Zune off Tune?

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk Microsoft Zune affected by 'bug' An unidentified software bug has affected 30GB first generation versions of the Microsoft Zune digital media player. The company appears baffled by the cause but on its website said it is aware of the problem and is working to correct it. The problem is apparently a worldwide one with customers reporting their devices freeze when booted. The Zune was launched in 2006 as Microsoft's contender to Apple's iPod. Discussing the cause on some user forums, some owners have said they believe the problems are due it being the first time the Zune will have updated its calendars following a Leap year. The company issued the following status update on its support website for the device. "Customers using the Zune 30 might experience problems starting their players. "We're aware of the problem and are working to correct it. "The Zune Social might be slow or inaccessible. "Sorry for the inconvenience, and thanks for your patience."

Return for Vaughan

I honestly don't think he is up to it!

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk Vaughan awaits England decision Former captain Michael Vaughan could return to England's Test squad when the selectors reveal two parties to tour the West Indies at 1100 GMT on Monday. Vaughan stood down as captain in August after a poor run of form and was dropped for the recent tour of India. If the 34-year-old does return, he would probably deprive Owais Shah of a place, although both could tour if the out-of-form Ian Bell is dropped. England will play three Tests, five one-dayers and one Twenty20 match. Vaughan's central contract was retained by the England and Wales Cricket Board at the end of the summer. The two parties agreed a formula for his recuperation in time for a possible return in time for the 2009 Ashes, involving a period of rest followed by low-profile opportunities to rediscover his best form with England's performance squad.

Horse tale

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk Missing horse rescued from well A horse which disappeared from a West Yorkshire riding stables was rescued three days later after being found at the bottom of a 10ft well. Eight-year-old Steffi was pulled out of the hole in the Shibden Valley near Halifax in a three-hour operation involving firemen, the RSPCA and a vet. Stable girl Katie Clegg, 16, raised the alarm last Saturday when she could not find the horse in its field. The mare was found on Tuesday by a dog walker, having suffered no injuries. It is believed that a covering of plants which had hidden the well opening in the field was washed away in recent heavy rains and Steffi fell 10ft into the hole. Tears of joy "On Saturday I went down to see her in the field and she was nowhere to be seen," said stable girl Katie Clegg. When she heard that Steffi had been found at the bottom of a hole in the field she said could hardly believe it.

Rubbish rubbish!

Damn-my bin is half full now!

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk Refuse collectors and street cleaners in Leeds will be taking industrial action over the Christmas period. The GMB union said its members would be "working to rule" from 27 December, with Unison members doing the same from 29 December. The unions said members had been refused enhanced payments for their increased workload over the holidays. Leeds City Council said the unions' demands were "totally unreasonable" and the action would disrupt services. Staff working at household waste sort sites are also taking part in the action. In a joint statement, the GMB and Unison said: "Our dispute is not with the people of Leeds but the city council that is supposed to serve them. "This dispute is about our members being paid the appropriate rate for the vital service they provide and for being recognised where they work above and beyond the call of duty. "If Leeds City Council will not do that then our members will work to their contracts, no more, no less. They will work to rule."

Reprieve for XP

Seems like many people are still wary of Vista!

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk Windows XP allowed to live again Microsoft has given yet another reprieve to its seasoned Windows XP operating system. The cut off date for PC makers to obtain licenses for the software was 31 January 2009. But now Microsoft has put in place a scheme that will allow the hardware firms to get hold of XP licences until 30 May 2009. Previously Microsoft extended XP's life until 2010 - provided it was installed on netbooks and low-cost laptops. Windows XP was originally due to disappear off shop shelves on 30 January 2008. It was to be removed so as to make way for Windows Vista which went on sale to consumers early in 2007. Despite Microsoft's claims that Vista has sold well, consumers have reacted badly to its release. Microsoft granted the reprieve largely because of customer's preference for XP.

Flat Finish

India COULD have tried harder for a win!

