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Once you spend your precious time and energy creating a scrapbook, make sure it lasts! There are a few simple things you can easily do to ensure that your scrapbooks look just as good as the day you finished them, for years to come.

The first thing to avoid is paper that is not lignin-free. You’ve probably heard that before, and it is true, but what is lignin anyways? Lignin is a stiff component of a plant that quite literally holds it together. Although lignin is necessary for plants and trees, you want nothing to do with it! After a while, lignin will cause photos, fabrics and other paper that touch it to turn brown. Yes, lignin-free paper does cost more, but it is a vital part of preserving your cherished scrapbooks.

If the paper is not lignin-free, it will eventually discolor your photos and other materials touching it. So when buying paper for your scrapbooking projects, be sure to look for packages that say “lignin-free,” because if it doesn’t say it, then it most likely isn’t.

Fabric is a big concern for preserving your scrapbooks, but unfortunately it is often overlooked. Many people assume that all fabrics are acid-free, but they aren’t. Silk actually goes through an acid bath during the manufacturing process, as well as many tie-dyed fabrics. This isn’t to discourage you from using it, not all. Just try to make sure that no photos directly touch fabric, and if you need them to overlap, make sure there is a layer of paper between the two.

Another consideration when using fabrics is if the color will bleed off onto your page and other things touching it. To test for this, cut a square inch off and soak it in a glass of water over night. If there is no color bleeding from it the next day, then there isn’t any risk to your scrapbook. But if you do see color in the water, or collecting at the bottom of the glass then don’t use that fabric in your scrapbook at all.

When using glitter, be sure there is a top layer of spray adhesive to lock them down, or better yet use special glitter glue where the glitter is mixed right in. If this is not done right the glitter will slowly fall off, and loose glitter means scratched photos.

After you have planned the layout for your photos, be sure that you are using the right kind of mounting tape for them! Regular mounting tape is fine for buttons and bottle caps, but when it come to mounting photos you need to use special photo mounting tape which is completely acid-free. If you don’t, your photos will slowly discolor. The tape should say “acid-free” right on the packaging.

These are just a few simple things you can do to ensure that your scrapbooks last and last.

This article is free to publish with the resource box.

Palyn Peterson publishes “Scrapbooking News”

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The case of Douglas and others v Hello! Ltd and others (2005), concerns the long running battle over the publication of Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones’ wedding photographs by Hello! magazine.

Ok! had a £1m deal with the couple to publish exclusive pictures of the ceremony and the reception, however, Hello! Magazine used paparazzi images of the events to lessen the impact of the exclusive (known as a ’spoiler’).

On 18 May 2005, the Court of Appeal handed down a judgment on the various appeals before it. The case is significant because it permitted the court to lay down guidance on a number of principles in the sphere of privacy.

In the original judgement, the court found in favour of Michael and Catherine Douglas and OK! Magazine and awarded:

OK! approximately £1m in damages for its commercial loss;

Michael and Catherine Douglas £14,750 for distress and inconvenience; and
Hello! to pay approximately £1m in costs.

Hello! appealed against this decision and the Court of Appeal held that:

There is in effect a law of privacy now in the UK prohibiting the unwarranted publication of private details of celebrities and other individuals;

At the time the photographs were published by Hello! they had not yet emerged into the public domain but they plainly portrayed aspects of the Douglas’s private life, and fell within the protection of the law of confidentiality, as extended to cover private or personal information;
The appeal against the award of damages to the Douglas’s was therefore dismissed;

Privacy rights are personal and cannot be transferred as if they were commercial rights;

OK! magazine did not therefore enjoy any rights against Hello! in relation to the spoiler, even though they had exclusive rights to photographs of the event;

The damages awarded to OK would be disallowed; and
The right to privacy would be enforced by means of a pre-publication injunction.

This case is an important decision in the law of privacy:-

Firstly, the court found that its own earlier decision to lift the interim injunction granted to Michael and Catherine Douglas was wrongly decided, and that it should have remained in place as damages would not have been an adequate remedy at the trial; and

Secondly, the court found that following the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the Von Hannover v Germany (2004), the UK courts have a duty to protect the privacy rights given to individuals by virtue of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

This means that the prospects of individuals succeeding in bringing injunctions to protect their privacy have improved. This decision is likely to affect all publishers with exclusive rights in these circumstances as rivals may be free to run ’spoilers’ without fear of legal challenge. Hello! is appealing to the House of Lords.

