Sunday, October 31, 2010
TODAY'S TOP TIP
TEENAGERS : Make sure your dad doesn't find out you've been watching his porn films by not whistling the theme tune to Emmanuelle at the dinner table.
Stewart rally's point -- don't divide us
At the end of a bitter political season too often hijacked by the extremes, the Rally to Restore Sanity was a heartening reaffirmation of American humor, smarts and civility.
This year's previous political rallies on the Washington mall -- Glenn Beck's "Restore Honor" rally and the labor/liberal corollary "One Nation" rally emceed by Ed Schultz -- seemed like grim partisan marches compared to the optimism of this overflowing crowd composed of Americans from the sensible center.
While Beck asked his supporters not to bring signs (presumably for fear of the distractions they might create) and Schultz's rally signs were mostly printed up by unions and activist groups, the signs at the Restore Sanity rally were clearly homemade. And like hosts Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, they used satire to comment on the political insanity that surrounds us. Among the signs on display were :
The content from the stage was essentially a comedy show mixed with musical guests.
The message was communicated mostly in "show don't tell" sketches. In one, Yusuf Islam, the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens, came out to play the hippie anthem "Peace Train," interrupted by Ozzy Osbourne playing "Crazy Train" -- culminating with the O'Jays "Soul Train," a train we can all get on board.
But the crowd was making a fairly consistent, if irreverent, political statement -- from the couple who drove up from Florida with a sign that quoted from a '70s pop song: "Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, here I am -- stuck in the middle with you," to a sign that read, "What do we want? Moderation! When do we want it? In a reasonable timeframe!"
Another woman held a sign that quoted legendary journalist Edward R. Murrow: "We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason."
The Stewart/Colbert dueling rallies actually had their very own iPhone/iPad application. So what did this politically motivated piece of mobile software do?
The official iTunes site says "The official Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert-approved app of the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear.
Download it before you board the sanity bus and/or fear wagon to D.C. Features include a map of the Rally site, links to Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare, a portal to upload photos to the official Rally photostream and an exclusive welcome message from Jon and Stephen themselves!"
MUST HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTING TO THOSE WHO ' CREATED ' THE BOMB SCARES DURING THE WEEK ......... " WHAT ! ..... TENS OF THOUSANDS STILL TURNED UP IN WASHINGTON ???? , DON'T THESE PEOPLE KNOW HOW HARD WE WORKED TO ARRANGE THIS SCARE TO COINCIDE WITH THE MID-TERM ELECTIONS ? "
This year's previous political rallies on the Washington mall -- Glenn Beck's "Restore Honor" rally and the labor/liberal corollary "One Nation" rally emceed by Ed Schultz -- seemed like grim partisan marches compared to the optimism of this overflowing crowd composed of Americans from the sensible center.
While Beck asked his supporters not to bring signs (presumably for fear of the distractions they might create) and Schultz's rally signs were mostly printed up by unions and activist groups, the signs at the Restore Sanity rally were clearly homemade. And like hosts Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, they used satire to comment on the political insanity that surrounds us. Among the signs on display were :
The content from the stage was essentially a comedy show mixed with musical guests.
The message was communicated mostly in "show don't tell" sketches. In one, Yusuf Islam, the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens, came out to play the hippie anthem "Peace Train," interrupted by Ozzy Osbourne playing "Crazy Train" -- culminating with the O'Jays "Soul Train," a train we can all get on board.
But the crowd was making a fairly consistent, if irreverent, political statement -- from the couple who drove up from Florida with a sign that quoted from a '70s pop song: "Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, here I am -- stuck in the middle with you," to a sign that read, "What do we want? Moderation! When do we want it? In a reasonable timeframe!"
Another woman held a sign that quoted legendary journalist Edward R. Murrow: "We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason."The Stewart/Colbert dueling rallies actually had their very own iPhone/iPad application. So what did this politically motivated piece of mobile software do?
The official iTunes site says "The official Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert-approved app of the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear.
Download it before you board the sanity bus and/or fear wagon to D.C. Features include a map of the Rally site, links to Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare, a portal to upload photos to the official Rally photostream and an exclusive welcome message from Jon and Stephen themselves!"
MUST HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTING TO THOSE WHO ' CREATED ' THE BOMB SCARES DURING THE WEEK ......... " WHAT ! ..... TENS OF THOUSANDS STILL TURNED UP IN WASHINGTON ???? , DON'T THESE PEOPLE KNOW HOW HARD WE WORKED TO ARRANGE THIS SCARE TO COINCIDE WITH THE MID-TERM ELECTIONS ? "
Fainting kitten video goes viral on YouTube
These aren't your average furry felines: they are afflicted with myotonia congenita, otherwise known as "fainting goat" syndrome.
At the slightest sound, the kittens respond by collapsing and falling into a rigid paralysis, which lasts about a minute, before they return to normal, according to their owners in a descriptive post that accompanies the video.
The Internet footage shows the young kittens as they navigate their environment unable to control themselves and flipping over on to the floor every few seconds. In the video the pair are seen trying to explore but then they suddenly hurl themselves to the ground. They are unable to run or jump but otherwise appeared normal.
According to vet, Pete Wedderburn, the disease is very rare and he has never come across this himself. "It’s a genetic disorder hence the pair of them in the same litter having it,’ he added.‘The condition causes stiffness in the esophagus which makes if difficult for the animals to eat or breath, It causes muscle cells to have too much sodium but not enough chloride. This leads to abnormal repetitive electrical signals from the brain, such as those associated with being startled.
Unfortunately there really isn’t much that can be done for animals with this condition, experts say.
One of the kittens, the black and white kitten, Spike, died on 27th October from respiratory failure, it says in the description on YouTube. Reports that Charlie has also succumbed to the disease are false say the kittens owners.
At the slightest sound, the kittens respond by collapsing and falling into a rigid paralysis, which lasts about a minute, before they return to normal, according to their owners in a descriptive post that accompanies the video.
The Internet footage shows the young kittens as they navigate their environment unable to control themselves and flipping over on to the floor every few seconds. In the video the pair are seen trying to explore but then they suddenly hurl themselves to the ground. They are unable to run or jump but otherwise appeared normal.
According to vet, Pete Wedderburn, the disease is very rare and he has never come across this himself. "It’s a genetic disorder hence the pair of them in the same litter having it,’ he added.‘The condition causes stiffness in the esophagus which makes if difficult for the animals to eat or breath, It causes muscle cells to have too much sodium but not enough chloride. This leads to abnormal repetitive electrical signals from the brain, such as those associated with being startled.
Unfortunately there really isn’t much that can be done for animals with this condition, experts say.
One of the kittens, the black and white kitten, Spike, died on 27th October from respiratory failure, it says in the description on YouTube. Reports that Charlie has also succumbed to the disease are false say the kittens owners.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Music-sharing site LimeWire shuts down
File-sharing company LimeWire was shut down after a US federal judge issued an injunction against the company on October 26.
Judge Kimba Wood, of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, ordered LimeWire to cease their searching, downloading, uploading, file trading and file distribution functions online.
The main page of the LimeWire website now has a message stating: “This is an official notice that LimeWire is under a court-ordered injunction to stop distributing and supporting its file-sharing software. Downloading or sharing copyrighted content without authorization is illegal.”
The business was directed to inform users of the software, employees, principals and other stakeholders of the court’s decision.
A company spokeswoman said this does not mean that LimeWire is shutting down completely; just that it cannot distribute or support its P2P software.
Judge Kimba Wood, of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, ordered LimeWire to cease their searching, downloading, uploading, file trading and file distribution functions online.
The business was directed to inform users of the software, employees, principals and other stakeholders of the court’s decision.
A company spokeswoman said this does not mean that LimeWire is shutting down completely; just that it cannot distribute or support its P2P software.
GOOGLE IDIOCY AT IT AGAIN
Google Street View revealed UK battered women's refuge address
In the latest outrage against Google Street View, a UK Member of Parliament said the exposure of a secret refuge location for battered women now puts those women at risk.
Conservative MP Mark Lancaster claimed Google Street View compromised the security of the refuge building when it published the full address with a picture of the exterior, and when asked to remove it, they ignored requests.
Lancaster said: "[The refuge's] anonymity is crucial to the organization and to the wellbeing of the women and children housed inside.
"Only once women have called the emergency number and a pickup point has been agreed do they find out where the hostel is.
"Imagine their great concern when, on entering the name of the organization in Google, they see a picture of the building the refuge uses and its address appears on the search engine".
Lancaster said Google ignored the requests from the refuge to remove the information from Street View.
In the latest outrage against Google Street View, a UK Member of Parliament said the exposure of a secret refuge location for battered women now puts those women at risk.
Conservative MP Mark Lancaster claimed Google Street View compromised the security of the refuge building when it published the full address with a picture of the exterior, and when asked to remove it, they ignored requests.
Lancaster said: "[The refuge's] anonymity is crucial to the organization and to the wellbeing of the women and children housed inside.
"Only once women have called the emergency number and a pickup point has been agreed do they find out where the hostel is.
"Imagine their great concern when, on entering the name of the organization in Google, they see a picture of the building the refuge uses and its address appears on the search engine".
Lancaster said Google ignored the requests from the refuge to remove the information from Street View.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Foreign Affairs Minister's young daughter dies in hospital
The youngest daughter of Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin, has died today.
Seven-year-old Léana Martin passed away peacefully at Great Ormonde Street Hospital in London this afternoon, after a short illness.
She was the youngest of four children - two sons and two daughters - aged between seven and 15.
Her parents and family were at her bedside.
Micheál and Mary Martin say they are heartbroken at the loss of their daughter, describing her as "a beautiful light" in their lives.
My condolences to the family
Seven-year-old Léana Martin passed away peacefully at Great Ormonde Street Hospital in London this afternoon, after a short illness.
