Barack Obama To Show Up For Jury Duty After Being Called To Serve In Cook County
Barack Obama reportedly plans to show up for jury duty next month after being called to serve in Illinois.

The former US President has said that he will fulfill his obligations on the jury, the chief judge of Cook County Circuit Court said on Friday.

“He made it crystal-clear to me through his representative that he would carry out his public duty as a citizen and resident of this community,” Tim Evans, chief judge of the court, told the Chicago Tribune.

“Obviously we will make certain that he has all the accoutrements that accompany a former president. His safety will be uppermost in our minds.

The 56-year-old former Democrat leader is registered to vote in Illinois as he owns a property in Chicago.

It is not yet known which courthouse Obama has been summoned to, nor the exact date he will carry out his duties.

“Although it’s not a place where the public can earn a lot of money, it is highly appreciated,” Evans said of Obama’s decision to serve. “It’s crucial that our society get the benefit of that kind of commitment.”

The Hill notes that, although Obama is willing to serve on a jury, he is unlikely to be selected.

The former US President has not yet commented on the matter.

It is not the first time that Obama has been called to sit on a jury.

At the end of 2009, court officials in Cook County previously summoned him for jury duty.

Obama is not the first high-profile US politician – or even former president – to report for jury duty.

In 2015 George W. Bush was pictured wearing a ‘juror’ badge in Dallas.

Bush was previously called for jury duty while serving as governor of Texas in 1996 and in 2005 while he was serving a president.

Obama would also join Oprah Winfrey as one of Cook County’s most famour jurors. She served on a jury in 2004 that convicted a man of first-degree murder.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/barack-obama-jury-duty-cook-county_uk_59f4a5b6e4b077d8dfc9f10b

Ricky Martin’s beach vacay, John Legend’s dad bod, & Cameron Dallas’ bath
Instagram + studs = Instastuds

www.queerty.com/ricky-martins-beach-vacay-john-legends-dad-bod-cameron-dallas-bath-20171028?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

NEW MUSIC: Niall Horan, Adrian Crowley, Seamus Fogarty, Phoebe Bridgers

This week in New Music: Former One Direction popster Niall Horan is coma-inducing on his solo debut, two fellow Irishmen show him how it’s done and Los Angeles native Phoebe Bridgers cuts to the core on her solo debut Stranger in the Alps.

Niall Horan – Flicker

One Direction’s Niall Horan is only 24 but on his debut solo album Flicker you’d swear her was born on the same day in the same hospital to the same mother as Don Henley.

Over a mind numbing 13 tracks, Horan sounds bored by music already.

At best sub-par light country sort-of rock, I defy you to sit through more than four tracks without falling asleep or wishing for the good old days of Gary Barlow solo.

Not since Ronan Keating made the bold move from Boyzone to solo mediocrity has a boyband-to-serious-artist effort sounded so utterly pointless.  

With around 500 million plays of Spotify at the time of writing I’m obviously completely wrong but remain defiant.

Awful. The reunion with Zayn Malik and the other three can’t be far away.

Adrian Crowley – Dark Eyed Messenger

Putting Horan to shame this week are two fellow Irishmen.

It’s hard to say Adrian Crowley is best known for anything but he is certainly most recognized for his work with James Yorkston on 2013 album My Yoke Is Heavy.

On his latest solo effort Dark Eyed Messenger, Crowley is the opposite of Horan. While Horan is bad throwaway pop, from the opening seconds of this album listeners will be drawn in and possibly dumbstruck by the devastation present. While Damien Rice wears his heart duct taped to his sleeve during a drunken night down the pub, Crowley is having a quiet night in with his closest friends.

Simply stunning.

Seamus Fogarty – The Curious Hand

…and please, please, please follow Crowley with Seamus Fogarty’s The Curious Hand which sees the singer songwriter on an impossibly low key world tour between London, Chicago and South American, to midlands Ireland and back to his hometown Sligo in the west of Ireland.

Back to Damien Rice who travelled by land to Portugal with a group of friends and documented every move. Nice. Fogarty probably got a one way ferry ticket to France with €100 in his pocket and hoped for the best. The journey is difficult but clearly Fogarty takes it in his stride all the while missing home and the inevitable return there.

