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It's a revolutionary edition of "News Watch", a collaborative effort bringing together binnall and the two outstanding BoA columnists Khyron and Lesley. For starters, we'll be grabbing the "Hot 5" stories this week straight from Lesley's blog, The Debris Field . Meanwhile, when it comes to "That's Entertainment !", we'll turn NW to Khyron himself, direct from "Khyron's Corner", it's his look at the Sci Fi Channel's critically acclaimed Friday Night Line Up. Toss in "Future News Now", "My Fandom : Year 2", "NSS II", and an editorial on Nuclear Terrorism and you've got a full on assault from the combined forces of BoA.
This is another historic News Watch in that I've managed to compile the entire edition much earlier than usual, saving myself a full Monday afternoon to enjoy the day off and relax. Oh no, it won't be all about relaxing as I've many irons in the fire that require tending for when they are ready to be served up on a silver platter for BoA visitors. But aside from that exciting field work, while you read this, I may be napping.
While I snooze, you read. We'll discuss at a later date.
Hot 5 Stories from The Debris Field
The links are straight from Lesley's blog The Debris Field. The commentary is pure binnall.
1>Russian bakers pose naked to promote bread and buns (funreports.com)
http://funreports.com/fun/18-07-2005/1240-0
I've noticed this repugnant little trend for a while now. Somehow it became chic for ... let's say ... "less photogenic" folks who work in run-of-the-mill field to spice up their year with a little erotic calendar. Now, I enjoy erotica as much as anyone, but a nude 300 pound lady bus driver isn't exactly the kind of thing I want to be staring at for the entire month of May.
A nice look at what to expect in the future from what looks to be the only reliable form of space travel, commercial space travel. Trust me, when we launch the BoA home office on Mars, we'll be using Virgin Galactic or DHL or someone, not NASA.
On that note, I will proffer a futuristic analogy for my astute readers of NW. In the future, NASA will be regarded very much like the present day post office : essentially obsolete when it comes to doing serious business. Space travel is in some ways a lot like delivering mail. At first it was revolutionary, but soon it will be something that others will have figured out how to do better. If it means folks who work at NASA will have to wear those funny little shorts like my mailman, then I'm all for it.
Suddenly it seems that frequent if not routine space travel for ordinary citizens - long depicted as fantasy in movies and science fiction stories - may become a reality. With a name like Tommy Thompson, I hope someone is tracking him. That's just creepy and/or cruelty on the part of his parents. On a serious note, this is yet another story showing up how great getting a chip is. Note the recent news of the thumbscans at Disney World. It started as a VIP thing and then became standard for all customers.
Another thing that should be noted is that I am highly skeptical that Tommy Thompson will really be chipped. Sure, maybe for 5 minutes so the camera crews from the news can see, but I have a feeling when he gets backstage, the first words out of his mouth will be, "Get this damn thing out of me." Of course, that won't stop him from telling how great it is while he makes a fortune off of our misfortune.
A story that almost tempted me to run outside during a thunderstorm holding an aluminum bat over my head. Then I realized that's just crazy and this story comes from Pravda. The odd part of the story is that they spend a lot of time detailing the awful stuff that happens to folks who get hit by lightning, like having their entire memory erased or their eyeballs explode. Yikes.
Sadly, they did not mention C2C stalwart Dannion Brinkley, who was hit by lightning twice. I would certainly classify his saccharine style to repeatedly jolts to the noggin with excessive voltage. Yes folks, Dannion Brinkley is a "mutant". I wonder if he can introduce me to Mystique.
Harold Deal, a 31-year-old electrician, became a famous person in Missouri, when a lightning strike made him senseless to cold. The man can wear shorts and a T-shirt in freezing winter weather. Other survivors may develop keen sense of smell, demonstrate remarkable mathematical abilities, etc. One may thus infer that a lightning strike turns a person into a mutant. On the other hand, it may also give a powerful stimulation to hidden and unexplored abilities of the human mind.
Yes ! Some justice I endorse. Public humiliation may be the only way to prevent stupid people from doing their stupid misdeeds. That or just cutting off their hands.
When I was touring Europe in 2000, I happened upon a museum of torture devices while in Prague, Czech Republic. Talk about wild stuff. I saw a plethora of bizarre steel masks that they forced criminals to wear as punishment. Something tells me they didn't have as many ridiculous crimes as we do now or, at the very least, they had creeps in funky masks you could pelt with rotten vegetables. Ah, those were the days.
But Zimmerman didn't pay a fine or spend time in jail. Instead, he stood at a busy intersection in South Union Township Thursday, wearing a sign that read, "I Plead Guilty ... Animal Cruelty is a Crime ... My Dog's Name WAS Salt and Pepper."