She was the youngest of four children - two sons and two daughters - aged between seven and 15.
Her parents and family were at her bedside.
Micheál and Mary Martin say they are heartbroken at the loss of their daughter, describing her as "a beautiful light" in their lives.
My condolences to the family
NEW SERIES FOR ALL YOU FREAKS ..............
If you like Dexter, Breaking Bad, Damages or Madmen ........ well, there's a new Sheriff in town ....... and he's called Rick Grimes [not related to Jedward]
"The Walking Dead" is a good watch, but a hard one.
A very hard one.
A faithful adaptation of the popular comic-book series, "The Walking Dead" drops us into a world overrun by aggressive, flesh-eating zombies who now threaten the few pockets of living humans that survived.
That may sound like a familiar setup to fans of zombie epics like "Dawn of the Dead." Don't be fooled. "The Walking Dead" is no campy horror flick full of winks, parody and self-aware excess.
Compared to this series, "Dawn of the Dead" looks like "Touched by an Angel."
In several ways, "The Walking Dead" complements other shows in AMC's growing and admirable stable of first-class television. It's a serious drama tackling a serious subject with terribly flawed characters and deeply dark undertones.
But even "Breaking Bad," in which the main character becomes an increasingly cold drug dealer, doesn't suggest the levels of moral bankruptcy that "The Walking Dead" finds in much of the human race.
Without giving the specifics away, it's safe to say the behavior of the survivors at times becomes more reprehensible than that of the zombies, who exist for the sole purpose of devouring human flesh and creating more zombies.
Like other AMC series, "The Walking Dead" also takes its time, both in setting up the premise and in playing out specific scenes.
It begins with Deputy Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), who has been wounded in a wild shootout and hospitalized, awaking from semi-consciousness to find he is alone.
Though still dazed from pain, a gunshot wound and medication, he stumbles out into a world that seems to consist entirely of mutilated corpses.
We see all this through his eyes, and the disorienting terror grows geometrically as he slowly grasps that he is it. At this moment, in this place, there is no one else.
That doesn't last forever. But finding other survivors hardly turns the zombie tide, and viewers of "The Walking Dead" should prepare themselves for a long struggle.
Based on the first two episodes, those will be beautifully written, acted and filmed. Like its AMC siblings, it's a series with something to say.
Unlike "Mad Men," however, or even "Rubicon," "The Walking Dead" offers no relief. No humor, no side moments that release a little of the pressure.
Given the subject and the situation - apocalypse that could end life as we know it - that makes sense. It also makes the show relentless, a feeling not lessened by periodic bursts of extreme violence and menacing dialogue.
Fans of the comic book and first-rate psycho-horror may form a large enough audience to make this a hit. Those not in those groups may want to start by taking a deep breath.
Click here for episode 1 - > http://tvshack.cc/tv/The_Walking_Dead/season_1/episode_1/
"The Walking Dead" is a good watch, but a hard one.A very hard one.
A faithful adaptation of the popular comic-book series, "The Walking Dead" drops us into a world overrun by aggressive, flesh-eating zombies who now threaten the few pockets of living humans that survived.
That may sound like a familiar setup to fans of zombie epics like "Dawn of the Dead." Don't be fooled. "The Walking Dead" is no campy horror flick full of winks, parody and self-aware excess.
Compared to this series, "Dawn of the Dead" looks like "Touched by an Angel."
In several ways, "The Walking Dead" complements other shows in AMC's growing and admirable stable of first-class television. It's a serious drama tackling a serious subject with terribly flawed characters and deeply dark undertones.
But even "Breaking Bad," in which the main character becomes an increasingly cold drug dealer, doesn't suggest the levels of moral bankruptcy that "The Walking Dead" finds in much of the human race.
Without giving the specifics away, it's safe to say the behavior of the survivors at times becomes more reprehensible than that of the zombies, who exist for the sole purpose of devouring human flesh and creating more zombies.
Like other AMC series, "The Walking Dead" also takes its time, both in setting up the premise and in playing out specific scenes.
It begins with Deputy Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), who has been wounded in a wild shootout and hospitalized, awaking from semi-consciousness to find he is alone.
Though still dazed from pain, a gunshot wound and medication, he stumbles out into a world that seems to consist entirely of mutilated corpses.
We see all this through his eyes, and the disorienting terror grows geometrically as he slowly grasps that he is it. At this moment, in this place, there is no one else.
That doesn't last forever. But finding other survivors hardly turns the zombie tide, and viewers of "The Walking Dead" should prepare themselves for a long struggle.
Based on the first two episodes, those will be beautifully written, acted and filmed. Like its AMC siblings, it's a series with something to say.
Unlike "Mad Men," however, or even "Rubicon," "The Walking Dead" offers no relief. No humor, no side moments that release a little of the pressure.
Given the subject and the situation - apocalypse that could end life as we know it - that makes sense. It also makes the show relentless, a feeling not lessened by periodic bursts of extreme violence and menacing dialogue.
Fans of the comic book and first-rate psycho-horror may form a large enough audience to make this a hit. Those not in those groups may want to start by taking a deep breath.
Click here for episode 1 - > http://tvshack.cc/tv/The_Walking_Dead/season_1/episode_1/
James MacArthur, 'Hawaii Five-O's' Danno, dies at age of 72 in Florida
The original Danno has booked out.
James MacArthur, who played Detective Daniel "Danno" Williams for almost all of the original television series "Hawaii Five-O" and was best known for a line he never spoke, died Thursday in Florida of "natural causes."
MacArthur, adopted son of the famous actress Helen Hayes and her playwright husband Charles MacArthur, grew up among screen and literary stars. Regular guests at the MacArthur home in Nyack included members of the Marx Brothers and the Algonquin Round Table, and his godmother was Lillian Gish.
He dropped out of Harvard in his sophomore year to pursue acting and he appeared in hundreds of movie, television and regional stage roles over the years.
He starred in one play on Broadway, opposite Jane Fonda for "Invitation to a March" in 1960.
He was best known, however, for "Book 'em, Danno," the signature line of his "Hawaii Five-O" partner Steve McGarret, played by Jack Lord.
That satisfying directive often closed "Hawaii Five-O" episodes, just before the immortal theme song kicked in.
Steve and Danno became one of television’s all-time best-known cop teams during the remarkably long run of the show, 1968-1980. MacArthur left before the final season, saying the writing had become stale and no longer challenged him as an actor.
MacArthur, adopted son of the famous actress Helen Hayes and her playwright husband Charles MacArthur, grew up among screen and literary stars. Regular guests at the MacArthur home in Nyack included members of the Marx Brothers and the Algonquin Round Table, and his godmother was Lillian Gish.
He dropped out of Harvard in his sophomore year to pursue acting and he appeared in hundreds of movie, television and regional stage roles over the years.
He starred in one play on Broadway, opposite Jane Fonda for "Invitation to a March" in 1960.
He was best known, however, for "Book 'em, Danno," the signature line of his "Hawaii Five-O" partner Steve McGarret, played by Jack Lord.
That satisfying directive often closed "Hawaii Five-O" episodes, just before the immortal theme song kicked in.
Steve and Danno became one of television’s all-time best-known cop teams during the remarkably long run of the show, 1968-1980. MacArthur left before the final season, saying the writing had become stale and no longer challenged him as an actor.
Karl Rove pulls pin on Sarah Palin for US president
SARAH Palin has been rebuffed as a candidate for president at a senior level of the Republican Party.
Former White House strategist Karl Rove has said she lacks "gravitas".
The former Republican vice-presidential candidate confirmed yesterday that she would challenge President Barack Obama in 2012 "if there's nobody else to do it".
Ms Palin has been weighing up her future as Mr Obama's Democratic Party faces a potential disaster in Tuesday's mid-term elections.
Over the past month she has campaigned for Republican candidates backed by the ultra-conservative Tea Party movement, from which she draws much encouragement for a White House bid.
Mr Rove cast doubt on Ms Palin's suitability, singling out the former Alaskan governor's appearance in a reality TV show filmed in her home state.
"I am not certain how that fits in the American calculus of 'that helps me see you in the Oval Office'," Mr Rove told The Daily Telegraph of London.
He pointed to an ad for her new show in which she says: "I'd rather be doing this than (be) in some stuffy old political office."
Mr Rove served as a senior adviser to former president George W. Bush and is credited as the key strategist behind his election victories.
He remains a powerful figure in the conservative Republican Party, which expects to do well in mid-term elections by winning back a majority in the House of Representatives, and possibly in the Senate.
Like Ms Palin, Mr Rove is employed on Fox News as a political commentator, but his main preoccupation is to rebuild the Republican Party.
Former White House strategist Karl Rove has said she lacks "gravitas".
The former Republican vice-presidential candidate confirmed yesterday that she would challenge President Barack Obama in 2012 "if there's nobody else to do it".
Ms Palin has been weighing up her future as Mr Obama's Democratic Party faces a potential disaster in Tuesday's mid-term elections.
Over the past month she has campaigned for Republican candidates backed by the ultra-conservative Tea Party movement, from which she draws much encouragement for a White House bid.
Mr Rove cast doubt on Ms Palin's suitability, singling out the former Alaskan governor's appearance in a reality TV show filmed in her home state.
 |
| Sarah Palin keeping an eye on Russia for us. |
"I am not certain how that fits in the American calculus of 'that helps me see you in the Oval Office'," Mr Rove told The Daily Telegraph of London.
He pointed to an ad for her new show in which she says: "I'd rather be doing this than (be) in some stuffy old political office."
Mr Rove served as a senior adviser to former president George W. Bush and is credited as the key strategist behind his election victories.
He remains a powerful figure in the conservative Republican Party, which expects to do well in mid-term elections by winning back a majority in the House of Representatives, and possibly in the Senate.
