Stephen Zunes: Feinstein: Bad Choice for Intelligence

Feinstein: Bad Choice for Intelligence - The Huffington Post...more...

Stephen Moss on why the harsh winter is bad news for birds ...

The cold snap makes survival tough for Britain's birds – but also balances out the impact of successive mild winters...more...

Why a Stephen Harper minority still has teeth

xtra.ca - Canada's online source for gay and lesbian news, features, editorials, reviews, events, and business listings...more...

Stephen Zunes: America's Hidden Role in Hamas' Rise to Power

America's Hidden Role in Hamas' Rise to Power - The Huffington Post...more...

Computational Complexity: Stephen Kleene: Not A Regular Guy

The great logician Stephen Kleene was born one hundred years ago today in Hartford, Connecticut. No single person affected a typical introductory theoretical computer science course more than Kleene. Kleene gave us .....more...

Agent Stephen Barbara Moves To Foundry Literary + Media ...

Jobs and recruiting for media professionals in journalism, on-line content, book publishing, TV, radio, PR, graphic design, photography, and advertising...more...

2008 Access Statistics ~ Stephen's Web ~ by Stephen Downes

Vixy (1786) Various Authors, Farside Inc. Human History Is Additive NOT Subtractive! (1773) Wayne Hodgins, Off Course-On Target EduSpaces Shutting Down (1643) Unattributed, EduSpaces gRSShopper (1643) Stephen Downes, gRSShopper .....more...

desire to inspire - desiretoinspire.net: Stephen Falcke

This love grew even more when I came across the portfolio of designer Stephen Falcke. His work has taken him around the globe - South Africa, France, Australia, Greece, Israel...and these gorgeous locations have clearly inspired his .....more...

Computerworld > Stephen Fry hit by Twitter ID hack

Hackers are targeting Twitter users in a bid to steal personal information...more...

Is Stephen Curry Overrated? В« Rush the Court

Since his 40 point explosion in Davidson’s first round victory over Gonzaga last March, college basketball fans have been bombarded with the Stephen Curry lovefest that has been spearheaded by Dick Vitale and ESPN. .....more...

BBC News Search: stephen (20)

Family awaits river body release

The family of missing Armagh man Stephen King believe it was his body recovered from a river in Australia.

Family believe missing man dead

The family of missing Armagh man Stephen King believe it was his body recovered from a river in Australia.

HARDtalk: Ahmed Yousef 2

HARDtalk: One of Israel's key clauses in the ceasefire agreement was the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Stephen Sackur asks Ahmed Yousef, Senior political advisor to Hamas, why those talks seem to have stalled.

HARDtalk: Vuk Jeremic 3

HARDtalk: Stephen Sackur asks Vuk Jeremic, the Serbian Foreign Minister, whether he fears the reaction of radical nationalists after the recent arrest of Radovan Karadzic and the independence claim of Kosovo.

River searched for missing man

Australian police search a Melbourne river to try to find missing Armagh man Stephen King.

Court wants exemplary Karadzic trial

The Hague tribunal has a chance to restore its reputation with the Karadzic case, Chris Stephen reports.

Your American accents

Yesterday we asked readers to call us with their best American accents, in repsonse to a feature by the BBC's Stephen Robb.

How not to do an American accent

Everyone can do an American accent... at least everyone thinks they can. But how many would pass muster with a Hollywood studio? The BBC's Stephen Robb took a lesson from one of the movie industry's top accent coaches.

Cycle marathon for police chief

Wiltshire's deputy chief constable, Stephen Long, is to set out on a bike ride to raise Ј10,000 for charity.

Student's killer gets life term

A man who stabbed a teenager to death in east London is given a life sentence at the Old Bailey.

Church's Ј37,000 award to gay man

A gay employee who suffered 'grotesque' discrimination is awarded Ј37,000 after a tribunal against a church in Wales.

New appeal over shooting murder

Police renew their appeal for information two years after a 25-year-old father-of-one was shot dead in Merseyside.

