common than there are differences. And just like the saying about men, boys, and their toys, the real difference between rich and the poor is the size of their divorce settlements.
We learned recently that basketball star Kobe Bryant and his wife Vanessa may be staying together, even though she filed for divorce in December 2011 after years of reports and his admissions about extramarital affairs. Might a cynical person believe that Kobe decided “it’s cheaper to keep her”? The two got married without a pre-nuptial agreement, so she could walk away with $75 million and the couple’s three California homes.
But even if it goes forward, the Bryant divorce isn’t even in the major leagues when it comes to settlements among the rich and famous. Get ready for some eye-popping numbers. Here are the top ten richest Hollywood divorce payouts.
Actor Kevin Costner’s divorce from wife Cindy Silver is estimated at $80 million.
Singer Madonna’s divorce from British film director Guy Ritchie in 2008 after eight years of marriage and two children is believed to be between $76 million and $92 million. Apparently they really were living in a material world.
In another film director divorce, Steven Spielberg’s divorce from actress Amy Irving after 34 months (months, that’s less than three years) cost him $100 million. The pair married in 1985, broke up, but didn’t divorce formally for several more years. Irving and Spieldberg have one son, Max.
Golfer Tiger Woods went into the bunker for $100 million after his divorce from Elin Nordegren.
Another golfer’s divorce also cost him big. Greg Norman paid a settlement of $103 million to his ex-wife Laura Andrassy.
Actor Harrison Ford’s divorce from actress Melissa Mathison was estimated to be $118 million.
Country singers Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks.
Country music star Garth Brooks is the number one best selling solo artist of all time for all popular music. Best selling equals lots of money, which equals a big split if you decide to get divorced. It doesn’t help if you’ve been in the tabloid headlines alleged to be having an affair with another country music star.
Brooks and his wife Sandy were married for 14 years and divorced in 2001. But a year earlier, Sandy had asked her husband to choose between family life and music, and Garth Brooks spent that year at their home in Oklahoma trying to work things out. During the same year, country singer Trisha Yearwood got her second divorce, and rumors blamed an affair with Brooks.
Sandy received a settlement of $125 million from Brooks. They had three children ages four, six, and eight at the time.
After the divorce, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood began dating. They were married in December 2005. It was his second marriage, her third.
Singer Neil Diamond claims he “willingly” gave his ex-wife Marcia Murphey $150 million after they got divorce.
Perhaps Kobe Bryant looked at what happened to basketball great Michael Jordan and decided to put the brakes on his divorce. Jordan’s divorce from his wife Juanita was considered the most expensive celebrity divorce in history at the time, which was five years ago in 2007. Juanita Jordan sank a settlement in excess of $260 million. That will buy a whole lot of shoes.
Mel Gibson's divorce from wife Robyn holds the current record for payouts in a Hollywood divorce. Photo: Alta.
But it was eclipsed in December 2011 by the divorce of Mel Gibson from his wife of 29 years, Robyn. They had no prenuptial agreement. She was a dental assistant when she met the ambitious actor. They had seven children. Gibson went on to have a successful acting career, but where he made big money was as the producer of the movie The Passion of the Christ, over $600 million. Robyn walked away with half of his $850 million net worth… yes, that’s $425 million. She also gets half of every residual check Gibson receives for the rest of her life for any movies or other projects he was involved in when they were married. It is the highest amount ever paid in a Hollywood divorce.
Here’s a refreshing postscript: when former boy-band singer Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson got divorced, Lachey declined to take even a dime from his soon-to-be-ex wife. Her net worth was estimated at $35 million at the time in 2005, far greater than his. He was entitled to a settlement and support under California law. But Lachey openly refused any payout, even when her father offered him $1.5 million.
Believe it or not, Hollywood divorce settlements are peanuts compared to Wall Street divorce payouts. In part two we’ll talk serious numbers when it comes to divorce and big business.
Myra Chack Fleischer founded Fleischer & Associates in 2001 and serves as Lead Counsel with a focus on divorce, property, custody and support, settlement agreements, mediation, asset division and family law appeals. Read more Legally Speaking in the Communities at The Washington Times. Follow Fleischer & Associates on Facebook and on Twitter @LawyerMyra
# # #
Copyright © 2012 by Fleischer & Associates, Attorneys at Law
This article is the copyrighted property of the writer and Communities @ WashingtonTimes.com. Written permission must be obtained before reprint in online or print media. REPRINTING TWTC CONTENT WITHOUT PERMISSION AND/OR PAYMENT IS THEFT AND PUNISHABLE BY LAW.