Pubs in the west of Ireland play paddywhackery trad music for tourists in the summer season. Fogarty you’d expect to be sitting in a corner somewhere bleak in mid-December. Music as it should be.

Phoebe Bridgers – Stranger in the Alps

…and then we have Los Angeles native Phoebe Bridgers who on her haunting debut album Stranger in the Alps worries about the shitty life of a jobbing musician, The Smiths and David Bowie and (obviously) lost love and death.

The frankly stunning “Killer” (break-up) and “Funeral” (how funerals can make mourners feel) are highlights by an artist as talented but far more external than Laura Marling.

The post NEW MUSIC: Niall Horan, Adrian Crowley, Seamus Fogarty, Phoebe Bridgers appeared first on Towleroad.

NEW MUSIC: Niall Horan, Adrian Crowley, Seamus Fogarty, Phoebe Bridgers

Noxious Odour In Seaford Causes Stinging Eyes And Nausea As Residents Told To Stay Indoors
Residents in Seaford were told to stay indoors after reports of a noxious odour led some to complain of stinging eyes and nausea.

Emergency services advised people to keep doors and windows shut after several people contacted Sussex Police on Friday to say they smelt “burning plastic”.

The odour was first noticed in The Ridings area at about 6pm but failed to disperse, Sussex Police said.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said on Saturday that they had been unable to ascertain the source of the odour.

The fire service advised people who have concerns about the odour to remain indoors, keeping doors and windows shut and report it to the fire service.

This incident comes nearly two months after scores of people were hospitalised when a chemical haze on the Sussex coast left holidaymakers with streaming eyes, sore throats and vomiting.

Emergency services warned people along the East Sussex coast to keep doors and windows closed after people were affected along the shoreline from Eastbourne to Birling Gap, near Beachy Head, although this advice was later withdrawn when the cloud dissipated.

Police said that the Seaford incident is not currently being linked to the chemical haze from August.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/noxious-odour-seaford_uk_59f491f8e4b07fdc5fbe7565

Colton Haynes just got married in a beautiful ceremony
Kris Jenner officiated the wedding.

www.queerty.com/colton-haynes-just-got-married-beautiful-ceremony-20171028?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Police Halloween Crackdown On Motorcyclists Driving ‘Recklessly’ In London In Organised ‘Ride Out’ Events
Police are planning a crackdown on anti-social behaviour over the Halloween period carried out by “ruthless” motorcyclists in central London.

The operation comes after police attended “ride out” events for the past two years, which saw large numbers of motorcyclists gathered in several locations across the capital and rest of UK.

The Metropolitan Police Service said the drivers’ intent was to “cause disruption and anti-social behaviour”.

Such incidents include motorcyclists driving “recklessly”, on the wrong side of the road, through red lights and across pavements. Police said that many of the motorcycles used were stolen.

Police said that many of those taking part in the ride outs are linked to the group ‘UK Bike Life’.

Superintendent Tania Coulson, spokesperson for the Met, said: “In the past, these groups have caused criminal damage to petrol stations and put themselves and members of the public at great risk by driving recklessly in large groups through the streets of London.

“We know that some people may see the event advertised and think they are joining like-minded enthusiasts on a lawful ride. This is not the case. They drive ruthlessly and carry out stunts on the road.

“Officers will be out across London throughout the Halloween period and will deploy a number of police tactics to prevent riders from driving dangerously.

“We intend to prevent disorder and crime caused by riders and we will be dealing robustly with offenders.

“Any groups or individuals who cause disruption will be arrested.”

This year’s crackdown comes after several arrests were made last year when more than 200 motorcyclists gathered for a Halloween “ride out” in Birmingham and Solihull.

During the incident, 100 masked bikers surrounded a police van in Yorkminster Drive in Chelmsley Wood and the fire service also reported that a group had attempted to stop them from responding to an emergency call.

Meanwhile in Leeds, a group of about 50 people on off-road motorcycles and quad bikes brought a busy road to a standstill.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/police-halloween-crackdown-motorcyclists_uk_59f479b6e4b03cd20b81d6fe

Woody Harrelson’s Dinner Date With Donald Trump Did Not End Well

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/woody-harrelson-donald-trump-dinner_uk_59f46e45e4b03cd20b81d5bb