Betancourt endures media frenzy

Freed Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt endures a curious media with grace, says the BBC's Stephen Sackur.

Missing man 'murdered' say police

Specialist 'cadaver' dogs are used to search for a missing man police believe has been murdered.

Ayckbourn's Scarborough farewell

Veteran playwright Alan Ayckbourn on ending his 51-year run with theatre in Scarborough, as London celebrates its most successful theatrical year on record.

Lib Dems set out leader timetable

The Scottish Liberal Democrats agree a timetable for the leadership election, following the resignation of Nicol Stephen.

Rumbles in bid to lead Lib Dems

MSP Mike Rumbles says he will stand as Scottish Liberal Democrat leader after Nicol Stephen stepped down.

Scots Lib Dem leader quits post

Nicol Stephen resigns as Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, blaming the stresses and strains of the job.

Nicol Stephen resignation in full

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen issues a statement to the media following his resignation.

Reign over for Holyrood's Mr Nice

The BBC Scotland news website profiles Scottish Lib Dem leader Nicol Stephen.

10 Most Famous Counterfeiting Scandals

The crime of counterfeiting is probably as old as money itself, and kings have often dealt very harshly with its perpetrators. The counterfeiting of coins or ‘coining’ used to be dealt with as a form of treason. As a result, gruesome punishments for coining in England have included being hung drawn and quartered and being burnt at the stake. In America, counterfeiting also used to be punishable by death. Bank notes printed by Benjamin Franklin often bore the phrase ‘to counterfeit is death.’ Bearing in mind that counterfeiting requires a great deal of audacity, here are the 10 most famous counterfeiting scandals throughout history, in chronological order.

1 Mary Butterworth was a counterfeiter in colonial America. She started her counterfeiting operation in 1716 and organised it into a cottage industry, sternly overseeing the work of the entire family. Authorities became suspicious of Butterworth when they noticed unexpected changes in the colonial economy and, amidst a flurry of rumours about the family, her husband John purchased an expensive new home.

2 The unfortunate Georgian counterfeiter Catherine Murphy was convicted of coining in 1789 and was the last woman to suffer execution by burning in England. Her co-defendants, including her husband, were executed at the same time by hanging, but as a woman the law provided that she should be burnt at the stake. Burning as a method of execution was abolished the following year.

3 At the start of the American Civil War Samuel C. Upham began marketing patriotic items to support the Union, and novelty items mocking the Confederacy. In February 1862 he acquired a Confederate bank note and quickly started producing novelty counterfeit notes. But cotton smugglers in the south quickly began buying up the bogus bills and flooding the Confederate economy with them. Since his death many of Upham's counterfeit items have become valuable collector's items.

4 Stephen Jory – Often described as a ‘lovable rogue’, is Great Britain's most renowned counterfeiter. Born in Hackney in 1949 and brought up in north London, Jory left his grammar school and entered the criminal fraternity, he said, through his ‘own choice’. Jory started off selling cheap perfume in designer bottles and later established his own illegal printing operation, producing and distributing an estimated five billion pounds in counterfeit money throughout the United Kingdom. His counterfeit notes were so convincing that they fooled UV counterfeit detectors. Jory died on May 5 2006.

5 During World War II, the Nazis forced Jewish artists in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp to forge British pounds and American dollars. The quality of the counterfeiting was very good, but the Germans could not put their plan into action and were forced to dump the bills into a lake.

6 Frank William Abagnale Jr worked under 8 identities during the 1960s, including his first as Pan American Airlines Pilot Frank Williams, in over 5 years, passing over $2.5 million in counterfeit cheques in over 26 countries and all 50 states. He was arrested in France at an Air France ticket counter when an agent recognized his face from a wanted poster. In the movie based on his life, ‘Catch Me if You Can’, Abagnale made a cameo appearance as a French policeman.

7 Anatasios Arnaouti is a criminal from Manchester who led one of the most ambitious forgery operations in history before he and his accomplices were jailed in 2005. The total amount of counterfeit money they produced is unknown as their printing operation had been in production for several years, and was capable of producing tens of thousands of counterfeit notes each day. The extent of the crime was considered so severe that it could have compromised the UK and US economies.

