I'm Feeling Lucky

NEVER SAY NEVER

2007-04-17T21:42:00.001-04:00

Looks like an interesting film...

The year 1983 saw a strange phenomenon; two rival Bond films.
"Octopussy", starring Roger Moore, was part of the official Cubby
Broccoli Bond franchise. "Never Say Never Again", made by a rival
producer, is, apart from the awful "Casino Royale", the only Bond movie
which does not form part of that franchise. Its big attraction was that
it brought back the original Bond, Sean Connery; its title reputedly
derived from Connery's remark after "Diamonds Are Forever" that he
would never again play the role. Some have complained that Connery was,
at 53, too old for the role, but he was in fact three years younger
than his successor Moore, who not only made "Octopussy" in the same
year but went on to make one further Bond film, "A View to a Kill", two
years later.
The film owes its existence to the settlement of a lawsuit about the film rights to Ian Fleming's work. It is perhaps unfortunate that the terms of the settlement included a clause that the new film had to be a remake of "Thunderball", as that was perhaps not the greatest of the Connery Bonds. (A remake of "Dr No" or "Goldfinger" might have worked better). The plot is much the same as that of the earlier film; the terrorist organisation SPECTRE, acting together with a megalomaniac tycoon named Largo, have stolen two American nuclear warheads and are attempting to hold the world's governments to ransom by threatening to detonate them unless they receive a vast sum of money. It falls to Bond, of course, to save the world by tracking down the missing missiles.

The film is fortunate in that it has not just one but two of the most beautiful Bond girls of all, Barbara Carrera as the seductive but lethal Fatima Blush and Kim Basinger as Largo's girlfriend Domino who defects to Bond's side after learning of her lover's evil plans. A number of the Bond films have a plot that hangs upon the hero's ability to win over the villain's mistress or female accomplice- there are similar developments, for example, in "Goldfinger", "Live and Let Die" and "The Living Daylights". In the official series, Bond's ally is normally regarded as the female lead, but here Carrera, playing the villainess, is billed above Basinger, who was a relatively unknown actress at the time. Basinger, of course, has gone on to become one of Hollywood's biggest stars, whereas Carrera is one of a number of Bond girls who have somewhat faded from view.

Of the villains, Max von Sydow makes an effective Blofeld, the head of SPECTRE, but Klaus Maria Brandauer seemed too bland and nonthreatening as Largo, except perhaps during the "Domination" game, a more sophisticated variant on those violent computer games such as "Space Invaders" that were so popular in the early eighties. Brandauer can be an excellent actor in his native German, in films such as "Mephisto" and "Oberst Redl", but he does not comes across so expressively in English.

One of the film's features is that it both follows the normal Bond formula and, at times, departs from it. There is the standard world-in-peril plot, chase sequences, a series of exotic locations, glamorous women, sinister villains and a specially written theme song based on the film's title. There is, however, no extended pre-credits sequence, and we see some familiar characters in a new light. For example, Bond's boss M becomes a languid, supercilious aristocrat, his American colleague Felix Leiter is shown as black for the only time, and the scientist Q is portrayed by Alec McCowen as a disillusioned cynic with (despite his characteristically upper-class Christian name of Algernon) a distinctly working-class accent. There is also an amusing cameo from Rowan Atkinson as a bumbling British diplomat. Although Connery was perhaps not quite a good here as he was in some of his earlier films in the role, this ringing the changes on the familiar theme makes this one of the more memorable Bonds. 7/10

A goof. Rowan Atkinson's character states that he is from the British Embassy in Nassau. As, however, the Bahamas is a Commonwealth country, Britain would have a High Commission in its capital, not an Embassy.

HE'S A GONER

2007-04-13T16:11:00.001-04:00

Great! Just right before I am going to work on a football project! :-s

clipped from www.tribalfootball.com

Schuster slams Real Madrid's Capello: He's a goner

Getafe coach Bernd Schuster has slammed Fabio Capello's Real Madrid and says the Italian's days are numbered.

Schuster, who is favourite to succeed Capello in the summer, said: "It is practically certain he won't be coach of Real Madrid next season.

"Capello only wants to win, it does not matter how, and with that philosophy you will never succeed at Real Madrid."

