Sadly I don't mean an upgrade to this site, it's still as ugly as it was the day it was born about 8 years ago. Upgrade Complete! is a cracking little game where you have to upgrade the game itself as you go along. It's pointless in the same way Achievement Unlocked was - think of it as a meta...

You'd think, considering the fact the news is still plastered with Michael Jackson headlines, that any moment something huge is going to break like Michael Jackson has come back to life. Alright already, we get it. Michael Jackson is dead. The only person in the world who didn't know was Jim and I finally told him about an hour ago. My first ever album was Dangerous, which I got on cassette when I was about 8 years old. And I have to say I've been somewhat of a fan ever since. Not one of his scary fans, but an interested party. But I'm not crying over his death. Why? Because: 1) everybody dies sometime, it's sad but...2) I didn't know him and I personally hold the opinion overly emotional grief about someone who you don't know is insulting to their memory and to the grief of their family...

Was looking for this all morning after watching open-mouthed on Sky News earlier! Managed to find it, courtesy of ConHome.Watch as Neil Kinnock berates Prezza for his "ill-advised" comments, reckons that no-one is better equipped than our Glenys as Minister for Europe, and then reckons Gordo shouldn't quit until he's won two elections! (2 mins 50 secs in) Truly eye-watering stuff!...

    BABY P MUM JAILED BABY Peter’s evil mother could be free in just over THREE YEARS – after she was jailed today over her son’s horrific death.    The toddler’s sadistic stepfather was given life for a campaign of abuse against the little boy and the rape of a two-year-old girl – but could be out in 8 years.  And their sick lodger Jason Owen could be released in less than 12 months after he was told he must serve at least three years behind bars.     Sign our petition to force Justice Secretary Jack Straw to act NOW to increase the sentences handed to the mother and stepfather of Baby P and their lodger Jason Owen to reflect the true nature of their appalling abuse of an innocent child.  Click here to sign  ...

In last Thursday's Question Time on BBC1, Margaret Beckett claimed that the existing system of parliamentary expenses was brought in under the Thatcher government in 1983, after a recommendations on a salary increase for MPs by an independent body had been deferred and staggered for 8 years – at which point the additional allowances were brought in ‘in stead of the pay increase’ (see below).If this is true, it suggests that MPs were explicitly encouraged to subscribe to the culture of greed that Thatcherism is so often accused of having fermented during the 1980s, and it will be interested to wee whether this is confirmed in any forthcoming investigations of the system....

Well as it has been 8 years almost since Douglas Adams died. This is a fitting place to leave the last tribute to him on my blog. I hope regular readers will have enjoyed some writing by me in a different style, on different subjects. So where does that leave us.Douglas was proud that he was born in Cambridge in 1952 and joked that there were more than one important DNA discovery to come out...

I watched a documentary on this boy, Terry Durham aka ‘Little man of God’, filmed when he was just 9 years old. He is now 11. It was obvious even then that the child was being used by others for the lucrative money-making opportunities. He was a well trained actor, as a monkey and parrot mimicing the mannerisms of the black church, trading on the emotionalism and worked up atmosphere that is so often mistaken to be the Holy Spirit. [Videos of Minister Terry Durham working it are here] I’m not going to blame the kid - Terry Durham doesn’t know what he is really doing and is not yet at the age of accountability - though I will blame all the adults around him using him - and those undiscerning adults allowing themselves to be taken by him and those that...

You may be familiar with Geezer Butler’s unique bass lines in heavy metal classics like “Paranoid” or “Crazy Train,” but what you might not know about the founding Black Sabbath bassist is that he has been meat-free since he was 8 years old. Now, Geezer, rock legend and longtime vegan, is the next to star in a PETA veggie testimonial. Which, after spending my entire childhood and teen years pinching my mum’s Black Sabbath records, is music to my ears! In Geezer’s own words: “I used to eat meat when I was a little kid, but I didn’t know where it came from. And one day, I cut this piece of meat open, and blood came out of it, and I asked me mother, ‘Where did this come from?’ She said, ‘From animals,’ and that was...