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk England were forced to settle for a draw after India chose to bat deep into day five of the second Test in Mohali. Following another fog-delayed start, the hosts resumed on 134-4 and added 117 before declaring on 251-7 midway through the afternoon session. Yuvraj Singh cracked an eye-catching 86 and Gautam Gambhir a patient 97 as the pair put on 153 for the fifth wicket. England lost Alastair Cook but Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell had guided them to 64-1 when the captains shook hands. It was a disappointingly flat end to a otherwise thoroughly exciting series, from which both sides will take plenty of positives. England's return to India after the Mumbai attacks was hailed the world over and, on the whole, they performed admirably given their lack of preparation. India, meanwhile, continued to display the sort of form that saw them beat Australia, and lived up to their billing as Test cricket's in-form team.

Ashes Success

Well done to our blind cricketers!

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk England win to retain blind Ashes The England blind cricket team have retained the Ashes after taking a 3-0 series lead against Australia. Matt Dean's side won a tight first match by 33 runs with Nathan Foy and Luke Sugg both scoring 74. In the second game Foy struck the first double century in the Ashes as England claimed a crushing 135-run win. The success was sealed with a seven-wicket win on Tuesday with Sugg hitting a masterful century to guide his side home with four overs to spare. England went into the five-match series as slight favourites following wins in the last three matches between the sides. England had enjoyed home success in the first Ashes series in 2004 coming out 3-2 series winners.

Comeback Kid

Well done to Strauss-hope Eng can get the remaining 9 wickets tomorrow!

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk Andrew Strauss said the knowledge of the Chennai pitch he picked up making his first innings century helped him make another hundred in the second. Strauss's knocks of 123 and 108 made him the first Englishman to hit tons in both innings of a Test in India. "It was more a case of making sure I didn't go outside my bubble and do anything stupid," he told BBC Sport. "Generally I stuck within my bubble and I knew if I did that, I'd have a good chance of scoring runs." Strauss is only the 10th Englishman to score two centuries in a Test match It was the first time Strauss had managed two centuries in a match in his career. In so doing, he became the first Englishman to achieve a pair of centuries in a Test since Marcus Trescothick in 2004, and only the 10th Englishman to manage it. "It's been a pretty special week for me - that second hundred meant a lot, because I've never done it before.

Eng looking GOOD

It seems that India will have a challenging target,with 2 days to go!

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood batted England into a commanding 247-run lead with two days remaining in the first Test against India in Chennai. Strauss, a centurion in the first innings, was 73 and Collingwood 60 in an unbroken 129 for the fourth wicket. After India had been dismissed for 241 four balls after lunch, England held a lead of 75, but were soon in trouble at 48-3 in their second innings. But they recovered magnificently to reach 172-3 at stumps. Strauss has been the outstanding performer in the match to date With a number of deliveries now breaking through a wearing surface, India will not be heartened to hear the record successful run-chase in a Test at the MA Chidambaram Stadium is 155.

Eng on top for Once

Great effort by England's bowlers,or lax batting by India?

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk Graeme Swann claimed two wickets in his first over as a Test bowler as England took control on day two of the first Test against India in Chennai. The spinner trapped Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid lbw as India struggled with the bat in reply to England's 316. Monty Panesar and Andrew Flintoff then removed VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar before Steve Harmison dismissed Yuvraj Singh to leave India 155-6 at stumps. Matt Prior's patient 53 not out was vital in helping England past 300. England's score looked to be on the modest side, but Swann's remarkable intervention, plus a wicket apiece for England's four other bowlers, put a totally different complexion on the match, and left the tourists favourites to win. Swann became only the second man to strike twice within his first six deliveries - matching the achievement of another Englishman, seam bowler Richard Johnson, in 2003.

Thin White Line

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk Argentines use 'free-kick' spray The Argentine Football Association is to introduce an aerosol spray to stop defenders creeping closer to the ball during a free-kick. From next year, referees will use the spray in first division matches. Referees will mark a temporary white line 9.15 metres (10 yards) from the ball, which defenders cannot cross. The spray will disappear 30 seconds later. Pablo Silva, who invented the spray, got the idea when he failed to score with a free-kick at an amateur match. "In the 88th minute, we were losing 1-0 and won a free-kick on the edge of the area. When I took the kick, the wall was three metres away," he told Reuters earlier this year. "The referee didn't book anyone and didn't do anything," he said. "We lost the game, and driving home later, with a mixture of anger and bitterness, I thought that we must invent something to stop this."

Woolies-Beginnining of the END

Sad-especially for the staff!

