We report clever crimes.. but the day I got burgled the culprit was

HE'S seen some of the toughest criminals and most brutal thugs in the land... but when Crimeline's Con Muprhy was robbed himself, it was by the dopiest gang in Ireland.

"Maybe he was but if he was the real man he portrayed himself to be he could have apologised in person."Jack lost the plot with me in a rant littered with f words, b words and even the c word was thrown in."But there are a lot of people in football like that, ask anyone in the media who works regularly with the Irish squad and they will tell you that for every player like Kevin Kilbane and Shay Given who make their jobs easy, there are a fair few snotty ones who just don't want to know. They are average players with very inflated opinions of themselves."Con said: "A good few years ago Marthat tina Navratilova played a match in the RDS, I was at the Press conference afterwards and she answered every single question openly and honestly, there was no hiding behind platitudes and giving one word answers."Eventually I ended up having an ear drum transplant to try and improve the situation."It wasn't a nice experience and in the days Big break... Con helped afterwards we did kind of feel violated that someone had been through our most personal belongings"."The guys we feature on Crimeline go to work slightly more prepared."To this day she remains the person i would most like to sit down and interview properly.".Con said: "The death of Latvian woman Baiba Saulite, who was shot in North County Dublin, is one that annoys me, mainly due to the fact that it was so cold-blooded and her kids, indeed her very young kids, were in bed."Sometimes the TV earphone is put on to the bad ear and I cannot hear the producers. It gets more complicated when they put it on the good ear, I can clearly hear the producer, but then cannot hear the people I am talking to all that well. Sure we manage somehow".He said: "I have only 20 per cent hearing in that ear, and it can cause me problems. It came about through my having a series of infections and diffi-culties with it when I was a kid."The main suspect is outside the jurisdiction at the moment, but I know the guards won't let this one rest and I really really hope they nail whoever pulled the trigger."He said: "Overall current affairs wouldn't appeal to me - maybe that's the area they might find me out in," but added: "I'm happy where I am and things are going grand."Despite his success on Crimeline, viewers need not expect to see Con reading the news any time soon."Now that I could just about deal with, but next day one of his people in the FAI came over and apologised on his behalf, saying that Jack was really sorry for what he had said.Con's home was burgled when he was just a teen living in Dublin. The radio and TV star said: "I was about 16 and I was the first person back to my house in Churchtown one evening.That wasn't a problem with downto-earth tennis legend Martine Navratilova."There's also the fact that whoever shot her seemingly did it purely for the money."The burglars had already left and, I swear to God this is true, they were later caught cycling down the Stillorgan dual carriageway with our video in a basket on the front of the bike."To be honest I hadn't a lot of time for him after that, and, of course, who put us out of the World Cup, Holland did, so maybe there was a point to my question after all."Funnily enough I worked in three different travel agencies and all three have closed down, maybe I got out in time before I single- handedly wrecked the entire industry."Before conquering the airwaves Con had worked as a travel agent: "I got into it because I had a belief I might get to see the world. Little did I realise that the bosses get all the good trips and the workers like me get the bus trip to Pontins and Butlins.Con said: "The biggest rollicking I have ever received in my life was from Jack. Back in 1994 we played Holland over there in a pre- World Cup friendly and we won 1-0. "Interviewing Jack on the pitch afterwards I made reference to the fact the Dutch had taken half their team off at half time and suggested that there was surely better to come from them at the World Cup itself.In his time as a sports presenter Con met all the greats, but Irish soccer boss Jack Charlton was a great disappointment.Con has had to battle twice as hard as his co-presenters as a childhood illness left him deaf in one ear."He was yelling: 'We have just come here and beaten the bl**dy Dutch and all you want to talk about is them, why won't you admit how well we played?' "He then removed his headphones, screamed at me that if we used the tirade on air he would 'Never speak to effin RTE again' and stormed off.Con, 44, who started his broadcasting career off as a sports presenter with RTE, got his big break with a stint covering for Marian Finucane and Ryan Tubridy - but he says he was still surprised to get the Crimeline call."The buzz for me is when information we receive on the show leads to an arrest, it's a good feeling to know that you played a part, however small, in catching a villain". But one unsolved crime still haunts him, the callous slaying of young mum Baiba Saulite.He said: "They rang me up and asked me to do it, I work mainly in sports so it was a bit of a shock, but they asked me so I thought I'd give it a go.