Source: communities.washingtontimes.com
London landlords squeeze cash from dead space - Reuters UK
LONDON |
LONDON (Reuters) - London landlords are renting out everything from vacant stores to empty sports fields, rooftops and even an abandoned quarry to cash in on the tight supply of space in the UK capital during the Olympic Games this summer.
Eleven million fans, sponsors and athletes are expected to arrive in Europe's second-most crowded city from July, stoking huge demand for storage, temporary shops and vantage points for TV cameras, in turn allowing landlords to cash in on otherwise dead space.
"You'll see usable space created that doesn't currently exist," said Mark Hughes-Webb, managing director of Space-2 Consultancy, a specialist real estate firm that finds buildings for events and film shoots.
"It's been a long time since the Games were in such a densely populated city," Hughes-Webb said. "People are having to be more imaginative."
London, the European Union's most densely populated city after Paris according to EU statistics, will host the games between July 27 and August 12. Homeowners have already hiked rents by up to six times in anticipation of the influx and commercial landlords are getting in on the act.
Unlike the last two Olympic cities of Beijing and Athens, where neighbourhoods were demolished to create venues, or they were located in more sparsely populated outlying areas, most of the 34 London sites are at the heart of built-up areas.
The Games' epicentre at Stratford in the east of the city has benefited from a 7 billion pound injection of infrastructure, sporting venues and homes, revitalizing an area better known for its polluted waterways and industrial estates.
Sites for hire include a former limestone quarry near the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent, southeast England, the owner of which is targeting contractors seeking temporary staff accommodation. Its proximity to a high-speed rail link means it is 30 minutes from the Olympic stadium in Stratford.
VACANT UNITS
Elsewhere the owners of a sports field in Chiswick, west London, are in talks with an overseas group of performers to rehearse for the handover ceremony to Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian city that will host the Games in 2016.
Sites like these can cost between 10,000 to 20,000 pounds a week, Hughes-Webb said.
Also in demand are empty shops, particularly those close to busy retail areas like Oxford Street and Covent Garden, which are being snapped up by the likes of high-end U.S. clothing brand Opening Ceremony to house temporary, pop-up stores.
"Enquiries from landlords looking to lease out their vacant units during the Olympics have risen by 50 percent," said Rosie Cann, director at consultancy Pop-up Space.
Rents can be between a few hundred pounds to 20,000 pounds depending on the location and size. Stores generally remain open for between a day and two weeks, agents said.
Vacant shops around train and subway stations or Olympic venues are being rented by smaller sporting and drinks brands in need of makeshift space to store merchandise, Hughes-Webb said.
Not all attempts to find space are successful. Nike Inc's plan to build a temporary two-storey building to host exercise classes in Regents Park was blocked by Westminster council on the grounds it would ruin the park's appearance.
Equally those with empty space near venues may not see a big pay day. The London Olympic organising committee (LOCOG) bans non-sponsors from advertising within 300 metres of venues, keeping demand in check, property experts say.
Official sponsors Cadbury, BMW and British Airways are among those companies expected to seek temporary space near Olympic venues, which include a man-made beach on the Greenwich peninsula on the Thames built specially for the Games.
PANORAMIC VIEWS
Australian developer Lend Lease owns large chunks of land around the O2 arena, also on the Greenwich peninsula and the venue of the gymnastics and basketball competitions. It will lease out land earmarked for redevelopment to Olympic sponsors to make a short-term return and in an attempt to lure permanent office tenants to the area.
"We are most definitely making money from this," Simon Donaldson, Lend Lease's head of retail operations said, declining to say how much but adding it would be substantially more without the LOCOG rules.
Elsewhere demand from film crews keen to capture panoramic views of the London skyline has pushed up prices for rooftop space. Fees are likely to double from their norm outside of the Games to 300 pounds per hour over the period, Hughes-Webb said.
Developers of the 95-storey Shard skyscraper next to London Bridge train station, about six kilometres from the Olympic park, have been approached by a string of broadcasters about filming from western Europe's tallest tower, a spokesman told Reuters, declining to give further details.
