Jazz Queen comes to Bath's komedia

Clare Teal, today's first lady of jazz, visits Bath's newestclub Komedia on Thursday, November 20.

This year has been one of the busiest yet for one of thecountry's leading vocal talents, with an on-going successful tour ofthe country in support of her latest release Get Happy.

The Guide spoke to Bath-based Clare ahead of her return to thecity.

The Guide: Last time we spoke you had just released Get Happy.How has the rest of 2008 been?

Clare: It has been a fantastic year so far, Get Happy is doingsuper well and is now set for release in Europe.

As well as extensively touring the length and breadth of the UK,by the end of this year we will …

Beggs of Class celebrates very successful first year.

Established in 1998 by Viona Beggs, the local soft furnishings and interior design company has defied the credit crunch and is this week reflecting on its busiest year. <br/><br/>Beggs of Class has thrived since opening last September in the historical Gracehill Old School, on the outskirts of Ballymena. <br/><br/>Owner, Viona Beggs is thrilled with its success and has extended heartfelt thanks to the ever growing clientele whose loyalty and support have made it possible. <br/><br/>C[pounds sterling]I am well aware that many companies have faced and continue to face difficulty during the recession and that people are counting their pennies,C[yen] said …

Symbolizing the disease of addiction: making the case for a pin, ribbon, or wristband to represent the disease of addiction.(PERSPECTIVES)

Aquick Internet search shows that almost every disease has an awareness campaign that involves ribbons, wristbands, or pins, such as the red ribbon to draw attention to AIDS or the yellow Lance Armstrong wristband drawing attention to cancer. These symbols are identifying objects for their causes/diseases. One Web site suggests that there are 16 wristbands for different forms of cancer and cancer research. These items have raised awareness of their related diseases and funds for ongoing research.

Yet where is the ribbon, pin, or wristband representing the disease of addiction? Where are the symbols that call attention to a vastly misunderstood disease subject to …

CONGRESS OFFERS CLINTON A CHOICE.(MAIN)

Byline: JANET HOOK Los Angeles Times

WASHINGTON Bowing to apparent public disgust with the longest government shutdown in history, Congress approved legislation Friday to send 280,000 furloughed federal employees back to work until Jan. 26.

The bill, which also restores funding for several of the federal government's most popular and visible programs, falls short of reopening the government because it only provides workers' pay, not operating funds for many federal activities.

But Congress also passed a second bill that would reopen the entire federal government until Jan. 26 paying both operating costs and workers' salaries but only if Clinton acceded to Republicans' longstanding demand that he submit a proposal for balancing the budget in seven years, using Congressional Budget Office …

Symantec's Whole Security Buy Adds New Anti-Virus Tools.(Symantec Corp.)

In a deal that may bring it more financial services customers, the Internet security giant Symantec Corp. is buying WholeSecurity Inc., whose software attacks viruses from a different slant.

Symantec, of Cupertino, Calif., is well known among consumers and corporate IT workers for its strong anti-virus products, many of them marketed under the Norton brand.

When a virus starts to spread on the Internet, Symantec defines its "signature" -- a description its customers can download so their computers can spot and stop the malicious software. But this strategy is more effective against widespread threats than against viruses written to prey on customers of a …

Western officials suggest NKorean leader is ill

There was no sign of Kim Jong Il at a closely watched parade Tuesday marking the 60th anniversary of North Korea's founding, and Western officials said the all powerful leader _ who has not appeared publicly for a month _ may be gravely ill.

North Korea's state media was silent about his absence from the parade, a relatively low-key ceremony that unexpectedly lacked much of North Korea's trademark military display, though still took on a decidedly martial flavor.

In a broadcast monitored in Seoul, Korean Central Television showed North Korea's No. 2 leader and other officials and military officers atop a viewing stand. Kim Jong Il was not shown.

In …

DeVry, Career Education adopt code of conduct; Agree to protect students from kickbacks by lenders

Two Chicago area for-profit higher-education providers agreedMonday to change how they recommend student-loan vendors on campus,and one of them will reimburse students $88,000 to settle aninvestigation into the student loan industry.

DeVry University in Oakbrook Terrace and Career Education Corp.of Hoffman Estates agreed to a code of conduct to protect studentsfrom kickbacks paid to colleges by lenders in exchange for steeringstudents their way.

Career Education Corp. agreed to pay $21,000 into a federalgovernment fund that helps educate parents and students aboutcollege loans, said New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who hasled an investigation into loan …