He said: "Overall current affairs wouldn't appeal to me - maybe that's the area they might find me out in," but added: "I'm happy where I am and things are going grand."

Creating A Classic Bedroom Look With Wood Furniture

A bedroom should be a place where you can escape from the busy day to relax and rest. Therefore, the environment needs to be calm, cozy and warm. The best way to achieve this goal is with the use of classic wood furniture, especially pine and oak. When these types of woods are added to any space, they instantly create a welcoming atmosphere. Wood pieces are also known to endure for a very long time. Even if the wood does suffer some bumps or nicks, it adds to the character and enhances the look of the piece. Anyone looking to produce a bedroom with a classic decor needs to use pine or oak furniture pieces.

The lines of the furniture can be arched, curved or straight. Each feature will produce a different effect. In addition, the thickness of the wood will also contribute to the look. Very thick, chunky oak will be a dominating force in the room. It tends to look more rustic than thinner, less bulky, pine furniture. Pine also has elements intrinsic to the wood like dark, circular knots that will vary with each furniture piece. Oak may have visible grain patterns throughout that add character to any item. Pine and oak can be given a dark or light stain to alter the color of the wood. The type of hardware used will also contribute to the style of the furniture. Stainless steel drawer pulls in a simple round shape tend to look more modern when with paired with pieces that have clean, simple lines and flat surfaces. Chunky pieces with large wrought iron or metal drawer pulls give off a more rustic vibe. Another thing to think about is the about of detailing on each piece such as an inlaid design, molding or abstract designs carved into the wood.Solid wood wardrobes have increased in popularity over the years. They are the perfect way to add additional storage space to any bedroom. There are many different types and plenty of interior configurations. Some may have just a hanging bar inside, while others may also have a shelf above the rack. Other wardrobe have either interior or exterior drawers, in addition to the hanging bar. These days, wardrobes can be used for more than just storing clothing. They can even house television sets or computers. Finally, remember that factors like the wall color, lighting, flooring, draperies and bed linens will all contribute to the atmosphere of any bedroom.

Solid wood wardrobes have increased in popularity over the years. They are the perfect way to add additional storage space to any bedroom. There are many different types and plenty of interior configurations. Some may have just a hanging bar inside, while others may also have a shelf above the rack. Other wardrobe have either interior or exterior drawers, in addition to the hanging bar. These days, wardrobes can be used for more than just storing clothing. They can even house television sets or computers. Finally, remember that factors like the wall color, lighting, flooring, draperies and bed linens will all contribute to the atmosphere of any bedroom.

Does Your Business Really Have a Strategy?

Bad strategy -- not a bad economy -- is what is dooming many American businesses to failure.

