The Onion has a section on all things the King of Pop.
My favorite?
This story: "New Rap Song Samples 'Billie Jean' In Its Entirety, Adds Nothing.
I'm actually surprised that The Onion didn't write more about the King of Pop.
Friday, June 26, 2009
MMA fighter masterminded a $92 million bank heist
Wow.
In February 2006, robbers posing as cops abducted the manager of a high-security bank warehouse in Tonbridge, Wales, and forced their way inside the building while his wife and son were held at gunpoint. As employees were bound and gagged, seven masked men loaded three waiting trucks with 53 million British pounds in cash (about $92 million.)Didn't exactly work out like Ocean's 11 for Lee Murray who is now spending his time in Morrocan jail.
Police say about $57 million of the haul is still missing.
Five of the assailants were captured and convicted at trial in London last year. Another alleged accomplice, Paul "The Enforcer" Allen, is currently in custody awaiting trial. But British prosecutors say Murray, a former UFC star, was "at the heart" of the plot and claim to have a cell phone recording that shows him planning the heist.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Soccer in South Africa from The Big Picture
If you know me, you know that I love soccer. I also love The Big Picture blog from The Boston Globe. Combine the two and you have... Soccer in South Africa.
South Africa lost to Brazil today in the final minutes of their semifinal game of the Confederations Cup after outplaying Brazil for much of the match.
Brazil now will face the United States in the final on Sunday. And I'll be watching it.
South Africa lost to Brazil today in the final minutes of their semifinal game of the Confederations Cup after outplaying Brazil for much of the match.
Brazil now will face the United States in the final on Sunday. And I'll be watching it.
Sanford was just "recharging after the stimulus battle"
Woot.com, in addition to having some killer deals, also has a sense of humor. And they are showing it with their new thread on their forums, Beyond “Hiking The Appalachian Trail” 10 Euphemisms The Sanford Affair.
You can even suggest your own!
Like:
You can even suggest your own!
Like:
Enjoying a special Fathers DayOr
Laying a new Intercontinental Pipeline.Oh, and Talking Points Memo has a Sex Scandal Flow Chart that is definitely worth a look.
Manny in #ABQ game 2
Manny Ramirez was in town for his second game on a game that featured rain for the first four innings. The game also featured Ramirez for five innings, and he went 0-1 with a walk. He grounded out to the second baseman.
Here are some pictures I took while dodging raindrops:
Ramirez signing autographs before the game, as shown on the big screen.
Ramirez stretching while being introduced to cheers and (very) few boos.
Ramirez waiting for a pitch on his first straight at-bat; four straight balls to loud boos from the crowd.
Ramirez leading off of second after a sacrifice moved him forward after his walk; he was stranded on second.
Ramirez's stats aren't so good in Albuquerque... Before his second at-bat which dropped him to 0-3.
Most of the 13,000 and change stayed even after Ramirez sat down for the game after the fifth inning. After the rain, it was actually a really nice night. Except for being soaking wet, of course.
The game eventually went to the 15th inning, but we only stayed until the 11th. I'll be back tomorrow for more pictures.
The Isotopes lost 8-3 in the 15th.
Here are some pictures I took while dodging raindrops:
Ramirez signing autographs before the game, as shown on the big screen.
Ramirez stretching while being introduced to cheers and (very) few boos.
Ramirez waiting for a pitch on his first straight at-bat; four straight balls to loud boos from the crowd.
Ramirez leading off of second after a sacrifice moved him forward after his walk; he was stranded on second.
Ramirez's stats aren't so good in Albuquerque... Before his second at-bat which dropped him to 0-3.
Most of the 13,000 and change stayed even after Ramirez sat down for the game after the fifth inning. After the rain, it was actually a really nice night. Except for being soaking wet, of course.
The game eventually went to the 15th inning, but we only stayed until the 11th. I'll be back tomorrow for more pictures.
The Isotopes lost 8-3 in the 15th.
BCS rejects Mountain West playoff proposal
No surprise here; the big conferences (and Notre Dame) would hate to have to give up any revenue even if the process makes any "national championship" in college football a sham. Instead of letting all college student-athletes compete for a national championship, they would rather just allow certain student-athletes to have the chance.
Plus those certain schools will continue to make tens of millions while other schools are left with (relative) pocket change.
But to the story from ESPN:
Frohnmeyer goes on to say that a playoff system would mess up the academic calendars, to which I have to call BS. Players who go through the NCAA tournament in basketball miss much more time at school than any football player would in nearly any arrangement.