If you require further information contact us.

Email: enquiries@rtcoopers.com

© RT COOPERS, 2005. This Briefing Note does not provide a comprehensive or complete statement of the law relating to the issues discussed nor does it constitute legal advice. It is intended only to highlight general issues. Specialist legal advice should always be sought in relation to particular circumstances.

Rosanna Cooper is a partner in RT Coopers Solicitors a full service law firm in London. The firm specialises in media and entertainment law advising film companies, record labels, producers and directors on all aspects of media law.

Contact us at enquiries@rtcoopers.com. visit our website at http://www.rtcoopers.com

Marriage is a very solemn and serious chapter on any person’s life. However, due to personal reasons, a couple may decide to call everything off and file a divorce. Divorce, or dissolution, as it is increasingly becoming known, is a process that legally terminates a marriage no longer considered viable by one or both of the spouses, and that permits both to remarry. All options for reconciliation are taken before a decision is made to go to a divorce attorney. But when everything fails, the divorce attorney takes over and the legal process of divorce takes place.

How is divorce different than annulment? As any divorce attorney will explain, annulment voids the supposed marriage. This means there is not marriage to begin with. A voidable marriage occurs when some defect exists in the contractual agreement in which all marriages originate, as defined by a divorce attorney. These include marriages of the underage or the insane, or a marriage procured by fraud. Sexual impotency existing at the time of marriage also gives grounds for annulment according to any divorce attorney.

Divorce, however, recognizes the existence of the marriage and dissolves it on the given grounds, which are contested by the divorce attorney. Grounds for divorce are adultery, unreasonable behavior, or a lengthy time apart. Once the case is file, it is the divorce attorney’s job to confirm the complaint and proceed to the divorce court hearing.

What takes up most of the time of a divorce attorney is the distribution of conjugal property. In “community property” states, the courts recognize both spouses as owning a 50 percent interest in any assets acquired during the marriage (except for items obtained as gifts or inheritance.), which will need to be divided between the two persons and enforced by the divorce attorney. Likewise, debts are the responsibility of both parties. In a divorce action one spouse, usually the wife, may be granted alimony or maintenance payments generally for a limited period of time. Often a court will order the transfer of property, such as the matrimonial home, from one party to the other on divorce; this is particularly common where there are children from the marriage who are of school age. The custody of any children may be awarded to either spouse, with an arrangement made for visiting rights and support of the children by the divorce attorney. At present, joint-custody arrangements are being worked out more and more frequently by divorcing parents rather than in a court and the divorce attorney.

During all of this process, the divorce attorney becomes the legal representative of the husband or wife in court. All meetings or agreements should be made with their divorce attorney present at all times. This lessens the possibility of violence, especially when the grounds of the divorce are adultery. The divorce attorney keeps the parties civilized and help quicken the process even more. The divorce attorney should not be seen as the villain during such procedures because it is their job to work as mediators.

A divorce attorney’s work is not done until the assets and liabilities of both parties have been resolved. This includes overseeing the enforcement of the court’s ruling on the division of assets, visiting rights and custody for the children. With the time spent on each case, a divorce attorney must maintain composure despite his or her views on marriage. There is a possibility that a divorce attorney can lose his or her faith in the institution of marriage after a while.

More Legal information about divorce attorney please goto the following website.

FIRST, if you suffer a head injury while working in Virginia and you start receiving workers’ compensation benefits (weekly wage replacement checks and medical care) for this injury, it would appear you have no problems but things are not always what they seem.

SECOND, the usual procedure is when you suffer the head injury, the insurance company for your employer will send you a form to sign which will be filed with the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission. The Commission will then enter an award based on that form. The insurance form is called “An Agreement to Pay” form.

THIRD, the important thing to note is the paragraph on the form that describes your injury. Most of the time if you have had a head injury, the form will say only “head injury.” When you sign the form, it is your agreement that this is the only injury you have.

FOURTH, the problem that arises is that the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission (which regulates workers’ compensation in Virginia) and the Virginia Court of Appeals which hears appeals from the Commission have decided that “head injury” on the Agreement to Pay form does not include “brain injury” even if the “brain” has been injured when the head injury occurred at the time of the original accident.

FIFTH, the next problem is that the Commission and the Court of Appeals has decided that you only receive compensation for the injuries you have listed on the Agreement to Pay form and you only have two (2) years from the date of your accident to amend the Agreement to Pay form to add new injuries (such as a brain injury) if this was not inserted on the original Agreement to Pay form).

