Thursday, June 30, 2011

TODAYS JOKE


I decided to sell my stuffed Labrador on Ebay ...................... It didn't fetch much !




I'll get me tweed jacket !

HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS FOLKS .......................

Snacking and super sizing are two of the dieter's worst enemies, research suggests.

The average daily calorie intake in the US has increased by almost a third in 30 years, reaching 2,374 kilocalories.

The influence of bigger portion sizes and excessive snacking outweighs the shift towards high-calorie foods, say experts.

You heard it here first !!


Ahhh ......... the good ol' days

A team from the University of North Carolina analysed data from food surveys carried out in the seventies, eighties, nineties and the last decade. The surveys record all food and drink a person consumes over a 24-hour period. The average daily energy intake of a US citizen increased from 1,803 kcal in 1977-78 to 2,374 kcal in 2003-06. In the last decade of the study alone, the average daily calorie intake went up by 229 kcal.

This study also looked at portion size and studies have shown that having larger portions of food leads to an increased intake.

Who'd have thought ?

WATCH YOUR ASS

Mom gets 5 years probation for spanking her child, and loses custody

Corpus Christi, Texas - Rosalina Gonzales lost custody of her three children and has been put on probation for five years. Her crime was spanking her almost two-year-old with her hand on the child's bottom.

The child's grandmother noticed red marks on the child's buttocks and took her to a hospital to be checked. The hospital called the Department of Family and Protective Services even though the little girl was found to be healthy and did not have any lasting injuries.

The children were taken from their mother in December and placed in the grandmother's custody according to lifesitenews.com.

The Texas Attorney General's website states spanking is not illegal, "Texas law allows the use of force but not deadly force, against a child by the child's parent, guardian, or other person who is acting in loco parentis." A child can be spanked on the buttocks using an open hand, a brush or a belt if it doesn't leave a bruise, welt or swelling," it's likely OK states npr.org

In an agreement with prosecutors Gonzales plead guilty to the charges of Injury to a Child a felony. She will be on probation for five years, has to take parenting classes, follow Children's Protective Service's (CPS) guidelines and make a one time payment of $50 to the Children's Advocacy Center.

Attorney Kelly Shackelford of Liberty Institute said, "In this country, children are not children of the state. They're children of the parents and the parents do have a right to reasonable discipline including spanking. So this is a pretty clear abuse of authority and is something that people need to be aware of -- that government officials don't have the right to this kind of bullying of parents and families."

World of Warcraft now free to play until reaching level 20

The online RPG World of Warcraft has released a new start-up package that has been established in favor over the game's former two week time trial periods.

The California-based video game development company Blizzard Entertainment Inc. has yet to embrace allowing its monumentally popular title, World of Warcraft to be enjoyed online without monthly payments. But with hit games such as Warner Bros.' Lord of the Rings Online  and Valve's Team Fortress 2 subscribing to the free online play configuration, the software leviathan has in some way taken note, apparently. While the massively multiplayer online role-playing game is still not going the complimentary route in every last sense of the word, Blizzard has decided to give players more access to the aptly nicknamed WoW without charge.


In lieu of its prior utilization of time-oriented trials - which would usually span 14 days - the MMORPG will now be free for players to take pleasure in until their characters have reached level 20; going as quickly or as slowly as they desire. As such the new introductory package dubbed the World of Warcraft Starter Edition will permit those giving the game a test drive a much better - albeit still limited - feel for it than before. Unfortunately the level 20 cutoff is not the only cap put into place in terms of character enhancement.

The Starter Edition restrictions also curb trade skills to a maximum of 100, and players won't have the luxury of using features such as Auction House or be able to exchange with others involved in the game. What's more is that public chats, guilds and parties with characters at a higher level than 20 will be closed to those using this package. Voice communication, characters and Real ID will also be unavailable.

Luckily, Blizzard is offering players inexpensive solutions upon getting to the preset game caps.

"...players will be able to get both the original World of Warcraft and the game's first expansion set, The Burning Crusade, for only $19.99 as part of the new digital Battle Chest now available in the online Blizzard Store. In addition, anyone who owns the original World of Warcraft, regardless of when they purchased the game, will automatically be able to access all of the content and features from The Burning Crusade expansion at no additional cost." the company said in a statement.

The new trial format and low-priced package deal weren't the only things Blizzard wanted to inform the world of. Live patch 4.2 entitled Rage of the Firelands - released on Tuesday 28 June - will bring various new updates to the magical realm of WoW including – but not limited to – new raids and quests. Hopefully this new business tactic on behalf of Blizzard gets more people to experience the immense World of Warcraft.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

TODAYS JOKE


I was going to enter my wife in a television quiz until someone pointed out to me that it was actually called ' Fact Hunt '.


I'll get me suitcase !

GAME OF THRONES SECOND SEASON EXTRAS CASTING !

Highly successful HBO fantasy series “Game of Thrones” is returning to Northern Ireland to film series two ! Filming will begin on July 25th and run through to December in Belfast’s Paint Hall studios and various other locations throughout Northern Ireland. Extras NI are currently casting for thousands of extras to take part in the production. It is paid work !


For anyone wishing to register their interest, we are holding an open casting day at The Holiday Inn, 22 Ormeau Avenue, Belfast on Monday 4th July between 11am and 7pm. We simply ask that people come along anytime between these hours. We will give each person an application form to fill out and then we will take your photograph. Hopefully the whole process should only take about 20mins. No appointment necessary. If you have a showreel or headshots, please take them with you which we will gladly accept as we may also be casting for some special extra roles. We are casting for ADULTS ONLY and especially the following:

- MALES of all hair lengths – short, medium & long who are prepared to let their hair grow from now until Jan 2012 and/or bearded males
- Strong and fit males, sporty types
- Archers, swordfighters or re-enactors and people with military experience
- Blacksmiths & Iron Workers
- Skilled building tradespeople
- Farmhands
- Ship/Deck hands and sailors
- Butchers/Hunters
- Females aged 35-65 with non-dyed long hair past their shoulders

YOU MUST ALSO BE:
- BASED IN NORTHERN IRELAND
- HAVE A PASSPORT & A NATIONAL INSURANCE NUMBER FOR WORKING IN N.I.
- ARE FLEXIBLE & CAN WORK WEEK DAYS FOR OCCASIONAL PAID WORK

IF YOU ARE A CURRENT MEMBER OF EXTRAS NI or you attended the open casting session last year - PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND THE OPEN CASTING THIS YEAR OR REAPPLY. You will automatically be considered for this year's series. Only re-attend if you have changed your appearance drastically e.g. grown a beard/ hair.

