Bizarre News

[winterfate]

And the silliest part is that it's very much possible.
Heck, I've taken classes with people and never ever gotten their names...and classes are several months each semester!

[asandir]

I think it's hilarious

[Elvin]

And slightly embarrassing

[ThunderTitan]

She is hoping one day he will see the funny side of it too and contact them.

Yeah, that's the day he'll come out of the hill he's hiding after seeing her on TV... probably feet first...

[MistWeaver]

Crysis, UT3 Sales Fall Flat

Research firm NPD Group said that EA and Crytek's critically lauded FPS Crysis sold just 86,633 units last month, following its release on November 13.

A Metacritic average review score of 91 wasn’t enough to overcome the apparent apprehension regarding the game's relatively steep hardware requirements. A PC with a dual core processor, 2GB of RAM and a mid-level DX10 card runs the game at around 30 framers per second average at midrange resolution. [Judging by my own rig.--Ed.]

Midway and Epic Games’ Unreal Tournament 3 for PC fared even worse, selling just 33,995. However, sales will be supplemented by PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions. The game launched for PC on November 19, also receiving strong reviews.

The FPS market is crowded to say the least. Crysis and Unreal Tournament 3 launched during a time when BioShock, Halo 3, Call of Duty 4 and The Orange Box have been occupying shelf space.

http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?optio ... 2&Itemid=2

[Elvin]

Ouch. It's a fine balance to walk, having both a good and affordable game.

[ThunderTitan]

The 'tut-tut' police keep us on the street and narrow


Melissa Kent
December 2, 2007

SESAME Street is now brought to you by the letter P and the letter C — for political correctness, that is.

The fun police have slapped an "adults only" warning on a new DVD of classic episodes, which featured a world in which children played in the street, a monster gorged on cookies and a bad-tempered puppet lived in a bin.

The episodes, made between 1969 and 1974, have been released in the US with the caution: "These early Sesame Street episodes are intended for grown-ups and may not suit the needs of today's preschool child."

Topping the list of furry villains is the Cookie Monster, whose penchant for devouring cookies and the odd plate or two is no longer deemed appropriate behaviour for modern children.

His alter ego, Alistair Cookie, host of MonsterPiece Theatre, "modelled the wrong behaviour" by smoking a pipe and eating it, according to Sesame Street producer Carol-Lynn Parente.

Back then, Big Bird's bumbling friend Mr Snuffleupagus was still imaginary, which might encourage "delusion behaviour". And trash-loving Oscar the Grouch has been targetted for his blatant bad manners and questionable hygiene.

"We might not be able to create a character like Oscar today," Parente told The New York Times.

Like the whitewashing of Enid Blyton books, the move has sparked howls of protest and charges of political correctness sucking the fun out of childhood.

Children's book author Andy Griffiths, creator of the popular "Bum" series, said children loved dark, mischievous characters such as those who lived on Sesame Street.

"Kids love seeing their primal desires acted out in the form of things like gluttony or violence, and literature or TV is a place they can safely experience these desires," he said.

"I think it's an entirely healthy and appropriate thing for a children's TV program to be doing."

Griffiths said children could tell the difference between fantasy and reality and did not blindly mimic the behaviour of clearly fictional characters.

"People who claim to be protecting children always make the assumption that what children see is what they will do," he said. "Underlying that is the assumption that kids can't tell the difference between fantasy and real life and I have found that to be consistently bogus."

Andrew Fuller, a clinical psychologist and consultant on children's television production, said a sanitised world was far more dangerous than the whacky world of Sesame Street.

"Unless we expose kids to a diverse range of characters and behaviour they will not be prepared for the real world," he said.

The ABC, which has broadcast Sesame Street since 1971, would no longer consider the original episodes suitable children's material, head of children's programming Tim Brooke-Hunt said. "We might screen them in the context of a discussion about what was happening back then, but now they are not appropriate as children's TV," he said.

"The reality is that the majority of kids are not going to copy this behaviour, but as producers of these shows we have to think about what might happen with the minority.

"If even a small number of kids might do it you have a problem."

But he admitted such lengths could threaten the joy of childhood. "Yes, I suppose there is that danger, but I just hope parents don't look to TV to give their children all their fun."

[asandir]

Schumacher takes the wheel in wild taxi ride

Police in Coburg are to investigate whether seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher broke the law after he got behind the wheel of a taxi last week so his family were on time for a flight.

