March 29, 2002
Shark Attack Victim Describes Survival Fight.
Shark Attack Victim Describes Survival Fight. The attack happened at Brennecke Beach in Hawii. There are presently around 70-80 Shark attacks each year. Over time there have been some notable survivers: Rodney Fox - who was almost bitten in half by a Great White, then went on to advise on the making of Jaws, and some Alabama guys who escaped after one of them hit the shark in the nose - to name a couple. However, there can't be many who have match this Hawaiin guys efforts. His fight technique was simply outstanding.
The 101 Dumbest Moments in Business
The 101 Dumbest Moments in Business It's all here: Enron, Arthur Andersen, Burger King, Mickey D's, CNN, FOX, and the all time favorite, Microsoft. They had to limit it to 101 moments due to size constraints...
Congress is now calling for public comments on the Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act (CBDTPA). EFF has a new action alert about it and a sample letter. Everyone should write, even if you have already.
Run faster, jump higher.
Run faster, jump higher. What happens when you cross stilts and pogo sticks? The next 'extreme sport' on the verge of the big time, or a new and fun way to really injure yourself?
MTV has best first quarter ever, thanks in part to The Osbournes.
MTV has best first quarter ever, thanks in part to The Osbournes. The extremely high, record-breaking ratings of The Osbournes have helped "MTV [score] its highest first-quarter ratings in its history among all its young viewer demographic categories," Mediaweek.com reports. (via Reality Blurred)
Beatles wanted to do Lord of the Rings film in 1960s
Beatles wanted to do Lord of the Rings film in 1960s John was to play Gollum; Paul would be Frodo; George would play Gandalf; and Ringo would play Sam.
Pacific Island States To Sue Western Countries Over Rising Sea Levels
Pacific Island States To Sue Western Countries Over Rising Sea Levels
At the meeting of Pacific Conference of Leaders' Standing Committee at the East West Center in Honolulu, members discussed the use of lawsuits to draw attention to the risks which climate change pose their countries, and to pressure the US and Australia to sign Kyoto. (1)
The conference nearly coincided with a report by the AU National Tidal facility which reported sinking sea levels in Tuvalu. (1, 2, 3) This story is particularly interesting (1) on human impact on Tuvalu.
Heading into another major El Nino year, there is no doubt that Pacific states are vulnerable, but how should they argue for recognition of climatic inequalities?
At the meeting of Pacific Conference of Leaders' Standing Committee at the East West Center in Honolulu, members discussed the use of lawsuits to draw attention to the risks which climate change pose their countries, and to pressure the US and Australia to sign Kyoto. (1)
The conference nearly coincided with a report by the AU National Tidal facility which reported sinking sea levels in Tuvalu. (1, 2, 3) This story is particularly interesting (1) on human impact on Tuvalu.
Heading into another major El Nino year, there is no doubt that Pacific states are vulnerable, but how should they argue for recognition of climatic inequalities?
Here at Metafilter - as in many other places on the web -
we spend a lot of time talking about (and in) Haiku. For some reason the web-enabled generation
has come to think of Haiku as a hip, funny, and
somewhat ironic way to express ... anything. But lest we forget that Haiku is, first and
foremost, a beautiful, traditonal art form. How many of you out there know much about the history of Haiku? Did you know
that Japan is full of monuments to Haiku?
Have you heard of or read any of the great traditional haiku poets, like Masaoka Shiki, the man for whom the International Haiku Award is named?
If you enjoy reading traditional-style Haiku, you can read any number of magazines devoted exclusively to Haiku.
Many of us have not tried to write Haiku since Junior High - do you perhaps need some instructions on how to write Haiku?
If you really enjoy reading or writing Haiku, perhaps you might wish to join the Haiku Society of America.
And, of course, if you wish to know more about Haiku, there are any number of other resources out on
the web.