If you are MALE - please START GROWING YOUR HAIR & FACIAL HAIR immediately and be prepared to keep it long from now until January 2012!

For any further info required please call Stephen on 028 9040 9919 or email gameofthrones@extrasni.com

Manhattan Rickshaw Company

Manhattan Rickshaw Company, currently the longest operating pedicab company in New York City...transporting New Yorkers and visitors since 1995. In addition, Manhattan Rickshaw Company is a founding member of the pedicab trade association created to develop best practices in the industry

Manhattan Rickshaw Company is a one-design fleet, using a time-tested design from one manufacturer featuring state of the art 21-speeds with lighting (for night riding) and canopies in the event of rain or needing to escape unwanted media attention.


Prices varying from $15-30 (or more). Always ask your driver for a quote before embarking. He or she will be happy to provide one.


If you have a large group to move from point to point, such as from a wedding to the reception, or from a hotel to your group destination, consider pedicabs. We have handled large tour groups, corporate functions, private parties, and smaller family get-togethers. Rides that travel through Central Park will require obtaining a group permit in some cases. Longer notice is required for these larger group transfers.

Roberto Di Matteo set to return to Chelsea as assistant manager

Roberto Di Matteo is set to return to Chelsea as No2 to André Villas-Boas when the Portuguese manager unveils his backroom staff this morning. The Italian, who spent six years at Stamford Bridge as a player, is the Portuguese's surprise choice as his assistant.

Di Matteo has been out of work since his sacking as West Bromwich Albion manager in February. The 41-year-old was dismissed despite having led the West Midlands side back into the Premier League from the Championship at the first time of asking. The Italian has been on gardening leave since, but is now expected to return to football as Chelsea's No2 as Villas-Boas reshapes the coaching set-up at Stamford Bridge.

The Portuguese is bringing two compatriots, José Mario Rocha and Daniel Sousa, with him from Porto to act as his physical fitness coach and chief opposition scout respectively but his initial hopes of being joined by Vitor Pereira in London were dashed when his former assistant was appointed as his successor.

Di Matteo is best remembered at Stamford Bridge for scoring his side's opening goal, after only 42 seconds, in the 1997 FA Cup final against Middlesbrough,and he was also a scorer in the 1998 League Cup final against the same opponents and, in 2000, against Aston Villa in the FA Cup final at Wembley. He also won the European Cup Winners' Cup and Uefa Super Cup while at the club before a triple leg fracture suffered against the Swiss club St Gallen in a Uefa Cup tie in September 2000 forced his retirement from the game at the age of 30.

His appointment as a No2 is eye-catching given that Di Matteo's experience as a player and as a manager is arguably more extensive than that of Villas-Boas, although he has spent less time working in a domestic top flight.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

TELEVISION IS NOT FOR EVERYONE

LIFE IS HARD - TELEVISION IS EASY GUYS

Reaction to Game of Thrones season 1 episode 9



Reaction to Breaking Bad season 3 finale



Reaction to Dexter season 5 finale

NOT LONG NOW

Monday, June 27, 2011

ROBERT DOWNEY JR

Ah, the notorious lip sync! It can spell disaster when the record skips on stage (think "Girl, you know it's ... girl, you know it's ..."). But, when done right -- i.e. in a music video, preferably with adorable children or attractive celebrity cameos -- this time-tested cinematic technique can produce some quality audio-visual entertainment.

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ..............

'Dexter': Exec producer Scott Buck reveals details about season 6

Dexter doesn’t return to Showtime until late september, but it’s never too early to peek behind the clear polyethylene curtain and see what the hit serial-killer drama is plotting for season 6. Exec producer and new showrunner Scott Buck gave a preview of the new season, which will feature a return to the confident Dexter of years past, as well as a few high-profile additions like Edward James Olmos, Colin Hanks, and Mos.



Professor Gellar (Edwards James Olmos; Battlestar Galactica): Professor Gellar is a religious studies academic, who on the side is committing some of the biggest crimes that the show has seen so far. Buck compares the conviction that Gellar has for killing people to the real life Zodiac killer and believes that he is the first killer on the show who believes that he is in the right with his actions. Dexter is very curious about Gellar's thought process when it comes to these acts and why he believes that he is in the right. It is fundamentally something that doesn't make any sense to Dexter as a fellow killer.



Travis Marshall (Colin Hanks; The Good Guys, Mad Men): Travis is a close acquaintance of Professor Gellar who has fallen under the charismatic spell of the Professor. Travis has done some bad things because of his belief system and how easily swayed he can be. Travis is not a character who would intentionally seek out to harm someone but is easily manipulated and taken advantage of.









Lisa Marshall (Molly Parker: Deadwood, Swingtown): Lisa is Travis' protective big sister who helped raise him when he was younger.








Brother Sam (Mos Def; Be Kind Rewind, 16 Blocks): Brother Sam is an ex-con who found God in prison. Trying to right the wrongs he committed as a street thug, Brother Sam has set up an auto body shop that hires other ex-cons to try and help them set themselves straight. When one of these employees is accused of a crime Brother Sam will cross paths with Dexter.






Jaime Batista (Aimee Garcia; Trauma, Off the Map): After underusing Harrison's nanny Sonya (Maria Doyle Kennedy) last season, Buck has said they have decided to go in a completely different direction this year with this role. Harrison's new nanny will be Jamie, who also happens to be Angel Batista's (David Zayas) little sister. She will be part of the 'family' story and Buck has said that when it comes to Jamie "there will be no big reveals or twists that the audience will never expect." She will inject an upbeat vibe in to Dexter's home that might go against what he has come accustom to.




Mike Anderson (Billy Brown; Lights Out, Southland): Anderson is a detective from Chicago who is a bit of a hard-ass and because of this he has a difficult time fitting in with others. However, he is an excellent detective so it will be interesting to see if he causes any problems for Dexter.




There is certainly a slew of new characters that will be challenging Dexter and causing conflict this season but what about those that have been entangled in the show for sometime now, particularly Quinn (Desmond Harrington) and Deb (Jennifer Carpenter)? The couple are still living together but as this is Dexter this happy period will not last for long, particularly for Quinn who has some dark days to look forward to. Change in both her career and personal life is on the cards for Debs this season but does this include finding out the truth about her brother and his 'hobby'?

Sunday, June 26, 2011

" I COULD BE THE NEXT BOBBY CHARLTON "





" IF MY HAIR TRANSPLANT DOESN'T WORK OUT ! "

CHROMEBOOK

Cloud computing is a term we've heard with increasing frequency recently.

It's the idea that our usual computing tasks are not run by the hardware in our computers, but instead on powerful servers connected to your machine via the internet.