About Rich HorwathAdd to Digg Bookmark with del.icio.us Add to NewsvineA survey in the Harvard Business Journal reports that nearly 50 percent of the business failures in the U.S. resulted from flawed strategies -- not the poor economy.Discovery -- In this phase, you are pulling together everything you know about strategy, market intelligence, competitive intelligence, customer data and industry data so you have a solid bank of information on which to base your primary business assumptions. Strategic Thinking -- Getting together with your development team, you take the information from discovery phase and then use tools and models to generate new insights and discover what is going on in your business and how your business is moving forward in the future. Strategic Planning -- This takes the insights from strategic thinking and channels them into an action plan to achieve your company's goals and objectives. Strategy Rollout -- Research suggests that 95 percent of company employees don't understand company strategy, so it is imperative for companies to present the plan to the employees, who are ultimately responsible for enacting the plan. Strategy Tune-Up -- Like that diagnostic tune-up of your car, this step forces companies to look under the hood of their strategic plans to evaluate what is different, what has changed and what is new since they created the plan. This allows companies to then make adjustments in their tactics to fit the new conditions. It helps answer the ongoing question "Are we on the right path?"Horwath believes that a simple five-step process could unlock the potential of the strategic plan.Rachel Friedman Rachel@newsandexperts.comPart of this phenomenon is that companies create strategies, write the plans, and then let them languish in a desk drawer, according to Rich Horwath, author of "Deep Dive: The Proven Method for Building Strategy," ( www.strategyskills.com ).Rich Horwath is a strategist, speaker and author of the bestselling book on strategic thinking, "Deep Dive: The Proven Method for Building Strategy."

Rachel Friedman Rachel@newsandexperts.com

Preschoolers' room should be full of fun

By Jura Konciusand Liz Seymour

Question: We have a back deck off our main floor, along with a brick patio from the walk-out basement, which makes for a shaded sitting area. My question is how to decorate under the deck. We were thinking of stringing solar-powered lights and getting a bistro- style patio set.Answer: Start with something like one fun pillow in a shade you would never have chosen. Go to a place like West Elm or Pier 1 Imports or Marshalls or Target. With brown and green, you might add touches of sky blue, red or even lavender.Question: I'm trying to figure out what shade of blue I should use for my front door. The house is red brick with white window trim and a cedar and white front porch. I've decided to paint the porch floor navy blue.Answer: I really like Ikea for kids' furniture, especially beds and dressers. I went to Anthropologie and got really fun drawer pulls that I used instead of standard ones on the dresser. I also got beanbags from the Company Store for my kids' rooms, and they love them.Reader: Why not have the preschoolers make the artwork themselves? Buy some sturdy paper or pulled canvas and a few different paint colors that match the color scheme of the room. Then have the kids go at it! Frame the pictures and update them every few months.The Washington PostAnswer: Would you consider a black door to go with what you describe as a very classic house?Question: The color palette in my home is very safe. Lots of neutral browns and greens. I would love to add bright and unexpected colors but have no idea where or how to start. Any suggestions for a decorating newbie?Answer: Buy nice planters and get small trees or bushes to put in them. Boxwood, camellia, hibiscus or oleander make a nice tall statement. An outdoor rug is also fun. What about a fire pit?

Answer: Start with something like one fun pillow in a shade you would never have chosen. Go to a place like West Elm or Pier 1 Imports or Marshalls or Target. With brown and green, you might add touches of sky blue, red or even lavender.

It's certainly not nice toe see you two!

Byline: Andy Hirst

Imagine a circle drawn around the hole in the sock, about 1/4 inch (6mm) larger than the hole on every side. With your needle and thread, stitch around this circle using a simple running stitch, your needle piercing the fabric down, then up, about every 1/8 inch (3mm). Complete the circle and add five more stitches. Clip off the remaining thread.Thread a darning needle with thread that's similar in colour and weight to the fabric of the sock. Don't knot the thread. Trim the ragged threads around the edges of the sock hole.I thought the right foot felt a little strange halfway there but reckoned the new sock must have just got bunched up.And when I got there to examine the damage it was double dismay as the other sock had done the same thing.See, couldn't be simpler. I think I'll just go and buy some new socks. But not from the same place that the last lot came from.I'd sort it out when I arrived, but then it clearly felt that something was sticking through what it shouldn't be sticking through - my toe through the sock.CAPTION(S):Where there is no fabric, your thread will simply lie flat across the hole. Continue stitching parallel vertical lines all the way across the hole.Finally clip off the remaining thread.Although there won't be a next time for these.Now darners are few and far between these days so I thought I'd peruse t'internet to see how to fix the problem. It must be easy. Surely.With their colour-coded toes and heels they'd be easier to spot in the wash, marry up and then pop back in the drawer for the next time.Rethread the darning needle with another length of thread (again, don't knot it). Starting at the top of the hole, just outside the circle you've stitched, make a series of vertical lines all the way across the hole. Where there is fabric, weave your needle through the fabric in a running stitch.They cost a fiver for seven pairs which may have seemed, on the face of it, something of a good buy.* HOLY SMOKE: My rubbish socks zz310811socks.jpg or zz310811socks2.jpgI'M claiming a new world record for the shortest-lasting pair of socks.They were put on at 9.30am and 20 minutes later I set off to walk to a friend's house nearby in the village.When you've covered the hole with vertical lines make horizontal stitches, weaving your needle under and over the vertical lines you just made. Once the entire area has been filled up, make another six or seven running stitches (simple up-and-down stitches) in the sock outside the darning area. This will hold the stitches in place.On Tuesday morning I pulled on my pair of brand new 'essentials' socks from a high street store.

