Public Apologies

The Arctic Monkeys promoters have issued an apology to their fans for the poor organization of bars and toilets at their recent concert in Manchester, UK.

Problems are understood to have stemmed from an environmentally friendly recycling cup scheme, which "meant the remaining bar frontage could not cope with the demand for beer at the concert on Saturday.

"The queues that developed for the bars meant that people could not access certain toilets.", the statement explains.

"In response to this, overnight the cup recycling scheme was abandoned and converted to bars; therefore each of the three main bars increased in capacity by 20%.

"Additionally two completely new bars were installed overnight into two new areas and a queuing barrier system was put in place at all bars. In support of this 50 additional toilets were brought in and access to the toilet blocks was improved."

Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) got into a loud, angry dispute with a U.S. Capitol Police officer at the security checkpoint inside the entrance of the West Side of the Capitol. Shays offered a public apology for the incident and said that he wants to meet with the officer personally to reiterate how sorry he is.

Shays reportedly grabbed the officer during the dispute over whether the officer should allow a group of tourists to enter the building, said several sources. Tourists are not allowed to use the West Front entrance, but Shays was trying to bring the group through that entrance anyway. The officer refused to allow them in, and Shays then "yelled and screamed" at the officer, including using profanity, the sources said.

Shays' Public Apology

"Yesterday while trying to locate a family of constituents caught on the West Front of the Capitol during a rain storm, I interacted with a Capitol Police officer in a way I know was not appropriate.

"Although my focus was in trying to locate my constituents and get them to a dry location, I know I clearly could have handled the situation with the officer in a more professional and respectful way, and I regret I did not do so.

"During my 19 years in Congress I have grown to respect and appreciate the difficult mission performed by the men and women of the United States Capitol Police every day. They ensure members of Congress can conduct the people’s business in the safest environment possible while also attending to the needs of the millions of people who visit our nation’s Capitol every year. They deserve all of our respect and admiration and I apologize that even for a few moments my behavior did not reflect my appreciation of that fact.

"When I return to Washington on Monday, I hope to have the opportunity to meet with the officer and apologize to him in person. I take full responsibility for this incident and want to ensure it does not reflect negatively on the officer in any way."

The Sussex Archaeological Society has apologised to protesters after they allowed a controversial stunt to give the Long Man of Wilmington a sex change.

Chief Executive Office of the organization, John Manley, said: 'The Sussex Archaeological Society would like to apologize to representatives of the Pagan community, or any other individual or groups, who might have been offended by recent television filming on the Long Man of Wilmington.

'It was not the society's intention to cause offense.

'The society is proud of its curation of the Long Man.

'In future the society will consult
representatives of the Pagan community and other interested parties before sanctioning any significant activities.'

Newell Fisher was one of the protesters against the stunt and has now helped form a campaign group, Guardians of the Long Man.

As archaeological liaison officer of that group Mr Fisher said: 'We look forward to working with the Sussex Archaeological Society to help ensure the future welfare of the site.

'Our confidence in their custodianship has been restored.'

He said the protesters would continue their fight to stop the footage of the stunt being aired.

He said: 'We are absolutely determined this footage should not be shown as we feel it will encourage anti-social behavior on the site.

U.S. Sen. David Vitter again apologized to his supporters "who I have let down and disappointed with these actions from my past" but said today it is time to put the embarrassment of being on the phone list of a Washington, D.C., prostitute behind him and go back to work.

"I am completely responsible and so very, very sorry," Vitter said at a press briefing at a Metairie hotel shortly after 5 p.m. "No matter how long ago this was, I know this has hurt the relationship of trust I've enjoyed with so many of you and that I have a lot of work to do to rebuild hat. I will work every day to rebuild that trust."

Sony Corporation issued an apology today in the Manchester Evening News for its video game, Resistance:Fall of Man, that features a bloody shootout inside the Anglican cathedral, but it did not address the Church of England's demands that the company withdraw the game.

Dr David A Reeves, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, said: "It is clear to us that the connection between the congregation and the cathedral is a deeply personal and spiritual one.

"As a result, it is also clear that we have offended some of the congregation by using the cathedral in our science fiction game. It was never our intention to offend anyone in the making of this game, and we would like to apologise unreservedly to them for causing that offence, and to all parts of the community who we might also have offended."