Cash-strapped local councils are also getting in on the act. Newham, home to the Olympic stadium, has rented out the upper floors of two largely empty apartment blocks next to the Olympic Park to broadcasters BBC and Al Jazeera, while Redbridge council in northeast London is leasing out a forest to a temporary hotel company to house 4,200 Olympic security staff for an undisclosed sum.
Yet many landlords are missing out as they are unaware of the strength of demand for storage space, or the value of being close to the Olympic park, Hughes-Webb said.
"People are fixated on what the space is, not what it could be. They're looking at it and saying 'it's just an empty field'," Hughes-Webb added. "Well, it's not to us."
(Editing by Tom Bill and David Holmes)
Source: uk.reuters.com
London 2012 Olympics: Australian weightlifter Daniel Koum 'held federation to ransom' over pre-Games event - Daily Telegraph
"So I personally thought, well, the best way to negate any negatives out of all this would be to, by offering, sort of, some money, whereby he could actually compete and have some incentive to do the total that we asked of him.
"But then later on, it changed from an agreement to actual demand and he said that he would not lift unless he got $5,000, before he started the warm up for his own event.
"And then it was pretty frantic - we had to find that money. And say, within about 30 minutes we handed over the $5,000."
Koum moved to Australia to compete at the 2006 Commonwealth Games for Cameroon before becoming a citizen and competing for his adopted country at the 2010 Commonwealths in Delhi.
And Koum's team-mate Damon Kelly, who won the gold in the Commonwealth Games in the 105kg+ category told the Brisbane Times: “I actually felt physically sick in the gut. It was a complete shock that somebody [apparently] wanted to do that. I've never heard of it before in weightlifting, at all.
“Everyone that was there was completed stunned. It was a double take when we heard the news. We had to hear the news a couple of times before it sunk in. It's amazing to think someone could put their own personal interests before the team.”
The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) said it had spoken to the AWF and was launching an investigation into the incident.
"The AOC is working with the Australian Weightlifting Federation (AWF) to investigate the matter," read a statement.
"The AOC investigation will be ongoing."
Koum could conceivably yet represent Australia at the London Games when the AWF nominates its single male entry to the AOC this weekend.
Keelan said he had no regrets about offering the incentive but added: "(I felt) sick in the guts. I was under duress. We had to make a call very, very quickly. And, you know, the call was that we would submit to his demand."
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Is our divorce and mortgage settlement as it should be? - The Guardian
Q I am divorcing my husband and remortgaging the property, which is in joint names. He has agreed to sign over the house to me, which will be done via the bank. However, is he liable to help financially with our three children, albeit the eldest is 20 and in full-time education, the other 16 and in full-time education and the youngest 10?
My concern is that he has not informed me how long this new mortgage deal is for, but he says it is better than what we are paying currently so I am better off – which is is why he thinks he should get £35,000 as it is a lifetime tracker with no fees at any stage. I am a little puzzled about this: does this mean it is like a variable rate mortgage, where if the interest rate goes up so do the payments? Are there any benefits I could claim once I become a single parent that I should know about? VF
A As a matter of some urgency, you need to get proper legal advice about the financial settlement you and your husband draw up on divorce. You can usually get a free initial consultation and I suggest you use a family lawyer who is a member of Resoluton to help you. An experienced family lawyer will be able to tell you whether you should negotiate for your ex-husband to pay maintenance – especially as the children are still in full-time education – and can also look at whether signing over the family home is a suitable arrangement.
As far as the new mortgage goes, it sounds to me like he has increased the loan in order to release £35,000 in cash for himself. If you are not happy with that, it is something you need to discuss with your lawyer. And you are totally correct that a lifetime tracker is a variable rate mortgage where payments will go up (and down) in line with interest rates.
For help and advice on becoming a single parent, I suggest you contact Gingerbread.
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
- hazel, London, UK, 13/6/2012 21:24 - Go back to the Guardian website; we don't do childish, spoiled and uninformed pseudo-socialism here. The OL are a bunch of lazy, smelly spoiled brats who if it weren't for mummy and daddy would be stacking shelves!
- Horatio , London, 13/6/2012 21:49
Report abuse