* HOLY SMOKE: My rubbish socks zz310811socks.jpg or zz310811socks2.jpg

Commentary: Making criminals out of volunteers

Suppose a Maryland politician were to advocate passing a new law that would make it a criminal offense for attorneys to volunteer more than a couple of hours of their legal services on behalf of their favorite candidates in this year's election. Would that strike you as outrageous? Surprise! That is the proposition currently being advanced by the Maryland State Board of Elections.

Who else would qualify as a professional? No one knows because the only source authority is the 1992 private letter ruling, and it only discussed graphic designers. Certainly attorneys and CPAs are professionals. This is significant because, in many political campaigns, CPAs volunteer as campaign treasurers. Other people serve as volunteer fundraisers, volunteer strategic advisers, volunteer finance committee chairpersons and volunteer office managers. Are these people also considered "professionals"? The question is important, for a violation of the election laws by a "professional" could earn the unfortunate volunteer up to six months in jail. And, as more and more volunteers are characterized as "professionals," the greater is the likelihood that the "professional exception" announced in the 1992 private letter ruling will overwhelm and entirely swallow up the clear statement of the law in Section 13- 233.The Maryland State Board of Elections has recently sought the advice of Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler on this issue. In light of the fact that the 2010 campaign is already well under way, we urge Mr. Gansler to complete his analysis quickly. The 1992 private letter ruling was incorrect and unconstitutional when issued and remains so. The attorney general should promptly acknowledge this fact and thus relieve attorneys as well as all other "professionals" in Maryland from any anxiety that they might face imprisonment if they volunteer their time this year in support of their preferred candidates for public office.Editorial Advisory Board members Elizabeth Kameen and Donna Hill Staton did not participate in this opinion.First Amendment issueMaryland's campaign laws prevent anyone from contributing more than $4,000 to any single candidate or more than $10,000 to all candidates over the course of the four-year gubernatorial election cycle. Thus, the 1992 ruling would mean that any attorney who volunteers his or her services on behalf of a candidate for more than a couple of hours each year has, over a four-year period, violated the state's election laws and is subject to being sent to jail for up to six months.In this regard, one obvious question is, "Who is a professional?" The 1992 private letter ruling suggested that a graphic designer performing voluntary work designing a campaign's literature would be considered a "professional." Recently, the Maryland State Board of Elections relied on the 1992 private letter ruling in suggesting that a person serving as a voluntary "spokesman" for a candidate would also be considered a "professional."In ruling that the contribution limits challenged in that case were constitutional, the Supreme Court explicitly stated, "The Act's contribution ceilings thus limit one important means of associating with a candidate or committee, but leave the contributor free to become a member of any political association and to assist personally in the association's efforts on behalf of candidates."End the anxietyRecently, the Board of Elections pulled out of its file drawer an unpublished private letter ruling issued by an assistant attorney general in 1992, which stated that a "professional" who provides voluntary professional services to a political candidate will be deemed to have made an in-kind contribution to that candidate. In such a situation, the value of the in-kind contribution will be computed by multiplying the number of hours spent by the professional times the professional's hourly rate.Who's a professional?The more recent Supreme Court decision in Meyer v. Grant is even more directly on point. In that case, a Colorado law made it illegal to pay people to circulate petitions seeking to amend the state constitution. Stating that such a restriction requires "exacting scrutiny," and finding the rationale for the law proffered by Colorado to be without justification, the Supreme Court overturned the Colorado law as unconstitutional.In light of the fact that it has been held unconstitutional to prohibit paying people to work for a political campaign, isn't it clear that it is equally unconstitutional to prohibit professionals from volunteering their time on behalf of a political campaign? At least in the Meyer case, Colorado had relevant legislative history that it could point to as a means of trying to justify its law; in this case, there is no legislative history on point because the restriction on professionals was entirely the creation of an assistant attorney general in 1992, and the private letter ruling contains no clue as to the basis for the ruling.In its seminal Buckley v. Valeo decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the process of electing candidates to public office is integral to the operation of the system of government established by the Constitution and that "legislative restrictions on advocacy of the election or defeat of political candidates are wholly at odds with the guarantees of the First Amendment."Now the Maryland Board of Elections seems to be determined to not only place limits on campaign contributions but in addition to place narrow restrictions on the rights of professionals to assist personally in the campaigns of their favored candidates.Even more important than the utter lack of statutory support for the proposition advanced in the 1992 private letter ruling is the obvious First Amendment issue inherent in any attempt by the State of Maryland to restrict the right of its citizens to volunteer their time and talents to assist in the election of their favorite candidates.