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk Woolworths closure sale to start Bargain hunters are expected to flock to Woolworths branches later as a store closure sale starts at all its 815 outlets across the country. In what looks like the beginning of the end for the retailer, its administrator Deloitte has said that some shops could close for good by the end of the year. Bargain hunters are expected to flock to Woolworths Deloitte is also due to consult with Woolworths' 30,000 staff over the possibility of redundancies. Talks over the sale of the leaseholds of individual stores are continuing. It is thought that Sainsbury's, Asda, Tesco, the Co-op and discount chain Poundland are still interested in picking up some of the retailer's prime sites.

Difficult couple of TESTS

As KP says:nothing to lose,but they MUST try to regain some confidence!

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk Pietersen demands England focus Captain Kevin Pietersen insists England will not hide behind the turmoil of the Mumbai terror attacks when the Test series with India begins on Thursday. The tour was in serious doubt after the attacks in November but England were applauded for deciding to return. "You could say we can't lose in this situation, but that's also a negative way of looking at things and finding excuses - I don't want any," he said. "We need to make sure that our primary focus is to try and win this series." The spirit in the England camp remains good, but before the one-day series was prematurely abandoned they had lost all five matches and were widely expected to have gone on to lose 7-0 for the first time. Their preparations for the Test matches have been unusual, practising first in Abu Dhabi before heading to India, where they have been afforded unprecedented levels of security for a cricket match.

Baby P

So SAD

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk Baby P official fired without pay The head of children's services at the council at the centre of the Baby P controversy has been fired without pay. Haringey Council said Sharon Shoesmith, who had defended her department over the death of the 17-month-old baby, had been dismissed with immediate effect. The boy, who was on the council's "at-risk" register, died in 2007 with major injuries, including a broken back. His mother admitted causing or allowing his death. Her boyfriend and Jason Owen were convicted of the same offence. In a brief statement, Haringey Council said Ms Shoesmith would not be receiving any compensation or pay in lieu of notice. "The decision was taken today by a panel of councillors," the statement said.

India Tests

Not much chance of winning,but at LEAST they are there!

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk By Jonathan Agnew BBC cricket correspondent The decision to return to India is quite a result for the England & Wales Cricket Board. Together with the Professional Cricketers' Association, whose input cannot be understated, the administrators have put back on track a tour that seemed beyond salvation only a few days ago. England will receive a reception fit for heroes when they touch down in Chennai, which should help to ease the nagging doubts The players voted with one voice, underlining the team's solidarity and the deep respect the cricketers have for one another. But there will still be a great deal of tension over the next fortnight. The security will be both suffocating and, for Westerners, bewildering. The players will be confined to their fortress of a hotel, conveyed to and from the ground in a siren-wailing convoy and surrounded wherever they go by commandos bristling with weapons. England are hopelessly underprepared and have not played a Test match for four months.

Tough Decision

They had stayed in the Hotel where the killings occured,so a brave decision!

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk England squad lands back in India The England cricket team have arrived in Chennai ahead of the two-Test series against India which starts on Thursday. England flew home from India after the 26 November terror attacks in Mumbai. Flintoff is ready to play after initial reservations about touring They have since been training in Abu Dhabi and agreed to resume their interrupted tour after receiving assurances over their safety. The senior players have received praise for their "brave" decision to return, but Andrew Flintoff insisted it was a decision taken by the whole team. The one-day series between the two nations was cut short as a result of the terror attacks in Mumbai on 26 November. The England squad initially flew home before heading for Abu Dhabi, where they spent three days practising at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium while they waited for the results of safety reports.

Tough Girl

She must have nerves of steel-I've seen what it is like in there(as an entertainer).

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk Running a prison is one of the toughest jobs going. Traditionally governors have worked up through the ranks, but now graduates are fast-tracked into senior roles to broaden the profile of the Prison Service. Aged 26, and standing not much more than five feet tall, Isabel Taylor defies the stereotype of the distinctly male prison governor. Isabel Taylor, now a junior governor It's a job she has wanted since she was 11, and in 2005 she joined the Prison Service's intensive development scheme, a fast-track course for would-be governors. She is now a junior governor at Her Majesty's Prison Leeds, a Category B men's prison, as deputy head of offender management.