Like Ms Palin, Mr Rove is employed on Fox News as a political commentator, but his main preoccupation is to rebuild the Republican Party.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
IS THERE ANY QUALITY TELEVISION LEFT ?
I don't watch the Telly Box much anymore, it is a broken medium much the same as Journalism. It has been dumbed down to feed the masses.
When a few people own and run the entire news and entertainment industry, the result is mediocrity ....... hour after boring hour of getting the viewing public to create their own entertainment by being the star on their own television show. Add a few lights, sprinkle around a few dancers and voila ....... the cheapest show with the highest profit margin available. You only have to pay 10% of the cast, the cameramen, the lighting engineers, the director ...... and of course the judges ......... the rest turn up for free, allow themselves to be humiliated [for the publics entertainment] and disappointed ........ and this goes on and on relentlessly, week after week ....... month after month ...... It's a horror show.
Thank God that there is still some quality TV viewing out there for those that I like to call ' alive '. The walking dead can have their mind numbing drivel, they can order in Pizza every weekend and sit there like zombies as Dermot or Davina or Anton Dec teases them them with some idiot or other, " OMG, will he ? " .... " keep watching folks, you'll find out in a few months ".
The Daily Show is one of the few TV shows I watch anymore. I realize that it is a comedy show but I learn more from watching it than I do from watching actual news channels. The mixture of entertainment and real news, delivered by an unbiased, educated and enquiring mind like John Stewart's is a joy to watch. Many republicans will say that Stewart is very pro democratic, but the fact is that no side gets a free ride on The Daily Show.
Here's a clip of Barack Obama on yesterdays show
It says alot about the esteem that John Steward is held in that a sitting President is willing to be grilled on his show .............. " You ran on very high rhetoric, hope and change, and the Democrats this year seemed to be running on 'Please, baby, one more chance,' " said talk show host Jon Stewart last night, setting the tone for his interview with President Barack Obama.
Stewart asked, " Are you disappointed in how it's gone ? Are you surprised that other people, even your base, can be disappointed ..... ?"
Obama answered that on taking office his advisers, looking at what was happening in the economy, warned him, "Enjoy this now because two years from now folks are going to be frustrated." And that is what has happened, Obama said.
With unemployment running at 9.6 percent, housing values crashing, and the weak but slowly growing economy failing to replace the 8 million lost jobs, "folks are going to be frustrated." Obama made it clear that he was not surprised.
The president himself took a remarkably positive view of his term thus far.
" I look over the last 18 months and I say we prevented the second great depression, we've stabilized the economy, an economy that was shrinking is now growing, we've had nine months of consecutive private sector job growth, we have passed historic health care reform, historic financial regulatory reform, we have done things that some folks don't even know about .... "
Stewart interjected with mock surprise, " What have you done that we don't know about ?" Then he cut to a commercial break. The bell had been rung on the opening round.
On returning, Stewart went right back on the offensive, pointing out that the Democrats did not seem to be running on Obama's list of accomplishments. The president may be proud but many Democrats don't seem to share his sense of pride. Stewart pointed out that a commercial for the midterm elections running in West Virginia shows a fellow taking a rifle and shooting the cap and trade bill; the fellow's a Democrat !
" Is the difficulty that you have here the distance between what you ran on and what you delivered ? You ran with such, if I may, audacity. So much of what you said was, uh, great leaders lead . . . yet legislatively it has felt timid at times . . . (even) I am not sure what you want out of the health care bill," Stewart continued.
Obama profoundly disagreed. " I don't want to lump you in with a lot of other pundits," he said, and then went on to do just that by delivering a defence of the health care bill that answered the attacks of media pundits everywhere.
" You've got 30 million people who are going to get health insurance as a consequence of this, you've got a patient's bill of rights that makes sure that insurance companies can't drop you when you get sick if you've been paying premiums, makes sure there aren't lifetime limits, makes sure that kids . . . can stay on their parent's health insurance until they are 26, and cuts the deficit by over a trillion dollars."
Obama said the problem is that even though he got 90 percent of what he wanted, the focus is on the 10 percent he didn't.
But Stewart held to his position saying,
" I don't mean to lump you in with other presidents." [laughter] . . . You ran on the idea that this system needed basic reform. It feels like some of the reforms that have passed, like health care, have been done in a very political manner that has papered over a foundation that is corrupt."
" That I think is fair," Obama replied, and went on to point out that "over the past two years in an emergency situation our basic attitude was 'we've got to get some things done, in some cases quickly.' Under these restrictive demands, we worked with the process rather than transforming it. There's no doubt that that frustrated folk. It frustrates me."
He said that as president he would "love not to have a sixty vote requirement that is not in the constitution but is in the Senate rules right now . . . I can't get a deputy secretary of treasury in the middle of a financial crisis because somebody's holding it up . . . filibustering the appointment."
Obama made it very clear that there are many things in the political process that he would like to see changed and the filibuster rules are among those at the top of his list.
DON'T FORGET THAT JOHN STEWART'S 'RALLY TO RESTORE SANITY' [ALONG WITH STEPHEN COLBERT'S 'MARCH TO KEEP FEAR ALIVE'] ARE TAKING PLACE IN WASHINGTON DC ON THE 30th OF THE MONTH.
When a few people own and run the entire news and entertainment industry, the result is mediocrity ....... hour after boring hour of getting the viewing public to create their own entertainment by being the star on their own television show. Add a few lights, sprinkle around a few dancers and voila ....... the cheapest show with the highest profit margin available. You only have to pay 10% of the cast, the cameramen, the lighting engineers, the director ...... and of course the judges ......... the rest turn up for free, allow themselves to be humiliated [for the publics entertainment] and disappointed ........ and this goes on and on relentlessly, week after week ....... month after month ...... It's a horror show.
Thank God that there is still some quality TV viewing out there for those that I like to call ' alive '. The walking dead can have their mind numbing drivel, they can order in Pizza every weekend and sit there like zombies as Dermot or Davina or Anton Dec teases them them with some idiot or other, " OMG, will he ? " .... " keep watching folks, you'll find out in a few months ".
The Daily Show is one of the few TV shows I watch anymore. I realize that it is a comedy show but I learn more from watching it than I do from watching actual news channels. The mixture of entertainment and real news, delivered by an unbiased, educated and enquiring mind like John Stewart's is a joy to watch. Many republicans will say that Stewart is very pro democratic, but the fact is that no side gets a free ride on The Daily Show.
Here's a clip of Barack Obama on yesterdays show
It says alot about the esteem that John Steward is held in that a sitting President is willing to be grilled on his show .............. " You ran on very high rhetoric, hope and change, and the Democrats this year seemed to be running on 'Please, baby, one more chance,' " said talk show host Jon Stewart last night, setting the tone for his interview with President Barack Obama.
Stewart asked, " Are you disappointed in how it's gone ? Are you surprised that other people, even your base, can be disappointed ..... ?"
Obama answered that on taking office his advisers, looking at what was happening in the economy, warned him, "Enjoy this now because two years from now folks are going to be frustrated." And that is what has happened, Obama said.
With unemployment running at 9.6 percent, housing values crashing, and the weak but slowly growing economy failing to replace the 8 million lost jobs, "folks are going to be frustrated." Obama made it clear that he was not surprised.
The president himself took a remarkably positive view of his term thus far.
" I look over the last 18 months and I say we prevented the second great depression, we've stabilized the economy, an economy that was shrinking is now growing, we've had nine months of consecutive private sector job growth, we have passed historic health care reform, historic financial regulatory reform, we have done things that some folks don't even know about .... "
Stewart interjected with mock surprise, " What have you done that we don't know about ?" Then he cut to a commercial break. The bell had been rung on the opening round.
On returning, Stewart went right back on the offensive, pointing out that the Democrats did not seem to be running on Obama's list of accomplishments. The president may be proud but many Democrats don't seem to share his sense of pride. Stewart pointed out that a commercial for the midterm elections running in West Virginia shows a fellow taking a rifle and shooting the cap and trade bill; the fellow's a Democrat !
" Is the difficulty that you have here the distance between what you ran on and what you delivered ? You ran with such, if I may, audacity. So much of what you said was, uh, great leaders lead . . . yet legislatively it has felt timid at times . . . (even) I am not sure what you want out of the health care bill," Stewart continued.
Obama profoundly disagreed. " I don't want to lump you in with a lot of other pundits," he said, and then went on to do just that by delivering a defence of the health care bill that answered the attacks of media pundits everywhere.
" You've got 30 million people who are going to get health insurance as a consequence of this, you've got a patient's bill of rights that makes sure that insurance companies can't drop you when you get sick if you've been paying premiums, makes sure there aren't lifetime limits, makes sure that kids . . . can stay on their parent's health insurance until they are 26, and cuts the deficit by over a trillion dollars."
Obama said the problem is that even though he got 90 percent of what he wanted, the focus is on the 10 percent he didn't.
But Stewart held to his position saying,
" I don't mean to lump you in with other presidents." [laughter] . . . You ran on the idea that this system needed basic reform. It feels like some of the reforms that have passed, like health care, have been done in a very political manner that has papered over a foundation that is corrupt."
" That I think is fair," Obama replied, and went on to point out that "over the past two years in an emergency situation our basic attitude was 'we've got to get some things done, in some cases quickly.' Under these restrictive demands, we worked with the process rather than transforming it. There's no doubt that that frustrated folk. It frustrates me."
He said that as president he would "love not to have a sixty vote requirement that is not in the constitution but is in the Senate rules right now . . . I can't get a deputy secretary of treasury in the middle of a financial crisis because somebody's holding it up . . . filibustering the appointment."
Obama made it very clear that there are many things in the political process that he would like to see changed and the filibuster rules are among those at the top of his list.