Operating systems on netbooks and laptops are still firmly tethered to the hardware, with Windows 7 and Linux distros being the OSes of choice. Into this fray comes Google's Chrome OS, an operating system designed to drag laptops and netbooks into the cloud.

The machines that run Chrome OS are known as Chromebooks, and Samsung is ahead of the pack by releasing the first Chromebook in the UK – the Samsung Chromebook Series 5.

At present there are two models. One is made by Acer and the other by Samsung. The Chromebook represents the fulfillment of a prediction from an unlikely source. That person being Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Mr. Gates said some 25 years ago that someday we would all do our computing simply by means of terminals which connected us to far greater data processing resources placed server side. Gates introduced his belief in the form of a device known as WebTV. It failed… miserably. No one liked it.

Ruling out the Acer model due to what we will politely call quality concerns, the price of a Samsung Chromebook is roughly the same as a regular 15″ screen laptop. An HP netbook is 40% cheaper. Netbooks and notebooks allow one to do all of the things a Chromebook can do. Plus they allow for offline use of applications. If you are not connected to the internet, your Chromebook is almost worthless. People will no doubt purchase Chromebook so as to view and admire the new operating system technology. They will quickly discover that this technology is a puffed up browser and little more. A Chromebook without a hard drive does less than an Android phone. A HP netbook does everything the Chromebook does and more. When iPad prices drop, and indeed they will, an iPad will be cheaper than a Chromebook.

The Samsung costs between $499 / €350 and $429 / €300.

lol

COULDN'T YOU JUST WATCH THIS FOR HOURS ?

Saturday, June 25, 2011

GAME OF THRONES - SEASON 2

HBO’s Game of Thrones has made its first casting hire for season 2:

Natalie Dormer, who memorably played the seductive and doomed Anne Boleyn on Showtime’s The Tudors, has been added to the fantasy drama’s regular cast.

Dormer will play Margaery Tyrell, a (minor spoiler alert) beautiful and shrewd young woman from the influential House Tyrell. She’s pledged to marry the late King Robert’s brother, Renly Baratheon, as part of House Tyrell’s support for his bid to seize the Iron Throne from King Joffrey.

In addition to The Tudors (where, appropriately enough for joining the decapitation-filled Thrones, her character was beheaded) Dormer is also appearing in the upcoming Captain America.

James Spader in talks to join 'The Office'

The Office may have found a new boss: James Spader is negotiating with NBC to join the hit comedy next fall — but not merely as the manager of the Scranton branch.

The three-time Emmy winning Boston Legal star has been reportedly in the mix to replace Steve Carell for awhile, and even guest starred in the season finale as one of several celebrity contenders vying for the Dunder Mifflin manager gig.

But producers have a different role in mind for Spader: CEO of Dunder Mifflin, replacing Kathy Bates, who sources say will exit the show to focus on season 2 of Harry’s Law. “In the finale, he kicked ass,” says a source close to the show. “He was so funny and had this weird energy. We didn’t want to pass it up.”


The Office TV News - The Office Season 7 Finale - Search Committee Fail! Who Will be the New Office Boss? - 05/23/11 from SideReel on Vimeo.

Whereas Bates functioned more like a guest star in the series, however, Spader would have a significant weekly presence on the show. The actor’s deal is not done and no scripts have been written for the upcoming eighth season, which goes into production in about a month. Yet if all goes according to plan, Spader’s character — named “Robert California” — will be introduced in the premiere as the new Office manager. He quickly decides the role is too small for him, and somehow talks corporate into appointing him as its new CEO.

Sources say California will have a strong impact on the rest of the Office staff, demonstrating a manipulative power and a somewhat creepy sexual vibe:

TODAYS JOKE


Local police continue the hunt today for the "Knitting Needle Nutter" who has stabbed six people in the arse in the last 48 hours, they believe the attacker is following some kind of pattern.

I'll get me affidavit !

Hobbit House Manila

They bill themselves as “The only restaurant in the world owned, managed, and staffed by HOBBITS.”

These little people are the staff and give the place character. The Hobbit House was founded in 1973 with the purpose of giving little people a shot at running their own business. The bar has a Tolkien “Lord of the Rings Theme” and features some good music. The drinks are pricey but it’s a tourist trap so you kind of expect it.



There’s lot’s to drink in this place. The bartenders are of average height but all the wait staff are short.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Columbo Actor Peter Falk Dies

Peter Falk has died at age 83, reports KTLA in Los Angeles and Variety. The beloved Columbo star died at his home in Beverly Hills last night.

The actor had been suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's disease, according to his daughter, Catherine Falk.

In 2009, a judge established a conservatorship for the ailing actor after a court battle between Catherine and wife of more than 30 years, Shera Falk.

Falk won four Emmys for his starring role in Columbo.

Marvin Gaye vs. The Pixies

TODAYS JOKE


I had 200 litres of Tippex delivered to my house today ................. Big mistake !


I'll get me eraser !

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

CHELSEA APPOINT VILLAS-BOAS

Andre Villas-Boas factfile


1977: Born in Porto on October 17.

1993: Invited to work as a trainee with FC Porto's youth-team coaches by manager Sir Bobby Robson.

1994: Achieves UEFA C coaching licence in Scotland.

2000: Takes charge of the British Virgin Islands for two international matches. Both end in defeat.

2002: Becomes part of Jose Mourinho's backroom staff at Porto.

2004: Follows Mourinho to Chelsea.

2008: Moves with Mourinho to Inter Milan.

2009: Appointed manager of Academica in October, with club bottom of the table and without a win. Villas-Boas guides them to an 11th-place finish and a Portuguese League Cup semi-final.

2010: June 2 - Appointed manager of boyhood club Porto.

August 7 - Wins Portuguese Supercup with 2-0 victory over Benfica.

2011: April 3 - Leads Porto to their 25th league title, finishing with the biggest ever winning margin over second place (21 points).

May 18 - Porto win Europa League with a 1-0 triumph over fellow Portuguese side Braga.

May 22 - Guides Porto to a trophy treble with a comprehensive 6-2 win over Vitoria de Guimaraes in Portuguese Cup final.

June 21 - Porto confirm Villas-Boas has tendered his resignation and his contract will be terminated once his 15million euros release clause has been paid.

Porto later announce they have received the required compensation, with Chelsea releasing a short statement confirming their interest in Villas-Boas and their intention to agree personal terms in the near future.

June 22 - Appointed Chelsea manager on a three-year contract.

For everything you need to know about Andre Villas-Boas, click here -> http://www.hasandrevillasboasbeensackedyet.com/

Monday, June 20, 2011

Will Andre Villas-Boas Accept Offer To Become Chelsea Manager ?