On his own future, the German added: "I have not maintained any direct talks with the president of Madrid. I only know that I am on the list of candidates to replace Fabio Capello."

GOD

2007-04-12T22:13:00.001-04:00

God is good.

clipped from en.wikipedia.org

Theologians have ascribed certain attributes to God, including omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, perfect goodness, divine simplicity, and eternal and necessary existence. God has been described as incorporeal, a personal being, a source of moral obligation, and the greatest conceivable existent.^[1] These attributes were supported to varying degrees by the early Christian, Muslim, and Jewish scholars, including St Augustine,^[3] Al-Ghazali,^[4] and Maimonides,^[3] respectively.

The name God refers to the deity held by monotheists to be the supreme reality. God is generally regarded as the sole creator of the universe.^[1] As of 2007, a majority of human beings are classified as adherents of religions that worship a monotheistic God, usually the Abrahamic God of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.^[2]

BEGINNING OF THE END

2007-04-11T16:45:00.001-04:00

Never saw this movie before... and never want to see.

clipped from www.imdb.com

Beginning of the End (1957)

This is one of the most enjoyable of the 1950s "big bug" movies. Filmed
in 1957, in the middle of my favorite sci-fi era, this film enjoys a
better than average cast than you would expect for B science fiction.

People begin to disappear in the surrounding communities outside
Chicago. Photographer/journalist Audrey Aimes, portrayed by the lovely
Peggy Castle, stops to visit Dr. Wainwright, the Dept. of Agriculture
scientist who has used radiation on his plants to make them larger,
only to discover that grasshoppers have feasted on them, thus making an
army of giant sized locusts. This sounds pretty lame by today's
standards but this was standard fare for 1950s science fiction, in the
days when we were scared to death of having a nuclear weapon dropped on
us and being taken over "from within."

TRAVEL DIARY

2007-04-10T18:54:00.001-04:00

Oh how I wish I was in some remote island now!

clipped from www.travellerspoint.com

Are you about to set out on a trip and want to keep your friends and family at home informed? Or do you just want to keep a personal record of your experiences as you go? Keeping a diary online is a great way to both keep in touch with your loved ones back home, while recording your experiences for your own pleasure. Not only will you be doing your friends and family a favour by not filling their email inboxes with massive, photo-filled emails, you'll also be creating an online record of your movements, that you can re-read weeks, months or even years later!

Travellerspoint Travel Community

HAIL CAB

2007-04-09T11:45:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.fodors.com

How to Hail a Cab in NYC

Yellow cabs are everywhere in Manhattan, cruising the streets looking for fares. They are usually easy to hail on the street or from a cab stand in front of major hotels. Still, finding one at rush hour or in the rain can take some time. Even if you're stuck in a downpour or at the airport, do not accept a ride from a gypsy cab. If a cab is not yellow and does not have a numbered aqua-color plastic medallion riveted to the hood, you could be putting yourself in danger by getting into the car.

You can see if a taxi is available by checking its rooftop light; if the center panel is lit and the side panels are dark, the driver is ready to take passengers. Taxi fares cost $2.50 for the first 1/5 mi, 40¢ for each 1/5 mi thereafter, and 20¢ for each minute not in motion. A $1 surcharge is added to rides begun 4-8 PM and a 50¢ surcharge is added between 8 PM and 6 AM.
One taxi can hold a maximum of four passengers (an additional passenger under the age of seven is allowed if the child sits on someone's lap). There is no charge for extra passengers. You must pay any bridge or tunnel tolls incurred during your trip (a driver will usually pay the toll himself to keep moving quickly, but that amount will be added to the fare when the ride is over). Taxi drivers expect a 15% to 20% tip.

To avoid unhappy taxi experiences, try to know where you want to go and how to get there before you hail a cab. A few cab drivers are dishonest, and not all know the city as well as they should. Direct your cab driver by the cross streets of your destination (for instance, "5th Avenue and 42nd Street"), rather than the numerical address, which means little to many drivers. Also, speak simply and clearly to make sure the driver has heard you correctly -- this will save you time, money, and aggravation. A quick call to your destination will give you cross-street information, as will a glance at a map marked with address numbers. When you leave the cab, remember to take your receipt. It includes the cab's medallion number, which can help you track the cabbie down in the event that you lose your possessions in the cab.