DON'T FORGET THAT JOHN STEWART'S 'RALLY TO RESTORE SANITY' [ALONG WITH STEPHEN COLBERT'S 'MARCH TO KEEP FEAR ALIVE'] ARE TAKING PLACE IN WASHINGTON DC ON THE 30th OF THE MONTH.
Awkward family photos may become a TV show
Awkward family photos are something most people can identify with, and a couple of men in the U.S. believe that is one of the reasons for the success of their web site and book – and possibly a new TV show.
Doug Chernack and Mike Bender came up with the idea of posting comical family photos online in May 2009, and were amazed at how quickly it became popular.
The Awkward Family Photos website is now visited by people all over the world.
“The idea came about when Mike was visiting his parent's house and noticed an awkward vacation photo that his mom had hung in their house” said Doug. “He and I were at lunch a few days later and when he told me about the photo. I told him that I had plenty of pictures like that too.
“It dawned on us that if we had these types of photos, everybody must have them so we set out to create a community where people could feel comfortable submitting their own uncomfortable family photos.”
They simply hoped that friends would let others know and they would get a few submissions to keep their site going.
They went from a few hits a day to more than a million during the first week.
Because they were receiving so many pet photos, Awkward Family Pet Photos was launched in July, 2010.
If this phenomenon does in fact reach our screens, expect alot of ' staged ' awkward photos is my guess.
Doug Chernack and Mike Bender came up with the idea of posting comical family photos online in May 2009, and were amazed at how quickly it became popular.
The Awkward Family Photos website is now visited by people all over the world.“The idea came about when Mike was visiting his parent's house and noticed an awkward vacation photo that his mom had hung in their house” said Doug. “He and I were at lunch a few days later and when he told me about the photo. I told him that I had plenty of pictures like that too.
“It dawned on us that if we had these types of photos, everybody must have them so we set out to create a community where people could feel comfortable submitting their own uncomfortable family photos.”
They simply hoped that friends would let others know and they would get a few submissions to keep their site going.
They went from a few hits a day to more than a million during the first week.
If this phenomenon does in fact reach our screens, expect alot of ' staged ' awkward photos is my guess.
TODAYS JOKE
A man has a big win on the dogs, treats himself to a new pair ofcrocodile leather shoes ...... well proud, he wears them home to show off to his wife ..........
He walks in, she doesnt take a blind bit of notice ..... He says to her ....... "here love, notice anything ? " ......his wife says " not now dear, my heads pounding.."
Not put off.. he strips off.. follows her to the kitchen, stark naked, apart from the pair of crocodile skin shoes ..... he says to his missus ..... " now ...... notice anything ? "
She looks up and says.. " It's droopy "
He says ...... "yes, its looking at my new farking crocodile skin shoes ! "
" Well " she says, " you should have bought yourself a new hat then "
I'll get me coat
We see dead people: paranormal activity in Cork
The World Ghost Convention, celebrating its 10th birthday, attracts both sceptics and true believers.
THERE AREN’T too many conferences where a shaman, a white witch and a medium get to share a stage in a haunted 19th century gaol. Yet, the World Ghost Convention, which this year celebrates its 10th birthday, is no ordinary get-together.
The convention was established to allow members of the public to share their supernatural experiences in an understanding setting. What is fascinating about it though, besides the line-up, is the way in which it has been accepted by the mainstream in Cork since its inception. Every year for instance, the Lord Mayor launches the convention (last year, Lord Mayor Dara Murphy brought his family along), and the attendees are drawn from a wide cross-section of society – from clergy to trainee doctors.
Numbers are limited to 150 because of insurance issues, yet the organisers claim they could accommodate a multiple of this every year. In Cork then, for one night only, the paranormal becomes very normal.
The night begins with tea and cakes, after which various speakers take to the stage, including UCC folklorist Dr Margaret Humphreys, who will lead a discussion entitled “Twilight World Beyond the Grave”, as well as contributions from Helen Barrett, the so-called “white witch of the Isles”.
“After it ends we have a question and answers session whereby the audience can talk to the panel,” says Cooke. “You’d be amazed what questions are sent forth. It finishes around midnight, and it is a long night of sharing, listening and experiencing.”
The 10th annual World Ghost Convention takes place on Friday night in Cork City Gaol. Tickets €25. See irishghostfestival@yahoo.com or call 086-394 6382
THERE AREN’T too many conferences where a shaman, a white witch and a medium get to share a stage in a haunted 19th century gaol. Yet, the World Ghost Convention, which this year celebrates its 10th birthday, is no ordinary get-together.
The convention was established to allow members of the public to share their supernatural experiences in an understanding setting. What is fascinating about it though, besides the line-up, is the way in which it has been accepted by the mainstream in Cork since its inception. Every year for instance, the Lord Mayor launches the convention (last year, Lord Mayor Dara Murphy brought his family along), and the attendees are drawn from a wide cross-section of society – from clergy to trainee doctors.
Numbers are limited to 150 because of insurance issues, yet the organisers claim they could accommodate a multiple of this every year. In Cork then, for one night only, the paranormal becomes very normal.
The night begins with tea and cakes, after which various speakers take to the stage, including UCC folklorist Dr Margaret Humphreys, who will lead a discussion entitled “Twilight World Beyond the Grave”, as well as contributions from Helen Barrett, the so-called “white witch of the Isles”.
“After it ends we have a question and answers session whereby the audience can talk to the panel,” says Cooke. “You’d be amazed what questions are sent forth. It finishes around midnight, and it is a long night of sharing, listening and experiencing.”
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
MY TV MEMORIES
QUICKSILVER with Bunny Carr
YOU COULD WALK AWAY WITH TEN PUNTS IF YOU KNEW YOUR STUFF.
YOU COULD WALK AWAY WITH TEN PUNTS IF YOU KNEW YOUR STUFF.
BELIEVE IT OR DONT
HERE IS AN EARLY PHOTO OF JOHN & EDWARD GRIMES [ JEDWARD ] BEFORE THE NAME CHANGE
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| Peter and Rick Grimes |
TODAYS JOKE
I brought a bird home from the nightclub last night ......... We were just about to get into bed when a loud voice boomed out .............
" I home that's not the fat bitch from last week "
" Who said that ? " the bird said
" It's ok " I said, " It's one of those memory foam mattresses "
I'll get me coat.
TODAY'S TOP TIP
A SERIES of quiet burps in your sleeping wife's ear will ensure she has pleasant dreams about burps. Similar results can be achieved with farts.
Scotland Yard vice squad gets new politically correct name
WELL, IF THEY'RE TRYING TO CONFUSE EVERYONE ...... I THINK IT'S WORKING
Scotland Yard's Vice Squad has been given a new name, which certainly does not evoke the same image. It is now officially known as Serious Crime Directorate 9: Human Exploitation and Organised Crime Command, or SCD9.
The Obscene Publications Unit, also known as the "Dirty Squad", is also part of the SCD9.
The Vice Squad was established in 1932 as "8 Area Clubs and Vice Unit." During World War ll it temporarily operated out of a pub because its headquarters was being used by the Aliens Registration Office.
Scotland Yard's Vice Squad has been given a new name, which certainly does not evoke the same image. It is now officially known as Serious Crime Directorate 9: Human Exploitation and Organised Crime Command, or SCD9.
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| Catchy ......... eh ? |
The Obscene Publications Unit, also known as the "Dirty Squad", is also part of the SCD9.
The Vice Squad was established in 1932 as "8 Area Clubs and Vice Unit." During World War ll it temporarily operated out of a pub because its headquarters was being used by the Aliens Registration Office.
Man spots 'time traveller' in Charlie Chaplin film
A man in Ireland has spotted something which he suggests might be a time traveller in the footage included with the DVD release of Charlie Chaplin's 1928 film, The Circus.
Since spotting what appears to be a person on a mobile phone in the footage, Belfast resident George Clarke has posted a video on YouTube, which has now been viewed by hundreds of thousands of people.
The scene, which is found in the extras menu in Documents, under The Hollywood Premiere, shows a person with a dark hat holding their left hand to their ear as they walk through a scene. The fingers are curved around something and the person is talking.
People have made suggestions about what is seen. Some said maybe the person was holding a hearing aid, but that didn’t explain why they were talking.
Others thought perhaps the person was mentally ill and was talking to an object such as a seashell.
One suggestion was that the studio which released the DVDs digitally added the figure.
Many people pointed out that there were no satellites of phone towers in 1928, but others said those could travel through time could probably circumvent that problem.
One person simply said that the mysterious character must be Doctor Who.
Since spotting what appears to be a person on a mobile phone in the footage, Belfast resident George Clarke has posted a video on YouTube, which has now been viewed by hundreds of thousands of people.
The scene, which is found in the extras menu in Documents, under The Hollywood Premiere, shows a person with a dark hat holding their left hand to their ear as they walk through a scene. The fingers are curved around something and the person is talking.
People have made suggestions about what is seen. Some said maybe the person was holding a hearing aid, but that didn’t explain why they were talking.
Others thought perhaps the person was mentally ill and was talking to an object such as a seashell.
One suggestion was that the studio which released the DVDs digitally added the figure.
Many people pointed out that there were no satellites of phone towers in 1928, but others said those could travel through time could probably circumvent that problem.
One person simply said that the mysterious character must be Doctor Who.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
CORK CITY'S ZOMBIE WALK 2010
DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YE ..........
The Zombie walk starts from the top of St Patrick's Hill at 4.00pm, heads down 'Paana' and goes through Patrick's Street and on to Oliver Plunkett Street, then they will turn right at The Grand Parade and head up to Castle Street ......... down Paul Street and back out to Patrick's Street to finally end up in The Vineyard for some 'Finger Food' ..... literally.