Andre Villas-Boas may accept an offer to become manager of Chelsea Football Club, according to reports in Portugal. Chelsea have reportedly agreed to pay the £13.2m release clause to get Villas-Boas out of his contract with Porto to head to west London.

Villas-Boas, 33, is no stranger to Stamford Bridge, having worked there under Jose Mourinho, and the Portuguese coach has seen his stock rise after guiding the Dragons to domestic and Europa League success last season.


However, the Dragons insist as yet no deal has been done for his departure.

"So far this club has not received any communication that this clause has been exercised, nor of the agreement of the coach that is desired," a Porto statement read.

Despite their determination to keep hold of Villas-Boas, president Pinto da Costa admitted the club could not prevent their manager from leaving should certain financial conditions be met.

"Villas-Boas has a contract and a clause of 15million euros," he confirmed.

"If someone deposits 15million euros into our account and he wants to go, we can not do anything because it is something that is contractually specified."

While there has as yet been no official comment from Chelsea, reports suggest a £4.4m-a-year salary is on the table for Villas-Boas, who could bring star striker Falcao to Stamford Bridge along with him.

THERE BE DRAGONS !

GAME OF THRONES - SEASON 1

How does a show top killing off its main character ? ............ For Game of Thrones, that was the challenge after the shocking death of Ned Stark, but the show somehow managed to get even better.

The Terrible Reign of King Joffrey

I've never rooted for a kid to be killed on a TV show before, but I'm willing to make an exception for this supremely awful tween. After ordering Ned Stark's execution, Joffrey has a singer's tongue cut out and then show's Sansa her father's head on a pike. Yes, he's just a kid, but I hope Robb Stark finds him and makes his death slow and painful.



The Rise of King Robb

Robb wants revenge for his father's death, vowing to "Kill them all." And to do that, he'll need an army, and he has one that's willing to do anything he says, as they declare him the King of the North. The promise of seeing two kings battle for control in season 2 is quite exciting.




One Bad-Ass Widow

Ned Stark's widow proves that she's a total bad-ass, first by explaining to her son Robb that first they have to rescue her two daughters, and then they'll kill them all. Later, when she confronts Jaime Lannister, she beats him with a rock, which is a good start for his punishment.




The New Hand of the King

There has been a lot of turnover this season in King's Landing, but this newest twist is one I can get behind. Tyrion Lannister's father, after realizing his dwarf son is pretty smart, assigns him to take over as the new Hand of the King to help guide Joffrey. Hooray for the imp !




The Rise of the Dragons

I've always been a bit annoyed by the Khal Drogo storyline because it never tied into the rest of the show, but all is forgiven now that there are dragons. The price Daenerys paid to rescue her Khal was the death of her baby, and even worse, Khal Drogo was only alive in a coma. The Khalisi, who has become increasingly great all season, suffocated him and burned him and the witch doctor on a funeral pyre, along with her three dragon eggs.


Daenerys then walked into the pyre, but the next morning, when everything was turned to ashes, Daenerys was magically alive, naked, and the eggs had hatched, leaving the Khalisi with three baby dragons.

I wonder how big they'll be in another 10 months.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

FAMOUS MISQUOTES

"Beam me up, Scotty"

From the Star Trek science fiction television series. Several variants of this do occur in the series, such as "Energize", "Beam me aboard," "Beam us up home," or "Two to beam up," but "Beam me up, Scotty" was never said during the run of the original Star Trek series. However, the quote "Beam me up, Scotty" was uttered in Star Trek: The Animated Series. The movie Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home included the closest other variation: "Scotty, beam me up." James Doohan, the actor who played Scotty, did choose this phrase as the title of his 1996 autobiography.

Kayabukiya Tavern

The Kayabukiya Tavern is a traditional-style Japanese "sake-house" restaurant (izakaya) located in the city of Utsunomiya, north of Tokyo, Japan. The location received international notoriety in 2008 when the Western media reported the tavern and its news movies were uploaded to YouTube.



The tavern's owner, Kaoru Otsuka, owns two pet macaque monkeys who are currently employed to work at the location. The first monkey, twelve-year-old "Yat-chan", is dressed in a shirt and shorts while he takes customers' drink orders and delivers them to the diners' tables.

The restaurant's owner, Otsuka, reported that he never initially taught the monkeys; Yat-chan first learned from watching him work. Otsuka said, "It all started when one day when I gave him a hot towel out of curiosity and he brought the towel to the customer." The younger macaque, named Fuku-chan, is currently four years old and has the main duty of bringing the attendees hot towels to clean their hands before ordering drinks. Fuku-chan has only two years of experience, while Yat-chan has been reportedly performing the job for a longer time.

Both monkeys receive boiled soya beans from customers as tips for their service. The monkeys' environment has been inspected to ensure proper treatment of the animals; due to Japanese animal rights regulations, they are each only allowed to work for two hours a day. The owner says that he will be introducing more simians to work as waiters at Kayabukiya, and as of October 2008 is currently training three young monkeys to take on the job

Saturday, June 18, 2011

" I'd like a Flaky Fecal Fillet Sandwich please, and hold the mayo "



Sounds like a Southpark episode to me.

INTERWEB WARS

Hackers attack one another: LulzSec at war with Anonymous, 4Chan members

LulzSec, the Internet group that is very vocal about its hacking escapades, seems to have gone to war with members of 4Chan, an Internet message board, and Anonymous, the activist hacker group whose members come from 4Chan.

LulzSec, the hacking group that recently hacked PBS and SONY, is now openly taunting members of the internet image board 4chan, and specifically the members of its /b/ group, otherwise known as the hacker group “Anonymous”.

Lulz Security is even crowd-sourcing prank calls against 4chan’s web hosting company via their hotline: 614-LULZSEC.

In response, 4chan users have initiated an all-out internet manhunt to track down members of LulzSec.

A poster making the rounds on the Internet appears to have been created by Anonymous or members of 4Chan. It calls for people to identify the members of LulzSec or alert the FBI if they know who they are. The poster contains graphic and offensive language.

THIS IS NOT THE POSTER - THE ACTUAL POSTER IS VERY OFFENSIVE

On Tuesday, LulzSec tweeted: "Challenged accepted, losers :D," acknowledging the group was aware that members of 4Chan were after it.

A day later LulzSec tweeted a message implying it had launched a denial of service attack on 4Chan's Web hosting company in an effort to take it down.

"Sorry Anonymous, your LOIC hive is no match for our phone redirect hive. A certain hosting company just got 1000+ calls," LulzSec tweeted.