Zimmerman was supposed to stand at the intersection for eight hours, but Robin Moore, the Fayette County Humane officer who devised the sentence, allowed Zimmerman to leave early because of all the abuse passing motorists hurled at him. You knew this was coming. My point in highlighting this story this week is not to say "Ooga booga, big brother is all up in our area !" I'll leave that to Alex Jones. What I choose, instead, to point out is the reaction of the folks on the New York Subway. Well, the ones that the AP would print.
All of the "average people" who they talked to were either totally cool with it or they didn't like it but say it's necessary. Ah, what nice trained sheeple. My opinion, sadly, may just fall in line the sheeple in this instance as well, if only because there comes a point where you've got to "go along to get along".
In other words, what's the freedom loving Joneshead in NYC supposed to do to get to work ? Not take the subway anymore ? Make a fuss at the subway about the Constitution and promptly get tasered ? Quit his job, eventually lose his apartment and live on the streets, a free man ? I'm not sure I like any of those options.
Random searches also are being conducted on buses, ferries and commuter railroads, and anyone who refuses a search won't be allowed to ride. Those caught carrying drugs or other contraband could be arrested.
That's Entertainment ! with Khyron
Posted @ Friday night has officially been taken over by the Sci-Fi channel. They are kicking out all the stops by airing new episodes of their three hit shows, Stargate Sg-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Battlestar Galactica. And, I must say, I have been completely blown away. These 3 shows comprise the 3 greatest, consecutive hours of television, ever.
Stargate Sg-1 :
This is one of the few shows that I can honestly say that I have watched since the beginning. And, going into it's 9th season, it's as good as ever. So far, the season premier has me wanting more. The comedy (which is the core of Sg-1's success) is as funny as ever.
There are a few notable changes to the original cast: a lesser role for Richard Dean Anderson (Gen. Jack O'Neill), Christopher Judge (Teal'C) has a new dew, and Michael Shanks (Daniel Jackson) has grown some facial hair. The largest change, however, is the addition of 3 new actors to the show. Ben Browder and Claudia Black (of Farscape fame), as well as noted actor Beau Bridges. And, while I can't say I'm a Farscape fan (not that I don't like it, but I just never watched it), Browder and Black are excellent additions--sure to give Sg-1 enough energy for seasons to come. Likewise, Bridges is a fine replacement for base commander--not Don S. Davis good, but he will fit in just fine.
Stargate Atlantis :
The first season of Atlantis was sort of hit-and-miss. There were some great episodes (those with the Genei, mostly), but others seemed lacking when compared to the explosive Sg-1 episodes that aired before them. But, as was the case with Sg-1, the first season is often the hardest as cast and crew are finding their places.
I must say, they have found their places quite nicely. The season 2 premier was fantastic, and immediately quelled any doubt I had for this spin-off. The combat was intense, especially when in space. Mitch Pileggi (of X-files fame) having joined the cast was a great move. In line with Sg-1, the show's creators are attempting to build success with seasoned sci-fi actors, and, in line with Sg-1, it works.
What I think really sets Atlantis apart from Sg-1 are the space battles. The scenes in which the Daedalus is fighting with the Wraith hive ships are great. The Asguard (think the Greys) on board makes an excellent bit of comic relief. Here's hoping the Daedalus doesn't venture back to Earth--as this is a great contribution to the show.
Battlestar Galactica :
What else can be said about Battlestar Galactica? This is the best show on television...period. The characters, the acting, the cinematography, the special effects--they are all the best I have ever seen in a television show. Unlike Stargate Atlantis, this was a hit from the very beginning. And the ending of the first season...Wow! Never before have I been so shocked by an episode of television.
The season 2 premier has shown that the first season's success was not a fluke. This show is so brutal, intense, and emotional that I became completely entranced in it. With the premier, it has proven yet again to be a jack of all trades (in that it can represent almost all genres) by showing some rather graphic scenes of warfare. The struggle of the survivors on Kobal is enough for an entire season...but they don't stop there! We also get Gaius' excellently directed fantasies, as well as the politics involved in the colonial fleet. And, as if this show wasn't good enough, it also features some of the best looking, well scripted space-combat sequences I have ever seen.
In summary, if you must have a Friday night social life (though I don't know why you would with television like this), plan your night around Battlestar Galactica. It simply cannot be missed.
Contact Khyron here : My Fandom : Year 2
Since we last left off, the Sox were wedged out of first place by the hated Yankees who had a .5 game lead over their beantown rivals. Boston played Tampa Bay last Monday is an odd game.