8 In 2004, French police seized fake 10 euro and 20 euro counterfeit bank notes worth a total of around Ђ1.8 million from two laboratories and estimated that 145,000 counterfeit notes had already entered circulation.

9 In 2006, a Pakistani government printing press in the city of Quetta was accused of churning out large quantities of counterfeit Indian bank notes. The Times of India reported this scandal, based on Central Bureau of Intelligence investigation. The money was allegedly used to fund terrorist activities inside India, the recent blasts in Mumbai being funded using this fake currency.

10 Today the finest counterfeit notes are claimed to be US dollar bills produced in North Korea, called ‘Superdollars’ because of their high quality. The US government believes they have been circulating since the late 1980s and that they serve two purposes: as a source of income and to undermine the US economy.

The Guide To County Cork

Skibbereen is a bustling and vibrant town built on the river IIen. Known as the “hub” of West Cork it is the ideal base from which to discover the quaint fishing villages of Baltimore, Glandore and Castletownsend.

Skibbereen offers the tourist a wealth of attractions both historical and recreational. Over the years the town has vigilantly retained its traditional feel with its colourful shops and inviting decorative streets. The Irish famine in the 1840’s took its toll on Skibbereen and today this era is remembered in the “Great Famine Exhibition” at Skibbereen Heritage Centre. Here historical lovers can learn about the worst human disaster of the 19th Century by seeing original artefacts from that era and listening to the dramatization of events retold by actors.

The Heritage Centre is also home to the Salt Water Aquarium. This exhibit displays some of the rare species and plant life taken from Loch Hyne. (Ireland’s first marine nature reserve, which is only 5km south west of the town.)

Skibbereen has lots to offer the “active” tourist. Set on the picturesque coastline of West Cork “Skib” is renowned for its nautical feel. Choose from a range of water sports, sailing, kayaking, scuba diving, fishing etc. For those wanting to stay on dry land why not discover the coastline on horseback, pony-trekking or the guided walking tours.

After spending a busy day exploring the delights the town has to offer take a break and relax in one of Skibbereen’s 26 pubs or award winning restaurants.

The nightlife in Skibbereen is not to be missed! The locals cater for all tastes by offering an eclectic mix of live Irish music and contemporary up and coming bands.

Accommodation is plentiful and a wide selection of luxury hotels, B & B’s and self-catering cottages will suit all tastes and budgets.

Skibbereen is a truly authentic Irish town and has something for everyone’s tastes. The welcoming atmosphere and charm will leave you wanting more.

If it’s a peace and quiet you long for then the cliff-side fishing village of Ballycotton is well worth a visit. Only 30 minutes drive east of Cork city Ballycotton has a small population of approximately 500 people. The hilly fishing harbour has fantastic views over a boat filled marina to a steep island dominated by the famous black lighthouse.

Ballycotton has lots to offer the tourist and its clean and unspoilt sandy beaches are a credit to its locals who are mindful of the dramatic coastline. The Ballinamona area is a noted bird watching area of international importance and Capel Island and Ballycotton Island offer a wide variety of habitat and rare species.

For those traveling with young families the short drive to Fota Island Wildlife Park is a great day out. Trabolgan holiday village offers a great range of activities from the indoor heated “wave pool” to outdoor golf and other leisure pursuits.

Ballycotton offers a wide selection of food and accommodation that will suit all tastes and budgets. Traditional B & B’s and welcoming holiday cottages will ensure your stay in Ballycotton will be a comfortable and enjoyable one. The nearby village of Shanagarry is home to the internationally renowned Ballymaloe House. The 4 star guesthouse is also a cookery school and its gourmet restaurant is open all year round. For those wanting to take home some “local produce” the Stephen Pearce Pottery range uses only local clay in his decorative ware.

So if you’re traveling outside Cork City and want a chance to relax and unwind then Ballycotton village is a little jewel not to be missed!