Anonymous says it has an activist agenda, most recently hacking websites of the Turkish government in support of freedom of speech. It didn't seem bothered by LulzSec's attacks on PBS, Fox or Sony. But when LulzSec appeared to have tried to crash the Web servers for three popular Internet games -- League of Legends, Minecraft and EVE Online -- 4Chan and Anonymous members seemed to have become frustrated with their hacker counterparts.

Lulzsec says “For the past month and a bit, we’ve been causing mayhem and chaos throughout the Internet, attacking several targets including PBS, Sony, Fox, porn websites, FBI, the U.S. government, Sony some more, online gaming servers (by request of callers, not by our own choice), Sony again, and of course our good friend Sony,” said the group in a statement posted to Pastebin.

Not only is LulzSec now engaged in an all-out war with 4chan, these hackers were also busy today taking down the CIA website.

That’s right, the CIA’s official website at www.cia.gov is currently down and out with LulzSec posting the following tweet:


The sentiment — that LulzSec is doing us all a favor by publicizing their dastardly deeds — is actually shared by a growing number of people the “white hat” (i.e. non-criminal) cybersecurity industry. These people, tasked with protecting us from their evil counterparts, have been trying desperately for ages to explain the cornucopia of risks that goes with life online. Until now, however, few have paid attention. Instead, most of us non-hackers hide behind paper walls of anti-virus software, thinking we’re all-good. LulzSec simply forces us to pay attention.

I hope these guys know what they’re getting into, as the government has declared that any and all hacking attempts will be viewed as an act of war.

It’s pretty incredible that LulzSec was able to take down the CIA. It makes you wonder what other so-called “secure” websites they can hack into? Is our personal financial information more at risk that it was 24 hours ago?

TODAYS JOKE

Three blondes were all applying for the last available position on the Texas Highway Patrol.
The detective conducting the interview looked at the three of them and said, "So y'all want to be cops, huh?"

The blondes all nodded.

The detective got up, opened a file drawer, and pulled out a folder.
Sitting back down, he opened it, pulled out a picture, and said,
"To be a detective, you have to be able to detect.
You must be able to notice things such as distinguishing features and oddities like scars and so forth."

So saying, he stuck the photo in the face of the first blonde and
withdrew it after about two seconds.
"Now," he said, "did you notice any distinguishing features about this man?"

The blonde immediately said, "Yes, I did He has only one eye!"

The detective shook his head and said, "Of course he has only one eye in this picture! It's a profile of his face!  ........ You're dismissed!"

The first blonde hung her head and walked out of the office.

The detective then turned to the second blonde, stuck the photo in her face for two seconds, pulled it back, and said, "What about you? Notice anything unusual or outstanding about this man?"

"Yes! He only has one ear!"

The detective put his head in his hands and exclaimed, "Didn't you hear what I just told the other lady? This is a profile of the man's face! Of course you can only see one ear! ...You're excused too!"

The second blonde sheepishly walked out of the office.

The detective turned his attention to the third and last blonde and said, "This is probably a waste of time, but...."
He flashed the photo in her face for a couple of seconds and withdrew it, saying, "All right, did you notice anything distinguishing or Unusual about this man?"

The blonde said, "I sure did. This man wears contact lenses.

" The detective frowned, took another look at the picture, and began looking at some of the papers in the folder. He looked up at the blonde with a puzzled expression and said, "You're absolutely right! His bio says he wears contacts! How in the world could you tell that by looking at his picture?"

The blonde rolled her eyes and said,
"Well, Hellooooooooooooo! With only one eye and one ear, he certainly can't wear glasses."

I'll get me reflective Raybans !!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

SOLD !

The mansion, built by late producer Aaron Spelling and wife Candy, had been listed at $150 million.

Late producer Aaron Spelling's 57,000-square-foot Los Angeles mansion is finally off the market.
The Holmby Hills house -- where Spelling once lived with wife Candy, daughter Tori and son Randy -- is slated to be sold to Petra Ecclestone, a 22-year-old heiress to the Formula One racing fortune, the Wall Street Journal reported.


The house, which sits on five acres, includes a bowling alley, beauty salon, several gift-wrapping rooms, a flower-cutting room, a china room, a "Prince Charles suite" named after the one-time guest and enough parking for a whopping 100 cars.

The French chateau-style mansion -- dubbed "The Manor" -- was listed at $150 million, but the sale price was not disclosed. It was officially listed in March 2009 but had been shown to potential buyers starting in 2008.

The Spellings bought the property in the 1980s but tore down the existing house to build the current mansion. It was considered the largest house in L.A. when it was built in 1991.

According to the WSJ, Ecclestone -- the daughter of British billionaire and Formula One racing boss Bernie Ecclestone -- intends to split her time between London and Los Angeles after she marries entrepreneur James Stunt in August.

First Look at 'The Avengers' Movie Costumes for Captain America, Iron Man, Hawkeye

While the film is still a year away from release, The Avengers movie is of course already a hot commodity in the lucrative business of product licensing.

The International Licensing Expo begins this week in Las Vegas, where the Marvel Studios' next film is on displaying in a promotional image featuring the main Avengers cast as they will appear in the Joss Whedon film, including new costumes for Captain America and Iron Man and our first look at the live-action Hawkeye.


An attendee of the International Licensing Expo in Las Vegas spotted a promotional image for The Avengers, the in-production Marvel Studios films that unites the screen versions of Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye and the Hulk. While not a proper film poster and more of a Photoshop job, the poster seems to confirm that Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye will be operating sans-mask. Thor is seen once again without his helmet, Captain America is sporting an updated look, and Iron Man's armor seems to have some new silver accents. The Hulk and Black Widow look similar to how they've appeared in previous Marvel Studios films.

Written and directed by Joss Whedon, The Avengers stars Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Samuel L. Jackson, Clark Gregg and Tom Hiddleston. The film opens May 4, 2012.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

FAMOUS MOVIE MISQUOTES



"You dirty rat !"



Never said by James Cagney in any film. However, in Blonde Crazy (1931) he says that another character is a "dirty, double-crossing rat!"

Monday, June 13, 2011

GET OVER IT FOLKS




Trivia ... Ser Ilyn Payne, the king's executioner was a knight and warrior who had his tongue removed on the order of the Mad King [King Aerys II Targaryen], The role is played by Wilko Johnson, a founder member of Dr. Feelgood – a mainstay of the 1970s pub rock movement, he also player with Ian Dury's band The Blockheads in the 1980s.

Lord Eddard Stark is beheaded with his own sword ' Ice '.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Dalglish spends £8m at vending machine

LIVERPOOL manager Kenny Dalglish has defended his decision to spend £8m on a bag of crisps and a can of Irn Bru.