THE WALK ITSELF IS FREE, BUT THE EVENT IS A FUNDRAISING EVENT FOR MARYMOUNT HOSPICE ON MILITARY HILL.
THE WALK ITSELF IS FREE, BUT THE EVENT IS A FUNDRAISING EVENT FOR MARYMOUNT HOSPICE ON MILITARY HILL.
Paul the psychic octopus dies in his sleep
The world famous octopus who correctly guessed the outcome of soccer games during World Cup 2010, including the victory of Spain against his home country, died peacefully in his sleep last night.
Octopus Paul guessed that Spain would win the World Cup 2010 and perhaps was able to anticipate his own death. Paul died last night in his tank in Oberhausen (Germany), according to a Sea Life Aquarium spokesman. Workers and site managers at Sea Life are saddened and distressed.
"To honour Paul’s death and because of the worldwide interest he arouse, we will erect a memorial here. We will present the highlights of Paul's life, the many gifts he have received from around the world and the whole set up that Paul used to predict the results of the games."
Octopus Paul, world famous sports forecaster, was two years, 6 months old.
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| 2008 -2010 |
Octopus Paul guessed that Spain would win the World Cup 2010 and perhaps was able to anticipate his own death. Paul died last night in his tank in Oberhausen (Germany), according to a Sea Life Aquarium spokesman. Workers and site managers at Sea Life are saddened and distressed.
"To honour Paul’s death and because of the worldwide interest he arouse, we will erect a memorial here. We will present the highlights of Paul's life, the many gifts he have received from around the world and the whole set up that Paul used to predict the results of the games."
Octopus Paul, world famous sports forecaster, was two years, 6 months old.
What's in Marcellus Wallace' briefcase in Pulp Fiction?
THEORY No 1
One theory is that the case contains Marcellus' soul. Those who support this idea offer the following points as some of the proof:
1. Marcellus has a band-aid on the back of his neck, and the Bible says that is the place where the devil extracts one's soul.
2. It glows.
3. The code to open the case is "666." 'Nuff said.
4. The men Jules and Vincent kill to get the case back are actually servants of the devil. Something went awry in the deal between Marcellus and the Devil, and it's "divine intervention" when all those shots miss the two hit men.
In actual fact, Ving Rhames has a scar on the back of his neck and Tarantino thought it would distract the audience in the ' over the shoulder ' scene.
THEORY No 2
This theory offers the suggestion that the case contains the loot from Tarantino's first movie, Reservoir Dogs.
THEORY No 3
Some critics reviewing the film when it was released, drew comparisons to the 1955 Robert Aldrich film Kiss Me Deadly, wherein the protagonist searches for a case filled with radioactive material. Hey, it glows when you open it!
THEORY No 4
But there is one theory that seems to make a little more sense than any of the others, and its name is . . . MacGuffin.
What's a MacGuffin? In a 1939 lecture at Columbia University, Alfred Hitchcock spoke of the MacGuffin. Crediting it to his friend Angus MacPhail, Hitchcock said it originated in the following exchange:
Two Scotsmen are riding in a train. One asks the other what is contained in a package in the overhead luggage compartment.
"It's a MacGuffin."
"What's a MacGuffin?"
"A device for hunting tigers in Scotland."
"But there are no tigers in Scotland."
"Well, then, it's not a MacGuffin, is it?"
Simply put, a MacGuffin is a plot device. It can be anything -- secret spy papers, a mysterious briefcase, etc. but its only purpose is to set the story in motion. Once that's accomplished, the MacGuffin usually become relatively unimportant. In the case of Pulp Fiction, chronologically, pretty much everything that happens with Butch and Marcellus (except for when they first make arrangements for the boxing match) occurs after the case is returned.
In an April 1995 Playboy interview, Samuel L Jackson, who played Jules, offered his perspective:
John (Travolta) did ask Quentin exactly what was supposed to be inside and Quentin said, "Whatever you want it to be."
As Humphrey Bogart's character said in Maltese Falcon (another classic MacGuffin, by the way), "It's the stuff that dreams are made of."
DID YOU KNOW .....................
Vincent Vega (Travolta) 'Pulp Fiction' and Vic Vega (Mr. Blonde) from 'Reservoir Dogs' are in fact brothers. As you've probably noticed, it's not at all unusual for Quentin Tarantino to have various characters, events, places, names, and storys from his films be intertwined. This is exactly what's going on with the Vic and Vincent Vega situation.
In fact, at one point Quentin Tarantino had even planned on making a film about these two characters entitled "The Vega Brothers". Unfortunately though, the plans for the film fell through over the years and it's now very unlikely to ever be made. This is because the film would have to be a prequel to both "Pulp Fiction" and "Reservoir Dogs" (for obvious reasons) and the actors are now well past the age of playing someone younger than they were over 15 years ago.
Vincent and Mia's waiter at Jack Rabbit Slims, who was dressed as Buddy Holly, was played by Steve Buscemi... you know, "that funny lookin' guy".
Buscemi was originally set to play the role of Jimmie (that Tarantino later took for himself) but his schedule wouldn't allow it. Tarantino still wanted Buscemi to have a role in his film though, so he cast Buscemi as Vincent and Mia's waiter during the Jack Rabbit Slims scene.
The irony in this is that in Tarantino's previous film, "Reservoir Dogs", Buscemi played a character that went on a long rant as to how he refused to tip inept waiters and waitresses. Vincent's line "I don't think Buddy Holly is much of a waiter" pretty much assures us that in the world of Tarantino... Buscemi would be one tip-less sonuvabitch.
One theory is that the case contains Marcellus' soul. Those who support this idea offer the following points as some of the proof:1. Marcellus has a band-aid on the back of his neck, and the Bible says that is the place where the devil extracts one's soul.
2. It glows.
3. The code to open the case is "666." 'Nuff said.
4. The men Jules and Vincent kill to get the case back are actually servants of the devil. Something went awry in the deal between Marcellus and the Devil, and it's "divine intervention" when all those shots miss the two hit men.
In actual fact, Ving Rhames has a scar on the back of his neck and Tarantino thought it would distract the audience in the ' over the shoulder ' scene.
THEORY No 2
This theory offers the suggestion that the case contains the loot from Tarantino's first movie, Reservoir Dogs.
Some critics reviewing the film when it was released, drew comparisons to the 1955 Robert Aldrich film Kiss Me Deadly, wherein the protagonist searches for a case filled with radioactive material. Hey, it glows when you open it!
THEORY No 4
But there is one theory that seems to make a little more sense than any of the others, and its name is . . . MacGuffin.
What's a MacGuffin? In a 1939 lecture at Columbia University, Alfred Hitchcock spoke of the MacGuffin. Crediting it to his friend Angus MacPhail, Hitchcock said it originated in the following exchange:
Two Scotsmen are riding in a train. One asks the other what is contained in a package in the overhead luggage compartment.
"It's a MacGuffin."
"What's a MacGuffin?"
"A device for hunting tigers in Scotland."
"But there are no tigers in Scotland."
"Well, then, it's not a MacGuffin, is it?"
Simply put, a MacGuffin is a plot device. It can be anything -- secret spy papers, a mysterious briefcase, etc. but its only purpose is to set the story in motion. Once that's accomplished, the MacGuffin usually become relatively unimportant. In the case of Pulp Fiction, chronologically, pretty much everything that happens with Butch and Marcellus (except for when they first make arrangements for the boxing match) occurs after the case is returned.
In an April 1995 Playboy interview, Samuel L Jackson, who played Jules, offered his perspective:
John (Travolta) did ask Quentin exactly what was supposed to be inside and Quentin said, "Whatever you want it to be."
As Humphrey Bogart's character said in Maltese Falcon (another classic MacGuffin, by the way), "It's the stuff that dreams are made of."
DID YOU KNOW .....................
Vincent Vega (Travolta) 'Pulp Fiction' and Vic Vega (Mr. Blonde) from 'Reservoir Dogs' are in fact brothers. As you've probably noticed, it's not at all unusual for Quentin Tarantino to have various characters, events, places, names, and storys from his films be intertwined. This is exactly what's going on with the Vic and Vincent Vega situation.
Vincent and Mia's waiter at Jack Rabbit Slims, who was dressed as Buddy Holly, was played by Steve Buscemi... you know, "that funny lookin' guy".
Buscemi was originally set to play the role of Jimmie (that Tarantino later took for himself) but his schedule wouldn't allow it. Tarantino still wanted Buscemi to have a role in his film though, so he cast Buscemi as Vincent and Mia's waiter during the Jack Rabbit Slims scene.The irony in this is that in Tarantino's previous film, "Reservoir Dogs", Buscemi played a character that went on a long rant as to how he refused to tip inept waiters and waitresses. Vincent's line "I don't think Buddy Holly is much of a waiter" pretty much assures us that in the world of Tarantino... Buscemi would be one tip-less sonuvabitch.
Monday, October 25, 2010
NOW, I'M NOT A RACIST ..... BUT ........
I'M NOT SO SURE ABOUT UNCLE RUCKUS, HE SHORE DO LUV DEM WHITE FOLK
Here's a link to The Boondocks - > http://tvshack.cc/tv/The_Boondocks/
Here's a link to The Boondocks - > http://tvshack.cc/tv/The_Boondocks/
DID YOU KNOW ................
Eating more than two Octopus heads a day can be dangerous ? ....... it seems that the octopus head contains hazardous amounts of cadmium, a carcinogen that poisons the liver and kidneys.
Eating live octopus [or sannakji] is seen as a novelty in South Korea.
MAN UTD Vs STOKE
STOKE FAN WERE DISAPPOINTED YESTERDAY WHEN ROONEY WAS LEFT OUT OF THE STARTING LINE-UP
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| HAPPY BIRTHDAY WAZZA |
WHEN WILL THIS ILLEGAL ACTIVITY STOP ?