Saying that their fanbase wouldn't travel is similarly just another load of... well you know what. People at these big schools would travel to two or three games in two or three weeks. If you're saying that USC wouldn't get enough fans for a playoff game, you are fooling yourself.
The real barrier is greed by the BCS conferences. And the fear that allowing schools like Boise State or Utah to compete on a level playing field would let schools like Boise State or Utah get a piece of the pie and some of their star recruits.
Plus those certain schools will continue to make tens of millions while other schools are left with (relative) pocket change.
But to the story from ESPN:
"I believe we all agree that no system will ever be considered perfect, particularly by those conferences and institutions whose teams are not chosen in any particular year," Frohnmayer said. "But the BCS is the best postseason arrangement that has ever existed in college football. I say that after reviewing the matter from all standpoints, including student-athlete welfare, fan enjoyment, the academic calendar, the significance of the regular season, preservation of the bowl system that benefits a broad base of universities, and business.Saying that it is the "best postseason arrangement" that college football has every had isn't saying much; before the process was a sham, and it continues to be a sham. Just with a veneer of legitimacy.
Frohnmeyer goes on to say that a playoff system would mess up the academic calendars, to which I have to call BS. Players who go through the NCAA tournament in basketball miss much more time at school than any football player would in nearly any arrangement.
Saying that their fanbase wouldn't travel is similarly just another load of... well you know what. People at these big schools would travel to two or three games in two or three weeks. If you're saying that USC wouldn't get enough fans for a playoff game, you are fooling yourself.
The real barrier is greed by the BCS conferences. And the fear that allowing schools like Boise State or Utah to compete on a level playing field would let schools like Boise State or Utah get a piece of the pie and some of their star recruits.
Shrinking a quarter to the size of a dime
No embeddable video, but this is pretty goddamn cool. Via Bad Astronomy.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
@TheOnion: Twitter Creator On Iran: 'I Never Intended For Twitter To Be Useful'
America's Finest News Source:
"Twitter was intended to be a way for vacant, self-absorbed egotists to share their most banal and idiotic thoughts with anyone pathetic enough to read them," said a visibly confused Dorsey, claiming that Twitter is at its most powerful when it makes an already attention-starved populace even more needy for constant affirmation.I love Twitter. Hell, you probably got here from Twitter.
The greatest trick shot player of all time
Shaq challenged this guy to a game of HORSE. Considering Shaq is a really bad freethrow shooter, I doubt that Shaq will win.
That is if this video is real. I can't see how it isn't, though.
That is if this video is real. I can't see how it isn't, though.
US beats Spain
It was a gross mismatch on paper. The US was coming off a first round where they basically needed a miracle even to make it to the semifinals of the Confederations Cup. The US had played two top-flight opponents (Italy and Brazil) and lost both badly.
So the odds weren't even close to being in favor of the U.S. winning -- or of even being close. On ESPN.com's Streak for Cash the two options were the U.S. winning or losing by one or Spain winning by two. The choices are designed to be as close as possible so you don't know which to choose.
Spain hadn't lost a game in 35 matches. They had won 15 in a row. The last time they lost to a non-European opponent was ten years ago, back in 1999.
But the U.S. came out and won, 2-0 thanks not only to goals by young forward Jozy Altidore and veteran Clint Dempsey, but by an incredible defensive performance, especially by center defender Oguchi Onyewu and goalkeeper Tim Howard.
Defenders were diving in, sliding and making last-second efforts to stop the Spanish forwards from scoring at every opportunity. When the Spaniards did get a shot off, Howard was there to parry the ball away.
If you ever have a chance to watch the replay of this game, do so. It was a really good game -- well, if you are a U.S. soccer fan, anyway.
So the odds weren't even close to being in favor of the U.S. winning -- or of even being close. On ESPN.com's Streak for Cash the two options were the U.S. winning or losing by one or Spain winning by two. The choices are designed to be as close as possible so you don't know which to choose.
Spain hadn't lost a game in 35 matches. They had won 15 in a row. The last time they lost to a non-European opponent was ten years ago, back in 1999.
But the U.S. came out and won, 2-0 thanks not only to goals by young forward Jozy Altidore and veteran Clint Dempsey, but by an incredible defensive performance, especially by center defender Oguchi Onyewu and goalkeeper Tim Howard.
Defenders were diving in, sliding and making last-second efforts to stop the Spanish forwards from scoring at every opportunity. When the Spaniards did get a shot off, Howard was there to parry the ball away.
If you ever have a chance to watch the replay of this game, do so. It was a really good game -- well, if you are a U.S. soccer fan, anyway.
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