He fought off bids from rival managers who were willing to pay up to £1.30 for the snacks and sees the purchase as a sign of Liverpool's renewed ambition.

He continued to stuff cheques into the coin slot of the vending machine until an engineer was called.

Dalglish said: "You've got to understand that there's always a premium for home-grown soft drinks like Irn Bru as they instinctively understand the British way of having lunch. And it's a full sugar can so it's got bags of energy.

"Combined with the crisps - limited edition Marmite flavour so we really had to loosen the purse strings - it's going to go brilliantly with this corned beef roll that I picked up for £20m.

"It's Fray Bentos corned beef so I'm expecting a bit of that South American flair with my dinner today. It's the kind of meal that tells the Chelseas and the Uniteds that we mean exceptionally expensive business."

Assistant Steve Clarke has angrily asked why nobody was monitoring Dalglish while the former Chelsea man was away in Italy being shown around the remains of Aquilani.

Clarke said: "I thought we had learned from January when he was allowed out for an hour to see what was in the John Lewis sale and he came back with a sofa shaped like Andy Carroll that we've no room for?"

Thursday, June 9, 2011

TODAY'S TOP TIP

LADIES : A cigar tube filled with angry wasps makes an ideal cheap alternative to a vibrator.

WOW



This mystery reveller was thrown out of the theatre awards do, hosted by Stephen Fry, after he fell over in front of guests including Sir Ian McKellen and Liam Neeson.

FAIL !

Goalkeeper celebrates too early, costs his team promotion

The footage you're about to witness comes from the lower leagues of Italian soccer, in an encounter between Termeno and Dro. The teams were level at the end of the match, thus concluding with a dreaded penalty shootout.



After several nail-biting penalties had already been taken, Michael Palma of Termero had the weight of the world on his shoulders. It was simple. Miss, stay in Promozione (7th level of Italian soccer). Score, remain in contention for promotion to Eccellenza (6th level of Italian soccer).

Palma's shot struck the crossbar and vanished into thin air, almost as if NASA had sent it on a space mission. Dro goalkeeper, Loris Angeli, began celebrating his team's "promotion" while Palma hung his head in shame. Little to the knowledge of either player, the ball returned and slowly bounced over the line. Teremeno were still in with a chance!

Ironically, Dro missed their next penalty and Teremeno gained promotion to Eccellenza.

SERIOUSLY ?????

YEP, TAKEN FROM HER HIGHSCHOOL DATABASE

'The World According to Paris.'

It would seem Paris Hilton, and her new reality show, "The World According to Paris," are—as the hotel heiress would say—“not hot.”

The lowly 400,000 viewers the 30-year-old’s fly-on-the-wall style show brought in during its June 1 premiere on the Oxygen network are simply embarrassing in contrast to the 13 million gained by the debut of her first reality series, Fox’s “The Simple Life,” back in 2003.

Have a sick bag ready

But it doesn’t end there. Not only is hardly anyone watching the new show—which was meant to showcase the celebutante’s newfound maturity—the media is all but laughing at Miss Hilton’s apparent bomb, a show, which is made up mostly of Hilton shopping, whining about some much deserved community service, and bathing on-camera.

The 'Singer, Actress, Fashion Designer and Author ' [her words, not mine] opted out of various interviews and press appointments when news came in about the rating for the new show.

Oh Dear

WHAT A TRANS-FORMATION

A contestant on Thailand's Got Talent left everyone surprised when she switched from her female voice to a male voice while singing a song, and the video of her performance has increased her popularity worldwide.

Although she didn't win the talent show, the exposure she received from her appearance has resulted in her becoming much more widely known around the world.



She now has about 25,000 fans on her Facebook page.

Usain Bolt says he's good enough to play for Manchester United

In a recent interview with BBC Sport, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt has made clear his intentions once he retires from athletics.


Bolt has often stressed his love for English soccer club Manchester United, and even gave Cristiano Ronaldo some sprinting advice back in 2009.

Speaking to the BBC, Bolt said: “I really want to try soccer after I retire because I’ve watched football over the years and I think I could be a good contender. I definitely think I’m good enough to play for Manchester United. I'm good enough because I’m quick, I have a little skill - I have to refine it a little bit but I should be good enough.”

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

TODAY'S QUESTION


I've heard it said that "God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve" ..... so, the obvious question has to be ....... Who created Steve ?


Hmmmmmm ...................

MY MUSICAL MEMORIES

Andrew Maurice Gold (August 2, 1951 – June 3, 2011) was an American singer, musician and songwriter. His works include the Top 10 single "Lonely Boy" (1977), as well as the singles "Thank You for Being a Friend" (1978), and "Never Let Her Slip Away" (1978).


IT'S NOT NICE TO TEASE

Monday, June 6, 2011

Sarah Palin's Unbelievable Reimagining of Paul Revere's Ride

Sarah Palin says she didn't mess up her history on Paul Revere.

The potential 2012 presidential candidate was in Boston on Thursday as part of her bus tour when she was asked about the Revolutionary War hero.

Palin said Revere "warned the British that they weren't gonna be takin' away our arms."

Palin, a paid Fox News contributor, told "Fox News Sunday" that she was correct. She says there were British soldiers in the area for years before Revere's legendary ride, and that he was warning them, as well as his fellow colonists.



Surely this is American History 101 ....... even in Ireland we know that Paul Revere didn't ride to warn the British .... not to mention ' bells and shots '. The least one would expect from a Presidential nominee would be a basic grasp of the history of the country they might be running in.

OH .......... THE IRONY

Final Minutes Of Last Harry Potter Movie To Be Split Into Seven Separate Films

NO ......... IT AINT ZORRO !

It seems that Mexico’s historical pattern is to have a war every one hundred years: first, the Independence struggle (1807-1821); then, the Mexican Revolution (1910-1929); and now the War on Drugs (2006-present). It is estimated that over 30,000 people have been murdered in Mexico since President Felipe Calderon declared a war on the drug cartels in 2006. Just to put things into perspective, the number of casualties in Mexico in 2010 alone were twice as many as the number of U.S. casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan combined in the 2003-2010 period.

This Z scratched into a hill alongside the highway to the Mexican city of Monterrey stakes out
territory of Zetas drug cartel.
Mexicans are not the only victims of this war. Central and South American undocumented migrants who are traveling through Mexico in route to the United States are easy targets for the drug cartels. The Human Rights Commission of Mexico stated 20,000 migrants are kidnapped each year while trying to cross the Mexico-US border. Last year, there was a massacre of 72 migrants near Matamoros by Los Zetas Drug Cartel.