Normally this is the sort of short musing I'd reserve for Twitter, but I'll treat blog readers to it too. Anyhow, Firefox 3.0.0.10, a minor security and bug fix release, is out, and so I've updated my Windows copy of Firefox - as I run Windows Vista in a somewhat seldom-used virtual machine I was still running 3.0.0.8, so the updater downloaded the full 9.2 MB patch rather than the smaller 1.5 MB patch if I'd had 3.0.0.9. What struck me was that the 9.2 MB file downloaded in about 10 seconds, although this is to be expected for a 10 Mbps broadband connection. The thing is, I remember about 8 years ago, when I was still using dial-up, and how long files would have taken to download. That 9.2 MB file would have probably taken the best part of 45 minutes on dial-up - more if the connection...

In the late 90’s, at the height of their Saturday morning television fame, Ant and Dec had a game on their show called Wonky Donkey. The aim of the game was to guess what the animal was on the screen in front of you. The twist was that the animal would be altered in some way to ensure that it’s descriptive or complimentary element rhymed with the animal name. For example, a three legged donkey, which Ant or Dec would wobble on the screen, would be a “Wonky Donkey”. This theme was taken and used at friends very successful house party about 8 years ago.  Entrance to the party was only allowed if you brought your own adult-themed ‘Wonky Donkey’.  I took a toy monkey wrapped in black electrical tape with a cherry tomato in it’s mouth (Gimp Chimp),...

In advance of this year’s Budget, Clive Betts MP (Sheffield Attercliffe) is pressing the Chancellor of the Exchequer to cut the level of VAT levied on children’s car-seat bases. Clive Betts said: “In 2001, I supported the Government’s decision to cut the VAT rate on children’s car seats from 17.5 percent to 5 percent. “Since children’s car seats were made compulsory, we have seen a dramatic - near 50 percent - reduction in the number of children under 8 years’ old killed in road accidents. That is tremendous progress, but every avoidable death or injury is an unnecessary tragedy. We can do more. “Some of those avoidable deaths and injuries arise because car seats are not fitted properly. Technology has moved on and many seats are now...

You remember him right? So Dick was CEO and chairman of Halliburton from 1995 to 2000, this BBC story details huge bribes paid to Nigeria that occurred from 1994 to 2004. Yet nowhere does it mention Dick (I have helpfully emailed the Beeb to remind them who ran the company for 5 years). Now I know it’s not his worst crime, but the man who became Vice President of the Empire for 8 years, the most powerful VP ever being CEO of a company found guilty of paying $180m in bribes to Nigerian officials, yet not being mentioned in the report? A story that has been rumbling on for years and many other outlets are not shy of printing the D word. Are they afraid he has become a charity appealing for help in Gaza (I think on the list of things Dick will never do, as in help a human being as...

Its that time of year when the cab has to go for its "taxi test". Now this is not just a once a year event but in the local borough of Barrow In Furness cabs have to be tested twice a year if they are less than 8 years old and 3 times a year (every 4 months) if they are more than 8 years old.For me, that's due soon so the cab goes in to be inspected and tested tomorrow and this leads to more expense as the licence is due for renewal as well.When you think that it costs over £130 a year for the licence then there's the drivers licence on top of that at around £30 a year plus and ID badge thats another £10 or there abouts. Add to this annual insurance costs together with daily and weekly running costs such as fuel and radio rent (circuit Fee - paying the company to provide you with...

DANCING With The Stars is the family friendly pro-celebrity  dance show, starring family favourite Shawn Johnson and one Mark Ballas, a dancer who lives up to his name. DWTS is part of the Celebrity Cull - the world’s effort to reduce the celebrity mountain. Rumour has it that Johnson is 17 and therefore older than the 8 years she appears. But to be safe we advocate that Ballas go into hiding, or at least spend more moments in the G-Litter bin. Spotter: Gabby...