SIXTH, the remedy is to file a Claim for Benefits with the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission within two (2) years of the date of one’s accident and add “brain injury” to your claim.

SEVENTH, if the Agreement to Pay only says “head injury,” then a major problem is created after the claimant has been paid 500 weeks of compensation. Normally, the cap on workers’ compensation in Virginia is 500 weeks of compensation for almost all injuries. However, there are a few exceptions to the 500 week cap. One of those exceptions is a “brain injury” but not a head injury.

EIGHTH, thus if one has had one’s injury listed as a “head injury” and not a “brain injury” and 500 weeks of compensation have elapsed and one is still “disabled,” you would want to extend benefits under the 500 week “brain injury” exception in Virginia. However, because you never amended the Agreement to Pay form to add “brain injury” you would likely be barred from having your compensation extended beyond 500 weeks by the Commission.

In summary, if one has a serious head injury in Virginia, it is critical to always file a Claim for Benefits within two (2) years to add a “brain injury” claim. This is so because the ill effects of any head injury could develop later and could always involve a brain injury. You should not lose your rights because of this “technicality.”

This may be considered AN ADVERTISEMENT or Advertising Material under the Rules of Professional Conduct governing lawyers in Virginia. This note is designed for general information only. The information presented in this note should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.

Gerald G. Lutkenhaus has been representing claimants in Virginia for over 30 years. In the July 1999 issue of Richmond Magazine he was rated one of the Best Workers’ Compensation Lawyers in Central Virginia. In 2003 he received the “AV” rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating for lawyers. In 2005 he was selected for the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. You can get more information from http://www.virginiadisabilitylawyer.com or http://www.geraldlutkenhaus.com or call for a free consultation at 804-358-4766.

So you have decided to start betting online – or maybe you just want to find a new trustworthy sportsbook – what do you need to look out for?

Well I am in a position to speak from some experience – I did at one time hold accounts with about sixty bookmakers in Europe, UK, Australia and offshore – the latter catering mainly to the US market. I have had at least three online sportsbooks go broke on me – luckily my losses were kept to a few thousand dollars – that may sound a lot but it could have been a lot worse.

It is not that easy finding a reputable sportsbook – partly because the web is populated by website owners who will sing the praises of a sportsbook or casino simply because they earn revenue from signing up customers via an affiliate program. Often these website owners know nothing about betting, do not hold accounts with the sportsbooks they are advertising and have not researched the companies they are involved with.

You are keeping your money in an account online. Therefore you should think of the sportsbook you are considering as a bank – a place that you intend to keep funds long term.

So what do you look for:

1. Read press articles as opposed to reviews – reviews are usually written by the sportsbook’s marketing team.

2. Test run the software by joining and playing for free – most sportsbooks offer this facility.

3. Find out if your funds are insured or separated in ESCROW accounts so that if the sportsbook company goes under – your funds are still safe.

4. Find out if the sportsbook is independently audited.

5. How long has the operation been online – three to four years is usually a good marker as a minimum.

6. Test out the customer services to see if they meet your standards or the standards they promise you.

7. If you know about betting already, then check some of their odds and lines – are they in keeping with what you would expect? Some less scrupulous sportsbooks offer very attractive prices to lure unsuspecting bettors.

8. Find out if the sportsbook is part of a larger group of companies. Sometimes this means added solidity.

9. What are the deposit and withdrawal options and the associated charges. These vary quite a bit from book to book. Options should be available that are ‘free’ or where the sportsbook absorbs the charges. But ask yourself ; “how easy is it to get access to my money and how much does it cost?”

Not all the above are critical – but help towards finding a secure book.

If you have already have an account with a sportsbook watch out for lapses in customer service and slowness of payment – these can be signs that the company could be in trouble.

The UK has a number of established books including William Hill, Ladbrokes, Coral, and Victor Chandler. I also like SportingBet (www.SBSportsbook.com) who take US customers and cater for global sports.

I would say that US bettors are at most risk since they are generally forced to bet at offshore sportsbooks due to legality issues. The offshore books with whom I work are top grade but it is in the offshore environment that problems occasionally occur. It is, therefore, critical that those US customers put in the research before signing up.

Happy betting!

The author has been a professional sports bettor and trader for seven years. He runs his own sports betting and trading service at: www.arbitrage.ws as well as helping to advise a number of sportsbooks:

www.vipsportsgroup.com

www.betonenine.com

www.betongameday.com

- all of which are leaders in the online sports betting and gambling industry.