While plentiful in Manhattan, taxis can be extremely difficult (if not impossible) to find in many parts of Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. As a result, you may have no choice but to call a car service. Always determine the fee beforehand when using a car service sedan; a 10%-15% tip is customary above that.

There are several differences between taxis (cabs) and car services, also known as livery cabs. For one thing, a taxi is yellow and a car-service sedan is not. In addition, taxis run on a meter, while car services charge a flat fee. And by law, car services are not allowed to pick up passengers unless you call for one first.

EASTER BUNNY

2007-04-08T22:48:00.001-04:00

It snowed in New York today. I wondered if bunnies were out and play?

clipped from en.wikipedia.org

The "Easter Bunny" is a traditional holiday character in the form of a giving rabbit which is said to leave gifts, usually Easter baskets for children at Easter (or at springtime). It originates in Western European cultures, where it is a hare rather than a rabbit, and in the eastern half of the continent it also has a long tradition in Hungary.

The Easter Bunny is an example of folklore mythology. Other prominent characters are Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy.

Origins

Eggs, like rabbits and hares, are fertility symbols of extreme antiquity; since birds lay eggs and rabbits and hares give birth (to large litters) in the early spring, these became symbols of the rising fertility of the earth at the Vernal Equinox.

The saying "mad as a March Hare" refers to the wild caperings of hares as the males fight over the females in the early spring, then attempt to mate with them. Since the females often rebuff the males' advances before finally succumbing, the mating behavior often looks like a crazy dance; these fights led early observers to believe that the advent of spring made the hares "mad". Rabbits and hares are both lagomorphs; they are prolific breeders. The females can conceive a second litter of offspring while still pregnant with the first (the two are born separately); this phenomenon is known as superfetation. Lagomorphs mature sexually at an early age and can give birth to several litters a year (hence the saying, "to breed like bunnies"). It is therefore not surprising that rabbits and hares should become fertility symbols, or that their springtime mating antics should enter into Easter folklore; however, the notion of a rabbit that lays eggs has an uncertain past. It may have simply arisen from a confusion of symbolism but, like much of the holiday of Easter itself, it could be a direct heritage from older traditions. In Germanic and Slavic languages, the word "Easter" comes from an ancient pagan goddess of the spring named Eostre. According to legend, Eostre once saved a bird whose wings had frozen during the winter by turning it into a rabbit. Because the rabbit had once been a bird, it could still lay eggs, and that rabbit became the modern Easter Bunny[1].

The precise origin of the custom of colouring eggs is not known, although it too is ancient; Greeks to this day typically dye their Easter eggs red, the color of blood, in recognition of the renewal of life in springtime (and, later, the blood of the sacrificed Christ). Some also use the color green, in honor of the new foliage emerging after the long "dead" time of winter. Other colors, including the pastels popular in the United States and elsewehere (possibly symbolizing the rainbow), seem to have come along later.

German Protestants wanted to retain the Catholic custom of eating colored eggs for Easter, but did not want to introduce their children to the Catholic rite of fasting. Eggs were forbidden to Catholics during the fast of Lent, which was the reason for the abundance of eggs at Easter time.

The idea of an egg-laying bunny came to the United States in the 18th century. German immigrants in the Pennsylvania Dutch area told their children about the "Osterhase". "Hase" means "hare", not rabbit, and in Northwest European folklore the "Easter Bunny" indeed is a hare, not a rabbit.

Only good children received gifts of colored eggs in the nests that they made in their caps and bonnets before Easter.

A hundred years later Jakob Grimm wrote of long-standing similar myths in Germany itself. Noting many related landmarks and customs, Grimm suggested that these derived from legends of Ostara.

BLUE

2007-04-07T22:41:00.000-04:00

clipped from en.wikipedia.org

The term blue may refer any of a number of similar colours. When blue is a pure colour from a single source, it corresponds with a wavelength range of about 440–490 nm. Blue is considered to be one of the three primary additive colours in the RGB system; blue light has the shortest wavelength range of the three additive primary colours. The English language commonly uses "blue" to refer to any colour from navy blue to cyan. The complementary colour of blue in colour science is yellow (on the HSV colour wheel), while in art the complementary colour to blue is considered to be orange (based on the Munsell colour wheel).