I've always had a love hate relationship with The Big Breakfast. But now that it's come to the end of a ten year run I think something will be missing in the morning -- it offered something different to the slow newscasting on the BBC and the slow presenters on GMtv. The show went out with a characteristic flourish, not only with this mad scoop on Britney Spears, but also by dumping a giant garden gnome outside Channel 4 offices, it's hand remodelled to give a 'v' sign to the bosses who wielded the axe. Goodbye, you beauty.
All CNN Video now pay for play.
All CNN Video now pay for play. Marketed and sold through RealNetworks' RealOne subscription scheme at $4.95 a month or $39.95 a year. Is there enough demand for CNN Web video to support this?
Remember how a few days ago we talked about this whole worsticons thing here? well. it didn't last too long.
too bad, i thought it was an interesting sub-cultural experiment. that and it was funny.
The Bottom Feeders.
The Bottom Feeders. Are these truly the 5 worst movie critics in America? Personally, Ebert gives me migraines and Joel Siegel makes me want to claw out my eyes. Who's your most hated movie critic?
Jumping Jesus on a Pogo Stick!
Jumping Jesus on a Pogo Stick! A little program that's fun for about five minutes. Play it with your mouse, and make sure you turn the sound on for the full effect.
The Envisat satellite
This article in "The Nation"
This article in "The Nation" bemoans the fact that the U.S is dissing its new best friend Russia, and that the recent entente cordiale is under threat.
This article at the the Institute for War and Peace Reporting suggests that the U.S could, perhaps, be a little more selective in choosing its friends.
I have often wondered if the west would have stood for Russia or the U.S.S.R using force on a scale to that which we have recently witnessed in Afghanistan or Chechnya. It looks like they have become our sons of bitches.
The Philadelphia Daily News has recently covered a series of articles on "Malternatives," those hard liquor laced beverages like hard lemonades and vodka based alterna-beers that have sprung up in the last year. Even though they contain 100% distilled alcohol, they are taxed as beer, saving Smirnoff over $80 million in taxes last year alone. Among their other advantages for manufacturers, they get to advertise on TV and be placed for sale next to milder forms of alcohol, dodging laws against hard liquor. Is this a boon for the industry or deceptive practices?
Arafat is Dead Man Walking
Arafat is Dead Man Walking Looking grim here in the Old USA. Wonder what the future holds?
The Animated William Blake
The Animated William Blake "embraces both the freak and the genius, illuminating the artist's visionary poetry with juggling and physical theater." Earthly delights include t-shirts and fortune cookies.
Immortal classics
Immortal classics I remember as if it were today when I first listened to Marvin Gaye's "Whats Going On" when it first came out. This album has never tired. "What's Going On was the first album out of Motown to include the printed lyrics of the songs in the album liner. Marvin Gaye had something to say and he wanted to make sure people got the message. Thirty-one years later, we're still getting it." Always bewildering why an album becomes immortal.
Butt Implants.
Anti-immigrant parties gain support in Europe
Anti-immigrant parties gain support in Europe as they tap long-standing fears about security and the dilution of national identity. The deep running concern, as in Israel, is that their countries are involuntarily becoming multicultural as guest workers and refugees, mostly Muslim, establish themselves in residence. There are about 15 million Muslims in Europe, making Islam the the continent's largest non-Christian religion.
How important is national identity? What would become of democratic values in a Europeann country with Muslim population explosion? How would it affect their economy, as the immigrants are largely unskilled, heavily relying on the welfare system?
Tired of politics,religion, racism and homophobia? Me too - it's Friday. So, even though it may be old hat, if you haven't been by to see Dancing Paul lately, you should know you've missed some new stuff. Boogie on over and make your own damn band.
Friday flash fighting
Friday flash fighting - all the XiaoXiao stick figure fights, 1-8!
About Sydney Poitier
About Sydney Poitier Something one of my professor's brought up. He said, "I'm tired of everyone being politically correct in Hollywood. They say African-American because they are afraid to say Black." His point being that Mr. Poitier is from the Bahamas and not Africa. What do you think?