PATRICK DORINSON: Government Motors — Coming to a Showroom Near You « FOX Forum « FOXNews.com. Now I know Fox News is over the top - I still find it hard that people see it as anything other than a year round April fool’s channel - but still - we are dealing with GOPers, Republicans and Conservatives. There are so many of them that will read the linked article - and it will be a matter of taking it at face value - make no wonder they love Palin. Beginning next year, cars will only be available for members of the Politburo, er, I mean Congress and the federal government. Private ownership of cars will be decided by your local neighborhood Soviet, I mean City Council. Each state will have a quota on how many cars are privately owned and the quota will be determined by the current...

It's been 8 years now since Melly died: March 9th 2001. Not much more to say really. She's gone and life has, cruelly, continued. This world sucks. This blogger works for nothing but the joy of writing but always appreciates things bought from his...

A Detroit mother of five was charged with child abuse and torture Wednesday after she called the police on herself.Reyna Valentina, of Hamtramck, is accused of putting her 4-year-old daughter inside a heated oven and burning her eyes with a metal object."She stated that, 'Mom cooks me like a turkey in the oven'," said Hamtramck police Detective Ben Bilecki. "The youngest daughter also said, 'Mama gave me the boo boos in my eyes.'"The 40-year-old mother is also accused of beating her 6-year-old with a metal bar. Valentina has been charged with two counts of first-degree child abuse and two counts of torture. Valentina's children are ages 9 months old, 4 years, 6 years, 8 years and 9 years old."All of the kids are terrified of their mother, the defendant in this case. They do not want to go...

Cats - Snowy the mother to my other four cats is beginning to slow down. I inherited her from the farm when we moved here so she must be about 8 years old. I am not sure what that is in cat years. Cattle - The charolais calf is coming on and is leaping about the pen today. Ducks - Got six duck eggs and have filled up the pond so it is ready for the grand unveiling for the ducks - how exciting. Guinea Fowl - The guinea fowl are beinning to organise themselves into their mating groups during the day. I read that guinea fowl will pair up for life and this does seem to be the case as my “royal group” of guinea fowl, Charlie, Camilla and Diana are always together. Guinea Pig - Guiness is so clever - today he let me know that his water bottle was getting low. Hens - Got one hen egg...

Barack Obama has finally, after years of fundraising and campaigning become the 44th President of the United States offering Change, Change, Change, Hope, Change and more Change. Regardless of your American partisan feeling, let us hope that after 4 or 8 years in office, history will judge Obama on his successes and failures in office, not on his skin colour. It can not be doubted that whoever...

Two videos for you from The Daily Show (on the last 8 days) and Olbermann (on the last 8 years). Plus, a Wikipedia page to watch: List of people pardoned by George W. Bush (it currently reads "In contrast to some of his predecessors, President Bush has been one of the most cautious presidents in modern U.S. history when granting pardons or commutations" but that could...

RedBubble Rat Photography (tags: photography rats) Womanist Musings "This was the first time he had heard of such a thing but I felt that it was important to discuss this with him. Destruction can be certain of one thing, because I had a choice he is a wanted child. When I became pregnant with him 8 years ago, I sat and thought about wether or not I was capable of raising a child, what the financial liabilities would be, the ways in which my life would change and if I even wanted to be a mother. I was able to ask these questions because I live in a country where I had a choice. There was no spectre of a back alley abortion, or a coat hanger that might lead to certain death. The ability to choose meant that the decision I made all those years ago to become a mother makes...

Sadly, it’s not a surprising headline, but the 2008 National Census of Local Authority Councillors is just out: it shows that councillors in England are still predominantly white and male. There’s a bulge around retirement age. (I’m talking statistics here, not middle-age spread!) Some of the main findings are summarised below: • Most councillors (68.4%) were male, 30.8% were female (0.8% did not respond). • The proportion of female councillors has increased from 27.8% in 1997. • The average age of councillors has increased from 55.4 years in 1997 to 58.8 years in 2008. • 96.6% of councillors were white and 3.4% came from an ethnic minority background. • 56.4% of councillors held a position of leading responsibility within the council and 53.2% of all councillors...

SarahG31 posted a photo: This is the tea-pot from my terracotta collection of kitchenware. I've had this for about 8 years yet I don't think it's ever been used! I love the comment on it "Ideal for use at Home or on...