Editorial Advisory Board members Elizabeth Kameen and Donna Hill Staton did not participate in this opinion.

Beverly Hills Cigar Club Offers Three Great Picks for a Laid Back Holiday

With the Boys of Summer Gone, Suggestions for a Labor Day Smoke

Cigar Aficionados, the true keepers of the leaf, should lock the humidor this Labor Day weekend. Keep all that vintage tobacco "on ice" and celebrate the coming of fall humming one of Lee’s suggested favorites, a 601 Blue Label Maduro by tobacco genius Pepin Garcia and Miami's own Eric "Shorty" Espinosa. Of course it wouldn't do that cigar justice to smoke a Blue Label if you didn't drink one as well. So make sure to invite Johnny Walker along on your trip to Baja. Lee does suggest you press your cubes with AquaHydrate Mineral Water. No sense in watering Walker down with anything less.Lee encourages his fellow cigar enthusiasts, those who can easily name off their top five faves, to enjoy this year’s Labor Day with the Rocky Patel Decade. This fine Sumatra cigar was 10 years in the making. With a 95 rating from Cigar Insider, the Rocky Patel Decade is a great complement to one of Lee’s own picks, the 2008 Native Yeast Chardonnay of Iron Horse Vineyards, especially if sharing both with that special someone.For the beginning cigar enthusiast, Vin suggests you tie one on and tie one off for summer 2010 with the Alec Bradley Prensado. This full bodied, sophisticated cigar was rated a 93 by Cigar Insider. A superbly constructed Honduras cigar designed for a weekend celebration of the good life, it is box pressed, giving even the most amateur smoker that extra hint of style that will impress the ladies. Light one up and then cool down with a chilled mug of Ionizer Lager from Lightening Breweries of San Diego.BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- For this Labor Day, Vin Lee, Beverly Hills Cigar Club CEO, has pulled out his best pick of the sticks -- three top drawer smokes to go along with any level of celebration to cap off the summer. So whether you are stoking up the Santa Anas of Southern California, enjoying the cool breezes of the Boston shore or hanging with the hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, heed Lee’s advice, as these cigars are sure to make it that much cooler or that much hotter.

Note: Vin Lee, CEO of Grand Metropolitan and Beverly Hills Cigar Club, is available to provide more tips or comment.