SportsTrade@arbitrage.ws

The FDA approved Vioxx in 1999. It was intended to reduce the pain and
inflammation caused by osteoarthritis as well as menstrual pains. Afterwards,
the FDA approved Vioxx for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The drug,
which is a once-daily pill, was considered more effective than traditional pain
killers and to cause fewer gastrointestinal side effects.

What is Vioxx?

Vioxx is a COX-2 selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Vioxx is also related to the nonselective NSAIDs , such as ibuprofen and naproxen. Vioxx is a prescription medicine used to relieve signs and symptoms of arthritis, acute pain in adults, and painful menstrual cycles.

Minor side effects with the use of Vioxx include upset stomach, dizziness,
heartburn, vomiting and constipation. In March, 2002 an FDA report linked Vioxx
to five cases of a nonbacterial type of meningitis. In May 2002, a report
published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research stated that it may also
impede bone repair due to the arthritis drug inhibiting cox-2 (which assists
bone-forming cells in the healing process.)

The makers of Vioxx launched a three year study to confirm the relative
gastrointestinal benefits of Vioxx when compared to another pain medicine,
naproxen. The study did show that patients who took Vioxx had fewer ulcers and
other stomach ailments, but the shock of the study proved to be the greater
tendency to experience serious cardiovascular events when taking Vioxx.

In September 2004, Merck & Co., Inc., announced a voluntary withdrawal of Vioxx
from the market due to safety concerns of an increased risk of cardiovascular
problems such as heart attack, stroke, and blood clot. The study found that both
high and low levels of the medication increase the risk, but patients taking the
highest doses increase their risk of heart attack more than three-fold.

In Vioxx and naproxen test groups with more than 4,000 patients in each, Vioxx
users suffered 101 “serious cardiovascular events” and 20 myocardial
infarctions. That compared to 46 naproxen users who had cardiovascular events
and only four who suffered heart attacks.

If you have concerns about the safety of Vioxx, or if you have experienced
serious side effects associated with the drug, consult your doctor. It may also
be important to contact an attorney who can help protect your legal rights.
Please keep in mind that there may be time limits within which you must commence
suit.

If you would like to locate a Vioxx Attorney,
visit Personal Injury Lawyer page on www.hugesettlements.com

You are welcome to reproduce this article: Vioxx: Valid Concerns as
long as a live link to HugeSettlements.com is provided. We
can help you find a professional Vioxx Attorney. Visit us today for a
Vioxx Lawyer

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer today.

Do we agree that life is a struggle? It’s kind of fun if you have a sense of humor, but you have to be serious about estate planning. Estate planning simply means doing your best to preserve the wealth and assets you accumulate during your lifetime.

For those who have even a modest estate a living trust may be your first line of defense. An attorney can prepare one for a reasonable fee, or you can buy a guide and do it yourself.

Living trusts are easy to understand and easy to create if you will spend two or three hours reading instructions and preparing the needed forms and documents. A living trust is really just a legal basket into which you put all your assets to protect them from probate. The trust gives you a chance to pass your wealth on to those you choose. In probate a court makes those decisions.

Are there alternatives to a living trust? Yes, many. We will cover a couple of the simple ones.

The most common alternative is the joint titling of assets. If you want your house to pass to your daughter you put both your name and her name on title as joint tenants with right of survivorship. When you die the house passes to your daughter and avoids probate. You can do the same with bank accounts, brokerage accounts and cars.

Joint titling is easy, but dangerous. If your daughter has legal problems the assets with joint title become fair game for lawsuits. Another drawback is that joint titling is irrevocable. If things should turn nasty between you and your daughter, tough luck. You are stuck with her as a joint owner of your assets. There are also some tax consideration which might not be beneficial. Talk to your tax advisor.

Here’s a good one…the beneficiary deed. They are not yet allowed in all states, but it should be considered if they are legal where you own property. A beneficiary deed simply states who is entitled to the property upon your death. It is entirely revocable during your lifetime.

Bank accounts and brokerage accounts can contain a transfer-on-death designation. This is super, because the designation is entirely revocable during your lifetime. Transfer-on-death simply states who is entitled to the contents of the account upon your death. It avoids the risks associated with joint tenancies. You could name one beneficiary or any number and even what portion of the asset each should receive.

An estate planning attorney will have lots of other solutions to your more complicated estate needs.