JUNE 6 2010
Police in Australia have been asked to probe Google as a result of complaints that Google had gathered personal data from unencrypted wi-fi services.
The alleged offenses occurred when Google vehicles were traveling to gather pictures for Street View, a Google service. It is alleged that while taking images, the vehicles also collected private wireless data from wi-fi services as it passed them.
The BBC also added that the Australian government said Google had committed "probably the single biggest breach in the history of privacy."
AUGUST 11 2010
Google's Street View data-gathering methods are apparently at the center of a recent raid of the Web giant's main office in Seoul.
Korea's National Police Agency organized and carried out a raid whose aim was to obtain mass amounts of data from Google collected for the purpose of maintaining the company's cutting edge Street View mapping services.
Street View is one function of Google Maps, a free service offered that allows users to access mapping, neighborhood, and even visual information online at maps.google.com. The visual information is available via Street View, a groundbreaking and somewhat controversial feature that allows users to view up-to-date images of many city streets in major cities all over the world.
OCTOBER 19 2010
Canada: Google Street View breaks privacy laws
"Our investigation shows that Google did capture personal information — and, in some cases, highly sensitive personal information such as complete e-mails. This incident was a serious violation of Canadians’ privacy rights."
The company, which first gained prominence for its superior Internet search engine, claims it was totally unaware it was collecting payload data in a number of countries along with their Street View videos. Payload data refers to the content of communications. The data was collected from publicly broadcast signals originating from unencrypted WiFi networks.
Several countries have called attention to the feature, which has sparked questions of privacy in the U.S. and U.K. and brought up other ethical issues around the world.
This case brings to lights the modern dilemma of ethics in emerging technologies where no laws exits to deal with rapidly evolving cutting-edge companies such as Google.
IF I SEE A GOOGLE STREET VIEW VEHICLE IN MY AREA, I WILL STAND IN FRONT OF IT AND BLOCK THE ROAD ........ AS LONG AS I CAN GET SOMEONE TO LOOK INTO WHETHER IT'S ACTING WITHIN THE LAW OR NOT ...... THEN JOB DONE.
Police in Australia have been asked to probe Google as a result of complaints that Google had gathered personal data from unencrypted wi-fi services.
The alleged offenses occurred when Google vehicles were traveling to gather pictures for Street View, a Google service. It is alleged that while taking images, the vehicles also collected private wireless data from wi-fi services as it passed them.
The BBC also added that the Australian government said Google had committed "probably the single biggest breach in the history of privacy."
 |
| SNEAKY SNEAKY |
AUGUST 11 2010
Google's Street View data-gathering methods are apparently at the center of a recent raid of the Web giant's main office in Seoul.
Korea's National Police Agency organized and carried out a raid whose aim was to obtain mass amounts of data from Google collected for the purpose of maintaining the company's cutting edge Street View mapping services.
Street View is one function of Google Maps, a free service offered that allows users to access mapping, neighborhood, and even visual information online at maps.google.com. The visual information is available via Street View, a groundbreaking and somewhat controversial feature that allows users to view up-to-date images of many city streets in major cities all over the world.
OCTOBER 19 2010
Canada: Google Street View breaks privacy laws
The company, which first gained prominence for its superior Internet search engine, claims it was totally unaware it was collecting payload data in a number of countries along with their Street View videos. Payload data refers to the content of communications. The data was collected from publicly broadcast signals originating from unencrypted WiFi networks.
Several countries have called attention to the feature, which has sparked questions of privacy in the U.S. and U.K. and brought up other ethical issues around the world.
This case brings to lights the modern dilemma of ethics in emerging technologies where no laws exits to deal with rapidly evolving cutting-edge companies such as Google.
IF I SEE A GOOGLE STREET VIEW VEHICLE IN MY AREA, I WILL STAND IN FRONT OF IT AND BLOCK THE ROAD ........ AS LONG AS I CAN GET SOMEONE TO LOOK INTO WHETHER IT'S ACTING WITHIN THE LAW OR NOT ...... THEN JOB DONE.
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW IF YOU JOIN CHELSEA CHAT
AS A MEMBER OF CHELSEA CHAT, I CAN CONFIRM THAT THESE RULES DO APPLY
SOME OTHER RULES
#1 - Any mention of a lady with specific regards to her attractiveness must always be accompanied with an image of suffient quality to allow other chatters to make a judgement without having to resort to Google. There are some exceptions to this rule, but not many, so always err on the side of caution.
#2 - Don't mention Moscow (note - we are aware that this rule is a paradox in itself. But... f*ck off).
#3 - Don't mention Steve Guppy (note - see #2)
#4 - All questions of a numerical nature must be replied to with "23" by all currently logged in users.
#5 - Celebrity Chelsea fans are all karnts, and any media outlet associated with any particular chatter should be regarded as suspect. [ Amendment 1 , this does not apply to sports personalities ]
#6 - When in an argument/conversation with Asger, it is necessary to ridicule his profession.
#7 - Any ''problem'' post by a chatter must in due course be followed by an amusing post from another chatter posing as the "other person" in the dilemma referred to earlier.The only acceptible response to a post by Perillo is 'fakk off you cont'.
#8 - The only acceptible response to a post by Perillo is 'fakk off you cont'.
#9 - If you post in the incorrect place, you must follow up with the always humerous "Oops, wrong hole".
#10 - Threads which descend into long lists of bad puns shall be marked out for specialist status.
#11 - All typos must be corrected with a post which contains an inadvertent typo.
#12 - Any suggestion that Lamps is portly is definitely not allowed, nor the terms 'Fat Frank' and 'Cashley', or ''Benny'' for Carlo, or ''Kalouless''!!
#13 - Any exclamation such as ''total whaanker'' in reference to, say an unpopular opposition player of TV figure, must be intentionally misunderstood to apply to the original poster him(or her)self and be replied to in turn with with a comedic "bit harsh" or some such.
#14 - All posters must be fully aware of all latest news and previous posts. Otherwise a Noah reference will be applied. That or a 'Great fire of London/Pudding Lane' reference.
#15 - Any mention of cricket shall be greeted with at least three responses of "zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz", "who cares about fekking cricket" etc etc.
#16 - Any abusive phrase such as " orrible little twunt " has to be followed with " Him, not you ".
click here to join Chelsea Chat - > http://theshed.chelseafc.com/theshed/chat/frame_chat.htm
hU7y.jpg)
SOME OTHER RULES
#1 - Any mention of a lady with specific regards to her attractiveness must always be accompanied with an image of suffient quality to allow other chatters to make a judgement without having to resort to Google. There are some exceptions to this rule, but not many, so always err on the side of caution.
#2 - Don't mention Moscow (note - we are aware that this rule is a paradox in itself. But... f*ck off).
#3 - Don't mention Steve Guppy (note - see #2)
#4 - All questions of a numerical nature must be replied to with "23" by all currently logged in users.
#5 - Celebrity Chelsea fans are all karnts, and any media outlet associated with any particular chatter should be regarded as suspect. [ Amendment 1 , this does not apply to sports personalities ]
#6 - When in an argument/conversation with Asger, it is necessary to ridicule his profession.
#7 - Any ''problem'' post by a chatter must in due course be followed by an amusing post from another chatter posing as the "other person" in the dilemma referred to earlier.The only acceptible response to a post by Perillo is 'fakk off you cont'.
#8 - The only acceptible response to a post by Perillo is 'fakk off you cont'.
#9 - If you post in the incorrect place, you must follow up with the always humerous "Oops, wrong hole".
#10 - Threads which descend into long lists of bad puns shall be marked out for specialist status.
#11 - All typos must be corrected with a post which contains an inadvertent typo.
#12 - Any suggestion that Lamps is portly is definitely not allowed, nor the terms 'Fat Frank' and 'Cashley', or ''Benny'' for Carlo, or ''Kalouless''!!
#13 - Any exclamation such as ''total whaanker'' in reference to, say an unpopular opposition player of TV figure, must be intentionally misunderstood to apply to the original poster him(or her)self and be replied to in turn with with a comedic "bit harsh" or some such.
#14 - All posters must be fully aware of all latest news and previous posts. Otherwise a Noah reference will be applied. That or a 'Great fire of London/Pudding Lane' reference.
#15 - Any mention of cricket shall be greeted with at least three responses of "zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz", "who cares about fekking cricket" etc etc.
#16 - Any abusive phrase such as " orrible little twunt " has to be followed with " Him, not you ".
click here to join Chelsea Chat - > http://theshed.chelseafc.com/theshed/chat/frame_chat.htm
QUOTE OF THE DAY (SAT)
WEST HAM 1 - NEWCASTLE 2
" What went wrong Avram ? "
" I don't know until I see the video "
and thats going to help .. how ?
NOT SURE IF AMERICANS GET THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 'SOCCER' AND FOOTBALL YET
errr ....... I think ther may have been a foul there bubba
Oregon man tattoos eyeballs
From New York to Colorado the latest trend in changing your appearance is by tattooing your eyes, or the whites of your eyeballs to be specific- An Oregon tattoo enthusiast has joined the list of people turning fad into fashion.
Matt Gone, known as the man with checkerboard tattoos, said he’s now done something few have tried – injecting ink into both eyes … by himself.
During the past 20 years the Portland man has covered 98 percent of his skin with ink and said tattooing the whites of your eyes “is about as far as you can go,” Fox 11 Oregon reports.
When doctors do it, it's called corneal tattooing; but when perfectly healthy people looking who are just looking for another space on the body to pierce, tattoo or scar themselves, it's called insane.
Gone said birth defects that left some of his muscles underdeveloped inspired him to start tattooing his body nearly 20 years ago as a means to disguise his deformities.