Death threats from Quale?
Death threats from Quale?
Former Prime Minister of New Zealand claims that during his term in the mid to late 80's, then vice-president Dan Quale threatened to have him "liquidated". Apparently it was due to NZ's anti-nuke policy and it happened during a meeting with the Australian cabinet. I don't know if this is funny or sad.
Former Prime Minister of New Zealand claims that during his term in the mid to late 80's, then vice-president Dan Quale threatened to have him "liquidated". Apparently it was due to NZ's anti-nuke policy and it happened during a meeting with the Australian cabinet. I don't know if this is funny or sad.
Offended academic smashes German doctor's "Plastination" exhibit in London
Offended academic smashes German doctor's "Plastination" exhibit in London "I decided I would walk into the exhibition with a hammer and smash up the most expensive exhibit to make the point that you cannot turn bodies into commercial exhibits."
This exhibit was discussed on March 21.
Phyllis Chesler calls it as she sees it in her latest feminist manifesto.
Phyllis Chesler calls it as she sees it in her latest feminist manifesto. This is not what you think folks - Chesler toes the line at anti-feminism according to most modern day feminist. I well remember reading Chesler's Letters to a Young Feminist eight years ago and patting down misogynistic tendencies in the hopes of bettering the lives of women everywhere. She calls for sisterhood to further opportunity and does not condone manhating and oppression from the masses which makes her arguments logical as opposed to seething, vituperative vitriol. We all seemed to be begging for a discussion on feminism and issues between the sexes yesterday in this particular post and after reading salon today, felt I would provide one...
Despite what you may have heard, nationally syndicated dee-jay Don Geronimo, half of the team Don and Mike, is not dead. Two weeks after falsely reporting that the radio personality had a "grape sized tumor", the "fan" site DonaAndMikeFans.com (now understandably defunct), reported Geronimo's "death" from said tumor, complete with a perfectly mocked up Washington Post story (sadly now gone from Google's cache). Needless to say, Geronimo was not amused. Between, Westwood One, The Washington Post, and Geronimo himself considering legal action, I'd say that webmaster is screwed. A joke taken too far, or a case of Shock Jocks not being about take what they dish out?
Father demands seperate bathroom for lesbians
Father demands seperate bathroom for lesbians The San Diego school system rejects parents demand to create lesbian bathroom because he did not want his daughter sharing the restroom or dressing area with homosexuals
Double Feature: An American History Test & "The Paula Principle"
Double Feature: An American History Test & "The Paula Principle" Larry David's experiment in web animation may be somewhat disappointing, coming from Seinfeld's funniest writer, but the Voting Booth Test that precedes it, about American presidential antics, is funny, informative, brilliantly presented and...damn difficult! At least for us poor foreigners...[Needs Shockwave or Flash or something. Just click on Play to get to the voting booth.]
Barabbas
Barabbas was spared by the mob in lieu of Jesus on Good Friday. Pär Lagerkvist, a Swedish novelist, explored this incredible character in his 1950 novel:
The novel BARABBAS (1950) was immediately hailed as a masterwork...Barabbas, the criminal in the New Testament, is pardoned instead of Christ, and is sentenced to the silver mines. His is incapable of loving, but becomes gradually aware of greater forces guiding his life.
Now I am myself atheist/agnostic, but I think this is cool. It reminds me of Vonnegut's description of Kilgore Trout as a badly aging Christ, whose sentence of crucifixion had been commuted to life imprisonment.
Among the 'American Taliban' in Smalltown, USA.
Among the 'American Taliban' in Smalltown, USA. "I discovered that Taliban-style attitudes are not restricted to Afghanistan and Pakistan. They exist tenaciously in American towns like this one. Sometimes tolerance prevails in small towns; other times the dark fears and hatreds of the "American Taliban" -- vicious fundamentalists -- are resurgent."
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