| America's dirty little secret?
They were supposed to be on the job, but last week was spring break in Magic Valley schools. That's one of several weeks during the year - the week before Christmas, the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, the week that deer season opens - when nobody actually shows up at the office.They get away with it, obviously, through the wonders of voice mail. If, for example, you're supposed to be at your desk Monday through Friday but have a hankering to do some telecommuting in Mazatlan by Tuesday, you simply leave the following message on your office telephone's answering machine:"Hi, this is Steve Crump. It's Tuesday, and I expect to be in the office for the rest of the week. If you've reached this recording, then I've just stepped away from my desk."About 1,900 miles away, actually.This ruse works because anyone who seriously wants to get in touch with you has your cell phone number.
Ronaldo bids to dethrone Gerrard
Manchester United trio Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are in the running for the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award. Last year's winner Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas complete the six-strong line-up which does not feature England captain John Terry. PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor can see why Ronaldo is being viewed as favourite to socop the prestigious award after putting the Red Devils on course to repeat their Premiership, Champions League and FA Cup Treble of 1999. The players' union boss said of the 21-goal Portuguese winger: "Cristiano is the most exciting player in the country at the moment - the quickness of his feet and the skills he possesses make you think, at times, that he is from another planet.
Royal Navy Bidding War Begins In Earnest
A bidding war has begun after the Ministry of Defence last week gave the green light to the 15 Royal Navy personnel captured in Iranian waters, to sell their stories to the media.Several newspapers, magazines and TV stations have been vying for the rights to the sailors' accounts of their terrifying ordeals, and to turn them into coffee table mush.Faye Turkey, allegedly a "good gobbler", acted as "plaything" to Iranian leader Mahmoud Armadinnerlady, and was "stripped to her knickers". She is to be married to the despot in July, and has been talking to leading celebrity magazines with a view to selling the horrific photographic evidence of the event.But it's not only the stories that have been for sale.Sotheby's are to hold a special one-off event to auction-off some of the clothing worn by the former hostages.Captain Chris Air's beret, which he wore during his TV appearance, and Arthur Batchelor's underpants, which he shat during his capture, are part of the exclusive collection.Other items have surfaced on eBay.
Jeweler M. Fabrikant & Sons seeks approval to auction assets
WASHINGTON (AP) - Diamond wholesaler M. Fabrikant & Sons Inc. has asked a judge for permission to begin enticing bidders for an auction of its assets slated for early May. The request, filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan on Tuesday, solidifies the company's earlier assertions that it may liquidate rather than reorganize. Under the auction plan, privately held M. Fabrikant would sell all its assets, including inventory, accounts and intellectual property. It would then file a liquidation plan with the court. Under the proposed auction rules, any stalking-horse, or lead bidder, would be offered payment for fees and costs worth up to 2 percent of the bid or $200,000 (euro147,000), if the offer is lost at auction. The judge overseeing the jewelry company's bankruptcy case will decide whether to approve the rules at a hearing on April 26. M.
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