PLANKERS

The lying down game (also known as planking, or face downs) is an activity, popular in Asia and Australia, consisting of lying face down in an unusual or incongruous location. The hands must touch the sides of the body, and having a photograph of the participant taken and posted on the internet is an integral part of the game. Players compete to find the most unusual and original location in which to play. The location should also be as public as possible, and as many people as possible should be involved

The term "planking" was coined in Australia and the practice became a fad in 2011. It has its origins in the "lying down game".

The lying down game was invented by Gary Clarkson and Christian Langdon in 1997 It first became popular in North East England, then all of Britain by the summer of 2009 reaching the point by late 2010 where it was described by Andrew Sullivan as "sweeping Britain". The game made news in September 2009, when seven doctors and nurses working at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon, England were suspended for playing the lying down game while on duty. The game has been described by some as "pointless" and as "Parkour for those who can’t be arsed".

WEDNESDAY 25th MAY WAS ' ANNUAL GLOBAL PLANKING DAY'.

One could strain with all their might and still be unable to conceive of things more meaninglessly self-abasing than lying face-down to get some thumbs-up, but we live in desperately meaningless times. And it’s not as if there weren’t stupid teen crazes of yore. Train-surfing wasn’t the brightest of ideas, yet at least it carried a subtext of poverty, bravery, and danger. It also required a modicum of athletic skill. Pole-sitting was a goofy American fad in the Roaring Twenties before the Great Depression came along and replaced it with a goofier fad of stockbrokers jumping from skyscraper ledges.



http://www.facebook.com/pages/Planking-Australia/147452668649160?closeTheater=1

FAVORITE MOVIE LINES


Steve Martin as Private Eye Rigby Reardon to Lana Turner [ Jimmy Sue ] in ' Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid '.

" Has anyone ever told you that your lips are like two brussels sprouts waiting to be buttered and bitten ? "

Sunday, June 5, 2011

NAUGHTY NAUGHTY !

It seems that Ryan Giggs' affair with Imogen Thomas was just the tip of the iceberg.

The midfield lothario may not be so spic and span as we were all led to believe, for nearly two decades there has been debate about whether Manchester United football star Ryan Giggs plays his best games at home or away. Now thanks to the NOTW News of the World UK tabloid all those debates have been resolved overnight. Here is the breaking news that Ryan Giggs has been servicing his brother’s wife Natasha on a regular basis for over eight yours.


Giggs' sister in law Natasha slipped quietly up the Wapping road and told the News of the World all about her 8 year affair with her brother-in-law this week.

Natasha tells a sordid story of eight years of sex deception and guilt. It’s only a matter of time before the keywords #affair #sister-in-law and #Natasha are added to #RyanGiggs #injuction and #ImogenThomas as Goggles top searched words of the week.

In 2005 Natasha married Gigg’s brother Rhodri. The report tells of romps with Ryan the day after the birth of his first child in 2003. Romps with Ryan the day after the birth of his second child in 2006 whilst wife Stacy was still in hospital. There were more romps with Ryan when Natasha was pregnant with his brother Rhodri’s child in 2005. Nataasha talks of being in bed with Ryan’s brother Rhodri when Ryan called and pestered her into a meeting at the De Vere Belfry hotel, where they had sex again.

In 2007 the affair came to an end after Rhodri discovered text messages on Natasha’s phone. Before he could establish who they were from he smashed the phone. Clever Natasha had stored Ryan’s number under UKW, (you know who) and Rhodri not being blessed with a head full of smarts never worked out that his brother was sleeping with his wife. But the incident led to a postponement of their marriage.

By 2009 everyone apart from Rhodri and Stacy seemed to know Manchester’s worst kept secret. When Natasha was approached by a random stranger in a club asked, “Is this true are you sleeping with Ryan Giggs, your brother in law” she knew it was only a matter of time before her guilty secret came out.

In 2010 Natasha married Rhodri and in the Sept of that year the couple threw a celebration party. Ryan Giggs did not attend, he was at China White’s in London that evening where he met Imogen Thomas for the first time.

GUESS IT'S TIME FOR THE BALACLAVA WEARING UNITED FANS TO TAKE A TRIP DOWN TO THAT THERE LONDON !!

LOOKING FORWARD TO .....................

IS GARY BUSEY CRAZY ....... OR ......... COULD HE ACTUALLY BE THE SANEST MAN ON THE PLANET ?

Saturday, June 4, 2011

WATCH OUT MESSI

BAKED, GRILLED, OR FRIED DOUGH - COVERED SNACKS

A CALZONE

is a turnover that originates from Italy. It is made of ingredients similar to pizza folded over and shaped like a crescent.

The typical calzone is stuffed with tomato and mozzarella, and may include other ingredients usually associated with pizza toppings.

The rolled pizza dough is folded in two over the stuffing and the edge is braided, prior to frying.







A CUDDIRUNI [Sicilian]

Cuddiruni is a rectangular focaccia stuffed with fried onions, tomatoes, sliced boiled potatoes, anchovies, herbs and cheese.

 The “cuddiruni in bianco”, a “white” version is made using cauliflower instead of tomato. Each family makes variations sometime adding meat, fish or vegetables.






A SCACCIATA [Sicilian]

One haute cuisine version is a provolone cheese-filled pastry in a bread dough pie crust. The simpler peasant version is much more like a calzone and is a pizza dough crust folded over and filled with either spinach, broccoli, potatoes and onions, possibly sausage, and a small amount of tomato sauce draped over the crust.





A KNISH

or knysh is an Eastern European, and Yiddish snack food made popular in America by Jewish immigrants, eaten widely by Jewish and non-Jewish peoples alike,

A knish consists of a filling covered with dough that is either baked, grilled, or deep fried.

In the most traditional versions, the filling is made entirely of mashed potato, ground meat, sauerkraut, onions, kasha (buckwheat groats) or cheese. Other varieties of fillings feature sweet potatoes, black beans, fruit, broccoli, tofu or spinach.


A PASTY

sometimes known in (West) Cornish dialect as tiddy oggy, and sometimes as pastie in the United States, is a filled pastry case, associated with Cornwall and Devon, in the south west of England, UK. It is made by placing the uncooked filling on a flat pastry circle, and folding it to wrap the filling, crimping the edge to form a seal. The result is a raised semicircular package. The traditional Cornish pasty, which has Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status in Europe, is filled with beef, sliced or diced potato, swede (also known as a yellow turnip) and onion, seasoned with salt and pepper, and is baked. Today, the pasty is the food most associated with Cornwall and accounts for 6% of the Cornish food economy. Pasties with many different fillings are made; some shops specialise in selling all sorts of pasties.