The retired Formula One ace reportedly took the wheel of the taxi after he and his family had run late shopping for a puppy.

The German star was said to have "taken the corners at full-throttle and overtaken in unbelievable places," according to the cab driver.

Schumacher paid the 60 euros ($100) for the journey and even gave the cab driver a 100 euro tip to show his appreciation.

But the race to the airport has not gone down well with local police.

According to a report in German tabloid Bild, police will cross-examine Mr Yilmaz as a possible witness and Schumacher could face a fine.

But things may be even worse for the taxi driver, who is also set to face consequences.

Schumacher's manager Willi Weber was amazed Mr Yilmaz and his client could find themselves in trouble over the incident.

"To punish this man would be ridiculous. He very kindly helped Michael and we wish all taxi drivers were so understanding."

[Elvin]

Dad sells son's 90-dollar video game online for more than 9000.

I am at a loss for words. So a kid is caught smoking and you put his present on auction. Which you manage to sell for 9k bucks Something is not right

[Ethric]

"...sold to an Australian who plunked down 9,100 dollars for it."

Steffi got himself Guitar Hero III for christmas?

[Kalah]

"I am still considering getting him a game for his Nintendo. Maybe something like Barbie as the Island Princess or Dancing with the Stars ... I know he will just love them,"

Now, that's just evil. I want to punish my kids like that one day.

[asandir]

"...sold to an Australian who plunked down 9,100 dollars for it."

Steffi got himself Guitar Hero III for christmas?

so?

Now, that's just evil. I want to punish my kids like that one day.

you are an evil man!

[ThunderTitan]

Just be careful that they don't punish you back by liking it...

[PhoenixReborn]

Are you a moron? Click here now! To test Google’s ability to block harmful advertising, Belgian IT security consultant Didier Stevens posts an ad that reads “Is your PC virus-free? Get it infected here!” It is accepted by Google and displayed 259,723 times; 409 web surfers actually click on the ad.

[Elvin]

Hard to figure out how the human brain works Or not.

[asandir]

this ones for you Elvin!

Pedestrian charged for walking over car

A pedestrian has been charged with damaging property after walking over a car that was parked illegally on the sidewalk in Greece's congested capital.

"I could not get past the vehicle, a four-wheel drive, which had been parked right on the pavement so I got angry and just walked over it, slightly denting its hood," Tasos Pouliasis told state television.

Greeks are notoriously unruly drivers leaving their cars on footpaths, wheelchair ramps and even hospital entrances.

The owner of the vehicle in Athen's Exarhia neighbourhood saw him and called police who arrested Mr Pouliasis and his girlfriend and briefly detained them in a police cell.

"Now I will be tried for property damage but police did not even bother giving the car owner a parking ticket," Mr Pouliasis said.

[Elvin]

Hahaha priceless Yeah we are special alright and as for the unruly it is true. People won't look a bit more for parking and will just let their cars where it's convenient at times causing problems but walking over other people's cars...That's new to me.

[asandir]

judging by that story, I wouldn't suggest it!

US prisoners escape in Hollywood style

US police are hunting for two prisoners who escaped from a New Jersey jail in a breakout reminiscent of the Hollywood film The Shawshank Redemption.

On the fourth day of a widening man hunt, authorities appeared no closer to capturing the two prisoners, who dug their way to freedom through the wall of a cell using a piece of wire and a circular piece of metal.

Much as actor Tim Robbins' character did in the film, the prisoners had covered the holes they were digging - between their adjoining cells and from one cell to a nearby roof - with posters of bikini-clad women.

Investigators said the two inmates, Otis Blunt, 32, awaiting trial on robbery and weapons charges, and Jose Espinosa, 19, due to be sentenced over the shooting death of a rival gang member, had fled at dawn on Saturday.

They left behind a note, believed to be intended for a prison guard, that read: "Thank you. You're a pal. Happy holidays."

Authorities used sniffer dogs to track the men to a nearby railroad line, where the two split up.

Local prosecutor Theodore Romankow acknowledged on Monday there were similarities between the break out and the film.

"I think in The Shawshank Redemption they had better pictures on the wall," he said.

[Elvin]

Clean work, they even left a note and wished happy holidays

[The Mad Dragon]

That is rather funny. Ya gotta give em credit for trying AND succeeding.