Tampa Bay is the proverbial whipping boy of Boston's division, perennial losers managed by the legendary hothead Lou Pinella. Despite having been watching for the past couple of years, I'd yet to see a Pinella snap live. Monday, I finally go my wish. With two outs in the top of the ninth, the umps called a guy safe coming into first, despite a very close tag from Boston closer Curt Schilling. Schilling flaked and ran after the ump in a hilariously animated fashion. After a lengthy dispute and then an ump conference, they reversed the call. Beloved Boston color man Jery Remy said it best with something like, "Lou's not gonna like this." He certainly did not. Pinella stormed onto the field screaming like a banshee. The umps promptly tossed him, but he kept screaming. It wasn't as bad as the time he threw the bases around, but it was pretty cool to see.
Another noteworthy game was Wednesday, when Boston scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning, causing the Devil Rays to pull their pitcher before he even made a single out ! That was something I'd never seen before. The Sox won that game easily and had also won the game on Tuesday, bringing them back into first place as there is a three way war going on between the Sox, the Yankees, and the Orioles over 1st place with the difference being a scant three games between all three.
Thursday began a great series with the Chicago White Sox, who have been the most dominant team of the year so far. Apparently, the press in Chicago was really looking forward to the series, as they cynically claimed that the Chi Sox were finally seeing some "real competition". They brought out their best pitcher on the first night in a great back-and-forth game that saw Boston win it despite Curt Schilling blowing a 1 run lead heading into the 9th. After a fluke error on a pop up foul out, Manny Ramirez hit a home run to take the lead for Boston and get the win. Thankfully, the hated Yankees also lost on Thursday, giving Boston a moderately comfortable 1.5 game lead atop the AL East.
It was a gruesome game on Friday as Tim Wakefield pitched a great game until the 6th inning when he gave up 2 three run homers, giving Chicago 6 runs and a lead they would not relinquish for the rest of the game. Thankfully again, the Yankees and Baltimore both lost, leaving the standings as is for now.
Saturday I went over to Swamp Dog's house for the game in what is becoming somewhat of a weekly tradition. Sadly, this weekly tradition has yet to see an outstanding game as the evening affair was rather bland, a pitcher's dual that the Red Sox won 3 to zip. Most notable was the shared fascination we had with former Red Sox player Carl Everett who now plays for the Chi Sox. Everett is most famous in these parts for declaring to a reporter that he does not believe in dinosaurs. Seriously.
Sunday the Sox lost, Baltimore lost, and the hated Yankees won, bringing them up to only 1 1/2 games behind Boston and making everyone in New England nervous as usual. The BoSox take on Tampa Bay and then the Minnesota Twins over the weekend.
The Noory Story Showdown
This Week's Point Getters : I noticed this week that Ian Punnett barely reads news. Also, Hoagland manages to slip in a lot during Noory's news briefings at the beginning of the show. Lots of points scored this week. We see a few newcomers, the return of an old favorite, and an ongoing battle over the top spot.
Streamlinkers : mirage scored 4 points : "Dozens killed in Egyptian blasts", "scientists worried about riot control ray gun", "House votes to extend Patriot Act", and "massive flu outbreak could happen at any moment, WHO warns". Tony1 scored 3 points : "New Explosions in London Tunnel", "Scotty is Gone", and "Terrorist Shot".
theUSofE.com : NSS I Champion Baemark brought the goods and scored an astounding 8 points ! The following stories scored : "Harry Potter Frenzy", "NASA to launch shuttle 7.26", "Inventor of TV dinner dies", "more blasts in London", "Ice Shelf Collapses, revealing new world", "saddam complains over lack of access to lawyers", "blast in beirut", and "Lance armstrong wins Tour de France". Wow.
Oscar scored 4 points with "Gen Westmoreland dies", "James Doohan dies", "Quake sounds reveal earth "ripping apart", and "drug smuggling tunnel found under canadian border". Majestic Peak scored 2 points with "Blasts Rock Egyptian Resort, Killing at Least 49" and "Record Temperatures Grip Many Cities". darkmatter continued his mission to win the thongs with 1 point, posting "house votes to extend Patriot Act". And, Somnus scored 1 point with "man shot by armed police on tube".
Notes :
Current Standings as of 7.25.5 : Baemark (13), Oscar (10), mirage (4), Tony1 (3), dark matter (2), somnus (2), Majestic Peak (2), Shredder (1), anotherlight (1), Japanese American (1), cns (1), SomeAverageJoe (1), and jerikai (1).
Score 1 point for posting a news story that gets read by George Noory, Art Bell, or a guest host on the show. Stories posted after they are read by the hosts do NOT count. If you are not credited by me in News Watch, YOU are responsible for letting me know that I missed it. You can ONLY post your news stories in either the Streamlink message board "Current Events" folder or the U.S. of E. message board "Current Events" folder. (News Stories posted in individual episode folders or "Anything Goes" do not count)
The WINNER is the person with the most Noory Story points (cumulative) in the January 2nd, 2006 Edition of News Watch.
