bdaily.info And Finally feed

Student asks for opera ticket, gets leading role

bdaily.info — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A student opera singer telephoned for a last-minute concert ticket and was instead offered a lead role. Adriano Graziani, 32, was asked if he would stand in for the tenor who had fallen ill with a cold, reports The Times.

He had called up for tickets to a gala concert last month by the Welsh National Opera at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff. He had less than two hours to remind himself of the scores and make his way to the venue for a last-minute rehearsal.

Harlem hero has a go

bdaily.info — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A heroic woman in New York turned the tables on a gang of muggers who tried to steal her handbag. 26-year-old Marie Conde of Harlem had briefly dozed off while taking an early morning subway train, only to be awoken by a gang of would-be thieves.

"I opened my eyes, and one of them punched me in the right eye," she told the New York Post. "I just started screaming really loud. And then one of them grabbed my purse and they ran out. I didn't know what to do, so I just started running after them. I grabbed one of them by the arm."

Credit crunch cancels Croatian Christmas

bdaily.info — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Every year in the UK we hear threats of cancelled Christmases due to health and safety or political correctness, most of which turn out to be completely baseless rumours. But spare a thought for Croatian workers this year, as the country's government has banned Christmas and New Year parties in the public sector because of the global financial crisis.

State-run firms and organisations have also been told that they won't be allowed to dip into their funds to buy Christmas presents, reports the BBC. The ban follows a proposal to freeze public-sector salaries next year.

Meh enters dictionary, no-one is bothered

bdaily.info — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The word meh has gained enough support to be included in the Collins English dictionary.

Despite being a common expression of boredom or disinterest, meh got the lexicographers enthusiastic enough to allow it into their compendium.

Woman bears new name for charity

bdaily.info — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A woman will change her name to Pudsey Bear after bosses at the UK Deed Poll Service donated Â£5,000 to her Children in Need appeal.

Eileen De Bont, from St Asaph, has asked bidders on eBay to pledge money to give her a new name, reports the North Wales Daily Post. The highest bid stood at just Â£30, before the UK Deed Poll Service's chief executive Mike Barratt stepped in with Â£5,000.

Google evidence implicates Peston

bdaily.info — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The BBC's Business Editor Robert Peston probably views the recession as a double-edged sword - he's getting great exposure, but he's also working nearly every day.

While his calm voice and knowledgeable demeanour do put us at ease, we have recently started to get slightly suspicious about the timing of his rise to fame. Our hunch was confirmed when our friends in the digital team at bgroup pointed out the research they had conducted using Google Trends.