By law, only Cornish pasties prepared in Cornwall can be called a "Cornish Pasty".

A BRIDIE

A bridie or Forfar bridie is a Scottish type of meat pastry, originally made in the town of Forfar, Scotland.

A bridie is a savoury pie similar to a pasty, but the pastry is not as hard and no potato is used, making it much lighter in texture. The filling is made of minced steak, butter, and beef suet seasoned with salt and pepper, and sometimes with an addition of minced onions. The filling is placed on rolled-out pastry dough which is then folded into a semi-circular or triangular shape and the edges crimped before it is baked in the oven.

Bakers in Forfar traditionally use shortcrust pastry, but flaky pastry is more commonly used in the rest of Scotland.

A Forfar Bridie is a horseshoe-shaped meat product. It has a shortcrust cover and the filling consists of beef, onions and seasoning. The Famous Forfar Bridie originated in the early part of the 19th century.

In some establishments the contents of the bridie can be indicated by the number of holes in the top, one hole signifying that no onions are in the ingredients, and two holes indicating onions have been used.

A JAMAICAN PATTY

is a pastry that contains various fillings and spices baked inside a flaky shell, often tinted golden yellow with an egg yolk mixture or turmeric. It is made like a turnover but is more savory. As its name suggests, it is commonly found in Jamaica, and is also eaten in other areas of the Caribbean, such as Costa Rica's Caribbean coast. In Haiti, the pastry is thick and crispy, making it essentially a turnover. It is traditionally filled with seasoned ground beef, but fillings can include chicken, vegetables, shrimp, lobster, fish, soy, ackee, mixed vegetables or cheese. In Jamaica, the patty is often eaten as a full meal, especially when paired with coco bread. It can also be made as bite-sized portions called cocktail patties.

Among the Jamaican diaspora in the UK, the pastry is more like that of a suet crust, and often made with the fat from Curry Goat which provides the yellow color.

AN EMPANADA

trace their origins to Galicia, Spain and Portugal. In Galicia and Portugal, an empanada is prepared similar to a large pie which is cut in pieces, making it a portable and hearty meal for working people. The filling of Galician and Portuguese empanada usually includes either tuna, sardines or chorizo, but can instead contain cod fish or pork loin. The meat or fish is commonly in a tomato, garlic and onion sauce inside the bread or pastry casing. Due to the large number of Galician immigrants in Latin America, the empanada gallega has also become popular in that region.

The dish was carried to Latin America and the Philippines by Spanish colonists, and to Indonesia by the Portuguese, where they remain very popular to this day. Empanadas in Latin America, the Philippines and Indonesia have various fillings, detailed below.

A PASTEL [Brazillian]

In Brazil, pastel is a typical fast food Brazilian dish, consisting of thin pastry envelope wrapping with assorted fillings that is deep fried in vegetable oil. The result is a crispy, brownish pastry. The most common fillings are ground beef meat, mozzarella cheese, heart of palm, catupiry cream cheese, chicken meat and small shrimps. There are also sweet fillings like guava jam with Minas cheese, banana, and chocolate, but these are not so common.

The pastel is classified in Brazilian cuisine as a salgado (salty snack). Pastel is traditionally sold on the streets or in fast food shops known as "pastelarias". The pastel is usually eaten accompanied by cold sugarcane juice. It is popularly said to have originated when Japanese immigrants adapted Chinese fried wontons to sell as snacks at weekly street markets.

A RISSOLE

is a small croquette, enclosed in pastry or rolled in breadcrumbs, usually baked or deep fried. It is filled with sweet or savory ingredients, most often minced meat or fish, and is served as an entrée, main course, dessert or side dish.

In Portugal, rissoles are known as rissóis (singular "rissol") and are a very popular snack that can be found in many cafes and in barbecues and house parties. Rissóis are a breaded pastry shaped as half-moon usually filled with fish or shrimp in béchamel sauce and then deep fried. Very frequently minced meat is used too. Some other variations use chicken or a combination of cheese and ham as filling. Rissóis are usually eaten cold, as a snack or appetiser, but they can also be a main course usually served with rice and/or salad.

Fried rissoles are common in Republic of Ireland, especially in the county of Wexford, where potato is boiled, mashed, mixed with herbs and spices, battered or breadcrumbed, and served with chips (French-fries), and/or chicken or battered sausages.

A SAMOSA

is a stuffed pastry and a popular snack in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, the Mediterranean, Southwest Asia, the Horn of Africa, North Africa and South Africa. It generally consists of a fried or baked triangular, semi-lunar or tetrahedral pastry shell with a savory filling, which may include spiced potatoes, onions, peas, coriander, and lentils, or ground beef or chicken. The size and shape of a samosa as well as the consistency of the pastry used can vary considerably, although it is mostly triangular.

While samosas are traditionally fried, many Westerners prefer to bake them, as this is more convenient and healthier. Variations using phyllo or flour tortillas are sometimes used.

A PIROZHKI [Russian]

is a generic word for individual-sized baked or fried buns stuffed with a variety of fillings.

A common variety of pirozhki are baked stuffed buns made from yeast dough and often glazed with egg to produce the common golden colour. They may contain sweet-based fillings such as stewed or fresh fruit (apples, cherries, apricots, chopped lemon, etc), jam, or cottage cheese; a vegetable filling (mashed potatoes, mushrooms, onions and egg, cabbage); meat or fish; an oatmeal filling mixed with meat or giblets. The buns may be plain and stuffed with the filling, or else be made in a free-form style with strips of dough decoratively encasing the filling.



A FATAYER


is a meat pie pastry that can alternatively be stuffed with spinach (sabaneq), or cheese (jibnah). It is part of Middle Eastern cuisine and is eaten in Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan and other countries in the region.









A CURRY PUFF

Curry puffs are commonly seen in Singapore's Pasar Malams and other stalls in shopping centres. Additionally, the epok-epok is a popular variation in some of Singapore's hawker centres, usually amongst Malay stalls. Alternatively, the more common type of curry puff has a thick or flaky English-style crust, with a mixture of Chinese and Indian styles in the filling.
They may also be categorized into hand-made or mass produced machine-made puffs. Both variations are popular in Singapore, although some might argue that the former is typically more delicious.
Other puff snacks modelled on the curry puff concept have also been introduced. For example, A1 Curry Puff also sells puffs with yam, durian, corn, red bean, nata de coco, grass jelly, bird's nest and even custard fillings.

Besides the more "exotic" fillings mentioned, there are also more conventional flavours which are quite popular with the locals. These puffs are readily available in Singapore, which include sardine, black-pepper chicken and tuna fillings.