The 1st PRIZE is a $40 dollar shopping spree @ the official binnallofamerica.com store.
The 2nd & 3rd place PRIZES are binnallofamerica.com T-Shirts and a mystery surprise item.
Any questions / comments can be sent to tbinnall@hotmail.com This contest is REAL. No wagering, please. Editorial
Nuclear Terrorism : Duck and Cover
Ever since the hazy days and weeks after 911, we've been hearing that same mantra over and over again ... nuclear terrorism. First it was dirty bombs. Then it was suitcase nukes. Then it became rogue nations producing nukes. Now it has shifted to the inevitability of nukes being used on American cities.
To be honest, I never really gave this story a second thought until a few weeks back. It was then that I realized that we are reaching the twilight of what will probably be known as the calm before the storm of the post 911 period. The London Bombing signaled that the "terrorists", whoever they may be, are still interested in ruining everyone's good time and that Western nations are still firmly in their cross hairs.
For the last 3 years or so, we have kept the bombings contained in the Middle East, save for the Madrid bombings in Spain last year. However, the double dose of bombings in London over the course of two weeks shows that the terrorists are amping up their game. Enter the latest stories being promulgated on Coast to Coast and worldnetdaily that say that the terrorists are planning on nuking America and that it is going to happen soon.
Now, I'm no Ed Dames and I'm no Sean David Morton, thank God, so I'm not going to sit here and list cities and dates that will be hit by nuclear attacks. Chances are if those two did such a thing, then those would be the cities spared, given their lackluster track record for predictions. No, I've no clue who is in danger, but we can look at the possibilities. Major cities are always going to be high on the list, leaving my suburban Boston dwelling ass right in the line of fire.
We need to look at the motivations of such bombings to truly get an idea of where they may take place. Want to kill a lot of people ? Then it is the major cities. Want to freak out everyone ? Then they will hit one of the lesser known cities in the heartland of America in an attempt to show that "no one is safe". Expect places like Omaha, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, or some other B-list American city to be a potential target if the intention is to chill the mid west. I don't see Denver being hit, as it is the eventual new capital for America, so they'll probably be safe.
How long till this happens ? My gut tells me within the next 18 months, but I'm hopeful that I'll be proven wrong. For some odd reason, it seems the insane coverage of this is beginning to reach a crescendo. I expect the attack to happen after this coverage dies out some, as it is unlikely to happen when we expect it to, which is like any day now.
One could try and dissect the calendar to find the date when it will happen based on numerological clues, but I honestly don't have the skills for that. Steve Quayle seems to think they'll tie it into the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, while George Noory thinks it may be on June 6th, 2006 (6.6.6) Chances are both are wrong. More often than not, an event happens and then everyone looks and finds all the numerological clues, not unlike Bible Code and Nostradamus, two esoteric "predictors" that seem only accurate in hindsight.
911 was chapter 1. Nukes in America is chapter 2. I've been thoroughly disgusted with how the world has reacted to 911, so I'm more than a little worried about how things will change post-nuking. At the end of the day, it comes down to one simple fact : We're royally screwed. At least I am if they blow up a nuke in Boston. And probably a lot of you who live in or near major cities. I'm not leaving though. I'll stay here till the mushroom cloud wafts up over the horizon and hopefully live long enough to cover it for the readers of BoA who are still alive.
Should I die. Find my ashes and throw them in the face of the nearest C2C prognosticator as a final "Thanks for nothing" from binnall. I'll be looking down and smiling.
And we are out. Thanks for coming along for the ride through the news cycle this week. Big thanks to Lesley and Khyron for contributing to this star powered News Watch. If you haven't already, check out their blogs. The links are festooned throughout this edition of NW.
Plugs : Tomorrow, Lesley brings us another edition of "Grey Matters". Wednesday, we get some "Ghost Files" from Khyron. Thursday, C2C attempts one of those "70's TV show turned into a movie" in a Hot Newz you won't want to miss. Friday, "binnall report" as always. Saturday, who knows, but you'll love it, I'm sure. Sunday, smoker dave update and our all new column ...
Saturday Night Punnett. Making it's debut yesterday morning very early in the AM, "SNP" is a running time commentary of the 1st Hour of Saturday night's C2C hosted by Ian Punnett. If you like "the binnall report", you should enjoy "SNP". Check out the debut edition here Saturday Night Punnett.
So, I hope you enjoyed our nice little twist on News Watch and the all new BoA vehicle "SNP". As alluded to in this week's "tbr", we've got some awesome stuff in the pipeline and are just waiting at the spigot to unleash them on binnallofamerica.com visitors. Stay tuned and until then, be safe, be prepared, and be real.