Dr Reeves also said the firm would ensure that Manchester Cathedral was not used in any of its games again.

Apology for fake farm tools not enough

By the end of last week the Minister for Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Tarsis Kabwegyere, had begun to climb down from his high horse and say sorry for the inexcusable supply of fake farm implements to Internally Displaced Persons.

Initially, the minister had been dismissive and in fact almost abusive in rejecting the accusations levelled by the Gulu District chairman, Norbert Mao, at his ministry about the extremely inferior quality of the tools. We think it is not enough for Prof. Kabwegyere to make excuses on the grounds that "there were some mistakes committed in the procurement process".

A lawyer representing former mental health patients says his clients will fight for an apology over traumatic experiences received while in care.

Hundreds of patients who spent time in state psychiatric institutions from the 1940s until 1992 have told their stories to a Confidential Forum set up by the Government.

On Thursday, the Government released the final report of the forum, set up three years ago to help those in psychiatric institutions come to terms with their experiences.

The final report paints a bleak picture, detailing patients' fear, humiliation, beatings, sexual misconduct, abuse and over-medication. They talked of rape, physical and mental abuse, bullying and fear while in care.

Most were at places such as Kingseat and Cherry Farm, and had no choice over their admission or treatment.

Lawyer Roger Chapman represents more than 200 former patients. He says though the forum's role was to focus on reconciliation rather than truth, blame, or compensation, many of his clients still want the abuse properly recognised.

"They still want acknowledgement that what they say happened did happen, and they want the Government and health agencies to accept responsibility for it. Until that happens, their only choice is to continue with litigation."

Mr Chapman says the stories of abuse relayed to the forum were shocking but nothing he has not heard before.

Forum chairman Judge Patrick Mahony says there were some positive stories about the care people received, but most were bleak. He says a significant number of patients got shock treatment, without their consent.
Government holds back on apology

The Government has welcomed the report and is to extend support services to all former patients in state care during the period.

However, Health Minister Pete Hodgson says legal action limits what can be said about an apology or compensation.

Mr Hodgson says the Government acknowledges the stories of the former in- patients.

The former Spice Girl won undisclosed libel damages Monday as a result of an article published in Star magazine that claimed the crew of Beckham’s NBC reality program called her “full of herself and not very nice.”

The article, which ran in April, called the new Los Angeles import “picky, demanding, and rude” and described her as waltzing “round with her icy attitude”.

Beckham’s camp was quik to retaliate to the offending piece by suing the mag, and her lawyer Gerrard Tyrrell called the story “untrue and unfounded.” Not only was the British stunner not contacted by the magazine prior to publication, but filming of the show centering on the Beckhams big move to L.A. had not even begun by the time the story ran, according to Tyrrell. “The story was therefore completely inaccurate and defamatory of Ms Beckham,” Tyrrell said.

Northern & Shell PLC, which publishes the magazine, apologized and agreed to pay Beckham's legal fees and "substantial" damages.

Cameron Diaz, who was recently in Peru to record a TV program about local culture, has apologized for carrying a bag with a political slogan that was offensive to the Peruvian people.
The Shrek star was spotted at the historical Machu Picchu site sporting a green bag with a red Chinese star and the slogan "serve the people" written in Chinese.
This appearance has prompted criticism from Pablo Rojas, a prominent local human rights activist. The slogan evokes memories of the 1980s and 90s Peruvian war against Maoist rebels, during which about 69,000 people died.
Diaz says she was not aware of the slogan's hurtful nature.
"I sincerely apologize to anyone I may have inadvertently offended," the actress said in a statement.

John McCain's presidential campaign has apologized to Republican rival Mitt Romney for comments about the Mormon church allegedly made by a volunteer earlier this year.

The incident dates to a meeting of Iowa Republican activists in April, where McCain's Warren County chairman, Chad Workman, is alleged to have made negative comments about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Mormon faith. Romney is a Mormon.

A participant at the meeting said Workman questioned whether Mormons were Christians, and he referenced an article alleging that the Mormon church supports the Islamic militant group Hamas. The participant talked to The Associated Press on Friday on condition of anonymity because he is involved in Iowa politics and wanted to protect his identity.

In response to a question on whether Mormon women were more likely to be stay-at-home mothers, the participant said Workman associated the treatment of Mormon women with the Taliban.