I use a very basic plan. I have my $142 dollars in an old soup can buried in the back yard. Oops! Don’t show this to the IRS.

Mark Walters advises real estate investors from his web pages at http://www.CashFlowInstitute.com

The defendant, Steria, terminated the agreement with Peregrine Systems alleging that it was entitled to terminate the contract between the parties as a result of delays and commercial misstatements. Steria also claimed damages from Peregrine.

In return, Peregrine brought proceedings against Steria for money owed under the contract. Initially, the Court held that Peregrine had not committed any breach of contract and that there had been no misstatements. The Court also held that Steria had in any event lost the right to terminate the contract because Steria had, by its conduct, affirmed the contract by continuing to use the software. Steria appealed these decisions.

The Court of Appeal decided against Steria on both as follows:

Due to the wording of the contract Peregrine was only obliged to provide £200,000 worth of services and was not required to fully implement the software. Once Peregrine had provided £200,000 worth of services, there was no obligation to do anything more to complete the project within a reasonable time;
A supplier having to perform “within a reasonable time” does not necessarily mean that the customer can end the contract if this is not done;
Steria had not properly communicated its dissatisfaction to Peregrine; and
Steria continued to use the software and so acted in a manner implying Steria’s wish to affirm the contract.
Comment : This case highlights the importance of contractual parties clearly setting out their rights and responsibilities when entering into an IT contract. Furthermore, parties should act properly when dissatisfied with goods or services and analyse contractual documentation carefully before deciding to terminate an IT contract.

If you require further information contact us at enquiries@rtcoopers.com

© RT COOPERS, 2005. This Briefing Note does not provide a comprehensive or complete statement of the law relating to the issues discussed nor does it constitute legal advice. It is intended only to highlight general issues. Specialist legal advice should always be sought in relation to particular circumstances

Solicitors in London; IT law Firm, IT Contracts, IT Development Contracts, Consultancy Agreements, Copyright Law, Digital and Internet Security,
Due Diligence, E-Risks , Framework Agreements, Intellectual Property, Internet Law, IT Audits and Disputes, IT Contracts, IT Recruitment Agreements, IT Transactions, Joint Ventures, Licensing, Outsourcing Contracts, Patents, Patenting Computer Programs, Service Level Agreements, Software Contracts, Software Development Agreements,
Software Licensing Agreements. If you require advice and assistance regarding IT Contracts contact us at : enquiries@rtcoopers.com or visit our website at www.rtcoopers.com/practice_it.php

It’s a fairly common practice, claiming compensation from the another driver’s insurance company in the event of a road traffic incident. However, if the driver whom you had the accident with had left the scene and subsequently cannot be trace - then what? Also, what can you do if the other driver doesn’t have insurance?
Well thankfully, you may still be able to make a claim compensation from the UK Motor Insurers Bureau.

Claims going through theUK Motor Insurers Bureau is similar to making a normal claim. Your case will be reviewed by the ruling judge and a decision is then made in regards to liability and how much compensation you should be awarded which will be paid by the UK Motor Insurers Bureau.

MIB was established in 1946 as a private company limited by guarantee for the purpose of entering into Agreements with the Government to compensate the victims of negligent uninsured and untraced motorists. Every insurer underwriting compulsory motor insurance is obliged, by virtue of the Road Traffic Act 1988, to be a member of MIB and to contribute to its funding

The MIB can give compensation to someone who is involved in a motor accident caused by an uninsured driver or untraced driver. If the driver was uninsured, the MIB can pay compensation for personal injury or death and/or damage to property. If the driver has not been traced, the MIB will consider claims for damage to personal property providing the vehicle can be identified.

Normally, the UK Motor Insurers Bureau will make a payment for both your vehicle and any personal injury suffered by yourself. This may also cover loss of earnings and medical expenses, pain, distress and suffering - all covered by the UK Motor Insurers Bureau

At Claims Master Group claiming from the UK Motor Insurers Bureau is handled by our team of legal professionals. We work on a no win no fee basis, so the solicitor who will be working with the UK Motor Insurers Bureau to award your compensation is free of charge to yourself.

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If you need advice or would just like to speak to someone, please don’t hesitate to give Claims Master Group a call on 08000 71 22 71.

The Personal Injury, Accident Claim, No Win No Fee, Motor Insurers Bureau specialists.

Julian Hall is the director of Claims Master Group

The Personal Injury, Accident Claim, No Win No Fee, Road Traffic Accidents specialists.