But some doctors believe Gone has gone too far with his latest design. Dr. Douglas Meier, an ophthalmologist with the Portland Clinic in Beaverton, said Gone is at risk for infection that could lead to blindness or could even cause him to lose his eyes.
"The risk of putting a needle near your eye is grave," said Meier. "Someone at home does not have access to the equipment nor the expertise."
Gone said he knew the risks and he proceeded with caution.
"I patch tested it and was successful. I had to take the risk; I've done that a lot of times before," said Gone. "I'm not crazy. I'm trained. I have a lot of experience."
At prisons in Colorado and across the nation a handful of inmates have joined in the fun and are learning the procedure by practicing on each other. Through trial and error they have helped create the standard protocol in how to do home, business, or prison eyeball tattoo's.
Highly illegal within the prison system and in a few states as well, "eyeball tattoo's" have become a growing trend.
Dangers of going blind don't seem to deter those who want colored eyes and will endure the pain of 40 or so sticks in the whites of the eyes to get the color result they desire.
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Matt Gone, known as the man with checkerboard tattoos, said he’s now done something few have tried – injecting ink into both eyes … by himself.During the past 20 years the Portland man has covered 98 percent of his skin with ink and said tattooing the whites of your eyes “is about as far as you can go,” Fox 11 Oregon reports.
When doctors do it, it's called corneal tattooing; but when perfectly healthy people looking who are just looking for another space on the body to pierce, tattoo or scar themselves, it's called insane.
Gone said birth defects that left some of his muscles underdeveloped inspired him to start tattooing his body nearly 20 years ago as a means to disguise his deformities.
But some doctors believe Gone has gone too far with his latest design. Dr. Douglas Meier, an ophthalmologist with the Portland Clinic in Beaverton, said Gone is at risk for infection that could lead to blindness or could even cause him to lose his eyes.
"The risk of putting a needle near your eye is grave," said Meier. "Someone at home does not have access to the equipment nor the expertise."
Gone said he knew the risks and he proceeded with caution.
"I patch tested it and was successful. I had to take the risk; I've done that a lot of times before," said Gone. "I'm not crazy. I'm trained. I have a lot of experience."
At prisons in Colorado and across the nation a handful of inmates have joined in the fun and are learning the procedure by practicing on each other. Through trial and error they have helped create the standard protocol in how to do home, business, or prison eyeball tattoo's.
Highly illegal within the prison system and in a few states as well, "eyeball tattoo's" have become a growing trend.
Dangers of going blind don't seem to deter those who want colored eyes and will endure the pain of 40 or so sticks in the whites of the eyes to get the color result they desire.
Young Taylor Momsen flashes audience
She may only be 17 but Taylor Momsen is already known for attempting to be controversial. Her latest act was flashing the crowd at a Paper magazine party as she sang with her band The Pretty Reckless.
OK, WE GET IT ........ YOU'VE GOT LITTLE OR NO TALENT AND THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN GET IN THE PAPERS IS TO FLASH THE AUDIENCE, I COULD HAVE POSTED THE CLIP ... BUT I DON'T LIKE TO PANDER.
OK, WE GET IT ........ YOU'VE GOT LITTLE OR NO TALENT AND THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN GET IN THE PAPERS IS TO FLASH THE AUDIENCE, I COULD HAVE POSTED THE CLIP ... BUT I DON'T LIKE TO PANDER.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
TODAY'S TOP TIP
OLD PEOPLE : Each night, go to sleep in the recovery position, potentially saving paramedics valuable time.
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Ham in Coca Cola recipe
A SOUTHERN TREAT
Ingredients
Ham
2kg mild-cure gammon
1 onion peeled and cut in half
2 litre-bottle coke
The glaze
Handful cloves
1 heaped tbsp black treacle
2 tsp English mustard powder
2 tbsp demerara sugar
1. Put the mild-cure gammon in a pan covered with cold water, bring to the boil then tip into a colander in the sink and start from here; otherwise, put the gammon in a pan, skin side down if it fits like that, add the onion then pour over the Coke. Bring to the boil, reduce to a good simmer, put the lid on, though not tightly, and cook for just under 2 1/2 hours. If your joint is larger or smaller work out timing by reckoning on an hour a kilo altogether, remembering that it's going to get a quick blast in the oven later. But do take into account that if the gammon's been in the fridge right up to the moment you cook it, you will have to give a good 15 or so minutes' extra so that the interior is properly cooked. Meanwhile preheat oven to 240C/gas mark 9.
2.When the ham's had its time (and ham it is now it's cooked, though it's true Americans call it ham from its uncooked state) take it out of the pan but DO NOT THROW AWAY THE COOKING LIQUID (great stock for soups or gravy) and let cool a little for ease of handling. (Indeed you can let it cool completely then finish off the cooking at some later stage if you want).
3.Then remove skin, leaving a thin layer of fat. Score the fat with a sharp knife to make fairly large diamond shapes, and stud each diamond with a clove. Then carefully spread the treacle over the bark-budded skin taking care not to dislodge the cloves. Then gently pat the mustard and sugar onto the sticky fat. Cook, in a foil lined roasting tin for approximately 10 minutes or till the glaze is burnished and bubbly.
4.Should you want to do the braising stage in advance and then let the ham cool, clove and glaze it and give it 30-40 minutes, from room temperature, at 180C/gas mark 4, turning up the heat towards the end if you think it needs it.
Ingredients
Ham
2kg mild-cure gammon1 onion peeled and cut in half
2 litre-bottle coke
The glaze
Handful cloves
1 heaped tbsp black treacle
2 tsp English mustard powder
2 tbsp demerara sugar
1. Put the mild-cure gammon in a pan covered with cold water, bring to the boil then tip into a colander in the sink and start from here; otherwise, put the gammon in a pan, skin side down if it fits like that, add the onion then pour over the Coke. Bring to the boil, reduce to a good simmer, put the lid on, though not tightly, and cook for just under 2 1/2 hours. If your joint is larger or smaller work out timing by reckoning on an hour a kilo altogether, remembering that it's going to get a quick blast in the oven later. But do take into account that if the gammon's been in the fridge right up to the moment you cook it, you will have to give a good 15 or so minutes' extra so that the interior is properly cooked. Meanwhile preheat oven to 240C/gas mark 9.
2.When the ham's had its time (and ham it is now it's cooked, though it's true Americans call it ham from its uncooked state) take it out of the pan but DO NOT THROW AWAY THE COOKING LIQUID (great stock for soups or gravy) and let cool a little for ease of handling. (Indeed you can let it cool completely then finish off the cooking at some later stage if you want).
3.Then remove skin, leaving a thin layer of fat. Score the fat with a sharp knife to make fairly large diamond shapes, and stud each diamond with a clove. Then carefully spread the treacle over the bark-budded skin taking care not to dislodge the cloves. Then gently pat the mustard and sugar onto the sticky fat. Cook, in a foil lined roasting tin for approximately 10 minutes or till the glaze is burnished and bubbly.
4.Should you want to do the braising stage in advance and then let the ham cool, clove and glaze it and give it 30-40 minutes, from room temperature, at 180C/gas mark 4, turning up the heat towards the end if you think it needs it.
Plague hits thousands as zombies march
The Plague hits Toronto
Well this looks like a bit of fun ........... since 2003, the Zombie Walk has been gaining momentum with parades happening now in New York, Melbourne and Toronto ..... the plagues occur usually a week before Halloween and often include George Romero movies as the after-show entertainment ........ 5000 zombies turned up on the streets of Toronto this year for the event.
Well this looks like a bit of fun ........... since 2003, the Zombie Walk has been gaining momentum with parades happening now in New York, Melbourne and Toronto ..... the plagues occur usually a week before Halloween and often include George Romero movies as the after-show entertainment ........ 5000 zombies turned up on the streets of Toronto this year for the event.
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| MIND YOUR BRAINS |
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Actor Randy Quaid and wife seeking refugee status in Canada
The couple were arrested on outstanding U.S. warrants in Vancouver on Friday.
The couple had been charged with felony residential burglary and entering a noncommercial building without consent in California, they are also accused of causing more than $5,000 in damage in the guest home. The people who own the Santa Barbara property contacted police about squatters in their house, but the Quaids claimed it still belonged to them.
The owners were able to show authorities documents indicating that they had bought the house in 2007, from a man who had purchased it from the Quaids several years before that.
Randy Quaid's wife, Evi, has also been charged with resisting arrest.
In a hearing on Friday, they told an Immigration and Refugee Board that eight of the actor’s close friends has been murdered during the past few years and they fear the same thing could happen to them.
Their lawyer gave a hand written note to media which read: "Yes we are requesting asylum from Hollywood "STAR WHACKERS."
Quaid is known for his role as Cousin Eddie in the National Lampoon's Vacation movies, and for playing U.S. President Lyndon Johnson in LBJ: The Early Years. He also had roles in Brokeback Mountain, Kingpin and Independence Day.
GQ's sexy photo shoot of Glee actors 'borders on pedophilia'
PERHAPS ...... BUT AS SIDNEY WOULD SAY .... PHWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRR !!!!
GQ Magazine's recent racy photo shoot with three actors from the TV show Glee has prompted the Parents Television Council to criticize the photos for oversexualizing a show watched by teens. But what bothered them exactly?
PTC announced in a press release its opposition to the GQ photo shoot with the Glee actors. “It is disturbing that GQ, which is explicitly written for adult men, is sexualizing the actresses who play high school-aged characters on ‘Glee’ in this way," reads the release. It adds the photo shoot "borders on pedophilia
The photos depict the actors playing their characters with skimpy outfits and titillating poses. The female actors are showing the most skin; the male actor is predominantly clothed.
In an interview, PTC's director of public policy explained his group's position. "It's deeply concerning, because these actresses are playing teenage characters on Glee," said Dan Isett. He said Glee is largely popular with a younger demographic and the show's producers and magazine editor "used the show's cache to cash in on this oversexualized photo shoot."