Adam Liptak has an interesting piece in this morning's New York Times about the precedential significance of Bush v Gore (issued 8 years ago this month). The opinion itself...

As you may be aware, a rather large bug was found in Microsoft’s Internet Explorer software this week (Full article here). We realise this is a concern for many, and rightly so. Sonassi Media Services recommends using either Mozilla Firefox or Opera to browser the internet if you are on the Windows platform. These browsers are not only more secure, but they are faster, have more features and display websites more accurately. If you are using Internet Explorer 6, we strong recommend you up date to at least Internet Explorer 7, or move to one of these alternative browsers. IE6 is approaching 8 years old, and simply does not provide the facilities modern browsers do - in fact over the coming year many sites will start to remove support. This means you will be unable to access some of...

Cool Headphones are what we love nowadays as they add tremendous glamour touch to our personalities, but hey ever thought about a pair of headphones for young kids? No…. Well thanks to Fisher-Price for trying its best to fulfil the music needs of little ones as well! The new Kid-Tough Headphones are designed brilliantly keeping in mind the preschoolers. The stand out and the most important feature is that these headphones will play at a level ideal for the little ears that irrespective of the device your kid plug them into! So the headphones ensure that your child’s hearing is safe. The design is tougher than the normal headphones which mean that even if it is dropped by the toddlers, these durable headphones will not have much impact. Ideal for kids aging from 3 to 8...

Cool Headphones are what we love nowadays as they add tremendous glamour touch to our personalities, but hey ever thought about a pair of headphones for young kids? No…. Well thanks to Fisher-Price for trying its best to fulfil the music needs of little ones as well! The new Kid-Tough Headphones are designed brilliantly keeping in mind the preschoolers. The stand out and the most important feature is that these headphones will play at a level ideal for the little ears that irrespective of the device your kid plug them into! So the headphones ensure that your child’s hearing is safe. The design is tougher than the normal headphones which mean that even if it is dropped by the toddlers, these durable headphones will not have much impact. Ideal for kids aging from 3 to 8...

President Bush in dodging the shoes flung by an Iraqi reporter showed the difference between Iraq now and 8 years ago. The reporter was working for a TV station that supports the few terrorists that are still able to operate. I guarantee that had he thrown his shoes at Saddam he would have got a far less pleasant reaction than an interview without Coffee he is currently having with the local police. I don’t agree with everything George Bush has done, but he acted with dignity and levity on this occasion. Toby Harnden has an attached You Tube of his welcome by US forces in Iraq. I wonder whether our Prime Minister would get the same welcome from our lads on the front line… somehow I doubt it. As Guido reports, and I know from my service in HM Armed Forces - Brown is as welcome as a...

Scrabble has been around for donkeys years and is still played by many people. The general idea of the game is that you get the best letters with the highest numbers on them and make the best words going across triple letter and triple word scores. The person with the most points wins. This latest version of the Scrabble game allows you to play with chocolate letters. Apart from the board and box, this version of scrabble can be eaten when you have finished. The eat-able letters are all chocolate and ready to eat. Chocolate Scrabble Features * It’s Scrabble, but the pieces are made out of chocolate! * 32 pieces of chocolate wrapped up to look like Scrabble letters. * A paper board, so you can play anywhere. * If you win you receive a big prize - MORE chocolate! *...

Barrack Obama made his first official Foreign Policy screw up today when he appointed Hillary Clinton to the position of “Secretary of State”. America hasn’t seen a policy so disastrous since – oh I don’t know – Bush appointed Donald Rumsfeld to Defence. Obama may think he has control of this toxic politician by inviting her into the team; he doesn’t. Obviously I see a grand tour of Guam, Midway and Thule Air Force Base in Greenland in Hillary Clintons' future, but Obama can’t keep her away forever. She’ll use this position to make damn sure she’s in the running the minute Obama leaves office, to the determent of Obama if it’s in her interest. Furthermore the Clintons don’t exactly have a stellar performance when it comes to Foreign Policy. They pulled out of HERE,...