MUG

2007-04-06T13:29:00.001-04:00

I love my green mug. I drink coffee with it everyday. I love this site! I feel damn lucky!

clipped from www.manhattanusersguide.com

Inside Theater
By George Spelvin
IT'S BAAAAACK... Award Season! That time of year when everyone loves everyone and it's an honor just to be sitting next to someone who's nominated. Things kicked off…

PATRISHA

2007-04-05T13:05:00.000-04:00

"Patrisha" is a word I found on my green mug....and she is a dinosaur Looks like the Patrisha from Netherlands is a belly dancer!

"Patrisha started taking bellydancelessons in 1998 in Zaandam. Because of Yoga, Patrisha was allready very flexible, so it didn't take her much efford to learn the basic movements of Oriental Bellydance.

After 5 years of dancing with different teachers, she finally came in contact with Mahdy Emara, a well known and respected choreografer and dancer. After a short time she started training together with the performancegroup 'Baladi' (then known as 'The Magical east') Patrisha started performing with this group at various occations. She is now a respected member of the group, and still active with performing.

Mahdy Emara helpt Patrisha to perfect her movements and dancing. She also got a proper training in the different styles of Egyptian (folkloric) dance.

Patrisha allways strives to perfection, and is allways busy to learn new skills and knowledge. She still takes bellydancelessons with Mahdy Emara and is constantly searching for new information, music and costumes for Oriental Bellydance. "

clipped from www.patrisha.nl

DRIFTING

2007-04-04T12:06:00.000-04:00

"Although drifting within the U.S is still young, recent growth has triggered the introduction of new products and events over the last few months. Driven by the need for centralized content, Drifting.com supports this new segment of the sport compact industry by hosting updated drift related information under one domain."

Feeling like to run away today. Thanks to this site...~!

clipped from www.drifting.com

BETTER

2007-04-03T11:43:00.000-04:00

This site needs a BETTER design for sure!

clipped from www.bbb.org

Better Business Bureau and ClearPoint Financial Solutions, Inc. To Unveil New Resources for Consumers

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) system and ClearPoint Financial Solutions, Inc. will unveil new resources, beginning in April, to assist consumers seeking to improve their financial situation. The two organizations are pleased to announce they have agreed to renew their credit education partnership through 2007 to meet the needs of consumers in today's economic environment. "Rising housing costs and mounting credit card debt present significant challenges for many families. They turn to the BBB for information they can trust to support their financial well-being," said Steve Cole, president and CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB).
(more)

TASTY

2007-04-02T11:32:00.000-04:00

What! I don't feel lucky when this ugly site show up! Ew!

clipped from www.mtd.com

People Eating Tasty Animals is in no way connected with, or endorsed
by, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Individuals and organizations whose names appear here do not necessarily endorse the contents of this page.

A resource for those who enjoy eating meat, wearing fur and
leather, hunting, and the fruits of scientific research (and more!).

FOOL

2007-04-01T11:26:00.000-04:00

"The company is committed to using its voice to help those with money as well as those without it. The company's "Foolanthropy" program invites readers to nominate the charities to which they'd like to contribute. Since 1997, The Motley Fool and its community have raised almost $2.8 million for many charities across the nation."

I am a fool when come to money.

clipped from www.fool.com

A Beginner's Guide to Growth Stocks
Here's a smart way to invest in the market's raciest prospects.

Should I Sell My Wal-Mart?
Is patience a virtue -- or is it overrated?

I'm Feeling Lucky

NEVER SAY NEVER

HE'S A GONER

GOD

BEGINNING OF THE END

Beginning of the End (1957)

TRAVEL DIARY

HAIL CAB

How to Hail a Cab in NYC

EASTER BUNNY

Origins

BLUE

MUG

PATRISHA

DRIFTING

BETTER

TASTY

A resource for those who enjoy eating meat, wearing fur andleather, hunting, and the fruits of scientific research (and more!).

FOOL

A resource for those who enjoy eating meat, wearing fur and
leather, hunting, and the fruits of scientific research (and more!).