The Parents Television Council is a non-partisan education organization advocating responsible entertainment. The organization has more than 1.3 million members across the U.S.
hU.jpg)
GQ Magazine's recent racy photo shoot with three actors from the TV show Glee has prompted the Parents Television Council to criticize the photos for oversexualizing a show watched by teens. But what bothered them exactly?
PTC announced in a press release its opposition to the GQ photo shoot with the Glee actors. “It is disturbing that GQ, which is explicitly written for adult men, is sexualizing the actresses who play high school-aged characters on ‘Glee’ in this way," reads the release. It adds the photo shoot "borders on pedophilia
 |
| Lea Michele posing in a GQ photo shoot for the TV show Glee |
The photos depict the actors playing their characters with skimpy outfits and titillating poses. The female actors are showing the most skin; the male actor is predominantly clothed.
In an interview, PTC's director of public policy explained his group's position. "It's deeply concerning, because these actresses are playing teenage characters on Glee," said Dan Isett. He said Glee is largely popular with a younger demographic and the show's producers and magazine editor "used the show's cache to cash in on this oversexualized photo shoot."
The Parents Television Council is a non-partisan education organization advocating responsible entertainment. The organization has more than 1.3 million members across the U.S.
Friday, October 22, 2010
BREAKING NEWS AT LIVERPOOL
Steven Gerrard has just informed the Liverpool board that he will not renew his contract if he does not receive assurances that the club will steal some silverware this year.
I'll get me coat
IT'S NOT OFTEN THAT I USE THE TERM ' BREATHTAKING ' ............. BUT
TWICE IN TWO DAYS ...................... LOL
PFWOOOOOOOORR !!!!!!!!!!!!! ..... AS SIDNEY WOULD SAY
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PFWOOOOOOOORR !!!!!!!!!!!!! ..... AS SIDNEY WOULD SAY
Rick Astley in thesis
Check out the effort this student has gone to weave the lyrics to “Never gonna give you up” into his essay on broadband networks
Wayne Rooney signs new five-year contract at Manchester United
Wayne Rooney has agreed a new five-year contract with Manchester United.
The club confirmed the news this lunchtime, ending an amazing week, which included Rooney insisting the Old Trafford outfit no longer matched his ambitions.
Yet after a staggering 24-hour period, and demonstration by irate supporters at Rooney's house in Prestbury last night, Rooney is now set to stay at Old Trafford.
"Sometimes, when you're in a club, it can be hard to realise just how big it is and it takes something like the events of the last few days to make you understand," said Sir Alex Ferguson.
"I think Wayne now understands what a great club Manchester United is."
It barely seemed credible such a position could be arrived at so quickly.
But the conciliatory nature of a holding statement from United last night suggested rapprochement was in the offing.
And, after consultation with the owners, who allayed his fears about the future direction of United, Rooney agreed to extend his contract, which will now expire in 2015.
"It's been a difficult week, but the intensity of the coverage is what we expect at Manchester United," said Ferguson.
"I said to the boy that the door is always open and I am delighted Wayne has agreed to stay.
"I am pleased he has accepted the challenge to guide the younger players and establish himself as one of United's great players.
"It shows character and belief in what we stand for.
"I am sure everyone involved with the club will now get behind Wayne and show him the support he needs to produce the performances we know he is capable of."
QUESTION NOW IS ..... WHAT HAPPENS IF VIDIC TURNS UP OUTSIDE FERGIE'S DOOR NEXT WEEK SAYING THE CLUB LACKS AMBITION AND HE WANTS OUT ?
Keep yer eye on the ticket prices next season Manchester United fans
someone has to pay for this ... and it wont be the Glazers.
The club confirmed the news this lunchtime, ending an amazing week, which included Rooney insisting the Old Trafford outfit no longer matched his ambitions.
Yet after a staggering 24-hour period, and demonstration by irate supporters at Rooney's house in Prestbury last night, Rooney is now set to stay at Old Trafford.
"Sometimes, when you're in a club, it can be hard to realise just how big it is and it takes something like the events of the last few days to make you understand," said Sir Alex Ferguson.
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| WHAT A CUNNING STUNT |
It barely seemed credible such a position could be arrived at so quickly.
But the conciliatory nature of a holding statement from United last night suggested rapprochement was in the offing.
And, after consultation with the owners, who allayed his fears about the future direction of United, Rooney agreed to extend his contract, which will now expire in 2015.
"It's been a difficult week, but the intensity of the coverage is what we expect at Manchester United," said Ferguson.
"I said to the boy that the door is always open and I am delighted Wayne has agreed to stay.
"I am pleased he has accepted the challenge to guide the younger players and establish himself as one of United's great players.
"It shows character and belief in what we stand for.
"I am sure everyone involved with the club will now get behind Wayne and show him the support he needs to produce the performances we know he is capable of."
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| ONCE A BLUE, STILL A RED, ALWAYS AFTER THE GREEN |
QUESTION NOW IS ..... WHAT HAPPENS IF VIDIC TURNS UP OUTSIDE FERGIE'S DOOR NEXT WEEK SAYING THE CLUB LACKS AMBITION AND HE WANTS OUT ?
Keep yer eye on the ticket prices next season Manchester United fans
someone has to pay for this ... and it wont be the Glazers.
THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW YOU WANTED
“American company Fiberglass Freaks is producing officially licensed, road-legal 1966 Batmobiles. And yes, the flamethrower works.
Each car costs $149,999 (£95,000), takes six months to build and features an array of working gadgets, including a red flashing beacon, a radar screen called ‘Detect-a-scope’, a retractable, gold-coloured ‘Batbeam’ and a dashboard DVD player.
The licence from D.C. Comics limits the company to making just eight per year, which renders it one of the world’s most exclusive production cars.”
TODAY'S TOP TIP
GIRLS : create doubt in the minds of grieving wives by attending their husbands' funerals in a big wide brimmed black fuck off hat, stilleto heels and a mini skirt whilst sniffing loudly into a handkerchief, all the time claiming that you were 'a good friend.'
" IF YOU JOIN CITY YOU'RE DEAD "
Balaclava-clad group target striker's house as Evra says team-mate should not play for club again
Meanwhile .... way across town at Wayne Manor ...........
The mob were presumably demonstrating ' the respect ' that Ferguson has been talking about to the press in recent days. Wayne Rooney was visited at his home in Cheshire last night by militant Manchester United fans who carried a banner that read "Join City and you will die" – the latest twist in the saga that has followed the player's shock decision not to sign a new contract at the club.
United are aware of the growing swell of opinion against Rooney from supporters and the player is said to have been dismayed, though not entirely surprised, by the reaction at yesterday's match. The depth of anger against Rooney manifested itself during the game against Bursaspor when supporters held up banners castigating his behaviour.
The demonstration at his house had a much more sinister edge. In 2005 Rio Ferdinand faced a similar visit from a mob of balaclava-wearing men dressed predominantly in black, because of a 16-month contract dispute during which he had been photographed with the then Chelsea chief executive, Peter Kenyon.
Ferdinand went to his front door to confront the fans and answer their questions during a tense standoff, the defender admitting in his autobiography that he had feared for his own safety. The same people are believed to have been involved last night in what seems to amount to a determined attempt to intimidate Rooney out of a move to Eastlands. There was no direct confrontation, however, at the house. Police were called to the address at around 8.30pm although no arrests were made.
Rooney has also put himself in a difficult position with several team-mates with his statement that the main reason he wanted to leave was because of his concerns that United might not be in a position to challenge regularly for trophies. The clear implication of his behaviour is that he believes United are in danger of slipping behind more powerful spenders, specifically Chelsea and Manchester City, as well as major forces in Europe such as Milan, Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The incident outside Rooney's home came after his team-mate Patrice Evra said that the striker should be frozen out at United over his public declaration that the club have not signed players who can make them competitive. Evra said: "If one player does not trust the other players, that player should not play. I am not like that as I trust everyone and I know we can win."
Rooney's former team-mate Carlos Tevez added fuel to the fire last night, with those close to the player suggesting that he told Manchester City's owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan that "with Wayne we will win everything". Ferguson has cancelled his Friday press conference today – for the fourth successive week.
Meanwhile .... way across town at Wayne Manor ...........
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| THE LOCALS ARE RESTLESS |
United are aware of the growing swell of opinion against Rooney from supporters and the player is said to have been dismayed, though not entirely surprised, by the reaction at yesterday's match. The depth of anger against Rooney manifested itself during the game against Bursaspor when supporters held up banners castigating his behaviour.
The demonstration at his house had a much more sinister edge. In 2005 Rio Ferdinand faced a similar visit from a mob of balaclava-wearing men dressed predominantly in black, because of a 16-month contract dispute during which he had been photographed with the then Chelsea chief executive, Peter Kenyon.
 |
| Wayne Rooney - " I am not an animal " |
Rooney has also put himself in a difficult position with several team-mates with his statement that the main reason he wanted to leave was because of his concerns that United might not be in a position to challenge regularly for trophies. The clear implication of his behaviour is that he believes United are in danger of slipping behind more powerful spenders, specifically Chelsea and Manchester City, as well as major forces in Europe such as Milan, Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The incident outside Rooney's home came after his team-mate Patrice Evra said that the striker should be frozen out at United over his public declaration that the club have not signed players who can make them competitive. Evra said: "If one player does not trust the other players, that player should not play. I am not like that as I trust everyone and I know we can win."
Rooney's former team-mate Carlos Tevez added fuel to the fire last night, with those close to the player suggesting that he told Manchester City's owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan that "with Wayne we will win everything". Ferguson has cancelled his Friday press conference today – for the fourth successive week.
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